I really enjoyed this book. LOVE AT STAKE is a very funny, sexy paranormal romance.
Abbey Sinclair is the main character in this story. She works for a paranormal matchmaking agency, even though she is 100% human. She is under extreme pressure from her boss to snag vampire Melissa Redgrave as a client. It turns out that the only way Melissa comes on board is if she can find a mate for Melissa's sire, Lucien Redgrave.
I think that little caveat of Lucien's is a great hook for the story. It forces them to spend a great deal of time together and the attraction between them has time to grow. It's not immediately apparent whether Lucien, on a subconscious level, recognizes Abbey as his mate. Either way, there is some heavy duty sexy teasing going on between the two as Abby re- vamps Lucien's look and sets him up on dates.
The story takes a slightly more serious turn as they both realize that their feelings for each other are turning serious. There are a few roadblocks to their happiness. Lucien has trouble getting over the fallout from a relationship with a mortal woman many years ago, and Abbey is looking for a long-term commitment and total acceptance.
On the surface, they are also very different people. Abbey's home is a cluttered, cozy mishmash of brightly colored furniture, while Lucien's luxurious getaway is devoid of color and almost sterile. Lucien's romantic rival, werewolf Christian, is a better personality match for Abbey but this story shows that opposites do attract and sometimes find true love together.
I loved some of the supporting characters in this story like Melissa, Christian, and Abbey's witch matchmaking friend Chloe. I sincerely hope that the author will continue this series and write stories for each of them. The ending was very satisfying, powerful, and very romantic. I look forward to more from Victoria Davies and hopefully more books in this series.
Abbey is the lone human working for Fated Match, a company
that pairs members of the supernatural community with their
eternal mates.
To snag a young vampire socialite as their next client,
Abbey journeys to the home of Lucian Redgrave, the oldest
vampire on the East Coast.
But he�s not willing to allow his
vampire daughter to use the agency� unless Abbey can first
find his perfect match in a month.
As Abbey coaches Lucian through his dates, she can�t deny
the chemistry between them. But humans are toys for
vampires, and risking her heart isn�t a part of the plan