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Dead End Dating (Dead End Dating #1)

3.65 of 5 stars 3.65 · rating details · 2,484 ratings · 100 reviews

BITING IS SO LAST SEASON.

A vivacious vampire with a flair for accessorizing, Lil Marchette is unlike most of her kind. She prefers lively shades of pink to dismal black (soo not her color), plus she’s a hopeless romantic. In need of a steady paycheck to support a compulsive cosmetics habit, Lil starts Dead End Dating (DED), a Manhattan-based matchmaking service that helps...more

Paperback, 334 pages

Published August 29th 2006 by Ivy Books (first published 2006)

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Jan 15, 2009 Christine rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: series

So the narrator is a little bit too much of a Valley Girl, despite aristocratic French roots. So she talks obsessively about designer goods. (Which I'm not entirely opposed to, by the way.) Still, I found myself interested in the book. It puts a slightly different twist on the whole vampire lore while still being pretty funny. Honestly, the storytelling style kind of reminds me of the Jen Lancaster books --- which you must read if you haven't.

All in all, the book can be a little annoying at time...more

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Dec 31, 2009 Tara rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: paranormal-mystery, read-in-2009, vampires

2.5, another upbeat it was ok. I think the thing that really turned me off to this book is that fact that the narrator was not the kind of person (or Vamp) I like spending time with and since she's the voice of the story. I really don't follow clothes and fashions and so the constant interjections about what people were wearing started to get really old, really quick. Plus, it was hard to root for her to get the guy when I really didn't like her, and dreaded the thought of hearing their interact...more

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Jun 22, 2008 Anita rated it 1 of 5 stars

Shelves: paranormal-romance

Yuck! I recommend against reading this novel. It's chicklit paranormal romance, which I like, but it's poorly done. The characters are not particularly loveable, the fashion references seem extraneous, and there are enough inconsistancies in the book to think that it desparately needs a good editor. The plotline was fine, and I liked the concepts behind most of the characters, but MaryJanice Davidson this author is not.

Basic idea: Barbie doll type vampire chick sets up dating service for all ty...more

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Nov 29, 2008 Elizabeth rated it 4 of 5 stars

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Oct 16, 2011 Jody rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: vampire, library

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

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Sep 12, 2009 Corinne rated it 3 of 5 stars

After a slow start, the story eventually drew me in. This first book in the "Dead end dating" series follows the story of Lil, a born vampire (as opposed to a made vampire) and her quest to be a matchmaker for humans, vampires, and "others". Humans don't know about any of the other species wandering the planet. Lil runs into a little wrinkle when she is attracted to a made vampire (Ty), which is strictly taboo in born vampire society.

Each vampire series runs just about the same course as far as...more

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Oct 14, 2012 Cornelia rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Inhalt:

New York, Manhattan: Gräfin Lilliana Arabella Guinevere du Marchette, von ihren Freunden kurz Lil genannt, entstammt einer alten und respektablen Vampir-Familie. Um dem Drängen ihres Vaters zu entgehen, der sie am liebsten als Mitarbeiterin in seiner erfolgreichen Copyshop-Kette sehen möchte, beschließt Lil eine Dating-Agentur zu gründen. Doch ihre Klienten sind keine gewöhnlichen Sterblichen, sondern einsame Vampire, liebestolle Werwölfe und andere übernatürliche Wesen. Da kommt eines Ta...more

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May 26, 2009 Kathleen Burket rated it 5 of 5 stars

Dead End Dating (DED) the kind of book to which I turn when I know that I need to laugh or need something to make me smile. DED is a lighthearted paranormal that pokes fun at fashion mavens, glam girls, and entrepreneurial business people through its over-the-top heroine, Lil Marchette. As silly as Lil can be sometimes, she stills manages to win you over with her efforts to reach out to Francis, a geeky 1,036-year old born vamp, and Esther Crutch, a robust-figured made vamp who was turned shortl...more Dead End Dating (DED) the kind of book to which I turn when I know that I need to laugh or need something to make me smile. DED is a lighthearted paranormal that pokes fun at fashion mavens, glam girls, and entrepreneurial business people through its over-the-top heroine, Lil Marchette. As silly as Lil can be sometimes, she stills manages to win you over with her efforts to reach out to Francis, a geeky 1,036-year old born vamp, and Esther Crutch, a robust-figured made vamp who was turned shortly after the turn of the last century when the norm for women was to be a bit more rounded. Esther is a delightful character who also appears in subsequent books and isn't quite with the current century.

Lil is surrounded by her crazy family. There is her father who has selective hearing unless the conversation is about "money, the Knicks, or money." Her mother is an active member of the local vamp "Happy Hunting Club," a sort of Junior League for female born vamps, and lives to find her daughter an eternity mate. In this first book in the series you are also introduced to her three older brothers: Max, the eldest, who seems to be interested in his father’s arch rival and next door neighbor, Viola Hamilton, a werewolf and president of the "Naked and Unashamed Nudist Sisterhood (NUNS)" (Where will this go? Heh, Heh, Heh); Rob, her next oldest brother, who in a future book will become involved with **** *** (You didn’t expect me to spoil the surprise, did you? Heh, heh, Heh); and Jack, the closest brother in age to Lil. MAJOR SPOILER NOT HERE: Jack plays a big role in a future book and gets involved with someone of whom mom may not approve (Is that the sound of maniacal laughter? Heh, Heh, Heh).

Lastly we meet the "massively H-O-T," but forbidden (he’s a made vamp), Ty Bonner who has an on-again, off-again relationship with Lil throughout the series. I am pulling for Ty, he is "yummy," and I can’t wait for Sucker for Love, Book 5, due out June 23, 2009.

This book DOES NOT delve into modern social issues, explore the dark side of human nature, or contemplate the meaning of existence. It DOES entertain, charm, and warm your heart for a little pink bat who would flap her arms out for family, friends, or a "fantabulous" sale at a rockin’ department store.
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Nov 05, 2012 Amy rated it 2 of 5 stars

It wasn't horrible, it wasn't amazing..It sat somewhere in between. I think where it lost me was all the fashion/designer descriptions (what people where wearing, and what accessories they had...details about shoes etc) being that I don't sit around for hours drooling over a Dior dress (or any dress for that matter) I suppose that is what took away from the book for me personally (which is completely my fault not the book/author)

I found the Lil to be a bit annoying with her valley girl mentality...more

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Jan 08, 2009 Lori Whitwam rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: chick-lit, vampire

A pleasant chick-lit paranormal. Lili is fun, though the "voice" is even a bit casual even by chick-lit standards. A 500 year old "born" vampire (vastly superior to "made" ones) with a preference for pink, and expensive body bronzer, she refuses to work for her father's chain of copy stores, and starts a dating service for the dead and humans, and anybody else who is lonely. It doesn't go smoothly! Then she meets a "made" vampire bounty hunter, on the trail of a serial kidnapper or killer who is...more

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Feb 05, 2010 Chelle rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: paranormal

This book is disappointing in both plot and character. The 'heroine' acts and sounds like a bratty, materialistic child - instead of a five-hundred-year old vamp from a wealthy and prominent family. (Every time she denounced something "SO totally over," or "last season," my eye twitched.) She's also extremely conceited and over-describes every designer outfit she's wearing. And since I didn't like her, why would I care at all about her clothes?

I might understand the use of such a vapid and unlik...more

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Mar 27, 2011 Gaby rated it 3 of 5 stars

The Dead End Dating series is...just alright. The books don't have enough oomph. Not enough thrills. Not even enough love IMO, though the main character is a matchmaker. The summary and mythology sound great on paper, but much of the dialogue is quite repetitive.

After having read the first four books, and part of the 5th, my single biggest complaint is how often a designer brand is thrown about in the books. Yes, Kimberly, I wholly understand that Lil Marchette is gaga for Gucci, Chanel, Hermés,...more

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Oct 26, 2010 Renee Rearden rated it 3 of 5 stars

I liked this book. The storyine capitalizes on the idea of a vampire looking for "happily ever after" with a twist. Lil (I won't use her whole name...it's way long) has the same issue with parents thinking they know what's best for their children the rest of us humans or other preternatural creatures encounter. Who wouldn't admire a gal with enough hutzpuh to start her own business, a dating service that finds love matches. While this book sits on the romance fence, it is a sweet, light kind of...more

