A

• Adair, Dominique 

  • Last Kiss

• Anthology - Things That Go Bump In The Night
  (Jaid Black, Marilyn Lee, and Treva Hart)

• Atwater-Rhodes, Amelia

  • Hawksong

  • In the Forests of the Night

  • Demon in My View

  • Shattered Mirror

  • Midnight Predator

Dominique Adiar

Last Kiss
By Dominique Adair 
Ellora's Cave 
Copyright 2001
ISBN # 1-84360-053-6
Category: Vampire erotica 

Dominique Adair has stepped into the arena of erotica with a lovely romance of eternal love. Elaine is dying and wants one last fling. At an exclusive weekend party at a friend's mansion, she meets the man of her dreams, literally. Tall, dark, handsome, Alexi reminds her of the man who has always inhabited her dreams, but his desire and passion are real. After two wonderful days, Alexi asks her to wait for him, but fate catches up with her, her condition worsens. Not wanting Alexi to see her die, she leaves.

Alexi who has spent the last three hundred years, finding his beloved only to lose her again, may lose her this time as well.

Although this is supposedly a vampire romance, yes, Alexi is a vampire, there is very little vampire in it. Alexi acts and looks like a normal male, even lacks the pallor and the coldness of skin we associate with vampires. Nor does he seem to exhibit any of the so-called vampire powers. 

While the story may not satisfied the die-hard vampire fans, it certainly will satisfy the romance lovers. Ms. Adair's sex scenes are well written and display a great deal of love and caring between the characters as well as hot passion. And the whip cream scene while not particularly imaginative was very, very tasty. You will enjoy Last Kiss.

Dominique Adair is the pseudonym for well-known vampire eBook author, J. C. Wilder.

Reviewed by: Linda Suzane,  April 5, 2002 First published in Suite101.com

Available  in eBook from http://www.ellorascave.com 

Naughty Nancy - Book 41/2 Trek Mi Q'an - Jaid Black

Halloween night, three friends find love with three very different men.

Nancy meets up with a strange witch on her way to her friend's Halloween party. Before disappearing, the witch predicts that she will travel far, but find love. Nancy has spent the last two months transforming herself, gone are the glasses, the severe bun, and the extra weight. Dressed as Xena, Warrior Princess, Nancy is determined to find a man, but her shyness hampers her.

Later she meets the witch again and wakes up naked in a nest perched on a mountain top on an alien planet.

Vorik has finally reached his eighteenth birthday and has gone hunting a yenni to satisfy his sexual needs. Hearing Nancy's screams for help, he assumes that he has found a alpha female yenni hungry to suck his seed. Nancy finds herself doing just that, sucking Vorik's enormous cock. The next day, in the light of day, he realizes he hasn't found a dimwitted animal, but his bloodmate. Their mating transforms her into a Gargoyle, like him. The question is can she ever love such a creature?

Jaid Black has a nice writing style. I enjoyed the inner dialogue that went on as Nancy gives herself pep talks to get herself motivated. She is Xena warrior woman. She is Fay Rey in love with mighty King Kong. She gives us enough background to make Vorik's alien culture come alive, and then of course there are all those alien mating rituals and more mating rituals.

Bloodlust - Marilyn Lee
Erica Kalai, a teacher in a Boston private girls school, is celebrating her fortieth birthday. She regrets dressing like a hooker for the Halloween party, but she readily admits she wouldn't mind finding a man, even a one night stand. Across the crowded room she see Dracula, handsome, so handsome. Just looking at him turns her on. From the bugle in his pants, he too is experiencing the same reaction. For Mikhel Durmont, Erica is his Bloodlust, a vampire's perfect mate. For he really is a vampire, actually a half-breed. His mother is a full vampire, his father is human. 

His love making is like nothing Erica has every experienced. Her body seems to have a mind of its own and it can't resist Mikhel. 

But their relationship isn't without problems. There is Decorta, a full blood vampire, who wants Mikhel and tries to kill Erica to have him. Then there is the fact that Mikhel's mother doesn't approve. And then there is the vampire life style and something called Family Fuck Fests.

The idea of Bloodlust was interesting, that vampires have one perfect mate, although due to the shortness of the story, the vampires didn't really have a lot of depth of detail. I look forward to the second in the Bloodlust series.

