Customer Reviews

The Real Werewives of Vampire

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

 

 

When done well, a tongue-in-cheek paranormal romance can be both laugh out loud funny and über sexy in the same instance. Kensington put together four great examples of this type of writing in 'The Real Werewives of Vampire County.' With heavy hitters like Alexandra Ivy's 'Where Darkness Lives' you won't be disappointed with this anthology. The only author I had read before was Ivy and now I have three new authors to "catch up with."

'Where Darkness Lives' by Alexandra Ivy

A tiny addition to her 'Guardians of Eternity' series, Ivy introduces us to Sophia, pure blood were and known as the 'bitch of all bitches', mother of the four were sisters in her series. Attempts on her life have forced her to hire a bodyguard, she goes outside of her family because she wants to have control. Like most PNRs, she doesn't plan on going gaga over her über hot new bodyguard and especially not having him force his way into her life and take control, but it happens. Sophia is constantly being referred to as the 'bitch of all bitches', so there is a lot of prickliness in the book and drool worthy scenes between her and were-stud Luc, who is your typical alpha. I thought for a short story, Ivy did a wonderful job of flushing out plot, backstory, characters depth and transition along with romance. It was really well done. You find out Sophia's history and it explains her present behavior. There is even a lot of drama between the two characters. I've only read one of Ivy's 'Guardians of Eternity' books, but I think I might have to visit with this series from the beginning.

"Murder on Mysteria Lane" by Angie Fox

This one was probably my favorite of the four. Heather McPhee is a freak "lie detector" werewolf who has gained the distinction of the pack pariah. She is called in to investigate a werewolf's murder in an exclusive community because of her ability. She is forced to partner up with Lucien Mead, whose vampire contacts will get them into the community with little suspicion. Heather is immediately distrustful of the vampire, but cannot deny his hotness. The reason why I found this one the most entertaining was because of the comedy of the whole thing. Heather's interaction with the other trophy wives of the community was hysterical. It was just one big hot mess of a neighborhood. Not to mention Heather herself was a great character. The fact that she had to get one of the neighbors to put stickers on her clothes so she would know what to wear was hysterical and also the fact that she would strip down to her panties to get out of the restricting clothes the moment she got in her house was also funny. It was just an enjoyable read. Just don't delve too deep, entertaining yes, mystery make much sense? Not really. But, you'll get that from the beginning - if you wanted to kill someone why would you drop a chandelier on their head?

"Werewolves in Chic Clothing" by Tami Dane

Where the first two novellas knocked my socks off, the second two were just so-so for me. Tami Dane takes us to "Stepford" in this tale of a New Yorker that meets a man on the internet, doesn't really know him, but decides to get engaged with him and move in. On her first day she meets the perfect women that live around him and learn that Jonathan's first wife might not have committed suicide -- her husband or someone close might have killed her. This one just didn't go over well with me, because for one, Christine had an established "internet" relationship with Jonathan, so the romance just wasn't there. Next, on the first day the neighborhood women immediately warn her that her fiancé might have killed his former wife. Ok ladies, if you were so close to said dead wife, why did you wait for Christine to move in to start investigating? Next, Christine, really if you saw a picture of the former wife and she could have been your doppelgänger, doesn't that throw up red flags?? And then finally in the reveal it was just one of those "oh ok" moments. Fell flat. Cute idea, entertaining read, lack-luster implementation.

"What's Yours is Mine" by Jess Haines

Jess Haines addition to the pack was of a bunch of very unpleasant werewolf women. Tiffany Winters has moved to an exclusive gated community not for the ambiance, but for the wildlife. But, to become part of the pack she has to get in good with the other women which she finds a little problematic. I like the back story of this one but the ending kind of left me feeling silly. I think it should have ended differently. I think it was mainly because the characters were not likable and I felt no affinity with Tiffany. Again entertaining story but when I got to the end it was just so-so for me.

