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Waking Forever #1
Waking Forever
Sara Glass is a very busy and very important person. By thirty-five, she is already everything she ever imagined being -- a partner in a successful law firm, a competitive runner, and a girlfriend to a devoted investment banker. Her life is challenging and full, but somehow uneventful.
After a near fatal attack, Sara is thrown together with Rachel Collins, a charming but secretive art dealer living in the northern suburbs of San Antonio. Together, the two women explore a world Sara never knew existed -- a world that challenges her very notions of life, death, and love.
After a near fatal attack, Sara is thrown together with Rachel Collins, a charming but secretive art dealer living in the northern suburbs of San Antonio. Together, the two women explore a world Sara never knew existed -- a world that challenges her very notions of life, death, and love.
272 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 13, 2013
19 people are currently reading
340 people want to read
About the author
Heather McVea
15 books48 followersHeather McVea was raised in a small town south of San Antonio, Texas. Prior to escaping to the big city, she raised Hampshire pigs, rode motorcycles at entirely too young an age, and once snow boarded behind a Ford pickup truck. She relishes a strong gin and tonic, or a well-made old-fashioned (but never at the same time). Heather and her wife have three furbabies, and divide their time between Texas and Maryland.
Visit Heather’s website www.heathermcvea.com and follow her on Twitter @HMcVea.
Visit Heather’s website www.heathermcvea.com and follow her on Twitter @HMcVea.
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
September 17, 2018
DNF. So much telling and no showing at all. I'm told her boyfriend is annoying and needy but for a 3-year-old relationship, his needs are rather mild. But he kisses badly so he's dumped. Enter the vampire beauty with green eyes. I'm told she's "remarkable, brave, intelligent, etc" yet it is never shown, never revealed in dialogue. Someone mentioned this being Twilight for lesbians. I'd say it's even worse than that.
They're professing their undying love for each other and I'm not sure why. They spent some evenings together as friends with no deep conversation or emotional connection. What it boils down to is that they love each other because they're both hot. I require more substance in my reading material, and this book has absolutely none.
The untranslated German was also weird. I was forced to google whole sentences just to understand what they're saying.
Definitely not for me.
They're professing their undying love for each other and I'm not sure why. They spent some evenings together as friends with no deep conversation or emotional connection. What it boils down to is that they love each other because they're both hot. I require more substance in my reading material, and this book has absolutely none.
The untranslated German was also weird. I was forced to google whole sentences just to understand what they're saying.
Definitely not for me.
September 22, 2014
This book suffers from a critical flaw; the author takes the premise far too seriously.
Sara Glass is a lawyer and all around perfect human being, who gets her arse saved by a mysterious woman, who is also all-around perfect. Clearly they should date. One small problem though; Rachel is a vampire.
It is never a good sign when the plot can be boiled down to something so simple, and in this case there truly is that little substance to the novel. From the central premise – Twilight vampires with lesbians - follows a tortuous courtship filled with poor dialogue, gratuitous (and overly formal) untranslated German, long flashback chapters, ridiculous sex, and vampires. The book is achingly absurd and simply refuses to see it. This is only made worse by the prose, which hovers dangerously on the edge of turning purple.
I cannot recommend this book for those made tired by self-serious fiction – although those that want their drama straight will enjoy this book immensely.
Sara Glass is a lawyer and all around perfect human being, who gets her arse saved by a mysterious woman, who is also all-around perfect. Clearly they should date. One small problem though; Rachel is a vampire.
It is never a good sign when the plot can be boiled down to something so simple, and in this case there truly is that little substance to the novel. From the central premise – Twilight vampires with lesbians - follows a tortuous courtship filled with poor dialogue, gratuitous (and overly formal) untranslated German, long flashback chapters, ridiculous sex, and vampires. The book is achingly absurd and simply refuses to see it. This is only made worse by the prose, which hovers dangerously on the edge of turning purple.
