MaryJanice Davidson
Royal Treatment (2005)
Author: MaryJanice Davidson
Genre (and subgenre): Romance (Comedy)
Plot Summary:
Having had all she can take of her boss’ groping, Christina Krabbe (“the “e” is silent!), jumps ship in Alaska, a separate country above Canada. Alaska is not only a separate country. It is, in fact, a monarchy with a very unusual, very laid back royal family. King Alexander (“call me ‘Al’”), while attempting (unsuccessfully) to lead a tourist fishing trip incognito, meets Christina and decides that she would make the perfect bride for his penguin-obsessed eldest son, the Heir Apparent, Crown Price David. Once Christina has been convinced (yes, she needed to be convinced) to marry Prince David, she proceeds, comically, to prove just how well she fits into the royal family, despite blatant t-shirt slogan and haiku abuse. Threats of and attempted assassination are the only serious elements in this book. Get ready for a laugh-out-out romp!
Geographical Setting: Alaska (alternate universe)
Time Period: Present
Appeal Characteristics:
Character-driven, Laugh-out-loud Comedy, Alternate History, Alaska, Cinderella-type Marriage, Penguins, Witty Dialogue
Similar Authors: More popular for her vampire and werewolf series, a good real-alike for her witty contemporary romance is Erin McCarthy.
Red Flags: Graphic Sexual Content, Sexual References, Profanity, Violence, Reference to Capital Punishment, Gratuitous Haiku
Undead and Unemployed (2004)
Author: MaryJanice Davidson
Genre: Romance (Contemporary/Vampire)
Plot Summary:
Betsy Taylor is a vampire. In fact, many people think she is Queen of the vampires, a title she does not appreciate. Four months after her death she has decided that it's time to look for gainful employment. In a lucky turn of events, Betsy, a shoe obsessed vampire, is offered a job in Heaven (the Mall of America) at Macy's. This means designer shoes and a discount! Everything is going well until Eric Sinclair, the annoying but sexy, king of the vampires comes back into her life. She soon realizes that she is still attracted to him despite past events. Then she finds out that someone has been murdering vampires in St. Paul and she might be the target. Now Betsy, with the help of Sinclair and her friends, must find a way to stop the murders while trying to keep her job. SPOILER: Betsy eventually becomes involved in a relationship with Sinclair again and is fired from her job. She discovers the person responsible for the killings is actually, Monique, one of the
new vampires in town that she had befriended. Monique tries to kill Betsy so that she can have Sinclair all to herself. Betsy survives the attempt on her life and kills Monique.
Geographical Setting: Minneapolis/St. Paul Minnesota
Time Period: Present day (2004)
Series: Undead series
Appeal Characteristics:
This light, humorous chicklit novel is fashionable and full of surprises; it is both a paranormal romance with elements of mystery and a story about finding love in the vampire monarchy. The novel is character driven. Main character, Betsy Taylor, is well-developed, independent, and likeable, with a quick-wit whom reader's can identify with. The dialogue is witty. The pace is fast with interesting plot twists that are genre-blending and well-conceived . Secondary characters are also well-developed and provide interesting relationships throughout the story. There is a lot of attention to fashion, especially pertaining to shoes.
Read-alikes: Readers should check out the rest of the Undead series by MaryJanice Davidson starting with the first book, Undead and Unwed. The series continues with the same strong, witty characters and has the same humorous and interesting plot twists of vampire love. Readers may also want to try Single White Vampire by Lynsay Sands. This story similar for its strong characterizations, humorous tone, quick pace, and is also similar to Undead and Unemployed in relation to its frame of career aspirations and the work environment. Single White Vampire is the story of a vampire who writes family biographies that become misconstrued as romance stories and in the process, falls in love with his editor. Another title with a fashion setting, Blood is the New Black by Valerie Stivers, is the story of an intern to a fashion magazine, Tasty, who falls in love with the magazine's photographer but finds the job surrounded by vampire fashionistas. Angel with Attitude by Michelle Rowen, is a good choice for readers desiring a strong main character who is both sassy, sexy, humorous, and independent. This novel also offers a lighthearted view of life after death and confronts good and evil in a paranormal romance setting. The book is about an angel who falls down from heaven for committing a sin. The angel must find the key to heaven but struggles with human life and her desires for another fallen angel, temptor demon Nathaniel. For more books in a paranormal romance series, try Girls Guide to Witchcraft by Mindy Klasky. This book has great characterization at a quick pace relating the story of a librarian who discovers a secret room full of magical books that she uses to conjure love spells. For a novel with strong plot and interesting twists try Dead as a Doornail by Charlaine Harris. This novel, with strong characterization, lighthearted mystery and humor, is another paranormal romance where a telepathic main character works to track down a serial killer who is murdering shape-shifters. The main character must work to save her brother, a were-panther, who is a suspect in the murders. For a humorous, paranormal romance, with a strong main character and interesting secondary characters, try Katie MacAlister's You Slay me, part of paranormal romance series, where a woman conjures a demon in the form of a Newfoundland. The demon is the gate keeper to hell and main character seeks the help of a sexy dragon who is responsible for several murders in the underworld that the main character is attesting her innocence to.. Books by Julie Kenner, such as Carpe Demon would be another good bet for readers who enjoyed the quirky characters, humor, fast pace, and supernatural themes. It involves a suburban housewife who is a retired demon hunter that is drawn back into the demon fighting. For another witty book with interesting characters and a female protagonist vampire who likes designer clothes and shoes, readers might try Bitten & Smitten by Michelle Rowen. This book is about a woman who is recently turned into a vampire who learns how to survive and avoid vampire hunters from an attractive older (600 years or so) vampire that she is falling in love with. Readers might also try the Anita Blake series, beginning with Guilty Pleasures, by Laurell K. Hamilton. These books are fast paced with a strong female character and supernatural elements with a little romance. These books have a more serious tone and follow a female vampire slayer who often acts as an amateur detective. Readers can also try Kitty in the Midnight Hour by Carrie Vaughn for another fast paced and humorous paranormal story. It involves a female protagonist who is a radio DJ that starts a late-night call in show for the "supernaturally disadvantaged."
Red Flags: Violance, profanity, and some graphic sexual content
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