Member Reviews
More fun and games with the most entertaining and bad- ass Grim Reaper in town, Charley Davidson and her paranormal paramour Reyes. When her apartment is invaded by a host of ghosts , murdered blonde women, Charley is on the hunt for a serial killer, with a particular type, one that just happens to match her sister. All is not running smoothly in the realm of love either, as Reyes is once again a suspect, this time for a series of arson attacks.
Fun, fast paced and with plenty of sizzle, what really impressed was the truly dramatic and emotional conclusion.
I read and reviewed an ARC courtesy of NetGalley and the publisher, all opinions are my own,
Fifth Grave Past the Light is just another awesome addition to this witty paranormal series! It was great from the first page and left me wanting more at the end. I am voluntarily leaving my honest review after reading this arc.
This series is just so much fun!
I love Charley and want my own Reyes, daddy issues and all.
This one gets creepy – all those dead women! It also gets quite sad when you learn a bit about them. Yeah, there may have been a tear shed.
An absolute blast of a book!
*ARC Provided via Net Galley
This latest installment of Charley Davidson universe is a bit darker. Still more addicting than coffee. I love all the characters and well developed they are.
This book has two major crime lease: fires and a serial killer. So she sees all these dead woman and her apartment, and they have some similar characteristics. And then a bunch of houses/apartment buildings keep burning down.
I've struggled through the first four in the Charley Davidson series, but I'm now raising the white flag of surrender. There must be something to these books, as there are a staggering number of positive reviews. Readers seem to be lapping these stories up like a cat to cream, so I don't blame the author for continuing to crank them out. However- I am done.
I'm done with Charley being stupidly gaga over Reyes. She loses her damn mind (and all her common sense) the second he looks her way. She has a high enough opinion of herself that I don't get why she'd allow herself to be treated the way he carries on. He says he loves her, but puts her in danger. Sure, he saves her, but what's a guy to do? Maybe not use his girlfriend as bait in the first place?
Their relationship seems immature, self-serving on both sides, and doomed to implode. Maybe this is the author's intention, watching them grow into a healthy relationship as the series moves along, but I'm not going to stick around for any more of the nonsense.
I love this series as a whole. Daryna Jones has perfected her storytelling to where all parts flow together flawlessly. Would recommend!
I recently read the last book in this series which obviously was a bitter sweet moment. That made me want to revisit the whole series but time is never on the readers side so I decided to do a another read of this book . What can I say about something that in many ways was a game changer ? This review is brief but there’s so much happening in this book that as usual the readers head is left spinning. You want progression from the sexy romance ? Then be prepared to experience fireworks. If it’s secrets and the overall story arc you want explored than this will have you jumping up and down. Obviously there’s snark, humour and coffee but perhaps more importantly emotion and it leaves me so happy that this author is in the world.
This one seemed a little tamer than previous books until things took a much deadlier turn just when I had the thought. It was also a tad darker and extremely heartbreaking. I haven’t read one of these stories and felt that it was the same as any of the previous ones. I love that each one feels different as it reveals new information even as it brings up a whole new set of questions. I definitely suggest reading these from the beginning but the author gives enough background that it’s possible you could jump in somewhere along the way.
The relationship between Reyes and Charley is growing deeper and I’m feeling more connected with him now despite never having his point of view. The secondary characters are developed in such a way that I find myself loving, hating, or questioning their motives. I suspect there are so many more surprises along the way that I don’t want to be that reader that didn’t see it coming, but I’m pretty sure that’s going to be the case anyway.
Next up, a couple of novellas, one which is from Reyes point of view. I’m itching for it!
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book provided by NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
I am absolutely addicted to this series.The adoration I feel for these character is definitely not normal every time I read a new one us like coming home to new friends that are beloved and missed.This one was no exception Always love catching up With Charley and Reyes. This has it all humor,passion,romance,mystery. I highly recommend.
There are few times in my life that I really need something – I’ve decided I need a set of drawers full of t-shirts that mirror the ones mentioned in the book – full of snarky, sharp sayings and bound to get attention. I need the bumper stickers, the uncle who you just know will come get you and say nothing more about it, a rottweiler with snoring issues and….yep, that’s it. I don’t want the naked old dead guy in the car, the houseful of scared dead women in the apartment, or even the dead guy who is sticking around and taking his chances with a one-fanged poodle. Yes, there’s plenty happening in Charley’s life, and when you don’t mention the varied (and multiple) issues that require her time and some answers, you get Reyes. Reyes in all his sexy, son of Satan perfection, and more from Reyes and Charley – their hotter than hell connection has, somehow, managed to up the temp another few hundred degrees – with Charley’s newfound ability to experience all that Reyes feels….. razor sharp cuts from jealousy, desire, heat, ecstasy on the edge of pain (or is that the other way round?) and a seemingly endless supply of emotion that flows between them, sometimes sharp-edged, always providing some sort of answer for Charley – answers to questions that she’s thought of, however momentarily, that could serve her well. But, that’s only about one half of the book – that Charley / Reyes connection, the rest is filled with a discovery (or discoveries) about and by Garrett, a new client’s husband catching Cookie trying to prove his infidelities, a mass grave, a new owner of the asylum where Rocket lives and Charley’s knowing the identity of the arsonist who has burned run-down buildings throughout the city.
