Bite Me Not

Vampires of New Hardenberg #1

by Ray Celar

A vampire walks into a bar....


Eric

Unintentionally giving the guy I totally haven’t been stalking for the past three years a spiked drink was an accident, I swear.
I mean, how was I supposed to know that ‘The Special’ was a drink vampires ordered to help with… feeding?
I’ve dreamed of having Finn in my arms for years, but ever since I was turned into a vampire, I knew it couldn’t happen. Tasting his blood, even just a tiny drop to make sure he was okay, wasn’t supposed to happen either, and especially not like this.
But that little taste left me with a bigger problem than just having my unconscious crush in my he’s sick, and I don’t know what to do about it. I can’t just walk up to him and tell him I know he’s sick because I might’ve taken a teeny, tiny sip of his blood, can I?
So, leaving a note on his apartment door is the reasonable thing to do, right?


Finn
My life is stressful enough; I really don’t need medical advice from a creepy stalker, too. I mean, he’s implying he somehow got a blood sample. Like, WTF?! The fact that he’s spot on with the diagnosis—which was taped to my door—is even more disturbing.
Hopefully, he’ll back off once I’m better.
I need a distraction from everything that’s going on—and Eric is exactly what the doctor ordered. He’s attentive and serious, but his stoic face goes all soft when he looks at me.
So maybe I’m ignoring a few red flags on my quest to keep my mind off my stalker. And, okay, while a lot of things with Eric don’t add up and nearly everything points to him being a vampire… that would be ludicrous, right?


Bite Me Not is a darkish rom-com featuring an infatuated vampire dutifully watching over his unsuspecting mate and a human who's way too smart, but also too oblivious for his own good.


Please not that while this pre-order is set for July, the book will probably release sooner - I am aiming for an April release

Genres: M M Romance, Vampires, Paranormal, Fantasy, Romance, Urban Fantasy, LGBT

349 pages, Kindle Edition

Published April 17, 2026

About the author

Ray Celar lives with her husband, daughter and two cats in Southern Germany.
When she was six years old, she proudly declared she’d be an author one day, and that dream never changed. She was declared “most likely to ever publish a book” in her yearbook and only four years after her graduation, this statement and her lifelong dream came true — though she still isn’t sure whether she should send a copy of her books to the teacher who nominated her for that title.
If she isn’t chasing after her daughter through the apartment, she’s probably translating books, writing books or procrastinating doing any of those things by watching too many DIY-videos online — she might even be working on one of the DIY-projects she picked up.

Reviews

[patrícia]

Arc Review: Bite Me Not by Ray Celar
MC:Finn & Eric 3.5⭐

Tropes & tags
🩸Vampire x Human
🦇Opposites attract
🩸Darkish rom-com
🦇Stalking for protection (obviously)
🩸Possessive boyfriend
🦇Fated mates
🩸 Dubcon biting (bit for medical reasons)

This was chaotic, fun, and slightly disturbing in a weirdly adorable way—and I did have a good time with it.

It fully leans into its tropes: possessive vampire, fated mates, and that “I’m stalking you to keep you safe” energy. The fated mate bond helps soften some of the more questionable behaviour, but not entirely—especially because Finn is genuinely scared at times, which makes it feel a bit more grounded.

Eric’s note-taking started off funny and kind of charming, but it quickly lost its appeal. Once they were actually together, it didn’t make sense for him to keep doing something he knew was freaking Finn out—it just became frustrating instead of quirky.

The mate bite happening at the end worked in terms of payoff, but it also added to the feeling that everything was a bit rushed and not fully explored.

There were also a few things that pulled me out:
– The cover shows a tattooed model, but neither character has tattoos
– No condom, and no conversation about it
– The world-building/lore feels quite thin

And the ending… it leaves a lot open. Bennie, Arius, and especially the threat of Ambrose are just left hanging, and there’s no clear indication this continues, which made it feel incomplete rather than intentionally open-ended.

