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Dirty Blood #1
Dirty Blood
I killed a girl last night. I did it with my bare hands and an old piece of pipe I found lying next to the dumpster. But that’s not the part that got me. The part that scared me, the part I can’t seem to wrap my head around and still has me reeling, was that when she charged me, her body shifted – and then she was a wolf. All snapping teeth and extended claws. But by the time I stood over her lifeless body, she was a girl again. That’s about the time I went into shock… And that was the moment he showed up.
Now, all I can do is accept the truths that are staring me in the face. One, Werewolves do exist. And Two, I was born to kill them.
Now, all I can do is accept the truths that are staring me in the face. One, Werewolves do exist. And Two, I was born to kill them.
288 pages, Paperback
First published April 1, 2011
About the author
Heather Hildenbrand
137 books1,235 followersHeather Hildenbrand was born and raised in a small town in northern Virginia where she was homeschooled through high school. (She's only slightly socially awkward as a result.) She writes paranormal and contemporary romance with plenty of abs and angst. Her most frequent hobbies are riding motorcycles and avoiding killer slugs.
You can find out more about Heather and her books at heatherhildenbrand.com.
You can find out more about Heather and her books at heatherhildenbrand.com.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 506 reviews
March 23, 2013
EN GARDE!
My impressions:
ENGAGEMENT
If you read the synopsis then you will know...nothing, literally nothing about this novel. What's more, you might be tricked into thinking it is a nice YA Urban Fantasy with werewolves. It is NOT. Before I reveal the whole ugly truth about this one let me put on my protective suit and I warn you: things will become dangerous from that point. If you are queasy, just avert your eyes and leave. Yes, there will be BLOOD.
Now, protected by many charms, garlic and silver, with my faithful sword, cape and a hat, I can proceed.
FIRST SLASH:
It is not a book about werewolves. It is a book about vampires masquerading as werewolves.Have you ever heard about a series featuring sparkling, vain, teenage bloodsuckers, one of them called Edward Cullen? Yes, we are hunting that rainbow-coloured git again. Prepare yourself for a ferocious fight. He is the cunning one but I've dealt with him in the past so I know my enemy. Just follow my steps and you'll be safe.
SERIOUS FENCING TRICKS
I got the inkling we might deal with him again when I read his description: brown hair, artlessly mussed up, brown eyes with golden sparks, muscled body, but one can never be sure in my profession, right? So I waited and then, after a very short time, I struck gold. He was stalking a girl, yes, once again, and her name was Tara. He went into her house several times completely unannounced - sometimes through the door, sometimes through the window. He never bothered to knock. He was a controlling ass...thingy. I was almost sure I got the sparkling idiot again but I had to be 100% certain. And yessssssss...finally the last proof. He could read minds and manipulate memories. It's him.
DIRTY FEINTS
So what that he claimed his name was Wes and he was a kind of werewolf this time? My word against his, right? He told that Tara girl (the main protagonist) his mind-reading abilities were on full display only during full moon but he was able to read her mind and influence it without any problems, right? I know Edward Cullen when I see him and let me repeat it once again: it WAS him. He drove a silver Aston Martin for heavens' sake! Do you still need any other argument? YOU DO? Verry well.
Right after their second or third meeting Tara asks "How old are you?" and Wes replies "Nineteen". Tara then says "How long have you been nineteen?" Weirdly it sounds exactly like one of those Bella and Cullen sweet dialogues, don't you think? Plus these other crappy promises: he is "protecting your virtue" honey, protecting all the time even when he lies to you; then he is referring to neutral ground as "Switzerland". If you need more you simply don't qualify for this job.
COUP DE GRâCE
Having dispatched the ugly Cullen let me take care of the rest. The characters, ALL the characters were cardboard flat copies of different Twilight vampires (and let me say that those weren't exceptionally well-rounded to begin with). Apart from that the author seemed to be rather at loss how to make this novel logic and distinguishable. The main heroine is repeatedly lied to by: her mom, her grandma, her boyfriend, her would-be boyfriend Wes. They do it to protect her, a born Hunter, against other, 'bad' werewolves. Yes, instead letting her train as she was supposed to, they endanger her life because it's their idea of 'protection'. Well, last time I looked knowledge was power, not ignorance and stupidity...
At the very beginning Tara kills a werewolf girl called Lilian. Yes, the girl attacked her and yes, Tara was just defending herself but she kills her nevertheless. What's her reaction and what other weres think ? First Wes/Cullen observes Tara as if she was a scientific experiment that backfired; Lilian's body is just something that he must get rid of. Then he makes Tara forget the whole incident for 'her own good' of course, and then we are told that it was practically ok. Although Lilian was one of those 'good', bunnies-hugging werewolves who want world peace and social benefits for everyone, her killing wasn't Tara's fault because she simply couldn't help herself. Lilian... *emphatic shrug* well...Lilian was a blonde and a traitor anyway. Or almost a traitor because nobody had any tangible proof at the time of her death. Apart from that only a baddie, Leo, mourns her. No big deal, right? Remember, Cullen doesn't do blondes, one more, one less, just a cannon fodder...
The last remark. I almost died of evil laughter when Wes announced to Tara that she was his destiny. DESTINY!!! That's what entitled him to enter her room unannounced whenever he wanted to, that's why he was drawn to her from the very ugly beginning, even though she killed a girl in cold blood right before his eyes. She was his destiny, it explains everything. For that sentence alone Cullen deserves a slow, painful death by sunrays, werewolf or not and if you've heard a sillier excuse to stalk anybody do let me know.
BURYING THE BODY or Final verdict:
It's time to go - I have things to do and vampires to kill. Just let me say this: the less I read such novels the more happy I am. You have been warned.
My impressions:
ENGAGEMENT
If you read the synopsis then you will know...nothing, literally nothing about this novel. What's more, you might be tricked into thinking it is a nice YA Urban Fantasy with werewolves. It is NOT. Before I reveal the whole ugly truth about this one let me put on my protective suit and I warn you: things will become dangerous from that point. If you are queasy, just avert your eyes and leave. Yes, there will be BLOOD.
Now, protected by many charms, garlic and silver, with my faithful sword, cape and a hat, I can proceed.
FIRST SLASH:
It is not a book about werewolves. It is a book about vampires masquerading as werewolves.Have you ever heard about a series featuring sparkling, vain, teenage bloodsuckers, one of them called Edward Cullen? Yes, we are hunting that rainbow-coloured git again. Prepare yourself for a ferocious fight. He is the cunning one but I've dealt with him in the past so I know my enemy. Just follow my steps and you'll be safe.
SERIOUS FENCING TRICKS
I got the inkling we might deal with him again when I read his description: brown hair, artlessly mussed up, brown eyes with golden sparks, muscled body, but one can never be sure in my profession, right? So I waited and then, after a very short time, I struck gold. He was stalking a girl, yes, once again, and her name was Tara. He went into her house several times completely unannounced - sometimes through the door, sometimes through the window. He never bothered to knock. He was a controlling ass...thingy. I was almost sure I got the sparkling idiot again but I had to be 100% certain. And yessssssss...finally the last proof. He could read minds and manipulate memories. It's him.
DIRTY FEINTS
So what that he claimed his name was Wes and he was a kind of werewolf this time? My word against his, right? He told that Tara girl (the main protagonist) his mind-reading abilities were on full display only during full moon but he was able to read her mind and influence it without any problems, right? I know Edward Cullen when I see him and let me repeat it once again: it WAS him. He drove a silver Aston Martin for heavens' sake! Do you still need any other argument? YOU DO? Verry well.
Right after their second or third meeting Tara asks "How old are you?" and Wes replies "Nineteen". Tara then says "How long have you been nineteen?" Weirdly it sounds exactly like one of those Bella and Cullen sweet dialogues, don't you think? Plus these other crappy promises: he is "protecting your virtue" honey, protecting all the time even when he lies to you; then he is referring to neutral ground as "Switzerland". If you need more you simply don't qualify for this job.
COUP DE GRâCE
Having dispatched the ugly Cullen let me take care of the rest. The characters, ALL the characters were cardboard flat copies of different Twilight vampires (and let me say that those weren't exceptionally well-rounded to begin with). Apart from that the author seemed to be rather at loss how to make this novel logic and distinguishable. The main heroine is repeatedly lied to by: her mom, her grandma, her boyfriend, her would-be boyfriend Wes. They do it to protect her, a born Hunter, against other, 'bad' werewolves. Yes, instead letting her train as she was supposed to, they endanger her life because it's their idea of 'protection'. Well, last time I looked knowledge was power, not ignorance and stupidity...
At the very beginning Tara kills a werewolf girl called Lilian. Yes, the girl attacked her and yes, Tara was just defending herself but she kills her nevertheless. What's her reaction and what other weres think ? First Wes/Cullen observes Tara as if she was a scientific experiment that backfired; Lilian's body is just something that he must get rid of. Then he makes Tara forget the whole incident for 'her own good' of course, and then we are told that it was practically ok. Although Lilian was one of those 'good', bunnies-hugging werewolves who want world peace and social benefits for everyone, her killing wasn't Tara's fault because she simply couldn't help herself. Lilian... *emphatic shrug* well...Lilian was a blonde and a traitor anyway. Or almost a traitor because nobody had any tangible proof at the time of her death. Apart from that only a baddie, Leo, mourns her. No big deal, right? Remember, Cullen doesn't do blondes, one more, one less, just a cannon fodder...
The last remark. I almost died of evil laughter when Wes announced to Tara that she was his destiny. DESTINY!!! That's what entitled him to enter her room unannounced whenever he wanted to, that's why he was drawn to her from the very ugly beginning, even though she killed a girl in cold blood right before his eyes. She was his destiny, it explains everything. For that sentence alone Cullen deserves a slow, painful death by sunrays, werewolf or not and if you've heard a sillier excuse to stalk anybody do let me know.
BURYING THE BODY or Final verdict:
It's time to go - I have things to do and vampires to kill. Just let me say this: the less I read such novels the more happy I am. You have been warned.
March 2, 2018
There are parts of this story, particularly dialogue, that I wonder if the author started up after a crappy night's sleep. What. Was. She. Thinking? Who knows. Pity the editors weren't up to the task... To balance that out, there are parts that read just fine.
The main character, is OK, although I wouldn't call her completely likable. But then again, she is a teenager. The romantic interest is pretty much of the same ilk. He is supposed to be conflicted, and on the whole, I don't believe this came off too well.
There are many factors in this that are a total cliche. Having said all this, it isn't all bad and I will give the next book a chance and see how it goes.
The main character, is OK, although I wouldn't call her completely likable. But then again, she is a teenager. The romantic interest is pretty much of the same ilk. He is supposed to be conflicted, and on the whole, I don't believe this came off too well.
There are many factors in this that are a total cliche. Having said all this, it isn't all bad and I will give the next book a chance and see how it goes.
September 5, 2016
I hate the cover, but really enjoyed the story, much more than I thought I would.
July 1, 2012
Dirty Blood was incredible. It is VERY well-written and a completely original take on werewolves. I was sucked in from page one and couldn't wait to get my hands on the sequel at the end. The heroine, Tara, is strong, intelligent, capable and easy to relate to. And Wes, the smokin' hot love interest, is worth every word. I believed in Tara. I wanted to make out with Wes. And I was captivated by the storyline. Destined love, forbidden love, mysterious love...yeah, Dirty Blood has it all.
April 30, 2011
On a cold frosty night Tara finds herself abandoned and no way to get home, so she decides to catch the bus. On her way to the bus stop, she finds a young girl shivering uncontrolably, and Tara approaches her to offer her help, the young girl bolts towards her and changes into a wolf.
A wolf with snapping teeth, large claws and one whom wants to kill her. Tara reaches for the only weapon she can find a large pipe and hits the wolf. Now lying beside Tara, motionless, Tara realized she has killed the wolf- and the young girl’s body has returned. Tara mesmerized and shaken, hears a voice , turns and finds herself looking at a young man, who is offering to help her despite the fact that she has just committed murder.
Wes takes Tara home, and in time introduces Tara to a world she did not know existed, tells her things she never dreamed off and also tells her she is a HUNTER.
Wes is mixed breed, part hunter, part werewolf and due to his Genes he is able to change into a wolf. Tara and Wes find themselves magnetically drawn to each other, an attraction unexplained, yet electricity that flows like a thunder bolt and lightening.
