The Vampire Who Loved Me

October 1, 2006
In this page-turning sweet-and-sour vampiric confection, Medeiros continues the Regency tale of the Cabot sisters (following After Midnight), focusing on the dangerous love affair between youngest sister Portia and her vampire brother-in-law Julian Kane. After disappearing five years earlier, Julian has returned to London, and brought with him a killing spree-young women turning up dead in back alleys, drained of blood. Fearing the worst but believing otherwise, Portia takes it upon herself to find Julian and bring him back to the Kane family home, defying Julian's brother (Portia's sister Caroline's husband), the protective vampire hunter Adrian. When she finds him, Julian is as sexy and slippery as ever-having embraced his supernatural abilities, he's able to turn into a bat, and he may even be capable of murder. Unfortunately, Portia can't shake her love for him, nor can she forget the secret night of passion they shared before his exile. Medeiros orchestrates a skillful balance between the grisly business of vampires and the conventions of Regency romance, captured winningly in the saucy, sexy leads. Though the action can drag, Portia's will-she-or-won't-she romantic quandary drives the narrative convincingly, even if the outcome is easy to guess. Familial complications and a fine supporting cast make this an engaging romp for those who like their Regency with a little bite.

October 16, 2006
In this page-turning sweet-and-sour vampiric confection, Medeiros continues the Regency tale of the Cabot sisters (following After Midnight), focusing on the dangerous love affair between youngest sister Portia and her vampire brother-in-law Julian Kane. After disappearing five years earlier, Julian has returned to London, and brought with him a killing spree-young women turning up dead in back alleys, drained of blood. Fearing the worst but believing otherwise, Portia takes it upon herself to find Julian and bring him back to the Kane family home, defying Julian's brother (Portia's sister Caroline's husband), the protective vampire hunter Adrian. When she finds him, Julian is as sexy and slippery as ever-having embraced his supernatural abilities, he's able to turn into a bat, and he may even be capable of murder. Unfortunately, Portia can't shake her love for him, nor can she forget the secret night of passion they shared before his exile. Medeiros orchestrates a skillful balance between the grisly business of vampires and the conventions of Regency romance, captured winningly in the saucy, sexy leads. Though the action can drag, Portia's will-she-or-won't-she romantic quandary drives the narrative convincingly, even if the outcome is easy to guess. Familial complications and a fine supporting cast make this an engaging romp for those who like their Regency with a little bite.

Copyright 2006 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

September 1, 2006
Murders in some of the darker parts of London leave Adrian Kane, vampire hunter, worried that his vampire brother, Julian, may be involved. Adrian's sister-in-law, Portia, now a vampire hunter herself, was locked in a crypt with Julian five years earlier, and he fed off the blood of the 17-year-old to save himself. Since that time, Julian has been traveling the world trying to reclaim his soul and mortality. Seeing Portia again, he realizes that he will love her for all eternity. She feels just as strongly about him. This sequel to " After Midnight" (2005) will delight readers who have been waiting to see how Portia and Julian's romance plays out, but those who have not read the earlier book will feel somewhat adrift. Medeiros writes beautiful love scenes, but other than that, there isn't all that much going on.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2006, American Library Association.)