Definitely hard-boiled, though I am getting a bit bored… ( )

Unfortunately, X-Rated Bloodsuckers was nowhere near as entertaining as The Nymphos of Rocky Flats. For much of the story, the protagonist wanders around Los Angeles confused, trying to come to terms with the story's central mystery. Unfortunately, I felt just as confused as Felix, but not in the way that I want to be when reading a mystery. The entire premise seemed less engaging or interesting. On the positive side, the supporting characters were better developed (but I found it hard to take seriously some of the names...); however, a key supporting character was over-used to the ponit of "too much of a good thing...". I like Felix Gomez and will go ahead and read the next book in the series, but I would not recommend this particular book. ( )

I enjoyed the second book in the Felix Gomez series both a little more, and a little less.

As I mentioned before this book seems to be the male version of the paranormal romance/chick-lit that is so popular now. Someone on Goodreads called it dude-lit, and I will concur. (and steal the word).

While chick-lit is centered on romance, dude-lit seems centered on sex, and not always in a good way. The first book used the word vagina more than a medical text, it only makes a couple of appearances in the this book. I think Acevedo goes out of his way to brush up his dude credentials by making a lot of the sex without feeling, no emotional entanglements. It makes the book a bit crude and the characters rather too slick.

The continuing crude-ness is one of the reasons I like this book a bit less than its predecessor. What is forgiven in a first book, becomes annoying in subsequent books. It also seems to be a bit of a slog in terms of reading. There are a lot of plot threads and clues, but not well connected or used. Felix just keeps going round and round, not getting it, and having adventures. The adventures seem to be the reason for the book. They are all nicely cinematic. But at some point you begin to tire of the same clues, and people, and similar adventures (shootings, explosions, fights, chases).

Why I like the book more than the first one, is there is more meat to the story, and the main characters are better fleshed out. Felix shares more of his early years, and seems to again find an impossible love (which he then reduces to mechanical sex). He has an interesting side-kick in the book, Coyote who is well done. I hope he appears in future books. I also like the crow messenger of the Araneaum, the vampire power structure.

I also enjoy more of the Hispanic flavor of the book. Its a new vampire twist for me. We again have vampires who are not just buff and beautiful, but older, short, fat, and balding.

Acevedo also uses the idea of auras and vampire eyes and vision to make them both more interesting, and also more vulnerable. They have great power when they can use them, but they are so strange that they need hide them behind contacts and sunglasses, and are not always able to be used.

While the first book was about the danger of aliens, this book seems to be about the danger of humans, even to vampires. The actual mystery, and the people who are involved are just thin plot devices to let Felix go barging around, having cinematic adventures. He is investigating the death of a porn star, and the porn industry, and the Araneum wants him to find out if vampires in the LA nest have revealed themselves to humans and are working with them, instead of enslaving them as chalices (read permanent blood donors).

There is a lot of action, innuendo, and body parts, and a touch of humor. Felix explores the greed, and evil of both humans and vampires with too much money and no soul. Those who in business, politics and religion will take advantage of others for their own power and financial benefit. I will read the next one. ( )

Another fun read from Acevedo. This time Felix is back in LA investigating the murder of a porn star.

Sure it is nice to write off your porn collection as "research", but really, Acevedo should move beyond the gimmicky titles and covers sooner rather then later. ( )

This didn't appeal to me as much as The Nymphos of Rocky Flats. ( )