Tag Archives: Vampires

What’s at Stake? by Alexis Morgan

Book Review, , ,

Overview

The Mammoth Book of Vampire RomanceTitle: What’s at Stake?
Author: Alexis Morgan
In: The Mammoth Book of Vampire Romance (Trisha Telep)
Rating Out of 5: 4.5 (Amazing, but not quite perfect)
My Bookshelves: Paranormal romance, Vampires
Pace: Fast
Format: Short story
Publisher: Robinson
Year: 2008
5th sentence, 74th page: “Where do I sign?”

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Synopsis

She’s supposed to be convicitng a murderer. But what happens when that murderer is possibly the love of her life? There is only one way to find out… solve the murder and save the day.

Thoughts

This was a fun and easy little romance. It wasn’t anything ground-shaking, but it was really cute. And I loved that there was so much history built into a few pages. Not only were you swept along by the storyline as it unfolded, you were tantalisingly fed parts of their past which helped to build on the fun throughout.

I’m always pretty keen on a nice little play on words. And this title does that perfectly. It highlights the vampirism in the story, it shows you that there is something at risk, and just generally works very nicely. It keeps in tune with the happy, fun and easy tone of this piece.

 <- Love Bites Review Coming Home Review ->
Image source: Goodreads

Elvis Presley and the Bloodsucker Blues by Matt Venne

Book Review, , , ,

Overview

Blood LiteTitle: Elvis Presley and the Bloodsucker Blues
Author: Matt Venne
In: Blood Lite (Kevin J. Anderson)
Rating Out of 5: 3.5 (Liked this)
My Bookshelves: Comedy, Horror, Vampires
Pace: Medium
Format: Short story
Publisher: Pocket Books
Year: 2008
5th sentence, 74th page: I followed his gaze over my shoulder, discovered that the dude was staring at the risin’ sun on the horizon.

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Synopsis

The true, hollywood version of Elvis Presley’s death…

Thoughts

I have a mother who is obsessed with Elvis Presley. Actually, everytime I hear him I think of Christmas because that is the only time of year my dad can tolerate listening to it anymore. Somehow, Elvis Presley has become our Christmas music. Which is weird to say the least. So reading this gave me a weird feeling of Christmas. Even though it had ABSOLUTELY nothing to do with that time of year…

I thoroughly enjoyed this unique take on what truly happened to Elvis in his last years of life. The why and how of his death and the fact that he didn’t really go off of his rocker in his final days. It was very clever and unique. But, as much as I enjoyed it, something about the prose just wasn’t as enjoyable as usual…

 <- The Eldritch Pastiche from Beyond the Shadow of Horror Review No Problem Review ->
Image source: Goodreads

Love Bites by Kimberly Raye

Book Review, , , , ,
Overview
The Mammoth Book of Vampire Romance

Title: Love Bites
Author: Kimberly Raye
Series: Dead End Dating #3.5
In: The Mammoth Book of Vampire Romance (Trisha Telep)
Rating Out of 5: 4.5 (Amazing, but not quite perfect)
My Bookshelves: Dark fantasy, Paranormal romance, Vampires
Pace: Fast
Format: Short story
Publisher: Robinson
Year: 2008
5th sentence, 74th page: It was the perfect place to slice and dice and rid the world of fanged vermin.

Synopsis

She’s supposed to be a vampire hunter, an SOB. He’s supposed to be her target. But lust, hormones and a little bit of fate seem to be getting in the way of her first kill.

Thoughts

I really liked the narrator of this story. She had a completely relatable voice. She was pithy, sarcastic and full of sass. There was also this great sense of vulnerability and innocence in everything in this story that was, well, not entirely relatable, but certainly enjoyable to read. And that was all before the romance and the vampires got involved!

I love the idea of the main couple being naturally at war. That there is something far more at stake (pun intended) than just their lives, but their families, their hearts and their futures. It’s definitely a great indication of what the rest of the series is going to be like, and the first thing I did when I finished this short story was to order the first book of the series.