Overall, this isn’t deep or groundbreaking, but it is entertaining. It’s messy, tropey, a bit unhinged, and very easy to read—just don’t go in expecting strong world-building or a fully wrapped-up ending.


I received a copy of this book from GRR, and this is my honest review.


⚠️Author Content Warnings
This is a darkish rom-com that features topics like stalking, non-consensual drug use (once), and non-consensual biting.
It also features depictions of violence (mainly against bad guys), including blood and gore, as well as kidnapping. There’s also graphic description of ripping someone’s head of (bots literally and figuratively).

❣️Book Safety & Content
Other Person Drama: No
Third-Act Breakup:Temporary- few days
Role Dynamics: Strict roles
POV: 1st person (dual)
Format: Standalone
Ending: HEA
Angst Level: Low
Spice Level: Medium
Communication: Some miscommunication
Pining: One-sided

[Natalie H]

April 2026
Kindle edition

Ah damn. What was this one about again?

Stalker vampire. The notes were the best bit. Started losing interest when they stopped. I think. There was one of them being stupid. Someone called Ares or Axel that looked like he'd have his story. Not one that stayed with me.

[Catarina Águas]

ARC review

It was really good, I liked it a lot.
Eric was obsessed with Finn and he couldn't stop wanting to be near him and making sure he was ok. It was a compulsion, and as he later finds out, it's because they are mates.
Finn just thought Eric was cute and wanted to know him better, he felt a pull but not as strong as Eric.
I loved their dynamic, how Finn after finding out that Eric was a vampire, he wasn't scared, he wanted to know more about everything. Eric would do literally anything for Finn and I just adored that

[Kirstine Hansen]

Aw hell, I missed that this was completely new. Now I have to wait for the next installment, more about the dastardly villain Ambrose, and everything else. I wonder if it still will be about Finn and Eric, or if it'll be Eric's sire Bennie's turn next time.

Oh, and Finn has only just started his new job as a teacher. Will the children be more or less exhausting that the two bickering vampires he lives with?

[Abigail Beckwith]

Here's "Bite Me Not" by Ray Celar.

["A vampire walks into a bar....

Eric
Unintentionally giving the guy I totally haven’t been stalking for the past three years a spiked drink was an accident, I swear.
I mean, how was I supposed to know that ‘The Special’ was a drink vampires ordered to help with… feeding?
I’ve dreamed of having Finn in my arms for years, but ever since I was turned into a vampire, I knew it couldn’t happen. Tasting his blood, even just a tiny drop to make sure he was okay, wasn’t supposed to happen either, and especially not like this.
But that little taste left me with a bigger problem than just having my unconscious crush in my he’s sick, and I don’t know what to do about it. I can’t just walk up to him and tell him I know he’s sick because I might’ve taken a teeny, tiny sip of his blood, can I?
So, leaving a note on his apartment door is the reasonable thing to do, right?

Finn
My life is stressful enough; I really don’t need medical advice from a creepy stalker, too. I mean, he’s implying he somehow got a blood sample. Like, WTF?! The fact that he’s spot on with the diagnosis—which was taped to my door—is even more disturbing.
Hopefully, he’ll back off once I’m better.
I need a distraction from everything that’s going on—and Eric is exactly what the doctor ordered. He’s attentive and serious, but his stoic face goes all soft when he looks at me.
So maybe I’m ignoring a few red flags on my quest to keep my mind off my stalker. And, okay, while a lot of things with Eric don’t add up and nearly everything points to him being a vampire… that would be ludicrous, right?"]

YES. All of the yes. Except for all of the moments when Eric chose "heart-eyed-idiot" instead of...ya know...not leaving more creepy notes.

But...frankly...Finn was more accepting than anything. He was skeptical as hell and scared as fuck, but when all of that passed, he was too in love with Erin to really put up much of a fight.

They were adorable as hell. Just wanting the best for each other, wanting each other to be happy and safe.

This book was giving serious first-in-series vibes, and I'm here for it.

Trigger Warnings: light stalking, drugging of an MC (once), biting (dubcon), violence, kidnapping, blood and gore, and more

#arcs #arcteammember #grr #gayromancereviews
#bitemenot #raycelar #books #queerbooks #queererotica #bodicerippers #bookstagram #bookphotography #ilovebooks

[JustJen "Miss Conduct"]

Grabbed this one because I have enjoyed this author previously and I’m always up for a good dark vamp story. This one starts out right away with our main vamp, Eric, a recently turned youngling, doing his thing of keeping an eye on human, Finn. He has felt a connection to Finn from before he was turned and has this overwhelming feeling of needing to protect him. Things heat up when Finn is drugged at a club and in the process of seeing him home safely, Eric learns Finn has some health issues and encourages him to seek medical care. This really begins his stalkery where he leaves notes and gifts for him. It seems a bit creepy on the outset, but he really is a kind heart and we learn the reasons for his infatuation.

Meanwhile, not-stalker Eric runs into Finn, and they begin an actual relationship. This is the point where things start to get really problematic for them with the crossover between stalker and not-stalker, are they the same, Finn doesn’t know, etc. There is also the problem of Finn being human and Eric not. Eric also has to deal with his compulsion to take care of Finn while not scaring him off, etc., since Finn is pretty clueless about vamps even existing.

Eric was a sweetheart, good Samaritan type before turning, and he remained so after. He has his bff/sire/mentor, Benny trying to help him out and even a “neutral” vamp, the bartender Aries. Both made interesting side characters that I’d be interesting to see more of, especially Aries.

I was honestly expecting this to be a bit darker and might have been a little disappointed that it wasn’t. It took a while for me to get into the story as it starts out fairly slow with all the stalking and early relationship things going pretty slow. But, in the end, it was a really enjoyable feel-good vamp story and I’m looking forward to seeing where it takes us next.

Review written for Love Bytes Reviews.

[Trouble89]

Eric is the sweetest stalker to ever stalk.

What do you do when the guy you were crushing on for years before you were accidentally turned into a vampire, ends up mistakenly drugged in your presence? Of course, you make sure you get him home. Then, for purely medical reasons only, you have a teeny tiny sip of his blood. By doing so, you realize your crush is extremely low on iron and needs medical care, but you can’t tell him how you know this, you do what any concerned citizen would do. You leave him a post it on his door.

And if you’ve possibly been watching your crush from the rooftop across from his building for years, you know that he hasn’t taken your advice. So you leave another note. And another.

So begins the slightly stalkerish romance of Eric and Finn, sweet vampire and sassy human.

This book grabbed me from the first page to the last. I loved both MC’s personalities. Eric was sweet guy before he was turned into a vampire to save his life, because he’d been trying to be a good Samaritan. Which made him a pretty sweet vamp. Finn, the guy he’d been crushing on for years, is clueless that vamps exist or that his new boyfriend is one. Or that he’s the weird stalker who has been leaving him notes on his door with medical advice and sending him grocery deliveries.

When Finn is put in danger by a rival vampire clan, Eric’s possessive side comes front and center when he rescues his mate.

I found the side characters of Benny and Ares entertaining and would love to see them get their own stories, and I loved Finn’s sass when it came to dealing with Eric and his nonsense.

I found this book to be a fun romp, not too dark at all, and entertaining.

[Brooke]

⭐️ 4 stars ⭐️

My boyfriend might be a vampire. Or a psychopath.

A slightly silly, darkish vampire romance.
I loved Eric and how bad he was at playing it cool around Finn. Subtlety is not his strong suit, and it was kind of funny how he kept trying to reassure Finn and not scare him with the notes, but ended up freaking him out even more.

Not wanting to scare me, my ass—each fucking note got progressively creepier.

And Eric not being able to lie to his mate was a cool little add-on to the typical fated mates trope.
The plot, on the other hand, wasn’t anything to write home about, and the writing also wasn’t the best. Lots of repetitiveness, long inner monologues, a couple of bland characters that needed some more filling.
But, the romance was sweet enough to enjoy the book overall, and I had fun with Eric’s shenanigans.
I needed more of them together maybe, because the last third felt very action-y and info-dumpy and we didn’t really get to enjoy the couple finally being together.
Still, a cute vampire romance, mostly the same as the rest, but also a little different?

With my mate in my arms, my existence didn’t look so bad anymore.

I received a copy of this book from Gay Romance Reviews, and this is my honest review.

CW and NSFW info (spoilers):
- Vampire vs human
- Non-consensual drugging (by mistake)
- Non-consensual biting
- Stalking
- Kidnapping (not between MCs)
- Violence
- Top/bottom
- Frotting

[Amanda Winter]

Bite Me Not was chaotic, fun, slightly unhinged and weirdly adorable. I had a really good time with it.

This story fully leans into its tropes: possessive vampire, fated mates, and that very questionable “stalking for protection” energy. The fated mate bond softens some of Eric’s behaviour, but not entirely—especially since Finn is genuinely confused and, at times, scared, which keeps things feeling a bit more grounded.

Eric knowing Finn is his mate while secretly watching over him (and then accidentally making everything worse) creates a lot of the chaos. The fact that Finn turns to Eric for help with his own stalker—who is, in fact, Eric—was equal parts frustrating and entertaining. You kind of want to shake him and say “just tell him already,” but at the same time, it fits his character and adds to the charm.

Despite the “darkish” label, the tone never feels too heavy. It balances humour with softer, more emotional moments, especially as Eric realises Finn is sick and becomes even more protective. The side characters, like Aires and Bennie, add to the intrigue and make the world feel bigger.

The dynamic between Eric and Finn is definitely the highlight. Eric’s quiet devotion paired with Finn’s suspicion and obliviousness made their interactions engaging and often funny. When everything finally comes together, the payoff feels satisfying, even if it takes its time getting there.

Overall, this is an entertaining, trope-heavy read with a distinctive voice...blending romance, humour, and a touch of supernatural chaos in a way that keeps you hooked.

[Siobhan]

I am a simple woman who has never truly left her vampire phase, which means I am always happy to dive into new vampire books. Ray Celar’s Bite Me Not was a story that immediately grabbed my attention on multiple fronts. It promised a darkish rom-com, which alone was enough to ensure I grabbed the book and jumped right in.

I will be honest and say that I feel like the “darkish rom-com” label was not earned. I did not find this story to be dark, nor did I find it to be a romantic comedy. It was certainly addictive with some outrageous elements thrown in, but none were enough for either of those labels. Thus, I suggest pushing those thoughts from the mind before diving into this story. It is highly addictive, ensuring the reader is rapidly turning the pages, and there are plenty of elements that will leave the reader wanting more of the world. I feel like the promise of “darkish rom-com” will leave people disappointed, when this is not a story to disappoint. It is far from perfect – there were elements I wanted to explore in much more detail, and I hope there will be future books to explore these elements – yet it was perfectly addictive and had me devouring it in no time.

All in all, this was a fun read. While it did not deliver what it promised, it certainly delivered a story I could not put down. My fingers are crossed the side characters get stories and in receiving them we get to explore the world in more detail.

[Debby]

Eric knows Finn is his mate but Finn is a human and unaware of vampires. Eric has spent the past few years keeping an eye on Finn. He is not doing the best job as he inadvertently orders a spiked drink for Finn. He knows he must get him home safely. Eric cannot resist a tiny sip of his blood and is devastated to learn that Finn is quite sick. He decides to leave a note for Finn but Finn ignores it so Eric leaves another. Finn cannot believe he has a stalker but as the notes continue, he is sure that is what is happening. He turns to his new friend Eric for help and consolation. Eric can’t tell Finn he is the stalker. The time is just not right. As Finn begins to realize that something is off with Eric, he decides that all indicators point to him being a vampire. But that can’t be right.

You cannot help but fall in love with Eric as he struggles to handle finding his mate but not telling him. He does come across as a stalker and at the same time he consoles Finn about his stalker, which is himself. Finn is not sure what to think but knows Eric wants to keep him safe. We also meet Aires, a vampire, and Bennie, a vampire as well and Eric’s sire. The plot is intriguing and hopefully more stories will come. Ray Celar does an excellent job of blending the light and the dark, making for great reading.
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

[Deb Kel]

This story strikes a fun balance between slightly chaotic humour and softer, more emotional moments. The setup leans into the absurd (in the best way) with Eric accidentally making a mess of things and then repeatedly digging himself deeper instead of just telling the truth. It can be a little frustrating at times, especially when a simple explanation would solve a lot, but it also fits his character and adds to the overall charm.

Despite being described as “darkish”, the tone never feels overly heavy. There are hints of darker elements, particularly around Eric’s vampirism and Finn’s situation, but they’re handled in a way that keeps the story accessible and often quite playful. The author does a nice job of weaving in small details and clues that gradually build towards the bigger reveal.

The dynamic between Eric and Finn is where the book really shines. Eric’s quiet devotion and inability to stay away contrasts well with Finn’s mix of suspicion and obliviousness, making their interactions both amusing and engaging. When things finally come together, the payoff feels well earned, even if it takes a while to get there.

An entertaining read with a distinctive voice, blending romance, humour, and a touch of supernatural intrigue.
I received a free arc copy and this is my honest review

[AshPenny37]

Bite Me Not is the romcom story of Eric, a young vampire and how he wins the heart of his human fated mate, Finn. It’s likely a me thing because I just didn't quite feel it. The ‘rom’, yes, there’s a solid enough PNR trope to lean into here. But the ‘com’…not so much. It’s cute and everything, but I didn’t find myself chuckling along, to be honest. Again, likely a me thing, because although I recognise the usual romcom elements - the awkward starting point in the club, Bennie as ‘that side character’, the grand gesture when it was needed, etc. - I just didn’t get the funnies. Yes, Eric’s plight is engaging as he’s fumbling his way through relentlessly caring for his oblivious mate. For me, though, it might have been skirting just a bit too close to the tragically desperate to find it really comedic. Again, this could've been more to do with my headspace. And then, from a balance perspective, the last quarter(ish) of the book is heavily focused on ramping up the action to develop the reason why Finn’s acceptance of his status and their relationship comes pretty easily in the end, which took me even more away from the intended romcom mood, I think.

All that said, do I like the book as a straight up PNR? Yes, I think there are good bones for a decent vampire romance series here. I’d have liked a bit more demonstration of the vampire lore and worldbuilding (even supporting the book as a romcom, too), though I thought the behavioral quirk Eric experienced in relation to the mate bond was a nice take. From this perspective, I’d definitely check out subsequent books (especially if Aries were to get a story of his own), but I wouldn’t go in expecting romcom laughs.

An ARC was provided by GRR. This is my honest opinion.

[Nicole]

Review for Bite Me Not by Ray Celar

Wonderful vampire story that has the right amount of dark in it. Ray Celar is a new author for me, so I didn't know what I was walking into with this story. I can't say enough that I am so happy I read this story. Who doesn't love a book that has a vampire in it? You have

Stalking
Vampire
kidnapping
slight gore
drugging on accident

In this story. This story begins when the two men meet one day. Finn, who walks into Eric's bar one night. Eric didn't mean to drug the man he has been watching for a while now, a drink that drugged him. He didn't realize that the Special drink is a drink vampires use to help with feedings. Eric was changed into a vampire and felt he wouldn't have the chance to have the man he wanted anymore, since he wasn't human anymore. After finding out that the drink he had given him had drugged him, Eric decides to take a small taste to make sure he was ok. Wow, that changes everything for Eric once he gets that taste. He finds out something about Finn that changes everything. I loved this story from the first page. Ray Celar made this story so well-written and full of the type of story I love. I know now I need to read more by Ray Celar.

