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Between a Vamp and a Hard Place
Lindsey Hughes loves antiques and couldn’t be happier to make a living in the estate sale business. But when her assistant accidentally buys an entire estate without her approval, Lindsey is forced to clean up the mess herself.
Lindsey travels to the newly purchased, age-old house in Venice, Italy, and soon discovers more than she (never) bargained for. While digging through the hoarder’s trove that fills every floor, she finds a secret staircase behind a wall that leads to a strange coffin…with an even stranger inhabitant.
Vampire Rand FitzWulf has been in his coffin for 600 years. But now that he’s awake, he’s ravenous, and there’s a delicious-smelling woman with a rare blood type in his basement. Luckily, Lindsey has more to offer than blood: she agrees to travel throughout Europe with Rand to help him get revenge on the one who turned him. But as the unlikely pair grows closer, will the vampire be overtaken by his thirst for blood—or his thirst for love?
Lindsey travels to the newly purchased, age-old house in Venice, Italy, and soon discovers more than she (never) bargained for. While digging through the hoarder’s trove that fills every floor, she finds a secret staircase behind a wall that leads to a strange coffin…with an even stranger inhabitant.
Vampire Rand FitzWulf has been in his coffin for 600 years. But now that he’s awake, he’s ravenous, and there’s a delicious-smelling woman with a rare blood type in his basement. Luckily, Lindsey has more to offer than blood: she agrees to travel throughout Europe with Rand to help him get revenge on the one who turned him. But as the unlikely pair grows closer, will the vampire be overtaken by his thirst for blood—or his thirst for love?
384 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published December 29, 2015
16 people are currently reading
738 people want to read
About the author
Jessica Sims
19 books745 followersJessica Sims lives in Texas. She hates writing a bio, so something cool will undoubtedly go here later when she actually thinks of something interesting to write. She has some cats, but what writer doesn’t? She plays video games and confesses to reading comic books. And she likes writing, but that one was pretty obvious.
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December 20, 2015No ratings, because, yanno, authorbeast.
I am mostly commenting to say:
1) The blurb says the hero is a billionaire. He is not. I'm not sure how that landed there. I took it out several times and it still made its way onto the cover. C'est la vie.
2) The book says it is #5 in the Midnight Liaisons series. It is not! This book completely stands alone and is not even in the same 'universe'. The vampires in that series are not the vampires in this series.
The more you know and all that. :)
June 14, 2020
Great story! Totally not what I expected!
I loved the hero/ vampire. He was everything good... willing to sacrifice his life for the woman he loved.
I loved the hero/ vampire. He was everything good... willing to sacrifice his life for the woman he loved.
November 23, 2015
Between a Vamp and a Hard Place is my first time reading Jessica Sims. In all honesty, I didn’t know that this was the fifth book in an existing series. Having said that, not having read the previous books did not hinder my reading experience at all.
Two roommates (and business partners) are in Venice to hopefully reap the rewards of an estate sale. Finding great antiques and selling them online is a job for Lindsey Hughes as well as a calling. It’s when she stumbles upon a 600 year old vampire that things take a turn for the unexpected and otherworldly.
So… the down and dirty. I had a hard time believing reactions and acceptance while reading. It was a bit too much of insta-everything. Time to accept things and move on does happen, it just comes off somewhat immature and unrealistic at times. Having said that, I was totally invested ‘til the end. I wanted to know what would happen and by whom. I needed closure to the mystery as well. I totally got it and I’m glad I kept reading until the end.
I dunno guys… I didn’t LOVE it, but it wasn’t a bad read either. I know authors hate a wishy-washy review and I hate that mine is; but what can I say other than my honest thoughts? I am sure Midnight Liaisons has a fan base and that they will love it.
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Two roommates (and business partners) are in Venice to hopefully reap the rewards of an estate sale. Finding great antiques and selling them online is a job for Lindsey Hughes as well as a calling. It’s when she stumbles upon a 600 year old vampire that things take a turn for the unexpected and otherworldly.
So… the down and dirty. I had a hard time believing reactions and acceptance while reading. It was a bit too much of insta-everything. Time to accept things and move on does happen, it just comes off somewhat immature and unrealistic at times. Having said that, I was totally invested ‘til the end. I wanted to know what would happen and by whom. I needed closure to the mystery as well. I totally got it and I’m glad I kept reading until the end.
I dunno guys… I didn’t LOVE it, but it wasn’t a bad read either. I know authors hate a wishy-washy review and I hate that mine is; but what can I say other than my honest thoughts? I am sure Midnight Liaisons has a fan base and that they will love it.
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October 12, 2016
My life has been crazy these last few weeks. If I were to list everything that has happened, it would sound like complete fiction. Needless to say, I am in need of intense escape. I've had my eye out for a strong PNR - heavy on vampires - as this is my comfort genre. That sounds ridiculous but this is the genre/subject that gave me my spark for leisure reading so when I find a good vampire romance, it feels a bit nostalgic and reminds me how fun and full of escape reading can be.
With all that said, Between a Vamp and a Hard Place didn't do it for me but it almost did. Unfortunately, it felt one-dimensional and a little too cutsie for my personal taste, but I finished the book so I must have liked it overall. I'm still on the lookout for a PNR to hide out in for a few days so if you have some recommendations then PLEASE let me know!
With all that said, Between a Vamp and a Hard Place didn't do it for me but it almost did. Unfortunately, it felt one-dimensional and a little too cutsie for my personal taste, but I finished the book so I must have liked it overall. I'm still on the lookout for a PNR to hide out in for a few days so if you have some recommendations then PLEASE let me know!
did-not-finish
January 2, 2016"I know exactly who staked me. It was a blond whore with large tits and bountiful thighs. My last memory is of her riding my cock."
"I thought it was just a blonde with big thighs. Now it's more than one? Exactly how many wenches were you bedding at once?
"Last night? Four."
Annnnnnd, I'm out. Thanks for the visuals.
"I thought it was just a blonde with big thighs. Now it's more than one? Exactly how many wenches were you bedding at once?
"Last night? Four."
Annnnnnd, I'm out. Thanks for the visuals.
April 25, 2016
This audiobook was cheeky and light hearted and amusing. It is the kind of book you want to read when you don’t want anything complex and deep. It was superficial on world building and character development but high on amusement value.
Lindsey Hughes and her best friend Gemma ran a barely in the black antiques business. As they were trying to figure out ways to infuse some cash into their business, Gemma attempted to purchase some valuable items at an estate sale. It turned out that Gemma purchased the entire estate in Venice, along with all the items it contained.
Lindsey and Gemma travelled to Venice, Italy to get an inventory of their items in hopes of finding a treasure in the midst of the items. Something of interest was a hidden staircase behind a false wall, and it was holding a really nice coffin. Instead of finding rare gems, Lindsey discovered a man asleep in the coffin.
Rand FitzWulf had been in the coffin for over 600 years before he was found by Lindsey. Now that he is awake, he is eager to find out what happened to him all those centuries ago. Thus began the friendship and adventures of Rand and Lindsey.
I chuckled a lot. I mean, it used most of the same vampire clichés: garlic, holy water, dirt from hallowed ground but I still had fun with the characters. Lindsey was likable heroine as was her friend Gemma. Rand made me laugh as he still had his old ways of life such as referred to women as wenches. The characters worked well together and it appeared didn’t take themselves too seriously.
If you are looking for a story that was sweet, simple and comical, then this one is for you.
Special Thanks to Tantor Audio for the audobook given in exchange for an honest review.
Lindsey Hughes and her best friend Gemma ran a barely in the black antiques business. As they were trying to figure out ways to infuse some cash into their business, Gemma attempted to purchase some valuable items at an estate sale. It turned out that Gemma purchased the entire estate in Venice, along with all the items it contained.
Lindsey and Gemma travelled to Venice, Italy to get an inventory of their items in hopes of finding a treasure in the midst of the items. Something of interest was a hidden staircase behind a false wall, and it was holding a really nice coffin. Instead of finding rare gems, Lindsey discovered a man asleep in the coffin.
