Sunkissed

by Carys Jones

Dawn Summers is dying. It’s 1853 and as the seventeen year old continues to fade away she has visions of the father she never knew, urging her to fight for her life.

In the small village of Fandova the only medical care is in the form of the mysterious Dr. Moralus who has a known penchant for bloodletting. Thomas, Dawn's fiancé, is warned against inviting his intervention, but feels he has no choice, he pleads with the doctor to save Dawn’s life … whatever it takes.

Genres: Paranormal, Fantasy, Vampires

271 pages, Kindle Edition

First published August 25, 2013

About the author

Carys Jones is a thriller writer based in Shropshire where she lives with her husband, daughter and dog.

When she’s not writing she can often be found either walking round the local woodland or catching up on all things Disney related.

Carys also writes speculative thrillers with Harvill, Vintage as Carys Green. Always on My Mind is out now and The Other You will be released in March 2026.

Her favourite authors are Megan Abbott, Amy Engel and Taylor Jenkins Reid.

Carys is represented by Liza DeBlock at Greenstone Literary.

For more information about Carys please visit www.carys-jones.com or follow her online; @CarysJAuthor

Reviews

[Claire Reviews · Rating 3 out of 5]

Review: Sunkissed by Carys Jones Publication Date: 23rd October 2013
 
Publisher: Kellan Publishing
 
ISBN: 978-1493567683
 
Source: Review copy received by author
 
Rating: 3/5
 
Synopsis:
Dawn Summers is dying. It’s 1853 and as the seventeen year old continues to fade away she has visions of the father she never knew, urging her to fight for her life. In the small village of Fandova the only medical care is in the form of the mysterious Dr. Moralus who has a known penchant for bloodletting. Thomas, Dawn's fiancé, is warned against inviting his intervention, but feels he has no choice, he pleads with the doctor to save Dawn’s life…whatever it takes. Whatever it ‘takes’ has some consequences neither of them expected. Now, it’s a hunt to the death, with both Dawn and Thomas determined to win.
 
Review:
 This is a slightly different take on the traditional vampire tale, and has some cleverly written scenes and one twist, in particular, that I didn't forsee. That said, I found most of the characters rather uninspiring. There were bits I really liked and bits I didn't, hence my middle of the road rating. I'd like to read more by the author and hope to enjoy them.

[Adria's Musings · Rating 4 out of 5]

Originally posted on I Smell Sheep.

Sunkissed begins in 1853 with a 17 year old Dawn Summers on her deathbed in . Her fiance Thomas Weeville is beside himself with grief. In his desperation, he goes to the town’s doctor, who strangely enough, only sees patients at night, no matter how serious the situation. When Dawn awakens to find herself changed forever, she begins a new journey that will put her at odds with her fiancé who was also changed. Fleeing Thomas, Dawn starts a new life and a century and a half later, meets someone new and tries to live a normal life. Unfortunately, Thomas has no intention of letting Dawn go, especially not now that he knows she can walk in daylight. He’ll do anything to posses her rare gift, and so would others like him.

Carys Jones’ Sunkissed has a lot going for it. There’s an interesting storyline, a likable heroine, a strong but shy hero, a romance, strong villains, and of course, vampires. I liked the idea of there being a small group of vampires who could defy the traditional myth and come out during the day. Dawn is a good lead character, she’s strong and defiant on the outside but on the inside she’s wracked with guilt and uncertainty. As a human she had normal teenage fears and doubts but now as a vampire those fears have multiplied to where she seems like a paranoid vampire, forever jumping at shadows. At times she was a little on the whiny side and just a tad too hesitant for my tastes. When a situation required quick thinking and action, Dawn always hesitated and had to think things out and that sometimes allowed her enemies to escape or even gain the upper hand.

It was a great change for me personally to see that in Sunkissed, it is the heroine that is the vampire and not the hero, like in other YA Paranormal romances. I loved the role reversal, with the female lead being the tortured, brooding immortal and the male lead being the unsuspecting human that falls in love with her. Author Carys Jones handled it perfectly, making readers aware that while Ryan was physically the weaker of the two, he was by no means less of a hero for being human. He had his strengths that made him invaluable to Dawn and kept him a relevant character. Carys Jones created an internal conflict for Dawn when her past with Thomas seemed to be repeating itself with Ryan and Dawn had to decide what she wanted to do about it. It was almost like Dawn had a second chance to write the wrongs of the past if she chose to.

