"Another in the wonderful dysfunctional Vampire Family tales"

Lynsay Sands' hit SINGLE WHITE VAMPIRE was the first in her series of books about a modern day dysfunctional vampire family the Argeneaus. Love Bites is the second and takes up the story of Etienne, Lucern's younger brother. (These are the books that Lucern has been writing that everyone thinks are just vampire romances!). The third - brother Bastien's story TALL DARK AND DEADLY will be out this fall.

>p>Rachel Garrett has been bouncing between chill and fever and it had nothing to do with the dead man on the table before her. She works in a hospital morgue, after all, so seeing dead bodies were a just part of a work. It was the flu. She needed to be in bed resting, but the caseload was stacking up so there was no time to pamper herself. Only to find a dead body handsome, well that MIGHT be attributed to the flu. But after, when she jokingly apologizes for having to cut away the expensive slacks and the corpse replies, she feels entirely justified in fainting.

After a week's recovery, she is back on the job when they bring in another body, this one totally burned from a car explosion. As Rachel begins to remove his possessions and tag the body, she is puzzled when the body seems less charred, and then the blackened flesh begins to desquamate, sort of like a snake shedding its skin. Worse, she detects a heartbeat. Just as her mind is trying to adjust to this bizarre situation, an ax-wielding madman rushing into the room screaming for her to get away from the body that is was a vampire. She's horrified when she sees this nut case is going to cut off the head of the man - who may not be dead. Not giving a thought, she jumps in front of him as he brings the ax down. Too late Rachel understands her stupid mistake. Etienne awakes to find Rachel dying. Though they are governed by rules about turning people into vampires, you may turn a mate into a life partner, so Etienne repays her heroic saving of his life by saving hers by making Rachel a vampire. His mother and brother arrive on the scene and take Etienne and Rachel home.

When Rachel awakens, she is in a lot of pain, nude, and strapped to a bed, with an IV giving her blood. She is surprised to find the horrid ax wound is healing, leaving only a tiny scar and even nearly fades before her eyes. Trying to find some answers to the zillions questions flooding her mind, she wraps the sheet around her and ventures forth only to find a coffin in a darkened room. For the second time in her life she nearly faints, as the occupant of the coffin sits up and begins talking to her.

Thus begins the rocky romance of Etienne Argeneau and Rachel Garrett. Etienne figures once Rachel understands it was the only way to save her life, she will quickly adjust to her new state, after all her body is in a better state that it ever was - and hey no split ends!! First problem is Rachel gets most of her vampire lore from Buffy the Vampire Slayer, so she is not exactly thrilled with being "an undead blood-sucking demon" Rachel soon learns there advantages to the door Etienne has opened for her, so love would will find a way - just as soon as Etienne can do something about the Pudge the ax-wielding idiot who fancies himself a vampire slayer!

Lynsay gives another wonderful, fuzzy vampire tale in the Argeneau family that are just so fresh in the Vampire market. Cannot wait till early 2004 for Bastien's story!!

Reviewed by DeborahAnne MacGillivray
Posted January 18, 2004