PLEASE NOTE: The contest has ended. The winner is MICHELLE FRY! Congrats to Michelle!
(you're still able to make comments, but you won't be entered in the drawing)
The release of The Bleeding Dusk is a month away–February 5. I'm very excited about it, because this book was amazingly fun to write and has been receiving fabulous reviews everywhere.
For those of you who have read the excerpt in the back of Rises the Night, you already know what happens in the very first scene of The Bleeding Dusk, and that Max is faced with an impossible decision.
So here's your chance to weigh in on your thoughts about Max: will he or won't he?
(If you haven't read the excerpt, you can go here to read it. Click on EXCERPT.)
Make your comment below before January 31, and I'll enter you in a drawing for an ARC of When Twilight Burns.
(The ARCs won't be available until later this spring/early summer.)
***Please note: there are spoilers for Rises the Night in both the excerpt and in the comments below. Also, if you've received an ARC of Dusk, please don't participate, for fear of spoilerage. Thanks so much.***
The second installment of the Gardella Vampire Chronicles takes Victoria to Venice and Rome.
My novel, 
January 5th, 2008 at 1:04 am
Hmm…I personally think that he’ll redeem himself…somehow.
I remember reading the excerpt and thinking “That Colleen is evil.” 
Choices, choices, choices. I have a feeling Max will choose to do what seems wrong at the beginning, but Victoria will find out he did it either to save her or something. I still think they’ll end up together…just my 2 cents.
January 5th, 2008 at 1:54 am
NOOO they can’t end up together…I mean,er,um…oy, thought about this alot. I too had the “evil Colleen” thought. Besides the selfish desire for Max to lose all his memories to allow Sebastian an uninterrupted “in” I had the thought that Max gets turned and becomes the next big bad. Wow…didn’t think I had it in for Max…um go Max whatever he decides…(death to max make room for Sebastian! *ooh did I say that out loud?*)
January 5th, 2008 at 1:47 pm
Oh, wow that’s a tough one !
I think that Max will choose to keep his Venator powers & look for another way to get out of Lilith’s thrall.
This is one of those decisions that. there isn’t a right or a wrong one. You jusy have to choose what’s best for you.
Can’t wait for the book !!
January 5th, 2008 at 9:18 pm
Victoria belongs to Sebastian. End of story!
January 5th, 2008 at 10:10 pm
here here Janet! hee hee hee
January 6th, 2008 at 3:00 pm
I’m not quite sure. I think he won’t, and I have no particular reason for that thought. You are evil though. That’s a wonderfully awful situation to put him in.
January 6th, 2008 at 5:44 pm
Colleen you are such a tease!! I personally don’t think Max will give it up. He has too many reasons to stay a Venator. He had wanted to die in Rome, but I think while he is alive he will do all he can to kill the vamps!!
January 7th, 2008 at 12:39 pm
I personally don’t think he will give up. Max is stronger than that, in my opinion. But I’m going crazy waiting to find out!
January 7th, 2008 at 3:14 pm
I don’t think Max will choose to give up his powers. While I don’t think it will be an easy decision, I do believe that he will decide the best way to carry on the fight is to keep his Venator powers. Honestly, how could someone come so far and give up at the most difficult hurdle (not discounting the slaying of Eustacia). Besides, if he’s panting after Lillith, it leaves the field clear for Sebastian
January 7th, 2008 at 5:33 pm
Am I the only one who thinks Max and Victoria should wind up together? I think Max will Keep his Venator Powers, but that Victoria will learn of the Thrall and it’s Cure, and get it for him, but he tricks her into thinking he used it, but doesn’t.
January 8th, 2008 at 4:14 pm
I think that a forgotten detail is that max has a vis bulla (victoria’s?) on him when he visits lillith. Will her salve make him lose his powers wearing someone else’s vis bulla? He gave his to victoria at the end of rises the night and yet he’s wearing one now. I think he’ll take the chance to be free of Lilith in order to help defeat her in the end.
January 8th, 2008 at 7:39 pm
This is a totally tough one for me. I keep changing my mind from one minute to the next. Before I started typing I thought that Max should give up and yet, now I think he should keep his Venator powers. AAHHHH! I guess that’s why I read so much sometimes… I love the details in a really great book. I can’t wait to see what happens next.
January 8th, 2008 at 10:44 pm
I think that Max will stay a Venator, and help Victoria, and he will use his knowlege against Lilth and him and Victoria will end up killing her. Victoria wants to anyways, she killed her husband, so I beileve her and max will join forces against her.
January 9th, 2008 at 10:21 am
Max’s sense of honer :cough:and his TOTAL love for Victoria:cough: won’t allow him to give up being a Venator. No way!
