Description: Ever since Reyes Farrow escaped from a hell dimension in which Charley Davidson accidentally trapped him, the son of Satan has been brimstone-bent on destroying the world his heavenly Brother created. His volatile tendencies have put Charley in a bit of a pickle. But that's not the only briny vegetable on her plate. While trying to domesticate the feral being that used to be her husband, she also has to deal with her everyday life of annoying all manner of beings--some corporeal, some not so much--as she struggles to right the wrongs of society. Only this time she's not uncovering a murder. This time she's covering one up.

Add to that her new occupation of keeping a startup PI venture--the indomitable mystery-solving team of Amber Kowalski and Quentin Rutherford--out of trouble and dealing with the Vatican's inquiries into her beloved daughter, and Charley is on the brink of throwing in the towel and becoming a professional shopper. Or possibly a live mannequin. But when someone starts attacking humans who are sensitive to the supernatural world, Charley knows it's time to let loose her razor sharp claws. Then again, her number one suspect is the dark entity she's loved for centuries. So the question becomes: Can she tame the unruly beast before it destroys everything she's worked so hard to protect?

Review: Jones takes a page out of Buffy the Vampire Slayer and throws a wrench into Charlie and Reyes' relationship. Reyes is not in good place. He is not the Reyes that we have come to love. He is far off the deep end and making his father proud in causing chaos and danger. Charlie has this whole new title resting on her scared shoulders and she is the only one who can stop Reyes, but it will not be easy. She could potentially lose the love of her life for good. As if the Reyes situation is not enough for our gifted PI, there is another mystery that boggles her mind. Someone or something is killing gifted people and Charlie needs to find answers while protecting her friends. While there are many things going on in this book, Jones seems to wrap and connect everything together quite satisfyingly in the end. We see pieces of the big picture come together and connect in surprising ways. Even though her life is messy and crazy, Charlie is lovable as ever as she never stops looking for answers and provides plenty of humor to keep this story afloat. The ending came at a complete shock and exemplifies the type of heroine Charlie is in this series. Lots of questions remain and will hopefully be resolved in the last and final book. 

Rating: 4 stars

Words of Caution: There is strong language, sexual situations which are times graphic, strong violence, and suggestive humor. Recommended for adults only.


Description: Charley Davidson, Grim Reaper extraordinaire, is pissed. She’s been kicked off the earthly plain for eternity – which is the appropriate amount of time to make a person starkraving mad. But someone’s looking out for her, and she’s allowed to return after a mere hundred years in exile. Is it too much to hope for that not much has changed? Apparently it is. Bummer.

She’s missed Reyes and her daughter, Beep, but now that she’s back on earth, it’s time to put to rest burning questions that need answers. What happened to her mother? How did she really die? Who killed her? And are cupcakes or coffee the best medicine?

Review: Summoned to Thirteenth Grave is a bittersweet book to read because it marks the end of the Charley Davidson series. In traditional Jones fashion, Charley has a mission impossible, save the world from a demon dimension in just three days. She also has told solve a murder mystery in which Reyes is being framed for a crime he did not commit once again. It was an absolute pleasure visiting all of the major characters in this series in the final book. The stakes are even higher in the last book as the safety of Beep and all of the citizens of New Mexico are at risk. 
 This series has provided laughs, shocks, and emotional moments for me as a reader. I wished a few of the twists were a bit fleshed out, but we do get some closure on a few details that have been left open for a while in particular with Charley's mother and her birth. We also get closure on most characters' issues and/or catch a glimpse of their future. The pacing of the plot is quick without being distracting from extraneous side stories. The trademark humor is present without being overly bearing. I was also nice to see Reyes and Charley be on the same page and work together. I will really miss this series, but with an open ending I am crossing my fingers and toes for a spin-off.

Rating: 4 stars


Words of Caution: There is strong language, sexual situations which are times graphic, strong violence, and suggestive humor. Recommended for adults only.

