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The Vampire Legacy #1
Midnight Secrets
Three things about Justin Roberts:
1. He’s a bully.
2. Our relationship is toxic.
3. He’s the only one who knows my secret.
A year ago, I woke in the morgue with a note in my hand telling me that I’m a vampire. I need blood or I’ll start killing people. Lucky for me, Justin has been sneaking into my bedroom and feeding me blood for a year, and the only price I have to pay for it is putting up with his cruel snipes and my unwanted feelings for him.
I just can’t figure out why he keeps coming back.
But all that changes when I’m offered a full-ride scholarship to Justin’s mysterious school, the elite Blackburn Academy, where I might finally learn about vampires. About myself. All I have to do is pass the grueling entrance trials, and the scholarship will be mine. Problem is, Justin doesn’t want me anywhere near his elite school and rich friends. He’s vowed to sabotage me.
Justin may have been feeding me blood for a year, but he doesn’t know who he’s up against.
But, Blackburn Academy is more than it seems. I’ll be facing more than what Justin Roberts alone can dish out.
Will competing in the trials be the new beginning I’m hoping for, or will it end my undead existence?
Previously published under the title A Bite at the Cherry. This is a full length 80,000 word novel. Recommended for 16+.
1. He’s a bully.
2. Our relationship is toxic.
3. He’s the only one who knows my secret.
A year ago, I woke in the morgue with a note in my hand telling me that I’m a vampire. I need blood or I’ll start killing people. Lucky for me, Justin has been sneaking into my bedroom and feeding me blood for a year, and the only price I have to pay for it is putting up with his cruel snipes and my unwanted feelings for him.
I just can’t figure out why he keeps coming back.
But all that changes when I’m offered a full-ride scholarship to Justin’s mysterious school, the elite Blackburn Academy, where I might finally learn about vampires. About myself. All I have to do is pass the grueling entrance trials, and the scholarship will be mine. Problem is, Justin doesn’t want me anywhere near his elite school and rich friends. He’s vowed to sabotage me.
Justin may have been feeding me blood for a year, but he doesn’t know who he’s up against.
But, Blackburn Academy is more than it seems. I’ll be facing more than what Justin Roberts alone can dish out.
Will competing in the trials be the new beginning I’m hoping for, or will it end my undead existence?
Previously published under the title A Bite at the Cherry. This is a full length 80,000 word novel. Recommended for 16+.
320 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 1, 2019
151 people are currently reading
462 people want to read
About the author
Rita Stradling
33 books832 followersRita Stradling is a USA Today Bestselling Author with an all-consuming addiction to popcorn.
She writes young adult and new adult romances about flawed people who find their perfect together (often these people are dragon-shifters, werewolves, or have magical powers).
Rita believes in soulmates, happily ever afters, and that love can overcome any obstacle.
She writes young adult and new adult romances about flawed people who find their perfect together (often these people are dragon-shifters, werewolves, or have magical powers).
Rita believes in soulmates, happily ever afters, and that love can overcome any obstacle.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 109 reviews
August 10, 2019
After being hit by a truck, January Moore wakes up in a morgue with a rolled up note in her hand;
“You’re a vampire. You need blood soon, or you’ll start killing people.”
Ringing the number a week later, January is taken aback when the arrogant, enigmatic Justin Roberts turns up at the meeting place. After sizing her up, he makes her a deal. In return for allowing her to drink from his wrist twice a week, she must never call the number again, ask him questions about her condition or tell anyone what she is. January reluctantly agrees.
A year has passed and true to his word, Justin has shown up twice a week to donate blood and then leave. Warring over her developing feelings for him despite his strange aloofness, January comes to realise that their relationship is toxic and no longer wants to be beholden to him. When her nana gets a job as a cleaner on a rich family estate, January decides to join her and applies for a job at a blood bank so she can make a clean break from Justin, little realising that her nana is in fact working for Justin’s parents.
Forced to spend more time than ever in his proximity, January is exasperated at every turn when she’s offered a chance to win a scholarship at the prestigious Blackburn Academy and Justin tries relentlessly to sabotage her chances of winning. What is Justin hiding and who are the strange glowing creatures that are stalking her movements?
Midnight Secrets is the first engaging instalment of The Vampire Legacy series and was my first introduction to the author. From the offset, I found myself totally immersed in the premise of the story and the characters. The book was fast paced with lots of mystery, twists and suspense which made it a truly entertaining read and hard to put down. There were some genuinely creepy moments in the book, January’s fear utterly palpable due to whoever or whatever was stalking her. Equally disconcerting is the Hawthorn Group itself and one can only guess what they have in store for January.
The strength of the book rests in the loveable three dimensional characters created by the author. Each character was well rounded, believable and unique. January is an appealing, resilient and likeable protagonist who readers will instantly connect with. She’s had a troubled childhood but this has in no way hindered her. Her positivity and outlook on life was refreshing. She’s a survivor. Despite his contrasting and evasive behaviour, it was apparent throughout the book that Justin was in fact protecting January. Behind his bad boy persona, Justin is a caring, complex, troubled boy and we’ve only learned the tip of the iceberg where his knowledge and secrets regarding the Hawthorn Group are concerned. The chemistry between both January and Justin was convincing and I was touched by some of the gestures that Justin made when they were alone. I loved the wonderful group dynamic between January and the Bad Boy Group and let’s not forget Bailey!
All in all, Midnight Secrets was a well crafted suspenseful novel with a cliffhanger that will leave the reader eagerly anticipating the sequel. I recommend this book for fans of dark urban fantasy, vampires, teen drama, secret societies and supernatural peril.
“You’re a vampire. You need blood soon, or you’ll start killing people.”
Ringing the number a week later, January is taken aback when the arrogant, enigmatic Justin Roberts turns up at the meeting place. After sizing her up, he makes her a deal. In return for allowing her to drink from his wrist twice a week, she must never call the number again, ask him questions about her condition or tell anyone what she is. January reluctantly agrees.
A year has passed and true to his word, Justin has shown up twice a week to donate blood and then leave. Warring over her developing feelings for him despite his strange aloofness, January comes to realise that their relationship is toxic and no longer wants to be beholden to him. When her nana gets a job as a cleaner on a rich family estate, January decides to join her and applies for a job at a blood bank so she can make a clean break from Justin, little realising that her nana is in fact working for Justin’s parents.
Forced to spend more time than ever in his proximity, January is exasperated at every turn when she’s offered a chance to win a scholarship at the prestigious Blackburn Academy and Justin tries relentlessly to sabotage her chances of winning. What is Justin hiding and who are the strange glowing creatures that are stalking her movements?
Midnight Secrets is the first engaging instalment of The Vampire Legacy series and was my first introduction to the author. From the offset, I found myself totally immersed in the premise of the story and the characters. The book was fast paced with lots of mystery, twists and suspense which made it a truly entertaining read and hard to put down. There were some genuinely creepy moments in the book, January’s fear utterly palpable due to whoever or whatever was stalking her. Equally disconcerting is the Hawthorn Group itself and one can only guess what they have in store for January.
The strength of the book rests in the loveable three dimensional characters created by the author. Each character was well rounded, believable and unique. January is an appealing, resilient and likeable protagonist who readers will instantly connect with. She’s had a troubled childhood but this has in no way hindered her. Her positivity and outlook on life was refreshing. She’s a survivor. Despite his contrasting and evasive behaviour, it was apparent throughout the book that Justin was in fact protecting January. Behind his bad boy persona, Justin is a caring, complex, troubled boy and we’ve only learned the tip of the iceberg where his knowledge and secrets regarding the Hawthorn Group are concerned. The chemistry between both January and Justin was convincing and I was touched by some of the gestures that Justin made when they were alone. I loved the wonderful group dynamic between January and the Bad Boy Group and let’s not forget Bailey!
All in all, Midnight Secrets was a well crafted suspenseful novel with a cliffhanger that will leave the reader eagerly anticipating the sequel. I recommend this book for fans of dark urban fantasy, vampires, teen drama, secret societies and supernatural peril.
August 22, 2019
I really enjoyed this book! The storyline was entertaining. And I loved the characters. I can’t wait to read more of this series.
