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Pulse #1
Pulse
17-year-old Kalina didn't know her boyfriend was a vampire until the night he died of a freak accident. She didn't know he came from a long line of vampires until the night she was visited by his half-brothers Jaegar and Stuart Greystone. There were a lot of secrets her boyfriend didn't tell her. Now she must discover them in order to keep alive. But having two half-brothers vampires around had just gotten interesting.
220 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 29, 2010
150 people are currently reading
4264 people want to read
About the author
Kailin Gow
347 books2,502 followers2025 News!
https://ventsmagazine.com/2025/04/10/...
Kailin Gow is an USA Today Bestselling author, publisher, screenwriter, director, producer, and speaker with hundreds of books published. She is also the owner/founder and organizer of mega-book signing events like Rockin' Hollywood, Naughty Mafia in Las Vegas, which has featured the very top authors of Romance and drawn thousands of readers, including being in a documentary film now out on Amazon Prime.
Over 14 Million copies of her books have been downloaded around the world and translated into 25 languages. 2 of her book series, FADE Series and Red Genesis Series, has been optioned by the Academy Award-winning team behind Netflix #1 most Liked and Top 10 Netflix Original Film, Wish Dragon, also the team behind the special effects magic of Star Wars and Marvel films.
She owns a traditional publishing company with an API (Asian Pacific Islander) Diversity initiative that has partnerships with production companies across the globe with distribution through Netflix, Amazon, Hulu, Disney and more! Kailin Gow is a go to media guest on Women in Film and Television and is a voting member of the Academy Awards.
Her Worldwide Brand, Kailin Gow's Go Girl has won awards for its tv series, books, cosmetics, fashions, beauty and health products, and soon-to-be home and travel products. As of 2021, Kailin Gow's Go Girl is excited to expand into its own line of hotels, starting with a 70+ room hotel in Texas. In 2022, her books will be adapted into entertainment venues called Sparklesoup World, offered in various locations throughout the U.S. and internationally.
She has been a host on world-class stages, an invited speaker for BEA and a regular radio/TV guest for major stations. She is an official voice of AAPI, She has a TV Reality show on her as an author and personality. She is also the host and publisher of a leading author industry guide, subscription newsletter, and podcast called Authors Voices. Five of her pen names are USA Today Bestselling authors and will be traditionally published in 2022. She is also a recurring speaker/instructor of writing series and serials for professional screenwriters and producers as of 2021.
She was called an "innovating author" and an "Author as Influencer" by Goodreads executives at Book Expo America 2014 in their speech.
Kailin Gow is one of Cindy Crawford's Beauties, who is beautiful on the inside as well as the outside, along with Gabrielle Union.
She was called "a successful author who knows how to balance being an author and life" by Huffington Post. USA Today recommends her steamy romances while PBS Kids have recommended her Teen Fantasy Series.
Amazon highlighted her author success story on the homepage of Amazon.com and in their book, Transformations and was invited by Amazon to be an author spokesperson for Amazon's launch of the Kindle fire in Santa Monica.
In the publishing industry, she has written and presented many articles and workshops for major publications as well as conventions. https://www.fastcompany.com/user/kail...
and is the host/founder of the podcast and newsletter Author Voices. Additionally, she owns a law firm specializing in consumer advocacy.
Kailin Gow holds a Masters degree in Management from USC and degrees in Social Ecology (Psychology, Criminology, Sociology, and Ecology/Climate), Drama, and Film making from UC Irvine where she once ran and DJ for a radio station that helped discovered OC bands like Sugar Ray and Gwen Stefani.
https://ventsmagazine.com/2025/04/10/...
Kailin Gow is an USA Today Bestselling author, publisher, screenwriter, director, producer, and speaker with hundreds of books published. She is also the owner/founder and organizer of mega-book signing events like Rockin' Hollywood, Naughty Mafia in Las Vegas, which has featured the very top authors of Romance and drawn thousands of readers, including being in a documentary film now out on Amazon Prime.
Over 14 Million copies of her books have been downloaded around the world and translated into 25 languages. 2 of her book series, FADE Series and Red Genesis Series, has been optioned by the Academy Award-winning team behind Netflix #1 most Liked and Top 10 Netflix Original Film, Wish Dragon, also the team behind the special effects magic of Star Wars and Marvel films.
She owns a traditional publishing company with an API (Asian Pacific Islander) Diversity initiative that has partnerships with production companies across the globe with distribution through Netflix, Amazon, Hulu, Disney and more! Kailin Gow is a go to media guest on Women in Film and Television and is a voting member of the Academy Awards.
Her Worldwide Brand, Kailin Gow's Go Girl has won awards for its tv series, books, cosmetics, fashions, beauty and health products, and soon-to-be home and travel products. As of 2021, Kailin Gow's Go Girl is excited to expand into its own line of hotels, starting with a 70+ room hotel in Texas. In 2022, her books will be adapted into entertainment venues called Sparklesoup World, offered in various locations throughout the U.S. and internationally.
She has been a host on world-class stages, an invited speaker for BEA and a regular radio/TV guest for major stations. She is an official voice of AAPI, She has a TV Reality show on her as an author and personality. She is also the host and publisher of a leading author industry guide, subscription newsletter, and podcast called Authors Voices. Five of her pen names are USA Today Bestselling authors and will be traditionally published in 2022. She is also a recurring speaker/instructor of writing series and serials for professional screenwriters and producers as of 2021.
She was called an "innovating author" and an "Author as Influencer" by Goodreads executives at Book Expo America 2014 in their speech.
Kailin Gow is one of Cindy Crawford's Beauties, who is beautiful on the inside as well as the outside, along with Gabrielle Union.
She was called "a successful author who knows how to balance being an author and life" by Huffington Post. USA Today recommends her steamy romances while PBS Kids have recommended her Teen Fantasy Series.
Amazon highlighted her author success story on the homepage of Amazon.com and in their book, Transformations and was invited by Amazon to be an author spokesperson for Amazon's launch of the Kindle fire in Santa Monica.
In the publishing industry, she has written and presented many articles and workshops for major publications as well as conventions. https://www.fastcompany.com/user/kail...
and is the host/founder of the podcast and newsletter Author Voices. Additionally, she owns a law firm specializing in consumer advocacy.
Kailin Gow holds a Masters degree in Management from USC and degrees in Social Ecology (Psychology, Criminology, Sociology, and Ecology/Climate), Drama, and Film making from UC Irvine where she once ran and DJ for a radio station that helped discovered OC bands like Sugar Ray and Gwen Stefani.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 214 reviews
May 14, 2011
So...Guess what? I am not impressed with Pulse. It felt like a bad The Vampire Diaries rip-off.
There are these two guys,pardon vampires that are in love with Kalina(hmmm,author has a similar name and also this girl-Kalina is half Chinese. Here I got the same vibe as Stephanie Meyer used herself to describe Bella,so annoying.) Everything seems so rushed. At least it takes L.J.Smith almost a whole book to two people to kiss. Here it happens almost at the beginning. Later on Kalina is making out with the other brother,poor girl she can't choose which one she loves more(Even though they know each other for like 5 days).
There is this one scene where she is making out with...what's his name,oh yeah Stuart(the good brother) and she passes out for like 2 days. WTF was that all about? So now we know he is her boyfriend for sure. Oh,what just happened she had sex with the other brother,Jaegar(?!). As you can tell he is the bad boy*yawn*. And check this out:there is this Roman general Octavius(he is like the oldest vamp ever)and he wants Kalina too. I wanted to scream!
