A Taste Of You

Hinky Chicago #5

by Jennifer Stevenson

An energy vampire at seventeen, Hel reduced her first lover to ashes. Forty years later, she still looks seventeen. Her life is teaching hyperactive boys, roller derby, and worrying about paying her mother's hospital bills.

Nick Jones, federal anti-magic cop, has a secret, too. Magic turns him on, to his shame. This makes it hard for him when he's assigned to recruit Hel.

Nick feels guilty for his attraction to a teenager. Hel adores Nick's yummy energy. If he learns she's a vampire, he'll send her to Hinky Guantanamo.

But how can they keep their hands off each other?

Genres: Romance, Fantasy

286 pages, Kindle Edition

First published November 15, 2011

About the author

I started swimming at 40, riding horses at 42, roller derby at 52, speed skating at 54 ... something's backward there. Read about my latest bruise at https://www.facebook.com/JenniferStev...

I've been writing since I was four, and didn't publish a story til I was 34 ... something's backward there too. Read about my latest books at http://www.bookviewcafe.com/index.php...

Living my life backwards means I get to eat bacon every day and goof off all summer. Don't be fooled. Writing is still a job.

Reviews

[Tanecia · Rating 1 out of 5]

*I received this book as a read to review on another website. I have to say that the synopsis sounded really good and I figured it might be a fun adult read, but that was not the case unfortunately....


My Synopsis: The main character Hel is no ordinary blood sucking monster-she's a "Energy vampire". She doesn't live off human blood but lives off of peoples energy, and she can feel your emotions with her keen sense of smell and she doesn't look a day older than seventeen even though she is decades older. Hel has been hiding this truth from everyone including her alcoholic mother "Jilly" who is so much like a BFF than a mother. Hel is not to happy with being an "Energy Vampire" in fact she hates her self everyday that she has to suck the life out of little kids and people for food so she can survive, leaving her victims weak and flustered. Hel then meet this savvy middle aged man who claims he is a Detective for an agency who investigates magical beings and he wants Hel to do his dirty work and spy on this doctor who knows a lot about magic....

Pros: I really had high hopes for this book because the concept of the Energy vampire could have been a great idea if executed correctly. Hel was an okay character and I liked the sexual tension between Hel and Nick.


Cons: Once again this book had some good ideas but they were not executed correctly. Hel was hard for me to relate too... she was too whinny and annoying most of the time. And whoa did this book drag! It took forever for the plot to ever build or take place. It felt like it went on and on and nothing was happening and I started to get bored and had the feeling that nothing was ever going to happen. I had to skim through to get to the few parts that were actually some what good. I also didn't like how the author explained that she was an energy vampire and all of what she could do in the beginning and then in the middle of the book Hel just materializes into thin air to follow Nick home. I was like "what the hell is going on?" It would have been nice to know what all her powers included when she explained it in the beginning,because it had me lost and confused. And don't get me started on the bad guy!

All in all this was not a fantastic read for me and I struggled to finish it and I feel awful for giving it a bad review but I like to be truthful with the reviews I write. And I will continue to read books from this author in the future but this book was clearly "Not my cup of tea".


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[LizJ. · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was different from the others in the series so far...where's Jewel, Randy and Clay?? While I did miss them a bit Hel and Nick kept me quite entertained! This is a gritty, twisty, dark but balanced with light and romance. I absolutely loved this book!! I didn't put it down until the very last page and was very sad that it was over but what a story!!! Hel has met her match in Nick, Hel is an energy demon and Nick is a Magic bloodhound and they balance each other so well I'm so happy that they found each other and really shocked to learn that Dr. Katterfelto isn't a bad guy, he's a little crazy but actually very helpful and really into the science behind the magic which I found very interesting. I can't wait to read the next!! I hope this series never ever ends!!!

