This collection of short stories will have you laughing out loud!
Dying for You
by MaryJanice Davidson
- Audible Audio Edition
- Listening Length: 7 hours
- Program Type: Audiobook
- Version: Unabridged
- Publisher: Penguin Audio
- Audible.com Release Date: August 7, 2012
- Language: English
- ASIN: B008U2QASG
Genre: Paranormal
My Rating: 4.25 of 5.0
Together for the first time, four devilishly entertaining novellas by the New York Times bestselling author prove that there’s not only life after death, but desire too…
The Fixer-Upper
Cathy’s new home is handsomely furnished—by an amorous male ghost. If only she had something she could…touch. Her neighbor may have a lousy personality, but he does have a perfect body. Now, spirit is about to meet flesh, to Cathy’s delight.
Paradise Bossed
While traveling in the Cayman Islands, Nikki loses her life in a tragic accident, but has no intention of cutting her vacation short. When a handsome male psychic is engaged to get a grip on Nikki’s spirit, he does more. He finds himself falling in love with her.
Driftwood
A Cape Cod werewolf agonizes over the death of a woman by his own paw. Well, to be fair, he never really killed her. She’s a vampire. Now she needs his help to kill the bloodsucker who turned her.
Witch Way
For centuries their families have been embroiled in a violent, irreversible feud. Today, can a witch and a witch-hunter find common ground...without killing each other first? Sometimes opposites do attract.
Review:
This entire collection is delightful fun. I just wish it didn’t have such loose use of bad language.
The Fixer-Upper
Cathy’s new home is handsomely furnished—by an amorous male ghost. If only she had something she could…touch. Her neighbor may have a lousy personality, but he does have a perfect body. Now, spirit is about to meet flesh, to Cathy’s delight. Read by Angela Gulner.
Cathy has worked hard and saved up to purchase her own home. She is thrilled to get a great place at a good price because it needs work. Cathy did not get to meet the seller as the transaction was handled through the seller’s attorney.
As Cathy begins to move in she spots her next door neighbor, Ken, working outside. He is shirtless and hunky...until he opens his mouth. Although his body is tempting his abrasive and swearing personality is a turn off.
Cathy discovers her house is haunted by a very gentlemanly ghost named Jack. When the nasty neighbor suffers a near fatal accident in Cathy’s home, things become even more strange. I can’t tell you what as it would be a spoiler but it is a delight to Cathy and the reader/listener.
Paradise Bossed
While traveling in the Cayman Islands, Nikki loses her life in a tragic accident, but has no intention of cutting her vacation short. When a handsome male psychic is engaged to get a grip on Nikki’s spirit, he does more. He finds himself falling in love with her. Read by Angela Gulner.
This story is connected to the first as Nikki is Cathy’s ‘best’ friend. The odd relationship was explained in the first story that introduced the sexy and pushy Nikki. Now Nikki has come along to the Cayman Islands to be close to Cathy and her new husband on their honeymoon. (Yes that is odd but I said it was an odd relationship!)
When Nikki loses her life in an underwater accident Cathy is distraught. In order to convince Cathy to leave Nikki behind they must find Nikki’s body and help her ghostly spirit to move on. A handsome male psychic is called in and the spirits become involved. He has to exorcize Nikki but he is reluctant to send her away. There will be a surprise ending for them both.
I thought this was the weakest of the stories and it would not have worked without the first short story. Oh - and if you like cheer-leading this has a bit of funny, if uninspired, cheer-leading. It is still entertaining in its unique strange way.
Witch Way
For centuries their families have been embroiled in a violent, irreversible feud. Today, can a witch and a witch-hunter find common ground...without killing each other first? Sometimes opposites do attract. Read by Devon Sorvari.
This is another delightful tale (with bad language). Rhia Goodman has just learned from her hippie parents (Flower and Power) that she is a witch-hunter from a long line of witch-hunters. She must be trained to face the witch who will show up in two years. Her mission is to kill the witch even though tradition is that she will be killed in the process. That is just the cycle of things and her "destiny".
Chris is a witch who has spent his whole life defying his family history. He is a good witch who kills demons rather than summoning them. He struggles with his rhyming spells (which are hilarious). Chris believes that he and the current Goodman witch-hunter should be able to come to a peaceful arrangement rather than kill each other.
When Chris shows up a few years earlier than the appointed time, can he convince Rhia that he comes in peace before she kills him? What fun there is in the physical attacks, counter spells and undeniable chemistry!
Driftwood
A Cape Cod werewolf agonizes over the death of a woman by his own paw. Well, to be fair, he never really killed her. She’s a vampire. Now she needs his help to kill the bloodsucker who turned her. Read by Aimee Castle.
Once again here is a fun story! Who says a werewolf and a vampire have to be enemies? Not in this story. These two loners, Burke and Serena, meet in an unusual circumstance and Serena is fairly antagonistic about the whole thing. Burke’s persistence finally turns them into a pairing. But Serena won’t be able to enjoy her own happiness until she resolves her hatred against the vampire who killed her. She is surprised that Burke is willing to help her but what will happen when they meet the bad vampire? Can they succeed together?
OVERALL AND AUDIO Observations:
All four stories have wonderfully humorous elements. The characters are distinct and the plots unique. There are three narrators and they each do a wonderful job of timing that helps emphasize the humor. Angela Gulner particularly does a nice job with some snarky accents!
I highly recommend this story and audio - with the caution that it is liberally peppered with bad language.
