Rating: 
Summary: Another entertaining twist on vampires by Sizemore!!!
Review: "Laws of the Blood: Partners" is the 2nd in this new vampire series by Susan Sizemore. I personally really enjoed this book/series very much!! A brand new Enforcer, a tough-guy vampire hunter, a renegade vampire, a run-away teenager, a FBI agent are all heading toward Seattle, and they are all looking for each other. Two relucant partners; one who has been told to kill the other, the other is more than willing to kill the first, find they have a bigger problem. Something is growing in Seattle, something vampires are not allowed to fight no matter what. A great job by Susan Sizemore!! Definately worth the reading time!!
Rating: 
Summary: Magic Makes Strange Bedfellows
Review: "Partners" is the second volume in Susan Sizemore's new series about vampiric Enforcers, the Keepers of the Law as declared by the Strigoi Council. In it we meet Char McCairn, a recently made Enforcer who has been specializing in research rather than munching on her normal prey, bad vampires. Her idyllic life in Portland, Oregon is brought to an end by two events. Helen Bourbon comes to Char to ask her to seek a missing nestling, Daniel, a newborn who was still not in control of his twin thirsts for blood and sex. The other interruption is Istvan, feared head of the Enforcers. He gives Char a special assignment -- kill Jebel Haven, a human vampire hunter who was getting too close to the truth. Jebel, after spending most of his life as a violent thug has had a defining moment in a bar in Arizona when a whole town came under attack by the primitive but deadly vampires of the American West. Now, in combination with fellow survivors Santini and Baker, Haven spends his time keeping the Wild West vampire free. Lately though, he has discovered the existence of urban vampires and is considering a change in focus. Hence Istvan's concern. Then, unexpectedly FBI profiler Brenda Novak shows up in Haven's office and blackmails Jebel into hunting for her missing son, Daniel. No surprise, the missing fledgling and the FBI woman's son are one and the same. He has been captured by a demon and a sorcerer who are using him as part of a ritual the will grant them eternal life, and slaughter most of Seattle as a side effect. Istvan, while breaking up a vampire child abuse ring, had to kill or drive away almost all of Seattle's vampires, leaving the city open to the sorcerer's spells, which only Char knows how to combat. Unfortunately, an ancient treaty makes it impossible for her to take on the demon. So Char and Jebel are on a collision course, forced by circumstances to work together in spite of inclination and orders. As you might imagine, the story takes many twists and turns on the way to its final, surprise conclusion. Expect to be intrigued and delighted by a different kind of vampire story. You will find yourself enjoying a strange mix of characters of whom the vampires are often the most reasonable. The books in the series have so far been unrelated, although there is some character cross-over in the nature of 'guest appearances.' So there is no compelling reason to read the books in any particular order yet. If Sizemore continues her successful efforts this will be a series to remember.
Rating:
Summary: Magic Makes Strange Bedfellows
Review: "Partners" is the second volume in Susan Sizemore's new series about vampiric Enforcers, the Keepers of the Law as declared by the Strigoi Council. In it we meet Char McCairn, a recently made Enforcer who has been specializing in research rather than munching on her normal prey, bad vampires. Her idyllic life in Portland, Oregon is brought to an end by two events. Helen Bourbon comes to Char to ask her to seek a missing nestling, Daniel, a newborn who was still not in control of his twin thirsts for blood and sex. The other interruption is Istvan, feared head of the Enforcers. He gives Char a special assignment -- kill Jebel Haven, a human vampire hunter who was getting too close to the truth. Jebel, after spending most of his life as a violent thug has had a defining moment in a bar in Arizona when a whole town came under attack by the primitive but deadly vampires of the American West. Now, in combination with fellow survivors Santini and Baker, Haven spends his time keeping the Wild West vampire free. Lately though, he has discovered the existence of urban vampires and is considering a change in focus. Hence Istvan's concern. Then, unexpectedly FBI profiler Brenda Novak shows up in Haven's office and blackmails Jebel into hunting for her missing son, Daniel. No surprise, the missing fledgling and the FBI woman's son are one and the same. He has been captured by a demon and a sorcerer who are using him as part of a ritual the will grant them eternal life, and slaughter most of Seattle as a side effect. Istvan, while breaking up a vampire child abuse ring, had to kill or drive away almost all of Seattle's vampires, leaving the city open to the sorcerer's spells, which only Char knows how to combat. Unfortunately, an ancient treaty makes it impossible for her to take on the demon. So Char and Jebel are on a collision course, forced by circumstances to work together in spite of inclination and orders. As you might imagine, the story takes many twists and turns on the way to its final, surprise conclusion. Expect to be intrigued and delighted by a different kind of vampire story. You will find yourself enjoying a strange mix of characters of whom the vampires are often the most reasonable. The books in the series have so far been unrelated, although there is some character cross-over in the nature of 'guest appearances.' So there is no compelling reason to read the books in any particular order yet. If Sizemore continues her successful efforts this will be a series to remember.
