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The Hunted #1
All The Pretty Bones
After ten years of living in the shadow of her stalker, a diagnosis of terminal cancer pushes Olivia Kardos to take matters into her own hands. Her final days will not be spent isolated from the world nor hiding like a hunted animal. It’s time for Mark Porter to die. Going against a trained killer alone would be foolish, but the handsome arms dealer who offers to help her has a dark secret of his own.
Homicide Detective Sean Howard has tried to push his ex out of his mind, but his next case brings her crashing back into his life. A woman is found exsanguinated and brutally stabbed in Seattle’s Queen Anne neighborhood and she could be Olivia’s doppelganger. As more women are murdered and the similarities grow, Sean can’t shake the feeling that Olivia is next.
In a world where demons and vampires lurk just beneath the surface, what you don’t know can kill you.
Homicide Detective Sean Howard has tried to push his ex out of his mind, but his next case brings her crashing back into his life. A woman is found exsanguinated and brutally stabbed in Seattle’s Queen Anne neighborhood and she could be Olivia’s doppelganger. As more women are murdered and the similarities grow, Sean can’t shake the feeling that Olivia is next.
In a world where demons and vampires lurk just beneath the surface, what you don’t know can kill you.
312 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 1, 2014
23 people are currently reading
234 people want to read
About the author
Camela Thompson
6 books47 followersCamela Thompson lives with her incredibly supportive husband and strange dog in Seattle, the city where cloud cover and shadows rule. How else is a girl supposed to keep her luminescent (perfectly pasty) complexion? The rain also provides the perfect scapegoat for hiding inside with a laptop, her dog, and a hot cup of tea. Excuses for reclusive behavior get considerably more creative during the summer (she may or may not have a mild sun allergy). Camela cohosts Shadows on the Sound, a podcast on iTunes about the myths and superstitions that withstand the test of time - which is really just an excuse to geek out on her favorite topics (vampires, ghosts, and zombies in pop culture).
https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/s...
https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/s...
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 38 reviews
December 19, 2017
When I first found Goodreads about 3 years ago, this was one of the first books I ever added to my 'Want to Read'. Finally I sourced a copy and read it.... and I am so disappointed.
None of my Goodreads friends have read this book, but the community reviews are overwhelmingly positive. I don't understand this. I honestly didn't like this book at all.
The characters were all awful. The writing was not good. The whole tone of the book felt judgey and bitchey. And the plot was nothing special or unique.
So the main character is Olivia, a 32 year old woman who has a serial stalker - Mark - and was recently diagnosed with terminal cancer. She decides to take her life back in order to enjoy what’s left of it, and realises that to do this she must kill Mark.
I HATED Olivia. She’s made out to be this selfless woman with a heart of gold but she acts like a complete bitch. She calls her ex boyfriend from yeeears ago, Sean, who’s a cop, and asks him where she can find a gun. Sean is now married with 2 kids and one on the way. They broke up many years ago, she left him, and she reflects several times that she never really loved him anyway. Still, upon hanging up on Sean these are her thoughts on Sean’s completely innocent wife:
”The woman was Olivia’s total opposite: blond, busty and a little cheap. Olivia smirked. No matter how much money Sean showered her with, Tammy’s taste would always run hot pink, overly revealing, and gaudy. She didn’t leave the house without her hair teased within an inch of its life, fresh nails, and pastel makeup applied like spackle with a putty knife.
Olivia laughed out loud when she thought of their wedding. Had she known how it would turn out, she never would have gone. She had chosen to sit on the wrong side and too close to the front. Sean looked to Olivia each time he said his vows.”
She literally smirks at the mere thought of her and laughs out loud at the memory of their wedding that she ruined! What a horrible person (and why the hell was she even invited to the wedding? She is the grooms ex who broke up with him by publicly humiliating him and they did not remain friends or keep in touch).
Also, every male in this book falls in love with her the very second they look at her. It is completely ridiculous and unrealistic. You wouldn't believe how many times men audibly groan when they think of her.
Sean is the other main character in this story, and he is even worse than Olivia. Olivia is his ex-girlfriend who broke up with him years ago (it’s not specified exactly how long, but it’s at least 5 years) and he is still obsessed with her. He is married, has two kids and his wife Tammy is about 7 months pregnant with their third. Number one reason I hate this guy: he honestly seems to really, really dislike his wife. He’s not only still in love with a woman he hasn’t seen or spoken to in years (NOT his wife), but he doesn’t even seem to like Tammy. Who has done absolutely nothing wrong. Here's a couple of direct quotes from Sean's head regarding his wife (and there's plenty more where these came from):
” “No TV. He only gets 30 minutes a day and I need those 30 minutes to be while I’m trying to fold laundry and get Scott to take a nap.” Tammy’s squawk projected from the kitchen like some kind of missile. A loud, droning missile. Sean focused on how much she doted on his boys and everything she did for them all day. He calmed even more when she said, “Your black suit is at the dry cleaners. I dropped it off yesterday, so it should be ready tomorrow.”
Even when each word drove like a nail into his head, he couldn’t be mad.”
UM, why the F would be he mad??!! For doing his laundry and taking care of his kids?? What a horrible way to think about his wife. He is such an ass.
”Tammy crossed over to him, sat next to him on the couch, and rested her hand on his knee. A sudden twist of desperate hope gripped her features, warring with the horror in her voice. “Oh my God, that’s awful. Is that why you’ve been working so hard?” To Sean’s credit, he didn’t flinch at the contact or her high-pitched whine.”
Apparently it is to his CREDIT that he didn’t ‘flinch’ at the sound of his wife’s voice or her putting her hand on his knee. SUCH an ass.
“Tammy had woken up feeling just as lousy. If she had been able to leave the house, Sean and the boys might have had a better chance at peace, if not contentment. He resented being trapped while a maniac plotted against Olivia, and his anger tangled around his wife."
At this point, Sean himself took the day off, entirely on his own volition, and is now angry at Tammy because he's not at work. Tammy is also sick, and Sean is annoyed because he cannot enjoy himself whilst she is at home and would be having a much better day if she were not there. Dick.
He's also a murder detective; Upon finding the horrifically murdered bodies of two young women, these are his initial reactions:
"The figure and hair had been spot on, but the eyes were all wrong. Dark brown and drab.” And,
”The victim’s features were close to Olivia’s, but wrinkles were beginning to form, and her eyes were a dull brown.”
Their eyes are boring!! Seriously. I mean, they are DEAD.
There is also exactly one sex scene in this book and it may be the most awkward thing I've ever read. It's pretty long, but here are some highlights:
”He paused while she ran her hand down his neck and groaned when her mouth yielded to his. After a few leisurely moments of exploration, they parted. “Wow.” The kindest compliment she could have paid him."
”She inched the bra down her arms and after holding it over the swells (!!!) of her breasts, flung it with the rest of her clothes on the floor. Lucian sucked in a breath as the little pink buds tightened in the cold air. (little pink buds!!?!) Her breasts were of perfect proportion to her body, and the weight felt right in his hands when he cupped them. He couldn’t stop himself and sat up to suckle one of her nipples.”
“The predatory smile that broke out on her face made his cock jump.”
