Customer Reviews

Vampire Who Loved Me

5 star:		(19)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(9)
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Courtesy of CK2S Kwips and Kritiques

In this sequel to After Midnight, we meet up with Portia Cabot five years later and after she has embraced her new job as vampire hunter, assisting her brother-in-law, Adrian Kane.

Portia loved Julian Kane with all the innocence of her young heart, even risking her soul to save him that night in a crypt five years ago. No one knows what really happened in there but she and Julian, though she now wears the tell tale bite marks on her throat. He abandoned her then, with his only intent to go find his soul and to escape the feelings for Portia that still haunt him.

Now Julian has returned to London, at the same time dead bodies of women begin showing up. Portia decides it is up to her to find Julian and bring him home. When she finds him, she discovers he is not the same man as he once was, for he has embraced his dark gift and seems unwilling to give it up. Little does she know that the real reason he disappeared was to forget about the forbidden love he had for her. Reunited, albeit reluctantly, Portia discovers her love for Julian is as strong as it ever was. But she can't forget the nagging possibility that he may very well be a murderer.

At last we have the resolution to the love story of Portia and Julian in The Vampire Who Loved Me. After seeing how much they struggled with their feelings in After Midnight, it is wonderful to see what has become of them. However, keep in mind that though this book does have its own story, it really feeds off of the buildup from the preceding novel. As such, if you have not read the prequel, you could be very confused at many times throughout the story.

Portia is a young woman torn between her desires for a man she cannot have and her duty to her family. She lives with the memory of her last meeting with Julian, one that she must keep secret to save his life. If Adrian knew everything that happened in the crypt, he would be hard-pressed not to hunt Julian down and drive the stake through his brother's heart himself. While Portia can not quite bring herself to believe Julian would have fallen so far as to become a murderer, she can't help the feeling that he is not the same man he once was.

The tone in this story is quite dark, possibly more so than its preceding title, due to the nature of Julian's spirit and mind. He agonizes over the choices he has made bringing him to his current state, but he will do absolutely anything to protect Portia, even if he must make a deal with a devil to do so. He is tortured by the beast that holds his soul and his love for Portia is all that keeps him from falling into the dark void of his baser vampiric needs.

If anyone deserves a happy-ever-after, it's Portia and Julian. After everything they've been through together and alone, they find that their love has the power to move mountains, and bring them back from the very brink of hell. I was happy to see that their journey to happiness was every bit as strong and unique as they are. Readers will rejoice in finally seeing them reach what they so desperately long for... each other.

© Kelley A. Hartsell, January 2007. All rights reserved.

This is the sequel to "After Midnight" which introduced the sisters Caroline, Vivienne and Portia Cabot. In the first book Caroline married Adrian Kane, Viscount Trevelyan and Vampire Hunter and her sister Vivienne married Constable Larkin, a friend of Adrian's. Poor Portia drew the short straw in the plot of this book - she's two young to get married and ended up locked up in a crypt with a hungry vampire. They both survived but she now has puncture wounds on her neck from Adrian's brother Julian's fangs - yep, the vampire hunter has a vampire for a brother.

"The Vampire Who Loved Me" action takes place four years after "After Midnight". Julian the vampire has been roaming the world trying to find the vampire that sired his sire in order to get back his soul (rather a lot of intangible concepts here). He returns to London and immediately women are being killed, drained of blood, in London. His brother Adrian is worried Julian is to blame. Portia is convinced he isn't as she's had a tendre for Julian since she met him.

This book has much more information about vampires and that's fun - the author has Portia pretending to be a vampire and attending a ball with Julian - but still the opportunities are squandered by resorting to traditional romance stereotypes. Once again there are annoying things in the writing (points of view changing unexpectedly, etc) and the grand finale felt way too contrived to me. Characterisation is OK, especially in the relationship between the brothers - what do you do when you fear your much-loved brother is evil? - but overall I found myself disappointed with the book. I felt there were wasted opportunities in what was a good story and I don't feel inspired to read any more of Ms Medeiros' books as a result.

At the age of seventeen, lovely Portia Cabot saved the life of the dashing and newly turned vampire Julian Kane. Unable to stop himself, Julian marked her neck forever. However, he was able to refrain from stealing her soul and adding her to the undead realm. Only by killing the vampire who currently has claim of his soul can Julian ever hope to reclaim his humanity. Almost six full years pass ...

There has always been something between Portia and Julian. When Julian left her years ago, Portia could only pray for him. During that time, Portia has kept busy. She resides in Adrian Kane's home, Julian's brother, who is married to her older sister, Caroline. It may be a secret from the rest of London, but within this household, all know that Adrian is a vampire-hunter. His partner, the former constable Larkin (who is married to another sister of Portia's), has helped Adrian drive out almost all the vampires in London. Portia spent all her time learning to hunt and kill vampires, fully expecting to become a third partner.

