Audio Book Review: Brighter Than the Sun by Darynda Jones

Brighter Than the Sun 
(Charley Davidson Series,  #8.5)
by Darynda Jones 
Narrated by Lorelei King

Blurb: 
All his life, Reyes Alexander Farrow has suffered the torments of the damned. Only one thing has given him hope: the woman who radiates a light that no mortals can see; a light that only the departed can see...

Told from his point of view, BRIGHTER THAN THE SUN chronicles the first time Reyes ever encountered Charley, and how their relationship has been the one thing that can either save him or doom him.

Available for pre-order at 

            

Viviana's Review:

I love the Charley Davidson series. I love Darynda Jones’s writing style and her ways with words. She is truly a gifted writer that not only allows the readers to escape into the world she has created but she has you falling for all the characters! I also love that Lorelei King is the narrator for this series. She brings an additional dimension to each of the character and breathes life into them. 

With all that said, it’s extremely important for the readers of BRIGHTER THAN THE SUN to know that this is an extremely dark novella.  In fact, upon receiving the book to review, I also received the warning that it was much darker than any of the previous books in the series. Also, there seems to be a misconception that it’s ‘dark’ because he’s the ‘son of Satan’ but that’s not the case. For those that have read the series, remember that his lineage is one thing, but he makes a conscientious decision to love and protect Charley and he creates the plan where he can be with Charley. Sadly, things don’t work out the way he planned. Unfortunately, we (readers of the series) already know some of the monstrosities that Reyes endured as a child. This is in Reyes’s POV and it’s his story. 

I’ve always wanted to know more about how Reyes and his past and now we get to learn this and much more. We meet him as a child and get his perspective of events that occurred to him as a child, teenager, and then adult. We learn how he first meets Charley and his thoughts on things. We also get to see Reyes fall in love with Charley. We see Charley through his eyes! We also learn some of the tragedies and heartaches she’s been through. Readers get to see and know the reason he is the way he is. It was heartbreaking to listen/read Reyes go through things no child/person should ever have to go through. Darynda glosses over things but does a phenomenal job of making an emotional impact on the reader without the details. 

When I first learned that the novella was going to be in audio book format I was extremely happy and on pins and needles waiting to see if the publisher would select a new narrator, a male, since this is from Reyes’s POV or if they would keep Lorelei. Personally, I wanted them to keep Lorelei! I believe she is a great narrator and does a beautiful job with the series and each of the characters. I couldn’t image anyone else as Reyes. With such a sensitive topic as Reyes’s past, I also didn’t want someone new to the ‘family’ if you can understand that.  Lorelei does an amazing job with BRIGHTER THAN THE SUN! 

The readers will love this addition to the series and it was great to see Reyes’s love for Charley and get to see a different side of Reyes we haven’t seen until now. We saw how much of an awesome friend he is and a loving brother as well. And how much of a survivor he is as well. Again, readers will need to be prepared for this isn’t like the other books, it’s much darker and you may even need tissues.  

Rating: 5 Stars - Perfection

Disclaimer:
I received a complimentary copy of this book from St. Martin's Press in exchange for an honest review. This review is my own opinion and not a paid review.

Audio Book Review: Eighth Grave After Dark by Darynda Jones

Eighth Grave After Dark
(Charley Davidson Series, Book #8)
by Darynda Jones

Blurb: 
With twelve hellhounds after her, pregnant Charley Davidson takes refuge at the only place she thinks they can’t get to her: the grounds of an abandoned convent. But after months of being cooped up there, Charley is ready to pop. Both metaphorically and literally since she is now roughly the size of a beached whale. Fortunately, a new case has captured her attention, one that involves a murder on the very grounds the team has taken shelter upon. A decades-old murder of the newly-vowed nun she keeps seeing in the shadows is almost enough to pull her out of her doldrums.

Charley’s been forbidden to step foot off the sacred grounds. While the angry hellhounds can’t traverse the consecrated soil, they can lurk just beyond its borders. They have the entire team on edge, especially Reyes. And if Charley didn’t know better, she would swear Reyes is getting sick. He grows hotter with every moment that passes, his heat scorching across her skin every time he’s near, but naturally he swears he’s fine.

While the team searches for clues on the Twelve, Charley just wants answers and is powerless to get them. But the mass of friends they’ve accrued helps. They convince her even more that everyone in her recent life has somehow been drawn to her, as though they were a part of a bigger picture all along. But the good feelings don’t last for long because Charley is about to get the surprise of her crazy, mixed-up, supernatural life….

Available for purchase at 

         

Viviana's Review: 
Oh how I eagerly waited to get my hands on this.  Debated between the need to read it as soon as I had it in my hands or wait until closer to the release of the next book… Why?  Such an awesome story leaves you wanting more and the waiting can be a killer - so it is a matter of deciding on which type of waiting you want to endure?

