Wanted: Undead or Alive

Love at Stake #12

by Kerrelyn Sparks

On jest seksownym (i nieśmiertelnym) celebrytą i może mieć każdą dziewczynę – nieumarłą i śmiertelną. Ale marzy o prawdziwej miłości…
Ona jest księżniczką – tyle że ani nieumarłą, ani śmiertelną. A na dodatek nie znosi wampirów…

Phineas myślał, że Nowy Jork jest niebezpieczny – nawet dla sławnych tego (i tamtego) świata. Ale dopiero wojna wampirów przekonała go, że są miejsca o wiele bardziej groźne niż metropolia. W poszukiwaniu przywódczyni wrogiego klanu trafił na kompletne odludzie, do zapadłej dziury, po prostu… na łono przyrody.
Brzmi nieźle, ale w rzeczywistości to śmiertelna pułapka. Na szczęście jest z nim Bryn, która żywi do niego coś więcej niż zwyczajne uczucia. Choć i ona musi ukrywać swoją (bynajmniej nie słodką) tajemnicę…

Genres: Paranormal Romance, Paranormal, Vampires, Romance, Fantasy, Shapeshifters, Werewolves

384 pages, Kindle Edition

First published March 27, 2012

About the author

Kerrelyn Sparks apparently has issues with reality. After writing more than a dozen books about vampires, she has now completely gone off the deep end and wound up on another planet. But how thrilling that she can share this magical new world with her readers! Although she is best known (so far) for the Love at Stake series, which has hit as high as number 5 on the New York Times list and 22 on the USA Today list, she hopes her readers will love The Embraced as much as they did her merry band of vamps and shifters. To learn more about her paranormal, historical, and upcoming out-of-this-world fantasy romances, please visit Kerrelyn on Facebook, Twitter, or her website at www.kerrelynsparks.com.

Kerrelyn loves hearing from readers, even those who howl at the moon. Letters may be sent to P.O. Box 5512, Katy, TX 77491-5512. If you would like bookmarks and signed bookplates, please mail a Self-Addressed Stamped Envelope to her P.O. Box, and she will send those items to you.

Reviews

[Jessica's Totally Over The Top Book Obsession · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book Great series!Gotta love Dr. Phang lol

[Ren Puspita · Rating 4 out of 5]

Phinneas aka Dr Phang aka Love Doctor story..
I hope his story still funny but not suck like Gregori's.

BTW see the stepback



.
.
.

Thanks God! His heroine is Brynley Jones (Phil Jones's twin sister at Forbidden Nights with a Vampire) not La Toya.

[Goge (BARRONS) le Moning Maniac,]

DR. PHANG!!! I don't like Latoya so I hope pretty please that it's not her but sighhhh most likely 'yah' pshh:( Dr. Phang deserves betterrr!!! Love you Dr. Phanggg hehehhXD


New update: WOOHOOOO!!!!!!!!! It's NOT Latoya!!:D It's bitchy girl number two, Brynley! She pissed me off, namely because I love Vanda and she dissed Vanda but hopefully I'll like her in this book. :D

My immaturity speaking: Hahahh SUCK THAT LATOYA! Being a snob/bitch outted you for heroine lmfao. Okidoodles, ciao nowXD

[Simply Love Book Reviews · Rating 5 out of 5]

This review posted at Guilty Pleasures

CREME de la CREME Pick

WANTED: UNDEAD OR ALIVE is one of my favorites of the LOVE AT STAKE series.

We first meet Phineas AKA Dr. Phang AKA the LOVE Doctor AKA the Blardonnay guy in BE STILL MY VAMPIRE HEART, book 3. I have always thought of Phineas as a little like J.J. Walker from Good Times, you know the jive talking, always making a joke kinda guy, who really has hurts and fears buried underneath all that good time charlie, playboy persona. In WUOA we see a much different side of Phin, we still see all of his LMAO humor, but we see he is a worthy opponent to the bad guys, as well as his insecurities, fear, caring and tender sides. Brynley Jones is Phil's kick ass were sister. She left Wyoming to escape from her Alpha father and is now teaching at the Dragon's Nest Academy. Even though Brynley loathes vampires, she is attracted to Phin and fights that attraction with all she has.

The McKay Protection team gets word that the ever evil Corky Courrant is in Wyoming, Phineas is assinged to go hunt her down. There are two obstacles with this plan, one - he doesn't know the area well, two - who is going to protect him in his death sleep? DING, DING, DING....in comes the vampire hating Brynley, who better to be his Wyoming tour guide and protector?

As Phineas and Brynley emabark on their Wyoming adventure, Phineas can't hide the fact that he has been in love with Brynley for awhile and Brynley can't fight her attraction to Phineas any longer. The sparks fly between these two and the lovin' is HOT!!!!