My only true problem with Sunkissed was the pace. It was at times agonizingly slow. I felt that some scenes, details and descriptions could have been shorter or left out completely as they had no true relevance to the overall story. I enjoyed Sunkissed, but found myself having to put it down constantly because it just became too slow, events were slow to develop, pages and pages would pass before anything of importance would happen.

Sunkissed ends on a cliffhanger and appears to be only the beginning in a series that has some real potential, if the pace and length of scenes could be condensed to make it a faster, easier read. I do have to point out that I was overjoyed to see that this particular YA novel was NOT written in first person. A story like Sunkissed would have lost its magic had Carys Jones told it from Dawn’s point of view, or any other characters’ for that matter. If Jones decides to continue Dawn’s story, then I’m on board with giving book 2 a go.

[♥♡¢σσкιє♥♡ (Krystle) · Rating 4 out of 5]

You can read this review and more on my blog:

I received a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review

Well, I finally did it! I read a vampire book!

Since I'm new to this entire sub genre, I'm going to be reviewing it from that point a view. I have nothing to compare it to other than a few television shows and movies, but Sunkissed wasn't what I was expecting. I thought that it was going to be a light read, but it was very dark and gritty at times. When our story begins, Dawn is at death's door and her fiance Thomas is beside hisself with grief and willing to do anything to keep her alive, including asking the mysterious town doctor who only practises at night for help. However, once Dawn has been "saved" it's not enough for Thomas and he insist that the doctor turn him as well.

Even after she becomes a vampire, Dawn is a gentle creature who cries at the thought of harming a chicken, but Thomas takes to being a vampire immediately and turns into a monster with a thirst for both blood and destruction so Dawn flees as far from him as she can, and never looks back.

The first half of Sunkissed takes place 150 years in the past, and I really enjoyed that part . The language that the author uses is better suited for that century, plus there was just something creepier about a vampire running amok in that day and age. I didn't dislike the last half of the book, I just really enjoyed the first half. It felt like reading a classic Horror novel, and I missed that later. Once we do catch up with Dawn and Thomas 150 years later we find Dawn in love with a human named Ryan, and Thomas both reveling in being a sadistic, hedonistic murderer and wallowing in his grief over losing Dawn. In 150 years he has never once stopped searching for her, and he is determined to find her and have her again at any cost.

I personally liked the way these vampires were written. They had a choice about who and what they became. Most chose to be monsters, but there are others like Dawn who are able to live without killing.

Dawn is a special type of vampire who is capable of walking in the light. She is a hybrid who has all of the best characteristics of both humans and vampires, and that makes her someone who Thomas and others like him want to get their hands on. She was so unbelievably sweet, and I really did like her. All she wanted was to be free and kind to others so it was the easiest thing in the world to root for her. If Snow White was a vampire she would be Dawn!

The romance in this story was lacking for me because it happened while I wasn't around. This was my first vampire novel, and I was actually looking forward to the moment where Dawn revealed what she was to Ryan, but I never got that so I was a little disappointed. Ryan and Dawn had some cute moments, but I just didn't connect with them as a couple. I knew they loved each other because I was told that they did not because I experienced it, but romance was a very small aspect of the story so that's not a huge complaint.

If I'm honest, my favorite character of the novel was Thomas. He was wretched and evil, but he was also one of the most well-developed villains that I've ever read. We see him transform from a sweet farm boy who just wants to live happily ever after with the woman he loves, into a horrible monster who is driven by lust and revenge. But the author makes it clear that the evil was somewhere deep inside when Thomas was human and that the farm boy is somewhere deep inside now. I'm not saying that he could possibly be redeemed in the future, I'm saying that I don't know if he could be and I like it that way.

The ending made it clear that there will be other books in the future, but it also left me with a sense of hope for Dawn and Ryan so I was satisfied with it.



So that's it for my first ever vampire novel, and I still don't know if vampires are my thing, but I do know that this author is! I enjoyed myself quite a bit! I was frightened at times, was constantly guessing what was going to happen next, and look forward to continuing the series!


I would recommend this book for ages 16 and up because of language, violence, and one sex scene.

