Archive for the ‘Mary Janice Davidson’ Category

Undead and Unemployed
Ugh. I’m awake! QUIT POKING ME! Geez, I’m up, I’m up. What happened? Why is the house more of mess than it was when you left last time?! Oh, never mind. I remember now. The BDB came over and we may have played some drinking games. Ugh, my head is killing me. No one told me being undead means that I still get drunk. I swear. A little information sharing is what needs to happen. You know like guide book. “Welcome to death. This is how it works.” Or something like that. Man, can you pass me the Tylenol? Sorry, I am out of blood, I guess people don’t take byob to heart anymore.

Anyways let’s just talk about books so I can forget why I have a lampshade on my head and there are chicken feathers all over the place.

We were talking about Mary Janice Davidson’s Undead series and are going to continue with the misadventures of Queen Betsy in book two “Undead and Unemployed”.

A few months have passed since Betsy took the throne and she is still struggling with the idea of it all. To make things worse her home has termites, and she has no job. In an effort to make herself feel better she goes to the Alter of Goodness aka the Shoe Department in the Macy’s at the Mall of America. She outwits the shoe clerk with her knowledge of designer shoes and the manager offers her job, so of course she takes it – can you say employee discount?

Betsy gets the problem of a job solved only to learn there is someone out there killing the vampires. As she is the queen she has to come up with a plan to stop this. Using the best plan she can think of (which constantly makes me wonder if she is too stupid to live) she offers herself up as bait. Well guess what? A big blond vampire with her not so well hidden friends is not enough to entice the killer to jump out of a dumpster. But a big dumb blond that sends her friends away while she goes to get in her car is. She meets the “Blade Warriors” and promptly makes fun of their name. You know you would too.

Now she has a pack of rabid teenagers with a goofy name and crossbows hunting her vampires, and a boss that insists she has to sell the shoes to people even if she doesn’t think they deserve them. I love the internal dialogue that Besty has, she makes me laugh so hard. Like this when she walks up to a customer in the store and scares the foxtrot out of her:

“Nice work Betsy, you retard. You’ve gone from refusing to sell to your customers to scaring the sh*t out of them. Stupid undead quiet feet.”

Oh how I laughed, mostly because I would have this same conversation myself. There are also her reactions to Sinclair:

“Not to mention the devil’s mouth. The man could kiss, and that was a fact. It was one of the more infuriating things about him. He’d never asked to kiss me. Not once. Just took what he liked. I hated him, and I hated myself for wanting him.”

Alpha vampire’s are so hot. Specially Sinclair. *sigh* I do love me some Alpha Vamps. Speaking of Alpha vamps I am going to give Wrath a call and see if they could send some doggen over here to help me with this mess! Maryse will be back soon……I can feel it, and I really don’t want to get steaked over this crap. Ugh, my hangover is still kicking my head in and now I have a mountain of stuff to clean. I have no idea why the pool is purple or what happened to the hedges. My grandmaker almost caught me last time I think. For real this time I am going to clean up. Till next time ya’ll!

Undead and Unwed
Hey, everyone! Welcome back. I see some of us brought shifters again. If they are not housebroken they have to stay outside, seriously. One of them peed on the rug, and another attempted to eat something from the trash and got sick in the tub. Come on guys, I already had to glue her fave lamp back together with Gorilla Glue, then get Oops to clean up all the glue that dripped off, and now I’m looking for dye for the carpet, because, did you know Oops takes the color out of fabric? I didn’t know this. Plus MadHatter put SOMETHING in the toilet. I have no idea what and I am scared to ask what it was, but I tell you finding the blankets in the closet to absorb up the mess was nightmare. They were in plastic bags and everything. I still haven’t found the missing chewing gum yet.

We all need to agree to be a little more careful while we are here. I’m sure she won’t mind ya’ll being here, but let’s try to keep it clean, please?

So as I told you last week we were going to talk about the Queen today. Mary Janice Davidson writes a hysterical series starting with Undead and Unwed.

“The day I died started out bad and got worse in a hurry.”

