I'm moving!

Hey everyone! I just wanted to let you know that BVC is moving!  I'm still on Blogger, but I've given the site a face lift and a new name.  Come check us out at:  DREN'S B-SPOT!!

I'll still be reviewing books in the paranormal genre, but I'm adding Mystery and Suspense to my line-up as well.  So many books -- so little time!

Come join me for the ride!!

Dren's B-Spot

I'm Back!!!

It's a new year! And I've made a new committment to be more active in my blog postings....so here's a recacp of the last couple of months:

National Novel Writing Month:  Didn't make it to 50k. The End....LOL I'll do better next year.

Reading:  Now while I haven't been posting I've DEFINTELY still been reading.  Haven't found many black vamps in my travels, but I've certainly caught up with a few of my favorite writers.   I'll get those reviews up this week.

I'll also be updating my "Reading, Read, Want to Read" lists as well so, keep an eye open for those updates.

I'll keep it short tonight  - but stay tuned for more updates.  2010 will be a great year!

Happy New Year and Blessings to all!!

Hunted Book One of the Guardians' League by Amelia Elias

In my continued hunt for the Black Vampire, I came across the first installment of Elias' Guardians' League, Hunted and I have to say I was very impressed. While this novel doesn't have a black vampire, the lead is a 1,000 year old vampire of Spanish decent, Diego Leonides. Spanish Vamp? I was hooked from the first chapter.


Sian Lazuro is a former cop on the run. Three years ago she was a key witness in a murder investigation for a local crime boss. Immediately after his conviction, he escapes custody and Sian enters the witness protection program for fear of retaliation. However after several attempts on her life, Sian realizes the system that's supposed to protect her is compromised and she strikes out on her own, moving from city to city as needed to stay one step ahead of the man who wants her dead.

Diego Leonides is the sole survivor of his vampire clan and a member of the Guardian League, a group of vampires who have vowed to protect mortals from the more dangerous side of their breed -- Outcasts - vamps who kill humans for their blood and for the sheer thrill of the hunt.

Sian and Diego’s lives collide, when she literally runs him over with her car. Diego’s honor code forces him to care for her injuries in his home, but due to a complication created a century earlier, Diego is tasked with explaining to Sian how she is now his mate, and he’s a 1000-year old vampire.

Hunted is action packed with strong male and female characters. Elias may not be as popular as Lara Adrian or J.R. Ward but she’s done an excellent job establishing the Guardian League as a series to get hooked on. I’m adding the next two books to my reading list Outcast and Chosen.


BVC Rating: ***** (5Stars)

Avail on Kindle: Yes



and the hunt continues……

The Flip Side of Buffy the Vampire Slayer -- I give you Danali Richards, Vampire Huntress!

Minion by L. A. Banks is Book One of a thirteen book series written by L. A. Banks. I have to say, Minion was a tough read for me. Not because the content was "bad" but -- I'm a die-hard Buffy the Vampire Slayer fan and this book initially reeked of rip-off innuendo from that series. Buffy is a Vamp Slayer. Damali Richards is a Vampire Slayer. Buffy - One Slayer dies - another is "activated". Minion - Slayers are born - but Damali is a MILENIUM Slayer. (Yeah this dates the book a little but go with it). Buffy is trained by Watchers. Damali has a group of Guardians. So you can see the similarities are a bit irritating.

However Banks is able to take this similar "type" of storyline and urbanize it. Damali is a rising African American spoken-word performer and her Guardians are her band members. By day, they perform concerts all over country and by night they are a kick-ass, vamp slayer group hunting and killing vamps and demons in the traditional good against evil war. Minion takes it’s time setting up the background for the reader, explaining the history of the Neteru, (Vampire Slayer) weaving in tons of paranormal, astrologic, Judeo-Christian, pseudo-African and mystical mythology that can at times, leave your head spinning. But the relationships between Damali and her Guardians and love interests lends for a great backdrop.

So I guess you’re wondering why I’m talking about this book at this point right? Well for all the crammed details – and mind blurring “think deep” pockets of the book – Bank’s creates the perfect setting for her Vampire Huntress Legend series that makes you want to move on to Book 2, The Awakening. The urban-hip-hop style of writing can be hokey at times – but when you focus on the storyline, you can see the potential.  As you continue through the series, you'll definitely get hooked.

BVC Rating: **** (4 Stars)
Avail on Kindle?: Yes


and the hunt continues....