If you like these books try: Arcadia Bell series by Jenn Bennett, Iron Druid Chronicles by Kevin Hearne, Black Wings by Christina Henry

Description: Part-time PI and full-time grim reaper, Charley Davidson has asked a lot of questions throughout her life: Why can I see dead people? Who is the hot supernatural entity following me? How do I get gum out of my sister's hair before she wakes up? But, "How do I trap not one god, but three?" was never among them. Until now. And since those gods are on earth to kill her daughter, she has little choice but to track them down, trap them, and cast them from this dimension. But one of them stole her heart a very long time ago. Can a god of absolute death and destruction change his omniscient spots, or will his allegiance lie with his brothers? Those are just some of the questions Charley must answer, and quick. Add to that a homeless girl on the run for her life, a man who's been framed for murdering a woman who is still very much alive, and a pendant made from god glass that has the entire supernatural world in an uproar, Charley has her hands full.

Review: I completed the Charley Davidson series over this weekend and enjoyed the ride. I am, however, behind on reviewing the last few books in this series. With ten books in a series, the momentum and the charm of the Charley Davidson series has not worn off. The trademark humor, sizzling romance, and interesting mysteries keeps the series afloat and holds my interest. In this installment we see Charley back at home and has regained her memories along with new information and new problems. She is hiding some big secrets from Reyes, and things don't feel quite right between them. She is worried about the god glass she carries in her pocket, and whether she will have to turn against the one she loves. Charley is also constantly worried about her daughter and she is determined to get her back one way or another. Along with her own drama, there are two mysteries that occupy her time. Charley does not have dull moment. 
  Jones does not pull any punches with startling new revelations. There are a lot of things that are building up to the climax of this series. Charley is also getting more confident in her role as a supernatural being. I am eager to see where things will go. The two side mysteries which involves a runaway girl and a murder where someone is mostly liked framed are also interesting and I liked following the clues to getting them solved. 
  The humor balances out all of the heavy topics that are on the horizon. I was a bit frustrated on the miscommunications between Charley and Reyes. They both are hiding vital information and I just wanted them to sit down and hash every thing out. A fun addition to the series.
 
Rating: 4 stars


Words of Caution: There is strong language, sexual situations which are times graphic, strong violence, and suggestive humor.




Description: A typical day in the life of Charley Davidson involves cheating husbands, missing people, errant wives, philandering business owners, and oh yeah...demons, hell hounds, evil gods, and dead people. Lots and lots of dead people. As a part time Private Investigator and full-time Grim Reaper, Charley has to balance the good, the bad, the undead, and those who want her dead. In this eleventh installment, Charley is learning to make peace with the fact that she is a goddess with all kinds of power and that her own daughter has been born to save the world from total destruction. But the forces of hell are determined to see Charley banished forever to the darkest corners of another dimension. With the son of Satan himself as her husband and world-rocking lover,maybe Charley can find a way to have her happily ever after after all.

Review: The problem with the Charley Davidson series is that I read them so quickly and then I have to wait in agony for the next installment. In the Eleventh Grave we finally get the whole picture surrounding the upbringing of Reyes and in particular how he got into the hands of the diabolical and abusive Earl Walker. We were given hints about Reyes sprinkled in the past volumes, but getting the whole story was completely satisfying considering the long buildup. We are also getting a clearer picture of the prophesied end of the world and Charley's daughter role. We also learn more about Jehovah and Charley’s past. We have been told by several major characters on Charley's power and importance, but we finally see her at work. She is learning more about her powers and position.
  The frustration between miscommunication and hiding secrets keep plaguing Charley and Reyes. While the secrets do not necessarily break them apart, it is annoying to keep seeing them go through this cycle. The book ends with a horrible cliffhanger that reminds me of Buffy, but it is a cruel wait until we see how it is all resolved in the next book. 

Rating: 4 stars


Words of Caution: There is strong language, sexual situations which are times graphic, strong violence, and suggestive humor.

If you like this book try: Arcadia Bell series by Jenn Bennett, Iron Druid Chronicles by Kevin Hearne, Black Wings by Christina Henry

 I'm all caught up reading the Charley Davidson series, but I'm behind in review the series on the blog. Here are my reviews for books 8 and 9 plus a Reyes novella. I enjoyed all of these books.

