The Undead Next Door [Mass Market Paperback]

Sweet Heather Westfield has an adorable daughter, an overbearing ex-husband, a feisty nanny, and too many dreams that were never fulfilled. The talented designer/seamstress stayed in her small Texas town to appease her mother and became a school teacher instead of pursuing her ambition to be a fashion designer. When one of the world's top names in couture opens a boutique nearby, she is drawn to the life she gave up, and to the man who has designed fashions for some of Hollywood's biggest stars.

World-weary Jean-Luc Escharpe has seen it all since he was transformed into a vampire centuries ago. A skilled swordsman, he fought as a lieutenant-colonel in the vampire army, and in later decades, pursued his skills a businessman and designer. His career has kept him in the public eye a little too long, however, causing many to wonder how the designer who clad Marilyn Monroe and Cary Grant still looks so young and handsome. What he needs is some time away and a place to hide out. But on the eve of his self-imposed isolation, he meets a beautiful woman who has been burned by love. Heather awakens long-dead feelings in Jean-Luc and makes him start to wonder if he could have another chance at love after all.

But with a crazed killer bent on revenge tracking Jean-Luc's every move, being around him is not exactly the safest place in the world. Then there's the whole undead element thrown into the mix. Jean-Luc is certain a relationship with Heather would never work out because she could never accept him as he is. But Heather has some surprises up her homemade sleeves: she's declared a war on fear, and this Texas sweetie vows not to let anyone stand in the way of what she wants. And she wants Jean-Luc.

The Undead Next Door, Kerrelyn Sparks' fourth book in the Love At Stake series, is a thrilling, fast-paced detour through the beautiful Texas Hill Country with two wounded but strong souls. As usual, the story resonates with Sparks' trademark humor, wit, and warmth. There's something here for every reader as the author deftly combines history, humor, deep emotion, and paranormal elements for a deeply satisfying love story.

An immortal living in the public eye must occasionally disappear for a decade or three. Even with modern-day advancements such as plastic surgery to explain away an eternally youthful appearance, a vampire must periodically leave the life he has built to prevent rousing suspicion amongst the human populace.

Ultra-famous fashion designer Jean-Luc Echarpe has stretched the limits of his current existence and is preparing to sequester himself away in a small Texas town for a time before re-emerging to the world with a new identity. It promises to be a long, lonely life - until he meets the inimitable Heather Westfield.

The single mother, schoolteacher, and budding designer shows Jean-Luc a world such as he has never known for himself. A world of love, hope, and family. But once again, he unwittingly puts a woman he cares for at unacceptable risk as his centuries-long enemy resurfaces to destroy everything Jean-Luc cherishes.

Last year, I reviewed the third book in Kerrelyn Sparks LOVE AT STAKE series, read the first two, and loved each so much that I have purchased all three for several friends as `just because you have to read these' gifts. Needless to say, I was more than eager for the new release in this saga, THE UNDEAD NEXT DOOR!

As her fans have come to expect, Ms. Sparks does not disappoint readers with the new edition to this addictive paranormal romance series. Infusing the stories with a heavy dose of humor, balanced with the darker side of the paranormal world her characters inhabit. See, just as with humans, you have good Vampires and you have evil Vampires. The good Vamps drink synthetic blood and co-exist peacefully with the human population, protecting them from the threat of the Malcontents.

The Malcontents are the evil vampires, who thrive on taking human blood and life whenever possible, and work overtime to destroy the good Vamps. We don't like the Malcontents, obviously. No big news or spoilers here, this is just part of the series premise.

But what is new is Jean-Luc. While we've seen the handsome French designer in previous stories, he remained somewhat of a mystery, appropriate until his own book, of course. I was intrigued by him before, but what we learn of his past and his personality in THE UNDEAD NEXT DOOR shows us a somewhat tragic hero who is undeniably fascinating. His sense of honor is only rivaled by his utter loneliness, having lived a life devoid of true commitment due to the constant threat posed by his nameless, faceless foe.

Leave it to a heroine as bright and quirky as Heather to shake up Jean-Luc's world to the 'nth' degree! Heather is a breath of fresh air for both Jean-Luc and for the reader - completely guileless, this woman has a capacity for love and understanding that surpasses most. But will that extend to the Vampire who loves her when she discovers his true nature?

Readers new to the LOVE AT STAKE books will be glad to hear that Kerrelyn Sparks writes each of these stories so that they work admirably well as standalone stories, making it easy to jump right in with the title that most interests you. Of course, each book introduces the main characters of future books, so reading them in order certainly enhances the experience.

For a wonderfully romantic and thoroughly entertaining read that will make you alternately laugh with delight and sigh with romantic longing, pick up your own copy of LOVE AT STAKE, BOOK 4: THE UNDEAD NEXT DOOR!

Series Order:
How To Marry a Millionaire Vampire (Love at Stake, Book 1)
Vamps and the City (Love at Stake, Book 2)
Be Still My Vampire Heart (Love at Stake, Book 3)
The Undead Next Door (Love at Stake, Book 4)
All I Want for Christmas Is a Vampire

Connected Stories:
Sugarplums and Scandal

I have read Kerrelyn Sparks other books in this series and they are great, but this one is my favorite so far. It is funny,romantic,sexy, intruiging. I never wanted it to end. The hero is sweet and sexy and I wanted him for myself. The sexual energy and tension gave me tingles.
I just wish she could whip out the next book in about a week because I hate to wait for the next one. Do yourself a favor and get all the books in this series, you won't be disappointed.

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