Archive for vampire romance books
The third book in the Black Swan series.
A Summoner’s Tale – The Vampire’s Confessor by Victoria Danann
If you have been following the Black Swan series you will know that everything that has happened in the first two books, My Familiar Stranger and The Witches Dream leads to the events in The Vampire’s Confessor. This sizzling story of loves won and lost weaves a tale of magic, mystery and intrigue with each individual book telling its own love story.
The Vampire’s Confessor Takes the Characters Deeper
But to get the true insight of each character, I really recommend starting at the beginning. This is especially true when looking at the gestalt of the whole group and how they interact. The relationships among them are vital and frankly what makes this series so enjoyable. The first book sets the tale with our introduction of our main characters (right down to the dog) and the next book brings in secondary characters to add flavor to the plot. This third book mixes them to just the right amount for a wonderful series filled with intelligent, caring and often humorous beings.
Baka Gets His Turn
For those of us who have been following the series, you will be pleased to find out that in this book we follow Baka’s story. A bit darker than the previous two books in the series, it lends just the right sense of gravity and yet brings us more intimately into Baka and his life story. For many of us, this is the story we have been waiting for, and are more than amply rewarded here.
For this is one vampire who has a story to tell of the man he once was and how he came to be the character we met in My Familiar Stranger. As usual with all of Danann’s stories, the sensual is nicely balanced with the human touches to make us all feel like these are characters we know and care deeply about.
You can download the Kindle version of The Vampire’s Confessor or order the paperback for delivery. I think it is always nice to have options!
One of the hallmarks of any vampire romance is of course the romance. But fantasy writer and award-winning erotica author C.J. Ellison felt that any creature that lives for hundreds of years is probably pretty good at long term, and hot, relationships. I mean, if anyone knows how to keep a romance going for decades it must be a vampire, right? So why then, she wondered, did so many of the hot paranormal romance books she read have everyone jumping from bed to bed? That was when Ellison decided to tell the romance story her own way. This is one husband and wife team that love to find time for a little fun on the side. For those with long term sweethearts looking to add a little spice, her VV Inn series is just the ticket!
A Red Hot Mama of a Vampire
The third book of the series just came out recently and it reminded me of how much I loved the first book, Vampire Vacation, where we are introduced to our favorite resort host who is always up to her cute little ears in trouble. The hostess is Vivian, a 580 year-old vampire who is still madly in love with her human husband Rafe.
He is of course a gorgeous hunk of humanity that feels the same way about his Vivian. The asides fly fast and furious, as does the sex, so if you are not inclined to enjoy a spicy vampire romance book, then you may want to pass on this one. But if you love well written racy adventures with plenty of the supernatural thrown in for good measure, hang on because you are in for one heck of a fun ride!
Vampire Vacation – A Supernatural Getaway
Raf
e and Vivian own and run a resort for the supernatural set. Nestled in the dark and wild lands of Alaska, Vivian’s power to create vivid illusions makes this the ideal place for the undead to unwind. Here she can make any place the one spot her guests crave and deliver to them the perfect illusion of their heart’s desire. But of course catering to the undead has its drawbacks so when Vivian discovers a dead body in a guest room only minutes before the next guest is scheduled to arrive, hubby Rafe quickly hides the corpse in anticipation of being able to deal with it later. If only their life was that simple! Before you know it, Vivian and Rafe are juggling guests, tracking down a killer and still finding time to grab a quickie in between. Like the other two books in the series, this is one you will find hard to put down once begun, as circumstances pile up and the stakes keep getting higher and higher.
A Series Worth Checking Out
Now if you are not sure this is exactly your cup of tea, author Ellison has thought of you. She has wisely made the first half of her first book in the series, Vampire Vacation available for free as a short called Just One Taste. Personally it was Vampire Vacation that got me hooked on this couple, if only for the cover. They completely give away the tongue in cheek attitude of the book and get you so into this couple that you want more instantly. Lucky for you, there is more.
The Hunt – A Hunt With a Difference
In the second book of the series, The Hunt, we are introduced to the entire seethe (like a clan but with pointy teeth!) as Vivian and Rafe host a hunt that leaves all others to shame. Vivian has a supernatural criminal on hand, and she plans to release her into the wilds of Alaska with the others in pursuit.
She has promised seven vampires and seven werewolves the hunt of their lives, for whoever manages to capture the wee criminal will have a feast that will increase their powers dramatically. That is if they live through the encounter for this is no ordinary supernatural criminal and there is, of course, more here than meets the eye. Who will look Death in the face and survive?
Big Game – Two for the Price of One
The most recent book in the series is Big Game and it is actually two stories in one book. Our intrepid couple have ventured down to Argentina to face off against the Tribunal as they dare to reveal Vivian’s biggest secret. The raunchy heart of decadent old Buenos Aires soon seduces our couple with the lure of twins, games that should have been avoided and some disgruntled old guests that may take that guarantee of satisfaction or else a little too seriously!
