Samantha Moon Rising

Vampire for Hire® #5-7

by J.R. Rain

Books 5, 6, and 7 in the international #1 bestselling series, Vampire for Hire:

VAMPIRE DAWN
Mother, wife, private investigator...vampire. Seven years ago, federal agent Samantha Moon was the perfect wife and mother, your typical soccer mom with the minivan and suburban home. Then the unthinkable happens, an attack that changes her life forever. And forever is a very long time for a vampire. Now in Vampire Dawn, Samantha Moon tackles her most frightening case yet. Someone is leaving victims drained of blood, and all signs point to the killer not being a vampire. Meanwhile, Sam can't help but notice the changes coming over her son...fantastical changes that will leave her searching desperately for answers.

VAMPIRE GAMES
Samantha Moon is hired to look into the suspicious death of a popular fighter—and quickly discovers there’s far more to the story than meets the eye. As she uncovers clues into the boxer’s past, she will come face-to-face with something unexpected...and something only whispered about. Additionally, Samantha must confront the growing supernatural powers of those closest to her—and a betrayal that will rock her world.

MOON ISLAND
Samantha Moon is hired to look into the mysterious drowning of a super-rich hotel tycoon. The death occurred exactly one year ago, at the family’s annual retreat on a private island in the Pacific Northwest. Now, as the family gathers again, Samantha Moon is asked to find a ruthless killer—all while a massive storm bears down upon the small island. But there’s another storm brewing upon Skull Island, a storm of the supernatural kind. Sam is about to come face-to-face with evil incarnate...a monster who will stop at nothing to possess her completely—mind, body and soul—and destroy all that she loves.

Genres: Fantasy, Paranormal, Fiction, Vampires

533 pages, Kindle Edition

First published April 30, 2013

About the author

J.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.

Reviews

[Hard12luv]

See the section of my book 5, book 6 and book 7 single reads. I did really like the book series. I was ok with the short story of Teeth.

[William]

Entertaining vampire listening 🎶🔰

Another will written three vampire world 🌎 adventure thrillers by J. R. Rain ☔ (Vampire for Hire Series books 5 - 7). I read or listened 🎶 to these individually each story line is different with interesting characters, action, violence, and unexpected conclusions. I would highly recommend these novels to readers of paranormal fantasy novels 👍🔰. Enjoy the adventure of reading or listening to books 📚. 2023 👒🌙☺

J. R. Rain ☔ is one of my favorite authors along with the authors that write with him. Happy reading 2023

[ConniW]

Still an interesting read and 3 in 1.

The cast are still fighting against evil, the stakes have gone up and the characters still keep you coming back for more.
I can’t say there is more depth to the characters or the world building but at least they have fleshed out a bit more.

The editing still leaves a huge amount to be desired, but it is surmountable but the authors constant need to remind the reader of just who is the main character is driving me to the edge of the cliff!
I will be taking a break before I read the next set.

Family friendly for PG-13.

[Angelyn Krout]

I’ve been Mooned!

I am really enjoying the Samantha Moon series. I am getting a little leery about how all-powerful she’s becoming but we will see if and how that gets tempered. I’m just tired of the sparkly werewolf-fighting vampiric garden gnomes that are immortal and can do anything they want. That’s every other vampire series post Anne Rice.

[Angie Luck]

Just gets better

I have to give props to Rain on this series! Each book gets better and better! Can't wait to start the next one! A vampire who not only has heart but it's believably human as well. To hell with Twilight! More for teens than this series. No bubblegum here! Gritty and very well written.

[Nona]

Still consistently entertaining!

JR Rain writes an interesting, easy to read, fast paced series. Samantha Moon is ex-FBI, full time mom, part time jilted lover, certified private dick and not quite dead.

[Shawn Tripp]

Another action packed book

The love interests, the back and forth with the detective and the danger makes this series one of then best I have read this year. I'm excited to see what's next.

[Stella Shahan]

Excellent

I love these Samantha moon stories great characters great storylines and great action. I love how the vampire mommy loves her babies. Excellent

[Sharon]

Very enjoyable, whodunit books with entertaining amusement from the leading star.

[Marcia]

More thrills. I keep coming back for more.

[Carmen Garcia]

Moon

I found the books are not predictable; however, I was wondering why Samantha Moon think about having her other ½ help her. I'm enjoying this series.

[Wendy Bowen]

Addictive Story

Yes, I'm addicted to this story, Samantha Moon's story. I rarely read a series this long, but here I am. This story doesn't quit entertaining.

[Ted Helmick]

Good series, Makes you think about the universe and where we stand as humans and monsters. Only thing redundant about the series, the main character continues to whine about what happened to her and the issues with her kids. I am at book #18 and by this time everyone knows about her attack and kid problems and I do not think the author needed to rehash this over and over.

[Carrie]

Vampire Dawn:
This book picks up a few months (I guess) after the previous one. We get to see Sam evolve even more with her powers and (ugh) her relationship with Kingsley. I am really still firmly on Team Fang, especially after how we see him briefly in this installment. I really feel for the guy who is sadly stuck in the friend-zone for Sam. Wake up, Sam!

The big case story in this book revolved around the super secret blood trade. I guess it makes sense that she should follow through and learn where her blood comes from (and why her boyfriend was even buying blood to begin with! Team Fang!). After all this build up about this big baddie soap opera star, I felt like the ending kind of fizzled. I also really felt like I should have read this Christmas short story that is repeatedly referenced in this book.

So -- high parts of this book were the following: Fang, Max, the always quick and witty dialog from Sam. These things will always have me coming back to read the next book!

Vampire Games:
Sigh. This book really depressed me.

This book was not so very different from the others, except it really crushed my dreams of a Fang/Sam romance. I’m still holding out a little bit of hope, but I’m pretty sure there isn’t any to be had. A lot of things change in this book, so it’s an important installment. There is a lot of growth in both her acceptance of being a vampire and in how she deals with things. Almost all her relationships change in one way or another.

The case story in this book was pretty interesting, and hopefully introduced a character that will come back from time to time in future books. Or not. I’m still Team Fang. I am also decidedly anti-Kingsley, as I’ve mentioned before. I think he’s no good for Sam and she should really know that by now. Or before now. Maybe at book 2. Also, my hatred for Det. Hanner was increased to epic proportions. She really needs someone to take her down a notch, and I hope that Sam is the one to do it.

This book was sadly missing Max and a lot of Fang interaction (for obvious reasons, but still sad). I hope the next book lifts my spirits a little.

Moon Island:
I'm not quite sure why I didn't like this book as much as the rest. Maybe it was because I hate Kingsley and how he keeps worming his way back into Sam's life (girl power and all that). Maybe it's because we have zero Fang in this one. Mostly it was probably because I'm not a real big fan of the "road trip" installments in a book series. It takes away all the characters that I like and then throws the main character in with someone I don't know (Allison).

That's not to say that Allison wasn't great. I laughed out loud while reading her banter with Sam. She was a great balance to Sam's quite depressing and panic filled outlook in this book. Maybe the reason I didn't like this one is because, rather than make any progress in the overall story, it felt like we took 2 steps backwards. 2 big steps. There was also a lot of God and whatnot. I'm not a big fan, especially when this series has been relatively light and fluffy in the way it handles supernaturals and souls.

I'm eager to see how Sam recovers in the next book, and there had better be a lot of Fang in there. Pages and pages full of Fang. And some Max, because he is always a great addition. And Det. Hanner better get slapped.

Teeth:
This was a very short story that pretty much just shows you a scene from Fang's trial. We get the details on what happened to land him in the insane asylum. I was really hoping for more detail and motivation in this story, but, like I said, it was very very short. I'm really eager to learn more about him (obviously) and hopefully we will get much much more in the next installment to this series.

[Jennifer]

Given a copy of this boxed set from netgalley in return of an honest review.

This series can be read as stand alone but I would recommend reading books 1 - 4 first which can also be bought as a boxed set.

As a whole I would give this boxed set 4.5 stars. I really enjoyed some books more than others.

Vampire Dawn:

Detective Sherbert comes to Sam to help him with a case of victims being found dead, drained of blood. Throughout the book, Sam is struggling to keep ahold of her humanity and tries to figure out what is going on with her son after he starts showing signs of change.

I really did enjoy this book, I wish it was a little longer. I like the expanding relationship with Det. Sherbert. Sam is struggling with slowing losing her humanity. The effects of the sun are getting greater and the want for blood stronger. While trying to figure out who is killing people, she is trying to figure out what is happening with her son. He starts showing signs of great athleticism and strength. I liked that there was a balance between work and her kids and it didn't seem like one was the main focus. Her relationship with Kingsley is progressing but I honestly don't like them together but that is just my opinion. This is another great addition to the Vampire for Hire series.

Vampire Games:

Sam is hired to look into a suspicious death of a professional boxer.

This was probably my least favorite book in the entire series. I thought it had a really great story but it was more so centered around Sam and her relationship with her kids. Once the case was brought back up toward the end of the book, I totally forgot there was no resolution to it. It was still a good book and really added to the series itself but if I had read the series not in the boxed set I would probably have been iffy to get the next in the series.

Moon Island:

Sam is hired to look into the suspicious death of someone's grandfather and gets a lot more than she bargained for.