Description (edited to avoid spoilers): With twelve hellhounds after her, Charley Davidson takes refuge at the only place she thinks they can’t get to her: the grounds of an abandoned convent. But after months of being cooped up there, Charley is ready to pop. Fortunately, a new case has captured her attention, one that involves a murder on the very grounds the team has taken shelter upon. A decades-old murder of the newly-vowed nun she keeps seeing in the shadows is almost enough to pull her out of her doldrums.
  Charley’s been forbidden to step foot off the sacred grounds. While the angry hellhounds can’t traverse the consecrated soil, they can lurk just beyond its borders. They have the entire team on edge, especially Reyes. And if Charley didn’t know better, she would swear Reyes is getting sick. He grows hotter with every moment that passes, his heat scorching across her skin every time he’s near, but naturally he swears he’s fine.
  While the team searches for clues on the Twelve, 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. But the good feelings don’t last for long because Charley is about to get the surprise of her crazy, mixed-up, supernatural life.

Review: Reading this installment of the Charley Davidson series is much like riding a roller coaster. There were so many moments of happiness only to crash you with the deepest lows. We finally get to see a wedding though I would have liked an actual account of it rather than the rushed version that we got. There were a two mysteries that surrounded the church, but the ones about the girls held my attention and the nun one was just filler. Like the other books, we are finally getting some answers regarding the twelve hellhounds and the mystery of Mr. Wong is finally solved! Of course with the answers we are also have a lot of more questions to ask. The ending broke me and it was horrible. This is really a world breaking installment and I'm curious to see which direction Jones takes her heroine. All I know is that I'm fully on board.   

Rating: 4.5 stars

Words of Caution: There is some strong language, some strong violence, and crude sexual humor. Recommended for adults only.



Description: All his life, Reyes Alexander Farrow has suffered the torments of the damned. Only one thing has given him hope: the woman who radiates a light that no mortals can see; a light that only the departed can see.
Told from his point of view, Brighter Than the Sun chronicles the first time Reyes ever encountered Charley, and how their relationship has been the one thing that can either save him or doom him.

Review: This is a fun novella that takes place that takes place during the timeline of First Grave on the Right and told from Reyes's point of view. While it was great hearing Reyes's voice, no new information was gained from reading this novella. I did, however, get a better sense of his discomfort in having everyone lust after him. I used to think he just tuned it out especially with the women at the diner, but it really does bother him. I would only recommend picking this novella up if you are a die hard Charley Davidson or Reyes fan.

Rating: 3 stars

Words of Caution: There is some strong language, some strong violence, and crude sexual humor. Recommended for adults only.


Description: In a small village in New York lives Jane Doe, a girl with no memory of who she is or where she came from. So when she is working at a diner and slowly begins to realize she can see dead people, she's more than a little taken aback. Stranger still are the people entering her life. They seem to know things about her. Things they hide with lies and half-truths. Soon, she senses something far darker. A force that wants to cause her harm, she is sure of it. Her saving grace comes in the form of a new friend she feels she can confide in and the fry cook, a devastatingly handsome man whose smile is breathtaking and touch is scalding. He stays close, and she almost feels safe with him around.

Review: Like the eighth book, this one was a very bittersweet novel. After a life shattering event, Charley is suffering from amnesia and going through life as struggling waitress Janey. She has no memory of who she is or how she ended up in the café, but we as readers find familiar faces to help make sure Charley is safe and okay. It hurt my heart to see our lovable heroine be so lost especially when she felt that she was the "other woman" with Reyes. I couldn't imagine what Reyes must have gone through. We slowly watch Charley's past reasserting itself: she is still able to converse with the dead, and she realizes that there are beings out there trying to kill her. While there is a side mystery, the focus is clearly on Charley as we bite our nails in hopes that she recovers her memory by the end of the book.

Rating: 4.5 stars

Words of Caution: There is some strong language, some strong violence, sexual situations, and crude sexual humor. Recommended for adults only.

If you like this series try: Naked Werewolf series by Molly Harper, Kate Daniels series by Ilona Andrews, The Disillusionists series by Carolyn Crane

Reading a book in the Charley Davidson series is a lot like reuniting with a great friend that you haven't talked to in a while, you just pick up right where you left off as if the absences never existed. For me the main draw of this series is its trademark humor which never fails to make me laugh out loud. I know Charley's humor can be over-the-top for some readers, but that's what I love about her.

