Undead and Unfinished (Undead #9) by MaryJanice Davidson

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Author: MaryJanice Davidson
Publish Date: July 9, 2010
Website: https://www.goodreads.com/author/list/1429808.MaryJanice_Davidson
ISBN: 9780749909253
List Price: Varies based on format
My Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Jacket Synopsis: 
There's only one thing Vampire Queen Betsy Taylor hates more than the threat of hosting a traditional Thanksgiving dinner (after all, how traditional is her family?), and that's trying to get through the Book of the Dead without going insane. Every time she's tried reading it, she just gets blindsided - until this time, when the devil strikes a bargain. She offers Betsy a chance to get through the cursed (literally!) thing cover to cover and finally discover all its mysteries. There's just one teensy little catch.

Betsy and her half sister, Laura, have to go to Hell. Just long enough for Laura to finally embrace her dark heritage (after a rebellious youth of charity work and teaching Sunday school) and make nice with her mother, aka Lucifer, by picking up such skills as slicing through time and the universe with a hellfire sword. While such things might sound fun, time travel is proving to be an alarming journey for Betsy and Laura. Not only are they interacting firsthand with their own family's past, but in doing so, they're dangerously impacting the future in ways they never anticipated.

Of course, that's what Mother wanted all along. Damn her.

My Comments:
Another awesome addition to the Undead series! Here begins the adventures of Betsy and Laura. Who knew Laura's fateful path to taking over Hell was so near, or is it? Betsy never fails to bring the humorous sarcasm that is her personality. I never expected time travel to enter the picture, but I guess when you are the spawn of Satan anything is possible. This begins the training for Laura to take on the "family business" so to speak as her Mother, Satan, wants to retire. Oh, the thought?!

This books gives us great insight into the back story of how Tina and Sinclair came about and the ripple effect of Betsy's time travels starting in Salem with the witch trials. Then ending up with a questionable future as she visits 3010. Leaving Betsy to ponder how she can change the future, for the better?!

I love the way that Sinclair refers to Betsy as "my own." I think that is so sexy & romantic.

Love, love Betsy!!!

Undead and Unwelcome (Undead #8) by MaryJanice Davidson

Author: MaryJanice Davidson
Publish Date: June 2, 2009
Website: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/1429808.MaryJanice_Davidson
ISBN: 9780425227732
List Price: Varies depending on format
My Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

Jacket Synopsis: 
Betsy Taylor has problems that only a vampire queen/suburban wife could possibly understand...such as 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 Mansion. Because Antonia died in her service, Betsy is alive and well - and wracked with guilt. She has no idea if the Wyndham werewolves will welcome her with fangs or friendship. While Betsy and her husband Sinclair try to make nice, their legal ward BabyJon is freaking out every werewolf he comes in contact with. Meanwhile, Betsy's posse back at the St Paul mansion are not happy. Increasingly frantic emails alert Betsy to her half-sister's increasingly erratic behavior. Looks like the devil's daughter is coming into her own - and raising hell. All in the name of making Betsy's life easier, of course.

My Comments:
Another awesome continuation of the Queen Betsy series. Betsy is non-stop excitement with her crew of crazies, but she certainly keeps things in perspective when werewolves and other evil forces come into play. BabyJohn makes an interesting new character addition as he becomes something that we didn't expect. Good luck Betsy with that "baby". Of course Laura is influenced by her mother again unbeknownst to her and does some really, really bad things. Betsy has to visit the werewolves after Antonia dies and genuinely doesn't know what they are going to do to her... Of course Eric (Sinclair) is her constant support and defender... ah Love! Waiting for book #9 that comes out in July-2010...

Undead and Unreturnable by MaryJanice Davidson

Author: MaryJanice Davidson
Publish Date: May 30, 2006
Website: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/1429808.MaryJanice_Davidson
ISBN: 9780425210819
List Price: $7.99 (Paperback)
My Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

Jacket Synopsis:
As if she needed yet another reason to shop, Queen of the Vampires Betsy Taylor is in the middle of planning the perfect wedding to drop-dead gorgeous vamp Eric Sinclair. And she’s not about to let little things like death and blood-drinking get in her way.

But all is not bouquets and bridal showers—Betsy is plagued by ghosts who demand her help in rectifying their past mistakes, and a serial killer is on the loose. With his victims all being tall, blond women, Betsy fits the profile exactly...

