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3rd out of 40 books
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2 voters
Cold in California (The Twice-Baked Vampire #1)
Kindle Edition
Published
(first published June 9th 2011)
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I received this book as a review copy from the author and, to be honest, for the first few pages I didn't think it was my sort of book. But then I suddenly found myself sucked in and loving every minute of the story.
I think my initial difficulty was because the book is rather different in its approach and its rules for the supernatural world than anything I've read before. Once I was used to things, I was able to enjoy it.
I loved Gabriel's character and I thought he came across really well as th...more
I think my initial difficulty was because the book is rather different in its approach and its rules for the supernatural world than anything I've read before. Once I was used to things, I was able to enjoy it.
I loved Gabriel's character and I thought he came across really well as th...more
Cold in California is a completely original and very interesting take on the world of vampires and (for the lucky ones) their lives after they die. (Again!) This was such a fun and entertaining read for me! The Characters are well developed. They all have their own unique and quirky personalities. The interaction between them had me laughing and I truly enjoyed getting to know each of them.
So, what happens to a vampire when they die? As much as I love to read vampire books, I've never really put...more
So, what happens to a vampire when they die? As much as I love to read vampire books, I've never really put...more
Jun 30, 2011
Holly
rated it
4 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
read-and-reviewed-from-author-or-pu
~May have slight spoilers.~
In this debut novel of Deborah Riley-Magnus's The Twice-Baked Vampire Series we meet Gabriel Strickland. A vampire who has just 'bit the dust' --so to speak-- and finds there is a lot more to death than what most think for a vampire or any supernatural.
Most people think that when vampires die they just go. . . .'poof'. Well, when all goes wrong Gabriel finds that is not the case and that he is in an in-between life with a chance to earn redemption and eventually be det...more
In this debut novel of Deborah Riley-Magnus's The Twice-Baked Vampire Series we meet Gabriel Strickland. A vampire who has just 'bit the dust' --so to speak-- and finds there is a lot more to death than what most think for a vampire or any supernatural.
Most people think that when vampires die they just go. . . .'poof'. Well, when all goes wrong Gabriel finds that is not the case and that he is in an in-between life with a chance to earn redemption and eventually be det...more
This book is incredible. I am not a fan of vampire, blood-sucking horror books, but when I interviewed Deborah, I was intrigued by the "half-baked" vampire. With no apologies to Bram Stoker, Magnus has executed a best seller with a twist unlike any other vampire novel you will read.
"Cold in California" playfully skirts the blood-sucking frenzies, and "proposes that even the worst of the supernatural world gets one more chance to earn heaven or hell." Our `protagonist' is Gabriel Strickland, who...more
"Cold in California" playfully skirts the blood-sucking frenzies, and "proposes that even the worst of the supernatural world gets one more chance to earn heaven or hell." Our `protagonist' is Gabriel Strickland, who...more
Originally posted at: http://www.longandshortreviews.blogsp...
That’s a first! I’ve never read a book where the hero, a vampire, is staked in the first chapter. Normally, that would be the death nail for a story. I actually felt sorry for Gabriel. He was so close to finding that illusive someone that vampires had only heard of, and then…nothing.
Well, not quite. This would be the shortest story ever written and the sequel would be basically un-necessary. In a clever twist on all things vampy, Ms....more
That’s a first! I’ve never read a book where the hero, a vampire, is staked in the first chapter. Normally, that would be the death nail for a story. I actually felt sorry for Gabriel. He was so close to finding that illusive someone that vampires had only heard of, and then…nothing.
Well, not quite. This would be the shortest story ever written and the sequel would be basically un-necessary. In a clever twist on all things vampy, Ms....more
Cold in California by Deborah Riley-Magnus *****of *****
I must be on a really good run with books right now because everything that I have picked up recently has been at least a 4 star book.
Cold in California is a 5 star romp through Los Angeles with a twice dead vampire, a charismatic employment placement agent, an oversexed pixie, a troll who manages a holding cell for souls in limbo on earth in LA and a huge assortment of other fascinating and amusing characters. I am delighted that this book...more
I must be on a really good run with books right now because everything that I have picked up recently has been at least a 4 star book.
