A Vampire's Claim

Vampire Queen #3

by Joey W. Hill

Third in a national bestselling series that's been hailed as "erotica at its best."( A Romance Review )

The daughter of two vampires, Lady Daniela is considered aristocracy in the vampire world. Still, she has to fight for what she wants-especially since what she wants is to depose a brutal territory overlord. For that she'll need the help of Devlin, a handsome, brave human who inflames her desire far more than any man or beast.

Even though she could easily lay her claim and take Dev on as a fully marked servant, she resists the urge-especially since Dev is still tormented by something in his past. But when her enemy makes an unexpected appearance, Dev surprises them both by yielding completely to his feelings for Danny and showing her the devotion of a true servant-until she decides to take his freedom without asking...

Genres: Vampires, BDSM, Erotica, Paranormal, Paranormal Romance, Romance, Erotic Romance

429 pages, Paperback

First published January 16, 2009

About the author

"BDSM Romance for the Heart & Soul"

A submissive herself, Hill brings authenticity to her intensely emotional BDSM love stories. With over fifty titles and seven series, her contemporary and paranormal romances feature everything from billionaires, bikers, SEALs, firefighters, cops and housemaids, to vampires, mermaids, witches and angels.

"Joey translates the world of BDSM with such intense power and exquisite beauty. LOVE is the most powerful element entwined through the Dominance and submission.” –Goodreads, Pink Lady

Joey is the recipient of the RT Book Reviews Career Achievement Award for Erotic Romance, and she loves to hear from her readers!

If you're on Bookbub, she'd love for you to follow her:
https://www.bookbub.com/authors/joey-...

You can also find her here:
Website: storywitch.com
Facebook: @JoeyWHillAuthor
MeWe: mewe.com/i/joeywhill
Twitter: @JoeyWHill

Reviews

[Sharon · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars

Whewwwwwwww weeeeeee!!! This book was h-h-h-hottttt! Claim is Lady D and Dev's story--which is set about 60 years from when we first met them in book 2. Daniella is more of a gentle type of vampire in regards to what we've seen throughout this series. Dev is a bushman, who has loved and lost what was most dear to him. The two meet and instant fireworks erupt! Dev is hotness on a stick!! The way he saved Dani from her attackers just blew me away. His way of protecting Dani and ensuring her safety till the end was fabulous and his anger towards Dani marking him made the story even more intense. This book had a lot of troubling issues, which made the story not predictable in any way. The introduction of the hounds (children vamps) was chilling and extremely creepy, but such a great storyline. Dani's immediate attachment to Dev's haunting past and nightmares was beautiful. I loved how she wanted Dev to release all of his anger/frustration/hate on her because she could simply take it for him. She was truly a force to be reckoned with when it came time to reclaim her station and when making Dev submit to her sexually.

This read more like a true prequel since we see Lyssa and how much of a mentor and mother figure she is to Dani. We definitely see her softer side while Dani struggles with her crush on Dev.

It is quite obvious that Hill has a thing for red haired men! And now I do too! Next up---I gotta date--- with a copper haired vamp named Lord Mason!!!! (yippeeeeee)

[Michael Dunellen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I went into this one not expecting to like it as much as the first two. But in some ways I really found it more interesting.

I love the way you rake my skin
I feel the hate you place inside
I need to get your voice out of my head
Cause I'm that guy you'll never find

I think you know all of the rules
There's no expressions on your face
I'm hope that some day you will let me go
Release me from my dirty cage - Control, Puddle of Mudd

For Danny and Devlin, the attraction was there right from the beginning. But there was no destiny driving them together. If they were going to make it work, they had to do it on their own.

This is the first time we see what happens when a Vampire pushes her Servant too far. Not very pretty. Fortunately, things works out in the end.