January 9th, 2008 at 10:57 am
No! He absolutely won’t give it up! No way. To me, there is no other option.
And I still think he and Victoria belong together!
January 9th, 2008 at 7:01 pm
Oh this is so hard! I really think they can overcome anything, their love can. But I want him to stay too!
Gosh, this is tugging me! I’m gonna have to re-read so that I can make up my mind before the release, not that it will help, LOL. You are a meany, but lub u, LOL!
January 9th, 2008 at 8:14 pm
Wow. I just noticed I spelled honor wrong. Seriously. I can spell.
No really.
January 10th, 2008 at 2:52 pm
As much as I hate it, I’m leaning towards Max going back to the venators. If I was going by what I hoped would happen then Max would align himself with Lillith and become a total baddie. But alas, I don’t see that happening. Just as long as he stays out of Victoria and Sebastian’s way I don’t care. LOL!
January 10th, 2008 at 4:07 pm
Hmmmm. I think Max will drink the potion and lose his memories and powers but, he’ll write himself a letter before he drinks the potion that tells him everything he’s about to forget. Of course, the letter will get blown away in the wind leaving only a piece with Victoria’s name on it. Trying to catch the flying papers, he’ll drop the potion after drinking only half of it.
He’ll seek out Victoria, knowing only her name. Without his cares and responsibilities, Max is a friendly, party-loving kind of guy and she immediately falls for him. He’ll also meet Sebastian, and despite their rivalry for Vic’s affection, the two will become best friends. His powers and memories will slowly return over the course of the book (cause he only drank part of the potion) but he’ll be free of Lilith’s thrall and begin a quest to destroy her.
January 11th, 2008 at 5:34 pm
I have a feeling that Max will choose the good side. He’ll go back to Victoria, asking for forgiveness. I believe that he’ll do anything to make up for what he has done to her aunt. I think that because I believe, after reading the first two books, that he has a deep love for Victoria. When Victoria was going to marry Rockley, I had a deep feeling that Max was a bit jealouss. When he found out that they “broke” their engagement, he seemed a bit to happy. But when he recieved the invitation, he was furious. Thats just my opinion, I could be wrong. I cant wait till the new book comes out, I have it on order from Barnes and Nobles.
January 11th, 2008 at 10:41 pm
I just can’t imagine Max not remaining a Venator - especially with his past, and all that he went through in the last year. I believe he is too strong to succumb to Lilith. Deep down I am hoping that Max and Victoria will end up together(not that in the meantime I have a problem when she heats it up with Sebastian.) I look forward to getting a closer look at Max’s character. In the meantime I think I will re-read the first two books. February 5th just can’t come soon enough!!! Maybe I will even take a “mental health” day from work and devour the book that day!!!
January 13th, 2008 at 12:46 am
I don’t think Max will choose to forget the vampires or his venator duties. I really think that he hates Lilith and would want to see her downfall. Plus, if he chooses ignorence he will have to forget Victoria and personally I think he has a big crush on her.
January 13th, 2008 at 5:33 pm
Max is definately not leaving. He’s too critical to the stroy line. He’s gonna be oppsite Sebastian fighting for Victoria. I personally want Sebastian to wwin but either way: MAX CANT WALK AWAY FROM HER.
January 15th, 2008 at 7:51 pm
Max will keep his venator powers. Victoria and Max will become a unit and together will succeed.
January 18th, 2008 at 1:50 pm
I haven’t read the series yet because I tend to wait until I have all the books before reading. But in reading the sneak peek, I agree that Max will choose to keep his Venator powers and look for another way to thwart Lilith’s hold on him.
January 18th, 2008 at 8:37 pm
Wow - how can you wait until the whole series is out?!? I started re-reading “The Rest Falls Away” and am really enjoying it again(duh!!!) I’m taking my time - last fall I read about 30 vampire romances and just couldn’t get through them fast enough - so this time I’m taking it all in and loving it!!!
January 20th, 2008 at 9:39 pm
Colleen-You could make it easier for all of us and just have a Victoria, Sebastian, Max sandwich.
We’d all win in the end. he-he
January 20th, 2008 at 10:34 pm
please enter me
January 21st, 2008 at 2:48 am
A part of me wants Max to stay tied to her and come up with some great plan to end her once and for all. But, another part of me wants him to ge able to forget and then Victoria find him and make him remember..lol..I can’t wait to find out though!
January 21st, 2008 at 2:50 am
Although! That “sandwich” idea ain’t to bad. haha!
January 21st, 2008 at 10:19 am
Yeah…I like the sandwich idea!
I find myself pondering in the back of my mind about Max aligning with Lilith…but I don’t think he would do it without an alterior motive…but that’s a lot like what he was doing for the last year in the previous story…I’m getting anxious! Thank goodness Feb. 5th is just around the corner!
