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The Community #3

Blood-Bonded by Force

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The Vârcolac warriors face their biggest challenge when one of the demented Topside Om Rău goes rogue and starts stealing Fey power, driving them all toward an Otherworld apocalypse.

With a single act of unspeakable cruelty, half-demon Pändra Parthen permanently binds herself to Vârcolac warrior Thomal Costache. Stuck together for life, the two enemies must find a way to live with what cannot be undone. As time apart from her ruthless father allows Pändra to uncover her true self, she tries to mend the breach with Thomal. But he is stalled in seething rage, troubled by an inner turmoil even deeper than the abuse he suffered at Pändra’s hands. To free Thomal, Pändra makes a perilous sacrifice…and lands herself in the demon town of Oţărât.

Half-Rău Big Nỵko Brun is the one man who has a slim hope of breaching Oţărât. But Nỵko took himself out of the hero business after failing the people he loves too many times. He even abandoned Faith Teague, the woman who was destined to be his mate. Left to fend for herself while her world crumbles around her, Faith also makes a sacrifice that traps her in the violent hell of Oţărât. Now the fate of both women rests on Nỵko’s enormous shoulders, but he can’t manage a rescue without Thomal’s help…and then only if the proud Vârcolac can somehow find room in his heart for his enemy.

**Content warning: not intended for gentle readers, this book contains profanity, violence, and intense adult situations.

Follow a brotherhood of warriors in this thrilling vampire romance, gothic romance, and military suspense.

366 pages, ebook

First published February 3, 2015

470 people are currently reading
881 people want to read

About the author

Tracy Tappan

25 books706 followers
Tracy Tappan is a bestselling and award-winning author and the creator of the Choose A Hero Romance™ reading experience, a brand-new concept in storytelling where the reader controls the ending. You can find out more about this exciting new trend at www.chooseahero.com.

Tracy’s books in paranormal and military romance have earned both bronze and gold medals in the Readers’ Favorite contests, have finaled for the USA Book News and Kindle Book Awards, and won both the HOLT Medallion and the Independent Publishers Book Award (IPPY) bronze medal for romance.

Tracy holds a master’s degree in Marriage, Family, Child Counseling (MFCC), loves to play tennis, enjoys a great glass of wine, and talks to her Labrador like he’s a human (admittedly, the wine drinking and the dog talking probably go together).

A native of San Diego, Tracy is married to a former Navy helicopter pilot, who retired after thirty years of service and joined the diplomatic corps. He and Tracy currently live in Rome, Italy.

Visit her website and join the gang on her monthly newsletter for giveaways, publication updates, and other fun and sexy news. www.tracytappan.com.

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Displaying 1 - 30 of 98 reviews
Profile Image for Dianne.
6,815 reviews632 followers
February 21, 2015
Blood-Bonded by Force proves once again that Tracy Tappan writes with a razor-sharp style that never shies away for the darkness or grit. Her characters aren’t fluff, but of a substance often appearing harder than nails, while her world is rarely calm and serene. Add her version of a vampire and the lives they lead and suddenly urban fantasy takes on a new and chiseled face.
An Otherworld apocalypse is looming on the horizon and the Varcolac warriors may be all that stands between salvation and death at the hands of a rogue who has begun stealing Fey power for his own demented machinations.

Two bitter enemies become bonded when half-demon Pandra binds herself to Thomal, in one brutal and dehumanizing moment for the beaten warrior. Was it truly Pandra’s doing or was it the quest to seek approval from her vicious father’s cold heart that drove her depravity. Time away from her sire caused a change in Pandra. With Thomal still seething from her actions, she finds she wants to be with him, to prove she is not the monster she once was. Will an act of self-sacrifice thaw his heart? Does she deserve him?

Buried within this dark tale are not one but two tales of love against the odds, will they have happy endings or will their next battle to save the world leave heartbreak and bloodshed in its wake?

