The Accidental Vampire

by Lynsay Sands

Catch up on a series title

4 stars, could be 4.5

Back Cover:

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.

My Thoughts:

I loved the first books in the series. Then for some reason, I got them out of order. The latter books seemed to be missing the fun, and family that I'd grown to love. Good stories, but just not as warm. The Accidental Vampire, recaptures that warmth and love and fun. I loved the whole community, as well as the new community that is formed with the arrival of 5 male immortals. I loved the side romance with DJ and Mabel. I loved the relationship that formed with Elvi and Victor and how the other men all seemed to just join in for the ride. I loved how she learned something new about her life as an immortal and she had to act on it, immediately. For instance, she finds out that she can eat, so Load of the Car and lets get to the grocery store. All the immortals are cruising through the supermarket and tasting cookies, and flirting with the checker, and finding new foods for Elvi to try. Then she finds out that she can indeed sleep in a bed, instead of the coffin she'd been up til now. So, again, Load Up! Off to the furniture store, and here is Elvi and 4 hot immortals trying out beds. Imagine if you will Victor, Elvi and Harper all lying on a bed....turning left....turning right....nope to firm. Flying leap onto another bed....turning left...turning right.....too soft. Next bed, turning left....turning right...ahhhh! Just right. Kinda like a kinky, paranormal goldilocks!!!

I just love the community. The crazy neighbors and even the intrigue. I love the Dj/Mabel romance. I love way the story unfolds. I also love how Victor unfolds. He starts out jaded and disinterested, but ends up all soft and gooey on the outside, not just the inside. From rogue hunter to teddy bear. Ahhh!

Bite Me if You Can

by Lynsay Sands

I rated this a 4 stars.

Back Cover:

Once Bitten . . . One minute Leigh is walking home in the early hours of the morning, and the next a vampire is sinking his teeth into her neck. Turns out it was a rogue vampire marked for termination, but it does Leigh little good because the damage's already been done. She's become one of them.

Lucian Argeneau, hunter of rogue vampires, has been alive for over two thousand years, and there's very little to excite him anymore. Food has become tasteless, sex is ordinary. Then Leigh drops into his life. Suddenly he finds himself craving coffee . . . and imagining the sassy brunette atop the black satin sheets on his nice big bed.

It's Lucian's job now to enlighten Leigh on the inner workings of being immortal . . . and tutoring her is igniting a fire in him that hasn't burned in centuries. But until they stop a renegade bloodsucker from destroying the human race, passion will have to wait!

My Thoughts:

I really love this series. I read one out of order recently and didn't like that much, but the book itself was good. Lucian is someone we meet in A Quick Bite the first in the series. He is the the uncle to the Argeneau's that we've met so far and an warrior to boot. He's lived 2000 years and lost his lifemate and children in the fall of Atlantis. He is now a rogue hunter and comes across Leigh just after a rogue turns her. He begrudgingly takes her under his wing to see her through the change and teach her what it means to be an immortal. He doesn't do a very good job sometimes, since he has kept himslef apart from others for so long.

Leigh is smart and independant and the perfect match for Lucian. Because of her, Lucian comes to terms with those in his family he has previously alienated. He is misunderstood. All he ever really wanted was to protect his family and his people.

I loved that Lucian's rogue hunting protege's were being so careful with Leigh and treating her with just gentle kidd gloves. I loved that Rachel (who doesn't even really like Lucian) could read him so easily. I even love Julius. He may be huge as a monster and have a drool problem but, he's got a heart of gold. (it just so happens that he's a Neopolitan Mastiff)

I'll be looking forward to reading Thomas' Story very soon.

Book Reviews

I'm really very far behind in reviewing and posting my books for the Summer Reading Challenge 09. So, I'll be summing them up here.

The Duke and I by Julia Quinn

#10-title with Title (royalty)~~~Rated 4.5 stars

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Daphne was so much fun, and Simon, well I just love an underdog. He started off as a tortured hero, and the interplay between him and Daphne was great fun. I also loved the whole Bridgerton family. Super fun and heartwarming.

