Jessica's Guide to Dating on the Dark Side (Beth Fantaskey)

Jessica's Guide to Dating on the Dark Side by Beth Fantaskey
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

For the last month all I've read is New Adult and Erotica. So I knew by reading a YA novel that I wouldn't be completely satisfied with the romantic aspect of the story. The odds were against it from the beginning.


I have no qualms with the plot of Jessica #1. (Sorry, the title is so long that Jessica #1 seems like a good substitute.) Everything was in place: drama, flirting, vampires, and an evil blonde bitch. It had everything worthy of a Twilight successor.



Lucius and Jessica have been promised to each other since birth to keep the vampire peace in Romania. But Jessica was sent off as a baby and grew up in America not knowing any of her family's History, nor does she know she is a vampire.
Lucius, however, has known of the promise since childhood. (Which is just fabulous ha-ha! It makes for an interesting plot and witty remarks on his part.)


The only issue I had with this book, sadly, was the last 50 pages. (Sorry Fantaskey...) The ending, though expected in the YA fandom, made me cringe. I'd been waiting 250+ pages to read about Lucius biting Jessica, and in return Jessica getting her fangs. All this flirting and "brushed kissing" had me begging for something more.
(I already mentioned I've been reading nothing but New Adult and Erotica for the last month, right? Now you see my conflict.)


I really believe Lucius Vladescu was meant to lead an erotica series, not YA. He's just got that appeal. That authority. When reading the romantic scenes, I just kept imagining what he would do if it wasn't a PG book.
Pull her neck back, sink his teeth in....
Creative Romanian curse words during foreplay?
Horseback riding in a meadow, followed by tea at the castle...
(Sorry Fantaskey...just shooting shit. Don't be offended...)
I think what drove the "unplayed scenes" in my mind was Orlando Bloom. I pictured him as Lucius early on...

Though Lucius was an amazing character, the ending left me unsatisfied. Which has nothing to do with the author's ability to produce a decent ending. She did right by her PG audience. T'was me with the brain malfunction.
This is YA....He's not gonna throw her on the snow covered grass and have his way....

In the YA world it deserves 5 stars...

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