It really pisses me off when...I don't know...the whole book was a mess.
There are these two guys,pardon vampires that are in love with Kalina(hmmm,author has a similar name and also this girl-Kalina is half Chinese. Here I got the same vibe as Stephanie Meyer used herself to describe Bella,so annoying.) Everything seems so rushed. At least it takes L.J.Smith almost a whole book to two people to kiss. Here it happens almost at the beginning. Later on Kalina is making out with the other brother,poor girl she can't choose which one she loves more(Even though they know each other for like 5 days).
There is this one scene where she is making out with...what's his name,oh yeah Stuart(the good brother) and she passes out for like 2 days. WTF was that all about? So now we know he is her boyfriend for sure. Oh,what just happened she had sex with the other brother,Jaegar(?!). As you can tell he is the bad boy*yawn*. And check this out:there is this Roman general Octavius(he is like the oldest vamp ever)and he wants Kalina too. I wanted to scream!
It really pisses me off when...I don't know...the whole book was a mess.
August 5, 2010
I love this book. From the beginning, you are drawn in by the imagery and the emotions, the sense of longing in the characters as they meet. Right away, there is mystery and romance. The book begins in the rain as a vampire watches Kalina run from her car to the library. There is something very romantic yet primal about Kalina's first meeting with Jaegar, her dead ex-boyfriend's half-brother. Shortly after, Kalina meets Stuart, the other brother. Both brothers are vampires, as was Kalina's ex-boyfriend Aaron. The dialogue, rivalry between brothers, plot twists, and action is so well-planned and carried out, you can visualize this as a movie. If you love young adult vampire romance books with a strong kick-butt heroine, this book series is for you.
Received ARC copy from publisher.
Received ARC copy from publisher.
December 11, 2010
Kalina is living in the fall-out from her boyfriend’s death. Aaron was in a car accident, drunk behind the wheel, and Kalina’s life changed forever. . . months on from her mourning, Kalina’s life is about to change again. Aaron’s half-brothers, Stuart and Jaegar, have come to town. Supposedly they are here to investigate Aaron’s death, but pretty soon Kalina discovers the real reason for their presence. They’re vampires. Aaron was a vampire, so are his brothers, and so are the men who want to kidnap Kalina and take her life’s blood. For Kalina’s blood is special – a drop of her blood, freely given, can grant a vampire humanity. . . but only if she loves them. If she doesn’t, that vampire will become evil.
‘Pulse’ is a paranormal YA series from Kailin Gow. There are currently three books out at the moment, with two more set for 2011 release.
The series follows quite closely the L.J. Smith ‘Vampire Diaries’ plot. Less, the book plot, and more the TV show’s storyline. It’s a familiar story; a girl torn between two vampire brothers, one ‘good’ and one ‘evil’. Stuart is the quintessential ‘good guy’, while Jaegar is the bad-boy lothario. . . but both of them are attracted and quickly in love with Kalina.
The story veers away from L.J. Smith similarity when, in the second book, a character called Octavius throws his hat in for Kalina’s affection. But for the most part the plot of the ‘Pulse’ series is quite well-known and nothing particularly new.
“What a situation you’re in,” said Octavius. “If you give your blood freely, chastely, with love – your love will become human. But if he is not your love – he will become your worst nightmare, the most evil, decadent creature you could imagine. With your blood. What a terrible decision to make. And which will you choose? The good one – or the dangerous one? I’d tell you which one I’d choose. . . although it doesn’t matter, in any case. I’d have to kill him.”
Even though the bones of the plot is familiar (especially if you watch ‘The Vampire Diaries’) the story is still an exciting page-turner. However. . . Gow’s execution is a little lacking.
The series feels rushed. Gow often crams into one book what most YA paranormal authors would stretch over an entire series. Gow cuts corners when it comes to scene-setting, characterization and ‘show, not tell’. At one point, Kalina gets whisked off to Europe (Rome, Paris etc, etc) and the whole trip is summarized in a chapter or two, as Gow takes no to time to write setting and atmosphere. Gow also takes the lazy way out when it comes to revealing character’s emotions – long inner monologues instead of letting their actions speak for themselves.
The books often feel so rushed, the characters and situations contrived, that it’s like heightened, exaggerated YA. . . dare I say, it’s very reminiscent of fan-fiction? It has that too-quick pace, flimsy characterization and over-the-top fan-fiction feel to it. The fanfiction feel is especially evident in the ‘romance’. Gow keeps piling on suitors for Kalina. . . Stuart, Jaegar, Octavius, and the list keeps growing with bad-guys who want the evil power Kalina’s blood possesses. Then there is Kalina’s Mary-Sue character. She is apparently so beautiful, but unaware of her effect on men. She is all that is pure and good and all the boys want her. . . yeesh!
The bones of the plot are good. Yes, some aspects have been done before (i.e.: a girl has to choose between an ‘evil’ and ‘good’ vampire brother) but overall the storyline is interesting and keeps you sucked in. However, the books are rushed and have a distinct fanfiction feel to them.
‘Pulse’ is a paranormal YA series from Kailin Gow. There are currently three books out at the moment, with two more set for 2011 release.
The series follows quite closely the L.J. Smith ‘Vampire Diaries’ plot. Less, the book plot, and more the TV show’s storyline. It’s a familiar story; a girl torn between two vampire brothers, one ‘good’ and one ‘evil’. Stuart is the quintessential ‘good guy’, while Jaegar is the bad-boy lothario. . . but both of them are attracted and quickly in love with Kalina.
The story veers away from L.J. Smith similarity when, in the second book, a character called Octavius throws his hat in for Kalina’s affection. But for the most part the plot of the ‘Pulse’ series is quite well-known and nothing particularly new.
“What a situation you’re in,” said Octavius. “If you give your blood freely, chastely, with love – your love will become human. But if he is not your love – he will become your worst nightmare, the most evil, decadent creature you could imagine. With your blood. What a terrible decision to make. And which will you choose? The good one – or the dangerous one? I’d tell you which one I’d choose. . . although it doesn’t matter, in any case. I’d have to kill him.”
Even though the bones of the plot is familiar (especially if you watch ‘The Vampire Diaries’) the story is still an exciting page-turner. However. . . Gow’s execution is a little lacking.
The series feels rushed. Gow often crams into one book what most YA paranormal authors would stretch over an entire series. Gow cuts corners when it comes to scene-setting, characterization and ‘show, not tell’. At one point, Kalina gets whisked off to Europe (Rome, Paris etc, etc) and the whole trip is summarized in a chapter or two, as Gow takes no to time to write setting and atmosphere. Gow also takes the lazy way out when it comes to revealing character’s emotions – long inner monologues instead of letting their actions speak for themselves.
The books often feel so rushed, the characters and situations contrived, that it’s like heightened, exaggerated YA. . . dare I say, it’s very reminiscent of fan-fiction? It has that too-quick pace, flimsy characterization and over-the-top fan-fiction feel to it. The fanfiction feel is especially evident in the ‘romance’. Gow keeps piling on suitors for Kalina. . . Stuart, Jaegar, Octavius, and the list keeps growing with bad-guys who want the evil power Kalina’s blood possesses. Then there is Kalina’s Mary-Sue character. She is apparently so beautiful, but unaware of her effect on men. She is all that is pure and good and all the boys want her. . . yeesh!
