"A Popular Novel, a Determined Debutante, and a Vampire Hunter Threaten London's Lord of the Undead."
BITE ME YOUR GRACE by Brooklyn Ann is her debut novel and the first installment in her historical paranormal Scandals with Bite trilogy. What an awesome beginning! I absolutely love the unique way Brooklyn Ann delightfully meshes vampire lore into a Regency fun, sweet, spicy and hot romance. This is the story of the Lord Vampire of London, Ian Ashton and debutante Angelica Winthrop.
Our hero, Ian, the Duke of Burnrath, was widely suspected to be the vampire featured in Doctor Polidori's tale, The Vampyre, and had been fighting the rumors by attending balls, standing in front of mirrors and eating lots of garlic. Now... he wakes up to find an intruder in his home. He's hungry... and bites.
Our heroine, Angelica Winthrop, has always aspired to be a Gothic writer like Mary Shelley of Frankenstein fame. Angelica doesn't want to get married because she wants to write and is positive that any future husband would not allow her to continue writing. She despises the way women are marketed and married off within the ton. She decides that, if she's not pure, she could stay single forever and do what she wants to do.
Burnrath House, an Elizabethan mansion owned by Ian, the Duke of Burnrath, mesmerizes Angelica as she is positive that it's inhabited by ghosts and she really wants to write a good ghost story. So, in the name of research, she decides that she must check it out. Angelica never expected that she'd tumble down the stairs and be bitten by a real vampire when she's discovered there. Surprisingly, Angelica is thrilled as her reputation will now be ruined, for sure. But, Ian thwarts her plan by publicly proposing to her.
I loved both Angelica and Ian! Angelica was sweet and innocent and Ian was perfection personified. AND the two have chemistry and attraction galore! All I can say is long live dark, swoon worthy and sexy vampires like Ian! My favorite scene was their wedding night... Ooh La La! Oh, what a night!
Following please find a few of my favorite quotes:
“As she took her father’s arm and prepared to march down the aisle, Margaret called, “Do not forget what I told you about tonight.” How could I? Angelica thought as her mother’s lecture about the wedding night and the marriage bed flitted through her mind. “There will be incredible pain the first time, darling,” Margaret had said. “And you might bleed. But you must submit to him without complaint until you are pregnant with his heir. After that, he should leave you alone for the most part and fulfill his baser desires on a mistress.”
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“His hands crept down to the bodice of her gown and he began to untie the laces. She gasped at the feel of his hands on such an intimate part of her body. She struggled and tried to shove him away. “What are you doing?” He stepped back and blinked. “What exactly did your mother tell you about what goes on between married couples behind closed doors?” She shuddered and pulled the fabric of the gown tight around her bodice. “She said you would hurt me very badly and that I would bleed.” Her eyes narrowed and her tone grew laced with hostility at such a horrific concept. “She said I must submit to you without complaint.” He cursed and Angelica flinched. “I suppose that explains why you’re an only child. Damn, I hate some of the traditions of this century. To keep a young woman in ignorance of one of the most important facts of life is… is a goddamned outrage!” He ran a hand through his hair and sat on the bed. “Sit down with me, Angel. You’re shaking so hard that I am afraid you will topple over to the floor.”
Brooklyn Ann has written a scintillating tale in an historical setting with well-developed characters that are realistic and captivating. Once I started BITE ME YOUR GRACE, I couldn't sleep until I'd finished it. This witty and fun story kept me enthralled all the way to the end. I highly recommend BITE ME, YOUR GRACE to anyone who enjoys well-written paranormal romances!