"I am ready to meet my maker. Whether my maker is prepared to meet me is another matter."
-Winston Churchill

Sunday, February 20, 2011

BLB Ebook Tours - Gabriel's Mate by Tina Folsom & At The Round Table Part II



I had the pleasure of reviewing Gabriel's Mate during Tina Folsom's Tour.  I truly enjoyed this read and I think you will too.

Caution: graphic and explicit sex scenes - not for the faint of heart.

After Maya is turned into a vampire against her will, vampire and Scanguards bodyguard Gabriel is charged with protecting her and finding her attacker.

Gabriel has never guarded a body as perfect as Maya's. Moreover, Maya's enticing blend of vulnerability and strength is difficult to resist. Yet resist he must. Even as the sexual tension between them rises and the rogue vampire closes in on them, Gabriel refuses to give into his desire. Despite the intimacies they share, Gabriel fears that if he ever reveals himself fully to her, Maya will react like other women have, running from him, and calling him a monster, a freak, a creature not worth her love.

Will Maya prove to be the one female who cherishes all that Gabriel is?



My Thoughts:


Gabriel's Mate is Book 3 in the Scanguards Series and was even better than Venice Vampyr.  The more books I read by Tina Folsom,  the more I want.

All Gabriel ever wanted was to be accepted and loved by a woman.  When his wife screamed in horror the night of their wedding,  deeming Gabriel as a monster,  she did more to him than leave a scar on his face after slicing him with a knife.

Now,  centuries later,  Gabriel is second in command with the Scanguards - security for hire.  When his boss,  Samson,  calls upon him to secure a newly turned vampire so he can take his human wife to safety,  Gabriel gets more than he bargained for.

Maya is the most beautiful woman he's ever laid eyes on.  Gabriel finds an unexplainable,  instant attraction to her.  When they realize somethings going wrong with the turning process,  the pain of his own turning surfaces in a vivid memory and Gabriel feels the need to protect Maya,  no matter what it might cost him.

In search of the rogue vampire that did this to Maya,  we see both character grow in self,  and in each other.  I absolutely loved Gabriel - so gentle and full of compassion despite his position and power in the house.  He has so much to offer to the one that would only allow it.

Maya's spunk was the perfect mix in this relationship.  I loved how she had to learn to trust and yet maintain her own independence.

Zane is the one that I hope we see broken down a bit,  not literally but emotionally.  I really just want to know his story,  which I think could be a book in itself.

Yvette was kick-ass!  She's one you would want as a friend and have fighting on your side.

Then there's Thomas - who wouldn't love Thomas?  Everyone loves Thomas and he's a great mentor to teach new vampires the ropes.

I know I don't usually divulge on individual characters,  but I just loved all of them.  Though this was the third book in the series,  this book could very well stand alone.  I don't make it a habit to read out of order,  but I don't feel I missed too much by reading ahead.

I love Folsom's writing and it always has the perfect mix of sex and suspense.  So be forewarned *grinning*.

I give Gabriel's Mate ***** (5) Stars.  Fantastic read!















At The Round Table Part II


BK: Fantasy or Horror?
Tina: Fantasy

BK: Day or Night?
Tina: Night

BK: Favorite Drink?
Tina: Pimms #1 with Ginger Ale

BK: What is a must have to write?
Tina: A computer

BK: If you could possess a supernatural power, what would it be and why?
Tina: Invisibility

BK: What is one thing your readers would be most surprised to know about you? 
Tina: I hated literature in school - there’s no fun in reading Herman Hesse when you’re fifteen.

BK: What is the craziest thing you've ever done?
Tina: Jumped out of an airplane.

BK: What do you hope readers will most take away from your writing?
Tina: A day or evening of being taken away from all worries and being immersed into another world.

BK: If someone could describe you in one word, what would it be?
Tina: Ambitious. Efficient. No, ambitious. Frankly, both.

Thank you so much for being at the Round Table today. It's been such a pleasure chatting with you and I wish you much success in the future.

Until next time....






Disclosure of Material Connection: i am a member of the Book Lovin' Bitches Ebook Tours and a copy was provided to me by the author. although payment may have been received by Book Lovin' Bitches Ebook Tours, no payment was received by me in exchange for this review nor was there an obligation to write a positive one. all opinions expressed here are entirely mine and may not necessarily agree with those of the author, the book's publisher and publicist or the readers of this review. this disclosure is in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255, Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.

1 comment:

Nora Weston said...

Tina:

Gabriel's Mate definitely sounds like a book that could take a person far away from the "ins and outs" of everyday life. Great review!

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