Told as only Tracy Tappan can tell it, Blood-Bonded by Force is dark, sinister and shrouded in the taint of evil where little light or happiness can shine through. Will Ms. Tappan allow passions to flare and trust to build or will the races of the otherworld fragment beyond repair, leaving only jagged shards of once noble lives? With few light-hearted moments that can bring a smile to your face, Ms. Tappan opens the Varolac world up to the dark side as we have never seen it. Forget about heroes in white hats, look for unlikely heroes to root for, as well as bravery and sacrifice wrapped in one of Tracy Tappan’s best tales yet!

I received an ARC edition from Tracy Tappan in exchange for my honest review.

Series: The Community - Book 3
Publication Date: March 6, 2015
Publisher: B. Reed Publishing
Genre: Paranormal
Print Length: 333 pages
Available from: Amazon
Reviewed for: http://tometender.blogspot.com

Profile Image for Kim Palinkas.
39 reviews2 followers
August 26, 2015
If only my response to this book was regarding the plot, action, characters, etc... I'd be giving it higher marks, but there is that one really uncomfortable thing that niggles at me and holds me back from reviewing higher - the heroine rapes the hero (well, one of the heroines rapes one of the heroes - there are two pairs focused on in this story; assume my entire rant that follows is about Thomal and Pandra's story - sadly Nyko and Faith take a back seat in my mind as my brain was so freaking conflicted by Thomal and Pandra's interactions/growth/love story).
Rapes the hero.
Right at the start of the book.
And then he falls in love with her? My feelings on the concept of the rape are not ambiguous - rape is an act of violence, folks, and someone who is raped is a victim. And the perpetrator is a criminal. I don't care what drives them, how dark their history is, etc... a rapist perpetrates an act of violence on someone who cannot defend themselves from the action.

The author hits about 60% on the trauma meter when it comes to the hero's response to this rape. Maybe 50%. She tries to show the hero's trauma - but at the end of the day she is trying to show a redeemed heroine who is not only worthy of love, but is worthy of the hero's love so she has to shelf so much of the emotional fallout that occurs when a man is raped. The hero's brothers response is actually portrayed better - though even that only hits at about 80% (to me). No way - no, absolutely, no way would the victim of a rape flip around and fall in love with their rapist - even with the biological/hoodoo element of the Blood Bond to force the issue.

Rape victims resort to alcohol and drugs to numb the pain, they suffer depression, symptoms of PTSD, insomnia and other effects - no matter their gender. But male victims also have the added stigma of being perceived as the stronger sex - so take on more responsibility for their abuse which often is expressed through self-abuse. Or committing suicide. I just couldn't accept the hero's response to his assault and I sure couldn't accept that he would eventually be in a consensual sexual relationship with his rapist - and eventually end up in love with her. Yes, we are shown Pandra's better side. Yes, the suggestion is that her dark actions were a combination of evil leaking in from her Immortality Ring as well as self-hatred expressed through bullying. But, no, I will not accept that Thomal just releases all the trauma and falls for her.

If the author had honestly dived into the trauma - explored the emotional impact of male rape - this could have been a gut-wrenching and awesome book. Maybe she could have convinced me that Thomal went through a catharsis and was slowly able to come to grips with his feelings - driven by the Blood Bond to connect to his rapist, hating her/hating himself, coming through the darkness and finding Pandra not only redeemable but also worthy of love. But there's just too much book for that to be developed - she had to develop Nyko and Faith's story, the threat of Nyko's dad, Videon's villainy, and establish the concept of the Shifted World. If only she'd focused solely on Thomal and Pandra this might have been a different - and awesome story - but that didn't happen.

Darn it - I like this world, I enjoy the plots and the characters, but I just did not like the way Pandra & Thomal were developed.

