Forbidden and Once Bitten by Hope Welsh
Publisher: Whiskey Creek Press Torrid
Genre: Contemporary, Paranormal
Length: Full Length (171 pgs)
Other: M/F, Spanking
Rating: 3.5 Cherries
Review by Fern
Sarah was disfigured by a fire while saving the life of a child, while the vampire, Devlin, watched helplessly. Through dreams, he has spent months coming to her, loving and making love to her. Finally, he comes to her in the night and tells her he can give her back her beauty—by making her a vampire—even though it’s forbidden.
Forbidden and Once Bitten are two vastly different stories that twine together courtesy of common characters and a shared antagonist. One might assume they are separate, as the first offering, Forbidden, is written in a third person narrative, and the second, Once Bitten is written in first. But make no mistake, the stories occur in the same world and timeline. I tell you this not to spoil, but to ensure the reader understands they should continue when the first story ends without resolution. Keep going, there is more.
Forbidden is the story written in a third person narrative. The vampire, Devlin, has watched Sarah for months, well aware that she is his mate. But as she is one of the Chosen, it is forbidden to take or change her. After a fire leaves her horribly scarred, he decides the time has come to claim the woman he loves, no matter the cost. Following directly after is Once Bitten, written in the first person narrative and told through the voice of Hailey, a girl with a broken heart that is about to discover it’s okay to trust in the right person. Bennett has known Hailey since high school, but he has bided his time until he knew she would accept him for who and what he is – a vampire.
Each story introduces you to a world where vampires linger in the shadows and are hunted. It’s an amazing concept and very well thought out. My only wish is that there was more description along the way. Though intricate, there is more dialogue here than narrative. Even still, this is a recommended read for vampire lovers eager for something to sink their teeth into. The sex is steamy, the characters memorable, and the premise alluring.
