Customer Reviews

Forbidden Nights with a Vampire (Love at Stake, Book 7)

5 star:		(27)
4 star:		(8)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This newest addition to the Love at Stake series has deviated a bit, in a good way, from the usual formula for these books. Vanda's history unfolds as the vampire ex- Draganesti harem member is called on the carpet for her outrageousness and violent temper. Angry strippers from her club call her out in front of an entire meeting of coven members and she's sentenced to anger management. When no one steps forward to volunteer as her sponsor it's day time guard Phil who comes to rescue her from embarrassment.

Phil has secretly lusted after Vanda since he left his were-wolf pack eight years ago and became a guard in the Draganesti household. Now that he has achieved Alpha status and she no longer is his charge, he has every intention of getting in Vanda's infamous purple catsuit.But when a disgruntle stripped can't let things go and attempts to kill Vanda several times, Phil realizes that what he feels for her hasn't just been lust but love. Determined to help her through her anger as well as keep her breathing at night, he tunnels into her past and the atrocities that befell her family during Poland's part of WWII.

Eventually Vanda realizes her love for Phil but fears losing him like she has everyone else mortal. But with her fear of were-wolves how can he admit that he is a powerful one that won't die on her for four or five centuries?

This book has tragedy as victims are taken from the Vamps in the war with the Malcontents which amps up to a new level. But it also has an immense amount of humor. Dr. Phang, aka Phineas, is occasionally a bit annoying in the other books but he's hilarious here as he plays off jokes about Phil's wolfy nature. This books tone was a bit different but highly enjoyable. Still a quick read but really a good one!

The series in order:
How to Marry a Millionaire Vampire
Vamps and the City
Be Still My Vampire Heart
The Undead Next Door
All I Want for Christmas is a Vampire
Secret Life of a Vampire

I absolutely love this series and this latest book is a welcomed addition. I like the world that has been created within and I am glad to see some more of the shifters and how they fit in as more than just daytime bodyguards. The school is progressing nicely in the background as well. I anticipate it will become the focus in a future book.

Just like all the other books in the series you will find witty humor, innuendos and smooth written love scenes. The book reads quickly and I admit I cried at the end. Good tears of course!

Vanda has always been a favorite of mine and Phil was the perfect Alpha male to tame and sooth her wildcat spirit.

Kerrelyn Sprarks' seventh "Love At Stake" novel "Forbidden Nights with A Vampire" may just be the best since the debut installment. Sparks breaks slightly from her usual male vamp/female human pairing and offers up a delightful and engrossing tale of a female vamp, Vanda (who has anger issues) and is forced into anger management counseling. The only one to volunteer to sponsor Vanda is Phil, a werewolf who is employeed as a vampire security guard. Adding to the drama, Phil can't tell Vanda about his werewolf nature because she has a troubled past involving werewolves. The story has great moments of humor, including a couple of giggle out loud scenes. Vanda's vampire male-strip club and her legal woes provide some of the best comedic moments. Phil's security firm co-worker, Phineas "the love doctor" McKinney is always a charming, offbeat character but he provides stellar supporting entertainment as well. I hope Sparks continues to shine the spotlight on this guy. Paranormal Romance is a fun, but overdone genre and its hard to find something or someone truly original but Sparks has that here in Phineas. Vanda and Phil's back stories are well done and do a good job of making the readers know and care about the characters, both individually and as a couple. The Malcontent continuing sotry arc wasn't as strong as in the previous offering. All these 'near misses' with the leader, Casimir are getting predictable and tiresome. There needs to be a real resolution soon. The story also has some effective heart tugging feel good moments and I especially enjoyed the wonderful Epilogue. Some things happen throughout the book that appears random, but I am thinking we shall get an explanation in the follow ups. I also have to point out that I didn't care for the main cover, but I thought the 'cover' underneath with the picture of the girl and the rose was gorgeous. I wish that had been the main cover. Overall Sparks has done a great job keeping the series this much fun seven books in.

I cannot believe how great everybody thinks this book was. If Vanda said "I'm tough, damnit" one more time, I was going to throw the book across the room. I HATE heroines like that. They're so annoying and immature. "Look at me, look how tough I am. Screw you, no one can hurt me, I can withstand anything. No one scares me, I scare them. Everybody should cower in fear of me, and I will never ever feel any other emotion than hatred. Let's fight!"

Oh my gosh, grow up.

Phil, however, was an awesome character. He was the best character I've ever read in a Sparks book. I realize that Vanda was hurting, but some of the things were just too cliche, and I think that's why it seemed annoying and childish. I wish there could have been a tender scene where he helped her get through her past and she realized why she was so angry. But, no. Of course, not much in this book happened realistically.

However, I did not hate Vanda. I understand her. What I didn't understand was how exaggerated her anger was. It was too intense and dumb. She got mad for the stupidest reasons, and was really violent and brutal. It was almost sick.

