Crimson Love (The Crimson Coven, #1) By B.A. Stretke

Some mm vampire/human heat with weak execution

This short story had plenty of interesting paranormal elements, and a bit of heat. The underlying character ideas held some decent interest, and the story does have some sizzle, so it's most recommended for those looking for a semi-heated vampire/human erotic short (and not overly compelling writing).

Unfortunately, for me at times it read a bit more like a bad porn movie than a smooth romance. The scenes could be choppy, sometimes jerking from one over-the-top moment to the next. Crimson Love (The Crimson Coven, #1) Typical love/lust at first sight, but was ok and short enough to not bore me. The part of the beating made me mad because was really stupid and all happened for a misunderstanding, but I tried to ignore it.
Only one question, if all knew that Rex liked to beat up the one night-stands of the other guys, why the hell was he still there in the coven? bah.. Crimson Love (The Crimson Coven, #1) This was a short, but intriguing, story about the mating of Ethan (human), and, Cullen (vampire). The only problem for me was that it was extremely difficult to read about what had happened with Ethan due to both his father and two members of the coven (or maybe just one). It left me just a little bit less satisfied basically because I really needed to see the bad guys fry. Other than that, I have enjoyed this author's other vampire series (Pittsburgh Vampires) immensely, which caused me to search out this, Crimson vampires. So I enjoyed their mating (except for poor Ethan at the time) and the forever love that I just love reading about. It also held my attention and never dragged for me, so yeah, excellent.=) Crimson Love (The Crimson Coven, #1) H.O.L.E. 3.0

This line:

“Ethan stared at Cullen waiting for something and Cullen stared at Ethan waiting for everything.”

The absolute highlight of the book. It was this line and the basic premise that raised the rating of this book. I keep buying author’s work and being disappointed.

Example of this: father abused MC (not vampire) and MC had a jagged scar running down his entire face. Other MC (the vampire) was happy, yes happy, for the scar as it proved blah, blah, blah. Still don’t get why a scar would be anything other than sorrow and pity reaction.

This series goes on and on. I plan on reading them all and I hope to find gem—all authors have them (see quote above); it is just finding it.

Taking out premise and quote this novella (not at all book length—appetizers not the main meal—nothing wrong with that) my ranking falls to 2.2

H. His
O. Omega
L. Loves
E. Erections
1-5
Crimson Love (The Crimson Coven, #1) Need more

Ethan doesn't have it easy but he has hope to get away from his abusive father once he saves enough money. He just wants to keep his head down and get free. Cullen is a powerful vampire who realizes that Ethan is his Chosen. The story is really hot but not very deep. I would have liked more of these two. Crimson Love (The Crimson Coven, #1)

Cullen Volakis is the second and head of security for the Crimson Vampire Coven. He’s a bastard on a good day and your worst nightmare if you dare cross him. Nothing can crack the calm, steely composure of this lethal Vampire until he cuts through the kitchen of the Coven owned club, The Crimson Clover, and finds his Chosen, the love of his life, bent over a sink washing glasses. He has to formulate a plan, meet on equal terms, but he will not stop until he has his chosen. A Crimson Vampire hasn’t found their chosen in over eighty years and Cullen isn’t going to let the stunningly beautiful kitchen help get away.

Ethan Turner has never had it easy. He has a bastard of a father and very little money, but he’s making due, thanks to the Crimson Clover and every little bit he saves. A friend convinces him to go to the “co-workers, owners, and special guests only” after hours party at the club. It’s not really his scene, but he will help a friend whenever he can. He is stunned by a tall, dark, and gorgeous man staring at him from across the dance floor. He wants to move, get away, but he is held to the spot by the man’s magnetic stare. Can he trust this man Cullen? He screams danger, but he always screams love and safety. Sometimes your head needs to get out of the way and let your heart take the wheel.
Crimson Love (The Crimson Coven, #1)

B.A. Stretke ☆ 2 Characters

Es una historia super cortita y sin más, por eso he decidido no darle más de 2⭐. Crimson Love (The Crimson Coven, #1) A sweet M/M novella drowning in editing errors

I know these self-published books are hit or miss. And I know that they all have five star reviews because the authors have friends, or because some people get into bad grammar (I assume, never having met anyone thus afflicted). And I know that sometimes I'm going to come across books with actual potential, that didn't fight their way free of bad grammar, non-existent editing, painfully stilted dialogue yet. I can hope they WILL get out, though, and I'm rooting for the story inside this draft.

