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The Gardella Vampire Hunters #5.5
Max Stops the Presses
This is a short story (about 30 pages) that takes place after the end of As Shadows Fade, the fifth book in the Victoria Gardella Vampire Chronicles series.
It includes Victoria Gardella, Max Pesaro, and Sebastian Vioget.
***Please note: There will be spoilers for the entire series in this short story.
It includes Victoria Gardella, Max Pesaro, and Sebastian Vioget.
***Please note: There will be spoilers for the entire series in this short story.
ebook
First published June 28, 2013
28 people are currently reading
391 people want to read
About the author
Colleen Gleason
106 books1,694 followersAward-winning, NEW YORK TIMES and USA Today bestselling author Colleen Gleason (who also writes as Colleen Cambridge) has written more than fifty novels in a variety of genres…but always feature smart, strong women determined to right wrongs and get shit done.
Colleen lives in the Midwest United States where she is fortunate enough to be working on her next book.
She loves to hear from readers via her website, Facebook, or GoodReads.
Colleen lives in the Midwest United States where she is fortunate enough to be working on her next book.
She loves to hear from readers via her website, Facebook, or GoodReads.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 32 reviews
August 3, 2016
A nice shot story in this series, well we now know what sex Max and Victoria have for baby. It also seems like Max and Sebastian, will have a like hate relationship.
June 1, 2021
Questo capitolo post saga è davvero fantastico. Max è insuperabile.
July 1, 2018
3.5 = stelline
“Erano passati più di tre anni. Max, seduto nel suo studio a Grantworth House, sorseggiava l’ennesimo bicchiere di ottimo brandy e rifletteva su come le cose fossero cambiate. Radicalmente. Dopo il suo esordio, Victoria non si era dimostrata solo una Cacciatrice di incomparabile bravura, meravigliando persino Max con l’intelligenza, il coraggio e la determinazione che possedeva, ma poi lui se l’era pure sposata, quella ragazzaccia!”
Probabilmente è colpa mia, probabilmente non ho capito il senso di quest’ultima novella, o probabilmente la Gleason l’ha pubblicata per vendere un ulteriore libro su questa favolosa saga che, a parer mio, poteva essere benissimo conclusa con “Il bacio del vampiro”.
In questa novella vediamo Max, disposto a fare qualunque cosa per la donna che ama, persino rimanere rinchiuso in un pozzo a causa di George Starcasset (membro del Tutela, ovvero un’associazione che nutre e protegge i vampiri) e della sua brillante idea di scrivere un libro su vampiri e cacciatori, e scoprire infine quanti e quali futuri nati ha in serbo il destino per la famiglia Gardella-Pesaro.
La scrittura è sempre molto fluida e i personaggi ben caratterizzati, ma credo che se si fosse dilungata su alcuni avvenimenti accaduti all’interno della novella, sarebbe risultata molto più completa e avvincente, tratto che contraddistingue i precedenti volumi.
.
Maljka - per RFS
“Erano passati più di tre anni. Max, seduto nel suo studio a Grantworth House, sorseggiava l’ennesimo bicchiere di ottimo brandy e rifletteva su come le cose fossero cambiate. Radicalmente. Dopo il suo esordio, Victoria non si era dimostrata solo una Cacciatrice di incomparabile bravura, meravigliando persino Max con l’intelligenza, il coraggio e la determinazione che possedeva, ma poi lui se l’era pure sposata, quella ragazzaccia!”
Probabilmente è colpa mia, probabilmente non ho capito il senso di quest’ultima novella, o probabilmente la Gleason l’ha pubblicata per vendere un ulteriore libro su questa favolosa saga che, a parer mio, poteva essere benissimo conclusa con “Il bacio del vampiro”.
In questa novella vediamo Max, disposto a fare qualunque cosa per la donna che ama, persino rimanere rinchiuso in un pozzo a causa di George Starcasset (membro del Tutela, ovvero un’associazione che nutre e protegge i vampiri) e della sua brillante idea di scrivere un libro su vampiri e cacciatori, e scoprire infine quanti e quali futuri nati ha in serbo il destino per la famiglia Gardella-Pesaro.