[Katharine Kimbriel · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book by Stevenson, but I’ll be firm here – the cover designed to match the Brass Bed books? Not right. This is not a romance, and not a comedy, although there is love and a lot of humor in the book. But there’s also dark power, pain and despair, scary and strong magic, and a deeply sensual look at the mind of someone with morals who has survived as an energy vampire for decades – and now she’s hanging on by her psychic fingernails.

Hel Nagzy disintegrated her first boyfriend at 17, and decades later, she can’t even risk petting her cat. Teaching ADHD and autistic kids and competing in roller derby keep her (mostly) fed and sane. But Hel wants more – she wants a real life, she wants a way out of her aging, alcoholic mother’s massive medical bills, and she wants to love and be loved. She’s surviving in a strange, alternate world where the cops of Chicago are pretending that things are normal while entire parts of major world cities are disappearing into magical no-man’s-lands.

Then the Feds find out she’s been reading New Age web sites, looking for people researching the current weird upshift in magic. Nick, an anti-magic cop, shows up. They need her help flushing out a magical threat, though they don’t seem to know what she is. The cop has his own problems, the presence of magic arouses him, and he thinks Hel must be underage, which is making him feel lousy about his attraction to her.

What is going on is not quite what you’re probably expecting, the hints of how magic is working are intriguing, and yes, the ending is hopeful.

So – A Taste of You is overall enjoyable, well done, magical, truly romantic in numerous ways, and worth reading! But if you’re looking for category anything, it’s probably not your cup of tea. Recommended!

[Melissa Craig · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have just finished reading a fun quirky vampire paranormal romance written by Jennifer Stevenson. Called, “A Taste of You” It was just released so you better get your hands on it. It’s about a vegan vampire who loves roller derby and draws energy from everyone around her. Including a very hot Agent, Nick. (Who likes to do push ups before he goes to bed. Wow, I lost my train of thought. You need to read and find out how he does push ups. Hehe. I need to find me one of these men.)

A taste of you had my heart palpitating, and not just my heart. Wink, wink.  LOL. Yet again Jennifer Stevenson has outdone herself and even tied in a character and settings from her other paranormal romance books. (The brass bed sex-demon series.) Magic is in the air, causing the world to go into melt down. But Nick has other things on his mind when Hel is around. Lucky for Hel she has the senses to know exactly what is making his heat go through the roof. But she needs to focus on the job at hand, and so do you. Buy this ebook today. Have a good laugh, a cry, a flutter of nerves waiting in anticipation, with the problems they have to face. Read this hot, steamy, sexy book and meet these horny Characters.

You will find out how these Derby Girls band together as one. They ROCK! Jennifer makes me want to go and see a game right now and look for these characters. As they felt so real to me it was unbelievable. Love it Jen.

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Surprisingly for a book that's not the first in a series and indeed related to other books quite tightly, I actually enjoyed this one. It wasn't as great as I had hoped, but it wasn't your typical bite-me vampire book. There were plenty of funny bits, and while I thought I might be missing something here or there because I hadn't read other books by this author, it was still a nice quick read. The roller-derby element was a quirky touch, and reminds me that there are many things out there that I just don't get but would like to. If I come across other books by this author I'll check them out, though it seems difficult to find this one through normal channels. I'm glad I got this one through the LibraryThing early reviewer program.

[Susan Anne · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved Jennifer Stevenson’s first three books and so jumped at the chance to be an Early Reviewer for her fourth novel, A Taste of You. It is set in the same hinky Chicago as the first three books, so having read them gave me more background than is contained in A Taste of You. However, not having read the first three books would in no way detract from enjoying her current offering. I like Stevenson’s off-beat main characters, strong women who don’t see their own strength. Their love interests also are unconventional, but her novels have a HEA, or at least HFN ending. I would strongly recommend A Taste of You to anyone who enjoys paranormal romance with resilient women and a strong dose of humor.

