Dark Dates (Cassandra Bick Chronicles, #1) by Tracey Sinclair

Sep 17, 2012 Nunya rated it 3 of 5 stars

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. Currently reading, but finding myself walking away and then coming back in frustration when Cassandra (and Cain but no so much) gets on my nerves lol SPOILERS! BTW this is long and I have a habit of wanting to get everything that I was thinking or feeling while I was reading out. I know its probably hard to tell from my rants I did like reading this book and didn't want it to end.

Hmmm, what can be said? Despite not liking Cassandra and Cain, the plot and my own curiosity kept bringing me back. A...more Currently reading, but finding myself walking away and then coming back in frustration when Cassandra (and Cain but no so much) gets on my nerves lol SPOILERS! BTW this is long and I have a habit of wanting to get everything that I was thinking or feeling while I was reading out. I know its probably hard to tell from my rants I did like reading this book and didn't want it to end.

Hmmm, what can be said? Despite not liking Cassandra and Cain, the plot and my own curiosity kept bringing me back. As I got a better understanding of who they were as characters my dislike began to lessen, but then it would get confirmed again. Sad to say that I would probably have given this book more stars if the key main players weren't so...so....*$%&^$*!

Cain I don't like him simply because he is the worst kind of extremist and he makes himself among others the exception to the (his) rule. My understanding was that non-human=Other. He is an Other, but ignores this and refers to all Others as monsters. I HATE this. Also, he had the nerve to be all its not *what* I am but *who* I am with Cass (hasn't she been arguing this very point always?!) when revealing what he was exactly. No shit, thats a kind of common sense logical rule that seems to escape him when he's on the hunt. Later on in the book I got the idea that he targeted Others that were a REAL threat, but then reading further I got the idea that 'Naaaaah he doesn't discriminate on the hunt'. Maybe in the beginning it started that way as them being evil (you know the very first Others), but he didn't really take their descendants into consideration or something I don't know. Also there is the usual 'I was done so terrible wrong by an Other(s) that they are all the same and come from the same stock anyway so they must all be destroyed' plot. As much as I dislike him I like him and respect him waaaaaaaaay more than Cass simply because he has no shame in who he is, his beliefs, and he was upfront with what he was about from the beginning (I'm not including the messy relationship stuff. IMO he should have said he was married/separated even though he didn't really lead her on either).

I can't stand Cass simply because the D must be THAT good. So good that she ignores her Sense or lack thereof when it came to Cain when it was an obvious flag. So good that she actually tells wannabe Lestat that she didn't know anyone who would want to kill or commit genocide against vampires and that if she did she wouldn't just stand by and do nothing (unless of course, you know, their sex game is on point)....riiiiiiiiiiight. So good that she ignores that she is sleeping with someone on a regularly irregular basis who has no issue with Other genocide. So good I can imagine her saying its ok as long as you don't do it in front of me and its not anyone I actually know or interact with. (She's the type that completely ignores everything wrong with him, has a he can be changed idea, and an out of sight out of mind mentality) So good that she ignores the genuine and out of character fear that her friend IMMEDIATELY had when meeting Cain. So good ignoring that her friend's fear was justified since she is an Other which Cain would have no problem killing (and he might have even been or will be responsible for the death of her family or friends at some point) if it wasn't for her association with her. Shoot he might even kill her any way later on down the line. So good that its like everything he has done within the last 5 seconds could be erased with one touch. So good that she ignores that he treats her like a booty call or FWB at least. So good that she ignores his harsh words, that he kissed her the next day like nothing then kissed his wife later in the same day in front of her. Interesting how flexible he is with his vows and the interpretation of God's word but not so much when it comes to Others. So good that based on her actions she forgets they're not in an exclusive relationship no matter how many time she says they aren't and that she doesn't see him for YEARS at a time. He can say he's separated all he wants but he is married and he even admitted that the love with his wife was/is real and something that deep doesn't just go away which is obvious by his actions. I get that he is millions/billions of years old but if you're separated and those feelings and actions are still there that separation doesn't count so much and considering his life span or how long they've been married 400yrs isn't really that long.

I also dislike how she began referring to all vampires as monsters like Cain and not really caring what happened to them because of what has happened to her. I get it I do but still I actually thought she would be stronger than that considering her arguments against Cain up to that point. Hate the fact that she was made to feel guilty about her argument with Cain at the end of the book as if she made a terrible mistake or something. I was like GTFOH with that! Seriously! I was all happy like finally she is breaking away from the D, but then guilt and regret. For what I don't know. Other than their character flaws I liked this book. I liked the idea of her services being needed in that community and seemed realistic to me. Even though I can't STAND those two I can't wait to read whats next and I HOPE HOPE HOPE for some more growth on their part and introductions to more Other key players...that hopefully puts those two in their place lol sorry couldn't help it lol

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Aug 02, 2012 Nina rated it 3 of 5 stars

Dark Dates was a relatively fun read. The protagonist, Cassandra, runs a dating service for vampires. All is going well with her business until vampires are being murdered and her clients are many of the victims. On top of the murders, someone seems to be targeting her as well. There are quirky friends and a love interest (view spoiler) that help her solve this mystery. Overall, I enjoyed this book. However, there were some things that really irritated me.

