The Reluctant Miss Van Helsing
Minda Webber
Love Spell, Jan 2006, $6.99
ISBN: 0505526387

Her family is as renowned as their enemy, but Jane Van Helsing does not have her heart into hunting and staking vampires. At times she wonders if she shares the same blood as her famous kin, as the thought of killing an abomination makes her queasy. Lady Jane assumes nothing could propel on the hunt.

That is nothing except her beloved brother is Transylvania, so someone has to carry out the family business in England. Reluctantly she decides to stake an earl Neil Asher whom she believes is a vampire. Her plan is simple, seduce and stab. Neil, known for the beautiful women he escorts about town, is shocked that he finds the freckled loud mouth attractive. He enjoys the verbal battles, though his valet detests the ruined wardrobe that is becoming his norm. The stab jabs he can do without, but he is not so sure he can claim the same about Plain Jane. However, when they are caught in a compromised position, the alleged vampire and the vampire-slayer must marry. Jane sees this as an opportunity to go after Dracula, while Neil just wants to kiss her senseless.

In a short time, Minda Webber has staked out a unique segment of the paranormal romantic fantasy sub-genre with her delightful late 1820's tales. Her current story focuses on the Van Helsing offspring, who like the heroine in her previous novel, Clair Frankenstein, seeks out vampires, though their reasons are different. This sensational screwy satirical sequel will have readers laughing at Jane's capers and Neil's reactions to her antics. The action-packed amusing storyline is also loaded with literary references that are fun to follow. as these witticisms augment a zany well written tale that howls for more.