“Blood and Whiskey”
A Cowboy and Vampire Thriller
by Clark Hays and Kathleen McFall
Publication date: May 1, 2012
Fiction, Trade Paperback (362 pages) $14.95; e-book $4.99
Genre: Fiction/Paranormal/Mystery
SUMMARY :
Wanted: Lizzie Vaughan, Dead or Alive. Relationships are always hard, but for a broke cowboy and a newly turned Vampire, true love may be lethal. After barely surviving an undead apocalypse in The Cowboy and the Vampire, Tucker and Lizzie hightail it back to quirky LonePine, Wyoming (population 438), to start a family. But she's got a growing thirst for blood and he's realizing that mortality ain't all it's cracked up to be when your girlfriend may live forever. With a scheming Vampire nation hot on their boot heels and a price on her head, how far will Lizzie and Tucker go to protect their unlikely love? Blending evolution, religion and an overly sensitive cow dog named Rex, Blood and Whiskey drags the Vampire myth into the modern west, delivering double barreled action, heart-pounding passion and wicked humor.
My Review (be sure to see the expert and teaser under the
review.)
In Blood and Whiskey, the saga continues with Lissie, Tucker, Lenny, and Dad, and even the Blue Heeler dog Rex. There is lots to do dealing with the International
Assembly of Vampires descending upon Lone Pine (Tiny town in Wyoming). This part of the politics, reminds me of the True Blood (Sookie Stackhouse series) to a certain extent, and having the manufactured blood too. BUT, these authors use plenty of quirky dialogue and many twists, to keep it from being too much like it. I will say, I do like the part of this world that the Vampires are able to “smell, sense” evil, and are encouraged to help purge us from these Evil humans, they are supposed to “taste” better too. That I like, kindof like vampire vigilantes, lol
The storyline I noticed is very fast paced, and keeps you interested, It was hard to put the book down, once I started. I was surprised at the unique combination of
genres. Kathleen McFall and Clark Hays create a great paranormal romance that is full of drama, action, romance and danger, but they still keep a charm of the
Western genre. It’s very unique, nothing I have ever seen before. They make it where we can really relate to the characters. I found myself really liking Lizzie, and Tucker. I can see the struggles she has, and feel for her.
She has so much to deal with, one being pregnant, and that’s a first as far as they know, and being Queen, since her father is dead. She also is pressured to prove herself by turning a human into a vampire, as in this book, not just any vamp can do it. This book really is good, and I do not want to spoil anything, so wont say too much about all the twist and turns, and non-stop excitement that takes place. Just know, if you like some paranormal, and adventure, action, and suspense, you will love this book. I had not read the first book yet, but I was able to catch on really quick, so it’s not necessary, but I will go and read the first too now, as I loved this one so much.
Give it a try, its first rate writing. You won’t be sorry,
I want to thank Pump Up Your Book for the book to read and review, and to be able to participate in this book tour.
Expert (Part of Chapter One)
Expert (Part of Chapter One)
ONE
“Clouds are sacred to my people,” Tucker said, gazing out into the Wyoming darkness.
“I’m not even sure what that means,” Lizzie said. She had only recently arisen and was pale and disheveled. And hungry.
“Nothing. It don’t mean nothing. Just reminiscing is all.”
“Tucker, I’ve only been a Vampire for two months.”
“Twelve weeks.”
“Fine, three months. But I think it’s a little early to get all sentimental about your precious clouds.” She tucked a strand of her honey-blonde hair behind her ear. “They’re still up there at night, even if you can’t see them.”
“There’s no reason to get all pissy,” he said. “Have something to eat. Or someone, I guess I should say.” He tilted his head toward the kitchen. Lizzie nodded curtly and turned, disappearing into the other room.
He sat down heavily on the couch and nudged Rex to the side. Rex gave up his territory grudgingly, shooting Tucker a mournful and pained look. It was lost on Tucker who listened intently as Lizzie rummaged in the cupboards for an aseptic pack of blood. Sully had recently discovered a new, reliable source of blood, marketed in the Vampire underground as Sanguine in packages that looked remarkably like a sports drink. This blood source had thus far allowed her to avoid taking sustenance from a still-breathing human.
They were living in a new, spacious doublewide trailer plopped down over the scorched outline of Tucker’s old trailer. It looked out over his little parcel of sagebrush-choked rangeland all the way down to a perpetually nervous knot of his neighbor’s alpacas, forever shivering and shedding their hair, bleating and sprinting for the far corner of the opposite field whenever Lizzie walked out into the night.
He heard her sigh and toss the empty pack into the trash.
When she came back in, her cheeks were flushed and her eyes glittered.
“Feel better?”
“I do.”
