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Blood Like Poison #1
For the Love of a Vampire
Like most seventeen year olds, Ridley Heller thought she had her future all planned out. What she wanted most in life was to get out of small town Harker. Her only goal was to keep her mouth shut and her grades high so she could win a cheerleading scholarship to Stanford. But that was before she met Bo.
In Ridley’s wildest dreams, she could never have planned for someone like Bo, for a love so intense it left her breathless. No human girl could.
A haunting stranger that watched her from afar, Bo stole Ridley’s heart from the moment she laid eyes on him. But he has secrets. Bo’s a vampire. Both his past and his present are a danger to Ridley, but the biggest threat is not her blood; it’s her heart. He’s feeding a thirst for revenge that will cost him his life, and it may already be too late.
The more darkness Ridley uncovers, the more she realizes that her life will never be the same—with or without Bo. Can she sacrifice her future and her heart for someone who has a death wish?
In Ridley’s wildest dreams, she could never have planned for someone like Bo, for a love so intense it left her breathless. No human girl could.
A haunting stranger that watched her from afar, Bo stole Ridley’s heart from the moment she laid eyes on him. But he has secrets. Bo’s a vampire. Both his past and his present are a danger to Ridley, but the biggest threat is not her blood; it’s her heart. He’s feeding a thirst for revenge that will cost him his life, and it may already be too late.
The more darkness Ridley uncovers, the more she realizes that her life will never be the same—with or without Bo. Can she sacrifice her future and her heart for someone who has a death wish?
278 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 20, 2011
181 people are currently reading
7245 people want to read
About the author
M. Leighton
67 books9,435 followersNew York Times and USA Today Bestselling Author, M. Leighton, is a native of Ohio. She relocated to the warmer climates of the South, where she can be near the water all summer and miss the snow all winter. Possessed of an overactive imagination from early in her childhood, Michelle finally found an acceptable outlet for her fantastical visions: literary fiction. Having written over a dozen novels, these days Michelle enjoys letting her mind wander to more romantic settings with sexy Southern guys, much like the one she married and the ones you'll find in her latest books. When her thoughts aren't roaming in that direction, she'll be riding wild horses, skiing the slopes of Aspen or scuba diving with a hot rock star, all without leaving the cozy comfort of her office.
About Michelle: I love coffee and chocolate, even more so when they are combined. I'm convinced that one day they could be the basis for world peace. I also love the color red and am seriously considering dying my hair.
About Michelle: I love coffee and chocolate, even more so when they are combined. I'm convinced that one day they could be the basis for world peace. I also love the color red and am seriously considering dying my hair.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 355 reviews
July 8, 2011
First, I would like to express that I am a Twilighter. Always have been, always will be. Cold hard truth: Every YA vampire book for the rest of eternity is going to be compared to Twilight. It is what it is. Let’s say Twilight was an apple. This book would be an orange. Same family, equally delicious, but completely and totally different.
Three years ago, Ridley and her sister were driving and a dear jumped out in front of them. Ridley made it, her sister didn’t. Her family is falling apart and she’s doing everything she can to hold them together, while dealing with typical bitchy high school girls in the form of a little blonde named Trinity. Then, in walks Bo….or has he been there all along? I’m not giving you anymore than that. You’ve got to go read it. All my Twilighters, and I’ve never met one I didn’t like, you will enjoy this read. If you don’t like YA, if vampires aren’t your thing, this probably isn’t for you but may I just say, what a damn shame. ;)
Three years ago, Ridley and her sister were driving and a dear jumped out in front of them. Ridley made it, her sister didn’t. Her family is falling apart and she’s doing everything she can to hold them together, while dealing with typical bitchy high school girls in the form of a little blonde named Trinity. Then, in walks Bo….or has he been there all along? I’m not giving you anymore than that. You’ve got to go read it. All my Twilighters, and I’ve never met one I didn’t like, you will enjoy this read. If you don’t like YA, if vampires aren’t your thing, this probably isn’t for you but may I just say, what a damn shame. ;)
October 20, 2016
This book was amazing. By far one of the most creative vampire stories out there. Not only were the characters real but they had my attention from the get go. I found myself completely wrapped up in their lives and wanting to know more about them, even the bad guys.
I can't wait to read the sequel and just hope that I won't have to wait too long for the last book to come out. I can already tell that I will be waiting on pins and needles to see what happens next.
Leighton is a truly talented author that has a way with words that just flow right off the pages and into your heart.
I can't wait to read the sequel and just hope that I won't have to wait too long for the last book to come out. I can already tell that I will be waiting on pins and needles to see what happens next.
Leighton is a truly talented author that has a way with words that just flow right off the pages and into your heart.
June 4, 2011
I just gotta ask..... Where are all these good ratings coming from??? I bought this book for .99 cents for my Kindle and unlike MOST other books for that price the price is fitting for this one. I'm not fond of giving bad reviews however I want to prevent others from wasting their time. I may not have been so harsh in my rating if I had not relized that I have previously read a book from the same author. That one fell flat as well. The romance is ridiculous and un-believable, the plot didnt seem too unique and I had to force myself to even finish it.
May 12, 2011
Anyone who love vampire books should pick up this book and read it today.
I will admit that I was a little nervous at first, because there seemed to be a couple of similiarities to Twilight. But I read it anyway and trust me, Ms. Leighton delivers.
The characters of Bo and Ridley are likeable (in fact, I think I'm a little in love with Bo) and realistic. Dialogue is natural and witty and pacing is spot-on. With a rich imagination, she brings in elements of vampirism that I had never heard of before which is nice. It is refreshing to read something fresh and new.
I become quickly absorbed in this book and read it one sitting. And when I read the end, I almost had a heart attack. I'm waiting anxiously for the sequel.
I've added M. Leighton to my shelf of favorite authors and can't wait to see what else she brings to the party at a later date.
I will admit that I was a little nervous at first, because there seemed to be a couple of similiarities to Twilight. But I read it anyway and trust me, Ms. Leighton delivers.