[Keri · Rating 1 out of 5]

I didn't really like this book. It's the only one of the series I've read (I read it 1st b/c the author said on his website it can be read as a stand alone) so far and won't be reading any of the others.
I love to read and am a very fast reader. However, this book did not hold my interest in the least. I only finished it b/c if I don't finish a book (regardless of how dreadful the book may be) it drives to crazy not to finish it as I wonder if wouldn've gotten better further into the book.
I think the biggest problem I had with the book was the whole human "servant/slave" thing. To read how Dev was commanded by his vampire lover, Danny (A.K.A. Lady D) to perform sexually with other "servants" for the entertainment of vampires, regardless of whether or not Dev wished it...I just didn't like it. The whole thing of "submitting" totally and completely to perform and it being not b/c you want to have sex with that person, but b/c your "vampire master" commanded it and you desire to serve your "master's" every command and desire...yeah, that didn't really go over well with me.
IDK, maybe if you're into that kind of thing you might like this book, I for one don't and didn't. The whole sex scene with Dev in shackles at the mercy of Alistair and Danny as they took their pleasure of him bothered me bad enough I put the book down and didn't pick it up again for nearly 2 days. I had hoped it would get better once I picked the book back up and got past that scene, but although that particular incident wasn't repeated the same, the book didn't get better for me. I won't be recommending it to anyone.

[Mary · Rating 5 out of 5]

Joey W. Hill is a wonderful story teller. I enjoyed the Australian Outback setting the Aussie Vernacular, even some of the historical moments she touched on made me remember Aussie history. Considering she is not Australian I thought she did a wonderful portrayal. I like the way Joey writes a love story, she seems to touch on the mental level not just the physical of the two main characters. I can't say I'm really big on red headed characters but she does describe Dev as being extremely manly and handsome with an added bonus (Wink!). Lady Danny is different to the main stream Vampires and thinks a little more on a humanistic level which is not the norm in this series. I couldn't put this book down as there was a lot going on. This book had me laugh in parts with the Aussie Vernacular and their was one section in the book that made my eyes tear up.

[Sue "DavinciKittie" Brown-Moore · Rating 4 out of 5]

GraveTells original review: http://gravetells.wordpress.com/2011/...

TLDR recap:

A drifter haunted by a brutal past, Devlin is a bushman who lives a lonely life on the edge in the Australian Outback.  At the tender young age of 200 years old, Lady Daniela, a rare "born" vampire who is heiress to her own province in Oz, is sought after by scheming male vampires trying to increase their own standing who are willing to kill or viciously torture her to achieve their goals.  Danny has never had a fully-marked human servant and Dev willingly submits to no one, but their unlikely emergency partnership could take them on an emotional journey neither is prepared for.

Title: A Vampire's Claim
Series: The Vampire Queen series - book #3
Author: Joey W. Hill
Prominent Characters: Lady Daniela, Devlin
Recommended reader age: 18+
Sexual content level: heavy and explicit (vulgar language typical of erotica, includes group scenes and alternate sexual partnerings)

*** This review is spoiler-free!  Read on with confidence.  =) ***

Thoughts:

This book is number three in the series, but it could actually be read before the first two novels ( The Vampire Queen's Servant and The Mark of the Vampire Queen ).  It's set in the 1950s, a good 5 decades before Lyssa and Jacob's books, and tells the story of Dev and Lady D, both of whom we met in the second book, The Mark of the Vampire Queen.

Dev's backstory is violent and haunting, and his journey through the emotional minefield of becoming a fully-marked and willing human servant to Danny is uneasy at best.  This book delves into the psychology of war and loss, and doesn't pull any punches when it comes to the uncomfortably adventurous potential of the sex scenes.  At his lady's insistence, Dev uses their tenuous connection as his emotional outlet, while she fights her own battle against dealing with her feelings for Dev and his proper place in her life.

I thoroughly enjoyed the second book (and the second half of the first), but I had a tough time getting into this one due to its intense gravity.  This is no flighty love story!  It is raw and intense, gratifying and punishing, violent and seductive.  While Dev is pushed past some of his natural straight-male sexual boundaries, I feel that some readers will be right there with him, part enthralled and part horrified at the dark places Danny takes him.

I really enjoyed getting to see Thomas and his interaction with Lyssa, as well as Alistair and Nina, the parents of born vampire Brian from the first two books.  Personally, I'm not into survival stories or rugged treks across dangerous wild territories, so the setting in this novel was a little off-putting for me.  While I loved Dev's personality and the way he competently handles so many diverse situations, I just did not like reading about the Australian Outback and the woes of never-ending mosquitoes and other nasty creepy crawlies.  The sex scenes are hot, so no complaint there (although it's going to be pretty hard to surpass the awesomeness that is the Council gathering in The Mark of the Vampire Queen!), but they are explicit and vulgarly worded, so readers who are new to erotica will have a shock or two in store until they get used to the cadence of the writing.

Memorable quotes:

So complex, the relationship between vampire and servant...

"We're not pets.  We're human servants to vampires, and it's a relationship like nothing you've ever had in your life.  Tell yourself you love her or don't love her.  It doesn't matter.  If you are meant to be her full servant, you are bound together in a a way that would tear out your heart and half the things in your gut if you decided to walk away from it."

If you like A Vampire's Claim of The Vampire Queen series...

If you enjoyed A Vampire's Claim and the rest of the Vampire Queen series for its hard-hitting emotional impact, you may also like the Black Dagger Brotherhood series (starting with Dark Lover ) by J.R. Ward and the Psy/Changeling series (starting with Slave to Sensation) by Nalini Singh.  Although the Psy/Changeling series features shapeshifters and psychics rather than vampires, the relationships between the characters are intense and the bonds extremely strong.  Both of these series will make you laugh, cry, and just about everything in between!  Highly recommended reads.

If you liked A Vampire's Claim for its heavy sexual content and explicivity, check out the Meredith Gentry series (starting with A Kiss of Shadows ) and the Anita Blake series by Laurell K. Hamilton.  The Anita Blake series starts with Guilty Pleasures , but the erotica aspect doesn't become the dominant component of the stories until Narcissus in Chains  (book #10).  You can't really safely start halfway through the series, but there are a few wikis and fansites out there that will give you an overview if you choose to skip the horror-focused first half.

Final thoughts:

Overall excellent character development and plotlines, and seriously intense relationships both between the characters and growth within themselves.  If not for my city girl aversion to all-things-unsophisticated, I would probably have scored this one much higher.  As it is, I enjoyed it but have no plans to read it again from start to finish... maybe just some snippets here and there.  *grin*

Rating:

4.25 fangs: Bite it! 

Related links:

http://www.storywitch.com/ (The Vampire Queen series website)

http://www.jrward.com/ (The Black Dagger Brotherhood series website)

http://www.nalinisingh.com/ (The Psy/Changeling series website)

http://www.laurellkhamilton.org/ (The Merry Gentry & Anita Blake series websites)

[Alyssa · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a great series - so much more than just paranormal romance! The characters are complex, the plots are well thought out, and Ms. Hill is pretty damn good at world building. I am hooked on the intricate vampire society she has created - and the political machinations of the characters. My only reservation about this particular novel is that it was a bit hard to stomach at times due to the child abuse depicted. But I can't wait to read the next one in the series!

[Tevya · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reviewed on Reading Lark: http://readinglark.blogspot.com/2011/...

I fell in love with Lady Lyssa and Jacob in the first two books of this series, and I have to admit that I was quite sad when I discovered that the third book was not about them. When I realized it was about Lady Daniela and Devlin, I was somewhat mollified. I had enjoyed their part in the second book of the series. Their story is something of a prequel to the series, taking place a good number of years before the setting of the first two books to show us how Dev became Lady D's full servant. We are taken to the Aussie Outback, where Lady D is going home to settle a few scores and reclaim her home. She is a born vampire, royalty in her world, but that does not mean that life has been easy for her. She has never taken given a third mark, having no desire to have a full marked servant until she meets Devlin. Dev is hiding out as a bushman. He lost his family in a brutal attack and when we meet him in 1953, he has secluded himself in the outback, only coming into civilization briefly every few months. He comes across as being a rogue living in the wilderness, but he's actually an educated man escaping the pain of his past.

This story grabbed me from the very beginning. I loved the Aussie setting and the dialect. It was a great change of pace. The chemistry between Lady Danny and Dev was perfect. Even knowing what she was, he found himself drawn to her. Again, we have the dominant, alpha male in a submissive role. He surrenders to her in order to protect and care for her, and that battle of the wills is always entertaining (and hot!). Like Jacob, his introduction to the role of a vampire's servant was shocking. In some ways, Dev had it harder because his choice was taken from him. There were many aspects of the story that were emotionally hard to read, the main one being our introduction to the pack of wild vampire children used to hunt Dev down for sport. But there were also many tender, sweet moments between Dev and Lady D.

This world that Joey Hill has created for her vampires is completely enthralling to me. I can't seem to get enough of it. It's dark and seductive, violent and tender. Those contradictions make for a fast-paced read full of surprise turns. I am hoping that over the course of the next few books in the series, I will get to watch Lady Danny grow into the vampire mistress we saw in The Mark of the Vampire Queen. There is no doubt in my mind that wherever the next books in the series take me, I will be coming back for more!

[Melissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am taking my time reading this series. Yes that is how much I am liking it. I'm so glad a friend recommended it.

This starts out in an Australian setting which is awesome. Dev is a bushman in the Australian outback. He is suffering from the loss of his wife and son. Who in return got revenge on their killers by killing them. Dev meets Danny a natural born vamp. She is on her way back home to reclaim it from a jerk who was married to her mother. Danny gets ambushed by the region master and Dev rescues her. Lots of stuff happens NO spoilers.

I also have to say Alyssa the queen vamp makes an appearance in this book . What I love that about this series is even though they can be a standalone. The author puts previous characters into the books.

What I didn't like about the book was, the treating of the vampire children. It was so cruel. Plus the fact that when the vamp dies their servant dies also.

Over all this book has been my favorite so far. I can not wait to see what happens next. The author has done a wonderful job in creating this make believe world in a real world setting.

[C Joy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm having a love-hate feeling about this story. I was interested in reading it when I found out it's about Lady Daniela and Devlin. They were an intriguing couple whom I first read about in the second book in this series (The Mark of the Vampire Queen).

This one has more BDSM, the characters were way different from Lyssa and Jacob. The sex was rougher and though the author wrote a good love story on this one, the story dragged. The setting (Outback Australia and other cities) didn't captivate me. Maybe it's Lyssa's unpredictability that made me want to read more, because Danny is a bit soft for vampires.

There were a lot of Aussie slangs in here but I understood them fine with the help of the internet. There were scenes I couldn't stand reading but I still did, because it was written well. Devlin has a tragic past and it's fate that brought them together in that secluded bar in the Outback. I liked him a lot, his soul is scarred and he matched well with Danny.

I don't know what else to write, I guess I'm still dazed by the extremes.

[Gigi · Rating 5 out of 5]

I wanted him and I wanted her!!! What a great sexy hot erotic book. Dev an Aussie outback falls for a blonde vamp by the name of Danny, it was so hot from page one in the bar scene I had to take deep breaths!! What a great romantic story Danny is amazing she really knows how to stand up for herself and she also likes submissive women a trait I liked in her. Dev had a great loss and I'm glad he was able to love again even though Danny was rough on him by binding him and making him take another man it was crazy!! Damn those dinner scenes in this series are something, the way each vamp plays a role my head is spinning by the end of it. I cried in this book because Danny envisioned herself making a home for Dev and his lost wife and child it was so sad and touching. Lyssa the queen makes a great appearance in this book making everyone do what she wants and adding herself to it. Dev has a funny witty way about him that I love including an enormous penis which is played up so much in this book it's practically 3d!! Well I will end it on that note and say this book was huge!!

[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was an interesting 3rd book for the series which takes place in the early 50s in Western Australia. I have to admit that the dialog and expressions were hard to get used to, but in the end, lent such an air of authenticity. Lady Daniella meets bushman, Devlin in a rough bar in the Outback. We met both of them previously at the vampire gathering in present times in the second book. This is their story. Lady Daniella, aka Danny, is preparing to take back her rightful territory from her late mother's mate. Dev comes along for the ride, captivated by the woman he soon learns is NOT human. This is such a romantic story! It is, of course, filled with bloody battles and intense sex. But the author is able to capture you with her character driven stories. Danny and Dev fall in love in a world where vamps are always dominant to humans and this leads to some interesting encounters. The end was very emotional for me. Hill is such an AMAZING writer!

[Melanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I did enjoy this book. It was a little hard for me to get into it at first. But, I think a big part of that was that I was sick and just could not focus on the story very well. Once I started feeling better, I enjoyed the story much more. At first, I didn't care for Danny, but really enjoyed Devlin. You really see Danny grow up in this story. You also get to see Dev come to terms with many things in his life and the past that has haunted him. I also greatly enjoyed reading a story that takes place in Australia. It is the first story I have read that takes place there. It is one of my fantasy vacation spots, so it made me want to go even more.

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the third in Joey Hill's Vampire Queen series. Where as the others took place in the present, the setting for this one is the Australian Outback in 1953. I thoroughly enjoyed the bits of history that come through the story. These books are hard core. I admire the author's commitment to pushing to the extreme in the sexual situations because it really confirms what these vampires are all about. In the context of the story I found it to be very moving and profound.

