What do you think?
Rate this book
Castle of Dark Dreams #1
Wicked Nights
At the Castle of Dark Dreams, a popular adult amusement park attraction where women make their fantasies come true in erotic role-playing games, a female talk-show host gets more than she had bargained for in the arms of Eric McNair, the castle's resident vampire. Reprint.
295 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published April 5, 2005
35 people are currently reading
1975 people want to read
About the author
Nina Bangs
43 books673 followersTalk about misspent youth. What did I do during those lazy summer days of childhood when I could’ve been honing my writing skills? Nothing. Okay, so I spent a lot of time dreaming I was a cowgirl with a trusty black stallion. Oh, and I read every Walter Farley horse novel. I was an only child so I relied on my imagination to supply the excitement in my life.
By high school, I’d decided to trade in my lariat for a trench coat. I was into dark and dangerous. As an intrepid foreign correspondent, I’d stalk the mean streets of the world. Did I actually write anything? No, but I did read all of Agatha Christie’s mysteries.
I worked at a department store during college. My short stint in the accounting department taught me a lot about math. Three hundred-dollar shortages plus hysterical tears equaled instant move to gift-wrap. A career in math was not in my future. I didn’t care because I’d discovered “real” literature. I plowed through James Joyce’s Ulysses and Tolstoy’s War and Peace. If it didn’t make my eyes cross then it wasn’t worth reading. Yes, I admit it, I was a literary snob.
Nina and best buddy, Barbara Joyce.
Folk singers extraordinaire.
But there’s just so much “real” literature one person can take. I graduated from Rutgers University with a degree in English Literature and a determination to avoid books that induced eye crossing or had tragic endings. The only things I managed to write during those years were research papers.
I taught second grade for several years then spent two years in Dublin, Ireland. A friend and I supported ourselves by singing folk songs in Irish pubs. We weren’t great, but we were young, enthusiastic, and wore short skirts. It was obviously my destiny to be the next Judy Collins. I spent a lot of time poring through music books.
Returning to New Jersey and reality, I taught elementary school until I grew restless again. My cross-country odyssey included stays in Arizona, California, and Texas. Along the way, I indulged my love of horses. No black stallions, but I did have several beautiful Arabian mares. I read tons of books on breeding and showing.
Somewhere between California and Texas I grew addicted to romance novels and cats. The cat’s independent attitude was exactly the quality I admired in my romance heroes. And once I decided to try writing my own romances, I made sure a cat crept into each story.
Texas is my permanent home. I’ve come full circle. Born in San Antonio, I spent most of my life in New Jersey. Maybe the Texas in my blood accounts for my attachment to strong men, fast horses, and wide-open spaces. My love of cats? Haven’t a clue.
By high school, I’d decided to trade in my lariat for a trench coat. I was into dark and dangerous. As an intrepid foreign correspondent, I’d stalk the mean streets of the world. Did I actually write anything? No, but I did read all of Agatha Christie’s mysteries.
I worked at a department store during college. My short stint in the accounting department taught me a lot about math. Three hundred-dollar shortages plus hysterical tears equaled instant move to gift-wrap. A career in math was not in my future. I didn’t care because I’d discovered “real” literature. I plowed through James Joyce’s Ulysses and Tolstoy’s War and Peace. If it didn’t make my eyes cross then it wasn’t worth reading. Yes, I admit it, I was a literary snob.
Nina and best buddy, Barbara Joyce.
Folk singers extraordinaire.
But there’s just so much “real” literature one person can take. I graduated from Rutgers University with a degree in English Literature and a determination to avoid books that induced eye crossing or had tragic endings. The only things I managed to write during those years were research papers.
I taught second grade for several years then spent two years in Dublin, Ireland. A friend and I supported ourselves by singing folk songs in Irish pubs. We weren’t great, but we were young, enthusiastic, and wore short skirts. It was obviously my destiny to be the next Judy Collins. I spent a lot of time poring through music books.
Returning to New Jersey and reality, I taught elementary school until I grew restless again. My cross-country odyssey included stays in Arizona, California, and Texas. Along the way, I indulged my love of horses. No black stallions, but I did have several beautiful Arabian mares. I read tons of books on breeding and showing.
