As the ex-military owner of Sterling Security Solutions, Tatiana Sterling excels at handling dangerous situations.
Her problem? Landing clients in a male-dominated industry. The solution? Hiring mysterious heartthrob Jackson Dale Shade to play the role of her business partner.
When Eleanor Kensington hires them to find her missing grandson, Tatiana and JD discover the case is far more sinister than a simple disappearance.
As they navigate this treacherous investigation, Tatiana finds herself increasingly drawn to JD's charm, strength, and uncanny abilities. Something different about him emerges—impossibly fast reflexes, superhuman strength, along with a troubling aversion to law enforcement.
The unlikely duo must work together to uncover the truth and confront powerful enemies who will stop at nothing to keep their secrets.
Can Tatiana trust JD with her business—and possibly her heart when he's clearly hiding his true nature? Or will his supernatural secret destroy everything they're building together?
Pick up Vampire For Hire and discover the thrilling secrets that lurk beneath the surface of Sterling & Smith Security Solutions.
Not bad, a newish take on the vampire genre. Tatiana and JD are an interesting pair and looking forward to all the secrets yet to be uncovered as the investigate more security issues.
I like the main protagonist who is a kick-ass ex-military, reasonably intelligent and generally likable person.
The vampire is quite good as well.
The relationship between them, Tatiana not knowing that he is a centuries old vampire, is sometimes quite cool when he lets his experience show through.
Of course said relationship gradually evolves into a bit of romance which is sometimes rather charming, sometimes funny and sometimes quite cringy.
Overall I like the story and the characters. Tatiana and her new “side-kick” solves crimes and kicks ass. Simple stories with Tatiana’s and JD’s relationship as the red thread through the books.
There’s also quite a few passages where JD, beng a vampire, gives the bad guys a nice scary surprise while kicking their arses. That is the kind of stuff I like to read.
Overall I gave these books three out of five stars individually.
I do however have one big gripe with the story. The “mystery” of JD is just dragging out too long. When I had finished the fourth book and Tatiana was still clueless about the fact that JD is a vampire I went “What the fuck?”.
I mean come on. The not so subtle hints have been dropped all over the place since the first book. Yet, Tatiana is suddenly turning profoundly stupid every time something obvious happens, like JD being shot, several times and sometimes right in front of her and definitely fatally, and just recovers and comes up with a quite silly and unbelievable excuse for just walking away.
It doesn’t help that Anderle, as always, writes book blurb that just tries to promote the book and oftentimes has little to do with the actual content of the book.
Like this statement from the blurb of the fourth book…
"As Tatiana navigates her growing attraction to JD while discovering the dangerous world of supernatural creatures hiding in plain sight…"
Well, she doesn’t really discover much and by the end of that book she is pretty much just as clueless.
That quite annoyed me. This part of the story drags out for way too long and thus I give the overall series a two and a half star out of five instead of three… so far that is.
This one is a bit of a departure from the other Anderle series I have read. It leans more heavily toward a VERY slow burn romance than the normal action/intrigue. There's a little bit of a mystery (kidnapping) but it's a far second to the relationship build. The vampire/human relationship is also a bit outside the norm. JD/Jackson is the vampire "hired" to be a front for Tatiana's struggling security firm. Of course he is knock down gorgeous and Tatiana is immediately drawn in. JD continuously remarks (mentally) on her wonderful smell and how he is too tempted to bite her. There are a LOT of longing gazes, blushes, and imaginative comments about connecting. Multiple hints are also dropped about his vampiric status and although Tatiana muses about the oddities there is no consideration that he could be a vampire. Another reviewer states this "lack of comprehension" struggles on for multiple books. I wasn't really looking for a romance a la Remington Steele (per Anderle) and think I'll pass on this series.
I have read several books by this author and would recommend many of them. This one was just as well written and had some brilliant characterisation. However, it didn't work for me but others may enjoy it. It was entertaining, just not for me. I just didn't like the TSTL aspect of the FMC. She is supposed to be a elite security expert, but nothing in her actions suggested it. It was all tell, but when it came to practice, nope, nothing in any way competent. For example, She hired a man she suspected to be a gigolo as a front man, let him lead on delicate client negotiations, essentially take over the PR of her company and took a back seat as he lead on client interviews...before even getting the intel on his online activity. TSTL supposed 'Badass female' characters are a turnoff for me. Maybe it was the insta love, hot hormone distraction that contributed to her incompetence, but still...not for me. But hey, read it for yourself, it is still a fun read if you can overlook the FMC.
I have very high expectations for this author and he has yet to let me down. This story is well written and frankly fascinating. The main characters are a three hundred year old vampire and a 30 something ex-Special Ops woman with beauty, intelligence, and more savvy than most in a heavily male business of protective services. The story and reason for their meeting reminds me of an old TV series (Remington Steele) in the 80's, but the rest is all contemporary and high tech. The plot is straightforward and the premise is finding a 13 yr old grandson of a very high tech company's female CEO who was kidnapped. The answers were fun in their revealing, and it was exciting to see how the vampire avoided his boss's pointed questions. I absolutely highly recommend any book, this author writes, including this series. I am very much looking forward to the next book in the series.
I loved reading the story. Loved the banter and twists throughout the story. I also liked the two main characters. Tatiana being a Special Ops from the Army makes her a strong person, add to that very smart and knows her limits. She is also not a trusting person. Which makes it an interesting part of the story involving Jackson . I liked Jackson as well. Being who he is , and bored, the intrigue with Tatiana and him was fun. Loved the humor . A well thought out story line with just the right amount of mystery to solve. Good flow . I liked that there was more than one mystery for Tatiana to solve. Loved the office staff, especially Linda and her unwanted advice for Tatiana. The book ends with the main mystery solved. But the mystery around Jackson will be on going . The author is new to me. I liked his writing style and see above his humor through out.
He has done it again! This is a book that I have devoured in a day, not because it is too easy, but because I just couldn't put it down. It grabbed my attention in the first few pages and held it to the end, and has left me looking for the publication date of the next story in this series. Ever since I first picked up Death Becomes Her, the first story of The Kutherian Gambit, he regularly comes out with great stories. He has done it again.
Multi perspective story...security consultant and a (closet) vampire... A little different but still a strong sassy leading lady, and a mysterious partner...Lots of promise with this series and suspect that things will get interesting as their cases like up. Laughter, action, mystery and hints of adventure...one to watch!!
This is a fun series, I love JD and his trivia knowledge that comes from the life he has led. His new partner (boss) Tatiana is a kick butt former army special forces, who knows something is up with him, but is still trying to work it out. The action and mystery in the storyline really keep your attention and I look forward to more books about the duo.
What a great read it was full of excitement and thrills and the two main leads are a great partnership, add in a mother and Secretary who are trying to get her hooked up with a man and you have a great story can't wait for the next book a well deserved 5 stars
This is going to date new but but this Remington Steele and Moonlighting had a baby. Although I have to say I couldn't read Marcus (JD) without thinking Tom Ellis from Lucifer. Could not get that image out of my head.
This book is highly entertaining with engaging characters and a story that moves along at a good clip. I look forward to reading the next book in the series.
I think this was a case of me not the book but something about it just made this one a struggle for me. Maybe it was the set up, maybe it was the characters - part of it was definitely the shoddy investigative work. Either way, I wasn’t engaging and so I called it quits.
As with almost any books Michael has a hand in, this was slick and well thought out. The pace was fast and the character development was adequate considering the shortness of the book. I would be happy to read the next one in the series.
Predictable story line. Female 300 year old female vampire could not see who her new partner is . Really a flaw I think in the story line didn't fit the story line. I won't read anymore of this series
Not a bad start to a series, The Characters are likeable. The book has some funny parts and a unique take on the paranormal. The one thing against it was it was slow moving in parts but i will continue and read the net book in the series.
The book was great fun to read. JD is a fastening Vampire, his crush on his boss, and hers on him is so funny. I'm looking forward to more of their adventures.
i thought the concept of vampires/mythical beings living in the world with us was such a good one.
the mystery surrounding the book was a good one. it kind of reminded me of the show lucifer, someone who just was trying to find fulfillment in his life.