A Taste of Darkness (Mackenzie Vampires, Book 3)

Some people seem to not get Bangs' Woo Woo Inn. Sorry they miss the boat. I howled at this book from opening par graph, quite unladylike snorts and sniggers. She gives you dark and sexy vamps, but this time a bit more. It sexy, sizzling, edgy, erotic and down right funny! I am ready to check in at the Woo Woo in for a sweet vacation from reality anytime.

I have to agree with Deborah MacGillivary when she said in her review that Nina Bangs was..."an imaginative, incisive author who skillfully weaves sensuality, hot sex and belly laughs, which leaves me howling and wanting more. I have enjoyed all her works, but I think Taste of Darkness is Dead Bang Bangs - her best novel yet." I have recently started reading Nina Bangs novels and was partially disappointed in my first one, the Pleasure Master. I liked the book up until the ending, but liked it enough for me buy another one to see if it was just me or the story. A Taste of Darkness is the exact opposite. It's well written, humorous, and exciting. Reinn is sexy to the max and I hated when the book ended. You are kept on edge wondering when Kisa would transform into her unusual cat shape (don't want to spoil the story for you). Loved the character Sparkle and her obsession with sex. Loved how Nina solved the conflict in the end with the vampires...great job. Liked how she brought in characters from her other stories. You felt like you in were in on secret. If you want a great romantic adventure with an unusual twist, then buy this book. Watch out for the wereduck!

Vampire Reinn Mackenzie wants nothing to do with his peers or for that matter any creature, supernatural or human. However, the Clan Council informs him he has no choice as he the Guardian of the Blood. Instead of peaceful solitude, Reinn must hunt down vampires who mate with shapeshifters, a major taboo forbidden by the clan. Reinn knows he must kill Alan Mackenzie who is engaged to marry a were-cat Woo Woo Inn. However, going undercover, Reinn learns that the trio of Sparkle, Stardust, and Ganymede are stirring up their usual cosmic relational troubles. He also finds himself attracted to were-cat Krisa, but wonders if the three troublemakers are behind his desire. However, when Reinn realizes that someone is trying to force Krisa to change into her alter ego, a saber tooth tiger, he becomes too involved as he falls in love, but killing himself for breaking the taboo seems extreme. This entertaining star-crossed supernatural romance grips the audience from the moment a disgruntled Reinn goes undercover and never slows down through a series of capers until the final confrontation. Readers will believe in vampires and were-creatures as the Nina Bangs' mythos seem genuine. Sub-genre fans will appreciate the WICKED NIGHTS of this fun humorous and sexy paranormal romantic suspense thriller. Harriet Klausner

Reinn MacKensie hates his job as Guardian of the Blood, almost as much as he hates were-wolves, cats, ducks, you name it. So it figures that the only woman to light his fire in about forever is a were-kitty who turns into something even Reinn has trouble controlling. Vampires, cosmic troublemakers and assorted other creatures people this hilarious revisit to the Woo Woo Inn. I picked this up after reading the review in Romantic Times Magazine--a four and half star top pick paranormal for the month. I sure wasn't disappointed. Bangs has a wicked imagination as well as a talent for coming up with creatures that actually come from mythology-- I mean what is a harpy anyway? But as usual with Bangs, the harpy is just another madcap creature that makes me laugh. Highly recommended.

I have been a long time fan of Nina Bangs' writing, so I am always surprised by the few who don't "get" her. She has a style that is all her own. A sexy, campy, cheeky, irreverent style (might be the cause of those few naysayers) that delights in taking the vampire genre and redefining it, making it all her own. Many vampire fans want utter reverence of the night creature. Bangs goes beyond the accepted level to drag in humor, and I think maybe a few resent that. Their loss. She is an imaginative, incisive author who skillfully weaves sensuality, hot sex and belly laughs, which leaves me howling and wanting more. I have enjoyed all her works, but I think Taste of Darkness is Dead Bang Bangs - her best novel yet. From the opening lines, she had me laughing out loud - not an easy task, but how can you not with an opening so wonderfully brilliant, so Naughty Nina as this: "Werewolves - furry pains in the butt. Werecats - sneaky whisker-twitching manipulators. Werejerks - every freakin' loser with a "were" in front of his name." What a delightful opening! She grabs the reader from that point and takes them into the mind of one of her most brilliantly conceived heroes - Reinn Mackenzie. He is the oldest vamp in the Mackenzie Clan, over a thousand years old and that age has made him one grumpy vamp. He bought a home in the Colorado Rockies and shunned everyone. So what did Clan Mackenzie do to reward their elder? They made him Guardian of the Blood. Reinn has a few choice opinions on that job as well as his outlook on the Woo Woo Inn, where he finds himself at the opener the book. He thinks being protector of the blood, keeping the lines pure, a total crock. How does a vampire keep the blood "pure" when by nature they are running around having "suckfests" as the Woo Woo Inn? Our delight Reinn, Harley-loving, sword-toting avenger of the Mackenzie clan, evokes a touch of Ash from Army of Darkness. I could just hear some of these lines Bangs penned being uttered by the droll Bruce Campbell! It would be a perfect vehicle for the talented actor. Only our sourpuss lad is about to run into one sexy puss, Kisa Evans, one of those aggravating werefelines. She is one of the werecats the vamps feel pollute their pure bloodline and they want her removed. Only grouchy Reinn finds this particular werekitty is driving him wild with desire. This has to be Bangs' best. The book is just so dead on target. I absolutely laughed from start to finish from the witty writing that just shows why Bangs keeps hitting the bestsellers list time-after-time. This is one gem of a tale. I don't reread my books these days because I just don't have the time. This one I will reread; it's one of those books that nests in the imagination and won't let you go. Kudos for the writer having the vision and craft to deliver this knock out book. Keep 'em coming, lass. Very highly recommended for the non-humor impaired!