Wes takes Tara to meet his friends, where *The World of The Cause* is explained, the cause being that Werewolves and Hunters to unite and be at peace rather than be at war, and to only kill each other.
Tara finds herself in danger; someone is trying to kill her, reason unknown. Wes takes upon his protectiveness for Tara to protect and kill whoever tried to harm her. Their life is thrown into a world wind and visions are put forward, will Tara be the destiny they all seek??
Tara now realizes her life is not at all what it seems, filled with lies and a bubble her mother had created to keep her safe, but in the long run will this bubble get Tara killed ?
My Review. !!!!
Within settling down in my comfy spot, I was completely drawn into this story and sucked in within the first chapter. The suspense, and mystery started early in Dirty Blood, only to find myself mesmerized and intrigued by such an interesting idea. I really enjoy it, when I find I can’t put a book down, just by being purely focused on what’s going to happen next and how the plot will unravel.
Well, Wes was introduced early in the story so of course, the heart starts to flutter, and I’m sure just like Tara’s did. ** giggles ** I found Wes a yummy, ** swoon ** well the material we all enjoy in a story. ** Hawt ** He was kickarse, protective, and totally alpha material. I found his character to be bold, and assertive yet with that soft side to him and of course with a bod like that !!! We can only envisage how hot he was!!!
Where Tara was concerned, Wes would have died just to protect her. The attraction between Tara and Wes was sensual, mesmerizing and certainly electrifying. The connection they had was romantic, and heartfelt, both equally feeling what the other thought. Two butterflies in unison... ** Heart flutters**
Tara was pig headed, determined, quiet often almost getting herself killed due to it, but she only wanted to just lead her life the way she wanted and not to be dictated to.In the end, her true Hunter came out and not only became evident she had a gift, but also showed everyone she was cable of doing. Her attraction to Wes was very girly, lovey dovey, but quiet romantic and made you grin at moments. I enjoy a little romance, and this story did not go overboard with this, just the right amount to get your heart fluttering and keep you intrigued.
The plot was - wow - fast paced, chapters flow smoothly from one to the next and even at the end, as disappointing as it is to see the story end, I didn’t feel like I had been jilted and nothing had been left out.
Like I said from the first chapter ,I was hooked, line and sinker, and just get reeling it in till I finished it. I enjoyed the fresh storyline that Heather created, certain werewolves that have extra gifts, talents and also the building a world where Werewolves and hunters could unite to live in harmony and work together. A cause I think was justifiable and once again refreshing .
Of Course we need our Villains. ....The villains played their parts well, hating to hate them, lol.. Fight and action scenes were great, and even giggled when Grandma strutted her stuff !!!! She was one new age lady !!! She was definelty not what you would think in your normally every day granny , this was a hoot.
I was relieved at the end, being the reader I am, the story being left open for more rivalry in book 2. ((I hope)) Descriptions well placed and I could envisage whilst reading !! Im a visual reader, and I like it when I can see scenes taking place and even character descriptions. I suppose it takes me into that part of the book !
I enjoyed all the secondary characters, falling in love with Wes’s adoptive parents, and all the characters,they fitted in neatly in this paranormal story, to give us that fix we need forsuspense, mystery, action and romance. A well delivered story that will certainly keep you on the edge of your seat, grasping for the next page just to find out what’s next!!!!!
Overall I felt like the climax was well delivered, it had me slightly apprehensive, eager, keen and wandering where Heather would take it, but being a reader I was happy with the conclusion.
An intriguing, and mesmerizing, tale of werewolves, and hunters, unique of its own, a whirlwind of mystery and suspense, that will have you contemplating till the very end. An ending unpredictable by any means.
4 1/2 stars !!
A wolf with snapping teeth, large claws and one whom wants to kill her. Tara reaches for the only weapon she can find a large pipe and hits the wolf. Now lying beside Tara, motionless, Tara realized she has killed the wolf- and the young girl’s body has returned. Tara mesmerized and shaken, hears a voice , turns and finds herself looking at a young man, who is offering to help her despite the fact that she has just committed murder.
Wes takes Tara home, and in time introduces Tara to a world she did not know existed, tells her things she never dreamed off and also tells her she is a HUNTER.
Wes is mixed breed, part hunter, part werewolf and due to his Genes he is able to change into a wolf. Tara and Wes find themselves magnetically drawn to each other, an attraction unexplained, yet electricity that flows like a thunder bolt and lightening.
Wes takes Tara to meet his friends, where *The World of The Cause* is explained, the cause being that Werewolves and Hunters to unite and be at peace rather than be at war, and to only kill each other.
Tara finds herself in danger; someone is trying to kill her, reason unknown. Wes takes upon his protectiveness for Tara to protect and kill whoever tried to harm her. Their life is thrown into a world wind and visions are put forward, will Tara be the destiny they all seek??
Tara now realizes her life is not at all what it seems, filled with lies and a bubble her mother had created to keep her safe, but in the long run will this bubble get Tara killed ?
My Review. !!!!
Within settling down in my comfy spot, I was completely drawn into this story and sucked in within the first chapter. The suspense, and mystery started early in Dirty Blood, only to find myself mesmerized and intrigued by such an interesting idea. I really enjoy it, when I find I can’t put a book down, just by being purely focused on what’s going to happen next and how the plot will unravel.
Well, Wes was introduced early in the story so of course, the heart starts to flutter, and I’m sure just like Tara’s did. ** giggles ** I found Wes a yummy, ** swoon ** well the material we all enjoy in a story. ** Hawt ** He was kickarse, protective, and totally alpha material. I found his character to be bold, and assertive yet with that soft side to him and of course with a bod like that !!! We can only envisage how hot he was!!!
Where Tara was concerned, Wes would have died just to protect her. The attraction between Tara and Wes was sensual, mesmerizing and certainly electrifying. The connection they had was romantic, and heartfelt, both equally feeling what the other thought. Two butterflies in unison... ** Heart flutters**
Tara was pig headed, determined, quiet often almost getting herself killed due to it, but she only wanted to just lead her life the way she wanted and not to be dictated to.In the end, her true Hunter came out and not only became evident she had a gift, but also showed everyone she was cable of doing. Her attraction to Wes was very girly, lovey dovey, but quiet romantic and made you grin at moments. I enjoy a little romance, and this story did not go overboard with this, just the right amount to get your heart fluttering and keep you intrigued.
The plot was - wow - fast paced, chapters flow smoothly from one to the next and even at the end, as disappointing as it is to see the story end, I didn’t feel like I had been jilted and nothing had been left out.
Like I said from the first chapter ,I was hooked, line and sinker, and just get reeling it in till I finished it. I enjoyed the fresh storyline that Heather created, certain werewolves that have extra gifts, talents and also the building a world where Werewolves and hunters could unite to live in harmony and work together. A cause I think was justifiable and once again refreshing .
Of Course we need our Villains. ....The villains played their parts well, hating to hate them, lol.. Fight and action scenes were great, and even giggled when Grandma strutted her stuff !!!! She was one new age lady !!! She was definelty not what you would think in your normally every day granny , this was a hoot.
I was relieved at the end, being the reader I am, the story being left open for more rivalry in book 2. ((I hope)) Descriptions well placed and I could envisage whilst reading !! Im a visual reader, and I like it when I can see scenes taking place and even character descriptions. I suppose it takes me into that part of the book !
I enjoyed all the secondary characters, falling in love with Wes’s adoptive parents, and all the characters,they fitted in neatly in this paranormal story, to give us that fix we need forsuspense, mystery, action and romance. A well delivered story that will certainly keep you on the edge of your seat, grasping for the next page just to find out what’s next!!!!!
Overall I felt like the climax was well delivered, it had me slightly apprehensive, eager, keen and wandering where Heather would take it, but being a reader I was happy with the conclusion.
An intriguing, and mesmerizing, tale of werewolves, and hunters, unique of its own, a whirlwind of mystery and suspense, that will have you contemplating till the very end. An ending unpredictable by any means.
4 1/2 stars !!
December 11, 2016
All Tara is trying to do is save her relationship with her best friend and boyfriend. Things don't go so well on the date and Tara ends up walking home alone in the middle of the night.
Tara knows her life is about to end when suddenly she has ninja like skills and kills a girl. Not a normal girl a werewolf shifter. Tara thinks her eyes are playing tricks on her no way did a girl just morph into a wolf and back again.
Then out of nowhere a guy appears. Wes ......
Wes saves her from shock and tries to help her understand what has just happened to her. Along with Wes's make shift parents Jack and Fee, Tara will understand the world from a new view and she might not like what she sees. There is no going back now. Tara's life is in danger along with everyone she ever loved.
Now with Wes and the group that calls the selves The Cause, Tara must learn to kick some werewolf ass and quick because there is War and Tara just got thrown to the WOLVES..... haha
I love Tara and Wes's connection and I definitely need to know how there story goes. I like Tara's acceptance of her situation and her stubbornness that everyone run her life for her when she is perfectly capable. Wes is so sweet with his protectiveness of Tara and the fact that he wants to fight FATE of the pull they have with each other. Do we make our future or is the future already written for us? Good story for all ages.
Rating: 2 1/2 Stars
Tara knows her life is about to end when suddenly she has ninja like skills and kills a girl. Not a normal girl a werewolf shifter. Tara thinks her eyes are playing tricks on her no way did a girl just morph into a wolf and back again.
Then out of nowhere a guy appears. Wes ......
Wes saves her from shock and tries to help her understand what has just happened to her. Along with Wes's make shift parents Jack and Fee, Tara will understand the world from a new view and she might not like what she sees. There is no going back now. Tara's life is in danger along with everyone she ever loved.
Now with Wes and the group that calls the selves The Cause, Tara must learn to kick some werewolf ass and quick because there is War and Tara just got thrown to the WOLVES..... haha
I love Tara and Wes's connection and I definitely need to know how there story goes. I like Tara's acceptance of her situation and her stubbornness that everyone run her life for her when she is perfectly capable. Wes is so sweet with his protectiveness of Tara and the fact that he wants to fight FATE of the pull they have with each other. Do we make our future or is the future already written for us? Good story for all ages.
Rating: 2 1/2 Stars
June 4, 2011
Title: Dirty Blood
Author: Heather Hildenbrand
Format: Paperback, E-Book
ISBN: 1461065712
Published: April 2011 by Accendo Press
Tara is a typical teenager making her way through high school, dealing with a not so nice girl and coming to terms with the fact that the guy she’s dating isn’t the guy meant for her. Her father died when she was a toddler, and she lives with her mother who practically smothers her with over-protectiveness.
While on a date with the guy who’s better off her friend, she decides she’s had enough of his football playing, no date showing, agent having ways. She tells him exactly what she thinks of him and then tells him to hit the road. Too bad that left her without a ride.
On her way to the bus stop she passes an alley where she finds a girl she thinks might need her help. When she gets closer the girl completely morphs into a snarling werewolf and attacks. Tara surprises herself by fighting back-and winning.
Once the shock wears off she finds herself looking down at the body of a dead girl-no longer a wolf. What just happened, and where does she go from here? A mysterious boy shows up and offers her answers and a ride. Little does Tara know that the minute she accepts his help her life will change forever.
I feel it is only fair to disclose that I am a werewolf loving woman. That’s right, I’m obsessed. When there’s a full moon I run out into my dark yard and wait for a furry hottie to come get me. Sadly, he hasn’t arrived yet, but when he does…I’ll be waiting.
Now that you know about my little obsession we can continue.
I consider myself a werewolf connoisseur (hey, if people who love wine can be wine connoisseurs then I can be one of werewolves). There are some very strict guidelines that one must follow when writing a werewolf book. What are said guidelines? That’s for another time, people. I can tell you that Heather Hildenbrand followed these rules very well.
Dirty Blood has a really great plot. It was simple yet complex. There were layers to the story that unfolded as you read. When I got to the middle of the book I could not put it down, I was hooked. It is not your run of the mill werewolf story, but it still held firm to all the things we love about werewolves. What are those things you ask? I’ll tell you. One: they are badass fighters. Two: They can kill you-but won’t unless you deserve it. Three: deep down they are big puppy dogs. Four: They run in packs. Five: They like to eat meat. Now of course, there are exceptions…some werewolves are not very nice at all. This book has those guys too. Which, in my opinion, makes the good werewolves look even better.
