How to Marry a Millionaire Vampire (Avon Romance) [Mass Market Paperback]

Wow, and I do mean WOW!! Tired rehashed plot? Nope, not here. Fresh and original? Absolutely. First off, it's a comedy vamp romance, and yes, there are plenty of those to be had these days, but again, the humor and situations leading to it are fun and a totally new experience in Spark's version. Let's face it, fellow authors and readers, with the vast majority of romance talent out there, there's more than enough room in the vamp subgenre to welcome this new series into the ever growing vamp fold.

Roman Dragonesti is a vamp on the run--for a dentist! Through a freak accident, and a little snafu of misplaced fang action, he's lost one of his sharp eating utensils. He must find a dentist he can coerce into fixing his problem, or forever bo faced with the stigma of single fanged eating for eternity. Shanna Whelan is on the run too, from hired thugs threatening to snuff her life because of murders she witnessed. Due to the murders, her tenuous career as a dentist is rockier than ever, for she cannot abide the sight of blood. When Roman rescues her from an assassination attempt, she suddenly has a gorgeous new savior--one she finds out all too soon is not quite as perfect as she hoped. With problems no girl should have to face in a relationship, will Shanna overcome her fear of blood and learn to see there's more to life than a "normal" existence? Roman certainly hopes so. Shanna has brought smiles and warmth into a life he thought long dead. He means to have her for his own and he's willing to make some sacrifices.

Okay, so this isn't some supercharged, superhero-driven vamp rollarcoaster ride in tight black leather and spandex. Too that, I say good! What we have here are some awesome characters from Scottish vampire security guards (complete with kilts) to a plethora of amusing vamp "harem" girls ready to get hot and heavy with the hero and heroine. Shanna is a super heroine, torn by her determination to live, despite being marked for death and attracted like nobody's business to Roman. Her reactions to his vamp culture are hilarious and fun to read. Roman is a tortured hero, but what vamp that survives hundreds of years and many gruesome atrocities wouldn't be? He is honorable, good and a true leader to his fellow vampires, one that cares. Sparks has done a superb job of creating yet another vampire world where her particular breed of vamps thrive with vitality, wit and stellar development. There were many characters, but she does a great job of keeping the focus on Shanna and Roman. Good clean writing carries the reader swiftly through the action and romance. Five very enthusiastic and well-deserved stars!

Roman Draganesti is a vampire with a problem - he has bitten off more than he can chew and has lost a fang. Shanna is a dentist with a problem - after witnessing a shooting she's become afraid of blood and now she has some people trying to kill her. Roman needs his tooth fixed, Shanna needs her life fixed.

This book is a lot of fun as Roman and Shanna discover each other and get involved. Shanna seems rather dense not to realise he's a vampire and his household of Scottish bodyguards and their inept attempts to cover up Roman's (and their) deep dark secret. When Shanna finally discovers the truth, along with Roman's harem of 10 women, it takes some getting used to. The former monk is an expert in vampire mind sex and also a colossally rich inventor of such things as artificial blood (so that vampires no longer need to bite humans) and is working on a potion to enable vampires to stay up during the daytime. Shanna's life is down the toilet and she somehow seems to fit in rather well to Roman's bizarre household and takes a lot in her stride.

This is not a deep book in any way, but it takes a fun look at the problems and opportunities in a relationship between a vampire and a human. Roman is stuck in a mediaeval monk's mindset about many things and Shanna works to help him to understand that he isn't the evil demon he believes himself to be.

The baddies, led by a Russian vampire, get their comeuppance and hero and heroine come to terms with their differences, but there are pitfalls ahead (Shanna's family) which may link to another book Sparks has written that I believe has the same cast of characters to this one. Overall, though, it was really good fun and enjoyable and I recommend it.

I have to admit that being a huge fan of shows like "Buffy" and "Angel", I have an increasingly large soft spot for vampire stories with heart rather than simply gore. So I decided to give this a go. I wan't disappointed. Whilst I could not describe this book as a literary masterpiece, as they say, it does exactly what it says on the tin!

The title tells you exactly where the story is going, but it is the getting there that counts! What more could a girl ask for in a book?? Russian Mafia, handsome rich vampires, security guards in kilts, a dentist who is afraid of blood, specialist vampire television and a possible vampire war!!

Full of action, some blood (mostly synthetic) and lots of massive laughs thanks to the female lead Shanna, this was a really enjoyable and unputdownable book, with a wide range of believable and likeable characters. Highly recommended to all those with a warm heart!!