Separate from that I felt the plot we've been following - that of Pandra's father in the big bad role - was set on the back burner: most likely because the writer had to develop two full HEAs in this book (Thomal/Pandra & Nyko/Faith). Yes, she built some kind of plot around Videon being a serial killer, but there was no resolution to that story and yet it was so sketchily developed that I don't honestly care. He's killing people with powerful souls to harvest their power - that seems a pretty cool concept. But, it mostly takes place 'off stage' and therefore lacks visceral impact for me. Maybe the issue is there are just too many villains in this series - Jacken/Nyko's dad and his gang of creeps, Pandra's dad, Videon. We are given too many people to hate - and yet given only small amounts of reasons to hate them (Pandra's dad being the best developed and therefore the most hateful - and who was given the least focus in this, the third, installment in the series).

I really wanted to like this book better - I certainly enjoyed the first two in the series - but due to the really difficult stretch to accept a rape victim falling for his abuser as well as the plot 'ball' being dropped (largely) - or maybe dribbled is a better reference - my response is, at best, lukewarm.
Profile Image for Ada.
169 reviews
Read
November 3, 2016
LOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDD IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIITTTTTTTTTTTTT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

There has to be more, I need MORE!!!
Profile Image for Catlou.
1,408 reviews14 followers
April 14, 2021
This is a powerful read. The emotions in this story are strong and deep. They will have your heart in your throat and you on the edge of your seat so many times; not to mention the moments you’ll find yourself either close to tears or smiling broadly. There’s a lot going on and the action is so intense that you will be held captive and kept spell bound from start to finish. It’s hard to elaborate on just one storyline that stood out above all others because they are all so enthralling. The Community is such a fascinating tale with such interesting characters that you almost wish it were true. I can’t wait to read more about this amazing world.
Profile Image for Raquel .
416 reviews17 followers
August 15, 2016
The Good: Thomal and Padra

The BAD: More wars with the "bad race"

This was by far my favorite book of the series. I really liked Pandra. I wish there had been more words written about Pandra and Thomal. Their relationship should really have had its own book. No Nyko and the twin, no Raymond (well maybe a little bit of Raymond since he is Pandra's dad, ) not other race. Like come on with their bullshit.

I was so intrigued by Padra and Thomal. I just want more. What happened with Hadley (name?) SO much took place in the background that I wanted to see. Not hear about. Show not tell, isn't that the saying regarding books?

All that being said, I still want to read the next one. Maybe I will get the story I really want (nitty gritty of the relationship, the good the bad, the falling in love part. That is the good part!)
Profile Image for Keeley.
Author 14 books96 followers
March 12, 2016
Wow!

I can't get enough of this series. I need the next book. Now! I honestly love these characters, they are fun, loving, dangerous, sexy.

Brilliant! If you haven't read this series, you are seriously missing out!
Profile Image for Tynna.
96 reviews12 followers
February 7, 2021
I am going to read the whole series because in for a penny and will that, but I'm honestly looking forward to being done with it. That's a shame because I enjoy a lot about the books, but there are WAY TOO MANY POVs. Too many stories being told at once. I was looking forward to reading about Thomal and Pandra, but this wasn't their story. Their romance was secondary; this was Nyko and Faith's story. Truly, more of the book was devoted to them than the characters in the synopsis. I was so disappointed. Not because of Nyko and Faith...I would have loved to read their book...just not when the book is supposed to be someone else's story.

I feel like Pandra's story still needs to be told. She got the shortend more than any character, imo. I was told about her growth, not shown. She went from a monster to a Saint in something like 8 or 9 months, and I saw none of her growth. I wanted to see her explain the scar on her belly to Thomal and see his reaction to what led to their first meeting turning out how it did. Don't get me wrong, what she did was unforgivable, but I think Thomal learning everything was an important piece that was never shown. I wanted to witness some type of interaction between Arc, Beth, Pandra, and Thomal all together. But maybe that comes in the next book? I mean why not? It's not like their story has to be told in their book since anyone can get a POV. Can you tell I'm really irritated about that?
I also feel like Pandra's strength was really built up in the beginning only to be disappointing when it counted. She was so afraid of going Rau because she lost control and whatnot, but when it finally happened...plop. So pointless. I get that she wasn't wearing her ring, but still...why hype it up if it's not relevant to the story at all?