I cannot recommend this book for those made tired by self-serious fiction – although those that want their drama straight will enjoy this book immensely.
October 30, 2015
I initially gave Waking Forever 3 stars. After sleeping on it, I had to go with my gut and give it two. It wasn't so much that I didn't like the story, as there was definitely some potential for it (I am an avid horror/dark fiction/sci-fi fan). My biggest issue was the characters and their lack of depth. I'm not a writer, and I can't begin to know how hard it is to actually create and characterize a person. However, as a reader, if I don't like the character(s), whether it's because they seem fake, shallow, unrealistic, etc., it's pretty much all over for me. I could not stand Sarah. If she were a real person and I had the displeasure of meeting her, I would turn around and walk the other way. She acted like a spoiled teenager. I kind of like Rachel, but for someone who was supposed to be super-smart, um, Sarah? Really? I did not want Rachel anywhere near Sarah. (ALERT! POTENTIAL SPOILER ALERT! THE NEXT SENTENCE IS A POTENTIAL SPOILER!!!) I wanted Ela (the "bad girl") to win (I don't consider this a spoiler because, well, come on, everyone knows in this type of novel that "good" triumphs over "evil", but anyway, it's better to be considerate). (SPOILER OVER) I think Colleen was one of the most interesting characters.
I'm a Lesbian who LOVES the horror/dark fiction/sci-fi genres. Do you know how frustrating it is to to read books you like and even love but not be able to identify with the characters, especially when men (and sometimes women!) with a really great story feel the need to write every single woman as helpless? What's more frustrating? I can read novels with characters I can (or am supposed to) identify with, but be completely dissatisfied because what is supposedly a spec fic or sci-fi story is actually a vehicle for a romance that involves vapid characters.
I apologize to Ms. McVea if my review seems scathing. I'm not trying to castigate, I really am trying to be constructive in my criticism. I'm just a really frustrated reader who would love to support her community by buying their books but feels slighted 80-90% of the time because I'm not getting what I thought I was getting.
All that being said, I have a feeling there are a lot of women (possibly even some men) that would enjoy Waking Forever. I know I'm in the minority when it comes to what I like to read. So - if you like romance, but with a few vampires thrown in - go for it! This just wasn't for me.
I'm a Lesbian who LOVES the horror/dark fiction/sci-fi genres. Do you know how frustrating it is to to read books you like and even love but not be able to identify with the characters, especially when men (and sometimes women!) with a really great story feel the need to write every single woman as helpless? What's more frustrating? I can read novels with characters I can (or am supposed to) identify with, but be completely dissatisfied because what is supposedly a spec fic or sci-fi story is actually a vehicle for a romance that involves vapid characters.
I apologize to Ms. McVea if my review seems scathing. I'm not trying to castigate, I really am trying to be constructive in my criticism. I'm just a really frustrated reader who would love to support her community by buying their books but feels slighted 80-90% of the time because I'm not getting what I thought I was getting.
All that being said, I have a feeling there are a lot of women (possibly even some men) that would enjoy Waking Forever. I know I'm in the minority when it comes to what I like to read. So - if you like romance, but with a few vampires thrown in - go for it! This just wasn't for me.
May 4, 2021
The book would have been average at best if it wasn't for the god-awful attempt at German. The grammar was so horrid it completely destroyed any enjoyment I have had from reading the story. If they just wrote it in English in italics it would be much better and wouldn't sound as if they just threw the whole sentence in Google translate.
May 2, 2016
Could have been so much better.
This book could have been so much better had the characters been even slightly likable. Sara whined the entire book. Rachel was cold and unfeeling, brooding, and a complete ass. Coleen was contemptible. The only character I liked was the one I was not supposed to like, Ela. "Sex is an extension of the hunt". Bullshit! This book broke me from all vampire books forever. No writer seems to get it right and frankly I am completely exhausted by their efforts. Including Meyers. Hard for me to believe this is the same writer that wrote November's End, which I loved. I will not read the rest of the series. Just can't bring myself to do it. Perhaps it would better serve these Meyers enthusiasts to read the true queen of this genre, Anne Rice.