Overall the the four books were a welcome distraction from my usual reads. I got through the book quickly and felt for each new novella I got into I had to hurry up and finish because all were compelling. Yes, I did like the first two much better than the last, but I did enjoy all of them and look forward to reading more from all of the authors.

RECOMMENDATIONS:

Recommended for paranormal romance and urban fantasy fans. There is sexual interactions in most of the novellas so for adults only.

Like this Like That

'Dates From Hell' by Kim Harrison, Lynsay Sands, Kelley Armstrong

'On the Prowl' by Patricia Briggs, Eileen Wilks, Karen Chance

The Real Werewives of Vampire County by Alexandra Ivy, Angie Fox , Tawny Taylor, and Jess Haines

Come on with a title like that you know I just had to get it.

Where Darkness Lives by Alexandra Ivy takes place in the world of her Guardians of Eternity series which I admit I've not read. I enjoyed the story but would probably have gotten more out of it if I had read the series.

Murder on Mysteria Lane by Angie Fox was the other reason for me buying this book. I LOVE Ms. Fox's Demon Slayer books. As far as I'm concerned this story was worth the price of the book. Not that the others were bad just that this one had me laughing my butt off. I could totally relate to Heather McPhee.

Werewolves in Chic Clothing by Tami Dane was an enjoyable mystery.

What's Yours is Mine by Jess Haines was my least favorite of all the offerings. I couldn't relate to any of the characters and thus didn't get as involved in the story.

All in all I enjoyed this book.

These women are rough and tumble, yet sassy and sophisticated. The Real Werewives of Vampire County is an anthology of 4 novellas by Alexandra Ivy, Angie Fox, Tami Dane, and Jess Haines. I hadn't read anything by any of these authors except for Jess Haines before, but I loved all the stories, Jess' especially! The stories were humorous and thrilling with the spice of danger and sex.

As I had hoped and expected, Alexandra Ivy's story was great. The nice surprise was reading new author's selections; which I also loved.

I received The Real Werewives of Vampire County from the fantabulous Jess Haines (thanks, Jess), and couldn't resist the quirky charm and humor of these upper-class denizens of the supernatural world.

Where Darkness Lives by Alexandra Ivy - No one's more surprised than Sophia when she's struck by an unfamiliar maternal urge to move near her daughters. But instead of being greeted by a welcome committee, she's targeted by kidnappers...and saddled with a gorgeous bodyguard on a mission to protect - and seduce.

Alexandra has a lot going on in her life and she's made more than a few enemies. You'll probably find yourself working the mystery alongside Alexandra and Luc as they try to discover who's behind the attacks, and I was pleasantly surprised to discover that I was looking at the wrong person.

Murder on Mysteria Lane by Angie Fox - When a werewolf trophy wife is found dead in Vampire County, Heather McPhee goes undercover to investigate. Heather's never been a mascara-and-manicures sort of girl, but she's willing to learn. Especially with sexy vampire detective Lucien Mead posing as her husband.

Mystery and humor come together perfectly in Fox's contribution to the Werewives anthology. Lucien Mead is cool and totally in control, always the perfect picture of sophistication... and Heather McPhee is not.

I think this one had me laughing the most because Heather is totally bad-ass when she straps on her knives and gets down to business, but put her in heels and a sundress and she's completely lost. Seeing her try to blend in with her new high-class neighbors was a riot.

Heather might be a totally tough werewolf but that's not what makes her stand out. In addition to being able to get all furry, she's like a walking truth serum. Let her lock eyes with you and the truth will be known. Of course, every power has its limitations so solving the mystery isn't as easy as Heather originally believes. In addition to Heather's endless challenge of fitting in with the neighbors, there's a healthy dose of comedy injected into the story by Lucien's assistant, Vinny. What can I say about the guy? He has a sharp sense of humor and the ability to change his shape, so you never know who you're going to get when he walks through the door; it might be the stereotypical French maid or you could be greeted by Alexander Skarsgård. He definitely keeps you on your toes.

