Blood Kissed (The Lizzie Grace Series Book 1)

This was a great read, it pulls you in right off the bat. The characters are well developed and by the end of the book I felt sad to see it end and immediately checked to see about the next installment. From reading her other books you can’t help but see if there are any comparisons but this totally stands in its own.

This story was well told, and interesting. However, it drags in certain places (especially the beginning) which should never happen when one is trying to entrance a reader. There were also quite a few grammatical errors that took me out of the story a few times, but overall, it was a good decent book.

I gave a five star rating because I thoroughly enjoyed this book AND I eagerly await more stories of the life and adventures of Lizzie Grace. I loved that she didn't have some massive power level and was rather 'unimpressive' - making her all the more resourceful and don't get me started on the conversations with Belle! Loved it. More please.

I absolutely loved this first book in the new series. I have been waiting for something fresh and new in sci-fi romance. Here it is. Great characters with big hearts along with an intense suspenseful story. Enjoy!

Caught up in the magical creation that is Kerri Arthur's imagination, this was hard to put down. A witch, a werewolf with a grudge, a vampire out for revenge and a delightful Cafe. The story telling is magic itself as each line casts its own spell and pulls you in.

I loved the series! I finished it in record time and was sorry to see it end. Can't wait for the next book to come out!

To respond to another reader, it may have similar story lines, but because it is set in Australia and has Lizzie's back story just waiting to flesh out, I would recommend this book to anyone looking for a great read!

Ran rather long but overall not bad. I would like more of a back story as to why Mozzie is on the run from her family. I guess toasts in forthcoming books. Not sure if I'm curious enough to read them.

I wasn’t sure about reading this series but I’m glad I gave it a try! I mean how could Keri top her Outcast series?!? But the characters and settings were interesting and kept me entertained from the start to the last and is definitely worth the read. I will be reading the next installment right now! (Hells Bells)

The heroine, Lizzy, is made more interesting because of her familiar, Belle. Lizzy, herself, doesn't leap off the pages, and is a bit boring. It would be helpful if there were more details to develop the plot.

Big fan of Keri's but haven't quite gotten "into" her recent work. Blood Kissed was a fabulously great read. It reminded me more of her early books (ie 'Nikki & Michael' etc ). Looking forward to the next book

First in the Lizzie Grace urban fantasy series and revolving around a witch who wants nothing to do with her magical, blue bloodline.

My Take
This was fun! Lots of action and lots of sneaky teases. I'll have to read Hell's Bell to find out how Cat died, if Lizzie's power is stronger than she thinks, what's going on with the wild magic, and where Gabe is…or perhaps it's more about Katie…? Inquiring minds just gotta know!

It's a cozy enough beginning that starts the story crisis up while setting Lizzie and Belle up with their troubled past. Arthur uses first person protagonist point-of-view from Lizzie's perspective, so all that we know is from what Lizzie sees, feels, observes, and thinks. And that is quite a bit. Arthur really does a great job on providing back history and background information (without dumping!) through Lizzie, and her "thoughts" are quite natural without that repetition some authors can't resist.

I love the relationship between Lizzie and Belle, and Arthur provides enough background that I felt as though the girls had grown from their original start. The growth continues with that angry introduction of the werewolf ranger whose own issues Arthur draws on and out until I'm ready to hit someone.

It's truly tricky, because I suspect the reasons for his anger are based in the marvel that Lizzie faces in the park.

God forbid we should only have the story tension with that crazed vampire, so Arthur throws in all of Lizzie's fear of what could happen if her family finds them. Whew, I'm tellin' ya…Arthur has so much material to draw on that the next one oughta be a pip.

The Story
It's a furious mother who insists Lizzie hunt down the bastard who stole her daughter. No matter that witches are banished from the reservation, and the rangers have forbidden Lizzie from interfering, the mother is a powerhouse in town and could make life untenable.

Of course, that's nothing compared to what a blood-magic-using rogue vampire will do!

It’s a hunt that soon becomes personal, and one that is going to take all her skills to survive — that’s if the werewolves, who hate all things witch, don’t get her first.