[BookAddict ✒ La Crimson Femme · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've been waiting for book 3 in the vampire series. I liked this one just as much. Lady Daniela is admirable. I like her strength. Dev is a bit of a tool at times, but I can understand why. Men just hate to submit, even just in name. The only thing I don't like is how long it is between one book and the next. Another winner for me, Ms. Hill!

[Joni Stevens · Rating 5 out of 5]

I would recommend reading this one first since it is set in 1953 Australia. It gives you a better understanding of the Vampire politics and gives you a prequel to Queen Lyssa and I enjoyed it very much!

[Joy · Rating 5 out of 5]

So glad I decided to re-read A VAMPIRE'S CLAIM. Dev and Danny are two of my very favorite Joey Hill characters. Great book

[Rene' Hurt · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great love story. I would recommend this one to every one

[Kylie Griffin · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have no words to describe this book other than bloody brilliant! This is a forever keeper and I'll be rereading it time and again. What a story!!!

[AGMaynard · Rating 2 out of 5]

Just okay, they can't all be home runs!

[May Mostly Romance · Rating 5 out of 5]

โจอี้ ดับเบิ้ลยู ฮิลล์เป็นนักเขียนนิยายแนวพารานอมอลอีโรติคโรแมนซ์ที่แม็กซ์ชอบมากที่สุด (อย่างน้อยก็ในเวลานี้) และก็เป็นโชคดีของแม็กซ์มาก ๆ ที่ปีนี้มีหนังสือใหม่ของเธอออกมาหลายเรื่อง

เราชอบงานของโจอี้ไม่ใช่เพราะว่ามันวาบหวาม (แม้ว่ามั��จะเป็นอย่างนั้น) แต่เป็นที่อารมณ์ในเรื่องของเธอมันท่วมท้นและรุนแรง แม้กระทั่งเรื่องนี้ที่แม็กซ์รู้สึกว่า เป็นเรื่องที่อาจจะเบาที่สุดที่เธอเขียนมาให้กับเบิร์กเลย์แล้วนะคะ มันก็ยังมีช่วงเวลาที่แม็กซ์สัมผัสถึงเบาะบางของตัวละครได้


A Vampire's Claim ของโจอี้ ดับเบิ้ลยู ฮิลล์

หนังสือเล่มนี้เป็นเล่มทีสามในชุดแวมไพร์ที่เริ่มต้นด้วยหนังสือคู่สองเล่ม (The Vampire Queen's Servant และ Mark of the Vampire Queen) แต่ในลำดับการเล่าเรื่องนี้ เหตุการณ์ในหนังสือเล่มนี้เกิดขึ้นก่อนหน้าสองเล่มแรกค่ะ เล่าเรื่องราวของตัวละครที่มีบทบ���ทใน MOVQ และเล่มนี้เล่าเหตุการณ์ย้อนไปตั้งแต่ต้นในออสเตรเลียยุคปีค.ศ. 1953

เดฟลินหนุ่มชาวออสซี่ที่เดินเข้าไปในบาร์ คาดหวังว่าจะเจอผู้หญิงสักคนที่จะช่วยให้ค่ำคืนอันยาวนานสั้นลงมาบ้าง หลังจากที่เขาสูญเสียภรรยาและลูกชายไปกับการฆาตกรรม เดฟก็กลายเป็นคนไร้รัง เขากลายไปเป็นทหารในสงครามโลกครั้งที่สอง ต่อสู้กับญี่ปุ่นเพื่อปกป้องออสเตรเลีย เพราะความรุนแรงเป็นทางออกเดียวที่เขาค้นพบ จากนั้นเดฟก็ใช้ชีวิตร่อนเร่ รับจ้างทำงานอยู่ในดินแดนที่เรียกกันว่าเอาท์แบ็ค (ซึ่งเป็นบริเวณตอนกลางของประเทสออสเตรเลียที่เป็นทะเลทราย และแห้งแล้ง) เดฟไม่ใช่คนที่มีความศิวิไลซ์นัก ดังนั้นเขาจึงไม่ค่อยจะเชื่อตัวเองเหมือนกันที่หญิงสาวที่ดูมีชาติตระกูล และเป็นผู้ดีมาก ๆ อย่างเลดี้ดาเนียล่า เดินตรงเข้ามาหาเขา และอย่างไม่ปิดบังนัก บอกว่าต้องการเขา

