Shannon C.’s review of Accidentally Undead (Accidental Friends, Book 2) by Dakota Cassidy
Paranormal romance released by Berkley Trade 1 Jul 08

I have sentimental warm fuzzies toward Dakota Cassidy. When she was writing ebooks, she was the first author I found and the one that sold me on the idea of ebooks in the first place. So I’m glad she’s finally doing stuff with Berkley. While romantic comedies aren’t generally my thing, Ms. Cassidy’s characters act like normal people and even talk like normal people, which I really liked. While this second book in her Accidental series is flawed, I still recommend it, especially to those of you who like funnier fare. (I’m looking at you, Laura J.)

Nina Blackman, former Bobbie-Sue cosmetics consultant, now dental hygienist, was working on a patient one day when he reacted badly to the anesthesia she administered. He bit her hand, drawing blood, and now Nina’s a vampire. The man responsible is Gregori Statleon, and Nina is determined that she’s going to make him fix her.

I liked Nina as a character even if she grated on my nerves. She’s mouthy and funny, and she reacts to her status as newbie vampire with the kind of outraged horror I think most of us would be feeling if it were us. It takes her a long time to trust Gregori, and we get a glimpse into her childhood that justifies this. However, after a while, I felt her turnaround was dragged out a bit, and it takes a bit of an over-the-top scenario to truly throw Greg and Nina together.

Greg is less developed as a character. He was a nice guy, though he didn’t put up with Nina’s crap. I thought he went above and beyond the call of duty for her a time or two, but otherwise I’m not sure he’s the sort of hero I would remember. That said, I did enjoy his encounters with Nina, and I thought they did have enough chemistry to convince me of an HEA.

I loved Nina’s conversations with her friends, Marty and Wanda, and I think that Wanda’s book will be fun to read. I especially liked the fact that Wanda was a romance novel reader who threw around words like HEA in everyday conversation, much to Nina’s disgust.

The actual plot is mostly about Nina’s coming to terms with being a vampire and growing to realize how much she needs the people in her life. I thought the parts where that didn’t happen dragged out a bit sometimes. That being said, the writing in this second book was tighter than in the first book.

While this book isn’t perfect, I did enjoy it, and there have been enough teasing glimpses of Wanda that I really want her story.

Grade: B-

Summary:
Nina always loved the nightlife.

It’s a lousy first day on the job for dental assistant Nina Blackman when a patient, loopy from the anesthesia, bites her. At least he was cute. But for real drama she can’t beat the next morning. Nina wakes up with a set of razor sharp fangs, bionic vision, super sonic hearing, and a taste for blood. There must be a good explanation. There is. It’s her patient, Greg Statleon.

She just never expected to be the nightlife.

A visit to his Long Island castle hardly results in a cure. Greg claims there isn’t one. Unfortunately, Nina isn’t wild about her lifestyle change ­or the danger that goes along with it. She’s determined to prove this infuriating vampire wrong. It’s a shame he’s so irresistible. It’s a bigger shame that he’s dead. On the other hand, they’re perfect for each other ­if Nina’s willing to commit to one man for eternity.

Read an excerpt here