On The Nightstand: Vampires

On the Nightstand
books about vampires
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Carmilla
by J. Sheridan Le Fanu
Classics, Horror, Gothic, Vampires | Published: 2013 (first 1872) | Goodreads | my rating: 4
Predating Bram Stoker' Dracula, Carmilla is the ultimate gothic vampire tale—stylish, menacing, sensual, and spellbinding

You are mine, you shall be mine, you and I are one for ever.

When a mysterious carriage crashes outside their castle home in Styria, Austria, Laura and her father agree to take in its injured passenger, a young woman named Carmilla. Delighted to have some company of her own age, Laura is instantly drawn to Carmilla. But as their friendship grows, Carmilla's countenance changes and she becomes increasingly secretive and volatile. As Carmilla's moods shift and change, Laura starts to become ill, experiencing fiendish nightmares, her health deteriorating night after night. It is not until she and her father, increasingly concerned for Laura's well-being, set out on a trip to discover more about the mysterious Carmilla that the terrifying truth reveals itself.

Dowry of Blood
by S.T. Gibson
Fantasy, Horror, LGBTQ, Vampires | Published: 2021 | Goodreads
A lyrical and dreamy reimagining of Dracula’s brides, A DOWRY OF BLOOD is a story of desire, obsession, and emancipation.

Saved from the brink of death by a mysterious stranger, Constanta is transformed from a medieval peasant into a bride fit for an undying king. But when Dracula draws a cunning aristocrat and a starving artist into his web of passion and deceit, Constanta realizes that her beloved is capable of terrible things. Finding comfort in the arms of her rival consorts, she begins to unravel their husband’s dark secrets.

With the lives of everyone she loves on the line, Constanta will have to choose between her own freedom and her love for her husband. But bonds forged by blood can only be broken by death.

Dracula
by Bram Stoker
Classic, Horror, Gothic, Vampires | Published: 2003 (first 1897) | Goodreads
When Jonathan Harker visits Transylvania to help Count Dracula purchase a London house, he makes horrifying discoveries in his client's castle. Soon afterwards, disturbing incidents unfold in England: an unmanned ship is wrecked; strange puncture marks appear on a young woman's neck; and a lunatic asylum inmate raves about the imminent arrival of his 'Master'. In the ensuing battle of wits between the sinister Count and a determined group of adversaries, Bram Stoker created a masterpiece of the horror genre, probing into questions of identity, sanity and the dark corners of Victorian sexuality and desire.

WATCH OUT: waiting for delivery of this puzzle before I start up the audio version Dracula

Bran Castle
art and puzzle by Holly Carden (here)
(1000 pcs)

The Southern Book Club's Guide to Slaying Vampires by Grady Hendrix

The Southern Book Club's Guide to Slaying Vampires
by Grady Hendrix
narrated by Bahni Turpin

Published: 2020
Publisher: Quirk Books
Hardback: 404
Rating: 5
Horror, Vampires | Goodreads | Website

First sentence(s):
This story ends in blood.

Zombie sighting:
You just want to give me a bunch of pills and make me a zombie.
-chapter 25

Patricia Campbell had always planned for a big life, but after giving up her career as a nurse to marry an ambitious doctor and become a mother, Patricia's life has never felt smaller. The days are long, her kids are ungrateful, her husband is distant, and her to-do list is never really done. The one thing she has to look forward to is her book club, a group of Charleston mothers united only by their love for true-crime and suspenseful fiction. In these meetings, they're more likely to discuss the FBI's recent siege of Waco as much as the ups and downs of marriage and motherhood.

But when an artistic and sensitive stranger moves into the neighborhood, the book club's meetings turn into speculation about the newcomer. Patricia is initially attracted to him, but when some local children go missing, she starts to suspect the newcomer is involved. She begins her own investigation, assuming that he's a Jeffrey Dahmer or Ted Bundy. What she uncovers is far more terrifying, and soon she—and her book club—are the only people standing between the monster they've invited into their homes and their unsuspecting community.

My two-bits:

Loved this book club and its penchant for true crime. The interplay of reality and vampires was great food for thought.
~*~
* Listened to audiobook version.
* part of ibc book club (here)
* part of Fraterfest (here)

Dracula by Bram Stoker

Dracula
by Bram Stoker
narrated by Tavia Gilbert and J.P. Guimont

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Published: 1897
Publisher: Archibald Constable and Company, Westminster
Genre: Classic, Horror, Vampires
Rating: 4

First sentence(s):
3 May. Bistritz.—Left Munich at 8:35 p.m., on 1st May, arriving at Vienna early next morning; should have arrived at 6:46, but train was an hour late.

A junior solicitor travels to Transylvania to meet with an important client, the mysterious Count Dracula. Ignoring the dire warnings of local townsfolk, he allows himself to be seduced by the count’s courtly manners and erudite charm. Too late, the solicitor realizes that he is a prisoner of Castle Dracula, his guards a trio of voluptuous young women with sharp white teeth and a taste for blood.

Soon thereafter, the solicitor’s fiancée, Mina, visits a friend on the English coast. The town is full of speculation over a Russian ship run aground nearby, its crew missing, the dead body of its captain, crucifix in hand, lashed to the wheel. A giant dog was seen leaping from the deck before disappearing into the countryside. The ship’s cargo: fifty boxes of Transylvanian dirt. As the beautiful Mina will soon learn, Count Dracula has arrived.


My two-bits:

Classic gothic vibe and slow pacing. Not as scary as I thought it would be.

~*~
* Listened to audiobook version.

* HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

Monsterland by Michael Okon

Monsterland
by Michael Okon

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Just released: October 13, 2017
Publisher: Wordfire Press LLC
Genre: YA, Horror, Vampire, Werewolves, Zombies
ebook
Rating: 3

series:
Monsterland
book two - tba

First sentence(s):
The sky was a sparkling, powder blue, mosquitoes droned lazily over the tepid water, frogs croaked messages while they sunbathed on waxy lily pads.

Welcome to Monsterland--the scariest place on Earth.

Wyatt Baldwin's senior year is not going well. His parents divorce, then his dad mysteriously dies. He's not exactly comfortable with his new stepfather, Carter White, either. An ongoing debate with his best friends Melvin and Howard Drucker over which monster is superior has gotten stale. He'd much rather spend his days with beautiful and popular Jade. However, she's dating the brash high-school quarterback Nolan, and Wyatt thinks he doesn't stand a chance.

