Reviewed by Becca
TITLE: First Blood
SERIES: Mismatched Mates #4
AUTHOR: Eliot Grayson
PUBLISHER: Smoking Teacup Books
LENGTH: 101 pages
RELEASE DATE: January 12, 2021
BLURB:
Blood is a necessity, but love is a luxury they can’t afford…
Vampire enforcer Victor Schmidt doesn’t have time for distraction. His enhanced senses can track human blood in or out of a body, but it doesn’t usually smell like oranges, honey, and temptation. And it’s not usually coursing through the veins of a beautiful back-alley rentboy. That should make it easier, right? Pay, bite and be on his way.
While prostitution isn’t Laurie’s dream job, someone has to take care of his sister and her kids. But being a blood donor to a tall, dark and brooding vamp isn’t part of his career plan. Until he agrees…and it’s far more pleasurable than he could have imagined.
Nurturing isn’t in Victor’s wheelhouse, yet he finds himself tucking the all-too-tempting boy into bed. And feeling things he shouldn’t be. When Laurie’s attacked, it’s almost a relief: breaking necks is way more Victor’s style and he’s all-too-happy to kill. But Laurie being kidnapped wasn’t part of anyone’s plan.
Now Victor’s determined to save Laurie at any cost. Can he bring them both out alive, or will they die before they’ve even shared their first kiss?
This book is set in the world of the Mismatched Mates series, but it stands alone. However, look for cameos of your favorite characters from the other books in the series.
REVIEW:
You know, every time I pick up a book in this series, it just gets better and better. It truly does. And the funny thing for me, in this book, or in any book, I’m usually all for the ‘underdog’. And don’t get me wrong in this one. I am in it too, but it’s the big alpha male that touches me so much as well in this story and I fell in love with him from the start.
With Victor, he never thinks much of his looks. He even feels like he’s looked at like a freak because he’s a vampire and he’s huge and scary looking with his huge teeth and his name being well known as an enforcer for the vamp boss. So to have someone even remotely interested in him and not even scared to stand up to him blows his mind. This little tiny twink of a man, who is too thin for his own good, out working a job that for some reason is getting to Victor in ways he doesn’t like. And he knows what it is. He’s just a big scaredy cat and doesn’t want to admit it. And I think that is what cracks me up the most in this story. This big, HUGE vampire whom everyone is scared of, is himself scared of a little human named Laurie, who brings feelings out in him he never wanted or never thought he’d have.
And what cracks me up more. Laurie is NOT scared of him at all. Well, yeah at first, it’s intimidating, especially when you’re on the streets in the middle of the night trying to make a living and this big guy comes up on you. But he’s not afraid to stand up for what wants, or believes in. Even if it means he knows that Victor could kill him in an instant. He doesn’t back down. And it’s so hilarious to me. It reminds me of a Great Dane or something that big, being scared of a kitten or a tiny puppy. I giggled so hard with this book. And it’s a blast to get to see more of everyone. Yeah, this is a little side trip, but it’s still a part of the whole and it’s so great to be a part of this world.
This has been such a fun series and I can’t want to get into the next one to see what’s coming. If you haven’t read this series, you are seriously missing out.
RATING: 
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