New York

The Nightlife #1

by Travis Luedke

Vampires, strippers, escorts, night clubs, gangs, pimps and corrupt cops, the Nightlife of New York is never boring.

Is she a beautiful blond guardian angel as he imagined, or something else entirely? When Michelle saves Aaron's life she shares the benefits of her blood––after getting him shot accidentally. He awakes a changed man, living in a purgatory of eternal night, never to see the sunrise again.

Michelle drags him through a hardcore learning curve of vampiric slavery. Forced to adapt to servitude, he is subject to her authority of compulsion. She orders him around like a puppet on a string, a dog on a very short leash. First things first, he must learn to feed properly without creating bloodslaves––humans addicted to the powerful drug-like effect of their venomous bite.

And then she puts him to work--a male escort in the sex trade--same as Michelle. Aaron walks a tightrope of strictly controlled feeding regiments and intensely erotic sexual adventures while catering to the neurotic control-freak tendencies of his new master. It's do or die, Michelle vows to eliminate him if he proves too difficult to control. Amidst all these shocking and degrading adjustments, Aaron finds he's falling in love.

Can he maintain her rules and keep a sliver of his humanity intact? Innocence is a luxury few can afford in the decadent nightlife of New York. In a world where sex, blood, and power over women is so readily accessible, Aaron struggles against the predatory instincts deeply rooted in his new psyche. He must find his way quickly, practicing rigid self-control, or risk the consequences of Michelle's wrath.

Genres: Paranormal, Vampires, Erotica, Romance, Paranormal Romance, Urban Fantasy, Fantasy

ebook

First published August 8, 2012

About the author

Grab free ebooks from Travis Luedke and enter to win a Kindle Paperwhite!
Just copy and paste: http://twluedke.com/join-mailing-list...

Travis Luedke is a NY Times & USA Today bestselling author of urban fantasy, science fiction, and paranormal romance, best known for his violently sexy NIGHTLIFE SERIES. Find Travis catching a third degree sunburn with his wife and children in San Antonio, Texas, while plotting world domination through erotic paranormal badassery.

Most famous for his Nightlife Series novels, Travis lives vicariously through his writings. He invites you to enjoy his macabre flights of fancy, but be warned: The Nightlife Series is violent, sexy, and occasionally violently sexy.

Feel free to stalk Travis:

Social Media Hub https://www.rebelmouse.com/TravisLuedke/
The Nightlife Blog http://thenightlifeseries.blogspot.com/
Emagazine http://paper.li/f-1389316274
Website http://www.twluedke.com/
Twitter https://twitter.com/TWLuedke or @TWLuedke
Twitter https://twitter.com/NightlifeNovels or @NightlifeNovels
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/TravisLuedke...
Facebook Nightlife Series https://www.facebook.com/TheNightlife...
YouTube http://www.youtube.com/channel/UCs-PH...
Pinterest http://www.pinterest.com/twluedke/
Booklikes http://twluedke.booklikes.com/
Google+ https://plus.google.com/u/0/+TravisLu...

Reviews

[Shurrn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Blood-soaked & sinfully sexy...
It was everything I hoped it would be...

Sex, blood, pleasure and pain created a wicked lovely blend like no other experience in this world.

Travis Luedke has a knack for blending erotica, violence, and humor which keeps me entranced... Add to all that a dash of romance and action, and this book is unstoppable.

Michelle

She was his confessional, his priest, his savior, his own personal Jesus Christ, laying his demons to rest with her touch, presence, and silent acceptance.

Michelle has been hunting alone for years. As soon as she was free from her abusive master, she vowed to be her own woman; beholden to no man... or vampire. Solitude means safety - for her and the human population - all of her relationships seem to end in death and sorrow.

While stalking the streets of New York, she's accosted by two crooked cops - they assume she's a hooker and think they can coerce the pretty little blonde into bribing them with hush money... or sexual favors...

Michelle has no worries about the cops - they're an easy dinner for her. Unfortunately, a good Samaritan steps in to save her from the perceived threat...

Aaron Pilan

He was now a blood-sucking vampire with amazing physical strength and agility, and some rather interesting talents for seduction. He had exceptionally acute senses and could read the minds of those nearby. He was a slave to the will of his drop-dead gorgeous–– though slightly psychotic–– vampire master whom he found difficult to trust and was fast learning to fear. The question was how did he feel about it?
Stuck. Stuck on her, and stuck with her.

Wrong place at the wrong time... Aaron was walking home from work when he caught sight of the blonde bombshell being accosted by New York's finest. His honor and sense of justice demanded that he step in and help.

Funny how one moment can change your fate. A struggle with the offers ensues, a shot rings out, and Aaron is left bleeding to death on the sidewalk.

Michelle has a decision - let this sweet innocent man die, or give him a new life.

Here's the catch - anyone who is turned into a Vampire is basically a slave to the Vampire who created them. Michelle's traumatic experience with her own Master kept her from turning anyone, but she can't keep herself from saving the honorable young man who tried so had to save her.

Aaron learns all about his new abilities from the powerful woman who now owns his body an soul. He's falling under her spell a little more each day...

Add to all that:
A jealous ex,
two crooked cops,
a clueless roommate,
a cougar with a crush,
a pimp trying to go legit,
and all the excitement of New York City...

You've got one hell of a story set up.

A note about the subjective nature of reviews:

This is not the first book in the Nightlife Series which I've read. My first experience with Travis Luedke's Naughty Vampires was actually The Nightlife San Antonio.

Metaphor time: Have you ever gone back and listened to the EPs of your favorite artist before they made it big? Ever had the pleasure of hearing their greatness being overshadowed by the fact that they were recording in a garage with a cheap microphone? This book was a little like that...



Nightlife San Antonio was a standalone published in 2014, the most recent "violently sexy" novel in The Nightlife universe. The Nightlife: New York, however, debuted in 2012 - that means Travis Luedke had an additional 2 years and 4 books to perfect his story structure and character development within this series alone... The author has several other books outside of this series which also helped him gain proficiency...

I don't know how I would have felt about this book if it had been my first introduction to this author and series... I wasn't crazy about the pacing or the plethora of POVs. I admit, I might not have rated this book at a solid 4 stars if I didn't know that this book is a springboard for a pretty fucking spectacular series...

So there you have it, reviews are subjective, and my experience with this book was colored by my experience. I still enjoyed it, and I know I'm going to need even more of this series...

Some of My Favorite Moments:

His limited intimate encounters taught him there was considerable effort and occasional begging involved in the removal of women’s clothing.

What would she do with him if he did come out of it? She had lived alone for decades. She wasn't exactly prepared to share her life with anyone. What a foolish, impetuous thing to do. She should end it now, save both of them from years of complications.

This time she would dominate, the boy would answer to her in all things. But if he began to exhibit the signs, if he became anything like her former master, she’d snap his neck without a moment’s hesitation.

“The world you once knew is no more for you.” It was so true. The freedom he once knew was gone. He had begun to learn there were very finite limits to Michelle’s patience.

Standing there looking down on the world, he felt divorced from the human race, an outsider peeking in windows but never truly entering within. He’d felt this way before, especially after his father’s death, but now it was real. He was truly disconnected from all of humanity.

He was now a blood-sucking vampire with amazing physical strength and agility, and some rather interesting talents for seduction. He had exceptionally acute senses and could read the minds of those nearby. He was a slave to the will of his drop-dead gorgeous–– though slightly psychotic–– vampire master whom he found difficult to trust and was fast learning to fear. The question was how did he feel about it?
Stuck. Stuck on her, and stuck with her.

Whether she was a guardian angel or a demoness didn’t matter. He was smitten, infatuated, and he could hardly keep his eyes off her. She had him good, right where she wanted him, and there wasn’t a damn thing he could do about it. She owned him; body, heart, and soul, and she hadn’t even fucked him yet. He knew she didn’t feel the same way about him.

Michelle thought it possible she might eventually develop some sentiment for him. He had a certain boyish charm, he seemed so guileless. He was not a deceptive or malicious person. Those two points alone were enough to hold her attention. Such men were a rare find in this culture of artificial personalities. He was genuine, maybe a bit too naive, but still genuine.

Konowicz ate, slept, and drank of ineptitude to such excess that it rivaled his alcohol consumption.

Sex, blood, pleasure and pain created a wicked lovely blend like no other experience in this world.

She was his confessional, his priest, his savior, his own personal Jesus Christ, laying his demons to rest with her touch, presence, and silent acceptance.

In truth, his existence wasn’t entirely carefree. His autonomy ended where Michelle’s began. Being her slave, her servant, was the great misfortune that defined his life, giving distinct flavor to all his moments of freedom and triumph. Yet he wasn’t bitter. He loved her for all that she was, mistakes and attitudes included. All things considered, being Michelle’s slave was the most fulfilling and enjoyable life he’d ever known.

He was so much more than she ever expected him to be. He filled so many diverse roles in her life. She couldn’t imagine living without him. He filled a place in her heart she had not realized was vacant.


***I won this book in the following contest***


CHECK OUT MY OTHER REVIEWS IN THIS BADASS SERIES!
1. The Nightlife: New York - You're Reading it.
2. The Nightlife: Las Vegas - Read my Review here.
3. The Nightlife: Paris - Read my Review here.
4. The Nightlife: London - Read my Review here.
Spinoff Blood Slave - Read my Review here.
Spinoff The Nightlife: San Antonio - Read my Review here.
5. The Nightlife: Moscow - Read my Review here.

[I ♥ Bookie Nookie (bookienookiereviews.blogspot.com) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Travis Luedke writes like a woman… and I mean that in the most complimentary way! If you have followed my reviews, then you know I have historically steered clear of male erotic or romance authors, but over the past year, I have become less discriminating and given more books written by men a shot and I’ll be the first to admit, I have not been disappointed. But that’s not really what this review is about, so… back to the matter at hand, the book!

THE NIGHTLIFE: NEW YORK is chocked full of naughty characters and I mean naughty in every sense of the word – dirty cops and pimps who need to be taught a lesson, along with strippers, hookers and pimps and let us not forget the VAMPIRES!

After many years of solitude, Michelle, the French vampire seductress and escort extraordinaire finds herself in a precarious situation when she encounters Aaron, a fragile human male on the verge of death. Does she leave him for dead or help him along into the world of the supernatural? Decisions, decisions… Turning him into a vampire will force an eternal bond and a responsibility to him and their secret world that she is just not sure she is willing to take on. On the other hand, mastering another could certainly have its perks, so, proving she hasn’t lost all her humanity, she saves him, while at the same time, bonding him to her for eternity. Michelle and Aaron’s journey into the unknown was sexy and exciting to watch as the drama of their new lives together unfolded.

THE NIGHTLIFE: NEW YORK proves, true to Travis Luedke’s description that “the Nightlife of New York is never boring.“ Can self-control and indulgence go hand-in-hand? Yes, apparently it can and I am game for a lot more of both! With a bevy of interesting characters and a fantastic story, you are sure to come back for a second helping of what author, Travis Luedke is dishing out – I certainly did!

