A gripping novel for fans of true blood and the twilight series. Thank you to netgalley and the publishers for allowing me to listen to an advanced copy of this audiobook

2.5 rounded down to 2


In the first new a new series, Luanne Bennett shows what happens when a new creature sets it's site on a small town:

Crimson, Georgia is just like any other small town, one where people keep to themselves but are also up in everyone else's business. When a new restaurant opens up across from Charley's bar, The White Stag, she is curious about who the owners would be and it seemed a bit too fancy for their small town. The members of the community start to act strangely and some are starting to go missing Charley can't help but think it is due to this new restuarant, but how could a new restaurant be the cause of all the extra havoc in town, Charley doesn’t know but she is going to find out.

I am pretty well versed in the urban fantasy genre but I can honestly say I have not heard of Bennett before so I was really eager to check her out. I am always on the search for new urban fantasy author as that genre is one of my favourites and my favourite authors in it do not write fast enough.

This book was okay, did it add anything new and different to the urban fantasy genre, not really other than the power that Atticus had and what he was doing. I think that this was the most interesting aspect of the book, but there really wasn't any suspense or intrigue to get there. I think that right from the beginning it is pretty obvious who the Big Bad is in this book and Bennett does not do anything to dissuade this fact.

Charley (why did she have to be named Charley I swear there are too many women named Charley in Urban Fantasy) was not a very memorable character other than the fact that she has some underdeveloped powers that she knows nothing about or how to control them. I mean Charlie started off strong with her love of helping out Misfits, I was just expecting more out of her and she just felt flat at times, or completely different people. Most of the story seems like Charlie is just going about her day at the White Stag. The only real interesting character in the book is Candy, an ex-stripper who is a powerful witch.

I really appreciated that there is no obvious love interest for most part of the book, which gave very early 2000 urban fantasy feel to it and i am here for. There is one that is hinted in the latter part of the book and I hope that Bennett lets it progress slowly and more naturally.

I do wish there was a bit more world building, though it did feel like a regular small town set in our world, just with paranormal creatures here and there. There is the typical people do not like vampires and they are on the other side of town type of thing, but there are exceptions to this rule. So world building was pretty typical as well and you can tell why Atticus chose this town to set up his restaurant.

This book was good but not great I think is the best way to sum up this book. I finished the book but I kept waiting for Bennett to push the envelope a little bit more and throw something really exciting and interesting in. I would continue on in the series to see where Bennett takes it but I cant really recommend anyone rush out and buy it.

Cheers!!!

It was really good, the story was fast paced and loved the concept. I wish there was more given on the vampire side. That would have made me more interested!

I had a great time listening to this book and the author did a great job setting this series up to be amazing. I can't wait to see how this series develops. The author created a very intering world, it kinda gave me True Blood vibes.

2.75

This series has potential, but the first book is very convoluted. There are many plot lines and I didn't come away with a feel for the characters or the town. I do want to continue with the series because it reminds me a bit of Sookie Stackhouse. Maybe that's because of the southern setting and the Barmaid (in this case owner) main character. The narrator does a good job.

This isn't necessarily my normal type of book to read, but I thought I would give it a try. It wasn't bad or anything, but it just wasn't for me. I know it has gotten a lot of four or five star ratings to many people really like it and so I'm glad that it has found its audience.

Bloodlust Blues (Charley Underwood #1) by Luanne Bennett
Narrated by Stephanie Cannon
Publisher: Bookouture Audio, Second Sky Books
Genre: Sci Fi & Fantasy
Published: March 22, 2024

Bloodlust Blues is the first book in the Charley Underwood series by Luanne Bennett. This is the first book I’ve read by the author and I’m pretty sure it won’t be the last.

I thought this book was really good. It had an original storyline and interesting characters.

The narration by Stephanie Cannon was so good! I really enjoyed how she brought the book to life!

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

I didn't get a chance to read this before it was archived. Rating for the cover and description. Look forward to reading it when it is out.

Audio. I really wanted to listen to this book, but it archived out of the Netgalley app.
This makes me mad because there are so few urban fantasy books listed on Netgalley.

Bloodlust Blues works well as an audiobook, and the narrator does an excellent job of bringing the various characters to life. In a bar welcoming diverse clientele, the setting is immersive and easy to visualise. The cast of characters is predominately paranormal in this urban fantasy, and they are well-written. Once I got used to the characters and their world, it was an entertaining read written with good use of sensory imagery. I like the characters, the fantasy world and the dynamic between the protagonists.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher.

Really enjoying this right when I started listening to it. I’m loving the main character and her accent and the banter between characters! The characters are pretty good and fleshed out too. So much fun! We get a setting of Crimson Georgia and that really made me wonder so I kept listening. Very paranormal for sure with fantasy elements. The narrator really did good throughout the novel. Charley really seems to have overprotective friends, there’s vampires who are good and bad. I was hooked from the beginning and I really can’t deny the character development. Those characters made me laugh! If you like fantasy that’s action packed, fast paced and funny then I recommend!

Bloodlust Blues is the urban fantasy you need to read! In this fast paced read we meet Charley, bar owner in a town that has vampires, witches and shifters, who has set up a blood co-op to help vampires in need. When another group of vampires turns up and demands in on Charley's business, everything goes pear shaped.