Somewhere between California and Texas I grew addicted to romance novels and cats. The cat’s independent attitude was exactly the quality I admired in my romance heroes. And once I decided to try writing my own romances, I made sure a cat crept into each story.
Texas is my permanent home. I’ve come full circle. Born in San Antonio, I spent most of my life in New Jersey. Maybe the Texas in my blood accounts for my attachment to strong men, fast horses, and wide-open spaces. My love of cats? Haven’t a clue.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 117 reviews
November 15, 2007
Why am I reading trashy vampire romance novels? Because it's totally the hottest trend in publishing right now. Duh.
But, man, I must have picked a bad one. This writing made me want to hold my nose.
But, man, I must have picked a bad one. This writing made me want to hold my nose.
February 2, 2010
I really like how Bangs writes her vampires they are able to read minds plus they can control quite a bit of other things with their with their minds if you know what I mean (blushing). This story has humor, demons, a talking cat that love opera (she is more than a cat), a ghost, a meddling candy store lady, two plants that lives and grows on sex, romance and a fun fantasy theme park. A good quick easy read.
Eric is a tall dark and dangerous vampire that loves chocolate and control. Donna is a talk show host that lives in New York and has to go to Galveston to have a show in the castle, she is a control freak herself but when she meets Eric who will be in control?
The only draw back I found in the book is the story gets boring form time to time.
Eric is a tall dark and dangerous vampire that loves chocolate and control. Donna is a talk show host that lives in New York and has to go to Galveston to have a show in the castle, she is a control freak herself but when she meets Eric who will be in control?
The only draw back I found in the book is the story gets boring form time to time.
March 12, 2012
Hmm... This book was tacky, but in a good way. It made me laugh, with Jessica and Sweetie Pie and Sparkle Stardust; I mean, how could you not laugh? It was actually a pretty good book all-in-all, the background for the characters was intriguing, the dialogue was witty and the Castle of Dark Dreams was an excellent setting for this paranormal romance. I would recomment this book to anyone who doesn't mind reading about sensual vampires (who unfortunatly have too long hair), strong minded women, and a bit of violence.
January 17, 2014
Very entertaining, hot sex scenes but great humor and sarcasm!
January 11, 2016
This book wasnt inherently bad...but it wasnt good by any means. I read the blurb that states the setting is an adult theme park. I being the naughty minded girl i am was thinking...well naughty minded girl thoughts. What it actually is is a castle where actors play out your fantasy but not really...only until the good part then you get
"rescued" by another actor. Boring. Really i shouldve known better and quit when i realized there was going to be a character named sparkle stardust (i kid you not). Sadly im lacking in good sense when it comes to books lately so i ended up reading all the way through. The characters and plot are underdeveloped which is crazy considering this is a much longer book than i normally read. The heroine despite being portrayed as a take charge kind of girl ends up coming across as a limp noodle. The hero seems nice enough but i have to wonder (and how does the heroine not) if he can get into her head and make her see things that arent there (which is not a good vamp romance if you ask me) how do we know he isnt manipulating her. The plot had the potential to be interesting but it just...wasnt. It dragged out for no reason but somehow also managed to introduce things (like the 5001 other magical creatures) as we pass by them doing 100 so we get very little if any explanations. the romantic development was much the same way and felt incredibly shallow. The sex scenes mostly lacked heat but the ones that had potential were ruined with jokes in the middle of sexy time. There was too much extra stuff going on that really shouldve been cut out to make an easier read or at the very least given more depth on so they didnt seem so out of place. the writing was ok with no major flaws but she either bombarded us with details (why do vamps get so many freaking powers in this series?) or none at all which made for a very unsatisfying read. Wont be continuing the series and would not recommend
"rescued" by another actor. Boring. Really i shouldve known better and quit when i realized there was going to be a character named sparkle stardust (i kid you not). Sadly im lacking in good sense when it comes to books lately so i ended up reading all the way through. The characters and plot are underdeveloped which is crazy considering this is a much longer book than i normally read. The heroine despite being portrayed as a take charge kind of girl ends up coming across as a limp noodle. The hero seems nice enough but i have to wonder (and how does the heroine not) if he can get into her head and make her see things that arent there (which is not a good vamp romance if you ask me) how do we know he isnt manipulating her. The plot had the potential to be interesting but it just...wasnt. It dragged out for no reason but somehow also managed to introduce things (like the 5001 other magical creatures) as we pass by them doing 100 so we get very little if any explanations. the romantic development was much the same way and felt incredibly shallow. The sex scenes mostly lacked heat but the ones that had potential were ruined with jokes in the middle of sexy time. There was too much extra stuff going on that really shouldve been cut out to make an easier read or at the very least given more depth on so they didnt seem so out of place. the writing was ok with no major flaws but she either bombarded us with details (why do vamps get so many freaking powers in this series?) or none at all which made for a very unsatisfying read. Wont be continuing the series and would not recommend
September 6, 2012
I feel bad rating a book 1 star but god it was awful, for me anyhow.
