A haunted manor. A deadly secret. A vampire who should be her enemy.
Charlotte Marlowe has spent her career fighting the guilty. She’s not afraid of the darkness—until she inherits Blackthorn Manor.
Hidden within its walls are more than just ghosts. A seductive yet cursed vampire with centuries of secrets. A power in her blood she never knew existed. And horrifying entities contained beneath the manor that are… waiting and wanting. Now, Charlotte must navigate a dangerous new world where witches, vampires, ghosts and ancient magic collide. But the greatest danger of all? The undeniable pull toward Adrian de Lanier, the vampire who might be her only ally… or her greatest threat.
Some legacies are written in blood. Some love stories are destined to end in darkness. And some secrets should never be uncovered… -- [There is a cliffhanger at the end of the spicy book, leading to Book 2. This is a 4 book series. Main tropes are strangers to lovers, forced proximity, good vs evil, vampire lore, witch lore. If you loved Dark Shadows, A Discovery of Witches and Twilight, you'll love this.]
3.5 ⭐ An inherited mansion. A contract signed. A vampire, ghosts and ancient magic. Will she give up her successful career as a lawyer? 🤔 Ends on a cliff hanger
This book surprised me in all the best ways. The Vampire’s Curse: at Blackthorn Manor is the perfect blend of sultry romance, supernatural intrigue, and smart storytelling—set against the dreamy, spooky backdrop of a gothic mansion in Salem. It reminded me of a mashup between Casper (yes, the friendly ghost vibes are here), A Discovery of Witches, and a splash of Dark Shadows, but with its own unique bite.
The pacing was spot on—never dragging, never rushed. Just the right length to keep me fully immersed, and leave me wanting more (which is great, because this is the start of a series I cannot wait to devour).
Charlotte, our protagonist, is everything I love in a heroine: unapologetically brilliant, grounded, and fearless. She’s a former high-profile criminal defense attorney, Harvard Law educated, and she brings all that sharpness to the chaos that unfolds at Blackthorn Manor. From mafia takedowns to vampires and magic—Charlotte doesn’t flinch. I love her.
The setup is fantastic: Charlotte inherits a Victorian mansion from her eccentric aunt, and upon arrival, the estate attorney won’t even set foot inside. She’s given a few hours to agree to some odd inheritance terms—and that’s when the ghosts show up. Literal ghosts. Charlotte accepts, and we’re off on a wild, steamy ride.
And then there’s Adrian. A sexy, French vampire with a penchant for dirty talk and charm that oozes off the page. Their chemistry is delicious—flirty, fun, and absolutely hot. The two sex scenes are, in a word: glorious. Light S&M, tension, yearning, edging—it’s all there. Adrian knows what he’s doing, and Charlotte gives as good as she gets.
Beyond the romance, the worldbuilding is rich. There’s a secret vampire council, a bloodline conspiracy, an evil vampire witch, and an ancient darkness Charlotte must protect the world from. There’s magic, mystery, danger, and a whole cast of supernatural characters that I want to know more about—especially Elizabeth, the Salem witch who becomes Charlotte’s guide to her new reality.
This book honestly needs to be turned into a TV series. I can see the candlelit halls of the mansion, the stormy Salem skies, and the simmering tension between characters playing out beautifully on screen.
If you’re into gothic settings, badass women, sexy vampires, and stories that leave you a little breathless, this one’s for you. Jade Christy nailed the vibe—and I’m already dying for book two.
Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
As a Bostonian, I love that this book is set in Boston/Salem. That plus the promise of "steamy romance" is what drew me in.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
There are a lot of wonderful things about this book: the strong FMC, the vampire MMC, the witchcraft. The two main sec scenes are delightful, even if the first one seems a bit early plot-wise.
That being said, you can definitely tell this is the first in a series of 4 books. As the main character is learning, so too is the reader, and there's a lot to learn about Blackthorn Manor. The book does a great job with building suspense, but the only real action is at the end.
Other minor issues: - for having such a strong identity as a prosecutor, I would have loved to see more of this side of Charlotte. - I find the concept of the Devourerers to be kind of confusing and I'm still not sure what everyone is after them. - Where is Victoria? She is a witch-vamp hybrid but without current physical manifestation?
I struggled to rate this book, as I didn’t exactly hate it but, I couldn’t get through it. I stopped at 75%.
Charlotte is a criminal prosecutor known for winning tough cases. She is at the top of her game and has committed her life to the law. She inherits a house from her estranged aunt and upon investigating, discovers this is no ordinary home. It is infested with magical creatures with some being good and some being very, very bad. One inhabitant is a two hundred year old vampire named Adrian who is good looking, sexy, and mysterious. Charlotte cannot resist the trifecta.
While I enjoyed the growing romance between Charlotte and Adrian, I could not get past certain other issues. A magical house full of rituals, rules, and magical creatures that Charlotte accepts without question or concern. The constant volley of riddles with no answers, only promises of later information. Adrian being a master in the bedroom, although he hasn’t had physical contact in two centuries. And although I tried and tried to find interest in the mystical battle raging throughout the house, I just didn’t care.
I also found it difficult to move past the fact she is portrayed to be a prosecutor at a private firm, when we all know prosecutors work for the government in government offices. The lack of an Oxford comma gave me hives, and there were many instances of changing tenses throughout the story. One sentence stated, “Adrian crawled up my body”, and the exact next sentence stated, “he lounges over me”.
I found the book to be redundant in arguments and issues and I was bored with the continuous avoidance of answers. And you bet, if I lived in a magical house full of scary creatures, I would not be forgetting to lay down my salt lines and cover my mirrors!
This was a really great book. Charlotte is a high-powered prosecutor who has suddenly inherited a manor house from her aunt. Unbeknownst to her, her family has a legacy of protecting Blackthorn Manor and all the many inhabitants, none of whom are human. Charlotte navigates her new world with the help of two resident ghosts and a vampire who has been cursed to protect the ancient barriers of the manor. In time she learns that her ancestors have been tasked with keeping a terrifying “something” trapped beneath the manor and she is now the new Guardian who must continue to protect humanity. I thought Charlotte’s acceptance of the supernatural was a little sudden and she was just a little too perfect. But that’s a small quibble in relation to the whole book. Adrian, the ancient vampire, is appropriately mysterious and seductive in turns and I really liked the way the relationship between him and Charlotte grew. The author created a fascinating world with interesting characters and a plot that had me turning pages to find out what happened next. It’s a very promising start to a four book saga and I’m already looking forward to the next installment. Recommended.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
If you are looking for a new series with romance and mystery you should check this one out. The main character, Charlotte is a bad-ass criminal attorney with nerves of steel which help to keep her steady on her feet when she’s greeted by the resident vampire, Adrian. She’s immediately attracted to him. The closer he stands in front of her, he is surprised that she isn’t afraid of him, but then he hears her heart rate increase. She explains to him that maybe it’s from being excited rather than fear. Yes, romance!!! Throughout the book, she learns about her role as the guardian of Blackthorn Manor with the help of a couple of friendly ghosts, a helpful witch, and her vampire lover. She realizes that she is able to connect with the Manor using magic, it helped me to think in terms of the awareness of the house in Disney’s Encanto movie. That’s when she discovers that she comes from a long line of witches. The Blackthorn Manor plays an integral role in keeping evil forces from being unleashed on the rest of world. The book ends with a cliffhanger which is a good thing because I want to read so much more about these characters and what happens next to Charlotte.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Intriguing story, but marred by internal consistency errors
3.5 stars
I liked the story, as well as the sub-plots, and I think the author excelled at doling out clues without giving TOO much away. She also did a good job with suspense-building, and I give her a B+ in the "sexy times" department.
However...there were some typos, bad edits, malapropisms, tense errors, and the things I couldn't quite forgive - internal inconsistencies. The one that is freshest in my memory is one toward the end. When Adrian (main male character, and the vampire in the title) gives Charlotte (main female character) a pendant, he tells her to "crush it" if she's in danger and he'll be able to locate her - a "homing beacon," right? BUT, in the next few paragraphs, Charlotte checks the pendant as though she expects it to tell her IF she's in danger - a "danger radar."
Anyway, despite the flaws, it was good enough for me to continue the series...I hate not knowing how things resolve, and this one does end on a cliffhanger.
This is book one in the Vampire at Blackthorn Manor. There are currently four books completed for this series. This book is weird in a good way, it keeps your attention wondering what is going to happen next. This book ends on a cliffhanger that should be answered in book two.
Charlotte is a lawyer and inherited the Blackthorn manor after her great aunt passed away. She has been told that the manor has chosen her to be the next guardian. Adrian is the resident vampire and protector of certain things in the house and on the grounds. They have a mutual attraction between them and they are not sure how to react to it. The book has minor characters that has contributions throughout the book. Somethings would not be uncovered without their help.
What happens between Adrian and Charlotte? Are the ghosts and Adrian released from the curse? Does Charlotte get injured in anyway? How does he respond? Let's finish reading to find out!
This paranormal romance starts off a new series about ghosts, guardians and vampires combining them harmoniously but wonderfully together! So, of course, I couldn’t wait to read it either! I am a sucker for any vampire tale! Even if the stories seem old and overdone, this one still seemed fresh and new with the additions of ghosts and a human guardian that you hoped wouldn’t fail or fall into evil ways. Charlotte was a strong, capable, intelligent heroine that you couldn’t help but root for even with her falling for Adrian. I guess it would be hard not to fall for him though. Adrian, I didn’t know whether to trust him or even like him because he has such a mysterious past, but I understand the attraction. Sure, there were some formatting issues when I downloaded the book, but then again, this is not a reflection of the story. I do have the next book in the series because I am eager to see what happens to everyone and this, of course, isn’t the end either.
Charlotte goes from being a tough DA to the owner of her aunt’s manor in Salem. She meet a host of others. Some living some not living. Her fate is sealed to this manor by an oath she takes. This is a life altering decision for her. This is a budding connection between her and Adrian as well. Their relationship is very combustible and complicated since he is a vampire. I have thoroughly enjoyed reading this adventure that Charlotte is navigating. This book is very magical and filled with mystery and danger lurks everywhere for Charlotte. This author has a way of building the story so that you are enraptured with in it. I was unable to put it down once I started reading it.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I am very excited to read not only this book but the other 3 in this series by Jade. You will find yourself submerged into this intriguing book beginning with chapter one. The cover is eye catching and makes me curious as to what this story has for me. Then once I found myself reading this book, I can honestly say WOW I was HOOKED. Make sure you have plenty of time to read this book because I promise you once you start you won't stop until you hit the very end. I just found myself totally booked for the next few days reading these magnificent books by Jade.
Book 1 of this series. This is a great book with great characters. You have a lot of supernatual entities in this book. Most of those entities have an agenda for what they call the Devourers. And their agendas are to use them as weapons against others. Charlotte becomes the gaurdian of the mansion, and her allies are witches, a 200 year old vampire and ghosts. It is up to her to keep the Devourers contained. Very intriguing book.
Book 1 does not disappoint, and the suspenseful cliffhanger has me wanting to know what is going to happen next. Charlotte has inherited Blackthorn Manor, and with it comes stipulations that must be met, along with some intriguing yet dangerous residents. I was left on the edgenof my seat, anticipating the next installment.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
DNF. Quit at 70%. I do not know how this book got such high ratings. It's 277 pages on my e-reader. Most of that is telling the MFC that she isn't ready to be told the secrets of the spooky house in Salem, she inherited. Then, she starts learning and things are repeated back and forth. It just got annoying. Since this is the 1st book of a series, I suspect it would end on a cliffhanger. No thanks.
Too much detail during the time the heroin fall for a creature of the night. Actually a lot of sex and missing answers about other supernatural things happening in this house. It appeared to me that the writer really wasn't sure what type of book she wanted to write. And at the end I found out that there were three other books you'd have to read to find the ending of the story. Which of course I won't do.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
A great new supernatural story set in Salem, that has steam and romance that is an element that I truly enjoy! I think that this is a really good story that is refreshing and original. It was truly a joy to read, I Loved It!!! No Spoilers! i Recommend!.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Charlotte is an attorney. She inherits Blackthorn Manor from her Aunt. She decides to take a look and possibly sell the place. After arriving she meets two ghosts and a vampire (Adrian de Lanier). She becomes guardian of the house, but evil entities do not want her there. As danger increases, so do the feelings between Charlotte and Adrian.
I love a good vampire romance, yet this fell a little short. Told from the FMC’s POV, except one chapter of Adrian’s POV. First time reading this author, so I had no idea what to expect. The pace was good, yet the characters lacked emotional depth. The spice was okay, but the focus was primarily on the FMC. Interesting storyline, so I will continue to the next book and see what develops.
Fun and entertaining, great plot full of exciting twists, excellent characters, hoping that there is a little more character development as the series continues. Can't wait to read the next book in the series.
I was captured at about the first few pages. The book is well written and draws the reader inside on a supernatural, romance adventure. One that takes us on a journey that is very interesting and wondering what will happen on the next page.
This book will pull you in from the very beginning. It is amazing how the story just keeps unfolding as the chapters come and go (I know this is how it's supposed to be but this is just hard to put into words). I can't wait to read more about Ms Charlotte.
The Vampire’s Curse is everything I love about gothic storytelling elegant, dark, and full of feeling. Charlotte’s strength and grief blend beautifully with the eerie setting of Blackthorn Manor. You can almost hear the rain and taste the tension in every scene. A haunting 5/5 read.
Charlotte Marlowe might just be my new favorite heroine. A lawyer turned supernatural guardian? Genius concept. Her confidence, quick thinking, and vulnerability made her so real. Watching her clash (and connect) with Adrian de Lanier was pure magic.
The chemistry between Charlotte and Adrian was electric dangerous but irresistible. Their scenes together had that old-world elegance mixed with modern fire. If this is only book one, I can’t wait to see how their connection deepens. Five stars and a swoon!
This book is a masterclass in building suspense. Every letter, every locked door, every whisper in the hall felt like a clue. The inheritance conditions were brilliant they kept me flipping pages late into the night.
Beneath the supernatural, this story explores loneliness, legacy, and the weight of choice. Jade Christy writes with intelligence and heart she makes you question whether the real curse is the manor, or the secrets we inherit.
The manor itself is a living, breathing character. From the salt lines on the windows to the whispering mirrors, the atmosphere drips with classic gothic beauty. I haven’t felt this level of dark enchantment since Crimson Peak.