Reviews of Blood Bargain:
"Urban fantasy fans are going to love this romantic fantasy especially the Kelly
clan, an extended family of supernaturals living within human society. Each of
the major characters is fascinating and readers will particularly appreciate
Tucker who was a Viking warrior who can shift into wolf. The mysteries and the
town enhance Blood Bargain, a strong tale that fans of Kelly Armstrong and Kim
Harrison will want to read." --Genre-Go-Round
"...I couldn't put it down. Maria Lima's second Blood Lines novel is even better
than the first, a fun and sometimes poignant paranormal treat.... As the various
plots began to converge, I was hooked. I read most of the second half of the
book in one sitting. I can't say much without letting a spoiler slip, but I will
say that the secret behind the mysteries is a haunting one, rooted both in old
folklore and in disastrous family relationships...Along the way, we learn more
about Keira's past and family background. Matters of the Blood whetted my
appetite for Keira's backstory; Lima didn't disappoint in this area one bit....I
also have a deep appreciation for any urban fantasy author who can write female
friendship. Too often, urban fantasy novels feature queen-bee women who can't
stand any other females on their turf; secondary female characters tend to be
either spineless ciphers or jealous harpies. Lima has avoided this cliche by
creating a delightful 'best friend' character in Beatriz Ruiz, and exploring the
realistic effects that Keira's burgeoning power has on the relationship between
the two women....For those who are wondering about the fantasy-to-romance ratio
in Blood Bargain, this is more toward the fantasy end of things. There is
some romance at the beginning, and a little bit at the end, but the fantasy and
mystery elements are predominant for most of the book. Matters of the
Blood is far more focused on romance than Blood Bargain is."-- FantasyLiterature.net
"Readers often approach second books in series with a bit of trepidation:
they're excited to find out what happens next but wary that the second book
might not live up to the excellence of the first. Well, have no fear when
picking up Maria Lima's Blood Bargain, she has created an even more riveting
novel in her follow-up to Matters of the Blood....Maria Lima captures the
essence of urban fantasy, mystery and romantic elements in Blood
Bargain." -- SFSite
"...Lima has served up a braided tale of several plot lines that converge and
twist about each other enough that a reader is kept solidly invested in finding
the clues and hoping to reach the conclusion before Keira. However, while Lima
plays fair, there's a number of puzzle pieces that may or may not fit in this
puzzle. Once you finish the book, it's a satisfying end that leaves you waiting
for the next book.
Part of what makes this series so interesting, is that Lima uses well known
tropes of the fantasy genre, yet gives them enough of a spin to make the
recognizable to readers but keep them wondering if things will play out as
expected. The differences are slight but make for the feeling that you're
entering new territory. For not only are the shapeshifters, vampires, and magic
systems just a bit different, but the whole series takes place in Texas -- a
vast land that is new to most readers of fantasy. The mystery of the central
plot is solidly constructed and doesn't necessarily depend upon the fantastical
elements, though they are involved. Fantasy adds flavor to the story while human
greed and villainy manage to keep it grounded in the here and now."--SFRevu
"Maria Lima creates a plausible and captivating world which is oddly different
from ours and yet eerily the same. The rules of logic work equally well in this
world where vampires, faeries, and shape-changerscan coexist with humans, most
of whom do not even know that strangers live among them....The sense of place in
this, the second in the series, is magnificent. It
is set in the Hill Country of Texas and that area is made so real that the
reader can see the dust, feel the heat, and smell all the odors of the
countryside. The small town where Kiera grew up, Rio Seco, is like small towns
everywhere -- slow to change, unwelcoming of strangers, cognizant of everyone's
business. (In fact, the first paragraph of the book captures the small town
beautifully.) The images throughout this book paint a vivid and indelible
picture in the reader's mind.
The story is told in first person by Kiera. She is a fully developed character,
one that the reader can empathize with regardless of her non-humanity....Other
characters are intriguing and sympathetic as well...I am not fond of paranormal books and most of the time do not read them because
I think many of them do not play fair with the reader. Giving a character
special abilities can be a cop-out. But these characters are so well developed,
their world is so logical and believable, the book is so well-written that I
simply suspended my disbelief and accepted and enjoyed this world."--DorothyL mailing list by Sally Fellows
"Ms. Lima spins a suspenseful tale and packs it with paranormal elements that
will hold the reader's attention to the end. Blood Bargain is fast moving and
reveals answers to many of the questions that fans have from book one. Romance
is a strong factor in the heroine's actions, and adds to the building emotion in
the storyline. Readers will be anxious to see where Keira's next supernatural
adventure will lead." -- Darque Reviews
"[A] wonderful
supernatural filled sequel to the first book Matters of the Blood. With
vampires, shifters and faeries all making an appearance, this series definitely
covers the main paranormal genre favourites. Mystery, suspense and things that
go bump in the night are all packed into this second part, making the first book
weep in envy and the third book having to live up to an even higher standard. (A PNR Reviewer Recommended Read) --
Paranormalromance.org
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