SNAP, a multinational celeb TV show and magazine, is the holy grail for Maxie Gwenoch. When she snags the job as managing editor, she’s looking for fame, fortune and Jimmy Choos. What she finds is a media empire owned by Baron Kandesky and his family. A family of vampires. They’re European, urbane, wealthy and mesmerizing. And when she meets Jean-Louis, vampire and co-worker, she’s a goner.
The Kandesky vampire family rose in Hungary centuries ago. They gave up violence and killing to make a killing on the world’s commodities markets and with that beginning they built SNAP, an international celebrity multimedia empire. Now cultured…and having found food substitutes for killing…they’ve cornered the world market for celebrity and gossip journalism.
They haven’t fully left the past behind. Their Hungarian neighbors and rival vampire clan, the Huszars are starting to ramp up attacks, maybe looking to start a war to take over all the Kandeskys have built.
Maxie believes she’s found her ultimate career. She doesn’t realize that she’s found a family feud like none other, a centuries-old rivalry between vampire families, with her as the linchpin. Bells ring with Jean-Louis, but she doesn’t realize they’re alarm sirens until she learns that Jean-Louis is second in command of the Kandeskys…but by then it’s too late.
When I decided to read this book, I looked at the cover online, since I got it in eBook format. The cover art indicated there may be some humor in this book, something I look forward to sometimes when reading a vampire book. I was quite disappointed not to find the witty banter, and tongue-in-cheek jokes I was hoping for; at least I was hoping for something snarky like I get when I read something from Charlaine Harris or Jeaniene Frost. Not so with Drier’s book.
I found it difficult to make it through the book. Drier spent a great deal of time in the details of who’s who in the office, had very little conversation, and with most of the book written in first person narrative, we only got to see things unfold in Maxie’s mind rather than experience them with her. Any action that happens was extremely slow to culminate, and when it finally did (about 52% into the story), it was quickly and perfectly resolved. We aren’t allowed to wallow in the suspense and fear because everything happened too fast.
When the story finally ended (and I kept checking my progress bar at the bottom of the screen), we were handed a tidy package, but left with an obvious opening for the next installment. The relationship between Maxie and Jean-Louis was never convincing, and seemed forced. There were no steamy scenes, which is disappointing, but is by far not a deal-breaker. All in all, I didn’t really enjoy this story, and was looking forward to the end and finally being finished. 1.5 stars for inventiveness, 0 flames for no steam whatsoever
In SNAP: The World Unfolds , Michelle Drier combines the world of High fashion and Hollywood with the paranormal world. Think Vampires Wears Prada ;). It was interesting to see how the author combined these two worlds.
Maxmillia Gwenoch, aka Maxie, is the new managing editor of SNAP. She has been in the magazine business for years and has finally landed her dream job. SNAP is the name of a conglomeration of print magazine (with editions in five languages), blog, and television publications dedicated to celebrities. Maxie knows she has finally reached the top, and loves the perks that come with it. Beautiful people surround her but she always keeps in mind the advice that her Mother gave her... to never get involved with someone prettier the she.
Enter Jean-Louis, the art director. He's frightfully handsome, and interested in Maxie. From the moment the moment they first meet they click. Both professionally and personally. As she considers to follow her feelings and get closer to Jean-Louis, there are strange thing that keep occurring at SNAP since Maxie first arrived. Later learning of a vampire family feud that she not only a part of but a target.
The storyline was great. I really enjoyed Maxie's character and Jean-Louis is a great partner for her. The novel doesn't pick until almost half-way through the book. Fashonista lovers will love the beginning as there is lots of detail of regarding the inter-workings of Maxies's job and the places she visits. I do think the only flaw with Maxie's character is that she didn't question or become doubtful when she realized vampires existed. I guess having a sexy vampire tell you is hard to deny ;)
Overall I did like this book. I'm interested to see what book 2 will bring. I love Jean-Louis, but who doesn't like sexy vampire men?? Well this one has an artistic eye and can be extremely deadly, of course he is 2nd in command of the family. There are werewolves, demons, & feral pigs that all contribute to an up coming war. I will keep my eyes open for SNAP: New Talent in 2012.
