Review The Unnecessary Bodyguard by Evie Balos

The Unnecessary Bodyguard

Book 1 of the Dhampir Series

Evie Balos

Cobblestone Press

Length: Novella (around 15,000 words)

ISBN: 978-1-600088-580-8

Rating: 5 Dhampir’s

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Blurb:

Nina Bradley doesn’t pay attention to her friend’s premonition that she’ll be attacked by a vampire. She discovers Daphne’s assigned a dhampir bodyguard to her and clearly objects. Worse, she finds him terribly attractive, but he’s half vampire. They don’t suit. A good reason to stop fantasizing about him.

Jovan Markovic wants to keep things professional between him and his beautiful client, but his desire for her is spiraling out of control. He ought to assign someone else to the case, but he won’t. He ought to use his lover to erase Nina from his mind, but he can’t…

My Review:

Wow! This was a page turner from the beginning and all the way through to the end. I didn’t want the story to end. Even when I wasn’t reading the book I was constantly thinking about Nine and Jovan and the struggles they were going through. The emotional attachment I have for these two have grown strong and I only wanted the best for them. The connection between them is remarkable. Ms. Balos used descriptive words and painted a picture in the readers mind, it honestly felt as though I were watching a movie at times, but with all the bonus features a book can only offer.

And I have to wait for book 2? I hardly think that’s fair! I’m sure it’ll be just as vivid as this story if not more so. I can’t wait to see what’s next from Evie Balos, she’s an author I’ve added to my ‘watch-out for’ and this is a book you should add to your ‘to be read pile’.

Evie Balos Interviews Hero Jovan Markovic

Hero Interview: Jovan Markovic, The Unnecessary Bodyguard

Publisher: Cobblestone Press

I finally got Jovan Markovic, the hero in my latest book, to sit down for a chat.

EB: Jovan, I’m glad you took the time out of your busy schedule to come by.

JM: It’s a pleasure, although I think this is somewhat obligatory, right?

EB: (Lol) Maybe just a bit. Okay, let’s start. What do you do for a living?

JM: I’ve got two jobs. I own a security company in Chicago and work for an organization that keeps tabs on hostile vampire activity. My mission is to find non-conformed vampires and eliminate them if necessary.

EB: What is a non-conformed vampire?<p>JM: It’s a vampire that hasn’t undergone genetic alteration through our rehab program. This kind of vampire is considered hostile because he or she feeds on human blood, which sometimes results in the victim’s death.

EB: It’s interesting because you are half-vampire yourself—a dhampir.

JM: True, but I’m the good guy. I just like blood in my steak.

EB: Do you have any conformed vampire friends?

JM: A few. In fact, a buddy of mine works for the organization.

EB: What do you like most about your work?

JM: Making our city a safer place for everyone.

EB: Do you interact with humans much?

JM: Only briefly and mostly through the security company. You see, there’s a dark side to my life that the average human can’t grasp or finds unpleasant.

EB: When was your last vacation?

JM: Don’t remember.

EB: Ah, all work and no play make someone—

JM: Yeah, yeah. I’ve had that lecture before, especially from my brother Milan. I play—it’s just limited to a good team game, a fine glass of wine, and the bedroom.

EB: Mmm, that last one opens an interesting door…but I won’t go there.

JM: I appreciate that.

EB: Tell me about your first encounter with Nina Bradley.

JM: I was shadowing her for her own protection because her friend had a premonition that Nina would be attacked by a vampire. Nina wasn’t supposed to know about me, but I had to blow my cover. When she realized I was following her, she spun around clutching some keys, and threatened to scratch my eyes out. Here’s this petite woman standing up to me like a hissing cat. I was impressed.

EB: Is that all?

JM: Like I didn’t see this coming. Okay. I was gut-punched. There was an incredible connection between us, unlike anything I’d ever felt. Then I thought: there’s not an inch on this woman I wouldn’t want to explore.

EB: And what was Nina’s reaction to you?

JM: I’m almost positive she felt that connection. But she clearly didn’t want a bodyguard—was even peeved her friend had requested my services behind her back. The fact is, Nina doesn’t believe she’s in any danger of being attacked by a vampire.

EB: So where does that leave you?

JM: In a place I’d rather not be. I’m going to follow through with my assignment because I can’t risk leaving her exposed to a possible attack, so she’s not going to take it well. On top of it, I don’t like the effect she has on me. I mean, I’ve met beautiful women before, but I didn’t lose sleep thinking about them. It’s going to be damn hard to keep things professional with Nina. And, you know, someone like me would only complicate her life.

EB: Or make it more interesting? Actually, don’t answer that. Here’s an easy one: What little delight are you saving for a special occasion?

JM: I’ve got a bottle of 2005 Shiraz, Cape Mentelle, waiting to be uncorked.

EB: I hope you get to enjoy it soon, Jovan. It was great talking with you.