Blog Tour and Giveawy: Six Grave On the Edge by Darynda Jones

I'm so excited to have author Darynda Jones with us today!! 
I got the chance to meet her in person at the RT Book Lovers Convention a few weeks ago and she's as wonderful in person as she is in her interviews, social medias and well, you get the picture. We're hanging out today to celebrate the release of "Six Grave On the Edge (Charley Davidson Series, bk #6)" and to share with you an excerpt and a fabulous giveaway!!! Ready? Go!


Excerpt

Book Review (Audio Book): Fifth Grave Past the Light (Charley Davidson #5) by Darynda Jones

Fifth Grave Past the Light 
(Charley Davidson Series, bk #5) 
By Darynda Jones

Narrator: Lorelei King 

Blurb: 
Charley Davidson may not look like your everyday, run-of-the-mill grim reaper, but she has vowed to reap grimness wherever she goes despite this unfortunate fact. Sadly, she gets sidetracked when the sexy, sultry son of Satan, Reyes Farrow, moves in next door. As he is the main suspect in her arson case, she is determined to stay away from him until she can find out the truth. According to her therapist, however, she lacks conviction.

When dead women start appearing in her apartment - lost, confused and terrified beyond reason - Charley has no choice but to ask for Reyes's help, especially when it becomes apparent that her own sister Gemma is the serial killer's next target. With his ability to observe incorporeally, surely he can find out who's responsible. And even if he can't, he is the one man alive who could protect Gemma no matter who or what came at her. But he wants something in return: Charley. All of her - body and soul. And to keep her sister safe, it is a price she is willing to pay…

Available for purchase at 

   

Viviana's Review:

O.M.G! Words truly elude me! How to describe the awesomeness that is Darynda Jones and her story of Charley and Reyes!?! As with all great series, the next book tends to be better and continues to progress in that direction. This series is one of those where each book is better than the previous one, which tends to be hard to do as all the books in this series ROCK!! 

Blog Tour: Fifth Grave Past the Light by Darynda Jones

Today is an exciting day! I'm thrilled to be part of this tour as I LOVE Darynda Jones! I was elated when I found out I would be interviewing Reyes. And then... well, it sunk in. OMG, I would be interviewing Reyes! Oh talk about nerves! I mean really! This is THE REYES ALEXANDER FARROW! Son of SATAN. Granted, we all know he is tall, dark, dangerous, mysterious, sexy, wait, where was I going with this? Anyways, we know he can be harsh, but a good guy deep down. Wish me luck everyone!   

Book Review (Audio): Fourth Grave Beneath My Feet by Darynda Jones

Fourth Grave Beneath My Feet
(The Charley Davidson Series, Bk #4)
By Darynda Jones

Narrated by Lorelei King 

Synopsis: 

Sometimes being the grim reaper really is that. Grim. And since Charley’s last case went so awry, she has taken a couple months off to wallow in the wonders of self-pity. But when a woman shows up on her doorstep convinced someone is trying to kill her, Charley has to force herself to rise above. Or at least get dressed. She quickly realizes something is amiss when everyone the woman knows swears she’s insane. The more they refute the woman’s story, the more Charley believes it.

In the meantime, the sexy, sultry son of Satan, Reyes Farrow, has been cleared of all charges. He is out of prison and out of Charley’s life, as per her wishes and several perfectly timed death threats. But his absence has put a serious crimp in her sex life. While there are other things to consider, like the fact that the city of Albuquerque has been taken hostage by an arsonist, Charley is having a difficult time staying away. Especially when it looks like Reyes may be involved.

In Fourth Grave Beneath My Feet, just when life was returning to normal, Charley is thrust back into the world of crime, punishment, and the devil in blue jeans.



Available to purchase at Amazon and Barnes & Noble.

Viviana's Review:
Officially my favorite book in the "Charley Davidson" series!! This book has it all; action, adventure, mystery, comedy, great characters, tension between the two leads and steamy sexiness!! What more could a bookaholic want, right?

Book Review: First Grave on the Right by Darynda Jones

First Grave on the Right
By Darynda Jones

Synopsis: 

A smashing, award-winning debut novel that introduces Charley Davidson: part-time private investigator and full-time Grim Reaper.

Charley sees dead people. That’s right, she sees dead people. 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 (i.e. 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 her life...and it turns out he might not be dead after all. In fact, he might be something else entirely. This is a thrilling debut novel from an exciting newcomer to the world of paranormal romantic suspense.

Goodreads
Available for purchase at Amazon and Barnes and Noble

Viviana's Review: 

How did I go so long without reading this book (and series as a whole)? Shame on me!! Absolutely loved it! Where to start…..

This is a quick read that is easy to follow with a few subplots, but again, easy to follow. The characters are, well great! They would so be the people I would want in my life and have them as friends! They each are quirky, smart, sarcastic, and witty in their own way! The dynamic between each of the individual relationships and the larger group one is written perfectly!