Thursday #Review - One Foot in the Grave by C.C. Hunter #YALit #Paranormal #Romance

Series: The Mortician's Daughter # 1
Format: E-Book, 325 pages
Release Date: October 31, 2017
Publisher: EverAfter Romance
Source: NetGalley 
Genre: Young Adult / Romance

The first exciting novel in a brand-new series from New York Times bestselling author C. C. Hunter!
Her dad’s job is with the dead . . . and he’s bringing his work home with him.

Once again, seventeen-year-old Riley Smith is the new kid in school and her dad’s career has her back to being dubbed a freak. Truth is, she’s a much bigger freak than her classmates think. The only company she keeps these days is the dead who follow Dad home from work. She can see them. She can speak to them. And Fate seems to think she can help them solve their last problems so that they can move on to the other side. Which is odd, because with the loss of her mother and her father’s alcoholism, she’s got enough problems of her own.

But nothing could prepare her for the next tormented young spirit who darkens Riley’s door. The young woman’s death wasn’t the accident everyone believes. Soon Riley finds herself face-to-face with the killer and her only protection comes in the form of another spirit, Hayden, a boy her age with a heart-melting smile and understanding eyes that make her feel safe. If she can escape becoming the killer’s next victim, Riley knows she’ll have to help Hayden move on too, but what if she can’t let him go?

One Foot in the Grave, by author C.C. Hunter, is the first installment in The Mortician's Daughter trilogy. 17-year old Riley Smith is the new girl in Catwalk, Texas. She's also a senior at her High School where everyone believes she is a freak because of what her father does for a living. But, if they really understood Riley and what she can do, they would probably run away screaming. No seriously. You see, Riley can see and talk to the departed. She has also been helping the departed with certain requests before they move on for the past year or so.

It seems that most of the ghosts she encounters have had a connection with her father Brent Smith, the towns mortician. 

In fact, as the story begins, we find Riley helping a ghost named Bessie assist her family. Riley is in a pickle, however. Her father is acting strange, and by the time she understands what is really happening, she's up to her ears with a murder mystery. Abby Howard's story is a sad and terrifying one. She finds Riley through another ghost who Riley had just recently helped.

Abby wants Riley to find her ring and give it to her sister. Abby won't take no for an answer, which leads to Riley to getting help from a second ghost named Hayden. Riley can also feel the emotions of ghosts like Abby which make her feel what really happened to Abby. Hayden is unlike any other ghost that Riley has encountered. There is something very curious about him that just doesn't add up. She also falls for said ghost who helps Riley investigate what happened to Abby. I will say that I was almost right in my guess as to who Hayden is and what really happened to him.

I will say that there is a great deal of drama in this story. Especially when it comes to Riley having to confront her adult father and explain that drinking as much as she believes he is drinking is not good for him. In fact, he's already lost several jobs because of his drinking issue. Thus why they moved to Catwalk in the first place. I think this particular aspect of the story is one that all young readers should pay attention to. It is okay to confront your parents if you believe they are drinking too heavily. It is absolutely okay to show concern for their well being. 

I loved the mystery that held my attention right to the end. I do have to say that there is a hint of a love triangle for which I docked this story a rating. I loved Kelsey. I am a fan of characters who aren't afraid of expressing who they are, and backing it up with their actions. While the friendship between Riley and Kelsey gets off to a slow start, by the end, you can tell that these two young women were meant to be friends. Kelsey is unlike any other friend that Riley has met. She's also as curious about Riley which will make things interesting in the next book.

Would I recommend this book? Yes. Why? As I mentioned above, I really liked Riley. I think she's the genuine article who has her head on straight even with all her family issues of losing her mother and her father's alcoholism. She doesn't give herself enough credit, but she is willing to step out of her zone to take auto-tech class. Is she the perfect character who can do no wrong? Nope, and that's why I like her so much. I love that she finds friendship with Kelsey. I love that she stood up for Kelsey when the bullies try to make her feel 2 feet tall. My only twist is that there are two guys involved in what is apparently a triangle. I can't hate either boy. Not Jacob. Not Hayden. I can however, loathe Riley's father for what he's doing to himself which will one day affect Riley.

I am eager to read the next installment since the author left us with a bit of a mind blowing cliffhanger ending.

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#Tuesday Review - Midnight Hour by C.C. Hunter (#YALit, Paranormal, Romance) @CCHunterBooks @StMartinsPress

Series: Shadow Falls: After Dark # 4
Release Date: Paperback, 416 pages
Publisher: St. Martin's Press
Source: Author
Genre: YA, Paranormal Romance

Being a dyslexic witch is a curse in itself, but Miranda Kane’s time at Shadow Falls has helped her harness her magical powers. Now, just as she’s finally mastered them and is preparing to graduate with her friends, a near-death experience threatens to ruin it all.

