Midnight Gamble

Rating:
Summary: Not enough sizzle!
Review: A few days ago, I finished Midnight Gamble written by Nancy Gideon. This story is set in the 1920's, the Jazz Age. The main character of this book is Frederica Lavoy who is the granddaughter of Louis Radman from Midnight Kiss. Frederica is blessed with unique gifts. She is different from the other vampires for she is able to walk in the sunlight. Her father, Marchand LaValois, along with others of his kind, hold trials of those vampires who endanger their way of life. They act as judge, jury and executioner only to those who are truly evil, who slaughter innocent humans. Frederica works for him, hunting and bring them to face justice. Strange deaths are reported and all evidence seems to point to Eduard D'Arcy. Frederica is sent out to bring Eduard in to face her father's justice. But is Eduard innocent or guilty? Mortal or immortal? As her feeling for him grow, she begins to have doubts that he is the killer who is terrorizing the humans. And she begins to doubt whether or not she will be able to bring him forth for justice. But more is at stake than her own conflicting emotions. An old enemy resurfaces manipulating both Frederica and Eduard in a quest for vengeance. This book was good but in no way does it compare with her previous book, Midnight Enchantment. Perhaps I found Frederica too ruthless, too unfeminine. I had hoped her edge of hardness would soften. She was simply not appealing to me. The developing love story between Eduard and Frederica would have been more compelling if Frederica didn't have that hardness. I know some will disagree with me over this because she is a hunter but I really prefer a heroine to be feminine and well, sweeter. Someone easier to identify with.

Rating:
Summary: Not enough sizzle!
Review: A few days ago, I finished Midnight Gamble written by Nancy Gideon. This story is set in the 1920's, the Jazz Age. The main character of this book is Frederica Lavoy who is the granddaughter of Louis Radman from Midnight Kiss. Frederica is blessed with unique gifts. She is different from the other vampires for she is able to walk in the sunlight. Her father, Marchand LaValois, along with others of his kind, hold trials of those vampires who endanger their way of life. They act as judge, jury and executioner only to those who are truly evil, who slaughter innocent humans. Frederica works for him, hunting and bring them to face justice. Strange deaths are reported and all evidence seems to point to Eduard D'Arcy. Frederica is sent out to bring Eduard in to face her father's justice. But is Eduard innocent or guilty? Mortal or immortal? As her feeling for him grow, she begins to have doubts that he is the killer who is terrorizing the humans. And she begins to doubt whether or not she will be able to bring him forth for justice. But more is at stake than her own conflicting emotions. An old enemy resurfaces manipulating both Frederica and Eduard in a quest for vengeance. This book was good but in no way does it compare with her previous book, Midnight Enchantment. Perhaps I found Frederica too ruthless, too unfeminine. I had hoped her edge of hardness would soften. She was simply not appealing to me. The developing love story between Eduard and Frederica would have been more compelling if Frederica didn't have that hardness. I know some will disagree with me over this because she is a hunter but I really prefer a heroine to be feminine and well, sweeter. Someone easier to identify with.

Rating:
Summary: Don't miss Book Two in this exciting new vampire trilogy!
Review: Against the glittering decadence of 1920's New York where bootleg liquor flowed until dawn to the sound of hot jazz and rolling dice, daywalking vampire, Frederica Lavoy is sent to bring her immortal love, the exotic and mysterious Eduard D'Arcy, to meet her father's justice for crimes against humankind. But is it justice that waits, or vengeance, as an age-old enemy begins to manipulate both hunted and huntress?

Here's what reviewer's have said about MIDNIGHT GAMBLE:

"Look out Buffy! Another wonderful vampire treat from Nancy Gideon!" --New-Age Bookshelf

"Transcends the genre with action, adventure, mystery, horror and romance . . . Fun, fast-paced and comparable in style to Dean Koontz. If you are looking for romance with a bite, stake your claim on a copy of Midnight Gamble!" --Midnight Scribe Reviews

"Fresh, interesting, fast-paced with an enjoyable setting. The classic vampire hero--mysterious, enigmatic, magnetic. Excellent!" --The Romance Journal

"Mesmerizing! A sizzling vampire mystery with bite. A great read!"--Romantic Times

"Illuminatingly rich and enriching!"--Midwest Book Review

"A tasty vampire treat!" -- Painted Rock Reader and Writer Colony

"Mystery, conflict and romance with a twist. Once more Ms. Gideon draws us into her exciting world of vampire." -- Old Book Barn Gazette

Watch for Book Three from ImaJinn in October 2000!

Rating:
Summary: Gideon is one of the best supernatural writers on the market
Review: Frederich LaValois is a rare individual in that she is a half-breed vampire with the ability to go out in daylight. She works for her father Marchand who heads up the Corps du Jugement that monitors and judges the activities of vampires when it comes to hunting humans. Frederick seeks the approval of her father by being the group's greatest hunter.

Frederich is tracking down a killer vampire working the Soho section of Manhattan. She manages to move in with Chloe Baumgartner, whose former roommate met a brutal death at the hands of a bloodsucker. Frederich thinks Chloe's immortal boyfriend Quinn could be the killer. Quinn gets Frederich an invitation to a party hosted by the enigmatic Darcy Edwards. As Frederich and Darcy meet, an attraction springs up, but neither trusts the other as both sense something more about the individual they are falling in love with.

MIDNIGHT GAMBLE is an entertaining vampire romance that makes the supernatural seem natural. The story line is fun, especially when Frederich and Darcy begin their tentative but suspicious relationship. Readers who enjoy a supernatural romance will fully relish Nancy Gideon's latest offering that shows why she is one of the sub-genre's better authors.

Rating:
Summary: Quite A Gamble
Review: I expect well written books from Nancy Gideon. What I didn't expect is this superbly written book that kept me up until 3 in the morning. Both the hero, Eduard D'Arcy and the heroine, Frederica Lavoy, are strong personalities, attracted to each other beyond the physical attributes. They both care about injustice and fairness and this is what strongly motivates and pulls them together toward defeating evil. The passion between them absolutely sizzles. Part human, with vampire blood, Frederica is able to move in the human world during the day. She uses that characteristic to bring evil vampires to justice in any which way she can. She is proud of her logic and her emotionless feelings she uses to capture evil. Until the day she has to bring in Eduard D'Arcy, the man she has fallen in love with. It is then that her emotions fail emotions threaten the strongly held truths and duty she has sworn to uphold. But Eduard does not trust Frederika. Despite his intense feelings for her, he recognizes her as someone out to destroy him. To protect himself, and then later, Frederika who is threatened, he must find the real villian who is out to kill the human race. This is a wonderful book, filled with the best kind of hero and heroine, the kind who are able to sacrifice their own lives to save the ones they love so dear. I hated to see the story end.

Rating:
Summary: Midnight Gamble
Review: I expect well written books from Nancy Gideon. What I didn't expect is this superbly written book that kept me up until 3 in the morning. Both the hero, Eduard D'Arcy and the heroine, Frederica Lavoy, are strong personalities, attracted to each other beyond the physical attributes. They both care about injustice and fairness and this is what strongly motivates and pulls them together toward defeating evil. The passion between them absolutely sizzles. Part human, with vampire blood, Frederica is able to move in the human world during the day. She uses that characteristic to bring evil vampires to justice in any which way she can. She is proud of her logic and her emotionless feelings she uses to capture evil. Until the day she has to bring in Eduard D'Arcy, the man she has fallen in love with. It is then that her emotions fail emotions threaten the strongly held truths and duty she has sworn to uphold. But Eduard does not trust Frederika. Despite his intense feelings for her, he recognizes her as someone out to destroy him. To protect himself, and then later, Frederika who is threatened, he must find the real villian who is out to kill the human race. This is a wonderful book, filled with the best kind of hero and heroine, the kind who are able to sacrifice their own lives to save the ones they love so dear. I hated to see the story end.

Rating:
Summary: Just so-so :|
Review: I really didnt like some parts of this book. I will say this, Mrs. Gideon creates vivid characters that you WILL detest, and care about. I did like the ending and the plot was pretty good as well. I just hate to know one of the characters is innocent and having the "good guys", or girl in this case, believe them guilty. It does fall in line with the plot, I just dont care for those types of stories. All in all the book was ok.

Rating:
Summary: Quite A Gamble
Review: It was a memorable book about vampires in love. Two prideful vampires who lack trust in their world because of a vengeful past. I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys romance and vampires.

Rating:
Summary: You Gamble-You Lose
Review: Skip this one. The heroine and hero wander around the 262 endless pages of this book clueless. If immortal beings have so much power and have lived so long-how can they be so stupid? Try communicating a little.

Frederica Lavoy (a huntress of outlaw vampires) never wins even one of the confrontations with vampires in this book. She trusts all the wrong creatures, even though she suspected them at one point. The hero, Eduard D'Arcy, doesn't see through a transparent revenge plot until the last chapter of the book.

If there is one thing that I hate more than a story written by an author who pounds the reader over the head with an obvious plot, it is an author who creates characters so thick headed that THEY have to have the plot spoon fed to them. There is good vampire fiction available. Strong, if imperfect heroes and heroines make the stoies. Don't waste your time on this book.