Audible Book Review: Second Grave on the Left: Charley Davidson, Book 2 by Darynda Jones

This is another fun listen with more romantic conflict and paranormal danger.
Second Grave on the Left: Charley Davidson, Book 2
    UNABRIDGED
    by Darynda Jones
    Narrated by Lorelei King
        Series: Charley Davidson, Book 2
    LENGTH    9 hrs and 30 mins
    RELEASE DATE    08-16-11
    PUBLISHER    Macmillan Audio
Genre: Paranormal, Romantic Suspense
My Rating: 4.5 of 5.0

Publisher's Summary
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 listen of the summer: Second Grave on the Left.
©2011 Darynda Jones (P)2011 Macmillan Audio

Review:
Charley is once again addressing two mysteries in this second book.  One mystery involves the disappearance of one of Cookie’s good friends, Mimi. It appears that Mimi was acting strangely before disappearing and now the investigation reveals that many of her high school friends have recently died. Charley and Cookie are in a desperate race to find Mimi before she turns up dead too.

However, Charley is also caught up in trying to save her dream lover, Reyes, aka the Son of Satan. We learn much more about Reyes, his history and connections to Charley. All of her life Reyes has secretly been protecting her through an astral connection. But now he is in danger of leading demons to find Charley which would be a very bad thing, allowing them to use her as a portal to heaven. Charley found Reyes in prison, actually in a hospital in a coma, but now he has escaped and gone into hiding. Charley is intent on finding Reyes before he allows his corporeal body to die while he continues to hide from her in an effort to keep her safe.

The conflict between Charley and Reyes creates great tension. Also, Charley is learning that she has more powers than even she realizes and she is beginning to let her family in on some of her secrets with some heartbreaking and encouraging moments. If you enjoy sass, humor and romantic conflict I highly recommend this series.

Audio Notes: Again, Ms. King does a great job of narrating and making the characters come more alive than a print book might. This listen moved quickly and I am ready to purchase book three from Audible!

This download was from my Audible Library.

Audible Book Review: First Grave on The Right: Charley Davidson, Book 1 by Darynda Jones

This is sassy and full of action and sensual relationship. Great, fun listening!

First Grave on the Right: Charley Davidson, Book 1

    UNABRIDGED

    by Darynda Jones

    Narrated by Lorelei King

        Series: Charley Davidson, Book 1
    LENGTH    9 hrs and 4 mins
    RELEASE DATE    02-09-11
    PUBLISHER    Macmillan Audio
Genre: Paranormal, Romantic Suspense
My Rating: 4.75 of 5.0

Publisher's Summary
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. The audio includes a sneak peak of Second Grave on the Left.
Keep chilled: spend some more time with Charley Davidson.
©2010 Darynda Jones (P)2010 Macmillan Audio

Review:
Charley Davidson has known for a long time that she was different from most folks. As a child she didn’t understand but over the years she learned to hide her abilities -- she sees dead people. Not only does she see them but she apparently is THE Grim Reaper and she helps people pass through into "the light." Sometimes the dead want Charley to help them with unresolved issues before they will move along. That is how she became invovled in fighting the bad guys and solving murders.

Charley has worked as a Private Investigator helping the Albuquerque police, first her father, who has retired, and now Uncle Bob. No one, not even her family, really know the extent of her secrets. They just know that somehow she gets the right clues to solve the cases. Additionally, they have observed that, although sometimes clumsy, Charley always seems to manage to “dodge the bullet” so to speak. Actually, when she has been really in danger the bad guys seem to end up with very severe injuries, like broken spinal columns.

Charley struggles with being ‘a freak’ especially as she is scorned by her step mother and seems to have lost the friendship of her beautiful, talented sister. And of course having a normal dating life is pretty much out of the question. Lately though Charley has had a great night life- even if it is just in her dreams. She doesn’t know who her secret, sexy dream lover is, or quite ‘what’ he is and that begins to concern her when he starts appearing during her working hours too.

This first book of the series introduces Charley, her family, her work nemesis, Garrett, her assistant/best friend/neighbor, Cookie, and several other secondary characters. The reader also begins to experience Charley’s rather crazy world and life. It seems each of the books has Charley involved in helping a couple of cases. In this story she has arranged an escape for an abused wife and she is pulled in to help solve a killing of three local attorneys, who are conveniently providing her mixed messages.

