A Matter of Taste: a Vampire Romance

by Skyla Gray

Independent and practical, Nora has no desire to be taken care of by anyone - especially not by a moody, dramatic vampire who sees her as his new muse.

But Lord Claude de Vulpe insists that her blood awakens his long-dormant desire to paint, and he is willing to pay handsomely for it. Nora needs the money, so she agrees under one any intimacy between them is strictly forbidden.

Yet every day she learns more about her vampire patron - his talent, his tenderness, his insistence on pampering her in a way she didn’t know she craved. And Nora soon realizes she is caught in a game she does not understand between Claude, his controlling sire, and the disapproving Vulpe court.

More than her heart is at stake in their arrangement, and the contract she once saw as her salvation may have deadly consequences for them both…

Genres: Vampires

286 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 31, 2025

Reviews

[Poppy || Monster Lover · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really liked Claude and his melodramatic artist personality. It was fun to have a MC that took himself so seriously and was pushed to not do so by Nora’s teasing. Nora was introverted but not afraid to speak her mind, which helped her not treat Claude with kid gloves. They both dealt with self esteem issues, Nora’s from a narcissistic mother and Claude’s from an abusive vampire sire. There were no easy solutions in their story, but they both did what they needed to do to protect one another and took risks they wouldn’t have before they fell in love.

Spice: 2/5

Triggers: violence, gore, death, abuse, narcissistic parent, depression, blood, poverty, ostracism, vampiric compulsion by sire, political machinations, corrupt judicial proceedings, inebriation

[Ashton Reads · Rating 3 out of 5]

I loooved the first book in this series, but unfortunately I wasn’t quite as obsessed with this one. The tortured artist types aren’t my favorite, so I struggled with finding the appeal in Claude as a hero. But I definitely think that was a me problem and not the book’s fault.

Both characters were also pretty angsty through much of the book, and the heroine, Nora, was a bit harsh towards the hero at first (especially considering how much she’s being paid to basically do nothing all day lol). But I did connect with the characters more in the last chunk, and was thrilled when we got cameos of Sebastian and Amelia! It was also interesting to learn more about the vampire politics, and I hope we get more books set in the other courts so we can get to know them more! I will definitely be picking up whatever this author writes next.

*Thank you to the author and Book Sirens for providing a free eARC in exchange for an honest review*

[COURTZ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow, I couldn’t stop reading I love the book and so thankful to be apart of the arc team, I can’t wait to read the next book in the series!

[⋆｡‧˚ʚ Chantal ɞ˚‧｡⋆ · Rating 5 out of 5]

❝𝘐 𝘸𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 𝘴𝘱𝘦𝘯𝘥 𝘢𝘯 𝘦𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘯𝘪𝘵𝘺 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘺𝘰𝘶, 𝘪𝘧 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘸𝘢𝘯𝘵 𝘪𝘵,❞ 𝗵𝗲 𝘀𝗮𝘆𝘀.

❝𝘠𝘰𝘶 𝘥𝘰𝘯'𝘵 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘢𝘯𝘴𝘸𝘦𝘳 𝘯𝘰𝘸,❞ 𝗵𝗲 𝘀𝗮𝘆𝘀. ❝𝘈𝘯𝘥 𝘪𝘧 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘴𝘢𝘺 𝘯𝘰, 𝘐 𝘸𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 𝘨𝘭𝘢𝘥𝘭𝘺 𝘵𝘢𝘬𝘦 𝘢 𝘩𝘶𝘮𝘢𝘯 𝘭𝘪𝘧𝘦𝘴𝘱𝘢𝘯 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘦𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘯𝘪𝘵𝘺 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘩𝘪𝘮.❞

𓆩^._.^𓆪


THOUGHTS / minor spoilers? :

Skyla Gray does not disappoint when it comes to vampire romance!

This is the second book in 'The Valentine Society' series, and while you can read them both as standalones there are some characters from the first book that make an appearance in this one.

I think I loved this one as equally as the first one!

Nora agrees to be Lord Claude's valentine/muse (as he's a painter) in exchange for money (her and her roommates get evicted from their apartment so this was their solution).

But, Nora sets a rule in their contract: No intimacy. (She wants to focus on her future in education, and she cannot get involved with an artist, seeing as she had a difficult upbringing with her mother neglecting her in favor of her art)

As Nora and Claude spend more time together she starts developing feelings and eventually wants to break the contract. But there would be dire consequences in doing so...

Ugh! <3 The way these two dance around the no intimacy clause was such a slow burn! The teasing was just as spicy as the actual smut. And I absolutely loved the way these two were devoted to and protective of each other. For Nora to bring down her walls and let Claude in *chef's kiss*

And Claude's sire, Lord Ambrose? *shivers* He was such a good antagonist! You felt bad for Claude when Ambrose was belittling him, and pure fear when he turned his sights on Nora. The duel was such a satisfying end!

And when the couple FINALLY get intimate? When they finally give in to months of repressed lust and intimacy and longing? It was like an exhale of relief—like 𝘴𝘰, 𝘸𝘦'𝘳𝘦 𝘧𝘪𝘯𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘺 𝘥𝘰𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴? feeling.

I've said this before, but the first book holds a special place in my heart as it was my first e-ARC 🌹 so I just love that I'm able to continue reading this series 💗

[Alyson Walton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh, I love this authors work!

SG provides easily digestible, immensely readable books that make world building effortless and character development seamless.

Claude and Nora's relationship is a complicated one. Complicated by the Society he lives in, and the judgement placed upon them, by that Society. Yet their love persists and proves to be strong.

A fantastic read, would highly recommend.

[Gracemm207 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh. My. God.

This is officially my favorite book of 2025.

To be entirely transparent, Skyla Gray is my favorite author, and if she threw a tin of alphabet spaghetti at my head I would still be impressed with the writing. So yes, take my gushing with a grain of salt.

I was incredibly grateful to receive an ARC of this book. Truly. When the email landed in my inbox, I had the very specific and very dramatic feeling that I had been chosen for something sacred.

I read this entire book in my lunch break (no I absolutely did not, I spent another hour at my desk pretending to work while tearing through the final chapters) I could not look away.

Gray's character work is unreal. Nobody behaves in a way that feels random or out of place. Every emotional reaction makes sense, every tiny victory feels earned.

Claude clearly struggles with depression, yet he is not portrayed as broken or defined solely by that struggle. He lives outside of it. The FMC cares for him deeply, but does not treat him as fragile, she teases him for being mopey and a clique, french, painter, emo, boy, but when things get heavy she shows up for him without hesitation.

When I was reading it I thought Nora was maybe a bit flat as she didn't have any clear goals or wants in life. After reflecting now I've finished it (And am writing this review at aforementioned desk) I think it really shows how bare bones she was living and how much her goals where centered around caring for others, and seeing how the reevaulates her plans because of the care Claude has shown her.

Forgot to mention the vampire bits: Hot, I need 20 more in this series. All I want now is a 150 year old vampire that looks like 40-50 give me some DILF looking men Skyla😩

[Hollollolly · Rating 4 out of 5]

One year following the release of the series starter, A Matter of Taste is the anticipated second installment of The Valentine Society. While there are light references and related lore to the first in the series, An Acquired Taste, I believe this book can be read as a standalone. In fact, I believe it shines next to the premier story. 
 
SG has the ability to pull me into a story without me realizing it’s happening. One minute I’m starting the chapter, it’s ok. The next I’ve read half the book without looking up. I love the realistic voice of the fmc, even when we’re playing in a world of vampires and fantasy elite. Some lines are so poignantly sad they hurt my heart and others made me feel seen in a way I wasn’t expecting from romantasy. And that doesn’t even touch the butterflies and heat that come with the spice. The tension is on point. I do wish we had gotten moments (or chapters!) from the MMC point of view. 
 
Between the first Valentine Society story and now this one, I am very much looking forward to Benjamin and Lissa’s story, and whoever else SG shares with us. 

Spoilers! Below are the tags I included in my personal tracking that other users may find relevant: california, contemporary, dark, fantasy, fmc hired by mmc, fmc-nora, fmc-student, interseries, interspecies, mmc-artist, mmc-claude, mmc-vampire, roommates, temporary relationship, vampire

fiction, contemporary, fantasy, romance, dark, emotional, tense, medium pace
Plot or Character Driven: character
Strong character development: yes
Loveable characters: yes
Diverse cast of characters: no
Flaws of characters a main focus: yes
 
Overarching theme - chosen family, forbidden lovers 
Trope - vampire/concubine, roommates, MMC hires FMC, forbidden lovers 

[Bookfairymel · Rating 5 out of 5]

The yearning in this book was top tier from both sides! No one does yearning like a touch starved, forcefully independent FMC and a forlorn artsy painter who begs for inspiration. From the get Claude was on his knees for Nora, quite literally, it was love at first site. At times he was funny and playful, with a hidden sadness and then he would switch to this strong, flirtatious, desperate man who would do anything to touch her. The switch was intoxicating and it made his sadness even more heart wrenching. Plus the sad blue eyes and curls were doing something to my heart. The yearning to touch, the realization that the intimacy clause was a mistake *amongst other things* and the desperate way they would look at each other without being able to act on it had me fighting to the end of their happy ending.

An happy ending there was, because once they got their hands on each other, it was ON. Claude was a sensual, dominate lover. Insatiable in the best way and deeply caring after. With pleasurable bites and his strength, it made for a fun time. However, some of my favorite moments came from playful scenes, teasing or the happy look on his face when Nora like him take care of her. I think they both saw and understood each other on a deeper level than anyone, and that just made everything better. I could’ve read another 100 pages of these two being happy after the epilogue and ate it up, I loved them!

[Moonburst · Rating 5 out of 5]

When her apartment is condemned, Nora decided to become a vampire's valentine in order to have a place to stay as well as finance her future education. But she's leery of the artistic types, and her vampire, Lord Claude de Vulpe is the most dramatic of painters. Convinced that Nora's blood is the key to overcoming his artist's block, Claude agrees to Nora's stipulation that there is no intimacy other than bloodletting. But as Nora gets to know Claude in their arrangement, it becomes clear that there's more than a lack of inspiration, and Claude's court may have more sinister plans for the two of them.

A Matter of Taste is a perfect vampire romance. Nora is a staunch pragmatist who keeps her emotions and connections hidden. Claude is a profoundly capable artist, but since being turned into a vampire, he has lost his inner muse. As his court emphasizes artistic ability, he has been steadily ostracized as he continued to not produce any art. He hopes to find redemption through Nora, but her commitment to her future goals creates a complicated but enjoyable tension.

A throughly intriguing read that explores guilt, the relationship with one's parents figure's expectations, and the fact that art cannot be forced.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Kendra Job · Rating 4 out of 5]

Book 2 of The Valentine Society series that can be read as a standalone. Although if you’ve read book 1 you’ll recognize a few characters! This vampire x human forbidden love read is a relatively short read, one that will keep you hooked wondering will they or wont they? If you read book 1, this book focuses more on a different court, Vulpe, the one full of artists. But there’s more going on in that court than just vampires creating art and it just adds to the tension and build up between Claude, Nora, and Ambrose. Nora and Claude have a lot to face when it comes to Ambrose, and eventually it all comes to head to head. This book is full of not just romance but secrets, tension, frustration, and so many more feelings. I enjoyed getting to see Claude grow and fight to become the person he is at the end of the book, and getting to see Nora wrestle with her feelings and whether to let them in or not despite her personal rule of never being with an artist. What starts off as a way for Nora to just make money to be able to pay for an apartment quickly turns into so much more with Claude. Thank you Skyla Gray for this ARC, I hope there is more to come in The Valentine Society, I’ve enjoyed both books so much!

[Sumi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nora is at a crossroads.
She needs money for rent in LA.
She has already deferred her education.
She has no one as a back-up.

Enter desperate decision - become a valentine for a vampire.
Nora is paired with Lorde Claude de Vulpe.
He's an artist.
He's from the Vulpe clan.
But he's willing to not want intimacy with Nora, enough to put it in their contract.

From the start, Nora doesn't know what to do with this vampire. He makes her breakfast. He plops her into his studio to paint her portrait. He HIDES her when his maker, the old-school tyrant known as Lord Ambrose, comes to "visit" him. Nora has never been taken care of in her entire life, and a whole gamut of new emotions rushes through her consciousness.

What I enjoyed about their love story is how Nora and Claude learn to care for each other, contract or not. Claude seems to be a little of a doofus at the surface, but he is hiding his own agenda. How it plays out is a plot twist, but there is an HEA, with a little assistance from Lord Sebastian from book 1. However, even if you didn't read book 1 like me, it's standalone enough whereby there is not any confusing backstory with Claude.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Paula Sabol (Never Choose Fantasy) · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Matter of Taste: The Valentine Society by Skyla Gray is a phenomenal contemporary paranormal romance. When Nora and her roommates are evicted and have no money to move, they decide to try to become Valentines (humans that a live with a vampire, under contract for a year, to feed them and attend events). However both have the unusual request of an intimacy clause in their contract. However when she discovers she's actually a trap Claud's sire has put in place to destroy him she realizes too late that she loves him and now will never be able to have him. Can they find a way to be together when even survival feels like a loss?
I absolutely fell in love with this story. Nothing in this story is simple, with multiple layers, and so much to unpack. Nora made so many assumptions and I really did enjoy the surprise when she discovered she was wrong. The emotions definitely got me invested in the book, causing me to read the story in 24 hours. There was plenty of suspense as I tried to figure out where the story was heading and how it would resolve.
If you enjoy contemporary paranormal romances with vampires and humans, forced proximity, slow-burn with lots of chemistry then A Matter Of Taste is a must read.

[Dayna Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

Even though I hadn’t read the first book in the series, A Matter of Taste was surprisingly easy to slip into. Skyla Gray does a wonderful job creating a world that feels both darkly romantic and emotionally rich, with characters who have real depth and chemistry.

The story blends classic vampire allure with modern sensibilities—there’s tension, passion, and just enough danger to keep you turning pages. I especially appreciated how Gray balances the supernatural elements with heartfelt moments and genuine vulnerability. You can tell she’s thought through her characters’ motivations and emotional arcs.

That said, there were a few points where I felt a little lost, likely because I hadn’t read the first book. Some references and backstory might have landed better with that context, but it didn’t take away from my enjoyment overall.

In short, A Matter of Taste is a compelling, atmospheric vampire romance that stands well on its own but probably shines even more if you start from the beginning. A great pick for readers who like their love stories with a bite.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Letty · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nora’s life is a mess, her condemned apartment is being torn down, rent in L.A. is impossible, and she and her roommates are out of options.

Out of desperation, she applies to become a Valentine (a paid blood donor for vampires). Her one rule? Never get involved with the artsy types.
Naturally, that rule goes straight out the window when she ends up under the patronage of a famous French painter with a complicated relationship with his sire. He needs her blood to paint again... but what starts as necessity quickly turns into something deeper, darker, and utterly consuming.

I absolutely loved this story. The tension, the yearning, the sense of impossible love, it’s intoxicating. The chemistry between them practically hums off the page, and I was delighted by the little cameo from the couple in Book 1.
This was a perfect Halloween read. If you love slow-burn vampire romance with emotional depth and a dash of melancholy, this one’s a must-read.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Chere Gruver · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another great addition to the Valentine Society Series!

This time around, three roommates are in trouble when they find a condemned sign on the front door of their apartment building. While two of them may be able to find somewhere else to stay, Nora cannot. So they decide to see if maybe they can get to the Valentine Ball and find a patron. Since the other two can’t manage to be around vampires, it’s left for Nora and of course, she finds a vampire who wants her as his Valentine. One little catch though, there’s a “no intimacy” clause in their contract. I really do love these stories. The whole idea of humans becoming blood banks for vampires with a contract to protect them while under the vampire’s care is really imaginative. There’s plenty of emotion, and trust, especially on the part of the human. The world building is spot on, the writing style is smooth and the plot just flows.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Tima · Rating 4 out of 5]

This story is female lead POV, well written, and an angsty fantasy romance between male artist vampire, Claude, and female human, Nora. I sympathised with Nora’s history and understood her determination to be independent. I enjoyed her shock at her own developing emotions. I empathised with Claude’s history and ongoing trauma. I enjoyed seeing him relax towards the end of the story and the happiness they built for themselves. I was amused that Nora was the one initiating intimacy, and enjoyed the negotiations that were an intrinsic part of vampire society. I enjoyed the cameo from lead characters in the previous story.

I received a complimentary copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[VaseFullofAcid · Rating 5 out of 5]

The way I will never get tired of this series! They suck you in, in such a way you wont even know how much time has passed by. Reading this book was easy and smooth. The characters are always well written and character building is some of the best I have read. I also love that this series can be read as standalones and out of order but it all connects with each other. If your looking for a well written vampirexhuman romance look no further then these books. This author has such great writing I fall in love with their books every time I read them.
10/10 Read once again never fails to impress me with the stories, characters, and world building!

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Paula Girton · Rating 4 out of 5]

(more like a 3.5 star) I really enjoy this take on vampires. The idea of the Valentines is different to me and I really enjoy that. The story itself was good. I love that we get to see characters from the first book again and in different context. Nora's character was very relatable. Claude, however, needed more character development maybe. I just didn't connect with him the same way.
I do feel as though something was missing. The relationship building between Nora and Claude just seemed lacking.
All and all I did enjoy the story and will continue reading the series as new books come.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Kate A. · Rating 5 out of 5]

OMG ANOTHER FANTASTIC READ FROM SKYLA GRAY!!!

I loved this story so much! The draw of the main characters, the love, the problems, the risks, and the rewards, all wonderfully written. I love how it was very different from the first book but also had bits and pieces that ties in the two stories. It made me happy for the little throw backs from the first one, including maybe a little sneak peak from the epilogue.

Please go read all of her stories! They’re all truly amazing pieces of work and I can’t wait for the next one to come out!

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Wet Ink · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 star as of 10 Dec 2025 on first reading.

Story: Love the world building, but the story lacks the depth seen from the previous book
Characters: Well written, but lacking the purpose seen previously
Relationships: Well done with the dancing around each other
Pacing: Medium
Spice: All of it
Audience: vampires, artists
Top Complaint: While the tortured artist approach was interesting, they "I'll love them into changing" fell a bit flat.

Warning, I'm a huge re-reader of books thus my feelings on them can change over time. Any future re-read opinions will be captured below.

[Tams1twtdbkwrm · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyable. Interesting world

This is a fun read. I might've got a little annoyed at the last 25% of the book but it's mostly because I wanted to know the world and/or the characters more fully. I felt like I wish I'd seen more of what created their relationship beyond the way the FMC felt while being bitten. That being said I didn't put it down! It also made me curious enough to check out the first book in this series. I'd continue this series if only to watch the author grow and delve into this more. For sure worth a read!

[Lacey Lee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Honestly just as good as the first one! I loved how we got to see the valentines society again and Benjamin as well as Amelia and Sebastian. The way the FMC & MMC fought for one another and their wishes really kept me wanting more. I loved Claude’s personality and his gentleness. I also loved Nora’s braveness at the end of this book and her love for those she cares about. I’m so looking forward to many more books in this series!

[Nancy · Rating 5 out of 5]

She needs money and agrees to be his muse but with conditions of bloodletting only with no intimacy. Her vampire mentor agrees. There is his court and his controlling vampire who are also involved and things are not as she sees them. Good world building with interesting and unique characters. Enjoyed this read very much.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Daria · Rating 4 out of 5]

Life Choices

A bit down and out the girl makes a choice. The best choice? Time will tell. One of her rules? No touchy touchy.
A vampire has a human muse, that muse not only get his creative juices flowing but... and but she has a wee rule.
Hmmm being up close and personal how well do rules really matter?
Not only are they fighting their/her/his sparking chemistry. They're fighting tradition and old prejudices. Survivability? 😉 enjoy

[B Rad · Rating 4 out of 5]

I almost didn't finish it because I thought it was plagiarism in the first cpuple chapters but then I realized it was the same one author and this was the second of the series, so I finished it. I wanna disclaim im a girls girl in real life and real life only, that being said, Nora isn't the brightest light bulb and she irritated me. But in the end, she got her stuff together, and thank goodness for that

[Envy Cee Reads Nancy C · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this read. Although this is a second installment in the series, it can be read as a standalone and I appreciated that. I love reading about characters that grow through a book. The FMC was a believable character with how she describes what she thinks and feels.
It’s a four star for me because I felt it started a little slow. Once I was in a couple chapters, I was starting to feel the groove and pulled into the story. It was a great read.

[Sharon Lee · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was such a sweet read. Claude is just *chefs kiss* perfection.

They way he stuck up for Nora and fought for her melted my heart.

I will definitely read more books by Skyla Gray and this book will for sure go in my read again pile.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[A Murphy · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Matter of Taste is book 2 of The Valentine Society series. The story is a steamy, interesting, entertaining, and enjoyable vampire romance. The characters were charming, had chemistry and were likable. I really enjoyed this paranormal romance.

I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Nyah · Rating 5 out of 5]

I did not think I would love these characters as much as sebastian and Amelia but it so happens I do. I love how similar yet different their dynamic is to the OG couple. I love how it was obvious how much Nora and Claude loved each other but it was dangerous. Love any forbidden lovers trope. Another win for author!

[Dominique - · Rating 5 out of 5]

I could not get enough of this charming vampire romance story. The characters were all incredible, each having depth and realistic aspects to each that made them throughly enjoyable to read about, and the world building was so much fun!.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.