Reviews: La Vida Vampire and Last Vampire Standing by Nancy Haddock
La Vida Vampire
Urban Fantasy/Paranormal Romance
Berkley Trade (April 1, 2008)
304 pages
ISBN: 978-0425219959
Being dead isn't all it's cracked up to be. Take it from Francesca Marinelli, trapped underground for over 200 years and rediscovered during the renovation of a Victorian mansion in historic St. Augustine. A tourist attraction herself, she's well suited for a job as an Old Ghost Town Tour guide. Francesca's due for a new lease on afterlife-and with enough sunblock, she can finally live it.
Unfortunately, everything she learned about men is a little dated. And when people in her tour group turn up dead, naturally the police suspect her. After all, she is a vampire. Which is why a crazed vampire-hunting vigilante squad is out to get her as well. Between the dead bodies, the stalkers, and a seriously non-existent love life, she's starting to wish she was dead. Or at least buried, where she was safe.
Urban Fantasy/Paranormal Romance
Berkley Trade (May 5, 2009)
320 pages
ISBN: 978-0425227541
228-year-old Francesca Marinelli thought her past was dead—then a stranger from the Atlanta vampire nest crashes her home looking for sanctuary. A budding stand-up comic, Jo-Jo’s running from an undead superior eager to drive a stake through the heart of his dream job. But Jo-Jo’s bad jokes aren’t the only dark clouds on the horizon. A psychotic vampire with a murderous agenda has followed Jo-Jo to Florida, putting everyone close to Francesca in danger.Haddock has created a pretty enjoyable bunch of characters here. Francesca is a nice heroine and her love interest, Saber, fills the requisite sexy Alpha-man shoes nicely. Likewise, the secondary characters, such as Cesca's best friend Maggie and vampire-hater Gorman, are interesting enough. The problem is that nothing much in these two novels sticks with you once the book is finished.
For what it is though, the novel is decently written. The plots are okay and the progression of the story arc is fine. As far as character development and world-building - there's not much to it. This is alright though, considering that those elements are not key in paranormal romances. The humor is pretty standard and, in the case of comic Jo-Jo, often cheesy. Perhaps the best things about these novels is the unique premise and plot elements.
Theses books are pure, fluffy pieces of paranormal romance. Much like cotton candy there's a nice flavor, but not much substance. If you're all you're looking for is simple esapism, then these would be good picks. Is this a series that I would invest in - no.
Grade: C (for both)
She was locked in a coffin in the basement of her vampire master's home, as a form of punishment, when angry villagers came and torched the place. Everyone in the house was killed and she was assumed dead as well.
Farmlanebooks: I tend to think that these vampire books are a bit formulaic. What makes La Vida Vampire different from other vampire books?
Honestly? Nothing much.
Pussreboots: What's the allure of vampire books?
With books like these, the allure is pure escapism. Really the audience for this sort is the romance crowd, especially those that like a bit of the supernatural mixed in. Other, darker vampire novels? Those appeal to the fantasy lovers. They offer an alternate reality based on mythology and lore. Those types of books contain more plot and character development along with more well-crafted worlds.
Visit the Weekly Geeks posts of these bloggers for their "catch-up" reviews.
2 Comments:
I've had La Vida Vampire sitting on my TBR for the better part of 6 months. A friend gave it to me, and I just haven't had a chance to read it. I'll have to check it out, maybe I'll like it.
Jenni
I have those books on my TBR list, they look interesting! Sometimes a little "fluff" with not much substance is fun, so I'll probably keep them for such a time (like, when the end of term arrives and I need something to take my mind off exams!) Good reviews! :)
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