[Linda · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Taste of You by Jennifer Stevenson is the second book I have read with paranormal characters. The concept of an energy vampire was a different twist. I liked the concept of draining a person's energy instead of their blood. The main character Helen (Hel) has been a vampire for forty years and hasn't had a boyfriend and she didn't trust anyone until she met Nick. After her escapades spying with him, on him and looking for the magic that Dr. Katterfelto allegedly possesses she finally takes the plunge and trusts Nick. The plot was unusual and the characters were believable. I enjoyed this very refreshing book. This is a delightful and amusing novel that paranormal romance buffs will love. Readers who enjoy romance books with happy endings will love to read this book.

[Rebecca · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Taste of You is an enjoyable fun quick read about an energy vampire who must drink of the energy of the people around her, but is wracked with guilt when she accidentally drinks too much and causes people harm. So, she has to learn to control herself and only take sips when the energy she is stealing will not be missed. She has discovered roller derby where there is always extra "prana" floating around, which is great for keeping her nourished.

This story takes place in the same world as her Brass Bed series, but because the characters are totally different, it won't hurt to read this one out of order. If you haven't read anything else by Jennifer Stevenson yet, I would recommend this one as a good introduction.

[Amber Parker · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received this book from the Early Reviewer and it was the first one so I was really nervous about reading it. Fortunately it grabbed me from the start. I realized from the first page that this was going to be something completely different than what I have ever read. The characters are completely down to earth and realistic (well except for the vampire part and the magic part). The main character brings to light just how screwed up life can be an how sometimes you just want to give up but can't because there is always something that needs to be done or someone who needs you, but in the end you realize it makes you a better person and that you need to accept who you are (or what you are). I cannot wait to read more from this author!

[Beth Rodriguez · Rating 5 out of 5]

A bit of a surprise in the Hinky series. This one was actually a story on Helan Vittle, who turns out to be pretty hinky herself. Our regulars (Jewel, Randy, and Clay) are off on vacation, while this tale takes place. Loved it! You'll, of course, see some of the Derby girls. But there are also new characters. Sex is not as steamy as the previous books, but I didn't expect it to be the same as this is a completely different character. Still interesting, still funny, and still has me hooked. A definite "need to read".

I voluntarily reviewed an advanced copy of this book. This is my honest review.

[Rich Bynum · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Taste Of You is an adventure-filled book set in the same universe as Jennifer Stevenson’s Brass Bed series but featuring different characters. A roller derby skating, magically created energy vampire and a magic-fearing federal agent are thrown together as they come upon a power-mad, crazy man who seeks to be made immortal and all powerful. I greatly enjoyed the characters and the twists and turns, and I think this is a great read.

[John · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jennifer Stevenson takes the reader on another trip to her hinky world, this time with an energy sucking vampire as the good gal. I have enjoyed several of the other books in the Chicago series and have found them all to be very entertaining and light fun reads. Her characters always have a magical secret and super power or ability that is usually very different from what you would normally expect. This is a voluntary review of a copy of this book from Prolific Works.

[Dessy · Rating 1 out of 5]

This was just not the book for me. I read about 50 pages and just can't seem to force myself to finish it. Story is ludicrous, the main character annoyed me, and even the urban fantasy element did not make up for the dull story line.

[Jennifer Verri · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved how different this book was from so many other vampire books out there. I want to read more. I hope that the author writes more and makes this a series. It was light, serious, and funny. I loved the emotional rollercoaster of the book. Great Read!

[Robin Marwick · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good fun.

[Jackie · Rating 4 out of 5]

A cute book, that's light reading, and keeps your interest just like the rest by this author

[Kat · Rating 2 out of 5]

If I hadn't gotten this for free through Early Reviewers, I wouldn't have wasted the little time it took to read it. This book is a fast read, thankfully, but I didn't care about any of the characters and nothing about this energy vampire story interested me at all.

The characters were one dimensional and boring. The story didn't grab me... I was just bored. For about the first half, I kept hoping it would get better. After that, I just hoped the book would end soon. Perhaps early teens would be mildly interested, but I wouldn't have been when I was a young teen