Tara was a great character. She was strong and independent and never backed down from what she wanted. Curve balls came at her, and she faced them head on-even when everyone else tried to make her duck. She even stood up to those she loved when she thought they weren’t treating her the way she deserved. But you know what else? She was really likable. She had a good head on her shoulders, and she was nice.
Now, let’s discuss my favorite character in the book: Wes. This was one hottie of a werewolf. He was stubborn, pig-headed, over-bearing and his emotions ran hot and cold. What’s not to love? He needed a strong woman to tell him how it is. Too bad that Tara was up to the task cause I would volunteer for that job any day. Did I mention that he was hot? And that he drove a cool car? But seriously, he was a really well developed character, his life had not been easy and instead of being angry and hateful he was driven and focused. He had a sense of duty and honor that he adhered to even when that meant that he couldn’t have what he wanted.
The ending was satisfying, but still left enough for you to anticipate the next book, Cold Blood. And I am anticipating it. I can’t wait to read it. Also I would like to add, that the book was put together really well. At the back of the book you are given an excerpt and a short story to read. It was a nice bonus in the back of an already good book.
And let me also disclose that the second book will be having a character by the name of Cambria. That’s right, it’s me. I won the grand prize in a blog contest and now the author will be using my name in the second book. Very appropriate wouldn’t you say? Maybe just maybe….this girl might finally get her werewolf after all…..
Review is written by Cambria Hebert
June 12, 2017
My Disclaimer: I was provided a free copy of this book by the author's representative. I am providing an honest review for which I am receiving no compensation of any kind. All opinions are fully my own.
~ Judi E. Easley for Blue Cat Review
My Review:
What an exciting story line! I've read books that bring the weres and the hunters together before, but this one does it so well. Here's this young woman just trying to get home after a trying evening, and she's attacked because of how she smells by another young woman. I think I'd hit her with a steel pipe, too!
Well, that's a bit of a simplification, but in essence, that's what happens in the first part. That's how the weres and hunters come together. But that sets off explosions in Tara's world, or what is to become her world. Because with that one action, hitting Liliana with the pipe and killing her, she has put herself into the spotlight. And it has nothing to do with police or being arrested. Nope. This is more like entering the Twilight Zone. Let me give you a hint: no one writes a series about a normal young woman.
It's all very exciting and scary at the same time. She meets the cutest guy and he really just wants to take care of her and protect her. And he introduces her to his friends, who know all sorts of things, including things about her. And her family, living and dead. But life seems to be getting more dangerous. More attacks!
Half the time Tara was cool, but then there were the times I thought she was acting like a spoiled child. She takes the news about what she is fairly well. But then she wasn't taking any responsibility for her actions. She blamed Wes for things that he had no control over. And poor Wes was just a werewolf following the orders of his Alpha. Plus he had duties and couldn't be at her beck and call all the time. There were a couple of times I just wanted to slap her. Sure, she was in a tough situation and finding out all this stuff about her family. But she was dilly-dallying making decisions that needed making now about things that really didn't need to be thought about. You want to be safe, you do this. You want to be dead, you do this. Playtime is over little girl.
Everything was going along like gangbusters with the fast pace through the whole book, then it just sort of fizzled out and ended. I wasn't real happy with that.
I am happy about the fact that book two, Cold Blood, is already out and I can read that when I have some time. And for some reason I expect it to be even better than the first book! Maybe because of some of Tara's relatives that were introduced. Watch out for that older generation. They can surprise you! I'm hoping Tara is a surprise, too.
~ Judi E. Easley for Blue Cat Review
My Review:
What an exciting story line! I've read books that bring the weres and the hunters together before, but this one does it so well. Here's this young woman just trying to get home after a trying evening, and she's attacked because of how she smells by another young woman. I think I'd hit her with a steel pipe, too!
Well, that's a bit of a simplification, but in essence, that's what happens in the first part. That's how the weres and hunters come together. But that sets off explosions in Tara's world, or what is to become her world. Because with that one action, hitting Liliana with the pipe and killing her, she has put herself into the spotlight. And it has nothing to do with police or being arrested. Nope. This is more like entering the Twilight Zone. Let me give you a hint: no one writes a series about a normal young woman.
It's all very exciting and scary at the same time. She meets the cutest guy and he really just wants to take care of her and protect her. And he introduces her to his friends, who know all sorts of things, including things about her. And her family, living and dead. But life seems to be getting more dangerous. More attacks!
Half the time Tara was cool, but then there were the times I thought she was acting like a spoiled child. She takes the news about what she is fairly well. But then she wasn't taking any responsibility for her actions. She blamed Wes for things that he had no control over. And poor Wes was just a werewolf following the orders of his Alpha. Plus he had duties and couldn't be at her beck and call all the time. There were a couple of times I just wanted to slap her. Sure, she was in a tough situation and finding out all this stuff about her family. But she was dilly-dallying making decisions that needed making now about things that really didn't need to be thought about. You want to be safe, you do this. You want to be dead, you do this. Playtime is over little girl.
Everything was going along like gangbusters with the fast pace through the whole book, then it just sort of fizzled out and ended. I wasn't real happy with that.
I am happy about the fact that book two, Cold Blood, is already out and I can read that when I have some time. And for some reason I expect it to be even better than the first book! Maybe because of some of Tara's relatives that were introduced. Watch out for that older generation. They can surprise you! I'm hoping Tara is a surprise, too.
October 11, 2012
Four Stars: An action packed book that introduces us to Hunters and Werewolves!
Tara is at the end of a miserable date. Her best friend and now boyfriend, George, put football ahead of their relationship so Tara ends it. Unfortunately, breaking up while out on a date means she doesn't have a ride home. It is February and the wind whips icy cold around her as she scurries down the deserted alley to the bus stop, trying to shorten her time in the frosty night. Unexpectedly, a figure darts out and stares down Tara. It is a girl, and the look on her face is deadly cold. Then she bursts into a large wolf and attacks. Tara instinctively dodges the sharp, snapping teeth. In a moment of last ditch desperation she clutches a metal pipe. She thrusts it up, expecting to meet her death, but instead the pipe connects sharply against the wolf's head and it collapses. Tara stands dazed and confused. Is she going crazy? Did a girl really just turn into a wolf an attack her? A handsome and mysterious boy suddenly turns up and assesses the situation. He offers to help, and for some inexplicable reason Tara trusts him. The next day her memory is fuzzy, but when the boy shows up in her room and tells her some shocking news, Tara knows her life will never be the same again.....
What I Liked:
*I liked that Ms. Hildenbrand brings us a new take on Werewolves. They are not the fearsome creatures that are turned by a werewolf bite. Instead they are born and can shift at will, and not only on the full moon. They have other surprising abilities as well, but I won't impart them all to you and spoil it. Along with the fresh werwolf lore, there are the Hunters. The natural enemies of the werewolf. They are humans born with increased speed and fighting ability and they are able to take down the werewolves. I liked this new vision of werewolves and their natural born enemies, the Hunters.
*I enjoyed watching Tara grow. She starts out like any other ordinary teenage girl, until the unexpected attack in the alley, and then she learns she is a Hunter. Soon she is plunged into the dangerous world of Hunter vs. Werewolf politics and finds that danger is lurking around every corner. Instead of being terrified, she immediately steps up and learns to defend herself. Granted her transformation isn't immediate as she has a lot to learn before she is an experienced fighter, but that doesn't stop her from jumping into the fight. I like that she is stubborn and fierce and she definitely has a fiery streak about her, yet she is still fragile and she has a long way to go. I expect she will continue to grow into a strong and capable Hunter.
*Wes, he is just wonderful, but complex as well. He is a werewolf and he has own set of secrets. He is strong, protective and at times a complete mystery, but by the end I totally loved him!
*I am on a streak with awesome grandparents lately. I loved that Grandma came striding on the scene with a few tricks up her sleeve, and kicked some butt! She even drives a Hummer! I am loving meeting all this active, kick butt older folks!
*For all of you who shy away from indie authors, I assure you that you can pick up this book and be confident in that you will get a good, strong story that has great characters and it is polished and edited. Don't miss this one!
*I certainly appreciated that this book has a nice resolution and there is not a love triangle!
And The Not So Much:
*I felt that there could have been a bit more detail on the werewolves and hunters. I wanted to know more about all of their abilities and such. Ms. Hildebrand does a good job changing things up, everything you know about werewolves goes out the window in this one. If they are born werewolves where did they come from, and the same goes for the Hunters? I am certain there will be further answers in the following books.
*I was bothered a bit at times by how clueless Tara seemed. When she is first introduced to the Hunter/Werewolves she learns that for her to be a Hunter she had to inherit it from one of her parents. Yet, she didn't put the pieces together and start questioning where her Hunter DNA came from. All signs were pointing at one of her parents and I thought it took her way too long to figure it all out.
*I was a bit frustrated with her mother. She tends to fall into the typical YA pattern of being an absentee parent until the end. I thought for sure that she was going to be involved once Tara started getting pulled into the Hunter/Werewolf world, but alas she is pretty much out of the picture. I guess I found it hard to believe that she wouldn't notice the scratches and strange behavior of her daughter especially since she was supposedly paranoid and overprotective. Only one text message in the middle of the night when Tara didn't come home was unbelievable.
Dirty Blood plunges you into the conflicted relationship between Werewolves and Hunters as you follow the story of a young girl uncovering her heritage while she loses her heart to a handsome werewolf. If you are looking for a good solid indie read pick this one up! It is a winner!
Favorite Quotations:
"I inhaled the scent of crisp leather, from where his arm hung in the air by my face; it was mixed with a dried-leaf and pine smell that could only ever be Wes and made me thing of sunshine on bare skin."
"His kiss was soft at first but his touch brought with it a heat that I'd never felt before. It radiated out and spread into the rest of my body, like wildfire. He tasted like apple cider and the woods in summer, and all I could think was that I'd never tasted anything so delicious."
"Just like any other high school dance, the theme was 'crepe paper in the gym', so it was hard to be impressed."
I purchased a copy of this book. All opinions expressed are my own and I was not compensated in any way for this review.
Rainy Day Ramblings.
Tara is at the end of a miserable date. Her best friend and now boyfriend, George, put football ahead of their relationship so Tara ends it. Unfortunately, breaking up while out on a date means she doesn't have a ride home. It is February and the wind whips icy cold around her as she scurries down the deserted alley to the bus stop, trying to shorten her time in the frosty night. Unexpectedly, a figure darts out and stares down Tara. It is a girl, and the look on her face is deadly cold. Then she bursts into a large wolf and attacks. Tara instinctively dodges the sharp, snapping teeth. In a moment of last ditch desperation she clutches a metal pipe. She thrusts it up, expecting to meet her death, but instead the pipe connects sharply against the wolf's head and it collapses. Tara stands dazed and confused. Is she going crazy? Did a girl really just turn into a wolf an attack her? A handsome and mysterious boy suddenly turns up and assesses the situation. He offers to help, and for some inexplicable reason Tara trusts him. The next day her memory is fuzzy, but when the boy shows up in her room and tells her some shocking news, Tara knows her life will never be the same again.....
What I Liked:
*I liked that Ms. Hildenbrand brings us a new take on Werewolves. They are not the fearsome creatures that are turned by a werewolf bite. Instead they are born and can shift at will, and not only on the full moon. They have other surprising abilities as well, but I won't impart them all to you and spoil it. Along with the fresh werwolf lore, there are the Hunters. The natural enemies of the werewolf. They are humans born with increased speed and fighting ability and they are able to take down the werewolves. I liked this new vision of werewolves and their natural born enemies, the Hunters.
*I enjoyed watching Tara grow. She starts out like any other ordinary teenage girl, until the unexpected attack in the alley, and then she learns she is a Hunter. Soon she is plunged into the dangerous world of Hunter vs. Werewolf politics and finds that danger is lurking around every corner. Instead of being terrified, she immediately steps up and learns to defend herself. Granted her transformation isn't immediate as she has a lot to learn before she is an experienced fighter, but that doesn't stop her from jumping into the fight. I like that she is stubborn and fierce and she definitely has a fiery streak about her, yet she is still fragile and she has a long way to go. I expect she will continue to grow into a strong and capable Hunter.
