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Skull Creek #1
Dead Sexy
Mills & Boon Blaze series promises scorching hot reads...She was looking for long-term. She wasn't expecting eternity!
Just when Nikki Braxton has given up on finding a normal guy, she meets cowboy Jake McCann.
Tall, dark and delicious, he could be the ideal man? If he wasn't a vampire. Well, at least that explains his...uh... hunger for her. Meanwhile, that down-and-dirty sex they're having is giving him the energy he needs to destroy his nemesis and break the vampire curse. Good thing, because being with Nikki makes him long for a normal life that much more.
But then Nikki is abducted. If Jake saves her, he may lose his only shot at becoming human again.
Talk about damned if you do?
Just when Nikki Braxton has given up on finding a normal guy, she meets cowboy Jake McCann.
Tall, dark and delicious, he could be the ideal man? If he wasn't a vampire. Well, at least that explains his...uh... hunger for her. Meanwhile, that down-and-dirty sex they're having is giving him the energy he needs to destroy his nemesis and break the vampire curse. Good thing, because being with Nikki makes him long for a normal life that much more.
But then Nikki is abducted. If Jake saves her, he may lose his only shot at becoming human again.
Talk about damned if you do?
192 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 1, 2007
11 people are currently reading
605 people want to read
About the author
Kimberly Raye
138 books460 followersI've always been an incurable romantic. While I enjoy reading all types of fiction, my favorites, the books that touch my soul, are romance novels. From sexy to thrilling, sweet to humorous, I like them all. But what I really love is writing romance--the hotter the better!
I started my first novel back in high school and have been writing ever since. To date, I've published over thirty novels, one of them a prestigious RITA Award nominee, Romance Writers of America's highest award of excellence. I have also been nominated by Romantic Times magazine for several Reviewer's Choice awards, as well as a career achievement award.
I've written for several different publishers, including Harlequin Books, Leisure Books, Berkley/Jove, St. Martin's Press and Warner Books. Born and bred in the Lone Start State, I still live deep in the heart with my real-life hero, Curt, and our young children.
Like any over-worked, under-appreciated wife and mother, I have very little free time. But when I find a few precious moments, I LOVE to read. Some of my favorite authors include Janet Evanovich, Vicki Lewis Thompson, Charlaine Harris (see my Favorite Reads page for more) and the exceptionally talented Nina Bangs. Give me a bag of Sugar Babies, a Toby Keith or Kevin Fowler CD (I love Texas music), and a great book, and I'm in heaven!
I started my first novel back in high school and have been writing ever since. To date, I've published over thirty novels, one of them a prestigious RITA Award nominee, Romance Writers of America's highest award of excellence. I have also been nominated by Romantic Times magazine for several Reviewer's Choice awards, as well as a career achievement award.
I've written for several different publishers, including Harlequin Books, Leisure Books, Berkley/Jove, St. Martin's Press and Warner Books. Born and bred in the Lone Start State, I still live deep in the heart with my real-life hero, Curt, and our young children.
Like any over-worked, under-appreciated wife and mother, I have very little free time. But when I find a few precious moments, I LOVE to read. Some of my favorite authors include Janet Evanovich, Vicki Lewis Thompson, Charlaine Harris (see my Favorite Reads page for more) and the exceptionally talented Nina Bangs. Give me a bag of Sugar Babies, a Toby Keith or Kevin Fowler CD (I love Texas music), and a great book, and I'm in heaven!
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 36 reviews
May 20, 2010
Opening Line: "He needed a woman."
Oh, I liked this one. But then again when you’ve got an uber-sexy, motorcycle riding, tortured, cowboy vampire on the hunt what’s not to like? All my boxes have just been ticked. Throw in a well written story, relatable and funny heroine, scorching hot love scenes, some tender dialogue and an awesome cast of eccentric secondary characters and you’ve got yourself a winner.
Nikki Braxton has given up hope on ever finding a man without issues in her hometown of Skull Creek (the last one stole her underwear and stilettos before he left) However she doesn’t want to get a reputation like her wild and wanton Mamma either and in a town this size everybody knows your business. This leaves Nikki in a state of permanent sexual frustration, getting her highs from cotton candy, baked goods and perm solution. That is until the night Jake McCann rolls into town. This delicious cowboy is just passing through and could be the perfect solution to her little problem; a one night, no strings attached, orgasmic roll in the hay without any of the towns wagging tongues the wiser.