This book could have been so much better had the characters been even slightly likable. Sara whined the entire book. Rachel was cold and unfeeling, brooding, and a complete ass. Coleen was contemptible. The only character I liked was the one I was not supposed to like, Ela. "Sex is an extension of the hunt". Bullshit! This book broke me from all vampire books forever. No writer seems to get it right and frankly I am completely exhausted by their efforts. Including Meyers. Hard for me to believe this is the same writer that wrote November's End, which I loved. I will not read the rest of the series. Just can't bring myself to do it. Perhaps it would better serve these Meyers enthusiasts to read the true queen of this genre, Anne Rice.
January 14, 2015
Maybe it's me
I love vampires. I love lesbians. I hate weak willed women. Both females in this but are weak. The story is so so and at times I skip the mind rants and the flip flop feels had me in circles. The love scenes where lacking. Good job though not for me
I love vampires. I love lesbians. I hate weak willed women. Both females in this but are weak. The story is so so and at times I skip the mind rants and the flip flop feels had me in circles. The love scenes where lacking. Good job though not for me
July 1, 2014
Fantastic. I have to admit that I am a bit of a novice at reading urban fantasy, but this book was NOTHING less than great. I've been a bit depressed by typical lesbian romance lately, and was looking to expand my choices. Great writing, charismatic characters (Rachel and Sara both), blindingly dynamic story line, smart, funny dialogue,and sweet scenes (more poignant in this context). Of course the sex scenes were great (vampires!), but the romance and the plot made me beg for more. Could not put it down. It's always interesting to observe what breaks through to become popular in lesbian fiction. The talented, self-published Ms. McVea has indeed made me a fan.
December 19, 2016
Fell in love with vampires again.
This the first book I read of this Author's. I can't say there was anything I didn't like about it at all. I was hooked on page one and couldn't put it down til I was done. I have always liked reading books with vampire storyline, but it's been awhile that one has caught my attention. I am glad I still have 4 books to go. I would definitely recommend this book.
This the first book I read of this Author's. I can't say there was anything I didn't like about it at all. I was hooked on page one and couldn't put it down til I was done. I have always liked reading books with vampire storyline, but it's been awhile that one has caught my attention. I am glad I still have 4 books to go. I would definitely recommend this book.
September 25, 2013
When I first saw the reviews on Amazon, I decided to buy it right away. I was disappointed in the book because I felt like I was reading a Bellice story (Twilight's Alice and Bella); it might just be me, though. I've read a lot of vampire stories in my life, so that might be a possible reason why the story lost its appeal to me.
December 12, 2022
one of the best…
I wasn’t sure what to expect from this book and never having read anything from the author before. I was pleasantly surprised to find great humor, depth of character and a very compelling and well thought out storyline. I was instantly in love with the MC as they met and became what they did. This story tracks so well and I love the new nuances and take on preternatural characters.
The dialogues were so engaging. This has become one of my favorite books and I can’t wait to read the rest of the series.
I wasn’t sure what to expect from this book and never having read anything from the author before. I was pleasantly surprised to find great humor, depth of character and a very compelling and well thought out storyline. I was instantly in love with the MC as they met and became what they did. This story tracks so well and I love the new nuances and take on preternatural characters.
The dialogues were so engaging. This has become one of my favorite books and I can’t wait to read the rest of the series.
February 7, 2020
Twilight copy for lesbian
March 12, 2016
Overall I think this book was an easy, decent read. It was easy to get into but the major premise of the story didn't seem too new. I did like this author's portrayal of Vampires and I think this book had really good descriptions.
However, a few problems I've found with this book. There are a lot of errors. There are times that it is a hard imagining the placement of characters because I believe the author herself forgets where they are. There are a number of places in the book where a character moves across the room but then a few lines later they're on the other side of the room with no indication. And I'm not speaking about Vampire speed, either.
