Synopsis: Skye Morrison has a lot in common with today’s college graduates; she’s neck-deep in student loan debt and desperate for a job. For four years, the nightlife of Austin, Texas (home of Skye’s Alma Mater) has satiated her thirst for good music, a revamp in fashion and men – especially local musician, Jameson Doyle, but her spot as a waitress at Drop Kick Dan’s bar wasn’t going to cut the slack. A personal life troubled by a hounding ex only made matters worse. Skye was never the damsel in distress type, but when an unexpected public shouting match with her ex turned physical, a savior disguised as a heavenly gorgeous Irishman came to her rescue. Archer Rhys, a businessman with a lot to offer, doesn’t exactly sweep Skye off her feet but she couldn’t help but to be captivated by his ravenous good looks. When Archer makes Skye a lucrative job offer as his personal assistant for his new downtown Austin club, The Mausoleum, she quickly finds out that she may have gotten more than she bargained for.
In this breakout novel, J.L. McCoy takes the reader on an indulgent descent into a modern-day counterculture of nighttime extravagances. Close your eyes, succumb to intense passion, sip a Vampire’s Kiss and let the pounding of the club music overtake you. With animated detail, you’ll find yourself on an unimaginable journey deep into the lair and grasp of Archer Rhys and his mind games. Distracted by Jameson’s charm and blinded by Archer’s allure and generous paycheck, Skye’s new life invokes the reader’s empathy as she’s surrounded in a whirlwind of desire, deceit and even death. Blood of the Son; this isn’t your little sister’s vampire novel.
*Be advised: This book contains adult situations, steamy sex scenes, and cursing.*
In this breakout novel, J.L. McCoy takes the reader on an indulgent descent into a modern-day counterculture of nighttime extravagances. Close your eyes, succumb to intense passion, sip a Vampire’s Kiss and let the pounding of the club music overtake you. With animated detail, you’ll find yourself on an unimaginable journey deep into the lair and grasp of Archer Rhys and his mind games. Distracted by Jameson’s charm and blinded by Archer’s allure and generous paycheck, Skye’s new life invokes the reader’s empathy as she’s surrounded in a whirlwind of desire, deceit and even death. Blood of the Son; this isn’t your little sister’s vampire novel.
*Be advised: This book contains adult situations, steamy sex scenes, and cursing.*
Excerpt:
“With all those late hours, doesn’t Mrs. Rhys miss you?” I
asked.
He raised an eyebrow. “No,” he said with a slight smirk.
“There is no Mrs. Rhys.”
“Oh, sorry” I replied, a little embarrassed. “I just
figured a guy like you would have been snatched up long ago by some gorgeous
girl.”
He smiled and chuckled a little. “You’d think so, huh? I
haven’t had much luck in that department...at least long
term.”
“Sorry if I seemed nosy,” I said, looking down at my
clasped hands. I felt like I had pried.
“Not at all, Skye. These are things you’ll need to know if
you work for me,” he said soothingly. “Let me ask you a few general questions.
Would that be alright?”
“Yes, please. Fire away,” I said, eager to change the
subject.
“What do you like to do for fun?” he
asked.
I looked up at him and wondered if I should give him the
safe answer or the true answer. I decided to throw caution to the wind and let
him see the real me. “Well, um, I enjoy painting. Abstract mostly...on big
canvases. There’s almost nothing better than channeling your love, fear, pain,
bad day, good day down into something and seeing the beauty of those emotions
emerge. It helps me realize that no matter how bad my day was, or how hurt I
felt...there’s always beauty in everything; that every emotion I feel is
important and helps make me who I am. I love it. It’s freedom incarnate.” I
smiled and remembered the last painting I did. It was after Jesse and I broke
up. I put all the anger, tears, frustration, and ugliness down on the canvas. It
turned into one of the most beautiful pieces I’ve ever
done.
“I love to read,” I said, clearing my throat and
continuing. “I’ve always preferred that over watching television. There’s not
much imagination to television in my opinion. Also, dancing has always been in
my blood. I love dancing whether it’s out at a dance hall or around my house. If
hear music, my body just kind of responds to it. I like to catch Karaoke Night
at the Blue Lagoon Lounge whenever I can. Their Cult Movie Show Tunes night is
to die for. Don’t laugh. I know it’s cheesy, but I love it. And, I have to say,
one of my absolute favorite things to do is go to my weekly Krav Maga class that
I take with my best friend, Nikki,” I said, hoping that that wasn’t too long
winded of an answer.