There is great action, mystery, tension and humor in these stories! I love Charley’s sass and determination. Initially it isn’t clear if her dream lover, Reyes, is a good guy or not, but it is clear he has a protective streak and strong attraction for Charley. I also enjoyed Charley’s struggles as she slowly begins to reveal more of herself to her circle of family and friends. The plot is full and fast paced and I was eager to get and listen to the second book in the series.

Audio Notes: Lorelei King does a wonderful job carrying the craziness of Charley’s life and her somewhat vulnerable but irrepressible personality. Ms. King does a good job with the other characters and portraying the emotions as the story moves along. The narration definitely added to my enjoyment of this title.

I read this from my own Audible library.

Book Review and Giveaway: Sisterhood by Deleyna Marr

This is a unique and exciting read.
Sisterhood 
by Deleyna Marr

• Paperback: 292 pages
• Publisher: Heart Ally Books (June 25, 2012)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0983513392
• ISBN-13: 978-0983513391

Genre: Romantic Suspense, Paranormal
My Rating: 4.25 of 5.0

Book Description
Publication Date: June 30, 2012
A single gunshot shattered Dana's perfect life. Now she's starting over with a new life, new rules and an old flame to chase all her demons away. But Dana’s demons have other ideas. They want her—and her sisters—at any cost.

Fans of Dean Koontz will delight in Deleyna Marr’s first novel which takes the reader on an around the world adventure filled with industrial espionage, human trafficking and three very powerful sisters.

Marie works for SciTech, an international mega corporation that battles terrorists and industrial espionage. She loves the risk and adventure, the private jet, and the whirlwind her life has become. At least she did, until someone decides the world would be much better off without her.

Lara hides behind a smoke screen of witchcraft to disguise the strength of her enhanced psychic abilities. Working with the man who once tortured her to develop those abilities, she is developing the next generation of psionics, and keeping a close eye on her sisters.

Dana lives a seemingly quiet life, protected from outside stress, until an assassination attempt on Marie triggers her dormant psionic abilities. Now she'll have to escape her marriage and find her sisters in order to unravel the mystery of the corporation that claims to own them.

Kevin has finally escaped SciTech’s control and there is nothing that would make him return to that nightmare. Nothing except his love for the woman who was created to be his soul mate.

Review:
This story follows three young women who have extraordinary powers - not quite psychic but enhanced senses. They are known as psionics and knew each other in college where they were able to connect through telepathy. They also knew two young men, Leonard and Kevin, who seemed connected with similar, but not as powerful senses. In college Leonard tortured Lara trying to force the improvement of her sensory skills. Kevin stepped in to protect Lara, destroying Leonard’s senses and creating a bitter enemy. Kevin was growing close to Dana but those who secretly manipulated the girls wanted them separated.

Dana was wooed away by a man whom she believed “got” her and accepted her. It took years of betrayal, infidelity and mental abuse for her to realize that he was not the man she thought he was. Even then she didn’t realize the full extent of his manipulations until she broke free of the drug haze he kept her in and escaped to find her friend Marie.

Marie went to work for the company SciTech which uses her skills to help fight criminal activity. Recently Dana sensed that Marie was in danger so Dana escapes her home and flies to Paris to find Marie. Marie wants to convince Dana to come to work with her at SciTech, under the big boss, Thomas.

Dana is shocked to discover that Kevin is alive as she thought he had died. The more she learns of the manipulations that directed her live since college the more betrayal and anger she experiences. Dana and Marie face danger as someone seeks to kidnap them to experiment further with their powers. Although Kevin swore he would never work for SciTech again he is committed to protecting the girls. That includes trying to rescue Lara from her situation.

Marie, Dana and Kevin are sent on assignment to use their skills to locate pockets of humans held by a slave trafficking ring. The undercover efforts are almost discovered but they still help the authorities to save many lives and round up some of the criminal leaders.

Finally a confrontation brings all three women together as they learn more of their twisted past. As their powers increase they are exposed to a shadowy world of grigori, fallen angels, many of whom are demon-like creatures who relish pain and occasionally a few gentler ones who give comfort.

I really liked the psionic personalities and loved the protective nature of Kevin. It was good to watch Dana recover her strengths after being pushed down by her husband. I found the story premise interesting and enjoyed the action. I also liked the efforts against the sex trafficking which I find to be an important and timely subject. Unfortunately, the story had a little bit of a choppy, disfointed flow for me and I was left with a feeling that some facts were unclear. Still the overall effect was really engaging and I do recommend this to those who like romantic suspense with paranormal elements.

This is another book I received from Heart Ally Books at EPICon 2013 in March.

ENTER THIS GIVEAWAY for my autographed Print Copy:

ENTRY FORM HERE

Don't forget to fill in the form for entry! 

I have noticed a few commenters who forgot to enter through the Form.  

For 3 Extra Bonus entries Visit the author's website and tell me something you find of interest.

* This contest is open to those with US address only.
* This contest will close 10 PM (Central) on October 11, 2013.
The winner will be randomly selected from all entries.
WINNER WILL BE ANNOUNCED after October 11, 2013.
Winners will have 72 hours to respond by email or the winners form linked in the announcement.

Mailbox Monday September 30, 2013

Welcome to Mailbox Monday.
Mailbox Monday is a gathering place for readers to share the books that came into their house last week and explore great book blogs.  This Meme started with Marcia at A Girl and Her Books (fka The Printed Page) but is now hosted at Mailbox Monday and through various blog hosts.
For SEPTEMBER: the Mailbox Monday Tour host is MIA so look for the links at Beauty in the Ruins.
[Starting September, Bob of Beauty in Ruins will be the new back-up host for Mailbox Monday.]

Warning: Mailbox Monday can lead to envy, toppling TBR piles and humongous wish lists.

I received five titles this week.

Are your mailbox and TBR piles blooming?

Review Titles

I received one eBook for review:
Received for blog tour review through BookBlast:

Just Ella

by Annette K. Larson

I received two more Audio books from Audiobook Jukebox for review:



Helper 12

• UNABRIDGED
• by Jack Blaine
• Narrated by Renee Chambliss

and

Audiobook (CDs)
The Time Fetch
by Amy Herrick; read by Luci Christian
Unabridged   7.75 hour(s)
Publication date: 08/27/2013
A Kids’ Indie Next List Pick!

Won

NONE

Purchased

I used the balance of my $5.00 credit at my Audible Subscription to purchase this Daily Deal special for $2.95. 

Brave New World

• UNABRIDGED
• by Aldous Huxley
• Narrated by Michael York

Free

A free book on my Audible Subscription:



We Like You So Much and Want to Know You Better

• UNABRIDGED
• by Dave Eggers
• Narrated by Dion Graham

I also downloaded a handful or two of free Kindle Titles linked through Bookbub, Bookfun, Free Par-tay, Inspired Reads, Pixel of Ink or Kindle ebooks.

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? September 30, 2013

This meme starts at Book Journey!

What Are You Reading, is where we gather to share what we have read this past week and what we plan to read this week. It is a great way to network with other bloggers, see some wonderful blogs, and put new titles on your reading list.

My work week was pretty good - busy but not overly stressful. Reading has continued to be very good.  I finished five books and posted only four reviews, one with Giveaway.  I posted an author feature plus Giveaway.
I also posted the weekly Mailbox Monday, Friday Pick Giveaway, Saturday Snapshot, Sharing Beyond Books Comment Giveaway and Sunday Words.

I need to get busy visiting again.
Thanks as always to all the nice people who visit me.

These were last week's posts plus win post:

• It's Monday What are You Reading? September 23, 2013.

• Mailbox Monday 9/23/13.

• Book Review with Giveaway: Convict Dad by P. Ryan Hempree, Cozy Mystery, Christian, my rating 4.25. Ends 9/30/13.

• Guest Post by Author Lisa Becker: Online Dating.

• Book Review: Double Click by Lisa Becker, Contemporary Romance; my rating 4.25. 

• Book Review: Always on My Mind by Jill Salvis, Lucky Harbor Series, Contemporary Romance, my rating 4.25.

• Always on My Mind Feature and Excerpt Plus #Giveaway: Lucky Harbor Backlist. Ends 9/30.

• Martha's Bookshelf***Friday Pick Giveaway September 27, 2013. Open Worldwide. Ends 10/5.

• Saturday Snapshot September 28, 2013 Bahamas Cruising - Day at See.

• Audio Book Review: Once by Morris Gleitzman, Fiction, children; my rating 4.25. 

• Sharing Beyond Books #119 Comment Giveaway 9/28/13. Open Worldwide. Ends 10/6.

• Sunday Words of Encouragement September 29, 2013.
  

