Wednesday, May 22, 2013

Blog Tour {Reviews & Excerpts}—Penton Legacy series by Susannah Sandlin


Welcome to the Penton Legacy  series blog tour, organized by Bewitching Tours.
Looking for a fantastic Paranormal Romance vampire series? Check out Penton Legacy! You can read the series review or click on the individual bookcovers to get the respective book's info and mini-review.

by Susannah Sandlin
Genre: Adult Paranormal Romance



I've had an undying love for vampire novels for years and cannot believe I've only just read the Penton Legacy series now. Susannah Sandlin created an intriguing world in which vampires are starving due to a global pandemic vaccine that has rendered human blood deadly to them, and with one little town and a wide cast of rich characters, she captured the undead living.

In Penton, Alabama, Aidan Murphy, a lonely, Irish, four-centuries-old vampire with a tragic human past, starts a community with other sensible vampires and unvaccinated humans who serve as their familiars. These humans willingly give blood to the vampires of the town, partly because of comfort and security—they're targeted by vampires for their untainted blood but are now protected in Penton; partly because of gratitude and loyalty—Aidan and his vampire friends have helped them start a new life from the own sketchy pasts; but mostly because of love. The vampires and humans have bonds that are thicker than blood and go deeper than the vein. They're neighbors, co-workers, best friends, soul mates. They are more than the superficial sum of mutual benefits and will fight for each other as well as their town.

And they do. As Penton thrives, it also becomes a target in the eyes of all vampires. Some want to mimic the idea of such a community to survive. A few want to destroy it out of spite. Many want to take it over, and the vampire government fears it's becoming too big, too influential, too powerful, especially since the town's leaders are the most well-known and gifted.

Each book focuses on each of these leaders' pasts and personal growth while the survival of Penton and its citizens, as well as that of the vampire race, becomes increasingly dire, combining fun, sexy romance and a gripping plot. Susannah Sandlin did a great job intertwining both aspects into the story and series. While there was definite emphasis on the romance, it didn't overshadow or drive the plot.

I thought the first book, Redemption, was a little predictable plot-wise and typical relationship-wise, but each book got better and better. The action amps up, and twists are abound throughout. The characters are deeper in complexity and more unique, the emotions more poignant, and the sex hotter. With book two, I actually murmured a "Hot damn" during one particular sex scene. In book three, it was "Holy shit." I really appreciated how all the characters and relationships still had significant parts in each novel, that I got to see where everyone was and how they continued to be in each other's lives, too.

I fell in love with this series and every part of it more and more. Even though there is satisfying ending, there's room for possibility for another book, and I'm anxiously waiting for news if there will be. I'll definitely be reading more of Susannah Sandlin's works, especially (what I think is) the Penton Legacy  spin-off series, Omega Force. I'd recommend the Penton Legacy  series to any Paranormal Romance lover. Mixing sweet, everyday life with the profound longing for love, acceptance, and peace.



Redemption
Book #1 of the Penton Legacy  series
Publication: June 12th 2012 by Montlake Romance

Book Depository Amazon B & N Goodreads

For vampire Aidan Murphy, life has never been so desperate. The vaccine used to treat a global pandemic has rendered human blood deadly to his kind, leaving them on the brink of starvation and civil war.

In tiny Penton, Alabama, Aidan establishes a peaceful community of vampires and unvaccinated human donors. He dares to hope they can survive—until his estranged brother descends upon Penton and begins killing the humans. Determined to save his town, Aidan kidnaps an unsuspecting human doctor—and finds himself falling in love for the first time in nearly four centuries.

Dr. Krystal Harris thought she was coming to Penton for a job interview, but Aidan Murphy has other plans. Infuriated by his high-handed scheme to imprison her in the small town, Krys can't ignore the attraction between them. But is it love? Or does her dangerous, charismatic captor want only to bend her to his will?


Redemption  immediately pulled me in. The idea of vampires starving because of global pandemic vaccine that renders human blood deadly to them was too intriguing and refreshing. A group of vampires creating a quaint town with non-inoculated humans and treasuring them not simply because of their blood but more because they were people was too fascinating.

Aidan Murphy, a lonely, Irish vampire with a tragic human past, created such a community, and when he goes against his own morals to save his familiar by holding Dr. Krys Harris in the town of Penton against her will, he falls in love for the first time after nearly four years and might lose all he's worked hard to build. Although he's somewhat of the brooding vampire cutout, I really liked him. He has the quiet intensity that goes with being an unwavering leader, as well as a very humane and compassionate countenance that you fear will be the end of him. When he's faced with his brother who is killing off the people of Penton one by one, I wasn't sure what he would do. Add the mystery behind their twisted past and I was flying through the pages.

Then enter Krys Harris. With her troubled past of an abusive father, she has issues with taking orders. Her struggle between helping others and Aidan's manipulation to keep her in Penton was not easy. Although the attraction between her and Aidan was immediate, they did fight it for some time, and I could feel the chemistry between them growing into something more genuine. I think my main issue with Redemption  was the predictable ending, but overall, for a Paranormal Romance, it was well worth the read, an entertaining and good start to a series.



Absolution
Book #2 of the Penton Legacy  series
Publication: October 9th 2012 by Montlake Romance

Goodreads B & N Amazon Book Depository

With the vampire world on the brink of civil war over the scarcity of untainted human blood, battle lines are being drawn between the once peaceful vampire and human enclave of Penton, Alabama, and the powerful Vampire Tribunal. Mirren Kincaid once served the tribunal as their most creative and ruthless executioner—a time when he was known as the Slayer. But when assigned a killing he found questionable, Mirren abandoned the tribunal’s political machinations and disappeared—only to resurface two centuries later as the protector and second-in-command of Penton. Now the tribunal wants him back on their side.

