The Vampire With The Dragon Tattoo (Love At Stake Series #14) by Kerrelyn Sparks

(I purchased this book.)

Blurb:

He's out of control

Dougal Kincaid has something to prove. After being injured in a battle with the Malcontents, he's ready for active duty protecting unsuspecting mortals from these villainous vampires who want to rule the world. But first he has to get control of himself . . . because just the sight of a certain lovely doctor has his injured hand doing some peculiar things, not to mention the sizzling sensation that burns along his dragon tattoo . . .

Vampires? Vampires?! As a scientist, Leah is having trouble believing that these immortal creatures exist. But there they are, standing in front of her, asking for help in solving a genetic puzzle that can save mankind. There's even one in a sexy kilt! Just one look into Dougal's gorgeous green eyes sets her pulse racing. But can she trust him—and the overwhelming desire that refuses to be ignored . . . ?

Review:
Ah, Dougal.  A sexy three hundred year old Scottish warrior-vampire with a heart that is loyal and true.  When he was still human, and a slave in China, Dougal fell in love with a woman only to lose her to death.  For three hundred years he has loved her and missed her, until Dr. Leah Chin arrives at Romatech and he sees his lost love in Leah.  The fact that Leah also feels inexplicably aware of and drawn to Dougal creates an instant connection between them and pretty soon a sweet and sexy romance has started.  Dougal's letters to Leah are some of the most romantic words I have read in a very long time. 
Leah also happens to be a genius scientist, and soon she has developed a serum to reverse the damage done to Asian soldiers by the demon Darafer.  The Vamps gather together with the shifters and head off to a remote Japanese island, in preparation for battle with Darafer, and the evil vampire Lords in the area.
The 14th entry in the series feels comfortable and familiar, and the inevitable battle is a great excuse to bring together almost all the Vamps, the shifters, the AWOL Vietnam vamp Russell, and the Were-Tiger world.  Throw in the angels, the demon Darafer, and now God Warriors, and it feels like a Love At Stake family reunion.  The HEA ending is inevitable, the tone is light, fast and fun, and the romance sexy and sweet.  What's not to like?

Read my other reviews of Kerrelyn Sparks' Love At Stake by clicking on the author's name on the sidebar..

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WILD ABOUT YOU by Kerrelyn Sparks (Love at Stake Series #13)

Back of the Book Blurb:

Handsome Howard . . .
Hunky Howard . . .
Hot Howard . . .

It's not every day that Elsa Bjornberg feels delicate, not when she hosts a home renovation show where she can effortlessly demolish a kitchen. But from the moment she meets Howard Barr, this bear of a man makes her feel like a woman. And the way he looks at her, as if she were a pot of honey he'd like to lick . . .

Howard is not like most men. For one thing, he's a shapeshifter. And he always thought his celebrity crush would never amount to anything more than drooling at Elsa on TV. When his meddling vampire employer gets involved, the star is suddenly within his grasp—and within a hair of her life. For an ancient curse forbids their newfound love, and Howard is suddenly torn between his desire for her and his desire to keep her alive.

Review:

Wow, I REALLY like this cover.   I may need a moment.......OK, I'm back.
What can I say?  I love Kerrelyn Sparks' Love At Stake series.  It's fun, fluffy and entertaining, with laugh-out-loud moments mixed with adventure and hot hunky alpha males.  When I start a new one I know exactly what I am getting, and I really treasure that.  The happy-ever-after ending is a sure thing, and she keeps it fresh by adding in new characters and plotlines.
Howard is a were-bear and daytime security guard for the vampires.  His past has remained a mystery in the last several books, as Sparks has teasingly dangled little clues about his background.  In Wild About You we finally learn about Howard's painful past, his family separation, and his determination to get revenge for a horrible event from his youth, that caused his exile.
Shanna Draganesti accidentally learns about Howard's fascination with Elsa, and decides to play match-maker, never imaging that Howard and Elsa share a destiny centuries in the making.  But the outcome of this is not certain.   As Elsa's aunts teach her about her family legacy, she begins to doubt Howard's true intentions as she begins to come into her ancient, inherited powers.  With shotgun-toting aunts, murderous bad-guys, some really hot sex scenes and the beautiful setting of the Adirondacks (shout-out for my home!!), this story was classic Sparks, and I gobbled it down in one sitting.  Delightful!

For more information visit the author's website at http://www.kerrelynsparks.com/.

   

Wanted: Undead or Alive (Love at Stake Series #12) by Kerrelyn Sparks

Publisher's Blurb: 

He's a vampire from the big city . . .

Phineas McKinney thought New York City was tough, until he was attacked by Malcontents—evil vampires who consider mortals to be snacks. Saved by the good vampires, Phin swore to devote his now undead life to stopping the Malcontents. He's got his job cut out for him when word comes that their enemy may be hiding in Wyoming. What does a city boy like him know about horses and campfires? Good thing he's got Brynley Jones with him . . . if only she didn't hate every vampire on earth.

She's a werewolf princess . . .

