Dark in Blood

Bloodmoon & Creature #1

by Lara Bruni

3rd Place Award Winner in the Paranormal-Romance category for The BookFest!!

Loved the entire story! Connected with the characters immediately and fell in love with them! Can't wait for your next novel! Traci K.—Amazon Review ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

A fun read! A Paranormal, Mystery, Dark Romance that provided lots of action and spice. I look forward to more books featuring Bloodmoon and Creature. Shawn M.—Goodreads reviewer ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

When vampire Justice Bloodmoon's ex-lover is brutally murdered, she knows without a doubt who took her life—her un-bonded mate Yuri. A tough, independent private detective with a tragic past, Justice Bloodmoon is determined to do whatever it takes to avenge her death and bring the killer to justice. But when Justice crosses paths with Detective Zac Creature, the hard-as-nails detective assigned to the case, she must navigate through her undeniable attraction to Creature and the need to find an evil predator.

When Detective Zac Creature’s fiancé and partner are murdered by a sadistic vampire, the only thing on his mind is finding and eliminating the killer. Seeking vengeance for his own loss, he uses his detective background as a cover for his vampire hunter status to follow the killer to a city across the pond, never expecting to run into the beautiful vampire detective Justice Bloodmoon, whose connection to the killer is too close for comfort.

Murder, betrayal, and a dangerous attraction intertwine and with both their circumstances connected, they decide to work together to find a merciless killer.

Will they be able to overcome their pasts amidst the chaos by giving in to their desires, or be forced apart by Justice's need to protect her heart?

Genres: Dark Romance, Paranormal, Dark, Fantasy, Ebooks

360 pages, Kindle Edition

First published August 16, 2024

About the author

3rd Place Winner in the Paranormal-Romance category for The BookFest for Dark In Blood Fall 2024***

3rd Place Winner in the Romance-Suspense category for The BookFest for The Hollow Spring 2025***

International Impact Book Award Winner 2025/Romance category for The Hollow***

1st Place Winner in the Small Town Romance/Comedy category for The BookFest Fall 2025 for Hearts Fire**

Lara Bruni is an Award Winning author who lives in Salt Lake City, Utah. In her down time, she loves to lose herself in the pages of a good book and enjoys watching rom-com and action movies.

The first book in the new Heartstruck series: Hearts Fire is OUT NOW.

Reviews

[Brita Mackay · Rating 4 out of 5]

Justice Bloodmoon believes without a doubt that her un-bonded mate Yuri is behind the brutal murder of her ex-lover. As a tough, independent private detective, Justice Bloodmoon isn't a stranger to tragedy. She lives with the memory of everything that's happened in her past and all the tragedy it holds. And now, now she's going to do whatever it take to bring the murderer to light and ensure they face justice.

It's only when Justice comes face to face with Detective Zac Creature, a detective assigned to the case who is determined and hard as stone, Justice now has to face her sudden attraction to this man to find a killer.

Detective Zac Creature's fiance and partner was murdered by a sick sadistic vampire. Now he has one thing and one thing only on his mind. Find and destroy the vampire responsible. Vengeance, revenge, and punishment are things that are on his mind for his own loss. Using his own background as his cover, he becomes an undercover vampire hunter to kill vampires across the city and across the pond.

So, he is shocked when he comes face to face with the stunning vampire, who is also a detective, Justice Bloodmoon. Her connection to the killer makes him very uncomfortable. Even so, they decide to work together to find the killer, and they are able to connect the dots to find the killer. All the while, they work with the skills that they have, looking at a murder, betrayal, and an attraction that is deadly and dangerous that intertwines their circumstances.

I loved this read. I had so much fun reading it. I am starting to really enjoy reading these mystery's that are twisted in with Dark Romance's. They are full of romance and action and the perfect amount of spice.

The character development, along with the character backstories, are on perfect. I loved the character arcs. I look forward to future Bloodmoon and Creature books that furthering of the arcs, character backstories, and character development.

I really enjoyed the different POVs and getting to see everything from the different points of view and how the characters were feeling. This really helped to develop the storyline, the plot, and the sub-plot.

This book is really well written and really well thought out. If you enjoy a good mystery, with excellent character development, a wonderful storyline, plot, sub-plot, and just the right amount of spice, then this is the book for you. You are going to fall in love with Bloodmore and Creature, and you are going to be left wanting more of them. Just like I do.

[Jessica Bradford · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was not what I expected it to be. However, I don't know what I was expecting as this is the first read for me from Lara Bruni. It won't be my last. I am a cover reader for the most part so if the cover doesn't pull me in, most of the time I won't be interested and this one did just that. It pulled me in and never let me go. Justice being unbonded to the person she believes killed her ex-lover is something that I don't know I could have come back from. How do you forgive that when you know that this person was made for you? Did I mention the FMC was a vampire? Well yeah, there's that which is significant because the detective assigned to the case has a very strong abhor for vampires. Why, you ask? Well because his fiance was killed by a vampire. Still need a plot.... they are attracted to each other. Now they have to navigate all of these feelings while bringing the killer to justice. BTW the FMC is named Justice, Do you like how I did that?

I promise you won't be upset by this book. I am so looking forward to the next in the series.

[Tysha · Rating 5 out of 5]

My goodness, I really enjoyed this book!

Take a strong female main character who's a private detective, vampire and part-time vigilante, with a dark and twisted ex who is seriously messed up in more ways than one. Throw in some spice, a bit of mystery, a possibly cursed necklace, and a vampire hunter, and you have the makings of a really gripping read!