Meanwhile up in Alaska members of the seethe Asa and Jon take on the responsibility of maintaining the Inn while Vivian and Rafe are away by welcoming a group of werewolves. They may regret it as the hunters become the hunted and mayhem is set loose in Alaska.
All in all, you can see that these books are just plain fun. With the fine combination of sexy encounters, mysterious murders and adventure galore you can’t help but love this twosome and their undead companions. This series is a vampire romance with all the trimmings and none of the fat! I can bet that once you dip your toe into just the first book you will be back for more. If you have a kindle you can sample the free first half of the first book, called Just One Taste to see what you think of Ellison’s writing style. We are betting you will get just enough of a taste to want more. Now here are the details on how you can grab your own copies:
Book One – Vampire Vacation is available in paperback and Kindle versions.
Book Two – The Hunt is available in paperback and Kindle versions.
Book Three – Big Game is available in paperback and Kindle versions.
Lia cannot get out of her head or her heart the terrible burden of her parent’s death. Even though it has now been ten years since they were brutally murdered, she is left in the shadow of that pain and seems unable to get past it. Nightly the dreams return and she finds herself living that horrifying night again and again. Worse yet, some kind of force was awakened in her that she has never known before. At the core of her is a power that she is afraid to unleash because she doesn’t know where it comes from or what it would do if she lost control.
Into her life comes Christian. Somehow there is a connection between the vampire and her, but she is not sure exactly if she trusts it. He is intrigued by her, and wants to help her, if she will let him. Somewhere in her history is the truth of where these powers came from and what they are. Christian is determined to help Lia find out the truth of just who and what she is. And so the vampire romance of reluctance and mystery begins.
A Gentle Vampire Romance
This is not your normal vampire romance, it has a sweetness to it and the characters take their time as you get to know them a bit better. Lia is someone we are introduced to as the story switches first person POV between Lia and Christian. Most starting writers would not attempt something as difficult as a multiple first person POV story but Lisa Logue seems to handle it well with ease.
As the story progresses we watch the two as they dance around the fact that something is bringing them closer together. Christian knows that there is something different about Lia, but what it is he cannot deduce. Even when he brings in his friend Austin who is a wizard to help they find that they cannot quite put their finger on it.
Storytelling that Holds You
The development of the relationship between Christian and Lia, the unraveling of the mystery of who she is and how she came to be that way and even the funny subcontext of Austin’s story make for a really compelling story. Christian is not the vampire of those old vampire romances where he is constantly looking for new victims. Lia is not a helpless victim or a kick-ass wonder woman.
They are both just young (well in Christian’s case that term is relative) people trying to figure out the questions most college students grapple with about identity and our place in the world. As with most young people romance is part of the journey, and since this is a vampire romance bound in a mystery, you can be sure it is a romance of a very different sort. Spellbinding story, skillfully told from a promising new writer I am looking forward to seeing more from in the future.
Vampire Books for 2012: The Vampire Shrink
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Title: The Vampire Shrink
Author: Lynda Hilburn
Release: September 2011
Pages: 400
Genre: Urban Vampire
When Kismet Knight sat down with her young patient, the psychologist was simply expecting your run of the mill teenage angst. The Goth girl was sent by her parents when she turned down a scholarship and declared she wanted to become a vampire. The problem was – she seemed to believe this was possible. And Kismet knew it wasn’t – until she meets the inhumanly beautiful stranger who convinces her otherwise, and so much more.
This may sound like every other vampire book you have read, but author Lynda Hilburn brings her background as a shrink into the book to make the assumptions of the main character all the more believable. Charming, smart and just a little too cocky, Kismet is a refreshing change from the damsel in distress shown in so many paranormal romances these days.
If you like your heroines modern and more than a little capable, and your vampires ancient, mysterious and gorgeous then you won’t be disappointed by The Vampire Shrink. A fun and entertaining read by a new author that I hope we will be seeing more of in the future.
Title: Here Be Sexist Vampires
Author: Suzanne Wright
Release:January 13, 2012
Genre: Urban Vampire
Sam Parker is a very different kind of vampire and she certainly doesn’t talk, act or even fight like the vampires you generally read about. She is one tough cookie, who finds dealing with “posh blokes” more than a little irritating. Even if they are the ones that come with messages from The Grand High Master of the Vampires himself. And this one has. It seems that Sam, a lowly Sventes vampire, may have attracted the notice of the most powerful vampire around. And he wants her for his personal army.
Now, before you roll your eyes and think this is just another vampire book, think again. I could not stop smiling and laughing as I read this one. Wright has a great ear for humor and she has brought that to this fun story that takes on all the many sometimes silly layers and conventions that vampire novels have evolved into lately.
There are the three levels of vampires, with the very appropriate names, the tough chick with a heart of gold (and not-so-flat chess, she will hasten to tell you) that is the heroine of our story. Then there is the messenger, that Sam figures is “blowing smoke up my arse” when he says she is wanted for the army. You get the picture.
