Wicked Game

January 14, 2008
Newbie marketing intern Ciara Griffin lands a job at WMMP, a station threatened with being sold to Skyware, a giant communications conglomerate, unless ad revenue picks up. A former con artist with a canny way with people, Ciara soon learns that the DJs are undead and specialists in the musical eras in which they were turned into vampires. One of them, Shane McAllister (turned in 1995), is really hot and dangerously tempting. In order to attract more listeners, Ciara promotes a new marketing strategy and the Sherwood, Md., station becomes 94.3 WVMP, the “Lifeblood of Rock and Roll,” exploiting the fang factor (which no listener takes seriously) for profit. It works, until an ancient vampire cult wants to pull the plug. Also playing in is “The Control,” an equally ancient paramilitary group created to protect good vampires and kill bad ones. Smith-Ready's musical references are spot on, as is her take on corporate radio's creeping airwave hegemony. Add in the irrepressible Ciara, who grew up in a family of grifters, and the results rock.

February 15, 2008
Ciara Griffin, desperate for a job, becomes marketing director at a local money-losing radio station facing a possible sale to a large corporation. Her task is problematic because the DJs, who only work at night, want to keep their true vampiric nature a secret; however, Ciara, who grew up in a family of con artists and has sworn to stay honest, comes up with a planchange the station call letters, create a new slogan, "WVMP, the Lifeblood of Rock n' Roll," and tell the public the truth. It would be great publicity, and no one would believe it, anyway. Her tactics work but lead to unforeseen problems. On the plus side for Ciara is the attention of Shane, the good-looking, undead DJ specializing in Nineties grunge music. A colorful premise and engaging characters make the author's ("Aspect of Crow" trilogy; "Requiem for the Devil") latest a fun read. Recommended for all urban fantasy and paranormal romance collections.

Copyright 2008 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

April 1, 2008
As far as romance is concerned, its still the same old story, a fight for love and glory, a case of do or die. The last maybe literally when onetime con artist Ciara meets sexy Shane. His eyes meet hers, she gets him into bed, he does as expected, then sinks fangs into her thigh, necessitating multiple stitches. Ooops! NOT an auspicious first date! So goes this sometimes scary, sometimes fang-in-cheek romp that establishes Smith-Ready as a standout vampire-romancer, adept at creating an entire team of vampire DJs, each a specialist in the music of their former lifetimes and whose undead lives are jeopardized by a threatened mainstream buyout of their radio station. Marketing intern Ciara launches an all-out, vamp-in-your-face campaign that outs the team and multiplies listenership by a factor of 10. A delightful read, part vamp romance, part ironic look at advertisings powers of manipulation, part wry commentary on the takeover-ridden financial scene, and all entertainment.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2008, American Library Association.)