"Vampires Don't Give Hickeys (The Slayer's Reverse Harem Book 1)" by Holly Ryan

Updated: Dec 21, 2018

Author: Holly Ryan

Narrator: Melissa Schwairy

Length: 3 hours 34 minutes

Publisher: Holly Ryan⎮2018

Genre: Paranormal Romance

Series: The Slayer's Reverse Harem, Book 1

Release date: Aug. 20, 2018

"Marry the devil...or die." That's the ultimatum Belle Harrison, vampire slayer, just received from a demon. Belle has only one response: To hell with him. Turns out it's not that easy, though - apparently the devil doesn't know the meaning of the word no. Lucky for Belle, three pantie-melting vampires come to her aid. Three hot vampires she can't resist. Hey, we all have our vices. Hers just happen to have fangs. She's going to need these three to help her thwart the devil's marriage proposal and defeat the terrifying dark force that wants her dead.

**I received this audiobook as part of my participation in a blog tour with Audiobookworm Promotions. The tour is being sponsored by Holly Ryan. The gifting of this audiobook did not affect my opinion of it.**

While I wish the relationships between Belle and her vampires had been better developed, I have to say that I really, really enjoyed this book! The plot was well developed and the characters were likable. There were several layers of goings-on, and I have a sneaking suspicion that the conflict that got 'wrapped up' in Book 1, isn't really all that resolved. It was just...too easy.

Belle was a fun character. She's strong, sassy, resilient, and with just enough sorrow in her past to make her relatable. Slaying aside, her life felt familiar; she's alone, trying to juggle a job, school, keeping a roof over her head...it's a struggle many readers will recognize from their own lives. Her sense of humor had me laughing out loud more than once. My only complaint about her was how quickly she started sexual relationships with the three supernaturally-hot vampires. It would have been nice to see a little more build-up and development there. I like the guys, but I didn't feel like we spent enough time getting ot know them for me to really feel more than mild affection. I'm hoping they'll get more developmental attention in Book 2, because they seem like they could be fabulous characters.

Now, as much as I enjoyed the characters and the story, I have some questions. How on earth is someone chosen to be a Slayer and expected to perform the job with absolutely no proper training or instruction? Belle is completely self-taught, so either she's been REALLY lucky or vampires in this world are weenies. The explanation she's given about the old ones being smart enough to stay away from her makes sense, but it doesn't excuse this particular plot hole.

Melissa Schwairy was a fabulous choice for narrator. Her reading voice is smooth, with enough inflection to convey the right mood for the setting, and she makes each character distinct without overdramatizing them or giving them silly accents. Her lack of accent seemed appropriate for what felt like a midwestern heroine in a typical, small, midwestern town. The recording quality was excellent, with no distracting volume changes, background noises, or overly long pauses between chapters.

Bottom line: I'd definitely recommend this book to those who like their romance paranormal, their heroines strong and sassy, and their plots intriguing. The fact that it's a steamy reverse harem is almost a bonus!

Holly Ryan is a pen name for a USA Today bestselling author who one day said, “Screw it. I’m gonna write books with some serious sizzle.” She’s fueled by wine, which is where the idea probably came from.

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Melissa Schwairy is a full-time narrator vocal age 20-30 living in Denver, Colorado. She has focused her acting career on narrating literature, completing titles in YA, Urban Fantasy, Murder Mysteries, and Romance. She has a BS in Counseling and Mental Health, and she is licensed in Healthcare Administration and Nursing. She loves to sing and dance in the car, and spend time with her family at home in beautiful Colorado.