JM: Take care, Evie and go easy on the men in your stories...eh, unless it’s Milan. (deep chuckle)

You can find The Unnecessary Bodyguard here

Thanks so much Evie and Jovan for stopping by for this great interview. And readers be sure to check back later today for my review of The Unnecessary Bodyguard

You Interview the Author Contest

I won an interview with author, Eve Langlais, from Evie Balos Yahoo Group. Be sure to join Evie's group for your chance to win an interview with an author, one who is Evie Balos and Rebecca Goings, this month.

Tonya Callihan: Please tell us about your upcoming releases, Broomstick Breakdown from Amira Press and A Ghostly Menage from Cobblestone Press. Eve Langlais: Releasing October 15th are two paranormal pieces both featuring shifters. Broomstick Breakdown -- Fate works in mysterious ways. Sophia is on her way to her first Halloween gathering for witches when her broomstick breaks down. Luckily, she lands at a garage where a hunky mechanic, after a spell of persuasion, agrees to act as chauffeur.

Aidan is more than just a sexy driver though. As a wolf shapeshifter, magic doesn’t affect him, but he’s not immune to the powerful draw of his true mate. Mating should be simple, but he didn’t count on a stubborn witch making abduction his only option.

With the factions they belong to discouraging mixed species mating, will they find love like fate intended?

A Ghostly Ménage -- Forget ghosts who rattle chains, try living with ones that like to grope. Jenna, desperate for change, buys a repossessed home on a whim. The townsfolk claim it's haunted, but Jenna's pretty sure all it needs is some filler to stop the drafts. But before long, even she has to admit, there's more going on here than the vagaries of an old house. And whatever it is keeps making her panties damp and her dreams hot.

Derrick and Mark, werewolf twins, are stuck in their house as disembodied spirits all because of an evil witch. When their fated mate suddenly becomes the new owner, they end up taking haunting to a whole new erotic level.

Can Jenna save the alpha brothers and if she does, can she handle a forever after with not one, but two men?

TC: Can you tease us with a short excerpt from each?

EL: I can’t decide which short part to post so instead I recommend readers check out a full excerpt on my site @ http://www.evelanglais.com . Be warned though, some of the language is a tad explicit.

TC: Out of all of your books which was your favorite to write? Why?

EL: Lucifer’s Daughter is still by far my favorite piece. There was something so liberating about writing about a woman who walks a narrow line between good and evil, who kicks ass but has a strong feminine side. Then there was the fact I had a blast creating the world she lives in, not to mention I made Satan into something horrifyingly unique—a loving father.

TC: When you write where do you like to be? Do you have an office? The kitchen? Outside? Etc? How does this place speak to your muse?

EL: I always work in my office. It’s my space with lots of natural light, a big desk to spread myself over (in other words you rarely see the top J) and it’s set apart so I can kind of have some privacy from the family when I work.

TC: Where would you like your career to be in 5 years?

EL: How’s having a title on Amazon, Fictionwise and Allromance in the top ten? LOL. I began writing just to see if I could do it, now I do it because I can’t stop. It would be nice in five years if I could have a major backlist with a story coming out each month and people actually saying ‘Eve Langlais, I love her work!”

TC: What's next for you as an author?

EL: Writing. Writing and more writing, lol. I just finished a piece on Cleopatra that is very paranormal with vamps and demons. I’ve got my fingers crossed my publisher loves it. Next on my list either a shifter book or a new paranormal series. My muse is pulling me in two directions so I might work on both until one of them takes over.

TC: Where can readers find you?

EL: The best place to keep track of me is on my website @ http://www.EveLanglais.com . I update my site regularly and display all my work, both current and upcoming, along with some smoking covers and excerpts. For those who like Facebook, I also have a link on my site to my FB fanpage.

Whew, now that the grilling is done lol, thanks Tonya for participating in the original contest and for sending me some great questions.

TC: Thanks so much for Evie Balos for hosting a great contest. And thanks so much to Eve Langlais for particpating. I can't wait for your two new releases myself.

Be sure to check out Eve's website and blog

Contests

Hey Guys,

I've entered contests before in the past. I've won a handful of times in the past two years. I just had to share this past week because it has been one of the best I have ever had. I have won 8 contests so far.

I still can't believe it myself. I've won more this past week than I have won in the years I've entered contests combined.

Here are the contests I've won:

Black Velvet Seductions: I won a print copy of My Pet by J.W. McKenna.

Stacy Dawn: I won an author loot bag, full of donations from authors and a special prize.

Courtney Breazile: I won an ebook copy of Lily's Turn.

Jude Mason: I won an ebook copy of Pink Ribbon.

Jenna Brynes: I won an ebook copy of Switching Seth.

Kiyara Benoiti: I won an ebook copy of Strawberry Rendezvous.

Evie Balos Yahoo Group: I won an interview. I get to interview author Eve Langlais.

Just wanted to share I am pretty excited. Also wanted to say never give up. You may not win every contest and one week bam...you may win 8 or more:)

Good Luck,

Tonya