About Me

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D. H. Starr is a clean-cut guy with a wickedly naughty mind. He grew up in Boston and loves the city for its history and beauty. Also, having lived in NYC, he enjoys the fast pace and the availability of anything and everything. He first became interested in reading from his mother who always had a stack of books piled next to her bed. Family is important to D. H. and his stories center around the intricate and complex dynamics of relationships and working through problems while maintaining respect and love. His favorite books tend to fall in the genres of science fiction, fantasy, paranormal, and coming of age. To learn more about D. H. Starr and his books, please visit his website at www.dhstarr.com if you are 18+. To view his young adult work and resources, visit www.dhstarrYAbooks.com.

Tuesday, November 6, 2012

Blacque / Bleu by Belinda McBride


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