Tag Archives: The Mammoth Book of Vampire Romance 2

Blood and Thyme by Camille Bacon-Smith

Book Review, , , ,
Overview
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Title: Blood and Thyme
Author: Camille Bacon-Smith
In: The Mammoth Book of Vampire Romance 2 (Trisha Telep)
Rating Out of 5: 4.5 (Amazing, but not quite perfect)
My Bookshelves: Food, Paranormal romance, Vampires
Dates read: 10th April 2019
Pace: Slow
Format: Short story
Publisher: Robinson
Year: 2009
5th sentence, 74th page: It turned out she liked working here.

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Synopsis

She’s the chef that could help him save his business. But, when he realises just how much she means to him, he’s not sure if he should risk his life or his livelihood first.

Thoughts

This was kind of cute. It’s not the first time that I’ve come across a story about a genetic vampire (rather than one that has been unwillingly changed), but it is probably the first one that featured entertainment and food so strongly. Actually, weirdly enough, it made me want to do a bit of cooking when I finished this story. After all, the lead female is a chef and the lead male almost gives up his life to make sure that he does have a great chef in his damn kitchen…

The sexuality in this short story was seriously damped down in comparison to some of the other paranormal romance stories that I’ve been reading lately. Which was kind of nice. It still had that component to it, but it was the first moments of courtship that really took centre stage. Those moments when there is almost no touching, but a lot of glances and curiosity about one another. Considering this is found in a whole collection of vampire romances, it was nice to have one romance that was a lot more cute, and a lot less sexual to balance out the intensity of some of the other tales.

 <- Deliver Us From Evil ReviewInto the Mist For Ever Review ->
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Deliver Us From Evil by Dina James

Book Review, , ,
Overview
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Title: Deliver Us From Evil
Author: Dina James
In: The Mammoth Book of Vampire Romance 2 (Trisha Telep)
Rating Out of 5: 4.5 (Amazing, but not quite perfect)
My Bookshelves: Paranormal romance, Vampires
Dates read: 1st April 2019
Pace: Medium
Format: Short story
Publisher: Robinson
Year: 2009
5th sentence, 74th page: How had he found her, and how had he gotten in here?

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Synopsis

He lost his soul generations ago, but a chance encounter with a symbol in a psychics shop could turn everything around for him. Help him find his way back home to his family.

Thoughts

This play on a soulless vampire was quite good. Normally when stories focus on the lack of soul in a vampire, it is either to excuse his evil, or to set him on a journey to find that which he has lost. And isn’t it funny that it normally features a male in these stories…? This tale took a slightly different take on the idea. The vampire was still soulless and searching for something that he couldn’t remember searching for. But, when he found it, it wasn’t his soul, it was a whole other mythos which helped him find his peace and salvation. And more, importantly, to find his way back to his family.

I like Mary in this story (she goes by a few different variations of the name throughout, but I like the name Mary the most). She is forced into situations that she doesn’t really like. And there is a level of complex vulnerability to her. Yet, she still manages to show her back bone throughout the tale. Every time she is backed into a corner and feels so obviously uncomfortable, she digs deep, sticks her feet in and pushes right back. Something that I admire more than a woman who can actually fight her way out of every situation in some circumstances… after all, it’s a little bit more relatable and tough to be fierce when you can’t actually defend yourself.

 <- Perdition ReviewBlood and Thyme Review ->
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Perdition by Caitlin Kittredge

Book Review, , ,
Overview
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Title: Perdition
Author: Caitlin Kittredge
In: The Mammoth Book of Vampire Romance 2 (Trisha Telep)
Rating Out of 5: 4.5 (Amazing, but not quite perfect)
My Bookshelves: Vampires, Westerns
Dates read: 1st April 2019
Pace: Slow
Format: Short story
Publisher: Robinson
Year: 2009
5th sentence, 74th page: She wore breeches, like a man, with a man’s jacket over a woman’s shirt.

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Synopsis

Kate is on the trail of Doc, an old lover and the man who introduced her to the realm of vampires. But, when she finds him, will she able to do what she has to for a happily ever after?

Thoughts

I’ve never read a vampire western. And I found that it was something that I thoroughly enjoyed and would like to see a lot more of. To be honest, I haven’t really read or been exposed to many westerns, so they hold a fascination for me regardless. You add in a taste of the paranormal and a strong woman intent on upholding a promise… it’s the kind of story that is going to just suck me in.

Sometimes I struggle with flashbacks and jumps in the timeline. This wasn’t one of those times. By adding the date before each of the flashbacks and changing the formatting, I was able to follow more of what was happening. It helped to fill in all of the backstory, whilst continuing forwards with the rest of the narrative and it was done brilliantly. Actually, it kind of felt like each flashback was Kate reminiscing as she drew closer and closer to the end of her long journey. Closer and closer to the moment when she would truly have to face up to the past.

