Blood to Blood by Elaine Bergstrom

Author: Elaine Bergstrom
Publish Date: October 1, 2000
Website: http://www.elainebergstrom.com
ISBN: 9780441007745
List Price: $5.99
My Rating: 3 out of 5

 Jacket Synopsis:

Dracula's sister-by birth and by blood-resurrects his dark legacy...

Praise for Mina: "A real page-turner."-P. N. Elrod

"Throbbing with...rich sexuality...An erotic ride."-Shadowdance

My Comments:
This is a continuation of the Mina Harker story that began in Mina: The Dracula Story Continues. The story begins where the previous ends with Mina in Paris writing to Jonathan about a reconciliation when she receives news of an inheritance, and a sizable one at that. I find the story an interesting interpretation about a Victorian woman whose independence is pursued in societal times when women were seen and not heard. For Mina to be so bold as to maintain her own household away from her husband and pursue her charitable work is really unheard of.

This book is a side-by-side story of Mina and Jonathan, but also about Joanna, Dracula's sister. We find Dracula's sister searching for her brother's killers only to find that being released from her brother's control that she can pursue her own life. The excitement is found in reading about what she chooses. Does she choose to live among humans and love and care for them just the same? Or become a ruthless killer and evil pursuer like her sister in-law and sometimes her brother, Dracula.

The author folds in true historical characters as Oscar Wilde and Jack The Ripper. The author includes Jack The Ripper to challenge the reader to determine if the murders are really the work of Joanna or The Ripper himself...and who is The Ripper?

I am surprised though by the amount of edit errors in this book. They weren't so severe that I couldn't figure out what the author meant to write, but the author should be paid a bonus for the editors poor work.

Mina by Marie Kiraly

Author: Marie Kiraly
Publish Date: December 4, 2007
Website: http: http://www.elainebergstrom.com/ (Written under the pen name of Marie Kiraly)
ISBN: 9780425217467
List Price: $3.99
My Rating: 4 out of 5

Jacket synopsis:

The chilling and erotic tale of Mina Harker, sole survivor of the vampire's obsession.

My Comments:
The story is a continuation of the original story of Dracula by Bram Stoker. It is from Mina Harker's point of view just after she has been seduced and bitten by Dracula. It chronicles the search and chase of Dracula by Mina, Van Helsing, Jonathan Harker, Dr. Seward, Arthur, and Quincey. Mina details in her diary the chase, the demise, and their return to ordinary life.

Although upon their return to England, Mina cannot shake her connection to Dracula, though he is believed dead, nor her vivid, frightening dreams. She questions her ability & desire to fulfill an expectation of carrying on the facade of a happy Victorian marriage. Mina cannot escape the dreaded reactions to blood and sensual desires triggered by the vampire blood inside of her. During her adventure and escape from Dracula's castle, Mina stumbled upon a diary kept by one of Dracula's three wives. This diary also becomes an obsession of Mina's because it has to be translated. She must know the intimate details of 100 year old diary and how it may provide answers for her future.

Through all this Mina endures murder, adultery, a stint in an asylum, and her journey back to Dracula's castle to confront what she may become.

The author has done a great job of continuing the voice of Mina Harker from Bram Stoker's Dracula. The characters are so vivid that you cannot help but be drawn into the story. I thought this was an exciting and well written read. There were a few edit errors, but I enjoyed the story. I am curious to see where Mina's story goes, so I will be reading the sequel to this book Blood to Blood (Dracula Continues, #2) under Elaine Bergstrom.