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Vampires of San Francisco #1

Sucking in San Francisco

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Working at a Suicide Prevention Center in San Francisco, Lily Goodwill thinks she’s heard it all—then she gets a call from a man about to jump off the Golden Gate Bridge. Something about the caller, maybe his yummy British accent or Lily’s ability to understand his crushing ennui, makes her break all the rules and rush to meet him. After all, she is a vampire and if she can’t talk him down she can glamour him.

But things don’t go according to plan. Her caller glows with blue fire and turns out to be a vampire-hating Djinn. Suddenly, for the first time in centuries he’s found something intriguing. Is Lily really a vampire with a conscience and an obsessive-compulsive disorder, involving Handi-wipes and Lysol, or is she just another bloodsucker?

Add in another vampire, with a history of female lovers stretching over three centuries, who swears he’s reformed and declares his undying love for Lily. Stir in a mean pair of witches and a vicious warlock, who are staking vampires around the city and you have a recipe for riotous adventure of supernatural proportions.

Lily Goodwill is a quick thinking, smart-talking vampire who’s still figuring out how she feels about dining al fresco in the City by the Bay.

294 pages, Paperback

First published June 27, 2012

137 people are currently reading
636 people want to read

About the author

Jessica McBrayer

41 books96 followers
Jessica McBrayer lives in the San Francisco Bay Area with her family. She enjoys reading voraciously as well as writing and is often daydreaming about her next book. A die-hard San Jose Sharks fan, you can find her during hockey season wearing her favorite player’s name on the back of her jersey and yelling at the TV. She never wants to find out what the world would be like without hockey in it.

You can connect with Jessica by emailing jessica@jessicamcbrayer.com

***Join Jessica's Bookinistas Group on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/56862...

*Follow Jessica on Instagram @jessica.mcbrayer *

*Follow Jessica on Facebook @JessicaMcBrayerAuthor *

Be sure to visit www.jessicamcbrayer.com for info on new releases, bonus material and inside information on characters from Jessica’s books.

Don’t miss Jessica’s next book, Jude Sweet Fire - the first book in her new series, Savannah Heat, a hockey romance series chock-full of hunky men, the women that steal their hearts, and all the best feels.

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5 stars
134 (26%)
4 stars
158 (31%)
3 stars
116 (23%)
2 stars
60 (12%)
1 star
31 (6%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 52 reviews
Profile Image for Tracy T..
1,023 reviews24 followers
January 31, 2015
Worst love triangle ever! This book just Sucked!
Wow what a terrible story. I don't even know where to begin.... Lets see, Lilith can't make up her mind about which guy she will choose through the entire book. Seriously you don't find out until the last 3 words! Let it also be known there is zero chemistry between Lilith or either of her two suitors. NONE! ZERO! NADA! Not to mention there is no epilogue, no conclusion of the guy she didn't choose. Most of the time she was trampy to be honest. Kissing them both in front of each other, or holding hands in front of each other, like she was some sort of prize, which she was not. She was extremely annoying! Luckily there was zero sex or she may have had sex with one of her suitors in front of the other. Geez this was a terrible story.

This is written in the first person so you get to hear all the rambling blah blah blah nonsense going through her mind. It is painful! My ears are still bleeding and I can't believe I even finished this book. I am kind of embarrassed about that.

The narrator gets 2 stars only because she did put some emotion in to her reading, otherwise that sucked too, she didn't even try to do the men's voices. most of the time you didn't know who was talking until she read "so and so said"

