The White Lily (Vampire Blood #3) by Juliette Cross-Reviews, Excerpt & Giveaway

THE WHITE LILY
Vampire Blood #3
by Juliette Cross
Release Date: October 23, 2017
Genre: adult, paranormal, romance, vampires

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ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date October 23, 2017

To the north of the Varis empire, a mysterious faction spreads propaganda against the vampire monarchy. Friedrich Volya, the Duke of Winter Hill, seeks to discover who they are before his uncle finds them first. King Dominik will punish the traitors with brutal force.

Local schoolteacher, the raven-haired Brennalyn, is on her own mission—to spy on the duke and discover what she can for the Black Lily. She longs to help the commonwealth and bring justice to the many orphans left behind from the ravages of the blood madness, like the children she lovingly keeps in her care. What she doesn’t plan for is the heart-pounding attraction she feels for the duke, enemy to the Black Lily.

But when Brennalyn’s secret puts her life and the life of her children in danger, Friedrich steps in as her protector, she finds out there’s more to the duke than she thought.

•••••••••

Reading Order and Previous Reviews
The Black Lily
The Red Lily
The White Lily

Sandy’s Review:

THE WHITE LILY is the third installment in Juliette Cross’s adult, paranormal VAMPIRE BLOOD romance series (formerly known as The Tales of the Black Lily series). This is vampire Friedrich Volya, Duke of Winter Hill, and schoolteacher Brennalyn Snow’s story line. THE WHITE LILY can be read as a stand alone without any difficulty although I recommend reading the series in order as there is an ongoing premise throughout.

SOME BACKGROUND: The Black Lily is an underground movement that is attempting to take down the royal vampire family, and their army of Legionnaires who are obliterating village after village in a frenzied blood madness known as the sanguine furorem.

Told from dual third person perspectives (Friedrich and Brennalyn) THE WHITE LILY continues to search for supporters of The Black Lily, and to prove the existence of a new threat known as The White Lily. Brennalyn Snow is a human female; a twenty three year old schoolteacher who is the foster mother to seven orphans ranging in age from preschool to late teens. But Brennalyn has a secret identity that if revealed would threaten her life and the lives of the children she loves. Enter Friedrich Volya, the Duke of Winter Hill, and a member of the reigning royal vampire family. What ensues is the building relationship between Friedrich and Brennalyn, and the potential fall out when Brennalyn’s true identity is revealed.

Friedrich Volya is no stranger to the people of Terrington, a small village of humans under the Duke’s rule but Brennalyn Snow has caught the eye of the handsome vampire Duke-a Duke who is willing to do anything to make Brennalyn his mate an his own. Brennalyn knows that once her true identity is revealed, the Duke will have no choice but to punish the woman with whom he is falling in love. What Brennalyn doesn’t know is that the Duke is also estranged from the ruling vampire family-a family of murderous, power hungry vampires who are determined to destroy and control all of the humans.

THE WHITE LILY brushes and tugs snippets of fantasy ala Snow White and The Seven Dwarves with the inclusion of vampires, wolf-shifters, huntsman and poisonous fruit. Brennalyn ‘Snow’ and her seven little children will fall victim to the evil Queen, when a magical mirror reveals all to the other side.

THE WHITE LILY is a story of adventure; of action, forbidden romance and the ongoing war between human and vampires. The ruling elite are determined to control the embittered humans of the surrounding territories but some of their own are slowly taking up arms to battle on the side of The Black Lily against the family in control. The premise is entertaining and engaging; the characters are sexy, strong willed and charismatic; the romance is seductive, energetic and provocative.

Barb’s Review:

The White Lily by Juliette Cross is the 3^rd book in her fantastic Vampire Blood series. I loved the first two books in this series, and was amazed how Juliette Cross just keeps on giving us another fantastic story.  Seriously folks, if you have not read Juliette Cross, you are missing a wonderful author, who never fails to wow us each and every time.

 In the first book of this series, The Black Lily, the themed fairy tale background was Cinderella; in The Red Lilly it was Red Riding Hood,  and in The White Lilly, it is Snow White.  We meet our wonderful sweet heroine, Brennalyn Snow, who is a school teacher in Terrington, and she also has adopted 7 homeless children.  Brenna has been visiting the lands of the Duke of Winter Hill to spy on him.  Why? She is a supporter of The Black Lily, but unbeknownst to everyone, she is secretly The White Lily, who prints out propaganda against the vampire monarchy. 

Friedrich Volya, is the Duke of Winter Hill and our hero.  One day he has one of his men bring Brenna to him, to find out why she is spying on him; he is suspicious as to who she supports.  Friedrich, whom we met in the last book, is a full supporter to the Black Lily, and hates his evil uncle, King Dominik; but he has to put on an act that he supports the monarch or he will be marked as a traitor.

