The Vampire Voss

The Draculia Vampire trilogy #1

by Colleen Gleason

The Draculia Vampire Trilogy
If you sell your soul to the devil…can you ever get it back?

Dark, passionate stories of love and redemption…

The men and women of the Vampire Dracule are tied to Lucifer for eternity. In exchange, the Dracule are given immortality and power…and a guilt-free life of pleasure, wealth, and freedom.

No one can touch them. No man can control them.
No mortal can destroy them…unless they find love.

But Lucifer will not release those who are bound to him without a fight.
In a battle of good versus evil, love versus hate, only the strongest souls can win freedom from the devil.
~~

Even after centuries of lust, hedonism, and women, Voss rarely finds himself bored. As a member of the Dracule, he is a rogue of the first order, a man who loves nothing more than a warm woman, excellent vintage, and even a puzzling challenge to keep his mind active.

But when one of his seemingly harmless manipulations sets him on the path to seduce the beautiful Angelica Woodmore, things become a little less simple…a lot more passionate…and definitely more complicated.

And when the most evil vampire of the Dracule puts Angelica in his sights, Voss will have to risk everything to save her…and possibly his own soul.

Genres: Vampires, Paranormal Romance, Romance, Paranormal, Historical Romance, Historical, Fantasy

380 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2011

About the author

Award-winning, NEW YORK TIMES and USA Today bestselling author Colleen Gleason (who also writes as Colleen Cambridge) has written more than fifty novels in a variety of genres…but always feature smart, strong women determined to right wrongs and get shit done.

Colleen lives in the Midwest United States where she is fortunate enough to be working on her next book.

She loves to hear from readers via her website, Facebook, or GoodReads.

Reviews

[Fani *loves angst* · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars

Well, it's obvious me and Gleason have a chemistry, because I like her writing so much, I'm willing to forgive her faults in plot or heroes that I usually wouldn't, and still enjoy her books very much (like in The Rest Falls Away). However, I'm happy to say I didn't need to forgive her anything in this book: I loved the writing (of course), the plot, the selfish, rakish hero who did not have a personality transplant and become a besotted fool the moment he met the heroine, as is often the case with rakes. I also loved the heroine who had a good mind in her head at all times and I loved the subtle -but so interesting- twists in the vampir myth she added. In short, I loved this book.

The story goes like this:
Chas Woodmore has disappeared for quite some time. Before he did, he asked his sisters to contact the Earl of Corvindale if such an event occured. Corvindale, a vampire but also Woodmore's friend, has promised to act as their guardian should the need arise. The one to inform Dimitri that Woodmore has disappeared, is none other than Voss, Viscount Dewhurst, a man who is in no way a friend of his. In fact no vampire likes Voss, because he likes to gather information about them and use it for his own advantage. And Voss does see in this occasion a fine opportunity; One of the Woodmore sisters is rumored to have the Sight. That could gain him some very valuable information and thus more power. While her brother is missing and before Dimitri assertains his authority over them, he plans to meet her and use her for his own nefarious purposes. But things seem to go awry... Angelica's scent tempts Voss the way no one else's has for over a century. He soon finds himself wanting her -and her sweet blood- more and more but wanting to protect her at the same time. But when his bloodlust hits, even Angelica is not safe...

This was a dark, intense book, where Gleason made me feel as if I was in a hidden corner actually seeing all these things come to life: the secret vampire meetings in cellars, the dark, sinister streets of London at night, the catacombs in Paris. I was magically transported in this place and era and I feel cudos are in order for managing to create such an atmospheric read.

Once more, I have to say I loved Voss. Voss was a mercenary hero and rake, who actually acted like one. He liked Angelica, but that didn't stop him from trying to use her. On the other hand, he did his best to protect her from her enemies, even from himself. I loved his internal struggles, his dilemma, his slow realization that his woman actually made him to be someone else, someone better. I could feel his hurt, his ache, his passion and the struggle he put to protect her against his own nature and I'm happy to say that Angelica was worth all of it. I also liked the fact that this is a rare case where vampires are not made to look as the best thing to walk on earth and it took Angelica a lot of time to overcome her natural and completely realistic fear of Voss.

I will say it one final time: I loved this book. This was one of these books that wouldn't let me put it down and I was two days in a row sleepy at work because the previous nights I stayed up until late, wanting to read 'one-more-page' that turned to a whole chapter or more. I'm dying to read the next of the series, The Vampire Dimitri, even though the heroine who is Angelica's older sister, is the only thing I didn't like in this book. But Dimitri seems hot enough to make up for both of them and with Gleason doing the writing, I can only hope for the best!

[Tammy Walton Grant · Rating 4 out of 5]

Now THIS is a what a vampire cover should look like.



Dark, ominous, and frightening - look at his eyes, for goodness sake!

I really liked this book and would recommend it to anyone who likes Regencies, vampire stories and/or PNR. It has a great set-up and what I thought was a fresh spin on the original vampire legend, including a couple of unique tweaks of legendary vampire "weaknesses" thrown in for good measure.

All of these things kept me reading the book long past the point where it wasn't really working for me as a romance. By the end I didn't really care about Voss and Angelica nearly as much as I was interested in the relationship between her sister Maia and Dimitri, Earl of Corvindale. I can't WAIT to read their book -- they had so much chemistry they stole every scene they were in.

Back to Voss and Angelica. I found Voss very interesting . He is a very complicated creature and as the book progresses CG peels back the layers so you see how he got to be where he is. When we meet him he is kind of shallow, manipulative and plays both ends against the middle - always making sure that his behind is covered. He is a collector and sometime keeper of secrets - by that I mean he keeps them until he can benefit by exposing them. Even he doesn't realize how mercenary he has become until he falls in love with Angelica.

That's where the book didn't quite work for me - I'm always suspicious of a bad boy being transformed by the power of lurve , so I wasn't really buying what Gleason was selling. No matter, the story itself more than makes up for the lack of connection I had with the romance.

So in the end, here's what I liked about it: it had great world building, an original story, unique spins and tweaks of the vampire legend, it felt like a Regency that just happened to have vampires in it. It was believable and well-told with compelling, realistic characters. Voss was great -- self-absorbed, mercenary and bored. Angelica's sister Maia and Corvindale were my favourites. Like I said, they stole every scene. I liked the sense of danger the author created in the scenes between Voss and Angelica; and her reaction to discovering Voss' secret was a refreshing change from most PNRs.

What I didn't like so much: I didn't really buy the romance between Voss and Angelica. As a result, my reaction to the ending was probably not what the author was looking for.

4 stars. A great alternative to the Black Dagger Brotherhood. :)

[KarenH · Rating 5 out of 5]

Although I find vampire heroes to be extremely sexy, I'm not a big fan of the paranormal genre. Since most of the stories are structured in a contemporary or futuristic setting, the possibilites for creating complex fantasy worlds are endless and PNR authors unleash their imaginations and run with it. The majority of them are quite successful and that is great but I feel like the fantasy worlds overshadow the romantic aspects of the stories and I end up bored to tears with all the detail. I'm simple. I like pure romance ...particularly historical. So when I read my friend Fani's review of the first book in a series about vampires in Regency London, my curiosity was piqued. With history already in the books, would it be possible for a PNR story to actually focus on romance?

Absolutely! The Vampire Voss is the first installment in Colleen Gleason's trilogy of the Dracule, a group of wealthy nobleman residing in London at the turn of the 19th century who, at some point in time, had each sold his soul to the devil in exchange for immortality. Voss, the Viscount Dewhurst, is a mercenary and therefore somewhat of an outcast among the Dracule as his sole purpose for pleasure/profit is to gain vital personal information about a member and use it against him. At 28 going on 150, Voss is rich, fashionable, titled and handsome beyond words, using any of these qualities to seduce women and destroy men - for nothing more than the amusement of the folly.

Until Voss meets Angelica Woodmore. Angelica has the ability to see into the future and embraces the gift wholeheartedly...most notably giving newly betrothed young women a glimpse at what their life will be like when married. This way, the girl can back out of the engagement before it is too late. Just a small step towards equality from Angelica's point of view. When Voss learns Angelica has the Sight, he plans to seduce her to obtain information about her brother, Chas, a notorious vampire slayer. However, his plans are interrupted by another Dracule's intent to kidnap Angelica to use her as bait to bring Chas down. Then Voss becomes her protector.

