First Drop of Crimson by Jeaniene Frost
Narrator: Tavia Gilbert
Published by Blackstone Audiobooks on July 5, 2010
Genres: Paranormal Romance, Urban Fantasy
Length: 10 hours, 6 minutes
Format: Audiobook
Source: Library
Goodreads
Amazon, Audible, Libro.fm, Barnes & Noble, Apple
The night is not safe for mortals.
Denise MacGregor knows all too well what lurks in the shadows â her best friend is half-vampire Cat Crawfield â and she has already lost more than the average human could bear. But her familyâs dark past is wrapped in secrets and shrouded in darkness â and a demon shapeshifter has marked Denise as prey. Now her survival depends on an immortal who craves a taste of her.
He is Spade, a powerful, mysterious vampire who has walked the earth for centuries and is now duty-bound to protect this endangered, alluring human â even if it means destroying his own kind. Denise may arouse his deepest hungers, but Spade knows he must fight his urge to have her as they face the demon nightmare togetherâŚ
Though I love that the Night Huntress world is expanding, I struggled a lot with this book. Spade is perfection, but Denise annoyed me for at least a third of this book. Her and Cat are alike in that they obviously never saw a horror movie in their life and the ability to risk themselves stupidly instead of listen to the men in their lives, that have literally lived hundreds of years, and know how quickly a human can die. That being said, I enjoyed the expansion of the world First Drop of Crimson gives us in regards to the Demon world. The catalyst to Denise’s story was quite interesting too.
I enjoyed seeing Denise move from a minor character to someone with an interesting power set. I also like the fact that there seems to be a certain type of Fate that brought Denise into Cat and Bones’ life.
Though I was annoyed a lot about how Denise chose to act, I really loved that Frost took the time to explore trauma and guilt in this novel. While thrilling to the romance and action in Cat & Bones life, it’s easy to forget about the collateral damage that happens to those around them. Denise is still haunted by that night, she feels like her husband’s death was her fault, her weakness. For Spade, Denise brings up the memories of an old lost love  and he is determined to not have history repeat it self.
The shift to enjoying this book came when Cat, Bones and Ian show up on the scene. It’s interesting that Cat & Bones do not dominate this book when they step in. Frost keeps the story fully focused on Spade and Denise . Some how the narrative of Denise and Spade wasn’t as interesting to me on their own because they stayed a bit too long in the pattern of Spade trying to help and Denise pushing him away and putting her self into even more danger.
The humor and camaraderie between Ian , Bones and Spade was enjoyable as well as the reconciliation between Denise and Cat. The finale of this adventure not only brings a healing to Denise and Spade, but gives Team Cat & Bones another powerful ally. I also loved seeing Denise come into her own and making decisions from a place of power and not fear.
Games:
Who said (enter the answer in the Rafflecopter, don’t put in the comments)
Who said               âI want to live without being afraid or used or ashamed. I want a second chance. â
There are other options in the rafflecopter for you to enter discussion questions and quotes to share.
The quote for Who said âI’ve always loved you. Like a son, in fact.â in Destined for an Early Grave is Mencheres.
The villain was Gregor .
Share your review/ thoughts on First Drop of Crimson:
I thought it might be fun to link up reviews so we can find them all easily. It can be a link to Goodreads or a blog, or wherever you have a review (short or long).
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Observations and questions you shared from Destined from an Early Grave:
(Thank you so much for sharing!) If you can answer any of these numbered questions, you can do so in a comment.
- I mean, yeah sure Mencheres was selfish and manipulative BUT his plot’s kinda clever and gave us Bones and Cat tandem.
- Marie’s scheme was clever!
- I was so frustrated with Bones for not understanding Cat better. Who would expect her (or most anyone) to sit by while everyone you love could die? Come on Bones!
- Was Tate ever sent to the terrorists like Bones asked Don?
- Why didn’t Patra just use the spell Mencheres used if she really wanted them all dead?