Description: Charley Davidson isn't your everyday, run-of-the-mill grim reaper. She's more of a paranormal private eye/grim reaper extraordinaire. However, she gets sidetracked when Reyes Farrow moves in next door. To further complicate matters, Reyes is her main suspect in an arson case. Charley has vowed to stay away from him until she can find out the truth...but then dead women start appearing in her apartment, one after another, each lost, confused, and terrified beyond reason. When it becomes apparent that her own sister, Gemma is the serial killer's next target, Charley has no choice but to ask for Reyes's help. Arsonist or not, he's the one man alive who could protect Gemma no matter who or what came at her. But he wants something in return. Charley. All of her, body and soul. And to keep her sister safe, it is a price she is willing to pay.

Review: For me, Fifth Grave is where I started to become a Reyes Farrow fan. Though I acknowledged his physical appeal, I didn't see much beside that until I read this book. Reyes is a completely different person than from the first few books in this series. He becomes more human, displaying his vulnerabilities to Charlie and that's what made him click for me. I really liked his character development in this hope and I hope that continues in the future installments. I also really enjoyed the mystery behind the roomful of girls whose spirits are stuck here. I wasn't able to solve this mystery as easily as I did the others.

Rating: 4 stars

Words of Caution: There is strong language, crude humor, some strong violence, and a few sexual situations. Recommended for mature teens and adults only.

If you like this book try: Accidental Friends series by Dakota Cassidy, Peper Martin series by Casey Daniels, Undead series by MaryJanice Davidson, and the Chicagoland Vampire series by Chloe Neill


Description (edited to avoid spoilers): Charley Davidson is a paranormal private eye and grim reaper-in-training who is known to be a bit of a hell-raiser, especially after a few shots of caffeine. Her beloved Reyes may be the son of evil, but he is everything Charley could hope for and want, but when the FBI file on Reyes' troubling childhood happens to land into her lap, Charley can't help herself: She opens it. and then the real fun begins. First, Charley finds a naked corpse riding shotgun in her car. Then, a man loses his soul in a card game. Throw in a Deaf boy who sees dead people, a woman running from mobsters, and a very suspicious Reyes, and things can't get any worse for Charley. Right?

Review:  In this installment we do get a few answers to some of the questions and a couple of background histories that we have been waiting for, however, the real truth behind Charley's true powers as a grim reaper are still mystery. Though there are plenty of clues or little hints that Jones drops for us, we still don't know how the pieces of the puzzle fit.
   Sixth Grave has a nice balance of dark, sad moments along with the humor and sweet romance between Charley and Reyes. We are introduced to a new character, the Dealer, an escaped empathetic demon who helps people who are willing to sell their soul to him. He may know all the details that Charley wants to know about being the grim reaper but she will need to tread carefully when working with him. The Dealer is definitely going to shake things up for Charley and I do not completely trust him. Unfortunately, Sixth Grave ends in a huge cliffhanger that can completely change the course of the series and I'm super curious to see where Jones takes this story. I just hope this series continues to be entertaining and not take a dive (I'm looking right at you Chicagoland Vampires). Thankfully, Seventh Grave and No Body releases next month so the waiting game isn't too long. 

Rating: 4 stars

Words of Caution: There is strong language, crude humor, some strong violence, and a few sexual situations. Recommended for mature teens and adults only.

If you like this book try: Seventh Grave and No Body by Darynda Jones (Charley Davidson #4), Accidental Friends series by Dakota Cassidy, Peper Martin series by Casey Daniels, Undead series by MaryJanice Davidson, and the Chicagoland Vampire series by Chloe Neill

 I just got my copy of Fifth Grave Past the Light, the fifth book in the highly entertaining Charley Davidson series, from the library and just realized that I didn't put up my review for Fourth Grave Beneath My Feet!

Description: Sometimes being the grim reaper really is, well, grim. And since Charley’s last case went so awry, she has taken a couple of 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. It becomes clear something is amiss when everyone the woman knows swears she’s insane. But the more they refute the woman’s story, the more Charley believes it.
  In the meantime, the sexy, sultry Reyes Farrow 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.

