Vamps and the City (Avon Romance) [Mass Market Paperback]

"Vamps and the City" starts where "How To Marry A Millionaire Vampire" left off - Roman Draganesti, now he has found the love of his life in Shanna Whelan, has asked his harem of ladies to move out so that he can be alone with Shanna. One of this harem is Darcy Newhart, a former TV journalist who was made a vampire just four years ago. Darcy has not by any means come to terms with her new status as one of the undead, and is afraid of Connor, the Scottish warrior who made her a vampire to save her life. And now she and the other harem members are living squashed all together in a small house looking for a new master to take care of them.

Shanna's father works for the CIA with his Stake-Out Team which exists to rid the world of vampires. One of this team is Austin, a man with not only the ability to resist vampire mind tricks but also his own telekinetic powers. Austin finds himself involved in a reality TV show produced by Darcy as one of several mortals. The vampire participants in the show aren't aware initially that there are mortals among them, but as the contestants are whittled down to the one who will become the new vampire master of Roman's former harem, as well as richer by several million dollars, their desire to spot and exclude all the mortals becomes very strong.

This book is sort-of a coming of age book. Darcy is learning to deal with her nature, Austin is learning that all vampires aren't evil, and Roman's former harem are learning to make lives for themselves on their own, not as submissive ladies. The love story between Darcy and Austin seems rather superficial - they like the way each other looks, so that's OK then as a foundation for long-lasting and true love. Despite the fact they both treat each other badly, they still seem to decide they have discovered their soul mates. Interesting.

This book was still fun with lots of humorous events and the same great cast of characters. The baddies from the previous book - the Malcontents - have a much lesser role here, this book is far more focused on Darcy and Austin and the problems between vampires and humans. Like the previous book, our central character doesn't want to become a vampire and perhaps there's a slight logic problem here as the vamps are portrayed as having really rather a good life, and fun, and certainly more longer lasting, but overall it's still a pretty good read. Nice to catch up with Shanna and Roman following the end of the first book, too. Yes, it's worth a read.

This second book in the series is not a stand alone novel. This book builds on the ending of the first and is a wonderful introduction of Women's Lib. to vampires. A reporter accidentally turned into a vampire finds the culture very stifling. As a woman she is supposed to lounge around in the harem, get pampered by her Master, and gossip with the other women. Well when the Master of one harem falls in love, he decides to disband them and let them find another Master. Well the spunky reporter seizes this as her chance to get back into television and sets up a reality show where the harem picks their new master. Well this causes dissent among the other women whom are all from different time periods where women were meant to be seen and not heard. To find out how these women unite, and decide they do not need a master, you will have to read this book...

I loved "How to Marry and Millionair Vampire" and this next one didn't disappoint!! This lovestory is wonderful and Sparks has great sense of humor. I love these kind of vampires. great great story