Wednesday, March 21, 2007

Not Quite Dead, Review for Gotta Write Network


Title: Not Quite Dead

Author: Sela Carsen

Publisher: Samhain Publishing

ISBN: ISBN: 1-59998-184-X

Genre: Paranormal Romantic Comedy

Length: 83 pages

Publishing Date: 2006

Cost: $3.50

Sabine Harper is hanging out in a cemetery watching her niece play at being a witch when all of a sudden it appears to work. Standing beside her is a vampire and a dead man seems to be walking out of a grave. When she later tries to console herself to the fact that she might be hallucinating or perhaps mildly psychotic the dead man appears at her door, claiming it’s his house. Other than being dirty, he seems nice. Plus, he’s gorgeous.

Willem Breaux has been dead for about one hundred and twenty years. He’s been given a short amount of time to avenge his murder with his deceitful fiancé, Rose, and his ex-best-friend, the vampire. He mistakes Sabine for Rose at first and then finds she’s a whole lot better, in many ways.

Can Sabine and Willem find love even though one of them is Not Quite Dead?

Not Quite Dead is an often amusing, well-written, romp of a read. It carried me from beginning to end with lighthearted touches, genuine feel-good romance and even some centuries-old evil. The only thing that held me back from giving this a full five marks is that the wrap up with Rose seemed a bit abrupt. There was a love scene that went on for two chapters but not a lot of attention paid to what turns out to be a pivotal point to the plot. I think a bit more back story about Rose, not a lot, but just something more that made me think yeah, that makes sense. As it stands though the ending was a nice surprise and Ms. Carsen pulled it off well.

I think my favourite thing about this story was Sabine character. Even though she describes herself as solid, level-headed and without the looks of her family she is feisty and fun and frankly, someone I’d love to hang out with.

If you are looking for a fun, quick read that’s a bit quirky and sentimental too, I’d suggest Not Quite Dead.

I give it 4.5 Gravestones.

Labels:

posted by Michelle @ 12:52 p.m. Comments: 0