BLESSED

BLESSED, by Cynthia Leitich Smith (Candlewick, 2011)(14+). Picking up where TANTALIZE and ETERNAL left off, neophyte vampire Quincie P. Morris is still struggling to keep Sanguini's afloat. At the same time, she has to deal with the rise of hundreds of new vampires, courtesy of the restaurant's former chef. Plus, she has to clear Kieren of suspicion for Vaggio's murder. The addition of a new chef and the exotic Zachary only add to the problems...

Deliciously creepy and horrific, but not without romance and humor, BLESSED artfully explores themes of salvation and forgiveness and good and evil. Having overcome her transition to the vampiric life, Quincie is steadfast and determined. And Zachary is, well, Zachary. :-).

Check out the amazing Official Trailer:

ETERNAL

aETERNAL, by Cynthia Leitich Smith (Candlewick 2009). Zachary is a neophyte guardian angel. Miranda is his second, err, charge. In love with her, he breaks the rules to try to save her, which results in catastrophe: she's turned into a vampire and, worse, into the hand-chosen "daughter" of the current bearer of the mantle of Dracul.

Cast from heaven, stripped of his angelic powers, Zachary is forced to wander the earth until he's given one final chance at redemption. Which leads him into the service of his once-beloved in the castle of the current incarnation of Dracula himself...

Can he save himself and her, or did his choice cost them both life eternal?

A striking and brilliantly affecting treatment of sacrifice, redemption, and the struggle of good vs. evil. Highly recommended.

And, yeah, I'm married to the author :-). Also available from Walker UK and Australia.