Bryn believes vampires are seductive and charming, and that makes them dangerous. So she's more than a little annoyed about teaming up with Phin, even if he is the only bloodsucker able to make her inner wolf purr. But as they hunt down the new leader of the Malcontents, danger threatens . . . and Phineas and Brynley discover a passion that will rock the foundation of their supernatural world.

Review:   First things first - can we just have a moment of awed silence for the cover of this book?..........OK, I'm back.  Simple, elegant and clear, sexy imagery - love it!!
I am a huge fan of Kerrelyn Sparks' Love at Stake books for their fun, romantic and consistently entertaining style.  She regularly introduces new characters, kills off bad guys and sets up new evildoers, and the adventures continue feeling fresh.  On the surface these are what I call "light and fluffy" books, meaning they are a quick read and there's not a lot of deep, dark, existential crap making me think more than I want to at the time.  But "light and fluffy" is deceptively hard to write well, and these books are extremely well-done.  They keep me reading late into the night, and Wanted: Undead or Alive is no exception.
I was a little worried that this book would be my first disappointment in the series, because the character of Phineas has been somewhat cartoonish and over-the-top.  But his story starts off with a lot of insight into Phineas as a person, and before I knew it I cared about him as much as any other character.  Phineas is one of the youngest vampires, and still has ties to the mortal world.  His love for his family and younger brother really make him a sweet, sexy man.  Previous stories have shown glimpses of Phineas' kindness and awareness of others' feelings (especially when his friend Phil was in love with Vanda, in Forbidden Nights with a Vampire), and his compassion just makes him sexier. 
When Phineas and Bryn are assigned as a team, their mutual attraction and denial of it create sparks and a lot of tension-building situations.  Their time alone together in the wilderness really brings out their personalities and made for some really romantic moments (in spite of a skunky smelling old were-bear).  Not to mention some very funny parts as a city boy learns about horses.
Bryn's family life as a werewolf has a very dark side, and Phineas is determined to protect her at all costs when her father tries to sell her off in a werewolf marriage alliance. His devotion to her brings out his alpha male side and it's all kinds of sexy.
The hunt for crazy Queen Corky leads to new villains, an entire pack of werewolves with some very different values, and some tantalizing insights into Howard's past (is his book next?!).
Book #12 is another very satisfying, romantic adventure and leaves me looking forward to the next one - a major feat with a series of this length!

For more information visit the author's website at http://www.kerrelynsparks.com.

All I Want for Christmas Is A Vampire (Love at Stake Series #5)by Kerrelyn Sparks

Publisher's Blurb: 

Toni Davis's Christmas wish list

1. Springing my best friend from the psych ward.

2. Living somewhere that doesn't have coffins in the basement. Occupied coffins.

3. Finding Mr. Right. Please make him tall, dark, handsome, and alive.

This Christmas isn't so merry for Toni. Her best friend's been locked up in a mental hospital ever since she told the police she was attacked by vampires, and the only way for Toni to get her out is to prove that bloodsuckers really do exist. So she's taken a job as a bodyguard for the Undead, but she gets more than she bargained for, especially when she meets Ian MacPhie, a Scottish rascal looking for Ms. Right.

Although Ian's nearly five centuries old, he looks and acts like a twenty-seven-year-old hunk.

How can a dead man be so damn sexy? Could Mr. Wrong be Mr. Right? One forbidden kiss could lead to an eternity of passion—and all it takes is one moment under the mistletoe .

Review:  I somehow missed this book in the Love At Stake series by Kerrelyn Sparks.  I have loved all her other books, and this one is no exception.  Light, frothy, romantic and just fun, it is typical of her breezy, sweet style and highlights Toni and Ian MacPhie.  Ian has just returned to work after taking an aging drug, and for the first time in 500 years he looks like a man and not a teenager.  And he's ready for love, but believes he can only have lasting love with another vampire.  His friend Vanda writes a profile for Ian on a popular online dating service, but Vanda's profile is a bit.....enthusiastic, and Ian is soon besieged by adoring and desperate women (and a few men) looking for true love (as long it has a big bank account and a Scottish castle). 
Toni is a new mortal guard for MacKay Security, and she has a hidden agenda - find proof that vampires really exist in order to save her best friend.  But she's drawn to the determined and incredibly sexy Ian, who is suspicious of Toni's motives.  Their mutual attraction heats up quickly, and Ian soon agrees to help Toni rescue her best friend Sabrina.
This novel introduces Carlos and the were-panthers to the Love At Stake world, as Toni's neighbor and good friend, who is so much more than he appears to be.  Throw in escalating attacks by the Malcontents and the usual rapid-fire battles, wacky scenarios and sweet and sexy love scenes, and this is yet another delightful, light, fast paced book that makes me smile and read late into the night.  I love this whole series - each book is a wonderful little treat to a world with a little danger, a little intrigue, lots of wonderful characters, humor and sexy romance, all wrapped up with a happy ending.  (But can we please drop the use of the word "rascal" in each book?!  LOL)

For more information check out her website at http://www.kerrelynsparks.com/books_upcoming.html.