[Roland Nuñez · Rating 3 out of 5]

In the small village of Fandova, Dawn Summers lays dying. Her fiancé, Thomas Weeville, wrings his hands in desperation. Her mother resides in the comfort that her daughter will die soon and be free of the disease. However, that does not come to pass…

Spurred on by his love for Dawn, Thomas seeks a solution to save his ailing bride-to-be. His actions lead Dawn on the path of her destiny – which was set forth by her own father, a powerful and influential supernatural being who’s on the run after consorting with Dawn’s mother.

In her transformation, Dawn is turned by the reclusive and mysterious town doctor, a deceivingly evil and decrepit man. The transformation lends less than desirable results for Dawn, but not Thomas, who greedily sees the new power Dawn has obtained. Through his own efforts, Thomas succeeds in finally embracing the evil which has always rested within his heart. His only shred of humanity left lies in his love for Dawn, who sees only a monster in herself and now with him.

Distraught by Thomas’ post-transformation actions one night, Dawn opens the door, letting the killing sunlight hit her face. It is then that she discovers a secret about herself and her lineage, something of which was prophesied by ancient creatures long ago.

Dawn’s story in Sunkissed is about her transformation and discovery of what she is destined to become – the harbinger of change for all her kind. The author does a good job of capturing the details of Dawn’s and Thomas’ post-transformations and the difference on how they embodied light and dark. However, the first half of the book was choppy in its delivery – requiring smoother transitions between character narrations and point-of-view. The author made progress on her transitions later on in the book, making it more of an enjoyable, but relatively simple, read. Sunkissed does not and will not offer any kind of depth. It is a normal supernatural romance novel that, for this reviewer, only took a couple of hours to finish.

Although the novel did start off choppy and a little dull, it transitioned in the latter half of the story into something more interesting and with smoother transitions. This makes it important to note that the author does need to put more thought into the way her storyline progresses. Pace is an important element in literature. In addition, the ending was a bit abrupt, but the assumption is that this is the first in a series – so this reviewer is a little more forgiving on that aspect. However, it is important to close some elements of the story for the reader, so they are feeling more satisfied with the ending, leaving them excited and willing to read the next book in the series. Sunkissed felt like all the threads were still open even to the very end – nothing felt completely resolved… yet.

As a last note, the author should be more careful when world building. It was difficult establishing where in the U.S. Fandova could have possibly been. One guess is the Midwest but the initial world presented struck as old-world Europe rather than early 1850’s U.S. Midwest – especially with the term “village” rather than “town”, the term that would have been used even in a sparsely populated town like Fandova. Some of the clichés of “going to the West” (or even “Mexico”… Mexico??), which Dawn expressed interest traveling to, seemed stemmed out of a stereotypical and inaccurate “impression” of the U.S. and its history at the time, rather than the actual history and mentality at the time. Given the author’s roots in England, this common impression of U.S. during this time period is understandably but not necessarily excusable. This reviewer wished that the author had taken more time in the first part of her novel when building the location. This may lead to another reason the latter half of the book was more enjoyable from a cultural and historical perspective – given its location in modern New York City. Even to most Europeans, New York City is fairly recognizable and understood.

Overall, Sunkissed rates 3 out of 5 stars. Its drawbacks were not nearly enough to detract this reviewer from wanting to hear the rest Dawn’s sage and how she will change the world while running from an ancient evil and an obsessed ex-lover.

[Van · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 1/2 Stars.

Disclosure: I received a review copy from the author in exchange for a honest review.

The year is 1853 and 17-year-old Dawn Summers is dying from the common cold/flu. Although, this is nothing new as many people and Dawn’s two other siblings have died because there wasn't an accessible doctor or medicine around. But luckily or not so lucky Dr. Moralus the village recluse, a fairly new resident of Fandova is around this time, and Dawn’s Fiance Thomas is willing to brave the night to seek medical help from Dr. Moralus. But the only way to help Dawn is to turn her into a vampire, like Dr. Moralus.

I don’t really know what to make of Dawn, as the book is so short; it felt like I barely know anything about her. Sunkissed showed readers a glimpse of Dawn prior to her vampire transformation and after the transformation as she copes with what she had become. Dawn was afraid of losing her humanity and resorted to drinking blood from livestock and eventually black pudding (which I think is like congealed animal blood?) and as the book progressed we see her settled into her fate, accepting it and never once losing sight of who she is or her humanity. Then there is Thomas her Fiance who after Dawn’s transformation, decided he should share the same fate as her so that they may live together forever. But unlike Dawn, Thomas lost his humanity and became a monster. He thought of himself as better than all the humans and that they were nothing but food for the taking.