Good
- Cassan...more

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Jul 29, 2012 Marisa rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: read2review

First, let me thank the author for providing a free copy of this book to me for review. It was immensely kind of her.

Second, I had a couple issues with the book (hence why this isn’t getting a five), but considering it got a three, I still enjoyed reading it.

What I liked most was the main character and her humor. The references to Buffy and several other vampire/supernatural/etc. themed TV shows made me smile because, like Cassandra, I probably watch a little too much TV. I also liked how Cass...more First, let me thank the author for providing a free copy of this book to me for review. It was immensely kind of her.

Second, I had a couple issues with the book (hence why this isn’t getting a five), but considering it got a three, I still enjoyed reading it.

What I liked most was the main character and her humor. The references to Buffy and several other vampire/supernatural/etc. themed TV shows made me smile because, like Cassandra, I probably watch a little too much TV. I also liked how Cassandra could hold her own. She didn’t kill the overall villain, but was sufficiently able to defend herself when faced with adversaries (view spoiler), which won points with me because I always like a heroine who can defend herself.

The main thing I wasn’t too keen on with this book was that Cassandra let her hormones get the better of her sometimes. I can definitely understand not being able to think clearly in front of an attractive man (especially one without his shirt---or nothing---on), but there are some circumstances I would have liked her to focus a little less on jumping a man’s bone and a little more on the problem at hand. (view spoiler)

Lastly, I’ll say that I loved Medea. It’s easy for friends in literature to become filler characters, though I’m happy to say that isn’t the case with Medea. It didn’t escape my notice that Cassandra tends to surround herself with people she knows hardly anything about (Medea, Caine...), but I am glad she got to know a bit more about Medea throughout the book and that the two of them bonded a tad. I’m interested to see what other secrets Medea is keeping from Cassandra in future installments.

Overall, I’d probably give this more of a 3.5 than a flat out three, but the writing flowed well and I'd recommend it to anyone who's a fan of the genre.(less)

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Jul 29, 2012 Jackie Miller rated it 4 of 5 stars

I was so impressed with Dark Dates. I'm a huge fan of books with a fierce heroine that gets tangled up in the paranormal, and this is a great addition to those ranks. It easily stands on its own merit with a unique approach to the idea.

The world that Cassandra Bick lives in is a world tinted with the paranormal, and she's completely used to that. I loved her personality and wit . . . and her temper. She's an ordinary woman, which her kind-of-but-not-really boyfriend Cane likes to point out in th...more

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Aug 09, 2012 Kara-karina rated it 4 of 5 stars

I would say that any fan of earlier Anita Blake or Darynda Jones is going to love it. This pure joyful digging at ridiculous cliches of vampire culture... Anne Rice, LKH, mentions of Supernatural ad Buffy, - it was so much fun!

Cassandra, the main character, is more Sookie than Anita. She is a Londoner through and through, who helps newbie vampires find dates. She even organises speed-dating between them and their meals.

Her secretary and best friend, Medea, is a witch and her lover strongly remin...more I would say that any fan of earlier Anita Blake or Darynda Jones is going to love it. This pure joyful digging at ridiculous cliches of vampire culture... Anne Rice, LKH, mentions of Supernatural ad Buffy, - it was so much fun!

Cassandra, the main character, is more Sookie than Anita. She is a Londoner through and through, who helps newbie vampires find dates. She even organises speed-dating between them and their meals.

Her secretary and best friend, Medea, is a witch and her lover strongly reminds me of Edward (not Cullen, for God's sake! I'm talking about Ted Forrester here). Cain is a sociopatic hunter of monsters who doesn't approve of Cassandra's business but who keeps popping in her life for infrequent bouts of sex.

Then there is Laclos... Pale, dark long hair, gorgeous body, leather trousers. He is like Jean-Claude but with a healthy sense of humour. He is pompous and narcissistic, but at the same time doesn't forget that this is all for show, that he plays on cliches.

The plot is very straightforward, with a villain who is killing all the young modern vamps in London using magic and demons, while Cass and her friends are trying to stop him. On the other hand, Cass's love life is a right mess and so is her business, but she is funny and downright normal in her reactions like a young overworked slobby professional woman who lives on takeaways and has a cat, and I do not question her integrity. As a character she is familiar to all of us. There are no Mary Sues in this novel.

Male characters are a bit messier. Cain is pragmatic. That's why he doesn't want normal relationship with Cass. With his occupation and other differences including differences of opinion, he leaves her a chance to find someone normal. However, I don't think it's healthy for the woman herself.

Laclos is awkward as in I can't quite grasp his character yet, so I'll have to wait for another book to decide if he is developed properly or not.

Medea and her girlfriend are charming sidekicks, especially because Medea's girl is an NHS nurse with a huge grudge against the bankers and cuts NHS has to suffer because of the recession.

Overall this is a steady book plot-wise, but it definitely wins you over with plenty of charm and humour. I would love to read book #2 when it comes out!(less)

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Mar 09, 2013 Indie Books rated it 4 of 5 stars

As reviewed on Indie Books R Us.

I’m a huge urban fantasy fan. It’s one of my favorite go-to genres whenever I want a good story to read; and yet, I often hesitate over certain types due to the overwhelming number of mediocre books pushed out to ride the success wave capped by the likes of The Dresden Files and Kim Harrison’s Hollows series. Not all urban fantasies are built alike, and all too many have the same bland flavoring.