A Little Too Charming - Treva Harte
This was my favorite story of the three. The dialog was snappy, the story line full of unexpected twists, and the sex scenes well written. When the third friend, Janna leaves the party, she goes to meet "Ted" Treadwell Grimes. She has been sent by her advertising business to convince Ted to do a publicity campaign for a client. Ted is a witch. Waiting on the dark doorstep, she is swept into the man's arms and thoroughly kissed. Not understanding why, she finds herself blatantly asking for what she needs, to have Ted make love to her. The next morning, she becomes suspicious of a few things and tries to leave but Ted follows her. He tells her that they are both descendants of members of the Salem witch trials. Her ancestor was accused of being a witch, but she was innocent, while one of the Judges, Ted's ancestor, was actually a witch. She put a curse on the family, that they wouldn't find love. Now Ted wants to atone for what his ancestor did and break the curse.

Reviewed by Linda Suzane, May 13, 2001

Amelia Atwater-Rhodes

Amelia Atwater-Rhodes published her first  novel at fourteen. Her vampire novels are classified as young adult, but there certainly isn't anything juvenile about them. Her writing is mature, sharp and poetic. Her vampires are extremely well thought out and their world complex. The series is very loosely connected, set in the same world, but different characters. The only thing really Young Adult is their relatively short length, but adults will certainly enjoy them. 

• In the Forests of the Night
• Demon in My View
• Shattered Mirror
• Midnight Predator

She has also started a new fantasy series. The Kiesha'ra about avain and reptilian shapeshifters.

• Hawksong
• Snakescharm
• Falcondance

Hawksong
By Amelia Atwater-Rhodes
Published by Dell Laurel-Leaf
Copyright 2003
ISBN#: 0-440-23803-X
Series: Kiesha’ra #1
Genre Subgenre Fantasy Shapeshifter

Amelia Atwater-Rhodes is only 21 and has already published seven books. Her first book IN THE FOREST OF THE NIGHT was written when she was only 13. Every one of her books is a treat. Though marketed as Young Adult, there is nothing childish about subject matter or the writing. The lyrical quality and maturity of her writing belies her age or lack of experience.

HAWKSONG is the start of a series about shapeshifters. Dancia is an avian shapeshifter, heir to the throne, whose people are at war with the serpiente, snake shapeshifters. The war has gone on so long that no one can remember what caused it. Dancia will do anything to stop any more of those she loves from dying, even if it means sacrificing herself in an attempt to bring peace by mating with Zane, the ruler of the serpiente. Zane is as committed to peace as she is, but by nature they are so different can they ever bridge the gap between them. Zane emotional and easy to anger, a deadly killer whose venom can kill her in an instant. Dancia trained from childhood to be reserved and cold, fragile, whose wings are her only protection.

HAWKSONG is a wonderful fantasy novel, rich in imagination, vivid in images, entrancing in its characterization. It certainly well worth reading, even if you are no longer a young adult.

Reviewed by Linda Suzane May 17, 2005

Available from Amazon.com

In Amelia Atwater-Rhodes’s second book in her shapeshifting fantasy series, Zane Cobriana and his Queen Danica continue to struggle to bring peace to their people, but it is an uneasy truce, old hatreds and suspicions die hard. There is much potential conflict between two such different cultures, the cold reserved avians and the emotional, passionate serpiente. Then they learn that Dancia is pregnant. Rather than being a joyous occasion, the idea of a half breed ruler threatens to tear the alliance apart. How will the child be raised? Will it rule the avians or the serpiente?

Adding to the trouble, the powerful falcons have come looking for an escaped criminal, who may be masquerading as someone close to the royal throne, possible a member of the Royal guard. Could someone they trust with their lives being lying?

Then Danica is attacked and almost loses the baby.

This story looks at the hard issue of prejudice as Zane and Danica and others try to forge something new and better out of the old. This is turning out to be a very interesting saga, rich in detail and imagery, thought provoking and beautiful. Snakecharm is indeed a real charmer.

Reviewed by Linda Suzane, August 10, 2005

In the Forests of the Night is an exceptional book. Though the author, Amelia Atwater-Rhodes, was only fourteen when the book was published, there is nothing juvenile about this young adult novel.

The book tells the story of Rachel, now called Risika, a three hundred year old vampire. The story moves between the present and the past to tell how Rachel was forced to become a vampire. In the present, Risika is confronted by Aubrey, a vampire whom she hates and fears. But she will not let her fear make her back down, although she is sure if she is forced to fight him, Aubrey will win again.

