A Vampire's Kiss

A Dark Protectors/Rebels Novella (1001 Dark Nights)

By: Rebecca Zanetti

Narrated by: Stella Bloom

From New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Rebecca Zanetti comes a new story in her Dark Protectors/Rebels series...

Unlike several of his brothers, Athan Maxwell accepted the curse inherent in his DNA and solved the problem a century ago by mating his one true mate and saving her life at the same time. Now they only meet up four times a year to exchange blood and keep themselves healthy because that was the deal. Yet after a hundred years, his mate has only become more beguiling and intriguing, and when he discovers a new threat on her tail, his promise of sitting back and leaving her alone goes right out of the window.

Ivy O’Dwyer has enjoyed the last century as an immortal being, evolving from being a farmer’s daughter to the successful CEO of an Internet company. Sure, life gets lonely without the chance to date, and yes, she’s grateful to her vampire mate for saving her life so long ago, and yet the dreams she has of the sexy male won’t desert her. So when he storms in to save her life, in all vampire-possessive mode, it’s difficult to stand her ground. Unfortunately, when they finally discover that living forever but alone isn’t worth it, it might be too late.

**Every 1001 Dark Nights novella is a standalone story. For new readers, it’s an introduction to an author’s world. And for fans, it’s a bonus book in the author’s series. We hope you'll enjoy each one as much as we do.**

©2023 by Rebecca Zanetti (P)2022 Brilliance Publishing, Inc., all rights reserved. Foreword © 2014 by M. J. Rose

Loved this read!

Rebecca Zanetti you officially have a new fan! I absolutely LOVED this book! Yet another fantastic read and new to me author found thanks to 1001 Dark Nights novellas from Blue Box Press! I think this is my favorite yet which is saying something because I’ve loved every 1001 novella I’ve read. I’ll be giving a spoiler free review of both the book itself and the audiobook too (which was AWESOME!) so let’s get to it! First and foremost I started rooting for Ivy and Athan in chapter one when it became clear Athan was our dark night hero who saw her even when others didn’t. Saved from typhus after her father calls upon Athan to rescue her by changing her from mere dying human to…something else entirely. We swiftly but not without proper pacing shift to the future where Ivy is a self made woman busting predators online. She needs no rescuing, even though Athan still keeps her safe from the shadows he lets her chart her own path. Y’all know I love consent being an important plot point so I loved how Zanetti walked the line of having an ancient alpha protector while letting her chart her own course ,and choose her own destiny. This includes how much they are entangled by both a magic matehood, and real life living. While Athan fights a secret war, he does everything in his power to keep her safe from it, which felt very realistic and true to his protector character.

The world building behind Athan and his kind was very rich even for a novella, and has me really excited to dive into this series as a whole to learn more. I really loved the pacing of information and that Zanetti kept me guessing right up to the incredible finish, and to my happy surprise my guesses were always wrong which I LOVE!! I’m seriously addicted to plot twists and that gasp moment and Zanetti delivered! I also loved the peek at his family, (especially Granny) we were given and hope there’s more of her awaiting in the Dark Protector series!

Vampires Kiss was a fantastic afternoon read and first leap into this authors works! This novella has me headed to go order more books in the Dark Protector world (woo hoo there’s 18?!) from Zanetti immediately because I can’t wait to learn more, especially with this taste of her rich world building skills! I absolutely recommend this book if you love fated mates, dark protector, vampires, bad a$$ FMC, I love you but I won’t make you love me, and who did this to you tropes you’ll devour this novella and be racing to order more from Zanetti!

Now for the audiobook, I LOVED the narrator Stella Bloom! She has a fantastic range of voices and accents, and each character has very unique and distinguishable voices as well. She seriously nails the Scottish/Irish type accent and I will definitely be looking for more titles with her reading, especially if they come with characters with accents! Her male voices were especially fantastic and never felt forced in any way, she had subtle shifts in tone with Athan that really brought a lot of depth to his character and his past. I can’t recommend the audiobook enough and I’m so grateful to Brilliance Audio for sending it my way because it pulled me out of a big reading slump!

Must Read!