Rand FitzWulf had been in the coffin for over 600 years before he was found by Lindsey. Now that he is awake, he is eager to find out what happened to him all those centuries ago. Thus began the friendship and adventures of Rand and Lindsey.
I chuckled a lot. I mean, it used most of the same vampire clichés: garlic, holy water, dirt from hallowed ground but I still had fun with the characters. Lindsey was likable heroine as was her friend Gemma. Rand made me laugh as he still had his old ways of life such as referred to women as wenches. The characters worked well together and it appeared didn’t take themselves too seriously.
If you are looking for a story that was sweet, simple and comical, then this one is for you.
Special Thanks to Tantor Audio for the audobook given in exchange for an honest review.
November 22, 2015
What a fun vamp book. This one had me laughing out loud as Rand, the just woke-up six hundred year old vampire, tries to adjust to the modern world. And then it had me cheering for these two to get together. Finally, it had me hunting for a solution to their problem and finding none. What a great triple wow!
Loved the pace of this one. The pages turned quickly and I was always surprised when I looked up to find I read as much as I had. Finding a gorgeous vampire and trying to figure out what to do with him while hanging out in a sold estate trying to get your antique business in out of the red made a great story. And while I saw some things coming early on, the dynamics of their problems escalated to a point that I saw no solution. And that just doesn't happen very often. As it turns out, I was quite satisfied with the ending. Had me happy and even giggling a bit. Great story.
The characters are fun, funny and dynamic. Rand is perfect. With the alpha male and Renaissance man vibe he has going on he had me seriously laughing out loud. Doorknobs confused him, cellphones had him jumping and riding on the train was miraculous to him. I enjoyed watching him explore the modern world while he got to know Lindsey. He was drawn to her blood but he really did get to know her. And when a guy like him falls, it's pure pleasure to watch. Then there was Lindsey, she's pretty sure she shouldn't be falling for a vampire but she can't help it. Guys aren't on her agenda and she's been alone for a while but she learns the depth of Rand and she just can't resist. They really are adorable together.
I can leave out Lindsey's bestie, Gemma. She swears with the best of them, makes some questionable decisions and is the best comic relief. I loved her. Oh, and she slept with a vamp. Yep. It happened. Hehe.
The heat is high and the connection between these two off the charts. They both try to resist each other and it only adds to the sexual tension. I was glad they didn't just jump into it. They spent time together and got to know each other. They tried to do what was best for each other. It made the yummy times between them more for me.
A great story, wonderful characters and high heat had me enjoying this one well into the night. If you enjoy paranormal vampire stories, this one is a great fast read that will leave you satisfied.
Loved the pace of this one. The pages turned quickly and I was always surprised when I looked up to find I read as much as I had. Finding a gorgeous vampire and trying to figure out what to do with him while hanging out in a sold estate trying to get your antique business in out of the red made a great story. And while I saw some things coming early on, the dynamics of their problems escalated to a point that I saw no solution. And that just doesn't happen very often. As it turns out, I was quite satisfied with the ending. Had me happy and even giggling a bit. Great story.
The characters are fun, funny and dynamic. Rand is perfect. With the alpha male and Renaissance man vibe he has going on he had me seriously laughing out loud. Doorknobs confused him, cellphones had him jumping and riding on the train was miraculous to him. I enjoyed watching him explore the modern world while he got to know Lindsey. He was drawn to her blood but he really did get to know her. And when a guy like him falls, it's pure pleasure to watch. Then there was Lindsey, she's pretty sure she shouldn't be falling for a vampire but she can't help it. Guys aren't on her agenda and she's been alone for a while but she learns the depth of Rand and she just can't resist. They really are adorable together.
I can leave out Lindsey's bestie, Gemma. She swears with the best of them, makes some questionable decisions and is the best comic relief. I loved her. Oh, and she slept with a vamp. Yep. It happened. Hehe.
The heat is high and the connection between these two off the charts. They both try to resist each other and it only adds to the sexual tension. I was glad they didn't just jump into it. They spent time together and got to know each other. They tried to do what was best for each other. It made the yummy times between them more for me.
A great story, wonderful characters and high heat had me enjoying this one well into the night. If you enjoy paranormal vampire stories, this one is a great fast read that will leave you satisfied.
December 23, 2015
Oh to have the imagination some authors have. This lighthearted read was a delight in every way. From the first page this author had me all in.
What was different about this book, you ask? I loved the story and strong characters to start. It is not easy to take a page from history, add some literary license, and then develop a story around it. This book is a blending of two different times; a match up between yesterday and today. I loved the way the author crafted her Vamp. He is a warrior who is loving and caring too. A wonderful balance for the unafraid and tough Lindsey who decides to fight for her man. The connection between the two was fun and endearing. You almost wish you could find a guy like Rand to have as your own.
This quirky book tells a story that blends a bit of humor with a bit of seriousness. Good against bad. Powerful against evil. I loved how the author looked at the world today in the eyes of a 600+ year old man. Funny and insightful! You cannot help but laugh at many of his experiences.
This book has all of the qualities we look for in a pleasurable read. Jessica Sims strongly combined an intelligent story with wonderful characters, some mystery and suspense, humor, and delight throughout this book. I loved every bit of this fun book.
What was different about this book, you ask? I loved the story and strong characters to start. It is not easy to take a page from history, add some literary license, and then develop a story around it. This book is a blending of two different times; a match up between yesterday and today. I loved the way the author crafted her Vamp. He is a warrior who is loving and caring too. A wonderful balance for the unafraid and tough Lindsey who decides to fight for her man. The connection between the two was fun and endearing. You almost wish you could find a guy like Rand to have as your own.
This quirky book tells a story that blends a bit of humor with a bit of seriousness. Good against bad. Powerful against evil. I loved how the author looked at the world today in the eyes of a 600+ year old man. Funny and insightful! You cannot help but laugh at many of his experiences.
This book has all of the qualities we look for in a pleasurable read. Jessica Sims strongly combined an intelligent story with wonderful characters, some mystery and suspense, humor, and delight throughout this book. I loved every bit of this fun book.
December 28, 2015
Eh...I found myself bored while reading this one. I almost dnf'ed it a few times, now that I made it through the whole book I wish that I would have. I thought the whole set up with Lindsey finding Rand was unbelievable, things didn't get much better with his actions and how things went down with the battle with the "Dragon". Rand's reaction after in the hospital made me roll my eyes, how could he forget how to speak English. When this one ended, I was glad to be done with it.
December 31, 2015
Originally published at Reading Reality
First of all, as the author states in a Goodreads post about this book, even though a lot of the promotional material for this book said that it was #5 in the author’s very popular Midnight Liaisons series, it isn’t. It’s not even in the same universe as the Midnight Liaisons series.
And color this reader disappointed. I was expecting another story about the Midnight Liaisons paranormal matchmaking agency. I love that series, as reflected in my review of the fourth book, Must Love Fangs. Let me put it this way, I love this series enough that I mostly buy them instead of getting free ARCs. Unfortunately for the purpose of a trail of evidence, when I spend my own money I don’t always write a review.
The Midnight Liaisons series is purely snarktastic fun with a paranormal romance twist. For a good time start with Beauty Dates the Beast, and keep reading until you can’t stop laughing out loud at the dialog. Then keep reading so your buzz continues.
Between a Vamp and a Hard Place is a beast of an entirely different color, type and species. It’s a lot closer to Kerrelyn Sparks’ Love at Stake, Katie MacAlister’s Dark Ones or Lynsay Sands’ Argeneau series. Those are series where rich vampires in the 21st century meet modern women and get their attitudes dragged into modern times as they fall for each other in spite of all sorts of barriers both real and imaginary. The story is told mostly for humor, with a slice of HEA, or should that be bite, added for spicy good times.
In Between a Vamp and a Hard Place, would-be antiques dealers Lindsey and Gemma have one month to clear out an abandoned apartment in Venice in the hopes that they will find something worth the $10,000 that Gemma paid for the privilege. They do find antiques. They also find a vampire who has been dormant for six centuries with a stake through his heart. A lot of traditional vampire lore gets skewered in the service of fiction, but that part works pretty well.
