Passionate Thirst (Candace Steele, Vampire Killer, Book 1) [Mass Market Paperback]

Cameron Dean (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 31, 2006

JUST ANOTHER NIGHT IN SIN CITY

Candace Steele is as tough as she is alluring. For her, killing vampires isn’t just a job–it’s personal: She’s still haunted by erotic memories of an all-consuming affair with Ash, a seductive vampire who thrilled her–and then nearly destroyed her. Now, working undercover in a Las Vegas casino, she seduces the most powerful undead–right before she drives a stake through their unbeating hearts.

When hot-ticket singer Temptation McCoy sweeps into town for a major concert, Candace is tapped for security. But after meeting Temptation, Candace feels the cold, tingling sensation that can mean only one thing: There’s a vampire in the diva’s entourage. To complicate matters, Ash suddenly appears in Sin City, vowing to do anything and everything to draw Candace back into his arms. Overwhelmed by desire and suspicion, she lets down her guard . . . a move that could cost Candace her life.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

In her debut paranormal romance, Dean strives for a mix of sensuality and action à la Laurell K. Hamilton, but the result more closely resembles a grown-up Buffy clone. That's not to say that her tale isn't entertaining. Indeed, Dean's silver stake–wielding vampire killer, Candace Steele, has chutzpah, a smart mouth and a major chip on her shoulder. As the reader learns through lengthy flashbacks, Candace fell hard for a sexy vamp named Ash. But after a too-hot encounter almost killed her, Candace vowed to shake off her vampire lover and reinvent herself in Vegas as a security guard with a dangerous hobby—beating bloodsuckers at their own game. She finds herself in over her head, however, when she's assigned to protect her casino's big-ticket draw, pop sensation Temptation McCoy. Guarding Temptation wouldn't be so bad—if she didn't have a powerful vampire for a manager. When headless bodies turn up, indicating a larger plot at play, Candace finds herself relying on Ash for help, and their sexual pyrotechnics—not the vamp-killing action, of which there is little—will quench the thirst of readers seeking steamy, albeit conventional paranormal fare. (Nov.)
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About the Author

Cameron Dean enjoyed a successful career as an actress in regional repertory theater before turning her hand to writing. She is also the author of the upcoming novels Luscious Craving and Eternal Hunger. Cameron lives with her husband and assorted felines in Seattle.

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Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 336 pages
• Publisher: Ballantine Books (October 31, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0345492536
• ISBN-13: 978-0345492531
• Product Dimensions: 4.2 x 0.9 x 6.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (26 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #475,343 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Fun & Sexy Paranormal Romance, November 3, 2006

By 

loonigrrl (Los Angeles, CA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Passionate Thirst (Candace Steele, Vampire Killer, Book 1) (Mass Market Paperback)

I had been keeping my eye on this one for awhile. I rushed out to buy it the day it came out and . . . it was exactly what I was hoping it would be: a fun, interesting book, with a strong heroine and a steamy romance.

Candace Steele works undercover as security at a successful Las Vegas casino and does her best to protect the locals and tourists alike from the blood suckers. A year and a half ago, Candace met and fell in love with the mysterious, sexy and compelling Ash. She didn't realize it until she was already in love with him, but he was a vampire. A very powerful vampire. He loved her as well and wanted to turn her into a vampire like him so they could be together forever. Candance wasn't exactly opposed- until it was almost too late. She was able to recover from her near death experience and she discovered that she had better vision, better hearing and a built in vampire radar. When a popular singer, Temptation, comes to town, Candace realizes that she just may be the only one to save her from her vampire manager set on making Temptation his drone.