For Jake the down and dirty he’s just had with Nikki is about more than just sex. He’s a vampire on a mission, a mission that after decades has led him to Skull Creek and the enemy that turned him. To be able to destroy his nemesis though Jake’s going to need his batteries fully charged and this is where Nikki comes in. You see Jake doesn’t just feed on blood he feeds on sexual energy and Nikki’s got a ton to spare, so much so that one night with her simply isn’t going to be enough.
I was very curious about the idea of a cowboy vampire and thought this is either going to be really silly or super sexy. Luckily Jake (and all the characters) have been written in such multi-faceted ways that the idea works, big time. Giving you everything you could possibly want in a quickie Harlequin romance and then some. Jake is a fantastic character; self assured, intensely sexual and driven yet also vulnerable and lonely without even knowing it. Yup I fell hard for this Cowboy. Nikki is also great, completely down to earth and fun to be around. Their romance takes some surprising turns and for as steamy as it gets it was also very sweet. I will definitely be searching out more from Kimberly Raye and can’t wait to read the rest of her Scull Creek series, she made this small town and its cast of characters come alive. Cheers!
Oh, I liked this one. But then again when you’ve got an uber-sexy, motorcycle riding, tortured, cowboy vampire on the hunt what’s not to like? All my boxes have just been ticked. Throw in a well written story, relatable and funny heroine, scorching hot love scenes, some tender dialogue and an awesome cast of eccentric secondary characters and you’ve got yourself a winner.
Nikki Braxton has given up hope on ever finding a man without issues in her hometown of Skull Creek (the last one stole her underwear and stilettos before he left) However she doesn’t want to get a reputation like her wild and wanton Mamma either and in a town this size everybody knows your business. This leaves Nikki in a state of permanent sexual frustration, getting her highs from cotton candy, baked goods and perm solution. That is until the night Jake McCann rolls into town. This delicious cowboy is just passing through and could be the perfect solution to her little problem; a one night, no strings attached, orgasmic roll in the hay without any of the towns wagging tongues the wiser.
For Jake the down and dirty he’s just had with Nikki is about more than just sex. He’s a vampire on a mission, a mission that after decades has led him to Skull Creek and the enemy that turned him. To be able to destroy his nemesis though Jake’s going to need his batteries fully charged and this is where Nikki comes in. You see Jake doesn’t just feed on blood he feeds on sexual energy and Nikki’s got a ton to spare, so much so that one night with her simply isn’t going to be enough.
I was very curious about the idea of a cowboy vampire and thought this is either going to be really silly or super sexy. Luckily Jake (and all the characters) have been written in such multi-faceted ways that the idea works, big time. Giving you everything you could possibly want in a quickie Harlequin romance and then some. Jake is a fantastic character; self assured, intensely sexual and driven yet also vulnerable and lonely without even knowing it. Yup I fell hard for this Cowboy. Nikki is also great, completely down to earth and fun to be around. Their romance takes some surprising turns and for as steamy as it gets it was also very sweet. I will definitely be searching out more from Kimberly Raye and can’t wait to read the rest of her Scull Creek series, she made this small town and its cast of characters come alive. Cheers!
January 24, 2010
Months ago I picked up the third book in this series and loved it. Now I've finally managed to come across the first in this series and I'm glad I did. Although I used to laugh and pass over the Harlequin monthly stand in favour of 'real' books. (Not to offend I'm just not into the formula romances.) Thankfully Kimberly Raye caught my eye and here I am.
The equation runs like this. Cowboys = hot. Vampires = Really hot. Cowboy vampires = Hotness I couldn't pass up.
For the first in the series I liked it and it led into the next book nicely. Jake is wholesome and yet also the dangerous bad boy you love to see. Nikki is practical and real. No wimpy female lead here. The sex scenes are steamy and just right, not overwhelming. And a plotline that wasn't full of holes and made you want to keep going. Overall and great read and I am so going to hunt down the next in the series!
The equation runs like this. Cowboys = hot. Vampires = Really hot. Cowboy vampires = Hotness I couldn't pass up.
For the first in the series I liked it and it led into the next book nicely. Jake is wholesome and yet also the dangerous bad boy you love to see. Nikki is practical and real. No wimpy female lead here. The sex scenes are steamy and just right, not overwhelming. And a plotline that wasn't full of holes and made you want to keep going. Overall and great read and I am so going to hunt down the next in the series!
