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Slay My Love
What happens when you're attracted to the very person who wants to kill you?
Gianni, a born vampire, lives among undead brethren striving to find his place in their society.
Franklin, a vampire hunter, accepts a mission from the Scourge to capture Gianni for testing.
The pair meet along dark city streets, and an ill-fated attraction smolders between them. Natural enemies form an unlikely bond, but the peace between them cannot last.
The Scourge--an ancient organization bent on conquering supernaturals--need a born vampire for their labs. Franklin needs to rise in the ranks to live up to his family name. Gianni is caught in the fray. Where shame and betrayal loom large, can a vampire and a slayer find love, or will one have to kill the other to survive?
Slay My Love is a gay paranormal romance with a slow burn and an enemies to lovers trope. Content includes passionate scenes and violence. Intended for mature readers.
56,000 words, standalone, no cliffhanger ending, HFN
Gianni, a born vampire, lives among undead brethren striving to find his place in their society.
Franklin, a vampire hunter, accepts a mission from the Scourge to capture Gianni for testing.
The pair meet along dark city streets, and an ill-fated attraction smolders between them. Natural enemies form an unlikely bond, but the peace between them cannot last.
The Scourge--an ancient organization bent on conquering supernaturals--need a born vampire for their labs. Franklin needs to rise in the ranks to live up to his family name. Gianni is caught in the fray. Where shame and betrayal loom large, can a vampire and a slayer find love, or will one have to kill the other to survive?
Slay My Love is a gay paranormal romance with a slow burn and an enemies to lovers trope. Content includes passionate scenes and violence. Intended for mature readers.
56,000 words, standalone, no cliffhanger ending, HFN
242 pages, Paperback
First published November 19, 2019
32 people are currently reading
135 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 36 reviews
December 21, 2019
I absolutely adored this story. So charming!
May 13, 2023
I was looking for a light read while in the middle of the heavier books and this book hit the mark!! I am always a sucker for vampires and even moreso for vampires portrayed in less traditional formats. I loved the world building of the vampires here, it was easy to follow but unique! The slayers were more government run and less chosen one, which I also enjoyed.
Gianni...holy crap I loved him off the bat! PLEASE I love me some sassy vampires. Gianni's situation was complicated but very relatable. I honestly loved that he acknowledges and takes accountability for his past behaviors that lead him to his low point. Even though it wasn't ENTIRELY his fault because his ex is the worst creep ever, he knows that he was wrong in things he had done willingly and I feel that is incredibly rare to see in characters ESPECIALLY in the start of a story.
Franklin was actually also interesting. I usually get bored of the human solider types, but Franklin was relatable as well in pretty much not having a life or anyone close to him all to follow in his father's footsteps of becoming a slayer. A father who would never be proud of him anyway. It hurt to see someone who was literally just existing to please higher powers like his boss and father. Gianni was the first true attraction he had and having Franklin's struggle no be so black and white and actually having him fuck up over and over makes the experience more realistic and it was like a breath of fresh air.
All in all, I very much enjoyed this story and the characters. :) If you love unique twists on modern vampires/slayers, I recommend it!
Gianni...holy crap I loved him off the bat! PLEASE I love me some sassy vampires. Gianni's situation was complicated but very relatable. I honestly loved that he acknowledges and takes accountability for his past behaviors that lead him to his low point. Even though it wasn't ENTIRELY his fault because his ex is the worst creep ever, he knows that he was wrong in things he had done willingly and I feel that is incredibly rare to see in characters ESPECIALLY in the start of a story.
Franklin was actually also interesting. I usually get bored of the human solider types, but Franklin was relatable as well in pretty much not having a life or anyone close to him all to follow in his father's footsteps of becoming a slayer. A father who would never be proud of him anyway. It hurt to see someone who was literally just existing to please higher powers like his boss and father. Gianni was the first true attraction he had and having Franklin's struggle no be so black and white and actually having him fuck up over and over makes the experience more realistic and it was like a breath of fresh air.
All in all, I very much enjoyed this story and the characters. :) If you love unique twists on modern vampires/slayers, I recommend it!
December 27, 2019
A new kind of Buffy
Be still my heart, a vampire who has excellent taste in books and nicknames. Gianni won my heart with his snark and flair. Franklin is conflicted and I would be too. The more he learns, the less he knows. He made me shake my head at him a lot. I really like the vibe Franklin and Gianni have, part teasing, part sweetness and part mistrust. It draws me to them both. Also they have sizzling chemistry. They made my blood burn with how hot they are together.
I so enjoy the variety of vampires and the depth of the characters that Lee Colgin writes. They’re unique and complex. They also made me laugh multiple times with their sneaky humor. This book had me on the edge of my seat so many times as I wasn’t sure who to trust or what would happen next. A fantastic adventure that I can’t wait join again.
Be still my heart, a vampire who has excellent taste in books and nicknames. Gianni won my heart with his snark and flair. Franklin is conflicted and I would be too. The more he learns, the less he knows. He made me shake my head at him a lot. I really like the vibe Franklin and Gianni have, part teasing, part sweetness and part mistrust. It draws me to them both. Also they have sizzling chemistry. They made my blood burn with how hot they are together.