But everything changes when Wyatt and his friends are invited to attend the grand opening of Monsterland, a groundbreaking theme park where guests can interact with vampires in Vampire Village, be chased by werewolves on the River Run, and walk among the dead in Zombieville.

With real werewolves, vampires and zombies as the main attractions, what could possibly go wrong?

PeekAbook:



My two-bits:

This amusing light horror read captured the amusement park setting with the added element of monsters on the loose. Although I wanted a little more on the why's and how's of it.

~*~
* review copy courtesy of blog tour

Happy release: Monsterland by Michael Okon

Monsterland
by Michael Okon
-Horror, Paranormal, Vampires, Werewolves, Zombies
Release date: October 13, 2017
Amazon | Goodreads
Welcome to Monsterland—the scariest place on Earth. Wyatt Baldwin's senior year is not going well. His parents divorce, then his dad mysteriously dies. He’s not exactly comfortable with his new stepfather, Carter White, either. An ongoing debate with his best friends Melvin and Howard Drucker over which monster is superior has gotten stale. He’d much rather spend his days with beautiful and popular Jade. However, she’s dating the brash high-school quarterback Nolan, and Wyatt thinks he doesn’t stand a chance. But everything changes when Wyatt and his friends are invited to attend the grand opening of Monsterland, a groundbreaking theme park where guests can interact with vampires in Vampire Village, be chased by werewolves on the River Run, and walk among the dead in Zombieville. With real werewolves, vampires and zombies as the main attractions, what could possibly go wrong?

Excerpt:

Chapter 1
The Everglades

The sky was a sparkling, powder blue, mosquitoes droned lazily over the tepid water, frogs croaked messages while they sunbathed on waxy lily pads. The fire he created burned bright, rabbit roasting on a spit made from hickory, the juices dripping to hiss in the flames. Seven of them lay in scattered repose, enjoying the late afternoon lull—two napped, the others tossed a stuffed fur in the form of a ball around the clearing, hooting with amusement when it rolled into the brush. They traveled in a pack, his group, his makeshift family, foraging together, hiding in plain sight. It had been that way for generations. But the glades were getting smaller, the humans invasive.

The sun started its slow descent into the horizon, hot pink and lilac clouds rippling against the empty canvas of the sky. Their color deepened as the sky filled, the rosy hue morphing into a burnt orange as the sun hid behind the condensation. The air thickened, moisture causing the leaves to lie heavily against the branches. Here and there, fireflies lit the gloom, doing a placid ballet in the humid air. The men moved closer as the sun sank into the western treetops, the fading sky promising another clear day tomorrow in the Everglades despite the moving ceiling of clouds.

A lone hawk cried out, disturbing the peace of the glade. Huge birds answered, flapping their wings, creating a cacophony of swamp sounds. The area became a concerto of animals responding to the disruption of their home—wild screams, squeaks, and complaints of the invasion of their territory.

The lead male stood, his head tilted. He heard it again. It was music, the strange organization of sounds, predictable as well as dangerous. Where those rhythms originated meant only one thing—they were not alone. They all rose, tense and alert, searching the waterway. Billy pointed, his dirty hands silently parting an outcropping of trees to expose a flat-bottom boat with strangers floating slowly toward them. It was filled with people, excitedly searching the banks of the swamp, their expensive khaki bush clothes ringed with sweat. Many held huge cameras. It was obviously a film crew, invasive, nosy individuals looking for something, anything, to enhance their lives. Men’s voices drifted on the turgid air. Billy stood, sniffing, his mates following suit. He glanced at the sky, gauging the time, his eyes opening wide. It was late. The bald top of the moon peeked over the ridge in the south, the sky graying to twilight with each passing second. Night came fast and furious in the swamp, dropping a curtain of darkness, extinguishing all light except for the beacon of the full moon. That chalk-white orb floated upward, indifferent to the consequences of its innocent victims. A halo of lighter blue surrounded the globe, limning the trees silver, the cobwebs in the trees becoming chains of dripping diamonds in the coming night.

What were the interlopers doing here? Billy thought furiously. This was their territory. The humans didn’t belong in the swamp. The moon continued its trip to the heavens, the familiar agony beginning in his chest. Billy fought the demons churning within his body, feeling the pain of metamorphosis. He curled inward, hunching his shoulders, the curse of his nature making his spine pull until his tendons and muscles tore from their human positions to transform into something wicked. A howl erupted from his throat, followed by another, and then another. Grabbing handfuls of dirt, he tried to fight the awful change, but, as the sun dipped to its fiery death, the moon took control of his life, and the unnatural force tore through his unwilling body. Reason fled; his heart raced. Falling on his hands and knees, he let loose a keening cry as his face elongated, his body changing into a canine, fangs filling his mouth. He raced in a circle in a demented dance, knowing his fellow pack members did the same thing. Slowing, he regulated his labored breathing, forcing the icy calmness he needed to keep some semblance of reason. He peered through the dense brush. Lights from the search party bobbed in the distance. The odor, the stench of humanity, filled the clearing.

He turned, digging furiously on the ground, throwing dirt on the flames, hiding their existence. It was no good. Discovery would ruin everything. No one could live with their kind. Humans brought disease, humans brought anger, humans brought hatred. They were there; he could smell them, see their clumsy bodies invading his home. “They’ve found us,” he growled in the special language they used. “Run!” he barked as he turned to his pack, watching his friends’ naked skin transform until it was covered with the same silvered fur. They cried out in unison at the pain, howling with the injustice, and then ran in fear from the interlopers threatening their habitat.

About the author:

Michael Okon is an award-winning and best-selling author of multiple genres including paranormal, thriller, horror, action/adventure and self-help. He graduated from Long Island University with a degree in English, and then later received his MBA in business and finance. Coming from a family of writers, he has storytelling is his DNA. Michael has been writing from as far back as he can remember, his inspiration being his love for films and their impact on his life. From the time he saw The Goonies, he was hooked on the idea of entertaining people through unforgettable characters.

