Holiday with a Vampire III: Sundown\Nothing Says Christmas Like a Vampire\Unwrapped [Mass Market Paperback]

Courtesy of CK2S Kwips and Kritiques

If you love vampires and Christmas, than this third installment in Harlequin's Holiday with a Vampire miniseries is sure to appeal.

In Sundown by Linda Winstead Jones, we meet Abby Brown, a vampire who manages the local bar, that just happens to cater to a very special kind of clientele after dark. When someone with ties to the bar is found murdered, police detective Leo Stryker is on the case. However, his determination to uncover the killer brings him dangerously close to revealing secrets Abby prefer stay hidden.

I loved Sundown with its mystery revolving around the murder victim, and the love brewing between Abby and Leo. Their affair is made bittersweet by Abby's fears of what will happen to them when Leo learns her secret. Linda Winstead Jones wraps the story up nicely, solving the mystery and the conflict between Leo and Abby in a very believable way. However, I was disappointed that the holiday plays such a small role in this story it might as well have been nonexistent.

When Sienna Briggs has to bury her beloved grandmother during the holidays, she finds a revelation about a community never imagined, the Secret Vampire Society. One of its members, Julian Vossimer, is ordered to kill her. However, ever since he became involved in her life when she was a child, he has been unable to resist the allure of this lovely lady, and wants nothing more than to show her Nothing Says Christmas Like a Vampire (by Lisa Childs).

I thoroughly enjoyed this sometimes sad, other times heartwarming novella, Nothing Says Christmas Like a Vampire. Sienna never knew about her mystery protector and how much he has impacted her world, but Julian can't forget. His inner turmoil as he struggles to balance his emotions with his duty to his people makes for a compelling tale. Lisa Childs does a great job of fleshing out the world of her vampire society with the tantalizing tidbits revealed here.

Vampire Adrian Thorne may have secreted himself away in Maine to escape the memories of the lovely Sarah Roberts, a Draicon and enemy of his kind, but his gremlin friends have other plans. When a Christmas present appears on his doorstep, he is about to find his fate Unwrapped (by Bonnie Vanak), especially when a dangerous enemy arrives at the same time.

Unwrapped was my favorite story in this anthology but then, I love Bonnie's writing so that comes as no surprise to me. This was also more humorous in tone than the preceding Draicon books, while still holding on to a bit of that darkness that is found in this universe. Who can resist six gremlins dressed up like elves running around casting spells and giving Christmas presents? They came dangerously close to stealing the show every time they put in an appearance. Adrian and Sarah are a perfect example of star crossed lovers. They understand the tension between their kinds, interfering with their happiness. Yet, Adrian and Sarah manage to overcome the odds and prove that vampires and the Draicon don't necessarily have to be enemies after all.

Holiday with a Vampire III features three powerhouse authors in the paranormal romance genre and is sure to have at least one story to satisfy most everyone. I loved all three stories and look forward to even more works by these players in the near future.

© Kelley A. Hartsell, February 2010. All rights reserved.

"Sundown" by Linda Winstead Jones. Vampiric bar owner Abby Brown is attracted to police detective Leo Stryker as she assist him on his investigation into a homicide related to her establishment.

"Nothing Says Christmas Like a Vampire" by Lisa Childs. After burying her beloved Nana, Sienna Briggs learns that vampires exist. The Secret Vampire Society orders Julian Vossimer to kill her as demanded by their laws; instead he wants to love her.

"Unwrapped" by Vampire Bonnie Vanak. In Maine six gremlins give vampire Adrian Thorne a Christmas gift. They dump draicon werewolf Sarah Roberts on him. He never forgave her for breaking his heart refusing to accept their species are natural enemies, but he needs the werewolf to help him track down some nasty intruder.

These are three delightful urban fantasy vampire romances that will charm those readers who enjoy a Holiday with a Vampire.

Harriet Klausner

Sundown by Linda Winstead Jones:
While I enjoyed this novella, I definately think it would have made a better full-length novel. It was almost too short to fully develop the nature of some of the characters, most particularly Margaret. I was left wanting to know more about her, her history, what made her who she was. I almost felt like I was pulled into the story when it was already halfway over with a lot of backstory already past. I liked the story but I wish it had been a little longer. I gave it 3 stars.

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Nothing Says Christmas Like a Vampire by Lisa Childs
This story had a bit of a creepy factor to it, at least for me. Julian Vossimer, the hero of the story, had a bit of a "bad boy" past, including a prior almost relationship with Sienna's grandmother. That was a little creepy for me, I guess. The story dragged a little for me, with lots of loose ends, and I had a hard time really getting into it. I think the romance came a little too easy in this story, in a situation that should have been anything but romantic. That made it a little too fantastical to me. I gave it 2 stars.

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Unwrapped by Bonnie Vanak
This was my favorite of the three novellas and I would have loved it to be expanded into a full-length novel. The backstory was seamlessly woven throughout the story without leaving the reader feeling as if they missed something. There were twists and turns and the action never stalled. The gremlins in the story provided unexpected humor and kept the story fresh and light. I gave it 3 stars.

› Go to Amazon.com to see all 5 reviews  4.4 out of 5 stars