Smitten by Books

The Vampire and the Virgin
Author: Kerrelyn Sparks
Publisher: Avon/HarperCollins
Pub. Date: March 9, 2010
ISBN-13: 978-0061667862
Retail: $7.99
384 pages

Olivia’s packing list:
1. Sunscreen
2. Bathing suit
3. Flip-flops

FBI psychologist Olivia Sotiris was looking for a cool ocean breeze, sand between her toes, and a break from her crazy, chaotic, and sometimes all-too-dangerous life. But when she escaped to the small Greek island of Patmos, all she got were meddling grandmothers trying to marry her off. Can’t they see that none of the men around interests her—except Robby MacKay?

Robby’s packing list:
1. Synthetic blood
2. More synthetic blood
3. Jogging clothes (even vamps have to stay in shape!)

Robby needs to cool off, too, since all he can think about is revenge on the Malcontent bloodsuckers who once held him captive—but then he meets Olivia, the beauty with wild curls and a tempting smile. When a deadly criminal from a case back home tracks her down, Robby will have to save her life—along with giving her a first time she’ll never forget . . .

~*~*~

FBI agent Olivia Sotiris is on a much needed vacation at her grandmothers’ house on the Greek island of Patmos. All she wants to do was relax and forget that Otis Crump has been stalking her from his maximum security jail cell.

Relaxation isn’t something her grandmother has in mind though. Her grandmother is determined to see twenty-four year old Olivia engaged, married, or have a significant other by the time she leaves the island. Olivia is getting assaulted by so many single men it wouldn’t be surprising to discover she’s secretly the new “Bachelorette”. It doesn’t help that Olivia has “a gift” and can read other people’s emotions and knows when they’re lying. This kind of puts a damper on a relationship.

Then one wakeful night she goes outside and see’s a mysterious figure jogging on the beach. Olivia, being her grandmother’s daughter, takes her grandmother’s telescope and uses it not to watch the stars, but the man running; and what a man he is. What is even more intriguing about this man is that she can’t read him.

Robby MacKay is determined to get into shape again after being brutally tortured by “The Malcontents”. His great great great grandfather Angus decides that a vacation, and a therapist is just what Robby needs. Robby agrees to the vacation, but not the therapist. He decides to go and stay at a covenant member’s house on the Greek island of Patmos. Course he’s not going there for the sunny beaches. That’s because Robby is a vampire.

Not the sparkly kind, but the real dead during the day, drinks non-animal blood, only come out at night vampire. Course he has a few abilities up his sleeve including teleportation, super strength, hearing, and sight. He’s practically a nocturnal superman with his kryptonite being silver. Now one night as Robby is jogging on the beach he spots what he believes to be an angel. Now he has on authority from Anakin Skywalker that angels are the most beautiful things in the galaxy, but they live on the moons of Iego, so obviously this woman can’t be one; perhaps a goddess. Whatever she is, Robby is intrigued and so the story begins.

This book was different for me because I rather like the plotline, but hated the romance. I mean hated. There was no buildup or even friendship for Robby and Olivia. It was merely “You’re hot. No you’re hot. We’re both hot. Let’s have sex”. This is after knowing each other for two days. They also greatly love each other after knowing each other for only TWO DAYS. It’s like they needed “True Love’s Kiss” from Enchanted playing in the background. Perhaps some fields to frolic through.

It’s completely unrealistic and seems like lazy writing. Something I find highly troublesome since the main plotline of a serial killer being obsessed with Olivia and stalking her was engrossing and well done. I really wanted Olivia to end up with J.L at the end. They had more chemistry to me than she did with Robby, which seemed to be all about sex and good looks. To me Robby + Olivia = love based on sex and lust of each other. Olivia + J/.L = friendship, mutual respect, and the right road for a healthy and happy relationship. All I could think at the end was that divorce court would be in Robby and Olivia’s future since you can’t expect a relationship to last on mere lust and the ability to not be able to read the other’s mind. It just doesn’t happen, but this is Kerrelyn’s world and she can do what she wants.

Rating: 7 (Good) Awesome plotline, but I had trouble with the romance aspect of it.

Heat-Level: 3: (Sensual)