FinnGetting into the vampire-only detective unit was the easy part; what’s going to be more difficult is dealing with my new partner, an ancient vampire who keeps threatening to eat me. The unit has never had a human in it, and Marcus—or as I like to call him, Fangy McFangface—would really prefer to keep it that way. He’s grumpy, short-tempered, and broody, but I have a way with words and I know … words and I know he’s starting to like me, even if he swears he’s not. But what he doesn’t know is that I didn’t join the unit because I was tired of being a homicide detective, I joined because there is someone after me. They’ve already taken enough from me and I’m afraid they’re going to take all of me if I don’t find someone to help. That’s all Marcus was supposed to be, but now, he’s so much more and I can’t imagine my life without him.
Marcus
The moment the pesky human walked through that door, I knew I had to get rid of him. He’s charming and almost everyone else instantly loves him, but he doesn’t understand how risky it is being part of this unit as a human. But as I get to know the stubborn man, I learn that perhaps he’s not as naive as I once thought. And maybe he’s what I needed to realize there is more to life than just work and my dog. A group arises who is threatening to disrupt the alliance between the humans and the vampires, but Finn is the one who shows me how strong that alliance can be and reminds me why it’s worth protecting. When threats hit closer to home, I realize I would do anything for Finn because he’s brought so much joy to my life—and because he’s mine.
This 105k word book contains: A creative use for undergarments, unintentional splits, a wolfhound who just wants to be a part of things, a vertically challenged human who still manages to wrap every vampire he meets around his little finger, the best date ever, possessiveness, really awkward dancing, some workplace revenge, and just a bite or two. Or three.
more
My description of How to Vex a Vampire is that its’ a book about two detective f*ck-buddies who low-key get on each other’s nerves.
And I was super disappointed since this story has so many things going for it. First, there’s the awesome world-building. The society with vampires and humans co-existing, and all the problems that comes with that, was an awesome story setting. It’s well-written with obvious time and effort put into it. There’s both a short-term plot (resolved in this book) and a long-term one that (I assume) continues in the following installments. Also, Finn’s background , his previous experiences and unorthodox upbringing and family. I wanted so much to learn more about that. That Finn wasn’t physically “perfect” was another big plus. I haven’t read many stories featuring main characters with a disability and realizing that was an eye-opener for me.
Unfortunately, the main focus – the romance between Finn and Marcus – is so very poorly executed .
It’s one of those entirely inexplicable romances without build-up or chemistry, all of a sudden they’re just together and you don’t really understand why it happened. Sure, Finn found Marcus attractive and told him so. Repeatedly, in all kinds of crude ways. But it didn’t appear to be sincere. And for Marcus part, he didn’t seem interested in Finn at all. Until apparently he wanted to be boyfriends.
There was banter. Lots and lots of banter. And it was fun. In the beginning. But it just kept on and on. With Finn and Marcus hardly ever having a serious moment together. They were just like two pals constantly ribbing each other.
So this is not a story I would recommend for someone looking to read a romance between two police detectives. Simply because there is no romance.
https://reflectionsofaswedishgirl.blog.se
Finn has had a hard life and he’s got a pretty good handle on everything. Marcus is a really old vampire and head of the VRC, a vampire police unit to deal with vampire related crimes. Finn faniggles his way into a temporary position with the team. I must say with the suspense, betrayal, murder, terrorist attacks and stalker I did not expect to laugh as much as I did. Finn is so dang funny with a lot of high power vampires watching out for him. Marcus was such a serious stick in the mud with no humor at all until Finn got under his skin. Don’t forget Marcus’ Irish Wolfhound, Artemis. Finn and that dog have an iron clad relationship since they met. I loved that the human could hold his own pretty well and even had insights no one else thought of. This was a really good book for me!
I love Alice Winters’ sense of humor. Sarcastic, irreverent characters make for entertaining reading. I love how Finn slowly breaks Marcus down LOL!
I have a space in my heart for vampires especially when they also solved crimes, so I was sure I was going to like reading this first book in the Vampire related crimes series, but I just not like it but loved it. The book is funny and witty, with a lot of hilarious dialogues and banter between the characters, had an interesting plot, a mystery to solved and intrigue, action and danger. Marcus and Finn are a wonderful couple and you just want for them to accept how good they are for the another and be happy. I enjoyed it a lot!!! Wonderful reading!!!
I absolutely adored this book. It made me laugh, it gave me an anxious moment or two and it made me want to buy the next one. Alice Winters is an extraordinary writer. I am a fan forever. Not the stalky, scary kind. The good kind.
