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Wicked Intentions
Life was bad enough when Lauren DarPayne hit puberty and sprouted a set of fangs, but now it’s hell.
After almost killing her boyfriend Derik and turning him into a vampire, she quit college and moved from small town Louisiana all the way to Atlanta, Georgia to be a stripper at Wicked Intentions. It's good money, a great place to hide, and an easy meal ticket... well, at least until a psycho with some interesting non-human abilities starts eviscerating her coworkers. Now, due to her past ‘indiscretion’ with Derik, the governing body of all cryptid, the Abattoir, is giving her an ultimatum: play bait willingly, or by force.
WARNING: EXPLICIT CONTENT. Contains Graphic Violence and Sexual Situations.
After almost killing her boyfriend Derik and turning him into a vampire, she quit college and moved from small town Louisiana all the way to Atlanta, Georgia to be a stripper at Wicked Intentions. It's good money, a great place to hide, and an easy meal ticket... well, at least until a psycho with some interesting non-human abilities starts eviscerating her coworkers. Now, due to her past ‘indiscretion’ with Derik, the governing body of all cryptid, the Abattoir, is giving her an ultimatum: play bait willingly, or by force.
WARNING: EXPLICIT CONTENT. Contains Graphic Violence and Sexual Situations.
344 pages, Paperback
First published April 27, 2013
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
July 15, 2013
All I read is paranormal and horror but all the books are carbon copies of each other. The man is always some strong non-human warrior and the woman is always some damsel in distress who happens to be weak, fragile and needs to be constantly rescued.
This book was a breath of fresh air from the usual paranormal genre. It's gritty, coarse and even brings in some new otherworldly creatures and best of all, the main character, though female, isn't the one who needs to be rescued!
The only thing I don't like is that the next book isn't out yet!!! I don't want to include any spoilers, but the end of the book introduces a whole new world that I hope the author expands on in the next book.
Keep in mind, if you are turned off by coarse language, violence and sex, then you should probably skip this one.
This book was a breath of fresh air from the usual paranormal genre. It's gritty, coarse and even brings in some new otherworldly creatures and best of all, the main character, though female, isn't the one who needs to be rescued!
The only thing I don't like is that the next book isn't out yet!!! I don't want to include any spoilers, but the end of the book introduces a whole new world that I hope the author expands on in the next book.
Keep in mind, if you are turned off by coarse language, violence and sex, then you should probably skip this one.
November 4, 2018
MIGHT CONTAIN A SPOILER!
This was an interesting book. I dont think I've read anything like it. Not your typical vampire story. Noway. Its got more creatures in it. Even with what you've read about vampires and wolves and other creatures this is way different. Not a bad thing. Makes it stand out for sure. I've got some mixed feelings about it. I liked it but some things bothered me. Lauren for instance came off in the beginning as this kickass heroine. However, slowly throughout the book she starts to diminish bit by bit and become a little whiny and showed a lot of fear for pretty much everything. She's what you call a baby vampire...not very old and nobody was around to teach her anything so she was clueless about other creatures and even things about vampires. I also found her a tad judgmental which surprised me because she's an exotic dancer AND a vampire. Then she had terrible reactions to poor Therone's abilities. Who was she to judge? I wasnt sure what to make of Therone and Lauren's relationship. They had chemistry and liked each other but as far as feelings? I dont know I had trouble connecting with them as a couple. He was a total ass from the beginning but then slowly did a 180. Dont get me wrong I liked them both just sometimes they didnt make sense to me and how they acted at times. I think they were shortchanged in a way in this book and thats why I had difficulty connecting with them. I dont want romance overshadowing either and this just wasnt well balanced in my opinion. By the time I got to the end of the book and thought about things I feel this book was dragged out in some parts. Its not really a long book but I think there were times it kinda stood still and nobody knew what they were doing. Kinda like a stale mate then it would pick up and it was fine. Saying all that though I liked it and would like to read the next when it comes out. We still dont know about Gabe/Greg...poor guy.