“As he made his way down to her lovely core, the sweet smell he had caught earlier grew stronger. The scent had been her arousal.” (ew)
”He growled and penetrated her with his tongue. She cried out as though she understood his drive. She belonged to him. He had to claim her. Something came back online in his brain, and he forced himself to slow down, lapping at her most sensitive spot.”
“Reaching up, he took a nipple between his thumb and forefinger, twisting until she rose up with the sweet pain.” (what?! Don’t do that!!)
”As he drove into her, she began to come and milk him.” (huh?!?!)
”He groaned against the wave shooting up his cock, the heavy weights of his balls contracting as his seed travelled up his shaft.”
Here's another selection of passages from the book, just to give you an idea of why I disliked it so much:
"He shifted the erection tenting his sweats under the band of his boxers and walked up to her."
Sean had literally just looked at Olivia for the very first time and already has an erection. This is a grown policeman we’re talking about here, not a teenage boy.
"This case already had a grip on him that made his balls crawl."
I am pretty sure this is not an expression.
"He conjured her form without effort. The long, graceful neck; the delicate curve of her eyebrows; and the prominent cheekbones. A soft groan rumbled in his chest. He allowed his mind to drift down her slender body over the firm swell of her breasts and down to those long legs."
Even her ‘delicate eyebrows’ were irresistible. Also, I’ve said this before and I’ll say it again: The “swell” of breasts is my least favourite expression in the world. It is so incredibly off-putting. It makes my skin crawl (note: ‘skin’ not ‘balls’). And it comes up several more times throughout the book!!
"Josette’s intelligence spanned the width of a strand of silk. The Victorian age of flowery prose and caustic wit had died long ago, leading to this wonderful era of OMG and WTF. Where she had once struggled, now she bloomed like some sort of noxious weed."
Really? Just, really?
"Olivia’s mouth throbbed, something pushing against her eye teeth."
Her eye teeth?!
"He couldn’t escape. And now a headache behind his cheekbones tweaked up a few notches."
Behind his cheekbones?!
" “Not even a skirt?” “Nothing shorter than an inch above the knee. I wanted to be taken seriously at work. Dressing like a tart would not further my career.” "
Right. Because obviously, anyone who wears a skirt that’s shorter than an inch above the knee is a tart.
”Olivia’s tongue brushed his lips. She showed him what she craved.”
”She brushed her lips with the tips of her fingers, remembering the mastery of his kiss.”
”Olivia squirmed as the silky cloth dragged up her thighs. The sensation bordered on painful against her sensitive skin, but she kept up the languid pace until the fabric lapped at her belly. Gentle fingers trailed over her hip, up her stomach, then down the opposite hip. Her mouth ached and her throat burned when her fingers ran up her thigh, but she didn’t stop.”
She is literally just lying in bed alone at this point.
”Sean flexed a fedora in his hands.”
Oh, of course he wears a fedora.
” “This room... it’s how I always thought a father would smell,” Olivia muttered.”
WHAT.
"Sean took in the red rips in the victims pink top and the cheap, white jacket.”
“ “At least Tammy won’t think you’re getting freaky with someone, like the time we found that hooker stuffed into the truck with that horrid bottle of cheap perfume dumped all over her.” "
"The shampoo smelled cheap and fruity."
"The sound of cheap shoes slapping against tile halted Sean in his tracks."
What's with this author and her judgemental attitude towards 'cheap' things? There's nothing wrong with saving money! And as if you would be able to tell that shoes were cheap just by hearing the sound of someone walking.
"She had bolted to the nightstand to grab her gun and had run from room to room shouting “Clear!” in case something lurked in her apartment so it wouldn’t think she was alone."
This part is too long to put into context, but basically if there was anyone else in her apartment at this point there is absolutely no way they wouldn’t know she was alone. Numnut.
"A woman rapped her knuckles on the passenger side window. Her grey complexion and thinning hair made her a poster girl for the war on drugs. After a stare down, the woman walked on."
Alright, judgey. Also, the woman asked her a question ('spare any change?') and she just stares at her in silence. Rude. This also, like many things that happen in this book, had absolutely nothing to do with anything.
"Doc got a little testy with Sean’s tone. “Cool your heels, detective.” "
I don’t think that expression means what you think it means.
“She strapped on some gold stilettos she had accidentally purchased online and never returned”
Let's make it clear here that Olivia did not buy stilettos on purpose! She is a good girl and not a whore.
“In fact, the swells of her breasts were clearly visible through the fabric.”
AGAIN!
“She ignored the goosebumps in her arms and the heavy feeling in her breasts.”
Have you ever been so anxious that your boobs felt heavy? Note that it says breasts plural. Definitely boobs, not chest.
Anyway, to summarise: I will not be reading the next book.
None of my Goodreads friends have read this book, but the community reviews are overwhelmingly positive. I don't understand this. I honestly didn't like this book at all.
The characters were all awful. The writing was not good. The whole tone of the book felt judgey and bitchey. And the plot was nothing special or unique.
So the main character is Olivia, a 32 year old woman who has a serial stalker - Mark - and was recently diagnosed with terminal cancer. She decides to take her life back in order to enjoy what’s left of it, and realises that to do this she must kill Mark.
I HATED Olivia. She’s made out to be this selfless woman with a heart of gold but she acts like a complete bitch. She calls her ex boyfriend from yeeears ago, Sean, who’s a cop, and asks him where she can find a gun. Sean is now married with 2 kids and one on the way. They broke up many years ago, she left him, and she reflects several times that she never really loved him anyway. Still, upon hanging up on Sean these are her thoughts on Sean’s completely innocent wife:
”The woman was Olivia’s total opposite: blond, busty and a little cheap. Olivia smirked. No matter how much money Sean showered her with, Tammy’s taste would always run hot pink, overly revealing, and gaudy. She didn’t leave the house without her hair teased within an inch of its life, fresh nails, and pastel makeup applied like spackle with a putty knife.
Olivia laughed out loud when she thought of their wedding. Had she known how it would turn out, she never would have gone. She had chosen to sit on the wrong side and too close to the front. Sean looked to Olivia each time he said his vows.”
She literally smirks at the mere thought of her and laughs out loud at the memory of their wedding that she ruined! What a horrible person (and why the hell was she even invited to the wedding? She is the grooms ex who broke up with him by publicly humiliating him and they did not remain friends or keep in touch).
Also, every male in this book falls in love with her the very second they look at her. It is completely ridiculous and unrealistic. You wouldn't believe how many times men audibly groan when they think of her.
Sean is the other main character in this story, and he is even worse than Olivia. Olivia is his ex-girlfriend who broke up with him years ago (it’s not specified exactly how long, but it’s at least 5 years) and he is still obsessed with her. He is married, has two kids and his wife Tammy is about 7 months pregnant with their third. Number one reason I hate this guy: he honestly seems to really, really dislike his wife. He’s not only still in love with a woman he hasn’t seen or spoken to in years (NOT his wife), but he doesn’t even seem to like Tammy. Who has done absolutely nothing wrong. Here's a couple of direct quotes from Sean's head regarding his wife (and there's plenty more where these came from):
” “No TV. He only gets 30 minutes a day and I need those 30 minutes to be while I’m trying to fold laundry and get Scott to take a nap.” Tammy’s squawk projected from the kitchen like some kind of missile. A loud, droning missile. Sean focused on how much she doted on his boys and everything she did for them all day. He calmed even more when she said, “Your black suit is at the dry cleaners. I dropped it off yesterday, so it should be ready tomorrow.”
