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A Madison Rose Vampire Mystery #2
Baited Blood
Who's murdering vampires in Los Angeles and throwing the bodies into the Dedhams' pool? Each victim has been branded, a distinct mark that is the calling card of femme fatale vampire Ann Hayes. The contemptuous undead beauty declares her innocence, but can the vampires believe her? Has Ann returned to reclaim Doug Dedham, whom she once loved? Or is she being framed?
Complicating matters are Madison's burgeoning feelings for both sexy vampire Colin Reddy and fellow "beater" detective Mike Notchey. The stakes have never been higher as Madison and the vampires race to solve the mystery and stop the killer.
"This is good, cheeky fun with a solid mystery, loads of possible villains and a genuinely sexy romp on the fang side."—RT Book Reviews
"Refreshingly intelligent investigative work...Dark humor, edgy suspense, and an appealing cast of characters will leave readers anxiously awaiting the next book."—Publishers Weekly
"This story has lots of surprises all of which gave credence to the story as a whole. A great read."—Suspense Magazine
"Jaffarian's tantalizing, tangled mystery and well-drawn characters will keep readers interested in the action."—Library Journal
"Sexy repartee, brisk plotting, and splendid supernatural scene-setting... a decidedly fresh spin on vamp lit."—Sophie Littlefield, Anthony Award-winning author of A Bad Day for Sorry
Complicating matters are Madison's burgeoning feelings for both sexy vampire Colin Reddy and fellow "beater" detective Mike Notchey. The stakes have never been higher as Madison and the vampires race to solve the mystery and stop the killer.
"This is good, cheeky fun with a solid mystery, loads of possible villains and a genuinely sexy romp on the fang side."—RT Book Reviews
"Refreshingly intelligent investigative work...Dark humor, edgy suspense, and an appealing cast of characters will leave readers anxiously awaiting the next book."—Publishers Weekly
"This story has lots of surprises all of which gave credence to the story as a whole. A great read."—Suspense Magazine
"Jaffarian's tantalizing, tangled mystery and well-drawn characters will keep readers interested in the action."—Library Journal
"Sexy repartee, brisk plotting, and splendid supernatural scene-setting... a decidedly fresh spin on vamp lit."—Sophie Littlefield, Anthony Award-winning author of A Bad Day for Sorry
338 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 1, 2011
6 people are currently reading
195 people want to read
About the author
Sue Ann Jaffarian
68 books546 followersSue Ann Jaffarian is the author of the popular Odelia Grey mystery series, the Ghost of Granny Apples mystery series and the Madison Rose vampire mysteries, as well as short stories.
Sue Ann also writes the Winnie Wilde romance novellas.
Like the character Odelia Grey, Sue Ann Jaffarian is a middle-aged, plus-sized paralegal. She lives in Los Angeles.
In addition to writing, Sue Ann is sought after as a motivational/ humorous speaker. You can visit her on the web at www.sueannjaffarian.com, www.sueannjaffarian.blogspot.com, and on Twitter and Facebook.
Sue Ann also writes the Winnie Wilde romance novellas.
Like the character Odelia Grey, Sue Ann Jaffarian is a middle-aged, plus-sized paralegal. She lives in Los Angeles.
In addition to writing, Sue Ann is sought after as a motivational/ humorous speaker. You can visit her on the web at www.sueannjaffarian.com, www.sueannjaffarian.blogspot.com, and on Twitter and Facebook.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 40 reviews
September 16, 2011
This was a great follow up to Murder in Vein. I love my paranormal romance books but sometimes its good to read a series where the romance is there but it takes a back seat and a great mystery unfolds and that is what I have found with the Madison Rose series. I love Rose as a character she is strong and determined but she has a few hang ups that make a human being. The mystery was great and did take some effort to work out the whole story. The romance side of things between Madison, Colin (vampire) and Mike (human cop) was entertaining as well she is really attracted to both of them but lets just say Mike needs a good kick in the crotch and because of him it made Madison also doubt what Colins intentions towards her were causing what should have been a very hot moment go cold very quickly. The end was a very pleasant suprise that I never saw coming.
June 25, 2012
every book i read by Sue Ann Jaffarian i am reminded of just how much i love the way she writes.... be it vampires, ghosts or just plus size sleuthing i always fall into her story like its a movie....im never disappointed ♥
January 23, 2018
After not really caring very much for the first book in this series, I'm really glad that I decided to give the second book a try. I really enjoyed this one!