The Nerd Who Loved Me by Vicki Lewis Thompson

#7 Unlikely Hero/Heroine ~~~Rated 4 Stars

A Vegas Showgirl and a Nerdy Accountant. Match made in Heaven right? Lainie Terrel finds herself on the run with Harry Ambrewster. I totally loved this couple. The chemistry was Hot, and the entire cast of characters were so much fun. Outside of the villain, there was not a character I didn't love. I will read more about Ms. Thompson's nerds!

MacKenzie's Mission by Linda Howard

#4 Title published before 2000 ~~~Rated 3.75 Stars

I have definately a mixed opinion of this book. I loved Joe MacKenzie sooo much from MacKenzie's Mountain. He was 16, and so interesting. However, fast forward and He wasn't all that intersting to me. I liked him, but didn't see the depth in him that I'd seen from him previously. I liked Caroline so much though. I found her complex and tough, but with that soft vulnerability that was so appealing. I figured out some of the mystery, but that is fine with me. I don't particularly like mystery, so for me it is more about how are they going to resolve it.

Vampire, Interrupted by Lynsay Sands

#8 Title with Author "S" name like me! ~~~Rated 4 Stars

This is the story of Marguerite Argeneau, the Matriarch of the Argeneau clan. We've seen her try to match her sons and daughter and nephews, Brother-in-law......You get the picture. She is on her first assignment as a private investigator with "Tiny" her mortal boss. Christian Notte as hired them to help research and find out who his mother was. She meets Christian's father Julius who refuses to tell anyone who Christian's mother was. As it happens, Julius turns out to be Marguerite's true Lifemate. She has trust issues since her late husband was able to both read her and control her. I liked Julius and Marguerite. I liked Tiny alot, and want him to find an Immortal as a Lifemate. I love those Notte men. So hot and fun. These Argeneau's are such a hit. I love them all.

Devil of the Highlands

So this is going to be a quick review, cuz I'm sick. The fever is making it difficult to type here as I'm buried under a mountain of blankets one minute and trying to ice myself down the next. **grimace**

I read Devil of the Highlands by Lynsay Sands for the Angel/Devil title of the Readers of Romance Spring Readers Challenge. It was really good. I gave it a 4.5 stars. I like her characters. They have misunderstandings and miscommunications but Ms. Sands does not do the typical romance thing and drag it out or have the characters do really stupid stuff to "protect" each other from their feelings.....

I liked the interplay between the Hero/Heroine! I liked the passion. I thought I had the mystery figured out, but there was a twist for me. Good solid book.

A Bite to Remember

Author Lynsay Sands

Pages 362

rated 4 stars

Back Cover:

Rule #1: Never get involved with someone who won't be there for you when the sun comes up.

Once bitten, twice shy, and sexy PI Jackie Morrisey wasn't going there again. Vincent Argeneau may be the hottest guy she's ever met, living or dead, but she's here to stop a killer from turning this vampire into dust, not to jump into bed with him.

Rule #2: Never kiss a vampire...it can be a pain in the neck.Okay, so Vincent's had four hundred years to perfect his kissing skills, and he does look rather tempting when he runs around the house shirtless. He's also charming, protective...did we mention he can kiss? Jackie needs to be on her guard, or else she'll have to come up with a new rule:

If you're going to fall in love with a vampire, make sure it's a bite to remember.

My Thoughts:

I just enjoy these Argeneau's. I think they are fun and light, and sexy. I felt heartbroken for Jackie upon learning of her past with the "immortals" of this world. Being controlled and manipulated to do things that are against your morals, in order to humiliate yourself and your family. Then to come to the aid of an "immortal" and find yourself attracted, is a stretch. However, Ms. Sands accomplishes this with grace and a sense of humor. Jackie is won over by the true character of Vincent and he is won over as well. Add in a giant of a mortal named Tiny who can cook like a God, and a half dozen fabulous Italian immortal hotties, and what's not to love? I can't wait to read more and especially add in the Notte family. Hubba Hubba!!

