Guest Review: The Cowboy and the Vampire – Clark Hays & Kathleen McPhall

Reporter Lizzie Vaughan doesn’t realize it, but she has 2,000 years of royal Vampiric blood coursing through her veins. Neither she nor Tucker, her cowboy lover, has any idea that Julius, the leader of the undead, has a diabolical plan to reign over darkness for all eternity–with Lizzie at his side. Lizzie battles for her life–and her soul–as she and Tucker find themselves caught up in a vampire war, pursued by hordes of Julius’ maniacal, bloodthirsty followers. Who will be left standing when the sun rises?

Series:  Cowboy and Vampire #1
Release Date:  October 8, 2010
Publisher:  Midnight Ink
Source:  Bewitching Book Tours
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Reviewer’s Thoughts:

After witnessing what she believes is the public murder of 20 people, NYC reporter Elizabeth Vaughn she finds herself on the run from what she can only describe as insane people playing at being vampires. Feeling her life is in danger, Lizzie runs to the only place she feels safe, into the arms of her very own cowboy. Showing their resourcefulness, after all they haven’t survived for centuries by being dumb, the vampires manage to track Lizzie down to LonePine, Wyoming with orders to bring her back to NYC.

I wasn’t sure what to expect at first. I found Tucker to be too stereotypical for my liking. I enjoyed him as a character, I just wish he didn’t remind me of every old cowboys movie I’ve ever seen, starting with his trailer and including his busted up, duct taped boots. However, not knowing any real cowboys myself, after all, I am a city girl, what do I know, maybe that is an accurate description of your average cowboy. Tucker wasn’t the only character I found stereotypical. Elita, for instance seemed to play up to the “Trampy Vamp” stereotype. Lizzie, however, I found very realistic. I especially enjoyed how the New Yorker seemed to come out in times of stress. Your average person would give in to hysterics, crying and screaming. Lizzie shows a sarcastic humor and attitude that I found refreshing and familiar. I found myself reading on just to see more of it. Lizzie isn’t the only surprise though. We are also exposed to an average looking vampire and an over weight vampire with a weakness for junk food. Being always exposed to the image of vampires being beautiful and irresistible I found the idea of these guys refreshing. No sparkly vampires to be found here.

If you can get over the verbal explosion of information, this novel will keep you flipping pages. Once started, I found it hard to put it down. It’s as if I needed to know how Tucker, our simple cowboy, would rescue Lizzie from the big city vampires. Will he get there in time? Will Lizzie be seduced to the dark? These are questions that kept me coming back for more.  Personally speaking, if this is just the first offering in a series, I can’t wait to read the second. If you enjoy gutsy, hunky cowboys and take charge, no nonsense New Yorkers, I would definitely recommend picking this up and giving it a try.  

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