Dark Dates is a refreshing step away from the imitators; it steps squ...more As reviewed on Indie Books R Us.

I’m a huge urban fantasy fan. It’s one of my favorite go-to genres whenever I want a good story to read; and yet, I often hesitate over certain types due to the overwhelming number of mediocre books pushed out to ride the success wave capped by the likes of The Dresden Files and Kim Harrison’s Hollows series. Not all urban fantasies are built alike, and all too many have the same bland flavoring.

Dark Dates is a refreshing step away from the imitators; it steps squarely into its own spot as a good story, with a funny, cheeky protagonist and humanized sidekicks.

Cassandra Bick is a Sensitive who runs a dating service for Others. Some people use their gifts for saving the world; Cassandra just wants to run a business and have a little fun in the process. And until a certain vampire walks into her life, she’s going pretty well.

And oh, what a delicious vampire Laclos is. I’m not normally keen on vampires in UF’s—they generally fall into pigeonholes that leave them either entirely defanged or so badass that a hero’s fight seems unbelievable. Sinclair manages a nice balance of feral and sensual, with the ability to laugh the sweet icing on the top.

Then there’s Cassandra’s lover, Cain. Did I mention he’s an angel? A hot, badass angel who isn’t exactly what you’d expect from heaven. There’s enough hanky panky going on between them to keep you grinning, and enough tension between Laclos and Cain over Cassandra to keep her quip quota filled.

Now, all of these things we’ve seen in other urban fantasies, but it’s Cassandra who pulls it all together and keeps the story fresh. She’s sassy without being bitchy, strong but not absurdly so, and at her heart, a bit of a geek (if you doubt me, wait ‘til you see all the nerdy TV pop culture references) and all around wonderfully realistic woman. She reminds me of the good, light-hearted Sookie Stackhouse before that series ruined itself by getting too serious (and messing up the world-building, but that’s another story), but with Cassandra’s own distinct voice.

I’ll grant you, pop culture reference humor might not be for everyone. But as someone who loves Buffy, Supernatural, Dr. Who, and a host of other sci-fi/fantasy series, I enjoyed how much it struck just the right chord. I actually jumped on Amazon to see if there was another book, and was sad to see there wasn’t another book, although there are two short stories out.

Anyone looking for a solid urban fantasy without most of the usual twists, and who are looking for a relatable and strong female lead should definitely check this out. I know this series is on my read list.(less)

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Aug 15, 2012 Gaele rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: jeep-diva, review-reads

The story begins with the statement “you didn’t pick this up because the shop was out of Jane Austen and this looked like the next best thing”. So many times authors work hard to create a background story to convince us of the existence of supernaturals and paranormals. I don’t know if it is also a way to convince us that their stories are valid and worth a read, or just how they feel it needs to be done. We read the genre because of the “mights” we enjoy the possibilities of the different. Perh...more The story begins with the statement “you didn’t pick this up because the shop was out of Jane Austen and this looked like the next best thing”. So many times authors work hard to create a background story to convince us of the existence of supernaturals and paranormals. I don’t know if it is also a way to convince us that their stories are valid and worth a read, or just how they feel it needs to be done. We read the genre because of the “mights” we enjoy the possibilities of the different. Perhaps in one hundred years there will be paranormal genre books thought of as classics – but does it matter? We read because we enjoy it, and that is the best reason of all. Refreshingly honest and humorous both provide a unique take and a nice introduction that had me hooked at the start.

As always, I do need to say that I received a PDF copy of the book for the purpose of honest review from the author. I was not compensated for the review, and all conclusions are given freely and honestly, and are my responsibility.

Cassandra is a “Sensitive”, which enables her to sense the existence of others, even those who appear human. In her attempt to make this “gift” work for her, she has started a dating agency for vampires, running speed dating events and mixers, enabling vampires to meet willing humans for love and ‘other things’.

Unfortunately, there is a very ancient and powerful vampire that wishes to return to the old status quo, where vampires were feared, hidden and “took” their food, rather than negotiated and bargained for it. And here I will stop describing the storyline – more would bring spoilers.

There is a solid grounding of humour in this story when Cassandra gets angry or afraid, she sarcastically and humorously uses references from television, movies, other authors and storylines to make her point; which often stuns others into silence. Where Cassandra also believes that vampires are just like humans, she also dispels the image that they are all ‘romantic, sexy, sparkly, beautiful and brilliant beings’; like humans they have their fair share of boring, mundane, and stupid. And that is where the author has done a credible job in sharing her view and vision. This isn’t your ‘run of the mill’ vampire story where all the characters are self-important and instantly attracted to the dark side. In fact, many of the popular references to vampires we all know now, are noted, some skewered, and most put into a new perspective.

The book is written in the first person, done with flair and skill with an occasional nod to the audience. In many ways, you are drawn into the story sooner with her acknowledgement of the differences in this vampire story from all that came before, and that was a refreshing twist. I will note that if you are not a paranormal / vampire fan, that some of the references will not make sense, although a concerted effort seems to have been made to incorporate references from the most popular and widespread stories. Each of the characters are created and explained with details that unfold as the story and action increase, with details shared as they become important to the flow and pacing of the story. The book is set in London and the humor is presented with “Brit flair”, but even if you are not familiar with the slang, it is clearly integrated to avoid confusion.

As I said, I was hooked from first page to last. There were some minor errors with words misspelled, but as I was more drawn into the story, these became inconsequential and did not distract from the pacing. There are a few issues with the flashbacks, they provide a needed background; they don’t always fit in as well to the current action. I understand the ‘humor as a defense mechanism” that Cassandra employs, although occasionally that does feel forced and unrealistic given the life-threatening situations. And there were times when her hormones reacted before her brain was engaged, but not so often as to turn me away from the story.

I can’t wait to see what the next chapter in Cassandra’s life brings, and only hope that it was as satisfactory and enjoyable as the first.

Stars: 4
Flames: 3, Moderate sex scenes, adult language
Reviewed for JeepDiva Reviews... www.thejeepdiva.com (less)

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Aug 11, 2012 Mayan rated it 2 of 5 stars

First of all, I'd like to express my sincere appreciation to the author for being generous enough to give out free copies of her book so that people, like myself, would have the privilege of reading it and giving an honest review of her work. Thank you so much!

Anyway, for my review: 2.5 stars

Upon reading the preview of Dark Dates I was instantly drawn by premise of a dating service for vampires run by a quirky female protagonist with a special gift of Sense. Throw in "supernatural war brewing in...more First of all, I'd like to express my sincere appreciation to the author for being generous enough to give out free copies of her book so that people, like myself, would have the privilege of reading it and giving an honest review of her work. Thank you so much!

Anyway, for my review: 2.5 stars

Upon reading the preview of Dark Dates I was instantly drawn by premise of a dating service for vampires run by a quirky female protagonist with a special gift of Sense. Throw in "supernatural war brewing in London, a sexy new bloodsucker in town and your mysterious, homicidal and vampire hating ex-lover" then it was inevitable that I just HAD to read this book. And so I did.

Over-all, I could say that the book had a lot of good things going for it but there were just too many factors that bothered me enough to make it just so-so.

As first impressions go, the first few chapters left me confused, bewildered and more than a little dizzy. Written in the first person POV, the readers are thrust unceremoniously into the mind of the protagonist, Cassandra Bick, and it is, well, messy. Shifting perspectives (yes, Reader, I am addressing you although you might not figure it out right away), errant thoughts, snarky side comments (in parentheses) - stream-of-consciousness, maybe? Plus the speed of how all these things seemed to jump from one to another almost made me give up reading the book altogether. Almost.

However, despite all the jumble, I still appreciated how the author put together the back story about the existence of vampires and "Others".

Then, comes Cain, the ex-(current)-lover slash vampire/Other hunter. Suddenly, the tangled storytelling in the first nine chapters smooth out and I am able to appreciate the book a whole lot better. I got sucked into the mystery surrounding the unexplained deaths, the introduction of new characters, and the suspense of something big and ugly that is about to happen.

I loved Laclos, the vampire sex god, by the way. He, for me, is a character I absolutely look forward to reading more about.

I both love and hate Cass as a character. I liked how Cass accepted the Unusual and how she was able to use her Gift for something predictable like going all Buffy. I love her spunk and her snarkiness. BUT, I absolutely loathe her weakness when it comes to Cain and sex. I hate how weak-willed she is when it comes to "temptations of the flesh" when she is supposedly stronger than she lets herself believe. Where's here restraint? Her dignity?

In my opinion, Cain is a bit of a douche. Sorry, but that's how I see him.

Lastly, I liked the final twist in the end of the book. Although, it was not unexpected, I did appreciate how it all played out and how Cass was portrayed in it. I see promise in that girl... only if she would exercise a bit more restraint when it comes to Cain.

That said, I do hope the next installment would be better. There is much to be improved in this book but it is not irredeemable.(less)

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Jul 23, 2012 Miranda Stork rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: blog-reviews

Good Points

The first point that made this book so enjoyable, other than the fact I love anything to do with the supernatural, was the humour. This is a book that isn’t afraid to laugh, both at itself and others. Several popular references in here, that acknowledged reading other vampires books or reading other vampire flicks were probably things the reader had done. And this isn’t to mention that the book itself had a good string of snarky humour dotted without. This is not a book of passive her...more Good Points

The first point that made this book so enjoyable, other than the fact I love anything to do with the supernatural, was the humour. This is a book that isn’t afraid to laugh, both at itself and others. Several popular references in here, that acknowledged reading other vampires books or reading other vampire flicks were probably things the reader had done. And this isn’t to mention that the book itself had a good string of snarky humour dotted without. This is not a book of passive heroes and heroines, the characters are sharp and dry, and believable, for that matter. The writing flowed extremely well, and I was left reading for three hours without even realising the time had gone, I was so sucked in! (No pun intended). I also loved the idea for the storyline, it was so original, and I’m surprised someone else hasn’t thought of the job that the main heroine has! I also thought the action scenes were written particularly well; so many writers shy away from them, but Sinclair does a great job of holding the action in tightly.

Bad Points

The only bad points were that it had the odd typo-there were a lot of ‘and’ rather than ‘an’, which occasionally made your eyes skip the sentences. This was a minor point though, and it didn’t detract from the story. I believe it may have been more of a slipped hand, rather than an actual mistake in spelling.

