A Very Unusual Romance

The Cowboy and the Vampire #1

by Clark Hays, Kathleen McFall

Saddle up for a hilarious, existential gallop through the dying American west with an army of ancient bloodsuckers in hot pursuit. Welcome to LonePine, Wyoming, population 438, where the best of the west faces off against the rise of the undead. It’s a love story for the ages. Worlds collide in The Cowboy and the Vampire: A Very Unusual Romance, when a broke cowboy and a glamorous big city reporter fall lipstick over boot heels in love. But she carries a 2000-year-old secret in her veins that will test their unusual romance. Can her big city smarts combined with his western courage keep an undead love alive? This is the first book of The Cowboy and the Vampire Collection.

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

422 pages, Paperback

First published May 8, 1999

About the author

I'm an ex-poet, lapsed cowboy and whiskey enthusiast living in Portland, Oregon, with my life-, writing- and backgammon-partner Kathleen McFall.

We've written 13 books together so far.

The most recent is Cake and Eat It, the third book in our Restaurantland series, romance novels set in a funky, fictional Portland restaurant in the 1990s. Kitchen Heat is book one and Poetic Justice is book two.

We also have:

A three-book sci-fi series:
Gates of Mars
Scorched Earth
Mars Adrift

A three-book alt-history series about Bonnie and Clyde:
Resurrection Road
Dam Nation
Radioactive

A four-book award-winning paranormal action/romance series, the Cowboy and Vampire Collection:
A Very Unusual Romance
Blood and Whiskey
Rough Trails and Shallow Graves (named to Kirkus Reviews best indie books of 2014)
The Last Sunset (silver medalist, 2017 Independent Publisher National Book Awards; Indie Reader best books of 2016)

I also wrote Just West of Hell, a collection of Western Gothic short stories which Kathleen, thankfully, edited.

You can learn more about the books, and what it's like to write with the person you love, at https://www.pumpjackpress.com.

Follow along on:
@cowboyvampire (Threads and Instagram)
facebook/cowboyandvampire

Reviews

[Deborah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Gothic vampire western romance with humour.....

Since the forth and final book in this series is due out in June I've decided to re-read the previous three and I'm so glad I did I'd forgotten just how funny these books are.
The problem with this book is categorising it, it's a romance, yes, a vampire book, yes, it has humour but it's not a comedy. I wasn't sure quite what to expect, from the title my original thought was "comedy" and yes like I said it has humour, it's a dry humour and while it's not a comedy as such I was laughing and shaking the whole way through but like I said it's not a comedy. I was a bit intrigued I must admit, I was surprised to discover it was first published in 1999 and is now in it's third printing, I'd never heard of it before.
Anyway back to the book, it's a romance and it starts out like a normal book, down to earth cowboy Tucker from the small town of LonePine, population of just 438 falls for New York reporter Lizzie, these two couldn't really be more opposite but it works and at the start of the book I forgot for a few pages that I wasn't reading just a normal romance but then the word vampire came up and the book took a different turn.
This book is weird there's no other way to describe it, it's weird but it works and one of the main reasons it does is the characters, they're real, believable people. They relate to each other like real people do which is rarer than you'd think, especially in the books I read. I loved Tucker and his dad, and Lenny, Lenny is brilliant. The book is built on believable characters and so even though the story is pure fantasy I was there routing for Tucker and Lizzie and the rest because I actually cared about them and what happened to them, and there's no way I could review this book without mentioning Rex, the best dog in the world.
Why 4 stars and not 5, well there's a couple of main reasons, firstly the POV kept switching and although it didn't take long to work out who it was it still wasn't always clear immediately and the ending wasn't a surprise, I don't think it was supposed to be but it would have been nice, apart from that it was all good.
I've still no idea how to categorise this book, I'm coming down on the side of 'gothic vampire western romance with humour' catchy....maybe not.
Will I read the next book, yes as soon as I've finished this.

ARC provided by NetGalley

A few bits to give you a feel for the book.

On the way to town, I met a bunch of folks on the highway who I knew well enough to swerve across the center asphalt line like I was going to hit them and then they’d throw their arms up as if to cover their faces from the coming accident. It was big fun on Highway 14 at seven in the morning, which says a lot about the entertainment prospects of living in LonePine.

All God’s creatures have a purpose and I suspect that holds true for alpacas, but I can’t tell what that might be. Best I can figure, their purpose in life is to act haughty and spit on whatever they can’t shit on, which is pretty much everything.

(When arriving in LonePine)
Elita slid down in her seat and shook her head. “I haven’t seen this much desolation since the black plague.”

“You’ll need to get into it tomorrow during the day when I’m sleeping.”
"Honey, it ain’t sleeping. Let’s call a cow a cow. You’ll be dead......"

"Don’t look at me like that. You expect me to be happy about watching her stay young and beautiful while I just get more and more ruggedly handsome with the years? Having to keep her stashed by day and never being able to have the boys over for a beer at night for fear she would eat them?”

[Bitten_by_Books · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tucker’s living the perfect cowboy life. Residing alone in his trailer with his dog, Rex, his horse, Snort, and some mischievous alpacas that refuse to stay on their own side of the fence, he feels as though he has it all. And then Lizzie arrives from New York City and throws everything he has ever known into utter chaos. Lizzie Vaughn is a reporter carrying a secret of her own, one buried so deep that not even she knows it exists. So when she is kidnapped by a group of vampires claiming she is their queen, Tucker finds himself with a rescue to pull off…and a vampire war to help win.

Tucker is your typical cowboy. He ropes and rides and drinks beer—a lot of beer. He never thought he would fall for a city girl like Lizzie, and neither did I, to be honest. But he does, and it works. He is the lighthearted complement to her more serious self. He brings her humor where she brings him stability. Tucker’s voice is so fresh and enjoyable that I looked forward to his parts of the story more than any other. If all cowboys were like Tucker, I would read more westerns.
Lizzie is pretty much Tucker’s complete opposite. Where he is totally country, she is the epitome of a big city girl. She is also much more refined than Tucker ever hopes to be. Her more reserved personality helps hold Tucker to the task at hand and keeps him from wandering off in the woods. She gives him the guidance he needs to make something of his life. I was afraid that I was not going to like Lizzie at first, but she turned out to be not as much of a city girl as I had expected. She was a nice surprise.