May 3, 2019
I read this book in just one day and I was addicted!
I have to admit that in the beginning I wanted to turn down the book, because I just wasn’t in the mood. Luckily I didn’t and, the second I continued reading this book I gave in and my time just flew by. It was a book that I could put away, but I had to pick up immediately. Meaning I could wash the dishes, I could have lunch, but as soon as I was done, I had to pick up the book again. There were some parts when I was just so excited that I wanted to know so badly what was going to happen without skipping the pages, that I just read so fast and also there was one time when I was like shocked, because of one fact.
After all this book is about vampires, but kind of different. I’m used to reading books about vampires and mostly in the first quarter I am just bored and exhausted but in this case I just continued reading and it was an amazing decision.
I will definitely read a book 2 because this book ended with a cliffhanger and I was like: “what the hell?!”
I have to admit that in the beginning I wanted to turn down the book, because I just wasn’t in the mood. Luckily I didn’t and, the second I continued reading this book I gave in and my time just flew by. It was a book that I could put away, but I had to pick up immediately. Meaning I could wash the dishes, I could have lunch, but as soon as I was done, I had to pick up the book again. There were some parts when I was just so excited that I wanted to know so badly what was going to happen without skipping the pages, that I just read so fast and also there was one time when I was like shocked, because of one fact.
After all this book is about vampires, but kind of different. I’m used to reading books about vampires and mostly in the first quarter I am just bored and exhausted but in this case I just continued reading and it was an amazing decision.
I will definitely read a book 2 because this book ended with a cliffhanger and I was like: “what the hell?!”
May 8, 2019
This book wasn't exactly what I expected and took an interesting twist which took it on a refreshing ride.
Days before, sixteen year old January woke up in the morgue as a freshly turned vampire to find a note, telling her to call a number to receive blood. She stands outside of a shop in the middle of the night for the meeting and ends up with a tight lipped blood donor. Justin shows up twice a week, offers his wrist and then leaves. January doesn't like the situation but isn't sure what to do. After a year, her mother is hauled off, and she ends up moving to the rich part of town with her grandmother, who has a job as a maid. Justin just happens to be the family's son, and he's colder than ever before. But when January is offered a scholarship to the high-class academy, Justin swears to do anything he can to stop her from gaining entrance.
While this starts off in the cliche dark night of a bad part of town with a hungry, new vampire, it quickly takes a drastic turn. January, although a vampire, almost never comes across as such. She's a normal teen, who's grown up in very tough circumstances with a mother she's cared for most of her sixteen years. Her awareness of right and wrong is strong, although life has made her walk on the gray side. She has a strong, fighting character and has developed a pretty thick skin to the rest of the world thanks to her poverty and daily struggles. But she's never mean or overly snippy or never even really feels sorry for herself.
Justin is the mysterious character in these pages. The strange and bordering on toxic relationship between him and January is kept at more of a summary level, allowing the blur and meaninglessness to seep in. While these first chapters grab and gain a huge character depth for January, the next chapters start weaving the real mystery as she meets Justin's circle and family.
There are so many secrets and most of these stay in the dark. At the end, several are answered but there's enough to hold grab for the rest of the series. The supernatural end of things only dabbles in here and there, most of the time. The novel, for the most part, plays out with a usual poor girl versus rich, jerky guy attitude. And this is what made this so refreshing! The huge supernatural side leaks out more and more as the book goes on, and the next book promises to open the flood gates on that end. Fans of teenage drama, a touch of vampires, a dark undertone and tons of hidden secrets are sure to like this one.
I received an ARC copy and enjoyed reading this enough to want to leave my honest thoughts. I'm giving this a 4.5 and rounding up!
Days before, sixteen year old January woke up in the morgue as a freshly turned vampire to find a note, telling her to call a number to receive blood. She stands outside of a shop in the middle of the night for the meeting and ends up with a tight lipped blood donor. Justin shows up twice a week, offers his wrist and then leaves. January doesn't like the situation but isn't sure what to do. After a year, her mother is hauled off, and she ends up moving to the rich part of town with her grandmother, who has a job as a maid. Justin just happens to be the family's son, and he's colder than ever before. But when January is offered a scholarship to the high-class academy, Justin swears to do anything he can to stop her from gaining entrance.
While this starts off in the cliche dark night of a bad part of town with a hungry, new vampire, it quickly takes a drastic turn. January, although a vampire, almost never comes across as such. She's a normal teen, who's grown up in very tough circumstances with a mother she's cared for most of her sixteen years. Her awareness of right and wrong is strong, although life has made her walk on the gray side. She has a strong, fighting character and has developed a pretty thick skin to the rest of the world thanks to her poverty and daily struggles. But she's never mean or overly snippy or never even really feels sorry for herself.
Justin is the mysterious character in these pages. The strange and bordering on toxic relationship between him and January is kept at more of a summary level, allowing the blur and meaninglessness to seep in. While these first chapters grab and gain a huge character depth for January, the next chapters start weaving the real mystery as she meets Justin's circle and family.
There are so many secrets and most of these stay in the dark. At the end, several are answered but there's enough to hold grab for the rest of the series. The supernatural end of things only dabbles in here and there, most of the time. The novel, for the most part, plays out with a usual poor girl versus rich, jerky guy attitude. And this is what made this so refreshing! The huge supernatural side leaks out more and more as the book goes on, and the next book promises to open the flood gates on that end. Fans of teenage drama, a touch of vampires, a dark undertone and tons of hidden secrets are sure to like this one.
I received an ARC copy and enjoyed reading this enough to want to leave my honest thoughts. I'm giving this a 4.5 and rounding up!
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September 4, 2019
Randomly came across this novel. It was alright - interesting premise, and well-written - but the relationship was so angst-free that it felt a little lacklustre. I also disliked how the heroine, who's portrayed (rightfully) as incompetent for most of the novel, suddenly becomes talented JUST at the end at the right moment. Felt a little Mary Sue-ish.
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July 5, 2019
This was a pleasant read and I liked the fast paced story and that it was almost kind of like a prequel in that it establishes January’s situation, introduces the characters who will be in her new life and explores her journey to getting into Blackburn Academy, which I assume will be the setting for the next book in the series. I liked January and Justin’s back and forth, but they don’t spend a ton of time together on page to really have me feel like their declarations of love are fully justified, though I felt it way more than in some other books I’ve read the last couple of years. This definitely wasn’t what I would classify as a bully romance and the only reason that even matters is because the subtitle indicates it is one so I went into it expecting something else. I definitely enjoyed the book and look forward to what happens next for January at Blackburn.
3.5 ⭐️
3.5 ⭐️
April 6, 2020
Midnight Secret
I really enjoyed reading this book, and once I started reading it I could not put it down. January is an interesting girl who has a lot going on and then something happens that changes her life forever. Enter Justin, is he a good guy, a bad guy or just someone who is confused and doing what he can to help her? All January knows is that her life is different and no one is telling her the full story and she wants answers.
I really enjoyed reading this book, and once I started reading it I could not put it down. January is an interesting girl who has a lot going on and then something happens that changes her life forever. Enter Justin, is he a good guy, a bad guy or just someone who is confused and doing what he can to help her? All January knows is that her life is different and no one is telling her the full story and she wants answers.
August 31, 2020
The book had an interesting start and due to slow development and or possibly my newness to this genre (YA not paranormal) almost became a DNF. I did finish it and the latter portions of the story picked up and tied in many of the earlier actions. While this story did conclude it left a step towards more and I will be reading and or listening to the next in line.
June 16, 2019
Also found on my blog.
January has some problems: her mother is an addict, food in the house is scant, and their house is run down. But that’s not her most prominent problem – she was killed and woke up as a vampire. Calling the number provided to her when she woke up, she gets hooked up with blood. And a boy, Justin. He’s aloof, secretive, and handsome. He’s in the elite school that January has a chance to attend, if she can pass the tests. Said boy is adamant that she doesn’t go to said school, can’t tell her why, and she is determined to make her own decisions.
Story
The story and the writing are great for older teens. Yes, it is a book about vampires, but it is also a lot more. January and her mom struggle with the very real problem of addiction and the consequences of it, family, classism, and toxic relationships. She also has more to prove to other people than regular people do.
