Review: Undead and Unwelcome by MaryJanice Davidson

My Rating: E, L, H

Published: 2009
Publisher: Thorndike Chivers

Author's Website: maryjanicedavidson.net

Purchase @ Amazon.co.uk Amazon.com

Fifty thousand angry werewolves. That's what Betsy is facing when she takes her werewolf friend Antonia's body to Cape Cod, where the Pack resides at Wyndham Manor. Because Antonia died in her service, Betsy is alive and well - and wrakced with guilt. She has no idea if the Wyndham werewolves will greet her with fangs or friendship. While Besty and her husband, Sinclair, try to make nice, their legal ward, BabyJon, freaks out every werefolf he meets. Meanwhile, back at the St. Paul mansion, Betsy's half sister is raising hell...

Undead and Unwelcome is the eight book in the Queen Betsy series by MaryJanice Davidson. Once again MJ doesn’t disappoint. There’s laughter, witty repertoire, near death experiences, some crafty underhandedness and not to mention some pure craziness.

This book is set about a week after Undead and Unworthy. Antonia the werewolf is dead and now Betsy, Sinclair, Jessica and BabyJon are taking a trip to Cape Cod to return her body to her pack. The pack seems to think that Betsy is responsible for her death so she must appear before their council to plead her case. Meanwhile, Marc, Tina and Laura at back at the St. Paul’s mansion and things start to take a turn for the worst. Things get rather crazy and Marc doesn’t know what to do.

I know I keep repeating myself but seriously, the Queen Betsy series has got to be the best funny series I have ever read. Every page I am laughing out loud to myself because of something Betsy has said or done. Her witty retorts get her into some dangerous entanglements but they also help her get out of them because the majority of the time she is right. And she has Sinclair to back her up when things go wrong.

I have a few favourite moments in this book, one of them was when Betsy and Lara are at the playground and Lara totally takes Betsy by surprise when she unveils the real reason she wanted time alone with Betsy. Also, my other favourite moment is when Tina becomes all feral again, that’s near the end of the book.

Overall, MJ has outdone herself and I can’t wait for Undead and Unfinished to come out so I can find out what other ridiculous situations Betsy gets herself in and out of. Betsy has got to be the most self-centred vampire I have come across when reading any paranormal novels but I love her for it. I would recommend this to anyone who likes reading about vampires and want some laughter.

Disclaimer: I do not own this book, I borrowed it from the library. I have not been paid to review this book and everything I have said is of my own honest opinion.

In My Mailbox...(4)

In My Mailbox is a meme that is hosted by The Story Siren every Sunday.

Fifty thousand angry werewolves. That's what Betsy is facing when she takes her werewolf friend Antonia's body to Cape Cod, where the Pack resides at Wyndham Manor. Because Antonia died in her service, Betsy is alive and well - and wrakced with guilt. She has no idea if the Wyndham werewolves will greet her with fangs or friendship. While Besty and her husband, Sinclair, try to make nice, their legal ward, BabyJon, freaks out every werefolf he meets. Meanwhile, back at the St. Paul mansion, Betsy's half sister is raising hell...

I'm Anita Blake, expert on creatures of the night. I've dined with shapeshifters, danced with werewolves, and been wooed - but not won - by Jean-Claude, the Vampire Master of the City.

And now a darkly dangerous vampire names Alejandro has hti town. He wants me for his human servant. A war of the undead has begun. Over me...

Review: Undead and Unworthy - MaryJanice Davidson

My Rating: E, L, H

Published: 2008
Publisher: Piatkus

Author's Website: maryjanicedavidson.net

Purchase @ Amazon.co.uk Amazon.com


Having recently lost her dad and stepmother, Betsy Sinclair (nee Taylor) is adjusting to rather more than just married life. Their untimely deaths have left her and Eric as sole guardians of her little brother. Two vampire parents – albeit vampire royalty – for a decidedly human baby. Still, Betsy is more than up for the challenge. If only everyone would stop being so nervous around her, given her sudden recent burst of power. Betsy most emphatically Does Not Want To Discuss It, and for the moment everyone is following her lead.

But then the ghost of Betsy’s stepmother turns up at their house. And as stubborn and insufferable as she was in life, she’s even more annoying in death – especially as she regards her demise as all Betsy’s fault!

Undead and Unworthy is the seventh instalment in the Queen Betsy series by MaryJanice Davidson. Once again there is action, humour and some ludicrous outbursts from Betsy, although Tina throws a mean tantrum too.

I absolutely loved this book, I think my favourite part of the book by far was chapter one. Once you read this you will understand and I don’t want to ruin it for those of you who haven’t read it yet. All I can say is Sinclair and Betsy are left very disappointed.

