Monthly Archives: October 2012

DARYNDA JONES -Death and the Girl Next Door Blog Tour and Giveaway

Posted on by
15

Darynda Jones-Death and the Girl Next Door Blog Tour and Giveaway

Death and the Girl Next Door (excerpt)

By Darynda Jones

I laughed to myself and headed toward the back of our favorite and pretty much only hangout. It sat a mere block from our alma mater, Riley High, and we practically lived in our corner booth. I ducked past the snack counter and into a very dark back hall. Judging by the boxes lining the narrow passage, I’d be taking my life into my hands if I risked a journey to the little senorita’s room without illumination, so I ran my hand along a paneled wall. Where would I be if I were a light switch? Just as the tips of my fingers found the switch, a silhouette stepped out of the shadows and brushed past me. I startled with a gasp.

“Excuse me,” I said, placing a hand over my heart.

“Sorry.” The guy paused slightly before continuing on his way, and in that instant, I saw the makings of utter perfection: a long arm with shadowy curves that dipped around the fluid lines of muscle; a tall, wide shoulder; dark hair that curled playfully over an ear and led to a strong, masculine jaw. Something inside me lurched, craving a closer look at his face, but he walked by too fast and the hall was too dark for me to catch anything else.

After a couple of seconds, I realized my hand had brushed against his arm. It was enough to send a vision crashing into me, like the flash of a nuclear bomb, bright and unforgiving. Tamping down my surprise— I hadn’t had a vision in a very long time— I pressed shaking fingers to my forehead to wait out the familiar storm, to see what treasures would wash ashore in the aftermath.

Yet the things I saw were unreal, impossible, and certainly not of this world: A desolate landscape lay before me with scorched clouds and a roiling, violet sky. The air was stagnant and so impossibly thick, breathing it took effort. Then I heard the clanging of metal. I turned to watch in horror as a being, a boy of no more than sixteen or seventeen, fierce and somehow not quite human, struggled with a dark, monstrous beast. The boy’s arms corded as tendon and muscle strained against the weight of the sword he wielded. He slashed again and again, but the monster was fast, with razorlike talons and sharp, gleaming teeth, and the boy knew what those teeth felt like when they sank into flesh, knew the blinding pain that accompanied defeat. But he also knew the power he himself wielded, the raw strength that saturated every molecule of his body.

Another herculean effort landed a thrust in the monster’s shoulder and continued through its thick chest. The monster sank under the boy’s sword with a guttural scream. The boy looked on while the beast writhed in pain, watched it grow still as the life drained out of it, and somewhere in the back of the boy’s mind, he allowed himself to register the burning of his lungs as he struggled to fill them with air.

Blood trickled between his fingers, down the length of his blade, and dripped to the powdery earth beneath his feet. I followed the trail of blood up to three huge gashes across his chest. Evidently three of the monster’s claws had met their mark, laying the flesh of its enemy open. I gasped and covered my mouth with both hands as the boy spun toward me, sword at the ready. Squinting against the low sun, I could almost make out his features, but the vision evaporated before I got the chance. A heartbeat later, I was back in the dark hallway, gasping for air, one palm pressed against my temple, the other against the wall for balance.
I squeezed my eyes shut, fought the memory of the vision, the fear that summoned the taste of bile in the back of my throat, the feel of blood dripping down the boy’s arm.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

REMINDER:  Our INTERVIEW with Darynda Jones on Monday October 22, 2012

New York Times and USA Today Bestselling Author Darynda Jones has won numerous awards for her work including a prestigious Golden Heart®, a RITA®, and a Daphne du Maurier. As a born storyteller, she grew up spinning tales of dashing damsels and heroes in distress for any unfortunate soul who happened by, annoying man and beast alike. Darynda lives in the Land of Enchantment, also known as New Mexico, with her husband and two beautiful sons, the Mighty, Mighty Jones Boys.

 

For 2 chances to WIN a copy of DEATH AND THE GIRL NEXT DOOR

1.  Enter the Rafflecopter thingee giveaway

2.  Enter The Reading Cafe giveaway by posting a comment along with your email address.  Everyone who posts a comment will be entered into a second giveaway from The Reading Cafe.

The SECOND chance to WIN a copy of DEATH AND THE GIRL NEXT DOOR: The Reading Cafe is offering a giveaway chance to everyone who posts a comment.  That’s right!!  Another copy of Darynda’s new YA release is up for grabs.

Open to anywhere The Book Depository delivers. 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Share

Death and The Girl Next Door by Darynda Jones – a Review

Posted on by
5

Death and The Girl Next Door by Darynda Jones – a Review

 

Death and the Girl Next Door is the first book in Darynda Jones’s new YA series, Darklight. 

Right from the start, we meet our heroine, Lorelei McAllister, and she turns out to be an awesome heroine.  Lorelei is 16 years old, and lives with her grandparents.  She spends all her time with her two best friends, Brooke (short for Brooklyn), and Glitch (don’t ask for his real name lol). It is their friendship that makes this such a fun story, as they were fun, and enjoyable to watch them together, not to mention a loyal friendship.  Darynda Jones does such a fabulous job creating all these characters in this book.    

Lorelei is different, and her two friends know this, as she has visions.  Her parents disappeared years ago, and Lorelei does not remember anything of that fateful day. Her grandparents and her friends are always supportive and try not to let her be alone.  Of course the friendship between the three of them is hilarious, with a lot of Jones’ normal humorous comments, that she has become known for in her Charley Davidson series. 

In the beginning, Lorelei notices that she is being stalked by someone from her school, that she has known since childhood, but now distant.  We meet Cameron, a tall good looking hunk, who seems to only glower at everyone.  Why is Cameron stalking Lorelei?

Enter Jared, the new boy in school, who mesmerizes Lorelei immediately.  Jared looks like a god, with almost every girl in school unable to not stare at him.  But he only looks at Lorelei.  The one thing you see right away is that Cameron, the stalker, and Jared the new kid on the block, seem to hate each other.  They are always fighting, and glowering at each other. 

I did find myself a bit confused very early on, with things going back and forth.  But once things settled down, and you got to know the characters, and especially more about Jared and Cameron, and why they hate each other, then the story flowed. But it took a few things to happen, and some dangerous to Lorelei, to find out what was happening, and why.  So not to spoil things for you, Jared is not human, and does have an ulterior motive for visiting Lorelei.  Cameron, who is human, but has certain abilities, knows everything about Jared, hence his defensiveness toward Lorelei. She then understands that Cameron was not stalking her, but instead he was following Jared, who was following her.  lol

There is no love triangle in DATGND, as Lorelei and Jared are the couple in this story.  Despite what she learns about him, having saved her early on,  Lorelei does trust her feelings for Jared.  She is confused, and trying to understand why he is here for her, and frankly at this point, so are we.  We learn the truth about Lorelei’s visions, and what they mean, but we come to really like Jared.  I wasn’t totally crazy about Cameron, as he was always fighting, glowering, and nasty, but Brooke seemed to be the one to have some control over Cameron. 

The last half of the book was very exciting, tense, with multiple twists, questions and surprising answers.  Lorelei learns about herself, her abilities, as well as everything about Jared.  At times, she finds herself scared, but she knows he would never hurt her, and they do become a great couple that you find yourself rooting for.  She is also a wonderful heroine, as she is tough, compassionate, loyal, and has a nice kick to keep both boys behaving.  lol

The truth is revealed in an awesome plot, which is surprising, and more wide ranging then thought, with so many people involved.  This totally was different, and now there will be so many questions that will still need to be answered.  Darynda Jones has created a wonderful story, with a super heroine, and some great secondary characters.  This was an excellent story, with an unlikely romance that despite its odds, have you rooting for them.  Lastly, I love Darynda Jones’ writing, as she has a way of creating a storyline that puts you into tense action scenes, and out of blue, you find yourself cracking up with her humorous witty comments.  An amazing talent!  I for one, will be staying with this series, and can’t wait for the next book, Death, Doom & Detention. 

LINKS TO ORDER
Amazon / Barnes and Noble / The Book Depository / Books a Million

Reviewed by Barb

Copy provided by Publicist

 

Share

Amityville Horrible and Forbidden by Kelley Armstrong

Posted on by
4

AMITYVILLE HORRIBLE and FORBIDDEN by Kelley Armstrong

 

AMITYVILLE HORRIBLE by Kelley Armstrong from Subterranean Press

Length: 120 pages
(preorder—to be published in January 2013)

Dust jacket and interior illustrations by Maurizio Manzieri

We’re pleased to add a surprise Kelley Armstrong novella to our schedule. Amityville Horrible will be available as an ebook first, before the end of the year, with the hardcover to follow in January. Please note that Amityville Horrible will only be available as a signed, limited edition, with a much smaller print run than our other novellas by Kelley. We won’t be able to offer this title to large online retailers or wholesalers, so a direct order is your best bet. If you have a copy of Kelley’s novella, Forbidden on order, we’ll automatically match your number.

“I don’t run from ghosts.”
His voice, right at my ear. “You will.”

Jaime Vegas—spiritualist, entertainer and, unbeknownst to her audience, real-life necromancer—swore she’d never do another reality ghost show after the last fiasco. But when she’s railroaded into a charity gig, she finds herself back on the set, this time with a cast of photogenic college kids, an up-and¬-coming Russian spiritualist, and a tale of missing girls and murder in New England. It’s cheesy, but that’s show business. With her werewolf Alpha lover, Jeremy Danvers, along to keep her nights interesting, it’s not so bad really. Until the bloody ghosts show up. Jaime has never faced spirits like these, and no matter how hard she tries, they won’t be ignored.

Limited: 1500 signed numbered hardcover copies, bound in leather

Click HERE for ordering information.

 

FORBIDDEN by Kelley Armstrong from Subterranean Press

Length: 200 (tentative) pages
(preorder—to be published December 2012)

Dust jacket and interior illustrations by Angilram

Subterranean Press is pleased to present a long Otherworld novella by Kelley Armstrong, featuring a number of full-color illustrations by Angilram. The Trade Hardcover of Forbidden will feature a full-color dust jacket as well as four full-color interior illustrations. The Signed Limited Edition will have a completely different dust jacket, full-color endsheets, and two additional full-color illustrations not in the Trade.

The team-spirit sign by the side of the highway seems a good omen to loner Morgan Walsh, as he drives to what could be the most important visit of his life—a chance to join the North American Pack. Then he wakes naked in the woods, surrounded by wolf tracks and a ring of suspicious cops. The situation only gets worse when he’s bailed out by Alpha-elect Elena Michaels and Clayton Danvers, her terrifying enforcer and mate.

Disappointed that such a promising young werewolf risked exposing them, Elena isn’t expecting anything from the pesky retrieval job except some much-needed alone time with Clay. Instead, she finds a different kind of evil stalking the streets and forests of Westwood, New York. Trapped in town by a snowstorm and sabotage, Elena, Clay and Morgan must find the mysterious threat before it sets its sights on them.

Limited: 1000 signed numbered hardcover copies, bound in leather, with a different dust jacket than the trade edition
Trade: Fully cloth bound hardcover edition

Important Notes:

If you own a copy of the limited edition of Hidden and would like to match that number, please send a separate email to subpress@gmail.com mentioning the number.

Click HERE for ordering information.

 

Share

FOURTH GRAVE BENEATH MY FEET by Darynda Jones-a review

Posted on by
6

Fourth Grave Beneath My Feet by Darynda Jones-a review

FOURTH GRAVE BENEATH MY FEET ( Charley Davidson #4) by Darynda Jones

FOURTH GRAVE BENEATH MY FEET is the fourth storyline (October 30, 2012 release) in Darynda Jones’ Charley Davidson series focusing on Charlotte “Charley” Davidson as the grim reaper and her no-nonsense approach to getting things done. Darynda continues her amazing and humorous writing style using one-liners and sarcasm, once again ensuring we laugh and nod in agreement with Charley’s take on the reality of the situation. Very few people are safe from our heroine’s tongue in cheek look at life and everything it has to throw at it.