The characters of Bo and Ridley are likeable (in fact, I think I'm a little in love with Bo) and realistic. Dialogue is natural and witty and pacing is spot-on. With a rich imagination, she brings in elements of vampirism that I had never heard of before which is nice. It is refreshing to read something fresh and new.
I become quickly absorbed in this book and read it one sitting. And when I read the end, I almost had a heart attack. I'm waiting anxiously for the sequel.
I've added M. Leighton to my shelf of favorite authors and can't wait to see what else she brings to the party at a later date.
October 3, 2011
Vampires with a sweet twist.
I love vamp novels just like the next person but these days it seems as though every one of them is the same form of either morbid sex or lolly la I'm a vampire but I'm so sweet and let's be wonderful friends.
This book was awesome. A perfect balance of sweet and sour, of hard and soft, of on and off. The characters are realistic and not annoying in their choices nor their behaivor. Ridley is down to earth and very likable. And Bo is someone you can take home to mamma and then turn around and make out with in a graveyard. I just loved them both.
Their relationship starts with a lovely attraction. I liked how she took care of things with an ex before progressing and I loved the twist and turns in it all. Even though it's set in high school and carries the usual drama, it wasn't overwraught with it and was a very entertaining read. I couldn't put this book down and finished in one sitting.
I can't wait for the next book and have no doubt it will be just as amazing as the first.
I love vamp novels just like the next person but these days it seems as though every one of them is the same form of either morbid sex or lolly la I'm a vampire but I'm so sweet and let's be wonderful friends.
This book was awesome. A perfect balance of sweet and sour, of hard and soft, of on and off. The characters are realistic and not annoying in their choices nor their behaivor. Ridley is down to earth and very likable. And Bo is someone you can take home to mamma and then turn around and make out with in a graveyard. I just loved them both.
Their relationship starts with a lovely attraction. I liked how she took care of things with an ex before progressing and I loved the twist and turns in it all. Even though it's set in high school and carries the usual drama, it wasn't overwraught with it and was a very entertaining read. I couldn't put this book down and finished in one sitting.
I can't wait for the next book and have no doubt it will be just as amazing as the first.
January 28, 2016
What a nice surprise this book turned out to be. At first I thought "oh no not another Twilight spin-off" but as I got further into the book it became clear that this was a vampire book with a different take on the genre.
Ridley is quite a gutsy h and I really liked her, captain of the cheerleader team just trying to get through college so that when she graduates it will enable her to move far away from her broken home.
After a terrible car accident that takes the life of sister Izzy she has to cope with her alcoholic mother and stay away father.
Life at college becomes that more interesting when a good looking new student arrives at the school his name is Bo and he begins to stalk our h. Ridley has to deal with the 'popular' nasty piece of work that is on her team Trinity, she will stop at nothing to get revenge on our h but you will have to read the story to know why.
I've actually bought the next two books as the whole series is out although I noticed M Leighton has a book in Bo's pov that hasn't been written yet.
If you like your vampire reads then I'm sure you will enjoy this YA book.
Ridley is quite a gutsy h and I really liked her, captain of the cheerleader team just trying to get through college so that when she graduates it will enable her to move far away from her broken home.
After a terrible car accident that takes the life of sister Izzy she has to cope with her alcoholic mother and stay away father.
Life at college becomes that more interesting when a good looking new student arrives at the school his name is Bo and he begins to stalk our h. Ridley has to deal with the 'popular' nasty piece of work that is on her team Trinity, she will stop at nothing to get revenge on our h but you will have to read the story to know why.
I've actually bought the next two books as the whole series is out although I noticed M Leighton has a book in Bo's pov that hasn't been written yet.
If you like your vampire reads then I'm sure you will enjoy this YA book.
June 3, 2011
So first of all, for everyone who thinks this book is exactly like Twilight, or can even be compared, you're wrong. Did you even read the book?
Ok yes, there is a vampire who falls in love with a human girl, but that is where the similarities end. The main vampire male, Bo, actually has flaws and inner demons. The main girl Ridley, actually has a personility and isn't totally helpless.
I could list several other reasons why this book is nothing like Twilight but then I would give the whole thing away ;) I highly recommend this book. It's suspenseful and you can almost feel how much Bo and Ridley love each other, it's that intense. It's definitly not your typical paranormal romance. The author gave the genre a whole new twist and there are still things the reader doesn't know, which is why I'm looking forward to reading the next book :)
Ok yes, there is a vampire who falls in love with a human girl, but that is where the similarities end. The main vampire male, Bo, actually has flaws and inner demons. The main girl Ridley, actually has a personility and isn't totally helpless.
I could list several other reasons why this book is nothing like Twilight but then I would give the whole thing away ;) I highly recommend this book. It's suspenseful and you can almost feel how much Bo and Ridley love each other, it's that intense. It's definitly not your typical paranormal romance. The author gave the genre a whole new twist and there are still things the reader doesn't know, which is why I'm looking forward to reading the next book :)
May 29, 2013
5/29/13 - Currently free on Amazon!!! http://amzn.com/B004XJ555O I liked this series. If you're in the mood for PNR I tots recommend it.
August 11, 2012
review is on www.booknerdsacrossamerica.com
I have become the biggest M. Leighton fan! Between the Madly series, The Wild Ones and now this series I cannot believe how much I am loving M. Leighton' stories! She is an author that knows how to keep you on the edge of your seat. More than once in this book was I given a #BookNerdHeartAttack !
Best part of book: BO! Bo is the best part of this book. Hot, young and caring vampire is how I would describe Bo. Oh, did I forget to mention he is HOT! Well, he is! On top of that, he has very, very strong feelings for Ridley. At first, Ridley kind of got on my nerves and here is why: she was a follower. She did everything her friends wanted her to do and she saw right through them. However, she never stood up to them. Then one day she did and it was GREAT! See, Ridley has had a rough past few years and it was not until Bo came into her life that she began to see things differently. She was immediately pulled to Bo. (Um, hello! Hot vampire!) But it was more than that. Bo was there for Ridley more than once to save her and he would sacrifice anything for her! I do mean ANYTHING!
