[Review] Charley Davidson #2 - Second Grave on the Left by Darynda Jones

Second Grave on the Left by Darynda Jones
Charley Davidson (#2)
Paranormal Mystery

Synopsis 
If you hang around with dead people, life can get pretty complicated. Take it from Charley Davidson, part-time private investigator and full-time Grim Reaper. Complicated is her middle name. The deceased find her very sparkly. Demons find her irresistible. And one entity in particular wants to seduce her in every way possible.
When Charley and Cookie (her best friend/receptionist) have to track down a missing woman, the case is not quite as open and shut as they anticipate. Cookie's friend Mimi disappeared five days earlier. Mimi then sends Cookie a cryptic message telling Cookie to meet her at an nearby coffee shop. The coffee is brewing, but Mimi's still missing. There is, however, a clue Mimi left on the bathroom wall: a woman's name. Mimi's husband explains to them that his wife had been acting strange since she found out an old high school friend had been murdered. The same woman whose name Mimi had scribbled on the bathroom wall.
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...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? Can she keep those she loves out of harm's way? And is there enough coffee and chocolate in the world to fuel her as she does?
- from Goodreads

Review

It's been waaaaay too long since I read book one of the Charley Davidson series, Feb 2012 to be more exact, and it's really good to get back into the series. even if I've only read book one

First of all, thank you to Ms. Jones for having a little bit of a prologue in chapter one. Though I am quite proud of myself for recalling some parts of that happened in book one, thank you again for that prologue, it filled in the blanks.

Second grave on the left is funny, extremely amusing, and mysterious as ever. I listened to the audiobook version and the narrator did a fantastic job bringing Charley's personality and voice to life.

There were multiple times in the book when I literally bursted into a pit of laughter and I couldn't stop. And there were multiple times when I shouted into the air, "WHAT? What in the fires of hell is goin on!?". The vague details of who's who, and what's what is a brilliant tactic to get the reader reading further and further into the book, and since there weren't a whole lot of suspense in the book but it was enough to keep me screaming and laughing.

Second grave to the left is simply hilarious, extremely amusing; despite all the serious crime and etc. And let me just say, Charley is just so laid back. I love her! I'm definitely looking forward to reading the next five books of the series!

 

The Heroes of Olympus, A Recommended Series.

Is it worth your time? 

Of course it is. You'd be a fool not to read this series.

I will try not to give away any spoilers, but I'm sorry in advance if I do.

About the series

The Heroes of Olympus by the infamous Rick Riordan, the author of the Percy Jackson & the Olympians, revolves around the seven chosen demigods who travel across the seas to stop the rise of a certain old and unexpectedly evil Goddess. The seven demigods were brought together to fulfill the prophecy that was introduced in the Percy Jackson series.

"Seven half-bloods shall answer the call,

To storm or fire, the world must fall,

An oath to keep with a final breath,

And foes bear arm to the Doors of Death."

The first book, The Lost Hero, introduces the first three of the seven; Jason, Piper and Leo. Jason apparently has lost his memories, wakes up on a bus with his supposed best friends, Piper and Leo. The story moves forward with these three main characters, and portrays how their friendship grows, their exciting adventures, and shocking realizations.

The second book, The Son of Neptune, revolves around the other three of the seven demigods. Percy, Hazel and Frank. The Son of Neptune is of course, Percy Jackson, if you all didn't already guess. This second edition to the series, is quite similar to the first. It focuses on how close these three characters get, and their exhilarating adventures and fight scenes. I personally, didn't get into this book, the adrenaline from the first book kind of died out with this one.


The third book, The Mark of Athena, picks up directly after the Son of Neptune. This is the book where the seven demigods of the prophecy unite, plan, and fight their way to defeat the enemy/ies. This is my favorite book of the series. It brought out so many different emotions that it was hard to point out what was actually felt.

The fourth book, The House of Hades, continues the story of the final events in the Mark of Athena. The book goes on telling the progress the seven demigod heroes have made, what mischief, accidents and mishaps they've caused, what monsters they've faced and what other awesome blessing they've got from their God parents. I didn't find this as engrossing as the Mark of Athena, but there were moments of shock and anticipation.

~ ~ ~

Reading through the first four books of the Heroes of Olympus right after each other with no room for any other books with its fictional worlds and characters, was a journey. A journey filled with all kinds mishaps, new funny characters that I've grown attached to, and exciting nonstop adventures.

