Finn’s review of High Stakes (Vegas Vampires, Book 1) by Erin McCarthy
Paranormal romance released 1 Aug 06 by Berkley
High Stakes is a bitingly (snort) fun vampire love story. Alexis is a Clark County prosecutor bent on protecting her naïve little sister from casino owner Ethan. Problem is Alexis is intrigued by Ethan, who claims to be a vampire, and not just any vampire but the President of all the registered vampire voters.
This story was very funny and quick-witted. If you are a gal that can turn any phrase into a sexual innuendo then you are going to like Alexis. Strong, independent, and a really smart woman who can kick a guy’s ass with her Korean equivalent of a black belt, Alexis is a no nonsense kind of lady. Ethan is a strong man, but by no means pushy, who is floored when Alexis doesn’t fall at his feet in rapture of his manly physique. He finds ‘sweet and sugary’ boring and goes after feisty Alexis with teeth bared (snort) knowing she’ll spice up his staid vampire years. It’s fun to watch these two spar with each other and fall in love at the same time. Competition is part of their foreplay and makes for some hot love scenes.
McCarthy has also set up an excellent cast of sub-characters. She tantalizes you enough with their stories to keep you anticipating the next installment in her Tales of Vegas Vampires. Book 4, Sucker Bet, was released this month.
Grade: A
Backcover copy:
He’s a bloodsucking freak of nature. But, unlike other politicians, Ethan Carrick is actually a nice guy. Not to mention a very hot, wealthy, casino-owning vampire. It’s an election year for vampires, which means he’ll first have to escape his opponent’s hit men. Then he’ll have to find a suitable First Lady, preferably here in Vegas.
Brittany Baldizzi fits the bill. She’s smart, pretty- and sweeter than a glass of diabetic O-Negative. But her protective sister Alexis steps in with a message for Ethan: Bite me. It’s then that he realizes it’s the sexy, no-nonsense Alexis who raises his stake. And as much as she denies it, Alexis wouldn’t mind a romp in the coffin with him. But can a mere mortal, even one who risks her life for him, make a centuries-old, womanizing vampire feel something entirely new?
Read an excerpt.
Other books in this series:
And let me point out that there’s another snortworthy sentence in the summary:
So, Finn, when you say it was funny, do you mean the oh-so-wacky, slapstick kind of humor or humor that arises out of the character’s personalities?
Awesome first review 😉
And one of my favorite books evah! I really think you are going to enjoy the rest of the series and love love love her contemps. I am so happy to see this in MM.
Hopefully others will discover just how grand she is! Welcome to reviewing, blogs and the ‘net ;). We will keep you buried in books!
Bev(QB) Not slap-stick, the humor really comes out of the interactions between Ethan and Alexis. Her reactions to certain aspects of vampire life are very comical.
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Thanks for the great review, Sybil! It’s cool to have the whole series coming back out in mass market paperback. Bit The Jackpot will be out in mass in June.
I like to think my humor is based more on seeing the silly in everyday things. Not slapstick, just amused observations. That’s the hope, anyway. 😉
How did that test come out teddy? 🙂
You are welcome Erin! All I did though was pimp the book, Finn reviewed it. And Lawson is being forced to read it because I want her too. I am a good friend like that and was all happy happy when I saw the MM copy in the box. I squuee’ed and said you must read. She thinks it won’t live up to my pimping. Sadly she said the same thing about Spymaster’s Lady. (which she finally started and is lurving)
So I will get to say I told you so repeatedly. YAY!
I adored Sucker’s Bet! So glad the series the ended on such a great note. Now I am waiting for the next contemps ;). Is it done yet? Feel free to send it to me. Need my email addy again?
Ohhh, I have this. My TBR is out of control. I need to read it ASAP.