Title: Not Quite Dead Author: Sela Carsen Publisher: Samhain Publishing Genre: Paranormal, Comedy Publication date: August 2006 ISBN: 1-59998-184-X Pages:  83 Series: Heat Level:     Rating:

Willem was cut short in the prime of his life, and he remembers only his beloved Rose begging his forgiveness, and the vampire Willem was attempting to stake. The three Fates agreed to allow him to seek his vengeance, since his destiny was not to die of old age, but he is allowed only to return to the paths he has walked before. As he bursts forth from the grave, following a nearly futile necromantic attempt by a group of wannabe witches, his first sight is of the vampire who is the cause of all his trouble, and his second is of a woman he believes to be Rose. That woman is Sabine, cousin of Lily, one of the witches-in-training.

Willem returns to his former home, a cottage by the river, where he finds Sabine, whom he’s convinced is his love Rose, turned by the vampire St. Ivraie. Once again, the magnetic attraction Willem felt for Rose is present when he looks at Sabine, and he is convinced she is either Rose’s reincarnation or a blood descendant. The sparks between the not-quite-dead Willem and the live-but-puzzled Sabine are ready to be fan into flamed in a moment’s impulse; in the meantime, the vampire St. Ivraie is hunting Willem to destroy him, and Sabine for a different nefarious purpose.

Not Quite Dead is a wonderful story, simultaneously hilarious and touching, with wonder of wonders, a truly happy ending for all. I highly recommend this one. I don’t generally appreciate comedy, but this book had me truly laughing aloud from the first page, and the sensuality between Mr. I’m-Not-Really-Dead and Ms. I-m-Just-Ordinary is quite inflaming. Go get this one, you won’t be sorry.