The Becoming (The Anna Strong Chronicles, Book 1)

I haven't read many Urban Vampire novels so I really don't have a 'ton' of books to compare it to but I have to say I will keep reading the series because I enjoyed it. The writing style is easy on the mind and the twists and turns in the plot keep me turning the pages. The story centers around Anna Strong, a one time teacher turned Bounty Hunter. She is in for quite a surprise that forever changes her life (or should I say non-life) after a hunt for a bail jumper has gone awry. She begins living in a world that has turned unbelievably 'ghoulish' and tries with all her might to keep a foot in both the world of her human life as well as the life she has been forced to take refuge in. In this first novel she begins to figure out what she is, as well as how to *be* what she now has become. The second book in this series is 'Blood Drive'. Blood Drive (The Anna Strong Chronicles, Book 2). When you are done with 'The Becoming' I'm sure you will want to check it out!

Anna Strong is a bounty hunter who, inadvertently, goes against a vampire. When trying to apprehend the vamp, he attacks. Of course, he meant to kill her but somehow Anna wound up drinking his blood and becoming a vampire herself. She doesn't realize it until the doctor at the hospital where she is taken tells her so. He becomes her mentor, so to speak, and her lover. She needs an ally since someone is trying to kill her, it seems. She's pulled over by a state trooper who is a vampire killer, but she escapes. Her home is burned down. David, her business partner and good friend, is kidnapped. Anna is determined to find him. What she finds surprises her and nearly gets her killed. I read a review of this book sometime back but for some reason I never bought it. That is, until I saw it at Charis when I was in Atlanta. I'm so glad that I did. The Becoming was fantastic! The story is fast paced with enough turns and tricks to keep the reader guessing. I am going to have to find the next of this series soon because I can't wait to find out what happens to Anna next.

The author's crisp writing style that dryly delivers some horrible news to her recently-converted to vampire heroine is a welcome addition to a genre that can be quite foolish and melodramatic. Her male leads are great stand-alone characters and the more you see them, the more compelling they become. This book encourages emotional investment by the readers and delivers a payoff that respects character and reader both. An absolute keeper and a new auto-buy author for me--can't wait to read her other books!

Anna Strong and her partner David are bail enforcement agents or bounty hunters as they are better known. One night David goes into a bar to find John Donaldson who skipped out on his bail bond. Donaldson is charged with embezzlement and there is no history that he is violent yet David is taking much too long to long to bring him to the car where Anna is waiting. Donaldson walks out of the bar and proceeds to attack Anna leaving her unconsciousness; she awakens in the hospital cared for by Dr. Avery. He tells her that Donaldson is a vampire and because they exchanged blood, she is becoming one too. Although she doesn't want to believe it, her fading reflection in the mirror, her telepathic abilities and her increased night vision convince her that she is indeed a vampire. In a short period of time she begins a liaison with Avery, searching for a kidnapped David and is almost killed by vampire hunters, The Revengers. Avery wants her to use mortals as food and turn her back on David, but she is determined to find him even if it means putting her unlife on the line. More serious in tone than Charlaine Harris's Sookie Stackhouse series and much less exotic than Anita Blake's tales by Laurel K. Hamilton yet readers will love this good vampire thriller that has so many surprise twists and plenty of action. There is some humor in THE BECOMING because an unknown being she dubs Casper communicates with Anna and helps her in dangerous situations. He is a great morale booster and readers will want to read more novels just to find out who her guardian angel is. Harriet Klausner

This was my second time reading this book and I enjoyed it just as much as the first time I read it! Anna Strong worked as a bounty hunter until one night things went awry and she wakes up in the hospital as a vampire. The doctor at the hospital, Dr. Avery, is also a vampire and he becomes Anna's mentor of sorts. Anna then faces one catastrophe after another, starting with being kidnapped, her home being destroyed by arson and then ending with the kidnapping of her business partner and friend, David. Anna realizes that someone is out to get her and she follows each trail, from Donaldson (the vampire who turned her), to the Revengers, to the vampire police chief, until she finds out who is behind all of it. This book has non-stop action as Anna learns what it means to be a vampire while trying to keep herself and her mortal friends alive. Highly recommended!