This Blood That Burns Us

This Blood That Binds Us #2

by S.L. Cokeley

Now that Kimberly’s life is undeniably intertwined with Aaron’s, the future remains unclear. And with the pressures of college life and The Legion hovering over the brothers’ every move, she wonders if she’s bitten off more than she can chew. She wants to remain a part of Aaron’s life, but at what cost?

Meanwhile, Aaron is dealing with the consequences of his choice not to drink blood and the presence of his newfound protectors. Though he wants nothing but freedom for him and his brothers, he can’t imagine the thought of leaving Kimberly behind in Blackheart.

When The Family shows signs that they may be closer than the brothers realize and The Legion’s loyalty is tested , Aaron and Kimberly must forge their own path to freedom.

Will the Calem boys ever be free from The Family? Or will the world they’ve built and the bonds they’ve made go up in flames?

With more blood, banter, college adventures, and heart throbbing romance in the second installment of the This Blood that Binds Us series, things get a little darker and a whole lot hotter.

Genres: Fantasy, Romance, Vampires, Fiction, Audiobook, Paranormal, Fantasy Romance

471 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 3, 2023

About the author

Samantha Cokeley was raised in a small town in Oklahoma. Growing up, she always had an active imagination and an interest in crafting stories. She developed a love for writing after college when she discovered anime and fan fiction. If she isn’t spending time painting colorful sea creatures, you can find her with family, including her pug named Kylo. The This Blood that Binds Us series ends this year. But you can expect many more stories with vampires, heartwarming found family, and fluff to come.

Reviews

[Victoria ✮⋆˙ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dear author, I love you. ♡


I just finished this and I have NO idea what to do with my life now except patiently wait for books 3 and 4…like the first one this was EVERYTHING!!

I got some scenes I was really
hoping for and a lot of things happened that I didn’t expect but I LOVED! The whole college setting again gave me like TVD vibes and it was just SO FUCKING GOOD! Like I also just love the slow burn romance (it’s exactly my kinda pace so I’m living for it) and the vampire lore is just really fun and unique!

God idk what I’m gonna do if I have to wait agesssss to get back to this series! I just love how it gets darker and darker and it really amps up especially towards the end of this one. I have really high hopes for book 3, I’m gonna freak out. I miss my disaster boys already…this book broke my heart…I dragged this out as long as I could because i wasn’t ready for it to end!

[Olga Rudnitska · Rating 4 out of 5]

Я не можу і не буду применшувати мою любов до цієї серії.

Мало того, що їх чекає Family, так ще й Легіон "типу допомогає". Але дивитись як в одному будинку вживаються такі різні люди було кумедно.
Сцена в басейні.

НАРЕШТІ ПОЦІЛУНОК!!
НАРЕШТІ ПОЧУТТЯ!!

А дружба з Челсі💔

Не уявляю, що і де буде далі.

[Maaike · Rating 4 out of 5]

this was very fun, definitely a step up from the first book writing-wise!

i’m so attached to the calem brothers it’s not even funny

[Faith Ann · Rating 4 out of 5]

So I read the first book last year and really enjoyed it; suddenly my kindle was recommending the sequel and I thought why not? But OH MY GOD I couldn’t set this down!! I’m beyond obsessed with Kimberly and Aaron and I can’t believe I’ve got to wait for the next installment. Such a unique take on immortality, my heart is bursting

[Beths_Enchanted_Pages · Rating 4 out of 5]

☆NO SPOILERS☆




✦I’ve been devouring this series!!! This book did not disappoint, I love Aaron and Kimberly with my whole heart!!!! I love the family relationships, the friendships. I am completely invested, and I know the next book is going to make me cry!!!! I can’t wait to continue…


✦P.S. the Slow burn pays off!!! I was living for that moment… Iykyk

[tia · Rating 3 out of 5]

probably the higher end of a 3 star read. i think the writing here was a little better than in the first book and there was definitely some higher stakes. a lot of the action was condensed into the later chapters but it did kind of work. i do think it was sometimes a bit tropey but nothing that made me want to put it down. overall a decent book and i am probably going to be finishing the series because i am intrigued.

[Isabella Steel · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is such an amazing subversion of the angst brooding vampire boyfriend and the mooning bright eyed FMC.

Not only has SL Cokeley’s writing improved from book one to book two, but her vampire universe is iconic. PNW doesn’t get a monopoly of vampire stories and we don’t always have to wait an agonizing amount of time for characters to evolve. The plot is constantly moving and characters are always changing.