The best part of the book was the 5 minute sample on audible! Fact.
Profile Image for Petula Darling.
845 reviews8 followers
December 27, 2015
Love triangles aren't my favorite plot device, but I don't mind them if they're done well. This one wasn't done well.
Unfortunately, it took up 90% of the plot and left me haaaating the protagonist.
Profile Image for Celia Juliano.
Author 13 books25 followers
June 28, 2012
I've had the fun of reading Sucking in San Francisco several times (Jessica McBrayer is one of my critique partners) and it is always fun to read! I don't usually read paranormal, but Lily is so funny and endearing, and Sebastian and Aidan are so appealing, I get sucked in every time (sorry, bad pun!). If you like paranormal romance, romantic comedy with an edge, romance with a bit of suspense, or fiction set in San Francisco, I think you'll enjoy this. And go #TeamBast! :)
Profile Image for Marik Berghs.
Author 3 books10 followers
June 28, 2012
Fast funny read with some whup-upside-the-head moments. I really liked the humor of this book, especially the scenes between the male protagonists. No spoilers, but I couldn't decide who I wanted her to end up with. Hope the author decides to keep the triangle going as I definitely haven't had enough of Aiden. Some of my favorite scenes involve the young vampire, Hannah, or as she likes to call herself Ganja Girl. Fun. The conflict between the witches, the vamps and the warlocks draws to a satisfying conclusion. Lily is really a girlie-girl, but she is forced to overcome her usual pacifistic nature and defend her men—kick butt mode. She's no tough wannabe though and likes to get her share of TLC when she's hurting. Once again, McBrayer presents good and bad players in her ensemble, good witches and evil for a balanced mix of personalities.

I'd like to see more scenes of Lily at work, and definitely more Aiden, did I mention that? Good work on a new series, totally different flavor than her first book. I hope she returns to another book in her Stained stories, and I think this series could be expanded as well.
Profile Image for Holly Kalinin.
50 reviews1 follower
November 9, 2013
It really took me way to long to read this book, it seemed like it was ALMOST a love story...somewhat...but it was added as more an after thought....and then at the end it just ends...you don't get a peek into the relationship of the person she picks. It's kinda like the author tried to make you want one guy just to put her with another....sometimes this works...but i didn't feel invested in any of the characters so by the end i didn't particularly care for the guy or the girl....idk..not the worst and with a little editing of the story line it could have even been pretty great...just wasn't for me this time.
Profile Image for Megan (BookWifeReviews).
1,564 reviews54 followers
September 13, 2018
I love a good love triangle. I know a lot of people hate them but I enjoy them. As long as they are done right. This one was not. It started out fine. But she dragged it out too long. And the ending? I still don’t fucking understand what happened.
Profile Image for Liz.
1,836 reviews13 followers
Read
September 3, 2019
DNF. I just could not take the writing or the narrator.
Profile Image for Aizlynne.
793 reviews7 followers
April 28, 2021
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I was looking for a light vampire romance and that is what I found. There is a lot of humor mixed with some action. I laughed out loud several times. There are some really great characters in here and it is all highly entertaining.
Profile Image for Sherry Fundin.
2,304 reviews162 followers
January 29, 2016
Sucking in San Francisco by Jessica McBrayer has a great title and cover combination. This paranormal romance is written with a light and comical touch, with characters that got me involved and kept me there.

I love the fun humorous, witty, snarky writing that makes sucking sound like it's okay, just a necessity, whether it's for blood or energy.

Lilith, a vampire, works for a suicide hotline. How funny is that? She is an obsessive compulsive under stress, a germaphobe, lysol and handi-wipes always in reach. She swabs the neck of her victim before she sinks her teeth into him. HA HA HA!

Sebastian, a fellow vamp who has been like a brother to her, all of a sudden has the hots for her. He is a vamp casanova. Can she trust him? Or is this just lust? After 76 years, Lilith is having some of the same feelings. How long can she ignore them? Lilith does acts like a teen, so is she a baby vamp?

Aidan is a djinnn that has formed an attachment to her. He met Lilith when he called into the suicide hotline she worked for. She's awakened his curiosity, given him a reason, a disire to live. Can a vampire and djinn be, you know together?

Hannah is another vampire friend. She is a hippie and dresses like a Goth hooker. I mention her, because she is a badass, unique individual and I love her. Will she have a book of her own. *crossing fingers and toes*

Someone else wants Sebastian and Lilith is in the way. Even Hannah is attracted to Sebastian. Is it vampire allure or just his hotness?

The mine's bigger than yours going on between Sebastian and Aidan is comical, sweet and a triangle I didn't mind...for a while. The testosterone challenge was fun, though it did drag on for a long time and Lilith comes across as somewhat of a bitch and a slut. I love them both and hate that she has to choose. But...I feel I do know who it will be.

