Review: Even Vampires Get the Blues (Deadly Angels, #6) by Sandra Hill

“Sixth in the Deadly Angels series, Even Vampires Get the Blues is entertaining, solid and consistent in its storytelling. Fans of the Vampire Viking Angels series will be pleased.”  — RT Book Reviews Title: Even Vampires Get the Blues (Deadly Angels, #6) Author: Sandra Hill Publisher/Publication Date: Avon Books; August 25, 2015 Format/Source: Paperback (Review Copy); Publisher Genre: Paranormal Romance ISBN 9780062356529: $7.99 E-ISBN 9780062356536: $5.99 Amazon     Barnes & Noble     Goodreads Book Summary Vikings, Navy SEALs, Viking vampire angels, oh my! All three are featured in Even Vampires Get the Blues, the sixth sizzling entry in New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Sandra Hill’s Deadly Angels series. The series focuses on the oh-so-sexy Vangels—an elite group of Vikings-turned-vampire/angels as punishment for their vigorous embodiment of the seven deadly sins ages ago. Even Vampires Get the Blues features Harek Sigurdsson, who was a brilliant Viking with an insatiable hunger for wealth and all its trappings. Now a Vangel, his otherworldly mission teams him with a Navy SEAL who’s more than his match— she’s his predestined mate… The fact that vampire angel Harek was a Norseman in his mortal life doesn’t make thawing out after exile in Siberia any easier. But things heat up when his search for evil Lucipires connects him with Camille Dumaine, a human who thrums with sensual energy that can mean only one thing: she’s the mate Harek’s been seeking for centuries… The SEALs call her “Camo” for her ability to blend into a crowd— yet Harek’s intense blue gaze singles Camille out like a white-hot spotlight. The security wiz was hired to help bring down a ruthless band of international terrorists, but Camille senses an unspoken agenda— besides Harek’s bold declaration that she’s his “destiny.” It’s just Camille’s luck that the sexiest man she’s ever met may also be… a vampire! Smart, sexy, and funny, Sandra Hill fans are sure to love the latest Deadly Angels book! My Thoughts I gave Even Vampires Get the Blues by Sandra Hill 100 pages, but I just couldn’t go on. I was hoodwinked by the synopsis that sold me on a story other than what it actually was. Hill presented a story in which slavery and terrorism were major themes. Camille’s character was presented as a woman who had, as was described in the book,—“…a minuscule amount of color…” (p. 94) in her blood. I found it irritating that Camille attempted to rationalize that she had so little black in her bloodline that it didn't really count. Another major turn off was the fact that it was implied she had difficulty maintaining relationships after revealing her family's history.         "Hardly. A quadroon is one-quarter black. I do have a minuscule amount of color in my blood, though. Does that bother you?"        "No. Why should it?"        She shrugged. "Bothers some men, believe me. I know from experience." (p. 94) Although Camille was depicted as a character that was repulsed by slavery, it was later revealed that Camille’s black grandmother ten times removed had fallen in love with her abuser who kept her in a life of servitude. I just couldn’t get past that part of the story.  Camille seemed to have more of a problem with who she was than Harek did.  Still, I couldn’t stomach Harek’s character either. One of his major issues was greed. As a mortal, he was unscrupulous and took part in unsavory activities. And after thousands of years as a vampire angel, his character showed little growth with his backwards thinking about women and life in general. Not to mention, Harek's thoughts on slavery:         " I was merely pointing out that slavery was a part of many cultures at one time. Yes, it was a sinful custom, but it must be judged through a historical prism." (p. 95) Although Camille didn't share Harek's viewpoint, the focus on slavery made this book lose the paranormal feel. Maybe the story turns around later, but I’ll never know, because by page 100, it was absolutely clear that this wasn’t the book for me. Rating: DNF I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review About the Author Sandra Hill is a graduate of Penn State and worked for more than 10 years as a features writer and education editor for publications in New Jersey and Pennsylvania. Writing about serious issues taught her the merits of seeking the lighter side of even the darkest stories. She is the wife of a stockbroker and the mother of four sons.