“Impressive, Miss Morrison,” he said with a cock of his
head and appraising eyes. “I like a strong woman.”
I blushed and looked down at my hands. Small butterflies
fluttered around in my stomach and I adjusted my body uncomfortably in the seat.
I was embarrassed but a little excited at the look in his eye as he watched me
talking. What is that...the way he’s looking at me? He likes a strong
woman...what does that mean? Is he coming on to me? I laughed inwardly at the
absurdity of my thoughts. Yeah right, Skye. He’s WAY out of your league,
girlfriend. But, nice try. I looked up, into his eyes, and gave him a small
smile and a shrug. “Me too. I grew up on Red Sonja comics. I wanted to be just
like her when I was a kid.”
His eyes sparkled with his laughter and the butterflies in
my stomach picked up again. Dammit, stop that! I silently told myself. Out of
your league! And, he just might be your boss someday. Chill,
hormones...
“What kinds of books do you like to read?” he
asked.
I was surprised by the question. I guess when he said
general, he really meant general. “I mainly read paranormal fiction, though I do
enjoy the occasional historical drama or biography.”
“I’ve read up on preternatural things myself,” he said
with a knowing smile. “What are your favorite
subjects?”
“Well, I suppose it would be vampires, werewolves, fae,
and similar mythological creatures,” I said, hoping that’s what he
meant.
He laughed and nodded his head. “I’m glad you enjoy those.
I do, too,” he said.
I started wondering how these questions pertained to the
job I was interviewing for. But, I shouldn’t complain, I guess. These questions
were very easy to answer and it seemed like he was genuinely interested in
hearing my answers.
“Do you have any first-aid knowledge?” he inquired
next.
“Hm...well, yes. I took a first-aid course in summer camp
when I was 15. I still remember the basics,” I said, a little confused as to
where this was going.
“Good,” he said, and then looked thoughtful. “Would you
know how to...let’s say for example...dress wounds and control
bleeding?”
What the hell kind of interview question was that?! I
thought to myself. I’d expect that if I was applying at a hospital or something,
but... “Yes,” I said slowly, confused as to why I would ever need to know
something like that working in a nightclub.
“Excellent,” he said smiling. “You never know when
something like that will come in handy.”
My Thoughts on Blood of the Son (Book #1)
I found Blood of the Son to be entertaining, but done before. Being that the main character was a female barmaid that was entwined in a vampire love triangle… it reminded me a lot of the Sookie Stackhouse series.
Sky Morrison was just an average college graduate until she meets buff, sexy Archer and is offered a job at his new club. When she finds out Jameson (the guy she has been crushing on) is Archer’s brother she becomes terribly confused. To make matters worse the brothers are Vampires. With feelings for both she begins to lean more towards Archer. As they open the new club together she is introduced to more vampires and a brutal murder scene. By the end of the book you are on the edge of your seat waiting for answers and wanting book 2.
I applaud the Author for an enjoyable read, but I give it a 3 out of 5. For the first half of the book I had a hard time getting into it and by the time the plot picked up it was already the end. There were some minor editing errors and repeat statements (ex: calling the dog superstar every time she walked in the door) the book could have done without. On a positive note the character’s personalities remained constant throughout the entire book, the romance was hot, and the suspense was intense. Like I said before the book was enjoyable… I just would have loved for the action to take place earlier and the romance to build into something more.
Other Books in the series
Sins of the Father (Book #2)
Synopsis: After a shocking admission by Archer Rhys, Skye
Morrison and the rest of The Mausoleum's vampire crew have to deal with the
aftermath of Houston business owner and fellow vampire Greyson Mead's murder. A
gruesome discovery in Skye's driveway forces her out of her North Central
Austin, Texas townhome and temporarily into Archer's lakeside mansion with her
co-workers Trey, Hunter, Quinn, Seamus, Lochlan, Jameson, and of course the ever
jealous Aoife. Skye must now live under the same roof with the two men she wants
most and things are bound to get complicated. With a psychotic murder on the
loose hell bent on killing vampires and the appointed army of The Faithful
having no luck in finding them, will Skye's new boss and co-workers live to see
next week? Will Skye make it out of Archer's mansion alive?
