Wanted: Undead or Alive by Kerrelyn Sparks

KSparks-Wanted Undead or AliveWanted: Undead or Alive is the twelfth book in Kerrelyn Sparks’ Love at Stake series and features Phineas aka Dr. Phang.  I’d been wanting his book for a while as he is funny, smart and the seemingly wild boy who just needed the right female to settle him down.

He’s a vampire from the big city . . .

Phineas McKinney thought New York City was tough, until he was attacked by Malcontents—evil vampires who consider mortals to be snacks. Saved by the good vampires, Phin swore to devote his now undead life to stopping the Malcontents. He’s got his job cut out for him when word comes that their enemy may be hiding in Wyoming. What does a city boy like him know about horses and campfires? Good thing he’s got Brynley Jones with him . . . if only she didn’t hate every vampire on earth.

She’s a werewolf princess . . .

Bryn believes vampires are seductive and charming, and that makes them dangerous. So she’s more than a little annoyed about teaming up with Phin, even if he is the only bloodsucker able to make her inner wolf purr. But as they hunt down the new leader of the Malcontents, danger threatens . . . and Phineas and Brynley discover a passion that will rock the foundation of their supernatural world.

I’ll admit, I was completely wrong about Phineas.  He really wasn’t that carefree, wild child of a vamp I thought I knew.  I knew there had to be more to him and I did enjoy his story in Wanted: Undead or Alive. I never realized how alone and sad he felt. It was really good to see a more vulnerable side of him.

But, I also admit, I’m kind of becoming a bit bored with this series.  Each book seems to follow a very similar pattern, just insert a different hero and heroine, change the plot a bit to make them fit (character back story and specific opposition facing the couple in present book…all while trying to further the overall story arc).  When Casimir was killed off a book or so ago, that really should have been the end of that particular broad plot point. But…it wasn’t. Now we’re chasing Corky, who after Casimir’s death, has become the self-proclaimed leader of the Malcontents. As much as I like this world, and there are some interesting character’s left, either it’s time to end the series or find a way to freshen it up someway.  I enjoyed Wanted: Undead or Alive and I did feel some emotional connection to parts of the story (probably more to do with what is going on in my own life right now); however, I found myself feeling very bored and restless just to finish it.  I would skim and skip more than usual. I wanted more action, more….umph.  There seemed to be more of those things in earlier books. Now, like I said it feels like a fill-in-the-blank outline.  I hate that. I really enjoy Ms. Sparks’ writing. I would love to see something new and fresh from her.

If you like the Love at Stake series, I’m sure you’ll enjoy Wanted: Undead or Alive. You will get Phin’s HEA and it’s an enjoyable and fairly quick read.

Read Order:
How to Marry a Millionaire Vampire
Vamps and the City
Be Still My Vampire Heart
The Undead Next Door
All I Want for Christmas is a Vampire
Secret Life of a Vampire
Forbidden Nights with a Vampire
The Vampire and the Virgin
Eat Prey Love
Vampire Mine
Sexiest Vampire Alive
Wanted: Undead or Alive

Also reviewed by: Paranormal Romance Fanatic, Addicted to Romance, Guilty Pleasures Book Reviews

About Nicole 146 Articles
Attorney by day, Publicist for Barclay Publicity and reviewer/LE (assistant) editor by night. I'm a huge book nerd and love to read. I have 2 dogs, both Labrador retriever mixed breeds, who are very rotten and think they run the house. Let's not lie, they totally do, I just can't them know it ha ha! My usual genre is romance or urban fantasy. I love all things having to do with paranormal, with the occasional good contemp/BDSM/erotica thrown in to spice it all up.

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