ARC Review--The Vampire's Mail Order Bride by Kristen Painter

Welcome to Nocturne Falls, the town where Halloween is celebrated 365 days a year. The tourists think it's all a show: the vampires, the werewolves, the witches, the occasional gargoyle flying through the sky. But the supernaturals populating the town know better. Living in Nocturne Falls means being yourself. Fangs and all.


After seeing her maybe-mobster boss murder a guy, Delaney James assumes a new identity and pretends to be a mail order bride. What she doesn't know is her groom to be is a 400-year-old vampire.

Hugh Ellingham has only agreed to the set up to make his overbearing grandmother happy. His past means love is no longer an option. Except he never counted on Delaney and falling in love for real.
Too bad both of them are keeping some might big secrets... 

I received this ARC from the author in exchange for an honest review, I was in no way compensated for this review.


Kristen Painter brings us a new series set in Nocturne Falls where it's Halloween all year around. And that's not to say that the townspeople love the holiday, it's moreso that they are in fact real vampires, witches, werewolves, gargoyles, etc. Tourists flock to the town in droves thinking it's just a quaint and eccentric town, not knowing the creatures here are very real!

The Vampire's Mail Order Bride sounds like it might be a cheesy read, but don't let the title fool you! This read was actually quite fun! It had humor, but still lots of danger and entertainment! Delaney is a waitress with dreams of owning her own sweet shop, making delicious desserts for her customers. It's a dream of her, but in the meantime, she works in an Italian restaurant in Brooklyn. Then one night, she witnesses something she shouldn't have. Her manager shot a man in cold blood. It was all very shady business that she managed to catch on film with her phone. Then she's running and somehow finds herself taking the place of a mail order bride for a man living in Nocturne Falls.

What Delaney doesn't know is that Nocturne Falls is home to real supernaturals. When she meets Hugh, she proclaims she's the girl her grandmother had "sent" for. Hugh isn't up for being the vampire of her teen girl's fantasy world, so he acts human. It's all very secretive for awhile. Delaney not knowing Hugh is a vampire and Hugh not knowing Delaney isn't quite the girl his grandmother arranged for. But it was sooner rather than later this is revealed. Delaney is still hiding from her mobster boss who has been trying to get a hold of her. And Hugh has taken it upon himself to protect her until this shady business is over.

What neither of them plan on is falling in love for real. This is definitely more Paranormal Romance than Urban Fantasy, but still a fun read that I think any paranormal fan would enjoy! Delaney is sassy and spunky. She says what she's thinking and doesn't fit well with conformity. Hugh is definitely the swoony, vampire hunk of any reader's dreams as well. They fit one another, even if they don't want to admit it.

The whole vampire and human thing does become an issue for their future and the matters of turning pop up. All things that I think need addressing when it comes to vampire romances and I like that it pops up here even in a standalone. Though this is a series, it will just be ones with new characters each go around, from my surmising! Hugh does have two brothers after all. Single ones at that! I will be particularly intrigue to see if Julian gets a story since he's the resident playboy. In a way, he reminded me of Jeaniene Frost's Ian, so you can see why I might like that guy! LOL!

Another little nonsense thing I enjoyed was during the parade in Nocturne Falls. There were floats that focused on people's fears and one was based on sharks, so naturally, it was JAWS themed! Why that had me grinning from ear to ear is just my own morbidity I guess! 

This book still had me laughing out loud! Delaney has her moments of hilarity and her attitude is one I never tire of in my heroines! Plus, despite the romance coming off as insta-love, because the book takes place within just a few days, I still like how in those few days, it still took time for Delaney and Hugh to come to love one another. I must commend Kristen on that little factoid itself! It's a challenge to make insta-love enjoyable, but with a standalone it kinda has to happen that way, but Kristen does it in a way that still took page time versus book time! So yeah, truly avid readers will understand that time bit there! LOL! 

The Vampire's Mail Order Bride was a delightful read and I so cannot wait to return to Nocturne Falls again! There are so many colorful townspeople here I am eager to see who we get to meet next!


Overall Rating 5/5 stars


The Vampire's Mail Order Bride releases May 26, 2015


*Also note, I will try to come back and update with a cover once one is released. At the time of reading and reviewing, there was not one to show. My apologies.