May 14, 2009
cowboy + vampire + motorcycle = best dang smut book EVER.
January 16, 2016
Some authors are just made for erotica. Some… for something else.
Don't get me wrong, I like erotica as much as any other style, sometimes more ;) but here it's the story that got my attention. I cached myself skipping the sex scenes and get to the « good stuff » the dialogs, the characters motivations and evolution, the whole plot… arrgh, talk about Bizarro world !
Can't say that I'm disappointed, because I enjoyed this novel. It wasn't perfect: the plot was predictable and underdeveloped, but I really liked all the characters.
At first, I thought the heroine to be an over-repressed doormat, trying to please everyone even when it was so obviously impossible. But soon I caught myself warming up to her.
When the opportunity to get some no strings attached wild sex presented itself she literally jumped on it, and revealed herself to be kind of a sex-kitten : no wonder there. She then struggled a lot to reconcile different aspects of her persona, and ended up revealing herself. All that was surprisingly nice.
What amazed me the most was how credible and sweet that narration was, knowing that the hero is a cowboy/biker/vampire… like three major female fantasies wrapped into one.
So when I picked this book I more or less expected to find it ridiculous, read a few hot scenes, have a good laugh and not finish it… Instead, I got impressed by the author's psychological insights and a romantic story.
Ah well… :)
Don't get me wrong, I like erotica as much as any other style, sometimes more ;) but here it's the story that got my attention. I cached myself skipping the sex scenes and get to the « good stuff » the dialogs, the characters motivations and evolution, the whole plot… arrgh, talk about Bizarro world !
Can't say that I'm disappointed, because I enjoyed this novel. It wasn't perfect: the plot was predictable and underdeveloped, but I really liked all the characters.
At first, I thought the heroine to be an over-repressed doormat, trying to please everyone even when it was so obviously impossible. But soon I caught myself warming up to her.
When the opportunity to get some no strings attached wild sex presented itself she literally jumped on it, and revealed herself to be kind of a sex-kitten : no wonder there. She then struggled a lot to reconcile different aspects of her persona, and ended up revealing herself. All that was surprisingly nice.
What amazed me the most was how credible and sweet that narration was, knowing that the hero is a cowboy/biker/vampire… like three major female fantasies wrapped into one.
So when I picked this book I more or less expected to find it ridiculous, read a few hot scenes, have a good laugh and not finish it… Instead, I got impressed by the author's psychological insights and a romantic story.
Ah well… :)
August 3, 2011
Nikki Braxton is done with men, tired of their cheating ways and unusual hobbies, that is until she meets sultry Jake McCann. Jake is striking, brooding, and all out sexy in a finely wrapped package, when he suggests they go back to his motel for a night of uninhibited sex the good girl in Nikki quickly refuses. After some thought though, the bad girl in Nikki decides, why not, one night of lusty sex with no commitments is just what she needs. You don't always get what you wish though, when vampire Jake forms an unusual bond with Nikki.
There were aspects of this story I really enjoyed but some of it was jumbled and the end was not quite as final as I would have liked, it definitly setup for a sequel though.
There were aspects of this story I really enjoyed but some of it was jumbled and the end was not quite as final as I would have liked, it definitly setup for a sequel though.
September 29, 2013
Brilliant! The plot, the characters everything!
August 25, 2024
What's better than a small town with hunky men, a small town with well meaning interfering busy bodies and men that chose the town because that's where you are. Jake so made the right call staying in town
June 20, 2021
3.5
Solid start to a series… I hope this particular vampire mythology is explained a tad bit more in the coming books
Solid start to a series… I hope this particular vampire mythology is explained a tad bit more in the coming books
September 12, 2021
4.5 the ending was a bit abrupt but the story and characters were great.
March 30, 2012
This review is for the audio book, as sold by Audible.
The first of the vampire novels set in Skull Creek, Texas and it's a good introduction to the setting.
Jake McCann lives on blood and sexual energy, he needs either to survive and provide him with strength, so he's used to one night stands with women and moving on. But if he's to reclaim his humanity he must kill the vampire who turned him and that means spending time in Skull Creek until his maker arrives to mark the day his maker was turned. So, when he sets his sights on Nikki Braxton it's as a source of energy, not a relationship.
As for Nikki, she's spent her life trying to find the balancing point between her Aunt - the 'good' one, and her mother the 'bad' one. One expects her to be a saint, the other wants her to dive headfirst, without a life guard, into being a bad girl. All she wants is the chance to be herself, whoever that might be.
