Paranormal & Urban Fantasy, Monthly Group Reads discussion

Here is where you can post your thoughts before, during and after the reading The Vampire Shrink.

FYI - i went looking for it online, since my local library system doesn't have any of this author's books, and this one is readily available for free as an e-book. not sure if the ones out there are pirated or legit, but the first 4 places that offered a download of it did so for free.

Oh cool I will have to look that up. I forgot (like a fool) to order it early so I am having to try and find a copy /smacks self.

If anyone is curious, I did an interview with Lynda shortly before Dark Harvest was released.

I really enjoyed the fact that the main heroine didn't automatically fall for the "vampires are real" ideology. It was fun watching her fight that they were real through the novel instead of just having a "oh, okay" reaction to learning about vampires.

My full review can be seen here.

I was never able to find that ebook Michelle, you got a link you can share?

sure thing Tricia...like i said, probably sketchy, but it read just fine for me:

http://pdfdatabase.com/index.php?q=th...

Thanks, I have never seen that site. Oh bah, they want me to pay to use their downloads.

Oh well. I vaguely remember that this book was hard for me to find.. as every time I try and find a copy to purchase its 15 bucks and I just won't pay that much for a paperback LOL.

I need to look back at this story I got it in June as a birthday gift read it liked it and never looked back sadly

hey there Tricia, here is a free link to the book in pdf.:)

http://search.4shared.com/network/sea...

Oh, and Jackie I know what you mean about her not believing in vampires right away. It was really refreshing to have a character take a skeptical stance when someone else says "oh! by the way I'm a vampire.."

Jennifer I saw an article on that site, I think authors were trying to shut it down or something

Be very careful with the file sharing sites. I know a lot of authors who are unhappy with them. I personally won't use them.

I was on Dear Author when authors were talking about privacy it really got to me. I don't think personally I could use them. http://dearauthor.com/wordpress/2009/...

I haven't used it. It seemed too fishy for me, especially with them wanting to charge me.. but not for the book. Was weird.

I am going to try and find it elsewhere, for cheaper then 15 bucks O_o.

Otherwise I will have to find it later from a swap and read it another time.

ack, really? shows what a google search will do for you. sorry, I didn't mean to offend. I usually I go to the library to get my books. >_<

I wouldn't worry about it Jennifer. There are a ton of places who offer books in electronic formate, the only problem is, a lot of those copies are illegal.

Try the library. I know my library has ebooks that can also be checked out. Those are usually unlimited copies too for the obvious reasons.

That's what I will never understand.. is how a library can *lend* an ebook. Without a technology that will yank it from you after a certain time they are basically giving away ebooks..

There is the tech out there that will yank the book back. Basically, you have so many days to read it and then you can't open it again. Or something like that. At least that is what my library says will happen. ;)

Ah ok that makes sense!

i'm totally amused at how we're all more interested in discussing pirate media than the actual book...maybe because the book is just ok, but acquiring more books is way fascinating? total disclaimer: i'm hot in the market for an e-reader, so i'm looking up tons of ebooks and ebook sites, and yes, i've checked out 4shared, and yes indeed library ebooks "expire" after a pre-determined check-out period.

anyhoo, to sorta steer back on topic...

i likewise thought it was an interesting twist that our science-minded heroine wasn't ready to instantly believe that myths walk amongst us. but the constant denial of the book's whole premise got old by the end. if that transition could have somehow been more graceful (nonbelief -> acceptance), i'd have liked the concept a lot better.

the ex? HUGELY annoying. i loved that scene in the beginning with him, where she has her a-ha! lightbulb moment (as in, the lightbulb goes off over her head, and she gets it!) and realizes she was wasting her life pining after bozo. then she lets him tag along for the rest of the book, wtf? couldn't she have just said, "no, i'm going out without you, thanks and bye"??

i thought the mortal, flawed, complex FBI agent was way more intiguing than the super perfect vampire. i was kind of sad that it seemed such a done deal that she'd end up with blondie. anyone read more of these to see if the tension between should i pick the live guy or the dead guy gets played out more?

Oh I hadnt gotten a copy yet is why we were discussing it. I was trying to find a place to get it free (IF legal) otherwise a cheaper place to get the book (15 bucks is the norm from what I have been seeing).

Anyhow I did get it finally and will be throwing in my 2 cents probably next week on the book :)

Michelle wrote: "couldn't she have just said, "no, i'm going out without you, thanks and bye"??"

I agree with you that the way Kismet handled her ex was completely odd. You'd think that, as a psychologist, she'd realize that she's not exactly sending the right signals by saying, "Sure, come with my sexy boyfriend and me to the club!" instead of "Please stay the hell away from me, you control-freak egomaniac." The bathroom with him was also pretty sketchy.

All in all I enjoyed this book, although the back and forth between Alan and Devereux was very frustrating after a while. Kismet's behavior towards Devereux was rather inappropriate for a doctor/patient relationship, but I suppose this is why it's called fiction. Besides that, the psychology aspect, with Kismet thinking Devereux is crazy/delusional instead of actually a vampire, was a quirky twist on the author's part, and highly amusing at that.

Regarding the sequel: Has anyone else had trouble tracking down a copy of Dark Harvest in stores? I had to order it online because the only store "near" me that had it in stock was 45 miles away!

Amanda, i couldn't find the first one anywhere near me. even the library had NO returns for a search for the author's name! hence the e-book hunt in this discussion.

♥Tricia♥ wrote: "That's what I will never understand.. is how a library can *lend* an ebook. Without a technology that will yank it from you after a certain time they are basically giving away ebooks.. "

My library will "yank" a book back after it expires. That's a great feature for me since I sat at my computer trying to figure out how to "send?" it back for like a half hour and gave up. I almost went to the librarian to ask-since I don't like making an ass out of myself in public I didn't. When I tried again it was gone. Magic.

I am going to need to check with my library to see if they offer eBooks! :D