Cameron Dean

Passionate Thirst, by Cameron Dean, is the first novel in the Candace Steele, Vampire Killer series. It's about as average as these things come: badass female vampire slayer falls in love with sexy male vampire, etc. Fortunately for my sanity, both the author and the protagonist recognize the vampire's obnoxious, "Alpha Male" behavior for what it is: controlling and harmful. Unfortunately, the book's ending undermines any progress made in that direction.

The story follows Candace Steele, who show more works as security in a Las Vegas casino. As she narrates, there are periodic flashbacks to her lover, Ash, an old and powerful vampire. After narrowly escaping death when he tried to bring her over, Candace left Ash and became a vampire slayer. She uses her ability to sense vampires - an ability which most vampires don't even know humans can have - and kills not with the traditional wooden stake, but with thin silver stakes disguised as hair ornaments.

Candace has to deal with two problems at once: first, realizing that the hit singer Temptation McCoy, whom Candace has been assigned to protect, has a vampire in her entourage; and second, the return of Ash, who is still set on winning her heart no matter what she says.

It's the "no matter what she says" that forms the crux of the book's problem - one that plagues both supernatural romances and real life - the idea that a woman's "no" can't possibly really mean no if a man doesn't want it to. This is made all the more disturbing by the fact that Candace is able to call Ash out on his behavior being controlling and manipulative, and the fact that she is able to keep telling him no instead of just falling into his arms.

That's not the disturbing part, of course; that's the reassuring part, the part that puts this novel above most similar stories in its ability to recognize harmful relationship dynamics. But all of that is thrown away by the story's ending, which hinges on the fact that Candace cannot be killed or taken by another vampire because she "belongs" to Ash.

That's the disturbing part: the fact that Ash's behavior is not upheld as normal, romantic, or unharmful, and yet it is still tacitly accepted as "just how vampires are." In the end, it's hard to say whether that's a better or worse perspective than the average paranormal romance.

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Even if I was in a paranormal romance mood big time when I read this, I still wasn’t in the mood to being crowded by sex scenes right off the bat. Luscious cravings lives up to its name with a sexual dream in the first chapter, and continuing sexual episodes of some kind almost every chapter thereafter. Still, I could skim and ignore it since there was an actual plot at the same time, plenty at stake, tense motions, and a hurried pace.

It opens with the heroine still reeling from a show more traumatic event with a vampire she fell for, shaking off her urges to be with the guy and lead a somewhat normal life, or else normal for her. She’s now turned to being a low-key vamp assassin while continuing her job as a cocktail waitress in the local casino. She can’t ignore much for long, though, as vampire politics start inching into her work and she has to face up to everything she’s been fighting to avoid so she can overcome it.

The ending leaves off with a bit of frustration and a lot of unanswered questions urging the reader to pick up the third. Skimming reviews, I saw enough of the third revealed to be glad for once that there are spoilers so I know to avoid it. The ending of the trilogy apparently angered a lot of people, and I can only be glad of my emotional investment being slight by reading the second, not the first and not the third. With that turnout, it won’t be a trilogy I’ll complete. I already get pissed enough at books as it is.

Candace is a likeable villain, even if she’s controlled a little too much by her hormones. She doesn’t make stupid decisions, she faces most things head on, but she really needs to fight the sexual itch sometimes. Ash is awesome but a lot of his involvement with the story leaves so many questions and answers waiting to be revealed. There’s a lot of serious bad at play with other characters, which I’m assuming is wrapped up with the third.

Despite some flaws, I did enjoy it and the reading was quick. Plenty kept happening, my interest was hooked, and even though the bedroom scenes were frequent, they were actually well written with a hot touch. It's worth a read for Paranormal fans, but I think you'd get a better grasp of the characters reading the first book before starting this one. Just be aware the third will likely irritate you. show less

Passionate Thirst was OK. Even though I thought Candace and Ash made a good couple, the reason for not wanting to change didn't ring true. She knew what he was and went into it with her eyes open. Without giving anything away, I felt the mystery aspect was a bit contrived and I wished the author gave a more plausible reason for what was happening. It wasn't a total loss though because I want to read the next book.
3.5 stars

Ok so it took me ages to read all three of these books because right from the getgo I just didnt' like vampire hunter, Candace Steele or Vamp Man Ash. They both seem very 'cookie cutter'. The coolest thing was when Candace would put a silver hair barrette in a vamp's eye and swoosh they died. The 2nd book was slightly better than the first, as it had a tolerable plot line. The third installment, just hurt to read. The first thing that bothered me is that there was NO kind of recap whatsoever show more on what happened previously. I don't need pages, but give me a paragraph or two. Candace immediately turns, goes to an auction and an orgy (I had no idea she was going to be another Anita Blake- with no sexual discretion at all), watches the one half way decent character in the series kick the bucket, and then the ending. Wow. You have to give Dean credit for having nerve here. I personally was so over the series, I kind of thought the ending was mildly funny. Candance really ended up in a place she almost deserved to be...Nevertheless this doesn't make up for the fact that this series and this book in particular, is highly unsatisfying and there are tons of books out there more worthy of your valuable reading time. show less