This is the first line of the book and I was hooked. Elizabeth “Betsy” Taylor is a young woman who tried to be a model but was bored with it, and then turned professional temp. She ended up being a secretary but got fired from that on the day she died. Thus begins the hilarity that is Betsy. How would you react if you woke up in a funeral home, in a casket wearing cheap shoes? Yep she freaked out. Then refused to admit she might be dead. Dead people don’t walk around and lisp. OK maybe they do. The most amazing part of this book for me was everyone’s acceptance of her being a vampire. Her mom just shrugs and makes her dinner, and her best friend helps her steal her shoes back from the evil step mother.

I have to say though when Betsy is being “Welcomed” into the local vampire scene her mouth was priceless. All of her snarky reactions were wonderful including when she met the most powerful vampire in the city. His name is Norstro and she calls him “Nostril” displaying no fear of the situation at hand as she strides into the cemetery and mocks Norstro and pretty much tells him he can keep his creepy loser club. Upon her exit from the weirdness of the Undead she runs into a wonderfully hot man-vamp. Sinclair (all who like hot men please *sigh* here) who gives her a panty melting kiss. She then throws him through a headstone and runs away.

Turns out Sinclair and his maker Tina are out to help her overthrow the tyrant Nostro and help her claim her rebirth right of Queen. Wait, Queen of the Vampires? No, thanks. Betsy wants no part of this but ends up roped into it, and you have to see what they bribe her with….LOL is all I can say.

*crosses legs and sits Indian style on the coffee table* Sinclair! Oh he is swoon worthy and Betsy’s new friend Marc (guy who she saved from jumping to his death and then made a small snack out of who then moved in with her) likes him too. Jess (Betsy’s BFF) loves him and even her Mother thinks he is off the chain. The only one who seems to dislike him is Betsy but even she can’t help but notice how wonderful he is. I have to say the part where he makes a deal with her that one day she will need his help and he will give it, provided she puts something of his in her mouth was totally hot even if it was blackmail. Wait till you see what she puts in her mouth! Oh Cheese and Crackers it was great. Let’s just say I had an over the top reaction to it! *wink, wink*

Wait, was that another crash? Please, please, please tell me the person with the monkey didn’t let him in the wine cellar! Oh I am so going to be dead again! Awww man, look at this place! I am going to have to hire professional cleaners for this mess! I already spent all my spending money on “Choco-Blood” a new mix of Chocolate and Blood (Genius right?!) how am I ever going to get this mess cleaned up? Aww man, I don’t know if Grand-maker is coming by today *looks nervous* but maybe I can keep her outside this time. Next time I will tell you more about our fair Queen Betsy in the next installment of the series called Undead and Unemployed. Bye guys, I need to clean up.

• "Love’s Prisoner" in the Secrets: The Best in Women’s Sensual Fiction, Vol. 6 Anthology
• "Jared’s Wolf" in the Secrets: The Best in Women’s Sensual Fiction, Vol. 8 Anthology
• Derik’s Bane (Berkley Sensation)
• "Santa Claws" in the Naughty or Nice Anthology (This story is also available in the anthology Dead and Loving It)
• Dead and Loving It (Berkley Sensation) (as per the author’s website: The Wyndham Werewolves meet Betsy’s clan in this 4-novella anthology)
• Dead Over Heels (as per the author’s website: Now she returns to that sensual and irresistible after-dark realm of werewolves, vampires and mermaids in three more original novellas—including an all-new Betsy Taylor novella.)

However, after perusing the author’s website, I was enlightened to some reading order details. Considering her books overlap (her werewolf series, vampire series, and mermaid series), this is her recommendation when reading her stories (including her novellas that are included in certain anthologies):

To keep continuity you should read the books in the following order:

• Secrets: The Best in Women’s Sensual Fiction, Vol. 6: Love’s Prisoner
• Secrets: The Best in Women’s Sensual Fiction, Vol. 8: Jared’s Wolf
• Undead and Unwed (Queen Betsy, Book 1)
• Cravings: Dead Girls Don’t Dance
• Undead and Unemployed (Queen Betsy, Book 2)
• Bite: Biting in Plain Sight
• Derik’s Bane (Berkley Sensation)
• Undead and Unappreciated (Queen Betsy, Book 3) (Berkley Sensation)
• Undead and Unreturnable (Queen Betsy, Book 4) (Berkley Sensation)
• Dead and Loving It (Berkley Sensation)
• Undead and Unpopular (Queen Betsy, Book 5)
• Over the Moon: Driftwood
• Undead and Uneasy (Undead/Queen Betsy)
• Dead Over Heels
• Undead and Unworthy
• Undead and Unwelcome (Queen Betsy, Book 8 )

The 2nd and 3rd installments of this series have been my favorite so far, and I believe it is due to the romantic tension between Betsy and Eric. Despite being furiously angry at Eric for “tricking” her into becoming his “wife” (as per vampire law), and ruling by her side as king to her queen, she can’t deny her attraction to him. While she does her best to snub him, and combat his every move, she finds herself unable to resist and ends up tangled with him in the most intimate situations.

