A Girl's Guide to Vampires by Katie MacAlister is modern day vampire romance, mystery, comedy...in fact there is so many different aspects to this book there is sure to be something to appeal to everyone.

Joy Randall does not believe in vampires, at least not in real life, although she is rather partial to reading the vampire romance novels of C J Dante.

Her friend Roxy is sure that they do exist and together they travel to the Moravian Highlands where the author of the books lives and has done his research  in search of the Dark Ones.

However their searching has hardly begun when Joy finds herself sharing the thoughts and strong emotions of a real life vampire.  She just does not know who it is. 

At the top of their list of suspects is Raphael St John, the mysterious security man with the GothFaire that is taking place in the town they are staying in.  With secrets he is not willing to share Joy and Roxy are sure he is their vampire...after all why else would Joy be so attracted to him?

Other suspects are Christian, a man with his own secrets who makes it clear that he is also interested in Joy and Dominic an obviously fake vampire who owns the GothFaire and has also set his sights on Joy.

Joy's sceptical approach to vampires is tested to the limit as she continues to receive the emotions of the local vampire who has marked her for his own. However she quickly realises that there is nothing erotic and romantic about vampires and that the books she has read are pure fiction.

Things come to a head however when one of the workers at the GothFaire is murdered in what appears to be a vampire attack.

It is up to Joy and Roxy to sort out which of the men they have met is the vampire and try to stop him before he kills again.

Told entirely in the first person perspective this adds a great deal to the mystery as to who the vampire is and the reader is kept guessing and second guessing throughout the novel. 

My only qualm is the heroine herself...for someone who complains about the lack of trust Raphael has in her, she shows a shocking lack of trust in him.  However this is only a small point in what is a very amusing and well told novel.

This is a whole new type of vampire romance and I for one hope that there is a sequel.

RATING : 
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Also by Katie MacAlister: Sex and the Single Vampire

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