Rand FitzWulf has a lot to learn about the 21st century and the women in it. But before he can, or if he can, settle down to life with his new blood vassal Lindsey, he has to find the vampire who ordered his staking all those centuries ago, and do unto him before Rand gets done onto again.
In this fish out of water story, Rand ends up charmed by Lindsey, and Lindsey falls in love with Rand. How much of the start of their relationship is due to Rand’s powers is an open question to the reader. And how much Rand’s love for Lindsey has its roots in her extra tasty Hh blood group (which does surprisingly exist) is an equally questionable conundrum.
But as Rand and Lindsey chase his nemesis across Europe using his vampire “spidey-senses”, the slightly lost vampire and the in way over her head modern woman become partners, friends and eventually lovers.
Lindsey always believes that her time with Rand is temporary, but when they come face to face, and fang to fang, with the original Dracula, no one expects to get out alive as Lindsey, Rand and Gemma trip over themselves trying to save each other.
It’s so crazy it just might work. But at what cost?
Escape Rating B-: Some of my rating is due to my disappointment. I just didn’t get the book or the experience I was expecting.
On the other hand, the scenes of Lindsey choking down garlic to make her blood poisonous to Rand’s enemies were absolutely priceless. It sounds awful, but the descriptions are awfully funny.
The way this story is set up is an interesting way of dealing with the vast power differential between a vampire and a human, especially a relatively young one. Lindsey starts out feeling a bit sorry for Rand, and Rand is forced to admit he needs Lindsey as his guide to the 21st century, and for that he needs her willing and not under his thrall. He can force her into doing whatever he wants, but when he does that he loses access to her knowledge of how the world works. And he needs that knowledge badly. Understanding a language, which he does by magic, is not the same as understanding the meaning behind it.
So there’s a strong feeling of Stockholm Syndrome in Rand’s love for Lindsey. And an equally strong feeling of responsibility in Lindsey’s love for Rand. He needs her and she needs to take care of him. It works for them, and it works as part of a very high-stakes road trip to Hell. But I just wasn’t totally sold on the romance. I could see them bonding, but I couldn’t see them staying bonded. Of course, things change.
Between a Vamp and a Hard Place had lots of interesting bits, and Lindsey’s and Rand’s banter is often hilarious. But this story just didn’t put the bite on my happy place the way that the Midnight Liaisons books do.
First of all, as the author states in a Goodreads post about this book, even though a lot of the promotional material for this book said that it was #5 in the author’s very popular Midnight Liaisons series, it isn’t. It’s not even in the same universe as the Midnight Liaisons series.
And color this reader disappointed. I was expecting another story about the Midnight Liaisons paranormal matchmaking agency. I love that series, as reflected in my review of the fourth book, Must Love Fangs. Let me put it this way, I love this series enough that I mostly buy them instead of getting free ARCs. Unfortunately for the purpose of a trail of evidence, when I spend my own money I don’t always write a review.
The Midnight Liaisons series is purely snarktastic fun with a paranormal romance twist. For a good time start with Beauty Dates the Beast, and keep reading until you can’t stop laughing out loud at the dialog. Then keep reading so your buzz continues.
Between a Vamp and a Hard Place is a beast of an entirely different color, type and species. It’s a lot closer to Kerrelyn Sparks’ Love at Stake, Katie MacAlister’s Dark Ones or Lynsay Sands’ Argeneau series. Those are series where rich vampires in the 21st century meet modern women and get their attitudes dragged into modern times as they fall for each other in spite of all sorts of barriers both real and imaginary. The story is told mostly for humor, with a slice of HEA, or should that be bite, added for spicy good times.
In Between a Vamp and a Hard Place, would-be antiques dealers Lindsey and Gemma have one month to clear out an abandoned apartment in Venice in the hopes that they will find something worth the $10,000 that Gemma paid for the privilege. They do find antiques. They also find a vampire who has been dormant for six centuries with a stake through his heart. A lot of traditional vampire lore gets skewered in the service of fiction, but that part works pretty well.
Rand FitzWulf has a lot to learn about the 21st century and the women in it. But before he can, or if he can, settle down to life with his new blood vassal Lindsey, he has to find the vampire who ordered his staking all those centuries ago, and do unto him before Rand gets done onto again.
In this fish out of water story, Rand ends up charmed by Lindsey, and Lindsey falls in love with Rand. How much of the start of their relationship is due to Rand’s powers is an open question to the reader. And how much Rand’s love for Lindsey has its roots in her extra tasty Hh blood group (which does surprisingly exist) is an equally questionable conundrum.
But as Rand and Lindsey chase his nemesis across Europe using his vampire “spidey-senses”, the slightly lost vampire and the in way over her head modern woman become partners, friends and eventually lovers.
Lindsey always believes that her time with Rand is temporary, but when they come face to face, and fang to fang, with the original Dracula, no one expects to get out alive as Lindsey, Rand and Gemma trip over themselves trying to save each other.
It’s so crazy it just might work. But at what cost?
Escape Rating B-: Some of my rating is due to my disappointment. I just didn’t get the book or the experience I was expecting.
On the other hand, the scenes of Lindsey choking down garlic to make her blood poisonous to Rand’s enemies were absolutely priceless. It sounds awful, but the descriptions are awfully funny.
The way this story is set up is an interesting way of dealing with the vast power differential between a vampire and a human, especially a relatively young one. Lindsey starts out feeling a bit sorry for Rand, and Rand is forced to admit he needs Lindsey as his guide to the 21st century, and for that he needs her willing and not under his thrall. He can force her into doing whatever he wants, but when he does that he loses access to her knowledge of how the world works. And he needs that knowledge badly. Understanding a language, which he does by magic, is not the same as understanding the meaning behind it.
So there’s a strong feeling of Stockholm Syndrome in Rand’s love for Lindsey. And an equally strong feeling of responsibility in Lindsey’s love for Rand. He needs her and she needs to take care of him. It works for them, and it works as part of a very high-stakes road trip to Hell. But I just wasn’t totally sold on the romance. I could see them bonding, but I couldn’t see them staying bonded. Of course, things change.
Between a Vamp and a Hard Place had lots of interesting bits, and Lindsey’s and Rand’s banter is often hilarious. But this story just didn’t put the bite on my happy place the way that the Midnight Liaisons books do.
January 1, 2016
This book was one word: frothy.
Entertaining (although not for me) but light on substance.
Or reason.
Reading this book was a chore. Not cause it was badly written (the pacing was really my only problem with the writing style tbh) but because I kept coming to inconsistencies, things that didn't make sense (realistically or in context of the story), or things/events that were simply silly.
One thing I like in books is immersion. The ability a writer has to take something unimaginable and make it imaginable, to take something that would never happen in real life and make it come alive.... And yet I kept constantly coming to things that just brought me right out of the story.
So in the end, even though I liked the premise, the story just wasn't doing it for me.
I had this pretty big rant ready (I've retyped this three times now) but I've come to the realization that this book shouldn't (and hopefully wasn't meant to) be taken seriously. So I won't review it seriously. Not the way I'd like to anyway.
The characters don't act realistically (ignoring their two-dimensional characters to start with) and often come off childish or over the top, too easily ready to accept the impossible events taking place. There was little to no research or effort put into the book (don't get me started on how many times i went NOPE when someone would say something about the hero's past in the middle ages that was very not true). And the plot moved so quickly and in such outlandish ways that I can do nothing BUT not take it seriously.
If I do I'll have an aneurysm.
So despite liking the premise, I have to say this book was a bust for me. It might be entertaining for someone looking for a quick read that doesn't require a lot of thought involved but since i've never been the "no questions asked" type of girl, I'll pass.
Entertaining (although not for me) but light on substance.
Or reason.
Reading this book was a chore. Not cause it was badly written (the pacing was really my only problem with the writing style tbh) but because I kept coming to inconsistencies, things that didn't make sense (realistically or in context of the story), or things/events that were simply silly.