Fourth Grave Beneath My Feet finds Charley hoarding in her apartment about 2 months after her torture at the hands of a man once presumed dead. After her father turned her into the police and shut down her PI business, Charley felt it necessary to hold up in her tiny apartment maxing out credit cards on the Shopping Channel. How many turkey basters does one person need? Apparently 7!!! But hunger and poverty have a funny way of forcing her back into the real world when Charley accepts a new assignment investigating the strange accusations of a woman claiming she is being harassed. And to complicate matters, she hasn’t seen the man who weakens her knees in almost the same amount of time. The only contact with the outside world has been her assistant and BFF Cookie and Cookie’s daughter Amber, but things are about to change. Oh, and a rash of bank thefts by a group labeled the Gentlemen Thieves-the thieves all look very familiar to Charley.

Since her confinement, Charley has not seen her dad. Anger, hurt and feelings of betrayal surface whenever she thinks about the one man she could depend on in her life. But something is wrong with her father and no one has come forward. As she continues to ignore her father’s requests to talk, it becomes apparent that her father may be moving on without her –in more ways than one. The father-daughter dynamic is infinitely strained and worsens when he tries to prove that Charley has changed. He knows more about Charley than she ever thought possible.

The other constants in Charley’s life will continue to amuse us. Mr. Wong is currently buried beneath the rubble of boxes in Charley’s apartment she has labeled Area 51 and Aunt Lil will finally come to realize that she is no longer ‘living’ on this plane of existence but has no desire to cross over and miss out on all of the fun. Angel returns as Charley’s spiritual investigator, but when Charley begins to hunt for Reyes, it is Angel who will lead her into an impossible situation. And Darynda references many previous storylines and premises throughout every novel, to keep the reader well-informed without the need to look back and wonder what we missed.

Reyes is the Son of Satan, a warrior and Charley’s protector. And finding Reyes risking his life time and time again, will force Charley into some situations that will risk both of their lives. Hunted by demons, Charley is slowly learning that she is developing some impossible powers and abilities. But the demons want her to join them in a war between heaven and hell, and the only person standing in the way is the man with whom she is falling in love. And Charley has another guardian of sorts, when Artemis makes her presence known every time a demon attacks.

As Charley and Reyes grow closer, it will be an injured Reyes who reveals more about Charley’s heritage and direction in life. From birth, Charley has known she was the grim reaper, and with that acceptance also comes a price. As one of the demons has stated: they are waiting for the key of darkness to be inserted into the locket of light. Could Charley and Reyes mating be the beginning of the end?

Garrett Swopes returns as a skiptracer with the ability to locate people and things. But Garrett died in a shoot out a few months ago, and his return to the living has come with some complications and information that he would have rather not have experienced. Withdrawing from Charley is his only option when he learns the true nature behind Reyes’ existence and Charley’s potential involvement in the war between good and evil.

As Charley’s ‘harassment’ investigation continues so does the witty interaction with Cookie. Playing off each other’s fears and anxieties, curiosity and inquisitiveness, Cookie and Charley are like an old married couple who know exactly how the other will react. And it is Cookie’s reaction to the horror of Charley’s Shopping Channel nightmare that will leave the reader with a giggle or four.

Reyes and Charley’s relationship continues with the pull of the attraction and the push of fear. As Charley’s fear increases, so do the demon attacks and Reyes’s need to defend. The chemistry and heat between Charley and Reyes is palpable and a little intimidating. But it is Charley’s fear of what happened over two months ago that will have to be resolved before she can take the next step. And jealousy will rear its’ ugly head when it looks like both have someone else waiting should the other one fail.

In the end, a father and daughter will have to make a choice as to whether they will let the past come between them: a young girl will reveal that children are not oblivious to the world around them: what is on the surface can be misleading: and the love a ‘man’ has for a woman, will temporarily quiet the demons-if only until the next book: And a twist in the harassment investigation that you never saw coming.

Fourth Grave Beneath My Feet is a well-written and fantastic instalment in the Charley Davidson series of books. Darynda has once again, drawn the reader into the storyline using humor, sarcasm and the face-to-face confrontations making you feel like you are part of the story. The people are as real as the people you meet everyday with the exception of the paranormal powers and beings. I hope Darynda continues this series for a long time to come. If you need to start a new series, I highly recommend Darynda Jone’s Charley Davidson series. You will not be disappointed.