January 21st, 2008 at 2:14 pm
I must say I do love that cover and it really sounds like a great read. Look forward to checking this out when it comes out.
January 21st, 2008 at 6:32 pm
I think he won’t.
January 21st, 2008 at 9:45 pm
I think that Max will choose to keep his Venator powers and his memories. While he definitely wants to be rid of Lilith and the control that she has over him, I don’t believe that he is willing or able to let go of Victoria.
January 22nd, 2008 at 10:41 am
Havent read these books and from the excerpt it’s really hard to form an opinion. So maybe I should get the books and check out whats going on eh.
January 22nd, 2008 at 10:55 am
Here here Sherry. I think that Max will keep his Venator powers. Though Sebastian is a nice piece of eye candy for Victoria, Max is that soul mate that Victoria craves in a man. Max and Victoria have a very deep, strong bond and a common goal in life. Sebastian on the other hand is shallower and only looks at what he will get out of something. I feel that Max will return to the Venators because of his feelings for Victoria and despite what he knows will await him in regards to Lilith.
January 22nd, 2008 at 10:58 am
I believe he will get his way - to satisfy both their curosity!
January 22nd, 2008 at 11:01 am
From reading the excerpt it sounds like a very good book. I think Max will choose to keep his Venator powers.
January 22nd, 2008 at 11:31 am
Oh… This is a tough one. Logically, I think that Max would want to remain a venator but I think Colleen has something up her sleeve, otherwise she wouldn’t ask.
Still, I can’t imagine that Max would give up because it was harder for him to become a venator in the first place. Ok…I say Max will stay under Lillith’s thrall and continue to be a venator. I am probably wrong but what the heck 1
January 22nd, 2008 at 11:42 am
I think Max will chose to remain a Venator, seeing as it’s the only life he knows. Plus, Lilith’s offer seems too easy and understanding. But, for some reason, Lilith doesn’t strike me as the caring type.
January 22nd, 2008 at 11:49 am
I think Max will stay a Venator
January 22nd, 2008 at 11:50 am
Max will keep his powers. He is an intrical part of the story and has to remain. He uses the salve, and because he is wearing Victoria’s vis bulla, he only looses part of his memory and goes on to fight the vamps another day!
January 22nd, 2008 at 11:56 am
I think Max will redeem himself.
January 22nd, 2008 at 11:57 am
Max, Max, Max. What choices! To be free at last of the evil that has gripped you for so long; to be free of the nightmare and at long last to slip into blissful oblivion; what temptation that must be. But to give up the fight in which you so long have endored; to give up Victoria; to give up the chance of vanquishing such evil yourself? No, Max, that is not in your nature. You will fight on, somehow …
January 22nd, 2008 at 2:03 pm
I think Max will stay a Venator and end up with Victoria in the end. He is just being “macho”, there has to be some softness in him!
January 22nd, 2008 at 2:28 pm
I just don’t know, the author keeps surprising me. Which is a good thing! I like Max but he has been through a lot, and even though Max and Victoria make a good team I’m not sure they belong together. I will have to wait and see….
January 22nd, 2008 at 4:00 pm
I’m kind of tempted to go against the flow and say that Max will agree to give up his Venator powers, but I honestly don’t think so. He’ll be tempted, but I don’t think his ego will let him.
January 22nd, 2008 at 4:08 pm
Never-never-never!
January 22nd, 2008 at 5:02 pm
This is a very sneaky of Lilith, releasing him, but with conditions. I agree with Linda, I think that Max will choose to keep his Venator powers and will somehow try to find another way to get out of Lilith’s thrall.
January 22nd, 2008 at 5:28 pm
I don’t think he will give up his powers. It goes against everything he belives in. I’m pretty sure that he will stay in the fight.
January 22nd, 2008 at 9:11 pm
I just can’t see Max giving up his memories and venator powers. I think he will find another way to fight Lilith’s thrall.
January 22nd, 2008 at 10:00 pm
I would like for Max to keep the venator powers and find another way to remove Lilith’s thrall. I really want Max and Victoria to get together but I do like the tension Sebastian brings. Colleen- has thrown curves in the past and I can’t wait to read the next ones.
January 22nd, 2008 at 11:34 pm
I think Max’s senses of duty and loyalty are too strong to give up his powers. He explains to Victoria how much greater the cause is than one individual, and he certainly demonstrates that when he is forced to kill Eustacia, his friend and mentor. Besides, he and Victoria can always work on killing Lilith, right?
