Regan SummersCritiques

Short but sweet (i.e., AWESOME) novella.

Summers sets the scene really well. Sydney Kildare, our heroine, is working as a courier in Alaska. Vampires exist and they're most active in parts of the world with limited daylight; they're powerful and wealthy but fry technology like cell phones and computers, so they need couriers to carry messages. These human couriers are paid a lot for their services, but they've got a dangerous job. Scheming vampires often try to intercept or steal messages, so most of Kildare's deliveries are high-speed chases. Attacks and outright murder are common.

But Sydney has a plan. Survive until she has enough money to retire in Hawaii and then retire young. She's extra-careful, always disguising her scent and appearance to throw off tails, and she has nothing to do with vampires outside of handing over their parcels.

Until she meets Malcolm Kelly, that is. Their first few meetings are really deliicious. Sexy and uncertain and a little suspicious. But as they get closer, the danger for Sydney builds.

I don't want to spoil any more, because it's a short book. I do think that Sydney and Malcolm jump from "fooling around" to "committed, ready for an HEA" way, way too fast. I wish there had been another, say, 60,000 words to connect the dots.

I would have loved this as a full-length novel. It would be a great urban fantasy/paranormal romance, with its adrenaline pumping mix of action and romance and intrigue. As it is, though, it's a fully developed world with fully developed characters but not a full developed story. The ending felt really rushed and I was left wanting more, not quite satisfied.

But I will be on the lookout for more books - fingers crossed for a novel! - by this author.

I loved Syndey's personality, style and independence in DON'T BITE THE MESSENGER so I was excited when Regan contacted me with RUNNING IN THE DARK for review. I think its pretty important to read book 0.5 before you jump into book 1 as it will give you the background on the characters and their situations. You might be a bit lost if you try to jump into book 1 without the back story.

It was a bit hard to read the first half of the book watching Sydney struggle with not having complete control of her life nor being able to do what she loves to do at the pace she wants to do it. The change of scenery in RUNNING IN THE DARK was interesting. I have never been to Anchorage or Chile so both were fun to witness through the two separate adventures. Malcolm ticked me off at multiple points throughout the book but his attitude makes complete sense by the last chapter and he is perfect for Sydney and vice versa. I really liked meeting Soraya she turned out being a great ally and I see more of her in Sydney and Malcom's future (at least I'm hoping she will be in their future). Because Sydney isn't in the same situation as in DON'T BITE THE MESSENGER we didn't get her high tech cars and fast driving but there was a ton of fantastic action scenes and deathly situations. Both of Regan's books were fast paced with simple to connect to worlds.

It shouldn't be long before the whole vampire community knows who Sydney and Malcolm are and the ending sets up book 2 a bit.

Sydney is a courier for the vamps and I found her job to be fun and exciting. I could so picture people doing that and it was fun to learn how she had to change her appearance all the time and keep her real identity a secret. The opening scene was full of action as she raced to complete a run so that we got an instant taste of her job. Sydney takes her job seriously and kinda lives the part but she is still down to earth and easy to like. Because of her job she hasn't really had time for romance but Malcolm and her have instant attraction that shines through the pages. They didn't immediately jump each others bones or fall in love which was nice.The story is pretty short but its filled with action, was fast paced, and it felt complete.

I'm kinda hoping to see more of Sydney and Malcolm. The story ended well and I was satisfied with the ending but I think they would be super fun to follow on their next journey so I would definitely read more.

From the first page I was hooked and read this book in two hours as I was unable to put it down.

I loved that this book was original and it is what attracted me to it in the first place. It gave a new outlook on vampires and I know this could not have been easy for the author as vampires have already been well described in may novels.

This book was fast paced and kept me on my toes throughout. I love that Sidney and Malcolm relationship did not just suddenly happen, it evolved throughout the story. I find that in most books I read in this genre relationships happen to quickly and I feel rushed into.

The only negative opinion I have of this book is that it was not long enough. I finished and found myself thinking is that it over? Not because I was disappointed by the story but because I was left wanting more.

Overall a very good quick read that I highly recommend and I can’t wait to read the next book in the series.

A copy of this book was received for free and all opinions are my own through reading it.

This review was first published on http://everybookhasasoul.wordpress.com

I received an ecopy of this book free of charge from NetGalley in exchange for my honest opinion.

I don't often read short stories because they usually don't have enough meat in them due to their short length to leave me feeling satisfied. I find that the story line doesn't have time to develop, and there's barely enough time to get to know the characters. I am very happy to say that this was not true in this case! Although it was definitely a quick read, it had a great plot and I felt there was real character development.

From Goodreads: "Sydney has survived to the ripe old age of twenty-six by being careful. She's careful when navigating her tempestuous clients, outrunning hijackers and avoiding anyone who might distract her from her plan of retiring young to a tropical, vampire-free island."

Sydney is counting down the days to her retirement, even though she is only 26 years old, because she will finally be able to move to Hawaii, a place that vampires tend to avoid like the plague due to all the sunshine there. She just has to keep her head down and go unnoticed for a couple more weeks and she will be home free. Unfortunately, fate has a different plan for her! She finds herself in the middle of a vamp takeover attempt where she'll be lucky to get out alive. Enter Malcolm Kelly, "a secretive charmer with the uncanny habit of showing up whenever she's in trouble."

