Title: A Werewolf's Guide to Seducing a VampireAuthor: Sarah Hawley
Series: Glimmer Falls #3
Pages: 448
Publication Date: Aug. 13, 2024
Publisher: Berkley
Genres: Fiction / Romance / Contemporary / Fantasy
Synopsis:
Ben Rosewood never meant to be bound to a vampire succubus, especially one as sexy-yet-terrifying as Eleanora Bettencourt-Devereux, but he has to admit there are some fang-tastic perks….
Werewolf Ben Rosewood is happy with his life. One hundred percent. Everything is fine. His business, Ben’s Plant Emporium, is thriving, and he’s even expanding the shop. His anxiety disorder is…well, it’s been better, but that comes with the territory of running a business and having beastly urges every full moon, right? As for romance—who has the time? Though his family is desperate to see him settled, Ben is fine approaching forty as a single werewolf. But after drunkenly bidding on and winning a supposedly-possessed crystal on eBay one night, he finds himself face-to-face with a beautiful but angry vampire.
Eleanora Bettencourt-Devereux is a rare breed—a vampire succubus born from two elite European bloodlines during medieval times. But thanks to an evil witch, she’s been stuck in a crystal since she was thirty, forced to obey orders from the possessor of the rock. Eleanora’s been dreaming of breaking the spell and severing the witch’s head for centuries. But did this witch really sell her to someone new, and for only ninety-nine cents?
Eleanora would claw this werewolf’s heart out and eat it, if only the binding spell would allow her to. But Eleanora and Ben soon realize they can help each other with both vengeful and less hostile needs. And why not have a little fun along the way?
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I was so excited to read this book when I learned it was Ben’s story. Ben was a secondary character in the previous books in the series, and I couldn’t wait to learn more about him. He’s such a sweetheart and a perfect complement to the more wild Eleanor.
For years, Ben has wanted to find love, but he almost feels unworthy of it. I thought the author did a great job of showing the many ways in which anxiety affects people, and I totally related to Ben’s feelings of insecurity and self-doubt. I also thought Ben’s views on being a werewolf were really interesting. He’s a gentle soul who likes to be in control, and seeing how this transition affects him made me feel for him. I love how Eleanor understands him on such a deep level, and how she unthinkingly does things to support him. It was very touching and made her even more endearing.
After being trapped for decades, Eleanor has to adjust to a lot of changes. Omg, She’s so comical and awkward and unapologetic, and I adored her and her stabby, impulsive personality. At times, Ben doesn’t really know what to do with Eleanor, but he never expects her to be anything but herself.
Eleanor and Ben have a unique opposites-attract romance. Where Ben is steady and sweet, Eleanor is a chaotic loose cannon. She is absolutely hilarious! And they balance each other well. They are so supportive and understanding of each other, and their chemistry is off the charts.
The author also does a great job of creating a vivid and immersive setting, and I want to live in Glimmer Falls. It’s a unique town of paranormals where you never know what might happen. Ben’s friend group is fabulous too, and I love that the characters from the first two books are also in this one. There are also some new characters, and I’m eager to learn more about them, especially Ben’s sister. She’s a force!
I thought this was an entertaining and engrossing read. It’s fun and funny and spicy, and it’s a fabulous addition to the series. This felt a bit darker than the first two books, especially since Eleanor was held against her will for so long and Ben struggles with anxiety, but it’s balanced well with lighter, more humorous moments and a swoon-worthy romance.
Thanks to NetGalley and Berkley for providing me with a copy of the book. All thoughts are my own.
- The romance.
- The characters
- Glimmer Falls
- The humor
“We’re all fighting invisible battles. My father struggled with sorrow—clinical depression, I believe you term it now. I have problems with rage and acting on impulse. You’re full of worries.” She shrugged. “I don’t think it means any of us are broken.”
“Choosing to face the truth beneath life, no matter how bloody or strange, is always better than fooling yourself into thinking the sparkles on the surface are what’s real.”
He loved her. The thought was sudden, but it settled into his mind as if it had always been there. Of course he loved her. She was funny and insightful and strange and beautiful and complex. Six hundred years of words couldn’t define her. Six hundred languages couldn’t.
Sarah Hawley lives in the Pacific Northwest, where her hobbies include rambling through the woods and appreciating fictional villains. She has an MA in archaeology and has excavated at an Inca site in Chile, a Bronze Age palace in Turkey, and a medieval abbey in England. When not dreaming up whimsical love stories, she can be found reading, dancing, or cuddling her two cats.
Great review! I’ve enjoyed the other entries in this series and have been looking forward to this one. I’ve already got a hold on it at the library. I’m glad to see you liked it! 🙂
I hope you enjoy it! I think the first is still my fave, but I still really enjoyed this one.