Mrs. Sparks throws us a few new characters and some awesome twists and turns. I am waiting with bated breath for Howard's book, which is next =)

WUOA is a funny, romantic and emotional roller coaster, with some bad guy butt kicking thrown in. It is a MUST read for all LOVE AT STAKE fans and a recommended read for fans of comedic paranormal romances.

Stop back by Guilty Pleasures on March 26, Kerrelyn will be our guest blogger!

[Yodamom · Rating 3 out of 5]

Loved this story much more then I expected too. The narrator did a fabulous job. A Great addition to the HEA series

[Melindeeloo · Rating 3 out of 5]

(3 stars - pretty good) Starting off almost as adversaries, vampire security expert Phineas and his leading lady werewolf Bryn seem almost mismatched. They come from opposite sides of the supernatural 'tracks' - He's a poor, inner city raised, 'turned' vamp and she's a Wyoming werewolf 'princess' who hates vamps. But once Phin and Bryn are forced to spend time together in pursuit of the Malcontent 'Queen' who is stirring up trouble in Byn's former hunting grounds, they discover the taunts they've been trading have been hiding a simmering attraction and that their family issues have enough similarities to make them sympathetic to the other's plight.

Since larger than life, constantly on the make, former drug dealer turned vamp, 'Love Doctor' Phineas Mckinney first appeared in Be Still My Vampire Heart, he's been sort of the outrageous comic relief character in the series. Now with his turn in the spotlight, the Phineas in Wanted Undead or Alive is way more subdued than normal - which is not a bad thing since I don't know if I could have handled a whole book of Dr Phang - but the book also isn't quite as funny as I thought it would be either with this more serious and vulnerable Phineas in the leading man role. And for me the transition to lovers this time around didn't really have the steamy tension building of some of Sparks' other Love at Stake romances, but I did appreciate that with both of the pair being supernatural there also wasn't the 'big secret' of the hero's dead during the day nature to deal with either.

So bottom line, despite feeling like this wasn't really the Phineas that we've come to know during the course of the last however many books, I didn't love this but I still enjoyed Wanted Undead or Alive and thought that the ending was pretty original. Sparks also left a few bad guys on the loose at the end to set up for the next book, Wild About You, which has bear-shifter Howard on the hunt.

One Final Note: I have to mention the cover since I've seen comments that the decapitated man chest doesn't appear to be of the correct race. After reading how much Sparks loved the cover in the forward to Wanted Undead or Alive, I hunted down the step-back (the inside cover picture you won't see if you are shopping online and which isn't included in the ARC by the way.) Though most paranormal romance readers are accustomed to cover heroes who don't match their descriptions in the book, after seeing the stepback picture of Phineas - with his head and his leading lady - I can confirm that the publisher did actually get Phin's race right.


ARC provide by Amazon Vine - release date 3/27

[Debra Johnson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed reading about Phineas and Brynley. Their story is filled with surprises and gasp worthy twist and turns. Lots of action, adventure and laughter. A romance that starts with their attraction to each other but grows from them spending time together and actually getting to know each other.
The Malcontents are involved and they have some new allies to help cause the Vamps problems.
Quite a few new characters are brought in. Some are bad guys, some are good guys.
Some old questions about Brynley and her brother Phil are answered.
My favorite part though is what happens to Phineas! Love it!

[Karen Alvarez · Rating 5 out of 5]

If anyone wants to read more of this book go to this link and you can read the first 4 chapters
http://www.harpercollins.com/browsein...

[Redheads Review it Better · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have been patiently, who am I kidding! I have been impatiently waiting for Phineas' book since his character was introduced in the series. I was super excited when I found out that she was coming to Virginia with Pamela Palmer for a panel and book signing. When I found out I got on the phone and called my mom and told her if she had something planned she had to cancel because we were doing this. Kerrelyn was the author who got me hooked into romance novels. Before I was just reading YA (which there is nothing wrong with) but my eyes were inevitably opened to the awesome world of romance novels. So my mother and I drove an hour to see her. I wanted to get a good seat (mainly because I am short and can't see over people's heads. LOL.) and snagged a couple in the first few rows back. Well my mom went gallivanting off looking for whatever and I was sitting there looking around and being a total fan girl and staring at my favorite authors, I noticed Wanted: Undead or Alive sitting on a shelf behind the authors. I was really confused because it was the 24th and the book came out on the 27th. Why would it be on the shelf already? Well I about crapped myself when they said Avon was letting Kerrelyn sell them to us lucky attendees. SQUEE!!!!!! My mother laughed because I turned in slow motion towards her with wide eyes which automatically earned me a calm the f*ck down comment from her. LOL. Needless to say I ignored my mother and started reading the book during our lunch but at least she understands my obsession. ;)

Now that I have completely showed how much of a dork I am, to the review! Whoosh. Alright, so I was super curious how Kerrelyn was going to write Phin's story. He is different then the other characters she has written. He's a goofball in all the stories, calling himself "The Love Doctor." Well he is determined to shake off the reputation he has with the paranormal world. He is tired of being basically a checklist on ladies' to do lists. He sees all his friends happy with their wives and wants the same thing. The poor thing tried his hardest to make a mortal woman he absolutely adored fall for him to no avail. Of course the woman was an idiot and couldn't see what was in front of her because she doesn't like vampires. There is someone else Phin tries with all his might to at like he doesn't find alluring...Brynley.