Quotes you readers shared from Destined for an Early Grave:
“The way he said it made me self-conscious. âI didnât fly. I just jumped really high. I donât even know how I did it.â Bones gave me a look I couldnât read. Spade opened his mouth to say something, but Mencheres held up his hand. âNot now.â
“”What just happened?” “Premature Inflammation. Happens sometimes, very embarrassing. I don’t want to talk about it.”
“The shitâs gonna splatter, start bugginâ, yo.”
âMovies. Drinks. Headless chickens. You know, girl stuff.â
“If ears could digest verbal calories, my ass wouldâve been getting fat just listening to her.â
“âBones has always been smart,â I muttered. âHis intelligence was just camouflaged under a mountain of pussy.â
“All Iâve got is how I live. How Iâll die? Thatâs the problem of the guy who kills me.â
” Iâm here because you are a friend, and for me friends are much harder to come by than a fuck.â
“âShe canât feel you kicking her,â Bones said, no criticism in his voice. âYeah, well, I can feel it, and Iâm enjoying it!â
âWilliamsââVlad gave a nod at my uncleââfarewell. Few people have your determination to walk their road all the way to its conclusion.â
âI didnât even spare the time to give my uncle a hug. I was halfway down the hall, tossing a âThanks, âbye!â over my shoulder.â
ââBecause Iâm happier being the castoff of a whore than Iâd ever be as your wife.â
âYou will never sit and wait for the outcome of a fight involving someone you love before throwing yourself into the mix, no matter how you might promise to change.â
âFor all but the two years Bones had been in my life, it felt like Iâd been alone. No wonder it was such a hard mind-set for me to break. â
âHe died saving you, so you will not disrespect his sacrifice by killing yourself. I donât care if you hate what you are every bloody day for the rest of your life, youâre going to live because Rodneyâs earned that.â
ââLetâs see how long someone lasts if they suggest that my wife is not my wife.â
ââIâm about to be assaulted because of a misassumption.â
COYER FB Chat – Sunday May 1
Challenge is adopting our Read-along. You can read about COYER and join that challenge  HERE.  On the Sunday after the review posts, they will host a FB room (like we do for COYER book club) at 12 PT, 2 CT, 3 ET and 9pm Europe, for a one hour chat. You do not have to join the COYER challenge to participate, only the Facebook group.
If you canât attend, there is also a Facebook messenger chat which has been fun and active, set up following the live chat.
Here’s your to-do list:
- Find your copies of these books, borrow them from a friend, get them at the library or buy them.
- Read Book 6, Eternal Kiss of Darkness, by May 20.
- Make note of a favorite quote or two as you read the book.
- If you haven’t read the books before, make a list of questions you have for the discussion. If you have read them, please don’t spoil new readers.
- Think of some great questions for Jeaniene Frost for the Q & A post!
- Link up your review on Goodreads, FB or other site to the post.
- Join the COYER book chat on the Sunday following the post.
- Enter the giveaways!
Schedule:Â Â
We are doing one book every 3-4 weeks, posting on Fridays. We will have a review for the books with the team here at Books of My Heart plus some of our friends. We are following the author recommended reading order.
Apr 29:  First Drop of Crimson        – Kai @ Fiction State of Mind
May 20: Eternal Kiss of Darkness     – Jen @ That’s What I’m Talkin About
Jun 10:  This Side of the Grave       – Brandee @Unconventional Bookworms
Jul 8:    One Grave at a Time         – LornaÂ
Aug 5:   Once Burned                – Lexxie @Unconventional Bookworms
Sep 9:   Twice Tempted               – Angela @ Angel’s Guilty Pleasures
Oct 7:   Up from the Grave           – Melanie
Nov 4:   Bound by Flames            – Sophia
Dec 2:  Into the Fire                  – Berls @ Because Reading
Q & A with Jeaniene Frost
Miss a post?
Jan 14:  Halfway to the Grave        – Melissa @ Tea & Books
Feb 11:  One Foot in the Grave       – Victoria @ First of All
Mar 11:  At Grave’s End              – Kimberly @Caffeinated Reviewer
Apr 1:   Destined for an Early Grave  – Stephanie @ Once Upon a Chapter Â
Jeaniene Frost has also been kind enough to commit to a Q & A post.  I will collect questions for her through September 19th. I will send your questions to her and she will pick 3-5 questions and send me the response. I will post her answers in the December 2 post. So think up some great questions for her!
