Jairec Connelly's holiday in San Francisco turned into a living nightmare when he's attacked by a chiang-shih, a Chinese vampire. He has until the end of the Moon Festival to find the elixir or become the white haired demon for all eternity. All he needs to do is convince one stubborn woman she holds the key.

Autumn Moon is an acupuncturist and herbalist. When Jairec confronts her demanding she give him the elixir of life, she believes he's heard one too many Chinese legends about the Moon Festival. The chiang-shih of legends is a white haired, green-faced vampire--nothing like Jairec with his Irish good looks and charming manners.

When a mysterious attack leaves the victim drained of blood, Autumn is forced to believe monsters really do exist. She searches her uncle's journals. She must find a cure for Jairec. Time is running out.

Jairec and Autumn join forces to stop the master chiang-shih from raising an army and taking over Chinatown. Jairec will do all he can to keep Autumn safe, even if it means his death.

REVIEW

Autumn Moon is a completely new take on the vampire genre, or rather I should say it's an ancient Asian version retold in a refreshing new light. I thoroughly enjoyed the Chinese lore involving vampires, their chiang-shih, and the interesting way these vampires exist and can be destroyed. The author brings in a lot of insight without seeming to do so as the hero and heroine fight the vamps while fighting their mutual attraction. Okay, that last part is not true; they didn't fight the attraction hard at all, they totally went for it even knowing Jairec could lose all control and kill her. Such is vampire love.

I loved how Autumn used acupuncture to take the edge off of Jairec's blood craving. All in all, Autumn Moon is one of those stories that comes at you unexpectedly and takes the vampire legend to an entirely different level.

Reviewed by Clover Autrey
Posted February 9, 2009

Reviewed by: Clover Autrey
ParaNormal Romance

EXCERPT

"Give me the package and we won't have any problems."

Autumn's eyes widened as she stared into two sea-smoked colored eyes. She lifted the package that she was to deliver to Mr. Sying.

He yanked it out of her hand. "Now don't follow me or I'll be forced to do something you'll regret."

Autumn could only manage to nod her head.

"Hey, are you okay down there?" someone yelled from the street, probably a tourist since she didn't recognize him. He was tall and blond definitely not from Chinatown.

It was nice to know that there were people who'd stop to help. Before she could choke out her plea, the man holding her hostage covered her mouth with his lips. She should have stopped him, bit him, did something other than let the bastard kiss her. Man, could he kiss, ravishing her lips, teeth and tongue as unapologetic as it was seductive. Logic fled and she moaned into his mouth stunned by the force, the need to have more. She kissed him back.

When he released her, they stared into each other's heavily lidded eyes. The air shimmered around them taunt, waiting to pull them under again. The intensity of the immediate attraction mystified her and yet she felt as if she'd been waiting for him all her life.

Obviously, the sensation, the connection hadn't gone unnoticed by him. He raked his fingers through his hair; uncertainty lit his eyes as his gaze held hers. She teetered on her feet ready to step toward him, but she drew in a rugged breath and sanity slapped her in the face. She didn't know what crazy notion had come over her, but whatever it was, she had no intentions of repeating it. She glanced to see if her would-be-rescuer was still at the end of the alleyway. No such luck. The guy obviously thought they were lovers sneaking away for a late afternoon tryst.

Her attacker backed away from her further. She thought he'd say something. Threaten her more or kiss her. She'd much rather he'd kiss her. She shook her head. What in the world was she thinking? She should scream, but before she could react, he turned on his heels, fled down the shadowed alleyway and disappeared around the corner.
Autumn stood there wondering what had happened and why had the stranger been so bent on stealing her grandmother's moon cakes?