Book Review: The Ghost of Vampire Present

The Ghost of Vampire Present

By:  Seleste deLaney

Published By:  Decadent Publishing, LLC

Publish Date:  December 10, 2010

Format:  eBook, 36pgs

Genre:  Urban Fantasy Romance

Series:  Prequel # 2 in Blood Kissed Series; Prequel #1 ~ Of Course I Try, Short Stories ~ 0.1 ~ Christmas in Chains, 0.2 ~ Devil's Bargain, Short Story 0.3 ~ What Have I Done, 0.4 ~ The Cost of Love

Recommendation:  Oh yes! Love this sexy vampirian take on a Christmas Carol!

Synopsis:
Jocelyn has finally found her knight in shining armor in Chad, and ghosts are the last thing on her mind.  Even when one shows up in her bedroom on Christmas Eve...

First Sentence:
I've dreamt of Max almost every night since I killed him.

Purchase At:

Amazon ~ Kindle   /   Barnes & Nobles ~ Nook

My Thoughts and Summary:
Jocelyn dreams of Max almost every night, but last night was different.  It's Christmas morning and last nights dreams weigh heavy on her mind as she waits for her visiting old college room mate to wake to talk to her.  First a ghost, here crazy grandmothers ghost, warning and wanting to help her, then three visitors after that and not all were welcomed guests.  Past, Present and Future men collide in one night.

Oh this novella is a very interesting and sexy Vampire twist on A Christmas Carol.

Oh the hints in this novella!  There is something special about Jocelyn.  What?  I'm curious.  Max is remembered, and I'm curious how he manages to do this.  The current boyfriend, that cute guy named Chad from the dance in Of Course I Try...yeah it's him. Yum.

Jocelyn has been trying to be stronger since Max.  She's started self-defense classes and fighting better along with becoming more physically fit than she ever has.

I have to say I love the description of the ghost.  Yes, it's someone she knew.
"She's the antithesis of the fairy godmother I'd always wished for.  All she needs now is a lit cigar between her fingers to totally bastardize that particular childhood fantasy."

The telling of this story starts with Jocelyn waiting for Kait then when she comes out we get the front row seat of the happenings as we are there with her.  Then we are back to the morning and Kait leaves and Jocelyn gets ready for Christmas at her mothers and waits for her boyfriend.  We seen clues that last night might not have been a dream... but then things change and answers aren't connecting with what happened, so maybe it all was after being out with the girls drinking and all.

I'm left curious as to what was real and what was a dream.  I think it's all real, but there is more than real and not here, there's secrets.  I want to know what they are.  There is something special about Jocelyn, but I'm not sure what exactly it is.  I'll definitely be reading the first novel, Kiss of Death very soon to figure it all out.

This is definitely a romance, with intimate moments.



**I read this novella for my own enjoyment.
**The thoughts shared in this review are of my personal opinion.

Book Review: Of Course I Try

Of Course I Try

By:  Seleste deLaney

Published By:  Decadent Publishing, LLC

Publish Date:  August 2010

Format:  eBook, 15pgs

Genre:  Urban Fantasy Romance

Series:  Prequel # 1 in Blood Kissed series; Short Stories ~ 0.1 ~ Christmas in Chains, 0.2 ~ Devil's Bargain, Short Story 0.3 ~ What Have I Done, 0.4 ~ The Cost of Love

Recommendation:  Yes, to see the haze Jocelyn lives in while remembering how her and Max meet and the strong woman underneath it all.

Synopsis:
Love is a wonderful thing.  Unless you don't get a choice in the matters of your own heart.

Jocelyn has loved Max since the day she met him.  Even when he scares her enough to leave, she can't resist going back.  No matter how many times she tries to break free from him, she ends up in his arms and bed again.

Not this time.  Jocelyn needs to be free, and Max isn't going to stop her from walking away -- no matter how hard he tries.

First Sentence:
When I came to his house tonight, I'd come to say goodbye.

Purchase At:

Amazon ~ Kindle   /   Barnes & Nobles ~ Nook

My Thoughts and Summary:
Jocelyn visits to say goodbye, but the time turns private and heated between them and the reason she came flies from her mind.  Jocelyn wakes to a love note from Max on the pillow along with a blank in time.

We go with Jocelyn with all intent and purpose of breaking it off with Max, then things turn intimate and forgotten.  Jocelyn remembers how she meet Max and even though he has the bad boy look, Jocelyn finally learns he's more inside and maybe someone for her, her type after all?

Then we jump to a time when Jocelyn has left Max two weeks prior and is on a date, but can only think of Max.  The date sounds like a dud, but another man asks her to dance, and he sounds like a possibility.

Max seems like a drug Jocelyn tries and tries to give up, but find her way back to his loving, warm feeling embrace.  Yet there is always something missing in her memories.  He's always gone when she wakes and she's weak from love making and always a vague memory loss.  Deja vu, we've done it again.  Jocelyn feels the need to leave as not her home even though told she is always welcome

Jocelyn never seems to get to say goodbye, but does get to do something else instead.  Good girl.