Cover/Title
While the cover is nice, it’s misleading. She isn’t enrolled at the school yet. This book is her prepping for the trials/tests/living as a vampire. Probably would have been more suitable for book 2. Also, January has blonde hair, but doesn’t dress like that, at all. She’s poor, she can’t get leather corsets. As for the title, I don’t know how to explain it. Sexual, yes, and needlessly so. The book is way more than sexual tension/relationships. If I were to be reading a physical copy of this in public, I’d be a bit embarrassed. It isn’t smut (hey, if you’re reading smut, that’s fine, be proud! But this isn’t smut yet it comes off as smut). My husband had some questions about what I was reading because the title is so sexual.\
Ending
I knew it!
Final Verdict
I was very into this book. To say that I thoroughly enjoyed this book would be an injustice. I believe I read almost half in one night, then I couldn’t devote as much time to it. I assumed there’d six books in this series that I could devour at that instant, but alas, the second isn’t out yet (I actually didn't realize how so very new this book is!). It is a very nice change of pace for vampire fiction. There’s a set of three trials which I haaaaaate in books, especially because I’ve never heard of schools doing what this one does, so that gets an eye roll from me. However, I highly recommend this to older readers who want vampires, teens, and high school.
January has some problems: her mother is an addict, food in the house is scant, and their house is run down. But that’s not her most prominent problem – she was killed and woke up as a vampire. Calling the number provided to her when she woke up, she gets hooked up with blood. And a boy, Justin. He’s aloof, secretive, and handsome. He’s in the elite school that January has a chance to attend, if she can pass the tests. Said boy is adamant that she doesn’t go to said school, can’t tell her why, and she is determined to make her own decisions.
Story
The story and the writing are great for older teens. Yes, it is a book about vampires, but it is also a lot more. January and her mom struggle with the very real problem of addiction and the consequences of it, family, classism, and toxic relationships. She also has more to prove to other people than regular people do.
Cover/Title
While the cover is nice, it’s misleading. She isn’t enrolled at the school yet. This book is her prepping for the trials/tests/living as a vampire. Probably would have been more suitable for book 2. Also, January has blonde hair, but doesn’t dress like that, at all. She’s poor, she can’t get leather corsets. As for the title, I don’t know how to explain it. Sexual, yes, and needlessly so. The book is way more than sexual tension/relationships. If I were to be reading a physical copy of this in public, I’d be a bit embarrassed. It isn’t smut (hey, if you’re reading smut, that’s fine, be proud! But this isn’t smut yet it comes off as smut). My husband had some questions about what I was reading because the title is so sexual.\
Ending
I knew it!
Final Verdict
I was very into this book. To say that I thoroughly enjoyed this book would be an injustice. I believe I read almost half in one night, then I couldn’t devote as much time to it. I assumed there’d six books in this series that I could devour at that instant, but alas, the second isn’t out yet (I actually didn't realize how so very new this book is!). It is a very nice change of pace for vampire fiction. There’s a set of three trials which I haaaaaate in books, especially because I’ve never heard of schools doing what this one does, so that gets an eye roll from me. However, I highly recommend this to older readers who want vampires, teens, and high school.
January 12, 2020
Good heroine (mostly) & not weak. The love interest however, I hated him for like 90% of the book; it has been a long time since I’ve ever encountered such a (seemingly?) manipulative prick.
June 22, 2019
*** I voluntarily reviewed this after receiving a free copy.***
Well this was a great book to read. It was not all what I expected. It is a must read book. It has a lot of twists that happen to January Moore. You can't help but feel for her. Something happens to her and she wakes up to a new world. Obviously she doesn't want anything bad to happen to anyone because of what she is. Here comes Justin Roberts who wants or has to help her. He makes her a deal that she really can't refuse. Justin seems like a troubled kid, hiding a lot and very stand offish, which is the bad boy persona. So January has to make decisions that will let her live a happy and healthy life but then something happens to have her thrown in a society that she is not used to. So many revelations take place all the while she keeps her secret to herself. I felt my heart pounding and hands shaking as I read the book. There is some intense moments that you can't help but to continue with the story to find out what happens. With her upbringing she is hesitant to take help but she knows that she needs to survive. She is entering her senior year of high school and is given an opportunity to attend an elite high school, Blackburn Academy. What she thought would be simple, turns out to be not so simple. There is still a lot of secrets between her and Justin as well as her new friends. She needs answers and she can only get it from Blackburn Academy. Can she pass the entrance exam? Will her and Justin finally come to an understanding? Seriously what will happen? I don't know, but I know one thing for sure is that I need the second book to come out soon.
Well this was a great book to read. It was not all what I expected. It is a must read book. It has a lot of twists that happen to January Moore. You can't help but feel for her. Something happens to her and she wakes up to a new world. Obviously she doesn't want anything bad to happen to anyone because of what she is. Here comes Justin Roberts who wants or has to help her. He makes her a deal that she really can't refuse. Justin seems like a troubled kid, hiding a lot and very stand offish, which is the bad boy persona. So January has to make decisions that will let her live a happy and healthy life but then something happens to have her thrown in a society that she is not used to. So many revelations take place all the while she keeps her secret to herself. I felt my heart pounding and hands shaking as I read the book. There is some intense moments that you can't help but to continue with the story to find out what happens. With her upbringing she is hesitant to take help but she knows that she needs to survive. She is entering her senior year of high school and is given an opportunity to attend an elite high school, Blackburn Academy. What she thought would be simple, turns out to be not so simple. There is still a lot of secrets between her and Justin as well as her new friends. She needs answers and she can only get it from Blackburn Academy. Can she pass the entrance exam? Will her and Justin finally come to an understanding? Seriously what will happen? I don't know, but I know one thing for sure is that I need the second book to come out soon.
May 15, 2019
Okay so this review is going to be basically me fan-girling. I will do my best to keep myself in check but I only have so much self-control, LOL. And I apologies in advance if this review makes little logic; I have tried hard to give an overview of the story as well as praise it…
I came across this book and decided to read the blurb. I was intrigued and thought this would be a fun story to read while I was in between some darker ones: I will be completely honest here, I did not expect to become so obsessed and absorbed into it; but boy did I ever! I thought I was just going to read a fun YA story and then move on. Yeah NO… three days on and I am still thinking about these characters, this story line and I have so many thoughts, so many hopes I can’t stand it!!
This book starts out with a very dynamic plot line; the female lead is trying to buy blood because a week ago she woke up in the morgue with a note that she was a vampire. We follow her as she tries to make sense of her new life, protect those she loves and gets thrown into an entirely new world. From this first scene the story is slowly rolled out for the reader, always taking a turn that was not seen coming. Nothing is as it seems, characters are so much more (and less at times) then the reader can be prepared for. I loved every page and devoured this story in one day. I dropped everything in life and just focused on this story that is how much it absorbed me. I found myself holding my breath, yelling at certain characters, asking questions to others and trying to become a part of this story.
This is not just a supernatural (paranormal) YA read, it’s not just a romance, it’s not just a high school drama… it is everything and so much more. If you like adventure, action and mystery with a dash of vampire this is the story for you!! I HIGHLY RECOMMEND this story to anyone and everyone who will listen; and with that ending… Yeah I am going to need more and soon! I had the extreme pleasure of reading an ARC and I am leaving my honest review. I have already pre ordered this story and the next and I am hoping I can get a paperback of this story! Okay enough of my mania… buy this story!
I came across this book and decided to read the blurb. I was intrigued and thought this would be a fun story to read while I was in between some darker ones: I will be completely honest here, I did not expect to become so obsessed and absorbed into it; but boy did I ever! I thought I was just going to read a fun YA story and then move on. Yeah NO… three days on and I am still thinking about these characters, this story line and I have so many thoughts, so many hopes I can’t stand it!!
This book starts out with a very dynamic plot line; the female lead is trying to buy blood because a week ago she woke up in the morgue with a note that she was a vampire. We follow her as she tries to make sense of her new life, protect those she loves and gets thrown into an entirely new world. From this first scene the story is slowly rolled out for the reader, always taking a turn that was not seen coming. Nothing is as it seems, characters are so much more (and less at times) then the reader can be prepared for. I loved every page and devoured this story in one day. I dropped everything in life and just focused on this story that is how much it absorbed me. I found myself holding my breath, yelling at certain characters, asking questions to others and trying to become a part of this story.
