This post was originally published at Novelicious.com and is now at WritingTipsOasis.com. WritingTipsOasis.com acquired Novelicious.com in June 2022.
Reviewed by Debs Carr
Jessica Grant knows her vampires. Come to think of it, she also knows her werewolves, shadows and ghouls too. She's a liaison officer and runs the York Council tracker programme with her assistant, Liam. Together they watch over the Otherworlders and check that they're all in their allocated places and not causing trouble. When there is an emergency Jess goes looking for the miscreant and tranqs them.
Unfortunately, there's an ex-colleague who causes her more trouble than she'd like. Sil, a handsome vampire, and Jess have a hate/hate relationship. All was going well between them until he went to kiss her and she suddenly pulled away. Since then the tension between them when ever they meet has been palpable and Jessica does her best to stay out of his way and not fall for his considerable charms. Sil, who's in charge of Otherworld York, senses when Jess is thinking about him and although he wants her, he can't forgive her for rejecting him. When Jess is warned that someone is after her, people begin to die and they both soon realize that if they want to avert all-out war, then Jessica has to find a way to stop this new threat to her town and everything she holds dear, and Sil is determined that she won't have to do it alone.
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I haven't read many paranormal books and this is my first vampire novel. To be honest, I knew it would be enjoyable not only because Jane Lovering has won 2012 Romantic Novel of the Year Award and also Best Romantic Comedy of the Year for a previous novel, Please Don't Stop The Music, but simply because I've read all her books and have loved every one. Her heroes are always quirky, so I knew that Sil would be too. He's also dangerous, lusty, but at the same time you can empathise with him.
Vampire State of Mind is dramatic, full of funny one-liners, but also dark and at times incredibly sad. If you're a True Blood fan (raises hand in the air) then you'll love this and even if you aren't, but enjoy a really great story with gutsy characters, then I can certainly recommend this book.
9/10
JANE LOVERING'S WEBSITE