Mini-Reviews Charley Davidson Edition: The Curse of the Tenth Grave + Eleventh Grave in the Moonlight

Description: Part-time PI and full-time grim reaper, Charley Davidson has asked a lot of questions throughout her life: Why can I see dead people? Who is the hot supernatural entity following me? How do I get gum out of my sister's hair before she wakes up? But, "How do I trap not one god, but three?" was never among them. Until now. And since those gods are on earth to kill her daughter, she has little choice but to track them down, trap them, and cast them from this dimension. But one of them stole her heart a very long time ago. Can a god of absolute death and destruction change his omniscient spots, or will his allegiance lie with his brothers? Those are just some of the questions Charley must answer, and quick. Add to that a homeless girl on the run for her life, a man who's been framed for murdering a woman who is still very much alive, and a pendant made from god glass that has the entire supernatural world in an uproar, Charley has her hands full.

Review: I completed the Charley Davidson series over this weekend and enjoyed the ride. I am, however, behind on reviewing the last few books in this series. With ten books in a series, the momentum and the charm of the Charley Davidson series has not worn off. The trademark humor, sizzling romance, and interesting mysteries keeps the series afloat and holds my interest. In this installment we see Charley back at home and has regained her memories along with new information and new problems. She is hiding some big secrets from Reyes, and things don't feel quite right between them. She is worried about the god glass she carries in her pocket, and whether she will have to turn against the one she loves. Charley is also constantly worried about her daughter and she is determined to get her back one way or another. Along with her own drama, there are two mysteries that occupy her time. Charley does not have dull moment. 
  Jones does not pull any punches with startling new revelations. There are a lot of things that are building up to the climax of this series. Charley is also getting more confident in her role as a supernatural being. I am eager to see where things will go. The two side mysteries which involves a runaway girl and a murder where someone is mostly liked framed are also interesting and I liked following the clues to getting them solved. 
  The humor balances out all of the heavy topics that are on the horizon. I was a bit frustrated on the miscommunications between Charley and Reyes. They both are hiding vital information and I just wanted them to sit down and hash every thing out. A fun addition to the series.
 
Rating: 4 stars


Words of Caution: There is strong language, sexual situations which are times graphic, strong violence, and suggestive humor.

Description: A typical day in the life of Charley Davidson involves cheating husbands, missing people, errant wives, philandering business owners, and oh yeah...demons, hell hounds, evil gods, and dead people. Lots and lots of dead people. As a part time Private Investigator and full-time Grim Reaper, Charley has to balance the good, the bad, the undead, and those who want her dead. In this eleventh installment, Charley is learning to make peace with the fact that she is a goddess with all kinds of power and that her own daughter has been born to save the world from total destruction. But the forces of hell are determined to see Charley banished forever to the darkest corners of another dimension. With the son of Satan himself as her husband and world-rocking lover,maybe Charley can find a way to have her happily ever after after all.

Review: The problem with the Charley Davidson series is that I read them so quickly and then I have to wait in agony for the next installment. In the Eleventh Grave we finally get the whole picture surrounding the upbringing of Reyes and in particular how he got into the hands of the diabolical and abusive Earl Walker. We were given hints about Reyes sprinkled in the past volumes, but getting the whole story was completely satisfying considering the long buildup. We are also getting a clearer picture of the prophesied end of the world and Charley's daughter role. We also learn more about Jehovah and Charley’s past. We have been told by several major characters on Charley's power and importance, but we finally see her at work. She is learning more about her powers and position.
  The frustration between miscommunication and hiding secrets keep plaguing Charley and Reyes. While the secrets do not necessarily break them apart, it is annoying to keep seeing them go through this cycle. The book ends with a horrible cliffhanger that reminds me of Buffy, but it is a cruel wait until we see how it is all resolved in the next book. 

Rating: 4 stars


Words of Caution: There is strong language, sexual situations which are times graphic, strong violence, and suggestive humor.

If you like this book try: Arcadia Bell series by Jenn Bennett, Iron Druid Chronicles by Kevin Hearne, Black Wings by Christina Henry