Even when each word drove like a nail into his head, he couldn’t be mad.”
UM, why the F would be he mad??!! For doing his laundry and taking care of his kids?? What a horrible way to think about his wife. He is such an ass.
”Tammy crossed over to him, sat next to him on the couch, and rested her hand on his knee. A sudden twist of desperate hope gripped her features, warring with the horror in her voice. “Oh my God, that’s awful. Is that why you’ve been working so hard?” To Sean’s credit, he didn’t flinch at the contact or her high-pitched whine.”
Apparently it is to his CREDIT that he didn’t ‘flinch’ at the sound of his wife’s voice or her putting her hand on his knee. SUCH an ass.
“Tammy had woken up feeling just as lousy. If she had been able to leave the house, Sean and the boys might have had a better chance at peace, if not contentment. He resented being trapped while a maniac plotted against Olivia, and his anger tangled around his wife."
At this point, Sean himself took the day off, entirely on his own volition, and is now angry at Tammy because he's not at work. Tammy is also sick, and Sean is annoyed because he cannot enjoy himself whilst she is at home and would be having a much better day if she were not there. Dick.
He's also a murder detective; Upon finding the horrifically murdered bodies of two young women, these are his initial reactions:
"The figure and hair had been spot on, but the eyes were all wrong. Dark brown and drab.” And,
”The victim’s features were close to Olivia’s, but wrinkles were beginning to form, and her eyes were a dull brown.”
Their eyes are boring!! Seriously. I mean, they are DEAD.
There is also exactly one sex scene in this book and it may be the most awkward thing I've ever read. It's pretty long, but here are some highlights:
”He paused while she ran her hand down his neck and groaned when her mouth yielded to his. After a few leisurely moments of exploration, they parted. “Wow.” The kindest compliment she could have paid him."
”She inched the bra down her arms and after holding it over the swells (!!!) of her breasts, flung it with the rest of her clothes on the floor. Lucian sucked in a breath as the little pink buds tightened in the cold air. (little pink buds!!?!) Her breasts were of perfect proportion to her body, and the weight felt right in his hands when he cupped them. He couldn’t stop himself and sat up to suckle one of her nipples.”
“The predatory smile that broke out on her face made his cock jump.”
“As he made his way down to her lovely core, the sweet smell he had caught earlier grew stronger. The scent had been her arousal.” (ew)
”He growled and penetrated her with his tongue. She cried out as though she understood his drive. She belonged to him. He had to claim her. Something came back online in his brain, and he forced himself to slow down, lapping at her most sensitive spot.”
“Reaching up, he took a nipple between his thumb and forefinger, twisting until she rose up with the sweet pain.” (what?! Don’t do that!!)
”As he drove into her, she began to come and milk him.” (huh?!?!)
”He groaned against the wave shooting up his cock, the heavy weights of his balls contracting as his seed travelled up his shaft.”
Here's another selection of passages from the book, just to give you an idea of why I disliked it so much:
"He shifted the erection tenting his sweats under the band of his boxers and walked up to her."
Sean had literally just looked at Olivia for the very first time and already has an erection. This is a grown policeman we’re talking about here, not a teenage boy.
"This case already had a grip on him that made his balls crawl."
I am pretty sure this is not an expression.
"He conjured her form without effort. The long, graceful neck; the delicate curve of her eyebrows; and the prominent cheekbones. A soft groan rumbled in his chest. He allowed his mind to drift down her slender body over the firm swell of her breasts and down to those long legs."
Even her ‘delicate eyebrows’ were irresistible. Also, I’ve said this before and I’ll say it again: The “swell” of breasts is my least favourite expression in the world. It is so incredibly off-putting. It makes my skin crawl (note: ‘skin’ not ‘balls’). And it comes up several more times throughout the book!!
"Josette’s intelligence spanned the width of a strand of silk. The Victorian age of flowery prose and caustic wit had died long ago, leading to this wonderful era of OMG and WTF. Where she had once struggled, now she bloomed like some sort of noxious weed."
Really? Just, really?
"Olivia’s mouth throbbed, something pushing against her eye teeth."
Her eye teeth?!
"He couldn’t escape. And now a headache behind his cheekbones tweaked up a few notches."
Behind his cheekbones?!
" “Not even a skirt?” “Nothing shorter than an inch above the knee. I wanted to be taken seriously at work. Dressing like a tart would not further my career.” "
Right. Because obviously, anyone who wears a skirt that’s shorter than an inch above the knee is a tart.
”Olivia’s tongue brushed his lips. She showed him what she craved.”
”She brushed her lips with the tips of her fingers, remembering the mastery of his kiss.”
”Olivia squirmed as the silky cloth dragged up her thighs. The sensation bordered on painful against her sensitive skin, but she kept up the languid pace until the fabric lapped at her belly. Gentle fingers trailed over her hip, up her stomach, then down the opposite hip. Her mouth ached and her throat burned when her fingers ran up her thigh, but she didn’t stop.”
She is literally just lying in bed alone at this point.
”Sean flexed a fedora in his hands.”
Oh, of course he wears a fedora.
” “This room... it’s how I always thought a father would smell,” Olivia muttered.”
WHAT.
"Sean took in the red rips in the victims pink top and the cheap, white jacket.”
“ “At least Tammy won’t think you’re getting freaky with someone, like the time we found that hooker stuffed into the truck with that horrid bottle of cheap perfume dumped all over her.” "
"The shampoo smelled cheap and fruity."
"The sound of cheap shoes slapping against tile halted Sean in his tracks."
What's with this author and her judgemental attitude towards 'cheap' things? There's nothing wrong with saving money! And as if you would be able to tell that shoes were cheap just by hearing the sound of someone walking.
"She had bolted to the nightstand to grab her gun and had run from room to room shouting “Clear!” in case something lurked in her apartment so it wouldn’t think she was alone."
This part is too long to put into context, but basically if there was anyone else in her apartment at this point there is absolutely no way they wouldn’t know she was alone. Numnut.
"A woman rapped her knuckles on the passenger side window. Her grey complexion and thinning hair made her a poster girl for the war on drugs. After a stare down, the woman walked on."
Alright, judgey. Also, the woman asked her a question ('spare any change?') and she just stares at her in silence. Rude. This also, like many things that happen in this book, had absolutely nothing to do with anything.
"Doc got a little testy with Sean’s tone. “Cool your heels, detective.” "
I don’t think that expression means what you think it means.
“She strapped on some gold stilettos she had accidentally purchased online and never returned”
Let's make it clear here that Olivia did not buy stilettos on purpose! She is a good girl and not a whore.
“In fact, the swells of her breasts were clearly visible through the fabric.”
AGAIN!
“She ignored the goosebumps in her arms and the heavy feeling in her breasts.”
