Just Kickin' It » maryjanice davidson

Faeries Gone Wild – Anthologies

Jac Star — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 22:00:28 +0000

This is a book of four short stories by four different authors.

First, Tall, Dark, and not so Faery by MaryJanice Davidson. In this story, a faery comes across a house full of supernatural beings. Her job is to count them, but this is no easy feat. She meets the man of her dreams. A separate love story unveils itself as well.

I really enjoyed this one. MJ Davidson was the reason I bought the book, and thankfully, she did not let me down. You get to know some pretty unique characters, but Davidson doesn’t go into too much detail. Just gets your appetite wet for some more!

Second, Pixie Lust by Lois Greiman. In this short story, a faery meets a developer and they fall deeply in lust. That’s basically the story. Yet for some strange reason Greiman decided to spend over 100 pages discussing the lust between the two characters, and only 10 pages on the plot. Lust at first sight. I get it. BORING.

Third, Dust Me, Baby, One More Time by Michele Hauf. A tooth faery becomes jobless as the mothers in her town decide she doesn’t exist. Around the same time she meets a sandman and together they devise a plan to save the tooth faery and be together as well. This one is slow going, but eventually picks up. It’s alright.

Last, A Little Bit Faery by Leandra Logan. A half-breed Luna faery heads to the mortal realm to discover herself, her dad, and a hunky fireman. This story has some substance to it and I thoroughly enjoyed it. There is a back story behind the fireman and the faery as well. It’s not just a love story, it’s got some exciting criminal activity as well. It was a great way to end the book.

Overall, I found this novel just a bit bland. Two good stories, and one mediocre one. It was a good change of pace for me though.

Fish out of Water by MaryJanice Davidson

Jac Star — Thu, 27 Aug 2009 15:24:57 +0000

This is the third and final book in the Fred the Mermaid series.

Fred is the go-between for all “surface-dwellers” and undersea folk. She talks to all the reporters and does all the interviews and answers most of the mermaid questions.

She also gets an official proposal from Artur.

King Mekkam notices the strange disappearance of a good portion of his mermaids and can’t quite place the cause.

Jonas is annoyingly chipper and demands a lot of Fred’s attention as he plans the wedding to Dr. Barb.

Fred is beyond stressed, when her father returns to make an effort in getting to know her and apologizes to the king. Which you can imagine only increases her stress level.

What good would a family reunion be without Dr. Thomas? It’s a good way to end the series.

I absolutely loved the banter between Fred, Jonas, and Thomas in the last few chapters. It made an extremely tense situation, supremely humorous.

Swimming Without a Net by MaryJanice Davidson

Jac Star — Fri, 21 Aug 2009 19:31:42 +0000

This is the second book in the Fred the Mermaid series. It’s been a year since Fred has seen either Thomas or Artur, but life for the most part has returned to normal.

Jonas and Dr. Barb are still together and mating like rabbits. Fred is still working at the aquarium. Both Thomas and Artur have not contacted her once in the year that has passed.

Fred is then summoned to the Cayman Islands for a “family reunion” or a gathering of all undersea folk, led by the King to decide the fate of all the mermaids.

It’s an opportunity to discover her heritage, more about the dirt bag biological father, but also an opportunity to see both Prince Artur and Dr. Thomas again.

Fred needs to make a decision between the two but the choice becomes more and more obvious.

Jonas is invited to the hearing as well but his presence is obnoxious. He can really get under your skin.

I liked Thomas and Jonas each a little less after reading this book, however King Mekkam is just plain awesome! He’s the bees-knees. Love his use of the English language.

It’s a nice segue into the final book of the trilogy.

Sleeping with the Fishes by MaryJanice Davidson

Sleeping with the Fishes by MaryJanice Davidson

Jac Star — Thu, 30 Jul 2009 21:13:50 +0000

This is the first book in the Fred the Mermaid series.