Brynley is a werewolf princess hiding out from her father's pack and his you do only as I say attitude. She finds herself living in a vampire school so she can be close to her twin, Phil, who was kicked out of her father's pack years ago. There's just a little issue with that. She hates vampires, or at least she thinks she does. Every time she sees Phineas her heart starts to race, she becomes flushed, and can think of nothing other than getting him into bed. But of course she tells herself she can't have those feelings towards a vampire. Well she soon finds herself in Phil's cabin alone with Phin to help flush out the evil Corky Currant who is thought to be hiding in Wyoming. Brynley soon realizes there is more to Phin then meets the eye.

I was really happy Kerrelyn decided to pair these two together. They are just what each other needed. Between their attraction and the other exciting events, this book was so addicting! Now I just have to wait for my next anticipated character...Howard!!!! XD

[WildAboutBones · Rating 5 out of 5]

With this latest in the Love at Stake series, we get to see a whole other side of Phineas. There is more to him than just comic relief.

The story starts with a comical conversation between Phineas and his brother after having confessing the night before he is a vampire. His brother, Freemont "Da Freeze", is hysterically funny and has a thing about aliens.

Now somewhat famous as the Blardonnay Guy, Phineas shows his talent for misdirection and intrigue as well as his vulnerability.

The first time Brynley and Phineas meet in an earlier book (Connor's book), it doesn't go very well and now he finds himself needing to work with her. However, whenever he thinks of her, he sees "sky-blue eyes and a long mane of hair that glimmered with shades of brown, red, and gold. Beautiful, impossible Brynley. She wasn't a dream, but a nightmare. Dressed in a fur coat." You see, she's a werewolf.

The hunt for Corky, now calling herself Queen Corky, is still on. And we meet a new shifter, a werebear, in this installment who coincidentally also has a thing about aliens.

Is the Love Doctor, a.k.a. Dr. Phang, a.k.a. the Blardonnay Guy, off the market?
Will Phineas take the "As the Vampire Turns" acting job?
Will working with Brynley change Phineas? Will working with Phineas change Brynley?
Will Brynley be forced to marry the werewolf her father has chosen for her?
With Phil and Brynley get to see their little brother and sister again?
Does the Alaskan Packmaster have a good chance at becoming the North American Pack Leader?
Will Corkey and Dimitri ever get caught?
Will Brynley and Phineas ever be able to let go of their pasts?

These questions and more get answered in Wanted: Undead or Alive.

I highly recommend it. While you can read this as a stand alone book, I strongly suggest reading this series in order so you'll know all the background since Phineas has a part, not necessarily a big part but enough for his personality to shine, in most of them.

[t'irla ~The Bookslayer~ aka Barbara · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kerrelyn Sparks is so consistent with her writing you know she will never let you down.

Description:
He's a vampire from the big city . . .

Phineas McKinney thought New York City was tough, until he was attacked by Malcontents—evil vampires who consider mortals to be snacks. Saved by the good vampires, Phin swore to devote his now undead life to stopping the Malcontents. He's got his job cut out for him when word comes that their enemy may be hiding in Wyoming. What does a city boy like him know about horses and campfires? Good thing he's got Brynley Jones with him . . . if only she didn't hate every vampire on earth.

She's a werewolf princess . . .

Bryn believes vampires are seductive and charming, and that makes them dangerous. So she's more than a little annoyed about teaming up with Phin, even if he is the only bloodsucker able to make her inner wolf purr. But as they hunt down the new leader of the Malcontents, danger threatens . . . and Phineas and Brynley discover a passion that will rock the foundation of their supernatural world.

My Thoughts:

Phineas was always one of my favorite characters and I loved the banter he and Brinley had in previous books. At the beginning of the book we find Phineas a bit depressed but this depression showed us how much Dr.Phang had grown up and is now serious about his life. I think that is the thing I liked most about this book is the growth you can see in both characters. Of course we have our usual Love at Stake crowd and the birth of kittens. Whats not to like:)

4 Stars for this solid read. I hope that KS shakes things up a bit more in her next book and doesn't fall into the "formula" that a lot of long series tend to do.

[♡ Sassy ~ Amy ♡ · Rating 3 out of 5]

ok. I have to say that this book bugged me a lot. First, Phineus' character changed. He reminded me of J.J. on Goodtimes... I never watched it, but thats who I pictured. I had to google his name...

Now that his character changed "grew up" maybe. He just seemed off. Throwing his brother in there added the silliness back a little when they dressed in pimpish style famous guy & his agent clothes, but that connection was gone. I just couldn't picture him.

Also, on this cover... Is that a white dude? Phin is black. He's better looking than Denzel? Who's the white guy. I'm not sure if it was that she changed her mind. wanted to go for a bigger audience? People new to the series may not want this book? I have no idea.

Moving on...The story got better with Bryn, but it just didn't do it for me. A fast paced read that I read in less than a day. I guess I had too many hang ups.

[Julia · Rating 1 out of 5]

Very slow to start, I barely hung on long enough to meet Brynley. Phineas had an uphill battle to redeem himself from the ridiculous "reality T.V. espionage" and "pimp clothing" of the first few chapters, but once he and Bryn were in Wyoming things picked up. As a pure romance, this story was entertaining, but the paranormal elements were really lacking (really, no Alpha werewolf has EVER bitten a werewolf before? And Bryn has her magical transformation just to become valuable to all the a**hole characters we've been learning to hate all book?!). The utterly tepid nature of this Happily-Ever-After turned me off, I don't think I'll be returning to this series again.

Full review to follow.

Sexual Content: Several sex scenes, references to rape.

[Zolhanchs · Rating 4 out of 5]

No me acordaba mucho la historia de phineas !! :) tan lindo él dr. amor

[Oreocryptophis · Rating 1 out of 5]

... dafür gibt's keine Worte. Außerdem darf ich noch nichts vorweg nehmen.

[Tracy · Rating 1 out of 5]

Left Me Wanting
Phineas McKinney has fought the good fight since Malcontents stole his life and turned him into a vampire. He's been rockin' the Love Doctor persona of Dr. Phang since then, making all the undead ladies happy, but after a few years of that, it's gotten kind of old. Phineas wants what so many of his friends have. Love. Family. Commitment.

It doesn't matter that his professional life is super sweet right now, or that all sorts of attention is rolling his way since he started doing the commercials for the vampire's newest fusion drink, Blardonney - half synthetic blood, half Chardonnay. That, on top of his security job, has set him up right. But he's still feeling that emptiness inside him. That need.

Going undercover on a job for MacKay Security and Investigation has him playing turncoat in the hopes of catching Corky Courrant, current leader of the remaining Malcontents. The setup was going well until the self-proclaimed Queen Corky got away from Phineas and the security team sent in to catch her. When fresh intel reaches the vampires about Corky's possible location, Phineas heads to Wyoming to try to track her down.

Problem is, Phineas is a city vamp, born and raised...and killed and raised again, so he's going to need a bit of help in the form of one vampire-hating, prickly werewolf named Brynley Jones. She knows the area, it's where her pack lives. Phineas has some hot memories of Brynley from when they first met. Memories like how strong and proud she is. How her eyes remind him of a cerulean blue sky he can no longer see. How much she loathes vampires in general and him in particular.

Yeah, that last one is a problem. But he needs her help, and if working with the lovely but caustic woman as they spend time in very close quarters ends up leaving his heart feeling like she's taken a stake to his chest, well then...so be it. After all, love hurts.

~*~

I haven't read a book in the Love at Stakes series since Secret Life of a Vampire, the sixth installment, but I am familiar with the series. I enjoyed several of the earlier books, appreciated that it was lighter in theme than my normal paranormal romance reading, but had some darker elements that appealed, too. Almost nothing about this book appealed to me.

Not only did I find the plot one dimensional and the story absurd, but I thought the main characters...and more than one secondary and ancillary character...had the emotional maturity of average twelve-year-olds. And frankly, while I commend Sparks on writing a romance that crosses racial lines, I would have preferred the characterizations of both Phineas and his brother had they not been limited to sad, overused punchlines in off-color jokes. It would have been very nice had they been defined by something more than a mess of egregious racial stereotypes.

I felt the dialogue was adolescent and unrealistic and the relationship evolution between Phineas and Bryn raced from contentious to lusty to love with such alacrity that it gave me whiplash. The humor, a strength in other books of the series, was juvenile in this one...though I have to admit, one scene with Phin and a particular item of Bryn's did make me laugh out loud. Character actions and reactions lacked logic and I struggled to find any sense at all in some places.

Why does Phin need to stock up the cabin and sleep in the basement in Wyoming? He can teleport (and does) back and forth between there and New York any time he wants, with no apparent drain on his energy. Why does Bryn care about her father's feelings about her being with Phin? She banished herself from her pack five years ago with no intention of ever going back, and sacrificed her relationship with her sister for her freedom. For that matter, what does she fear her father would do about it that she hasn't already done to herself? Illogical stuff like that, prevalent in the book, drives me bonkers, even when it doesn't have a large impact on the overall story.

I know this series is wildly popular and my opinion is in the minority. I had fun reading several of the earlier books, too. Hell, I still chuckle to myself when I think about Angus MacKay checking under his kilt every time he teleports just to make sure all his bits made the trip. That's still funny to me. After this installment, though, I think my reading tastes and preferences have diverged a bit too far from where this series is now to consider reading any more of it.

Disclosure: An ARC of this book was provided to me through the Amazon Vine program. This rating, review, and all included thoughts and comments are my own.
~*~*~*~
Reviewed for One Good Book Deserves Another.

[Scooper Speaks]

Favorite Lines: "Phineas didn't want his aunt and sister to know the truth. Aunt Ruth would probably drag him into church and insist the Reverend Washington perform an exorcism on him. Luckily, the female members of his family were out of town this weekend, singing with the choir at some event in Buffalo." (p. 2, egalley)

Within a couple of pages it was clear to me that I was not going to appreciate book 12 in Kerrelyn Sparks' Love at Stake series. Wanted Undead or Alive irked me to the point that I put the book down before reaching page 42. The stereotypical language and ideas used by the story's African-American hero irked the crap out of me. First of all WTF:

"Freemont shrugged on a purple velvet jacket trimmed with faux leopard fur, then plopped a leopard-skin fedora on his head. "Now I'll look like your agent."

Phineas winced. "You look like a pimp."

"Pimp? Agent? What's the difference?" Freemont flipped up his collar. "Show me the money."

"Freemont--"

"I know what I'm doing, bro." He grabbed a wooden walking stick with a gold knob on the end and twirled it through is fingers. "Should I ask Leroy to loan us a few party girls for the evening? You'll look more like a celebrity with some pretty ladies on your arm."--p. 22

Really? Why they gotta be dumb? Nobody really thinks wearing purple velvet is fashionable, especially young black men. And to even insinuate that one has a connection to pimps with hookers was just annoying. Yeah, Sparks clears it up and says it's all legit, but it sets the tone for Wanted: Undead or Alive. Unlike heroes of previous books in the series, Phineas and his people are cookie cutter black folks. They are uneducated inner city minorities. Fine. I'm from that crowd and I don't know anyone who'd think it cool to wear purple velvet. Ever. Stereotype: Black men are tacky and think pimping is cool.

However, I kept reading. I read about the promiscuous black man with a frown. I could swallow it down because many romance books feature rakes who seduce women. So what did the inner me get from this? Stereotype: All black men have high sex drives.

"When I first discovered I was Undead and I could possibly live forever, it sorta went to my head, you know, like I was invincible and super-macho and could do whatever the hell I pleased with as many Vamp ladies as I pleased. But then I realized they were all doing whatever they pleased, too."

"What's wrong with that if you're having fun?"

Phineas slowed his steps and lowered his voice. "They didn't see me as a person. You think we're a minority in the real world, you should try the vampire one. I was a curiosity that all the ladies wanted to experience, and once it was over, they moved on to the next form of entertainment."

"So you got tired of one-night stands?" Freemont wrinkled his nose. "Is that even possible?"

"Yes, it is. Eventually, I realized that being wanted as an oddity is an insult. I want to be appreciated for being myself."--p. 36

I read until I got to the part where the hero dubs characters Rat Face and Blockhead. After that--it was over. I turned one more page, thought "I cannot do this" and put the book down.

"The Russian guy was the leader, Phineas figured. A Malcontent, no doubt, sent by Corky. He was armed with an automatic pistol and an AK-47. The guys flanking him were mortal judging from the bite marks on their necks. They either served Corky voluntarily, or she had them under vampire mind control. One was tall and skinny, with a narrow face and a long nose. Rat Face, Phineas dubbed him. And the other guy, short and square was Blockhead. The three thugs scanned the room before focusing on him."--p. 38

Yeah, there's no stereotype here. It irritated the crap out of me. If the characters' names don't matter don't mention them. Rat Face and Blockhead? Am I really supposed to take reading this book seriously when the author doesn't take naming the characters seriously?

Regardless, I was disappointed. I seem to be the only one who feels this way. I've found glowing reviews and no negative reviews what-so-ever. Sparks' series is hit or miss with me. Some of her books I've loved. I did not like Wanted: Undead or Alive. I could not even bring myself to finish reading it.

[Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Are you a fan of Phineas McKinney, a.k.a. Dr. Phang, a.k.a. the Love Doctor? He gets a new moniker in Wanted: Undead or Alive. He makes a commercial for Blardonnay, the chardonnay-blood fusion drink, and becomes The Blardonnay Guy (like The Old Spice Guy). He even says "Hello Ladies." Fans of Phineas, rejoice!

And now to our story. If you're not a fan of the Love doctor, you'll be happy to know that Phineas grows up in Wanted and drops the Love Doctor routine. He goes undercover to catch Corky Courrant, the self-proclaimed Queen of the Malcontents. When the plan goes awry and Corky escapes, teams from MacKay Security and Investigations are spread across the world looking for her. Phineas receives a clue that she's in Wyoming, and he needs a day guard to go with him to check it out. The person available is Brynley Jones (introduced in Vampire Mine).