Have you ever been so anxious that your boobs felt heavy? Note that it says breasts plural. Definitely boobs, not chest.
Anyway, to summarise: I will not be reading the next book.
May 21, 2015
Five Huge Stars!
I absolutely loved “All the Pretty Bones.” Not knowing what to expect, I was caught off guard as to how much I ended up loving it. I didn’t want it to end. The author weaves an incredibly well-written tale of a woman’s fight to take back her life from the man who’s been stalking her for ten years.
“She didn't even notice Mark until the day he stopped her outside of class. Every day after that, Mark was a driving force in her life. He was the reason she had chosen her apartment, ordered groceries and clothes online, and had no friends. Mark had isolated her and stripped every little bit of happiness from her life, one piece at a time. Knowing what little she had left was about to expire produced a stark clarity her life had been lacking. She had allowed him to take everything from her.”
Honestly, I was sucked in from the get-go. “All the Pretty Bones” is a gripping tale of suspense that takes you on a journey into the paranormal world. The author gives readers a new twist on vampires. Talk about refreshing, to read a novel that left me guessing as I never knew what to expect from one page to the next. A well-detailed story, without going overboard in description, that’s told from multiple POV’s, all of which flows smoothly from beginning to end. Characters fleshed out giving you a clear concise picture of each player, keeping you engaged, invested in them, leaving you wanting more. “All the Pretty Bones” is a novel that you can sink your teeth into (pun intended). Full of drama and suspense, and a vampire who exudes sexiness. Even the ending is one to appreciate. Not too sure if it’s the end, or if the story will continue. This is a novel I highly recommend. With great anticipation, I look forward to reading the next chapter. Congratulations Camela Thompson on your debut novel. You knocked this one clear out of the park.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 12, 2014
Olivia Kardos is tired of living in the shadows, living a limited life. She discovers she has terminal cancer and decides it is time to live while she can. In order to do that she must hunt down and kill her stalker of 10 years. For help she calls her ex Detective Sean Howard for some connections. That is how she meats the mysterious Lucian who offers to help her. All the while Detective Sean Howard is investigating a case where woman are brutally murdered and they have one thing in common...terminal cancer and they all look eerily like Olivia.
Holy Smokes! Pulled me in and kept me captive! There are so many moving parts to this story and its characters that you would think it would be hard to keep up but it wasn't. It flowed seamlessly and it was so well put together....I am literally jumping in my seat waiting for the next one! Come on Camela I need more! I have to know what happens next! This isn't your every day garden variety Vamp story. Oh No it is not! Camela Thompson has crafted a wonderful story of Vampires and Demons and warriors that is intriguing and captivating. A well woven story and plot that pulls you in and brings you into a whole new world. I couldn't put this book down it was so good and I will shove this book in anyone's face to recommend it!
*Reviewer for Paranormal Romance and Authors That Rock!
Holy Smokes! Pulled me in and kept me captive! There are so many moving parts to this story and its characters that you would think it would be hard to keep up but it wasn't. It flowed seamlessly and it was so well put together....I am literally jumping in my seat waiting for the next one! Come on Camela I need more! I have to know what happens next! This isn't your every day garden variety Vamp story. Oh No it is not! Camela Thompson has crafted a wonderful story of Vampires and Demons and warriors that is intriguing and captivating. A well woven story and plot that pulls you in and brings you into a whole new world. I couldn't put this book down it was so good and I will shove this book in anyone's face to recommend it!
*Reviewer for Paranormal Romance and Authors That Rock!
April 2, 2016
Loved it!
I almost never review books anymore. For an author, that's a risky thing, but I absolutely loved this book and the five stars have been well earned. My only suggestion is to use contractions in the speech of modern people. Otherwise, it's awesome.
I almost never review books anymore. For an author, that's a risky thing, but I absolutely loved this book and the five stars have been well earned. My only suggestion is to use contractions in the speech of modern people. Otherwise, it's awesome.
August 5, 2016
This was a very gripping novel that I honestly did not want to end. I am very much looking forward to reading more by this author and in this series. The story centers around Olivia who has just found out that her body is full of cancer. Knowing that her time is limited she no longer wants to be held back by the stalker that has haunted her for ten years. She decides she needs to have this stalker out of her life in order for her to enjoy the remaining time that she has. What follows is her foray into the underworld, only she finds out that the underworld is filled with more than just criminals. Even though this is a vampire story, it is not the primary focus of this book. You get enough information to remind you there is a darker aspect to the book and the author gives you her unique perspective on this genre. I love Olivia as a character, she is believable, and relate-able. You are rooting for her and saddened by the cancer that is taking her life even though that is what has prompted her to get her life back. I will definitely be reading the next book in this series and recommend this to anyone who enjoys any of the following categories: suspense, crime, thriller, vampire, or fantasy (there is also enough of a romance to give a shout out to romance readers as well)
Read
January 5, 2016When Olivia Kardos is diagnosed with terminal cancer, she decides she’s no longer going to be anyone’s victim. Olivia has been hunted by Mark Porter for years, since college, and she’s never had her own life without fear. Now she’s bought an illegal gun and is taking self-defense lessons in order to take down the one person who has held her back from enjoying her life. In the meantime, there have been several murders of young women who look eerily like Olivia. Her ex-boyfriend, Detective Sean Howard, is lead on this case and the victims’ resemblance to Olivia is enough to nearly drive him mad. ALL THE PRETTY BONES was much more than I ever expected. Olivia’s strength in the face of overwhelming odds was inspiring. One of the best aspects is, while ALL THE PRETTY BONES is the first book of a series; it is a fully realized novel which stands on its own. The supernatural aspects of the story don’t come out in full until toward the end, but readers were given tantalizing tidbits throughout the novel. ALL THE PRETTY BONES is a spellbinding novel, with well-written characters and a strong plot. Definitely not what I expected, ALL THE PRETTY BONES is an enjoyable surprise.
December 8, 2014
Very descriptive, well written, and lots of not to be missed excitement.
Unlike most vampire books this one begins without you knowing that it is a vampire book. The elaborate crimes scenes, detectives, and obsessed stalker have you convinced it is a well written murder mystery. It is only towards the end of the book when you realize that this mixed genre is also a fantasy.
The author does an amazing job of switching narrators giving the reader a rare perspective into multiple points of view.
Unlike most vampire books this one begins without you knowing that it is a vampire book. The elaborate crimes scenes, detectives, and obsessed stalker have you convinced it is a well written murder mystery. It is only towards the end of the book when you realize that this mixed genre is also a fantasy.
The author does an amazing job of switching narrators giving the reader a rare perspective into multiple points of view.
November 16, 2017
It was ok. Was initially attracted to the book because I wanted to read more Seattle based novels. Promising start, but begins to drag in the middle with the same circumstances repeating over and over until the finale kicks in.
October 8, 2018
Surprising and very suspenseful. the n ending was a bit of a letdown...
I don't plan to continue the series but would re-read this one again.
I don't plan to continue the series but would re-read this one again.
October 19, 2018
Bravo! A good fast read! now i am hooked. This was such a great, easy and creative book. i was hooked after the first page.
