Red-Haired Ash Reads

When Jake, aka Stephano, was unwillingly turned seven years ago, he broke all contact with his family and created a new life for himself. But when Marguerite tracks him down and asks for a favor, he finds himself playing the role of a housekeeper to bodyguard a woman who is being targeted by her ex-husband. 

When I initially read the blurb for this book, I was like WTF is Jake and is this just going to be a standalone in this series. Well Jake is actually Stephano who we meet and saw turned by Vincent in A Bite to Remember (book 5). He wasn’t happy about being turned and has since created a new life for himself. Jake/Stephano was a protective and caring man, but he definitely doesn’t know how to cope with his feelings when big things happen. He ran away when he was turned instead of facing facts, and in this we find out it isn’t the first time he has pushed people away. While I did like Jake for the most part, I was disappointed in his emotional reactions. 

Nicole was a great heroine. She was a smart, capable, and determined woman. She is determined to restart her life after her ex-husband tore her down during their marriage. I loved how strong she was. She doesn’t back down or let anyone push her around (outside of being controlled anyways). Nicole was just a great heroine and I really liked her, even if she was in denial about all the accidents happening around her.

Nicole and Jake’s relationship started a bit slow because Jake realizes Nicole isn’t exactly ready for another relationship and he also is struggling with the fact she is his mate. He didn’t want to be a vampire and while at first he isn’t happy about finding out she is his mate, he quickly realizes the gift that he has been given. Their relationship really ramps up after the fact he is a vampire is revealed, and it was enjoyable overall. Also, I liked that Nicole didn’t really freak out about the whole vampires are real discussion. 

Overall, this was another enjoyable book to the series. Jake is the youngest vampire so far to find his mate and isn’t as weary as previous vampires, but it just meant the story focused more on his emotions around the turn and his family. I look forward to reading the next book to see who is going to find their mate! 

TW: attempted murder; poisoning; mental illness; emotionally abusive ex-husband;

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Previous books and reviews for the series:

#1. A Quick Bite
#2. Love Bites
#3. Single White Vampire
#4. Tall, Dark & Hungry
#5. A Bite to Remember
#6. Bite Me If You Can
#7. The Accidental Vampire
#8. Vampires Are Forever
#9. Vampire, Interrupted
#10. The Rogue Hunter
#11. The Immortal Hunter
#12. The Renegade Hunter
#12.5. Bitten By Cupid
#13. Born to Bite
#14. Hungry For You
#15. The Reluctant Vampire
#15.5 The Bite Before Christmas
#16. Under the Vampire Moon
#17. The Lady is a Vamp
#18. Immortal Ever After