Demon's Kiss (Wings in the Night, Book 1) Review

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(More customer reviews)While Demon's Kiss has paranormal romance overtones it is very much a relationship driven ensemble piece that develops a very interesting group of characters and relationships.
Seth has been waiting all his life for something and has had visions of a woman, a woman who is somehow wrapped up in his destiny. When Sean is mugged, beaten and left for dead Sean readily accepts vampire Reaper's offer of immortality and even on the brink of death Sean realizes that at last he is on the road to fulfilling his purpose. Reaper former CIA assassin during life and now vampire rogue hunter has compelling reasons for shunning any relationship, but since Seth is the one Chosen with whom Reaper has an undeniable bond, Reaper cannot ignore his compulsion to protect Seth. In Shayne's vampire world this bond is not necessarily a romantic bond and Reaper's bond with Sean allows Sean to begin to crack the isolation that loner Reaper has maintained in life and death.
Sean is also the catalyst for cementing the ragtag group that begins to form around Reaper, much to Reaper's frustration. Initially the group is Sean, Reaper, Roxy and Topaz. Roxy, the only non-vampire, is a seer and powerful in her own right. Roxy is the voice of reason for the group and was previously Reaper's only friend and privy to his dark secret. Topaz is a socialite pampered princess on the surface but tough and smart underneath. Topaz hooks up with the group to seek vengeance on the vampire that stole her heart and her money. The remaining important characters are associated with the rogue group that Reaper hunts:Vixen - held captive by the group - is Sean's mystery woman. Vixen is both vampire and fox-shifter but alien in her thinking, almost more fox than woman even when in human form. Briar - beautiful, dark and cruel, is no longer able to feel her own pain and revels in inflicting it on others. And Jack - perpetual con-man, is the vampire who broke Topaz's heart. Jack is always running a scam, loyal only to himself, he never lets any one close to his heart.
It is very difficult to write a decent synopsis for Demon's Kiss because all seven main characters have distinct personalities and roles to play in the action. Shayne intertwines her characters and sets up their relationships, so that while you can see six of them starting to pair off, there are other friendships and other bonds developing between the group that are just as important. Shayne does a good job weaving her story with threads following various members of the ensemble, coming together, splitting off and reforming.
Demon's Kiss is not one of those series romances that focuses solely on a single couple as they take their romantic turn in the spotlight. While Sean & Vixen's is the only romance that runs full course here, there is a strong foundation laid for the past and future relationship between Topaz and Jack. Reaper is also such a strong character that there is no way to keep Reaper staying meekly in the background. The beginning of the complex relationship between Reaper and the evil Briar, whose soul is just as dark and damaged as Reaper's own, steals the spotlight at times. I look forward to seeing where both of those relationships go in the follow on books: Lover's Bite (May 2008 Jack & Topaz) and Angel's Pain (Oct 2008 Reaper & Briar).
Demon's Kiss is set in the same world as Shayne's popular Wings in the Night/Twilight Series (Rhiannon makes a brief appearance here) so check these out if you are looking for something to tide you over until May. Some of the older stories are being released as ebooks, Shayne's website has summaries and a `family tree' that shows the connections between books, she also has a movie trailer for Demon's Kiss by the same production company that does Christine Feehan's, the short one is fun and the longer one a bit hokey.
The Twilight Series Vampire Romance:
Wings in the Night Reissue contains:
Book 1 Twilight Phantasies - Eric & Tamara,
Book 2 Twilight Memories - Roland & Rhiannon,
Book 3 Twilight Illusions - Damian & Shannon
At TwilightReissue contains:
Book 5 Born in Twilight - Jameson and Angelic
Book 4 Beyond Twilight - Cuyler and Ramsey
Book 7 Twilight Hunger - Dante & Morgan,
Book 8 Embrace The Twilight - William & Sarafina,
Two By TwilightReissue contains:
Book 9 Run From Twilight Micheal & Mary
book 6 Twilight Vows - Donovan & Rachel
Book 10Edge Of Twilight Edge & Amber Lily
Book 11Blue Twilight - Lou & Maxie
Book 12 Prince Of Twilight - Vlad & Stormy


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Even by vampire standards, Reaper is a loner, and his current mission to destroy a gang of rogue bloodsuckers is definitely a one-vamp job. Then fate takes a hand, and before he knows it, he's surrounded by a ragtag crew of misfit helpers: the newbie, the princess, the shape-shifter and the human healer. Seth is new to immortality, but he's sharp and strong-and he'll risk anything for the rogues' strange female captive, a secretive creature he doesn't understand but feels compelled to save.Vixen is confused by the emotions that swirl through her at the sight of her impulsive hero. She only hopes the brutal Gregor and his bloodthirsty renegades will leave her alive long enough to explore them.Or will Reaper himself be the one to destroy them all?

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Bitten & Smitten (Immortality Bites, Book 1) Review

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(More customer reviews)This is one of those books with a plucky heroine of the underdog sort nabs the powerful, sophisticated, and drop dead gorgeous hero. I like these sorts of stories if the heroine is sufficiently plucky that I really root for her - but Sarah never struck me as being particularly extraordinary. She's a college dropout secretary of unexceptional looks who is a self-described bubblehead. But she doesn't have, say, the breezy, irreverant boldness of (Undead and... series) Betsy Taylor - a character who manages to wear her faults with panache.
Nor is she really all that bold - she's just very insistent about going to the vampire club that the hero, Thierry, owns, and insisting that she be allowed to talk to him. Every night something happens that causes her to swear she will never return, and every night there she is, standing at the door demanding to see Thierry.
We are led to believe that she has some sort of conversion - that she realizes that she used to be an airhead and has changed her ways and will now approach life with more soul and thoughtfulness. But since the book's timespan is probably no more than a week, I wasn't really convinced.
Thierry is a good enough cold, in-control, bottled up, and uber powerful vampire master. That's kind of the problem. He seems intelligent, mature, and calm - I couldn't figure out why he was bowled over by plucky, which is to say whiny, Sarah Dearly. Not only that, for a good chunk of the novel he is fighting his attraction to her, which consists of being really, really convincingly not interested in her, and kind of contemptuous of her.
It was an entertaining enough read, but I was ultimately too frustrated with the heroine to really empathize with her.

