Nancy Haddock

Last Vampire Standing by Nancy Haddock

I knew with the very first chapter of La Vida Vampire (Oldest City Vampire, Book 1)
that I had found something worth my book reading time, my patience and my cash. I don’t think I had even actually finished this book before I was off and running recommending it to anyone that would listen to me. I just knew that here was finally an author that knew how to write a fresh, funny vampire mystery/romance series. Now with the release of Ms. Haddocks newest, show more “Last Vampire Standing (Oldest City Vampire, Book 2) I am positive that we have the making for a long running series; a wonderful roller coaster ride that has me chortling with glee, and already anxious for my next fix of Princes Francesca, or Cesca (rhymes with Fresca) as she likes to be called!

All Cesca ever wanted from her underdead life…er…death was to make up for the centuries of being buried. She wants to live her life like a semi-normal human being. She wants to blend with the humans, shop Wal-Mart, surf (yes; a surfing Vampire, who knew!) have a boyfriend and give her historic ghost tours. After all she is living history. But alas, the road to hell is paved with good intentions and what could she do when the fates brought to her doorstep Jo-Jo the Jester? Yep J J the Jester (Ms Haddock has a real creative imagination!)
Then comes more trouble in the shape of Ike the head vamp from Daytona, his henchwoman Laurell (who braids her hair using human bones as decoration) and Vlad the head honcho from Atlanta (what mother would name her baby Vlad?) and Marcus, a blast form Cesca’s past. Toss into the mix Cesca learning how to fly, helping J J with updating his comedy act, some new Vamp powers of hers coming on line, a prophecy starting to come true, an old very old friend helping her out, a shape shifting cat and a surprise from her boyfriend Deke--and you have the makings of a rollicking good read.

This second book in the series delivers a more difficult mystery to be solved, wonderfully fleshed out secondary characters and even some pretty humorous tertiary characters like next door neighbors Hugh and Selma Lister.

Run, walk, fly or down-load it to your Kindle; I don’t care how you do it, just go and get this book. If you haven’t read La Vida Vampire yet, then may I suggest that you splurge on that book too, although you don’t need to have read it to understand what is going on in this second book in the series!

Happy reading! show less

This came sooo close to being a really excellent cozy, but as is, it's a very good one.

Nixy is called to Lilyvale, Arkansas by the local detective because he's been called out to the home of Nixy's aunt and her friends one too many times for fires and explosions and there's talk about the courts stepping in and shipping them all off to a nursing home. When she arrives she finds 6 people that are anything but incompetent and a rather unconventional reason for all the false alarms. She also show more finds an unscrupulous developer itching to get her hands on the family land - and everyone else's too.

There are a lot of things to love about this book: strong, independent senior citizens, a strong, independent, educated main character who never, ever resorts to ditzy behaviour or immature behaviour, and a charming small town setting. The mystery was better than average too, although the murderer wasn't hard to figure out after the half-way mark.

The only reason I didn't rate it higher was Nixy's declaration that she was 'investigating' the murder and she wouldn't rest until she solved it and cleared her aunt. That, for me, left a disappointing dent in my enjoyment. In every other way this mystery was great, it just crossed that line into immaturity when the MC decided she could do the police's job better than they could.

I'm interested in reading the next one, as it was easy to grow fond of the characters and setting. But its with the hope that future mysteries will be more subtly crafted. show less

I dug Saber and found him a hot hero of the story, but then sexual scenes did little for me. Still, the book was fun. Heroine is almost too pure but she's also amusing and I enjoy her outlook on things. The Ghost tours are a hoot and there were genuinely laugh-out-loud moments in this story. Very cute paranormal romance that doesn't focus too much on the relationship, but actually has depth, a good mystery story, and various layers. All sidekicks and friends were well designed, interesting, show more and dimensional. A bit let down on who the villain was, found it a bit too easy and they thought it was him for awhile before, so there was little suspense when it turned out they were right. Loved how the author used the settings and rich history of St. Augustine Florida for the story as well. Reading the second starting today. show less

Reviewed by Stephanie
Review copy provided by Berkley
Though Always the Vampire is book three of the Oldest City Vampire series, it makes for a pretty entertaining stand-alone novel that both douses in the contemporary romance and urban fantasy genres.

Though it's technically "paranormal romance", I can't get myself to call it that because the actual paranormal elements are extremely minor, if at all, important. Cesca Marinelli is pushing 228, but she does not display any vampirely show more characteristics. Passersby recognize her on the streets as the town vampire, which is both unrealistically casual and hard to believe. Haddock creates an urban fantasy world that's so modern and chic, but just difficult to relate to.

As a whole, this novel is satisfying, though I must say it's very anticlimactic. The rising action is all of titillating, but the story peaks at a disappointment. Also, the moment I finished it, I couldn't help but wonder, How is this even a vampire story? It just isn't "magical" enough -- or engrossing enough, for that matter -- for me to really consider it paranormal.

The characters, however, particularly the two male protagonists, Saber (Cesca's hunky boyfriend) and Triton (Cesca's hunky ex), make me weak in the knees. ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥. Just yum. Saber and Cesca's undying (literally...) romance will sweep you off your feet.

Not anything marvelous overall, but it's a fair read for me. The "sexiness" of Cesca's humor and so-called wit (or lack thereof) falls flat, but the plot is suspenseful, and the characters determined, which should count for something.

Quote: "'In [Triton's] younger days, he was a bit of a player. Now? I don't think so, but he is a guy. Men can be too exasperating to be worth the trouble.'
'Or wonderful enough to wait a lifetime for,' Lia said from behind us.'" show less