I used to read a lot of vampire fiction growing up, and I love it when authors add their own little twists to the mythos and give us a genuinely likeable vampire main character. This is definitely one of the most enjoyable vampire novels I've read in ages, and I'm definitely going to check out the next Bloodmoon and Creature story.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Brittany Morrow · Rating 4 out of 5]

i always looked forward to the next chapter, no dull moments in this book. it has so much detail put into in to help your imagination feel like you’re IN the book too and i enjoyed the flashback moments to help the reader better understand the character. i loved be able to know what each character was thinking and feeling in those emotional moments too and the ending leaves you wanting more!

[Beverly · Rating 4 out of 5]

I dont know how I feel about this book. I feel like I was reading 3 stories at one time. Yes, all the stories go together, but could of had their own books. I think I liked Blair and Jake the best.

[Daniella Ross · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great story!

I was able to get through this story without getting bored. Thank you. Looking forward to more. Until next time...

[shawn murphy · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fun read by Lara Bruni, Dark in Blood. Paranormal, Mystery, Dark Romance that provided lots of action and spice. Great backstories for the characters. I look forward to more books featuring Bloodmoon and Creature.

[Elena · Rating 1 out of 5]

I already hate this book. ugh.

[CelticMoonGoddess · Rating 4 out of 5]

From what I understand this is first novel of Lara Bruni and the first book of a trilogy and have book 2 lined up to continue the story.
I enjoyed it and always nice to have a different twist and narrative with supernatural genre and this one focuses mostly on vampires, but witch, magic and shifters also on the edge. A nice mix as detective and vampire begin to team up to help solve crimes and in this case a vampire serial killer both Justice Bloodmoon and Zac Creature are working on separately and when their paths cross an opportunity to combine resources benefits both parties. There is a second pairing of Briar (Justice's best friend) and Jake (Justice's brother) that also has a magical attraction happening so exciting to see where both couples evolve and grow into.
The writing can be a bit basic and dips in places but I am putting that down to understanding this is the author's first novel and so with that perspective I loved the narrative, good storyline, exciting and engaging characters and the overall scope of the book outweighs for me some predictable, corny and lapse of interest moments.
Looking forward to reading book 2 and excited as enjoying the imagination and world created by author to set and be background for this trilogy.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Charlene Alana Henderson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is my first time reading a book by Lara and it won't be my last, I freaking loved it. I was captivated from the start to the end. Not wanting to put it down for a second. It's a wild rollercoaster ride with twists and turns. I was on the edge of my seat needing to know what was going to happen next.

It's filled with mystery, darkness, chaos, action, spice, betrayal, murder, desire, justice and so much more. The characters development was spot on. The storyline line was wonderfully done. The plot was fantastic. The authors writing style was great, it made me feel like I was apart of their story , picturing everything brilliantly. I instantly fell in love with creature and bloodmoon.

I can't wait to read more from Lara. Highly recommend!

[Allison Comis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great read.

This was mainly about Justice. She was a vampire. This was a little different than the traditional vampire book. Vampires weren’t turned. They had to have a gene in order to become one. It is activated when they are bit. Justice was married a long time ago to Yuri. He was gone for a few years and when he came back he was different and not in a good way. So she contained him in a cave. He somehow got out and was looking for her. She had a friend Briar who worked with someone that Justice was involved with. Well Yuri didn’t like that and he made a statement. This is how they met Zac Creature. He was a homicide detective.

[Jaime Cantrell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dark in Blood is book one of the Bloodmoon & Creature Trilogy and it is the first book I’ve read by Lara Brun. I loved this book, and I cannot wait to read the next book. This book will take you on a wild ride. Filled with justice, darkness, action and more it will keep you on the edge of your seat with every turn of the page. I loved Creature and Bloodmoon. I cannot wait to read more of this trilogy.


As always be mindful of trigger warnings, what I like you may not.

Happy Reading!

[Jacqualine Martinez · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love the story. It’s a book that you wanna curl up in on a dark night possibly with a storm. It keeps you reading all the way through as a definite page Turner with amazing story, terrific characters and great world building. It is a definite recommendation for me I would highly recommend a book. Looking forward to book 2.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Lucy Morris · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wow what a read!!

To begin with I struggled getting into it but definitely glad I stuck with it!! A lot of information and very descriptive but such a good story!!

Definitely left me wanting more and left with different ways to go but definitely look forward to see where things go!!

Spicy dark and dangerous!!!

[Jay Luis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Awesome paranormal romance


She is an half vampire human with a twinkle of witch.
He is a detective that lost his girlfriend to a vampire attack set in finding his killer.
When this path cross is only due to the acts of her obsessed ex-husband.
With a lot of plot twists and yearning and a lot of trigger warnings.

[Connie Fogg-Bouchard · Rating 5 out of 5]

finding Justice

what do you do when you're a a vampire who is being pursued by your ex? become a P.I. and "hunt" downright the scum who terrorize the night. but the past never leaves when you've lived this long. in fact, it has been destroying your life. and then, HE shows up.....

[Monica Graham · Rating 5 out of 5]

With a lot of different POVs there is a lot to keep track of. The spice was really good. There were a lot of action and a good mystery/thriller element. I really enjoyed reading this book.

[pavitra · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.25

perfect blend of romance and suspense, jam packed with action and spice

so excited for the next book!!

[Samantha Wise · Rating 5 out of 5]

The FMC really MADE this book for me. I adore a strong FMC and Lara writes them EXCEEDINGLY well. I can't wait to read more of her works--and there are many! Yay!

[Marie · Rating 1 out of 5]

DNF. did not like the SA that occurred - within the first 100 pages. no thanks