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Demon Blood (The Guardian Series) Review

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(More customer reviews)I'm always worried that I'll ruin the story for someone so...if you're reading reviews to decide whether to buy this book, my answer is yes. But even though the author has done her best to make it so new readers can jump in at any book, don't start with this one. My official position is...order all of them, lock yourself in an a/c'd bedroom for a week or two and read them in order. Why deprive yourself? You'll thank me later.
Ok, if you've read the book and you're here to see what fellow readers thought, read on.
I really enjoy the Guardian series and I was counting the days til I received my pre-ordered copy of Demon Blood. I devoured it within a day or so, and then went back to read it again to make sure my initial impressions still held. I found the book to be satisfying, although a little uneven. It's definitely not my fave book of the series, but I'd have trouble telling you which one is.
Lately my favorite parts of these books are actually the subplots. Taylor's struggle with Michael for control of her consciousness is both frightening and fascinating. And how can anyone help but love little Khavi with her yellow slicker (Demon Forged) and potatoes? She brings much needed comic relief to this particular book, but not enough. I was looking hard for Lilith (and Sir Pup!) in this one, and I was surprised to see they were left out. I would have appreciated some follow up describing how she was adjusting to demon-hating Irena leading the Guardians. I think there's potential for some real humor, conflict and growth there. I assumed Meljean gave Lilith the position she did so she can be worked into the majority of her books. Hopefully Demon Blood was just a fluke in that respect.
I'm not a huge Deacon fan. I can understand and sympathize as to why he is as angry and vengeful and miserable as he is, but realistically I dislike people who lack the self control to exhibit some poise or common decency towards others even while in pain. His treatment of Rosalia was crude and cruel at times, even as he hated himself for it. The story of him rescuing her way back in the day didnt do enough to balance his character; I could have used some additional evidence
to prove he was more than an emo jackass.
Maybe Rosalia's personality was too close to my own for me to adore her as much as I did Irena, Savi and Lilith. Although towards the end she came to the realization she deserved someone who would trust and respect her, I had a hard time watching her accept such callous treatment from Deacon and even the people in her life. That being said, her calculations and manipulations of others went beyond
what I was comfortable with. I really expected Deacon to have flipped out a little more upon discovering she was the driving force behind his vampire transformation - regardless of whether he ultimately made the decision or not.
I felt their romance was a bit frustrating and sometimes tedious. I really prefer when couples have to overcome "obstacles" rather than their own stupid selves to achieve their happily ever after. Because there wasn't really any looming, immediate threat on anyone (besides Michael gunning for Deacon through poor Taylor) the book revolved more around Deacon and Rosalia's tense interactions, making the subplots a welcome relief from the constant animosity and sexual tension.
The sex, as always, was great. And finally - the p-word! lol I will admit that when her inexperienced characters try to have sex, the awkwardness
is very real. Sometimes too real - but really, that's just good storytelling. It would have been interesting to play up Rosalia's virginity more. (I'm assuming she
was, although it was never said explicitly.) That could have been a much needed point of tenderness and revelation between the characters.
The editing needs improvement. I think Meljean is brilliant and creative and funny, but someone needs to let her know when she's written a 57 word sentence that's so convuluted the meaning is lost. (p106) Furthermore, it's easy to lose track of who's saying what during extensive dialogue. (Guys, I'm not a rocket scientist, but I swear I'm not a complete idiot...) I love these books and I read them meticulously. I highly doubt her proofreader is paying closer attention than I am.
I have a feeling so many people have complained about her "showing" rather than "telling" that the author made an extra effort to address this tendency and ended up with some obvious and unecessary statements that really ruin the mood and flow of the scene. Other times the complexity of what's occuring could really
use a few clarifying lines. As talented a storyteller as she is, her editor/publisher needs to step up their game to make sure her final product does her abilities justice. It's frustrating to have to re-read paragraphs to figure out what's going on.
All in all, I really did like the book though I know my review is a tad critical. The plot itself was fascinating and I'm so excited for the next installment.
* Also, if the author reads these: I'm sorry if referring to you as "Meljean" offends you. "Ms. Brook" just seems really stiff and formal. Also, I adore you. Never stop writing! Kthnxbai.


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Real Vampires Don't Diet (Glory St. Claire, Book 4) Review

