The Vampire with the Dragon Tattoo by Kerrelyn Sparks

Publisher: Avon/Harper Collins Publishers
Date published: September 2013
ISBN: 9780062107732
Paranormal Romance
Print
Reviewed by Gabrielle

Obtained via publisher

Rating: 3.5 Hearts

This newest book in this series from Kerrelyn Sparks gives readers Dougal and Leah’s story. Dougal lost so much three hundred years agobut he may have found it again in Leah. He meets Leah when he is assigned to a new job. Can Dougal win Leah over or will he forever long for love?

I enjoyed meeting Dougal and Lea. Seeing the two discover and work through their attraction was a nice read. I also enjoyed seeing characters from past books and catching up on their goings on. This book is a part of a series and to better enjoy it readers should read the other books in this series first. I have enjoyed this series from book one. From reincarnation to demons and more this book is full of magic. If you love paranormal romance this is a book for you. It also has the humor and action that this series is known for. Dougal is a good man and after all who can resist a man in a kilt with a brogue? I was glad to finally get Dougal’s story, he has been a part of this series for a while now.  I enjoyed meeting Leah. She is a smart woman and is helping to find a cure for those in Master Hans zombie army.

As many books that this series is the author has kept it fresh and interesting in each book. Watching Leah and Dougal’s relationship build was a nice read. Not only do we get their story but other characters make themselves known as well. Laszlo is a great example and I cannot to see what is in store for him. If you enjoy this series you will not be disappointed with this book. I enjoyed my visit and can’t wait to return to this world again.

This is an objective review and not an endorsement of this book.

 

SEXIEST VAMPIRE ALIVE by Kerrelyn Sparks

Love At Stake
Publisher: Avon
Date published: September 2011
ISBN 9780061958052
Paranormal romance
Mass Market Paperback
Reviewed by Valerie
Obtained by publisher


Gregori Holstein, VP of Marketing, is sent to the US government after a video shows the world that vampires exist and live among us. He needs to persuade the government to declare the video a hoax. The president’s daughter is looking for a cure for her mother and it is Gregori’s job to take her to an unsavory area in order to find certain items that may just be that cure. In exchange, the government would do what Gregori asked. Gregori thinks nothing could be easier, but when he meets Abby Tucker he wonders how is he going to keep his hands off her? Abby is also attracted to Gregori. So, it’s get to China, get the items and get back in one piece. And maybe lose your heart?

Kerrelyn Sparks has done it again. You know, when you pick up a book from this author you are going to get a great read with lots of wit and humor. Gregori had some great one liners in this book. When you know how he ticks, that he’s the play boy of the group, the party goer, the ‘never going to settle down’ guy, you can feel with him when he gets bowled over by Abby. I enjoyed reading about their journey to true love. Gregori is just too funny, I had to laugh as he sang ‘I’m too sexy for my cape….’! There is action, danger, a sensuous romance and lots of humor in this story. I found it hard to put down and have long been a fan of Ms Sparks’ vampire books. This is a great story to pick up for an afternoon of fun reading.

This is an objective review and not an endorsement of this book.

EAT PREY LOVE by Kerrelyn Sparks

Love at Stakes series, #9
Publisher: Avon Books
Date Published: October 2010
ISBN 9780061958038
Urban Fantasy
Mass Market Paperback
Reviewed by TammyTammy
Obtained via: publisher


Kerrelyn Sparks is back with another paranormal treat in her Love at Stakes series, EAT PREY LOVE. Sensuality, humor, adventure and surprise all blend seamlessly in this uplifting and romantic tale of family dynamics and love.

Caitlyn Whelan hadn’t seen or heard from her sister in six long years, when she receives an invitation to her nephew’s birthday party. What she finds upon arrival is a world beyond her imagination. Her sister is married to a vampire and their son can levitate. And the sexy guy she spies playing basketball, turns out to be a different species all together. Carlos Panterra is a were-panther and one of the last of his species. He wants nothing more than to find another of his kind to mate with and provide a home for some were-panther orphans that he has adopted. Caitlyn intrigues him like no other has in a very long time, but she is human and her father is part of a group bent on ridding the world of vampires, weres and anything else less than human.

