Sweeter Than Wine

Tales of the Were: Brotherhood of Blood #4

by Bianca D'Arc

An abused woman has the power to unite werefolk, fey and vampire against an evil that would see them all dead -- if she can learn to love again. Christy lies near death after a brutal beating by her estranged husband. Her preternatural friends reach a desperate conclusion: The only way to save her is to turn her. Sebastian steps forward to take on the burden of being her Maker. For him its no burden at all. She draws him as no other woman has for centuries. With the help of a werecougar friend, Sebastian teaches Christy about her new life and abilities, making certain she is as strong as he can make her. Only then can she face her abusive ex-husband and put her old life behind her. But Christy's ex-husband is involved in something more dangerous than any of them had guessed. Vampire, were, and even a fey knight must work together to put an end to the threatening evil. To overcome her past, help keep the darkness at bay, and fight for a new life with Sebastian, Christy must draw on all of her new-found strength. Will it be enough? Warning, this title contains explicit sex, graphic language, menage a trois, hot neck biting and werecougar stroking.

Genres: Paranormal, Vampires, Paranormal Romance, Romance, Erotica, Fantasy, Shapeshifters

223 pages, Paperback

First published October 28, 2008

About the author

Bianca D'Arc is the USA Today bestselling author of over 100 romance titles. She has been published traditionally, by a few notable small presses, and indie. Before becoming a full-time writer, she ran a laboratory, a legal department, and jetted around the country on business while working for a Fortune 500 engineering firm.

Reviews

[Julie (jjmachshev) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Whoo hoo! Way hot vampires, weres, and even a fae to keep you sizzling on a cold winter's night (or any other night for that matter). Bianca D'Arc has moved onto my must-buy list with her sensual stories about mythical creatures and their search for love. "Sweeter Than Wine" is the follow-on story to "Lords of the Were", but you don't need to have read the first one to enjoy this one.

When Christy gathers the courage to ask her husband for a divorce, he delivers a fatal beating. While her friends gather at her deathbed in the hospital, the man who's been waiting for her comes to save her. Sebastian will do everything he can, and enlist the help of all of his friends, to save Christy and ensure she regains the strength and bravery she once had.

Hot were sex, hot vamp sex, hot were/human/vamp sex! A story about love and sacrifices that will leave you smiling and fanning yourself!

[Angela (Angel's Book Nook) · Rating 4 out of 5]

A story about love and sacrifices that will leave you smiling and fanning yourself! I enjoyed "Sweeter Than Wine". I have read the other Brotherhood of Blood stories and can say this one got my attention. It has a good story line and plot with lots of action. The first three books I had a hard time believing in the quick love. This one was not rushed and had more depth to it. I felt the characters connect. Plus we get a bunch of new creatures added to the mix and some great action.

[Dawn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bianca my dear, you've done it again!!! This book was a great one!!! just like the rest of the series...i guess its on to book 5 or 6 cant remember which one this was!!!

[Laini · Rating 1 out of 5]

The blurb was sweet. It had lots of potential so despite being a little disappointed in the previous story in this series I went ahead and read. It was the most tedious thing to do. Ever.

At first the hero is sweet and I'm all into him until he instructs the heroine... to sleep with... another man. Isn't romance supposed to be about how one person is so in love and possessive of you that they will do anything for you and to keep you safe?

I understood the logic the author was using but the premise was made by the author and I think something else besides actual sex could have been used here. To me it just feels like she took license with the characters to do a naughty scene and from then on out, I couldn't like the hero no matter how many sweet words and justifications passed.

Also, before he claims this woman as his mate he asks her to sleep with this other person which leads their mating bond to extend to this third person who is NOT a main love interest.

This all felt more like just pointless erotica UNTIL the plots started to roll in. Normally a plot in a series starts from the first book. I was blindsided by the endless povs from every character and endless types of supernatural beings being introduced. Many times I just wanted to close the book but I hate not finishing a book and I figured if I'd already gone through the part where the hero asks the heroine to have sex with another man I could finish.

I will not be jumping to the next book though. I shudder to think of all the other povs and introduced creatures that will be unrelated to the romantic story, if there is a romantic story and not just erotica again.

[Mary · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the best of the series so far. As a full novel there is much more happening and the series is set up for a major battle that has not yet occurred by the end of the sixth. I hope there will be, at least, one major novel remaining to wrap things up... I would hate to miss out on the battle where the women will be the protagonists in the battle of good versus evil.

I really enjoyed how Sebastian was there for Christy, putting her future needs of empowerment and self-protection ahead of his own to claim her only for himself. Sebastian's alliances bind everyone together making them stronger as they battle the evil wizard.

The only upsetting outcome I've found for this book that it highlights how much better the author could have added to the rest of the series. I hope there will be more after the sixth book, but not another novella, I want it all.

[Cindyg · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow this was one hot sexy steamy read with a great story and great cast of characters. I felt for Christy and was proud of her ability to overcome her fears of an abusive husband. Sebastian is one hell of a vampire who truly loves this woman and is willing to do whatever it takes to keep her safe, strong and confident. His sacrifice for the woman he loves is overwhelming...in comes Matt, a Were and a wonderful one at that. Together he and Sebastian will oversee her transformation and make sure that she is strong and capable and never a victim again. Hot Vamp, Were, Fey sex and more sex. Go for it you'll love it. Ms. D'Arc has won herself a fan. I hope this series continues. Highly recommend.

[Maya · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ok, so I noticed that the book is not marketed as part of a series, and really if you read it as a stand alone it works, however, if you want to get the maximum out of it then you need to first read the following books in the order I put them and then read it:

Tales of the Were 01 - Lords of the Were
Tales of the Were 02 - Inferno

Brotherhood of the Blood 01 - One and Only
Brotherhood of the Blood 02 - Rare Vintage
Brotherhood of the Blood 03 - Phantom Desires
Brotherhood of the Blood 04 - Sweeter Than Wine (this story)
Brotherhood of the Blood 04.5 - Forever Valentine (Short story in Caught by Cupid)

Hope this helps all!

[Daniela · Rating 4 out of 5]

(Explícito). Me gustó e incluso sorprendió que no fuera una historia corta, aquí todavía se relaciona con la historia de tales of the were*, creo, bueno, salen Tim y Raffe, luego se menciona a Duncan y a Dante (los dos me encantan) así que fue bueno. En realidad esto sucede como que unos meses después de ese libro. Me gustó que Christina desde el principio no se dejara intimidar por Sebastian, y que no huyó cuando se enteró de lo que le habían hecho. Claro que se me hizo demasiado cliché que mágicamente un grupo de amigas desde la universidad se emparejaran con un grupo de vampiros que también da la casualidad de ser conocidos, por no decir que amigos. Estuvo bien, narrado en tercera persona y te ofrece diferentes puntos de vista. Lo recomiendo.
Sigo esperando por otro libro con Dante y Duncan como personajes principales, me encantó pero a la vez no me gustó que la escritora lo dejara como un final abierto.

[Belly · Rating 5 out of 5]

A good read.

This is one of those books i like more now that i’ve read it several times.
The Brotherhood of Blood books are the beginning of the Were series of books. There is some odd timing in these books due to her old publishers and rights to the stories, but she has the rights to these old books back now and has worked to restore the correct timeline.
There is a group of girlfriends from college who all end up as mates to vampires or weres.
In this one Christie is beaten to death by her husband and was only saved at the last possible moment by Sebastian. One of the group of vampire friends who have all found mates from that same group of ladies.

[Rachel · Rating 1 out of 5]

What a letdown. I couldn’t read past Sebastian bringing another woman to orgasm while the woman for him in on life support 2ft away. This was a disgrace to mate romances. Nobody wants to read about the main character sexually involved in ANY way with another when it comes to mates. It’s bad enough when their many past sexual partners are mentioned or come to flaunt it in the mates faces. The book didn’t need this “demonstration” from him since he simply could’ve made the bite not hurt instead of making his woman’s friend orgasm while she lays there dying and it simply ruined it.

[Elizabeth Bennet · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is a novel that is fluffier than cotton candy. It was strangely wholesome. And if you are after erotica there are only two scenes that are a bit heavier and the rest is even lighter than those old Mills and Boon novels. It just did not work for me, maybe because my expectations were different.