One thing I like in books is immersion. The ability a writer has to take something unimaginable and make it imaginable, to take something that would never happen in real life and make it come alive.... And yet I kept constantly coming to things that just brought me right out of the story.
So in the end, even though I liked the premise, the story just wasn't doing it for me.
I had this pretty big rant ready (I've retyped this three times now) but I've come to the realization that this book shouldn't (and hopefully wasn't meant to) be taken seriously. So I won't review it seriously. Not the way I'd like to anyway.
The characters don't act realistically (ignoring their two-dimensional characters to start with) and often come off childish or over the top, too easily ready to accept the impossible events taking place. There was little to no research or effort put into the book (don't get me started on how many times i went NOPE when someone would say something about the hero's past in the middle ages that was very not true). And the plot moved so quickly and in such outlandish ways that I can do nothing BUT not take it seriously.
If I do I'll have an aneurysm.
So despite liking the premise, I have to say this book was a bust for me. It might be entertaining for someone looking for a quick read that doesn't require a lot of thought involved but since i've never been the "no questions asked" type of girl, I'll pass.
July 27, 2016
Look at that cover. Just look at it. You know exactly what kind of book you're going to get with a cover like that.
This is officially my first read from Comic Con 2016! One of the many I got from the publishers as I was circling the publisher booths like a shark zeroing in on prey. This one was skinny and easy to hold in one hand, which was especially useful when I had giant bags full of other books.
I went into this knowing exactly what I was getting. What was surprising was that I actually enjoyed it! The story was a good one, enough that I had a pleasant time reading. I'd classify it as a beach read since it's light and quick. Rand's desire for revenge is actually one of the main drives of the novel, not just the blossoming romance between he and Lindsey.
Lindsey was a great protagonist too. She was feisty and sexual and consistent the whole way through. So many times authors will give us a main character who is supposed to be sarcastic and headstrong but then she's a giant wimp. Lindsey was not one of those. I had a grand old time rooting for her and Rand because they were worth rooting for, surprisingly.
Sex scenes were on point too. Not too ridiculous and not too many of them. I would have liked a little more about Lindsey introducing Rand to more modern sexual positions, but alas that thirst will go unquenched.
This is officially my first read from Comic Con 2016! One of the many I got from the publishers as I was circling the publisher booths like a shark zeroing in on prey. This one was skinny and easy to hold in one hand, which was especially useful when I had giant bags full of other books.
I went into this knowing exactly what I was getting. What was surprising was that I actually enjoyed it! The story was a good one, enough that I had a pleasant time reading. I'd classify it as a beach read since it's light and quick. Rand's desire for revenge is actually one of the main drives of the novel, not just the blossoming romance between he and Lindsey.
Lindsey was a great protagonist too. She was feisty and sexual and consistent the whole way through. So many times authors will give us a main character who is supposed to be sarcastic and headstrong but then she's a giant wimp. Lindsey was not one of those. I had a grand old time rooting for her and Rand because they were worth rooting for, surprisingly.
Sex scenes were on point too. Not too ridiculous and not too many of them. I would have liked a little more about Lindsey introducing Rand to more modern sexual positions, but alas that thirst will go unquenched.
December 26, 2015
If you are over vampires you just might get back into them with this book. I know I will be finding more books like this...romantic comedy with a paranormal twist. Rand is your typical tall, dark, sexy vampire but the way he looks to interact and communicate in the 21st century is funny. Especially the language barrier between him and Lindsey. There is laughs to be had. The way that Rand kept calling Lindsey a "wench". Then there is Lindsey's best friend, Gemma. She also brings comedic relief. I had a very enjoyable time reading this book. Because of all of the laughs and the characters I was able to get lost in this book and was speeding along reading this book.
The storyline was a good one. Very believable and plenty of action and romance. I could feel the deep connection involving Rand and Lindsey. They may have came from different centuries but they show that time does not matter when it comes to love. I will be checking out more books by this author.
The storyline was a good one. Very believable and plenty of action and romance. I could feel the deep connection involving Rand and Lindsey. They may have came from different centuries but they show that time does not matter when it comes to love. I will be checking out more books by this author.
February 9, 2016
This book hit the spot perfectly for me. I was in the mood for a good vampire book, and this was exactly what I was craving. Rather than changing up the vampire lore, this author chose to make her vampire subject to all of the weaknesses from famous books like Dracula. We had the coffins, garlic, holy water, crosses, stakes through the heart, and everything else. Authors have been trying to one-up each other by writing the most unique version of vampires (yes, I'm including the sparkly ones) that it was nice to have someone go back to the classics.
Normally, I'm not a fan of how this book ended, but this author pulled it off well and gave a very satisfying epilogue that made it work for me.
February 3, 2016
For ancient vampire with mind reading capabilities the dragon certainly was a fool.
January 19, 2020
Lindsey adalah seorang pengusaha bisnis barang-barang antik bersama temannya, Gemma. Dan saat mendapatkan berita bhw di Venice mereka akan mendapatkan barang berharga, mereka pun segera pergi kesana. Dan Lindsey tidak hanya mendapatkan barang antik, tetapi juga menemukan (sebenarnya menghidupkan kembali) seorang vampire seksi yg hidup di Abad Medieval, Rand namanya.
Kelucuan terjadi krn Rand yg "geger" budaya selalu terkagum-kagum pd kemajuan abad 21 ini. Jadi ingat para viking-nya Sandra Hill yg time travel ke masa modern. Lindsey mendapati Rand ini adalah vampire yg baik hati, sayangnya Rand punya musuh abadi yg bernama The Dragon. Walau sudah terpisah 500 thn lebih, permusuhan itu tetap awet krn Rand ini ternyata bawahan dari The Dragon yg desersi. Jadi mereka memutuskan salah satu dari mereka harus mati. Apakah Lindsey akan tinggal diam saja menyaksikan kekasihnya akan mati ini?
Saya baru pertama kali membaca novel author ini. Krn genrenya paranormal romance, saya rasa ada kemiripan dgn gaya cerita Kerrelyn Sparks dgn Love Stakes series-nya. Ada comsit dan romcom yg mewarnai novel ini. Setting Venice dan background Rand sbg warrior di abad Medieval lumayan menghibur. Juga golongan darah Lindsey AB negative yg unik dan digadang-gadang sangat langka dan lezat bagi vampire. Tentu saja dikombinasikan dgn mitos garlic dan holy water membuat lelucon vampire ini jadi tambah "garing". Overall, novel ini cukup menghibur krn ringan dan gak usah mikir berat-berat saat membacanya.
Kelucuan terjadi krn Rand yg "geger" budaya selalu terkagum-kagum pd kemajuan abad 21 ini. Jadi ingat para viking-nya Sandra Hill yg time travel ke masa modern. Lindsey mendapati Rand ini adalah vampire yg baik hati, sayangnya Rand punya musuh abadi yg bernama The Dragon. Walau sudah terpisah 500 thn lebih, permusuhan itu tetap awet krn Rand ini ternyata bawahan dari The Dragon yg desersi. Jadi mereka memutuskan salah satu dari mereka harus mati. Apakah Lindsey akan tinggal diam saja menyaksikan kekasihnya akan mati ini?
Saya baru pertama kali membaca novel author ini. Krn genrenya paranormal romance, saya rasa ada kemiripan dgn gaya cerita Kerrelyn Sparks dgn Love Stakes series-nya. Ada comsit dan romcom yg mewarnai novel ini. Setting Venice dan background Rand sbg warrior di abad Medieval lumayan menghibur. Juga golongan darah Lindsey AB negative yg unik dan digadang-gadang sangat langka dan lezat bagi vampire. Tentu saja dikombinasikan dgn mitos garlic dan holy water membuat lelucon vampire ini jadi tambah "garing". Overall, novel ini cukup menghibur krn ringan dan gak usah mikir berat-berat saat membacanya.
April 25, 2020
Fun start. Meh middle. OK ending
December 22, 2015
Are you in the mood for a fluffy paranormal romance with some humor and suspenseful elements woven in effortlessly? Between A Vamp and A Hard Place gives readers all that and more in true Jessica Sims fashion. Her writing flows seamlessly throughout each book, setting the scene and drawing the reader in with ease. She paints a picture that I can place myself in and soon I’m lost within the pages. Never too dark, her books are exactly what I gravitate toward in between books that leaving my craving the light.
