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Vampires of Vegas #1

The Vampire's Claim

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Leah was taught to hate and fear vampires, so falling for one is not an option. But can she fight fate?

Sent on an undercover mission to spy on key vampire figures in Las Vegas, Leah Davis comes face to face with the vampire leader and mayor of the city, Julian Blackmore. The pull between them is undeniable, and sparks fly as Leah’s head and heart struggle in a battle that can only end in loss.

Julian Blackmore’s heart hasn’t beat since he lost his soul thousands of years ago—until he meets her.

A vampire with a heartbeat is a vampire who’s found his soulmate. But claiming a human means risking her life. Julian’s world is violent, brutally dangerous, and no place for a woman like her. Denying himself his mate might be the hardest thing he’ll ever face… next to knowing he’s sleeping with the enemy…

The Vampire’s Claim begins a steamy, paranormal romance series set in a dark and seductive world. Each book in the series features a different couple and is a standalone romance with a guaranteed happily-ever-after.

343 pages, Kindle Edition

Published December 20, 2022

167 people are currently reading
252 people want to read

About the author

Scarlett Chu

6 books13 followers

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5 stars
139 (45%)
4 stars
90 (29%)
3 stars
62 (20%)
2 stars
13 (4%)
1 star
3 (<1%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 35 reviews
22 reviews1 follower
March 18, 2023
Exceptional

Ms. Chu has done an awesome job of pulling together a wonderful series that we as readers can totally get invested in, this is her first series one that I believe will get many follower's, but also I think we are going to hear a great deal from this talented author
The vampire's she has created are not beyond the realms of being real, it's easy to believe that real vampire's could be like the characters she has developed, so easy to see and understand why these people and animals have had to invest totally in themselves to keep trust and control over the two different sides of their personality.
As much as the two parts fill up the whole, it's easy to understand why these vampire's have to fight with themselves to deal with the blood lust found inside their vampire.
When the man finds someone who is theirs, it affects even the vampire jnside, the pull is so strong that even if you choose not to be with that special someone, you're fighting two sides of yourself in a way that you can never feel whole again, so who would go against such a strong desire.
When Julien meets Leah, he is totally surprised of the strength and backbone of this woman, as much as he wants to walk away, everything inside says he should, for some unknown reason, he knows he must stay close, but why??? he couldn't say.
What that reason is he cannot for the life of him understand, but one thing stands out above all else, this woman.
definitely has little to no fear of him, he who everyone on the planet knows not to mess with him, his hands and fangs can do more damage than their puny weapons, does not seem to instill fear in her in any way, is this the reason fate has made her his!
I found this storyline quite fascinating in certain chapters even challenging to see how far Leah is asked to push Julien in a way no one else could ever possibly attempt, she does what she believes is necessary, can she get through his iron will.
As much as Julien is determined to not have this beautiful woman he will allow no harm to come to her and knows beyond a shadow of a doubt, Leah's actions are not her own, the internal struggle becomes apparent to Dominic the closer he watches her.
Find out just how far this determined, fiesty, strong woman will go to achieve what's needed. Can she keep everyone safe and still achieve what's required and yet still have the chance to love.
It will definitely be interesting to find out what is going to happen.
Honestly, if you're a vampire fan, this series will keep you glued to the pages. Make sure you grab a copy to find out exactly what I am talking about.
Profile Image for Steph.
2,160 reviews306 followers
June 16, 2024
This was recommended to me by my SIL and I'm so glad I took her up on it. I grabbed this as an Amazon freebie over a year ago and likely would've continue to skip it b/c the cover leaves a lot to be desired. BUT, this author knocked it outta the park with her debut! Chu's writing sucks you in and doesn't let go. Much of the vampire lore is familiar, but somehow the story of these Vegas vampires felt fresh and new. Maybe that's due to her writing style, character and world building abilities.

