Undead and Unappreciated (Queen Betsy - Book 3) (Berkley Sensation)

Kinda disappointing, especially since Betsy is becoming more whiny, airheaded, and more unrealible person (save for the fiends), as opposed to the flighty spunky, common-sense yet sarcastic wit of a character we saw in the first two books. More and more becoming a real dumb-dumb blonde than blonde with a brain and shoe fetish. Seems like everything is becoming a fetish and flight of fancy for main character. Too bad characters are becoming more and more superficial in this book, rather than being fleshed out. Main character is a former secretary-model, and secretaries, by nature, are smart people who have much common sense and street smarts, but the you'd think she was only a model in her former life. If there rating were available in .25 increments, I'd have given it a 1.75-- so I rounded up.

Betsy, Queen of the vampires, detests everything about her new life except the midnight sales. The worst part of being an undead is she desires the king her alleged spouse Eric Sinclair, but on the other hand wants nothing to do with him or his minion.

Her dad arrives to inform Betsy that she is not to come to her evil stepmother's baby shower, which is why the event is being held during the day; Sinclair offers to go in her place. Her flustered dad lets slip that his spouse had a child when Betsy was thirteen and her father was still married to her biological mother. Apparently, the child is her stepsister.

They visit step-mom and Eric hypnotizes her into revealing a little more information about Betsy's half-sister starting with abandoning the infant on the floor of a hospital lobby. As Betsy investigates with the unwanted help of Eric, her gay roommate and two other vampires, they begin to find a devilish trail towards the long lost half blood relative.

The third "Un" and "Un" contains all the wacky fun from the previous two tales (see UNDEAD AND UNWED. and UNDEAD AND UNEMPLOYED), but retains a brisk sparkle due to the delightful amateur sleuth investigation. Betsy is her usual irreverent self still wondering how she became queen and why she cannot escape Eric's lure though a late shoe sale still solaces the soul (that is if she has one). MaryJanice Davidson is at her humorous biting best with this devilish tale of our favorite vampiress since Vampirella started seeking a blood relation.

Harriet Klausner

While this book is still pretty much a page turner there are some issues that are just too annoying to deal with. While it is funny at times for Betsy to throw Eric the cold shoulder, this time it was kind of painful to read. I hate to say, Betsy is the one character in the book I actually hate now.

Given, I am only halfway through the book I still find it to be lacking. There were some parts that seemed like a hurried joke that fell short making it more of a tongue twister than anything else. With that being said, I still like the series and plan to read the series.

Like most of the people writing these reviews, I loved the first two books in this series. When I found out the 3rd was coming out in hardcover I was a little surprised.

Well, I bought it and all I can think of was "I paid how much for this?" I couldn't believe how air -headed and very spoiled Betsy has become. She basically doesn't think throughout the entire story. While there were still funny parts, I almost had to force myself to finish this book. Ms. Davidson usually does much better than this.

So, if you must have a copy, like I said in my title, wait for the paperback version.

I loved the first one, liked the second. This book is a transparent attempt to cash in. First of all, it's short--288 pages filled with very large print. Second, there are some strange mistakes. For instance, on page 65, the Ant says she found out she was pregnant in 1965 and gave birth in 1966. I wondered when these books were supposedly taking place. On page 125, 1966 has turned into 1986. Oops... I mean, who's editing this? But the biggest problem is that nothing much happens. Betsy meets a long lost sister who happens to be the Devil's daughter. It's interesting, but there's not much conflict. The dialogue is amusing, the characters fun, but this already slim book should have been about half the length, and the other half should have been packed with real events, real issues and real conflict. Oh, well, maybe the next will be better, but I'll wait for the paperback, or maybe check it out of the library.

I'm through with reading Davidson. I kept hoping some potential would start appearing in her stuff, but have given up hope. The female lead is stupid, the male lead all knowing, the secondary characters annoying. And let me just say here, Sex in the City was a wildly amusing show but it did women NO FAVORS when it comes to portraying them as incredibly shallow, fashion-and-shoe-obsessing idiots. Now, due to the show's popularity, everyone and her sister is writing about shoes! Give me a break! That was funny a few times on the show (and even that got old!). That's OVER NOW! I've decided it must be asking too much of JD to give us a clever plot line and female lead. She must be incapable of it, so I won't be trying anymore!

The other reviewers lament the same things I do: way too short and just not quite as well put together as the other ones. That being said, it was fun and earns 5 stars. While funny and a better, more enjoyable read than anything else in the vamp genre I haven't already read (latest Sookie Stackhouse from Charlaine Harris, for example) it's still a blast. Just way too short for the money. As much as I want to read the next installment, I'm waiting on the library list because $15 is too much for another book that can be read in one day.

I highly recommend this entire series. Her characters are so great, very funny and fleshed out really well. There were times throughout where I was laughing out loud even. Being a Minnesotan and having her character from the Twin Cities is a blast, I can see the story unfolding as I know many of the sites she uses. I don't feel like the central characters of this book, or any of her others as well, take themselves to seriously. The romance factor between Betsy and Sinclair is lighthearted but comes across as sincere and fun to boot. Check it out, it's definitely worth your time.

I was entertained for a couple hours, but felt like the book was just lacking. Maybe because this book was a hardback, I had greater expectations. I feel a bit ripped off, because even as a small hardback, the pages had large margins and large print. This would even make a tiny paperback.

As much as I look forward to the books in the "Undead" series, I would be happier to wait a little bit longer if it meant I got a story that was more fleshed out. I have grown to embrace all the characters in the series, and felt that this book did a disservice to them.

