"lighthearted, witty and pure fun to read"
Fainting at the sight of blood, worrying about ruining your
best gowns; fine concerns for a woman of the Ton, but if
you are a member of the legendary, vampire slaying Van
Helsing family, these traits can present a few problems. Ethel "Plain" Jane Van Helsing doesn't quite fit into the
London social scene. She is ordinary in looks, and happens
to come from an eccentric family of vampire hunters. It is
expected that every member of the Van Helsing family carry
on the family tradition. But at age twenty-three, Jane is a
dismal failure at the family "business." She cannot stomach
violence or the sight of blood, and she has yet to stake
her first vampire; unheard of in the history of the Van
Helsing clan. Her father has recently uncovered some
information that points to a prominent Earl being the
infamous Count Dracul, so he devises a plan to slay the
Count. Determined not to sully the family name any further,
Jane sets out to complete the mission her father has given
her. She arrives at the Masquerade ball dressed to kill,
literally. There are just a couple of problems that might
get in the way; her matchmaking best friend, Clair
Frankenstien-Huntsley, and one gorgeous blue-eyed vampire,
Lord Asher, Earl of Wolverton. A series of very funny
missteps and mishaps put Jane in a compromising position,
what's a vampire slayer to do? Ms. Webber has struck again with her latest offering in
this series. The story is lighthearted, witty and pure fun
to read. With its 20th century references and loose
historical setting it can hardly be considered historical
romance, which the author freely admits, but it is an
action packed, campy, satirical read that genre lovers will
adore. It's a hoot! Reviewed April 9, 2006
Reviewed by Dee Gentle
Posted November 16, 2006
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Having lived amongst the London's ton, Ethel Jane Van Helsing was
an astute female who well knew her faults. Her skin was marred
with freckles, her nose was too snub and her hair of a brown that
reflected neither gold nor red highlights. She had a face
unremarkable in its plainness. And yet...at a masquerade ball,
anything could happen. There, until the stroke of midnight, even
an ugly duckling could become a swan. But tonight was not for fowl
play. You see, plain or not, Jane came from distinguished stock:
Van Helsings. And Van Helsings didn't worry about soiling their
pelisses; they were slayers. Where other young ladies were told no
monsters lurked under their beds, Jane's parents had explained
the often-handsome creatures lay in beds, crypts, and at balls like
these. Her father, the Major, had shown her very early on how to
use the sharp end of a stick. Tonight, everything was at stake.
Something was going to get driven very deep into a heart, or she
wasn't...THE RELUCTANT MISS VAN HELSING.
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