Customer Reviews

Dead and Dateless (Dead End Dating, Book 2)

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

Lilliana "Lil" Marchette is not only a "born" vampire, but she's also the owner of Dead End Dating, a matchmaking service that caters to all types. That means her clients do not have to be human. The client may be vampire, werewolf, human ... anything. Lil's business has not been open long, but it's doing very well indeed. In fact, Lil has until the next full moon to find twenty-eight alpha males for a pack of werewolves that are ready to start breeding! Time is short, especially since she's on the run from the law. One of the clients has been murdered and the evidence points to Lil.

Tyler "Ty" Bonner is a "made" vampire who earns his money via bounty hunting. With the one hundred thousand dollar price tag on Lilliana's head, Ty may be the only person (human or otherwise) who is NOT out to cash in. Instead, he is helping Lil to lay low. This is hard to do since Lil's family is high up the Society ladder. That means when Lil agrees not to "walk" out of Ty's apartment and risk being caught, she waits for him to leave and then "flies" out instead.

The police are closing in, time is short to locate the needed alpha males, Lil's family is having a few family troubles, and Lil can't seem to stop drooling over Ty.

**** You do not have to read "Dead End Dating" to enjoy this tale of Lil's vampire life. However, you DO have to be a fan of super natural romances. The humor falls flat a few times, but the originality of Lil's profession more than makes up for it. And the term "BORN vampire" was stressed and used way too often before the story finally got around to explaining exactly what that meant. Otherwise though, I found the story to be a delightful way to spend an evening at home. I look forward to the next release in the series. ****


Reviewed by Detra Fitch of Huntress Reviews.

I am pretty ambivalent about this book. It fell somewhere in the middle. Plot was ok .. interesting mystery trying to determine who framed Lil for murder. The writing style is very casual and relaxed, lots of (comments in asides). It began to get a little annoying.

But, the story is interesting. There is heat between Lil and her vampire bounty hunter, and it's fun to watch the characters fight the chemisty between them. Lil's mom is a hoot.

Overall, it's not a keeper, but I'm still glad I read it. Hoping that book 3 can grab me the way the first in the series did.

For just a moment, Lil Marchette is on top of the world as it looks like she is about to land her biggest match up client yet. Then, her life goes to heck as the cops arrive to arrest her for murder. True, she is a vampire and that does carry with it an implication of such things, but she would not kill, especially not in the manner described. So, Lil goes on the lam, seeking refuge with handsome, but unfortunately made-vamp, bounty hunter, Ty Bonner. Of course, she can't let her business just slide, so she tries to balance trying to find out who framed her, resisting Ty, and dealing with her nutty family with keeping Dead End Dating afloat. The results are hilarious.

**** Lil's saga is simply fun. If you enjoy Stephanie Plum's adventures, then you will probably love these as well. The same wry humor infuses every page and the character driven plot keeps you interested from the start to the end. ****

Reviewed by Amanda Killgore, Freelance Reviewer.

Though some others may not get her, I adore Lil Marchette. Our heroine is witty, bold, and has a flashy sense of style. Some simillarities must be drawn to Betsy from Mary Janice Davidson's Undead series but Lil is not a carbon copy. Though they likely do shop for the same fab footware!

Though Lil's mother is usually breathing down her neck while throwing eligable single born vampires her way the matron of the Marchette family has bigger problems when Lil's youngest brother actually falls head over heels in love for a human. Lil doesn't have time to enjoy her mom's distraction though as she has a little problem of her own. It's not every week that a girl ends up on NYPD's most wanted list, on the lamb for allegedly committing a murder. Juggle that with trying to find 28 hunky alpha men for a pack of horny werewolve women next door and the stress of living with an extremely yummy( in more ways than one) made vampire bounty hunter and Lil's got a lot going on at the moment.

The book ends with a great teaser and I can not wait until October when Your Coffin or Mine? hits stores! Just a note though: this book is not a stand alone novel but part of a series. It's the second book behind Dead End Dating - the name of Lil's latest business venture. Though you could get by with out reading the first book, why would you when it's so enjoyable?

Murder. Fashionista and owner of Dead End Dating, Lil Marchette, can't believe it when she finds out she's wanted for murder. While Lil is a born vampire, she prefers her blood bottled and the only murder she might be contemplating would occur at a Liz Claiborne designer closeout sale. Besides, polyester is absolutely NOT something Lil intends to be caught wearing! Luckily, sexy bounty hunter and made vampire, Ty Bonner, is willing to help.

DEAD AND DATELESS is the hilarious sequel to DEAD END DATING. While each book is technically a stand alone, some of the terms and relationships may not immediately click if you haven't read the first book and the humor builds on the previously established relationships. Also, Lil's character is a bit more flighty in DEAD AND DATELESS than she was in the prior book as her motivations for keeping her matchmaking service open aren't as apparent in this sequel.