Meeting Jake, who she believes is simply passing through and will be gone come morning, gives her a chance to be the bad girl - even if only for one night. But all backfires when rumor has her engaged to Jake before she can blink, and the infuriating man hasn't left town - and doesn't plan on doing so for another six days...
All in all a very satisfying read/listen. The narrator worked very well for this one. Her male voices didn't come off as sissy, but were well portrayed.
The first of the vampire novels set in Skull Creek, Texas and it's a good introduction to the setting.
Jake McCann lives on blood and sexual energy, he needs either to survive and provide him with strength, so he's used to one night stands with women and moving on. But if he's to reclaim his humanity he must kill the vampire who turned him and that means spending time in Skull Creek until his maker arrives to mark the day his maker was turned. So, when he sets his sights on Nikki Braxton it's as a source of energy, not a relationship.
As for Nikki, she's spent her life trying to find the balancing point between her Aunt - the 'good' one, and her mother the 'bad' one. One expects her to be a saint, the other wants her to dive headfirst, without a life guard, into being a bad girl. All she wants is the chance to be herself, whoever that might be.
Meeting Jake, who she believes is simply passing through and will be gone come morning, gives her a chance to be the bad girl - even if only for one night. But all backfires when rumor has her engaged to Jake before she can blink, and the infuriating man hasn't left town - and doesn't plan on doing so for another six days...
All in all a very satisfying read/listen. The narrator worked very well for this one. Her male voices didn't come off as sissy, but were well portrayed.
January 28, 2014
More of a 3.5 but… as numbered romances go, pretty good.
Ok, now let me get this straight. The vampires in this world are compelled to annually return to the spot of their original turn and go through it again? That is so messed up. OTOH, killing one's sire restores one's humanity.
So the H shows up because after much digging, he's figured out who his creator was, and where he was turned. Now… if only it occurred to him that some at least would change their name to hide their identity. I found that bit amusing to be honest - it never occurred to him in all the past…100 years or so that the vampire who stopped him from killing someone might have been the one who created him. D'oh.
The h, being from a small town, has a very small selection of men to choose from and she keeps landing on the ones with issues. Hmmm… Oh, this one has a big issue - fangs and stuff. Worse, everyone assumes that they're engaged because she slept with him. He agrees to the deception since he's hanging around for the next week. Mmmm boy.
Then his partner shows up (the one who turned him. D'oh) and well, he finally tells her what he is. Book ends with him facing the reality that he can't kill the one who turned him and, to his surprise, the h is willing to be turned.
Ok, now let me get this straight. The vampires in this world are compelled to annually return to the spot of their original turn and go through it again? That is so messed up. OTOH, killing one's sire restores one's humanity.
So the H shows up because after much digging, he's figured out who his creator was, and where he was turned. Now… if only it occurred to him that some at least would change their name to hide their identity. I found that bit amusing to be honest - it never occurred to him in all the past…100 years or so that the vampire who stopped him from killing someone might have been the one who created him. D'oh.
The h, being from a small town, has a very small selection of men to choose from and she keeps landing on the ones with issues. Hmmm… Oh, this one has a big issue - fangs and stuff. Worse, everyone assumes that they're engaged because she slept with him. He agrees to the deception since he's hanging around for the next week. Mmmm boy.
Then his partner shows up (the one who turned him. D'oh) and well, he finally tells her what he is. Book ends with him facing the reality that he can't kill the one who turned him and, to his surprise, the h is willing to be turned.
September 11, 2011
The construct of this cowboy vampire romance is too convenient. Our hero is a 150-year-old vampire who feeds not only on blood, but sexual energy. Just as he's found the way to turn himself back into a human, he meets the woman who's given him the best sexual energy he's ever fed off, and he starts to realize that he might want to settle down. Luckily things don't end up the way it seems they will, although the change of plans is never really resolved in a way that seems fulfilling. I'm also a little disturbed by the heroine's desire to be turned into a vampire when it seems that the cure for her hunk's vampirism is so close. If I didn't think about it too hard, the actual love story was decent, but the whole vampire concept was weak at best. At least there weren't any sparkles.