The bad: What is this book doing masquerading as a professionally written novel? The author can't stay in the same tense for more than a paragraph, does not know how to use a comma, and the story lurches from place to place, point of view to point of view, with no warning or reason. First person present tense - now third person past tense - back to first person present tense.....And that's just the first few pages dealing with one person. After that, the point of view hops around from person to person to vampire to person, too, but never clears up the tense agreements. It's like a game - who's talking, what are they talking about, to whom, and the really tough one, at what point did the conversation take place and for BONUS points, are they discussing a past or current event? Speaking of conversations, the dialogue reads like the author doesn't have a lot of experience with them. Stilted, overly formal, sometimes just hideously embarrassing (picture a reader squeaking he just said WHAT to a grown man?!), and what's supposed to be sex talk - I think - because I winced and skimmed that part.

I'm really angry about all these idiotic, easily fixed editing errors and unpolished writing because I LIKED THE STORY. It was sweet, the 2 characters had a really solid emotional connection, there's something about the story that's fun and original. The problem is that the reader has to slog through so many off-putting, infuriating stupid mistakes to get the story, and this book never should have been put up for sale with these kinds of problems. Someone, at some point, should have pointed out to the author that this is a DRAFT, not a finished book.
This book needs to be put in the hands of a ruthless editor with a red pen and steel teeth, and B.A. Stretke needs to either take a good class on creating dialogue, or go listen to a lot of conversations. After that, s/he can have a week or so to mourn that tattered corpse of their novel once returned from the editor, and then B.A. Stretke can write the interesting, emotionally charged paranormal romance that is hiding in here. Crimson Love (The Crimson Coven, #1) This is the beginning of a new series by B A Stretke about Vampires. I've been looking forward to reading it every since I saw it was going to be released. Sometimes I look forward to shorter stories especially in a series. What I really enjoyed about this story with only 772 locations (the remaining up to 782 a listing of the authors other works) is that it is a complete story with a HEA.

You meet Ethan Turner a scarred, hard-working young man doing what he needed to do to survive and hide. He worked two jobs, trying to save enough money to get his own apartment. His home life was no piece of cake. Ethan has a best friend he works with during the day. Evenings he washes dishes at the nightclub the Crimson Clover. Only 18, he wanted a better life. These two jobs were the first step in that direction.

Ethan didn't want to get close involved with the patrons or really even the staff. He kept his head down and did his job. Initially resisted all attempts by Lynden, one of the bus boys to get him to attend the staff parties at the club he worked at. Now he was running out of excuses and Lyndon was being more persistent. Ethan couldn't imagine how that fateful night would completely change his life and rock his world view. The reader meets Mr. Karl Mason, the manager of the Crimson Clover nightclub and Cullen Volakis, head of security for the Crimson Coven who answered only to the Coven leader, Alexander Stone. The author gives the background of the Crimson Coven so that one gets a sense of how ingrained in the community the Vampires are.

Cullen is no nonsense. He is second-in-command at the Coven. He had a large powerful presence that commands the attention of others, often producing fear or trepidation until the Coven members realizes he isn't the target. When Cullen says jump the question is How high? No one can remember the last time he smiled. Right now Cullen was the tense one agitated because he had sensed his Chosen, his Beloved, his Forever Love. And Cullen needed to meet him. But he hadn't revealed to anyone Cullen's shocking discovery. So everyone who knew his reputation was tense and alert.

Cullen didn't need to use his Vampire charm on the young Human. Ethan felt their bond and was drawn to the very intimidating man, who beckoned him to dance. His Human was perfect for him. Wary, discerning, practical, and reticent. The Dance seemed magical. But all good things come to an end. Ethan had to get home and since he didn't have a driver's license he was prepared to walk. Cullen quickly offered to give him a ride.

What I liked was Cullen's reaction to Ethan's disfiguring scar and drunk abusive father. He had already begun to have feelings for the smaller man and he vowed to protect him from all harm. Since this story has approximately 700 locations, the pace was quick. But there was a great deal of emotions experienced, as well as a surprising amount of violence. Offset by tender intimate moments. But interspersed with blinding rage. And crushing disappointment. Then Ethan learns about the existence of Vampires.

More coven members are introduced such as Vampire Master Stone, Felix, Rex, Lyndon, Peter, as well as Ethan's friend, Cody. It's a great start to a new series, that promises additional fated pairs and coven intrigue. A good amount of world building is done to set the stage for future installments to this series. Crimson Love (The Crimson Coven, #1) This was short and sweet and I liked the characters. The Coven is obviously going to have lots of characters for future books in the series. The editing however is dreadful with far too many mistakes to ignore. Crimson Love (The Crimson Coven, #1) 3.75 stars! This was a nice insta-love vampire romance that was good to read in one sitting. I liked Ethan the most of the characters and I bonded with him through the short story. Cullen was interesting but I'm not in love with him as Ethan's chosen. Also, there was a lack of justice where Rex was concerned but hopefully that will be tied up in the next installment which I will read. Crimson Love (The Crimson Coven, #1)