Tall, Dark & Hungry

Really all my feelings on this book can be summed up in one large groan. I had been looking forward to reading about Bastien too. Bastien really could've been an interesting character, but Sands made him out to be a soft snuggle bunny with fangs. And Terri was unbelievably sweet. She has no backbone, except for once in the story and that didn't last too long. I have a very strong feeling that if I hadn't been familiar with the characters I would've given up on this book long before hitting page 100. This is the fourth book in the series and is pretty much just riding on the coat tails of Single White Vampire the whole time. The main plot of the story revolved around Luc and Kate's wedding. Kate's cousin, Terri, comes for the wedding and show more conveniently Kate gets called away on business leaving her cousin to sit around for a week with only Bastien for company. During that week disasters occur with the wedding plans which Terri and Bastien end up having to fix. If you're going to read this series I'd say it's pretty safe to skip this one. show less

It seems that Sands has determined that all of the Argeneau siblings must simply meet their life partner and live happily ever after. With his father having died in a fire, Bastien is now the head of the family. He is the one that everyone calls when they are in a rough spot - the fixer of problems. Having had his heart broken years ago, Bastien has thrown his life into his work and has basically given up all pleasure in life, including eating and sex. When Kate, his sister-in-law to be foists her Terri on him when she flies in from England two weeks before the wedding between Kate and Lucian, Bastien graciously accepts having to share his NewYork penthouse.

What he does not think about is how his habits have to change to deal with show more living with a woman who is not a vampire and does not have any idea that vampires even exist.

Bastien feels an instant attraction to Terri and finds his jaded nature slipping away so that he can see the world through her eyes. For her part, Terri is cautiously guarding her heart. It's been many years since the young widow has been in a relationship and afters staying by her former husbands guide watching while he wasted away. Terri is scared to get close to anyone after watching both her mother and husband die slow painful deaths. At first, Terri is just attracted to Bastien and decides to enjoy the ride, but the more time they spend together, Terri realises that she is at risk of losing her heart.

I like that Terri was absolutely forthright in all of her interactions. The problem is that Terri has a PHD but did not appear to be in least bit intellectual. Her trip with Bastien to the MET would have been a great time to let this show but instead, Sands was comfortable letting Bastien take the lead. The characters joke about how loud Terri is when she has sex, which is supposed to be an indicator that Terri is sexually liberated but liberated women say more than please during sex. They actively ask for what they want. Also her insecurity giving a blowjob wasn't endearing. Come on, it's not that hard and certainly not something one suddenly forgets how to do. It reads as just another gently used female love interest.

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Tall, Dark, and Hungry by Lynsay Sands
Book #4: Argeneau Series
Source: Purchase (Print and Audible)
My Rating: 3/5 stars

Terri is no stranger to life throwing curve balls. Once upon a time, Terri was young and in love, but life threw a whole slew of curve balls that left her widowed and alone in England. With a few good friends and a stable job, Terri has managed to make the most of her life, even feel satisfied with her life, but there is never going to be another great love. As an unattached woman, Terri has the luxury of packing her bags and heading to New York for a couple of weeks to help her cousin, Kate C. Leever, prepare for her impending wedding. As it happens, life isn’t done throwing curve balls at Terri!

When Terri arrives in show more New York, she isn’t greeted by her cousin, but by a tall, dark, and devastatingly handsome man who whisks her away to his New York penthouse. To be sure, the man explains he is nearly related to Kate and will be sharing his incredibly large home with her, Terri in the weeks preceding the wedding. Oh, and Kate won’t be there because she’s been called out of town for work and all the last-minute wedding details are now in the hands of Terri and the tall, dark stranger. So. Many. Curve. Balls.

Bastien Argeneau is the fix it man for his family. When disaster strikes, call Bastien. When you need blood, call Bastien. When you need transportation, call Bastien. When you need, well, anything, call Bastien! For centuries, Bastien has gladly accepted his role within the family, been glad to help when and where he can, and never complained or taken much for himself in exchange. In fact, Bastien has spent centuries doing nothing but working and he has no plans to do anything different once his future in-law’s cousin is settled into the penthouse. Then, Bastien meets Terri, and suddenly, a few days off doesn’t seem like such a hardship.