La scrittura è sempre molto fluida e i personaggi ben caratterizzati, ma credo che se si fosse dilungata su alcuni avvenimenti accaduti all’interno della novella, sarebbe risultata molto più completa e avvincente, tratto che contraddistingue i precedenti volumi.
.
Maljka - per RFS
October 23, 2018
Perché ho aspettato così tanto a leggerlo? È stato proprio bello ritrovare personaggi che ho amato e poter leggere ancora di loro.
September 9, 2013
Come la stessa autrice tiene a precisare, per chi non avesse letto l'intera saga è quasi un divieto partire da questo racconto, perchè si capirebbe poco o comunque verrebbero spoilerate un bel po' (facciamo anche più di un bel po') di cose. Quindi, a meno che ve ne freghi poco dell'ordine di lettura, se siete ancora all'oscuro del mondo dei Gardella... evitate di leggere quanto segue ;)
Sono ormai mesi, dalla morte di Lilith, che nessun vampiro si fa vivo a Londra. Max non fa in tempo a formulare questo pensiero che... ecco Sebastian - ex cacciatore, ex amante di Victoria e per questo mooolto stimato (coff coff) da Max, adesso solo vampiro - Vioget.
L'affascinonte vampirò franscese fa capolino nella vicenda per informare Max che George Starcasset è una minaccia.
Ed è così che ci viene offerta un po' d'azione. Max s'intrufola nella sua abitazione, lo terrorizza, lo fa confessare (ma non prima di essersi beccato una pallottola dai suoi scagnozzi) e corre a bruciare le 300 copie alla Duntwhistle & Ferngloss, che da lì a poco le avrebbe messe sul mercato.
Nel frattempo, a casa Gardella, Victoria maledice il marito non presente per il suo *udite udite*... parto gemellare! Inutile dirlo: Max c'aveva ragione... per ben due volte! Sono due bambine, due mini Victoria.
Max appicca il fuoco all'azienda, ma un gatto rimane "impigliato" tra il fuoco, e per salvarlo gli cadono cose addosso e sviene. Quando si riprende l'aria è irrespirabile. Sanguinante e dolorante si accorge che per uscire deve riuscire ad arrivare in alto, visto che, non si sa come, si trova in un pozzo lungo e stretto. Una toccatina alla vis bulla e si fa forza (che avevate pensato?). Victoria lo aveva scelto, e lui sarebbe tornato da sua moglie.
Cosa che ovviamente fa. u_u
Questa è la fine formale della saga, in cui ironia, rimpianti e tanto amore fanno da cornice. Ma la Gleason ci promette altre novelle che vedranno protagonisti Victoria, Max, Sebastian, le copie non del tutto bruciate di quel libro (spoiler offertoci dalla stessa scrittrice), e una serie spin-off sulla famiglia dei Gardella.
Che dire?
Credo sia più lunga la mia recensione che la novella XD
"Un pensiero improvviso terrorizzò Max: una Victoria in miniatura che caracollava per casa, lo comandava a bacchetta, lo guardava con grandi occhi nocciola, si metteva nei guai. Cristo, che saliva in carrozza con uomini belli e dissoluti come Vioget. Dannazione. Non dormirò mai più."Victoria è ormai al nono mese di gravidanza, e Max le sta col fiato sul collo, impedendole qualsiasi movimento per evitare che si affatichi. Ma come ben sappiamo, la nostra Victoria non è il genere di donna che obbedisce: alla prima occasione la troviamo accaldata e alle prese con coltelli e pugnali, ma un po' goffa nei movimenti per via del grosso pancione che si ritrova. Si aprono le scommesse sul sesso del nascituro: Max sostiene si tratti di una femmina, (e come potete notare nella citazione qui sopra, al solo pensiero so' dolori!), mentre Victoria crede sia un maschietto. Chi vincerà? Lo scopriremo poco più avanti...
Sono ormai mesi, dalla morte di Lilith, che nessun vampiro si fa vivo a Londra. Max non fa in tempo a formulare questo pensiero che... ecco Sebastian - ex cacciatore, ex amante di Victoria e per questo mooolto stimato (coff coff) da Max, adesso solo vampiro - Vioget.
L'affascinonte vampirò franscese fa capolino nella vicenda per informare Max che George Starcasset è una minaccia.
