Sara's Review: Blood Money (An Alice Worth Series Novella) by Lisa Edmonds
REVIEWER PURCHASE PUBLISHER: Lisa Edmonds RELEASED: February 13, 2018 GENRE: paranormal, urban fantasy LENGTH: 161 pages FORMAT: ebook
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Charles Vaughan has always had great taste in women, and the Vampire Court's newest investigator, Alice Worth, looks very tasty indeed.
After an epidemic of attacks by newly risen vampires terrorizes the city, authorities pressure Charles Vaughan and the Vampire Court to determine who is responsible. Complicating matters, a local businessman hires infamous bounty hunter Jack Justice to find and execute the rogues after his sister is attacked. Justice and his entourage turn the city and the investigation into a three-ring circus of media attention, vamp-hunter groupies, and self-appointed “deputy” vamp hunters.
When mage symbology is found on a captured rogue vamp, Charles enlists veteran mage private investigator Mark Dunlap to figure out what involvement mages have in the attacks. Dunlap brings in his newly hired MPI-in-training Alice Worth to help unravel the mystery.In two hundred years, Charles has never met anyone quite like Alice. Minutes after meeting him for the first time, she threatens to burn down Vampire Court headquarters. By the end of the night, Charles is sure of two things: Alice is not who or what she seems, and someday she will be his...if she doesn't get herself killed first. FIVE BOUNDLESS STARS
This is the prequel to Heart of Malice, however reading after would probably be best. I usually like to read things in order. With this one, published order works better. You get to know Alice and love her in HOM and see what she is dealing with the vampires and Charles. Then in Blood Money, which is told from Charles’s POV we get to see his true motives. Oh is he ruthless and duplicities! Alice is wise to be leery and cautious of him. “There really was no better profession for a vampire of Charles’s disposition than that of a broker specializing in magical objects.” From the beginning, once he meets and realizes how special and unique Alice is, which she does a piss poor job of hiding, Charles decides to add her to his collection. I think he is more dangerous to her than anyone else currently in her life, because of how much he covets her. “I am the sort of man who enjoys uncovering secrets.” Charles let his eyes glow softly. “I will see yours laid bare.” I am glad I took the time to read this one before I moved on to Heart of Fire. It gives a lot of insight into Charles that is needed and introduces us to Mark Dunlap who is heavily featured in the next novel. It shouldn’t be overlooked. I know in a lot of series the novellas don’t move the story or hold significant weight. However, this one is a MUST read! I am giving Blood Money 5 Boundless Stars; it is loaded with action, magic, and just overall great storytelling for a fabulous author.