This was an interesting book. I dont think I've read anything like it. Not your typical vampire story. Noway. Its got more creatures in it. Even with what you've read about vampires and wolves and other creatures this is way different. Not a bad thing. Makes it stand out for sure. I've got some mixed feelings about it. I liked it but some things bothered me. Lauren for instance came off in the beginning as this kickass heroine. However, slowly throughout the book she starts to diminish bit by bit and become a little whiny and showed a lot of fear for pretty much everything. She's what you call a baby vampire...not very old and nobody was around to teach her anything so she was clueless about other creatures and even things about vampires. I also found her a tad judgmental which surprised me because she's an exotic dancer AND a vampire. Then she had terrible reactions to poor Therone's abilities. Who was she to judge? I wasnt sure what to make of Therone and Lauren's relationship. They had chemistry and liked each other but as far as feelings? I dont know I had trouble connecting with them as a couple. He was a total ass from the beginning but then slowly did a 180. Dont get me wrong I liked them both just sometimes they didnt make sense to me and how they acted at times. I think they were shortchanged in a way in this book and thats why I had difficulty connecting with them. I dont want romance overshadowing either and this just wasnt well balanced in my opinion. By the time I got to the end of the book and thought about things I feel this book was dragged out in some parts. Its not really a long book but I think there were times it kinda stood still and nobody knew what they were doing. Kinda like a stale mate then it would pick up and it was fine. Saying all that though I liked it and would like to read the next when it comes out. We still dont know about Gabe/Greg...poor guy.
June 9, 2013
Wicked Intentions brings all of the standard types of supernatural creatures that we have seen plenty of lately (werewolves, vampires, and witches) but also expands into psychics, fairies and a couple surprises that I won't spoil. You'll get your fix no matter what is your favorite, though vampires and werewolves do make up the majority as is to be expected. There is also plenty of action for all of you readers that can't stand slow buildups. Displays of supernatural powers? Check. Sexy scenes guaranteed to spice up your reading experience? You bet. Daring escape attempts, chases, and even haunting nightmares are all present in Wicked Intentions. Action junkies kick back and enjoy.
So what does that compilation sound like and what type of reader would enjoy it? Supernatural fans, especially those of varied and large casts are sure to enjoy it. Readers wanting a bunch of action to break up the story will be satisfied as well. Even the romance/naughty bits are taken care of. But read the part of the Goodreads summary that is contained in parentheses (it's at the bottom), go ahead, I'll wait. That's right, the book is supposed to be "first and foremost horror", that this book is not. Never once while reading Wicked Intentions did I feel any sense of foreboding, let out a gasp, feel a shiver down my spine, nothing. Every book has an identity, just as this one does, and while the book as a whole is quite good, horror it is not. Violence? Oh sure, and plenty of it, but it isn't scary just as watching an episode of any Law and Order episode isn't, but both are interesting nonetheless. Violence isn't inherently filled with horror. Moving on.
The other issue I had with Wicked Intentions, unfortunately is the main character, Lauren. She is prone to jealousy at the drop of a hat, has absolutely no tact or compassion especially when it is needed most and in general tends to act like quite an arrogant and stubborn asshat. Yes asshat. I'm not saying every main character has to be likable, but having redeeming qualities that outshine the grating parts is recommended and Lauren's don't. Her supporting cast is actually pretty solid, and outside of a few repetitious bits involving one of the constants, Greg, the writing for them is great. They have depth, are easy to connect with and with some even relate to and supernatural or not they are believable. Lauren just doesn't fit in with the rest of them. She has a few "excuses" for being the way she is, but they aren't strong enough for me to give the way she acts at times in the book validity.
The plot is pretty old-school mystery (yes another genre thrown at you, but in this case it works). Crazy killer on the loose, cops, supernatural mostly, attempt to find them and catch/kill them (depending on what you read into it). It's good, not overly formulaic with enough twists to keep you off guard (though one reveal was SUPER obvious) and the result was surprising enough. Not much to say about it really as far as specifics, just solid mystery meets supernatural.