5 BIG stars Fabulously written story with a great mix of humor, tension, and suspense, with a big strong vampire who struggles hiding his feelings and falling hard for this very small annoying hilarious, but very lovable human. One who has a lot of secrets, one very threatening enemy and a bunch of vampires who want to protect him. Emphasis on humor, feelings and suspense goshhhh it was the best of the best!
.
Finnigan Hayes is a homicide detective and Marcus Church is part of the VRC—Vampire Related Crimes.
For certain specific reasons Finn wants to join VRC, he succeeds, and is partnered with Marcus. Finn loves to tease the big, grumpy vampire Marcus, who wants to get rid of him asap.
Marcus doesn’t want this infuriating little human; he shows what an arrogant bastard he is, Finn can handle him and loves being a lovely pain in the ass, or more his lovely pain in the ass.
“Is it because I don’t gnaw on people? I mean, I can give a mean hickey”
The humor is one of a kind, so delightful. The title says a lot 😉
“I tried my hardest to be late, but I also hate being late, so somehow I ended up being perfectly on time.”
These lines, they cracked me, in the context it fits perfectly, it was so delightfully funny.
Marcus does everything in his power to scare and run Finn off. In his eyes, Finn is too vulnerable as a human. Finn is immune to all his attempts and it seems he has no fear, except for his biggest fear, his enemy.
They are on a big case, it seems some humans want to destroy the vampires by destroying the good relationship between vampires and humans.
It’s getting dangerous. There are several thrilling incidents.
Marcus is over his head and swooned by this annoying but oh so lovable human being, and he will protect him, period.
This story is a fast-paced must-read. I loved the suspense, I sat right up in my bed, reading, it was so thrilling! I couldn’t put it down and was amazed by this author’s writing and even more by all the delicious humor, all the various expressions of snarky, witty comments. Both Marcus and Finn were the most endearing characters. Their moments with sexiness and tenderness were so delectable and heartwarming, the whole draft was stunning.
Another fun and original story from Alice Winters, with unique characters you can’t help but love, a cute – but traitorous – dog (if you ask Marcus), and hilarious shenanigans and banter. In this one, we get vampires. I haven’t actually read a book featuring vampires yet but I didn’t hesitate in this case. In fact, I don’t think I even need to read the blurbs anymore for books by this author. And once again, I loved absolutely everything about it!
Finn is downright adorable and charming, annoying his way into Marcus’s life as a ray of sunshine that he most certainly did not ask for, nor want. As one of the older vampires, well-respected, but also a bit feared by others, Marcus is grumpy and standoffish… and completely baffled by this short and persistent human who resists all his attempts to either get rid of him, or to intimidate him. Finn and Marcus have great chemistry, and Finn just has a way of bringing out Marcus’s sarcasm and dry wit, not to mention his fierce possessiveness. Once he was all in with Finn though, these guys were smoking hot and sweet, and so protective of each other.
The storyline itself was excellent. It was well-written, and the suspense and action were perfectly paced alongside the humour and romance. It ends with a HFN, but a cliffhanger for the overarching vampire-stalker mystery that I was dying to unravel. I don’t know how I’m going to hold out for the next instalment now!
Author Alice Winters never fails to bring snark and laughter among the hail of bullets and high stake criminals. How to Vex a Vampire was no different except this time we get a broody vampire, Marcus, and the ever so wonderfully quirky human, Finn.
When I need a book to put a smile on my face, and that makes me swoon as well, I always know I can pick up an Alice Winters book. Her writing style will have you laughing out loud with the outrageous humor but at the same time so invested in the story that by the time the book ends you only want more.
If you haven’t grabbed a book by this author yet I highly recommend this one if you love vampires, or absolutely anything she has written!
Another fantastic read from Alice Winters! How to Vex a Vampire is a funny, fun, and suspenseful start to a new series and I already cannot wait for more. Finn and Marcus are the epitome of what I’ve come to expect from Ms. Winters’s characters and I couldn’t be happier she’s created another duo to keep us entertained.
No matter how fun her books are, Ms. Winters knows how to hit me in the feels, too. She has a way of bringing out all the emotions in me- from happy to sad, and everything in between. And HtVaV was no different. Finn had me laughing out loud, his teasing of Marcus, and the other characters, was so funny. The banter between he and Marcus was everything I love about an Alice Winters book. But then things got a little heavier, as we learned about Finn’s past and what he’s endured in his life. The great thing about Ms. Winters writing, though, is even when she puts her characters in the more intense scenes, or when we learn about something bad that’s taken place in their past, she has a way of bringing levity to each situation without diminishing the impact of what’s happened/happening.
