The Undead Series – Betsy – Love, Laughter, and the Undead

Book 1: Undead and Unwed

Betsy Taylor turns 30, gets laid off, is killed by an SUV, and wakes up dead all in the same week. The vampire community is convinced she’s their prophesied Queen. But she’s not having any of it—she’s got shoes to buy! And now the undead world is being turned upside-down by a Bela Lugosi throwback and her subjects expect her to take care of it!

Why didn’t she read the handbook? But her would-be consort, Eric Sinclair, is (annoyingly) ever-present. If only he wasn’t so tall, dark, gorgeous…and undead.

Honorable Mention for Best Vampire in LoveRomances.com 2004 Golden Rose Reader’s Choice Awards!

Book 2: Undead and Unemployed

Betsy Taylor is back in this sequel to Undead and Unwed. Not willing to “live” off her friends, she lands her dream job selling shoes at Macy’s, much to the dismay of her consort/King, Eric Sinclair, who is as loyal, protective and hot as ever. Not that Betsy has any interest in him (or does she?).

And now, vampires in her kingdom are being attacked and staked by a mysterious gang. Can she solve the mystery in time to save her kingdom? Can she stop spending all her wages on shoes? Can she resist the charms of Eric Sinclair—does she want to?

Romance Reviews Today — “Entertaining, wicked and delightful.”

Winner 2004 Romantic Times Reviewer’s Choice Award for Best Vampire Romance!

Quill Award Nominee!

Book 3: Undead and Unappreciated

Most women would love to live as royalty, but Betsy has found that being vampire queen has more problems than perks, except for always being awake for Midnight Madness sales. It may be easy to find blood (yuck) in the dark of night, but try finding a strawberry smoothie. And employees at her nightclub Scratch have been giving her nothing but grief since she killed their former boss. Some people…

But Betsy’s “life” takes an interesting turn at a baby shower for her wicked stepmother, who lets it slip that Betsy has a long-lost half sister. Now twenty years old, this woman just so happens to be the devil’s daughter…and destined to rule the world.

Voted #4 Best Romance of 2005 by the editors at Amazon.com!

Romantic Times 2005 Reviewers’ Choice Award in the Vampire Romance category nominee!

Book 4: Undead and Unreturnable

Even the undead celebrate Christmas, and Betsy is in heaven shopping for gifts.

But all is not merry in the mansion. It’s become infested with ghosts—really needy ones who have no qualms asking Betsy to run errands for them to rectify their pasts. Meanwhile, a serial killer is on the loose, and, being tall and blonde, Betsy perfectly fits his type.

They say Christmas is a time for friends and family. But with a half-sister who’s the devil’s daughter, an evil stepmother, a friend living in her basement, and assorted spirits and killers running amok, Betsy is not sure she’ll survive the holidays. Oh, right. She’s already dead…

“This is one of the most funny and satisfying series to come along lately. If you’re fans of Sookie Stackhouse and Anita Blake, don’t miss Betsy Taylor. She rocks.” -The Best Reviews

Book 5: Undead and Unpopular

I tapped my pencil on the pad, trying to come up with a plan to tell my fiancé, Eric Sinclair, that I had decided to completely give up the blood-drinking thing. I figured being the vampire queen had a few advantages—as it was, every vampire I’d ever known had to drink every day, even Eric.

But I could go up to a week without so much as a drop of O-neg. So, in honor of my birthday, and being in this job for a year, I figured I’d give it up completely. I would be in a blood-free zone!

Vampire Queen Betsy Taylor already has plenty on her plate. For one thing, next week is her birthday—the big 3-1 in human years, and one in undead years. (Yes, she bit the dust on her birthday last year.) On top of that, she still has wedding plans to finalize—and it’s not helping that the prospective groom is avoiding anything to do with it.

And then there’s her decision to stop drinking blood—something she has yet to share with Eric Sinclair, her fiancé—who also happens to be the vampire king.