“You got a little bit of some poor bastard right there on the corner of your mouth.” He pointed hesitantly at his own face.
She swiped at her mouth, smearing a crimson stripe across her cheek and then rubbed it away.
“Really? Every night? Are you going to say something like that every single night?”
“Probably.”
“I’m guessing that drinking the blood of anonymous donors who are none the wiser makes more sense than killing someone in LonePine every night. There wouldn’t be a town by the end of the year.”
He thought about it for a second. “That’s not right. I mean, I’m no math whiz but …”
“I said that for effect.”
He popped a beer. “I know, I know. Sorry. Things are just so different now.”
Pimp My Profile
ONE
“Clouds are sacred to my people,” Tucker said, gazing out into the Wyoming darkness.
“I’m not even sure what that means,” Lizzie said. She had only recently arisen and was pale and disheveled. And hungry.
“Nothing. It don’t mean nothing. Just reminiscing is all.”
“Tucker, I’ve only been a Vampire for two months.”
“Twelve weeks.”
“Fine, three months. But I think it’s a little early to get all sentimental about your precious clouds.” She tucked a strand of her honey-blonde hair behind her ear. “They’re still up there at night, even if you can’t see them.”
“There’s no reason to get all pissy,” he said. “Have something to eat. Or someone, I guess I should say.” He tilted his head toward the kitchen. Lizzie nodded curtly and turned, disappearing into the other room.
He sat down heavily on the couch and nudged Rex to the side. Rex gave up his territory grudgingly, shooting Tucker a mournful and pained look. It was lost on Tucker who listened intently as Lizzie rummaged in the cupboards for an aseptic pack of blood. Sully had recently discovered a new, reliable source of blood, marketed in the Vampire underground as Sanguine in packages that looked remarkably like a sports drink. This blood source had thus far allowed her to avoid taking sustenance from a still-breathing human.
They were living in a new, spacious doublewide trailer plopped down over the scorched outline of Tucker’s old trailer. It looked out over his little parcel of sagebrush-choked rangeland all the way down to a perpetually nervous knot of his neighbor’s alpacas, forever shivering and shedding their hair, bleating and sprinting for the far corner of the opposite field whenever Lizzie walked out into the night.
He heard her sigh and toss the empty pack into the trash.
When she came back in, her cheeks were flushed and her eyes glittered.
“Feel better?”
“I do.”
“You got a little bit of some poor bastard right there on the corner of your mouth.” He pointed hesitantly at his own face.
She swiped at her mouth, smearing a crimson stripe across her cheek and then rubbed it away.
“Really? Every night? Are you going to say something like that every single night?”
“Probably.”
“I’m guessing that drinking the blood of anonymous donors who are none the wiser makes more sense than killing someone in LonePine every night. There wouldn’t be a town by the end of the year.”
He thought about it for a second. “That’s not right. I mean, I’m no math whiz but …”
“I said that for effect.”
He popped a beer. “I know, I know. Sorry. Things are just so different now.”
Teaser for you:
A knock at the door interrupted. “Lizzie, you all right?” asked Dad.
“Yes, Mr. Bates, I’m fine. Thanks for checking.”
“You thinking about coming out of there soon? Are you feeling sick or something?”
“I’m good. Do you have any glue out there?”
There was a long pause. “Is this some sort of Vampire thing I don’t really want to know about?”
“No,” she said with a laugh, looking at the letter in her hand. “It’s more of a scrapbook kind of a thing. I need to add something important.”
“Let me see what I can rustle up,” he said as his footsteps trailed off into the kitchen.
About the Authors:
Clark Hays grew up in Montana in the shadow of the Tobacco Root Mountains. In addition to his fiction work, he is a cowboy, a published poet and occasional food critic. Recently, he was nominated for Pushcart Prize for short fiction and not so recently for a Rhysling award for poetry. Clark brings a deep knowledge about the modern west, weaponry, country music and existentialism to his writing.
Kathleen McFall grew up in the heart of Washington, D.C. She worked as a petroleum geologist and, later, as a journalist, and has published hundreds of articles about scientific research, energy and natural resources. An interest in the overlap of science and mysticism are an essential aspect of her fiction writing. She received an Oregon Literary Arts Fellowship for fiction writing.
Learn more at http://cowboyandvampire.com/
Visit McFall and Hay’s Website at: http://pumpjackpress.com
Purchase from any of these if you like
*Disclosure of Material Connection: I have received this book free from
the author as part of Pump Up Your Book Blog Tours. Although payment may have
been received by Pump Up Your Book Online Book Blog Tours, no payment was
received by me in exchange for this review. I was not required to write a
positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this
in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: Guides
Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
0 comments:
Post a Comment