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Ben and Fran #1-2
Confessions of a Vampire's Girlfriend
Die lang erwartete Vorgeschichte zu "Ein Vampir in schlechter Gesellschaft". Die junge Telepathin Francesca Ghetti wird von ihrer Mutter nach Europa mitgeschleppt, wo sie sich einem Wanderzirkus anschließen. Dort trifft sie den attraktiven Vampir Ben, der ihr Herz sofort höher schlagen lässt. Dieses Buch beinhaltet die beiden Novellen "Beißen für Anfänger - Hexenzirkus" und "Beißen für Anfänger - Geisterblues".
334 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2007
54 people are currently reading
1691 people want to read
About the author
Katie Maxwell
21 books179 followersKatie Maxwell is a pseudonym of
Katie MacAlister
.
Katie MacAlister is a Seattle-area author of fiction and non-fiction. Her most popular titles are historical, contemporary, and paranormal romance. She also writes Young Adult books under the pseudonym Katie Maxwell and Mysteries under the pseudonym Kate Marsh.
About Katie
as long as she can remember, Katie MacAlister has loved reading. Growing up in a family where a weekly visit to the library was a given, Katie spent much of her time with her nose buried in a book. Despite her love for novels, she didn't think of writing them until she was contracted to write a non-fiction book about software. Since her editor refused to allow her to include either witty dialogue or love scenes in the software book, Katie swiftly resolved to switch to fiction, where she could indulge in world building, tormenting characters, and falling madly in love with all her heroes.
Two years after she started writing novels, Katie sold her first romance, Noble Intentions. More than thirty books later, her novels have been translated into numerous languages, been recorded as audiobooks, received several awards, and placed on the New York Times, USA Today, and Publishers Weekly bestseller lists. She also writes for the young adult audience as Katie Maxwell.
Katie lives in the Pacific Northwest with her husband and dogs, and can often be found lurking around online.
Contact Katie
You can write to Katie at katie@katiemacalister.com or via snail mail at:
Katie MacAlister
c/o Three Seas Literary Agency
PO Box 8571
Madison, WI 53708
Katie MacAlister is a Seattle-area author of fiction and non-fiction. Her most popular titles are historical, contemporary, and paranormal romance. She also writes Young Adult books under the pseudonym Katie Maxwell and Mysteries under the pseudonym Kate Marsh.
About Katie
as long as she can remember, Katie MacAlister has loved reading. Growing up in a family where a weekly visit to the library was a given, Katie spent much of her time with her nose buried in a book. Despite her love for novels, she didn't think of writing them until she was contracted to write a non-fiction book about software. Since her editor refused to allow her to include either witty dialogue or love scenes in the software book, Katie swiftly resolved to switch to fiction, where she could indulge in world building, tormenting characters, and falling madly in love with all her heroes.
Two years after she started writing novels, Katie sold her first romance, Noble Intentions. More than thirty books later, her novels have been translated into numerous languages, been recorded as audiobooks, received several awards, and placed on the New York Times, USA Today, and Publishers Weekly bestseller lists. She also writes for the young adult audience as Katie Maxwell.
Katie lives in the Pacific Northwest with her husband and dogs, and can often be found lurking around online.
Contact Katie
You can write to Katie at katie@katiemacalister.com or via snail mail at:
Katie MacAlister
c/o Three Seas Literary Agency
PO Box 8571
Madison, WI 53708
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 75 reviews
April 9, 2011
Fun read!
'Confessions of a Vampire's Girlfriend' is an omnibus edition of two very funny young adult novels published under McAllister's pen name of Kate Maxwell: Got Fangs? and Circus of the Darned.
Got Fangs?
Our heroine is Fran, a 16-year-old girl who thinks she's a freak. Yes, I know most 16-year-olds think they're freaks but Fran is definitely not your average girl. She's 6 feet tall and, in her words, built like a linebacker, her parents are divorced, her mother is a witch (for real, not the kind most teenagers think of), and then there's the fact that she has to wear gloves all the time since if she touches you with her bare hand she gets a quick visit to your head.
Since her father has just picked himself up a trophy wife he has sent Fran to stay with her mother. So Fran is now stuck in a trailer with her mother travelling around Europe as part of a 'GothFaire'. Some very odd people are part of the fair - including magicians who can do real magic, a psychic with a dead boyfriend (really dead, like a couple of hundred years dead), and a demonologist who dresses, talks, and behaves like Elvis. Her best friend at the fair, is Imogen, a 400-year-old Moravian woman reads palms and rune stones.
Our hero is Benedikt, Imogen's younger brother. (Younger, but not that much younger.) Benedict is a 'Dark One', a soulless vampire. Unlike many of the more popular vampires, 'Dark Ones are truly cursed. Not their fault, in most cases, as their curse is the result of something an ancestor did. But there is a cure, if a Dark One finds his Beloved and bonds with her he gets his soul back.
Benedict has been searching for his Beloved for almost 300 years. He plans to love her and protect her and decide what's best for her. Then he meets Fran, and she is his Beloved, but she's not too sure about the love thing, is not impressed with the protect part and he better get over the idea of making her decisions.
So here's never-been-kissed Fran, with an instantaneous super hot boyfriend she's not sure she's ready for, with baggage she's really not prepared for, and a white witch mother who is really unhappy with the thought of her 16-year-old daughter dating the soulless undead and the power to do something about it.
The plot is pretty light involving Fran solving the thefts at the fair, acquiring a very old horse, and being forced to read palms at the fair to earn the horse's upkeep. Of course there is the part about Ben dying, or the part where she and Imogen beat up a demon, and the part where Fran learns that a Mississippi kiss is better than an Iowa one... (Read the book for an explanation of that one. Oh, and don't worry about Ben, he's sort of immortal.)
Circus of the Darned
Fran is still at the GothFaire which has now moved to Sweden and joined with a group known as the Circus of the Darned. These folks are not average either, since they are part of a religion that still worships the Norse gods.
During this story, Fran acquires a necklace imbued with the power of Loki, raises a group of thousand-year-old Vikings who think she is a goddess and want her to get them to Valhalla. Along the way she has to take the Vikings shopping, meets the goddess Freya, who is annoyed at being called from a party in Venice, motorcycle riding Valkyries who have been staying at a resort in the Mediterranean, and Loki who wants her horse (don't ask why) and his necklace back. In the process she gets herself cursed by Loki (but she keeps her horse and the necklace), her Vikings get sent on to Valhalla, and her romance with Ben advances a little.
The sequel to these two books is called 'In the Company of Vampires'. It is not a young adult story, though it is certainly Ben and Fran's story. It is also #8 in the Dark One series published under her Katie McAllister name.
Dark One
1. A Girl's Guide to Vampires (2003)
2. Sex and the Single Vampire (2004)
3. Sex, Lies and Vampires (2005)
4. Even Vampires Get the Blues (2006)
5. The Last of the Red-Hot Vampires (2007)
5. Bring Out Your Dead (2006) (in Just One Sip)
6. Zen and the Art of Vampires (2008)
7. Crouching Vampire, Hidden Fang (2009)
8. In the Company of Vampires (2010)
9. Much Ado About Vampires (2011)
'Confessions of a Vampire's Girlfriend' is an omnibus edition of two very funny young adult novels published under McAllister's pen name of Kate Maxwell: Got Fangs? and Circus of the Darned.
Got Fangs?
Our heroine is Fran, a 16-year-old girl who thinks she's a freak. Yes, I know most 16-year-olds think they're freaks but Fran is definitely not your average girl. She's 6 feet tall and, in her words, built like a linebacker, her parents are divorced, her mother is a witch (for real, not the kind most teenagers think of), and then there's the fact that she has to wear gloves all the time since if she touches you with her bare hand she gets a quick visit to your head.
Since her father has just picked himself up a trophy wife he has sent Fran to stay with her mother. So Fran is now stuck in a trailer with her mother travelling around Europe as part of a 'GothFaire'. Some very odd people are part of the fair - including magicians who can do real magic, a psychic with a dead boyfriend (really dead, like a couple of hundred years dead), and a demonologist who dresses, talks, and behaves like Elvis. Her best friend at the fair, is Imogen, a 400-year-old Moravian woman reads palms and rune stones.
Our hero is Benedikt, Imogen's younger brother. (Younger, but not that much younger.) Benedict is a 'Dark One', a soulless vampire. Unlike many of the more popular vampires, 'Dark Ones are truly cursed. Not their fault, in most cases, as their curse is the result of something an ancestor did. But there is a cure, if a Dark One finds his Beloved and bonds with her he gets his soul back.
Benedict has been searching for his Beloved for almost 300 years. He plans to love her and protect her and decide what's best for her. Then he meets Fran, and she is his Beloved, but she's not too sure about the love thing, is not impressed with the protect part and he better get over the idea of making her decisions.
So here's never-been-kissed Fran, with an instantaneous super hot boyfriend she's not sure she's ready for, with baggage she's really not prepared for, and a white witch mother who is really unhappy with the thought of her 16-year-old daughter dating the soulless undead and the power to do something about it.
The plot is pretty light involving Fran solving the thefts at the fair, acquiring a very old horse, and being forced to read palms at the fair to earn the horse's upkeep. Of course there is the part about Ben dying, or the part where she and Imogen beat up a demon, and the part where Fran learns that a Mississippi kiss is better than an Iowa one... (Read the book for an explanation of that one. Oh, and don't worry about Ben, he's sort of immortal.)
