That's One Cross Vamp

The Vamp for Me #6

by Bailey Bradford

Death, taxes and vampires—the three certainties in Erin's life. Erin Meyers knows all about the existence of vampires. He's the guy who helped his twin brother Andrew find true love with the kilt-wearing Radney. Erin's used sex as a way to run from his emotions for a long time. It's become a habit that he's finally caught on to, and he's growing tired of it. In fact, he's growing tired too easily in general. A doctor's visit leaves him fearing for his life. When he encounters a friendly vamp he knows out at the club, Erin breaks his no-vamps rule and takes Jude home with him. Together, they burn up the sheets, and Erin finds himself willing to spend more than one night with Jude. Soon, a relationship blooms, but the bad news Erin gets might put an end to any dreams he had for the future.

Genres: M M Romance, Romance, Paranormal, Vampires, Supernatural

88 pages, Kindle Edition

First published June 21, 2016

About the author

A few things about me...

I am a married mom of four who spends most of the day writing, either on stories or at the blog. I love to write as much as I love to read. I am generally quiet and laid back, choosing to let things slide off me rather than stick and irritate me.

And it's really hard trying to think of descriptives for myself, so I'll just let y'all e-mail me or comment at the blog if there's something specific you'd like to know, and spare you from reading a boring bio:D

Reviews

[Sandra · Rating 4 out of 5]

First up, a little warning... while the books in this series somewhat work as standalones, I do not recommend reading them out of order.

Secondly, there's a massive time jump between book 5 and this one, something I didn't quite expect, but which made sense overall. I also have a sneaking suspicion that this might be the last book in this series. And that's a bummer.

We first met Erin in book 2. He's the twin brother of Andrew - he who mated with Radney, the vampire who didn't like human blood, but was dashing in a kilt.

Erin is basically an aging manwhore. Slutty as can be, never doing a guy more than once, and certainly not interested in joining the vampire family as a human mate. Nope, no thanks, not for Erin. And no sex with vamps, either. Ever.

Erin has commitment issues, obviously, and while he is part of the vampire family at the fringes (heck, his entire house is light-proof because, ya know, vampy friends), he's perfectly happy hooking up with new guys wherever and whenever he can, because mated bliss is overrated.

Except, deep down inside, maybe that's not entirely true. Also, the twinks at the local bar start referring to him as 'Daddy', and Erin realizes he's tired of chasing away his demons with sex.

And he may be sick. Because he's tired all the time.

It's somewhat fortuitous, I guess, that Erin runs across Jude, one of the unmated vampires in Claude's coven, and decides, for once, to break his rule. Because he and Jude have a chemistry he didn't expect, and man, do they burn up the sheets. Repeatedly.

Astonished at himself, Erin finds he likes Jude in his bed. Likes to hang out with him even when there's no sex involved.

I really liked that the author didn't make a huge fuss and created unnecessary drama. Yes, there's a bit of angst, because OMG, Erin does NOT want to be a vampire, and he feels he's too far past his prime for Jude anyway, and what vamp in his right mind would want an old(er) mate, but Jude just calms him. And Erin is willing to take what's being offered, as he is fearfully awaiting the results from his medical tests.

Erin is still stubborn, of course, but Jude even more so, in such a calm and appeasing way that I couldn't help but root for him to get what's he's apparently wanted for years. YEARS. Patient vamp!! Turns out that Erin's issues with commitment and relationships are deeply rooted. And I had to cheer him on for standing by his convictions. Yeah, I know this is vague - just read the book!

I'm glad the author chose to include the other vampires and their mates from the previous books - it was nice to revisit them. Snarky Augustin, his long-suffering but happy vampire Tony, Andrew and Radney, Claude and Abby - I love them all and was happy they got screen time.

Of course, we get a happily-ever-after, as I expected - this shouldn't come as a surprise, and certainly isn't a spoiler, amirite? After all, isn't that why we read romance novels?

I adore this series, and while I'm a bit bummed that it's seemingly over (is it?), I would recommend this to anyone who likes sweet yet snarky characters, well-suited mates, and hot boy-on-boy bedroom times. It's definitely one I'll re-read again!


** I received a free copy of this book from its publisher. A positive review was not promised in return. **

[Christy · Rating 3 out of 5]

'That's One Cross Vamp' is book six in Bailey Bradford's fabulously fun series 'Vamp for Me'. It's hard to believe that this book picks up ten years after the end of book five, and almost twenty years since Erin and his brother, Andrew, discovered the existence of vampires. Erin is almost forty and life has become dissatisfying as of late. Basically a midlife crisis if I ever heard of one. He's a psychiatrist and he has plenty of money. The fact his twin brother isn't aging makes Erin irritated considering it takes an awful lot of work to keep himself looking good. Of course his latest doctor's appointment shows there might be something to worry about. All in all, very dissatisfying.

"Inside his head, chaos ruled—this was Jude, a vampire, for fuck’s sake, and one he had known for years at that. And in those years, not once had Jude ever come on to him."

Jude has been patiently waiting for Erin for a long time. Waiting while Jude worked some of his own issues out and waiting while Erin got his partying out of his system, and was ready to settle down. Erin thinks this is nothing but a hookup, a one-off, which is all Erin does, but Jude's going to do everything in his power to make sure it stays permanent. And, yowza Bailey, what a night these two had. I had to refill my ice water.

Erin is surprised to discover how much he enjoys being with Jude and having him around. Definitely not something Erin has ever felt before. Erin's results come in and I can't say I was surprised with the storyline. I was a wee disappointed because I had hoped for it to not be so predictable. However, it didn't detract from my overall enjoyment.

A good addition to the series. I loved how the whole coven jumped in with their two cents worth as if that could make any difference to Erin at all. It was really funny to watch! I wanted to smack Erin a few times because his pride was really pissing me off but in the end he and Jude prevailed. Thank you, Bailey!

NOTE: This book was provided by Pride Publishing for the purpose of a review on Rainbow Book Reviews

[Melissa Mendoza · Rating 4 out of 5]

Title: That’s One Cross Vamp
Author: Bailey Bradford
Series: The Vamp For Me Series, Book 6
Publisher: Pride Publishing
Reviewer: Melissa
Release Date: June 21, 2016
Genre(s): M/M Paranormal Romance
Page Count: 88
Heat Level: 3 flames out of 5
Rating: 4 stars out of 5
Blurb:

Life, taxes and vampires—the three certainties in Erin’s life.

Erin Meyers knows all about the existence of vampires. He’s the guy who helped his twin brother Andrew find true love with the kilt-wearing Radney.

Erin’s used sex as a way to run from his emotions for a long time. It’s become a habit that he’s finally caught on to, and he’s growing tired of it. In fact, he’s growing tired too easily in general.

A doctor’s visit leaves him fearing for his life. When he encounters a friendly vamp he knows out at the club. Erin breaks his no-vamps rule and takes Jude home with him. Together, they burn up the sheets, and Erin finds himself willing to spend more than one night with Jude. Soon, a relationship blooms, but the bad news Erin gets might put an end to any dreams he had for the future.

Review:
“Jude stroked Erin’s hair off his forehead. ‘I will always be your friend, always. I won’t push you for anything you don’t want. But if you’re asking what I want, it’s more than being friends with benefits. I want - More. I just want more.’”

4 bite me stars!! Being a vampire has never looked hotter!

Erin uses sex as a weapon, he doesn’t want feelings for anyone to get in his way. After leaving a doctors office one day, he runs into Jude a friendly vampire. And while Erin knows there’s vamps walking the earth, he has a strict rule of not dating or having any sort of sexual relationship with them. But there’s something about Jude that attracts him and he ends up taking Jude home with him. And together they are hot, which makes Erin consider breaking his no relationship rule. These two spend more and more time together, but things go south when Erin receives bad news that changes everything.

I won’t lie… vampires are my favorite thing ever! So when I saw this book land on my kindle I secretly died!! And this book was everything I needed and hoped for! Vampires? Check. Hot guys? Check. Dirty sex? Check. Beautiful story? Check. Check. Check! It’s a short read, but it has a story, nothing was missing and it was perfect!! Great story!


ARC provided by author in exchange for an honest review. Reviewed by Melissa from Alpha Book Club

[Angela Goodrich · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received a free copy of this book to read and review for Wicked Reads.

While the previous books in The Vamp for Me series have tended to be light-hearted reads, with some being so funny that I’ve shelved them as romantic comedies, in my opinion, That’s One Cross Vamp has a far more serious tone to it. This is not to say that the humor that Bradford has infused in the series is missing, because there are quite a few laugh out loud moments, but rather that as Erin’s mortality comes into question, I found myself tearing up a time or two.

That’s One Cross Vamp takes place about a decade after the events in book five, which is a departure from the seemingly linear timeline the series has followed to-date. Series fans will be familiar with Erin’s character as he’s the twin brother of Andy, the man who became Radney’s human mate in Don’t Stake My Life On It, and he’s appeared in couple of the books. In fact, it was in the previous book, The Trouble with Mirrors, that we met Jude when he and Paolo fought the Dark Slayers in Erin’s home. Now that Erin is closing in on forty, he’s beginning to question his future and is feeling a bit heartsick as the visual age gap between him and his identical twin widens now that his brother is no longer aging – he thinks he looks more like Andy’s father than Andy’s twin. As he attempts to stay young by acting young, Erin continues clubbing and having one-night stands, but even that is getting tiresome. Until he encounters Jude in the club. Jude, the vampire he was attracted to a decade ago, who never wanted more than just friendship. Jude, the vampire who has Erin so mindless with lust as they dance in the club, that Erin’s reconsidering his “No Vampires” rule. Jude, the vampire who has been waiting for Erin to finish sowing his wild oats because he wanted more than just a one-off with Erin. But just as they begin – and what a beginning it was! – Erin gets some devastating medical news that has him worried whether he even has a future and must deal with pressure from his brother and other coven members to become a vampire’s mate so that he can be cured and live forever. And while Erin definitely has feelings for Jude, he’s not sure that what he’s feeling is strong enough to commit to forever or if he’s choosing Jude the man or Jude the cure – and he doesn’t want Jude to spend eternity wondering that either.

I think this may be my favorite book in the series. I’ve enjoyed all the books in The Vamp for Me series to varying degrees, and book one has steadfastly held the top spot. However, the gravity of the situation that Erin faced was so balanced with the seriously steamy scenes, the laugh out loud comedy, and the romance that Bradford has brought to the series, that I think That’s One Cross Vamp has finally knocked My Life Without Garlic out of the top spot. And while the medical issue that Erin faces is a weighty one that could have easily tore me to shreds, Bradford did an excellent job of keeping the focus on the positive side of what Erin was dealing with – such as reaffirming the relationship with his brother, discovering how much the coven members consider him family, finding love with a partner who supported him, and finding the inner strength to fight for his life. Yes, I still teared up in places as I read, but I wasn’t the inconsolable mess I could have been. Considering the tone of this series, I appreciate that Bradford was able to strike that balance between seriousness and humor, keeping the book from being too lighthearted or too heartbreaking – at least for me she did. As there was such a drastic jump in time between books five and six, I don’t know what it means for the series, but I really hope that Bradford has more books planned, as I’ve thoroughly enjoyed spending time with the humans and vampires of Claude’s coven.

[Christie Thorsen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was a little reluctant to pick up this book since, y’know, it’s number 6 in a series, but the title was fun and description intriguing. So, I took a chance on it and wow am I glad I did! Aside from the obvious fact that I went into this series blind and from the middle of it, the story was great, sex scenes super hot, and I really liked the main couple. A lot.

Erin is… Well, he’s a total slut who has a long history of partying and screwing. From what I gather, he has basically screwed more men than there are k-cups in landfills. But lately, the partying has lost its shine. Until today when Erin received some upsetting news after a checkup at the doctor’s and needed to forget just for a little while. So, he ended up going out to party and screw someone. While out on the dance floor, he let go, closed his eyes, and just felt the music which was pulsing and consuming and so, so good. Dancing with men and even getting groped here and there was almost transcendent to him. Then, someone stomped on his foot and popped his little bubble of contentment, bringing Erin back to the here and now.

Jude is a vampire, and has carried a torch for Erin since pretty much the beginning of their acquaintance. I’m assuming that is something like 20 years? After reading just this book, that’s basically the picture I got. Anyway, Jude shied away from Erin’s advances in the beginning, knowing that their time together would be forgotten like yesterday’s news if they slept together back then. Instead, choosing to be friends and waiting until Erin tired of the party scene. And, since Jude had not seen Erin out partying as much recently, he decided the time was right to pursue the man and get his attention. By stomping on Erin’s foot. Hard. While at a dance club. But, it totally got Erin’s attention and that’s what Jude was going for.

Jude talks Erin into taking him home and they have one incredibly hot night together, which actually lasted the whole weekend (the foot stomping thing at the club happened on a Friday evening). The two ended up bonding a lot (amazing sex can definitely do that), and Erin ended up confiding in Jude the reason he was at the nightclub, along with his fears for what the doctor will end up finding after some test results come back. As the results come back, Jude stands by Erin’s side and helps him go thru whatever needs to be done in order to deal with the aftermath. All the while, the two men grow closer and closer in their relationship, from simply friends, to friends with benefits, then boyfriends, and beyond.

I really liked Jude. He was tender, sweet, caring, and carried this unrequited love for Erin for going on 2 decades. The way he interacted with Erin was really lovely and he definitely had way more patience than most anyone else on this planet, that’s for sure.

I definitely recommend reading this book. After checking out the preceding 5 books before it first. Yes, you can read this one as a standalone, but I get the feeling that I have missed out on a ton of things that would make this book even better if I had gone thru the other books in the series before this one. Altho, I wouldn’t stop you from grabbing up this book without the others as well. It definitely left an impression on me and I can’t wait to reread it after getting my hands on the other books first. Bailey Bradford, I am now a big fan of yours after reading That’s One Cross Vamp!

Review originally posted at: http://lovebytesreviews.com

[Molly Lolly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Original review on Molly Lolly
Four stars!
This was a sweet story. Despite being the sixth book in a series I have read no other books in, I wasn’t lost or missing anything. In fact, there’s just enough to make me want to read the rest of the series now. It was a quick read and the pacing was fast. The story skims some events however there is enough detail in the important parts that you never feel like part of the story wasn’t there.
I really liked how Erin and Jude knew each other already. They had a base to start their relationship and it made the quick pace easier to keep up with. I loved how their feelings for each other grew quickly and how they handled those feelings.
The plot line with Erin’s illness was a bit of a surprise. I wasn’t expecting what his illness wound up being. Or for how he and Jude reacted to it. I pictured that going differently so it was a pleasant surprise to be wrong. It works so much better how it happened.
I loved the ending. It was so sweet and perfect for these two. Watching them get their full and complete happy ending was wonderful. You can tell they truly will be happy together for eternity.
The novella worked and I truly enjoyed the length. However I would not have said no to more on page of the building of their relationship, their struggles with Erin’s illness, and how they handled being together after.

[Ro Dubose · Rating 4 out of 5]

Erin Meyers is tired of the empty direction his life has taken; it is time for a change. Vampire Jude has been waiting for years for Erin to notice him as more than a friend, Jude wants to have a long term relationship with Erin.

That’s One Cross Vamp is the sixth book in The Vamp for Me series. The plot features Erin going through some life changing decisions and the support from the vampire coven especially Jude.

Erin is a psychiatrist who has helped several of the vampires deal their fears, yet Erin has avoided facing his own fears until his health forces Erin to deal with all of his issues.

Jude has secretly loved Erin for a long time, but watching Erin go through a variety of one night stands was more than Jude could tolerate, so he watched and hoped for his chance with Erin from an emotionally safe distant.

Bailey Bradford has created an impressive and emotional addition to this series. I especially enjoyed Erin’s willpower to conquer his health issues as well as Jude’s determination to provide all of Erin’s needs.


This series is best read in sequence starting with My Life Without Garlic.

[Shelley · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars