Most Helpful Customer Reviews
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7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:
2.0 out of 5 stars
Silly and Quirky Vampire Romance (B- Grade), October 23, 2008
Another paranormal story with vampires is the steamy romance by Christine Warren called One Bite With a Stranger. This book is an extended version of a title Christine originally published with Ellora's Cave called Fantasy Fix. Since this a romance and an extension of an her original novel, you can pretty much presume that there is going to be some hot loving going on. There is definitely some of that, but the way the two main characters act with each other, especially the way the hero claims his woman, gave me some good laughs. And I am not sure if those laughs are meant to be intentional.
Regina McNeill broke up with her sleazy ex-boyfriend after she found out he was boinking every women he could get his hands on. Her friends decide that Regina needs to find a new man to get her out of her slump, perhaps have some nice, hot sex since she hasn't had any in the last few months. Reggie's friends want her to act out her ultimate sexual fantasy, where a seductive and mysterious vampire will seduce her. Regina is a bit wary by what her girlfriends have up their sleeves, and they won't take no for an answer. So, Reggie ends up at a Goth nightclub where she will be set up with her vampire lover.
Reggie doesn't realize her mistake in being sought after by Dmitri Vidame, who is an actual real vampire and in charge of the Council of Others in New York City. He spots Reggie in the crowded club and decides he will make her his. Reggie falls for his smooth talking lines and since she assumes this is the guy her friends have set her up with, she takes Dmitri back home for a one night stand. Dmitri wants to overpower Reggie in the bedroom and gives her orders, where she will basically bow down to him as he helps her achieve the best orgasm she has ever had. Reggie, at first, isn't too happy the way Dmitri wants her to succumb to his dominance, but because he can make her "come" multiple times in a few minutes, she quickly allows Dmitri to have his wicked way with her.
Dmitri knows what Reggie wants since he can read her mind and tap into her darkest desires. And he soon realizes that Reggie is the one for him because, "He adored the taste of her, sweet and warm and spicy, like honey and cinnamon and the unique flavor that was Regina." And, "The taste of her filled him, overwhelmed him. Sweeter than the honey, hotter than her passion... He felt drunk on her essence. She intoxicated him like vodka, only sweeter. She welcomed him like springtime."
Isn't Dmitri such a poet?
Dmitri is so sure about Reggie that he bites her and drinks from her, thus claiming her as his immortal bride. Reggie has no clue about this claiming and is glad when he is gone in the morning, because after all, it was just a one-night stand between them. So what if Reggie hears Dmitri talking in her mind or shows up out of the blue while she on another date? She finds it annoying that all of a sudden Dmitri can talk to her this way or find her even though she never told him where she would be. Reggie thinks he is hot and great in the sack, but is not down with Dmitri being the possessive type. She is ready to tell him to take a hike, when her ex, Greg, almost rips out her throat because he has been changed into a vampire. Now Dmitri must protect Reggie as she must comes to grips over her intense lusting after a very attractive dead man who gives her the best sex she has ever had.
Even though I found One Bite With a Stranger a bit silly, especially over Dmitri's very laughable possessive tendencies over Reggie, Christine Warren has written a fluffy fun read. The sex scenes between Dmitri and Reggie were steamy but ventured into the purple prose category, which, as you can see from the quotes I posted above. If only we lucky ladies could be compared to a season during sex! I would loved to be compared to dew on a summer morning.
And every time Dmitri thought about ravishing Reggie or told Reggie how he wanted her, some laughs would find their way out of my mouth. You would think that this powerful vampire would be a force to reckon with. But the beast was tamed by the love of a woman who would not allow him to walk all over her.
As for Reggie, I could never warm myself up to her. She could never make up her mind when it came to Dmitri. You would think the woman be a bit frightened over the fact that her one night stand could suddenly speak in her head, and that he happens to be a vampire. And don't get me started on the hickey she must have from Dmitri. For a short moment, Reggie does seem freaked out, but since he gets her motor running, she welcomes Dmitri into her life, fully, and as her boyfriend.
