How to Lure a Hunter

VRC: Vampire Related Crimes, Book 3

By: Alice Winters

Narrated by: Michael Ferraiuolo

Length: 10 hrs and 36 mins

Publisher's Summary

Alexei
When Marcus Church brings his brother Claude in to help solve an unusual murder, I’m positive he did it just to disrupt my monotonous life. None of my coworkers in the Vampire Related Crimes unit seem to understand that I want to keep a wall between me and everyone else - especially Claude, who does everything he can to break through it with an annoying smile. After more vampires begin to die, Claude pinpoints the actions of the killers to a group of vampire hunters, leaving us in a race to stop them. When I discover that I have a target on my back, I’m surprised that Claude insists on staying by my side, even when things go from bad to worse. I’m determined to keep him out - I’ve lost enough people in my life - but I can’t stop feeling something every time he breaks through. 

Claude
When I reunited with my brother, I never imagined it’d throw me right into Alexei Karsynov’s path. He’s short-tempered, stubborn, and dangerously adorable whenever he smiles - he just doesn’t realize it yet. When Marcus asks me to help with a case, it gives me the excuse I need to get closer to Alexei, but what I discover threatens to change everything. Suddenly, I find myself wanting to do anything to protect Alexei and to see him smile, despite his efforts to keep his distance from others. I’m determined to show him that he can’t live in the past when his future is so much brighter. 

How to Lure a Hunter is a 107k word book that contains: clothes so bright they could cause retina damage, a ridiculous amount of gifts showered on a reluctant recipient, a cranky Russian with a soft spot he tries to hide, a library full of books that need to be treated with the proper respect, some possibly unhealthy sibling teasing, and a sunshiny 300-year-old vampire with an unexpected protective streak.

©2020 Alice Winters (P)2021 Alice Winters

She did it! Ms. Winters tops her second book! 😁

Book 3 is a fantastic follow-up! Book 2 of this series was truly mind-blowing and I wondered: How is Alice Winters going to top that? I'm delighted to announce that she did so beautifully and effortlessly, it seemed. Pairing the grumpy Alexei with the bright and sunshiny Claude, Ms. Winters gives us a book that is absolutely terrific! When encountering Claude in book 2, I thought he was all kinds of creepy. It didn't take me long to fall in love with his persistent optimism and softer side. Alexei was a character that I fell for straight away. His special blend of snarky and grouchy was such a glorious addition to Marcus Church's growly disposition as he sought to suppress Finn's happy, upbeat nature. The chemistry between Alexei and Claude was evident in book 2, but I never dreamed Ms. Winters would partner them. How glad I was that she did! The interactions and dialogue between them are hilarious, and at times so moving and tender! Alexei faces an incredible challenge and Claude distinguishes himself and a true friend, genuine hero, and attentive lover. The narrator, Michael Ferraiuolo does an outstanding job giving the book's characters life!

Gold just pure gold

Alice Winters does it again. I knew I was going to love Karson's story from the moment we met him in book 1. Claude is the exact opposite of Marcus and he's perfect. Alexei and Claude are oil and vinegar and they go perfect together. Claude brings out Alexei's squishy side, and Alexei brings out claude's fangs and claws. I can never do my eyebrows the same again because I will forever laugh looking in the mirror. And fashion shows are forever changed. In fact that was probably my favorite scene in the entire book. How Alice Winters is able to bring so much comedy too serious matters is incredible.

Everything's not fun and games Alexei's past is coming back to haunt him and puts his entire life as he knows it at risk. But Claude and everyone at the VRC are watching his back.

Michael Ferraiuolo is fabulous as always. He brings these characters to life. I can't wait to listen to him narrate book 4.

Worth the Wait

This was beautifully narrated and well written, a great addition to the series. The narration was emotional which was what this story needed. A joy to listen to.

5 stars

Perfect performance by Michael Ferraiuolo like always! This was by far my favorite book of the series!

Brilliant

Thus us my favorite so far in series,. The narration is always entertaining and epic

I love this series!

Great book from a superb series. Alexi and Claude are perfect together. Can't wait until DeGray's book!

My favorite of the series, except…

This was my favorite out of all four of the books for the best balance of romance, mystery, and humor.
I felt like the chemistry and heart between Alexei and Claude was much more believable than for
Finn and Marcus. Alexei’s backstory was very powerfully written.
I got such a kick out of Marcus and Claude’s bickering.

Mild spoilers

But, the plot and personalities here felt too similar to the previous books. With both pairs, there’s a flamboyant, seemingly superficial guy who gets the stodgy or cranky centuries old vampire to let him in with endlessly pushy, invasive smothering. Both have plots with bad guys from their pasts coming back as obsessive nut-jobs who nonetheless can convince numerous folks to follow them. Both even bring the couples together through cute animals.

And with all the similarities, you’d think time could be spent expanding the roles of some of the supporting cast, like the other members of the Vamp Squad, or Finn’s dad. There’s only a brief mention in the beginning to set up Degray’s story for book 4, then a family gathering at the end. I also think there was a lost opportunity to get into Claude’s backstory more than simply mentioning it as he and Marcus continue their 150year sibling squabbling.

Ultimately, this was a great book that could have been 5 stars if it had ventured farther from the formula.

Amazing

It’s so amazing to find a story that catches your attention and keeps it!! This story was sarcastic and funny!! I want another story about those two characters!!

How to Lure a Hunter

Loved it.

I especially loved listening to Michael’s awesome narration of Alexei. Chef’s kiss.

Highly recommend.

Fantastic!

Super cranky, grumpy, cantankerous Alexei reveals his past as a new enemy targets the city. Marcus and Finn were the focus of the first two books of the series, and now the focus shifts. Marcus’s brother Claude enters with his overwhelming Raya of sun hone and unstoppable cheer, questionable fashion sense and brilliant historical research. He helps solve the case, and slowly melts Alexei’s heart (not that anyone on the outside can tell!). Michael Ferraiuolo lends fantastic depth to the story with such a brilliant performance! From the Russian accent to the way he breathes life into intensely personal scenes, Ferraiuolo narrates beautifully!

Karsyn Story

This is another awesome book, The plot is so good and strong that the characters' emotions come through even more making me want to hug them. Claude is such a funny guy and I would love to see this book made into a film because seeing his clothes would be amazing, (and hurt my eyes...lol.)
Although it's not stated how old Karsyn is when he is turned you can tell the difference in the flashbacks he's naïve and hangs on Dimitri's every word. His maturity show in the present day, in the way he reacts which is born out of a desire to protect himself.
Once again the narration by Michael Ferraiuolo is perfect. I love his Russian accent it's so sexy.

Enjoyable Story

A well written story with and interesting  concept.  The characters are likeable and the narration is very good.

Sublime

Michael Ferraiuolo's narration is as always sublime. He really brought Alexei to life and for some reason Michael saying "old as dirt" in Alexei's voice made me laugh - it was pure Alexei. How to Lure a Hunter is a magnificent book and I'll happily read anything Alice Winters releases.

Vampires at their best

I love Alice Winter's. This book has everything you would expect. Romance, snark,sass and humour. The narration is great as usual, distinct character voices and lots of feeling.
So to sum but. Great story, narrated wonderfully. A just have.

As fabulous as Claude

Michael Ferraiuolo is so talented! I loved how I could tell if an Alexei scene was a flashback or not just by the subtle change in accent

great series

This is one of a series so be prepared to use all your credits on this author. Really enjoyed all so far. Great narrator - probably avoid though if you're a native Russian speaker as you'll probably not enjoy the accent of one of the main characters. I loved it though. Would recommend.

Good book

I enjoyed this book and I liked getting to know more characters in this series. However, the line between teasing and bullying seemed a bit blurry at times, and left me feeling sadness and wanting to give them a hug.

Amazing narrator

As always Mr Ferraiuolo has done an amazing job with narration of this book. From accents to characterisation, just brilliant. This series of books is funny and exciting with a bit of mystery thrown in. Love em

A haunted past returns.

Another brilliant chapter with the VRC. Alexei and Claud work together, and as Claud tries to court Alexei, Alexei insults, annoys, contradicts him and is totally stubborn. But memories are powerful things, regrets and guilt even more so, and a haunted past becomes a haunted present that Claud will have to overcomes if they are to ever have a real relationship.

A Deserved HEA for Karsyn

Alexei and Claude's story is the third in the VRC universe and a great addition to the series. We've already seen the extent of Alexei's snark in the first two books and there's no change here, setting us up for the epitome of the grump/sunshine trope as Claude could not be any cheerier from his ridiculously loud wardrobe to his ridiculously gregarious nature. I loved this contrast.

The plot is decent. I guessed the identity of the bad guy in the investigation, but the storytelling is more than good enough make that not really of any consequence. I really liked the use of flashbacks to reveal Alexei's backstory - it makes you more sympathetic to him and reveals his character's depths... because you know he can't be that surly for no reason! The way in which Claude is written is just glorious. Again, although he is absolutely the most fabulous vampire that never sparkled, he has an interesting backstory whi takes in some of the challenges of being a more than 300 year old vampire and, more particularly, of being Marcus's (one of the MCs in the first two books) brother. Just try to mess with someone he cares for though...

I listened to the audiobook and Michael Ferraiuolo really does these larger than life characters justice...genuinely having me in stitches in the aisles in the supermarket (good job I was wearing my Covid mask!) and with a lump in my throat at other times. This is fast becoming one of my favourite author/narrator pairings.

All in all, I loved this funny episode in the Vampire Related Crimes world...looking forward to the next one! 4.5*