How to Vex a Vampire is such an entertaining story. I love the paranormal aspect of it, especially that it’s a more light-hearted version of a vampire tale. While Marcus does a good job of coming across as the dark and broody vampire, at least around the general population, he stands no chance against Finn and his zaniness! The story was quite suspenseful and mysterious, and I like how things built towards the climax. While this doesn’t end on a cliffhanger exactly, it does leave me oh so ready for the next book- I need to know what’s to come!
Okay, so my heading will make more sense after you read this first book of a hysterical, yet suspenseful, brand new supernatural series. Once again, Ms Winters has created an awesome cast of characters that are intriguing and vivid. While one layer of the plotline flows steadily, the darker storyline running beneath creates an atmosphere of suspense and fear.
Finn is a unique character. He has faced a lot in his life, but it has made him the man he is today. He joins the VRC, or the Vampire police force in layman’s terms, in hopes of ridding himself of his constant tormentor. His unique upbringing has given him an advantage in dealing with vampires and their scare tactics. But, his past hurts create a confusing mixture of strength and vulnerability in his life and mind. He’s sarcastic, witty, pushy, and annoying, but he has a way of endearing himself to even the toughest people.
Marcus is an ancient, powerful, and respected vampire, but not well liked. He doesn’t try to make friends, he just walks around with a scowl on his face and uses intimidation tactics to get his way. When the ASAC, Brooks, a friend of Finn’s father, partners Marcus with the human, he is not happy at all. He does his best to get did of the pesky little weakling, but even his defenses are eventually worn down. The banter between the two is hilarious, with Marcus being a grumpy Gus, and Finn the ever optimistic flirt.
A fanatical group of humans is trying to segregate the vampire community from the human race. Bloody battles have been fought throughout history in order to reach the peace of today. It is up to the VRC and the human police department to solve the problems facing the area before a full-fledged war is on their hands.
And on a more personal front, a demon from the past has returned to bring terror and uncertainty in its wake. The protective instincts of the elders threatens to undermine Finn’s hard-earned independence, but he now has a powerful ally on his side… Even if said ally is unsure of his own abilities in this battle.
There is plenty of foreshadowing throughout the book for other sequels. I am especially looking forward to Karsyn and DeGray’s story. However, be warned, although this is the beginning of a beautiful relationship, it is a cliffhanger ending. The main layer is fully closed, but the suspense is only growing. I am anxiously awaiting the next book in this series!
Happy reading!
* I received an ARC of this book and I am leaving my honest review. *
How to Vex a Vampire is everything I’ve come to crave from an Alice Winters book and so much more. I can’t even wrap my head around how much I love Finn and Marcus (and Artie)! These two strike sparks off each other right from the start. Finn has this irreverent way of being that just lightens everyone around him. Marcus may thing he can keep his distance from this “human” but soon finds out that’s impossible.
While this book is full of humor, snark and action I think what I most loved is the unconditional love and acceptance that Marcus and Finn have for each other. What each thinks of as their flaws the other wholeheartedly accepts and treasures.
The world building in this story is outstanding. The secondary characters add such depth to the entirety of this story.
Adventures and intrigue abound here. There are crimes to investigate and solve. There is downtime that gives our heroes time to bond and explore what can be. I will never look at roller skating the same way again!!! Bring on book #2! I can’t wait for more of Finn and Marcus!!!
I can’t get enough of Alice Winter’s wonderful brand of MM romance with the abundance of snark, salt and perfectly fun banter. I do enjoy paranormal stories (it used to be all I would read) but lately haven’t really delved into much of it but this one makes me want to read MORE vampires. Finn is a super charming human and all he wants is to get into the Vampire Only vampire Related Crime Unit. He has his reasons. Marcus, the hot and steamy vampire detective wants nothing to do with “That” human and all his human cooties. They will need to find a way to work together to solve a crime that great affects both Vampires and humans and they will need to find a way to deal with those pesky, human-like feelings they seem to be catching. Alice Winters has a way of just sucking you in (pun intended lol) to the story and making you feel for both the good guy and the jerk. I’m looking forward to reading what comes next. True love is buying the matching pepper shaker!!
How to Vex a Vampire by Alice Winters is the first book in the VRC: Vampire Related Crimes series. This story is filled with humor, suspense, action, and Vampires! I love the sexy, flirty and fun banter between Finn and Marcus… I absolutely adore those two together and was smiling throughout the book from their interactions. I am stoked to read the books that follow.