Not so great about the book: THE ENDING! Talk about a cliffhanger. I was on the verge of throwing my Kindle across the room because I was so hurt/upset/mad (all rolled into one) at the ending of this book! But, after I tweeted M. Leighton she told me it would be ok and read book 2.
Why read this book: Ok, I know what you are thinking: hot vampire and a girl - been there, done that. WRONG! This has a lot more "story" to it then just love. Do not get me wrong there is love but the back stories and the character are much different than other Vampire/Human Girl stories!
I have become the biggest M. Leighton fan! Between the Madly series, The Wild Ones and now this series I cannot believe how much I am loving M. Leighton' stories! She is an author that knows how to keep you on the edge of your seat. More than once in this book was I given a #BookNerdHeartAttack !
Best part of book: BO! Bo is the best part of this book. Hot, young and caring vampire is how I would describe Bo. Oh, did I forget to mention he is HOT! Well, he is! On top of that, he has very, very strong feelings for Ridley. At first, Ridley kind of got on my nerves and here is why: she was a follower. She did everything her friends wanted her to do and she saw right through them. However, she never stood up to them. Then one day she did and it was GREAT! See, Ridley has had a rough past few years and it was not until Bo came into her life that she began to see things differently. She was immediately pulled to Bo. (Um, hello! Hot vampire!) But it was more than that. Bo was there for Ridley more than once to save her and he would sacrifice anything for her! I do mean ANYTHING!
Not so great about the book: THE ENDING! Talk about a cliffhanger. I was on the verge of throwing my Kindle across the room because I was so hurt/upset/mad (all rolled into one) at the ending of this book! But, after I tweeted M. Leighton she told me it would be ok and read book 2.
Why read this book: Ok, I know what you are thinking: hot vampire and a girl - been there, done that. WRONG! This has a lot more "story" to it then just love. Do not get me wrong there is love but the back stories and the character are much different than other Vampire/Human Girl stories!
October 5, 2011
M. Leighton creates an enticing sexy romance between Ridley and Bo. This isn't your average vampire romance but creates a new mythology that I haven't encountered before. Bo is the most amazing hero who is intense, romantic and protective. Bo takes Ridley's life by storm upsetting her carefully planned escape from her life where she is just biding her time until she can escape her small town to Stanford. Ridley's life is very pretend and she seems to just keep going through the motions with her home and school life. Bo makes her feel again and draws her in on a complete soul level. Their romance is intense and will make your heart flutter and swoon. This pair of soul mates will keep you reading and wanting the next book to continue their story right away.
Ridley is the captian of the cheerleaders and looking forward to college. She has a steady boyfriend, Drew, and belongs to the 'it' crowd. Suddenly she notices and is drawn to Bo who is a new transfer to Harker High. Ridley discovers Bo's secret and is caught up in his dangerous world. Since losing her sister in a car accident 3 years ago, Ridley has been going throught the motions. Her mother is a drunk and her Dad is out of town more than home. Ridley is on her own. Bo shows her love and understanding that has been missing in her life. However Bo has revenge on his mind. He is killing vampires to find and revenge his Dad's death. Together Bo and Ridley must discover the underground world of their small town and try to keep their love alive.
Ridley is the captian of the cheerleaders and looking forward to college. She has a steady boyfriend, Drew, and belongs to the 'it' crowd. Suddenly she notices and is drawn to Bo who is a new transfer to Harker High. Ridley discovers Bo's secret and is caught up in his dangerous world. Since losing her sister in a car accident 3 years ago, Ridley has been going throught the motions. Her mother is a drunk and her Dad is out of town more than home. Ridley is on her own. Bo shows her love and understanding that has been missing in her life. However Bo has revenge on his mind. He is killing vampires to find and revenge his Dad's death. Together Bo and Ridley must discover the underground world of their small town and try to keep their love alive.
July 6, 2011
This book was actually pretty darn good. I was a little worried from what people were saying about it being just a rip off of twilight, but it really wasn't. I do see where some people were saying that, because I mean, you have a vampire who captivates this girl, and she is totally taken with him and his mysterious self. But the whole story line is different, with different problems and a different love.
I really liked the problems that were faced in this book. Of all the vampire books I have read I have never came across the way of dying Bo was faced with. It put a whole new spin on being a vampire. Also, the end threw me for one heck of a loop. I really will have to buy the second book it is killing me that much.
I fell in love with the love that Ridley had for Bo. Especially after she fed from him. I also never encountered that with another vamp book. How her sense of smell and sight and hearing were improved just from him, how she felt him near her. I also loved when Bo was in trouble, Ridley turned into a bad ass.
Great vampire book that you will HAVE to buy the sequel to, because there is just too much to leave you with. Too many questions that need to be answered. Give this book a read!!
I really liked the problems that were faced in this book. Of all the vampire books I have read I have never came across the way of dying Bo was faced with. It put a whole new spin on being a vampire. Also, the end threw me for one heck of a loop. I really will have to buy the second book it is killing me that much.
I fell in love with the love that Ridley had for Bo. Especially after she fed from him. I also never encountered that with another vamp book. How her sense of smell and sight and hearing were improved just from him, how she felt him near her. I also loved when Bo was in trouble, Ridley turned into a bad ass.
Great vampire book that you will HAVE to buy the sequel to, because there is just too much to leave you with. Too many questions that need to be answered. Give this book a read!!
August 16, 2011
I was unsure in after the first couple of chapters I was thinking this was a Twilight redo, BUT I was wrong! This book went somewhere completley different....Don't get me wrong, there's still un-dying love and a girl who thinks she's undeserving...but somewhere after the first chapter it turned on me. I couldn't put it down....what was Bo going to do? How would Trinity get revenge? Was Drew giving up with out a fight? All my questions had to answered before I put the book down....then M, Leighton did the unthinkable. She ended the book! Hello amazon.com! I am in search of the second book...and I hope it ends without such a cliff hanger!! (NOT REALLY!) ;)
November 2, 2011
Sorry to say, but this book was horrible. There was no substance. The writing was so juvenile, I felt as though I wrote this book. I am not a writer by any means and would never consider myself one, but this book was written like I would write. It started off like it was a spin off from Twilight and I couldn't shake the feeling the whole time I was reading it. It was no where near as good as Twilight, but it seems as though the author was trying to go for the same depth Twilight offered but failed miserably. I wish Leighton nothing but success and hope that the author can write with more depth and not so superficial in the future. The best of luck Leighton.