*Be advised: This book contains adult situations, steamy sex scenes, and cursing.*
Excerpt:
“Did you need something?” I
asked.
Archer leaned forward in his chair and took off his
expensive charcoal gray sports coat. “I wanted to see how you were handling all
of this,”he said, throwing the coat onto the couch and moving to take off his
cufflinks. I watched him struggle for a second before I
intervened.
“Here, let me help you.” I said as I got up from the chair
and walked around his desk. He smiled tiredly, sighed, and thanked me. I hopped
up onto the desk, sat in the same place Aoife had only moments ago occupied and
pulled his hand onto my lap. I slowly took off his left cufflink and sat it down
on the dark desk beside me. I looked into his ice blue eyes as I rolled the
shirtsleeve up his muscular forearm. “Honestly, Archer, I don’t know how I am
handling this.”
He stared intensely into my eyes and searched them for
clues. “Are you scared?” I nodded my head and gave him his arm back. I picked up
his right one and began the same process again. “You know I’ll never let
anything happen to you, don’t you?”
I watched my hands work as I thought about that for a few
seconds.
“I know,” I said finally, looking back up into his
beautiful eyes. Neither of us said anything for a long moment. “I’m worried
about you...about all of you,” I admitted reluctantly, my fingers finishing
their work.
Archer took one of my hands in his and leaned closer.
“We’re going to be just fine,” he said, tucking a stray hair behind my left ear
and then lifting my chin. “We’re a lot stronger than we look,
Skye.”
I had a sudden flash of Greyson’s mutilated body and I
swallowed hard, shaking my head. My eyes glistened with unshed tears. “But
Greyson...,”
Archer shushed me with a gentle finger to my full lips.
“Don’t,” he whispered, looking deeply into my eyes. “Don’t think about that.” He
cupped my cheek and tenderly ran his thumb over my mouth, tracing my bottom
lip.
“I’m sorry for how I acted earlier tonight,” he apologized
gently, his eyes remorseful.
“I know,” I whispered. I tilted my head into his cool hand
and closed my eyes. His touch was so comforting, his strong arms safe. I felt my
body slowly start to relax for the first time
tonight.
“I want you to stay with me tonight, Skye.” My eyes flew
open in alarm and I sat up straight. “Us,” Archer amended quickly. “I meant I
want you to stay with us...at my house.”
The Original Sin (Book #3)
*Be advised: This book contains adult situations, steamy sex scenes, and cursing.*
Excerpt:
“Stop,” I whispered as the tears finally began to spill
down my face. “I can’t bear to hear anymore.” My heart constricted with the pain
his words brought. “How can you do this to me? How can you when you know I’m
with Jameson.”
I roughly wiped the tears from my cheeks, stood up, and
stormed over to him. “What am I supposed to do with this, Archer? Huh? Leave
your brother and jump into your bed? What about him? What about his feelings?
How can you do this to me? Why couldn’t you have just left it alone? Why did you
have to tell me?”
“You deserve to know how I feel,” he growled. “You
were mine before you were his.”
“No,” I shook my head sadly. “I
wasn’t.”
“Why couldn’t you have just talked to me, Skye?”
Archer asked, his voice full of pain. “Why didn’t you give me an opportunity to
explain the kiss you saw between Aoife and me before you ran into my brother’s
arms?”
“I thought I knew what I saw,” I whispered, losing
my fight.
“You knew nothing,” he whispered, matching my tone,
as he closed the gap between us and pulled me into his arms. He bent down and
nuzzled my hair, taking a deep breath in.
I wrapped my arms around him and clung to him
tightly. I buried my face in his chest and succumbed to my waterworks. “I knew
nothing,” I finally admitted tearfully.
He held me for a long time, neither of us saying
anything. I think we were both just content to be in each other’s arms. We had
been denying ourselves for the longest time. Holding him felt like coming home;
like a cool drink of water after a long week in the desert.
“I’m so sorry, Archer,” I sniffed. “I’m sorry I hurt
you.”
“I’m sorry, too,” he mumbled into my hair as he
placed light kisses about the top of my head. “I don’t know what I’m supposed to
do now. The girl I love is sleeping with my brother.”
