Connor Buchanan is a vampire on the verge of turning 500 years old. He is tired and feeling the weight of years of killing and remorse over those he failed to protect. He believes love brings nothing more than heartache and is not interested in experiencing it again. Connor’s life is dedicated to helping defeat the Malcontents, a group of evil vampires who are bent on ruling the world and have no compunctions about killing humans for food. There is nothing else for him, at least there wasn’t until Marielle came along.

Marielle Quadriduum is an angel who was banished from heaven for disobedience. She goes from being an angel charged with escorting souls into heaven, to a mortal with a shadow of her former powers who depends on Connor for protection. As if that were not bad enough, there is a demon bent on taking her to hell. Marielle wishes to return to heaven and believes that by helping the good Vamps defeat the Malcontents she may earn her way back. As feelings grow between Connor and Marielle, she must decide how much she is willing to sacrifice for him and where she truly belongs.

Vampire Mine is the tenth book in the Love at Stake series. Connor Buchanan appears in all the books in the series and fans have been waiting for his story to come out for a while. Vampire Mine does not disappoint. The book is funny, tender, and with enough action to keep the plot moving along nicely. Marielle is a very good match for our hero. She is innocent when it comes to human emotions and desires; however she knows human nature well. This combination of wisdom, naiveté, strength and vulnerability allows her to reach Connor in a way no other woman could have. Connor needs Marielle’s love, and Marielle needs Connor’s strength, his loyalty, and his heart. The chemistry between them is perfect, but it is the emotional connection that I loved the most.

The story arc for the Love at Stake series also goes through some major milestones in this book, including a much awaited showdown between the Vamps and the Malcontents, and significant changes in characters that have been around since book one. Kerrelyn Sparks does a good job balancing the action with the romance between Connor and Marielle. The novel also leaves quite a few possible future story lines that ensure the series remains viable for many more books to come. The one complaint I have is that the ending seemed somewhat abrupt considering the events that occur. I would have appreciated an epilogue with an update on the characters or clues as to what will happen next in the series.

Vampire Mine by Kerrelyn Sparks is a very good book. It is not a stand-alone novel, but it can still be enjoyed by readers who are new to the series. While readers would definitely benefit from reading previous installments in order to understand the overall story arc, anybody can enjoy the development of the relationship between Connor and Marielle with no background information required. This book was a joy to read. I highly recommend it.

Reviewed by: Denise