Matters of the Blood: Maria Lima

Keira Kelly, half-breed descendant of a powerful supernatural family, has chosen to live apart from her clan and among humans in the Texas Hill Country. When she experiences a prophetic vision that foretells the vicious murder of her human cousin, Marty, she vows to determine the truth. Keira begins to uncover long-concealed secrets, and risks alienating everyone she knows -- from her former lover, Sheriff Carlton Larson, to the enigmatic Adam Walker, who’s become so much more than just an acquaintance…

Sheila says…

Authors take note: Matters of the Blood is everything a paranormal novel should be. It has a deep (and baffling) mystery, plenty of action, tantalizing romance, a plot thick with twists and turns, and a unique locale as the story's backdrop. I may as well be deep in the heart of Texas because the author puts the reader there. It’s an area I’m very familiar with, and Ms. Lima is right on the mark with the ambience and small-town feel.

I'll admit I had a hard time sinking my teeth into the first three chapters. Lima's fresh writing style is unlike anything I've read in this genre, and it took a little while to adjust to my new surroundings. Once I was hooked though, I couldn’t help but fall in love. Keira may not be human, but she has the same sort of problems as the rest of us. Except for the unpredictable power she can’t control. And a family filled with supernatural beings of every stripe but hey, all families have a little eccentricity, right? Her best friend, Bea, is the perfect compliment and the locals are definitely not just window-dressing. Even though slacker cousin Marty makes a very brief appearance at the beginning, his character never leaves the story.

And oh! The romance! My my my. Seductive teasing with sexual tension building on every page between Keira and the oh-so-luscious Adam, and you know something explosive is about to happen in the next chapter. With perfect timing and pace, it never seemed forced. The love triangle of Adam, Keira, and the sheriff is a welcome foil, keeping this well out of the realm of mundane he-she romances.

However...do not be lulled into thinking this is merely a blithe romp with a supernatural love story. It has plenty of dark edges, with some of the author's themes crawling right into your head and leaving you with a heavy -- and disturbed -- heart. In my opinion, this is just one of many reasons this book works so well and sets itself far apart from the pack.

This is an absolutely spectacular addition to the paranormal landscape, and I'm praying on bended knee for a sequel. Novels of this caliber are few and far between, so stop sitting in front of your computer reading this and get yourself a copy!

EvilPoet says...

The tale is one that begins like any typical family. Every family seems to have at least one deadbeat and there is always one that has to baby sit them, to make sure that they keep out of too much trouble and to shuffle them money when times get bad. Our heroine has the lovely task of taking care of her cousin -- a mortician -- who has found himself dead on one of his own embalming tables.

Our changing heroine, soothsayer...wait no...changling; spellcaster; necromancer? Kiera finds herself tossed in between the arms of an old lover (an old married lover at that) and a hot lord of the manor who I would love to keep locked up tight in my basement. One thing leads to another and the toying begins; jealous stares oozing with bits of manly testosterone are thrust back and forth while a murder-mystery is trying to be solved.

Lima's use of read-it-to-me verse caught me off guard at first. The dialogue was unique but it didn’t take long for me to enjoy it. The author has the ability to take even the simplest of tasks and twist them around until it’s been changed into something far more complex. Through all the twists and turns, not once did I have to worry about getting myself confused. In the end, it all makes perfect sense.

Keep this author on your watch list. She’ll be going places and fast. I can’t wait for the sequels, and pray that she will continue expanding on the rich history and personalities of the characters. All in all, this is one of the best titles that I have read in a long time. It’s a classy, teasing tale riddled with intrigue and paranormal bliss.
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Paperback: 248 pages
Publisher: Juno Books (April 11, 2007)
ISBN-10: 0809557908
ISBN-13: 978-0809557905
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