Copy supplied by publisher.

READING ORDER
1. First Grave on the Right
2. Second Grave on the Left
3. Third Grave Dead Ahead
4. Fourth Grave Beneath My Feet
5. Fifth Grave Past The Light (2013)

LINKS TO PRE-ORDER
Amazon / The Book Depository / Barnes and Noble / Books a Million

Reviewed by Sandy

Share

Authors Against Bullying

Posted on by
12

AUTHORS AGAINST BULLYING

Today October 19, 2012 AUTHORS AGAINST BULLYING campaign. When the recent video of Canadian teen Amanda Todd went viral, it was too late to save the young woman. And what is even more depressing are some of the reactions by people on the social media websites to Amanda’s pain and subsequent suicide.They continued to bully Amanda after her death. AUTHORS AGAINST BULLYING are saying ENOUGH IS ENOUGH.

Author Mandy M Roth and her fellow authors have decreed October 19th as AUTHORS AGAINST BULLYING day. Some are recounting tales of their own horrific childhood experiences while others are still living and re-living the pain with their own children. We all have stories of bullying to tell.

Please check out all of the authors listed in the AUTHORS AGAINST BULLYING campaign and join in with the support against bullying.

For a list and the links of the participating authors please click HERE

For anyone who has not seen Amanda Todd’s CRY FOR HELP video, please take a few minutes to see what bullying can do.

Share

THIRD GRAVE DEAD AHEAD by Darynda Jones-a review

Posted on by
10

Third Grave Dead Ahead by Darynda Jones-a review

THIRD GRAVE DEAD AHEAD by Darynda Jones (released Jan 2012)

Darynda Jones continues the adventures of Charlotte “Charley” Davidson and her battle with all things good, evil, beyond evil and really smexy. I must give praise to Darynda Jones’s writing style. Above all else, Charley’s witty repartee, sarcastic responses, one liners, sassy come-backs with friends, enemies and frenemies would make this series a stand-out. I find myself laughing and thinking…”that is exactly what I would have said (had I been rockin’ the PI badge).” I need a {sarcasm} button whenever I visit chat rooms to discuss books and authors….or perhaps an {insert Charley sarcasm} button. Do you think Bill Gates is willing to {sarcasm} help me out?? Then again, it is Charley’s sarcasm that may cost her…..her life!!

Third Grave Dead Ahead continues a few weeks after Second Grave. As the Grim Reaper, among other things, Charley has some special powers that she is just discovering. Once again, Charley considers a missing person(s) case, but the evidence doesn’t add up. A wealthy doctor comes to Charley in the hopes she (Charley) will find his missing wife, but a mixture of guilt and sorrow pour off the man, and that in itself is confusing. But as Charley and her ‘intrepid’ side-kick Cookie scour for information, more details about the man’s past will surface and more than just one missing and presumed dead wife will tarnish the ‘good doctor’s’ reputation.

Charley’s dad, once again, begs his daughter to turn in her PI badge. Like all fathers, he is concerned and worried about his daughter, but the PI business is ugly, and week and week, Charley is risking her life for clients who are guiltier than the mob. But Dad is not aware of, to what extent Charley’s abilities can stretch. He has ‘used’ Charley with many of his investigations within the APD, since she was 4-5 years old, and that has left the man shrouded in guilt-but a father should never have to see his daughter bloodied, bruised and near death on any occasion, let alone during an investigation. Uncle Bob (Ubie) is aware of who is and what is Charley’s secret identity, and it is Ubie that will not risk his niece’s life; but the tail that is following Charley, maybe too late, in more ways than one. And Charley’s father will once again, try to protect his daughter, but in doing so he will lose more than he bargained. The father-daughter relationship is slowly crumbling and no one is around to collect the pieces of the broken heart. I can only hope, that Darynda has a direction for this particular storyline, because although I understand the guilt and remorse of the father, it is the sorrow and depression engulfing the man, that must be addressed before it is too late.

