Accidental Sire by Molly Harper
Half Moon Hollow, #6
Paranormal Romance/Comedy/NA
Pocket
July 24, 2017
Reviewed by Tori
Favorite Quote: “We were betrayed by Post-its.”
Fans of Molly Harper will cheer with laughter at the 6th installment in her delightfully outrageous Half Moon Hollow series as she brings Jane Jamison nee Nightingale back front and center when two college students are turned into vampires. Jane is forced to take them under her wing and roof when the events surrounding their turning and abilities come to the attention of the Council and they want answers or else.
First off, I’d like to say the blurb for this book is a bit misleading, but that’s okay because what really happens is far more entertaining. While this can be read as a standalone; the arc is new and the conflict resolves internally, I wouldn’t recommend it. There is a large character base in this series and they pop in and out of the storyline along with references to previous situations at random.
Meagan Keene, a student at the University of KY and friends with Ophelia Lambert, just wanted to get to know the very handsome and sexy Ben Overby better. When they meet up at a party and make plans to see each other again real soon, she didn’t expect it to be 24 hours later, after she is killed in a freak ultimate frisbee accident and turned into a vampire. A very special hybrid vampire who is breaking all the normal vampire rules and freaking everyone out. Then she accidentally turns Ben into a vampire, all hell breaks loose, and she and Ben are swept up and spirited away to Half Moon Hollow, KY so they can be watched over and studied by Jane until she deems them safe for society.
“I know it’s a lot to take in,” Jane told me. “And I’m sorry, but you don’t have a lot of time to mull it over. Also not much choice. It’s pretty much a ‘come quietly or I involve zip ties’ situation.”
Molly Harper’s energetic and zany adventures are the perfect escapism for those who enjoy a strong balance of romance and comedy. From her contemporaries to her paranormals, Harper’s rich and engaging imagination lets loose with her eclectic character, comedic plot lines, and whip smart narrative. Accidental Sire introduces a few new characters and plot thread while bringing us up to speed on past situations and couples. The straightforward storyline along with its invigorating dialogue makes for a fast fun read.
Meagan is Jane Jamison part deux. Her snarky wit, suspicious nature, and expressive inner monologue makes her officially one of my top favorite heroines in this series. Orphaned at a young age, Meagan was raised in foster care which resulted in her inability to form long lasting attachments. Her parents’ deaths and her frequent moves from home to home taught her that everyone leaves her eventually. Regardless of her tragic childhood, she has a created a pseudo family of sorts at college with her besties and maintains a strong sense of self, confidence, and motivation.
Ben Overby is a sweetie. Smart, attractive, and good natured, he is every mama’s dream for their daughter. Dumped by his childhood girlfriend, Gigi from The Dangers of Dating A Rebound Vampire, #3, when he asked her to marry him, Ben escaped the humiliation by going to U of KY and meets Meagan. He never had a desire to be a vampire so his turning is a shock and he doesn’t take it well.
“I had a life before you bit me. I had plans. And they didn’t involve being turned into a vampire. This is not supposed to me be me, OK? I’m the Stiles. I’m the powerless, normal human who sits on the sidelines and watches the people with the superpowers do their thing, and then I help clean up the mess.”
The slow evolution of Meagan and Ben’s relationship is a delightful journey filled with antagonism, humor, sarcasm, and some internal sexual longing. Ben is angry with Meagan for turning him against his will though it was through no fault of her own. He spends a majority of the story alternating between his anger and his attraction to her. Their romance burns very slow but gains ground as they begin to accept their new life.
“I’m not saying I’m crazy in love with you or making a doll out of the hair you leave in the drain or anything. But strong ‘liking you’ feelings, like thinking about you all the time.”
Harper does a fabulous job of balancing the internal conflicts Meagan is dealing with being a vampire, her potential boyfriend/childe hating her, being locked out of social media- with the external conflict of a crazy Council scientist who’s determined to crack her’s and Ben’s genetic code. Through any means necessary. Harper uses the time spent at Jane’s to help crack Meagan’s shell and allow her to bond and accept her new vampire family though the ride is a little bumpy.
She put her hand on my shoulder, gave it a squeeze. “I know you think I’ve been a bit of a bitch through this whole process.”
“Because I’ve actually thought, ‘Wow, Jane’s being a little bit of a bitch right now,’ and you read my mind?”
“Yes, and in some ways, you’ve been right. I’ve had to be a bitch. I don’t like it. But that’s my job with the Council. I’m doing what I can to make like easier for vampires without committing overt acts of evil as was the Council’s usual way. And if I have to be kind of mean to keep you safe, so be it. But I do understand what it’s like to have friends who mean more than family could. And I hope someday you start to include some of us in that little circle.”
Of course, no Half Moon Hollow story would be complete without getting up close and personal with some of its residents. This rambunctious and quirky cast-from Ophelia’s little sister Georgie whose creepiness is at a level all its own to Jeb the shape-shifting shark to Jane’s bestie and his redneck werewolf wife-will leave you howling as Meagan absorbs her first real experience with a full supernatural community. Jane’s strong presence in here reminded me of all the fun and laughter I had reading the original Jane Jamison series. I loved seeing Jane and her ever irritating sidekick Dick working together again as Jane rushes in to save her ‘kids’ from the evil scientist and show Meagan that she does indeed matter.
Jane threw her arms around me in a bear hug. “I know this is not your fault but please don’t do that to me again,” she whispered into my hair.
“I will do my best not to get abducted by a mad scientist a third time.”
“See that you don’t.”
I highly recommend picking up Molly Harper’s newest Half Moon Hollow adventure-Accidental sire- if you like your PNRs witty, energetic, and heartfelt.
Grade: B+
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