One Bite With a Stranger by Christine Warren

I first came across Ms. Warren a year or so ago when I read her first print book about the Others. I remember reading it and thinking I'd definitely missed something. Found out later that she'd written 6 books for Ellora's Cave that introduced the Others and that I HAD missed something. One Bite With a Stranger is Book 1. Here's the back blurb:

When Regina's friends insist on setting her up on a "Fantasy Fix" to help her get over her cheating ex, she dreams up some kinky out-of-this-world encounters that they could never possibly bring to life. But the next thing Regina knows, her friends have her laced into a shiny black corset, tight leather pants, and a sexy pair of stilletos. It's time for some downtown vampire-fantasy fun...

The Vampire Ball in Manhattan's East Village isn't really Dmitri Vidame's idea of a good time, but as a member of the Council that governs The Others, he has to keep an eye on all the young vamps who prey on the pretenders. After he feasts his dark eyes on fiery Regina at the bar, he knows that he must have her. But for the first time Dmitri meets a woman who is more than a match for his indomitable will. And he may be the fantasy Regina hoped for..until she-and her feisty friends-discover her sexy new lover's bloodsucking secret...


A couple of things...first of all, I really do like this world that Ms. Warren has created. Otherworldly creatures surviving side by side with humans. How fun is that? And the fact that she can write a smokin' hot love scene isn't anything to sneeze at. One of the hottest scenes I've ever read is from her book The Demon You Know. The office scene? Youch! Burns to even think about it. :~)

But that's not my focus tonight. Tonight I'm going to talk about One Bite With a Stranger. There are both good and bad things to talk about, so I'm going to do my favorite: a good & bad list for your enjoyment. :)


The Bad:


There are a couple of things that bugged me about this story. From the very beginning, she has never really explored how the Others came into being. Have they always been around? Was it some sort of genetic experimenting? Nothing. I'm more than happy to make up my own story on that, but I would really love it if she would really delve into the history, especially on how the Council started and the history of the changelings in particular.

Also, because this story started out as erotica, it's not fleshed out as a true real romance. They jump into the sack basically immediately and though the sex is very hot, it's also very superficial (in the beginning anyway). I understand what she was trying to accomplish, but the relationship between the two of them never really seemed 100% fleshed out. They fell in love, but it seemed extremely rushed.

Regina accepted the fact that her lover is a vampire WAY too easily. She basically shrugged, said okay and asked if he'd change her too. I dunno about you, but if it were me? I'd have freaked out and run away.


Ava...She's always come across as an obnoxious control freak. Her book comes out shortly and I will read it. I'm hoping that her psyche will be delved into a bit more because she's more of a (word rhymes with witch). :)


The Good:


Dmitri...yum. A dark, built, billionaire? Oh yeah. :) I wouldn't turn him down, even if he did insist on biting me every time we did the nasty. LOL!

Regina-Though she accepted his vampirism way too easily, she was a pretty cool heroine. She didn't let him walk all over her. She told him to suck it when he went a bit too cave man on her. She just needed a bit more backbone when it came to her friends. However, by the end of the book, she did. :)

The sex. Again, smoking hot. Regina has a fantasy that Dmitri is more than willing to fulfil. Wow. Smokin'! :)


So, all in all, I really did enjoy this book. It had its faults, but was still a highly enjoyable read.



My Rating: B-