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Apr 09, 2012 Grace rated it 3 of 5 stars

Cute romance a la Mary Janice Davidson. Lil is a 500 year old born vampire who is totally into fashion and in love with love - very un-vampire like. Her parents want her to work at one of their Midnight Moe's (a copy shop) franchises. She wants to run her new matchmaking service - Dead End Dating. In the process she matches up some couples, lusts after a made vampire, and helps solve a crime. [return][return]While cute, it's not perfect. Lil is a bit one note about the fashion thing. The support...more

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Apr 08, 2010 Alma (aka Mrs. Rhaw) added it

Shelves: it-wasn-t-meant-to-be

April 8, 2010
I really did my best. I read 108 pages but I simply cannot anymore. It might be the fact that I'm reading German translation...but maybe the book is really not good. Who knows maybe one day.....

March 31. Got this book at the local library today. Was embarrased by my almost six year old son whose comment, after seeing what I was checking out, was: MOMMY CAN YOU READ ANY BOOKS WITH NO VAMPIRES! The librarian gave me a smile ;-) and I was crimson red. This is what happens when self-ch...more

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Aug 19, 2009 Anica rated it 1 of 5 stars

Shelves: paranormal-romance, chick-lit

Oh boy, this book started really promising...and went down the drain really quick. *sigh*

Maybe it was predictable since I am not a huge fan of woman who only think of shoes, brands, clothes, brands, how awesome they look, brands...oh and have I mentioned brands?
Seriously, did this author get money for mentioning every possible fashion designer, make up label, shoe designer and what not? I believe so.

Well, I could have deal with it if at least the story was halfway decent, but it was NOT. As I me...more

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Jul 26, 2010 E_northman rated it 2 of 5 stars Recommends it for: vampire lovers, fashionistas

Shelves: vamps-galore

Normally I am a sucker (no pun intended) for any kind of vampire fiction, but I have had a hard time getting into this one. The main reason is probably that Lil, the heroine, was not my cup of tea. She is too superficial, conceited ("he's a MADE vampire") and her endless descriptions on what everybody is wearing are tiresome. While a little bit of shallowness (see Vampire Queen Betsy) can be funny, this was not the case here. I'm not entirely sure yet whether I should even read the second book w...more

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Sep 10, 2011 readinrobin rated it 3 of 5 stars

A quick read, that was enjoyable for the most part. The author puts her own spin on vamp mythology, with two classses of vamps, born vamps and made vamps, who do not intermarry. Born vamps can have children with their eternal mate, and when choosing a mate they don't consider love or feelings. A female looks for a mate with a high fertility rating, and a male looks for a mate with a high OQ - orgasm quotient - as the more orgasms she can have in a single session of love making, the more eggs she...more A quick read, that was enjoyable for the most part. The author puts her own spin on vamp mythology, with two classses of vamps, born vamps and made vamps, who do not intermarry. Born vamps can have children with their eternal mate, and when choosing a mate they don't consider love or feelings. A female looks for a mate with a high fertility rating, and a male looks for a mate with a high OQ - orgasm quotient - as the more orgasms she can have in a single session of love making, the more eggs she can produce and the higher her chances of conceiving. Made vamps are unable to procreate.

Lil Marchette is a born vamp, who is also a romantic. She has started a matchmaking service, catering to both vamps and humans. She would like to find an eternity mate for herself, but she also wants someone she can actually love. Her mother is constantly trying to set her up and get her to settle down. One of Lil's first big clients is Francis, a geeky born vamp who blushes whenever a woman talks to him. If she can make him over and find him a mate, then her business should surely take off.

In the meantime, she meets Ty Bonner, a bounty hunter who is after a serial kidnapper. Ty comes to her office to warn her to be on the lookout as the kidnapper may be meeting his victims through dating services. Ty is a made vamp, and Lil is surprised and dismayed at how attracted she is to him, and keeps reminding herself that born and made do not get together and it would never work.

The story and the dialogue were enjoyable, though Lil is a little too on the chick lit side, being overly obsessed with fashion and clothing and such. Her assistant is a human who knows nothing about Lil's vamp side, and it was a little hard to believe that she never wondered about her nocturnal boss. Ty was a great character, but was around way too little, though I gather he'll be in future books in the series. He seems attracted to Lil also, and hopefully something will come of that, despite Lil's reservations.

