Kerrelyn Sparks, How to Marry a Millionaire Vampire

How to Marry a Millionaire Vampire

Kerrelyn Sparks

Avon, Aug 2005, $5.99, 384 pp.

ISBN: 0060751967

Though he has been a vampire for several centuries, Roman Draganesti, CEO chemist of Romatech Industries, hates being God's abomination in spite of doing great things for humanity and his species like inventing synthetic blood and blood cuisines. However, his success has made it a safer world for vampires, but a splinter group the Malcontents believe that biting humans is the only way to dine for a superior species. Roman tests a new device, but his fang falls out. He must get it replanted tonight or his vampiric healing prowess will close the gap permanently.

Dentist Shanna Whelan works night at a clinic though she fears blood since someone killed her friend in front of her. Roman arrives holding a wolf's tooth, but she refuses to place an animal's fang in his mouth. However, he rescues her from Russians and vampire Ivan Petrovsky, who want her dead since her testimony incarcerated one of them. Instead of gratitude she knees him in his testicles, which hurts severely. Still he takes her with him; soon they fall in love, but relationships between vampires and mortals have lifespan issues although Ivan plans to bite both of them out of existence.

Mindful of MaryJanice Davidson's works, the key to this satirical supernatural romance is that the species vampire comes across as genuine within a modern age context. The lead couple is a likable star-crossed duo while the strong support cast augments the belief that vampires live. Though the climax seems rushed and the large vampire population contains many lacking discipline making it impossible to accept that most humans remain unaware they exist, sub-genre readers will enjoy this biting tale and look forward to an upcoming sequel.

Harriet Klausner