This was a far different process in this story, as it took more time with Charley and Reyes, and their building connection, both physical and ‘powers’ related, and the growing interactions between Charley and her sister Gemma. When you add in the fact that most of the ‘investigations’ proceed without a hitch, scratch, bullet hole or danger, it’s a whole new world for her. When you add in a visit from a woman who appears but isn’t dead, with a remote location for a body to be found, and a message from a child ghost hiding under her bed, things are intriguing, fast paced, twisty and with laugh out loud moments, when things get truly dire, Charley’s newly found powers are all that stand between her and inhabiting an entirely different plane. It’s a story loaded with previously undisclosed tidbits and pieces to the puzzle that is Charley and her purpose on earth, and just why Reyes has been placed at her side. Jones has added some heart, plenty of conscience and conflict, and a few more last-minute twists to give Charley plenty of time to obsess over, well, as long as her attention span lasts. Fortunately for readers, there’s plenty more yet to come even with the answers we’ve received, there are questions that will find answers (hopefully) as the series continues. I loved the bit of respite that came with the hotter than hot interludes with Reyes – and the time to breathe, at least for a bit, was a welcome pause in the non-stop action to this point. I’m so ready for the next book, I’m happy to have it queued up and waiting!
I received an eBook copy of the title from the publisher via NetGalley for purpose of honest review. I was not compensated for this review: all conclusions are my own responsibility.
Review first appeared at <a href=’ https://wp.me/p3OmRo-aaF/” > <a> I am, Indeed </a>
Yet another highly entertaining, laugh out loud, sexy, fun and chilling romantic adventure for Charley and all her family and friends.... so many exciting things happen in this book, two count them two mysteries to solve, a possible cheating husband to catch and as always the on going mystery of her love life... Loved every heart pounding twist and turn in this exciting journey and look forward to more to come. These charter and this world are on my top ten favorite worlds to visit of all time.
Charlie Davidson as the grim reaper is today's best entertainment! Charlie and her cast of friends and family will make you forget the vacuum and dishes while you spend the evening trying to keep up with their latest adventures. While Charlie does her job of helping souls move from this world to the next, she's trying to rescue her sister and keep Reyes at arms length. Darynda Jones scores again!
Number five in the series. Charley’s signature humor and snark is there, along with the requisite serial killer. In this edition there is arson, more pain and tribulations. The question is why is everything that happens around our main characters basically the same as in the previous books. Still this book was entertaining and another good read.
Holy Moly! Best one so far.
Book 5, Charley's main case is solving a possible 20 year serial killer case. A lot of dead women ages 7 and up, all with the same M.O., showed up in her apartment at the same time. Based off clothing, she can tell they died in different year spans.
Some side cases involve Charley investigating a cheating spouse, and she is still searching for the arsonist from book 4. This time she has as an inkling who the arsonist is and turning that person in could be tricky. No matter how small a case is, they do seem to have a big impact in the story. Just a hint, I was biting my nails by the end of the book because of one of these smaller cases.
A new side character was introduced in book 4. I wasn't sure he would continue on and I'm happy to say he made an appearance in this book as well. Quinton is the deaf boy who was possessed by a demon to get to Charley in the previous book. After freeing him from that possession, what we learn abuot him just makes you fall in love with him and I love that he is continuing on with the series.
A new side character was introduced and her story is fascinating. I think she is going to add a lot to this series depending on if the author really utilizes her special talent. I'm hoping she does.
We got a few more pieces to the puzzle that is Charley. Some new abilities and more to her and Reyes story. We finally got to see some real movement to their relationship. Fingers crossed it keeps heading the way it is. A prediction was revealed that has me truly nervous.
I'm absolutely loving this series. it's highly entertaining with some great side characters. Charley is so funny and her interactions with Cookie really had me laughing in this book. On to book six!
OVERALL SERIES DESCRIPTION: Heroine, Charley Davidson, Private Investigator and Grim Reaper. She's a portal for the dead to pass through to heaven. Hero, Reyes Alexander Farrow, Son of Satan and portal to Hell. Since Charley can see and talk to the dead, she has helped her former cop father and current cop uncle solve cases. The main focus in each book are the cases Charley solves with the help of her best friend Cookie, her uncle and the dead victims. The side focus is the romance between Charley and Reyes and the impending war with the demons that is predicted.
Fifth Grave was just as good, if not better than the first four. I know I've expressed how much I love Charley and the gang before, but I love them!
Things get a lot more intense, Charlie is trying to get everything in her life together. Suddenly a lot of women appears in her flat - who are they? What had happened? Is there a serial killer with a thing for blondes?
The romance here is scorching hot, and sometimes it gets HARD vibes, but if you like it like that you will love it. The relationship grows a lot, and the end will make you look at the end with a desperate need of book six. Also, some purposes were revealed which made me even more excited to find out what was going on later!
Charley seemed to grow a lot here, she was going with her sense and that was awesome. And she was a woman with her own ground that was not whiny like in past books.
So much enjoyment with Reyes being Charley's surprise neighbor! Though I did see it coming a mile away. The same thing Reyes new job. For a PI, you're pretty oblivious Charley. I will say it's a little frustrating that every single guy Charley meets wants to get with her. It's also lame that every person Charley comes across is uber attractive. I chose to pretend Charley just sees the beauty in everyone.
Regardless of my minor complaints, I'm still really loving this series, and the Fifth book has been my favorite so far.
So good! This is the fifth book in the Charley Davidson series. I find the main character very funny and the stories are interesting.
I received a free copy of FIFTH GRAVE PAST THE LIGHT (Charley Davidson Book 5) by Darynda Jones through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. In this installment, Charley, private investigator and grim reaper, has company, a lot of it. Her apartment is filling up with blondes. The one under the bed isn’t so bad; the ones on the ceiling are more disturbing, but the one in the shower really adds the physical shivers to the metaphysical ones. It’s clear the women have been dead for a long time, why come to Charley now? She’ll have to investigate to find out because the ghosts aren’t speaking this time.
Oh well, just another day in the life of the shining beacon of death. I highly recommend this series to mature readers who don’t mind occasional bad language and who either enjoy reading or don’t mind skipping sexy-times.