Rainbow Reviews

BOOK BLURB:
Four tales of gay vampires and their lovers. In Val, journey through one man's obsessive mind as he tries to recreate his lost lover. Follow Claud as he tries to find partners for his master in Talent Scout. Discover how one man comes to accept not only his bi nature but the fact that the supernatural world does exist in Redhead and, finally, discover how vampires deal with their own rogues in The Enforcer.

BOOK REVIEW:
The second installment in the Night Moves Anthology offers four erotic and sexy vampire tales. Each story offers a unique take on our much-loved vampire theme and, thankfully, none skimp on eroticism or romance.

"The Enforcer" by M.A. Naess is a funny tale about a newly-made vampire, Shane, who discovers that "Yes, Martha, vampires do exist," and they have their own police force. Connor is an enforcer who's been tracking the rogue vampire who carelessly converted Shane. The scene of how Shane's master meets his end is quite funny.

Shane has trouble accepting that he's now a vampire but the reality of his situation demands that he either adapt or die. Connor kindly takes Shane under his wing to show him the ropes, and we're treated to several erotic private lessons! Shane and Connor have the makings of a great love affair based on friendship and mutual respect.

In "Val," Anel Viz gives us a glimpse into one man's obsession with a lost love. Brad didn't particularly love Val when he was alive but soon after Val dies Brad became obsessed with the memory of him. The lengths to which he goes to hang onto his memories over the years is chilling and pathetic. But the mind is a powerful thing and one night Brad meets another Val, this time one who offers him everything he wished he could have had with his first Val.

This is an incredibly erotic story. The depths of Brad and Val's need for one another is palpable, and their lovemaking is intensely passionate. Quite simply, they devour each other in the most explicit of ways. Such excessive intensity cannot last; it either burns out or destroys you. When Brad and Val come up for air, their lives have been irrevocably changed, and not necessarily for the better. The surprise ending is a welcome balm to one's over-stimulated senses.

Adrianna Dane's "Talent Scout" is a romantic story about a vampire deeply in love with his master. There is nothing that Claud wouldn't do for Silas, and that includes finding someone for them to "entertain" each night. The story is told using a first-person narrative which creates a lingering intimacy, and Claud graciously lets us tag along as he stalks his prey. A very nice flashback to when Silas "made" Claud some sixty years ago is a hot interlude that builds anticipation for the evening's activities.

I liked the quiet eroticism of Claus and Silas' relationship with the object of their affection and with each other. As devoted as he is to Silas, Claud has wondered over the years if Silas returns his feelings. As the night wears on, we're treated to a glimpse into their erotic lifestyle and it's scorching, though sadly, we're not gifted with a present-day love scene between the couple. Silas may not have the words for Claud, but there is never any doubt by the end that Claud is one well-loved vampire.

Nigel Puerasch's "Redhead" is quite easily my favorite in the Anthology. Jack is wasting away in a loveless straight marriage, until the day he meets Sam, a redheaded vampire. Jack is a good guy who honors his marriage vows despite the attraction he feels for Sam. Sam is shy and lonely and if he can't have a sexual relationship with Jack, he'll take friendship. Their bond deepens over time and shared musical interests. Quite literally, it transforms Jack in ways he never imagined.

This is a lovely, well-paced story about a bisexual, middle-aged man with a good heart who finds a once-in-a-lifetime love late in life. Sam and Jack's love affair is sexy, mature, lusty, erotic and designed to last because they bonded emotionally beforehand. The ending is well worth the buildup as Jack enjoys his glorious moment in the spotlight. Only one thing marred the story and that was the constant head-hopping (or point of view changes). There were times when both Jack and Sam were "speaking" in the same paragraph which made it difficult to understand what was going on for and to whom.

Overall, this is a very fine anthology featuring four talented writers. Their vampires are the stuff of legends, to be sure, but they are also driven by emotional and physical needs that can't be satisfied by a quick bite. Do yourself a favor and pick up "Night Moves 2," you won't be disappointed.

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