Vampire for Hire series

Samantha Moon- The First Four Vampire for Hire Novels, Omnibus—art by Cliff Nielsen

Samantha Moon Rising (Vampire for Hire -5-7; Teeth) — Samantha Moon Rising (Vampire for Hire #5-7; Teeth) — art by Cliff Nielsen

Moon Dance (Vampire for Hire -1) — Moon Dance (Vampire for Hire #1)-2011

The Vampire for Hire series by J.R. Rain.

Genres and Sub-Genres[]

Urban Fantasy / UF Mystery

Series Description or Overview[]

Six years ago federal agent Samantha Moon was the perfect wife and mother, your typical soccer mom with the minivan and suburban home. Then the unthinkable happens, an attack that changes her life forever. And forever is a very long time for a vampire. Now the world at large thinks Samantha has developed a rare skin disease, a disease which forces her to quit her day job and stay out of the light of the sun. Now working the night shift as a private investigator, Samantha is hired by Kingsley Fulcrum to investigate the murder attempt on his life, a horrific scene captured on TV and seen around the country. But as the case unfolds, Samantha discovers Kingsley isn't exactly what he appears to be; after all, there is a reason why he survived five shots to the head. ~ Moon Dance — Author's site

Lead's Species[]

Vampire, Vampire PI

Primary Supe[]

Vampires

What Sets it Apart[]

A vampire who is a mother, wife and a private investigator as the lead

Narrative Type and Narrators[]

First person narrative told by Samantha Moon, protagonist.

Books in Series[]

Vampire for Hire series:

Moon Dance (2009)
Vampire Moon (2010)
American Vampire (2011)
Moon Child (2011)
Vampire Dawn (2012)
Vampire Games (2012)
Moon Island (2012)
Moon River (2013)
Vampire Sun (2014)
Moon Dragon (2014)
Moon Shadow (June 15th 2015)
Vampire Fire (July 10th 2016)
Midnight Moon (March 6th 2017)
Moon Angel (June 20th 2017)
Vampire Sire (August 5th 2018)
Moon Master (January 13th 2019)
Dead Moon (April 16th 2019)
Lost Moon (September 26th 2019)
Vampire Destiny (April 8th 2020)
Infinite Moon (June 10th 2020)
Vampire Empress (August 26th 2020)
Moon Elder (January 6th 2021)
Wicked Moon (July 11th 2021)
Winter Moon (November 26th 2021)
Moon Blade (June 24th 2022)
Sasquatch Moon (January 18th 2023)

Shorts, Anthologies and Guides[]

1.5. Teeth (2013) (Fang's story) (94 pages) — found in: Samantha Moon Rising omnibus & Teeth and Other Stories (2010)
2.5. Vampire Nights and Other Stories (2010) (96 pages)
4.4. Vampire Blues: Samantha Moon Case Files (2010) ~ Four Stories
4.5. Christmas Moon (2011) (114 pages)
6.5. Vampire Dreams (2012) (50 pages)
7.4. Halloween Moon (2012) (88 pages)
7.5. Vampire Gold (2013) (56 pages)
7.6. Blue Moon (2013) (120 pages)
8.5. Dark Side of the Moon: A Samantha Moon Story (2014) (20 pages)
10.5. Vampire Requiem (2015) (37 pages)
Teeth and Other Stories (2010) collection of shorts
Vampire For Hire: The Short Stories (2011)
Vampire for Hire: First Eight Short Stories (2014)

Omnibus & Sets (full books):

Samantha Moon (2012-paperback) — Volumes 1-4 + Christmans moon novella (Chris McGrath set cover)
Samantha Moon Rising (2013) (Vampire for Hire, #5-7, Teeth 1.5)
Vampires: Three Novels (2011) anthology (Moon Dance + 2 by authors: H.T. Night & Aiden James)
6-Book Vampire Boxed Set (3 Vampire for Hire / 3 Spinoza)
Vampires & Werewolves : two novels (2011)

World Building[]

Setting[]

Fullerton California, Los Angeles area

Places:

Balboa Beach: Stuart Young lives in a condo near Balboa Beach, with just a sliver of view.
Beach: Samantha met Kingsley Fulcrum at the beach to discuss Stuart's case.
Block in Orange: The Block in Orange is a hip and happening outdoor mall that seemed to appeal mostly to groups of fifteen-year-old girls.
Buena Park:
Chino Hills: The butchery, where Samantha buys her blood, is located in Chino Hills.
City of Orange: Where she visited Kingsley Fulcrum at his office for the first time.
Colton: City of Colton, where danny owns a strip club.
Denny's: Where Sam met a fallen angel last Christmas, who professed his love to her.
El Torito: Special Agent Greg Lomax, lead investigator with the FBI, met with Samantha to discuss the "accident" of Stuart's wife's.
Elementary School, Fullerton: Samantha waited there until school started so she could see her children. She was denied by the principal.
Hillcrest Park, Fullerton: This is where Samantha was bitten by a vampire.
Embassy Suites Hotel in Brea
Fullerton Hills: Where Dtv. Hanker lives. She has a creepy Khabalistic Grandmaster for a neighbor. And also where Robert Mason lives.
Grandmother's House in Brea: Samantha drops the kids of there while she goes to the sparring club.
Hero's Bar, Fullerton: Where Samantha met her sister for lunch.
Jacky's: Sparring Club in Fullerton; A women's gym for boxers. Jacky is an aging Irishman who owns the place.
Kitty Kat: Strip Club in Corona, owned by Danny M
MacDonald's Restaurant: This where Samantha waited to make a phone call to her kids, before going back to her hotel.
Mission Inn:
Mulberry Street Cafe: Fullerton
Municipal Court, Fullerton
Orange County: A haven for the undead.
Placentia: Mary Lou works for a small insurance agency in Placentia.
Police Station: in Fullerton
Newport Beach: Jerry Blume's large estate is located on a small island in the city of Newport Beach.
Orange County: Much of the story takes place in Orange County.
Rembrandt's, Brea: Samantha met her second client in this book, Monica Collins.
Ritz Carlton, Laguna Niguel: Samantha drives here, jumps off a cliff and turns into a bat to look for Jerry Blum. On the first attempt, she is not successful.
Samantha's Home Office
Santa Ana, California:
Seal Beach: Jerry Blum was standing trial for a shooting in Seal Beach.
Samantha's House: Where Danny kicked her out. Where the kids live. There's a Pep Boys store over the back fence.
Simi Valley:
Starbucks: This Starbucks was in the Block of Orange where Samantha met with her first client in this book, Stuart.

Tustin: Where Rick Horton lives in an upscale neighborhood.
Yorba Linda: Where Kingsley lives, in a mansion with his butler Franklin.
Yorba Linda: Where Kingsley lives.

Supernatural Elements[]

✥ Vampires, vampire hunter, medallion, crime mob (human), assassins,

Glossary:[]

Vampires: have usual traits—plus: shape shift, fly, among other things.
Quicksilver Energy: In the dark, Samantha can see molten streams of quicksilver energy, turning everything into distinct shades of gray. Better than any flashlight.
Alchemist: A person who practices alchemy; magic.
Xeroderma Pigmentosum: Rare skin condition; the slightest sun exposure can lead to blindness, cancer, skin burning, and/or death.

Groups & Organizations:[]

FBI: Special Agent Greg Lomax, lead investigator with the FBI, spoke with Samantha about Stuart's wife's "accident".

World[]

✥ Samantha Moon is six years into life as a vampire. Although she has learned to cope, her life has drastically changed. She had to quit her job as a federal agent and start a home-based (with night hours) business as a private investigator. Her husband, who was initially supportive, is increasingly distant and cold, and caring for her kids in the afternoons is a constant struggle for a creature of the night. The stress of juggling these demands, while coping with her vampirism, is taking its toll on Samantha. But she deals with it by working out like a fiend, boxing and running until she's exhausted. Or as close to exhausted as a super strong, super fast vampire can get. ~ Goodreads | Sarah

Protagonist[]

✥Samantha Moon is a great, realistic character. She's a loving mother trying to raise her kids, run a business and keep her marriage together. Her husband is absent much of the time, and she's pretty sure he's having an affair. But she's not ready to confront him, and is terrified of losing her children and her marriage. She also has the added stress of dealing with her abilities and limitations. Her enhanced strength and reflexes are great, but dragging herself out of bed to be with the kids after school is painful and difficult. Not to mention her existential worries: is she dead? evil? how long will she live? These things made Samantha sympathetic and relatable. Her frustration and anger are understandable.

