Thirsty by Tracey Bateman

There's no place like home, they say.

"Hello, I'm Nina Parker…and I'm an alcoholic."

For Nina, it's not the weighty admission but the first steps toward recovery that prove most difficult. She must face her ex-husband, Hunt, with little hope of making amends, and try to rebuild a relationship with her angry teenage daughter, Meagan. Hardest of all, she is forced to return to Abbey Hills, Missouri, the hometown she abruptly abandoned nearly two decades earlier–and her unexpected arrival in the sleepy Ozark town catches the attention of someone–or something–igniting a two-hundred-fifty-year-old desire that rages like a wildfire.

Unaware of the darkness stalking her, Nina is confronted with a series of events that threaten to unhinge her sobriety. Her daughter wants to spend time with the parents Nina left behind. A terrifying event that has haunted Nina for almost twenty years begins to surface. And an alluring neighbor initiates an unusual friendship with Nina, but is Markus truly a kindred spirit or a man guarding dangerous secrets?

As everything she loves hangs in the balance, will Nina's feeble grasp on her demons be broken, leaving her powerless against the thirst? The battle between redemption and obsession unfold to its startling, unforgettable end. [borrowed from GoodReads.com]

I agreed to review this book because I was intrigued to see how vampires would fit into a Christian novel. And although the vampire subplot was well done, Nina's struggle with substance abuse was just so much more gripping. Thirsty is a compelling story of how substance abuse can wreck a family, but with strength, love and the will to overcome this addiction, one can be a better person in the end. Ms. Bateman's characters are so real and full of life. You feel as if their struggle is yours, as if Nina can be someone you know, even a friend.

I was taken in from the first page and read the whole thing through (late into the night). I also loved the title - I thought it was so fitting. There is some violence - but it is definitely not overly done nor overpowering to the story and although it is classified as Christian Fiction, it is not preachy. Thirsty is perfect all around. It is fast-paced, has wonderful characters, suspenseful and even has a paranormal twist thrown in for good measure. I really enjoyed it and I'm sure readers of the genre will too.

This book was provided for review by the WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group.

GIVEAWAY: 2 copies are up for grabs.

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Rules: This contest is open internationally. Winners will be drawn Saturday, December 5.