Book 20, 2023

[chez_jae]

Lady & the Vamp by Michelle Rowen

My rating: 4 of 5 stars



After finishing one book last night, I picked up the book I'd been hauling to work and back and finished it today. It was Lady & the Vamp by Michelle Rowen, and it's the third book in the "Immortality Bites" series of paranormal romance/mysteries. This book followed Jane Parker, mercenary for hire, and Michael Quinn, newly-turned vampire.

Janie regrets that she ever signed on to work as a contract merc, but there's no getting out of it. When the Boss sends her on a mission to recover an object known as the Eye, he threatens to kill Jane's sister if she fails. Jane has only to locate the vampire who has a map to the treasure, kill him, and retrieve the object. Simple, right? Unfortunately, Jane recognizes this particular vampire; she used to crush on him when she was a girl. Quinn is still adjusting to his new life as a vampire. Having been a vampire hunter as a mortal, he still considers himself a monster. However, if he can get his hands on the Eye, which is rumored to grant one wish each millennium, he can wish himself human again. It should be easy, until he runs afoul of Janie Parker. Jane is after the same object, and Quinn isn't so sure she won't kill him to get it. Janie and Quinn reluctantly agree to work together to find the Eye, both knowing that once they locate it, all bets are off.

A charming story for the most part, with some violence and anxiety thrown in to prevent it from being a fluff fest. The action took place over only a couple days, making the inevitable love fest a tad trite, but the main characters did know one another from earlier, simpler times. Some things were utterly predictable, but others caught me by surprise.

Favorite lines:
♦ She always knew a place that listed 'burial options' on the job application form had a few potential human resource issues.
♦ "Is somebody thinking about going out as Harry Potter next Halloween?"
♦ There was never any time for tears. It just made everything blurry.
♦ "I only fight to the death over mint collectibles. You should see some of the Star Wars figures I have in storage. People have been hospitalized trying to keep me from a perfect boxed Boba Fett."
♦ "Do I sound calm? Obviously the screaming is only going on inside of my head."
♦ "I plan to wish for omnipotence." // She eyed him sideways. "You can get a prescription from your doctor if that's a problem for you." // "Omnipotence."

I'd give this 3 1/2 stars if halfsies were allowed. Hm. I guess I'll give it a four.