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Hunting in Bruges by E.J. Stevens

Hunting in Bruges
(Hunters' Guild #1)
by E.J. Stevens

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Release date: November 11, 2014
Publisher: Sacred Oaks Press
Genre: Ghosts, Paranormal, Urban Fantasy, Vampires
Paperback: 274 pages
Rating: 4

Hunters' Guild series:
Hunting in Bruges
Hunting in Paris - coming in 2015

The only thing worse than being a Hunter in the fae-ridden city of Harborsmouth, is hunting vamps in Bruges.

Being shipped off to Belgium sucks. The medieval city of Bruges is quaint, but the local Hunters' Guild is understaffed, the canals are choked with dead bodies, and there's no shortage of supernatural predators as likely suspects.

On second thought, maybe Bruges isn't so bad after all.

With a desire to prove herself, protect the innocent, and advance within the ranks of the Hunters' Guild, Jenna Lehane hits the cobbled streets of Bruges with blades at the ready. Someone, or something, is murdering tourists and dumping their bodies in the city's scenic canals. With the help of a mysterious stranger, Jenna begins to piece together clues that are dotted throughout the city like blood spatter.

Determined to stop the killings, Jenna delves into a bloody local history that only raises more questions--but some secrets are best left buried. Jenna must put her combat training to the test as she struggles to unearth the truth about an ancient enemy.

Hunting in Bruges is the first novel in the Hunters' Guild urban fantasy series set in the world of Ivy Granger.

Zombie sighting:
Today he was wearing a lime green patterned scarf that looked paisley, but on closer inspection was a riot of white and red zombie unicorns.
-chapter 16

My two-bits:

I found this to be primarily about paranormal fighting action in an awesome location, Bruges. The different historical bits and descriptions of sights in town are what caught my interest the most.

Jenna is definitely one to add to my list of kick-ass fiction heroines.

If you like the Ivy Granger series, then you will like this one too as it takes you into another aspect and perspective of that paranormal world.

About the author:
E.J. Stevens is the author of the Spirit Guide young adult series, the bestselling Ivy Granger urban fantasy series, and the Hunters' Guild urban fantasy series.

When E.J. isn't at her writing desk she enjoys dancing along seaside cliffs, singing in graveyards, and sleeping in faerie circles.

E.J. currently resides in a magical forest on the coast of Maine where she finds daily inspiration for her writing.

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by E.J. Stevens
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Author's book playlist:
We asked author E.J. Stevens what songs best represent the characters and story of her new Urban Fantasy novel, Hunting in Bruges. This is what she had to say.

Hey everyone! I am so excited about the upcoming release of Hunting in Bruges, the first novel in the Hunters' Guild urban fantasy series. This book is filled with quirky characters, bloodthirsty paranormal predators, and high octane fight scenes. So, just a warning, some of this music is pretty intense.

Hunting in Bruges Playlist

The Razor's Edge by Digital Daggers

Trophy by Bat for Lashes

Heartbeats by The Knife

Vanished by Crystal Castles

Heads Will Roll by Yeah Yeah Yeahs

When Anger Shows by The Editors

Walking with a Ghost by Tegan and Sara

How by The Neighborhood

Bones by Ms Mr

The Dreaming Moon by The Magnetic Fields

Arsenal by Kidneythieves

Leaving Tonight by The Birthday Massacre

What Else Is There? by Royksopp

Scorch the Ground by Seabound

Approaching Light Speed by Wolfsheim

Dead Stars by Covenant

The Bomb by Neuroticfish

Let Me Be Your Armor by Assemblage 23

Bullet by Covenant

Ghost by VNV Nation

Wreath of Barbs by Wumpscut

What songs are on your Hunting in Bruges playlist?

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by E.J. Stevens
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--~ Blog Tour Giveaway ~--signup to win this book
at Goodreads -expires Nov 11, 2014
~*~
* review copy and guest post courtesy of book tour

* added this to my Bookish Bingo challenge - Serial Killers

Guest post: Hunting in Bruges by E.J. Stevens

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by E.J. Stevens
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Hunting in Bruges, the first novel in the Hunters' Guild series, is set in Bruges, Belgium and author E.J. Stevens is taking us on a spooky trip to Bruges' Top 10 Spooky Places.

Let's see what terrifying places E.J. has planned for our tour.

Top 10 Spooky Places in Bruges

The charming medieval city of Bruges, Belgium may seem like an unusual setting for an urban fantasy novel. The city is known for its tranquil canals, historic buildings, and romantic vistas.  But the moment I saw a picture of Bruges, my mind began populating its cobblestone streets with bloodthirsty vampires, flesh eating ghouls, monstrous fae, and wailing ghosts.

Imagine my surprise when I discovered that there really was something sinister in the city's bloody history.  My research into Bruges began in earnest, and last year I completed my book research with a trip to Belgium. The pictures included with this post are from that research trip. These photos are taken during daylight hours, but I can assure you that the atmosphere becomes decidedly spooky when the sun goes down over West Flanders.  Do ghosts walk the streets of Bruges?

I will let you decide.

The Canals
The canals play an important part in my novel, Hunting in Bruges. Jenna Lehane, a Hunter with a troubled past, arrives in Bruges to discover that something is killing humans and disposing of their bodies in the canals. Not only are the canals filling with corpses, but there are supernatural horrors that call the canals their home.  While I was visiting Bruges, the canals were the watery grave for more than one unfortunate creature.  Did these ducks, pigeons, and small mammals die from natural causes, or is there something deadly lurking within these dark waters?

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Jerusalem Church (Jeruzalemkerk)
I have to admit that I was completely unprepared for the experience I had within the stone walls of Jerusalem Church. The macabre altarpiece and tomb were ghoulish, but the truly terrifying part of this church lay in a crawlspace in the vaulted chapel in the back. A cloth wrapped body is on display, and though I've read that this is a replica of Christ's tomb, there is something chilling about that small chamber. My travel companion bolted out the door...and I wasn't far behind. (Note: No pictures came out of the rear tomb. The photos were completely black.)