I look forward to getting my hands on book 3 and following SL Cokeley as she grows!

[Baylee taylor]

DNF 50% I feel like the series has such potential but I feel like a lot is happening and nothing at the same time😔 I may come back to it in the future who knows

[Cadence Boudreaux · Rating 2 out of 5]

i really wanted this series to be the next big thing for me but i just am not meshing with the writing , not to mention the beginning of this book made me feel like i missed something ? it was so confusing . He’s still cute and the fanart is adorable i just moved on from thing writing style a long time ago

[Melissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Found family, slow burn romance, and vampires—this series just hits everything I love. I always say it’s like Twilight but better, more grown-up, and definitely spicier. That still feels true, but it’s also just so good on its own. Even if Twilight wasn’t your thing, you should still give this one a shot!

[Margherita Stark · Rating 4 out of 5]

The will they won’t they was annoying and when he tried to send her to New York with Chris I was pissed and then he was like why is she giving me the silent treatment I can not take this I was rolling my eyes but okay the ending was the best and most shocking.

[Lisa Schwochow · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just like the first one this was an awesome read. I love love loooove those brothers they seem to be so fun to be around.

Also FINALLY Aaron and Kim got together!! This is exactly what I waited for. Kim being a vampire is also cool and I can’t wait to see what happens next

[ABReads456 · Rating 3 out of 5]

Book two in The Blood that Binds Us series, and I have to say I didn’t like it as much as the first. I guess I was hoping for a bit more from this book. It dragged in parts for me, and their will they won’t they, back and forth about dating was kind of exhuasting.

I like the characters, but it felt kind of slow in the development of all of them. But, I did like how we finally got to learn more about the oldest brothers. I hope to see more of them in book three!

[Audrey · Rating 4 out of 5]

omggg the ending !!!

[Natascha · Rating 4 out of 5]

Okay ngl there was a lot more happening in this book than the last but the cliches keeps going 🤣
it is entertaining though, i've read way worse.
Onto the next!

[Eli Jane · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 !!

[Jordan or anzai · Rating 5 out of 5]

This comment contains spoilers, so please don't read if you don't like spoilers! This is my personal rating for "The Blood That Burns Us"!

Spoilers!

Stars: 5/5
Spice: 1.5/5
Characters: 5/5
Plot: 5/5

I absolutely loved this book. The scenes that happened had me kicking my feet and giggling. In the beginning, what happened with Felix made me so mad. But slowly but surely, things came along. And when Kim kissed Aaron, it was *chef's kiss*. I loved the Halloween party scene, but Chris was so controlling over Kim. The Calem brothers brought her out of her shell, but Chris never really did. He just said goodbye and went to New York. And then he begged and pleaded for her to go home with him because he was "worried about her" (I may remember it wrong, LOL). Then the pool scene came, and I was kicking and giggling the whole time. But when Akira showed up, I felt shocked. And to find out the queen can read minds blew my mind personally (may be just me, LOL). But I personally loved Chapter Twenty. And when she offered her blood, it was *chef's kiss*. When I got to Chapter 23, I felt so bad for how Aaron was feeling. He knew he might not be able to keep her safe, and it was breaking his heart to tell her to leave with Chris. Chapter 24 was straight-up hilarious in the beginning of it 😂, but then what happened on page 33 in Chapter 34 shocked me. Aaron reacted that way to Thane, but with what was going on, I still knew it was bound to happen at some point. But he wasn't in control; the thing in his head was. And after he got up, he felt bad for hurting Thane. And when they were working and he was determined to make Kim say she hated him, and she didn't, I was so ready for the tension between them. But when Presley interrupted them, I was so mad 😂. But then it got good and spicy, and Zach and Presley were so funny at the end of the chapter. OMG, when Akira appeared with Chelsea, I was shocked. I didn't expect it whatsoever. And when he said stuff about the marathon and the pool, I kinda expected it at that point."You can't save him." It broke my heart into pieces 😭. Chapter 29 was just 👀👀, is all I'm gonna say. And when he asked her to stay with him forever ❤, "I could get used to this." Gosh, I love Aaron so much. The flirting,omg.
Aaron is such a flirt in chapter 32. "Sorry, as your little brother, it's a core part of my life's mission to be a cockblock. I don't make the rules." HELP 😭😭. The death of someone made me so sad 😭😭. Kimberly is so intelligent; she thought ahead and did everything perfectly.
"And mine. Mine to protect. My love, Aaron ❤."I feel so bad for their situation at the end, but as always, I hope to see them pull together and manage to get their family back together once again.

[Madalyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

this book put me through the motions

I love all of these characters with my entire heart. I will think about them forever. The ending has me shattered.

Kim and Aaron..?! Presley and his friendship with Kimberly..?! Chelsea..!!!! Finding out more to Zach and Luke… SKYLAR!!William’s redemption arc oh my gosh…

I love this book, I love this author, and I will be rereading this series a million times to come as soon as I get my hands on the next two books. I am in TEARS?

[Marissa_reads_fairytales · Rating 5 out of 5]

I will take zero hate on these boys. November and book 3… where are you😭

[Sara Mcfadden · Rating 3 out of 5]

ok

I try to support indie authors as much as I can but I found myself loving the covers more than the books. However that doesn’t mean the books were awful. They are good but just not for me.

[Katie Redding · Rating 5 out of 5]

First thank you to the author for the free ARC! I absolutely loved this book, I could not put it down! I loved the development between the characters and their relationships! Between the ever growing relationship between the Calem boys and Kim, the twins and William, but also Kim and Aarons growing relationship! I was on the edge of my seat almost the entire time! We also got to meet some new characters( you're going to love Skylar)! This series just gets better and better as it moves forward and I cant wait to see what happens in book 3!

[Hadley Granger · Rating 4 out of 5]

Quick Blurb
Following the last altercations with the infamous cult coven known as “The Family”, the Calem brothers and Kimberly Burns find themselves having to make unsavory deals with the lesser evil and become aligned with an opposition coven known as “The Legion”, having to be under constant watch and make do with the new situation within Blackheart rises tensions between the group and their new wardens, Aaron questions whether keeping Kimberly with him is worth the pain she has to go through in order to keep up with his life, Kimberly must make decisions that could influence the rest of her life all while a bloodthirsty Queen hunts for the Calem twins prophesized to be hers.

4 Stars - [7/10]

What I liked
I personally think what I love most about this series is the unconventional manner in which Vampires are portrayed as well as having a MMC portrayed in such an innocent warm light despite his nature being the direct opposite of his personality is the sort of thing that changes the age old trope of ‘mysterious 1000 year old corpse preying on the mortal FMC who is barely an adult’. I think Aarons entire disposition and naivety to going through the change is also very interesting because he is still learning how to manage his new abilities whilst still trying to hold onto his humanity and Kimberly represents that perfect life he keeps imagining he can hold onto the parallels between him and Luke are absolutely heart-breaking especially since Zach admits the entire reason he feels so worried about Aaron and is intentionally hard on him is because he is afraid his innocence will make him a target the way it has made Luke a target.

The found family in this book hit so hard with the way the younger guards of the legion interreacted and defended the Calem’s and Kim, I adored the way the relationship between the brothers was so lucrative and not forced and actually allowed me to envision the way I imagined actual siblings to behave with each other, I also like that there were visible problems between the way Luke and Zach [despite being twins] chose to raise their brothers I feel like the way in which they both encourage their younger brothers to love without bounds and dislike restricting them of their own wishes and futures shows they where very good role models in a very uncertain time within the lives of Aaron and Presley.

Kimberly was placed in a very defining part of her life during this book she seemed to take on a more mental load given the things that she had to experience through the boys and though I was very excited seeing how both her an Aaron progressed together figuring out what they mean to each other her relationship with Chris was interesting to see as well and shows that she isn’t the type of person to be easily swayed by people she loves she actively chooses her own decisions especially when Aaron tries to decide what should happen between them due to the families continuous attacks on Blackheart throughout the books.

Trauma and addiction are also show really interestingly enough, the way in which this world is being written gave me the impression its very loosely inspired by Twilight, TVD and Originals the way certain characters interact especially new Antagonists like Akira pull together really cool references if you have watched these shows and if you haven’t, I Highly recommend them if you loved this book series as much as I do. I do feel like this storyline is taking interesting leaps when it comes to how things are going to now evolve given the way in which the ending left us. I like seeing development grow in each character and I have a feeling the next book is definitely going to change a lot about Kim and Aaron in specific I just have this feeling they are going to test the strength of their bonds.

The grooming themes of the Queens relationship with the twins is very important and deeply unsettling to me and I like that the author did not romanticize this strange connection the Queen has with the twins every time it was brought up I felt disgusted wondering what went on between the three of them when they worked for the family I feel like this is a very large part of the reason the boys are so scared of having Presley and Aaron find out about the lengths in which the family will go to keep the queen happy.