This series is a little bit darker, and waaaay longer than the Percy Jackson series. And if you're wondering if you should read the Percy Jackson series before starting this one. I recommend that you do, but it's all up to you, if you're up for understanding the story behind Percy and some of the characters in the book, go for it. But if you want to go straight to The Heroes of Olympus, go right ahead, there are mentions of Percy's past that were used as reference to the series. There is no need to worry about missing out, Riordan explained most of the events that occurred in the Percy Jackson series that was mentioned in the Heroes of Olympus series.

And though the last book, Bloods of Olympus, has yet to come (release date: October 7 2014) the series so far has been exciting, exhilarating, funny, unputdownable and unstoppable. It is definitely a recommended one to those who enjoy reading about mythological adventures, demigods, modernized Greek and Roman Gods and Goddesses, and to those who are looking for a new world to get sucked into. Give this series a go. You won't regret it!

[Books] Until I Die by Amy Plum

Goodreads | Booklikes

Nov 26-28, 2013

Synopsis

Kate has chosen to leave the comfort and safety of her human world in order to join Vincent in the dangerous supernatural universe he inhabits. For his part, he has sworn to go against his very nature and resist the repeated deaths that are his fate as a revenant—even though it will bring him immeasurable suffering.

Heady with romance and rife with danger, the second book of the DIE FOR ME trilogy follows Vincent and Kate as they search—separately—for a solution to their plight, pursuing their quest from the glamorous streets of Paris to the city’s squalid underbelly. Although the experiment that Vincent attempts is progressively destroying him, he insists on seeing it through to the end. This prompts Kate to strike out on her own into the dangerous world of the revenants to find another way. But she unwittingly puts everyone she loves at risk when she discovers a family of ancient healers who hold the key to a secret that could help the bardia—the good revenants—overthrow their murderous enemies, the numa, forever.

And while the lovers search for something they have little chance of finding, a new threat arises among the numa. Kate finds herself in the midst of an ancient and deadly war, not as a bystander…but as a target.

Review 

Until I Die is the second book of the Revenants series by Amy Plum. Kate has left her normal teenage life for the life with her revenant boyfriend, Vincent. As Vincent promised to Kate, he would resist the urge of death whenever the urge strikes, but it causes him to suffer and so Kate tries to find away to help him and a way for both of them to be together while their adversaries; the Numa, tries to find the Champion who will possess the a whole lot of power that can be taken by force. Hence they revenants and numa go back into battle and the book ends in a cliff hanger. 

I apologize for the straight forward introduction but that's how I see it all. 

I read the first book of the series; Die for Me, back in 2011 (Waw 2011, it's been 2 years. O.O) and I really enjoyed it, but when I started the second book, I didn't feel the same way as I did with the first book. I was terribly infuriated with the teenage drama, but I managed to look past it and tried to enjoy the book. Though reading it made me feel slightly nostalgic towards YA novels. 

The entire book was thrilling and exciting and I had those moments when you can't put the book down until you finish this one chapter but after what felt like about 20 minutes you ended up finishing five chapters. 

A few pages towards the end, I mentally recited to myself "Oh no! Oh no! Oh no! Omg no!!!". It was those moments when you just want to look up at the wall blankly and process what you just read. The last words literally gave me goosebumps. Though it was a close to the edge cliff hanger, it was a darn good one. 

Despite the teenage ignorance, Until I Die is a great book. It can be unputdownable, heart-wrenching and unexpected at times. With the deep cliff hanger that gave me goosebumps I am definitely picking up the next book before 2014 ends! 

  

[Books] Tempest Rising by Tracy Deebs

Goodreads | Booklikes
Oct 14 - 30, 2013

Synopsis

Tempest Maguire wants nothing more than to surf the killer waves near her California home; continue her steady relationship with her boyfriend, Mark; and take care of her brothers and surfer dad. But Tempest is half mermaid, and as her seventeenth birthday approaches, she will have to decide whether to remain on land or give herself to the ocean like her mother. The pull of the water becomes as insistent as her attraction to Kai, a gorgeous surfer whose uncanny abilities hint at an otherworldly identity as well. And when Tempest does finally give in to the water's temptation and enters a fantastical underwater world, she finds that a larger destiny awaits her-and that the entire ocean's future hangs in the balance.