I so enjoy the variety of vampires and the depth of the characters that Lee Colgin writes. They’re unique and complex. They also made me laugh multiple times with their sneaky humor. This book had me on the edge of my seat so many times as I wasn’t sure who to trust or what would happen next. A fantastic adventure that I can’t wait join again.
November 29, 2019
Franklin and Gianni
The Scourge knows the vampire Gianni is special so they want him alive.
Franklin is a vampire slayer, just like his father and his father. So Frank will be the one to observe him and know when and how to take him in.
Only Gianni isn’t quite the vampire Franklin expects him to be. Everything he learned about vampires is dubious. Gianni is also very approachable, how more he gets to know him the more he is smitten by this adorable creature.
Gianni is a lonely vampire, he runs from his abusive boyfriend and can’t seem to make friends.
Franklin wants to be his friend, but he can’t trust, can he?
A delightful story! Slow burn, after that a rollercoaster. Excitement on every page.
Two men, quite opposite, with certain characteristics, from other worlds.
At times very thrilling, sparkling and intriguing. There are hurtful, emotional moments. The vampire aspects were delicious and original.
The plot was well done. The end was a bit sudden. I’m not sure if there will be a continuation, I would absolutely read it if there will be one! For now, the book ended satisfyingly!
The way of writing was enjoyable, flowing and captivating.
The Scourge knows the vampire Gianni is special so they want him alive.
Franklin is a vampire slayer, just like his father and his father. So Frank will be the one to observe him and know when and how to take him in.
Only Gianni isn’t quite the vampire Franklin expects him to be. Everything he learned about vampires is dubious. Gianni is also very approachable, how more he gets to know him the more he is smitten by this adorable creature.
Gianni is a lonely vampire, he runs from his abusive boyfriend and can’t seem to make friends.
Franklin wants to be his friend, but he can’t trust, can he?
A delightful story! Slow burn, after that a rollercoaster. Excitement on every page.
Two men, quite opposite, with certain characteristics, from other worlds.
At times very thrilling, sparkling and intriguing. There are hurtful, emotional moments. The vampire aspects were delicious and original.
The plot was well done. The end was a bit sudden. I’m not sure if there will be a continuation, I would absolutely read it if there will be one! For now, the book ended satisfyingly!
The way of writing was enjoyable, flowing and captivating.
April 29, 2020
**grm**
I really wanted to read this book, the blurb sounded fantastic, but in the end it didn't work for me. The start of the story was intriguing and I had big hopes for the rest of the plot too, but with more pages I started to understand that my rating wasn't gonna be good. There were too many scenes that annoyed me, one of these was the fact that one of the MCs had to sleep with his previous lover, then there were sex scenes that seemed just put there because the book needed some smexy time and didn't have a lot of sense with the flow of the story. I always like a good sex scene, but this Daddy scene in that moment? No thank you. In the end I almost decided to give the book 2 stars, also because the finale was weak as hell and we didn't really have a good closure. I rated 3 stars rounded up, since it seems to be this author first book? But I really wished there were half stars.
I really wanted to read this book, the blurb sounded fantastic, but in the end it didn't work for me. The start of the story was intriguing and I had big hopes for the rest of the plot too, but with more pages I started to understand that my rating wasn't gonna be good. There were too many scenes that annoyed me, one of these was the fact that one of the MCs had to sleep with his previous lover, then there were sex scenes that seemed just put there because the book needed some smexy time and didn't have a lot of sense with the flow of the story. I always like a good sex scene, but this Daddy scene in that moment? No thank you. In the end I almost decided to give the book 2 stars, also because the finale was weak as hell and we didn't really have a good closure. I rated 3 stars rounded up, since it seems to be this author first book? But I really wished there were half stars.
February 11, 2020
Who doesn’t love a vampire and vampire slayer romance?? Anywho this was a sweet little read with just enough of everything to make it enjoyable. The only irk I have is Franklin giving the false name of Richard. It got so confusing at times that even the author slipped up while Franklin and Gianni were at the hotel. One minute Gianni is thinking of him as Richard and next his thoughts call him Franklin, even though he doesn’t know his name yet.
November 27, 2019
** I WAS GIVEN THIS BOOK FOR MY READING PLEASURE **
Reviewed for Divine Magazine
~
Slay My Love, by Lee Colgin
★★★★★
242 Pages
POV: 3rd person, dual POV
Content Warning: secondary relationship is abusive, both physically and mentally; mild violence and scenes of blood exchange
Wow!
This is Lee Colgin's debut novel and I couldn't be more impressed. This was...everything. Slay My Love takes the vampire trope and turns it on its head, spins it around, adds a sprinkle of homage to Buffy the Vampire Slayer, and a dash of David Attenborough to create something I've never read before that hooked me from page one. I'll not only be looking out to buy Colgin's next book as soon as it's available on pre-order, but I'll be adding them to my instant-buy list, and my paperback-must-have list. I ordered the paperback as soon as I looked it up on Amazon and saw that one was available.
