Fancy University graduate and hip writer/reading consultant Milagro de Los Santos can’t seem to fit in, much less snag herself a fabulous guy. Rubbing salt in an old wound, she is invited to a book party in honor of critically acclaimed author (and conceited snob) Sebastian Beckett-Witherspoon, the ex-boyfriend from F.U. she can’t quite seem to get over. After a nasty verbal reunion with Sebastian B-W, the night seems to be a total loss until she is approached by the muy mysterious, and oddly named, Oswaldo Krakatoa (for the record, it’s really just plain Oswald Grant.)

She finds herself “lured” to Oswald’s hotel suite by his smooth charm, and believes love is in the air. Instead he reveals his true intentions when he interrogates her regarding her relationship with Sebastian B-W. But neither of them expected a potent twist: in a bold, impetuous move Milagro kisses him. Their passion takes over, but unfortunately there’s a coffee table in the way, and both end up tangled on the floor with busted lips and an accidental bodily fluid exchange. As if things couldn’t get any worse, Sebastian busts into the room and confronts Oswald.

Yes, they do get worse. Milagro is feeling a little strange and craving hamburger meat in the middle of the night and suddenly, she’s become quite the center of attention. Sebastian B-W is a member of a nefarious group hell bent on hunting down vampires. Oswalds’s family is hunting her down because she may be infected with their “condition.” Sebastian abducts her but in the nick of time, she's rescued by Oswald’s nutty, redheaded cousin, Gabriel.

Whisked away to the safety of the Grant family casa, Oswald’s family – which includes thorny grandmother, Edna, and kind cousin, Sam – takes her in, however it’s made quite clear Milagro is an interloper among the vampires…especially by Oswald’s fiancée, Winnie.

This is not a typical vampire novel. This is a brilliant change of pace -- there isn’t a single bloodsucking hottie with magical mental powers and six-pack abs. The author takes every trait and tosses them aside in favor of normal sunscreen-wearing human characters. Basically, it’s fabulous chicklit with a hilarious twist.

Milagro de Los Santos is definitely a heroine you can root for. She has charm, wit, and backbone, and it’s easy to hope she does find acceptance into the family as one of their own. There is plenty of misunderstanding and misinterpretation to throw roadblocks in the way of that, especially cracking Edna’s hard shell and the fabulously inappropriate romance between Milagro and Oswald.

Brash, irreverent, and down-to-earth, this is well worth the effort. Grab a Bloody Mary, and enjoy.

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Paperback: 320 pages
Publisher: Pocket (July 4, 2006)
ISBN: 1416520384
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