I was going to skip this book and sink right into this side of the grave with cat and bones ( im REALLY addicted to the series)I so glad i didn't!!!This book had me caught up in their world just as much as cat and bones!!besides the cover i loved all of it!!!

We finally get a chance to see more into the life of Bones best friend Spade, and Denise, Cat’s best friend. I loved reading about Spade. I quite enjoyed this book. This instalment finds Denise and her family being threatened by a Demon all because of a bad decision made by one of her relatives many years ago. Not being able to contact Cat or Bones Denise calls on Spade. Spade also not wanting to interrupt the peace Bones and Cat are finally enjoying steps up to help. Spade is wonderful, classy and old fashion. He is the knight in shining armour type of guy. Denise is a simple human not wanting to be a part of the paranormal world in any way after losing her husband to it in a very gruesome manor. Spade tries to help Denise find her relative Nathaniel who made a promise to a Demon and then reneged after realizing what a mistake that was. Spade tries to protect Denise from the Demon Raum who has forced her to find Nathaniel or forever carry the brands of a Demon and become a shape shifting Demon herself. There is plenty of action to keep you occupied in this series and although it had a different feel to it then the Cat and Bones portions of the Night Huntress Series it’s still quite good. We also get to add a new being into the mix for future Cat and Bones books. And for anyone hoping to get their Cat and Bones fix from this book they certainly make an appearance albeit a short one. So not necessarily as good as Cat and Bones but still a good read.

Let’s start off by saying this should be counted as book one of a spin off series from the author Jeaniene Frost ever popular Night Huntress series. So no, this is not about our main heroes Cat and Bones so deal with it...LOL. Worst thing to do would be to compare the main leads with the dynamic duo. So simply take each new book as separate but having roots in the Night Huntress world and I’m sure you’ll enjoy these much better. The pattern seems that each book will be about secondary characters that we enjoyed reading about in the other instalments. It’s a great idea and Frost has kept the same style of writing that makes you love Cat and Bones so much. So humour, action, drama and of course some very hot, lose your pants moments are all on the agenda. Wow...that Jeaniene can write some sizzling sex scenes. These are nowhere near erotica but let’s just say you won’t be reading these as fairy tales either. So they should be suggested to a certain mature reading audience. Our two main characters in First Drop of Crimson are Denise Crawfield and Spade. I won’t bother with his real name since everyone knows him as such. Denise is of course Cat Crawfield’s best friend and contrary to the other players is simply human. So no biting, flying or head chopping fighting for her. I find that some people might find her boring when we compare her to the others in the series but personally I find her a very down to earth, interesting and solid person. After all she’s been through I find her anything but whiney but that’s my opinion. If your heroine has to be of the slice and dice type then yep, she might not be your cup of tea. Next of course we have Spade, and what a great character. I could simply describe him as Bone’s with class, in other words he will open the door for a woman while ripping off some evil person’s head in the process. A great combination of a deadly killer mixed with finesse. So combine our two characters together and you got yourself a recipe for a whole lot of sexual tension which finally boils down to a whole lot of release also. As a couple they really go hand in hand or in this case hand in claw but that’s something you’re going to have to read about. Of course we also get a great secondary cast of players from Cat and Bones to Ian and even Mencheres comes in for a cameo to prepare ourselves for the next in the series. Basic storyline for this one is that one of Denise’s ancestor called Nathanial has broken a deal with a sulphur smelling...yuck...demon shape shifter called Raum and he his blackmailing her into finding him and turning him over for payback. The stakes are quite high since if she can’t find Nathaniel then Raum will simply kill her family and I do mean all of her family plus as an added bonus will actually turn her into a demon. This guy isn’t up for an award for Mr. Nice Demon of the year. So she calls on someone from her past to help her and yes, you guessed it that of course is Master vampire Spade. Now for different reasons neither Spade nor Denise can call on Cat and Bones for their immediate help. In other words, this is their story and the others must now be secondary characters. So lots of action and not too many relaxing moments for our new couple make for great nonstop reading material. As I mentioned before simply don’t compare the characters to either Cat or Bones and your good to go. I myself don’t want to read about different characters that are simply a carbon copy of others no matter how much I like the originals. These new players add a new dimension to that great imaginary place known as The Night Huntress world. So I give this new story a big four star rating and can’t wait to read more on other characters of the series. P.S...I like Cat and Bones more.