The relationships between the characters were much better developed in this installment, which is one of the things that I felt was so lacking in the first book. I really like how the tension is building between several key players in the storyline.
I also really grew to like Madison much more in this book. She is truly coming into her own, and showing quite a bit of backbone and a lot of smarts.
Even though I had the culprit figured out early on in the story, I still very much enjoyed watching how the whole book played out. I also liked reading about the vampire politics and relationships.
I will definitely be reading the third book when it comes out, especially since the ending held a bit of an unexpected surprise that really left me wanting the next one.
The relationships between the characters were much better developed in this installment, which is one of the things that I felt was so lacking in the first book. I really like how the tension is building between several key players in the storyline.
I also really grew to like Madison much more in this book. She is truly coming into her own, and showing quite a bit of backbone and a lot of smarts.
Even though I had the culprit figured out early on in the story, I still very much enjoyed watching how the whole book played out. I also liked reading about the vampire politics and relationships.
I will definitely be reading the third book when it comes out, especially since the ending held a bit of an unexpected surprise that really left me wanting the next one.
June 23, 2025
Better than the first in the series, still not great, closer to 2.5.
Madison finds a body in the Dedham's swimming pool. That leads to more bodies, and what apparently is a revenge plot against the Dedham's and Samuel. There was a great deal I figured out long before the protagonist.
I got lost in the back stories, which seemed very convoluted. The sex seemed thrown in randomly. The romance was pretty random, too, very back and forth. It might have been better if the book had ended a chapter sooner, because the last chapter just added to the chaos that is Madison's personal life.
There doesn't seem to be a third book, and I'm not sad.
Madison finds a body in the Dedham's swimming pool. That leads to more bodies, and what apparently is a revenge plot against the Dedham's and Samuel. There was a great deal I figured out long before the protagonist.
I got lost in the back stories, which seemed very convoluted. The sex seemed thrown in randomly. The romance was pretty random, too, very back and forth. It might have been better if the book had ended a chapter sooner, because the last chapter just added to the chaos that is Madison's personal life.
There doesn't seem to be a third book, and I'm not sad.
January 12, 2025
bleh. uninteresting characters, esp the lead. her relations and interactions with the other characters just seem awkward and odd (seriously, why would anyone really choose her as their favorite or love interest?)
December 14, 2017
This is a different and very interesting approach to the vampire legend. It is well-written, well-plotted and the characters are well developed.
August 3, 2022
Liked the world and the story. Characters were likable. Would have liked to see more of the romance with Colin or Mike. Total curveball ending and I'm still unsure how I feel about it.
March 2, 2017
Great ending. Really enjoyed reading this series of Madison Rose and the vampires.
October 11, 2011
“Baited Blood” A Madison Rose Vampire Mystery by Sue Ann Jaffarian:
Madison Rose comes home to find a dead body in her grandparents’ pool . . . and it won’t be the last. Afterward, she goes inside to call her friend, Detective Mike Notchey, dry off and change clothes. When she comes back outside, she sees the body has been moved. Once she catches her breath, she realizes he is indeed alive . . . barely, and he’s not a beater (human), but a vampire.
Rushing inside, she wakes her adopted grandparents, Doug and Dodie Dedham, who just so happen to be vampires. After they take him out of the pool and remove the stake from his chest, Detective Notchey shows up. Better late than never.
Nothing ever runs smoothly in this story. Not only does the injured vampire, Keleta, speak a foreign language, he has an unusual tattoo whose origin no one understands, almost no one that is. Surprise, surprise, Doug has the exact same tattoo.
Since Keleta can’t tell them anything, they call in the head of the California Vampire Council, Samuel LaCroix, who, of course, is a vampire as well. He is in charge of keeping the peace between vampires and beaters in his little part of the world.
This book made me laugh in more spots than I can remember: from the way poor Madison seems to stumble upon the dead bodies, to how she wakes her sleeping, vampire grandparents, to the mixing of different animals bloods breaking up the monotony of the every day taste of human blood, to the new words I was introduced to such as “beaters.” Jaffarian entertained me from the first word to the last.
This story has lots of surprises all of which gave credence to the story as a whole. A great read just in time for summer, but I would recommend any time.
Reviewed by Terri Ann Armstrong, author of “Morning Menace” & “Medieval Menace”
Madison Rose comes home to find a dead body in her grandparents’ pool . . . and it won’t be the last. Afterward, she goes inside to call her friend, Detective Mike Notchey, dry off and change clothes. When she comes back outside, she sees the body has been moved. Once she catches her breath, she realizes he is indeed alive . . . barely, and he’s not a beater (human), but a vampire.
Rushing inside, she wakes her adopted grandparents, Doug and Dodie Dedham, who just so happen to be vampires. After they take him out of the pool and remove the stake from his chest, Detective Notchey shows up. Better late than never.
Nothing ever runs smoothly in this story. Not only does the injured vampire, Keleta, speak a foreign language, he has an unusual tattoo whose origin no one understands, almost no one that is. Surprise, surprise, Doug has the exact same tattoo.
Since Keleta can’t tell them anything, they call in the head of the California Vampire Council, Samuel LaCroix, who, of course, is a vampire as well. He is in charge of keeping the peace between vampires and beaters in his little part of the world.
This book made me laugh in more spots than I can remember: from the way poor Madison seems to stumble upon the dead bodies, to how she wakes her sleeping, vampire grandparents, to the mixing of different animals bloods breaking up the monotony of the every day taste of human blood, to the new words I was introduced to such as “beaters.” Jaffarian entertained me from the first word to the last.
This story has lots of surprises all of which gave credence to the story as a whole. A great read just in time for summer, but I would recommend any time.
Reviewed by Terri Ann Armstrong, author of “Morning Menace” & “Medieval Menace”
January 4, 2014
I'm bemused as to why both books in this relatively new series by Jaffarian has more distinctly amateurish touches than anything I've read in her Odelia Grey or Granny Apples books. In the first book of the vampire series, Murder in Vein, the protagonist internally recites her own name and background as a way of clearing her mind. That's about on a par with being assigned an autobiographical essay. In the series' second book, Baited Blood, there's a fair amount of unnecessary and momentarily confusing head-hopping, as well as at least one continuity error. Add occasional awkward sentence constructions, and one has to wonder what's going on. Does this series have a different and less competent editor? Is "Sue Ann Jaffarian" a collective pseudonym for authors of varying talents? Was this series actually written before the others?
Baited Blood also reintroduces a meme that became increasingly intrusive in the Odelia Grey mysteries: the dismay of the protagonist and her associates about somehow repeatedly ending up in life-or-death situations. Any reader of amateur detective mysteries is prepared to suspend disbelief, at least to some extent, about this inevitable story feature -- but not if s/he's hammered over the head with it.
I still managed to enjoy much of the book, and to become interested in the characters, particularly the POV character, Madison Rose. I'll probably keep reading the series -- without expecting too much.
Baited Blood also reintroduces a meme that became increasingly intrusive in the Odelia Grey mysteries: the dismay of the protagonist and her associates about somehow repeatedly ending up in life-or-death situations. Any reader of amateur detective mysteries is prepared to suspend disbelief, at least to some extent, about this inevitable story feature -- but not if s/he's hammered over the head with it.
I still managed to enjoy much of the book, and to become interested in the characters, particularly the POV character, Madison Rose. I'll probably keep reading the series -- without expecting too much.
January 30, 2012
I preface this review by admitting that i love Sue Ann Jaffarian. I am a card carrying member of her fan club; however, I was hesitant to read the Madison Rose series. Too many authors have jumped on the paranormal bandwagon & you just wish they hadn't. I am happy to say that I did not have to give up my fan card, in fact, with Baited Blood, I could be president of the club!
The story starts with Madison finding a dead vampire floating in the pool of the Dedham's, her 'adoptive' grandparents. Turns out the vampire is not dead, and it's also not the only body to turn up, and they are all branded. Madison & the vampires journey to find out who & why, especially since Doug Dedham is so branded & obviously involved.
Madison is refreshing, down to earth & it's easy to root for her. What's not so easy is decided which hottie to root for. Sexy vamp, Colin or beater detective Mike. Either way, it is a fun ride & the ending was just about perfect.
The story starts with Madison finding a dead vampire floating in the pool of the Dedham's, her 'adoptive' grandparents. Turns out the vampire is not dead, and it's also not the only body to turn up, and they are all branded. Madison & the vampires journey to find out who & why, especially since Doug Dedham is so branded & obviously involved.
Madison is refreshing, down to earth & it's easy to root for her. What's not so easy is decided which hottie to root for. Sexy vamp, Colin or beater detective Mike. Either way, it is a fun ride & the ending was just about perfect.
November 18, 2011
Baited Blood was a really good follow up to the first book. It seems every author today has their own spin on the vampire genre. Jaffarian definitely has her own set of rules. First of all you need to have a specific kind of life line in order to become a vampire. Her vampires can be awake during the day, but they don't sparkle and they are oh so civilized. In this book Madison Rose discovers a body in the pool of her "grandparents" the vampires she lives with the Dedhams. More bodies follow and she and the council must solve this mystery. She is helped along by her friends and love interests, Mike Notchey a human police officer. As well as Colin Reddy the second in command on the council and the leader of the council Samuel. Madison works hard to solve the mystery and along the way she finds time to add a little romance to her life.
September 20, 2012
The Madison Rose series is a pleasant surprise. With all the Vampire and paranormal romance books out right now, it is hard to find books that are not completely formulaic. These books are mysteries rather than romances and have interesting and intriguing characters. Fun, quick reads that have not been dumbed down to accommodate the lowest common denominator. These are much more along the Stephanie Plum or Kinsey Milhome lines, rather than being Twilight-esque redundancies. Already a fan of Jaffarian's Odelia Grey mysteries, I am enjoying this series as well.
October 7, 2011
A great follow up to Murder in Vein. This one was a little heavier on the paranormal romance and vampirism than Murder in Vein. Murder in Vein was a more a mystery with some characters who happened to be vampires. But still a darn good mystery novel filled with rich descriptions. It takes place in Hollywood/Topanga Canyon/LA. On the romance side, Madison is torn between her feelings for Colin and Mike. On the mystery side..well the body count is rising. Who knows what? Who knows who?
January 3, 2013
I enjoyed this follow-up to Murder in Vein. The writing was flawless and the story flowed well. Baited Blood held my interest from the first to the last word.
The story not only has an interesting plot, fun take on vampires, the characterization and growth is there as well. While this story is fiction and about vampires, it contains human elements that really draw the reader into their world.
If you enjoy mystery, paranormal, or romance I recommend Bated Blood.
The story not only has an interesting plot, fun take on vampires, the characterization and growth is there as well. While this story is fiction and about vampires, it contains human elements that really draw the reader into their world.
If you enjoy mystery, paranormal, or romance I recommend Bated Blood.
April 4, 2013
I liked this book alot. The only thing keeping me from putting 4 stars is the end. I did not like how the main character ended up having sex with the vampire out of the blue. It felt like the author was rushing the end or that she felt she had to have the main character and the vampire sleep together like all the other vampire books. One of the reasons that I like the book was the she HADNT slept with him like all the other books out there. I wanted her to end up with the cop.
March 9, 2012
If you liked the first one, you'll like the second one. Not going to change your life, but it's a fun read, like most of her books. There's a nice bit of backstory to the characters from the last book, so you learn quite a bit more about the cop and the head vampire, among others, which was gratifying. Looking forward to the 3rd book in the series!
September 14, 2012
I enjoyed this one more than the first Madison Rose Vampire Mystery. I think it's because I know the characters now and am settling in with them just like Madison is. I also am a sucker for a person who's had a hard life finding her nitch and experiencing being loved and accepted. Of course, the mystery wasn't bad either!
August 26, 2011
I wasn't too sure about this series when I read the first one, but after reading the second one, I have to say I'm liking it quite a bit. The mystery is a good one and the characters are interesting to read about, and care about in some cases. I look forward to a third book.
August 14, 2016
What a thrill ride of a read! Madison Rose is back and the tension between her and Mike or Collin is palpable! This plot had me hooked. It also broadened the backstory of a lot of the major characters in the series. Am excited to read the next installment! Can't wait to sink my teeth into it!
October 1, 2011
While the concept is still a good one, the story line in this one, to me any way, was lame and too full of men doing stupid shit due to not listening.
September 18, 2011
I like Madison Rose very, much. very much indeed. good story. interesting characters. romance, sex, mystery, vamp politics.
September 21, 2011
3.5 stars
October 18, 2011
Luv'd it!!!!!!! This is a series to read
October 13, 2011
Great Series! There is a good mixture of mystery and love in the books! I can't wait for the next book to come out.
November 10, 2011
I liked it.
February 14, 2012
Fun, great series.
January 31, 2012
finished. 11/11. my rating. 4-
February 4, 2012
I really love Madison, she's a really intelligent girl and she adapts really fast to he super natural life, I'm really looking forward for book 3 to see what's next with her.
March 22, 2012
This second book in the series has more sex and vampires involved in mysterious deadly circumstances. As usual, I love the world Ms. Jaffarian creates.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 40 reviews