Finished Reading:

1. Audible

Shadows of Glass: The Ashes Trilogy Book 2
    by Kassy Tayler
    Narrated by Nicola Barber
        Series: The Ashes, Book 2
I enjoyed this but it ends 
on a cliffhanger for the final book.
I will post a review this week.
Click on Title for full Book Description.

2. Audible

Rising Tides: Destroyermen, Book 5

• UNABRIDGED
• by Taylor Anderson
• Narrated byWilliam Dufris
• • Series: Destroyermen, Book 5

I love this series! I will listen to Book 6 as soon as I finish my audio review titles. :-)
Publisher's Summary
Stuck in an alternate universe during World War II, Lieutenant Commander Matthew Reddy of the U.S.S. Walker has found an unlikely but invaluable ally in Commodore Jenks of the New Britain Imperial Navy. And now they are united in their desire to hunt down the traitor who abducted two women both men would die to protect: Reddy's love, nurse Sandra Tucker, and young Princess Rebecca of the New British Empire. But first they have a new battle to win.

However, this battle will not be fought with broadsides and broadswords, but with cunning and intrigue. For when Reddy and Jenks report the situation to the New Britain Company, they are met with scorn and disbelief. It soon becomes obvious that the ruthless Company is attempting to overthrow the Imperial Throne - and that someone involved knows where Sandra and Rebecca are. From the halls of power to the ballrooms of the nobility, Reddy must navigate through a tempest of politics, deception, and betrayal if he is ever going to save the hostages and live to fight another day.
©2010 Taylor Anderson (P)2011 Tantor

3. Print

My Lady Quicksilver
by Bev McMaster
 TI really liked this one!
I will post review
with ARC Giveaway this week.
Click on Title for full Book Description.

4. eBook/Kindle

Hallowed Eve
by Suza Kates
I am reading this for review for the author during blog tour of her new release.
This review will post October 3, 2013.
Click on Title for full Book Description.

5. Audio/MP3

Helper12

• UNABRIDGED
• by Jack Blaine
• Narrated by Renee Chambliss

This is another dystopia 
I selected through AudioBook Jukebox.
I will post a review this week.
Publisher's Summary
Helper12 works as a Baby Helper in Pre Ward, the place where babies spend their first six months of life before they're tracked for vocations and sent to training. She does her job well, and she stays out of trouble. But one day, the Sloanes, Society members who enjoy all the privileges of their station - family unit clearance, a private dwelling, access to good food and good schools - come to "adopt" one of the Pre Ward babies. The Director makes a deal and the Sloanes walk out with a brand new child.

They also walk out owning Helper12 - the Director sells her to them, and there's nothing she can do but go. At the Sloanes, Helper12 enters a world where people should be able to enjoy life - with high position and riches come the opportunity for individual freedom, even the chance to love - but that's not what she finds. The Sloanes are keeping secrets. So is their biological son, Thomas.

Helper12 has some secrets of her own; she's drawing, which is a violation, since Baby Helpers aren't tracked for Art. And she's growing to love the child she was bought to care for - at the same time that Ms. Sloane is becoming disenchanted with her impulse baby buy.

When all your choices are made for you, how do you make some for yourself? Helper12 is about to find out.
©2011 Jack Blaine (P)2013 Jack Blaine

Line Edits/Releases:
Caught up on new releases. Back to working on print and Smashwords releases.

Enter the bi-monthly drawings at eTreasures Publishing Facebook page.
This week's giveaway link: The Wonk Decelerator by John Joseph Doody. A fun adventure, new release!

Currently reading:
1. Print

These Boots Weren't Made for Walking
by Melody Carlson
This has started fun.
Reading for Ladies Book Club 10/12.
Book Description
Publication Date: February 19, 2009
Willing to make the necessary sacrifices–even skipping the occasional latte–to ensure career success, 31-year-old Cassidy Cantrell “invests” in a chic pair of boots, certain they’ll make a spectacular impression and help seal the deal on a long-anticipated promotion from her Seattle employer.

But reality tromps all over her expectations. Cassie’s job is abruptly eliminated–and her love life obliterated, when her longtime boyfriend dumps her for a “friend.” Her self-esteem in tatters, Cassie limps home to the resort town she once so eagerly fled–only to find her recently divorced mother transformed into a gorgeous fifty-something babe with a thriving social life. Cassie wrestles with envy and apathy as she considers the dismal shape of her own physique and romantic prospects. What will it take for her to jump back into life and regain her stride?

