How to Ditch Dead Guys (The Witch`s Handbook #2)

Emma’s life seems to be back on track after taking care of the people she had raised from the dead. Maybe boring, but everything is settled. Officer Walker calls Emma one day and asks for her help on another murder case, just like the help she gave him with Steve’s murder, and since Emma is ready for something to happen, she agrees. However, things don’t go like they did before. Now, she’s being haunted by both the murderer and the victim. When he asks for help with another murder, Emma isn’t sure, but eventually agrees thinking the first one was just a fluke. But it wasn’t. Now Emma is haunted by four people, and they don’t want her to talk to anyone about what is going on, or to help her out of the situation, even if it kills her.

I read the previous book in this series and really liked it, even though it was not what I expected. I was reluctant to try this one, but since I did really like the first one, I thought I’d go ahead and try it. This book was even better! It was different than the first one but just as engrossing, albeit in a different way. The plot was interesting, bordering on horror, the characters were still interesting (one character changed from the first book, and I am hoping the next one explains more of what’s going on), and it was very well-written. One thing really bugged me, however. I got tired of all the nagging the characters were aiming at Emma about how she shouldn’t be doing witchcraft, even when she explained her motives. We get it, everyone is concerned, just move on. I really felt for her. You really need to try this series; it really is well-worth it! Highly recommend!

Thanks to NetGalley and Curiosity Quills Press for the free ebook in exchange for an honest review. This same review will be posted on both Goodreads and Amazon.

How to Ditch Dead Guys is the follow up to How to Date Guys. I loved the first so I had to read the second. Not disappointed one bit! We get more background on Emma's family and it helps explain a lot. Our favorite dead guys are back and I'm loving it. I'm definitely Team Jake! I can't wait until the next one!

In this captivating sequel to How To Date Dead Guys (The Witch's Handbook #1) we find Emma pretty much where we left her at the end of the first book. Though she is now a bit wiser and a lot stronger, which is a good thing because she is facing some much bigger challenges than she did in the first book. I don't want to spoil it for you if you have not yet read book 1 (which you really should.) I will just say that this is the further adventures of Emma and her friends, though this book is much darker than the first. Emma is dealing with some seriously evil entities this time but her sarcastic wit still makes it a fun read.

I started reading this book almost immediately after finishing the first one, and then suddenly I was 70% in before I even knew what happened because I got so sucked into the story I just couldn't put it down!

This was not as emotional and heart-wrenching as the first book because it was more focused on mystery, however, it was still completely gripping. The plot was more complex and action-packed, the mystery aspect kept me on the edge of my seat, and reading from the POV of a character who was possessed and felt like she was losing her mind was interesting.

And even though the focus wasn't on the character growth this time, it was still there in smaller quantities, the characters were all still unique and well-developed, like real people, and there was still great, realistic relationships between them. I especially loved the unique friendship between Emma and Officer Walker. He may have made a mistake in pressuring her to do the spells, but he still tried to help her and didn't blame her for the things that happened. And the way everyone came together to help each other when times got tough was touching (I won't say who everyone was, but it was an interesting mix of characters I wouldn't have expected).

Also, as much I do love heart-wrenching books, it was actually nice to have a bit of a reprieve. There were still a couple scenes that brought tears to my eyes, I felt for Emma when she felt like she was completely alone and didn't know what to do about the supernatural mess she found herself in, but there were also some scenes with happiness and hope that kind of patched up some of the holes that Book 1 left in my heart. And there was still some of that quirky humor thrown in to crack me up every now and then.

Overall, this was a book I couldn't put down once I picked it up. If you liked the first book, I definitely recommend you continue with this one because I think you'll be really happy with it!

I received a copy of this book from netgalley for review.

Book two started off exactly where book one ended. It grabbed me right away and the first half was pretty exciting. Emma was helping Walker with murder cases. She was able to see what happened to each victim, but also started feeling what happened this time, too. The halfway point got a little slower, but eventually picked back up again. I was happy for some of the old characters to be back and loved some of the new ones. The book ends with more mystery, so I'm looking forward to the next book in the series to find out what happens.

5 Dark Stars!

"I need to feel something, even if it's pain. Otherwise, I'll go numb like always, and be half awake, half alive."