The last thing she wants to deal with is uninvited guests, even if they happen to be the powerful European vampires who have finally come to pay their respects the week before her birthday.

Some of them don’t want Betsy as their queen and will do anything to get ride of her. As if turning 30 last year (not to mention dying) hadn’t been traumatic enough. And trying to give up blood is making her really cranky.

Book 6: Undead and Uneasy

• You are cordially invited to the wedding of
• Elizabeth Anne Taylor and Eric Sinclair
• 607 Summit Ave
• Midnight, July 4, 2007

RSVP by June 25, and don’t be like one of those jerks who don’t RSVP and then shows up with three people. Seriously.

In the days leading up the The Big Day, Vampire Queen Betsy Taylor seems to have a full house—and the wedding guests have yet to arrive. Along with her human buddies, there’s a ghost, a werewolf and a Fiend crashing at her place.

And though her fiancé, Vampire King Eric Sinclair, conveniently disappears when the conversation turns to seating charts and flower arrangements, he does manage to make his oh-so-sexy presence known at other moments.

Betsy knows the next few weeks won’t be smooth sailing—but she never expects just what’s in store for her. Cold feet are no surprise, especially with an undead groom. But when Sinclair truly goes missing—and not just to avoid wedding preparations—along with most of her friends and loved ones, Betsy is frantic.

Alone and afraid for the fate of everyone she loves, Betsy can’t trust anyone as she tries to find them and whoever is behind all the disappearances. And what happens next will shake the foundation of the vampire world forever in the best-selling series that according to The Romance Reader’s Connection, “breath(es) new life into conventional vampire lore.”

Book 7: Undead and Unworthy

Seventh in the hilarious New York Times best-selling series featuring Vampire Queen Betsy Taylor—now with a hot new look.

No one does humorous romantic fantasy better than the incomparable MaryJanice Davidson” (The Best Reviews), and nobody reigns over the undead with more savvy than her heroine Betsy Taylor, back to rule the nights as Vampire Queen––and survive the days as a new suburban bride.

But it’s not all marital bliss. Betsy’s husband, Sinclair, has been perusing The Book of the Dead, Betsy’s being hounded by a ghost who’s even more insufferable in death than in life, and a pack of formerly feral vampires has decided to pay an unwelcome visit…

Book 8: Undead and Unwelcome

Betsy Taylor has problems that only a vampire queen/suburban wife could possibly understand. Such as taking the body of her werewolf friend Antonia—who died in her service—to Cape Cod, where she’s not sure if the Wyndham werewolves will welcome her with fangs or friendship.

Meanwhile, her posse back in St. Paul is sending frantic e-mails alerting Betsy to her half-sister’s increasingly erratic behavior. Looks like the devil’s daughter is coming into her own—and raising hell.

Reached number 14 on the New York Times best-seller list.

Book 9: Undead and Unfinished

MaryJanice Davidson once again proves that her humorous New York Times best-selling Undead series is unlike any other. In Undead and Unfinished, the ninth novel featuring the adventures of Vampire Queen Betsy Taylor, Betsy strikes up a deal with the devil.

Now, Betsy has the ability to read the Book of the Dead without going insane and she finally gets the chance to discover all the dark mysteries it holds. When a visit to Hell turns into a time traveling journey filled with risky encounters, Betsy gets more than she bargained for.

As she interacts firsthand with her past generations, Betsy’s meddling will impact the future in ways she does not yet understand.

Book 10: Undead and Undermined

Vampire Queen Betsy Taylor thought she couldn’t die. So what’s she doing in the morgue? It could have something to do with a time- traveling trip she made, and a foe with a wicked agenda that could finally be the real death of Betsy-if she’s not careful.

Book 11: Undead and Unstable

The 11th book in the best-selling Undead series featuring Queen Betsy will be released in June 2012! Check out the Coming Soon page for a sneak peek (warning: spoiler alert).

Check out the next installment of the best-selling Undead series, Undead and Unstable. For the most up-to-date information and sneak peeks, visit MaryJanice Davidson’s Facebook page.