The Cowboy and the Vampire: A Very Unusual Romance is one of the funniest and most engaging books I have read in a long time. Jam-packed with adventure, vampires, true love, and a cast of characters you will not soon forget, you find yourself turning the pages thinking, “What more could possibly happen to these two?” And then, you find out. I never imagined the melding of a contemporary western and a paranormal romance could ever be so seamless or so much fun.

Originally reviewed on Bitten by Books by Amyee at 4.5 Stars. Read the original review here: http://bittenbybooks.com/the-cowboy-a...
Clark Hays
Kathleen McFall

[Elke · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was one of my first vampire romance novels, way back when that genre was still in its fledgling state and only a handful of authors wrote that kind of stuff, and a book did not automatically have to be followed by dozens of sequels.

This book surely is no milestone in profound literature, but I remember that I enjoyed reading the combination of romance, action and lots of fun very much. Also, I was intrigued with the idea of combining a vampire story with the cowboy theme, something not done all too often.

A light but very entertaining read, definitely recommended to all vamp/romance aficionados.

---------------------
Reread: Oct 1-8, 2012

To be 'prepared' for the long awaited sequel, I reread Cowboy & Vampire, which I first read several years ago and honestly couldn't remember too well, other than I LOVED it. I was surprised how much about this book I had shamelessly forgotten, and to find out that this book offers so much more than light entertainment.

Though romance is a very important part of C&V, it is far from being just another vampire romance book - for counterbalance, there is an equal amount of bloodshed and action, not to forget the humor. Furthermore, the authors developed a fresh concept for the origin of vampires.

I really enjoyed meeting the Cowboy and Vampire again and can't wait to read the sequel 'Blood and Whiskey'.

[Clay Davis · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent modern day western supernatural action adventure thriller.

[Yodamom · Rating 2 out of 5]

Tough cowboy Tucker live on his ranch, with his dog and his horse. His comfortable life is changed when he meets a NYC reporter who wants to interview a 'real cowboy" She ends up reviewing him between the sheet and they begin an affair with her traveling to visit him on his ranch. The lust turns to love and so it begins.
There is one big crack in the romance, more than one. She is descended from a long line of vampires and is wanted by Mr. Big Bad Vampire for her monthly visitor. It seems that devouring that will give him the powers to control the world. This Mr. Big bad is also her father. He kidnaps her and it's up to Tucker and the only smart one in the book to save her, the dog. The ending was a cliffhanger, not something I care t follow up on.
I was interested with the story in the beginning, it had a great concept. But when the vampires came in to it went quickly down hill, fast and deep. They were cheesy villains, they acted stereotypical bad B movie vampires. The stupid bits with the cowboy lingo from these upper crust NYC characters ?? I was shaking my head, it was so ridiculous. Was it to be funny ? Maybe, but it feel flat for me. The incest, why ? Why did this guy have to be her father, and why did it have to go there ? Too much, taboo for this reader.
Tucker, he was an idiot. He put everyone in danger. He went to hit his dog for being smart. He risked his father his friends, and no it wasn't a romantic save. His dog was the only character I cheered for. I wanted to rescue him from this story.
I didn't like it. I didn't find it funny. I could not recommend it.

[Niina · Rating 5 out of 5]

"The Cowboy and The Vampire" Weekend 2nd-4th of Dec 2011! With Review, Guest Blog, Co-author Interview and Giveaway! Find it here!

Living in a small town of LonePine Wyoming, Tucker has spent his life on the ranch in the company of his dog Rex and his horse Snort. Then he meets Lizzie, a reporter, in town doing a piece called “The Last Cowboy”, the New York City girl finally wins/wears him over and the two begin a long distance romance.

Lizzie’s putting finishing touches on her newest article on vampires when she’s invited to a vampire gathering in an upscale NY art gallery. Expecting piercings, lots of black and fake dental wear she’s shocked to witness a bloody massacre by sophisticated self-proclaimed vampire Julius. Lizzie escapes to LonePine to be with Tucker while she tries to figure out what the hell happened in New York.

But when vampires arrive to LonePine and forcefully remove Lizzie from Tucker’s care the cowboy has to head to New York with Rex to save his girl from the vampires who want Lizzie to become their Queen of Uncreation: the destruction of Adamites, the destruction of humankind.

"About that time Rex quit his barking and stood wagging his little stump of a tail and whining. The headlights shut off and the door opened up and Lizzie stepped out. "Hey, cowboy," she said. You could've knocked me over with a feather.
"What the hell are you doing here?" I stammered and she walked up as natural as can be.
"Is this a bad time? I could come back later," she said smiling.
I just drew her into my arms and kissed her for all I was worth and felt her pull herself tight against me. Standing there we were able to say hello without words for better of ten minutes. Then we moved inside and continued saying hello, still without words, for better than two hours."

I’ll begin by saying I love mysteries, I love cowboys, I love vampires and I love this book!
You know how you expect a lot from a book, cause it seems to have everything you love, and then it turns out to be mediocre? Well this book isn’t one of those!
This is in fact in the top five books I’ve read this year, and I somehow knew I was going to love it when I first saw it online. Now let’s move on to why it’s so good!

The characters are great, Tucker is your quintessential Cowboy, he speaks, acts and thinks like a cowboy (the mental dialog is one of the best parts to me about the book), he has attachments to his animals and down-to-earth sensibility about what needs to get done, be it fix a fence to keep them darn alpacas of his land or going after his girlfriend, abducted by the evil undead vampires.

Lizzie has the through fire reporter attitude without the over the top exaggeration, she strong, stubborn and pigheaded (in fact it takes quite a lot of convincing her that vampires are real and that she’s not surrounded by delusional nutjobs, where Tucker has the benefit of witnessing them “in action”) but in the humane way that she has vulnerabilities like any human would. She’s great match to Julian who is deliciously supercilious, prophet syndrome suffering royal bloodline vampire pain in the ass.

This book has a multiple point-of-views, having Lazarus, Julian, Elita or Sully tell the story forwards makes the story world seem so much more real, which means you get ten times more invested in their lives.
Out of the supporting characters my favorites were Elita, a seductive evil vampire who refuses to recognize that’s she’s not as 100% evil as she keeps saying she is. And Lenny, the LonePine’s lone militia, a paranoid and conspiracy theory wielding man who helps Tucker out in creating some vampire takedown weapons.
And let’s not forget Rex, the dog is a great comic relief that never leaves Tucker’s side.

"The first couple dozen time those damn alpacas trespassed, Rex rounded them up and send them skittering home like the champion cow dog he is. Eventually, those goats took to spitting on him and so damaged his pride that he now refuses to even get out of the truck when they're around. Cow dogs are touchy about that sort of thing. This morning, he was sitting in the driver's side looking nonchalantly the other way like he was dreaming of a better place, the kind of place where dogs don't get spit on by goats."

The writing is witty, easy flowing and engages the reader, you can get lost in this story without those irritating lingual potholes and speed pumps that can make stories tumble. The Cowboy and The Vampire is written really well, great in fact! This isn’t your garden variety romantic story. You can tell this book is written by people who know their poetry and their fiction.
The Cowboy and The Vampire isn’t just written well, it’s also very funny, some of the best bits provided by the relationship between Tucker and his dog Rex, but also Tucker’s Dad creates lighter moments, where Julius and Lazarus drive the momentum of what’s at stake for everyone involved.

The Cowboy and The Vampire is a sizzlingly dark tale of thousand years old power struggle, and in the middle of it Lizzie, a human with 2000 years of royal vampire blood just waiting to be harnessed and a cowboy with one single goal, keep his girl safe and love her no matter what.

Dark and enigmatic journey from Wyoming to NY to New Mexico where vampires snap at your heels and what stand between you and your enemy is your cowboy and his sheer will to survive. Oh, and his cow dog too…

[Jennifer (Books&Barks) · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Cowboy and the Vampire, written by the husband and wife team of Clark Hays and Kathleen McFall, is one of the most interesting takes on the vampire legend that I have read recently. First published several years ago, before the craze for all things supernatural really hit, The Cowboy and the Vampire has now been re-released and can hopefully pick up some of these new fans of the vampire genre. The novel mixes religion and vampire lore to create an enchanting world that combines the lonesome wild west with the bustling city of New York.

Lizzie Vaughan, a reporter from New York, travels to LonePine, Wyoming for a story and ends up meeting Tucker, an honest to goodness real-life cowboy, horse and dog included. They get off to a rough start - Lizzie manages to get his nose busted - but before long the two find themselves in a relationship. Even after returning to New York, Lizzie can’t forget about her cowboy. After discovering that a new story about the myth of the vampire is actually no myth at all, Lizzie runs back to Wyoming and the safety of Tucker’s arms. Unfortunately for them, Wyoming isn’t far enough to escape the clutches of Julius, a master vampire who turns Lizzie into a vampire as well. That’s because, unbeknownst to her, Lizzie comes from a lineage of royal vampires and her blood has the potential to be very powerful and can change the world as they know it. Thus starts the adventure of a lifetime for Lizzie and Tucker, and several of their friends and allies. One faction of vampires is led by Julius, who hopes to see vampires take over the world, and the other is led by Lazarus (yes, that Lazarus!) who hopes to protect the balance of good and evil and continue the purpose for the complete existence for vampires. Will Lizzie and Tucker survive this battle?

I absolutely adored the character of Tucker. I loved his down to earth personality, which has been shaped by his life of living in the wilds of Wyoming. It was especially funny reading about his observations of New York City. Add in his faithful dog companion, Rex, and what’s not to love? Tucker is lucky to have Rex around, as the little dog saves the day on more than one occasion. The book just wouldn’t have been the same without this special relationship between the two. The love between Tucker and Lizzie is also special. Tucker is willing to do anything for Lizzie, even when it seems that all hope is lost. After learning of Lizzie’s turning, “his mind struggling to keep up with a heart that at the sight of her breathing had immediately and without question resigned itself to her changed circumstances” (pg 202), Tucker robs a blood bank just so she doesn’t have to kill anyone to survive her first few days as a new vampire. How many people would be willing to do that for the ones that they love?

Tucker’s dad brings the practical into this supernatural story. Learning about vampires is ultimately no big deal for him. In his own words, “You just got to do the best you can, no matter what comes along” (pg 299.) Other quirky characters in the story, such as the militia loving, weapon creating Lenny, Lazarus’ long-time friend and fellow vampire Sully, and the vampire seductress Elita, make for a wonderfully entertaining story. I was actually quite surprised by some of the changes that take place by the end of the novel, especially when it comes to Elita. I would love to read more about her and how her character evolves.

I can’t wait to find out more from the world of The Cowboy and the Vampire and hope that a second book in the series is released soon. While this book does have a complete ending, there’s still so much more that can come from Lizzie and Tucker. Overall, if you’re a fan of vampire novels, and you like westerns too, I’d definitely recommend The Cowboy and the Vampire. And if you aren’t a big fan of westerns, I’d still suggest you give it a try!

[Andrea Guy · Rating 5 out of 5]

There are a lot of vampire novels out there. More then anyone should read, but this one is one of the best. It has a unique, slightly religious twist to the vampire myth, plus it has a totally awesome cowboy.

I love the vastly different way the two leads are written and the story is told from both Lizzie and Tucker's point of views. The parts of the story written from Tucker's point of view are absolutely hysterical.

I really love the way their relationship grew, and even though everything happened pretty quickly, you saw a great loyalty between the characters.

Clark and Kathleen created some awesome vampires too. (Lizzie included) The bad guys and the not so bad vamps really rocked. They were pure evil in the way vampires should be. Julius was truly the baddest bad guy ever!

The story really flowed nicely and though it had romantic aspects there was a lot more to it than Tucker and Lizzie getting together. This book was about good and evil and its place in the world. I loved how the writers separated humans (Adamites) and Vampires.

This is definitely a must read for fans of vampire fic. Its one of the best in the genre that I have read this year.

[Coyle · Rating 4 out of 5]

This needs to be a movie. Hollywood: I command you to get on that right now!

[Natalie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have to say I was not at all sure what I was getting myself into when I read this book, the title of the book kinda made me stop and go hhmmm, I wonder what this will be like, but like the old saying goes "don't judge a book by it's cover". I was shocked into silence while reading this book, I could not believe a book with this title had me mesmerized to the point that I could not put it down. Now I know what your thinking, your all thinking "Oh Nattie, how could a book about a Vampire and a Cowboy possibly be any good, what is he her snack" LOL. All I can say is please trust me, I haven't steered you wrong yet (at least I hope I haven't) :)

This is probably the most original story for a Vampire book that I have ever read. The characters were well played out and all worked together to make a wonderful story. Tucker (the cowboy), well I just love Tucker, he doesn't hold back and calls it like he see's it, with his cowboy twang, horse (Snort), dog (Rex), ranch, his father and friend Lenny. Now Lenny, his character is a little out of the ordinary, he's paranoid of everything and the only member of the LonePine militia and makes the most eccentric weapons anyone's seen, I really liked Lenny, he made me laugh and I would love to see more of his character. Lizzie, poor Lizzie, she and Tucker really did fit well together, her character whined a little more than I liked for a main character, but I had to stop and remember if I had been turned into a vampire against my will and had to fight for my life every step of the way I'd whine a bit often as well. Lizzie's character was (even with the whining) a strong hot tempered at times, willing to go through anything if it meant she was with Tucker.