**Reviewed on I ♥ Bookie Nookie Reviews

______________________________________________________________________
If you like this type of book, you might enjoy one of these groups. Check us out!

Menage Readers

Erotic Enchants

Bookie Nookie's Erotic Lending Group

[Penny Well Reads · Rating 1 out of 5]

DNF at 40%.

I did not like this book, at least not the part I read, which was pretty bad. I feel bad about giving it one start since who knows how the rest of the book would have gone since I never got to it, but what I do know is that I wasn't enjoying anything enough to keep me reading.
I didn't care about the characters or what whats happening to them, there was no connecting to them because they were two-dimensional. Everything was painfully cliché, superficial and infantile. It was one stereotype after another with nothing original or valuable at all.
Considering all that, it is not a surprise that I didn't like the portrayal of a single character found in there, specially the female protagonist. I found Michelle's portrayal, underdeveloped as it was, kind of offensive, like a prejudiced caricature and over-sexualized woman. Also, it was terribly annoying having Michelle constantly speaking in French, what a way to fill a book with air.
Overall, I just had this bothersome feeling that I could tell this book was clearly written by a man and mostly directed to some males interests, it is definitely not for me or what I look for in a book.

[Thieryn · Rating 1 out of 5]

(Fair warning, rant ahead. No punches held)

For starters, this book needs some serious editing.

Michele is a vampire bitch with a "holier than though" attitude, and the mind (and behaviour) of a child. Aaron is her newly-turned pussy-whipped slave, one she had no choice but to make vampire because she caused 2 corrupt cops to shoot him. Delia, Aaron's ex, is a whiny cunt, yet she still SO DID NOT DESERVE what that monster of a vampire woman Michele did to her at the end. The only redeeming quality of this book was BFF Kyle - cool dude, decent and honouring the Bro code.

As a long-term Role Player, I am fascinated by the paranormal and the mysterious aura of the Vampire race. In most of the stories I have read, they are the epitome of smooth authority, subtle dominion, overwhelming and incomprehensible charm, and a je-ne-sais-quoi that makes them downright dangerous and irresistible at the same time. It hurt me to read a vampire portrayal like the one Mr. Luedke described in his book. Like, physically hurt. Too much cringing. Ugh.

You would think, someone with the gift of immortality would have had enough time to ponder on life, death (and the pursuit of happiness) and not react like a teenage goat in heat. Oh how I detested Michele! Everything about her was... just wrong! Yes she is French, so I understand the random foreign phrases here and there, but seriously, all these years in New York, and she STILL could not speak proper English? A Korean 10 year old would speak better than her in a year! Seriously, most of the time, I didn't know if it was the speech that was not properly said to convey her foreign identity, or the bad editing that skipped articles and mismatched tenses.

I wish I could write more, but I just want to put this book behind me and never go down that road again. Not with Mr. Luedke anyway...

[Riley Banks · Rating 3 out of 5]

My actual rating on this is 3 1/2 stars.

This was quite a hard review for me to do, as I know Travis Luedke through a couple of the author forums I’m on. In that regard, I really wanted to love his book, but instead found myself sitting on the fence, not really sure which side I wanted to be on.

There were things I loved about the books, and there were things I didn't particularly enjoy.

Overall, it was a book I found myself turning the pages on, and wanting to find out more about, which is always a good start.

It must be said that this is definitely not a Young Adult book. Nightlife New York is vampire porn with a sprinkling of romantic attachment. The emphasis is definitely on the sex scenes with the rest of the action really acting as spice.

I have no problem with that aspect of the story, as I knew ahead of time that’s what I was going to read.

So, to the aspects I truly loved. The whole vampire bite equals orgasm was a new one I haven’t seen before (though it might exist elsewhere). It was hot, hot, hot, and really drew me in.

For the most part, I liked Aaron and Michelle and really wanted to find out more of their story.

There were some great, descriptive lines that I had to highlight because I loved them so much. For instance, at the start of the book, when highlighting Aaron’s naivety, the author says ‘His limited intimate encounters taught him there was considerable effort and occasional begging involved in the removal of women’s clothing.’

When describing a vampire’s hunt for prey, the author says ‘The vampires slid through the crush of swaying bodies like snakes in tall grass. Their prey could not see them coming until it was too late.’

I loved that Michelle spelled out to Aaron exactly what the changes would mean for his life. She explained the pros and the cons perfectly, setting up the vampire lores of the Nightlife. For instance, they do not stop aging but age very slowly. They can also die but are just more difficult to kill. It was cleverly done.

Another scene I loved was where Aaron was referring to Michelle’s ability to read his every thought. He began to get a sick feeling in his gut, suspecting that maybe he could not attain any privacy. Would he be doomed to a life where his every thought, no matter how petty and disgusting, his every sin was laid bare for her perusal? Who could live with such a burden? Could any man live every moment of every day with perfect thoughts? This paragraph instantly put me into Aaron’s mindset. He was living every man’s worst nightmare – having his every thought invaded and picked over by his girlfriend. There’d be no more of the dreaded ‘tell me what you’re thinking’. Instead it would be ‘let me into your mind’.

Travis got the ‘show don’t tell’ method right when he described the women in the nightclub. All these women really wanted was to meet a man – not just any man, a man who might be the one. These women go out with their friends hoping to be romanced off their feet as they dance the night away with that special man. The reality more often than not was ridiculous. The ladies stayed securely locked away in their safe zone with their girlfriends, brushing away the majority of men who would chance to meet them. These girls discouraged and actively worked against the very thing they desired most, a meaningful romantic encounter. What a sad, sad truth of how the club scene often works.