Get excited! Check out an excerpt from the next Undead book!

CHAPTER ONE

I used to be one of those weirdos who liked funerals; you believe that? People always wear their best shoes to funerals. Not weddings. They’ll scope their closet, they’ll think about the bride or the groom, and they’ll go, “yeah, I can wear these, I don’t need to go to the mall”, and they think nothing of wearing last season’s pumps.

But if it’s a funeral, they’ll think, “aw, jeez, I was so mean to Aunt Ginny that time and now she’s dead”, and out come the new Guccis.

Me, I was so lucky. So lucky. I was so lucky I didn’t know how lucky I was; I’d think, “jeez, Aunt Ginny was such a jerk to Cousin Brian, I wonder what he’s gonna wear to her funeral?”. I never had to go to the funeral of anybody I really really loved. Well, except for my dad’s. But I spent most of that funeral in a state of high piss-off, so my focus was elsewhere. (It turned out an evil librarian was out to get me, and not—for a change—owed from all the overdue charges from late returns. And there was a cursed engagement ring involved. Nightmare. The whole thing. Just awful.)

My focus was often elsewhere and, too often, my focus was often in the exact place it should not be. Case in point: my dead friend Marc. (Also: the future, but I can’t think about that right now. One soul-shriveling crisis at a time, please.)

Once, a long time ago (in my head, I mean…in real life, it hasn’t even been five years), I talked a man out of committing suicide. Two weeks ago, he killed himself. I’m ashamed because I didn’t see it coming. How’s that for the Lex Luthor level of lame? Who doesn’t see someone they know to have suicidal tendencies committing suicide? He practically wrote it on his forehead in red Sharpie.

I wasn’t at his funeral, by the way. Nobody was. He’d strictly forbidden one in a number of letters he’d left for me; he also left his diary. Words, words, they were all over the place. He was nagging me more in death than he had in life, which was a pretty good trick given that, nag-wise, he trailed only behind my friend Jessica. Okay, and maybe my mom.

I couldn’t stand to read too much of his stuff at a time. I’d cry, and then look ugly, and cry harder, and make my husband sad, and then we’d sad-fuck. Which is great, but sad. (Thus the name.)

Still.

The stuff I’ve read. It’s like he knew he was going to die within a few years of meeting me. But he doesn’t say how he knew. It’s all over his diary, it’s all over his suicide letters. Who writers suicide letters? He wrote me a suicide manuscript, the heartless bastard…he knows if it’s not Gone with the Wind or Pat Conroy I’ve got zero interest. He knew he was doomed, he had a plan, but what he never said was why.

I found that kind of curious.

I never find anything curious. So I figure it’s a time-travel issue, or a me issue. Now, I’m not pulling a Mary Sue thing here, but I am the Vampire Queen. One of my best friends killed himself so that Evil Me From The Future (EMFEF, pronounced “emfef”) wouldn’t turn him into a horrid nasty Marc Thing.

So, yeah. I’m pretty sure it’s not all about me, but it’s definitely a lot about me.

So. Time to get to work.

Don’t get too comfy being dead, Marc.

I’m coming.

Book 12: Undead and Unsure

Undead and Unsure is the twelfth book in MaryJanice Davidson’s popular paranormal romance series, Undead, featuring the unconventional vampire queen Betsy Taylor. The series has garnered a significant fan base due to its humorous and witty approach to the supernatural world, as well as its engaging and relatable characters.

Synopsis:

In Undead and Unsure, Betsy Taylor, the newly crowned Queen of the Vampires, finds herself grappling with the responsibilities that come with her newfound position, as well as the complexities of her personal life. Having recently returned from Hell, Betsy is still trying to make sense of her experiences and the significant changes in her life.

