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Nocturne Falls #16

The Vampire's Former Flame

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Welcome to Nocturne Falls, the town where Halloween is celebrated 365 days a year. The tourists think it's all a show: the vampires, the werewolves, the witches, the occasional gargoyle flying through the sky. But the supernaturals populating the town know better. Living in Nocturne Falls means being yourself. Fangs, fur, and all.

Ephelia Moreau doesn’t know she’s in danger. All she knows is that her mother’s up to something. Nothing new there. Her mother has been trying to dictate Ephie’s life since the day she was born. So when an old boyfriend suddenly appears and tells Ephie about the cool little town he lives in, Ephie jumps on the chance to take a trip, not realizing she’s doing exactly what her mother wants. Or what kind of trouble is headed her way.

Remy Lafitte wasn’t supposed to be in New Orleans. He was only there to see a sick friend, but then the mother of a former girlfriend finds him and asks for his help. He can’t refuse, and not just because her mother is threatening him. If Ephelia’s in danger, Remy will do anything he can to protect her (and her cat). She was, after all, the only woman he’s ever loved.

Ephie and Remy have a lot of catching up to do, but they may not get the chance when a real threat comes to Nocturne Falls. Suddenly, Ephie’s life hangs in the balance and Remy must make a decision. Even if it means breaking his own heart again.

374 pages, Kindle Edition

First published April 29, 2024

213 people are currently reading
397 people want to read

About the author

Kristen Painter

182 books3,416 followers
Kristen Painter likes to balance her obsessions with shoes and cats by making the lives of her characters miserable and surprising her readers with interesting twists. She currently writes award-winning paranormal romance, paranormal women's fiction, and cozy mysteries. The former college English teacher can often be found on twitter @Kristen_Painter, Facebook at www.facebook.com/KristenPainterAuthor where she loves to interact with readers and her blog: http://kristenpainter.com/blog/.

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5 stars
909 (65%)
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362 (26%)
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100 (7%)
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 101 reviews
Profile Image for Madison Warner Fairbanks.
3,463 reviews495 followers
April 30, 2024
The Vampire’s Former Flame by Kristen Painter
Nocturne Falls series #16. Paranormal romance on the lighter side. Can be read as a stand-alone.
Nocturne Falls. A town that celebrates Halloween 365 days a year, so paranormals can live openly and tourist just think it’s just tourism.
Remy Lafitte travels to New Orleans to pay his respects to a former mentor and ends up having dinner with his lost love and disapproving mother. Remy is shocked when Ephelia is convinced to travel with him back to Nocturne Falls as a way to protect her from a threat. As expected, that threat does follow the trail back to the small town and it’s up to Remy and other residents to save the day.

🎧 I read this book first as an ebook and did a quick second read today via audiobook. The narration is done by B J Harrison who performs the full series and most of the author catalog. The narration is filled with emotions that make it fun to listen to although he does read slow in my opinion so listened at 1.6 which is slightly faster than my norm.

Entertaining and so much fun to be back in Nocturne Falls and revisit with some of the iconic characters. And I always love the pets in these books. Who can resist a ghost cat that sits on Remy’s head?
Profile Image for Tay.
195 reviews41 followers
May 30, 2024
The Story is Still Cute…

I enjoyed this book after reading another of the books in the series. This one, though not as heart warming as ‘The Vampire’s Accidental Wife’ had its own charming.

It had endearing characters, a good plot, no infuriating miscommunication trope and two conflicts. Which worked in its favour strictly because the first of the conflicts had a similar set up as the previous book I read in the series. I didn’t want it to be more of the same, so I was happy when we got the second conflict. An act that was completely unexpected on my end. It was nice watching Ephie come into her own with her mother and learn more about Leonie.

I will say, a very heavy topic was brushed over in a ‘blink and you miss it’ moment that I did not appreciate. That with Leonie and Solomon. That was pretty heavy and I wished more focus was given to that. I know author wanted story to be light as evidenced by her no killing rule, but that needed more than a ‘oh this happened.’

