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Book Reviews of Nightshade (Nightshade, Bk 1)

Nightshade (Nightshade, Bk 1)
Nightshade - Nightshade, Bk 1
Author: Michelle Rowen
PBS Market Price: $8.09 or $4.19+1 credit
ISBN-13: 9780425239827
ISBN-10: 0425239829
Publication Date: 2/1/2011
Pages: 325
Rating:
  • Currently 3.9/5 Stars.
 38

3.9 stars, based on 38 ratings
Publisher: Berkley
Book Type: Mass Market Paperback
Reviews: Amazon | Write a Review

4 Book Reviews submitted by our Members...sorted by voted most helpful

ophelia99 avatar reviewed Nightshade (Nightshade, Bk 1) on + 2527 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 2
This is the first book in Rowen's Jillian Conrad series. There are going to be at least two books in this series; the 2nd will be titled Bloodlust and is scheduled for a July 2011 release date. I have read some of Michelle Rowen's series previously and enjoyed them. I really loved her Demon Princess series and was excited to read a new series by her that was aimed more at urban fantasy than romance. This was a very entertaining read, it was quick and fun.

Jillian (Jill to her friends) is just trying to get some coffee and get back to work. She is grabbed by a man in an elevator and injected with something; next thing she knows she is being kidnapped by a large scarred man who is telling her she's been injected with a poison that normal hospitals won't be able to do anything about. Jill agrees (kind of) to go with him and ends up having her eyes opened to a world where vampires are real and are definitely not the nice guys.

This book was a fast and fun read. Jillian is a wonderful character: she is practical, sarcastic, noisy, and surprisingly resilient given that she is an unsuspecting victim to all that is going on. The plot is solid and engaging if not completely original. The beginning of this book especially reminded me of Gena Showalter's Playing With Fire.

Declan is an interesting character who is forced to take a serum to subdue his vampiric nature. As the male lead he is a bit on and off; at points he is endearing and at others not. Him and Jill have okay chemistry together, but it was never really something that blew me off my feet. I have definitely read about better female/male match-ups. That being said their relationship was okay, and they were fun to read about.

There is quite a bit of action in this book, making it more of an urban fantasy/paranormal romance blend than straight up romance. Rowen's writing style is easy to read and the dialogue between characters is snappy and fun. The book wraps things up nicely while still leaving some things un-resolved for the next book.

Overall a solid and fun read; equal parts urban fantasy and paranormal romance. Jillian is a wonderful character, as is Declan. The chemistry between the two could have been better but they were still a lot of fun to read about. I love Rowen's writing style it is so easy and fun to read. I will definitely be picking up Bloodlust when it comes out. Recommended for readers who like books about dhampirs, strong women caught in unsuspecting situations, and paranormal romance that tends toward urban fantasy.
IDOLFAN avatar reviewed Nightshade (Nightshade, Bk 1) on + 51 more book reviews
This is a new author for me and I really enjoyed it. Was a fast read. Looking forward to read the next one.
keno avatar reviewed Nightshade (Nightshade, Bk 1) on + 869 more book reviews
needed to buy this book(declan & jillian) on kindle as i was starting to read "primal" so i read this one and it was great! now i just finished up the novella also by michelle rowen"s bleeding heart"(takes place a few days later) and i hope in the next book it'a about jackson and laura.good read.
miz-firefly avatar reviewed Nightshade (Nightshade, Bk 1) on + 112 more book reviews
Strap on your seat belt. Nightshade is a quick moving story with enough twists to satisfy the most demanding adventure seeker.

Jillian Conrad is an every kind of girl working a going nowhere temp job. Her humdrum existence evaporates when a man steps out of an elevator with a syringe. Can anyone say "Inner Space? OK cheap shot, I know. She made it work so I shouldn't complain. And the rest of the story while sometimes a bit predictable sometimes a bit of WTH just happened? is wholly her own and a great read.

It was fun getting to know Jillian and Declan -