I didn't like Nina's style of writing, it just didn't flow right. The plot kept getting interrupted by unnecessary musings/descriptions/explanations. The interaction between the characters had potential but never really sparked my interest!
As for the characters themselves... ugh! I disliked them all. Maybe I'm picky but they just didn't have any depth or likeable qualities. And don't get me started on the names...
I feel so mean giving a bad review but I didn't enjoy a single thing about the book.
I didn't like Nina's style of writing, it just didn't flow right. The plot kept getting interrupted by unnecessary musings/descriptions/explanations. The interaction between the characters had potential but never really sparked my interest!
As for the characters themselves... ugh! I disliked them all. Maybe I'm picky but they just didn't have any depth or likeable qualities. And don't get me started on the names...
I feel so mean giving a bad review but I didn't enjoy a single thing about the book.
August 24, 2008
Almost gave this one 3 stars, but then decided against it. It was an ok book and even got good towards the end, but it just lacked something.. can't put my finger on it, but it didn't have that shazam effect on me that really good books have. It's an ok read though, and if you enjoy paranormal romance, you might be willing to give it a go.
April 7, 2011
I didn't even get past the prologue. Who the fuck is named "Sparkle"?
I only bought this because (a.) it was for sale at The Dollar Tree and (b.) the author's name is Nina Bangs. I mean, that's a joke, right?
So, between the back cover and the prologue, I'm thoroughly disturbed. What the fuck is an Adult Theme Park? Who greenlighted this manuscript?
I only bought this because (a.) it was for sale at The Dollar Tree and (b.) the author's name is Nina Bangs. I mean, that's a joke, right?
So, between the back cover and the prologue, I'm thoroughly disturbed. What the fuck is an Adult Theme Park? Who greenlighted this manuscript?
May 20, 2012
I only liked the cat and wizard characters. The whole novel seemed overdone and the passion overblown. Plenty of sex, but it felt mindless. Mind the plants. So, this book is off to tour the world on eBay.
August 1, 2011
A total waste of time! Continued only to see if it would get better - well, it didn't.
April 16, 2012
leave your intellect behind and just enjoy this story. I particularly love Sparkle Stardust! Great read for fun!
January 23, 2019
What can I say? Nina Bangs’ novels always leave me wanting more, and Wicked Nights, the first in the Castle of Dark Dreams series, is no exception.
Follow Donna Nolan, talk show host from New York, as she ventures into the unknown in Galveston, Texas. There she meets Eric McNair, the sexy resident vampire, and everything she thinks is normal changes right before her eyes. Wicked Nights is full of lust, love, danger and everything in between, and the Castle of Dark Dreams is sinfully delicious.
Nina Bangs is not only an extremely talented romance author, she’s also one of the sweetest people I have ever had the pleasure of “speaking” with. If you haven’t read it yet, she honored me with my first interview as a reviewer that I have posted as well.
I would highly recommend her novels to anyone looking for something fun, sexy and exciting.
Follow Donna Nolan, talk show host from New York, as she ventures into the unknown in Galveston, Texas. There she meets Eric McNair, the sexy resident vampire, and everything she thinks is normal changes right before her eyes. Wicked Nights is full of lust, love, danger and everything in between, and the Castle of Dark Dreams is sinfully delicious.
Nina Bangs is not only an extremely talented romance author, she’s also one of the sweetest people I have ever had the pleasure of “speaking” with. If you haven’t read it yet, she honored me with my first interview as a reviewer that I have posted as well.
I would highly recommend her novels to anyone looking for something fun, sexy and exciting.