The Fiends make a reappearance in this book and it’s not in a friendly way. Luckily Betsy knows what to do and sorts everything out. I thought it was good to revisit the Fiends as they weren’t mentioned much in the previous book.

Betsy’s powers are a no go area of discussion in this book for her and it seems that everyone else is staying off the subject. I feel bad for Betsy here as she doesn’t know where the powers came from or how to control them if she accidentally calls on them.

I think this book is appropriately named. Betsy feels unworthy for all the things her friends does for her, unworthy to be a queen to the vampires as she doesn’t think she is helping them, unworthy of Sinclair etc etc. Basically Betsy is sort of wallowing in self pity for part of this book until she snaps out of it of course and kicks some butt.

There was a really nice moment where Antonia the werewolf defends Betsy and I thought this was a very loyal thing to do. The ending was rather unexpected and I didn’t like certain parts of it. I can’t really say why or else it will spoil the book for you.

Overall, I really enjoyed this book and I would recommend it to anyone who doesn’t want to read a serious in depth plot paranormal novel. The series as a whole is great for a laugh and also there is a great plot line to the story but it’s nothing too sinister or tricky to understand. Enjoy!

Disclaimer: I do know own this book and I have not been paid to review this book. I borrowed this book from the library and everything I have said is of my own honest opinion.

In My Mailbox...(3)

In My Mailbox is a meme that is hosted by The Story Siren every Sunday.

Having recently lost her dad and stepmother, Betsy Sinclair (nee Taylor) is adjusting to rather more than just married life. Their untimely deaths have left her and Eric as sole guardians of her little brother. Two vampire parents – albeit vampire royalty – for a decidedly human baby. Still, Betsy is more than up for the challenge. If only everyone would stop being so nervous around her, given her sudden recent burst of power. Betsy most emphatically Does Not Want To Discuss It, and for the moment everyone is following her lead.

But then the ghost of Betsy’s stepmother turns up at their house. And as stubborn and insufferable as she was in life, she’s even more annoying in death – especially as she regards her demise as all Betsy’s fault!

It wasn’t hard to follow the scent of blood to the living room where the fae had been killed. It had been a violent death, perfect for creating ghosts.

Mercy Thompson enjoys being a mechanic, but life is never simple given her increasing closeness to the local werewolf pack, and her ability to change into coyote form at will. And when a member of the fae community calls in a favour, needing her skills for a covert murder investigation, she jumps into the hunt.

But the dangers multiply and she clashes with shadowed creatures of great power. When her old boss Zee is charged with a brutal assassination, Mercy finds herself fighting alone. There are those who love her, who would keep her safe, but she is way and holds her freedom precious. Until, that is, she has nothing left to lose but her life…

Kitty Norville is a midnight-shift DJ for a Denver radio station – and a werewolf in secret. Sick of lame requests, she accidentally starts ‘The Midnight Hour’, a late-night talk show for the supernaturally disadvantaged.

After desperate vampires, werewolves and witches across the country begin calling into share their woes, her new show is raging success. But it’s Kitty who can use some help. With one sexy werewolf hunter and a few homicidal undead on her trail, Kitty may have bitten off more than she can chew…

Review: Undead and Uneasy - MaryJanice Davidson

My Rating: E, L, H

Published: 2007
Publisher: Piatkus

Author's Website: maryjanicedavidson.net

Purchase @ Amazon.co.uk Amazon.com

Betsy Taylor, undead vampire queen, has been given a new nickname by her nearest and dearest: Bridezilla. Because whether you’re alive or undead, planning weddings is a bitch. Especially when your groom thinks the whole thing is a waste of time.

Betsy’s also dealing with a full house: she lives with a ghost (Cathy), a werewolf (Antonia), a gay physician/human (Marc), her fiancé and vampire king (Eric Sinclair), her best friend (Jessica), and a recovering Fiend (Garrett). But when Sinclair disappears and then, one by one, her friends go missing, Betsy begins to get seriously uneasy…

Undead and Uneasy is the sixth installment in the Queen Betsy series. This book is full of witty comments, action and baby sick.

I don’t know how MaryJanice Davidson does it. Every time I read one of her books I’m constantly giggling to myself. Betsy’s humour , wit and ability to get into trouble no matter what she does just leaves me in hysterics.

Betsy has some trying times in this book but it’s nice to see that she is able to sort out some of her previous problems from the other books in the series. She finally makes amends with John Delk, who was previously a Blade Warrior who killed vampires, and they become friends again. We learn more about Antonia’s pack. Marc finally finds love or more like lust at this stage, but finally he is getting some action.

The book starts with Betsy and Eric looking over wedding announcement cards and as usual Eric shows no enthusiasm for this task. We then go on to Betsy looking for her wedding gown which isn’t successful. Then something terrible happens that affects Betsy deeply and then everyone starts to go missing.

Betsy is alone for the majority of this book apart from the odd phone call from Tina, who is stranded in another country and garbles phones calls from Marc that makes no sense and sounds like he’s in danger. The Vampire Queen is working hard trying to figure this mess all out when she is attacked. Once the attack is over, she is finally able to move on to try and find her loved ones.

Finally clarity hits Betsy, in the strangest of places, during a phone call with her mother. Seriously I think it’s so funny how Betsy comes up with the answers to everything. But even this enemy seems too strong for Betsy. Does she find her loved ones and rescue them? Well I’ll leave you guys to read the book to find out for yourselves.

Again, I have enjoyed this book as I have all the previous book in the series. I think this book is exceptional, highly entertaining, full of antics and baby sick. What more do you want from a book? Well maybe less of the baby sick. I would recommend this book for young adults and upwards and is definitely worth the read.

Disclaimer: I have not bought this book or been given it free of charge and I am not receiving money to review this book. I borrow this book from the local library and everything I have said is based on my honest opinion.

Review: Undead and Unpopular - MaryJanice Davidson

My Rating: E, B, L Published: 2006 Publisher: Piatkus Author's Website: maryjanicedavidson.net Available @ Amazon.co.uk Amazon.com Betsy Taylor, Vampire Queen, already has plenty on her plate. For one thing, next week is her 31st birthday – and her 1st anniversary of being undead. On top of that, she still has wedding plans to finalise – and it’s not helping that the prospective groom is avoiding anything to do with it. And then there’s her decision to stop drinking blood – something she has yet to share with Eric Sinclair, her fiancé. So the last thing she wants to deal with is uninvited guests, even if they happen to be powerful European vampires who have finally come to pay their respects the week before her birthday. Some of them don’t want Betsy as their Queen, and will do anything to get rid of her. As if turning thirty last year (not to mention dying) hadn’t been traumatic enough. And trying to give up blood is making her really cranky... Undead and Unpopular is the fifth book from the Queen Betsy series. It will definitely make you laugh out loud, giggle non-stop and have you demanding to have a pair of designer sandals in winter time. I absolutely love this series. Every page I turn, Betsy is always saying or doing something that makes me laugh. Her humour is utterly fantastically flippant but she is a bit precocious when it comes to her Queenly duties and very self centred regarding everything else. Betsy was just a normal girl fascinated with designer shoes, until one day, she died and rose as a vampire. But she wasn’t just any vampire, she was the Queen of all vampires. Apparently this was all foretold in The Book of the Dead, a sort of vampire bible. Some of the vampires weren’t too happy about this and don’t believe she is their Queen. They soon realise once they meet her that there’s no doubt that she is their Queen. She is now organising her wedding to Eric Sinclair, who doesn’t seem to be interested in this human ceremony because to him they are already married and are to be together for at least one thousand years. This irks Betsy something terrible. Her one year anniversary of being dead is just around the corner along with her thirty first birthday and now she decides to go on a hunger strike thinking because she is the Queen she can do anything. As she finds out, it just makes her really cranky and irritable. (WARNING - POSSIBLE SPOILER’S FOR PREVIOUS QUEEN BETSY BOOKS AND FOR THIS BOOK SERIES IN FOLLOWING PARAGRAPH) As in all the Queen Betsy series books so far, there is always some dilemma for Betsy. I think in Undead and Unpopular all the drama for her is based on how she decides to rule her vampire kingdom, at the moment the majority of vampire are still sticking to the old laws. Betsy doesn’t want any vampires killing humans. When she finds out that one of the vampires that has come to pay their long overdue respects was the one that murdered and turned her friend Sophie, she has to take a stand and do the right thing by her friend and by her subjects. But she doesn’t want to just kill the bad vampire, she wants to start afresh so she decides that he has to pay one way or another. It takes a friend’s illness, their reluctance to be turned into a vampire and a fight with a zombie to make Betsy realise what she has to do about Sophie’s problem. Betsy finds clarity in the strangest places. (END OF SPOILER WARNING) Jessica is going through a major crisis in this story as you will find out as you read on and of course Betsy makes it all about her. Betsy is rather self-centred when it comes to most things, but in the end she works it all out and realises it’s not about her at all. Marc is still going about but he’s not really a prominent character in this book. Tina is her usual self and slaving after Eric. Undead and Unpopular isn’t really big on serious plots, but more of a humorous and light read. It’s good for a giggle. There are a few sexual scenes in this book but nothing I would call explicit enough to warrant an ‘X’ rating but I still wouldn’t recommend it to young readers. I think the series is really great and I really enjoy reading them. I can’t wait to find out how the wedding goes. Good luck Betsy! Disclaimer: I have not bought this book or been given it free of charge and I am not receiving any money to review this book. I borrowed this book from the local library and everything I have said is based on my honest opinion.