First Grave on the Right by Darynda Jones (second opinion)

I'm not the first reviewer here on the blog to discuss Charley Davidson books. Actually, Lili reviewed and was "Daring You to Read..." this very book a few years back. I don't know why I waited so long to get into this series, but I'm really glad I did. First Grave on the Right is hilarious, fun and witty.

I think it's a perfect book to listen to as an audiobook. To be honest, this was the first audiobook I ever listened to in its entirety. I've tried to listen to books multiple times but I've never quite understood the appeal, until now. The narrator of First Grave on the Right, Loralei King, is wonderful and easy to listen to. The voices and the accents she uses makes it easy to follow and differentiate the characters. She reads the sarcastic comments perfectly and simply "gets" Charley Davidson's humour. Berls from Fantasy is More Fun actually recommended this series based on the narrator, and I think from now on, I'll be making more informed purchases when it comes to audiobooks.

As for the actual story, it's the perfect mix of mystery, paranormal and romance. If it wasn't for the paranormal aspects, the story would actually read like a cozie mystery. It has the humour and the crazy situations of a cozie but the author added this wonderful twist, which is Charley Davidson. Charley is a private investigator/police consultant/bartender/grim reaper. That last job title is obviously not on her business card. When we first meet her, she has a lot on her plate but even with her disorganized life she's able to do her job. She's able to juggle four murders, a comatose prisoner from her past, a mysterious shadowy lover, a mysterious shadowy Big Bad, and oh so many ghosts. As a grim reaper, she can see ghosts, and her job as a grim reaper is to try to help them get to the other side. Wherever that may be. As for being a PI, she got into that business because ever since she was five years old, her detective father and uncle have used her special ability to solve murders.

Charley is the perfect female PI for a paranormal romance. She's smart, courageous and resourceful. Her sarcastic wit is very similar to mine so I feel like we would get along perfectly. Her obsession with coffee borders on unhealthy, but come to think of it, so does mine. Her sensual encounters with a mysterious shadow being are pretty steamy, and the more the being interacts with Charley, the more she's led to believe he's Reyes, a complicated character she once met when she was in high school. Charley knows very little about this Reyes, but the more she investigate, the more she wants to find out. We do end up finding out who and what he is at the end of the book, and although I'm not surprised, it raises so many more interesting questions!

If you're a newbie to audiobooks like me, I highly recommend trying this one out as an audio. If you're reluctant, or simply prefer reading, this story is still a great choice. Be prepared to laugh out loud and get sucked into this grim reaper tale.



https://soundcloud.com/macaudio-2/first-grave-on-the-right-by-darynda-jones-audiobook-excerpt

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by Tynga at Monday, July 04, 2016

 Audio, Charley Davidson, Darynda Jones, ghost, Grim Reaper, Macmillan, Paranormal Romance, Purchased, Review  1 Person left their mark

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Giveaway: Eighth Grave After Dark by Darynda Jones

To celebrate the release of Eighth Grave After Dark by Darynda Jones, St-Martins are providing a price pack for one lucky winner!

Here's more about the series and the latest installment:

First Grave on the Right is the smashing, award-winning debut novel that introduces Charley Davidson: part-time private investigator and full-time Grim Reaper..

Charley sees dead people. That's right, she sees dead people. And it's her job to convince them to "go into the light." But when these very dead people have died under less than ideal circumstances (i.e., murder), sometimes they want Charley to bring the bad guys to justice. Complicating matters are the intensely hot dreams she's been having about an Entity who has been following her all her life...and it turns out he might not be dead after all. In fact, he might be something else entirely.

Charley Davidson has enough going on without having to worry about twelve hellhounds hot on her trail. She is, after all, incredibly pregnant and feeling like she could pop at any moment. But, just her luck, twelve deadly beasts from hell have chosen this time to escape onto our plane, and they've made Charley their target. And so she takes refuge at the only place she thinks they can't get to her: the grounds of an abandoned convent. Of course, if hellhounds aren't enough, Charley also has a new case to hold her attention: the decades-old murder of a newly-vowed nun she keeps seeing in the shadows of the convent.