July 21, 2011
For the first third of this book I kept imagining the reviews that I might read of this book. I'm sure there would be some out there who would dismiss this book as simply being a Twilight knock-off, and to be sure, there are a few similarities in plot between the two stories. However, to be perfectly fair, this book is very different from the Twilight story, and I enjoyed it immensely. I should start off with full disclosure to say that I am a Twilight fan, but I have grown to see a few big flaws in that story, so I'm not one of those fans who can see no wrong in the Twilight universe. I want to explain exactly what I loved about this book and why I think that comparison between the two novels is unfair.
Let's just start with the similarities so we can get them out of the way. For the Love of a Vampire, like Twilight, also stars a super hot teenage vampire who falls desperately in love with a regular human girl. Like Twilight, young Bo refuses to indulge by drinking human blood, and he is very restrained when hanging out with Ridley, who constantly seems to be earning giant gashes which spew blood all over the place. Bo and Ridley have an instant chemical sort of attraction that is all-encompassing. Both of them super love each other to distraction, willing to die for one another if necessary in order to save the other. And, like in the Twilight series, our hero, Bo, is so concerned for the safety of his love, Ridley, that he is constantly trying to convince her that he is no good for her, and he attempts (a bit feebly, I must say) at one point to leave Ridley for good.
But, although those seem like huge similarities, there are actually many things that separate these two books and make this novel well worth my time to read. Ridley is no pining weakling who spends half of her time convinced that she is not worthy of Bo's love. She does have some concerns about whether or not Bo is really in love with her as a person, but she handles those doubts with strength, and she actually talks to him to work through her feelings. It is so refreshing to read about a couple in a PNR who can actually talk through the issues that come between them. They don't do this perfectly. There are definitely bumps along the way, but they at least attempt to understand each other and their motivations. Ridley is not a perfect character. She does have issues with her personality that she needs to work on, and through the novel I could see the evolution of her character, and that was good to read. She does not spend the novel sitting around while Bo rescues her from crisis after crisis. She actually participates to help Bo at times. I loved that Bo was a flawed hero. He was no perfect vampire. He is a vampire out for revenge, and he is willing to end his own life to figure out who killed his father. He makes some serious mistakes in his relationship with Ridley, but many of those can probably be traced back to his belief that he really isn't the best for her. I like the fact that he has some real flaws. It makes the relationship seem a little more normal, or at least as normal as a human-vampire relationship can be.
This novel also seemed deeper in some ways than Twilight because of some of the issues that the main characters were having to work through. Ridley, as well as her mother and father, are struggling to deal with the death of her older sister. Although the crash that killed her was more than three years earlier, they are nowhere close to being back to normal. They are a perfect example of a disfunctional family, simply going through the motions each day of work, school, and church without really engaging in any of it. Ridley is dealing with an alcoholic mother and an absentee father, and her struggles lend her character a depth that feels very real. Bo is also struggling with the murder of his father -- seeking out his killer to gain his revenge while also having a relationship with a mother who he is not exactly close to. None of these issues were truly resolved by the end of this novel, and I appreciated that because no problems in life which are that difficult can be solved in a manner of months.
If I have a few complaints, they are these: This is not a problem that is specific to this book in particular, but it is a problem that I see in many young adult PNR books. Bo and Ridley's relationship is just waaaaaaay too intense based on the amount of time that they spend together and what they know about each other. I understand that there is some almost chemical attraction between the two of them that causes Ridley to get all fluttery whenever Bo is in the area. But, in my opinion, before people should start throwing around the "L" word they need to really have the opportunity to talk to the other person. Bo and Ridley don't spend enough time talking to each other in the novel. They simply feel. Both of them seem to realize this when they comment on how little they know about each other, and this is after they already feel as if they are heading into "life-mate" territory. Working with teenage girls, however, I do know that this is not unheard of in the teen world. Many girls do believe that they have fallen head over heels in love with Mr. Wonderful, even though they have only spent enough time with him to know that he is an awesome kisser. So, this is just a pet peeve of mine. It doesn't reflect on the overall value of this story. Also, I think that Trinity was just a little too evil. Only briefly did I catch a glimpse of any layer to her personality. I like my PNR villains to be a little more layered. It felt as if some of the teen drama that was so prevalent at the beginnng of the novel was never fully dealt with. There were some issues that seemed to be all-encompassing in the beginning chapters, but they simply faded away. But to be fair, once you find out that you might be in love with a dying vampire, teen drama probably doesn't seem all that important to you any more.
This was a well-written novel that was full of suspense and mystery. The book ended with lots of mystery still to solve, so don't expect resolution of plot lines with this one book. However, it was so well written that I had no problem immediately downloading book #2 and continuing on the journey I began with this book. The relationship between Bo and Ridley was well written, and there was plenty of butterfly inducing dialogue and thoughts to get my heart jumping. I am super happy to be introduced to this writer. Well done!
Let's just start with the similarities so we can get them out of the way. For the Love of a Vampire, like Twilight, also stars a super hot teenage vampire who falls desperately in love with a regular human girl. Like Twilight, young Bo refuses to indulge by drinking human blood, and he is very restrained when hanging out with Ridley, who constantly seems to be earning giant gashes which spew blood all over the place. Bo and Ridley have an instant chemical sort of attraction that is all-encompassing. Both of them super love each other to distraction, willing to die for one another if necessary in order to save the other. And, like in the Twilight series, our hero, Bo, is so concerned for the safety of his love, Ridley, that he is constantly trying to convince her that he is no good for her, and he attempts (a bit feebly, I must say) at one point to leave Ridley for good.
