Book Review: Interview with a Jewish Vampire

by: Erica Manfred

Available at Amazon and Barnes & Noble

Synopsis:
The last thing zaftig middle-aged journalist, Rhoda Ginsburg, expects when she signs up for JDate is to fall for a vampire. But when she meets drop-dead gorgeous Sheldon, a Hasidic vampire, she falls hard. She rationalizes that he may not be alive, but at least he’s Jewish. Desperate to save the life of her terminally ill mother, Rhoda comes up with the crackpot idea of getting Sheldon to turn her and her little old Jewish lady friends into vampires. Who knew that they would “go rogue” and start preying on the young?

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This story moves fast and it's cute and funny. There are moments when storyline is inconsistent, but in general you forgive just to sit back and enjoy the silly. Come on, a Jewish vampire???

Sheldon was turned by the infamous Vlad, himself. He talks about how Vlad was anti-Semitic and thought it a great joke to turn a Rabi into a vampire. Joke was on him when Vlad was staked, and Sheldon lived peacefully among the villagers. Now, after having lost his amassed fortune in a ponzi-scheme, he works nights as a diamond cutter and lives with a group of jewish vampires.

My favorite part, Rhoda is a plus size woman just like me. And truthfully plus, not bad-joke plus. And having someone desire you, is such a confidence boost, even if the guy is a vampire. She also sees a way to save her ailing mother, when she just can't bear the thought of losing her only family.

Book Review: Deal with the Devil

by: Samantha Curtin

Available at Amazon

Synopsis:
Deal with the Devil is a series of four short stories that follows The Family, a group of vampires on their quest to quench their thirst for blood. The series centers on Aer, the seductress and newest member of The Family, and her need to rid the world of the immoral while satisfying her love of carnage.

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I had the pleasure of doing a beta read for this story. Sam is really a talented writer. Her characters can be annoying at times, but it gives them depth. Tell me a single person in your life that doesn't get on your nerves at any point.

It starts off with this young woman...I can't remember her name, but she's so boring! All she does is complain about her boring life and how she wants to get out of town. But stick with it...she does find her destiny and she really comes to life, even as she loses her life.

So Aer becomes a part of this close-knit vampire clan, and they travel the country. The fun thing about these vampires is that they only kill people who they think "deserve it" but their bar is set pretty low.

So even while you are being creeped out by these vampires, it still makes you think about morality and mortality. Good job, Sam!

Book Spotlight: Blood Seductions

by: Celeste Hall

Available at Amazon and Barnes & Noble

Synopsis:
Beware of dark desire…

When a vampire falls in love with a human, there is more at risk than a broken heart. How do you protect the one you love from becoming the thing she fears most in the world? How do you share your life with someone knowing fully well that your blood carries a virus which could destroy her?

**note: book spotlight means I did not read this book, but felt like sharing anyway**

Book Review: Vampyre Magick

by: Father Sebastiaan

Available at Red Wheel/Weiser Bookstore, Amazon and Barnes & Noble

Synopsis:
Since the dawn of civilization, the vampire has danced through the dreams and nightmares of every culture, expressed in folklore, literature, and art. Today, this fascination resonates in pop-culture through hit television shows, movies, and bestselling books.

In Vampyre Magick, Father Sebastiaan reveals the hidden rituals and spells of the Living Vampires. This companion volume to Sebastiaan’s Vampyre Sanguinomicon, is intended for initiates of the Stigoii Vii, but will appeal to any scholar of magickal arts, The Golden Dawn, or other Western Mystery Traditions.

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I'm surprised at the gamut of emotions this book took me on, for a nonfiction piece. I was excited to get the book, then I couldn't believe he was serious, thought he was awesome and a few times a complete loon. I will try to give a honest review, but truly you have to decide for yourself. I'm not even fully sure of my opinion yet, so I'll just have to pick something.