I have more thoughts, but I'm so frustrated, I'm afraid I'll just continue my negativity, and that's a shame because the idea for this series is fantastic. If the things that bother me don't bother you, give the series a go, you'll probably love it. Either way it's worth a try, but start with book one because there's so much going on all the time, and you'll want to keep up.
411 reviews10 followers
March 1, 2024
While I've enjoyed this inventive series, I got completely lost in this installment. How many POV's are needed to roll out the continued plot?

Not only were there stacked romances, there's now an entirely new race with a headache-inducing complex backstory, complete with names that only an ancient Celtic speaker can love.

And the pacing of this series makes my head hurt. At numerous points, the detail is excruciating. That's then followed by "eight months later," or another large time jump that doesn't really make sense. Toni has been a central and driving figure in the series, but suddenly she has almost dies (again)...but her story is just a few sentences of telling, and suddenly we're tossed into another culture with new characters. WHAT? in addition, the two couples featured here are given super shirt shrift, as is some serious emotional mending that sort of glides by like nothing happened.

I also don't understand the enormous ratcheting up of visceral violence. The brutal rape scene was written in a prurient way, and I can't accept that as an ok way to make the plot/relationship have more gravitas. And no matter how Pandra suffered through her life, it does not serve as a rationale for her behavior. Leaning on that old time, acceptable patriarchal trope of falling for the rapist is wrong. The humiliation of that whole scene, of Arc's sexual assault to Thomal's outright and detailed rape, upset the hell out of me. Oh yeah, no worry kids as there's an HEA. Although I finished this book (without satisfaction) I won't finish this series. You just lost me there. I felt like I was reading some bodice ripper romance from the 70s, when using sexual violence as a ladder to true love was totally ok. Times have changed. We don't use rape as a vehicle towards an HEA anymore. I guess this author didn't really get the message. I tried, but could not get past it.

I do feel this series had some unique qualities, and I liked some of the characters a lot. But it really went off the rails and I can't wrap my head around moving forward.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Clara Harding.
149 reviews1 follower
February 14, 2015
I have followed this series since I got my hands on book two in the series (The Purest Of The Breed). After reading it and being utterly impressed, I greedily devoured book one (The Bloodline War) before feeling the usual withdrawal symptoms that you get when a wicked series that you have really enjoyed is making you wait for the next installment! Luckily Tracy Tappan didn't make me wait too long and even gave me this exclusive opportunity to read book 3 in The Community Series, Blood-Bonded By Force in advance of the ARC schedule that is distributed amount selected websites and bloggers for Review - For That Tracy I feel honoured and I am totally astounded by what is the best Novel by far in this series yet!

So just who do we meet in this installment? As we know Raymond and The Community are in a race to uncover new women who have dragon genes within them in order for them to be able to keep their race alive, for them to be able to breed. With Father in one corner (Raymond) and Daughter in the other (Toni) along with the rest of the warriors/council, they are pitted against each other with them both having polar opposite ideas on life, the value of those lives, how people are treated and many other important points which include Raymond's almost abduction of her (more than one) causing significant emotional distress. At this point Toni is pregnant and due soon, not that this would bother Raymond he would still love to get his hands on her, not only to breed her because of her Fae bloodline but also because of her power only she like him is able to remove the precious immortality rings that his minions and family wear.

In this Novel we also get to know Pandra, Raymond's middle daughter, and Toni's sister. Her personality when we initially meet her is just plain a total bitch who is sadistic, narcissistic and quite possibly socialpathical. She enjoys doling out pain to others, to be the centre of attention, and is very nasty. We meet her on the floor of her father's study with her intestines hanging out on the floor with no immortality ring on, her father has doled out punishment, and his methods are even more sadistic than she is, it is no wonder she has grown up to be who she is after seeing her many brothers go through similar/less/worse punishments all her life. Although she knows her dad places Toni as his favourite daughter above her given his obsession, she is still shocked by his nasty and cruel words of how she is such a disappointment to him, leaving her to die there on the floor as he turns his back on her and leaving her ring just out of her reach.