Cameron Dean skillfully jumps back in time to elaborate on Candace's relationship with Ash as he, in the present, arrives in town to win her back. The chemistry between Candace and Ash is great, because there's more to it than a few empty sex scenes. Instead, we actually get to read about the beginnings of their romance and how they fell in love, and how deep their feelings go. When we finally read about the attack that set Candace on a life of vampire killing, it's to discover that she may not have been the only one to suffer from that night. Passionate Thirst is a fun book with likeable characters, a compelling romance and an interesting story. It looks like a sequel may not be too far off in the future- I will definitely be looking forward to it.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Suprisingly good and seriously misplaced in bookstores ..., December 8, 2006

By 

D. Rumbold (Tualatin, or USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Passionate Thirst (Candace Steele, Vampire Killer, Book 1) (Mass Market Paperback)

I had to hunt down this book. I figured it would be in horror or at least science fiction. After all, that's where you find it's predecessors in the first person, female urban fantasy.

Unfortunately, it is being marketed as romance. Yes, there is sex in this novel - very well written, steamy if unprotected sex. However, at its core, Passionate Thirst and it's sequels are mysteries.

Candace Steel, the lover and victim of sexy, charismatic vampire Ash, has fled him after a horrifying, near fatal encounter. Escaping from the damp and chilly world of San Fransisco, she ends up in the polar opposite city Las Vegas! There she works as a cocktail waitress ... or does she?

She has made herself into a self-trained vampire killer in order to wipe the feelings for Ash from her heart. It didn't work. When vampires begin to die at someone else's hand, Candace must solve the mystery before she ends up as collateral damage. To do this she needs Ash. Which may be even more dangerous.

Like the early Anita Blakes and Merry Gentry novels, sex is part of the story but not the only part. Candace is witty, strong and damaged. But it doesn't take her 15 books to work out her personal issues - or at least some of them.

Bibi, her Jewish showgirl friend is a kick in the tutu as are many of the side characters.

Ash is sexy and distant.

The writing is fresh, clean and fast paced.

I hope to see more than just these three and I hope they stay the same caliber.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars More like 4 1/2 stars..., November 22, 2006

By 

Deborah Wiley (Winter Haven, FL) - See all my reviews
(TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Passionate Thirst (Candace Steele, Vampire Killer, Book 1) (Mass Market Paperback)

Candace Steele has hunted vampires ever since her affair with one named Ash ended so disastrously. Still haunted by dreams of Ash, Candace uses seduction to get close enough to certain vampires to end their lives. A headless body of a vampire has been found at a nearby club but Candace is not responsible. Life is further complicated when she is drafted to assist with security for singing sensation, Temptation McCoy, and discovers a powerful vampire in the midst of the entourage. Meanwhile, Ash has also re-entered Candace's life and suddenly she's being bombarded on all sides by vampires. What choices will Candace make when confronted with the PASSIONATE THIRST of the vampires?

PASSIONATE THIRST is the first in a trilogy about vampire hunter, Candace Steele. While set in present day Las Vegas, the story unfolds with a series of flashbacks interwoven with the present day to provide the reader with the back history between Ash and Candace. The flashback scenes are initially a bit disconcerting, but once one sees the pattern, they flow smoothly and greatly enhance the reader's understanding of the strong bond that exists between Candace and Ash.

Candace Steele is a phenomenal character to handle the role of vampire hunter. It is always difficult when reading about a new vampire hunter not to compare the character to either Buffy or Anita Blake but Candace's cheeky repartee helps distinguish her from the other well-known hunters in this genre. Nicknamed "Nerves" by her friends, Candace is an interesting blend of the sensuous and the defiant. Her emotional turmoil over Ash is easily understood as Cameron Dean provides no straightforward answers for her heroine.

PASSIONATE THIRST is an excellent addition to the vampire genre. While Cameron Dean doesn't necessarily break any new ground with this story, the fascinating blend of the sensuous with the high-octane action will delight readers. In addition, Cameron Dean provides several interesting secondary characters along with a completely unexpected twist that makes this book well worth reading. PASSIONATE THIRST is an enjoyable read and this reviewer is already eagerly anticipating the second book, LUCIOUS CRAVINGS.

COURTESY OF CK2S KWIPS AND KRITIQUES