My Gentleman Vampire: The Undead Have Style

by L.A. Lewandowski

Natalie Crisan is reeling from her boyfriend's betrayal. Her confidence is shattered and her heart is broken. Karma works its magic as a new man enters her life; a fabulous creature whose style and "joie de vivre" shock her out of self-pity. David Fanning's prescription is novel: a fashion makeover, a tango competition, and a new social circle are the cure. When a sexy scoundrel decides Natalie is to be his next lover, her growing attraction to him threatens her newfound emotional equilibrium. Natalie is seduced by the excitement of this dark world, and the undead either adore her or want to drain her blood. Can a tango's revenge and her gentleman vampire save her?

Genres: Paranormal, Vampires

128 pages, Paperback

First published November 18, 2012

About the author

Lois Lewandowski was born in Englewood, N.J. and spent her formative years in the Garden State. She graduated from Rutgers University with a degree in Political Science and French Literature. Many years of ballet training and piano lessons instilled a great love of classical music and dance. Her passion for life lived well is realized in her novel, Born to Die: The Montauk Murders, a glimpse into the world of the beau monde. Her novel, My Gentleman Vampire: The Undead have Style, introduces a new breed of fabulous, tango dancing undead. Her most recent release, A Gourmet Demise: Murder in South Tampa follows the adventures of the dinner club the Gaspar Gourmets. Lois currently resides in Tampa, Florida.

Reviews

[Furio · Rating 1 out of 5]

The basic idea behind this -meant to be- sparkling novella, the first in a as of now unpublished series, is solid and worthwhile:
take a successful writer of undetermined age leading a real life less glamorous by far than that of her characters and have her meet a gorgeous gay vampire with a good taste and an inclination for lost causes and you have the recipe for a bubbling comedy renewing the rather stale world of human VS vampire fiction.

Writing is simple but professional and editing flawless, with a single grammar mistake towards the end of the book that stands out because of its being unique.

All is well that end well, then? Unfortunately not.

Natalie's fashion make-over, instead of being a way of overcoming old insecurities and discovering new possibilities, soon becomes an endless list of brand names with Natalie herself sailing through it sipping glass after glass of glamorous wines, even in the worst possible situations, giving more the idea of an alcoholic than of a woman on the verge of changing her life and discovering a new, dangerous world, that of the supernaturals.
Plot is not pushed forward by actual events but by meetings with new characters who are described at length but never vivid and leaning towards the stereotype.

That is probably the worst flaw in this work: everyone in it, from Natalie and her gay vampire-friend to the last of extras, is one dimentional not to say cardboard and therefore impossible to like.
That includes the supposed villains: the lengthy chapter that sees Natalie facing her -supposedly- sexy nemesis had me laughing, but not for the right reasons.

[Lynne Cantwell · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have to say that this is the first book I've ever read that featured a tango-dancing vampire as one of the main characters.

Natalie, who's an author, is in the process of getting over Mike, the guy she threw out of her house after he cheated on her. One morning, after drinking herself to sleep the night before, she wakes up to discover someone has been through her closet and has laid out a chic outfit for her. Somehow or other, a stylish vampire named David has moved himself into her basement. He takes Natalie on as his personal project, and before long, he has renovated her diet, her health and beauty regimen, and even her house. And it turns out he is as much of a fan of the tango as she is. Pretty soon, the two of them are getting lessons from an unusual dance instructor so they can compete in the vampires' annual tango competition. Of course, there's a similar competition coming up in the human world, and Mike and his new partner are considered to be the dance team to beat. Anyone want to bet whether there will be a showdown?

I didn't completely buy Natalie's willingness to let David take over her life. Classical vampires use mind control to subdue their human companions, but David doesn't do that -- instead, Natalie just kind of goes with the flow. To his credit, he doesn't bite her, either. Oh -- and did I mention he's gay?

I don't typically read chick lit, but My Gentleman Vampire was a cute, fun book.
***
Originally published at http://hearth-myth-rursday-reads.blog....

[Dena · Rating 5 out of 5]

Vampires, shape shifters, and humans oh my!! I absolutely found this book intriguing and very well written. I thought the characters came alive with how creative they were. This book totally stunned me especially since it was free. A writer with a cheater for a boyfriend is left in the dust. Then comes a vampire who needs a new start and happens to live in her basement. That was good by the way!!! From there it sky rocket into unforgettable scenes and romantic interludes

Overall I enjoyed the witty banter and the way the characters made the story. I was so engrossed into the story that I didn't realize it was a series bummer...

[Barbara · Rating 5 out of 5]

To say I enjoyed this book is an understatement. Not at all my genre of choice, I'm glad I gave it a go. Great characters like classy vampires, stylish werewolves and a writer who befriends them is what makes for an unusually light, fun, and romantic story. I highly recommend it.

[Tiea Martin · Rating 1 out of 5]

REVIEW LATER

[Dale · Rating 2 out of 5]

A readable, entertaining, light novel pitched possibly at a younger readership.