This is not just a supernatural (paranormal) YA read, it’s not just a romance, it’s not just a high school drama… it is everything and so much more. If you like adventure, action and mystery with a dash of vampire this is the story for you!! I HIGHLY RECOMMEND this story to anyone and everyone who will listen; and with that ending… Yeah I am going to need more and soon! I had the extreme pleasure of reading an ARC and I am leaving my honest review. I have already pre ordered this story and the next and I am hoping I can get a paperback of this story! Okay enough of my mania… buy this story!
October 6, 2019
Title: Midnight Secrets (The Vampire Legacy #1)
Author: Rita Stradling
Genre: A steamy YA vampire romance, with high school drama and deadly monsters lurking in the dark.
My rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
What I can tell you about this book:
January is a Vampire. She died, then woke up with a note saying to call some random number to get her blood fix- or she’ll end up going on a killing spree. The last thing she expects is some hot, prep-school kid to be showing up to her drunk mother’s house and offering to be her personal blood bag. But still- January can’t turn down Justin’s offer.
A year later, January’s got the whole vampire thing under control. But her life goes haywire when she ends up moving with her Nana to be the Robert’s new maid. Little did she know- her toxic relationship with Justin is about to get a lot more complicated. Justin is the Robert’s only son, and his mother has a plan to set him and January up- by getting her into the elusive Blackburn Academy.
On top of the awkward living arrangements, Justin wants to sabotage January’s chances at getting into his school. January takes it personally, but she soon finds out Blackburn is more than just an elite academy, and the trials she has to pass to be accepted may expose her as a vampire. But January learns she has no other choice- there are worst things lurking outside the Academy that want her dead.
How is it that life just gets more complicated when you die?
This may be my longest recommendation yet, because I LOVED this audiobook. January and Justin’s relationship was toxic af, as promised, but was steamy and sexy and I loved their building feelings for each other. January’s life as a vampire is crazy to navigate with her- and the drama she faces moving to a new neighbourhood and having to keep her secret is so entertaining! I loved the modern drama mixed with paranormal thriller, and never once did this story get boring or disappoint. I can’t wait to listen to book 2!
I’d recommend this to: Audiobook lovers who want a thrilling, hilarious, sexy, dramatic high-school romance to leave them wanting more!
I’d compare this to: A mix of Vampire Diaries and Vampire Academy, hands down!
Author: Rita Stradling
Genre: A steamy YA vampire romance, with high school drama and deadly monsters lurking in the dark.
My rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
What I can tell you about this book:
January is a Vampire. She died, then woke up with a note saying to call some random number to get her blood fix- or she’ll end up going on a killing spree. The last thing she expects is some hot, prep-school kid to be showing up to her drunk mother’s house and offering to be her personal blood bag. But still- January can’t turn down Justin’s offer.
A year later, January’s got the whole vampire thing under control. But her life goes haywire when she ends up moving with her Nana to be the Robert’s new maid. Little did she know- her toxic relationship with Justin is about to get a lot more complicated. Justin is the Robert’s only son, and his mother has a plan to set him and January up- by getting her into the elusive Blackburn Academy.
On top of the awkward living arrangements, Justin wants to sabotage January’s chances at getting into his school. January takes it personally, but she soon finds out Blackburn is more than just an elite academy, and the trials she has to pass to be accepted may expose her as a vampire. But January learns she has no other choice- there are worst things lurking outside the Academy that want her dead.
How is it that life just gets more complicated when you die?
This may be my longest recommendation yet, because I LOVED this audiobook. January and Justin’s relationship was toxic af, as promised, but was steamy and sexy and I loved their building feelings for each other. January’s life as a vampire is crazy to navigate with her- and the drama she faces moving to a new neighbourhood and having to keep her secret is so entertaining! I loved the modern drama mixed with paranormal thriller, and never once did this story get boring or disappoint. I can’t wait to listen to book 2!
I’d recommend this to: Audiobook lovers who want a thrilling, hilarious, sexy, dramatic high-school romance to leave them wanting more!
I’d compare this to: A mix of Vampire Diaries and Vampire Academy, hands down!
July 11, 2019
I received a complimentary copy of this book and volunteered to review it.
I’m a bit skeptical about vampire books these days, but this adds a new twist to it. The beginning with January (btw a cool and unusual name) and Justin, is both hilarious and intriguing. Purely that and his reaction to her made me want to keep reading. As it continues you see Jan and Justin’s relationship grow but in a really weird way to begin.
Justin’s character is so attractive in his actions behind the scenes where no one really notices it, and I’m looking forward to the reveal to his friends.
I’m a bit skeptical about vampire books these days, but this adds a new twist to it. The beginning with January (btw a cool and unusual name) and Justin, is both hilarious and intriguing. Purely that and his reaction to her made me want to keep reading. As it continues you see Jan and Justin’s relationship grow but in a really weird way to begin.
Justin’s character is so attractive in his actions behind the scenes where no one really notices it, and I’m looking forward to the reveal to his friends.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 27, 2023
**second read, I would have probably given this 3 stars, but I'll keep it at 4 to stay authentic to my initial impression.
Original review:
I really liked how the main fmc was written. January wasn't a complete bad ass, but she didn't let herself be walked all over. I'm excited to see where this series goes:)
Original review:
I really liked how the main fmc was written. January wasn't a complete bad ass, but she didn't let herself be walked all over. I'm excited to see where this series goes:)
August 4, 2019
Thank you to author Rita Stradling for providing me with an ecopy of this book in exchange for an honest review!
Find this review and more on my blog The Rest Is Still Unwritten!
A Bite at the Cherry is Rita Stradling’s latest release and is a thrilling and enjoying vampiric tale woven with mystery and sizzling romantic tension.
A year ago, seventeen year old January Moore’s life changed forever when she woke in a morgue with a note telling her she was now a vampire. Following the instructions in the note, January found her way to Justin Roberts, a fellow teenager who agrees to supply her with blood in exchange for two things; she doesn’t ask questions and they tell no one of their weekly encounters. Now January’s grandmother has just taken a cleaning job on Justin’s side of town and January finds herself in close proximity to the boy she both loathes and can’t get enough of. Offered a scholarship to Justin’s mysterious high school, the elite Blackburn Academy, January soon begins to realise that Justin has his own secrets and they may just be the biggest threat January has experienced in her undead life yet….
I have to say I was quite impressed by A Bite at the Cherry. Though it is a “vampire” novel at it’s base, the elements of mystery and secrecy Rita Stradling weaves around January’s story gives the novel a thrilling and intriguing vibe. I won’t give too much away as part of the story's appeal is that you don’t exactly know what all the secrets are until the final few chapters, but readers will find themselves keen to discover the truth as January navigates her new life living on the Roberts estate.
As our protagonist, I quite liked January. Being a vampire is only a really small part of who she is as a character. As someone with an alcoholic mother, January has not lived a very easy life; she’s done it tough, but she never comes across as someone who feels sorry for herself or who wines about her position. January tends to make the most of things and I enjoyed this spunk about her. She wants a better life for herself and those she loves and she’s more than willing to work hard for it.
Readers will find themselves keen to piece the clues together as Rita Stradling details A Bite at the Cherry. It may come across that January blindly accepts certain circumstances too easily—namely that she’s a vampire---without further investigating too much, but this tends to bring more mystery to the story. It’s easy to get lost in January’s turbulent but sizzling relationship with Justin that is charged with desire on both ends as well as her blossoming friendships with other Blackburn Academy scholarship recipients. Teen drama and supernatural threats weave together effortlessly.
As the final few chapters of A Bite at the Cherry offer some long awaited answers, they also offer more than a few new questions and possibilities. Rita Stradling pulls a rabbit out of the hat with some revelations I wasn’t anticipating and leaves me raring to delve into the heart of Blackburn Academy and the Hawthorn Group alongside January. Bring on the next novel!
Find this review and more on my blog The Rest Is Still Unwritten!