All the rest of the character's you cant help but adore, well except Julius (he's the bad guy) but even for him you have to feel a little bit of pity for him. Elita, I didn't like her at all in the beginning of the story, but she has this tendency of growing on you, and by the end of the book you almost like her lol. I would really like to see more of her character as well. Lazarus (yes the real Lazarus) Satan himself, I liked as well. All of them really fit together and made this a great story. I really hope there is a second book. I highly recommend this book, it was the most surprising read I have had the pleasure of picking up. This book has made me laugh, gasp with disbelief, made me smile, and couldn't stop thinking about it when I couldn't read it. It has suspense, some horror, some mystery, with some romance in the mix. I really hope ya'll (that's my cowgirl twang) lol pick up a copy of this book it is well worth the read, and I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.

To read full review and interview visit my blog http://booksfromthepurplejellybeancha...

[Willow Brooks · Rating 3 out of 5]

Really quick.

Umm... I think this was a comedy. Not really sure but it is definitely a funny little adventure. So many reviews have already told this story. It's full of craziness. I love that dog, I think he was the most sane character in this book.

If you want a read for the entertainment value only then this book is for you. I will warn that this book does take bible scriptures and add on to them to include the vampire. It may make you say, "WTH!" If that makes you uncomfortable, I don't know what to tell you other then find a different book.

Lizzie's Father was a strange one aside from being a vampire. He had a little somthing something wrong with him. You'll see what I'm talking about when you read it I don't want to put out spoilers.

This was nuts. The vampire, dog, cowboy, both MC's fathers, bad villain vampires. I'm still shaking my head.

Be prepared for a little cliffhanger.

Happy reading.

[Shannon · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was hysterically funny. Very unusual is a good word for it, just look at the cast of characters:

A reporter who ends up becoming a vampire.
A cowboy and his dog and horse.
An overweight vampire that remembers Jesus personally.
Your usual cast of mean, creepy vampires.

While it is a teen romance book, it's better than most in that it's not aimed at your typical teen. Don't confuse this with Twilight, folks. I don't recommend it for younger teens because there is some sexual content and violence beyond what the typical PG-13 movie has to offer. Great modern take on Vampires, though.

[Sharon Hamilton · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a great twist on a classic vampire story. The two voices of the main characters, written by both husband and wife writers, makes for a creative soup that was thoroughly enjoyable. I'd like to see how these two manage to live out the rest of their "existence" and hope the writers think about a series here.

There were so many favorite parts, and I don't want to give away any of the plot, so am unable to illustrate just one. But let's say that the vampires are different than you expect, and so are the cowboys. Such little delicious surprises at every turn of the page. The dialog was superb. It could be a primer on deep POV through dialog for anyone studying the craft of writing.

[Julie · Rating 2 out of 5]

The Cowboy and the Vampire by Clark Hays and Kathleen McFall is a 2014 Pumpjack Press publication. ( originally published in 1999)
I was provided a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Journalist Elizabeth “Lizzie” Vaughn traveled to cowboy country way out in Wyoming to do a write up on the quintessential cowboy. When she targets Tucker as the object of her interview, she finds him to be the very epitome of a cowboy. He's a loner, doesn't talk much, is a bit crusty, likes peace and quiet and his dog, Rex is his significant other. But, Lizzie throws ole' Tucker off his track a little bit and the two end up with feelings for one another. But, Lizzie has to return to city life in the big apple and she starts a new story on vampires. Her research will open up a Pandora's box and Lizzie will discover a part of her heritage she would never have dreamed of. Do vampires really exist? Lizzie and Tucker find out that – why yes, they do actually. Not only that it seems Lizzie's father is the big kahuna over vampires and has decided Lizzie should take her place as queen of the vampires. This is not a role Lizzie will feel honored to have and although her motives aren't pure by any means, a female vampire will help Lizzie escape her fate, but each of them could die as a result of their rebellion.
Tucker is told of Lizzie's situation and he and his father will go after Lizzie and try to keep her away from her father and help her cope with the changes in her life.

Well, with a title like this one, it's hard to imagine what kind of story to expect. Is it a romance? Is it horror? Is it supposed to be funny?
Wwweeelll.... Maybe all of the above. I felt like the book had a “campy” feel to it and wondered if that was intentional or not. Sometimes it was funny, sometimes there were romantic elements and sometimes it was just plain weird.
I was put off by the religious parallels although I realize this is just a story and vampires aren't real, It still made me uncomfortable.
The story got off to a good start, but I'm afraid I got lost toward the end of the second part and really struggled to stay with it.
There are two more books in this series so far, and out of fairness, I am going to give the second one a chance and see how that goes. Perhaps now that the main characters have been established and their back stories are told, they can now set out on a new adventure and I can settle into it a little more.
This first book though only gets 2 stars.

[Julie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received a free e-copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I have to say that from the very start I was hooked. I could picture Tucker and hear his voice as I read which usually takes a while.

Hays has taken two completely different themes, Cowboys and Vampires, and married them together in a very detailed and convincing way.

When Lizzie travels to Lonepine, Wyoming to do research and interview cowboys, she doesn't plan on falling for one. Tucker is very laid-back and although he finds her attractive, he isn't really looking for a relationship, he doesn't think it would work as she is from New York and he's just a cowboy. Aside from the different backgrounds and the distance, what would he do about his horse, Snort and his dog, Rex.

When Lizzie turns up in the middle of the night after they have been dating for a few months, claiming that vampires are real and that they are after her, he doesn't really believe her but when several show up in Lonepine, kill Snort, take Lizzie and leave Tucker for dead, he soon changes his mind.