Right from the first few pages, I was hooked by the story. Not only was Franklin intriguing, in his attempt to stalk and monitor a vampire, but his interactions with Gianni from the very beginning were laced with a strange hesitation on both parts. Franklin was a slayer – vampire hunter – who knew there was something inherently different about this one vampire, and Gianni – a vampire with unique lineage – knew there was something unique about this reluctant slayer.
Together, the chemistry was off the charts and I loved the way the relationship built slowly from playing and toying with each other, baiting the enemy to see how far they could tease, into something close to friendship. Then, as time went on, that friendship flourished and became a tentative romance that neither saw coming. The slow progression was beautiful to see, as Franklin slowly unravelled in response to Gianni's teasing and Gianni peeled back the vulnerable layers masked by snarky charm. There was a hint of slow burn, with the first kiss coming at 40%, but things progressed fast after that and I'm really glad with how it all worked out. Not only was the slow burn necessary, but it added a heat and urgency to what came after.
The characters were utterly charming. From Franklin's almost naive loyalty to the slayers, his uncertainty with real-life, and the budding romance that reveals how lonely he's always been...to Gianni's consuming loneliness emerging into a growing friendship with Tabea and Hayleigh, the escape from an abusive relationship, the inner strength he relies on to see him through the tough times, even when it means doing things he doesn't want to...the characters might have been fictional creatures – a slayer and a vampire – but they were real. They were relateable, loveable, adorable, and I could easily see myself in each of them, in various ways. Hayleigh and Tabea were brilliant side characters, offering support and loyalty when it was most needed; Hutch was a great troublemaker, and the villain was really well written. Spike was...I'll admit...a particular favourite side-character. (And my favourite Buffy character!)
The sense of danger was never far away, either. This was, after all, fraternising with the enemy for both of them and the risk of being caught was always at the forefront of Franklin's mind, even if Gianni let himself fall into complacency at times, letting down his guard. They both had a lot to lose and a lot of baggage. Franklin was a born-and-raised slayer, from generations of them. Gianni was escaping an abusive relationship that was stalking him, even as he grew ever closer to Franklin. And all the time, the slayers Franklin worked for were watching every move and just waiting to sweep in and take Gianni hostage, to experiment on him.
And, can I please give a special shout out THANK YOU for this line:
“I forgive you, but trust is going to take time.”
All too often in fiction, when the MC's are reunited and the chaos is over, it's as though nothing ever happened and no one got hurt. I can't thank Colgin enough for admitting that life is not suddenly all sunshine and roses for this pair, just because the worst is over!
The uniqueness of the vampire twist – that there are undead vampires and a few rare living vampires – was a really nice addition to a book that was already full of things I loved. The worldbuilding was slow but subtly complex. Being an urban fantasy, in a modern and familiar world, meant that we felt comfortable with the surroundings and concepts. Thanks to shows like Buffy the Vampire slayer – which was nicely paid homage to and teased throughout the book, without becoming annoying or cheesy – we're familiar with the concept of vampires in a modern world. But the author still tried to make sure we understood how normal it was, that there was this lurking underbelly of paranormal beneath the human. How it functioned, why, where it originated from, and how that world blended with Franklin's human world. All without being overwhelming or laden with info-dumps.
Slay My Love is a fantastic urban fantasy novel rife with romance, danger, heat and spice. It's got charm and smarts, can make you laugh and cry, hurts you and tries it's damned best to make up for it, while leaving you with a smile and fond memories. Like the best rollercoaster relationship you ever had. I fell in love with it quickly, even though I knew it couldn't last, and I don't regret a second. I'd take the risk of a second inning, knowing I'd get my heart broken and repaired again, all for the joy of re-reading this slice of adorableness. With witty banter, a skilled author, and the tentative intrigue and romance between Gianni and Franklin, this is a book I'll be re-reading often.
I already have my copy in the post...go get yours!
~
Favourite One-Liners
“Gianni would die for his poor choices in men.”
“Apparently sleeping with the enemy was a heroic tactic where the end justified the means.”
“There were worse ways to die than in a lover's embrace.”
“He'd gone from one prison to another, but at least these restraints would be familiar.”
“Gianni mentally dubbed him King of Awkward.”
Reviewed for Divine Magazine
~
Slay My Love, by Lee Colgin
★★★★★
242 Pages
POV: 3rd person, dual POV
Content Warning: secondary relationship is abusive, both physically and mentally; mild violence and scenes of blood exchange
Wow!
This is Lee Colgin's debut novel and I couldn't be more impressed. This was...everything. Slay My Love takes the vampire trope and turns it on its head, spins it around, adds a sprinkle of homage to Buffy the Vampire Slayer, and a dash of David Attenborough to create something I've never read before that hooked me from page one. I'll not only be looking out to buy Colgin's next book as soon as it's available on pre-order, but I'll be adding them to my instant-buy list, and my paperback-must-have list. I ordered the paperback as soon as I looked it up on Amazon and saw that one was available.
