[.ca] Blood Lines (ISBN 0756405033)

5+ Stars - Excellent Book and Excellent Series:
Excellent Series - This is the third novel in Tanya Huff's excellent vampire series. This book and the entire series gets 5+ stars. It's excellent! (If you have not read the entire series, you must read it, you will not be disappointed. The series order: Blood Price, Blood Trail, Blood Lines, Blood Pact and Blood Debt). This third book continues with Vicki, an ex cop turned private investigator, who had to leave the police force because she is losing her night vision. From previous novels you met Henry, a 400 year old vampire who is also a romantic writer, and Vicki's friend and lover. Also, you met Mike, Vicki's ex-partner, who is also involved with Vicki. This third novel begans with Henry. Once Henry became a vampire he stopped having dreams. Suddenly Henry is dreaming again, and the dreams are slowly driving him mad. He is dreaming of the sun, and very afraid. He does not know if he is losing his mind, or if this is signaling his upcoming death. He calls Vicki for help. At the same time Mike is working on a weird case involving two deaths at a museum both involving heart failure. This seems strange to Mike. As he contnues the investigation, he realizes something not quite human may be causing these deaths. Mike asks Vicki for help, and soon it will take Mike, Henry and Vicki working together to keep more people from dying. Also there are complications with all three of them working together because the two men are becoming jealous of each other as their attraction to Vicki grows. Excellent excellent book!

Another Great Read in an Enthralling Series!:
"Blood Lines" by Tanya Huff is the third instalment in her wonderful "Blood" series, and it is another great read. It contains a thrilling and suspenseful plot perfectly blended with the tantalizing love triangle between Private Investigator Vicki Nelson, 450 year-old vampire romance writer Henry Fitzroy, and homicide detective Mike Celluci. "Blood Lines" is an excellent addition to the series and is sure to be widely enjoyed. The story begins with the arrival of an Egyptian sarcophagus at the Royal Ontario Museum. The staff is excited about what and who it may contain, but they don't know the half of it. For the mummy lying inside is an ancient Egyptian wizard who challenged the gods at the height of his power and was subsequently entombed alive. For thousands of years he has lain in darkness, unable to escape his living death, until now. Strange and frightening things begin happening at the museum after the sarcophagus is opened and the mummy uncovered. Two men die sudden and inexplicable deaths and then the entire museum staff selectively forgets that there ever was a mummy. Because the ancient wizard, now awake and planning his overthrow of the city and the reinstatement of his dark god's reign, has been growing stronger by feeding on the lives of those around him. Armed with knowledge of the 20th century stolen from his victims, the mummy takes the name Anwar Tawfik and goes out into the city. And so this ancient evil is loosed upon an unsuspecting Toronto. Mike Celluci, Vicki Nelson's ex-partner on the force and sometime lover, can see that something is not right. He finds clues at the museum that deny the statements given by the museum staff, and after the things he's seen in the recent past, Mike's willing to believe in a supernatural explanation. Henry Fitzroy, Vicki's other lover and the bastard son of Henry VIII, no less, is haunted by dreams of a blazing desert sun. And being a vampire, this is pretty terrifying for Henry, who believes that his recurring dream signifies some hidden desire to commit suicide. So Henry enlists Vicki's help to watch over him and keep him from frying himself, and Mike recruits her to help him find out what is going on. As Tawfik becomes more and more powerful, he gains control of some people in high places, leaving Vicki, Mike, and Henry to fight him all alone. And it's not long before the clues, Henry's instincts, and some blind luck add up to give these three a fairly accurate picture of what's going on. Tawfik is so power hungry that he is prepared to do whatever it takes to get what he wants, and his plans include a ceremony that will make him almost unstoppable. So it's up to Vicki, Mike, and Henry to find a way to stop Tawfik and save Toronto. The suspense builds very effectively, and Huff takes her readers on a thrilling adventure. "Blood Lines" is intriguing, tightly plotted, and exciting. Not to mention the fabulous romance between Henry and Vicki (my favourite couple) and Mike and Vicki, which provides some intense sexual tension along with some highly amusing moments that balance the horror and suspense perfectly. All in all, "Blood Lines" is an entertaining and worthwhile read. Vicki is a fantastic heroine. She's strong and stubborn, but not without vulnerabilities. I adore Henry, and can't help but like Mike. The story is a fascinating mix of horror, mystery, fantasy, and romance and Huff makes it work beautifully. The entire "Blood" series is worth reading, though I strongly advise you read them in order. "Blood Lines" will not disappoint, so pick it up today and enjoy!

Finally getting some meat in the story:
Unlike the first two, this book holds your interest well. The sniping of the love triangle is minimized and the characters finally develop. The sex is part of the story, but it isnt THE story.

Easy Read:
Quick pace, easy to read book. It keeps you entertained and interested from beginning to end. Recommend for people who like vampires but not the give you nightmares type of horror some writers insist on.

Could have been better:
I was really getting into this "Blood" series, but this book really slowed me down. It lacked the action the others in this series had. Most of all, the hero is really getting on my nerve. She is way to angry and selfish.