Vegas is a city ruled by vampires. "During the day, the Towers emitted an electromagnetic field that blocked the sun’s rays, allowing its nocturnal inhabitants to roam without restraint." The city is overseen by the vampire mayor, Julian Blackmore. He's the judge, jury and most times, executioner when laws are broken. Humans are allowed and any harm against them is punished severely. Leah is sent to Vegas as an event planner, meant to help Julian with the arrangements for the upcoming Gathering, which happens every fifty years.

As a 1,000 year old vampire, Julian isn't thrilled when he realizes Leah is his mate. He's even more irritated when he realizes the Vampire King, Alistair knew and set all of this up. Leah, on a mission for the vampire hunting Organization, is not a vamp hater like most in the group, but Julian is still intimidating. So, why is so drawn to him?

Leah is very strong willed, which makes for the best scenes between these two. She's able to stand up to the most powerful vampire in Vegas, whereas he's unable to resist her and bends when most wouldn't expect it. It's difficult for him to hide the fact that he's found his mate, so his friends begin poking fun and enjoying the show as these two dance around each other.

I enjoyed everything about this book. The characters - both main and side - were fantastic. The world was fleshed out and the plot was intriguing. Needless to say, I jumped right into book 2.
Profile Image for Sandy.
1,820 reviews3 followers
March 22, 2023
The Vampire's Claim

Holy shiznet!!! What a gr8 story. I truly enjoyed reading this book and look forward to reading the next. I recommend this read. 5 Thumbs up
558 reviews
March 19, 2023
Great

I loved this story full of action and great characters as well as suspense. It was a different spin on vampires and humans interactions than I had previously read from other books. I like it.
Profile Image for Megan Turner.
Author 2 books19 followers
March 14, 2023
Honestly enjoyed reading this book! Written amazingly and loved the characters! Good concepts and amazing vampires! Excited to read the second book!
Profile Image for Merry One Maria.
2,337 reviews10 followers
March 3, 2023
A good read with a Las Vegas background

My first read of this author and I enjoyed the storyline and plot. There was a lot going on between the vampires and humans. Their King Alistair was trying to bring peace between the races or at least starting the journey with a conference in Las Vegas. Unfortunately, there was a group that did not want this truce and wanted eradication. There is a young human woman that this group is using as a spy. The problem is when she finds out that all is not what it seems. Read On!
Profile Image for Michelle Promotion's for Indie Author's csmindiepr.
334 reviews21 followers
March 21, 2025
Ms Chu has done an awesome job of pulling together a wonderful series that we as reader's can be totally captivated by, this is her first series one that I believe will get many followers, but I also believe we are going to hear a great deal from this talented author in the near future.
The vampires she has created are not different to how we think of vampire's, it's easy to believe that real vampires could be like the characters she has developed, so easy to see and understand why these people and animals have had to invest totally in themselves to keep trust and control over the two sides of their personality and their animal nature.
As much as the two parts fill the whole, it's easy to see why these vampires have to fight with themselves to deal with the bloodlust found inside the beast they know as their animal.
When Julien meets Leah, he is totally surprised by the strength and backbone of this woman, even so he knows he must walk away everything inside says he should for both their sakes, yet for some unknown reason, he knows he must stay close No .. he HAS to stay close, but why??? he couldn't say.
What that reason is he cannot for the life of him understand, but one thing does stand out above all else, Leah definitely has little to no fear of him, yet everyone else on the planet knows to stay out of his line of fire, is this the reason fate has placed her in his path, or has she been planted there by those who want him gone.
I actually found this book fascinating. It's amazing how often Leah challenges Julien to see how far she can push him.
She also has a strange effect, which causes him to question his actions, which is certainly beneficial to Julien but very unusual.
One thing is certain Julien may not want to bow down to his desires but he will not allow her to get harmed in any way, so he starts to notice some of her actions do not appear to be her own, what exactly is happening to Leah.
Honestly, if you're a vampire fan, this book you are going to find fascinating, so I highly recommend you grab a copy today.
Profile Image for Bailey.
28 reviews
April 26, 2023
The Cover is a Deterrent. Ew.