Fred is a half-mermaid, half-human cross with green hair and super strength. She works as a marine biologist in Boston and keeps her mermaid self a secret. She only grows her tail when she knows that no human will see it. She can live and breathe under water, the same as she would on land, so no one is the wiser.

Fred does her job and minds her business. She has very few friends and mostly keeps to herself. Until Thomas walks into her life and requires her help in solving the pollution issue at the lake.

At roughly the same time, Artur shows up and claims he needs her help for the same reasons, and it’s not long before the three form a love triangle. Does Fred choose the Thomas the handsome doctor, or Artur the royal mermaid? Either way, her life will never be the same.

I thoroughly enjoyed this novel. It’s a quick read and a lot of fun. But for a story about mermaids, very little takes place under water.

If you enjoyed the Queen Betsy series by Davidson, you will enjoy these mermaid tales as well!

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Really Unusual Bad Boys by MaryJanice Davidson

Jac Star — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 18:41:46 +0000

This novel is broken down into three short stories called Bridefight, Mating Season, and Groomfight. Each small story is about a prince in another galaxy called the Sandlands.

Bridefight is about Lois Commoner, a woman who has lost her way and ends up in the Sandlands. Prince Damon comes across Lois in the desert and it’s not long before they are wed. Though this was trickery on Damon’s part, Lois still ends up with everything she’s ever desired.

Mating Season is about Damon’s brother, Prince Maltese. He’s having a bath and pondering what life would be like should he ever meet his perfect mate, when Lt. Anne Sanger falls out of nowhere and right into Maltese’s lap. Anne puts up a fight but it’s not long before she accepts her fate as Maltese’s wife.

Groomfight is about the third brother, Prince Shakar. Shakar always feels that he was destined for another place, until one day he falls out of the sky and into the lap of Rica Callanbra. Shakar follows the same path has his brothers before him and it’s not long before the two are “mated.”

I enjoyed the story as a whole but I feel that the third part was a bit weird for me. Getting passed the space-time continuum complexity, I found Rica’s story the most hard to follow.

The only other flaw I found was the title. I understand why the boys are really unusual, it seems that they are from another planet almost. But they are not the slightest bit bad. They are happy, monogamous guys, who live to serve and cherish their wives. They never break any rules, and their hearts are filled with nothing but love.

Perhaps the title should have been “Really Unusual Boys” or “Really Unusual Charming Boys.” Other than that, I really enjoyed this unique story.

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Undead and Uneasy by MaryJanice Davidson

Jac Star — Thu, 21 May 2009 15:44:40 +0000

This is the 6th edition to the Queen Betsy series and it’s a step up from all the other books in the series because it leads in a very different direction.

Everyone goes missing in Betsy’s life. Some people die, others have excuses, but most are just missing in action, including her groom, Eric Sinclair. With less than two weeks before the wedding you can imagine the panic Betsy suffers.

She refuses to believe that the disappearances are anything more than coincidental but once she accepts this truth, she becomes an all new, fierce queen and she proves her royalty to all that doubt… including herself.

I noticed that the 7th book in the series takes on a new look and I was having difficulty understanding why after six of the same Queen Betsy look, why change? But after reading this book, I get it.

Betsy is no longer the helpless damsel vampire queen in distress. She now has the ability to fight her own battles without the help of others, and she still has her love of shoes.

Great edition to the collection and I can’t wait to read the next!

Undead and Unpopular by MaryJanice Davidson

Jac Star — Mon, 04 May 2009 19:46:45 +0000

This is the fifth novel in the Queen Betsy series.

To be honest, I found the beginning of the story a tad confusing. New characters were introduced with the understanding that the reader already knew them.

After finishing the first chapter I went to check the list to see if I had missed a book by accident. I had not. This is indeed the fifth book.

So as far as new characters are concerned, there are quite a few. Sophie, a vampire that reminds me of Tina, and her boyfriend Liam, a human. Antonia (yes another Antonia, which also causes brief confusion), a clairvoyant werewolf dating George the Fiend.