He sets off for New York with Rex to find Lizzie and get her back. Unfortunately he arrives too late to save her from being turned. Despite the fact that she is now a vampire he doesn't leave her and tries to help her control her urges. With Julius, the Vampire who turned her, determined to find her and drink from her at a specific time in her cycle, in a bid to change history and make her his queen,despite being her real father, it's a race against time to get her to the safety of another vampire named Lazarus.

Lizzie has to learn to control her urges, learn who she is and how she can change the history of humans and vampires.

This is a very unique twist on the origins of vampires and humans, the story of Jesus and Lazarus has a bit of a different spin too. I think Hays has written an interesting and unique story with a great story-line and a fantastic cast of characters.

I found the characters to be entertaining and funny, even the animals had personality. The interplay between Tucker, Snort and Rex is very believable and also very touching. I found myself tearing up at the demise of Snort.

I would recommend this book to anyone who loves reading and likes a story that doesn't follow the usual shtick regarding certain genre's.

[Michelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

When I came across this book, I was intrigued by the title but honestly didn't have high hopes for the content since I avoid romance novels like the plague. However, I popped it into my beach bag and set out for a day on the sand.

*SPOILERS*

I couldn't be happier with Mr. Hays creation of The Cowboy, Tucker. Lizzie and Tucker meet, fall in love and have sex (or vice versa). Then Lizzie gets kidnapped by vamps. Tucker is too late to save the day and Lizzie is turned. Now Tucker is in love with the Queen of the vamps, they have more sex, he robs a blood bank for her (a sign of true love) and there is an epic battle. In the end, good wins!

Or does it?

One of my favorite parts of this story is that god created vampires along with humans. Vampires are the siphons for/of evil. If they follow the plan for their kind, they help maintain the balance of good and evil by destroying sin. But what happens when the vamps go rogue? The cross and other religious relics no longer have power because people don't believe. That leaves humans with one less weapon against evil. Which is when a conspiracy theorist, militia buddy comes in handy.

I made a statement in my original review that this is not a romance. I was wrong. This is the best kind of romance. There is no mushy gushy, size matters discussions just a cowboy fightin' for his life and his vampire girlfriend fighting to keep her undead self from being a pile of ash or an unholy vessel.

I grieved a little for Snort and almost threw the book into the lake when it looked like Rex was about to become a meal. Who says a gay vampire and a straight old coot can't become friends? Then there is the slinky vamptress everyone loves to hate but turns out the have a soul after all.

I could ramble on and on about the many things I enjoyed about this book but you should just go read it for yourself. I even broke my own cardinal rule about never reading a book twice because I loved it so much and I needed a bit of a refresher before I sunk my teeth into book #2.

[Alex Lamm · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow. What a fun and fluid read this was! I read it in just a couple days and it looks like it has been to hell and back with me. A good sign.

Page one and I was already hooked.

The plot's structure is really what drew me in. Short chapters, back and forth and giving hints as to what may or may not happen. It gets you thinking and hungry for more and very involved. I had to keep reading because if I didn't I would probably find myself sneaking a few pages in the bathroom at work. Bad, I know. When you get to the end, you really can't even believe it's the end because it gives the reader closure, but offers up so many other stories that are about to unravel in front of your blood-shot eyes. The what-ifs are too much to deal with. Vampires, cowboys AND city slickers? GTFO.

I mean, think about Dusk Till Dawn and how much you loved that film, then apply that excitement to this book. DONE.

What's important about how this was written is how much you see the characters develop organically and you truly want to know more about them as individuals. I think that the only route to take is to read the other books, there's no question. I don't care if you like vampires or not, just read this dang thing.

Amazon, please send another book my way!

[LJ · Rating 2 out of 5]

THE COWBOY AND THE VAMPIRE - Okay
Hays, clark and Kathleen McFall

Wyoming cowboy Tucker falls in love with the least likely person: Lizzie Vaughan, a reporter from New York who disrupts his life by writing an article about him, pegging him as the last living cowboy. While researching a new story on vampires, Lizzie becomes frightened, and returns to Wyoming and the waiting arms of Tucker. But the vampires, convinced that she is their queen, track her down, kidnap her, and bring her back to New York. Tucker, with his faithful dog, Rex, in tow, heads to New York ready to face whatever vampire terrors await him for the sake of his true love, Lizzie. But he arrives too late. Julius, the head vampire, has already turned Lizzie into one of his creatures. But love prevails, and Lizzie and Tucker must find a way to stay together--and stay out of the sun.

A cowboy and a vampire queen; different, interesting, okay.

[Iris · Rating 4 out of 5]

What's more different than a cowboy and a city girl? How about a cowboy and a city girl who happens to be a vampire queen? As incongruous as that sounds, the characters seem to make it work. As a city girl myself, I found Lizzie's sarcasm and attitude during her capture to be hilarious. The New York attitude shone through every word and gesture. Tucker was a bit of a stereotype, the broke cowboy, living in his trailer with nothing but a dog and his horse for company. Stereotypes aside though, I found myself enjoying this book. What's not to like? You have a hunky cowboy, a gutsy heroine and an atypical overweight vampire with a fondness for junk food. Can't wait to read book 2!

[Jay Williams · Rating 5 out of 5]

Much better than I expected. The writing is superb, the plot is truly imaginative, and the love story transcends everything I have read so far. I confess, I have always had a thing for vampire stories. However, this book is so much more than a vampire story. The origins of these vampires lie with the origins of Christianity, and the entire story is suffused with religious overtones. I wish I could think of a better title, because this title is accurate, but gives no clue to the incredible story contained within. This vampire story illuminates all that is good in human nature, The characters may be a little weird, but they are clearly real people, and their story is told brilliantly.

[Kate · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Cowboy and the Vampire is so far from the typical vampire tale that one might even consider it more of a spoof on the Romance or Horror genre rather than a serious attempt to present a truly “Darkly Romantic Mystery”. With a driven New York reporter and a lackadaisical true-blue cowboy from Wyoming, Hays and McFall have presented not only a unique twist to the usual vampiric lore, but also a wickedly creative slant on the origin of the vampire and their true purpose in the overall scheme of mankind. While the novel has been presented as a Mystery, this reader would beg to differ feeling it would be better described as a Romantic Thrille. Then again, it could be classed under several different umbrellas: Romance, Western, Romantic Comedy, Horror…you get the picture! The Cowboy and the Vampire is a whole mish mash of genre and, whether by design or by mistake, may be of interest to a wide variety of readers.

