SNAP: Love for Blood (The Kandesky Vampire Chronicles #5) by Michele Drier-a review

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SNAP: Love for Blood is the fourth book in the “Kandesky Vampire Chronicles”. However, it’s my first venture into this series. Each book is said to stand alone and while I guess you can start anywhere, it’s really best to start at the beginning; mostly because so much has been explained and happened in this story that I found it somewhat confusing, at first, to figure out all that was being communicated. I think this can be said of most series. SLFB (SNAP: Love for Blood) is a very fast paced and intricate tale that you should have the background to fully enjoy the story unfolding.

The story begins with our lead female (Maxie) in a cell, she has been kidnapped by enemies of Jean-Louis (her vampire boss and lover). They seem to be after information, but really don’t seem all that concerned with its lack, they really just seem to enjoy hurting her. It’s really pretty brutal treatment and she doesn’t seem to have full use of her mind. She’s having a hard time even remembering the people they’re asking about. This is actually quite well written because you are supposed to be as confused as she is without her memory. And since I didn’t have the history, I was. They questioned, abused her physically and brutally raped her (Leonid and Jules both). Soon after she was thrown back into a cell, she was rescued quickly and quietly by those sent from Jean-Louis.
There is a lot of concern and angst over her torture and the state of her mind. From here the story began to fill in the blanks. There was so much to figure out… This is a complex story of very powerful and wealthy vampire families that are pretty much opposites in the world.

The Klandesky family is very powerful, wealthy and in the modern world as corporate enterprises, including the glamorous and popular world of communications. SNAP is a many armed communications empire encompassing print, TV, Web, Fashion, Movie and many other facets. Almost all “family” members take some active role in running the corporation. They have evolved to different kinds of “food” and only take blood from willing donors. Turning is done infrequently and as a prize and reward for service and love.

The Huszar family is mostly brute force type, with ties to drugs, assassins, arms and most violent mafia type organizations. They are not the brightest bulbs on the tree…due to the differences in leadership of the families. Women in the Huszar family are basically sex slaves and household slaves as well. They feed covertly and use donors. They often kill their enemies and “turn” others to use them.

As the story went on through Maxie’s recovery and return to her mind and her love, Jean-Louis, you begin to understand this fast moving and incredibly complex world. She physically within weeks, but mentally it’s a much harder road back.

There are lots of wonderful loving and steamy sex scenes, but well written and not so frequent as to be boring. Maxie deals with not just her injuries, but the whole trust issue that has been put to question by her kidnapping. Learning to trust and get over fear is really a long process and this is taken well into account. Watching this love grow and unfold is interesting and very heart-warming as well as frustrating; a very interesting mix of emotions and issues as well as more than a little danger.

This book and probably the whole series is not a “no-brainer” type read. It’s compelling, extremely complex, incredibly interesting both mentally and emotionally. If we did ratings…I’d have to have it way up the scale, but I intend to go back and get the rest to better understand the whole story. I look forward to the next installment in this refreshing (yes, I know it’s vampires…but refreshingly done none the less) new series.

I have barely scratched the surface of this story, and I’ve gone over my usual page limit. While I don’t like to do spoilers for anyone, there is just so much to say about this story. I highly recommend it (from the beginning) for any of you who like the whole vampire thing. I actually find it a fun time as the “good guys” are really pretty cool considering they’re vampires. LOL. It’s a really great series, give it a try, what can a gorgeous dark haired, blue eyed, powerful and loving vampire hurt?

Reading Order
1. Snap: The World Unfolds
2. Snap: New Talent
3. Plague
4. Danube: A Tale of Murder
5. Snap: Love for Blood

Box Set Books 1-4 : Amazon.com / Amazon.ca/ Barnes and Noble/ KOBO

Copy supplied by the author.

Reviewed by Georgianna S.