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27 of 29 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Vampire fun from Erin McCarthy!, August 1, 2006
This review is from: High Stakes (Vegas Vampires, Book 1) (Paperback)
When tough as nails prosecuting attorney Alexis Baldizzi rescues her sister from the clutches of vampire Ethan Carrick by agreeing to stand in as his pretend girlfriend, she quickly realizes that she is in for an interesting battle, but just this once she seems destined to lose . . . her heart.
When Alexis Baldizzi learns that her sister, Brittany, has left behind her dental practice and moved into a suite at a luxury casino owned by Ethan Carrick, she is determined to get her out. She is humored when Brittany tells her that Ethan, his friends and employees are all vampires, further disbelieving when Ethan tries to explain that he is a candidate for the vampire presidency and is in need of a temporary, intelligent, non-vampire girlfriend, to soften his image. Alexis agrees to play the part and is eventually shown evidence to support Ethan's vampire defense. Ethan is the most gorgeous man that Alexis has ever known, and once she stops fighting both him and her attraction to him, she discovers that the saying "Bite Me" has taken on an entirely new meaning.
Ethan Carrick has been around for nine hundred years and not once in that time has he met a woman who fascinates him the way Alexis Baldizzi does. He thought his dentist, Brittany Baldizzi, was perfect to play the part of his girlfriend; she's tall, beautiful and perfectly sweet. That thought quickly evaporated once he met her sister, Alexis, a cute little pixie of a woman with the tenacity of a pit bull and handfuls of luscious curves. Ethan finds her to be a refreshing challenge and enjoys her company as he has no other woman in centuries. When attempts on Ethan's life escalate into threats against Alexis, there is nothing in the world he won't do to protect her.
Erin McCarthy repeatedly shows her gift of incredible talent by writing stories with creative wit and humor, while maintaining those character qualities that we all want in a great romance. HIGH STAKES gives readers just that with characters who, despite one being a vampire, have the most simplistic wants and needs; whose emotions and desires are shared by everyone. Ethan and Alexis are both self-assuredly aggressive and determined to have their way; the banter between the two of them is cleverly written and will have readers laughing, just as their passions will make your heart beat just a little bit faster. This is not a book to be missed whether you are a long-time vampire reader or just cutting your vampiric teeth; you won't be disappointed.
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14 of 16 people found the following review helpful:
2.0 out of 5 stars
A rush job..., August 22, 2006
This review is from: High Stakes (Vegas Vampires, Book 1) (Paperback)
I like Erin McCarthy, though some of her output is better than others. But am I the only one noticing that she is now cranking out 4 books a year? An incredibly prolific pace.
Unfortunately, the rush job shows in this latest by McCarthy in which she contrives a poorly thought out vampire story. First, let me point out, despite the trade size the print is very large, the borders and space between lines overly wide. Not a lot of prose per page -- my English teacher didn't let me get away with it in high school, McCarthy certainly can't when she's charging $13 per book!
Second, not much happens in the story. There is no development of the romance, the plot is nonexistant, the characters never evolve, and nothing HAPPENS. There is a lot of filler with a lot of useless chatter and what passes for sense of humor. (McCarthy succeeds better in her previous books in being funny.) This book needed a really good editor to cut out the blather and make McCarthy devote a little more time coming up with a better plot.
I really liked Mouth to Mouth and The Pregnancy Test. I kinda liked Smart Mouth and Heiress for Hire. Wasn't so fond of Houston, We Have a Problem or A Date With the Other Side. This one, High Stakes, ranks way below all of them.
EDIT: I see now that her next book is probably a 'sequel' to this one, which would explain why this one is so sparse. Her greedy publishers(?) took what would/should have been one book and split it in two. For shame!
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7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Fun and sexy adventure with Vamps in the City of Sin, August 1, 2006
This review is from: High Stakes (Vegas Vampires, Book 1) (Paperback)
In Ethan's world, vampires are civilized beings who have wealth, power, and their own chosen leaders, voted on by their peers. This year, Ethan is up for re-election, and he knows one way to clinch the win is to have a lovely, biddable wife at his side. He believes he's found her in Brittany Baldizzi. She is a sweet-tempered dentist with a soft heart and a fabulous figure - the perfect political wife. He sets out to woo her as his bride, and the taste of victory is within reach....but not if fiery-tempered Alexis has anything to say about it. Alexis will do anything to protect Brittany, even sacrifice herself to the blood-sucking monster out to trap her innocent and naive sister.
Ethan is instantly attracted to Alexis. He adores her outspoken ways, and lush, womanly figure. For an undead guy, he's never felt so alive in all his 900+ years. However she wants nothing to do with him. He is a politican, after all. But his hot kisses tempt Alexis to the dark side, and Ethan knows he wants nothing more than to make this woman his - forever.
Erin McCarthy uses her trademark humor to ramp up the heat in this vamp tale located right in the heart of the city of sin. Vegas becomes the center of political scandal in the Vampire Nation as jealousy mixes with blood and lust in one opponent's bid for the presidency, and politics never looked so good, or so forbidden, as Ethan tries desperately to protect the woman he loves from danger and the uglier side of his world. All is not what it seems in Sin City, and even Brittany is tempted by the seductive vampire world. McCarthy fans will rejoice at yet another delicious tale from her repertoire and definitely want another installment. In the ever-increasing trend of solemn and tragic vampire tales, it is a bit of a relief to find humor and romance amongst the undead, and you get that and more in this engaging new series. Nobody does sexy, humorous stories better.
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