For most of the book, Voss is warring with himself over his plans for Angelica. If you enjoy stories where the hero is smitten from the start, then this book isn't for you. Voss may be a vampire but ultimately he is a rake and certainly lives up to the reputation. He is intrigued by Angelica and most definitely wants to sink his teeth into her neck, but it doesn't physically incapacitate him...yet. For a while he continues to feed off and have sex with other women. I'm usually put off by this in a story but I accepted Voss' behavior because it was a part of who he had become when he gave himself over to Lucifer. As Voss begins to develop a conscience and doesn't go through with his planned seduction, he is "rewarded" by Lucifer with pangs of intense, white-hot pain. At one point, Voss is so aroused by Angelica he succumbs to the temptation and nips her neck. Poor Voss...now everything is going against him. Angelica is repulsed by the fact he's a vampire, her brother is out to kill Voss for touching her, her reluctant guardian Dimitri (who has his story with Angelica's older sister, Maia, in book 2) wants to kill Voss for a nasty trick Voss played on him 100 years ago, and the pain inflicted by Lucifer gets worse because he didn't take the bite a step further!

Although the ending was a little rushed and I was hoping for more from the "deflowering" scene, The Vampire Voss was a great story with interesting characters, and best of all, was not encumbered by too much detail. Overall, I got exactly what I was looking for - a sexy vampire hero clad in neckcloth and waistcoat...and a solid love story.

4.5****

[Alisha · Rating 4 out of 5]

Quick Take:
An apt subtitle for this book would be "Vampirism: Good for the Body, Bad for the Soul." It's an enjoyable mix of Enlish high-society and paranormal intrigue, wrapped in some beautiful use of the English language.

Vampirism. Sometimes it's a blessing, sometimes it's a curse. In this particular series, it's a chocolate-covered piece of poison, a trick touted as a treat. ^_^ At least, that's the implication based on the plot of this book.

The name of the story makes it pretty clear that, though this is a paranormal romance, the ultimate focus is on the development of vampire protagonist Voss, the Viscount Dewhurst; it just so happens that female lead Angelica Woodmore is the impetus for this change. Given the fact that he's thoroughly selfish and unapologetic--and thus could have been difficult to connect to--I was glad that the author managed to make Voss come off as likable and somewhat relatable.

At first, I was a little bit thrown with the names and titles that come fast and furious at the reader. With a bit of note-taking and further reading, however, it settled into something manageable. What remained was a good dose of intrigue. The pacing of the book is rather like an adventure (there's not a whole lot of sitting about, musing about nothing), but there's also plenty to recognize from the era and the setting of early 19th century London.

One of my favorite aspects of the tale was the language used to describe everything from physical surroundings to dialogues and inner thoughts. I found myself reading extra slowly and savoring the words; I'd like to say that the language melted seamlessly into the background, but it was just so…pretty (but NOT overly flowery). It made everything else--the characters, the plot--that much more...more. (Ha; clearly I don't possess any of Gleason's aptitude for vivification!)

When reading a vampire story, which is undeniably trodden territory, it's nice to find little details that add a little something different to the lore. In this world, it's the Asthenia (weakness). Each vampire has a different one, acquired upon first sealing their pact with the devil to become an immortal. It could be an apple, a ruby, a hyssop plant…but in each case it's proverbial kryptonite for a vampire, who thus holds it as his or her most precious secret. This element came into play a fair bit, and definitely provided some interesting twists.

I was surprised to find that I was most drawn to two supporting characters, the Earl of Corvindale (a vampire) and the eldest Woodmore sister, Maia. There was great potential for angst (the juicy kind) and passion in that dynamic, but it was hidden underneath the solid, stoic exteriors of both hard-headed individuals. I look forward to their further interactions, which will be the focus of book two (unsurprisingly titled The Vampire Dimitri).

All in all, this is a decent series opener. If you're interested in dramatic London high-society covered with a layer of paranormal, you should give this book a shot.

[Cheesecake · Rating 2 out of 5]

I liked that this was a darker than usual take on vampire romance. The vampires are actually somewhat evil from their curses. But I found I couldn't connect with Voss. I wanted to like him, but in the end (kind of a pet peeve of mine), he never truly apologizes for being a so-and-so to her. Like his 'change' of heart in the end wipes the slate clean. I like a wee bit more groveling (or any groveling at all).
I was unconvinced he would stay true to Angelica. There's a lot of chemistry between them, but no real emotional connection, that I felt.
safetyvoss is sexing it up with other women til about 3/4 into the book. After a while I think it was more to keep himself from jumping her bones as she was really kick starting his mojo. There's a scene with an OW near the start. No overt sex but drinking blood in a very sensual way and talking about sharing the OW with a friend. He's just a naughty boy ; )
Angelica and Voss don't have sex til almost 90% in.

[Mandi · Rating 3 out of 5]

Known to most as Viscount Dewhurst, Voss Arden, is a 148 year old vampire who loves to be immortal. Voss, along with his other vampire brethren were not born into this lifestyle. Lucifer came to them individually in a dream, leaving his Mark on them, and when they awoke, they were vampire. They have found others throughout their life, and have banded together in a sense. Voss thrives on learning other people’s secrets. Knowing information is the key to many things and he makes it a game to learn as much as he can about others. While he is not gaining intel, he is usually bedding and drinking from many women. His newest conquest is to learn which of the Woodmore sisters has The Sight.

Angelica Woodmore learned from an early age that when she touches an object belonging to someone else, she can see a picture of this person’s death. So she is able to estimate how old and where this person will die. This is a curse and a blessing. She currently charges people for use of her Sight, and uses the money to fund an orphanage. But she has also seen her sister’s future deaths, and carries this burden within herself.

Now, Angelica’s brother Chas has disappeared with Narcise Moldavi. Narcise is Cezar Moldavi’s sister. Unknown to Angelica, Moldavi is a vampire, and not well liked by other vampires. With previous instructions from Chas, Angelica and her sisters new guardian until Chas returns is Dimitri. Dimitri is also a vampire, one that doesn’t want to be saddled with mortal women, but will keep them safe at all costs. Dimitri and Voss have a complicated history, and are not on the best terms. When Voss starts sniffing around Angelica, vampire tensions flare. But it is when Moldavi makes an appearance, Angelica needs to decide who she is safer with.

The Vampire Voss is the first in a new series by Colleen Gleason. I have previously read her other historical paranormal series, The Gardella Chronicles and absolutely adore those books. In this series however, each book does have a HEA at the end.

What I like about this book is the world. The idea that Lucifer visited these people later in their lives and turned them into vampires is a neat concept. Also, each vampire has a weakness – it can be anything as simple as an apple, or gold. Voss’s weakness is the hyssop plant. When near it, he becomes very weak. Obviously, each vampire guards this weakness with much secrecy. And of course these weaknesses intrigue Voss to no end.

I immediately liked Voss in this book. He is very conceded and arrogant. The backdrop of frilly balls and London ton society paired up with violent vampires is a really fun scenario. I also liked Angelica. However, I never really fell for their romance. I never believed in Voss’s transformation from vampire rake, to romantic love interest. I remember looking down at my Kindle and I was 3/4 into the book thinking how in the world are these two ever going to get together. He is still sleeping with other people late into the book. I agree Voss needed time to go from conceded, blood thirsty vampire to a man Angelica could love, but I think this occurs way too far into the book. I needed more time to be convinced for their love for each other.

Vampire Dimitri, Angelica’s guardian has some really great sexual tension with Angelica’s sister Maia. There chemistry totally outshines Voss and Angelica. Thankfully his book is next and I really look forward to seeing him in action.

The Vampire Voss didn’t quite do it for me in the romance department. I hope in the next book, Dimitri can bring it.

Rating: C

[JoRead · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mystery, action, romance. Everything I could have ever wanted in a vampire story and more I found in Dark Rogue. I kept biting my nails and pulling my hair almost until the end because it wasn’t until then that ALL questions are answered. And then the hero, well, if you want to call him that, is almost an anti-hero. But it's that attitude of his and his own self-acceptance what makes him so attractive; his unapologetic behavior is what makes him such a great rogue. In general, the beauty of this book is the transformation, not only of one character but of the many that one single revelation causes and how their lives become affected by it.

It’s very hard indeed, at least for me, to find that author that knows how to weave a good paranormal world inside the very pompous Victorian era and I’m happy to I have found that author in Colleen Gleason. 4.5 stars.

[Jess the Romanceaholic · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love vampire novels, and I adore regency romances, and yet for some reason I've never found a book that blended both worlds seamlessly. Until now.

The Vampire Voss had many of the ingredients that I love in historical romances to begin with: an outcast hero, secrets, and an innocent woman thrown into the mix of danger by forces completely out of her control.

