One Bite With a Stranger

The Others Series

By: Christine Warren

Narrated by: Kate Reading

Length: 8 hrs and 11 mins

Publisher's summary

When Regina's friends insist on setting her up a "Fantasy Fix" to help her get over her cheating ex, she dreams up some kinky out-of-this-world encounters that they could never possibly bring to life. But the next thing Regina knows, her friends have got her laced into a shiny black corset, tight leather pants, and a sexy pair of stilettos. It's time for some downtown vampire-fantasy fun...

The Vampire Ball in Manhattan's East Village isn't really Dmitri Vidame's idea of a good time, but as a member of the Council that governs the Others, he has to keep an eye on all the young vamps who prey on the pretenders. After he feasts his dark eyes on fiery Regina at the bar, he knows that he must have her. But for the first time Dmitri meets a woman who is more than a match for his indomitable will. And he may be the fantasy Regina hoped for...until she---and her feisty friends---discover her sexy new lover's bloodsucking secret.

©2008 Christine Warren (P)2011 Tantor

Critic reviews

"Warren brings fascinating alternate realities to life." ( Romantic Times)

mix emotions

I did enjoy the book however I do not care for her best friends they were very rude and abrupt telling her what she could do like she was 12. The sex scenes were very long I enjoye most books with their hot and steamy parts however this was like 2 chapters which equaled about 40 minutes. Repeat it lines constantly. The author had the great idea however I just need it some cutting out parts that didn't need to be there.

This one was a lot of fun!

I'm definitely going to search out more books by Christine Warren. And the narrtor, Kate Reading, did a GREAT JOB of both capturing Reggie's sass and vinegar AND our delicious ancient alpha vampire's need of her. Lip-smacking!

What story? What happened to the "Others" story?

What could have made this a 4 or 5-star listening experience for you?

I've enjoyed the rest of the series but I'm only at about 1 1/2 hours into it but had to come back to see the other reviews. Yep. It's just erotica. So far there's not much of a story. I think I'll skip to the next book and I will read the reviews before I buy anymore of the series.

Would you ever listen to anything by Christine Warren again?

Yes, but I'll read the reviews first.

What about Kate Reading???s performance did you like?

She's great. Not sure how she could keep a straight face while doing the 'Dracula' voice.

Save your credit

Would you try another book from Christine Warren and/or Kate Reading?

No on both counts

What do you think your next listen will be?

Something not so mind-numbingly awful

What didn’t you like about Kate Reading’s performance?

Her pacing is strange, her male character voices are laughable, she sounded too old for any of the characters.

What character would you cut from One Bite With a Stranger?

All of them. TSTL Is fitting for all of them.

Any additional comments?

It seemed like the author was going for funny vampire erotica, and she accomplished neither the funny or the sexy. There was nothing new here to make it stick out in the paranormal romance genre, and the sex scenes were so very, very, very, very, very long and drawn out and completely boring. The comedy aspects weren't funny at all. The story (if there was one, a fact I dispute) was a mish-mash of other books along the same lines that I've read before.
Insta-love? Check. I think this book took place in less than a weeks time.
TSTL leads? Check check
A host of sidekick that are two dimensional and annoying? Check x infinity

It seems like those awful sidekicks are being set up for their own books, but seeing as I wanted to stab all of them with a rusty nail, I will not be sticking around to find out what happens next.

This was seriously bad. Save your credit and ignore the other reviews that made me spend a credit on this pile.

Couldn't finish....

I love vampire romance but the writing in this book is cringe-worthy. Yikes. No storyline, just porn like writing and themed sex. Couldn't finish past chapter 8, and I usually finish any book I start. ***Yikes reader beware bad porn scene type sex book. Can't even call it a novel. SMH

jThrowaway

This book is a throwaway. Wish I had glanced through the book before listening to audio. I did a lot of skipping and walking away ignoring the audio. But in my skipping through the book, I found nothing to advance the storyline of the series. If you enjoy nothing but repetitive, tawdry, and unimaginative sex scenes, (I don't) you may find it somewhat more interesting than I did.

An Example of How NOT to Write

So many things wrong with this title. First, it’s a prime example of how NOT to write. It’s full of cliches and unnecessary ‘trendy’ turns of phrase. I like a steamy sex scene as much as the next woman, but these went ON and ON and weren’t even hot. Not exaggerating, the sex scenes are like 70% of the story. And then there’s the poor narrator. I love Kate Reading. She’s great in the Lady Sherlock and Lady Trent series, but I had to listen to this one on 1.25x speed to stop myself from banging my head against a wall at how slow everything was. I’m so glad this is the in the romance package and I didn’t have to blow a credit on it. Because I’m a completist and the third book in this series is supposedly better, I’m going to listen to the next one, but I this one was not worth it.

Really?

The main female character is a scared little twit but is, I THINK, supposed to be a "modern woman"...which seems to have ended up as an ironic swing and a miss.

Blaming risky sexual behaviors on intoxication is GROSS.

Why is it okay to portray kinks in literature but always do it WITHOUT DISCUSSING CONSENT???

Also... that's just in the first ten chapters!

ZERO STARS!!

** spoilers**
Narrator is not my favorite but she did a decent job with this one.

This book was just average. It wasn't anything that hasn't been written a million times over. Girl is on the rebound from being cheated on by fiancé, girl goes out with GF's clubbing, girl meets boy that happens to be a vampire. Boy hits on girl, girl tries to exert her (overdone/over the top) feminism. Girl hooks up with boy before you even get to a 4th of the book. *YAWWWWN!!*

It really bothers me that women are portrayed to be SO incredibly uptight and unaware of their own wants, needs and desires sexually and when facing them they CONTINUALLY pretend to fight against them and badger themselves for giving in. I just can't wrap my brain around it. I also can't stand BDSM being incorporated into a book when the author doesn't know the true meaning of a power exchange and the vast nuances within BDSM.

I pretty much skimmed through the remainder of this book as it had no plot, no character development and primarily 90% sex scenes, which by the way were boring enough for me to skip them. I love sex scenes and I prefer them in my books, but poorly overdone ones are just fluff to me.

The character's were pretty unlikable and her BFF'S were pushy bullies. Ridiculous to see a grown woman portrayed as Regina, in all her overboard feminism, allow her "friend's " to run her love life in this fashion. Don't get me started on how Regina spends ONE night with Misha and *poof* just like that she now "can't stand being without him" all the while going forward making dates with her friend's men they set her up with. Meanwhile, Misha made it clear from the start that they were together. *insert eye roll* this entire thing is laughable and ridiculous, not to mention, gives us women a bad name. But that's not all folks!! Misha goes into her mind while away from her and invades her privacy by reading her mind and all that's transpired including her upcoming date and conversations with friend's as well as invaded her friend's minds. Lovely trust building indeed lol that's how every relationship starts, said no ADULT EVER! OH and instead of being mad at her, he wants " to kill" the other man. Of course, they're "in love" after one night and engaged by the 2nd date. This was my first and LAST from this author. This should be used as a good example of how never to have a relationship and how NOT to write a book!1

Pass on this one

Any additional comments?

I'd say a person would enjoy this book if they were busy doing something else.