The first 1/3 of the book introduced us to the characters of the book and the rest of the story was more of a cat and mouse chase. Dawn couldn't live with what Thomas has become so she fled Fandova. The story then jumps to present day New York. For over a century Dawn had been on the run from Thomas, able to elude him with her special/unique ability (thanks to her father’s gene) as she works as a waitress in a hole in the wall diner. And like most stories, you can’t run from your past as it eventually catches up to you and in Dawn’s case…Thomas has been searching for her ever since she left him and has finally pinpointed her location on the east coast.

Overall, Sunkissed was a good read but with some flaws. I didn't like how in the beginning of the story everyone (but Dawn’s mom) was blind to what Dr. Moralus was…everything about him screamed vampire. I was surprised no one accused him of being a vampire; I mean the dude only came out at night and he drained sick people’s blood! I also thought the writing could have been smoother and the formatting a bit better. Everything felt choppy or like it wasn't edited properly. The half of the book took place in 1853 Fandova and the other half present day New York. It would have been better if the first half was more condense, so that the main focus was on the confrontation between Dawn, Thomas and Dr. Moralus...because the plot felt rushed towards the last half of the book. What I did enjoy was seeing the transformation of Dawn and Thomas’ characters and how much the two contrast one another. The ending was quite a surprised, which I must say I didn't see coming at all. I am intrigued to see what will happen next, as the book ended abruptly on a (somewhat) cliffhanger. I’d recommend Sunkissed to paranormal fans but with some reservation. It’s a good book like I said but not one I’d rush people to go read.

[M · Rating 3 out of 5]

*Received from author in exchange for an honest review*


The cover has a lot of fire themed colours, maybe symbolising the sun and the danger it can cause a vampire, whether they are able to withstand it or not.

In 1853, 17-year-old Dawn Summers is dying, with her mother unwilling to help her she must slowly die in pain and suffering. Until her fiancé, Thomas, sends for Dr. Moralus... who only awakens and comes to help the weak in the hours of night, no matter how desperate someone gets during the day he will never expose himself to the daylight. However, when Dawn's father's past gets in the way giving Dr. Moralus no choice, her life, and the ones around her, change forever.

Our first protagonist was Dawn. I found her very compassionate and loved the way that she had refused her hunger and to live the traditional life (I loved the idea of black pudding!), even if it meant she became weaker than others trying to find another way of life. However, I did find her very weak but also very winey at times. Furthermore, I particularly disliked our second protagonist Thomas, Dawn's fiancé. He was the complete opposite of Dawn, being greedy and wanting to be changed 'just so they could live together forever'. He just wanted the power. He was also very strange, wanting to help his fiancé but in the next instance wanting to turn her in. He had no compassion what-so-ever and did what he liked when he liked, acting very immature on occasions. However, it did give us an insight into how much such a large transformation can truly change someone, but you are also able to see the truth about them and in many cases, the beast that is lurking inside them.

I did enjoy the way we were able to see the story from both points of view, how they saw the same situation but you had two completely different opinions, this gave a real insight into the characters and their partners. Nonetheless, I did find that the story progressed very slowly with no real action, in my opinion, coming in until three quarters of the way through the plot. I did enjoy the idea of the plot as I found it very engaging, but sadly the progression was just very slow.

As you can see, there were areas of this story that I did enjoy and other areas I found less enjoyable.

[Kelly · Rating 3 out of 5]

This novel was a mash-up of Twilight, Dracula and the Blade movies.

The vampires have similar traits to the Twilight wimps, but are as cold and vicious as Dracula, and form societies who live within large cities run with the help of Familiars under the noses of the humans like Blade.

I'm of Dracula. Yes, the whole vampire thing is part of it, but I think the build up to the realization from the characters of what Dr. Moralus is might really be what reminds me of the classic. For sure, it isn't written in letter format. As the reader work's their way to the half-way point, the novel takes on a more 21st century approach.

Dawn felt like a well rounded character. She was a nice mixture of vampire and human. Sweet with a twinge of darkness. Maybe she could have used a few more vampiric outbursts or yearnings. Something that made her a little colder.

I liked how the book ended, I was pleasantly surprised at times and felt that it had one of those fairy tale endings. That being said, there were still some loose ends that didn't get tied up.

Not that this affected my review in any way, I was annoyed that the book I got did not have a single page number. I like to keep track of my progress on Goodreads and I was not about to count the pages to do so.

The back and forth "yes," "no," from Dawn and Thomas becomes tiresome not far into the novel. I feel like I keep re-reading the same dialogue over and over again at times.

I feel like the first half of the book could have been summed up into one small chapter and we begin the actual journey around the kidnapping. That really seams to be where the plot lies. Risk everything to save the man you love, or abandon your heart and flee to protect all of those who are like you.

Is there supposed to be a sequel? There were many loose strings that did not get tied up in the end. I would understand if this is supposed to be the first in a series...

Read more of my review on my blog - Read it in Houston

[Amanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

The story is set in a place called Fandova and the date is 1853. A young girl called Dawn is seriously ill and is in fact on her death bed, where she is having visions of her late father. Dawn’s mother refuses to send for medical help as the only medical practitioner in Fandova is the slightly shadowy Dr. Moralus, who has a thing for blood letting and who also has some secrets of his own. However, Dawn’s boyfriend, Thomas Weeville insists that the doctor be called as Thomas wants Dawn to live whatever the cost. A series of events is set in motion which lead to a game of ‘cat & mouse’ through the years, which culminates in a showdown in modern day New York.
This book was a departure from my usual reading matter/ genre but as they say a change is as good as a rest. I really did enjoy reading ‘Sunkissed’ and found myself becoming wrapped up in the story.
This book is well written and well structured. The author certainly knows how to create dramatic & tense situations but she also knows how to write romance in a gentle way. ‘Sunkissed’ can best be described as being part thriller, part romance novel. The story can basically be split into two parts as one part is written describing the events that happened in 1853 and the other main part of the action takes place in the present day. A wide range of subjects is tackled in this book- some of which are love, betrayal, family, shame & vampires. I found it interesting and ever so slightly scary that vampires could co-exist with humans so easily. It certainly confirms the view that you can never 100 per cent claim to know somebody else’s true self.
There is a wide range of different characters in this book & the author is very good in how she portrays her characters. I took to Dawn & her mother from the start but none of the other main characters appealed to me. In fact one of the villains made my skin crawl and also gave me the creeps.
In short I really did enjoy reading this book and look forward to reading further books by this author. I would certainly recommend this book to others.

[Ruth B · Rating 4 out of 5]

What if the person you love would be dying? How far would you go to save your loved one? These are the types of questions Thomas has to face when his fiancée is suffering and in the verge of death. A mysterious and dark doctor seems the only hope to save her and he runs to his aids against Dawn’s mother warnings. A single choice will change the lives of Thom and Dawn forever.

As you can imagine for the cover and the blurb this book is about the blood-suckers some of us love. Carys presents us with some classic vampires (the ones who can’t go out in the sunlight) which is amazing and refreshing. Not only they share the same characteristics from old vampires they also have the same devilish personalities.

Dawn's story is set in two different times and it’s nice to see how their lives evolve and change from 1863 to modern day. Both moments are well portrayed and the New York scenario was a great choice. With a changing point of view that allows us see from different perspectives and create a more solid world, we get to know the motivations and desires of the two main characters.

As far as the rhythm, the book is a bit slow for moments and the action takes time to arrive, however, you get to the end before you even notice because is not a long book.

This is a story about losing your humanity and the fight between turning yourself into a monster and trying to stay as human as possible.

Overall, the story has great potential to be a series because there are many loose ties at the end and unanswered questions that could lead to a sequel. Dawn is a strong character, she is the reason why the story continues being interesting and entertaining even during its slow moments.

If you love vampires, you should give this book a chance.

*** I received a copy from the author in exchange of an honest review. ***

[Sandra · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars. This is a story about vampires, which is obvious from quite early on so I’m not really giving anything away in mentioning that. Although I’ve watched Interview with a Vampire and the excellent Being Human (UK) I’ve never read a vampire story so this was a definite leap into the unknown for me. It gets off to a slow start but a lot of that is scene and character setting so it is necessary but once the actual vampire part starts properly the feel and pace of the story changes. Dawn is an interesting character and I found it refreshing to read her perspective on her condition as she is not your conventional blood-sucking vampire. Thomas’s character was also interesting though a bit irritating at times due to his immaturity although that simply adds to the contrast between his character and that of the others, including Dawn. The first part of the story is set in 1853 and the rest in the present day although little is mentioned about the time in between these dates which is an area that I think could be revisited in future stories, if there are any.

Despite my reservations about this story I did enjoy it, it was well told and the characters were interesting although I didn’t feel there was t a lot of character development. The last few chapters were especially good and although I liked the ending as it fitted with the story, it was a shame to not be able to continue Dawn’s story. Hopefully there will be a sequel to this that answers the questions I was left with. I think Sunkissed is a good read if you want to try something out of your usual genre and I believe most fans of this genre would really enjoy it as well. Definitely an interesting twist on the usual vampire story.

[Becca ♡ PrettyLittleMemoirs · Rating 5 out of 5]

Immediately, I took a shining to Sunkissed. Carys seemed to write so effortlessly of the past; 1853, to the point where the imagery of the characters and scenes of the plot seemed to spring to life inside my mind, which is quite rare for me when I'm reading. In Fandova, there's only solution for getting any sort of medical attention, which is from Dr. Moralus. It's from here that I was quite intrigued by the different ways of Vampires coming about and being introduced into the plot, instead of the characters choosing that life for themselves, this was Dawn's only chance for life, because she's dying.
But the unexpected came when Dawn's fiancée; Thomas, insisted that he be like her. But it seems that they both want this new life in different ways completely.
There are quite a lot of Vampire books on my shelf; Rachel Caine, Charlaine Harris and Holly Black to list a few of my favourites. Carys is a very welcome addition to that list. I was so enthralled from just a few pages in. I know it's cliché to say that, but with my love for Paranormal novels and the captivating tale (set in the past in the beginning, like playing straight into my favourite things in Fantasy novels), everything about Sunkissed just seemed to be ticked off as something I loved as I read.
But, trust me, this is so much more than a compelling Vampire novel; there's a purpose and gripping tale to match. Not only did we have the difference in time spans of the 150 years, but a refreshing take on Fantasy romance to go with it.
read full review: http://prettylittlememoirs.blogspot.c...

[Becca ♡ PrettyLittleMemoirs · Rating 5 out of 5]

Immediately, I took a shining to Sunkissed. Carys seemed to write so effortlessly of the past; 1853, to the point where the imagery of the characters and scenes of the plot seemed to spring to life inside my mind, which is quite rare for me when I'm reading. In Fandova, there's only solution for getting any sort of medical attention, which is from Dr. Moralus. It's from here that I was quite intrigued by the different ways of Vampires coming about and being introduced into the plot, instead of the characters choosing that life for themselves, this was Dawn's only chance for life, because she's dying.
But the unexpected came when Dawn's fiancée; Thomas, insisted that he be like her. But it seems that they both want this new life in different ways completely.
There are quite a lot of Vampire books on my shelf; Rachel Caine, Charlaine Harris and Holly Black to list a few of my favourites. Carys is a very welcome addition to that list. I was so enthralled from just a few pages in. I know it's cliché to say that, but with my love for Paranormal novels and the captivating tale (set in the past in the beginning, like playing straight into my favourite things in Fantasy novels), everything about Sunkissed just seemed to be ticked off as something I loved as I read.
But, trust me, this is so much more than a compelling Vampire novel; there's a purpose and gripping tale to match. Not only did we have the difference in time spans of the 150 years, but a refreshing take on Fantasy romance to go with it.
read full review: http://prettylittlememoirs.blogspot.c...

[Katie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sometimes you have to fight for the things that matter most.

An exciting adventure that you won't be able to put down! The story had me riveted from the very beginning with the beautiful imagery and charismatic characters. There was always a bit of mystery shrouding the characters in the beginning and I had a great time figuring everyone out. The mystery and action were well done and had me on the edge of my seat in anticipation of the next turn of the page.

Dawn is a strong and courageous girl who I really admired. She had some tough decision to deal with in the course of the book and even when she wasn't sure of herself she still kept on going, which took a lot of courage. I also really liked that no matter what bad things were thrown at her she never really lost her sweetness. She was still a kind and caring woman who would do anything to help those she loved.

I also liked how the villains of the story weren't just plain evil for no reason. They had depth to them and their actions weren't always strictly black and white. It mad the story that much more interesting.

Ryan is a sweet man and I adored him. He wasn't always sure of himself, but he did his best to be good and help Dawn.

The romance was sweet and not rushed at all. I really liked how the romance developed slowly and how these two characters interacted with one another. I hope to see more of them in future books.

For an exciting and romantic adventure check out Sunkissed by Carys Jones!

[Desert Rose Reviews · Rating 2 out of 5]

I wanted to like this one, I really did. The premise sounds interesting, and it does have promise. I just...couldn't.

I don't know exactly what it is about this book, but it gives me the feeling of "blech" and makes me want to stick out my tongue. It may be the fact it's cliche and not terribly original. It could be the fact it seems way too dramatic for the story given. It could be the incredibly annoying set of male characters. Whatever it is though, I just didn't like it all that much.

It would have been a one star, and probably should be. What prompted me to give it two, however, is the fact it is mildly interesting enough to read if I get into a vampire-story binge. It would be a good intermediate between other vampire books, but it would be one of the ones I'd read for the blech factor, in order to chill me out for the next series. Not exactly a compliment, but it does have a place in my library, which means it gets a star.

Past that, this isn't a book I'd recommend, unless you're looking for the blech kind of dramatic fantasy.

*I received an eCopy of this book, from the author, to read in exchange for an honest review.

[Cecilia (rather barefoot than bookless) · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked this book, it was a nice read. Part of the story is set in the 1850\s and part of it is set in present day. This is a romance but it's more about running and hiding.

The story is mainly about dawn and her escape from the man she once intended to marry. But there is also a mystery around her that she herself is mystified by. She is something unheard of and because of it she is hunted and wanted. She spends all her Life running and hiding, both from her ex fiancé and from the vampire's in charge.

I like her character. She isn't afraid and she face the danger rather than running again when she feels like her past has caught up with her. She does meet someone that she wants to fight for. And even though they love eachother, I feel like their love story is more of a side show and her flight is more the main event. But then towards the ending I feel like their love story is takes the front seat and thats when things get interesting and unexpected.

So to sum it up? Well it does have kind of a slow start and I did struggle while reading it at times. Towards the end of the book things heat up and so does my interest. When it ended I wanted to know more. And this is the very reason I give this book 3 feet. It was good but it could have been even better.

[Debbie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sunkissed by Carys Jones

Dawn Summers is dying. It’s 1853 and as the seventeen year old continues to fade away she has visions of the father she never knew, urging her to fight for her life.

In the small village of Fandova the only medical care is in the form of the mysterious Dr. Moralus who has a known penchant for bloodletting. Thomas, Dawn's fiancé, is warned against inviting his intervention, but feels he has no choice, he pleads with the doctor to save Dawn’s life…whatever it takes.

Whatever it ‘takes’ has some consequences neither of them expected. Now, it’s a hunt to the death, with both Dawn and Thomas determined to win.

Obviously a book about Vampires. I must say I enjoyed this book I read it in a couple of days. I found it an interesting and enjoyable read.

This is a story about Dawn’s battle to retain her humanity and Thomas decision not to bother with it.

It leaves things enough up in the air to allow for a sequel or more to continue the story about Dawn, Ryan, Thomas & Dr Moralus. Would be interested in reading any sequel that is written.

A well thought out book, with a good plot and characters that I actually cared about. A sequel must be in the offering!

[Kate’s Book Spot · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book as part of the blog tour.

How far would you go to save the one you love? This was the question that entered my mind not long after I started Sunkissed. I also couldn’t help but notice the mysterious atmosphere, it felt dark without me being able to establish exactly why it felt that way.

Dawn and Thomas were a curious couple who became caught up in something sinister. I was particularly interested to see where it would lead them as they both seemed to have a very different view on the situation. I didn’t have to wait long to get my answer.

I loved it when the storyline jumped to the present day, I couldn’t wait to see how the characters had grown and changed over the years. What followed was my favourite part of the book, I guess because I could relate to the modern-day aspect more easily. During this time the author created a strong feeling of suspense with her words, I just knew something was about to happen. And happen it did!

