Undead and Unwelcome (Betsy Taylor Series #8)

not your typical Betsy read

*Warning: may contain spoilers for those new to the Besty series, as well as, my bitter/blunt point of view*

You have been warned so here goes ....
I have to say that the Undead series is probably my favorite series. I love the characters and the dynamic created by their interaction. The previous books have presented the reader with a hilarious eventful ride. However, the newest addition saddens me. I understand that the last books have deviated from the very explicit sexual side notes (which my deviant self enjoyed) in order to appeal to a broader audience. But seriously, even without all the lewd sex, Unwelcome fell short. The interactions obviously weren't there since the group was separated throughout the entire book. The whole Cape Cod werewolf Council was long winded with very little happening. Big surprise Betsy is pretty much unkillable *sarcasm intended*. Since the group is halved, Davidson decides to incorporate Marc's insight by way of journal entries. I personally don't care what Marc's thinking. He definitely adds to the banter, but the book has been told by Betsy's point of view. Why deviate now? Speaking of banter, Unwelcome completely lost the great verbal duels. Sure there's a squible here and there, but nothing to right home about. Too much of the book is spent inside Betsy's mind. I love Betsy's narcissistic two cents, but she spends too too too much time explaining previous story lines. FYI: the series has a cult following. We are not newbies and therefore remember: (a) the difference between the Ant and Antonia, (b) how they died, (c) the whole "Monkeys Paw" story and where BabyJon came from, and (d) that Laura is the very unstable daughter of the devil/Lena Olin. In future installments, I hope Davidson spends more time on plot than on explaining what has happened thus far. Didn't we get a "here's-the-story-up-to-now-in-no-particular-order-sidebar"? Lastly, since Davidson is unable to rewrite the book according to my tastes, I would like to petition the future incorporation of more Tina time. Tina is a great side character. Unfortunately, the only glimpses the reader gets of Tina is via email or 5 second interludes with Marc. I enjoy the little innocent looking, pansy eyed ninja warrior/royal secretary. Whether she's serving Sinclair his newspaper and tea or going screw loose nuts to protect the King and Queen, Tina adds a quirky spark to the mix.

11 out of 11 people found this review helpful.

First disappointment in this series

I've loved this series from the start, but Undead and Unwelcome fell very short of the previous books. For starters, it should not have been a hardcover - I'm a little disappointed that I paid hardcover price for such a short story. Second, it read as though Ms. Davidson is getting sick of her own characters and just quickly churned out SOMETHING to satisfy her publisher/contract. This seemed more like an outline to the "real" novel.

If you haven't read any of the previous books in the series, forget starting with this one - you'll be completely lost. Up until this book, each character's personality and storyline was revisited, and done so quite subtly, so that the reader really got to know everyone. This story was so rushed and pieced together (especially with the whole backstory of Marc's diary entries on the subplot - which made no sense whatsoever), that it was just plain frustrating to read.

This one - plot, dialogue, characters - fell flat.

5 out of 5 people found this review helpful.

Undead and Unwelcome

This was another quirky romp in the Queen Betsy saga. As always, the wit & zippy dialogue were tasty brain candy. The Wyndam wolves (especially the future pack leader) were a nice change as well. Somehow, though, this book fell a little flat near the end with the sisters' battle. I was especially happy to see Marc getting more page space. I get a little annoyed when the the gay character is kept off screen and Marc has spent too much time in the emergency room away from the action. And while the climax at Cape Cod was a bit of an anti-climax, I found it emotionally satisfying because when you lose a dear friend in the end all you can do is grieve. So I enjoyed my short visit with Betsy and the gang and am looking forward to the next installment.
IMO author Mary Janice Davidson can string words together, can paint a wonderful character profile, and makes characters who would normally seem unattractive come to life in a way that makes them sympathetic. I just didn't see all that in this installment. Sorry, 4 stars.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Not liking #8 as much

The other books in the undead series I breezed through, enjoyed and raved to others about. This one was a little painful. It took 3xs as long for me to read. I just couln't get into it, there was so much recap of past books it lost it's touch. The diary writing was a goofy way to keep the at home going ons in the book. I agree with a lot of the other reviews this book could have been summed up in a few pages rather than stretching it out for 280 by adding useless recap after recap, and usless trivial thoughts.
I am interested to see if MJD reads and takes notes of any of these reviews and #9 will be better. Bring the old style back! If you like the series you should read this one just because but don't pay full hardcover price. Share with others, library or something cheaper. Not worth the $.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

And...

While I have always enjoyed MJD's writing, this book seems to be a throw away; 85% rehashing of events from her earlier books, 5% new information, 5% new story and 5% interesting. And that's being kind. The book is expensive and the type font is HUGE so you get very little new story for the buck. I expected more from this author that to spit out a book like this with so little thought to it. Obviously, this author is getting lazy. While I have been a huge fan of the Betsy storyline and have recommended MJD's books to friends, this book is a slap in the face to her fans by wasting our money by delivering the promise of a new story and giving us 5% of one. A HUGE WASTE OF MONEY!

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Weak installment

This is one of the weakest installments in this series and seems more like writing something for writing's sake rather than because there was a story that needed telling. The main plot of Betsy and Sinclair making their case to the werewolves concerning previous events is so uneventful it could be summed up in a few paragraphs...not that the story needed to be shorter. Short and uneventful as it was, it seems it would have been better served by being combined with the next installment. Laura's freak out is a mere escalation of her previous behavior and is completely unsurprising. The fact that it isn't resolved in this story isn't surprising but disappointing. There just wasn't enough plot here for a whole novel. Marc's diary seems more gimmick than interesting turn, especially as his part in the plot was as usual, barely important.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Not What I was Hoping For

I am a huge fan of this series and was extremely excited for this installment to come out. The day it came out, I walked to the Barnes & Noble 20 minutes from my school during my lunch so that i could get it because I just couldnt wait! I was a little put off by what I had to pay for this book, but thought it would be well worth it because I've loved the rest of the series...I've decided it may be more worth waiting to get the next one from the library.

I was extremely dissappointed by Undead and Unwelcome. Too much time was spent of recaping the events of preveious books, unnecessary in my opinion because those reading the eighth book in a series are likely to have read the books that came before it and know what's going on.

I was curious to know what was going to happen in the book, so it did keep my attention, just not in the ways I was hoping. I disliked the journal entries from Marc, I personally don't care what he is thinking.

Overall I think the book was ok, but not great and that the series has become more about book sales than creating an interesting book that people are going to love.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Too short

This one was ok but it could have been better. It was short and not as funny. Hopefully the next ones are better.

Sinking into crap

The series is getting worse. It's like all the fun is slowly being sucked into a void and the characters are doomed to a dark and evil existence. read it if you're curious to see what happens next in the series, but I would rather have skipped this one.

Delightfully funny!

This book is delightful in the wacky "dead" life of Betsy. Davidson allows those lesser characters to shine. I found this book entertaining and fun. A good read!

Disappointing

The wit and storyline in the previous books that I loved so much seems to be lacking in this book. Hope it's not a sign of things to come.

Awful New Writing Style

While some writers can pull off two character style; this is not a good example of it. I do not understand why the editor and publisher didn't call her on this. I realize she is not a great writer, but this example was very poor. I also wonder is she reads any of her previous books in this series as she often mixes up her facts.

Good Read but next Book ruins it all

This series of 9 books is a fun read until the last 2 pages of book 9 everything that the author lays out about the characters and the history of them is a complete and total lie and so after reading the last 2 pages in book 9 everything prior is a waste to read. They are a fun read and entertaining but just be aware that the author completely ruins it all in those last pages. I am liked the books but with the plot twist I am sorry that I paid what I did for the series

I LOVE BETSY!

Vampires, weres, ghost, satan, shoes! What more could you ask for in a book?? I have read and reread all the books in this series and I can't wait for the new book to come out! This series is an easy read, hard to put down and just fun. The characters are great and easy to relate to, even Satan! The plot has good twist, some drama, some romance, (some shoes) and it makes for a great read. I really enjoy my "Betsy" time and I hope the author continues writing this series for a long, long time! This is my "fall back" (when I need something to read) series and I love it. YEAH BETSY

Undead and .....series

This series is a good one to read when you just want to pass the time and not have to try to figure things out. Light reading for rainy days or when trying to fall asleep. I enjoy some of the quirks of this series but I honestly do not follow it as closely as alot of my authors because the main character is very flighty, and self centered and cares more about her shoes then other people. I have a very hard time identifying with her or feeling sympathy for her. I like the writers style and the plots are good so I do read them when I come across them.

Good

This one is awesome. I love her little twist and turns. This series is great. One of a kind and just awesome!

Love this series!

I stumbled on these books at Barnes and Noble because the book cover stood out to me. I really like the old style of them. With that said, I'm very sad that they changed the covers to look all contempory! Now I have 6 books with the old style which I like and 2 with the new style which I don't like. This really is the only thing about this series that I'm unhappy with. The story line is different, funny and romantic at the same time. I love all the different interactions with the different species. Betsy does have a habit of talking to herself a lot. I think the author can cut back a little on that now. I'd like more on her and Sinclair. Not necessarily romantic, although that's good too; but more of them being a team. More them together. These books are a really quick read too, way too quick. I wish each one was longer!

Fun, flirty novel

If you're looking for a fun book to read to take your mind off of the hectic activities of life, this is definitely it. It's cute and entertaining (and definitely not something to be taken too seriously ;p). I would highly recommend this to anyone looking for something to make them laugh.

nice

I love this whole serise and cannt wait untill then the next

Dead Storyline

I'm done. I will probably not buy another book in this series. They have lost all of the fun loven' unique flavor that they once had. Betsy is back and she is her normal self. Her husband, brother, sister, roommates and friends are all around as well. What is missing in this book? The plot! It picks up right where the last one left off and basically covers a week in the life of Betsy. I could care less that the devil is pushing her sister to be bad. The characters aren't evolving and the story line is very very flat. I would stop reading the series before this book!