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Beguinage (Begijnhof)
Beguines were lay sisters who lived and dressed as nuns, but did not take vows. The Beguinage continues to be a place of silence within the bustling city--a silence that can seem downright eerie. During my trip, the courtyard was filled with a field of wilting daffodils. Beauty with an edge of decay seemed to be the common theme of this place. One house has been preserved in its original rustic state and visitors can wander the maze of tiny rooms filled with antique furniture and aging lace to see the way in which the Beguines lived. I swear that someone, or something, was watching me during my entire visit. With every creak of the old wooden floors, my unease grew and I made a hasty retreat to Minnewater Park.

~*~
Basilica of the Holy Blood (Heilig-Bloedbasiliek)
12th century basilica located on Burg square in the heart of Bruges. The church houses the relic of the Holy Blood.  The Holy Blood is venerated daily, and is paraded through the streets of Bruges during the Procession of the Holy Blood on Ascension Day.

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Saint John's Hospital (Sint-Janshospitaal)
This place is not for the faint of heart.  The 11th century hospital is one of the oldest in Europe and contains the often grotesque artwork of Hans Memling, as well as many antique surgical implements. The artwork and objects of torture are absolutely horrifying and the depictions of nuns in their traditional garb had me jumping at my shadow.

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Another five notable places to add to any ghost tour of Bruges are the Spookhuis, Retsin's Lucifernum, Belfort, Blind Donkey Alley, and a viewing of Heironymous Bosch's haunting triptych The Last Judgement at the Groeningemuseum.

To learn more about E.J. Stevens and her books, connect through Goodreads, Twitter, and sign-up for her newsletter.  There is an interesting article about Hunting in Bruges in the Belgian newspaper Het Nieuwsblad.  Hunting in Bruges releases November 11th and is available for pre-order on Amazon. You can add the Hunters' Guild series here on Goodreads.

Readers, was this your first visit to Bruges, Belgium?

Have you experienced anything supernatural in and around Bruges?

What did you think of E.J. Stevens' picks for spooky places?
~end

Guest post created by E.J. Stevens, author of Hunting in Bruges
© 2014. All rights reserved.

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by E.J. Stevens
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READ more about this world...

--~ Blog Tour Giveaway ~--signup to win this book
at Goodreads -expires Nov 11, 2014

A Discovery of Witches by Deborah Harkness

A Discovery of Witches
by Deborah Harkness

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Published: 2011
Publisher: Penguin Books
Genre: Romance, Vampires, Witches
Paperback: 592 pages
Rating: 5

All Souls series:
A Discovery of Witches
Shadow of Night
The Book of Life

Deborah Harkness’s sparkling debut, A Discovery of Witches, has brought her into the spotlight and galvanized fans around the world. In this tale of passion and obsession, Diana Bishop, a young scholar and a descendant of witches, discovers a long-lost and enchanted alchemical manuscript, Ashmole 782, deep in Oxford's Bodleian Library. Its reappearance summons a fantastical underworld, which she navigates with her leading man, vampire geneticist Matthew Clairmont.

Harkness has created a universe to rival those of Anne Rice, Diana Gabaldon, and Elizabeth Kostova, and she adds a scholar's depth to this riveting tale of magic and suspense. The story continues in book two, Shadow of Night, and concludes with The Book of Life, coming from Viking in July 2014.

My two-bits:

I have not read very many witch-based stories and was very impressed with this one.

The world-building has just the right blend of magic and lore to make it "real". Along with witches, vampire and daemon presence and history are introduced.

A romantic/love relationship between a witch and vampire drives most of this read along with alliances made to setup for the rest of this trilogy.

No gory scenes despite action scenes. So, curious to see if that will come in the next two books.

Loved how the witch house was incorporated into the story as a character. Like Hogwarts in J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter series, the Bishop home had it mysteries, quirks and ghosts.

--~ Book Giveaway ~--
signup to win this book
~*~
* added this to my Bookish Bingo challenge - square: Witches

Blitz: Sanguinary by Margo Bond Collins

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Here's a new vampire tale to help get into the Halloween season...

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Sanguinary
A Night Shift Novel
by Margo Bond Collins
Just release: October 8, 2014
Amazon | Goodreads
Only fifty years left before vampires rule the world.

When Dallas police detective Cami Davis joined the city's vampire unit, she planned to use the job as a stepping-stone to a better position in the department.

But she didn't know then what she knows now: there's a silent war raging between humans and vampires, and the vampires are winning.

So with the help of a disaffected vampire and an ex-cop addict, Cami is going undercover, determined to solve a series of recent murders, discover a way to overthrow the local Sanguinary government, and, in the process, help win the war for the human race.

But can she maintain her own humanity in the process? Or will Cami find herself, along with the rest of the world, pulled under a darkness she cannot oppose?

~*~
Excerpt:

"Hey, Bradley." I beckoned the crime-scene tech, who had finally arrived and was snapping on gloves.

"Is that a piece of paper under the vic's head?"

He bent down over my shoulder to get a clearer view from my line of sight. "Looks like it's tangled in her hair," he said. He pulled a pair of long tweezers out of his kit and snagged the sliver. "Yep. Looks like it has a word written on it . . ." We both peered at the brownish, spidery writing.

"Sanguinary," I said. "Is that written in blood?"

"Maybe. I'll get the lab to run a basic analysis on it. If it's blood, we'll be able to let you know pretty quick if it's human and if so, what type. DNA will take longer."

"Sounds good." I stared at the woman a little longer. Her dark hair—almost the same color as mine—spilled out around her, matted with dark, coagulating blood. The two bloody marks on her neck shone like black stars on a white background.

Vampire.

I knew that if I lifted her dress, there would be other puncture wounds all over the body, and strange symbols carved across her skin—pentagrams within circles and other ritualistic signs. Exactly like the others. Ten murders in the four weeks since the beginning of September—all centered in downtown Dallas, and many with affluent victims whose families demanded action.

The department had been in a barely suppressed uproar.

I stood up, my knees popping a little. Five years ago, they wouldn't have done that.

And five years before that? Vampires hadn't existed, except in books and B-movies.

It took time for the world to believe. We hadn't even realized how to fight back when they'd first shown up.

This victim's ragged, bloody fingernails suggested that she had tried to resist, but obviously failed.

The red dress she wore would have originally matched the color of the relatively scant splashes of blood surrounding her, but those stains had dried to a muddy brown, the same color as the writing on the paper caught in her hair.

