Bad Blood by Mari Mancusi

This is the fourth book in the Blood Coven series. I do have reviews for the other three books up.

The Blood Coven decides that Magnus needs a blood mate because Sunny isn't a vampire therefore not a co-ruler in their eyes. Jane Johnson is chosen because of her Oxford University background, and she looks like a supermodel for vampires. Sunny being the way she is, is not fooled by Jane's demeanor and lack thereof knowledge for Oxford. Magnus doesn't think anything of it and brushes her off more then once. Sunny and Rayne secretly go along to Vegas where Magnus and Jane are going to have their bonding ceremony. Sunny's determined to know what is going on with Jane, and not everything stay's in Vegas.

Back to Sunny's POV, we see things are not going that great for her and Magnus. I like that Mancusi shows that sometimes one person in a relationship may not be paying enough attention to the other person, especially when things are not going great. Though Sunny hasn't really grown in this book, she does prove that she can take hits and keep moving. I liked that though Sunny was ready to throw everything away with Magnus she still kept trying and didn't give up. I also like that even though Rayne was too upset with recent discoveries and didn't help Sunny that much, Sunny still did everything with minimal help and to the best of her abilities. She looked at the good in the situations and tried not to think of the bad as much as she could. She proves to be a lot stronger and a lot older mentally then what Magnus was seeing. I did like the ending as well, it shows that the series is not over with

There where many things that I didn't like, but it wasn't anything serious. It was just about events that happened in the book. They are huge things that happened in the book that shocked me and made me mad at the characters. They are also huge spoilers so I will just put them all in one big spoiler alert as usual. The first thing that I didn't like that I can say wasn't a spoiler was that Magnus was a huge ass to Sunny when she had every right to be jealous and upset. He was a huge butt and could have been a lot better about it but he does apologize. Now for the spoilers..*SPOILER-ALERT* The other things that I didn't see coming was that the twins father ended up having an love child with his secretary and so Sunny and Rayne have a half-sister named Stormy. Next was that Mancusi would pull the identical twin switch again. It was a great twist but almost just another repeat of the first book. Then the ending with the twins were told that they are full blooded fairies and the royal court is calling them home. And where is this fairy court? Off the coast of Ireland on an island. Why is everything taking place near or around the Ireland area that deals with fairies of some sort? Examples: The Fever/MacKayla Lane series and now this. I think I just might go to Ireland to see some of these fairies for myself.*SPOILER-ENDED* Now that that is done I really don't have anything else to dislike. Though I could have done without the Twilight reference.

For a series found in the "teen" section of my library, it wasn't that bad. It was a quick and easy read, taking me about three hours to finish. I recommend this to other teens, and the only warning I have is for parents that are watchful of what their child reads, this does have a little sex talk but nothing (and I seriously mean nothing) crazy. I wouldn't have a problem letting my teen (if I had any, and I don't with only being 19) read this book. This series is turning out to be more and more interesting. I don't know if I would want to buy this series, I will wait till I read the last book in the series to decide if I want to or not.

Rating: 4 out of 5.

Page Count: 230 pages (paperback)

Price: $9.99

Thanks for reading!
~Jade

Girls That Growl by Mari Mancusi

This is the third novel in the Blood Coven series. I have reviewed the first two books as well.

Rayne is back and this time she has to join the cheerleaders for Slayers Inc. Not for any slaying vampires job, but because they are growling. Not to mention a member of the football team is missing. This isn't the only thing that Rayne has on her hands. Jareth has become the complete opposite of what he used to be when he couldn't walk in the sunlight.

Rayne becoming a cheerleader? Yeah it happens. Completely out of the blue. But it wasn't that bad, there were some funny moments as Rayne blackmails one of the cheerleaders into getting her and another girl  onto the team. Even bigger shocker is that Rayne stays on the team! Throughout the book Rayne learns new things about herself, and she figures out that things need to change for the better. Which I liked because she is growing up, no more is the little girl who judges people based on the clique they are in. Jareth is someone who helps her see this too, along with Mandy (a girl on the cheerleading team, the one she blackmailed). *SPOILER-ALERT* Though Jareth has to go about it quite differently he has to break her heart and make the reader sad when he breaks up with her. It is short lived thankfully, and they get back together. *SPOILER-ENDED*

I didn't really like how easy it was for Rayne to figure out a cure for the cheerleading squad, and their predicament. It was about 4 pages, then problem sloved! Just have to go give it to them, without them actually knowing. It disappointed me, because it seemed like everything about this book was a simple fix. Nothing lasted very long, and the big problem in the book was fixed in seconds. I was hoping for more of a struggle with the main problem. The main struggle was with Rayne and her accepting things. I understand that but even that was almost a quick and easy fix it seemed.