"Jake's Doors shirt sits folded in the center of my bed, but I didn't put it there. My breath catches in my throat."
- Emma Roberts

With Mike gone and still yearning for Jake, Emma feels dead inside.

Charlie Walker, from the local police department, asks Emma to help him solve Steve and two other women's murders with the help of her spell book.

And something seriously went wrong. After the executing the spells, she starts having nightmares, strange visions and ghostly apparitions that are more frightening than death itself.

She finds out she is being possessed. So, what else can go wrong???

Then Emma's problems take a turn for the worse!

I was scared that I wouldn't like this novel as much as I liked How to Date Dead Guys, but I was pleasantly surprised!
This novel takes you in deeper, is more terrifying, that the first one. A page-turner for sure! Where Emma is concerned, you won't have a dull moment in this novel!

I would highly recommend this for all paranormal & YA readers.

Thank you for reading my review.

How to Ditch Dead Guys is an amazingly well written action packed followed up to How to Date Dead Guys. Book one made you care about Emma, Walker, Jake, Mike, Steve and Abby but book two had me on edge. Just dark and twisted turns but so good. So much more is revealed about Emma and the source of her power. Great read. Took me days to finish. I am excited about book three hope to see it being released soon.

Can't wait for book three. This is the second story in the series Under the Blood Moon , the Witches Handbook. and you should read book 1, How to date dead guys, first. This book is a little darker and more into the occult as Emma has a demon spirit inhabiting her body. As she tries to help Detective Walker solve the murders from book one as well as several new ones, the demons are getting more violent and nasty. A great addition to the series and I hope Ann Noser is fast at work for the next installment.

How to Ditch Dead Guys (The Witch's Handbook #2) by Ann M. Noser is such an awesome book that I had to buy the first book as soon as I finished reading this one! I received this book for a honest review from NetGalley and boy am I glad I did! This book is a hoot! Emma is a witch that has a spell book, which is bad for her but she is obsessed with and she keeps loosing it or it gets stolen and has to get it back. She also had a gang of killers after her, she gets possessed by spirits, good and bad, and later by friends! She ends up in Almost Heaven and stirs things up there, you can't take her anywhere! She was helping a cop with murders and she would relive the murders over and over, bruises, choking, etc. She gets her cop friend framed for attempted murder while she is in a coma, she finds out family secrets that shock her and when she addresses it with her dad, well...let's say he isn't around long. She keeps accidentally popping dead guys in and out of Almost Heaven, they are so confused! This girl has so many issues. It is a fun read and you just keep cheering the poor girl on, hoping something will change for her but no, she gets in more trouble. She is determined, strong, resourceful and things work out in the end...sort of...
Loved this book! It is book 2 but can be read as a stand alone but if you are like me, after reading it you will want to read book one also. Great job Noser!

Review goes live on Butterfly-o-Meter Books on April 29 at 00.00 am [GMT+2] and will show up on Goodreads sometime later.

In a Flutter: fun and charming Fluttering Thoughts:
Worldbuilding: The world of the The Witch`s Handbook series is great, with witchcraft, paranormal elements, otherworld-travel (Almost Heaven) so fantasy elements too, some religious themes (exorcism & such) – in a plot-driving manner, not a bothering, doctrine-promoting way -.
Characters: Emma was really fun and easy to like. I loved her commitment to helping people and trying to make things right, though her disregard for her own safety was a bit unpleasant. I mean, helping people you care about is laudable, but when you do it disregarding your own safety, it’s a problem. But anyway, by and large I really liked her, mostly because of her awesome sense of humor.
Other characters were fun too, I liked Walker for instance – so I generally like detectives, shoot me, lol! – and his mom coming into the picture was a riot there for a while. But all other characters were fun too.
Plot: I loved the pace of events, because I felt it had a steady tempo generally with moments of accelerated pace of events, but not becoming rabid or distracting. The story involving crime-solving is a favorite thing of mine, so I loved the mystery elements and when witchcraft is used to try to solve them it’s a plus since I love paranormal elements. What I didn’t much like was the romantic tangent where there was a triangle-ish flavor which I abhor, but it wasn’t a main theme or element, so it didn’t get the chance to ruin too much of my read.
Writing: Fist person, present tense narrative, Emma’s POV. I liked the style, very dynamic, and coupled with Emma’s sense of humor it made for very lovely reading experience.
Curb Appeal: Cool cover, hooking blurb – impulsive buy material for my UF moods, all the more since it’s New Adult. I love this age group and genre combo.