Her clothing suggested that she'd been at the opera that evening, though the manager, roused from her bed, swore that the building had been cleared and empty when she left.

One black, high-heel shoe lay several feet away, toppled over onto its side, the heel broken, as if she had stumbled out of it when it failed her as she ran from a pursuer.

Sanguinary.

I'd heard the word before from vampires I had taken down—whispered as a threat, shouted as a warning: the Sanguinary is coming, the Sanguinary will kill you all.

The Sanguinary is here.

It was why I was about to go undercover among the vampires.

~*~
Guest post by Margo Bond Collins:

My Favorite Vampire Hunters in Film and Television

In Sanguinary, Cami Davis is a detective on the Dallas police force, and part of an anti-vampire squad. My depiction of her is absolutely influenced by my love of vampire hunters in film and television. Here's a list of some of my favorite vampire hunters:

Buffy: Because what’s not to love about a snarky blonde cheerleader with a destiny to be a vampire slayer? Add Joss Whedon’s particular brand of brilliance, and Buffy is still one of my favorite vampire hunters, even more than fifteen years after the television series first aired.

The Winchester Brothers: Normally, these are top five lists. But I’m going to count Sam and Dean Winchester from the television series Supernatural together—it’s virtually impossible to consider them any other way. Technically, Sam and Dean are monster hunters in general, and vampires make up only a small percentage of their hunts—but since Dean was once briefly turned into a vampire and Sam had to contemplate beheading his brother, I think it counts. Plus: they’re just so beautiful.

Peter Vincent: I know that the 2011 remake of Fright Night was not exactly a favorite of either critics or fans. But I love, love, love David Tennant in the role of the stage magician whose dark past makes him a vampire expert.

Blade, Whistler, and Abigail Whistler (I'm counting these guys together, too!): I love the way the Blade film series uses the conventions of vampire film and myth. The dhampir (or half-vampire) as a vampire hunter is one of my favorite semi-obscure vampire myths, and Wesley Snipes does a nice job of being a taciturn, tortured hero in the dhampir role. Film scholar Jeffrey Weinstock has claimed that the vampire film is always about technology, and Whistler (Kris Kristofferson) is the consummate tech guy. Finally, the addition of Abigail Whistler brings the kick-ass heroine into the series, making it just about perfect, as far as I’m concerned.

Pike: In the original film version of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, she ends up with Pike, a mechanic whose best friend is turned into a vampire. I like Pike because, like Elle in my book Legally Undead, he doesn’t want to kill vampires. In fact, he packs up to get out of town. But then he sticks around to help Buffy figure out that she is, as he says, “the guy. The chosen guy.”

I really wanted to find a film or TV version of Van Helsing to include in this list, but I just couldn’t. The movie Van Helsing was simply laughable, and the Van Helsing character in the various Dracula movies doesn’t seem strong enough. I’d love to hear about any Van Helsings or other vampire hunters I might have missed who should be considered!

~*~

About the Author:

Margo Bond Collins is the author of urban fantasy, contemporary romance, and paranormal mysteries. She has published a number of novels, including Sanguinary, Taming the Country Star, Legally Undead, Waking Up Dead, and Fairy, Texas.

She lives in Texas with her husband, their daughter, and several spoiled pets. Although writing fiction is her first love, she also teaches college-level English courses online. She enjoys reading romance and paranormal fiction of any genre and spends most of her free time daydreaming about heroes, monsters, cowboys, and villains, and the strong women who love them—and sometimes fight them.

Connect with Margo:

Amazon Author Page
MargoBondCollins@gmail.com
Website
Blog
Twitter: @MargoBondCollin
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Sign up to join the Sanguinary Blog Blitz: here

Vampires

Elsie Clarke and the Vampire Hairdresser
by Ged Adamson
Release date: September 3, 2013
For this month's Vamps vs. Zombies event at My Shelf Confessions, I wanted to feature this super cute book vampire book...

PeekAbook:

Elsie Clarke And The Vampire Hairdresser from Gerard on Vimeo.

What will help Elsie overcome hear fear of haircuts? Why a vampire hairdresser, of course!

Elsie hates getting her haircut. There's absolutely nothing more terrifying for her. "They squirt you and they pull and they snip!" she cries in her most horribly loud voice. "I'm never going again. EVER!"

But after some coercion from her parents, Elsie reluctantly tries a new hairdresser named Boris Lazzario. Almost immediately, Boris is eager to cut her hair, but then learns of her fear. Reassuringly, Boris explains that his father, Count Lazzario, also dreads haircuts and is unhappy by Boris's profession Boris. When confronted with the mean Count Lazzario, Elsie learns that she must be brave, in the end, both she and the count learn that haircuts are not so scary after al.

With playful text and distinct illustrations, this story will surely improve any child's perception on those dreaded haircuts!
16 color illustrations

~*~
* spotted this via Shelf Awareness newsletter

An Interview with a Vampire from Sallie Lundy-Frommer

Yesterday's Daughter
by Sallie Lundy-Frommer
~-~-~-~-~ guest ~-~-~-~-~
by Sallie Lundy-Frommer
~-~-~-~-~ guest ~-~-~-~-~
Sallie Lundy-Frommer, “I’m thrilled to have this chance to interview you, Sapphira. Everyone seems to think I’m an expert on all things Sapphira, but that isn’t the case. Your fans are anxious to know more about your relationship with Malachi. ”

Sapphira laughs softly, “I suppose they are. I’ll share as much as I can, but some things are for Malachi’s eyes and ears only. And, thanks for having me Sallie, but I have to admit, I’m a little nervous. I’ve never done anything like this before.”

“Not to worry, we’re your admirers and fans, so you’re in safe hands.”

“Thank you.”

“Alrighty then, here we go. Malachi’s and your story has generated more notoriety than any love story in some time. Every time one of your fans writes or calls about you and Malachi, they gush like crazy. So tell me, you two were apart for a long time before finding each other, what really happened? It there more you can tell than what we read, Sapphira?”

“This is hard, really hard to talk about. I wanted to put all this behind me.”

“I know this difficult but your fans really want to know. Go on, it’s okay...”

“We...we were kept apart and it took a long time for Malachi to find me. He...”

“How long did take and what exactly kept you apart, come on...the devil is in the details...”

