"A Different Breed of Vampire Romance"

Joy Randall doesn't believe in supernatural hokey-ness, or destined mates or most especially, the existence of the Dark Ones. Like vampires, but with a few crucial differences, the Dark Ones are the stars of a series of novels that Joy and her friend Roxy devour. They're not something that Joy considers when she steps into her friend Miranda's magic circle to petition the Goddess to bring a man into her life.

Perhaps she should have.

A trip to the Czech Republic lands Joy and Roxy right in the middle of a huge Goth Festival, complete with horrid music, dastardly painted European Goths and oodles of fake vampires. Except... Joy is starting to get the sense that the legend of the Dark Ones isn't as fictional as she had supposed, and that there is something more than simply a festival going on. (That may have something to do with the murders that seem to follow the festival's trail across the continent, though.)

Now she's falling in love with the festival's mysterious Head of Security by night and roaming the Czech countryside with her Dark One obsessed friend Roxy by day. What truths lie behind the gazillion secrets? More importantly, if she starts to dig for those truths, is more than simply curiosity going to be sinking its fangs into her?

MacAlister pens one of the funniest vampire stories to come out of the industry in years in A GIRL'S GUIDE TO VAMPIRES. Poking fun at itself and at vampire romance queen Christine Feehan, this funny little story tickles the funny bone and teases the jaded palate. Written in first person, MacAlister takes some twists and turns that aren't evident from the back cover blurb and may, in fact, be somewhat disillusioning as the story wears on. An annoyingly perky (and drooling-fangirlish) sidekick for our heroine also wears a little, but the upbeat heroine and the outlandish, totally wacky setting MacAlister chooses helps to overcome all fears. Have no fear while in her masterful grip, Feehan fans (and those who aren't!) will find A GIRL'S GUIDE TO VAMPIRES a vampire novel of a different breed. Sassy, smart and endlessly engaging, this is definitely a book to be on the lookout for.

Reviewed by Ann Leveille
Posted April 29, 2004

Joy Randall's Top 5 Tips for Vampire Hunters:
1. Location, location, location. Remember, if you wouldn't be there, neither would a bloodsucker.
2. Trust your eyes. You know the handsome, annoyingly arrogant, self-assured man in the shadows with long hair and a cleft in his chin? He's your vampire.
3. No matter how tempting it might be, do not "accidentally" acquire a paper cut and suggest your vampire kiss your finger to make it better.
4. From here on out, play it cool. Don't offer to accompany your prince of the night on the talk show circuit and whatever you do, don't offer him your heart.
5. And most of all, remember--being a vampire is nothing to laugh about.

Summary

On a visit to the Czech Republic, Joy Randall (a skeptic of all things paranormal), is suddenly thrown into the dark, dangerous world where vampires known as Dark Ones stalk the night. Armed with nothing more than a wicked sense of humor and a bag of rune stones, Joy does her best to untangle the threads involving a serial killer, vampires (both real and pretend), and the handsome, mysterious man who may or may not be what he appears.