Enjoyed the writing style, enjoyed the characters. 4/5 stars
Profile Image for Amy.
3,067 reviews625 followers
not-going-to-finish
May 6, 2025
Quietly giving up on this one 'cause I just can't force myself to read any more.
Profile Image for Mel Mel.
482 reviews5 followers
August 16, 2024
Nocturne Falls for the win!

I will always be ecstatic to go back to Nocturne Falls. I've wished for Remy's story for a while and I'm so happy to have gotten it! So so good!
Profile Image for Ashley (Red-Haired Ash Reads).
3,404 reviews181 followers
May 18, 2024
Series: Nocturne Falls #16
Rating: 4 stars - It was really good

When Remy Lafitte sneaks back into his old hometown to say goodbye to a dying friend, he never expects the mother of his former girlfriend to ask for his help. Ephelia is the only woman he has ever loved and he never expected he would get this second chance with her. While they have a lot of catching up to do, they quickly find that the danger has followed them to Nocturne Falls.

I always get excited when I see a new Nocturne Falls book because I love this town and the people within it. Remy has appeared throughout this series and is one of the last members of the sheriff’s department who hasn’t fallen in love so I was excited to see him finally get a book.

Remy and Ephelia fell in love 12 years ago while Ephelia was in college, but their pride and naivety pushed them apart. Now they are getting a second chance but danger keeps appearing. I really enjoyed Remy and Ephelia’s story and how they slowly got to know the new versions of themselves. I really liked that there weren't a lot of comparison scenes between their old selves and now because that quickly gets tiring and takes away from their current relationship.

While this story does involve a heavy topic of stalking and threats of harm, it mostly focused on Remy and Ephelia and rekindling their relationship. Yes there are discussions of the danger and a few dangerous scenes for the couple, but overall it was about the romance between them, which I was glad for. My only real complaint is that the situation with her father towards the end of the book felt a bit tacked on and rushed, but I still enjoyed it overall.

Overall, this was another great Nocturne Falls book and another great couple. Remy and Ephelia are a great addition to the town and I can’t wait to see them pop up in future books. Also I really want to see more of Jean-Luc, Ephelia’s ghost cat, because he was adorable and a great pet.

TW: stalking and threatening messages; kidnapping; fire and burn injuries; rape discussed;
14 reviews
November 7, 2025
My favorite part was the ghost cat! The rest of the story was somewhat bland. I did not feel the love connection between the two main characters at all. It was also very strange that the main vampire did not enjoy the taste of blood… what the heck kind of vampire doesn’t love blood???
Profile Image for Estella.
436 reviews14 followers
September 21, 2024
Welcome to Nocturne Falls, the town where Halloween is celebrated 365 days a year. The tourists think it's all a show: the vampires, the werewolves, the witches, the occasional gargoyle flying through the sky. But the supernaturals populating the town know better.

Living in Nocturne Falls means being yourself. Fangs, fur, and all.

Ephelia Moreau doesn't know she's in danger. All she knows is that her mothers up to something. Nothing new there. Her mother has been trying to dictate Ephie's life since the day she was born. So when an old boyfriend suddenly appears and tells Ephie about the cool little town he lives in, Ephie jumps on the chance to take a trip, not realizing she's doing exactly what her mother wants. Or what kind of trouble is headed her way.

Remy Lafitte wasn't supposed to be in New Orleans. He was only there to see a sick friend, but then the mother of a former girlfriend finds him and asks for his help. He cant refuse, and not just because her mother is threatening him. If Ephelia's in danger, Remy will do anything he can to protect her (and her cat). She was, after all, the only woman he's ever loved.

Ephie and Remy have a lot of catching up to do, but they may not get the chance when a real threat comes to Nocturne Falls. Suddenly, Ephie's life hangs in the balance and Remy must make a decision. Even if it means breaking his own heart again.

