Review: Bulls & Blood (The Blood and Thorn Ranch, #1) by T.A. Chase

Breaking the rules has never been Wesley’s way…until he meets Mino.

Rule Number Two that the Thorn brothers live by is that employees of the ranch are off-limits. Wesley has always followed that rule, never stepping out of his comfort zone to do more than talk to one of the cowhands that help run his family’s ranch. Being a vampire makes it easier, since he doesn’t go out during the day.

Mino’s been interested in the youngest Thorn brother since he began working at The Blood & Thorn Ranch. It’s those stupid rules that hold him back from making the first move. Well, those and the fact that Wesley could kill him in a blink of his eye. Being human in a world of supernatural creatures makes living difficult, since he’s considered prey.

These two males, from different species and societies, must find a way to meet in the middle of their worlds if they have a chance at love.



I read the blurb, saw cowboys and vampires. I got really happy. 

Add in boss/employee, forbidden human/vampire aspect and pining for years? Oh yeah, I was a happy camper. Not my first T.A.Chase so I knew to expect some goodness.

Then I read this. And it did deliver the modern cowboys, vampires and boss/employee sexy times. But it didn't deliver in a lot of departments too.

The Thorn brothers are a group of male vampires that all share the same vampire creator and call consider themselves brothers. The family moved from the old World to America, starting a ranch and making their own rules. Vampires came out of hiding about twenty years ago and are the most powerful supernatural beings in the world. Other creatures exist as well but the vampires reign supreme. (And the author does nothing short of shove the future pairings down our throats)

Mino, a human cowboy/ cattle hand is in lust with the drabbest vampire of the brothers, Wesley Thorn. Wesley is the youngest of the vampire brothers and the enforcer. He's very black-and-white, likes rules and everyone following them. He knows he's better than humans, shifters and any other supernatural beings out there. He's an apex predator, yadda yadda yadda. He's rude and pompous. And Mino knows it and still wants to get in his pants.

Truthfully I don't see the attraction. And yet I kept reading. Though this story was totally all telling and info dumping and a lot of repetition of how wonder vampires are, etc...i still read. Maybe it was the paranormal soap opera-ness, I  couldn't stop reading it. The sex really wasn't anything to write home about, the brothers were sort of interesting, Mino seemed like he was sane...and there was smaller guy topping.

But it still can't make up for the rushed writing, the telling and the glossing over the interesting bits (vampires mating). There was no sexual tension. Wesley was cold and then in the next paragraph, he wants to have sex with someone he deems lesser than him. We get no inkling on how he feels about Mino, next thing once the secondary plot gets solved (more off page than not) the main characters are moving in and Wesley 'cold-as-a-fish' Thorn is in love? 

Then story ends at 90%

The abrupt ending ruined this story. It was rushed and came way out of left field. Even with all the strikes, I was prepared to read more of the Thorn brothers. But with that weaker finish...I'm not.

I pretty much can tell which brother will end up with which secondary character, no need to read the rest.
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