The characters were easy to fall in love with and follow, along with the story. the author made the mental visions so easy and vivid of the surroundings and the characters actions felt so real.
i would highly recommend this author and this book.
The characters were easy to fall in love with and follow, along with the story. the author made the mental visions so easy and vivid of the surroundings and the characters actions felt so real.
i would highly recommend this author and this book.
October 17, 2014
For the last ten years, Olivia Kardos, a young woman in Seattle, has had a frightening problem. Mark Porter, a man who became obsessed with her during a single college class they took together, has been stalking her. Wherever she goes, he turns up. He watches her house and threatens anyone who gets close to her, often with violent results. His unwanted attentions have placed Olivia under a state of siege. She has cut off all relationships, and rarely leaves home other than to go to her job. When Olivia is diagnosed with terminal cancer, however, she realizes that she doesn't want to spend her last days in fear. The solution seems obvious: She must kill Mark to regain her lost freedom. Her quest to do so leads her to Lucian, an underground arms dealer with a shady reputation. Together, the two of them come up with a plan to help Olivia achieve her ultimate aim before time runs out for her.
At the same time Sean Howard, a Seattle homicide detective and Olivia's former lover, is investigating a string of serial killings. The victims have one peculiar thing in common: They all resemble Olivia. Sean immediately suspects that Olivia's stalker is the murderer, and sets out to prove it. But there is something else at work here, a thing neither Sean nor Olivia could possibly imagine. It's Lucian who holds the key...and he's not talking.
All the Pretty Bones is a well-crafted supernatural thriller that takes many of the expected tropes of Vampire fiction and turns them on their heads. The writing is far above par. Camela Thompson is deft at creating characters that stick with you, and shows superb skill in using their inner thoughts, body language, and all five senses to render each member of her cast in three dimensions. We feel Olivia's frustration and growing weakness as her cancer takes hold, Sean's obsession with the difficult case he must solve and his disenchantment with his family. What struck me most of all was how Thompson managed to get inside the stalker's mind and make him as much a human as he is a monster. It's hard to create sympathy for an antagonist as delusional as Mark, and Thompson pulled it off like a master.
Aside from some minor editing glitches, I had only two difficulties with the book. Maybe even only one and a half. There's a lot going on in this book, and sometimes I felt it was almost too much. I suspected from early on that the Stalker and the Serial Killer were two different people, and it seemed to me that less weight was given to the latter plot than I would have liked. Also, while Thompson does a stunning job of hinting at the supernatural aspects of the story through the first two-thirds of the book, this resulted in nearly all the Vampire lore appearing as an information dump about 250 pages in. I would have liked to have seen this spread more evenly throughout the story.
The end of the book brings some resolution and enough answers to satisfy while still leaving plenty of material to continue Olivia's story. If you like character-driven novels with solid mythology behind the plot, you'll like All the Pretty Bones.
At the same time Sean Howard, a Seattle homicide detective and Olivia's former lover, is investigating a string of serial killings. The victims have one peculiar thing in common: They all resemble Olivia. Sean immediately suspects that Olivia's stalker is the murderer, and sets out to prove it. But there is something else at work here, a thing neither Sean nor Olivia could possibly imagine. It's Lucian who holds the key...and he's not talking.
All the Pretty Bones is a well-crafted supernatural thriller that takes many of the expected tropes of Vampire fiction and turns them on their heads. The writing is far above par. Camela Thompson is deft at creating characters that stick with you, and shows superb skill in using their inner thoughts, body language, and all five senses to render each member of her cast in three dimensions. We feel Olivia's frustration and growing weakness as her cancer takes hold, Sean's obsession with the difficult case he must solve and his disenchantment with his family. What struck me most of all was how Thompson managed to get inside the stalker's mind and make him as much a human as he is a monster. It's hard to create sympathy for an antagonist as delusional as Mark, and Thompson pulled it off like a master.
Aside from some minor editing glitches, I had only two difficulties with the book. Maybe even only one and a half. There's a lot going on in this book, and sometimes I felt it was almost too much. I suspected from early on that the Stalker and the Serial Killer were two different people, and it seemed to me that less weight was given to the latter plot than I would have liked. Also, while Thompson does a stunning job of hinting at the supernatural aspects of the story through the first two-thirds of the book, this resulted in nearly all the Vampire lore appearing as an information dump about 250 pages in. I would have liked to have seen this spread more evenly throughout the story.
The end of the book brings some resolution and enough answers to satisfy while still leaving plenty of material to continue Olivia's story. If you like character-driven novels with solid mythology behind the plot, you'll like All the Pretty Bones.
April 22, 2015
"All the Pretty Bones" by Camela Thompson takes place in Seattle, Washington and though I’ve never been there, I felt the raw reality of this city due to Thompson’s vivid writing style, from the impoverished drug ridden areas to the gorgeous mini-castles of urban royalty. "All the Pretty Bones" spotlights Olivia Kardos, a young woman diagnosed with terminal cancer, who decides she will kill her relentless stalker, Mark Porter, in order to live the remainder of her days in peace and safety.
Thompson shares in the acknowledgements’ portion of her book her own unfortunate experience of being stalked. Ironically, without this major event in her life, I wonder if she would have been able to capture all of the many emotions that come along with it. From my own personal experience, it rings frighteningly true and frustrating.
Not only is Thompson’s writing style vivid, but it is also flexible and fluid. When she’s writing in the POV of her main characters (Olivia, Lucian, Mark, Sean) along with a string of supporting characters, there’s no character mix-up because she did a phenomenal job at breathing life into them and making them feel real and sound distinct. Even though I didn’t like all of the characters at times, (especially Sean, Olivia’s former ex-boyfriend, noble cop, father, and flawed husband) only solidified how well she formed her characters and structure her plot around them.
While reading this page-turning book you will enter a world where vampires are kept secret for a reason and how some are hiding in plain sight. Although I don’t necessarily love vampires, (even though I do write about them) I appreciate the mythos behind the blood-sucking monsters that just won’t stay uninvited from the human psyche. While reading this book, you will encounter a dark underworld where other creatures stalk the earth to hunt and be hunted. As the story progresses, you will grow to love Olivia as she courageously takes matters into her own hands, gains allies, and a gorgeous love interest who is so much more than a mere mortal man. Yum.
Thompson’s created paranormal vampire world is also quite extensive and she includes a helpful legend in the back of the book, which is complete with subspecies, foreign language guide. But, even without this reference compendium, the series still possesses enough mystery, thus stimulating questions and uncertainties in my reader’s mind. One question in particular is which may be answered in the second book is **(potential spoiler alert)**: why was Mark (being what he was) not afraid of Olivia (being what she is)? Didn’t he sense beneath her exterior that she was quite capable of ripping his throat out, stalker or not, simply because he exist?
I enjoyed reading this book and look forward to reading the next, (which is coming out soon). Well done, Camela.
Thompson shares in the acknowledgements’ portion of her book her own unfortunate experience of being stalked. Ironically, without this major event in her life, I wonder if she would have been able to capture all of the many emotions that come along with it. From my own personal experience, it rings frighteningly true and frustrating.