Afterone of brothers takes pity on her and makes sure she gets her immortality ring back on so she is able to heal in time they make a deal to go out together so she can go out and "blow off steam". When they do get chance to get together to go out Pandra finds her brother in possession of 2 of the enemy, Thomal and his brother Arc. Pandra decides to have some fun with them and begins to Sexual molest Arc, but with him married nothing is happening in that department and when it is clear her intent is to rape him, Thomal jumps in and offers up himself to take his brothers place as he is single only he knows just what it entails that he must do in order to break through the barrier. Pandra has no idea about their culture or the "rules" involved in order for Thomal to get some lead in his pencil, so to speak, so he can take his brothers place in the rape so that they can both walk away free from this precarious situation. After drinking Pandra's blood he is able to go through with her demands, only she makes Arc watch all the way through as his punishment, and for her kicks. Trying to convince himself as long as he doesn't cum in her their bond will not be complete making it null and void. What he doesn't realise is that Pandra has other ideas.

Thomal finding himself in a right nasty situation decides that because Arc is married and he is not it is the only sensible option. Bonding with Pandra wasn't part of the plan and after he shoots his load she gets up as if nothing has happened and walks away from them both. As punishment Arc was made to watch the rape and it does cause significant problems as the Novel goes on. Going into withdrawal because he cannot feed from anyone else, because he cannot sent her or be near her due to the forced bond begins to start killing him it becomes a race against time to save him. Finding Pandra is a top priority in order for Thomal to survive.....

Will they be able to find her in time? Will Thomal have the strength to survive the terrible ordeal? Can Arc forgive himself?

We also meet a few new characters, principally, the twins Faith and Kacie. The girls initially think they are meeting with a ballet company owned by Raymond (obviously a lie) because it turns out that they are Royal Fae, Royal Dragon lienage so are the ultimate when it comes to being acquired assets for either side. The team finds out and manages to re-create their plane and snatch them up under Raymond's nose. Drugged they are brought down into The Community where they unfortunately wake up unexpectedly during a fight only to see the truth about them, fangs and all! This scares the shit out of them and Nyko, who is the biggest of all the warriors is singled out as being the worst of them all- when in reality he was only doing his job.

This part of the couples story centers around Nyko and Faith. To him she smells like cookies, his favourite food and he knows she is his mate straight away. But she fears him and also doesn't want to stay in The Community. She used to be a prima ballerina until she hurt her knee in an accident. Clinging onto the past, unable to let go she cannot see past her own blind faith in herself that it will get better when there is a true reality that she is feeling alone, and that without her twin she cannot function.

Going out with Nyko creates surprises for her and also a lot of pain, nothing runs smoothly but then again if things were easy they wouldn't be worth it......

You even have fifth elements, Fairies and true Fae!

An excellent Novel that I really enjoyed and is perfect for those fans of fantasy and some totally hot & steamy sex!!

5*****Stars!!!!
Profile Image for It's Me - Yvette.
1,240 reviews53 followers
May 16, 2018
This series continues to keep my attention. I’ve come to love Jacken & Toni. But, I also enjoy Nyko and Faith, too. I do like that the books focus on more than one couple at a time and more than one storyline at a time. While I understand completely Thomal’s feelings about Pandra, I am only giving this 4 stars instead of 5 because I hated how long it took Thomal to get himself together and go after his mate. If you like paranormal, action, a good, solid storyline and great characters, then read this series, folks. I highly recommend it. I’m on the fence on whether to start book 4 as its the last one right now, and I am saddened by having to wait until the next book is published. Decisions, decisions...
Profile Image for J C.
23 reviews7 followers
May 13, 2019
I really enjoyed this book, I am also enjoying the series as a whole.

I'm not sure what that chapter before the end was about and where the author is going with it. It was certainly unexpected and it raised more questions than answers for me. I wish the author would have spent more time on what happened there; I think those were two crucial plot issues that deserved more explanation... Hence the 4 stars.