Rating:
Summary: Magic Makes Strange Bedfellows
Review: "Partners" is the second volume in Susan Sizemore's new series about vampiric Enforcers, the Keepers of the Law as declared by the Strigoi Council. In it we meet Char McCairn, a recently made Enforcer who has been specializing in research rather than munching on her normal prey, bad vampires. Her idyllic life in Portland, Oregon is brought to an end by two events. Helen Bourbon comes to Char to ask her to seek a missing nestling, Daniel, a newborn who was still not in control of his twin thirsts for blood and sex. The other interruption is Istvan, feared head of the Enforcers. He gives Char a special assignment -- kill Jebel Haven, a human vampire hunter who was getting too close to the truth. Jebel, after spending most of his life as a violent thug has had a defining moment in a bar in Arizona when a whole town came under attack by the primitive but deadly vampires of the American West. Now, in combination with fellow survivors Santini and Baker, Haven spends his time keeping the Wild West vampire free. Lately though, he has discovered the existence of urban vampires and is considering a change in focus. Hence Istvan's concern. Then, unexpectedly FBI profiler Brenda Novak shows up in Haven's office and blackmails Jebel into hunting for her missing son, Daniel. No surprise, the missing fledgling and the FBI woman's son are one and the same. He has been captured by a demon and a sorcerer who are using him as part of a ritual the will grant them eternal life, and slaughter most of Seattle as a side effect. Istvan, while breaking up a vampire child abuse ring, had to kill or drive away almost all of Seattle's vampires, leaving the city open to the sorcerer's spells, which only Char knows how to combat. Unfortunately, an ancient treaty makes it impossible for her to take on the demon. So Char and Jebel are on a collision course, forced by circumstances to work together in spite of inclination and orders. As you might imagine, the story takes many twists and turns on the way to its final, surprise conclusion. Expect to be intrigued and delighted by a different kind of vampire story. You will find yourself enjoying a strange mix of characters of whom the vampires are often the most reasonable. The books in the series have so far been unrelated, although there is some character cross-over in the nature of 'guest appearances.' So there is no compelling reason to read the books in any particular order yet. If Sizemore continues her successful efforts this will be a series to remember.
Rating: 
Summary: Fails to live up to its potential
Review: Char and Jebel Haven, the protagonists of the story are actually very intriguing characters and the first five pages of the novel are competently written. Perhaps that is why Amazon allows you to read only the first six pages online. Susan Sizemore has not reached the level of Laurell K. Hamilton when she was at her top form. While Laurell K. Hamilton can skillfully write dark humour into her novels, Susan Sizemore was not as successful in this novel. Furthermore, the writing technique used to tell the story merits improvement. I didn't expect a great classic for our ages but that's no excuse for sloppy writing. Plus the author should have a serious talk with the publishers about giving her better covers because they are the pulpiest covers I've seen in a long time. Overall, it's a so-so read-a romance novel disguised as a vampire detective story.
Rating:
Summary: Fails to live up to its potential
Review: Char McCairn is the Enforcer. Her job is to enforce the Laws of the Blood, the rules and regulations all vampires must live by or run the risk of being exterminated. She is approached a nest leader to track down a young renegade vampire. It seems the young vampire hasn't quite learned all the rules of survival and has taken off on his own. Should be an easy job for the Enforcer, but there is one little problem. Char has received orders to get rid of Jebel Haven, a vampire hunter. Why is this a problem? Well, apparently Char hasn't had to enforce the laws before now and isn't quite sure how to go about taking out Jebel Haven. So as any smart woman would do, she sets aside the big problem of Jebel and decides to work on the small problem first to get some experience. Practice makes perfect, right? Jebel Haven used to be the scum of the earth. You name it, he did it including spending time in prison. A chance encounter with some vampires bent on destruction changed his life. Now he has teamed up with some friends to rid the world of vampires. Unwillingly, but at the urging of his buddy, he has agreed to help track down the runaway son of a FBI agent. This is quite a turn around for our former criminal, working within the law instead of against it. As fate has an interesting way of intervening, Char and Jebel find out they are looking for the same runaway. The missing teen is now a vampire and someone needs to stop him before he does any more damage. Putting aside differences, (and unknown to Jebel, Char's orders to execute him) the two team up only to become aware they have bigger problems on their hands then they first thought. Something is out there that your worst nightmare doesn't compare to. Jebel and Char have to stop it before it gains control of Seattle, both humans and vampires. This is my second book by Susan Sizemore, and so happens her second book in the Laws of Blood series (never let it be said I read anything in the proper order since I read the third book first). It doesn't disappoint. While not as hard-hitting or dark as her third book Companions, Partners is just as compelling. I loved the fact that the Enforcer was new to the job and not quite sure how to handle things. Jebel maybe our hero of the book, but let's face it, he definitely not the stuff heroes are made of. While the story is definitely dark and violent, there are some almost lighthearted moments that keeps the story moving. Being a romantic fan, I loved the relationship between Char and Jebel. For those of you who don't like the romance angle, rest assure there is plenty of blood and gore to keep your interest.