Not only is Thompson’s writing style vivid, but it is also flexible and fluid. When she’s writing in the POV of her main characters (Olivia, Lucian, Mark, Sean) along with a string of supporting characters, there’s no character mix-up because she did a phenomenal job at breathing life into them and making them feel real and sound distinct. Even though I didn’t like all of the characters at times, (especially Sean, Olivia’s former ex-boyfriend, noble cop, father, and flawed husband) only solidified how well she formed her characters and structure her plot around them.
While reading this page-turning book you will enter a world where vampires are kept secret for a reason and how some are hiding in plain sight. Although I don’t necessarily love vampires, (even though I do write about them) I appreciate the mythos behind the blood-sucking monsters that just won’t stay uninvited from the human psyche. While reading this book, you will encounter a dark underworld where other creatures stalk the earth to hunt and be hunted. As the story progresses, you will grow to love Olivia as she courageously takes matters into her own hands, gains allies, and a gorgeous love interest who is so much more than a mere mortal man. Yum.
Thompson’s created paranormal vampire world is also quite extensive and she includes a helpful legend in the back of the book, which is complete with subspecies, foreign language guide. But, even without this reference compendium, the series still possesses enough mystery, thus stimulating questions and uncertainties in my reader’s mind. One question in particular is which may be answered in the second book is **(potential spoiler alert)**: why was Mark (being what he was) not afraid of Olivia (being what she is)? Didn’t he sense beneath her exterior that she was quite capable of ripping his throat out, stalker or not, simply because he exist?
I enjoyed reading this book and look forward to reading the next, (which is coming out soon). Well done, Camela.
April 19, 2016
Got about 3/4 of the way through and just couldn't be bothered to finish it. The writing was competent and flowing at the start, and the initial premise was very interesting (what modern-day woman *hasn't* had to experience that awful, sinking feeling of being stalked/made to feel preyed-upon by some creep and then fantasized about turning the tables on her tormentor somehow?), but wow, did this novel run out of steam about midway through. Not only does the story suffer from Mary Sue syndrome (every young man in the novel is crazy for her, every young woman aside from the MC is dismissively described/not-as-beautiful-as-the-MC-and-thus-worthy-of-disdain-from-all-male-characters (talk about Bechdel Test fail), and all the POC characters are one-dimensional window dressing who seem to have no greater wish or purpose in life than to bend over backwards to serve and protect the MC), our MC's romance with the smoldering, preternaturally seductive love interest was so flat and uninspiring/unbelievable that I couldn't even enjoy the romance novel aspect of the story.
The MC is so grim and awkward... after being so sick and hunted/isolated for so long, I understand why she'd be that way, but it didn't make her an easy character to cheer for in a love story since there didn't seem to be any build up of real chemistry or rapport between her and the main guy (or even the secondary guy). I couldn't understand why all these men were so fanatically interested in her (aside from the psycho stalker--that "preying on sad, lonely girls" type of creeper definitely exists in reality), which threw me out of my suspension of disbelief.
If the story had just stuck to and focused on the initial premise of "girl who's been wronged and preyed upon has nothing left to lose and decides to take out her stalker" and made the MC as competent in the latter half of the book as she appeared to be in the beginning when she started making her plans, that would've been a great and far more believable story. But the way it just degenerated into this "shy teenage girl's fantasy romance" story... I was really disappointed.
The MC is so grim and awkward... after being so sick and hunted/isolated for so long, I understand why she'd be that way, but it didn't make her an easy character to cheer for in a love story since there didn't seem to be any build up of real chemistry or rapport between her and the main guy (or even the secondary guy). I couldn't understand why all these men were so fanatically interested in her (aside from the psycho stalker--that "preying on sad, lonely girls" type of creeper definitely exists in reality), which threw me out of my suspension of disbelief.
If the story had just stuck to and focused on the initial premise of "girl who's been wronged and preyed upon has nothing left to lose and decides to take out her stalker" and made the MC as competent in the latter half of the book as she appeared to be in the beginning when she started making her plans, that would've been a great and far more believable story. But the way it just degenerated into this "shy teenage girl's fantasy romance" story... I was really disappointed.
February 18, 2015
This story is about a woman named Olivia. She is thirty-two years old and gravely ill; however, the most haunting part about her life is not the sickness. She has been stalked by one man named Mark for ten years now. Olivia knows that he won’t wait forever before attempting to make his claim on her body and her life. With only a few more months left to live, she wants to enjoy the time that she has left instead of the constant fear of looking over her shoulder. As the story digs deeper in her life and the history that surrounds her ailment, she meets new life-altering discoveries and finds the one that she never in her wildest dreams thought that she would want to spend the rest of her life with.
I really enjoyed reading this story. The characters are wonderful! Each and every character, except for Sean, is one that I couldn’t find myself turning away from. I wanted to read more about them and couldn’t put this book down. The author makes it evident that she loves these characters by the way that she describes all of them. She puts careful thought into each one; however, my favorite is Mark. She provides the reader with just enough information so that it is known that he is not human. But, what he is comes out through multiple plot twists later within the story. I loved the suspense mixed with a tinge of romance; it was a very enticing and mind-gripping read.
In my opinion, this story was spectacular! I would highly recommend this book to those who love the supernatural/paranormal element mixed with suspense. For those that do not really enjoy romance, there is not much, just enough for you to get the point of the relationship between two of the main characters. I rate this book with five stars because it was well written, compelling, and the detail was intense. I really enjoy reading a book that allows you to have a vivid imagination of what exactly is happening. This author does a fantastic job with that!
I really enjoyed reading this story. The characters are wonderful! Each and every character, except for Sean, is one that I couldn’t find myself turning away from. I wanted to read more about them and couldn’t put this book down. The author makes it evident that she loves these characters by the way that she describes all of them. She puts careful thought into each one; however, my favorite is Mark. She provides the reader with just enough information so that it is known that he is not human. But, what he is comes out through multiple plot twists later within the story. I loved the suspense mixed with a tinge of romance; it was a very enticing and mind-gripping read.
In my opinion, this story was spectacular! I would highly recommend this book to those who love the supernatural/paranormal element mixed with suspense. For those that do not really enjoy romance, there is not much, just enough for you to get the point of the relationship between two of the main characters. I rate this book with five stars because it was well written, compelling, and the detail was intense. I really enjoy reading a book that allows you to have a vivid imagination of what exactly is happening. This author does a fantastic job with that!
November 12, 2014
A woman with terminal cancer decides to kill her stalker. That's the one-sentence description of Camela Thompson's All the Pretty Bones that raised my eyebrows and piqued my interest. Add a promise of vampires—non-sparkly ones at that—to the mix and I wanted to know more about this book.
I was not disappointed.
Olivia Kardos is a well-drawn heroine with the strength to face difficult decisions and situations, yet enough flaws to feel real. The glimpse Thompson gives us into the mind of Olivia's stalker is gripping, dark, and visceral, allowing the reader to understand him without sympathizing with his sadistic, controlling, sociopathic heart.
The first chapter grabbed me so completely that I was a quarter of the way through the book before the end of my first reading session, and I swiftly picked it up again to plunge onward. That said, I did find the pace slowed a little more than I personally liked around the 2/3rds mark, but that's only a nitpick. Readers more familiar with this genre than I may feel differently, and enjoy the extra time spent with the characters.
