With the blood farm an Old World faction of vampires had been developing to enslave the human race as a perpetual feeding source destroyed and those behind the evil plot either dead, caught or on the run, life returns to normal for teenage vampire Tessa.

After the war she and her family and friends narrowly intercepted, getting back into the groove of daily life proves to be impossible. She’s different, as are all the people around her. Even the world itself feels off to her. If she ever really knew where she fit in, she’s lost that sense of belonging after so much has happened to make existence in this place a little darker, a little colder.

Her only source of light is Cody, a vampire who’s become more than her boyfriend. Cody is her soul-mate and the connection they share makes life – one lived together – more precious than it’s ever been before.

Healing isn’t any easier for the human Jared, who’d fought the war beside Tessa and Cody. Everywhere he goes, he seems to trip over dead bodies and people who can’t seem to recover. Ian and Jewel are a mess, and David wants to help Jewel more than anything…even if it means undertaking something even he knows will violently shatter this newfound peace that’s barely begun to settle.

After the collapse of Moltere’s Mountain destroying the blood farm, there was brief celebration before ambulances take both vampires and humans to their respective hospitals. Among those, vampires Ian and Jewel and Tessa’s humans friends Catherine and Jill.

For Tessa, her family and friends, the duties vary, the ancients and council members have much work to do to prevent any rebuild. Plus there is the fact we know their are other blood farms.

Tessa returns to the human school, although with many doubts running through her head. Cody speaks up in her mind and makes her smile, even before she sees Jared. With no sign of her friends at school and no one at home at Catherine’s house, Tessa heads to the human hospital. She’s sitting with Catherine when she’s hit from behind.

Cody is with his father and Tessa’s parents when that pain brings him to his knees letting him know something is wrong with Tessa.

This is a favorite scene.

Serus walked into hospital and almost threw up. The smell. Rot. Antiseptic. Pain. Anger. Grief. Dominating all the rest was that insidious aroma of fear. He hated even being in the vicinity of it no matter what the reason. It was only when he saw the features on the first human that he realized with Rhia at his side and Goran and Cody behind him, they must have looked a fierce sight.

The mass of humans took one look, cried out, and the sea of people parted. Actually, they pretty near ran in the opposite direction screaming. He rolled his eyes. “We’re not going to get much help from anyone here.”

“We need to find Taz,” Rhia said as she slowly turned around, trying to find someone recognizable in the shifting wall of humans.

“Taz,” Goran bellowed. “You here?”

Serus shook his head at his friend’s bullish but effective methods.

“Yes. Hello.” Taz rushed through the crowd toward them. “Goran, you’re looking better.”

Taz grinned at Cody. “I bet you’re not flying yet, are you?”

Cody shook his head. “Need to heal a little longer. Tomorrow I should be good to go.”

“Taz,” Rhia said anxiously. “Any sign of Tessa?”

His worried gaze shifted back to Rhia. “No, not yet.”

He motioned toward a wall of elevators behind him. “I can take you to where she said she’d be going, but I checked the area over and she wasn’t there.”

Serus said, “We’ll be checking for ourselves.”

Taz nodded. “And I’ll be going with you. Some of those people have been traumatized. I don’t want your presence to set them off even more.” He waved a hand at the crowd standing in clusters, watching from what they hoped was a safe distance.

“Good. Let’s go. The sooner we find her, the sooner we’ll be gone.”

Taz pushed a button and they waited for the elevator to reach them. The one on the left opened first. Serus was stepping toward it when Tessa, blood dripping down the side of her face, stumbled out.

Rhia cried.

Serus growled.

Goran howled.

Cody moved. And caught her before she hit the floor.
Mayer, Dale. Family Blood Ties: Books 4-6: A Family Blood Ties collection (pp. 549-551). Valley Publishing Ltd.. Kindle Edition.

From Tessa being attacked at the hospital, to Jared tripping over bodies and overhearing conversations, this book takes us on another journey into relationships, fear, chaos, and of course plenty of action.

Now I have to start the next one, the bundles are a great way to read these books!

5 Contented Purrs for Dale!

Dale Mayer

Dale Mayer is a USA Today bestselling author best known for her Psychic Visions and Family Blood Ties series. Her contemporary romances are raw and full of passion and emotion (Second Chances, SKIN), her thrillers will keep you guessing (By Death series), and her romantic comedies will keep you giggling (It’s a Dog’s Life and Charmin Marvin Romantic Comedy series).

She honors the stories that come to her – and some of them are crazy and break all the rules and cross multiple genres!

To go with her fiction, she also writes nonfiction in many different fields with books available on resume writing, companion gardening and the US mortgage system. She has recently published her Career Essentials Series. All her books are available in print and ebook format.