Series: Argeneau, book 16
Author: Lynsay Sands
Publisher: Avon
ISBN-10: 0062100203
ISBN-13: 978-0062100207
Source: From publisher for review
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For more information visit Lynsay Sands' website
Carolyn Connor is on the beautiful island of St. Lucia for a much needed vacation that will help take her mind off her cheating ex-husband and pending divorce. Unfortunately, the island has been overrun by honeymooners and couples, leaving Carolyn more depressed than when she arrived. The man who's able to catch Carolyn's eye is a handsome rock violinist who she believes is far too young for a 42-year-old. Immortal Christian Notte is on St. Lucia for one thing and one thing only, Carolyn. She is his life mate and he'll do whatever it takes to convince her they belong together. Even pretend he prefers dating men, a suggestion by his cousin, so that she'll act as his girlfriend in front of his family. Carolyn agrees to help Christian and soon finds herself falling for a man that she believes she couldn't possibly have a future with.
Lynsay Sands' Argeneau series is one of my favorite vampire (or immortals as they like to be called) series. There's usually plenty of humor, steamy romance, and characters you can't help to fall in love with. Sad to say, Under a Vampire Moon came up short on all of this.
Carolyn has never been much of a dater and her ex really did a number on her self-esteem. In addition to feeling physically unequal to Christian, Carolyn is 42 years old and thinks she is too old for someone who appears to be 25. Christian is actually over 500 years old and thinks Carolyn is perfect in every way. All immortals long to find their life mates so now that he found his, Christian is eager to tell her everything so they can start their eternity together. Problem is Carolyn won't even entertain the idea of dating Christian so his cousin Gia comes up with the idea that will end in Carolyn having to spend lots of time with him. Christian pretends to like men in order to get Carolyn to be his girlfriend in front of his family, who are all part of this ruse, so that they don't cut him off due to his sexual preference.
This story just did not work for me. Throughout the book, Carolyn switches off between spending time with Christian and running away from him when she had any inappropriate thoughts. She never really gets comfortable around him and the feelings she did end up having for him felt forced. Christian spent more time chasing Carolyn down and getting her to go on dates with him than actually wooing her. I thought he was more in love with the idea of having a life mate than Carolyn herself.
I really like the supporting cast in these books but I thought this time around they only added complications and awkward moments. Christian is the son of Marguerite Argeneau-Notte and Julius Notte. Marguerite and Julius are on the island with Christian and it was actually Marguerite who found Carolyn. While they are helping their son with his mate, Julius and Marguerite are able to read the no so innocent thoughts he has towards Carolyn. Some of their comments were funny because of the way they'd casually mention it but then it got a bit weird and uncomfortable when they'd talk about his ever present erection or how good the sex will be once they're mated. Even fictional parents should have some boundaries with their children.
I didn't completely hate Under a Vampire Moon. Christian's cousin Zanipolo steals a couple scenes with his humor and willingness to do whatever he can to help his family. Also, the mortal captain Jack is a new character who likes to have a good time and has a thing for Carolyn. They're both kind of a mystery and I hope each will get their own books in the future. Overall though, this was a disappointing installment in a series that I thought was finally improving after the less than spectacular Rogue Hunter books. I'll continue on, I just hope the next book will be better than this one.
My Rating:
Reviews for other books in the series:
Born To Bite
Hungry For You
The Reluctant Vampire
The Gift (from The Bite Before Christmas anthology)
4 Comments:
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I think in a series as long as this one there are bound to be a few "off" ones. I have a few of these (meaning like 10) and want to read them. I have a feeling this will be one of my series reads for next year!
Sorry you did not like this one as much as you hoped. But as a woman of 40, I also would have trouble dating a man of apparently 25. So I do understand that Carolyn was running again and again.
This is a series on my wishlist, and one day I will read the books :)
Felicia - I've come to terms that a long series just won't have all winners. But as a whole, this is a good and very funny series.
Aurian - I hope you get a chance to read them because there are more good books than bad ones in this series. Especially the earlier books.
Stephanie G
I agree with your review. I was so disappointed in this book!
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