Rating:
Summary: Unusual Partners Make the Best
Review: Char McCairn is the Enforcer. Her job is to enforce the Laws of the Blood, the rules and regulations all vampires must live by or run the risk of being exterminated. She is approached a nest leader to track down a young renegade vampire. It seems the young vampire hasn't quite learned all the rules of survival and has taken off on his own. Should be an easy job for the Enforcer, but there is one little problem. Char has received orders to get rid of Jebel Haven, a vampire hunter. Why is this a problem? Well, apparently Char hasn't had to enforce the laws before now and isn't quite sure how to go about taking out Jebel Haven. So as any smart woman would do, she sets aside the big problem of Jebel and decides to work on the small problem first to get some experience. Practice makes perfect, right? Jebel Haven used to be the scum of the earth. You name it, he did it including spending time in prison. A chance encounter with some vampires bent on destruction changed his life. Now he has teamed up with some friends to rid the world of vampires. Unwillingly, but at the urging of his buddy, he has agreed to help track down the runaway son of a FBI agent. This is quite a turn around for our former criminal, working within the law instead of against it. As fate has an interesting way of intervening, Char and Jebel find out they are looking for the same runaway. The missing teen is now a vampire and someone needs to stop him before he does any more damage. Putting aside differences, (and unknown to Jebel, Char's orders to execute him) the two team up only to become aware they have bigger problems on their hands then they first thought. Something is out there that your worst nightmare doesn't compare to. Jebel and Char have to stop it before it gains control of Seattle, both humans and vampires. This is my second book by Susan Sizemore, and so happens her second book in the Laws of Blood series (never let it be said I read anything in the proper order since I read the third book first). It doesn't disappoint. While not as hard-hitting or dark as her third book Companions, Partners is just as compelling. I loved the fact that the Enforcer was new to the job and not quite sure how to handle things. Jebel maybe our hero of the book, but let's face it, he definitely not the stuff heroes are made of. While the story is definitely dark and violent, there are some almost lighthearted moments that keeps the story moving. Being a romantic fan, I loved the relationship between Char and Jebel. For those of you who don't like the romance angle, rest assure there is plenty of blood and gore to keep your interest.
Rating:
Summary: Fun vampire mystery
Review: Despite the bizarre cover art, I picked this one up and read it. You can't judge a book by its cover apparently. A new vampire has gone missing and a serial killer is operating in Seattle. There seems to be a connection, so Char, a new Enforcer is sent to solve the problem. She is also assigned to kill a vampire hunter by the head Enforcer Istvan. Jebel Haven and his partner were hired by the baby vamp's mother to find him also, so they are also in Seattle. Char finds that she needs his help to kill the demon and sorcerer who hold the vampire, and who are behind the murders. She is not sure that she will be able to kill him when the job is done, and he can't seem to hate her like he hates all the other vampires. This was a pretty entertaining book. The Enforcer concept is interesting and the novel was full of suspense. Good read.
Rating:
Summary: Fun vampire mystery
Review: Despite the bizarre cover art, I picked this one up and read it. You can't judge a book by its cover apparently. A new vampire has gone missing and a serial killer is operating in Seattle. There seems to be a connection, so Char, a new Enforcer is sent to solve the problem. She is also assigned to kill a vampire hunter by the head Enforcer Istvan. Jebel Haven and his partner were hired by the baby vamp's mother to find him also, so they are also in Seattle. Char finds that she needs his help to kill the demon and sorcerer who hold the vampire, and who are behind the murders. She is not sure that she will be able to kill him when the job is done, and he can't seem to hate her like he hates all the other vampires. This was a pretty entertaining book. The Enforcer concept is interesting and the novel was full of suspense. Good read.
Rating:
Summary: Not as Good, but Better in Some Ways
Review: I liked this story more than "The Hunt," for the most part, but some things made me twitch. I was glad that some other supernatural beings were discussed, because it leaves the series open for other creatures to be brought in later. This, in my opinion, is one of the strongest elements in the Southern Vampire series. It's also one of the drawbacks to Anne Rice's books. The way her books portray other supernatural creatures is very much like a 1970s primetime series: And featuring Lestat de Lioncourt as "The Vampire." I was annoyed with how Jebel could find clues and not find clues in the same scene of the book. It irritated me that the "vampire glamour" could convince someone of something patently false yet allow them to see fairly obscure clues that force them to deny that falsehood. I'd still recommend this book if you're into mysteries, vampires, or supernatural characters of any kind.
| 