Bastien immediately likes Terri and respects her willingness to alter her plans and take on so much responsibility on behalf of her cousin. Despite all the crazy thrown at her, Terri dives right in with zero complaints and a solid can-do attitude. As the days move swiftly by, Bastien finds his time with Terri is the easiest, most comfortable he has had in many, many centuries. She is fun, adventurous, intelligent, funny, and shares so many of Bastien’s own likes and interests. What’s more, Bastien can’t read her!

The Bottom Line: I’m not sure Tall, Dark, and Hungry is ever going to be my favorite book in the series, but it is a solid read. I liked Bastien far, far more than Terri so I think that’s what has me somewhat on the fence with my overall enjoyment of the read. Of all the people to come into the Argeneau family, Terri is by far the most sedate, the most even-keeled, and that didn’t quite work for me. With that being said, I certainly didn’t dislike this book, just wanted that little extra punch I’ve grown accustomed to in the first three books. As the saying goes, onward and upward . . . . . or, in this case, on to book five, A Bite to Remember! show less

I loved "A Quick Bite", I didn't love "Love Bites", but I found some funny and entertaing bits in "Single White Vampire". Unfortunately "Tall, Dark and Hungry" is the worst of the Argeneau Vampire stories so far. I kinda liked the characters of Terri and Bastian but the story was pretty boring. Chris was an obvious device Sands manufactured into the story for no point except to add humor...and he wasn't nearly as humorous as he was in "Single White Vampire". The story dragged on FOREVER. This pretty much read like any standard romance and you could go a hundred pages without realizing this was a group of Vampires you are reading about. I wanted to like this book, truly I did. There was just too much boring sex, forced romance, and none show more of Sand's trademark humor. I already own the next two books. If I didn't already own them, I certainly wouldn't be seeking them out. A better paranormal romance series is Kerrelyn Sparks "Love At Stake" books. They annoy me occasionally also, but not one of those stories has ever been as nearly unreadable as this one. show less

This series is like a sweet delight, so tasty you devour them immediately then want more. It is the perfect beach/light read for the summer and stressful times. Witty and fun with just enough drama to keep you interested.

In this book, the 4th installment of the series, we get Bastien's story. The guys can't seem to get it and Bastien is no different. He is the logical, super organized, detail person that thought he had everything in its proper place until Terri waltzes in to help with her best friend's wedding and ends up as an unexpected house guest. The drama than ensued made for a great story. Can't wait to read the next one.

#13, 2005

The third in this series (I guess I'm in the mood for vampire books - this ISN'T one of the Southern Vampire novels, though, but a different series by another author), I found this book disappointing. I enjoyed the first in the series, Love Bites, very much - I thought it was fresh and funny and gave an interesting explanation for vampirism (they're not undead - they're humans with an engineered thingy in their blood which repairs damage, allowing for near immortality). The second book in the series I found a bit too much like the first; this third one was just more of the same. Although the books focus on one family, there is no character development from one book to the next, as each book is centered on a different member of show more the family. In all three books, a male vampire and human woman fall in love, and after some misadventures end up "happily ever after." Very fluffy, very predicable, and very dull, after the first one. I won't read another in this series. I should have followed my instinct and skipped this one, as well. show less

When is a vampire not a vampire? I do love this series that lets the vampires have the best of both worlds. They can go out in the sun, and can drink bagged blood and read minds - really what is the downside?

Bastien is an "A" type personality that has lost control. Terri is a free-spirit who refuses to conform. Of course, it is a match made for mayhem. A cute little story, but hard to take as a stand-alone, since so little background on the vampires is given until the very end of the book. Also, it is disappointing to not see the relationship go through Terri's conversion. That would have really set Bastien on his ear and made for a more emotional storyline.