Phineas is secretly in love with Brynley. There's a slight problem with that, however. Brynley is a werewolf who hates vampires. She does have a thing for The Blardonnay Guy, though. Brynley agrees to go to Wyoming, but only if she can stay hidden from her father. She'd run away from home when he tried to marry her off to an alpha she didn't want to marry.

Phineas and Brynley go to Wyoming together and find much more trouble than they were expecting …
~~~~~
I have to admit that I dragged my feet before getting around to reading this book, because I wasn't a fan of the Love Doctor. I didn't see how Sparks could make a hero out of a running joke. I should have known better. Within the first few pages I knew that Phineas was hero material and that I was in good hands.

Likewise, I wasn't fond of Brynley in Vampire Mine. But in Wanted, Brynley is a likable, sympathetic character. As hero and heroine, Phineas and Brynley were funny together and well-matched.

As are all Love as Stake books, Wanted was a fun, light read. Sparks is very clever with a turn of phrase that can make you smile or even laugh out loud.

"…Those Scottish barbarians will never--" [Corky] gasped when the door crashed open and a horde of kilted barbarians rushed in at vampire speed.

On second look only Angus, Robby, Ian, and Dougal were wearing kilts. The others wore pants, but would probably enjoy being called barbarians.

I won't spoil the ending of Wanted, but there's a great twist that you won't want to miss. I'm sure it will figure in future books.

The next book is Howard's story, Wild About You. It will be released September 25, 2012.

See more of my reviews at http://lisaannesley.blogspot.com/ If you follow me by e-mail, you'll be notified of monthly giveaways!

[Debra Taylor · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wasn't at the top of my to read list. I am a big fan of Kerrelyn Sparks & her " Love At Stake " series. I just saw Phineas as more of a supporting character role. Why... I don't know. Maybe because of his over the top character. However, I was pleasantly surprised. This was a quick read. The story just flew along. Probably because I was snickering half of the time. Dr. Phang hooks up with Brynley, a were wolf & Phil's twin sister. The two first met several books ago during Phil & Vanda's story. Sparks that flew back then now explode into full blown fireworks. Phil doesn't think that he's good enough for the werewolf princess. Yes, she really is a princess. Brynley has the hots for Phil but she has to overcome her aversion to vampires. The two team up to locate Corky who has taken Casimeres crown as the leader of the evil malcontent vampires. He he .. an evil villain named Corky. The werewolves soon replace the malcontents as the villains in this one. We meet several new characters who hopefully will become part of the series. We are introduced to Freemont who is Phin's younger brother. He comes to work at mackay securities with Phin & the rest of the crew. Brynleys dad, Caddoc, is a true jack***. He wants to force his daughter to marry to further his own power. I hope to see him get what he deserves in some future book. It is the mark of a good author when they can inspire readers to feel love or hatred toward their characters. I enjoyed this book very much. It was great seeing Phin find his own HEA( not to mention getting turned into a werewolf). Furturmore, I think that I'd like to shop at Leroys House Of Class for my new wardrobe. Sounds like a real classy boutique.

[Rosebud · Rating 5 out of 5]

This the 12th book in the series "Love at Stakes" by Kerrelyn Sparks. Phineas, aka Dr. Love, aka the Blardonnay Guy, is out to find the new evil Malcontent queen Corky. Unfortunately the area where she is believed to be hiding is right in the middle of a strong werewolf territory stronghold. Brynley Jones, a female werewolf who tolerates vampires, knows the area as it's where she grew up and agrees to help the 'city boy' vampire. As a werewolf princess she's coveted as a pawn in the hierarchy of the werewolf pack politics she ran from and if they find out she's back they will never allow her to leave. Since the two of them has clashed since they first met he might be persuaded to let the info of her being in the area slip. That way he'd never have to see her again.

What a terrific book. I don't have any idea how this author keeps this series so fresh and new but she does. This book reverses the gender role dynamics in that Brynley, a werewolf, is attracted to Phineas and goes after him. Phineas doesn't stand a chance but it's really fun to watch him try to resist her at first and then come to appreciate her aggressiveness both in and out of bed. The book barely crosses the erotica tag but does have steamy scenes that make up for the lack of adventurous action. This is the first time I have read about an 'Alpha female' character and I loved loved loved it. I will be looking out for more stories along this line that use this strong female premise.

[Booklover, Indianapolis · Rating 3 out of 5]

(May) Closer to a 2.5* book. This series is getting tired. Glad to see Dr. Phang did not end up w/LaToya, but still - other than two semi-steamy scenes, this book was really very juvenile. The love happened w/o any real connection between Phin and Bryn (OMG, just realized their names rhyme!) - Bryn didn't even enter the story until around page 80! She didn't like vamps, then she was in love. She suffered some real trauma in her past, but that was glossed over. Her father set up her attack and **(spoiler - rape)** but at the end they seemed to forgive him and at least be on speaking terms. A lot seemed to happen in this book but once the action happens there seems to be no follow through. That said, I can't say I'm done - I have a feeling Howard Barr's story will be next and I'm a sucker for a werebear story!