«Cristo, ma che ti sei bevuto? Se anche quel bastardo fosse ora un non-morto, ma credo sia abbastanza intelligente da evitarlo, quel finocchio non farebbe paura a un bambino.»Ebbene, George ha scritto un libro sul mondo dei vampiri... in particolar modo su Victoria.
Ed è così che ci viene offerta un po' d'azione. Max s'intrufola nella sua abitazione, lo terrorizza, lo fa confessare (ma non prima di essersi beccato una pallottola dai suoi scagnozzi) e corre a bruciare le 300 copie alla Duntwhistle & Ferngloss, che da lì a poco le avrebbe messe sul mercato.
Nel frattempo, a casa Gardella, Victoria maledice il marito non presente per il suo *udite udite*... parto gemellare! Inutile dirlo: Max c'aveva ragione... per ben due volte! Sono due bambine, due mini Victoria.
Max appicca il fuoco all'azienda, ma un gatto rimane "impigliato" tra il fuoco, e per salvarlo gli cadono cose addosso e sviene. Quando si riprende l'aria è irrespirabile. Sanguinante e dolorante si accorge che per uscire deve riuscire ad arrivare in alto, visto che, non si sa come, si trova in un pozzo lungo e stretto. Una toccatina alla vis bulla e si fa forza (che avevate pensato?). Victoria lo aveva scelto, e lui sarebbe tornato da sua moglie.
Cosa che ovviamente fa. u_u
Questa è la fine formale della saga, in cui ironia, rimpianti e tanto amore fanno da cornice. Ma la Gleason ci promette altre novelle che vedranno protagonisti Victoria, Max, Sebastian, le copie non del tutto bruciate di quel libro (spoiler offertoci dalla stessa scrittrice), e una serie spin-off sulla famiglia dei Gardella.
Che dire?
Credo sia più lunga la mia recensione che la novella XD
January 29, 2015
Book 5.5 in the Gardella Vampire Chronicles
This is a very short story that gives us more about Max and Victoria’s HEA. Victoria is heavily pregnant and about to give birth Sebastian comes to visit so he can be nearby for his former lover’s birth. While Sebastian is there he tells Max that George Starcasset has written a whole book about Venators and vampires (including information about Victoria) that is about to be published. So, Max leaves in the middle of the night to stop this fiasco and is later informed by carrier pigeon that Victoria is currently in the process of giving birth. Of course, things aren’t straight forward when Max burns down the publishing house that has the 300 copies of “Venators” (original title, I know). Max is finally able to get home after his deed is done.
This is a very short story that gives us more about Max and Victoria’s HEA. Victoria is heavily pregnant and about to give birth Sebastian comes to visit so he can be nearby for his former lover’s birth. While Sebastian is there he tells Max that George Starcasset has written a whole book about Venators and vampires (including information about Victoria) that is about to be published. So, Max leaves in the middle of the night to stop this fiasco and is later informed by carrier pigeon that Victoria is currently in the process of giving birth. Of course, things aren’t straight forward when Max burns down the publishing house that has the 300 copies of “Venators” (original title, I know). Max is finally able to get home after his deed is done.
November 26, 2013
Oh my goodness! I had forgotten how much I love & miss Max, Victoria, and Sebastian!
This short was an adorable, fun, little peek into, mostly Max & Victoria's lives, with a nice, albeit small, side of Sebastian. This short takes place a little after the end of As Shadows Fade, and I absolutely loved it!
One spoilery little quote--I did leave out a teeny detail that could be figured out but Do not read if you really don't want to be spoiled!!!
God, I love them!!
This short was an adorable, fun, little peek into, mostly Max & Victoria's lives, with a nice, albeit small, side of Sebastian. This short takes place a little after the end of As Shadows Fade, and I absolutely loved it!
One spoilery little quote--I did leave out a teeny detail that could be figured out but Do not read if you really don't want to be spoiled!!!
God, I love them!!
March 1, 2014
Max, mi sei mancato Max!
Questa piccola novella è tutto ciò che mi mancava per chiudere in bellezza la serie dei Gardella!
Sinceramente mi ha fatto un enorme piacere ritrovare Max e vedere come sia cambiato dopo 5 lunghi libri. Il cambiamento ha giovato molto al cacciatore, ora è un uomo completo e tranquillo, il tormento appartiene al passato.
