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Strange Neighbors #3
The Vampire Next Door
Room for Rent: Normal need not apply
This old Boston brownstone is not known for quiet living...first the shapeshifter meets his nurse, then the werewolf falls for his sassy lawyer, but now the vampire is looking for love with a witch who'se afraid of the dark...and you thought your neighbors had issues!
Undead Sly is content playing vigilante vampire, keeping the neighborhood safe from human criminals, until Morgaine moves in upstairs. Suddenly he finds himself weak with desire, which isn't a good place for a vampire to be. And Morgaine isn't exactly without her own issues -- will the two of them be able to get past their deepest fears before their chance at "normal" slips away...
Praise for The Werewolf Upstairs
"Witty and wonderful...the entertaining plot, humor, sizzling sensual scenes, and romance make this story unforgettable."--Romance Junkies
"Original and full of laughs, steamy sex, and madcap mayhem."--Night Owl Romance
"An entertaining, funny read." --RT Book Reviews
"Delicious romance...The Werewolf Upstairs seduced me!"--Sparkling Reviews
This old Boston brownstone is not known for quiet living...first the shapeshifter meets his nurse, then the werewolf falls for his sassy lawyer, but now the vampire is looking for love with a witch who'se afraid of the dark...and you thought your neighbors had issues!
Undead Sly is content playing vigilante vampire, keeping the neighborhood safe from human criminals, until Morgaine moves in upstairs. Suddenly he finds himself weak with desire, which isn't a good place for a vampire to be. And Morgaine isn't exactly without her own issues -- will the two of them be able to get past their deepest fears before their chance at "normal" slips away...
Praise for The Werewolf Upstairs
"Witty and wonderful...the entertaining plot, humor, sizzling sensual scenes, and romance make this story unforgettable."--Romance Junkies
"Original and full of laughs, steamy sex, and madcap mayhem."--Night Owl Romance
"An entertaining, funny read." --RT Book Reviews
"Delicious romance...The Werewolf Upstairs seduced me!"--Sparkling Reviews
371 pages, Paperback
First published August 1, 2011
43 people are currently reading
937 people want to read
About the author
Ashlyn Chase
55 books458 followersAshlyn Chase has been a registered nurse for 20 years. During those years, she wrote articles for professional journals and a thesis, but eventually, thank goodness, discovered the joy and freedom of writing fiction.
Ashlyn considers herself lucky. Her degree in behavioral sciences is a combination of psychology and sociology, so she has worked with and studied people most of her life. She never has to write out exhaustive character sketches to understand her characters or predict how they will behave. That doesn't mean they don't surprise her. Sometimes they take her on grand unexpected journeys. For her, it gives "character driven novels" a whole new meaning.
Ashlyn has learned to go with the flow. To enjoy the journey is not only one of her writing goals, but also a challenge in life so she tries to follow where the story takes her. As such, she has lived in 17 different places over the years. At last, she's all settled down and comfy in New England.
Is there a grand design or do we decide our own fates? Perhaps if the powers-that-be have a plot, then they also give us the right to revise it. Ashlyn has certainly made detours on her path, but she thinks she's better for it. She's having fun at any rate and hopes that if she enjoys the journey, so will those around her—including her readers.
Ashlyn considers herself lucky. Her degree in behavioral sciences is a combination of psychology and sociology, so she has worked with and studied people most of her life. She never has to write out exhaustive character sketches to understand her characters or predict how they will behave. That doesn't mean they don't surprise her. Sometimes they take her on grand unexpected journeys. For her, it gives "character driven novels" a whole new meaning.
Ashlyn has learned to go with the flow. To enjoy the journey is not only one of her writing goals, but also a challenge in life so she tries to follow where the story takes her. As such, she has lived in 17 different places over the years. At last, she's all settled down and comfy in New England.
Is there a grand design or do we decide our own fates? Perhaps if the powers-that-be have a plot, then they also give us the right to revise it. Ashlyn has certainly made detours on her path, but she thinks she's better for it. She's having fun at any rate and hopes that if she enjoys the journey, so will those around her—including her readers.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 81 reviews
July 25, 2014
This could have been a cute paranormal romance. You know, something light and fluffy to take your mind off of things. Could is the operative word here.
Vampire Next Door was a hot mess. It was just a whole lotta crazy rolled into one story.
The main plot line is about a vampire who is still in mourning over his dead wife, and a witch who is afraid of the dark. Supposedly.
Unfortunately, this was one of those books that introduced too many twists and wacky side stories. Worse, most of the new twists were resolved within a few pages, and with little or no effort on the part of the characters.
Also, most of it made no sense in any reality.
For example, Mr. Vampire needed to make some money. Obviously there would be limitations on what he could do, right? I mean, if he's going to burst into flame when sunlight hits him, being a lifeguard is probably out of the question. Still, I can't possibly fathom why he would take the advice of the witch's hillbilly cousin, and try to set up a still in order to sell moonshine. Moonshine? Really? That's the honest-to-God best thing you could come up with!? What about a night watchman? Cab driver? Convenience store clerk? Or, better yet, since he evidently roamed around at night as a freakin' crime fighter , why didn't he just steal money from the bad guys?! But, no. His only option was to become a bootlegger. Riiiiight. That makes sense.
Then there was the witch. She's not only afraid of the dark, but she's also afraid to leave the building they live in. M'kay. This probably should have played a larger part in the story, but after a few panic attacks, it sort of floated to the background. I'm assuming they'll get her some professional help at a later date.
The hillbilly cousin I mentioned earlier was one of the more annoying characters in story, so (naturally) she played a large role in what passed for a plot in this thing. Note to all non-rednecks: Y'all is plural. Not singular. It refers to more than one person.
Was the author trying to be cute when she had the character refer to every single person as y'all, or was she just trying to make the bimbo sound even more idiotic than she already did? The world may never know.
Here's the short list (in no particular order) of small grievances I have with this book:
1) When the pregnant chick went into labor, why was it a big deal that her husband's flight home got cancelled because of snow? He was a shape-shifting bird for Christ's sake! Fly yourself the f@!#% back home!
2)Why did they have to go get the Dragon-lady (that they barely knew) to help them set fire to Mr. Vampire's evil maker? Was there a shortage of gasoline and matches?
3)Speaking of the Dragon-lady... The back-story was that if she didn't get sex on a regular basis, she would sneeze fire. So (naturally), she had to become a prostitute. Because apparently there is not only a shortage of gasoline and matches, but also of men willing to have meaningless sex...without paying for it. She couldn't have a boyfriend, I guess. I mean, who would want to settle down with a woman who actually needed to have lots and lots of sex, right? Yep. That must be it.