Bonus round – Read a Series in a Month January 2023:
Jan 8:  Shades of Wicked       – Carole @ Carol’s Random Life in Books
Jan 22:  Wicked Bite            – Robin
Feb 5:    Wicked All Night       –  Anne
These are Sunday noon posts.   There will be one COYER FB Chat at the end of the series on Feb 5th.
Be sure to enter the giveaways!!!
Giveaway:
For the US winner, this will be an Amazon digital copy of One Grave at a Time. For Intl from Book depository.
Grand-Prize Giveaway:
For a US winner, this will be 12 digital copies ( your choice of her books) generously provided by Jeaniene Frost (US only) but they can be from Amazon, Barnes & Noble or Kobo.
For an Intl winner, it will be $50 at Book Depository.
Reading this book contributed to these challenges:
- 22-COYER
That shower scene though….. Almost as hot as Chapter 32 đ
I love this frickin’ series so much!!!
Elizabeth, I am so thrilled to be reading this series again. I loved it the first time and I’m loving it again. Thank you for participating and sharing your reviews! That scene is my clearest memory of this one after 10 years.
I liked the book a lot more the second time around. I can’t tell you why, though. And I’m still loving Ian and Mencheres, even though he’s a bit creepy sometimes. I loved how Spade and Denise worked together and how she slowly embraced her new life.
I was so happy to be reading this again. I came into the reread with a positive feeling for Mencheres and for what we’ve read so far I think he’s a bit of a jerk. Ian is a jerk. I haven’t read the Ian books yet (although I own them) but Mencheres is up next.
Youâre right, Ian is a jerk. But he makes me laugh sometimes and Iâve read his books, so re-reading all of these, my opinion is probably influenced by what I know itâs still coming.
Tate was sent to the terrorists because he wouldn’t stop trying to steal Cat away from Bones and overstepped when undercover with Cat! I loved First Drop of Crimson! I love how Spade slowly pulled Denise back to life and how falling in love with Spade kind of snuck up on Denise!
I really enjoyed this one too. Thanks for participating and sharing your reviews Eva. The shower scene is burned into my mind.
Glad to hear you enjoyed the story despite Denise and what sounds like TSTL behavior. At least there was some character growth by the end! Fab review, Anne!
I loved this one. I gave it 5 hearts the first read and 4 hearts this time. I love how the author is giving us more character development of other key characters.
LOL, love the quip wondering if the heroines know the horror movie rules. I find stupidly diving into danger like that annoying too. So glad the team of characters coming together enhanced the book for you. Thanks, Kai!
I enjoyed this one more than Kai, but I see her point. Denise was frustrating when she was fighting all the time without a good plan or skills. Once she got some skills, knowledge and worked with Spade, it was much better.
haven’t read it…yet. i love vampires and don’t know how this author has slipped past me
I really enjoy them. They have a real sense of humor, especially Cat.
I haven’t red the unibridged version, but I read the original book I found in the city library and loved it! It was the start of me being a fan of Jeaniene Frost work!
I read these originally in paperback from the library in 2011. Now I own them all on Kindle. So I haven’t read the Vlad or Ian books yet. I hope you can join us for some of the books.
I think that I might have liked this book more when I did a re-read of the series and I knew everyone better. The books that feature Cat and Bones are my favorites along with Ian and Vlad’s books.
I rated it 5 hearts the first time and 4 hearts this time myself. I love these books and I’m really happy to have a chance to reread them.
Glad to hear you enjoyed it overall even though Denise was annoying for so much of the book.
She was more annoying to Kai than me and the ones I buddy read with. It may have been a bit annoying but she was suffering from PTSD so she had a few issues.
I really enjoyed it, just as I did the first time I read it.
Thanks for joining us Janie. I’m so happy to be reading these books and finishing the series this time.
I haven’t read First Drop of Crimson yet.
Hopefully you will get a chance to try it. I really enjoyed it.