Nice Girls Don't Have Fangs

Okay, now this was just pure fun! If more of this same unabashed, light-hearted and sarcastic humor is what I can expect from Molly Harper, sign me up. Not only did I plow through this audio book, I did it snickering the entire way through. Every little joke fit in perfectly. Nothing felt forced. Oh, this is the stuff that Urban Fantasy is made of.

Massive love goes to Jane Jameson for being the exact kind of heroine that I adore. She's lovable, kind of nerdy, has a massive passion for libraries, and a real problem with falling straight into trouble. I couldn't get over how easy she was to follow. I loved the fact that Jane wasn't perfect. Whenever characters automatically take to whatever paranormal fate befalls them, I always shake my show more head in disbelief. Who just becomes a vampire, nods, and thinks "Okay, this is easy!" to themselves? I saw myself in Jane. A confused, stubborn, and all around adorably awkward character. Perfection in my eyes.

Oh, and the jokes! The story alone quickly sucked me in. The idea of paranormal creatures being an acknowledged part of society was really cool, and I liked how easy it was to sink into. That being said, the little jokes here and there stole the show. If you put a character named Dick Cheney in your book, and then make the appropriate jokes to match? Well, you have my heart. Hook, line and sinker.

While I wouldn't say this was my perfect read, it was definitely up there! I absolutely recommend the audio book version if you have the time. The narrator was fabulous, expertly bringing every aspect of the tongue-in-cheek humor to life. I am not at all ashamed to say I snorted out loud a few times. This book was pure fun! I can't wait for more. show less

The very top of the first page of the first chapter I found a quote I wanted to use. I figured 'Haven't done it before, but hell why not? This deserves it!' and marked (with a post-it tab) it and moved on to read more. Within ten pages I found another two quotes. Before I hit chapter 5 I had more neon post-it tabs sticking out of my book then a Las Vegas casino sign has lights. That's when I gave up keeping track and just kept reading. Jane is hilarious. I know she comments that she wasn't so special in her B.D. (before death) life, but she's exactly the type of girl I'd love to hang with. All the time.

A quick run down of her admirable attributes: she loves books, she quotes obscure books, she knows obscure trivia, she uses sarcasm like show more the genius tool that it is, not afraid of hitting a guy when irritated, she loves books, she organizes books where-ever she goes compulsively...need I go on? Oh wait--she collects obscure BBC DVD's...honestly I think I found my fictional character soul mate!

I'll stop fangirling over Jane a moment to discuss the rest of the book. Its told first person POV from Jane's perspective (all those juicy, lovely, sarcastic thoughts). Her mom would probably be considered a psychotic sociopath if they lived in the North (but as its the South, in a town rooted in 'antebellum' traditions, she's just being 'motherly'), her dad is all kinds of academic awesome, less said about her sister the better, her best friend is really really weird, but in a good way. I want to know what Zeb is short for**. Her sire and love interest, Gabriel, is pretty smoking--s'long as you ignore his territorial stance where Jane is concerned.

I have to admit out of all the reasons why I thought Jane was being targeted the actual reason never even popped into my head. Though the actual person it turns out to be did a couple times (but I'm naturally disposed to disliking that sort of person). I like that her Aunt Jettie (her recently deceased Aunt Jettie) is a pistol--she hasn't let a little case of death get in the way of her merrymaking (at the expense of anybody and everybody equally).

It was a little long and drawn out in some parts, but figuring this is the first novel and groundwork had to be set (for the reader and for Jane in story) its excusable. And its damn hilarious the entire time anyhow. The little quotes from the 'The Guide for the Newly Undead' are just priceless. I'm hoping more time is spent at that quaint bookshop--I think the owner will be a crack up too. Some of the worldbuilding will be very familiar--especially if you read a whole lot of vampire novel series--but what lacks there is made up for Harper's wit and banter, plus none of it is dwelled on for any long length of time.

The next book in Jane's adventures are due out at the end of August--Nice Girls Don't Date Dead Men is the title. If I read amazon correctly a third book is due out early January 2010 titled Nice Girls Don't Live Forever, but like anything else in this world publication dates and names can change.

**Update: Molly emailed me to let me know what Zeb is short for:
"...Zeb is a family name. It's my sister's middle name. She was named for my great-grandma, Zeb, who was named for her great-uncle, Zebulon."

I guess that means its not short for Zedicus Zul Zorander (I am so mixing up book series...) show less

This is quirky and adorable. Librarian Jane was minding her own business when an accident left her dying and an altruistic vampire bit her and changed her into one of the undead rather than allow her to perish. Molly Harper’s voice is hilarious, as is this cast of characters, from Jane’s kindergarten teacher friend Zev, to her ghost of a great aunt, to Gabriel, the vampire sire who has the hots for her and shows up at just the right times.

I loved Jane’s missteps as she struggles to navigate vampire life, as well as the hilarious notes of life in the South. The mystery of who could be out to get Jane and why adds a note of humor and suspense as Jane ticks through the potential enemies she might have made since becoming one of the show more undead. Although, I must say, the heating romance with Gabriel quickly became my very favorite part. This was a quirky and oh so fun book to read.

Please excuse typos/name misspellings. Entered on screen reader. show less

This was free, sent to me in a care package from a friend in Australia. It took me several months to even pick it up, I mean...the title. :/ But, I was pleasantly surprised. The author is a bit funny and snarky in a way that I quite enjoyed.

So, why only 3 stars? The plot was a bit predicable, for starters. Also, I have a little pet loathing of authors who repeat themselves on plot points they find important in the hopes that they can get me, the reader (who is clearly too stupid to pick up on it the first time(s) to grasp this terribly important information...Ms. Harper does this. Also, the author has a little trouble being consistent in her details. For example, the boss who fires her in the first chapter is replacing her with the show more step-daughter, but later she refers to her as the lady's niece. There were other times throughout the series (yep, I read on) that this happens, where she refers back, but doesn't get the details quite right. I find that as well as editing errors jarring when I'm in a story.

All in all, I liked it well enough to read on. I find the characters endearing and the snark quite fun. show less

I had to read this book because the main character (Jane) is a librarian and I read enthusiastic reviews of the book elsewhere. Jane was a public librarian before losing her job and becoming a vampire. She is an independent, smart, and strong character but also asks for advice or help when needed. Throughout the book she makes funny or sarcastic references to pop culture or her favorite books/movies. The brilliant southern characters interact in witty ways and the mystery within the story was good but not complicated. The world that Jane and the other characters inhabit is similar to Charlaine Harris's Sookie Stackhouse series.

The story also reminded me of old Moonlighting (1980s television show) episodes because of the verbal sparring, show more frequent jokes, and sexual tension between Jane and her vampire sire, Gabriel.

The paranormal romance could have been a little better done but since this is a series it might be further explored in later sequels. Don't be put off by the vampire or paranormal aspects to the story. Overall this is a light romantic comedy that was a lot of fun to read. I am eagerly awaiting the sequel. show less

Well-written and well-paced, but after reading ten or eleven novels featuring wise-cracking heroines, I'm reaching saturation point. The small-town location of the story and the strategically balanced cast of characters seem place-holders for future developments in a long-running series.

One Jane Jameson book is enough for me. I'll leave her, Gabriel, Dick, Aunt Jennie and all the other characters to go their own ways.

An enjoyable but forgettable read.

This looked like a fun read and I was in the mood for something funny. This book met all my expectations it is a very funny, light, and clever read. Incredibly entertaining. It is the first book in the Jane Jameson trilogy. I listened to this on audio book; the audio book was very well done and probably contributed to me liking the book so much.

Jane Jameson is a children's librarian...at least she is until her evil boss lays her off because of budget cuts. After spending the night after her lay-off drowning her sorrows in mud-slides, her day just gets worse. She gets shot walking home by a drunk man who drives by in a truck and shoots her thinking she is a deer. Well this is the beginning of her undead life, as sexy Gabriel (a man she show more meet at the bar that night) saves her life...kinda...by turning her into a vampire. Now Jane must find a job, figure out how to navigate her new vampire lifestyle, and defend herself against murder charges.

This book was a hoot. Jane is just your normal girl, turned vampire. She is snarky and funny, and is surrounded by polite southern-woman doing their best to insult sweetly. This book drops the mystery surrounding vampires and represents them as the normal people they probably would be if your average everyday Joe got turned. For example, when Jane is awake at 2am trying to figure out what to do with her night she decides to go where any proper southern girl would go at 2am....Walmart...and finds it to be a secret hang-out of the undead. When her new found friend Andrea offers to take her to a vampire bar...Jane is braced for the worst but finds herself in a sports bar not unlike the ones she went to when she was a bit more alive.

The chemistry between Jane and her sire, Gabriel, is off and on but more realistic because of that. There are a lot of great characters in this book besides Jane, and Gabriel is one of them. Gabriel is kind of your brooding mysterious type, but he is also a normal guy. He occasionally does something stupid or finds himself at a loss for words, making him a more real vampire than most you read about. Then there is the ghost of Jane's Aunt Jettie who is always there to add some humor to the situation (as if Jane needed help with that).

The book does have a good mystery woven into the plot. Jane is accused of murder and becomes the victim of increasingly brutal attacks on her person. She needs to figure out what is going on else the Council order a decapitation. The plot moves as a quick pace and never gets boring. This book doesn't have a lot of action and is more a mix of paranormal, mystery, humor, chick lit, and romance.

Overall a fresh take on vampire society, very engaging and lots of fun. I really enjoyed this book, it was a nice departure from what I normally read and had me laughing out loud a number of times. I can't wait to listen to the next book "Nice Girls Don't Date Dead Men". show less