I really love Nocturne Falls! I wish I could live there! This is another great book in the Nocturne Falls Series. I love all the characters. This book is no exception. Ephie and Remy have been in love for so long, it's great to see them find their way back to one another. Kristen Painter is a great writter and I love all her books! If you love fun and a great series to just sit back and listen to, then look no further! Another great book!
Profile Image for Kelly.
5,734 reviews228 followers
February 2, 2025
Deputy Remy Lafitte of the NFPD is up and he's in a bit of a pickle. Well, it's not so pickle-ish, really. But he does find himself suddenly tasked with keeping his former lady friend safe by said lady friend's mother, who does NOT like vampires. Which means Ephie must really be in danger if her mama is coming to him, of all people.

So (with some creative finagling by Ephie's mom), Remy and Ephie are off to Nocturne Falls were they have a chance to get reacquainted. Seeing how Ephie's being kept in the dark about the danger (which Remy is NOT happy about), Remy is being kept on his toes. By Ephie (because she really is his one true love) and by the danger that could pop up at any moment.

On Ephie's end, she was too young when she and Remy first met and her mother's hatred of vampires might have influenced her response when Remy wanted to take things further. But she's never forgotten the charming vampire and having him reappear after so long is...actually, it's kind of weird. And it's even weirder that her mom isn't digging in her heels about them spending time together. But Ephie's willing to take what she can get and spending time with Remy is really no hardship. Then danger comes knocking and suddenly things take a turn.

Complicated family ties, a hint of voodoo, danger, even more complicated family ties, a vampire who never stopped loving the woman who captured his heart, and a lady who is far more than what she seems. I must say, I enjoy spending time in Nocturne Falls. Even when danger is around every corner. *thumbs up*

-Kelly @ Reading the Paranormal
Profile Image for Heidi H..
248 reviews8 followers
June 16, 2024
It's time to go back to Nocturne Falls! While this is book 16, if you haven't read the series yet this can be a standalone.

Kristen has written another fun and exciting adventure for us as we get to know Remy (the vampire deputy) and his ex, Ephelia, a fire witch. Their love story takes us through some history, but is heartwarming and sweet.

As always, thre are plenty of fun characters, including those we've met previously. We get new magical information to add to the world of Nocturne Falls. And there is an absolutely adorable cat to keep us on our toes through the entire story! This little guy is extra special.

B.J. Harrison does a fantastic job with narration. His smooth voice is wonderful to listen to, and his character voices and acting skills keep listeners engaged.

If you love fantasy, romance, adventure and a feisty feline then check out Nocturne Falls and this latest installment!

