Blood and Bonbons by Melissa Nicole

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Title: Blood and Bonbons
Author: Melissa Nicole
Series: Shadow Trade: The Ruin of Relics #1
Published by: Indie
Release Date: October 10, 2023
Format: eARC
Pages: 300
Genres: Cozy Mystery, Paranormal, Urban Fantasy
Source: Booksprout
Reading Challenges: Lenoreo's 2023 COYER Chapter 3
Find it: Goodreads ✩ Amazon
My rating:

Blurb:

Resolution Never go hiking again.
Resolution Don’t bleed on any more hibernating vampires.

An impromptu hike sends Everly toppling gracelessly into a vampire cave. The surly, tall, and devastatingly handsome vampire isn’t interested in the bonbons Everly offers to make amends for waking him. He’d rather have Everly…help him adapt to the modern world, of course.

However, after one of her friends disappears, Everly abandons Cross's lessons and asks for his help navigating the Shadow Trade world instead. Filled with supernatural creatures of every sort, it’s a place she never wanted to enter. A single misstep could cost Everly her life. But she’ll risk anything to keep the people she cares about safe.

With sugary bribes, ancient artifacts, mysterious tattoos, and extremely sexy supernaturals, Blood and Bonbons is the next must-read paranormal romance/ urban fantasy/cozy mystery blend of the year.

My Review:

I received a free copy through Booksprout in exchange for an honest and unbiased review/opinion.

4 stars — This was a fun start to a series.  I’m not entirely sure what to expect from the next few books — love triangle?  Reverse Harem?  Minimal romance, more mystery?  It’s a…*cough* mystery.  *rolls eyes*

I really enjoyed Everly, and felt like I could connect with her super easily.  She was cautious, kind, thoughtful, observant…maybe occasionally naive, but I’m okay with that.  I loved that she had a pretty sweet heart, but wasn’t afraid to be occasionally sassy.

Vena on the other hand?  Nope.  Not a fan.  She is reckless, obsessed with things that make me cringe, and shows far too little regard for her best friend.  I don’t mind those qualities completely, I’m okay with a character who is unlike me, and could provide a nice balance to Everly.  But I did NOT see enough remorse, thoughtfulness, or kind qualities to balance all the times she completely ignored her friend who was begging her to either stay out of danger herself, or not drag her into it with her.  And her bitchiness to Cross was over the top, with not enough wiggle room.  Basically she just didn’t have enough balance for me.  Perhaps in the next book we’ll see more.  It’s not that she never showed guilt or remorse, but she never learned or grew…it felt shallow and surface, and you just knew if the right opportunity presented itself, she was going to get Everly in trouble again and then get mad at the person helping.  So yeah.  I’m immensely grateful this book (and hopefully series) is from Everly’s POV, because unless we got some depth inside Vena’s head, I doubt I would be able to push through.

I enjoyed what we learned of this world, from the creatures that humans became aware of, and how they all co-exist at present.  I’m definitely intrigued by the few mysteries we’re presented with, from the stuff Miles was looking into to what the vampires are up to in the city.

I definitely enjoyed the guys at Blur, and I’m intrigued by both Cross and Shepard — though more Cross at the moment if I’m being honest.  I feel that connection more.  I’m really excited to see what’s going to happen in the next book!

So yeah, definitely a fun ride, just a personal taste clash with certain elements, but not enough to dim my enjoyment for the rest.