Despite that, I am still looking forward to the next one.

The first two books in this series were laugh out loud funny and highly entertaining. Unfortunately, the author seems to be on automatic pilot through the first three-quarters of this novel, when the reader is subjected to unfunny and tedious whining from Betsy, Queen of the Vampires, and very little in the way of wit, action, and plot. Only toward the end does the reader find some of the snappy dialog and amusing characters that we have come to expect from MJD.

Hopefully, the author will spend more time on the next installment of Betsy's adventures -- the addition of her half-sister, spawn of the devil, should prove most interesting.

I don't agree with the reviewers who thought this was not as good as the previous books in this series. The funny, quirky characters were there. The funny, subtle lines were there that had me laughing out loud several times. The romance was there, and more prominent in the story--yea! Without giving away too many secrets, I like the fact that the storyline did not follow the expected, "kill the evil one threatening Betsy and the world" plot. I just LOVE this series, and I hope Ms. Davidson continues writing it for a long time to come. I would love to see these books become a tv series ala Buffy the Vampire Slayer, but not quite so dark!

Betsy's back in another enjoyable tale of the Undead Series. The Book of the Dead states that Betsy's sister is the devil's spawn and is destined to take over the world. However, this "devil's spawn" is Laura Goodman, a gentle, kind, pretty girl who even is admired by the Ant. There's also more kinky additions to what happens between Betsy and the steamy Eric Sinclair. This book was awesome!

This series is... cute. The first two books managed to be cute AND have a plot. This one seems to have been phoned in. I would have given it another star, but it really did not deserve to be in hardback. There is already another one slated to come out in hardback and I will wait for the paperback... and I probably won't be in a rush for that one either. For wacky, stick with Katie MacAlister, for off-beat, Charlaine Harris (worth the hardback price), for funny and sensual, Sherrilyn Kenyon, for dark and over the top sex, Laurell K. Hamilton, for a bit of everything, Kelley Armstrong. MaryJanice Davidson needs a little work... and a plot.

The first book was wonderful, quirky & funny. It quickly became obvious that the author took advantage of its popularity and divided what should have been the next single book in the series into 2 books. The author filled these 2 books with so much mindless fluff and avoided the plot line so completely that I quickly decided there was no point in purchasing any more books in the series.

I thought this book had some very funny moments. The character kind of reminds me of Carrie from Sex and the City as far as the fashion goes.

Though, I thought this book would be more like D.N. Simmons's Knights of the Darkness Chronicles or Charlaine Harris's series. I thought to plots would be just as exciting and sexy as well as the characters.

I have nothing against the "lighter" tone of the vampire genre. This book was funny where it was supposed to be. I would however, highly recommend fans of MJD to D.N.Simmons. Her series is also extremely funny but more edgier and sexy.

I've enjoyed most of Mary Janice Davidson's books to date. This book is a continuation of the ongoing Queen Betsy saga. Lots of hilarious dialog, sexy hunky vampires, and a clever storyline. Guaranteed to enjoy!

So my interest in the series is still going. This book was alittle abrupt, I think it was to make room for a book 4 to come out without too much time lapsing. That is just my opinion though. I enjoyed it enough to read on to book 4.

I love the "Undead" series, but this one just isn't as good as the first two books. It's about the same length as the earlier books, yet it's a hardback. Did I like "Undead and Unappreciated"? Yes! Enough to pay hardback prices? No! In fact, I bought the book, read it in under 2 hrs, was so disappointed in it that I took it right back to the store and got a refund! I'll be very happy to purchase a copy in paperback, but I think it's money thrown away to invest in the hardcover version. My suggestion, get a copy from the library to read, then buy a copy when the paperback is issued!

Sorry Miss Davidson. This book lacked something... maybe interesting characters? Laura is cool but there wasn't anything else going on. Give your readers some credit, we get off on subplots and new characters. I am very glad I reserved this from the Library and didn't pay that God awful hardcover price. A quick read that didn't make me laugh, the sex scences were still hot, maybe a little too hot, but nonetheless, I am still a fan of Betsy's.

I love this series. Everytime a new title gets out, it takes me a while before given in and bying it but so far it's been worth it. The author as a great way of telling the story and her humour and sarcastic wit is always dead on.

I love Janet Evanovich, and I'm dying here waiting for Twelve Sharp in June 20th. I heard that this series is great for Evanovich fans so I decided to try it out. This third installment is not as great as the first one, and there were less laughs. HOWEVER, as scary as it may be, this book actually pulled tears out of me. If you love the series, don't miss out!

MaryJanice Davidson is a nut. Her Undead series is hilarious, and though Undead and Unappreciated is not the best of the series, it is nonetheless a fun, fast read. A bit too short to let the story develop in the way that it should...but good enough to make me want more, more, more!

Read the first two books in this series and thoroughly enjoyed them. This one was laugh out loud funny in some places, but as a whole I thought it was not as good. I certainly couldn't see why it rated a hardcover, and the hardcover price. The author seemed to be grasping for a storyline, to continue the series.

Absolutely adore this series!! Betsy, her friends and her world is a brilliant creation and i really thank Mary Janice Davidson for thinking it up!!! Haven't laughed over books so hard in.... i don't think ever!! :-)

The first two books in this series were funny, well written and although read very quickly, well worth waiting for. This, the third in the series, unfortunately seemed rushed and 'thin' on plot and characters. They are not large literary works, they are fun, happy books with a twist however, the author seems to be slipping, possibly complacent or bored? Shame.