Miranda awakens in the hospital with a mysterious tattoo that no one can explain. As she struggles to make sense of it – and questions her feelings for a certain irresistible shape-shifter and a hot new guy – the strange markings begin to spread all over her body, leaving her desperate to find answers. But before she can solve that problem, a new one arises: her sister is missing.

Has her sister been kidnapped? Miranda will risk her life to find out. Will she live to share the day she’s worked so hard for with her friends? When the clock strikes midnight, will Miranda make it to her graduation at Shadow Falls?

C.C. Hunter brings The Shadow Falls saga to a spectacular conclusion in this thrilling finale: Midnight Hour!

Midnight Hour is the fourth and final installment in C.C Hunter's Shadow Falls: After Dark series. In what may be the most ironic move on the author's part, dyslexic witch Miranda Kane gets to close out the series. As readers of this series know, Miranda is the roommate of Chameleon Kylie Galen, and Vampire Della Tsang. But, what's even more curious, is that Hunter adds the perspectives of shape-shifter Perry Gomez, (Miranda's Ex) and warlock Shawn Hanson, who is Miranda's current love interest. 

I could argue that the intentional use of a love triangle is nothing new for this series. Kylie and Miranda had similar issues to disentangle before they settled on the one's they were meant to be with. Midnight Hour starts out with Miranda and her half-sister Tabitha going to a supposed palm reader. When things go sideways, Miranda and Tabitha end in the Hospital. Meanwhile, a mysterious tattoo spreads on Miranda's body and nobody knows it's origin or cause. Miranda's learning mode kicks up to a whole new level of curiosity, and in some ways, makes her a badass like Kylie and Della.

For Perry's part of the story, he has gone off on his own in an attempt to find his parents who abandoned him when he was a child. Perry's adventures with his parent's, leads to a reunion with Miranda. It is Miranda that Perry hears in his head calling for his help. Even though Perry left Miranda behind nearly a year ago, he's never really found another love interest. This, of course, makes things strange when Perry and Shawn have to work together. 

Shawn is a member of the FRU, working closely with Chase and Lucas. Shawn's storyline is one that made me scratch my head. There were subtle hints that Hunter intended to give Shawn a twisted storyline, and she did just that. Not sure if it was intentional on Hunter's part to do what she did, but in the end, things end up as I expected. I'm thankful that the strangeness between Perry and Shawn don't ruin the story. I am thankful that the choice Miranda has to make between the two isn't dragged on until the very end.

One could say that Midnight Hour is a nice way to say good-bye to the characters we've come to love. We see that Burnett and Holiday really do consider each of these characters family, and would do anything to ensure that they are taken care of. Sometimes Burnett can be a misogynistic

ass, but he means well when it comes to Miranda, Della, Kylie, and the rest of the students at Shadow Falls.  The next thing that I loved was the author not covering up how terrible dyslexia can be. Miranda struggles mightily in comparison to her roommates. She struggles with passing the SAT so that she can go to college with her friends. She struggles in remembering things. But, Hunter doesn't try to cover up her struggles. She embraces them, and shows how Miranda grew up right before our eyes thanks to those surrounding her.

I'm happy that Miranda got to close out the series. I am sad that she didn't get more than one book and a novella considering that Kylie got 5 books, and Della got her own storyline. In the end, the series closes on a warm and cuddly moment, and not an ending that readers are forced to do their own thinking of what happens next for these characters.  

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#Monday Review - Almost Midnight by C.C. Hunter (YA, Paranormal, Anthology)

Series: Shadow Falls:After Dark # 3.5
Format: Paperback, 407 Pages
Release Date: February 02, 2016
Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin
Source: Publisher
Genre: Young Adult, Paranormal

Novella Collection

Nestled deep in the woods, Shadow Falls is a secret camp where teens with supernatural powers learn to harness their abilities and live in the normal world.

Independent and strong-willed Della Tsang did not believe in vampires...until she became one. Chase Tallman is the newest member of Shadow Falls, but what made him into the sexy, mysterious vampire he is today? And what led him to Della Tsang? And for Miranda Kane, magic has always been something she's struggled with, but when an opportunity to test her powers takes her to Paris, she'll have to prove that she's a witch to be reckoned with and belongs at Shadow Falls.

Fans won't want to miss these four remarkable stories of love, magic and friendship.