Right from the first few pages, I was hooked by the story. Not only was Franklin intriguing, in his attempt to stalk and monitor a vampire, but his interactions with Gianni from the very beginning were laced with a strange hesitation on both parts. Franklin was a slayer – vampire hunter – who knew there was something inherently different about this one vampire, and Gianni – a vampire with unique lineage – knew there was something unique about this reluctant slayer.
Together, the chemistry was off the charts and I loved the way the relationship built slowly from playing and toying with each other, baiting the enemy to see how far they could tease, into something close to friendship. Then, as time went on, that friendship flourished and became a tentative romance that neither saw coming. The slow progression was beautiful to see, as Franklin slowly unravelled in response to Gianni's teasing and Gianni peeled back the vulnerable layers masked by snarky charm. There was a hint of slow burn, with the first kiss coming at 40%, but things progressed fast after that and I'm really glad with how it all worked out. Not only was the slow burn necessary, but it added a heat and urgency to what came after.
The characters were utterly charming. From Franklin's almost naive loyalty to the slayers, his uncertainty with real-life, and the budding romance that reveals how lonely he's always been...to Gianni's consuming loneliness emerging into a growing friendship with Tabea and Hayleigh, the escape from an abusive relationship, the inner strength he relies on to see him through the tough times, even when it means doing things he doesn't want to...the characters might have been fictional creatures – a slayer and a vampire – but they were real. They were relateable, loveable, adorable, and I could easily see myself in each of them, in various ways. Hayleigh and Tabea were brilliant side characters, offering support and loyalty when it was most needed; Hutch was a great troublemaker, and the villain was really well written. Spike was...I'll admit...a particular favourite side-character. (And my favourite Buffy character!)
The sense of danger was never far away, either. This was, after all, fraternising with the enemy for both of them and the risk of being caught was always at the forefront of Franklin's mind, even if Gianni let himself fall into complacency at times, letting down his guard. They both had a lot to lose and a lot of baggage. Franklin was a born-and-raised slayer, from generations of them. Gianni was escaping an abusive relationship that was stalking him, even as he grew ever closer to Franklin. And all the time, the slayers Franklin worked for were watching every move and just waiting to sweep in and take Gianni hostage, to experiment on him.
And, can I please give a special shout out THANK YOU for this line:
“I forgive you, but trust is going to take time.”
All too often in fiction, when the MC's are reunited and the chaos is over, it's as though nothing ever happened and no one got hurt. I can't thank Colgin enough for admitting that life is not suddenly all sunshine and roses for this pair, just because the worst is over!
The uniqueness of the vampire twist – that there are undead vampires and a few rare living vampires – was a really nice addition to a book that was already full of things I loved. The worldbuilding was slow but subtly complex. Being an urban fantasy, in a modern and familiar world, meant that we felt comfortable with the surroundings and concepts. Thanks to shows like Buffy the Vampire slayer – which was nicely paid homage to and teased throughout the book, without becoming annoying or cheesy – we're familiar with the concept of vampires in a modern world. But the author still tried to make sure we understood how normal it was, that there was this lurking underbelly of paranormal beneath the human. How it functioned, why, where it originated from, and how that world blended with Franklin's human world. All without being overwhelming or laden with info-dumps.
Slay My Love is a fantastic urban fantasy novel rife with romance, danger, heat and spice. It's got charm and smarts, can make you laugh and cry, hurts you and tries it's damned best to make up for it, while leaving you with a smile and fond memories. Like the best rollercoaster relationship you ever had. I fell in love with it quickly, even though I knew it couldn't last, and I don't regret a second. I'd take the risk of a second inning, knowing I'd get my heart broken and repaired again, all for the joy of re-reading this slice of adorableness. With witty banter, a skilled author, and the tentative intrigue and romance between Gianni and Franklin, this is a book I'll be re-reading often.
I already have my copy in the post...go get yours!
~
Favourite One-Liners
“Gianni would die for his poor choices in men.”
“Apparently sleeping with the enemy was a heroic tactic where the end justified the means.”
“There were worse ways to die than in a lover's embrace.”
“He'd gone from one prison to another, but at least these restraints would be familiar.”
“Gianni mentally dubbed him King of Awkward.”
May 31, 2020
4 stars!
Oooh!! 🤩 I don’t remember if I’ve read this author before, the name is very familiar but if I have, I can’t imagine why I didn’t read this book. But anyway, I’m certainly going to be reading this author a lot in the future 😋
I love the writing! The story was solid. The concepts a little different from the usual, which was certainly welcomed. I wish we had a whole series in this universe but I think I might try the authors other books which apparently have a similar concept 😍
So... off I go... to get the other series 😆
Oooh!! 🤩 I don’t remember if I’ve read this author before, the name is very familiar but if I have, I can’t imagine why I didn’t read this book. But anyway, I’m certainly going to be reading this author a lot in the future 😋
I love the writing! The story was solid. The concepts a little different from the usual, which was certainly welcomed. I wish we had a whole series in this universe but I think I might try the authors other books which apparently have a similar concept 😍
So... off I go... to get the other series 😆
December 6, 2019
Gianni is a born vampire. He need a bite from a made vampire to lose his human side.
Franklin is a vampire hunter (yes, just like Buffy). His organization needs a vampire to study so Gianni is Franklin’s target. They meet when Franklin is stalking Gianni. The meetings become more than just a job. When Franklin starts to feel protective over the vampire he knows he’s in trouble. They both are.
Some different vampire lore which was interesting. There wasn’t a lot of background. At the beginning of the book I felt like I was missing part of the story but that quickly went away. I liked Gianni very much. Franklin came across as so indecisive it took time to warm up to him. Good story.
I received an arc of this book.
Franklin is a vampire hunter (yes, just like Buffy). His organization needs a vampire to study so Gianni is Franklin’s target. They meet when Franklin is stalking Gianni. The meetings become more than just a job. When Franklin starts to feel protective over the vampire he knows he’s in trouble. They both are.
Some different vampire lore which was interesting. There wasn’t a lot of background. At the beginning of the book I felt like I was missing part of the story but that quickly went away. I liked Gianni very much. Franklin came across as so indecisive it took time to warm up to him. Good story.
I received an arc of this book.
May 9, 2023
3.5 ⭐
Enjoyable dialogue and banter, but otherwise just an okay story.
Enemies to lovers is a notoriously difficult dynamic to pull off and while Lee didn't really get it right, I have to applaud the attempt.
I think I'm biased because I read Vashtan's Soldiers (all three books btw) and C. S. Pacat's captive prince series. Which are some of the best depictions of enemies to lovers in the m/m romance genre that I've ever found.
There was just a sheer lack of conviction from Franklin. A slayer who murders vampires would under no circumstances allow his hand to be held so quickly and the chances of him initiating the contact are even slimmer. I don't oppose his loyalty to Gianni overpowering his mission, but the time table and events are far too casual in the beginning to justify the slip from bloody enemies to casual, if a bit awkward, strangers navigating a shared sexual tension.
At least we can write Gianni's actions off as a character flaw. He likes courting danger. Hence Oswald. I do have to give praise where praise is due. The abuse/survivor dynamic is on point. Potentially triggeringly so for some.
I think if Lee had written Franklin as a grey character already questioning his position within the Scourge, this whole book would have easily been a 4.5 ⭐
Enemies to lovers is like going from -100 to 100, but had Franklin already been grey it would have been a 0 to 100 which would have fit the plot and dialogue better in my opinion.
Enjoyable dialogue and banter, but otherwise just an okay story.
Enemies to lovers is a notoriously difficult dynamic to pull off and while Lee didn't really get it right, I have to applaud the attempt.
I think I'm biased because I read Vashtan's Soldiers (all three books btw) and C. S. Pacat's captive prince series. Which are some of the best depictions of enemies to lovers in the m/m romance genre that I've ever found.
There was just a sheer lack of conviction from Franklin. A slayer who murders vampires would under no circumstances allow his hand to be held so quickly and the chances of him initiating the contact are even slimmer. I don't oppose his loyalty to Gianni overpowering his mission, but the time table and events are far too casual in the beginning to justify the slip from bloody enemies to casual, if a bit awkward, strangers navigating a shared sexual tension.
At least we can write Gianni's actions off as a character flaw. He likes courting danger. Hence Oswald. I do have to give praise where praise is due. The abuse/survivor dynamic is on point. Potentially triggeringly so for some.
I think if Lee had written Franklin as a grey character already questioning his position within the Scourge, this whole book would have easily been a 4.5 ⭐
Enemies to lovers is like going from -100 to 100, but had Franklin already been grey it would have been a 0 to 100 which would have fit the plot and dialogue better in my opinion.
April 19, 2023
A vampire slayer and a vampire find love when they least expect it!
Actual enemies to lovers not just co-workers that don’t agree on stuff. I loved Gianni calling Franklin Buffy. Really all the BtVS references were gold.
Are there going to be more books with Franklin and Gianni living their happily ever after? I hope so.
I inhaled this book. I normally switch between multiple books but this one had kept me focused more than normal.
There are more books by this author and I am going to find and read them all!
Actual enemies to lovers not just co-workers that don’t agree on stuff. I loved Gianni calling Franklin Buffy. Really all the BtVS references were gold.
Are there going to be more books with Franklin and Gianni living their happily ever after? I hope so.
I inhaled this book. I normally switch between multiple books but this one had kept me focused more than normal.
There are more books by this author and I am going to find and read them all!
December 28, 2020
Franklin was born to be a vampire hunter. Like his father and grandfather before him, he works for an organization called the Scourge, ridding the city of vampires. When we meet him, he’s in the middle of an even more difficult task: the live capture of a vampire for research.
Gianni was born a vampire. Mortal, with a beating heart and the ability to eat and drink things other than blood, he is one of only a few members of an ancient species. The Scourge wants to study him, but Gianni notices Franklin following him, putting an end to Franklin’s original plan.
What begins as an attempt to gain Gianni’s trust in order to capture him leads to friendship, attraction, and ultimately a forbidden love between vampire and slayer, in one of the best books I’ve read in the past few months.