Add to that the still unsolved murder of her father, the strange behavior of her husband, and Charley's tendency to attract the, shall we say, undead, and she has her hands full…but also tied. While the angry hellhounds can't traverse the consecrated soil, they can lurk just beyond its borders like evil sentries, so Charley has been forbidden from leaving the sacred grounds. Luckily, she has her loyal team with her, and they're a scrappy bunch who won't let a few thirsty hellhounds deter them.
While the team scours the prophesies, searching for clues on the Twelve, for a way to kill them or at least send them back to hell, Charley just wants answers and is powerless to get them. But the mass of friends they've accrued helps. They convince her even more that everyone in her recent life has somehow been drawn to her, as though they were a part of a bigger picture all along. Their presence is comforting. But the good feelings don't last for long because Charley is about to get the surprise of her crazy, mixed-up, supernatural life….

Read an excerpt

visit http://www.daryndajones.com/ for more info!

NO REST FOR THE DEAD prize pack

One (1) winner receives:

• a branded coffee mug,


• plus the complete Charley Davidson series!

Giveaway open to US addresses only.

Prizing and samples provided by St. Martin’s Press.

Giveaway ends June 10th, 2015.

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About the Author

New York Times and USA Today bestselling author DARYNDA JONES won a RITA Award for best first novel for First Grave On The Right. 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. Jones lives in the Land of Enchantment, also known as Albuquerque, New Mexico, with her husband and two beautiful sons, the Mighty, Mighty Jones Boys.

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by Tynga at Friday, May 29, 2015

 Darynda Jones, giveaway  3 People left their mark

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"When I'm not writing..." with Darynda Jones

Today's guest is Darynda Jones, author of the Charley Davidson series. It's a fun, snarky series that Lili and Christine (a previous contributor) have raved about so we're very excited to have Darynda visiting the blog! She's joining us today as part of her blog tour for the newest Charley Davidson book, FOURTH GRAVE BENEATH MY FEET, which came out on October 30.

Keep reading to find out what Darynda Jones does when she's not writing!

 

Hmmmm, when I am not writing, I am usually thinking about writing. However, there is this little thing called life that I have to deal with on a daily basis, oddly enough. Thus, other stuff creeps in. Like laundry. And dishes. *shutters*

Still, putting housework aside, there always seems to be about 137 things that need to be done daily. Even if I am not writing, I am at my computer for more than 75% of my day. I do lots of guest blogs. I do the social networking thing, which I love WAY too much. I am slightly addicted to Pinterest and searching out pictures of Jeremy Renner. Darn that man.

Also, a very important part of my day is my morning workout. It lasts anywhere from 30 minutes to an hour and a half. I am very committed to getting into shape, not just for my shape but for my health. I have the strangest things wrong with me, half of which would be solved by shedding the saddlebags. So that is a new-ish goal. So far I’ve lost 23 pounds, lol. That new wardrobe is THIS close!

In my free *snort* time, I love to read or watch TV. I love watching seasons of TV series so I can study all the different arcs the writers have weaved in. Buffy is a prime example, as is Firefly, Castle, The Gilmore Girls, Supernatural, Game of Thrones . . . there are so many. But I love studying the character, episode, season, and series arcs. They are all so fascinating and each serve a completely different purpose. I believe that if I can understand and incorporate all of those arcs into my work, I can write a better book, a goal I strive for always.

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Thanks for visiting us, Darynda, and have fun with the rest of your blog tour!

For more information about Darynda and her books, check out her website or follow her on Facebook and Twitter.

