Vamped Up

Vampires of Crimson Bay #2

by Kristin Miller

On the run from hungry vampires with his lover under arm, madly possessive Ruan has one thing in mind: keep the dirty fangs of his khissmates off the neck of his one true love—a human with mouth watering blood. Eve, a tantalizing biblical studies teacher at Crimson Bay University, has no idea her life is in jeopardy. Ironically, living with the knowledge of paranormal beings and sharing a bed with one of the most cryptic vampires on the planet was not what had her protectively grasping her throat at night. It was the mention of her name in the ancient scrolls; the scrolls written by vampire elders, revealing what’s in store for the end of times…and her spilled blood.

Genres: Paranormal Romance, Paranormal, Vampires

416 pages, Kindle Edition

First published December 6, 2011

About the author

New York Times and USA Today best-selling author Kristin Miller writes sweet and sassy contemporary romance, romantic suspense, and paranormal romance of all varieties. Kristin has degrees in psychology, English, and education, and taught high school and middle school English before crossing over to a career in writing. She lives in Northern California with her alpha male husband and their two children. She loves chocolate way more than she should and the gym less. You can usually find her in the corner of a coffee shop, laptop in front of her and mocha in hand, using the guests around her as fuel for her next book.

Facebook: www.facebook.com/AuthorKristinMiller

Twitter: www.twitter.com/kristinmiller02

Web: www.kristinmiller.net

Reviews

[Jen Davis · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'll be honest. When I started reading, I was already annoyed because I couldn't find a decent summary description on this book anywhere. I don't like spoilers, but I do want at least a general idea of what I am about to read. I'm off-topic already, but it had to be said. Now, let me give you the basics.

We first met Eve and Ruan back in Intervamption and it was clear even then that they were on the path to get their own story. Unfortunately, this book really kind of skips over all of the falling in love parts. We've had a time jump of a few weeks since the last book and our couple is already involved in a serious relationship as this story begins. Ruan is a vampire and Eve is a human, which is causing some problems. Ruan wants to take her blood, but he knows he doesn't have the control to stop feeding once he starts. He's been having dreams about killing Eve and it's scaring him to death. His fears are driving a wedge between them, which is made worse by the fact that he won't tell her what's going on inside him.

Meanwhile, Savage is back and he still wants to take over as the leader of the vampires. His latest plan to accomplish that is to learn how to harness and control the powerful dark spirits that dwell within the Elders of the race. It's not as easy as he first hoped and eventually his nefarious plan brings him to Eve, who turns out to be much more than a mundane human.

It took me a really long time to get into this book. Perhaps, this is because so much of the love connection between Ruan and Eve happened off page. Maybe because I was frustrated by Ruan's unwillingness to communicate. I don't know. The characters fell flat and I couldn't connect to their relationship. I just wasn't feeling the book at all, until about halfway-in... when we started to see the set-up for side character Dante's story. It wasn't a great sign that I was more interested in what happened to him than what was going on with our main couple.

Eventually, Eve and Ruan's story does get more interesting, as we begin to learn about their hidden pasts. But it took too long to get there. I felt like this book had potential that it just didn't reach. I liked the last book better and hopefully Dante's story will reel me back in to this series. He seems like a pretty tortured hero --and I'm such a sucker for those. Almost 3 stars.

*ARC Provided by NetGalley

[Scooper Speaks · Rating 3 out of 5]

Favorite Lines: "She touched two fingers to the marks and swiped off some of the dried blood circling them. It didn't hurt at all. In fact, the scarlet spot that looked like the entry point for his fangs kind of...well, it kind of tingled. In a warm and fuzzy sort of way. As twisted as it sounded, Eve knew, given the opportunity, she would've allowed him to make a matching mark on the other leg. In a heartbeat." (p. 25, egalley)

Vamped Up is book two in Kristin Miller's Crimson Bay series focused on vampires and their battle for survival. The first book, Intervamption, introduced the idea of vampires who survive on synthetic blood. They were slowly dying until the heroine of Vamped Up, donated her blood and became their savior. Vamped Up picks up a few weeks after the events of book one and follows Eve and her hero Ruan.

The story is told from the third person POV. The "seeing eye" follows Eve and Ruan, as well as secondary characters like Dante, Dylan and Savage to give a thorough look at the plot from various directions. Flashbacks are used to enlighten characters (and readers), and foreshadowing is shown in Ruan's dreams.

I wouldn't recommend readers pick Vamped Up up for their first look into the Crimson Bay world, though. Too much is introduced in book one that without it--readers will be at a loss.