I would love to see Heather in other adventures... but only if Lucien and Vinny were tagging along too. It just wouldn't be the same without them.

Werewolves in Chic Clothing by Tami Dane - Ever since Christine Price moved in with her fiance, Jonathan, and his twelve-year-old son, she's worked hard to fit in with a cadre of local women whose lives seem picture-perfect. Except no one in Jon's upscale neighbourhood is quite who they appear to be. Least of all Jon.

Tami's story packed the most mystery for me as Christine is reminded of that old adage - if it's too good to be true then it probably isn't. She's given up her entire life to be with the man she loves, and now she's not sure that was the smartest thing to do. Her new neighbors have suspicions about Jon and Wife #1, and if they're right, the situation might not be too good for Wife #2.

This one had to be a one-sitting reading because there was no way that I was going to put this story down before finding out what was going on. Tami did a great job of stringing me along and I didn't mind one bit. Werewolves in Chic Clothing will keep you guessing until the very end.

What's Yours is Mine by Jess Haines - Still Waters is like many other exclusive gated communities - except that it's home to one of the largest werewolf packs in the state. But Tiffany Winters isn't frightened of her big, bad new neighbors. In fact, she intends to take her place among the pack.

The previous stories had the ladies sharing the spotlight with the men, but Jess' tale of the suburban supernatural is all about the women. Sure, there are guys here too, but the women have ways of getting what they want. Wow! Those werewolves sure can be a randy bunch. LOL

If you've read Jess' H&K Investigations series, you know about the Others, so you'll be familiar with how things work in that world. The White Hats sort of make an appearance, too. However, there's no Shiarra in this adventure because the story belongs 100% to a few members of the Diamondfang clan.

Meet Cassandra, Vera, Alexis, and Heather. These ladies are good at getting what they want, and what they want is new blood. They set their sights on newcomer Tiffany, but they don't realize Tiffany has set her sights on them. If you're looking for some good ol' fashioned cat-fighting, What's Yours is Mine will give you what you want... with a werewolf twist, of course. I loved the snarkiness of Cassandra and her cohorts, laughing regularly at some of the verbal sparring that went on between the `ladies.' This is a group of wolves that don't have to whip out claws or fangs to draw blood because they've raised acting superior to everyone else to the level of being an art form.

If you like your paranormal action with just a touch of humor then you need to give The Real Werewives of Vampire County a try. The stories inside are just as great as the title implies.

The Real Werewives of Vampire County

Paranormal Romance Anthology -Nov. 1st, 2011

4 stars

Where Darkness Lives by Alenxandra Ivy

Sophia is a pure blooded werewolf, a renowed tough chick, and a revered figure in the were community. But lately, things have not been going well for her. Her youngest daughter, Cassandra, has mysteriously disappeared, and Sophia herself is being stalked. When she hires a new body guard, she is dismayed to find a sexy, full-blooded were, Luc. Luc makes her blood tingle in a way it never did before. Can she resist his seduction?

Sophia is definitely tough, maybe a little too much in the beginning, but I like how she slowly softens up in the end. The chemistry between her and the Mr. Perfect Luc is red-hot! Together, their banters and the constant "will she or will she not yield" makes this story a sexy and solid read! 4 stars

Murder at Mysteria Lane by Angie Fox

When the ultra tomboy werewolf, Heather McPhee, is recruited by her pack leader to investigate the death of a werewolf trophy wife, she never expected to be in this much trouble. First, she has to go undercover, disguise herself, and somehow fit in the posh, snooty neighborhood of Eternal Life Estate. Second, she has to pose as the wife of the sexy Lucien Mead, the vampire investigator. Can Heather find the murderer before this case kills her?