For more information about Darynda's tour, click on the banner below:

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Here's the scoop on FOURTH GRAVE BENEATH MY FEET:

The fourth in this fun and sexy New York Times bestselling paranormal series: “If you enjoy Evanovich’s Stephanie Plum, you will certainly enjoy Charley Davidson!” —Suspense Magazine

Sometimes being the grim reaper really is that. Grim. And since Charley’s last case went so awry, she has taken a couple months off to wallow in the wonders of self-pity. But when a woman shows up on her doorstep convinced someone is trying to kill her, Charley has to force herself to rise above. Or at least get dressed. She quickly realizes something is amiss when everyone the woman knows swears she’s insane. The more they refute the woman’s story, the more Charley believes it.

In the meantime, the sexy, sultry son of Satan, Reyes Farrow, has been cleared of all charges. He is out of prison and out of Charley’s life, as per her wishes and several perfectly timed death threats. But his absence has put a serious crimp in her sex life. While there are other things to consider, like the fact that the city of Albuquerque has been taken hostage by an arsonist, Charley is having a difficult time staying away. Especially when it looks like Reyes may be involved. Just when life was returning to normal, Charley is thrust back into the world of crime, punishment, and the devil in blue jeans.

Purchase: Amazon | Book Depository

You should also check out the rest of Charley Davidson series.
Click on the cover for our thoughts.

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Do you guys have suggestions for who you’d like to see featured on the blog? If so, you can make your suggestions on this page. No guarantees that your favorite authors will be able to participate but we’ll try!

Authors, would you like to visit and share with us? Please email me at jennblogs (at) gmail (dot) com and we’ll set it up!

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by jenn at Tuesday, November 20, 2012

 Darynda Jones, Macmillan, When I'm not writing  21 People left their mark

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Interview with Darynda Jones + Giveaway

Darynda Jones was kind enough to stop by and let me interview her today as part of the Death and the Girl Next Door blog tour! I love her adult series, so I was really excited to have the opportunity to ask her a few questions. Check out the interview below!

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1. What books/authors inspired you to write?

Sooo many! The first was probably Kathleen E. Woodiwiss. I knew I wanted to write romance the moment I read her. And Stephen King was a huge influence. I read a short story of his in junior high school and was blown away. I knew I wanted to do what he did.

2. I adore your Charley Davidson series, but I'm curious as to what made you want to make the transition from writing adult literature to young adult literature?

Actually, I wrote YA long before anything else, since way back when I was a young adult, in fact, and my love for the genre has never waned. When I started the first in the Darklight trilogy years ago, I knew I wanted to work on another YA project and I wanted it to be paranormal, so I just asked myself, if I were still in high school, who would be the last person I'd expect to see in algebra? Somewhere on that list was the Angel of Death.

But the fun part was figuring out WHY he was there. *insert evil laugh*

3. What proved to be the hardest thing about making the transition from adult literature to young adult literature?

Since I wrote it first, not a lot about it was hard. Writing is hard period. Don't let anyone try to convince you otherwise, but the transition was a breeze. What I'm finding, though, is much of my "Charley" audience is expecting the same thing in the YA. It's hard to switch genres on your readers. Some will follow you anywhere. Some will wallow in disappointment until your next 'regular' book comes out. But I expected that so it was no surprise.

4. If you can only describe Death and the Girl Next Door in five words, what words would you use?

Death and secrets change everything.

5. How did you come up with Lorelei's story and such a unique plot?

Wow, not sure. It's just kind of what I do and I was specifically going for something a little different. Doing what's been done a thousand times isn't really my style. I try to be just different enough to get noticed without being so different nobody gets me. It's a fine line.

6. Can you see yourself in Lorelei?

Gosh, I had to think about that one, and I have to say, not really. I think the only thing we have in common is our lack of popularity in high school. LOL. Lorelei is braver than I would ever be. She is tenacious and kind. I love her overall qualities.

Thank you so much for stopping by Darynda!

