Candle Bay

By: Tamara Thorne

Narrated by: Jamison Walker

Chelsea Quinn Yarbro says, "Tamara Thorne has an uncanny knack for combining the outrageous with the shuddery, making for wonderful scary romps and fun reading."

Shrouded in fog on a hillside high above an isolated California coastal town, The Candle Bay Hotel and Spa has been restored to its former glory after decades of neglect. Thanks to its new owners, the Darlings, the opulent inn is once again filled with prosperous guests. But its seemingly all-American hosts hide a chilling, age-old family secret.

Lured to the picturesque spot, assistant concierge Amanda Pearce is mesmerized by her surroundings - and her seductive new boss, Stephen Darling. But her employers' eccentric ways and suspicious blood splatters in the hotel fill her with trepidation. Little does Amanda know that not only are the Darlings vampires, but that a murderous vampire vendetta is about to begin - and she will be caught in the middle. For as the feud unfolds and her feelings for Stephen deepen, Amanda must face the greatest decision of her life: to die, or join the forever undead.

©2001 Tamara Thorne (P)2021 Tamara Thorne

Another winner!

I’ve read several books by this author and I already have a couple more cued up. She writes flawed, juicy, human characters, guilty pleasure style plot lines, and then weaves in sophisticated references to horror classics.

The narration is pitch perfect. He speaks with a combination of beautiful diction that goes from velvet to just the right amount of gravel.

It’s always a wonderful vampire story with Mr Cross or Ms. Thorne

They are phenomenal authors when the write about vampires together and I loved the original

The Crimson Corset
The Vampires of Crimson Cove, Book 1
By: Alistair Cross

That’s why I chose this one and there’s another one with a different title which I believe continues on but not in the series but in the story somehow it’s like each is tied in together . Phenomenal just after this one look for the cover with the twins and the lady on the cover it’s similar in ways like this one I’m reviewing I like very them all

Vampire secrets hidden in the fog

The story started out slow, but it had to introduce everything to the reader. I thought this book was good and the narrators voice added to the vibe that the "fog" was giving to the story. I've read a lot of vampire books but this was the first with the elixir and it's effects on vampires. Amanda is the reincarnated lost love of Julian's but she is falling in love with Stephen Darling. Julian is also waiting for the coming of someone who seems to be all powerful, comes to find out he's the original vampire. Amanda, starts to learn about her surroundings and realize what might be going on around her. Also, the weirdness of the environment she's been working in and the guy she's falling in love with. I just can't believe the ending. you will have to listen to it yourself to find out.

Like I said about the narrator, his voice was perfect for this type of story

Great take on vampire book

It started out a little slow but stick with it totally worth it. The story was entertaining and a different take on a vampire story. I enjoyed the story and can't wait to find out what happens. The narrator was good with all the voices and believe me it was a little hard to figure out who was who at first but once you got into it the book was very entertaining. I need the second book please.

Great book!

Really enjoyed this book! Or should I say loved it!!! I’m now officially hooked on vampires! The narrator did a great job! His voice was perfect for this book! Highly recommended!!!

Interesting take on vampires!

Candle Bay has the trappings of a bad 80s horror movie and a few of the characters are slightly over the top. It's a vampire romance, heavy on the vampire, and gory on the romance side. The Darlings manage a stately hotel and spa and they are all very good looking vampires. Stephen, Natasha, Orion, Lucy and Ivy all have a role to fulfill and they do it in a unique fashion. Julian Valentyn is the vampire who holds the secrets and who takes center stage in this story. He makes references to "the father" that become clear as the story goes on. Stephen Darling catches the eye of the new front desk clerk, Amanda, but so does Julian. The story is a good one, but there are too many secondary characters to keep track of and too many POV. Some of the storylines are gruesome, particularly those of the evil twin sisters, but Natasha the Feminazi had to have been the worst. When the secrets of the hotel start to emerge and other vampires want to claim them for themselves, the past is going to be revealed. The ending came a little too quickly and with little satisfaction. Perhaps there is more for Stephen and Amanda, after the kiss. Jamison Lee Walker does a good job as the narrator. You definitely know when he is speaking as a vampire! 

Intriging

Couldn't wait to get to the next chapter. The narrator really made the story come to life.

Holy WOW

A witty, sarcastically biting, fun, horrific, scary roller coaster ride of a good time! I loved this one. I have never, ever, listened to anything like this before in my life and I want more! Please tell me there will be more. Candle Bay features beautifully drawn characters, so many distinct, well developed characters. I was entranced, an as odd as it sounds, equally amused and horrified. The dialogue flowed smoothly and the narration was superb. The picture painted by the author was so clear, so vivid, I felt as if I was there!

great story

loved it. can't wait to listen to more from this series. the narrator was clear and drew me in very fast.

A slow burn, but cliffhanger end?

I was given a free credit for this book, it's not my usual genre. It was good, but a very very slow burn. After all that the end was disappointing.