Though this is the ninth book in Kerrelyn Sparks’ Love at Stakes series, there is no need to read any of the previous books in the series to thoroughly enjoy EAT PREY LOVE. And since this reader hasn’t had the pleasure of reading any of the previous books, that was indeed a good thing. When Caitlyn attends her nephew’s birthday party, she had no idea about all the revelations she is about to unearth. This reader found Caitlyn to be a very contrary character.

Her sister had suddenly moved out of the house and she hadn’t heard a word about her for six years. She has no idea what her father really does for a living or of the hatred in his heart. And yet, when she is thrown into the world of vampires and weres, she seems to almost take it in stride with an openness and acceptance that was astonishing.

The storyline moves at a nice clip and the romance between Caitlyn and Carlos is both sensual and fun. When he attempts to train her so she can hold her own in the supernatural community, hilarity ensues. These two really sparked off each other. And even though Caitlyn’s father never really warms up to his daughters’ love interests, he does manage to be there when Caitlyn needs him and this reader enjoyed this book all the more, for keeping him so thoroughly human with human failings. Though the story mostly ends up how you expect it to, EAT PREY LOVE is still a fast, fun and sensual romance that is sure to brighten any reader’s afternoon.

This is an objective review and not an endorsement of this book.

Welcome to Kerrelyn Sparks' guest blog!

Kerrelyn Sparks Unveils Secrets

Today, the sixth book of the Love at Stake series will release. My first secret to unveil: I never knew the series would last this long! It all started with a two-book contract, and the series could have died there if not for the support of wonderful readers. At that point, when we didn’t know if the series would last, it didn’t even have a name. It wasn’t until the fourth book that we decided to name the series. I brainstormed with my critique partners, and we came up with Love at Stake.
The book coming out today is titled Secret Life of a Vampire. Here’s another secret: I was so frantically busy writing this book and the next one since they’re releasing back-to-back, that I never stopped to think up titles for them. I was simply calling the first one “Jack’s book” and the second one “Phil and Vanda.” My editor, Erika Tsang, at HarperCollins came up with the titles during cover conference where the editors meet with people from the sales, marketing, publicity, and art departments. That’s when they decide on a final title, how to market and publicize the book, and what kind of cover to do for it. And so, “Jack’s book” became Secret Life of a Vampire, and “Phil and Vanda” became Forbidden Nights with a Vampire. Here’s another secret: Forbidden Nights with a Vampire was already on sale and getting preorders at Amazon before I was finished writing it! You can imagine how frantic I was to get it done! Why was I running late, you wonder? Hurricane Ike came through the Houston area, and we were without power!
Secret Life of a Vampire stars Jack, aka Giacomo di Venezia. Remember the recent news article about a vampire found in a mass grave in Venice? What great timing! Jack is from Venice, too! And Jack has a few secrets. Not only is he a vampire, but he’s the illegitimate son of the legendary lover, Giacomo Casanova. And his deepest secret? He doesn’t quite have the confidence that his father did! The book opens with Jack throwing a bachelor party for Ian MacPhie (the hero of All I Want for Christmas is a Vampire) at the Plaza hotel in New York City. After a few rounds of Blissky (synthetic blood mixed with whiskey), the male vamps become too loud and rowdy, and the cops are called. The vamps teleport away, leaving Jack behind to handle the mess. Enter beautiful young police officer, Lara Boucher, who sees spilled blood on the carpet and walls and thinks a terrible crime has been committed! She’s on to Jack and determined to figure out his secrets. Can she do it without losing her heart?
Last week, I was at a writers’ conference in New York City, and when I told my editor about it, she invited me over to the HarperCollins building for lunch. This time, the secret was on me. Once they had me in their clutches, they dragged me into their video studio, sat me down in front of a green screen, and told me to talk! You can see the video here
. They actually divulged their secret the day before I left home, so I was somewhat prepared. And they did feed me lunch! If you’d like to see the book video for Secret Life of a Vampire. And there’s another book video for Forbidden Nights with a Vampire . As you can see, it’s no secret that I love book trailers! I hope you enjoy them. And the books!! I’ll leave you now with one last secret. I’m currently working on the eighth book in the series, and it stars another one of those hunky Scottish vamps, Robby MacKay!
Happy reading!
Kerrelyn Sparks


