I decided I have to read something else by Lora Leigh, something in a different series, to give her a chance for redemption. Lora Leigh is a huge name in erotic romance so there’s got to be good writing there somewhere. I’m open to suggestions. But first I’m cleansing my mind with other authors.

I agree that this book is a tough one to get through. Geary is boring and pretty bitchy throughout the book. Arik spends the book in shock-and awe of the wonders of women and junk food. The action is kind of watered down and only really interesting when the odd God shows up. If you can get through the front of the book, the back end is a bit better.

Unfortunately, I’m not a fan of the Dream-Hunter books in general, despite my deep-rooted adoration for any and all Dark-Hunter books. The kicker with Kenyon’s books is that characters pop up in all the books that frequently in the plot lines of subsequent books, so despite the blandness and drudgery I find about the Dream-Hunter series, I think it best to read each in order.

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Allegra has a guardian angel that she calls Casper. He shows up only when it in t? Dliche danger that a good St? Ck seems to be the time’s. He can not help her fill of F?, But functions as a regular non-participating soundboard? Strength. They have a completely k? eastern sexual tension thing going, with a? LinkedIn comprehension? ndnis that they can not be involved k? without k? anxiety further ruined Casper’s chances in the sky. Lusty thoughts and validly obstacle makes the two characters sexual energy radiating throughout the book.

W? While this book is set in Scotland, is an American Allegra. Dinna (not) and occasional references to Bonnie (pretty) women are the only big difference in language e shown in the book. Those who do not know, Scottish culture find themselves lost with no description or dialogue.

The secret is big? h, and truly please advise lt. Unfortunately, I have a lot of time at the beginning of the book trying to guess what the secret was well? Over spend. Allegra was called in Scotland, omin to see? Sen flower, the crime is only much sp? Come ter. I h? Me tte weight? Wanted, if the crime had come fr? Ago, but the appeal is limited.

The paranormal species in this book (? Over the Banshees and Ghosts in the? Mentioned Overview ? HNT) is one that is not seen very often. The disclosure of the types? Surprise spoiled, but it Gene? Gt to say, they are interesting, well written and true to form.

The book is beautiful nf? R is a series so that plenty of room f? rm are daily Handlungsstr length? with Allegra line of work. With figures such as Allegra and Casper, who play each other in beautiful n and a satisfying mystery, I’m curious as what n? Next happen.

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Many people are difficult sometimes or often — including each one of us — but Bernstein writes that his “emotional vampires” are people who see the world differently. “Their perceptions are distorted by their cravings for immature and unattainable goals. They want everybody’s complete and exclusive attention. … Emotional Vampires are inordinantly threatened by common adult experiences, including boredom, uncertainty, accountability, and having to give as well as receive” (p. 4). He bases his categorizations of emotional vampires on personality disorders as defined by the American Psychiatric Association, but states that the people who give us trouble, or the types he addresses in this book, aren’t likely to be that seriously dysfunctional.

After a few introductory chapters helping to set the stage (and firmly establish his vampire metaphor), Bernstein dedicates a chapter to each type of vampire. The introductory chapters outline how “vampires” are different from other people, how they are “made” and how their sucking black holes of emotional needs will suck the life out of anyone who doesn’t know how to defend him or herself. Bernstein repeatedly makes the point that life is lonely for vampires: For them, the world comprises only their needs, nothing else.

Regarding this last point, Bernstein emphasizes that to fight a vampire, or at least to protect oneself, individuals should NOT try to make vampires care about their feelings, or tell them they’ve been hurt by them. Bernstein’s tips are entirely practical to ensure that the healthy person is not taken in by the need of the vampire, and can cope with him or her. He often focuses his scenarios and tips on a work environment, which I found very helpful.

While he states that most types of vampires have common traits, he divides the vampires into Antisocial (Vampire Daredevils, Vampire Used Car Salesmen, Vampire Bullies); Histrionic (Vampires Who Ham It Up, Passive-Aggressive Vampires); Narcissistic (Vampires Who Are Legends in their Own Minds, Vampire Superstars); Obsessive-Compulsive (Vampire Perfectionists and Puritans) and Paranoid. All chapters outline common behaviors, include hypothetical scenarios, behavior checklists, and most important, REALLY HELPFUL TIPS on how to cope with these people without getting scarred for life! (Some of these tips included things like telling a bully you need time to think about something before answering a “throwdown” type question, and to stop explaining yourself or your decisions to bullies, who only use your rationals as points of vulnerability or weakness.)

Throughout the book, Bernstein stresses that while one may be interested in how someone becamse a vampire, that is not necessary knowledge to develop the skills to defend oneself. He also says repeatedly that trying to change vampires is nearly impossible. The goal of his tips and instruction is to protect the reader from the harm that may come to them psychologically or organizationally from individuals whose own emotional needs overpower any other human and social instinct they have in dealing with others.

I have found this book to be extremely helpful in dealing with difficult people in a polite but self-protecting manner. I highly recommend this book if you have an emotional vampire in your life!

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Bernstein, A.J. (2001). Emotional vampires: Dealing with people who drain you dry. New York: McGraw Hill.

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I enjoyed this book even though it’s quite a while since I managed to escape, dragging my poor depleted body through the Transylvanian woods to freedom and slowly regaining my sanity. Bernstein is the emotional equivalent of Van Helsing and this book is the string of garlic you need to hang around your neck. He writes well with much wisdom and a few laughs thrown in and there were many ‘Aha!’ moments for me.

Good as it is, I feel that this book will be most useful for victims outside of intimate relationships. God forbid that your significant other is an emotional vampire. The effects are devastating, extremely damaging and the abuse of friendship and love (much worse than physical abuse in my opinion) takes years to get over. The important thing to grasp is that these creatures are NOT human in the sense that most ‘normal’ people would understand. By definition, a vampire is not a human being. These people are parasites inhabiting the weird and batty world of the undead. I am not joking. This is a difficult concept to explain if you haven’t been in a relationship with one.

If you even suspect that your significant other is a vampire – there’s only ONE thing you can do if you want to avoid more blood loss and keep your sanity. Run like hell in the opposite direction. And keep on running.

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This is not “one size fits all” advice. He suggests different strokes for different folks. He also shows how there’s a little vampire in each of us.