In celebration of the release of Bite Somebody Else, I look back on the books I’ve read since January and what really tickled my fancy. (In some cases, literally.) So far this year, I’ve read thirty-seven books. Of those thirty-seven, here are the top five in no particular order.
Gun to My Head by Dira Lewis
https://www.amazon.com/Gun-My-Head-Dira-Lewis/dp/1620047896/
When I met Dira at a convention, she told me—in no uncertain terms—that Gun to My Head was not a romance. Okay, but it is … if you squint. Injured vampire Sin is on the run when he meets lonely Dominic and imprints on the heartbroken young man. Now, they’re bound together, even as other vampires hunt Dominic. Even as Sin does some horrible things to his sort of “boyfriend.” Even though Dominic is pretty much willing to die for Sin. So maybe it’s not exactly a romance, but it’s action-packed, featuring a complicated relationship between a vampire and his human. I loved this gritty vampire book so much, I had to limit myself to a certain number of pages a night. So worth the read.
Read Bottom Up by Neel Shah and Skye Chatham
https://www.amazon.com/Read-Bottom-Up-Neel-Shah/dp/0062262181/
A love story told entirely via text messages, emails, and social media stalking, I’ve never read a romance novel that better mimics our modern idea of “dating.” Madeline and Elliot meet at a New York City restaurant opening, and so begins their psychotic adventure. Why psychotic? Because, in relationships, we’re all nuts—as evidenced by the overly analytical email exchanges between Madeline and her best friend and Elliot and his. (“He did this, but did he mean that?”) We’ve all fielded the madly insecure ramblings of a friend in a new relationship. I want to make this required reading for all college students. Not only does it show you what not to do in a relationship, but it commiserates with the madness we’ve all felt while searching blindly for The One.
An Unattractive Vampire by Jim McDoniel
https://www.amazon.com/Unattractive-Vampire-Jim-McDoniel/dp/1941758649/
This book had me snort laughing for sure. Ancient vampire Yulric Bile has been sleeping underground for three hundred years. When he wakes, he finds the world has become a stupid, terrifying place filled with stupid, beautiful vampires who have no idea how to be monsters. Modern vampires are apparently attractive, much to Yulric’s distaste since he’s one ugly dude. Think Nosferatu, creeping around, sucking blood and stuff. Now, with the help of an unlikely duo, he hunts the doofus responsible for this pretty vampire trend—with hilarious results. A book (much like Bite Somebody Else) that does not take itself seriously, I don’t suggest you read this in public because your insane laughter might scare people.
Sublime by Christina Lauren
https://www.amazon.com/Sublime-Christina-Lauren/dp/1481413694/
Disclaimer: I got rid of this book as soon as I finished reading it because I will never, ever read it again. Need I explain? All right. In Sublime, ghost girl Lucy wakes up years after her death on the grounds of a private high school. She is immediately drawn to handsome Colin, the resident orphaned thrill seeker. Soon, they’re more than drawn to each other; they’re obsessed with each other, and it looks as though Lucy has come back for Colin. But why? Is she there to save him or destroy him? Halfway though this novel, I called the friend who sent it to me and asked, “Is the end of this book going to ruin me?” Basically, yes. Sublime is beautifully written with amazing characters—but it is sad enough to make your eyes bleed, which is why I will never read it again. If you like tragic love stories, this is the book for you. You’ve been warned!
The Magpie Lord by KJ Charles
https://www.amazon.com/Magpie-Lord-Charm-Magpies-ebook/dp/B06XW9174G/
I read this in one day, probably because I love a good Victorian ghost story slash romance featuring a super hot dude. (Who doesn’t?) Following the deaths of his odious father and brother, Lucien Vaudrey returns home to accept his legacy as Lord Crane. Too bad someone attempts his murder using magic. He calls in a specialist: magician Stephen Day. Whereas Lucian is walking sex, Stephen is a strange little man whose contempt for the new Lord Crane soon turns to lust. (Crane’s tattoos sure do help.) Together, they have to figure out the mystery of the magpies and find Crane’s would-be killer before they both end up dead. If there’s extra time for some heated M/M sex, all the better! Meow.
Author bio:
Sara Dobie Bauer is a writer, model, and mental health advocate with a creative writing degree from Ohio University. Her short story, “Don’t Ball the Boss,” was nominated for the Pushcart Prize, inspired by her shameless crush on Benedict Cumberbatch. She lives with her hottie husband and two precious pups in Northeast Ohio, although she’d really like to live in a Tim Burton film. She is a member of RWA and author of the paranormal rom-com Bite Somebody, among other ridiculously entertaining things.
About Bite Somebody Else (Book 2 in the Bite Somebody series):
Imogene helped her newbie vampire friend Celia hook up with an adorable human, but now Celia has dropped an atomic bomb of surprise: she has a possibly blood-sucking baby on the way. Imogene is not pleased, especially when a mysterious, ancient, and annoyingly gorgeous vampire historian shows up to monitor Celia’s unprecedented pregnancy.
Lord Nicholas Christopher Cuthbert III is everything Imogene hates: posh, mannerly, and totally uninterested in her. Plus, she thinks he’s hiding something. So what if he smells like a fresh garden and looks like a rich boarding school kid just begging to be debauched? Imogene has self-control. Or something.
As Celia’s pregnancy progresses at a freakishly fast pace, Imogene and Nicholas play an ever-escalating game of will they or won’t they, until his sexy maker shows up on Admiral Key, forcing Nicholas to reveal his true intentions toward Celia’s soon-to-arrive infant.
Links:
Website: http://SaraDobieBauer.com
Amazon: http://amzn.to/2rnSvoC
World Weaver Press: http://www.worldweaverpress.com/store/p125/Bite_Somebody_Else.html
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorSaraDobieBauer
Twitter: https://twitter.com/SaraDobie
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/saradobiebauer/
