Customer Reviews

The Vampire and the Virgin (Love at Stake, Book 8)

5 star:		(21)
4 star:		(12)
3 star:		(6)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

Robby is suffering from post-traumatic stress after being captured and tortured by the Malcontents. Although most of his physical wounds have healed he is so full of anger and vengeance that he has become a liability to himself and others. He refuses to talk to a shrink so he is forced by his boss, who is also his great-great-grandfather, to take 4 months off to heal physically and mentally before retuning back to work. He spends this time at one of Roman and Shanna's homes in Greece.

Olivia works for the FBI and is somehow being stalked by a serial killer that is in prison. Olivia is also taking some forced time off from work at her grandmothers house in Greece. She arrives 3 weeks before Robby is ready to return to New York. Both her and her grandmother have the ability to read peoples emotions and can tell when someone is lying. Neither one of them can read Robby. Although Olivia's attraction to Robby is immediate, not being able to read his emotions both thrill and frighten her.

This book was not as humorous as the prior books in the Love at Stake series however I still found myself giggling and grinning often. As always, the support characters are a treat and add immensely to the story. Carlos was a hoot. Personally, I loved all the "catty" comments! I also enjoy the way the vampires tease each other relentlessly.

The mystery/suspense part was a little dark with the serial killer. Kind of creepy actually. Not having Casmir as the main focus was a relief. I mean really, how many times can this Casmir guy continue to get away before the readers give up hope? The romance was on the back-burner for too much of the story. I would have enjoyed more Robby & Olivia time. Overall I enjoyed the book and absolutely LOVE this series.

Side note: I understand the author has no say in the cover however I feel I must point out that Robby is Scottish with reddish-brown hair and green eyes. Where did the ghostie zombie lookin guy on the cover come from? Yikes.

The books in this series, in order, and who the love interest are:

How to Marry a Millionaire Vampire (Love at Stake, Book 1) Shanna & Roman
Vamps and the City (Love at Stake, Book 2) Darcy & Austin
Be Still My Vampire Heart (Love at Stake, Book 3) Emma & Angus
The Undead Next Door (Love at Stake, Book 4) Heather & Jean-Luc
All I Want for Christmas Is a Vampire (Love at Stake, Book 5) Toni & Ian
Secret Life of a Vampire (Love at Stake, Book 6) Lara & Jack
Forbidden Nights with a Vampire (Love at Stake, Book 7) Vanda & Phil

I love this series, and I believe that Sparks is the best author as far as paranormal romance stories go (example: She is way more original and entertaining than most of the authors who write primarily love story/romances with a little fang thrown in. (For example: Lynsay Sands who is getting predictable). The "Love at Stake" series has a fairly unique plot for each book, and the characters are fabulous. I love that we continue to regularly see previous 'stars'. However, this cover is just kooky. The cover is embarrassing to be seen with, and the vampire is completely not Robby, the red headed Scottish security guard. I have to say this gentleman does look much more handsome on the inside flap! Still though, not Robby. I didn't care for the over-the-top sounding name of the book either and its a shame since its inner content was so much fun to read. I think the "Love at Stake" series does succeed because Sparks is so innovative in the backgrounds she gives her characters and their personalities do shine through. The bigger plot of the war with the Malcontents is a great way to keep readers coming back for more. I for one want to see it when these evil vampires get thier due. Olivia is a good girl, and I thought she was a great match for Robby and the 'virgin' line waws well handled and didn't seem unrealistic. I just wish it wasn't a banner announcement in the book title! If you are a lover of things paranormal and don't mind a romance heavy plot, the "Love at Stake" series is darn close to the best out there and I highly recommend picking up the excellent first book in the series that started this all!

I loved this book! Yes i agree with some of the reviews that the whole FBI angle wasnt the best but the book falls in line with the other Love at Stake books and is a total must read! Loved it! Very romantic and I loved the Greek feel to the book.

I got thia book cuz it looked ok and I hate sitting in cars for an hor and not having anything to do, plus it was only $6.00 at a local store. I read the whoel thing in a couple of hours not wanting to stop because it drew my in with the wonderfully described sex and the wonderful devoted loyalty the male has for the female. Then I ende up buying several more of this authors books because they were all the same love, sex, and loyalty. A woman could get used to all of that if only it were real..