Must be said I haven’t read the first novel in the series, but I jumped right in with this one and got everything really well. So don’t be afraid to jump into the series now, like I did, lol. And I wanna follow this series from now on, cause I really enjoyed a lot about it. Hopefully this triangle-ish thing will be gone by the next book, which promises to be really fun and full of action.
So, I recommend How to Ditch Dead Guys to fans of crime-solving-connected Urban Fantasy, witchcraft/magic fans, and to lovers of New Adult that doesn’t mean endless romantic drama or torment/abuse/enslavement/taboo themes.

So I went and purchased the first so I could deliver a well placed review for Netgalley as well as Curiosity and the author....

This series is a perfect mix of urban fantasy and detective noir. With characters like Officer Walker who tries so hard to pressure Emma to be more than she wants to be or Emma herself who is just amazing in her relentlessness. The mystery holds you in your chair though you will move to the edge of it several times as you read. It will engulf you in a way that makes books like these ones you need to return to. Can't wait for book 3.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley for an honest review. I was not compensated in any other way aside from the enjoyment of reading.

How to Ditch Dead Guys is the sequel to How to Date Dead Guys and follows Emma Roberts after the events of the first book. Even though it has been a while since I read the first book, I wasn't completely lost in this one. It was easy to get back into the swing of Emma Roberts' story.

The writing was easy to get into and despite the large number of chapters, the book was a quick read. I technically finished it in a day or two, but if I had nothing to do I could have been done within a day. The story is separated into three parts with the second one giving the readers a tidbit on the afterlife. We also get a bit of Emma's family history and just how she has the power to do what she does.

There is a big baddie in the series. We briefly meet them in Steve's seance', but the gang becomes more prevalent in this book. I'm still not sure what their endgame is, but they seem like a scary bunch of guys.

You may have trouble with the way Emma acts around people in this book. I did have problems with her attitude towards a new neighbor. I felt she was too harsh to the girl. However, I took this to be attributed to what is happening to Emma. Being the narrator, you can't really trust exactly what goes on with Emma. You are seeing it through her eyes and I had to remind myself that maybe this isn't her and she just doesn't recognize it completely.

I think I was right in that assumption, but I won't go into details.

All in all, it was a good sequel to the book. It was quick, fun, and ended with a hanger. I wonder what the third book will have going on. I'll be waiting.

I have to give Ms. Noser credit, I was not completely sure I would like this story. The story did seem interesting but it was book two in this series … and lately picking a book in a series (without reading those prior) tends to make you start looking for the prior books, so you know what is going on. I was rather surprised that I could pick this one & read it without back tracking to prior books. I LOVE series like this, because it means the author (Ms. Noser, in the case) put the back story in the current book!!!
Emma Roberts is able to call the dead back into a host body. Which allows that dead spirit to accomplish what they need to.
Officer Walker is a homicide detective, he is working on the Smiley Face murder case, which took one of Emma’s friends.
In this tale, Emma learns that the Book of Shadows that she uses is not safe. But it keeps pulling her in, demanding that she use the book. The how & why is answered in this tale, along with explaining how Emma became to be the witch she is.
Sadly, to get to these answers, Emma must loose so much. She will be tortured by the deaths that Officer Walker wants her to help him solve. Her live will be placed in the hands of those she loves, but the problem is will they be able to see what is going on or will it kill Emma? Those who want the power that Emma has, will use what every they can to obtain it & her … because without Emma, there is no power.
Emma will learn more about the Smiley Face murders & the gang involved. She will witness, her friends murder again but with more detail than she did in the prior book.

Sometimes when you bring back the dead, you have to accept what they may do. Every action has it’s one set of results, some are easy to accept but others can destroy your life. These are what Emma must learn, and go though … because when she decided to become the witch she is, that alone has consequences. Pity, that there was no one to show her the ropes!