Product Description

First in a delightfully irreverent new series-and second to none when it comes to beautiful 227-year-old career women.

Being dead isn't all it's cracked up to be. Take it from Francesca Marinelli, trapped underground for over 200 years and rediscovered during the renovation of a Victorian mansion in historic St. Augustine. A tourist attraction herself, she's well suited for a job as an Old Ghost Town Tour guide. Francesca's due for a new lease on afterlife-and with enough sunblock, she can finally live it.

Unfortunately, everything she learned about men is a little dated. And when people in her tour group turn up dead, naturally the police suspect her. After all, she is a vampire. Which is why a crazed vampire-hunting vigilante squad is out to get her as well. Between the dead bodies, the stalkers, and a seriously non-existent love life, she's starting to wish she was dead. Or at least buried, where she was safe.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #97706 in Books
• Published on: 2008-04-01
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 304 pages

About the Author
Nancy Haddock, a former speech pathologist and high school teacher, lives in St. Augustine, Florida, with her family. La Vida Vampire is her first novel.

Customer Reviews

Finally a Fresh Take On Vamps
La Vida Vampire by Nancy Haddock



La Vida Vampire, is the first book in the Oldest City Vampire series, set in St Augustine, FL.

Meet Francesca Marinelli a 227 year old (young) most unique vampire, who has spent over 200 years of her unlife, chained and locked in a coffin underground as punishment and then forgotten, until a renovation of the house over her, unearths her. Cesca now loves Wal-Mart, her sponsor into 21st century life,surfing (think Gidget) and Super K-Mart,(after all they are open 24 hours!!!) and she has a job as a ghost tour guide.
Cesca loves her new job, right up until a woman from her very first tour winds up dead and Cesca is of course, suspected.
The mystery was of medium difficulty to figure out who-done-it with, enough surprises thrown it to make you doubt yourself once in a while.


The words "fresh, new, unique" have been used to describe many a vampire novel lately , but I swear, this time it's true. I haven't enjoyed a debut Vamp book in such a long time. This one had me giggling and loving every minute of it. More mystery than romance (although don't get me wrong, there IS romance, and you may be surprised with who!) Don't forget, everything Cesca has learned about men is around 200 years out of date *grin* there is, of course, the obligatory Vamp/Creature hater, Vigilantes, a retired Vamp hunter, Uber rotten Vampires, a bevy of Ghosts and assorted other weird goings on.

I think I will take some time today and re-read it just because I loved itso much and can use the laughs.

Excellent new vampire story!
Francesca "Cesca" Marinelli is not your typical vampire. She is taking online classes, learning to surf, and just started a part-time job as a ghost tour guide. However, her first shift working as a tour guide doesn't go quite as planned; everyone seems more interested in Cesca's life as a vampire than in the ghosts! In fact, someone is a little too interested as someone from the tour winds up dead and of course Cesca is a suspect. Preternatural crimes special investigator Deke Saber is called in to assist on the case. Deke doesn't like vampires, but will he see that Cesca is different? And just who is behind all the mysterious happenings around Cesca?

Nancy Haddock breathes new life into the vampire genre with LA VIDA VAMPIRE. Cesca is definitely a one of a kind vampire and her story is sheer fun, from her unique approach to being a vampire to her take on modern day living. After all, what other vampire book has the vampire surfing?

LA VIDA VAMPIRE isn't just a fun book as it is also full of intrigue. The hints about the mystifying cat that keeps appearing will keep the readers guessing as to where the series is going as there are some unsolved plot threads, ones that will hopefully be resolved as the series progresses. The main storyline involving the murder and the mysterious but deadly vampire-hating Covenant is also fascinating as there were just so many possibilities! Nancy Haddock keeps the suspense level high as LA VIDA VAMPIRE is a book in which anything can and often does happen.

LA VIDA VAMPIRE is a phenomenal entry into the genre. Nancy Haddock puts her own spin on things so that both Cesca and Deke keep the reader entertained. LA VIDA VAMPIRE is a hit!

COURTESY OF CK2S KWIPS AND KRITIQUES

Wow! What a great first book.
Absolutely loved it! If you want a fun, fresh, quirky read, this is the book for you. The main character stayed true to her upbringing, she'd be polite, but her thoughts gave her true feelings. LOL

I can't wait for the next book, Nancy Haddock created a great world for her vampire and I want more!