A Bite at the Cherry is Rita Stradling’s latest release and is a thrilling and enjoying vampiric tale woven with mystery and sizzling romantic tension.
A year ago, seventeen year old January Moore’s life changed forever when she woke in a morgue with a note telling her she was now a vampire. Following the instructions in the note, January found her way to Justin Roberts, a fellow teenager who agrees to supply her with blood in exchange for two things; she doesn’t ask questions and they tell no one of their weekly encounters. Now January’s grandmother has just taken a cleaning job on Justin’s side of town and January finds herself in close proximity to the boy she both loathes and can’t get enough of. Offered a scholarship to Justin’s mysterious high school, the elite Blackburn Academy, January soon begins to realise that Justin has his own secrets and they may just be the biggest threat January has experienced in her undead life yet….
I have to say I was quite impressed by A Bite at the Cherry. Though it is a “vampire” novel at it’s base, the elements of mystery and secrecy Rita Stradling weaves around January’s story gives the novel a thrilling and intriguing vibe. I won’t give too much away as part of the story's appeal is that you don’t exactly know what all the secrets are until the final few chapters, but readers will find themselves keen to discover the truth as January navigates her new life living on the Roberts estate.
As our protagonist, I quite liked January. Being a vampire is only a really small part of who she is as a character. As someone with an alcoholic mother, January has not lived a very easy life; she’s done it tough, but she never comes across as someone who feels sorry for herself or who wines about her position. January tends to make the most of things and I enjoyed this spunk about her. She wants a better life for herself and those she loves and she’s more than willing to work hard for it.
Readers will find themselves keen to piece the clues together as Rita Stradling details A Bite at the Cherry. It may come across that January blindly accepts certain circumstances too easily—namely that she’s a vampire---without further investigating too much, but this tends to bring more mystery to the story. It’s easy to get lost in January’s turbulent but sizzling relationship with Justin that is charged with desire on both ends as well as her blossoming friendships with other Blackburn Academy scholarship recipients. Teen drama and supernatural threats weave together effortlessly.
As the final few chapters of A Bite at the Cherry offer some long awaited answers, they also offer more than a few new questions and possibilities. Rita Stradling pulls a rabbit out of the hat with some revelations I wasn’t anticipating and leaves me raring to delve into the heart of Blackburn Academy and the Hawthorn Group alongside January. Bring on the next novel!
January 14, 2021
It was okay. I didn’t love it, didn’t hate it. My problems with it come from the fact that from the beginning the MC has an astonishing lack of curiosity for her new life. It seems as if nothing really changed for her, besides meeting the guy twice a week now for a year. It felt kind of off that she wasn’t a tad bit curious about vampires, about what happened to her. Unless being a vampire is an accepted phenomenon. She didn’t try to figure out Who sent her the note, or anything and doesn’t say anything until a year later and only bc she thinks he hates her.
My second issue is her weird shifts in loyalty. She has a best friend and then the guy that’s been helping her out with her a little blood problem mentioned to her that her best friend isn’t all she thinks she is and then that right there changes her opinion about her best friend even though she should have already had some awareness as to who Charlotte really was. But it was it until the guy mentioned it that she suddenly really begins to question her best friend. (And I get that Char isn’t the best person but that’s beside the issue). Then she believes a person she just met over the guy that’s been helping her out for over a year causing her to question her friendship/relationship with Justin. She then decides to cut him off and block him and ignore his messages that he wants to speak with her. Finally she blames him for the withdrawal of the scholarship (even though he told her it was gonna happen) when in reality it was her so called friend. (All of these problems could have been avoided if she just communicated and that left me irritated).
Another issue was from the ending and how she managed win the three trials that people spent YEARS training for. I don’t understand how seemingly nobody manages to become a bad ass, kick ass, warrior chick when not even days before she sucked ass...it doesn’t make sense to me.
Furthermore I dislike how everyone just likes and helps her achieve greatness. I guess I like my protagonists to develop a friendship (then family) not just suddenly being welcomed and given friendship. It feels too easy. (S. N. Another reason why I don’t like RH)
Finally I didn’t like my unanswered questions. We didn’t find out any of the answers to our questions until the last bit where she is questioned by the council or whatever but through the entire book my brain was “OK so does she have súper-strength? Is she super fast? Why is she failing all these trials if she’s a vampire and therefore has extra strength or extra speed or more agility?” And from what I gathered the only difference she had between a human and a vamp was her night vision. Which is why she asked to have them turn off all the lights during her trial which would have been advantageous but given that they were wearing night goggles doesn’t really make much of a difference.
That said, The MC showed strength which I liked, she didn’t back down, it was an easy read that kept me reading so there’s that.
My second issue is her weird shifts in loyalty. She has a best friend and then the guy that’s been helping her out with her a little blood problem mentioned to her that her best friend isn’t all she thinks she is and then that right there changes her opinion about her best friend even though she should have already had some awareness as to who Charlotte really was. But it was it until the guy mentioned it that she suddenly really begins to question her best friend. (And I get that Char isn’t the best person but that’s beside the issue). Then she believes a person she just met over the guy that’s been helping her out for over a year causing her to question her friendship/relationship with Justin. She then decides to cut him off and block him and ignore his messages that he wants to speak with her. Finally she blames him for the withdrawal of the scholarship (even though he told her it was gonna happen) when in reality it was her so called friend. (All of these problems could have been avoided if she just communicated and that left me irritated).
Another issue was from the ending and how she managed win the three trials that people spent YEARS training for. I don’t understand how seemingly nobody manages to become a bad ass, kick ass, warrior chick when not even days before she sucked ass...it doesn’t make sense to me.
Furthermore I dislike how everyone just likes and helps her achieve greatness. I guess I like my protagonists to develop a friendship (then family) not just suddenly being welcomed and given friendship. It feels too easy. (S. N. Another reason why I don’t like RH)
Finally I didn’t like my unanswered questions. We didn’t find out any of the answers to our questions until the last bit where she is questioned by the council or whatever but through the entire book my brain was “OK so does she have súper-strength? Is she super fast? Why is she failing all these trials if she’s a vampire and therefore has extra strength or extra speed or more agility?” And from what I gathered the only difference she had between a human and a vamp was her night vision. Which is why she asked to have them turn off all the lights during her trial which would have been advantageous but given that they were wearing night goggles doesn’t really make much of a difference.
That said, The MC showed strength which I liked, she didn’t back down, it was an easy read that kept me reading so there’s that.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 22, 2022
This was much better than I expected!
Is it a typical clichéed as hell YA magic academy story with tacky romance? sure.
But you really can't be mad about that because it literally says so in the blurb.
But within the overserved genre with all its typical tropes is actually decent which makes it actually pretty rare.
I think the main point that differentiates this from most others in the genre is that it is willing to take the time to actually develop the story step by step to the point where it's supposed to go.
The author doesn't fall for the temptation to employ cheap and lazy shortcuts to just skip all the setup and handwave everything she doesn't want to waste time on while at the same time still presenting an interesting and immersive story.
The book couldn't be more unoriginal but the writing is just very well done and was able to capture me despite my strong negative bias against YA because it's notorious for lazy and inconsistent writing.
I am very surprised this wasn't a lot more successful. Maybe the pacing is too slow for the modern YA audience or the following volumes are much worse. I guess I will figure that out as I've already acquired the second one and will start to read it right now.
Edit:
The second book was a bit disappointing compared with the first one.
It has some major plot problems because it tries to employ a method of forcing the MCs hand that seems very appealing and easy but is actually very hard to pull off convincingly.
Namely, threatening friends and family so she does what the bad guy wants. The problem with this is that it's too powerful and there are no believable checks and balances on the kind of influence the bad guy can and can't take. It's all over the place and contradicts constantly.
The slower pacing which I praised in the first book became a liability because instead of picking up with the tension of the plot it got even slower which made large swaths of the story, which could've been very exciting and captivating, a chore.
The third thing that I didn't like on a more personal level is how casual the story is about general assholery and how quickly it is forgotten or ignored. Something similar happens with corporate corruption which the story plays down as something people laugh about in the end even after are revealed.
