How To Marry A Millionaire Vampire by Kerrelyn Sparks

Day One of Eight Days Of Love At Stake

Title:  How To Marry A Millionaire Vampire
Author:  Kerrelyn Sparks
Released:  July 2005
Series:  Love At Stake, Book 1
How I Got It:  Purchased it for NOOK
Lend Me Feature:  NO

Book Summary
So what if he's a bit older and usually regards a human female as dinner, not a dinner date? Yes, Roman Draganesti is a vampire, but a vampire who lost one of his fangs sinking his teeth into something he shouldn't have. Now he has one night to find a dentist before his natural healing abilities close the wound, leaving him a lop–sided eater for all eternity.
Things aren't going well for Shanna Whelan either...After witnessing a gruesome murder by the Russian mafia, she's next on their hit list. And her career as a dentist appears to be on a downward spiral because she's afraid of blood. When Roman rescues her from an assassination attempt, she wonders if she's found the one man who can keep her alive. Though the attraction between them is immediate and hot, can Shanna conquer her fear of blood to fix Roman's fang? And if she does, what will prevent Roman from using his fangs on her...

My Thoughts
This book had me cracking up nonstop.  How is it that vampires do the same dumb stuff that humans do?

Roman Dragonesti is a brilliant scientist, a powerful millionaire, and a vampire coven master.  He's got money, friends, and a harem.  Yep, he's got a vampire harem of women that would love to rock his world.  Despite that, he longs to have one woman that could truly love him.

Shanna Whelan is a dentist that is in danger of losing her practice as well as her life.  She's in the Witness Protection Program because she witnessed her friend's murder and the Mob has put a hit out on her.  On top of that, she can't function as a dentist because the site of blood brings back too many painful memories.

Here's where all the fun begins.

Like I said, Roman is a brilliant scientist because he has discovered a way to make synthetic blood.  This invention is wildly popular with most good vamps because it encourages them not to bite humans.

There are still vamps that prefer the thrill of biting and taking blood straight from the source, so Roman's assistant Laszlo has come up with a new idea.  They have invented a sex toy called VANNA (Vampire Artificial Nutritional Needs Appliance) that you can screw and bite. 
 
Yes, a VANNA is just like the Kimber doll from the FX series Nip/Tuck.  LOL!  Ok, maybe I got carried away with that, but you get the gist.

VANNAS aren't just vamp sex toys,  they come equipped with veins that you can fill with blood so if the need to bite ever strikes, you don't risk biting a human.

The idea was great but the trial test was a disaster. Since Roman is the HVIC (head vamp in charge), he gets the first go at the VANNA.  Well Roman enjoys biting the doll, but recoils when he realizes that he has lost one of  his fangs!

Now imagine a one fanged vamp and I dare you not to laugh.  The whole scenario was  funny as hell.  Despite his anger and utter embarrassment, Roman seeks out an all night dentist to repair his fang.  If he doesn't get it repaired before the sun rises, he'll forever be the butt of all vamp jokes because after tonight, it can never be replaced. 


Since they don't have vamp dentists, they seek a human dentist that is open at night.  They locate Shanna's office, unaware that the Mob has also found her and are on their way to kill her.  Being the good guy that Roman is, he helps her escape in exchange for getting his winning smile back.

In the process of hiding Shanna and helping her get over her fear of blood, Roman begins to fall in love with her.  The odds are stacked against them though.  Shanna turns out to be the daughter of a CIA agent that has put together a team of psychics that can resist vampire mind control whose sole mission is to rid the world of blood sucking vampires.

My Rating
I give this book five stars.  I loved the romance between Roman and Shanna.  Normally I hate heroines that have too much of the goodie too shoes qualities, but Shanna was very likable.   I also love the world that Ms. Sparks has created.   Vamps that have regular lives and jobs.  They love, they live, and they suck...sometimes.


Read an excerpt from How To Marry A Millionaire Vampire

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