What I did not like
So, while I do love the characters and I really adore the world in which Cokeley is contriving, its messy when it comes to consistency of how the story unfolds, there’s no rhythm I feel like in certain parts its hot and certain parts drop cold and were all over the place again wondering where the plots going or if its being stalled all at once. I understand that there are some parts done purposely to build up suspense however this book was lengthy and very unendingly so, it did not have to be as long as it was and I just feel like the backstories of the twins, William and a few new characters would have probably fit this second novels focus much better then all the random party scenes and chemistry build-ups for Kim and Aaron as much as I loved those scenes it just felt drawn out and not adding much to the main plot which I sometimes lost sight of because I had to stop reading due to loosing my train of thought so often.



Overall Opinions
Brilliant conclusion and a very interesting way to end the novel, it sets the mood for the next addition which is bound to have everyone waiting in anticipation for the way our Calem brothers and Kim are going to survive this new storm they’ve been dropped into. Fans of the Vampire diaries, Originals and Twilight will love this series and I highly recommend it to everyone who adored Stefan Salvatore [not ripper version] because Aaron is definitely his son in my eyes.

[Moth · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you thought the first book was good, this book will be amazing. I’m literally in love with the characters. Even the villains are written in a way where I enjoy them. I wish I had the words to describe how I feel about this book. Waiting until November and December for the rest of the books will probably be the death of me.

[Mariana Vieira · Rating 2 out of 5]

Meh, nothing special … seems a “slow burn romance” turned into let’s waste my time for 2 whole books on a kiss basically. Feels like twilight but worse?? I’m not sure, the writing just didn’t do it for me.

[Emma · Rating 4 out of 5]

The ending ????

[Alexa Alessandrini · Rating 4 out of 5]

I want SpongeBob to sponge up all the urine in American and squeeze himself over Chris’s mouth

[Inês Manuel Brito · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was so bored of this book that I had to take a break and when I picked it up again, the story magically got better and then went downhill. Well, kind of.

We finally got somewhere with the romance. I feel like the author is waiting for the audience to grow up a little to advance things between Kim and Aaron. Maybe it’s too YA for me. Also, the whole interactions between the brothers were always so cringey. Too cringey for my liking.

Like I said before it’s a ✨fun✨ book, not a good one.

Some really cute quotes:
I wanted to kiss her. More than anything, I wanted to lean in and take hold of her heart, but I couldn’t because once our lips touched, I’d be done for. I’d never be able to pull myself away from her without it destroying me. The string pulling our hearts would tie us together forever. So I stopped. For me, but mostly for her.

“You can grow old, get married, and have kids, and do all those things, and I’ll still be here. We can be those weird uncles who stay mysteriously young and handsome. I’ll watch you fall in love, grow old, and . . . die if that’s what you want. And it would be the most horrible, heart-wrenching thing I’d ever do, but I’d do it for you. I don’t want you to choose this life because you feel like if you don’t, you’ll be alone.”

“God, you’re beautiful, Burns. Did you know that?”

Only now was I able to finally understand how selfish I’d been. Because now that I loved her, I could see the burden I’d placed on her from the beginning. The hard choices I made her make, and the ones she still had to make because of me.

“I am madly in love with you, Kimberly Burns.”

“After all this is over, we can do whatever we want. And I want to do it all with you. I don’t know what the world will be like in a hundred years, but I can guarantee you I’ll find something for us to do. I can make you happy. I know you don’t need me . . . but it would be a mistake if I never told you how badly I want you.”

He wasn’t asking for a day. Or a lifetime. Something more. Something I didn’t think either of us could fully imagine. And I wanted it. To whatever end. For however long, I would hold on to him with everything I had. I savored that final moment. The last moment I had any semblance of control.

From the moment I met her, my fate was sealed. I didn’t know how many other universes there were out there, but if there were more, I’d bet I tried to make her mine every time. I didn’t believe in fate. But I believed in this. The love pouring out of my heart for her.


Tropes:
✨ Friends to lovers
✨ Golden retriever MMC
✨ Found family
✨ Vampires
✨ College setting

[Audrey · Rating 4 out of 5]

I just finished Book 2 and I am still completely in love with these characters and the world S.L. Cokeley has built. The emotional tension between Kimberly and Aaron continues to be pure torture in the best way—the push and pull of their feelings, both too scared to cross a line they think the other has drawn… it’s so compelling. And when they finally kiss? I was at work listening to the audiobook and it took everything in me not to cheer out loud.

