Author Kristen Painter
Format e-book
Print Length 360 pages
Publisher Sugar Skull
Published Jan. 11, 2016
Welcome to Nocturne Falls, the town where Halloween is celebrated 365 days a year. The tourists think it's all a show: the vampires, the werewolves, the witches, the occasional gargoyle flying through the sky. But the supernaturals populating the town know better.
Living in Nocturne Falls means being yourself. Fangs, fur, and all.
Sebastian Ellingham isn’t known for being a happy vampire. And when his long estranged wife comes to town expecting to pick up where they left off, things take a sharp turn toward cranky. Sure he’s been protecting her for centuries, but her assumption that he’s still available (he is) rankles.
His answer is to hire a woman to play his fiancée. The lucky victim is Tessa Blythe, sister of one of the town’s deputies, librarian in need of a job and, oh yes, reluctant Valkyrie. Playing along with Sebastian is all about the end game for her, the position of Dean of Library Studies at the local private academy.
When unexpected sparks fly between them, they agree to mutually deny the attraction. Fate, however, has other plans…
My Opinion
This is the third book in the Nocturne Falls series, each book is standalone so you can read the series out of order. Some old friends do show up in this book though, so if you like to know what is going with some sided characters than I would recommend it in order. Back home in Nocturne Falls, Georgia where the supers can hang out like regular people. The humans can hang out like supers. Everyone just gets a long, granted the humans have no clue that they are surrounded by people that go bump in the night.
Sebastian is a rich vampire who takes his responsibilities seriously, so much so that some would say he was a recluse without friends. His wife not so much- never mind that he hasn’t seen in her hundreds of years. That she comes back wanting him to love her just as much as when she left makes his blood boil. So he does what any self-respecting vampire would do- he proves her wrong with a fake fiancée, Tessa Blythe, a Valkyrie.
Being a Valkyrie, Tessa is supposed to be a warrior, a defender of those weaker instead she is a bookworm. Tessa, wants to be the librarian at Harwood’s Academy, the school for paranormals in this lovely town. Agreeing to be pretend to be Sebastian’s fiancée for a few days is no hardship in order to get her dream job. She does fight her paranormal side, often appearing afraid of it or maybe just afraid of what she may become when she does take up the sword.
Sebastian is an arrogant, rich vampire who was brought down a peg or two when his wife left him centuries before. Being deserted by the one that he sired was a blow to his ego, leaving him hurting. This is why he now keeps to himself.
The chemistry between these two are off the charts- they start off not really liking each other. Tessa feels the need to protect Sebastian from his ex, and he feels the need to protect her from his ex. From there things get complicated.
Old characters make an appearance and new ones wiggle their way into our hearts. Not Evangeline though, that is one vampire that needs a stake right through the heart. Or at least a window letting sunshine in and her having to walk into the rays.
Sometimes you just need a fun book, The Vampires’ Fake Fiancée is that. It was fun to watch the fake couple navigate the charade. It was fun watching the selfish brat of a wife be well bratty. Most importantly it was fun watching these two fall in love.
My Rating 3 out of 5 stars
Favorite Quote She loved books. In a book you could escape and be anything you wanted, no risk involved.
Other People
Duncan- Tessa’s cat
Hugh- Sebastian’s brother
Evangeline- Sebastian’s wife
Jesse- Tessa’s sister