*Wes, he is just wonderful, but complex as well. He is a werewolf and he has own set of secrets. He is strong, protective and at times a complete mystery, but by the end I totally loved him!
*I am on a streak with awesome grandparents lately. I loved that Grandma came striding on the scene with a few tricks up her sleeve, and kicked some butt! She even drives a Hummer! I am loving meeting all this active, kick butt older folks!
*For all of you who shy away from indie authors, I assure you that you can pick up this book and be confident in that you will get a good, strong story that has great characters and it is polished and edited. Don't miss this one!
*I certainly appreciated that this book has a nice resolution and there is not a love triangle!
And The Not So Much:
*I felt that there could have been a bit more detail on the werewolves and hunters. I wanted to know more about all of their abilities and such. Ms. Hildebrand does a good job changing things up, everything you know about werewolves goes out the window in this one. If they are born werewolves where did they come from, and the same goes for the Hunters? I am certain there will be further answers in the following books.
*I was bothered a bit at times by how clueless Tara seemed. When she is first introduced to the Hunter/Werewolves she learns that for her to be a Hunter she had to inherit it from one of her parents. Yet, she didn't put the pieces together and start questioning where her Hunter DNA came from. All signs were pointing at one of her parents and I thought it took her way too long to figure it all out.
*I was a bit frustrated with her mother. She tends to fall into the typical YA pattern of being an absentee parent until the end. I thought for sure that she was going to be involved once Tara started getting pulled into the Hunter/Werewolf world, but alas she is pretty much out of the picture. I guess I found it hard to believe that she wouldn't notice the scratches and strange behavior of her daughter especially since she was supposedly paranoid and overprotective. Only one text message in the middle of the night when Tara didn't come home was unbelievable.
Dirty Blood plunges you into the conflicted relationship between Werewolves and Hunters as you follow the story of a young girl uncovering her heritage while she loses her heart to a handsome werewolf. If you are looking for a good solid indie read pick this one up! It is a winner!
Favorite Quotations:
"I inhaled the scent of crisp leather, from where his arm hung in the air by my face; it was mixed with a dried-leaf and pine smell that could only ever be Wes and made me thing of sunshine on bare skin."
"His kiss was soft at first but his touch brought with it a heat that I'd never felt before. It radiated out and spread into the rest of my body, like wildfire. He tasted like apple cider and the woods in summer, and all I could think was that I'd never tasted anything so delicious."
"Just like any other high school dance, the theme was 'crepe paper in the gym', so it was hard to be impressed."
I purchased a copy of this book. All opinions expressed are my own and I was not compensated in any way for this review.
Rainy Day Ramblings.
May 25, 2011
Warning: I have said this a lot but it is true, this book was a GREAT book! I could not put it down and I wanted more. I am so looking forward to the sequel to this book. This is an awesome paranormal read.
My Rating: 5 out of 5
My Cover Thoughts: I so love.... love.... this cover. There is a werewolf on a cliff looking up at the full moon in the sky howling.
My Thoughts/Review: This story had me at the edge of my seat wanting more and more. Tara is just an average girl just trying to make it out of high school and on to college. She has her dream boyfriend George and her best friend Sam who is always there for her. Then the beginning of the school year starts and George is acting strange towards Tara by not spending a lot of time with her and ditching her for football scouts. Tara has had enough of George and his leaving her behind. So she tells him to meet her at their favourite pool hall. George is late and when he gets there Tara tells him it is over between them. George tells her no because he loves her and they can work it out Tara says no George it’s time to move on. George is devastated by what Tara has just says and he asks her if she wants a ride home and she says no because she can take the bus.
While Tara is walking to the bus stop she sees a girl who looks like she is having a seizure. So she stops and asks the girl f she needs help but the girl is shaking so bad that Tara doubts she understands what she is saying so Tara gets close to her when all of the sudden the girl changes into a werewolf and tries to attack Tara. Tara kicks into fight mode to protect herself and she is fighting this werewolf with all her might. When out of the corner of her eye she sees a pipe and wacks the mess out of the werewolf until she stops trying to attack Tara. Tara is in shock and she does not know what just happened until she sees this guy who is GEORGOUS looking at her from head to toe and he asks her if she is okay. Tara isn’t really sure what she saw and what just happened so she is in shock and the guy says he is going to alter her memory and then they can discuss it in the morning.
The next morning Tara wakes up in her bed sore and confused. That is when she realizes someone is in her bedroom bathroom. That is when a husky voice asks her if she is okay. She asks the stranger who he is and he says sorry I forgot to tell you last night I am Wes. Wes then tells her that she killed a werewolf and that she may be in danger. At first Tara does not believe him but then things start to happen to her and her family and friends that she has no choice but to believe what Wes is saying. Wes then decides he will protect her from what is stalking her. In the mean time Tara is starting to have feelings for Wes but she feels like he does not like her. That complicates things more when she finds out she is in the middle of a blood war and she is the targeted person of interest. Her and Wes do all they can to save her and her family from being killed.
But what Tara doesn’t know is that Wes is keeping more than a little secret from her. It will take a lot for him to spill the beans and in the end he does not tell her everything. This is a must read that you will not be able to put down. In the second we will see if Wes and Tara are together and if they have found the person who was trying to kill her and her family.
Memorable Quotes: page 13 “Tara.” Wes’ voice was low and soothing. “I know you’re scared but I’m not going to hurt you. I’m trying to help you. Let me help you.” He took a step closer. Some closed off part of my brain was yelling at me, telling me to shake it off and stop acting like a complete lunatic. But I couldn’t seem to calm down.
“I can see that you’re in shock,” Wes said, still edging closer while I fought the urge to bolt. “I can’t afford to take you somewhere to be treated so I’m going to do something for you. I’m going to help you forget – just for now. It should wear off in the morning, and if not, I’ll help you remember. But for right now, it’s better if you just forget for awhile. Okay?”
I didn’t answer. Partly because I was scared if I tried to talk, I’d scream like a banshee, and partly because not a single thing he’d just said made any kind of sense.
Advice: This is a must read if LOVE Paranormal!
My Rating: 5 out of 5
My Cover Thoughts: I so love.... love.... this cover. There is a werewolf on a cliff looking up at the full moon in the sky howling.
My Thoughts/Review: This story had me at the edge of my seat wanting more and more. Tara is just an average girl just trying to make it out of high school and on to college. She has her dream boyfriend George and her best friend Sam who is always there for her. Then the beginning of the school year starts and George is acting strange towards Tara by not spending a lot of time with her and ditching her for football scouts. Tara has had enough of George and his leaving her behind. So she tells him to meet her at their favourite pool hall. George is late and when he gets there Tara tells him it is over between them. George tells her no because he loves her and they can work it out Tara says no George it’s time to move on. George is devastated by what Tara has just says and he asks her if she wants a ride home and she says no because she can take the bus.
While Tara is walking to the bus stop she sees a girl who looks like she is having a seizure. So she stops and asks the girl f she needs help but the girl is shaking so bad that Tara doubts she understands what she is saying so Tara gets close to her when all of the sudden the girl changes into a werewolf and tries to attack Tara. Tara kicks into fight mode to protect herself and she is fighting this werewolf with all her might. When out of the corner of her eye she sees a pipe and wacks the mess out of the werewolf until she stops trying to attack Tara. Tara is in shock and she does not know what just happened until she sees this guy who is GEORGOUS looking at her from head to toe and he asks her if she is okay. Tara isn’t really sure what she saw and what just happened so she is in shock and the guy says he is going to alter her memory and then they can discuss it in the morning.
The next morning Tara wakes up in her bed sore and confused. That is when she realizes someone is in her bedroom bathroom. That is when a husky voice asks her if she is okay. She asks the stranger who he is and he says sorry I forgot to tell you last night I am Wes. Wes then tells her that she killed a werewolf and that she may be in danger. At first Tara does not believe him but then things start to happen to her and her family and friends that she has no choice but to believe what Wes is saying. Wes then decides he will protect her from what is stalking her. In the mean time Tara is starting to have feelings for Wes but she feels like he does not like her. That complicates things more when she finds out she is in the middle of a blood war and she is the targeted person of interest. Her and Wes do all they can to save her and her family from being killed.
But what Tara doesn’t know is that Wes is keeping more than a little secret from her. It will take a lot for him to spill the beans and in the end he does not tell her everything. This is a must read that you will not be able to put down. In the second we will see if Wes and Tara are together and if they have found the person who was trying to kill her and her family.
Memorable Quotes: page 13 “Tara.” Wes’ voice was low and soothing. “I know you’re scared but I’m not going to hurt you. I’m trying to help you. Let me help you.” He took a step closer. Some closed off part of my brain was yelling at me, telling me to shake it off and stop acting like a complete lunatic. But I couldn’t seem to calm down.
“I can see that you’re in shock,” Wes said, still edging closer while I fought the urge to bolt. “I can’t afford to take you somewhere to be treated so I’m going to do something for you. I’m going to help you forget – just for now. It should wear off in the morning, and if not, I’ll help you remember. But for right now, it’s better if you just forget for awhile. Okay?”
I didn’t answer. Partly because I was scared if I tried to talk, I’d scream like a banshee, and partly because not a single thing he’d just said made any kind of sense.
Advice: This is a must read if LOVE Paranormal!
August 11, 2012
Wow this is going to be a great series!! First off, a huge thank you to author Heather Hildenbrand for sending me a ebook for review, because not only was this a thoroughly enjoyable read, but I'm now hooked on this series and very much look forward to getting to the sequel!!
Dirty Blood is about a seemingly average girl named Tara, who finds herself face-to-face with a werewolf alone in an alley one cold night. With no help in sight, suddenly instincts she never knew she had just kick in, and Tara somehow manages to kill the shewolf and come out relatively unscathed. In shock and clueless as to what it all means, Tara is happy to trust in the handsome boy named Wes who stumbles upon the scene. He seems to know what's going on, and he offers to help Tara at a time when she desperately needs it. Injured, confused, and wanting answers, she is slowly introduced to a whole new world by Wes and his allies. Turns out Wes is also a werewolf, and Tara is a hunter, someone born to hunt and kill his kind. But there's more to these two species than black and white, and Wes and his friends are all members of The Cause. A group of werewolves and hunters who, together, are trying to make peace amongst their kinds. And it may all depend on the secret behind Wes and Tara's bloodline. With enemies on both sides and a werewolf from Tara's past hell-bent on destroying her future, she's in the fight of her life and Wes is desperate to save her.
I loved the unique twists in this story. There are so many books out where the young heroine with the normal life suddenly realizes that she's actually something more than human, but there was more to it here and it sucked me in from the very start. I loved the mystery behind Tara's true nature and how it plays such a huge part in their fate. She was so infuriated with Wes and the others for not divulging the information she wanted about their world 'for her own good', and who could blame her?! She was flying blind and everyone kept hiding things from her even though there were some things she really needed to know. Tara was really an awesome heroine, she kicked ass and didn't stood up for herself when she felt like it was time for truths to be revealed. With no training, she still managed to hold her own against Leo and his cohorts, and I'm really excited to see what she's capable of later in this series!! And Wes, oh, sweet lord this boy had me melting at every turn!!! I mean, holy smoking hot furball with a protective streak that kisses like you're his last hope of survival...whew!! I adored him for the way he was all Tarzan-like masculine one minute, then tender and loving the next; I was swooning after both sides of him! Yes, I was just as irritated as Tara was every time he decided to keep another secret from her, but I also understood that from his perspective he was protecting her. And how can you stay mad at that??!! I love how destiny is playing a part in their love story; not because they are being forced down a certain path, but that it feels like they were always meant to complete each other and be each other's other half. *sigh*
Hildenbrand hardly gives her readers a chance to breathe once the action starts picking up in this story! Between the heartbreaking decisions that are made and the attacks around every corner, I never had a spot where I could put the book down and not be worried about what was coming up next! As Tara learns about her past and discovers who her attacker really is, a whole new light is shed on her past and what it means for The Cause. There were a lot of unexpected twists that led up to an unforgettable ending to this story that surely means exciting things for the sequel Cold Blood! Awesome story, incredible start to the series, and a definite recommended read!!