I never felt like Vamped Up was over-the-top "Wow" worthy, but it is a nice addition to the paranormal romance genre. It is filled with action, sex and mystery. Most importantly, it makes me want to know more about secondary characters living happily. I want answers to questions surrounding the people introduced in the book. I want more. And according to Miller's website, I'll get more. Miller is currently working on book three in the Crimson Bay series which is titled Last Vamp Standing.
Scooper Speaks

[Vanessa theJeepDiva · Rating 3 out of 5]

Vamped Up was a little strange for me. I think the majority of that was due to the fact that Eve and Rune is a couple and in love at the end of InterVamption. This allowed Vamped Up to progress more like an Urban Fantasy than a Paranormal Romance. The readers are given plenty of action and the evil does plotting towards the various havens very present and causing even more havoc than before. The book moves at a fast pace and the action and plot twists keep the pages turning. I just felt the romance was lacking, especially the sexual aspect of the romance.

Rune and Eve were a solidified couple and running away to hide from other vampires at the end of InterVamption. At the beginning of Vamped Up they are four weeks into their new relationship trying to overcome some interesting hurdles. Eve’s very special blood is causing some bloodlusting on Rune. Eve wants her lover to have that intimate connection with her. He is having some problems with taking her vein and these issues are dredging up some interesting things from Rune’s past. Eve is also so much more than what she was originally thought to be. This interesting twist puts her in far more danger than her blood ever did.

The prophetic revelations that are reveled are shocking. As readers learned in the first book of the series the Vampires of Crimson Bay rely heavily on the prophecies of their elders. The found pages of their cherished Grimorium Verum are just the tip of the iceberg. I am enjoying the lore that Miller has given her brand of vampire.

I will continue this series. I like the species of paranormals presented in these pages. The readers are given vampires, therians (shifters,) vamp-therian hybrids, and we are introduced to something new that was left unnamed. I am definitely interested into where this character will go and what he will turn out to be. The ending left me with the feeling that he will be the hero of the next book in the series, Vamp Appeal.

[Shelleyrae at Book'd Out · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed the first book of of Kristin Millers Crimson Bay,Intervamption, so I was interested in seeing the direction Miller was taking the series with the release of Vamped Up.
Picking up a few weeks after the final scenes in Intervamption, Vamped Up shifts it's relationship focus to Ruan, a 400+year old vampire and Eve, his mundane (human) lover whose blood saved the vampire race from a tainted blood supply. I enjoyed both the continuation of the story arc and the new elements that were introduced. With plenty of action, magic and and an interesting setting there is more to this book than romance. Savage is hunting elders in an attempt to control their death shades while Dylan and Slade are desperately trying to translate ancient scrolls. Eve and Ruan are the solutions to their problems, even if they don't know it.
Crimson Bay is an interesting world complete with imaginative mythology and detail. Though dominated by vampires and shifters (therians), Miller writes her own unique twists into accepted lore.
I thought the pacing could have been sharper as Ruan's angst and refusal to communicate initially stalled the book but it does pick up when the focus veers to Ruan and Eve's individual destinies.
The ending is suitably climatic (and with the HEA suited to the genre)with enough loose ends tied up to be satisfying while allowing the main story arc to continue and (I assume) it is Dante that will feature next.
Vamped Up is a strong sequel to Miller's debut and readers who enjoy paranormal romance with a darker edge will likely find this series a satisfying read.

[Lisa Sanchez · Rating 5 out of 5]

Vamped Up, book two in Kristin Miller’s Vampires Of Crimson Bay series is a fast-paced, dark, gritty paranormal romance that doesn’t disappoint. The story picks up shortly after book one (Intervamption) left off, with the hero and heroine, Ruan and Eve in the beginning stages of their relationship. Ruan’s feelings for Eve are powerful and strong. But, his bloodlust is even stronger, and he finds himself battling some serious demons as he fights to move forward in his relationship with Eve. A hazy recollection of his past combined with violent dreams of bleeding Eve dry send him reeling. Afraid of what might happen should he give into both his and Eve’s desires, he keeps her at arms length and immerses himself in the search for the Grimorium Verum, the sacred book that contains the ancient scrolls of the vampire race. What Ruan doesn’t know is that Eve isn’t just an ordinary mundane. She’s a crucial player in the war between vampires and therians with a past that’s linked to his.

I thoroughly enjoyed Vamped Up. My favorite characters from Intervamption return, along with a few new gems who hooked me right away. Kristin does a great job of showing Ruan’s anguish and self-loathing, and Eve’s reaction in turn. She also does a bang up job writing dark, evil characters. Savage returns in this installment in a big way, and with him, a very compelling storyline. Between the unique lore, the fated love story and the non-stop action, Vamped Up has a little something for everyone. I highly recommend.

[Marla · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book as much as the first. It was definitely worth the money and my time. I too liked that not much time had passed in the story from the end of the first book and the beginning of the seceond book. A few parts were a little too repetitious and started getting on my nerves and like the first book, it had it's fair share of slow parts. But, for the most part it was definitely a "goodread".

[Linda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Some of this was a bit far fetch...what the heck am I saying...it's a book about vampires 🧛‍♀️