The bones of the plot are good. Yes, some aspects have been done before (i.e.: a girl has to choose between an ‘evil’ and ‘good’ vampire brother) but overall the storyline is interesting and keeps you sucked in. However, the books are rushed and have a distinct fanfiction feel to them.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 5, 2011
I'm giving this a five because I love this series, I love the characters, and I love writing about them. Although this is about vampires and is for young adults and entertainment, there are issues brought up in this series to help teens/young adults discuss more serious topics. So, for those of you not used to my books, I started writing my YA books for schools and teachers, especially as a way to open the door of discussion on social issues with teens. I'm thrilled and humbled to find my young adult books actually are considered popular mainstream fiction, too. This series is my baby, and of course, I'm giving it a five. I live in a Democracy, and Presidents can vote for themselves so why shouldn't authors. Goodreads encourage author interaction, so I'm interacting :)
Note: Kalina is not based on me at all, although her name sounds like mine. It happens to be a Romanian/Bulgarian name that ties into the vampire mythology of this book. Check out my blog under PULSE Series, where the meaning of the name Kalina is told.
Note: Kalina is not based on me at all, although her name sounds like mine. It happens to be a Romanian/Bulgarian name that ties into the vampire mythology of this book. Check out my blog under PULSE Series, where the meaning of the name Kalina is told.
November 11, 2012
Reviewed by Jaglvr for TeensReadToo.com
Kalina is grieving over the loss of her ex-boyfriend, Aaron. She broke up with him because he was an alcoholic and would not get help. He crashed his car and now he's gone. Little did she know that was as far from the truth as possible. The son of a vineyard owner, Aaron was actually a vampire. But Kalina doesn't learn about that until his step-brothers, Stuart and Jaegar, enter the picture.
Stuart is the new student at her school. It turns out that the two brothers have come to Rutherford to protect Kalina. Kalina is the key to breaking the curse of the vampire. Her blood is rumored to be Life's Blood...able to turn a vampire human or to dark evil, depending on if the blood is given in love or resistance.
Soon, vampires from all over are attempting to reach Kalina. Even Jaegar and Stuart's ancient leader, Octavius, has now shown an interest in Kalina.
When Stuart is kidnapped by Octavius, Kalina and Jaegar travel to rescue him. It's at this point that the story throws a curve ball at the reader, and of course ends with a cliffhanger. Don't you hate when that happens? Well, don't fear, the story is continued in book two, LIFE'S BLOOD.
I've wanted to read PULSE for a while now. I first saw it posted on GoodReads and was immediately entranced by the cover. What lies between the covers did not disappoint at all. A very fast-moving story, PULSE kept me on the edge of my seat until the final page.
The story should be reserved for the older teen, though, due to sexual references. There is nothing overtly sexual, but the references are there, so the story may not be appropriate for the younger audience. But other than that, the story entertained and has made me want to run out for the next installment.
Kalina is grieving over the loss of her ex-boyfriend, Aaron. She broke up with him because he was an alcoholic and would not get help. He crashed his car and now he's gone. Little did she know that was as far from the truth as possible. The son of a vineyard owner, Aaron was actually a vampire. But Kalina doesn't learn about that until his step-brothers, Stuart and Jaegar, enter the picture.
Stuart is the new student at her school. It turns out that the two brothers have come to Rutherford to protect Kalina. Kalina is the key to breaking the curse of the vampire. Her blood is rumored to be Life's Blood...able to turn a vampire human or to dark evil, depending on if the blood is given in love or resistance.
Soon, vampires from all over are attempting to reach Kalina. Even Jaegar and Stuart's ancient leader, Octavius, has now shown an interest in Kalina.
When Stuart is kidnapped by Octavius, Kalina and Jaegar travel to rescue him. It's at this point that the story throws a curve ball at the reader, and of course ends with a cliffhanger. Don't you hate when that happens? Well, don't fear, the story is continued in book two, LIFE'S BLOOD.
I've wanted to read PULSE for a while now. I first saw it posted on GoodReads and was immediately entranced by the cover. What lies between the covers did not disappoint at all. A very fast-moving story, PULSE kept me on the edge of my seat until the final page.
The story should be reserved for the older teen, though, due to sexual references. There is nothing overtly sexual, but the references are there, so the story may not be appropriate for the younger audience. But other than that, the story entertained and has made me want to run out for the next installment.
September 1, 2010
So excited. Pulse released today! I couldn't wait for the book to ship so I downloaded Pulse on Kindle this morning.
I've never been to Rutherford, California before, but it is a real town in Napa Valley. Now I want to visit. The world of Pulse takes place in Rutherford where Kalina is a high school senior. She's smart (we learn she's trying for an early admission to Yale), she's serious (although she's a cheerleader, but a competitive sports kind, she practices her moves over and over again a hundred times or more until she gets it right), and she's had her share of grief (her ex-boyfriend had died and her parents died on an overseas trip two years before). But she's trying to get a grip on her grief and move on. That's when she meets the Greystone brothers on her way to find a book her ex told her about.
From then on, it gets really interesting. What can you expect with vampires?
Now as a mother-daughter book club book, I do think Veronica, my 16 year old, would enjoy this series. There are a lot of teenage issues in here Veronica and her friends or even with me can discuss. Veronica can handle the issue of dating and sex that is in Pulse.
I'm excited there is a new vampire series to get into so get this book!
I've never been to Rutherford, California before, but it is a real town in Napa Valley. Now I want to visit. The world of Pulse takes place in Rutherford where Kalina is a high school senior. She's smart (we learn she's trying for an early admission to Yale), she's serious (although she's a cheerleader, but a competitive sports kind, she practices her moves over and over again a hundred times or more until she gets it right), and she's had her share of grief (her ex-boyfriend had died and her parents died on an overseas trip two years before). But she's trying to get a grip on her grief and move on. That's when she meets the Greystone brothers on her way to find a book her ex told her about.
From then on, it gets really interesting. What can you expect with vampires?
Now as a mother-daughter book club book, I do think Veronica, my 16 year old, would enjoy this series. There are a lot of teenage issues in here Veronica and her friends or even with me can discuss. Veronica can handle the issue of dating and sex that is in Pulse.
I'm excited there is a new vampire series to get into so get this book!
August 22, 2010
I thoroughly enjoyed PULSE. Vampire-loving-readers will devour PULSE for this is ALL vampire. The Greystone brothers Jaegar and Stuart are packed with personality. Kalina is not what she seems, but she'll remind you of Buffy and Willow from Buffy the Vampire Slayer for she's smarter than average and athletic. She also reminds me of Rose from Vampire Academy because she's impulsive. Mainly because she's hormonal and emotionally distressed when we meet her - she's grieving over her ex-boyfriend's death. But she's something all together in a refreshingly new twist to the "damsel in distress." Not giving away the spoiler. I love how the author uses old vampire themes, but add her own twist to vampire lore. Gow, who is no stranger to addressing edgy teen social subjects - she has written non-fiction for teens on self-esteem building and bullying, has managed to touch on today's popular teen social issues with an addicting new vampire series. I recommend this book to older teens, young adults, adults, and high school counselors and teachers. The story sucked me in from beginning to end. Very fast read, and I can't wait for the next four books in this new series!
August 5, 2010
The whole premise is very original. Pulse contains all the elements of a classic vampire love story, but at the center is an original premise embodied by Kalina, the heroine herself. What can be more romantic than to set Pulse in the wine country where the sexy Greystone brothers of Greystone Wineries are vampires. Pulse will get your pulse racing with the right balance of romance, action, mystery, and humor. Although as you will learn, Kalina is special, but she has strengths and weaknesses like everyone. Her character is believable, and you will fall in love with Stuart and lust after Jaegar.