Review: After the big events in the last book, our girl Charley is going through some rough times. She is not sleeping, barely coherent, and spending most of her money buying random stuff from the home shopping network. Thank goodness Cookie, Charley's best friend, and for a new client to come snap Charley out of her funk. 
  Like the other books in the series, there are many story lines happening at the same time. I'm always amazed on how Darynda can keep these events straight when she's writing! Some of the mysteries are easy to solve while the questions surrounding Reyes, the sexy and insufferable love interest, always has me puzzled. I was surprised a few times in this book and was happy to come upon a couple of nice twists too.
 Fourth Grave Beneath My Feet gives us a little more insight to the relationship and personalities of Charley and Reyes. The tension and sexual chemistry is what makes us turn the pages faster. While they do snap, crackle, and pop, the huge cloud of doom that lingers above them when the key of darkness is inserted into the locket of light is pretty frightening. We finally get to know the meaning behind Reyes's nickname for Charley, Dutch, even though it was a bit of a let down.
  Reyes still has me frustrated and confused. He was a major jerk for most of this book, but there are moments when he's sweet and vulnerable. I enjoyed the parts where the green monster reared its ugly head for both Charley and Reyes. It was nice spending time with the secondary characters, but I was a bit sad that we didn't get much time with Swopes and Ubie as much as I would have liked. We also got to meet a new character named Quentin which I liked and am looking forward to more of him in future books. Of course I would be remiss if I didn't mention the special addition of a lovable yet ferocious dog named Artemis. I can't wait to make some time in my busy schedule to revisit Charley and company in her latest adventures.

Rating: 4 stars

Words of Caution: There is strong language, crude humor, some strong violence, and a few sexual situations. Recommended for mature teens and adults only.

If you like this book try: Fifth Grave Past the Light by Darynda Jones (Charley Davidson #4), Accidental Friends series by Dakota Cassidy, Peper Martin series by Casey Daniels, Undead series by MaryJanice Davidson, and the Chicagoland Vampire series by Chloe Neill

  Charley Davidson was one of my best finds from last year. There are currently four books in the series that are currently out. I'm eagerly awaiting the release of Fifth Grave Past the Light, which releases this July. I love spending time with Charley and company.

Description: Part-time Private Investigator and full time Grim Reaper extraordinaire, Charley Davidson, is back and drinking copious amounts of caffeine to stay awake because, every time she closes her eyes, she sees him: Reyes Alexander Farrow. Yes, she did royally piss him off the last time they met, but how else is she suppose to solve her cases and deal with all the other kinds of drama in her life?

Review: This third installment of the Charley Davidson series is probably my favorite so far. The writing and the plot structure are a lot stronger. The subplots in this book held my attention throughout, which is a complaint that I had of the first two books as I thought they seem to clutter the mysterious relationship between Charley and her mercurial love interest, Reyes. Each subplot carried the same theme and tone throughout so it never took you out of the story, but rather pushed you to read just another page or chapter when you thought you could take a break.
  Books in a series can become formulaic very quickly, but Jones avoids this as she introduces new characters and carefully places plot twists that I did not see coming. Family drama and relationship issues offers its own interesting and complicating dimensions to the story. We are given some answers as to how Charley and Reyes fit into the little event called the Apocalypse  Like Charley, we are also left in the dark about how powerful she truly is and we very impatient for more answers.
  The series trademark is not in the mysteries that Charley solves, which could easily be solved by readers who pay careful attention to the clues that are sprinkled across the pages, but rather its characters and their irresistible humor. Charley's humor is infectious and within minutes she has me laughing. Her snarky comments and levity to the dark situations that she finds herself. A normal person would throw in the towel and say that can't held it but Charley is not ordinary by any means. Charley's best friend and partner in crime, Cookie, is the epitome of a best friend. She runs with Charley's antics and plays off her off beat humor. I can only imagine all the conversations they would share in the office.
  Reyes still continues to confuse me. Though he is undoubtedly physically attractive, I didn't like him at all in this book. Part of me wonders if he is trying to make Charley hate him on purpose, but he does have some sweet moments that me make hesitate to say he is evil. I know there is a lot about Reyes we don't know and I'm eager to find out more. Readers looking for a funny, fun, and charming book with some doses of paranormal and romance should definitely pick this series up. It'll brighten up anyone's horrible day.