Aside from New Antonia being a werewolf and seeing the future, nothing really happens with her and I’m a bit disappointed. Though it does leave me wanting to read more in hopes that her character will go into some depth.

George the Fiend is now Garrett the Cross-stitcher. Apparently he is no longer a fiend since he is able to throw together some sentences… and some blankets… and has a girlfriend.

The European delegation, ancient vampires, come to pay their condescending respects to the “new” majesties, Betsy and Sinclair, though they’ve been in power for going on a year.

That about sums it up. As always Betsy meets her near death… again. Friends become enemies, enemies become friends.

Betsy anticipates her upcoming birthday and begins to embrace her royal status.

And there is a zombie in the attack.

Another good read, light, fun fluff.

Undead and Unreturnable by MaryJanice Davidson

Jac Star — Tue, 28 Apr 2009 19:23:25 +0000

This is the fourth novel of the Queen Betsy series. Betsy has to plan a wedding, baby-sit her new sibling and stop a serial killer known as the ‘driveway killer’ all while fighting with Sinclair.

Just another typical week for Betsy as Queen of the Vampires.

The “Ant” makes another obnoxious appearance and you just want to smack her one right across the face. Laura, also known as ‘spawn of the devil’ is back as well, and we see a whole new side of her.

I read this book in one day, and I’m not a quick reader. It’s light, easy, and fun. As always Betsy finds herself in trouble and cracks jokes as she recovers.

What’s not to like?

P.S. Loved the epilogue! It’s a very cute way to question what is fictional.

Undead and Unappreciated by MaryJanice Davidson

Jac Star — Tue, 21 Apr 2009 00:35:47 +0000

This is the third book of the Queen Betsy series. A new spin is put on the tale when Betsy becomes evil… for a while.

Some new characters are introduced, friendships are made, and lost, and Betsy has an epiphany. That is about the extent of this book.
I did like the introduction of the devil (especially in reference to Lena Olin, who is super awesome) and I can’t wait to see where the series heads.

Unfortunately, this is my least favourite in the series so far. There was something lacking. The humour and wit was still there but perhaps it was written slightly different? It was more obnoxious than clever.

I will read the rest of the series, and I’ll likely enjoy them. I have faith that MaryJanice Davidson will bring it back tenfold. My guess is this was just a novel to introduce new big characters… Like George. I liked George.

If you’re looking for something light and fun, I’d recommend this series. Just don’t start with novel #3 as you may be disappointed.

Undead and Unemployed by MaryJanice Davidson

Jac Star — Wed, 01 Apr 2009 23:44:02 +0000

This is the second book in the Queen Betsy series.

Betsy is having one rough week as her house is being destroyed by termites, she has no job, awful luck at the unemployment agency, the steamy detective is on to her newly ‘undead’ status, people are killing vampires and as Queen she needs to do something about it, and both vampires and humans want her dead.

She and her friends move into a super fabulous house but too big to be comfortable and now they have all sorts of unwanted guests.

This books is written in the same style as the first. It’s light, witty, and fun. Sinclair is still hot, Betsy is still a shoe-obsessed hot head, and the banter between the two is priceless.

I found that this book was as predictable as the first, unfortunately. Not to say that the first book was predictable but knowing the ending and the bad guy in the first, it’s not hard to guess who the new bad guy will be.

I’ll compare this novel to one of the Stephanie Plum novels by Janet Evanovich. I’d much prefer to read anything by MaryJanice Davidson, as the woman has me in stitches – but her main character makes one or two silly errors, that you’d expect only from the not-too-clever/never-learns-from-mistakes Stephanie Plum.

I will say, however, that Davidson brings some new elements to this book and Queen Betsy finds herself with some new advantages to her royalty.

A must read for vampire and chic-lit fiction lovers!

Sleeping with the Fishes by MaryJanice Davidson