My last comment is something that I made sure to clarify with the author before I posted in this review because honestly I thought something went wrong with my e-book copy. The ending was abrupt, like... did something get cut off somewhere, am I missing pages, what the heck kind of sudden. There is all this world building at the end and a bunch of things with central characters hanging in the balance and then... done. Yes this is book one in a series, I know cliffhangers and dramatic last lines can be fun, but the way it was left off left me cold. Sure I want to know what happens to the characters, yes even Lauren, but if I'm going to the length of confirming with the author if the copy I received ended prematurely you know that it wasn't smooth. I'm really not trying to harp on it, I'm just flummoxed. Oh well.
Overall Wicked Intentions is a good, if perhaps an incorrectly classified, book that has pieces from all sorts of genres that for the most part blend quite well together. It's a throwback to older mysteries while staying current with supernatural creatures both mainstream and rarely seen. The vast majority of characters are well done, they are relatable and believable as is the plot. There are flaws that could be corrected in the remaining books in the series, and Lauren's character could use a major attitude adjustment, but I enjoyed the story. You'll never get bored and the pacing the way Langley spaces out the action is excellent and keeps you enthralled. A good read.
Rating: 3/5
So what does that compilation sound like and what type of reader would enjoy it? Supernatural fans, especially those of varied and large casts are sure to enjoy it. Readers wanting a bunch of action to break up the story will be satisfied as well. Even the romance/naughty bits are taken care of. But read the part of the Goodreads summary that is contained in parentheses (it's at the bottom), go ahead, I'll wait. That's right, the book is supposed to be "first and foremost horror", that this book is not. Never once while reading Wicked Intentions did I feel any sense of foreboding, let out a gasp, feel a shiver down my spine, nothing. Every book has an identity, just as this one does, and while the book as a whole is quite good, horror it is not. Violence? Oh sure, and plenty of it, but it isn't scary just as watching an episode of any Law and Order episode isn't, but both are interesting nonetheless. Violence isn't inherently filled with horror. Moving on.
The other issue I had with Wicked Intentions, unfortunately is the main character, Lauren. She is prone to jealousy at the drop of a hat, has absolutely no tact or compassion especially when it is needed most and in general tends to act like quite an arrogant and stubborn asshat. Yes asshat. I'm not saying every main character has to be likable, but having redeeming qualities that outshine the grating parts is recommended and Lauren's don't. Her supporting cast is actually pretty solid, and outside of a few repetitious bits involving one of the constants, Greg, the writing for them is great. They have depth, are easy to connect with and with some even relate to and supernatural or not they are believable. Lauren just doesn't fit in with the rest of them. She has a few "excuses" for being the way she is, but they aren't strong enough for me to give the way she acts at times in the book validity.
The plot is pretty old-school mystery (yes another genre thrown at you, but in this case it works). Crazy killer on the loose, cops, supernatural mostly, attempt to find them and catch/kill them (depending on what you read into it). It's good, not overly formulaic with enough twists to keep you off guard (though one reveal was SUPER obvious) and the result was surprising enough. Not much to say about it really as far as specifics, just solid mystery meets supernatural.
My last comment is something that I made sure to clarify with the author before I posted in this review because honestly I thought something went wrong with my e-book copy. The ending was abrupt, like... did something get cut off somewhere, am I missing pages, what the heck kind of sudden. There is all this world building at the end and a bunch of things with central characters hanging in the balance and then... done. Yes this is book one in a series, I know cliffhangers and dramatic last lines can be fun, but the way it was left off left me cold. Sure I want to know what happens to the characters, yes even Lauren, but if I'm going to the length of confirming with the author if the copy I received ended prematurely you know that it wasn't smooth. I'm really not trying to harp on it, I'm just flummoxed. Oh well.
Overall Wicked Intentions is a good, if perhaps an incorrectly classified, book that has pieces from all sorts of genres that for the most part blend quite well together. It's a throwback to older mysteries while staying current with supernatural creatures both mainstream and rarely seen. The vast majority of characters are well done, they are relatable and believable as is the plot. There are flaws that could be corrected in the remaining books in the series, and Lauren's character could use a major attitude adjustment, but I enjoyed the story. You'll never get bored and the pacing the way Langley spaces out the action is excellent and keeps you enthralled. A good read.
Rating: 3/5
January 26, 2015
This novel is outside of my usual reading preference (literary fiction) – it falls in the paranormal suspense genre. I have done a fair amount of reading on vampires and werewolves, with a particular affinity for vampires, so I was comfortable in the world Langley created. This was one of the strongest and most intriguing parts of the this book; I very much enjoyed the author’s take on the paranormal world. She treats her supernatural characters in a very creative way. There have been some real literary duds lately dealing with paranormal creatures – this is not one of them.
Charity Langley is a very talented writer. Her command of language, and of the vernacular of her characters, is impressive, especially in a first novel. I’ve done reviews (or am in the process of reviews) for a number of independently published authors, and I have been generally incredibly impressed with the quality of work that they are publishing. I’m making ever more contacts with independent authors, and I’m looking forward to reading more of their work.
The story in this novel is creative, original, engaging, and well put together. It hits a rough spot every now and then, but recovers quickly, and on the whole is wonderful to read. The action is fast paced and fluid – and there is a lot of action! I am curious (in a good way) to see how the characters continue to grow throughout the series.
My final note is about the editing (typical for me, I know): the only major distraction from Langley’s very strong first offering were some errors in editing, including spelling, missing words, and punctuation. Some of the rough transitions in story could also have been helped with a good editor…so I would just note that consistency could be improved, and basic editing mistakes avoided.
If you can’t already tell – I enjoyed this novel very much, and I am anxiously awaiting the second book in the series!
full review at http://www.matthewejackson.com/book-r...
Charity Langley is a very talented writer. Her command of language, and of the vernacular of her characters, is impressive, especially in a first novel. I’ve done reviews (or am in the process of reviews) for a number of independently published authors, and I have been generally incredibly impressed with the quality of work that they are publishing. I’m making ever more contacts with independent authors, and I’m looking forward to reading more of their work.
The story in this novel is creative, original, engaging, and well put together. It hits a rough spot every now and then, but recovers quickly, and on the whole is wonderful to read. The action is fast paced and fluid – and there is a lot of action! I am curious (in a good way) to see how the characters continue to grow throughout the series.
My final note is about the editing (typical for me, I know): the only major distraction from Langley’s very strong first offering were some errors in editing, including spelling, missing words, and punctuation. Some of the rough transitions in story could also have been helped with a good editor…so I would just note that consistency could be improved, and basic editing mistakes avoided.
If you can’t already tell – I enjoyed this novel very much, and I am anxiously awaiting the second book in the series!
full review at http://www.matthewejackson.com/book-r...
July 16, 2013
I am not, by nature, a horror story reader. I picked this book up after many discussions on up-and-coming-authors and read it over a period of five hours in airplanes.
Charity has written this story as much as a mystery as a horror story. Each chapter and scene in this book allows her to add one more piece to the puzzle. By doing so, she feeds the reader a fantastic new world, one bite at a time making it even more real, and even more believable.
Each of her characters screams to have a much more full book done on them, even Leon, the manager at Wicked Intentions. Her details were intricate, and her comments on the night-club scene at the beginning were worth a smile.
The triangle of love between Gabriel and Lauren and Therone is interesting and both suitors have their strengths
This is a FANTASTIC first book, and a great example of world building. I look forward to the next installment in a series that will soon be considered a cult-classic everywhere.
Charity has written this story as much as a mystery as a horror story. Each chapter and scene in this book allows her to add one more piece to the puzzle. By doing so, she feeds the reader a fantastic new world, one bite at a time making it even more real, and even more believable.
Each of her characters screams to have a much more full book done on them, even Leon, the manager at Wicked Intentions. Her details were intricate, and her comments on the night-club scene at the beginning were worth a smile.
The triangle of love between Gabriel and Lauren and Therone is interesting and both suitors have their strengths
This is a FANTASTIC first book, and a great example of world building. I look forward to the next installment in a series that will soon be considered a cult-classic everywhere.
December 25, 2014
This book packs a punch especially the second half!
There's lots of action straight from the start, and your slowly drawn into Lauren's world. At times I wasn't sure how I felt about Lauren, she's a vamp yes, but very different from others I've read about, there were times I agreed with her and others I was like oh come on give a little! Then again I sometimes like a characther that makes you chop and change your thoughts......
