Undead and Unemployed (Queen Betsy, Book 2) [Mass Market Paperback]

MaryJanice Davidson (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 3, 2004

Being royally undead isn't all it's cracked up to be--there are still bills to be paid. Luckily, new Queen of the Vampires Betsy Taylor lands her dream job selling designer shoes at Macy's.

But when a string of vampire murders hits St. Paul, Betsy must 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.

 

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

Queen Elizabeth I, aka Betsy Taylor, is adjusting to life after death as a vampire, but she still needs a job. To satisfy her lust for sexy shoes, she lands one in Macy's, but one night she is attacked by zit-remedy-scented slayers who are targeting female vampires. While trying to find out who is behind the plot, she befriends an adolescent gang called the Blade Warriors and the kindly priest who leads them. Betsy's unwanted consort, sexy Eric Sinclair, king of the vampires, doesn't know how to deal with a vampire queen who sneezes at holy water and wears a cross around her neck, and a charming subplot involving a mysterious five-year-old girl in saddle shoes adds poignancy to this wickedly clever and amusing romp. Davidson's witty dialogue, fast pacing, smart plotting, laugh-out-loud humor, and sexy relationships make this a joy to read. And Betsy's second adventure, following her debut in Undead and Unwed [BKL Mr 15 04], will have readers begging for more. Diana Tixier Herald
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

Review

"Entertaining, wicked and delightful."—Romance Reviews Today



"Chick lit meets vampire action in this creative, sophisticated sexy and wonderfully witty book."—Catherine Spangler

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 18 and up
  
• Mass Market Paperback: 304 pages
• Publisher: Berkley Sensation (August 3, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0425197484
• ISBN-13: 978-0425197486
• Product Dimensions: 6.8 x 4.2 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (126 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #122,656 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #73 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Literature & Fiction > General > Comic

More About the Author

MaryJanice Davidson has been credited with starting paranormal chick lit. The New York Times bestselling author of the Undead series, she lives in Minnesota. Please visit her on the Web at www.maryjanicedavidson.net.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

54 of 55 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Betsy in Manolo Blahnick heaven, August 21, 2004

By 

abt1950 "abt1950" (usa) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Undead and Unemployed (Queen Betsy, Book 2) (Mass Market Paperback)

Some books you read for plot, some for thought, and some for character development. "Undead and Unemployed" is not one of these. Mary Janice Davidson's second foray into Vamp Lit Lite, is a fun piece of fluff to be enjoyed for its laugh out loud humor and general sassiness.

As the story opens, Betsy Taylor, Queen of the Undead discovers that even Queens have to pay their bills, and vampire queens are no exception. So she does what any woman with a footwear fixation would do--she gets a job in Macy's Shoe Department (and gets an employee discount to boot). Between working and dealing with her prickly attraction to Sinclair, she and her friends move into new digs--a mansion as befitting her royal status--and track down a serial murderer of vampires. All of Betsy's old friends are here, and she makes a few new ones as well. There are hints of Anita Blake, Buffy, and other vampire literature in the story line, but Betsy is very much her own vampire.

"Undead and Unemployed" is a book to read when you want the literary equivalent of a bon-bon. Enjoy.

24 of 24 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Book 2 of the Undead..., August 6, 2004

By 

Huntress Reviews (United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Undead and Unemployed (Queen Betsy, Book 2) (Mass Market Paperback)

Dying is supposed to be the ultimate simplification strategy, but for Elizabeth Taylor (Betsy), it just added tenfold to her problems. Not only is she a vampire, but she is the long foretold Queen of the Undead. Unfortunately, it doesn't pay as well as some monarchies, so she needs a job, and winds up working in "heaven", aka, Macy's shoe department. All would seem to be perfect now. She has a dream job, for her at least, a new mansion, curtesy of being best friends with a millionaire, and never has to worry about wrinkles or cellulite again. There are some snags. Sinclair, the Vampire King, is still making himself a nuisance and strongly objects to her working at all, much less in such a lowly position. A local pastor is shepherding a bunch of Buffy wannabes in a vampire killing spree, which is it Betsy's responsibility to stop, and last, but not least, her wicked stepmother has done the unthinkable.

**** Betsy continues to be a charming heroine in this second Undead book that breaks new ground in the vampire and chick lit fields. It will be helpful to have read the first one, but is perhaps not essential. While most vamp books read like an hour long drama serial, this one comes off like a sitcom, making for a breezy and light escape. ****

Reviewed by Amanda Killgore for Huntress Reviews.

18 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Unbeleivably Good, August 6, 2004

By 

Elaine C McTyer "avid reader" (Dawson, GA USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Undead and Unemployed (Queen Betsy, Book 2) (Mass Market Paperback)

Our Vampire Queen with the shoe fetish is back. This time Betsy has decided to get a job to pay the bills. Although Jessica is happy to pay for everything, Betsy still feels she should contribute to the effort, and how is she to buy new shoes if she has no money?

Unbeleivably, she gets her dream job, shoe clerk at Macy's. She could be so happy if those pesky vampires would just leave her alone. Unable or unwilling to admit to her feelings for Sinclair, she throws herself into her job.

Unfortunately, her house has termites, so Marc and Jessica inform her they need to buy a mansion on the Hill. When other vampires begin to die, the Queen must investigate and protect her followers. Or so Sinclair says. The fact that the mansion has 11 bedrooms and a room to use as a morgue, finally convinces Betsy that they need to move.

Sinclair and Tina have been staying in a luxury hotel since his house burned down in the last book. Betsy is not sure how she feels about Jessica inviting them to live with them. But she's pretty sure she doesn't like it.

Now they have a gang of Vampire Killers to confront and then they have to discover who is financing them.

Needless to say we have alot of fun and laughter as Betsy, Sinclair, Tina, Marc, and Jessica, as well as a host of others, fumble and stumble their way to the answer.

This is a fun book, you can't put it down.