*bangs head on desk*
4)If the sex scenes were any cheesier, I could have eaten them on crackers.
Fang me, Baby!
Seriously? Yes, seriously. She actually said that when he was getting ready to tun her into a vampire...while they were having sex, of course. And, NO. I don't care if that was a spoiler for someone. I think of it as a public service to warn people when they are about to read something that damn dorky.
I guess I could keep ranting about all the other stupidity in the book, but I feel much better now that I've gotten some of this off of my chest, so I think I'll call it a day.
If you decide to read this, consider yourself warned!
Vampire Next Door was a hot mess. It was just a whole lotta crazy rolled into one story.
The main plot line is about a vampire who is still in mourning over his dead wife, and a witch who is afraid of the dark. Supposedly.
Unfortunately, this was one of those books that introduced too many twists and wacky side stories. Worse, most of the new twists were resolved within a few pages, and with little or no effort on the part of the characters.
Also, most of it made no sense in any reality.
For example, Mr. Vampire needed to make some money. Obviously there would be limitations on what he could do, right? I mean, if he's going to burst into flame when sunlight hits him, being a lifeguard is probably out of the question. Still, I can't possibly fathom why he would take the advice of the witch's hillbilly cousin, and try to set up a still in order to sell moonshine. Moonshine? Really? That's the honest-to-God best thing you could come up with!? What about a night watchman? Cab driver? Convenience store clerk? Or, better yet, since he evidently roamed around at night as a freakin' crime fighter , why didn't he just steal money from the bad guys?! But, no. His only option was to become a bootlegger. Riiiiight. That makes sense.
Then there was the witch. She's not only afraid of the dark, but she's also afraid to leave the building they live in. M'kay. This probably should have played a larger part in the story, but after a few panic attacks, it sort of floated to the background. I'm assuming they'll get her some professional help at a later date.
The hillbilly cousin I mentioned earlier was one of the more annoying characters in story, so (naturally) she played a large role in what passed for a plot in this thing. Note to all non-rednecks: Y'all is plural. Not singular. It refers to more than one person.
Was the author trying to be cute when she had the character refer to every single person as y'all, or was she just trying to make the bimbo sound even more idiotic than she already did? The world may never know.
Here's the short list (in no particular order) of small grievances I have with this book:
1) When the pregnant chick went into labor, why was it a big deal that her husband's flight home got cancelled because of snow? He was a shape-shifting bird for Christ's sake! Fly yourself the f@!#% back home!
2)Why did they have to go get the Dragon-lady (that they barely knew) to help them set fire to Mr. Vampire's evil maker? Was there a shortage of gasoline and matches?
3)Speaking of the Dragon-lady... The back-story was that if she didn't get sex on a regular basis, she would sneeze fire. So (naturally), she had to become a prostitute. Because apparently there is not only a shortage of gasoline and matches, but also of men willing to have meaningless sex...without paying for it. She couldn't have a boyfriend, I guess. I mean, who would want to settle down with a woman who actually needed to have lots and lots of sex, right? Yep. That must be it.
*bangs head on desk*
4)If the sex scenes were any cheesier, I could have eaten them on crackers.
Fang me, Baby!
Seriously? Yes, seriously. She actually said that when he was getting ready to tun her into a vampire...while they were having sex, of course. And, NO. I don't care if that was a spoiler for someone. I think of it as a public service to warn people when they are about to read something that damn dorky.
I guess I could keep ranting about all the other stupidity in the book, but I feel much better now that I've gotten some of this off of my chest, so I think I'll call it a day.
If you decide to read this, consider yourself warned!
June 6, 2019
I was really looking forward to reading this. The plot was all over the place, and too much going on with too many characters. It overshadowed the two main characters that you almost forget about them. Overall, it was cute and humorous.
April 27, 2023
Rating: 3.5
Heat Rating: 4 out of 5
The Vampire Next Door by Ashlyn Chase is the third book in her unarguably jocular paranormal romance series, Strange Neighbors. This time it's Sly and Morgaine who get their stories told.
I was really excited to finally get to read more about Sly. When we first learned his back-story in Strange Neighbors he captured my interest. I'm vamp girl after all LOL! Anyways, learning more about him was great. I found it excellent that he always thought of his daughter. He was completely devoted to her.
Morgaine was always someone that I never paid attention to. She kinda paled in comparison to Gwyneth. Well, that was until her makeover in The Werewolf Upstairs. After that it was her turn to shine - and shine she did. She had some psychological issues that I thoroughly understood. I respected how she fought against them. That took a lot of strength. It made me proud to see her fight them to help her man.
One thing that I will always remember about this book is the sex. Sly and Morgaine got it on a lot and that's all good as far as I'm concerned. While they had WAY MORE nookie than your typical PNR the explicitness was average. By average I don't mean it was without steam though. Those two definitely put off some heat!
There are a number of other great things about this story. Like the other books in this series, The Vampire Next Door was filled with lots of pop culture references and I loved that! I always smiled when I come across them. There was even an appearance of the famous American witch, Laurie Cabot. The setting for this book is Boston so there were a number of street names and places mentioned that the reader might recognize. Since I've been lost in the city a few times I certainly did *G*. Also, I found it quite ingenious that Chase managed to use Vampire Vintage in this story. That just happens to be the name of one of her Ellora's Cave titles.
There was a side-story in this book concerning the new maintenance man and new neighbor. Though it was hilarious it got to be a little to much for me. There was merit to the characters however and if Chase were to adapt them and create a new story I would read it for sure.
Another thing that brought this book down for me was the timing. I found that the story lagged at times and I was a bit bored. IMO, the story could have been condensed more at the end without harming the plot whatsoever.
All in all The Vampire Next Door was an enjoyable read for me. It was a great ending to a wonderful series. I'm gonna miss that brownstone and all it's strange neighbors!
Giggle-worthy Gwynisms
Gwyneth is Morgaine's cousin. She's a total country gal and has a flair for words that always has me giggling.
-"What's got y'all madder than a bottle full of bees?"
-"Well, snap my granny's garters!"
-"Y'all are helpless as a Yankee at a grits-eatin' contest."
-"Ya'll look like a pup that was left behind when the family went for a Sunday drive."
Favorite Quote
"You're amazing," she whispered hoarsely.
He pushed back the hair from her face. "You too."
"How? All I do is let you play me like a piano."
He chuckled. "You've got a great keyboard."
