The Vampire's Fall

The Saint-Pierres #8

by Michele Hauf

One kiss could cost him everything…When Blade Saint–Pierre encounters a beautiful strangerwhose lost her memory wandering near Tangle Lake, he has no choice but to defend her from demon attackers. But who–or what–is she? And why, despite her alluring vulnerability, are Blade's vampire instincts on high alert?To Zenia's knowledge, she's never had any interactions with angels or demons–at least not since a bus accident erased her memory and changed everything. As Zen and Blade's craving for one another deepens, they must contend with a jealous adversary who wants to claim Zen as his queen. And the knowledge that in reclaiming her magical identity, Zen could very well lose the only thing that feels real to her now...

Genres: Paranormal, Demons, Paranormal Romance, Romance, Vampires, Angels, Fiction

280 pages, ebook

First published May 15, 2015

About the author

Michele has been writing romance, action-adventure and fantasy stories for over twenty years. Her first published novel was DARK RAPTURE.

France, musketeers, vampires and faeries populate her stories. And if she followed the adage 'write what you know', all her stories would have snow in them. Fortunately, she steps beyond her comfort zone and writes about countries she has never visited and of creatures she has never seen.

Michele also writes as Michele Renae, and you can find her erotica, chick lit, and Harlequin Romance titles at your favorite online retailer.

--From the author's website bio

Reviews

[Stephine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Zenia is drawn to her mysterious rescuer but it is only a matter of time until Zen’s magical identity is revealed and they discover that Blade must always remain forbidden in this riveting paranormal romance.

Blade Saint-Pierre had no choice but to defend the beautiful stranger and the reader can’t get help but be enthralled by Zen and Blade’s story as destiny comes in to play and throws them both completely off track. These strong compelling characters both have some issues that make a major impact on their situation which adds lots of depth to the story as well as squeezing reader’s hearts but the attraction between them continues to grow despite everything. The fast paced and smooth flowing plot keeps readers shivering in anticipation with lots of suspense, action and romance while the forbidden adds lots of spice.

Excitement builds as the danger escalates and Blade tries to keep Zenia safe from two separate groups of enemies but as secrets are revealed the tension notches up quite a bit because it seems Zenia may have a destiny that will keep her and Blade apart. The well written scenes and details paint vivid images that bring the story to life while the captivating events ensure that the readers can’t put the story down until they know every last detail.

The Saint-Pierres are sexy, unique and make the best heroes and of course the fascinating Beautiful Creatures world ensures that the readers always want more and well I think Blade may just be my favorite because he certainly captured my heart with his tortured past, of course that may change with the next book.
- Eva

[Iris Hunter (InstagramREADS) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cover was missing: Uploaded the cover for this book on Goodreads april 28th

[Traceys · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was in a book funk, not due to bad books just life! I knew I needed a non reality book to get me out, so chose this book by Michele Hauf, I got more than I Expected!

This book is a paranormal romance and encompasses many varieties of the pnr world. If you've read the The Vampires Husband (I have and loved it) or not you will enjoy this book as it's about the grandchildren!

Blade Saint Pierre is a kind hearted vampire/fairy, his close to his family and tries to help others, he isn't interested in women as his still nursing a wounded heart.

Zenia is a lost soul, she has amnesia and doesn't know herself, she's very knowledgeable but has no idea who or what she is, apparently she's not human....

Blade and Zenia meet when blade is working in town, helping another person and notices her, she is beautiful! He goes to investigate and finds danger, which he quickly deals with.

Zenia now has somebody watching over her, the fact his tall, handsome and kind doesn't make things difficult for Zenia, as she is so innocent in her current state and speaks her mind and oh my it's so refreshing, when I said I got more than I expected it was with the humorous banter between Blade and Zenia, it was just what I needed.

Well I'm sure you know these two fall for each other, but it's never that easy and they have journey full of twist and turns, with danger and love and making out!

If you've tried Michele Hauf books or not I would most definetly recommend this book to you, it was an easy read and so enjoyable.

I'm giving this five stars.

**I received an arc from the publishers through Netgalley for an honest review**

[Eva Millien · Rating 4 out of 5]

Zenia is drawn to her mysterious rescuer but it is only a matter of time until Zen’s magical identity is revealed and they discover that Blade must always remain forbidden in this riveting paranormal romance. The Saint-Pierres are sexy, unique and make the best heroes and of course the fascinating Beautiful Creatures world ensures that the readers always want more and well I think Blade may just be my favorite because he certainly captured my heart with his tortured past, of course that may change with the next book.

See my full review at:
http://paranormalhaven.com/2015/06/re...

[Harlequin Books]

"Hauf’s mythology for demons, angels and faeries is fascinating, as is the idea of killer angels. The story is action-packed and fun from start to finish, and the characters are deliciously complex, as always" (RT Book Reviews, 4 1/2 stars).

[Amelia · Rating 5 out of 5]

There are always loads of interesting characters that possess unique traits in a Harlequin Nocturne release from Michele Hauf, and her latest novel about the Saint-Pierre family definitely has plenty of fascinating paranormal creatures. I counted at least six different supernatural species making an appearance in the story, and their unique personalities greatly contributed to the overall plot. Several of these characters have been met in earlier books, while others are new to the remarkable world created by the talented author. Since many of the stories are interconnected, it is always a treat when I am able to catch up with someone already known. Michele Hauf never disappoints, and THE VAMPIRE’S FALL is constantly riveting entertainment.

Though the genetic makeup of Blade Saint-Pierre is mostly vampire, he also has some faery inside him received from his mother. This combination makes him even more unlike humans, and it has brought much darkness into his life as well. Now, he is just trying to live a quiet existence and to not ever be entangled in any type of confrontation once again, though his need for revenge has not been completely forgotten.

After being involved in an accident a few days before that took away all her personal memories, the woman who now calls herself Zenia is looking for answers in the town of Tangle Lake, Minnesota. When a man starts up a conversation with her and asks some strange questions, her confusion mounts. She is unaware Blade recently battled some demons who seemed very interested in her, and he wants to know the reason. Zenia may not at first believe the creatures which he talks about actually exist, but it soon becomes apparent she does indeed have much to learn. As she and Blade spend time together, they are drawn to each other as they try to uncover her connection to angels and demons.

Michele Hauf always adds some humor to her stories, and I know reading one of her books will always brighten my day. Sometimes the clever banter between her characters causes lots of smiles, and other times it is a spontaneous reaction that makes me chuckle. There are also some rather fierce clashes in the story, and the way in which they are portrayed let me experience every compelling moment. Descriptions of several of the characters are particularly detailed, making them very easy to visualize. I especially enjoyed the transformation of Blade when his faery took over.

With so many facts about Zenia being missing, Blade has to be careful in how he interacts with her or his life could be endangered. Their longing to be together sexually is powerful, yet giving in will takes much consideration on his part. As each new bit of information about her becomes known, it was intriguing to see how this couple would respond. Her carefree nature had him becoming a different person, and being alone did not seem so satisfying anymore. Ms. Hauf always creates some of the most delightful heroes, and Blade is certainly worthy of the title. With his devotion to others along with his ability to show compassion, his appeal just kept growing. It was fun watching Zenia learn about herself and seeing what her choices would end up being. I have found each of the Saint-Pierre books to be very delightful, and I am very glad there are more stories yet untold. THE VAMPIRE’S FALL is original and frequently humorous.

Received copy from author for a CataRomance review - 4.5 Stars

[Samantha · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fell easily in love with The Vampire's Fall! From the first few words, the story tugs you in and by the third chapter, you're captivated. There's vampires, faeries, werewolves, demons, angels, witches, and things in between. Zen and Blade meet while Zen is wandering around trying to find her memory. The two appreciate one another physically, it isn't hard when both are attractive beings.

Through a few loops in Fate's tapestry, Blade begins to help Zen in finding who and what she is. What Blade never expects is to find exactly what he needs, a reason to believe in love and have love. While Blade is trying to aid and save Zen, she's actually saving him. They save one another by falling in love and figuring out that Destiny offers more than one choice and it is up to you to make the one you believe in the most.

I loved Blade! He's a vampire faerie hybrid thanks to his genetic makeup from his parents and grandparents. He's a demon slayer due to personal reasons and keeps women at a distance due to the same reasons. Blade's a warrior, calculating, loyal, honest, and strong willed. There isn't much you can not like about him considering his faults make him all the more endearing.

Zen is much more complicated and her kind is revealed slowly throughout the story. She struggles with memory loss but knows things that don't pertain to her specifically which causes other issues. She is crafty, curious, honest, and daring. Zen is a great heroine and makes you like her all the more when she shows she has a strong and true heart.

The writing is detailed and liquid, allowing the reader to easily navigate the world of the novel. The characters work off of one another, grow, and shape through the printed words. The romantic element is strong and used well to add to the character and plot development. I was given this ARC in exchange for an honest review. I quite honestly loved the story line, fantasy is always such a fun way to spin a story, and give the book a solid 4.5 star rating.

[Sheryl · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have read quite a few of this author’s books and I absolutely loved them. So naturally, this was a must read for me. When I first started this book, the writing, to me, didn’t flow as well as her other books. However, I still love the story she was going for and how she portrayed the characters. As it progressed, she seemed to get into the groove, which made me like the story even more.

Blade Saint-Pierre isn’t your normal, everyday vampire. He has a very interesting family and unique lineage. Blade’s romantic life is nonexistent. He was hurt in the past and doesn’t want that kind of pain again. Except, the universe has a different plan. One day, he runs into a strange woman who seems to be in the wrong place at the wrong time.

Zen can’t remember who or what she is. Pretty much lost, not knowing what to do and trying to figure it all out. Then, a man turns up who comes to her aide. Blade and Zen work to put the pieces of her memory back together. Racing against a jealous adversary, the duo battle Angels and Demons that both want Zen for their own agenda.

I really do love the twist the author put on these characters. Blade is a lover not a fighter. He has so much love to give but is afraid to share it. However, he can be a kick butt warrior, when he needs to be. Zen is so open and quirky. She may be the only one who can bring him out of his solitude.

Even though the flow threw me off in the beginning, the mystery of Zen brought in some suspense. Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed The Vampire’s Fall and the exotic mixture of paranormal creatures.

I received a copy from Net Galley for an honest review.

[Angel · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Vampire’s Fall is another excellent paranormal romance from Michele Hauf and a nice edition to the stories of the Saint-Pierre family. In this book, Blade, a sexy, brooding vampire/fairy falls for a woman, Zen, who has lost her memory and all awareness of who and/or what she is.

This started a little slow for me, and I'm not sure if that was because of things going on in my life or if it was the book. I loved Blade, but didn't like Zen very much at first. But as the story progressed I warmed to her character more and she became more interesting and the relationship made more sense to me.

This story, unlike the past few about this family which were mostly about werewolves, is more involved in angels and demons and fairies and vampires. I enjoyed the background associated with these characters.

What I liked most about this book though was the vivid descriptions of the wings of the fairies and angels. There are some really beautiful passages describing battles between the characters, as well as a really nice love scene involving fairy wings.

The past couple of weeks, Hauf's Saint-Pierre stories have provided me with a much needed escape from the real world. I very much enjoyed Vampire's Fall and would recommend it to anyone who enjoys paranormal romance novels.

Longer, more elaborate review here: http://amh-reviews.blogspot.com/2015/...

I received a review copy via NetGalley.

[Theresa · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved most of the story. The plot moved forward with some nice action, characters interaction and fun, but then we get several chapters that are mostly: ‘I want to do this, but if this happens I don’t know what may happen but either way I want to be with you, unless I feel otherwise, so for now we’ll just see’ and on and on. Boring.

And I didn’t quite feel the connection. Blade is a very odd a character. But his guilt and self-pity were too melancholy and made him look weak. And it’s hard to help people without being a little friendly with them. He set himself up for a fall from the beginning.

I did like Zen’s personality. She was a real oddball for someone with no memory. I kept wondering how the sparklies were going to fit in. At times I cried for Zen. She’d lost her memory, doesn’t know who or what she is. All kinds of supes are trying to kill her. And then she gets stuck out in the dark hall alone, while those who are ‘supposedly friends trying to help her’ get to go inside where it’s safe.

Quick Thoughts: 1)I love the wing action especially how he caresses her with his wings.

2)She was very lucky for a homeless person. It’s usually not even close to that easy.

Fave Scenes: the visit with Dez, the car dying, Kesabel and Blade pact and the black velvet bag.

[Susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fun story to read. There is a vampire that has fairy blood and fairy wings. The vampire/fairy has a werewolf brother and another brother that is 100% fairy. Zen can't remember who she is so she gave herself the name Zen. The vampire/fairy name is Blade who tries to help Zen. Blade has been asked by an angel to kill a group of demons. I don't want to tell more or I might tell too much. There is humor, and love in this story. Read it!

[Brittany · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book surprised me with how great it was! It was well rounded and the story line was flawless and the plot well paced. I honestly didn't think anything was out of place or didn't seem right. I also loved the originality of the plot and the twists in both the plot in general and the romance. All around GREAT story!

[Yoli · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really loved this book with all paranormal creatures and personalities. The plot is original, the action was also engrossing and well paced. I was hooked.
The creatures in the book are vampires, angels, faeries, witches, werewolves, halo hunters. and demons.
If your into all them you should read this book.

[Aurrora James · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it

Blade was a beautiful hero inside and out, protecting what he loved as a fierce warrior and caring for others by helping them where he could. Zen was a light hearted, fun mystery to bring Blade out of the painful past. I especially loved Trouble. Can't wait to read more of the others.

[Lori · Rating 5 out of 5]

LOVED IT! Ok so where's the next one? The characters are so relatable and likable and there are always many to read about in each story, not just the main two. And their story is always so exciting, passionate, and ahhhh makes you melt!

[Jennifer Crump · Rating 4 out of 5]

Michele Hauf is the reason i started reading the paranormal genere. I really enjoyed this story and look forward to more. Hauf did not disappoint. I would recommend this book as well as all of Michele Hauf's past books to friends and reviers alike, Could not put down for a second.

[Ang from OZ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loving the Saint-Pierre Series!

[Megan A Bolton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read the whole series!

I can't get enough of these books! I found the author by accident and suddenly find myself buying everything she has written!

[Dj Banaszak · Rating 4 out of 5]

made me wanting more..... Vampire-fae protects and then falls for a angel-demon

[a collective of books · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting paranormal romance. Zen lost her memory and she's trying to figure out what happened to her and what she is. Blade, a blend of vampire and fae, is helping her. He resisted her advances at first, but they finally got together. I thought Zen is a bit of an airhead, even if she did lose her memory, she seems to flit about doing whatever she pleases. The background story and lore is great, I just didn't care for the heroine and her odd romantic advances toward Blade. It could have been a 5 star read if the Zen wasn't so annoying most of the time.

[Liz F · Rating 2 out of 5]

Review copy courtesy of the publisher via NetGalley.

I saw this book on NetGalley and the description sounded very intriguing. I was excited to try it but it fell well short of what little expectations I had.

Zen, the heroine, has amnesia. Now, I don't have an issue with tired, overdone romance tropes so I didn't have a problem with Zen's amnesia. She doesn't know if she's an angel, a demon or a faerie. Her eyes change color, her blood changes color and no one can scent what she is. Totally fine. I had a problem because, to me, her character seemed like a total asshole. She pushes and pushes and pushes the hero to trust her and to like her and to be her friend all because she has no one else. It doesn't matter that she could be his enemy or that she could be bringing trouble to his door. And when the hero finally relents, after Zen has insinuated herself into his life, she realizes what her destiny is and jaunts off to go for it, all full of excitement and happiness. Nevermind that she has no idea why her supposed destiny was interrupted, nevermind the guy she just slept with. She was so crass. She's broke, as in, she has $20 in her pocket and that's it. She's stolen a car. And when she finally gets money - money that the hero gave to her - she goes shopping! Yes, she buys clothes, which she needs but she was also trying to buy a fricking tiara and she bought rings and a sparkly belt...because she likes sparkly things. Uhhh, right. Zen was a moron and a world class piece of crap, in my opinion.

Blade (ugh, with the names) was a much better hero than Zen was a heroine. He seemed like a decent kind of guy. He's half vampire, half faerie. His family is faerie and werewolves, which was pretty cool. It was kind of driving me nuts how Blade didn't want to get to know Zen at first. I mean, this IS a romance and I'm always wanting the hero and heroine to get together. As much as I didn't like his hesitation, it made total sense. Blade had been burned (romantically speaking) by a demon in the past and when Zen had bled black blood (sign of being a demon), he didn't want to get involved with her. But demon blood isn't fatal to Blade as the description suggests. Blade actually craves it, at least, his faerie half does. But still, I could understand why he was hesitant. I didn't love that he didn't want to get involved with her but he still kept showing up and helping her until I realized that he's just a decent guy. He helps old people in his neighborhood with minor repairs on their houses and yards and stuff and he does it for free. Just because. It was really tough to NOT like Blade, even if he is a little gruff at times!

The Sexy Time was so-so. There wasn't a ton of it, which was no problem. I can't say that I liked Zen and Blade together, in any sense. He was kind of a loner, happy to be by himself, fixing up old cars, helping around the neighborhood or hanging with his family. And Zen was like a stupid sort of bee, just flitting around from one place to the next, with no real thoughts in her head other than wondering who she is, etc. I didn't really feel any chemistry between them but I might have been oblivious to it since I didn't really care for Zen.

I really didn't care for this book. It was a struggle to finish it and took me much longer than it should have. I didn't love the writing style. I think it was the author's possible overuse of "cool" and words like that. I can't explain it but it just felt strange. I didn't care for the heroine at all. I mean, there wasn't really any point that I felt anything more positive than mild disdain for her. I'm afraid that my dislike for Zen has skewed my perspective for this whole book. I would normally give a book I disliked this much one star but because it may be an okay book, I'm giving it two stars. I think fans of paranormal romance should give this book a chance if they like the description. But if the heroine turns you off as much as she did me, readers may not want to spend too much time on it.

[Sonja · Rating 4 out of 5]

I won this book thru a contest here from the author and I'm glad I entered it. This book was such a great read. I hardly ever wanted to put it down. I was a little worried when I realized that it was part of a series, but luckily it seemed to be good as a stand alone because I had no trouble following the story.

I loved the characters. Zen especially was absolutely fantastic. Well, up until the point where she finally gets her memory back. At that point she started making decisions and doing things that really urked me. But in general, I just loved her personality. She was just so happy and dealt with things in stride. Plus we finally got a woman who listened when she was told to do something and didn't run around doing whatever the hell she wanted because she's supposed to be 'strong and independent'. Blade was literally a tortured hero who was trying to make amends for something in his past by helping anyone in need. He's a nice guy with that dangerous warrior streak that's pretty hot. Oh, and he loves his cat. How could I not smile at that? I liked Blade's brothers as well, but Trouble was especially a fun one to have around.

So Zen has been hit by a bus and lost all her memories of only herself. She has no idea who she is or what she's doing. But she does have vast knowledge of so many other things. While out helping an old man fix up his house, Blade notices Zen and can't help but be pulled to her by her appearance. When he sees her interact with demons he becomes suspicious, more so when the demon's claim her as their own. But when he confronts her about it, she truly has no idea what he's talking about. Believing her about her amnesia, Blade decides to help her any way he can to find out not only who she is, but what she is. And with not only the demons after her, but angels out to kill her, Blade has even more work cut out for him in defending her.

Because of something that happened to Blade in his past (which takes awhile to finally find out exactly what) he has erected a wall around his heart and emotions. But Zen is determined to chip away at it piece by piece. She knew when to push and when not to and I think that's a big part of why Blade slowly let himself get closer to her. When they finally form a relationship is when Zen starts to remember and things between them get strained. Zen's purpose and "destiny" is not something Blade can deal with easily. But he also doesn't want to lose her now that he's found her and let her in.

The ending was good except for one thing. Blade and a demon have the most awkward conversation in the middle of a battle. It was super weird to me and actually had me wanting to laugh at the sillyness of it. The abrupt change between Blade and that demon was also not quite believable. But it all ends well and it was sweet when Blade found Zen at the very end.

[Leila Anani · Rating 3 out of 5]

The latest Michelle Hauf, set in her unique paranormal universe is complicated indeed - the hero is a half vampire-half fairy and the heroine is a fallen angel who has the choice to become either a demon or fairy. This one throws everything at us: vampires, demons, werewolves, fairies, witches, angels....

Things I wasn't over-keen on: heroine with amnesia. Its just one of those plot devices that I find somewhat ludicrous. Over complicated mythology - there is an awful lot of hybridisation here. Use of the words "shag" and "boob" - not erotic, not romantic - ugh.... its only used once in each case but even so, NO NO NO NO NO.

What I loved: The hero - vampire with demon wings - and good use of them too! The whole Angel mythology - it crops up in several of Hauf's novels and I really love her take on angels, muses, halos etc...

The story is strong and indeed dare I say overshadows the emotional build of the romance a tiny bit. Overall I really enjoyed this although its not my favourite story in this universe.

[Brigitte Alouqua]

L’amnésie, est-ce toujours une mauvaise chose ?

Dans le cas de Zénia, je dirais que non. Son amnésie lui a apporté la plus belle chose qui soit. Mais avant d’avoir cette chose, le chemin sera ardu et sinueux.

Lorsque Blade croisera le chemin de Zénia, lui non plus ne sait pas ce que cette rencontre changera dans sa vie. Blade, cet homme mystérieux, genre bad boys qui c’est construit une carapace, mi-vampire mi-fée, ne supportant pas les démons, n’est pas au bout de ses surprises.

Il va l’aider à retrouver la mémoire, à combler ces trous dans ses souvenirs. Mais est-ce une bonne chose ? Surtout lorsque celle-ci est attaquée par des démons, ou encore par des anges. Elle n’est pas humaine, mais alors qu’est-elle réellement, c’est un point obscur qui demande une réponse, et pourtant cela prendra du temps pour découvrir enfin qui elle est.

Un homme au passé l’ayant détruit, une femme qui ne sait pas qui elle est, des ennemis en pagaille, de l’amour, des doutes, des rebondissements à foison, … voilà de quoi régaler tout lecteurs

[Kathy · Rating 3 out of 5]

An eclectic world, with one family where the children are a combination of fey, vampire, were...

Blade Saint-Pierre, part vampire part fey... tempted to take demon blood... tortured by demons... a bit of a recluse... and Zenia, she is a fallen angel - meaning she chose to fall from heaven - and to fall into Demonia, where the bigger plan is once she is there and becomes their queen she will give access to the other angels so as to destroy the demons (who have a flame of spirit)...

But she holds tight to her halo, so she won't land in Demonia, and instead lands on earth - where she is hit by a bus, and awakens without her memory...

Suspicious Blade can't leave her be though... bit by bit they unravel the truth, learn trust, fall in love... and stop the angels from killing all of the demons...

[Gwen · Rating 3 out of 5]

3,5 étoiles
Voilà un nocturne avec plein de types de personnage différents !
L’originalité de ce livre : démon, vampire, fée, loup-garou, ange, sorcière…. Ils sont tous présent.
J’ai aimé le style, l’écriture de l’auteur. Cela donne envie de lire les autres livres de la série.
Il y a beaucoup de longueur dans ce livre ; je ne saurais dire combien de fois il est dit que l’héroïne est amnésique et qu’on ne sait ce qu’elle est. C’est ce qui tient le lecteur. On a envie de savoir ce qu’elle est, c’est d’ailleurs la principale intrigue du livre.
Les personnages principaux et secondaires sont plutôt vivants et bien décrit notamment dans leur caractère et leur relation ; on retrouve les personnages des autres tomes. Ce qui permet de voir leur évolution dans le temps.

[Helene · Rating 4 out of 5]

This one was much better than the story about Daisy Blue. I read it swiftly because I could not put it down. Another excellent St Pierre adventure.

[Deirdre · Rating 3 out of 5]

Amnesia chick story. Featuring demons and vampires and faerie...