#BookReview – “Shadow Love-Stalkers” by Claudy Conn

Blurb

What do you do when your father wants to turn you into a vampire and the man who offers you protection has his own, dark agenda? 

Shawna Rawley has no choice but to run. Pentim Rawley, one of the most evil vampires who has ever lived, has just discovered that she is his daughter. Now he’s obsessed with finding and turning her. She doesn’t want Pentim to find the people she loves and use them to get to her. She doesn’t want him to find and turn her. She has only one ace up her sleeve. The human in her may be at risk, but in addition to being half vamp, Shawna is also a white witch! 

Chad MacFare has an offer for Shawna he thinks she can’t afford to refuse: he’ll protect her from Pentim and his minions. But Shawna doesn’t trust the sexy immortal. She knows he has his own agenda—he wants to kill her father, and he wants to set her up as bait… 

Review

Shawna is part white witch/part vampire, and her cruel vampire father, Pentim, is trying to find her. Raised by her grandparents after her mom’s death, Shawna is on the run while her witch grandmother and wizard grandfather are in hiding.

Chad is an immortal with a direct family line to Dracula. He has a vendetta against Pentim and plans to use Shawna as bait, so he can kill her father. Chad knows all her secrets, and since she refuses to help him, he harasses her until she breaks down and agrees.

Shawna is an interesting character. She’s strong, determined to survive and fight her evil father, and she protects the ones she cares for by staying away from them. She’s torn between lusting after Chad and keeping her distance from him. She’s both mad and happy when he kisses her, but then she’s mad and relieved when he ignores her.

Chad is arrogant, secretive, and controlling. I couldn’t connect with him. He refuses to answer Shawna’s questions and keeps her in the dark when her life is in danger. He expects her to trust and listen to him without explanations. Even though she’s a powerful witch, he doesn’t treat her like an equal and invades her privacy to the point of stalking.

The book is told in third person, mostly in Shawna’s POV, with some head-hopping. Chad, Pentim, and a few other characters occasionally have scenes in their POV with proper scene and chapter breaks. There is a lot of repetition (characters thinking and then saying the same thing again and again). The pacing is a little slow, especially in the flashback scenes.

I liked the overall plot that deals with Dracula’s history and Chad’s connection to him. There’s an interesting subplot about an electrical demon. Damon, Shawna’s vampire friend, is totally yummy. I enjoyed the story for the most part, but Chad’s controlling ways frustrated me.

3 Stars

Disclaimer – I downloaded this book from Amazon and volunteered to review it. I am not compensated in any way, shape, or form for this honest review. I will not change or alter this review for any reason unless at my discretion.