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The Vampire's Mail Order Bride
by Kristen PainterSeries: Nocturne Falls #1
Published by Self-Published on June 1st 2015
SubGenres: Paranormal Romance
Format: eBook
Pages: 370
Source: Kindle Unlimited
Audience: 18+/Adult
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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 and all.
After seeing her maybe-mobster boss murder a guy, Delaney James assumes a new identity and pretends to be a mail order bride. What she doesn't know is her groom to be is a 400-year-old vampire.
Hugh Ellingham has only agreed to the set up to make his overbearing grandmother happy. His past means love is no longer an option. Except he never counted on Delaney and falling in love for real.Too bad both of them are keeping some mighty big secrets...
First Read: May 2015 (eARC)
ReRead: September 2025 (Kindle Unlimited)
The Vampire’s Mail Order Bride differs from Kristen Painter’s House of Comarre and Crescent City series. While those are serious, dark Urban Fantasy, this is a lighter, funnier Paranormal Romance. Though there is a serious storyline that involves the FMC, it doesn’t dominate. I focused instead on the interesting characters and the setting that was portrayed.
Welcome to Nocturne Falls, where it’s Halloween every day and the tourists have no clue that they are walking amongst vampires, werewolves, witches, fae, etc. This is the setting of the start of the Nocturne Falls series, and I know I’m not the only reader who wishes this town were real.
The FMC, Delaney James, arrives in Nocturne Falls after taking the identity of a mail-order bride intended for Hugh Ellingham. She’s fleeing her mobster boss and needs to disappear. Hugh, a vampire eager to please his grandmother, meets what he thinks is his mail-order bride. He doesn’t plan to fall in love because his past holds him back, and he has no idea that Delaney isn’t his real bride, but the more time they spend together, the more they fall in love with one another.
I enjoyed Kristen’s new world, Nocturne Falls. This fictional town is full of so many supernatural characters that the FMC has no clue about, and I loved how she handled learning about them when secrets were revealed. Delaney was a strong FMC who just wanted to protect herself. I loved how she handled things, especially when it came to Hugh. When it came to Hugh, his indecisiveness and mood swings with Delaney sometimes bothered me, but he redeemed himself in the end.
I enjoyed not only Delaney and Hugh but also the secondary characters. They added to a great storyline, and I look forward to their books.
I was almost worried about the ending, but Kristen delivers an emotional and heartfelt HEA for Delaney and Hugh.
Overall, I give this book four stars and look forward to more Nocturne Falls books. Some will be rereads, so I can finally catch up on the series.
Would I recommend this book? Yes. For those seeking a funny, fluffy, lighthearted PNR, The Vampire’s Mail Order Bride stands out for its unique town and memorable cast. You don’t want to miss discovering Nocturne Falls and its characters.
P.S. I love the story’s cat, Captain. If you follow Kristen on FB, you’ll know her love for cats—the cat reminded me of her adorable pictures. I’m glad she included such a lovable kitty dear to Delaney.
What to Expect:
✔️Paranormal Romance
✔️Closed Door Romance
✔️Supernatural: Vampires, Werewolves, Witches, Fae, etc.
✔️Mail Order Bride
✔️Forced Proximity
✔️Humor & Witty Banter
About Kristen Painter
Kristen Painter likes to balance her obsessions with shoes and cats by making the lives of her characters miserable and surprising her readers with interesting twists. She currently writes award-winning paranormal romance and cozy mysteries. The former college English teacher can often be found on twitter @Kristen_Painter, Facebook at www.facebook.com/KristenPainterAuthor where she loves to interact with readers and her blog: http://kristenpainter.com/blog/.
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My obsession with reading started over 30+ years ago when I went to my first Scholastic Book Fair and found R.L. Stine's Fear Street series. Later, I came across Anne Rice's novels at my public library when I was fourteen when my obsession with vampires started. I was the girl who preferred to be a vampire over a princess any day. My husband says I would leave him a heartbeat for a vampire that looked like Spike or Angel (from Buffy the Vampire Slayer) or Damon Salvatore from The Vampire Diaries. (It's true, though, and he's accepted it.)
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