 <- Your Coffin or Mine?Just One Bite ->

Image source: Goodreads

Paradise by Meljean Brook

Book Review, , , , , ,

Overview

Wild ThingTitle: Wild Thing
Author: Meljean Brook
Series: The Guardians #1.5
In: Wild Thing (Marjorie M. Liu, Maggie Shayne, Alyssa Day & Meljean Brook)
Rating Out of 5: 5 (I will read this again and again and again)
My Bookshelves: Angels, Demons, Paranormal romance, Vampires
Pace: Fast
Format: Novella
Publisher: Berkley Sensation
Year: 2007
5th sentence, 74th page: His hands were falling in love with her.

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Synopsis

Follow the dark shadows that stalk both the living and the undead in a world of restless vampries and guardian angels…

Thoughts

I loved the end of Demon Angel, or at least, I loved the happy ending that the characters got. But to me it felt a little too off-into-the-sunset. Which is nice, but I felt like something was left slightly unfinished. Paradise helped to stop that lingering “but-what-happened-next” feeling. It also gave Selah her own story and that in and of itself was enjoyable.

Selah and Lucas were not quite the couple that I was expecting. Mostly because neither character was what they quite seemed on the outset. And I loved the surprises lent by their histories and personalities. From Lilith’s perspective, I expected Selah to be the Guardian who had died young and was kind of prissy… until I read her story. She is so much more relatable! And, because of that, far more loveable.

Demon Angel mostly outlines the worlds of Caelum and Hell (Hugh and Lilith’s worlds). Finally, Paradise introduces the reality of the vampries. And also highlights that this series is based in a time of drastic change… for everyone in the world.

 <- Demon Angel Review Demon Moon Review ->
Image source: Amazon

Dreams by Keri Arthur

Book Review, , , , , ,

Overview

The Mammoth Book of Vampire RomanceTitle: Dreams
Author: Keri Arthur
Series: Riley Jenson Guardian #3.5
In: The Mammoth Book of Vampire Romance (Trisha Telep)
Rating Out of 5: 4 (Really good read!)
My Bookshelves: Easy reading, Paranormal romance, Vampires, Werewolves
Pace: Fast
Format: Short story
Publisher: Robinson
Year: 2008
5th sentence, 74th page: So he kissed her, caressed her, loved her, until the heat that rose between them would not be denied.

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Synopsis

When Quinn decides that dreams aren’t enough for his relationship with Riley, he decides to travel to see her for a late night booty call. But what they find in her basement becomes an adventure all on its own, one that nightmares might be made of.

Thoughts

I have read the first Riley Jenson Guardian novel, but haven’t gotten any further into the series. It’s a pretty intense erotica and sexual story, so I definitely have to be in the right kind of mood for it. But when I read Dreams in my short story collection the other night, I remembered just why I have kept this collection on my shelves. It’s easy, fun and more than a little raunchy.

I like the idea of creatures that people assume are less than human (the Chameleons) being involved in a battle with Riley and Quinn. The fact that this story ends with the hint (and that is just a hint) that there is more to the characters than meets the idea worked really well in my mind. It reminds me that there are different kinds of intelligence, and many of the animals that we assume are “dumb” probably aren’t so.

Then this story ends in a raunchy sex scene… which is expected in this series. And even though it is completely expected, it’s a bit of a fun, and very adult, ending to this tale.

 <- Viper’s Bite Review Love Bites Review ->
Image source: Goodreads

Demon Angel by Meljean Brook

Book Review, , , , ,

Overview

Demon AngelTitle: Demon Angel
Author: Meljean Brook
Series: The Guardians #1
Rating Out of 5: 5 (I will read this again and again and again)
My Bookshelves: Angels, Demons, Paranormal romance, Vampires
Pace: Medium
Format: Novel
Publisher: Berkley Sensation
Year: 2005
5th sentence, 74th page: He lowered to his heels next to her.

