Customer Reviews

Lover's Bite (MIRA)

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

 

 

Oh lordy, did I ever enjoy this one! Out of all of them, IMO, this one's tops.

In the last book, you get the sense that Topaz is the spoiled, rich girl. This one may begin that way, but you quickly find out that it's far from the truth. Topaz isn't some spoiled brat, a rich girl that everyone else gets the sense of, but rather a sad, lonely, confused woman who feels cheated and unlovable. There's a depth to her anguish that has the reader sympathizing with her completely.

Jack sticks to her like glue, for his own con man reasons, telling himself that he's not in love with her, no matter what his feelings are. He learns the truth - when it's almost too late. By trying to pull the biggest con of his life, he sets in motion what happens throughout the novel.

Excellent action and suspense, twists you don't see coming and the most perfect ending have me on pins and needles for the next novel, Angel's Pain, which isn't due out until October 2008. The four-month wait may just make me pull out a few hairs, LOL!

With a respite from the Gregor hunt and while her teammates are occupied elsewhere, royal vampiress Tanya "Topaz" DuFrane decides the opportunity to learn more about her roots is now. She knows her mom was movie star Mirabella DuFrane, who was murdered in an unsolved case and that four men claim fatherhood. Ironically she thinks none stepped forward when she was an infant with no mother. Topaz plans to bring her brand of justice to the unknown killer.

Vampire Jack Heart insists on assisting Topaz who wants nothing to do with the rogue as he broke her heart and absconded with a half million dollars of her money the last time he helped her. She distrusts him and cannot afford the fee for his services especially in the bedroom, but figures she is safer to keep your known enemy close when you are at war. As they investigate the cold case, she fears déjà vu is happening all over again as he steals her heart and who knows what else from her.

Few writers can combine humor, romance, and the paranormal in action-packed yet character driven thrillers like Maggie Shayne consistently achieves (see her Twilight tales). Her latest winner is a terrific romantic suspense vampire investigative thriller that never slows down from start to finish as Topaz needs to know and act once she knows. She quickly learns she don't know Jack who is a loving rogue with a deep need to keep her safe while also trying to con a few zillion bucks out of his princess. Fans will enjoy this excellent tale as Topaz fears her LOVER'S BITE comes with a high price that to her chagrin she wants to pay.

Harriet Klausner

When Reaper's gang splits up, Jack follows Topaz as she attempts to solve two mysteries that have haunted her all her life and undeath - the identity of her father and the truth behind her mother's murder. Topaz is less than thrilled by the presence of Jack, the vampire conman, who stole her money and broke her spirit by betraying her love. But now that Jack is back he just can't stay away from Topaz. Though he tells himself it's just lust, Jack is confused by the feelings Topaz evokes in him - for some reason he's feeling guilt for the first time in his life. Jack's guilt is only magnified as he realizes how badly his con has hurt Topaz. He would have never guessed that this beautiful sensual woman has never been truly loved but only pursued for her money. So now in order to regain the trust from Topaz that is suddenly so important to him, Jack begins to deal with the devil. He trades information on Reaper's whereabouts to the CIA, who seek to regain the lethal assassin, for clues to Topaz's mysteries. But in Topaz's case the truth may not set her free. When the shocking secrets of the past are uncovered will Jack, who believes that he is unable to love, willingly sacrifice everything to save Topaz's mind, heart and her very life?

Surprisingly the investigation into the past is an effective backdrop for developing Jack and Topaz's relationship -- clues they uncover about the mystery lead to personal revelations for Jack and Topaz as they discover the common ground in the shared pain of their loveless childhoods. Additionally, Shayne does a good job of exposing the personal struggles of both the leads - Topaz's as she tries to retain her resolve and keep from giving Jack the power to hurt her again even as the walls around her heart begin to crack and Jack's as he tries to deny that he has a hidden streak of decency and as he agonizes over the thought that million he stole was far less valuable than the love he cast aside. Though there is obviously a strong physical attraction between Jack and Topaz, Lover's Bite stays mostly focused on the psychological and emotional aspect of their relationship and they only have one love scene but it is very emotionally significant for the characters.

Lover's Bite differs from Demon's Kiss (Wings in the Night, Book 1) in that the rest of the group which shared more of the screen time with the romance in the previous story plays a much smaller part here. Most of the group leaves at the beginning of the book, but they come back at the end to support Topaz when she reaches a crisis. So with the exception of Reaper and Briar, the rest of the gangs' participation in the story was minimal. Reaper is such a strong character that he manages to continue to stand out even with his small role in the book and Briar starts moving toward some personal growth that will allow her to be redeemed in the next book when she and Reaper get their romance, in the conclusion to the Wing's in the Night triology Angel's Pain.

"Lover's Bite" starts where "Demon's Kiss"( Seth & Vixen) left off. In "Demon's Kiss" Maggie introduced us to a very bizarre league of characters. Seth, a young kid, newly turned, who idolizes Reaper, ex-CIA agent turned Vampire) without actually realizing he is doing it. Vixen, a shape shifting Fox, that is turned against her will. She was held captive and tortured by Gregor, and the Vampiress Briar. Topaz is introduced into the mix as the bastard daughter of a dead movie star who is taken in by a confidence man-Vampire Jack Heart-who not only takes Topaz for millions, but steals her heart as well. At the end of "Demon's Kiss" we all know that
1. Seth and Vixen are in love.
2. Briar and Reaper definitely have a thing going for each other-but where will it lead and will Briar mend her evil ways now that Gregor has shown that he looked upon her as expendable.
3. Will Topaz ever be able to forgive Jack Heart for breaking her heart and is Jack actually sincere or just running another scam on Topaz.

In the beginning of" Lover's Kiss" -Briar is withdrawal because Gregor tortured her, and uncooperative because Reaper has decided that instead of charging on to find Gregor, it would be in everyone's best interest to disperse-leaving him alone. There is still someone besides Gregor who is helping the CIA find him, and he doesn't want any of the Vampires or chosen surrounding him to be caught in the crossfire. Topaz has decided to go to California and find out more about her dead mother and who might have killed her. Jack insists on trailing behind her. Reaper still doesn't completely trust Briar so he keeps her with him.
Throughout most of the book I was never quite sure if Jack intended harm to Reaper or not. He was giving the CIA information on Reaper's movements and this kept Reaper on the move. Jack was definitely playing a con on the CIA-but was he informing on Reaper for money, to get more information on Topaz's dead mother, or just because he had been a confidence man so long-it was all he knew? A few chapters into this I thought the story would be pretty cut and dry-but the further I read, the more thrilled and fascinated I became, because Maggie never does fail to amaze and delight me. The action moved from what seemed logical, to consequences and situations I could not have foreseen-and just kept me guessing, and second guessing until the action-packed ending.
I simply adore Maggie Shayne's novels, don't get me wrong, and more than a few of my friends know that I found "Demon's Kiss" entertaining, but not exactly one of my favorites. I found Vixen too child-like and Seth too goodie to shoes, but having read "Demon's Kiss" before "Lover's Bite", I can only say that "Demon's kiss" was a fantastic way to introduce this group of new Vampires . And in "Lover's Bite"-Seth and Vixen fit right in with Briar and Reaper, Roxy and Ilyana (the two chosen) and the nutcase (as Briar refers to her)-Crisa. One character complimented the next, and moved this story forward and made it one fabulous read!
I highly recommend you this book

I really enjoyed this continuation of the story begun in DEMON'S KISS. Reaper and all the gang are back, still trying to find Gregor, the Vampire who has tortured Vixen and Ilyana. Briar is now on our side because Gregor tortured her also. Seth and Vixen are back as a couple, as well as Roxy and Topaz.

Topaz is the daughter of a murdered movie star. She is looking for information on who murdered her mother. She is also trying to recover from falling in love with Jack Heart. Even tho he has joined their group and returned half of the money he conned out of her, she has trouble trusting him.

Jack doesn't know why he can't get Topaz out of his mind, he has loved and left many women, he cons them out of money and forgets them. However, he can't forget her and now he is trying to help her find out what happened to her mother. He is also conning the CIA, who are still desperately seeking Reaper. Reaper was one of their best assassins and now that he is a vampire he could be the greatest tool in their arsonel if they can get him back. HE is programed with a word to kill and a word to calm. Reaper and company only know the word that sets him off on a killing spree.

Not only are they hunting Topaz's mother or her killer, they are being hunted by the CIA. It makes for a great read and the large cast of characters make for a very entertaining read.

I found the cast of characters wonderful. I love the interaction and the romances in each book. This is Topaz and Jack's book. DEMON'S KISS is Seth and Vixen's book. The next one is ANGEL'S PAIN coming out in October.
I will be looking for the next one.

If you would like to know more about Reaper and the others, you can read my review of DEMON'S KISS on Amazon.

I have not read the first book in this series, as my library doesn't stock it. I read this book and the last one, Angel's Pain (which was dismal). For fans of vampire romance, this book isn't really worth picking up. The only reason I gave this book 3 stars was because the 2 main characters, Topaz and Jack, were rather likeable, as was their hunt for Topaz's father. Aside from that, the book is very mythology heavy and burdened by it.
If you are looking for a vampire romance with a little something extra, this isn't it. Maggie Shayne would do well to pick one side or the other to write books for; either make it a hardcore series or a romance w/ backstory. Out of a paperback w/ a cover like this, you don't necessarily want 3/4 backstory and 1/4 romance.
Go ahead and skip this one. You won't be missing much.

this is a great new series? 3 books so far , more to come I hope ? great reading, but read in order to get on top of story line ! well done maggie .

I am in the process of reading all three of this set of books. It is really hard to put the books down. Maggie Shayne know how to get you hooked.

The gang is back... Reaper, Topaz, Jack, Roxy, Seth, Vixen and IIyana. They are still on the hunt for Gregor and his crew of vampires. Mean while there is also tension on the home front between Topaz and Jack. Before Jack joined up with Reaper, he was part of Gregor's gang. He didn't care about anyone or anything. When Topaz first met Jack she fell hard for him, which is just how Jack liked it. He had Topaz just where he wanted her eating out of the palm of his hand and than he took off with her heart and her money. Topaz has learned her lesson and won't make that mistake again or will she? Also it seems that is a traitor amongst the group and ready to draw first blood.

I have fallen in love with everyone in this series. The whole gang had a good sense of humor and it showed in some of the wise-crack comments they made and even the sarcastic ones as well. I can assure you that once you start reading this book that you won't be bored. Lover's Bite is the second book in this trilogy that consists of Demon's Kiss, Lover's Bite and Angel's Pain in the Wings in the Night series. I have read books all of the books in this series and enjoyed them all. I believe you can read any of the books in this series as stand alone books. Maggie Shayne takes a bite out of paranormal and does it well.

I'm so hooked on this series, so glad Jack in now officially in Reaper's gang. I can't wait to see what happens with Briar... will she turn to the good side like Jack did or will she be Reaper's doom?? I can't wait!!