Wednesday, July 21, 2010

Book Review: DRACULA IN LOVE by Karen Essex

"Dracula In Love" by Karen Essex is due to hit bookstores everywhere August 10, 2010. In the past ten years I have steered clear of vampire reads. Though I have in the past read all of Anne Rice’s series “The Vampire Chronicles”. I found that my taste has changed and one of the big reasons I loved the Rice series is because I was really into the historical aspect of her books which eventually led me to historical fiction. I do have to admit that I did buy the whole “Twilight” series because so many people were into it.  Sadly I could not get past page three and ended up giving the books to my nephew. I did watch the movie after my mother coerced me into it only because they filmed part of the Twilight movie where she lives. I would have to say that Essex has astonished me with her “Dracula In Love” because she combined Anne Rice’s sensuality and historical practicality with Twilights modern romantic edge.  “Dracula In Love” held all of the adult components that Twilight was lacking for me.

The emerald eyed beauty Mina hooked me into her mysterious life, even she really was not sure why she was having crazy dreams that within the first chapter lead her to sleep walking outside her home where she was an etiquette teacher at a boarding school for girls. When she suddenly awoke she realized she was outside in her nightgown being attacked by a man who happened to come across her wandering the night.  Luckily her savior came in the form of a handsome man that she vaguely recognized. After running away it became clear to her that it all started with her dreams. The dreams were erotic and sensual which later led Mina to confide in her long time best friend Lucy.  Since Mina had no living family and she had spent all her childhood at the girls school and later became a teacher there, in the summer time when the school took its off time Mina decided to go and visit Lucy at her home in Whitby.

Mina’s visit to Whitby was anything but normal and her nerves had been on edge since her dearly beloved fiancée went on a business trip for his uncle to manage a high-end client that was a Count. Not having word that her beloved had arrived safely gave her reason to worry but even her BFF Lucy gave her a whole different reason to worry. Mina was constantly covering for Lucy who was having a sordid love affair with an American painter Morris Quince. She had heard from the locals the tales of Whitby and really did not think too much of them until one day a ghastly looking ship crashed on Whitby’s coast with the whole crew murdered. As Mina and the crowd watched the events unfold with the ship all of them were astonished to see a silver colored dog emerge as the soul survivor of the ships ordeal. Slinking off with hound and wolfish like features they watched the dog jump ship and trot right past them towards the town cemetery. Everyone looked for the strange animal but only Mina picked up that something was going on in Whitby and she felt that something or someone was out there calling to her.

5/5++ I loved this book, especially since I have not read a vampire book in a long time. Essex has made the perfect vampire book for the avid historical fiction lover. I loved and enjoyed that it was darkly mythical with a distinct flavor of erotic historical fiction that was completely mysterious all at the same time.  I really enjoyed the fact that Essex was compelled to appeal to more of the “mythical” aspects of the Bram Stokers original Dracula. Essex has succeeded in making Dracula sexy. I would recommend this read for HF lovers who would like to give a good vampire read a chance. Let this be the book that ensnares you into trying something different. I do have to admit that I have not devoured a book in less than three day in quite some time but this one trapped me into Mina’s mysterious world and I even found myself yearning to read more when I had things I was suppose to do.

R-rating, definitely erotic at points but in not the typical erotic sense, very sensual and a bit of violence. I would not recommend this book to people who want prim and proper.
FTC: This book was sent to me by publisher.

I decided to do something a little different since I loved this book so much. I made the lovely graphic below to honor the upcoming release of "Dracula In Love". Anyone and everyone is allowed to take it and use it but my only thing that I ask is if you put it up you link it to Karen Essex's website, http://www.karenessex.com/
Enjoy the pretty button and I hope that all of you get a chance to read this really sexy book!
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16 comments:

  1. I'm on tenterhooks! I cannot cannot wait to read this! Your review has only made me more eager! :)

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  2. I don't usually read these sorts of books either - Vampires are not really my thing. But I know Essex's reputation and can't wait to dive into this one. The cover looks beautiful too. It is my next read. Thanks for the review Lizzy!