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Synopsis

For two thousand years, Lilith wrought vengeance upon the evil and the damned, gathering souls for her father’s armies Below and proving her fealty to her Underworld liege. Half-demon, half-human, bound by a bargain with the devil, and forbidden to feel pleasure, she draws upon her dark powers and serpentine grace to lead men into temptation – Heaven’s own Sir Hugh Castleford…

Once a knight and now a Guardian, Hugh spent centuries battling demons – and the cursed, blood-drinking nosferatu. His purpose has always been to thwart the demon Lilith, even as he battles his treacherous hunger for her. But when a deadly alliance unleashes a threat to both humans and Guardians in modern-day San Francisco, angel and demon must fight together against unholy evil – and against a desire that has been too long denied…

Thoughts

The play on demons, angels and much of the Christian faith worked so well. The use of Lilith, Lucifer and Michael to create a great paranormal world over top of our own gave the strength of millennia to the battles and moments which help to form Lilith and Hugh’s relationship in the first part of this novel. The second part of this slightly builds upon the mythos used to create this world, but also furthers the relationship to and great understanding of the characters throughout.

I loved the complexity of the storyline and world that The Guardians is built in. Brook has managed to create a world in which there are layers upon layers of complexity that will (I’m sure) slowly be peeled back throughout the rest of the novels in this series. Yet, it’s not so intensely complex that I’m constantly feeling confused by the details and minutiae of the world that the characters live in. Most of my brain power is reserved for the characterisation and the race to save Lilith and Hugh (from each other, or their fates, I’m still not 100% sure).

As cliché as it seems, I found the idea of a demon and an angel falling in love stupidly fun. The idea that the “perfect” angel would fall for a demon ensures a fun story in the least. But the great characterisation of both, and the vulnerabilities that help them to rub up against one another makes it seem a whole lot less cliché. And made the entire thing so enjoyable that I almost took an extra long lunch break so that I could finish this really fun story…

 <- Falling for Anthony Review Paradise Review ->
Image source: Goodreads

Viper’s Bite by Delilah Devlin

Book Review, , , ,
Overview
The Mammoth Book of Vampire Romance

Title: Viper’s Bite
Author: Delilah Devlin
Series: Night Fall #6.2
In: The Mammoth Book of Vampire Romance (Trisha Telep)
Rating Out of 5: 4 (Really good read!)
My Bookshelves: Paranormal romance, Vampires
Pace: Medium
Format: Short story
Publisher: Robinson
Year: 2008
5th sentence, 74th page: Every part of him strained outwards.

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Synopsis

One night of pleasure…

His name is Viper—a dark mysterious enigma who rules the seedy, dangerous vampiric underworld. For one night, he will escape his murky prison and tempt an innocent.

…can last a lifetime…

Beautiful Mariah haunts him. Lures him from his den with a glimpse of his past. One she doesn’t remember. This night, he’ll be her dream lover. He’ll seduce her, make her fall in love with him—then leave her. Again.

One night of pleasure is all they must know.

Thoughts

This was kind of a typical vampire romance. He was obsessive (I really don’t know why this is a recurrent theme in “romances”, but that’s another rant for another day). And she is completely oblivious until their very first meeting. Then she is drawn to him. And yada yada yada.

What surprised me about this was the previous relationship of the two leads. They have one night to rekindle an old flame and life and remember what once was. It was kind of bittersweet in this way. It lent a strong sense of borrowed time and love like it’s your last moment to a tale that would have otherwise just been too cliché.

<- Knowledge of EvilDreams ->

Image source: Goodreads

Knowledge of Evil by Raven Hart

Book Review, , , ,

Overview

The Mammoth Book of Vampire RomanceTitle: Knowledge of Evil
Author: Raven Hart
In: The Mammoth Book of Vampire Romance (Trisha Telep)
Rating Out of 5: 4.5 (Amazing, but not quite perfect)
My Bookshelves: Dark fantasy, Paranormal romance, Vampires
Pace: Fast
Format: Short story
Publisher: Robinson
Year: 2008
5th sentence, 74th page: “What?” I was becoming intoxicated – the point at which I would be unable to stop drinking her blood even if I wanted to; the point at which if I were going to make her a vampire, I would have to feed her my own blood.