August 13, 2011
Oh. My. God. I think Nina Bangs is my brain twin and possibly Tom Holt's somewhat more romantic doppelgänger, and I absolutely freaking LOVE her, even if she calls herself Nina Bangs, of all things!! ;P
I read a lot of funny books, so I won't go as far as to call this the funniest book I've ever read ... but it's definitely the most hilarious Paranormal Romance I have come across to date. Possibly the most ROFLMFAO one ever written. IN THE HISTORY OF PNR. I heart mycrappy local book exchange, because if someone other than me actually brought in halfway-decent books, I wouldn't be reduced to taking home all kinds of R.A.N.D.O.M. ... so I never would have read this book ... which - HOLY SHIT (!!) - would have been a shame.
If you've read the (HIGHLY MISLEADING :o) blurb, you probably think Wicked Nights sounds totally porno ... (which it's not) ... and ridiculous ... which - IT IS ... but it's A.W.E.S.O.M.E.L.Y. ridiculous!! :D It's both awful and brilliant; quirky - okay, downright bizarre - and fantastic ... but also has So Much Heart!! :) :) :) There are Fairy Godhags and Viking-y Highlander-y vampires hoarding dragons in their bedrooms while hiding marshmallow-hearts and snarkastic, obstinate wizards and absurd theme parks to run and chocolate-covered cherries and berserkers (I think?? :D) and - uh - demons ruled by hourglasses and feuds that blood must be spilled over and OMGDIDIMENTIONTHEVIKING-YHIGHLANDER-YVAMPIREOMGOMG and radio talk-shows about the sex-crazed pod people occupying the Castle of Dark Dreams (*snicker* far less cheesy than it sounds :D) and pirate captains punishing defiant seamen and cookies and more chocolate and really strange but adorable pot-plants and frolicking naked in the clouds and sparkly unicorns in meadows (okay, none of those, I got carried away) and the Highlands of Scotland (in which THERE CAN BE ONLY ONE ... okay, sorry, Highlander relapse :D) and HOLYSHITTHISBOOKIS*HOT*OMGOMG and so much more OMGOMG that almost had me dying from laughter and I'm so happy that I almost forgot to mention the telepathic, opera-lovin' cat!! :D :D
Oh. My. God. I want to have babies with this book. I love it *THAT* much.
I read a lot of funny books, so I won't go as far as to call this the funniest book I've ever read ... but it's definitely the most hilarious Paranormal Romance I have come across to date. Possibly the most ROFLMFAO one ever written. IN THE HISTORY OF PNR. I heart my
If you've read the (HIGHLY MISLEADING :o) blurb, you probably think Wicked Nights sounds totally porno ... (which it's not) ... and ridiculous ... which - IT IS ... but it's A.W.E.S.O.M.E.L.Y. ridiculous!! :D It's both awful and brilliant; quirky - okay, downright bizarre - and fantastic ... but also has So Much Heart!! :) :) :) There are Fairy Godhags and Viking-y Highlander-y vampires hoarding dragons in their bedrooms while hiding marshmallow-hearts and snarkastic, obstinate wizards and absurd theme parks to run and chocolate-covered cherries and berserkers (I think?? :D) and - uh - demons ruled by hourglasses and feuds that blood must be spilled over and OMGDIDIMENTIONTHEVIKING-YHIGHLANDER-YVAMPIREOMGOMG and radio talk-shows about the sex-crazed pod people occupying the Castle of Dark Dreams (*snicker* far less cheesy than it sounds :D) and pirate captains punishing defiant seamen and cookies and more chocolate and really strange but adorable pot-plants and frolicking naked in the clouds and sparkly unicorns in meadows (okay, none of those, I got carried away) and the Highlands of Scotland (in which THERE CAN BE ONLY ONE ... okay, sorry, Highlander relapse :D) and HOLYSHITTHISBOOKIS*HOT*OMGOMG and so much more OMGOMG that almost had me dying from laughter and I'm so happy that I almost forgot to mention the telepathic, opera-lovin' cat!! :D :D
Oh. My. God. I want to have babies with this book. I love it *THAT* much.
June 20, 2011
More like 3.8 for me.
I LOVED a lot of it and I thought some of it was kinda "cheesy" The fantasy scenes for example. Hard to read and VERY cheesy.