But, although those seem like huge similarities, there are actually many things that separate these two books and make this novel well worth my time to read. Ridley is no pining weakling who spends half of her time convinced that she is not worthy of Bo's love. She does have some concerns about whether or not Bo is really in love with her as a person, but she handles those doubts with strength, and she actually talks to him to work through her feelings. It is so refreshing to read about a couple in a PNR who can actually talk through the issues that come between them. They don't do this perfectly. There are definitely bumps along the way, but they at least attempt to understand each other and their motivations. Ridley is not a perfect character. She does have issues with her personality that she needs to work on, and through the novel I could see the evolution of her character, and that was good to read. She does not spend the novel sitting around while Bo rescues her from crisis after crisis. She actually participates to help Bo at times. I loved that Bo was a flawed hero. He was no perfect vampire. He is a vampire out for revenge, and he is willing to end his own life to figure out who killed his father. He makes some serious mistakes in his relationship with Ridley, but many of those can probably be traced back to his belief that he really isn't the best for her. I like the fact that he has some real flaws. It makes the relationship seem a little more normal, or at least as normal as a human-vampire relationship can be.
This novel also seemed deeper in some ways than Twilight because of some of the issues that the main characters were having to work through. Ridley, as well as her mother and father, are struggling to deal with the death of her older sister. Although the crash that killed her was more than three years earlier, they are nowhere close to being back to normal. They are a perfect example of a disfunctional family, simply going through the motions each day of work, school, and church without really engaging in any of it. Ridley is dealing with an alcoholic mother and an absentee father, and her struggles lend her character a depth that feels very real. Bo is also struggling with the murder of his father -- seeking out his killer to gain his revenge while also having a relationship with a mother who he is not exactly close to. None of these issues were truly resolved by the end of this novel, and I appreciated that because no problems in life which are that difficult can be solved in a manner of months.
If I have a few complaints, they are these: This is not a problem that is specific to this book in particular, but it is a problem that I see in many young adult PNR books. Bo and Ridley's relationship is just waaaaaaay too intense based on the amount of time that they spend together and what they know about each other. I understand that there is some almost chemical attraction between the two of them that causes Ridley to get all fluttery whenever Bo is in the area. But, in my opinion, before people should start throwing around the "L" word they need to really have the opportunity to talk to the other person. Bo and Ridley don't spend enough time talking to each other in the novel. They simply feel. Both of them seem to realize this when they comment on how little they know about each other, and this is after they already feel as if they are heading into "life-mate" territory. Working with teenage girls, however, I do know that this is not unheard of in the teen world. Many girls do believe that they have fallen head over heels in love with Mr. Wonderful, even though they have only spent enough time with him to know that he is an awesome kisser. So, this is just a pet peeve of mine. It doesn't reflect on the overall value of this story. Also, I think that Trinity was just a little too evil. Only briefly did I catch a glimpse of any layer to her personality. I like my PNR villains to be a little more layered. It felt as if some of the teen drama that was so prevalent at the beginnng of the novel was never fully dealt with. There were some issues that seemed to be all-encompassing in the beginning chapters, but they simply faded away. But to be fair, once you find out that you might be in love with a dying vampire, teen drama probably doesn't seem all that important to you any more.
This was a well-written novel that was full of suspense and mystery. The book ended with lots of mystery still to solve, so don't expect resolution of plot lines with this one book. However, it was so well written that I had no problem immediately downloading book #2 and continuing on the journey I began with this book. The relationship between Bo and Ridley was well written, and there was plenty of butterfly inducing dialogue and thoughts to get my heart jumping. I am super happy to be introduced to this writer. Well done!
February 13, 2012
This book is highly typical of any vampire/human romance books I've ever read; where the girl is incredibly drawn to the mysteriously dark, brooding newcomer. So the story proceeds on like it should, wherein I fought off the urge to call it a Twilight copycat. But as I delve deeper into the story, I found that For the Love of a Vampire has its unique twists on the legends and the myths of this highly overused breed of monsters in the literary mainstream.
Ridley's been going through life like a drone; on auto-pilot, and doing exactly what was expected of her. But three years ago, she was a different person. Three years ago, she'd probably been bothered with the latest gossips, fashions and can be found drooling over the popular guy. That was then, when her sister Izzy was still alive. Her family had drifted apart since Izzy died. Her mother turned to alcohol and her father have tried to stay away as much as he possibly could. Now, she's existed by being invisible and being careful not to ruffle any feathers. She's kept the perfect student persona, academically and socially. But with the arrival of a new guy, she'd been feeling more of a fraud than ever. There was something about him that sees through the facade, and the constant need to be near him confuses her to no end. As days go by, and as circumstances thrown the two of them more and more in each other's paths, the pull was undeniable and staying away was no longer an option. There are a lot of things she doesn't know about Bo, and there are secrets, if uncovered, could cost her her life. She was only certain of one thing and one thing alone: she'd do anything to save Bo from an inevitable death no matter the cost.
Well, fellow bookworms, I have found myself on the outside looking in again. This book has been getting some rave reviews on Goodreads and I'm feeling left out. The writing was pedestrian. The plot even more so. I did appreciate that the author tried to give her vampires a different spin but at the end of the day, and I apologize profusely for saying this, I still heard echoes of Edward Cullen's inability to stay away from Bella Swan. The self-sacrificing, "I'm no good for you" syndrome and Bo's stalker tendencies were still resonant of the sparkly one. Also, once upon a time, there was a group of ancient vampires that tried to live in harmony with the humans by establishing laws prohibiting the senseless killings for feeding purposes. I don't have to tell you who they were.
I also found the introduction of the antagonist Lars to be lacklustre. In fact, he DID NOT SAY ANYTHING AT ALL until close to the very end. I don't know, maybe it's just me. But when you're trying to develop an evil character, there's got to be a build up - an attempt at manipulation of fear or the very least, intimidation. That's quite hard to do if the character doesn't open his mouth and speak of all the evil things he'd set out to do.
Anyway, I did say there were some good among the...prosaic. Ridley started off a jellyfish - an invertebrate. She'd kept her mouth shut through the queen bee's every single diatribe. She tolerated her mother's alcohol abuse and brush it off to grieving. Sometimes, her decisions didn't make any sense at all. Like, going for a drive with an ex who popped her one and broke her jaw. So of course, the drive didn't end well. *sigh* But she did wake up. I felt a smidgeon of admiration once she did. She was fearless when it comes to saving Bo's life regardless even if she knew it was a futile cause. But then again, this is a typical heroine MO isn't it?