This is book (8) of the "Love at stake" series and I have read all of them so far. And if you enjoy the vampire romance, I recommend that you get this series. All the books are great alone, but if you read them one after the other like I did it makes for something really special. Not sure if she is even through with the series yet, but I will be picking it up if another one is written.

I love this series!!! I hope she keeps them coming. When I received the book I noticed that the cover was on backwards and up side down...crazy! I love this addition to the series. As I'm reading the book, in my head, I can hear the Scottish accent that Robby has and then Olivia's grandmother....love her. I think that Olivia overreacts and overanalyzes everything! In the beginning she annoyed the **** out of me. I wish I could find a man like Robby....like any of the vamps in these books. I can't wait till the next book!

I loved this book, I love all of Kerrelyn Sparks books and I think this was one of her best maybe because I like Robby so much. I just cannot get over the cover, I know the writers have no say which is really a shame because this cover was dreadfull, Gees the guys is SCOTTISH, WHAT DO THE PUBLISHERS NOT GET!! I agree with the others that the cover could have been so much better!!!!!!

Robby MacKay, a vampire, is recovering after being captured and tortured by Casimir, a Malcontent (ie, bad vampire). Although his body has mostly healed, he is still dealing with the psychological scars. An employee of MacKay Security & Investigation, Robby is ordered to take some time off work. He heads for his friend's villa in Patmos, a Greek isle. Meanwhile MacKay's team is still on the hunt for Casimir.

Olivia Sotiris, a pyschologist FBI consultant and an empath, arrives in Patmos to visit her grandmother. She's also taking some time off work and getting away from a frightening situation with a criminal Otis Crump. Her grandmother is a matchmaker, hoping to find her a husband. Olivia explains she's not interested in dating--it never works out well since she can tell when men are lying. Olivia sees Robby jogging on the beach, and gets a close, admiring look at his physique through her grandmother's patio telescope. She's embarrassed when he catches her in the act, but he's gone by the time her grandmother returns. He's the most beautiful man she's ever seen. When she finally meets Robby in person, she's shocked that she can't sense his feelings. Their courtship is sweet and funny, as he competes against all the young men her grandmother keeps inviting over. Things heat up as Otis continues to stalk Olivia and the war against the Malcontents continues.

For the most part, this was a fun, light paranormal romance. Most of the characters were appealing. I especially enjoyed Olivia's grandmother--she was a hoot! Where the story went off track was with only one brief suggestion from Harrison, Olivia became convinced that Robby is working with Otis. She didn't even discuss with him and there was no proof, but she immediately believed something so horrible about someone she is supposed to be in love with? It didn't make sense. And she's a psychologist, which personality-wise should mean she'd be inclined to talk things out. Then when he regularly writes her, she opens NONE of his letters over a 3-4 week period, while investigating him? That's just not realistic. I like conflict in stories, as long as its believable and the heroine isn't being an idiot. It seemed totally contrived. I ended up scanning the about 50% of the book (the middle part). When she finds out who actually did betray her it was a letdown, because that was one of the two people I had suspected. I prefer a mystery that isn't so obvious. But then the last part of the book picked up and I liked the ending. I've read all the books in the Love at Stake series, and this one wasn't one of the stronger ones. Disappointing because I liked Robby's character from the earlier books, and had hoped his story would be a great one.

Not the author's fault, but the cover art also wasn't consistent with the story. The guy on the cover doesn't look anything like Robby is described. He also looks weird--not appealing at all.

If you are on the hunt for more humorous paranormal romances, check out my list of favorites...
http://www.amazon.com/gp/richpub/syltguides/fullview/R2F2KM85QPMRAE/ref=cm_pdp_sylt_title_1
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This was was my first book that I read from the series, I am a Twilight fan and I think that was the main reason to start reading more books about vampires and such.. This one got my attention right away fro the beautiful cover. I bought and I when I got it, I could not put it down, it only took about a day to read it.. so, I went online and order the rest of the series.. All I can say now is.. move over Twilight, I think Twilight is a very pretty story but this Love at Stake is awesome, specially for the adults. Is very funny, romantic. So, If you are looking for something that is for a more mature audience, then this are the books for you my friend. Also try, Christine Feehan's Dark Series.. Those are awesome, not as funny but very sensual as well, a lot of intimacy.. very explicit.

I've read most of the vampire series out there, and this series is my favorite. After reading them all, I've grown to love the characters. The humor Sparks' brings into the story lines is what makes this series stand out amongst all the others. Read this series! You will not be disappointed.