Rating: 4.5 stars

Words of Caution: There is strong language, crude humor, some strong violence, and a few sexual situations. Recommended for mature teens and adults only.

If you like this book try: Fourth Grave Dead Ahead by Darynda Jones (Charley Davidson #4), Accidental Friends series by Dakota Cassidy, Peper Martin series by Casey Daniels, Undead series by MaryJanice Davidson, and the Chicagoland Vampire series by Chloe Neill

 Thanks to a fabulous read along, I got introduced and addicted to the Charley Davidson series. I've a few books behind as I just finished the second book, Second Grave on the Left, when the fourth book was just released this past Tuesday. Luckily, I grabbed the third book from the library and am anxiously waiting for book four to become available.

Description: Charley Davison, a part-time private investigator and full-time Grim Reaper, teams up with best friend Cookie to track down Cookie's friend, Mimi, who has been missing for five days, but the clues lead them to uncover a more sinister plot. Meanwhile, Reyes Alexander Farrow,Charley's mysterious love interest, is busy hunting down Charley to protect her from some scheming demons.

Review: Ms. Jones successfully avoids the sophomore slump and middle book syndrome with the second book in the Charley Davidson series. Our favorite sexy, sassy, and snarky grim reaper has found herself tangled in three messy cases to solve along with sorting out her messy and complicated love life to boot.
With the first book, I had to find a reading rhythm which is why I found the first half of the book a bit slow, but once I got hooked it went smooth sailing. I didn't have this problem with Second Grave on the Left. The mystery had enough suspense to keep me reading instead of feeling a bit bored. Charley and Cookie are working on a new case, trying to solve the mystery behind Mimi's disappearance. Soon a simple kidnapping becomes much more series as secrets from the past come out slowly out of the wood-works. In the meantime, Charley is also trying to find the sexy and stubborn Reyes. There was much more suspense and action in this book which equally matched the trademark humor. I do still have a slight problem with the abrupt transitions from one story line to the other, but I hope this issue will become less of a problem with more books that Ms. Jones writes.

 I had a blast in joining the Don't Fear the Reaper read-along where we discussed and read the first book in the Charley Davidson series called First Grave on the Right. I would like to once again thank the awesome blogging hostesses who arranged everything.

Description (from Goodreads): 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.

Review: The last few weeks of August are one of the most stressful work days for me as I prepare for school registration for the entire high school. It is those weeks that I come home emotionally, physically exhausted, and so wired up that I can't go to sleep in fears of all the wrong things that could happen the next day. I needed a good distraction to let me escape from my anxieties and place me into another world. Thankfully Charley and company came to my rescue and I thoroughly enjoyed the ride.
  First Grave on the Right straddles the line between the paranormal romance and urban fantasy genres as it contains elements of each. I would definitely recommend picking this book up if you're unsure if paranormal romances may be your cup of tea. The book is hilarious, at times steamy, and extremely fun. One of the reasons why this book clicked for me is because of its leading heroine, Charley Davidson.
  Charley Davidson is someone who I would love to have as a best friend. She is extremely witty, armed with snappy comebacks that I wish I could think of on the spot. She is loyal to her friends and genuinely cares for others. Unlike many heroes and heroines who are gifted with supernatural or paranormal abilities who often lament on their uncalled for responsibilities and their relentless monologue of "Why me?", Charley embraces being a Grim Reaper though she may not exactly know the extent of her powers. While fierce, Charley makes mistakes and gets her butt served back to her, but she is resilient, vulnerable, and human which makes her that much easier to relate to as a reader. Mrs. Jones said Charley is a mash between Lorelai Gilmore from Gilmore Girls and Buffy, which is exactly how I would describe her.
  The plot of First Grave on the Right is fairly straight forward. Charley works as a PI and consultant for the Albuquerque, N.Mex., police department in addition to her grim reaper stature. As the grim reaper, she escorts the recently departed "into the light." In her dreams, she's haunted by a "dark, seductive stranger," whose warmth suggests he's something "not dead." In the real world, Charley helps her APD detective uncle, Bob Davidson, investigate the fatal shootings of three lawyers who were representing a client accused of murder. When she’s not helping ghosts with the ultimate closure, Charley is trying to figure out who her sizzling-hot dream lover is. To add to that confusion a person from the past, Reyes Farrow, suddenly reappears at very strange times.
 The romance sizzles though I still can't make heads or tails of my feelings for Reyes. He's definitely a dark, tortured alpha male, but I would like to know more of him. I do, however, really like Garrett, Charley's coworker who unfortunately is the brunt of all of Charley's snarky remarks. While he may at first deserved some snarkiness, I think he's realized how stupid he is and should get a break. He is obviously hot for Charley though she's completely clueless about it.
 Of course the book is not without its flaws. I did find the first half with the lawyers murders a little boring. It's not until the mention of Reyes and the mystery of his character kicked in that I felt drawn into the book. I would have liked more interaction between Charley and her family as well as her best friend named Cookie. I could deal with these flaws and still found the book to be fun and entertaining. I'd definitely recommend this series to take on a vacation. I do plan on continuing the series and hope to catch up by October so I can read the fourth Charley Davidson book when it releases.  

Rating: 4 stars

Words of Caution: There is strong language, crude humor, some strong violence, and a few sexual situations. Recommended for mature teens and adults only.

If you like this book try: Second Grave on the Left by Darynda Jones (Charley Davidson #2), Accidental Friends series by Dakota Cassidy, Peper Martin series by Casey Daniels, Undead series by MaryJanice Davidson

Today is the final discussion week of the Don't Fear the Reaper read-along! We'll be discussing the last chapters  of First Grave on the Right, the first book in the Charley Davidson series by Darynda Jones. If you would like to join, please see this introduction post on how to get started! Many thanks to Heidi @ Rainy Day Ramblings for this week's questions.

1. What is the funniest t-shirt or bumper sticker you have encountered? If you had a t-shirt that best described you what would it say?

 Thanks to this question, I spent hours looking at funny t-shirts and bumper stickers. I thought this was pretty funny, but I really liked this one:

Found on Cafepress.com

2. Charley is constantly helping ghosts throughout the book.  Would you like to be able to talk to ghosts and bring closure to their loved ones?  How would you feel about all the ghosts popping up at all times day or night?  Would you like to have a ghost like Mr. Wong in your house?

I wouldn't mind helping the ghosts to other side. The random popping up at all times would be annoying, irritating, and not to mention distracting. For some reason, Mr. Wong creeps me out. Why is he still there and won't talk? Maybe if he talked it would be less creepy.  


3.  Kim reveals some rather shocking and sad details about Reyes' past.  Do you agree with her decision to adhere to her promise and not intervene?  Would you be willing to keep your word and let a loved one die if it was their wish?

 That's a hard question to answer. I think it depends on the situation. If the person is causing harm to themselves and/or to others then I feel obligated to intervene. It's hard to say for Reyes because we don't really know the full story until much later.


4. Do you like the fact that Charley consistently ends up getting her butt handed to her?  What are your overall thoughts on Charley?

I adore Charley. I love her wacky sense of humor and her genuine good heart to help those less fortunate. I also like the fact that while she may have some cool abilities, she is still left in the dark about her full potential. It's annoying to read about characters who know exactly what to do and have everything turn out fine. It's fun learning more about Charley as she discovers her full potential at the same time.


5.  Chapter 20 is a big, hot, smoking chapter.  We finally get some answers on Reyes.  Does the revelation change your opinion of him?  Do you think he can overcome his "nature" and be a good person or is Charley in big trouble?  

I think we all can agree that Reyes is physically hot, but I'm still unsure about him. How long did it take him to flip the switch? He is definitely going to be an interesting character to watch and grow. It's a bit too early to say whether or not Reyes is good for Charley. Personally, I love Garrett and Charley together though Charley treats Garret like crap.