This book is chock-full of action and romance, all tied up in a neat little novella package. It grabs your attention from the first page and doesn't let up until the end! It's also a very nice set up to what appears to be a great new series coming out, and I, for one, will be waiting impatiently for the first book to come out! Sydney and Malcolm are well fleshed out characters and very easy to like and root for.

In summary, this is a great quick read that I can definitely recommend to all paranormal romance lovers out there, and an awesome set up to a new series :D

Don't Bite the Messenger is a fun novella with lots of energy and explosions. I wanted to read it because I thought Regan Summers' concept was great: vampires can't use technology so they have to rely on human runners to deliver messages, documents, etc. I also loved the idea of a book set in Alaska. It doesn't happen all that often (though I can think of a couple stories that do use this setting, like Kelley Armstrong's Frostbitten or Marcus Peligrimas' Blood Blade) and I love it when an author throws something a little out of the ordinary at his or her readers. It's especially cool this time because Regan Summers is actually in Alaska in real life,which makes me think her descriptions are probably the most accurate.

Of course, being a runner isn't exactly a safe job. Good runners are constantly switching things up, avoiding routine at all cost, so that they wont get caught by humans or vampires who are up to no good. I loved how Sydney, the main character, constantly changed her appearance -- and even tried to mask her scent -- in addition to her routine and habits. Smart, resourceful protagonists make things a lot more interesting. Smart, resourceful protagonists with a secret? Even better.

I also like how the author introduces Malcolm into the story. He's an interesting character and I was very curious about him. We don't get all that much information about him, especially not at first, and I enjoyed watching Sydney try to figure him out.

I'm excited to see what Regan Summers does next.

http://ireadgood.wordpress.com

I loved the characters, the beginning was a little slow, but once Sydney (female lead) met Malcolm (male lead) it was a can't put down after that. The chemistry and banter between Sydney and Malcolm is amazing, and funny. At one point I didn't like Malcolm for a little while but he redeemed himself. I was frustrated with the end because it left me wanting...I wish it had been longer to develop the characters some more!

You may also read my review here: http://www.mybookishways.com/2012/01/release-day-review-dont-bite-the-messenger-...

Sydney Kildare is a vampire courier in Alaska, and it’s not a job for the faint of heart. Navigating the powerful world of vamp politics and wheeling and dealing, while keeping not only her wits about her, but her blood in her body, isn’t easy, and she’s one of the best in the biz. However, the stress is taking its toll, and she’s ready to pack it in and retire to a beach house on the shores of Oahu. Then she meets Malcolm Kelly. Mal is a vamp very good at passing for human, so when she finds out his true nature, she’s surprised, to say the least. She’s also surprised at the instant sparks between them. However, Sydney isn’t one to let romantic complications get in the way of her plans. After getting caught in the crossfire of vamp politics, she’s nearly a casualty, and that’s when she decides it’s time to cut her losses. But the vamps have other ideas…

Sydney is exactly my kind of heroine; tough, smart, resourceful, but not without her Achilles’ heels and vulnerabilities. She’s built some walls, but Mal just may be the one guy that can tear them down. Don’t Bite the Messenger is a lightning fast urban fantasy/romance, and Sydney’s voice grabbed me from page one. Regan Summers’ writing is taut, electric and crackles with tension. There’s nothing sappy here, and I really enjoyed the whipsmart (and admittedly hawt) love story. Mal is certainly equal to the task of winning Sydney over, but theirs is not a fairy tale love affair. There are car chases, shootouts, and of course, some good ol’ butt kickin’. The only thing I DIDN’T like is that Don’t Bite the Messenger wasn’t longer. Seriously, loved this one, and can’t wait for Regan Summers’ next story!

Sydney Kildare is just trying to save up enough money so she can move to Hawaii. She just wants out of the courier business, to be able to go to a place where the vampires won't follow. It's why she uses an alias when she delivers and no one even knows her real name. It looks like that might not happen though, when a package she's delivering blows up almost taking her with it. Turns out that because of her imperviousness to vampire influence, certain businessmen are trying to get rid of her. Bronson, a vampire she normally delivers for, has been keeping tabs on her through Malcom (a total hottie, who is interested in Sydney). Even when she moves to Hawaii finally she can't get away from assassins and danger. Will Sydney choose a life of monotony and ease, or a life of heart-pounding thrills and romance? This was a cute little novella, but I felt like it focused too much on the romance. I was more interested in Sydney's bad-ass antics then her relationship with Malcom. I do like that she didn't automatically go goo-goo eyed over some piece of tail like most paranormal heroines. I would be interested to see what else happens to Sydney next. One thing I give Ms. Summers major props for is the fact that I AM NOT into urban fantasy AT ALL. That said, I'm was glued to my Kindle, trying to know what happened next. I'd recommend this to people looking for a quick, fun read. Regan Summers is an author to watch out for! :)

VERDICT: 3.5/5 Stars

*I received an Advanced Reading E-book Copy from the publisher, via NetGalley. No money was exchanged for this review. The expected publication date of this book is January 16th, 2012.*½