What do you think?
Rate this book
The Vampire's Dinner
For vampire Charles Redfort, Christmas is a bitter reminder of the day he was killed by a werewolf. After fleeing the vampire army he was created to serve in, he has lived in exile in England. Once a year he allows himself to tell the truth about his life over dinner. Then he eats the man he’s hired for the night.
Blake Wells is an engineering student by day and escort by night. He works Christmas because he doesn’t want to see his father, and his mother doesn’t want to see him. When he meets Charles, he thinks he’s gotten a bonus present that he can’t wait to unwrap. But as the truth is revealed, Blake will have to think fast to live until morning and convince Charles to give up his lonely life.
A story from the Dreamspinner Press 2016 Advent Calendar "Bah Humbug."
44 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 1, 2016
About the author
T.J. Nichols
97 books351 followersTJ Nichols (they/them) is the author of the Studies in Demonology and Familiar Mates series. They write mostly gay fantasy and paranormal romance, but sometimes gay action/horror as Toby J. Nichols.
After traveling all over the world and Australia, TJ now lives in Perth, Western Australia.
Free gay shifter novella when you join TJ's newsletter: http://tjnichols-author.com/lp/
You can find TJ on
Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/TJNichols
Ream: https://reamstories.com/tjnichols
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TJNichols.au...
follow me on Amazon: http://amazon.com/author/tjnichols or Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/tj-ni...
After traveling all over the world and Australia, TJ now lives in Perth, Western Australia.
Free gay shifter novella when you join TJ's newsletter: http://tjnichols-author.com/lp/
You can find TJ on
Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/TJNichols
Ream: https://reamstories.com/tjnichols
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TJNichols.au...
follow me on Amazon: http://amazon.com/author/tjnichols or Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/tj-ni...
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 40 reviews
January 6, 2017
It's that scary time again...Jizzmas time. It's week #5 of Jizzmas reviews!
4.75 Hearts--
Well...it might be too soon to call it since we have just one more week of our Jizzmas reviews, but this is my FAVE of the bunch! (I've started and faltered with more than you know)
THIS IS HOW I LIKE MY VAMPIRES WRITTEN!
Good lord...hands down one of my fave 2016 vampire reads. And it's just 39 deliciously deviant pages. (And I have so many quotes saved)
Charles is a 400 year old vampire who indulges himself and revels in his baser needs for death, one time of year, Christmas day. He hires a rentboy, Blake and rents out a penthouse suite in a lavish hotel, plans the night accordingly. Blake's escorting to pay his way through college (cliché yes but *shrugs*), has virtually no familial ties and needs the cash his new client offered. What Blake thinks is a jackpot client: not only is he being paid highly, he gets to spend it in a posh hotel and eat a fancy meal.
Only thing is...Blake is Charles' dinner.
I read this author's work in another anthology - A Wolf's Résistance. Nichols writes paranormal/urban fantasy pretty well. Strong hand in setting the scene and I enjoy Nichols' characters and premises. The Vampire's Dinner surpassed what I expected.
Why this was magical? It's the little things that will always get my attention. Here the author portrayed a 400 year old being in present day. Charles spoke formally. He was a warrior, an assassin, not used to being overt. His thoughts read as such. When we're shown his thoughts, I bought it. Blake is scared shitless. BUT he's a rent boy first, where he sells himself and acts to his clients specifications. Blake was the ultimate actor, thought on his feet and used his wits. My kinda rent boy! ;P
The story ends HFN, as I think is fitting for the setting and tone. Any semblance of romance or HEA would ruin the effect the author is going for. The open-ended feel of that fateful night just lends more to the mysterious dark ribbon entwined. Will the bargain actually make it to the agreed upon terms? Can the pair be more than john and client? What's in store for their future? Part of me wants to learn more, but the other part that responded to this story...loves it exactly how it is.
The Jizzmas spirit is nonexistent here. Christmas is just the prop, thankfully in the background.
Not recommended for those who need on page penetrative sex, HEA and definitive romance. Recommended for readers who can handle a little dark, mystery and fangs. Who doesn't like reading about predator and prey having an agreement from time to time?
Don't mind if I do.
I'm definitely checking more of this author's work.
A copy provided for an honest review.
4.75 Hearts--
"What the hell? I don't do blood play?"
Charles kept him caged in the chair and trapped by the table. "I can assure you I am not playing."
Well...it might be too soon to call it since we have just one more week of our Jizzmas reviews, but this is my FAVE of the bunch! (I've started and faltered with more than you know)
THIS IS HOW I LIKE MY VAMPIRES WRITTEN!
Good lord...hands down one of my fave 2016 vampire reads. And it's just 39 deliciously deviant pages. (And I have so many quotes saved)
Charles is a 400 year old vampire who indulges himself and revels in his baser needs for death, one time of year, Christmas day. He hires a rentboy, Blake and rents out a penthouse suite in a lavish hotel, plans the night accordingly. Blake's escorting to pay his way through college (cliché yes but *shrugs*), has virtually no familial ties and needs the cash his new client offered. What Blake thinks is a jackpot client: not only is he being paid highly, he gets to spend it in a posh hotel and eat a fancy meal.
Only thing is...Blake is Charles' dinner.
I read this author's work in another anthology - A Wolf's Résistance. Nichols writes paranormal/urban fantasy pretty well. Strong hand in setting the scene and I enjoy Nichols' characters and premises. The Vampire's Dinner surpassed what I expected.
Why this was magical? It's the little things that will always get my attention. Here the author portrayed a 400 year old being in present day. Charles spoke formally. He was a warrior, an assassin, not used to being overt. His thoughts read as such. When we're shown his thoughts, I bought it. Blake is scared shitless. BUT he's a rent boy first, where he sells himself and acts to his clients specifications. Blake was the ultimate actor, thought on his feet and used his wits. My kinda rent boy! ;P
The story ends HFN, as I think is fitting for the setting and tone. Any semblance of romance or HEA would ruin the effect the author is going for. The open-ended feel of that fateful night just lends more to the mysterious dark ribbon entwined. Will the bargain actually make it to the agreed upon terms? Can the pair be more than john and client? What's in store for their future? Part of me wants to learn more, but the other part that responded to this story...loves it exactly how it is.
The Jizzmas spirit is nonexistent here. Christmas is just the prop, thankfully in the background.
Not recommended for those who need on page penetrative sex, HEA and definitive romance. Recommended for readers who can handle a little dark, mystery and fangs. Who doesn't like reading about predator and prey having an agreement from time to time?
Don't mind if I do.
I'm definitely checking more of this author's work.
A copy provided for an honest review.
December 16, 2017
3.8 Stars
Something about the idea of gifting oneself with a human to kill on Christmas just tickled me (so subversive given the spirit of the season and all that), and I'm glad I went with my instinct to pick it up because I wasn't disappointed. Loved the mind-games, teasing & seduction. Definitely not your typical holiday read.
Something about the idea of gifting oneself with a human to kill on Christmas just tickled me (so subversive given the spirit of the season and all that), and I'm glad I went with my instinct to pick it up because I wasn't disappointed. Loved the mind-games, teasing & seduction. Definitely not your typical holiday read.
December 15, 2020
4 Stars
Review:
This was pretty short (Amazon says 67 pages, but it ends at about 75%, so it's a bit shorter than that even) and not super Christmas-y, but I liked it! I loved this vampire, how it was fun for him to toy with his chosen victims---not to make them terrified, but just to push them a bit, hear their hearts speed up, see how much of his vampire-ness they'd ignore and try to write off as having other explanations. I liked the human too, how he thought quickly and managed to change the situation to his favor. I'm not sure if this exactly qualifies as a romance since it's implied they might end up together but is an open ending. It was cute though, and there was some sex and pleasurable biting. Also, a disabled vampire! Who didn't have special abilities that canceled out the disability! He used a cane because he had a bad leg. Overall, this was an enjoyable quick read.
*Rating: 4 Stars // Read Date: 2020 // Format: eBook*
Recommended For:
Anyone who likes short stories, not always so nice vampires, sexy biting, and the start to a relationship with an open ending.
Original Review @ Metaphors and Moonlight
Review:
This was pretty short (Amazon says 67 pages, but it ends at about 75%, so it's a bit shorter than that even) and not super Christmas-y, but I liked it! I loved this vampire, how it was fun for him to toy with his chosen victims---not to make them terrified, but just to push them a bit, hear their hearts speed up, see how much of his vampire-ness they'd ignore and try to write off as having other explanations. I liked the human too, how he thought quickly and managed to change the situation to his favor. I'm not sure if this exactly qualifies as a romance since it's implied they might end up together but is an open ending. It was cute though, and there was some sex and pleasurable biting. Also, a disabled vampire! Who didn't have special abilities that canceled out the disability! He used a cane because he had a bad leg. Overall, this was an enjoyable quick read.
*Rating: 4 Stars // Read Date: 2020 // Format: eBook*
Recommended For:
Anyone who likes short stories, not always so nice vampires, sexy biting, and the start to a relationship with an open ending.
Original Review @ Metaphors and Moonlight
February 21, 2017
3.5 hearts
I liked this one, not the best I’ve read, but most certainly very enjoyable. Charles is a vampire but only allows himself one night to kill his victims, Christmas night. This Christmas his victim will be Blake, an escort trying to get through university with no real family who wants him.
This story takes place all in one night and due to this it only ends in a HFN, if that, and while that is definitely not a preference of mine, it would’ve felt rushed if there was anything more. The good thing is, because of the short time-span we had really nice character development and story progression.
The sexual tension was great and the sexy time at the end was nice and sensual. I would’ve liked an epilogue that showed 2 years later and how their agreement was going, but it was still enjoyable as it was.
Click in the Jizzmas picture to see the unicorns reviews of this week's releases from the Bah Humbug 2016 Advent Calendar stories!
I liked this one, not the best I’ve read, but most certainly very enjoyable. Charles is a vampire but only allows himself one night to kill his victims, Christmas night. This Christmas his victim will be Blake, an escort trying to get through university with no real family who wants him.
This story takes place all in one night and due to this it only ends in a HFN, if that, and while that is definitely not a preference of mine, it would’ve felt rushed if there was anything more. The good thing is, because of the short time-span we had really nice character development and story progression.
The sexual tension was great and the sexy time at the end was nice and sensual. I would’ve liked an epilogue that showed 2 years later and how their agreement was going, but it was still enjoyable as it was.
Click in the Jizzmas picture to see the unicorns reviews of this week's releases from the Bah Humbug 2016 Advent Calendar stories!
February 10, 2020
There have been a few unusual vampire characters I have read about over the years, but I think that Charles, from ‘Vampire’s Dinner’, is one of the most interesting ones. For Charles, Christmas is the day he was killed by a werewolf, four hundred years ago, only to be revived by a vampire who then forced him to fight in his army until Charles decided to leave. That’s enough for anyone to hate the holiday!
Please find my full review on Rainbow Book Reviews.
Please find my full review on Rainbow Book Reviews.
October 20, 2017
*SEXY!*
How did I feel, this book is scary and sexy at the same time?
Blake is one hell of a brave rent boy! He knew Charles will make him 'dinner' but yet, he 'negotiate'...
I liked the chemistry between Charles and Blake.. While Charles can't resist his need to 'eat' Blake, he wanted Blake for a longer time, to enjoy his braveness. And Blake, lust and fears set him on fire for the vampire. *shivers*
By far, this one is my favorite from this bundle, I can feel it in my blood, tickles my masochistic need. Haha!
Ended with HFN, I knew in two years ahead, Blake and Charles would make some 'discussion and negotiate' about their deal. Scary! Loved this one!
* I received the ARC from Dreamspinner Press in exchange of a fair and unbiased review.*
How did I feel, this book is scary and sexy at the same time?
Blake is one hell of a brave rent boy! He knew Charles will make him 'dinner' but yet, he 'negotiate'...
I liked the chemistry between Charles and Blake.. While Charles can't resist his need to 'eat' Blake, he wanted Blake for a longer time, to enjoy his braveness. And Blake, lust and fears set him on fire for the vampire. *shivers*
By far, this one is my favorite from this bundle, I can feel it in my blood, tickles my masochistic need. Haha!
Ended with HFN, I knew in two years ahead, Blake and Charles would make some 'discussion and negotiate' about their deal. Scary! Loved this one!
* I received the ARC from Dreamspinner Press in exchange of a fair and unbiased review.*
January 29, 2022
Short mm PNR read
“Forever hungry and forever alone,” perfectly sums up Charles.
Enjoyable mm vampire short. Interesting twist on feeding your meal. Loved the imagery, and two very different characters.
Blake is intelligent enough to entertain Charles, delaying the inevitable.
Fun 🧛♂️🧛 read. 3.5 ⭐️
“Forever hungry and forever alone,” perfectly sums up Charles.
Enjoyable mm vampire short. Interesting twist on feeding your meal. Loved the imagery, and two very different characters.
Blake is intelligent enough to entertain Charles, delaying the inevitable.
Fun 🧛♂️🧛 read. 3.5 ⭐️
November 11, 2018
Christmas Through a Glass Darkly
Holiday stories are my happy place. I can read them any time of year for a pick-me-up which startles most people when they find this out as my favorite films? Horror. Violent, shocking horror, the bloodier the better. For a person whose favorite fictional character is John Kramer (of the Saw franchise), T.J. Nichols has managed to create the perfect holiday horror.
Charles is a vampire of the monster category. He doesn't sparkle in the sun or drink the blood of animals. He has fangs which fill his mouth and he can tear chunks of flesh away as easily as he can take a gentle sip from his dinner guest of the night. He also met a violent end: a warrior in his time, his life was ended by a brutal werewolf attack which left him with a permanent limp not even becoming a member of the undead could cure.
Readers who are not fond of monster fiction may not find themselves able to relate to Charles. He's depicted as a former man, current monster; his needs are animalistic in nature with his mind being a backseat driver he can choose to listen to or not. Charles is never shown as anything other than what he is yet he does remember being human.
Christmas is the one night a year Charles allows himself to be "true" to himself while also mourning all he lost alongside his humanity.
Anyone who has spent a Christmas alone can relate to his feelings of pain, isolation, and bitter resentment of those who can celebrate the season the way it's meant to be celebrated.
Blake is the perfect partner for Charles to me in that he thinks fast on his feet, doesn't run from danger, and recognizes how to capitalize on even the worst situation. He's not a man who has had an easy life. More often than not? Blake has not landed on his feet. Being a gay escort isn't his dream job; it's the only way he can reasonably manage to get his college paid for so he can rise above the life he was born into. He's a survivor. I loved him.
While The Vampire's Dinner is a horror story, it's still a holiday story and a romance in its own way. I applaud Nichols for the masterful way they managed to blend holiday and horror with passion and partnership. There's a stellar happy-ever-after at the end, no extreme violence depicted between the main characters, and a seasonal sense to the whole thing which makes it feel very much like a Christmas miracle in the making.
I would encourage anyone who loves holiday stories, unique protagonists, horror, vampires, supernatural works, and anyone else willing to keep an open mind to read this short. I loved every moment of it. I only wish it didn't have to end. Isn't that the way we feel about all good reads?
Holiday stories are my happy place. I can read them any time of year for a pick-me-up which startles most people when they find this out as my favorite films? Horror. Violent, shocking horror, the bloodier the better. For a person whose favorite fictional character is John Kramer (of the Saw franchise), T.J. Nichols has managed to create the perfect holiday horror.
Charles is a vampire of the monster category. He doesn't sparkle in the sun or drink the blood of animals. He has fangs which fill his mouth and he can tear chunks of flesh away as easily as he can take a gentle sip from his dinner guest of the night. He also met a violent end: a warrior in his time, his life was ended by a brutal werewolf attack which left him with a permanent limp not even becoming a member of the undead could cure.
Readers who are not fond of monster fiction may not find themselves able to relate to Charles. He's depicted as a former man, current monster; his needs are animalistic in nature with his mind being a backseat driver he can choose to listen to or not. Charles is never shown as anything other than what he is yet he does remember being human.
Christmas is the one night a year Charles allows himself to be "true" to himself while also mourning all he lost alongside his humanity.
Anyone who has spent a Christmas alone can relate to his feelings of pain, isolation, and bitter resentment of those who can celebrate the season the way it's meant to be celebrated.
Blake is the perfect partner for Charles to me in that he thinks fast on his feet, doesn't run from danger, and recognizes how to capitalize on even the worst situation. He's not a man who has had an easy life. More often than not? Blake has not landed on his feet. Being a gay escort isn't his dream job; it's the only way he can reasonably manage to get his college paid for so he can rise above the life he was born into. He's a survivor. I loved him.
While The Vampire's Dinner is a horror story, it's still a holiday story and a romance in its own way. I applaud Nichols for the masterful way they managed to blend holiday and horror with passion and partnership. There's a stellar happy-ever-after at the end, no extreme violence depicted between the main characters, and a seasonal sense to the whole thing which makes it feel very much like a Christmas miracle in the making.
I would encourage anyone who loves holiday stories, unique protagonists, horror, vampires, supernatural works, and anyone else willing to keep an open mind to read this short. I loved every moment of it. I only wish it didn't have to end. Isn't that the way we feel about all good reads?
February 10, 2020
There have been a few interesting/unusual reasons for the various characters in this year’s Advent Calendar from Dreamspinner Press to say “Bah Humbug”. But I think that Charles, from ‘Vampire’s Dinner’, probably deserves to take first prize – at least among the stories I have read so far. For Charles, Christmas is the day he was killed by a werewolf, four hundred years ago, only to be revived by a vampire who then forced him to fight in his army until Charles decided to leave. That’s enough for anyone to hate the holiday!
Please find my full review of the second edition on Rainbow Book Reviews.
Please find my full review of the second edition on Rainbow Book Reviews.
December 16, 2016
Review to follow at Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words.
ARC provided by Dreamspinner Press in exchange for an honest review.
ARC provided by Dreamspinner Press in exchange for an honest review.
Read
January 8, 2017 4.5 Hearts
I really liked this one. I love a good vampire story where they don’t sparkle and Charles, well he kinda reminds me of the vampires I started reading when I was younger or even my most favorite vampire, Spike.
That being said.
I loved the idea of this; a 400 year old vampire giving himself one night, the anniversary of his death to indulge in what he truly is. Charles chooses the night to plan a dinner with a companion and then have the companion for dinner. The idea that Charles cannot eat anymore but tastes the food through his dinner’s blood give way more meaning to the whole wheat grass and pineapple juice deal. You know?
Blake works as an escort to put himself through university and gets way more than he bargained for when he walks into Charles’ hotel room. I liked Blake. I liked that he took what was in front of him and decided to make his own future. He challenged Charles and truly enjoyed being in his company and all that went with it. He gave Charles a chance to be more and what is more romantic than a vampire who wants to not be alone? Le sigh. Yeah. This one was good and I would have loved it to be longer.
******************************************
We Unicorn's are reviewing the Dreamspinner 2016 Advent Calendar every Sunday, Jizzmas gang bang style on the blog with the unis who are Santa Jizzians and the Grumpicorns. Check out the rest of the reviews for this story here...
I really liked this one. I love a good vampire story where they don’t sparkle and Charles, well he kinda reminds me of the vampires I started reading when I was younger or even my most favorite vampire, Spike.
That being said.
I loved the idea of this; a 400 year old vampire giving himself one night, the anniversary of his death to indulge in what he truly is. Charles chooses the night to plan a dinner with a companion and then have the companion for dinner. The idea that Charles cannot eat anymore but tastes the food through his dinner’s blood give way more meaning to the whole wheat grass and pineapple juice deal. You know?
Blake works as an escort to put himself through university and gets way more than he bargained for when he walks into Charles’ hotel room. I liked Blake. I liked that he took what was in front of him and decided to make his own future. He challenged Charles and truly enjoyed being in his company and all that went with it. He gave Charles a chance to be more and what is more romantic than a vampire who wants to not be alone? Le sigh. Yeah. This one was good and I would have loved it to be longer.
******************************************
We Unicorn's are reviewing the Dreamspinner 2016 Advent Calendar every Sunday, Jizzmas gang bang style on the blog with the unis who are Santa Jizzians and the Grumpicorns. Check out the rest of the reviews for this story here...
December 15, 2016
3.5
One of my favorite Advent Stories.
Nichols manages to pack a lot of punch in a small number of pages.
I love this story.
It reminds me of Shahrazad telling stories ( 1001 nights), in order to avoid being beheaded by the King, so that he may marry a new virgin every night. Ali Baba and Alladin are stories that Shahrazad told.
Charles and Blake's story remind me of the above. Charles is an old vampire. Once a year he chooses a victim to dine with him, treating them to a lavish meal as he tells the story of how he bacame a vampire. After he tells his tale he then kills his dinner companion.
Well Blake wasn't having any of it and just like Shaharazad, Blake does everything within his power to extend his life beyond the timetable Charles puts forth. Charles is intrigued by the human who is still attracted to him despite knowing of his vampire nature and Blake is still drawn to Charles despite knowing he may die at any moment the longer he stays in his company. Blake knows he can't fight Charles. The only thing left is too convince Charle that his existence would be more enjoyable if he had a companion that desires him as his partner. Does Blake succeed?
Read and find out!
I enjoyed this read a lot. Highly recommended.
One of my favorite Advent Stories.
Nichols manages to pack a lot of punch in a small number of pages.
I love this story.
It reminds me of Shahrazad telling stories ( 1001 nights), in order to avoid being beheaded by the King, so that he may marry a new virgin every night. Ali Baba and Alladin are stories that Shahrazad told.
Charles and Blake's story remind me of the above. Charles is an old vampire. Once a year he chooses a victim to dine with him, treating them to a lavish meal as he tells the story of how he bacame a vampire. After he tells his tale he then kills his dinner companion.
Well Blake wasn't having any of it and just like Shaharazad, Blake does everything within his power to extend his life beyond the timetable Charles puts forth. Charles is intrigued by the human who is still attracted to him despite knowing of his vampire nature and Blake is still drawn to Charles despite knowing he may die at any moment the longer he stays in his company. Blake knows he can't fight Charles. The only thing left is too convince Charle that his existence would be more enjoyable if he had a companion that desires him as his partner. Does Blake succeed?
Read and find out!
I enjoyed this read a lot. Highly recommended.
January 10, 2017
This is pretty dark, not very Christmassy and definitely not very light. Charles is a vampire who for some reason, every Christmas, hires a male prostitute and kills him. Seems his need to kill still is there. Since he can't eat or drink, he has dinner with them, reveals who he really is and then kills them, in part to keep them from revealing the truth. As well he can "taste" what they ate in their blood.
Blake is estranged from his family and working his way through college as a male prostitute. He thinks he's got a great deal including a hot guy to keep him occupied over Christmas. Before long he's figuring out that Charles isn't spinning yarns about being a vampire and also realizes he's toast. However he's quite adept at fending off Charles's mind power and he becomes intrigued. Blake sets a bargain that he will regular eat/drink and let Charles taste it through him for 2 years if Charles will pay for his schooling.
