Rating: 4⭐️
I’ve been searching for new authors and series that offer different perspectives or approaches to certain tropes and main characters I enjoy reading.
I love a good paranormal or urban fantasy universe that focuses on a different kind of location and a character that’s outside of the usual main character frame.
So a story situated inside an old local bar & grill where its colorful walls are covered in years of signatures and memorabilia and it’s clientele is a mixture of human and supernatural beings, getting their drink on to tunes on the jukebox? Yes, sign me up.
A town called Crimson, Georgia where the paranormal and humans have come to live in a peaceful place, sort of.
Charley Underwood owns the bar, The White Stag, locally known as the Stag, which has been in her family. Her employees are werewolves, as well as a human or two. And her mother, a powerful witch, has recently died.
Bloodlust Blues sees Charley running a covert blood bank out of her back rooms, using donated vampire blood to help the elderly and impoverished people of town.
I really enjoyed the story. It sets up the foundation knowledge of the town and surrounding areas. Bennett also brings in all the characters that will form Charley’s found family and the character that is the potential romantic connection. And his familiar.
There’s a terrific mystery that involves a couple of murders as well as missing people. And the introduction of a permanent villain type character too.
Bennett shows the journey that Charley has to take, as she finds out how magical she actually is. And why she wasn’t trained all along.
I can’t wait to see her next story and how this character is developed.
A definite winner.
Cover design Damonza.com”
The Charley Underwood series -complete
Bloodlust Blues
Bloodlust Bites
Bloodlust Curse
Bloodlust Shadows
Buy link
Bloodlust Blues: A heart-racing and completely addictive urban fantasy (Charley Underwood Book 1)
Blurb
Welcome to Crimson, Georgia. I’m Charley—reluctant witch, and owner of the best bar in town.
Everyone’s welcome at the Stag—vampire, wolf or human. As long as they don’t make trouble. Or ask too many questions about what we’re selling out of the back room.
I keep the beers coming, and in return the town keeps my secret. But when a gang of deadly vampires shows up at the bar, it’s clear they’re not looking for a drink. They want to take my business. Or my blood.
But this is more than just a shake down. All over town, people are dropping like flies. Disappearing or attacking their neighbors. It’s like they’re possessed. And someone—or something—is pulling the strings.
As if I didn’t have enough trouble, a fancy new restaurant just opened right across the street. And a sexy vampire from out of town seems to think I need protection. I have plenty of dangerous friends already… so why can’t I stop thinking about him?
The whole town is going to hell. Perhaps literally. And it looks like it’s up to me to stop it.
Discover a thrilling new series that will leave you reading late into the night. With heart-stopping twists and a found family you’ll fall in love with, this urban fantasy is perfect for fans of Annabel Chase, Charlaine Harris, and Patricia Briggs.
Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words 