NO SPOILERS or plot summaries. Recommendations included.
HIGH LEVEL: I really don't know what the heck Ms. Folsom was thinking - I nearly didn't bother with this because of the title. (I stopped looking at covers a long time ago.) EXCELLENT Book 1 in a vampire-themed paranormal romance/erotica series. Definitely more to this story than just the erotica- great plot, great characters, all around well written. Tone is feisty with a good dose of humor, a splash of violence and menace, a bit of romance and plenty of lust. Paranormal concepts limited to standard vampire mythology - no other monsters or madness.
SEXUAL CONTENT: Lusty m/f encounters- oral & anal. Explicit, but straightforward. Nothing really crazy- no ménage, BSDM, fetishism or voyeurism.
CHARACTERS: Great cast of characters. Not quite a boy's club set up, but close with Samson running a company employing vampires who are also his friends. Supporting characters were surprisingly well developed, making banter between the bunch a fun part of the story. Both Samson and Delilah are funny and well developed. While both were strong willed, neither of them was overly dominant or painfully submissive. Delilah was a great female lead as she was spunky and independent while allowing enough vulnerability to show through. There is no fear of having to sit through a silly story about a weak woman getting swept off of her feet. And Samson isn't so strong that he needed to be tamed either. It was well balanced.
PLOT: Romance paramount, power struggle/greed subplot. Pacing is excellent: consistent and medium intensity. The sense of humor is immediately apparent in the set up: a vampire with performance issues and a budding romance between "Samson" and "Delilah." Once you're past the blatant comedy, the story manages to deepen and intensify. Stakes expand beyond the romance to danger to both their lives and his company from greedy, jealous rivals. Overall it wasn't too complicated, but provided a good framework for the story. It also provided a chance to get to know the other characters enough that I can't wait to read their stories too.
BOTTOM LINE: Recommended. Great story, satisfying is just about every possible way. I love these characters and can't wait to keep reading about them!
RECOMMENDATIONS: (Many of these are darker and more intense...)
1. Lara Adrian's
Kiss of Midnight (The Midnight Breed, Book 1) - darker, more violent, but incredibly intense. Vampires protect the world from their evil brethren.
2. Dana Marie Bell's
Dare to Believe (The Gray Court) - sexy, light, humorous para-romance with all manner of fae: Sidhe, dragons, leprechauns, vampires and more.
3. Kresley Cole's slightly more adventurous and intricate magical romance series (never mind the ridiculous title):
A Hunger Like No Other (Immortals After Dark, Book 1)4. Jacquelyn Frank's
Jacob (The Nightwalkers, Book 1) - demons, were, vamps and other fae finding their better halves in races that should be the enemy
5. Larissa Ione's
Pleasure Unbound (Demonica, Book 1) - demon centric romance series that sets up a demon-run hospital under a human city. Odd mix of lighter writing and darker subjects.
6. Sherrilyn Kenyon's
Fantasy Lover - Dark Hunter series with shifters, vamps and Greek gods. The first book is not as good as the rest- it just gets better and better.
7. Erin McCarthy's
High Stakes (Vegas Vampires, Book 1) - this is para-romance, not erotica, but is pretty funny and down to earth
8. J.R. Ward's
Dark Lover (Black Dagger Brotherhood, Book 1) - also darker, more violent and incredibly intense vampire romance series. Vampires protect the world from their evil brethren. Vivid glimpses into the evil perspective as well.
9. Gena Showalter's
The Darkest Night (Hqn) - sexy, demon-possessed immortals looking for true love in a world of hidden magical creatures.