ARC book provided by Publisher.
ARC book provided by Publisher.
August 30, 2010
Pulse is a feast for the senses. The wine country is the setting, but you might as well have die and gone to vampire heaven when you meet the likes of Stuart and Jaegar. There are sweet moments and moments of intense action. Snappy dialogue, clear descriptions, complex characters are some of the highlights. I wanted more, and the ending was unpredictable. Thank God there's a book two because I do want to know more about Kalina.
April 8, 2015
DNF I got about halfway through this book before I decided that it was just a waste of my time. It was too much like The Vampire Diaries, except it was like the B-rated version. Poorly developed characters, and feels like plagiarism to me. Just couldn't do it.
April 21, 2011
Pulse is about Kalina, a girl whose boyfriend, Aaron, died three months earlier. It turns out he was a vampire, as are his brothers, Jaegar and Stuart, who promise to protect her. She needs protection because she has special blood that vampires won’t be able, or want, to resist for one of several reasons, which I won’t give away. Together, they want to not only keep Kalina safe, but also unravel the mystery surrounding Aaron’s death. Along the way, Kalina realizes she’s drawn to both brothers, though they appear to have quite different personalities and intentions toward her (think Damon and Stefan from the Vampire Diaries).
The premise of Pulse is good, but I just couldn’t really get into it or really invested in the characters. Others seemed to like it, but I found the writing way too simplistic with too little description of people and surroundings. Not only that, but there were a lot of weird jumps; one second Kalina and someone are making out and, with no segue, the next sentence began with, “A few days later…” There also seemed to be a lot of continuity errors. Kalina’s supposed to be in a room, then suddenly she goes upstairs, when there was no mention that she went down any stairs; she’s holding someone in her arms, then a couple sentences later, he’s crawling over to her. There were a lot of these type of mistakes and when you add in the typos (at one point a character’s last name goes from Coltran to Colton in the span of five pages) and the overuse of exclamation points, it was really distracting. I felt like I was reading a rough draft before an editor got their hands on it.
And the ubiquitous torn between two guys (brothers, no less) drama didn’t do anything for me, either. I didn’t think either character was developed enough to explain Kalina’s sudden infatuation; I guess it was just the irresistible vampire thing. She was supposed to be tough and sure of herself, but she went back and forth from hating then liking one while simultaneously liking and being jealous about the other that she just came off as flighty instead. Too much of the book dealt with the lukewarm love triangle and not enough with the mystery surrounding Aaron’s death.
Okay, having said that, there was a twist at the end, as in the very last page, that made me say, “Wait, what?(!)” and piqued my interest a little in reading the next book. However, unless the writing style improves and there’s some character building or something to make me care about them, I definitely won’t be reading the third book in the series.
The premise of Pulse is good, but I just couldn’t really get into it or really invested in the characters. Others seemed to like it, but I found the writing way too simplistic with too little description of people and surroundings. Not only that, but there were a lot of weird jumps; one second Kalina and someone are making out and, with no segue, the next sentence began with, “A few days later…” There also seemed to be a lot of continuity errors. Kalina’s supposed to be in a room, then suddenly she goes upstairs, when there was no mention that she went down any stairs; she’s holding someone in her arms, then a couple sentences later, he’s crawling over to her. There were a lot of these type of mistakes and when you add in the typos (at one point a character’s last name goes from Coltran to Colton in the span of five pages) and the overuse of exclamation points, it was really distracting. I felt like I was reading a rough draft before an editor got their hands on it.
And the ubiquitous torn between two guys (brothers, no less) drama didn’t do anything for me, either. I didn’t think either character was developed enough to explain Kalina’s sudden infatuation; I guess it was just the irresistible vampire thing. She was supposed to be tough and sure of herself, but she went back and forth from hating then liking one while simultaneously liking and being jealous about the other that she just came off as flighty instead. Too much of the book dealt with the lukewarm love triangle and not enough with the mystery surrounding Aaron’s death.
Okay, having said that, there was a twist at the end, as in the very last page, that made me say, “Wait, what?(!)” and piqued my interest a little in reading the next book. However, unless the writing style improves and there’s some character building or something to make me care about them, I definitely won’t be reading the third book in the series.
January 1, 2015
As soon as I started reading "Pulse", I felt drawn into the storyline. I loved the writing style and felt the story had a lot of promise.
Then I started chapter 2.
I began to wonder if I was reading a different book or if the the book was being written by two different people, because what was initially lyrical in it's prose became comical. I laughed out loud at the absurdity of several passages and almost thought I was reading paranormal satire. As other reviewers have pointed out, I felt like several scenes were being crammed into one chapter so that things that should have been drawn out or explained more were just brushed over. For example, in chapter 12 Kalina and Stuart practice self defense together for weeks, reveal to Maeve the existence of vampires which she easily accepts, discuss the brother's history as well as that of Vampire Wine, make out, discuss Kalina's dead ex-boyfriend (aka Stuart's dead half-brother), make plans to determine what Aaron was doing before his death, fight other vampires where Stuart becomes mortally wounded but lives thanks to Maeve offering her blood. All of this in one freaking chapter.
To be honest, I could not finish this book. Once you begin rolling your eyes when reading, you know it's time to put down the book. And if the cramming of five stories into one chapter and annoying characters weren't enough, the author's writing style quickly became something I could barely understand. Hyphens everywhere!! I have no qualms about not finishing this one.
Then I started chapter 2.
I began to wonder if I was reading a different book or if the the book was being written by two different people, because what was initially lyrical in it's prose became comical. I laughed out loud at the absurdity of several passages and almost thought I was reading paranormal satire. As other reviewers have pointed out, I felt like several scenes were being crammed into one chapter so that things that should have been drawn out or explained more were just brushed over. For example, in chapter 12 Kalina and Stuart practice self defense together for weeks, reveal to Maeve the existence of vampires which she easily accepts, discuss the brother's history as well as that of Vampire Wine, make out, discuss Kalina's dead ex-boyfriend (aka Stuart's dead half-brother), make plans to determine what Aaron was doing before his death, fight other vampires where Stuart becomes mortally wounded but lives thanks to Maeve offering her blood. All of this in one freaking chapter.
To be honest, I could not finish this book. Once you begin rolling your eyes when reading, you know it's time to put down the book. And if the cramming of five stories into one chapter and annoying characters weren't enough, the author's writing style quickly became something I could barely understand. Hyphens everywhere!! I have no qualms about not finishing this one.
November 4, 2015
It wasn't bad, I guess. WAAAAY cheesy in some places but overall it was definitely better than RL Stine.
April 27, 2011
review by Megsly
Have you been waiting for that super original paranormal series that keeps you gripped to the edge of your seat? The one that you can't stop reading and find yourself sneaking new pages in when your boss isn't looking? The one who's characters you lust for and who's plot you just can't quite figure out? Well...then Pulse is not for you. It's more along the lines of a rewrite of Twilight, The Vampire Diaries, and every other YA vamp series that has been written thus far.