Dirty Blood is about a seemingly average girl named Tara, who finds herself face-to-face with a werewolf alone in an alley one cold night. With no help in sight, suddenly instincts she never knew she had just kick in, and Tara somehow manages to kill the shewolf and come out relatively unscathed. In shock and clueless as to what it all means, Tara is happy to trust in the handsome boy named Wes who stumbles upon the scene. He seems to know what's going on, and he offers to help Tara at a time when she desperately needs it. Injured, confused, and wanting answers, she is slowly introduced to a whole new world by Wes and his allies. Turns out Wes is also a werewolf, and Tara is a hunter, someone born to hunt and kill his kind. But there's more to these two species than black and white, and Wes and his friends are all members of The Cause. A group of werewolves and hunters who, together, are trying to make peace amongst their kinds. And it may all depend on the secret behind Wes and Tara's bloodline. With enemies on both sides and a werewolf from Tara's past hell-bent on destroying her future, she's in the fight of her life and Wes is desperate to save her.
I loved the unique twists in this story. There are so many books out where the young heroine with the normal life suddenly realizes that she's actually something more than human, but there was more to it here and it sucked me in from the very start. I loved the mystery behind Tara's true nature and how it plays such a huge part in their fate. She was so infuriated with Wes and the others for not divulging the information she wanted about their world 'for her own good', and who could blame her?! She was flying blind and everyone kept hiding things from her even though there were some things she really needed to know. Tara was really an awesome heroine, she kicked ass and didn't stood up for herself when she felt like it was time for truths to be revealed. With no training, she still managed to hold her own against Leo and his cohorts, and I'm really excited to see what she's capable of later in this series!! And Wes, oh, sweet lord this boy had me melting at every turn!!! I mean, holy smoking hot furball with a protective streak that kisses like you're his last hope of survival...whew!! I adored him for the way he was all Tarzan-like masculine one minute, then tender and loving the next; I was swooning after both sides of him! Yes, I was just as irritated as Tara was every time he decided to keep another secret from her, but I also understood that from his perspective he was protecting her. And how can you stay mad at that??!! I love how destiny is playing a part in their love story; not because they are being forced down a certain path, but that it feels like they were always meant to complete each other and be each other's other half. *sigh*
Hildenbrand hardly gives her readers a chance to breathe once the action starts picking up in this story! Between the heartbreaking decisions that are made and the attacks around every corner, I never had a spot where I could put the book down and not be worried about what was coming up next! As Tara learns about her past and discovers who her attacker really is, a whole new light is shed on her past and what it means for The Cause. There were a lot of unexpected twists that led up to an unforgettable ending to this story that surely means exciting things for the sequel Cold Blood! Awesome story, incredible start to the series, and a definite recommended read!!
August 6, 2018
I loved Dirty Blood! From the moment I started reading it I was mesmerised and couldn't put it down until I knew what would happen next. Heather put a unique twist on the whole world of hunters and werewolves history and I thought the whole prospect of half bloods or as their called in the story " dirty bloods " was brilliant. Half werewolf half hunter and hated for it, that's awesome. I don't want to give anything away but there were definitely a couple things that happened that totally surprised me. All that mixed with the pure magnetism of Tara and Wes's attraction that flows through them like an electric current SO HOT! It is an amazing story that I can't wait to continue in book 2 Cold Blood.
review posted to my blog http://bookhoardermom.blogspot.com/20...
review posted to my blog http://bookhoardermom.blogspot.com/20...
August 3, 2022
This book was so much better than I thought it would be. My expectations were very low since I got this for free, but it had everything I was looking for. You can tell that this was heavily influenced by the werewolf/vampire era that was the late-2000’s and early-2010’s, and you can definitely pick out details that were taken from Twilight and The Vampire Diaries, but that doesn’t really bother me much. The whole idea of werewolves in general makes me a little uncomfortable, and I’m not a fan of wolves talking to humans because it’s just kinda weird, but that’s just me lol. The writing wasn’t beautiful or anything, but it got the job done and it held my attention. I will definitely continue reading this series. I’m giving it a very positive 3.25 stars because it wasn’t great or anything, but it was entertaining, it held my attention, and it exceeded my expectations. 3.25/5 ⭐️
July 13, 2011
Ancient rivalries are nothing new to this pack. The death toll is rising daily, and when you learn children who should not even been here are the keys to it all, each side will do what they can to secure or eliminate the keys.
The Cause: a group that tries to create peace between the Weres and the Hunters. The Cause has been the reason many on both sides have been left to die, the reason so many are suffering. But the Cause is the side to support, isn't it? Or should the ancient rivalry continue as it always has: the hunters against the Weres. Then you know who the enemy is. Either your friend has fur, or he doesn't. The cause blurs these lines and that is what is making everyone so tense. Or is it?
The Answer - Wes. A creation of the Cause, he fits no where, has no real side, but is respected and even feared. A young, but powerful young Were, Wes is able to overcome challenges many older and more experienced Weres in combat. Sure, he may only be 19 and not overly qualified in the laws of love, but he is one fighter no one wants to turn their tail on. Wes makes a discovery, one that blows the members of the Cause away. This leads to not one, but several twists and turns that will bombard your senses with every page turn. Come prepared for a long stay, you won't want to leave til the battle is over.
This has got to be one of the best self pubbed books that I have read. The writing was engaging, the characters were well developed, the plot was tight, and the editing was superb. Had I not already known she was a self-published author, I would have assumed she had the forces of a big time publishing house behind her.
I loved Jack. He wasn't the star of the show, but he sure could have been. He and Fee were the stars of the show in my eyes. I'm not saying I didn't enjoy my time with Tara and Wes, but this older, more experienced couple made me feel all warm and fuzzy inside. Fee's anxious habit of baking brownies and Jack's strong, but gentle arms, made me want to cuddle up with him just once. (I wouldn't want to get on Fee's bad side. I'm sure baking brownies wouldn't be her reaction to me making snuggle time with her hubby.) Jack could be a bit on the trusting side, but some tough guys do have soft spots.
This leads me to Tara and Wes. They are great people, but a bit immature at times. This tendency didn't seem to wane at all through the book either. This and a few other small points is what kept me from being able to award it 5 stars. Tara comes off a bit whiny when it comes to Wes. I understand a girl can get a bit emotional when it comes to love, life and learning your life will never be the same, but when a boy says something quite important to you, I can't handle hearing her keep harping at him, saying that he said EXACTLY the opposite of what he just said...Grrr, Tara, Grrrr. (I'm trying to write this review with no spoilers, and it really isn't as easy as it seems!)
Overall, I say it is a VERY good book, and I will be reading the sequel to this book. Congrats on creating such a wonderful book. You got the formula down right, girl. Brava!!
The Cause: a group that tries to create peace between the Weres and the Hunters. The Cause has been the reason many on both sides have been left to die, the reason so many are suffering. But the Cause is the side to support, isn't it? Or should the ancient rivalry continue as it always has: the hunters against the Weres. Then you know who the enemy is. Either your friend has fur, or he doesn't. The cause blurs these lines and that is what is making everyone so tense. Or is it?
The Answer - Wes. A creation of the Cause, he fits no where, has no real side, but is respected and even feared. A young, but powerful young Were, Wes is able to overcome challenges many older and more experienced Weres in combat. Sure, he may only be 19 and not overly qualified in the laws of love, but he is one fighter no one wants to turn their tail on. Wes makes a discovery, one that blows the members of the Cause away. This leads to not one, but several twists and turns that will bombard your senses with every page turn. Come prepared for a long stay, you won't want to leave til the battle is over.
This has got to be one of the best self pubbed books that I have read. The writing was engaging, the characters were well developed, the plot was tight, and the editing was superb. Had I not already known she was a self-published author, I would have assumed she had the forces of a big time publishing house behind her.
I loved Jack. He wasn't the star of the show, but he sure could have been. He and Fee were the stars of the show in my eyes. I'm not saying I didn't enjoy my time with Tara and Wes, but this older, more experienced couple made me feel all warm and fuzzy inside. Fee's anxious habit of baking brownies and Jack's strong, but gentle arms, made me want to cuddle up with him just once. (I wouldn't want to get on Fee's bad side. I'm sure baking brownies wouldn't be her reaction to me making snuggle time with her hubby.) Jack could be a bit on the trusting side, but some tough guys do have soft spots.
This leads me to Tara and Wes. They are great people, but a bit immature at times. This tendency didn't seem to wane at all through the book either. This and a few other small points is what kept me from being able to award it 5 stars. Tara comes off a bit whiny when it comes to Wes. I understand a girl can get a bit emotional when it comes to love, life and learning your life will never be the same, but when a boy says something quite important to you, I can't handle hearing her keep harping at him, saying that he said EXACTLY the opposite of what he just said...Grrr, Tara, Grrrr. (I'm trying to write this review with no spoilers, and it really isn't as easy as it seems!)
Overall, I say it is a VERY good book, and I will be reading the sequel to this book. Congrats on creating such a wonderful book. You got the formula down right, girl. Brava!!
June 22, 2014
Review Convo:
What made you read the book?
DarkF: Well, I have to say that the blurb looks very interesting and when I expressed my desire to read it, MidnightF also said she wants to, as well. That is why this convo review was born. Haha.
MidnightF: When we were offered to review the book via Mark My Words Book Publicity, I immediately volunteered because the blurb caught my interest. Just after reading the sentence "I killed a girl last night," I knew that I have to read it, and I'm glad I did.
What can you say about the story line?
DarkF: The story line is very intriguing. There were a lot of questions in my mind regarding the story. It keeps you guessing what happens next and why it happens, what is the motive behind this character's actions etc etc. And it's a very page-turning book.
MidnightF: It's very interesting, fast-paced and gripping. I like reading fantasy novels but I rarely read books solely about werewolves. Dirty Blood reminds me of the TV show I love - Grimm, the story is thrilling and engaging which I think is a great way to start a series. Also, I liked the fact that the author did not info-dump while setting up the plot for the rest of the series. There were a lot of characters introduced but it wasn't confusing at all.
Thoughts about the heroine (Tara)...
DarkF: Tara is very curious and very stubborn. She wants to know everything about the world she was put into ASAP. And without anybody telling her everything she wants to know, she results to hounding Wes and everyone she could "bully" into telling her what she wants. She tends to be single-minded when it comes to these things.
MidnightF: Tara is your typical teenager, if you remove the fact that she's a half hunter and half _____ ( I don't want to spoil it for you all). Anyway, she's strong and very stubborn. I was really impressed with her skills even though she didn't receive a formal hunter training. There are moments that I find her annoying though, specially when it comes to Wes. I know Wes has a tendency to run hot and cold (grrr!) but you don't have to be whiny about it. Still, I like her determination to find out the truth about the world she's now exposed to and the reason why Wes is holding her at arm's length.
Read Full review here: http://bookaholicfairies.blogspot.com...
What made you read the book?
DarkF: Well, I have to say that the blurb looks very interesting and when I expressed my desire to read it, MidnightF also said she wants to, as well. That is why this convo review was born. Haha.
MidnightF: When we were offered to review the book via Mark My Words Book Publicity, I immediately volunteered because the blurb caught my interest. Just after reading the sentence "I killed a girl last night," I knew that I have to read it, and I'm glad I did.
What can you say about the story line?
DarkF: The story line is very intriguing. There were a lot of questions in my mind regarding the story. It keeps you guessing what happens next and why it happens, what is the motive behind this character's actions etc etc. And it's a very page-turning book.
MidnightF: It's very interesting, fast-paced and gripping. I like reading fantasy novels but I rarely read books solely about werewolves. Dirty Blood reminds me of the TV show I love - Grimm, the story is thrilling and engaging which I think is a great way to start a series. Also, I liked the fact that the author did not info-dump while setting up the plot for the rest of the series. There were a lot of characters introduced but it wasn't confusing at all.
Thoughts about the heroine (Tara)...
DarkF: Tara is very curious and very stubborn. She wants to know everything about the world she was put into ASAP. And without anybody telling her everything she wants to know, she results to hounding Wes and everyone she could "bully" into telling her what she wants. She tends to be single-minded when it comes to these things.
MidnightF: Tara is your typical teenager, if you remove the fact that she's a half hunter and half _____ ( I don't want to spoil it for you all). Anyway, she's strong and very stubborn. I was really impressed with her skills even though she didn't receive a formal hunter training. There are moments that I find her annoying though, specially when it comes to Wes. I know Wes has a tendency to run hot and cold (grrr!) but you don't have to be whiny about it. Still, I like her determination to find out the truth about the world she's now exposed to and the reason why Wes is holding her at arm's length.
Read Full review here: http://bookaholicfairies.blogspot.com...
April 13, 2015
I first read Dirty Blood when it came out and immediately fell in love with it, well this time it was no different. I fell in love with it all over again.
We are thrown into the action pretty much straight away. Tara is on a date with her boyfriend George. He turns up late, as usual, and Tara says, enough is enough, and breaks up with him. She leaves by herself and ends up traveling through an alley. One second Tara is walking, the next she is facing down the unbelievable. A girl starts charging at her but then it's a wolf. Tara is stunned but her body reacts to the danger. She ends up picking up a pipe and killing the girl/wolf. Tara is in shock when a boy turns up. Who is he? What is going on? From that second on Tara's life changes forever!
I loved Tara. She is spunky, brave and kick ass but is still a normal girl. Her life is like any other teenagers until the moment the wolf attacks. She learns what she is and I loved that she struggled at first with everything. It took her time to believe and jump on board. Her whole attitude and demeanor is relateable and she was easy to connect to.
Then we have Wes. *Sigh* Wes!!! Tara has no idea what to make of him at the start because he is so standoffish, add in the fact that she is a Hunter and he is a Werewolf and immediately you have a forbidden romance. I loved Wes. He is stubborn, strong, brave and kind. He is definitely the strong silent type.
I loved the romance in Dirty Blood. It takes time for Wes and Tara to hit it off, despite the pull Tara feels toward him. There's no insta love here and despite George being in the picture at the start, there's no love triangle, which is always a plus!!
Dirty Blood is an action packed, edge of your seat read. Right from the start it pulls you in and won't let go, even after you have read the last page. Heather Hildenbrand weaves a fantastic story that will leave you breathless and turning the pages as quickly as you can to see what happens. Everything about this book is amazing, from the breathtaking plot to the phenomenal writing, Dirty Blood is a must read.
This is one series that everyone should check out. Dirty Blood is a phenomenal first book and believe me when I say that every book is just as good. This is one of my all time favourite series and I can't recommend them highly enough. Go get this book NOW, you wont be sorry!!
We are thrown into the action pretty much straight away. Tara is on a date with her boyfriend George. He turns up late, as usual, and Tara says, enough is enough, and breaks up with him. She leaves by herself and ends up traveling through an alley. One second Tara is walking, the next she is facing down the unbelievable. A girl starts charging at her but then it's a wolf. Tara is stunned but her body reacts to the danger. She ends up picking up a pipe and killing the girl/wolf. Tara is in shock when a boy turns up. Who is he? What is going on? From that second on Tara's life changes forever!
I loved Tara. She is spunky, brave and kick ass but is still a normal girl. Her life is like any other teenagers until the moment the wolf attacks. She learns what she is and I loved that she struggled at first with everything. It took her time to believe and jump on board. Her whole attitude and demeanor is relateable and she was easy to connect to.
Then we have Wes. *Sigh* Wes!!! Tara has no idea what to make of him at the start because he is so standoffish, add in the fact that she is a Hunter and he is a Werewolf and immediately you have a forbidden romance. I loved Wes. He is stubborn, strong, brave and kind. He is definitely the strong silent type.
I loved the romance in Dirty Blood. It takes time for Wes and Tara to hit it off, despite the pull Tara feels toward him. There's no insta love here and despite George being in the picture at the start, there's no love triangle, which is always a plus!!
Dirty Blood is an action packed, edge of your seat read. Right from the start it pulls you in and won't let go, even after you have read the last page. Heather Hildenbrand weaves a fantastic story that will leave you breathless and turning the pages as quickly as you can to see what happens. Everything about this book is amazing, from the breathtaking plot to the phenomenal writing, Dirty Blood is a must read.
This is one series that everyone should check out. Dirty Blood is a phenomenal first book and believe me when I say that every book is just as good. This is one of my all time favourite series and I can't recommend them highly enough. Go get this book NOW, you wont be sorry!!
May 7, 2013
Please Note: I read and reviewed this book in December 2011 from an E-book copy I won in a giveaway.
My Synopsis: Tara Godfrey is just a normal girl, living in Frederick Falls, VA on the night her life changed completely. After breaking up with her boyfriend at the pool hall and sending him home, she is unsuccessful in finding a ride home, so sets out to walk to the bus stop. While going through an alley, she comes across a girl who seems to be in some distress – however, before she can try to help the girl, the girl … changes into a wolf, and attacks Tara. Tara, to her surprise, manages to not only survive, but to actually kill the werewolf. With the help of her new friend Wes she discovers that everything she thought she knew about herself was a lie – she is a Hunter, and it is her destiny to fight werewolves. How is it she never knew about this? And what are the “sides” that Wes alludes to? Will Tara decide to embrace her destiny, or will she decide to go about her life as it was?
My Thoughts: While I don’t dislike werewolves, I’m more of a vampire person, so I was pleasantly surprised by how much I liked this book. I was a bit astonished – no, taken aback is more like it – when I learned that the favored weapon of the Hunters against werewolves was … a wooden stake. Seriously? Why not a knife? Well, that is actually explained a bit later, but it still seems a bit strange – I hope it is further explained in later books. The characters are well developed and the plot is smooth and quick-paced. Overall the editing and writing style are well-done – at least in the first third of the book or so. After that, there are more editing errors, but still not too bad. This is classified as young adult, since the main character is a 17-year-old girl, and overall it’s a book I would feel comfortable letting younger readers have – there is some violence, but it’s not bad, and while there are some romantic scenes, there is no sex. I was also happy that the romance between the characters seemed more or less realistic. Overall, a great book, one I’d definitely recommend for fans of werewolves and paranormal/urban fantasy.
My Synopsis: Tara Godfrey is just a normal girl, living in Frederick Falls, VA on the night her life changed completely. After breaking up with her boyfriend at the pool hall and sending him home, she is unsuccessful in finding a ride home, so sets out to walk to the bus stop. While going through an alley, she comes across a girl who seems to be in some distress – however, before she can try to help the girl, the girl … changes into a wolf, and attacks Tara. Tara, to her surprise, manages to not only survive, but to actually kill the werewolf. With the help of her new friend Wes she discovers that everything she thought she knew about herself was a lie – she is a Hunter, and it is her destiny to fight werewolves. How is it she never knew about this? And what are the “sides” that Wes alludes to? Will Tara decide to embrace her destiny, or will she decide to go about her life as it was?
My Thoughts: While I don’t dislike werewolves, I’m more of a vampire person, so I was pleasantly surprised by how much I liked this book. I was a bit astonished – no, taken aback is more like it – when I learned that the favored weapon of the Hunters against werewolves was … a wooden stake. Seriously? Why not a knife? Well, that is actually explained a bit later, but it still seems a bit strange – I hope it is further explained in later books. The characters are well developed and the plot is smooth and quick-paced. Overall the editing and writing style are well-done – at least in the first third of the book or so. After that, there are more editing errors, but still not too bad. This is classified as young adult, since the main character is a 17-year-old girl, and overall it’s a book I would feel comfortable letting younger readers have – there is some violence, but it’s not bad, and while there are some romantic scenes, there is no sex. I was also happy that the romance between the characters seemed more or less realistic. Overall, a great book, one I’d definitely recommend for fans of werewolves and paranormal/urban fantasy.
May 12, 2012
Review originally posted at Doodle's Book Blog
I received an email from Heather Hildenbrand asking me to review her book. After reading the first three lines in the summary I immediately said "Yes!" If you think the summary sounds good, you NEED to read the book! Heather did an excellent job not only creating a world a werewolves and their hunters, but also a story that will hook you from page one.
Dirty Blood opens to Tara breaking up with her boyfriend and him just up and leaving. Minutes later she realizes she has no way home in the snow. Her options are limited: call her mom, call her friend, or take the bus. The first two options aren't feasible, so she makes her way outside only to be attacked by a girl, er...wolf. It isn't long before a boy shows up and helps her forget what she saw.
There were two main characters in this book, Tara and Wes. Tara is like most rebellious teenagers. She doesn't do well with being told she can't do something and she doesn't want to involve, or worry, her mom. She was cautious and made me laugh. Wes becomes intrigued by Tara. He helps her forget, but is dying to know how it was possible for her to kill that werewolf so easily. He comes off as overprotective, but he truly only wants to make sure he will always have her.
I loved Dirty Blood because I was sucked in from page one and I never wanted to put it down. There was never a dull moment where I wasn't fully entranced in every word on the page. Tara and Wes were funny and I found myself wanting to tell them to stop being stupid on occasion. Some decisions they made were poor, but who doesn't mess up every once in a while. Tara was a little obsessive about Wes, but I was able to overlook it because they have a magnetic pull to one another.
Overall, this book was fantastic and only made my love for werewolves stronger. I highly recommend Dirty Blood if you want to read a book full of action, werewolves, and just a smidgen of romance.
FTC Disclosure: I received a copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review. I was not monetarily compensated for my opinion.
I received an email from Heather Hildenbrand asking me to review her book. After reading the first three lines in the summary I immediately said "Yes!" If you think the summary sounds good, you NEED to read the book! Heather did an excellent job not only creating a world a werewolves and their hunters, but also a story that will hook you from page one.
Dirty Blood opens to Tara breaking up with her boyfriend and him just up and leaving. Minutes later she realizes she has no way home in the snow. Her options are limited: call her mom, call her friend, or take the bus. The first two options aren't feasible, so she makes her way outside only to be attacked by a girl, er...wolf. It isn't long before a boy shows up and helps her forget what she saw.
There were two main characters in this book, Tara and Wes. Tara is like most rebellious teenagers. She doesn't do well with being told she can't do something and she doesn't want to involve, or worry, her mom. She was cautious and made me laugh. Wes becomes intrigued by Tara. He helps her forget, but is dying to know how it was possible for her to kill that werewolf so easily. He comes off as overprotective, but he truly only wants to make sure he will always have her.
I loved Dirty Blood because I was sucked in from page one and I never wanted to put it down. There was never a dull moment where I wasn't fully entranced in every word on the page. Tara and Wes were funny and I found myself wanting to tell them to stop being stupid on occasion. Some decisions they made were poor, but who doesn't mess up every once in a while. Tara was a little obsessive about Wes, but I was able to overlook it because they have a magnetic pull to one another.
Overall, this book was fantastic and only made my love for werewolves stronger. I highly recommend Dirty Blood if you want to read a book full of action, werewolves, and just a smidgen of romance.
FTC Disclosure: I received a copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review. I was not monetarily compensated for my opinion.
February 23, 2016
What in the world is Wes? Using compulsion that easily. Tara probably has a long history of being a hunter.
June 12, 2019
Dirty Blood by Heather Hildenbrand reminds me a lot of Twilight, the werewolf version. The female lead here was much better than Bella though, because Tara isn't a weakling. She's more capable, strong and independent and easily killed her first werewolf without training.
I love how there's still so much difference and more potential with the story, given the fact that it doesn't just revolve on the love story of a werewolf and its hunter, but also engages the reader with the kickass grandma and awesome friends. Oh yes, Grandma is the most wicked and baddass grandma I've ever known!
Plus, it's fast paced too, not dragging as hell, and full of action from start to finish. So yeah, I like this better than Twilight, so I am going to read the sequel, Cold Blood next.
I love how there's still so much difference and more potential with the story, given the fact that it doesn't just revolve on the love story of a werewolf and its hunter, but also engages the reader with the kickass grandma and awesome friends. Oh yes, Grandma is the most wicked and baddass grandma I've ever known!
Plus, it's fast paced too, not dragging as hell, and full of action from start to finish. So yeah, I like this better than Twilight, so I am going to read the sequel, Cold Blood next.