I loved all the characters each playing their important and unique part to the story. Helena, Julian and Andrew deserve a mention. I love that Lilith works at a crisis center answering a suicide prevention hotline. At least that keeps her food supply going strong. LOL The writing is wonderful and the mystery is alive. We have heroes and villains, the vindictive, evil kind.

I received Sucking in San Francisco in return for an honest and unbiased review.

I see there are more books in the series and I was able to get the second one as an Amazon freebie, YAY. And it is about Hannah. I had a feeling she deserved a story of her own. I am looking forward to another fun and dangerous romp in San Francisco.

To see more visit http://www.fundinmental.com
Profile Image for Forrest.
259 reviews5 followers
April 12, 2018
BLEH!

Other reviewers have already pointed out how badly the 'love triangle' was done and how annoying it made the main character, so I will focus on the other parts of the book that I hated.

The Plot and the complete lack of world building. No joke, we are supposed to be reading about a family of vampires ranging in age from 100+ to 1000+, along with a jinn/djinn/jinni who doesn't even know how old he is because he supposedly predates mankind. These beings of legend find themselves cowering in their closets because of a couple of barely adult psychos with a few spells in their pocket that they are barely able to cast more than once without having to stop for a break. I couldn't feel worried for the characters because honestly, they could have solved all of their problems if someone had the piece of mind to pick up a rock and throw it at the bad guys. "I'm a jinn who has lived for thousands upon thousands of years, but I don't understand the powers of these people who have been on the planet for less than 3 decades and I am powerless to stop them because they have 'magic protection.'" Nobody in this universe has heard of a gun apparently.

World building: At the end of this book, I have no idea how their magic was supposed to work, how powerful the witches were supposed to be. It felt like reading a story about kids playing outside "I shoot you with a bazooka!" "Oh yeah! Well, I have a forcefield so you can't hurt me" There was no detail regarding the strengths/weaknesses of the vampires besides "they are so fast, they move in a blur."

I gave it 2 stars because I actually managed to finish the book, but I will not be reading the next in the series. Out of curiosity, I did read the synopsis of the rest of the books in the series and it sounds like I won't be missing much.

Kinda/sorta spoilers in the complaints below:

My favorite character in the whole book was the guy who kept begging to be made into a vampire and they never bothered to resolve that storyline at all.

I do not buy that a Vampire that has been around for over 1000 years studying magic has to go to the LIBRARY to find spells to protect herself from some random kids!

All powerful djinn is only able to be a distraction for the main enemy in the end. He has displayed the ability to teleport people/objects instantly to the place of his choosing, including out to a deserted island in the middle of the ocean. Even if the bad guys are somehow immune to all magic attacks as seems to be the case for some reason, it apparently never occurs to him to drop a dumpster on their heads or cause them to get into a car accident.
Profile Image for Laura.
3,205 reviews348 followers
October 1, 2015
Vampire series are not my thing but I am anxiously awaiting my chance to read the next book in this series. Amazing debut novel!!

The core story is a love triangle involving two immortal men, one a seasoned, experienced vampire, the other a djinn, who may have been around since time's beginning. Both men are vying for the eternal love of a much younger female vampire who is not even looking for a happily ever after relationship. I must mention she is a germophobe.

Told in alternating voices adds depth as we experience situations and action from multiple points of view. We feel the emotions, conflict and hurt more deeply. The humorous dialogue keeps the story flowing.
The author educates us about little known vampire facts:
While vamps do sunburn easily, they do not melt, sizzle or burn up with the rising dawn sun. Vampires are great dancers. They don't tire or get sweaty.
They love recognizing birthdays.

Even the secondary characters are well developed and attractive.
Andrew, human, who believes a vampire life sounds appealing, has his twenty fifth birthday and proclaims that life is all down hill from there.
Hannah, who has a preference for "verbally enhanced blood" and lives in Berkeley.