All that is to say that the level of willing suspension of disbelief you need for the second book is significantly higher compared to the first one. It's generally much more in line with what you would expect from your average second-grade YA UF academy novel.
Is it a typical clichéed as hell YA magic academy story with tacky romance? sure.
But you really can't be mad about that because it literally says so in the blurb.
But within the overserved genre with all its typical tropes is actually decent which makes it actually pretty rare.
I think the main point that differentiates this from most others in the genre is that it is willing to take the time to actually develop the story step by step to the point where it's supposed to go.
The author doesn't fall for the temptation to employ cheap and lazy shortcuts to just skip all the setup and handwave everything she doesn't want to waste time on while at the same time still presenting an interesting and immersive story.
The book couldn't be more unoriginal but the writing is just very well done and was able to capture me despite my strong negative bias against YA because it's notorious for lazy and inconsistent writing.
I am very surprised this wasn't a lot more successful. Maybe the pacing is too slow for the modern YA audience or the following volumes are much worse. I guess I will figure that out as I've already acquired the second one and will start to read it right now.
Edit:
The second book was a bit disappointing compared with the first one.
It has some major plot problems because it tries to employ a method of forcing the MCs hand that seems very appealing and easy but is actually very hard to pull off convincingly.
Namely, threatening friends and family so she does what the bad guy wants. The problem with this is that it's too powerful and there are no believable checks and balances on the kind of influence the bad guy can and can't take. It's all over the place and contradicts constantly.
The slower pacing which I praised in the first book became a liability because instead of picking up with the tension of the plot it got even slower which made large swaths of the story, which could've been very exciting and captivating, a chore.
The third thing that I didn't like on a more personal level is how casual the story is about general assholery and how quickly it is forgotten or ignored. Something similar happens with corporate corruption which the story plays down as something people laugh about in the end even after are revealed.
All that is to say that the level of willing suspension of disbelief you need for the second book is significantly higher compared to the first one. It's generally much more in line with what you would expect from your average second-grade YA UF academy novel.
July 7, 2019
The blurb is a lie!
Well, sort of.
There is a boy named Justin Roberts, sure. He does seem a little snippy at times, but a true bully he is not. Nor is this a bully romance. And while the blurb keeps hinting at some sabotage and the two MCs going against each other, it's not like a real fight or a cruel war or anything. There is hardly any real sabotage, either.
Oh, and the FMC, whose name is January btw (that could also be mentioned in the blurb), doesn't even enter the Blackburn Academy in this book. She merely goes through trials in order to gain a scholarship for the academy. Sooo, this is not an academy book either. Yet.
So what is this book about then?
Well, see, I'm not sure. Because things were hidden from everyone all the time, and people were being secretive towards each other. And when it all (or most of it) was revealed, it was [mild spoiler] .
So I guess this book was an introductory "hey, this is January, and now let's meet the gang and the players" type of a book, but also: "hey, let's spend a lot of time preparing and tutoring January for the trials.. which end up being really rather short, though very revealing". Throw in some 'poor girl - rich boy' dynamics, a few meet-ups with all sorts of bad guys, and some oddly insta-feeling love, and there you have it.
But before you think I didn't enjoy the book, let me leave you with these warm fuzzies:
Apart from some wobbly grammar, the writing was great, and the book was a quick light read. The story flows quite nicely.
Also, before the love declarations, I really liked January's and Justin's relationship, even if Justin seemed to have the personality of a dead fish occasionally. (I blame that on all of the secrets and his constant 'silence'.) I kept hoping the book would suddenly turn into a reverse harem romance, so that January could direct those tummy-butterflies towards more intriguing and fun guys, such as the Baldwin twins. Sadly, as January keeps repeating, her undead heart beats faster for one boy only.
And finally, I liked the paranormal bits, which seemed refreshingly different (at least as much as they were revealed), and thus I'm sure the story behind the academy and the 'evil' groups will be a great read as well.
I'll definitely read the next book.
Well, sort of.
There is a boy named Justin Roberts, sure. He does seem a little snippy at times, but a true bully he is not. Nor is this a bully romance. And while the blurb keeps hinting at some sabotage and the two MCs going against each other, it's not like a real fight or a cruel war or anything. There is hardly any real sabotage, either.
Oh, and the FMC, whose name is January btw (that could also be mentioned in the blurb), doesn't even enter the Blackburn Academy in this book. She merely goes through trials in order to gain a scholarship for the academy. Sooo, this is not an academy book either. Yet.
So what is this book about then?
Well, see, I'm not sure. Because things were hidden from everyone all the time, and people were being secretive towards each other. And when it all (or most of it) was revealed, it was [mild spoiler] .
So I guess this book was an introductory "hey, this is January, and now let's meet the gang and the players" type of a book, but also: "hey, let's spend a lot of time preparing and tutoring January for the trials.. which end up being really rather short, though very revealing". Throw in some 'poor girl - rich boy' dynamics, a few meet-ups with all sorts of bad guys, and some oddly insta-feeling love, and there you have it.
But before you think I didn't enjoy the book, let me leave you with these warm fuzzies:
Apart from some wobbly grammar, the writing was great, and the book was a quick light read. The story flows quite nicely.
Also, before the love declarations, I really liked January's and Justin's relationship, even if Justin seemed to have the personality of a dead fish occasionally. (I blame that on all of the secrets and his constant 'silence'.) I kept hoping the book would suddenly turn into a reverse harem romance, so that January could direct those tummy-butterflies towards more intriguing and fun guys, such as the Baldwin twins. Sadly, as January keeps repeating, her undead heart beats faster for one boy only.
And finally, I liked the paranormal bits, which seemed refreshingly different (at least as much as they were revealed), and thus I'm sure the story behind the academy and the 'evil' groups will be a great read as well.
I'll definitely read the next book.
June 29, 2019
I really loved this book. I loved the whole love/hate thing January had with Justin. He was just a fun character all around. From alienating all of January’s new friends, to being nasty to January (it was one of my favorite scenes, so I won’t spoil it), and then being a fun book boyfriend, especially with his constantly shifting personality, and his shift motivations, and just the careless things he kept asking of her. I loved her dog Bailey! January was really a rather typical run-of-the-mill teen girl who wants to be accepted by friends and popularity, while mooning over the guy 24/7 and with a chip on her shoulder. I know she’s supposed to be a vampire, but besides the fangs and drinking blood, she’s just a normal person. She can go out during the day and I do mean in the heat of noon sun, she doesn’t hunger after blood all the time (she only drinks blood about once a week), and she doesn’t have the super strength, super speed, nor is she outrageously gorgeous. (So people expecting a vampire book are going to be disappointed). I kept wondering why bother making her a “vampire” if it’s not going to hinder her being a normal person or really change her as a character (the vampire stuff did come in toward the end, so I can’t say it’s totally absent). It felt like false marketing, selling this as an Academy book because she doesn’t step a single foot on school grounds, in fact, this book only spends about 3 chapters on the trials (so people expecting a book with whimsical classes spanning over half the book are going to be disappointed). The book is mostly spent on teen drama, and harping on the upper-class vs poor class, and addictions (which is a fascinating study, but it wasn’t the Academy book I had been expecting). I should also mention there is use of four-letter swear words in this book. But they actually crop up reasonably infrequently, so I didn’t have too much of an objection to them.
August 8, 2022
Midnight Secrets is an interesting urban fantasy romance that is one part action, one part high school drama and two parts mystery. It is a fast paced, action-packed novel that definitely has more of a focus on the fantasy element than the slow-burn romance that happens between the female main character January and her savior Justin. This series while heavily featuring vampires does also include range of paranormal races in later books.
Midnight Secrets drops you straight into the action with the opening scene of January seven days after her death trying to score blood by calling the number on the paper she woke with in the morgue. It is here she meets Justin, who offers to be her donor as long as she keeps their arrangement just between the two of them and asks no questions. They live very different lives although residing in the same town; January with her alcoholic mum in an all but condemned house and Justin at the secretive and exclusive Blackburn Academy. That is just in the first two chapters but chapter three jumps us one year later with January having to move in with her grandmother who is coincidently taking a position as Justin’s family housekeeper. It is at this point Justin flips and wants January nowhere near him or his life. But when Justin’s mother Mrs Roberts meets January she proposes that she attempts to gain a scholarship at Blackburn Academy. From here the book is an action-packed roller-coaster ride as January and Justin’s relationship becomes a push-pull, tangled knot of emotions and January instead makes friends with other students who have already achieved scholarships to help her achieve her goal. This is an interesting and suspense-filled plot with engaging characters that also left you with many unanswered questions.