There was also one scene, where Aaron was remembering his father’s death that drove home how different Aaron’s new life was to his old. It came at a perfect time, when Aaron was starting to come across as a cartoonish porn star, reminding me of his humanity and vulnerabilities.

That being said, there were certain aspects of the book I didn't like as much. To be fair, I will split them into two categories: storyline and technique.

Storyline:

For some reason, the sub-plot of the cops was distracting. I know it was supposed to add drama – to give Aaron and Michelle a life-and-death situation they had to overcome. But the two cops were so dishonest and corrupt that I found myself rolling my eyes at the clichés that came out about them. The storyline would have been just as strong, if not stronger, without them.

I personally think the author spent too much time exploring the backstory of Talco who was more of a supporting character.

“Nope – not a word, nada.” Kyle got a kick out of throwing in random words of Spanish. He took two years of it in high school. This sentence made me curious enough to keep an eye out for any Spanish words coming from Kyle but there was nada, nothing, nil! Not one single other Spanish word uttered besides that first, which makes that whole sentence a red herring and completely redundant.

The one issue I have with most erotic books is that they sometimes fall into the trap of thinking they must one-up the last sex scene. For me, as a reader, half of my ‘thrill’ comes from the seduction, not in having the actual sex act explained in intimate detail. Less is sometimes more, and in this book, I actually found the seduction scenes with the humans far more engaging and scintillating than the ‘sex in every position and in graphic detail’ I got between Aaron and Michelle. In fact, their sex scenes barely got my pulse rate up at all, and I found myself skimming over them in the end. In some ways, they actually ended up sounding clinical rather than sexy.

As for the ending, and Michelle handling of Delia – I did not like that at all. It really was the one thing that almost knocked me to the other side of the fence. Maybe it is a personal thing, or a female thing, but I found the justification of their revenge to be a little too misogynistic for my liking. Perhaps if Aaron had pulled Michelle up afterwards and told her he didn't approve, I could have overlooked the scene. I don't mind rape in a book, as long as it is in context, and definitely not glorified. It has to be recognized as an horrific act, and seen as traumatic for the victim. Delia was a pain in the ass who was jealous that her ex had a hot, new girlfriend. I would have liked to cheer Michelle on for 'dealing' with her, but her punishment was way over the top! Just because the person ‘raping’ Delia was a woman, doesn’t make it any less disturbing or disgusting. There were far better ways Delia could have been dealt with.

Until that ending, I was going with a four star rating but I did find it so disturbing that I had to drop half a star!

Technique:

Repetition – the author got bogged down with a few words. Blond being one of them. In the opening chapters, the term blond was used to describe Michelle so many times that it became overkill. In the space of 2 ½ pages, Michelle was referred to as the five-foot blond-bomb, the blond goddess, and a beautiful blond vision of perfection. Reference was made to her tousled blond curls. Aaron could not take his eyes off the blond to save his own life. Then the blond hesitated, the blond offered, the cop shot the blond… By the end, I was yelling at my Kindle ‘I get it. She’s blond. Get over it already.’ There were a couple of other words the author fixated on (like cattle to refer to the humans) - as well as relying too heavily on ‘he’ as a sentence starter - but the blond was the one that really grated on my nerves.

Using bold to emphasise a statement is like using a sledgehammer to crack open an egg shell. I noticed the author used it quite a bit to transmit urgency. Trust that your readers know when things are urgent. You don’t have to spell it out for them.

In terms of grammar and spelling, there was slightly more than average.

The one other major complaint I have is the use of ‘gangster’ speak. I get it in dialogue, and am okay with it when used sparingly. Personally, I don't think it should find its way into the narrative, which it did on quite a few occasions in Nightlife New York. Again, less is more. Used sparingly, it can be effective. Overused, it just becomes distracting.

Overall, I did enjoy The NIghtlife New York and look forward to reading Nightlife Vegas, and definitely Nightlife Paris. It's a good book to read if you like your vampire stories to get your blood pumping, and a very good first outing for Travis Luedke.

I do feel kind of guilty for the 3 star rating, and really would have liked to give four stars, but you need to remember that a large portion of your readership are female, and will feel quite disturbed by Michelle's heavy-handed (pun intended) handling of Delia.

Riley Banks
Author of Vampire Origins - The Strigoi Book 1 - Project Ichorous and The William S Club

[Peter Jenkins · Rating 5 out of 5]

Author Travis Luedke has shown a mastery in writing about vampires that is the equal or better than anyone in this genre today. Aaron, the innocent young man who had lost his girlfriend, Delia, is ill-used by his money-grubbing flat mate Kyle. But in looks Aaron has potential, and he is intensely interested in beautiful women. That’s just as well because—in this well-paced narrative—few could ever be unaware of the drop-dead gorgeous vampire—French cussing, eye popping Michelle. We get off to a good start as the local constabulary try to arrest her for prostitution. Now, if you are a cop you really must never mistake a vampire for a whore. The cops are sent flying, but not before onlooker Aaron takes a bad gunshot wound. Michelle carries him to her pad, feeds him her own blood to activate the self-healing process that vampires take for granted. Alone with Michelle, Aaron—who is told she is a vampire and that he is now subservient to her every command—is healed, empowered and linked to her forever by the blood she gave him.
So we come to the book’s well documented twin paths to orgasm. There’s the usual route, which is well illustrated several times in the book, and also there’s the a quick sup of blood route. Beware the effect of having both together: it’s like all your birthdays coming at once. Not too much blood, however, or the bitten one may become addicted to the biter. So starts the couple’s nightly search for blood. We find out that that the police will be revenged for their humiliation, but we also learn that Michelle is of two minds whether to keep Aaron as her slave or destroy him. (An artificial ploy that did little for the book. )These ingredients call for Superman-type leaps, fierce eroticism, and Aaron’s final dash across New York to answer his mistress’s desperate call for help. But that’s enough of the story. ‘R’ rating is obvious. Putting the book down is not advised. I only thought the Author went too far when Michelle’s disposed of Delia, otherwise this was an impeccable, sexy vampire tale that will be hard to forget.

