Sangre Series: Buzz & Blow, Shave & Shimmer, Fade & Fluff by Alex Carreras

SangreSeries_cvr_100dpiTitle: Buzz & Blow, Shave & Shimmer, Fade & Fluff
Series: Sangre Series
Author: Alex Carreras
Genre: Paranormal
Length: Single Author Anthology (247 pages)
Publisher: Wilde City Press (20 May 2015)
Heat Level: Moderate
Heart Rating: ♥♥♥3Hearts (for all stories)
Blurb: In the city of Sangre, Florida, vampires and humans coexist happily until one ancient and powerful vampire decides to mess up the entire thing. The hairdressers at Everlasting Salon who service vampires and humans alike decide to face the threat that lands on their doorstep enlisting the barbers across the street for a fight to the finish. Chaos ensues when fists fly, but it’s not all bad when old flames reunite and new relationships take root and grow.

Between the clandestine meetings and vigilante justice, the vampires find love in unexpected companions, hoping to get some TLC along the way.

ISBN: 978-1-925313-17-8

Product Link: http://www.wildecity.com/books/gay-romance/sangre-series-buzz-and-blow-1-shave-and-shimmer-2-fade-and-fluff-3/#.Vc2S1Pmqqko

Reviewer: Prime

Review: This book is a collection of the three novellas which make up Alex Carreras’ Sangre Series. It makes perfect sense that this series was released in the one volume since the stories are tightly connected together, so much so that it could almost be read as one story. Luckily, since this is the one volume, there is no need to worry that you are reading the books in the right order, something that is essential for the Sangre series.

The stories themselves are all interesting and enjoyable, though something I noticed with all three is that the action seemed to be glossed over a bit. However, the characters themselves are all enjoyable and you can really see their development. For me, it was the six MCs that made the stories for me rather than the actual plot line. The attraction between the guys was hot, but this too sometimes felt like it was being glossed over.

Firstly, in Buzz & Blow, we are introduced to the town Sangre in Florida and the vampires that work at the hairdressers, Everlasting. Their rival across the street is the rougher, vampire-run barber shop, Killer Kuts. Asher from Everlasting meets the dark and mysterious Niko from Killer Kuts. They find themselves surrounded by the mystery of solving who the vampire is that is killing humans and in the process drag their friend from Everlasting and Killer Kuts along with them.

Then we go to Shave & Shimmer, where Tory from Everlasting and Ray, new to Killer Kuts (spotting the trend here?) meet under the watchful match-making eye of Tory’s friend from the first book, Asher. Ray has some baggage from his past. He has mourned the death of his lover and sire for over a hundred and fifty years.

Tory on the other hand is essentially a ray of sunshine, pun intended although unfortunately this description of the character does not always come across. As well as facing Ray’s past, there is an underlying current of trouble spilling over from the first book.

Then we end with Fade & Fluff, where the owners of Everlasting, Jerrod, and Killer Kuts, Kaidron, meet up but not for the first time. These guys have a long history together. They are ex-lovers. We find that out quite quickly in the first story. Unfortunately, I just don’t think there was enough emphasis on their past and what exactly went wrong for the guys. This story is about tying up the loose ends of the first two books as well as getting the ex-lovers to work out their differences.

Once again, I think the danger that the six MCs are facing needed more (though I’m not entirely sure what, I can’t put my finger on it).

Overall it was enjoyable and you do really need to read all three to get complete satisfaction from the overarching plot.

* I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review through http://mmgoodbookreviews.wordpress.com *