Review

Tempest Rising revolves around a teenager, Tempest, who would have the ability to transform into a mermaid when she turns 17. Ever since her mother; who is also a mermaid, left her beloved family to return to ocean, Tempest has hated and dreaded the idea of becoming a mermaid, until she feels a powerful temptation to go into the water and welcome the life under the sea.

Tempest Rising is a great young adult novel, and it's been a while, or at least it felt like a while, since I've read an actual paranormal YA novel. And I have to admit there were times when I would go "Oh come on! You're only 17!"

I was super excited to read this book. I always love reading about mermaids, the sea and the ocean. I literally picked up the book and jumped around for a couple of seconds, squealing. I'm so weird.

I started it off really well, I couldn't put it down for days. Until I reached the middle of the book. I am unsure whether it was because I got busy with reality that it ruined my comfortable ideal reading hours that made reading the book feel like a drag, or whether it was the book itself. I'll go with the busy statement. xD

One of the things that drew me into the book was the writing; it was funny as well as very creative, and of course Kona. That's apparently hot and sexy mysterious man with long hair...hmm..

Though the action-packed scene in the book didn't seem very action-y. I didn't feel the excitement that these scenes were supposed to give you when you read them. But it was all still very entertaining to read and enjoy.

All in all, Tempest Rising is a great book! There were tragic deaths, happy times and mixed-feeling endings. These are all you need to enjoy a great book! 

If you enjoy the words of the waves and the land under that sea along with a splash of teenage romance, this is the book for you! 

I can't wait to get the rest of the series! 

[Books] The Castor Chronicles Series by Kami Garcia & Margaret Stohl

Synopsis

"There were no surprises in Gatlin County. At least, that's what I thought. Turns out, I couldn't have been more wrong. "Ethan Wate used to think of Gatlin, the small Southern town he had always called home, as a place where nothing ever changed. Then he met mysterious newcomer Lena Duchannes, who revealed a secret world where a curse has marked Lena's family of powerful Supernaturals for generations.
Mysterious, suspenseful, and romantic, "Beautiful Creatures, Beautiful Darkness," "Beautiful Chaos," and "Beautiful Redemption "introduce a secret world hidden in plain sight. A world where impossible, magical, life-altering events happen. Sometimes life-ending.
This stunning set makes the perfect gift for fans of this bestselling Southern gothic romance.

Review

The Castor Chronicles series revolves around the protagonist Ethan Wate and how his life transforms from wanting to get out of the town of Gatlin, to wanting nothing else but to stay in because of a girl he's been having dreams about before he actually met her; Lena Duchannes.

The Ravenwood plantation is known to be scary, dark, and a piece of the devil to the people of Gatlin, but when the niece of Old man Ravenwood moves in with him, and attends high school, everything starts to change. Lena becomes the odd one out and the only thing she wants is to be normal, before she gets claimed either into the light or dark.

The series basically revolves around Ethan and Lena, and how things at Gatlin changes because of the 16th, 17th, 18th and 19th moons. It started with Lena's 16th moon, when she get claimed by either the light or dark.

I listened to the audiobooks while reading the books (just because I space out sometimes during the book, I'm sure you all have those moments! xD). I started after I watched the movie. I enjoyed the movie but then came to despise it once I finished the second book, because that was when everything basically clicked in my head.

The series started out pretty good. I enjoyed Beautiful Creatures, it was pretty cool, a bit engrossing, since I was working while listening to the book. All the main characters were properly introduced, plus the way of Kevin T. Collins portrays all of the accents of those characters was just fantastic! He made it twice as good!

When I started Beautiful Darkness, that is where is all starts. It made the first book feel like a prologue. There were multiple new characters that were introduced, and again, Kevin T. Collins did a fabulous job with the voices, and audibles sound affects made the books twice as exciting. The only thing I didn't like was Lena and her rebellious-stupidity. I don't understand how easily she can get brainwashed. I was extremely annoyed at her in this book. I was just happy that it was all in Lena's perspective.

Beautiful Chaos felt kind of like a drag for me to listen to after the 2nd book... I was tired of Ethan and Lena's story. I was tired of castors and incubus's, but I didn't stop, I wanted to finish it. Things got a lot more deeper after the second book, everything basically went to hell in Gatlin, and made everyone in town think it was the end of the world. My face was grimm the entire time I was listening/reading it. Of course, as it is every books tradition, the book ended with a blast, or basically a shocker, or makes your jaw drop.