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(More customer reviews)If you are new to the REAL VAMPIRE books, witty dialogue, fascinating snippets of history and a captivating cast of characters are just a few of the reasons all four books are a must read! Each stands alone, but read one and you'll be hooked.
If you are already a Glory fan, REAL VAMPIRES DON'T DIET is populated with familiar friends and foes while adding a sinister new villain with the ability to freeze victims into living statues.
When a family emergency forces Glory's boyfriend, Blade, to fly off to Europe on New Year's Eve, she expects to spend a quiet evening watching chick flicks. A phone call from pop star Ray Caine, a newly turned vampire who Glory has taken under her wing, causes her to rush to his lake house, where a party is in full swing. Alcohol is like poison to vampires. Ray is feeling depressed and well on the way to being drunk when Glory arrives.
Needing a safe distraction, Glory agrees to go for a midnight boat ride with Ray. Unfortunately, their trip puts them in the path of a Siren who has been cursed by the Goddess of Night. To break the curse, the Siren must deliver three vampires to the Goddess. Fortunately, even Sirens swoon under the spell of Ray's love songs, which enables him to make a deal - Ray and Glory have until the next full moon to deliver three replacement vampires to the Siren or they will be sacrificed to the Goddess. WORSE, they are now forcibly compelled to answer the Siren's call. Regardless of what they are doing, how far away they go, day or night, when the Siren calls it is impossible for Glory and Ray not to respond.
With the clock ticking, Glory and Ray must pose as an engaged couple to fool an old enemy, the head of the Energy Vampires, with hopes of luring him and couple of his cohorts into the Siren's web. Energy Vampires are the "human" equivalent to drug pushers. Having three fewer on the streets of Austin would be a good thing and solve their problem. Only the fickle Goddess decides that one of the sacrificial vampires must be Casanova - the brother of Flo, Glory's friend and roommate. If the situation weren't bad enough, Glory never found the opportunity to tell Blade about the `pretend' engagement to Ray, and he returns from Europe to find Glory and Ray in a very compromising situation.
Will Glory find a way to satisfy the Siren's demands, save Flo's brother and win Blade's forgiveness? Don't miss this exciting and fun adventure with Glory St. Claire!


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Real readers love this series and its "vampire to die for"(Kimberly Raye, USA Today bestselling author of Dead End Dating)-from the author of Real Vampires Get Lucky. Gloriana St. Claire-curvy, stylish, and undead-is spending New Year's Eve alone. And it's all because her boyfriend, Jeremy Blade, is traipsing off to parts unknown to rescue his supposed daughter from the clutches of "dangerous radicals." But just as Glory settles in for the evening, a phone call from the bodyguard of a drunk, newly-undead rock star could end her year on a crazy note.

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Be Mine Tonight (The Brotherhood of Blood, Book 1) Review

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(More customer reviews)just got done reading Be Mine Tonight, and.. I really, truly loved it. A wonderful job all the way around - the characterizations were very three dimensional, not to mention that Pru Ryland is one of the best heroines I've ever read. Kathryn Smith's new take on vampire legend was very smart, unique and believable. I loved that Chapel didn't end up as that all-too-familiar vampiric hero stereotype. He was very vital, warm and alive, instead of being darkly brooding and menacing in the way I've come to expect from vampire fiction. As for the story itself, I don't want to give too much away I was asborbed every step of the way as the two main characters, Pru and Chapel, fell in love very convincingly without falling into cliches. I cried so hard through parts of this book that I've blocked my right ear, but it was a fabulous read. I'm usually a picky b*tch and not too many authors make it into my auto-buy list, but this one just did. I'm really looking forward to reading the rest of the books in this series, and hope they'll all be as wonderful as this one.

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I am called Chapel . . . For nearly six centuries I have roamed the night, a mortal man no longer. Would that I could undo the past -- when I entered the sanctuary of the Knights Templar to wrest from them the Holy Grail, only to discover the chalice I raised to my lips was not the sacred relic but a hellish cup of damnation. Now I shun the day and all things human, driven by an ungodly thirst. And yet... Never have I known a maiden the like of Prudence Ryland, whose beauty and spirit awaken a heart I feared long cold and dead. But her young life is slipping away, and she also seeks the deliverance of the Grail -- unaware that the cost of her search could be her soul. I must help Prudence, for in six hundred years, no other woman has stirred my passions so. But dare I tender to my beloved that which she most desires -- the sensuous "gift" of forever that is both rapture and a curse: my immortal kiss?

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The Vampire Queen's Servant (Vampire Queen, Book 1) Review

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(More customer reviews)Jacob Green has spent his life searching for purpose, but the day he saw Lady Elyssa Yamato Amaterasu Wentworth he knew he had found his destiny. He disregarded the fact that he was a vampire hunter and that he had no way of entering her world. Jacob would find a way to fulfill his destiny and spend his life serving Lady Lyssa. However, when his dream becomes reality, he finds that his life is now a constant struggle within himself: Jacob must renounce all he considers as "himself" and exist only as an extension to Lady Lyssa or he must walk away.
Lady Elyssa Yamato Amaterasu Wentworth is the last remaining vampire of royal blood. Her life is spent protecting herself from attacks from other vampires and keeping the façade of indifference to all the posturing of lesser vampires. The day she lets her guard down --even for a moment-- it could mean her death. However, these last years she has been fighting a foe that can't be defeated and must be faced alone, or so she thinks. When Jacob enters her world, Lady Lyssa has no idea how to take what he is clearly offering her; not without condemning Jacob to death. However, if Lady Lyssa does accept Jacob as her human servant, she must mold him to survive within the vampire world, something which might drive Jacob away form her.
When I was first offered this book for review I was delighted, as I had enjoyed books by Joey Hill in the past. The Vampire Queen's Servant is a book that is very well written and it evolves in the complex world of vampire society which is interesting in a horrifying way. However, I have to say that this book was difficult to for me to read for several reasons. The relationship that develops between Lady Lyssa and Jacob goes beyond your typical BDSM explored in mainstream erotica. In The Vampire Queen's Servant, we see Jacob struggle against becoming not much more than an obedient dog capable of performing complex tricks and providing sexual pleasure when Lady Lyssa demands. It also bothered me that rape was considered a spectator sport serving to arouse the watchers and physical torture (read broken bones and the like) was something utilized as easily as a hanky for no other purpose than proving who held the power. Jacob's thoughts at times seemed, to me, to reflect what we typically hear from abused spouses: it hurt, I don't like it, but I deserved it. I was completely unable to live the story from the character's perspective in order to understand their motivations. It was these things that made it very hard for me to care one way or another if Jacob and Lady Lyssa got a Happily Ever After. Also, the plot of the book moved so slowly that I found myself looking for reasons to put it down and at the same time I was desperate to finish it and therefore put myself out of my misery. I don't suggest that you pick up this book unless you are not squeamish and you enjoy extremely hardcore BDSM and senseless violence. The Vampire Queen's Servant is not a book for the faint of heart or those who enjoy fast paced books.