Tall, Dark and Hungry

Tall, Dark and Hungry by Lynsay Sands

Spooky title

rate 4

Back Cover:
It bit: New York hotels cost an arm and a leg, and Terri had flown from England to help plan her cousin's wedding. The new in-laws offered lodging. But they were a weird bunch. There was the sometimes-chipper-sometimes-brooding Lucern, and the wacky stage-actor, Vincent. (She couldn't imagine Broadway casting a hungrier singing-and-dancing Dracula.). And then there was Bastien. Just looking into his eyes, Terri had to admit she was falling for him - someone even taller, darker and hungrier than the other two. She was feeling a mite peckish herself. And if she stayed with him, those bloodsucking hotel owners wouldn't get her!

My thoughts:
I enjoyed this book! I liked it because there was very little about the "changing" and more about the relationship. I love that cool efficient Bastien, became forgetful and distracted. I love that he got kinda silly! I like that Terri was fun and open! I just enjoyed th begeezes out of this book!
4 stars

Single White Vampire by Lynsay Sands

SWM -- Successful biographer of family; books recently categorized as "paranormal romances." Doesn't like sunbathing, garlicky dinners or religious symbols. Likes old-fashioned values; spicy Mexican dishes; warm, nice-smelling necks and plump red lips. Currently unaware he's seeking a woman to share eternity.

SWF -- Newest editor of Romance at Roundhouse Publishing. Has recently discovered a legacy author dying to be broken out. (The tall, dark, handsome writer just needs go to romance conventions and be introduced to his fans.) Dislikes "difficult, rude, obnoxious pig-headed writers." Currently unaware she's met the man of her wildest dreams.

For some reason Lucerne slipped my interest in the first 2 installments. I don't remember him at all in "A Quick Bite" and he played a somewhat brief, supporting role in "Love Bites". (sounds like an athletic supporter. hmm) Anyway, this is his story. He is the oldest son of Marguerite, and the older brother to Bastien, Etienne, and Lissiana. He is 600 + years old, and hasn't found a mate yet. Can you guess why?! Yep, he's surly, and reclusive, but with a heart of gold. His new career is as a writer. He's written accounts of his parents love, his sisters, and Etienne's. They've been marketed as paranormal romance and his new editor (enter beautiful Kate) wants him to promote. He gets tricked by Momma to go to a Romantic Times convention, where the sparks fly between him and Kate. Thus the hilarity ensues. Kate, finds out he's really a vampire, and masterminds the robbery of a nearby blood bank. She also lets him feed off her, but that can only happen when they are ...hmm mmm...being intimate. So, into the men's room they go! (right, like you've never done it in the men's room of a hotel, during a convention! Puhleeeze!) During the costume ball, he gets his codpiece stuck on the linens and she has to climb under the table to "unstick" him. They finally..uh, get together! To remember that noone has condoms. Zoinks! That's pretty funny too! So they finally fall in love and she has to decide in the end, whether her one true love, is worth the sacrifice of seeing her family again. (Cue suspensful music!....) I liked this book alot. I would recommend it to anyone who likes a good laugh as they watch 2 people fall in love. I give it a 4 stars for sure.

The Brat

Who Would Marry...

All the knights had heard tales of Lady Murie, Kind Edward III's goddaughter and much feted favorite. It was said she was stunningly beautiful, with bright blue eyes, golden hair and a sweet smile. It was also said that the king had doted on the girl and spoiled her rotten. Despite his need, when Sir Balan saw her howling ans sobbing, Murie was the last person he wanted to wed.

...The Brat?

But all that glitters is not gold, and sometimes diamonds look very, very rough. There was more to Murie than meets the eye, and Balan soon learned that he'd be lucky indeed to deserve such a bride. Yet he was not the only one to discern the truth, and the other hopeful hubby was not quite as honorable. A plot was afoot. Soon would come a reckoning, a time to show who was chivalrous, who was a cad...and who had won the love of a heart unspoiled.

I liked this book quite a bit. It is not my favorite Lynsay Sands, but it was a good story. I liked alot how the author took care of misunderstandings without having to cause grief between the hero and heroine. That misunderstanding stuff turning into a bid deal, gets old after a while. I didn't fall for the secondary characters like I usually do. they were good, but not so well developed and funny, that I hoped they had their own story. I will read more by this author for sure. She brings humor and sensitivity to her characters that I like alot.