I really really really enjoyed Beautiful Redemption. I have no idea why but it was so exciting that it got my heart racing by what felt like the middle of the book. Here you get to read the book in both Lena and Ethan's perspective, just like the first book but that was only briefly. Lena has a few chapters for herself, and you get to see more of Lena's actual perspective on things and how she really feels towards Ethan. The entire book, my emotions changes from happy, excited, sad, shocked, and many others. Multiple emotions swarmed through me in this book. I was quite sad and happy at the same time to see it end.

The Castor Chronicles ended with a happy ending but with accepted losses that made my heart melt.

It is a great series. It is up there with Vampire Academy, Twilight, and The Hunger Games. It is definitely one of my top 10 favorite book series of all time.

I recommend this series to Young Adults, who enjoy reading about paranormal fantasy romance with a splash of comedy. Those who enjoyed reading the Twilight , the Hunger Games, Harry Potter, and other paranormal books, this is a series you should definitely try out.
It is a little bit cliché, with a pinch of originality, it is exciting, engrossing, and unputdownable in some moments.

And I give this entire series a....

5 flower rating! Because the last book was just a great way to end a series!

Happiness on top of Sadness! 

I LOVE IT! 

[Books] House of Cards by Ilana Waters

Goodreads | Amazon

Started on: March 25, 2013

Finished on: March 30, 2013

Synopsis

Eighteen-year-old Sherry has just begun her newly independent life in Paris when she is kidnapped by a group of vampires. They hold her hostage in the House of Cadamon, their catacomb lair beneath the city, ruled with an iron fist by a leader known as “the Master.” The only thing keeping Sherry alive is her ability to tell vampire fortunes through tarot cards, a task she is forced to perform night after night. She finds an unlikely ally in Lucas, a four-hundred-year-old reluctant blood drinker who is as much a prisoner of Cadamon as she is.

Things get even more complicated when Sherry and Lucas begin falling for each other—hard. Will they be able to keep Sherry alive long enough for them both to escape the House of Cadamon? Or will the Master and his band of evil minions succeed in controlling the lives of the young lovers—by whatever means necessary?

With its breathtaking Parisian setting, fast-moving plot, and strong-willed heroine, this paranormal romance will keep you spellbound!

Review

Sherry is an 18 year woman who recently resided in Paris and happened to get kidnapped by a group of vampires who decide to hold her hostage because she has the ability of telling the vampire's fortunes through tarot cards.

To me, at first, I found House of Cards like a typical YA Paranormal Romance novel. Girl falls for paranormal guy, there is a conflict but they end up together anyway. Or the other way around. I can say that it does in a way resemble a typical YA paranormal romance, but it has its own fling to it.

It has an interesting and original dialogue. But it's something that you wouldn't expect from a coven of vampres; whom half of them seemed to have lost their humanity. This book is filled with surprises.

I really like what Sherry thinks of Lucas, its hilarious, she made the book a lot more enjoyable to read. Plus it's accurate to what an 18 year old would think if she was living with a smexy vampire! xD

These days, you'd think most vampires in books have gained their humanity and are soft and passionate. But these vamps are intense, they somewhat reflect the description of vampires in the old books. They really don't care of human life, they kill and/or feed on whomever they please, and play with them before and/or after they feed on them. Most of the vampires in this book is sick. Warning: slight sexual harassment

The Master, oh this character is a real mystery. I cannot figure him out. What's his real name? Who was he? Why is everyone scared of him?

In conclusion, I found House of Cards an enjoyable short easy read, that is funny and filled with surprises. If you enjoy reading YA paranormal romance novels, this is definitely the book for you!

[Books] Golden Lily (Bloodlines #2) by Richelle Mead

Goodreads | Amazon 

Started on: December 1, 2012

Finished on: December 26, 2012

Synopsis

Sydney Sage is an Alchemist, one of a group of humans who dabble in magic and serve to bridge the worlds of humans and vampires. They protect vampire secrets—and human lives.

Sydney would love to go to college, but instead, she’s been sent into hiding at a posh boarding school in Palm Springs, California–tasked with protecting Moroi princess Jill Dragomir from assassins who want to throw the Moroi court into civil war. Formerly in disgrace, Sydney is now praised for her loyalty and obedience, and held up as the model of an exemplary Alchemist.