Where do I even begin with what I liked? The writing style was beautiful, and made it so easy to lose myself in this world. I loved the idea of a species of living vampires (in addition to the more common undead variety), and really enjoyed the attention to detail inbthe worldbuilding. The story was very balanced as it, it had some angst and it had some fluff, but wasn’t an overdose of either. There was a lot of romance, a little action, a good bit of steam that served to complement the developing relationship in addition to being pretty hot. Overall, it was everything I look for in a good forbidden love story.
The supporting cast gets a shout out as well. A lot of M/M falls into the trap of villainizing women or just ignoring them, but this one had some great female characters too (both human and vampire). There’s also a dog (that doesn’t die). Major bonus points!
The ending is maybe more of a HFN than a HFA, but I have no problem with that. It’s clear that Franklin and Gianni will still face some challenges in the future… but I’d be interested in reading about those if the author feels like writing them!
Overall, highly recommended for anyone who loves a good paranormal love story!
I received an advance review copy from the author, which in no way influenced this honest review.
Gianni was born a vampire. Mortal, with a beating heart and the ability to eat and drink things other than blood, he is one of only a few members of an ancient species. The Scourge wants to study him, but Gianni notices Franklin following him, putting an end to Franklin’s original plan.
What begins as an attempt to gain Gianni’s trust in order to capture him leads to friendship, attraction, and ultimately a forbidden love between vampire and slayer, in one of the best books I’ve read in the past few months.
Where do I even begin with what I liked? The writing style was beautiful, and made it so easy to lose myself in this world. I loved the idea of a species of living vampires (in addition to the more common undead variety), and really enjoyed the attention to detail inbthe worldbuilding. The story was very balanced as it, it had some angst and it had some fluff, but wasn’t an overdose of either. There was a lot of romance, a little action, a good bit of steam that served to complement the developing relationship in addition to being pretty hot. Overall, it was everything I look for in a good forbidden love story.
The supporting cast gets a shout out as well. A lot of M/M falls into the trap of villainizing women or just ignoring them, but this one had some great female characters too (both human and vampire). There’s also a dog (that doesn’t die). Major bonus points!
The ending is maybe more of a HFN than a HFA, but I have no problem with that. It’s clear that Franklin and Gianni will still face some challenges in the future… but I’d be interested in reading about those if the author feels like writing them!
Overall, highly recommended for anyone who loves a good paranormal love story!
I received an advance review copy from the author, which in no way influenced this honest review.
December 1, 2019
I really enjoyed this book. The characters are well developed throughout the story, and the writing style is smooth and flows nicely. The plotline has a nice concept, and enough action to keep it interesting.
Franklin comes from a long line of slayers, and it was always expected that he would be a part of the Scourge. When he is handed a new assignment that could gain him a promotion, he's all in. But he never expected...
Gianni. Gianni is a living vampire. The Scourge wants him, his old master wants him, but he just wants to be free. I really liked Gianni's character. He was flirty and a bit whimsical, but vulnerable, too. When he recognizes that he has a stalker, his reaction is priceless. Thus begins the story of Franklin and his vampire, Gianni.
There's a real internal battle within Franklin. He's a slayer, after all. But the thing I found interesting was that he really didn't question his own attraction to Gianni. As they grow closer, the struggle grows stronger, but Franklin's mind is finally made up.
Unfortunately, things rarely go to plan, and the storyline really takes off from there. Deceptions are revealed, betrayals cut deep, and monsters come back from the past. But with determination and forgiveness, a battle is waged.
This story kept me engaged, and I wasn't sure it would. The whole slayer/hunter falls for the vampire has been done to exhaustion, but this one just caught my fancy. Of course, in the end, Franklin and Gianni get their happily ever after. There could be more to their story, but it was not indicated at the end.
Happy reading!
* I received an ARC of this book and I am leaving my honest review. *
Franklin comes from a long line of slayers, and it was always expected that he would be a part of the Scourge. When he is handed a new assignment that could gain him a promotion, he's all in. But he never expected...
Gianni. Gianni is a living vampire. The Scourge wants him, his old master wants him, but he just wants to be free. I really liked Gianni's character. He was flirty and a bit whimsical, but vulnerable, too. When he recognizes that he has a stalker, his reaction is priceless. Thus begins the story of Franklin and his vampire, Gianni.
There's a real internal battle within Franklin. He's a slayer, after all. But the thing I found interesting was that he really didn't question his own attraction to Gianni. As they grow closer, the struggle grows stronger, but Franklin's mind is finally made up.
Unfortunately, things rarely go to plan, and the storyline really takes off from there. Deceptions are revealed, betrayals cut deep, and monsters come back from the past. But with determination and forgiveness, a battle is waged.
This story kept me engaged, and I wasn't sure it would. The whole slayer/hunter falls for the vampire has been done to exhaustion, but this one just caught my fancy. Of course, in the end, Franklin and Gianni get their happily ever after. There could be more to their story, but it was not indicated at the end.
Happy reading!