The technical writing talents of Clark Hays and Kathleen McFall are very nearly flawless. Without a doubt, The Cowboy and the Vampire is astonishingly well-written with solid foundations, clear and concise descriptive narrative, and expertly developed world building. Also not to be forgotten is an endearing cast of characters whose very eccentricities and quirky personalities will have readers at times rolling their eyes in disbelief, at others chuckling with mirth, and all the while said characters will manage to worm themselves straight into the readers heart!

While I did enjoy this story, there were some facets which very nearly ruined the experience. Case in point; for those who have read, or have a copy of, The Cowboy and The Vampire I direct you to page 48 where Lizzie and Tucker have just discussed Lizzie’s desire to stay in Wyoming for a while. Readers are treated to a cowboy’s view of what it means for his love interest to move in with him. While I am certain Tucker’s private thoughts are probably typical of any red blooded bachelor, some might feel that those shared are also chauvinistic and even somewhat degrading to women. Another instance where the private thoughts of Tucker may be construed as somewhat insulting can be found earlier in this same chapter, on page 42. I’m not so sure readers, specifically female readers, will be very receptive to being compared to constipation and other such bodily functions. In this situation, Tucker is patiently waiting for Lizzie to gather her thoughts and provide him with an explanation about what happened in New York that was so serious as to send her running to Wyoming on the spur of the moment. During the wait, Tucker’s mid wanders in contemplation about the similarities between human behavior and letting nature take its course.

Now, the above is not to say that The Cowboy and the Vampire is not an entertaining read, only that Hays and McFall may have taken a wee bit of a risk in using these “not so flattering” comparisons and view points.

While The Cowboy and the Vampire wouldn’t make the top 25 of my 2011 reading adventures, it was definitely an unusual and entertaining experience. From New York to Wyoming to New Mexico, readers are lead on a roller coaster of an adventure wherein a cowboy, a lone reporter come vampire queen, and a myriad of friends and foes will fight for the future of mankind…

While not a masterpiece, The Cowboy and the Vampire is most definitely a job well done!

[Marlene · Rating 4 out of 5]

Originally published at Reading Reality

To use the western vernacular that the cowboy-hero of this tale wears like a second skin, this dog should not hunt, but somehow, it does. It should buck the reader off like a ride on badly broken bronco. Instead, you stick with the tale until the bloody and bittersweet end. It's a compulsion. Lizzie and Tucker were mis-matched when she was just a New York magazine writer and he was the man she dubbed "The Last Cowboy."

By the end of the story, they should be even wronger (and yes, in this story that IS a word) for each other, but they have earned a little bit of peace.

Their enemies will be back. After all, I read The Cowboy and the Vampire to get ready for Blood and Whiskey, the second book in the series (review and interview with the authors on Thursday).

There's more mystery than romance in this story that the authors subtitled "A Darkly Romantic Mystery" and with good reason. When the book opens, Lizzie and Tucker are already in the middle of their love affair. Their only problem is that Lizzie has gone back to NYC, and Tucker is in LonePine (all one word) Wyoming. Their worlds don't normally intersect. Only they do. They just can't figure out how to make anything long term work, no matter how badly they want to.

Then Lizzie's heritage rises up to bite her. Literally. And there's the mystery. And the solution to Lizzie's and Tucker's relationship problem, as well as the cause of a few zillion more problems. As the deep, dark secrets of Lizzie's past, and her potential future, are revealed, she turns to Tucker as the only person she can trust when her world turns upside down. In life, or in death. And whatever comes after that.

Escape Rating B+: The idea that vampires have their own biblical-type texts and their own version of the creation was kind of cool, and more than a bit twisted, in a neat way. Also that one of the leaders of the opposing vampire camps was THE Lazarus. Eternity seems to make for twisted politics yet again, and this set of vamps was wackier than the usual run.

Tucker's family and friends were an absolute hoot. Lenny as the crazy cowboy version of James Bond's Q was beyond priceless, but he's just who you'd want in this situation, not that anyone half normal would ever be in this situation.

I enjoyed the differences between Tucker's internal thoughts and his actual words, he was always more sentimental inside than what he said out loud.

Julius, the evil vampire (this is not an oxymoron in context) was a bit overblown and over-the-top. I'd have believed in him as the big bad a little more if he'd been just a tad less out there on the demonic bwahaha scale.

I also sincerely hope that in the next book there will be an explanation of who or what Lizzie's "voices" are. That one is driving me crazy. Blood and Whiskey, here I come! (The book, not the liquids--maybe I'll need the whiskey...)

[Shelly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Full review posted on my blog {Dive} Under the Cover


I quite enjoyed this book. I read this one to prepare myself to participate in the upcoming blog tour for the 2nd book. First of all I need to talk about the cover, it's pretty eye catching isn't it? Talk about a cover pulling you in to read a book, this one did that for me. The cover for the next book is just as good. I must confess that I never thought that I would enjoy a book with cowboy in the same title as vampire. It's just two things that I don't put together. Tucker, the cowboy, is the one of the best parts of this story.

This is a very unique twist on Vampire lore, drawing deep parallels to The Bible. The world built here is very complex and dark complete with it's own prophecy. I have to admit by being a little skeeved at how Lizzie fits into this particular prophecy, but I have to give major points for originality! Some of the general vampire "rules" apply, but there are some that go beyond explanation, and those lost me just a little, but I am hoping that they will be fleshed out a little as the story progresses.

I didn't mind that the story opens with Lizzie and Tucker already involved with each other. How they met is touched on in memories and that was enough for me. I think that the story here isn't about that, it's about how they cope with what happens afterward that matters most. I don't like that I didn't really get a clear picture in my head of what they look like though. There isn't any real description of them, so I didn't really "see" them clearly. I think that a lot of their personalities show through in the way that they are voiced though.

I am one of those readers who prefers that the story be told all in one POV, but I actually liked that this one switches. It not only switches from 1st person between Lizzie and Tucker, but it switches into 3rd person when covering other characters. This didn't bother me and it didn't mess with the flow of the story. I enjoyed reading Tuckers POV, he is ALL cowboy and you can feel it when you read from his POV. Then it switches to Lizzie and she is all city girl and all that "cowboy" just drops away. It lends a real authenticity to each character and makes you feel like you are really getting to know them.

There are some great supporting characters in this story, not the least of which is Rex, Tucker's dog who goes everywhere with him. I am looking forward to reading the next book to see what happens to some of my favorites.