[Harlan Vaughn · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book while riding the subways underground in New York, it seemed appropriate. There were a few times when I wondered if the person next to me was trying to read along as I turned the pages, as some of the scenes are a tad... graphic, and potentially attention-grabbing if one's eye sees a choice word or too while glancing over.

This book assumes you already know a few specifics about how vampires live. It draws from the recent wave of supernatural/vampire-driven books and adds the specifics of a locality. In this case, New York.

I thought the book was immensely readable. Michelle was a well-rounded character, as was Aaron. I wish there was more background on Michelle - perhaps in upcoming works in the series. Aaron's background gave his character a lot of added dimension.

I'd recommend this book for people who like a character-driven story with a few titillating scenes here and there, and of course those who like vampire novels. Looking forward to seeing the series develop. All-in-all, a solid read.

[Kayla Stonor · Rating 5 out of 5]

A sexy vampire love story

Michelle is introduced to the reader as a vampire with a conscience shaped by her past with a nasty vampire master. Her last intention is to convert sweet, innocent Aaron, but he was in the wrong place at the wrong time so her choice is limited: blood-enslave him or let him die.

The author has created a vampire world, which is colorful, full of life, sex, and danger. The human 'cattle' display flashes of decency, but also weakness of character that makes us poor mortal souls seem rather depressing (although there is one human story that comes good which was great to see). But what I loved most about this story was the character development. Aaron comes into his own as a vampire and, by the end of the story, I was smitten by him. Michelle has to overcome her personal fears and open herself to love and trust. The result is a relationship I for one like to see. The writing is unique--another reviewer mentioned slightly narrated (I think). I agree with this. There was a slight distance to the telling, but it was refreshing and flowed beautifully. Overall, an easy and very enjoyable read with solid character development, a realistic plot threading through, and some despicable antagonists who receive their due.

[B.R. Snow · Rating 5 out of 5]

Let me start by saying that I don't read vampire books. After years in the corporate world, I've had enough of bloodsucking freaks and people looking for the opportunity to take a bite out of me to last a couple of lifetimes. I write comedy and generally wouldn't know a good vampire book if it bit me. (Sorry, couldn't resist.) But I've gotten to know Travis (T.W.) through a writer's group we're both proud members of and I've been impressed by how hard he works and how supportive he is of other writers. Many other indie authors should take note...

I also don't reviews books I haven't read, and when I read outside my normal comfort zone for the purpose of doing a review, I look for several things, regardless of genre. The ability to tell a strong, coherent story through some great characters is central. The Nightlife New York delivers on both fronts. Luedke is a very good storyteller and he's developing a style that provides readers with the ability to see things for themselves as opposed to merely being talked to by the author. The two main characters are handled well and they share commonality as well as maintain enough differences to keep the conflict at the forefront. Luedke maintains solid pace throughout the book and it has a well-executed arc. I think his secondary characters could have been drawn a bit sharper but that's a very minor criticism.

At the end of the book it's clear that Luedke has set himself up for a long run with this series. There are a limitless number of locales where individual books can be set and he's done a nice job of opening up potential directions on a number of different fronts. I'll be interested to see if he decides to use a major third character as the consistent pursuer of the two main characters as they change locations-in the tradition of Detective Girard in The Fugitive-or if Luedke uses different ones in each book. Regardless, I'll be keeping an eye on this one.

As an indie writer, I often hear from readers that they're reluctant to give self-published indies a shot. And I say to them, once again, that books like The Nightlife New York is one more example of what you're missing.

[Jim Wright · Rating 5 out of 5]

Plain ol' ordinary, long-suffering Aaron Pilan is too good for his own good and it gets him involved with the sexy, beautiful Michelle when he intervenes in a confrontation and receives a mortal gunshot wound for his trouble. Now, his life is irreversibly changed, and no two ways about it.

Travis Luedke has woven an astonishing vampire tale, utilizing some tried-and-true details along with his own special twists resulting in an unputdownable book. The rapid pace of the writing is very engaging - so engaging I was compelled to read it in a single sitting.

The sex scenes were amazing, and the action was at least equally spectacular. Did I mention I couldn't move my eyes from this book? Until now, I've been very disappointed in the "modern vampires" and have assiduously avoided them. Luedke has pulled me back into the fold with The Nightlife: New York.

I'm giving The Nightlife: New York five stars only because I haven't any more stars to give. I can't wait to "sink my teeth" into the next installment. Well done, Mr Luedke!

[Erik Christian · Rating 5 out of 5]

Travis Luedke is the author of the series "The Nightlife." "New York" is the first book and is written with a fluidity that shows the experience of someone who has a solid grasp of the writing craft. The characters pulled me into the plot, and I lasted in my seat until I was finished with the story. It is a compelling read. It is flawless. I'm really interested to see how Luedke continues with this compelling Saga. It is a Vampire story with a unique twist, which is certainly needed in this time when so many writers are copying the genre that made "Twilight" what it is, but I'm afraid many of these writers will fall away. I'm confident Luedke will remain a prominent author once the dust settles and I wish him all the best!