Circus of the Darned
Fran is still at the GothFaire which has now moved to Sweden and joined with a group known as the Circus of the Darned. These folks are not average either, since they are part of a religion that still worships the Norse gods.
During this story, Fran acquires a necklace imbued with the power of Loki, raises a group of thousand-year-old Vikings who think she is a goddess and want her to get them to Valhalla. Along the way she has to take the Vikings shopping, meets the goddess Freya, who is annoyed at being called from a party in Venice, motorcycle riding Valkyries who have been staying at a resort in the Mediterranean, and Loki who wants her horse (don't ask why) and his necklace back. In the process she gets herself cursed by Loki (but she keeps her horse and the necklace), her Vikings get sent on to Valhalla, and her romance with Ben advances a little.
The sequel to these two books is called 'In the Company of Vampires'. It is not a young adult story, though it is certainly Ben and Fran's story. It is also #8 in the Dark One series published under her Katie McAllister name.
Dark One
1. A Girl's Guide to Vampires (2003)
2. Sex and the Single Vampire (2004)
3. Sex, Lies and Vampires (2005)
4. Even Vampires Get the Blues (2006)
5. The Last of the Red-Hot Vampires (2007)
5. Bring Out Your Dead (2006) (in Just One Sip)
6. Zen and the Art of Vampires (2008)
7. Crouching Vampire, Hidden Fang (2009)
8. In the Company of Vampires (2010)
9. Much Ado About Vampires (2011)
November 5, 2010
Confessions of a Vampire’s Girlfriend is actually 2 books in one, Got Fangs? (2005) & Circus of the Darned (2006). Both are YA’s, but lead up to In The Company of Vampire’s also released on November 2, which is the adult continuation of Fran & Ben’s story. You with me so far? Good!
Fran’s father ends up sending her to live with her mother when he remarries a trophy wife. Miranda (Fran’s Mom) isn’t like every other Mom, she’s a witch & travels Europe as a member of GothFaire a traveling company of magicians, palm readers, etc. Fran has always tried to live a normal life, but it’s been hard all things considered, add to it she is a psychometrist who can read emotions by touching people or objects. Thus Fran wears gloves ALL THE TIME.
When her best-friend’s brother comes for a visit, he claims she is the key to unlocking his soul…he’s a Dark One, otherwise known as a Vampire. Fran tries to cope with the fact that she is a Beloved, or so Ben says & deal with all sorts of oddities that happen at GothFaire….like when she raises a band of long dead Vikings.
I have to tell you, I love Fran. She isn’t the average teenage girl, for one shes a psychometrist, for two she is 6 feet tall! Fran is anything but normal. Ben is just made of yum, he’s dark & secretive, but oh so protective of Fran, no matter how much she hates it. He really doesn’t want to pressure her, but come on..his soul is at stake (ha, get it, stake?!) But Fran is only 17 & Ben is over 300 years old, thus Miranda isn’t to fond of Ben, but can you blame her?
But it’s not Fran or Ben who take the cake…it’s the band of Viking Ghosts. I caught myself laughing out loud a few times, the Vikings are made of win! I want my own group of Viking Ghosts, if they’re anything like these guys. Pillaging McDonald’s, fighting & looking for wenches!
Confessions of a Vampire’s Girlfriend is a coming of age love story, that will have you cackling & wishing there really was a GothFaire!
Fran’s father ends up sending her to live with her mother when he remarries a trophy wife. Miranda (Fran’s Mom) isn’t like every other Mom, she’s a witch & travels Europe as a member of GothFaire a traveling company of magicians, palm readers, etc. Fran has always tried to live a normal life, but it’s been hard all things considered, add to it she is a psychometrist who can read emotions by touching people or objects. Thus Fran wears gloves ALL THE TIME.
When her best-friend’s brother comes for a visit, he claims she is the key to unlocking his soul…he’s a Dark One, otherwise known as a Vampire. Fran tries to cope with the fact that she is a Beloved, or so Ben says & deal with all sorts of oddities that happen at GothFaire….like when she raises a band of long dead Vikings.
I have to tell you, I love Fran. She isn’t the average teenage girl, for one shes a psychometrist, for two she is 6 feet tall! Fran is anything but normal. Ben is just made of yum, he’s dark & secretive, but oh so protective of Fran, no matter how much she hates it. He really doesn’t want to pressure her, but come on..his soul is at stake (ha, get it, stake?!) But Fran is only 17 & Ben is over 300 years old, thus Miranda isn’t to fond of Ben, but can you blame her?
But it’s not Fran or Ben who take the cake…it’s the band of Viking Ghosts. I caught myself laughing out loud a few times, the Vikings are made of win! I want my own group of Viking Ghosts, if they’re anything like these guys. Pillaging McDonald’s, fighting & looking for wenches!
Confessions of a Vampire’s Girlfriend is a coming of age love story, that will have you cackling & wishing there really was a GothFaire!
January 19, 2019
As a native in swedish and born here I have sooo many questions about the second novel. First of, WHY do english speakers always think we end sentences with "ja"(yes) We use it as in english, which means we start with it mostly if we use it at all. And I have a feeling it is the way as in movies, with a kind of german accent, which I will remind you, is a different language all together.
Also, raise your hand of if you thought Loke the second he showed up.
Also, raise your hand of if you thought Loke the second he showed up.
November 14, 2010
I’ve been a huge Katie MacAllister for ages now (I have a bookshelf full of her dragons and Dark Ones novels) so I was super-excited to get my hands on this one. Granted, these two novellas were published under a pen name (Katie Maxwell) several years ago but they were new to me. Seems a while back, Katie wrote a couple of YA stories based on the world she created in her adult Dark Ones novels. But, as it sometimes happens in the publishing world, fate intervened and the YA line was no more. But, luckily for us, Katie MacAllister has some persistent fans and is a determined writer so, just before she published the adult Dark Ones novel, IN THE COMPANY OF VAMPIRES, which star Francesca and Benedict, she re-released GOT FANGS and CIRCUS OF THE DARNED.
GOT FANGS?
When you’re traveling through Europe with psychics, magicians, and other really bizarre people, normality is hard to come by, but something Francesca longs for. Until she meets Benedikt. He’s actually taller than her, rides a motorcycle, and doesn’t think Fran is the least bit weird. On the dark side, he’s also a vampire—and Fran is supposed to redeem is soul. But when Ben’s kisses turn out to be anything but normal, Fran starts to embrace the freakiness that is her life.
You’d think that traveling around Europe would be something a teenager would enjoy. In this case, you’d be wrong. Francesca has been shipped off to spend some time with her mother while her father “gets to know” his new trophy wife. And Fran resents every bit of it. There’s no one her age to hang out with, she’s stuck with a traveling freak show, and, well, she’s feeling unwanted. She thinks, what guy would want someone who’s six feet tall and built like a linebacker? And, to top it all off, she’s got her own freakiness to deal with—she has to wear gloves or she’ll be overwhelmed with the thoughts and feelings of anyone she touches. Until she meets Benedikt.
At first, considering Fran is sixteen and Ben is somewhere around 300, I was a little skeeved out at Fran being Ben’s Beloved (and yes, I felt the same way about the Edward-Bella relationship.). But it wasn’t really like that. Sure, Ben needed her to save his soul and they were destined to be together but he knew she wasn’t ready. Ben was supposed to be all dark and tormented (it’s the job of a Dark One) but he was also very sweet, caring, and loyal. He took care of his sister, helped out a friend in need, and very gently wooed Fran, never stepping beyond the limits set by her mother or her.
And I really enjoyed Fran. She was snarky and brave, willing to use her gift to help out the circus that her mother loved, despite the fact that she hated to do it. GOT FANGS? was filled with Katie MacAllister’s signature wit and semi-bumbling characters. A quick and fun read.
CIRCUS OF THE DARNED
With a witch for a mom. It’s no surprise that Fran might not fit in, but having a vampire for a boyfriend is doing wonders for her self-esteem. And now, even though she suspects Ben is keeping things from her, her only concern is finding some time—and something to wear—for their first actual date. But Fran’s own mysterious talents seem to get in the way when she accidentally conjures an entire battlefield of warring Viking ghosts. Two’s company—a dozen is a crowd…
Now that Fran is “dating” Ben, she’s feeling pretty good about herself, even though she hasn’t seen or heard from him for the last three weeks. Still, life with the circus is much better, and Fran finally feels like she belongs. When Ben comes back, he’s reluctant to talk about where he’s been and what he’s done. Still playing the tall, dark, and mysterious card.
Again, Katie MacAllister’s style shines through. In this story, she throws in a super-hot Swede who also happens to have some magic of his own; Loki, the Norse god of mischief; and a pile of Viking ghosts who believe Fran is their goddess who will send them on to Valhalla. After they get in a good rape-and-pillage (Fran puts the kibosh on that right away. The only thing they’re allowed to pillage is the local McDonald’s).
The romance between Ben and Fran may have reached the official date stage but I still didn’t read a whole lot of chemistry between the two of them. Yeah, the kisses were great, and the tingles were there but I wasn’t swept away by their love story. It was almost like Ben knew Fran wasn’t ready for much more than those few kisses and a date. But the action never slows—with all those Vikings and a ticked-off Norse god, there’s always something happening.
GOT FANGS?