Tucker and Lizzie are pulled into the middle of a war that they weren't the least bit prepared for. Lizzie has a big role to play in this story which is really just beginning. They are in for a tough road, I think, while she learns just what her future holds. I can't wait to see how it ends.

[Cheryl Cowtan · Rating 4 out of 5]

The vampire genre has been thrilling readers since the 1700s, with few changes to the tropes of this horror category. Depending on the author, vampires have been presented as the undead (Bram Stroker’s Dracula 1897), as an alien species (Gustave Le Rouge's Le prisonnier de la planète Mars 1908), and as products of disease (Richard Matheson’s I am Legend 1954). In Clark Hays and Kathleen McFall’s The Cowboy and the Vampire: A Very Unusual Romance, the bloodsuckers are alive, but die each dawn as the sun comes out. They can be killed by the sun, and they do sleep the days away in their coffins, but they cannot be killed by crosses for mankind has lost their faith, making religious symbols ineffective. Hays and McFall have also developed a mythology of the vampires being a distinct species that have lived among humans. So as a vampire novel, The Cowboy and the Vampire is sure to satisfy Dracula fans’ expectations. However, this book has a little something extra to offer readers. A little something that harkens back to THE days when man fought against the wild in the name of civilization. Hays and McFall have succeeded in mixing the Western genre tropes with the Gothic conventions to create a zany grey romance.

Westerns are often based on subgroups, like cowboys, who live by codes and honour. And among these cowboys, authors generally add one who is a bit more of a nomadic wanderer. A character who operates in isolation, a bit further outside the boundaries of his society. This is the hero who doles out private justice. And this is the protagonist, Tucker, in Hays and McFall’s novel. Tucker relates better to his horse and his dog than he does to people. He has little ambition outside of browning his toast on the woodstove, and roping a cow at the local rodeo. And when Tucker looks out over his father’s land, his heart swells with a settler’s pride of ownership. He is content, in Lone Pine, Wyoming, until Lizzie, a New York reporter with a 2000-year-old curse in her veins shows up with her camera and her curiosity. That’s when Tucker’s world is turned upside down by fanged bloodsuckers and there’s only one avenue left for this cowboy. And that is to “ride”.

The authors succeed with this novel on a number of levels. The contrast between bad-vamp Julius, an ancient but classy and compelling Dracula type, and Tucker, who duct-tapes his soles on his boots, creates a tickling anticipation within the reader.

Read the rest at

http://cherylcowtan.wordpress.com/201...

[Dianne · Rating 2 out of 5]

Ever wondered what would happen if a cowboy and a city girl got together? Sure it’s been done, but what if said city girl was the “daughter” of the most twisted, egocentric vampires ever? What starts out as lust between a contemporary cowboy who has fallen too many times off the raging bull and an over-eager reporter from New York City turns to love, but her father isn’t the type to let these young lovers be happy. Why, you ask? Because Dad wants his daughter’s blood for the power it holds.
Tucker is just a good ole boy, happy with his dog and his horse, and in waltzes Lizzie, turning his world upside down. When Lizzie is kidnapped, the adventures begin in a chase across country and back. When saving Lizzie from the clutches of the evil vampires becomes a mission, Tucker is on the job with the help of an unlikely group of heroes in tow.

The Cowboy and the Vampire: A Very Unusual Romance by Clark Hays and Kathleen McFall holds great promise for a cheeky, humorous read filled with quirky characters, bible quoting , ancient vampires gets bogged down in too much humor or “unique” twists that become overwhelming. Kind of like the most awesome picture ever that, upon developing is a little fuzzy. There are great oneliners, a fabulous set of supporting characters, and how I loved the dog, the horse and Tucker’s dad. Tucker seemed a little too folksy, while Lizzie never seemed to really develop until near the end. I didn’t feel their connection the way I wanted to.

If you enjoy a quirky read with some pretty strange scenes, this could be your read, try a sample for sure! For me, I just didn’t get it, maybe.

I received a copy from Pumpjack Press in exchange for my honest review.

Publication Date: February 22, 2014 (Third edition)
Publisher: Pumpjack Press
Print Length: 422 pages
Genre: Adult Paranormal Romance
Available from: Amazon | Barnes & Noble

[Alexis Neal · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was much, much better than I expected. It's the sort of book you purchase from the clearance rack on a whim, figuring that it might be just terrible enough to be entertaining. But lo and behold, it's actually a decent book. The leading lady is a bit lacking in personality, it's true, but the titular cowboy and friends pack plenty of punch n the personality department--Tucker, his dad, his paramoid militia-crazed friend, and his loyal dog Rex all liven up the story and add an earthiness and humor to the hyper-serious, overdramatized flavor that plagues so many vampire tales.

One of the authors was raised on a farm out Montana way, so there's an element of authenticity and affection in the gentle mockery of the small town West. Indeed, there is much more fondness in the descriptions of life out west than in the comparatively lifeless New York portions of the book. In the initial chapters, the narration switches viewpoints from Tucker--the cowboy--to Lizzie--the New York reporter. In later chapters, a third person narration is adopted, but Tucker's perspective and voice dominate the book overall. Which is probably for the best, since it is the cowboy's take on vampirism that makes the book entertaining.

The authors make some creative modifications to the vampire mythology (including specifically how and by whom new vampires can be made), but I ultimately found the changes too bizarre and convenient to really stick. The authors can't seem to make up their minds whether vampires are inherently good or bad. These vampires have their own bible, a bastardization of the Christian bible, which I found kind of unsettling, and which is usually an indication of evil. It's hard to come back from that and argue that vampires are really a good thing.

The book contains some 'romantic' interludes, but they are fairly discreet--or at any rate not as graphic as those in many romance novels, and the primary romantic relationship, though not formalized by marriage, is at least a monogamous and committed one. As for gore or violence, there is a bit of an ick factor in some of the 'bad vampire' scenes, but nothing too objectionable.

Still, all in all, it was an entertaining story, told with humor and personality. It may not be for everyone, but one look at the title should be enough to tell you whether this is the book for you.

[Cocktails and Books · Rating 4 out of 5]

After witnessing what she believes is the public murder of 20 people, NYC reporter Elizabeth Vaughn she finds herself on the run from what she can only describe as insane people playing at being vampires. Feeling her life is in danger, Lizzie runs to the only place she feels safe, into the arms of her very own cowboy. Showing their resourcefulness, after all they haven’t survived for centuries by being dumb, the vampires manage to track Lizzie down to LonePine, Wyoming with orders to bring her back to NYC.

