vampire queen

     This was, without doubt ~ IMO anyway ~ the most tense story that I've read by MaryJanice Davidson... but, that's not the statement that it may sound... I'm pretty much still a newbie to this wonderful author's works... but for me ~ wow!  I really, really had no idea what was going on, anymore than Betsy did... again that may not be saying much 'cause I usually enjoy just following along.  But I'll tell ya, there were times I was starting to get really concerned!  Mind you, the humour was still present in abundance ~ especially when the Wyndham werewolves dropped in for a vist.... Jeepers I nearly killed myself laughing!  And still we learn a little more about the many and varied characters that live with Betsy, or whose lives just plain intersect with hers.  VERY, VERY, VERY HIGHLY RECOMMEND!!!

RATING:
Excellence: Excellent+ ~ 4.5 stars
Steaminess: Sensual to Yummy

There's a short quote on the back cover from Publishers Weekly that I thought was perfect! 
             "THINK SEX AND THE CITY ~ ONLY THE CITY
                 IS MINNEAPOLIS AND IT'S FILLED WITH
                           DEMONS AND VAMPIRES."
   What an excellent summation of the series... and you've had to slog through my previous, rather rambling entries.  My apologies!     
    But I do have to say that, not knowing exactly what Sex and the City is like, I'm guessing that maybe ~ maybe? ~ the situations that Queen Betsy's facing are a little darker and edgier?... but that's just me.  Still, VERY, VERY, HIGHLY RECOMMEND!! (and aren't you getting tired of reading THAT all the time, eh?)  

RATING:
Excellence: Excellent ~ 4.0 stars
Steaminess: Sensual to Yummy

    If you like a lot of laughter with your paranormal romance, this is the series for you!  And yet, as it progresses, we begin to see a depth to the characters and a darker hue to the situations in which Betsy Taylor finds herself.  Her queenship is certainly being tested!  And as her character continues to develop, to deepen, so do the characters of the other main players.  Eric Sinclair, consort to the Queen of Vampires; Tina, general factotum to the consort; Jess, very rich best friend of Betsy's; finally Marc; the resident resident / doctor (and yes the duplication is deliberate!)  There are more characters that come into the picture, but these are the main ones... and I do love 'em all.  A great next chapter in the series... check it out!  VERY, VERY HIGHLY RECOMMEND!!

RATING:
Excellence: Excellent ~ 4.0 stars
Steaminess: Sensual to Yummy

     This book was my introduction to the "Undead" (aka Queen Betsy) series, so of course it will always hold a place of fondness in my heart.... and I must admit that when reading this book, for the first time, I really didn't have a lot of trouble following along with the storyline.  So I'm saying that as for reading the books in order, not totally necessary.  But I'm tellin' you that going with the series step-by-step really adds to the whole thing.  There's definitely a lot of detail that just can't carry over from one book to the next ~ and with MJD's Queen Betsy, the more info the better... the laughter!
    But yet again, there is a certain grim element growing ~ slow as it may be; there's a very definite sense that we've only uncovered the tip of the iceberg ~ and working my way through to the bottom is fascinating... and F-U-N!  Again...VERY, VERY HIGHLY RECOMMEND!!

RATING:
Excellence: Excellent ~ 4.0 stars
Steaminess: Sensual to Yummy

     The laughter continues; but wait... there's a more serious note among the pages!  MJD does a wonderful job expanding on Betsy's new world, and on Betsy's seemingly endless shallowness and greed.  But she's far more than she appears ~ and she doesn't always realize that fact ~ but the more time spent with her, the more I enjoy her company.  Doesn't hurt ~ AT ALL ~ that gorgeous, sexy, bad-boy vampire consort Eric Sinclair hangs around.  And they, and the various other characters, are getting more and more fleshed out.  Definitely another great step in the series.  VERY, VERY HIGHLY RECOMMEND!!

RATING:
Excellence: Excellent ~ 4.0 stars
Steaminess: Sensual to Yummy

     Oh wow!  I laughed and laughed... and laughed throughout this book!  MJD is a comedic writing genius... that or Betsy really is out there living the high life of weirdness and well, hilarity portrayed in the pages of this book. 
   Like so many series that I read I managed to start with the third book:  there was a lot of backstory, but it was well-fleshed out enough that I could follow along easily.  It wasn't until I was looking for more "Betsy" books that I realized that Undead and Unappreciated wasn't the first book... RATS!
   Having decided to get all the books before I re-entered the world of the Undead and their Queen Betsy, it's been awhile since I last partook... but all in all, it was worth the wait.  I read, straight through, the first five books and then was able to find the sixth newly released in paperback.... Wahoo!
   Fun romp with enough seriousness to keep the story from being nothing but hilarious fluff ~ IMHO ~ with characters that really do grab the reader's attention.  And FUNNY!  VERY, VERY, VERY HIGHLY RECOMMEND!!   

RATING:
Excellence: Excellent+ ~ 4.5 stars
Steaminess: Sensual to Yummy