Sabella
Reviewed for Joyfully Reviewed

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Paranormal erotica from an award-winning author who stands out in a genre known for its out-of-the-ordinary love play." (Romance Studio) Lady Elyssa Yamato Amaterasu Wentworth is a centuries-old vampire who's been given a new servant-Jacob, a total alpha male unaccustomed to submitting to any woman's wishes. What really binds Jacob to her are not her sensual midnight hungers, but something far more provocative. It stirs her blood, renews her life, and awakens her soul like only true love can. The passion between Elyssa and Jacob yields something else unexpected-a shared history that reaches back through the centuries and is fated to challenge their destiny like nothing ever will again.

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Red-Headed Stepchild (Sabina Kane) Review

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(More customer reviews)Sabina Kane is half-vampire and half-mage. She has no true hold in either world, so she serves as an assassin for her grandmother and the Dominae; however, this role has never gained her anything but the deception of those she trusts and now she must decide what side she will take...
I learned a few things from Sabina Kane. Mostly I learned that even though an author says someone is a great assassin, said assassin may actually be completely inept and without a spine. Random example? Let's say the Great Assassin allows someone to sneak into their apartment, their own territory, and then shoot them through the heart. Even if the shooter is a demon--you've failed as an assassin and should be dead.
Okay, but miraculous survival saves the Great Assassin, one would think that Great Assassin would rip her attacker limb from limb ... Instead of offering them a place to stay.
And if the same demon/would-be-assassin starts using the Great Assassin's credit card and memorizes the number on it, then cancel the card or cancel the demon's life or kick his ass out of the apartment ... not just give a long-suffering sigh.
(Oh by the way, these aren't really spoilers, all this happens before page 50. And it's only the beginning of the very long trudge through silly writing and circumstances masked with angst towards the ending.)
Something just didn't quite work for me in RED-HEADED STEPCHILD. Maybe it was the frivolous writing, maybe it was the annoying Sabina Kane... Either way, not a book I'm recommending despite the gorgeous cover.
If you want a kick-ass mercenary heroine check out Ilona Andrews. At least Kate Daniels makes sense when she sets out to do something--and isn't utterly invincible, whiny, and "the chosen one" (heed this warning, by the next book of Wells I predict you'll be hearing that phrase more than once). Perhaps Wells will be improving with the next volume, but I won't be spending money on the sequel to find out.

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In a world where being of mixed-blood is a major liability, Sabina Kane has the only profession fit for an outcast: assassin. But, her latest mission threatens the fragile peace between the vampire and mage races and Sabina must scramble to figure out which side she's on. She's never brought her work home with her---until now. This time, it's personal.

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Eternal Hunger: Mark of the Vampire Review

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(More customer reviews)Here is the thing, I am an average, read for pleasure type of girl. Paranormal romance is my favorite genre. I am always looking for new authors to fill my fantasies. So, when I was introduced to Eternal Hunger, I curled up on the couch and gave it a go. I was intrigued with the new world, and new take on vampires that Laura has introduced with EH. I liked the whole plot in full, the villains even have a certain appeal. ( Yes, sometimes I root for the bad guy) I really liked the alpha-male hero Alexander and his strong on the outside, needy on the inside heroine Sara. I know it is a new series, and being that, I always take that into consideration. There are plenty of series that I follow, that the first book is the hardest to get through. The author most always follows up with a better story the next go and so on.. As for this book I read it in one day, and came away ready for the next! So, if you are reader interested in seeing how far this new series will go, pick it up, enjoy the steamy romance and the wise-cracks of a particular brother I am in love with now ( can't wait for his book! ) and get lost in what is sure to become an awesome new world for the paranormal fans!

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The Accidental Vampire (Argeneau Vampires, Book 7) Review

