SEX, LIES AND VAMPIRES

Author: Katie MacAlister ISBN: 0505525550 2/2005 PARANORMAL Publisher: DORCHESTER/Love Spell

CHARM SCHOOL 101 Instructors: Nell Harris, Charmer Adriam Tomas, Dark One Class Desc: Are you responsible for lifting a centuries-old curse from the sexiest vampire you've ever seen? Does a demon lord want to destroy you? Have you somehow inadvertently bound several mummies to your soul? If you answered yes...well, you're in big trouble. Let us show you how the power of love can salvage even the worst of situations...not to mention the most tormented of men. Duration: A lifetime.

RRAH's THOUGHTS AND PONDERINGS:

When the chance to read the newest book by Katie MacAlister came my way, I was very excited. In the past, her writing could make me laugh out loud and kept a smile on my face all the way through. Whether it was a case of having high expectations or that the author was just off on this one, I was a bit disappointed with SEX, LIES, and VAMPIRES.

I'll start with the hero since he was actually the best part of the book. Adrian Tomas is The Betrayer; the dark one who has been bound by a Demon Lord and betraying his own kind for centuries. Unlike most Dark Ones, he is not rich. He lives hand to mouth and is constantly fighting for his life as other Dark Ones hunt him. But he is still hot and, in the words of Nell, 'nummy'. He is truly misunderstood. Adrian doesn't enjoy his lot in life - he is merely resigned to it. As far as Damian goes, the author has done an excellent job of creating an underdog that any woman would want to save.

Then there is Nell Harris. She is a charmer and, of course, Damian's Beloved. Due to a tragic event a decade earlier, Nell has not resumed any part of her life that involves charming or any magical art. She is now an expert on Medieval relics. Tricked into going to Prague in that capacity, she finds herself in the middle of a war, of sorts, between Dark Ones. She alone can save Damian and the world as we know it.

Nell, kind of got on my nerves. She started out okay. Her denial of what was going on seemed believable. I certainly would have been much the same. But once it came up that Nell was Damian's Beloved, she was right on top of that - even to the point of convincing Damian of it rather than the other way around.

The most annoying thing for me, however, was Nell constantly trying out pet names on Damian. The running theme seemed to be that American women insist on calling their significant others things like bunnykins, sweetcheeks, etc. I thought it was amusing at first, but it got to the point where I was thinking, 'Enough already!'. Sorry, but this American does not make a habit of calling anyone anything close to the endearments Nell was spewing.

After finishing the book, I have to admit that I thought a re-read was in order. It wasn't so much that it was a bad book. Part of the problem was that I wasn't prepared for characters I had fallen in love with from a previous book to show up as the enemy. That was something that rubbed me wrong for a while. I think I could even overlook the petname thing a second time around and enjoy the book more.

In my opinion, I think fans will want to read this book, if for no other reason than to keep on track with the characters that may show up in other stories. For first time readers, I would suggest another book by this author.

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