Bitten By Cupid (An Argeneau Vampire Novella)

I absolutely loved this short story by Lynsay Sands. It picks up the story of a beloved character, Tiny, in her on-going Argeneau/Hunter series, and wraps up some previous loose ends. For someone who is reading the Argeneau books it's a wonderful peice of the ongoing mystery in the Hunter series, though for someone unfamilar with it, there could be a few mysterious moments.

I do think though that a casual reader will enjoy this story even if they aren't a fan of the Argeneau books.

The other two stories in the anthology are quite interesting, I liked the second story, but I felt that I was missing a lot of back-story world development that would make this make more sense to me.

The final story in the anthology while quite good was just a wee bit creep and not my personal style, but the writing was very good and might be just the cup of tea for another reader.

Absolutely worth it for a regular Sands reader and stands well on it's own even if you're not.

I have read all of lynsay sands books, and this story was by far lacking, Tiny is a great character but we didn't really get a great story for him...The other stories were ok, but this book was a waste of my money!!!

I absolutely love every book so far in the Argeneau Vampire series and don't write reviews but I felt that I needed to write one for this book. This book was not worth the $8 I paid for it only because Tiny's story was really vague and came to an erupt end. If you are only really interested in following the Argeneau series and afraid that you are going to miss out on important events if you skip this book...don't be afraid because you won't. Basically all you need to know is that Tiny and Mirbeau are Life Mates and that their story is plotted around taking Stephaine to Port Henry to try to finish off her teenage years as normal as possible while being kept safe from Leonius Livius and his "gang". I have not read the other 2 short stories mainly because I am not interested. I only bought the book because I thought that I might miss crucial events that might be referred to in the up coming books. After reading Tiny's VERY short story, I now know that I should have just skipped this book and went right to the next book in the series (Born to Bite).

I picked this book up with the intention of only reading the Lynsay Sands story. In an effort to fully compete the Argeneau series, I’m trying to be thorough in reading all the short stories along the way. This anthology, however, totally lured me in and I ended up reading the whole thing. While I liked some stories better than others, it was overall a 3.75 star read (rounding to 4). I have zero experience with the other worlds (Feral Warriors by Pamela Palmer and Offspring by Jaime Rush) but didn’t really have trouble diving in.

Vampire Valentine (4 stars)
The first story is the Argeneau tale. We FINALLY get to give Tiny his life mate! Tiny (for those of you who don’t know) is only of the only remaining mortals in a world filled with vampires and life mates. He seems to get along just fine, but he is obviously the weak link when sent out with other vampires. It must hurt his ego a little bit, especially because, despite his name, he’s pretty huge. Mirabeau is the punky misfit that has been on the periphery of a few stories but never really got her own starring role. Here, we see that they’ve both got things they have to wrap up before they can fully commit to one another. No matter how they get there, I’m still super happy that Tiny has finally gotten paired up. It was also nice to have a little follow-up on the youngest of the vampires.

Hearts Untamed (3 stars)
This story deals with a woman hiding all sorts of secrets from her long lost love. In a world where people can live for centuries but magical sorceresses are assumed extinct, Julianne is burdened with a secret that she’s not only a half-breed between the two magical races, but also being blackmailed into finding a precious gem. All of this drama is coupled with the abrupt return of her lost love, Zee, and now she’s got a recipe for disaster. She can’t really be expected to keep all these secrets from him and it seems he arrives at the exact time she needs him to. There’s some HEA and a relatively simple introduction to this world thrown in.

Kiss and Kill Cupid (4 stars)
This story had me on the edge of my seat the entire time! We meet Kristy, a punky and awesome writer who just happens to also be able to read minds. During a job interview she happens to hear the thoughts of a serial killer identifying her as his next victim. Through a series of events, it turns out her soon-to-be-maybe-boss might also have some secrets of the paranormal variety. From start to finish, I had no idea who the killer was, which makes this an awesomely entertaining read. I will definitely be checking out this author in the future if this is just a small example of what they can do.

I own EVERY book Lynsay Sands has written. I have seen positive reviews and negative reviews on here an I would like to address them both. The negative one's: Yes, I is a short story, they all are that's why they are called Novellas. And, while I agree a few more details would have been nice, after reading for years I learned books published with several authors are mainly just to "wet your appetite" so to speak so you will purchase another one of their books if for no other reason than to see what happens next. So, that may be why some were disappointed. NOW the POSITIVE reviews: Lynsay Sands is without a doubt one of the greatest Authors I have ever read or have had the privilege to talk to, by email and yes she responds to emails personally there's a difference in a personal response vs. someone writing for them, This story was SOOO great for me because I REALLY wanted Tiny to have a lifemate and to hear about Mirabeau's history was very appreciated. I have read all the books in the Argeneau series by book, then once I got cancer, by ebook and now audio books at least 5 times beginning to end. She has a GREAT sense of humor along with great sex scenes, a wonderful story line and a remarkable imagination for the explanation of their vampirism, oops sorry, I mean immortals. The older "immortals" hate the word vampire which was only created because of a drunken idiot telling little tidbits and lies to someone in a bar which led to the movie Dracula....at least in this vampire/immortal book series. If you like to laugh, love things paranormal that are not all dark but has you laugh outloud making people look at you like your nuts in public lol, Lynsay Sands Argeneau is for you. I love several other writers but she is my favorite. I hope this helps. Good reading to you all!!

Vampire Valentine by Lynsay Sands Argeneau 12.5 (from Anthology: Bitten by Cupid)

Marguerite Argeneau is at it again, if she keeps up her matchmaking, they are going to run out of enforcers. This time she set her eyes on Tiny McGraw and Maribeau La Roche.

Maribeau had lost all of her family when her uncle killed them, Lucian had found her when she was trying to escape her uncles men. Lucian had brought her to Marguerite. She has been a part of their family and yet separate as she never really got over the horror of what happened to her family.

Tiny McGraw is a PI. He had worked with Jackie until she became Vincent Argeneau's life mate. Recently he worked a job in Europe with Marguerite. They were at the wedding in New York where several of the new life mate couples were finally getting married, when Marguerite informed him that she Maribeau could be his life mate so she had asked Lucian to put him with her on this assignment.

The assignment was Stephanie McGill. She had been attacked by a no-fanger and he was still after the fourteen year old girl. Who sister, Dani, is Decker's life mate.

After the wedding Tiny, Maribeau and Stephanie start their adventure to Port Henry. Maribeau has to decide if she is ready to accept someone in her life. After her families death she feared losing anyone. Tiny still as all of his family and has to choose if he is ready to join the immortal world as well. Stephanie just wants peace and quiet.

This review is only for Vampire Valentine:

I loved Tiny and Mirabeau! I've been waiting for Tiny's story for a while, but this was so short it was almost anticlimactic. I just wish there was more to the story. And don't get me started on Stephanie. Maybe it's because I have a teenager of my own, but her attitude just grated on my nerves.

Purchased the book primarily for the Lynsay Sands short story "Vampire Valentine" which pairs Tiny McGraw with Mirabeau. Seems like the Argeneau book series peaked with resolving the situation of Marguerite Argeneau and since then the author has been stretching to use minor characters from previous stories for new lifemate pairings. Character development has become somewhat shallow and the ending is predictable. When the "no-fangers" were first introduced that added a bit of danger and unpredictability...but while they are mentioned in "Vampire Valentine" this never goes beyond the level of being a hollow threat. Which seems like a missed opportunity to craft a more engaging story.

"Vampire Valentine" by Lynsay Sands. Detective McGraw wants to become lifemate to vampire Mirabeau LaRouche, but though attracted to the mortal she has doubts this is wise.

"Hearts Untamed" by Pamela Palmer. A decade ago Zeeland spurned Therein half-breed Julianna, but he is back so she hides from him fearing his reaction to her Ilina bloodline.

"Kiss and Kill Cupid" by Jaime Rush. Kristy Morgan always loathed her ESP skill of hearing the thoughts of others, but now she overhears someone planning to kill her with Adrian Kruger vowing to keep her safe.

This fun romantic fantasy collection with a wonderful dark paranormal bite shows why the three authors' respective paranormal series (see Lynsay Sands' the Argeneau saga, Patricia Palmer's Untamed thrillers and Jamie Rush's Darkness tales) are popular.

Harriet Klausner

I felt like Tiny's story was way to abrupt. There was none of the usual "ah your a vampire", angst. I missed it. There was no real romancing in this romance it was more of a hey, I like you, you like me guess we're it. BLAHHHHH... I got that in real life I want passion, love, hate, a wide range of roller-coaster emotions in my fantasy.
The Pamela Palmer story I can't remember which is bad because I remember everything I read.
The Jamie Rush was okay. I liked the characters, felt bad for the best friend. Even empathized with the heroine a smidge.

