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In 2008, acclaimed actress and beloved scream queen Adrienne Barbeau teamed up with best-selling author Michael Scott for Vampyres of Hollywood, a vampire novel that was both glitzy and gripping—not to mention wildly entertaining. In fact, it was one of my favorite books of the year. Now, Barbeau goes solo for a blood-sucking follow-up that’s not quite as fierce—but it’s still every bit as fun.
Love Bites picks up where Vampyres left off. The Cinema Slayer case has just been solved, but Detective Peter King doesn’t know how to explain the outcome to his boss without ending up under mandatory psychiatric evaluation. No one would believe his stories of vampyres and werebeasts—so, technically, the case is still open. That means that he really shouldn’t be spending time with actress, studio owner, and Hollywood vampyre Ovsanna Moore—since she’s involved in an open case—but he can’t seem to resist her, even though he knows what she is.
Just as things are starting to heat up between Peter and Ovsanna, another body is found. And while Peter is trying to track down the latest killer, Ovsanna is attacked by a pack of paparazzi turned boxenwolves. Throw in a big merger in the works, a bunch of old friends begging for a job, and a jealous assistant who’s secretly practicing hoodoo, and even a 450-year-old vampyre like Ovsanna might need some help if she’s going to survive.
Love Bites is a refreshing change of pace from the usual vampire romance—a sinfully entertaining mix of supernatural thrills, sizzling romance, and Hollywood gossip.
Barbeau successfully juggles a number of plotlines throughout the book—all the while resisting the temptation to take the story too seriously. Barbeau has a wicked sense of humor, which often shines through even the darkest of moments. And she keeps things light with frequent appearances by Ovsanna’s fellow Vampyres of Hollywood, an amusing group of silent film stars who are dying to come out of retirement—even if it means disguising themselves as rodents (or Cyndi Lauper).
Initially, though, I was concerned about the story’s increased focus on werewolves—worried that some hunky werewolf would come along and add a Twilight-style twist to an already complicated love triangle. But I didn’t need to worry. There’s nothing good—or alluring—about the werewolves in Love Bites. They’re vicious creatures whose intentions are much more sinister.
Still, without the influence of Barbeau’s Vampyres co-author Scott, the follow-up isn’t quite as suspenseful—or as horrifying—as its predecessor. The horror and suspense are still there; they’re just not as prominent. While it may not be as scary as the first book in the series, though, it’s a whole lot sexier. For a cold-blooded monster, Ovsanna definitely has some seriously hot-blooded impulses—so if you’re a fan of steamy vampire romance, you’ll enjoy every bite.
If you haven’t read Vampyres of Hollywood, I recommend starting there. Not only is it both witty and suspenseful, but Love Bites also makes frequent references to the Cinema Slayer case—and you might feel a bit lost if you skip the first book in the series. So I recommend picking up copies of both. Even if you’ve grown tired of the same old vampire story, you’ll love sinking your teeth into this deliciously clever undead adventure.
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