Small-town fangs - Rated 
"The Accidental Vampire" is another of Lynsay Sands' Argeneau Vampire series, this time focussing on Victor, one of the oldest of the family and a widower. Victor finds himself travelling to the small town of Port Henry with his friend and fellow vampire DJ in response to a female vampire's lonely hearts advert. Not that Victor is responding as a prospective suitor - instead he is going as a Council representative to decide what to do about this vampire woman who's breaking laws of secrecy, and that might involve having her killed.
When Victor and DJ arrive they realise the situation is a little more complex. Three more single vampires turn up in response to the advert and it's clear the entire town knows about and loves Elvi, the female vampire. It's also clear she has no idea about what being a vampire means and has gained all her information from the film version of Dracula; She doesn't realise that she can eat food, go out in daylight, sleep in a bed not a coffin and more. Most of the book seems to be about Elvi learning the true nature of her vampire status whilst the four 'suitors' and DJ follow her around, trying to keep her out of trouble and wondering whether they are her 'lifemates'. But someone seems to be attacking Elvi with arrows and it's up to them all to look after her and to try to find out who is trying to kill her.
This book is rather similar to several of the other Argeneau Vampire books in that the entire content of the book is pretty much about the new vampire learning what it means to be an Immortal. It's particularly noticeable in this book where we have Elvi learning to drink out of blood bags, learning some of the laws, finding out about things she can still do and still playing her part in the community of Port Henry. The love story between Elvi and Victor is sweet enough but not particularly deep and Victor's attitudes towards Elvi are sometimes a bit suspect. However it was an enjoyable read and some of the characters are amusing, if rather cardboard-cutout.
Originally published for Curled Up With A Good Book © Helen Hancox 2008
This a terrific amusing supernatural romantic suspense - Rated 
New to the world of the night, THE ACCIDENTAL VAMPIRE Elvi Black struggles to adjust. She mourns her inability to get a tan, eat food especially pizza, and sleep in a bed as coffins are not particularly conducive to anything but the sleep of the dead. Her friends are worried about her adjustment so though she tried to hide her change, they know and try to hook her up with a male vampire though where to find one seems difficult as the matchmaking services don't mention anyone with a bite. Her neighbors place a personal ad seeking a vampiric hunk as a companion to a female nightcrawler.
Taken aback with the ad that they assume is an inane joke by a mortal, the Vampire Council sends agent Victor Argeneau to investigate and if necessary ki11 the individual. When he meets Elvi he knows he found his soulmate and much more as shockingly she has a town filled with humans willing to di3 to keep her safe even as someone else who read the ad wants to teach her one particular aspect of being a vamp, a stake through the heart.
This a terrific amusing supernatural romantic suspense due to the desperate antics of the beleaguered heroine who feels like a newborn without adult supervision trying to hide what she has become. Victor is a strong courageous individual who besides mentoring the rookie risks his soul to keep his forever mate safe. The support cast enhances the overall tale especially the townsfolk who add a unique twist and the slayer. Sub-genre fans will enjoy Lynsay Sand's enjoyable tale and seek her previous winning vampire romances or I'd also recommend reading Tino Georgiou's bestselling novel...The Fates...if you've read all of Sand's books.
dead on marvellous - Rated
Elvi went on a fun-in-the-sun vacation to Mexico. Instead of drinks with funny umbrellas, she found herself being the main drink for a vampire! What a drag, especially when maker did a drink 'n run, leaving poor Elvi struggling to deal with her new vamp state. For five years Elvi has toddled through her new situation, dealing with the downside of being undead. There are a few perks, such as not ageing, but still, being a vamp should come with a "how to be a vamp and survive" book, she thinks.
Victor Argeneau (finally we get Victor's tale!) has lived alone for centuries, having lost his beloved to vampire hunters. Since then, his sole focus has been hunting down rogue vampires to eliminate them, so no other innocent vamps are slaughtered for their misdeeds. His attention is drawn to Elvi when her friends place a want ad for a male vamp, matchmaking the objective. Victor isn't sure it's a real vamp or someone just playing a joke, so he goes to check it out. He is shocked to learn the whole town is aware that Elvi is a vampire, but more importantly, Elvi is real and just what his heart craves. However the vampire council dedicated to keep a low profile for the good vamps, sees this situation as something that cannot go on.
Lynsay Sands takes a chance giving us not young and beautiful vamps, but older ones, and the risk is endearing, once again keep this series fresh and original. The problem with any series, is to conjure that vital spark that made it special to begin with. Each time, Sands does just that.
Fans will be very happy campers as another Angeneau tale comes in January and February, giving you three in a row.
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