I’m adding one more star after rereading this sexy shortie! Intriguing start to a series with really well-written characters and great worldbuilding. ( )

I was given Payback (Channeling Morpheus/Sweet Oblivion #1) by the author through the Goodreads M/M Romance Group’s Don’t Buy My Love program for an honest review. This story is told in first person through the eyes of Michael a vampire hunter.


Michael has been setting himself up as bait in order to attract and kill vampires ever since his friend Scary Mary was killed by three of them.

The story starts in the middle of the action with Michael waiting for a killer vampire with whom he has a date. In the meantime he meets a very attractive man named “Wild Bill” that insists on hanging around Michael. The story progresses through when Michael is picked up by “Gray” the vampire he’s after, and through a night of sex. The book is mostly a sex scene, but I’m not complaining.

The author did a good job with the character’s voices; I especially want to know more about Wild Bill, he was quite a character. I wish we knew more about the characters, because we hardly learned anything about them in this story since it was so darn short. It’s a good thing this is only the first in a series because one short book is not enough of a look into this world.

I don't want to forget to mention how much I love the cover. All the covers in this series are terrific. They aren't the same models used on so many other book covers and the coloring and poses carry an intense energy and grittiness.

I enjoyed the level of tension and suspense and the overall feeling of doom. I’d read this again and would read the other stories in the series. The one flaw, is this story is way too short so I can only give this 4 Stars because of the lack of length.


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I enjoy this author's work but this is not my favorite. If you want gay porn vampires, you've got it. I like her work for the relationship build and honestly because gay romance is just about the least misogynistic romance crap out there. Still lacking the misogny but no relationship so I really can't care about reading on to see how these 2 hook up in the future. Characters are flatter than usual for this author but seeing as it was written to be a one off bit of porn fun I wasn't expecting any more than that. ( )

This story seems awfully familiar...hmmm...kind of similar to [b:Halfway to the Grave|1421990|Halfway to the Grave (Night Huntress, #1)|Jeaniene Frost|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1330786464s/1421990.jpg|1412415].
Hmm, curious. I actually want to read more of this one. Must be the lack of a woman here. That threesome helped a LOT bit. And the protagonist's pov isn't that annoying, even when he seems to have the emo vibe or look or whatever that is. ( )

Payback (Channeling Morpheus 1) opens in a Detroit bar in the first-person viewpoint of Michael, who awaits an arranged date. But why does he have a satchel filled with hickory stakes and Rohypnol (the date-rape drug)? Michael, who has recently learned of the existence of vampires, has made it his sacred calling to hunt down and destroy them. His first slaying will happen tonight as soon as he lures vampire Gray back to his hotel room. Using himself as sexual bait, he plans to slip Gray some Rohypnol to slow the vampire down enough to kill.

Meanwhile, a gorgeous guy leans over to ask for a light. This man is completely Michael’s type from his spiked blond hair to his chipped black nail polish and ripped jeans. He introduces himself as Wild Bill and Michael would desperately love to go home with him. But Michael’s mission compels him to brush off Bill as Gray arrives. He senses that he is hopelessly outmatched by a vampire like Gray. Then disaster strikes as Michael and Gray leave the bar – and Bill cheerfully invites himself along for a threesome. Anything could happen now.

This dark novelette (at 11, 285 words) of white-hot suspense was first published in 2008 by Changeling Press, and is now in its second edition from JCP Books. What makes the biggest impression on me is the story’s unrelenting tension. Also, its complete unpredictability. Michael’s viewpoint contains a haunting combination of determination and wounded innocence. At 21 years old, he is far too young to give up a normal life to dedicate himself to vampire hunting. He is well aware that he probably won’t survive much longer. Yet, his reasons for choosing such a perilous life are intensely personal and it gives Payback and subsequent installments in the Channeling Morpheus series a satisfying emotional depth.

Meanwhile, Bill adds the unpredictability and flashes of humor that balance out the darkness and gravity of Michael’s viewpoint. This is a marvelous introduction to a very strong series. If, like me, you picked up a copy in 2008, the second edition is not significantly changed. If you haven’t yet tried the series, now is the time as it is re-released from JCP Books. It is not-to-be-missed!

Val for AReCafe ( )