When you’re traveling through Europe with psychics, magicians, and other really bizarre people, normality is hard to come by, but something Francesca longs for. Until she meets Benedikt. He’s actually taller than her, rides a motorcycle, and doesn’t think Fran is the least bit weird. On the dark side, he’s also a vampire—and Fran is supposed to redeem is soul. But when Ben’s kisses turn out to be anything but normal, Fran starts to embrace the freakiness that is her life.
You’d think that traveling around Europe would be something a teenager would enjoy. In this case, you’d be wrong. Francesca has been shipped off to spend some time with her mother while her father “gets to know” his new trophy wife. And Fran resents every bit of it. There’s no one her age to hang out with, she’s stuck with a traveling freak show, and, well, she’s feeling unwanted. She thinks, what guy would want someone who’s six feet tall and built like a linebacker? And, to top it all off, she’s got her own freakiness to deal with—she has to wear gloves or she’ll be overwhelmed with the thoughts and feelings of anyone she touches. Until she meets Benedikt.
At first, considering Fran is sixteen and Ben is somewhere around 300, I was a little skeeved out at Fran being Ben’s Beloved (and yes, I felt the same way about the Edward-Bella relationship.). But it wasn’t really like that. Sure, Ben needed her to save his soul and they were destined to be together but he knew she wasn’t ready. Ben was supposed to be all dark and tormented (it’s the job of a Dark One) but he was also very sweet, caring, and loyal. He took care of his sister, helped out a friend in need, and very gently wooed Fran, never stepping beyond the limits set by her mother or her.
And I really enjoyed Fran. She was snarky and brave, willing to use her gift to help out the circus that her mother loved, despite the fact that she hated to do it. GOT FANGS? was filled with Katie MacAllister’s signature wit and semi-bumbling characters. A quick and fun read.
CIRCUS OF THE DARNED
With a witch for a mom. It’s no surprise that Fran might not fit in, but having a vampire for a boyfriend is doing wonders for her self-esteem. And now, even though she suspects Ben is keeping things from her, her only concern is finding some time—and something to wear—for their first actual date. But Fran’s own mysterious talents seem to get in the way when she accidentally conjures an entire battlefield of warring Viking ghosts. Two’s company—a dozen is a crowd…
Now that Fran is “dating” Ben, she’s feeling pretty good about herself, even though she hasn’t seen or heard from him for the last three weeks. Still, life with the circus is much better, and Fran finally feels like she belongs. When Ben comes back, he’s reluctant to talk about where he’s been and what he’s done. Still playing the tall, dark, and mysterious card.
Again, Katie MacAllister’s style shines through. In this story, she throws in a super-hot Swede who also happens to have some magic of his own; Loki, the Norse god of mischief; and a pile of Viking ghosts who believe Fran is their goddess who will send them on to Valhalla. After they get in a good rape-and-pillage (Fran puts the kibosh on that right away. The only thing they’re allowed to pillage is the local McDonald’s).
The romance between Ben and Fran may have reached the official date stage but I still didn’t read a whole lot of chemistry between the two of them. Yeah, the kisses were great, and the tingles were there but I wasn’t swept away by their love story. It was almost like Ben knew Fran wasn’t ready for much more than those few kisses and a date. But the action never slows—with all those Vikings and a ticked-off Norse god, there’s always something happening.
July 14, 2012
I’m a Katie MacAlister fan – her Dark Ones series is one of the first adult paranormal romance series I ever read. So when I found out that she had written a young adult novel set in the same world as her Dark Ones series, I was thrilled.
After being forced to accompany her mother to a European travelling psychic festival for a year, Fran is less than impressed. Until she comes face to face with Ben – a Moravian Dark One, also know as a vampire, who claims that she is his Beloved and the only one who can save his soul. A little bit insane perhaps but who is Fran to talk – she has her own odd little quirk and can tell the history of an item just by touching it.
From vampires and magical horses to demons and ghosts – this book really does cover a large range of the supernatural spectrum. The best part? Humour is involved at every turn. I was reading this book a few weeks ago when I was on a road trip with my sister… she didn’t appreciate my breaking out into laughter and giggles when she was trying to drive. Maybe I should have gotten an audio book so she could have enjoyed the story along with me.
This book is two smaller books (Got Fangs? and Circus of the Damned) in the same collection. The first one did a great job at setting the scene – Fran meeting Ben, introducing the rest of the Faire workers and having a bit of a mystery to tie it all together. But the second book was the one that made my day. I loved it. Fran was really coming into her own with regards to her abilities and her relationship with Ben was starting to move forward.
But what made me enjoy the book even more was the new characters – the Norse Warrior ghosts whom Fran accidentally summoned and was now responsible for their safe passage to Valhalla. They made me smile so hard I thought my face might crack in two. These are characters who consider nothing wrong with pillaging a local McDonalds so they can acquire Big Macs and then sacrifice the burgers in honour of the god, Loki.
I thought Fran was a fantastic heroine – sulky and sullen at the start but she begins to blossom into a strong and capable young woman. And Ben – gorgeous and wise… but also with faults that only make me like him more. I also liked their relationship with each other. Whilst there is incredible instant attraction between the two leads, there’s none of that instalove that I can’t stand. Their relationship grows as the book progresses.
MacAlister has managed to perfectly capture the funny and romantic vibes of her other series and perfectly tuned into the teen voice.
Note: I’ve read the third Fran and Ben story (In the Company of Vampires - Dark Ones #8) and really adore where MacAlister takes these characters as they grow a little older and see how their happily ever after really ends. It’s a little more adult and does contain sex and strong language so I’m not really recommending it if you’re a younger reader but I personally loved the third book in the series.
After being forced to accompany her mother to a European travelling psychic festival for a year, Fran is less than impressed. Until she comes face to face with Ben – a Moravian Dark One, also know as a vampire, who claims that she is his Beloved and the only one who can save his soul. A little bit insane perhaps but who is Fran to talk – she has her own odd little quirk and can tell the history of an item just by touching it.
From vampires and magical horses to demons and ghosts – this book really does cover a large range of the supernatural spectrum. The best part? Humour is involved at every turn. I was reading this book a few weeks ago when I was on a road trip with my sister… she didn’t appreciate my breaking out into laughter and giggles when she was trying to drive. Maybe I should have gotten an audio book so she could have enjoyed the story along with me.
This book is two smaller books (Got Fangs? and Circus of the Damned) in the same collection. The first one did a great job at setting the scene – Fran meeting Ben, introducing the rest of the Faire workers and having a bit of a mystery to tie it all together. But the second book was the one that made my day. I loved it. Fran was really coming into her own with regards to her abilities and her relationship with Ben was starting to move forward.
But what made me enjoy the book even more was the new characters – the Norse Warrior ghosts whom Fran accidentally summoned and was now responsible for their safe passage to Valhalla. They made me smile so hard I thought my face might crack in two. These are characters who consider nothing wrong with pillaging a local McDonalds so they can acquire Big Macs and then sacrifice the burgers in honour of the god, Loki.
I thought Fran was a fantastic heroine – sulky and sullen at the start but she begins to blossom into a strong and capable young woman. And Ben – gorgeous and wise… but also with faults that only make me like him more. I also liked their relationship with each other. Whilst there is incredible instant attraction between the two leads, there’s none of that instalove that I can’t stand. Their relationship grows as the book progresses.
MacAlister has managed to perfectly capture the funny and romantic vibes of her other series and perfectly tuned into the teen voice.
Note: I’ve read the third Fran and Ben story (In the Company of Vampires - Dark Ones #8) and really adore where MacAlister takes these characters as they grow a little older and see how their happily ever after really ends. It’s a little more adult and does contain sex and strong language so I’m not really recommending it if you’re a younger reader but I personally loved the third book in the series.
November 27, 2010
Confessions of a Vampire’s Girlfriend by Katie MacAlister
Paranormal Romance -Nov. 2nd, 2010
4 stars
Confessions of a Vampire’s Girlfriend is one book containing two short novels for Young Adults. Both novels are romance with paranormal and mystery elements. This book is a much younger and innocent version of Ms. Macalister’s Dark Ones series novels.
In “Got Fangs”, Francesca “Fran” Ghetti is sixteen and her father is remarried to a trophy wife. Fran, however, is abandoned to her mother’s custody in a traveling circus, the GothFaire and Circus of the Darned, in Europe. Unlike other teenagers, Fran has special abilities. When she touches anybody with her bare hands, she can read their minds.
When Fran literally walks in front of a vampire, Benedikt, “Ben” Czerny on his motorcycle, Ben discovers that he has finally found the savior of his soul, his Beloved. Because of their link, they can talk with each other using their minds. But Fran’s not ready to give up her independence and future, so she agrees to see Ben on the condition that he does not read her mind unless she authorizes it.
When somebody is stealing from the circus, Fran’s mother, who’s a witch, asks for Fran’s help. If Fran helps the catch the thief, she is allowed to keep a horse she saved from the glue factory and date Ben without too much parental intrusion. Fran better find the culprit soon because the same person wants to stake her boyfriend. If she has anything to say about it, that won’t happen.
In “Circus of the Darned”, Fran is fitting in well with the strange characters that make up the attractions. Fran helps Tilbot, her wizard friend, to keep a enchanted necklace, the Vikingaharta. But through it, Fran accidentally resurrects a dozen Viking warrior ghosts. Now Fran has to find a way to send them home to Valhalla.