In book two of the series, Betsy, despite being “comfortably set” in her living arrangement, decides to become employed. She winds up with her dream job working in the shoe department for Macy’s. While all seems to be going well enough for her, vampires under her rule are being murdered, and being queen, she must help find who is responsible.

During a late night undercover plan, Betsy is used as bait to attract the potential vampire murderers. After an unsuccessful night, her vampire team leaves, and she finds herself alone at her car, being shot at by a group of teenagers that have named themselves the “Blade Warriors”. They claim to be doing God’s work and after further investigation, Betsy’s team discovers that they have been enlisted by a priest, who receives anonymous funding and instructions on which vampire to kill next. Who could be funding them? I’m not telling, but it’s worth the read as you will chuckle all the way to the end!

Here are some moments that I found hilarious:

Witty internal dialog when Betsy comes home to find her best human friend Jessica, sick with the flu:

I noticed that she hadn’t had time to turn on the bathroom light in her headlong gallop, and had initially missed the toilet. Oh well, the wall needed re-painting anyway.

This was a laugh out loud moment even as I re-read now. Betsy is at work (Macy’s shoe department, helping a customer), when Eric Sinclair shows up to give her a hard time about her decision to get a job. As she asks her customer if there is anything else she can help her with, she hears his deep voice behind her:

“I have a question.”

All the hair on my arms stood straight up and I nearly shuddered. I knew that voice. Eric Sinclair, bad-ass vampire and all-around sneak. And my consort, God help me. How’s this for ludicrous: most of the vampires think I’m their queen, and that Eric’s their king. My king.

I straightened up and stared off in the distance, cocking my head attentively. “Yes Satan?” I turned slowly, and faked a big smile for Sinclair. “Oops! Sorry, Sinclair. I got you mixed up with someone else.”

Another amusing moment when Betsy struggles internally with her feeling towards Eric:

“Seriously. I don’t want him, I never wanted him.”

Okay, that last one was  a lie. I mean, I wanted wanted him, you know, like you want a juicy steak, but I didn’t want to be married to him, not without him at least asking. Which he never did. Not once. Was that so much to ask? A marriage proposal? I didn’t think so. Not that anybody asked my opinion. Oh, God forbid, anybody should ask my opinion!

In this novel, the friendships between the diversified characters continue to grow, and we are introduced to some new characters that will be integral to future works.

The tone of this series is similar to a weekly sitcom, and Betsy’s clever dialog is of a similar style to that of the mother in the “Gilmore Girls”. Witty, somewhat “snarky”, a touch of drama, a bit of romance (and tension), lots of laughs, and very easy going all around.

I am absolutely LOVING this series. I wasn’t certain I was in the mood for a silly fun female vampire series, but it is suiting me nicely! We’ve got laugh out loud moments, a nice romantic conflict, a sexy strong Vampire king, and some danger that never gets too intense.

This particular book looks into the life of the ”newly” made Vampire “Betsy” (real name Elizabeth Taylor), who doesn’t think her “undead” status should change her life from how she used to live it.

Betsy, a slightly underachieving “girly girl” fashionista, was attacked and bitten by multiple “somethings” and after a trip to the hospital, was released. Shortly thereafter, she was hit by a car, and killed. Shortly thereafter that, she rises from her coffin, at the mortuary, before her funeral, and decides to visit her family and friends, to let them know that she is not really dead (in fact, she has just discovered she is a vampire, but all is well, let’s get back to living!).

Her mom and best friend are thrilled and accept her for what she is, her father and his conniving wife are appalled, and request that she “stay dead” since this is an abomination.

Head strong, and slightly air-headed (despite being extremely witty), she shrugs off the reactions of her entourage, and continues on with her life (Why not? She can go out in sunlight, religious artifacts do not affect her, and in fact, she is not deliriously blood thirsty). She becomes annoyed (yes, that’s pretty much her reaction, she is rarely fazed but much) when she is kidnapped by vampires, and explained the “rules” of the undead (secret underworld, feedings, etc.. etc..). She doesn’t buy it, and doesn’t need it. The vampire society are shocked when they discover that she is not a “typical” vampire, and astounded by her disinterest (and bold refusal) in joining them.

One gorgeous male vampire (Eric Sinclair) is intrigued (there is *something* very special about her vampirism), and he pursues her aggressively. While she cannot deny her attraction to him, being the independent stubborn girl she is, she rebuffs his every advance.

While, on occasion,  I do find her confrontational nature with Eric to be somewhat irritating, and mean-spirited, (hey I like Eric, I can’t help it), it is fun to have a bit of romantic tension that they do not so easily yield to.

Here is a funny situation where her new Vampire “team” tries to bribe her to help them against the evil Vampire “Nostro”, with designer shoes. Eric says:

“I saw your shoe collection when we were at the house the other night, and had my ladyfriends do some shopping while we slept. Mitzi sends her regards.”

I made a mental note to check the rest of the shoes for scorpions. “These are so, so pretty! Amazing!”

“What a pity you can’t keep them.” Sinclair sighed theatrically and motioned to Dennis, who started putting the lids back on the boxes.

I nearly wept. “What? Why?”

“Well…you’re so adamant about not helping us. Not being a kingmaker, as you put it. Very wise and practical, but of course useless for our purposes. Thus, Plan B must be put into effect. Perhaps Nostro will accept these as a token of peace.”

Nostro? Nostro putting his nasty clammy finger over the buttery soft suede, the delicate embroidery? Giving them to Shanara? Using them for Fiends to play fetch? Never, never never!

“Don’t touch! Bad vampire!” I snapped and Dennis froze in mid-reach. “I’ll help you. And I get to keep the shoes.”

“Done and done,” Sinclair said, his lips twitching as he tried not to smirk. I’m sure he thought I was vain and weak-willed and a complete idiot. Who cared? I was a vain weak-willed idiot with the season’s coolest shoes.

The whole book is witty like this! So many scenes that had me giggling. I loved it, but I loved the next two books in the series, even more. Ms. Davidson was on a writing roll, the further into the series she got!

More reviews to come. I’m off to read the 4th in this series (I’m completing one a day, as they keep me interested enough to read them right through).

This looks like it’s gonna be a fun and easy read! I have started collecting this series, and will be happy to post about it soon.

• Undead and Unwed (Queen Betsy, Book 1)
• Undead and Unemployed (Queen Betsy, Book 2)
• Undead and Unappreciated (Queen Betsy, Book 3)
• Undead and Unreturnable (Queen Betsy, Book 4)
• Undead and Unpopular (Queen Betsy, Book 5)
• Undead and Uneasy
• Undead and Unworthy (Queen Betsy, Book 7)
• Undead and Unwelcome (Queen Betsy, Book 8 ) (will be released on June 2, 2009)

However, after perusing the author’s website, I was enlightened to some reading order details. Considering her books overlap (her werewolf series, vampire series, and mermaid series), this is her recommendation when reading her stories (including her novellas that are included in certain anthologies):

To keep continuity you should read the books in the following order:

• Secrets: The Best in Women’s Sensual Fiction, Vol. 6: Love’s Prisoner
• Secrets: The Best in Women’s Sensual Fiction, Vol. 8: Jared’s Wolf
• Undead and Unwed (Queen Betsy, Book 1)
• Cravings: Dead Girls Don’t Dance
• Undead and Unemployed (Queen Betsy, Book 2)
• Bite: Biting in Plain Sight
• Derik’s Bane (Berkley Sensation)
• Undead and Unappreciated (Queen Betsy, Book 3) (Berkley Sensation)
• Undead and Unreturnable (Queen Betsy, Book 4) (Berkley Sensation)
• Dead and Loving It (Berkley Sensation)
• Undead and Unpopular (Queen Betsy, Book 5)
• Over the Moon: Driftwood
• Undead and Uneasy (Undead/Queen Betsy)
• Dead Over Heels
• Undead and Unworthy
• Undead and Unwelcome (Queen Betsy, Book