It talks about being a vampyre in a more spiritual sense. It's not about immortality or any of the other vampire myths. It's about energizing yourself and having willing hosts. Blood is not often used, and Father Sebastiaan says to draw real blood there has to be such a commitment from the host that it's just not practical. The person would have to be quarantined for about 10 years before you could even draw from them, including lots of testing to make sure their blood is safe. So they generally stick with feasting on the life force of willing hosts. Can't stress that part enough, WILLING hosts. I love that he put so much detail and precautions in this book.

He does talk about immortality, but it's more about being able to leave this mortal coil and ascend to a fully spiritual level. Take this quote:

Vampyres of the Strigoi Vii Tradition see Themselves as part of a movement which promotes spiritual and philosophical evolution, which is deeply rooted in the soul, not just a specific singular religion or paradigm. Once Awakened there is no turning back; the Current is alive within the individual."

There is so much deep magick in this book, that I'm not even sure I believe in it. But that's a big part of what made this book so much fun. That and Father Sebastiaan's passion for the subject and the intelligent way he presents it.

Will I be practicing vampyre magick? Probably not, but the book was fascinating to read. So I should probably go with that for my stars.

Book Review: The Vampire's Witch

by: Kiki Howell

Available at Amazon and Barnes & Noble

Synopsis:
The Willows is a resort town run by vampires, werewolves and witches. Here, their true identities are kept secret from humans, and intimate relations between the individual clans are strictly forbidden.

When it becomes known that the vampire Amberlyn has fallen in love with the werewolf Kane, the tedious line of their co-existence has been crossed. Caught in the crossfire of this revelation, Drake, the vampire clan leader and Amberlyn’s maker, is killed along with an innocent witch. These deaths spark a series of horrific events leading to an all out War In The Willows.

Unexpected close encounters, bodies ripe with need, and situations beyond their control lead to forbidden relationships. Now three vampires, a witch, a werewolf and a human must ride along the edges of the rules. They will attempt once unthinkable romantic entanglements despite all those who oppose their relationships, while fighting for their lives as well.

With the Willows full of violence and bloodshed, meetings and magic amiss, will the clans ever be able to find peace among them again? Or, will this war destroy the Willows?

In Book 1, Amberlyn’s vampire brother, Isaac, always one to kick ass first and deal with the consequences later, kidnaps a witch, Winter. He intends to find out what type of retaliation the witch clan is planning against the vampires and werewolves. In doing so, he finds so much more then he bargained for.

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This is the first adult book I've read by Kiki Howell. And it was delicious! Good plot, great characters and sexy enough to raise the temperature in my house about 20 degrees. Isaac is a vampire who wants to avoid the brewing war. So he kidnaps a witch and brings her to his home. Turns out she majorly has the hots for him and won't take no for an answer.

It's a very fast read, only about 50 pages. But it's a real page turner!

Tales of Aradia: The Last Witch #1

by: L.A. Jones

Available at Amazon and Barnes & Noble

Synopsis:
Unknown to the humans who hung innocent people at the Salem Witch Trials real witches of the hidden race were killed for fear of exposure or at least that's what all the vampires, werewolves, and other races thought.There was not one witch whom survived the genocide of the Salem Witch Trials. But one day a girl named Aradia moves to Salem, MA and all that changes

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Can I just say that it's a good thing I'm not responsible for labeling books. What is this? Lots of things, Young Adult, Paranormal Romance, Paranormal Mystery, and a little humor thrown into the mix.

Aradia has a wicked, off-beat sense of humor. In the book, she would occasionally deliver a zinger and everyone around her would just stand there. More than once she had to explain the joke, and more than once the joke fell flat. It was great! :)

The werewolves are strong and responsible. The vampires are an old and patient people. Lots of the Hidden race in the high-school. I don't get the vampires going to school. Seriously? Why not just say you are homeschooling? Of course the vampires are all beautiful people, and high school is far easier if you are a pretty person. God someone needs to write a book about a dorky, vampire reject. lol

Fast paced story, and is so well written that there are few who will be disappointed. Ok, you want to know how good this book was? My husband got home after being gone and I was disappointed he showed up because I was so close to being finished. lol

It's also very affordable, only 99¢ for the Kindle. Give it to your teen, read it for yourself.