I like the intricacies with which a vampire gets turned. It wasn't just a basic exchange of venom-laced bodily fluids. Bo could heal Ridley without turning her and the bond that exist between the drinker and the drink-ee.
To summarize, I get the allure of this book. The book just didn't get me.
Ridley's been going through life like a drone; on auto-pilot, and doing exactly what was expected of her. But three years ago, she was a different person. Three years ago, she'd probably been bothered with the latest gossips, fashions and can be found drooling over the popular guy. That was then, when her sister Izzy was still alive. Her family had drifted apart since Izzy died. Her mother turned to alcohol and her father have tried to stay away as much as he possibly could. Now, she's existed by being invisible and being careful not to ruffle any feathers. She's kept the perfect student persona, academically and socially. But with the arrival of a new guy, she'd been feeling more of a fraud than ever. There was something about him that sees through the facade, and the constant need to be near him confuses her to no end. As days go by, and as circumstances thrown the two of them more and more in each other's paths, the pull was undeniable and staying away was no longer an option. There are a lot of things she doesn't know about Bo, and there are secrets, if uncovered, could cost her her life. She was only certain of one thing and one thing alone: she'd do anything to save Bo from an inevitable death no matter the cost.
Well, fellow bookworms, I have found myself on the outside looking in again. This book has been getting some rave reviews on Goodreads and I'm feeling left out. The writing was pedestrian. The plot even more so. I did appreciate that the author tried to give her vampires a different spin but at the end of the day, and I apologize profusely for saying this, I still heard echoes of Edward Cullen's inability to stay away from Bella Swan. The self-sacrificing, "I'm no good for you" syndrome and Bo's stalker tendencies were still resonant of the sparkly one. Also, once upon a time, there was a group of ancient vampires that tried to live in harmony with the humans by establishing laws prohibiting the senseless killings for feeding purposes. I don't have to tell you who they were.
I also found the introduction of the antagonist Lars to be lacklustre. In fact, he DID NOT SAY ANYTHING AT ALL until close to the very end. I don't know, maybe it's just me. But when you're trying to develop an evil character, there's got to be a build up - an attempt at manipulation of fear or the very least, intimidation. That's quite hard to do if the character doesn't open his mouth and speak of all the evil things he'd set out to do.
Anyway, I did say there were some good among the...prosaic. Ridley started off a jellyfish - an invertebrate. She'd kept her mouth shut through the queen bee's every single diatribe. She tolerated her mother's alcohol abuse and brush it off to grieving. Sometimes, her decisions didn't make any sense at all. Like, going for a drive with an ex who popped her one and broke her jaw. So of course, the drive didn't end well. *sigh* But she did wake up. I felt a smidgeon of admiration once she did. She was fearless when it comes to saving Bo's life regardless even if she knew it was a futile cause. But then again, this is a typical heroine MO isn't it?
I like the intricacies with which a vampire gets turned. It wasn't just a basic exchange of venom-laced bodily fluids. Bo could heal Ridley without turning her and the bond that exist between the drinker and the drink-ee.
To summarize, I get the allure of this book. The book just didn't get me.
January 26, 2012
I haven't enjoyed a vampire book like this since Twilight, and if you thought Edward was cute just wait until you meet Bo!
Ridley has the envied life at school. She is captain of the cheer squad, her boyfriend is the quarterback, and she has a spot at the cool table. But that is all a facade for the life she has at home. When tragedy strikes her family, her mom becomes a drunk and her dad is absent, and Ridley is left with nothing but the hope of getting out!
Until...She meets her stalker.
Once Ridley meets Bo, she fall head-over-heels in love. (not my ideal way of "love" happening, but M. makes it work!) With Bo's help, Ridley is able to take a stand in who she is; her life finds meaning, and suddenly she looks forward to something other than getting out of town.
This vampire novel will have you hooked by the very first page ( I know I was)! I am reading the sequel right now, and it is just killing me taking a break to write this review! The characters are so deep and you will fall in love with them, or in Trinity's case you will loath her. This book really took hold of my emotions. I wanted to kill Trinity and make-out with Bo. And when Bo announces he is dying *aghh* I almost broke down and started crying right there.
I completely, absolutely recommend this book especially if you like swooning over a good vampire read!
Ridley has the envied life at school. She is captain of the cheer squad, her boyfriend is the quarterback, and she has a spot at the cool table. But that is all a facade for the life she has at home. When tragedy strikes her family, her mom becomes a drunk and her dad is absent, and Ridley is left with nothing but the hope of getting out!
Until...She meets her stalker.
Once Ridley meets Bo, she fall head-over-heels in love. (not my ideal way of "love" happening, but M. makes it work!) With Bo's help, Ridley is able to take a stand in who she is; her life finds meaning, and suddenly she looks forward to something other than getting out of town.
This vampire novel will have you hooked by the very first page ( I know I was)! I am reading the sequel right now, and it is just killing me taking a break to write this review! The characters are so deep and you will fall in love with them, or in Trinity's case you will loath her. This book really took hold of my emotions. I wanted to kill Trinity and make-out with Bo. And when Bo announces he is dying *aghh* I almost broke down and started crying right there.
I completely, absolutely recommend this book especially if you like swooning over a good vampire read!
July 26, 2011
I loved Blood Like Poison!! I am going to blow through this series as fast as Ms. Leighton puts them out!
Yes, Blood Like poison is similar to Twilight in SOME ways. Much more so towards the beginning of the book. But as you get deeper into the story, you will find that Ms. Leighton has her own ideas and unique take on her vampires and the lives they lead.
You will absolutely fall in love with Bo and Ridley. They are a sweet and lovable couple. Their characters are well developed and their relationship didn't seem rushed or forced.
The issues that these two have to overcome are well thought out and will keep you up reading into the wee hours of the morning. And let me just say that I'm glad that the second book is already available because the ending is incredible but it left me running to my Kindle to download the next part to my new obsession!! ;) Ms. Leighton has made her way to my auto-buy authors list!