The love triangle has to play within a life and death theme on various levels. Ironically, Lillith works the night shift on a suicide hotline.
Vampire deaths are stacking up when a family of witches moves into the area. Spells and hexes are cast purely for mischief and profit.
Soon Lily's own nest, her family, are targeted. Each of her suitors wishes to be the one to protect her.

It is all tense, dangerous and exciting. As soon as one conflict seems to be weakening, something worse happens!
Snarky comments, such as calling a witch names or commenting on her knock-off wardrobe kept me laughing until I got nervous again.

I received the book in exchange for an honest, unbiased review.
I look forward to continuing to read this series.
Fast paced, many twists, enjoyable characters I care about, great dialogue.
Profile Image for Diane.
1,140 reviews41 followers
February 9, 2014
The plot and characters were great. It could have been a five, but I got tired of Lilly's inner monolog while she was trying to choose between the Vampire and the Djinn. It was a bit much and Sebastian was cheesy and totally over did it.
Profile Image for Karen.
331 reviews2 followers
April 7, 2015
Okay this book was touch and go for me. And I do not agree with who she ended up with in the end. Though I understand the choice. I just liked the other character more. Though I was little iffy the whole time I think I will still read the next book in the series.
Profile Image for Josh Levine.
179 reviews
March 25, 2018
Pre-review warning: This is not my normal choice of story genre - I generally go for sci-fi, post-apoc, and space opera.

So, this was the first story I've ever listened to in the romance genre. Needless to say, I wasn't 100% sure what to expect. This was a fun little story that I first found out about because of Valerie Gilbert (audiobook edition).

I selected this book based for the paranormal aspect and enjoyed that portion quite a bit. I wasn't sure how I felt overall with the love triangle and found myself routinely asking my wife if certain characteristics of the story were normal occurrences. I found myself a bit annoyed at Lily as she kept flipping between Bast and Aiden.

As a sci-fi fan, when the idea of a djinn first presented itself, I found myself picturing the djinn from the movie "Wishmaster". It was fun to watch certain things happen at his whim as he tried to sew some chaos at various points of the story. Not gonna lie, I found it a bit creepy when he first materialized in Lily's room and then crawled into bed with her. The tension between them was very apparent throughout the story. The vampire-staking serial killer was fun as it was blended with the witches and djinn.

Overall, I will give this a 4/5 for my first voyage into the romance genre. Valerie did a fantastic job with the narration and I can see why she is my wife's favorite narrator.
Profile Image for Krystyna.
5,134 reviews55 followers
January 9, 2019
Vampires can be good?

Awesome. A terrific fast paced plot that will keep you rushing the the book as old enemies team up and find that they can work together for a common cause. Great characters that move away from terrific stereotype that vampires are evil and witches are good. Like most things good and bad are found in all types of being.
She has been a vampire for years. Granted not as long as her family (the family of the heart not blood) but they are a constant in her life. When she receives a call on the suicide hotline that she works for she rushes out to save the caller. He is a djinn and has killed vampires for years unable to forget his slavery at their hands. But she is different. As he gets to know her and her family he not only becomes more attracted to her but also involved in the case they have taken up. Two witches are gaining power rapidly and seem to not only be killing vampires but want to enslave a djinn. Can they fight them? Especially when the stakes get high with two male members of the family being held captive. If they do what will their cousin do as he is a powerful warlock and even more evil? Plus she has to choose between the djinn and the younger vampire. Which will she choose?
2,868 reviews11 followers
September 19, 2023
A fabulous, paranormal vampire romance. Lily Goodwill, a vampire, is not interested in having a romantic relationship. However, she has Aidan, a djinn, and Sebastian, another vampire, courting her. This has her confused. Other familiar vampires, Julian, Helena, and Hannah, provide plenty of support.

Jessica McBrayer wrote this interesting story about a young vampire, Lilith. The enmity between Aidan and Sebastian is palpable. But that's nothing compared to the hatred of the witches and their cousin Warlock. Nonetheless, the end is short of satisfaction.

Action-packed. Easy-to-read. Entertaining. Romantic. Tragic. Twisted. Unpredictable. Whimsical. Wonderful characters.