[Hilary West · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well, this is not really my thing. I find sex and blood lust just a tad offputting, but having said that Travis can write, I simply think he is wasting himself on this genre. For those who do like tales of vampirism I am sure they will get plenty of kicks out of this book. It is full-on, sexual, sensual, and there is plenty of blood and gore. The storyline works well and the ridiculous nature of the story may well tickle. Definitely one for vampire enthusiasts, who I am sure will be enthralled by this tale of modern day vampires.

[Olga Miret · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Nightlife New York by Travis Luedke
The Nightlife New York has all that it promises in the title. There are corrupt policemen, pimps, escorts, homeless, drug dealers, and all the fauna of nightlife in a big city. Of course, there are also vampires. Michelle, the French extremely attractive blonde vampire has been around for some time and she seems to have suffered under the abusive vampire/Master who created her. In contrast with the old-style vampires (and more in line with more recent renderings) she is far from one-dimensional and although does not thinks vampires should fraternise with humans, there is more human in her than initially meets the eye. Aaron’s transformation is reminiscent of that of characters in novels by Anne Rice and others since, painful but ultimately exhilarating. Whilst in Charlaine Harris’s ‘Sookie Stackhouse’ novels the blood of vampires is a potent aphrodisiac and has hallucinatory powers, here it is a venom produced at the time of their bite that creates havoc with human and vampires hormones and sexual arousal. The novel is not shy in describing sexual encounters, sometimes of a fairly extreme kind. It is definitely an adult book.
The romance between Michele and Aaron is intriguing. She is initially the dominant one and seems to be a male fantasy character but she is the one who transforms him and therefore he is always linked to her. Who if anybody has the upper hand is for the reader to decide. How the relationship eventually develops was one of the most interesting aspects for me, but it is a novel that would satisfy equally people fond of vampires books, romance, erotica, and even sketches of nightlife.
This is the first of a series and I understand there’s no long to wait for The Nightlife Vegas. As Michelle notes Las Vegas is a perfect place for somebody wishing to live the nightlife. We’ll see what adventures the next novel brings!

[Amy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've been into vampires long before the twilight craze. I love the hot steamy side of the vampire books. I had given up reading about vampires from new authors for a while because they all seem the same and I'm a very picky reader. I have my favorites like JR Ward, Larissa Ione, Jeaniene Frost and Lara Adrian. I decided to give this book a chance and I am glad I did. It had all the things I look for in a good book, strong characters, sex and action plus a little romance. Travis Luedke has a way with words. I see big things for his future in writing and I'm adding him to my list of favorites.

[Christopher Shields · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read The Nightlife: New York in one sitting and I'm ready for more. Luedke brings his the main characters to life, both incredibly flawed and powerfully charismatic, with a wonderful writing style, in this unique twist on the Vampire. If you're a fan of vamp fiction, I recommend giving the book a try. I'm delighted to have happened across this author and will certainly be reading more from him in the future.

[John Dolan · Rating 5 out of 5]

So you think you know all about vampires? And about vampires and sex? And about vampires having sex? Ha! Travis Luedke lays into the whole genre like a man possessed. Strong meet indeed, Travis. Hang on for the white-knuckle ride ...

[Hope Walker · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a good read. I enjoyed it! There were a few editing errors but hey, we all have those! There were also a few parts that went a bit too far and were just weird. But I still really liked it! If you like vampires and sex, then you will love this!

[Inakat · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was a gracious gift from the author. The second it hit my Kindle, I began to read it. This book pulls you in and keeps you interested until the very last page.

The main characters Michelle and Aaron make quite the odd couple to be faced with spending eternity together. He starts out as the hero and ends up with the need to be saved. Michelle is a fiery and believable character even for a vampire. Her short temper and flair for a "naughty" mouth gave the book just the "write" spark.

The sex scenes in this book were incredible. The desire and hunger for not only blood (it is a vampire book!)but the sex was palpable. Whether you are a male or female reader there is a portion that will make you slightly warm. It has a touch of BDSM and the author draws the reader into those scenes as well. I plan to read it again, which is rare for me.

The book was full of the of seedy night life and had plenty of action. The author painted a vivid picture of what it might be like to a vampire in New York. The most interesting thing about the book itself was the unusual thoughts and actions of Michelle as far as being a member of the un-dead. I got the impression that Aaron was going to be just another vampire flunky. The plot had several twists and turn that lined up in way to keep your attention even in the wee hours of the night.

I won't spoil the ending but this book was a good read.

[Yelle Hughes · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the first time that I’ve been taken through a vampire’s transition. The way this was written, it was if I was going through the transformation with Aaron. His personality changed too, from kind of a nerd to a stud…a boy to a man.

Travis Luedke wrote this like he lived it. I could see the location, see exactly what the characters looked like and what they were feeling. Michelle, was a hard ass but she had to be, being a female vamp and all. I admired her struggle between totally dominating Aaron or letting him grow as a vampire, she took the right path. The love scenes…heck not love…hot erotic sex had me riveted.

I couldn’t even sleep because I had to finish, especially when Michelle took Aaron to the strip joint. That was a hoot! I’d think twice before ever go to a stripper’s club, might be vampires about lol. I loved this book and so glad that Aaron and Michelle’s story doesn’t end here. Kyle was a trip and I would love to see him come back in the second of the series…which I will be reading.

Girls, when you read this, do not…I repeat, do not be a Delia. Look at your man and appreciate him or you just may lose him to some hot blonde and he will look better than you’d ever dream.

As you all can tell, I really like this book…action, sex, emotional trauma…is what excites me.

[Laurie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really enjoyed this book. Totally excited for the next one!