It’s a really good book if you can get past the cover. I really think books shouldn’t have people on the covers so that the reader can interpret faces differently. Honestly EVERY SINGLE time I saw the cover I literally wanted to just stop reading and swap books. However, I just tried to leave it open in KU so I didn’t have to see it all the time. It’s a good book though.
200 reviews1 follower
December 27, 2022
Julian is the vampire mayor of Vegas. He doles out punishment to vampires that break the rules. He was assigned a decorator for the upcoming Vampire Council meeting. So enters the human that is a spy for The Organization. The problem is his hearts starts beating—she is his mate.
Leah has survived a hard life: abandon by her parents, in foster care system, and then taken by The Organization. The Organization pushed the belief that all vampires were evil and deadly. Now, Leah had a chance for freedom by seducing and betraying the vampire leader in Vegas. But meeting Julian has made her question her mission. Learning about the vampires is making her question The Organization’s teachings.
Together Leah and Julian has a journey to find the truth.
Good read with tension, sizzling chemistry and fate.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Profile Image for Bryckk Wilkes-DuBois.
Author 4 books58 followers
April 6, 2023
Leah & Julian: Fated Mates in Vegas... Sweet!

Leah is a part of an organization that looks to rid society of the vampire race. She goes undercover as an event planner for Julian, the Mayor of Vegas who is also an ancient vampire. Upon meeting Leah, Julian is shocked to discover that Leah is his fated mate. However, it's the last thing that he wants. Leah feels an instant attraction to Julian. Will she be able to go through with the plot to kill him?

This was a very good novel and the story was very well written. I loved Julian and his entourage and the side characters were very interesting. The two together made for a very interesting couple and this book is sure to keep you engaged from start to finish. A beautiful love story!

Happy reading!
3,037 reviews16 followers
December 22, 2022
loved it !! a great start for a new series !! love Leah and Julian... this is their love story... a fast paced action packed drama... Leah is sent undercover to Vegas to destroy the vampires... she was taught to hate them... Julian is the mayor and leader of the vampires of Vegas... his heart hasn't beat for a long time until... her... he has found his soul mate but, she's human... and .... what a heart breaking story... learning the truth.. and the lies... and finding your soul mate .. so good !!!.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
168 reviews
December 22, 2022
Interesting story that has a variety of creatures in ranging from vampires, human hunters, and fae...oh my. Julian and Leah are on two opposite sides of vampires vs. humans. Both parties has spies out in the field trying to find out more information to stop the other from killing off their race. What Julian did not expect was Leah being his soulmate and Leah didn't expect to have such lusty feelings for this creature. Join the mystery to figure out how they get from enemies to lovers. Enjoy! 🥰.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Profile Image for Teagan Braland.
39 reviews2 followers
February 27, 2023
I found this author on tik tok and I Read this book in a day. I loved it and it did not dissapoint! At some points it felt like an information dump, however, it was all needed for later in the book. This enemies to lovers book is filled with just enough suspense and twists to keep you turning the pages. Julian will captivate your mind, making you wonder if he will soften or keep his walls high, not letting anyone in. Leah will leave you wondering what her true feelings are and what feelings she can trust.
1,044 reviews3 followers
May 31, 2023
Loved it!

What a book! The beginning was rather tame…but it surely did pick up the pace.
Las Vegas, the domain of the vampires. The Organization, sworn enemy of the vampires, their sole purpose is the destruction of all vampires.
Leah is sent into Vegas by the Organization, to infiltrate and gather information. Julian, the mayor of Vegas, knows of her affiliation but allows her to continue with the job she was hired for.
The plot thickens once he meets Leah. And that’s all I’m giving away!
I look forward to continuing this story!
Profile Image for Caroline Doig.
5,459 reviews49 followers
December 21, 2022
Fantastic vampire romance I loved the characters Julian a vampire who’s the mayor of Las Vegas and Leah a human who has been taught by the organisation to hate vampires, when she meets Julian things change and Leah’s life will always be in danger. Sorry guys no spoilers but this is a fantastic fated mates story I loved it and I highly recommend this book.
279 reviews12 followers
December 22, 2022
I had a great time with the Vampires of Vegas series, it had what I was looking for in this type of book. The story worked in a unique way and I was glad that they used vampires in a fun way. It left me wanting more and ready for the next book.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
80 reviews1 follower
November 13, 2023
More depth than expected

