Vampire Book Notes

Here are books, of the vampire variety, that I've come across recently.



Do you spend too much time and energy worrying about vampire attacks? Fear no more! The Vampire Survival Guide: How to Fight and Win Against the Undead by Scott Bowen (Skyhorse, 2008) will tell you everything you ever wanted to know and more.
For example you will learn:
How to tell if someone you know is turning into a vampire
How to fortify your home in times of vampire uprising
The best tactics and techniques for fighting off multiple vampires
And what to do in the most terrifying situation of all - when YOU have been bitten by a vampire.
I for one feel much safer having this handy book available!





The Vampire Brat (Exhibit A Press (November 15, 2001).
From the publisher: "In this graphic novel collection of Supernatural Law issues, Lash pokes fun at pop culture icons from Buffy to Ally McBeal, from horror movies to the Hulk. Attorneys Alanna Wolff & Jeff Byrd represent such clients as a teenage vampire who believes he's being harassed by Myrtle the Vampire Hater, the wife of Vincent Price-style mad scientist, and a time travel who crashes their office party."
I honestly don't know much about graphic novels, but this one caught my eye while browsing the shelves of my public library. The idea of lawyers representing creatures of the night was very appealing.






Dead Over Heels by MaryJanice Davidson ( Berkley, 2008).
From the publisher: "With her trademark 'sassy dialogue, lusty lovemaking [and] irreverent humor' New York Times bestselling author MaryJanice Davidson delighted fans with her wickedly sexy and wildly funny anthology, Dead and Loving It-stories in which the worlds of the Wyndham Werewolves and Undead Queens collided. Now she returns to that sensual and irresistible after-dark realm of werewolves, vampires, and mermaids in three more original novellas--including an all-new Betsy Taylor novella."
So far I've read the novella Undead and Wed. Betsy and Sinclair (queen and king of vampires) have finally tied the knot and are in New York City for their honeymoon and, naturally, things go wrong from the beginning. Very funny. Exactly what you would expect from Davidson.





Dark Harvest by Lynda Hilburn (Medallion Press, 2008). The sequel to The Vampire Shrink (Medallion Press, 2007).
From the publisher: "Denver psychologist Kismet Knight counsels vampires. Her life changed forever when she discovered a dark preternatural underworld and became involved with gorgeous, eight-centuries-old Devereux, the powerful leader of a vampire coven. Still adjusting to her new role as an expert on all things paranormal—as well as her unexpected notoriety and new clientele—she schedules what she believes is simply another radio interview. She couldn’t be more mistaken. Not only does the radio host behave very strangely, but an ominous, on-air call turns Kismet’s world upside-down—again. Meanwhile, Luna, Devereux’s hostile, femme fatale personal assistant recognizes a perfect opportunity to throw a wrench into her boss’s blossoming relationship with the human psychologist and, to complicate matters further, Kismet’s old boyfriend, self-absorbed psychologist Tom Radcliffe, shows up with his own outlandish request."
I haven't read this book yet, but I thoroughly enjoyed The Vampire Shrink. Click here for my review.



A reprint of Vampire$ by John Steakley (Roc, 1990) has been issued only this times it is titled Vampires (Roc, 2008) without the dollar sign. Which is a real shame. I thought the original was very clever.
From Vampire Readings: "Jack Crow leads a team, backed by the Vatican, which hunts down and kill vampires in the modern-day world. It is a terrifying and often deadly job, but this group of adventurers never backs away from its assignment to stamp out the evil undead." What I failed to mention in this annotation was the X-rated language the guys use to communicate with each other. This is a hard-hitting no-holds-barred kind of book. Be prepared for a wild ride.





In The Blood by Adrian Phoenix. Pocket, January, 2009. A thrilling sequel to A Rush of Wings (see my review for Rush here).
From the publisher: "While still struggling with nightmares and seizures, vampire rock star Dante Baptiste continues to search for the truth about his past. And when he and his band Inferno come to Seattle on tour, FBI Special Agent Heather Wallace can't help but be drawn back to the beautiful, dangerous nightkind, even though she now know the extent of the Bureau corruption that surrounds them. But what neither realize is that new enemies lurk in the shadows... Shadowy government forces are eliminating loose ends from Project Bad Seed - and Heather and Dante are first on the list. Elsewhere, the Fallen gather, intent on finding their long-awaited savior. And a damaged and desperate adversary, with powers as strange and perilous as Dante's own, plots to use Dante as a pawn for violent revenge. But only one of these lethal forces holds the key that could finally unlock the secret of Dante's birth and the truth of his existence...or destroy him completely."