The Characters
Lizzie Grace, born into the Marlowe blueblood line of witches, has constantly let her family down, as she is so out-of-the-norm and weak in her magic — being strong in psychometry in "not adequate". Cat is the sister who died twelve years ago, and Lizzie and Belle had been on the run ever since. The psychic Isabelle "Belle" Kent (from that lowly Sarr bloodline, although her Gran had some amazing books!) is Lizzie's closest friend and her human familiar with constant access to Lizzie's thoughts. Lizzie's real parents are part of a handful of witches who are the most powerful in Australia. Julius "Juli" is Lizzie's smug brother. Supposedly the psychics, Kate and Lance Grace, are the "parents" of Lizzie "Grace".

Castle Rock is…
…the "witch-free" capital (that is filled with wild magic) of the Faelan Reservation, one of seven werewolf reservations in Australia. Gabe, the last witch, had his residency revoked. He had replaced Tarkan.

The Psychic Café…
…is the business that Lizzie and Belle have opened in Castle Rock, offering psychic readings as well as the usual fare. Penny is a waitress. Mike is the chef. Frank Reuben is the kitchen hand.

Aiden O'Connor is the head Ranger and quite prejudiced. Ciara is his sister and the coroner. Katie was their youngest sister. (The O'Connors were one of the original occupiers of the land.) The Rangers are always werewolves elected by the elders and include Tala Sinclair, Aiden's second-in-command; Duke; Jaz; Mac; and, Byron. Maggie is the receptionist and a ranger-in-training.

Marjorie Banks is an attorney-at-law who wants a reading about her missing daughter, Karen. Jason is Karen's boyfriend. Phillip Banks is Majorie's ex. René Marin is reworking an old gold mine. James Maldoon. Mary Jones had run with a bad crowd back in the day, one that included Marjorie and Morris Redfern (he and his wife, Emma, just buried their sixteen-year-old son, Mason, thirteen days ago). Frieda Andersen is the girl who was bullied. Jenny and John Andersen were her parents. Mrs. Williams is a customer at the café; Freddie is her husband. Rosie has dementia and is confused about which psychic can't find her ring.

The old Richards Road Hotel is now a themed nightclub called Émigré. Zak Marin, a werewolf, is one of the bartenders and works as a handyman during the day. Maelle Defour is the owner and a vampire. Her Defour lineage was cursed by a long-ago witch of the Marlowe line.

The Interspecies Investigations Team (IIT) is…
…something of a paranormal FBI with John Hart and Terry Blume as condescending agents.

The Regional Witch Association keeps…
…an eye on witches in the area. Anna Kang is a TWA representative.

Tomme (Frederick Waverley was his human name) is a vampire using blood magic, unclean and soul-staining.

There are six lines of witches: three are considered royalty (Marlowe, Kang, and Waverley) and the other three commoners (the Sarrs and the Fitzgerald line who are no more than carnival fortunetellers and tricksters are two of the lowly). The government requires that a witch be present on all reservations to serve as the government liaison and rule enforcers. A familiar monitors and protects its witch as well as acting as a lifeline of strength. Witch script is an ancient text that can only be read by blueblood adepts. Witch magic relies on the strength of the witch and the energy of the earth. Wild magic comes from the deeper recesses of the earth. The High Ridge Massacre wiped out an entire town in one night, all due to a wellspring that was sucked into evil.

The registrar is an organization that holds the records of every vampire created and can track them.

Kyle was a mistake in Birdwood. Jake is a surfer in Coolangatta. James Barton had been a baker. Beans and Greens is a small café in Bendigo.

The Cover and Title
The cover is simple yet compelling with a black and blues cloudy night and wisps of wild magic rising up from the dark forest. It's Lizzie in profile with her head of long, wavy, crimson hair thrown back as though she were howling at the full moon that rises behind her. It's a subtle nod to the werewolves as well as acknowledging its own influence on her magic. The author's name is centered at the top in white with white in the title at the bottom, crossing Lizzie's hip. Beneath that is the series information in a light blue.

The title, Blood Kissed, refers to the signs that a person has shared the blood of a vampire.

This is the first book I've read from Arthur, and I really liked it. Having a witch with a human familiar is something I've not seen before, and it worked. The world-building was pretty good with witches being de facto government heavies and other supernaturals largely trying to get along with humans. There is a lot of backstory that is hinted at that I am sure she will gradually reveals in the upcoming books. If you're looking for lots of romance, you're going to have to wait because Arthur barely skims the surface with the relationship between the two main characters.

If I have one complaint it is that we constantly hear about how weak Lizzie's powers are and yet she pulls off some pretty impressive magic. However, there is a suggestion that Lizzie is more powerful than she thinks, and again that seems to be something Arthur plans to expand on in future books.

