Always Lost in Stories: Review: Bleeding Hearts by Alyxandra Harvey

Bleeding Hearts by Alyxandra Harvey

My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Synopsis from Goodreads:
Lucy's cousin Christabel has come to live in Violet Hill, and adjusting to the difference between life in a small mountain town and her home in the city is difficult enough. The strict curfew that Lucy's parents enforce is the worst part. Something really dangerous couldn't possibly happen in this tiny town. But Christabel has noticed some mysterious happenings, and it seems like Lucy, her boyfriend Nicholas and his brother Connor are all in on a secret that Christabel doesn't understand - one that seems deadly serious. Although she won't admit it, Christabel would love to be in on any secret with Connor Drake. But after Christabel is kidnapped by the ruthless Hel-Blar vampires, Lucy and Connor finally fill her in on all the undead drama. Together, they must find a way to stamp out the Hel-Blar for good.

Book 4 in the Drake Chronicles

This series is so funny, quirky, and passionate, with plenty of action, thrills, danger and romance. These books are definitely not your typical vampire stories. They have so much heart to them, and are all so sweet and fun. This one has such a great plotline as well with kidnappings, threats to the vampire council, and all the drama surrounding Solange trying to adapt to being a new vampire. We learn a lot more about the bad vampires, the Hel-Blar in this book as well.

Fun and quirky Lucy is back with a larger role in this book, and I'm so glad because I just love her. She makes the book so much funnier and lighter, and she always has the best one-liners. As frustrating as it must be to be the fragile human amongst a family of vampires, she is always determined that she is not going to be left behind, and will jump in to help her friends any way she can. The Drake brothers know that when they tell her to stay put she isn't going to, she will always follow them into danger, and refuses to be the damsel in distress. Plus, you can always count on her to give a scarcastic comment in even the most awkward moment.

Lucy's cousin Christabel is staying with her, and blissfully unaware of the vampire war going on around her. She sees Violet Hill as a quiet quaint little town and just cannot understand what everyone is talking about when they keep emphasizing how dangerous it is to go out after dark. Having come from a city, Violet Hill seems like a haven. Christabel would rather sit with her book anyway. Even when she is dragged out to a beach party by Lucy, she finds a quiet corner to sit and read.

Characters from earlier books all make an appearance in this book- Quinn's girlfriend Hunter is teaching Lucy all about self-defence, and Logan's girlfriend Isabeau is around helping them all behind the scenes. They all really feel like one huge happy family, and all depend on each other's strengths and talents to help them get by, and I really enjoyed this connection between them all. All the Drakes are all so lovely, and I love them together, but I really love all their individual stories as well.

This time it is nerdy computer tech Connor's turn to develop a crush and win the girl. He makes geeky look cool, and quoting Star Wars may not be the usual way to start a conversation but it made me giggle. Because of the changing perspective (the narrative keeps switching between Lucy, Christabel and Connor) we see what they're thinking and feeling from each perspective, which I liked, and there is a lot of tension between each chapter as we have to wait to rejoin the story again as it's happening from the other side.

These books get better with each one and I just love them for the family, the thrills and the sappy love stories! Bleeding Hearts is thrilling, heart-warming, fun, and a very different take on vampires. Lucy's mother's attempts to promote safe sex to her daughter by hiding condoms everywhere was absolutely hilarious, and the boys are all so dreamy that I want a Drake! I love the feisty girls in these stories- Lucy with her spunkyness, bookish Christabel who'll stand up for what she believes in, and Hunter, who can kick vampire ass with the best of them. This book has ended on such a tense cliff-hanger that I can't wait for the next installment in this series.

Rest of the series: