Customer Reviews

Luscious Craving (A CANDACE STEELE VAMPIRE KILLER NOVEL)

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

 

 

I just got this book and was praying that it was as good as the first. I can't help at compare Cameron Dean to Laurell K Hamilton and I try not to do that. I consider it a disrespect to both of these great authors to say that one is a wannabe or clone to the other. They are both absolutely wonderful writers. This book, thanks to the first Passionate Thirst, had me wondering where the twist in the book was. Who wasn't what they seemed and boy did it deliver. YEAH! The two viewpoints from Ash and Candace was very refreshing. It gives you the mindset of both the main characters instead of the one. Because of this, by the end of the book I wanted to swat Candace and tell her to wake up. Ash is doing all this for her. If I didn't know this was only a trilogy, the storyline could go on for several books. I am dying to find out what the Board is up to? What's Ash's plans for Candace and will Candace ever accept Ash? Will the author make Candace into a vampire? Will Ash become human or will the author kill Ash off (By the way - I hate it when authors do that to a good character. Hint, hint to Miss Dean. ) But I definitely say pick up Cameron Dean's books. It will give you something to sink your teeth into during the winter months and definitely warm you through the chill. Spicy!

This book is entertainging but light. If your looking for more of a Laurell K. Hamilton style introspective work it may fall short for you. However if that's just the kind of thing you shy away from you may love this. Other reviewers are right when they say that this second installment is better than the first. The mystery is more complex(though parts are still a "duh!"), the sex scenes are hotter, and additional characters and storylines come into play. That's the good part. For me the bad part is that Candace and all of her relationships feel stilted, cold, somewhat undeveloped. I don't care enough about anyone to get that enthralled by the book.

The premise is that it's six months after the original book in the series. Candace is still working security in Vegas, Ash & she still have a disfunctional relationship full of baggage, and the casino where Candace works is about to host a huge poker tournament in the face of a possibly huge con going down. But none of the characters seems to know everything that's going on. Truthfully, Candace seems to spend most of the book between the sheets or mad. She's not the greatest slueth in the world. But like I said, it is somewhat entertaining. I just expected still more.

Vampires and con artists haunt Candace Steele's life as she works security for the Scheherazade casino and hunts vampires on the side. Since nearly being turned into one herself by Ash Donahue, Candace is able to sense whenever a vampire is near and luckily the head of security at the casino believes her and uses this to great advantage to prevent vampires from bilking the casino with their powers of rapport. Rumors are swirling about a possible con at the casino in the midst of a highly televised poker event. Meanwhile, she is distracted by the sexy poker player, Michael Pressman. Will Candace be able to withstand her LUSCIOUS CRAVING for Ash and save the casino from utter financial ruin?

Cameron Dean exceeds all expectations with her second book in the phenomenal trilogy featuring vampire hunter, Candace Steele! Many secrets are revealed that add depth to the overall storyline as Ms. Dean incorporates flashbacks into Ash's perspective on the situation two years ago when he nearly converted Candace into a vampire. The change in character viewpoint flows seamlessly as the secrets gradually unfold. In fact, after reading LUSCIOUS CRAVING, this reviewer actually has an even greater love of the first book, PASSIONATE THIRST, as the pieces are all beginning to fit together in an extraordinarily clever pattern. LUSCIOUS CRAVING can be a stand alone novel, but this reviewer highly recommends reading them in order to fully appreciate the very unique plot concocted by Ms. Dean.

LUSCIOUS CRAVING is the breakthrough book that truly sets this series apart from others in the genre. The entire scenario with the Board provides an entirely new perspective to the characters and sets the stage for what should be a spectacular conclusion to the trilogy. LUSCIOUS CRAVING is a book that vampire lovers will relish!

COURTESY OF CK2S KWIPS AND KRITIQUES

In Luscious Craving we get a peek into Ash's point of view in the flashbacks. This could have been an incredibly effective way to give us a better understanding of how his relationship with Candace developed and why he felt such a connection to her. Instead it was just a way to introduce another plot thread, that wasn't really all that interesting.

Since Candace is still fighting her attraction to Ash, she's off trying to "feel and not think" with some other guy. But she still manages to fit in a night of passion with Ash in between quickies. Candace doesn't kill too many other vamps here, just her evil clone, and picks up a new ally. Actually the "Vampire Killer" label is a misnomer, since her focus is her Security consultant job at a Casino and she does more chasing vamps off because the try to cheat the house, than killing them because they are bloodsuckers.

Luscious Craving was a quick, lightweight read, nothing too memorable, but since I already have the next one in the series,Eternal Hunger (Candace Steele, Vampire Killer, Book 3) I will finish the series before passing them on. These are not keeper quality, but enjoyable enough to be worth buying at the thrift store.