Spice Level: 🌶️ (1/5) Kissing, romance, no coarse language, no intimate scenes
Profile Image for Jennifer Bollnow.
273 reviews11 followers
May 5, 2024
This book is another great book in the Nocturne Falls Series. Remy was always a character I wanted to know more about. The vampire is a descendant of an infamous pirate. He currently is a deputy for the Nocturne Falls sheriff's office. Ephie is his former love and a witch. Neither of them has gotten over each other. Ephie's mother ends up being targeted by some crooks who also threaten Ephie. Remy must take Ephie to Nocturne Falls to hide her without letting her know why. This is one of the most suspenseful books in the Nocturne Falls series. They have a few close calls throughout the book. What other secrets is Ephie's mom keeping from her. In this book there are also appearances from Birdie, Elenora and Alice. Every Nocturne Falls Book also includes a great pet (mostly cats). This book is no exception and has a new twist, a ghost cat (I want one!). Such a fun book in a fun series.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Kat.
Author 14 books610 followers
February 21, 2025
THE VAMPIRE’S FORMER FLAME is a second chance romance set in the Nocturne Falls series. Remy is a centuries old vampire, who had a relationship with the daughter of a witch. It ended, but now her mother, who is a powerful judge, contacts him because her daughter is in danger due to a criminal that she put behind bars making threats to harm her and her and Effie. She asks Remy to get Effie out of New Orleans and protect her. This was a cute addition to the series, with vampire and witch lore, meddling mothers, and plenty of time spent eating all the good food in Nocturne Falls. Add in Effie’s talking ghost cat (who’s a real cutie) and I was sold! 4/5 stars.
Profile Image for Teresa.
18 reviews
April 30, 2024
This book has been so emotional for me that during chapter 33 I had to get the tissues 😢 . There's so many different plots that complement each other making it hard to stop listening. I had to check the time left thinking that is about to finish and then it takes several turns. I was not expecting the last chapters character.
Remy and Epholia back each other without dominating or criticizing each other. She's not someone that you can step on. You can see how her confidence grows.
Thank you for writing this wonderful book.
130 reviews1 follower
May 5, 2024
This is an excellent addition to the Nocturne Falls Universe. The plot starts with threatening letters, goes on with an attack that ends in danger of death, and then a new danger appears, that supasses it all! It keeps you reading and turning pages till the end. We see a lot more of the series characters doing their magic: Eleanor, Alice, Birdie, and the new ones in this story are just great. And there is a GHOST cat! Lovely and so cute! It´s a wonderful book, well worth buying and reading. Don´t miss it.
Profile Image for Theresa.
4,147 reviews16 followers
September 1, 2025
On a trip to New Orleans to see an old friend, Nocturne Falls Police Deputy Remy Lafitte runs into the love of his life who got away: Ephie Moreau. But her mother, a Louisiana judge has been getting death threats from an imprisoned mobster, so Remy volunteers for Ephie to stay at his house in Nocturne Falls until things cool down, hoping it’ll lead to more.

I love the cat: Jean-Luc.

Fave scenes: Lafitte’s ring, the little girl in the elevator, Alice’s flame and Alice’s solution with Jean-Luc.
Profile Image for Ashley .
228 reviews21 followers
April 29, 2024
While I'm a fan of all the Nocturne Falls books this one is definitely in my top 5.
I thought I had it figured out as to who did what and how but I was wrong and as much as I enjoy finding out I was right I enjoy being surprised even more. I liked learning why some characters behaved the way they did and seeing some of them grow. If you think you know what's in store for you I can tell you with confidence you don't but you'll have a fantastic time finding out.
Profile Image for Eden.
2,230 reviews
May 1, 2024
2024 bk 50 Well done! I've long wanted to know more about Remy and this book fulfilled my wishes. The story of Remy and his lost flame was well put together with just the right amount of suspense and ups and downs. Also pleasing was how much Alice Bishop was included in this tale and I'd love to see more about her mentoring of Remy's girl. Kristen Painter always pleases in the cozy, paranormal, mystery, romance plotting - long may she continue to do so.
Profile Image for Jillian.
1,244 reviews94 followers
May 25, 2024
The Vampire's Former Flame is book 16 in the Nocturne Falls series. This was a great addition to the series. I loved this book and didn't want to stop listening. It was great to finally get Remy's story. I have always wondered about him. The narration was great. I highly recommend this series and this book. Even though it can be enjoyed as a standalone book, I feel like you get so much more from listening to the series in order. 5 stars.
117 reviews
September 19, 2024
Awesome Book!

This is such an excellent series. I have read from the beginning all the way to this one, and of course hoping for more . Every book has been an adventure, just falling in love with all the wonderful characters and their unique personalities . If you’re having a bad day, go read this book series, because you will smile from the beginning to the end ! I am so happy I found Kristen Painter !
124 reviews
October 13, 2024
The Vampires Former Flame

Remy goes to New Orleans to see a sick friend and is contacted by his former girlfriend's mother who is a Federal Judge. Someone is after her and she wants Remy to protect her daughter Ephie. He agrees and takes her back to Nocturne Falls to protest her. But troubles are not far behind them. This book was a race from beginning to the end. I would highly recommend this book and the whole series.
Profile Image for Jennifer.
814 reviews15 followers
December 4, 2024
This is book 16 in the nocturne falls series. So glad to go back to this town and characters! Always fun to meet up with past characters and read about new ones! Remy and Ephie fell in love when they were younger but life has a way of changing your path . Now years later they are thrown back together by fate and her mother! A wonderfully written story that keeps you reading to the end hope these characters will be in future books
Profile Image for Chynna.
38 reviews1 follower
Read
January 10, 2025
DNF at 4%.