Much is revealed about some of Charley’s associates including Officer Vaughan and Swopes. Although there is no love loss between Vaughan and Charley, she has the satisfaction of knowing why the man tried to run her over in high school. And Garrett Swopes will risk everything (including his life) to ensure Charley’s safety. But a new man has entered Charley’s life-as an interesting twist at the end of the storyline will show. Although we met Donovan under less than ideal circumstances, there is a connection between he and Charley, and one that does NOT go unnoticed by Reyes. And Cookie has a new man in her life??? I hope we see this relationship grow because it should add some very humorous dialogue to an already great series.

And Reyes. The Son of Satan, who was brought to earth, to be with Charley Davidson continues to haunt every aspect of her life. But when Charley binds Reyes to his corporeal body on earth, he is left unprotected from the demons hoping to secure the Map and Key to both Heaven and Hell. Reyes knows that he and Charley are fated, but she must discover on her own how to use her powers and abilities. Without that knowledge, Charley is risking the lives of everyone on earth. But for some reason, Reyes is not allowed to interfere in Charley’s supernatural development and that is a disturbing. Reyes knows that both he and Charley have a purpose and that they are both hunted for that very reason.

And finally…Earl Walker. Reyes foster father and the man Reyes was imprisoned for murdering. But the extent of the man’s perversion and psychosis goes beyond a story and a few pictures or words. To experience first hand, the torture and degradation from a man as evil as Earl Walker, would scar more than just the body….but the soul. Could that have been the cause of Reyes’s rage and anger? Or is Reyes need and wanting of Charley more than just the knowledge that they will one day be guardian and warriors against the demons from hell. Are Reyes feelings for Charley true or a necessary evil that comes along with the title of KEYS to both heaven and hell.

Third Grave Dead Ahead is another amazing and wonderful storyline from author Darynda Jones. Her sense of humor and quick repartee between the characters will have you giggling and shaking your head. And we all know someone like Charley Davidson-a no nonsense woman willing to go the distance for someone she loves. Let’s hope Charley is loved as much in return.

Copy supplied by the publisher

READING ORDER
1. First Grave on the Right
2. Second Grave on the Left
3. Third Grave Dead Ahead
4. Fourth Grave Beneath My Feet
5. Fifth Grave Past The Light (2013)

LINKS TO ORDER
Amazon / Barnes and Noble / The Book Depository / KOBO / Books a Million

Reviewed by Sandy

Share

FADE Trilogy by Kate Dawes-a review

Posted on by
2

FADE trilogy by Kate Dawes-a review

FADE INTO YOU (Fade Series #1) by Kate Dawes

FADE INTO YOU is the first novella (July 2012 release) in Kate Dawes three-part novella series featuring Olivia Rowland as the Midwestern girl who heads to Los Angeles to work for a Hollywood talent agent. Following in the same vein as many of the serial storylines similar to EL James, Beth Kery and Lisa Renee Jones, Kate Dawes has released this trilogy over a period of a few months. Fade Into You introduces Olivia and Max Dalton, Hollywood’s youngest and brightest movie director/producer/writer.

Olivia’s decision to move to California was two-fold. Following graduation from college, Olivia found a position working for local talent agent Kevin Anderson and moved in with her sister’s friend Krystal from back home. But Olivia was also trying to place distance between Ohio and the past. Hoping that Los Angeles was far enough from Ohio, Olivia embarked on a new career and a new life. And Olivia did not expect to find herself falling head over heals for anyone, let alone Hollywood’s bad boy leading director Max Dalton. When their promising new client was signed by Max for his latest film, Olivia had no idea the position she was about to undertake.

Max Dalton has had his share of women-any woman. But Max, as successful as his is, was missing something, missing a connection with the trail of women who seemingly throw themselves at his feet where ever he goes. And Max was surprised when he spotted Olivia Rowland, the assistant to talent agent Kevin Anderson, in Vegas. Without a thought, Max decided that Olivia was someone he wanted to get to know. But life had a way of interrupting and it wasn’t until he was back in LA did Max find Olivia, once again, and this time, he made sure that they would not be interrupted again. But it was Max’s quick dismissal shortly after their first night together that would have Olivia regretting her decision about Max.