The storyline was "OK", a bit "odd". The background on these characters was interesting and looking forward to reading more about them. LOVED Asmina! lol
Donna and Eric. He's NOT your typical vampire. He reminded me of a puppy actually. Really sweet and just wants to love someone who will love him back and know the REAL him, not the stigma that vamps have.
Since he's never been in love and had no idea what that emotion was, was fun reading him fall...........and fall hard he did.
I wasn't thrilled w/ Donna's character. She kinda bored me. Was wondering why Eric fell for her. I wish the author would have written a more exciting character in Donna.
The secondary characters were awesome and I think they are the ones that made the book.
The sex scenes were good (the FEW of them we got)but thought there should have been a lot more.
This was my first book by this author and I'm hoping they get a more solid as the series progresses.
I LOVED a lot of it and I thought some of it was kinda "cheesy" The fantasy scenes for example. Hard to read and VERY cheesy.
The storyline was "OK", a bit "odd". The background on these characters was interesting and looking forward to reading more about them. LOVED Asmina! lol
Donna and Eric. He's NOT your typical vampire. He reminded me of a puppy actually. Really sweet and just wants to love someone who will love him back and know the REAL him, not the stigma that vamps have.
Since he's never been in love and had no idea what that emotion was, was fun reading him fall...........and fall hard he did.
I wasn't thrilled w/ Donna's character. She kinda bored me. Was wondering why Eric fell for her. I wish the author would have written a more exciting character in Donna.
The secondary characters were awesome and I think they are the ones that made the book.
The sex scenes were good (the FEW of them we got)but thought there should have been a lot more.
This was my first book by this author and I'm hoping they get a more solid as the series progresses.
June 8, 2009
THis is a story about 3 men who say they are brothers. One is a vampire, another is a love slave, another is a demon. The Castle they provide fantasies for is owned by a mysterious person. There is a wizard who is the lawyer and helps with the fanties keeping them on time. THis book is about the Vampire and him finding love. THere are several funny supporting characters, a sex crazed candy shop owner and a cast who is connected with Bast. It is a very fun read.
March 5, 2012
I enjoyed Nina Bangs' Wicked Nights. It's a contemporary vampire romance that is graphically erotic. It's fun, witty, irreverant, modern, and sometimes sweet. What it isn't is goth, dramatic, brooding. Wicked Nights doesn't take itself too seriously. I like the theme park/midnight radio premise; it's original. I reccommend reading it while eating candy. You'll look at chocolate covered cherries in a whole new way.
August 27, 2009
A wonderfully delishous tale about a late night radio talk show host airing in the Castle of Dreams. Donna meets a vampire going by the name of Eric Mcnair. Not only does donna meet creatures she has never dreamed existed, she has experienses of lust, love and Fantasys .I just really wished there were more love scenes. Don't get me wrong, there were plenty but I really love me some vampires.
August 12, 2008
This belongs in my 'guilty pleasures' book list. Nina Bangs does a wonderful job of writing about a centuries old vampire and a young woman who happens to be a talk show host.
Lovely erotic passages and fun interaction. I enjoyed this book.
Lovely erotic passages and fun interaction. I enjoyed this book.
April 19, 2010
This was the 1st Nina Bangs book I have read and I was not that impressed. Granted some parts are pretty steamy and will about bring a blush to your face but for me the story just felt trashy :o( I have several more of her books on my tbr pile and I am hoping that this one is a fluke...
November 8, 2012
Just didn't dig this series. Read it because a friend of mine did/does. It was super corny. Plants that thrive off of others having sex, etc. I know I read paranormal craziness, but this was too much for me.
August 20, 2015
Trashy romance? Yes.
Depth? Nope.
Outrageous characters? Yep
Would I read it again? Absolutely
Not everything worth reading has to be sad or overly long. Sometimes short and sexed-up works just fine.
Love Nina Bangs!!
Depth? Nope.
Outrageous characters? Yep
Would I read it again? Absolutely
Not everything worth reading has to be sad or overly long. Sometimes short and sexed-up works just fine.
Love Nina Bangs!!
November 9, 2019
I did not enjoy this book. I had a hard time finishing it and probably will not read the rest of the series.