Overall

This was a deliciously different vampire book from the norm, and is the antithesis to novels like Twilight or the Sookie Stackhouse novels. It take a laugh at the genre and itself, all while presenting a novel that creates a darker world than our own, with characters both good and evil, on both sides on the coin. The story was original and had me hooked from the first few sentences. The writing was vivid and flowing, written with a crisp, humourous style. I would recommend this book to anyone who longs for a vampire novel that will surprise for once, but still give an injection of romantic darkness.

I would give this novel………a firm 5/5 stars!(less)

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Jul 10, 2012 Fangs for the Fantasy rated it 5 of 5 stars

Cassandra is a human sensitive who knows when someone around her is not human. She can sense the evil in them and the power. At first her parents saw her as a precocious child but in her teenage years, when the sense became debilitating, she was approached by an earth bound angel named Cain, who tells her that what she has is truly a gift. He disappears from her life for years, only to reappear the night that her two best friends are killed, to drag her from a burning house. Cain seeks vengeance...more Cassandra is a human sensitive who knows when someone around her is not human. She can sense the evil in them and the power. At first her parents saw her as a precocious child but in her teenage years, when the sense became debilitating, she was approached by an earth bound angel named Cain, who tells her that what she has is truly a gift. He disappears from her life for years, only to reappear the night that her two best friends are killed, to drag her from a burning house. Cain seeks vengeance in Cassandra's name and this separates them again for a few years.

Cassandra could have chosen to hate anything that wasn't human or otherwordly after suffering such a loss, but instead decides to view each person as an individual and so she sets up dark dates - a service which introduces humans and vampires. Cassandra is happy and comfortable in her life, though she has been unable to re-create any friendships since the horrible day that her best friends died. The closest she has come is Madea, her Indian and Scottish Wiccan assistant. Though they spend everyday together, once it's quitting time, they go their separate ways.

When Cain blows back into town telling her that something bad is happening and mysterious deaths are appearing in the newspaper, she refuses to leave town because she cannot afford to allow her business to flounder and has to live on a tight budget to make her mortgage payments. A mysterious vampire visits her place of business and threatens her but Cassandra still won't leave. When her office is broken into and her files stolen, Laclos the head vampire in London demands that she find out who is doing this because all of the young vampires are now being killed thanks to the information in her files. Demons begin attacking and though the mysterious Cain has promised to help, he never seems to be around when she needs saving. To make matters worse, when she finally uses her sense on Cain, she learns that not only is he not human but that he is an angel. Can Cassandra find who is killing off the vampires in London before they kill her or ruin her way of life forever?

Okay, I have to say that Sinclair has turned me into an out and out fanpoodle. I stayed up late reading this book because I simply could not put it down. Even as I write this, my heart is screaming don't critcise the precious, must protect the precious. One of the things that I loved about this book was the inclusion. Too often in urban fantasy, having a diverse supernatural world is used to cover the fact that there is little real inclusion going on but in Dark Dates, Sinclair managed to have a diverse supernatural and human cast that read as largely authentic.

Madea and her shifter girlfriend Kate clearly have a loving relationship. Though they help Cassandra fight evil, they make it clear that they are doing so only because they have a stake in what is going on, rather than a need to have Cassandra's back. It would have been so easy to have them become sidekicks and servants but Sinclair skillfully avoids this. Even when Kate examines Cassandra for physical damage, she does it clinically without becoming overwrought.

In terms of GLBT inclusion there is also the bisexual Laclos. Unlike the relationship between Kate and Madea, when this is revealed it is in a predatory manner. When Laclos meets Cain for the first time, he is overcome with attraction and forces himself on Cain. He suggests that because Cain is centuries old that he should be open to sex between the two of them, though Cain is obviously not interested. Laclos touches Cain sexually without permission.

"Laclos leaned in and kissed Cain full on the mouth, his eyes closing as his lips touched Cain's, his hand closing into a fist, Cain's t-shirt clenched within it. The kiss only went on for seconds, but it felt like a very very long tme, and when Laclos pulled back his expression was transformed. He looked almost stunned - sated and starving all at the same time, his eyes wide and his mouth hanging open." (page 195)

Cain has to physically threaten Laclos to get him to stop assaulting him. Cassandra of course is sexually turned on watching this, making this passage read like a cheap m/m slasher book. If that were not enough, her jealousy kicks in because Laclos is no longer devoting his sexual desires to her and is instead fixated on Cain. How dare he forget that she is in the room for even a single moment. This scene is a problem because it plays upon the mythos of the sexually predatory male who is attracted to the same sex, though Cain's power is used as justification for Lycalos' actions

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Sep 05, 2012 Jo at Jaffareadstoo rated it 5 of 5 stars

Dark Dates is a modern, urban fantasy, set in London and populated with vampires and demons, and is an absolute joy to read from start to finish. From the very beginning of the story you get drawn into this tale of supernatural mayhem, and with the intrepid and undeniably quirky Cassandra Bick in charge, there really is never a dull moment. Running a dating agency for vampires and assorted demons is never going to be without an element of danger, but when a serial killer seems to be targeting th...more

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Jul 26, 2012 Michele Miller rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: r2r, 2012-reads, you-so-funny, pn-i-vant-to-suck-ur-blood, pn-can-i-stroke-your-wings, need-a-little-lovin

Note - I received this ebook from the author for free in exchange for an honest review.

My oh my what a read this one was. Cassandra (Cass) is a spunky, strong heroine who just happens to own a dating service. For vampires! Oh, and she is 'gifted' with a special 'sense' that helps her feel the presence of the super-natural.
After a life changing, supernatural, event in College Cass has taken control of her sense and used it to her benefit by running a dating service for young (newly made) vampire...more Note - I received this ebook from the author for free in exchange for an honest review.

My oh my what a read this one was. Cassandra (Cass) is a spunky, strong heroine who just happens to own a dating service. For vampires! Oh, and she is 'gifted' with a special 'sense' that helps her feel the presence of the super-natural.
After a life changing, supernatural, event in College Cass has taken control of her sense and used it to her benefit by running a dating service for young (newly made) vampires. Then out of the blue her life starts coming un-glued as not one but two sexy vamps enters into her business, people in the city of London are mysteriously dying and someone seems to be targeting not only her business but Cass herself. Add to this Cain, a seriously hot and quite randy blast from the past, who comes to her rescue more than once but causes his own bit of trouble.

I loved the snarky humor that Cass and the relationship she has with her co-worker Medea. When all else fails eat cake! That's my kind of girl.

The story started very strong for me mostly because I liked the narrative tone and Cass's personality. Around the 50% mark I lost a bit of momentum and then it picked up again heading to the climax. There is a lot of potential with Cass and her crew leading into the next book of the series. The author leaves some openings with Cass's love life that I can't wait to see how she fills.

My biggest complaint would also my favorite parts and that's those with Cain. I loved him and then I hated him and then I'm not sure what I thought of him anymore! You'll understand when you read it that Cain is very very complicated. The other issue I had was there is a lot going on in the second half of the book and it went quickly. I would say too quickly, I would have liked to have seen the action spread out a bit more in the front end with the characters you meet in the second half. These were intriguing characters.

All in all I feel like the book is a 3.5. I can’t round up to a 4 because for me it is not quite on a level with what I rate as 4s, but just barely! I reserve the right to possibly change that though as I marinate on it and as I wait for book 2. If I start jonesing for it I will most likely round up :)
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Oct 09, 2012 The Book Tart rated it 4 of 5 stars

originally reviewed on http://thebooktart.com/book-review/re...

I love to read paranormal romance and urban fantasy. I pick up a book from the different genres with certain expectations. The main one is that the story will have an element of the fantastical in it. Magic, supernatural beings, and/or psychic powers etc. The 2nd thing I expect is that in the PNR genre novel the romantic relationship will play a large roll in the story arc. And that the UF genre will be about the main protagonists jo...more

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Aug 04, 2012 OpenBookSociety.com rated it 2 of 5 stars

Brought to you by OBS reviewer Heidi

Cassandra Bick is a Sensitive that has decided to use her ‘gift’ for good, some might say, (others would say just the opposite) by running a dating service of sorts, helping vampires hooking up with willing human donors. Suddenly, her business is getting a lot of notice from vampires that aren’t exactly keen on the idea of it all and that want her to stop what she’s doing.

Then, her sometimes kind of boyfriend (although she’ll never call him that), Cain, is bac...more Brought to you by OBS reviewer Heidi

Cassandra Bick is a Sensitive that has decided to use her ‘gift’ for good, some might say, (others would say just the opposite) by running a dating service of sorts, helping vampires hooking up with willing human donors. Suddenly, her business is getting a lot of notice from vampires that aren’t exactly keen on the idea of it all and that want her to stop what she’s doing.

Then, her sometimes kind of boyfriend (although she’ll never call him that), Cain, is back in town; something that usually precedes trouble.

Lately, there have been several murders in the news, several of which, are vampires. And, when Cass’s office is broken into her client list becomes a nice little vampire hit list for the murderer.

Now Cass, her Wiccan employee, Medea, shapeshifter Katie, and Cain have to find out who the killer is and how to stop them before all her clients are eradicated.

I thought this was a decent start to a new series. This book was written in a light conversational way that draws you in right away and you can’t help, but notice Cassandra’s sarcastic humor, but sometimes it’s a little too much to be believable like when she’s at the end of Val’s sword and is still cracking jokes. I wanted to like this book more than I did, but I think it definitely has a lot of potential. You could really tell that the author is from the United Kingdom though with the spelling of some words (i.e. realising, recognised, favour,) and the use of words such as bloke, bugger and bollocks, but it doesn’t detract from the story itself once you get used to it

I really liked Cain and found his character to be pretty ironic (you’ll understand once you read the book and realize what he is). I also liked the idea of him doing all the things you would least expect someone of his race to do; a trained killer and as equally skilled in the bedroom oh yeah and him technically cheating on his wife with Cassandra. For some reason I love cocky men in the books I read and Cain definitely fits the bill. But I was really hoping for a happily ever after between him and Cass and you definitely don’t get that at the end of this book, but it is left open for the next installment.

I found Laclos to be a lot of fun as well, but he’s not someone I’d like to see Cass with (although that could change in the next book), but definitely one to keep Cain on his toes and a great character to set up a nice love triangle for the remainder of the series.

There were several shout-outs to pop culture in this book, Twilight, True Blood, Scooby-Doo, but there were some that I didn’t quite get (e.g. David Attenborough)….not sure if it’s because of my age or nationality….I’m guessing the latter.

I had a hard time getting a feel for the characters with the flashbacks Cassandra kept having about her and Cain and then when they would start to have a conversation the scene would change abruptly to later in the day or sometimes the following day….when I really just want to here more of what they have to say.

I think most of the things I did struggle with was just the stuff in the book that was there to set the scene and help the reader understand different dynamics between characters and things that had happened to bring them to where they were at the onset of the book. So hopefully the next in the series won’t have to do some much background setup and we can just sit back and enjoy the story.

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Aug 01, 2012 Juls rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: paranormal

Cassandra, who has a sixth sense, just wants to live her life in harmony. She knows there is more out there, that we share this world with other beings and even dated a vamp herself. Even her assistant Medea is of the paranormal variety. Knowing this she still wants to see the good in it all.

Cassandra owns a dating service that caters to vamps. Little does she know that her own livelihood is what’s causing her to have run ins with unsavory characters. Not only is her company at stake but so is h...more

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Sep 24, 2012 Redheaded Bookworm rated it 4 of 5 stars

Move over Sookie Stackhouse here comes Cassandra Bick! Cassandra is your mere mortal (who has a gift) with supernatural friends and enemies. In the beginning, I must admit, I was a little confused with the flashbacks popping up, but after the first few chapters, I really got into it. Of course, it was setting up the background for a more thrilling middle and end. Although I never really quite figured out the dynamic with Cassandra and Cain, it was steamy to watch. Let's face it, Cain is just an...more

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Aug 04, 2012 Natasja rated it 4 of 5 stars

Dark Dates by Tracey Sinclair is the First novel in the Cassandra Bick Chronicles and I thought it was good. When the author contacted me for an honest review I couldn’t say no when I read the book description. I’m a huge fan of vampires and other paranormal beings and this novel has it all.

Cassandra “Cassie” Bick has a gift, although at first she believes it’s a curse. She is a human sensitive and can sense when someone around her is not entirely human and even if they are evil of not. During h...more Dark Dates by Tracey Sinclair is the First novel in the Cassandra Bick Chronicles and I thought it was good. When the author contacted me for an honest review I couldn’t say no when I read the book description. I’m a huge fan of vampires and other paranormal beings and this novel has it all.

Cassandra “Cassie” Bick has a gift, although at first she believes it’s a curse. She is a human sensitive and can sense when someone around her is not entirely human and even if they are evil of not. During her teenage years when she believed her life was cursed, she’s approached by Cain and he convinced her that she has a true gift. She doesn’t know who and what Cain is, but she believes him especially when he seeks vengeance in her name after the night her two best friends are killed.

Now she is a grown woman with her own business and is using her gift for the greater good. Her business provides a service which introduces vampires with humans. When Cain re-appears back into her life, she knows troubles aren’t far behind.

I loved main character Cassie Bick, she is a strong and determined woman who wants to succeed with her business and with the help of her assistant Medea, who happens to be a Wiccan, she is getting there.

Cain is a mystery, especially in the first part of the book. He pops into Cassie’s life from time to time and they become lovers during their journey. But he always disappears when he is done. Now that he is back Cassie finally learns what he really is and what else he has been hiding.

Laclos is another interesting character. He is one of the local master vampires and more than interested in Cassandra. Cassie feels attracted to him but tries hard to stay away from him after what she went through with the other master vampire in town.

Tracey Sinclair has written a great novel with an interesting storyline and fabulous characters. I was lured into the story from the beginning and I couldn’t put it down for long. I needed to know how this was going to end.

I really hope there will be another novel in this series soon, because I sense that the story isn’t finished and I cannot wait to read it.
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Jul 27, 2012 Tonya rated it 4 of 5 stars

The story is written in a light, conversational style and is driven by a string of murders carried out in London. There are a few spots where the time looping in her story-telling makes the story seem a bit repetitive, but not enough to put it down or get frustrated. The meat of the story is the mystery of why it seems Cass's business and her clients are being targeted. The interesting motif about what constitutes Other and the debate on the relative goodness/morality of both humans and Others i...more

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Aug 24, 2012 Nikki McCarver rated it 5 of 5 stars

Dateless Others of the world, have no fear!! Cassandra Bick and her world-renowned match-making prowess is here to save you!! LOL! I loved the book! Cassandra is definitely my kind of character, with her high level snark and don't mess with me attitude, she would make a killer heroine if she weren't 100% human. Or was she? Cass possesses some Sense power, but it is uncontrollable and if she is distracted (especially by some really hot guy) it becomes a little unreliable. But for being a human sh...more

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Aug 07, 2012 Kel (Bookworm) rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: r-2-r, own, read-2012, demons, magic-users, vamps, weres-shifters

Rating - 4

I was lucky enough to get a copy of this book in return for a review and I am really glad that I didn't pass on this opportunity. I really enjoyed this book. The action, the adventure, the realism, it was so much fun. The main character, Cassandra, rambles when she is nervous/scared and in such a way that really pisses everyone off. She's sarcastic and says whatever pops into her head. I loved it. Cassandra is also insecure, brave, brash, and a Sensitive who runs a "dating" agency for...more

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Nov 03, 2012 Lynne rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: kindle, favourites, urban-fantasy

Very original work, a vamp novel but with a difference! Cassandra Bick - what a heroine- she's human,but has special powers (you need to read the book to understand!) The storyline is fast, pacy and left me almost breathless! Tracey Sinclair is a very talented writer and kept my interest going from the first page - she is funny and made me chuckle as I read my way through Cassandra’s exploits. I couldn’t put the book down – woke up early and it was the first thing I reached for! I really can’t w...more

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Mar 09, 2013 Sillylittlefishey rated it 2 of 5 stars

See an edited version of my review----> http://openbooksociety.com/article/da...

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Sep 10, 2012 Marie-Claude aka MC rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: vampire-lover, read-2-review-books

Alright, first I'd like to say that this book was provided to me from Lovers of Paranormal group, in exchange of an honest review. I'd like to take this opportunity to thank the author for her generosity and putting herself out there with her book. Now, onto the actual review.

First, I have to admit, I didn't even have to think when I signed up for this book. All one gotta say is VAMPIRE and I'm in. So I was pretty excited to get this book started. However, my excitment died pretty quickly. Now,...more

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Jul 05, 2012 Chris Chalmers rated it 4 of 5 stars

Odd to say but this is my first vampire novel! Never been a fan of those creatures of the fright, book, film or any other way (....u always know what's gonna happen, right?)... but I came across Dark Dates by Tracey Sinclair on here, determined that I wouldn't be interested - and was completely hooked after reading 20 lines of the sample! It's fast and funny, dark as you'd expect and devilishly more-ish. Give it a whirl if you're that way inclined, and take a look even if you're not. The lady wr...more

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Aug 27, 2012 Bookgirlie rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: books-more-people-should-know-about

I liked that this was set in London. With me being British it was nice to read about places that I know and have visited. I also enjoyed the references to popular culture scattered throughout the book. These 2 points bumped it up for me from 3 stars to 4.

The book is well written, but like many first books in a series it felt a little lacking to me. I enjoyed the characters, but I don't feel invested in their lives and I didn't find either of the male interests particularly enticing. That said, t...more

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Jul 31, 2012 Toni rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2012-release, nook-books-i-own, series, r2r

I was given this book for an honest review!

For me the book started off slow and I didnt like the way the converstation between the characters would start off and then flashbacks would be thrown in or would end up in different scene. I coulnt really warm up to Cass, and the way she always gave in to Cain. I like Medea and was glad to see her and Cass become closer throughout the book! By the end of the book it was starting to pick up some and it went by faster than the beinging to me! I really...more

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Feb 12, 2013 Sharonda (SexxyBlogger) rated it 4 of 5 stars

Dark Dates resolves around Cassandra Bick who is a Sensitive…she can in a way feel out people, tell if their human or not. Cassandra takes this talent of hers and opens a dating agency for Others (those being other than humans) and she mainly deals with Vamps.

Cassandra was funny, she had wit. She was a little flaky in my opinion, but she is the main reason I kept reading this book. She had this resilience that you don’t find in most heroines and she wasn't going to let the fact that something ve...more

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Oct 23, 2012 Heather Boustead rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: ebook, fantasy, romance, urban-fantasy

Dark Dates
Cassandra Bick Chronicles Book One
By Tracey Sinclair

In modern day London a vampire has to keep up with the times, and this is exactly what Cassandra Bick caters to with her dating service for vampires. Though he own dating life has been nothing but heart ache being a Sensitive, yes with a capitol S, she has found a talent for introducing people who will soon hit it off and this ability comes in handy when matching a vampire with their willing donor. But as her business grows she soon...more

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Dec 30, 2012 Camille rated it 4 of 5 stars

I really enjoyed this novel. The protagonist, Cassandra, was very believable. She was one of those headstrong women who plunge themselves into situations where they have no reason to be. She asks for help from her which friend and realizes her "boyfriend" may not be too attached to her. I liked the fact that Cass was realistic and aware of her limitations. This was the perfect read for the day after Christmas. Just easy and enjoyable.

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Nov 02, 2012 Joanna rated it 4 of 5 stars

Dark Dates is easy to read, funny and exciting. Cassandra Bick runs a dating agency for frisky fiends. She is a flawed but ultimately likable heroine with a dry sense of humour and a cast of friends who are not all that they seem to be. Prep yourself for a slightly cynical, self-doubting narrator who doesn't get down with cheesy romantic stereotypes (but who very much appreciates a good body, well-presented ;-) Enjoy!

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topics	posts	views	last activity
Vampire Books Fan...: Free Kindle books: Dark Dates & Vampire Christmas	1	5	Dec 22, 2012 01:33am
Paranormal Romanc...: Free Vampire short this weekend (1-3 Dec)	5	39	Dec 02, 2012 04:42am
Lovers of Paranor...: R2R {5} Dark Dates- FULL (Our Avg 2.9*)	30	91	Sep 10, 2012 12:09am
Open Book Society: Win ebook of Tracey Sinclair's Dark Dates!!	1	1	Aug 17, 2012 10:25pm
Open Book Society: Tracey Sinclair Interview	1	2	Aug 05, 2012 12:03am

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Dark Dates (Cassandra Bick Chronicles #1)

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