Cover comments
I think this is my favorite cover of the three books in the series. It has Morgaine with the delightful swirlies coming from her hands. They give a whimsical feel to the book as well as signify Morgaine's magic. The coffin is great as it appears in a pivotal point in the story. I also love the bottle on the floor. It's a great detail. It even has a V on it for Vampire Vintage!
Related Reviews:
Strange Neighbors (Strange Neighbors #1) - HERE
The Werewolf Upstairs (Strange Neighbors #2) - HERE
Heat Rating: 4 out of 5
The Vampire Next Door by Ashlyn Chase is the third book in her unarguably jocular paranormal romance series, Strange Neighbors. This time it's Sly and Morgaine who get their stories told.
I was really excited to finally get to read more about Sly. When we first learned his back-story in Strange Neighbors he captured my interest. I'm vamp girl after all LOL! Anyways, learning more about him was great. I found it excellent that he always thought of his daughter. He was completely devoted to her.
Morgaine was always someone that I never paid attention to. She kinda paled in comparison to Gwyneth. Well, that was until her makeover in The Werewolf Upstairs. After that it was her turn to shine - and shine she did. She had some psychological issues that I thoroughly understood. I respected how she fought against them. That took a lot of strength. It made me proud to see her fight them to help her man.
One thing that I will always remember about this book is the sex. Sly and Morgaine got it on a lot and that's all good as far as I'm concerned. While they had WAY MORE nookie than your typical PNR the explicitness was average. By average I don't mean it was without steam though. Those two definitely put off some heat!
There are a number of other great things about this story. Like the other books in this series, The Vampire Next Door was filled with lots of pop culture references and I loved that! I always smiled when I come across them. There was even an appearance of the famous American witch, Laurie Cabot. The setting for this book is Boston so there were a number of street names and places mentioned that the reader might recognize. Since I've been lost in the city a few times I certainly did *G*. Also, I found it quite ingenious that Chase managed to use Vampire Vintage in this story. That just happens to be the name of one of her Ellora's Cave titles.
There was a side-story in this book concerning the new maintenance man and new neighbor. Though it was hilarious it got to be a little to much for me. There was merit to the characters however and if Chase were to adapt them and create a new story I would read it for sure.
Another thing that brought this book down for me was the timing. I found that the story lagged at times and I was a bit bored. IMO, the story could have been condensed more at the end without harming the plot whatsoever.
All in all The Vampire Next Door was an enjoyable read for me. It was a great ending to a wonderful series. I'm gonna miss that brownstone and all it's strange neighbors!
Giggle-worthy Gwynisms
Gwyneth is Morgaine's cousin. She's a total country gal and has a flair for words that always has me giggling.
-"What's got y'all madder than a bottle full of bees?"
-"Well, snap my granny's garters!"
-"Y'all are helpless as a Yankee at a grits-eatin' contest."
-"Ya'll look like a pup that was left behind when the family went for a Sunday drive."
Favorite Quote
"You're amazing," she whispered hoarsely.
He pushed back the hair from her face. "You too."
"How? All I do is let you play me like a piano."
He chuckled. "You've got a great keyboard."
Cover comments
I think this is my favorite cover of the three books in the series. It has Morgaine with the delightful swirlies coming from her hands. They give a whimsical feel to the book as well as signify Morgaine's magic. The coffin is great as it appears in a pivotal point in the story. I also love the bottle on the floor. It's a great detail. It even has a V on it for Vampire Vintage!
Related Reviews:
Strange Neighbors (Strange Neighbors #1) - HERE
The Werewolf Upstairs (Strange Neighbors #2) - HERE
January 26, 2023
Okay. So.
This book was confusing as hell. I gotta say there was so many plot points and information shoved into the book. It was difficult to stay focused and eventually, I stopped caring about what happened to the characters. In fact, it seems the story was so full of different plot points, logical solutions to problems were just ignored and everything was rushed (There is literally a scene when one of the characters is giving birth and her husband, a BIRD shifter, cannot make it home to her because he was stuck at the airport. Dude, you can fly. Just fly home man it's not rocket science).
The main character and love interest had a really fast paced relationship (Insta-love *insert eyeroll*) and I couldn't be convinced of their "love" for eachother. It honestly kind of felt like I was reading a book meant for kids, except the only thing that made it more "mature" was the cringy intimate scenes and occasional swearing.
The main character literally said, and I quote, "Fang me, baby!". Fang. Me. Baby.
Why?
The characters overall lacked a lot of depth and were pretty cookie cutter.
I did like the potential ideas for the story and I liked the ghost, Chad, but other than that this book really just wasn't working for me. I don't usually leave negative reviews, but this book felt like it kind of failed me in a way because it had all the right ingredients to be something more, but it instead it became a shell of what a good story is supposed to be. But that's just my opinion.
I might give the author a chance with some of her other books, but this was just kind of disappointing.
This book was confusing as hell. I gotta say there was so many plot points and information shoved into the book. It was difficult to stay focused and eventually, I stopped caring about what happened to the characters. In fact, it seems the story was so full of different plot points, logical solutions to problems were just ignored and everything was rushed (There is literally a scene when one of the characters is giving birth and her husband, a BIRD shifter, cannot make it home to her because he was stuck at the airport. Dude, you can fly. Just fly home man it's not rocket science).
The main character and love interest had a really fast paced relationship (Insta-love *insert eyeroll*) and I couldn't be convinced of their "love" for eachother. It honestly kind of felt like I was reading a book meant for kids, except the only thing that made it more "mature" was the cringy intimate scenes and occasional swearing.
The main character literally said, and I quote, "Fang me, baby!". Fang. Me. Baby.
Why?
The characters overall lacked a lot of depth and were pretty cookie cutter.
I did like the potential ideas for the story and I liked the ghost, Chad, but other than that this book really just wasn't working for me. I don't usually leave negative reviews, but this book felt like it kind of failed me in a way because it had all the right ingredients to be something more, but it instead it became a shell of what a good story is supposed to be. But that's just my opinion.
I might give the author a chance with some of her other books, but this was just kind of disappointing.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 4, 2016
Okay, this obviously didn't bother a LOT of other reviewers but one of the secondary characters (one who is in the story a LOT) uses "y'all" as a singular noun. "You" "all." Plural second-person pronoun. PLURAL. It's at least once a line on most pages. Can't handle it.
Loved the first book in the series. Second not as good. Glad I didn't pay for it.
Loved the first book in the series. Second not as good. Glad I didn't pay for it.
July 23, 2016
Stupid, stupid, stupid!