I DO LOVE THE ARGENEAUS - but that said, this was not one of my favorite books. The passion and connection of these two people was better in The Reluctant Vampire than in this book. Her best books are Tall Dark and Hungry, Bite Me if You Can and the Rogue Hunter, that said, they're all really good when you get into the series with the weakest books being book 1 and this book. All are worth reading and will make you laugh and intrigue you. Her vampire lore is an interesting twist.

Enjoyed the Reluctant Vampire (new) and can't wait for more!

Multi author anthology. I bought this for the Lynsay Sands story and honestly it was the only one that I really liked. For those of you who follow the Argeneau series - the hero is Tiny who was introduced in A Bite To Remember as the heroine's partner. He has appeared in several subsequent novels and now Marguerite, the ultimate matchmaker, launches her plan to find him a lifemate...

Hearts Untamed by Pamela Palmer - hooks into her Feral Warriors series.

Kiss and Kill Cupid by Jamie Rush - appears to be a stand alone but I'm not familiar with the author.

I only read Argeneau #12.5 by Lynsay Sands.
I have to say it's a shame that Sands cheated us out on a story for Tiny. I was looking forward to him getting a book and finding out he may be a lifemate to one of the immortal women, but I feel this was just a mediocre story thrown together so the author could say these 2 got lifemates.

Since meeting Tiny is A Bite To Remember I have been so excited to see if he would woo his woman and show that he could be domesticated as well as work and solve cases just like he has been before. But Sands cheated her readers with this wanna be novella. I'm sad to say but I'm very disappointed that this is as much as we get of Tiny and Mirabeau.

This book was like a meal...
Vampire Valentine by Lynsay Sands - I checked this book out at the Library because I am currently working my way through this series. This one was a fun story, no meat just some yummy potatoes. I like Tinys' character so I was happy to have a story with him but.... I don't know I just wish this was a full book. Worth the read though check it out.
Hearts untamed by Pamela Palmer - Absolutely sexy meaty story. I love Palmer's Feral warrior series so I was pleasantly surprised to discovered this short story in there. Hot & sexy alpha male Zeeland & Julianne are sizzling in this one. Great short story.
Kiss and Kill Cupid by Jamie rush - Well here is your side salad with your meal. I love salads but if that was all there was you would still be hungry for more. Fun short story to round out the book.
Bottom line, check it out from the library before your decide if you want it for your permanent library.

Although I'm partial to Linsay Sands stories, I believe hers was the best in this set of novellas. By itself it would have been at least a 4 star.
The novella by Pamela Palmer left me feeling as if I was missing parts of the story. I'm assuming maybe reading her other books might have helped with this.
Jaime Rush's novella was too predictable for my taste.

what a rip off. basically this is a story that should be a magazine short story and ends in the middle. next we get a corny shape shifter story by aq different author. after spending a small fortune spending 8 bucks for all of this series so far...this should have been a free kindle download. dont splash the cash. you get tiny on a short roadtrip..meets his lifemate...two kisses...and the book is done. stupid.

I *ADORED* the second story, "Hearts Untamed" by Pamela Palmer. I read it three times and I'm still not sick of it. Julianne is reunited with the love of her life 10 years later, believing for that entire decade he never loved her back. Surprise! I also liked her style, third person, and the characters thoughts are in italic.

The other two stories pale in comparison. The first one I found unbelievable. It just didn't seem like they had much of a connection at all. The last one I found extremely predictable and dull.

I give this 5 stars for Pamela Palmer alone! I hope she brings the characters Julianne and Zeeland into another book in the feral warrior world.

I bought this book for the Tiny and Mirabeau story. In Lynsay Sands Argeneau series I had always loved Tiny McGraw. I felt robbed that his story was so short and rushed. Sweet, strong,hunky, fun loving, great cook Tiny deserved a full on book and so does Mirabeau.

Tiny's story was vaguely interesting, in that his character had been well established in previous books, so I did care what happened to him. I just wish he'd had a more entertaining story.

Sorry, I couldn't force myself to read more than about five pages of Pamela Palmer's story. It was riddled with the sort of faults you learn about on the first day of writing class. Too dull to finish.

Jaime Rush was a more entertaining writer, but as she gave away the killer on the third page, it killed my interest.

I have read the entire Argeneau Vampire series and was so excited about this book. I was very disappointed. Tiny's story was abruptly cut short. I hope that Lynsay Sands will finish his story in a subsequent novel.

I have read the entire Argeneau Vampire series and was so excited about this book. I was very disappointed. Tiny's story was abruptly cut short. I hope that Lynsay Sands will finish his story in a subsequent novel.