Soon enough Sam finds herself head to head with an arrogant SOB who informs her that she might as well head home, because women didn’t join the Legion. The one she had just been invited to try out for, that is. And although she defeats Jared, the arrogant SOB who turns out to be her commander, in the end she is offered the opportunity to stay, as his co-commander.
Even though Jared may in his mind know he wants her like few others, there is the little problem of putting her “in her place”. Which just may be a bit harder then he imagines. Here Be Sexist Vampires, indeed!
Something Cool is Coming!
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I was catching up on one of my favorite authors, Richelle Mead (of Vampire Academy and much more) to see what she was up to the other day. She has been kinda outta the circuit these days what with the baby boy to take care of and all. You can send her congrats and stuff at her blog here. Her blog is always a fun site and she is one busy lady so if those nasty ex-KGB spies haven’t absconded with her yet, you just might want to check it out!
Meanwhile, I thought I would check out a very fun site that she often does a guest blog for, The League of Reluctant Adults. It is such a well-named blog, made up of fantasy writers who just chat together. Having hung out with fantasy writers most of my life, (hi Len!), I know that most of us are indeed reluctant adults. It is sometimes a wonder we get anything done!
Nicole Peeler was chatting about her latest release, Something Wikked This Way Comes, and it looks like a bit of pure fun. It will be a digital short story (sorry, no old school books for some of us) and feature our old friends Capitola, Shar and Moo from Tempests Legacy. We will be checking this out for a review very very soon. Especially since it is coming out January 17th – hey wait a minute that was a few days ago! Well, you will see it very soon. I promise! Heck- I just checked and our friends at Amazon don’t seem to carry it. Well, no worries. We will see what we can find, but be sure to see her very fine Tempest line to see what Moo and the crew are up to.
Until that time, I found a very funny little post by Allison Pang, the gal who inspired me to check out Hello Kitty a little more seriously. She is such a blast. She posted this picture of what she calls “Unicorn Poo” . Watch for her latest fantasy book A Sliver of Shadow, out now. Very cool tale of faeries the way I always imagined their lives might be. The girl can tell a tale!
And finally, Ellen Schrieber who writes those delicious Vampire Kisses books is on tour, even now as we write. She is doing a Dark Days of Winter Tour with Veronica Rossi creator of Under the Never Sky and Tahereh Mafi who penned Shatter Me. They are heading to warmer climates like California and Arizona (who can blame them?) and may be coming your way! Check out the schedule here for more info.
That’s the news for now folks- more later!!
Allison's Unicorn Poo!!
Title: Acquainted with the Night
Author: Piper Maitland
Release: November 29, 2011
Pages: 544
Genre: Vampire Romance
How this hot little book got past me in November I am not sure, but it is sizzling! We start with Caroline, who was raised by her archeologist Uncle after her parents died and is a tour guide. When her beloved Uncle is brutally murdered she returns to Greece, drawn by the odd correspondence he had just before his death with the mysterious Jude. She is soon caught up in an intrigue as strange anagrams on her uncle’s passport lead them to a monastery high on a cliff, and soon from there to a revelation that just may change everything she, and everyone, knows about the world.
Acquainted with the Night is a true classic tale of the battle with evil that makes the best vampire stories rise above the genre. In addition, there is the story of Caroline and Jude, one that seems to stretch back to before either of them were born. Is it kismet that they are together? Is it a curse? There is a prophecy that they need to fulfill – but if they do will it destroy all they know and cherish?
New Vampire Novels: Incubus Moon
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Title: Incubus Moon
Author: Andrew Cheney-Feid
Release: December 1 2011
Pages: 336
Genre: Urban Vampire
Anyone looking at Austen Iverson would say that he had it all, looks, charm, money, and all the sex from either gender that he could want. But all is not as it appears, as he finds out one day when his whole world collapses around him. His mother is dying, and she has a secret to reveal to him – that he is not her child but was adopted. She seems about to tell him who his real parents were, but then she dies. And with her death comes the great mystery – just who is he? In desperation he hold a séance, reaching out to her on the other side of the divide to find out the truth. But even here, the secret revealed is not what he expected. For instead of his mother’s voice, be hears another.
At the séance the voice he hears is a cold dark whisper, one that seems to come from every corner of the room. Like a room filled with serpents, the hissing whisper is heard, “you are not human…you are incubus.” Soon the whisper grows in intensity until it is a loud voice with a terrifying prophecy. For it tells him of an immortal has been awakened, one that is filled with monstrous evil and worse one that hungers for his blood. It hungers for the blood of the incubus, to be taken at the incubus moon.
He soon discovers that this being will take his blood and devour it to give him the power to rise in dominion over all of Mankind. He will be the instrument of his own people’s destruction. And he hasn’t much time to stop it – for the Incubus Moon will soon rise.