The incident caused her to live a life of secrets, to protect herself and her family. She lives in fear of discovery. Her husband, initially seen as a cold and adulterous jackass, really helped her after her attack, researching diseases to explain her aversion to sunlight and her pale skin. He set up an account at a butcher shop to procure animal blood, and supported her career change. But six years of living with a vampire have taken their toll on the relationship - love and support have turned to fear and loathing. These characters are so multi-dimensional, and as such much more believable. ~ Goodreads | Sarah

Sidekick[]

Name: / What: / Sidekick-to: / About: / Book First Seen:

Characters Chart[]

Characters	What	About
Samantha Moon	PI, half vampire, a.k.a. Moon Dance online	Turned after an attack 6 years ago; runs a pI business by night; discovers new powers; 37 years old;
Danny Moon	husband	supportive at first; six years later, he's distant, cold and cheating;
Kingsley Fulcrum	client, werewolf	hires Sam to find how tried to kill him; Sam falls for him; claims a vampire killed his wife;
Detective Sherbet	police detective	helps Sam with Fulcrum case;
Fangs	internet buddy
Randolf	vampire hunter	looking for Sam
Chad	former colleague;	gets his help with beaten wife case;
Jim Knighthorse	PI
Aaron King	PI	(aka Elvis Presley)
Spinoza	PI

To expand the table, in Edit–Visual mode, right-press on a Row of the table (Control-press on a Mac)—choose add Row or Column. Or, in Source Mode: copy-paste rows.

Author[]

J.R. Rain

Website: J.R. Rain Home
Genres: Urban Fantasy, Vampire Fantasy, Mystery-Fantasy

Bio: I'm an ex-private investigator now writing full-time in the Pacific Northwest, where I live in a small house on a small island with my small dog, Sadie, who has more energy than Robin Williams. As a kid I was always making stuff: skates, skateboards, skimboards, skis, sleds, clothing, furniture, wood carvings, Easter baskets, comic books, you name it. I was the mother of all nerds. Anyway, I think I was searching for the one thing I wanted to keep on making for the rest of my life. Then one day I discovered Choose Your Own Adventure books. Remember those? You as the reader were asked to make choices for the characters. Choose Your Own Adventures were a lot of fun and I just had to make my own. And so I did, writing three of them, and I've been hooked on writing ever since. (Just think, I could have been hooked on making Easter baskets.) . . . ~ more: Goodreads | J.R. Rain

Cover Artist[]

Artist—Book set 1–4, + "Christmas Moon": Chris McGrath
Artist—Book set 5–7, + "Teeth": Cliff Nielsen
Artist(s) for the series is not listed

Awards[]

Publishing Information[]

Publisher: lulu.com
Author Page:

Moon Dance: Paperback, 250 pages, Pub: Nov 12th 2013—ISBN 0557175216 / Hardcover, A, 272 pages, Published Jan 1st 2012 by Giunti—ISBN 8809771257
Vampire Moon: Paperback, 274 pages, Pub: December 31st 2013—ISBN 1257381067
American Vampire: Paperback, 245 pages, Pub: September 24th 2011—ISBN 1105089231
Moon Child: Paperback, 212 pages, Pub: July 25th 2011—ISBN 9781465739322
Vampire Dawn: Paperback, 200 pages, Pub: November 13th 2013—ISBN 1304620972
Vampire Games: Paperback, 220 pages, Pub: August 15th 2012—ISBN 9781476267371
Moon Island: Paperback, 220 pages, Pub: April 28th 2014—ISBN 1312146915
Moon River: Paperback, 216 pages, Pub: August 14th 2013—ISBN 1304328198
Vampire Sun: Paperback, 188 pages, Pub: May 1st 2014 by Createspace—ISBN 1497546710
Moon Dragon: Kindle, 187 pages, Pub: September 29th 2014—ASINB 00O0DPBMK
Moon Shadow: Paperback, , Pub: Expected publication: June 15th 2015—ISBN
Vampire Fire: Paperback, , Pub: —ISBN

Book Cover Blurbs[]