It was kind of a grudging respect from Charles. That Blake would be so resistant to his power and that he came up with a negotiating tactic. I wasn't sure how this was going to work out in the long run. Charles was no interested in lovers who would age and die. Blake just wanted to stay alive but did like Charles somewhat and found him hot. I imagine in a few years they both go their own ways. But I think I was a bit sugared out from all the super-sweet holiday stories and I enjoyed that this was rather darker and less skipping off into the frosty sunset.
Blake is estranged from his family and working his way through college as a male prostitute. He thinks he's got a great deal including a hot guy to keep him occupied over Christmas. Before long he's figuring out that Charles isn't spinning yarns about being a vampire and also realizes he's toast. However he's quite adept at fending off Charles's mind power and he becomes intrigued. Blake sets a bargain that he will regular eat/drink and let Charles taste it through him for 2 years if Charles will pay for his schooling.
It was kind of a grudging respect from Charles. That Blake would be so resistant to his power and that he came up with a negotiating tactic. I wasn't sure how this was going to work out in the long run. Charles was no interested in lovers who would age and die. Blake just wanted to stay alive but did like Charles somewhat and found him hot. I imagine in a few years they both go their own ways. But I think I was a bit sugared out from all the super-sweet holiday stories and I enjoyed that this was rather darker and less skipping off into the frosty sunset.
December 16, 2016
Well, not like what I expected, but still its good enough to light up this holiday season.
My one and only complaint is i need more!
It's way too short!
December 3, 2017
Reviewed on The Blogger Girls
I’m not sure how to write this review. It’s about Charles, a vampire, who only allows himself to reveal who he is once a year. Afterward, he drains the person who reveals himself to and kills them. Unfortunately, Blake is the escort he rents for the night who’s unlucky enough to be his victim. As the night goes on and Blake realizes what’s happening, he tries his hardest to convince Charles having a full-time companion is much better than being lonely a majority of the year.
It was hard for me to really like this story. I’m the type of reader who wants more substance to her stories and less smut. This whole short is pretty much sex or foreplay of some kind, which is really not my cup of tea. I also wasn’t very fond of Charles as a character. I mean, he was so unfeeling and slightly annoying for me. And there wasn’t enough of Blake to really get into him either, especially when I found him to be a little hypocritical when it came to his family. It was just really hard for me to like these characters when there wasn’t much depth to them because it was all just sexual, I didn’t feel any connection beyond that.
In the end, I thought this one had a lot of potential but I thought the author could have done more with it than just having it as a sex story. It was hard for me to like it because there wasn’t much depth beyond that, IMO. However, I think readers should still give this a try if the blurb interests them because others might enjoy this more than I did.
I’m not sure how to write this review. It’s about Charles, a vampire, who only allows himself to reveal who he is once a year. Afterward, he drains the person who reveals himself to and kills them. Unfortunately, Blake is the escort he rents for the night who’s unlucky enough to be his victim. As the night goes on and Blake realizes what’s happening, he tries his hardest to convince Charles having a full-time companion is much better than being lonely a majority of the year.
It was hard for me to really like this story. I’m the type of reader who wants more substance to her stories and less smut. This whole short is pretty much sex or foreplay of some kind, which is really not my cup of tea. I also wasn’t very fond of Charles as a character. I mean, he was so unfeeling and slightly annoying for me. And there wasn’t enough of Blake to really get into him either, especially when I found him to be a little hypocritical when it came to his family. It was just really hard for me to like these characters when there wasn’t much depth to them because it was all just sexual, I didn’t feel any connection beyond that.
In the end, I thought this one had a lot of potential but I thought the author could have done more with it than just having it as a sex story. It was hard for me to like it because there wasn’t much depth beyond that, IMO. However, I think readers should still give this a try if the blurb interests them because others might enjoy this more than I did.
December 25, 2016
5 heart review for Love Bytes Reviews
A copy of this book was provided in exchange for an honest review. This review was originally posted at Love Bytes Reviews, please visit www.lovebytesreviews.com to see this and many more reviews, interviews, and giveaways!
Yup. Vampire, rent boy, Christmas, I’m sold!
Blake is a rent boy, selling himself in the evenings to pay for his education. He is hired on Christmas Eve to have dinner, and spend the night with a man in a fancy hotel. He’s a little uncomfortable with the situation but isn’t really sure why. He shows up anyway, and gets more than he bargained for…. In the form of Charles, a four hundred year old vampire. Charles indulges once a year, on Christmas, by hiring a man for the night and ending his life. He also gets more than he bargained for with Blake!
This is a hot little story and I really loved it! I’m not usually one to give five hearts to a 39 page story, but I couldn’t resist with this one. I love vampire stories, especially ones about tortured vampires. The ones that are dark and broody, fighting their nature. Charles is the perfect example of that. We get just a little of his past, and now he’s tired, lonely, and maybe somewhat bored. So yet again, he hires a man for Christmas, indulging him, feeding him, fucking him, and then planning to kill him. But. He’s met his match with my other favorite trope, the rent boy. Blake is young, hot, and paying his way through school by fucking men. He’s doing what he wants to do, and using what he can to make it happen. He’s not tortured, miserable, or forced to do anything he doesn’t want. He’s strong and motivated. He’s obviously shocked and scared by what he encounters, but then works to get himself in to a better situation.
So yah. Dark and broody vampire, strong and motivated rent boy. Perfection! Add in a little hint at sex, some good blood sucking, some tasty food, and I loved it. This is a well written, well plotted out, short and yummy holiday treat. I was surprised at the depth the author was able to get in his characters and the story in such a small amount of space. I feel I did get what I needed to understand these men, and I’m satisfied with the story and where it ended. That’s hard to do in only 39 pages! Vampire fans and rent boy fans should give this one a read!
A copy of this book was provided in exchange for an honest review. This review was originally posted at Love Bytes Reviews, please visit www.lovebytesreviews.com to see this and many more reviews, interviews, and giveaways!
Yup. Vampire, rent boy, Christmas, I’m sold!
Blake is a rent boy, selling himself in the evenings to pay for his education. He is hired on Christmas Eve to have dinner, and spend the night with a man in a fancy hotel. He’s a little uncomfortable with the situation but isn’t really sure why. He shows up anyway, and gets more than he bargained for…. In the form of Charles, a four hundred year old vampire. Charles indulges once a year, on Christmas, by hiring a man for the night and ending his life. He also gets more than he bargained for with Blake!
This is a hot little story and I really loved it! I’m not usually one to give five hearts to a 39 page story, but I couldn’t resist with this one. I love vampire stories, especially ones about tortured vampires. The ones that are dark and broody, fighting their nature. Charles is the perfect example of that. We get just a little of his past, and now he’s tired, lonely, and maybe somewhat bored. So yet again, he hires a man for Christmas, indulging him, feeding him, fucking him, and then planning to kill him. But. He’s met his match with my other favorite trope, the rent boy. Blake is young, hot, and paying his way through school by fucking men. He’s doing what he wants to do, and using what he can to make it happen. He’s not tortured, miserable, or forced to do anything he doesn’t want. He’s strong and motivated. He’s obviously shocked and scared by what he encounters, but then works to get himself in to a better situation.
So yah. Dark and broody vampire, strong and motivated rent boy. Perfection! Add in a little hint at sex, some good blood sucking, some tasty food, and I loved it. This is a well written, well plotted out, short and yummy holiday treat. I was surprised at the depth the author was able to get in his characters and the story in such a small amount of space. I feel I did get what I needed to understand these men, and I’m satisfied with the story and where it ended. That’s hard to do in only 39 pages! Vampire fans and rent boy fans should give this one a read!
Read
March 27, 2024TJ Nichols has released an amazing story about Charles, a man killed by a werewolf and turned into a vampire. As this happened at Christmas time, naturally Charles hates Christmas. He has been living in exile in England, but once a year he allows himself to "date" a man who he tells the truth about his life over dinner. Then he has his guest for dessert.
Blake is an engineering student by day and an escort by night. Of course, they end up in the same hotel room as Charles hires Blake for the evening. But Blake is like no one Charles has ever met before. It was interesting to see how Blake manages to talk Charles into allowing him to stay for a designated period of time.
The dynamics between these two men, the way they relate to each other, the decision made by Charles to see exactly what Blake has to offer -all make for an interesting story as only TJ can tell.
Highly recommended read.
Blake is an engineering student by day and an escort by night. Of course, they end up in the same hotel room as Charles hires Blake for the evening. But Blake is like no one Charles has ever met before. It was interesting to see how Blake manages to talk Charles into allowing him to stay for a designated period of time.
The dynamics between these two men, the way they relate to each other, the decision made by Charles to see exactly what Blake has to offer -all make for an interesting story as only TJ can tell.
Highly recommended read.
November 14, 2023
M/M paranormal novella.
This was a surprisingly great read and well written short story.
The characters are so vivid and I loved the mind games, the negotiations, the sexual tension and seduction. The Christmas setting added another twist to the plot.
Charles is a weary lonely vampire recluse who allows himself one night a year to not hold back, not about his hunger ant about his truth, until he meets Blake the escort who stands up for his dreams and future.
The sex was light on details but the chemistry and sensuality was undeniable.
It is too bad it ends on an HEA and no sequels. I would have loved to read more about how those two handled things or at least an epilogue two years later!
This was a surprisingly great read and well written short story.
The characters are so vivid and I loved the mind games, the negotiations, the sexual tension and seduction. The Christmas setting added another twist to the plot.
Charles is a weary lonely vampire recluse who allows himself one night a year to not hold back, not about his hunger ant about his truth, until he meets Blake the escort who stands up for his dreams and future.
The sex was light on details but the chemistry and sensuality was undeniable.
It is too bad it ends on an HEA and no sequels. I would have loved to read more about how those two handled things or at least an epilogue two years later!
November 26, 2025
The Vampire’s Dinner
I enjoyed this story more than I thought I would. It is not the first book I have read by this author, so it held promise, but I generally like shifter books. I was pleased to find that it was different and cleverly written. As always with this author, it could have used more spice — at least a wrap up scene in the morning. My only real complaint is that it ended, before I wanted it to — when I reached the end I thought, “Wait, that’s it?” I know it was only a novella, but I wanted more. I almost gave it 4 stars for that, then I realized that’s the mark of a good tale, isn’t it?
I enjoyed this story more than I thought I would. It is not the first book I have read by this author, so it held promise, but I generally like shifter books. I was pleased to find that it was different and cleverly written. As always with this author, it could have used more spice — at least a wrap up scene in the morning. My only real complaint is that it ended, before I wanted it to — when I reached the end I thought, “Wait, that’s it?” I know it was only a novella, but I wanted more. I almost gave it 4 stars for that, then I realized that’s the mark of a good tale, isn’t it?
December 8, 2019
Holiday Passion with Dark Flair
This book knows how to tie fantasy, passion and lust together in perfect harmony. I would like to see this stand-alone turned into a longer series honestly. With the ending of this book as the starting point. It was so well written that I was left craving for more, yet thoroughly pleased with what this book offered. I sincerely hope that TJ Nichols plans to write more about these two in the future.
This book knows how to tie fantasy, passion and lust together in perfect harmony. I would like to see this stand-alone turned into a longer series honestly. With the ending of this book as the starting point. It was so well written that I was left craving for more, yet thoroughly pleased with what this book offered. I sincerely hope that TJ Nichols plans to write more about these two in the future.
September 14, 2020
I liked Blake more than I liked Charles, but that's not terribly surprising, I guess. I wish this were longer -- it would be nice to find out what happens after the holiday. Or maybe a little more background on Blake and how he started his night job. Or about how the previous Christmases went for Charles -- although that was sort of covered a little bit -- I was surprised the hotel was okay with him coming there for 15 years in a row...money talks, I suppose!
January 12, 2024
Oh, i absolutely loved this story! The characters are deep and clear. You can imagine them perfectly. They interact lovely and well sophistocated. Each of them occupied by their own problems and aims.
The vampire in this story takes a break each year at christmas. He wants the eat a real meal one time in the year. So he searched for our human protagonist.
Both of them spend a unforgetable night together.
The style of the author is stunning and catched me fully.
A great story! Please more!
The vampire in this story takes a break each year at christmas. He wants the eat a real meal one time in the year. So he searched for our human protagonist.
Both of them spend a unforgetable night together.
The style of the author is stunning and catched me fully.
A great story! Please more!
May 12, 2021
Challenge accepted
More of a tale of wits than anything. Interesting concept and easy read backdropped on Christmas between a 400 year old vampire and a modern day London escort. Includes long exerpt to another book which i did not read.
Kindle own, short story, supernatural, vampire, disability, student, escort, winter holiday
More of a tale of wits than anything. Interesting concept and easy read backdropped on Christmas between a 400 year old vampire and a modern day London escort. Includes long exerpt to another book which i did not read.
Kindle own, short story, supernatural, vampire, disability, student, escort, winter holiday
May 16, 2017
A great addition to the 2016 Advent Calender - a poignant look at the lonely Christmas, bit of fear, bit of bravado and a happy maybe for now!!
Lets hope Blake gets enough under Charles' skin to keep him longer.
Enjoyed
Lets hope Blake gets enough under Charles' skin to keep him longer.
Enjoyed
December 31, 2021
4/5
Oh I really loved this. This was super well written and I was really intrigued by the connection between Charles and Blake. I would read a whole novel of this story. Can't wait to read more from TJ Nichols.
Oh I really loved this. This was super well written and I was really intrigued by the connection between Charles and Blake. I would read a whole novel of this story. Can't wait to read more from TJ Nichols.
December 2, 2016
Super cute, hot story. A great plot and brilliant characterisation. I'd love to read more about these characters.
February 28, 2019
Interesting spin on vampires and how one's wit can save one's life.
I liked it.
I liked it.
Read
November 2, 2020Fun read, clever premise.
Want to Read
April 22, 2021🎁 FREE on Amazon today (4/22/2021)! 🎁
December 29, 2020
Great, but needed just a bit more than a tentative HFN.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 40 reviews