Adopt a Vampire

by A.J. Sherwood

Newly turned vampire Jesse Hunt has been spotted by two werewolves! Should
-Run
-Fight
-Ask for noms

Barrett Walker, alpha of the local pack, has two options upon meeting the starving but sweet Jesse! Should
-Hand him over to the local vampire clan
-Adopt him

Barrett’s in favor of adoption but can adoption include smexy bite bite times too?

Tags:
Who’s on ship building duty this time?, Coconut water is banned, eating shouldn’t be this complicated, Jesse(dot)exe is constantly crashing, werewolves court differently than vampires, who knew, Unholy Trifecta crossover, Ross crossover, Cinnamon rolls deserve all the love, Hacker besties, Full moon shenanigans, Found family for the win, Pillow gifts make me squeeee

Genres: Paranormal, Vampires, M M Romance, Fantasy, Romance, Shapeshifters, Magic

168 pages, Kindle Edition

First published March 23, 2025

About the author

AJ Sherwood believes in happily ever afters, magic, dragons, good men, and dark chocolate. She often dreams at night of delectable men doing sexy things with each other. In between writing multiple books (often at the same time) she pets her cats, plays with her dogs, and attempts insane things like aerial yoga.

She currently resides in Tennessee with aforementioned cats, dogs, and her editor/best friend/sister/partner in crime.

Reviews

[Drache.... (Angelika) · Rating 2 out of 5]

2,25 stars.
Disappointing, flat writing.
The story is told in single pov (Jesse the vampire) first person past tense.

The romance was non existing.
Jesse the vampire and Berrett the werewolf kissed after a few days knowing each other, without any chemistry or build up. Jesse had acknowledged to himself that Berrett was good looking, another werewolf asked Jesse if he wanted to be with Barrett because Barrett had shown he was into Jesse, only Jesse hadn't recognised the hugs and looks as flirting. Now suddenly Jesse thought about the possibility of being with Barrett. Next time they are in a car together Jesse leans in, says something (can't remember) and they kiss. They're dating and yeah obviously having sex when they get home and that's it.
No discernible development of feelings, no chemistry, no nothing.

The world building is unimaginative, the only things we are told about vampires, werewolfes and witches are directly connected to the plot, the moment it fits the narrative. For example Jesse never had mentioned that he didn't like sunlight or preferred night to day, only when another vampire asks him why he workes a day time job, as vampires prefer the night, suddenly there are mentions of him not feeling well in the sun and him usually being awake at night.

Plus, sloppy editing.. it's been a while since I found "its" as abbreviation of "it is" in a book. And I never heard "pleased as punched" ... isn't it pleased as punch?

The plot, especially after Jesse and Barrett get together is not smooth, there are so many people introduced, single or already couples, it feels like the author wanted to either set the stage for future installments or wanted to point the reader to their other books? I even checked if by mistake I had picked a book that's part of a series, but no, this is a standalone.

I adored the Villainy series but this book didn't work for me at all.

[V.ya · Rating 2 out of 5]

This started out interesting, but it slowly evolves into a unicorn barf, never-ending cheesy lines and a cringefest. Truly the worst vampire story I’ve read.

[Poppy || Monster Lover · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 ⭐️
I really enjoyed the first of this book, with the soft spoken Jesse and his adoption into a werewolf pack. He was very loveable. The pack dynamics were interesting and the book was funny. But the romance between Jesse and Barrett seemed a bit lackluster. Like, you get that they’re interested in each other and admire certain qualities, but I felt like I still barely knew Barrett at the end of the book.

Spice: 1.5/5

Triggers: knife attack, blood, black magic ritual (historical), starvation, parent/child estrangement

[Renée · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

Very cute, but I wanted a bit more romance. Once they got together, it seemed the romance was an afterthought.

[Dan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked it. It's honestly a cute and fun story and I like how other characters from Ross and the unholy trifecta make a cameo.

[Elena Rodríguez · Rating 3 out of 5]

“Listen, Jesse. This is not a good position for you to be in. We’ve got three groups edging in on this territory, and one of them’s a vampire.”

Últimamente todo lo que leo de esta señora, sobre todo lo que vienen siendo las historias cortas me calientan el corazón.

No dejan de ser historias sencillas con personajes peculiares y algunos bastante extravagantes.
Tampoco intentes buscarle demasiada profundidad al argumento ni los personajes porque tampoco lo encontrarás. Intenta pasártelo bien.

Recomendado.

[Ronie Reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

nice short story

[Jenette · Rating 2 out of 5]

I know just yesterday I enjoyed a very slice of life book but it was an entirely different kind to this one. This was so cheesy, cracky and lacking in substance that it was a chore to read. Nothing happened. Everything was just so soft and sweet and touchy-feely that I was hanging out for angst and conflict and people who were just a little grumpy and with a personality not stuck permanently on “shiny happy”.

My own fault really, I knew going in it was going to lack substance. I’ve read enough AJ Sherwood that I really should know better and yet I mistakenly went in with the hope of decent chemistry (there was none), well fleshed out characters (eh) and something resembling trouble (because lone vampire).

Also somehow this made Ross annoying? And I remember enjoying his series.

[Janet (iamltr) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Eh...

I guess this whole story rates an eh from me.

Lost and alone vamp meets a wolf pack who takes him in. A hot shifter/vamp romance should've been an instant love for me but I ended up ghosting after the first date.

I am so disappointed. I was hoping this would be more like the humor from Ross or Jon, or even Bel but alas I didn't get any of that.

The trying to be funny was there but for some reason did not hit the mark for me.

Is this a bad book?

No its fine. But it is a Sherwood story and I guess I wanted more.

I don't know if its because of the so many different names and genres being written now, but that something special has been missing from more recent titles.

[Joe · Rating 2 out of 5]

There was a lot of potential with how this started. The writing was clinical in a detached way, which worked at first for our vampire lawyer. This didn’t work unfortunately in terms of trying to kickstart a romance. I liked the touches and emotional support Barrett provided, but romantic interest seemed tacked on.

The worst part here is that after starting slow with a werewolf pack and a misstep by the vampire clan, we soon got introduced to a million different supes and the MC’s role became redundant. After supposedly being highly useful as a lawyer, he didn’t really do much for the pack outside of mediating a sibling dispute. He also didn’t seem that unusual for joining a werewolf pack since the Salem one was already full of misfits.


Don’t even get me started on the one phone call needed to track down Huxley (since Glenn and Ross apparently know everybody). The ‘I’m your father now’ bits really didn’t work.

[Danielle Gypsy Soul · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a light, fun fluffy read which I desperately needed as my last 2 books were dark and depressing. I loved the MC's, enjoyed the story, and the cameos of characters from the Ross books. It was a quick read that made me smile - exactly what I was looking for.

[rebecca · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was absolutely wholesome. Perhaps almost too wholesome, but I still enjoyed every second of it.

[Nyxi · Rating 2 out of 5]

So, I’d been wanting to start a short book for a while, and Adopt a Vampire felt like a fun pick. Since it’s a short read, I wasn’t expecting a super deep plot or anything—and yeah, the story moves really fast. Honestly, even though it’s a novella, I think the author could’ve taken a bit more time with character development and the overall events.
One thing I really wish had gotten more attention was the relationship itself. Like, once the two main characters got together, we didn’t get much of their actual love and bonding time. It just kinda... ended suddenly. And yes, it had a happy ending, but it felt rushed—like a soft little cliff dive at the end.
That said, it was still a cute, fun, supernatural mini-break with all the vampire–werewolf vibes, which I enjoyed for what it was. But I can’t say I’d give it a high rating, just because even for a 160-something page story, I feel like there could’ve been more details, more depth—especially around the important stuff.
Also! There was another couple in the book that honestly stole the spotlight for me near the end. I low-key wish they got their own book because they were just that intriguing!
So yeah, if you're in the mood for a quick, lighthearted read with vampire–werewolf themes and you’re okay with a plot that’s not super strong, this could be a nice little escape. Oh, and in case you’re wondering—there’s very little smut in this. I wouldn’t even call it smut, maybe just a hint of spice at best. And the language? Super easy to follow.

[Jude · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another fun read from Sherwood.

[MiChElLe · Rating 3 out of 5]

Weird cover…enjoyable story.

[Kelan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Are you ready to watch and be able to tell what was on Kindle and what was in libby? I've ruined my Kindle recommendations...

[☼♎ Carmen the Bootyshaker Temptress ☼♎ · Rating 3 out of 5]

Rated 3.5 ⭐️
This was a quick and fun vampire/werewolf story

[SFBookReviewer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Adopt a Vampire was an incredibly fun read and fit seamlessly into the Ross and the unholy trifecta worlds. The chemistry between Jesse and Barrett is off the charts, and they make fantastic main characters. Their dynamic is engaging, full of witty banter and heartfelt moments, which makes it easy to root for them throughout the story.

One of the things I love most about AJ Sherwood's books is how she masterfully balances humor with emotional depth, and Adopt a Vampire delivers on both fronts. There were plenty of laugh-out-loud moments that had me grinning from ear to ear, and the shenanigans between the side characters added an extra layer of charm and excitement to the book.

The side characters are quirky, endearing, and provide just the right amount of chaos, making the world feel rich and immersive. Their antics not only provide comic relief but also enhance the story in ways that are both entertaining and heartwarming.

Overall, Adopt a Vampire was a delightful, fast-paced read that checked all the boxes for me: humor, romance, and a bit of supernatural fun. It was a very enjoyable and satisfying read that I would highly recommend to anyone who enjoys Sherwood's unique style.

[Heather · Rating 2 out of 5]

The world building is scant, so you really need to have read the other books this is a crossover from. I read the Ross ones a long time ago but didn't remember any of the world building, and as a result I found this "Patreon original" to be quite unsatisfying. This author gives me so many reasons to avoid Patreon. Maybe it's just her, because the Louisa Masters book I just read was a Patreon serial, and I thought that was quite good. I wouldn't have wanted to read weekly installments for a year though, so it's just as well I avoid the platform.

[Cynthia M Brow · Rating 5 out of 5]

Adopt a Vampire this is the story of Jesse a new vampire and Barrett the alpha of the Walker werewolf pack. I love how Jesse a vampire was adopted by a werewolf pack and how easy it was for him to fit in. These two are just so sweet together. The pack are really fun also. I loved that this was a crossover with Ross and the unholy trifecta series. This is just another wonderful story by AJ Sherwood. I would definitely recommend this book as a 5 star read.

[Amyiw · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 stars

I really like liked this in the beginning the beginning. It had some fun and some sweet characters but I was unimpressed with the storyline in the end. It is more just characters and learning to live and get along. The plot meandered along which is fine for awhile to get a bit of world but it pretty much IS the story. By the end I was noticing all the writing that didn't add up (no editor?) like one group was said to have 3 people and then introduced 4. And the werewolf was as tall as the guy's shoulders on all four legs, yet they got confused with dogs (or even real wolves?) and ended up at the pound? Didn't add up, and after so many and no plot going, really, anywhere but boundaries which was an anticlimactic negotiation with the benefit that the one person in the vampire community happened to be visiting right when a problem occurred. Just too much of that.

And then the timing was off too, for instance when a conflict is happening somewhere it is going to be over, unless the group is hold up somewhere but these 2 groups are in the open at a park and what? They stand around for 20 minutes for Jesse and his werewolves show up? There is some more of this too in places this was just the near the end. I ended up starting to highlight these inconsistency by the end. So the afterwards mentioned that it was a serial online so... could be the reason especially if they didn't edit it well afterwards. I'll give it a 3 but it is a give. I mostly enjoyed it, the characters are sweet, but started getting annoyed at the end.

[Readbookswithcats · Rating 4 out of 5]

Adopt a Vampire is a low angst, MM, werewolf/vampire romance.
Jesse was turned into a vampire and then promptly abandoned 6 years ago. Ever since, he has kept to himself and hasn’t made contact with anyone else in the supernatural world. Being movies are all he had to go on, he assumed that drinking blood would make him crazy, so he just hasn’t. Six years and he has been starving.
He has a run in with the werewolf pack in the area who are baffled that he is all alone and clearly starving. They take him in with the promise to introduce him to the local vampire clan.
After a bad meeting, the werewolf pack and Jesse decide he would be better off staying with them.
There is found family, a sexy alpha werewolf, hurt/comfort, low angst, HEA, and good times!

Cute story! Easy listen! Declan Winters did a great job narrating 🫶🏻

[Tom · Rating 2 out of 5]

DNF @ 80%, with the plot twist, sucking all tension out of the plot —not that there was much tension there before… All very humdrum and I’m not interested in reading more of this “feel good” novel.

I liked the other books by this author that I had read, but this one was a big “miss” for me

[Jessi ❤️ H. Vojsk [if villain, why hot?] · Rating 4 out of 5]

"What about this? It's warmer."
"Uh, no."
"He's gay," Marissa explained to Anthony seriously. "He won't wear it."
"Marissa, it's not because I'm gay. It's because I have eyes."

Okay this was a funny cute read.
I especially loved the very healthy relationship they had.

[Patty · Rating 3 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️3,75⭐️⭐️

Ohhh so cute!! A paranormal romance between a vampire and a werewolf.

I liked the fact that there was no major drama, the romance was quick as expected for a short book like this.

However, there was still some world building that I found tudo world fun.

[Laura Schäfer · Rating 3 out of 5]

No thoughts, just vibes.

[Anna · Rating 4 out of 5]

This would make an adorable series!

[tysephine · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm not used to reading romances where everyone is competent and has a high EQ, where everyone is good at communicating in the moment. It's both unsettling and a nice change of pace.

[Natalie H · Rating 3 out of 5]

March 2025
Kindle edition

It was sweet. Found family, protective instincts triggered. Nice to see Ross again, although I'm not sure about Widow's appearance. Felt a bit strange. One murder attempt and a bossy vamp leader, but other than that, fluff.

[Marie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is such fun. Read first on Patreon it’s just as great the second time round. I enjoy AJ’s humour along with their sweet and exciting moments.