Charley Davidson is the grim reaper. Not a dark scary reaper, but a bright shiny reaper. I enjoyed the character interaction, Charley's smart mouth and the casual acceptance of the dead hanging around. Good start to the series. I look forward to the next book. 4 stars

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If you like humor and supernatural reads, this is the book for you. By page 9, I was laughing and I absolutely loved it.
Charley Davidson is THE grim reaper and she's also a part-time private investigator. Her life is filled with dead people, quirky friends and relatives and a nightly "visitor" who gives her the hottest "dreams" she's ever had. Her dad is an ex-cop and her uncle Bob is still on the force. She helps solve murders with the help of the dead people that want closure before they leave for heaven.
And then she realizes that the lover who visits her in her dreams may be a boy she met as a child. His name is Reyes but he's also not who---or what---he seems.
Trust me, this is a terrific 1st book. I will definitely be picking up Darynda Jones' 2nd book.

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I am not an erotica or dark paranormal fan, but do read books like this from time to time. So if you are like me and prefer lighter paranormals I think you will just love this book. I just loved this book from page one.

I am not a book critic but one of the reasons this book is so great is that it is edited to perfection. Everything said or written has such perfect timing. It does help that the author lists some great writers like Mary Janice Davidson, and JR ward as friends who read and edited and honed her book. But she obviously has a fresh talent, and a fresh voice and a great way of making her story stand out as its own.

This book got an award and it was so well deserved.

Our main character is one awesome woman, who is still trying to figure out a few things about who she is as the grim reaper. Add this hot mysterious man, who she is also trying to figure out why he keeps showing up in her dreams.

I did mention I dont like erotica. I just hate romances, all that stupid yearning burning that never gets satisfied, or some stupid graphic stuff about the earth moving, or they get too graphic and use anatomically correct words which are just not too sexy. Ok so having said all that, this author wrote some of the best fantasy sexual encounters that I have ever read. Nothing sappy, insipid, or just earth moving. It was well done. 5 stars for writing sex scenes that are right on the money.

The mystery is great, the other characters stand out on their own. The end is satisfying, we get some answers and cant wait to see what happens in the next book.

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I discovered this book through a Goodreads Friend review, and she was right, its a great start to a series for a new author. It is full of humor (i found myself laughing out loud), the banter between Charley and everyone else is non-stop, and that's how it hooked me. Then the characters had me falling in love with it. Charley is not your ordinary Grim Reaper and the Entity following her is smoking HOT in more ways than one. I couldn't wait to find out who the Entity was. And as if her life wasn't complicated enough, she finds new and interesting ways to get injured---daily. There is so much going on in this story that you can't possibly get bored with it. And it's not your normal paranormal suspense. The basic premise of the story is such a refreshing change, I have not read anything like it. And truthfully, I'm not sure I could explain this book without giving spoilers away. So I'm just going to say that you have to give it a try. My only complaint is that it ended. I have already pre-ordered the next one and Darynda Jones has been added to my favorites list. She is definitely a new author to watch...

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www.goodreads.com/whatstacy

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For the most part a very good book. Charley is a funny and relatable heroine. The thing with Reyes was confusing at times but maybe it clears up in book 2. Worth the read, a very original storyline with memorable characters and seriously laugh out loud moments.

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Charley is a PI. Oh and she can see dead people. She is a reaper and helps people cross over. She helps her uncle (Bob), a detective with his cases. She helped her father too before he retired. She's still learning about her ability.
This also introduces Reyes. Reyes is a man who Charley met once when she (and he) were teenagers. He features very heavily in her dreams. She also learns her name and other things about him in this book.
This was a fun read. I liked Charley's sense of humor. I also felt for her; not having the most supportive family (with the exception of a few) and very few friends. Hopefully Cookie will continue to be a good friend. I am interested to see where this goes!

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Loved the start of this series.. mystery and mystery men. The book was a quick read and quite a few laugh out loud moments

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Read only first third of this book. It was funny, just not my taste in light reading.

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This book was wicked fun to read! And only the 1st in a series!

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Charley Davidson can see and interact with dead people, not because she is psychic but because she is a grim reaper. She helps people finish whatever is keeping them on this plane and helps them toward the light. The only thing is, Charley is the light. She feels them as they pass through her.

She is a private investigator and also works sometimes as a bartender for her dad at his bar. But she has a third job helping the police. For some reason, Charley can usually close a case quickly, but it helps when the murdered person can finger the killer. Three lawyers from the same firm were killed on the same night and they have come to Charley for help.

Meanwhile, Charley is having trouble with her dreams. A really hot man visits her at night and it is so real, it is hard to believe it is a dream. But when she finally realizes it is Reyes Farrow, a blast from her past, she is intrigued. She sets her best friend Cookie on the job of locating Reyes, the only man to ever call her by the nickname of "Dutch".

With the trio of the three delete 'the three' ghosts, her bumbling Uncle Bob and her only ghost on the payroll, Angel, their investigation leads them to a human trafficking ring. Charley has no problem throwing herself into danger at every turn to try and solve the murders and put a killer behind bars for a long time.

However, she finds out that Reyes is in a coma and the state is about to pull the plug. He is not only visiting her in her dreams now, but also during the day. Everytime Charley's life is in danger, Reyes is there in some form to help her. She realizes that he isn't human but she cannot figure out who or what he is. Will she be able to stop the state from ending his human life before she and Reyes can be together?

Brimming with sarcastic dialogue, steamy romantic scenes, a cast of unique and eccentric ghosts, a splash of suspense and a generous helping of the paranormal, FIRST GRAVE ON THE RIGHT is a welcome addition to the paranormal genre. Charley is a down-to-earth, attitude-swinging, heart-of-gold character who is a breath of fresh air. I can't wait for the next one, SECOND GRAVE ON THE LEFT, due out in August 2011.

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Sooooo funny! Totally hooked - couldn't stop laughing the entire book. It's so fast paced and then at the end - surprising!

Obviously I am now wishing for and perhaps even buying the entire series.

Favorite passage:

"Then, as if my perpetual state of sunshine couldn't allow such a negative thought to infect my mind - I'm pretty sure I was a flower child in a past life - I just HAD to see the cup half full. Hopefully of Jack Daniel's." pg. 131

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