[Fran Alsaud · Rating 4 out of 5]

Una historia con una trama entretenida, se leyó rápido.

[Ki Taeni · Rating 4 out of 5]

GLORIOUS.

Sebastian & Christy ? *chefs kiss* I loved the inclusion of the side characters. Steel & Cam have my heart

[jackie h. mcallister · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sweater than Wine

Another winner !!!!!
I am enjoying reading this series again, even better the second time around.
Get ready for more.

[Kathy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Setting: Emergency room, ; his secluded, protected house with underground rooms, including a ‘dungeon’ of sexual toys; her middle class home; woods;

Theme: love – sacrificing love; finding ones strength – both emotional and physical; defeating prejudice evil;

Characters:
‘Christy’ Christine Kinsey: abused woman, mortally wounded; sweet; monied; married unluckily, and husband has started to hit her when angry; when she tells him she is going to file for divorce, he beats her and she is dying; wakes up to find Sebastian at her bedside;

Sebastian: former British nobleman; vampire; when turned, abandoned by maker, found an injured wolf, bit to take blood, and the wolf turned human… he returned the young were to her family, and stayed with them… hence a special connection between him and weres, unlike most other vampires & weres; he met Christy twice, danced with her twice, felt a pull to her, but respected she was married so did not pursue – but biding his time; with Kelly when she gets the call that Christy in hospital… he goes, and claims the right to turn her, and to mentor her; and he knows she needs special handling at first, needing to find her inner strength to deal with her husband… comes up with an interesting plan;

Matt Redstone; werecougar friend of Sebastian; he agrees to help Sebastian to help Christy, and ends up bound to them when they lifemate bind;

Cameron: fey and Chevalier de Lumiere (Knight of Light); steps in to help fight off the bad guys; gentle, knowing, wise, encouraging all to make plans to work together in the future to fight this evil or face annihilation;

Lissa / Atticus: and Kelly / Marc LaTour: happily married to their vamps, one pregnant; support Christy;

Benjamin Steel – Altor Custodis agent – to watch and report on supernaturals; former Navy SEAL; when confronted by the vamps/weres he learns that the information he is reporting is leading to the supernatural’s heinous deaths; he agrees to help the group, as she saw most of the supernaturals were good people;

Jeff Kinsey: abusive husband; between Christy’s new strength, and Sebastian’s mental influence, he gets his;

Mario Gonzalez: Venifucus; magic – drawing from 7 realms, via lines on tattoo on his face; mercilessly out to kill as many supernaturals as he can; difficult to kill, but gets his in the end;

Jenna: doctor who allows Sebastian to do what he can to save her friend Christy, who is dying and she can’t help;

Ian Sinclair: comes in at the end – Jenna’s destiny in the next book?

Hiro Yamamoto: vampire; Sensei;

Summary:
Sebastian, a thought-full vampire, maps out a strategy to build Christy – whom he recognizes as his lifemate, and a very courageous woman; knowing he was stronger for taking were blood when first converted… and knowing blood and sex connected, and knowing that once he is bound to her, he could not tolerate another touching her, he asks werecougar Mark to be her first blood donor – and directs them in sex – in helping her to release her inhibitions, and directing mark in how to make love to her… orally (additional exchange of fluids)… the 2nd night, at the height of passion, she begs him to enter her, and he does, and when the three of them climax together, their binding is complete, but it includes Mark, to a bit of a lesser degree, but he can telepathically communicate with them both;

And then they must face her husband, to get her divorce and her things… and then to face the evil trying to kill them… and work with other vamps and weres and human and fey, and win this battle;

Memorable scenes:
“Between mates, that’s all that was needed to sustaineach other’s magic and life. Blood and sex, and the deepest kind of love in all the realms.”

[Lady S · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a beautiful love story. I am very glad that Sebastian "happened" to be at the Master's house when they got the call from Jen that Christy was at death's door. I have read nearly every one of the reviews written on GR, and to those who complain that their love happened way too fast, I say to you: they had known each other for quite some months, and neither of them could get the other out of their minds since the first meeting. In fact, Christy took a few beatings from her husband over Sebastian, but that never deterred her from yearning desperately for him, and it was Sebastian's honor that held him back from claiming her because she was already wed to another.