ตามสไตล์เรื่องแนวอีโรติคโรแมนซ์นะคะที่ทั้งคู่จบลงกันบนเตียงอย่างรวดเร็ว แต่เดฟก็ต้องพบกับความแปลกใจเมื่อเลดี้แดนนี่ (หรือเลดี้ดีอย่างที่คนอื่นเรียก) ไม่ใช่ผู้หญิงธรรมดา เธอเป็นแวมไพร์ แต่นั่นไม่สำคัญเลย เพราะสิ่งที่เขาได้รับจากเธอมันคุ้มค่ากับเลือดที่เธอดื่มจากเขา

ในเช้าวันรุ่งขึ้น เดฟตื่นขึ้นมาตามลำพัง พร้อมกับจดหมายที่แดนนีทิ้งเอาไว้ ชักชวนให้เขาไปทำงานเป็นหัวหน้าคนงานที่สถานีเลี้ยงแกะของเธอ ซึ่งเขาก็ไม่มั่นใจนักว่ามันเป็นสิ่งที่ดีที่จะเข้าไปพัวพันกับเธอมากขึ้น ไม่ใช่เพราะความเป็นแวมไพร์ที่ทำให้เดฟถอยหนี แต่เป็นเพราะนี่เป็นครั้งแรกในชีวิตหลังจากที่ภรรยาและลูกตายลง เดฟเริ่มรู้สึกผูกพันกับใครสักคน

และความผูกพันอันนี้ก็มากพอที่จะทำให้เดฟรีบบึ่งไปช่วยแดนนี่ เมื่อเขารู้ว่าแวมไพร์คู่ปรับวางแผนลอบทำร้ายเธออยู่ เดฟไปทันเวลาและช่วยชีวิตแดนนี่เอาไว้ได้ และดูเหมือนชีวิตของเขาจะเข้าไปพัวพันกับเธออย่างขาดกันไม่ได้

แม้ฉากเซ็กส์ในเรื่องจะเป็นแนว BDSM ตามแนวเรื่องชุดแวมไพร์ของโจอี้ แต่มันแตกต่างจากความสัมพันธ์ระหว่างจาค็อบและลิสซ่า (จากเรื่องคู่ Vampire Queen) เพราะแดนนี่ไม่ใช่แวมไพร์ในโลกยุคเก่าที่เต็มไปด้วยขนบธรรมเนียม เธอเป็นแวมไพร์อายุน้อย แต่มีอิทธิพลสูงเนื่องจากชาติกำเนิด เธอเป็นเด็กที่เกิดจากแวมไพร์สองคน ซึ่งนี่เป็นสิ่งที่แทบจะไม่เคยเกิดขึ้นเลย ยิ่งไปกว่านั้น มารดาของเธอเพิ่งตายลง ทำให้แดนนี่กลายเป็นทายาทอาณาจักรอันยิ่งใหญ่ในเอ้าท์แบ็ค อาณาจักรอันเป็นที่หมายปองของหลายคน

ในทางนึง หนังสือเรื่องนี้เป็นเรื่องของการเมืองอย่างยิ่ง การแย่งอำนาจระหว่างแวมไพร์คนอื่น และแดนนี่ ผู้ซึ่งปฏิเสธอำนาจมาตลอด เธอเพียงแค่ต้องการใช้ชีวิตอย่างสงบในเอ้าท์แบ็ค แต่กาลเวลาก็พิสูจน์ว่ามันเป็นไปไม่ได้ ถ้าแดนนี่ต้องการมีชีวิตรอด เธอก็ต้องเล่นการเมืองของแวมไพร์ให้เป็น และเดฟก็เป็นองค์ประกอบที่เธอไม่อาจขาดเขาได้ ในขณะเดียวกันแดนนี่ก็แข็งแกร่งพอที่จะเอาตัวรอดในสังคมแวมไพร์อันโหดเหี้ยม ได้ด้วยตัวเอง ฉากที่เธอกำจัดคู่ปรับซึ่งเป็นศัตรูเก่า แสดงให้เห็นอย่างชัดเจนว่าแดนนี่ก็สามารถทำในสิ่งที่จำเป็นได้ แม้ว่าสุดท้ายแล้วเธอจะรังเกียจทางเลือกที่เธอทำ แต่เธอรู้ว่าต้องทำ

ในทางนึงแดนนี่ยังเหมือนเด็กที่เอาแต่ใจ เธอเป็นแวมไพร์ที่อายุน้อย (แค่สองร้อยกว่าปี) และไม่ต้องการเล่นเกมแย่งอำนาจกับแวมไพร์ผู้ถวิลหามัน แดนนี่เคยเลือกที่จะหนีไปจากการเผชิญหน้า และพบว่ามันไม่ใช่ทางออก ครั้งนี้เธอกลับมาเพื่อแก้ไขความผิดพลาดในอดีต โดยไม่ลังเลว่าจะต้องเีสี่ยงชีวิต แต่ในขณะเดียวกัน เธอก็ยังแสดงความไร้เดียงสาที่คิดว่า เธอเป็นเพียงคนเดียวที่จะแก้ไขทุกอย่างให้ถูกต้องได้ แม็กซ์ชอบความไม่สมบูรณ์แบบของคาแร็คเตอร์ค่ะ

แม็กซ์ชอบความสัมพันธ์ระหว่างแดนนี่ และเดฟ มันเป็นความรักชนิดที่ไม่จำเป็นต้องใช้เวลาในการอธิบาย เราพบว่าทั้งสองคือส่วนที่ขาดระหว่างกัน เดฟในตัวตนก่อนที่เขาจะสูญเสียภรรยาและลูก คงไม่ใช่คนที่เหมาะจะเป็นคนรับใช้ของเลดี้ดี แต่เดฟที่ผ่านความสูญเสีย จนแทบจะไม่แคร์อะไรในชีวิตแล้ว การได้ทำหน้าที่เป็นคนรับใช้ (ซึ่งเป็นตำแหน่งเสมือนคนสนิทที่สุดของแวมไพร์คนนั้น) ได้ดูแลแดนนี่ มันกลายเป็นเป้าหมายในชีวิตที่เดฟกำลังต้องการ

ในแง่นึงความรักระหว่างแดนนี่และเดฟไม่ใช่เรื่องต้องห้ามมากเท่าที่ลิสซ่า และจาค็อบต้องเผชิญ (การที่แวมไพร์แคร์ความรู้สึกของคนรับใช้ของตัวเองมากเกินไป ถูกมองว่าเป็นความอ่อนแอ และต้องห้ามในสังคมแวมไพร์) นั่นเพราะแดนนี่เป็นแวมไพร์ที่อยู่ในซีกโลกที่ไม่ได้เป็นจุดสนใจ และฐานะของแดนนี่เองก็ไม่ใช่ราชินีแห่งแวมไพร์เหมือนอย่างลิสซ่า (ซึ่งมีความคาดหวังมากกว่า) และเพราะว่าเป็นเรื่องราวความรักระหว่างแวมไพร์และข้ารับใช้ของเธอ ตอนจบของเรื่องนี้จึงไม่ได้เป็นไปแบบอนุรักษ์นิยมนะคะ ไม่มีการแต่งงานในโบสถ์ ไม่มีการแสดงความยินดีในความรักของทั้งสอง แต่มันเป็นฉากจบที่แม็กซ์พอใจ

เช่นเดียวกับงานเกื่อบทุกเรื่องของโจอี้ ที่ตัวละครรองมีความน่าสนใจมาก ๆ และดูจากข้อมูลในเว็บไซด์ของเธอแล้ว เธอก็ยังมีแผนที่จะเขียนเรื่องราวเกี่ยวกับตัวละครอีกหลายตัวที่มีบทในเล่ม นี้ ซึ่งเราชอบค่ะ

สนุกอย่างที่คาดค่ะ ในด้านอารมณ์อาจจะไม่ถึงกับทำให้แม็กซ์ร้องไห้ (เหมือนกับเล่มอื่น ๆ ของเธอที่เราเคยอ่านมา) แต่มันก็เป็นประสบการณ์การอ่านที่ประทับใจ และคุ้มค่า

คะแนนที่ 85

[Blagica · Rating 4 out of 5]

