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John-Luke, is a quiet, intellectual who passed almost unnoticed through high school and college. He has signed up for what he believes will be a quiet period of discernment at a monastery but then he ran first into the presence of the what he thinks is a vampiress and then into the beautiful and distracting Genevieve all on his first night. His life goes sideways.
Genevieve and Ciara Regan are being 'fixed up' by their wealthy, blue-blooded socialite mother who always has some kind of matchmaking scheme brewing for one or both of them. Ciara has learned to be 'quietly uncooperative' but her sister Genevieve is more rebellious. While dodging her mother's choices, the outgoing and vivacious Genevieve has her own covert husband-capturing scheme going on, and Ciara -- well, she loses hope that love is ever coming for her.
Darius Luca Lazarescu, a local mortician and owner of the Balmont Funeral Home and Cemetery Properties, is a vampire who has, over a few lifetimes, devised a workable survival plan where he feeds from two to three women, no one gets hurt, no new vampiresses are created and Darius remains under the radar at his funeral home and cemetery business.
Unfortunately, his dark vices get the better of him and he occasionally drinks too much alcohol or blood and that's when things really go upside down -- for all of them, including the mafia-hired private investigator who is looking for Big Sal Luciano's daughter who was last seen with Darius.
Life was somewhat calm for everyone until Darius' vices get the better of him and he falls in love with the daughter of the local rich socialite.
Genevieve and Ciara Regan are being 'fixed up' by their wealthy, blue-blooded socialite mother who always has some kind of matchmaking scheme brewing for one or both of them. Ciara has learned to be 'quietly uncooperative' but her sister Genevieve is more rebellious. While dodging her mother's choices, the outgoing and vivacious Genevieve has her own covert husband-capturing scheme going on, and Ciara -- well, she loses hope that love is ever coming for her.
Darius Luca Lazarescu, a local mortician and owner of the Balmont Funeral Home and Cemetery Properties, is a vampire who has, over a few lifetimes, devised a workable survival plan where he feeds from two to three women, no one gets hurt, no new vampiresses are created and Darius remains under the radar at his funeral home and cemetery business.
Unfortunately, his dark vices get the better of him and he occasionally drinks too much alcohol or blood and that's when things really go upside down -- for all of them, including the mafia-hired private investigator who is looking for Big Sal Luciano's daughter who was last seen with Darius.
Life was somewhat calm for everyone until Darius' vices get the better of him and he falls in love with the daughter of the local rich socialite.
284 pages, Paperback
First published July 1, 2021
110 people are currently reading
483 people want to read
About the author
R. Shannon
17 books37 followersR. Shannon’s novels are Catholic and Christian friendly and feature an ensemble of interesting characters. The stories are written in a slice of life style with light humor, biblical morality and heart.
She was born and raised in New Jersey and has lived over 20 years in Florida.
When not writing, she is coding web design and contributing to a “new author” blog. Be sure to sign up at www.readfirstchapter.com to get notice of new and/or early releases.
She loves to interact with readers, so if you enjoyed the book, please feel free to email her at rshannon@readfirstchapter.com
She was born and raised in New Jersey and has lived over 20 years in Florida.
When not writing, she is coding web design and contributing to a “new author” blog. Be sure to sign up at www.readfirstchapter.com to get notice of new and/or early releases.
She loves to interact with readers, so if you enjoyed the book, please feel free to email her at rshannon@readfirstchapter.com
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
July 12, 2021
Good thing I won in goodreads give away because this was terrible. On short stories I do go in with expectation that timeline will be accelerated but this whole story was confusing and not enjoyable at all.
So first problem we have characters that have no really value to story line. John-Luke boy what a mess. Keeps flip flopping on if he wants to be a monk or a priest. But the way he is written doesn’t make me feel he should be either.
Also another character with no really value to story is the flirty sister of the main love/blood bank interest.
Then there is Darius. What an controlling, possessive, murderer/asshole. This whole book is about how he gets girls to fall under his submission and drinks their blood. He is just using them for his own satisfaction whether it is sexually or for blood.
Don’t waste your time.
So first problem we have characters that have no really value to story line. John-Luke boy what a mess. Keeps flip flopping on if he wants to be a monk or a priest. But the way he is written doesn’t make me feel he should be either.
Also another character with no really value to story is the flirty sister of the main love/blood bank interest.
Then there is Darius. What an controlling, possessive, murderer/asshole. This whole book is about how he gets girls to fall under his submission and drinks their blood. He is just using them for his own satisfaction whether it is sexually or for blood.
Don’t waste your time.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 31, 2023
This book was written in a different style from what I’m used to. It was written from more of a narration point of view. We get chapters from many different perspectives throughout the book. My problem with this way of writing is that it’s more detached. We more feel like we are on the outside looking in at our characters, rather than being right there with them, feeling their feelings, empathizing with their plights. I grabbed this series up because I was looking for vampire romance. While there is some romance in this book, and there are vampires, it is not the typical vamp book. I am intrigued by the addition of the monastery and the Christian lines of thought. As this is a vampire romance, I am curious to see how that will play out with the faith and perspectives written in here. While I have not been captivated by this story, I am interested enough to continue the series. These are not standalone books, it is all one story broken up into pieces, from what I can tell. This is clean, closed door romance.
November 17, 2021
Several glaring problems.
The characters were flat. No character arc. And they're all pretty much idiots- i am surprised the vampire survived this long without discovery and killed. There's a very noticeable repetition of information a handful of times that is unnecessary and distracting. Quotation mark problems throughout. Plot/Story arc is laughable. No big conflict and resolution at the end. There was an epilogue that just ran down the list of characters and gave basically a one paragraph status report for each character. While I appreciate that this was clean from sexual description, it was done in such a way that felt like a ten year old wrote this. "This time he kissed her and it lasted a full minute." (Not a direct quote but very close). Or something like, "And then they had sex."
The characters were flat. No character arc. And they're all pretty much idiots- i am surprised the vampire survived this long without discovery and killed. There's a very noticeable repetition of information a handful of times that is unnecessary and distracting. Quotation mark problems throughout. Plot/Story arc is laughable. No big conflict and resolution at the end. There was an epilogue that just ran down the list of characters and gave basically a one paragraph status report for each character. While I appreciate that this was clean from sexual description, it was done in such a way that felt like a ten year old wrote this. "This time he kissed her and it lasted a full minute." (Not a direct quote but very close). Or something like, "And then they had sex."
May 29, 2025
I was pleasantly surprised at how much I enjoyed reading this series! (ME, like a vampire book??? LOL)
Loving all things Catholic, this was pretty realistic story of how to go about ridding your modern day American town of a "vampire problem. I also enjoyed the sometimes surprising twists and turns as the series progressed.
Sure, there were/are a few negative comments I could make -- but I am not going to go there. I am just going to be appreciative of someone taking the time to write a story that is both interesting, and friendly to Catholics; both knowledgeable about "Catholic teaching , but not preaching it.
Loving all things Catholic, this was pretty realistic story of how to go about ridding your modern day American town of a "vampire problem. I also enjoyed the sometimes surprising twists and turns as the series progressed.
Sure, there were/are a few negative comments I could make -- but I am not going to go there. I am just going to be appreciative of someone taking the time to write a story that is both interesting, and friendly to Catholics; both knowledgeable about "Catholic teaching , but not preaching it.
October 27, 2021
Darius by R. Shannon, was the first book of the Newport Vampire Series. It was a difficult book to get through, as there were so many moving parts, and not a lot of character connectedness, or plot resolution. A good start, but could be better organized as shorter stories involving a few characters, than POV among so many. Keep writing, and we’ll see where the next story takes us!
December 27, 2021
I liked the premise, but it definitely is written to set up the premise for the whole series. There are so many "main characters" and the viewpoint shifts around too much that it's hard to know what matters (or will matter) for the rest of the books.
May 25, 2022
Did not finish.
I stopped at 11 percent. I found the characters boring. The main character was deciding should he be a priest or monk. Personally, I feel he should be neither. The plot did not seem fluid to me.
I stopped at 11 percent. I found the characters boring. The main character was deciding should he be a priest or monk. Personally, I feel he should be neither. The plot did not seem fluid to me.
August 23, 2021
A good start to a series and an interesting career choice for a vampire. I thoroughly enjoyed the book and am looking forward to the next.
October 16, 2021
Wanting more.
I loved the story line. How they mashed so well. I can't wait to read the second book in the coming future!!
I loved the story line. How they mashed so well. I can't wait to read the second book in the coming future!!
Want to read
November 17, 2021🎁 FREE on Amazon today (11/17/2021)! 🎁
March 14, 2022
Loved it!!!
September 5, 2022
Had some really good ideas but didn't go with them, and I don't know kinda non vampiric and creepy.
April 7, 2023
I tried with this book but each time for the majority it remained boring, slow, and repetitive.
September 12, 2023
Great
A great story of vampires and monks that was well written. I loved it. It has great characters a great storyline lots of spooky moments and of course love.
A great story of vampires and monks that was well written. I loved it. It has great characters a great storyline lots of spooky moments and of course love.
May 8, 2024
Didn't finish, just could not get into it.
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews