SNAP: I, Vampire (Kandesky Vampire #9) by Michele Drier-Review and Guest Post
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ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date February 3, 2016
Maxie Gwenoch, LA-based media star, VP for International Planning for the multi-national gossip conglomerate, SNAP, has finally agreed to marry Jean-Louis Kandesky, a 500-year-old Hungarian vampire a leader of the family that owns SNAP.
Is marriage a big change? Not as big as the fact that Maxie is now a vampire, as well. When munitions from the Kandesky Enterprises weapons plant in Slovakia turn up at the bombing of a Royal’s house in England, Jean-Louis and his “brother,” Nik, are hot on the trail of shadowy terrorist groups dealing in international weapons sales. Are the Kandesky arms being sold to terrorists groups? Should Maxie use her new-found vampire strengths to ferret out the scum?
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REVIEW: I Vampire, is book nine of the SNAP series by Michele Drier. This is Maxie’s story of being the newest member of the Kandesky vampire family.
We begin this tale on Maxie and Jean-Louis’s “honeymoon” in an exclusive and private chalet in the Alps. After days of mind-blowing sex, snow-filled views, peace and quiet out couple is ready to head back to reality and their very busy, albeit luxurious, lives. Maxi only a little unsure of herself, due to sometimes forgetting that her life has changed so drastically.
Jazz and Nik greet them at their Kiev home and we’re off on adventure. Author Drier uses recent headlines around the world and current issues to build an adventurous and exciting storyline. Terrorists have bombed the home of a British noble (a bit removed from the throne line…but royal none the less).
The casings found at the scene have implications for Kandesky Munitions, a huge problem for the family. This begins a story of intrigue, danger, and Kandesky style shopping for our girls, Maxi and Jazz.
With her usual and talented flair, we’re taken through plots, subplots, and things unseen. An exciting run through many exotic places as they draw out and eliminate the threats to the family. Along with all this adventure is a slow thread of romantic interest for Jazz and Nik; Maxi remembering her and Jean-Louis’s road to bliss.
If you haven’t started this series, you have some catching up to do…get started! If you’re a fan of this series, it’s another thrilling and imaginative exploit into this world. A great read, I had to stop what I was doing until I finished it! Enjoy everyone, I love this series!
Copy supplied by the author
Reviewed by Georgianna
Staying interested
Writing a series is both fun and nerve-wracking.
Fun because you get to spend time with people you love and know well.
Nerve-wracking because those people have to be growing, changing, finding themselves in new situations with new challenges.
When I sat down to write SNAP: I, Vampire, I knew the main theme of the book was Maxie’s first few weeks or months as a vampire. She’d given up all she ever craved in the regular world—sun, days at the beach, food—to be with Jean-Louis in everlasting life and love.
In the world of the Kandeskys, things change. Not the Kandeskys themselves, they’re 500-or-so- year-old Hungarian vampires. For them, their days…and nights…have a continuity and sameness, safe and predictable. But because they chose centuries ago to live in the world of regulars, they face challenges they must adapt to or lose their family.
They’ve overcome their ancient enemies, the Huszar vampire family; threats from Chechen thugs who want to take over SNAP, the family’s cornerstone property, and outwitted forays from Bulgarians, Russian oligarchs and Azerbaijanis.
Now, one of their other properties, Kandesky Munitions, the Czech factories that Nik is responsible for, have been implicated in a bomb explosion at the house of one of the British Royals. Torn from their idyllic, and sex-saturated, honeymoon on the top of an Alp, Jean-Louis and Maxie must unravel the threats from a group of terrorists. ISIS? Al Qaeda? A wholly new unnamed group? Who knows.
In tracking down the thugs and arms dealers, Jean-Louis and Nik fill the cells in the basement of Jean-Louis’ Kiev house with low-level scum and fun and mayhem ensue.
I’m a news junkie, and all interesting and weird bits of trivia from around the world are grist.
I have a file (a pile?) of small pieces of paper, sticky-notes, print-outs I’m intrigued with. Every so often some of them make it into a book. This time, it was terrorist threats, from articles on the international arms trade.
The Kandeskys live in the rarified atmosphere of the world’s superrich. The possibilities of kidnapping, secret trade agreements and working with shady arms merchants are always their cost of doing business.
And terrorist groups from the Middle East and Eastern Europe are just the latest news.
Stay tuned. There will be more.
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Michele Drier was born in Santa Cruz and is a fifth generation Californian. She’s lived and worked all over the state, calling both Southern and Northern California home. During her career in journalism—as a reporter and editor at daily newspapers—she won awards for producing investigative series.
She writes the Amy Hobbes Newspaper mysteries, Edited for Death, Labeled for Death and Delta for Death, published May 2015.
Her paranormal romance series, The Kandesky Vampire Chronicles, was named one of the best paranormal vampire series of 2014 by reviewers of the Paranormal Romance Guild. SNAP: All That Jazz, Book Eight of The Kandesky Vampire Chronicles, was awarded second place for best book of 2014.
The Kandesky Vampire Chronicles include SNAP: The World Unfolds, SNAP: New Talent, Plague: A Love Story, DANUBE: A Tale of Murder, SNAP: Love for Blood, SNAP: Happily Ever After?, SNAP: White Nights and SNAP: All That Jazz. SNAP: I, Vampire, Book Nine in the Kandesky Vampire Chronicles is scheduled for publication in 2015.
Box Set ebooks Vol 1-4 of SNAP: Kandesky Vampire Chronicles : Amazon.com / Amazon.ca/ Barnes and Noble/ KOBO
Great review, Georgianna. Looks like a great and fun series.
Thanks Barb, I love this series, as well as her others!
Congrats to Michele on her new release!
Thanks for the great review Georgie. Love the cover!
Congratulations Michele on the new release, and thanks for the wonderful guest post.
Thank you for having me as a guest Sandy! I always love visiting The Reading Cafe, and a big thanks to Georgie for the wonderful review! I’m so glad you liked it!
Didn’t just like it, Michele, LOVED IT! Congrats on the new release…wish B&N would catch up…LOL
It will be up on B&N next week! Already on Kobo.
Yea!
Sounds like you really enjoy this series.Thanks for the review. Congrats to Michele on the new release. I , too, love the cover-simple but beautiful
Thanks, Sassy!
Yes, the cover is splendid! But the inside story is the clincher…love this series!
Very nice review Georgianna. Love the guest post, thanks.
Thanks Alicia, it’s such a pleasure to review a really great story! Thanks to Sandy and Barb for letting me do this series!
Very nice review, Georgianna. Great guest post.
Thanks Bran, I love the series. The guest post was really great, she loves her worlds…and does a very talented job of writing them!
Alicia and Bran, thanks so much for the comments. It’s fun to write about my pals, the Kandeskys.
Great review and guest post. Congratulations Michele. Love the cover as well !
Angrybird, thanks, the review is always easy, putting the story down when done…never so easy! I’ve not always been a fan of vampires, but I dream of being a Kandesky!
Ah, yes, Georgie! Me too….
ROFL!
Great review Georgianna. Haven’t started this series but may have to give it a try. Thanks for coming by Michele
Oh Fran, you’ll really like it! Can’t wait to see what you think!
Wonderful review. This looks like a very good series to try.
Joanie, it’s one of the best vampire series…for those who like their vamps just a little lighter than sucking blood from random necks… it’s got adventure, steamy love scenes, great locations, some fun and lots of danger…what more could a girl want?
Terrific review, Georgianna. Sounds like a wonderful read. I am adding this to my list.
You won’t regret it Amy!
Sounds like a great series. Congrats to Michele on the new release.
EmberFlame, this is a really good series for vampire lovers…it has so much to offer!
Thanks for the great review and guest post.
Alexis, you’re welcome for the review, it’s always a pleasure to review a series book you like!
I have not heard of this series until now. It sounds like something I would definitely enjoy reading. Thank you for bringing it to my attention 🙂