The book opens with Betsy attempting to get her life back on track, only to discover that her best friend, Jessica, is now a ghost. Meanwhile, her half-sister, Laura, the Antichrist, continues to struggle with her own destiny and the uncertainty of her future. Laura’s fate is further complicated by the arrival of a mysterious stranger, who seems to have a hidden agenda.

As if that weren’t enough, Betsy’s husband, Sinclair, is acting distant, and she begins to suspect that he’s keeping secrets from her. Alongside all these personal challenges, Betsy must also contend with her duties as the Queen of the Vampires and the various factions vying for power within the supernatural community.

As tensions rise, Betsy finds herself navigating a world filled with danger and intrigue, unsure of who to trust and how to protect her loved ones. With a perfect blend of romance, humor, and supernatural suspense, Undead and Unsure keeps readers enthralled and eager to see how Betsy will overcome the obstacles in her path.

Notable Characters:

• Betsy Taylor: The protagonist and newly crowned Queen of the Vampires.
• Sinclair: Betsy’s husband, a powerful and enigmatic vampire.
• Jessica: Betsy’s best friend, who has become a ghost.
• Laura: Betsy’s half-sister, who is also the Antichrist.
• Mysterious Stranger: A new character with a hidden agenda, who complicates Laura’s destiny.

Overall, Undead and Unsure is a captivating continuation of MaryJanice Davidson’s bestselling series, with its signature mix of humor, romance, and supernatural intrigue. Fans of the series will enjoy following Betsy’s journey as she navigates her new role as the Queen of the Vampires, while also juggling the complexities of her personal life.

Betsy the Vampire Queen

The first 4 of the Undead stories available in one hard-cover book!

See what others have to say about the Undead series!

• “With her hot-selling tales about a beautiful, wisecracking vampire queen from Edina, MaryJanice Davidson has sunk her teeth into a career most writers can only lust after.” -Minnesota Monthly
• “Davidson’s witty dialogue, fast pacing, smart plotting, laugh-out-loud humor and sexy relationships make this a joy to read.” – Booklist
• “A bawdy, laugh-out-loud treat!” – Book Page
• “Smart, sarcastic, frequently profane and manically inventive.” – The Southwest Florida News-Press
• “This romantic comedy with an undead heroine should entertain readers looking for light diversion, and then send them searching for Davidson’s other novels.” – The Advocate (Minnesota)
• “Offbeat and zany humor are hallmarks of this refreshing and original series. There is no way you can be depressed after a visit to Betsy’s wacky world.” – Romantic Times Bookclub
• “Before long, Betsy is caught up in another hilarious, outrageous romp that takes off in all directions, reprises past characters, and has more than one unexpected twist. This latest novel in Davidson’s popular series…adds to the Minnesota-based author’s reputation as a major player in the chick-lit paranormal market.” – Library Journal

Betsy Bride of the Vampire

Now available in one book, books 5 through 7 of the Undead series and Dead and Loving It!

See what others have to say about the Undead series!

• “With her hot-selling tales about a beautiful, wisecracking vampire queen from Edina, MaryJanice Davidson has sunk her teeth into a career most writers can only lust after.” -Minnesota Monthly
• “Davidson’s witty dialogue, fast pacing, smart plotting, laugh-out-loud humor and sexy relationships make this a joy to read.” – Booklist
• “A bawdy, laugh-out-loud treat!” – Book Page
• “Smart, sarcastic, frequently profane and manically inventive.” – The Southwest Florida News-Press
• “This romantic comedy with an undead heroine should entertain readers looking for light diversion, and then send them searching for Davidson’s other novels.” – The Advocate (Minnesota)
• “Offbeat and zany humor are hallmarks of this refreshing and original series. There is no way you can be depressed after a visit to Betsy’s wacky world.” – Romantic Times Bookclub
• “Before long, Betsy is caught up in another hilarious, outrageous romp that takes off in all directions, reprises past characters, and has more than one unexpected twist. This latest novel in Davidson’s popular series…adds to the Minnesota-based author’s reputation as a major player in the chick-lit paranormal market.” – Library Journal

Final Words