Midnight Secrets was a fun fast paced urban fantasy that pulled you in and left you wanting more. It is book one in an as yet uncompleted series, and I only note this as I assumed it was a trilogy and am now caught by the hook at the end of book three.
Midnight Secrets drops you straight into the action with the opening scene of January seven days after her death trying to score blood by calling the number on the paper she woke with in the morgue. It is here she meets Justin, who offers to be her donor as long as she keeps their arrangement just between the two of them and asks no questions. They live very different lives although residing in the same town; January with her alcoholic mum in an all but condemned house and Justin at the secretive and exclusive Blackburn Academy. That is just in the first two chapters but chapter three jumps us one year later with January having to move in with her grandmother who is coincidently taking a position as Justin’s family housekeeper. It is at this point Justin flips and wants January nowhere near him or his life. But when Justin’s mother Mrs Roberts meets January she proposes that she attempts to gain a scholarship at Blackburn Academy. From here the book is an action-packed roller-coaster ride as January and Justin’s relationship becomes a push-pull, tangled knot of emotions and January instead makes friends with other students who have already achieved scholarships to help her achieve her goal. This is an interesting and suspense-filled plot with engaging characters that also left you with many unanswered questions.
Midnight Secrets was a fun fast paced urban fantasy that pulled you in and left you wanting more. It is book one in an as yet uncompleted series, and I only note this as I assumed it was a trilogy and am now caught by the hook at the end of book three.
June 13, 2019
There is nothing typical about this book! I admit that at certain points I was conflicted about whether or not I liked certain characters, then whether or not I liked the story altogether as I got so mad and frustrated with the characters. Please understand that it isnt because any of it was badly written; on the contrary, its because there was so much clarity about the characters and the story that I felt that my feelings were completely on point and justified as we went along.
January is a newly minted vampire and when I say that there is nothing typical about this book, I truly mean it because there is very little of the typical vampire trope in this book, with the possible exception of the beginning where January and Justin met. The fact that January is a vampire, is almost negligible. Bear in mind, I did say "almost"
Justin... I spent a lot of time calling him Jason just to irritate him in my mind because he was a... ggggrrrr... talk about conflict about the lead male!
There are very few people in this book who are what they seem. Even the "good" kids seem like there's a streak of something we should pay attention to.
There's some definite darkness that always seems to lurking, it's always there: in the light, in the good times and in the battles - it was quite heartbreaking for me at times.
There is some illumination about what's really going on but the underlying tone says that it might all be just the tip of the iceberg!
There is so much more to come, so much more to be discovered and so much more to overcome for Justin and January.
And considering that January is a fighter, and a survivor, who is smart and passionate and persevering - my money is on her!
Bring on book 2!!
January is a newly minted vampire and when I say that there is nothing typical about this book, I truly mean it because there is very little of the typical vampire trope in this book, with the possible exception of the beginning where January and Justin met. The fact that January is a vampire, is almost negligible. Bear in mind, I did say "almost"
Justin... I spent a lot of time calling him Jason just to irritate him in my mind because he was a... ggggrrrr... talk about conflict about the lead male!
There are very few people in this book who are what they seem. Even the "good" kids seem like there's a streak of something we should pay attention to.
There's some definite darkness that always seems to lurking, it's always there: in the light, in the good times and in the battles - it was quite heartbreaking for me at times.
There is some illumination about what's really going on but the underlying tone says that it might all be just the tip of the iceberg!
There is so much more to come, so much more to be discovered and so much more to overcome for Justin and January.
And considering that January is a fighter, and a survivor, who is smart and passionate and persevering - my money is on her!
Bring on book 2!!
May 8, 2019
An Excellent & Fascinating YA Thriller Which Happens To Include Vampires!😉🌟
This was an intriguing read for me - it's not your typical teen vampire romance at all, it's so much more than that!!👍 Its almost a thriller, sort of a teen bully romance, but that still doesn't cover it all 🙈 What it definitely is is worth reading!!😉😎💥
January Moore is 16 years old when she wakes up on a Morgue Slab clutching a piece of paper. It has a phone number on it to call & informs her she can obtain blood by ringing them as she's now a Vampire!!😱 She's in shock, is horrified by what it means for her but also notices she still feels completely like herself, well until nearly a week later when her fangs keep popping out & she's getting really hungry!😳🙈 She calls & arranges to buy blood and that is how she meets her 16 year old supplier, Justin!😕
Due to a sad change in her family circumstances, January has to go & live with her Nan. She has gotten a new job as a Housekeeper at a mansion, it includes accommodation for them.🎉 You can guess who their son is!😳😉 Things from there get weirder & more terrifying & her life as she'd come to except it, even with her new challenges, is about to explode!!💥
This book is different, in all the good ways. I definitely recommend it 😃
Debbie, 1970, UK
This was an intriguing read for me - it's not your typical teen vampire romance at all, it's so much more than that!!👍 Its almost a thriller, sort of a teen bully romance, but that still doesn't cover it all 🙈 What it definitely is is worth reading!!😉😎💥
January Moore is 16 years old when she wakes up on a Morgue Slab clutching a piece of paper. It has a phone number on it to call & informs her she can obtain blood by ringing them as she's now a Vampire!!😱 She's in shock, is horrified by what it means for her but also notices she still feels completely like herself, well until nearly a week later when her fangs keep popping out & she's getting really hungry!😳🙈 She calls & arranges to buy blood and that is how she meets her 16 year old supplier, Justin!😕
Due to a sad change in her family circumstances, January has to go & live with her Nan. She has gotten a new job as a Housekeeper at a mansion, it includes accommodation for them.🎉 You can guess who their son is!😳😉 Things from there get weirder & more terrifying & her life as she'd come to except it, even with her new challenges, is about to explode!!💥
This book is different, in all the good ways. I definitely recommend it 😃
Debbie, 1970, UK
May 10, 2019
I received this book as an ARC from the author in return for an honest review.
I love the concept of this book with the whole vampire thing and the brooding boy and the supporting friendship group. It refreshing to have such gentle characters in a fantasy book.
The writing style was just what I like; long sentences, good use of a thesaurus and great grammar! And the story line was interesting too, I wasn’t too sure where I was heading at first but I began to figure it out about a third of the way in. That’s not to say it’s predictable, as it is not. But it is pretty good.
I did have a couple of minor issues with the book, however. I didn’t really connect with the characters. I felt for them, I was empathetic, but I wasn’t in their minds and I didn’t love them. The fact that I had empathic feelings for them was enough to keep me reading, but I do wish there was more character development. However, this isn’t a stand alone novel so maybe the rest of the series will allow for that.
I also got a little confused at times, I couldn’t follow the scene in my head. One minute, someone was in one place, and the next they were randomly in another and it made it rather difficult to follow what was happening.
Overall though, I did enjoy the book and I would recommend it.
I love the concept of this book with the whole vampire thing and the brooding boy and the supporting friendship group. It refreshing to have such gentle characters in a fantasy book.
The writing style was just what I like; long sentences, good use of a thesaurus and great grammar! And the story line was interesting too, I wasn’t too sure where I was heading at first but I began to figure it out about a third of the way in. That’s not to say it’s predictable, as it is not. But it is pretty good.
I did have a couple of minor issues with the book, however. I didn’t really connect with the characters. I felt for them, I was empathetic, but I wasn’t in their minds and I didn’t love them. The fact that I had empathic feelings for them was enough to keep me reading, but I do wish there was more character development. However, this isn’t a stand alone novel so maybe the rest of the series will allow for that.
I also got a little confused at times, I couldn’t follow the scene in my head. One minute, someone was in one place, and the next they were randomly in another and it made it rather difficult to follow what was happening.
Overall though, I did enjoy the book and I would recommend it.
July 10, 2019
This is the first book from a new series, Blackburn Academy.