Thank you for having me! I'm thrilled to be visiting you! Hugs! ~D~

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Darynda Jones, author of The New York Times bestselling series that began with First Grave on the Right, brings us Death and the Girl Next Door, a thrilling Young Adult novel garnering high praise and early buzz from major authors

Ten years ago, Lorelei's parents disappeared without a trace.  Raised by her grandparents and leaning on the support of her best friends, Lorelei is finally beginning to accept the fact that her parents are never coming home.  For Lorelei, life goes on.

High school is not quite as painful as she thinks it will be, and things are as normal as they can be.  Until the day the school's designated loner, Cameron Lusk, begins to stalk her, turning up where she least expects it,  standing outside her house in the dark, night after night. Things get even more complicated when a new guy—terrifying, tough, sexy Jared Kovach—comes to school.  Cameron and Jared instantly despise each other and Lorelei seems to be the reason for their animosity.  What does Jared know about her parents?  Why does Cameron tell Jared he can't have Lorelei?  And what will any of them do when Death comes knocking for real?  Thrilling, sassy, sexy, and inventive, Darynda Jones's first foray into the world of teens will leave readers eager for the next installment.

"Unique, witty, and touching—I LOVED THIS BOOK!" —P.C. Cast, New York Times bestselling author of The House of Night Series

Purchase: Amazon | Book Depository

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Darynda Jones Blog Tours is graciously offering one (1) copy of DEATH AND THE GIRL NEXT DOOR to a lucky reader!

To enter the giveaway, obey the Rafflecopter!

US/Canada only

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by Lili at Friday, October 19, 2012

 Darynda Jones, giveaway, Interview, Macmillan, young adult  26 People left their mark

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Second Grave on the Left by Darynda Jones

Second Grave on the Left by Darynda Jones

Book Stats:
Reading level: Adult
Hardcover: 307 pages
Publisher: St. Martin's Press
Release date: August 16, 2011

Series: Charley Davidson #2

Source: Library

Reviewed by: Lili

Purchase: Amazon | Book Depository

Charley Davidson, Grim Reaper Extraordinaire, is back in this sexy, suspenseful novel of supernatural shenanigans.

When Charley is rudely awakened in the middle of the night by her best friend who tells her to get dressed quickly and tosses clothes out of the closet at her, she can’t help but wonder what Cookie’s up to. Leather scrunch boots with a floral miniskirt? Together? Seriously? Cookie explains that a friend of hers named Mimi disappeared five days earlier and that she just got a text from her setting up a meet at a coffee shop downtown. They show up at the coffee shop, but no Mimi. But Charley finds a message on the bathroom wall. Mimi left a clue, a woman’s name. Mimi’s husband explains that his wife had been acting strange since she found out an old friend of hers from high school had been found murdered a couple weeks prior. The same woman Mimi had named in her message.

Meanwhile, Reyes Alexander Farrow (otherwise known as the Son of Satan. Yes. Literally) has left his corporeal body and is haunting Charley. He’s left his body because he’s being tortured by demons who want to lure Charley closer. But Reyes can’t let that happen. Because if the demons get to Charley, they’ll have a portal to heaven. And if they have a portal to heaven…well, let’s just say it wouldn’t be pretty. Can Charley handle hot nights with Reyes and even hotter days tracking down a missing woman? Will Cookie ever get a true fashion sense? And is there enough coffee and chocolate in the world to fuel them as they do?

Here is your signpost for the most hilarious read of the summer: Second Grave On The Left.

While not as amazing as the first, Jones still manages to take us on an unforgettable and snarky journey with paranormal private investigator and grim reaper extraordinare, Charley Davidson.

The plot held me prisoner and I powered through this book without a problem. Charley manages several cases in this one that surround the disappearance of one of Cookie’s best friends, Mimi Jacobs. Amazingly, she managed to launch her own investigation in search of Reyes’s human body before time ran out that took us on a slightly humorous ride, even going as far as to introduce us to the president of his prison fan club, while hunting for Cookie’s friend. Charley can’t allow Reyes’s corporal body to die when all she wants is to continue seeing him in the flesh, so she ignores his continued warnings and acts on her impulses—a decision that can come to haunt her later in the series.