Where the book turned sour for me was during Francis' transformation. Lil has fixed his wardrobe and messed with his hair, but she isn't satisfied with him. So she takes him to her parents' next door neighbor, a werewolf, and talks her into keeping him for the weekend. I never really understood the point of that exercise, how spending the weekend with werewolves was going to make Francis more confident, and when Lil picks him up Sunday night he seems to be a quivering mess who no longer blushes - because they overly spray tanned him - and who can't stop blinking.

I have the second book in the series so I'll read it, but I'm not really sure yet how eager I'll be to continue after that. (less)

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Sep 16, 2010 Erin rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: paranormal-romance

I was a bit reluctant to start on this endeavor, for the back cover description sounded a bit too cutesy for me. Also, I enjoy male vampires with female humans as the main characters, but I of course was curious about this one and am as addicted to series as vamps are to the red stuff. Pleasantly, this book was very different, focusing basically only on vamp-vamp relations, involving humans to a lesser degree, and injected so many unusual and new twists to vampirism that it was almost like readi...more
I was a bit reluctant to start on this endeavor, for the back cover description sounded a bit too cutesy for me. Also, I enjoy male vampires with female humans as the main characters, but I of course was curious about this one and am as addicted to series as vamps are to the red stuff. Pleasantly, this book was very different, focusing basically only on vamp-vamp relations, involving humans to a lesser degree, and injected so many unusual and new twists to vampirism that it was almost like reading about a new race entirely. Vampires are matched based on this orgasm rate for female, and fertility rating for the male. There are born vamps, and made vamps. Both groups are snobby toward each other and rarely interact.

I have seen comparisons in other reviews between this one and Mary Janice Davidsons' Undead series, but I digress. The protagonist does share the same fashion obsession, although not necessarily Betsie's die-hard shoe fetish, but she is no way over the top annoying. Her situation is completely different, goals endlessly varied, and all interacting characters from another world outside the 'undead' one. In other words, if you don't enjoy that series, you can still enjoy this one for they're not the same.

Liz is a bit irrational at times, but she's a fun gal to follow. She has a pleasant heart and an interesting outlook in the vamp world on love, romance, the whole nine yards. Her mother is constantly trying to set her up, which makes for truly funny moments. Her father is in constant battle with the neighbor werewolf, which also proves amusing.

She's surrounded by three brothers whom her parents have different standards for. It's almost like there is analogy for this in the book (as with how women are rated) that matches the human every-day life reality stuff. Ty does sound hot, although I'm not sure on the sugar endearment, and I was disappointed things didn't progress a bit more with this installment. Hopefully the second, please? He did irritate me with his comments on her softness, however, as he made fun of and looked down on her a bit too much sometimes.

If you're in the market for intense vampires, steer far away. There's no dark and ghastly here, even in terms of other vamps. It's all very light, fluffy, and a fast read that's humorous but not overly so, with plenty happening at all ends to keep things spicy. Raye's writing style is very different, not cloying and overdone but extremely spruced up and addictive. Add in a serial murder story that needs uncovering, and the pages fly by. The book does not stand out enough to rate a four star, but I'm very eager to read the next book :)(less)

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Oct 18, 2009 Steph rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2009, series-ongoing, author-웃, series-book1

I have read all of MaryJanice Davidson's Undead series, really enjoy all of Michele Bardsley's Broken Heart, OK series and could look past a lot of Marty's babbling about color-wheels in Dakota Cassidy's Accidental Friends series, but this one ... I just don't know if I will read any add'l books in the series. That would definitely be a first for me - once I read book 1, if it's a series, I gotta read the rest. I have had this book on my TBR list for a long time and an Oct reading challenge gave...more

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Sep 15, 2011 Jaime rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2011, paranormal, romance

This was a fun read, but there’s not a lot of substance to it. You can draw some comparisons between this and MaryJanice Davidson’s Undead series, but not a lot of them. Lil and Betsy are really only similar in that they are very style conscious. Otherwise, Lil is *much* less annoying.

