If you are into sub-genre of Vampire Romance then you have probably heard some talk of the Love At Stake series by Kerrelyn Sparks. These books have a wonderful sense of humor about them, all take place in one world, with a narrative that benefits from reading them in order, but does not demand it.
Think of it as someone writing a book for each year of the history of a country, and in each book they focus on two different people living in the country during that year, and taking part in the major events. Do you have to know about the events of the previous year for the current events to make sense? Not really. But it does add depth and understanding. And because these are the “major figures” in those events, the leaders and their lieutenants and their families, people you have met in the books will often show up in subsequent books, those who were the leads in a book will be guest stars in a future book, or vice-versa.
The series starts with How To Marry A Millionaire Vampire where the readers meet Roman Draganesti, a charismatic leader of the vampire world who happens to be a brilliant scientist who has, thankfully, invented synthetic blood. This invention is known throughout the mortal world as a scientific breakthrough that made blood-transfusions much easier, but of course for the Vampire community it was life-changing in an entirely different way.
But that is the past, the present and future are what the story is all about, and as it unfolds he meets a woman the reader can not help but hope he can save, and love.
Having established Roman, and his entourage of entertaining, and interesting characters, the series launches with a sequence of adventures and on-going plots that have kept me eagerly awaiting the release of each upcoming book. The only aspect that has begun to wear on me is the titles playing off of movie titles. Where many of them have been fun, and brought a smile to my face, a few have not tied into the plot as strongly as I might have liked and felt a bit unnecessary. These are such great books, I can not help but wonder what titles the author would be giving the books if she were not trying for those plays on words/titles.
According to the authors website, the books are, in order:
Be Still My Vampire Heart by Kerrelyn Sparks
How to Marry a Millionaire Vampire
Vamps and the City
“A Very Vampy Christmas” from Sugarplums and Scandal
Be Still My Vampire Heart
The Undead Next Door
All I Want for Christmas is a Vampire
Secret Life of a Vampire
Forbidden Nights with a Vampire
The Vampire and the Virgin
Eat Prey Love
Vampire Mine
Sexiest Vampire Alive
How To Seduce A Vampire by Kerrelyn Sparks
Wanted: Undead or Alive
Wild About You
Vampires Gone Wild
The Vampire with the Dragon Tattoo
How to Seduce a Vampire (Without Really Trying)
Crouching Tiger, Forbidden Vampire
This series of novels is full of interesting characters who take turns in supporting and featured positions, filling out a world of intrigue, love, and plots that keep readers coming back wanting to know what adventure waits within the pages of the next book. (In this case, Crouching Tiger, Forbidden Vampire on sale Dec 30, 2014.)