Author Archives: By Hook Or By Book ~ Book Reviews, News, & Other Stuff

Whimsical Wednesday

14 Wednesday Nov 2018

Posted by in Uncategorized

≈ 8 Comments

Tags

,

0BB048C5-4472-41AA-BF55-6B5B43B58E0F

She left pieces of her life behind her everywhere she went. It’s easier to feel the sunlight without them she said.

~ Brian Andreas, Story People: Selected Stories & Drawings of Brian Andreas ~

 

Advertisements

Summoned to Thirteenth Grave Blog Tour

12 Monday Nov 2018

Posted by in Uncategorized

≈ 16 Comments

Tags

, , , ,

E286217F-E2A0-4A0A-BD5F-A2C87F20547C

I can’t tell you how excited I am to be participating in this blog tour (Thank You St. Martin’s Press!). At the same time I’m crushed that Summoned to Thirteenth Grave is the final book in the Charley Davidson series. Seven years ago, the first book in this fantastic series was published and I immediately became a fervent fan. As part of this tour I chose to reread First Grave on the Right and review it.

8DCE2CF0-C037-4A64-9EE9-499253EDA5C0

20ED2CA7-2440-4079-BBCB-A1B3D9172198

Synopsis:

This whole grim reaper thing should come with a manual.

Or a diagram of some kind.

A flow chart would have been nice.

Charley Davidson is a part-time private investigator and full-time grim reaper. Meaning, she sees dead people. Really. 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 (like 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 of her life…and it turns out he might not be dead after all. In fact, he might be something else entirely. But what does he want with Charley? And why can’t she seem to resist him? And what does she have to lose by giving in?

With scorching-hot tension and high-octane humor, First Grave on the Right is your signpost to paranormal suspense of the highest order.

I was still working as a librarian back in 2011, and I remember how reading this on my breaks caused a few embarrassing moments for me because it had me laughing out loud so many times. Charley may be the reaper, but you can take the “grim” out of the equation. She’s sassy and sarcastic, but these are a front for her vulnerability. Having to grow up with abilities that she didn’t understand while being ostracized by friends and family wasn’t easy. And now, having to balance her P.I. job with her Grim Reaper duties, further complicates her life. Thankfully she has her Uncle Bob and her BFF, Cookie to help her out. And she truly needs all the help she can get especially when the mysterious, smokin’ hot Reyes enters the picture!

I found First Grave on the Right to be just as entertaining as the first time I read it. My one critique is that Charley at times comes across as a little immature, but, having read the other books, I know how she grows and develops. I’ve read many urban fantasy series over the years and in my humble opinion the Charley Davidson series is one of the best. I cannot recommend this highly enough to fans of this genre. With its memorable characters, intriguing mystery, steamy romance, and snarky humor, it’s an addictive read that will have you reaching for the next book.

169DFA45-E1DF-42D1-B3FA-91892C2493AC 

~ About the Author ~

New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Darynda Jones won a Golden Heart and a RITA for her manuscript First Grave on the Right. A born storyteller, she grew up spinning tales of dashing damsels and heroes in distress for any unfortunate soul who happened by, annoying man and beast alike. Darynda lives in the Land of Enchantment, also known as New Mexico, with her husband and two beautiful sons, the Mighty Mighty Jones Boys.

Website ~ https://www.daryndajones.com

Twitter ~ https://mobile.twitter.com/Darynda

Facebook ~ https://m.facebook.com/darynda.jones.official

~

Here’s a peek at the epic conclusion to this exciting urban fantasy series.

6C6864A6-B7B9-44D6-8685-7672D922CE67

Summoned to Thirteenth Grave (Charley Davidson #13), by Darynda Jones

Release Date: January 15th, 2019

304 Pages

Publisher: St. Martin’s Press

Synopsis: Grim Reaper Charley Davidson is back in the final installment of Darynda Jones’ New York Times bestselling paranormal series!

Charley Davidson, Grim Reaper extraordinaire, is pissed. She’s been kicked off the earthly plain for eternity—-which is exactly the amount of time it takes to make a person stark raving 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 her daughter. She’s missed Reyes. She’s missed Cookie and Garrett and Uncle Bob. 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? It all comes to a head in an epic showdown between good and evil in this final smart and hilarious novel.

Election Day 2018

05 Monday Nov 2018

Posted by in Uncategorized

≈ 21 Comments

Tags

25AD031A-90A9-4402-A766-DD724213BDA3

Tomorrow is the day to make your voice heard and vote in the midterms. This election, with so many close races, is just as important if not more so, than any presidential election.

4D945498-9957-4164-8CC8-25507FB1605E

While there’s plenty to be discouraged about politics and the toxicity that’s taken over our country, it’s more important than ever to exercise our right to vote. So, if you haven’t already cast your ballot in early voting, please get out there tomorrow. Every voice counts!