Overall this was a easy read. I finished it quickly and didn't have a problem understanding anything. I wanted more of a struggle with the main plot, but I did pick this up from the "Teen" section of my library. That is probably why. Though I was disappointed with this book a little I would read it again just for the laughs that I got form it every now and then. Macusi is a very good writer and she does keep the reader engaged. This book was not left as a cliffhanger, so I am unsure what the next book is going to be about. There is a subtle hint in the book before the end, but even that doesn't really make for a cliffhanger because the reader is more interested about what is happening at the time the hint is dropped.

Rating: 3 out of 5.

Page Count: 249 pages (paperback)

Price: $9.99

Next Book: Ask For It by Sylvia Day

Thanks for reading!
~Jade

Stake That! by Mari Mancusi

This is the second book in the Blood Coven series. I did review the first book a few posts ago. That book is called Boys That Bite. I haven't been feeling very well so I am sorry if my next few reviews suck :)

Instead of having Sunny narrate the book her twin sister Rayne is. Rayne keeps everyone updated through her blog, then through a written diary. Every generation there is a vampire slayer, and Rayne is the chosen one. She has to stake a vampire that has created and spreading a blood disease. Magnus hears about the news and sends his general Jareth in with Rayne to help.

Rayne so far is one of my favorite characters in this series. In this book the readers really get a look into Rayne's mind, and it's pretty nice. I love the ending to this book as well, it is a bittersweet ending. The reader also gets to know Rayne and Suuny's dad a little better too in this book. Jareth is another awesome character, though he annoyed me from time to time. *SPOILER-ALERT* I love that Rayne gets her wish in the end of the book. She and Jareth together forever, sans the vampire powers because of the stupid virus.*SPOILER-ENDED*

This book is a little like the first book. One twin gets in trouble and has to run around before time runs out and something happens to them. So the storyline is a little predictable, especially at the end of the book, and roughly in the middle of the book. Those are probably my only complaints.

Overall, besides being a bit predictable I enjoyed reading this book. Along with the first book, I would buy this book if I had the money on me and saw it on the shelf. I am going to try and get the third book which is Girls That Growl and try to do a review on that one sometime soon.

Rating: 4.3 out of 5.

Page Count: 280 pages (paperback)

Price: $9.99

Next Book: The Eternal Kiss 13 Tales of Blood and Desire

Thanks for reading!
~Jade

Boys That Bite by Mari Mancusi

This is the first book in The Blood Coven series. Also it is marked as a "Teen" novel at my local library. And yes it is about vampires. This review isn't going to be long simply because I would have to put spoiler alerts around everything.

Twins Sunny and Rayne are polar opposites, but love each other nonetheless. Sunny accidently gets confused for her twin at a local club, and gets bitten by a vampire. With the help of her sister and Magnus (the vampire), she ends up having a week to find the Holy Grail to change back to being a human, before the vampire transformation completes itself.

I loved all of the main characters, they were easy to relate to either knowing someone in your friends group or family.  I also liked that it is different from other vampire stories. Once you are bitten you have one week to get some blood from the Holy Grail. While trying to stay away from the vampire slayer.

I didn't like the ending simply because I didn't check out the second book in the series to read right after I got done with this one. I didn't like how predictable the story line was but, it is in the "Teens" section of my library so it is to be expected.

Though the story line is a little predictable Boys That Bite was a quick and good read. For me this wasn't the typical "vampire novel", yes it did have romance in it but it wasn't bad. It was a sweet romance. If I had the money on me and I saw the book in the store I would buy it. The next book in the series is Stake That! I am hoping that the library has it on the shelf.

Rating: 4.5 out of 5.

Page Count: 262 pages.

Price: $9.99 (paperback)

Next book: Faefever by Karen Marie Moning

Thanks for reading!
~Jade