It also took great courage on Sebastian's part to let Matt be Christy's feeds for those 2 nights to make her the strongest in both body and mind that she could be. He didn't know, since they had not yet joined as one, whether she would ultimately prefer Matt over him, but he was willing to risk it because he wanted her so very strong. She needed Matt's blood, but she ALSO needed all the rest of his bodily fluids, as well as to feed from the sexual energy of them having sex. I just thought it quite hilarious that Matt ended up bonded to them both :D, and I don't believe for a second that that state of affairs happened by accident. I believe that the Mother of All caused that to happen. After all, that connection is what ultimately saved Christy's life when Sebastian was knocked unconscious during the fight with the mage. And it is also what ultimately saved Matt's life (or at least his quality of life) when he was poisoned by the mage's blood. I would also be willing to bet that Matt will also play a pivotal role in the final take-down of Elspeth.

This story was truly excellent to my way of thinking.

[gremlin · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this. I'd already read the other five Brotherhood of Blood stories, and the first two Tales of the Were books, so I was all caught up on the magical doings that get mentioned as happening elsewhere.

Though Christy starts off nearly beaten to death by the husband she wanted to divorce, her friends agree that she needs to be made a vampire to save her life, and soon she's got a new life.

Her sire is Sebastian, who has wanted her since he first saw her but stayed away since she was married. He works on making her as strong as possible (which is where the werecougar stroking comes in), and then they can move forward in their relationship as she is his One.

Then it gets down to serious action, as someone has been watching the Brotherhoood of Blood guys. Christy is part of the key to getting many different paranormal types to work together as they haven't done since ancient times.

[MK · Rating 4 out of 5]

Compared to the first three books of this series, Sweeter than Wine has a lot more content, action, and as usual a double dose of sweetness between the couple that makes me cringe. At last, it have a plot other than the vampires finding their mate, changing them and happily live in the darkness. Christy's character change is a bit refreshing, as we once know her in the other books as a bit shy, and unsure of herself. Sebastian is a new character that is just introduced to this book.

Anyway, I like the plot, the climax is semi-action pack. And I also like the new twist in the events. Wish that Matt have some story of his own.

[Carol Reddy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Book 4. A longer book than the first 3 is the tale of Sebastian and Christy. Christy is in an abusive marriage leading to a hospital visit with a final outcome. Sebastian having met and being aware of his serious attraction to her saves her life by becoming her maker. He is determined to give her everything she needs so she'll never be a victim again. Throw in a really powerful bad guy and some werefolk and you get a great read! Can't wait for what's next!

[Emily · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read the electronic version of this book. It took forever for the main couple to finally get the action on together. It begins by the heroine going at it with someone else. The romance between the main couple is great and I look forward to seeing what happens as the series and plots progress.

[jD · Rating 3 out of 5]

I think this is a series but am not sure since the books are not numbered or referred to as part of a series. It is clear with this book that at least two should have preceeded it. None the less, too erotic and the drama is weak. I like the vamps and weres although they were not unique.

[C.J. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really really enjoyed this. The story was fab as were all the characters. I loved the connection between Sabastian, Christy and Matt. I hope Matt gets his own story and I have an inkling it wil involve a certain lawyer. Very best of the series.

[Tairu · Rating 4 out of 5]

Valió la pena dejarme llevar por mi "masoquismo literario" este estuvo mucho mejor y muchooo... me enamore de Sebastián y Matt, que afortunada es Christy y todo ese asunto de los Were, los Fey y demás se puso muy interesante.

[Erotic Horizon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sweeter Than Wine by Bianca D'Arc (2008)

[Anne · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not too bad, but there are some big boring parts.

[Dee · Rating 4 out of 5]

Re-Read August 2012

[Lelyana's Reviews · Rating 3 out of 5]

as some erotica books, this book full of bed scene...nice to read after the rain hahahahahaha

[KindleJo Jo · Rating 3 out of 5]

not my fav of the series, but still good

[Anita · Rating 5 out of 5]

just as good as the other books of this series .....enjoyed it very much ....

[Jessica Gomez · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was a nice story.