What do you think?
Rate this book
Vampire for Hire (world) #Stories 2
Vampire Nights and Other Stories
Three Short Stories by J.R. Rain. In "Vampire Nights," Samantha Moon meets someone unexpected on a late night trip to Denny's, someone who seems to know all her secrets and has all the answers. In "Book Burning," two brothers find themselves on a late-night mission to burn a legendary book of supposed dark powers. In "The Silo," the land is dying and crops are failing. The city of Wheatopia is in the middle of the worst drought in recent memory; that is, until a city-slicker and his too-thin wife arrive in town one day with designs to rebuild the town's grain silo into something majestic.
60 pages, ebook
First published December 14, 2010
158 people are currently reading
514 people want to read
About the author
J.R. Rain
688 books1,728 followersJ.R. Rain is the author of 110 novels and counting. He lives on an island in the Pacific Northwest, where he's hard at work on his next novel... and fighting off sparkly vampires.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews
October 21, 2023
Loved
I love a great short story. These stories are definitely peeking my Interest and how they intertwine with the Samantha Moon series. I am enjoying them.
I love a great short story. These stories are definitely peeking my Interest and how they intertwine with the Samantha Moon series. I am enjoying them.
May 8, 2018
Trippy
This book of short stories was shorter than the first and a bit harder for me to wrap my head around. Both bizarre and a trip some worse than others.
This book of short stories was shorter than the first and a bit harder for me to wrap my head around. Both bizarre and a trip some worse than others.
June 20, 2018
5/10: Finished the book and it was above average.
January 18, 2022
Three short stories from the Samantha Moon World.
1) Vampire Night. 4 stars. During a late-night visit to Denny’s, newly-made vampire Sam meets a stranger who reassures her of her goodness.
2) Book Burning. 2 stars. A young man buys a book about demons and the old gods at Barnes & Noble and after scaring his brother they burn it.
3) The Silo. 1 star. When a city-slicker couple from NYC more into small farming town the residents begin gossiping about his ‘strange’ activities.
1) Vampire Night. 4 stars. During a late-night visit to Denny’s, newly-made vampire Sam meets a stranger who reassures her of her goodness.
2) Book Burning. 2 stars. A young man buys a book about demons and the old gods at Barnes & Noble and after scaring his brother they burn it.
3) The Silo. 1 star. When a city-slicker couple from NYC more into small farming town the residents begin gossiping about his ‘strange’ activities.
January 8, 2014
Just couldn't get into this. Listened to it and found myself drifting away from the story and thinking about grocery lists and projects I needed to get done and just ignoring the story. Not engaging for me.
April 21, 2023
This is a 3.5 🌟 read rounded ⬆️ to 4 🌟.
June 6, 2019
Ho Hum Short Stories
I read this book because it's part of the Samantha Moon a vampire for hire series. The Samantha Moon short is exactly that, very short. We find her sad at a Denny's by herself in the middle of the night when a stranger approaches her. Well we never find out exactly what or who the stranger is. Samantha seems to have it figured out. I think it might be a guardian angel or divine intervention of some sort. The next two short stories were okay, the book one was definitely better than the silo. The silo was gross, too much description of an old man's wang for me.
I read this book because it's part of the Samantha Moon a vampire for hire series. The Samantha Moon short is exactly that, very short. We find her sad at a Denny's by herself in the middle of the night when a stranger approaches her. Well we never find out exactly what or who the stranger is. Samantha seems to have it figured out. I think it might be a guardian angel or divine intervention of some sort. The next two short stories were okay, the book one was definitely better than the silo. The silo was gross, too much description of an old man's wang for me.
November 27, 2017
An interesting book that despite seemingly placed between books 2 and 3 seems to get the entire back story of Samantha wrong and make her seem to see the world differently than portrayed throughout the other books. The only thing that saved the book were the other stories that were brought together with the story. I still found his writing over repetitive and over descriptive to the detriment of the story.
October 14, 2017
Interesting short story
Who did Samantha meet and what all does he know about her? Samantha needed some attention and love, and she received in the form she would recognize
Who did Samantha meet and what all does he know about her? Samantha needed some attention and love, and she received in the form she would recognize
November 6, 2017
Short but sweet.
