Treadmill: Fri., 25-Nov. > Thurs., 1-Dec.
Here’s a compilation of screen shots of my Apple watch workouts that were recorded while on the treadmill. My goal is to read while walking on the treadmill for at least one 30-minute mile per day.
What I #AmReading…
A Vampire Chew Toy by Holly Day
Oh my goodness, I LOVED this book! I haven’t read all that many shifter and/or vampire books, at least not relative to how many are out there, but one thing I enjoy about them is that the “rules” are just vague guidelines and you can use or discard whatever you want. Such as…
Vampires can or cannot go out in the sun…it’s up to the author of that particular book/series. Shifting is or isn’t tied to the moon’s phases…again, up to the author. How much, if at all, are their senses/abilities affected? Are all humans affected by said abilities or are some immune? Can/must the vampire eat regular food or only blood? Are the shifters/vampires turned from humans or born to other shifters/vampires? Or both? Do humans know they exist or is it a big ole secret?
Anyway, I thoroughly enjoyed the world Holly Day built for her shifters/vampires in this book (both exist). The story is about Mars O’Ceallaigh, a vampires of several hundred years old who works in law enforcement on a team with a bunch of shifters, and Devin Jase, a human who is rescued by Mars and his team at the beginning of the book. Rogue vampires had abducted him and were keeping him as a blood slave (“vampire chew toy”), and he is quite traumatized by the experience.
I believe the “holiday” that inspired this story is something to do with M&Ms, and I love how they were featured throughout the story. They were practically their own character.
The Snippets
Both Mars and Devin get their POV represented. Told in 3rd-person past.
Opening lines, but a lovely set up, so I’m snipping them. Mars’ POV:
Mars O’Ceallaigh looked around the luxurious dining room in the underground mansion and wanted to throw up. He hated when people turned being a vampire into a cliché. There was no reason for underground mansions. They could walk in the sun like any other species, and blood slaves? He forced his body not to tense as he watched them.
Kenia and Murrie are shifters (wolf and bear) who are part of the same team as Mars. Murrie is their leader. Kenia is the first speaker, Murrie replies (referring to Devin). Mars’ POV:
“What just happened?” Kenia turned to Murrie.
“I…eh…complained about my schedule. He said he’d have a look at it.”
She nodded. “You got told off. By a human. A human who cowers in the corners and screams in terror if someone breathes too hard. You must be losing your touch, oh mighty leader.”
LOL. I’m with Mars, here because I am not a next-level baker who figures out what they’re making after already cracking some eggs. Mars is the first speaker, and it’s his POV:
“You haven’t decided yet? You cracked eggs.”
Devin shifted his weight and grabbed the cocoa powder. “I think I’ll make brownies.” He looked over his shoulder. “Or butter cake?”
“You’ve already cracked the eggs.” Mars didn’t know why he was stuck on the eggs, but if he’d cracked them, surely, he had a plan.
Aww. Devin’s POV
For a moment, panic blinded him, but when he came back to his senses, Mars was holding his hand. His thumb—it wasn’t a caress as much as a massage. Devin looked down at it. He moved his thumb in circles, focusing on the same spot the entire time, and Devin filled his lungs with air.
LOL. Mars’ POV:
Devin glanced at the bed. “And where are you going to be? I can’t rest if you’re gonna stand over me and watch me sleep.”
Mars grinned. “What? You don’t want to wake up and see me hovering over you?”
“So creepy.”
Mars huffed a laugh. “Crawl in. I can sit on the floor.” Sitting and leaning against the bed would be okay. He’d be dead on his feet all day, but it would have to do.
“You’re ancient. You can’t sit on the floor. You wouldn’t be able to get up.”
“Don’t you worry your pretty little head, child. It’s bedtime. Want Daddy to read you a story?”
Devin shuddered. “Urgh, no daddies, please.”
Mars chuckled. “If you crawl up on the bed, I won’t say it again.”
A Vampire Chew Toy by Holly Day
Paranormal M/M Romance
Universal Buy-Link
Devin Jace lives in a huge mansion together with six other people, five of them turn furry, and one needs to drink blood to survive. Sometimes, he suspects it’s all a dream. Four years ago, he had no idea supernatural beings existed. It wasn’t until he was snatched off the street and forced to live as a blood slave he realized vampires are real and don’t sparkle.
Three years ago, Mars O’Ceallaigh was part of the team who saved a badly scarred and severely traumatized Devin. As the only vampire on the team, he got to work undercover. To keep up the facade, he tasted Devin’s blood. Not a day has gone by since without him thinking about it, both the taste of the blood and Devin. But he wants Devin to be happy, and since he knows vampires are his worst nightmare, he does his best to keep out of his way.
When the team learns Devin’s captor has escaped prison, Mars is convinced he will come for Devin. Devin might fear Mars, but there is someone he fears more, so when Mars swears to keep him safe, Devin trusts him. Mars more than enjoys being by Devin’s side at all times, but will spending every minute of every day with him be enough to keep him safe?
Spreading more book love!
Here are more of my…
✓ recent reads
✓ current reads
✓ re-reads
✓ want-to-reads
(all genres included)
My Current Read
These three are high on my TBR at the mo’.
About My #Treadmill / #AmReading Posts
I started out with this being a Sunday thing, but sometimes I’d rather not mash multiple books into a single post, so now, you never know when you might see one of these posts.
Rather than give a true “review,” which I’m not entirely comfortable doing as an author myself, I share snippets from books I’ve read and enjoyed, letting the authors’ words speak for themselves.
As you’ve possibly noticed, if you’ve been following along, I highlight snippets for reasons of my own which might veer from what is often seen. Sometimes my highlights have more to do with a paragraph simply impressing the heck out of me for its fabulous writerly technique, other times it has to do with the lovely way it gives subtle insight into the story/characters. Still other times simply because it made me laugh.
Anyway, I sometimes add a little commentary, but not always, which is not in any way, shape, or form, to be taken as unwritten commentary. Most likely it just means I’m short on time and/or context isn’t needed to understand what’s happening, and/or my brain doesn’t feel like putting out the effort in that particular moment.
Also, I’m going to try to spread the book love by tacking on covers of more books at the end of the post that I’ve either recently read, am currently reading, or want to read. Not seeing a full post with snippets for any of these books is not a commentary on anything other than how much time I have available in a day either to read or to create a post about what I’ve read. It might also mean I listened to the audiobook only or that it’s a reread that I’ve featured previously, or it’s not M/M so probably not a good fit for featuring on this blog.
Happy reading!