Worse, Ben is back. Right after she agreed to be his girlfriend, he left without an explanation. Even though Fran is mad at him, Ben refuses to share what kept them apart. Then her horse, Tesla, gets stolen. Can’t a girl catch a break?!
Confessions of a Vampire’s Girlfriend is a fun read for people of any age, but without the sex scenes. There are no sex scenes in this book for those of you familiar with this author. Even the violence is much less than in her adult books. It happens off stage for the most part.
The book still has Ms. MacAlister’s sense of humor and wit that has drawn me to continually purchase her books. Because the stories were much shorter than her full size novels, she relied on a lot of stereotyping for her characters and scenes, which saddened me because her characters are her strongest points in her adult books.
Confessions is not as satisfying as her full-length novels, but together it left me wanting the next novel.
Reviewed by Jackie Fleming from Bookaholics Romance Club
Paranormal Romance -Nov. 2nd, 2010
4 stars
Confessions of a Vampire’s Girlfriend is one book containing two short novels for Young Adults. Both novels are romance with paranormal and mystery elements. This book is a much younger and innocent version of Ms. Macalister’s Dark Ones series novels.
In “Got Fangs”, Francesca “Fran” Ghetti is sixteen and her father is remarried to a trophy wife. Fran, however, is abandoned to her mother’s custody in a traveling circus, the GothFaire and Circus of the Darned, in Europe. Unlike other teenagers, Fran has special abilities. When she touches anybody with her bare hands, she can read their minds.
When Fran literally walks in front of a vampire, Benedikt, “Ben” Czerny on his motorcycle, Ben discovers that he has finally found the savior of his soul, his Beloved. Because of their link, they can talk with each other using their minds. But Fran’s not ready to give up her independence and future, so she agrees to see Ben on the condition that he does not read her mind unless she authorizes it.
When somebody is stealing from the circus, Fran’s mother, who’s a witch, asks for Fran’s help. If Fran helps the catch the thief, she is allowed to keep a horse she saved from the glue factory and date Ben without too much parental intrusion. Fran better find the culprit soon because the same person wants to stake her boyfriend. If she has anything to say about it, that won’t happen.
In “Circus of the Darned”, Fran is fitting in well with the strange characters that make up the attractions. Fran helps Tilbot, her wizard friend, to keep a enchanted necklace, the Vikingaharta. But through it, Fran accidentally resurrects a dozen Viking warrior ghosts. Now Fran has to find a way to send them home to Valhalla.
Worse, Ben is back. Right after she agreed to be his girlfriend, he left without an explanation. Even though Fran is mad at him, Ben refuses to share what kept them apart. Then her horse, Tesla, gets stolen. Can’t a girl catch a break?!
Confessions of a Vampire’s Girlfriend is a fun read for people of any age, but without the sex scenes. There are no sex scenes in this book for those of you familiar with this author. Even the violence is much less than in her adult books. It happens off stage for the most part.
The book still has Ms. MacAlister’s sense of humor and wit that has drawn me to continually purchase her books. Because the stories were much shorter than her full size novels, she relied on a lot of stereotyping for her characters and scenes, which saddened me because her characters are her strongest points in her adult books.
Confessions is not as satisfying as her full-length novels, but together it left me wanting the next novel.
Reviewed by Jackie Fleming from Bookaholics Romance Club
June 20, 2023
Confessions of a Vampire’s Girlfriend by Katie MacAlister (writing as Katie Maxwell) is an anthology featuring two young adult novels in the Dark Ones series: Got Fangs? and Circus of the Darned. These books are the “before” to Katie’s newest release, In the Company of Vampires.
Got Fangs? (4/5)
Fran is a psychometrist – she can see things when she touches people and objects. In the normal world, she feels like a freak. That all changes when she moves to Europe with her mom and travels with a troupe of psychics, magicians, and mediums. Meeting the handsome Benedikt furthers her journey into being a normal teenager—he’s not only taller than Fran, which isn’t a small feat, but he basically worships the ground she walks on. So what if he survives on blood and claims Fran is his Beloved. And so what if Fran’s definition of “normal” is slowly morphing to include the existence of vampires and eternal love. For once in her life, Fran isn’t the odd woman out.
Reading a young adult version of Katie’s normally hot-and-heavy writing wasn’t as strange as I’d feared. The focus was more on Fran dealing with her abilities and finding her place in the world and Ben’s life without worrying about when she was going to make hot monkey love. I think the underlying message about women and girls who aren’t “classically” beautiful deserving love and happiness is admirable. Adding in a little variety to the stick-thin figures in fiction, especially young adult fiction, isn’t only needed, it’s appreciated.
The scene at the end of Got Fangs? about made me bawl my eyes out. It’s almost the only action scene in the entire book, so don’t expect back-to-back fight scenes. The book focuses more on character development, leading into the events of Circus of the Darned.
Circus of the Darned (5/5)
Viking ghosts, vengeful Norse gods, and one steamy shower scene comprise my love for Circus of the Darned. Where Got Fangs? introduced us to Fran and Ben’s world, Circus of the Darned threw us right into the middle of it. Fran deals with the hardships of dating a Dark One and realizes the possibilities inherent in her psychometry. The feel of Circus of the Darned is much more grown-up than Got Fangs? It isn’t an all-out adult book but it’s teetering on the edge.
Had In the Company of Vampires not been released, I would probably not be as happy with the ending of Circus of the Darned. There’s so much going on—Fran has to find a way to send back the Viking ghosts, discover what secrets Ben is hiding from her, and who is stealing money from the GothFaire—and not all of it gets resolved. I mean, it’s satisfactory in as much as Fran and Ben resolve their immediate conflicts, but there are still so many unanswered questions! I suggest buying In the Company of Vampires as the same time as this anthology. You’ll want to crack it open as soon as you’re done!
Got Fangs? (4/5)
Fran is a psychometrist – she can see things when she touches people and objects. In the normal world, she feels like a freak. That all changes when she moves to Europe with her mom and travels with a troupe of psychics, magicians, and mediums. Meeting the handsome Benedikt furthers her journey into being a normal teenager—he’s not only taller than Fran, which isn’t a small feat, but he basically worships the ground she walks on. So what if he survives on blood and claims Fran is his Beloved. And so what if Fran’s definition of “normal” is slowly morphing to include the existence of vampires and eternal love. For once in her life, Fran isn’t the odd woman out.
Reading a young adult version of Katie’s normally hot-and-heavy writing wasn’t as strange as I’d feared. The focus was more on Fran dealing with her abilities and finding her place in the world and Ben’s life without worrying about when she was going to make hot monkey love. I think the underlying message about women and girls who aren’t “classically” beautiful deserving love and happiness is admirable. Adding in a little variety to the stick-thin figures in fiction, especially young adult fiction, isn’t only needed, it’s appreciated.
The scene at the end of Got Fangs? about made me bawl my eyes out. It’s almost the only action scene in the entire book, so don’t expect back-to-back fight scenes. The book focuses more on character development, leading into the events of Circus of the Darned.
Circus of the Darned (5/5)
Viking ghosts, vengeful Norse gods, and one steamy shower scene comprise my love for Circus of the Darned. Where Got Fangs? introduced us to Fran and Ben’s world, Circus of the Darned threw us right into the middle of it. Fran deals with the hardships of dating a Dark One and realizes the possibilities inherent in her psychometry. The feel of Circus of the Darned is much more grown-up than Got Fangs? It isn’t an all-out adult book but it’s teetering on the edge.
Had In the Company of Vampires not been released, I would probably not be as happy with the ending of Circus of the Darned. There’s so much going on—Fran has to find a way to send back the Viking ghosts, discover what secrets Ben is hiding from her, and who is stealing money from the GothFaire—and not all of it gets resolved. I mean, it’s satisfactory in as much as Fran and Ben resolve their immediate conflicts, but there are still so many unanswered questions! I suggest buying In the Company of Vampires as the same time as this anthology. You’ll want to crack it open as soon as you’re done!
September 9, 2014
I really liked this book. The diversity of the characters kept it interesting, the lead characters can be quite humorous although at times annoying, and of course the love story is...lovely! Who doesn't love some romance?! The whole concept of Beloved's is beautiful, and a totally different twist on the whole vamp mate thing, and I love how Ben knows straight away and doesn't muck around trying to ease her into it. The book is very forward in this aspect of the story at the beginning which is refreshing but sadly it does slow down. He's very protective and also quite humorous in his machoism. Also though his description doesn't sound all that appealing to me he still radiates sexy. Who wouldn't want a guy like him?
The plot is very simplistic but its very entertaining and light read. I loved the plot about Tesla - not very often are animals so centre stage and that horse sounds amazing. Also the other animals were peculiar and entertaining.
Above all this book (or the two books) are REALLY FUNNY!!
Ben's funny, Fran is funny. The animals are funny.
The Vikings are the highlight they actually made me laugh out loud several times, I LOVED those characters, they are genius. I cannot state enough how much I thought they made the book unforgettable, I've never read anything like it but they were just so much...fun! I could easily read an entire book about them they were hilarious. Genius!!!
A little annoyance was the lack of cuddling, kissing, sexual tension, flirting etc. I mean I know she's supposed to be young and there are some and its not really a huge basis for the book but if it had I would have happily put another star on.
I love how the author didn't take the whole thing (vampire, bad guys, love, supernatural thing etc) too seriously. This book was fun to read, light hearted and DEFINITELY funny. I'm not really sure why I loved it so much, it just had a charm and character that I haven't seen in a book in a while and its just so good!