i dunno, man. didn’t grab me. the first chapter was the vampire guy eating at cafe du monde and describing new orleans like a travel guide. the second chapter was the female character’s mom (i assume, i didn’t read to confirm) being worried about a threat to her daughter.

i might try the first in the series to see if the picks up the pace in the first chapter(s) or if this isn’t the only one that creeps along. pun intended.
133 reviews2 followers
January 24, 2025
OMG I love this book!!

Jean-Luc is the most adorable cat ever! Full stop.
Now, as to the rest of the book - the characters are wonderful and oh how sweet the Deputy Remy gets his story finally! Ephie is so relatable and the mother daughter dynamic as well. And gotta love a book with Birdie in it! The story line did not disappoint. I was glued to it till the end! Loved it!! Oh and one more thing. Jean-Luc is the most adorable cat ever!!!
Profile Image for Matt Cory.
192 reviews
February 2, 2026
Another absolutely wonderful Painter!

I’ve read all of Kristen Painter’s Nocturne Falls novels, and every one of them has been magical, including this one!

She dreams up wonderful protagonists (and is this story, a rather terrifying antagonist!), the intricate story elements that are so fun, the challenges that have to be surmounted, all make for a delightfully riveting novel!

I’m so happy to find that she’s still writing in this universe!
46 reviews
April 30, 2024
2nd chance romance

I love all of the Nocturne Falls books. Each is a stand alone HEA story. This one was super awesome. Vampires, witches and a ghost cat, all involved. Even the future mother-in-law finally accepts Remy, a vampire, as the man her daughter will marry. Sit back and enjoy the ride.
68 reviews
May 3, 2024
Always a treat to be in Nocturne Falls

As with all the Nocturne Falls books this one was a great read. Loved the 2 lead characters and how they interacted with the well loved townspeople we have come to love. Always a treat and a fun and easy read. Kristin Painter delivers again! ❤️
Profile Image for Amber K.
1,253 reviews50 followers
May 5, 2024
A visit to Nocturne Falls is always a fun and captivating adventure. I love the paranormal mix of citizens that live there, all their quirks, and how they always look out for each other! Ophelia and Remy's story is a terrific addition to this world. Jean Luc had me just rolling with laughter at times.
As always, the audio narration was delightful and perfectly done!!
199 reviews2 followers
May 12, 2024
Dead is not dead!

The fun with historical vampire relatives,is that they like in modern exotic cities! New Orleans is one of the most exotic cities in the USA! Not only home to the Lafitte of yesteryear but the Nocturne Falls firestorm dragons! Enjoy all the Nocturne Falls residents!
542 reviews1 follower
May 22, 2024
Wow what a wonderful tale

I want a ghost cat too so adorable. Yet more trails and tribulations for the Nocture Falls crew but as always supporting and caring for each other bear the most amazing results. Love this series and so need more much much more. Highly recommend so get reading just don’t make any plans lol
Profile Image for Ashley.
134 reviews2 followers
May 30, 2024
Ephie and Remy are so adorable together and this is another great addition to the Nocturne Falls world. I love any of the Nocturne Falls books and learning more about the locals. Remy's story with Ephie is great and I highly recommend even if you haven't read any of the other books this can stand alone and is wonderful! Ephie's cat even just elevates this book even more!!
3 reviews
June 19, 2024
Yet another Nocturne Falls triumph!!!!

I have read and reread this series at least twenty times and love it even more each time I do! Love, laughs, mystery and intrigue are in each chapter. I want to move to Nocturne Falls as soon as possible and can't wait for the next installment in this amazing series.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 101 reviews

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