In need of some good luck, estate buyer Lindsay, finds herself and her business partner in a foreign country going through some rich hoarders apartment looking for sellable items to get their fledgling business some traction. Finding a hidden basement isn’t surprising but finding a coffin with a vampire inside certainly is. Pulling out the stake brings him roaring back to life but Rand has been asleep far longer than he imagined. Hundreds of years have passed and now he needs help finding the person who imprisoned him within the coffin and the reluctant Lindsay will have to do. Leading the old fashioned vampire through Europe looking for his maker isn’t what Lindsey should be doing but the hot vamp certainly has a way with convincing her to go against her instincts.
Even though this wasn’t a hard hitting pararom there wasn’t a dull moment as Rand and Lindsay traipsed around Europe searching for his band of brothers and their maker. On the way they learned to effectively communicate and overcome Rand’s overbearing, out-dated ways. Being such an old vampire, and having been asleep for so long, Rand had to catch up in regards to conversation and treatment of females. Lindsay, though exasperated at times, made sure to put him in his place each time he stepped out of bounds.
As weird as this may sound, I loved how Sims made the story line more believable than other paranormal romances. I can’t really go into details since that may give away some things but Rand’s ability to do a lot of things was tied to the fact that his maker had already learned them, therefore making Rand (and his brothers) able to do them as well since it filtered down. When situations changed so did Rand’s ability to do them which was an awesome and brilliant addition to a genre where little surprises me these days.
Between A Vamp and A Hard Place is a light paranormal romance with hints of heat and suspense that readers across the genre will enjoy as much as I did!
I give Between A Vamp and A Hard Place by Jessica Sims 4 stars!
In need of some good luck, estate buyer Lindsay, finds herself and her business partner in a foreign country going through some rich hoarders apartment looking for sellable items to get their fledgling business some traction. Finding a hidden basement isn’t surprising but finding a coffin with a vampire inside certainly is. Pulling out the stake brings him roaring back to life but Rand has been asleep far longer than he imagined. Hundreds of years have passed and now he needs help finding the person who imprisoned him within the coffin and the reluctant Lindsay will have to do. Leading the old fashioned vampire through Europe looking for his maker isn’t what Lindsey should be doing but the hot vamp certainly has a way with convincing her to go against her instincts.
Even though this wasn’t a hard hitting pararom there wasn’t a dull moment as Rand and Lindsay traipsed around Europe searching for his band of brothers and their maker. On the way they learned to effectively communicate and overcome Rand’s overbearing, out-dated ways. Being such an old vampire, and having been asleep for so long, Rand had to catch up in regards to conversation and treatment of females. Lindsay, though exasperated at times, made sure to put him in his place each time he stepped out of bounds.
As weird as this may sound, I loved how Sims made the story line more believable than other paranormal romances. I can’t really go into details since that may give away some things but Rand’s ability to do a lot of things was tied to the fact that his maker had already learned them, therefore making Rand (and his brothers) able to do them as well since it filtered down. When situations changed so did Rand’s ability to do them which was an awesome and brilliant addition to a genre where little surprises me these days.
Between A Vamp and A Hard Place is a light paranormal romance with hints of heat and suspense that readers across the genre will enjoy as much as I did!
I give Between A Vamp and A Hard Place by Jessica Sims 4 stars!
January 1, 2016
This review was originally posted at The Book Nympho
Disclaimer from Jessica Sims
The book says it is #5 in the Midnight Liaisons series. It is not! This book completely stands alone and is not even in the same 'universe'. The vampires in that series are not the vampires in this series.
When I first heard about Between a Vamp and a Hard Place I thought it was going to be part of the Midnight Liaisons series. The cover and title fit with the others in the series. But in the end, I choose to read it because I enjoy Jessica Sims and it didn't matter if it was part of the series or not. Because, a Jessica Sims novel always brings fun and sexy time.
Lindsey and her BFF, Gemma take a trip across the pond from Nebraska to Venice to clean out an apartment in hopes of finding treasures to sell in order to save their business. But for Lindsey the biggest find came in the form of the sexy vamp named, Rand. Reading about an antique dealer finding a 600-year-old vampire is just too good!
I loved seeing Sims use some of the "old" vampire myths in Between a Vamp and a Hard Place, like garlic, holy water, having to be invited in (but every time they enter a place, even a place they've entered before?) and not being able to cross running water (I've not seen that one in a long time and not in a romance book).
While Lindsey tries to help Rand find another vampire to unload him on so she can get back to work helping Gemma, she learns that handing the sexy vamp over to someone else won't be that easy.
Disclaimer from Jessica Sims
The book says it is #5 in the Midnight Liaisons series. It is not! This book completely stands alone and is not even in the same 'universe'. The vampires in that series are not the vampires in this series.
When I first heard about Between a Vamp and a Hard Place I thought it was going to be part of the Midnight Liaisons series. The cover and title fit with the others in the series. But in the end, I choose to read it because I enjoy Jessica Sims and it didn't matter if it was part of the series or not. Because, a Jessica Sims novel always brings fun and sexy time.
Lindsey and her BFF, Gemma take a trip across the pond from Nebraska to Venice to clean out an apartment in hopes of finding treasures to sell in order to save their business. But for Lindsey the biggest find came in the form of the sexy vamp named, Rand. Reading about an antique dealer finding a 600-year-old vampire is just too good!
I loved seeing Sims use some of the "old" vampire myths in Between a Vamp and a Hard Place, like garlic, holy water, having to be invited in (but every time they enter a place, even a place they've entered before?) and not being able to cross running water (I've not seen that one in a long time and not in a romance book).
While Lindsey tries to help Rand find another vampire to unload him on so she can get back to work helping Gemma, she learns that handing the sexy vamp over to someone else won't be that easy.
June 2, 2016
I tried but I couldn't get into this. I managed to get 30% of the way through but I just wasn't enjoying it. Rand is just so manipulative- if he can't command Lindsey to do what he wants he guilts her into doing it. He doesn't seem to care that she has her own life, he appears drinks her blood and then pressures her to abandon the estate- the whole reason she's in Venice- and arrange, accompany him and finance his little trip to Rome. And that's when he even asks, a lot of the time Rand just physically drags her about.
October 8, 2022
So this was just okay. Lindsey bothered me at times with her decisions and Rand made me cringe a lot. The conflict in the book kind of bored me just because it didn’t flow well. Also did not like the switch in the language at the end.
February 16, 2018
This book is listed as the 5th in the midnight liaison series but actually has nothing to with that world other then it has a vampire. Even though I missed the characters from rest of the series I have to admit this is probably the best executed book of the series. It’s often frustrating because the author takes previously used plot points and actually makes them seem plausible this time around. She really plays up that Rand the vampire has been asleep for 600 years and waking up in the modern world is a big adjustment and plot point. However in a previous book Hugh who was literally from the ice age is barely phased? Anyways fun, well written, not creepy vampire paranormal romance.
January 21, 2016
3.5
Okay, so there’s a few things that need to be cleared up first. Between A Vamp And A Hard Place is not part of the Midnight Liaisons series, this is a standalone book that has completely different characters and world building. If you’re a fan of the Midnight Liaisons series, try to go into this book with an open mind because, while it’s PNR, it’s very different. Also, it should be noted that Rand is not a billionaire like it says in the blurb.
What’s an antiques dealer to do when she inadvertently releases a vampire from his coffin?
Here’s what’s going on: When Lindsey’s business partner and best friend throws caution to the wind and purchases an estate in Venice, Lindsey never expected to find a secret room containing a coffin with a vampire inside of it. Rand has been a vampire since the crusades, now he’s awoke in a new time and place to find himself drawn to the woman who freed him. As they travel throughout Europe searching for his vampire brothers, they find themselves forming an unexpected bond. Although when Rand’s sire, the Dragon, decides he’s had enough of Rand playing the part of a good vampire, he takes action. Now Rand must decide if he wants to stay with Lindsey or free himself—and the world—from the Dragon.