Aaron is just an average, insecure 22 year old guy. He works at a crappy job, is a roommate with his best friend Kyle and recently dumped by Delia - who he has begged to take him back.

Outside a restaurant, two crooked cops are harassing a woman. They think she is a hooker and are shaking her down when Aaron walks out and begins watching the events unfold. The cops have their guns drawn and the woman attacks which causes one of the guns to go off and consequently the bullet hits Aaron. The woman takes care of the cops and then rushes to Aaron with the intent of killing him.

Things happen and when Aaron wakes up, he is confused. The woman is there. She tells him her name is Michelle. She's french. She begins to tell him what has happened and he finds out that Michelle is a vampire and that in order to save him, she had to turn him. She is his master. He is under her control, whims and sexual appetites. She begins teaching him all he needs to know and then some.

Read this book to find out what happens next. This is book one in a series, but is a stand alone book. This is for mature readers due to graphic situations and sex.

[Christina · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a wonderfully written vampire story!! A fast paced, easy read that grabs you from the first page and just keeps going. I would say it is like 50 Shades of Grey only with vampires and written much better! I love that it has a slightly new take on vampires that combines traditional aspects with some new characteristics! The sex and violence scenes are very graphic and much more like an adult vampire love story than most others I have read. The characters were very well-rounded and Aaron has a great background that gives added dimension to his character and makes him easy to relate to, but I would love to hear more of Michelle's background(maybe in the next book!). Aaron's quick acceptance of his fate was a surprising plus, as I tire quickly of drawn out acceptance issues.
There were definitely no "slow" areas in this story at all! It was in an almost constant state of action, which was very nice(no one likes slow stories!).

The only part I was iffy on was near the end when Michelle confronts Delia. Part of me was thinking it was a little too much, but the other part of me thought it went quite well with the rest of the story.

If you like vampire love stories, you will love this book!

[Noelle Blakely · Rating 4 out of 5]

Aaron is in the wrong place at the wrong time and Michelle, an exotic vampire, has to choose to turn him or let him die. Good thing for us that she decides to turn him, so that we can read about their slightly warped love story.

I love when an author builds the characters and fills them out. It is something I look for in every book I read or write, and Luedke does this very well. His characters aren’t flat and one dimensional (maybe a tad bit stereotyped here and there) but still interesting.

From the blurb on Amazon, I expected the relationship between Michelle and Aaron to be a little darker and more twisted. As it turned out, I think their relationship, despite a couple of rough patches, was pretty sweet, loving and supportive. I like how, by the end of the story, Aaron had become a strong man and I like him as an alpha male.

The sex was mostly erotic (with the obvious exceptions of the scenes that weren’t meant to be) but felt a little rushed sometimes.

Overall, an easy read that can be finished in one afternoon. I love the main characters and feel like this was a good introduction to them. I hope for just a little more plot in Las Vegas, which is on my list to read.

[Jackie Hauver · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had the opportunity to read this book as one of Travis' critique partners. It was a great book. It's about 22 year old Aaron Pilan. At the begining of the book he's at the wrong place at the wrong time. As he's getting out of work, he sees two New York City police officers roughing up a young woman named Michelle. As Aaron steps in to help, he's shot. In order to save his life, Michelle turns him into a vampire. Thus begins his night life. As his master Michelle teaches him the ins and outs of being a vampire. Through his learning he becomes strong and confident. The novel is fast paced and action packed. For those that like a little bit of romance, there are some pretty steamy scenes! I would recommend this to anyone that likes stories about vampires.

[Kirstin Pulioff · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a fantastic book! It delivers on all it promises. It is a fast, erotic, fun, well written story.

It is a fast, fun ride following Aaron on his transformation from ordinary to extraordinary. The transition to becoming a vampire as well as the development of the relationship between characters is well developed.

This is a book that you do not want to put down. Each chapter builds upon the last. Each plot twist is deliberate and creates a new layer of excitement.

I am excited that this is just the beginning! Book two is in my kindle and ready to go.

[Janice Ross · Rating 5 out of 5]

"The Nightlife: New York" is an exceptionally written novel. I thoroughly enjoyed this paranormal experience. I typically get my fantasy fix from movies & television; however, I am now hooked to reading from this genre because of Travis Luedke's skillful writing. He has mastered the life of vampires so well, even allowing readers into the very thoughts of the overall experience - I am in awe! I look forward to reading more from this author.

[Shannon McRoberts · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really liked this book. It was an interesting take on ze vampires and ze little drink. Somewhere between Anne Rice's Vampire Chronicles and CSI crime drama. I would recommend this book and can't wait to see more from this series!

[Red · Rating 4 out of 5]

New author for me.....really liked it. The last half of the book really intrigued me enough to see where this series goes. Interesting characters and some interesting sex. Made for a unique relationship.

