From the Publisher

Can Raven stop Dullsville from becoming Vampireville?

For goth-girl Raven, dating her dream boyfriend is complicated, especially because Alexander's secret means they can only meet at night. And now they must be extra wary, with Alexander's archrival, Jagger, creeping around town. Then Jagger's exquisitely pale sister Luna also surfaces—and seems to have her sights on Raven's own longtime nemesis.

Publishers Weekly

"Readers don't have to share goth girl Raven's passion for vampire lore to appreciate her misadventures in Dullsville," said PW of Vampire Kisses. Now in Vampire Kisses 3: Vampireville by Ellen Schreiber, Raven's relationship with her perfect boyfriend grows more complicated, as Alexander can only come out at night. Add to that, his rival, Jagger, is in town, and Jagger's sister is smitten with Raven's enemy, Trevor, as Dullsville hovers at the precipice of transforming into Vampireville. Copyright 2006 Reed Business Information.

Children's Literature

The third book in the "Vampire Kisses" series shows the growing relationship between Raven, a teenage girl who wishes to be a vampire, and Alexander Sterling, a teenage vampire who wishes to be human. Suddenly Dullsville, where Raven has spent her whole life, has turned into Vampireville, and not only Alexander, but two other vampires have turned up on the scene. This book continues the storyline begun in the second book, where Alexander explains to Raven that he refused to take another vampire as his eternal partner when he barely knew her, thus breaking a promise made between their parents as infants. Now the girl, Luna, has been turned into a vampire and she and her twin brother, Jagger, are out for revenge. She is looking for a partner for all of eternity, and has decided on Trevor, Raven's nemesis since they were five years old. But a vampire-Trevor is not what Raven wants her sleepy town exposed to, and so she and Alexander have to try and save him and get the twins to leave Dullsville. Like the other two "Vampire Kisses" books, this is a quick and enjoyable read. This would be a good series to read for those interested in Stephenie Meyer's books or vampire stories in general. Also, the first book was an ALA Quick Pick for Reluctant Young Adult Readers, so those reluctant readers should also enjoy this continuation.

Dotsy Harland - VOYA

The plot thickens enticingly in this third novel of Schreiber's Vampire Kisses series. Raven is as infatuated as ever with her vampire boyfriend, Alexander, and would love nothing more than to become a vampire herself and be joined with him for all eternity. But her fantasy must be put on hold while she and Alexander tackle a more pressing problem. The dangerous vampire twins, Jagger and Luna, have relocated to Dullsville in order to turn Trevor, the town soccer star, into a vampire companion for Luna. Although Raven finds Trevor totally obnoxious, she still wants to protect him and the other citizens of Dullsville from the twins. Raven and Alexander spend long, romantic evenings together searching spooky, deserted places for Jagger's and Luna's hideout, and come up with a convoluted plan to thwart the twins' plot and chase them out of town. The plan succeeds due to an unexpected stroke of luck involving garlic pills. But now a new danger has developed. The twins' eleven-year-old brother, Valentine, has quietly arrived in Dullsville on his own and befriended Raven's younger brother Billy. Despite a rambling and sometimes confusing story line, this book is exciting and upbeat. Schreiber's portrayals of Raven's relationships with Alexander, with her best friend, Becky, and with the despicable Trevor, are realistic and multidimensional. Fans of the series will find plenty of chills, chuckles, and close calls in this latest chapter on life in Dullsville. VOYA CODES: 3Q 3P J S (Readable without serious defects; Will appeal with pushing; Junior High, defined as grades 7 to 9; Senior High, defined as grades 10 to 12). 2006, Katherine Tegen Books/HarperCollins, 179p., and PLB Ages 12 to 18.

School Library Journal

Gr 7 Up-In this third book in the series, 16-year-old Goth girl Raven and her vampire boyfriend, Alexander, attempt to save Dullsville from an invasion of the undead. Jagger and Luna, evil teen vampire twins new in town, are trying to get their fangs into Trevor, soccer star and Raven's nemesis since kindergarten. Making things even more difficult for Raven is the fact that she and her boyfriend run on different schedules; she can only see him at night, due to his aversion to daylight. The book culminates with a party at the cemetery, during which Jagger and Luna hope to trap Trevor and make him one of their kind. The action begins where the second installment ended and no effort is made to bring readers up to speed, leaving those unfamiliar with the first two titles in the dark. Although the series is a fun, fast read for vampire fans, it pales in comparison to other titles currently available in the genre.-Lynn Evarts, Sauk Prairie High School, Prairie du Sac, WI Copyright 2006 Reed Business Information.

Product Details

• ISBN: 1417797630
  
• ISBN-13: 9781417797639
• Format: Other Format
• Publisher: Bt Bound
• Pub. Date: July 2007
• Series: Vampire Kisses Series, #3

• Read a Sample Chapter

Read a Sample Chapter

Vampire Kisses 3: Vampireville

HarperCollins Publishers, Inc.

Chapter One

Bite Night

I was ready to become a vampire.

I stood alone in the middle of Dullsville's cemetery, dressed in a black corset minidress, fishnet stockings, and my signature combat boots. I held a small bouquet of dead black roses in my black fingerless gloves. A vintage midnight-colored lace veil dripped down over my pale face, gracefully shrouding my black lipstick and eye shadow.

My vampire to be, Alexander Sterling, wearing a gray pallbearer's suit and hat, waited a few yards ahead of me by our gothic altar--a closed coffin adorned with a candelabra and a pewter goblet.

The scene was breathtaking. Fog floated through the graveyard like wayward ghosts. Candles flickered atop tombstones and were scattered alongside graves. A group of bats hovered over a cluster of lonely trees. Raindrops began to fall as the faint sound of screeching violins and a discordant harpsichord sent icy chills through my veins.

I had waited an eternity for this moment. My childhood fantasy was now coming true--I would be a dark angel of the night. I was as excited as a groupie who was about to marry a rock star.

Tiny torches lit my path, like a gothic runway. But as I took my first step toward Alexander, I began to wonder if I was making the rightchoice. My heart started to race as I proceeded forward. Images of the life I would be leaving behind flashed before me. My mom helping me sew a black velvet tote for my home ec. project. I took a step. Watching Dracula on DVD with my dad. Another step. Even my nerdy brother, Billy Boy, kindly helping me with my math homework. Step. My best friend, Becky, and I trying to climb the Mansion's gate. Step. My new kitty, Nightmare, gently purring in my arms. Step. They all began to haunt me.

In one bite my life would change forever.

I was leaving a boring, safe, yet love-filled world of the living and committing an eternity to a dangerous, unknown, darkened world of the undead.

As I continued to walk down the cemetery aisle, I could see the back of Alexander who, now only a few feet away, lifted a goblet from the coffin.

I reminded myself I was making the right decision. I wouldn't have to spend morbidly long daylight hours in Dullsville High. I'd have the ability to fly. And most important, I would be bonding with my true love, for all eternity.

I finally reached the coffin and stood alongside Alexander. He slid his white-gloved hand in mine, his plastic spider ring shining in the candlelight. He raised the pewter goblet to the moon and took a long drink. My heart raced as he passed it to me and I hesitantly lifted my veil from over my mouth. My hand was shaking, so the dark liquid wavered in the goblet.

"Maybe you aren't--," Alexander started, and put his hand over the glass.

"I am!" I argued defiantly. I pulled the goblet back and gulped the sweet, thick liquid.

I began to feel light-headed. The fog thickened around us. I could barely see Alexander's silhouette as he replaced the goblet on the coffin and then turned to me. With his white gloves, he gently lifted the black veil away from my face.

Now I could see clearly. Only I wasn't sure of what I was seeing. Instead of Alexander's usual long black hair, I noticed light-colored hair poking out from underneath his pallbearer's hat.

I gasped. It couldn't be!

"Jagger--," I exclaimed, frozen.

But when I looked into his eyes, I didn't see Alexander's rival's blue and green eyes that had once hypnotized me by the Mansion's gazebo. And they weren't the dark soulful eyes I had fallen in love with. These hypnotic eyes were green, and I'd seen them all my life.

"Trevor!" I declared, the words barely escaping my lips.

My childhood nemesis flashed a wicked grin, two razor-sharp fangs hanging from his mouth.

I stepped back.

It was only last night at Dullsville's Spring Carnival that Alexander and I had tried to warn Trevor about Jagger's twin sister, Luna, who was looking to sink her newly formed fangs into the soccer snob's neck. Jagger had been seeking revenge on Alexander for not turning Luna into a vampire, and now that she'd been turned by another vampire, the nefarious teens were in Dullsville to find her a lifelong partner. But Trevor had failed to heed our warning. When Alexander and I arrived outside the Fun House and searched through the carnival, Trevor was gone.

Only now my nemesis had found me.

I tried to run, but Trevor grabbed my hand as I pulled away. "I've got you now, Monster Girl. Forever." He licked his lips and leaned into my neck.

I looked around for anything to help my escape. But when I reached out for the candelabra, I felt dizzy. Suddenly Trevor's mouth was on my neck.

"Get off!" I cried. "Let go of me!"

He pulled me into him with the force of a whole soccer team. I wedged my boot between us, and, with all my strength, I managed to push him away.

Trevor stumbled back and grabbed my arm. He tried to pull me close, but I bit his hand. I broke free as he stood up confidently and grinned a wicked smile. Blood began to drip from the corner of his mouth.

I reached for my neck. My palm felt warm and wet. I gasped. When I held my hand before me, it was covered in blood.

"No!" I cried.

Just then I saw a confused Alexander, also sporting a gray pallbearer's uniform, running up the cemetery aisle. I turned to Trevor, who just stood and smiled.

"Not you! Not for an eternity!" I yelled.

I sat up, screaming so hard my throat hurt.

I opened my eyes to darkness. I could hardly breathe. Where was I? In a coffin? A tomb? An empty grave?

Continues...

---

Excerpted from Vampire Kisses 3: Vampireville by Ellen Schreiber Copyright © 2006 by Ellen Schreiber. Excerpted by permission.
All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.
Excerpts are provided by Dial-A-Book Inc. solely for the personal use of visitors to this web site.

---