We're introduced to January who died and woke up with a note informing her she's a vampire and that she needs to call a particular number to get blood. When she turned up at the location, she met a boy Justin who then arranged to give her his own blood on a regular basis. This went on for a year or so before there were some changes in January's life.
January moved into Justin's neighbourhood and Justin got all defensive and wanted her far away from him. January thought it's because Justin didn't want to be associated with her, but we found there were more to it than that.
On the surface, Justin appeared to be a bully of sorts, but really he's just putting up an act. January was offered a scholarship to enter Blackburn Academy but in order to do so, she had to go through the Trials. While preparing for the Trials, she made a group of friends, but nobody seems to know what goes on at Blackburn Academy, and January is more determined than ever to get in and unearth its secrets.
At the end of the book, January has completed the Trials and found out so much more about her own identity than ever before. I look forward to the next book!
(I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book)
We're introduced to January who died and woke up with a note informing her she's a vampire and that she needs to call a particular number to get blood. When she turned up at the location, she met a boy Justin who then arranged to give her his own blood on a regular basis. This went on for a year or so before there were some changes in January's life.
January moved into Justin's neighbourhood and Justin got all defensive and wanted her far away from him. January thought it's because Justin didn't want to be associated with her, but we found there were more to it than that.
On the surface, Justin appeared to be a bully of sorts, but really he's just putting up an act. January was offered a scholarship to enter Blackburn Academy but in order to do so, she had to go through the Trials. While preparing for the Trials, she made a group of friends, but nobody seems to know what goes on at Blackburn Academy, and January is more determined than ever to get in and unearth its secrets.
At the end of the book, January has completed the Trials and found out so much more about her own identity than ever before. I look forward to the next book!
(I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book)
April 14, 2020
January woke up In the morgue with a note that said she was a vampire. Justin Roberts is a bully but has arranged for her to be getting blood regularity. Then she gets offered a full scholarship to the elite Blackburn Academy, where she will learn about vampires. The thing is Justin does not want her there and wants to sabotage her. The thing what she does not know yet is that Blackburn Academy is much more than it appears to be.
This is an excellent first book in a new paranormal Academy series. The writing style is wonderful. The characters are well developed with distinct and complex personalities that include both positive and negatives attributes. I enjoyed the narrative a lot as it helped define the characters emotions and motivations. This story is told from January’s point of view, and you experience the same emotional rollercoaster that she does as she comes to terms who she is, her upbringing and her fears and insecurities. I liked how strong, caring, forgiving and determined she was. The romance was interesting with its ups and downs. The storyline flowed along smoothly and quickly. I found this book hard to put down, once I started reading it.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
This is an excellent first book in a new paranormal Academy series. The writing style is wonderful. The characters are well developed with distinct and complex personalities that include both positive and negatives attributes. I enjoyed the narrative a lot as it helped define the characters emotions and motivations. This story is told from January’s point of view, and you experience the same emotional rollercoaster that she does as she comes to terms who she is, her upbringing and her fears and insecurities. I liked how strong, caring, forgiving and determined she was. The romance was interesting with its ups and downs. The storyline flowed along smoothly and quickly. I found this book hard to put down, once I started reading it.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
July 3, 2019
I’m a sucker for these type of stories. Dhampire January Moore never thought she would be dead at 16 and wake up changed. The week of her change she called the number that was left to her when she woke up for blood she needs but she never expected the boy to be the one there to save her but the strange boy requested information, mainly did she kill yet. After her first taste of fresh blood and a growing attraction to her donor Justin their odd relationship lasted a year before her life changed more. January is all mixed up with her feelings for one side of Justin but when she meets the other side of him she hates him. Her secret is still safe but when her grandmother’s new employer starts talking about Blackburn Academy and trials/tests and January will need all the help she can get starting from the other scholarship students, they help their own but they can’t talk about most things about the elusive school. When she finds out more about her condition, her father and why Justin really was there that night and what he was protecting, January will have to watch her back at all turns including why she really got the special scholarship. Does end is a cliffhanger of sorts.
May 20, 2020
This story starts with January, a girl who dies in an accident and is turned into a vampire by a mystery man. Left alone, January has to search for food: fresh blood.
Fortunately for her, a guy, named Justin, offers to help her with his blood. Meeting in these circumstances leads to a dependent relationship between them that will slowly change into something else.
Adjusting to her new life, January wants to enter the Blackburn Academy, a study place for vampires only. She has to pass some trials to get in there, which are not easy, and as if that wasn’t enough, Justin opposes her wish and does everything in his power to make her fail.
The first book of this series won’t show you her life at the academy, but only her journey toward attending it. It centers around January and Justin, their love-hate relationship, and around the fact that she has to adapt to her new life as a vampire.
If you love stories with vampire girls, with mystery and action parts, secrets, dramatic moments, then this series might be perfect for your reading need.
This book is on my select list of vampire books. See them all here: https://fantasybooksland.com/fantasy-...
Fortunately for her, a guy, named Justin, offers to help her with his blood. Meeting in these circumstances leads to a dependent relationship between them that will slowly change into something else.
Adjusting to her new life, January wants to enter the Blackburn Academy, a study place for vampires only. She has to pass some trials to get in there, which are not easy, and as if that wasn’t enough, Justin opposes her wish and does everything in his power to make her fail.
The first book of this series won’t show you her life at the academy, but only her journey toward attending it. It centers around January and Justin, their love-hate relationship, and around the fact that she has to adapt to her new life as a vampire.
If you love stories with vampire girls, with mystery and action parts, secrets, dramatic moments, then this series might be perfect for your reading need.
This book is on my select list of vampire books. See them all here: https://fantasybooksland.com/fantasy-...
April 23, 2020
**** I’m volunteering to review this arc ****
Wow! I really enjoyed this story. It was hard to put it down, has great characters, action packed, some romance and differently paranormal. January wakes up in the morgue with a paper saying she’s a vampire and is given a number to call for blood. She decides to call and that’s when she meets Justin. Her and Justin strike up a deal. Stuff changed in January’s life and she ends up trying to get into Blackburn Academy. Justin try’s his hardest not to let January join the academy. On top of all that some kind of creatures are after January. Can January get into the Academy? Can she keep her self safe from the creatures? Is she really a vampire or is she something else? Can she figure out Justin? Will she and Justin give into there feelings?
I look forward to reading the next book.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Wow! I really enjoyed this story. It was hard to put it down, has great characters, action packed, some romance and differently paranormal. January wakes up in the morgue with a paper saying she’s a vampire and is given a number to call for blood. She decides to call and that’s when she meets Justin. Her and Justin strike up a deal. Stuff changed in January’s life and she ends up trying to get into Blackburn Academy. Justin try’s his hardest not to let January join the academy. On top of all that some kind of creatures are after January. Can January get into the Academy? Can she keep her self safe from the creatures? Is she really a vampire or is she something else? Can she figure out Justin? Will she and Justin give into there feelings?
I look forward to reading the next book.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
June 20, 2019
This was an amazing book! A Bite at the Cherry is not your average vampire story. The plot is unique and there is plenty of intrigue. I can't wait for book two after that ending!
January's whole life gets flipped upside down when she wakes up a vampire and then, one year later, is forced to move in with her Nana. In order to support the two of them, her Nana gets a live in housekeeping job working for the Roberts', perhaps the richest family in town. Justin Roberts has been giving January his blood for the past year but keeps giving January mixed signals. When Justin's parents tell January they want to offer her a scholarship to the enigmatic Blackburn Academy, January must begin training for the admission trials. Justin doesn't want January to go to Blackburn, but this just makes her want it more. Will January get in? What will happen between January and Justin?
January's whole life gets flipped upside down when she wakes up a vampire and then, one year later, is forced to move in with her Nana. In order to support the two of them, her Nana gets a live in housekeeping job working for the Roberts', perhaps the richest family in town. Justin Roberts has been giving January his blood for the past year but keeps giving January mixed signals. When Justin's parents tell January they want to offer her a scholarship to the enigmatic Blackburn Academy, January must begin training for the admission trials. Justin doesn't want January to go to Blackburn, but this just makes her want it more. Will January get in? What will happen between January and Justin?
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