UNDEAD & UNRETURNABLE - MaryJanice Davidson

From the inside cover: "This is how my tombstone read: Elizabeth Anne Taylor - April 25, 1974 - April 25, 2004 - Our sweetheart, only resting....Only I wasn't resting under it. I had, of course, died in the spring. Rose in the early dawn hours the day of my funeral and gone on undead walkabout. Since my body was MIA, the funeral was cancelled. But my mother, who had been in a huge fight with my dad and stepmom about what to spend on my marble tomstone, had rushed to order the thing. Byt the time it was finished, no funeral, no service, no burial. So anyway, my tombstone had been in storage for the last six months.

After a while, the funeral home had politely contacted my mother and asked what she'd like to do with it. Since Mom had the plot and stone paid for, she had them stick it in the dirt two days ago and then mentioned it at lunch yesterday.

Jessica and Laura had been morbidly curious to see it and I'd tagged along . What the hell, it made for a break from wedding arrangements and Christmas cards...

So begins the newest hilarious adventure in the life of Betsy Taylor, reluctant Queen of the Vampires. It's Christmastime in the kingdom of the undead (otherwise known as Minneapolis) which is as complicated as it sounds. Betsy isn't going to let a little thing like death and blood-drinking stop her from enjoying the holidays or planning her upcoming spring wedding to drop-dead gorgeous vamp Eric Sinclair.

But all is not merry and bright--Betsy is plagued by ghosts who demand her help in rectifying their past mistakes, and a serial killer is on the loose. With his victims all being tall, blond women, Betsy fits the profile exactly....

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This was a perfect for the holiday reading as it's light and funny and quickly read. Just perfect for some chill time during the hectic holiday season.

Almost too light as the serial killer is barely mentioned and in a rather offhand manner.

The reason I read this series is not because of the mystery involved (good thing), but for the smartass dialogue between the characters. Betsy makes me laugh and I would dearly love to be as quick-witted as she is. She makes mistakes, wrong decisions, but she has everyone's well-being at heart. I would love to be like her, without the whole blood sucking thing.

Eric Sinclair is a honey it sounds like. Perfect vampire (diggin' the name, I like my Eric vampires) who is arrogant and loves Betsy, faults and all.

Four perfect for the holiday vampire beans.....