Sapphira takes a deep sigh before continuing softly, “Death kept us apart or tried to. That is, most people believed I was dead. But, Malachi didn’t, thank God.”

“Oh, that’s so tragic...”

“Yes, yes it is.”

“Okay, neither the fans nor I want to upset you. I see tears in your eyes. Let’s move onto happier times. How did you meet Malachi?”

“Oh, it’s kind of funny and scary. He just showed up like the Holy Ghost. One second I was alone and the next, he was just there. Scared the heck out me, at first I thought he was a home invader. It took him a while to convince me that he wouldn’t hurt me. Then he explained a lot of stuff to me, including what I am, a vampire. It was scary then, but when I think about it now, it’s one of the best days of my life.”

“And you believed him, that you’re a vampire?”

“There’s a lot of back story that you don’t have time for; but yes, after a while, I believed him. It’s hard to explain, but his words triggered something in me. Let’s just say, it was the beginning of my awakening.”

“And, now you’re married. How’s married life?”

“Amazing, sublime, and eventful. The ceremony was like something out of a fantasy. I still can’t believe Malachi is my life mate. He’s been so patient and loving and let’s not forget he is the most beautiful vampire in the world, both inside and out. I guess my prejudice is showing here.”

“Quickly, Sapphira, you said it was eventful. Anything you can share?”

“Ahhhh...too much to be quick. I’ll just say, if it weren’t for Malachi, I wouldn’t have survived our adventures.”

“Well, that’s it, we’re out of time. Sapphira, thanks for stopping by and say hello to Malachi.”

“Thanks for having me, Sallie.”

~end

Guest post created by Sallie Lundy-Frommer, author of Yesterday's Daughter
© 2012. All rights reserved.

Visit Sallie:
Website
Blog
Facebook
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Shelfari
Twitter

~-~-~-~-~ guest ~-~-~-~-~
by Sallie Lundy-Frommer
~-~-~-~-~ guest ~-~-~-~-~

PeekAbook:



READ more about this world…

--~ Book Giveaway courtesy of publisher ~--
Yesterday's Daughter
by Sallie Lundy-Frommer
An emotionally laden paranormal vampire romance novel woven with layers of betrayal, love and loss.

Grace Stone, who later learns her true identity is Sapphira, is a loner who survives abuse in the foster care system after being abandoned as a child. A brilliant student, she escapes from her brutal foster parents as a teenager and creates a life for herself. But, her life is little more than existence; plagued with questions about what she really is, a family that she has never known and the never-ending need to keep her differences hidden.

She is alone and lonely, believing it will always remain so until Malachi appears in her life. Malachi, a Guardian of the vampire communities, has searched for his life mate, Sapphira, for decades. He refuses to cease searching for Sapphira even though she is believed dead by all. Conflict arises over the decades between Malachi and his family because of his refusals to accept another mate. But his very soul drives him on to continue his search, knowing that he could not exist if Sapphira were not in the world, somewhere.

WIN a copy of this book!

Open to US and Canada only.

Offer ends: January 29, 2012

TO DO: (2-parts)

1. ONE of these:

ADD this book to your Goodreads

or

ADD this book to your Shelfari

or

TWEET this: (or click the twitter button on this post)
Giveaway: Yesterday's Daughter by Sallie Lundy-Frommer http://vvb32reads.blogspot.com/2012/01/interview-with-vampire-from-sallie.html

2. AND, let me know in comments what you did along with your email (if I don't already have it)

~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~

Contest has ended - winner is here

~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~

Check out the Yesterday's Daughter blog tour for more details and goodies about this book!

dr viiiii: ACT VI

This corridor has a bit of a chill to it.

Something eery and not-quite-right.

~*~

Mr I, takes our hand to lead the way. His hand is quite cold, quite.

He has a tale to tell.

In a world that is found in The Eternal Child...

The Eternal Child
by David Wasserman
For centuries, Alex Montera has led a life of running and hiding. That all changes when he comes to the rescue of Iris Lisanté. He finds himself mysteriously drawn to her, and as the two grow close, Iris soon discovers a world beyond her wildest imagination, a world of vampires, werewolves, and other creatures hidden from the rest of the world.

Unknown to Iris, a bounty on Alex's head has forced him to lead a rather reclusive life. As every vampire in the world, led by Alex's elusive, sadistic sire William, catches up with him, Iris finds that with Alex, she is swept into a centuries old feud, that has been carried and fought for centuries, one from which there may be no escape.

~*~
Beautiful/creepy/amazing!
*exclaims someone from the crowd*
~*~
--~ Book Giveaway courtesy of author ~--
Win a copy of this book!

Open to all.

Offer ends: November 13, 2011

TO DO: (2-parts)

1. ONE of these:

ADD this book to your Goodreads

or

LIKE this book on amazon.

or

TWEET this: (or click the twitter button on this post)
Giveaway: The Eternal Child by David Wasserman http://vvb32reads.blogspot.com/2011/10/dr-viiiii-act-vi.html

AND, leave your email (if I don't already have it)

~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~

Contest has ended - winner is here

~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~

~*~
* image source Ian Somerhalder, corridor, crowd shout-out word from MAD

-+0+o+ October Trix-n-Treatz schedule +o+0+-

Giveaway: A Clockwork Vampire by K.H. Koehler

~-~-~-~-~ guest ~-~-~-~-~
by K.H. Koehler
~-~-~-~-~ guest ~-~-~-~-~
“Attention: Passengers. We are entering an unexpected wormhole. Please remain calm and seated.”

Easy for you to say, you think cryptically as you shrink back into your seat. You swallow about four Xanax and grit your teeth as the shuttle that was supposed to take you to a sci-fi convention at one of the new lunar hotels makes a sudden detour. It lurches suddenly, then spins like a badly weighed load of laundry as it’s swallowed by a giant vacuum existing in both time and space.

A half hour later, your pilot wrestles the shuttle through some angry grey cloud cover and you see the earth glittering far below, but it’s not the earth you know, the earth you grew up on. The earth you’ve left behind. For one thing, once you land and the passengers began to deplane the shuttle, you see something very peculiar. The walls of the terminal churn with a bizarre jigsaw of clockwork parts and a low, cold, London-esque fog seems to cling to everything. Women are dressed in long bustled gowns, and men prance by you, dressed in tweed suits and top hats. They stop to check the time on their watch fobs. They sport canes and spats. Their female companions carry parasols and wear huge feathered hats.