April 9, 2011
This was the first of the "Wicked" series. It was a little goofy corny. I'm not sure I liked it completely. It was okay and a fast read.
April 24, 2011
This was the first book I read by her and I have to say it was awsome. Not just the steamy sex scenes and there was plenty, but the way the characters interacted with each other> totally awesome.
June 15, 2011
Best of the McNair brother series in my opinion
April 23, 2018
In the first book in the Castle of Dark Dreams series, Donna goes to Galveston, Texas to investigate an adult theme park for her radio talk show. She doesn’t expect to find anything supernatural-related, but then she meets Eric the Evil.
Eric is an 800-year-old vampire, and he and his two best friends, Brynn and Conall (a sensual sex demon and a cursed immortal warrior respectively), enjoy working as actors at the theme park to make their customers’ fantasies come true. They don’t enjoy, however, Donna nosing around since she could expose their paranormal secrets all over the airways. Donna and Eric instantly clash, but with a little help from Sparkle Stardust (a cosmic troublemaker) and Asima (a cat-shapeshifter), this unlikely couple doesn’t stand a chance.
Sparkle and Asima are my favorite characters. They bring a lot of bawdy humor to the story.
I liked the book but found the beginning confusing. The book’s blurb hinted at a sex theme park and the women who called into Donna’s talk show confirmed it, but nothing sexual actually happened between the actors and their customers. Once I knew what to expect, the book made more sense. I also found it strange that Eric and his friends rarely cursed. (They would say butthole instead of asshole, for example.)
The book is well edited, and the scenes with shifting POVs blended without much confusion. I look forward to finding out more about Brynn and Conall in the upcoming books.
3 Stars
Disclaimer – I won a print copy of this book in a contest and volunteered to review it. I am not paid or compensated in any way, shape, or form for this honest review. I will not change or alter this review for any reason unless at my discretion.
Eric is an 800-year-old vampire, and he and his two best friends, Brynn and Conall (a sensual sex demon and a cursed immortal warrior respectively), enjoy working as actors at the theme park to make their customers’ fantasies come true. They don’t enjoy, however, Donna nosing around since she could expose their paranormal secrets all over the airways. Donna and Eric instantly clash, but with a little help from Sparkle Stardust (a cosmic troublemaker) and Asima (a cat-shapeshifter), this unlikely couple doesn’t stand a chance.
Sparkle and Asima are my favorite characters. They bring a lot of bawdy humor to the story.
I liked the book but found the beginning confusing. The book’s blurb hinted at a sex theme park and the women who called into Donna’s talk show confirmed it, but nothing sexual actually happened between the actors and their customers. Once I knew what to expect, the book made more sense. I also found it strange that Eric and his friends rarely cursed. (They would say butthole instead of asshole, for example.)
The book is well edited, and the scenes with shifting POVs blended without much confusion. I look forward to finding out more about Brynn and Conall in the upcoming books.
3 Stars
Disclaimer – I won a print copy of this book in a contest and volunteered to review it. I am not paid or compensated in any way, shape, or form for this honest review. I will not change or alter this review for any reason unless at my discretion.
July 8, 2021
I originally found these books about 6 years ago and it was such a pleasure to go back an read them again. This book is a great combination of paranormal, mystery, and humor. I love the heroine is tough, she's sassy, and she is no wilting flower waiting for a man to take care of her. Nina Bangs has a style of writing that is just so enjoyable.
July 7, 2023
It was at this moment in time I realized I must have very different interests than the majority of romance readers. This book was just too silly. I like quick whit, sarcasm, comic relief, lighthearted characters… This book, IMHO, did it very poorly. Characters were extremely one dimensional. I couldn’t speed through it fast enough to feel like I wasn’t wasting my time.
September 20, 2019
This book was well written and flows easily. The setting and story was set early. Characters were easy to follow. I liked the story, but I think it would have been a better story without the "supernatural" side of the characters. This is the only reason I gave it 4 stars.
January 29, 2020
All I have to say about this book is WOW! And not in a good way. Adult theme park. Vampires. Talk show host. Goddess named Sparkle Stardust that sells erotic candy. And another goddess in the shape of a cat that attends the opera and accidently meow-sings along. How did this get published?
Displaying 1 - 30 of 117 reviews