This mistake is best shown in the epilogue of the book. One character clearly leaves the kitchen and goes into the living room (even turning on a television!). A few lines later, they're repeating this action, leaving the kitchen to go to the living room. It's humorous at this point because I've never seen something so badly erred get through editing.
Another problem I found was the mini-break in the story to see how one character because a Vampire. While it was interesting, I did think that the flash back was a bit too long. I personally can't decide whether it helped the story or took away from it.
Overall, I liked this book. I might consider reading the second one. Hopefully the author has gotten better at remembering where she places her characters.
However, a few problems I've found with this book. There are a lot of errors. There are times that it is a hard imagining the placement of characters because I believe the author herself forgets where they are. There are a number of places in the book where a character moves across the room but then a few lines later they're on the other side of the room with no indication. And I'm not speaking about Vampire speed, either.
This mistake is best shown in the epilogue of the book. One character clearly leaves the kitchen and goes into the living room (even turning on a television!). A few lines later, they're repeating this action, leaving the kitchen to go to the living room. It's humorous at this point because I've never seen something so badly erred get through editing.
Another problem I found was the mini-break in the story to see how one character because a Vampire. While it was interesting, I did think that the flash back was a bit too long. I personally can't decide whether it helped the story or took away from it.
Overall, I liked this book. I might consider reading the second one. Hopefully the author has gotten better at remembering where she places her characters.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 11, 2017
This was not my first book by the author. I came across her with "Fallen Elements", which I enjoyed very much. I was quite reluctant reading about "perfect" vampires, as one reviewer put it, but thought I'd try my luck anyway and was not disappointed.
This book has a good plot, the reasonable amount of Angst before committing to a complicated relationship, believable (even if unbearable gorgeous) characters plus the thrill of a vengeful killer.
However, I was a little put out by a few minor details. First, why does one vampire (who was a Polish Jew) speak German with another vampire (who is far older - origins unknown)? Second, why don't they speak Polish? And third, why couldn't the author find someone to at least give her a proper German translation for what she wanted them to say?
But as I said, I'm being a nitpicker here. So if you enjoy romance plus the thrill of the supernatural and gorgeous women. Read this book.
This book has a good plot, the reasonable amount of Angst before committing to a complicated relationship, believable (even if unbearable gorgeous) characters plus the thrill of a vengeful killer.
However, I was a little put out by a few minor details. First, why does one vampire (who was a Polish Jew) speak German with another vampire (who is far older - origins unknown)? Second, why don't they speak Polish? And third, why couldn't the author find someone to at least give her a proper German translation for what she wanted them to say?
But as I said, I'm being a nitpicker here. So if you enjoy romance plus the thrill of the supernatural and gorgeous women. Read this book.
February 2, 2015
Interesting
I was attracted first at the concept of the book. To tell the truth a couple of chapters into the book I was already making comparisons to a very well know vampire book. Regardless of that, I wasn't put off by it and enjoyed all the dynamics between Rachael and Sara from the bad ones to the very sexy and good ones. It also accomplished the goal of peaking my interest and continue reading the series.
I was attracted first at the concept of the book. To tell the truth a couple of chapters into the book I was already making comparisons to a very well know vampire book. Regardless of that, I wasn't put off by it and enjoyed all the dynamics between Rachael and Sara from the bad ones to the very sexy and good ones. It also accomplished the goal of peaking my interest and continue reading the series.
January 6, 2014
I liked the story, though I think it would have been more perfect if we get to see some more of Sara and Rachel in their new life. I liked that there is humour in the book and sometimes Sara is just so geeky kind of goofy. Rachel... who wouldn't like her, the loyal and considerate companion. I am looking forward for the next installment.
May 6, 2015
I read this whole series. Sometimes I would wonder "Why did this character do this? It did not make any sense!" McVea seemed to read my reader mind, and would explain motivations. She is an intelligent writer.
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews