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The V V Inn #1
Vampire Vacation
In the Alaskan darkness, it's not just the cold that bites.
Meet Vivian. She's a 580-year-old vampire who exudes sensuality, has a talent for drama, and is passionate about two things: her human husband, Rafe, and their resort for the undead. Her ability to project physical illusions has created the perfect vacation spot—a dark, isolated Alaskan hideaway where visitors can have their wildest fantasies come true.
Vivian knows the best performance requires perfect timing, but the powerful vamp is put to the test when she discovers a corpse in a locked guestroom minutes before the next arrivals. Always cool-headed, Rafe hides the body, convinced he and Vivian can find the culprit without disturbing their guests.
Juggling the increasingly outrageous demands of their customers while tracking a killer isn't easy. Will their poking and prodding give them the answers they need, or will it uncover secrets Vivian would kill to protect?
The V V Inn, in reading order:
Vampire Vacation, Book 1
The Hunt, Book 2
Big Game, Book 3
Death Times Two, Book 4 ~ A Grim Reality and V V Inn novel co-authored with Boone Brux
Blood Legacy, Book 5
Sharpen the Blade, Book 6
Blood Reckoning, Book 7 (late 2017)
Prequel Stories:
Death's Servant, Before the V V Inn Book One (Jon's Tale)
Meet Vivian. She's a 580-year-old vampire who exudes sensuality, has a talent for drama, and is passionate about two things: her human husband, Rafe, and their resort for the undead. Her ability to project physical illusions has created the perfect vacation spot—a dark, isolated Alaskan hideaway where visitors can have their wildest fantasies come true.
Vivian knows the best performance requires perfect timing, but the powerful vamp is put to the test when she discovers a corpse in a locked guestroom minutes before the next arrivals. Always cool-headed, Rafe hides the body, convinced he and Vivian can find the culprit without disturbing their guests.
Juggling the increasingly outrageous demands of their customers while tracking a killer isn't easy. Will their poking and prodding give them the answers they need, or will it uncover secrets Vivian would kill to protect?
The V V Inn, in reading order:
Vampire Vacation, Book 1
The Hunt, Book 2
Big Game, Book 3
Death Times Two, Book 4 ~ A Grim Reality and V V Inn novel co-authored with Boone Brux
Blood Legacy, Book 5
Sharpen the Blade, Book 6
Blood Reckoning, Book 7 (late 2017)
Prequel Stories:
Death's Servant, Before the V V Inn Book One (Jon's Tale)
313 pages, Paperback
First published October 10, 2010
320 people are currently reading
4360 people want to read
About the author
C.J. Ellisson
41 books895 followersC.J. Ellisson is the USA Today Bestselling author of the NYT Bestselling book, Vanilla on Top, the bestselling V V Inn series, and several erotica shorts. She lives in northern Virginia with her husband, two children, three dogs and two cats. She's battled severe chronic illness for years and is thrilled to report she’s finally approaching the end of treatment. She turned to writing when she could no longer work outside the home and claims the escape of penning contemporary erotic romance, urban fantasy, and erotica has helped save her sanity.
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Join C.J. Ellisson's Monthly Newsletter to Receive Notice of:
~ Contests
~ Free Reads & Sneak Peeks
~ Book Signing & Appearances
~ Online Reader Events
~ Upcoming Sales
~ New Releases
To sign up, copy and paste this site address into your browser's address bar: smarturl.it/cjenews
MORE places to connect with C.J.:
Website: www.cjellisson.com Facebook: www.facebook.com/CJEllisson
Street Team: www.facebook.com/groups/cjeseethe
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 384 reviews
did-not-finish
August 4, 2010This one is too erotic for my tastes. Having said that, It's well-written, and I like Ms. Ellisson's ideas for vampire culture, and the idea of a hotel catering to vampires. I liked her narrative voice, and the humor. Recommended for readers who enjoy erotic literature and urban fantasy in one package. Thank you for giving the opportunity to try to read this, CJ. You are clearly a talented author.
January 16, 2010
Disclaimer: This review is based upon the 13,000 word free excerpt posted on the author’s web site. However, this was a DNF for me, so I wouldn’t have finished the entire novel even it were available.
*****
I’m sorry to have to give this such a low rating, but I really wasn’t impressed by this excerpt.
The mechanics of the writing are poor. The story is written in the present tense, which made it a chore to read. I’ve only read one novel ("The House of Sand and Fog" by Andre Dubus) that used the present tense well, but in all the others, including this one, I found it awkward and distracting. The story is also written in the first person, and “I” and “my” are grossly overused (a common pitfall for beginning writers).
The dialogue is a particular weak point. The author very rarely uses “said’ – or in this case “say” – as a dialogue tag. Instead we get “comment”, “confirm”, “add”, “purr”, "direct", "observe", etc., and also non-dialogue tags misused as tags, such as “smile”, “snigger”, and “clears his throat”. Avoiding “said” is another beginner mistake and a *major* pet peeve of mine. The dialogue also oftens sound stiff and forced, and “as you know, Bob…” statements crop up from time to time.
Finally, the story is without context or setting. All we are told is that it’s a hotel, it’s in Alaska, and it’s shaped like a T. The hotel room in the opening scene is barely described at all. The overall lack of description makes it impossible for me to connect with the world in the story. The world doesn't seem concrete or real.
Beyond the simple mechanics listed above, other things bothered me as well.
For instance: some “Huh?” moments occurred. A murder victim with a “dent” in his head and no other obvious injuries loses half his body’s blood volume? How does that happen without any open wound? It’s supposedly dark twenty hours a day at the time of the story, but that means there’s about the same amount of daylight in the summer months; so this really isn’t the best place to have resort for vampires. At one point, Dria (the narrator) has to lean in close to determine that someone is human even though his blood is saturating the room, and another time, she can tell from many feet away that a (non-bleeding) person standing in a group of vampires is human by her scent.
Dria also comes across as shallow and unlikeable to me. For instance, she tapes her visitors in their bedrooms without their knowledge to indulge her voyuerism. Yuck. I also think my dislike for her has to do with the overall tone of the writing, which is inconsistent. Sometimes it's light-hearted wise-cracking, then it's erotic, then it's... I think the story would be vastly improved if the writing was more focused.
In summary, I made it to the end of the excerpt, but I was glad when I got to the last word. I can’t recommend this to anyone. The concept for the story might be interesting, but the execution is quite poor.
*****
I’m sorry to have to give this such a low rating, but I really wasn’t impressed by this excerpt.
The mechanics of the writing are poor. The story is written in the present tense, which made it a chore to read. I’ve only read one novel ("The House of Sand and Fog" by Andre Dubus) that used the present tense well, but in all the others, including this one, I found it awkward and distracting. The story is also written in the first person, and “I” and “my” are grossly overused (a common pitfall for beginning writers).
The dialogue is a particular weak point. The author very rarely uses “said’ – or in this case “say” – as a dialogue tag. Instead we get “comment”, “confirm”, “add”, “purr”, "direct", "observe", etc., and also non-dialogue tags misused as tags, such as “smile”, “snigger”, and “clears his throat”. Avoiding “said” is another beginner mistake and a *major* pet peeve of mine. The dialogue also oftens sound stiff and forced, and “as you know, Bob…” statements crop up from time to time.
Finally, the story is without context or setting. All we are told is that it’s a hotel, it’s in Alaska, and it’s shaped like a T. The hotel room in the opening scene is barely described at all. The overall lack of description makes it impossible for me to connect with the world in the story. The world doesn't seem concrete or real.
Beyond the simple mechanics listed above, other things bothered me as well.
For instance: some “Huh?” moments occurred. A murder victim with a “dent” in his head and no other obvious injuries loses half his body’s blood volume? How does that happen without any open wound? It’s supposedly dark twenty hours a day at the time of the story, but that means there’s about the same amount of daylight in the summer months; so this really isn’t the best place to have resort for vampires. At one point, Dria (the narrator) has to lean in close to determine that someone is human even though his blood is saturating the room, and another time, she can tell from many feet away that a (non-bleeding) person standing in a group of vampires is human by her scent.
Dria also comes across as shallow and unlikeable to me. For instance, she tapes her visitors in their bedrooms without their knowledge to indulge her voyuerism. Yuck. I also think my dislike for her has to do with the overall tone of the writing, which is inconsistent. Sometimes it's light-hearted wise-cracking, then it's erotic, then it's... I think the story would be vastly improved if the writing was more focused.
In summary, I made it to the end of the excerpt, but I was glad when I got to the last word. I can’t recommend this to anyone. The concept for the story might be interesting, but the execution is quite poor.
July 20, 2012
I really need to stop judging books on their cover! When I first saw this book I expected a light hearted, humourous vampire romance and instead I got a slightly darker mystery that could pass as vampire erotica.
Vivian is a powerful vampire who runs an Inn with her human husband Rafe, Vivian is is an alias that she is using to hide her age, past & more importantly - her power level! One of Vivians powers is that of manipulation which she tends to use in a sexual way to provide the guests with a good time. With one touch she can discover the hidden desires of others then she manipulates them by setting up scenarios or sending them visions to help these desires be fulfilled. It's certainly a new idea! At the beginning of the book there is a dead body found in one of the rooms and this provides us with our mystery portion of the plot, I enjoyed this and I'm looking forward to the next book more. I have a feeling it will be even better than this one :)
Vivian is a powerful vampire who runs an Inn with her human husband Rafe, Vivian is is an alias that she is using to hide her age, past & more importantly - her power level! One of Vivians powers is that of manipulation which she tends to use in a sexual way to provide the guests with a good time. With one touch she can discover the hidden desires of others then she manipulates them by setting up scenarios or sending them visions to help these desires be fulfilled. It's certainly a new idea! At the beginning of the book there is a dead body found in one of the rooms and this provides us with our mystery portion of the plot, I enjoyed this and I'm looking forward to the next book more. I have a feeling it will be even better than this one :)
December 15, 2013
Holy Vampire Alaska vacation spots Batman!!!! This was my first read of author C.J. Ellisson and I must say this was a very good read for me. As you all know I'm a vampire fanatic, so when I spotted this vamp author on FB I jumped to check her out.
Loved the character, especially the lead female Dria (aka Vivian). Lest we forget her ever so hot sexy hubby Rafe! I was also happy to see a Werewolf in this one as well. This author also writes some of the most awesome love scenes (fanning myself just remembering them)!! The story line was very interesting....killer on the loose in the wilds of the backwoods of the Alaska, at a Vampire vacation resort hot spot. The owners enlist the help of the willing patrons of said resort....thinking it'll be great fun! Don't worry "Vivian", it'll all work out in the end!!
I recommend this one to all my fellow vampire lovers. No icky bloody stuff in this one, just fun sexy, exciting good fun~~
I look forward to the other books in this series.
Loved the character, especially the lead female Dria (aka Vivian). Lest we forget her ever so hot sexy hubby Rafe! I was also happy to see a Werewolf in this one as well. This author also writes some of the most awesome love scenes (fanning myself just remembering them)!! The story line was very interesting....killer on the loose in the wilds of the backwoods of the Alaska, at a Vampire vacation resort hot spot. The owners enlist the help of the willing patrons of said resort....thinking it'll be great fun! Don't worry "Vivian", it'll all work out in the end!!
I recommend this one to all my fellow vampire lovers. No icky bloody stuff in this one, just fun sexy, exciting good fun~~
I look forward to the other books in this series.
January 9, 2011
Vampire Vacation by C.J. Ellisson is a great book. I loved it. It’s about Vivian (Alexandria), who is a 580 year old Vampire. She and her human husband Rafe are currently running a vacation spot, the VV Inn, for Vampires. Vivian is what is called a “Manipulator”, a vampire that has the power to make others believe and see things that aren’t actually happening. She is the last Manipulator and has to keep her ability secret because Manipulator’s are considered too powerful to live. She uses her abilities to help her guest have a good time at her inn. She is able to see what they most desire usually sexually and she uses her ability to help give it to them. She does this through others not herself. She is completely monogamous with her husband. It’s an erotic book but not overly so. The story held strong throughout. It’s about Vivian finding a dead body in one of the inn’s rooms and follows her efforts in figuring out what happened and who killed him.
I enjoyed this book from the first page to the last. It was really well done. I would never have guessed that this is the author’s first novel. I loved the characters. Rafe was wonderful and I really enjoyed reading about him and Vivian together. Jon was interesting and Asa was a great addition. It was fast paced and interesting. There is humor mixed in throughout and a good mystery to keep it interesting.
Vampire Vacation reminds me some of Nina Bangs’s books about the Woo Woo Inn. So if you like those I’m sure you’ll love this one, I know I did. Highly recommended.
I enjoyed this book from the first page to the last. It was really well done. I would never have guessed that this is the author’s first novel. I loved the characters. Rafe was wonderful and I really enjoyed reading about him and Vivian together. Jon was interesting and Asa was a great addition. It was fast paced and interesting. There is humor mixed in throughout and a good mystery to keep it interesting.
Vampire Vacation reminds me some of Nina Bangs’s books about the Woo Woo Inn. So if you like those I’m sure you’ll love this one, I know I did. Highly recommended.
June 6, 2012
Vampire Vacation - This has to be one of the most attention getting books I have read in a long time. The last author to have this effect on me was Laurell K Hamilton. Having said that; the characters in this book are well rounded to the point that I can almost see them. I feel as if I want to vacation at this resort as CJ Ellisson has made this place come alive in my mind. I was not able to put the book down for very long before wanting to continue reading again. And the ending of the book is not an ending in the usual sense.... this story ends but leaves you hungry for the next one! Not many authors are able to write a series that leaves you wanting to start the next book at the exact moment you finish the current book. Yes, there is explicit sex in the book, but it does not detract from the storyline, but serves to fill out the characters and make them fit into todays timeline. All in all, this was an excellent book and is on my list of books I want to read again. It deserves 5 stars!
April 24, 2012
I would love to spend a week at Vivian's Vampire Inn. Hot tubs nestled in the snow surrounded by bushs and trees wound with lights, pool area inclosed in glass, complete with palm trees and tropical birds, special rooms that will make any fantasy come true, with a host and hostess making it their mission for you to have all you desire. Except for the week crazy Ivan came for revenge leaving dead and drained bodies in his wake!
Vivian/Alexandrea is a major control freak who has a yummy mate, Rafe, who can soothe her with a touch, and he has his hands full this week. The book is filled with humor, smokin hot sex, vampires and a werewolf....what more can you want!
I can recommend this to anyone who loves PNR, I enjoyed every minute of it and am looking forward to V V 2 coming out this spring.
Vivian/Alexandrea is a major control freak who has a yummy mate, Rafe, who can soothe her with a touch, and he has his hands full this week. The book is filled with humor, smokin hot sex, vampires and a werewolf....what more can you want!
I can recommend this to anyone who loves PNR, I enjoyed every minute of it and am looking forward to V V 2 coming out this spring.
December 22, 2009
Let me start by saying, this is an as yet unpublished work by an as yet unpublished author. (I’m sure that won’t remain the case for long!) I very much enjoyed this read, in fact, once I got past the first chapter or so, I couldn’t stop reading.
(Ms. Ellisson was generous enough to provide me with an ARC of her novel with 3 stipulations: that I write a review of the work, that should I rate her work to be less than 3 stars, I withhold posting my opinion until publication of the work, and that I not pass the work along to others. The review you’ll find below. As I can honestly rate this work closer to a 3.5 than a 3, I have no qualms about posting this review. And if you’d like to read the book, contact Ms. Ellisson, or pass her name on to your favorite publisher.)
Dria (aka Vivian) and Rafe have been together for 65 years when we meet them and the depth of understanding and affection in their relationship was very well written. I loved this couple and really enjoyed their connection. I like the idea of the Vampire Vacation Inn, an erotic-fantasy destination vacation spot for Vampires (yes, reminiscent of Nina Bangs' Castle of Dark Dreams Trilogy, in a good way but missing the lol humor). I enjoyed the mystery aspects to the story, in parts the novel read very much like a WhoDoneIt. And I found the secondary characters (for the most part) interesting and the backstory of Dria’s history fascinating (hopefully we’ll see more of the past in future titles in the series).
This novel came close to hitting 4 stars for me (my ultimate criteria for 4 stars is re-readability). My issues are mostly those we find with first time authors. I felt the opening chapters were bit abrupt and confusing (I honestly wondered what I had gotten myself into there for a moment). The novel has a bit of a multiple-personality issue when it comes to genre, it’s erotica, it’s paranormal, it’s mystery, and the different pieces don’t always play well together. And I found the Inn’s Vampiric guests just a little too nice and understanding for my taste, I wanted the visiting masters to have a more adverse reaction when Vivian begins to show her true self, or at least a humorous one.
All things considered, this would definitely be a series I would read and re-read given a good editor’s hand, and if a new novel ever deserved a good editor, it’s this one.
I’m looking forward to seeing this novel in print and reading those as yet unwritten by Ms. Ellisson.
(Ms. Ellisson was generous enough to provide me with an ARC of her novel with 3 stipulations: that I write a review of the work, that should I rate her work to be less than 3 stars, I withhold posting my opinion until publication of the work, and that I not pass the work along to others. The review you’ll find below. As I can honestly rate this work closer to a 3.5 than a 3, I have no qualms about posting this review. And if you’d like to read the book, contact Ms. Ellisson, or pass her name on to your favorite publisher.)
Dria (aka Vivian) and Rafe have been together for 65 years when we meet them and the depth of understanding and affection in their relationship was very well written. I loved this couple and really enjoyed their connection. I like the idea of the Vampire Vacation Inn, an erotic-fantasy destination vacation spot for Vampires (yes, reminiscent of Nina Bangs' Castle of Dark Dreams Trilogy, in a good way but missing the lol humor). I enjoyed the mystery aspects to the story, in parts the novel read very much like a WhoDoneIt. And I found the secondary characters (for the most part) interesting and the backstory of Dria’s history fascinating (hopefully we’ll see more of the past in future titles in the series).
This novel came close to hitting 4 stars for me (my ultimate criteria for 4 stars is re-readability). My issues are mostly those we find with first time authors. I felt the opening chapters were bit abrupt and confusing (I honestly wondered what I had gotten myself into there for a moment). The novel has a bit of a multiple-personality issue when it comes to genre, it’s erotica, it’s paranormal, it’s mystery, and the different pieces don’t always play well together. And I found the Inn’s Vampiric guests just a little too nice and understanding for my taste, I wanted the visiting masters to have a more adverse reaction when Vivian begins to show her true self, or at least a humorous one.
All things considered, this would definitely be a series I would read and re-read given a good editor’s hand, and if a new novel ever deserved a good editor, it’s this one.
I’m looking forward to seeing this novel in print and reading those as yet unwritten by Ms. Ellisson.
August 7, 2016
I just finished this book in the early hours this morning. Again, C.J. Ellisson has delighted me and I look forward to reading other books of hers. This is the first full length book in her series "The VV Inn". I loved this book just as much as I loved "Death's Servant". This book is fast moving, funny, slightly dark with some sex and violence that moves the book along. Acting as an innkeeper in the depths of Alaska with a madman threatening her and her guests. Knowing Dria or Vivian as she's known to all if you read the prequel doesn't take kindly to this. She begins to make plans to solve the mystery of who and why with a little help from her husband and her vampire servant Jonathan. She does all this while trying to help her guests find love and resolve issues in their lives. After a death and several attacks she ends up roping in her guests help in a "hunt" to track and hopefully kill the menace threatening them all. It's a great read that I'm sure will delight everyone who reads it.
October 12, 2012
Wow was all i could say when i read this book. I loved the characters right away and the sex was great. the little hints os bdsm was good addition to the book. . I read this book second by accident and didnt get lost or confused. these books can stand alone or read in the series. These books are for the vamoire lover that doesn't want to be a twilight reader. I strongly reccommend this whole series to anyone that wants to read a good book by an good new author
January 10, 2010
What I have read of this work helps renew my faith in the potential of vampire-focused writing. This author presents an incredibly engaging storyline. I greatly appreciate the creative twists the author adds to the vampire culture and pracitces, especially in the realm of reconcilling an ancient being with a modern culture. Very well-developed, hope to see it in print soon!
January 20, 2013
At first I was reluctant to read it, it seemed Vampire campy. But my friend put it as our book club reading for the month, so I read it. And loved it!!! It is very entertaining and sexey!
My only complaint is that Vivian the main character, is a bit stuck on herself, but I would be if I looked like her too!
I will be reading the rest of this series!
My only complaint is that Vivian the main character, is a bit stuck on herself, but I would be if I looked like her too!
I will be reading the rest of this series!
April 20, 2015
This is the story of the VV Inn. It's for vampires and Werewolves. This story tells us how the inn works and where some of our main characters are from. We meet Vivian/ Dria , Rafe( her husband) , Jon( her vampire servant/ alpha Werewolf) and , Asa( her new security/ ex military/ newly two years turned vampire.
September 20, 2013
My feelings on this book are a bit mixed. There were some unique and interesting elements to the vampire and werewolf dynamic that I appreciated. I liked the premise and the setting, as well as the first person narrative. However, there were a few things that kept me from liking it as much as I wanted to. I did enjoy it overall, so I am going to try to write this review in a balanced way.
For one thing, I was not fond of the main character. This is a big deal, as everything happens through her eyes. I found her to be conceited and self-centered and not all that likeable. I also found it creepy that she spied on her hotel guests using a camera system. This element was meant to add to the erotic nature of the book, it actually turned me off and I found myself wanting to skip those scenes. I felt that if the author wanted us to see what was going on with other people, she shouldn't have written this book in first person because it really limits the scope.
Even though I didn't like Vivian aka Dria, I loved the secondary characters. Her husband Rafe, Jon the werewolf, Asa the security man, and Drew the visiting vampire were all favorites of mine, particularly Rafe. The men were strong and charming, and each had their own appeal. I liked the dynamic between Jon and Rafe, as the two compete for Vivian's attention, although it's pretty obvious that she is all about Rafe, her mate. I felt this balanced the book and made me forget that I did not care for the heroine.
. I also think some of the sex actually slowed down the story flow. Yes, I know it's erotica, but even in erotic books the sex should add to the flow of the story. There were a few scenes that seemed thrown in. Almost like the author was thinking: 'Hmmm, haven't written a sex scene in a while and this is an erotic book. Better throw one in here.' It lessened the impact of the other, relevant sexual scenes.
While I quite enjoyed the pacing in some places, I felt this book dragged in the beginning and in the end. In the first chapters, there are too many people being introduced; so many, in fact, that I kept forgetting who was who as the story went along. It took me a while to get them all straight in my head. The story picks up from there, but them drags again at the end. I wanted the hunt for the villain to pack a punch, but instead I found myself annoyed as the last chapters dragged on for pages. I found myself skipping some paragraphs because a lot of the info given was irrelevant and didn't add to the story.
That said, I think much of the info dump is a setup for the other books in the series. I also think this book is worth hanging in there as the next book in the series looks quite promising. I hope to be able to give it a better rating--I do plan on reading it--because I think the potential of this book has set some good groundwork for it.
For one thing, I was not fond of the main character. This is a big deal, as everything happens through her eyes. I found her to be conceited and self-centered and not all that likeable. I also found it creepy that she spied on her hotel guests using a camera system. This element was meant to add to the erotic nature of the book, it actually turned me off and I found myself wanting to skip those scenes. I felt that if the author wanted us to see what was going on with other people, she shouldn't have written this book in first person because it really limits the scope.
Even though I didn't like Vivian aka Dria, I loved the secondary characters. Her husband Rafe, Jon the werewolf, Asa the security man, and Drew the visiting vampire were all favorites of mine, particularly Rafe. The men were strong and charming, and each had their own appeal. I liked the dynamic between Jon and Rafe, as the two compete for Vivian's attention, although it's pretty obvious that she is all about Rafe, her mate. I felt this balanced the book and made me forget that I did not care for the heroine.
. I also think some of the sex actually slowed down the story flow. Yes, I know it's erotica, but even in erotic books the sex should add to the flow of the story. There were a few scenes that seemed thrown in. Almost like the author was thinking: 'Hmmm, haven't written a sex scene in a while and this is an erotic book. Better throw one in here.' It lessened the impact of the other, relevant sexual scenes.
While I quite enjoyed the pacing in some places, I felt this book dragged in the beginning and in the end. In the first chapters, there are too many people being introduced; so many, in fact, that I kept forgetting who was who as the story went along. It took me a while to get them all straight in my head. The story picks up from there, but them drags again at the end. I wanted the hunt for the villain to pack a punch, but instead I found myself annoyed as the last chapters dragged on for pages. I found myself skipping some paragraphs because a lot of the info given was irrelevant and didn't add to the story.
That said, I think much of the info dump is a setup for the other books in the series. I also think this book is worth hanging in there as the next book in the series looks quite promising. I hope to be able to give it a better rating--I do plan on reading it--because I think the potential of this book has set some good groundwork for it.
April 2, 2016
I hate vampire stories (Read : the likes of Twilight Saga). Then what made me give this book a chance?. It’s the summary that drew me to it. When a dead body is involved, it instantly piques my interest, how much ever horrid that makes me seem like!. That plus the ‘projection of illusion’ part, made me read this book and boy, I am glad I did. Vampire Vacation is one of the best books I have read recently.
Alexandria a.k.a Dria runs an inn for vampires, complete with every necessity including blood donors, along with her husband of 65 years, Rafe. She exudes sensuality and sex, thus making every customer’s sexual fantasies come alive while staying at the inn. Dria, being 580 years old, is extremely powerful and can manipulate even the thoughts of others, thus making her illusions perfectly believable. How she uses her powers to control situations around her is actually wonderful to read. The erotica part of the story is just something that happens on the sidelines. It’s a hot read, I wouldn’t deny that but the power that electrified throughout the story is what made this read stunning.
While I was in school, someone asked me what kind of power I would like to have if given a chance & I said mind control and the power to project physical illusions!. I didn’t want to be invisible or be able to fly, like my fellow schoolmates mentioned. It’s exactly this that happens in this book. It was like my desires were being fulfilled by reading it!. The author has an amazing imagination and I loved every minute of it.
Rafe’s & Dria’s connection is enviable since they love each other incredibly, something that does not happen within normal couples, after being together for 65 years that is. Lol!. Jonathan, a werewolf, is a wonderful addition to the story, who is a great support for Dria but at the same time vies for her attention every time he possibly can.
Add in a murderer wandering in the hotel premises and the story just escalates into a sheer thriller. The hunt for him is calculated well and Dria once again shows how shrewd and tactful she is. The book cover shows the naked back of Dria. I didn’t quite notice that she was naked, at first. My eyes were drawn to the vivid color of her hair & the contrast created by the moon & the night sky. It’s a pretty cover.
Overall, Vampire Vacation is a fantastic story, pure genius I should say. Can’t wait to read more from the V V Inn series.
Alexandria a.k.a Dria runs an inn for vampires, complete with every necessity including blood donors, along with her husband of 65 years, Rafe. She exudes sensuality and sex, thus making every customer’s sexual fantasies come alive while staying at the inn. Dria, being 580 years old, is extremely powerful and can manipulate even the thoughts of others, thus making her illusions perfectly believable. How she uses her powers to control situations around her is actually wonderful to read. The erotica part of the story is just something that happens on the sidelines. It’s a hot read, I wouldn’t deny that but the power that electrified throughout the story is what made this read stunning.
While I was in school, someone asked me what kind of power I would like to have if given a chance & I said mind control and the power to project physical illusions!. I didn’t want to be invisible or be able to fly, like my fellow schoolmates mentioned. It’s exactly this that happens in this book. It was like my desires were being fulfilled by reading it!. The author has an amazing imagination and I loved every minute of it.
Rafe’s & Dria’s connection is enviable since they love each other incredibly, something that does not happen within normal couples, after being together for 65 years that is. Lol!. Jonathan, a werewolf, is a wonderful addition to the story, who is a great support for Dria but at the same time vies for her attention every time he possibly can.
Add in a murderer wandering in the hotel premises and the story just escalates into a sheer thriller. The hunt for him is calculated well and Dria once again shows how shrewd and tactful she is. The book cover shows the naked back of Dria. I didn’t quite notice that she was naked, at first. My eyes were drawn to the vivid color of her hair & the contrast created by the moon & the night sky. It’s a pretty cover.
Overall, Vampire Vacation is a fantastic story, pure genius I should say. Can’t wait to read more from the V V Inn series.
May 23, 2014
Imagine walking into the foyer of this amazing hotel and being greeted by Vivian, your stunning host, the owner of the inn, and a vampire that exudes sex. Not only that but right next to her is her handsome and completely human husband Rafe. In this part of Alaska the nights are 20 hours long, which means as a vampire this is the best of both worlds, you have blood at the bar to drink, rooms to fulfill any sexual or bloody fantasy, and you get to play almost without having to rest. What could go wrong? Oh yeah there have been some murder's, first of an individual who wasn't even on the guest list. The killer is someone from Vivian's past, someone that should not be allive, let alone running around in the frigid northern reaches.
This book has all the juicy elements that make a really good book; Strong character development, sexy vampires, whips and chains, hunky ware wolves, blood, death, cold weather, and hot sex. Other than that I really like how C.J. has changed how I looked at vampires by the way that she updated the way they change, what happens after the change, heck if the Vampire actually dead or not. Most stories and movies explain a vampire as the undead, similar to a zombie. C.J. treats it has a disease as sorts, one that individuals are carriers of. Vampires are carriers, however each vampire, seeth, and master have different "strains" which allows one vampire to know immediately if another vampire has snacked on a human.
There is blood, biting, some BDSM, and vanillaish sex so be warned if you are not okay with depictions of overtly sexual individuals and horny talk.
I would be one of the first people to sign up if this hotel really existed, and although I am not a vampire, I think that there would be plenty of things for me to do there. This book drew me in and never let me go, I am part of the V V inn, and look forward to the rest of this series.
This book has all the juicy elements that make a really good book; Strong character development, sexy vampires, whips and chains, hunky ware wolves, blood, death, cold weather, and hot sex. Other than that I really like how C.J. has changed how I looked at vampires by the way that she updated the way they change, what happens after the change, heck if the Vampire actually dead or not. Most stories and movies explain a vampire as the undead, similar to a zombie. C.J. treats it has a disease as sorts, one that individuals are carriers of. Vampires are carriers, however each vampire, seeth, and master have different "strains" which allows one vampire to know immediately if another vampire has snacked on a human.
There is blood, biting, some BDSM, and vanillaish sex so be warned if you are not okay with depictions of overtly sexual individuals and horny talk.
I would be one of the first people to sign up if this hotel really existed, and although I am not a vampire, I think that there would be plenty of things for me to do there. This book drew me in and never let me go, I am part of the V V inn, and look forward to the rest of this series.
October 8, 2010
EROTIC PARANORMAL MYSTERY IN THE ARCTIC
4 1/3 Stars
Vivian and Rafe own and operate an inn north of the Arctic Circle. The remote location makes an ideal get-a-way for their fanged guests. A new entourage is due to arrive in just a few hours so Vivian is doing a final inspection tour to ensure all is in readiness for the new guests. Unfortunately, she learns all is not well at the VV Inn when she discovers a dead body. So begins the adventure and mystery.
I loved the humor that was woven throughout this engaging story. It was a pleasure to read the well-edited pages. There were quite a few secondary characters within the story but the author did a great job individualizing the important ones so that it was easy for me to keep track of who was who. The descriptions of the landscape glistening under a heavy blanket of pristine snow in the near continuous darkness were so realistic and believable that a few times I actually shivered.
Vivian sets the bar high with her alluring sexuality and there are several scenes that are intense and provocative. The exceptionally erotic sex-scenes, however, are written in a fun, playful manner and the reader is encouraged to abandon inhibitions and fully enjoy the freedom of the fantasy.
This book is the first in a planned series by this debut author and I am looking forward to further madcap adventures with Vivian, the sometimes despotic ruler of her domain, Rafe, her soul mate and fierce protector, and all the other unforgettable characters who serve the dedicated and loving couple.
4 1/3 Stars
Vivian and Rafe own and operate an inn north of the Arctic Circle. The remote location makes an ideal get-a-way for their fanged guests. A new entourage is due to arrive in just a few hours so Vivian is doing a final inspection tour to ensure all is in readiness for the new guests. Unfortunately, she learns all is not well at the VV Inn when she discovers a dead body. So begins the adventure and mystery.
I loved the humor that was woven throughout this engaging story. It was a pleasure to read the well-edited pages. There were quite a few secondary characters within the story but the author did a great job individualizing the important ones so that it was easy for me to keep track of who was who. The descriptions of the landscape glistening under a heavy blanket of pristine snow in the near continuous darkness were so realistic and believable that a few times I actually shivered.
Vivian sets the bar high with her alluring sexuality and there are several scenes that are intense and provocative. The exceptionally erotic sex-scenes, however, are written in a fun, playful manner and the reader is encouraged to abandon inhibitions and fully enjoy the freedom of the fantasy.
This book is the first in a planned series by this debut author and I am looking forward to further madcap adventures with Vivian, the sometimes despotic ruler of her domain, Rafe, her soul mate and fierce protector, and all the other unforgettable characters who serve the dedicated and loving couple.
May 27, 2014
Alexandria "Vivian" McAndrews, a 580 year old vampire, has owned several resorts for the undead. She is a "manipulator" and with her supernatural ability to project physical illusions she's now created the perfect vacation spot—a dark, isolated Alaskan hideaway where visitors can have their wildest fantasies come true. Her capacity for drama, manipulation, and control are put to the test when she discovers a corpse in a locked guestroom minutes before the next arrivals.
Her human mate, Rafe, is convinced he and Vivian can find the culprit without disturbing their guests. But juggling the demands of their customers while tracking a killer isn't easy. She must enlist the help of a sexy werewolf, a fledgeling vampire with a military background and eventually the guests themselves to track down the mystery man from her past. A past she desperately wants to escape.
The setting felt original; like a vacation spot vampires would actually pick, given the long, dark nights. The loving and playful banter between Dria and Rafe (and to some extent, Jon) was sweet. Although we get several hints of Dria's more cruel and despotic side as well. Due to events in her past, she keeps this side hidden most of the time, to put her guests at ease. All in all, she, and the other characters, even the secondary ones, felt really well rounded. The way Dria's past is revealed in small glimpses, piqued my interest. I'll definitely read the next book in the series.
3.75★
Her human mate, Rafe, is convinced he and Vivian can find the culprit without disturbing their guests. But juggling the demands of their customers while tracking a killer isn't easy. She must enlist the help of a sexy werewolf, a fledgeling vampire with a military background and eventually the guests themselves to track down the mystery man from her past. A past she desperately wants to escape.
The setting felt original; like a vacation spot vampires would actually pick, given the long, dark nights. The loving and playful banter between Dria and Rafe (and to some extent, Jon) was sweet. Although we get several hints of Dria's more cruel and despotic side as well. Due to events in her past, she keeps this side hidden most of the time, to put her guests at ease. All in all, she, and the other characters, even the secondary ones, felt really well rounded. The way Dria's past is revealed in small glimpses, piqued my interest. I'll definitely read the next book in the series.
3.75★
July 25, 2015
Great read!
This is a awesome book by C.J. Ellison about Vivian a vampire who is mated with Rafe. She has a place in Alaska where other vampires and humans go to for a vacation. She is a very old vampire yet does not want anyone to know except, of course, Rafe. Vivian does not want to drink the blood of the humans since it will cause them to be a servant to her. She wants them to have there own freewill. She has many rooms at the V V Inn to entertain anyone. Then when she is suppose to welcome some into the Inn, she finds a dead body in a room and calls her husband to come, she is so distraught. They now have someone who has been murdered which has not happened in the past. Then a she wolf gets killed, someone has damaged their electrical writing and Peter is attacked. They know it is a vampire yet Vivian has an idea who it might be. This is an amazing read and I absolutely loved the ending! Very amusing in many portions of the book. Recommend!
This is a awesome book by C.J. Ellison about Vivian a vampire who is mated with Rafe. She has a place in Alaska where other vampires and humans go to for a vacation. She is a very old vampire yet does not want anyone to know except, of course, Rafe. Vivian does not want to drink the blood of the humans since it will cause them to be a servant to her. She wants them to have there own freewill. She has many rooms at the V V Inn to entertain anyone. Then when she is suppose to welcome some into the Inn, she finds a dead body in a room and calls her husband to come, she is so distraught. They now have someone who has been murdered which has not happened in the past. Then a she wolf gets killed, someone has damaged their electrical writing and Peter is attacked. They know it is a vampire yet Vivian has an idea who it might be. This is an amazing read and I absolutely loved the ending! Very amusing in many portions of the book. Recommend!
December 15, 2013
2.5 Stars...Things I liked: Rafe. Things I didn't like: The lead female, Dria. I found her shallow and not a likable character for me. The plot bored me...a lot. I shouldn't really be so harsh...this is a tough time of year to immerse in a book, but this one didn't draw me at all. To be fair, the love scenes were well done and hot. Oh yeah, because Rafe was in them(;
July 26, 2015
This was my first book by C J Ellison and I pretty much enjoyed it... I don't read paranormal very often. I usualy read it randomly for a change. But this book was far better than just a good read. Very interesting and such a page -turner.
December 17, 2010
4 **** STAR
Book: Vampire Vacation
Author: C.J. Ellisson
Publisher: RH Publishing
Genre: Vampire
Rating: Mature
C.J. Ellisson has written a light hearted fun vacation for her vampire novel. What a great idea. The background is a large Inn in the Alaskan Wilderness, and the Innkeeper is a 450 odd year old vampire named Alexandria, Dria to her husband Rafe, and Vivian to her staff and guests. Vivian is a play on words from the VV Inn.
We learn that Vivian and Rafe are bonded mates. He has not been ‘turned’, but has gone through a ritual of blood exchange with Dria, while still human. Dria has worked very hard through the years to let no one know too much about her personally. Only Rafe is privy to her secrets, and she would like to keep it that way.
The hotel has ‘seethes’ which are families of vampires who come to vacation, and who find this Inn very appealing to their senses. There are normal activities, with indoor pools, hot tubs and also any outside activities. Inside there is a gym, exercise room, bars, discos, and dining for human guests. On some of the other floors there are rooms that host various types of sexual fantasies that could whet any appetite.
Dria and Rafe have been very successful as Innkeepers, and this hotel is very popular. They have people that work there as living human feeders for a vampire, like 24 hour room service. So you get the picture. So what would happen if there was a bloody murder committed at the hotel?
Ms Ellisson has written a fun, charming, sexy, murder mystery. Along with the solving, we meet other characters that are very appealing and add to the storyline. Dria and Rafe spice up the pages with their constant sensual desire for each other, and the best part is that they can speak to each other mind to mind through their bond. So you have the wicked thoughts as well as the humorous ones. I have read that there will be a sequel, called The Hunt, and I look forward to it.
Review by Gloria Lakritz
Senior Reviewer for The Paranormal Romance Guild
Book: Vampire Vacation
Author: C.J. Ellisson
Publisher: RH Publishing
Genre: Vampire
Rating: Mature
C.J. Ellisson has written a light hearted fun vacation for her vampire novel. What a great idea. The background is a large Inn in the Alaskan Wilderness, and the Innkeeper is a 450 odd year old vampire named Alexandria, Dria to her husband Rafe, and Vivian to her staff and guests. Vivian is a play on words from the VV Inn.
We learn that Vivian and Rafe are bonded mates. He has not been ‘turned’, but has gone through a ritual of blood exchange with Dria, while still human. Dria has worked very hard through the years to let no one know too much about her personally. Only Rafe is privy to her secrets, and she would like to keep it that way.
The hotel has ‘seethes’ which are families of vampires who come to vacation, and who find this Inn very appealing to their senses. There are normal activities, with indoor pools, hot tubs and also any outside activities. Inside there is a gym, exercise room, bars, discos, and dining for human guests. On some of the other floors there are rooms that host various types of sexual fantasies that could whet any appetite.
Dria and Rafe have been very successful as Innkeepers, and this hotel is very popular. They have people that work there as living human feeders for a vampire, like 24 hour room service. So you get the picture. So what would happen if there was a bloody murder committed at the hotel?
Ms Ellisson has written a fun, charming, sexy, murder mystery. Along with the solving, we meet other characters that are very appealing and add to the storyline. Dria and Rafe spice up the pages with their constant sensual desire for each other, and the best part is that they can speak to each other mind to mind through their bond. So you have the wicked thoughts as well as the humorous ones. I have read that there will be a sequel, called The Hunt, and I look forward to it.
Review by Gloria Lakritz
Senior Reviewer for The Paranormal Romance Guild
January 18, 2010
An excellent novel from C.J. Ellison. I had the privilege of reading this as if was being formed and I was mesmerized. Yes, C.J. is my friend, but you have to understand that my characters normally hunt down and kill vampires. I've never been a fan of the "Twilight" kind of romantic vampire, but C.J.'s book drew me in and made me like Vivian and her husband.
The romance (okay, let's call it sex) is raw and hot and, yet, does not cheapen the plot. The action, when it really starts, moves quickly and comes to a satisfying conclusion (no pun intended).
The plot concerns Vivian, a 580-year old vampire who runs an inn up in Alaska that is exclusively for vampires. She and her husband are prepping for yet another round of visitors until a non-guest stumbles in with a bad case of being dead. Yeah, what better way to greet visitors than with a dead body.
Soon, Viv is trying to find a murderer, keep her amorous guests happy, keep her staff safe and fend off the amorous advances of not only her husband but every vampire (and werewolf) under the sun (or should I say "moon"?).
From what I've seen, a lot of people are liking this book -- Dorchester, Beacon, textnovel. This is the first is a planned series (I hope) and I think readers in general will put C.J. Ellison up close to Stephanie Meyer really soon.
The romance (okay, let's call it sex) is raw and hot and, yet, does not cheapen the plot. The action, when it really starts, moves quickly and comes to a satisfying conclusion (no pun intended).
The plot concerns Vivian, a 580-year old vampire who runs an inn up in Alaska that is exclusively for vampires. She and her husband are prepping for yet another round of visitors until a non-guest stumbles in with a bad case of being dead. Yeah, what better way to greet visitors than with a dead body.
Soon, Viv is trying to find a murderer, keep her amorous guests happy, keep her staff safe and fend off the amorous advances of not only her husband but every vampire (and werewolf) under the sun (or should I say "moon"?).
From what I've seen, a lot of people are liking this book -- Dorchester, Beacon, textnovel. This is the first is a planned series (I hope) and I think readers in general will put C.J. Ellison up close to Stephanie Meyer really soon.
November 27, 2010
Vivacious Vampire Vacation
I give this book 4 bats with tiaras out of 5 bats because it was a great read and always leaves you wanting more.
This little gem of a story has been a great find and read. I am one of those people that usually if a book doesn't interest me by the end of the first chapter, it is doomed to have to work the rest of the book to hold my interest. Vampire Vacation on the other hand had my attention by the end of the little glossary of people in the front of the book. it makes you look twice when the description for one of the people is “the dead guy in the first chapter.”
I would have to say that Jonathan is my favorite character. Gotta love the sexy werewolf with a heart of gold and a sense of humor that would make Loki proud. Plus he makes a hell of an exit, ;)
This book is a nice mix of mystery and a new look at a situation with vamps and weres. There's also a glimpse into how seethes and other parts of vampire lives in this world work.
If you are looking for a good read mixing mystery, paranormal,and erotica this is the book you should find.
I can't wait for the next one and a big part of me is hoping for a prequel to get all the details of Vivi’s back story.
I give this book 4 bats with tiaras out of 5 bats because it was a great read and always leaves you wanting more.
This little gem of a story has been a great find and read. I am one of those people that usually if a book doesn't interest me by the end of the first chapter, it is doomed to have to work the rest of the book to hold my interest. Vampire Vacation on the other hand had my attention by the end of the little glossary of people in the front of the book. it makes you look twice when the description for one of the people is “the dead guy in the first chapter.”
I would have to say that Jonathan is my favorite character. Gotta love the sexy werewolf with a heart of gold and a sense of humor that would make Loki proud. Plus he makes a hell of an exit, ;)
This book is a nice mix of mystery and a new look at a situation with vamps and weres. There's also a glimpse into how seethes and other parts of vampire lives in this world work.
If you are looking for a good read mixing mystery, paranormal,and erotica this is the book you should find.
I can't wait for the next one and a big part of me is hoping for a prequel to get all the details of Vivi’s back story.
March 29, 2011
Holiday Inn meets the Monsters
Dria and Rafe own your normal ordinary high end B&B in Alaska, with one exception, it's for vampires. The book starts off with Dria our owner and a master vampire, also known as Vivian, inspecting rooms before guests are to arrive only to find a dead man in one. What's a proprietor to do? Dria and Rafe, her mate, decide to store the body to deal with later and get on with welcoming their new guests. Let the fun and mayhem begin.
We meet a diverse set of guests and employees; vampires, werewolves and humans, oh my. This book has it all, sex, murder, projected sex, mystery, the thought of sex, humor and lots of snow. Did I mention sex? While I wouldn't personally call this book erotica, it is close so if that's not your cup of tea, beware. I really enjoyed this book. It was nice to read a light hearted take on the paranormal. I would have liked a little more back story on Dria and Rafe, possibly a prequel? This is a short, easy read that I read in one day. If you liked the first works of Mary Janice Davidson's Queen Betsy or Lynsay Sand's first few Argeneu books, you'll enjoy Vampire Vacation. There is a sneak peak of the next book about Dria and Rafe's adventures at the end of the book and I'm looking forward to reading it.
Dria and Rafe own your normal ordinary high end B&B in Alaska, with one exception, it's for vampires. The book starts off with Dria our owner and a master vampire, also known as Vivian, inspecting rooms before guests are to arrive only to find a dead man in one. What's a proprietor to do? Dria and Rafe, her mate, decide to store the body to deal with later and get on with welcoming their new guests. Let the fun and mayhem begin.
We meet a diverse set of guests and employees; vampires, werewolves and humans, oh my. This book has it all, sex, murder, projected sex, mystery, the thought of sex, humor and lots of snow. Did I mention sex? While I wouldn't personally call this book erotica, it is close so if that's not your cup of tea, beware. I really enjoyed this book. It was nice to read a light hearted take on the paranormal. I would have liked a little more back story on Dria and Rafe, possibly a prequel? This is a short, easy read that I read in one day. If you liked the first works of Mary Janice Davidson's Queen Betsy or Lynsay Sand's first few Argeneu books, you'll enjoy Vampire Vacation. There is a sneak peak of the next book about Dria and Rafe's adventures at the end of the book and I'm looking forward to reading it.
September 24, 2013
Full disclosure:I received this e-book from the author. While I didn't win the book being given, she offered this book as a consolation prize.
This is a lighthearted erotic novel told from the perspective of Vivian, the owner of the V V Inn. Vivian is 580-year-old vampire who is mated with a human named Rafe. She runs a resort that caters to vampires, their mates, their servants, and companions. All goes well until a murder occurs just as she is about to greet new guests. She is striving to keep everyone happy and sated (sexually and otherwise) while solving the murder without her guests' knowledge. But everyone needs help sometime, and Viv is no exception. Interspersed are erotic moments for Vivian, Rafe, and the guests. There are also some humorous moments.
This is a lighthearted erotic novel told from the perspective of Vivian, the owner of the V V Inn. Vivian is 580-year-old vampire who is mated with a human named Rafe. She runs a resort that caters to vampires, their mates, their servants, and companions. All goes well until a murder occurs just as she is about to greet new guests. She is striving to keep everyone happy and sated (sexually and otherwise) while solving the murder without her guests' knowledge. But everyone needs help sometime, and Viv is no exception. Interspersed are erotic moments for Vivian, Rafe, and the guests. There are also some humorous moments.
June 27, 2012
This was a very fun read! I did enjoy the characters and will be reading the next two in the series. I am giving it four stars simply because I did sometimes find that Vivian was a little hard on people and found myself having to re-read a section or two because she would all of a sudden get upset with somebody and I was afraid I had missed something. Even if the question asked of her was a simple question she would sometimes gets very irate with the person. Maybe this is just showing her personality. But I would suggest it to anybody who enjoys Paranormal Romance.. and I will be the first to say Rafe is hot! :)
April 10, 2017
I got this book for free when it was offered on Amazon I was really impressed with the story the plot line and of course the adult scenes. I will say this was my first erotica novel or with anything like that in the story line. The story was suspenseful, easy to picture and enjoyable. I really want to read the next in the series but I read so quickly I can't justify spending the money just yet. I wish this was a series my library carried.
June 3, 2011
Vampire Vacation is a fun and compelling book. By half way through it, I couldn't put the book down. I loved the twists and action. Ellisson mixes humor, sass, and good old fashioned domination for a fantastic read. Vampire stories might be common, but there's nothing common about Vivian and her style. I look forward to book two, which I know will be better than the first.
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