Title: Undead Much?
Author: Stacey Jay
Pages: 304
Published: Jan. 21, 2010
Rating: 4/5


Summary:

Q: How many guys does it take to make your boyfriend wild with jealousy?
A: Only one, if he's UNDEAD.


Megan Berry had a perfectly average new-sundress-and-boy-obsessed life--until her power to settle the Undead returned. Oh, and then her best friend tried to kill her--and ruin homecoming--with a bunch of black magically raised zombies. At least she got a spot on the pom squad and a smokin' boyfriend (Ethan). But now Megan is in deep fertilizer all over again.

Why? Well, let's see...

· Feral new super-strong zombies? Check.

· Cheerleader vs. pom squad turf war threatening half time as they know it? Check.

· An Undead psychic hottie (Cliff) who's predicting a zombie apocalypse--and doing his best to tempt Megan away from Ethan? Yum. I mean, Check.

· Earth-shattering secrets that could land Megan in Settler prison for life? Um, IT WASN'T ME!!!

Everyone thinks Megan's at fault for the new uber-zombie uprising. Looks like she'll need the help of both Cliff and Ethan if she's going to prove her innocence before it's too late...

Review:

Undead Much? the sequel to the fabulously original You Are So Undead To Me by Stacey Jay. In the sequel Jay once again knocks the socks off of her readers by continuing the storyline with her amazing cast of characters. This time around we get to see a softer, more helpful side of the "Monicster" (Monica). She became someone Megan could depend on to help her out of serious jams, while also providing much of the comic relief throughout. Megan continues to be an incredibly likable character with a relatively cool head about her-given the circumstances. And Ethan? Still and hunky and dreamy-boyfriend as ever. With a friend as kick-butt as Monica and a boyfriend as cool as Ethan who wouldn't be able to take on hordes of zombies?

This series is quickly becoming one of my absolute favorites. Jay's fresh writing style and hilarious dialogue made it hard for me to put Undead Much down. I cannot wait to see what the third installment will have in store for Megan Berry.

Review: Hearts At Stake by Alyxandra Harvey

Title Hearts At Stake
Author: Alyxandra Harvey
Pages: 256
Website: www.thedrakechronicles.com

About the book:

Solange Drake always knew she was destined to become a vampire queen. And as the only female vampire ever born, not made, she is surrounded by danger on all sides-from vampire suitors who want to join with her lineage to bounty hunters who are set on destroying her and her family. When she is kidnapped, it's up to her older brother Nicholas and her human best friend, Lucy, to save her. But can Lucy save herself from Nicholas, who tempts her with his every look? And what will be Solange's own fate if she surrenders her heart to the vampire hunter helping her survive the deadly intrigue at the royal court?

Review:

Although I felt that this book could have been more than it was (longer, more fleshed out), I REALLY enjoyed it Hearts At Stake for a lot of reasons.

*Lucy already has intimate knowledge of the Drake family being vampires, and she already knows of the royal court and some of the proceedings. That in my book, is a big plus. I'm not sure I can stand another book with 10 pages devoted to 'history lessons' written as (boring) dialogue.


*The book is written by split points of view: Both Solange and Lucy get a turn guiding the story. Better still, both girls are strong characters. Both girls can kick butt, and also have great comebacks and I didn't feel that one completely dominated any part of the book, as often is the case when you have two leading ladies. I did find myself excited waiting for Lucy's turn to tell the story but that is only because...

*Lucy and Nicholas are HOT!!! The romance and tension between the pair was totally swoon-worthy without being over the top unbelievable. Nicholas had some great romantic lines. I can see him creeping into YA readers hearts as a new heartthrob character crush. I do not feel I know enough about Solange and Kieran's relationship to comment properly, but it looks like they will get their romantic momentum going in the next book.

Bottom line; Hearts At Stake was a very enjoyable, perfect guilty pleasure read. I devoured it in a matter of hours and am now counting the days until the release of Blood Feud, The Drake Chronicles book 2.

Rating: 3.5/5