But the closer she grows to Jill, Eddie, and especially Adrian, the more she finds herself questioning her age–old Alchemist beliefs, her idea of family, and the sense of what it means to truly belong. Her world becomes even more complicated when magical experiments show Sydney may hold the key to prevent becoming Strigoi—the fiercest vampires, the ones who don’t die. But it’s her fear of being just that—special, magical, powerful—that scares her more than anything. Equally daunting is her new romance with Brayden, a cute, brainy guy who seems to be her match in every way. Yet, as perfect as he seems, Sydney finds herself being drawn to someone else—someone forbidden to her.

When a shocking secret threatens to tear the vampire world apart, Sydney’s loyalties are suddenly tested more than ever before. She wonders how she's supposed to strike a balance between the principles and dogmas she's been taught, and what her instincts are now telling her.

Should she trust the Alchemists—or her heart?

Review
DAMN! (I'm not even sure I'm allowed to swear in reviews) But damn! I cannot believe I took that long to finish this book! My assumptions are that I must have changed my genre or the book wasn't really as good as I thought. I'll go with the genre change.

Let's get on with the review shall we...
Golden Lily, the second book of the Bloodlines series. I enjoyed the first book as much as I enjoyed other books by Richelle Mead; she is one of my favorite authors. The gap between the first and second book releases was kind of a big gap. I wanted to reread or skim through Bloodlines (the first book) before I start reading Golden Lily, but then I thought, it was fine, I'm sure I'll remember what happened. But I didn't. I had to google some of the things that happened in the past book AND also in the Vampire Academy series (since Bloodline is a spin of the Vampire Academy series). I was confused in the first few chapters for a while, but things started to clear up.

The tension between Adrian and Sage is honestly what kept me going. I so want them to get together, but it is of course a forbidden love (that never stopped Rose and Dimitri).

The entire plot of Golden Lily was okay. It was interesting and engrossing but it doesn't give me the same exciting feeling that books like this used to. Honestly, I have mixed feelings towards it.

There were new characters that was introduced, new groups and love triangles everywhere! Well just one. And there is a mystery man that I am very curious about, which I'm sure, he'll be featured in the next book.

The last few pages was just... I can't explain it. It was just... argh ! (in a good way)

I am excited for the third book of the Bloodlines series and I hope it will be as good as the first two books combined.

FOUR FABULOUS FLOWERS! 

[Books] The Burning Bush by Kenya Wright

Goodreads | Amazon

Started on: September 16, 2012

Finished on: September 24, 2012

Synopsis
After Dante Bottelli’s slaughter of Vamp-owned Mixbreeds, Lanore and Zulu execute a well-planned attack that hits Dante where it hurts the most—his pockets. But their attack triggers a chain of unfortunate events, and allows Detective Rivera to blackmail Lanore.

Rivera forces Lanore to investigate his case, the Burning Bush Murders. Someone's been tying girls to bushes and setting them on fire. Lanore must find the killer, or Rivera goes public with his information.

Meanwhile, Dante won't take his defeat without a fight. He counterattacks and the Santeria habitat, as well as Lanore’s and Zulu’s lives, are changed forever.

Review
(This review contains spoilers!) 

The Burning Bush is the second edition to the Habitat series. It is about a new world where humans forced supernaturals to live in cages cities. This book continues the story of what happens to the protagonist Lanore Vesta. Lanore is a mixie that has a sight for equality between mixies and purebloods. With blowing up the vamp blood factory and a habbie detective that is blackmailing her solve the murder cases for him running after her, Lanore has a lot on her plate.

I read the first book and I loved it. The ending made me what to come back for more. I was lucky enough to finish the first book so close to the release date of the second.

I personally found The Burning Bush vastly intriguing and absorbing, plus it was an easy read. The enjoyed the plot much more than the first book, I’m guessing because I’ve grown to know more about the characters and I’ve grown attached to them in ways that I can’t explain.

Cassie was introduced into the book as Zulu’s sister. I absolutely adored her and she admired Lanore, which I thought was cute but kind of annoying. I grew attached to her throughout the book. I admit tears were shed when her death arrived.

As for the conclusion of the book, I only thought they would have a huge fight with the antagonist Dante, and he would die in the ending. But what actually happened was unanticipated, and undeniably unexpected, I was so shocked that my jaw fell open and stayed open until the last page. More tears were shed during the undetermined death of the hot and sexy Were-cheetah MeShack. The book ended with such a huge cliffhanger that will absolutely make you come back crawling for more.

The Burning Bush is marvelous second edition to the Habitat series. I will definitely recommend this to everyone I know who enjoys reading paranormal books. I am positively looking forward to the third edition. I do hope it comes out soon!