To break their rogue agent, they capture Glory Cummings, the descendant of a shaman, and send her to restore Mirren’s bloodthirsty nature. But instead of a monster, Glory sees a man burdened by the weight of his past. Could her magic touch—meant by the tribunal to bring out a violent killer—actually help Mirren break his bonds and discover the love he doesn’t believe he deserves?


I'm just going to say it—I loved Absolution! This book had me laughing, melting, and turning the pages so fast. Once the most ruthless executioner, Mirren Kincaid is one tortured soul—a big one. Seven-feet tall and three-hundred pounds of all muscle, he intimidates, but behind his towering and glowering, he has a soft spot: Glory, the woman who was tortured by a forced drug addiction and thrown into Mirren's cell to be killed because she was thought to be no longer useful.

But unlike Mirren, she doesn't let her past define her. She's generous, loyal, and caring, and with a motor-mouth, she's hilarious and drives Mirren up the wall. I loved their interaction, the brute male honesty of Mirren's thoughts, Glory's faith in him and how she wants to take care of him. Their development was incredibly romantic and tender.

The action in Absolution  was non-stop, taking place in several locations, not just Penton, with the plot becoming even wider. There were a great many tension-filled scenes and a couple surprises that had me gasping. I absolutely loved this book. It went beyond all my expectations.



Omega
Book #3 of the Penton Legacy  series
Publication: February 5th 2013 by Montlake Romance

Book Depository Amazon B & N Goodreads

The bloody war between the Vampire Tribunal and the defiant scathe of Penton, Alabama, rages on, forcing its residents and their bonded humans to retreat into the underground fortress of last resort: Omega.

There, Will Ludlam is charged with the care of Penton’s humans, though he longs to fight alongside his vampire brethren. He knows the risks: as the renegade son of the Tribunal’s vicious leader, Will’s capture could doom the resistance. Yet he is determined to prove his worth to his adopted scathe, to his vengeful father—and to former US Army officer Randa Thomas, his beautiful, reluctant partner.

Randa has little faith that a former member of the vampire elite has what it takes to fight a war. But as their enemies descend upon Omega, Will’s polished charm—and Randa’s guarded heart—finally give way to the warrior within.


Omega  blew me away! A little more Urban Fantasy than Paranormal Romance, it revolves around the fate of Penton in the vampire and human world, between the people who have stayed behind to defend it, the newcomers would come in to rescue it, the other countries that want to mimic it, the vampire Tribunal, and

Since the first book, I wanted to know more about Will Ludlam, the son of the man on the vampire Tribunal who do anything to get him back. Where Aidan is the heart of Penton and Mirren is the soul, Will is the brain. Behind the bad boy persona, he's smart, the creator of all the vampires' living quarters, its technological security, the layout, and ultimately the Omega—the last resort if Penton is ever overtaken or destroyed. I loved how he wasn't dominate or an alpha male while still being unequivocally masculine, and his past ... oh, I ached for him.

I wasn't quite sure how I felt when I learned his love interest would be Randa, a military vet who was turned and is tough as nails. In book two, they seemed to clash. More than just bumping heads and constantly arguing, they seemed like complete opposites that could offer nothing to one another. But Susannah Sandlin surprised me. She did a wonderful job with their character development, proving that pasts do define people but can make them stronger for it too. I loved how both Randa's and Will's stories come together to resolve the series's plot, like two puzzle pieces that fit together but were cemented all the more because of where it leads—a great foundation for vampires and humans. It was quite well done.

Then there was Cage. I can't go into his story too much because it would give a lot away, but I loved how Susannah Sandlin weaved his story into this book. It was heart-breaking yet also gave so much hope. I don't know if Susannah Sandlin plans on ending the series here, but I hope not. Though I'm satisfied with the ending, I need more, lots more.








eARC provided by the author via Bewitching Book Tours.
Thank you!





Susannah Sandlin

Her Website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads
Susannah Sandlin is the author of paranormal romance set in the Deep South, where there are always things that go bump in the night! A journalist by day, Susannah grew up in Alabama reading the gothic novels of Susan Howatch, and always fancied herself living in Cornwall (although she’s never actually been there). Details, details. She also is a fan of Stephen King. The combination of Howatch and King probably explains a lot. Currently a resident of Auburn, Alabama, Susannah has also lived in Illinois, Texas, California, and Louisiana. Her novel Redemption  won the paranormal romance category in the 2011 Chicago North RWA Fire and Ice contest.


Visit the Penton Legacy Tour Schedulefor excerpts, interviews, guest post, and more reviews.

9 comments:

  1. The Penton Legacy series is just great. My favorite is Omega. The spinoff Storm Force is a good read also. Recommend when I can. Thanks for the reviews.

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  2. I loved the penton legacy series and teh spin off is as great if not better the only detail: it's with shifters no vampires ^^ so better be prepared but believe me you will love it!

    excellent reviews

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  3. I have to make time to read this series.

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  4. This is a great series. I highly recommend it!

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  5. Awesome series! Cannot wait for more. Three is just not enough!

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  6. Great post and series! I must read these :D

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  7. Thanks for the reviews

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  8. All these covers are super gorgeous and intense!

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  9. Wow, this series sounds fantastic, the covers are sooo gorgeous!!

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