Profile Image for Maribel Vazquez.
129 reviews1 follower
January 21, 2025
Great series

I like this series, the world the author created is great & the characters are lovable. The story is captivating but I gave this book a four star review because I expected more from the hot scenes. The author build great expectations & wanted to see more of both couples’ hot scenes. I would suggest more than one hot scene bc their first encounters were ruined by other stuff going on in the story.
2 reviews
September 10, 2025
Needs trigger warnings

I loved this book but was really shocked by the lack of trigger warnings. A male character is explicitly SA’d on the page. I had to skip it & wasn’t prepared for it. Also FYI - if you’re British, the weird attempt at English slang is pretty bizarre & increases in this book. The story lines have been so good I can overlook it but the lack of trigger warnings on this book made it lose stars for me.
Profile Image for Caryn.
2,394 reviews3 followers
August 17, 2021
Very good series but this third book had some very distasteful characters who did very distasteful violence. Once again there was a lot of humour built in which this author does so skillfully. I love the interesting storyline that gives a different perspective on vampires. I almost forgot they were!

All in all, I very much enjoyed the story.
194 reviews
January 23, 2024
Can’t put these books down

Losing too much sleep! This author’s writing style is a little different than I normally read, but I really like the world & characters she’s created with this series.
It’s a different, original take on vampires. There’s mystery, tension, humor, & some spice.
Off to buy book 4!
Profile Image for sunny peterson.
15 reviews
July 20, 2024
Good Read, would have like Trigger Warning

I have enjoyed this series however I felt like this one was a little bit intense. It had themes of sexual force. While the story seemed to be tied up in a pretty neat bow for those who might feel triggered by themes of rape, this may not be the book for you.
8 reviews2 followers
November 18, 2025
Take me away!

The Community series is my favorite escape series by Tracy Tappan. Such a creative community she writes about with characters that you think you would pass on the street, maybe we do pass vampires and other types of beasts. Enjoy the trip into various worlds and see who you cheer for. Very entertaining!
51 reviews
January 13, 2024
Not what I anticipated

I found this book a bit scrambled in comparison to the first two books in the series. To me, the addition of the fairies and the Fifth Element were more of a distraction than a solution. I'm glad I had the others as an incentive to continue the series.
173 reviews
April 26, 2024
great story line

Such a great book, the plot was frantic, so may things happening , the matings good , the men powerful and so were. The women . Surprised at the change in Pandora but very pleasantly surprised
2,359 reviews9 followers
September 2, 2024
bloody bonded by Force

Troubling times are in everyone's future,babies are being born and there have been more matings.This book is real intense but the story is great.Read them all,you will really like them.
117 reviews
January 12, 2025
better, still rape and violence

It was better. Def starting to care about the characters, however, the tale and attempted rape and utter violence just seem to take away from what is a really great storyline. Pushing though.
Profile Image for Regina.
583 reviews1 follower
March 7, 2025
I am officially over and done with this series. The writing is so terrible and the plot feels rinsed and repeated with each book. There was only one good spicy scene and the rest of the book was super cringe. I'm tapping out.
Profile Image for Mrs Clarereadstoomuch.
279 reviews3 followers
March 24, 2025
Great

Really enjoying this series. This one centres around Nyko and Thomol.

Must say Pandora was hard to like in the beginning. She softens and comes around in the end.

Love reading how the rest of the characters are doing too.

Well written and enjoyable.
Profile Image for Francia Perez.
1 review14 followers
August 8, 2025
love love everything in this serie

Loving every book i been reading, this series is super amazing, keep ip the good work, super fan of your books❤️I love every character in this series💋
Profile Image for Dennise Roesly.
3 reviews
September 19, 2025
Smutty good

I love the characters, the fact that the characters from the very first book are still in this book. The storyline isn't always the same from book to book. The author adds different elements and characters to each storyline.
Profile Image for Stace.
839 reviews
May 22, 2018
Loving these vamps!! Excellent characters and world building!! Can't wait to see where it goes...in to book 4!!

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