November 29, 2017
collection of short stories geared around supernatural, mystery. would recommend.
February 7, 2019
Camp for Hire 4.5 and other shorts
I enjoyed reading this book. I dove in for the San Moon story, and the other stories were odd and a bit disturbing.
I enjoyed reading this book. I dove in for the San Moon story, and the other stories were odd and a bit disturbing.
March 30, 2021
Vampire nights
I only read Sam's story but I enjoyed it. It was short and sweet and to the point. She got what she needed to be better.
I only read Sam's story but I enjoyed it. It was short and sweet and to the point. She got what she needed to be better.
August 1, 2021
I'd previously encountered "Vampire Nights" in another collection, and I enjoyed it both then and now, but the other two stories presented here are decidedly blah.
May 24, 2022
What did I just read?
OK the first short story was ok. But what was with the rest? I feel like I entered the twilight zone of books......wtf..
OK the first short story was ok. But what was with the rest? I feel like I entered the twilight zone of books......wtf..
October 6, 2022
Strange. That's all I can say.
December 31, 2022
The first two stories in this were great, the whole thing is well written, I just don't know wtf was up with the last story. Very graphic and unexplained.
April 14, 2024
Different short stories unrelated to Samantha Moon.
November 18, 2015
Vampire Nights
by J.R. Rain
This is a short collection of 4 short stories: 3 by Rain and one by Charles Dickens. I decided to read it now as I was waiting for the delivery of the newest Stephanie Plum, and needed some fun, short reading to fill my time until the book was delivered!
1. Vampire Nights
This was a fun short story in the Samantha Moon series. I'd read it previously, but that was before I'd read any of Rain's Jim Knighthorse series. There are only two characters in the story -- Samantha and Jack. Jack just happens to be a pivotal character from the Knighthorse series. This "Jack" character seems to be Rain's version of God or, at least, of a omnipotent being. In this story, Sam is at a Denny's restaurant, it's the wee hours of the morning and she's just thinking. She notices that the only other person at Denny's to even notice her is this disheveled, seemingly homeless man. Finally, he comes and sits with there for a while. They talk and Sam realizes he knows pretty much everything about her, but doesn't seem judgmental. The rest of the story is pretty much just the two of them talking about life in general and Sam's life in particular. No action events. Just a peek into what makes Samantha Moon tick.
2. Book Burning
I liked this short story -- again, just two characters: J.R. and H.T. As to how actually biographical this might be is the reader's guess. J.R. has just purchased a copy of the Necronomicon, a book of spells to conjur old gods and demons. He's been engrossed in the book all afternoon and evening. When his brother comes home, he decides to pull a prank on him, showing him the book and pretending that he can do the conjuring. His brother, H.T., becomes very agitated and wants to burn the book. J.R. feels rather nervous about the book and it's subject matter, two, so the two boys take the book to the street to burn it. Again, not a lot of real action, but some dandy creepiness. Did they burn the book? You should read it to find out.
3. The Silo
Strange bit of erotica here, about an older man living in Wheatopia, Nebraska. Wheatopia is in the throes of a several year drought. Our main character, Gerrod Blake, is a 70 year old who has been married for 52 years. Someone new has moved into town -- a middle aged couple from the big city. No one can understand why they've moved there, but they've purchased a farm near Gerrod's and the man seems obsessed with remodeling the farm's silo. Of course, Gerrod isn't particularly interested, as he's suddenly begun having erotic dreams featuring a "firewoman." Along with this is a rise in his libido. He's finding excuses to nap or go to bed early in order to get back into these juicy dreams. However, when friends ask him to check into what's going on with the newcomers, he and his wife walk on over to talk. During the talk, Gerrod discovers that the man, Mr. Harper, has also been having the firewoman dreams and that she has instructed him to do the work on the silo. The story is an interesting take on the idea of a nurturing Mother Earth/Gaia type, who wishes to end the drought and return the area to a better environmental balance.
4. The Trial for Murder (Charles Dickens).
I'm not going to review Dickens' work other than to say, it stands the test of time.
by J.R. Rain
This is a short collection of 4 short stories: 3 by Rain and one by Charles Dickens. I decided to read it now as I was waiting for the delivery of the newest Stephanie Plum, and needed some fun, short reading to fill my time until the book was delivered!
