Vampire Moon

Vampire for Hire, Book 2

By: J. R. Rain

Narrated by: Dina Pearlman

Length: 6 hrs and 26 mins

Publisher's Summary

Mother, wife, private investigator... vampire. Six years ago, federal agent Samantha Moon was the perfect wife and mother, your typical soccer mom with the minivan and suburban home. Then the unthinkable happens, an attack that changes her life forever. And forever is a very long time for a vampire.

Now, in Vampire Moon, sequel to Moon Dance, private investigator Samantha Moon finds herself hunting down a powerful crime lord and protecting an innocent woman from her ruthless ex-husband—all while two very different men vie for her heart. And as the stakes grow higher and her cases turn personal, Samantha Moon will do whatever it takes to protect the innocent and bring two cold-blooded killers to justice—her own brand of justice.

Blood money: listen to more in the Vampire for Hire series.

©2010 J.R. Rain (P)2011 Audible, Inc.

Series continues in fine form

I am enjoying the continued character development in this series. Since the books are shorter than some, there is a lot of room for more discoveries. It is nice for Samantha to find others to lean on and share her woes with as her family life alters, rearranges and adapts to her vampiric life. I appreciate the fact that there is some explanation to vampire legend as it explores what is truth and what is "myth." I also like the fact that the author gives us a slightly new take on vampires, as this author has determined. A fresh outlook is often welcome. The book sort of leaves us hanging at the end so we can look forward to the next book giving us more focus on that. Dina Pearlman "is" the voice of Samantha Moon. I hope that all future books are read by her. She does an outstanding performance and, I think, gives it just the right touch.

Good character development in a short novel

I liked it as much as the first book in the series... or, wait... perhaps a bit more. I think there was a bit less of Sam 'musing on the state of vampirism' in this story, but her character was developed without being a repeat of book one.

The thread of story dealing with Sam's ex-husband was well done - very frustrating and before the end of the book, you'll want to smack Danny too. Is the whole thing believable? Sure, for the most part. Sam wants to maintain a normal life even though she is not normal any more, and she does a good job of balancing being a vampire, having to work for a living, and trying to stay in contact with her children.

The story is short. It's not sold as a short story, but it probably could be (or, - dare I? - should be) packaged with book 1 and book 3 and sold as one, nearly complete, story. There was a bigger 'cliffhanger' in this book than in book one, but it wasn't as obnoxious a cliffhanger as some other books I've read (i.e. you probably will not feel ripped off at the end, even though you might want to read the next to find out who Fang turns out to be).

The narration is good, as good, or better than the first novel as the narrator seems to have settled into Sam's character now.

Wow

What did you love best about Vampire Moon?

I am so engrossed in this series only after ready books 1 and 2 I HAVE to read the rest!

What did you like best about this story?

Moondance meeting Fang

What about Dina Pearlman’s performance did you like?

The way she changes her voice

If you were to make a film of this book, what would be the tag line be?

Moondance

Can't wait to get to #3

Samantha Moon...what a vamp... this one was... better than the first ...made me crave the next. Dina Pearlman does a wonderful job.

Better than the first

Where does Vampire Moon rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

this book drew me in and I couldn't wait to get to the end to see who she was meeting

What did you like best about this story?

that sam was finally going to meet fang

Which character – as performed by Dina Pearlman – was your favorite?

fang

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

yes when she punched her ex husbands girlfriend in the facee and she got her kids back

I hate cliff hangers!

I like the Vampire for Hire series, but I really hate cliffhangers. This book lands on a big one.

Decent story, ok writing and narration

The overall story was good and kept me interested and wanting to know what was going to happen. The characters are developed and make me care what happens in their lives. The writing is somewhat uneven, sometimes well done and other times rather bland and clichéd. The narration seems to match the writing often times trying to sound noir but not really pulling it off. Other times it really brings out the emotion of the story or the feelings of the character. I'd be interested in hearing something else by Dina Pearlman to see what she's able to do with stronger material. In the end I'm still looking forward to listening to the next book in the series.

Keeps Getting Better... Give the series a chance

What did you love best about Vampire Moon?

That it was written by a guy!

What three words best describe Dina Pearlman’s voice?

Perfect for series

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Yes, absolutely

Any additional comments?

I was hesitant to give this book a listen but found it on sale and am very glad I did. I immediately bought the rest in the series.

Review of Vampire Moon

Would you try another book from J. R. Rain and/or Dina Pearlman?

This series is good. I read the first one and listened to the second one. I am looking forward to the third one. It is a dark series. Makes you think.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Samantha-The main character. What she struggles with.

Who would you have cast as narrator instead of Dina Pearlman?

I enjoyed her as a narrator. Very clear and concise

Do you think Vampire Moon needs a follow-up book? Why or why not?

There is a new book in her series. I hope there is more after the third.

A very average series...

I listened to the entire series in hopes that the author would develop the characters, world and story better, since I found the concept of a Vampire in a domestic setting intriguing. Although the series continues to keep some interesting concepts, the story doesn't get better or worst.

The author continues to make the same mistakes throughout the entire series. The mystery is very predictable. Samantha doesn't act as a mother in many situations or like a former federal agent, or even like a regular woman, and keeps making poor decisions that could easily expose her "secret" vampirism to strangers. Also all other characters in the series are kept one dimensional.

For some reason the author also seems to be going with the "extraordinary and most powerful" route for Samantha's character. She is now developing all kinds of psychic abilities that allow her to "know" everything by touching objects, talking to ghosts, listening to her "inner alarm" or by communicating with old spirit, etc. These abilities apparently are not developed by all vampires. Although it is somewhat interesting to have a psychic vampire, at the same time its also very anticlimactic and convenient to have her find out everything so easily.

I suspect that many of the issues I find with this series are related to the shortness of each book. I have no idea why the author creates such short stories but by doing so he really hampers the character development and the flow of the story.

Nonetheless the series is somewhat interesting and the author has a different concept going (psychic vampire investigator and mother of two kids). This series may not win any awards but its still mildly entertaining.

Delightful Listen

Would you consider the audio edition of Vampire Moon to be better than the print version?

Don't know I have never read the papaer version

What other book might you compare Vampire Moon to, and why?

Perhaps Darkness Haunts by Susan Illene. It's an emotional story, lots of inner anks and well rounded characters

What does Dina Pearlman bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you had only read the book?

I feel she demonstrates the inner feelings and character of Sam Moon so well.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

I did and it is short enough

Any additional comments?

I loved the way she fought for her family and the feelings involving the son are, I am sure, ones I could have felt myself. It is possible to see her abilities grow with each book. Not too many detailed fight scenes, which I hate, and the sex is not overly graphic which is something I can find difficult to read.

Great read

I’m loving this series and can’t wait for the next. The narrator reads so well and you can tell when she’s doing a mans part which can be so funny. Can’t talk anymore as want to start the next one. You will enjoy.

Repetative

Is there anything you would change about this book?

Whilst I can occasionally enjoy the story of the books the over description, the need to endlessly repeat to the reader what has been told once, twice or many many times before that in book 1 as well makes it a hard read. It has an interesting idea with a very stereotypical vampire that is boring to imagine makes this book a bit of a let down. The problem is that the cliffhangers at the end of each book makes it stop abruptly where you need to read the next one to find out what will happen.
I had hopes she would be less self focused in this book and actually less man obsessed but that did not happen. I zoned out a lot whilst reading the book. I will continue only because I still have questions that have been left unanswered since book 1 and hate cliffhangers.