Sentirlo pronunciare le parole “amore mio” è stato un vero e proprio shock!
Sono molto molto soddisfatta Gleason!
Questa piccola novella è tutto ciò che mi mancava per chiudere in bellezza la serie dei Gardella!
Sinceramente mi ha fatto un enorme piacere ritrovare Max e vedere come sia cambiato dopo 5 lunghi libri. Il cambiamento ha giovato molto al cacciatore, ora è un uomo completo e tranquillo, il tormento appartiene al passato.
Sentirlo pronunciare le parole “amore mio” è stato un vero e proprio shock!
Sono molto molto soddisfatta Gleason!
November 25, 2022
Loved!!!
This is a short sweet/wonderful/exciting novella. As you can tell, I can't say enough about this book. I loved catching up with Victoria, Max, and Sebastian 9 months later catching up on how everyone is settling into their lives.
Max and Victoria moved back into the Grantworth House because they needed the room. Melly wed the much older widower Rockley. She also inherited 3 step-daughters, whose weddings she's looking forward to planning one day; since Victoria and Max eloped.
Sebastian, now a vampire, returns to London from Rome for two reasons: 1) to be meet the new Venator baby 2) to let Max know that George Scarsett, has written a tell all book about the Venators, vampires, and the Tutella organization, with real names and secret information.
Meanwhile, three hundred copies have already been printed and are ready to be shipped to stores. Max will do everything in his power to protect his wife and family. So he goes after George in the middle of the night to get information, then he goes to find the books. But in the process, Myza, one of Wayren's pigeons, finds him with a note informing him that Victoria has just gone into labor. After being told that the first baby will take hours, he continues to finish destroying the books. But something goes wrong and he gets delayed missing the birth of his child.
When Max finally arrives home, he's in for the biggest surprise of his life!! But the biggest question of all is, did he get every book? Or were some of them already shipped after all?
A must read!!
This is a short sweet/wonderful/exciting novella. As you can tell, I can't say enough about this book. I loved catching up with Victoria, Max, and Sebastian 9 months later catching up on how everyone is settling into their lives.
Max and Victoria moved back into the Grantworth House because they needed the room. Melly wed the much older widower Rockley. She also inherited 3 step-daughters, whose weddings she's looking forward to planning one day; since Victoria and Max eloped.
Sebastian, now a vampire, returns to London from Rome for two reasons: 1) to be meet the new Venator baby 2) to let Max know that George Scarsett, has written a tell all book about the Venators, vampires, and the Tutella organization, with real names and secret information.
Meanwhile, three hundred copies have already been printed and are ready to be shipped to stores. Max will do everything in his power to protect his wife and family. So he goes after George in the middle of the night to get information, then he goes to find the books. But in the process, Myza, one of Wayren's pigeons, finds him with a note informing him that Victoria has just gone into labor. After being told that the first baby will take hours, he continues to finish destroying the books. But something goes wrong and he gets delayed missing the birth of his child.
When Max finally arrives home, he's in for the biggest surprise of his life!! But the biggest question of all is, did he get every book? Or were some of them already shipped after all?
A must read!!
April 15, 2020
An entertaining little story, albeit a little OOC. I don't know how much time exactly passed between this snippet and the ending of the main series, but I'm guessing quite a lot, since the characters did not quite feel right. I mean, Max throwing around the word "darling" as if it's candy on carnival (granted, Max wouldn't throw around candy either), Victoria crying, passive and petulant (although that could be the pregnancy hormones) and Sebastian just kinda there, even though he shouldn't be (didn't he plan to go to America at the end of book 5? And how the fuck did he manage to get to the Grantworth house during broad daylight? WHY are they even living in the Grantworth house?)
I mean, as far as fanservice goes, this was alright - there were some funny moments, and the dynamics between Victoria, Max and Sebastian felt at least somehow reminiscent of the main series. And I'm not gonna lie, it makes my heart melt to see Max and Victoria so happy and domestic, so there's that.
I even skimmed over the excerpt of Roaring Midnight (or is it Dawn? Idk) and am glad to report that this solidified my decision to not read this follow-up trilogy. Although I'd really like to see a happy end to the story of my darling Sebastian, I doubt Gleason will give him one and if she does, it probably involves Giulia, and I'm not here for that.