This is my favorite book in this boxed set. I really liked how it centered more on her case and being a vampire and having her kids in the background. I felt like you really got to see her and how she is dealing with being a vampire and the changes that are happening with her. I really enjoyed her growing friendship with Allison, who she met in Vampire Games. I am sad that Fang was barely in this book and really hope we see more of him. I like the new dynamics with Kingsley as being her friend. I really wasn't fond of their relationship. I really do love this series and can't wait to read more.

Teeth:

More incite on Fang and how he became obsessed with vampires. I really hope there is going to be more on his story. Fang is one of my favorite characters, of course Samantha Moon is definitely at the top of the list.

[Cheryl M-M]

Vampire Dawn bk 5
Moon's life as a vampire takes quite an unexpected turn in this fifth book. She is no longer limited by all the aspects of her condition. Moon starts to understand that she is part of a bigger picture. One that will eventually threaten to literally consume her.
Vampire Games bk 6
When did Fang go from being a mysterious presumably hot confidante to strange obsessive stalker? He no longer gives the reader the sense he is playing on Sam's side of the team anymore.
Rain has taken this character and given him a totally different direction. Safe haven becomes possible threat when Fang decides to fulfill his hidden desire at any cost. Even if that cost includes Moon.
Moon Island bk 7
This one reminded me of the film The Fallen. The entities we encounter in Vampire Games come out to play in this one. Moon finally discovers what they want and how they intend to get it. Unfortunately for her it could mean the difference between live and death for herself or someone she loves.
The character Allison was a tad annoying. I found her over the top teenagey instead of funny and perky, which is what I assume Rain was going for.
Teeth (short story)
This was really good and also incredibly disturbing. It is the story of Fang before he meets Samantha Moon. I think Fang would do quite well on his own as a character in a book. A little serial killer creepy persona meets friendly guy next door.

Rain can write an excellent story a prime example is his Knighthorse: Books One and Two series, which is dark and witty. Sometimes Rain is guilty of not giving all of his books/stories the attention they deserve. The Moon series started out strong then sagged in the middle and now the last few books have picked up a
little.
On a side note I would still like to see the ex-husband get what is coming to him after being such a (insert word of choice here) in the first books. He needs to suffer a lot more.
Both Kingsley and Fang seem to be otherwise engaged so perhaps it is time for a new love interest for Moon. Just thought I would put that out there.
I received a free copy of this book via NetGalley.

[Jaime]

I love this series. Yes this box set is stand alone, but I highly recommend that you go back and read the first four stories which are also conveniently in a box set. If you read each story separately they would probably seem annoyingly short, but combining them makes for the perfect read. Samantha Moon is fun, smart, and strong. I also love the twist of her being a single mom as well. I love the introduction as Allison, Samantha’s new multi employed sidekick. Tammy and Anthony’s adorable bickering and innocent wisdom are a breath of fresh air. The only beef I had with this “book” was a move made by Sam’s hunky boyfriend Kingsley. It was out of character, stupid, not clearly explained, and seemed like just an excuse to introduce a new character. I really wish urban fantasy novels didn’t feel the need to always make the lead of a series in a love triangle. Like so many other’s this triangle was forced and unnecessary. Still, I can’t wait for the next Vampire for Hire book.

[Sandy Bernstein]

Love the series and all three books; 5,6, and 7. The last book in this collection, Moon Island was, in my opinion, the best of the three. I like how the back story came together here, sort of, there will be more to come so it doesn't wrap up completely. But it does answer some questions, which most readers and especially writers, are looking for.
I love the characters too and the story is well paced. I look forward to reading more of Miss Moon. J.R. Rain keeps you on the edge of your seat holding your breath from scene to scene.

[Henry Lazarus]

J.R. Rain’s fun series about a single mother turned vampire detective continues in Samantha Moon Rising (paper from BenBella Books). This omnibus has Samatha’s 4th-6th adventures plus a short story and is a great bargain for fans of this fun series. I’ve been buying them in electronic form as they come out and eagerly await the next. Printed by the Philadelphia Weekly Press

[Lookingfor Me]

I started reading the first one bc I got it for free. I loved them so much I ended up reading the next 6 in a week. Now I am waiting not no so patiently for the next one to come out. They are sweet and funny and action packed! What else could a girl ask for!

[Ann]

I love this series. Your usual assortment of supernatural vampires, werewolves, ghosts and fallen angels. Samantha, the vampire must take care of her two children by day and crime fight by night. This is book 4,5, and 6 of the series.

[Emily]

Placeholder in my list. I just read Moon Island (book 7).

[Gayla Glass]

Really enjoyed these books.

[Joanne Pulis]

More fun easy reading

[Jeanna Read]

Excellent. Teeth is a little creepy. . .but necessary for story development.