It is 1811. Beatrix Lisse is one of the most desired and envied women in society. Her soirées are attended by anyone who is anyone, and men fall over themselves to spend just one night with this beautiful woman. Her reputation most definitely precedes her.

But what her many would-be suitors do not realise is that Beatrix is no normal socialite. She is a vampire and has been alive for more than 600 years. But despite the fact that she still must drink blood to survive she no longer kills. In fact whenever she takes someone's blood she leaves them with a wonderful memory of a wholly fictitious night of passion in the arms of the mysterious Beatrix.

John Staunton, the Earl of Langley also lives a double life but he is no creature of the night. Like Beatrix, he has cultivated a reputation as a rogue but in reality he is one of the most honourable men in England for he is an undercover spy searching to discover who is behind a sudden shift in power within the French government.

When the two meet they are both aware of an immediate attraction between them but, for John, his duty to his country overrides his personal desires and he leaves the beautiful and mysterious Beatrix to undertake his most dangerous mission yet.

Soon John discovers that his target in this latest mission is no ordinary French politician. She is Asharti, a vampire who uses her vampyric abilities to manipulate people in order to gain ultimate power in Europe. By coincidence she is also an old acquaintance of Beatrix and the two most definitely didn't part on friendly terms.

The Hunger is one of a new style of vampire story. Whereas traditional vampire tales revolve around the evil vampire preying on humans, Susan Squires's story sets one of the main characters as a vampire who hates her past life as a killer and now intends to live as normal a life as possible.

The storyline is most definitely one of adult content. There are frequent, sometimes violent and kinky sex scenes, particularly those involving Asharti and her victims and these mean that this novel is not really suitable for children or anyone who dislikes such writing. But if explicit storylines do not worry you then I would highly recommend The Hunger, or any other book by Susan Squires as they are incredibly easy to read and rather compelling – and yes, she did nearly make me late for work on a couple of occasions.

Being a female engineer I find myself spending the majority of my time in the company of men and inevitably they end up treating me like "one of the boys" (which can lead to some very interesting conversations – trust me). Add to this the fact that I am a fan of SF, Fantasy and Horror and you can see that I don't get the opportunity to feed the feminine part of my psyche. Now, I am certainly not going to start reading classic romance novels but Susan Squires's books afford me the privilege of reading a genre of writing that I truly enjoy (being a long time collector of all things vampyric) but giving me just enough romance to keep me satiated until the next one comes along!

An original adult approach to the vampire myth. Passionate, flowing writing that takes the reader on a romantic journey into the intertwined worlds of espionage and vampirism.

Synopsis
Discover a realm where anything is possible. Where peril and passion collide. Where a woman is tempted by a man she wants but can never have. A man she could destroy with just one kiss. Discover THE HUNGER...

An Undeniable Desire...

The year is 1811, and vampire Beatrix Lisse has spent six hundred years trying to atone for her sins.Yet she can't forget the one man she loved many centuries ago—until she meets John Staunton, the Earl of Langley. John is London's most notorious rogue, but he sees an innocence in Beatrix that she no longer believed existed. But Beatrix can't bring herself to reveal her true nature to John, even after they surrender to their fierce passion. It's only after John abandons Beatrix that she learns he has a secret of his own...

Leads to Love that Burns Eternal...

An undercover spy for England, John's mission is to find out who is behind the sudden shift in power in the French government. If he allows himself to get too close to Beatrix, John knows he'll put her life in danger. But as John gets closer to completing his mission, the very person he seeks is none other than Beatrix's centuries-old rival. With the world unraveling around them, John and Beatrix unite to fight a nemesis whose fury has no limit—even as their unquenchable passion grows more dangerous by the day...

Quotes
"All of the elements that made Squires' previous sci-fi romantic suspense novel, Body Electric, such an eye-popping read manifest themselves here-a feverish romance, a pervasive sense of danger and an exhilarating chase full of adrenaline-fueled encounters... few romantic suspense authors know how to write a chase sequence as thrillingly as Squires."
   -Publishers Weekly on No More Lies

"Squires' fast-paced conspiracy novel gives readers a run for their money, and then some."
   -Booklist on No More Lies

"Readers of such historical titles as Claudia Dain's To Burn will enjoy Squires' epic style and unforgettable characters."
   -Booklist on Danelaw

"Electrifying and sensual sci-fi romance...Squires's deft plotting and full-bodied characters make this whirlwind adventure worthwhile."
   -Publishers Weekly on Body Electric

"Wow! Susan Squires gives her readers a breathless hardcore ride in her latest, Body Electric."
   -Romantic Times Top Pick on Body Electric

"Body Electric is dynamite. It keeps you on the edge of your seat even while it makes you think-and it does it with great characters and a zong of sensuality. This book is a ripping good read. I couldn't put it down."
   -Catherine Asaro, on Body Electric

"Susan Squires has a fascinating, unique voice; she is a rare talent. An absolute must-read."
   -Christine Feehan on Body Electric

"A taut, daring, edge-of-your-seat read, Body Electric will leave you gasping for more. Gifted new author Susan Squires blends romance and cyber-thriller in a masterful work that advances the genre as much as it entertains...and logs on as one of the promising new stars in 21st-century romantic fiction."
   -Susan Grant on Body Electric

"[The writing of Susan Squires] is not for the faint of heart."
   -Romantic Times

"An outstanding debut novel that takes some risks and succeeds. Susan Squires gives us a gritty, complex love story that is as engrossing as it is endearing."
   -The Romance Reader on Danegeld

"Bravo Susan Squires! If we let this wonderful, original book fall by the wayside, we will be stuck with cookie-cutter books and will have only ourselves to blame."
   -All About Romance on Danegeld

"A competent and well-thought-out historical novel, with just a bit of magic thrown in for delicious spice. Brava, Ms. Squires!"
   -Old Book Barn Gazette on Danegeld