Much enjoyed it and will be looking for more books from this author - Katie MacAlister - from now on.
The plot is very simplistic but its very entertaining and light read. I loved the plot about Tesla - not very often are animals so centre stage and that horse sounds amazing. Also the other animals were peculiar and entertaining.
Above all this book (or the two books) are REALLY FUNNY!!
Ben's funny, Fran is funny. The animals are funny.
The Vikings are the highlight they actually made me laugh out loud several times, I LOVED those characters, they are genius. I cannot state enough how much I thought they made the book unforgettable, I've never read anything like it but they were just so much...fun! I could easily read an entire book about them they were hilarious. Genius!!!
A little annoyance was the lack of cuddling, kissing, sexual tension, flirting etc. I mean I know she's supposed to be young and there are some and its not really a huge basis for the book but if it had I would have happily put another star on.
I love how the author didn't take the whole thing (vampire, bad guys, love, supernatural thing etc) too seriously. This book was fun to read, light hearted and DEFINITELY funny. I'm not really sure why I loved it so much, it just had a charm and character that I haven't seen in a book in a while and its just so good!
Much enjoyed it and will be looking for more books from this author - Katie MacAlister - from now on.
November 2, 2011
GrowingUp YA
You know you're a fan of Katie Maxwell because you still refer to her as Katie Maxwell -- She goes by Katie MacAlister nowadays. And thank the Book gods for her, because her novels were my first introduction to the Young Adult lit world.
Before I start, I should explain that Confessions of a Vampires Girlfriend is comprised of two books: Got Fangs? (2005) and Circus of the Darned (2006)
I did read both books separately, but because they are currently Out of Print I decided to just review the omnibus edition, Confessions of a Vampires Girlfriend.
Got Fangs? and Circus of the Darned were some of the earliest vampire books I read. I am talking before Borders (R.I.P) and Barnes and Nobles' shelves were flooded with Paranormal/Fantasy YA.
Francesca was "every-girl" and I related to her instantly. She was an awkward teen trying to figure out where she belonged. Um, story of my life! How could I not find her incredibly endearing? And of course Ben was my first vampire crush. Yes, people, there were other sexy, less sparkly, vamps to choose from before Edward Cullen. Plus, Ben was different. He was all man...and he came with a sexy motorcycle. *le sigh*
Note to Self: Must stop using the word sexy.
As weird as it sounds, I have so many great memories with this little series. Like all of Katie's books, this one is such a quick and enjoyable read. If anything, just buy it for the HILARIOUS Viking ghosts. Trust me.
If you're interested, Katie published In The Company of Vampires (2010), a followup to Confessions of a Vampire's Girlfriend. Please note, however, that this is an ADULT book, so racy, sweat-inducing scenes are sexily strewn throughout the book.
Don't say I didn't warn you...
You know you're a fan of Katie Maxwell because you still refer to her as Katie Maxwell -- She goes by Katie MacAlister nowadays. And thank the Book gods for her, because her novels were my first introduction to the Young Adult lit world.
Before I start, I should explain that Confessions of a Vampires Girlfriend is comprised of two books: Got Fangs? (2005) and Circus of the Darned (2006)
I did read both books separately, but because they are currently Out of Print I decided to just review the omnibus edition, Confessions of a Vampires Girlfriend.
Got Fangs? and Circus of the Darned were some of the earliest vampire books I read. I am talking before Borders (R.I.P) and Barnes and Nobles' shelves were flooded with Paranormal/Fantasy YA.
Francesca was "every-girl" and I related to her instantly. She was an awkward teen trying to figure out where she belonged. Um, story of my life! How could I not find her incredibly endearing? And of course Ben was my first vampire crush. Yes, people, there were other sexy, less sparkly, vamps to choose from before Edward Cullen. Plus, Ben was different. He was all man...and he came with a sexy motorcycle. *le sigh*
Note to Self: Must stop using the word sexy.
As weird as it sounds, I have so many great memories with this little series. Like all of Katie's books, this one is such a quick and enjoyable read. If anything, just buy it for the HILARIOUS Viking ghosts. Trust me.
If you're interested, Katie published In The Company of Vampires (2010), a followup to Confessions of a Vampire's Girlfriend. Please note, however, that this is an ADULT book, so racy, sweat-inducing scenes are sexily strewn throughout the book.
Don't say I didn't warn you...
January 2, 2019
"Got Fangs" introduces us to Fran, an Oregon native suddenly part of a European traveling Goth Faire currently set up in Germany when her mother takes a job with them. Fran's mother is a witch with a booth where she sells potions. Fran actually fits in with the strange and unusual crowd at the Goth Faire. When the safe that houses all the Goth Faire's money is robbed, Fran's gift gets used in order to help find the perpetrator.
Fran also meets Benedikt while helping a friend prepare a stage for an upcoming concert and her life is forever changed. Ben is a Dark One...a vampire that needs Fran to redeem his soul.
"Circus Of The Darned" has the Goth Faire in Sweden now and Fran is now in possession of a pendant given to her for safe keeping; TheVikingaharta Valknut (meanins "heart of the viking"). Little does she know that there is much power held withing the pendant. That is until she a "blot" circle and inadvertently raises an army of viking ghosts. When Fran attempts to send the Vikings back by summoning Loki, the God of Mischief, she gets more than she bargained for.
Amid all the chaos, Fran, while in love with Ben, has a hard time with the "Beloved" concept of a Dark One. Especially when she thinks he's hiding things from her. Will she or won't she accept her destiny?
As will all of the Katie MacAlister books I've read (Dark Ones series, Dragon series, etc.) there is a ton of humor & sarcasm in "Confessions."
The plot in both books flows well and is very exciting. I didn't find any slow spots and I found it hard to put the book down.
The viking ghosts are great!!
Fran also meets Benedikt while helping a friend prepare a stage for an upcoming concert and her life is forever changed. Ben is a Dark One...a vampire that needs Fran to redeem his soul.
"Circus Of The Darned" has the Goth Faire in Sweden now and Fran is now in possession of a pendant given to her for safe keeping; TheVikingaharta Valknut (meanins "heart of the viking"). Little does she know that there is much power held withing the pendant. That is until she a "blot" circle and inadvertently raises an army of viking ghosts. When Fran attempts to send the Vikings back by summoning Loki, the God of Mischief, she gets more than she bargained for.
Amid all the chaos, Fran, while in love with Ben, has a hard time with the "Beloved" concept of a Dark One. Especially when she thinks he's hiding things from her. Will she or won't she accept her destiny?
As will all of the Katie MacAlister books I've read (Dark Ones series, Dragon series, etc.) there is a ton of humor & sarcasm in "Confessions."
The plot in both books flows well and is very exciting. I didn't find any slow spots and I found it hard to put the book down.
The viking ghosts are great!!
January 8, 2013
Honestly, this is teen vampire love done right.
I've read tons of Katie Macalister's books and I adore them. And in my time I read lots of angsty teenage paranormals. And in my head I just didn't see how to connect the two. By now, the thought of long dead men falling for sixteen year old girls gives me the heebie jeebies. And Macalister writes such sexy sexiness of sextopia, and how would THAT fit in with young adult land?
She made it all work though. A sexy Dark One who tries his best not to pressure her. A heroine goofy enough to be 16, but with plenty of self respect and independence. Make outs that go a little far, and some shared thoughts that make me really want to take a shower are the perfect sexiness for this age group. Not that I wasn't reading the good stuff at sixteen, I just don't want to read about a sixteen year old doing the good stuff.
Wonderfully done! And then the character development and growing up done between these and In the Company of Vampires is really well done and a lot like some other very stubborn self righteously independent teenagers I know who grew and became independent somewhat less stubborn learned to pick their battles women I know.
I've read tons of Katie Macalister's books and I adore them. And in my time I read lots of angsty teenage paranormals. And in my head I just didn't see how to connect the two. By now, the thought of long dead men falling for sixteen year old girls gives me the heebie jeebies. And Macalister writes such sexy sexiness of sextopia, and how would THAT fit in with young adult land?
She made it all work though. A sexy Dark One who tries his best not to pressure her. A heroine goofy enough to be 16, but with plenty of self respect and independence. Make outs that go a little far, and some shared thoughts that make me really want to take a shower are the perfect sexiness for this age group. Not that I wasn't reading the good stuff at sixteen, I just don't want to read about a sixteen year old doing the good stuff.
Wonderfully done! And then the character development and growing up done between these and In the Company of Vampires is really well done and a lot like some other very stubborn self righteously independent teenagers I know who grew and became independent somewhat less stubborn learned to pick their battles women I know.
February 2, 2011
This was my first Katie MacAlister book, or actually, bookS, since this is really two stories in one.
The first story (Fangs) was good, but I was hesitant and unsure what to think. For whatever reason, I wasn't drawn enough into the story and never really "lost myself" in the pages.
BUT, having said that, by the end of book two (Circus of the Darned), she HAD me.
The chemistry between Dark One, Ben, and GothFaire 16 year old, Fran, is DEFINITELY what keeps you reading through the pages. Their banter is fun and flirty, their arguments hilarious, but realistic.
The wit and humor spread throughout is spot on and her cast of characters (although sometimes stereotypical) is colorful and just plain fun. They're all quite lovable and by the end, feel like family.
