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Thursday, April 3, 2014

Vampires in Love



When I hear the phrase "fool for love," a very specific image comes to mind. This one:

For those who don't recognize them, that's Buffy and Spike from the season 5 episode called, you guessed it, "Fool for Love." It's the episode where viewers finally got some real backstory on Spike, and it wasn't what most of us predicted. The badass vampire was revealed to have come from nerdy roots, ultimately getting turned because he was mocked and rebuffed by the woman he loved. Here, he's on his knees in front of Buffy, a fool for love yet again because he knows his feelings for her will never be returned.

To this day, Spike remains one of my favorite TV characters ever. He's the epitome of everything that breaks my heart in romantic heroes - that badass edge that hides a heart that loves too easily and deeply. He tries to earn a place in Buffy's life over and over again. Sometimes, he fails so spectacularly it just makes you love him more. Because it makes him human, even though he's a vampire.


I've never made it a secret how vampires are my favorite paranormal creatures, so when it came to my latest menage, I knew that was the direction I wanted to take it. My male heroes, Seth and Simon, are thralls to a dangerous female vampire who's enslaved them for decades. They have some of the abilities but not all of the limitations that come with being a vampire, a fate that Seth sealed for Simon when he fell in love with the other man in the fifties. He did it all for love, but now, he wants a better future for Simon. That's where Claire, the granddaughter of the mage who trapped them, comes in. It takes all three of them, and feelings none of them quite expect, to set the men free.

You can read an excerpt at Ellora's Cave. It might even tempt you to buy a copy.

In the meantime, though, as part of the bloghop, I'm doing a little giveaway to three random commenters. Leave a comment on this post and you have a chance to win one of three prizes:

1. A free copy of my e-book, the interracial vampire menage Enthralled in Silver
2. A Jules Smith gunmetal bracelet with a fangs charm:
3. A silver Pink Cosmo heart clutch:

So tell me. What do you think of when you hear the phrase, "fool for love?"

16 comments:

Alee said...

I think of "Can't help falling in love" by Elvis Presley :) I think there's an intriguing mix of vulnerability and strength in those who lay their heart on the line.

elena k said...

well I think about myself falling in love with my boyfriend! elena-k84@hotmail.com

Christine Merritt said...

I think of myself and meeting my husband… he was the fool and I was so cautious - I am SO very glad he was a fool of glove.

cahm at aracnet dot com

Unknown said...

I think we are all fools from time to time. And *falling* in love is such an amazing feeling that we make fools of ourselves just to feel it!

JeanMP said...

I think of myself and how I fell in love with my amazing husband.
skpetal at hotmail dot com

Unknown said...

In my mind I picture my best friend/sister she wants someone to love her for just her and she keeps looking in all the wrong places and she keeps falling for all the fools. I keep telling her MR RIGHT IS OUT THEIR SOMEWHERE!!!!

Beth said...

I think of how the phrase is actually supposed to be negative! :D Like, wearing rose-colored glasses.

Unrealistic views.
But I don't agree. :)

Anonymous said...

It's a person for whom love is paramount, and whose first impulse is romance!

Trix, vitajex(at)AoL(dot)com

Jessica Jordan said...

When I think of 'fool for love' I think of someone who is willing to do anything to get the person they want, but in a cute, adorable way, not psycho killer way. LOL.
And OMG I loved your Buffy reference. I was so happy when they brought Spike back to life in Season 5 Angel. He should have gotten Buffy after he got a soul because it wasn't like she didn't like vampires. :) Spike wouldn't go all crazy after sex either. lol
marvelgirl63@hotmail.com

bn100 said...

think of a song

bn100candg at hotmail dot com

Unknown said...

When I hear Fool for Love... I think of all the love stories in which a hero and heroine will do anything for the person they love... Even if it has a tragic ending (Romeo and Juliet). Love so crazy that it just fits. Thanks for being part of the hop.

j.m.platt83@gmail.com

Unknown said...

I think of me and what I feel for my husband!
diamer13@yahoo.com

Unknown said...

Thinking of the one you fall in love with.

samanthahodges64 at yahoo dot com

The Scarf Princess said...

Someone willing to do whatever it takes to claim the one they love, no romantic gesture is too silly! I love Spike too!

gogi1_2 AT gmail DOT com

cheralyn said...

I think of the silly things my boyfriend did to get my attention. He was really cute!
cheryllynne(at)rocketmail(dot)com

JoAnna said...

I think of the song, Why to Fools Fall in Love. And I agree with you on Spike he is such a tortured fool in love. :)