I grabbed this at the library booksale, knowing I could find a good use for it. I read it a couple years ago, and on a re-read I still feel similarly, so rather than write a new review, I'll just link to my previous one: http://www.bookcrossing.com/journal/10333294/

This book is one of the starting novels in the newest round of The Vampire Bookbox

I've already read this one, but since this title has already been in the hands of everyone left on the bookbox list, I'm claiming it to wild-release locally.

This is another enjoyable installment in this charming series, especially where it touches on Professor Lyall, who - in his role as hypercompetent sidekick to Lord Maccon - became one of my favorite characters in the first book! This one won me with the title of Chapter One: "In Which Lady Alexia Maccon Waddles". [She's heavily pregnant, indeed, but "waddles"? I laughed a lot.] The opening scenes are pretty funny, too, what with the suggestion that Lord Akeldama adopt Alexia's forthcoming child, so as to ease the fears of the vampire community about a super-powered child in a werewolf clan. (When he mentions that he's planning to devote his second-best closet to a room for the child, Alexia realizes how serious he is. Hee!)

Lots of great character bits from all concerned - I think I read this series for the dialogue as much as anything else. And, oh, I do adore Prof. Lyall... [And Lord Akeldama. And the tricky relationship between Alexia and Conall. And - well, I like the series!]

That said, some of the conspiracy-plots leave me relatively cold, other than as they provide an excuse for more banter between my favorite characters - though the Attack Porcupines were... amusing. (The line "Is a cephalopod so dire as all that?" was also good.) I enjoyed (in an angsty sort of way) observing Biffy's situation - poor guy, his hopes of joining Lord Akeldama in vampirism dashed in a most decided and permanent manner in the last book, and now he's really struggling to fit in. Luckily, the new domestic rearrangements seem to help, and I found Alexia's sympathetic but no-nonsense advice to him quite refreshing. (The, um, altercation between Biffy and Lord Akeldama... what a scene, demonstrating Alexia's sang froid to a remarkable degree!)

Some fascinating secrets revealed, lots of quips quipped and battles battled - very enjoyable. And of course the final scene is simply perfect!

Side note: I enjoyed the manga adaptation of the first book in the series, Soulless; sadly, the manga adaptations ended with the third volume, so it seems there won't be a manga of this one.

[There's a TV Tropes page for the series, with lots of entertaining info; just beware of spoilers!]

I left this book in the combination Little Free Library and geocache at around 2; hope the finder enjoys it!

*** Released as part of the 2016 Keep Them Moving release challenge. ***

*** Released as part of the 2016 June Brides release challenge, for the "heart" in the title. ***