[Mel · Rating 3 out of 5]

Great series

Another one, fun reading this series some are better than others. But I really enjoyed the story of Phin and Bryn unique development for Dr phang the cool dude LOL
Would have liked more info on Carlos and Cath with her twins and a bit more of shanna, what do the kids? And development on Sean Whelan?
But still a great storyline.

[Isabel Luna · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ha resultado una experiencia muy divertida. Algo se veía venir entre Phineas&Brynley desde hace varias tramas atrás y finalmente ocurrió.
Me ha gustado particularmente la forma de encarar ambos personajes, el pasado de cada uno y la forma en que les ha influido en sus vidas presentes. A Phineas lo hemos visto mucho más frecuentemente q a Brynley, pero siempre ha sido el amigo bromista de la historia, q se burla de la pareja romántica de turno y eventualente los ayuda a lograr su amor.
Aquí tenemos a un Phineas más serio, más responsable. Ha pasado por un proceso de madurez importante y ya no es ese joven dealer q fue transformado x los Malcontent, ni siquiera es el Dr.
Amor/Dr.Phang. Ahora es el jefe de seguridad de Romantech, preocupado siempre de proveer a su familia y x encaminar a su hermano menor.
La historia de Brynley, x su parte, va en paralelo pero muy diferente de como me la imaginaba. Ella es una princesa lobo, pero su codición de hija del Alfa no es ningún premio gordo de la lotería y la chica las ha pasado bastante malas x culpa de una forma de vida arcaica y totalmente desfazada en el tiempo. Ella no solo esta escapando de una boda impuesta, esta escapando de una sociedad opresiva y esclavizante y no puedo menos q aplaudirla x la valentía de buscar su propio camino.
Aunq seguimos teniendo varios cabos sueltos, e incluso más personajes nuevos, la serie va en franca mejoría. Esperemos q los restantes libros mantengan el nivel.

[Barb · Rating 5 out of 5]

This one is one of my favorites !! Hello Ladies!!!!!!

[Emily *No longer active* · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hello ladies...The love doctor has found his own love at last.

[Shannon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Phineas McKinney hasn't been a vampire for long - a petty drug-dealer who was attacked by Malcontents only several years ago, he was saved by the good Vamps. He now works for Angus McKay's company, which provides security and bodyguards for the Vamps and their businesses, as well as hunt bad vampires like the Malcontents. Now he's staged a convincing fallout with Angus on live TV (the vampire network) and bringing his younger brother Freemont in on the secret of what he really is. All so he can go into hiding to chase up on a lead that Corky Currant is in Wyoming, rallying the Malcontents to her by self-styling herself as their queen.

A vampire is no good during the day, so accompanying Phineas is the wolf-shifter, Bryn - and it's to her alpha-father's ranch that they are headed. As Phineas learns more unsavoury truths about life in a werewolf pack, especially for the daughter of an alpha, he comes to see Bryn in a whole new light. The two work together as a team, utilising each other's strengths, as they hunt down Corky's whereabouts while evading the man Bryn's father has picked out for her husband.

Wanted: Undead or Alive (we're entering into a phase of the series in which movie-title puns are common titles) was quite enjoyable, and a bit heavier than usual: the way the werewolf pack operates will make you cringe, and what happened to Brynley years ago by her father's own men is horrific. Countering that is Phineas, who is the self-styled "Love Doctor" - a cheesy moniker that always made me pity him. I'm not sure why he's been white-washed for the cover: Phineas is black, and the only black vampire character in the series (so far). It's a shame he's been white-washed; you'd think the States had stopped doing that.

This instalment focussed on the role of tradition and the oppression of women, which is perhaps another reason why I liked it more than the ones that stereotype other races. It's easy for me to hate the characters I'm meant to hate, because the threat is more real and valid to me, personally. Also, Bryn is lively, fiesty and felt more real than a lot of the other heroines - plus she's a shifter and so has her own strengths. And the ending was a bit of a surprise, in terms of what happens to Phineas. As I've said before, I do like it when authors play around with the formula.

[All Things Urban Fantasy · Rating 2 out of 5]

As someone generally unfamiliar with the Love at Stake series, WANTED: UNDEAD OR ALIVE started off very slowly for me. The first several chapters were a crash course in vampire politics, and “Queen Corky” is not the type of villain that could keep my attention. Phineas was up to his neck in some ridiculous reality T.V. plot to find Corky, and it was not until he and Brynley get some face time that the story picked up.

Brynley and Phineas both have emotional scars and insecurities, and I liked how they were each looking for someone to love them for themselves. Phineas was tired of being used as a sex toy by women looking for a fling and Brynley wanted someone who love her, not her status as a werewolf princess. There was a fair amount of misunderstandings and hurt feelings between these two, but not to the point where it was annoying. Once they started opening up to each other, things progressed nicely. Of course, by that time, Brynley’s dark family past had been revealed, and my interest in their budding romance was completely eclipsed by a burning desire to see her awful father get his just desserts. Nothing worked out quite the way I expected, however. Brynley’s beloved, long-lost little sister turned out to be oblivious, bumbling, and rather annoying and Brynley’s father got off much, much too lightly for my tastes.

As a romance, WANTED: UNDEAD OR ALIVE is a sweet, funny story of two wounded souls finding true love. Phineas’s Old Spice parody got me to laugh out loud a few times (for a particularly well timed, “Hello, ladies” and his bonding moment with the white stallion), and Brynley’s relationship with her inner wolf was less reverent than entertaining. Unfortunately, on the paranormal side of things, the politics and mythology of WANTED: UNDEAD OR ALIVE were lacking. I still find it very hard to believe that no Alpha werewolf had ever bitten a vampire before, and the vampire/werewolf politics Happily-Ever-After was tepid at best. In WANTED: UNDEAD OR ALIVE love only conquered some, and I can only hope that daddy dearest gets what’s coming to him eventually.

Sexual Content: Sex scenes, references to rape.

[Jenifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

The 12th in the Love at Stake series.

I have to say that this was perhaps the best story of sexual and emotional tension I have read in a paranormal setting. He's a vampire, she's a werewolf...it's just great drama.

Phineas was turned by Malcontents but was saved by Roman and his gang of good Vamps. Now he's on a mission to find an enemy who considers herself Queen of the vampires, but she's hiding out in Wyoming. What's a city boy like Phineas to do?

Get assistance from Brynley, werewolf princess, who happens to hail from Wyoming of course.

Brynley knows that vampires are seductive and charming, which makes them very dangerous, and Phineas is the most dangerous of all. Now she's teamed up with him to help bring in this crazy Malcontent and end a lot of drama in the vampire world, all without her father finding out that she's back in town.

As these two work together to hunt down this dangerous enemy, both are fighting the passion that they have for each other, and each night it gets a little harder to fight.

I loved this story, of course I have loved all in this series already, but when I first met Brynley I knew that she would have a great love story...and I was right. Dr. Phang, Phineas, is a wonderful match for Brynley and the chemistry between these two is wonderful. There is a pull between them that I felt the minute they were in the same room together, and it was great.

Plus, all that twists and turns that take place in the plot just pull you in and make you want to know what will happen next. A great story, and I can't wait for the next one in the series.

[Paige · Rating 4 out of 5]

Okay, so I’ll admit that I went into WANTED:UNDEAD OR ALIVE with a negative outlook. Phineas has never interested me in the previous books and I just didn’t see how I could enjoy an book about him.

I was pleasantly surprised to discover Phineas had a great story to tell that, for me, explained some of his behaviors and gave me a better understanding of him. Since it’s been a few days since I finished it, I’ll have to leave a generic review.

Phineas McKinney is thrown together with werewolf princess, Brynley Jones when they get a lead on Corky in the woods near her father’s pack and her old home. It’s no secret that Brynley hates vampires and she and Phineas are constantly bickering and name calling each other, which later turns to flirting.

While together, they learn more about each other and notice how much they have in common from their past, yet fight their feelings because of their differences.

When she’s taken and within days of being forced into marriage, Phineas and the gang hope to not only get her back, but take down Corky in the process. It’s not an easy battle and when Phineas is bitten by a werewolf, the next few days are in and out for him.

Now, he’s half vampire and half werewolf and married to the werewolf princess whose back on her father’s good side and welcomes him into her new vampire family.

[Steph · Rating 3 out of 5]

I am so happy that LaToya is not Phineas HEA, she has been horrible every time we have seen her. If I had any doubts before I don't now, we saw a brief glimpse of her in this book and she was so cruel to him. I'm glad he found Brynley, LaToya wasn't good enough for him at all.

There was one thing that stopped me from giving this book 4 stars. I had really hoped we would see a change in this hero. Most the previous ones have been a lot older and miserable with lives, feeling lonely and without a purpose. But Phineas was only turned 5 years ago and has been nothing but hilarious throughout the series. His charm and his jokes are what made him so great. I thought that he would be the hero who wasn't so down, but happy with his new life and looking for love. But he too was moping abuout feeling sorry for himself and I didn't find him anywhere near as funny as he has been in the past. Having said that I do still love his character and his much better choice of female.
The story that comes with him being bitten by a werewolf was wierd. I wish it had happened earlier in the book so we could get to see more of him as he became accustomed to his new hybrid status. Instead his new abiltities and advantages were just reeled off in the last few pages.
Not my favourite of the series but still a fun read.