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(More customer reviews)Five years ago sixty-something Elvi, on a what was supposed to be a sun and fun filled vacation in Mexico, suddenly found herself turned into a vampire. With no maker hanging around to show her the immortal ropes Elvi turned to the movie, Bram Stoker's Dracula, to learn how to be a successful creature of the night. So for the last five years Elvi has avoided garlic and crosses, and worn only black. Elvi knows she shouldn't be complaining - she's immortal while her lifelong friends are all getting up in years- but Elvi is not looking forward to an eternity of sleeping in a dirt-filled coffin. Then again that may not be a problem.
After having lost his wife to vampire hunters centuries ago, Victor Argeneau has dedicated his life to eliminating rogue vampires as an enforcer for the vampire council of North America, so that no other immortal family will have to suffer the same crushing loss. When Elvi's friends place a personal ad seeking a male vampire to keep her company when they pass on, Victor answers the ad to investigate whether a real vampire or a just a vamp-wanna-be is responsible. Vamp law mandates keeping a low profile and the penalty for attracting human attention is death. Upon arriving in Elvi's small town for his "date," Victor is horrified to discover that the whole town knows about Elvi. After meeting Elvi, Victor finds himself torn between duty and the instant overwhelming attraction he feels for her. But while Victor is struggling to figure out how to avoid having to bring the woman who just may be his second chance at happiness in to face vampire justice, it looks like the ad may have attracted just the type of attention the council fears -- a vampire hunter and Elvi is the target.
Deviating a bit from Sand's usual formula, there was so much of Accidental Vampire that was fun and original. From Elvi's unusual turning, to the great bunch of supporting characters, including a couple that get romances of their own. But most of all I loved that Elvi wasn't the typical twenty year old vamp romance heroine. Being older, Elvi has had a lot of life experiences to give her depth. Also Elvi was a fun character with her single minded enthusiasm, neurotic charm and goofy vampire rules. Victor of course was incredibly hunky, but the hope that he will again have someone to relieve the unrelenting loneliness of his immortal existence makes him very vulnerable. While he sure of what he feels for Elvi, he's not the only sexy immortal to answer Elvi's ad. Even if Elvi chooses him, Victor still has good reason to fear he may lose her -- someone's trying to kill her and there's still the potential council death sentence hanging over her head. The only negative in the book for fans is a positive for readers new to Sands' vampire mythos, in order to make sure that her books are stand-alone reads, Sands explains in every book the whole reason why the immortals are immortal, need blood and can't go out in the sun. This is a very minor nit and it is easy to skip over. So, if it means more fans for Sands so that she keeps selling books and keeps writing more, I'm not complaining.
I just loved this book, it was the best of the Argeneau series so far and here's more good news for new and existing fans - Vampire Interrupted is just the first of three new Argeneau books to be released over the next three months. Look for Vampires Are Forever (Argeneau Vampires, Book 8), Thomas' story, in January and Vampire, Interrupted (Argeneau Vampires, Book 9), Marguerite's story, in February.
The Argeneau Vampire Series Contempory Vampire Romances by Lynsay Sands:
A Quick Bite ( Book 1)
Love Bites (Argeneau Vampires, Book 2)
Single White Vampire (Argeneau Vampires, Book 3)
Tall, Dark & Hungry (Argeneau Vampires, Book 4)
A Bite to Remember (Argeneau Vampires, Book 5)
Bite Me If You Can (Argeneau Vampires, Book 6)
And if you like your vampires in a kilt in a historical setting, try Sand's Highlander Vampire series -- these are collaborations with Hannah Howell:
My Immortal Highlander
The Eternal Highlander
Highland Thirst


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Ever since an accident turned her into a knockout vamp, Elvi Black's been catching her z's in a coffin, staying out of the sun, and giving up garlic. She knows there's more to being undead than what she saw in Dracula, but she can't very well ask her mortal friends about proper biting etiquette. But when her neighbors placed a personal ad for her in the local paper, she never imagined she'd meet Victor Argeneau, a vampire who could have his pick of any woman-dead or alive.

Rich, powerful, and drop-dead gorgeous, Victor's the perfect man for a novice neck-biter like Elvi. He's willing to teach her everything he knows, but he'll have to do it fast. Someone's out to put a stake through her new vamp life, and only Victor can keep her safe-and satisfied-for all eternity.

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All I Want for Christmas Is a Vampire (Love at Stake, Book 5) Review

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(More customer reviews)We've watched Ian McPhie physically grow up over the last several books of this series and now he's headed home to Dragonesti's New York townhouse to make it all pay off in his pursuit of love with his perfect vampire woman. But what he finds when he gets home is that none of his friends recognize him, he's outgrown his coffin, woman are sure he's a 500 year old virgin, and the new guard who's supposed to be watching over him during the day is not Tony but Toni- a female who sets his blood to boiling!
Toni didn't plan to help her best friend like this. she thought she'd pop down to Central Park, prove vampires didn't exist and then go help her sick friend. Instead she got snacked on in the park by Malcontents, or at least that's what Connell the vampire who saved her calls the bad vampires. Impressed by her fighting skills he gave her the options of either A. Having her memory erased or B. Work for them as a day time guard since they are currently short staffed during a vampire war. Toni chooses the later so that she can maybe prove her friend isn't crazy, that vamps do exist. But her proof seems laughable and her luck goes from bad to worse when her friend ends up institutionalized and her boss Ian starts watching her...not to mention the no fraternization clause she signed with the company and that if the two of them are caught lip-locked her memory is history anyway!
Everything is complicated by the Russian vamps taking a sudden interest in Ian, coupled by his internet love hunt for the perfect vampire making him the most talked about vampire in the nation. Women and assassins are knocking in his door and somehow he ends up on vampire television harassed by the biggest gossip of them all. But Ian and Toni help unwrap each other just in time for Christmas with no lumps of coal in sight! This was a great addition to the series and a good find for the genre for the holidays.
The Love at Stake series in order:
How to Marry a Millionaire Vampire
Vamps and the City
Be Still My Vampire Heart
The Undead Next Door
All I want for Christmas is a Vampire

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Toni Davis's Christmas wish list

1. Springing my best friend from the psych ward.

2. Living somewhere that doesn't have coffins in the basement. Occupied coffins.

3. Finding Mr. Right. Please make him tall, dark, handsome, and alive.

This Christmas isn't so merry for Toni. Her best friend's been locked up in a mental hospital ever since she told the police she was attacked by vampires, and the only way for Toni to get her out is to prove that bloodsuckers really do exist. So she's taken a job as a bodyguard for the Undead, but she gets more than she bargained for, especially when she meets Ian MacPhie, a Scottish rascal looking for Ms. Right.

Although Ian's nearly five centuries old, he looks and acts like a twenty-seven-year-old hunk.

How can a dead man be so damn sexy? Could Mr. Wrong be Mr. Right? One forbidden kiss could lead to an eternity of passion—and all it takes is one moment under the mistletoe . . .