Anyway, this was not strictly necessary, but cute and fun.
I mean, as far as fanservice goes, this was alright - there were some funny moments, and the dynamics between Victoria, Max and Sebastian felt at least somehow reminiscent of the main series. And I'm not gonna lie, it makes my heart melt to see Max and Victoria so happy and domestic, so there's that.
I even skimmed over the excerpt of Roaring Midnight (or is it Dawn? Idk) and am glad to report that this solidified my decision to not read this follow-up trilogy. Although I'd really like to see a happy end to the story of my darling Sebastian, I doubt Gleason will give him one and if she does, it probably involves Giulia, and I'm not here for that.
Anyway, this was not strictly necessary, but cute and fun.
November 22, 2019
Victoria, Max & Sebastian
Victoria Gardella is expecting her baby soon. She and Max have married. Sebastian has told Max about a book about the Venatars recently published by George Starcasset.
Characterization & plotting are good.
Victoria Gardella is expecting her baby soon. She and Max have married. Sebastian has told Max about a book about the Venatars recently published by George Starcasset.
Characterization & plotting are good.
April 24, 2018
Awesome story
Great to see what happeened after As Shadows Fade. I do not want to give away any spoilers so if you loved Gardella series, you won't be disappointed.
Great to see what happeened after As Shadows Fade. I do not want to give away any spoilers so if you loved Gardella series, you won't be disappointed.
August 21, 2019
I only have this 2 stars because as a short story I felt it was something that could have been the actual end of book 5.
September 30, 2020
This book helped me feel like I had more closure after the last Gardella Series ended . A short fast read to make you feel good about the end of a series .
April 25, 2023
Rated 3.5
January 10, 2017
Sweet. Too short for us Victoria fans. Like the author said: don't read this until you've gotten to this part of the series.
July 4, 2013
So if you subscribe to Colleen Gleason's newsletter, as I do, you might have heard of her newest novella in the Gardella Vampire Chronicles, Max Stops the Presses! It was free to all subscribers and I ate it up in one sitting!
There wasn't a very good description on Goodreads, but basically the story takes place after the fifth book in the Gardella Vampire Chronicles. Max and Victoria are happily married and are expecting their first child any day. But then Sebastian, their vampire friend--or Victoria's friend since Max can still just barely tolerate him--comes to Max saying that an old "friend" of theirs wrote a book called The Venators. And that it basically is all about vampires, Venators, and Victoria.
Max decides that he must talk to the author and get rid of the copies because the world is cannot know about vampires, Venators or his wife. But his little mission ends up being more difficult than he expected. And back at home Victoria is about to give birth.
A fast paced read but very enjoyable! I was happy to dive back into the Gardella world! Colleen even has a few notes to the reader about the book before and afterwards and shares some very happy news!
An enjoyable read that I recommend to all fans of the Gardella Vampire Chronicles! Note, you really do need to read the first 5 books before reading this one as there are spoilers to the books within the novella! The Gardella Vampire Chronicles is a paranormal historical fiction read that I read before blogging, but the series was absolutely wonderful! Basically dates to our first vampire slayers in Victorian times...try slaying a vampire wearing one of those huge dresses and a corset! Victoria manages it though! They were very entertaining reads filled with action, romance, some humor and engaging storytelling!
Overall Rating 5/5 stars
There wasn't a very good description on Goodreads, but basically the story takes place after the fifth book in the Gardella Vampire Chronicles. Max and Victoria are happily married and are expecting their first child any day. But then Sebastian, their vampire friend--or Victoria's friend since Max can still just barely tolerate him--comes to Max saying that an old "friend" of theirs wrote a book called The Venators. And that it basically is all about vampires, Venators, and Victoria.
Max decides that he must talk to the author and get rid of the copies because the world is cannot know about vampires, Venators or his wife. But his little mission ends up being more difficult than he expected. And back at home Victoria is about to give birth.
A fast paced read but very enjoyable! I was happy to dive back into the Gardella world! Colleen even has a few notes to the reader about the book before and afterwards and shares some very happy news!