1. Vampire Nights
This was a fun short story in the Samantha Moon series. I'd read it previously, but that was before I'd read any of Rain's Jim Knighthorse series. There are only two characters in the story -- Samantha and Jack. Jack just happens to be a pivotal character from the Knighthorse series. This "Jack" character seems to be Rain's version of God or, at least, of a omnipotent being. In this story, Sam is at a Denny's restaurant, it's the wee hours of the morning and she's just thinking. She notices that the only other person at Denny's to even notice her is this disheveled, seemingly homeless man. Finally, he comes and sits with there for a while. They talk and Sam realizes he knows pretty much everything about her, but doesn't seem judgmental. The rest of the story is pretty much just the two of them talking about life in general and Sam's life in particular. No action events. Just a peek into what makes Samantha Moon tick.
2. Book Burning
I liked this short story -- again, just two characters: J.R. and H.T. As to how actually biographical this might be is the reader's guess. J.R. has just purchased a copy of the Necronomicon, a book of spells to conjur old gods and demons. He's been engrossed in the book all afternoon and evening. When his brother comes home, he decides to pull a prank on him, showing him the book and pretending that he can do the conjuring. His brother, H.T., becomes very agitated and wants to burn the book. J.R. feels rather nervous about the book and it's subject matter, two, so the two boys take the book to the street to burn it. Again, not a lot of real action, but some dandy creepiness. Did they burn the book? You should read it to find out.
3. The Silo
Strange bit of erotica here, about an older man living in Wheatopia, Nebraska. Wheatopia is in the throes of a several year drought. Our main character, Gerrod Blake, is a 70 year old who has been married for 52 years. Someone new has moved into town -- a middle aged couple from the big city. No one can understand why they've moved there, but they've purchased a farm near Gerrod's and the man seems obsessed with remodeling the farm's silo. Of course, Gerrod isn't particularly interested, as he's suddenly begun having erotic dreams featuring a "firewoman." Along with this is a rise in his libido. He's finding excuses to nap or go to bed early in order to get back into these juicy dreams. However, when friends ask him to check into what's going on with the newcomers, he and his wife walk on over to talk. During the talk, Gerrod discovers that the man, Mr. Harper, has also been having the firewoman dreams and that she has instructed him to do the work on the silo. The story is an interesting take on the idea of a nurturing Mother Earth/Gaia type, who wishes to end the drought and return the area to a better environmental balance.
4. The Trial for Murder (Charles Dickens).
I'm not going to review Dickens' work other than to say, it stands the test of time.
November 16, 2012
In my mission to devour all things JR Rain and Samantha Moon I've been chipping away at the short stories after having finished the first four books that are out right now.
I have to say that the main reason I got this was the Samantha Moon short story but I was a little disappointed by it. Samantha meets an old man in a Denny's one night and seemingly knows everything about her. This does take place between Moon Dance and Vampire Moon so she has had a lot going on at that point but there really wasn't much to this story. The usual 'it's ok, you're not a monster' type of piece...and I really wanted to know who the old man was..not a 'bad' story, just not one that added much to the character in my estimation.
Book Burning was pretty entertaining..the characters (who are cleverly named J.R. and H.T) are an older and younger brother respectively. JR writes horror stories and buys a copy of the Necronomicon for research and proceeds to scare the pants off of his little brother.
The Silo was laugh out funny but ultimately rather....weird...failing crops, dreams of burning women, weird new neighbors that are always working on converting a silo for who knows what and a rather, ahem, 'playful' octogenarian...laugh out funny mostly but just an odd type of story..
I have to say that the main reason I got this was the Samantha Moon short story but I was a little disappointed by it. Samantha meets an old man in a Denny's one night and seemingly knows everything about her. This does take place between Moon Dance and Vampire Moon so she has had a lot going on at that point but there really wasn't much to this story. The usual 'it's ok, you're not a monster' type of piece...and I really wanted to know who the old man was..not a 'bad' story, just not one that added much to the character in my estimation.