One of my favorite parts of this installment is getting to know the Callum brothers better. The deepening of their bonds with each other—and with Kimberly now firmly accepted as one of their own—adds so much heart. The family dynamics are incredible. Each brother has such a distinct personality, but they are absolutely each other's ride-or-dies. The way they’ve wrapped Kimberly into that protective instinct is beautiful, even if they know Aaron is in love with her. That doesn’t stop them from treating her like a little sister they would go to war for. And the best part? Kimberly would do the same for them, not just because they’re Aaron’s brothers, but because they’re hers, too.

The ever-present threat of “The Family” continues to loom, and Cokeley does a fantastic job keeping that tension simmering beneath the surface. Even as the characters try to live their lives and make plans, there's this constant feeling of dread about when the other shoe will drop—and when it does? Oof. The manipulation, the gaslighting, the emotional warfare… I was livid. I wanted to punch someone—even knowing I’m human and useless against vampires. Thank god Kimberly gets a solid swing in on our behalf.

The ending left me a wreck. The group is split apart, with Kimberly, Aaron, and Presley separated from Zack and Luke, who are in the clutches of the wicked vampire “Queen.” My heart hurts for Zack especially—his quiet sense of unworthiness compared to his brothers absolutely shattered me. I just want to give him the biggest hug. Fingers crossed that Book 3 gives him (and us!) some healing.

If you love found family, emotional slow burns, fierce loyalty, and a supernatural twist that raises the stakes with every chapter—this series is a must-read. I am counting down the days until I can dive into the next one.

[Holly Schwartz · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the perfect fall book! And it’s a perfect second book in the series. I love all of these characters so much and I loved seeing them again! They are the sweet group of silly little frat boy vampires!! This book was a little more serious than the first, but it was the perfect progression! And the goofy parts of the guys was very much present!!

I am HEAVILY invested in Aaron and Kimberly. There is SO MUCH more than just them. But truthfully I am here FOR THEM. I do like everything else about the story!! But I love them the most. They are SWEET. Aaron is trying to hard to make the right choices to keep Kimberly safe, but the connection is so strong and that makes it so much harder. The way they talk about each other makes my heart MELT. This book dives a little deeper into their relationship and I loved every single second of it.

I also LOVE Zach, Luke, and Presley!! I love how strong their bond is, the fact that they are willing to do anything for each other. How SUPPORTIVE they are of Aaron and Kimberly!! And I love that Kimberly finally has a family that loves her unconditionally 🥹

And the rest of the story is so good!! There is so much going on! Sometimes it was a little hard to follow but I was flying though the book because I couldn’t get enough, so I think that was part of my problem. Everything was so intertwined and complicated, but it was written so well. I loved getting more backstory on Luke and Zach and The Family and The Legion! This whole universe is so complicated, in the best way!

I’m so glad there’s still more books! I am not a fan of a cliffhanger but it does the job to keep me interested!!!

Thank you so much to SL Cokeley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

[Joanna · Rating 4 out of 5]

4/5 🌟
This book aggressively sank its fangs into my soul, into my chest ripping out my heart and serving it back to me on a gold platter.

I began this book early on in the year so it’s fair to say that I don’t remember much of the beginning. 4/5🌟 hurts my soul because I truly love this book and the characters involved however the beginning is a blur to me hence the lowered rating.

Aaron and Kim’s relationship is truly a favourite of mine, the love they share is unique to say the least, it wasn’t exclusively one trope but for the sake of my review I’d say that for the most part it is forbidden romance as well as friends to lovers with a smidge of forced proximity- okay maybe more than a smidge. The pool scene and the scene that they officially become a couple had me screaming.

When I tell you I was gasping and throwing this book about to be in tears after the 70% mark I mean it. THE LAST 2 CHAPTERS!? FOUL. My heart was tugged in ways I didn’t know it could be pulled.
Zack, Luke, Aaron, Presley and Will (Yes, William) have a special place in my soul, Thane.. the betrayal stabbed me harder than I could’ve imagined, that fucking hurt, you were one of my favs like pookie whyyyyy!?!!!!

Anyways, I will be buying the third book when the time comes, because like.. the cliffhanger? Absolutely foul.

I have to say turning Kim into one of them isn’t my fav trope especially in vampire related situations because it’s so basic but the way it was done was spectacular, girly became a hero and I love that for her.

If you’re still reading, go pick up a copy of this book please I beg you.