"I enjoyed this immensely. The protagonist, Samantha Moon, is a female vampire with a husband and children. Those predate her condition; six years ago she was attacked by a vampire and rendered into one. Now she's trying to carry on with family and private eye business, and she's a feisty, skilled person, so is doing mostly okay. It is not a horror story; she buys animal blood to eat and doesn't generally prey on humans. But her husband has an increasing problem with her coldness--not of spirit, but of body. 'You sicken me and scare the hell out of me,' he tells her. 'And when I touch you it's all I can do to not gag.' She replies, 'Words every wife wants to hear.' I love this! She really doesn't deserve to be frozen out of her marriage, yet his attitude is understandable. In the course of the novel she solves the mystery she is tackling for a client, and finds a new romantic interest. What makes it special are her character and nature. I sure wouldn't have kicked her out of bed. I recommend it as light reading, odd as that may sound." --Piers Anthony, New York Times bestselling author of A SPELL FOR CHAMELEON and ON A PALE HORSE
"MOON DANCE is absolutely brilliant!" --Lisa Tenzin-Dolma, author of UNDERSTANDING THE PLANETARY MYTHS
"MOON DANCE is a must read. If you like Janet Evanovich's Stephanie Plum, bounty hunter, be prepared to love J. R. Rain's Samantha Moon, vampire private investigator." --Eve Paludan, author of LETTERS FROM DAVID
"Impossible to put down. J.R. Rain's MOON DANCE is a fabulous urban fantasy." --April Vine, author of THE MIDNIGHT ROSE
"Gripping, adventurous, and romantic--J.R. Rain's ARARAT is a breakneck thriller that traces the thread of history from Biblical stories to current-day headlines. Be prepared to lose sleep!" --James Rollins, international bestselling author of ALTAR OF EDEN and THE DOOMSDAY KEY
"DARK HORSE is one of the best books I've read in a long time! A great classic detective story with a modern twist. Unique and interesting characters (I think I'm half in love with Jim Knighthorse now!), a great plot that kept me guessing until the end, and some of the funniest lines I've read anywhere. Rain does an amazing job of blending suspense, mystery and humor in this fantastic debut novel destined for the keeper shelf." --Gemma Halliday, Rita and Golden Spur award-winning author of MAYHEM IN HIGH HEELS and SCANDAL SHEET
"I totally loved THE BODY DEPARTED. As someone who communicates with those who are either earthbound or have crossed over--your descriptions and interpretations of the dialogue and circumstances could not have been written more accurately. My favorite scene is the one of Jesus stepping down from the cross and then the passionate and compassionate way it was treated as he went back to the cross. I will relive that for a long time to come. You're a wonderfully descriptive writer who paints a very creative, visionary canvass based in a paranormal pallet that only a few experience and many can enjoy. Thank you for your talent." --Julie Belmont, author of THE PATH TO PERSONAL SUCCESS AND FREEDOM
My warning bells sounded, starting first as a low buzz in my ears. The buzzing is always followed by an increase in heart rhythm, a physical pounding in my chest. I knew the feeling well enough to trust it by now, and I immediately began looking for trouble. And as I rounded another corner, there it was.
Three men stepped out of the shadows in front of me. I slowed, then finally stopped. Four more men stepped out from behind a raised truck parked on the street. Next to the house was an empty, dark school yard. As if reading their collective minds, I had a fleeting prognostication of my immediate future: an image of the seven men dragging me into the school yard. Then having their way with me. Then leaving me for dead.
A good thing the future isn’t written in stone.
I smiled at them. “Hello, boys.”
I could smell alcohol on their breaths and sweat on their skin. The sweat was pungent and laced with everything from fear and excitement, to hostility and sexual frustration. None of it smelled good. If mean had a scent, this would be it.
A smallish Latino stepped forward. A switchblade sprang open at his side, locked into place. For my benefit, he let the faint light of the moon gleam off its polished surface. He was perhaps thirty-five and wore long denim shorts and a plaid shirt. He was surprisingly handsome for a rapist.
“If you scream, I’m going to hurt you.” His accent was thick.
“Gee, what a romantic thing to say,” I said.
“Shut up, bitch.”
I kept my eyes on him. I didn’t need to look at the others. I could feel them, sense them, smell them. I said, “Now what would your mothers all think of you now? Ganging up on a single woman in the middle of the night. Tsk, tsk. Really, I think you should all be ashamed.
”The little Latino looked at me blankly, then said simply: “Get her.”
Movement from behind. I turned, punched, extending my arm straight from my body. Jacky would have been proud. My fist caught the guy in the throat. He flopped down, gagging and holding his neck. Probably hurt like hell. I didn’t care.
I surveyed the others, who had all stopped in their tracks. “So what was the plan, boys? You were all going to get a fuck in? The very definition of sloppy seconds—hell, sloppy thirds and fourths and fifths. Then what? Slit my throat? Leave me for dead? Let some school janitor find me stuffed in a dumpster? You would deny my children their mother for one night of cheap thrills?
”No one said anything. They looked toward their leader, the slick Latino with the switch. Most likely not all of them spoke English.
“I’ll give you once chance to run,” I said. “Before I kill all of you.”
