One Bite Stand

Mackenzie Vampires #4

by Nina Bangs

Harpies don't get callbacks. That's why Daria's job as night manager of the Woo Woo Inn is the opportunity of several lifetimes. Where better to prove that in the snatch-and-dispatch business she has CEO potential?

Genres: Paranormal, Romance, Paranormal Romance, Vampires, Fantasy, Fiction, Humor

328 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published December 31, 2007

About the author

Talk about misspent youth. What did I do during those lazy summer days of childhood when I could’ve been honing my writing skills? Nothing. Okay, so I spent a lot of time dreaming I was a cowgirl with a trusty black stallion. Oh, and I read every Walter Farley horse novel. I was an only child so I relied on my imagination to supply the excitement in my life.

By high school, I’d decided to trade in my lariat for a trench coat. I was into dark and dangerous. As an intrepid foreign correspondent, I’d stalk the mean streets of the world. Did I actually write anything? No, but I did read all of Agatha Christie’s mysteries.

I worked at a department store during college. My short stint in the accounting department taught me a lot about math. Three hundred-dollar shortages plus hysterical tears equaled instant move to gift-wrap. A career in math was not in my future. I didn’t care because I’d discovered “real” literature. I plowed through James Joyce’s Ulysses and Tolstoy’s War and Peace. If it didn’t make my eyes cross then it wasn’t worth reading. Yes, I admit it, I was a literary snob.

Nina and best buddy, Barbara Joyce.
Folk singers extraordinaire.

But there’s just so much “real” literature one person can take. I graduated from Rutgers University with a degree in English Literature and a determination to avoid books that induced eye crossing or had tragic endings. The only things I managed to write during those years were research papers.

I taught second grade for several years then spent two years in Dublin, Ireland. A friend and I supported ourselves by singing folk songs in Irish pubs. We weren’t great, but we were young, enthusiastic, and wore short skirts. It was obviously my destiny to be the next Judy Collins. I spent a lot of time poring through music books.

Returning to New Jersey and reality, I taught elementary school until I grew restless again. My cross-country odyssey included stays in Arizona, California, and Texas. Along the way, I indulged my love of horses. No black stallions, but I did have several beautiful Arabian mares. I read tons of books on breeding and showing.

Somewhere between California and Texas I grew addicted to romance novels and cats. The cat’s independent attitude was exactly the quality I admired in my romance heroes. And once I decided to try writing my own romances, I made sure a cat crept into each story.

Texas is my permanent home. I’ve come full circle. Born in San Antonio, I spent most of my life in New Jersey. Maybe the Texas in my blood accounts for my attachment to strong men, fast horses, and wide-open spaces. My love of cats? Haven’t a clue.

Reviews

[Theresa Derwin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Harpy and vampire chaos

This fun series puts the hard Mackenzie vampires against their greatest foe … love.
Having lived 900 years Declan has hardened his heart, but with cosmic troublemaker Sparkle involved in a bet against failing harpy Daria, he finds himself attracted to the girl and wanting more.
There are cute cosmic cats and dogs, were rabbits, lots of other supernatural creatures at the Woo Woo Inn involved in a fight to save the world.
Terrific fun and very sexy too.

[BookAddict ✒ La Crimson Femme · Rating 2 out of 5]

During my bodice ripper paranormal romance phase, I snarfed down Ms. Bang's books across a few series. She was a go to author for me to purchase. This was back in the late 2000s when there still were not that many vampire stories and pre-Goodreads for me. I have said it before and I will say it again, I love this author's name. I find it amusing and memorable. When I see her name, I feel nostalgic and think of simpler times.

To read the rest of my review, click on the image below to see it on my website.

[Jennifer Prescott · Rating 4 out of 5]

Daria is trying to pass her "Harpy Test", and chooses to take a job at the Woo Woo Inn as night manager. Sparkle Stardust & Ganymede are back at the Inn and Sparkle is looking for a challenge. She decides Daria is the perfect project, and that Declan, a McKenzie Vampire Council member, are suited for each other. Declan is at the Inn to find out why two council members have been killed. He learns an estranged family member has been trying to draw him to the area in order to fulfill a prophecy. The supernatural guests must work together to win the battle soon to erupt. And there's some tension between Sparkle & Ganymede...

[Janina M. Perez · Rating 5 out of 5]

FUN!

Nina is the best! Others try to imitate her and fail! Witty dialogue, wisecracking,snarky cat and cosmic trouble makers. Pure gold! Great story, romance, luuv scenes😈😍well written and none of her books are formulaic. Your soul and your heart sings from page 1. Others might make more $$$ from their books but hers you will read and re-read over and over, again. I still have some of her original paperbacks. Missed you Nina👌👌👌👌👌👌👌👌

[Barbara Stewart · Rating 5 out of 5]

virmpires ewww loves harpies

I love love her books.. so sad a new one hasn’t come out in a while.. but can a harpy and a 900 year old vampire save the world and their love? Course sparkle has a hand in helping..

[sharon kirby · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great

I loved this book. Nina Bangs always writes the best books. The red hots was a wonderful touch. This book kept me interested and I highly recommend One Bite Stand.

[Glenna Kachtik · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it! Declan & Daria ! Great humor.

[Megan Riverina Romantics · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rating: 4/5
Heat Rating: 3/5
Narrator Performance: 5/5

[Mrs. Badass · Rating 4 out of 5]

Declan Mackenzie is on the council and send to the Woo Woo Inn to find out who is offing Council Members. What he finds there is a Harpy. Yes, a Harpy. A woman who is in the service of Hades by delivering bad people to death with her vulture wings. She turns half into a vulture. Oh yea, and harpies are supposed to be REALLY Really ugly. Only thing? Daria and her twin brother Kal's dad is Apollo. Yup, a God. So both of them use magic to make themselves as ugly as they can in order to make rank in the harpy world, where prettiness is bad and ugliness is top notch, this book is fun.
Sparkle and Mead are back and will tug on your heart strings. Yes, even Sparkle and Mead have hearts.

[Olean Public Library · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Woo Woo Inn is at it again. This time they are looking for a new night manager, and a harpy is looking for a job. Well actually she is looking for a powerful being to take to Hades as her test so she can become a real harpy. She has had a hard time, along with her brother, all their lives to fit in with the other harpies. They both are too beautiful, and where ugliness is a position requirement this is quite the dilemma. Oh, by the way, the world is scheduled to end next Wednesday. To find out how the harpy, gets a job, saves the world, and finds her man, you will have to read this humorous addition to the Woo Woo Inn series.

[Sarri Morin · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a great read. I love reading Nina Bangs, she never disappoints. Sparkle Stardust and Ganymede are my favorite characters, no matter how YUMMY the vampires are how witty the heroine is, Sparkle and Ganymede somehow manage to steal the show...Enough of them though; Daria, the Harpie that doesn't quite fit...and Declan the yummy Vamp...at my favorite place the Woo Woo Inn, where danger lurks in the dark.

There are shape shifters, humans trying to be vampires and even were-ducks! YUP I said it, WERE-DUCKS, if you want action, and a sex plant, and kitchen that have cooks with attitude and book that will keep you turning the pages then this a definate read.

[Lisarenee · Rating 2 out of 5]

So I kept seeing this author's name everywhere and decided to give her a try. It was too silly for words. I was laughing way too much. Maybe I should have read one of the first in this series, but I'm not so sure. I guess I should have been clued in from the title. You have a Harpy who has issues because she's too beautiful, a wager is made with a sex provoking entity that the Harpy can go each night without making any lustful stares or touches toward anyone, and you've got a werebunny. Need I say more?

[Amelia in PDX · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a part of a series. There are actually two stories going on in this book. There is the "new" story of Daria & Declan, but there is also the story of Ganymede & Sparkle. There are also two tests going on... One that Daria is trying to pass as a Harpie. And one that Ganymede doesn't fully realize that he's taking. In the meantime everyone in residence at the Woo Woo Inn is in for the fight of their lives of good fighting evil and if evil ones the world will disappear as everyone mortal and immortal knows it.

[Donna (BLHmistress) · Rating 3 out of 5]

I finally finished this book , I have to admit I did end up liking it though at first I wasn't so sure . I am used to weird things in Paranormal books but this was strange even for me.

What I think my problem was I chose this for a couple of my challenges and I thought it would be a stand alone book. I was wrong I need to go back and read the whole series then maybe I might be able to change my rating .

[Oleander · Rating 5 out of 5]

Delightful. Had a smile on my face the whole way through. At first I was thrown off by the idea of a harpy in a romance but she is the daughter of Apollo so that made a little more sense. Great characters and a surprisingly good plot with several layers. Sparkle and Ganymede are front and center as well and who can resist those cosmic troublemakers? This book is an excellent example of why Nina Bangs is one of my favorite authors.

[Samantha · Rating 4 out of 5]

so far, this book is really funny, but depressing at the same time T-T. i'm getting really excited about 2 certain characters that i've just been introduced to, and i have to admit, - who i think these 2 people are - i was thinking of these 2 waaaaay before they were introduced, thinking it'd be funny/awesome if out-of-nowhere that THEY showed up!!!! XDXD can't wait to see what happens!!!!!

[Luvmyfamily · Rating 4 out of 5]

They finally started getting pretty good!!! AAANNNDDD!!!! she stops writing this series. humph! go figure. I liked this book even though it took longer for me to read. It had nothing to do with the book of course just a busy life, but everytime I put the book down I had to do a sad sigh! I really did enjoy it.

[Natalie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really like all the MacKenzie Vampires books by Nina Bangs. She puts a nice, humorous twist on the traditional vampire romance. She mixes hot sex with great character development, a variety of paranormal creatures, the right amount of real humor, action, adventure, and interesting side-stories. BTW, this one made me cry.

[Lindsay · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoy all of the stories about the Woo Woo Inn. I don't feel like these are the books that I sit down and have to try to read in one sitting though. They don't hold my attention that strongly, but a fun read in the end.

[Cher · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very silly but just the right kind of silly for me. Harpy with a difficult mission meets vampire with a difficult mission. Mayhem and cross-purposes ensue. Also romance. Cute, though rather formulaic.

[Steph S · Rating 1 out of 5]

As far as literature goes, this gets a negative rating. For trashy romance, Bangs has done better. She's told the same story 4 times - it's starting to get old.

[Erotic Horizon]

One Bite Stand (MacKenzie Vampires, Book 4) by Nina Bangs (2008)

[stella yip · Rating 4 out of 5]

wow.

[Tiffany Collins]

Loved this series!

[Mollie *scoutrmom* · Rating 1 out of 5]

Could not get past the silliness to any kind of story. Had the writing been better I might have kept at it.

[Andrea · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ohh god I loved it! This is the first in this series I've read and I am soo going to be looking for the rest of this series!

[marjorie · Rating 5 out of 5]

man i love me some nina bangs she is always so funny and the stories always have that something extra sexy to keep you on your toes

[JazzRizz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cosmic troublemakers, vampires, werewolves, and harpies . . . Such a fun read! I love Sparkle Stardust and Ganymede! Those two are always creating havoc :)

[Uldene · Rating 1 out of 5]

possibly the worst book I have ever read and I've read a lot of really bad books

[Missyb · Rating 4 out of 5]

good story, interesting characters, easy read. I think I missed some things since I have not read the two books before this.