What worked for me:
* I was enthralled by the world of the Dracule, and the history and mythology surrounding the group. It was nice to see a world where vampires really were the result of a bargain with Lucifer, and where good ol' Luc was forever unseen in the background prodding his children to indulge in selfishness and evil.

* I really liked Angelica as well, and the twist of her inherited "power" was one I hadn't heard before.

* The idea of each vampire having an individualized "Achilles Heel" so to speak was an unexpected and welcome addition to traditional vampire mythology, and definitely leaves open some very intriguing possibilities for future novels.

* I have to say that the fact that this seems to be the pilot novel in a forthcoming series makes me a very happy woman. I'm highly anticipating the follow-up novel(s), which will hopefully explore some of Voss' Dracule brethren.

* I especially liked the twist at the end with the balcony. While some might say that it was a bit cliche, I tend to enjoy cliche when done correctly, as I feel this instance was.

What didn't work for me:
* The pacing did seem a bit slow at times, which made it hard to stay focused on the story.

* I admit that there seemed to be an overabundance of characters at time, and I found myself getting confused as to which character was which.

Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed it, and as such I say 3.75/5 Stars

[Michelle, the Bookshelf Stalker · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 out of 5.

Here is my problem- I finished this book, thought it was pretty good but I wasn't wowed by it. However, I don't think it was the author's fault or the story, I think I'm just tired of vampire stories or certain paranormal stories and I want more out of my book.I just found myself yawning while reading and it wasn't in the middle of the night.

Here is my other problem, I remember what I didn't like about the story, but can't remember much good other than I finished it.

What I didn't like-
1) Voss- the author makes him to be an unlikeable character at the beginning. Usually when the author does this, the readers learn of the main character's redeeming qualities later in the story. Or, we find out the reasons why we don't like him. However, in The Vampire Voss, Voss's character just rubbed me the wrong way (not the good kinda rubbing!).
2) The pace of the story- ok, well that explains the earlier yawning. It was really slow at parts.

This is a scattered brained review and maybe I'll rewrite it when I can think about it more but overall, I liked the story but wasn't wowed.

[Yodamom · Rating 4 out of 5]

Colleen Gleason, writes with great attention to historical detail, making it easy to lose oneself in the tale. It is the time of Emperor Bonaparte, he is preparing to war with England. The rules of society are very strict, women are coddled. The world is unaware of the Draculia that live among them, powerful and wealthy. They are immortal and live off their blood, leaving humans mostly unaware. They are mostly alone rarely trusting one another. Voss, one of the least trusted, collects weaknesses and blackmail evidence on all of them. To him "information is power". The Dracuiia are hunting for the Woodmore women, there have been rumors they have abilities that may be of value. Dimitri, their temporary guardian becomes tangled in a fight of wits and blood to save the girls. One of the girls is kidnapped and the Darculia most try to put aside their mistrust to save them.

The Draculia are cursed, powerful, manipulative, inhuman, and vicious at times. They are also loving, careful and sexy. I really enjoyed this vampire book it was more vampire and less romance.

[Sonette · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was a totally unexpected but amazingly enjoyable read. I have been wanted to read the Gardella Vampire Series by Colleen Gleason, recommended to me by a Goodreads friend, for quite some time now and just never seemed to get around to it. The Vampire Voss was therefore the first of her books that I have picked up and I must admit I am adding Colleen Gleason to my favourite author list right after I finish this review.

SUMMARY

This book follows Voss, Lord Dewhurst, a 140 something year old Vampire living in regency England. As I don’t want to spoil anything for those of you who have not read the book as yet I shall stick with the Goodreads summary on this one, which goes something like this:

Regency London – a dizzying whirl of balls and young ladies pursued by charming men. But the Woodmore sisters are hunted by a more sinister breed: Lucifer’s own. Voss, also known as Viscount Dewhurst, relishes the sensual pleasures immortality affords. A member of the Dracule – a cabal of powerful, secretive noblemen marked with a talisman that reveals their bartered souls – the mercenary Voss has remained carefully neutral… until Angelica. Angelica Woodmore possesses the Sight, an ability invaluable to both sides of a looming war among the Dracule. Her very scent envelops Voss in a scarlet fog of hunger – for her body and blood. But he is utterly unprepared for the new desire that overcomes him – to protect her.

WHAT I LIKED

The Vampire Voss has everything that I like in a book. It is set in Regency England, it’s a romance with a fantastical twist and has a dark and sinister edge. What more could one really want? I absolutely loved the characters in this book. The author fleshes out the characters to such an extent that it allows you to really connect with them and become invested in what their futures will bring. At first Voss’ arrogance and pure obsession with the pursuit of pleasure is quite irritating and it seems that he has no hope of ever being likable in any way. But you soon realise that this is exactly the intention of the author with the development of this character and is an ideal description for a vampire over a hundred years old who does not have to answer to anyone or anything (except Lucifer that is). The world created by the author is very believable and this new twist to vampire lore was very interesting. I love that the characters are not portrayed as inhumanly perfect as characters some times are, but that they have their own faults and failings to deal with throughout the book.

WHAT I DIDN’T LIKE

Although there was a lot of action in this book I would not say that it was truly a page turner. I am putting this comment in the “Didn’t Like” Section of the review, although it did not really bother me that the book was not very fast paced. I still finished the book in one sitting, reading until well into the early hours of the morning. At singular points throughout the book I became a bit irritated and felt like the author was pushing Voss’s obsession with satisfying his lusts a bit too far but I must admit that this did not hinder my overall enjoyment of this book. To tell the truth there was not much that I disliked about this book and it’s really not just because I’m feeling generous at the start of the weekend.

SO WHAT’S THE VERDICT?

A good solid read that puts a very interesting spin on all things Vampire. This book is an absolute must read for any vampire/history/romance fan! I cannot wait to read more of this series! Two thumbs up without any doubt!

WHAT’S NEXT?

The Vampire Voss is followed by The Vampire Dimitri by Colleen Gleason and having had a glimpse of Dimitri in the first book in the series I cannot wait to read more about him.

[jD · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is scheduled to be released on March 22.

This is my first Colleen Gleason book and I can see that she is talented but the book had too much going on and it was not well organized. There were technical and creative flow problems. On the technical side, my ebook was not well formatted on my Kindle. At least I hope that was the problem otherwise, readers will get frustrated with conversations and scenes bleeding into one another. I had to constantly reread to find where the break was supposed to be. The creative flow problem hit me straight off. I did not like the feeling that I was dropped into the middle of a story or a rapidly moving stream of people. It felt like the continuation of a previous book but it is referred to as the first in a series.

On the plus side, I love the period -- England cowering in fear of Napolean while referring to America as the colonies. Gleason did a superb job of describing the complex layers of clothing from that period and the strigent social rules. It is clear she did her homework. She also did a great job of building Voss into an unrepentent rake. He was a very naughty boy. Of course, as with all romance books, we need to see him brought low by a heroine he does not see coming. That would be Angelica. She is the sister of a vampire hunter named Woodmore (family name) who has run off with a evil vampire's sister. The vampire badguy was not amused and wants his sister back or revenge thus he targeted the Woodmore sisters. This element of the story was never developed to my satisfaction, it only provided motive for conflict.

Woodmore has left his three unmarried sisters in the care of Demetri, a vampire, that is his friend. Demetri and Voss are frienemies but mostly enemies. Voss knows that the sisters have Gyspy blood and that one of them has the 'sight' and can see true death. He wants unfettered access to that knowledge so he goes after Angelica once he sorts out she is the one. After an awkward and slow start, the book goes through scenes like lightening with Voss in a perpetual state of bloodlust mixed with random sex while plotting to bleed and deflower Angelica. To her credit, she is not dumb and doesn't make it easy for him once she finds out he is a vamp. I liked that.

This story is written in third person so the pov changes constantly. Ms. Gleason puts all her energy into the characters thoughts and words. I don't think she described trees and weather but she was long winded about wall coverings and fabic colors. We go from Voss's thoughts to Angelica to her sister Maia, to Demetri, to the brother...rapidly. Ms. Gleason does take the time to wrap-up all the confusion before it's said and done so that took some of the headache out of the pace. The vampire legend is well done. They have made a pact with Satan, they have his mark which is used to control them with pain. They can't stand direct sunlight and must drink blood. There is one twist that I found interesting, each one has a weakness that they hide. The weakness makes it easier to kill them. Voss's was a plant while Demetri's was rubies.

I believe this book will find a following for those who like this historical period along with their paranormal romance. There is plenty of humor. I did laugh out loud a few times, I confess. The romance moves too fast and does not really seduce the reader but the characters are interesting with bold personalities.

[Jen Davis · Rating 4 out of 5]

In his nearly 150 years on Earth, Voss has thought little of anyone or anything except himself. He is a smooth talking seducer, who spends his time making conquests and finding ways to best others. It was those very failings in his personality which led Lucifer to extend the offer to make him a vampire all those years ago. And it's what leads him to pursue Angelica as our story begins.

Angelica was born with psychic gifts that Voss hopes to use to his advantage. But once he meets the young girl, he finds himself drawn to her. Even though Angelica's brother is a vampire hunter --and her new guardian is a vampire, she knows nothing of the supernatural beyond her own abilities. Of course, once she meets Voss, that changes in short order.

Voss isn't the only vampire who wants Angelica. Another vamp is after her too... only he is out for revenge against her brother. Voss quickly becomes her protector against the danger... and for the first time, he is fighting his own baser instincts to do right by the woman he is falling for.

It took me a little while to get into this book. My favorite supernatural books tend to be dark. And this one isn't. Voss isn't a tortured hero. He's a golden boy, who has to learn humility. And while he is charming, it was hard for me to get very emotionally invested in him. That was even more the case as he continued boffing other women as he allegedly pined for Angelica. About halfway through the book, I found myself growing more interested in the story. By that point, Gleason was weaving threads through several characters and storylines, which will no doubt set-up the next two books in the Regency Draculia series.

As for the sex. Well, there isn't much to speak of. Don't get me wrong, Voss is humping all over the place. But most of what happens on-page is a lot of virginal pining as well as some kissing and a little wandering hands. The book is nearly over when our couple seals the deal. And while that scene isn't exactly chaste, it didn't make me blush either.

In all, it was good, light read, that got better the further I got into it. I liked the world building and most of the characters. And I find myself looking forward to Dimitri's book. 4 stars.

[Judithe · Rating 4 out of 5]

As we all know, a deal with the devil, or Lucifer, never works out quite how the promise seems. Viscount Dewhurst, or Voss, lives a life of pleasure and mischief after taking the deal offered by Lucifer to become a Dracule. As two factions of the Dracule line up on opposing sides, he stays neutral, until he gets drawn in over a woman. She is Angelica Woodmore, gifted with the sight and the second of three sisters. This story whirls them through Regency England and into the Dracule conflict.

This is the first story of the three Regency Draculia novels coming out this year (2011). I love vampires stories, and enjoyed finding one with some different little twists on the vampire myth. Ms. Gleason's description created a clear view into that world, without going overboard. The characters were interesting, and so were there interactions, though I didn't feel a strong "connection" with them so to speak. At the start, I really didn't like Voss, and as this was his story, was rather worried the entire story would be pulled down because of it. The pace picked up fairly quickly, and Voss and company became more interesting as the story moved along. I wouldn't have expected the ending based on the start of the story, but Ms. Gleason deftly moved it there. This is the first I've read of her work, and it was quite an enjoyable read. I'm looking forward to reading the rest of this series, and exploring some of her other novels, too.

My thanks to Net Galley and MIRA Books (Harlequin) for providing this ARC.

[Kaity · Rating 5 out of 5]

Review originally posted on Bitten Books and given 5 stars.

This book was an absolutely brilliant blend of the best aspects of historical romance and paranormal romance. I love the masquerades and other parties, gentlemen's clubs, forgotten propriety and general atmosphere of historicals. Gleason fit those all in seamlessly with my favorite paranormal aspects; a dark, cocky vampire hero, heart racing plot, seduction and especially the heroine's discovery of another world. This is the first historical paranormal romance I've read. I was expecting the different halves of the book to clash and stand out from one another. Instead, everything flowed wonderfully and I was left completely immersed in a supernatural regency England. I would definitely recommend this to any readers familiar with one genre and looking to try out the other, you won't be disappointed.

Not only was this new England as pleasure to read about, but I also fell completely in love with Angelica and Voss. Often times when the hero starts out as a rake, he doesn't remain in character after meeting the heroine which many readers find frustrating including myself. Gleason did an amazing job keeping Voss true to himself, allowing him to grow and not torment the reader too much while doing so. Angelica was a dream come true to read about. I adored her. She was funny and unbelievably caring. She wasn't weak but at the same time I felt she was very true to the time period.

I have very few complaints about this book. First off, I hated Chas and Maia and I think we were supposed to like them, especially since the sequel features Maia. I found her annoying and obnoxious. I liked Chas until he actually appeared in the story, then he became an inconsiderate, self righteous jerk. Maybe the reader is meant to feel this way, because I certainly don't see anything redeemable about him. Several pages from his 'POV' lead me to believe otherwise though. I really trudged through those pages though, definitely didn't need a love scene for a character I hated. My last, very minor issue, was with the prologue. I actually enjoyed it after I got a few chapters in, but I was very confused at first and that through me off. I'm not sure a reader who picked up the book in a store who reads the first few pages is going to get a feel for how the book really is.

Anyway, the negative aspects of this book were easy for me to ignore since the rest of the book was absolutely amazing. The masquerade was perfect. I haven't read anything so heart pumping and delicious in ages. The entire book could have been confusing and poorly done, and I still would have loved it just for this single scene.

To end this review, I want to briefly touch on the conclusion of the book, without spoiling anything of course. The last few chapters literally made me squeal. I loved it. The ending was deeply romantic and I've never encountered that type of solution to the blood lust issue before.

[Kt · Rating 3 out of 5]

When their brother goes missing, the Woodmore sisters are placed in the care of a very reluctant Earl, in order to protect them from evil members of the Dracule. Lord Dewhurst, or Voss has always prided himself on his conquests of blood and flesh. However that all changes when he meets Angelica Woodmore. She isn't like the others, least of all being her Sight abilities. Even though they come from opposite worlds, they are quickly drawn to each other. Voss finds himself wanting to protect her, but what is the bigger threat; the opposing members of the Dracule, or he himself who longs with the desire to feast upon her flesh.

I've only read one other "period" book in the past, so it took me a little while to get used to rules of propriety and the other mannerisms of the book. The rules of propriety and other things were slightly baffling to me, but the author did do a good job of setting them up well. In fact I actually didn't care for the main character's sister, Maia at first since she continually lectured Angelica on propriety as well as controlled her with "an iron fist." However, after reading the entire book I realize that Maia was actually being a very good sister, by ensuring that Angelica didn't socially sabotage herself. The book is set in such a time where a proper lady's only goal in life is to marry well and produce at least one heir. I have a feeling I will enjoy the next book more, as I have had time to get used to the setting, and the society's rules, so less of my focus will be spent on those ideas.

While Voss's and Angelica's relationship was very slow in progression, I enjoyed their relationship. Looking back, I think the slow progression actually makes sense given the time period and the level of society they were in. I am glad that despite the risks, Angelica was bold at times and stepped outside of propriety's strict rules and mannerisms to at least explore a little bit between her and Voss. Of course several complications arise that severely set back their relationship several times, but at least she gave it a chance at all. Perhaps that was why Voss was drawn to her in the first place, she has an inner strength and fire that none of the other women did.

The book's pacing was rather slow in the beginning, and the shifting perspectives didn't really help me get pulled into the story at first. I prefer a book to either grab a hold of me with action immediately or at least draw me into the character's right away. However, that being said the further I read in this book, the more attached I got to the characters. I enjoyed the ending resolution, being a turn I did not see coming. I'm actually looking forward to the next book about Dimitri and Maia, as they were both characters I didn't particularly care for in the beginning, but definitely grew on me. All in all it was a pretty good read, even more so if you love reading about regency London.

[Kitt · Rating 3 out of 5]

Previously posted at Paperback Dolls.

The Vampire Voss is the first in Colleen Gleason’s exciting new Regency Draculia Trilogy. Set in 1804 London, Ms. Gleason mixes two of my favorite genres together – the paranormal and the historical romance – something I wish more authors were out there doing.

I haven’t had the pleasure of reading Ms. Gleason’s Gardella Vampire series (although I do own them and hope to get to them soon!) so this is my first time into her world. I like how she was able to capture everything we love about both genres. The masquerades, the parties, the gentleman’s clubs, and propriety of a historical while still enabling us to feel as though we’re reading the paranormal.

I also liked her heroine, Angelica Woodmore. She’s not particularly funny, witty, or even incredibly intelligent. She’s just average with one exception – she has an ability known as ‘Sight’ where she’s able to see the death of whomever she comes in contact with. This particular gift is what has gotten the interest of our hero piqued.