6.  Did you enjoy this book?  Will you be continuing the series?   

First Grave on the Right was exactly a book that I needed during my most stressful time at work. It was an easy and enjoyable read that kept me laughing and guessing throughout the book. I do plan on continuing the series.  

Today is the third week of the Don't Fear the Reaper read-along! We'll be discussing the chapters eleven to sixteen of First Grave on the Right, the first book in the Charley Davidson series by Darynda Jones. If you would like to join, please see this introduction post on how to get started! Many thanks to Jen @ In the Closet with a Bibliophile for this week's questions.

5.  We get a surprise visit from Rosie's husband and we find out some information about Reyes...that he and The Big Bad are the same guy. What are your thoughts? Were you surprised about Rosie's husband or did you feel that one coming? What about Bad Reyes, had you already made the connection?

 I had my suspicions before that Reyes and the Big Bad were the same guy. I also anticipated to see Rosie's husband again. What I didn't know is how he could be in two places at once? Of course we figure out why at the end. :)

Today is the second week of the Don't Fear the Reaper read-along! We'll be discussing the first five chapters of First Grave on the Right, the first book in the Charley Davidson series by Darynda Jones. If you would like to join, please see this introduction post on how to get started! Many thanks to Lia @ Babbling About Books and Stuff for this week's questions.

1.   Shiny objects and old family stories are told in this chapter, including an old nickname for our dear Charley. What was the nickname her uncle Bob gave her when she was little? Do you have an old nickname from when you were a kid? You can share it, and if it's really embarrassing we won't mind. *wink*

I love the relationship between Uncle Bob and Charley. The nickname he gave her was Calamity because she was always either causing trouble or in the middle of it. :) As I mentioned last week, I've got several nicknames and they're all different variations of my name.

Today is the first week of the Don't Fear the Reaper read-along! We'll be discussing the first five chapters of First Grave on the Right, the first book in the Charley Davidson series by Darynda Jones. If you would like to join, please see this introduction post on how to get started! Many thanks to Christy at Love Books for this week's questions.

1. We meet some of Charley's ghostly "buddies," do you believe you have ever had a ghostly encounter?

  I can't say that I ever had one, but I do believe in spirits. Just because we don't seem them doesn't mean that they don't exisit. I'll be honest and that I would get a bit freaked out if I met one. Hopefully, the ghost will be more like Casper than the ones that Charley handles. LOL!

2. Charley named her jeep Misery. Have you ever named your vehicles? What did you name them?

 I haven't named any cars, mainly because since I have a large family the cars are passed around. I have named other objects in the house like my space heater which I dubbed Jacob after the Twilight series. ;)

3. Charley says her name "...brooks no opposition. It takes s*** from no one." What do you think your name says about you to strangers? Is there a different name that you think would suit you better?

Many people can't pronounce my name even though it's spelled out phonetically. So, I'm sure the first thing that they think of right away is that it's foreign. I find it funny watching people trying to find a polite way to pronounce it. I've resorted to having friends just call me "Rum" as a nickname because a) everyone has heard of rum before and b) it's easy to pronounce. I've also got an assorted nicknames around the house. I like my name and I think it suits me.

4. Charley says her best friend Cookie is "like Kramer from Seinfeld, only not so nervous, like Kramer might have been on Prozac." Give us your best description of your best friend. How would they would describe you?

 My best friend is practical, for the most part easily detect my moods, and can call me out stuff. I think she would describe me as passionate and deceptively demure.

5. Garrett is reluctant to believe in Charley's abilities, how would you react if a friend divulged to you that they can see and speak with the dead?

 I've heard of people who believe they are ghost talkers or have communicate with the dead. Even though they are a friend, I would still need proof before I could believe them right away.

 

 With less than three weeks before the new school year begins, I wanted to do something fun before things get out of control. I decided to join some awesome bloggers and read a fun book while participating in Don't Fear the Reaper Read-along, which is celebrating the upcoming release of Fourth Grave beneath My Feet, the fourth book in the Charley Davidson series. I've heard great things about this series and I can't wait to read it. Many thanks go out to Christy of Love of Books, Lila of Babbling About Books and Stuff, Jen of In the Closet With a Bibliophile and Heidi of Rainy Day Ramblings for setting up this read-along!