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  3. I, too, am loathe to read anything even remotely vampire-related. However, I will venture into this one - partly from your review, and partly because I love Karen Essex.

    Thanks for the intriguing review!

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  4. I, too, am loathe to read anything even remotely vampire-related. However, I will venture into this one - partly from your review, and partly because I love Karen Essex.

    Thanks for the intriguing review!

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  5. I liked the beginning of Rice's series. This is the second wonderful review I have read. I have been staying away from vampire novels but I will certianly put this on my tbr. Thanks for the wonderful review!

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  6. Thanks for this review, Lizzy! I am really looking forward to this one...

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  7. Audra, I was too I could not take it that it was sitting on my bookshelf staring back at me and I had to wait. The excitement built up for me to the point when I finally got to it I inhaled it because I was so excited.

    Dolleygurl, you will love it I swear if you only read one vampire book this year let it be this one. I too love the cover I love her dress and glove things. Pretty hot just like the book.

    Amy, I feel that way too you are so not alone. I am just sick of the Twilight BS because it is so chezzy but what do you expect it is YA. I was on the fence on this one but I have heard great things about Essex's other books I think that is what pushed me towards it. I just like vampires that explore the era's rather than modern day. I like to know what their lives are like in other time periods.

    Jenny Girl, honestly this one will l not be a let down. My favorite part abut this book is that you have Mina's point of view but everything is a mystery to her and she has no idea. it is like an suspenseful adventure that you never knew what was going to happen. I loved that it had lots of other supernatural tie ins like Dr. Von Helsing and his scary insane asylum.

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  8. Marci, I loved it so much it even compelled me to accept another review book with vampires.

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  9. Lizzy, after such a fantastic review and your obvious passion for this book I am going to buy it. Sounds like a wonderful book!

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  10. I did the whole TWILIGHT series. I was a children's librarian and really didn't have a choice. Have done the movies for the same reason. They aren't too bad and it has kids reading. Yes there are vampires and werewoives , but at its core it is a teen romance story. The world building involved is interesting.

    I have not yet read Stoker's DRACULA and feel it would be a good idea to do that before reading this book. It sounds dark, mysterious and good.

    Thanks for an interesting and informative review.

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  11. Alaine, I think I really loved it because it was so different from my typical that I fell in love with it. You know it is good when you finish it in 3 days, I felt like I had to sleep with it like it was glued to my hand.

    Librarypat, I know I think that was part of my problem with the series I just could not get into it. I know so many people who loved it but I just could not. I think because I loved Anne Rice's series so much I compared it to that but they are not the same at all. I have not read Stoker's either but now I am thinking I really need to get my hands on it because this one is more leaning towards that than anything else vampire related.

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  12. I agree with Lizzy's words as I was skeptical for a Dracula book based on the current vampire frenzy. Although, I was pleasantly surprised by Karen Essex's unique style and angle of the story. The book is dark, alluring, and sensual. She connects you with the main character Mina in such a way that you are not able to stop reading. I really enjoyed the book and I would strongly recommend the read.

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  13. JennaAndrea, I have been watching to see what others have thought about it and I have noticed that all of the reviews I have seen so far have been 5 stars. I hope that readers will give it a chance because it is well worth it.

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  14. I completely agree with Jenna and Lizzy. I was pleasantly surprised and being from London, I really appreciated some of the historical details about the streets and the scenery in general. There are so many twist and turns in the story line. Some you see coming and others you won't. Overall an absolutely fantastic read. I strongly recommend!

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  15. Nina, so so true I loved it too and so much to the point I want or more like demand to have a hardback copy for my library. I know it has to be beautiful in hard back, even the arc was beautiful. I too highly recommend it but now I want to read the original by Bram Stoker.

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