Home of the Alpha Showdown, and one-stop shop for urban fantasy, paranormal romance and fantasy news and reviews.
![Round 3: Vlad vs. Christian MacKeltar [Alpha Showdown 2013]](http://vampirebookclub.net/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/VBC-HomeofAlphaShowdown-216x300-28338_200x200.jpg)
It’s officially time for Alpha Showdown 2013! You made your nominations and we have 16 of the most badass, alpha characters from urban fantasy and paranormal romance novels locked into the bracket. Only one will be named champion and today’s first bout is sure to end in a knockout. Round three offers two very different princes. A vampire of legend with a penchant for fire finds a suitable opponent in the... 
In an effort to help you keep that to-read list updated, I’ve compiled the hot urban fantasy and paranormal romance releases for March 2013. All dates are U.S. and tentative. Also: Click the title of any book to visit the Amazon page for pre-order or purchase goodness. I’ve included genre classification with each book: UF is urban fantasy, PNR is paranormal romance, F is fantasy and YA is young adult.... 
I’ve been a long-time fan of Jeaniene Frost’s books. I’ve been a fan of Bones since before Chapter 32. Then there was Vlad. I wasn’t smitten with him until Once Burned hit shelves last year, then I understood why he earned a spinoff series. However, VBC’s Candace has been in love with Vlad since he first stepped on page in the Night Huntress books. She’s dedicated to him. I had to let her write a... 
I’ve had a higher-than-usual number of book recommendation requests on the VBC Facebook page and via Twitter of late. While I can, of course, just point you to the recommendations section, I decided to take a look at the most popular reviews here at VBC. Consider this post your quick access to the books reviews VBC readers found helpful. TOP 10 MOST POPULAR VBC REVIEWS Dead Reckoning by Charlaine Harris... 
Every year, I compile the standard year-end best books list—read 2012’s best reads list—and it’s a hard task narrowing things down. What’s harder though is picking the ten heroes from novels published this year to make my annual swoon-worthy list. Last year Eve Silver’s Lokan took top honors and the year before Stacia Kane’s Terrible was causing fevers all over the place. There are returning favorites... 
It’s Independence Day in the United States. Typically, this is celebrated by eating foods cooked on a grill and enjoying fireworks. (And probably also complaining about how hot and/or sticky it is outside and trying to find the bug spray in your purse.) But this is Vampire Book Club. I can’t show you pretty explosions in the sky. I can however, recommend five heroes from books released in 2012 who will... 
As a general rule, our group read picks are not new releases. We like picking titles that are readily available in bookstores, internationally and in libraries. Once in a while, though, there is a book that almost every VBC reader leaps to buy on release day. So, am I surprised to see Once Burned by Jeaniene Frost take 60 percent of the vote in our July Group Read poll? Of course not. Once Burned is the... 
Once Burned (Night Prince #1) Jeaniene Frost Published: June 26, 2012 (Avon) Purchase at: Book Depository or Amazon Review by: Chelsea Rating (out of 5): 5 stars As a long-time fan of Jeaniene Frost’s Night Huntress series, I can’t believe I’m about to say this. Vlad, the hero of Once Burned, gives Bones a run for his money. Readers of the Night Huntress series (first book: Halfway to the Grave) have met... 
Are you guys ready for the Alpha Showdown? We’re getting everything ready on our side, and it’s looking to be lots of fun. The Showdown will dominate VBC starting on May 14. We’ll even do weekend posts – gasp! Speaking of favorites, I’ve been recommending books left and right lately. The ones that have gotten the biggest “thank you for suggesting this” responses in the last month have been Feed by Mira... 
Did you miss Book Bits? I had to stop doing them in February due to the chaos surrounding a death in the family. However, you had Character Love Letters to keep you warm, right? Well, I’m back and catching up on all the book excerpts – Jeaniene Frost! J.A. Saare! — and such. So, Book Bits is back on Thursdays as usual from here on out. Did someone say Vlad? I’m not the only one incredibly excited for... 