Buying Links:
Legacy of Blood (Book #4)
Skye awakens to discover she has been irrevocably changed and the unprecedented circumstances of her rebirth have now created a new threat to her very existence. Sired by both the monster Amun and the vampire Archer Rhys, Skye must prove to the army of An Dilis (The Faithful) whose essence is most dominant within her and that she is not a danger to them or society. The Faithful soon discover that she is unlike any vampire ever created before as she struggles to adjust to her new life and the changes that come with it.
Her recent brush with death has made Skye realize that life is precious and she wastes no time telling the one she loves how she feels about him.
But, Amun finds out that someone interfered with Skye's transformation and the intrusion makes him livid. He gives Skye 7 days to come to him or he threatens to begin killing the ones she loves most.
Will Skye be able to survive long enough to enjoy her new life now that Amun is hunting her and everyone she loves?
*Be advised: This book contains adult situations, steamy sex scenes, and cursing.*
Excerpt:
As soon as my head hit my pillow, and I fully
relaxed, my eyes began to grow heavy. All of the excitement I had been through
today had taken its toll on me mentally. I desperately needed to sleep and
recharge. Before I knew it, I was out cold.
Images flashed behind my eyes, interrupting hours
of deep, sound sleep as I softly heard someone whispering my name. Something
was pulling at my psyche, demanding entrance, and I finally gave in to the
request.
Amun was standing by large body of water with his
back to me. As soon as I took a step toward him, he whirled around looking
surprised but relieved.
“What took you so long?” he demanded, his black
eyes taking on anger. “I’ve been reaching out to you all day. I could feel you
but I didn’t have access to you…I couldn’t access your mind. Something is
interfering. HOW are you keeping me out?”
“Ha!” I laughed and sneered at the small victory.
“You mean to tell me you can’t just come into my dreams whenever you want
to?”
He flashed to me and grabbed me by my throat. “You
drank their blood?!” he raged in my face as he glared back and forth between my
now colorless eyes. “But you are mine!”
“I am no one’s!” I yelled back as I ripped his hand
from my neck and pushed him away from me; the action utterly shocking Amun. “No
one owns me! No one will EVER own me!”
“A piece of my very soul is inside of you,” he
growled, quickly recovering. “You are mine and you will do as I say. You will
come to me this night! I DEMAND IT!”
I put my hands on my hips and smirked at him.
“Demand away, Amun. I don’t know what you’re expecting, but I’m not going to
just come crawling to whatever hole you’re off hiding in. You have no control
over me. Get used to it!”
“Oh, I have plenty of control over you,” he sneered
evilly as he took another step toward me. “All those disgusting feelings of
love and desire you felt for that Day Walker…Archer? I put them there. I made
you dream of him, want him, make love to him… I made you want to stay with him
when you were so set on leaving. I couldn’t very well allow you to leave and
ruin all my plans! But in the end, you betrayed me, Damu. There will be
a heavy price to pay for that. You were supposed to stay, complete your change
and then kill him and all his children. Instead you drink his blood and pollute
yourself?! You could have been something great, something beautifully fierce
and exquisitely savage, but now you are just another common, pathetic Day
Walker!”
I felt my eyes flicker black as anger consumed me.
“I’m not your fucking toy, Amun! If you think you can force me to feel things
and do things for you, you have another thing coming. I’m going to kill you for
what you’ve done to me! As God is my witness, you will DIE by MY
hand!”
Amun chuckled as he looked me up and down and then
tsked. “Oh, my sweet Nisiqtu…you are still so headstrong. I believe I
was wrong about you. You carry my mark in your eyes. We are not so different
after all, you and I. You may be a Day Walker now, but the potential for
greatness is still there. The possibilities are endless now. There is so much
we can do to them now that you are one of them. They will never
suspect-”
“Fuck you!” I spat as I turned and walked away. I
didn’t have to listen to his bullshit. He may have pulled me into this dream
but, come hell or high water, I was going to walk out of
it.
“You have one week to come to me, Skye,” Amun
yelled at my back. “If you do not obey me, I will start killing your friends
and family one by one and I’ll start with that fiery girl who shares your home.
I believe I’ll sew her colorful skin into a new
hat.”
I whirled around, my eyes wide and fearful. “You
lay one finger on her and I’ll-”
“Silence!” Amun roared angrily, his voice echoing
loudly all around me. “Seven days, Skye. And you had better be wearing the
presents I left for you when you come to me.”
Buying Links:
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