Raye’s vampires are either made or born that way, and there isn’t a lot of mixing between the two. And the general population has no idea they exist. Lil is a born vampire who believes in love, and she’s backing up...more

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Jul 11, 2008 Daelith rated it 1 of 5 stars

Shelves: bookcrossing, 2008-read

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

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Apr 18, 2008 Jackie rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: urbanfantasy

Lil Marchette is breaking with traditions of her born vamp family and looking ot make her own way. She starts a match-making server called Dead End Dating to help other vamps and humans find The One.

She takes on a project, a vamp client named Francis, in an effort to re-make him and find him a mate. In the mean time, she's dodging the men her mother tries to fix her up with and struggles to get her business off the ground.

Then Ty Bonner blows into town looking for a serial killer who uses sing...more

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Aug 08, 2009 Starling rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: fiction, paranormal

Written at page 8: Very much in the MaryJanice Davidson school of vampire books. Very light and rather funny. I'm not turned off by the materialism of the character (and by page 8, which is where I am, I would have been). It sounds cute so far and I'm going to continue to read.

Written at page 150: I got about half way through the book. And my review probably has more to do with me than with the author. It was OK. I just can't say I liked it, so 2 stars, not three.

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Nov 05, 2009 Margaret rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: chick-lit

Every time my mom visits, she brings me a stack of books. Some are thought-provoking and life-changing. Some are like this one.

It's goofy and cute and girly and funny. It's not difficult to read - in fact, I accidentally read this one in about 3 hours, because it was just light enough to keep me entertained without being annoying. Well played, Kimberly Raye.

Plus, it was near Halloween. I deserve a pass for that reason alone.

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Dec 21, 2012 Jenn rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: ebook, vampire-romance, werewolf-romance

errr well this book didnt meet my expectations it was ok but theres no sex in this book there's also no romance for the main character yes ok she did kiss a guy but no happy ending for her? im confused this is supposed to be a romance book....with no romance.

will read book 2 to see if it gets better, i must say it did keep me reading up till early hours of the morning because i was "waiting?" for something to happen...it didnt

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Apr 14, 2013 Andrea rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: read-paranormal

Well...I picked this one up in an used book store. In fact, I picked up the entire series for the cost of one book in the hopes I would like it.

I didn't hate it. I didn't love it. I liked the premise - vampire starts a dating service for supernaturals...ad humans. But, the main character was just a bit too ditzy for me and I wasn't crazy about the first person POV. Still...it was a quick read and I will be reading the next to see how they go

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Aug 27, 2008 Amanda rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: chick-lit, fiction, vampire-books, read-in-2008, authors-kimberly-raye

My best friend gave me this series to read and warned me that the first book was okay but the rest were worth reading. So I was prepared to not really like this book from the beginning. It was better than I anticipated but still not great. The charcater of Lil really irked me with her self-centeredness and obsession with clothes. I mean, she gets staked and the first thing she is worried about is her dress! Just a little too shallow for me (and I like shallow, love the Becky Bloomwood series. bu...more

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Dec 17, 2012 Kelly Johnson rated it 3 of 5 stars

I was hunting around for a book to read and happened upon this one. The comparisons to Janet Evanovich made me curious. I'm an avid Urban Fantasy reader so I jumped in eagerly.

The book wasn't bad. Unfortunately it wasn't greatly engaging either. The premise was good but it was a bit too light of a read. A bit more depth in the back story was needed to make this a truly engrossing book and unfortunately the richness was not present.

I rarely say this about a book but: Great premise, mediocre execu...more

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Dec 02, 2012 Beccie rated it 2 of 5 stars

WOW an-noy-ing!!!!! I was very disappointed. I wanted this to be a funny vamp romance but what I got instead was valley girl vamp barbie. Lil's voice was like nails on a chalkboard. And the authors take on vamps was ridiculous. They stop aging when they have their first orgasm and a male vamps fertility rate is determined by how many orgasms he can give. UGH come on seriously????

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About Kimberly Raye

I've always been an incurable romantic. While I enjoy reading all types of fiction, my favorites, the books that touch my soul, are romance novels. From sexy to thrilling, sweet to humorous, I like them all. But what I really love is writing romance--the hotter the better!

I started my first novel back in high school and have been writing ever since. To date, I've published over thirty novels, one...more

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