Review - Undead And Unwed by MaryJanice Davidson

Undead and Unwed by MaryJanice Davidson

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


Blurb from goodreads

MaryJanice Davidson's cult hit Undead and Unwed is a delightful mixture of Sex and the City and Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Waking up in a tacky coffin, and wearing off-brand shoes, Betsy Taylor can't believe the horrible turn her life has taken–then she discovers she's a vampire. Soon, Betsy becomes a participant in a power struggle between the forces of darkness. With only her friend Jessica and the hunky vampire Sinclair to help her, this new "Queen of Vampires" will have a tough time getting her afterlife straight.

My Review

Betsy is a self involved, shoe loving, label queen and modern day working girl. Her life is rudely interrupted by becoming one of the undead. She wakes up in hideous clothes, shocking makeup and worst of all shoes with no well known label on them. As Betsy tries to peace together what happened to her and getting back her "life" we are introduced to her friends, family and league of undead character.

Betsy herself is quite funny, always sarcastic (sometimes it seems like every other sentence which does take away some of the humour) and not shy about saying how she feels. I am torn between really liking and wanting to slap her as she is amusing but also quite shallow. She also has quite a mouth on her and a good chunk on the book is filled with swearing (and quite a bit of sex too) so not for the easily offended.

It is very easy to read and quite an entertaining book, if your looking for a serious or a dark themed vampire book this isn't for you. It is very tongue in cheek, lots of naughtiness and bad language. I quite like it and have the next two ready to go. A good introduction so it is a 3/5 for me.

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Review - Playing With Fire by Coral Russell

Playing with Fire by Coral Russell

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


Blurb From Goodreads

Scare easily? Are you often frightened out of your sleep? Does the mere mention of ghosts prickle your skin?

These seven authors imaginations are fired up by the scariness of the unknown.

Find a comfy spot, sit back and enjoy nine tales to tickle your taste for terror.

Susan Evelyn - Best Served

Revenge is sweet they say. But is Anna going to be able to hold the right ones accountable?

3197 Words

Robynn Gabel - Widows of the Night

Step inside a child's world that is filled with monsters. In her struggle to search for and figure out what love is she will discover what a monster really is.

3375 WORDS

Nomar Knight - Bitten

Rob Compton is unemployed and on the verge of getting a divorce when his pet German Shepherd, Shotgun, comes home intent on having him for lunch. Once bitten, Rob decides to show his wife what 'death do us part' really means.

2937 Words

CAV Laster - Playing with Fire

During what seems to be the end of the world for others, Kalen discovers his has only begun. Appalling secrets unravel his world and force him to fight for his survival. Will Kalen be able to handle the truth?

5285 words

Coral Russell - Devil of a Ghost Tour

Lynn and Lee Hoyt decide a local ghost tour would be a fun date night. In an abandoned hotel on the tour, a demon and his minions have been waiting for just the right couple to come along. Can the ghost hunters, Hector and Marcos, save them before it's too late?

9751 words

Coral Russell - Key to a Haunting

Allen has lost everything, when his father gives him a downtown building to renovate. Trouble is, it's haunted. He calls in the Paranormal Posse to help, but can Hector and Marcos learn the truth in time to finally put the dead to rest?

9824 Words

Coral Russell - Amador Lockdown (excerpt)

Something has moved into the Amador Hotel and is wrecking havoc with anyone who tries to stay. Hector, Marcos, Bev, and Tony of the Paranormal Posse are called in to either debunk the stories or get rid of whatever is causing the problems. Hector's life is an uproar and while he tries to keep his professional and personal life separate, whatever is haunting the Amador Hotel has other plans.

Brian Fatah Steele - Flawed

When three generations of Gastlins gathered one weekend at a newly purchased home in 1998, they had no idea it would be their last reunion. Every family has its secrets, its little faults, but the skeletons came bursting out of the closets and grew infectious. Blood may be thicker than water, but it can still spill just as easily.

4328 WORDS

Brian Fatah Steele - The Stuff Dreams Aren't Made Of

When your only hope is to suffer less than the day before, when misery is a normal state of being, and when atrocities greet all your senses every day, you only have to find new ways to dream.

1327 WORDS

Chryse Wymer - This Dark Magic

Charlie Landers is a reporter for the Capital City Gazette when his hometown turns deadly. It begins with a blackout, and escalates to a crime rate so high that it's a miracle that anybody has lived to tell about it. Finally, he must do something when not only his life but the life of a loved one is threatened. In this quirky dark fantasy, Charlie Landers must navigate a dangerous world of black magic in order to save his little corner of the universe.

9780 Words

Chryse Wymer - Living with Murder (excerpt)

Kirk and Mary Miller live a simple life in the year 2035...until their college-aged son turns up dead. Their son's murderer is convicted and jailed, but a year later, The Agency for Privately Imprisoned Criminals becomes involved. The Agency had been formed when prison overcrowding grew out of control.(less)


My Review

These are a great collection on horror stories, I don't usually like reading a collection purely because you always get a mixed bag and more so with a mix of authors. I loved the second story and would have given it 5 stars alone Robynn Gabel - Widows of the Night.

The first story I liked but there is so much left unanswered that I think it would make for a great novel, explaining why she thought there might have been vampires or werewolves and how did she become like she is. I would love to read more on this one.

There are a few stories where Hector and Marcos feature and whilst I liked them I think they probably deserve a book on their own so we can get a full picture on them rather than snippets.

The others I enjoyed however there was one or two which was excerpts from books and that I don't like. I hate reading one or two chapters from a book and being left hanging (which is why I never read sneaks of the next book when you finish a novel) however some people do enjoy this which might up the rating to a 5 for some. I initially gave this a 3 of 5 overall but I think taking into account the stories I really liked it is more fair to give a 4 star rating.

This book is available on Amazon for only £0.77, a bargain for a great wee collection

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Review - A Spy At Home by Joseph Rinaldo

A Spy at Home by Joseph Rinaldo

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


I usually use the blurb from Goodreads but I believe it contains a big spoiler so I won't and have spoken to the author to have it changed. Garrison is a retired CIA agent trying to find his place at home with his wife and adult dependant son. After being gone more often than not he has missed a huge chunk of Noah's life and the challenges Louisa has had to deal with. When tragedy strikes Garrison must find a way to step up to the mark and take care of all of Noah's needs.



The story gives us some insight into the person Garrison is through his CIA stories, his memories of his early days with his wife and how they met, their relationship over the years and his acceptance and love of his son and the obsticles they face together. The CIA keeps popping up despite Garrison being retired which links in with the CIA side of the story.



The CIA part was fine (it dragged a bit as I was more interested in the family side of it) however for me the story was about the love for Noah and their relationship, Garrison and Louisa's relationship and their life together. There are a few twists in the book that I didn't see coming and blew me away and how Garrison attempts to cope with it.



The book is written almost in diary form, Garrison is writing down his memories of how he sees things and his life over time until present day.



There are a few sides to this story and I think there is something for everyone in this book. I really liked it, found it pretty easy to read and Noah's story is on ethat just touches your heart. 4/5 for me and you can buy this on amazon for only £1.43 http://www.amazon.co.uk/A-SPY-AT-HOME-eb...

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Januarys Pre-Loved Giveaway is Rats by Paul Zindel

This book is in good condition - a few small wrinkles to the cover but otherwise great and the spine is unbroken. The print size is bigger than normal but not large print. I rated this book before I did reviews so it has a 4 star rating off me and I believe is listed between horror and young adult.


Synopsis from the back cover

Rats - Sarah lives on the edge of town, beside a huge garbage dump. Home to millions of rats, the dump is growing out of control. And as the dump grows, so do the rats..

No-one is prepared for the terrifying rat invasion, least of all Sarah. Who is alone with her little brother at the mercy of the rats..

As always please fill in the form or you can leave a comment here, as long as I have a way to contact you (you can use both to double your chances).


Click here to contact me via my email link

Dvd giveaway (brand new in packaging) Who Dares Wins

This dvd is still in its original packaging and brand new. Actors Lewis Collins (the professionals) and Edward Woodward (The Wicker Man and the Equalizer). The movie is rated as a 15, scroll down for the movie synopsis.

You can leave a comment here if you wish and your web url so I can contact you or if you only have an email address please use the contact form (at the bottom of this post) so you don't get spammed by leaving your email on a public website. You don't need to be a follower, just leave me a way to contact you. You can leave a comment and use the form if you wish which will give you a double chance of winning.

A winner will be picked at the end of the month, good luck and feel free to share.

Click here to fill out my form!

Product Description from Amazon

When a British government undercover agent is assassinated, a radical anti-nuclear group is held responsible. SAS agent Skellen (Lewis Collins, The Professionals) is called upon to infiltrate the group and put an end to their terrorist activities.

He is welcomed into the group by its fanatical leader Frankie Leith (Judy Davis, A Passage to India) and gets closer to uncovering her plan to attack a major political target. The group raids the American embassy and Skellen, from within the residence, must use all of his skill and courage to support and guide his SAS colleagues to save the lives of the high-ranking hostages being held captive.

Who Dares Wins was inspired by the SAS rescue of hostages at the besieged Iranian Embassy in May 1980.

Includes:
Brand New Commentary with legendary producer Euan Lloyd and director Ian Sharp
The makig of who dares wins
The Last of the gentlemen producers extended version

Decembers Pre-Loved Giveaway Winner is.....................

RosiePopSox (no web address given). Well done and thank you for entering. The winner has been notified by email, if I have not had a responce within 48 hours I will pick another winner.

Thank you to everyone who entered and please check back for Januarys Pre-loved giveaway which will go up later today.

Happy New Year and Kindle Cover Winner re-picked

Happy New Year guys hope 2012 is filled with health and happyness and lots and lots of books :D

Kindle cover winners, I have dm'd Brit86 for her addy to get it posted and Maci234 never responded so I have picked another winner Cathy Grouchey who has replied and I will post it out in the next day or two.

I got 6 new books for Christmas which going by past years is not a great haul but I did get vouchers for Waterstones, HMV and a book token so I will bump that up. I am writing all the winners out for Decembers Pre-loved Giveaway so I will pick and announce that in the next hour so watch this space.

Thank you so much to all my followers who have left great recommendations/comments and supported me during my first year doing this, you guys all rock. Here is to more competitions, books and meeting new book lovers.