Sara Dobie Bauer is joining us today with her novel Bite Somebody Else. Here’s the publisher’s description:
Imogene helped her newbie vampire friend Celia hook up with an adorable human, but now Celia has dropped an atomic bomb of surprise: she has a possibly blood-sucking baby on the way. Imogene is not pleased, especially when a mysterious, ancient, and annoyingly gorgeous vampire historian shows up to monitor Celia’s unprecedented pregnancy.
Lord Nicholas Christopher Cuthbert III is everything Imogene hates: posh, mannerly, and totally uninterested in her. Plus, she thinks he’s hiding something. So what if he smells like a fresh garden and looks like a rich boarding school kid just begging to be debauched? Imogene has self-control. Or something.
As Celia’s pregnancy progresses at a freakishly fast pace, Imogene and Nicholas play an ever-escalating game of will they or won’t they, until his sexy maker shows up on Admiral Key, forcing Nicholas to reveal his true intentions toward Celia’s soon-to-arrive infant.
What’s Sara’s favorite bit?
SARA DOBIE BAUER
The Bite Somebody Series is rife with hilarious dialogue, sexy sex, and ridiculous situations that only a couple awkward, profane vampire girls could get themselves into. With the final book in the series—Bite Somebody Else—finally unleashed upon the world, it’s sort of emotional to think that it’s all over, and yet, the characters live on in my head … just like my favorite scene in Bite Somebody Else.
Whereas Imogene was the rough-around-the-edges / semi-evil sidekick in Bite Somebody, Bite Somebody Else is her beach romance. True, Celia once called Imogene a terrible influence, but even terrible influences need love on occasion—something Imogene is loathe to admit, especially when she starts falling for grumpy, uptight, 350-year-old bloodsucker Lord Nicholas.
Theirs is not an easy tumble in the sheets, which is probably why I love the following scene, about a third in, when Imogene and Nicholas wake up one evening to drink liquor-laced blood while reading the local Florida newspaper:
“I’m trying to read.”
She leaned her head on the back of the couch and yawned. “About what?”
“Mrs. Cleaver has lost her dog.”
She lifted her head and looked at him. If there was ever a man who looked snuggly, it was Lord Nicholas Christopher Cuthbert III, sitting there on her couch in pajamas that smelled distinctly him. Incapable of self-control, Imogene slid down lower on the couch and rested the side of her head against his shoulder.
“What else?” she asked.
“Mm, well, it seems someone is trying to buy out the old tennis courts down by St. Arthur’s, despite what locals consider a ‘rat problem.’ Could be lucrative or a horrible, life crushing mistake.”
She smirked. “Life crushing?”
He took another large gulp from the pitcher that was now dripping with condensation before handing it to Imogene.
She took a sip and set the pitcher down before curling her knees up and resting them against the side of Nicholas’s thigh. She then curled into a little ball, her head resting on him as she closed her eyes.
“More,” she muttered.
“The Drift Inn has been struck by lightning due to the depravity of its clientele.”
Imogene snorted and sat up. She smacked him on the shoulder. Then, like she was some character in one of those chick flicks Celia liked, Imogene leaned forward and kissed Nicholas on the cheek. He didn’t flinch but simply smiled as he continued to read the latest, thrilling news from Admiral Key.
There’s just something about these two strong, somewhat abrasive, and battle-ready characters being all soft and cuddly together that makes me melt. (Plus, I think Nicholas is freaking adorable.)
In every book, there has to be at least a bit of light in the dark, flowers on the tombstone, rum in the punch. Just as there are two sides to every story, there are many sides to every person. To spend time with Imogene and Nicholas while they snuggle in their PJs feels like a gift. It’s a moment of romantic respite between their snippy sarcasm and inane arguments.
With their defenses up in Bite Somebody Else, Nicholas and Imogene are two tough vampires who would never admit to weakness. On the couch in this scene, they’re two people trying not to fall in love … and failing miserably.
LINKS:
BIO:
Sara Dobie Bauer is a writer, model, and mental health advocate with a creative writing degree from Ohio University. Her short story, “Don’t Ball the Boss,” was nominated for the Pushcart Prize, inspired by her shameless crush on Benedict Cumberbatch. She lives with her hottie husband and two precious pups in Northeast Ohio, although she’d really like to live in a Tim Burton film. She is a member of RWA and author of the paranormal rom-com Bite Somebody, among other ridiculously entertaining things.