**I read this novella for my own enjoyment.
**The thoughts shared in this review are of my personal opinions.

Book Review: Blood Kissed short stories 0.3 & 0.4

What Have I Done

By:  Seleste deLaney

Publisher:  Seleste deLaney on her site

Publish Date:  March 13, 2011

Format:  Blog, I read online

Genre:  Romance, Urban Fantasy/Paranormal

Series:  0.3 Short Story in Blood Kissed series;  0.1 Short Story ~ Christmas in Chains, 0.2 Short Story ~ Devil's Bargain

Recommendation:  If you are going to read the novella's and novel, yes, this gives you a great view into it.

Synopsis:
In the aftermath of the events in Of Course I Try, Jocelyn was destined to feel something.  This story tells exactly what that emotion was.

My Thoughts and Summary:
Jocelyn has just left the house and her feelings of what's happen bubble to the surface.

I read this short story before the novella Of Course I Try.  You learn what she did in the novella, but you want to know what transpired to bring her to that point.

Okay, now.  I'm curious what Jocelyn did to be so distraught.  Did she really do what she said she did?  And Why?

This short was like reading a flash short fiction.  It makes me curious for the story.
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The Cost of Love

By:  Seleste deLaney

Publisher:  Seleste deLaney on her site

Publish Date:  March 13, 2011

Format:  Blog, I read online

Genre:  Romance, Urban Fantasy/Paranormal

Series:  0.4 Short Story in Blood Kissed series; 0.1 Short Story ~ Christmas in Chains, 0.2 Short Story ~ Devil's Bargain

Recommendation:  Yes, but after the novella Of Course I Try so you get to see Max's thoughts.

Synopsis:
Most of my readers know the events of Of Course I Try from Jocelyn's point of view, but if you've ever wondered what went through Max's mind when she walked through his door, this story is for you.  Warning: This contains spoilers for Of Course I Try.

My Thoughts and Summary:
What runs through Max's mind as Jocelyn shows up at his doorway that fateful night.

This one I would definitely read AFTER Of Course I Try, which is what I did do.

We know from reading Jocelyn's side of the story that Max has some sort of Magic.  We learn so here from Max's thoughts as well.  Magic through words and touch, a push.  He's afraid to push to far, for her to forget their time together yet a hint of some other worry with it as well.  He wants her to remember, that he loves her.

We hear his thoughts at the very moment with Jocelyn.




You can find both of these stories and two more (review to come today as well) at Seleste deLaney's site under Free Reads.


**I read these short stories in preparation for the novellas and novel for my own enjoyment.
**This collection of thoughts is of my person opinions as reading.

Book Review: Blood Kissed Short Stories 0.1 & 0.2

Christmas In Chains

By:  Seleste deLaney

Publisher:  Seleste deLaney on her site

Publish Date:  March 13, 2011

Format:  Blog, I read online

Genre:  Romance, Urban Fantasy/Paranormal

Series:  0.1 Short story in Blood Kissed series

Recommendation:  Oh yes, quite a collection of history to learn of these characters, before or during reading the novellas and novel.

Synopsis:
Becoming a vampire doesn't come with an instruction manual, and learning isn't always an easy path.  Sometimes, it's one you have to deviate from in order to live.  Combine that drive with a Christmas wish, and Max gets exactly what he wants.

My Thoughts and Summary:
In this place Christmas is celebrated with a torture to remind him he's a vampire; of the pain he could inflict and something stronger... the sun.  With the decorations appearing, Max realizes it must be another Christmas arriving.  Max's thirteenth here in chains under his maker.  But there could be a Christmas miracle out there for him...

This free short read can be read before any of the novella's, book, or other short stories without giving anything away in the story.  And could very well introduce you to one of the main characters.

Oh goodness, poor Max.  He's chained, and dare I say abused.  And a vampire.  But on this Christmas, after all these years where Max learns to hate the holiday, he might get a miracle, but at what cost.  I'm curious about this Janiqua and what Max will have to do for her.

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Devil's Bargain

By:  Seleste deLaney

Publisher:  Seleste deLaney on her site

Publish Date:  March 13, 2011

Format:  Blog, I read online

Genre:  Romance, Urban Fantasy/Paranormal

Series:  0.2 Short story in Blood Kissed series

Recommendation:  Oh yes, quick collection of history to learn of these characters, before or during reading the novellas and novel.

Synopsis:
Every story has a beginning, and the Blood Kissed series started long before Of Course I Try.  To understand Max, you need to know both how and why he turned.

My Thoughts and Summary:
How and why Max is turned into a vampire.

Not much more description can be given without giving away this free short read.  But we see why Max wanted to keep living, the prayer he repeated and was answered.  All for one other.  We see who his maker is and that he has to spend time with him.

I liked the Max I meet here.  He seems like a good guy after this read.  One I could feel for.



You can find both of these stories and two more (review to come today as well) at Seleste deLaney's site under Free Reads.


**I read these short stories in preparation for the novellas and novel for my own enjoyment.
**This collection of thoughts is of my person opinions as reading.