Kimberly Raye definitely knows how to write a story that is humorous with just the right touch of mystery to keep it interesting. I have to admit that I missed Francis from the first book and the Howdy Doody/ Richie Cunningham concept didn't seem to work quite as well. However, DEAD AND DATELESS is still one entertaining story as Lil's misadventures had me laughing out loud on more than one occasion. Lil's penchant for turning even the most awful situations into a positive really made this storyline work.

DEAD AND DATELESS is a lighthearted approach to vampires that fans of MaryJanice Davidson's Betsy series will appreciate. Lil is a riot with her devotion to fashion, providing the perfect contrast to Ty's more down-to-earth approach to life. DEAD AND DATELESS is just the sort of book to read when you are feeling down as Kimberly Raye does an excellent job at keeping the story light. DEAD AND DATELESS is definitely one for my keeper shelf!

COURTESY OF CK2S KWIPS AND KRITIQUES

Lil Marchette doesn't have the superiority complex, the arrogance or the aristocratic attitude of a born vampire. While her mother wishes she would find a born eternity mate and have babies, Lil is more interested in getting her business Dead End Dating up and running. She caters to vamps, born and made, shifters and other worldly beings that want to date.

At present she is trying to find twenty-eight alpha males to mate with female weres who are only fertile during a lunar eclipse. She is also trying to figure out who would be a good candidate to date a female were Chihuahua. During the height of the busy season, the police arrive with an arrest warrant. Using her vamp powers she escapes their clutches and seeks help from made vampire Ty, a sexy bounty hunter. Through his contacts they find out Lil is accused of killing a male client and the cops have overwhelming proof including her DNA. Ty thinks someone who hates her is framing her but Lil doesn't think she has an enemy in the world. While he tries to find the real killer, Lil is fighting him to let her out of his sight so she can conduct business and get away from the sexual attraction that threatens her resolve to make it with a potential born eternity mate.

Fans of MaryJanice Davidson and Erin McCarthy will definitely want to read this light hearted vampire paranormal tale that has elements from the romance and chick lit subgenres. Lil is a strong woman who doesn't take much seriously but what she does care about she gives it her full attention. Ty is a cipher wrapped up in an enigma meaning he is the typical alpha stud who communicates on a primitive level. Readers will thoroughly enjoy this second book in Kimberly Raye's trilogy

Harriet Klausner

Lil Marchette, an immortal born vampire, owner of Dead End Dating, seeker of killer outfits with designer labels...is wanted for murdering a client.

This believer in happily-ever-afters sleeps in Hello Kitty pajamas, drinks her blood from a bottle, and is holding out for her very own soulmate for eternity. How could she possibly kill someone by chopping them into tiny little bits?

She turns to Ty Bonner, a gorgeous bounty hunter (and made vampire) to help her clear her name. He smells wonderful, looks delicious...and is soooo off limits to Lil in the vampire social arena since born vampires only marry other born vampires.

Running her business away from the office becomes a logistical nightmare, but she's got clients to match and a deadline to meet if she wants to get paid.

Time is running short, stress is running high, and her labido shifts into overdrive when she's forced to go into hiding with Ty by her side. Their mutual attraction becomes irresistible, and Lil gives in to her craving...mostly. Phenomenal sex but no sharing blood.

Lil discovers the killer's identity when an attempt is made on both her and Ty's lives.
Her quick thinking saves them both. The killer is caught, Lil life returns to normal after being cleared of all charges, and her clients are thrilled.

Now if she could convince her heart Ty's touch wasn't more than just good sex, everything would be perfect. And if he ever decides to show up or talk to her again, she plans to let set him straight.

This book is pure fun! Light, not too shallow, and a very quick read.

I love Lil's sassy attitude and her totally addicted-to-designer-clothes weakness. We've all been there, right?

Add to that the universal mother chant of "Why haven't you found a good boy to marry and give me grandchildren?" conflict. That's a pressure that would drive any girl crazy...maybe enough to kill!

And the romance? The sizzling hot connection between Lil and Ty leaps off the page. This conflict keeps the push/pull attraction between these two characters going strong.

I yearned for Lil to stop fighting herself and give Ty a chance. When she finally did, I cheered from the sidelines. Who wouldn't? He's an ooberliscious alpha male with rugged charm to spare.

With Lil and Ty's relationship unsettled, I can't wait for the next book so I can see how things will heat up between my favorite shopaholic and her dreamy bounty hunter!

Waaaay too many silly comments in parenthesis by the writer. I could only stand about 30 pages of it before I threw the book away.

This is book 2 of the series and I can't wait to read the next. The series is very entertaining. They are also funny, interesting and captivating! Must reads for Vamp readers!

Thanks for the book! It came really fast considering I'm over seas and what not. I appreciate the quickness!