All in all, I'd classify this as one of those easy reads that just makes you smile. I will definitely be continuing Ben and Fran's story!
The first story (Fangs) was good, but I was hesitant and unsure what to think. For whatever reason, I wasn't drawn enough into the story and never really "lost myself" in the pages.
BUT, having said that, by the end of book two (Circus of the Darned), she HAD me.
The chemistry between Dark One, Ben, and GothFaire 16 year old, Fran, is DEFINITELY what keeps you reading through the pages. Their banter is fun and flirty, their arguments hilarious, but realistic.
The wit and humor spread throughout is spot on and her cast of characters (although sometimes stereotypical) is colorful and just plain fun. They're all quite lovable and by the end, feel like family.
All in all, I'd classify this as one of those easy reads that just makes you smile. I will definitely be continuing Ben and Fran's story!
February 1, 2011
Kristi's Review:
This was my first Katie MacAlister book, or actually, bookS, since this is really two stories in one.
The first story (Fangs) was good, but I was hesitant and unsure what to think. For whatever reason, I wasn't drawn enough into the story and never really "lost myself" in the pages.
BUT, having said that, by the end of book two (Circus of the Darned), she HAD me.
The chemistry between Dark One, Ben, and GothFaire 16 year old, Fran, is DEFINITELY what keeps you reading through the pages. Their banter is fun and flirty, their arguments hilarious, but realistic.
The wit and humor spread throughout is spot on and her cast of characters (although sometimes stereotypical) is colorful and just plain fun. They're all quite lovable and by the end, feel like family.
All in all, I'd classify this as one of those easy reads that just makes you smile. I will definitely be continuing Ben and Fran's story!
This was my first Katie MacAlister book, or actually, bookS, since this is really two stories in one.
The first story (Fangs) was good, but I was hesitant and unsure what to think. For whatever reason, I wasn't drawn enough into the story and never really "lost myself" in the pages.
BUT, having said that, by the end of book two (Circus of the Darned), she HAD me.
The chemistry between Dark One, Ben, and GothFaire 16 year old, Fran, is DEFINITELY what keeps you reading through the pages. Their banter is fun and flirty, their arguments hilarious, but realistic.
The wit and humor spread throughout is spot on and her cast of characters (although sometimes stereotypical) is colorful and just plain fun. They're all quite lovable and by the end, feel like family.
All in all, I'd classify this as one of those easy reads that just makes you smile. I will definitely be continuing Ben and Fran's story!
July 10, 2013
It was refreshing to see a Dark Ones story in a young adult version. I loved the characters. Fran is in the middle of her teen years living in a different country with her mother since her dad (who's back in the States) needs time to settle into life with his new trophy wife. Not only is her life turned upside down from that, but add to it meeting the person she's destined to be with for centuries, helping to solve a mystery surrounding the Goth Faire, having a group of Viking ghosts calling you their goddess, and a vengeful Nordic god on your back and you're in for one heck of a good story.
I recommend reading this edition before reading In the Company of Vampires (the story of Fran and Ben after Fran has come of age).
I recommend reading this edition before reading In the Company of Vampires (the story of Fran and Ben after Fran has come of age).
September 8, 2015
This book makes me laugh, cry and down right want to read it over and over again. I have probity read this book 20 times because the main character I can relate to on so many leaves. This book is well written and keeps the reader wanting more, and Ben!!! Omg I wish I could find one for myself. I love this book and everything about Fran and Ben.
May 18, 2015
Cute book(s), two in one. I like Katie MacAlister so did enjoy this although not as much as some of her others. Aimed more at the teen, young adult, I think, but still enjoyable for us more mature readers!
November 6, 2010
I wish this series had been picked up by teen fiction readers :(
Because I really enjoyed reading it!!
Because I really enjoyed reading it!!
July 3, 2015
Light, humorous, upbeat YA paranormal. Fun, but not particularly notable for me.
April 27, 2016
Schöne leichte Kost für zwischendurch und nett, die Vorgeschichte zu Fran und Ben zu lesen, aber es war mir zu sehr in die Länge gezogen.
February 2, 2018
Good read
These two stories are sweet and fun. I hope we get to visit with Fran and Ben again, their adventures are exciting and interesting to read about. A must have if you are a dark ones fan.
These two stories are sweet and fun. I hope we get to visit with Fran and Ben again, their adventures are exciting and interesting to read about. A must have if you are a dark ones fan.
September 21, 2018
As usual Katie writes a great book, very fun characters and story. It just ends without a finish.... need at least one more book. Good book though.
January 7, 2019
Usually I don't get on with YA books at all, but this set worked for me, mostly because it had Katies quirky humour.
June 19, 2020
Absolutely hated it. Hated the mother, hated everything about it. Trash.
March 22, 2021
Sehr lustig XD Bin froh, endlich die Vorgeschichte von Fran und Ben zu lesen. Mag dad Paar und die Vikinger sind das Geilste ever *lach*
April 8, 2023
The characters are a little over dramatic, but it's cute, and I really can't say that I mind. This book is not really my normal cup of tea, but certainly entertaining.
March 9, 2012
Review on Linny's Literature
Confessions of a Vampire's Girlfriend, the combination of two YA short stories: Got Fangs? and Circus of the Darned, is a very innocent light read with an interesting premise. The titles Got Fangs? and Circus of the Darned actually describe the story itself pretty well. They try to be funny, somtimes successfully and sometimes not. Replacing the word "damned" with "darned" in the second title, showing once again the attempt to be funny while keeping this book very innocent. Talking about the combination of circuses and vampires, a unique and promising storyline.
Francesca, aka Fran, travels with a supernatural circus across Europe with her mother, who's a witch. Along with some psychic powers of her own, Fran turns out to be a vampire's Beloved- the only woman who can redeem his soul. What about that story doesn't sound wonderful? If only this book could have focused more on that story. In Got Fangs?, there is a theif stealing from the Circus and, after some random stuff with her getting a horse, Fran promises to find out who it is. Circus of the Darned focuses on Fran trying to find her new horse after someone has stolen it and sending the Viking ghosts that Fran accidently summoned to Valhalla. Just.. what? The story of Fran discovering her powers, becoming a part of the circus, and exploring her romance with a hot vampire is set primarily on the backburner through the book. And that is the story I wanted to read.
The first part of this book, Got Fangs?, focuses on Fran finding out who is stealing from the Circus. When you find out who the killer really is, it is very anti-climatic. Not that I had guessed who the theif was or anything, but the whole thing seemed very fluffy. The second part, Circus of the Darned, tells the story of Fran trying to ditch the Viking ghosts she's accidentally conjured that think she's a goddess. While things the Vikings did were obviously meant to be funny, often they was more worthy of an eye-roll than a laugh. For example: Fran sees the Vikings causing chaos and says "Holy crap!" One of the Vikings look over at a pile of dog crap on the ground and say that since shes's a goddess, if she says it's holy than he won't question it. Duh Dun Tiss. In both parts of the book, the story remains very PG amd fluffy. Fluffy isn't necessarily bad though, it just means that this book can't be anything more than a light read for me.
My only real problem with Confession's of a Vampire's Girlfriend is the main character, Fran. She could go from hot to cold in a matter of seconds over things that I thought weren't nearly worth the effort. Fran had a strong personality and could stick up for herself, and this would've been nice if it hadn't been so over the top. Ben, the vampire who has found Fran to be his Beloved, often tries to protect and take care of Fran. I understand her getting upset to a point, being so pro-women as Fran is, but she gets seriously pissed at Ben for trying his best to protect her. At one point she calls him a "chivalric pig". Can those two words be in the same sentence? But then the next minute she'll be making out with him (She's hot then she's cold, she's yes then she's no~). And it wasn't as big a deal, but it kind of annoyed me how Fran would use a lot of quirky, made up type words. Her most abused word being "hissy", like saying that her mom was going to "have a hissy" about something.
Overall, Confession's of a Vampire's Girlfriend was a light, fun read. I believe that it could have been an amazing read, though, if it had stuck to the initial story, wasn't so fluffy, and gave Fran a chill pill. But maybe that's just me. It ended with more story to tell of Fran and Ben's relationship, and apparently it continues it MacAlister's Dark Ones adult series in book #8. However, Confession's of a Vampire's Girlfriend could be a stand-alone novel if you wanted it to be and that is what it's going to be for me.
Confessions of a Vampire's Girlfriend, the combination of two YA short stories: Got Fangs? and Circus of the Darned, is a very innocent light read with an interesting premise. The titles Got Fangs? and Circus of the Darned actually describe the story itself pretty well. They try to be funny, somtimes successfully and sometimes not. Replacing the word "damned" with "darned" in the second title, showing once again the attempt to be funny while keeping this book very innocent. Talking about the combination of circuses and vampires, a unique and promising storyline.
Francesca, aka Fran, travels with a supernatural circus across Europe with her mother, who's a witch. Along with some psychic powers of her own, Fran turns out to be a vampire's Beloved- the only woman who can redeem his soul. What about that story doesn't sound wonderful? If only this book could have focused more on that story. In Got Fangs?, there is a theif stealing from the Circus and, after some random stuff with her getting a horse, Fran promises to find out who it is. Circus of the Darned focuses on Fran trying to find her new horse after someone has stolen it and sending the Viking ghosts that Fran accidently summoned to Valhalla. Just.. what? The story of Fran discovering her powers, becoming a part of the circus, and exploring her romance with a hot vampire is set primarily on the backburner through the book. And that is the story I wanted to read.
The first part of this book, Got Fangs?, focuses on Fran finding out who is stealing from the Circus. When you find out who the killer really is, it is very anti-climatic. Not that I had guessed who the theif was or anything, but the whole thing seemed very fluffy. The second part, Circus of the Darned, tells the story of Fran trying to ditch the Viking ghosts she's accidentally conjured that think she's a goddess. While things the Vikings did were obviously meant to be funny, often they was more worthy of an eye-roll than a laugh. For example: Fran sees the Vikings causing chaos and says "Holy crap!" One of the Vikings look over at a pile of dog crap on the ground and say that since shes's a goddess, if she says it's holy than he won't question it. Duh Dun Tiss. In both parts of the book, the story remains very PG amd fluffy. Fluffy isn't necessarily bad though, it just means that this book can't be anything more than a light read for me.
My only real problem with Confession's of a Vampire's Girlfriend is the main character, Fran. She could go from hot to cold in a matter of seconds over things that I thought weren't nearly worth the effort. Fran had a strong personality and could stick up for herself, and this would've been nice if it hadn't been so over the top. Ben, the vampire who has found Fran to be his Beloved, often tries to protect and take care of Fran. I understand her getting upset to a point, being so pro-women as Fran is, but she gets seriously pissed at Ben for trying his best to protect her. At one point she calls him a "chivalric pig". Can those two words be in the same sentence? But then the next minute she'll be making out with him (She's hot then she's cold, she's yes then she's no~). And it wasn't as big a deal, but it kind of annoyed me how Fran would use a lot of quirky, made up type words. Her most abused word being "hissy", like saying that her mom was going to "have a hissy" about something.
Overall, Confession's of a Vampire's Girlfriend was a light, fun read. I believe that it could have been an amazing read, though, if it had stuck to the initial story, wasn't so fluffy, and gave Fran a chill pill. But maybe that's just me. It ended with more story to tell of Fran and Ben's relationship, and apparently it continues it MacAlister's Dark Ones adult series in book #8. However, Confession's of a Vampire's Girlfriend could be a stand-alone novel if you wanted it to be and that is what it's going to be for me.
April 1, 2013
Confessions of a Vampire's Girlfriend (Ben and Fran #1-2)
by Katie MacAlister AKA Katie Maxwell
3 out of 5 stars
http://angelswithattitudebookreviews-...
novels—Got Fangs? and Circus of
the Darned—now back in print and
together for the first time!
Meet Francesca. She’s in Europe, working in a
traveling faire along with psychics, magicians, and
other really bizarre people. Her life? Not-so-normal.
Her boyfriend, Ben? Not-so-alive. And in these two
novels, it’s up to Francesca to redeem his soul, find
something to wear on their very first date, deal with
her emerging psychic talent, and shake the warring
Viking ghosts she accidentally conjured.
My Thoughts and Review
This was just an okay read for me. Not a lot of substance. There is basically two stories in one. The both stories revolve around Ben and Fran.Frans has been living with her mother this summer traveling with a faire. Her moms a witch and Fran also has her own special powers of her own she can read people by touching them like your very own truth detector.She meets Ben who is a Dark One a 300 year old plus vampire who says that after searching many years he has found his beloved and soul-mate in Fran. She thinks he is nuts.While Ben per-sues ,Fran is investigating the theft of someone stealing from the faire's till and her mom wants to enlist Fran to uncover the culprit.Frans hates that she special and does not want to use her powers she wants to be normal and doesn't want anyone thinking she is a freak .Fran has a real problem being different and throws it up in everyones face at every turn she can get how she hates it wanting to me normal it becomes annoying ! She is the only one who can solve this crime as the person responsible for the theft is a non-human. Ben and her learn to get to know one another which Fran is not making it easy for him, He has a Demon trying to kill him and secrets of is own making life tough at the moment.
There is a little bit of mystery . I liked the backdrop of the story which was something different for a change .I just felt this story lacked excitement.
The other story however was cute. Ben is back and he and Fran are trying the boyfriend girl friend thing. At one of Frans mothers witch circle meeting Fran accidentally summons a bunch of Ghosts that are Viking thinking she is a Goddess and they are there to do her bidding.This story gave been some laughs as the Vikings are giving Fran advice on Love and Dating which was hilarious. The scene where they were shopping with her was a Hoot. A my favorite there trips to M Donald's for big macs. And the scene where they sacrificed there big mac's to the Loki god had me chuckling.This story had more going on and Ben and Fran team up to find away to return the ghost to where they belong and the continue on finding out who is trying to kill been and why ?
Would recommend this as a library read or a paperback swap book.Even though I had some mixed feeling about the one story the other story did make up for that.
by Katie MacAlister AKA Katie Maxwell
3 out of 5 stars
http://angelswithattitudebookreviews-...
novels—Got Fangs? and Circus of
the Darned—now back in print and
together for the first time!
Meet Francesca. She’s in Europe, working in a
traveling faire along with psychics, magicians, and
other really bizarre people. Her life? Not-so-normal.
Her boyfriend, Ben? Not-so-alive. And in these two
novels, it’s up to Francesca to redeem his soul, find
something to wear on their very first date, deal with
her emerging psychic talent, and shake the warring
Viking ghosts she accidentally conjured.
My Thoughts and Review
This was just an okay read for me. Not a lot of substance. There is basically two stories in one. The both stories revolve around Ben and Fran.Frans has been living with her mother this summer traveling with a faire. Her moms a witch and Fran also has her own special powers of her own she can read people by touching them like your very own truth detector.She meets Ben who is a Dark One a 300 year old plus vampire who says that after searching many years he has found his beloved and soul-mate in Fran. She thinks he is nuts.While Ben per-sues ,Fran is investigating the theft of someone stealing from the faire's till and her mom wants to enlist Fran to uncover the culprit.Frans hates that she special and does not want to use her powers she wants to be normal and doesn't want anyone thinking she is a freak .Fran has a real problem being different and throws it up in everyones face at every turn she can get how she hates it wanting to me normal it becomes annoying ! She is the only one who can solve this crime as the person responsible for the theft is a non-human. Ben and her learn to get to know one another which Fran is not making it easy for him, He has a Demon trying to kill him and secrets of is own making life tough at the moment.
There is a little bit of mystery . I liked the backdrop of the story which was something different for a change .I just felt this story lacked excitement.
The other story however was cute. Ben is back and he and Fran are trying the boyfriend girl friend thing. At one of Frans mothers witch circle meeting Fran accidentally summons a bunch of Ghosts that are Viking thinking she is a Goddess and they are there to do her bidding.This story gave been some laughs as the Vikings are giving Fran advice on Love and Dating which was hilarious. The scene where they were shopping with her was a Hoot. A my favorite there trips to M Donald's for big macs. And the scene where they sacrificed there big mac's to the Loki god had me chuckling.This story had more going on and Ben and Fran team up to find away to return the ghost to where they belong and the continue on finding out who is trying to kill been and why ?
Would recommend this as a library read or a paperback swap book.Even though I had some mixed feeling about the one story the other story did make up for that.
December 20, 2014
So, I am a huge fan of Katie MacAlister's Dark Ones books. And I have several on the TBR shelf. But I have been waiting to read them, because #8 In the Company of Vampires is actually a continuation of the adult relationship of Ben and Francesca. The main characters from Got Fangs? and Circus of the Darned. They have since been combined into one book, Confessions of a Vampire's Girlfriend.
Now I am going to be very clear, most of the time, I am not into YA Romance. The whole Twilight thing? *shudder* Let's just say, that I have a name for it: The Teen Drama Trauma and move on, shall we? So, I have had this books sitting and waiting to be read. I kept putting it off and putting it off. It would probably still be on my TBR shelf, if not for all these Reading Challenges I see going up. It got me to thinking, it is time to start clearing out some of the older books in the TBR pile. On that note, I finally worked up the nerve and dived in.
Honestly, it wasn't as bad as I feared. The signature Katie MacAlister humor and snarkiness is there. Yes, the 16 year old Francesca is moody and broody, but I think most anyone would have been in her shoes. She is trying to make the best of it, but as she keeps saying, "Her Life is Weird."
Fran is with her mom, touring around Europe as part of a Goth Faire. The only one near her age is a 15 year old boy, Soren. Fran's mom is a witch, her new friend Imogen is a Marovian (female vampire/Dark One) and Fran herself is a psychometrist. Plus she is surrounded by all the other members of the Goth Faire, all of the strange and just a little out there.
Then she meets Imogene's brother Benidikt, who is a Dark One and claims that she is his Beloved. The only one who can save his soul and that they are destined to be together. It is right here, that the book could have made that sad, turn down Twilight lane and been all "Oh, we must be together forever" and "I can't exist without you". Thank God it did not.
First of all, Fran keeps calling Ben a Vampire, a term he dislikes. Secondly, she doesn't really believe in the whole "Beloved" thing. She wants to take it slow and just be friendly. Ben keeps stepping in to save and protect her and Fran keeps telling him to let her fight her own battles. It was wonderful!
I read both books fairly quickly, and will admit I thought the second one ended rather abruptly. It left me hanging and kind of wondering, "What the hell?" I didn't really feel that there was a natural conclusion to the situation and it felt both rushed and forced. I am hoping that when I start on In the Company of Vampires, set years later, it will resolve some of these feelings of "And???"
