Dirty Blood by Heather Hildenbrand

Release Date: April 28, 2011
Publisher: Accendo Press
Pages: 288
Series: Yes, Book #1
Review Source: eBook for review from author

Synopsis: (from Goodreads)
I killed a girl last night. I did it with my bare hands and an old piece of pipe I found lying next to the dumpster. But that’s not the part that got me. The part that scared me, the part I can’t seem to wrap my head around and still has me reeling, was that when she charged me, her body shifted – and then she was a wolf. All snapping teeth and extended claws. But by the time I stood over her lifeless body, she was a girl again. That’s about the time I went into shock… And that was the moment he showed up.

Now, all I can do is accept the truths that are staring me in the face. One, Werewolves do exist. And Two, I was born to kill them.

My Thoughts:
What a fun read! Initially I thought it was going to be a cliche paranormal romance, but I have to say that Heather Hildenbrand surprised me. I pride myself on being flat-out honest, so I have to say that I wasn't really looking forward to reading another werewolf story. I started to read this book because of Indie Author Month and that's it. But very quickly I found myself caring about Tara, the main character. Are there a few cliches in the book? Yes, I would say there are. But was it easy to look past these and enjoy the story? Yes, absolutely. Heather has done some very believable world building, adding structure and a back story to the hunters and wolves. Any questions I was left with were ones that Tara (or even the others) wouldn't have known about, and I believe that any curiosity I have about certain characters or events will be answered in Book 2.

One reason why I really liked Tara is how tough she was. You could really feel her frustration about being kept in the dark, but she was never whiny about it (bonus!). As a reader you got frustrated along with her and cheered when she stood up for herself. Tara might fall for a certain mysterious boy named Wes but she doesn't take any crap from him, which really endeared me to her. Tara doesn't let people baby her, but she also doesn't mind being taken care of, as long as everyone is straight with her.

The whole concept of "Dirty Blood" (you'll have to read the book to find out exactly what it is) and the idea of "The Cause" are absolutely intriguing. The whole story kept me on my toes wondering what might happen or what secret might be revealed next. I'm not sure if the book adds anything particularly unique to the genre, but it sure is entertaining. If you're looking for an action packed paranormal story with a likable narrator and an interesting cast of side characters, then definitely give 'Dirty Blood' a try.

Rating:
[3.5/5]

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