I won't go into details of the plot, others have already done so. Suffice it to say I enjoyed this addition to the Candace Steele story, although I was irritated by her continuing to deny Ash, despite his obvious love for her. *shrug* Of course, who is to say how one would react, but I was VERY angry at her continuing to blame him for "attacking her in the elevator in San Francisco" when her flashbacks in the first book CLEARLY show that she asked for him to turn her, then changed her mind at exactly the last minute. To put this into understandable terms: think if it had been actual intercourse, instead of him turning her into a vampire. She lets him get RIGHT to the brink, then says nope changed my mind, get off and later yells rape. THAT is exactly the situation in a nutshell and that drives me MAD. But otherwise, I did enjoy the book - lots of action, great mystery, etc.

Candace Steele still works undercover in the Las Vegas casino-hotel Scheherazade "Sher". She still senses and kills upper crust vampires. But she is still severely attracted to the vampire Ash Donahue as well. Despite her cravings, Candace remains determined to keep her distance and never surrender to her darker side.

There are rumors of a New Year's Eve vampire assault on the casino and only Candace can stop it. To do so, however, she must turn to Ash and even step directly into the center of his deadly domain. If Ash agrees to help her, Candace knows the price he will demand may be her very soul.

**** Author Cameron Dean focuses more on the plot than the attraction between Candace and Ash this time around. However, a lovely little twist is thrown in for extra drama. I, as the reader, learned a lot more about the society within the vampire domain too. I can see events slowly coming together between the couple. The author manages to keep me guessing as to whom shall win though. I can hardly wait for the third book, "Eternal Hunger", due for release in January 2007. This is one dark and seductive trilogy! ****

Reviewed by Detra Fitch of Huntress Reviews.

Background: I read the first book and then a couple months later I saw it on my kindle and had NO MEMORY OF READING IT. That about sums up how I feel about this series.

This book is better than the first (where at points I just wanted to hit people). The series is more of a paranormal mystery series than pure romance. The romance is oddly drawn out where we flip back and forth between the present and the past as we follow our heroine and her ill-fated romance with her vampire lover. But this relationship only provides context for the actual story- which is more mystery and action oriented.

If you LOVE the vampire genre, you will most likely enjoy this well enough. It just doesn't stand out. The characters are only marginally likable. They continuously make decisions that seem shallow, shortsighted or foolish. The main character comes across as entirely too emotional- even for a romance! And her best friend is more a character I would love to smack when I'm having a bad day, just to make me feel better.

The plot is decent enough and not entirely predictable. This is what saves it. The plot arc is entertaining and kept me involved. If I run out of other books, I might read the next one in the series.

Plot Summary: Candace Steele dresses up like a cocktail waitress at a Las Vegas casino, but she's really undercover security. After being bitten by her ex-vampire-lover, Ash, she can now sense the undead by a cold chill running down her spine. Candace's official job is to chase vampires out of the casino; she's made it her hobby to kill them in her spare time, which isn't much, since she spends a lot of time rolling between the sheets. I wish I could say I liked her, but I don't. I swear she's bipolar and needs meds.

I found "Luscious Craving" fascinating for one reason. Candace admits every few pages that she loves Ash the man, but hates Ash the vampire. So what does she do? She spends the ENTIRE book screwing another guy. I don't think I've ever encountered a romance where the heroine professes undying love for the hero, and then finds solace in having sex with another. We're not talking one time either, but four or five at least. It's such a weird scenario, I can't stop wondering whether I admire the heroine or find her disgusting. Nah, it's definitely the latter.

I need to find out when the next book comes out...
I love this author, just read all her books this weekend (there are 3), and oh my God, I need to talk to someone who has read these....

How can you kill a main character and leave nothing on when the next book is coming out or how to contact the author to yell at her. I love the series but I was crushed w/the ending of this.

Candace finally realizes her feelings for Ash, gives in to them and then he's killed off, come on.... he better be coming back somehow damnit, maybe make him a GOD, i could deal with that, hell it dealt w/the whole vampire thing fine, .

Actually read all the three books. Enjoy it very much however the ending sucks!!! I mean paranormal romance, pleeasee...i want a happy ending!!!! I agree with some readers that there should be a follow up on the story on ASH and CANDACE why the abrupt ending of him dying/dead? is that another way telling the readers that the series are ending?..Well still think as the reader,we need the happy ending. The only story i know where the hero died is in THE SILVER KISS by ANNETTE CURTIS KLAUSE and this is in a different genre. Young Adult book about a vampire.