D.L. Atha’s novel Blood Reaction offers a new spin on vampires. Protagonist Annalice is home alone while her daughter is away visiting family—and she lives on an isolated farm. And while Annalice might be looking forward to a quiet week at home, what she gets is something much worse. She is taken prisoner in her own home by Asa, a vampire who forces her to participate in feeding him, teaching him about modern humanity, and worse, all by threatening the life of her child.
Some of the things I liked best about this novel—other, of course, than the vampire twist (always a favorite!)—were the ways that Annalice drew upon her experience as a doctor. I also loved the fact that the vampire wasn’t a hero. He was brutal and murderous. And despite Annalice’s own “blood reaction” drawing her to her tormentor, she recognized the physiological and psychological elements of that attraction, using her medical training to work to save herself and her daughter.
Overall, this book is a noteworthy entry in the vampire genre, mixing the mundane and the terrifying in some interesting ways, and Annalice’s unexpected solution to her problem makes for a fascinating conclusion.
Blurb:
Annalice, a single mother and physician, is ready to immerse herself in the mundane chores of her farm as a diversion from her hectic professional life. But she becomes the victim of a home invasion, the supernatural kind. Vindictive and cruel, Asa, a century old vampire, takes brutal control of her life and home. Forcing her to strike a bargain in exchange for her daughter’s life, Annalice must not only accept his presence but also bow to his depravity. Facing threats to her only child, she relies on her skills as a physician to unravel the clues to the vampire’s existence, attempting to beat him at his own game. Caught in a race against a genetic timeline, Annalice struggles to survive the Blood Reaction.
About DL Atha:
DL Atha, having the good fortune to have been raised in rural western Arkansas, resides there still with her husband and three children where together they enjoy the farm life.
She earned her MD in 1999, and currently enjoys the practice of hospital medicine and wound care which she performs full time in a nearby town.
She is currently working on the sequel to Blood Reaction.
For the Sake of Revenge was her first venture into non-medical fiction.
A few of her favorite things are chocolate, anything old but especially old houses, gardening, and horses.
Her least favorite things are getting up early, anything that happens before nine a.m. and constricting clothing.
Get in touch with DL ATHA:
http://bookblogs.ning.com/profile/DLAtha
https://www.facebook.com/ForTheSakeOfRevengedlatha
Purchase DL ATHA’s books:
https://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/dlatha
https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4877830.D_L_Atha
http://www.amazon.com/DL-Atha/e/B005018RJU/ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1?qid=1408311205&sr=8-1
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/blood-reaction-d-l-atha/1101002201?ean=9780979335600
Words, Words, Words 
I read this book not to long ago and loved it. I just wish the story would have had a little more to it because I didn’t want it to end. The best scene was when she saw him for the first time while she was sitting on her couch. Honestly I had nightmares of a smiling man the same night that I read this book only it was more of a menacing smile. Gave me the chills. I was relieved that someone finally stopped the madness of painting the vampire as a romantic hero and showed what they were meant to be, monsters!
Tabitha: I loved the horrific nature of this vampire, too. And the horror of someone invading our homes AND minds got to me in this book, too!