March 26, 2011
I picked this up because I really love her Dead End Dating series, but when she writes for Harlequin (should have been indicator #1) she throws all talent and the need to think about plot out the window. Don't get me wrong, there was nothing wrong this book. It is a perfectly respectable trashy novel complete with shirtless vampire cowboy on the cover, but it is quite far from being up to par with the rest of her books. You read enough and you tend to get to the big reveal, the plot twist, before the author writes it. There were a lot of racy sex scenes and a pretty predictable plot. Recommended for a little quick escape, not for anything more though.
May 30, 2011
So...I read books 2, 4, and 5 a year or so ago. Due to a recent book search, I figured I'd round out the rest of the series. Cowboy vampires? Sounds good to me!
This one wasn't as good as the other two for me. Also, there were parts where you're like (and I KNOW you're suspending belief anyway)...but, there were parts that just seemed a little silly to me. I mean, he's going through the change or whatever in the middle of downtown at Midnight and NO ONE hears this??
There are a few things like that.
Anyway, it was a fast sexy read, and I enjoyed the back story on the characters I've already met in previous books.
This one wasn't as good as the other two for me. Also, there were parts where you're like (and I KNOW you're suspending belief anyway)...but, there were parts that just seemed a little silly to me. I mean, he's going through the change or whatever in the middle of downtown at Midnight and NO ONE hears this??
There are a few things like that.
Anyway, it was a fast sexy read, and I enjoyed the back story on the characters I've already met in previous books.
December 4, 2009
There was nothing wrong this book. You read enough and you tend to get to the big reveal, the plot twist, before the author writes it. There were a lot of hot scenes and a decent if not predictable plot. This is the first in a series. I will likely read the entire series eventually, but the drive to do so isn't urgent so it was a perfect thing to read and this point. Recommended for a little quick escape, not for anything more though.
January 1, 2011
This book was H-O-T. The chemistry between Nikki and Jake sizzled off the pages, but that wasn't the only thing that made this tale so good. The small town of Skull Creek (I love the name!) seemed so real, and I really liked Nikki. She was just an average gal trying to find true love amongst a whole bunch of losers. But of course, there was more to it than that. And hooking up with Jake made her realise a lot of things about herself.
July 5, 2010
Cuuuuuuuuuute story. I have read half audio-booked this. Loved Jake and Nikki. Loved the small town characters.
The book seemed a little longer than it needed to be. Lots of sex scenes, there is even a carnval... and you know what people get up to at carnivals... on feriswheels....
Anywhoo. I enjoyed this.
The book seemed a little longer than it needed to be. Lots of sex scenes, there is even a carnval... and you know what people get up to at carnivals... on feriswheels....
Anywhoo. I enjoyed this.
October 10, 2023
Read this before GR era, so I rated this just by what I feel after I finish read. This is a quick read and the story is pretty simple. Also the book should have categorized into Nocturne imprint back then in 2010, but got included into Blaze imprint. Maybe because the story is scorching hot? Nah, I don't remember that much
October 6, 2009
If you're one of those readers that takes vampire romances way too seriously, then this one's not for you. If you can take the combination of cowboys and hot rods and small town gossipy blue hairs and the fair and sprinkle some vampire on top, then this one's for you.
August 11, 2020
I'm not sure what made me pick up this book - other than it fit a challenge I needed a quick read for. It was formula romance TO A T - lust at first sight that turns into love. Bad boy, good girl. Meh.
January 29, 2016
This was a nice enough read. Just think about it - a motorcycle riding cowboy vampire, it already sounds good. I recommend this book if you're looking for a quick nice read with no deep meaning for a sunday afternoon.
January 21, 2009
I am reading this for TBR reading challenge this month is categories from our TBR pile
Review is up http://saraisbookchallenges.blogspot.... if you want to see my thoughts.
Review is up http://saraisbookchallenges.blogspot.... if you want to see my thoughts.
December 25, 2009
Hot and a different twist on the tortured vampire.
September 25, 2010
Pretty good book; kept my attention throughout the whole thing.
August 24, 2011
this was nice
November 20, 2011
Wonderful romance/comedy that left me waiting for book 6 in the series. Lil is so the girl/vamp you want as your best friend and you can't help but root for her.
January 4, 2012
Steamy!
Read
September 19, 2012DNF .. just couldn't get into this book! I think it is the jumble of western and vampire that turned me off .. I don't believe that mix!
June 7, 2015
B358 Nov07 Love at First Bite #1 hairdresser Nikki Braxton has dated losers. When she falls for sexy cowboy, Jake McMann, she's thrilled. He's also a vampire.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 36 reviews