Voss Arden, Viscount Dewhurst, is a member of the Dracule – a man who’s made a Covenant with Satan himself leaving him with the Mark. This ‘Deal’ gives him power, strength, immortality and complete freedom with no consequences for his days on earth or the actions thereof. Except, there’s a problem with Voss that I just can’t get past- he’s spoiled, selfish, arrogant, egotistical. Mostly he’s a manipulator. While he loves to collect his information and solve his puzzles or make jests and games he only aspires to trick and manipulate and to take from others for his own gain – this includes Angelica.

At no point do I feel Voss is redeemed. His attempt at the end feels like just a little too small, a little too late. Because of this, I also wasn’t sure of what I was reading. While I know this is a historical paranormal romance it reads more like an urban fantasy- the romance just wasn’t there. By over two thirds of the book, Voss and Angelica still don’t even like each other, though, Voss being more indifferent than anything. And by the time the ‘I love yous’ do surface, it was like a blow from left field and I have never been a fan of the ‘love conquers all’ adage.

It’s always hard as a voracious reader to find anything new, so when I do, it’s always a pleasure to find an idea so fresh. Ms. Gleason’s storytelling and writing are an intriguing mix of the traditional and the unique with smex appeal. While I wasn’t a fan of Voss, I was one of The Vampire Voss and I can’t wait to ‘meet’ Dimitri in his book, The Vampire Dimitri, releasing next month.

Book provided by Mira. (NetGalley)

[Sana Zameer · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 Stars

Colleen Gleason has been on my TBR for ages and I regret reading this so late. What an enjoyable read this was. I liked Gleason's writing style. It was discriptive but not too flowery and it had a distinct vibe of the Victorian era that I enjoy very much. Her spin on vampire mythology is unique and interesting. Her vampires are evil, blood-thirsty creatures of the night, who are vicious. Each of them are visited by Lucifer himself, in a dream, and given the gift of immortality after they have sold their soul to the devil to do his biddings. They have a mark on their back that signifies their broken soul. Each vampire has a weakness to something. It's their "Kryptonite" and it can be any common thing, like a plant or gem. The Draculia protects this secret at all costs from each other.

Now about the plot: I think the author handled the romance and paranormal aspects of the book quite well. The pacing got a bit slow in the middle and it got heavier on the paranormal side which I really didn't mind. The characters were well developed and relatable. Voss Arden, the Viscount Dewhurst is kind of an anti hero. He is selfish, immoral and a trickster. He collects oiher peoples secrets to gain leverage over them. He is an unapologetic manwhore who only uses other people for his gain. Voss is a very complex character and he's the one I most enjoyed reading about. Even with all his bad behaviour I couldn't help falling for him.
Angelica Woodmore has the gift of sight. She can see other peoples death. That is how she met Voss, when she predicted his friend's demise. Her gift can be dangerous if it's in the wrong hands, so Voss try to keep her safe from a vicious vampire, Cezar Moldavi, who's trying to get back at Angelica's brother Chas by abducting her, though Voss have his own nefarious purpose to fulfill.

Another interesting aspect of the story was the underlying sexual tension between Dimitri, the Woodmore sisters guardian, and Maia. They both are strong and hard-headed indivisuals and a promise of an explosive chemistry between them. THis was all in all, a perfect blend of historical and paranormal romance.

[Jessica (a GREAT read) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received this E-ARC from NetGalley.
When I heard about Colleen Gleason's new historical paranormal romance series, I was excited and couldn't wait! The Vampire Voss is different than her Gardella Vampire Chronicles, but still has the same kind of feel to it in some respects.

The vampire rules are about the same, but there might be a detail or two that are different. I will admit, that in the beginning I was a little lost, there was a lot of names floating around, some who were present and others who weren't, so it took me a couple of pages to get caught up. Eventually things do simmer down to just a few names.

This series definitely has some potential. Angelica has a special talent, a morbid one really, in that when she touches a person's personal item, she can see when they will die. And many people are curious about her talent and wish to use her for their own purposes. Including the vampires.

Told in multiple third person point of view, sort of makes things a little hectic because it's hard to tell whose mind we're in at first, but it becomes apparent soon enough.

The storyline was fairly decent. I still favor the Gardella Vampire Chronicles more, but this one wasn't too bad. Vampire hunting isn't the main storyline, so there's a fresh change there. And there's quite a few steamy romance scenes with varying levels of "steam".

All in good fun, and the next two novels will star other characters that we meet in this book as well, so I will be curious to read their stories as well. Overall I give it a 3.5/5 stars. A very nice read, I would've scored it a little higher had all the name dropping not confused me so early on.

[Cheryl · Rating 4 out of 5]

Viscount Dewhurst otherwise known as Voss usually strays from the spotlight. Voss is also part of an exclusive member of the Dracule. Members of Dracule are gentlemen that have been branded with a mark to show that they have given up their souls and became…yep, you guessed it…vampires.

Angelica and her two sisters are under the care of Lord Corvindale, while their brother Cas is gone. Angelica and her sisters are gifted with the gift of “sight.” Angelica embraces the gift, while he sisters depise their gifts. Voss and Lord Corvindale hate each other. So when Voss meets Angelica and learns she has the gift of sight, he plans to use her to get at Lord Corvindale. Voss is surprised by the feelings he has towards Angelica.

I have been a fan of Mrs. Gleason’s, since her Garden Vampire Chronicles series. Her newest trilogy, the Regency Draculia is off to a great start. I thought Voss and Angelica made a nice couple. Angelica is independent and not afraid to speak her mind. Voss on the other hand is not used to a woman like Angelica and needs someone like her in his life. This is why I thought that they made a good couple together. There was not a lot of romance going on in this book but that is alright with me. If there had been a lot of romance, I don't think I would have liked this book as much. The element I liked the most was the historical aspect. It took me back in time and I felt like I was experiencing everything through Angelica’s eyes. The Vampire Voss is one tasty delight. Seconds please!

[Kelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh, my. Oh, ever lovin' my! This book was ridiculously fun to read. It skated the lines between whimsy, romance and sexy vampires with ease. I adored how shallow Voss was sometimes. He fretted about his clothes, his hair, when he'd managed to nab a lady for a quick sip and screw. He has no shame about using his vampire thrall to lure ladies into bed with him. He initially intends to use Angelica's gift for monetary gain. Then he finds himself caring whether or not she'll be harmed. It all went downhill for him from that point on.

The poor guy actually has to restrain both his bloodlust and his desire for her body. Ye, Gods! What horror is this?!?! He has to choose a side between the warring factions of Dracule. He has to go against the very things he's been wallowing in for the past 140 years. *pets him*

Seriously, though, this book was a hoot. The characters were fun to read about, from Angelica's straight talking to Maia's bossiness. From Voss' tendency toward pranks that inevitably go wrong at the worst possible moments to the vampire Dmitri's horror at being named guardian to a trio of mortal girls. The world they inhabit is packed with dark alleys, shadowed alcoves and blood-laced whiskey.

And as every good vampire knows, the dark places are where all the fun happens.

-Kelly @ Reading the Paranormal

[willaful · Rating 4 out of 5]

Current invented vampire mythologies include vampires created by science and those created by, essentially, good magic. Gleason’s mythology is a much more traditional, dark one, in which vampires are made through bargains with Lucifer and controlled through a mark on their shoulder which compels them to do evil. (They can also be made by other vampires, but that's apparently not common.)

Not to criticize any series in which vampires are good (or neutral) but I enjoyed seeing this darker side again, because of all the interesting moral implications. Our hero Voss, though not blatently evil, is self-centered, pleasure seeking and has little difficulty following the demands of his mark (Unlike his antagonist Dimitri, destined to be hero of a later book, who clearly goes through agony resisting his.) But that starts to change when he meets Angelica and finds himself being compelled to drain her blood.

I had some trouble getting into this book. The pace is leisurely, the world-building not that enthralling, and I never really fell in love with the characters. But the last third flew by and I was glad I had stuck it out. Gleason has definitely done something different here in paranormal romance and it was quite satisfying. The upcoming sequels look quite interesting too, one about the long-suffering, evil-resisting vampire Dimitri and one about a female vampire in love with Angelica's vampire-hunter brother.

[Maloup · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you've read and loved Gleason's Gardella Vampire Chronicles , you will enjoy this very much! I'm a huge fan, so this may be bias.

Voss reminds me of Sebastian (Gardella Vampire Chronicles) except he's twice the rake! A vampire member of the Draculia with no concern for anyone but himself; until he meets the lovely Angelica, who has an unique gift and will obviously be danger because of it.

This was a great start to the series. Colleen Gleason never disappoints! It took me a couple of chapters to get into it, but once I figured out all the characters, and the settings, I couldn't put it down!

Combine paranormal, historical with a great romance, and I'm all for it!!

[Rabbit {Paint me like one of your 19th century gothic heroines!} · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was okay. It was good for the genre of paranormal romance, and there was nothing that I seriously disliked, but it didn't wow me as well.

[Ashley · Rating 4 out of 5]

My Review:

The Plot:

It's all about me when it comes to one hundred and forty-eight year old Viscount Dewhurst, better known as Voss. Back from the colonies and ready to resume his rightful place as the now and once again young London Viscount, Voss wastes little time before embedding himself with both the local Draculia and the ton. A very exclusive club, the Draculia have only sworn allegiance to one: Lucifer. All stemming from the same ancestral tree commencing with Vlad the Impaler, each brethren vampire accepted his curse in a dream and now each walk through life immortal.

In the world of rich and titled gentlemen, some collect art, some collect wine, some collect women, and sometimes there are those gentlemen that collect all three. Voss? He collects secrets. Some of these secrets he'll sell to the highest and undiscriminated bidder and others, more importantly one single collection of secrets, Voss keeps entirely for himself and purely for his own amusement. In this paranormal world, each Dracule or vampire has a uniquely individual weakness that if discovered, could spell that vampire's doom. Are the Draculia immortal? Yes. Are they able to defy a beheading, a wooden stake to the heart, or sunlight? No. In addition, each vampire has their own personal bringer of death that can be anything ranging from the absurdly generic like silver, or something more obtuse like a rare hothouse flower. For years Voss has collected these weaknesses amongst his brethren, coyly showcasing his power when need be. And now, in addition to perpetuating his century long and amusing annoyance against the Earl of Corvindale, Voss also seeks the earl's ward who's rumored to have the Sight and all the juicy secrets he hopes to seductively pillage.

While there's nothing new or unique about her older brother vacating his younger sisters for weeks or sometimes months at a time, placing Angelica Woodmore and her older sister Maia under the care of the Earl of Corvindale's guardianship certainly is very much unlike Chas. Not knowing where their brother is or whether or not he's alive, Angelica and Maia try their best to go about their normal life. However, normal is relative for Angelica. Having been cursed with the Sight, Angelica can determine from any artifact when that artifact's owner will die. Having spent years learning to control her visions, Angelica now sells them to the young women in society, helping them with their marriage choices. But something new has transpired or rather developed. Angelica is now having dreams of death and she recognizes the man dying in her recent dream at a ball. How was she to know that by doing what she felt was an obligated duty and telling this man of his death that she would incur the undivided attention of another man who's attention, heretofore, has been firmly focused on himself.

Voss's infatuation with Angelica, while slow to start, is soon steam rolling out of control along with his ability to reign in his more baser and ravenous needs for her blood. Also, for the first time Voss finds himself in the role of protector. He's not the only one after the Woodmore sisters. Their brother Chas has become mixed up with a very deadly and rival faction of the London Draculia: Cezar Moldavi and his minions of Made vampires - vampires not created directly by Lucifer. Moldavi will stop at nothing to find Chas and the Woodmore sisters are the most expedient means of accomplishing his goal. Battling not only countless attacks from Moldavi's vamps but his own vicious need for Angelica, Voss does what he can to keep her safe from both fronts while also preserving the trust that he's painstakingly cultivated. But Voss is coming to rapid and alarming conclusion: he doesn't ever want to hurt Angelica nor steal her secrets for his own personal gain. For once, Voss is determined to take care of someone other than himself.

The Heroine:

Angelica may appear the proper society miss on the outside but on the inside, she's quite rebellious, unfashionably straightforward and blunt. She's also, thankfully, not a dim-witted, too-stupid-to-live heroine having made an early peace with death after being forced to endure its darkness since she was old enough to understand its meaning. When faced with the proof that vampires exist, she's rather repulsed and rightfully terrified but never out of sorts. Angelica takes things with stride while also being quick and sound of mind to fight back when it's her own death possibly on the line. What she can't take is lies and Voss is an oh so smooth liar. His betrayal of not disclosing that he too is in fact a vampire sets back their romance quite forcefully but his unyielding determination to keep Angelica safe makes for a very dangerous infatuation that her heart can't refuse.

The Hero:

Delightfully charismatic and self absorbed, Voss is sheer force bulldozing across the page, overshadowing the pragmatic Angelica on more than one occasion. He's debonair and skillfully charming in addition to the fact that the man has it easy on almost all accounts when it comes to getting what he wants, especially from the ladies. And if there's resistance, well he'll simply use his irresistible thrall to smooth his selfish way.

For 148 years, Voss has thought only of himself and it's more than difficult to break a man of that kind of aged habit. But Angelica poses two incredibly life altering thoughts for Voss that effectively change everything. One, she forces him to recognize the routine of his life and the fact that as an immortal, he'll face the same endless days of shallow entertainment forever. And two, for the first time in 148 years, Voss thinks of not only death, but his own death. Upon these realizations, Voss discovers his life for the emptiness it truly is and it's only in this moment that he makes the choice to do something not for himself, but for another.

My Final Thoughts:

THE VAMPIRE VOSS was a most welcome and pleasurable surprise. True, the novel starts slow and rather disenchanting but as it picks up speed, so did this reader's interest. First, I'll admit to having a thang for self absorbed heroes. The incredible fascination they have with themselves is blinding when that same infatuation falls upon their heroines and Voss and Angelica are no exception. Voss's selfishness, however, is almost a demon in an of itself for it works to taint his budding relationship with Angelica countless times. While I hate to tarnish the book, there are several scenes where Voss sleeps with other women but the man is 148 years old; his wild habits won't be brought to heel quickly. Not only that, his Dracule nature is embedded within this very selfishness and it drives him to commit unheroic acts. I was able to reconcile myself with Voss's "infidelities" as a romance hero because his journey toward the end is endearing and more importantly, its believable.

Angelica, sadly, pales in comparison to Voss but I must say that she is most unique when viewed out from beneath Voss's glowing aura. Likely to be the sole paranormal romance heroine to not find the sucking of blood erotic, Angelica's repulsion of Voss more than instigates him to change, it gave a new feel to paranormal romance. Colleen Gleason's vampires, while most are not overly cruel, their Dracule nature is a burden to them all, a painful one at times even. It's a dark faucet of their nature that is a flaw rather than a virtue. Honestly, it was an interesting dichotomy. But to get back to Voss and Angelica, I enjoyed the pairing. Angelica served to heal Voss and for that, I found her perfect for her role.

Finally, this world of the Draculia is an interesting one and unique amongst paranormal romance which is saying something. For one, the Regency setting not only engages paranormal and historical romance lovers alike, but viewing the cruel world of the Draculia against the tittering backdrop of the London ton, makes for a wonderful dichotomy for it engages an awesome push and pull between propriety and hedonism. Plus, the history of the Dracule is interesting and again, it makes it unique amongst paranormal romance. Suffice it to say that this read stands out and I'm looking forward to whatever new and unveiled surprises that are sure to be had in the following two series installments.

For paranormal AND historical romance lovers, THE VAMPIRE VOSS will be a satisfying indulgence that will surely leave you hungering for more. Enjoy!

4 Stars

[Romanticamente Fantasy · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 - Stelline

" Il mondo di Voss era un conflitto di agonia e sollievo. Quando le labbra di Angelica toccarono le sue, socchiuse e dolci, fu sul punto di gridare di piacere… umide e piene le labbra di lei lo torturarono, mordicchiandolo e leccandolo, mentre il corpo si protendeva in avanti.
Le sue mani gli sfiorarono la pelle rovente e lui sentì la cute del viso tendersi sotto le dita. Di più, di più, voleva di più. Gli sembrava di annegare, risucchiato da un vortice di piacere e dolore assolutamente equilibrati."

Chissà perché noi italiani tendiamo sempre a cambiare i titoli originali delle pubblicazioni straniere o a tradurli in modo… bizzarro.

Questo primo libro che apre la trilogia ha come nome originario “The Vampire Voss”, che poi è anche il protagonista principale di questa storia; l’intoccabile, sexy, spregiudicato e senza scrupoli vampiro draculiano Voss.

Il tutto è ambientato in epoca vittoriana, dove pizzi, merletti e buone maniere fanno da padrone. Il romanzo ha come protagoniste principali le sorelle Woodmore e, chi di voi ha letto la serie precedente, ricorderà il famoso cacciatore Chas. Una delle sorelle in particolare, Angelica, possiede un dono molto speciale, la Vista, un potere che le da la capacità di vedere ciò che accadrà nel futuro delle persone a lei vicine.

