Monday, January 6, 2014

Blog Tour Review and Giveaway: Transylvanica High Books 2 and 2 by R. Barri Flowers

Title: Count Dracula's Teenage Daughter (Transylvanica High #1)
Author: R. Barri Flowers
Source: YA Reads Book Tour
Genre: Young Adult Paranormal
Release Date: December 17, 2012
Reviewed by: Jasmyn

From R. Barri Flowers, the bestselling author of young adult novels, GHOST GIRL IN SHADOW BAY and DANGER IN TIME, comes the first book in an exciting new teen vampire series, COUNT DRACULA'S TEENAGE DAUGHTER: A Transylvanica High Novel.

Sixteen-year-old Kula Lockhart has been living in the town of Harbor Heights, Michigan for two months now, after moving there with her adopted mom from Cheyenne, Wyoming. She attends Transylvanica High School--one of several integrated pilot schools across the country where human and vampire students peacefully coexist.

Kula has no problem with the human-vampire bonding because she has always believed in equality among the living and the living dead. But she is caught completely off guard upon learning that she is the half human daughter of Count Dracula, leader of the oldest and most powerful vampire clan.

She soon discovers that there are some sworn to protect her and others out to get her.

Someone is killing vampires and Kula fears she may be on the hit list. Staying alive becomes a priority as she adjusts to her birthright. 

She also has a hot human boyfriend named Eriq. Will he accept her for who she is?

Fans of popular teen vampire, paranormal, and horror fiction series such as Twilight, True Blood, Vampire Diaries, Vampire Academy, and Vampire Kisses will love COUNT DRACULA'S TEENAGE DAUGHTER.




This was a difficult one to review.  The story itself had a great foundation and a fairly unique perspective.  Vampires and humans are trying to live in peace - and one of the efforts to help this along is a school where vampires and human teenagers can all attend together.  Now, many of the vampires attending are actually far older than their peers, yet they still behave the age they appear.  When Kula shows up to start schoo, she has no idea of her past and lineage.  She is one of the few half human/half vampires in the world - which puts her in an awkward position of choosing sides.  She is also the offspring of the strongest vampire leader, Count Dracula.  There is a lot of background here to explore and have fun with - and the story attempts to do that.

The downside is that the characters really don't go anywhere.  They don't grow or learn from their lessons - just continue to be the same people.  It's always bothered me when leading characters just don't develop or mature.  There was so much potential for growth that just didn't go anywhere.



Title: Out for Blood (Transylvanica High #2)
Author: R. Barri Flowers
Genre: Young Adult, Paranormal
Release Date: November 3, 2013
Reviewed by: Jasmyn

From R. Barri Flowers, the bestselling author of the young adult vampire novel, COUNT DRACULA'S TEENAGE DAUGHTER, comes the exciting book two in the Transylvanica High series, OUT FOR BLOOD.

Sixteen-year-old honor student Kula Lockhart is in her second year at Transylvanica High School in Harbor Heights, Michigan. It is one of several integrated pilot schools across the country where human and vampire students peacefully coexist.

Kula recently learned that she is the half human, half vampire daughter of Count Dracula. This has made her a target for those who hate her powerful Dad and vamps in general.

As she comes to terms with her heritage and newfound abilities, things begin to heat up between Kula and her mortal boyfriend, Eriq Pratt. She also has her vamp guardians Ivan and Amelia, as well as several human and vampire friends, to balance her evolving life and times.

When Kula suddenly finds herself being pursued by a new handsome half vamp at school, Sebastian LeBlanc, she is strangely drawn to him, even if her heart belongs to Eriq. Yet Kula can’t help but wonder if it is more than coincidence that Sebastian just happened to arrive in town at around the same time that a vampire or vampires began killing humans. Could Sebastian be behind these vicious attacks?

Another new vampire, Gabryela Roswell, befriends Kula, but has a hidden agenda.