✤ BOOK ONE—Moon Dance (2009): Mother, wife, private investigator...vampire. Six years ago federal agent Samantha Moon was the perfect wife and mother, your typical soccer mom with the minivan and suburban home. Then the unthinkable happens, an attack that changes her life forever. And forever is a very long time for a vampire. Now the world at large thinks Samantha has developed a rare skin disease, a disease which forces her to quit her day job and stay out of the light of the sun. Now working the night shift as a private investigator, Samantha is hired by Kingsley Fulcrum to investigate the murder attempt on his life, a horrific scene captured on TV and seen around the country. But as the case unfolds, Samantha discovers Kingsley isn't exactly what he appears to be; after all, there is a reason why he survived five shots to the head. ~ Goodreads | Moon Dance #1 — Moon Dance

✤ BOOK TWO—Vampire Moon (2010): Mother, wife, private investigator...vampire. Six years ago federal agent Samantha Moon was the perfect wife and mother, your typical soccer mom with the minivan and suburban home. Then the unthinkable happens, an attack that changes her life forever. And forever is a very long time for a vampire. Now in VAMPIRE MOON, sequel to MOON DANCE, private investigator Samantha Moon finds herself hunting down a powerful crime lord and protecting an innocent woman from her ruthless ex-husband — all while two very different men vie for her heart. And as the stakes grow higher and her cases turn personal, Samantha Moon will do whatever it takes to protect the innocent and bring two cold-blooded killers to justice — her own brand of justice. ~ Goodreads | Vampire Moon #2

✤ BOOK THREE—American Vampire (2011): Mother, wife, private investigator...vampire. Six years ago federal agent Samantha Moon was the perfect wife and mother, your typical soccer mom with the minivan and suburban home. Then the unthinkable happens, an attack that changes her life forever. And forever is a very long time for a vampire. Now in AMERICAN VAMPIRE, sequel to VAMPIRE MOON, private investigator Samantha Moon receives a heartbreaking phone call from a very unlikely source: a five-year-old girl who's been missing for three months. Now on the hunt, Samantha will use her considerable resources - including her growing supernatural abilities - to locate the missing girl before it's too late. And as she gets closer and closer to the horrible truth, she receives devastating news on the home front. Now with her world turned upside down, Samantha Moon is forced to make the ultimate choice of life and death. And through it all, she discovers the identity of one mysterious man...a man she has grown to love. ~ Goodreads | American Vampire #3

✤ BOOK FOUR—Moon Child (2011): Mother, wife, private investigator...vampire. Six years ago federal agent Samantha Moon was the perfect wife and mother, your typical soccer mom with the minivan and suburban home. Then the unthinkable happens, an attack that changes her life forever. And forever is a very long time for a vampire. Now in MOON CHILD, sequel to AMERICAN VAMPIRE, private investigator Samantha Moon is faced with an impossible decision—a decision that no mother should ever have to make. A decision that will change her life, and those she loves, forever. And through it all, Sam finds herself in a lethal game of vampire vs. vampire as a powerful—and desperate—enemy will stop at nothing to claim what he most desires. ~ Goodreads | Moon Child #4

✤ BOOK FIVE—Vampire Dawn (2012): Six years ago federal agent Samantha Moon was the perfect wife and mother, your typical soccer mom with the minivan and suburban home. Then the unthinkable happens, an attack that changes her life forever. And forever is a very long time for a vampire. Now in VAMPIRE DAWN, Samantha Moon tackles her most frightening case yet. Someone is leaving victims drained of blood, and all signs point to the killer not being a vampire. Meanwhile, Sam can't help but notice the changes coming over her son...fantastical changes that will leave her searching desperately for answers. As Sam tracks down a ruthless killer, and as her own humanity slips further and further away, an ancient relic holds a secret that will rock her world...and open up a whole new one. ~ Goodreads | Vampire Dawn #5

✤ BOOK SIX—Vampire Games (2012): Six years ago federal agent Samantha Moon was the perfect wife and mother, your typical soccer mom with the minivan and suburban home. Then the unthinkable happens, an attack that changes her life forever. And forever is a very long time for a vampire. Now in VAMPIRE GAMES, Samantha Moon is hired to look into the suspicious death of a popular fighter—and quickly discovers there’s far more to the story than meets the eye. Now, as she uncovers clues into the boxer’s past, she will come face-to-face with something unexpected...and something only whispered about. And as the case takes an unexpected turn, Samantha Moon must confront the growing supernatural powers of those closest to her—and a betrayal that will rock her world. ~ Goodreads | Vampire Games #6