There’s a man in the terminal reading a newspaper, but he’s at least eight feet tall and looks, well, rather shaggy. Across the terminal you spot a man under suspicion. Five men in security uniform wrestle him against a wall in order to search his possessions, but instead of complying with them, he starts to morph into a creature half man and half leopard. The guards drag the were-leopard off while he screams about suing them and about his civil rights as a US citizen. One of the guards asserts that he has no rights.

Besides you stands a man who looks made up mostly of prosthetic clock parts. His head swivels to and fro hydraulically as he searches for his flight number on the lighted departure board.

OK, you think, I’m gonna stay calm. No need to get excited. Right?

You look around sheepishly, luggage in hand, and spot your name on a placecard being held up by a tall blond man. He’s quite the looker, young, not at all threatening. Maybe he knows what’s going on? Where did that damn wormhole deposit you? You feel like you’re in Wonderland…in some alternate, gadget-crazy, monster-ridden sci-fi universe. You start toward him, then realize he’s sporting a pair of impressive bronze wings! He looks pale, even for a blond, and when he smiles, he makes a concentrated effort not to flash any fang. Whoa, you think. My ride’s a vampire!

You have a surreal moment of indecision like when you were a teen and you were reading a Choose Your Own Adventure book and had to make a split decision: Should you go with the vampire or run away? He smiles as he cuts a path toward you and shakes your hand.

“Hey there, I’m Cesar, and I’m your tour guide,” the vampire states in a friendly manner.

You jump at his icy handshake.

“Welcome to New York.” He smiles cheerily, picks up your ultra-heavy luggage like it’s made of foam rubber, and heads out of the terminal.

You sigh and hurry after him. Somehow you know this will not end well.

The vampire passes through the doors of the airport and crosses the street toward a peculiar-looking streetcar. It looks like a cross between an old-fashioned San Francisco trolley and a steam locomotive. The streets of New York are packed with people and filled with more of that low-lying steam. You can barely see anyone through it all. Tall, art-deco-style buildings rear up on all sides of you, and everywhere you look you see people, monsters, and a few that look in between.

Oh man, you think as you board the steam trolley with Cesar, I am so not in Kansas anymore…

~end

Guest post created for October Trix-n-Treatz event by K.H. Koehler, author of A Clockwork Vampire
© 2011. All rights reserved.

Want to learn more about Mrs. McGillicuddy’s world of steampunk vamps and high technology?

DOWNLOAD: The Clockwork Companion: A Free Guide to Mrs. McGillicuddy's World Includes an original short story, excerpt, playlist, glossary, and introduction to steampunk literature by Louise Bohmer.

Visit KH:
Website
Facebook
Goodreads
Twitter

~-~-~-~-~ guest ~-~-~-~-~
by K.H. Koehler
~-~-~-~-~ guest ~-~-~-~-~

READ more about Mrs. McGillicuddy here...

--~ Book Giveaway courtesy of author ~--
A Clockwork Vampire
by K.H. Koehler
Win a copy of this book!

2 winners: 1-ebook OR 1-print

Open to all.

Offer ends: November 13, 2011

TO DO: (3-parts)

1. ONE of these:

ADD this book to your Goodreads

or

LIKE this book on amazon.

or

TWEET this: (or click the twitter button on this post)
Giveaway: A Clockwork Vampire by K.H. Koehler http://vvb32reads.blogspot.com/2011/10/giveaway-clockwork-vampire-by-kh.html

2. Tell me which version you want ebook or print?

3. AND, let me know in comments what you did along with your email (if I don't already have it)

~*~
* image source

-+0+o+ October Trix-n-Treatz schedule +o+0+-

Mar the Pirate Vampire by Vianka Van Bokkem

Mar the Pirate Vampire
(teen-paranormal romance)
by Vianka Van Bokkem

Visit Vianka:
Website
Facebook
Goodreads
Twitter

Published: 2010
Genre: Vampires, YA
ebook
Rating: 3

Amazon | Barnes&Noble | Smashwords
fyi: ebooks are currently available for $2.99

The English Captain of the “Medusa’s Lair” pirate ship gets killed in battle leaving his only daughter “Mar” with the dilemma of taking the Captain title. The crew does not seem to accept her as a Captain because she is a young female.

What the crew does not know is that she was attacked by a vampire on the night of her 22nd birthday and she is now a pirate vampire. After a demonstration of vampire power the crew does not dare to question her abilities and start calling her Captain right away.

Mar is going to find true love, learn charity and meet Yargo the waterling who was once a warlock during her sailing adventures.

Sailing the Bermuda Triangle series:
Mar the Pirate Vampire
book 2 - tba

My two-bits:
In-a-word(s): fangs
Loved the premise, characters and adventures in this story. This first story in the series is a tame one in that it is told without vampire gore and pirate plunder.

This vampire pirate gal is forging her own way with pirate riches.

Note: I would have liked to see more in regards to details. i.e. descriptions as well as character thoughts and feelings.

I'm sooooo curious to see how this storyline develops in book 2 especially with Yargo???

~*~
* read a fun guest post with Vianka's characters here

* review copy courtesy of author

* part of Seeking Narwal event

* part of August Thrills-n-Chills event

Fireside with a Vampire

~-~-~-~-~ guest ~-~-~-~-~
by Vianka Van Bokkem
~-~-~-~-~ guest ~-~-~-~-~
Hello everyone!

My name is Vianka Van Bokkem and I am the author of ‘Mar the Pirate Vampire’ and several other young adult stories.

‘Mar’ is the lead character. Her two love interests are ‘Axel’ the elegant human accountant and ‘Kyle’ the ‘Irish Stud’ vampire. Roberto the Spanish sailor was Mar’s fathers’ right hand man. ‘Yargo’ is a waterling and a former warlock. This unique group is having a late night conversation while cleaning their weapons by a small fire.

~*~
Roberto: Madre de Dios! I found two goats without a drop of blood in their bodies.

Yargo: Well… We all know who did it. Right Mar?

