Thursday, October 16, 2025

Book Beginnings, First Line Friday, & Friday 56: Every Longing Heart (Bonds of Blood Book 2) by Claire Trella Hill

Book Beginnings is a weekly meme hosted by Rose City Reader that asks you to share the first sentence (or so) of the book you're reading. I'm also linking up with Carrie at Reading is My Superpower for First Line Friday. Friday 56 asks you to grab a book (any book), turn to page 56 or 56% in your ereader and share a non-spoilery sentence or two. It was started by Freda at Freda's Voice, but Anne over at My Head is Full of Books has taken over for the time being.

This week I'm featuring Every Longing Heart (Bonds of Blood Book 2) by Claire Trella Hill. I haven't started reading this book yet but am so excited to this weekend. 

About the Book
Victorian London’s vampire society has a new ruler—just in time for Christmas.

Bluestocking turned vampire Genevieve has endured hell for twenty years, forced to obey by her loathed vampire maker because of the blood bond connecting them. Now with her maker finally dead, she’s free of his oppressive control but left with little hope and too many scars. This bleak midwinter, she has a slim chance at a different future, for better or worse—but that depends on the new vampire ruler choosing a different path and not being dispatched first.

One of the oldest vampires in England, Kendrick has returned to London wielding his sword to reform vampire society. He understands the mistakes and failings of the past but struggles to see a way forward after years of being alone. Attempts on his un-life don’t help either—but he is more intrigued than he has been in centuries by a comely woman who leaves him cryptic warnings and harangues him on the conduct of his new rule.

Genevieve has the foresight for what the relationship between vampires and humans could be. Kendrick has the power to make it come to pass. But to surmount the resistance from London’s vampires, they must join forces in a most convenient union to bring outcasts in from the cold and prove that not all bonds are forged with blood.

Love breathes life into the dead in this Christmas gothic Victorian romance, perfect for fans of Mimi Matthews, Jacquelyn Benson, and all those who like a little bite amidst their comfort and joy. Every Longing Heart is a cozy vampire marriage of convenience and the companion novel to Black and Deep Desires.

Book Beginnings / First Line Friday
November 1880, London
When the blood bond severed, she felt it. 

Friday 56
"Oh, please Miss Dryden, a Christmas song," Hannah pleaded. "Isn't Christmas coming soon?"

What have you been reading lately?

8 comments:

  1. Christmas and vampires? Darn. Isn't any holiday safe from them? I'm reading a vampire story right now, too. A very haunted fellow who hates what he is doing.

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    1. I took a bit of a break from reading vampire books but have been slowly getting back into them. I loved the first book in this series, so I was excited to check this one out. Hope you have a great week, Anne! :D

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  2. A cozy vampire marriage of convenience at Christmas? That's a combination I have not encountered before. ;D

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    1. Me either! I'm almost a third of the way through it and am enjoying it so far. It's fun to see some different tropes thrown into a vampire story. Hope you have a wonderful week, Lark! :D

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  3. Not fond of the cover but the book sounds interesting.

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    1. I'm loving it so far! Hope you have a great week, Adele! :D

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    1. Thank you, Cindy! Hope you have a wonderful week! :D

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