Angelica è una donna caparbia, caratterizzata come tutte le donne dominanti della Gleason da ricci nerissimi e occhi scuri, un carattere non proprio facile da gestire ed un corpo fantastico nascosto sotto metri di merletti.

Voss invece è un Vampiro giovane e prestante di 148 anni, membro della Draculia, un’associazione che ospita l’élite dei vampiri appartenuti a Lucifero, perché da lui in persona sono stati “creati”, attraverso un patto stipulato nel sonno per ottenere immortalità, potere e denaro… tutto ciò che un uomo può desiderare dalla vita insomma.

I suoi simili stanno per iniziare una guerra sanguinaria, per quanto possa esserlo per dei succhiasangue in effetti… e lui ha sempre cercato di stare in equilibrio tra le parti vendendo informazioni ad entrambe le fazioni fino a quando sul suo cammino incontra Angelica, colei che rivoluzionerà tutto il suo essere: l’esistenza, la crudeltà, la possibilità di riscattarsi e per finire l’amore.

Come tutti i libri di quest’autrice che ho letto fino ad ora, la scrittura è molto fluida ma ho trovato Patto col Diavolo un po’ piatto. Anche se la storia scorre abbastanza velocemente e il sex appeal dei personaggi e della loro intimità è alle stelle, credo che i personaggi non siano ancora ben delineati e che manchi di carattere. Temo che dovremo aspettare di valutare l’evolversi della storia nei due capitoli successivi, prima di poter esprimere un parere più completo e definitivo.
.
Maljka - per RFS

[Dangerous Romance Book Reviews · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Vampire Voss
Release Date: March 22nd, 2011
Publisher; Mira
Number of Pages: 384
Genre:Vampire Regency Paranormal Romance

Publisher Blurb: Voss, also known as Viscount Dewhurst, relishes the sensual pleasures immortality affords. A member of the Dracule—a cabal of powerful, secretive noblemen marked with a talisman that reveals their bartered souls—the mercenary Voss has remained carefully neutral…until Angelica.
Angelica Woodmore possesses the Sight, an ability invaluable to both sides of a looming war among the Dracule. Her very scent envelops Voss in a scarlet fog of hunger—for her body and her blood. But he is utterly unprepared for the new desire that overcomes him—to protect her.
Now Voss must battle his very nature to be with Angelica…but this vampire never backs down from a fight.

------------------------

The Gardella Vampire Chronicles, is a series written by Colleen Gleason. She is now writing a spin off series on the Vampires, and this is book one of an upcoming Trilogy. Book Two, The Vampire Dmitri comes out April 19th, only a month after The Vampire Voss.

The Vampire Voss is a wonderful mash-up genre putting together a traditional Vampire mythology (there are some rules specific to her world) with a very fresh, Regency love story. She has spun off from a series about Vampire Hunters to one focusing on the Vampires, and the Vampire Voss will be first in a trilogy.

It is written with deeply nuanced characters with great back stories that Gleason deftly wove throughout the book so you weren’t getting frontloaded with background information, yet at the same time within just a few pages, I knew a surprisingly lot of information.

The story starts with Dmitri, Lord Covingdale playing cards at underground ultra private area of ultra private White’s Gentlemen’s Club, one just for vampires who were offered immortality in exchange for some bad deeds to be paid when called upon by the dark angel himself.

The men (all distant relatives of Vlad Tepes) were offered this gift/curse in a dream, most not even realizing what they were signing up until too late. Dmitri is a very controlled, locked down man many think of as cold. Dmitri has made an ally of Chas Woodmore, a vampire hunter and agreed if anything happens to Chas, he will take on his three sisters as their guardian. Why would a Vampire hunter trust a vampire with his closest relatives? Because Dmitri has not imbibed in human blood in over 140 years and suffers terrible pain from the mark on his back that Lucifer uses to try to control the men, rather then do so and because Dmitri is doing everything he can to find some way to remove the mark and Satan’s control over him.

Back in Vienna 140 years ago an event occurred that burned down Dmitri’s beautiful home, took the life of his mistress and nearly cost him his life in the bargain. Into Whites walks the man he blames for this, The Vampire Voss; a good looking, charming, hedonistic, selfish bastard, who thrives on learning other people’s weaknesses so he can use the information, sell it, or just tuck it away to play terrible pranks. Voss is like that cousin you have that drives you nuts. He isn’t evil, yet anyway, but the results of his pranks can be deadly and Dmitri hates him. Voss can’t figure out Dmitri’s abstinence. In his mind, that’s just wasteful.

Voss comes delivering some information; Chas Woodmore the Vampire Hunter has inexplicably run off and eloped with a vampire, Narcissa Moldavi. She is the sister of Dmitri’s sworn enemy Cezar Moldavi. Moldavi blames Dmitri for the loss of his sister and is going to exact revenge on both Dmitri and on Chas’s sisters. Dmitri realizes this means he will have to take in and protect the girls, two of whom it is said have “the sight”, inherited from their Gypsy ancestress, which allows them to touch an object and know when the person who owns it is going to die.

As the story continues, Dmitri is furious his carefully ordered life is going to be thrown in havoc by his promise to protect the girls but he’s the kind of guy who will keep his word even if it kills him, something he begins to think might happen. There are attacks by the evil Cesar Moldavi’s minions, Angelica’s gift makes her a target by the enemy as well as one by Voss who has his own agenda, and even worse, the oldest Woodmore girl Maia follows him around scolding, badgering and making demands. You can almost feel Dmitri wanting to tear his hair out.

Voss wants to figure out which of the girls has this gift, and then seduce her and find out information he can sell to the highest bidder, like for example…”when will Napolean die?” When he meets Angelica at a ball and realizes she is the one he is looking for, he tries to enthrall her but it doesn’t work, probably due to her gift. It looks like he is going to have to do this the old fashioned way, relying on his goodlooks and charm, and also do it avoiding her new guardian Dmitri, who attempts to block him at every turn. The problem is, the more he is around her, the more difficult it is for him to proceed with being a bastard because Angelica isn’t just beautiful and smart, for the first time in his life he meets a woman who makes him want to be a better man, and arousing protective instincts he didn’t know he had.

What follows is a fast paced exciting Regency , filled with twists and turns, Vampire politics and sensual romance all set during the Napoleonic wars. Where Ball’s and masquerades and musicale’s are mixed with kidnappings, bloody attacks at Brothels. Threats from the outside are exacerbated by squabbling between reluctant allies on the inside.

The book is told through Dmitri and Voss’s point of view more than Angelica’s although the it does switch occasionally to her. I’ve read some complaints that some reviewers had a hard time following the switches in POV, but other than one scene that suddenly and oddly switched to Chas and Narcisse’s story, which seemed to come out of nowhere, I had no difficulty following the change in who was telling driving the action.

Voss was is not your ordinary hero, he is someone who relies on his wits and his scheming so he can continue doing what he loves best, being a party boy, and before now he hasn’t spent a lot of time worrying about what is going to happen to him in the afterlife. He was too busy living life to the fullest in his extended time on earth. After his friend dies however, despite Angelica’s psychic warning, he becomes obsessed with death and talks at length to Angelica about her gift; asking her how she has dealt with the knowledge of when everyone she loves will die. He basically kidnaps her to protect her from Moldavi and then realizing he cannot control himself around her, he gives her back to Dmitri but despite Dmitri and her brother threatening to kill him if he comes near her again, he can’t seem to stay away. The scenes with him sneaking into her room were some of the best in the book. At one point while he is hiding he sees one of the footmen trying to seduce one of the maids and he critiques the man’s performance. It’s hilarious.

Ultimately, The Vampire Voss is about triumphing over evil inclination and choosing redemption. I’m really looking forward to the next installment, which will be Dmitri’s book and I can’t help but wonder how Gleason is going to make Maia seem sympathetic as she made her into a shrew in this book, but perhaps she will have Dmitri turning into a Vampire version of Petrucchio.

L.Blanchard
www.dangerousromance.com

[Kimberly · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you've read The Gardella series, you'll love this book. There's someone from that series that makes an appearance in this book.

This story takes place in London, England in the early 19th century in the midst of Society's social season.

When the Woodmore sisters are left in the capable hands of the Earl of Corvindale by their brother, Chas, a vampire hunter on the run, the sisters have no idea that their guardian is also a vampire. Angelica has the Sight, a gift she treasures. She has the ability to see someone's death before it happens. There is one evil vampire, Cezar Moldavi, who will do anything to utilize her gift. It just happens that her brother ran off with the vampire's sister and fell in love putting his sisters in danger.