Yes, Blood Like poison is similar to Twilight in SOME ways. Much more so towards the beginning of the book. But as you get deeper into the story, you will find that Ms. Leighton has her own ideas and unique take on her vampires and the lives they lead.
You will absolutely fall in love with Bo and Ridley. They are a sweet and lovable couple. Their characters are well developed and their relationship didn't seem rushed or forced.
The issues that these two have to overcome are well thought out and will keep you up reading into the wee hours of the morning. And let me just say that I'm glad that the second book is already available because the ending is incredible but it left me running to my Kindle to download the next part to my new obsession!! ;) Ms. Leighton has made her way to my auto-buy authors list!
August 11, 2012
I picked up For the Love of a Vampire: Blood Like Poison because it happened to be free on Amazon and I have a kindle app on my phone. Not to mention that M. Leighton is a pretty fabulous person. But up until this moment, I had yet to read anything thing by her. And the minute I dived into this book I knew I would have to read more of her stuff. I mean for goodness sake...she referenced Keith Stone and Damon Salvatore in the same stinkin sentence. Yep, a woman after my own heart.
This vampire story was different than the others I have read and had a few twists to keep you interested throughout the book. For the Love of a Vampire: Blood Like Poison was a quick read and the fact it had some forbidden romance was an added plus! I cannot wait to see what the future holds for Bo and Ridley in the other 2 books of the series. And as far as I know...it's still free on Amazon and Barnes & Noble So go get your copy today!
This vampire story was different than the others I have read and had a few twists to keep you interested throughout the book. For the Love of a Vampire: Blood Like Poison was a quick read and the fact it had some forbidden romance was an added plus! I cannot wait to see what the future holds for Bo and Ridley in the other 2 books of the series. And as far as I know...it's still free on Amazon and Barnes & Noble So go get your copy today!
October 13, 2011
First off goodreads gotta increase the rating system to 10 stars .. Five stars kinda seem too low !!
Anywho's , THIS BOOK IS DEFINITELY ADDICTIVE !!! I started reading this in the morning and i just couldnt put it down .. Finished it in a day :) ...
I'm a sucker for vampire love stories , and this totally didnt disappoint .There was something really sweet and amazing about this book . It did make me wanna cry at some points , but it was totally worth it .. OMG , the hotness tht is BO ( totally swoon - worthy ) and Ridley , i thought was a very mature female character . Loved the way she handles situation around her . The book ended with a lot of unanswered questions . I usually dont read books in the same series back to back , but i'm breaking tht rule for this one . I need to know all the answers right away !
A fantastic read .. You'll enjoy it for sure :)
Anywho's , THIS BOOK IS DEFINITELY ADDICTIVE !!! I started reading this in the morning and i just couldnt put it down .. Finished it in a day :) ...
I'm a sucker for vampire love stories , and this totally didnt disappoint .There was something really sweet and amazing about this book . It did make me wanna cry at some points , but it was totally worth it .. OMG , the hotness tht is BO ( totally swoon - worthy ) and Ridley , i thought was a very mature female character . Loved the way she handles situation around her . The book ended with a lot of unanswered questions . I usually dont read books in the same series back to back , but i'm breaking tht rule for this one . I need to know all the answers right away !
A fantastic read .. You'll enjoy it for sure :)
August 30, 2011
Love this story! Don't be fooled by the girl-meets-vampire description, it doesn't take long to realize that this book is not like any other vampire story! There are twists & turns you can't even imagine. I love the beautiful romance between Ridley and Bo! And there is never a dull moment, something always seems to be lurking up ahead for them. And there's just not enough I can say about Bo, he's dreamy, dangerous, & absolutely perfect. I love Ridley, too, she's confident & caring. She learns quickly how important it is to speak her mind & stand up for her friends instead of sitting by silently. I am so excited to see where their story goes from here!
May 20, 2011
WOW! I love this author and I love this book! Normally, I find books that are very intense and passionate to be over-the-top and unrealistic. Ms. Leighton has an amazing talent for writing stories with such intense passion and yet they don't come across as cheesy and indulgent. I became completely enraptured with the characters and their story! Ridley is so likeable and Bo is one of the best male lead characters I have read in a long time! I am so looking forward to the next installment in this series! I'm also looking forward to reading all of M. Leighton's other works of art!
January 7, 2014
Huh, hmmm, right.. so at the ending I was like..
considering how serious & "sad" it was that shows how involved i was in the story.
considering how serious & "sad" it was that shows how involved i was in the story.
June 16, 2011
Another book not in my TBR pile that I couldn't put down once I peeked. I am going to drown under that pile soon. But I'm loving this so far!
May 16, 2021
This book was not what I was expecting....not sure what I was expecting but not this. It had everything from high school bullies, alcoholic parents, and abundance of car crashes, and vampires....whats not to love!
March 25, 2025
I’m always a sucker for a vampire love story and although there were some great parts to this book, it wasn’t my favorite. I wasn’t a fan of some of the weird yet very descriptive ways the author described things. I also didn’t get pulled into their love story like I do in other books.
January 7, 2012
[image error] [image error] [image error] 3.5 Rating.
I haven't read about vamps in a while, it seems.
My mind was wondering a lot while reading this.
I wondered how any of the vampire's lovers could kiss their vampire.
Especially, after they have hunted. I mean, eww.
If I were them, I would tell my vampire to brush his
incisors before making smoochy faces my way.
But anyway, the vampires in this are like
no other vampires I've read about before.
It's original.
There is this one line in the book in which I LOVE.
"I mean, it’s not like he’s Damon Salvatore hot or Keith Stone smooth."
I like this, not because of the mention of Damon--because I haven't read
The Vampire Diaries books & his actor of the show is not my type--but because
the mention of Keith Stone.
That is hilarious to me. If you have no clue who
this is, head over to YouTube & search him.
