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3.42 AVERAGE
3.42 AVERAGE
I am actually struggling a bit to explain, maybe even understand myself, why I could be bothered to read eight books (so far) in this series. It is a classical example of a stereotypical urban fantasy series. That is, a very light read, often unintelligent, unrealistic even for urban fantasy and with the typical, ludicrous and not very entertaining, love triangle (or is it love rectangle, don’t really remember…or care).
There is really a lot in the series that is really rubbish. Sometimes it’s just typical (sorry if I offend someone but…) American nonsense like the coffee at Starbucks being “magical”. Sorry guys, Starbucks has nothing to do with real coffee. Other times it’s just plain stupidity like being able to have closed eyes on a ID photo. The author claims to have been a private investigator. Obviously not a very good one if he thinks that anyone would accept a ID photo where your eyes are closed.
Then there’s the stupid nonsense about a detective’s agony when his son turns out to be gay. I really do not need to read about such crap. Nonsense about vegans being able to better “tune in to mother Earth”. A tiresome, cheating, asswipe as ex husband. Did I mention the silly love triangle, rectangle, octahedron whatever? And so on and so forth.
So really, why have I read through eight installments in fairly rapid order? Well, as I wrote it is very light reading so anyone with a minimum of grey cells would read them rapidly of course but why in the first place?
Well, believe it or not but the main protagonist is actually quite likable. Not overly intelligent but likable. She also does kick ass from time to time instead of getting beaten up every so often which happens in way too many urban fantasy novels.
I think I also like that the story is somewhat down to Earth. It doesn’t go haywire and brings in one uberpowerful entity after another in some lame attempt to “raise the stakes”.
There is also some fairly nice character development. Again, not the boom I’m actually a demigod in chapter three kind of development but slow and steady and with some suitable mystery and promise attached to it.
Samantha is also a detective and does actually have some mission in each of the books. So far at least. I like the addition of some actual detective work in her life. Not just fight the next bad guy that, for some poorly explained reason, comes looking for her. Okay, there is a bit of that as well but not too much.
Still, none of the books in the series merits more than 3 out of 5 for me and some barely that. However, as I wrote, I liked them enough to actually read eight installments and I would look rather stupid if I said I more or less binge-read eight books in a series that I though was worth 1 or 2 stars out of 5 wouldn’t I?
There is really a lot in the series that is really rubbish. Sometimes it’s just typical (sorry if I offend someone but…) American nonsense like the coffee at Starbucks being “magical”. Sorry guys, Starbucks has nothing to do with real coffee. Other times it’s just plain stupidity like being able to have closed eyes on a ID photo. The author claims to have been a private investigator. Obviously not a very good one if he thinks that anyone would accept a ID photo where your eyes are closed.
Then there’s the stupid nonsense about a detective’s agony when his son turns out to be gay. I really do not need to read about such crap. Nonsense about vegans being able to better “tune in to mother Earth”. A tiresome, cheating, asswipe as ex husband. Did I mention the silly love triangle, rectangle, octahedron whatever? And so on and so forth.
So really, why have I read through eight installments in fairly rapid order? Well, as I wrote it is very light reading so anyone with a minimum of grey cells would read them rapidly of course but why in the first place?
Well, believe it or not but the main protagonist is actually quite likable. Not overly intelligent but likable. She also does kick ass from time to time instead of getting beaten up every so often which happens in way too many urban fantasy novels.
I think I also like that the story is somewhat down to Earth. It doesn’t go haywire and brings in one uberpowerful entity after another in some lame attempt to “raise the stakes”.
There is also some fairly nice character development. Again, not the boom I’m actually a demigod in chapter three kind of development but slow and steady and with some suitable mystery and promise attached to it.
Samantha is also a detective and does actually have some mission in each of the books. So far at least. I like the addition of some actual detective work in her life. Not just fight the next bad guy that, for some poorly explained reason, comes looking for her. Okay, there is a bit of that as well but not too much.
Still, none of the books in the series merits more than 3 out of 5 for me and some barely that. However, as I wrote, I liked them enough to actually read eight installments and I would look rather stupid if I said I more or less binge-read eight books in a series that I though was worth 1 or 2 stars out of 5 wouldn’t I?
adventurous
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
Different from my normal reads, but I really liked this!
Different from my normal reads, but I really liked this!
I liked this book a lot. The protagonist, Samantha Moon, was attacked and turned into a vampire after she had married and had children. Even though she isn't at her best in the daytime (she has to slather on sunscreen and wear a large-brimmed hat, and has the windows in her minivan tinted), she still picks up the kids from school and takes care of her family. She quit her daytime job working for HUD and now performs P.I. work from her home at night.
I'm hoping that there are more books featuring this heroine and her further adventures.
I'm hoping that there are more books featuring this heroine and her further adventures.
Thanks Lindsey for lending this one! I'll be honest, after reading the reviews I didn't think that I would like Moon Dance. It wasn't amazing, but it was good. Unlike most books in this genre Samantha is an adult, a wife, and a mom. So what happens when she gets herself turned into a vamp? She does what all of us moms do, she does what has to be done. Wearing a large hat, and slathering herself up with sunscreen she dashes to the car in the afternoon to pick up the kids. She has to quit her job at the FBI because of the hours, but starts her own private investigating business so that she can safely perform all of her duties at night time. Friends and family all think that she has a skin condition that keeps her from being in the sun. Only her sister and husband know the truth. Since turning her husband has been acting different, staying out late, etc. Of course we all know whats going on. This is were things get tricky...
***************************Spoilers************************************
Her husband is obviously cheating,and towards the end of the book he tells her he is taking the kids, and divorcing her. He blackmails her by saying that if she fights him on this, or he ends up missing, he has already given his lawyer pictures, proof that she is a vampire, as well as a blood sample. This is where my problem with this book lies, because she just rolls over and agrees to only see her kids for a few hours on the weekend supervised. It was just to easy, as a mother he would of had to do a lot more than just threaten me to take my kids. She almost seems happy with her new found freedom, and guilty because she is happy about it. Small thing really, and not enough to keep you from reading but just a thought.
***************************Spoilers************************************
Her husband is obviously cheating,and towards the end of the book he tells her he is taking the kids, and divorcing her. He blackmails her by saying that if she fights him on this, or he ends up missing, he has already given his lawyer pictures, proof that she is a vampire, as well as a blood sample. This is where my problem with this book lies, because she just rolls over and agrees to only see her kids for a few hours on the weekend supervised. It was just to easy, as a mother he would of had to do a lot more than just threaten me to take my kids. She almost seems happy with her new found freedom, and guilty because she is happy about it. Small thing really, and not enough to keep you from reading but just a thought.
I really tried. I know 18 pages isn't much, but even that was an utter waste if time. I was already bored of the MC's lust for every man in her path. By the time it got to the homophobic cop, I was DONE.
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Good start
The book is good! The romance is weird. The people meet twice, maybe 3 times, and they fall in love. No dates, no REAL conversations, just in love. Other than that the book is good. I like this take on vampires. I will definitely read more.
The book is good! The romance is weird. The people meet twice, maybe 3 times, and they fall in love. No dates, no REAL conversations, just in love. Other than that the book is good. I like this take on vampires. I will definitely read more.
adventurous
funny
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
This is J.R. Rain's first book in the Vampire for Hire series. I just can't finish it. It's too blow, depressing and boring. Good characters wasted in a bad plot.