Terrible Praise
by Lara Hayes
For five hundred years, all Stela had known was a roving life in service to her maker, Fane. But in the last century her family has built a permanent residence in the abandoned freight tunnels beneath Chicago, where anonymity reigns supreme. Navigating the modern world is not easy and Stela, once a fierce warrior, has traded the heat of battle for petty negotiation, her sword for a pen, and her station as Fane's enforcer to now serve as her family's financial liaison. When a late meeting forces Stela to visit a nearby hospital, she crosses paths with the beguiling Elizabeth Dumas--a brilliant nurse who sacrificed her academic career to care for her ailing mother. Their charged encounter will threaten the secrecy Stela has sworn to uphold, and the bond they unwittingly forge will irrevocably alter both their lives. Worlds collide and entwine in Terrible Praise, Book One of The Redamancy Series.
About This Book
Terrible Praise is a fiction romance novel by Lara Hayes, first published in 2018 by Bella Books. It runs 280 pages. Readers can expect forbidden romance, secret identity; sweet heat; a slow burn and emotional tone.
At a glance
- Genre
- Fiction
- Trope
- Forbidden Romance
- Heat
- Sweet
- Mood
- Slow Burn
- Published
- 2018
- Length
- 280 pages
Where to read or listen
Get Terrible Praise by Lara Hayes
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Why You May Love This Book
You may love this if…
- A 500-year-old vampire warrior turned financial liaison finds her carefully guarded secret existence threatened by a chance encounter with a dedicated human nurse in the tunnels of Chicago.
- Fans of urban fantasy romance
- Readers who enjoy competent, professional protagonists
- Introspective
- Features Vampire/Human
This may not be ideal if…
- Readers seeking high-action battle sequences
- Those who dislike significant age gaps
- Readers looking for lighthearted/comedy romance
The Romance
Tropes, dynamics, and the chemistry that drives this story.
Tropes
Relationship Dynamics
Details
Type: Paranormal Romance
Pairing: F/F (Lesbian)
Power balance: Uneven (Immortal/Mortal dynamics)
Age gap: Over 470 years
How It Feels
The emotional landscape you'll move through while reading.
Mild comfort, high tension, moderate angst, and a satisfying emotional payoff.
Heat Level
Based on available metadata and editorial review.
Who Is This Book For?
Best for
Reading mood
May not suit
Recommended audience: Adult
Content Guidance
The Story
Spoiler-Free Synopsis
For five centuries, Stela has been an enforcer for her maker. In modern Chicago, she manages her vampire family's finances from their subterranean residence. When duty brings her to a local hospital, she meets Elizabeth Dumas, a nurse who has put her own life on hold to care for her mother. As their worlds entwine, Stela must navigate the danger of exposing her kind and the magnetic pull of a woman who represents everything she thought she had left behind.
Central Conflict
The tension between Stela's oath of secrecy to her vampire family and her growing emotional connection to Elizabeth, which threatens to expose the immortal community.
Setting
Modern-day Chicago, specifically featuring the city's abandoned freight tunnels and a local hospital.
Themes
Strengths
- Strong contrast between the protagonist's warrior past and corporate present
- Atmospheric use of Chicago's underground infrastructure
- High stakes involving secrecy and community safety
Consider before reading
- Potential trope reliance (vampire/human)
- Conflict between metadata 'Standalone' and description 'Book One'
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Discussion Guide
Questions to deepen your reading experience or spark a book club conversation.
- 1
How does the central conflict shape the relationship between the main characters?
- 2
Which theme — Vampire Secrets — resonated most strongly with you, and why?
- 3
How does the setting influence the characters' decisions and their relationship?
- 4
Did the emotional payoff feel earned by the story's buildup?
- 5
How do the relationship dynamics evolve throughout the story?
- 6
Who would you most want to recommend this book to?
- 7
How did the pacing affect your reading experience?
- 8
Which aspect of the story did you find most compelling?
How This Profile Was Created
Eikna uses book metadata and AI-assisted analysis to create structured romance profiles. Public profiles are reviewed and approved by an editor before publication.
- Editor reviewed:
- Yes
- Last reviewed:
- August 30, 2026
- Confidence:
- Moderate confidence
- Profile version:
- eikna-public-book-intelligence-v1
About the Author
What Readers Say
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Publication Details
- Publisher
- Bella Books
- Published
- 2018
- Length
- 280 pages
- Language
- English
- ISBN-13
- 9781594935978
- ISBN-10
- 1594935971
Terrible Praise: quick answers
- Who wrote Terrible Praise?
- Terrible Praise was written by Lara Hayes.
- When was Terrible Praise published?
- Terrible Praise was first published in 2018 by Bella Books.
- What genre is Terrible Praise?
- Terrible Praise is a fiction romance novel, with forbidden romance, secret identity.
- How many pages is Terrible Praise?
- Terrible Praise is 280 pages long.
- How spicy is Terrible Praise?
- EIKNA rates Terrible Praise as sweet heat.
Are you the author? Verify your author profile to manage this book.
This is my book — sign inWhere to read or listen
Get Terrible Praise by Lara Hayes
These store links are affiliate links (Amazon, Audible, Bookshop.org and Libro.fm). As an Amazon Associate, Eikna earns from qualifying purchases, at no extra cost to you. Learn more.
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