Lots going on this story, so not even going to attempt to summarise but there's two men you will really like in this story Greg and Therone.
Hard to categorise this book, some have said horror.....hhhhhmmm paranormal suspense, murder, romance.
Many different paranormal species live in this book, some ive never read about before, so a door to a new world of paranormal has been open to me :)
3.75 - 4 stars Vampy and Racey stars
**i was gifted a copy of this book for an honest review**
There's lots of action straight from the start, and your slowly drawn into Lauren's world. At times I wasn't sure how I felt about Lauren, she's a vamp yes, but very different from others I've read about, there were times I agreed with her and others I was like oh come on give a little! Then again I sometimes like a characther that makes you chop and change your thoughts......
Lots going on this story, so not even going to attempt to summarise but there's two men you will really like in this story Greg and Therone.
Hard to categorise this book, some have said horror.....hhhhhmmm paranormal suspense, murder, romance.
Many different paranormal species live in this book, some ive never read about before, so a door to a new world of paranormal has been open to me :)
3.75 - 4 stars Vampy and Racey stars
**i was gifted a copy of this book for an honest review**
September 3, 2017
Lauren is a vampire that works at a strip club, it makes it easy to feed without anyone the wiser. However, she is having the worst luck and trouble keeps following her. Now, strippers are being murdered and the cops think her strip club is next. But that's not all, everyone is keeping secrets from everyone. They all have their own personal reasons but still......more secrets mean more problems. Now, they all have to team up to try and solve all these mysteries while trying to uncover all the secrets that everyone is hiding.
A lot is happening in this book and I can't wait for the next in the series. I loved the by play between the characters. The only thing that annoyed me was the fact that after Lauren learned a certain someone's secret she just couldn't get past it, but she was keeping secrets too. It's part of the rules!!! Move on already, he's the same person he always was.
Can't wait to see what this group gets into next time and what happens, a few things were left unresolved, so be prepared.
A lot is happening in this book and I can't wait for the next in the series. I loved the by play between the characters. The only thing that annoyed me was the fact that after Lauren learned a certain someone's secret she just couldn't get past it, but she was keeping secrets too. It's part of the rules!!! Move on already, he's the same person he always was.
Can't wait to see what this group gets into next time and what happens, a few things were left unresolved, so be prepared.
September 10, 2017
A wonderful tale of those that work to pass as normal. In most fantasy books there is always the concern of discovery. I really appreciate the perspective of this story. Where those who can not only do live among us. They also seek to help us. They police their own. They still maintain the drive to contribute. So many others included in the possibilities. Yet an overall trend of acceptance. Still the truth of difference causing fear and hate.
August 29, 2019
Fantastic introduction into a world that reveals itself in layers. It's a beautifully woven story of woman trying to deal with dual lives where both are far from perfect. To blend horror and sensuality into what is essentially a drama at its core is difficult to pull off, but Charity pulls it off. With the world building and cast of characters, it begs to be a television series. Until then, we'll have to wait patiently on the next book in the series.
September 13, 2017
Wicked Intentions by Charity Langley is a paranormal suspense thriller. It is super well written, with very descriptive characters, environments, and scenes. I was pulled completely in on the very first page. I only wish there was more. It was a bit cliffy.
November 10, 2018
Wow! With very descriptive environments, characters, and scenes this book was super good. I loved everything about it. Different from your everyday paranormal characters. I was drawn in from the start to the finish and left wanting more. I definitely can't wait to see what's next!
October 7, 2019
I read all by itself
A truly amazing story. I enjoyed reading every single page, with its twists and turns. Nothing ordinary in any way. Enjoy .
A truly amazing story. I enjoyed reading every single page, with its twists and turns. Nothing ordinary in any way. Enjoy .
January 20, 2016
No. Not for me. If the grammar errors (is the author allergic to commas? Does she need a lesson in "its vs. it's"?), word errors (think vs. thing, never vs. ever, etc), and desperate need for an editor and some serious direction weren't enough, the sexual violence (with no emotional reaction whatsoever and no consequences) certainly was enough to turn me off completely. Also, a heroine who does absolutely nothing heroic and spends 98% of her time crying leaves something to be desired.
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