All the Pretty Bones has a complete story arc, but it's also the first in a series. Thompson manages to put an excellent new twist on the vampire legend that caught me by surprise a few times as I read. (One warning: Don't read the legend/appendix at the back of the book until after you finish, as it will spoil some things.) Thompson introduces some fantastic world-building that makes me eager to see where things go from here.
Definitely worth a read if you like some supernatural darkness served alongside a modern thriller.
I was not disappointed.
Olivia Kardos is a well-drawn heroine with the strength to face difficult decisions and situations, yet enough flaws to feel real. The glimpse Thompson gives us into the mind of Olivia's stalker is gripping, dark, and visceral, allowing the reader to understand him without sympathizing with his sadistic, controlling, sociopathic heart.
The first chapter grabbed me so completely that I was a quarter of the way through the book before the end of my first reading session, and I swiftly picked it up again to plunge onward. That said, I did find the pace slowed a little more than I personally liked around the 2/3rds mark, but that's only a nitpick. Readers more familiar with this genre than I may feel differently, and enjoy the extra time spent with the characters.
All the Pretty Bones has a complete story arc, but it's also the first in a series. Thompson manages to put an excellent new twist on the vampire legend that caught me by surprise a few times as I read. (One warning: Don't read the legend/appendix at the back of the book until after you finish, as it will spoil some things.) Thompson introduces some fantastic world-building that makes me eager to see where things go from here.
Definitely worth a read if you like some supernatural darkness served alongside a modern thriller.
November 12, 2014
Olivia Kardos is tired of living in the shadows, living a limited life. She discovers she has terminal cancer and decides it is time to live while she can. In order to do that she must hunt down and kill her stalker of 10 years. For help she calls her ex Detective Sean Howard for some connections. That is how she meats the mysterious Lucian who offers to help her. All the while Detective Sean Howard is investigating a case where woman are brutally murdered and they have one thing in common...terminal cancer and they all look eerily like Olivia.
Holy Smokes! Pulled me in and kept me captive! There are so many moving parts to this story and its characters that you would think it would be hard to keep up but it wasn't. It flowed seamlessly and it was so well put together....I am literally jumping in my seat waiting for the next one! Come on Camela I need more! I have to know what happens next! This isn't your every day garden variety Vamp story. Oh No it is not! Camela Thompson has crafted a wonderful story of Vampires and Demons and warriors that is intriguing and captivating. A well woven story and plot that pulls you in and brings you into a whole new world. I couldn't put this book down it was so good and I will shove this book in anyone's face to recommend it!
*Reviewer for Paranormal Romance and Authors That Rock!
Holy Smokes! Pulled me in and kept me captive! There are so many moving parts to this story and its characters that you would think it would be hard to keep up but it wasn't. It flowed seamlessly and it was so well put together....I am literally jumping in my seat waiting for the next one! Come on Camela I need more! I have to know what happens next! This isn't your every day garden variety Vamp story. Oh No it is not! Camela Thompson has crafted a wonderful story of Vampires and Demons and warriors that is intriguing and captivating. A well woven story and plot that pulls you in and brings you into a whole new world. I couldn't put this book down it was so good and I will shove this book in anyone's face to recommend it!
*Reviewer for Paranormal Romance and Authors That Rock!
June 4, 2015
Things can’t get much worse for Olivia Kardos. Stalked for the greater part of 10 years by a psychopath, Olivia learns that she is dying of cancer. So where can a storyteller take the reader from there? Sounds closer to the end than the beginning. Au contraire!
Olivia decides that before her life is over she is going to free herself from the crazy man forever watching her; she’s going to kill him. Does she succeed? I’m not telling. But the head-spinning twists and turns this amusement park ride of a tale inflicts on the reader are significantly more than satisfying.
What I particularly enjoyed about this story was the way in which none of the characters is truly all bad or all good. Nobody gets away with phoning in their performance. Even the psychopath, though unsympathetic, occasionally comes off as sad as he is horrific.
I highly recommend All the Pretty Bones. It’s a smart book. Ms. Thompson posits a world where vampires and demons exist just below the surface of what humans are aware of, and she weaves them in and out, taking her time revealing them. I love the way she ties the knot tighter and tighter as we approach what the reader knows is going to be a complicated ending, then brings everyone on stage to play their parts exactly as she has planned.
A fun ride for the paranormal reader. Check it out. I guarantee you won’t be disappointed.
Olivia decides that before her life is over she is going to free herself from the crazy man forever watching her; she’s going to kill him. Does she succeed? I’m not telling. But the head-spinning twists and turns this amusement park ride of a tale inflicts on the reader are significantly more than satisfying.
What I particularly enjoyed about this story was the way in which none of the characters is truly all bad or all good. Nobody gets away with phoning in their performance. Even the psychopath, though unsympathetic, occasionally comes off as sad as he is horrific.
I highly recommend All the Pretty Bones. It’s a smart book. Ms. Thompson posits a world where vampires and demons exist just below the surface of what humans are aware of, and she weaves them in and out, taking her time revealing them. I love the way she ties the knot tighter and tighter as we approach what the reader knows is going to be a complicated ending, then brings everyone on stage to play their parts exactly as she has planned.
A fun ride for the paranormal reader. Check it out. I guarantee you won’t be disappointed.
October 8, 2014
All the Pretty Bones isn't your standard vampire novel. No, this book is much more than that. It's a deep examination of stalking and how it can transform the victim. It's a story of a woman who wants to take her life back, a vampire unable to resist the pull of a woman he knows could kill him, and of a world that lives in the shadows.
Ms. Thompson crafts a thrilling story. One that will pull you in with rich description, the poignant journey of a woman whose life is ending, and the desire of those around her to help, despite Olivia's need to protect all of those around her.
More than that, though, it's the history and the lore where this book shines. Not content with the all-too-often gloosed over details of vampire history, Thompson goes deeper, weaving a rich story of long ago warriors, legends of hunters, killers, and a ruling class that strives to...well...some things you'll have to read for yourself.
The first in a series, the ending is both cliffhanger and not, which is one more check to add under the column of author brilliance. Camela Thompson has quickly become one of my must-buy authors and I will wait impatiently for book 2.
Ms. Thompson crafts a thrilling story. One that will pull you in with rich description, the poignant journey of a woman whose life is ending, and the desire of those around her to help, despite Olivia's need to protect all of those around her.
More than that, though, it's the history and the lore where this book shines. Not content with the all-too-often gloosed over details of vampire history, Thompson goes deeper, weaving a rich story of long ago warriors, legends of hunters, killers, and a ruling class that strives to...well...some things you'll have to read for yourself.
The first in a series, the ending is both cliffhanger and not, which is one more check to add under the column of author brilliance. Camela Thompson has quickly become one of my must-buy authors and I will wait impatiently for book 2.
May 3, 2015
Loved this book. I one-clicked this book, without reading the description, based on a recommendation, and I was not disappointed. For me, it was an excellent murder mystery/suspense. Because I hadn't read the description or reviews ahead of time, I didn't realize it was a paranormal suspense until I was well into the book and then could piece together the clues. The paranormal aspects are secondary until the end when they are brought into focus which only adds to the story.
Olivia wants to take back control of her life, and she does. I love a heroine who stands up for herself. Her stalker is frightening, yet a complex and well written villain. Lucian is a very likable hero, even though technically I think he's usually a bad guy. Not sure how I feel about Sean. I'm now anxiously awaiting the sequel. Great read for anyone who enjoys suspense and mystery.
I read this book over a very busy couple of days, and honestly used every spare moment to get my reading, anxious to see what was going to happen.
Olivia wants to take back control of her life, and she does. I love a heroine who stands up for herself. Her stalker is frightening, yet a complex and well written villain. Lucian is a very likable hero, even though technically I think he's usually a bad guy. Not sure how I feel about Sean. I'm now anxiously awaiting the sequel. Great read for anyone who enjoys suspense and mystery.
I read this book over a very busy couple of days, and honestly used every spare moment to get my reading, anxious to see what was going to happen.
May 5, 2015
I wasn't sure if I would like this book. This book is a mixture of mystery, romance, vampires and thriller, all genres that I enjoy.
Olivia has been stalked for 10 years by the same man. His name is Mark. Mark has made Olivia's life a living hell. She has not been able to life a full life. She hasn't dated and when she does date Mark threatens the guys or beats them till they are almost dead.
Olivia's life is turned up side down when she learns that she has cancer and Mark is back in town. She knows that she is being watched. She obtains a gun and starts to taking some defensive lessons at a Do Jo. She wants to kill Mark before she dies.
Olivia meets Lucian and he knows more about Olivia and her past then she knows about herself. Olivia is dying and also being hunted by Mark and her father. Lucian knows about her father and then learns about Mark and decides to help Olivia with her mission of killing Mark.
Olivia has been stalked for 10 years by the same man. His name is Mark. Mark has made Olivia's life a living hell. She has not been able to life a full life. She hasn't dated and when she does date Mark threatens the guys or beats them till they are almost dead.
Olivia's life is turned up side down when she learns that she has cancer and Mark is back in town. She knows that she is being watched. She obtains a gun and starts to taking some defensive lessons at a Do Jo. She wants to kill Mark before she dies.
Olivia meets Lucian and he knows more about Olivia and her past then she knows about herself. Olivia is dying and also being hunted by Mark and her father. Lucian knows about her father and then learns about Mark and decides to help Olivia with her mission of killing Mark.
November 10, 2014
oh holy hell. This needs six or seven stars at least. To be fair I recieved an ARC in return for a review and I was fairly certain I would enjoy it.
I wasn't prepared however for how much I would love it. I only put it down when I had to. I'm taking, I was reading while stirring the pasta for dinner. The author sucked me in completely. I loved the world. Everything about it felt unbelievably real and close.
I rooted for Olivia from the get go and fell for Lucian without wanting too. And I was reading, enjoying, until page 294. I was so not expecting that. It was so strong an image and I almost had to put my Nook down for a minute.
I would wholeheartedly recommend this book to anyone. It's got action, great characters and love. What's not to enjoy about that?
I wasn't prepared however for how much I would love it. I only put it down when I had to. I'm taking, I was reading while stirring the pasta for dinner. The author sucked me in completely. I loved the world. Everything about it felt unbelievably real and close.
I rooted for Olivia from the get go and fell for Lucian without wanting too. And I was reading, enjoying, until page 294. I was so not expecting that. It was so strong an image and I almost had to put my Nook down for a minute.
I would wholeheartedly recommend this book to anyone. It's got action, great characters and love. What's not to enjoy about that?
March 24, 2016
Mark has been stalking Olivia for ten years. His attentions have gotten far creepier than ever. Olivia is determined to remove Mark from the equation to live out her remaining life before the cancer takes her. Lucian, an arms dealer wants to help her. A serial killer is taking the lives of women who look very similar to Olivia. Which brings us to Sean, Olivia's ex-boyfriend and a detective with the Seattle Police. He wants to help Olivia and solve these murders. Add in a mysterious family heritage with a paranormal twist and there is a book you cannot put down.
December 13, 2015
I just received this book yesterday and finished it this morning. Olivia is such an amazing female lead character and I can honestly say I never saw the plot twists coming.
Mark sounds pretty hot though even though he is very creepy. I really enjoyed a lot of the details on the characters and the history of the family. I do not want to give anything away here but all I can say is that Olivia, Mark, Sean , Kai and Lucian are very interesting characters and this book was very well written. It kept me wanting to go on to see what was going to happen.
Mark sounds pretty hot though even though he is very creepy. I really enjoyed a lot of the details on the characters and the history of the family. I do not want to give anything away here but all I can say is that Olivia, Mark, Sean , Kai and Lucian are very interesting characters and this book was very well written. It kept me wanting to go on to see what was going to happen.
January 6, 2015
What an amazing read! Did you ever start a book thinking you knew exactly what it was, only to discover you were wrong? There are so many twists in this book that you're always on edge, in a good way. Heroes? There are a few, some that you wouldn't predict. Bad guys that you are not expecting pop out of the woodwork. You're reminded that it IS a paranormal mystery, and it's a GREAT paranormal mystery. Is it the beginning of a great series? One can only hope. Great writing, Camela Thompson!
December 19, 2014
Oh my gosh this book was amazing. I didn't want it to end. Part creepy at times mixed with story telling to keep me reading past my bedtime, this one makes you grateful you are safe at home. I loved the romance and the shout outs to Seattle. Highly recommended it.
In full disclosure I work at the publisher but this did not impact my review.
In full disclosure I work at the publisher but this did not impact my review.
September 27, 2016
I'm not usually a vampire book reader but this book is one of the best page turners, in that genre, I've read in a long time. I didn't want to put it down once I got started. Olivia kicks ass as a character and heroine. Camela Thompson has brought us an 'on the edge of your seat' story and I cannot wait to see where the rest of the books in this series takes us readers :) well done.
December 24, 2014
This book crosses a few genre's--murder mystery, romance, and fantasy(vampires). It is suspenseful, engaging and kept me guessing. I read it in just a few days and can't wait till the sequel is available.
April 22, 2015
I really liked this book.
It was just a wonderful free book. Yes there were vampires and a several mysteries. In all that it kept my attention, I read it straight through. I liked the characters , and will continue to follow this author.
It was just a wonderful free book. Yes there were vampires and a several mysteries. In all that it kept my attention, I read it straight through. I liked the characters , and will continue to follow this author.
March 28, 2016
Great, suspenseful romance
Loved this one. Completely unexpected and a gripping read. Lucian is fantastic in spit of himself and Sean is a hero too. Olivia is a great heroine. Can't wait for the next book.
Loved this one. Completely unexpected and a gripping read. Lucian is fantastic in spit of himself and Sean is a hero too. Olivia is a great heroine. Can't wait for the next book.
April 13, 2016
WOW!!
This book was awesome! I am an avid reader of Urban Fantasy and this is so very different from anything else on the market! Please give this book a try, I promise you won't be disappointed!
This book was awesome! I am an avid reader of Urban Fantasy and this is so very different from anything else on the market! Please give this book a try, I promise you won't be disappointed!
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