It had quite a fast pace and as the story unfolded I found myself flying through the pages – I couldn’t put it down.

This was a mysterious, quick read that held my attention throughout. I’m looking forward to the next instalment.

[Alison · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a genre of book that I am experimenting with, it’s safe to say that vampires are usually only my sort of ‘thing’ on TV but I have begun to feel as though I may be missing something by actively avoiding any books. The cover of Sunkissed is gorgeous & was enough to tempt me to dip my toe in the water so to speak.

We meet Dawn a young girl who is dying & her fiancé Thomas urges the rather creepy Dr. Moralus to do whatever it takes to keep her alive. We move between the 1850’s & then fast forward to the modern day.

A mix between a love story & a fight for ‘life’ with some running/hiding to mix it up a bit, a little slow in places with a few bits that held my attention. I liked the writing style & quite liked Dawn. There is potential for more to come. I’m not convinced based on this that ‘Vamps’ will be my new favourites but for a change of pace & escape from reality it’s a pleasant enough read. I’m sure it’s ideal for fans of this genre.

Thanks to the author & Jenny In Neverland Blog Tours for the opportunity to read this in exchange for my honest opinion.

[Readgig · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is obviously about Vampires. I must say I enjoyed this book I read it in a couple of days. I found it an interesting and enjoyable read. This is a story about Dawn’s battle to retain her humanity and Thomas decision not to bother with it. It leaves things enough up in the air to allow for a sequel or more to continue the story about Dawn, Ryan, Thomas & Dr Moralus. I would be interested in reading any sequel that is written. Sunkissed is a well thought out book, with a good plot and characters that I actually cared about. A sequel must be in the offering!

Read more of Debbie's review on our website, click here.

[Misty · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved this book. I was interesting and kept my attention. I know if I will love a book within the first chapter. And I loved this one. It starts with Dawn Summers on her death bed and her beloved Thomas trying anything he can save to her life. But then there are so many twists and turns, that in the end... Thomas is the one trying to take her life.

The book was well written and a joy to read. I loved the character of Dawn. She was a compassionate, loving, smart and strong young woman. I could connect with her. Even though she did end up being a vampire. She would never take the life of a human.

I urge you to check this book out. It is not your average vampire story.

[Laurie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received this book to review and since Vampires are not my schtick was hoping I could provide a fair review for the author. The story opens up with Thomas, a distressed fiance poised at the deathbed of his beloved Dawn. The year is 1853 and the only Doctor in town is feared instead of revered. As the young woman's family prepares for her death, Thomas refuses to give up and seeks the aid of the mysterious Doctor. From here the story twists and eventually fast forward to present day.

Without giving too much of the story away, if you like Vampires and a bit of the macabre, give it a try. It is a quick read and I hope to see more by this author in the future.

[Kami · Rating 3 out of 5]

Dawn is dying in 1853 and a mysterious doctor, who is allergic to sunlight and possesses a cure that involve bloodletting is asked to save her. Before you can say “vampire”, Dawn is feeling much better. This is a well-written, fast paced story with sympathetic, interesting characters. 3 stars.

"Review by *Kami Bryant* of www.FaeBooks.co.uk"

[melissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

You can not put this book down

I read everyday and slot of the time a book will start to get boring in the middle. This book however kept me up til 3am . I could not put it down. It was a perfect mix of love and paranormal. It was not too over the top on paranormal or love . I would let and child read it or recommended to my adult friends. Very well done

[Berls · Rating 1 out of 5]

I just couldn't get into this one. I kept trying - there was definitely a foundation. My problem was that I was 40% in and still felt like I was at the foundation. Had to give up, but may try again someday.

[Linda Thomas stephens · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great Read!!

Loved the storyline on this book. The characters were fantastic ... can't wait for the second book ... hope it will keep me wanting to finish the book a n d not put down until completed. I would recommend this book to all my reading circle.

[Alyanna · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 STARS. Review coming soon. Stay tuned!

[Kristin Scearce · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review to come!

[Jackie Hamlin]

Average vampire love story with a slight twist. Quite a few spelling and grammar mistakes which was annoying. Readable but not memorable - sorry.

[Janyne · Rating 2 out of 5]

One and a half stars. Not that compelling of a story, did not hold my interest, did not have any kind of conclusion.