Book Burning was pretty entertaining..the characters (who are cleverly named J.R. and H.T) are an older and younger brother respectively. JR writes horror stories and buys a copy of the Necronomicon for research and proceeds to scare the pants off of his little brother.
The Silo was laugh out funny but ultimately rather....weird...failing crops, dreams of burning women, weird new neighbors that are always working on converting a silo for who knows what and a rather, ahem, 'playful' octogenarian...laugh out funny mostly but just an odd type of story..
March 12, 2016
2 Stars –
Vampire Nights
is an urban fantasy by J.R. Rain and a short story in his
Vampire for Hire
series.
In Vampire Nights , one minute Samantha Moon is wallowing in self-pity alone at Denny’s, and the next she’s walking with an old man who knows her deepest, darkest secrets. Someone who has all the answers….
A well written, super short story, Vampire Nights is so short, I daresay it’s more of a snippet than a short story. Glad it was a freebie!
In Vampire Nights , one minute Samantha Moon is wallowing in self-pity alone at Denny’s, and the next she’s walking with an old man who knows her deepest, darkest secrets. Someone who has all the answers….
"There are many things in this world, Sam, that defy explanation. As it was designed to be. You have been given a chance–a very rare chance, I might add–to express yourself in ways that many people will never, ever experience. You could choose to see this as an opportunity or as a curse."
A well written, super short story, Vampire Nights is so short, I daresay it’s more of a snippet than a short story. Glad it was a freebie!
November 30, 2014
'Vampire Nights' was a good short story that had an important impact on Samantha. Jack is a great and wise character. 'When you love yourself, others will follow' is such a great quote from Jack. I enjoyed the deep discussion between Samantha and the unknown man, Jack.
'Book Burning' is a hell of a story that started as a prank and turned into something else. Very good story.
'The Silo' is a story that is an intense tale that surrounds the 'woman in flames'. Quite creepy but good.
'The Trial for Murder' by Charles Dickens was an intriguing and frightening story. Again, well written. I enjoyed the storyline.
'Book Burning' is a hell of a story that started as a prank and turned into something else. Very good story.
'The Silo' is a story that is an intense tale that surrounds the 'woman in flames'. Quite creepy but good.
'The Trial for Murder' by Charles Dickens was an intriguing and frightening story. Again, well written. I enjoyed the storyline.
February 2, 2017
Samantha Meets Someone....
.....at Denny's as she sits at a booth alone, with a very rare steak and a spoon....trying not to break down in the restaurant in front of the rest of the late night patrons.
But there's one patron, an old man, who looks homeless perhaps, sitting at the counter eating soup. He is watching her.
She's trying to figure out who and what he is, and if she's going to have some kind of problem with him, when he comes to her table to talk to her.
The question is.......who is he?
Well, you'll have to read the book to find that out! Or at least, it will be your best guess any way.
.....at Denny's as she sits at a booth alone, with a very rare steak and a spoon....trying not to break down in the restaurant in front of the rest of the late night patrons.
But there's one patron, an old man, who looks homeless perhaps, sitting at the counter eating soup. He is watching her.
She's trying to figure out who and what he is, and if she's going to have some kind of problem with him, when he comes to her table to talk to her.
The question is.......who is he?
Well, you'll have to read the book to find that out! Or at least, it will be your best guess any way.
February 6, 2015
This is probably the shortest of the short stories. We only get to see a late night introduction with a mysterious stranger (who happens to know a lot about Sam). The knowledge shared also reminds us where this is in the story. Sam is still really struggling with the “monster” that she has become and is having a hard time just being herself around other people.
November 25, 2015
Somewhat Misleading
The title is somewhat misleading because not only you get the title story you also get several other stories by the author that are just as good as the lead story.
The title is somewhat misleading because not only you get the title story you also get several other stories by the author that are just as good as the lead story.
January 4, 2013
I liked and read all the Samantha Moon Books, but this one didn't do anything for me. It was short and for me just didn't make any sense. I feel like I must have missed something....
June 11, 2016
Loved it
June 25, 2016
Really, the very short story of Sam at Denny's could of been added to any of her books. What was the point?
June 24, 2016
love these little short stories...I mainly read them for the Vampire for Hire shorts...but really enjoy the other stories too
Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews