Customer Reviews

Soul Mates: Bound By Blood

5 star:		(12)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(5)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

This is the best M/M vampire book I have ever read. It's one of the best books I've ever read, period. From start to finish, it's just plain amazing.

SOUL MATES: BOUND BY BLOOD has everything I want in a vampire romance--passion, sex, romance, tenderness, danger, blood, a compelling story, sympathetic leads, great supporting characters, etc.

I guess what I love most about this book is the characters. This book has some of the best characters I've ever read. It's so rare that an author can fill a book with so many important people and still make the reader feel something for each one. I think I fell in love with everyone in this entire book.

Peter is so sweet. I love his inner strength and his determination to show Lucien that they're meant to be together. I love how he follows his heart instead of running from his fear of vampires, and how he accepts his lover's differences rather than wallowing in indecision about his feelings. Then there's Lucien. Lucien is fabulous. He's noble, powerful, tortured, challenging, sensual, commanding, generous, fiercely protective, and heartbreakingly tender with Peter. I love that he has conflicting feelings about allowing Peter into the dangerous world of vampires, demons, and werewolves.

Even the background characters are fantastic. Peter's friends, Lucien's associates, their former and present lovers, other members of the coven...it's obvious this author loves her characters. There's not a dull, flat character in this entire book.

The sexual energy in this book is off the charts. There are twosomes, threesomes, orgies, and copious amounts of blood and miscellaneous other bodily fluids. There are sexual acts in this book that should have shocked and offended me, but instead I found them incredibly beautiful and erotic. Though the bond between Lucien and Peter is strong and their love for each other is obvious, the nature of a vampire's relationship is not monogamous. It's incredibly sexy to see Peter and Lucien explore and embrace their sexual bond and then extend that bond to other members of the coven.

This is not a paranormal M/M romance. There's nothing soft or fluffy about BOUND BY BLOOD. This is an erotic horror romance, heavy on the horror. There's blood, guts, pain (self-inflicted and from outside forces), gruesome fights, snarling werewolves, demons, feeding frenzies, guns, swords, vampire SWAT teams, feeding from minds and souls, torture, S&M, sex with multiple partners, etc. There's nothing "pretty" in this book--no fluffy clouds or fuzzy pink bunnies--and it's certainly not for the faint of heart, but it's so good and so seductive you'll forget to feel uncomfortable.

I won't give any plot details away because this is a pretty complicated book with lots of great twists and turns, but let's just say that not everyone is happy about the way Lucien is running things, and that doesn't get any better when he takes a human male as a mate. Lucien also has secrets about his past that create some interesting issues with Peter and the coven.

I can't recall reading another book recently with such a smooth, natural flow. Nothing feels contrived or phony, and even the raw, violent sexuality is portrayed in a way that feels completely acceptable in such a dark and dangerous world. The darkness and the violence of the supernatural world balance so beautifully with the love and the tender emotions between Peter and Lucien, so the book never feels depressing or melancholy.

I have never considered myself a horror fan, but this book had me rethinking my preference and seeking more horror books! This book is really long for an e-book (240 pages in .pdf), but it had me absolutely enthralled from beginning to end, and never once insulted my intelligence or tested my patience. That is rare in romance these days.

I read this as an e-book, but I plan to purchase a print copy ASAP, and I started reading the sequel (DECEPTIONS) within five minutes of finishing BOUND BY BLOOD. Yes, it is that good.

I followed JenB's list of reviews when I saw she reviewed a book I'd read with a similar outcome to mine. So I wondered how well we meshed in other books we had both read or I might read based upon her reviews. I was not disappointed when I purchased Soul Mates: Bound By Blood. It is singularly one of the best gay erotic fiction books that is for both gay men and women. Graphic and masculine enough for a man and emotional and romantic enough for a woman. I've already ordered and voraciously read Jourdan Lane's other Soul Mates books (up to book four, Secrets) and none of them disappoint. Lane skillfully takes a paranormal theme (Vampires, Werewolves and Demons, Oh my!) places it in one of the usual locales (Bars, Dance Clubs, Moonlit woods) and creates a plot that although not original (few are nowadays) is made natural through the eyes of the characters, and especially our human point of view through the main hero/character, Peter. If you love yaoi, you'll adore the Soul Mates series!