Pulse by Kailin Gow is the first book in the Pulse series. It follows the exploits of Kalina (First things first, I'm always thrown off by a main character who's name is nearly identical to the author's name. It throws off a Mary Sue vibe...) and she's...well, Kalina is kind of a bitch. She makes good grades in school and works diligently at being the best she can on her high school's cheer leading squad. She doesn't understand other girls, and refers to them as stupid: "Other girls were stupid - girls who didn't get good grades, who drank too much at parties, who cried about breakups in math class." (Location 185 on Kindle) She's pretty and popular and happy, for the most part, but so far from being able to relate to her peers that she seems out of place in a high school. Something that is referred to, but is never made clear, is the fate of Kalina's parents. First off, she's adopted but her adoptive parents died in an accident and her brother (I have no clue if he was adopted too, or if he's a biological sibling, or what) is the one who's raised her, well...taken care of her. I'm not sure of the dynamics there, perhaps it's something that's made clearer in the future, but as far as Pulse goes, it was a jumbled mess mentioned in passing.
One normal part of Kalina's life? She has a boyfriend. A hot boyfriend named Aaron who is just as flawed as her petty classmates that she looks down upon. The flaw, however, is a lethal flaw (or so Kalina thinks.) His addiction to the family wine leaves him intoxicated much of the time, leading to their breakup because Kalina doesn't condone alcoholismc (quite frankly, for a girl who finds flaws in everyone around her, I'm surprised she even gave a wine drinking hottie a second look). Shortly thereafter, Aaron is dead and Kalina blames his love of wine for it. Kalina's feelings on Aaron are a conflict for me, as a reader, but I'll explain more of that later.
A few months after Aaron's death (I think, it's never really explained. The passage of time in this book is...well...nonexistent? It could be a week, a day, a month, hell...it's never made clear) Kalina runs into his brother, Stuart Greystone who has come to take over the winery that Kalina believes lead to Aaron's death. Stuart is slightly older than Aaron, and looks remarkably like him with the same hazel eyes and sandy brown hair, despite the fact that they're only half brothers. Another sudden development is the appearance of Jaeger Greystone, the oldest brother of the trio.
Okay, so to be honest, it doesn't take long for my impression of this book to sour. As soon as Jaeger and Stuart are introduced, the reader learns of the bitter rivalry between them. Very quickly, Kalina finds herself over at the Greystone's, first, because Stuart is a hottie and secondly, because she's intrigued. Stuart is claiming that he doesn't believe Aaron's death was an accident and immediately they set about researching the family history to find clues about what led to his demise. While at the Greystone manner, Stuart decides to break Kalina into the family secret when she blames alcohol for Aaron's death. He claims that no, Aaron was not an alcoholic. He was nothing of the sort, and the two disagree, which leads Stuart to admit the truth. "Aaron was a vampire," he says (location 1184) and immediately Kalina declares, in instantaneous verbal denial with an accepting internal monologue all at once, that vampire's don't exist.
And this was the point where the book lost me. I'm not sure if it was the method of which they share their family secret, or if it's the sudden Vampire Diaries flashbacks I get when reading. Jaegar and Stuart were born in the 1300's, changed when they were young, along with their father. In the 1800's, their father met a woman and fell in love, and together they had a child (a dhampir, half vampire-half human) that they named Aaron. Shortly there after, Stuart and Jaeger's father changed the girl to a vampire, and on Aaron's 17th birthday, he was converted to a full blooded vampire, because God forbid the mother of this child have her son grow to be physically older than her. Who cares for souls and such (in this series, it's a proven fact. Vampirism = bye bye soul) when your son may actually out-age you!
Jaeger fully endorses nibbling on humans, in fact, he loves it. Stuart and Aaron, on the other hand, do not. They instead drink on Vampire Wine, which is consecrated wine blessed by the one and only vampire priest to walk the earth, therefore turning the wine truly in to the blood of Christ and Vampire Wine was what Aaron constantly consumed.
Kalina takes all this information surprisingly well, and soon finds out that she's "special." Her blood has the power to give a vampire extraordinary power or, if it's given to the vampire willingly, can restore their humanity. And wait, it gets better...literally, only a few moments after this information is shared with her, Greystone Wineries come under attack by wayward vampires intent on claiming Kalina as their own. What does our cheer leading heroine do? She pulls a Buffy move and stakes her first vampire! Pretty impressive for someone who just found out vampires really do exist.
And only a day or two later....GASP! Kalina is making out with our hot middle brother Greystone vamp, Stuart. Wait...PAUSE! Didn't Aaron just die? *flips back to the beginning of book* Yup, there's the mourning and the sorrow and the "Omg, my lame boyfriend who was an 'alcoholic' just died, and as much as I blame him for his own stupidity, I miss him! But I don't, I'm angry, but I do miss him!" Yes, Kalina, I find you to be a fickle character who obviously, despite your pretentious ethical code of "thou shall not drink, whine over boys, or do badly in school," you're willing to just throw your "love" for your old boyfriend to the side for his older brother. I guess making out with all the brothers (cause she totally kisses Jaeger, too) is something every good girl does.
Despite my displeasure with the character predicaments, I read on. And was still displeased. But, by all means, please pick up this book for yourself and give it a go, don't let my opinion stop you, but just be warned. The writing isn't bad by any means, though the author tends to use words that don't fit with the story and it's clearly written for young adults. Most of the story is told from Kalina's point of view (though not in 1st person) so I can't really justify a 17 year old girl referring to photographs as daguerreotypes or repeatedly use the term louche in reference to Jaeger's rakish ways. The characters seem like a mixture of the Salvatore brothers, only their rings contain "life blood" instead of Lapis Lazuli to protect them from the sun. Kalina strikes me as a Buffy wanna be, and the plot makes no sense and has so many holes it's practically dead on arrival. Unfortunately, for Kalina and the gang, I will not be continuing onward with the remaining four books in the Pulse series. They'll have to go on alone in their future exploits.
-Story Elements (plot) – 4
-Character Development - 3
-Grammar & Punctuation - 8
-Prose – 6
-Paranormal Element - 7
Total Score: 5.6/10
Have you been waiting for that super original paranormal series that keeps you gripped to the edge of your seat? The one that you can't stop reading and find yourself sneaking new pages in when your boss isn't looking? The one who's characters you lust for and who's plot you just can't quite figure out? Well...then Pulse is not for you. It's more along the lines of a rewrite of Twilight, The Vampire Diaries, and every other YA vamp series that has been written thus far.
Pulse by Kailin Gow is the first book in the Pulse series. It follows the exploits of Kalina (First things first, I'm always thrown off by a main character who's name is nearly identical to the author's name. It throws off a Mary Sue vibe...) and she's...well, Kalina is kind of a bitch. She makes good grades in school and works diligently at being the best she can on her high school's cheer leading squad. She doesn't understand other girls, and refers to them as stupid: "Other girls were stupid - girls who didn't get good grades, who drank too much at parties, who cried about breakups in math class." (Location 185 on Kindle) She's pretty and popular and happy, for the most part, but so far from being able to relate to her peers that she seems out of place in a high school. Something that is referred to, but is never made clear, is the fate of Kalina's parents. First off, she's adopted but her adoptive parents died in an accident and her brother (I have no clue if he was adopted too, or if he's a biological sibling, or what) is the one who's raised her, well...taken care of her. I'm not sure of the dynamics there, perhaps it's something that's made clearer in the future, but as far as Pulse goes, it was a jumbled mess mentioned in passing.
One normal part of Kalina's life? She has a boyfriend. A hot boyfriend named Aaron who is just as flawed as her petty classmates that she looks down upon. The flaw, however, is a lethal flaw (or so Kalina thinks.) His addiction to the family wine leaves him intoxicated much of the time, leading to their breakup because Kalina doesn't condone alcoholismc (quite frankly, for a girl who finds flaws in everyone around her, I'm surprised she even gave a wine drinking hottie a second look). Shortly thereafter, Aaron is dead and Kalina blames his love of wine for it. Kalina's feelings on Aaron are a conflict for me, as a reader, but I'll explain more of that later.