Mar: I told you guys that some of the live stock is my food. Vampires feed on blood, remember. By the way….Yargo, you need to quit making my crew disappear. I need them to take care of the ship. Otherwise I am going to have to turn you into a vampire.

Yargo: Hmm… you can try but, you will fail because I am a waterling not an earthling. I enjoy making your crew disappear because I can’t understand their pirate talk. They get on my nerves.

Kyle: Can the two of you stop fighting. We are supposed to be thinking about how to defeat other pirates.

Axel: The ‘Irish Stud’ is right for a change Mar. You are losing time and money.

Mar: Ssshhhh…..I think someone is listing our conversation.

Kyle: No one is listing Mar. Someone is ‘reading’ our conversation!

~end

Guest post created for August Thrills-n-Chills event by Vianka Van Bokkem, author of Mar the Pirate Vampire
© 2011. All rights reserved.

Visit Vianka:
Website
Facebook
Twitter

~-~-~-~-~ guest ~-~-~-~-~
by Vianka Van Bokkem
~-~-~-~-~ guest ~-~-~-~-~

READ more about this vampire and her crew...

--~ eBook Giveaway courtesy ~--

Mar the Pirate Vampire
(teen-paranormal romance)
Vianka Van Bokkem
signup to win this ebook

~*~
* image source campfire

~!~ August Thrills-n-Chills schedule ~!~

Release Day Blitz: Knight Moves by John G. Hartness

HAPPY RELEASE DAY!
get your copy:
Amazon | Barnes&Noble

Knight Moves
by John G. Hartness
In the third installment of The Black Knight Chronicles, vampire private investigators Jimmy Black and Greg Knightwood find another vampire (or more) playing in their sandbox, and the boys are NOT happy about it.

While tracking down the killer of a young college student, they encounter boobytraps, defenestration, coeds, a hirsute bounty hunter with a moon fetish and a bad attitude, and worst of all - game night at a comic shop!

This comic urban fantasy series has drawn comparisons to The Dresden Files, Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Kevin Smith movies. Knight Moves is the followup to the kindle best-selling Hard Day’s Knight and Back in Black.


John G. Hartness is a poet, actor and novelist from Charlotte, NC. He is the author of the urban fantasy series The Black Knight Chronicles and the stand-alone novel The Chosen. His work has been compared to Kevin Smith, Joss Whedon, Jim Butcher and other grown men who spend too much time in comic book stores. He likes bluegrass, fried pickles and cheap beer.

Visit John:
Website
Twitter
Facebook
Goodreads

--~ Blogosphere eBook Giveaway ~--
signup to win this ebook at
My Bookish Ways

~*~
* part of Knight Moves blitz tour - check out the other stops for more details on this book and goodies

Hunted by the Others by Jess Haines

Hunted by the Others
by Jess Haines

Visit Jess:
Website
Facebook
Twitter
Fan Forum

Published: 2010
Publisher: Zebra
Genre: Magic, Paranormal, Romance, Vampires
Paperback: 352 pages
Rating: 5

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Goodreads

Shiarra Waynest's detective work was dangerous enough when her client base was strictly mortal. But ailing finances have forced her to accept a lucrative case that could save her firm - if it doesn't kill her first. Shiarra has signed on to work for a high-level mage to recover an ancient artifact owned by one of New York's most powerful vampires.

As soon as Shiarra meets sexy, mesmerizing vamp Alec Royce, she knows her assignment is even more complicated than she thought. With a clandestine anti-Other group trying to recruit her, and magi being eliminated, Shiarra needs back-up and enlists her ex-boyfriend - a werewolf whose non-furry form is disarmingly appealing - and a nerdy mage with surprising talents.

But it may not be enough.

In a city where the undead roam, magic rules, and even the Others aren't always what they seem, Shiarra has just become the secret weapon in a battle between good and evil - whether she likes it or not...

Zombie sighting:
I felt especially cheesy for getting Damien a gift card and a movie, but I figured he'd get a laugh out of Zombie Cheerlieaders from Outer Space and might forgive me if I gave him something cool later.
- page 126, chapter 18

Series:
Hunted by the Others
Deceived by the Others
Taken by the Others

My two-bits:
In-a-word(s): belt
Fun ride with a mix of vampires, werewolves and magic in the modern day.

What really grabs me with this book is the amusing cast of characters and how they interact. Despite differences the good guys come together to solve the mystery.

--~ Book Giveaway courtesy of author ~--
signup to win this book

~*~
* review copy courtesy of author

* part of August Thrills-n-Chills event

Golden Healer by Christine E. Schulze

Golden Healer
by Christine E. Schulze

Meet Christine:
Website
Blog
Facebook
Golden Healer Zazzle goodies
The Stregoni Symphony - book playlist

Published: 2010
Publisher: Writer's Exchange E-Publishing
Genre: Fairies, Vampires, YA
ebook
Rating: 4

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Smashwords | Goodreads

He leaned his head close to my ear and whispered, "Are you afraid?"

Chrystine had had more reason than any other time of her life, even when facing one of the rampages of her drunken father. But she wasn't afraid. And that was odd, because although Aaryn, the person asking her that question, was her best friend, he was also a vampire.

In fact, she was surrounded by hundreds of vampires. But they weren't your typical vampires. They were Stregoni Benefici, the good kind. Nor was Chrystine your typical fairy. She was the Golden Healer, and she alone could save the Stregoni Benefici from the Dark Enchantress.

But can Chrystine figure out the Dark Enchantress' secret and defeat the evil vampires without destroying the good ones as well, without destroying Aaryn?

Find out as you read for yourself the story of the first vampire.

The Amielian Legacy series:
Tears of a Vampire Prince: the First Krystine
The Stregony Sequence Book 1: Golden Healer, Dark Enchantress
book 2 - tba

My two-bits:
In-a-word(s): green

Christian vampire story with fae. Yeah. It works!

This tale takes you into a YA modern world that co-exists with elves, fairies and humans with magical talents. Oh yeah, and vampires, but of a special kind.

Some action, adventure and a showdown.

--~ eBook Giveaway courtesy of author ~--
signup to win this ebook

~*~
* stay tuned: Golden Healer blog tour, Sept 4-21 starts up next month, visit it for interviews, guest posts, giveaways and other goodies

* review copy courtesy of author

* part of August Thrills-n-Chills event