So, I’m a bit on the fence about this one. I enjoyed it, but parts of the plot and the actions of the characters, especially Lindsey and her friend Gemma, had me scratching my head.
I had a bit of trouble with Lindsey. I liked her but there was also part of her that just bothered the hob nobs out of me. I liked the fact that she deals with antiques. I liked her willingness to help Rand. Although she was kind of a control freak and there were times, especially towards the end, that Lindsey suddenly became this character that was too stupid to live. She thought she and Gemma could vanquish a highly power vampire on their own. I mean, seriously?!?!? When that happens, you can’t help but to root for the evil vampire.
Rand was very likable. He was a crusader-turned-vampire-warlord yet he had a conscience, which became a problem with his sire. He was very much a fish-out-of-water and it was interesting watching him try to figure out the present day. He was also willing to die to rid the world of the Dragon. As this book was told from Lindsey’s POV, I was a little disappointed that I didn’t get to see what was going on in Rand’s head.
The chemistry between Rand and Lindsey wasn’t entirely believable and I had to wonder if Rand would have become attached to anybody that had released him from his coffin. And while there was attraction, the chemistry was lacking.
The plot started a bit slow and seemed a little off kilter at times. I think it had to do with the scene changes not going smoothly. One minute it felt like I was reading a paranormal suspense, the next it was like the book suddenly turned into erotica before switching back over to a paranormal read. This book almost felt like she was combining her writing style as Jessica Clare with her writing style as Jessica Sims. It was a little clumsy—and I would have liked to have seen it smoothed out a bit—but in the end it worked.
There is a mystery woven in the book that deals with the identity of the ‘Dragon’ and, honestly, I had it figured out from the moment the ‘Dragon’ was mentioned on page 36 yet I continued to read to see the outcome—even if it did fall a bit flat for me.
The world building in this one was great. Sims takes well-known vampire lore, adds to it, and makes it her own. And she makes it believable. The only thing that I questioned was Rand’s reaction.
Overall, this one wasn’t a bad read. It was occasionally slow in spots, a tad bit off kilter, slightly predictable, and Lindsey could have made smarter decisions but I continued to read it.
Okay, so there’s a few things that need to be cleared up first. Between A Vamp And A Hard Place is not part of the Midnight Liaisons series, this is a standalone book that has completely different characters and world building. If you’re a fan of the Midnight Liaisons series, try to go into this book with an open mind because, while it’s PNR, it’s very different. Also, it should be noted that Rand is not a billionaire like it says in the blurb.
What’s an antiques dealer to do when she inadvertently releases a vampire from his coffin?
Here’s what’s going on: When Lindsey’s business partner and best friend throws caution to the wind and purchases an estate in Venice, Lindsey never expected to find a secret room containing a coffin with a vampire inside of it. Rand has been a vampire since the crusades, now he’s awoke in a new time and place to find himself drawn to the woman who freed him. As they travel throughout Europe searching for his vampire brothers, they find themselves forming an unexpected bond. Although when Rand’s sire, the Dragon, decides he’s had enough of Rand playing the part of a good vampire, he takes action. Now Rand must decide if he wants to stay with Lindsey or free himself—and the world—from the Dragon.
So, I’m a bit on the fence about this one. I enjoyed it, but parts of the plot and the actions of the characters, especially Lindsey and her friend Gemma, had me scratching my head.
I had a bit of trouble with Lindsey. I liked her but there was also part of her that just bothered the hob nobs out of me. I liked the fact that she deals with antiques. I liked her willingness to help Rand. Although she was kind of a control freak and there were times, especially towards the end, that Lindsey suddenly became this character that was too stupid to live. She thought she and Gemma could vanquish a highly power vampire on their own. I mean, seriously?!?!? When that happens, you can’t help but to root for the evil vampire.
Rand was very likable. He was a crusader-turned-vampire-warlord yet he had a conscience, which became a problem with his sire. He was very much a fish-out-of-water and it was interesting watching him try to figure out the present day. He was also willing to die to rid the world of the Dragon. As this book was told from Lindsey’s POV, I was a little disappointed that I didn’t get to see what was going on in Rand’s head.
The chemistry between Rand and Lindsey wasn’t entirely believable and I had to wonder if Rand would have become attached to anybody that had released him from his coffin. And while there was attraction, the chemistry was lacking.
The plot started a bit slow and seemed a little off kilter at times. I think it had to do with the scene changes not going smoothly. One minute it felt like I was reading a paranormal suspense, the next it was like the book suddenly turned into erotica before switching back over to a paranormal read. This book almost felt like she was combining her writing style as Jessica Clare with her writing style as Jessica Sims. It was a little clumsy—and I would have liked to have seen it smoothed out a bit—but in the end it worked.
There is a mystery woven in the book that deals with the identity of the ‘Dragon’ and, honestly, I had it figured out from the moment the ‘Dragon’ was mentioned on page 36 yet I continued to read to see the outcome—even if it did fall a bit flat for me.
The world building in this one was great. Sims takes well-known vampire lore, adds to it, and makes it her own. And she makes it believable. The only thing that I questioned was Rand’s reaction.
Overall, this one wasn’t a bad read. It was occasionally slow in spots, a tad bit off kilter, slightly predictable, and Lindsey could have made smarter decisions but I continued to read it.
January 9, 2016
This review was originally posted on Backchatting Books
Lindsay and her BFF Gemma are small time estate dealers who hope to make a killing on an estate in Venice (Italy, not Florida). They get more than they bargain for when Lindsay discovers a staked vampire, Rand, inside a secret room. She accidentally removes his stake and he comes to life or rather death. He wants to use her as his personal chew toy and find out why his friends failed to rescue him hundreds of years ago. Lindsay agrees because he's hot and completely incapable of coping with the modern world.
Lindsay and her BFF Gemma are small time estate dealers who hope to make a killing on an estate in Venice (Italy, not Florida). They get more than they bargain for when Lindsay discovers a staked vampire, Rand, inside a secret room. She accidentally removes his stake and he comes to life or rather death. He wants to use her as his personal chew toy and find out why his friends failed to rescue him hundreds of years ago. Lindsay agrees because he's hot and completely incapable of coping with the modern world.
The not so good bits
Sims repeatedly broke verisimilitude to the point that I couldn't get lost in the tale. For example, we are told that Lindsay and her pal Gemma are broke because they spent all their savings on an estate yet Gemma hands Lindsay a wad of cash. They don't have enough money for a hotel room but Lindsay somehow has enough for a hotel room with Rand, train tickets, car hire etc. Rand is unable to cross water without an invitation yet he roams around Venice hunting down victims without any dramas. Gemma and Lindsay accept the existence of vampires way too quickly and are then so comfortable with a random stranger (who could drain them) sitting in their bedroom that they go to sleep. There are lots more of these kinds of things but I think you get the idea.
It is jolly hard to write a historical character effectively and even harder to them in a contemporary setting as you have to know exactly what they would or wouldn't see as odd. I don't think Sims nailed this, but, to be fair, this isn't the kind of book where historical accuracy is paramount. She had characters from three different ethnic backgrounds and three different time periods in six different locations which made things challenging enough. I wanted to know a little more about Rand's life as a vampire before being staked and how Lindsay, a small estate sale dealer with a rough childhood, managed to become an expert on rare Chinese Anhua pottery. It would have even been nice to know why Rand was staked rather than being decapitated and how he ended up in the secret room.
If the romance had been more satisfying then these things wouldn't have been so irritating but I had some issues there too. Rand makes it clear at the beginning of the novel that the lust Lindsay feels for him is purely her body reacting to his vampiric nature - apparently he becomes more attractive to potential prey when he is hungry. As he was nearly always hungry, I didn't know whether Lindsay had any genuine feelings for the guy or if she was a victim. She definitely changed her mind about letting Rand feed off her and even got jealous of him using others. He seemed more fixated on the quality of Lindsay's blood than any of her other qualities and I got the sense that he was just protecting his gourmet food source.