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Synopsis

He’s a vampire who loves the pursuit of knowledge. She’s a vampire expert who is obsessed with having more time to find more information. Is this the perfect match, or something far more sinister?

Thoughts

I have a more-than-slight obsession with tales about intellectuals. I am an intellect. I’m obsessed with learning. And understanding. And just experiencing in general. So it was really fun to read a vampire romance that featured two such characters. Alright, the rest of the story was so incredibly cliché. And more than a little irritating in parts, but mostly, it was just fun to read about people who wanted to be immortal simply for the fact that it means a forever of learning.

I thoroughly enjoyed this story, but I found the ending a little too predictable and cliché. The couple ended up together, and he was way too smitten. It was a great story, but the ending did fall a little flat.

 <- The Righteous Review Viper’s Bite Review ->
Image source: Goodreads

The Righteous by Jenna Maclaine

Book Review, , , , ,

Overview

The Mammoth Book of Vampire RomanceTitle: The Righteous
Author: Jenna Maclaine
Series: Cin Craven #0.5
In: The Mammoth Book of Vampire Romance (Trisha Telep)
Rating Out of 5: 4.5 (Amazing, but not quite perfect)
My Bookshelves: Dark fantasy, Strong women, Vampires
Pace: Medium
Format: Short story
Publisher: Robinson
Year: 2011
5th sentence, 74th page: He needed a spy at the English court.

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Synopsis

Devlin: warrior, mercenary… vampire.
Justine: human, courtesan… slayer.

Sent to Paris by the High King of the Vampires, Devlin is not prepared to fall in love with the very woman he was hired to kill.

Thoughts

Following on from The Eternal Warrior, I wasn’t sure where this story would go. I know that the main series focuses on Cin Craven. And, as with the other two short stories that I have read in this series (I have yet to actually read one of the novels), I absolutely loved this!

I loved the lead couple in this – Justine and Devlin are both awkwardly righteous and filled with honour. They are fun, and reading about their unconventional courtship was a different pace from any of the other stories that I have so far read in The Mammoth Book of Vampire Romance. The fact that this ties in perfectly with The Eternal Warrior and the Morrigan’s masterplan just made it all that much more enjoyable.

 <- Fangs for Hire Review Knowledge of Evil Review ->
Image source: Goodreads

Fangs for Hire by Jenna Black

Book Review, , ,

Overview

The Mammoth Book of Vampire RomanceTitle: Fangs for Hire
Author: Jenna Black
In: The Mammoth Book of Vampire Romance (Trisha Telep)
Rating Out of 5: 4.5 (Amazing, but not quite perfect)
My Bookshelves: Paranormal romance, Vampires
Pace: Fast
Format: Short story
Publisher: Robinson
Year: 2008
5th sentence, 74th page: Had he smelled it on my breath last night?

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Synopsis

She is an assassin hired to take out a mark. But the mark turns out to be something far more than expected. And incredibly desired.

Thoughts

I loved this short story. The idea that there is a vampire hit woman. And she runs into another vampire. And of course, there is sexual tension (because it’s in a book of vampire romance after all). It was just cute and funny. Easy to read and a good bit to read just before sinking into bed to try and get some sleep.

I loved that the two vampires showed two flip sides to vampirism – the one who tries to kill the bad guys, and the ones who want to send others to their rest. The assassin and the carer (in a weird, twisted way). I’ve seen both tropes in a number of vampire stories, but never coming against one another. Certainly an enjoyable and slightly altered way in which to see vampirific interactions…

 <- Ode to Edvard Munch Review The Righteous Review ->
Image source: Goodreads