Title: Blacque/Bleu
Author: Belinda McBride
ISBN: 9781607378662
ASIN: B004FN2D3A
Publisher: Loose Id
Price: $6.01
Rating: 5 Stars
Blurb:
Lukas Blacque is a
deeply closeted werewolf, and almost more than anything in life, he desires his
neighbor, Oliver Bleu. Oliver is a vampire who is slowly dying from insomnia.
More than anything, he needs Lukas Blacque and the rich blood that flows
through his veins.
On the day that
Blacque makes an important commitment to his family and pack, he also succumbs
to temptation and agrees to a passionate weekend with the alluring vampire. At
sunset on Friday, it’s all about urgent lust and the drive to lose his
virginity. When the sun rises on Monday, lust has shifted to love and devotion.
He's not sure he can walk away, even for the commitment he's made. He's even
less sure Bleu will let him go.
In Blacque’s world,
vampires and werewolves make uneasy bedfellows, and a gay werewolf is an
impossibility. In Bleu’s world, all living creatures are little more than
vessels for food and sex. But in the mysterious and magical town of Arcada, the
unexpected is always waiting right around the corner. Now Blacque and Bleu just
need to survive long enough for Arcada’s magic to work for them.
Doug’s Review
Blacque/Bleu is
the first book I’ve read by Belinda
McBride and it certainly won’t be the last. I met Belinda at this year’s
GRL in Albequerque and she was such a bubbly personality, friendly and all
smiles. I listened to her read a section from an upcoming release, the sequel
of this book, and I had to read the story inspiring what I’d heard.
The story follows Lukas Blacque, a werewolf, the son of the
pack alpha, and Oliver Bleu, a vampire nearly a century old who never wanted
the life forced upon him. While the two get off to a slightly rocky start,
Blacque bumping into Bleu in a bar and a near brawl, the ensuing sex they share
in the alleyway was nothing short of red-hot. And it set in motion the coming
together of two of the most vibrant couples I’ve had the pleasure of meeting in
a long time.
On the evening of this life-altering moment, Blacque’s
father tells him he’s planning for Blacque to become the next alpha. Not
terribly social to begin with, taking the position of alpha was setting him up
for a lot of resentment…which would ultimately lead to challenges. Add to the
mix he’s gay, something frowned heavily upon in his world, and the stakes for survival
rise even higher. Yet he can’t deny what he feels for Bleu and agrees to a
weekend of exploration and connection with the alluring and beautiful vampire.
Bleu has watched the handsome wolf ever since he moved into
the mystical town of Arcada. He’s let himself go, miserable in his isolation
and in having the life of a vampire forced on him. He’s so weak when we meet
him, he’s at the point of fading completely. In order to survive, to continue
to exist, he needs blood more powerful than the human food he’s lived on; Blacque’s
rich werewolf blood.
As their weekend progresses, Bleu can’t deny the depth of
his feelings for Blacque. At the same time, the large were is surprised at how
natural being with a man feels and how much he loves to relinquish his control
and submit to the man who’s quickly capturing his heart. When the weekend is
over, they end their brief affair before their relationship can even begin.
What follows is a wonderfully heart wrenching, action-packed story which
examines the depths of each their longing and needs while forcing them to balance
desire against duty.
Blacque / Bleu
touches on all of the elements I so adore in erotic romance. First and
foremost, it’s a love story. It delves into the inner emotions of both
characters, displaying their raw wants, while portraying the monumental forces
which conspire to keep them apart. The sex they share is both physically
astounding and emotionally packed. Whereas Blacque is experiencing physical
sensations and feelings entirely new to him, Bleu’s heart is blossoming as he
realizes he still has the capacity to love. Add to those interwoven story lines
the ascension of Blacque into the alpha’s inner circle and Bleu’s past coming
back to threaten everyone, and you have the recipe for a masterpiece.
I read this book over three days, needing to take time to
stop and simply think about what I’d read. And then, about two-thirds of the
way through, it was like a bomb exploded and I couldn’t put the book down.
For those who love paranormal romance, this is a must read.
For those who love exquisite love stories, this is a story you can’t afford to
miss. All I can say is I can’t, can’t, can’t WAIT until the sequel releases on
December 4.
Rating: 5 stars