I did enjoy this book enough, but it is really hard not to compare it to cat and Bones. One thing that kind of got on my nerves is how whiney Denise was at times. i am eager to see what Mancheres has in store for us in her next book :)

I bought this book as soon as it came out in February 2010 but shelved it until May 2010. Because I had planned to bring in on vacation with me on May 14th. I decided to start it on May 1st thinking there was no way I'd finish before I left for my trip...boy was I wrong. I couldn't put it down. Jeaniene Frost's books tantalize the senses and are chalk full of delectable moments of passion between a heroine you want to cheer for and a deadly hero you wish was real.

Unlike the rest of the books in the series, this book was not about Cat or her vampire husband Bones. This was Spade’s story. Spade is the best friend of Bones who has had a tough life. While Cat and Bones are on a well deserved vacation, Spade gets a frantic call from Cat’s best friend Denise. Apparently a long time ago one of her relatives made a deal with a demon. Well that deal comes with a price. Now because certain debts were not paid the demon has come to Denise and forces her to help him. If she doesn’t help find her deal making relative then the rest of her family will pay the price. Like the rest of the books written by Frost, this was another winner. It was nice to see who Spade really was and to see to damaged hearts coming together to heal.

Loved this latest installment of the Cat and Bones series by Jeanine Frost, although admittedly Cat and Bones show up for maybe a chapter or two. This story largely focuses on Cat's best friend, Denise and her life after she leaves the main circle of characters in the series. Nothing overtly spectacular about this story. I enjoy Denise as a character, and I believe her story was well written. Demons vs vampires people! What's not to love? And of course a damsel in distress who finds her knight in shining armor in the end. What I enjoy most though is the concept that Jeanine Frost is going for. Whereas most authors introduce characters to carry on the series, or pick on popular character to create a new spin off series, Jeanine is not doing that. Instead she is taking a few characters and creating one story for them. So instead of having a multitude of spin offs or a series that might carry on past the point of interest, Jeanine is taking advantage of the best of both words. Giving us a little more info on the characters we enjoy, and not killing us or herself with spin offs. Brilliance.

Denise is still in morning over her husband's death when a secret from her families past has left her marked by a Demon shape shifter. If she doesn't find what the Demon is looking for she will slowly turn into a monster herself. Left with no alternatives, she asks for the help of a Vampire acquaintance, Spade. Spade is a powerful vampire who has no use for humans except to fulfill his needs. Out of a sense of obligation he agrees to help her. As the two spend more time together, Spade feelings towards Denise become lustful and possessive, while Denise is torn between fearing and falling for her charming rescuer. First Drop Of Crimson is Jeaniene Frost's first spin off novel in the Night Huntress series and it surpassed my expectations. The heat between Denise and Spade lives up to the standard set by Frost's previous novel with sex, romance, and a suspenseful plot. Loved it and can't wait for the next in the series

Awesome spin-off novel to the Night Huntress series! Denise is in trouble. A demon is gunning after her family since her ancestor made a deal with him for power but did not repay him in return. Now with Cat and Bones gone she can only turn to one person, Spade. Spade felt an immediate connection to Denise at Cat’s party but once finding out she was married he moved on. Now with Denise alone, Spade is planning to win over her heart while protecting her from a demon until they can find her relative to return him to the demon for payment. This book is an excellent filler to the series and keeps you occupied until the next Night Huntress book that comes out featuring Cat and Bones.

First drop of crimson is the first book in a spinoff series by jeaniene frost. These are characters taken from the nighthuntress series but they definetely hold there own in this first book. Denise MacGregor knows very well what lurks in the shadows after dusk, after all her best friend cat is a half vampire and her husband bones aka yummy god is a full vampire. Denise was also married to a vampire named randy who was killed tragically a year before. What denise doesn't know is that there is a demon shapeshifter around and his eyes are set on her, but not in the gooey way. Denise finds out that one of her antcestors holds a dark secret, one that will and has cost her family. Nathanial, the decendant made a deal with the demon raum for his immortality in exchange for his services, except nathanial never fulfilled his end of the deal, so now it's up to denise to either find nathanial and bring him to raum or suffer a horriable fate. Denise doesn't want to bother cat and bones because she knows that they will drop everything and fight to the death for her, but after the last battle they need their peace and time alone. So who does she call? Spade, the bad boy vampire who is bones best friend. Denise explains to spade what's going on and he agrees to help, but when he arrives at her home ,smells demon and finds her in a compromising position things change and sparks start to fly. During the hunt for nathanial, cat and bones become involved as well as some other characters we know and love/hate? and together they fight the vampires and demon to rescue nate and restore denises familys safety. I'm trying not to put any spoilers in here so this might not make too much sense but please it you are a fan of cat and bones and frost's writting style then I urge you to read this book. It's a comedy, romance and hot passion plus a great story, what more could you ask for all you paranormal fans??? 2010-022