Find out the latest indie author news. For FREE.

ADVERTISEMENT

Formats
Kindle Edition Digital Ebook Purchas Details
  • B0B86P187H
  • pages
  • $
Sundowners
Vampire Creed Lowell works with the elderly as a night nurse while looking to avenge his harrowing past. Grad student Roman San Angelo is struggling to handle his courses, teaching schedule, and research for his dissertation on an obscure cult all while mourning the fact that his beloved yet demanding grandmother Frances was moved to an assisted living facility. His pain is eased as he becomes fascinated by her night nurse, who is able to bring out the inner light which had faded during her battle with dementia. A moment of weakness leads to a night of passion between them, and the promise of something more, and yet Roman can’t shake his concern that Creed is not what he seems. Then Roman discovers a connection between Creed and a bizarre series of vampire-wannabe assaults in the area. Creed knows better than to bring a mortal into his world, even one who could help him find the link between the pack of violent vampires preying on the people of Santa Cruz and Creed’s past. When Creed disappears, Roman will go to the ends of the earth to find the man who brought the light back to his grandmother and the warmth back to his own heart.

Quarter Finalist

Plot/Idea: 9 out of 10
Originality: 10 out of 10
Prose: 9 out of 10
Character/Execution: 10 out of 10
Overall: 9.50 out of 10

Assessment:

Plot/Idea: Merrill has crafted a complex and nuanced plot that surprises and entertains. In the author's capable hands, the story's dark themes are never overwhelming or pervasive, and the end result is evenly paced, with a satisfying climax.

Prose: Merrill is a skillful and capable writer, accomplished at applying narration, description, and dialogue. The story flows smoothly and capably balances suspense with romance. 

Originality: Sundowners features distinctive characters and a compelling premise—the novel excels at building character tension coupled with meaningful interactions.

Character Development/Execution: The dual first-person narrative here is very valuable, as readers seek to understand Creed and his version of vampire ethics, resulting in a very likable and believable character.  Insight into Roman and what makes him tick is also helpful, as he comes across as caustic at times, but his love for and devotion to his grandmother is a primary redeeming quality that will ultimately win readers over.

Date Submitted: August 21, 2022

Reviews
Merrill delivers a fast-paced romance thriller in the first of her Sundowners series (a spinoff from The Gifted series). Creed Lowell seemingly has it all—looks that could kill, poise, and an old soul that seems out of place in his young body—but that’s to be expected, given his status as a vampire. Below the surface he’s an enigma: fresh out of a lengthy self-enforced exile and with no family left alive, Creed’s hell bent on revenge from the cult leaders responsible for his condition, but while on the hunt for them he spends his time working as a nurse in Santa Cruz, drinking human blood only when he must in order to survive and using his supernatural powers to heal his patients.

Readers will be invested in Creed’s efforts to settle, and jolted when Santa Cruz is rocked with strange crimes and reports of victims being bitten by human attackers. While he’s wondering about the coincidences, he crosses paths with Roman—a psychology doctoral candidate recently returned to the city after his grandmother is placed in the very same assisted living facility where Creed works. Sparks fly between the two, and before long their whirlwind attraction morphs into something much bigger, leaving Creed to brood on how he’ll break the news of his true identity to Roman. But more than romance is on the horizon for Creed and Roman, as they’re caught up in a supernatural fight for power that threatens their love—and the world.

Paranormal romance lovers will relish Merrill’s blend of steamy action, while the undercurrent of good versus evil—and probing the true parameters of that concept—gives the novel welcome depth. Some dialogue suffers from the narrative’s brisk pace, but the appealing characters and steady energy more than make up for any hiccups. Readers will be disappointed when the ride is over and eager for the reunion.

Takeaway: An action-packed paranormal romance with welcome depth—and real bite.

Great for fans of: Joe Satoria’s Vampire Kisses, Ariana Nash’s Violent Desire.

Production grades
Cover: B
Design and typography: A
Illustrations: N/A
Editing: A
Marketing copy: A

Formats
Kindle Edition Digital Ebook Purchas Details
  • B0B86P187H
  • pages
  • $
ADVERTISEMENT

Loading...