Another absolute must read written by Rebecca Zanetti! I absolutely loved the story between Athan and Ivy. The Maxwell family is very interesting and I really have enjoyed reading about these men, their curse, and their mates. This was a very well written story that pulled me in from the beginning the story and I found myself invested in all of the characters and how the story would end. I listened to the Audible and was very happy with everything about it. Definitely a must read in my opinion!

WOW

Love this i can't wait for the next book. Each one is better then the last.

Amazing as usual

I loved every minutes. Great story. Great narrator! I can’t wait for the next one!

Vampire kiss review

I thoroughly enjoyed the romance between Ivy and Affin. it has funny and temper adjustments in this. But the men are learning what they want in a mate is not always what they expect. Never a dull moment when it comes to love.

So excited for more of the Maxwells

I always enjoy any thing from the Dark Protector world and this book is no exception. Ivy and Athan are great together and have amazing chemistry. I really enjoyed the whole family. However I do wish that the book was longer. But I will take anything I can get. I can’t wait for more.

4.5 Stars 🌟

4.5 Stars

Well, what can I say? I love this series and am excited any time I see a new book come out from this world. This is a short novella type story that introduces us to the Maxwell's, specifically Athan Maxwell and his mate Ivy. This story is part of the 1001 series where authors write a short story that is able to be read as a stand alone in order to get their works out to new readers. The good thing is - if you are an existing reader, it actually moves the story arc of the existing plot forward.

I read a lot of books and we are already many, many books into this series so I'm not sure if this is right or not, but I do not think we have been introduced to the Maxwell's before (I could be wrong, I just don't remember). The interesting thing is that the Maxwell's seem to be a new and unique family that exist within the Realm to hunt werewolves. These werewolves are not shifters - per se - and are being created by a Kurgen scientist (see....new plot direction). But, it brings everything full circle when we get to see Benny and the news gets to the Maxwell's about Dane's death and Ulric's return. Apparently the Kurgen's and the Maxwell's have been at war a very long time and the truce they had is now null and void.

So, the best of both worlds. New characters and plot lines, with everything fitting into the existing and (getting more chaotic) storyline.

Also, I wanted to make a mention that I listened to most of this on audio and think the narrator Stella Bloom, did a great job. I always especially love it when there is a narrator who nails the accents and this book has many characters with that wonderful Irish brogue. Loved it.

So, we have now met a new and especially interesting family in the Realm and the breadcrumbs have already been laid down for much more to come..

Can't wait :)

Athan and Ivy

Ivy O'Dwyer briefly met Athan over a hundred years ago. He saved her life and his by mating her. She has become immortal like Athan. They meet up a couple of times a year and exchange blood. They have not fully completed the mating. Both of them have needed the blood exchange more often. Perhaps it is time to complete the mating? Ivy has never known the touch of a man. She is the oldest virgin. At the last 'funeral' for herself, Athan comes to visit her. They are in danger immediately. The Kurjans are after Ivy. Unbeknownst to Athan, Ivy has teamed up with another Maxwell mate, Leah. There is so much going on. There are many Maxwell brothers. A classic Zanetti tale, I love it.

Strong women

I really like the Maxwell brothers, and watching Athan try to tame his mate was so much fun. He should have known better, the Maxwell men seem drawn to very strong, independent women.

A Vampire’s Kiss

A Vampire’s Kiss by Rebecca Zanetti
Dark Protectors series #14.5. Paranormal romance. Can be read as a stand-alone but better read as part of the series.
Athan Maxwell found his true mate over a century ago. Since she was naive and from an isolated area, Athan made arrangements to meet up with her only a couple of times a year to take blood and left her to enjoy her life. Current day and he can’t stay away from her for long periods but also finds she is much more independent now. Ivy is feeling a bit lonely and looks forward to finally having a full relationship with Athan.

I enjoyed their laughter and enjoyment of each other. Oh sure, he was dominating like an old bear, but she enjoyed his trying.
I feel you need to be up-to-date with the series as this book drop serious spoilers from Garrett’s book.
I admit Athan’s parents amused me quite a bit. They’ve been around a long time and together seem like a nice couple, but apart? Wise cracks, chases and mayhem.

I listened to an audiobook version while following along with an ebook. The narrator is Stella Bloom and she does a marvelous performance although I did have to speed it up a bit for conversational speed.