If you’re a paranormal romance fan, it’s likely that you are familiar with Lynsay Sands’ Argeneau saga, an impressively original and downright entertaining series that began back in 2005 with A Quick Bite and now includes 17 novels (Under a Vampire Moon, The Reluctant Vampire, et. al.) and short stories in anthologies like The Bite Before Christmas and Bitten by Cupid. With such a long-running saga, the chances of the storyline getting stale are all but inevitable but Sands keeps things fresh by focusing the majority of her Argeneau stories on separate characters and making them fundamentally standalone novels.

And make no mistake about it: the Argeneau saga isn’t just some derivative “fangs-and-fornicating” vampire romance series – the premise is unique and quite fascinating, and the storyline blends together elements of science fiction, various mythologies, and dark fantasy as well as romance.

The latest novel in the series – fittingly entitled The Lady Is a Vamp – is a somewhat predictable but emotionally super-charged and utterly compelling tale revolving around Jean Louise Argeneau, a 102-year old immortal (don’t call them vampires) who is drugged and kidnapped after leaving her job as a researcher for Argeneau Enterprises in Toronto. When she regains consciousness, she finds herself bound in chains on a bed in an unfamiliar room.

Her abductor doesn’t want her sex, however, he wants her help.

Paul Jones, a hunky “science geek” working in the same building as Jean Louise, is a widower with a precocious five-year old daughter who is dying of cancer. Jones knows about the existence of the immortals and, in a desperate move, hopes to persuade Jean Louise into somehow giving his little girl, Livy, the gift of immortality.

Things get complicated when Jean Louise realizes that Paul – the man who kidnapped her – is her long sought after life mate: “…the one who reinvigorates our appetite for food and sex and who merges with us so totally during lovemaking that our passion is shared and overwhelms us both.”

But immortals can only turn one mortal human during their lifetimes – to turn more than one means death – so does Jean Louise save her soul mate or does she rescue his innocent little girl instead?

The intense – and beautiful – connection between Paul and Jean Louise obviously powers this novel: the sex sequences are undeniably erotic and are an appealing “I’ll-have-what-they’re-having” fusion of true love and pure lust.

But the reason I found this read to be so memorable was because Jean Louise wasn’t some frail damsel-in-distress or objectified porn star-in-training; she was strong, smart, principled, and totally in control. (It didn’t escape this reviewer’s notice that she was literally “on top” in many of the novel’s intimate moments…)

Jean Louise is the older woman, Jean Louise is the hunter, Jean Louise makes the decisions regarding her relationship with the scientist with the “nicely shaped legs, narrow hips, …and well-defined muscle everywhere.”

Another remarkable aspect of the relationship is Paul’s all-and-encompassing love for Jean Louise – he reveres her to the point of worship. (Insert “I’ll-have-what-they’re-having” comment here.) Here are just a few examples:

• “It was like wanting to be with a goddess. A beautiful, strong, brilliant being of light and glory. While he was just a mere man…”

• “…she was completely nude, splayed out on her back in the sand like an angel fallen from the heavens.”

Ultimately, Sands’ Argeneau novels are meant to be fun – they’re driven by an intelligent and fast-paced narrative that is sprinkled throughout with irreverent humor. The characters are well developed, the romance is steamy, and the storylines are compelling.

If you are looking for a diverting paranormal romance series with an “I’ll-have-what-they’re-having” romantic relationship and have yet to experience Sands’ Argeneau saga, The Lady Is a Vamp is a perfect place to start!

Caprice Damani is a work-from-home mom with extensive experience in the publishing industry, as a bookseller, editor, and romance reviewer. Keep up with all of her blogs – as well as all of Barnes & Noble’s exclusive reviews, authors interviews, videos, promotions, and more – by following @BNBuzz on Twitter!