Now I am going to be very clear, most of the time, I am not into YA Romance. The whole Twilight thing? *shudder* Let's just say, that I have a name for it: The Teen Drama Trauma and move on, shall we? So, I have had this books sitting and waiting to be read. I kept putting it off and putting it off. It would probably still be on my TBR shelf, if not for all these Reading Challenges I see going up. It got me to thinking, it is time to start clearing out some of the older books in the TBR pile. On that note, I finally worked up the nerve and dived in.
Honestly, it wasn't as bad as I feared. The signature Katie MacAlister humor and snarkiness is there. Yes, the 16 year old Francesca is moody and broody, but I think most anyone would have been in her shoes. She is trying to make the best of it, but as she keeps saying, "Her Life is Weird."
Fran is with her mom, touring around Europe as part of a Goth Faire. The only one near her age is a 15 year old boy, Soren. Fran's mom is a witch, her new friend Imogen is a Marovian (female vampire/Dark One) and Fran herself is a psychometrist. Plus she is surrounded by all the other members of the Goth Faire, all of the strange and just a little out there.
Then she meets Imogene's brother Benidikt, who is a Dark One and claims that she is his Beloved. The only one who can save his soul and that they are destined to be together. It is right here, that the book could have made that sad, turn down Twilight lane and been all "Oh, we must be together forever" and "I can't exist without you". Thank God it did not.
First of all, Fran keeps calling Ben a Vampire, a term he dislikes. Secondly, she doesn't really believe in the whole "Beloved" thing. She wants to take it slow and just be friendly. Ben keeps stepping in to save and protect her and Fran keeps telling him to let her fight her own battles. It was wonderful!
I read both books fairly quickly, and will admit I thought the second one ended rather abruptly. It left me hanging and kind of wondering, "What the hell?" I didn't really feel that there was a natural conclusion to the situation and it felt both rushed and forced. I am hoping that when I start on In the Company of Vampires, set years later, it will resolve some of these feelings of "And???"
November 5, 2015
L'héroïne raconte son histoire et elle nous la raconte à nous, lecteurs, en s'adressant à nous avec c'est "tu vois", "tu comprends" etc. D'emblée ça plonge dans l'histoire. C'est un peu comme une amie qui nous raconte ses aventures. J'ai trouvé ça sympa. Curieusement, alors que j'ai bien une vf et que l'auteur est américaine, la traduction est parfois bizarre, avec des expressions qui me paraissent québécoises, pas du tout françaises.
L'ambiance est intéressante. C'est la première fois que je lis un roman qui se déroule en Europe de l'Est, dans une sorte de cirque ambulant, une foire gothique très exactement. Pas avec des clowns mais des personnes dotées de dons : télépathe, medium, démonologue, et même des vampires !
Sur ce plan, l'auteur a un peu revisité la légende en accordant le vampirisme pur qu'aux hommes, les femmes étant seulement immortelles. Les premiers sont des Ombres, les seconds des Moraves. Bon, je vous avoue, ce n'est pas une chose à laquelle j'ai vraiment adhéré mais pourquoi pas !
Il y a juste un problème à caler cette histoire dans un pays étranger, c'est que curieusement on dirait que tout le monde parle anglais, tout le temps ;)
Fran est une ado, avec les problèmes liés à son âge, plus à sa vie hors norme et son don, ce qui n'est pas rien. Mais ça va, elle n'en est pas insupportable pour autant, ni tête à claques ^^ Et pour une fois, elle a un physique qui change vraiment : 1m85 !
Bénédict est mystérieux et agréable mais dans ce tome, on n'apprend pas grand chose sur lui. Il reste secondaire. Ceci dit le "couple" qu'il forme avec Fran est drôle, surtout qu'elle ne veut pas se lier à lui. Elle résiste ! Oui, parce que pour lui, elle est son âme soeur.
Je regrette quand même l'absence de profondeur des perso, hors Fran. Peut être dans les prochains tomes ?
En ce qui concerne le don de Fran : quand elle touche les gens ou les objets, elle se retrouve connectée à eux ce qui est perturbant et fatiguant. Elle n'assume pas et cache son don. Mais des vols au sein de la foire et le sauvetage d'un cheval vont la forcer à s'en servir. Il y a donc une intrigue que j'ai trouvé bien menée : perso, je n'ai pas trouvé qui avant la fin, comme Fran :)
En somme, c'est un roman sympa et agréable à lire. Je pense que je lirais les autres !
Bisous
Casting ? http://lireoudormir.blogspot.fr/2015/...
L'ambiance est intéressante. C'est la première fois que je lis un roman qui se déroule en Europe de l'Est, dans une sorte de cirque ambulant, une foire gothique très exactement. Pas avec des clowns mais des personnes dotées de dons : télépathe, medium, démonologue, et même des vampires !
Sur ce plan, l'auteur a un peu revisité la légende en accordant le vampirisme pur qu'aux hommes, les femmes étant seulement immortelles. Les premiers sont des Ombres, les seconds des Moraves. Bon, je vous avoue, ce n'est pas une chose à laquelle j'ai vraiment adhéré mais pourquoi pas !
Il y a juste un problème à caler cette histoire dans un pays étranger, c'est que curieusement on dirait que tout le monde parle anglais, tout le temps ;)
Fran est une ado, avec les problèmes liés à son âge, plus à sa vie hors norme et son don, ce qui n'est pas rien. Mais ça va, elle n'en est pas insupportable pour autant, ni tête à claques ^^ Et pour une fois, elle a un physique qui change vraiment : 1m85 !
Bénédict est mystérieux et agréable mais dans ce tome, on n'apprend pas grand chose sur lui. Il reste secondaire. Ceci dit le "couple" qu'il forme avec Fran est drôle, surtout qu'elle ne veut pas se lier à lui. Elle résiste ! Oui, parce que pour lui, elle est son âme soeur.
Je regrette quand même l'absence de profondeur des perso, hors Fran. Peut être dans les prochains tomes ?
En ce qui concerne le don de Fran : quand elle touche les gens ou les objets, elle se retrouve connectée à eux ce qui est perturbant et fatiguant. Elle n'assume pas et cache son don. Mais des vols au sein de la foire et le sauvetage d'un cheval vont la forcer à s'en servir. Il y a donc une intrigue que j'ai trouvé bien menée : perso, je n'ai pas trouvé qui avant la fin, comme Fran :)
En somme, c'est un roman sympa et agréable à lire. Je pense que je lirais les autres !
Bisous
Casting ? http://lireoudormir.blogspot.fr/2015/...
February 1, 2011
This is two short YA stories written by Katie MacAlister writing as Katie Maxwell.
Got Fangs?(Ben and Fran 1): Francesca (Fran) is not having the summer fun she wants to instead of hanging with friends she is hanging with psychics, magicians and people who talk to ghosts. Instead of shopping at the mall she is traveling through Europe with her mom (who is a witch) and a Goth Fair. Then she meets Benedikt the only draw back he is a dark one or vampire. Ben claims that Fran is his Beloved and can save his soul. Fran isn’t so sure she is ready for that at 16 but when Ben's life is in danger Fran risks her own to save him.
Circus of the Darned (Ben and Fran 2): Ben and Fran are having their first date but things get complicated when Fran accidentally summons a clan of Viking Warriors , her horse gets stolen and her mom is putting all sorts of boundaries on her and Ben. Plus Ben is keeping secrets from Fran, she has nothing to wear on her date and the Vikings think Fran is a goddess. To fix everything Fran needs to summon the Viking demi-god Loki but will that really fix anything?
These are two very well written stories by MacAlister. What I like best about her female characters is that they do not wait around for someone else to solve their problems. They are strong independent and more than capable of tackling life head on. The only objection I have to these books is Fran is 16 yrs old and Ben is 300+ yrs old. Although MacAlister does a fine job of only having Ben and Fran kissing and Ben is very gallant in not pressuring Fran and "tying" her to him for all eternity due to her age. And Ben is the one to pull away from kissing because of Fran’s age. It does still irate me.
Got Fangs?(Ben and Fran 1): Francesca (Fran) is not having the summer fun she wants to instead of hanging with friends she is hanging with psychics, magicians and people who talk to ghosts. Instead of shopping at the mall she is traveling through Europe with her mom (who is a witch) and a Goth Fair. Then she meets Benedikt the only draw back he is a dark one or vampire. Ben claims that Fran is his Beloved and can save his soul. Fran isn’t so sure she is ready for that at 16 but when Ben's life is in danger Fran risks her own to save him.
Circus of the Darned (Ben and Fran 2): Ben and Fran are having their first date but things get complicated when Fran accidentally summons a clan of Viking Warriors , her horse gets stolen and her mom is putting all sorts of boundaries on her and Ben. Plus Ben is keeping secrets from Fran, she has nothing to wear on her date and the Vikings think Fran is a goddess. To fix everything Fran needs to summon the Viking demi-god Loki but will that really fix anything?
These are two very well written stories by MacAlister. What I like best about her female characters is that they do not wait around for someone else to solve their problems. They are strong independent and more than capable of tackling life head on. The only objection I have to these books is Fran is 16 yrs old and Ben is 300+ yrs old. Although MacAlister does a fine job of only having Ben and Fran kissing and Ben is very gallant in not pressuring Fran and "tying" her to him for all eternity due to her age. And Ben is the one to pull away from kissing because of Fran’s age. It does still irate me.
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