My Comments:

I love Betsy! She is one of the most down-to-earth, hilarious characters you will ever find as the Queen of the Vampires. She has not yet fully accepted her queenly presence so she still goes about her normal life like when she was alive, but her brood at home is slowly growing to not only include her best alive-human friend, her vampire king/consort, his vampire body guard Tina, her half sister who is the daughter of the devil, a retired vampire slayer, a vampire fiend, and now a ghost... what next zombies... oh yes, zombies! Betsy helps you find the humor in any situation... I love her take on life or death...which ever way you look at it.

Undead and Unappreciated (Betsy Taylor Series #3) by MaryJanice Davidson

Author: MaryJanice Davidson
Publish Date: July 5, 2005
Website: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/1429808.MaryJanice_Davidson
ISBN: 9780425204337
List Price: $7.99 (Paperback)
My Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

Jacket Synopsis:
Fans can't get enough of author MaryJanice Davidson and her topsy-turvy world of the undead with its newly-crowned queen, Betsy Taylor. Now, Betsy continues her reluctant reign while being bedeviled by family secrets...

Most women would love to live as royalty, but Betsy has found that being vampire queen has more problems than perks, except for always being awake for Midnight Madness sales. It may be easy to find blood (yuck) in the dark of night, but try finding a strawberry smoothie. And employees at her nightclub Scratch have been giving her nothing but grief since she killed their former boss. Some people...

But Betsy's "life" takes an interesting turn at a shower for her wicked stepmother, who lets it slip that Betsy has a long-lost half sister. Now twenty years old, this woman just so happens to be the devil's daughter - and destined to rule the world...

My Comments:

Another hilarious adventure of Queen Betsy of the Vampires... I love this series... This is the book she finds out about her long lost (half) sister, who happens to be the daughter of the Devil, but finds that her sister is the #1 Goody-Goody to rebel against her Mother from Hell (lol). She also learns that her step mother is pregnant with a (half) brother and causes her to think of all the human things she is missing out on like being a Mom. However, soon enough more vampire crises emerge and beckon her to save the world again, with help!! Love it!

Undead and Unemployed (Betsy Taylor Series #2) by MaryJanice Davidson

Author: MaryJanice Davidson

Publish Date: August 3, 2004
Website: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/1429808.MaryJanice_Davidson
ISBN: 9780425197486
List Price: $7.99 (Paperback)
My Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Jacket Synopsis:
Nothing can make Betsy Taylor give up her shoe fetish - even dying and rising as the new Queen of the Vampires. Being royally undead isn't all it's cracked up to be - there are still bills to be paid. And Betsy is determined to live as normally as possible, even if it means getting a job. A "feet" she accomplishes with panache, landing her dream job selling designer shoes at Macy's.

Things couldn't be better - except for her new friends, who keep pestering her while she's on the clock. As if she has time to socialize when there are deliciously sinful shoes to try on - and buy at a discount. It seems that vampires are being murdered in St. Paul, and they're all clamoring for Betsy to do something about it. The worse part is she's going to have to enlist the help of the one vamp who makes her blood boil: the oh-so-sexy Sinclair. Now, she's really treading on dangerous ground - high heels and all...

My Comments:
I totally love this series. Betsy has got to be the most sassy and hilarious character I have read in a long time. She knows she isn't the smartest, but her quips and come-backs are to die for hilarious! In this book, Betsy is now queen of the vampires and has a hard time adjusting to her new "dead life". She sees to it that she maintains a normal life like she would have if she were living. She is desperate to have a job, but unfortunately it is difficult to find a good night job when you are a vampire. So... she stumbles upon a shoe clerks job at Macy's, which by the way is her dream job. She is so into designer shoes like we are into breathing. In the midst of all this she is being stalked by a vampire killer... someone who wants to usurp the thrown?? Hmmm... As Eric and her new entourage of vamps seek to worship her...she wants no part. She just wants to be normal. Sorry Betsy, normal is no more. She is no drama queen and won't put up with it either. However, she continues to encounter some unnatural situations, ie. ghosts, vamp hierarchies! This series is too good to pass up. If you like a strong main character, comedy, romance, and disaster... this series is for you!! On to book 3...

Undead and Unwed (Betsy Taylor Series #1) by MaryJanice Davidson

Author: MaryJanice Davidson
Publish Date: 3/2/2004
Website: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/1429808.MaryJanice_Davidson
ISBN: 9780425194850
List Price: $7.99 (Paperback)
My Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

Jacket Synopsis:

First Betsy Taylor loses her job, then she's killed in a car accident.  But what really bites is that she can't seem to stay dead.  And now her new friends have the ridiculous idea that Betsy is the prophesied vampire queen, and they want her help in overthrowing the most obnoxious power-hungry vampire in five centuries.

My Comments:

This is the most hilarious, edgy, and entertaining book. I had picked up book #6 by accident not knowing it was part of a series and thought it was one of the most hilarious characters I have encountered. I had to start at book #1. Here we are... Betsy is a character unlike I have ever read. She is smart, sassy, comedic, and so sarcastic. I love her quips and sassiness. One of my favorites being that she refers to most morons as "asshats!" She can't seem to grasp her importance now that she is dead being the Queen of the Vampires when she was so insignificant (in her mind) when she was alive. Her journey through this book is nothing but exciting, funny, and sexy! You will fall in love with Betsy and her band of characters! I love the way MaryJanice writes. It is smooth and completely fun!! On to book #2!! If you like the Sookie Stackhouse series, you will love these just as much, if not more!!!

Blood to Blood by Elaine Bergstrom

Author: Elaine Bergstrom
Publish Date: October 1, 2000
Website: http://www.elainebergstrom.com
ISBN: 9780441007745
List Price: $5.99
My Rating: 3 out of 5

 Jacket Synopsis:

Dracula's sister-by birth and by blood-resurrects his dark legacy...

Praise for Mina: "A real page-turner."-P. N. Elrod

"Throbbing with...rich sexuality...An erotic ride."-Shadowdance

My Comments:
This is a continuation of the Mina Harker story that began in Mina: The Dracula Story Continues. The story begins where the previous ends with Mina in Paris writing to Jonathan about a reconciliation when she receives news of an inheritance, and a sizable one at that. I find the story an interesting interpretation about a Victorian woman whose independence is pursued in societal times when women were seen and not heard. For Mina to be so bold as to maintain her own household away from her husband and pursue her charitable work is really unheard of.

This book is a side-by-side story of Mina and Jonathan, but also about Joanna, Dracula's sister. We find Dracula's sister searching for her brother's killers only to find that being released from her brother's control that she can pursue her own life. The excitement is found in reading about what she chooses. Does she choose to live among humans and love and care for them just the same? Or become a ruthless killer and evil pursuer like her sister in-law and sometimes her brother, Dracula.

The author folds in true historical characters as Oscar Wilde and Jack The Ripper. The author includes Jack The Ripper to challenge the reader to determine if the murders are really the work of Joanna or The Ripper himself...and who is The Ripper?

I am surprised though by the amount of edit errors in this book. They weren't so severe that I couldn't figure out what the author meant to write, but the author should be paid a bonus for the editors poor work.

The Short Second Life of Bree Tanner: An Eclipse Novella by Stephenie Meyer

Author: Stephenie Meyer
Publish Date: June 5, 2010
Website: http://www.stepheniemeyer.com/
ISBN: 9780316125581
List Price: $13.99
My Rating: 5 out of 5

Jacket Synopsis:
Bree Tanner can barely remember life before she had uncannily powerful senses, superhuman reflexes and unstoppable physical strength. Life before she had a relentless thirst for blood... life before she became a vampire.

All Bree knows is that living with her fellow newborns has few certainties and even fewer rules: watch your back, don't draw attention to yourself and, above all, make it home by sunrise or die. What she doesn't know: her time as an immortal is quickly running out.

My Comments:
Another great book by Stephenie Meyer. This is a short story, novella, of the newborn character of Bree Tanner. It gives you a different perspective of the vampire world through the eyes of a newborn and into Victoria's deception. Even the newborn Bree can see there isn't something right about Riley and their "unknown" purpose. It is interesting to see that Bree, only 16, finds another newborn which she befriends and falls in love with. That last seen in the book when the newborn war is over is an interesting insight into what Edward was able to see from Bree's side of the war and what Bree could share with him to help save them. This additional scene to the story that you do not get from the Twilight series is very informative and helps piece together what Edward gathered from Bree before she was killed. A really great read and alternate perspective.

Uninvited by Amanda Marrone

Author: Amanda Marrone
Publish Date: October 23, 2007
Website: http://www.amandamarrone.com/index.htm
ISBN: 9781416939788
List Price: $8.99
My Rating: 2 out of 5

Jacket Synopsis:
Jordan's life sucks. Her boyfriend, Michael, dumped her, slept his way through half the student body, and then killed himself. But now, somehow, he appears at her window every night, begging her to let him in.

Jordan can't understand why he wants her, but she feels her resistance wearing down. After all, her life -- once a broken record of boring parties, meaningless hookups, and friends she couldn't relate to -- now consists of her drinking alone in her room as she waits for the sun to go down.

Michael needs to be invited in before he can enter. All Jordan has to do is say the words....

My Comments:
Interesting YA novel... involves Jordan, a high schooler, drowning herself in booze, sex, and drugs because she has no direction in her life when her boyfriend of a year ago dies and returns as a vampire to haunt her poor, miserable existence. Her mother is non-existent in her life and her friends only encourage the booze and drugs. Her ex-boyfriend is a totally jerk and deserves what he got. The story around these two is not enlightening, uplifting or really entertaining. Not a very exciting read.

Dead and Loving It by MaryJanice Davidson

Author: MaryJanice Davidson
Publish Date: April 4, 2006
Website: http://www.maryjanicedavidson.net/
ISBN: 9780425207956
List Price: $14.00
My Rating: 3 out of 5

Jacket Synopsis: 
MaryJanice Davidson has enchanted readers everywhere with her delicious blend of wicked humor, sizzling sex, and totally unique vision of vampires and werewolves. In this collection of four novellas she brings her beloved Wyndham werewolves (featured in her acclaimed novel Derek's Bane) together with the vampires ruled by Betsy Taylor (from her bestselling Undead series).

Filled with equal parts of spicy heat and laugh-out-loud moments, this collection will drive Davidson's legion of fans wild with blood-pounding delight.

My Comments:
The Undead books are a great series and I have read all 9 books. I highly recommend to anyone the Undead Series (Queen Betsy). However, I was not so entertained or impressed by this short-story off shoot of the series. Please do not let that comment deter you from checking out the Undead Series because it is off-the-chart entertaining and I just love the characters. I really wish I knew Betsy in real life because her quips and come-backs are to die for (no pun intended).

The mini-stories in this book are interesting but you would certainly have had to read the Undead Series to understand the back stories behind the characters written about in this book. The author's style is uniquely inviting and just plain funny. The Undead series and this book include stories about Vampires, Ghosts, Zombies, Fiends, Werewolves, and the Devil Spawn. These characters are hilarious and interesting to watch them interact and live together. There is always some disaster that has to be attending to and Queen Betsy has the humor to get through it.

Mina by Marie Kiraly

Author: Marie Kiraly
Publish Date: December 4, 2007
Website: http: http://www.elainebergstrom.com/ (Written under the pen name of Marie Kiraly)
ISBN: 9780425217467
List Price: $3.99
My Rating: 4 out of 5

Jacket synopsis:

The chilling and erotic tale of Mina Harker, sole survivor of the vampire's obsession.

My Comments:
The story is a continuation of the original story of Dracula by Bram Stoker. It is from Mina Harker's point of view just after she has been seduced and bitten by Dracula. It chronicles the search and chase of Dracula by Mina, Van Helsing, Jonathan Harker, Dr. Seward, Arthur, and Quincey. Mina details in her diary the chase, the demise, and their return to ordinary life.

Although upon their return to England, Mina cannot shake her connection to Dracula, though he is believed dead, nor her vivid, frightening dreams. She questions her ability & desire to fulfill an expectation of carrying on the facade of a happy Victorian marriage. Mina cannot escape the dreaded reactions to blood and sensual desires triggered by the vampire blood inside of her. During her adventure and escape from Dracula's castle, Mina stumbled upon a diary kept by one of Dracula's three wives. This diary also becomes an obsession of Mina's because it has to be translated. She must know the intimate details of 100 year old diary and how it may provide answers for her future.

Through all this Mina endures murder, adultery, a stint in an asylum, and her journey back to Dracula's castle to confront what she may become.

The author has done a great job of continuing the voice of Mina Harker from Bram Stoker's Dracula. The characters are so vivid that you cannot help but be drawn into the story. I thought this was an exciting and well written read. There were a few edit errors, but I enjoyed the story. I am curious to see where Mina's story goes, so I will be reading the sequel to this book Blood to Blood (Dracula Continues, #2) under Elaine Bergstrom.