* I received an ARC of this book and I am leaving my honest review. *
December 20, 2019
I love when a new addition to the paranormal-romance genre not only arrives well written, but also has a new idea, a new world to explore. Lee's books (she promises there are more exploring this idea on the way) start with a new idea - that there are different types of vampires, with different skills and weaknesses. Add to that two protagonists with less than ideal family histories, and the welcome addition of queer romance (which is out there, but not always widely, and not always this well written), and this meets so many needs (okay wants, but I WAAAANT more!)! There is so much real life here - indoctrination by parental beliefs, coercive and abusive relationships (neither the protagonists' relationship, but CW nonetheless), but Lee has gone beyond the facile in writing about these, developing characters who can acknowledge their roles in these aspects of their lives. And who ultimately have to make complicated choices with their own agency. There is also some wonderfully written erotica woven in - I loved both the love and the sex story between these two interesting characters. I devoured it in one sitting and have already pre-ordered Lee's next book. I can't wait for more!
November 28, 2019
I was really impressed with this author’s debut novel that has a charming, slow-burn “enemies to lovers” MM romantic undertone & I found the plot quite suspenseful, well-written & intriguing with well-developed characters that have good chemistry between them which causes them to ultimately complement each other.
It is about: a vampire hunter (Franklin) is on the hunt to capture a natural born vampire (Gianni) for testing by the Scourge & when they finally meet each other, the attractions flare & a bond forms now Franklin will have to make a decision for either love or betrayal.
There is: a despicable vampire ex-boyfriend (Oswald), humans, vampires, hunters, some twists, intrigue, drama, adventure, action, deceit, betrayal, humor, danger, threats, enemies, paranoia, a stalker, confrontations, friendship, strange attractions, curiosity, misunderstandings, devious plans, conflict, injuries, trust, torture, unethical experiments, manipulations, escape, love, some steam, contentment & well-deserved satisfying conclusion.
It is about: a vampire hunter (Franklin) is on the hunt to capture a natural born vampire (Gianni) for testing by the Scourge & when they finally meet each other, the attractions flare & a bond forms now Franklin will have to make a decision for either love or betrayal.
There is: a despicable vampire ex-boyfriend (Oswald), humans, vampires, hunters, some twists, intrigue, drama, adventure, action, deceit, betrayal, humor, danger, threats, enemies, paranoia, a stalker, confrontations, friendship, strange attractions, curiosity, misunderstandings, devious plans, conflict, injuries, trust, torture, unethical experiments, manipulations, escape, love, some steam, contentment & well-deserved satisfying conclusion.
April 10, 2021
Unfortunately I thought this book was a bit of a mess. I skipped a few pages along the way because I just wanted to finish it and see how the author would wrap it up.
I did not like the whole idea of a "living vampire." It didn't make sense (maybe I skipped the portions where the author explained the reasoning for them) and seemed to be a gimmick to maybe try to have the book be different from every other vampire book.
The whole idea of the Scourge (um - wouldn't the group consider the vampires to the be scourge of the earth and they are the cure to get rid of it?) had potential, but it wasn't fulfilled because they ended up seeming like a quasi-militaristic group who's funding was questionable, members arrogant and they came of more as a homegrown terrorist type group than what they were supposed to be.
I finished it, but only because I was curious as to how it would end, and even that ended up being a bit meh.
I did not like the whole idea of a "living vampire." It didn't make sense (maybe I skipped the portions where the author explained the reasoning for them) and seemed to be a gimmick to maybe try to have the book be different from every other vampire book.
The whole idea of the Scourge (um - wouldn't the group consider the vampires to the be scourge of the earth and they are the cure to get rid of it?) had potential, but it wasn't fulfilled because they ended up seeming like a quasi-militaristic group who's funding was questionable, members arrogant and they came of more as a homegrown terrorist type group than what they were supposed to be.
I finished it, but only because I was curious as to how it would end, and even that ended up being a bit meh.
December 4, 2019
Wonderful enemies to lovers story with adventure, action and so much more. I love the pairing of a vampire and a vampire slayer and found the story engaging and so much fun to read. I really loved the story-line and the pace of the story was good and kept me reading and enjoying it.
Franklin and Gianni are awesome characters that have so much chemistry. Their journey is challenging and is such an emotional struggle. You will feel the conflict and will be rooting for them the whole way.
I was gifted this book from the LesCourt Author Services and i freely give my honest opinion and review.
Franklin and Gianni are awesome characters that have so much chemistry. Their journey is challenging and is such an emotional struggle. You will feel the conflict and will be rooting for them the whole way.
I was gifted this book from the LesCourt Author Services and i freely give my honest opinion and review.
December 8, 2021
I've read two of Lee Colgin's books, and I adored both, so it was a shock to me that I didn't like this one. This is apparently her first books, and she grew a lot as a writer since this book.
Gianni is a true vampire, Franklin is the slayer that was dispatch to bring him in, so it was enemies-to-lovers with added betrayal, ex or not so ex lovers mixed in, a weird plotline and characters I didn't gel with. So this was a disappointment, but there was still glimmers of the author I like so much, so it was not a total waste of time.
If you want to read this author's work, rather read Mongrel, that is everything this book is not.
