The Vampire Who Loved Me by Teresa Medeiros
Posted: 06 Oct 2014, 12:54
Admittedly, the title is pretty much a dead giveaway (no pun intended...I think) but this novel is an all-time favourite of mine. I've read it over and over again. In fact, I just read it again and I had to write about it. When I first read this book, it felt complete to me so I never knew it was a sequel. It was only when I read it for the second time that I thought that there had to be a book or two prior to this for the heroine's sisters and there was. One book. I was completely swept up the first time I read it that I didn't realise. Then again, I had only just started reading romance novels when I read this one. This book is...dare I say it? One of my three most favourite vampire romance novels. It's sweet, funny, romantic and filled with action. It's an easy, comfortable read.
Synopsis: Julian Kane is back in town.
Once, as a girl of seventeen, beautiful, headstrong Portia Cabot saved the cursed life of the dashing vampire Julian Kane—who marked her forever, then left to go in search of his soul. He returns five years later to find the enchanting young girl he left behind grown into a bewitching woman with a woman's heart . . . and a woman's desires.
Portia quickly discovers that Julian's seductive and forbidden kiss can still make her crave the night . . . and his touch. But the Julian who has returned to London is not the vampire she remembers. His fruitless pursuit of his stolen mortality has reduced him to drunken debauchery. And a recent spate of murders makes Portia fear that the man she has always adored may truly be a monster.
Julian knows he must drive Portia away—but his passion and hunger for her grow more irresistible every time they touch. For years he has fought the temptation to embrace his dark gifts, never realizing that Portia's love may give him the most dangerous gift of all . . . a reason to live.
My thoughts: Teresa Medeiros pulls you into the story with her writing in this historical vampire novel. Set in London, 1826, it is the second and final book of the Cabot series. Although I read this one without reading the first, I highly recommend reading After Midnight first due to the inferences made to incidents in the first book in this one. I suppose the reason why I never thought there was a first book was because the author had flashback scenes and I was focused on Julian and Portia rather than their siblings.
Julian Kane: The handsome, cynical and tormented vampire whom Portia openly adored as a girl of seventeen.
Portia Cabot: The beautiful, courageous (sometimes foolhardily), spirited and adventurous, young woman who, unlike the heroines of her time, has read her fair share of lurid Gothic novels.
As a young girl, Portia hung onto every word Julian said and scampered after him, craving his affection but five years later, she has matured (slightly) and even challenges him. And Julian doesn't pretend to be good but he portrays himself as the monster he thinks he is, never trying to prove otherwise to the rest of the family. It is only Portia whose faith in him remains constant and who never gives up on him even when others have tried to convince her to do so. When Julian can't trust himself, it is Portia who tells him that she trusts him enough for the both of them and it is Portia who accepts Julian for who he is no matter what.
Although I did feel a little upset that Julian had taken many lovers during the years that he and Portia were apart while she remained faithful, he made up for it when it was revealed he was always fantasising about her even with others...which leads to a conflict and Portia's reaction to that revelation was not what I expected, sending me into a fit of laughter. When I found out the reason why Julian hadn't claimed his soul back, I was touched and it showed that Portia's affections all those years ago wasn't one-sided at all.
Portia's inclination to charge straight into danger and ending up in an even more dangerous situation endeared her to me rather than annoyed me because it made her human to me. She's ruled by her heart and not by her head so she tends to roll with her emotions. That, and Portia tends to run her mouth off very often.
Overall, I enjoy the simplicity of this novel. It's a light read. It draws you in, allowing you to relax and just...feel. It doesn't focus too much on the vampire aspect of the story but on Julian and Portia's relationship which ends on a rather sweet note that leaves me feeling satisfied. And with that, I leave you with a small, small, scene.
"I don't suppose you've been giving Wilbury pointers on how to creep up on people and frighten them half out of their wits?"
"Don't be ridiculous. The shameless old sneak taught me everything I know."
"I heard that!" The quavery voice drifted to their ears from a nearby room.
-- 07 Oct 2014, 01:56 --
Synopsis: Julian Kane is back in town.
Once, as a girl of seventeen, beautiful, headstrong Portia Cabot saved the cursed life of the dashing vampire Julian Kane—who marked her forever, then left to go in search of his soul. He returns five years later to find the enchanting young girl he left behind grown into a bewitching woman with a woman's heart . . . and a woman's desires.
Portia quickly discovers that Julian's seductive and forbidden kiss can still make her crave the night . . . and his touch. But the Julian who has returned to London is not the vampire she remembers. His fruitless pursuit of his stolen mortality has reduced him to drunken debauchery. And a recent spate of murders makes Portia fear that the man she has always adored may truly be a monster.
Julian knows he must drive Portia away—but his passion and hunger for her grow more irresistible every time they touch. For years he has fought the temptation to embrace his dark gifts, never realizing that Portia's love may give him the most dangerous gift of all . . . a reason to live.
My thoughts: Teresa Medeiros pulls you into the story with her writing in this historical vampire novel. Set in London, 1826, it is the second and final book of the Cabot series. Although I read this one without reading the first, I highly recommend reading After Midnight first due to the inferences made to incidents in the first book in this one. I suppose the reason why I never thought there was a first book was because the author had flashback scenes and I was focused on Julian and Portia rather than their siblings.
Julian Kane: The handsome, cynical and tormented vampire whom Portia openly adored as a girl of seventeen.
Portia Cabot: The beautiful, courageous (sometimes foolhardily), spirited and adventurous, young woman who, unlike the heroines of her time, has read her fair share of lurid Gothic novels.
As a young girl, Portia hung onto every word Julian said and scampered after him, craving his affection but five years later, she has matured (slightly) and even challenges him. And Julian doesn't pretend to be good but he portrays himself as the monster he thinks he is, never trying to prove otherwise to the rest of the family. It is only Portia whose faith in him remains constant and who never gives up on him even when others have tried to convince her to do so. When Julian can't trust himself, it is Portia who tells him that she trusts him enough for the both of them and it is Portia who accepts Julian for who he is no matter what.
Although I did feel a little upset that Julian had taken many lovers during the years that he and Portia were apart while she remained faithful, he made up for it when it was revealed he was always fantasising about her even with others...which leads to a conflict and Portia's reaction to that revelation was not what I expected, sending me into a fit of laughter. When I found out the reason why Julian hadn't claimed his soul back, I was touched and it showed that Portia's affections all those years ago wasn't one-sided at all.
Portia's inclination to charge straight into danger and ending up in an even more dangerous situation endeared her to me rather than annoyed me because it made her human to me. She's ruled by her heart and not by her head so she tends to roll with her emotions. That, and Portia tends to run her mouth off very often.
Overall, I enjoy the simplicity of this novel. It's a light read. It draws you in, allowing you to relax and just...feel. It doesn't focus too much on the vampire aspect of the story but on Julian and Portia's relationship which ends on a rather sweet note that leaves me feeling satisfied. And with that, I leave you with a small, small, scene.
"I don't suppose you've been giving Wilbury pointers on how to creep up on people and frighten them half out of their wits?"
"Don't be ridiculous. The shameless old sneak taught me everything I know."
"I heard that!" The quavery voice drifted to their ears from a nearby room.
-- 07 Oct 2014, 01:56 --