Laura J’s review of Dead Over Heels (Anthology) by MaryJanice Davidson
Contemporary Paranormal Romance anthology released by Berkley 4 Mar 08
While many romance readers will trace their love for romance books back to sneaking their grandmother’s old Harlequin books or the late Kathleen E. Woodiwiss, but for me my first romance book that I read was MaryJanice Davidson’s Undead and Unwed and from there I was hooked.
I spent the next two weeks catching up with all the Undead books that were out to that point and then anxiously waiting for her to write more. It is really hard to wait for the next book in a series from you favorite author, but fortunately Ms. Davidson gave us a little something to help us get through those long months of waiting – a single author anthology featuring three stories from three of her most popular series.
(**Spoiler Alert if you have yet to read Undead and Uneasy**)
Undead and Wed: A Honeymoon Story
After surviving an attempted dethronement by Margery the Librarian, Queen Betsy and King Eric are honeymooning and shoe shopping in New York City. Hoping that they will finally get some time alone from their well meaning friends and roommates Betsy and Eric arrive in New York City by private plane thanks to the generosity of her best friend Jessica. Once they get to their hotel, Betsy and Eric are shocked and just a little peeved to see Jessica and her boyfriend Nick waiting for them in the lobby. Nick still hasn’t forgiven Betsy and Eric for trying to make him “forget”, but Jessica really wants her best friends and her boyfriend to get along. So not only are the newlyweds dealing with unwelcome guests for their honeymoon but someone is killing children and it looks like it is another vampire.
My favorite of the three stories, of course, was Queen Betsy’s honeymoon. Let’s just say, Betsy has an interesting way to decorate with shoes, even when it’s an accident. That scene was one of the best I have ever read. Even with the “darker” subject matter facing Betsy and her friends, I never felt put off by it and I’m curious about how this will effect Betsy in future books.
Grade: A+
Survivors
The second story takes us to Ms. Davidson’s world of mermaids. Con Conlinson is the host of a tv survivalist show. During the shooting of an episode in the ocean, Con is left stranded in a row boat after a sudden storm separates him and his film crew. While floating along and wondering how he got himself in this mess, he sees what appears to be a severed head. That turns out to be a mermaid who has been watching him and has come to his rescue.
Of the three stories the mermaid story was my least favorite, but probably only because I was hoping to have a few more of the regular characters from the book in this one as well. Con is an over the top kind of guy, much of what you would expect for a tv personality that has a show on survival show. One who is willing to do anything for entertainment. Reanesta is a caring, but stubborn mermaid, who has self esteem issues where she feels unbeautiful like her counterparts. Con and Ree (as he calls her) butt heads often, most often over how Con should take care of himself while he is stranded and this leads to some very comical scenes.
Grade: B+
Speed Dating, Werewolf Style
The third and final story in this novella catches us up the on the Wyndham Werewolf pack. It introduces us to Cain a young female werewolf who is feeling her clock ticking after seeing some of her old friends from the pack settled down and raising families of their own. Her 30th birthday is 22 days away so seeks the help of best bud Saul to help her find her mate.
I’ve not been a big fan of the Wyndham Werewolf stories, but this one was good. Maybe because I get tired of romance novel heroines always being tall, with long legs and perfect breasts. Cain is a small, competitive, kick ass then ask questions kind of girl. I really like her. Her speed dating dates and blind date set up by Saul, her best buddy since they were kids, reminded me of some my old dates. I really hope we see more of Cain and Saul in future books. I would love to see what happens when Cain actually says “Stupid Vampire Queen” to Betsy instead of thinking it. Could be interesting.
Grade: A
Ms. Davidson’s books never fail to make me laugh and this one had me laughing out loud many times. I really had to be careful reading this book in public as I found a couple of times people were staring at me and wondering what I was laughing about.
If you are looking for a quick, funny read then I highly recommend this book. And if you are lucky enough to meet Mary Janice Davidson as I was last summer when she came to a book signing, GO! It was one of the most entertaining evenings I’ve ever had.
Overall Grade: A
Summary:
Three all-new paranormal stories of lust, laughter, and love from the New York Times bestselling author, including an original novella featuring Undead queen Betsy Taylor.
With her trademark “sassy dialogue, lusty lovemaking [and] irreverent humor”* New York Times bestselling author MaryJanice Davidson delighted fans with her wickedly sexy and wildly funny anthology, Dead and Loving It-stories in which the worlds of the Wyndham Werewolves and Undead Queens collided. Now she returns to that sensual and irresistible after-dark realm of werewolves, vampires, and mermaids in three more original novellas–including an all-new Betsy Taylor novella.
No excerpt available at the time this review was published.