When four women are found dead, drained of all blood and all within a short time span, Adrian realizes that there is another vampire to hunt in the area. No one expected Julian to be nearby. Worse, all four deaths were during Julian's short time in town. It does not take long for a family reunion to occur. Julian's news is worse than anyone could possibly have imagined. Portia's life hangs in the balance as an unmerciful vampire plans to devour her. Julian and her odd family are the only hope Portia has to keep breathing.

***** Absolutely fantastic! It is obvious that Portia's sisters had their own stories told prior to this novel. I have not had the pleasure of reading them; therefore, I can honestly say that you do not HAVE to read the previous stories in order to fully understand and totally enjoy this one. And what an outstanding tale this one is! The author did such a good job that I came to actually care of Portia and her unusual family. Author Teresa Medeiros is fast becoming one of the best writers in the undead genre. *****

Reviewed by Detra Fitch of Huntress Reviews.

I was a little slow on the uptake, and didn't realize that this was the sequel to another of Medeiros's books. I enjoyed Caroline and Julian's story, but *this* was so much better. Maybe because it wasn't part of a vampire series, or maybe just because I could relate much more strongly to Portia. Here's a heroine to get behind! She doesn't let people push her around, and she isn't stupid. She's smart, and knows what she wants.. but managed to avoid being a headstrong, shrewish b*tch.

I don't want to go into plot details, so all I'll say is that this book is definitely worth picking up. It's as good as any of my Medeiros favorites, for sure!

I really liked Medeiros take on vampires and I enjoyed every minute of it. And the sex scenes were hot as well.

Quite a good paranormal romance by Teresa Medeiros! The story picks up with Portia Cabot joining her brother-in-law in his vampire hunting in England in the early 1800s. Portia lost her heart (and more) to her brother-in-law's brother, Julian, five years earlier when she helped him in a duel of vampires. Now Julian has resurfaced, and Portia is eager to help him once more.

Medeiros has set this story in a very believable era, and while many of her characters show traits of modern behavior, she has created a vampiric world that seems at least plausible. The romance is hot and heavy, and the action is tense, especially towards the end. Not ever meant to be heavy-handed, Medeiros accomplishes her romantic intent with humor and emotion, if at times she is just a bit over-the-top. Anyone looking for fast, fun paranormal romance would do well to pick this one up. Medeiros has written a winner overall.

This was one of the best books I have read all year. I have impatiently waited for this to be released after reading After Midnight. Portia and Julian were just unbelievalbe. Portia, has moxy and isn't taking any guff off of anybody. Julian, man makes me want to believe sexy vampires do exist. I can't say enough great things about this book.

And I really don't like vampire love stories.

In 1826, seventeen year old Portia Cabot saved the life of vampire Julian Kane. However his kiss has left her carving only his touch, but, though he wants her, Julian leaves her because he believes he can only deserve her innocent love if he can find his soul stolen from him. He vows to return to her.

However, when they next meet up five years later in London, Portia still wants Julian though he is nothing like the courteous courageous person she saved. Instead his failure to find his soul has left him despondent and turned him into hedonistic dissolute drunk. When evidence from serial murders point towards her beloved so much so that his sibling Adrian believes he is guilty, Portia fears that the man she loves with all her soul no longer exists; instead a killing monster has taken his place. Yet in the darkest of night, instead of killing her with his bite, he tries to send her away from him leading Portia to think he still has some human elements inside his vampire shell. She plans to reach the inner soul of Julian by offering herself as a lure not comprehending the danger that awaits her at night.

The sequel to AFTER MIDNIGHT (Adrian's tale) is a superb historical vampire romantic mystery that cleverly blends the supernatural, a whodunit and a love story into a fabulous tale that showcases the talent of Teresa Medeiros who entertains her fans with a one sitting winner. The story line is action-packed as the heroine, the brother, and the readers believe that Julian has finally gone over to the killing dark side with only Portia's love leaving her with an iota of hope. THE VAMPIRE WHO LOVED ME is a terrific tale of the goodness of love battling evil.

Harriet Klausner

This book is a gem. It's got a touch of angst, passion, humor, and the paranormal but not to worry it all meshes well together. Hero is a moody self-destructive vampire with self-worth issues. Heroine is his angel, with a long-suffering crush that blossoms into love. The problem is...how to get his soul back so they can live happily every after. Medeiros strikes just the right cord of macabre humor and passionate longing...chemistry between the couple is smoking as they ignite the pages with both their fights and their kisses. Also boasts of a surprisingly well-developed villain...Not the usual one-note baddie. highly recommended

Absolutely worth the wait. It wasn't an easy book to read with the constant reference of the hero's philandering ways--especially with that other vampire--but there was an acceptable reason for it. I love the fact we were able to see what happened to the characters from After Midnight. A Must Read!