I received a review copy of this book from a third party. This is my honest review.
1,769 reviews23 followers
August 28, 2019
Sucking in San Francisco

Suicide help line . Lillith has been helping humans for quite some time, i'ts her pennants for what she must do to survive, for Lillith is vampire. Tonight Lillith's life will once again will take a new path. A friend wishes for more a jin enters her life, then two evil witches want to take her life. Will her friend become her mate, what will happen with the jin and that happens with the evil witches. The caracters, the drama, the action . Once you start reading this book theres not but to weave through this tail to the very end. 🙄 Kat
Profile Image for Yess.
151 reviews2 followers
December 9, 2025
Demasiado esfuerzo en vendernos a una protagonista vampira humanitaria (de apellido goodwill para que nos quede más claro), con un triangulo amoroso en el que ninguno de los 3 cae bien y no hay ganas de pertenecer a algún team, intenta mal hablar de su amiga y hacerla ver como una superficial pero es ella la que parece decidir con cual de los galanes quedar basándose en sus músculos y siempre está hablando de ropa. Encima siendo el inglés mi segunda lengua encontré un montón de errores de escritura, que ya nadie revisa antes de publicar?
Profile Image for Lucinda.
714 reviews1 follower
December 3, 2017
It's a cute, funny book. I got a kick out of a vampire who is phobic of germs and has to have wet wipes and hand sanitizer on hand. Then there's the djinn who absolutely hates all vampires and is trying to commit suicide, then meets said phobic vampire who is determined to save him - he falls in love with her and ends up falling in love with her and making friends with her "family." Meanwhile, she has a vampire that she's known for a few years who plays the field that's fallen in love with her who's trying to prove it. Now she's trying to choose! Meanwhile there's some evil witches trying the bind the djinn, kill our phobic vampire, and generally causing mayhem. Join the fun! LOL
429 reviews1 follower
August 31, 2019
Fun romance with vampires and magic

I had this in Ebook and Audible. The narration of the main character was great. It really added to the enjoyment of the book. The book is told from two POVs. The main character Lily has two men vying for her attention. Adding to that are two evil witches, a djinn and great friends. The main character is likeable and OCD. The story is fun with humor and romance.
88 reviews54 followers
July 8, 2020
San Francisco & Vampires : My Two Favorite Topics!

I lived the tension and speed of the book. There was no dull, down times. The characters were believable. One thing that always impresses me is when an author knows the city they are writing about. Being a San Francisco native since the 1950’s, it always makes a book placed in the City more enjoyable.

This has been a great fun read that I gobbled up in 48 hours. I’m hooked! Next volume...PLEASE!!!
Profile Image for Sara.
146 reviews1 follower
October 18, 2021
This story started with promise and then went downhill. I skimmed the last quarter of the book.
I'm guessing my dissatisfaction came from despising Sebastian. When the several century man wh%$* decides to change his ways for her, becomes obsessed with her "because he loves her"...I was over it. He was too much and screamed super abusive relationship by acting controlling, clingy, not respecting her boundaries. A big nope for me.
67 reviews
November 27, 2018
Different for me

Enjoyed the story , grrr the last page ...unanswered, keeps u guessing. Style of book different then usual, however i did enjoy it, fast paced, interesting concept...repetitive about being vampires throughout the whole story, wasn't really necessary. Overall nice light reading. Thank you suzanne
Profile Image for Dallas Updyke.
197 reviews4 followers
August 9, 2022
was okay.

Wasn’t the best book I’ve ever read. Main character was annoying. Couldn’t choose between two men the entire book when one she just met but thought she loved and the other she has loved for over 70 years but was afraid to be with. Just dumb. Completely stung both men along.
21 reviews
September 30, 2017
Eni mini mo

Was not expecting the out come. Have read a lot of vampire and jinn books but was rather surprised at the funny moments in the book. I have read about a vegan vampire but never a germ phobic one. W as delightful to can not wait to read more from this author.
Profile Image for Christine.
718 reviews
November 5, 2021
Needs work but interesting.

Holy cliffhanger, batman! I'm rather forced to read the next one but I am not happy about it.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 52 reviews

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