March 17, 2012
I loved this book as much as the first 2. But I would like to see how the lives of everyone from the apartments did! Like what about Max? How did the Wine business do? What about Sly and Morgaine? There should be a mini book about each person/couple!
November 13, 2014
I read the three books for the strange neighbors series and I have to say that its one of the best and funniest books I've come across. Sweet and humorous to a perfect degree. Ashlyn Chase is fabulous!
March 3, 2014
I've fallen in love with this series. Just the right amount of characters, love, sex and action.
April 29, 2023
This was a slow start, but that might be because it's been so long since I read the first two books in the series so I didn't really remember any of the characters. Each book follows a different couple, but the previous characters play a role, so I was more focused on trying to remember than I was on the beginning of the story. I wasn't invested until about halfway through. It was hot, Sly definitely knew what he was doing. He was good for Morgaine, their relationship really helped her with her fears. The scene in the hospital was hysterical! That was probably the best part of the entire book. I liked that she also helped him with his issues, that she was understanding and helped him come to his growth on his own instead of trying to force it on him. When he was able to believe that it was real her asking to be turned was something he had to work through, but he was able to. I will continue reading this author.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 14, 2025
I did not expect the pairing of Sly and Morgaine, but it actually works. The problem is that there are too many (unnecessary) subplots to muddy the flow. The story has cute potential; it would be suitable for a younger audience without the graphic sex marathons or appropriate for mature readers without the childish, illogical choices. It's an unbalanced read for me.
November 17, 2019
So Sweet
A heartwarming love story with weird but loving characters that all reside in an apartment building. They support each other and find love where they least expect it. I’m so glad that Sly got his happy ever after!
A heartwarming love story with weird but loving characters that all reside in an apartment building. They support each other and find love where they least expect it. I’m so glad that Sly got his happy ever after!
September 6, 2017
loved the series
December 16, 2017
Loved this book!!
September 9, 2018
Another great one and she reigned in the porn aspect a bit, so it was a nice storyline!
Love the colorful characters! Great series
Love the colorful characters! Great series
October 1, 2018
Lol
Loved the whole series and had a hard time putting it down, the series is filled with love and excitement.
Loved the whole series and had a hard time putting it down, the series is filled with love and excitement.
March 14, 2020
Ridiculous. Painfully ridiculous.
October 10, 2022
Best paranormal romcom Ever!!! I wish there were more books to this series! I’m absolutely addicted!
September 26, 2023
Great book great series!
January 26, 2020
Great little trilogy finish
This was a great finish to the trilogy. It wrapped up the remaining characters well and gave a happy ending to all.
This was a great finish to the trilogy. It wrapped up the remaining characters well and gave a happy ending to all.
August 27, 2019
I like vampire novels, and I like romance novels, but this vampire romance was a dud.
March 31, 2012
I didn't realize that this was the third release in the series when I requested it from the library. I wasn't too far into the story when I discovered the truth and after waiting a long time to get it, I wasn't starting at the beginning. For those of you who haven't read the other books be assured that it can be read as a standalone with only a little trouble.
Now onto the review.
The concept is pretty unique...a small apartment building filled with
paranormal residents, whether witches or shape-shifters. Overall I'd say this paranormal romance is cute, rather light and fluffy, and has few truly serious moments. It's filled with fun, good friendships, growing relationships and lots of sex between vampire Sly and witch Morgaine, the two main characters.
In fact, there's lots of characters weaving in and out of each scene in this entertaining story, some old and some new, and all playing roles of varying importance. And it's the people that move the plot forward because this book is definitely character driven. Yes, there are a few twists and turns but none are problems they can't get out of by working together. Not even when Sly's vampire maker shows up and tries to cause trouble. There's just never any sense of dire gloom and doom about what could happen, so even the black moments are a little amusing. Even staking a vampire can cause a chuckle.
The author's development of Sly's personality is unusual too. He's nothing like a typical vampire. In fact, aside from drinking blood and being unable to tolerate sunlight, he's little different from when he was alive. He's kind, friendly and caring for his still human pregnant daughter. Then there's witch Morgaine, who's afraid to leave her building. Putting these two odd individuals together, which on the surface doesn't seem like a good pairing, actually is perfect. She has other phobias too but after a few mentions of them, they're pushed to the background. I wish this had been addressed more thoroughly, it would have been interesting.
Now my niggles--While Sly and Morgaine had sex frequently it was more funny than arousing. The new tenant...the Dragon Lady...why be a hooker when she could have just asked guys at any bar for a quick one-night stand to fix her problem. Cousin Gwyneth is annoying all around and the idea that she and Morgaine made money with a sex phone line is totally unbelievable. And then there's Jules, the totally clueless merman. While interesting, his character added little to the story, at least in this book.
With a vacant apartment in the building, I don't know what's going to happen but it should be interesting. After looking at the authors blog, it looks like she's planning a series spin-off called, Flirting with Fangs.
Now onto the review.
The concept is pretty unique...a small apartment building filled with
paranormal residents, whether witches or shape-shifters. Overall I'd say this paranormal romance is cute, rather light and fluffy, and has few truly serious moments. It's filled with fun, good friendships, growing relationships and lots of sex between vampire Sly and witch Morgaine, the two main characters.
In fact, there's lots of characters weaving in and out of each scene in this entertaining story, some old and some new, and all playing roles of varying importance. And it's the people that move the plot forward because this book is definitely character driven. Yes, there are a few twists and turns but none are problems they can't get out of by working together. Not even when Sly's vampire maker shows up and tries to cause trouble. There's just never any sense of dire gloom and doom about what could happen, so even the black moments are a little amusing. Even staking a vampire can cause a chuckle.
The author's development of Sly's personality is unusual too. He's nothing like a typical vampire. In fact, aside from drinking blood and being unable to tolerate sunlight, he's little different from when he was alive. He's kind, friendly and caring for his still human pregnant daughter. Then there's witch Morgaine, who's afraid to leave her building. Putting these two odd individuals together, which on the surface doesn't seem like a good pairing, actually is perfect. She has other phobias too but after a few mentions of them, they're pushed to the background. I wish this had been addressed more thoroughly, it would have been interesting.
Now my niggles--While Sly and Morgaine had sex frequently it was more funny than arousing. The new tenant...the Dragon Lady...why be a hooker when she could have just asked guys at any bar for a quick one-night stand to fix her problem. Cousin Gwyneth is annoying all around and the idea that she and Morgaine made money with a sex phone line is totally unbelievable. And then there's Jules, the totally clueless merman. While interesting, his character added little to the story, at least in this book.
