#Review: Christmas with a Bite by Patricia A. Wolf - 3.5 Wine Glasses

Title: CHRISTMAS WITH A BITE
Series: House of Elysian, #1
Author: Patricia A. Wolf
Format: Kindle,
Published: Entangled: Covet (December 15, 2014)
ISBN: ASIN:B00Q1YU43M
Links: Goodreads | Amazon | B&N
Reviewer: Linda
Source: NetGalley
Rating: 3 1/2 out of 5 Wine Glasses

Sometimes the holidays totally bite...
This Christmas, Mara Livingston is determined to start over. But as she's driving to her "new" home, a freak winter storm forces her off the road. Now she's stranded in the middle of nowhere. Then he shows up. And there's something strangely familiar about him...

Connor Reese never expected to see Mara again. Nor is he prepared for the onslaught of emotions―including an unimaginable rush of desire―she stirs within him. Now he has a chance to claim the woman he's always wanted. Except, there are a couple of small details that Mara doesn't know. The first is that Connor is a vampire. And the second is that if his family finds out about Mara, she will most certainly be killed...

Linda's Thoughts:
Conner Reese for Christmas. Now that sounded like jingle bells all the way. More time with him would be the perfect gift.

CHRISTMAS WITH A BITE by Patricia A. Wolf features some of my favorite 'things': vampires, a steamy second-chance-at-love and Christmas! It was an enjoyable, auspicious start to the author's House of Elysian series with a steamy romance, likeable characters and intriguing vampiric political intrigue.

This is the story of human Mara Livingston and vampire Connor Reese. As the story opens, it's nearing Christmas and Mara is driving home in an insane winter storm ...until she loses control and wrecks in the middle of nowhere. Her cell phone doesn't work. Her options are limited. She doesn't have the clothing to cope with the cold in her car and decides to walk to the nearest house and request help. That turns out to be a very bad choice when she quickly becomes the prey of some hungry wolves. Luckily Connor's home is near and he arrives just in time...

Connor has never forgotten Mara. They had shared a magical dance once a long time ago... at her sister's and his friend's brother's wedding before she'd married Rob, a cheating scum. Now, fate has stranded her - no longer married to her worthless husband - at his cabin far from civilization. Is this a second-chance-at-love for them or will his secrets spell doom for what could have been?

Mara and Connor came across as genuine, realistic characters. Mara is not trusting of men after Rob's betrayals and Connor is reeling and feeling responsible after his own partner called him a monster and took her own life. I loved Mara's and Rob's fairy tale beginning and was pulling for them through-out, but any hopes for a bright future for the couple seemed bleak indeed. The holiday timing worked well with the story. Days spent snowed-in worked their magic. But... they were going to need every thread of Christmas' magic for their love to have a chance.

Following please find a few of my favorite quotes from this read:

He held her face in his hands, searching her eyes as if to read her thoughts.
"You can have me anytime you want," he murmured, his voice low and raspy."
"Oh, I am totally going home with you tonight," she said with a groan and wink.
---

She leaned close to him, her voice low as she shared, "It looks like I'm free tomorrow night."
Conner met her gaze, a wicked smile curling the corners of his mouth. "Did you have something in mind that you'd like to do?"
She nodded, biting the inside of her lip. "You," she breathed.
---

He placed his hand on her back, used the other to clasp hers. A jolt of electricity pulsed inside him. In that moment, he was more than a blood-thirsty vampire. For the first time since he was human himself, he felt like a man, captivated by her touch.

This is the first book I've ever read by Patricia Wolf. This tale was slightly repetitious, but I feel that it shows a lot of promise and has some really cool characters. I do love vampire stories and holiday romances!!!! I'm thinking this series will get stronger and I'm looking forward to seeing that happen! I would recommend CHRISTMAS WITH A BITE to anyone who enjoys light, sweet and sexy paranormal Christmas romances... with a bite.