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Forbidden Nights With a Vampire is the sometimes funny, sometimes poignant tale of Vanda Barkowski, a vampire who has a problem with her temper. I read Kerrelyn Sparks’s first book in this series, How to Marry a Millionaire Vampire, but not the others, something I plan to remedy as soon as possible – I really enjoyed this one.
When vampire Roman Draganesti invented synthetic blood, it turned out to be a boon for humans and vampires alike. Humans could use the blood for medical treatments and vampires could have a ready supply of food. Most vampires rejoiced, but a few of them, known as the Malcontents, are not happy and want to go back to the old ways. They have been bombing Roman’s properties and attacking his associates.
Vanda Barkowski is a friend and associate of Roman. She owns a vampire nightclub called The Horny Devil where female vamps can come to drink and ogle the hunky strippers. Vanda loves her club and normally things run very smoothly, but she has a temper – a bad temper and sometimes she goes too far. After several of the strippers complain about her, the vampire Coven tells Vanda that she has to go to anger management class. Her sponsor will be Phil Jones, a human associate who works for the security company that guards vampires from Malcontents.
Phil is actually a shapechanger (wolf) and he’s been in love with Vanda for some time. She has no idea that Phil is a shapechanger, and if she did know she would be horrified. Vanda was turned into a vampire during World War II in Poland where she lost her family and saw the man she loved killed by wolves. Since then, Vanda has kept everyone at arm’s length, and although she secretly loves Phil, she won’t admit it. Vanda thinks Phil is a human and she won’t allow herself to fall for a man who will grow old and die and leave her.
Forbidden Nights With a Vampire is often funny especially at the beginning when we see Vanda at the club, but as the book goes on, the tone becomes more serious although there are still humorous bits all through it. Vanda is a very tortured heroine whose idyllic family life was destroyed by war and the Nazis. She was very close to one sister who was killed and for whose death Vanda feels guilt, and her beloved brother disappeared. Vanda has another sister who is a vampire, but all the evidence points to her being a Malcontent. Vanda has her club and that’s all she needs – at least that’s what she keeps telling herself.
Phil is a very powerful alpha wolf who has total control over his ability to shapechange. He left the pack headed by his father since Mr. Jones is not a man who brooks any challenges to his control. Phil is very good at what he does, and he is a kind and loving man at heart. He knows he has to tell Vanda about his real self, but fears losing the tenuous relationship they are forging. He’s quite a sweet character, and the end where he is able to give Vanda the happiest moment she has had in some time is very touching. I liked him a lot.
I am getting so burned out on vampire books, but occasionally one does make me sit up and take notice. Forbidden Nights With a Vampire has humor, good characters and a story that is a pleasure to read. The only problem I had with it was that I thought the ending was a bit too rushed – a minor quibble indeed.
Grade: B
Book Type: Vampire Romance
Sensuality: Warm
Review Date: 30/06/09
Publication Date: 2009
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Recent Comments …
Yep
This sounds delightful! I’m grabbing it, thanks
excellent book: interesting, funny dialogs, deep understanding of each character, interesting secondary characters, and also sexy.
I don’t think anyone expects you to post UK prices – it’s just a shame that such a great sale…
I’m sorry about that. We don’t have any way to post British prices as an American based site.
I have several of her books on my TBR and after reading this am moving them up the pile.