January 23rd, 2008 at 1:28 am
Hmm. Max has always been such a tough character I can’t see why he would break now and give up his powers and memories. But maybe his will does break and he wimps out and decides he can no longer stand the burden of Lillith and what he did to Eustacia and the hatred from Victoria. (because he totally loves her) he looses his powers , and then i throw the book angrily across the room only to pick it back up to eagerly find out what plot twist will give him his powers back so he can end up with victoria happily ever after (sometime in book 7)
January 23rd, 2008 at 3:37 am
I believe he will chose the vis bulla and Lilith. He does not want to give up his powers and he still wants to be s Venator.
January 23rd, 2008 at 8:21 am
I also think he does’t want to give up his powers.
January 23rd, 2008 at 3:49 pm
I think he will continue having his powers but find some way of getting out of Lillith’s control. He’s been able to get out of everything so far.
January 24th, 2008 at 2:29 pm
Can he choose to become a normal human and then undergo the venator trials again? That way he can be free of Lilith and still have a vis bullae. I don’t think Max would give up his powers without at least some plan to get them back.
January 24th, 2008 at 8:49 pm
I think he will walk a tightrope and take his chances. He will not leave the Venators, so he will keep Lilith’s bites and try foir another solution.
January 24th, 2008 at 11:20 pm
WOW…Everyone has such great thoughts on the events to be layed out before us…Though painstakingly slooow…Max, I beleive will end up xactly where he should be (as a venator w/ his vis bulla) regardless of his choice…As for him and Victoria together, I am all for…Only if their relationship lends the same breathtaking passion that Sebastion’s does…Hummm…What a man on paper can do for a gal…
Cant wait…
January 25th, 2008 at 11:22 am
I think that Max will keep his venator powers and Lillith because he won’t want to forget about Victoria. Since Lillith says he will forget about everything including her, his time as venator. His love for Victoria will keep him under Lillith’s Thrall. Plus, he will be driven to eventually try to get Victoria to understand why he had to do what he had to do in order to destroy the Akvan’s obelisk. SO my prediction is definately that he will keep his powers and stay under Lillith’s Thrall.
January 28th, 2008 at 10:49 pm
Hmm…
Okay, so here’s what I think might happen. I think Max will keep his Venator powers and either kill or injure Lilith in a way that breaks their bond. I dunno, I just can’t see Max giving up his Venator status, even if Lilith does keep her hold on him. Who knows though… I can’t wait to read this book.
January 28th, 2008 at 10:51 pm
I think it will be a very hard choice but in the end I think he will keep his powers so he can continue to help Victoria and perhaps win her trust again. Also He would want revenge on Lilith and to do that he would have to be a Venator. I can’t wait to read it! I’m so excited!
January 29th, 2008 at 4:01 am
I think Max will not want to give up his memories and power even though it keeps him bound to Lilith. What a decision to have to make.
January 29th, 2008 at 9:43 am
I think that he’s going to take Lilith up on her offer… but that Victoria will need his help and will find a way to reawaken his memories!
I am a Max fan through and through! You guys can have Sebastian and his golden glamour! Max is the type to swing through the jungle with nothing but a knife clenched between his teeth to get the job done!!! Hehe!
January 29th, 2008 at 2:37 pm
I swear I answered this. I think he… WON’T. But then he will. LOL See, ever since I read that section I’ve been pondering this. I mean, obviously he will appear to do what Lilith wants. I almost think it will be a little like Snape in HP where he was a double agent of sorts. Voldemort thought he was working for him and Dumbledore was sure, until the very end, that Snape was good.
January 29th, 2008 at 5:29 pm
I think he will go along with Lilith and what he wants and Victoria will in some way, knowingly or not, help him out of it.
Or if he does get rid of his memories he will end up teaming with Victoria somehow and for something.
That’s what I think. Now my thoughts and hopes /might/ be intertwining, but hey, I love these books and MAX IS MY FAVORITE!
January 30th, 2008 at 12:37 am
I think Max will leave himself clues like objects and fake letters with clues in them; so he can drink the potion. I suspect Lilith is ling about him losing the ability to be a Venator will disappear; I think he believes that too, so he will take the potion. I also think Max and Victoria will fall in love.
January 30th, 2008 at 8:39 pm
I don’t think he will give it up, he just has to play the game a little better
February 1st, 2008 at 10:27 am
Max will stay a venator and give Victoria the knowledge she needs to destroy Lilith which will free Max from her thrall.
I still love the chemistry between Sebastian and Victoria (don’t we all want that in our love life) but the idea of Max being her soulmate with their common goal against the vampires excites me too.
AAARRGGHH!!!!
p.s. I just read the 2nd book in December and oh how delicious it was….it can not wait until Feb 5th. Alas, it will be Mardi Gras in NOLA and I’m not sure if Barnes and Nobles will be open. May be I should pre-order it onlne???