With a vacant apartment in the building, I don't know what's going to happen but it should be interesting. After looking at the authors blog, it looks like she's planning a series spin-off called, Flirting with Fangs.
March 5, 2023
I’m almost reading the back issues of this connected universe series from Chase so I knew a lot of what would happen in this book but the biggest draw is how the temporary vampire cure is made.
If you’ve read later books in the series here’s my list of things that for me did not age well:
1) - The I love you now that you’re more girly/gave up on your goth phase. Having read The Werewolf upstairs and seeing Morgaine as a goth but not described as a goth in later books I was curious if this would be a gradual shift but now, her friend takes her to get a make over because it’s time for a change and then she finds love. Very tired plot from the time the book originally published.
2) The 2000’s slut shaming. A secondary character is introduced as a dragon who uses sex to control their dragon powers and everything is very sex positive and progressive until the landlady finds up and slut shames her tenet from her position of authority as she kicks her out and that’s the last time we see the character. This is what really tanked the star rating for me.
Overall it was a fine book for the time but it doesn’t hold up at all and I in general did not find the main pairing appealing (side couples yes).
If you’ve read later books in the series here’s my list of things that for me did not age well:
1) - The I love you now that you’re more girly/gave up on your goth phase. Having read The Werewolf upstairs and seeing Morgaine as a goth but not described as a goth in later books I was curious if this would be a gradual shift but now, her friend takes her to get a make over because it’s time for a change and then she finds love. Very tired plot from the time the book originally published.
2) The 2000’s slut shaming. A secondary character is introduced as a dragon who uses sex to control their dragon powers and everything is very sex positive and progressive until the landlady finds up and slut shames her tenet from her position of authority as she kicks her out and that’s the last time we see the character. This is what really tanked the star rating for me.
Overall it was a fine book for the time but it doesn’t hold up at all and I in general did not find the main pairing appealing (side couples yes).
August 20, 2011
Originally Posted at my blog on Aug 4: http://www.twimom227.com/2011/08/revi...
Rating 3 Stars: Liked it, but I had some issues - recommend (B)
The primary focus of this book is on witch, Morgaine, and the building owner’s father-in-law, vampire Sly. After Morgaine has a makeover from Goth to pretty blonde, Sly realizes he is attracted to his long-time friend. The two are a little shy and reluctant to share their feelings (especially at first because of Morgaine’s cousin, Gwyneth, who has shown a little interest in Sly as well).
I have to say that once again, a story doesn’t have to “mean something” to be enjoyable. This is one of those stories. The character development wasn’t all that great, but I enjoyed Morgaine and Sly. Their “courtship” and mutual attraction didn’t really strike me as overly passionate (they did a lot of talking), so when they finally got it on, it seemed a bit over the top to be going at each other like animals. However, after their initial encounter, I enjoyed the relaxed and sweet development of their love for one another.
The side plot lines in this book were a bit much this go around. First, Sly’s vampire maker is stalking him - this vampire is “evil” according to our resident witches, and yes, he did kill Sly’s wife some 20+ years ago because HE HAD A CRUSH on Sly. *shakes head* I wish there had been a bit more development of Malvant’s character and involvement in the overall storyline.
Second, Sly needs to earn cash, but due to his “condition” (vampire) he is limited for job opportunities. Gwyneth comes up with the idea of building a still and creating moonshine. This is an example of the sometimes outrageous humor Ms. Chase uses throughout the story. In some cases it works, but in others it seems a bit too silly. In this case Gwyneth seemed a bit too crazy about moonshine, but if you just roll with the humor, you’ll find yourself laughing out loud at times.
The other neighbors all had a part in the story as well. It was fun to see where everyone had been and was headed. We learn more about Gwyneth and quiet Nathan, find out about Merry and Jason’s soon-to-be-born infant, hear from Chad the ghost, and even Roz and Konrad make an appearance now and then. But what I don’t understand is new super, Jules, and new tenant, Lily. They are just odd, and their “romance” is out of place. The characters add very little to the story and I just scratch my head and wonder why they were put into the story.
Overall, this story is a fun read. It’s quick and easy, light and fluffy - perfect for the beach. You have to just go with the flow and not take the story seriously.
Rating 3 Stars: Liked it, but I had some issues - recommend (B)
The primary focus of this book is on witch, Morgaine, and the building owner’s father-in-law, vampire Sly. After Morgaine has a makeover from Goth to pretty blonde, Sly realizes he is attracted to his long-time friend. The two are a little shy and reluctant to share their feelings (especially at first because of Morgaine’s cousin, Gwyneth, who has shown a little interest in Sly as well).
I have to say that once again, a story doesn’t have to “mean something” to be enjoyable. This is one of those stories. The character development wasn’t all that great, but I enjoyed Morgaine and Sly. Their “courtship” and mutual attraction didn’t really strike me as overly passionate (they did a lot of talking), so when they finally got it on, it seemed a bit over the top to be going at each other like animals. However, after their initial encounter, I enjoyed the relaxed and sweet development of their love for one another.
The side plot lines in this book were a bit much this go around. First, Sly’s vampire maker is stalking him - this vampire is “evil” according to our resident witches, and yes, he did kill Sly’s wife some 20+ years ago because HE HAD A CRUSH on Sly. *shakes head* I wish there had been a bit more development of Malvant’s character and involvement in the overall storyline.
Second, Sly needs to earn cash, but due to his “condition” (vampire) he is limited for job opportunities. Gwyneth comes up with the idea of building a still and creating moonshine. This is an example of the sometimes outrageous humor Ms. Chase uses throughout the story. In some cases it works, but in others it seems a bit too silly. In this case Gwyneth seemed a bit too crazy about moonshine, but if you just roll with the humor, you’ll find yourself laughing out loud at times.
The other neighbors all had a part in the story as well. It was fun to see where everyone had been and was headed. We learn more about Gwyneth and quiet Nathan, find out about Merry and Jason’s soon-to-be-born infant, hear from Chad the ghost, and even Roz and Konrad make an appearance now and then. But what I don’t understand is new super, Jules, and new tenant, Lily. They are just odd, and their “romance” is out of place. The characters add very little to the story and I just scratch my head and wonder why they were put into the story.
Overall, this story is a fun read. It’s quick and easy, light and fluffy - perfect for the beach. You have to just go with the flow and not take the story seriously.
August 7, 2011
Reviewed for www.BookChickCity.com
This is book three in Ashlyn Chase's series about an apartment block where nearly all the inhabitants coincidentally happen to be supernatural beings. It is a light-hearted and fun book. I've read books two and three and wouldn't say you need to read an previous books in the series to pick any of these up.
