Title: Blood Red
Author: Vivi Anna
Published in 2004 by eXtasy Books
Genre: Fantasy – Erotica – Romance
ISBN: 1-55410-090-9
Little Red Riding Hood, also known as Red, loved hanging out at Harry’s Pub. The stench of old sweat and stale ale thickening the stagnant air laden with cigarette smoke is her favorite aroma. Farmers, blacksmiths and masons mingling with thieves, bandits and bounty hunters were the usual mix of degenerates and low-lifes that made her feel right at home. Consuming Vodka like most people consume water and sucking on cigarettes like most people breathe; this beauty is not at all what she seems. If only she knew that. With a mouth on her to rival a merchant seaman’s, and sporting weaponry like royalty sports jewelry, this tough talking beauty fights to win, even if it means fighting dirty. Red chooses not to have friends, but she needs the life-affirming act of sex. She craves it. She needs it to make her feel something—anything.
Germania is on the brink of war, and she doesn’t care. The only purpose that Red has in her life is revenge. Black-hearted vengeance and cold steel are her only companions. She’d been training herself in the art of survival for the past seven years. The thought of avenging the death of her sweet lovable granny was the only thing that had kept her going for the past seven years. That, and the physical reminder of how ruthless the Big Bad Wolf really is. The scum had left a thin pink scar that marred half her face, running down from her left eyebrow, down her cheek and finally to her chin when she was only twelve. That day saw her losing her innocence and purity. Red has since been planning his downfall all this time—for seven long years. The only problem is that once she has The Wolf at a disadvantage, she finds that she can’t kill him. What will she do with her life now?
Long, black hair hanging around his powerful shoulders, framing a face chiseled from stone—all hard, sharp angles—The Big Bad Wolf is not your average hunter. He is also a mercenary—a killer for hire. Dark thick sideburns curved under his cheeks and ended near his full mouth, making Hugh Jackman’s portrayal of Wolverine in the X-Men look decidedly wimpy. The Wolf is a very powerful man, both physically and mentally, with an animal’s sensory perception, able to hear and smell beyond the normal human scope. Translucent blue eyes framed by thick dark eyebrows observe everything and give away nothing. Those same baby-blues have observed Red over the years, albeit secretively, as she grew and developed her skills. He is a man with a mission—to protect Red at all costs. Death does not scare him, but he must reveal the secret he has been carrying for the last seven years before he draws his last breath.
Being able to cheat death this one time has exacted a toll—a toll that has the possibility of damning both his and Red’s souls forever. The Wolf has the unpalatable task of extracting Red and himself from the living Hell that they are now in, but the antipathy that is between them makes it hard going. Not knowing exactly where they are, and being ensconced in less-than-favorable quarters are just two things on a list of why their escape will not be successful. Separated, The Wolf needs to decipher what is real, and what is not. Who to trust, and who to not. His instincts serve him well, but overcoming the mistrust that has built up over seven years is proving to be a very large hurdle to overcome. He needs Red to listen to his secret and to believe. He also needs her to remember a very important secret buried deep in the recesses of her mind. If she doesn’t, Germania will be destroyed…
Secrets and intrigue linger around every corner. Red has taken things at face value, refusing to acknowledge that all is not what it seems. Taking the courage to look beneath the surface can only mean one thing—pain, and the realization that all you lived for was in vain. Used to being unloved for so long, she must now learn to trust in another—to believe that their love is actually good for her. The Wolf has bided his time long enough. He needs to be seen for what he really is, not as the myth that he has deliberately created around his persona. His appearance makes it very difficult for people to realize that he is really a gentle soul at heart. And with all this going on, they need to come together, to band with other fairytale characters from our childhood memories to save Germania, once and for all.
Blood Red is not your normal fairytale. What you learnt about Little Red Riding Hood, The Big Bad Wolf, The Three Little Pigs, and others during your childhood can be thrown out the window. After reading this, you will never view those beloved childhood memories in the same way ever again. Vivi Anna has demonstrated perfectly what an imagination she has, as well as a very unique writing style. And the sex! My goodness! Blood Red includes your normal sex scenes, but it also contains lesbian scenes, and even a smattering of ménage a trois. In fact, the sex is quite prolific in this offering. This book is definitely recommended only for those who love sex, sex, and even more sex in their romance novels. Ms Anna’s offering is available now through eXtasy Books. You just don’t know whether to laugh at the twists or simmer with the sex scenes. This is one very original storyline.
Enjoy the reading!
Tanya Blake
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