A few months after Aaron's death (I think, it's never really explained. The passage of time in this book is...well...nonexistent? It could be a week, a day, a month, hell...it's never made clear) Kalina runs into his brother, Stuart Greystone who has come to take over the winery that Kalina believes lead to Aaron's death. Stuart is slightly older than Aaron, and looks remarkably like him with the same hazel eyes and sandy brown hair, despite the fact that they're only half brothers. Another sudden development is the appearance of Jaeger Greystone, the oldest brother of the trio.
Okay, so to be honest, it doesn't take long for my impression of this book to sour. As soon as Jaeger and Stuart are introduced, the reader learns of the bitter rivalry between them. Very quickly, Kalina finds herself over at the Greystone's, first, because Stuart is a hottie and secondly, because she's intrigued. Stuart is claiming that he doesn't believe Aaron's death was an accident and immediately they set about researching the family history to find clues about what led to his demise. While at the Greystone manner, Stuart decides to break Kalina into the family secret when she blames alcohol for Aaron's death. He claims that no, Aaron was not an alcoholic. He was nothing of the sort, and the two disagree, which leads Stuart to admit the truth. "Aaron was a vampire," he says (location 1184) and immediately Kalina declares, in instantaneous verbal denial with an accepting internal monologue all at once, that vampire's don't exist.
And this was the point where the book lost me. I'm not sure if it was the method of which they share their family secret, or if it's the sudden Vampire Diaries flashbacks I get when reading. Jaegar and Stuart were born in the 1300's, changed when they were young, along with their father. In the 1800's, their father met a woman and fell in love, and together they had a child (a dhampir, half vampire-half human) that they named Aaron. Shortly there after, Stuart and Jaeger's father changed the girl to a vampire, and on Aaron's 17th birthday, he was converted to a full blooded vampire, because God forbid the mother of this child have her son grow to be physically older than her. Who cares for souls and such (in this series, it's a proven fact. Vampirism = bye bye soul) when your son may actually out-age you!
Jaeger fully endorses nibbling on humans, in fact, he loves it. Stuart and Aaron, on the other hand, do not. They instead drink on Vampire Wine, which is consecrated wine blessed by the one and only vampire priest to walk the earth, therefore turning the wine truly in to the blood of Christ and Vampire Wine was what Aaron constantly consumed.
Kalina takes all this information surprisingly well, and soon finds out that she's "special." Her blood has the power to give a vampire extraordinary power or, if it's given to the vampire willingly, can restore their humanity. And wait, it gets better...literally, only a few moments after this information is shared with her, Greystone Wineries come under attack by wayward vampires intent on claiming Kalina as their own. What does our cheer leading heroine do? She pulls a Buffy move and stakes her first vampire! Pretty impressive for someone who just found out vampires really do exist.
And only a day or two later....GASP! Kalina is making out with our hot middle brother Greystone vamp, Stuart. Wait...PAUSE! Didn't Aaron just die? *flips back to the beginning of book* Yup, there's the mourning and the sorrow and the "Omg, my lame boyfriend who was an 'alcoholic' just died, and as much as I blame him for his own stupidity, I miss him! But I don't, I'm angry, but I do miss him!" Yes, Kalina, I find you to be a fickle character who obviously, despite your pretentious ethical code of "thou shall not drink, whine over boys, or do badly in school," you're willing to just throw your "love" for your old boyfriend to the side for his older brother. I guess making out with all the brothers (cause she totally kisses Jaeger, too) is something every good girl does.
Despite my displeasure with the character predicaments, I read on. And was still displeased. But, by all means, please pick up this book for yourself and give it a go, don't let my opinion stop you, but just be warned. The writing isn't bad by any means, though the author tends to use words that don't fit with the story and it's clearly written for young adults. Most of the story is told from Kalina's point of view (though not in 1st person) so I can't really justify a 17 year old girl referring to photographs as daguerreotypes or repeatedly use the term louche in reference to Jaeger's rakish ways. The characters seem like a mixture of the Salvatore brothers, only their rings contain "life blood" instead of Lapis Lazuli to protect them from the sun. Kalina strikes me as a Buffy wanna be, and the plot makes no sense and has so many holes it's practically dead on arrival. Unfortunately, for Kalina and the gang, I will not be continuing onward with the remaining four books in the Pulse series. They'll have to go on alone in their future exploits.
-Story Elements (plot) – 4
-Character Development - 3
-Grammar & Punctuation - 8
-Prose – 6
-Paranormal Element - 7
Total Score: 5.6/10
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 16, 2022
Rcvd an advanced reader copy from Booksprout for giving my two cents
We meet high school cheerleader Kalina who is still grieving over the death of her bf Aaron. She tried to get Aaron to sober up but it wasn't working. Now she wishes she would have helped him more. What she doesn't expect is to meet a beautiful stranger who looks just like Aaron only to find out he is his half-brother Stuart. Before Aaron's death he told her that she would fi d answers in his family's Bible at the library. Weird but ok. Then she comes face to face with a deadly beautiful Stanger Jaeger so also happens to be a half brother to Aaron. What on earth is going on? Kalina has come to realize that vampires are in fact real and her bf was one. The Vampire Wine is what she smelled on Aaron's breath all the time and then she learns her blood is the key to regaining human or complete power. Will Kalina survive being surrounded by vampires?
We meet high school cheerleader Kalina who is still grieving over the death of her bf Aaron. She tried to get Aaron to sober up but it wasn't working. Now she wishes she would have helped him more. What she doesn't expect is to meet a beautiful stranger who looks just like Aaron only to find out he is his half-brother Stuart. Before Aaron's death he told her that she would fi d answers in his family's Bible at the library. Weird but ok. Then she comes face to face with a deadly beautiful Stanger Jaeger so also happens to be a half brother to Aaron. What on earth is going on? Kalina has come to realize that vampires are in fact real and her bf was one. The Vampire Wine is what she smelled on Aaron's breath all the time and then she learns her blood is the key to regaining human or complete power. Will Kalina survive being surrounded by vampires?
August 1, 2022
I normally don't read this genre, but Pulse was an intriguing read. The setting and plot drew me in and kept me engaged with the characters. Overall, it is a well written and I look forward to reading the next book.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
April 27, 2022
Kalina's world was turned upside down after the death of her ex boyfriend and then meeting his step brothers.
Jaeger and Stuart knew that their brother's death was no accident. They had to find Kalina to find out what she knew. Did she know their secret? Or about Life's Blood?
A thrilling series I can't wait to devour!
There is a cliffy but so worth the wait! Life's Blood #2!
Thank you Booksprout and the author for a digital copy. Read and reviewed voluntarily and the opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own..
Jaeger and Stuart knew that their brother's death was no accident. They had to find Kalina to find out what she knew. Did she know their secret? Or about Life's Blood?
A thrilling series I can't wait to devour!
There is a cliffy but so worth the wait! Life's Blood #2!
Thank you Booksprout and the author for a digital copy. Read and reviewed voluntarily and the opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own..
April 24, 2022
Since Aaron's death, the joy has gone out of Kalina's life. Even cheerleader isn't the same anymore. Everything changes when she meets Aaron's half-brother zeta and Jaeger and discovers that they are a family of vampires. Their attraction to her is undeniable but is it for the person she is or the blood she carries.