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The Undead Next Door (Love at Stake, Book 4) Review

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(More customer reviews)Sweet Heather Westfield has an adorable daughter, an overbearing ex-husband, a feisty nanny, and too many dreams that were never fulfilled. The talented designer/seamstress stayed in her small Texas town to appease her mother and became a school teacher instead of pursuing her ambition to be a fashion designer. When one of the world's top names in couture opens a boutique nearby, she is drawn to the life she gave up, and to the man who has designed fashions for some of Hollywood's biggest stars.
World-weary Jean-Luc Escharpe has seen it all since he was transformed into a vampire centuries ago. A skilled swordsman, he fought as a lieutenant-colonel in the vampire army, and in later decades, pursued his skills a businessman and designer. His career has kept him in the public eye a little too long, however, causing many to wonder how the designer who clad Marilyn Monroe and Cary Grant still looks so young and handsome. What he needs is some time away and a place to hide out. But on the eve of his self-imposed isolation, he meets a beautiful woman who has been burned by love. Heather awakens long-dead feelings in Jean-Luc and makes him start to wonder if he could have another chance at love after all.
But with a crazed killer bent on revenge tracking Jean-Luc's every move, being around him is not exactly the safest place in the world. Then there's the whole undead element thrown into the mix. Jean-Luc is certain a relationship with Heather would never work out because she could never accept him as he is. But Heather has some surprises up her homemade sleeves: she's declared a war on fear, and this Texas sweetie vows not to let anyone stand in the way of what she wants. And she wants Jean-Luc.
The Undead Next Door, Kerrelyn Sparks' fourth book in the Love At Stake series, is a thrilling, fast-paced detour through the beautiful Texas Hill Country with two wounded but strong souls. As usual, the story resonates with Sparks' trademark humor, wit, and warmth. There's something here for every reader as the author deftly combines history, humor, deep emotion, and paranormal elements for a deeply satisfying love story.


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Three signs that something is very different with your mew man:

1. He sleeps all day . . . which would be annoying except he's so attentive at night.

2. He's attacked by sword-wielding assailants, yet insists he can handle it on his own.

3. He never seems to age.

Heather Westfield has always lived a quiet life, but that all changes when she helps a very handsome, very mysterious stranger. There's something not quite right about Jean-Luc, but still, she's never been with a man so charming, so attractive . . . so wonderful. Now if only a murderous villain wasn't after them, they might get their happily-ever-after.

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Heart of Darkness: The Darkest Angel\Love Me to Death\Lady of the Nile Review

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(More customer reviews)I loved Gena Showalter's The Darkest Angel. Lysander and Bianka fight so hard against their mutual attraction that their inevitable climax is mind-blowing. Harpies and angels are two creatures I never knew I would enjoy so thoroughly. I really have to start reading the Lords of the Underworld series.
Love Me to Death by Maggie Shayne was also very good and an extremely powerful story. Part murder mystery, part love story that overcomes impossible obstacles, and completely enthralling.
Susan Krinard's Lady of the Nile didn't really work for me. From what I could understand, a man occasionally possessed by a man possessed by an Egyptian god (yeah, that's not a typo) must have sex with a woman occasionally possessed by an Egyptian goddess to defeat evil. I think that was the main gist, but I can't be sure. It was confusing and by far my least favorite of the three stories that make up this collection.
The first two stories are so amazing, they more than make up for the shortcomings of the third and I would definitely recommend this book to others.

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From the masters of paranormal romance, three brand-new tales of seduction…The Darkest Angel by Gena ShowalterA Lords of the Underworld taleAn iron-willed demon assassin, the angel Lysander has never known lust—until he meets Bianka. Spawned from the bloodline of Lucifer, the beautiful but deadly Harpy is determined to lead the pure-hearted Lysander into temptation….Love Me to Death by Maggie ShayneTwenty-two years ago four teenage boys were convicted of a young girl's murder. Now, in the form of a beautiful woman, the "victim" is seeking vengeance. And only one man dares to dig into the past to uncover its secrets… and set her free.Lady of the Nile by Susan KrinardLady Tameri believes herself to be the reincarnation of an ancient Egyptian princess, and Leo Erskine has set out to prove her wrong…never dreaming that the twoof them are about to discover a prophecy that will bind them together forever.

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Be Still My Vampire Heart (Love at Stake, Book 3) Review

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(More customer reviews)A human vampire slayer is wreaking havoc among the Russian Malcontents. Ordinarily, the death of these vicious vampires would be a good thing but their coven master, the deadly but beautiful Katya Miniskaya, has stated that if another Malcontent is found dead, she will declare war on Roman Draganesti's vampires who subsist solely on bottled blood. Angus MacKay agrees to stop the slayer, a member of the CIA Stake-Out Team. He doesn't expect to lose his heart to Emma Wallace, who despises all vampires for killing her parents. Unfortunately, Katya has other plans in store for them all....
Each book in the Love at Stake series just gets better and better! The trademark humor of Kerrelyn Sparks is once again present in BE STILL MY VAMPIRE HEART. The splendid mixture of action and humor will keep readers thoroughly engrossed in this fascinating tale that delves deeper into the war between the vampires. Readers unfamiliar with the first two books will easily slip into the fascinating world created by Ms. Sparks although this reviewer highly recommends reading the previous books simply because this series is so enjoyable.
Angus MacKay is an adorably sexy Scottish male. After all, who couldn't love a hero who checks under his kilt after teleporting from one location to another to ensure that everything is still in place? Emma provides the perfect counterpart to this Scottish gentleman, as she is definitely a modern day woman who values her independence. Emma's struggle over the concept that not all vampires are evil is a difficult one as she has an instant attraction for Angus.
Kerrelyn Sparks continues to demonstrate her ingenuity with each installment of the Love at Stake series. BE STILL MY VAMPIRE HEART is a must buy for vampire lovers, as it is sure to satisfy. Kerrelyn Sparks is without a doubt the master of the humorous vampire tale!
COURTESY OF CK2S KWIPS AND KRITIQUES

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If it was still beating. Angus MacKay has been undead for almost five hundred years and it's not often something, or someone, surprises him. Until Emma Wallace. The sight of this luscious agent from the CIA's elite Stake-Out team was enough to stop Angus in his tracks. But then he discovers that she's a vampire slayer, intent on killing the "monsters" who killed her parents. And it's Angus's job to stop her.

The only good vampire is a dead vampire. It's been Emma's motto since she committed her life to the destruction of these things. Now Angus MacKay wants to convince her differently.

Sure, he's a sexy Highland warrior who seems to have stepped off the cover of a romance novel, complete with brogue, kilt, and sword, but he's also one of them. And it's her job to kill him.

The war is on, but will it end in the destruction of one or both of them . . . or in total surrender to a passion for the ages?

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Fade Out (Morganville Vampires, Book 7) Review

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(More customer reviews)Rachel Caine has done it once again with the latest installment of her Morganville Vampire Series with Fade Out.
Just when Claire Danvers thought she could finally get a rest after having dealt with Amelie's father, Bishop, Kim show's up in her life like a sudden black hole. Eve gets a part in the town play with Kim. Claire feels like Eve is ignoring her to deal with her new friend, almost like she is now the third wheel. To make matters worse, she finds out that Shane used to date Kim for all of two seconds but their more to that story. When Claire finds out what Kim is really doing with all the video cameras that she has, Claire and her friends must find them all and confront Kim before everything is destroyed. But that's not all, Ada, Myrnins computer, starts to go all haywire more than usual and Claire has to deal with that as well.
What I liked about Fade Out was how Rachel Caine let all four characters explore more emotions than they ever have. With Eve and Michael, there is more emotion with what they are going through through out the book and the same with Claire and Shane. Just like in the previous books, Rachel sticks true to each characters dialogue and uniqueness. A few more characters are introduced in the book along with the original.
Through out the book, you can sort of tell what the next book will be about but not know at the same time. If you enjoyed the previous books in The Morganville Vampire Series, then you are bound to enjoy the newest addition, Fade Out.
The Other Books In The Series:
Glass Houses (Morganville Vampires, Book 1)
The Dead Girls' Dance (Morganville Vampires, Book 2)
Midnight Alley (Morganville Vampires, Book 3)
Feast of Fools (Morganville Vampires, Book 4)
Lord of Misrule (Morganville Vampires, Book 5)
Carpe Corpus (Morganville Vampires, Book 6)
The next book, Kiss of Death, will be released in late April or early May and book nine is also due out in 2010.
The series will have a total of 12 books total. (Numbers may change)


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Withoutthe evil vampire Bishop ruling over the town of Morganville, the resident vampires have made major concessions to the human population. With their newfound freedoms, Claire Danvers and her friends are almost starting to feel comfortable again... Now Claire can actually concentrate on her studies, and her friend Eve joins the localtheatrecompany. But when one of Eve's castmates goes missing after starting work on a shortdocumentary, Eve suspects the worst. Claire and Eve soon realize that this film project, whose subjectis the vampires themselves, is a wholelot bigger-andway more dangerous-than anyone suspected.

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How to Marry a Millionaire Vampire (Love at Stake, Book 1) Review

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(More customer reviews)I loved this book! And I'm betting it's the start of a new series. In fact, I demand that it be! The secondary charcters were so charming and well written that you couldn't help falling in love with them.
Roman is your typical alpha male bored, rich, playboy vampire. But like all vampires who are worth their cravable books, Roman has hidden depths and secrets from his past that way heavily upon him. In fact he was a human monk, a healer half a milllenium ago, who was kidnapped by evil vamps and transformed. He was tortured for years before breaking free and forming what is now an extremely powerful group of vampires, many of which he transformed. Because of his original vows to God, Roman takes the burden of his fellow vampires damned soles personal.
These days he is a brilliant scientist. He developed synthetic blood for the benefits of his species and human kind. And he's on the verge of a formula that will allow him to stay awake during daylight.However, thanks to two of his slightly bumblesome but extremely lovable vampire employees he now finds one of his fangs stuck in a sex toy. If he doesn't get the tooth fixed before dawn. the wound will heal sans tooth and he'll be a lopsided eater and laughingstock for eternity. What he needs is an all night dentist...
Shanna's life is boring. well atleast it is now. Stuck in the witness protection program after witnessing a mafia hit gone bad, Shanna has no one and no life. But what little existance she has left is in jeopardy when one night at her dentistry practise the mafia decides to silence her for good. Lucky for her a sexy man carrying what looks like a wolf fang comes to carry her to safety.
It's weird that he has a staff of Highlander security guards (were those really tartan covered coffins she saw them sleeping in?), a harem of woman in the parlor watching the DVN channel on the tv ( Digital Vampire Network - their joking right?), and the ability to have telepathic sex (yummy!) but whose complaning?
This book is a laughing rollercoaster of fun that will leave you craving more! Read it today!


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So what if he's a bit older and usually regards a human female as dinner, not a dinner date? Yes, Roman Draganesti is a vampire, but a vampire who lost one of his fangs sinking his teeth into something he shouldn't have. Now he has one night to find a dentist before his natural healing abilities close the wound, leaving him a lop–sided eater for all eternity. Things aren't going well for Shanna Whelan either...After witnessing a gruesome murder by the Russian mafia, she's next on their hit list. And her career as a dentist appears to be on a downward spiral because she's afraid of blood. When Roman rescues her from an assassination attempt, she wonders if she's found the one man who can keep her alive. Though the attraction between them is immediate and hot, can Shanna conquer her fear of blood to fix Roman's fang? And if she does, what will prevent Roman from using his fangs on her...