Cold in California is a 5 star romp through Los Angeles with a twice dead vampire, a charismatic employment placement agent, an oversexed pixie, a troll who manages a holding cell for souls in limbo on earth in LA and a huge assortment of other fascinating and amusing characters. I am delighted that this book...more
Today's review is on Cold in California by Deborah Riley-Magnus
Cold in California is the first book in Riley-Magnus' The Twice-Baked Vampire Series, and it is off like a flying stake straight through to your heart. Though I did find numerous editing mistakes, I found that I just could not resist falling in love with the "twice-baked" vampire hero, Gabriel Strickland.
Gabriel is not your average vampire. He still maintains much of his humanness. Sure he still feeds from mortals, but he only takes...more
Cold in California is the first book in Riley-Magnus' The Twice-Baked Vampire Series, and it is off like a flying stake straight through to your heart. Though I did find numerous editing mistakes, I found that I just could not resist falling in love with the "twice-baked" vampire hero, Gabriel Strickland.
Gabriel is not your average vampire. He still maintains much of his humanness. Sure he still feeds from mortals, but he only takes...more
Review by Shannon: How would you like to have your immortal existence wiped out by a broken baseball bat during a Chicago Cubs game? That's what happened to Gabriel Strickland. He figured he was on his way to his eternal death, but he instead found himself lying on a sidewalk in sunny Southern California.
Gabriel soon learns that immortal creatures don't necessarily die when the eternal death comes. Instead they could be sent to the "tank" where they wait their eternal judgement. Of course, it's...more
Gabriel soon learns that immortal creatures don't necessarily die when the eternal death comes. Instead they could be sent to the "tank" where they wait their eternal judgement. Of course, it's...more
**4.5 stars**
See the review in it's entirety on our website: www.thebookhookup.com
So one night I was feeling rather disenchanted with my current read when I decided to take a break and cruise the ‘shelves’ on my kindle. I came across Cold in California and thought I would check it out and read a few pages. Well, before I knew it I was 25% into the book and HOOKED! I FLUV when that happens. Since we tend to review a lot of young adult fiction here, I should mention up-front that this is an adult...more
See the review in it's entirety on our website: www.thebookhookup.com
So one night I was feeling rather disenchanted with my current read when I decided to take a break and cruise the ‘shelves’ on my kindle. I came across Cold in California and thought I would check it out and read a few pages. Well, before I knew it I was 25% into the book and HOOKED! I FLUV when that happens. Since we tend to review a lot of young adult fiction here, I should mention up-front that this is an adult...more
How would you like to have your immortal existence wiped out by a broken baseball bat during a Chicago Cubs game? That's what happened to Gabriel Strickland. He figured he was on his way to his eternal death, but he instead found himself lying on a sidewalk in sunny Southern California.
Gabriel soon learns that immortal creatures don't necessarily die when the eternal death comes. Instead they could be sent to the "tank" where they wait their eternal judgement. Of course, it's not a quick judgeme...more
Gabriel soon learns that immortal creatures don't necessarily die when the eternal death comes. Instead they could be sent to the "tank" where they wait their eternal judgement. Of course, it's not a quick judgeme...more
I was given a copy of this book by the author in return for an honest review.
This is a very unique take on the vampire paranormal genre, and I found myself loving it!
Gabriel Strickland is wonderful character. Even for a vampire, he has standards and rules he follows as if he is human. He is a gentleman and a loner, feeding only to survive. When he is "killed" for the second time in a freak accident, things get very interesting!
Dori Gallagher is also a wonderful character. She has a gift for help...more
This is a very unique take on the vampire paranormal genre, and I found myself loving it!
Gabriel Strickland is wonderful character. Even for a vampire, he has standards and rules he follows as if he is human. He is a gentleman and a loner, feeding only to survive. When he is "killed" for the second time in a freak accident, things get very interesting!
Dori Gallagher is also a wonderful character. She has a gift for help...more
Gabriel Strickland is a vampire; well at least he is the first 10 mins of the book, until he meets his demise with the splinters of a baseball bat. Instead of waking up in the midst of hell, he is waking up to palm trees and the sun blaring down on him. Learning he is now living in LA in a supernatural purgatory, Gabriel must get by until he learns his fate of heaven or hell.
Now meet Dori Gallagher. Dori works at an employment agency and is good at what she does. Just by listening to her client...more
Now meet Dori Gallagher. Dori works at an employment agency and is good at what she does. Just by listening to her client...more
The early pages of Cold in California first introduce us to Gabriel Strictland; a mysterious and all too sexy vampire that loses his life and quickly learns that death as he knew it just wasn’t as it seemed. Caught in between the living world and the after-life, Gabriel must learn to survive within the boundaries of his new temporary existence as he awaits judgement from above. As Gabriel struggles to understand his place between heaven and hell, he meets Dori and is instantly drawn to the warm,...more
(NOT suitable for children. 18+ only. Sexual content. Language.)
Who doesn't spend at least ten seconds of every day wondering how they're going to die? I know the thought has crossed my mind a few times. It's a natural thing. But if I wind up dying the way Gabriel dies... again... I think I'd laugh myself stupid. The irony in it was just too perfect.
This book was brought to my attention by the lovely Stuck in Book. Because of her disagreeing workload, she was unable to take the book on for revi...more
Who doesn't spend at least ten seconds of every day wondering how they're going to die? I know the thought has crossed my mind a few times. It's a natural thing. But if I wind up dying the way Gabriel dies... again... I think I'd laugh myself stupid. The irony in it was just too perfect.
This book was brought to my attention by the lovely Stuck in Book. Because of her disagreeing workload, she was unable to take the book on for revi...more
This book has something for everyone who enjoys the paranormal. There is every sort of supernatural you can imagine, trolls, pixies, shape shifters, werewolves, warlocks and vampires - lots of smelly vampires. I am not a big fan of vampire stories but I liked the main character, Gabrielle. He is portrayed as a reluctant hero and not your average vampire. Quite sexy,sensitive and confused about his new situation. There are many interesting characters in this novel but I must admit I sometimes fou...more
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Reviewed by Jennifer Bacile
Cold in California manages to create a unique take on a currently over-populated vampire genre...A well-written, enjoyable story – I find myself looking forward to the next book in the series.
Read the entire review at ParaYourNormal
Cold in California manages to create a unique take on a currently over-populated vampire genre...A well-written, enjoyable story – I find myself looking forward to the next book in the series.
Read the entire review at ParaYourNormal
Really cute story about a half-baked vampire - a vampire who dies and become semi-human again - and his quest to fit in. An interesting idea and well executed.
Jul 12, 2012
Katherine
rated it
4 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Recommended to Katherine by:
JAG
Shelves:
vampires,
top-shelf-fantastic-reads
What a cool story!! I love the main characters Dori and Gabriel, and even the secondary characters are interesting. There is so much going on in this book, that at times it was difficult to keep straight. What kept me reading though is the connections to each one. So smartly done, and the ending was surprising in the best way. I have to say, Gabriel reminded me of Angel, trying to do right, despite his dark past. If there is another book from this author, I am definitely going to read it.
Aug 08, 2012
Y.S.
marked it as to-read
Jun 02, 2012
Jessica Rosenblatt
marked it as to-read
Jun 01, 2012
Chelesbells
marked it as to-read
May 06, 2012
Ula
marked it as to-read
| topics | posts | views | last activity | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Let's talk VAMPIRES ... | 1 | 2 | Feb 02, 2012 07:21am | |
| Cold in California | 1 | 2 | Aug 18, 2011 08:34am |
Deborah Riley-Magnus is an author and an Author Success Coach. She has a twenty-seven year professional background in marketing, advertising and public relations as a writer for print, television and radio. She writes fiction in several genres as well as non-fiction. She’s lived on both the east and west coast of the United States and has traveled the country widely. Having lived, worked and writt...more
More about Deborah Riley-Magnus...
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