Red-Haired Ash Reads

History professor Patronella Stone is babysitting her nephew for a few days. She expects to be playing games, watching movies, and eating lots of pizza, not dealing with intruders and vampire neighbors.

This book focuses on Santo Notte who has appeared in a few of the recent books. Santo was tortured for years by Dressler and is struggling to cope with his traumatic past on top of that. Santo is protective, kind, and quiet. He rarely speaks but is slowly starting to open up to his family. Finding his life mate is the last thing he expects, especially since he is over two thousand years old. It was hilarious watching Santo try to woo Patronella because he doesn’t realize how bad he is at it. I loved how Marguerite got onto him and straightened him out.

Patronella “Pet” has known about immortals since she was a child. She instantly recognizes Santo and the others and is wary of them. After they help save her and her nephew from an intruder though she lets her guard down. The more Patronella learns about Santo and the enforcers the more she lets her guard down and starts to trust them. I really liked Patronella because she was smart, sassy, and could kick ass when necessary. She didn’t take any shit and refused to let Santo keep her at arms length. Also, her nephew Parker was also a decent side character and I hope we see him in future books.

Santo and Pet have instant chemistry but things don’t start out smoothly for them. Santo is so used to being on his own he doesn’t really talk at first and it ends up pushing Pet away. I enjoyed their relationship and wasn’t really surprised by Santo struggling with his feelings of protectiveness for Pet. I did really love that Pet didn’t let him run from his fears though and found a way to help him get over his trauma. Pet really just was great, especially since she was assertive, smart, and could kick ass when necessary. 

Overall, this was a really enjoyable one. I was happy to see Santo finally find his life mate and start working on his trauma. I will be interested in seeing how this hunt for Dressler continues. Also who is the Brass Circle and will they come into play again? 

TW: attempted break in; violence and blood; graphic death of children recounted; suicide recounted; torture recounted;

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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
#19. One Lucky Vampire
#20. Vampire Most Wanted
#21. The Immortal Who Loved Me
#22. About a Vampire
#23. Runaway Vampire
#24. Immortal Nights
#25. Immortal Unchained
#26. Immortally Yours
#27. Twice Bitten
#28. Vampires Like It Hot