Vampires Turn Me On

So sue Bite Me!

I honestly can't say what it is that I find sexy about vampires - whether it be their need for blood, their sharp teeth, or the fact that they are immortal, but I find that I can't help myself.  Vampires turn me on!  I think, with me, it has a lot to do with the eternal love aspect of the story.

Lately, it seems that all I want to read are paranormal books - especially when they are vampire-related.  I mean, all you have to do is tell me there's a vampire in there somewhere and you'll see that book tucked under my arm while on the way to the register.  It's that simple.  Is this happening to you?  Are you on the same paranormal craze that I'm in?

In honor of vampire week and my vampire fascination, I've come up with a list of my favorite vampires.  These are the guys that work it for me.  Tell me what you think.

My top 10 vampires in literature: 

10- Acheron Parthenopaeus (Sherrilyn Kenyon's Night-Hunter series)  - Ash is only on this list because he has fangs, but he is so much more than just a vampire.  Although he looks  like a tall, lanky gothic teen, you don't want to mess with this Atlantean God.  You'll find him in every Night-Hunter book as every Dark-Hunter's BFF and leader, but you know he's hiding something since he's always vague when answering any personal questions.  We finally get the full and undisclosed Ash in his book titled Acheron.

9- Mr. Darcy (Mr. Darcy, Vampyre; Vampire Darcy's Desire)  - He's Mr. Darcy do I really have to explain why he made the list, sheech 

8- Eric Sinclair (Betsy Taylor series, MaryJanice Davidson)  - Sink Lair, as Betsy likes to call him is the epitome of vampire-ness.  He's ancient, he's brooding, wealthy, gentlemanly and puts up with Betsy and all her shenanigans all while calling her "Mine Own".  Always brings a smile to my face.

7- Zhadist (Lover Awakened, J.R. Ward) - Out of all the men in the Black Dagger Brotherhood, Zhadist is the broken one - which, of course, makes him my favorite.  I have to say that this alone is what does it for me.  His book is the one I looked forward to the most.  The one I craved.  I couldn't wait for him to find his heroine - someone to love and support and bring him some type of happiness.  Yes, I have a thing for the messed up guys.

6- Lestat de Lioncourt (The Vampire Lestat, Anne Rice)  - I'm sure you've all (at least) heard of a movie called Interview with a Vampire - well shortly after watching this movie I picked up Lestat's book.  Although I found the book a bit wordy, Lestat's accounts of his life, his brethren, his love after life... well this is a book that although torn, with bent corners and dog-eared pages will always own a place in my bookshelf.

5- Vlad the Impaler (Bram Stoker's Dracula) - Although I must confess to never having read the book or seeing the movie, and he is a bit old-fashioned for my tastes, I feel it is only fair that he be on the list.  After all, he is the one who started it all.

4- Betsy Taylor (Besty Taylor Series, MaryJanice Davidson) - She's my girl vampire crush. After getting laid off, hit by a car and killed, she finds herself awake in a coffin wearing knock-off shoes.  That's just how her story starts... did I mention she's also the Queen of the Undead.   

3- Carpathian males (Christine Feehan's Dark Series) - I'm encompassing a whole group of men here only because I can't choose just one.  The very first paranormal romance I read was a Carpathian novel about 15 years ago.  The men in these books are fated to spend their lives without feelings, emotions or color... that is until they find their life mate.  My favorite thing of all the cool things they can do (from changing shapes to flying) is that they have telepathic connections with their partners.  But I do have to mention that they are not vampires, they are Carpathians.  In these books vampires are evil. 

2- Edward Cullen  (Twilight Saga, Stephenie Meyer) - I dig shiny vampires.  But aside from his sparkly-ness, I think his books might just be what got the whole vampire craze in motion.  He's sweet, brooding, gentlemanly, vegetarian (hmmm, that might not be the right word), even a bit stalkerish, but in the end, I still fell in love with him.

1- Eric Northman (Sookie Stackhouse novels, Charlaine Harris) - Good lord, if he were real and I had the opportunity, I would jump his bones.  He is arrogant, sarcastic, always has an ulterior motive, he's a Viking (for goodness sakes!), yet the soft spot that he holds for Sookie was what truly won me over. 

Runner-Up's:

Stefan Salvatore (The Vampire Diaries, L.J. Smith) - I think he is a bit too childish and I'm really not into the whole sibling rivalry thing

Bill Compton (Sookie Stackhouse, Charlaine Harris) - I liked him for like the first three books in the series... ugh

Lenah Beaudonte (Infinite Days, Rebecca Maizel) - She was a vampire... and then she wasn't anymore

Rhode (Infinite Days, Rebecca Maizel) - I won't say why he didn't make the list because of spoilers... but he was a heavy contender

Damen Auguste (The Immortals Series, Alyson Noel) - I thought he was a vampire for more than half of the book (Evermore), I was wrong.

Did your favorite vamp make my list?  If not, who is your favorite vampire? 

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Oct 8: 25 Hour Books: post on ghosts

Oct 15: Geeky Blogger's Book Blog: post on graveyards

Oct 22: The Unread Reader: post on magic

Oct 29: All About {n}: post on vampires

Oct 31: Grand Prize Winner announced