Angelica meets the vampire, Voss, the Viscount Dewhurst, at a party. He's known to manipulate any situation to his liking, having no allegiance to anyone but himself. But meeting Angelica changes his world. Each vampire has Lucifer's Mark on their back, influencing their every move, it's painful when they ignore his demands. Voss finds himself intrigued with the beautiful woman enough to fight the devil and his wants

When she is captured, he goes after her to free her from Moldavi and finds himself in love with her. Fate steps in and he gets a second chance at life.

A must read!

[Mariachiara · Rating 3 out of 5]

In America e Inghilterra a Maggio 2011 si è già conclusa (forse) la pubblicazione della nuova serie vampiresca di Colleen Gleason intitolata Regency Draculia, simile per tematica ed ambientazione alla saga Gardella. Dico forse, perchè, a mio avviso un continuo ci starebbe.....vedremo.

Per ora di trilogia si tratta ed è composta dai libri:

1.The vampire Voss.

Voss, conosciuto anche come Visconte Dewhurst, ama essere un vampiro. Egli è un membro dei Dracule, una setta segreta e potente di nobili che vendettero la loro anima al Diavolo in cambio della vita eterna e che indossano dei talismani a segno di tale patto. All’interno della setta esistono varie fazioni in guerra fra loro, ma Voss ha sempre cercato di restare neutrale. Ora però ha incontrato Angelica Woodmore, che possiede il dono di poter vedere il futuro. Molti membri della setta vogliono impossessarsi di lei per sfruttare il suo dono, Voss invece anela solo al suo sangue ed al suo corpo. Ne è innamorato e spetterà a lui proteggerla dagli altri vampiri.

2. The vampire Dimitri

Dimitri, conosciuto anche come Conte di Corvindale, dovrebbe essere felice del fatto che la sua pupilla, la testarda Maia Woodmore, stia per sposarsi con un nobile umano e molto ricco. Essendo membro dei Dracule, prendersi cura delle sue protette umane, non è stato semplice, ma finalmente questo matrimonio lo libererà della più difficile delle tre ragazze, quella che più tenta i suoi appetiti.

3. The vampire Narcise

L’Inghilterra vittoriana è in guerra con Napoleone, ma questo poco importa agli immortali Dracule che sono già in guerra tra loro. Narcise Moldavi non è altro che una pedina in questo scontro, un’arma che suo fratello usa senza pietà. La seduzione è per lei ormai un mestiere, almeno finché non incontra Giordan Cale e se ne innamora a prima vista. Peccato che lui sia un umano cacciatore di vampiri...

La mia opinione: Ho appena finito di leggere tutta la trilogia e devo dire che è molto piacevole. Avvincente, sensuale e ben scritta, l'unica pecca è forse il fatto che è estremamente tradizionale come tipo di romance. Non aggiunge nulla di nuovo, o quasi al genere. La struttura delle trame e il modo in cui le coppie interagiscono è tipico di tantissimi romance, solo la figura del vampiro, che qui è un umano che ha fatto un patto con Lucifero e ne porta un doloroaso segno sulla pelle, si distacca lievemente dalla tradizione......ma già l'idea che la possibilità di redimersi ci sia con semplici buone azioni.....non so, sa di già sentito, specialmente per una che, come me, ha già letto in passato la serie Brotherhood of blood di Kathryne Smith.

Potete leggere il post a lei dedicato qui:

http://weirde.splinder.com/post/18827...

Le somiglianze tra questa serie e quella di dei Draculia della Gleason sono veramente tante e questo mi ha un pò disturbato. Sul serio se si fosse trattato da una somiglianza generica, passi, ma il fatto del segno sul corpo, il richiamo al diavolo e ancora addentrandoci nei protagonisti è impossibile non notare come il personaggio Voss della Gardella somigli al protagonista del libro Taken by the night della Smith, il personaggio Dimitri a quello del libro Be mine tonight della Smith, e Giordan (del romanzo con Narcise) alla protagonista del libro Night of the huntress della Smith, dove c'è appunto una cacciatrice di vampiri che s'inamora di un vampiro......un pò troppe somiglianze se prese tutte insieme......persino le ambientazioni sono simili....

Detto questo il più bel libro della trilogia è a mio avviso il secondo libro, The vampire Dimitri, che un pochino mi ha ricordato il Duca di ghiaccio, di Mary Balogh,ma nel confronto la Balogh vince a mani basse, per un semplice motivo, i personaggi femminili della Gleason non mi convincono. Mentre con i personaggi maschili è molto brava e riesce a crearli diversi ma ugualmente interessanti quelli femminili, non so, sono meno realistici, e sempre un pochino eccessivi in alcuni tratti......specie quando scrive del periodo regency, col contemporaneo invece andava molto meglio. Peccato, di personaggi femmini in questa serie salverei solo Narcise ma anche lei ha i suoi difetti, sarà pure vampira ma è perennemente assatanata.....non so, non mi convince in pieno.

Detto questo ripeto la serie è piacevole, ma non mi ha colpito in modo particolare.

[Fiendishly Bookish · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.75 Stars

Individual conflicts take precedence in Colleen Gleason’s debut book The Vampire Voss, the first in a new Regency vampire trilogy about the Draculia-an ancient race of vampires descended from Vlad Dracul, who have sworn allegiance to Lucifer and in turn carry the mark of the covenant. It is their internal discord, the inescapable warring between the lure of The Mark, and the last remaining vestiges of their humanity that is the true lure in Gleason’s plot.

In Voss, Gleason introduces a moderate swathe of characters early on, setting the stage of not only the first book, but those that will follow in its wake. We get an introduction to two swoonworthy vamps: Voss Arden, Viscount Dewhurst, and brooding Dimitri, the Earl of Corvindale. Later on, we meet Narcise Moldavi, who has inexplicably disappeared with vampire hunter Chas Woodmore.

Gleason has portrayed Voss as an enigmatic character, who traffics in information much in the way that Lord Akeldama does in Gail Carriger’s Parasol Protectorate series. He exploits it, he barters it, and if needed, he uses it for blackmail. Information has and will always be his ace. When he returns from the Colonies, he has an objective in mind. That is to track down which of Chas Woodmore’s sisters possesses the legacy of Sight and exploit that tidbit of information as best as he can.

With Woodmore missing, his sisters Angelica, Maia, and Sonia have all become the wards of the Earl of Corvindale, a vampir. That liaison places them directly in the bulls-eye of Cezar Moldavi, the leader of a faction of vampir who have a blood feud with the Earl of Corvindale. Even more difficult, there is no love lost between Voss and Dimitri, preventing him from even getting close to the Woodmore sisters. Voss must ferret out which sister is gifted, and utilize that information before Moldavi becomes hot on the trail.

But Voss never envisions getting entangled with one of Chas’s sisters, least of all Angelica Woodmore, and forced to flee with her in tow to escape Moldavi’s minions. He wants to deflower her, exploit her power, and drink her down. At times even he cannot discern if it his exclusive desire, or the Mark inducing him. If readers had any illusions of The Vampire Voss being a historical paranormal, where the hero sweeps the heroine up in his arms, black cape swirling in the wind, then they are mistaken. Gleason has woven Voss darkly, with a multitude of conflicts that fester within him. He is the “ungentleman-like” gentleman, the self-indulgent wastrel who keeps his heart, and his vulnerabilities well protected. And the Mark has very real power over his actions. Those traits makes him all the more dangerous, interesting, lavish…and very sexy.

There is a moment…a critical moment where Gleason toys with us, where we almost led to believe that Voss will cross the line even further than he has already by taking Angelica’s blood by force. How far will he go? In that infinitesimal moment, readers grasp Gleason’s characterization of Voss…not as a fop, or a Byron-esque character, but a killer ruled by the persuasion of the Mark. At that moment he is everything Lucifer intended when Voss accepted that unholy covenant over a century before. It’s a heart-stopping moment. Knowing this about Voss evokes dizziness, like gulping down a dram of whisky too fast. His leashed violence is an intoxicating lure and readers will plunge on despite the rocky terrain of the pacing and dialogue, just to see what exactly he will do. Will he succumb?

The Vampire Voss was deeply seductive, darkly thrilling, and I found that Gleason kept me jumping trying to ascertain Voss’s motives, his actions, and what would happen next. The concepts of the Asthenia are brilliant, the Mark, the way that Voss drops Lucifer’s name and calls him “Luce” intrigued me enough to wonder if dear Luce would make an appearance in Gleason’s next books-especially after what happens at the end to Voss. My eyes are also on Dimitri who has fought the lure of the Mark, has deprived himself for decades…all that dark seething under the guise of a gentlemanly Lord…

A Fiendishly Bookish Review (and one grumpy cat)