Want to read
February 4, 2020🎁 FREE on Amazon today (2/4/2020)! 🎁
August 10, 2012
Well now this book really surprised me and I really enjoyed reading it. I'm not a big fan of books about werewolves and it takes an amazing story to really captivate me and I'm telling you this book just did that. There is something unique and different about this that stands out from the same old, same old. Okay, before I get carried away, I want to thank the amazing author Heather Hildenbrand for providing me with a copy of Dirty Blood in exchange for my review. And let me tell you I'm honestly blown away with how captivated I was by the story and the amazing characters. It was a simple story yet had so much going on in that it had my head spinning and my heart racing. Heather really knows how to make you live and breath the story as if you are in it yourself. I love that about a book, being carried away without a care in the world, except the one you have escaped to. Totally amazing.
Dirty Blood really starts off with a bang and does not stop. We are introduced to both Tara and the world she is about to be plunged into within the first chapter. She finds herself in a dark alley, trying to defend herself from a wolf. Something kicked in, as if she was born to do just that, and she defeated the wolf. Utterly confused and shocked by what just happened to her, she is confronted by Wes, who turns out to be someone who knows a hell of a lot about wolves. He is someone she can trust to help her as well as fill her in and explain the Supernatural episode she was just in.
Tara is a exactly the type of girl you want in this book. She is strong, confident, independent, stubborn and one hell of a kick ass heroine, who would stop at nothing. For someone so clueless, she really held her own and never liked anyone telling her what she could and could not do. I love how infuriated she would get whenever someone tried to always "protect" her from the big bad wolves, and she wouldn't have a bar of it. That someone was always Wes. Oh my, he is my favourite character from this book. He is dark, mysterious, pig-headed (oh how stubborn he is), sexy, hot, damn impossible to reason with and one bad ass you don't want to mess with. Oh man, what a man, what a man, what a mighty fine man, he is RAWR. He had Tara's head spinning and so was mine. He was always thinking about Tara's safety first before his own feelings and this was so frustrating. Oh the tension between them was palpable and you wanted them to go all savage with each other, and the moments they did, the heat was radiating off of the page. Oh boy, I need a cold drink to cool me down. I loved these two together. Their banter, their attraction, their love, their destiny and the unspoken words between them was beautiful to discover. At times I wanted to bang my head against a wall because forces were keeping them apart, and whether they can overcome these forces is just something you all have to figure out on your own when you read the book yourself.
I loved every minute of this book, and I never like to give away too much in my reviews and I don't think I could say anything more. The plot is complicated, yet simple, and a story that needs to be discovered by everyone. I am super keen and excited to read the next book, and am grateful I won't have to wait too long for book 3 either. The ending was not left on a cliffhanger but has me eager and keen to read on and find out what happens next. Thank you again Heather for providing me with a copy of your book, but for also writing an amazing story about Wolves and Hunters. I'm totally blown away by how unique and different the story is, and I hope the next two are just as captivating and enthralling. Love it!
Dirty Blood really starts off with a bang and does not stop. We are introduced to both Tara and the world she is about to be plunged into within the first chapter. She finds herself in a dark alley, trying to defend herself from a wolf. Something kicked in, as if she was born to do just that, and she defeated the wolf. Utterly confused and shocked by what just happened to her, she is confronted by Wes, who turns out to be someone who knows a hell of a lot about wolves. He is someone she can trust to help her as well as fill her in and explain the Supernatural episode she was just in.
Tara is a exactly the type of girl you want in this book. She is strong, confident, independent, stubborn and one hell of a kick ass heroine, who would stop at nothing. For someone so clueless, she really held her own and never liked anyone telling her what she could and could not do. I love how infuriated she would get whenever someone tried to always "protect" her from the big bad wolves, and she wouldn't have a bar of it. That someone was always Wes. Oh my, he is my favourite character from this book. He is dark, mysterious, pig-headed (oh how stubborn he is), sexy, hot, damn impossible to reason with and one bad ass you don't want to mess with. Oh man, what a man, what a man, what a mighty fine man, he is RAWR. He had Tara's head spinning and so was mine. He was always thinking about Tara's safety first before his own feelings and this was so frustrating. Oh the tension between them was palpable and you wanted them to go all savage with each other, and the moments they did, the heat was radiating off of the page. Oh boy, I need a cold drink to cool me down. I loved these two together. Their banter, their attraction, their love, their destiny and the unspoken words between them was beautiful to discover. At times I wanted to bang my head against a wall because forces were keeping them apart, and whether they can overcome these forces is just something you all have to figure out on your own when you read the book yourself.
I loved every minute of this book, and I never like to give away too much in my reviews and I don't think I could say anything more. The plot is complicated, yet simple, and a story that needs to be discovered by everyone. I am super keen and excited to read the next book, and am grateful I won't have to wait too long for book 3 either. The ending was not left on a cliffhanger but has me eager and keen to read on and find out what happens next. Thank you again Heather for providing me with a copy of your book, but for also writing an amazing story about Wolves and Hunters. I'm totally blown away by how unique and different the story is, and I hope the next two are just as captivating and enthralling. Love it!
January 10, 2017
Just Ok, But There Is Better (Was given for free for review).
I didn't find much wrong with this book. Though I did find it average compared to some other supernatural series (Twilight not included). So overall just an ok read. An average book, so have given it an average 3 stars.
I didn't find much wrong with this book. Though I did find it average compared to some other supernatural series (Twilight not included). So overall just an ok read. An average book, so have given it an average 3 stars.
May 1, 2012
When Heather asked me if I would review Dirty Blood I was so excited! I had seen the book everywhere for a long time and then Cold Blood came out and more good things were said. Needless to say I couldn't wait to see what all of the fuss was about. Right from the get go I was excited that this seemed like it was going to be a different kind of werewolf book and it didn't let me down from the start.
Tara is just what I love in a female protagonist. She is strong, independent and completely KICK BUTT!! Her world is changed in just one night and yes she deals with it but not without asking questions. I LOVE that she accepts what is going on (even gives her more confidence) but not without wanting more knowledge. There is power in knowing what is going on and let me tell you this girl has the power. Even as she starts to really develope and the book progresses there is always something that she questions. I found myself laughing out loud and frequently smiling when it came to Tara and her entire personality!
"I grinned, unable to help myself. I felt like an idiot in some sober part
of my brain, but the drugged part just shrugged and grinned bigger
at that part."
Every character in this book is clearly written. You have Wes, Jack, Fee.... Everyone!! Fee also has to be one of my favorite characters. I see her as all kinds of beautiful and graceful but you have to know that there is power under all of that. Each and every time one of these characters or any of the others for that matter step into the pages you know who you are looking at. Normally it takes a couple of times of seeing someones name to remember who they are but not with Heather's wonderful writing and descriptions. Even the villain has his own clearly drawn story!!
Normally with books you have to kind of read a bit before you get to some really juicy parts. Not this one you are thrown right in, in the first chapter! The book just takes off from there and you really wont want to stop. For those of you that are sick of love triangles PICK THIS UP!! This is a love triangle free book. I found that even the romance that does happen isn't an insta love. Yes there is an instant attraction but it's not they are stuck at the hip. So there is another common element that people are trying to avoid that this book avoids as well. So overall if you want to read a book that is love triangle free, has no insta love. lots of action and an amazingly strong female protagonist PICK THIS UP!!
Tara is just what I love in a female protagonist. She is strong, independent and completely KICK BUTT!! Her world is changed in just one night and yes she deals with it but not without asking questions. I LOVE that she accepts what is going on (even gives her more confidence) but not without wanting more knowledge. There is power in knowing what is going on and let me tell you this girl has the power. Even as she starts to really develope and the book progresses there is always something that she questions. I found myself laughing out loud and frequently smiling when it came to Tara and her entire personality!
"I grinned, unable to help myself. I felt like an idiot in some sober part
of my brain, but the drugged part just shrugged and grinned bigger
at that part."
Every character in this book is clearly written. You have Wes, Jack, Fee.... Everyone!! Fee also has to be one of my favorite characters. I see her as all kinds of beautiful and graceful but you have to know that there is power under all of that. Each and every time one of these characters or any of the others for that matter step into the pages you know who you are looking at. Normally it takes a couple of times of seeing someones name to remember who they are but not with Heather's wonderful writing and descriptions. Even the villain has his own clearly drawn story!!
Normally with books you have to kind of read a bit before you get to some really juicy parts. Not this one you are thrown right in, in the first chapter! The book just takes off from there and you really wont want to stop. For those of you that are sick of love triangles PICK THIS UP!! This is a love triangle free book. I found that even the romance that does happen isn't an insta love. Yes there is an instant attraction but it's not they are stuck at the hip. So there is another common element that people are trying to avoid that this book avoids as well. So overall if you want to read a book that is love triangle free, has no insta love. lots of action and an amazingly strong female protagonist PICK THIS UP!!
Read
November 27, 2011Dirty Blood caught my attention long ago, but only recently did I decide to read it. This heart-pumping novel starts off with a bang, and the action is steady and fast-paced from there on out. And after that ending—complete with a cliffhanger—I am dying for more.
The werewolf mythology in Dirty Blood isn’t elaborated on much, so I am hoping to see more of that in the rest of this series. I did like that there were both Hunters and Werewolves, and that each was an actual species that you were born in, and had no control over. I did enjoy reading Dirty Blood, it was good, great even, but it wasn’t really anything that I haven’t come across before. If you’re a fan of action-filled paranormal romance, I definitely think Dirty Blood is a fantastic choice to add to your collection.
Heather Hildenbrand has a simple writing style, and she certainly knows how to weave an addictive story. I cannot wait to see what’s in store for Tara and Wes in the rest of the Dirty Blood books, as well as meeting new characters from her in her future works. She is an author to watch, and I am glad I have had the chance to read Dirty Blood.
Tara was a strong-willed heroine, but I thought she fell flat in some areas. Overall, however, she was a character many a teen can relate with, and I enjoyed reading Dirty Blood from her perspective. Wes… yeah, I am not a fan of him. He’s very hot and cold, and not in a way that appeals to me. But who knows, perhaps I will come to like him more as this series goes on. The rest of the characters didn’t stand out much to me, but that doesn’t mean I am not eager to read about the rest of their adventures.
Dirty Blood is not completely innovative or unique, but it is an action-packed novel that fans of paranormal romance will no doubt covet. I very much enjoyed Heather Hildenbrand’s debut, and cannot wait for more.
The werewolf mythology in Dirty Blood isn’t elaborated on much, so I am hoping to see more of that in the rest of this series. I did like that there were both Hunters and Werewolves, and that each was an actual species that you were born in, and had no control over. I did enjoy reading Dirty Blood, it was good, great even, but it wasn’t really anything that I haven’t come across before. If you’re a fan of action-filled paranormal romance, I definitely think Dirty Blood is a fantastic choice to add to your collection.
Heather Hildenbrand has a simple writing style, and she certainly knows how to weave an addictive story. I cannot wait to see what’s in store for Tara and Wes in the rest of the Dirty Blood books, as well as meeting new characters from her in her future works. She is an author to watch, and I am glad I have had the chance to read Dirty Blood.
Tara was a strong-willed heroine, but I thought she fell flat in some areas. Overall, however, she was a character many a teen can relate with, and I enjoyed reading Dirty Blood from her perspective. Wes… yeah, I am not a fan of him. He’s very hot and cold, and not in a way that appeals to me. But who knows, perhaps I will come to like him more as this series goes on. The rest of the characters didn’t stand out much to me, but that doesn’t mean I am not eager to read about the rest of their adventures.
Dirty Blood is not completely innovative or unique, but it is an action-packed novel that fans of paranormal romance will no doubt covet. I very much enjoyed Heather Hildenbrand’s debut, and cannot wait for more.
October 31, 2011
Hell Yeah!!! This was an incredible book. I would go as far as to say that this is a comparison to my beloved Cat and Bones Series. Heather Hildenbrand offers a kick ass and brutal read that will grab readers from the first page. Tara is your intense heroine that will take no crap from anyone. I was in love with her character from the start. Her sarcasm along with her no nonsense approach gives her a well round and fun personality that proves an immediate attention grabber.
This concept of the “Dirty Blood” was inventive and fresh. I like how it gives them an advantage over the other breeds, and places hope in the hands of our characters for a brighter future if they can overcome. The stereotypes of your werewolves and hunter are twisted in this novel, but it was all very intriguing with the exception of the werewolf’s ability to talk when shifted. This talent was a bit odd for a me to follow in the beginning. The concept is easily summed up as Hunter and Werewolves. The “Dirty Blood” is the very rare occasion that a child is born with both of the abilities of a Werewolf and Hunter. The result is a stronger, and kick ass mixed breed that is destined to change the world for both species.
From the start through the last pages Dirty Blood offers a rollercoaster read, that will race you through page after page. I finished this story of 677 pages in less than 24 hours if that tells anything. With a story that you can not put down, Hildebrand promises more to come in the following installments. This is a BOOKWHISPERER RECOMMENDED read.
This concept of the “Dirty Blood” was inventive and fresh. I like how it gives them an advantage over the other breeds, and places hope in the hands of our characters for a brighter future if they can overcome. The stereotypes of your werewolves and hunter are twisted in this novel, but it was all very intriguing with the exception of the werewolf’s ability to talk when shifted. This talent was a bit odd for a me to follow in the beginning. The concept is easily summed up as Hunter and Werewolves. The “Dirty Blood” is the very rare occasion that a child is born with both of the abilities of a Werewolf and Hunter. The result is a stronger, and kick ass mixed breed that is destined to change the world for both species.
From the start through the last pages Dirty Blood offers a rollercoaster read, that will race you through page after page. I finished this story of 677 pages in less than 24 hours if that tells anything. With a story that you can not put down, Hildebrand promises more to come in the following installments. This is a BOOKWHISPERER RECOMMENDED read.
March 17, 2015
Tara is Kick Ass!
Dirty Blood moved along super-fast for me, which I loved. The action kicked off from the start when Tara had to fight for her life… and find out the hard way what she was – a werewolf hunter!
Wes is entirely loveable and one hot half-breed. Love the name and love him. He was protective in the “because he gives a crap” sense without being overbearing or overly protective. He knew what Tara was made of and encouraged her training. Good going, Wes.
And I adored the kickass grandma. I grew up with a tough grandma and it was so cool to see one portrayed so strong and snappy. That was unexpected and completely awesome.
Dirty Blood is a fun escape from start to finish.
Dirty Blood moved along super-fast for me, which I loved. The action kicked off from the start when Tara had to fight for her life… and find out the hard way what she was – a werewolf hunter!
Wes is entirely loveable and one hot half-breed. Love the name and love him. He was protective in the “because he gives a crap” sense without being overbearing or overly protective. He knew what Tara was made of and encouraged her training. Good going, Wes.
And I adored the kickass grandma. I grew up with a tough grandma and it was so cool to see one portrayed so strong and snappy. That was unexpected and completely awesome.
Dirty Blood is a fun escape from start to finish.
July 26, 2015
It took everything that I had in me to finish this friggin book. It literally made my brain feel numb and made my eyes glaze over. It was fairly hard to focus through all of the eye-rolling and general disbelief over many character behaviors. Ugh.
Characters I could admire:
Tara. As far as heroine's go, she was pretty spectacular. She had a serious backbone, this girl. In the beginning, her repentance with establishing her strength and totally SANE state of mind got on my nerves, but, then again, some people just need to be told a thousand times before they accept something as fact, so I'm going to say that was one of another's faults and not Tara's. In all fairness, Tara really is THAT TOUGH and then some. She was a determined and loyal person, sticking up for her friends/family and working to ensure their safety above all things. Always admire that in a person.
Tara's biggest fault, however, pulls some serious weight with my overall opinion of her: Her complete and total weakness when it came to Wes (the love interest). Even though this guy has proven to be a raging douche on more than one occasion, she is still GAGA for him. Really, I'm not quite sure that he deserves her attentions. And the both of them dropping the 'L-Bomb' when they've only known each other for, what, a few weeks tops? Oh, HECK NO!! That just ain't right. Especially when it seems so friggin fake, coming up after a certain vision of future POSSIBILITIES. UGH. Overall, I think can probably get behind Tara as a true heroine for this series. Time will tell if my opinion changes.
Fee. She was such a sweet and motherly figure. Incredibly supportive of Tara, a girl she has never met before and knows next to nothing about. She is the kind of person who only sees the best in others and wants only to see everyone safe and sound. She is a very healing and nurturing figure, and I dare say takes up an almost maternal role in Tara's life after having found out what she is, and having to keep everything from her own mother. Fee is by far a major fan-favorite for me.
Jack. Big, strong, protective, leader. Jack is a true Alpha Male, in the very best sense of the term. He is a devoted trainer to Tara when she needs help in learning to protect herself. And when she needs the help of many to stand against Leo, Jack proves himself most admirable by delivering just the help that she needs from himself as well as the rest of The Cause. This is a man who knows what needs to be done and finds any means of achieving his goals and keeping those under his protection safe. Jack is a true leader.
Characters I didn't much care for:
And then, there was Wes. Mr. Hot-n-Cold, Bold and Shy, Strong and Weak, Courageous and Cowardly. Man, this guy hit it all, and then some. I mentioned him briefly above, and as I said I don't much care for his raging douchery whenever it came to Tara. Sure, he had his moments of sweetness, but those were only MOMENTS. Sparsely seem and abruptly captured. It seemed that, as soon as things looked to be getting SERIOUS, Wes would inevitably flake-out on Tara and ignore the problem (whatever it may have been at the time). Instead of talk to Tara to try to resolve whatever problems there were, he chose instead to push her away with the quite pitiful excuse that it was "for her own good." Get real! Just man up and own your friggin cowardice! That's ALL that it is. Cowardice. That man needs to put up or shut up, and PRONTO. If you want something enough, you fight for it. ALWAYS. Or else you deserve to lose it.
*SideNote: I would like to apologize for the long ranting. It may come across as harsh, and while it seems like I hate Wes, I truly don't. He just pisses me off and makes a crap-ton of dumbass choices, is all. End SideNote*
Elizabeth. AKA Tara's mom. Elizabeth was a MAJOR control freak, always wanting to know what Tara was up to, who she was with, where she was and every other conceivable detail of Tara's life. After finding out Elizabeth's role in this new world of Tara's, the OCD control made a bit more sense, but therein arose even more problems: Elizabeth's decision to keep from Tara the truth of her heritage and remove her from all things involving The Cause. Big Mistake. That is all I am going to say about THAT.
Cord. I just do not even know what the heck this chick's problem is. She is awful to Tara for seemingly no reason and appears to be disgusted with her very presence. She was an overtly rude and patronizing person and her attitude was like nails on a dang chalkboard. I do not care for this Bitch AT ALL, Cause member or not.
Miles. This dude is a backstabbing SOB and creepy to boot. Enough said.
And lastly, Leo. You are just one critic SOB, aren't you? Scarier than Hell, but seeming not all that difficult to overcome. I mean, obviously Wes kicks come serious arse, but Tara too? Without any training or experience and she holds her own well enough against you? Really??? Perhaps not as big a challenge as everyone makes him out to be. This one's words did far more damage that his physical prowess could manage in convincing me of his sinister capabilities. Overall, not overly impressed with this 'villain.' Though the bit about his relations to Tara was quite riveting, to say the least. Very dramatic, the lot of it. Surprising, yet still slightly anticipated. Nice touch.
The only interesting part of this book was the very end, with the rescuing of Tara's mom and the appearance of her badass Hunter Grandmother. This lady was wicked awesome with a stake and strong as Hell. I cannot WAIT to become more intimately acquainted with this awesome woman; That is, if I decide to continue on reading this series. It may have some redeeming potential later on. It had just better get better before it gets worse, or else this may turn out to be another failed attempt at a new series.
Characters I could admire:
Tara. As far as heroine's go, she was pretty spectacular. She had a serious backbone, this girl. In the beginning, her repentance with establishing her strength and totally SANE state of mind got on my nerves, but, then again, some people just need to be told a thousand times before they accept something as fact, so I'm going to say that was one of another's faults and not Tara's. In all fairness, Tara really is THAT TOUGH and then some. She was a determined and loyal person, sticking up for her friends/family and working to ensure their safety above all things. Always admire that in a person.
Tara's biggest fault, however, pulls some serious weight with my overall opinion of her: Her complete and total weakness when it came to Wes (the love interest). Even though this guy has proven to be a raging douche on more than one occasion, she is still GAGA for him. Really, I'm not quite sure that he deserves her attentions. And the both of them dropping the 'L-Bomb' when they've only known each other for, what, a few weeks tops? Oh, HECK NO!! That just ain't right. Especially when it seems so friggin fake, coming up after a certain vision of future POSSIBILITIES. UGH. Overall, I think can probably get behind Tara as a true heroine for this series. Time will tell if my opinion changes.
Fee. She was such a sweet and motherly figure. Incredibly supportive of Tara, a girl she has never met before and knows next to nothing about. She is the kind of person who only sees the best in others and wants only to see everyone safe and sound. She is a very healing and nurturing figure, and I dare say takes up an almost maternal role in Tara's life after having found out what she is, and having to keep everything from her own mother. Fee is by far a major fan-favorite for me.
Jack. Big, strong, protective, leader. Jack is a true Alpha Male, in the very best sense of the term. He is a devoted trainer to Tara when she needs help in learning to protect herself. And when she needs the help of many to stand against Leo, Jack proves himself most admirable by delivering just the help that she needs from himself as well as the rest of The Cause. This is a man who knows what needs to be done and finds any means of achieving his goals and keeping those under his protection safe. Jack is a true leader.
Characters I didn't much care for:
And then, there was Wes. Mr. Hot-n-Cold, Bold and Shy, Strong and Weak, Courageous and Cowardly. Man, this guy hit it all, and then some. I mentioned him briefly above, and as I said I don't much care for his raging douchery whenever it came to Tara. Sure, he had his moments of sweetness, but those were only MOMENTS. Sparsely seem and abruptly captured. It seemed that, as soon as things looked to be getting SERIOUS, Wes would inevitably flake-out on Tara and ignore the problem (whatever it may have been at the time). Instead of talk to Tara to try to resolve whatever problems there were, he chose instead to push her away with the quite pitiful excuse that it was "for her own good." Get real! Just man up and own your friggin cowardice! That's ALL that it is. Cowardice. That man needs to put up or shut up, and PRONTO. If you want something enough, you fight for it. ALWAYS. Or else you deserve to lose it.
*SideNote: I would like to apologize for the long ranting. It may come across as harsh, and while it seems like I hate Wes, I truly don't. He just pisses me off and makes a crap-ton of dumbass choices, is all. End SideNote*
Elizabeth. AKA Tara's mom. Elizabeth was a MAJOR control freak, always wanting to know what Tara was up to, who she was with, where she was and every other conceivable detail of Tara's life. After finding out Elizabeth's role in this new world of Tara's, the OCD control made a bit more sense, but therein arose even more problems: Elizabeth's decision to keep from Tara the truth of her heritage and remove her from all things involving The Cause. Big Mistake. That is all I am going to say about THAT.
Cord. I just do not even know what the heck this chick's problem is. She is awful to Tara for seemingly no reason and appears to be disgusted with her very presence. She was an overtly rude and patronizing person and her attitude was like nails on a dang chalkboard. I do not care for this Bitch AT ALL, Cause member or not.
Miles. This dude is a backstabbing SOB and creepy to boot. Enough said.
And lastly, Leo. You are just one critic SOB, aren't you? Scarier than Hell, but seeming not all that difficult to overcome. I mean, obviously Wes kicks come serious arse, but Tara too? Without any training or experience and she holds her own well enough against you? Really??? Perhaps not as big a challenge as everyone makes him out to be. This one's words did far more damage that his physical prowess could manage in convincing me of his sinister capabilities. Overall, not overly impressed with this 'villain.' Though the bit about his relations to Tara was quite riveting, to say the least. Very dramatic, the lot of it. Surprising, yet still slightly anticipated. Nice touch.
The only interesting part of this book was the very end, with the rescuing of Tara's mom and the appearance of her badass Hunter Grandmother. This lady was wicked awesome with a stake and strong as Hell. I cannot WAIT to become more intimately acquainted with this awesome woman; That is, if I decide to continue on reading this series. It may have some redeeming potential later on. It had just better get better before it gets worse, or else this may turn out to be another failed attempt at a new series.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 9, 2021
I was surprised by just how much I enjoyed this audiobook. I found it free and most free audiobooks tend to be hit or miss. This was perfect to be listened to! It has a teeny tiny cliffhanger but nothing too bad. Lots of action and just the right amount of suspense. The narrator is VERY talented!
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