A Girl's Guide to Vampires [Mass Market Paperback]

Katie MacAlister (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 2003

Joy Randall's Top 5 Tips for Vampire Hunters:

• Location, location, location. Vampires won't be caught dead (ha!) in places like discos, ten-minute lube shops, or Switzerland. Remember, if you wouldn't be there, neither would a bloodsucker.
• Trust your eyes. You know the handsome, annoyingly arrogant, self-assured man in the shadows with long hair and a cleft in his chin? He's your vampire.
• No matter how tempting it might be, do not "accidentally" acquire a paper cut on your finger and suggest your vampire kiss it to make it better.
• Play it cool. Don't offer to accompany your prince of the night on the talk-show circuit, and whatever you do, don't offer him your heart!
• Most of all, remember: being a vampire is nothing to laugh about.

--This text refers to an alternate Mass Market Paperback edition.

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

All Joy Randall wants is a little old-fashioned romance, but when she participates in a "Goddess evoking" ceremony with her friend, Roxy, Joy finds out her future true love is a man with the potential to put her immortal soul in danger. At first the ever-practical Joy is ready to dismiss her vision as a product of too much gin and too many vampire romances, but while traveling through the Czech Republic with Roxy, Joy begins to have some second thoughts about her mystery lover because she is suddenly plagued by visions of a lethally handsome stranger. Then, when she and Roxy attend a local GothFaire, Joy meets Raphael Griffin St. John, head of security, and she becomes even more bewildered because the dark and dangerous Raphael seems too close to her dreams for comfort. Readers will gladly give in to the wickedly sharp bite of MacAlister's wit in this temptingly toothsome romance. With its superb characterization and writing that manages to be both sexy and humorous, this contemporary paranormal love story is an absolute delight. John Charles
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

About the Author

Despite her love for novels, Katie MacAlister didn’t think of writing them until she was contracted to write a non-fiction book about software. MacAlister resolved to switch to fiction, where she could indulge in world building, tormenting characters, and falling madly in love with all her heroes. More than thirty books later, her novels have been translated into numerous languages, recorded as audiobooks, received several awards, and landed on the New York Times, USA Today, and Publishers Weekly bestseller lists. She also writes for the young adult audience as Katie Maxwell.

--This text refers to an alternate Mass Market Paperback edition.

Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 374 pages
• Publisher: Love Spell; Reprint edition (November 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0505525305
• ISBN-13: 978-0505525307
• Product Dimensions: 6.7 x 4.1 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (102 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #752,211 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

For as long as she can remember, Katie MacAlister has loved reading. Growing up in a family where a weekly visit to the library was a given, Katie spent much of her time with her nose buried in a book. Despite her love for novels, she didn't think of writing them until she was contracted to write a non-fiction book about software. Since her editor refused to allow her to include either witty dialogue or love scenes in the software book, Katie swiftly resolved to switch to fiction, where she could indulge in world building, tormenting characters, and falling madly in love with all her heroes.

Two years after she started writing novels, Katie sold her first romance, Noble Intentions. More than thirty books later, her novels have been translated into numerous languages, been recorded as audiobooks, received several awards, and placed on the New York Times, USA Today, and Publishers Weekly bestseller lists. She also writes for the young adult audience as Katie Maxwell.

Katie lives in the Pacific Northwest with her husband and dogs, and can often be found lurking around online. You are welcome to visit her at http://www.katiemacalister.com

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

89 of 98 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Just A Fun Book, October 27, 2003

By 

mayfayre "mayfayre" (New Jersey USA) - See all my reviews
(TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: A Girl's Guide to Vampires (Mass Market Paperback)

If you're a fan of vampire romantic fiction, you'll enjoy this one. The basic premise is that our heroine, Joy, is accompanying her friend Roxy on a trip to the Czech Republic to try to visit a reclusive author of romantic vampire fiction and to explore whether or not vampires do exist. Joy is a disbeliever but she doesn't want Roxy to do this on her own, so she agrees to go along. Naturally, Joy is the one the vampire takes an interest in. In her acknowledgements Ms. MacAlister thanks Christine Feehan, so it's not surprising that the reclusive author's vampires have a marked tongue-in-cheek resemblance to Feehan's Carpathians, including the inclusion of a series of steps to soulmate-hood. If you like Feehan's books, you'll enjoy Roxy's obsession with the Rules of the Dark Ones.

This book was just so funny in sections that I laughed out loud. The heroine wasn't a petite little thing (a wonderful change of pace); the hero was mysterious and sexy; the setting was a nice change of pace - a GothFest in the Czech Republic; and the secondary characters were fleshed out enough to make them interesting and relevant. All and all, it was just a fun book and I enjoyed it.

39 of 45 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Katie is A Wonder!, November 7, 2003

By 

Brenda Condit "satinskper" (Albuquerque, NM USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: A Girl's Guide to Vampires (Mass Market Paperback)

Well first off I have to say that if you want to read a book that is full of humor, hot, sticky, passionate love scenes, great heros and fantastic heroines, story lines that keep you reading long after you should be asleep, then read a book by Katie MacAlister. I have read everything she's published so far and I eagerly await more.

One thing I really like about the way Katie writes is that she writes as if this were her story. You don't find many authors writting in the 1st person so its refreshing to read Katie's books.

A Girl's Guide To Vampires is a thrill ride. You have a lot of suspense and danger that keeps you guessing until the end. You have two wonderfully funny friends, Joy, the Heroine and Roxy the adorable best friend. The hero Raphael is.... Well let's just say I want one exactly like him! Raphael's rival Christian ain't too shabby himself.

I even loved the cover of this book. Its way to cute!
All in all I have to say that this is a WINNER!!!!
Run, don't walk to buy this book.

28 of 32 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Sexy, humorous read!!, December 16, 2003

By 

Jamie B. (Huntsville, Al United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: A Girl's Guide to Vampires (Mass Market Paperback)

Wow! I am so happy to have discovered Katie MacAlister. She does what most authors cannot - mixes sexiness, romance and humor to create a perfect recipe for a book you absolutely cannot put down. In GGV, you also get a dip into the paranormal. This is not a "carbon copy" of Feehan's work (as one reviewer mistakenly believes); Rather, it is Katie's own brand of "semi-vampires" - Dark Ones. And boy are they yummy! What sets Katie's version of the paranormal apart is the combination of her sharp wit and funny dialogue which result in a lighter version of the paranormal. Katie's characters are likeable, funny and sexy. (especially the guys! The best part is the "guy who does NOT get the girl" at the end has his own book coming out in March - SEX AND THE SINGLE VAMPIRE - Can't wait!!) One reviewer hammered on the main female character - Joy. I had to search my memory to even recall the so-called temper tantrums and crying jags to which this reviewer referred. Made me wonder if she even read the book. What I recall is a strong-willed, self-deprecating, funny, sexy heroine who moved the story along at wickedly enjoyable pace. I find it even more amusing that this same reviewer can't fathom how two girls who "bicker and snipe" at one another could truly be friends!?! One has to wonder if this reviewer has any girlfriends. The relationship between Joy and Roxy is true to form for best friends who have known each other since kindergarten and are more like sisters. Their "bickering" is funny and right on the money! However, their affection and protective nature for each other is ever present and is also a fundamental part of their relationship. There are simply not enough good things to say about this great book. I was so disappointed when I finished it and cannot wait until March to read SEX!!