Despite their suspicions of each other, in a short time their attraction becomes something neither can avoid.  Brenna does not want any relationship and knows she does not fit with the Duke for long term.  Friedrich finds himself besotted with the beautiful sweet Brennalyn, and is determined to make her his.  Friedrich knows he must protect Brenna, since the King is looking for the White Lily, and he moves her to his mansion, with her 7 children.  I have to say, I adored the children, which was such an excellent added element to the story.   Watching them with Friedrich or his men was sweet, and it also helped bring Brenna and him together.

What follows is a very exciting adventure that will have Friedrich, his men (The Bloodguard) and Brenna attempt a rescue that will put her life in danger, as well as all of them.  As we raced to the pulse pounding climax, I loved seeing those we met in the first two books join the battle.  I loved Friedrich and Brennalyn together, as they had great chemistry together, and made such a great couple.  Juliette Cross has given us wonderful characters in all three books, as well as flawlessly moving the story along cohesively. 

Vampire Blood is a fantastic series, and so very well written by Juliette Cross.  The White Lily was another fantastic ride.  I can’t get enough of this series, with so many great characters, sexy couples, and bad villains.  You need to be reading this series, if you have not done so yet. 

 

On the next turn, he pulled her close, till her breasts brushed his chest. The friction, as brief as it was, rasped her nipples. She gasped then quickly clamped her mouth shut, trying to put some distance between them. But he was in full control, his large frame engulfing her, his intimidating presence swallowing her with each turn.

“Your dress is quite beautiful on you.” He ignored her question entirely. “So much more appealing than your gray frocks.”

“What is wrong with my frocks?”

“They’re hideous.”

She gasped. “My frocks are entirely suitable to a woman of my role in society.”

“And what role is that? An old crone?” She caught his mischievous smile. He was goading her. And it was working.

“An unmarried woman. The town’s schoolteacher.”

He scoffed, slowing their waltz. “You think yourself a spinster at three and twenty? I think not. I’m going to burn every one of them when I get the chance.”

“Your Grace. You will do no such thing. You have no right to destroy any of my possessions.”

He grinned and slowed their forward movement to a stop, drawing her even closer. She tried to step from his embrace, but he held her good.

“Your Grace?”

“I’m not quite sure you know what’s happening between us, Miss Snow. But let me be clear. Those hideous rags are not worthy of your luscious body. Not worthy of you. You may try to hide your beauty behind drab colors and formless frocks and tight buns. But I see what’s beneath. And I want—no, I will have you in all your glory. Therefore, prepare yourself to be draped in silk quite soon.”

She saw the lion in the man, gazing down at her with steadfast calm and confidence. All of which was breathtaking and alluring. She spent the majority of her life trying to order and control her surroundings, only to find her world tilted at every turn. She wondered how the duke would feel to lose his control.

“It must be very difficult,” she said.

“What must be difficult?” He swept her away from clumsy Mr. Powell, who nearly barreled into them with his dance partner.

“Believing that you own everyone you meet.”

“You wound me. I don’t believe that at all.”

“Really? You just stated as if it were a decree that I’d be draped in silk. What if I don’t like silk?”

His smoldering smile made her knees buckle. “Come now, Miss Snow.” He leaned close to her ear, his lip brushing the shell as he whispered on the turn, “If not a silk dress, how about silk sheets?”

She laughed, his naughty teasing bringing a heated flush to her face. “You’re most improper for a royal duke.”

“Thank you,” he said with a smirk. “I do my best.”

“It wasn’t a compliment.”

“It most certainly was.”

She narrowed her gaze. “Well, whatever you may believe, I’d like to clarify that you do not own me, Your Grace.”

“I don’t want to own you, kitten. I want to possess you.”

“There is no difference.”

“Indeed. There is.”

Eyes darkening and hooded in shadow, she caught them drifting over her face before they landed on her mouth. His own parted slightly.

“Your Grace,” she warned, “if you are making plans to kiss me on the dance floor, let me tell you that it will not be welcome.”

“All right. Will it be welcome in my carriage on the way home?”

She arched her brow. “Are you always so forward with ladies you’re trying to woo?”

“No. Indeed not. I’m usually much more charming, but you seem to bring out the beast in me, Miss Snow. I’d rather skip all the games and get straight to the prize.”

>

 

Juliette is a multi-published author of paranormal and fantasy romance and lives in lush, moss-laden Louisiana where she lives with her husband, four kids, and black lab, Kona. She loves reading and writing brooding characters, mysterious settings, persevering heroines, and dark, sexy heroes.

From the moment she read JANE EYRE as a teenager, she fell in love with the Gothic romance. Even then, she not only longed to read more novels set in Gothic worlds, she wanted to create her own.

 

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