This book pulls out all the stops for a series starter. Seventeen-year-old Kalina has more danger, romance, and drama than any high school girl should have to deal with but she has an incredible amount of strength and determination. I can't wait to read the next book in the series.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
This book pulls out all the stops for a series starter. Seventeen-year-old Kalina has more danger, romance, and drama than any high school girl should have to deal with but she has an incredible amount of strength and determination. I can't wait to read the next book in the series.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
August 27, 2012
Pulse has one major thing going on for it. This book has a pulse, that remains strong and does not slow down. I liked the fact that this is a fast paced book, which does not bore you. That said, let's start with the real stuff...
Plot:
Kalina is a 17 year old girl, who is happy in her world, which is as far from the supernatural stuff as any place can be, but tragedy strikes, and her budding relationship with her boyfriend Aaron comes to an abrupt end, when he dies in a car crash, while driving under influence. This leaves Kalina torn between two emotions, sadness, at Aaron's death, and anger, as to why was he driving the car in the first place, instead of simply asking a friend to drop him to his home.
Then, 3 months after his death, his two half-brothers Stuart and Jaegar both arrive in the town telling Kalina that maybe, her boyfriend did not die in an accident, but was murdered.
Hmmmmm... so far so good.
I had a few issues with this book, but that did not stop me from reading it.
First of all, the characters seem a bit one-dimensional, which makes to easy to predict. There are times when the books feels rushed, because the decisions these characters take, are almost lightening fast, and at times, the reason and the thinking about these decisions are not explained, and the reader is left asking...WHAT THE HELL JUST HAPPENED NOW???
Personally, the characters seemed way too much familiar to me:
Jaeger: older brother, a gorgeous vampire, with no regard towards human life, and considers vampires as the hunters, and the humans their prey. But he softens up for Kalina anyway.
Stuart: A brooding younger brother, who considers vampires as an abomination and respects human life, and hence, starves himself, and feeds on animal blood. Oh and he falls for Kalina too.
Kalina: One of the most popular girls in her school, and has made both the Greystone brothers fall in love with her, and cannot decide, whom she wants, because, she loves them both.
*hint*hint* VD!
Well the book is fast, so you do get through it, and is actually not bad either. so..in all...a good read.
Plot:
Kalina is a 17 year old girl, who is happy in her world, which is as far from the supernatural stuff as any place can be, but tragedy strikes, and her budding relationship with her boyfriend Aaron comes to an abrupt end, when he dies in a car crash, while driving under influence. This leaves Kalina torn between two emotions, sadness, at Aaron's death, and anger, as to why was he driving the car in the first place, instead of simply asking a friend to drop him to his home.
Then, 3 months after his death, his two half-brothers Stuart and Jaegar both arrive in the town telling Kalina that maybe, her boyfriend did not die in an accident, but was murdered.
Hmmmmm... so far so good.
I had a few issues with this book, but that did not stop me from reading it.
First of all, the characters seem a bit one-dimensional, which makes to easy to predict. There are times when the books feels rushed, because the decisions these characters take, are almost lightening fast, and at times, the reason and the thinking about these decisions are not explained, and the reader is left asking...WHAT THE HELL JUST HAPPENED NOW???
Personally, the characters seemed way too much familiar to me:
Jaeger: older brother, a gorgeous vampire, with no regard towards human life, and considers vampires as the hunters, and the humans their prey. But he softens up for Kalina anyway.
Stuart: A brooding younger brother, who considers vampires as an abomination and respects human life, and hence, starves himself, and feeds on animal blood. Oh and he falls for Kalina too.
Kalina: One of the most popular girls in her school, and has made both the Greystone brothers fall in love with her, and cannot decide, whom she wants, because, she loves them both.
*hint*hint* VD!
Well the book is fast, so you do get through it, and is actually not bad either. so..in all...a good read.
August 27, 2010
This story covers the life of Kalina, a 17 year old girl with a life full of secrets. When Kalina hears that her boyfriend Aaron is supposedly killed in a drunk driving accident; though his body was never found, the story just doesn't seem to fit and the details seem far too suspicious for Kalina. Kalina soon meets Aaron's 2 half-brothers; Stuart and Jaegar, and they drop the biggest bomb possible...Aaron was a vampire and so are they. Kalina soon finds out that Aaron wasn't drunk during the accident and the three began a search for information to find out what really happened. Stuart soon wins Kalina's heart with his personality and the similarities he has to Aaron make Kalina fall for him but Jaegar's attitude and forwardness begin to grow on Kalina as well. He heart becomes torn between the two brothers and when she realizes her blood is the key to everything and possibly the reason for Aaron's death things begin to take an unexpected turn. With her life on the line and the brothers taking dangerous risks to protect her, Kalina must find a way to save them and herself from the evils out to get them. Her blood is the most precious thing out there and every vampire has their eyes set on getting it for themselves.
Can Kalina find the answers she's looking for? Will they ever know the truth about Aaron's disappearance? Only the second book: Life's Blood will hold the answers.
Pulse is fast paced and intriguing, the story has twists at every turn and the ending leaves you open mouthed and wanting more. Kailin did a wonderful job in creating this vampire world.
Can Kalina find the answers she's looking for? Will they ever know the truth about Aaron's disappearance? Only the second book: Life's Blood will hold the answers.
Pulse is fast paced and intriguing, the story has twists at every turn and the ending leaves you open mouthed and wanting more. Kailin did a wonderful job in creating this vampire world.
May 23, 2012
Kalina is seventeen years-old and has already lost her parents. She’s also lost her boyfriend, Aaron. When she’s at the local library, she thinks she sees Aaron, but it turns out that Aaron had a half-brother, Stuart. He disappears without a trace. That same night, she meets Jaegar Greystone…again. Apparently, he’s also Aaron’s step-brother and tells Kalina that Aaron is a vampire.
At the next day at school, there is a new student that just happens to be Stuart, and the girls flock all around him. He reminds Kalina of Aaron, but feels like he is a more mature version of Aaron and considers this a plus.
She also likes Jaegar. Jaegar is definitely plays and enjoys the part of being a bad vampire, but does let his guard down when he gets to know Kalina a little better. After an incident, Kalina believes he hasn’t changed a bit. Kalina discovers a lot of secrets about the brothers and herself.
Ever since I was little, I’ve loved vampire books, and this one does not disappoint. I definitely liked Jaegar a lot more than Stuart. Stuart just seemed too meek. I like vampires that have more of a backbone, and Jaegar definitely has one. Jaegar goes a little soft because of Kalina I’m not really sure how I feel about Kalina. She’s just okay. I did like that she knows kung fu, and this does help her in several parts of the book.
At the next day at school, there is a new student that just happens to be Stuart, and the girls flock all around him. He reminds Kalina of Aaron, but feels like he is a more mature version of Aaron and considers this a plus.
She also likes Jaegar. Jaegar is definitely plays and enjoys the part of being a bad vampire, but does let his guard down when he gets to know Kalina a little better. After an incident, Kalina believes he hasn’t changed a bit. Kalina discovers a lot of secrets about the brothers and herself.
Ever since I was little, I’ve loved vampire books, and this one does not disappoint. I definitely liked Jaegar a lot more than Stuart. Stuart just seemed too meek. I like vampires that have more of a backbone, and Jaegar definitely has one. Jaegar goes a little soft because of Kalina I’m not really sure how I feel about Kalina. She’s just okay. I did like that she knows kung fu, and this does help her in several parts of the book.