This is one zany and quirky tale that some may roll their eyes at, but I for one really enjoyed One Bite With a Stranger. Christine Warren does have a distinctive voice and I would definitely be interested in reading her next release.
Katiebabs
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12 of 15 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Yummy fun, September 30, 2008
For months now, Regina's friends have been indulging in a sexual fantasy game they have dubbed "Fantasy Fix". They all have to put their most secret sexual fantasies in a hat and after a fantasy is picked, the friends must do their best to find a guy who can fulfill it for them. After evading her turn for as long as possible, her friends cheerfully coerce her to join their game. Thinking to make her fantasies as difficult as possible to fulfill, she smugly lists her 5 choices. A date with an alien, Bigfoot, Elvis or a vampire. And for her fifth fantasy? Well, she's honest with herself for once so she writes down, to be bound, spanked, and dominated by a sexy, commanding brute. (That's right, it's always the quiet ones.) Since the penalty for being unable to fulfill her fantasy is a month of celibacy, her friends wrack their brains and remember the Vampire Ball. They cheerfully drag her to it dressed in skintight black leather pants, stiletto boots and a corset. She should fit right in with the other leather clad goths milling around the ball, but to Dmitri Vidame, she definitely stands out from the crowd. Dmitri was on the hunt for a rogue vampire when he caught sight of the beautiful Regina. Reading her thoughts, he was amused by her lively mind and sharp wit and using a little vampire persuasion, quickly led her out of the club and back to her apartment. Regina's friends thoughtfully supplied her with a bag full of "implements" that they thought might come in handy for her wild night on the town and Dmitri makes quick work of it's contents. Before Regina knows what's happening, she's naked and bound to her bed and he's looking at her as if she's a tempting feast. Misha has been alive for over eight hundred years and never has he been so tempted by a woman before. He has finally found that elusive mate and he means to keep her. He tries to slowly introduce her to the fact that he's an eight hundred year old vampire, but when an Other targets her, he's got no choice but to show her what he is and hope that she doesn't freak out too badly because he has no intention of letting her go.
At first, Misha seemed too calmly composed during their first wild romp. He employs a very strict and commanding persona with her for their first time and it was a little off putting, to me at least. He soon warms up though and when he produces some toys, I thought this was going to be a seriously kinky ride. Luckily, or unluckily, those toys were just for show and Misha gives Regina the hottest, steamiest, most orgasm inducing night of her life. What began as a one time fantasy fix for her, became something permanent for both of them. He gives her space during the day, but at night, he comes back for more and more. Misha can read her thoughts and when he's away from her, he enjoys touching her mind. There he learns of her ex fiance and when he finds him attacking her, he's instantly on alert. It seems Regina wasn't as unaware of the Others as she thought but since Misha is the head of the Council of Others, he's more than equipped to see to her safety.
After their first wild sexual encounter, the sex between Misha and Regina tones down a little and becomes much more tender and loving, while still being quite thrilling. There is one hot opera scene that I just moved up to the top of my own fantasy list. Think of the rise of opera tickets! Misha was sexy and commanding, and just a touch intimidating when he wanted to be. He was also surprisingly funny and had a great sense of humor. Regina was shy and quiet but she too had a great sense of humor and a nice solid backbone when the occasion called for it. Regina's friends are concerned about her sudden involvement with the gorgeous Misha and when they find out he's a vampire, they try and stage an intervention. This book was a funny mix of the comical and the sensuous and was filled with interesting world building by Christine Warren. Enjoy!!
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14 of 18 people found the following review helpful:
2.0 out of 5 stars
Too much sex, too little story, October 2, 2008
The latest book in the Others series is disappointing. It appears to be a prequel, which is a plus, and does not require you to have read any of the other books. The problem is that while all the books have steamy scenes, there's usually a backbone of plot to support them. This book's plot is worth maybe a short story and almost entirely sex-based (forced to act out your fantasies with a stranger). Once you add in explicit sex scenes spanning multiple chapters, this is disturbingly like the change in direction Laurell K. Hamilton took in her writing. It may be that the author has decided to get more in line with the Romance genre than the Supernatural, which would be a shame and might take her off my reading list.
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