By
USA Today Bestselling Author
Dale Mayer

When teenage vampire Tessa’s existence exploded in sheer pandemonium and she was forced to figure out how to survive Deanna’s dark inheritance, she comes out the other side seeing more, hearing more, understanding more about herself and the world around her. But more isn’t always better.

Tessa’s boyfriend and protector Cody doesn’t like what’s happening to the girl he loves. She’s been through hell, and she has yet to emerge fully from the flames. Even as she tells him she has to face the darkness alone, he’s determined to stand steadfastly by her side…whether she wants him there or not.

Human teen Jared can’t believe all the trouble he’s found himself in lately. Every trail he’s followed seems to lead straight into a whole different nest of misfortune. He thought he’d escaped the worst, avoided further woe, but once a friend goes missing, he has no choice but to seek help – and then the person he confides in disappears, too. He no longer knows where to turn. In the past, Tessa and Cody were always there for him. Now everything’s changed – were they still?

The vampire world Tessa comes from has never appeared ready for her before. But the new-and-improved Tessa seems to be poised to take the world as everyone knows it by storm…

If you haven’t read the other’s in this series, STOP. Read them in order or they won’t make sense.

When we left Tessa, she was with Deanna and Hortran as they are dying. With the declaration she’s The One, Hortran initiates the process to transfer all of Deanna’s memories and knowledge. He also added his own, making a true overload of information. However it’s Hortran’s that was critical to her survival. It’s all about the energy and we’ve already seen what Tessa can do with that. Unfortunately she’s unconscious at the moment with a lot of people worried about her.

In the meantime, Jared and Clarissa recruit Taz to help them find Tobias. Taz sends them off to school knowing the process will take a while.

This is a favorite scene as Tessa wakes, I really love Cody.

She shook her head, trying to sort out the impressions running through her mind. Before there’d have been no need to sort, but now her head was stuffed and she couldn’t think. It was getting worse every minute.

“Stop,” she snapped. “Clear out. I want my thoughts and mine alone.”

There was a slight snicker in her mind.

She lit up.

Cody!

Hey sweetheart, are you done rambling through that mess in there? Have you sorted yourself out?

His warm caring tone slipped down the path of her thoughts, brightening her world.

She laughed in delight. I wasn’t to begin with, but I think I’m slowly understanding how it works. She quickly explained the little bit she had figured out. From the odd silence, she knew he didn’t quite get it.

It’s okay. I know it all sounds crazy, but it’s improving, she said comfortably.

If you say so. He hesitated then asked in a low voice, Are you ready to come back?

Come back?

She didn’t understand the question. What do you mean? I haven’t gone anywhere.

No, but you’re unconscious and there are some very worried people out here.

Unconscious. She digested that. Then how come I can communicate with you?

I don’t know, but I’m glad you can.

Me too. She paused, thinking about all she’d seen. Did you see my eyes open up a while ago?

Yes, he said in surprise. I called you, but you closed your eyes and drifted off again. It was weird, like you were caught in some strange half-awake, half-asleep state.

When I first opened my eyes, there was just a crazy kaleidoscope of color. It was hard to look so I slammed them shut again.

Ah, and now?

The concern in his voice made her wonder how long she’d been out.

I’ll try again, she said.

Yes, please. Your father is here and he’s very worried.

Oh no. She hadn’t considered that other people might be there waiting for her to surface. How horrible it must seem for those waiting.

Sorry, she whispered.  I didn’t mean to stay away for so long.

No worries, but we’d love to have you come back.

Tessa let out a deep heavy sigh that seemed to come from a long ways inside – and released it.

As she let the last of the air out, she opened her eyes.

The color was still there. The vibrancy was still there but it was softer, less obnoxious – prettier.

Still different than what she was used to, but better in a way.

Then she caught sight of faces mixed into the colors. One in particular – her father.

Then she understood – the colors came from the individual people around her.

She could see them clearer than ever and the colors were more distinct than before, but they were still just the energy of the people around her.

Her father.

And Cody. She tilted her head upward, smiled at his worried face, and said, “Hey.”
Mayer, Dale. Family Blood Ties: Books 7-9 (pp. 265-267). Valley Publishing Ltd.. Kindle Edition.

This whole thing brings a new level to the fore. We still have people and vampires disappearing, Sian and Wendy are still working with the data from the blood farm. Rhia needs to figure out what happened with Seth. Jewel is at Council Hall recuperating. David and all the others are still at the Vampire Hospital. They need to finish what they started here, releasing the prisoners and getting rid of all the bad guys.

What we know about the bad guys, they are enhanced physically, they have improved weaponry and they smell horrible when staked. On another level, they consider humans to be animals, they were cloning vampires, Goran took those out when his oldest son was killed. The higher ups want Goran, Serus, Cody and Tessa’s DNA. They’ve been unsuccessful at their attempts so far.

Now Rhia’s about to do the unthinkable, Clarissa is taken, Tessa has more than one battle to fight, Jared turns to the vampires for help again, and Bart the little weasel shows up again too.

That’s only the beginning…fast-paced and exciting, as more answers are found and the trail to the blood farm bosses narrows.

I’m just going to keep reading, I really need to know what happens next!

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.