I loved this book immediately. The main character has his flaws, but the author makes sure that he is definitely male. So many gay erotica books make one of the men seem more like a woman, this book actually keeps a real male point of view throughout the series. Both characters have their flaws and their virtues, and through their differences it makes the story very real.
A must read, and don't forget about the rest of the series, it keeps going at a non-repetitive pace.
I will stress this again, a must read for male/male erotica readers. :)

Powerful, intellegent, insightful, a read that takes you into the moments of the lives of each and every Character. It leaves you wanting more and more and more. The vampire, warewolves etc... sex is SIZZLING. The family that Peter and Lucien (Master vampire) create is tight; even with the road bumps. I would find a quiet place, with anything cold to drink and go fourth.

Soul Mates: Bound by Blood is an emotionally intense story of Peter and Lucien. Lucien is a master vampire and Peter becomes his love interest turned mate. This is book one in a three book series. Each book shows the turmoil and issues Peter must face as he evolves into the true immortal soul mate of a vampire leader. There is a lot of gay sexual contact and a full range of emotions, if you are really into gay erotica, this is a fantastic series. I enjoyed them immensely.

So where do I start? Do I say that this book destroyed all my preconceived notions about vampires and paranormals? That the author approached this book on a scale I have not experienced before? That the story is like a wrecking crew that never lets up? I was totally blown away as the author gives it to the reader with both barrels right between the eyes. I can't compare Jourdan Lane to another paranormal author (that I have read anyway) because I think she's in a class by herself - there are just not enough superlatives to describe her approach to this story. She is one ballsy author.

So having started from what is normally the end of the review I'll try to be lucid and describe the story without any spoilers although I'm sure all of the author's fans have read this book several times over but just in case there are a few people who haven't, I'll be judicious in my descriptions.

Peter and Lucien meet for the first time at Rave where Peter works as a bartender, a club that's famous for its male strippers who mix with the patrons and the heat burns up the pages the first time they dance. The fact that one is a vampire and the other human and afraid of vamps can't stop the conflagration when they finally get together and it's game over. They cannot be apart from each other and that causes no end of trouble with the members of Lucien's coven and Peter's friends.

The action is fast and furious. There is so much blood and sex and other bodily fluids that I wondered how this was all going to play out, even in a paranormal book where usually anything goes.There is no quarter given in terms of the smells, the sex and the blood and I don't think I can remember reading a book with so much blazing hot sex between multiple partners that seemed to go on forever.

There is a plot and an excellent one but at times the action was so sizzling and unrestrained that I forgot I was supposed to be reviewing the book - it was that good. The author makes no apologies for the sustained violence and blood in Soul Mates:Bound by Blood - she's in your face. But there was so much love between Peter and Lucien that it balances out everything and makes you believe in true love, even between species.

The Gothic ambiance throughout the book is so real it's as if I were transported to another world. The characterizations were incredible. Peter is so open and giving that his character made me feel that being a vampire's mate can't be bad as he totally gives Lucien his heart and soul and believes in Lucien's ability to protect him from harm. He loves Lucien but is fearful about the vampire life, yet despite this his love for Lucien overcomes his fears. Lucien on the other hand is strong and tough as befits a leader but he is gentle with Peter and his character is so multi-layered that he can go from the wonderful lover in one minute to the vicious fighter and killer protecting his coven in a heartbeat, but of course we know that vampires have no heartbeat. The supporting characters are also well crafted and there's not a dull one in the mix from the villains to the good guys. Every character is so three dimensional that you can almost see and touch them.

The basic thrust of the story is that there are vampire hunters out for blood and various villains who are looking to cause trouble for the coven in a REALLY BIG WAY. Lucien has to protect his people from all comers and needs Peter not only as a source of live-giving blood but as a sustaining force to keep him grounded if he is to survive the looming battle with his enemies. But there is so much more to the story that I can't reveal without giving away key plot points. I can't stress enough that the scale of the action in this book while huge does not seem to be over the top at any time. What I found really interesting is the fact that there is no monogamy in this book. Every couple has sex with other characters so frequently that I sometimes lost sight of who was with whom. And ooh the sex. It was blazing hot. The characters use sex as a way of bonding with each other. Does it work? Yes it definitely does - in spades.

This is not a vampire romance. This book almost approaches cult status in terms of the gore, violence and acts that can only be described as horrific. Definitely not for the faint of heart. But you will root for Peter, Lucien and members of his coven in their battles with their enemies. There are many other species in this book including werewolves and demons and the sexual energy and feeding frenzies are totally unbelievable and on such a scale as to be almost unimaginable.

Soul Mates:Bound by Blood is not to be missed if you're a fan of vampire lore. However, I must stress that if you have an aversion to violence or blood on a grand scale then this book is not for you. Did I love this book? My answer is I'm starting Book 2 in the series as soon as this review is finished.

...if your sensibilities don't allow for open relationships you will be turned off by this book. No amount of likable characters will help you get past the fact that the two main characters are not monogamous. I was hoping that the longer I read the more I would be able to accept this type of world, however, even as I finished the book I couldn't get over the fact that while they were in love with each other they both accepted others into their bed. This book is by no means pages and pages of porn, but it is difficult to read if you are not used to open relationships. I will not be getting the other books in this series due to that, but the plot was solid and the characters are great so if it doesn't bother you then I would recommend this book.

Flawed as it is, this first episode of new series about the very well trodden path of human vs vampire and male/male love finally keeps its promise of pleasant entertainment.

The story is the usual one -nothing new there- with a tendency to stress the sexually disinhibited interaction of the characters. As is to be expected this is not a book for sensitive or shy people: there is plenty of VERY explicit gay sex as well as a fair amount of blood shedding and gore.

Though the writing itself is not always brilliant, some repetition, unnecessary descriptions and the like, the author (Jourdan Lane? When will publishers decide to be a little more transparent about their authors?) still manages to build a nearly believable charater interaction, a nice suspence and to offer a simple but not idiotic read.

Jourdan Lane's Soul Mates series definitely stands out above the rest. By far, some of the hottest erotica I've ever read. The fact that it's paranormal romance is just icing on my cake. I'm a huge fan of dark urban fantasy; no fluffy bunnies here! And that's exactly what you get with the first in Soul Mates series, Bound by Blood. Peter is a hot bartender at the nightclub Rave, and one night he's entranced by Lucien dancing on the floor. After one heated dance, Peter knows there's something more to this man than meets the eye. Lucien is the owner of rival club The Den, and is the head of the vampire coven in the city. He's got to keep his vamps safe from the rogue wolves, and knows that getting involved with a human is a dangerous endeavor. But just as each man has his reasons to stay away from the other, the undeniable bond Lucien and Peter have can't keep them apart. Peter gets drawn into a world he couldn't fathom and wonders just how far he's willing to go and give up. Some of the hottest vamp/vamp, vamp/were gay erotica out there! This book will not disappoint!

I've now read all four of the Soul Mates series. Deep? Not really. Sexy? Oh, yeah. Yes, the series has its flaws, but it was a lot of fun to read. Am I looking forward to the next installment, "Ascension?" You betcha.

VERY MILD SPOILERS:

Peter is a bartender at a gay night club when he sees the sexiest man he's ever laid eyes on. Only problem? Lucien is a vampire and Peter hates/is terrified of them after a bad experience he had at a vamp club. Then Peter has a dream, which isn't really a dream, in which Lucien bites him and gets him off, and the two men actually begin a relationship (thanks mostly to Lucien's sweet and patient seduction).

The entire series centers around Peter, who is the first person narrator. Peter is a far stronger person than we realize to begin with, and his growth as a man begins when he meets Lucien. Lucien, too, changes as the relationship progresses and, over the entire series, there is a great deal of back and forth and angst between the men. Sexy scenes are plentiful, including (in later books) multiple partners in the form of werewolves and demons.

The story is a bit more original than some other vamp tales I've read recently, namely Rachmaninoff (which was a better-written tale, but not as imaginative). That said, the dialogue (Peter, especially) is a bit stiff. It's hard for me to imagine, for example, that a bartender who grew up in foster homes would speak without the use of contractions. I'd see that with 400 year old Lucien much more easily. In contrast, there are some grammatical problems with the narrative, and I wasn't really sure if that was because it's written in Peter's "voice" or whether the author just couldn't get it right.

But if you're looking for fun, sexy, gay vamps, this is an entertaining series. And, one mild warning - the author leaves lots of loose ends from one book to another, so if you read one and like it, you'll be hooked on the rest (trust me!).

Shira Anthony
Author of "From the Depths"