My Vampire Fix

As the title says this is the series and the author for when I need a vampire fix. I loved Jacob and Lyssa’s story and inhaled it quickly but I have to say I think that this series has a charm that makes me think that I will love each installment in different ways.
Devlin is the epitome of the tortured alpha hero (he is everything you need sexy, loyal, dependable and charming); Lady Daniela is as strong and self-assured as they come. She wants to do it all her way. (very strong, capable, and deadly). This dynamic is quite different from the first two books in the series. It is dark like the first two, though, and even more heartbreaking. The villains are true villains, cruel and ruthless even by Joey W. Hill’s vampire standards. The writing is wonderful, of course. The setting Australia, 1953—the past, for readers of books one and two is richly drawn as the characters, their emotions, their developing relationship. We also get to a better (earlier) view Lady Lyssa and Lady Daniela’s relationship, and get to meet Thomas in person. The book does contain some extreme BDSM elements, no different from the other two. Everyone knows that Joey Hill writes great books and this one is no exception. Devlin and Lady Daniela's story is very sweet and very provocative. I can say with this series that There is no happy ever after without real blood and pain and a little bondage goes a long way to proving trust and love between these powerful couples. Four stars read all the way I will be continuing this series for sure.

[Marilyn Barr · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Vampire’s Claim is an escape into the outback! I loved leaving my simple world for the land of big sunsets, predators of all sizes, and hot bushmen wandering the desert. This book had the accurate slang, detailed setting descriptions, and colorful characters to put me into Australia instead of just the book’s pages. It was the cheapest vacation I ever took, lol.

We met Lady Daniela and her bushman, Dev, in the last installment of the series. This book is their meet-cute which takes 50 years prior. With era-appropriate technology, fashion, and character experiences, this book transports the reader not only across the globe but also back in time. Hill does a marvelous job in diligent research so I could stay in her outback.
I was delighted to have this twist in the series because Daniela and Dev seemed to have everything figured out in the last book. A Vampire’s Claim not only explains the happiness enjoyed by the couple but also Daniela’s rise to power. I had wondered how a vampire so gentle could be Region Master of Australia. Their romance is as sweet as a vampire master/ human servant relationship dares with the heat level enjoyed by fans of the series.

Overall, I highly recommend this book as an escape to the wilderness of vampiric Australia!

[Melanie Marnell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Devlin & Lady Daniela's love story plays out in the wilds of the Australian Outback and is filled with vampire politics and their sexual games. The usual intrigue and violence so closely attributed to vampire culture is also present. Dev is a loner, a swagman who has suffered great loss on several fronts in his lifetime. He fearless, stubborn and noble. Meeting Danny in an bar in the middle of nowhere sets him on an unbelievable path. Danny has also suffered loss but is finally ready to assume her birthright and meeting Dev may just be what the doctor ordered. She has never had a servant perhaps it's time. These two have been destined to be together but it's not an easy path to their relationship and certainly doesn't fit into any of the traditional vampire societal norms

[Melanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I did enjoy this book. It was a little hard for me to get into it at first. But, I think a big part of that was that I was sick and just could not focus on the story very well. Once I started feeling better, I enjoyed the story much more. At first, I didn't care for Danny, but really enjoyed Devlin. You really see Danny grow up in this story. You also get to see Dev come to terms with many things in his life and the past that has haunted him. I also greatly enjoyed reading a story that takes place in Australia. It is the first story I have read that takes place there. It is one of my fantasy vacation spots, so it made me want to go even more.

[Karla Schneider · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wow, an unmarked human carried a 100lb woman on his shoulders in the tundra for 5 miles under the desert sun like it was nothing. I think the Tarzan male characters that are the focus of these books are a bit inhuman. For one thing, people who drink everyday and don't work out can't be extremely muscular like the descriptions... Jacob spends his spare time reading books and Devlin drinking booze doesn't help with their physique.

[TinaMarie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Western Australia, 1953, This story takes place before The Vampire Queen's Servant (first book in the series) but I think the reading is better in the third place it was published. Another strong male, but tortured soul has a chance run in with a female vamp that changes everything for him and for her. They help heal and protect each other. There's a LOT of sex but it's so well woven into a great story. Joey W. Hill is amazing!

[Shawna Black · Rating 3 out of 5]

Enjoyable read

Enjoyed this book, though I must say, not quite as much as the first two. Beautiful, artful writing of course (Hill never falls short there), but for me, the power packed emotion between the characters just wasn't felt in this one.

Still, I'll read the next in series, as I'm curious to learn more about the illusive Lord Mason!

[Clarissa Price · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic

You will love this book the whole series it's sexy, steamy, sweet, romantic, dramatic and action packed you won't be able to put it d o wn

[JG · Rating 5 out of 5]

Intense, erotic and fantastic plot exploring relationships.

[Aoyama · Rating 4 out of 5]

Less freaky than the first two but the love between the two MCs is lovely