I enjoyed this. It wasn't very spicy, but it had unexpected depths that were a nice counterbalance. It's more of a 4.5 stars, but I'll round up. I don't know that I'm interested enough to read the other stories in this series, but I don't regret reading this one.
Profile Image for JP.
1,834 reviews14 followers
November 27, 2023
Absolutely AWESOME 😁

I took just a sample of this story to test read and fell in Love with the story 😃. Vampires have finally come out of the shadows, but of course, like anything different there are others who want what the vampires have, but have decided to believe that they are Demons and should be eradicated 🤔. Thanks so much Scarlett, I can't wait to read more 🤓.
Profile Image for Lady Raven Books.
1,205 reviews30 followers
December 7, 2023
Wonderful Read

I must say that I am absolutely surprised with this story. There is a lot of things that I wasn’t expecting, and that’s a great thing. I can’t say,ore, as I don’t do spoilers. I love Julian and Leah. They are fantastic together. Oh and I despise the bad guys. The writing and flow of this book is done well. I absolutely recommend this book.
266 reviews5 followers
December 22, 2022
Loved this book it had me enthralled I couldn't even look away till I finished reading it it hot and suspenseful I would definitely recommend this book.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Profile Image for Sue Wallace .
7,402 reviews140 followers
December 26, 2022
The Vampire's Claim byScarlett Chu.
Book 1.
Leah was taught to hate and fear vampires, so falling for one is not an option. But can she fight fate?
Julian Blackmore’s heart hasn’t beat since he lost his soul thousands of years ago—until he meets her.  
A great read. Different. 4*.
886 reviews5 followers
December 31, 2022
I received this ARC for free for a honest review. Leah's been told that vanpires are evil. Then she goes to work for Lucian. The banter, the communication, the protectiveness. Such a great read. And that cliffhanger. Left me definitely wanting more!.

Profile Image for Lilouae.
926 reviews8 followers
May 8, 2023
Great! I really liked both characters a'd the world they're in. I'm just a little bit disappointed because I wanted more time with them together, and more details on the world and since the next book is about other MCs I won't have that.
The plot will continue in the next book though.
Profile Image for Toni.
1,520 reviews4 followers
June 23, 2023
I couldn’t get past the 4th chapter. Maybe it was that more time was spent on insignificant details as instead of the things that would make some sense? Maybe it was that I didn’t like that the MMC was going to deny the mate bond?
Profile Image for Ashleigh Carter.
791 reviews9 followers
November 24, 2023
This has some of my favorite tropes, but I just had a hard time getting into it. I think, towards the end, I was actually more interested than at the start. It does end on a bit of a cliffhanger, but I'm not too bothered by it. If I got the others, I would read them because I am interested in what happens next.
55 reviews
December 11, 2023
Recommended

Good story line and well written. Lots of side stories that I think will be expanded in future releases. Hardly any typos and no plot mistakes. (wrong names of places used)

Ideally good read going to see what book 2 is like now
235 reviews2 followers
February 15, 2023
Needs work

Repetitive and confusing in spots.
First scene he has to take off his shirt to free his wings to fly but later scenes he has a shirt on while flying.
15 reviews
March 29, 2023
The Vampire’s Claim

An engrossing read with a lot of action. I enjoyed reading this book and recommend it. I could do without all of the sexual encounters but still enjoyed it.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 35 reviews

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