Description:
Review
Acclaim for MOON DANCE and J.R. RAIN
"I enjoyed this immensely. The protagonist, Samantha Moon, is a female vampire with a husband and children. Those predate her condition; six years ago she was attacked by a vampire and rendered into one. Now she's trying to carry on with family and private eye business, and she's a feisty, skilled person, so is doing mostly okay. It is not a horror story; she buys animal blood to eat and doesn't generally prey on humans. But her husband has an increasing problem with her coldness--not of spirit, but of body. 'You sicken me and scare the hell out of me,' he tells her. 'And when I touch you it's all I can do to not gag.' She replies, 'Words every wife wants to hear.' I love this! She really doesn't deserve to be frozen out of her marriage, yet his attitude is understandable. In the course of the novel she solves the mystery she is tackling for a client, and finds a new romantic interest. What makes it special are her character and nature. I sure wouldn't have kicked her out of bed. I recommend it as light reading, odd as that may sound." --Piers Anthony, New York Times bestselling author of A SPELL FOR CHAMELEON and ON A PALE HORSE
"MOON DANCE is absolutely brilliant!" --Lisa Tenzin-Dolma, author of UNDERSTANDING THE PLANETARY MYTHS
"MOON DANCE is a must read. If you like Janet Evanovich's Stephanie Plum, bounty hunter, be prepared to love J. R. Rain's Samantha Moon, vampire private investigator." --Eve Paludan, author of LETTERS FROM DAVID
"Impossible to put down. J.R. Rain's MOON DANCE is a fabulous urban fantasy." --April Vine, author of THE MIDNIGHT ROSE
"Gripping, adventurous, and romantic--J.R. Rain's ARARAT is a breakneck thriller that traces the thread of history from Biblical stories to current-day headlines. Be prepared to lose sleep!" --James Rollins, international bestselling author of ALTAR OF EDEN and THE DOOMSDAY KEY
"DARK HORSE is one of the best books I've read in a long time! A great classic detective story with a modern twist. Unique and interesting characters (I think I'm half in love with Jim Knighthorse now!), a great plot that kept me guessing until the end, and some of the funniest lines I've read anywhere. Rain does an amazing job of blending suspense, mystery and humor in this fantastic debut novel destined for the keeper shelf." --Gemma Halliday, Rita and Golden Spur award-winning author of MAYHEM IN HIGH HEELS and SCANDAL SHEET
"I totally loved THE BODY DEPARTED. As someone who communicates with those who are either earthbound or have crossed over--your descriptions and interpretations of the dialogue and circumstances could not have been written more accurately. My favorite scene is the one of Jesus stepping down from the cross and then the passionate and compassionate way it was treated as he went back to the cross. I will relive that for a long time to come. You're a wonderfully descriptive writer who paints a very creative, visionary canvass based in a paranormal pallet that only a few experience and many can enjoy. Thank you for your talent." --Julie Belmont, author of THE PATH TO PERSONAL SUCCESS AND FREEDOM
Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.
My warning bells sounded, starting first as a low buzz in my ears. The buzzing is always followed by an increase in heart rhythm, a physical pounding in my chest. I knew the feeling well enough to trust it by now, and I immediately began looking for trouble. And as I rounded another corner, there it was.
Three men stepped out of the shadows in front of me. I slowed, then finally stopped. Four more men stepped out from behind a raised truck parked on the street. Next to the house was an empty, dark school yard. As if reading their collective minds, I had a fleeting prognostication of my immediate future: an image of the seven men dragging me into the school yard. Then having their way with me. Then leaving me for dead.
A good thing the future isn’t written in stone.
I smiled at them. “Hello, boys.”
I could smell alcohol on their breaths and sweat on their skin. The sweat was pungent and laced with everything from fear and excitement, to hostility and sexual frustration. None of it smelled good. If mean had a scent, this would be it.
A smallish Latino stepped forward. A switchblade sprang open at his side, locked into place. For my benefit, he let the faint light of the moon gleam off its polished surface. He was perhaps thirty-five and wore long denim shorts and a plaid shirt. He was surprisingly handsome for a rapist.
“If you scream, I’m going to hurt you.” His accent was thick.
“Gee, what a romantic thing to say,” I said.
“Shut up, bitch.”
I kept my eyes on him. I didn’t need to look at the others. I could feel them, sense them, smell them. I said, “Now what would your mothers all think of you now? Ganging up on a single woman in the middle of the night. Tsk, tsk. Really, I think you should all be ashamed.
”The little Latino looked at me blankly, then said simply: “Get her.”
Movement from behind. I turned, punched, extending my arm straight from my body. Jacky would have been proud. My fist caught the guy in the throat. He flopped down, gagging and holding his neck. Probably hurt like hell. I didn’t care.
I surveyed the others, who had all stopped in their tracks. “So what was the plan, boys? You were all going to get a fuck in? The very definition of sloppy seconds—hell, sloppy thirds and fourths and fifths. Then what? Slit my throat? Leave me for dead? Let some school janitor find me stuffed in a dumpster? You would deny my children their mother for one night of cheap thrills?
”No one said anything. They looked toward their leader, the slick Latino with the switch. Most likely not all of them spoke English.
“I’ll give you once chance to run,” I said. “Before I kill all of you.”