Cover: Blood Mark (Series, #1) by JP McLean
The author sent me an ARC of this book (epub format) in exchange for an honest review.
My rating: ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ (five stars)
Plot
(by Goodreads)
What if your lifelong curse is the only thing keeping you alive? Abandoned at birth, life has always been a battle for Jane Walker. She and her best friend, Sadie, spent years fighting to survive Vancouver’s cutthroat underbelly. That would have been tough enough without Jane’s mysterious afflictions: an intricate pattern of blood-red birthmarks that snake around her body and vivid, heart-wrenching nightmares that feel so real she wakes up screaming.
After she meets the first man who isn’t repulsed by her birthmarks, Jane thinks she might finally have a chance at happiness. Her belief seems confirmed as the birthmarks she’s spent her life so ashamed of magically begin to disappear. Yet, the quicker her scarlet marks vanish, the more lucid and disturbing Jane’s nightmares become—until it’s impossible to discern her dreams from reality, and Jane comes to a horrifying realization:
The nightmares that have plagued her since childhood are actually visions of real people being stalked by a deadly killer. And all this time, her birthmarks have been the only things protecting her from becoming his next victim.
Blood Mark is the first in a brand-new paranormal thriller series by JP McLean, author of The Gift Legacy series and whose writing has been described as “. . . deftly crafted, impressively original, and inherently compelling from first page to last.”
| Genre(s): | > Ghost Suspense > Women’s Fantasy Fiction > Contemporary Fantasy Fiction |
| Series: | [], #1 |
| Length: | 328 pages |
| Release date: | 2021-10-19 |
Teaser
The next morning, Jane had difficulty shaking the dream. It felt like a hangover.
“You okay? Sadie asked, taking her coffee to the sofa. She plopped down beside Jane, who’d wrapped her arms around her knees. “Bad dream?”
“Yeah,” Jane said. “Ethan.”
My Opinion
This book introduces you to Jane Walker who is on a rescue mission, saving her drunk roommate from her ‘keen’ companion.
With “Blood Mark”, JP McLean has once again created a thrilling combination of mystery, paranormal, myth, and a touch of romance. Despite this intro which is admittedly similar to my Gift Legacy reviews, it is as different as Jane and Emelynn (Gift Legacy) are. It is a very compelling read centred on Jane, Sadie, and Rick, drawing you very close to Jane. JP McLean paints a clear picture of the main characters’ mindsets while the story evolves. In this first thrilling story of a new series, I felt immediately very close to Jane – like an invisible friend and ally; trying to find out the truth about her marks and her dreams. Jane is complex, the other characters are also skillfully elaborated and of sufficient depth, believable with their flaws and virtues. The story is a very nicely woven combination of several genres, has a wonderful flow; it was easy to get hooked. I had a great time reading “Blood Mark”. Reading the first book in this series was simply fantastic.
This is a book for you if you like excellent story-telling, mysteries with a touch of myth and romance, and believable characters, and some violent events.
The remarkable first book in JP McLean’s new series!
Highly recommended! A book to read again.
In brief:
| Cover | ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ (four stars) |
| Writing | ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ (five stars) |
| Plot | ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ (five stars) |
| Characters | ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ (five stars) |
| Mood | Suspenseful |
| Pace | Steady |
| POV | Third person – past tense |
| Language |  (decent enough, some mild swearing) |
| Violence | 😳 – 😡 (some medium fight scenes) |
| Sexual content | 😳 (several sensual activities) |
About the author
I’m very fortunate to live in a writer’s paradise on one of the small northern Gulf Islands off the eastern shore of Vancouver Island, British Columbia. The rugged beaches and towering fir and arbutus trees that surround me often end up in my stories. When I’m not pouring my imagination into my computer, I’m futzing in gardens, making a mess of the kitchen or hiking local trails. I write stories that entice you to believe the impossible and escape the everyday for a while. Enjoy the read!
Connect with the author:
Please take a look at my statement on reading in My train of thoughts on …reading. Now I am asking you. 🙂
My questions for you bibliophiles:
What about you? What did you think about “Blood Mark”? Or – if you did not yet read “Blood Mark” – are you now interested in reading it yourself?
I am looking forward to reading your comments. 🙂
Book review – Lover Betrayed (The Gift Legacy Companion, #1)
Book review – Secret Sky (The Gift Legacy, #1)
Book review – Hidden Enemy (The Gift Legacy, #2)
Book review – Burning Lies (The Gift Legacy, #3)
Book review – Lethal Waters (The Gift Legacy, #4)
Book review – Deadly Deception (The Gift Legacy, #5)
Book review – Wings of Prey (The Gift Legacy, #6)
>>> The links above show the new titles of “The Gift Legacy” series. <<<
My train of thoughts on... 