The Care and Feeding of Stray Vampires by Molly Harper -a review

THE CARE AND FEEDING OF STRAY VAMPIRES by Molly Harper

THE CARE AND FEEDING OF STRAY VAMPIRES is the new (July 31, 2012) release and spin-off from Molly Harper’s Jane Jameson Nice Girls series. I was introduced to the writings of Molly Harper through her Naked Werewolf series and thought I would give Jane Jameson a try. I must say the humor and comedic writings with which Molly weaves her storylines had me giggling and laughing.

Iris Scanlon, our heroine, is a take-charge young woman, raising her teen-age sister in a world where vampires and humans co-exist since the Great Coming Out of 1999- although not always a happy co-existence. Keeping food on the table and a roof over their heads in the fictional town of Half Moon Hollow, Iris owns a business (Beeline) that caters to humans and vampires-part events coordinator, part concierge services, and part personal organizer. As a “daywalker” she is a Daytime Vampire Concierge-doing special services for her undead clients who would otherwise be ‘indisposed’. But her most recent trip to a new client’s temporary home would find Iris sprawled on the floor trying to save the ‘life’ of a ‘poisoned’ vampire.

Cletus (Cal) Calix is an ancient vampire with ties to the World Council for the Equal Treatment of the Undead. In the town of Half Moon Hollow to investigate a series of unprovoked and vicious attacks by vampires against humans, Cal finds he is the victim of a potentially deadly poisoning and in the care of a very human female who has no desire to become friends, which suits Cal. Weak and barely able to stand Cal will find himself attracted to the spunky female and protective of her younger sister Gigi.

Iris is hoping her house-guest will leave, but sick and slow to recover, Cal needs a place to stay and continue his investigation behind a wall of secrecy. Possibly poisoned by the very vampires he works for, Cal and Iris begin a search that will put everyone at risk and possibly end the life of the woman he wants to call his own. As the investigation deepens Iris will venture out on her own, but soon finds herself caught between lies and deceit, and the knowledge that she should have trusted her instincts before she loses everyone she loves.

Many of Molly’s NICE GIRLS characters drop by for cameos giving the spin-off a recognizable and familiar edge. Blending the new novel with some of the Jane Jameson storyline flows smoothly and allows readers to feel like they never left Half Moon Hollow. The Care and Feeding of Stray Vampires had me laughing and crying. Iris is a strong-willed and spunky woman who knows what she wants but even lies and betrayal will cut deep when the heart is involved. This is a fantastic and wonderful storyline that I could not put down. Here’s to another great story from Molly Harper.

LINKS TO ORDER:
Amazon Paper Books
Amazon Kindle
The Book Depository
B&N Nook and Paper Books

Copy supplied by the publisher

Reviewed by Sandy