This is a fun story to read! Heather is a hoot. I love her transformation from the tomboy to the Stepford wife and her numerous misadventures. With such a fun heroine, it is a bit evitable that Lucien pales in comparison. Thankfully, the rest of the supporting characters/trophy werewolf wives are equally entertaining and kept me in suspense as I tried to figure out which one of them is the murderer. A fun, fun, fun read! 4 1/2 stars

Werewolves in Chic Clothing by Tami Dane

Christine Price packed up her belongings and moved across the country to be with her fiancé Jon and his twelve years old son. But despite the swanky neighborhood and her great romance with Jon, Christine feels that something is not quite right. When her three neighbors hinted that Jon's first wife was murdered, Christine is spooked and determined to find out how she died. Is Jon who he appears to be? Are her three new neighbors really innocent?

This is a solid, whodunit read with a cute twist at the very end. I enjoyed this story a lot because it's so gripping! Can we trust Jon? Is he really innocent? Christine is independent and smart, and you can't help but worry that Jon is the next Bluebeard. I like how she and her three new neighbors teamed up to "investigate" the mystery behind Jon's ex-wife's death. Definitely an exciting read!! 4 stars

What's Yours is Mine by Jess Haines

Tiffany Winters is looking for a place to belong, and she will do anything to achieve her goal. Even though the residents of Still Waters are not what they appear to be, Tiffany is pulling out all the stops to charm the queen of the group, Cassandra, and her clique. But what happens when they discover Tiffany's past?

This story is less of a romance, but more of a cliquey drama with a Mean Girl vibe. While the premise is rather interesting with a shocking twist at the end, I can't help but notice that the characters are unusually catty for a bunch of werewolves. I dislike the constant jockeying and bitching for power. Still, it was a pretty sweet moment at the end when Tiffany achieves her goal only to realize that it might not be worth it after all. 3 stars

Reviewed by Pauline from the Bookaholics Romance Club

The Real Werewives of Vampire Countywas a lot of fun for me. I enjoy reading anthologies because it's a great way to get the flavor of multiple authors, to see if I'd like to pursue more of their works. I am already a huge fan of Jess Haines, so reading "What's Yours is Mine" was the first thing I did. I wasn't disappointed at all. I was surprised! This story was very different from her H & W Investigations series, and had a very surprising twist at the end that made me laugh. It was delightful!

Angie Fox's "Murder on Mysteria Lane" was fine although her heroine was kind of annoying. Maybe she was meant to be.

Alexandria Ivy's "Where Darkness Lives" was pretty good and I'm pretty sure I'd like to read her other stories. I'm interested in the characters she creates.

Tami Dane's "Werewolves in Chic Clothing" was an interesting read and I loved the mystery surrounding the death of the hero's former wife. I'm a mystery lover at heart so this one appealed to me. I'll be looking up her other books.

These are quick reads and if you're looking for some entertainment and a great escape from everyday life, pick this book up.

The Real Werewives of Vampire County

By: Alexandra Ivy/Angie Fox/Jess Haines/Tami Dane

Copyright: November 2011

Publisher: Kensington Paranormal Romance

I'm Pureblood Were, And Proud Of It. . .

"Where Darkness Lives" by Alexandra Ivy

No one's more surprised than Sophia when she's struck by an unfamiliar maternal urge to move near her daughters. But instead of being greeted by a welcome committee, she's targeted by kidnappers. . .and saddled with a gorgeous bodyguard on a mission to protect--and seduce. . .

I'm A Tomboy At Heart, But I Want A Man Who Makes Me Feel Like A Real Woman. . .

"Murder on Mysteria Lane" by Angie Fox

When a werewolf trophy wife is found dead in Vampire County, Heather McPhee goes undercover to investigate. Heather's never been a mascara-and-manicures sort of girl, but she's willing to learn. Especially with sexy vampire detective Lucien Mead posing as her husband. . .

Who's Afraid Of The Big, Bad Werewolves? Not Me, That's For Sure. . .

"What's Yours is Mine" by Jess Haines

Still Waters is like many other exclusive gated communities--except that it's home to one of the largest werewolf packs in the state. But Tiffany Winters isn't frightened of her big, bad new neighbors. In fact, she intends to take her place among the pack. . .

