RIVER ROAD the beginning

The story of the Gruel family comes to light in the year 2006 when Ron Slater, who had recently been recruited by Seth Gruel to become the new CEO of his company, meets Denise, Seth's personal secretary. She recounts the entire history of the Gruel family to Ron, but not without dire consequences.

Denise begins by telling Ron about the family patriarch, Count Von Gruel, who was turned into a vampire when he was a young man over 250 years ago. He then turned his two sons into vampires. The Count's youngest son, Fredric, only wanted to live his life as a mortal and was disgusted by his desire for human blood. He experiments until he discovers a blood substitute.

The story details Fredric's exile from Romania, his meeting the beautiful Leona in London, the murders he committed and his deceitfulness to Leona in an attempt to lead a normal life. After the birth of their son Seth they journey to America to begin a new life while building a wine dynasty.

This story will take the reader on a wild ride of murder, deceit, love and betrayal throughout this family's turbulent past.