Home of the Alpha Showdown, and one-stop shop for urban fantasy, paranormal romance and fantasy news and reviews.
As I’m doing a bit of traveling, one of my great Twitter friends Candace (@cpblackburn73) offered to jump over to VBC to talk about where vampires fit today on the romance bookshelves. I think you all know where I stand. This is the Vampire Book Club, after all. HAVE FANGS BEEN REPLACED? By Candace Blackburn I spend a considerable amount of time at book stores. As an aspiring writer, I could call it... ![The Black Dagger Sisterhood (or why I hate Marissa) [H&H]](http://vampirebookclub.net/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/HandHsidebar-14580_200x200.jpg)
I’m again over at Heroes & Heartbreakers today. It’s no secret I love J.R. Ward’s Black Dagger Brotherhood series (check out the Reviews by Author page to find my BDB reviews), but upon reflection I realized all my favorite books in the series are those with the strong heroines. The women who push the men into growing can make or break the book for me. You see, I should love Lover Revealed, because I like... 
I’m working on a fun post about vampire cowboys. (You read that right. Trust me here.) If you’ve actually read a good book with vampire cowboys, shoot me an email. I want your suggestions. First four chapters of Bloodlines The team over at EW’s Shelf Life have exclusively posted the first four chapters of Bloodlines. If you’re unaware, Bloodlines is the first in Richelle Mead’s Vampire Academy spinoff... 
I stopped in again at Heroes & Heartbreakers this week to share my list of the top six literary vampires you’d want to take as a lover. These fanged men have skills, strength and serious sex appeal. The list includes Bones, Ethan Sullivan and a member of the Black Dagger Brotherhood. Find out which six made my list (and why), and share your top vampire man over on Heroes & Heartbreakers. 
Lover Avenged (BDB #7) J.R. Ward Published: 2008 (NAL) Purchase at: Book Depository or Amazon Rating (out of 5): 3 stars I know what you’re thinking: 3 stars for a Black Dagger Brotherhood book? Yep. Lover Avenged is a chaotic read putting too much focus on subplots. Don’t worry, though, despite the distractions Lover Avenged’s hero Rhevenge’s relationship with Ehlena is still worth your time. This is the... 
I’ve already been told the Alpha Showdown is evil. Several times, in fact. Yet, you all are just as bad as I am: You love it. Thanks for all the positive feedback on Twitter and Facebook and in the comments. Just know I’ll continue to pop giveaways in sporadically during the battles, like on the Dimitri vs. Jace poll (which is still open). That said, today we’re putting the vicious vampire and Brotherhood...
We ask you to vote. We told you it was coming. Now, we’re ready to start the big battle. Oh yes, it’s time for the 2011 ALPHA SHOWDOWN! We’ve narrowed the field to 16 ass-kicking men and women (supernatural and human alike), and now it’s in your hands. Each day we’ll post a new battle — with some of our favorite bloggers championing for those alphas in the running — and then leave it up to you, readers,... 
Last week we asked for your help in assembling the ultimate urban fantasy starter kit — those books that are musts for the genre. And, wow, did you ever have suggestions. We loved it. (And we know we weren’t alone in adding tons of great books to our to-read list.) From the quintessential Charles de Lint to Kim Harrison and Rachel Vincent to Jaye Wells and Nicole Peeler. You were all over the place, and... 
Lover Enshrined (Black Dagger Brotherhood #6) J.R. Ward Published: 2008 (Signet) Purchase at: Book Depository or Amazon Rating (out of 5): 3 stars Note: As with all our reviews, we may mention events of earlier novels but won’t spoil the book we’re reviewing. If you haven’t read the previous Black Dagger Brotherhood novels, please check our other reviews. The first book is Dark Lover. At the end of Lover... 
Those who follow VBC on Twitter may know things are stressful these days here at the VBC HQ. One of my close family members has a rare brain cancer — complete with experimental treatments. (He has the best doctors and is in great spirits.) My point in mentioning this isn’t to be a downer, but to say things kind of suck. I’m in a perpetual state of tension, but I’ve been getting a nice break from reality... 