Charley was an excellent character. She was badass and strong, and carried most of the story along. The supernatural and the drama takes hold of the plot, leaving very little room for romance - which can sometimes be a nail in the coffin for some books, but in this one, makes it a much more enjoyable read.

It's resemblance to another series is the only let down in the series, some moments felt taken directly from it. However, I am really looking forward to the next in the series. I read this one via audio and highly recommend it along with the book, it gave the story a completely different dimension.

Thank you to NetGalley, Second Sky Books and Bookouture Audio for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review. Bloodlust Blues is available now!

I listened to the audiobook version of this book and I got to say the narrator for this book was a perfect fit. Her voice matched what I imagined for the main character perfectly. The world building was perfect, I could imagine everything perfectly. The pace was fantastic. The slow burn romance, ught, I can't wait to see where it goes in book 2! Enjoyed everything about this book and can not wait to have my hands on the next book in the series.

Charley Underwood's small town of Crimson, with its vampires, witches, shifters, and various other otherworldly delights, reminds me of a certain other southern vampire series that led to a very successful TV show, and I mean this in the best of ways. Charley's town is full of charming characters, intriguing stories, and lots of mysteries to unfold. I'm eager for the second book to see what our resident bar owner can get herself into next!

Thank you to NG, Bookouture Audio, Secondsky Books, and the author for an ALC in exchange for an honest review.

The world building for me in this book was not quite right. I felt there was lot going on and as soon as the plot thickened more characters were introduced or reintroduced which confused me. I enjoyed the premise, the story and the twists were good but I was lost the majority of the time.

To sum it up in one line, this was was simple and adventurous. It's perfect to get you out of a reading slump. I do feel like the action sequences were happening all at once and held the potential to jumble up the mind of the reader, but the language was lucid enough to allow them to keep up. The supernatural themes of the book that had initially attracted me to it were well executed, and I was hooked to the mystery and the plot elements throughout.
One flaw I was able to detect, however, was that the characters lacked depth. There was too much focus on the plot to the extent that I was not be able to connect with the characters completely. Don't get me wrong, I love their personalities, but I would have liked to know them better.
The audiobook experience of this, with the Southern accent pf the main character (since the book is in first person perspective) was everything to me. The narration is smooth and definitely got me more interested in the story than I probably would have been otherwise. Hence, audiobook experience with my whole life.

An entertaining paranormal mystery with a wide cast of characters. The story is excellently narrated. Unfortunately, I found my interest in the story waning halfway through as there wasn't much happening. A lot of the action is told after the fact rather than unfolding in real time for the reader. The drama picked up a notch towards the end but the villain was obvious from the get-go so there was no great surprise.
Overall, a not-very-memorable read.

This book was interesting and for the most part, a decent start to a new Urban fantasy series. I enjoyed the thought of a supernatural town and this was executed well. You enter the story and become rather familiar with the locals and the town of Crimson itself pretty quickly. Where this loses point from is that that the villain was blatantly obvious from pretty much the second he stepped on page. Every interaction with him makes it so much more obvious and it drives you crazy how Charley just doesn't see it.

Overall, despite the fact that this book wasn't everything I had hoped for, I would still read the next instalment. There's plenty of potential with Charley as a main character and a mysterious vampire as the love interest.

Thank you to Bookouture Audio, Second Sky Books and Netgalley for the audio arc of this book!

“Bloodlust Blues” by Luanne Bennett, takes place in a world where supernatural beings live side-by-side with humans. . Whether you're drawn to supernatural elements or intrigued by the small-town setting, this story offers a thrilling escape into the world of Crimson, Georgia.

Set in a contemporanys setup, the story follows Charlie Underwood, a bartender running an illegal vampire blood business in the bar. When a bunch of vampires start learning about her secret business, it runs the risk of potentially alerting the authorities and revealing her secret.

Being the first book in the series, I started with little expectation, yet Stephanie Cannon's audio narration succeeded to bring the story to life with her expressive delivery and engaging tone. Her (US) Southern accent adds authenticity to the setting and characters, enhancing the overall listening experience. The portrayal of the main character, Charley, is spot-on, capturing her no-nonsense attitude and resilient spirit. While her male character voices may seem to lack some a big differentiation from the female voices, it doesn't detract significantly from the overall performance. I enjoyed that the audiobook production maintains high quality throughout, with clear sound and seamless transitions between chapters.

Overall, “Bloodlust Blues” offers a captivating storyline filled with excitement, mystery, and intrigue. While the beginning may feel slow to some listeners, the plot quickly picks up, keeping you engaged until the thrilling conclusion. The diverse cast of characters and vivid world-building contribute to the overall appeal of the narrative.

Special thanks to NetGalley, Bookouture Audio, Second Sky Books, and the editorial team for giving me the opportunity to review the ARC in audiobook format and to you, my reader, for taking the time to read this honest personal book review.

If you are interested in other of my book reviews, make sure to follow me on GoodReads! #BloodlustBlues #NetGalley #LifeLongLearning

The storyline started out a little slow and was hard to follow along at times. Granted this was the audio version. This book intrigued me enough, though, and I think I would like it better being able to actually read the book instead. I will definitely be giving this book another try though.