In the meantime, Kula has competition from an attractive human girl, Yvonne Elwood, who has her eye on Eriq. She also has to deal with the gorgeous and mean-spirited cheerleader vamp, Jacquelyn Brossard, a member of the rival Doerzic clan.

As Kula grapples with these issues and the changes in her life, she tries to learn more about her mother, who died in childbirth, from the only person who can give her answers--her dad, Count Dracula.

Fans of popular teen vampire and paranormal fiction series such as Twilight, True Blood, Vampire Diaries, and Vampire Academy will love OUT FOR BLOOD in this captivating series.

Now in print, eBook, and audio. Buy it today!


Book two of the Transylvanica High series was much better than the first.  While there was still not a lot of character development, you could see that they were trying much harder.  Kula and Eriq especially saw at least a little bit of personal growth.  Her friends and guardians from the Dracula clan weren't too far behind.  In this book we see a new threat - a vampire on instead of a hunter.  Along the way Kula and her friends learn a few very large secrets, but it doesn't phase them - at all - it should have a little.

Again the storyline potential held the story together.  It continues to be a very interesting concept and world that Flowers has written.  With the introduction of a few more key players (and the elimination of others - shhhh), I see some real potential in the future of the series.  I know that my daughter would really enjoy it.



Author Bio:
R. Barri Flowers is an award winning criminologist and bestselling author of crime and thriller fiction, crime nonfiction and true crime, relationship novels, and young adult mysteries.

Recent adult mysteries include BEFORE HE KILLS AGAIN, SEDUCED TO KILL IN KAUAI, MURDER IN HONOLULU: A Skye Delaney Mystery, MURDER IN MAUI: A Leila Kahana Mystery, DEAD IN THE ROSE CITY, JUSTICE SERVED, STATE'S EVIDENCE, and DARK STREETS OF WHITECHAPEL: A Jack the Ripper Mystery.

Young adult mystery fiction include OUT FOR BLOOD, TEEN GHOSGT AT DEAD LAKE, COUNT DRACULA'S TEENAGE DAUGHTER, GHOST GIRL IN SHADOW BAY and DANGER IN TIME.

New crime nonfiction books include THE SEX SLAVE MURDERS 2, MURDER OF A STAR QUARTERBACK, MURDER AT THE PENCIL FACTORY, DEAD AT THE SADDLEWORTH MOOR, MASTERS OF TRUE CRIME, PROSTITUTION IN THE DIGITAL AGE, STREETS KIDS, and COLLEGE CRIME.

The author is a member of the American Crime Writers League, International Thriller Writers, Kiss of Death, Mystery Writers of America, and Sisters in Crime.


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Tour Schedule
January 1 
Don’t Fold the Page – Excerpt
 January 2 
Elizabeth Delana Rosa – Review Books 1 & 2
 January 3 
Zoe’s Book Reviews – Excerpt
 January 4 
Book Lovers Life – Guest Post
Trishap00 – Review Book 1
 January 5 
Cassandra M’s Place - Review Books 1 & 2
 January 6 
Hot Off the Shelves – Review Books 1 & 2
YaReads - Interview
Anastacia Reviews – Review Books 1 & 2
 January 7 
The Passionate Bookworms - Review Book 1
 January 8 
SleepsOnTables – Review Books 1 & 2
 January 9 
The Blog - Review Book 1
The Book Cellar – Excerpt
 January 10
 Reading is My Treasure – Review Book 1 & Interview
 January 11
 JP’s Blog – Guest Post
 January 12 
Mythical Books – Guest Post
 January 13
 We Do Write – Interview
 January 14 
Pandora’s Books - Review Books 1 & 2
 January 15 
 January 16
 January 17 
The Book Beacon – Excerpt
 January 18
 January 19 
Discover Words- Guest Post
 January 20 
Book Hostage - Excerpt
 January 21
 January 22
Ordinary Girlz Book Reviews – Review Books 1 & 2

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