Gianni is a true vampire, Franklin is the slayer that was dispatch to bring him in, so it was enemies-to-lovers with added betrayal, ex or not so ex lovers mixed in, a weird plotline and characters I didn't gel with. So this was a disappointment, but there was still glimmers of the author I like so much, so it was not a total waste of time.
If you want to read this author's work, rather read Mongrel, that is everything this book is not.
December 4, 2019
A wonderful book the writing was good. I do think that the worldbuilding could have been better. I did have unanswered questions when I was done reading. I also would have liked to know more about the characters they seemed bare bone information wise. The plot was entertaining and it was steady throughout the book. I found the story and characters likeable. I did like the characters, Gianni and Franklin are the MC’s of this book. I can recommend an enjoyable read. I voluntarily read an advance copy of this book for an honest review.
December 3, 2019
Was very interested in this book after reading the blurb and I was not disappointed. This is a great book by a new to me author. I loved the characters, thought they both had such great personalities and were unique to themselves. A slayer and a vampire.. how would it ever work? Opposing sides of the spectrum but they have to fight to it work. This was a wonderful 1st book. I hope thier will be more, but will be checking out more by this author.
December 4, 2019
Slay My Love is a great paranormal book. It has betrayal, mystery, intense moments, excitement, romance, some angst, well-written by an author that I have read for the first time.
Gianni is a vampire and Franklin is a hunter and the moment they met you can see that they are attracted to one another. Their romance is sweet and it's a feel-good story also. Once you start reading it you can put it down.
Gianni is a vampire and Franklin is a hunter and the moment they met you can see that they are attracted to one another. Their romance is sweet and it's a feel-good story also. Once you start reading it you can put it down.
November 27, 2019
A true Enemies to lovers. I have to say it’s one of my favorite tropes and Lee Colvin for sure delivered. Slay my love was an unexpected romance that I enjoyed. The banter between Buffy aka Franklin and Gianni was adorable as it was funny. The heat level Is say was about a 3.5 there were sparks and it was written well. If you like vampire and hunter pairings I say grab this book.
December 3, 2019
This was one hell of a fantastic, intense, raw, gritty, gripping, action packed, emotionally charged, powerful, fascinating, snarky, enthralling, exciting, slow burning, and totally awesome thriller. This twist on the enemies-to-lovers, hunter/prey, and opposites attract storylines had me hooked from the very first page. This is a new-to-me author, and I can't wait to see what happens next.
December 4, 2019
A vampire slayer falling in love with a vampire? Yes please! This book was awesome!!! Franklin and Gianni are totally opposites. They try to fight their feelings for each other, but they can’t. It’s a rough journey for them both, but worth the risk! Great characters and wonderful story. Need more!
January 14, 2020
Good book
I enjoyed this book. Loved Gianni and Franklin and their tumultuous relationship that ends in a HEA. Great action that keeps you hanging. The ending is sweet. Would like to see more of Tabea and Haleigh. Hope they remain involved in Gianni and Franklin's lives. Look forward to more of Led Colgin's work.
I enjoyed this book. Loved Gianni and Franklin and their tumultuous relationship that ends in a HEA. Great action that keeps you hanging. The ending is sweet. Would like to see more of Tabea and Haleigh. Hope they remain involved in Gianni and Franklin's lives. Look forward to more of Led Colgin's work.
March 14, 2023
Different take a vampire vs hunter
A different take on vampires vs vampire hunters. Proving the hunters don't know all and really aren't the good guys and vampires aren't always bad and don't have to kill to feed. All the betrayal on behalf of Gianni is why I gave 4 vs 5 stars. Good book just hate how much he was dumped on by everyone in his life.
A different take on vampires vs vampire hunters. Proving the hunters don't know all and really aren't the good guys and vampires aren't always bad and don't have to kill to feed. All the betrayal on behalf of Gianni is why I gave 4 vs 5 stars. Good book just hate how much he was dumped on by everyone in his life.
December 4, 2019
A great introduction from a new to me author.
A unique take on vampire society.
There was plenty of snarky banter and loads of chemistry between Franklin and Gianni, vampire hunter and vampire.
I'll be looking forward to more from this author.
A unique take on vampire society.
There was plenty of snarky banter and loads of chemistry between Franklin and Gianni, vampire hunter and vampire.
I'll be looking forward to more from this author.
August 30, 2020
Interesting World
A readable story with some great action scenes. The mains were likeable, their chemistry solid, and their development enough to keep me turning the pages.
Despite being a little slow at times, I was invested enough to see the story through.
A readable story with some great action scenes. The mains were likeable, their chemistry solid, and their development enough to keep me turning the pages.
Despite being a little slow at times, I was invested enough to see the story through.
May 12, 2020
Enjoyed
November 17, 2020
Wonderful!
A vampire slayer and a vampire, who knew? Lee sure has a way with her characters. I loved this book and can’t wait to see what else she has in store!! Highly recommended
A vampire slayer and a vampire, who knew? Lee sure has a way with her characters. I loved this book and can’t wait to see what else she has in store!! Highly recommended
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