 <- Le Cirque de la Nuit ReviewDeliver Us From Evil Review ->
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Le Cirque de la Nuit Karen MacInerney

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Overview
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Title: Le Cirque de la Nuit
Author: Karen MacInerney
In: The Mammoth Book of Vampire Romance 2 (Trisha Telep)
Rating Out of 5: 4.5 (Amazing, but not quite perfect)
My Bookshelves: Paranormal romance, Vampires
Dates read: 1st April 2019
Pace: Medium
Format: Short story
Publisher: Robinson
Year: 2009
5th sentence, 74th page: There was Bella, and the two red silks she clutched in her hands, and the magnetic presence of him on the mats beneath.

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Synopsis

Bella wants to find a new career without such an annoying and smelly partner. But, will the price be too high? Or will she find what she’s always been looking for?

Thoughts

From the name, I kind of figured that this short story would have something to do with circuses and the night. But that was really my only hint (that, and I knew it would have vampirific romance… it’s in a book of vampire romance). Yet, this still somehow surprised me. It wasn’t quite what I expected, but yet everything that I was anticipating all at the same time. Which, of course, made it thoroughly enjoyable.

I really loved the ending of this story. Actually, I enjoyed the entire adventure, but the ending surprised me a little. Instead of being a clean cut, she falls in love with a vampire and runs off into the night with him, it has a little bump in the road. And although there is still a sense of happily ever after… it’s not one that is really that complete end to a journey… it gives a sense of further issues, complications and intrigue.

 <- Coven of Mercy ReviewPerdition Review ->
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Coven of Mercy by Deborah Cooke

Book Review, , ,
Overview
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Title: Coven of Mercy
Author: Deborah Cooke
In: The Mammoth Book of Vampire Romance 2 (Trisha Telep)
Rating Out of 5: 5 (I will read this again and again and again)
My Bookshelves: Easy reading, Medical, Vampires
Dates read: 29th March 2019
Pace: Medium
Format: Short story
Publisher: Robinson
Year: 2009
5th sentence, 74th page: But one kiss, one kiss was nothing.

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Synopsis

Dr Taylor is about to find out the true meaning of mercy. Taught by a man who has haunted her dreams for years, against the villain she has always fought.

Thoughts

I think if you talk to most people, you will find that cancer has impacted on them in some way, shape or form. Which means that there tends to be a whole heap of stories out there that feature cancer. What I wasn’t expecting was to find such a story in a collection of vampire romance tales… that kind of took me by surprise. In the best way possible.

I loved the play of mercy in this story. After all, everyone’s ideas and experiences of mercy are different. And this story was able to highlight that in a very few pages. The idea that each person’s experiences and needs for mercy are different. Actually, as the story unfolds, Rosemary’s ideals and experiences of mercy change too.

The naming of the chief protagonist as Rosemary was a final, nice touch to this story. Rosemary is used in funerals with Thyme (for remembrance I’m fairly certain) and I loved that a story which featured death as a mercy has a main character named for such…

 <- Paris After Dark ReviewLe Cirque de la Nuit Review ->
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Paris After Dark by Jordan Summers

Book Review, , , ,
Overview
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Title: Paris After Dark
Author: Jordan Summers
In: The Mammoth Book of Vampire Romance 2 (Trisha Telep)
Rating Out of 5: 5 (I will read this again and again and again)
My Bookshelves: Cops, Easy reading, Vampires
Dates read: 22nd March 2019
Pace: Fast
Format: Short story
Publisher: Robinson
Year: 2009
5th sentence, 74th page: She gagged as his coppery breath fanned out over her face.

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Synopsis

Rachel stops an attack on a woman late one night in Paris, only to become the victim herself. As things go from bad to worse, she finds more than a quest for justice, but a reason to stay alive.

Thoughts

I’ve been reading a lot of vampire stories lately, and I really wasn’t sure how over them I was feeling. So I’m not even sure why I picked up The Mammoth Book of Vampire Romance 2. But I did, and I absolutely loved the opening story of this collection. It was everything I like in a short story, a bit of action, a bit of intrigue and a bit of romance. But, unlike a lot of vampire tales that I’ve been reading lately, this wasn’t as… well… annoyingly sappy as others. There was just too much of a cop / crime vibe to it.

Rachel was one of those characters that you can immediately relate to. She is vulnerable and kind of innocent, but at the same time completely kick ass and independent. Something that I think most women aspire to be. Or at least, it’s something that I always aim to be like in my own personal life. The fact that she’s suffering a loss and grieving whilst on the streets of Paris somehow just managed to make her all the more beautiful. I’m not entirely sure why… but it worked perfectly.

I really liked that although there is an instantaneous attraction between the two leads, it isn’t really about that. This story is about justice and finding a link to Rachel’s past. It is also a really fast-paced tale that makes it impossible to pull your nose out of the book, because, damn it, you want Rachel to get her revenge!

 <- The Mammoth Book of Vampire Romance 2 ReviewCoven of Mercy Review ->
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