Almost Midnight is a series of FIVE short stories that take place in the Shadow Falls universe. The book opens with Turned at Dark (Shadow Falls 0.5) which Published March 15th, 2011 by St. Martin's Griffin. The 32 page novella is considered to be the beginning of the Shadow Falls series. Since I've already read, and reviewed this book, here is what I previously wrote:

"Turned at Dark is a novella in the Shadow Falls Series for which I am definitely going to read (and have). It follows 16 year old Della Tsang who has never seen a ghost before until the night she sees her dead cousin Chan zipping across the street and ducking into an alley. Chan has been "dead" for less than a year, or so she thought. Della is hardheaded and refuses to believe what is right in front of her with a world full of Vampires, Shape-shifters, Fae, Witches, and Werewolves. Della, as it turns out, is a carrier of a virus that transforms her into a vampire. By touching Chan with her open cut, the virus spreads rapidly throughout her body, just like it did to Chan. In the end, Della has to make a difficult choice about remaining with her human family who believes she fallen into bad ways and boyfriend who thinks she's changed, or going to Shadow Falls summer camp headed by Holliday Brandon where she can find answers about her new found existence."

The Second Story is "Saved at Sunrise" (Shadow Falls #4.5). Another story featuring Della Tsang. Della and Shape-shifter Steve are given a mission to find rogues vampires who have been terrorizing humans by Burnett James, and the Fallen Research Unit (FRU). This novel really goes to the root of Della's thinking and her headstrong ways. She doesn't want to fail Burnett. She wants to put her time with her Lee, behind her, but finds herself facing him. Della's broken heart also comes from a quick visit to her own family. Della is a character who really is an emotional train-wreck. While Steve may have some feelings for her, Della doesn't want to get close to anyone. Yes, even though Della is hard-headed at times, she is still accepted by Kylie and Miranda and Yes, there is a bit of kissing involved as well between Della and Steve. This novella is 100 pages long, and was released April 2, 2013 by St. Martin's Griffin. 

The Third story is "Unbreakable" which I've previously read and reviewed: Published: September 30, 2014 by St. Martin's Griffin 

"Unbreakable (Shadow Falls: After Dark 0.5) is another short (55 pages) novella that skims over Chase Tillman's life before he came to Shadow Falls, and tried to win the heart of vampire Della Tsang. Technically, this story takes place previous to Reborn (Shadow Falls: After Dark # 1). It all begins with a blood test, an encounter with a palm reader, a hopeful romance, and then a devastating crash that unleashes the VI virus in Chase's blood. The points of view change from Chase, to reports of the plane crash that Chase's family is involved in. There are other characters involved in the story as well, including Chase's dog Baxter, but Hunter doesn't really offer any revelations as to who they are, or why they were involved in the first place, or what makes Chase so special. I should say that readers shouldn't expect a whole lot of answers in this novella. Eventually, Hunter does reveal Chase's journey, but you have to read the new After Dark series until the end." 

The fourth story is Spellbinder (Shadow Falls: After Dark # 2.5) which features Miranda Kane, witch, best friend, and roommate of Kylie Green and Della Tsang's. I've always had a soft spot for Miranda. Kylie has had a bunch of books dedicated to her plight, and Della has now had her turn. Spellbinder is Miranda's turn to shine. She's a really good character, who means well. She's a bit on the dyslexic side, and doesn't always have a handle on her own magic. But, with a trip to Paris and a High Priestess competition on the line, Miranda will come into her own, while also finding out some devastating secrets having to do with her own family, and fighting to stay alive. Of course, one can not read this book without expecting a bit of a twisted romance with Miranda and Perry, or have feelings for a warlock named Shawn. Spellbinder is 141 pages long, and was previously published June 30, 2015 by St. Martin's Griffin. 

The fifth and final story in the book is called Fierce.  The story features werewolf Fredericka (Ricka) LaKota, a 17 year old with a promising future as an artist. Fredericka has had a rough history in the Shadow Falls series. She's only been at Shadow Falls for six months, but she's managed to make all sorts of waves and had numerous conflicts Kylie. However, let's not write her off just yet because of stuff that happened in another time. After reading this book, you do get a better understanding about who Ricka really is. Yes, she has some issues. Yes, she definitely needs some friends. But, she's also a brilliant artist. She's made her peace with Kylie, and that's a pretty good start when you are looking for help from a creepy McCreepster. There is a whole lot to say about Fredericka, but I can only say that if you've read this series in its entirety, then you shouldn't skip this story. There is a bit of suspense, a bit of romance, an interesting twist, and an understanding that happens between the three primary characters and Fredericka.

In the end, Almost Midnight is totally worth the time it will take you to read it. Yes, Kylie, Miranda, and Della do appear in almost every single story, but why wouldn't they? After all, they are the three main characters along with Holiday and Burnett James. 

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