✤ BOOK SEVEN—Moon Island (2012): Six years ago federal agent Samantha Moon was the perfect wife and mother, your typical soccer mom with the minivan and suburban home. Then the unthinkable happens, an attack that changes her life forever. And forever is a very long time for a vampire. Now in MOON ISLAND, Samantha Moon is hired to look into the mysterious drowning of a super-rich hotel tycoon. The death occurred exactly one year ago, at the family’s annual retreat on a private island in the Pacific Northwest. Now, as the family gathers again, Samantha Moon is asked to find a ruthless killer—all while a massive storm bears down upon the small island. But there’s another storm brewing upon Skull Island, a storm of the supernatural kind. Sam is about to come face-to-face with evil incarnate...a monster who will stop at nothing to possess her completely—mind, body and soul—and destroy all that she loves. ~ Goodreads | Moon Island #7

✤ BOOK EIGHT—Moon River (2013): Seven years ago federal agent Samantha Moon was the perfect wife and mother, your typical soccer mom with the minivan and suburban home. Then the unthinkable happens, an attack that changes her life forever. And forever is a very long time for a vampire. Now in MOON RIVER, private investigator, Samantha Moon, is asked to look into a string of bizarre murders, murders that are looking more and more like the handiwork of a bloodthirsty vampire. But when her sister, Mary Lou, goes missing, Samantha, Allison and Kingsley take the fight underground...into the dark heart of a vampire's lair. ~ Goodreads | Moon River #8

✤ BOOK NINE—Vampire Sun (2014): Mother, wife, private investigator...vampire. Eight years ago federal agent Samantha Moon was the perfect wife and mother, your typical soccer mom with the minivan and suburban home. Then the unthinkable happens, an attack that changes her life forever. And forever is a very long time for a vampire. Now the world at large thinks Samantha has developed a rare skin disease, a disease which forces her to quit her day job and stay out of the light of the sun. Working the night shift as a private investigator, Sam is hired to look into a baffling missing person case, a case that will lead her to hell in back. Literally. ~ Goodreads | Vampire Sun #9

✤ BOOK TEN—Moon Dragon (2014): Nine years ago, federal agent Samantha Moon was the perfect wife and mother, your typical soccer mom with the minivan and suburban home. Then the unthinkable happens, an attack that changes her life forever. And forever is a very long time for a vampire. Now in MOON DRAGON, private investigator Samantha Moon investigates allegations by her dead ex-husband’s mistress that a killer is on the loose...a killer who just might be immortal. And when another woman vanishes, the clock starts ticking... As Sam digs deeper into the case, a very dangerous supernatural creature makes his presence known. A creature with a pedigree of evil. A creature who knows her all too well. A creature who just might be history’s greatest mass murderer. Most of all, she needs to find the missing woman before it’s too late—after all, Sam knows the intended time of the murder, but not the place. Now in a race against time, Samantha Moon is about to discover the lengths one sadistic pack of immortals will go to feed their bloodlust. ~ Goodreads | Moon Dragon #10)

✤ BOOK ELEVEN—Moon Shadow (June 15th 2015): ~ Goodreads | Moon Shadow #11

✤ BOOK TWELVE—Vampire Fire (): ~ Goodreads | Vampire Fire #12

✤ BOOK 13—:

First Sentences[]

Moon Dance (2009) — I was folding laundry in the dark and watching Judge Judy rip this guy a new asshole when the doorbell rang.
Vampire Moon (2010) — I was alone in my hotel room.
American Vampire (2011) —The night was cool.
Moon Child (2011) — I was flying over the Pacific Ocean.
Vampire Dawn (2012) —It was early afternoon and I was vacuuming.
Vampire Games (2012) —Judge Judy was letting this online con artist know what a scumbag he was—and I was loving every miute of it.
Moon Island (2012) — "Someone killed my grandfather," said the young lady sitting in my office, "and Detective Sherbet thinks you can help me."
Moon River (2013) — I would miss Judge Judy today, which was always a <...> shame.
Vampire Sun (2014) — I was watching Judge Judy...and I was wishing I was her.
Moon Dragon (2014) — Last night, Sixty Minutes ran a segment on Judge Judy, which I mad a point to record.
Moon Shadow (June 15th 2015) —
Vampire Fire ()