This Is A Town Full Of Secrets. And I Intend To Uncover All Of Them. . .

"Werewolves in Chic Clothing" by Tami Dane

Ever since Christine Price moved in with her fiancé, Jonathan, and his twelve year-old son, she's worked hard to fit in with a cadre of local women whose lives seem picture-perfect. Except no one in Jon's upscale neighborhood is quite who they appear to be. Least of all Jon. . .

This anthology is a fun read. Each of the stories take you into a different area of people's lives. I think it's even better then television.

Where Darkness Lives:

Sophia thought that moving closer to her daughter would make things better. She's got her own business to run, a nice home in a gated community and all she wants is to be on her own and take life one day at a time. Why someone would want to kidnap her is beyond her understanding. Now she's stuck with a bodyguard with a body to die for and an attitude she could certainly do without. How this little play runs its course is just something you'll have to read on your own. LOL

I thoroughly enjoyed this section of the book and will certainly keep an eye out of more of Alexandra Ivy's works.

Murder on Mysteria Lane:

Heather McPhee is both honored and feared in her pack. Her gift is used for their benefit and her own. When a werewolf trophy wife is found dead she is sent in by Finnegan the Alpha of her pack she is not a happy camper. She is paired up with a Vampire Detective and expected to go undercover to find the killer and she's got only three nights to do it or her pack goes to war.

I love Heather's character, she an uber tomboy on steroids. She's also got a very dry sense of humor that just seems to click with me. I hope she will be making more appearances in the future.

Whats Yours is Mine:

There's a new hottie in the neighborhood and unfortunately she's single. Chain up her husbands ladies. Cassandra Sachs thinks that "Tiffany" will fit right in with her group. A group of Werewolves. Little do they know that Tiffany has plans of her own for this group of women and their families. Too bad that in their zeal to bring in someone new it could all come back to bite them in the rear.

This little story is about the ladies of a werewolf pack who think they can find new talent better then the boys can. I thought it was humorous and fun to read.

Werewolves in Chic Clothing:

Christine Price has her life packed into her old junker and a rusty U-Haul. She's leaving the city to move in with her Fiancé and his twelve year old son. She's excited and extremely nervous. Is she doing the right thing? Will this all work out for a "Happily Ever After"? Arriving at her new home she sees Jonathon standing in the driveway wearing an extremely happy face. He opens the driver's door before she even puts the car in PARK and is sweeps her into his arms. This might sound like your everyday fairy tale where Mr. Wonderful does everything in his power to make his lady happy and welcome. But Jonathon's got secrets. The whole neighborhood has secrets as she finds out when she meets the neighborhood ladies.

I was waiting for Christine to pack herself into her car and head back to the city by chapter 3. The world she is entering is like the Twilight Zone compared to her past life. This story is for anyone who enjoys intrigue and romance all balled up in a comedic paranormal romance.

FTC Full Disclosure: I received and ARC of this book from the publishers who only asked for a fair and impartial review.

I bought this book mostly for Alexandra Ivy's story. She is my favorite author and on my auto-buy list. Along with the other reviews, I agree, the last story in the book by Jess Haines was my least favorite. Fell flat in my opinion. I also am not familiar with that author. I sort of felt I had read that story before, or something close to it. I have to admit though, that I don't usually expect to like every story in a book like this. I wasn't too familiar with the other two authors either, but Angie Fox's story kept me interested, very nice mystery. The story by Tami Dane was cute and had a surprising ending. It also held my interest through the story. All in all, a book with very nice stories. Most were quick reads. A nice story each night before going to sleep!

I enjoyed most of the book! I really wanted to read it for "Where Darkness Lives". The other stories were good enough to make me want to look up the authors and skim through other books they've written, except for "What's Yours is Mine" by Jess Haines. I'm not very good at describing myself but it was horrible! I was upset that it was the last story in the book because after reading it I felt disappointed and empty...I would still recommend this book, just not the last story.