Title: To Catch A Vampire
Author: Jennifer Harlow
Publisher: Midnight Ink
Publication Date: September 1, 2012
Page Count: 290
Where I got it: Netgalley
Where you can get it: Amazon
How much: List Price 9.99
Format I read it in: eARC
Description/Blurb:
CLASSIFIED: F.R.E.A.K.S. Do Dallas
Beatrice Alexander, telekinetic special agent, is still adjusting to life among the F.R.E.A.K.S. while wiping out zombies and other supernatural threats. When Bea learns about her “special assignment” investigating a series of human disappearances with Oliver Montrose, her gorgeous but annoying vampire co-worker, she reluctantly agrees to go undercover. Disguised as a married couple, they infiltrate the gothic vamp scene in Dallas. While sniffing out clues, Oliver’s convincing public—and not so public—displays of affection have Bea swooning in her bustier and fishnets. Between contending with her fake husband’s ex-lover Marianna and feeling guilty for hiding the mission from her werewolf crush Will, Bea discovers she’s not the only F.R.E.A.K. keeping secrets. Clubbing with the undead turns bloody when Oliver’s old enemy, the Lord of Dallas, decides to seek his revenge. Caught in the crossfire, Bea is up to her neck in blood-sucking trouble.
My Thoughts:
To Catch A Vampire by Jennifer Harlow
My rating: 2 of 5 stars
2-1/2
I received this book through Netgalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.
This book got off to a rather slow start. But in full confession mode, I had not read the first book in the series, so I do not know if that would have made a difference in the pacing if I had.
I have been reading a lot of young adult and dystopian fiction lately, so this was very definitely in a different category altogether. I think it is more a paranormal romance, with some more mature themes than young adult.
I rather disliked Oliver in the beginning, but toward the end he kind of grew on me a bit. Though, he does remind me of Eric from True Blood quite a bit.
Here’s the thing, though. I usually try to ignore editing when it is an ARC I am reading. With this one, though, it was really, really difficult. Some of the lack of editing was extremely distracting. The flow of the narrative was a bit awkward. It read more like a novel outline, and felt like there were chunks missing.
There were a lot of similarities to True Blood. This could have worked in the book’s favor but I just didn’t feel like It was done well enough. The whole lord and lady thing was awful similar to the King and Queen thing in True Blood.
It really just felt like it took a long time to get to the meat of the story, and then when you finally get into it, toward the last 15% or so of the book, the action felt extremely rushed.
The book had a lot of potential but it just felt like it fell short of that for me.
I will very likely read the rest of the series in the hopes that it improves. I really wanted to love it, but it was just okay for me.
**DISCLAIMER** In full compliance with FTC Guidelines, I received a copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for a fair and honest review. I was in no way compensated for this opinion, and the thoughts are my own. Links above will take you to a site where you can PURCHASE a copy. Using those links will take you through an affiliate link and I will receive a small percentage of the purchase cost. You are in no way obligated to use affiliate links and there is no additional cost to do so.