[Stephanie- The Boyfriend Bookmark · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don’t want to give any misconceptions here about what I like to read, so let me start by saying, at first I wanted to read the book, because Travis Luedke gave me a free copy on Twitter and I am all about supporting writers, without them I wouldn’t have met some of my favorite fictional friends. The blog tour showed up a couple days later and I thought, well, I committed myself to suffering through one book about vampires, why not all three. That’s right, I said suffer through… I just don’t read vampire books. If I wanted to read Twilight, I would. That’s right; it’s just not my type of book. Yes, I read the Pyte/Sentinal books by RL Mathewson and the Providence series by Jamie McGuire so vampires and paranormal books are not totally out of the question, I think for me it is just not my kind of book. So naturally, I was ready to force myself through this book and write a review which would probably not do it justice.
So I start reading the first book… The Nightlife New York. I keep telling myself, I don’t do vampires, I don’t do vampires… but oh my, I may reconsider after reading this book! In fact, I think I would totally do a vampire in this book, wait, that’s not exactly what I meant to say…
I don’t do vampire books…Aaron was just another innocent guy at a crossroads in his life trying to figure out his place in the world until that one night he sees his damsel in distress… he can’t help but see Michelle in all of her French beauty. There’s a fight, a gun goes off and Aaron’s life is changed forever. Michelle saves Aaron’s life. But there is an eternal price to pay. But along with that eternal price, Aaron’s life will never be the same, his needs will change, his interests have to change. He takes a new direction in life that mixes the two in a world of prostitution, corruption and the need for a bite… What I didn’t bargain for was the amazing hot sex and the result from a single prick from those pointy teeth. I suddenly felt the need to have Aaron sink his fangs in my neck… with a result like you get from reading this book, it would so be worth it.
I don’t do vampire books. I think about the strength and movement these two make in the night and the abilities they have… what I would give to be able to read minds, leap from building to building and to have such amazing strength…beyond the strength, it comes back to the amazing adventures in the bedroom, on the dance floor, in a hotel room, or anywhere there is clean blood. This book was capturing and I didn’t want to put it down (darn day job!). I was lost in this book and I really enjoyed the pull it had on me.
I don’t do vampire books and I don’t do the French language. One criticism I usually have when more than one language is used in writing is that I feel lost… I am one of those people that needs to read things in the language I know. It may be the language of love but I never learned more than to say “I am very stupid,” and order various foods in French in that high school class. However, with that said, I did not feel lost by the language; I was captured by the language as much as the characters. I loved Aaron and Michelle and the nuances of New York. I was addicted to this book and maybe the hope of the bite.
I really recommend this book and with all this gawking and gushing over this book, I have to remind myself I don’t do vampire books. For me that says so much about the writer. Travis Luedke took me to a whole new dimension in books to read with this and I was so excited to read about Michelle and Aaron hitting the strip next in The Nightlife Las Vegas.

[Drako · Rating 5 out of 5]

Seriously battling this new found addicition to vampire erotic romance.....Yeah, who am I kidding? No I'm not and I don't intend to. I love vampires and I love erotic romance. Best thing ever. So lets get to it, shall we?

This story centers around Michelle, a vampire and apparently drop dead gorgeous escort, and Aaron, a young waiter with serious self confidence issues that allows most folks to just walk over him. He's working in a restaurant and getting off work when he comes across what looks like an angel to him in Michelle. She's mesmerizing to him, and this leads him to get a bit stupid. Two cops decide to hassle her and Michelle decides to kick the crap out of them. Unfortunately, she gets just slightly sloppy and doesn't properly disarm one. When Aaron tries to come to her defense, he's shot. Michelle is then left with a dilemma, and decides to turn him.

There's a major drawback to being turned. The person turned is the servant of the person turning them. And the impression of Michelle being an angel is dispelled quickly. She has little to no patience and a vicious streak. Of course, Aaron is more than a little naive, and in some cases Michelle's control freak tendencies are quite useful in saving him. Of course, she also uses sex to get what she wants, instead of simply ordering him to do or say what she wants every time. When he gets too drunk on his abilities or too hungry with feeding, she does exercise her will using her masterly bond. Sucks to be Aaron in that case but oh well.

Each of the two have some deep embedded issues. Aaron has abandonment issues with his mother and a severe lack of self confidence. Michelle has control issues after being subjected to the maniacal control of her own master for years. As if that wasn't enough conflict, they have the two cops that got them into this mess after them, and they aren't the good kind of cops. They're worthless scum of the earth that abuse their power, and they're determined to exact revenge on the woman who had humiliated them.

The author has a way of drawing you into the main characters. This is the second one I've read and each time, I hate the vampires from the start. In this case, she redeemed herself quite nicely and the ending confrontation was just awesome. Seriously, I now love Michelle. Definitely going to read more by this author

[M. Joseph Murphy · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Nightlife: New York is a very solid, fun vampire novel. This is not the scary vampire type of David Wellington nor do these vampires sparkle. What they do is fulfil every fantasy you`ve ever had about wanting to be a vampire. And who hasn`t wanted to be a vampire at some point.

The sex scenes are super hot. You`ll probably need a cold shower or someone to help you work off tension. That`s how good they are. There is also a superhero origin element to add to the fun. The climaxes (no pun intended) of the story also hint at how brutal and violent the vampires can be.

There is also a moment where I had a vampire epiphany. Everyone knows vampires are cool; this book made me realize why they are cool.

At the beginning of Chapter 15 Aaron states:

"To live without need for the trappings of civilization, food, and drink. To be free of the disease of greed driving every moment and motivation. To have power over all you encounter, both physical superiority and the power to live without want. The only need that could not be ignored was that of the blood, easily remedied in an instant."

There is then a few paragraphs where, intended by the author or not, I got very existential. People love vampires because they are not stuck in this rat-race of a life we all seem trapped in. As apex-predators they are, literally, above it all. This type of vampire novel speaks to the part of us that wants to be free, to explore the things we are not supposed to.

My only quibble about the novel is the French. It sounds like phrases plugged into Google Translate. I tried to rationalize that Michelle was speaking an older form of French because she is over 80 years old. Still, I was taught Parisian French and I speak a bastardized Quebecois French. To my ears, the intermittent phrases Michelle uses do not feel realistic. Having said that, if you don't speak French you won't notice anything amiss.

CONCLUSION
If you like sexy vampires (or if you like sex or vampires) you will enjoy this book. I'm definitely looking forward to their next adventure.