The Lady Is A Vamp by Lynsay Sands (Argeneau #17)
Paranormal Romance
July 31, 2012
Avon
Reviewed by Helyce
Jeanne Louise Argeneau was on her way home from work when she was kidnapped. Shot with a drug that was probably created in the very labs she works in, she is taken and shackled with chains. When she awakens, it is to look into the face of a very attractive man. When she tries to take control of his mind to get him to release her, she realizes that she cannot and she’s shocked to learn that she has been kidnapped by a man who may turn out to be her lifemate.
Paul Jones is desperate. His daughter, Livy, is very ill. Paul has had to watch her day after day as she gets sicker and nothing the doctors can do will heal her. Because he works at Argeneau Labs, he’s aware of the fact that there are vampires and he decides that this may be Livy’s only hope. If he can get someone to turn Livy, all her pain and suffering will be over. He’s been watching Jeanne Louise and he decides that she is the vampire that he will ask to turn Livy.
Jeanne Louise may not be able to get into Paul’s head, but the reason for her kidnapping becomes clear to her the moment she meets Livy. She senses that Livy is ill and she’s pretty sure that Paul wants Jeanne Louise to change her. But immortals have rules and they are strictly enforced. She is only allowed to turn one person and that one turn is usually saved for your lifemate, especially if they turn out to be mortal like Paul is.
When the choice is taken out of her hands, Jeanne Louise acts without thinking. After all is said and done, she may have found her life mate, but she won’t have the hundreds of years that they’d normally have. Can their relationship survive knowing that Paul will one day die a mortal’s death?
I found this series several years ago and have pretty much kept up with it, even though recent offerings didn’t really have the magic of first few books. I really do love the premise of this series that explores the way vampires came to be using a scientific approach that dates back to Atlantis. I also love that these stories are filled with humor and are not your typical dark paranormal.
This story starts right off with the kidnapping of Jeanne Louise and my initial reaction to that was not good. It felt a bit too much like an earlier book in which Marguerite Argeneau kidnaps a guy who she believes is her daughter’s lifemate. Thankfully, the similarities stop there. We don’t have to wait a long time for things to get moving. Paul is a nerdy science guy and all he wants is to find a way to save his daughter. So he’s not really thinking straight. Even though he’s worked for Argeneau labs, he really doesn’t know a lot about the special abilities that the vampires could have. I liked this about him. It made his character so believably human and I loved how he reacted every time Jeanne Louise did something that he had no clue about.
Jeanne Louis too was very likable. Here she’s come face to face with her lifemate in the most ridiculous of circumstances. The more time she spends with Paul, the more convinced she becomes that he is her lifemate. The whole situation becomes a huge mess when Jeanne Louise and Paul are found and an accident occurs. From here, things move quickly, if a bit predictably.
I think what I enjoyed most about this story was how so many of the previous characters are included. While we don’t get any major updates, their familiarity had a nice feel, kind of like visiting old friends. It’s one of my favorite things about reading a continuing series. I love when the author brings back previous characters.
I did have a bit of an issue with one thing and I’ll address it here under a spoiler alert.
In the end, though, this was not enough to take away from my enjoyment of the story. There was still a lot of humor and Paul and Jeanne Louise had some pretty good chemistry as well. I felt their HEA was really earned after all they went through.
Rating: B-
Recent Reviews:
Vampire Book Club – 4.5/5
The Book Pushers – C
Under the Covers – 4/5
All Things Urban Fantasy – 2/5
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Author’s Website l Series Listing
I did like her books, but 17 already? I have read a few here and there ;)
I enjoyed your review. I too have been let’s say a big big fan and follower of this series too. and also have not liked the last 3 recent offerings as much as previous books. But I actually liked this book much better. I too had the same question as you did Helyce. About the child. It was a first time. Why the author didn’t have Lucian explain it. I don’t know. I still loved the characters and always enjoy visiting them all AGAIN. I WOULD HAVE BEEN HAPPIER IF THEY HAD DINED AT ALEX’S LBV. That would have made it perfect. LOL