Nicole Harvey

[Ashley Tyler-Switzer]

There were moments when I wanted to smack our MC, Eric, into next week for not explaining or leaving a note again, but in the end, it all came together perfectly. The blurb mentioned that it’s darkish, but I would say it had the potential to be dark and did have dark aspects, but it wasn’t a dark read. I think the author was incredibly creative in the way she planted clues, like Eric’s inability to lie and his summer hangouts with the gym bros. Eric’s inability to stay away and his need to ensure Finn’s safety were all great ways to ensure that Eric eventually told Finn the truth. This book seems to be the first in a series, and I hope we get more of Finn and Eric’s cameos in the future. I also hope we get books for Aries and Bennie. The book ends on a mild cliffhanger, but the couple finally gets their HEA, albeit quite late in the book. Based on the writing style, I believe some things will be resolved or explored in future books, and I think they will be interconnected. This is my first book by this author, so there could possibly be more of this world in existence, but I’m not sure. Overall, it’s a very good book.

[morgan]

Okay this was cuuuuute! It took me a little while to get into it fully, but once I was in, it was smooth sailing. There were a few times where it felt like either the Lore™️ hadn’t been explained super well or that maybe it was interconnected with the author’s other works. I’ve not read anything else by this author, so idk if that’s true or not.

I was also super intrigued by the side characters. I want to know more about Aries!!! I want to know more about Bennie!!! Sometimes I can guess the main relationship in the second book, but I’ve honestly got no idea and it’s deepening the intrigue tbh.

Eric and Finn were super cute (even if it was throwing me off the whole time bc one of my cats is named Finn and my lil man has zero brain cells to rub together lmao) and I hope we get some fun cameos of them in the next book!

🩸 vampire x human
☀️ kinda sorta insta-love, but also not?
🩸 fated mates
☀️ Eric’s like… not the best at stalking
🩸 hidden identity
☀️ caretaking


Thank you to the author and GRR for the eARC!

[Thurman]

It is a good book. Finn and Eric were good together. Eric should have made his move years ago. It shouldn't have taken an accidental drugging and an illness to get him to speak to Finn.
This is a different take on fated mates and vampires. Normally, stalking would be bad, but the way fated mates work in this universe, it is understandable. Eric literally can't help it. Being a fledgling, Eric doesn't know what is going on.
So the breakup was inevitable. Being unable to lie and being truthful are totally different things. Eric should have told Finn everything when he found out he was a vampire. He should have told Finn that he was the stalker and why.
They should have claimed/mated sooner. It takes place in the epilogue. We don't even see if it helps Eric's discomfort from being away from Finn all day.
I received a free copy of this book via GRR and am voluntarily leaving a review.
angst 2.5/5
heat 3.5/5
story 4.25/5
POV dual
breakup yes it only lasts a few days

[Anouk]

I loved it!!! I loved it soooo much! Eric struggles with being a vampire and he doesn't understand why he gravitates toward Finn. Eric' struggles with his feelings for Finn and with the fact that Eric is a vampire. When Eric finds out Finn isn't feeling well you can just feel Eric's struggles. Eric has no real way of contacting Finn and warning him about his health, so he decides to leave an anonymous note. When Finn doens't listen he leaves another and so on. In his desperation Eric doens't see how creepy it is to receive anonymous notes about one's health.
I loved the development of their relationship and I loved the storyline. I do gotta say that Eric is not the smartest socially, because come on, you're building something with Finn but you don't tell him you're the reason he is freaking out. I think that if he told him a lot of shit could have been avoided. But alas, I still loved it!



P.S. I received an ARC, but this is my honest opinion. Thank you to GRR for the ARC I really loved this book!

[R]

Eric had yearned for Finn for five years. Turned into a vampire three years prior only meant that he would never be able to make Finn his. Stalking was his only option. And from every point of view that was the worst option possible. When Eric learns Finn is his mate he knows he’ll suffer for the rest of his very long life. Finn knew there was something off with Eric but he wanted him to much to care.

The book had new vampire lore which I really like. I thought Eric was a very sympathetic character. A man absorbed with a mate that he didn’t know he had, unable to understand the compulsion to be near him. Finn was very down to earth. Planning out the steps to his life with certainty. I thought he handled all the revelations with a calm head (except maybe the stalking).

Eric’s sire Bennie, and Aries the enigmatic bar owner rounded out their trio of vampire friendlies. There was some gruesomeness but it didn’t overwhelm the story. I liked the book and I hope to definitely see more of the guys.

I received an arc of this book.

[Melody]

Okuduğum en tatlı vampir sapık Eric! ❤️🧛‍♂️ O çok tatlıydı ve vampir olmasıyla okuması daha keyifli hale geldi. Kitap hakkındaki tüm güzel hislerim burada bitiyor. Çok fazla yüzeyseldi. Finn'i de sevebilseydim eğer bu yüzeysellik sorun olmazdı ama onu sevemedim. Finn'in duyguları bana geçmedi. En son ayrılık döneminde Eric'in ne kadar acı çektiğini okurken, Finn hakkında okuyamadık ve sırf olay olması için saçma bir yakalanma senaryosuyla benim için daha sinir bozucu hale geldi. Eric için başka birisini okumayı tercih ederdim çünkü Eric ona çok çok fazla aşık. Ve Finn hakkında şüpheliyim. Ve nefret ettiğim şey çiftlerden birinin sevgisinin daha az olduğunu hissetmek. Bu benim için tüm kitabı mahveden bir etmen. Eğer eş bağı Finn'i doğal olarak Eric'in yaşam gücüne bağlamasaydı, Eric için vampir olmayacaktı ve bu da böyle rahatlatıcı bir romantizmde görmek istemediğim bir davranıştı. Buna rağmen kitap çok akıcı ve okuması keyifliydi. Bennie'in kitabını merak ediyorum ama bir klişe yerine vampir x vampir shipi olurlar

[Kez Marie]

This was a dark rom-com with fully obsessed vampire Eric, strategically stalking human Finn, and invading every aspect of his life in a hopelessly caring way.
Eric can't help the magnetic pull he feels to Finn, so for years he's been watching from a distance until he steps up his stalking to anonymously providing groceries, cryptic letters, and health care advice in a bid to help Finn get the attention he needs, whilst also befriending him in the evenings and acting as his saviour.
He's scared of Finn getting to know the real him and his vampire world, but determined to protect his human and hide his secrets.

I liked the way it portrayed sire bonds particularly between Eric and Bennie, and the hierarchy of vampires based on age and clans. There is mild drama with the 'unknown' stalker, vampire fledglings on the loose, and a pending clan war.
It was a sweet fated mates romance, where the vampire falls first and has a lot of yearning and emotional conflict.

[Kelly]

Per the author, this book is a darkish rom-com. That's accurate. In fact, this may be the first time I've felt a book cover wasn't an accurate representation of the vibe of the book, because the cover, in my opinion, gives off standard dark romance vibes. That said, I'm always here for a good vampire romance. And there are fated mates! I liked the take on fated mates in this book. It's slightly different than what is typically seen, and I felt it enhanced the story. Eric and Finn made a great couple. Though Eric somehow managed to have less than zero game, lol. I really liked a couple of the side characters. Especially Aries. I hope this gets expanded into a series, because I definitely want to learn more about him!

Note: I received an advance copy in exchange for a voluntary, honest review.

[Caroline Griffith]

When stalking is really a precursor for a meet cute. Now this story trigger warnings so please heed them. Warning signs, alarm bells and red flags should be taken seriously in the real world. But for Eric and Finn are so precious and loving. So I'm okay with the fact that Eric has no idea how to pursue the love of his life without being totally weird and creepy. Blood and notes and a sip more of blood and more notes had to scream terrifying but when your are so overwhelmed by the presence of another yet you want to protect them by start caring for them in the way they deserve. From the first kiss and the rest of their firsts together, the meeting truly feels meant to be. The fit and had all the craziness never occurred, they never have find their way to one another

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

[Flick]

Cute and fun

This was a 3.5 rounded up for me. I really enjoyed Eric and Finn as a couple (Eric is sweet if going about it the wrong way and Finn is remarkably forgiving). There was a decent amount of fun to their story especially given this is technically a darker romance due to the stalking. I laughed out loud a few times and there were definitely some genuinely sweet moments. I think though the book could have benefitted from a good edit. It dragged at times with repetition and then felt rushed at others. It was also a bit too much a straight line plot wise which left it feeling a touch lacking overall. I was also confused about some of the decisions the characters made (in particular Eric) as they didn’t really make sense to me and didn’t seem to push the story/romance forward (borderline held it back in facf). Still a fun read though and that’s why matters at the end of the day.

[Lindsey]

I saw vampire romance, saw how much Eric fumbles and accidentally turns into a stalker and was like, I need this in my life IMMEDIATELY.

It was absolutely amazing and I loved both Eric, Finn and BENNIE?! He was hilaaaarious.

I enjoyed watching Eric be both the perfect boyfriend in person all the while casually freaking out and accidentally stalking this man he's been obsessed with for years.

I loved that Finn ran straight from his stalker into Eric's arms not knowing that Eric was the one leaving him all those weird notes in the first place, and I can totally understand his devastation at finding out who his stalker really was, as Eric was supposed to be a safe place for him.

I adored the "I'm so into you and idk WHY" - they were both so PRECIOUS.

[Justine]

Bite me not was such a fun read from the very beginning. I love paranormal stories, vampires especially, and it’s always fun to read the variations that authors write. Eric is a relatively new vampire with an obsession with his sweet human Finn. They meet officially at a club, which happens to a frequent vamp hangout, and then the stalking begins lol. Eric is just a goof and stressed me out with his notes, but I still loved him. Finn’s life becomes a bit chaotic but he finds comfort in Eric and tries his best to stay sane haha. Their story had a bit of everything: romance, action, spice, and found family. The side characters are also great and I look forward to what comes next, def a HFN for the series, not necessarily the couple.

[Bretton Coppedge]

Eric is definitely a no good very bad stalker but he can't help himself. Finn isn't taking good care of himself so Eric's stalking tendencies did come in a little bit handy. He definitely shouldn't have let it become the "big secret" though because being a vampire should probably always be your biggest secret in a relationship.

I liked how feisty Finn is with everything that's thrown at him. Vampire boyfriend? Bo problem. Vampire war breaks out? He's game. I loved his interactions with Bennie too. I hope Bennie gets his own book.

I have loved everything this author has written. They just have a way of writing the characters that make them seem so jump off the page real. I highly recommend you give any of their series a chance.

[Ida Umphers]

If you read the blurb for this one and put on your "in real life" hat, Finn would run screaming for help to the first available police officer, Eric would be behind bars and safety would prevail. In the context of this story, however, you love Eric for being so protective of Finn even if that makes him a lying stalker and you so hope Finn can handle the truth when he finds out about the vampire thing because these two are so right for each other and you desperately want them to get their HEA. I loved watching Finn get more and more of the pieces to fall into place all while trying to convince himself that they can't be true and that he still cares for Eric even if they are true. It was funny and touching all at the same time. Great characters in this one.

[Tatiana]

An engrossing story with endearing characters. The romance was so sweet, occasionally alarming and sometimes absolute cringe. I loved the relationship between Eric and Bennie, and how side characters went from scary to adorable. There were times when I feared things were about to get dark but they mostly stayed lighthearted. It was vivid—I felt like I was there at the tea shop and Finn’s apartment. I stayed up late to finish because I couldn’t put it down. I hope Bennie or Aries gets a book next.

I received a copy of this book from Gay Romance Reviews, and this is my honest review.

[Tracy Anderson]

I really enjoyed this book! Eric was attracted to Finn before he was turned, but after it’s become an obsession. When he realizes Finn is sick, he can’t help but try to convince him to go to his doctor. Unfortunately, it makes Finn think he has a stalker.

The story takes you through them starting to date, Finn finding out Eric is a vampire, Finn finding out Eric is his stalker, Finn, Eric and his sire Bennie being in danger, to Finn and Eric acknowledging their love and finally getting mated. I am a big fan of this author and really hope there are more books coming in this series.