Reminded me of...
Love at Stake series by Kerrelyn Sparks - both were often pavlova light but I preferred Sparks' characterisation.
Accidentally Yours series by Mimi Jean Pamfiloff - same breezy style with unbelievable coincidence after coincidence but Pamfiloff's humour hit the mark more consistently.
Verdict
I really wanted to like this novel because I enjoyed Sims' other work but it just didn't work for me. If the stuff I have mentioned doesn't bother you then it is worthwhile giving it a shot, otherwise, stick with her Midnight Liaisons series which is much more polished.
March 25, 2016
Delightful and witty. Jessica Sims is your next favorite author. This is my second book by Jessica Sims and remembering how much I enjoyed the last book, I was excited to receive a copy of this book. As I read, I saw this as the next Tina Fey/Amy Poehler movie. Someone get on that, please.
Lindsey and Gemma have been best friends since they met in the State orphanage when they were little and have grown up to be closer than sisters. They own a business that sells vintage treasures online and are working hard to open a storefront. Gemma lands an opportunity to sell an entire estate and she jumps on it…with all of their capital. This estate sale will now make or break their fledgling business. Oh, and did she forget to mention that the estate was a condo in Venice?
With no choice, Lindsey and Gemma head over to Italy only to find that the condo is a hoarder’s dream world and no one has been in the place for years. With only a month to go through hundreds of boxes and hopefully find some treasure among all the junk, Gemma and Lindsey need to work round the clock and dig it. Luck might just be on their side when Lindsey stumbles upon a hidden basement filled with rare collectibles. She also stumbles upon a large crate located in the very back. A crate which contains a coffin…a coffin which is actually occupied.
The gorgeous body inside looks pretty good for an old corpse and she’s guessing the giant wooden stick popping out of his chest like a done Thanksgiving turkey might have had something to do with his death. No matter what possessed Lindsey to yank it out, that decision becomes life changing when removing the stake awakens the vampire from his 600 year hibernation. Now Lindsey feels responsible for Rand and agrees to help him find his vampire buddies.
Things don’t go exactly as planned, especially when they realize that one of those old “friends” was probably responsible for slamming that stake in Rand’s chest to begin with. Will Rand finally get some answers or will he simply be bringing Lindsey like a housewarming present into the home of an angry vampire?
THOUGHTS:
I really enjoyed Jessica’s fun and quirky writing. Added to the snarky, witty banter between these sisters by love is the whole fish out of water story of Rand who was staked and put into a vampire hibernation over 600 years ago. She could have done even more with that since nothing was the same as when he went to sleep and Rand should have been a little more freaked out by everything. In fact, one of Rand’s friends had more of a problem with the current wardrobe choices than Rand did and his friend has been around and awake to see the changes in the world.
While reading the story, Tina Fey and Amy Poehler took on the characters of Lindsey and Gemma in my brain and they just fit perfectly. I want to see this as their next movie.
It is noted as part of the Midnight Liaison series but it didn’t appear to have anything to do with the dating service and there were no “guest” appearances from other characters in the series. I have the first three books in this series and one or two of the novellas. I really have to make some time to squeeze these in. This book was an easy read and I read the entire book in a day.
If you haven’t read a Jessica Sims (a/k/a Jessica Clare) story, you should definitely give this one a try.
Received an ARC from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
Lindsey and Gemma have been best friends since they met in the State orphanage when they were little and have grown up to be closer than sisters. They own a business that sells vintage treasures online and are working hard to open a storefront. Gemma lands an opportunity to sell an entire estate and she jumps on it…with all of their capital. This estate sale will now make or break their fledgling business. Oh, and did she forget to mention that the estate was a condo in Venice?
With no choice, Lindsey and Gemma head over to Italy only to find that the condo is a hoarder’s dream world and no one has been in the place for years. With only a month to go through hundreds of boxes and hopefully find some treasure among all the junk, Gemma and Lindsey need to work round the clock and dig it. Luck might just be on their side when Lindsey stumbles upon a hidden basement filled with rare collectibles. She also stumbles upon a large crate located in the very back. A crate which contains a coffin…a coffin which is actually occupied.
The gorgeous body inside looks pretty good for an old corpse and she’s guessing the giant wooden stick popping out of his chest like a done Thanksgiving turkey might have had something to do with his death. No matter what possessed Lindsey to yank it out, that decision becomes life changing when removing the stake awakens the vampire from his 600 year hibernation. Now Lindsey feels responsible for Rand and agrees to help him find his vampire buddies.
Things don’t go exactly as planned, especially when they realize that one of those old “friends” was probably responsible for slamming that stake in Rand’s chest to begin with. Will Rand finally get some answers or will he simply be bringing Lindsey like a housewarming present into the home of an angry vampire?
THOUGHTS:
I really enjoyed Jessica’s fun and quirky writing. Added to the snarky, witty banter between these sisters by love is the whole fish out of water story of Rand who was staked and put into a vampire hibernation over 600 years ago. She could have done even more with that since nothing was the same as when he went to sleep and Rand should have been a little more freaked out by everything. In fact, one of Rand’s friends had more of a problem with the current wardrobe choices than Rand did and his friend has been around and awake to see the changes in the world.
While reading the story, Tina Fey and Amy Poehler took on the characters of Lindsey and Gemma in my brain and they just fit perfectly. I want to see this as their next movie.
It is noted as part of the Midnight Liaison series but it didn’t appear to have anything to do with the dating service and there were no “guest” appearances from other characters in the series. I have the first three books in this series and one or two of the novellas. I really have to make some time to squeeze these in. This book was an easy read and I read the entire book in a day.
If you haven’t read a Jessica Sims (a/k/a Jessica Clare) story, you should definitely give this one a try.
Received an ARC from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
January 29, 2016
Original Post: http://fangswandsandfairydust.com/201...
Fangs-Down Winner
Okay, how did I not know that Jessica Sims = Jessica Clare = Jessica Myles? I've enjoyed most of the Billionaires titles by Jessica Clare, and I enjoyed this story as well despite a few funky word choices or pronunciation issues.
The "person out of time" theme here; with a vampire waking up 600 years after being disabled, but not killed, is amusing and neither over done nor overlooked. I mean, "Wow! Cars, TVs and computers!" but it takes longer for the character to accept that the common folk and women are no longer slaves.
I enjoyed the friendship and the levels of love, tolerance and introspection between the two friends, Gemma and Lindsey is heartwarming; especially Gemma's tolerance for Lindsey's bossiness. Gemma either acts the bimbo or is truly not too bright in some ways, but her loyalty to a friend who treats her like an untrustworthy assistant is saintlike. And, Lindsey's coming to see this in the mirror provided by Rand's anachronistic character is great.
Lindsey's knowledge and education seemed unbelievable when I considered her youth and not seeming to have the kind of education or experience required to know the difference between different styles of obscure pottery. She grew up in the foster care system in Nebraska; where did she get her appraisal and identification information?
Rand's accent, as narrated is hard to figure out. Clare/Myles/Sims explains it via the crusades but, still for a man who traveled a lot and ended up in the UK it's pretty heavy. Clare/Myles/Sims also handles the first person narration — it's not quite immediate present tense, but she stays firmly in the character. I didn't feel like I am watching the action via a head cam.
This is an enjoyable novel; part of a series but it felt fine as a stand-alone too. I think it is great for a vacation read, a plane or road trip, or when you want something with a great balance of light, humor, sexy and action. The ending is quite different — a new take on vampires I had not previously encountered.
It gets a solid thumbs up, or would that be "a fangs down winner?"
Fangs-Down Winner
Okay, how did I not know that Jessica Sims = Jessica Clare = Jessica Myles? I've enjoyed most of the Billionaires titles by Jessica Clare, and I enjoyed this story as well despite a few funky word choices or pronunciation issues.
The "person out of time" theme here; with a vampire waking up 600 years after being disabled, but not killed, is amusing and neither over done nor overlooked. I mean, "Wow! Cars, TVs and computers!" but it takes longer for the character to accept that the common folk and women are no longer slaves.