Oh, and my other complaint is that when I bought this, I thought there were more books in the series. I hate waiting!! However, I think waiting for the next Lizzie Grace book will be worth it.

I liked the story. Strong women working against evil always works for me. Good story building and complete ... no cliff hangers but lots of room to develop deeper relationships and explore the power gain. I look forward to seeing a rich relationship between Lizzie & Aiden in the next book. I held back one star due to the unnecessary use of the F-word. Not overwhelming, just unnecessary.

I am just discovering Keri Arthur and I am happy I did. I was at my local library yester 9/16 and saw her book in the new books section, I picked it up and thought huh? another vampire book. I picked it up and read the back. I got one sentence in and knew I had to bring it home and read it. I started it this afternoon and couldn't put it down. I enjoyed it so well I had to come here and share my thoughts.

This isn't your normal vampire book or paranormal book. It's a great mix of the paranormal and modern life. It also takes place in Australia which I love. I also love the realistic relationships in the book. It wasn't filled with all sex which let's be honest can be overused in books. Kari doesn't need this with her story, you still get romance, sexual tension, but the storyline carries one without the need of sex in every chapter. That is something that has turned me off from many paranormal books.

Anyways if you like magic, witches, werewolves, vampires, sexual tension and a modern setting you will love this book give it a try I know when book two comes out I will be buying it.

I’ve been a fan of Keri Arthur’s writing for years! When I saw the cover for this book (months ago) I was jumping with excitement for this new series. Lately it’s felt like the urban fantasy genre doesn’t have much to offer in terms of new and refreshing books and I’m just dying to find that new gem. BLOOD KISSED was entertaining and it has the promise of something I can really sink my teeth into.

Lizzie is a witch on the run. Running from her family, she’s taken on a new identity and her and her familiar and best friend, another witch named Belle, have settled in the small town of Castle Rock and opened a cafe which offers some psychic assistance as well. Thinking they would lay low and stay away from trouble, but trouble seems to find them when a human client comes looking for help in finding her missing daughter and Lizzie stumbles across a rogue vampire set on killing the town’s habitants.

First things first… I loved the concept of the world in this series. It’s very simple yet a bit different. The paranormal creatures are out, the shifters are the law in town and witches have been run out of this particular town. Small town paranormal mystery seems to be a recent fave of mine. If you’ve read my reviews for Devon Monks latest series, then you’ll know this. The new Lizzie Grace series falls into the same category while it lacked just a bit of the humor.

I loved the heroine, Lizzie. She’s very down to earth and relatable. We still have more to discover about her past and her family, but what we find out about her in this book made me really like her. Plus her attitude is just perfect for this type of book. She’s just snarky enough, confident enough, and knowledgeable enough without coming across as a standard bitchy kickass heroine. The sexy Ranger and shifter, Aidan, has an underlying hate for witches in particular and Lizzie struggles with her attraction to him while having to work together on solving this case. Her best friend Belle was the bit of comic relief needed. And the plot had an interesting mystery that I wanted to unravel.

I will say this… the first about 30% of the book was pretty slow going and was having a hard time holding my interest for more than a chapter. But I was still drawn to the characters and wanting to solve the mystery so I pushed through. Once this gets going, it was a page turner. Overall, I think it’s a great book to kick off a series and I honestly can’t wait for another adventure.

This is the first in a new series, set somewhere in Victoria, Australia. It's kind of paranormal. It has witches and werewolves and vampires and stuff. Also kind of thriller.
The heroine is Lizzie Grace, who is a witch from a powerful family but apparently got stuck at the shallow end of the gene pool with her magic powers. She is however full of psychic power which is different to magic but makes her career as a psychic cafe owner pretty logical.
She partners in the business with Belle, another low caste witch who is a rather unusual familiar to Lizzie. We are used to cats being witches familiars, so this is rather unusual and makes for an interesting dynamic between the women.
When a woman comes into the cafe wanting Lizzie to use her psychic finding powers to find her daughter, it triggers off a whole series of events involving a rogue vampire. It immediately brings Lizzie into conflict with Aiden O'Connor, head ranger on the werewolf reservation where Lizzie and Belle have only recently settled. What they didn't know about Castle Rock, is that witches are definitely unwelcome. Because reasons.
This was a solid story with elements of mystery, a touch of thriller, all within an alternative universe setting where witches are powerful, werewolves somewhat less so and vampires are rightly feared by all.
It's the first in a series, so the potential enemy to lovers romance is a slow burn that will presumably play out over the series along with another mystery that is touched on in this book.