'The Vampire Next Door' is a love story about vampire Sly and witch Morgaine. Sly is a vampire who was turned twenty six years ago by a cruel vampire who also caused the death of his beloved wife. Morgaine is a witch with a lot of issues, namely she is afraid of the dark and agoraphobic. A nyctophobic witch is certainly an interesting match for a vampire.
As much as I liked Morgaine and Sly as characters, I felt like their relationship lacked chemistry. Their coming together felt flat, rather than full of anticipation and excitement. Because of this, I didn't quite buy into their love story. It also meant that the sex scenes to me lacked, well, sexiness and just resulted in me skimming over the pages in order to get to the next part of the story.
It was actually the secondary stories around some of the other apartment's inhabitants that were much more entertaining. Firstly we had Morgaine's somewhat ditzy cousin Gwyneth. From her funny Southern ways to her total outspokenness, she made me chuckle regularly, as well as the fact she shares her apartment with resident ghost Chad, who in itself a great, sardonic character. Then we had new fiery resident Lily and then apartment super Jules who also happens to be a merman. I hope to see more from the latter couple, hopefully even their own book?
My other problem with the book is that a lot of issues were sort of scooted over. For example Morgaine's agoraphobia and nyctophobia seemed to come and go in its severity. Sly was being stalked by his evil maker that started to lead to a climactic showdown and then was all over with comical abruptness. Then we have the Sly's refusal and sudden change of heart over Morgaine's future that happened with no explanation behind the reason for the change.
VERDICT:
Don't get me wrong, I didn't dislike this book or even Sly and Morgaine, it was fun and light, but it felt like it needed a bit more development around some of the key plot moments, and a bit more time spent building the chemistry between Sly and Morgaine, so that it swept me away, rather than left me gently shrugging. But it is worth reading for the great setting Ashlyn Chase has created and to get to know the apartment's other residents.
This is book three in Ashlyn Chase's series about an apartment block where nearly all the inhabitants coincidentally happen to be supernatural beings. It is a light-hearted and fun book. I've read books two and three and wouldn't say you need to read an previous books in the series to pick any of these up.
'The Vampire Next Door' is a love story about vampire Sly and witch Morgaine. Sly is a vampire who was turned twenty six years ago by a cruel vampire who also caused the death of his beloved wife. Morgaine is a witch with a lot of issues, namely she is afraid of the dark and agoraphobic. A nyctophobic witch is certainly an interesting match for a vampire.
As much as I liked Morgaine and Sly as characters, I felt like their relationship lacked chemistry. Their coming together felt flat, rather than full of anticipation and excitement. Because of this, I didn't quite buy into their love story. It also meant that the sex scenes to me lacked, well, sexiness and just resulted in me skimming over the pages in order to get to the next part of the story.
It was actually the secondary stories around some of the other apartment's inhabitants that were much more entertaining. Firstly we had Morgaine's somewhat ditzy cousin Gwyneth. From her funny Southern ways to her total outspokenness, she made me chuckle regularly, as well as the fact she shares her apartment with resident ghost Chad, who in itself a great, sardonic character. Then we had new fiery resident Lily and then apartment super Jules who also happens to be a merman. I hope to see more from the latter couple, hopefully even their own book?
My other problem with the book is that a lot of issues were sort of scooted over. For example Morgaine's agoraphobia and nyctophobia seemed to come and go in its severity. Sly was being stalked by his evil maker that started to lead to a climactic showdown and then was all over with comical abruptness. Then we have the Sly's refusal and sudden change of heart over Morgaine's future that happened with no explanation behind the reason for the change.
VERDICT:
Don't get me wrong, I didn't dislike this book or even Sly and Morgaine, it was fun and light, but it felt like it needed a bit more development around some of the key plot moments, and a bit more time spent building the chemistry between Sly and Morgaine, so that it swept me away, rather than left me gently shrugging. But it is worth reading for the great setting Ashlyn Chase has created and to get to know the apartment's other residents.
August 6, 2011
Originally posted at: http://longandshortreviews.blogspot.c...
An apartment building full of supernatural creatures is bound to be a riot. When one supernatural moves out it seems like another moves right in, and when they move into the “love shack” sparks are guaranteed to fly.
Morgaine seems to be an unlikely mate of a vampire with her agoraphobia (fear of public places or leaving safe places) and nyctophobia (fear of the dark). Therefore, when she fancies the owner of the building's vampire papa she is more than a bit confused. It could never work can it?
Morgaine seemed to be the glue that helps things together throughout the story. She definitely keeps her cousin Gwyneth in line, and even the other residents in the building seem to come to her with their problems. Sly was no exception to this, he could think of no one else to help him in his piling issues. She may have suffered a few phobias but she was definitely one of the strongest characters throughout the story. One thing I do regret is not getting to know more about her background story. I know she suffered years ago which caused her to not date for a long time; I would have just liked to have learned more about that incident.
Sly is everything but. There is nothing slick about a vampire. He is the kindest hearted and most genuine male in the building and story. I love that he refused to take handouts from others and is determined to figure out a way to do things himself. Especially with a daughter married to an athlete, he could have easily just let them take care of him. Moreover, he is somewhat of a tortured soul, with the tragic way he was forced to become a vampire and deal with the consequences for the rest of his life. Luckily, with Morgaine by his side he can find a little relief from his vampire vices as well as a little relief for his manly needs.
While I found the characters within this story entertaining, the plot was just a little on the dry side. I would like to have seen the plotline with Sly’s maker drawn out a little longer and a more climactic. It seemed to end a little too easily. The wine/whiskey making was the plot that really carried the story for me. I was just as excited to see a good mixture as well as the characters in the story.
The characters, whether they are main or supporting, really drive this story. With entertaining supernatural creatures around every corner this story is a real hoot, growl, spell and whatever else supernatural creatures do.
An apartment building full of supernatural creatures is bound to be a riot. When one supernatural moves out it seems like another moves right in, and when they move into the “love shack” sparks are guaranteed to fly.
Morgaine seems to be an unlikely mate of a vampire with her agoraphobia (fear of public places or leaving safe places) and nyctophobia (fear of the dark). Therefore, when she fancies the owner of the building's vampire papa she is more than a bit confused. It could never work can it?
Morgaine seemed to be the glue that helps things together throughout the story. She definitely keeps her cousin Gwyneth in line, and even the other residents in the building seem to come to her with their problems. Sly was no exception to this, he could think of no one else to help him in his piling issues. She may have suffered a few phobias but she was definitely one of the strongest characters throughout the story. One thing I do regret is not getting to know more about her background story. I know she suffered years ago which caused her to not date for a long time; I would have just liked to have learned more about that incident.