I enjoyed the friendship and the levels of love, tolerance and introspection between the two friends, Gemma and Lindsey is heartwarming; especially Gemma's tolerance for Lindsey's bossiness. Gemma either acts the bimbo or is truly not too bright in some ways, but her loyalty to a friend who treats her like an untrustworthy assistant is saintlike. And, Lindsey's coming to see this in the mirror provided by Rand's anachronistic character is great.
Lindsey's knowledge and education seemed unbelievable when I considered her youth and not seeming to have the kind of education or experience required to know the difference between different styles of obscure pottery. She grew up in the foster care system in Nebraska; where did she get her appraisal and identification information?
Rand's accent, as narrated is hard to figure out. Clare/Myles/Sims explains it via the crusades but, still for a man who traveled a lot and ended up in the UK it's pretty heavy. Clare/Myles/Sims also handles the first person narration — it's not quite immediate present tense, but she stays firmly in the character. I didn't feel like I am watching the action via a head cam.
This is an enjoyable novel; part of a series but it felt fine as a stand-alone too. I think it is great for a vacation read, a plane or road trip, or when you want something with a great balance of light, humor, sexy and action. The ending is quite different — a new take on vampires I had not previously encountered.
It gets a solid thumbs up, or would that be "a fangs down winner?"
December 30, 2015
Let me start this by saying I'm a fan of this series because it's the right kind of fun and light paranormal romance that I used to love reading about. This particular book though, was probably my least favorite in the series. That's not to say it wasn't entertaining to read, but I did find myself a bit uninterested and skimming parts of it.
The premise of the story with 2 girls traveling to Venice to spend a month going through the antiques in an apartment so they can try and sell them and instead finding a coffin with a 600 year old sleeping vampire was a lot of fun. As a matter of fact, when I started this book I thought I would definitely be enjoying it a lot!
But I think for me the characters didn't quite get me excited. This vampire that has been sleeping for centuries and now has to discover what electricity is, or how to use a cellphone, I was expecting a "KNIGHT IN SHINING ARMOR" and that he was not. Our heroine, as much as she wants to come across as independent and kick ass, continues having all these reservations about the feeding and biting that at one point I didn't understand anymore.
Nevertheless, the embark in this quest to find out who staked him and wants him dead now and their bond is a cute progress to the story. While this was fun to read, I feel it will be one of those stories I struggle to remember later one because not much about it stood out. The humor was still there, so if you want a fun distraction then give this a go! I think this series is perfect for fans of Katie MacAlister dragon books, and especially this one as it finds our main characters traveling through Europe.
*ARC provided by publisher
Reviewed by Francesca
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January 3, 2016
Between a Vamp and a Hard Place is Jessica Sims newest PNR novel. Meet control freak and antiques hunter/dealer Lindsey Hughes who’s hit a bit of a dry spell in her antiques dealing. Her longtime friend and business partner makes a deal with slimy friend to clean out an old estate in Venice, Italy for $10,000. Lindsey thinks this is the biggest mistake but reluctantly goes along with her friend seeing she’s spent their entire savings on this shady opportunity. They are given 1 month and allowed to keep/sell anything they find. While rummaging through the junk, they stumble across a hidden storage area with untold treasures including a coffin with a vampire. The two woman freak out thinking it contains a dead body but when Lindsey pries the lid off and sees a sexy dead man with a stake, like any sane person, she pulls it out and surprise, he opens his eyes and sucks her blood until she passes out. After she comes to, the vamp introduces himself as a holy crusader assassin from 600 years ago who was ambushed while having an orgy and has no idea what happened until he woke up when Lindsey pulled the stake out. Farfetched? ……. You bet! And this is how the entire book continues on. Lindsey goes from being a very controlling, horrible friend/business partner to a total doormat. Rand is they typical alpha male vamp who is even more controlling then Lindsey. He has all the classic vampire drawbacks like needing to be invited in to a home, mind control, holy water affects him and so on. He’s also a stranger in a strange land and takes Lindsey as his “blood vessel” and personal assistant while he tries to discover what happened to him and his fellow vamp brothers. The beginning was fine but after about 30% I lost interest. I ended up honestly hating the characters and could care less what happened to them. Think 2 very controlling users fall in love with one being a classic vamp on a revenge mission in modern day Venice and the other either being mind-controlled and/or emotionally manipulated to assist. Over it!
February 9, 2016
Review courtesy of All Things Urban Fantasy.
While it didn't live up completely to my expectations of a Sims book, BETWEEN A VAMP AND A HARD PLACE was an amusing romp through Europe with a modern-day heroine and a very old-fashioned hero. Obviously, conflicts abounded and BETWEEN A VAMP AND A HARD PLACE managed to keep my attention with one thing after another!
One of my issues with the book is that some of the plot elements were a little ridiculous, in my opinion. For example, Lindsey of course had the best smelling and tasting blood of any human out there. Obviously. Plus, Rand's creator - over-the-top much? Lindsey and Gemma's discovery of an old scroll and then not translating it correctly was a new play on the common miscommunication trope, but since I absolutely hate that trope, the conflict that ensued as a result made me roll my eyes a bit.
While I did have some issues with the book, I also really enjoyed some aspects of it. For example, the friendship between Lindsey and her best friend Gemma was great. I always appreciate a good female friendship, especially one that doesn't revolve around the man. Lindsey and Gemma had their own issues, and the growth of their relationship was almost as satisfying as the relationship between Lindsey and Rand (if not more so, since it had a history, whereas the relationship between Lindsey and Rand has less than a month to develop).
All in all, BETWEEN A VAMP AND A HARD PLACE was no Midnight Liaisons. But, with a plucky heroine, a handsome alpha male, and the sparks between them, it is certainly a perfectly satisfying paranormal romance. Read this one if you're dreaming of an extended European vacation, if you're looking for a little hot action between two strong characters or you're craving a sweet, happy ending.
Sexual content: Sex scenes
While it didn't live up completely to my expectations of a Sims book, BETWEEN A VAMP AND A HARD PLACE was an amusing romp through Europe with a modern-day heroine and a very old-fashioned hero. Obviously, conflicts abounded and BETWEEN A VAMP AND A HARD PLACE managed to keep my attention with one thing after another!
One of my issues with the book is that some of the plot elements were a little ridiculous, in my opinion. For example, Lindsey of course had the best smelling and tasting blood of any human out there. Obviously. Plus, Rand's creator - over-the-top much? Lindsey and Gemma's discovery of an old scroll and then not translating it correctly was a new play on the common miscommunication trope, but since I absolutely hate that trope, the conflict that ensued as a result made me roll my eyes a bit.
While I did have some issues with the book, I also really enjoyed some aspects of it. For example, the friendship between Lindsey and her best friend Gemma was great. I always appreciate a good female friendship, especially one that doesn't revolve around the man. Lindsey and Gemma had their own issues, and the growth of their relationship was almost as satisfying as the relationship between Lindsey and Rand (if not more so, since it had a history, whereas the relationship between Lindsey and Rand has less than a month to develop).
All in all, BETWEEN A VAMP AND A HARD PLACE was no Midnight Liaisons. But, with a plucky heroine, a handsome alpha male, and the sparks between them, it is certainly a perfectly satisfying paranormal romance. Read this one if you're dreaming of an extended European vacation, if you're looking for a little hot action between two strong characters or you're craving a sweet, happy ending.
Sexual content: Sex scenes
December 4, 2015
Digging through a hoarder’s trove in Venice, Lindsey Hughes discovers a strange coffin with an even stranger inhabitant in this exciting paranormal romance. Well, first let me tell you that this is the first book, that I have read in this series and while it was not what I was expecting because of some very interesting and different elements, I was completely caught up the story as the author employed a mixture of romance, danger and humor to create a fascinating vampire tale and I can’t wait to read more books in this intriguing paranormal world.
“Copyright Night Owl Reviews”©
See my full review at:
https://www.nightowlreviews.com/v5/Re...
“Copyright Night Owl Reviews”©
See my full review at:
https://www.nightowlreviews.com/v5/Re...
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