Look for the commercial with the long ass Slim-Jim. I love that one. :)
Now, more about the book. It seemed as though someone is always near death in this book. I mean, it happens a lot. I love Bo. He's really sweet but I hate how he tries to do the RUN AWAY thing. I hated Edward for doing that and I will hate Bo for the same. Don't leave her! Learn from Edwards mistakes! Who knows? She might fall for a werewolf while your gone. So, Bo, I don't know what happened to you with an ending like that but DON'T leave!
I don't know...This book leaves you all scattered and you feel like you can't put your thoughts together until you get more of the story. So, I'm a scatter brain until I read the next. Sorry that's all I can leave you with. Craziness. :/
December 28, 2012
Ridley is your typical highschool cheerleader, fairly self-absorbed and desperate to stay popular. She has her snotty group of friends, in particular Trinity, who's only concern is their image and winning their next cheerleading competition. As much as Ridley is tired of the melodrama after her sister's death gave her new perspective, she still needs the scholarship to Stanford if she wants to escape her alcoholic mom and useless dad's home. Enter Bo, the mysterious and dark stranger she is suddenly drawn to, a new student at her school. There's something about him that draws her, and she can't seem to fight it. What she doesn't know is that he's a vampire, with deadly enemies who will put them both in grave danger.
There were a lot of twists and tense moments in the plot that kept me intrigued with this story. Leighton's vampires are a little different than the ones you typically read, which was refreshing. I definitely fell for Bo with his protectiveness over Ridley, I am always a sucker for the sexy strong bad boys!!
There are many aspects of this story that I love. Mysterious sexy vampire...check! Catty frienemy...check! Dangerous villains lurking around every corner....check! Steamy scenes...check! Heroine who stands up for her man...check! There were times I wanted to slap Ridley in the beginning of this book, I'll admit. The cheerleading made her a little self-absorbed, and she kept allowing Trinity to be a total bitch without so much as a word from her. I wanted her to step up and stop Trinity from being so awful, the girl deserved a smack in the head big time! I just loved Bo and Ridley though, their chemistry was perfect and I just wanted them to find a way to be together. We don't know much about Bo yet because he and Ridley went through so much drama and danger in this book, but I'm hoping to find out more as the series goes on.
So overall, I'm excited to see where things go with Bo and Ridley, because they definitely have the potential to be a great couple! =)
There were a lot of twists and tense moments in the plot that kept me intrigued with this story. Leighton's vampires are a little different than the ones you typically read, which was refreshing. I definitely fell for Bo with his protectiveness over Ridley, I am always a sucker for the sexy strong bad boys!!
There are many aspects of this story that I love. Mysterious sexy vampire...check! Catty frienemy...check! Dangerous villains lurking around every corner....check! Steamy scenes...check! Heroine who stands up for her man...check! There were times I wanted to slap Ridley in the beginning of this book, I'll admit. The cheerleading made her a little self-absorbed, and she kept allowing Trinity to be a total bitch without so much as a word from her. I wanted her to step up and stop Trinity from being so awful, the girl deserved a smack in the head big time! I just loved Bo and Ridley though, their chemistry was perfect and I just wanted them to find a way to be together. We don't know much about Bo yet because he and Ridley went through so much drama and danger in this book, but I'm hoping to find out more as the series goes on.
So overall, I'm excited to see where things go with Bo and Ridley, because they definitely have the potential to be a great couple! =)
August 16, 2011
My Cover Thoughts: I love the cover! It is of a guy kissing a girl and you can see the passion on his face as he holds her tight to him. No one can come between them…. Ever….
My Thoughts/Review: OMG I absolutely love vampire stories but this one has a twist to it that leaves you speechless! I started reading this book as a recommendation from an author friend Shelly Crane and I was not disappointed.
Ridley is a senior in high school who justs wants to get a scholarship to Stanford and leave her town and misery behind. As the beginning of her senior year rolls around she is dating the high school quarterback and she is cheer captain. What more could a girl ask for you would say but deep down inside she does not love Drew and she is forced to make a decision that she does not want to make. What fuels her is a new boy at school who she feels a connection with. Every time he looks at her she feels like she could die inside without him.
As she starts to get to know him she needs him more and more and can not stay away from him. The only thing is, is that he is keeping a secret and does not want her to find out. If she finds out he fears she may never want to be with him. What is he to do? He loves her and needs her like air is to lungs. As the story unfolds you will laugh, you will cry and most of all you love Bo and root for him and Ridley!
Will evil keep them apart or will love conquer all???????????
Memorable Quotes: The murmur of death, a dark shadow overcast, Ringing long and eternal as life slips slowly past, It breeds the unthinkable and touts the unknown, It begins at the end, on a whisper, a moan.
Advice: If you love Vampire stories and love a good swoon worthy story this is the book for you! You will not be able to put this book down. Once you start it you will crave the second book and the third, which is coming out on September 05, 2011
November 6, 2011
Ridley meets Bo & is instantly drawn to him. She has a boyfriend & tries to stay away. Her heart races, she gets goose bumps, she can barely breathe when Bo is near. The best & worst part is Bo feels the same. Ridley breaks it off with the boyfriend realizing that her feelings for him are not love, not if this is what love feels like. Bo is mysterious & secretive. This makes Ridley very nervous. Ridley feels safe & scared with Bo at the same time. She has an internal struggle. Ridley's plan was to just get through the last year of high school & make it to college. To get away from the mundane & fake people she has been with her whole life. She has no "real" friends & never feels like she fits in. After meeting Bo, Ridley starts sticking up for herself & others as she should have done years ago. Now she is the outcast & fears she will never make it out of this town. However, she now has real friends & a boyfriend that she cannot imagine life without. Bo's secret - he's a vampire who is dying. Now Ridley is scared with the whole vampire issue but soon only can think about the dying aspect of it all & living her life without Bo. Bo is poisoning himself by draining other vampires to find out who killed his father, when he was turned. Bo saves her life many times during the course of the story & this of course makes their bond even stronger. Lucius is Bo's friend & an elder vampire. Lucius has given Bo the answers to many questions & helped him survive without being a monster. Lucius has much more to tell & this part of the story is continued in book #2. I think that this is a good story. I love the relationship between Bo & Ridley. I love the introduction of Savannah & her story with Devon. I am looking forward the Book #2.
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