Adults are dressing up more for Halloween than ever before. There is something fun about donning a costume. A normally staid male can be a gigolo, an exotic dancer, or even a werewolf. A woman’s opportunities are endless.

Joanna Eastman, the heroine of Crimson Ties, looks forward to acting out her fantasies at the vampire costume ball. Until now, she had only met fellow partiers on-line. As a scientist for a pharmaceutical firm, Joanna is not a poster child for Vampires R Us. She cloaks her curvaceous body in a lab coat and pulls her luxurious golden brown hair into a ponytail for work. It is after work that she indulges her vampire interests by interacting on-line with others who are into vampire lore. As a scientist, she is into research and has documented sightings of vampires. Despite her data, she doesn’t totally believe. It is more like a delicious game she likes to imagine. The party is perfect for letting her inner vampire vixen out and showing off her body in form-fitting velvet.

Jessica, Joanna’s friend, hopes the ball will offer an opportunity to meet men. Joanna is sure she doesn’t want to hook up with a guy who pretends he’s Count Dracula, despite her dreams. In her dreams, her vampire lover comes to her making incredible love to her before sinking his fangs into her neck. The dreams leave her with a longing that often lasts for days. She doesn’t mention her dreams to her fiancé, but he could have sensed her distraction. Perhaps that is why James, her fiancé, left her, but that doesn’t matter now. Joanna is at the party to have fun, maybe flirt, drink some of the blood red punch, and then head home. Male friends, real or imagined, are not part of her present or future.

Anton Mahler draws women like flies as he maneuvers his tall, handsome body through the party. He spots Joanna, the woman of his dreams. Despite Jessica’s obvious attempts at flirting, he wills her away. He needs nothing between himself and his chosen one. Anton speaks to the unspoken questions in Joanna’s eyes. He senses her arousal, but her belief is suspended. She doesn’t see him for who he really is. Anton is eager to show her that her dreams can be reality.

Anton and Joanna engage in an erotic mating dance that keeps the story moving. The character of Joanna is skeptical keeping with her science background. Anton is as smooth as raw silk, a little texture for tactile stimulation. Their dance, while familiar, is far from routine. Details of the vampire web site, party, and history show research, which adds a credible feel, to an incredible proposition.

Crimson Ties is a quickie that you can sink your teeth in and walk away wanting more. The book is a definite recommend for vampire and fantasy lovers.
Reviewed by Morgan Wyatt
© December 2006