I've said it before, vampire stories generally don't thrill me. When I find one I like, I like to let the world know about it.

P.D. Cacek is a writer I can dig. Her book Night Prayers is one of the best vampire stories I've ever read. P.D. writes here with a straightforward style that gets you in the gut. Lots of action, plenty of erotic sex, and a storyline that can't be beat. The characters are well drawn and likable, the story's pace never lags, and the surprising twist at the end makes the whole of the story more than a little satisfying.

In Night Prayers, a newly turned vampire, Allison, struggles to understand her place in a world she was forced into without warning or direction. She finds herself taken in by a group of exotic dancers who are also vampires, and while they do their best to teach Allison the ropes, Allison never fully connects with them.

One of the high points of this book is a character named Mica. He's a religious zealot who works at the dance club where the vampire women strut their stuff. The contradiction here should be apparent, and it is only one of many contradictions in this character's personality that make Mica a surprising and unique part of Night Prayers.

What I like about Night Prayers is its unpretentious style. Too much of the vampire fiction I read strives so hard to be literature that it neglects to entertain. P.D. never loses sight of what she's supposed to do here. She writes her ass off, kicks you in the head, and then goes for the throat with a hardcore, gut-wrenching style of writing that leaves you wanting more.

I recommend Night Prayers. It's a Leisure Book published by Dorchester Publishing Company. While you're at it, visit P.D. Cacek on the web and see what she's up to.