Title: What To Buy For The Vamp Who Has Everything
Author: A.M. Riley
Publisher: http://www.loose-id.com
Genre: Paranormal GLBT (M/M)
Length: Holiday Kisses
Rating: 4.25 stars out of 5
THE BLURB
As Christmas approaches, LAPD detective Peter Ortiz suspects that his former fuckbuddy and currently undead boyfriend, Adam Bertoni, is dwelling on his evil mortal life again, and going into one of his despondent slumps. Neither Peter nor Adam have a clue why Adam’s here, how the undead thing works, or what he’s supposed to do now. What Adam does know is he’s not going to be the scumbag after death that he was in life.
Peter dreads Adam’s slumps. Partly because they often coincide with frustrating celibacy, but also there’s the niggling fear that Adam’s going to take his own unlife in a fit of remorse. Peter’s seen Adam die once and he’s not going through that again if he can help it. So, he decides to give Adam a little Christmas cheer.
But what do you give the vampire who has everything?
THE REVIEW
Adam Bertoni used to be an LAPD Detective in life before he bought the farm. He was a crooked cop and probably would have ended up in jail if he hadn’t become one of the undead. Now he’s a vampire who feels remorseful for what he did in life and he has suddenly become domestic and spends lots of time cleaning his apartment which is an unfinished sub-basement; after all, he has nothing better to do. Sometimes when he’s feeling depressed he’s not even interested in sex and Peter Ortiz, Adam’s lover in life and in death, hates those periods because it affects him too as he goes through withdrawal like a junkie, and with Christmas just around the corner Adam’s depression seemed to be getting worse.
Peter is very concerned that Adam may end up as dust if he doesn’t get over his depression, and having seen him die once he doesn’t want a repeat performance. He’s trying his best to cheer him up by bringing him presents like blood, car racing magazines, a generator for his cold basement, beer, and of course something that all cops dead or alive love – doughnuts.
What to Buy for the Vamp Who has Everything was a well written fun story with terrific protagonists in Peter and Adam, but I think that Adam was the funnier character even though the story is told from Peter’s POV. How does a reader rationalize a vampire who uses condoms because he wants to be safe even if he’s dead? There are even a couple of action sequences in this very short story and when all the excitement is over Peter gives Adam a thoughtful Christmas present that only a dead policeman would appreciate.
I bought this story on a whim and didn’t expect much but it turned out to be unexpectedly funny and heartwarming. If you’re looking for a fun short story with a Christmas theme you can’t miss with What to Buy for the Vamp Who has Everything.
I’ve read a few stories by Riley, and the only one I liked was, coincidentally, a vamp romance titled Suck This. I liked it because it wasn’t your typical suck suck bang bang suck book. If you can get around the plethora of typos (it was released in Torquere’s early years), it’s a lovely read.
This was quite good but I wish it was longer. This is the first book I’ve read by A.M. Riley and I’m thinking of getting The Elegant Corpse but no one seems to know much about it. There weren’t that many typos here *g*
Sounds kind of fun. One more to put on my list. 🙂 I’m not averse to reading Halloween stories in February and Christmas in July so it might have to wait right now.
Tam
It was an unexpectedly fun story that I think you’ll enjoy whenever you read it.
You KNOW that even though I said I’ll buy it later, I will most likely buy it this weekend just because patience is not really a virtue I ascribe to. LOL
Tam
You are so easy, but the best part is that this book is only $1.99 (I think). I also posted on the blog lists of sites where you can get free reads, so that should help.
Lol. Love the title :)! And the story sounds really fun. Just the list of what Adam does of his days, er, nights, and the light of cheer-up presents Pete brings him (donuts!!!)! Priceless :-DDD And I love cop stories. OK, I’l find a spot for this one too on my ever-expanding wish list. *squints* well, will you look at that, I already have a book by this author in there…Amor in retrogrado. Have you read that one?
Mary
It is a fun book and I think you’ll really like it. Most important, it’s really inexpensive.
Amor in Retrogrado is a pretty serious book and I believe it’s highly rated. I had been meaning to get it (it’s been out for sometime) and you just reminded me.
I read Amor and it’s insanely emo and angsty…the book starts out with one of the guys leaving, and the other spends the majority of the book reflecting on how they met and why the other guy left.
Hated it, because I prefer reads that are going to relax me, not make me slit my wrists, but it was well-written.
Now I remember why I didn’t get it when it was first released. Thanks for reminding me Emmy.
*whistles and discreetly pushes Amor in Retrogrado to bottom of wish list*
Your fellow readers do try to save you money *g*