Fave Quotes:
Once inside, Jean-Louis slid the dividing window up and turned to me. “Now you're beginning to see why the Baron wanted me with you and why I told you about us. You've probably noticed that all the SNAP drivers and security staff look a lot alike.” “Look alike? They're clones! Don't tell me that the Baron has perfected some kind of medical procedure?”
He came over and wrapped him arms around me, stroking my head as I lay against his shoulder. “This means war, I’m afraid.” He put a finger under my chin, tipped my head back and looked at me with those deep, ageless, beautiful, hypnotizing eyes. “Are you with us?” I could not leave now. “I am.”
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I don't often read vampire novels, but this one drew me right in. Despite it's paranormal premise - vampires secretly running a large media corporation - this novel was very realistic, a unique blend of contemporary fiction, romance, suspense and the paranormal. It's obvious the author has inner knowledge of the media, as Snap sounds like it could be a real celebrity magazine and television empire and it all rang true. All of the background of how these vampires came to be in charge of a media company was woven in so deftly that it actually sounded believable. Most importantly, Maxie is a likable and strong female character. She is a "regular" and not a vampire, so readers can easily relate to her shock about what's happening behind the scenes at her new employer. She soon learns that her life is in danger, not from her new vampire friends, but from their rivals. Her struggle is a captivating one - her life is in upheaval and she has become a target, yet how can Maxie give up this experience of finally finding a place she belongs? Whether you usually read paranormal novels or not, this is a great read that truly has something for every taste.
This is a new author for me and I really enjoyed her different take on vampires.
Maxie is a media executive that has worked her way up through the ranks to her new position at SNAP a multimedia empire. She learns it is run by the Kandesky family. She is brought into their world when an old enemy decides they want her. Jean-Louis is a "new" employ in her office that she is falling for only to learn he is part of the Kandesky family.
I really, really liked this story and found myself anxious to see what was going to happen to the point I stayed up late to finish it. I can't wait to get started on the next book.
It was not quite funny. It was not quite a romance. I don't know what the h saw in in the H because there was zero attraction for me. It was not quite an adventure. the h had things happen to her, she didn't really do much on her own. It was not quite a mystery. We know something is changing with the h but the hints of her having "the sight" were vague at best.
And it was just not quite a keeper. I will check out the reviews on the next one but not sure I will read it.
Maxie Gwenoch is finally beginning to feel like her years of working her way up in the entertainment news industry are paying off. The high salary and incredible perks offered by SNAP made signing the contract easy. But when she joins the SNAP team, there are a few things that seem a little off, least of which is the company ringtone that sounds like blood being pumped through a heart. The real trouble starts when Maxie learns the secret of who really runs SNAP and why she was hired. She starts to wonder exactly what she signed away when she joined SNAP. Was her life worth the jets and Paris shopping trips?
Vampire books are one of those types of books that, for the most part, people either can't get enough of, or would never even think of reading. I'm somewhere in the middle. I've read some good vampire books, and I've read some really crappy ones. Vampires alone won't entice me to read a book. Usually it will turn me off because I've read more bad vampire books than good. Often, the bad ones are a poor attempt at copying a more successful book, hoping the theme alone will get them some decent sales. I didn't know which I would get when I started reading SNAP: The World Unfolds.
What I look for in a good story, vampires or no vampires, is a good story line, strong writing, and memorable characters. So, let's see how SNAP measured up.
First, the characters. It's not surprising that the main love interest, Jean-Louis, is gorgeous. Who ever makes ugly vampires? But I found him to be a fun character even if his looks were a little stereotypical. He had a complex background that made him memorable, and his responses to Maxie and the events in the book made him stand out. Maxie was a little harder for me to get into at times. When it came to work, she took control and handled herself like a pro, for the most part. When it came to Jean-Louis, it was like reading an emotional roller coaster. I felt like she slipped into teenager mode every time she thought she'd been slighted. It was an odd combination that I did feel fit a lot of the time. I'm okay with a woman breaking down and feeling like she's going to lose it, but not all the time. I would have liked to have seen Maxie be a little stronger in the relationship aspect of the book.
The writing left me with no complaints. I thought Drier had a strong voice and clean writing. She stayed consistent with each of her characters, kept a good pacing through the entire book, and developed the idea of her book very nicely.
