"Excellent storytelling"

In New Orleans, Alonso the Vampire lives a lonely life of despair and damnation desperately seeking to find his soulmate so that they can share an eternity of bliss together. After six centuries of playing solitaire, Alonso knows his biological clock is ticking for if he fails to find his beloved soon, the darkness will engulf him. Adding to his despair, Alonso realizes that his creator, Lucius the demoni seeks his lifemate too.

Jolie the fortune teller has a premonition that something major will change her life shortly. This proves correct when Lucius meets Jolie; she does not have to see the future to comprehend how dangerous this individual is to her. She silently prays for a miraculous rescue when Alonso arrives. He knows she is it and she feels safe with the vampire at her side. However, the dangerous Lucius will never allow his "child" to usurp him with the woman he believes belongs to him.

Alonso is the first of four vampire tales and if this novella is any indication, sub-genre fans will have some treat to look forward to. The key to the tale is that the participants in the bizarre romantic triangle seem real whether they are a mortal with ESP abilities or a vampiric going towards the dark side. New Orleans is portrayed as exotic and sinister yet in all that foreboding a glimmer remains in the hopes and prayers of four creatures of the night that somewhere out there she lives. This is a great stand alone tale and start up of what looks like a terrific quartet of tales that will shine a deserved light on talented Marianne LaCroix.

Harriet Klausner

Reviewed by Harriet Klausner
Posted January 24, 2004

Short Vampire Erotica

Summary

Alonso existed for more than six and a half centuries, and the anniversary of his turning was always troublesome. When he hears a woman call for help in the recesses of his mind, he knows why. The demoni Lucius was hunting her. When he comes face-to-face with Jolie, a psychic and Tarot card reader, his entire world is turned upside down. Only bonding his body and soul to her could ease the hunger she invoked.