I was so excited about this book from the moment I saw the cover on the blog of the author. Back then it didn’t even have a synopsis but only the pretty cover and the name of the author made this a guaranteed read. Especially after my experience with her Outcast series.
The thing is that I didn’t enjoy this book as much as I hoped for. Maybe because I had really high expectations or because I not so keen on stories focusing on witches and this one paid just a tad bit more attention to them than I would have liked. But let’s start with the beginning. Alas with the world building. As was writing this review I realized that my real problem lied with the world building. Usually Keri Arthur performs exceptionally well in this department, she has phenomenal ideas but in this case the presentation of said world is a bit lacking. For one I didn’t love the idea behind how the presented world hierarchy and structure worked. It has a lot of good ideas but most of them are still hazy for me, the description is not spot on or even clear and t bothered me. Yes here and there are thrown into the mix some explanation of politics and governing but not nearly enough to create a clear picture. I got that the witches has a significantly big role in leading or ore like advising, also the supernatural’s are kind of create the governing body but even within them there is a hierarchy between factions. ( In this part I found a couple of vague similarities with Anne Bishop ‘s Others series). But with the little information I got I couldn’t put everything together to my satisfaction. For one I think this obscuring is partially because the secrets of the witch world go hand in hand with Lizzie past and that is a secret for a future book. In the end I didn’t love the world building but saw a lot of potential in it.
The plot was interesting, fast paced after the first 30% and eventful but it moved on so many different levels that it was harder to connect the little dots into a picture. I found the storyline enjoyable but also hard to put together so a bit hazy. In some instance I just couldn’t see how the characters came to that particular conclusion. I also think it could have been more powerful yet I found myself fully immersed into it.
As for the characters I liked Lizzie. She is different from the usual characters I like. She is very down to earth and kind of a pragmatic, she expects the worst from every situation but that’s because of her personal experience. She is running and hiding from her family for over ten years now and in that time she encountered a lot of hardship, so it’s safe to say she went through a lot yet she still finds happiness in little things. I liked her attitude especially toward Aiden, her sarcasm and brutal honesty. She is trying to live in the down low, but when someone in need comes through her door she can’t let it go. Supposedly she is a pureblood witch with next to nothing in terms of power, yet I think there is more there than meets the eye at first glance. She is a snarky, brave and caring heroine.
Then there is Aiden, the local ranger, werewolf and witch hater. He is quite hostile toward our heroine for no reason what-so-ever. Yet I liked him with his slightly negative and assholish self because he changes and knows when to admit that he was wrong. There is a palatable attraction between them from the very beginning but both of the tries to resist it for a while. It was funny to follow their little dance around each other. Then it was delighting how their connection, relationship changed and became something else.
There are a lot of interesting and meddling supporting characters too, but the one I have to mention is Belle, Lizzie’s sidekick/best friend/ familiar. She was the funny and more carefree of the duo and her little speeches shake up the book a little bit.
I liked it, but didn’t love it yet but I definitely have high hopes of this series and can’t wait for the next books and the secrets they will reveal, some of them I already suspect and it’s going to be epic, I just know it.

Lizzie and her human familiar—and best friend—Belle, are in hiding from her family and living on a werewolf reservation when trouble finds its way to their door. I enjoyed the relationship between Lizzie and Belle. A human familiar isn't something that is normal, but they work so well together and they wouldn't wish it any other way. Although Lizzie was born to a very powerful witch family, it's made clear that her magic isn't very strong. I kinda kept waiting for her to really blow magic out of the water in some way. Like a hidden magical reservoir that has been hiding and shows itself at the most opportune time. Not sure if that will ever happen, but i will keep my fingers crossed in future books.

There is a tad bit of a love interest in BLOOD KISSED—very minor romance. Witnessing the awkward, frustrating and sometimes electric interactions between Lizzie and Aiden was pretty entertaining at times. They were BOTH so frustrated and repelled by each other, but also magnetically attracted to each other and hating it. You could definitely feel the sexual frustration at points. I imagine things will be pretty steamy if they ever get over their issues and hook up.