I like the series a lot, and after reading the reviews thought this one would be very good, but I am somewhat a little disappointed. The heroine is always whining about how tough she is. This gets to be monotonous after a while. When she breaks furniture, throw things, and runs away I think I'm reading about a five year old child, not a vampire who is almost 100 years old. This behavior does not make her tough it makes her come across as a spoiled brat. I guess the author had to fill the pages with something. The hero puts up with such childish behavoir and the reason given just isn't good enough for him to just shrug it off as anger management issues especially since he is suppose to be an alpha werewolf. I am now thinking twice before buying the next book in the series.

'Forbidden Nights with a Vampire' is standard fare reading - it's enjoyable, it has a variety of characters (vampire, werewolf, mortal) and action here and there to spice up the story. However this reader finds that the series has become perhaps a little bland and predictable.

This story focuses on Vanda Barkowski, one of Roman Draganesti's former harem. She's a relatively young vampire who seems prickly and tries to keep people away. Her harmless flirting with mortal day guard Phil Jones was just something that happened. But Phil is now back in her life and seems to have grown rather more forceful and difficult to ignore. When it seems as though Vanda's life may be in danger, Phil wants to protect her; but he has a secret which Vanda may not be able to cope with, as well as rules with regard to fraternising with people he is guarding. But can he help to unpeel Vanda's prickly nature and her short temper, and can they play their part in the fight against the Malcontents.

Phil and Vanda's relationship in this story felt rather rushed. I was also unsure what the author's take was on Phil's breaking the rules of fraternisation with those he is guarding - he managed to resist Vanda for years previously but now can't see to do so, even though he has two honourable reasons for not having a relationship with her. That aside, the overall story continued much in the vein of the other books, with a romance intermingled with attacks by the malcontents. Although I enjoyed this book I also found it rather lightweight and feel that the earlier books in the story had a bit more 'bite'.

Originally published for Curled Up With A Good Book © Helen Hancox 2009

Phil started working with McKay Security and Investigation as a guard for vampires who are vulnerable during daylight hours. He instantly fell for beautiful, tough-as-nails Vanda Barkowski, one of the vamps he was charged with protecting. But relationships between guards and vamps are strictly off-limits, so she became his own forbidden fruit. For five years, he craved what he couldn't have until Vanda left the fold to live on her own and open her own business.

When circumstances reunite them a few years later, they each find that a lot has changed. Phil, a shape shifter, has matured into an alpha wolf. Now nothing can stop him from finally claiming Vanda as his mate.

Vanda learned long ago to lock her painful past away and has built a convincing tough-chick armor around her heart. The catsuit-wearing, punk-haired nightclub owner has wanted Phil for years, but she'll only let down her defenses so far.

Phil is convinced he can make Vanda love him, but things get serious when the Malcontents--evil vampires determined to destroy as many humans as possible--take their war with the good vamps to a new level. With danger at every turn, Phil and Vanda must face their inner demons in order to survive.

"Forbidden Nights with a Vampire," is the seventh book in the bestselling and critically praised Love at Stake series. Fans of paranormal romance will love this funny, sexy series filled with humor and warmth.

While Vanda's overblown anger got old, overall, the story was excellent and everything you come to expect from the author. Phil is a charming leading man and Vanda, once she toned it down, was a lovely heroine who deserved the happy ending she got. I admit I did get a little teary eyed at the family reunion and I was dying to kick Phil's sister in the caboose. I love a story that gets me involved.

Manhattan nightclub owner Vanda Barkowski is forty-five minutes late for her appearance at the East Coast Regional Coven Meeting in White Plains that she was served a summons to appear. Also there is an irate Corky Courrant, hostess of the Digital Vampire Network's show Live with the Undead; Corky warns Vanda it is not over as she has not forgotten the assault. East Coast Coven Master Roman Draganesti informs Vanda she is to attend anger management training for her attack on vamp performer Max the Mega Member with a stiletto as well as two other fired employees.

Phil Jones agrees to mentor Vanda while she undergoes the classes. He knows she is his soulmate, but hides his attraction because he knows she loathes werewolves and he is a wolf shapeshifter. Vanda objects to the class insisting she has no problem and to Phil as her sponsor. She is attracted to this "mortal". Meanwhile the Malcontents continue their rebellion making Vanda a top target; even more than most Romatech employees. Phil vows to keep the love of his life safe.

The seventh Love at Stake urban fantasy romance is fast-paced and filled with plenty of action, but belongs to the biting wit of the heroine. The story line is fun to follow though fans of the series will recognize the theme's similarity to previous tales (see SECRET LIFE OF A VAMPIRE). Still with a sharp tongue lead like Vanda and an alpha like Phil nipping at each other, the audience will have bloody grand time.

Harriet Klausner

I have loved all of the love at stake books and this one was great. I loved that we got to see another side to Vanda and got to learn alot more about Phil. Vanda and Phil had such great chemistry and I cried at the end. If you are a fan of the other books by Kerrelyn Sparks, you will love this one. I can't wait for the next book and hopefully Conner will get his own story soon!!!