This sassy and hilarious novel leads readers on a romp through the wilds of relationships, romance, career, and spirituality, revealing that, while God’s plans may look drastically different than our own, it’ll always be a perfect fit.

2. Audio

The Chronology Protection Case
by Paul Levinson
I am just starting this short audio.
Reviewing for Author through AudioBook Jukebox.
Publisher's Summary
The radio play of "The Chronology Protection Case" was adapted by Mark Shanahan with Paul Levinson, based on the novelette by Paul Levinson which first appeared in the pages of Analog magazine in September 1995. The script of the radio adaptation was nominated for a prestigious Edgar Allan Poe Award as "Best Play of 2003" by the Mystery Writers of America.

The radio play was initially performed live before a studio audience at the Museum of TV & Radio in September of 2002. It was subsequently recorded at CDM Studios in New York City in 2003, featuring a cast of nine actors, with an original sound design and score. The CDM recording was produced by Charles de Montebello and Mark Shanahan.

"The Chronology Protection Case" radio play, a science fiction murder mystery, features Shanahan in the role of Dr. Phil D'Amato, the forensic detective who appears in Levinson's acclaimed novels, The Silk Code, The Consciousness Plague, and The Pixel Eye. When D'Amato is approached by the distraught wife of a missing scientist whose work is embroiled in secrecy, he is plunged into an adventure with a terrifying and powerful force of nature at the heart of a series of mysterious deaths.
©1995 Paul Levinson; (P)2005 Listen & Live Audio, Inc.

3. Audio

The Time Fetch 
by Amy Herrick
I will start this before the end of the week.
Reviewing for Highbridge Audio through AudioBook Jukebox.
Product Description
Under normal circumstances, a Time Fetch sends out its foragers to collect only those moments that will never be missed or regretted. It then rests, waiting to be called back by the Keeper, who distributes the gathered time where it is needed in our world and others. When eighth grader Edward innocently mistakes a sleeping Fetch for an ordinary rock, he wakes its foragers too early, and they begin to multiply and gobble up too much time. Soon the bell rings to end class just as it’s begun. Buses race down streets, too far behind schedule to stop for passengers. Buildings and sidewalks begin to disappear as the whole fabric of the universe starts to unravel.

To try to stop the time foragers he has unleashed, Edward must depend on the help of his classmates Feenix, Danton, and Brigit—whether he likes it or not. They all have touched the Fetch, and it has drawn them together in a strange and thrilling adventure where the boundaries between worlds and dimensions are blurred, and places and creatures on the other side are much like the ones they’ve always known—but slightly twisted, a little darker, and much more dangerous.

A fast-paced tale of mythology, danger, friendship, and a shocking centuries-old secret, The Time Fetch is a magical adventure that reveals the extraordinary hiding just inside the ordinary.

4. eBook - undecided!

I am really lagging but still listening to The Listener's Bible NIV read by Max McLean. [Reading and listening on MP3.] I have been remiss and not keeping up with daily reading with my DH.

Line Edits: Still working.  I am still working on new print formatting this week.

I enjoyed a more loose review schedule in September and may want to do that again soon. :-)
I currently have eight titles read that need reviews posted so I hope to do at least five this week.

October Scheduled
10/2 - 5 Book Blast Post: Just Ella by Annette K. Larsen
10/3 Author Tour Review: Hallowed Eve by Suza Kates
10/8 - 14 Book Blast Post: A Bargained-For Bride by Marcia Lynn McClure
10/12 Women’s Book Club: These Boots Weren’t Made for Walking by Melody Carson (reading)
10/14  BookBlast Tour Review: Lord Trowbridge’s Angel by G.G. Vandagriff
10/18  BookBlast Tour Review: Just Ella by Annette K. Larsen
[Date to be set: 10/24 to 11/8 BookBlast Tour Review:  Bargained-For Bride by Marcia Lynn McClure]


Sourcebooks
     Lady Jenny's Christmas Portrait by Grace Burrows
     The Christmas He Loved Her by Julia Stone


NetGalley:
   I may browse for new choices.

AudioBook Jukebox 
     The Chronology Protection Case by Paul Levinson (listening)
     The Time Fetch by Amy Herrick

Authors - I have several requests to consider.

From TBR Collection - TBD
Won Book - TBD
Free Kindle/Nook or Smashwords: TBD