Luscious Craving

Candace Steele Vampire Killer #2

by Cameron Dean

WHERE'S THERE'S BLOOD, THERE'S PASSION

Sexy vampire killer Candace Steele is back on the Las Vegas strip and determined to steer clear of Ash, the seductive vampire whose smoldering allure begs her to surrender to the dark side. But determination may not be enough when Candace's job at the glitzy Scheherazade casino drives her right into the center of Ash's deadly domain, for there are rumors of a New Year's Eve vampire assault on the casino, and only Candace can stop it.

With the clock ticking down to the fateful night, Candace isn't sure if she can resist the overwhelming desire she feels for Ash, but she has run out of choices. She must go to Ash for help; even though she knows that the price he'll expect in return is nothing less than her body and her soul.

Genres: Vampires, Paranormal Romance, Romance, Paranormal, Urban Fantasy, Fantasy, Fiction

352 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published January 1, 2006

About the author

Cameron Dean enjoyed a successful career as an actress in regional repertory theater before turning her hand to writing. She is also the author of Passionate Thirst and Luscious Craving. Cameron lives with her husband and assorted felines in Seattle.

Reviews

[Erin *Proud Book Hoarder* · Rating 3 out of 5]

Even if I was in a paranormal romance mood big time when I read this, I still wasn’t in the mood to being crowded by sex scenes right off the bat. Luscious cravings lives up to its name with a sexual dream in the first chapter, and continuing sexual episodes of some kind almost every chapter thereafter. Still, I could skim and ignore it since there was an actual plot at the same time, plenty at stake, tense motions, and a hurried pace.

It opens with the heroine still reeling from a traumatic event with a vampire she fell for, shaking off her urges to be with the guy and lead a somewhat normal life, or else normal for her. She’s now turned to being a low-key vamp assassin while continuing her job as a cocktail waitress in the local casino. She can’t ignore much for long, though, as vampire politics start inching into her work and she has to face up to everything she’s been fighting to avoid so she can overcome it.

The ending leaves off with a bit of frustration and a lot of unanswered questions urging the reader to pick up the third. Skimming reviews, I saw enough of the third revealed to be glad for once that there are spoilers so I know to avoid it. The ending of the trilogy apparently angered a lot of people, and I can only be glad of my emotional investment being slight by reading the second, not the first and not the third. With that turnout, it won’t be a trilogy I’ll complete. I already get pissed enough at books as it is.

Candace is a likeable villain, even if she’s controlled a little too much by her hormones. She doesn’t make stupid decisions, she faces most things head on, but she really needs to fight the sexual itch sometimes. Ash is awesome but a lot of his involvement with the story leaves so many questions and answers waiting to be revealed. There’s a lot of serious bad at play with other characters, which I’m assuming is wrapped up with the third.

Despite some flaws, I did enjoy it and the reading was quick. Plenty kept happening, my interest was hooked, and even though the bedroom scenes were frequent, they were actually well written with a hot touch. It's worth a read for Paranormal fans, but I think you'd get a better grasp of the characters reading the first book before starting this one. Just be aware the third will likely irritate you.

[Kathrynn · Rating 1 out of 5]

Book #2 of 3
This was a silly book that had This Reader questioning the integrity of the author. It was unrealistic to write about a heroin that wore two hairpins that doubled as vampire killing weapons. Geeze! Those pins DO NOT stay in your hair for the activities described in this book. Also, I was so tired of the female heroin constantly downing the man she supposedly loved because he was a vampire. She kills vampires and loves a vampire, but doesn't want to love him because he's a vampire. (eyes rolling)

Big thumbs down from This Reader.

[Jessica · Rating 1 out of 5]

Aaaaaand nope! I didn't know it was possible but the writing in this book was even worse than the last. More she loves him but doesn't want to drivel. I was willing to suffer through that to hopefully find a plot. Then she has sex with a total stranger apparently without protection. While I am all for the right to give yourself to who you want without judgment.... Just because you can doesn't mean you should and especially without a condom. Dnf

[Natalie Ram · Rating 1 out of 5]

Why did I read these books? Why did a waste a whole weekend on them? I just don't know but maybe I can save someone else from making the same mistake. These books are awful and pointless!

[Heather ~*dread mushrooms*~ · Rating 2 out of 5]

I really had to force myself to keep reading this at first. It was terrible. I already knew the writing wasn't great from the first book, but it was much harder to read this time around. There were a few instances of good imagery once again, but overall there was nothing to recommend the writing. I didn't find the plot particularly interesting either.

The worst part of this book was in the beginning when Candace walks into a diner to eat, meets a random man, has a brief and flirty conversation with him, and then goes out to have unprotected sex in his limo, her food order forgotten. WTF? The sex scenes with this guy were so long and detailed. Why would I want to read those when there was absolutely no reason whatsoever for me to care about this guy and their relationship? There were a lot of them too, and by the time we got to a sex scene I did care about, I had no more interest in it.

The only time I was interested in this book was literally the very last scene. Because of that, I'll read the third book in the series.

[Paschalis]

elibrary

[Bradley · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book rather turned me off with too many cliches and hook-ups that made no sense. Well-written enough, but ugh.

[Sara · Rating 1 out of 5]

Not interesting. High stakes poker? Ug.

[Stacey · Rating 2 out of 5]

The first book in this series was pretty terrible. It took me a long time to come around to reading this next volume, "Luscious Craving". Since I bought the entire trilogy at once, I knew eventually I would read on. I'm kind of glad that I did. This book is considerably better then its predassessor. Candace Steele is a very unlikeable heroine. She doesn't have a great personality at all and in this book she was such a tramp! I'm no prude but Candace went to and from two men in this book in a way that was kind of gross to me. Candace is a vampire killer who works security for a casino in Las Vegas. In this entry, Candace learns of a huge con about to go down. Slowly she unravels what the plot is and who is involved. I enjoyed the flashbacks into the past of Ash, the bane of Candace's existance. She can't live with him and can't live without him. Everything in between is turmoil. The writing isn't great in either of the two stories I've read thus far. Whether its the writing style, or the lack of intrigue in the characters, I have a hard time getting pulled into the tale. The story picks up at the end when the sex stops for a minute and the action takes over. I actually became mildly engrossed at this point and as soon as that happened...the story was over. I don't have high hopes for the third and final book...but the end of this book did show that there was potential there all along and Ms. Dean obviously missed a chance to make the story really work. This book pales in comparison to the other vampire tales in the market today. There are plenty of other books more deserving the reader's precious time and money.

[Bronwyn Rykiert · Rating 4 out of 5]

his is the second book with Candace Steele vampire hunter - in the last book she fell in love with a vampire Ash Donahue. She contiues to deny her love for Ash in this store though she does call on him because she needs his help.

She still works for the Scheherazade casino posing as a cocktail waitress but she is actually there with security keeping vampires at bay. She meets Michael Pressman who is at the casino taking part in a poker game when she finds out there is to be a con on New Years Eve. The rush is on to find who is doing the con and where exactly.

I am a little disappointrd with her relationship with Ash and I hope it gets better. I found that I enjoyed this bookbetter than the last though.

[Joanna · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the second in a series, and I didn't read the first one. But I think even if I had it wouldn't change my opinion of this one. There was just enough plot to string together the ass kicking and sex scenes. I didn't find myself caring about the female lead as much as I should have, though. She seemed kind of bull-headed and overly independant to me, a character trait I am really tired of reading about. Makes me want to slap her. However, it was kind of a fun book, had some decent sex scenes. I'm not dying to rush out for Book #1 or Book #3 (if #3 exists...)

[Francine \ · Rating 4 out of 5]

A really good book. Hot. Sexy. Intriguing. It leaves the reader extremely curious as to what will happen to Candace and Ash's love story.

The story managed to show that sometimes love has no happy endings and that love is the very obstacle that clouds a person's judgement of right and wrong.

Flames: 4

[Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Book 2 was just as good as the 1st book. Candace is a strong determined women who knows what she doesn't want and that's Ash her Vampire lover. If only she knew what she does want. Lopking forward to the 3rd book Eternal Hunger. 4/5

[colleen · Rating 4 out of 5]

read 03.26.07

[Lesley · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was hoping that the second book would have been a lot more interesting than the first. It's not a bad read, but if the 3rd book doesn't pick up some more, I won't read anymore in this series.

[Josephine B · Rating 1 out of 5]

Pretty lousy...not planning to read any more of the series.

[Jax O · Rating 1 out of 5]

Slayer,Vampire

[Sharon · Rating 5 out of 5]

this is actually book 1 in the series

[Diane · Rating 3 out of 5]

This one was okay, I think a little more interesting than the first.

[S.T. Williams · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have to say I have no problems with all the steamyness in these novels

[Momreadstoomuch · Rating 1 out of 5]

I stopped reading for a week after reading this book.

[Tisha · Rating 3 out of 5]

not as great as the first, but I'd still read more. I like books that are set in Vegas even if they take artistic freedom with some things

[Karen Desmond · Rating 4 out of 5]

4

[Carrie (Book Fairy) Fort · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am so conflicted with this book, I admire her for kicking butt on vamps whol kill humans but, she loves Ash he is her heart, I want her to be with him and I don't want her to be with him!

[Jeanette · Rating 2 out of 5]

A disappointment. But on to book 3. Holding out hope for a good third book.

[Nolena Ard · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another delicious addition to the story of Candance. Can this girl be any cooler.

[Shay Morgan · Rating 4 out of 5]

good