An enjoyable read that I recommend to all fans of the Gardella Vampire Chronicles! Note, you really do need to read the first 5 books before reading this one as there are spoilers to the books within the novella! The Gardella Vampire Chronicles is a paranormal historical fiction read that I read before blogging, but the series was absolutely wonderful! Basically dates to our first vampire slayers in Victorian times...try slaying a vampire wearing one of those huge dresses and a corset! Victoria manages it though! They were very entertaining reads filled with action, romance, some humor and engaging storytelling!
Overall Rating 5/5 stars
July 14, 2013
*This short story was free to all subscribers of Colleen Gleason's newsletter*
All the favorite characters from "The Gardella Vampire Chronicles" are back! "Max Stops The Presses" picks up sometime after "As Shadows Fade" left off. In the story readers get to learn what life is now like for Victoria, Max and Sebastian...If you haven't read the other five books in the series before reading this short story you probably should. If not, then you will be spoiling major plot points for yourself. So if that's you, go get "The Rest Falls Away" and start reading!
Anyway, the story not only details what happens next for the main characters, , but also ties into the book Roaring Midnight. If you're a fan of the series then this short story will not disappoint. With all the humor and adventure of the books, "Max Stops The Presses" is a must read!
All the favorite characters from "The Gardella Vampire Chronicles" are back! "Max Stops The Presses" picks up sometime after "As Shadows Fade" left off. In the story readers get to learn what life is now like for Victoria, Max and Sebastian...If you haven't read the other five books in the series before reading this short story you probably should. If not, then you will be spoiling major plot points for yourself. So if that's you, go get "The Rest Falls Away" and start reading!
Anyway, the story not only details what happens next for the main characters, , but also ties into the book Roaring Midnight. If you're a fan of the series then this short story will not disappoint. With all the humor and adventure of the books, "Max Stops The Presses" is a must read!
February 1, 2016
This short novella is like a long epilogue after the final book in the Gardella Vampire Hunter series. We find out more about what has happened with Max, Seb, and Victoria. No spoilers, but if you love happily ever after you will love this book just like I did. Mind you, there is definitely an opening for future stories to bring ultimate happiness to one of the three. You will have to find out who by reading the book :D
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September 24, 2016Le kako naj ocenim samo 30 strani dolgo zgodbo? Všeč mi je bilo prvo poglavje - iz Maxove perspektive podan Viktorijin debitantski ples. Z veseljem sem tudi videla, kak je (na hitro zarisan) novi odnos med Sebastjanom in Maxom ter Viktorijo. Zgleda da bo knjiga o venatorjih v naslednji seriji imela pomen. Drugače pa zanimivo, ampak nekaj takega, kot da bi si po koncu knjige sama izmislila malo nadaljevanja.
September 14, 2014
Nice little peek into the night Victoria gives birth and Max is on a mission to stop publication on a book written about Venators and Vampires that later show up on Roaring Midnight. Short and sweet and so nice to see our old friends again!
January 10, 2014
Loved this short story about Max, Victoria, and Sebastian!! A short and sweet glimpse back into the lives of characters I've grown to love. Thanks Colleen for writing this novella so I could revisit their lives.
September 30, 2016
I liked this...it was a nice little after the series is over bit. Melds very well with the last book and all the previous books for that matter. It was worth the read and a nice wrap up for the series.
July 9, 2013
Omg I died with happiness when this came out! I loved reading about Max and Victoria again, and I look forward to more stories on them and their extended family.
July 20, 2013
This little short story is the answer of my prayers from all these years. It was so beautiful that it brought tears to my eyes.
Thanks Colleen!
Thanks Colleen!
April 4, 2014
Had to read this book. I really like Victoria, Max and all the others. Stopped reading another book today so I could devour this one. Totally enjoyable.
November 26, 2014
Really good ending to the whole series. In fact, it was much better than some of the books themselves.
But then, I never liked Sebastian through most of the series.
But then, I never liked Sebastian through most of the series.
May 15, 2015
This is a fun, short epilogue story to the Victoria Gardella and Max Pesaro relationship as they are about to settle down to a quiet life of parenthood (or not!).
June 19, 2016
Solo una Novella ma ricca di emozioni, ironia ed azione!!
September 23, 2016
This short story was a nice addition to the main series. If you're curious about how life is for the protagonists after Lilith is gone, give it a read.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 32 reviews