Contest: One lucky commenter will win a copy of All I want for christmas is a Vampire. The winner will be drawn tomorrow, so please check back here if you are the lucky winner. You will have 7 days to contact me. Good luck, Danny

Reviews of Kerrelyn Sparks' books:

All I want for christmas is a Vampire

The undead next door

ALL I WANT FOR CHRISTMAS IS A VAMPIRE: Love at Stake Book 5 by Kerrelyn Sparks

Publisher Avon
Date published October 2008
ISBN 978-0-06-111846-3
Genre Paranormal Romance
Mass Market Paperback
Reviewed by Danny


Toni’s best friend was sent to a psychiatric institution because she said she was attacked by vampires. Toni promises to find evidence that vampires exist and therefore she accepts a daytime job at Romatech security to work in the household of an assumed vampire. There she meets Ian McPhie who turns her whole life upside down. He teaches her the difference between good and bad vampires, but although she feels attracted to him, can she trust him to tell the truth? And is he really going to help her to free her friend?

For me Ms. Sparks is the Queen of the funny Vampire Romance, because all of her books are special and each of them is unique. Ian McPhie’s long awaited story is no exception to this rule. From the first page to the end, the book is absolutely spell binding and it is a wonderful combination of comedy, romance and suspense as well as some darker elements that will sometimes keep you on the edge of your chair.

Ian was from the beginning one of my favorite characters and I could hardly wait till he got his story, at one point I was worried because the expectation was pretty high, but I wasn’t disappointed.

Fasten your seatbelt for an emotional roller coaster ride, because Ian and Toni have to overcome quite a few obstacles till they find their happy end. In addition to the wonderful story of Ian and Toni, we meet a lot of old friends and new friends are introduced, who we will hopefully see more of in the future.

I can highly recommend ALL I WANT FOR CHRISTMAS IS A VAMPIRE to everyon, who is looking for a funny, sexy book to warm up their cold winter evening.

THE UNDEAD NEXT DOOR by Kerrelyn Sparks

Publisher Avon
Date published February 2008
ISBN 978-0-06-111845-6
Vampire romance
Paperback
Reviewed by Val

Heather Westfield’s quiet life changes when she meets a handsome stranger. But there is something very strange about Jean-Luc. He sleeps all day, he’s attacked by sword-wielding men and says he can handle it and he has never seemed to age. Now, Heather is no push over and if he’s not immortal she has no idea what he is. But, as her friend and baby-sitter says, he is muy macho and he only wants to protect her from those sword-wielding bad men who seem to have shown an interest in harming her. Jean-Luc is charming, attentive, he listens to her, encourages her and is everything she has ever wanted a man to be...but what is his secret? After a bad marriage, trust doesn’t come easy to her. Will they be able to defeat their enemies and find a happy ever after?

The reader can always be sure to have an exciting, adventurous read when they pick up a book by Kerrelyn Sparks. This is no exception and this reviewer had a wonderful time diving into this book, getting to know its characters and going on a marvelous adventure. Ms. Sparks’ hero, Jean-Luc is wonderful. A tortured hero, but oh so yummy. Heather is a woman who has been hurt by a man and she finds it hard to trust her heart again. The sexual tension is high and Jean-Luc doesn’t give up so easily. Secondary characters deepen the plot and add some humor too. This reader thought it amusing that Heather first thought Jean-Luc might be someone like The Highlander. And Heather is a normal woman, not a stick thin model that Jean-Luc has to mostly deal with. A marvelous read and not to be missed.