Littered with Charley’s sarcasm, this book seemed slightly more serious to me. There were so many investigations going on with some pretty hefty cases that there wasn’t much time for humor, but those spots where Jones was able to allow Charley her patented snark had me roaring with laughter once again.

It’s hard to elaborate on much in this one because it truly did live up to my expectations, though the first book set the bar so high that this one fell slightly below it. While the plot wasn’t as lighthearted at times, we did see amazing character growth in Charley’s amazing sidekick, Cookie. We learned more about Reyes’s past, which any reader will eat up, and we watched Charley grow and make more connections with her oddly disconnected family.

I highly recommend this series to any paranormal lover, especially those who like some forbidden romance thrown in, but this book isn’t a standalone and it is a must to read its prequel. Much like its predecessor, it’ll be everything you wanted and more and will take a place high up on my recommendations list. Jones weaves a story with so many twists and turns that I can’t even think straight!

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by Lili at Wednesday, October 10, 2012

 Darynda Jones, Grim Reaper, Review, St. Martin's  3 People left their mark

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First Grave on the Right by Darynda Jones

First Grave on the Right by Darynda Jones

Book Stats:
Reading level: Adult
Genre: Paranormal Romance/Suspense
Mass Market Paperback: 315 pages
Publisher: St. Martin's Press
Release date: July 5, 2011

Series: Charley Davidson #1

Source: Personal shelf

Reviewed by: Lili

Purchase: Amazon | Book Depository

A smashing, award-winning debut novel that introduces Charley Davidson: part-time private investigator and full-time Grim Reaper.

 Charley sees dead people. That’s right, she sees dead people. And it’s her job to convince them to “go into the light.” But when these very dead people have died under less than ideal circumstances (i.e. murder), sometimes they want Charley to bring the bad guys to justice. Complicating matters are the intensely hot dreams she’s been having about an Entity who has been following her all her life...and it turns out he might not be dead after all. In fact, he might be something else entirely.

This is a thrilling debut novel from an exciting newcomer to the world of paranormal romantic suspense.

Honesty, I am at a loss for words while I write this review. This is Darynda Jones’ debut novel and she certainly exploded onto the scene. This story is laugh-out-loud hilarious and will pull you in from the get go while you wonder why it took you so long to pick up this book. I can’t even begin to express how hard it is for me not to include spoilers for this one.

Undoubtedly, what makes this novel worth reading is the protagonist: Charley Davidson. Yeah, you heard me right! That’s really her name and she pulls it off well! She’s slightly crazy and will stop at nothing to get what she wants, making it incredibly easy to fall in love with her despite her habit of walking straight into near fatal situations. Charley is beyond snarky and has an infinite flow of insulting come backs that’ll make you double over with laughter. I’m seriously considering taking some of them for myself so I can throw them back in other people’s faces and watch them stand there in shock from the sheer awesomeness of them all. They’re that good. Charley brings a level a humor to this novel that I have not encountered in a while.

While this story focuses on her helping to solve a murder mystery—is that really a surprise? She’s a grim reaper, after all—a very huge back-plot of the story evolves around the love interest. Discovering his identity, his connection to her past, and what he is truly capable of is like an addictive drug. You get a taste and you just want more. Who is this mysterious Entity that makes Charley quake with pleasure? Why is he so important? I wish I could tell you, but I couldn’t even begin to explain their connection and the amazingness of it all. Jones had me flipping pages like no tomorrow to figure everything out for myself.

Jones weaves a tale rich with plot twists while Charley works with her ghostly and human friends, “Angel” sidekick, the police force led by her uncle, and the mysterious Entity that stalks her dreams to uncover secrets that are all part of a complicated web of lies and hidden truths. Part mystery and part romance, this novel will satisfy any reader and is definitely worth picking up.

If you’re anything like me, your only complaint would be that you weren’t smart enough to buy the entire series at the same time so you could continue Charley’s story and see what journey this snarky heroine will take us on this time.

Just because this story is so hilarious, I wanted to share one of the first quotes that made me laugh. Located only on page seven, it'll set the tone for the humor throughout the rest of the book even when faced with near death experiences.

"You rented the apartment with a dead guy in the corner?"

I shrugged. "I wanted the apartment and I figured I could cover him up with a bookcase or something. But the thought of having a dead guy hovering behind my copy of Sweet Savage Love gnawed at me. I couldn't just leave him there. I don't even know if he likes romance."

Read an Excerpt

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by Lili at Wednesday, July 18, 2012

 Darynda Jones, Grim Reaper, Review, St. Martin's  11 People left their mark

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Third Grave Dead Ahead by Darynda Jones

Third Grave Dead Ahead by Darynda Jones

Books Stats:
Reading level: Adult
Genre: Urban Fantasy
Hardcover: 310 pages
Publisher: St Martins Press
Release date: January 31st, 2012

Series: Charlene Davidson #3

Source: Personal Shelf

Reviewed by: Christine

Purchase: Amazon | Book Depository

Charley Davidson—grim reaper extraordinaire, private investigator . . . meh—is practicing her profession under the influence, caffeine and copious amounts of it, due to an extreme desire to induce insomnia. Every time she closes her eyes, Reyes Farrow, the part-human, part-supermodel son of Satan, is there. Only thing is, he's a tad peeved. She did bind for all eternity, so it's hard blame him. But 13 days without a wink is bound to bring out the crazy in a girl. So when she accepts a missing persons case, she discovers that her focus is sketchy at best. But a woman's life hangs in the balance, and Charley fights her ADD tendencies to find her.Together with the help of her fashion-impaired receptionist, Charley sets out to bring the bad guys to justice and to single-handedly make bloodshot, sleep deprived eyes the newest fashion trend.

The third book in Daynda Jones´s Charley Davidson series picks up right where the second book left us. Due to the events that happened at the end of the last book, Charley tries her best to avoid Reyes, even if it means no sleep in fourteen days.

All of you who know Charley also know that she is really funny even in a well rested state. But being sleep deprived makes her absolutely hilarious. There are so many funny quotes I could share with you, but trust me, it´s better you read the book yourself! Charley´s character definitely sets her apart from all those heroines you know in other urban fantasy or paranormal romance novels. Her sometimes random behavior and the fact that she does not take herself too serious are refreshing and endearing.

If possible, some of the secondary characters Darynda Jones has created are even more endearing than Charley. I have to admit that I have a huge girl crush on Cookie, who never pales in comparison to Charley.
After the last book, I was pretty excited to find out who was behind the mysterious email Charley got and boy was I surprised when I found out. I would have never ever seen that one coming!

There are several story lines in the book, one missing person case, one case that introduces a biker gang as new characters and the main story arc, concerning Reyes and Charley´s gifts. Like in every previous books, the missing person case is gripping and I can´t wait to see what Miss Jones has planned for the biker gang she introduces in Third Grave Dead Ahead.

But as always, I´m most fascinated by the relationship between Charley and Reyes. We get a few new tidbits about that as well as about Charley´s abilities in general. The end of the book is once more a huge turning point for her. She has to grow to deal with the aftermath of everything that happens in this book and I, for one, can hardly wait to see what´s up next for Charley.

By now, I guess you can tell that I loved this book. If you love paranormal stories that are truly funny without trying too hard, this book is a must read for you. If you don´t, I´m asking you to read it, because trust me, you will love it!

So, has anybody else fallen in love with this series? Do you enjoy those shirt slogans and bumper stickers as much as I do? Where is a sexy son of Satan when you need one? =)

Read an excerpt here.

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by Tynga at Wednesday, February 29, 2012

 Darynda Jones, Grim Reaper, Macmillan, Review  10 People left their mark

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