What is amazing is that Amelia’s vampire world is so well defined and complex. It is uniquely her own, not borrowed or copied from another author and definitely not a Buffy clone. I like the concept of New Mayhem, a vampire community, which exists outside normal reality, hidden from humans.

The story, about facing one’s fears, will not only resonant with young adults but older readers. This is the start of a series that should be part of any vampire lover’s collection, not just young adults. The only real difference is the length of the novel, but despite the short length, the reader isn’t short changed.

Reviewed by Linda Suzane, May 25, 2005

Available from Amazon.com

In the second book in the series, Amelia Atwater-Rhodes plays an interesting twist on real life. Jessica, the book’s heroine, is a young teenage author writing about vampires. Her first book, Tiger Tiger, is clearly the story told in IN THE FORESTS OF THE NIGHT. While Jessica doesn’t really understand where the inspiration for her stories comes from, she definitely doesn’t believe that vampires and witches exist. The problem is the vampire community are upset and they want the author silenced.

Aubrey, a.k.a. Alex, shows up at Jessica’s school and Jessica finds herself attracted. Gradually Jessica comes to accept that what she has been writing about is real. Vampires exists, and some of the vampires want her dead.

There is certainly nothing light and sweet about Amelia’s writing. It is dark and hard edged. It is also very mature and poetic. Does Jessica reflect the author’s own sense of separateness and aloneness? Hopefully not. But it is clear that there is more going on in this teenager than in the "typical" teen. Again this book will be enjoyed by adult vampire fans. The vampires well fleshed out and interesting characters, written with real feeling and not just as a device.

Reviewed by Linda Suzane May 25, 2005

Available from Amazon.com

I just finished SHATTERED MIRROR by Amelia Atwater-Rhodes. This is her third book. Her first book, IN THE FOREST OF THE NIGHT, was written when she was only thirteen. Her second came two years later, DEMON IN MY VIEW. Though these books are classified as Young Adult, don't expect anything Young Adult about them, certainly not the quality of writing. Her writing and her poetry have a very mature literary quality and I am sure that many adult authors wish they could write as well.

SHATTERED MIRROR has a bit Buffy the Vampire Slayer quality to it, but only in the beginning storyline. Blonde, attractive Sarah Vida is the youngest daughter in a long line of famous witches and vampire hunters. She has killed her share of vampires. She finds herself in a new high school after being expelled from her previous school for fighting and property damage. Fortunately, her sister managed to get rid of the vampire's body before the authorities arrived. Her first day in the new school, she is befriended by Christopher and his sister Nissa. While she knows immediately that both of them are vampires, they are too weak to detect that she is their mortal enemy, a witch. Christopher really likes Sarah, writing her poetry and drawing wonderful pictures of her. Sarah finds herself enjoying being treated like a normal human girl, while not having to worry about her friends getting harmed by attracting the attention of a predatory vampire. But associating with vampires is very much against the vampire hunters’ rules. Things get really complicated when she attempts to kill Nikolas, a very powerful vampire, only to discover that it is Christopher's twin brother. SHATTERED MIRROR is a very satisfying read and deserves to be on every vampire lover's bookshelf.

Reviewed by Linda Suzane, February 22, 2002

Available from Amazon.com

It is also available in eBook format from Amazon.com and www.fictionwise.com

MIDNIGHT PREDATOR continues Amelia Atwater-Rhodes Young Adult Vampire series, although I am not sure it really classifies as young adult. Turquoise is a vampire hunter, a predator, who has sworn she will never again be prey. When she was eighteen, a vampire, Daryl, killed her family and took her as his slave. He never managed to break her and when she finally fought back, he left her for dead. Rescued, she joined the Bruja, and now is a skilled mercenary, a vampire killer. Turquoise and Ravyn are hired to assassinate a vampiress, Jeshickah, the head of the slave trade. To do so, the girls must be sold back into slavery to Jaguar, the Master of Midnight.

This is a dark book. Except for the lack of actual sex, it has very BSDM feel, for in Midnight the humans are slaves, beaten, tortured, broken into obedient, submissive servants. Much of the story is about Turquoise coming to turn with her memories of what Daryl did to her.

Amelia Atwater-Rhodes is a young author, a teenager, who writes with a maturity that certainly belies her age. Her stories are cutting edge and intense. MIDNIGHT PREDATOR is the strongest, most adult, so far. It is a shame that she is classified as a Young Adult author because her vampires and her stories deserve more. They deserve to be recognized for what they are, great vampire novels.

Reviewed by Linda Suzane, May 18, 2005

Available from Amazon.com