This is a co-written work between Bridget Essex and Natalie Vivien. I have read several of Essex's work and a couple of Vivien's. Both are very talented authors and I look forward to each new work of theirs. 

 

However this piece while engaging and very imaginative was not as good as I expected it to be. I'm a huge fan of vampire literature and other peoples take on different characteristics they may or may not have. Add in lesbians and you have me sold!

 

The world itself is set up like an alternative United States where it's only been a few years since vampires have come out of hiding. In this world, they even have a woman president who is also a vampire. Props. Throughout the story, it shows the discrimination vampires face, which is similar to what homosexuals and persons of color have faced throughout all over the world. Just a lot hate mongering from people who don't want to understand someone whose different from them. Which is a very interesting take and imaginative in my opinion. I even like the main character and her to be love interest. It's very sweet and romantic.

 

But the elephant in the room that I could not ignore was the fact that the main character Courtney; is still in a relationship. I will interject and say that she doesn't cheat on her girlfriend, but it's clear she's attracted to Lare. (her to be love interest) Throughout the story, you come to find out that her girlfriend, Mia isn't very good to Courtney. In fact, she's downright sleazy if you ask me. She looks at other women is clearly sleeping around on her girlfriend. The kicker? They have only been together for FIVE months. Mia has been doing all this to someone who she has only been going out with for a short period of time. Which is frustrating that Courtney continues to put up with her for nearly sixty percent of this book. All while feeling a deep pull towards Lare. I could see it being hard if it was like five years, and the other woman was good to her.

 

But there's really no real reason why they should still be together in any sense of the word. There are multiple examples of times where Courtney should have left Mia. But she doesn't. It makes zero sense to me and after a while it just got old. Especially when she keeps repeating that she needs to leave Mia but she keeps avoiding it. There was really just no need of this back and forth over a five-month relationship. It just really dimensioned the book as a whole; that wasn't even super long, to begin with. 

 

This could have been much better and I wish it had been because I do adore both authors works. That aside I will continue to look forward to their work, but this one just didn't quite resonate with me as well as I had hoped for it too.

The Vampire Next Door - Marilyn Baron

Aurora Dawn Hale comes from a long line of psychics. She’s set to marry the perfect man, even though she doesn’t think it’s the right thing to do. Lance Lakeland is a vampire that has repented for all the wrong he has caused. Will it be enough for her to leave her fiance to be with him?

I really didn’t like this story. It jumped between several sets of people, none of which were the main characters. Between the way the referenced Aurora Dawn and when we are finally introduced to her, she sounded like a girl in her mid-teens that still believed in fairy tales. Unfortunately this discouraged me from the book and I wasn’t able to get into it at all.

**I voluntarily read and reviewed this book

This is my first book by Angela Snyder and I have to say I like her take on vamps.

I won't go over the plot, it's a pnr and you can read the book blurb.

At the beginning you may wonder where's the vamp, trust me you'll get plenty of Sebastian. Jane, poor Jane she's been through it and doesn't even know who she is... She's alone too, but not for long.

I really liked the book set up with just a hint of vamp, when you do get to meet Sebastian it's more about how he feels about Jane more than him being Vampire, him being a vamp does prove very useful though.

Along with the love and romance running through the book there is some suspense mixed in to keep you wondering who and why.

I'm sure I can say there is a HEA, in a way it's left a little open so maybe there's more to come!

I found this an easy read and really enjoyed this book, I will definitely be checking out other books by author.

4.5 vampy stars

I was gifted a copy of this book by the author for an honest review.

Room for Rent: Normal need not apply. This old Boston brownstone is not known for quiet living... first the shapeshifter meets his nurse, then the werewolf falls for his sassy lawyer, but now the vampire is looking for love with a witch who'se afraid of the dark... and you thought your neighbors had issues! Undead Sly is content playing vigilante vampire, keeping the neighborhood safe from human criminals, until Morgaine moves in upstairs. Suddenly he finds himself weak with desire, which isn't a good place for a vampire to be. And Morgaine isn't exactly without her own issues — will the two of them be able to get past their deepest fears before their chance at "normal" slips away...