I enjoyed the setting in BLOOD KISSED. The small town feel was great and there is still so much involved in it being a werewolf reservation. The pace of BLOOD KISSED wasn't always fast, but I was never bored. I do wish that there were more twists involved in the storyline. There was a lot of things that ended up being pretty obvious.

After all was read, I thought that BLOOD KISSED was a nice start to a new series for Keri Arthur and I will keep my eyes open for Lizzie's next adventure.

* This book was provided free of charge from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

4.5 stars Keri Arthur write characters that I love to read. They are well developed, quirky, off centered, and snarky, just the way I like them. This series has two witches who are in the lower cast of witches just trying to make a living running a bakery in a small town run by a werewolf pack that hates witches. They bake do simple fortune telling and charms keeping under the radar for many reasons. They are semi hiding from their families. All is going well till, something wicked comes to town and the werewolves are forced to work with the witches who say they're really not witches to try to save the town for a blackness. Things go from bad to worse, and it gets dangerous.
There s some sexual tension, life threatening tension some fantastic snark, yummy treats, and a whole lot of fun. I loved the human familiar for the witches. The weres were hot headed, strong, sexy, and mysterious. The book ended with a cliff hanger and I need the next book. I recommend this book to fans of her writing or lovers of witches and weres. it's a good fun story.

This first book is perfection. The author has a great grasp on how to build a world and characters to keep the reader eating from the palm of her hand. She's absolutely gifted at weaving words into magic. You will not be disappointed. I found myself hooked from page one and wanted more as I closed the book after the last page.

I think it was ok. Its not something that held my interest like some UF do and I probably wont continue. It wasnt like it was hard to get into like some of the others like Kate Daniels and The Others. Once you get past a certain point in those books its smooth ride and this just didnt get there for me. I've never read this author before and I am not saying I wont read again...perhaps a different series. Some of these UF read alike and I am not saying this is one either but maybe similar...sorta. The characters were uncomplicated and if the story is complicated in itself I think you need to have complicated or deeper characters or even the potential for it to work and come together better. Others complained about F-bombs and honestly language doesnt bother me. S** doesnt bother me. As long as it fits within the story and characters and its not sloppy who cares how much is in it?

If you want a book without all that then you need to stick to clean books. They are out there...probably in the inspirational section or even Christian romance perhaps. You need to look hard for them but they exist.

I am a huge fan of her writing! This new series did not disappoint. I was hooked from page one! Characters are amazing and the mix of vampires & witchcraft is perfect. As soon as I finished this one I ordered the second!!!!!!

the book's summary is all you need to get into this one. the book was fun to read with predictable love interest, other than that the book1 shows snipets of were the author will most likely build on. i cant wait to have all my questions answered. will definitely be following this one

A new series by Keri Arthur and it doesn't disappoint. 's. Arthur is one of those writers that as soon as a new book is released I buy it immediately. Not once have I ever been disappointed. In this new series we have a slightly different take on what is classified as witches and even their familiars. Set in werewolf territory Lizzie must find a missing girl. Unfortunately, not all wolves like witches, and it starts to make things interesting. Something or someone is preying in Castle Rock and Lizzie needs to figure it out quickly and find the culprit. Any thing else said would be spoilers and I won't ruin a good book for you. Definitely pick this up and start reading it, just make sure you have time because you won't want to put it down until the last page. I just wish the next book was already available.

Absolutely riveting...

I had no idea that Keri Arthur had a new book out, and it was on sale.

I devoured this book in hours. As usual great story and characters that literally come to life. I loved Lizzie & Belle and Aiden too. I can’t wait for the next book.

It’s been a while since I’ve read a PNR...but man was I sucked in. I love a great PNR with mystery and suspense. This had it all.

This was so good that I read it right through to the end. It was very entertaining and captured my imagination. This is a really good book then again every thing I've read by her has been excellent! I definitely recommend this book and her other series. Most of Keri Arthur's books are for a mature reader.

A little different to what I would usually read which is exactly why I anticipated reading it so much. I was drawn in by the cover and the original concept of the blurb. I read this in one sitting. I thoroughly enjoyed watching it play out and the mystery unravel. Loved the detail which took me to the café, the murder scenes, and even the darker images that arose in it. Detailed, unique and dark. Loved it!

This is the start of another engrossing series by Keri Arthur. I have read and enjoyed her other series so I gave this one a chance, Glad I did. She does the paranormal so well. It was a little predictable but still had some twists.