Like many novellas, the sexual relationship is quick to develop, but we do learn that there is some history and a past to each of our leading characters. And it is Olivia’s past that we will encounter first when he arrives at her doorstep uninvited.

FADE INTO YOU is a promising storyline with potential. Like many of the books and series written in the same style, our leading characters are hiding painful pasts and secrets that they are tying to escape.

ORDER: Amazon / Barnes and Noble

FADE INTO ME (Fade Series #2) by Kate Dawes

FADE INTO ME is the second novella (September 2012 release) in Kate Dawes three-part novella series, and this storyline is short. The storyline starts up at exactly the same point where Fade Into You ended. Like many of the other serial type novellas written in the same style, this series is basically a novella broken down into 3 very short novellas. I guess the serial release is a bigger attraction to readers but disappointing when each successive novella is shorter than the previous.

FADE INTO ME follows Olivia and Max as he takes her for a weekend getaway to Napa Valley where Max, at Olivia’s insistence, tells her about his life and family. But when Olivia asked about his previous loves, Max was a little too evasive and Olivia began to wonder if she had overstepped her bounds or if Max was hiding a dirty little secret.

Olivia’s success with the talent agency was earning her high praise from the boss. With a new found enthusiasm and an office to call her own, Olivia was hoping to make inroads into the business. But after a weekend to New York with Max, Olivia’s boss Kevin would point out that perhaps her relationship with Max may hurt both of their careers. When Olivia started to protest, Kevin showed her some pictures and Olivia’s heart sank. Max hadn’t been honest and he had broken her heart.

FADE INTO ME advances the storyline especially as it pertains to some of the background information about Olivia and Max. Like most erotica storylines there is plenty of steamy sex in varying positions and places. Our heroine is no virgin and she knows what she wants and isn’t afraid to try something new. This storyline is not about BDSM, and there are no issues of control or power plays between the couple, which is a refreshing relief at this point.

ORDER: Amazon/ Barnes and Noble .

FADE INTO ALWAYS (Fade series #3) by Kate Dawes

FADE INTO ALWAYS is the third and final novella (September 25, 2012 release) in Kate Dawes’ Fade trilogy. And once again, the storyline continues as the same spot where Fade Into Me left off. There was a major revelation at the end of FIM and our heroine Olivia is so overcome that she is willing to forgo all explanations from the man with whom she is falling in love and jump right into bed. At this point, I digress, because the information revealed ( in the previous storyline) would have put most women off sex with the knowledge that their current love has some major damage control on the horizon.

AS the story progresses, we discover that the information was a little tainted and explanations were required to clear any misconceptions. As well, Olivia’s roommate Krystal is on a fast road to self-destruction when the only available acting work leads her into the darker side of adult entertainment. But it is Olivia’s boss Kevin that will try and take advantage of his assistant when he believes that Olivia is willing to put out because of her relationship with Max. As Olivia’s business life begins to crumble, Krystal will reveal that her involvement in the industry goes much deeper than Olivia had thought.

Throughout the series, we get glimpses into Olivia’s family life back home. Like many Midwestern families, they are worried about their daughter living in LA. But when they decided to come for a visit, Olivia is worried how they will react to everything that is going on. Trying to hide her relationship with Max and Krystal’s spiral into drugs and porn, Olivia will soon realize that she cannot forget the past, and with the arrival of her family, so too, comes the arrival of the man she has been trying to forget.

The FADE series is a quick read. I ordered each book in succession and within a matter of an hour I had all three novellas read and the review written for your consumption. Overall the trilogy is a sexy diversion from everyday life. There is nothing new or revolutionary about the series premise-a rich and famous millionaire who falls for a beautiful young newcomer: each with a past of secrets and pain and of course, the requisite stalkers, roommates and friends. But overall, it had a HEA, a Hollywood style romance and an epilogue that fast-forwarded two years and left you wanting to learn more.

ORDER: Amazon/ Barnes and Noble

Each e-novella is available for .99cent from either Amazon or B&N

The entire trilogy will be released sometime in October 2012 as a single novel and in paperback format

Reviewed by Sandy

Share

SECOND GRAVE ON THE LEFT by Darynda Jones-a review

Posted on by
5

Second Grave on the Left by Darynda Jones-a review

SECOND GRAVE ON THE LEFT by Darynda jones

SECOND GRAVE ON THE LEFT is the second novel in Darynda Jones’s Charley Davidson Grave series. Once again, written in first person POV, we follow Charley and her side-kick Cookie as they investigate a missing person’s case and a cryptic message left on a bathroom stall wall. Blending humor and mystery, Second Grave is another powerful storyline that delves deeper into the relationships that make up Charlotte Davidson, PI (aka Grim Reaper). Oh and we mustn’t forget her bunny slippers, Bugs Bunny comforter, Danger and Will Robinson and the heart stopping Reyes Farrow 😉

Unlike First Grave, there are NO recently departed following Charley around hoping for resolution about their own deaths.  But, that is not to say that some spirits do not make a re-appearance=Angel, Rocket Man and Strawberry Shortcake to name a few.

Second Grave begins when Cookie receives an urgent message from a high school friend-Mimi, who is in need of Charley’s services.  But like all good mysteries, Mimi is no where to be found and although no witnesses recall seeing the woman, Mimi has left a cryptic message on the bathroom stall at a local all-night café.  And to complicate matters, her husband believes she has been having an affair, and has been threatening those he believes are responsible.

Searching through the past, Cookie and Charley stumble upon a 20 year old secret that may soon reveal itself, amidst a Senate campaign.  When all clues point to a cover up, Charley and Cookie soon discover that everyone who knows about the secret is suddenly dying under mysterious circumstances. Although the clues point in one direction, Charley is forced to confront those who do not wish the secret revealed.

At several times throughout the storyline a trio of ‘FBI agents descend on Charlie, posing a threat to her life. But unlike in the previous storyline, Reyes Farrow aka Big Bad has not been present to serve and protect.  And this has Charley worried.  In First Grave, Reyes professed his lifelong protection of Charlotte Davidson, but he is currently derelict in his duties, whenever Charley is faced with a life-threatening situation.  Two knife attacks and a shoot-out do not bode well for Charley, and resulting injuries must be attended. But Reyes will finally explain, that he will be present-if truly needed.

Again, there are several secondary storylines and investigations.  Charley and her father must face some realities as it involves his previous career as a police detective in the APD.  When someone from his past threatens his family, Charley’s father seems willing to risk the life of his daughter to save those that he loves.  Garret Swopes is injured in the line of duty and the prison warden is well aware that Reyes Farrow is not all that he appears.  And like the headlines from gossip magazines and horror stories, Reyes has a following that will both surprise and force you to withdraw into the world of ‘ick’ knowing that there are people out there, willing to do anything for attention and money. Oh and we mustn’t forget about the spirit riding around in the trunk of Cookie’s white Taurus.  His identity will come as a shock to everyone but Uncle Ubie.

Reyes and Charley’s relationship grows as Reyes reveals more about what destiny has in store.  As the story continues, Reyes’s corporeal body’s whereabouts is still unknown as Charley searches in vain.  Knowing that Reyes is continuously tortured for information and the map, Charley hopes to find his body, to stop Reyes from allowing his own death.  But Reyes has warned Charley that she should not interfere.  As the son of Satan, Reyes is well aware of the prophecies and who is the KEY to both heaven and hell.  But Charley’s interference and refusal to back down will now place everyone at risk, and her relationship with Reyes will take them into another direction-one that she isn’t willing to accept.

Second Grave on the Left is another wonderful instalment in the Charley Davidson series by Darynda Jones.  Darynda writes with plenty of humor and  just enough sexiness that your will find yourself laughing out loud.  The character of Charley is a no-nonsense woman, who readily speaks her mind (sometimes without thinking), but as a reader I love the first person POV, as we are able to hear the thoughts and what truly goes through a characters mind when caught in a compromising situation.

READING ORDER
1. First Grave on the Right
2. Second Grave on the Left
3. Third Grave Dead Ahead
4. Fourth Grave Beneath My Feet
5. Fifth Grave Past The Light (2013)

LINKS TO ORDER
Amazon / Barnes and Noble / The Book Depository / KOBO / Books a Million

Reviewed by Sandy

Share