Love at Stake Book 5: All I Want for Christmas Is a Vampire by Kerrelyn Sparks

by shewolf0316 on April 27th, 2009, 12:06pm Login or Register to post comments

Avon Books
Paranormal Romance/Vampire
Mass Market Paperback
Rating: 4.5

I have to preface this review with the simple fact I’ve never been a fan of funny vampire romance novels. I’m a “the darker the better” vampire fan. However, it is with great pleasure I can honestly say I truly enjoyed All I Want for Christmas Is a Vampire. What a delight!

Toni Davis’s Christmas is not looking like it will be an enjoyable one. Her best friend has been institutionalized after claiming she was attacked by vampires. Toni knows her friend isn’t crazy but the only way to prove that is to show everyone that vampires really do exist. Jump ahead a bit and Toni is working as a security guard to some local vampires where she hopes to get what she needs to have her friend released. The last thing Toni wants or needs is to be driven wild by one of the sexiest Undead men you can imagine!

Ian MacPhie was turned as a teenager and looked like it. Upon discovery of a secret vampire drug, Ian has aged himself physically so he looks like an adult. Now he is on a mission to find the perfect woman to share the rest of his Undead life with, but he just doesn’t quite understand these modern women and dating rituals. It also doesn’t help that he’s found himself attracted to the new security guard. Then there is the added fact Toni hates vampires and wants nothing beyond a professional relationship.

However, Toni and Ian must reluctantly pair up to get to the bottom of a new problem. The Malcontents want this new drug and will do anything to get it, even if it means killing everyone who gets in their way. Soon Toni finds herself thinking “All I Want for Christmas Is a Vampire.”

I had my doubts about reading this latest book in Kerrelyn Sparks’ Love at Stake series since I normally do not like vampires in a romantic comedy. What I discovered was that while there is plenty of humor in All I Want for Christmas Is a Vampire, it is really just enough to keep the book from taking itself too seriously. We have enough of the dark undertones I demand from a vampire romance novel through the ongoing war against the Malcontents to make me happy.

Toni is conflicted over her duty to her friend and her responsibilities as security to the vampires. While her job started out as just a means to an end, the more time she spends with Ian, the more she realizes her work is not such a chore after all. This makes for even more internal struggles for Toni as she worries her attraction to him will prevent her from keeping her promise to her best friend.

Ian is delightful in his new and improved form as he discovers all the little problems resulting in aging so quickly. His old coffin doesn’t fit anymore and the women are clamoring for his attention. I loved all of his exploits as he tries to choose a mate from the swarms of women after him. Speed dating and internet profiles take on a whole new dimension in All I Want for Christmas Is a Vampire, especially when he realizes only one woman can make his passion flare.

I enjoyed All I Want for Christmas Is a Vampire by Kerrelyn Sparks and now I have to make time to go back and read the preceding books in the Love at Stake series.