Now, on to the story line. Not being a huge vampire fan, a did enjoy the vampire aspect of SNAP. I thought Drier did a great job making this into a more historical story by pulling in European history to explain the rise of the vampires how the feud developed. I thought turning the vampires into Hollywood starlets throughout the centuries was a really fun idea. The "House of Night" books used that idea a little, but I liked the way Drier used the vampires discovering the entertainment business as a way to make money and be a part of the human world safely. The only issue I had with the story line was that when I reached the end of the book I didn't feel like the story ended. Now, I know this is a series, but each book in a series should have an end to the story within that book. The unfinished overall story pulls readers to the second book, usually. In SNAP I felt like I still hadn't reached a conclusive ending for the book as much as I would have liked. It did make me want to read the second book, but I still would have liked a more concrete finish to this book.
Overall, I did enjoy SNAP: The World Unfolds. The romance between Maxie and Jean-Louis was compelling. There were some sexual scenes, but nothing graphic. The overlying story and characters were entertaining and made you care about what happened to them. It was a fun read.
Maxmillia Gwenoch, aka Maxie, is the new managing editor of SNAP. After years of working in women's magazines, she's finally reached the top. SNAP is the name of a conglomeration of print magazine (with editions in five languages), blog, and television publications dedicated to celebrities. Maxie works out of the office in LA, but makes regular trips to Miami, Rio, and other glam locations to rub shoulders with The Beautiful People. She's being paid a remarkable amount of money for the job, more than she ever thought she'd make. She has a condo and a chauffeur. Finally: she has an assistant, Jazz, whom I would kill to have on my payroll (if I could afford her rate). The woman is wonderful: she arranges for Maxie’s furniture to be unpacked while she’s on the road, and dispatches personal shoppers to acquire suitable clothing in her boss’ size when Maxie is invited to the castle of SNAP’s owner. Did I mention that SNAP was owned by a Hungarian baron?
Then there’s Jean-Louis, the art director. He’s frightfully handsome, and interested in Maxie, but our heroine’s mother always advised her never to get involved with someone prettier than she was. Still...
With these blessings come problems. There’s the blood on the bathroom floor. There’s the unexplained quasi-hospital setup on one of the floors in her office building. Then, there’s the sudden attacks on Maxie. Someone is trying to kidnap her!
She discovers that the Baron Kandesky and his family are vampires, and Carlos the Chauffeur is a demon who’s been engaged to protect her. That part is really cool, except for the Huszars, the vampires next door. They’ve been feuding with the Kandeskys for centuries, and they’ve teamed up with the local werewolves and wild boars. Yes, as in feral pigs.
The Huszars would like to replace the Kandeskys as the vampire source of celebrity gossip. Along with smashing them into the dirt, of course. And they want Maxie… because good help is hard to find.
This novella is a fast, fun read. I usually find the ‘life of the celebrity’ a turn-off, but it was very enjoyable here, seen through the eyes of a reporter who has to live part of what she’s been writing about all these years. Maxie is a go-getter who doesn’t give up when faced with challenges she has no preparation for. Plus, the notion that the Huszars want her for her skills is a twist I rarely see in romantic suspense. My only complaint is that the story is too short: it’s an origin story for a series character. Good news, though: the sequel is due out in 2012.
Imagine that you get the job of your dreams, the paycheck of the uber rich, the travel and expense account of the golden parachute crowd and then you fall in love with a tall, dark, handsome stranger who runs the company that just hired you. So far so good, right?
Imagine the shock, then, to discover the company is run by some very, very, very, very, very old vampires—and oh by the way, Mr. Tall Dark and Handsome drinks a cocktail called Bulls Blood, but I’m not saying a word about what that does or doesn’t mean. Most of the other employees of SNAP think he’s Gay, and who knows what he was into a few hundred years ago. I mean, really—you can’t be that endlessly gorgeous and not have everyone fall in love with you at least sometime…even in 1493, or whatever. In this century, though, he’s decidedly heterosexual, in that slightly ambiguous, but not really, metrosexual kind of way. Tall, Dark, Handsome and Sensitive, but not Lilith Fair sensitive—Strong sensitive.
With this somewhat implausible beginning, author Michele Drier begins SNAP: The World Unfolds. Drier’s protagonist, Maxmillia Gwenoch, top editor of SNAP, a celebrity media mega-company with offices—well, everywhere—starts her new career as SNAP’s top human corporate employee. It’s enough to give Human Resource professionals everywhere anemia.
Without giving up the, may I say the word, delicious intrigues and plotlines, I have to say that Drier’s witty repartee is ripe with understatement, and then hyperbole and then, just to spice it up, drop dead cinema-speak, the kind that goes so well with those proverbial Hollywood air kisses. Among my favorites in this class of well-timed one-liners were the wonderful outtakes from her mother’s mantras—Example: Don’t get involved with someone prettier than you; they know it. (Did Drier’s mother know my mother?).
At first, I wondered why a writer of Drier’s abundant talent would pursue the vampire genre, but I have to say, she pulled me in, and I kept reading. Her vampires are sophisticated, urbane, worldly, clever and just bitchy enough to be interesting. I found some of the female vampires edgy and beautiful enough to be worthy of their own HBO show, and I look forward to the future roles of the characters called Demons, who are somewhere between babysitter and martial arts killers. All in a night’s work!
Drier has a second in this delightful series coming out in spring of 2012 called SNAP: New Talent. Watch for it, and pick up this hefty first one for many long nights of bloody good fun!
To see this review and others like it check out my site, www.ufreviews.com
This was kind of an interesting way to start a vampire book for me. I mean its kind of like People, Extra, and TMZ all rolled into one, and then add in a mob like vampire family war and you get the general idea of what the book is going to be about. I have to admit that the whole celeb media thing appealed to me, because as much as I hate to admit it, I'm the girl who looks at celebrity gossip every morning to start my day right. So I had some high hopes for how this book was going to turn out for me.
Since my main issue with books these days is the pacing of a book, that was really the first thing I was looking at when I started reading this book. Thankfully I felt like the pacing was just right, there was action when there needed to be, romance when there should have been, and generally speaking there wasn't really any part of the book where I wanted to put the book down.
As the main character, Maxie, well she was okay. She wasn't a bad character or anything like that, but she seemed to suffer from what a lot of authors seem to like doing to their main women characters, making her sound like a teenage girl who is convinced the world is going to end when the slightest thing goes wrong with Mr. Fantastic. I tend to hate characters like that, mainly because their whininess exists in all aspects of their life, but in this book, thankfully, Maxie was no whiny all the time, just in relation to boys.
Now normally in books where I find a girl whining over a boy, I tend to find the boy to be a bit of a control freak, and end up hating him more than I hate the girl in the book. In this case, not only did I not hate him, but I actually enjoyed reading him a lot more than Maxie. Jean-Louis is just fun to read, he kind of pops off the page for me.
I like the story about the vampire families at war, it's a pretty common theme in vampire books, but it is well executed in this book. And I also really liked the whole celebrity thing, I mean come on I am a girl who loves her People. Overall, I thought the book was a pretty solid effort. I hope in the next installment Maxie experiences some character growth so maybe I can like her a little bit more, but at the end of the day I really did enjoy reading the book. I think a lot you will enjoy this book as well.
Just started reading this novel yesterday, a genre mix of media and vampires. The story flows effortlessly between the world of celebrity news reports and the everyday business of being conscientious vampires. Many occurrences remind me of events in the Harry Potter tales.
This was one of the fastest reads I've found in a while.
I am familiar with Author Michele Drier's upcoming mystery "Edited For Death" and I like her relaxed writing style.
"SNAP: The World Unfolds" has mystery, romance, and a flare for fashion. But the reader is first introduced to the creatures of the night (along with snuffling feral pigs, werewolves, and owls, oh my) so there is no question in the reader's mind that vampires will play an important role in this novel.
Ms. Drier gives the reader lots of breathing room as she allows her story to unfold, first introducing ambitious protagonist Maxmillia Gwenoch. Informed, energetic, and the new managing editor of mulit-media SNAP, Maxie has a self-awareness that will carry her through revelations and career moves that no fashion-conscious mortal could ever foretell.
The author is a skilled world-builder, creating an atmosphere where human and centuries-old vampire occupy a room with little suspension of disbelief required. And the jet-set travel, from California to Europe's Eastern countryside and back to California via New York, is filled with sensations pleasing to the mind's eye and palate.
Maxie is one of the top in her field, she’s highly sought after and paid well for what she does. When SNAP offered her the job of her dreams it took less than a millisecond for her to say yes – and with no regrets! With a gorgeous condo, car service and every perk you can imagine Maxie is loving her job.
What Maxie doesn’t know, is who she actually works with and for. When she’s attacked by a rival family, she’s finally told the truth and it scares the begeebers out of her! With a building attraction and feelings for Jean-Louis, she has to come to terms with everything and keep safe as a war unfolds around her.
I wish I hadn’t waited so long to read this book, because it was absolutely amazing. I started this book and was completely drawn into Maxie’s world and the vampire world she’s walked into. The history of the Kaneskys and the Huszars, the depth of the characters and their interaction was fabulous. I don’t want to give away too much about the story, because it has some great twists and turns!
Would I recommend this book? Ah most definitely, I think any vampire story lover should go right over to Amazon and buy this book right now. This story had me hooked from page one until the very end and I can’t wait to find out what happens with Maxie next. Will I read more by this author? You betcha, trust me I have the next book already queued up on my list and waiting to be bought!
I (Carol of author duo C.A. Kunz) have to say Snap was quite an enjoyable read. Michele Drier introduces the reader to the world of a business Snap, which is a magazine that is owned by a very mysterious Baron. The female protagonist is introduced in chapter one. Maxmilla Gwenoch has been hired for Snap in an important position and quickly sees things are a little strange at her new work place. From the beginning you realize that there are more than just humans in this story. I won’t get into what exactly because I don’t to give things away. Let me just say that it was right up my alley in terms of genre I love to read. I really enjoyed Maxie’s travels, her strange little meetings, and the colorful characters she meets along the way. Maxie’s life is turned upside down and her usual calm and efficient world is shaken up like never before. Also included is a love interest which I hope will continue in the next book. I will be waiting patiently until that day. Thank you Michele for a good read! I can now officially say that I have another author I will be following in the future.
5.0 out of 5 stars A fun, take you away, summer read!, August 1, 2011 By Nancy G. - See all my reviewsAmazon Verified Purchase(What's this?) This review is from: SNAP: The World Unfolds (Kindle Edition) I love the premise of this book - an old vampire family moving into the world of celebrity and high fashion. From her first day at her new job as managing editor of SNAP, a celebrity magazine, Maxie begins to notice things are a bit weird - half the staff don't come to work until dark, blood on the floor of the bathroom. It doesn't take long before this book takes off at a fast pace, full of intrigue, keeping me on the edge of my seat. Maxie's developing relationship with co-worker Jean-Louis pulls her right into the thick of the potential war between the old vampire families, the Kandeskys and Huszars. It is a fast and fun read. Definitely a great summer read! Now I can't wait for the next book in the series... maybe a good December holiday read!
This is an interesting twist to the vampire genre books. This shows what vampires could do with all the wealth they have acquired over the centuries. The vampires have gone into the media business - what better way to help cover tracks and acquire more capital - money, donors, etc. Matie has been in the business for awhile - working her way up through all the different stages through diff companies. She gets the job of magazine editor for snap. This is what she has been working up to. The prestige and perks that come with it - is overwhelming at first. Then she discovers she is working for a vampire company. There is tension in the air between the vampire families and Matie seems to be caught in the crosshairs. She must decide if she wants to stay and join the fight or go back to her old life.
This is not a bunch of lovey dover vampires. They are business savy and at times cut throat. It was an okay read- there was a lot of info in it that slowed it down.
SNAP: THE WORLD UNFOLDS was book one in the series. This book was about Maxie Gwenoch. Maxie was hired at Snap, a high profile television and magazine company and was thrilled to get her dream job. That was until she found out her company was owned by vampires. The Kandeskys and the Hazars had been feuding for centuries and Maxie found herself in the middle of their vampire wars. Even after attempts on Maxie’s life and a botched kidnapping Maxie found herself falling for her vampire boss the handsome Jean-Louis.
Since this was the first book in the series, I found it to be a cliff hanger. I am looking forward to reading the rest of the series as I feel it would be worth reading. This book was received for the purpose of an honest review. Be sure to read our review of book two, SNAP A NEW TALENT.
Rating 4
Heat rating mild
Reviewed by Rae
Received from the publisher for an honest review by MY BOOK ADDICTION AND MORE.
Stephanie Meyer is not the only writer that is able to create a vampire story that is both compelling and addicting. Drier creates a world where vampires and humans live and work alongside one another, but the humans are not always aware.
Maxie enters a new job and a whole new world opens up as well. Is she ready to face what she learns and enjoy the spoils that go with her new life? Will love trump danger? And now you may want to read SNAP: New Talent! I even had one woman who writes medieval romance (and said she never reads vampires) tell me that she got so hooked she was rooting for Jean-Louis to turn Maxie! Does he?
The story is fun, with an original love story that keep you turning pages! I rate it 4 stars and recommend it to readers who love light vampire romance.
2 1/2 - 3 stars. I liked the characters, but this first book is rather boring. I never did figure out where the prelude figures into anything. Maxmillia has just been hired by SNAP, a entertainment magazine/tv show company. Turns out that a vampire family actually owns the company and many of the employees are vampires. This book spends a little too much time on explaining the company and the business it is in, but it has it's funny spots and the characters are likeable. A little more time on editing would have made for a smoother read (ex.- the instead of then or that, he instead of she). Easy read, with plenty of likeable characters and some laughs. Feels almost as if it's a YA book, but that it's not really one.
Maxie has just been hired to be the managing editor at SNAP. They cover celebrities in many different media forms. She is excited to begin her work and is paid more than expected.
The story takes a turn into the paranormal when someone tries to grab her. She finds that she is a pawn in a war between two vampire clans that have had conflict for generations.
The story is interesting. The plot is simple. The characters are unique. All of those are pluses for the story. I just didn't connect to it very well.
Not a bad read. The only content warnings would be a little bit of violence and a couple of non-descriptive sexual situations.
I like the story. There were a lot of typos which hampered my reading as I get hung up on them. If I overlook the typos my main problem is the female lead. Here we have a woman who worked hard to be where she is. Yes she is young but the description of how hard she worked you expect a level of maturity that she does not possess. She goes from hot to cold and even though she knows she is in danger she insists on not listening to the people there to protect her and ends up getting a good scare. She does this over and over for someone so smart she just does not learn.
Clever, witty, funny, romantic. A hip gal named Maxie is out to prove she can make a popular magazine the best in the world. Little does she know that it's owned by a Vampire family. When her life is threatened one handsome beguiling family member comes to her rescue. How could she not fall in love with a guy who is not only handsome but worldly and wise..so handsome and so wise. Read this, you'll want to read the sequel, too.
Love this story! I've not read vampire literature before but this is woven so smoothly into "regular" life--really fun! We get to hop back and forth from Europe to North and South America, travel through 500 years of history, and learn about lifestyles other than human! I was shocked when end of World Unfolds came so soon, and now am on to following Maxie's amazing adventure in SNAP: New Talent, next in the The Kandesky Vampire Chronicles.
A fun introduction to what i hope will be series of many books. now that maxie has tumbled head first into love and a whole new twist on the publishing world. Maxie is smart about many things, but sufficiently naive to let her get herself into bizarre situations. and now that she's in the middle of a vampire war, well, only the next book will tell.
This book looked right up my alley, but it is simply not very good. Description of the characters is lacking as is much substantive interaction. There is a lot around the corner but not enough to save this first book. Typos and wrong words (what instead of when etc) are present throughout. Disappointing.
I couldn't finish this book, there was information but not enough and it went from first to third person so quickly that I was turned off, not including the spelling and grammar issues I noticed within the first few pages...
I really enjoyed the beginning of the story. I was really interested in the magazine and the running of the entertainment business. Ironically, as soon as the vampire stuff showed up, I lost interest.
I loved this entire series! I liked how well the characters were developed and how the story line grabbed me from the beginning. I couldn't wait to start the next book! Michelle does a great job grabbing your attention and keeping it from beginning to end!