Sly is everything but. There is nothing slick about a vampire. He is the kindest hearted and most genuine male in the building and story. I love that he refused to take handouts from others and is determined to figure out a way to do things himself. Especially with a daughter married to an athlete, he could have easily just let them take care of him. Moreover, he is somewhat of a tortured soul, with the tragic way he was forced to become a vampire and deal with the consequences for the rest of his life. Luckily, with Morgaine by his side he can find a little relief from his vampire vices as well as a little relief for his manly needs.
While I found the characters within this story entertaining, the plot was just a little on the dry side. I would like to have seen the plotline with Sly’s maker drawn out a little longer and a more climactic. It seemed to end a little too easily. The wine/whiskey making was the plot that really carried the story for me. I was just as excited to see a good mixture as well as the characters in the story.
The characters, whether they are main or supporting, really drive this story. With entertaining supernatural creatures around every corner this story is a real hoot, growl, spell and whatever else supernatural creatures do.
August 31, 2011
There is a brownstone in Boston that seems to attract supernatural residents. Case in point, Sly Flores - a young vampire who,as the story opens, has just attempted to stop a man from attacking a woman. When Sly tries to bite the man's neck, however, his fang gets caught on the man's gold chain - problem is, it's not really gold, it's silver, and Sly loses his fang. He heads straight to the brownstone and asks Morgaine, a witch, to heal his fang. She does, which leads to spending time together and a hint of attraction between them.
Sly has only been a vampire for 26 years, and suddenly his maker comes looking for him. He's bound and determined to make Sly his lover. Sly is horrified - his maker is responsible for the death of his wife during childbirth. Morgaine and her witchy cousin, Gwyneth, decide to help Sly get rid of his maker and perhaps help Sly with another problem he's having as well.
My thoughts:
I have enjoyed the other books in this light, fun series, but I had a hard time with The Vampire Next Door. Morgaine and Sly's relationship went from cold to hot in a matter of moments; they were both getting advice about how to not be so shy around each other and then were suddenly in bed together, and not shy at all about it! I didn't see any progression into their romantic relationship and pretty much skimmed the sexy bits. I liked them when they were doing "plot" things like trying to outmaneuver Sly's maker or attempting to find a "cure" for Sly's vampirism.
The other residents of the house were their usual quirky characters. We do get a LOT of Morgaine's cousin Gwyneth in this book, and I have to be honest - she was very annoying. I hate it when Southerners are portrayed as stupid, and Gwyneth is stereotypically written as a dumb Southern girl who makes/drinks moonshine and says "y'all" every three words. If you've read the other books in the series, you'll be happy to see Merry and Jason in this book, they have some good things going on, and Roz and Konrad make an appearance too. We also meet two new tenants who have secrets they're hiding.
There were a few surprising "matches" in The Vampire Next Door, so I'm curious about who's going to move into the "Love Shack" (formerly Sly's apartment) in the next book.
The Vampire Next Door is a humorous and sexy paranormal read; unfortunately I was too distracted by my annoyance with Gwyneth's character. It can be read as a stand-alone, although the characters are more interesting if you know their background stories.
Sly has only been a vampire for 26 years, and suddenly his maker comes looking for him. He's bound and determined to make Sly his lover. Sly is horrified - his maker is responsible for the death of his wife during childbirth. Morgaine and her witchy cousin, Gwyneth, decide to help Sly get rid of his maker and perhaps help Sly with another problem he's having as well.
My thoughts:
I have enjoyed the other books in this light, fun series, but I had a hard time with The Vampire Next Door. Morgaine and Sly's relationship went from cold to hot in a matter of moments; they were both getting advice about how to not be so shy around each other and then were suddenly in bed together, and not shy at all about it! I didn't see any progression into their romantic relationship and pretty much skimmed the sexy bits. I liked them when they were doing "plot" things like trying to outmaneuver Sly's maker or attempting to find a "cure" for Sly's vampirism.
The other residents of the house were their usual quirky characters. We do get a LOT of Morgaine's cousin Gwyneth in this book, and I have to be honest - she was very annoying. I hate it when Southerners are portrayed as stupid, and Gwyneth is stereotypically written as a dumb Southern girl who makes/drinks moonshine and says "y'all" every three words. If you've read the other books in the series, you'll be happy to see Merry and Jason in this book, they have some good things going on, and Roz and Konrad make an appearance too. We also meet two new tenants who have secrets they're hiding.
There were a few surprising "matches" in The Vampire Next Door, so I'm curious about who's going to move into the "Love Shack" (formerly Sly's apartment) in the next book.
The Vampire Next Door is a humorous and sexy paranormal read; unfortunately I was too distracted by my annoyance with Gwyneth's character. It can be read as a stand-alone, although the characters are more interesting if you know their background stories.
July 31, 2011
The Vampire Next Door by Ashlyn Chase
Paranormal Romance –August 1st, 2011
4 stars
Funny and bright, this cheerful paranormal romance is an amusing read. This is part of a series about supernatural beings that inhabit the same building. This book has anentertaining cast that will keep readers clamoring for more.
Morgaine is a witch with a lot of phobias. Among them, she dislikes to leave her apartment. In the prior books, Morgaine hid her light under her goth persona. Now that she has had a makeover, she is being noticed and taking a fresh look on life.
When the vampire Sly breaks his fang, he goes to Morgaine to heal him but instead of the goth witch he expects, he find a disturbingly attractive blond. Sly hasn’t thought of a woman since his wife past away but there is something about the new Morgaine that captures his attention. However, Morgaine’s extroverted cousin has her eye on Sly and is set on seducing him. To add to the confusion, ly seeks to find a cure for his vampirism and asks for Morgaine’s aid but Sly’s evil maker wants him back…
Added to this are the meddling if good-hearted tenants of the building who can’t help play matchmaker, but will this romance end up in a heartbreak?
This was a charming and sweet romance. It was heart warming to read Morgaine’s courage as she fights her phobias to help Sly. Both Sly and Morgaine are bit shy, socially awkward, and lonely. They like each other but are afraid to make the first move and don’t want to lose a good friendship. But when they do get together, it is very steamy. Thanks goodness for the meddling matchmakers in the story who add humor and keeps pushing them together! I particularly liked the mischievous ghost Chad. I hope he will have his own story?! This book returns to prior characters and I liked revisiting Merry but it is not necessary to have read the prior books.
Filled with humor, tender romance, and loveable cast of supernatural characters, The Vampire Next Door is definitely my favorite in the author’s series and now I can’t wait for more.
Reviewed by Steph form the Bookaholics Romance Book Club
Paranormal Romance –August 1st, 2011
4 stars
Funny and bright, this cheerful paranormal romance is an amusing read. This is part of a series about supernatural beings that inhabit the same building. This book has anentertaining cast that will keep readers clamoring for more.
Morgaine is a witch with a lot of phobias. Among them, she dislikes to leave her apartment. In the prior books, Morgaine hid her light under her goth persona. Now that she has had a makeover, she is being noticed and taking a fresh look on life.
When the vampire Sly breaks his fang, he goes to Morgaine to heal him but instead of the goth witch he expects, he find a disturbingly attractive blond. Sly hasn’t thought of a woman since his wife past away but there is something about the new Morgaine that captures his attention. However, Morgaine’s extroverted cousin has her eye on Sly and is set on seducing him. To add to the confusion, ly seeks to find a cure for his vampirism and asks for Morgaine’s aid but Sly’s evil maker wants him back…
Added to this are the meddling if good-hearted tenants of the building who can’t help play matchmaker, but will this romance end up in a heartbreak?
This was a charming and sweet romance. It was heart warming to read Morgaine’s courage as she fights her phobias to help Sly. Both Sly and Morgaine are bit shy, socially awkward, and lonely. They like each other but are afraid to make the first move and don’t want to lose a good friendship. But when they do get together, it is very steamy. Thanks goodness for the meddling matchmakers in the story who add humor and keeps pushing them together! I particularly liked the mischievous ghost Chad. I hope he will have his own story?! This book returns to prior characters and I liked revisiting Merry but it is not necessary to have read the prior books.
Filled with humor, tender romance, and loveable cast of supernatural characters, The Vampire Next Door is definitely my favorite in the author’s series and now I can’t wait for more.
Reviewed by Steph form the Bookaholics Romance Book Club
August 1, 2011
The Vampire Next Door is the third book in the Strange Neighbors series by Ashlyn Chase and a Paranormal Romance from SourceBooks Casablanca.
Book Blurb:
How does a vigilante vampire...
Undead Sly just hasn’t been the same since he lost the love of his life many years ago. He devotes his vampiric powers to maintaining a nice safe neighborhood, until a chipped fang undermines his confidence - and leads him to a beautiful witch who awakens Sly’s long-forgotten desires.
Hook up with a witch who’s afraid of the dark...
The charming Morgaine has spells to cure everyone’s problems but her own. Her intense phobias keep her in her shell, until she gets to know tall, dark, and brooding Sly. Just when these two unlikely lovers think they might find a cure for both of them, their deepest fears are realized, and suddenly they see their last hope for a ‘normal’ life slipping away...
My thoughts:
Sly is a vampire holding on to the past; the memories of his dead wife, the life he once lived. Now he resides in the basement of the apartment complex where his daughter lives and styles himself as a sort of neighborhood vigilante.
When Sly breaks up what he sees as a domestic dispute, he inadvertently chips a tooth - and it won’t heal. Sly seeks help from the resident witch Morgaine.
Morgaine is phobic - she is scared of the dark and suffers from panic attacks. She would rather stay home in her safe apartment and makes her living as a phone sex operator.
Sly and Morgaine are attracted to one another - but neither are sure if they can overcome what is standing in their way and make it as a couple.
But they are willing to give it a try.
The Vampire Next Door is a cute read and if you’ve read the first two installments in the series, this is a must read.
I give The Vampire Next Door 2 out of 5 stars.
Product Details
Mass Market Paperback: 384 pages
Publisher: Sourcebooks Casablanca (8-1-11)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1402236638
ISBN-13: 978-1402236631
Book Blurb:
How does a vigilante vampire...
Undead Sly just hasn’t been the same since he lost the love of his life many years ago. He devotes his vampiric powers to maintaining a nice safe neighborhood, until a chipped fang undermines his confidence - and leads him to a beautiful witch who awakens Sly’s long-forgotten desires.
Hook up with a witch who’s afraid of the dark...
The charming Morgaine has spells to cure everyone’s problems but her own. Her intense phobias keep her in her shell, until she gets to know tall, dark, and brooding Sly. Just when these two unlikely lovers think they might find a cure for both of them, their deepest fears are realized, and suddenly they see their last hope for a ‘normal’ life slipping away...
My thoughts:
Sly is a vampire holding on to the past; the memories of his dead wife, the life he once lived. Now he resides in the basement of the apartment complex where his daughter lives and styles himself as a sort of neighborhood vigilante.
When Sly breaks up what he sees as a domestic dispute, he inadvertently chips a tooth - and it won’t heal. Sly seeks help from the resident witch Morgaine.
Morgaine is phobic - she is scared of the dark and suffers from panic attacks. She would rather stay home in her safe apartment and makes her living as a phone sex operator.
Sly and Morgaine are attracted to one another - but neither are sure if they can overcome what is standing in their way and make it as a couple.
But they are willing to give it a try.
The Vampire Next Door is a cute read and if you’ve read the first two installments in the series, this is a must read.
I give The Vampire Next Door 2 out of 5 stars.
Product Details
Mass Market Paperback: 384 pages
Publisher: Sourcebooks Casablanca (8-1-11)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1402236638
ISBN-13: 978-1402236631
August 18, 2011
The Vampire Next Door by Ashlyn Chase is another installment about otherworldly characters living in the same apartment building. This time the story circles around Morgaine, a witch who is not only afraid of the dark but has not left her apartment due to a case of agoraphobia (the fear of open or public places). This condition which can be debilitating. She starts getting the attention of Sly, a vampire who also lives in her building who comes to her to help heal a broken fang. I should say that the apartment building is the home to all sorts of characters. There is the resident ghost, another witch, shapeshifters, a merman, and a dragon. Yes, a very eclectic mix of people, or er supernatural beings. An evil vampire and Sly's maker, Malvant, is bound and determined to gain control over Sly, so with Morgaine's help they try to find a way to stay just one step ahead of the nasty vampire and find a potion if you will that would enable Sly to be able to go out in the daylight. There is romance aplenty, steamy sex scenes, and crazy antics. Enough wit and humor to go around. I loved how all the zany characters came together in the end to round out the story. The author sure has a way with words and characterizations to keep the story from getting boring. I enjoyed this book. A great read for anyone who is a fan of Ashlyn Chase and the paranormal.
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