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Nice Girls Don't Have Fangs (Jane Jameson, Book 1) Review

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(More customer reviews)"Nice Girls Don't Have Fangs" may just be the hardest to rate book I have read in the last year. This is the tale of Jane Jameson, a fired librarian, who finds herself in a strange situation that leads to her becoming a vampire. Enter the handsome sire with whom sparks fly. Fill in a cast of quirky supporting characters, including a best friend, odd parents, and at least one other paranormal character. In this case, the sire is Gabriel, a guy thats pretty nice for a vampire...and her best friend is an metrosexual straight guy. When Jane is turned she can see the ghost of her beloved deceased aunt who is living in the house with her. I wavered alternately throughout the entire book between thinking, "Why another girl turns into a vampire and has to figure out her new lifestyle with a hunky sire" and then laughing and chuckling outloud. I really did get a 'been there, read that' vibe and nothing much here is original. Yet, this is probably one of the most genuinely funny of those paranormal 'romance' books. I don't often really laugh but I did here. I also related to Jane's love of books and her desire to feel useful. I liked her dad too. He was probably the most realistically drawn character in the tale. Without giving anything away, the scenes involving Jane in various working environments were amoung my favorite scenes. What felt the most ho-hum? Actually the romance scenes between Jane and Gabriel. There is something you might vaguely call a mystery woven through the book, and its conclusion is also funny but not very strong. I have to give this book a solid three stars because yes its entertaining and a good way to pass the time, but there is really nothing unique other than its humor, to make it stand out in an oversaturated genre.

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Raphael Review

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(More customer reviews)Vampires! Who can resist a vampire, especially a powerful, sexy, rich, vampire god like Reynolds created with Raphael. Oh mamma, I was in vampire heaven with this one, it had it all: tough and gritty heroine, sexy and ridiculously manly hero, interesting back-drop, mystery, violence and steamy, wall-shaking romantic interludes. I need to simultaneously smoke a cigarette and punch something after finishing this novel. Vampire fans, run, don't walk --- and get this novel.
REVIEW:
The setting: Malibu, California.
The heroine: Tough cookie, private investigator, Cynthia Leighton. Former LAPD officer who does not play well with others.
The hero: Lord Master Vampire Raphael, enough power at his fingertips to crush mere mortals with a look and make women undress on command.
The situation: While Raphael is away on business, someone makes a power-play to shake things up. Alexandra, a vampire Raphael holds dear, is kidnapped and guards are murdered. Raphael's trust has been betrayed and there are traitors within his staff.
Raphael needs someone outside of his influence to solve this mystery, find out who kidnapped Alexandra and deal with the humans who have become pawns in this vampire power-grab. Cynthia Leighton is just what Raphael needs. She is used to working with vampires and she is smart enough to track down Alexandra and tough enough to bear witness to the vampire way of doing things. What neither one of them planned for was the attraction that is becoming much more than just a distraction.
Like I stated in the quickie above this novel had it all. A must-read for vampire fans. Strong characters, matched with an intensely hard-hitting plot and a whirl-wind and very lusty introduction to a society of vampires, made for an excellent book. One of the things that stands out the most about this novel was it was real. Far-fetched right for a paranormal novel? But the thing about PNR and UF is that the underlying factor in all of them is human emotion. You might be a vamp, but you were once a human - and here you are falling in love. The emotionally responses, the dialogue and even the sex scenes were real.
How many times have you read a sex scene in a book and went, "Well that was hot, but I don't see myself ever doing that particular move." These were nothing like that. It was real, completely believable character interaction.
Then, Reynolds also has a quirky way of writing that at first made me stop and reread a few sentences, but once it seeped in I really began to enjoy her voice. This doesn't happen often, but she actually introduced me to a few new words. Nothing high-brow or anything, just interesting descriptions and metaphors and a way of rearranging sentence structure that gave the tone a little more depth and a old-world feeling. Not a historical feeling, this is hard to describe, but a full-bodied, aged feeling. A good analogy would be that her book was like a good merlot. Very spicy, aged and with a full-body flavor.
The only bitter flavoring that I found with this book was just a small niggling at the back of my head that I had read this before, or at least similar story-lines. Hot over-powering male vamp hires prickly female PI, doesn't shine as the most original idea, but the setting, the characters and the excellent writing sets it a part from the rest.
RECOMMENDATIONS: Fans of authors such as J.R. Ward, Laurel K. Hamilton, Jeaninne Frost should really enjoy. Adults only, this book contains violence, explicit sex scenes and cursing. Not for anyone with a purity ring. ;)

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Malibu, California-home to rock-and-roll gods and movie stars, the beautiful, the rich . . . and vampires.Powerful and charismatic, Raphael is a Vampire Lord, one of the few who hold the power of life and death over every vampire in existence. Thousands call him Master and have pledged absolute loyalty on their very lives. But when, in a brazen and deadly daylight attack, a gang of human killers kidnaps the one female vampire he'd give his life for, Raphael turns to a human investigator to find his enemies before it's too late.Cynthia Leighton is smart, tough and sexy, a private investigator and former cop who's tired of spying on cheating spouses and digging out old bank accounts.When Raphael asks for her help in tracking down the kidnappers, Cyn's happy to accept.But she soon realizes her greatest danger comes not from the humans, but from Raphael himself.Battling Russian mobsters and treacherous vampires, and betrayed by those they trusted, Cyn and Raphael find themselves fighting for their lives while caught up in a passion of blood and violence that is destined to destroy them both.

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