I wasn’t sure what to expect at first. I found Tucker to be too stereotypical for my liking. I enjoyed him as a character, I just wish he didn’t remind me of every old cowboys movie I’ve ever seen, starting with his trailer and including his busted up, duct taped boots. However, not knowing any real cowboys myself, after all, I am a city girl, what do I know, maybe that is an accurate description of your average cowboy. Tucker wasn’t the only character I found stereotypical. Elita, for instance seemed to play up to the “Trampy Vamp” stereotype. Lizzie, however, I found very realistic. I especially enjoyed how the New Yorker seemed to come out in times of stress. Your average person would give in to hysterics, crying and screaming. Lizzie shows a sarcastic humor and attitude that I found refreshing and familiar. I found myself reading on just to see more of it. Lizzie isn’t the only surprise though. We are also exposed to an average looking vampire and an over weight vampire with a weakness for junk food. Being always exposed to the image of vampires being beautiful and irresistible I found the idea of these guys refreshing. No sparkly vampires to be found here.

If you can get over the verbal explosion of information, this novel will keep you flipping pages. Once started, I found it hard to put it down. It’s as if I needed to know how Tucker, our simple cowboy, would rescue Lizzie from the big city vampires. Will he get there in time? Will Lizzie be seduced to the dark? These are questions that kept me coming back for more. Personally speaking, if this is just the first offering in a series, I can’t wait to read the second. If you enjoy gutsy, hunky cowboys and take charge, no nonsense New Yorkers, I would definitely recommend picking this up and giving it a try.

[Erin Cole · Rating 5 out of 5]

“…sexy, dark, witty, and nothing less.”

Embark on Tucker and Lizzie’s journey into the dark world of vampires, secret ancient heritage, and their fight to save humanity, with the help of a cowboy and his posse, which includes his peculiar father, weapon/conspiracy-savvy friend, and his faithful, canine companion, Rex.

What I enjoyed most about The Cowboy and the Vampire was the balance of genre—romance, mystery, horror, and comedy, all wrapped up in a delightful adventure that keeps the pages turning.

Lizzie and Tucker fall in love unexpectedly after she literally crashes in on his world, but his cowboy lifestyle and her city life bring them at odds, though only in the beginning—for love teaches them soon that is has no boundaries, even when your lover grows fangs.

After Lizzie, a reporter, interviews a vampire named Julius, and witnesses a gruesome turning of people, she flees to Tucker, unknowing that Julius’ goal is to capture and potentially kill her. And Lizzie is also unaware, much to Tucker’s dismay, that she is at the heart of a 2,000 year-old legend that could ultimately change the structure of good and evil forever.

Tucker and his posse team up with another vampire, Lazarus, to save Lizzie and themselves from Julius’ wrath. Who will live or die becomes a suspenseful journey that will have you cheering to the end.

I found the pacing of this novel very smooth, as authors McFall and Hayes pinpoint key plots and emotional drama in a witty, rich language that balances horror, romance, and comedy. Though Julius’ character fit the classic vampire role, other characters, such as Lazarus, Tucker, Elita, Lenny, and Tucker’s animals were as real as you and me. The dialogue Tucker has with his animals is hilarious, and I think some of that bleeds over into his relationship with Lizzie, which sets up great character development between the two. I also enjoyed the surprising twists layered through the scenes, because they were not only logical, but also added conflict, and progressed the plot well.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book—it is sexy, dark, witty, and nothing less. I gave it five stars for good writing, thorough attention to details and character development, originality, pacing, and a perfect balance of genres.

[Lady · Rating 5 out of 5]

This series must be read in order. This is the first book.

Tucker is by all accounts a rough and tumble guy. He likes the desolate wide open spaces of Wyoming and has no desire to ever be anywhere else. It mystifies him how he managed to fall for Lizzie as she is both a city girl AND a nosy reporter! Maybe he should blame his traitorous dog Rex as he seems to like her better than him now anyways... Or his horse Snort.... He took a shine to her also... It definitely can't be Fate! He's a cowboy and doesn't hold with Fate having any part in his life. So he is going to pine away at home waiting for her to visit...

The piece Lizzie wrote about Tucker "The Last Cowboy" looks to be a hit and maybe she can turn it into a book... But she misses the subject more... New York City has always been her home but how will he even fit into her life?! And the article she is working on now... Vampires?! Really?! All these silly little goth people running around and drinking their own blood? Pfft she's had it with their pretend games! One more research meeting and she's tying a bow on the piece as she has had enough!

Little do these two know that their perfectly safe little world is just a façade hiding the dark and twisted reality Lizzie was born into. Will they survive? Will their love survive? Find out in this amazingly original take on a vampire love story!

This book was equal parts mystery and comedy with action, adventure and suspense thrown into the mix all coated in romance and supernatural fun! I loved this book so much I can't wait to start The Cowboy and the Vampire: Blood and Whiskey (The Cowboy and the Vampire Collection Book 2) just to find out what happens next!

***This series is suitable for adult readers

[Kenisha · Rating 3 out of 5]

From what I've read so far, this seems like it's right up my alley. I love a good piece of vampire fiction (guilty pleasures, in these dark, trying times of Twilight), and adding cowboys to the mix just seems to make it all the better.

WIP Review:

It sticks to some of the conventions of vampire mythology (they burn to a crisp in the sunlight, and religious objects can hurt them if belief is held by the person/vampire), and some things have been abandoned (such as garlic acting as a repellent). What sets this apart from most other vampire fiction that I've read is a heavy tie in to Biblical tales and themes. Overall the lore is believable and interesting without going overboard.

Lizzie and Tucker are very different but play off each other very well. Lizzie is an inquisitive and tough city girl and must acclimate to being the queen of vampires. Tucker is your average cowpoke who has lived all his life in a small rural town. When the POV switches between them it is interesting to note their different ways of thinking and talking; Lizzie is more straightforward, and you can practically hear the drawl in Tucker's text.

Overall not perfect, and the ending felt rushed somehow. There are a few mysteries left unexplained (like the locket Lizzie's mother left her, that is indicated as having some kind of secret but never used in the story) that may be solved in subsequent entries in the series. Still, this is a fine example of vampire fiction and I look forward to reading more.