December 17, 2010
First of all, I love how Books 2 and 3 were released shortly after Book 1. Very considerate for us readers! This is a vampire book series, and I love every fun page of it. From the beginning, I was intrigued. The characters are distinct, you get a clear idea of who they are, and how they think. Gow is one of those storytellers like Ally Condie, who use simplistic sentences to convey the mood of the story. For those of you who only read young adult novels, this style is similar to Hemingway and Steinbeck. Despite this writing style, there is a lot of action in this book, which is packed full of romance, strong relationship-building, and amazing world building. I admire a strong teen heroine who is portrayed as beautiful and smart. She does have her flaws. She's young. She has raging hormones, and she's pretty serious about everything. In comes devil may care Jaegar, who is perhaps one of the most sexiest teen vampire guys and his sweet brother. A hormonal teen girl with two vampire brothers helping her cope with her ex-boyfriend's death is prime for an addicting series. I've read the other bestsellers on Amazon, and this one made me immediately go into the next two books right after another.
February 21, 2016
Full Review at: What's Beyond Forks?
Stuart and Jaegar reminded me so much of Stefan and Damon from The Vampire Diaries. Damon was my favorite in that series, so naturally, Jaegar was my favorite in this series. Like those brothers, these brothers fall in love with the same girl too. This girl, Kalina, has special blood though. She's pretty shallow when it comes to the brothers. She likes this one. No, she likes that one. And that's not taking into consideration when she's under compulsion and is all swoony. They were pushing the love idea, but there just wasn't enough reason for this to be a love thing yet. Given the behaviors of the characters, there was definite lust, but I wouldn't call it love. I was pretty turned off by all the similarities to The Vampire Diaries. (As much as I looove Damon, we already have a Damon.) So, that makes me leery about continuing on in this series, however that ending sure has me curious. So, I'm on the fence at the moment. All in all, it was light and fun for the most part,but I felt like I had read it before.
August 26, 2010
I devoured this book. From the moment I received the review copy in the mail, I couldn't put it down until I was finished. Mystery and romance clouded the beginning. The vampire hunks are more than sexy, they're complex. No wonder Kalina can't choose between them. I can see Kalina as a real teenager on the brink of adulthood. Her grief for Aaron's death felt real. Then her elation in finding Stuart, someone close to Aaron, who reminded her of Aaron, felt real. Her discovery of who she is felt real. Some of the situation was comical, especially sensitive topics (Kalina trying to deal with her hormones) was handled with a sense of humor. The ending is wonderful and I would not have guessed it. Again, Ms. Gow has shown an understanding of teenage girls and some of the issues they deal with in growing up. Boys, love, sex, school, friendships, family - she covers it all. It says in my copy PULSE is Book 1 of 5. I can't wait to read the entire series. Book 2 called Life's Blood will be out in October.
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Naya's Girls Night Out Book Picks
February 9, 2011
Kalina has a special reason for vampire guys lusting after her. Something in her Life Blood. If it weren't for that I don't think she would be all that interesting. Her character was a bit bland. Jaeger and Stuart, however, are pretty damn interesting and fun to read about. They are searching for the reason their brother Aaron was killed as well as finding a way into Kalina's heart.
The story fell a little flat for me. It just needed some oomph. I found myself a little bored at times. That isn't to say that I didn't enjoy it but I would have liked more. The premise was an interesting one about what is so precious about Kalina's Life Blood and the end held an unexpected twist that makes me curious as to where this series is going. At this point, I am unsure if I would read a sequel.
This one wasn't for me but you might like it better than I did.
To find this review and more visit me on my blog at http://looksitlovitz.blogspot.com
The story fell a little flat for me. It just needed some oomph. I found myself a little bored at times. That isn't to say that I didn't enjoy it but I would have liked more. The premise was an interesting one about what is so precious about Kalina's Life Blood and the end held an unexpected twist that makes me curious as to where this series is going. At this point, I am unsure if I would read a sequel.
This one wasn't for me but you might like it better than I did.
To find this review and more visit me on my blog at http://looksitlovitz.blogspot.com
August 27, 2010
Ms. Gow does it again with this new series. Like in Bitter Frost, Pulse manages to be entertaining and filled with deeper meanings and symbolism. I was lucky to meet Ms. Gow in person where she mentioned Pulse deals with many issues older teen girls tackle in everyday life. There are symbolism in Pulse, as there are in Bitter Frost and Rise of the Fire Tamer. She mentioned a discussion sheet for teachers and groups will be available soon.
Besides this, Pulse is an entertaining book with mystery, a sense of gothic even though it is contemporary, and lots of romance. I enjoy the idea of the legend.
As far as vampire series for teens (older teens, especially), this is one of the more positive series out there.
Besides this, Pulse is an entertaining book with mystery, a sense of gothic even though it is contemporary, and lots of romance. I enjoy the idea of the legend.
As far as vampire series for teens (older teens, especially), this is one of the more positive series out there.
June 4, 2015
I'm a huge fan of paranormal romance and pretty much anything with vampires, so I was excited to find this book.
Kalina's world is torn apart when her boyfriend dies, but his death thrust her into a world she never imagined. His brother Jaeger and Stewart keeps things interesting and get her blood racing, which isn't so good when vampires are involved.
Its a good story with great characters, lots of romance, maybe a bit too much. I'm all for a love triangle in a book but this has a square going on, add anymore love interests and I think all respect for Kalina goes out the window, its already hanging on the edge. Overall its a good vampire romance series that keeps you wanting more.
Kalina's world is torn apart when her boyfriend dies, but his death thrust her into a world she never imagined. His brother Jaeger and Stewart keeps things interesting and get her blood racing, which isn't so good when vampires are involved.
Its a good story with great characters, lots of romance, maybe a bit too much. I'm all for a love triangle in a book but this has a square going on, add anymore love interests and I think all respect for Kalina goes out the window, its already hanging on the edge. Overall its a good vampire romance series that keeps you wanting more.
July 6, 2011
I love the way the author thought about this book. The story idea is amazing.
Not like some authors who only think about the beginning of the book. So when the author ends up in the middle part of the book they completely run out of ideas; and it looks like authors make up a story and force parts of the story together making the story horrible.
I give this book 3 stars because the book is a great read and I am going for part 2. I hope it's better then this one.
I'll have more of the review a little later. Have fun reading guys, stop by my GOODREADS ACCOUNT ANYTIME.
Not like some authors who only think about the beginning of the book. So when the author ends up in the middle part of the book they completely run out of ideas; and it looks like authors make up a story and force parts of the story together making the story horrible.
I give this book 3 stars because the book is a great read and I am going for part 2. I hope it's better then this one.
I'll have more of the review a little later. Have fun reading guys, stop by my GOODREADS ACCOUNT ANYTIME.
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February 13, 2015This book is so funny.
I loved that this book main character is sarcastic and serious and like any Normal Teenager. Unlike some (cough)twilight(cough) where the main character is really down to earth or very other world and I'm not hating on the people who like people who like books with these main characters have mental capabilities, I just like to be able to relate.
I loved that this book main character is sarcastic and serious and like any Normal Teenager. Unlike some (cough)twilight(cough) where the main character is really down to earth or very other world and I'm not hating on the people who like people who like books with these main characters have mental capabilities, I just like to be able to relate.
October 15, 2010
Very quick read. I was able to finish it within two hours. While I liked the story, it didn't wow me and it didn't make me want to continue to read the story.
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