Second Grave on the Left (Charley Davidson, #2) in Reverse Harem Revolution

Aug 06, 2018 Erin *Proud Book Hoarder* rated it really liked it

Shelves: reviewed, ghosts, put-on-site

“For the first time in my life, I was in a shoot-out. A real, honest-to-goodness shoot-out with a bad guy. And, apparently, we both sucked.”

While I wasn't as floored by the first installment of the series as much as my other paranormal-loving brethren, this one entertained. While the first was drenched in humor - some of it funny, some of it just silly - this one dials it down a notch to where an actual story and personality can start shining through. I laughed aloud at least once - earning me a “For the first time in my life, I was in a shoot-out. A real, honest-to-goodness shoot-out with a bad guy. And, apparently, we both sucked.”

While I wasn't as floored by the first installment of the series as much as my other paranormal-loving brethren, this one entertained. While the first was drenched in humor - some of it funny, some of it just silly - this one dials it down a notch to where an actual story and personality can start shining through. I laughed aloud at least once - earning me a "look" at a diner - but the humor makes a worthy companion to the compassionate but unique Charlie while she stumbled through simple, interesting mysteries.

A particular charm was the relationship between Charley and her friend/assistant Cookie. The two girls were hilarious blends of humor, over-enthusiasm, random tripping, and sidekick banter. Garrett is still around and semi-intriguing, but he doesn't have much of a personality or presence in this sequel. Reyes is still not impressing me other than occasional growls and threats, some mild description of his hotness, but other than that I could care less. The author makes sure to keep talking about how important Reyes is to Charley, but as the reader I'm just not feeling it yet.

I will say yikes on that ending....not a cliffhanger per se, but she's going to have to do a lot of kissing-up and downright begging to make some of that right with Reyes again. If she can. I have a feeling she does since the series is long and the other is clearly pushing for these two and their bond.

For a Grim Reaper, Charlie doesn't actually do that much. There's a few ghosts to stare at and communicate with, some easy crossing over, but lots of questions. Is she just one of many grim reapers? Because otherwise that just doesn't make sense, does it? And is the author over-reaching when she reveals what Reyes actually is? I mean, come on now, that's pretty big pants to put on.

Still it was enjoyable, funny, hard to put down; not all the magic hits the right spot, but sometimes a light paranormal is just what the heart needs. ...more

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Oct 02, 2011 Katyana rated it liked it

Shelves: ass-kicking-women, w-t-f, uf, fantasy, demons, redeemed-criminals, ghosts-spirits

I just finished, and I can't make up my mind about it. On the one hand, I wasn't bored by it - I read it every chance I had (it has been kind of busy the last 2 days), and I liked the Mimi storyline, so that was all good. But on the other, I feel strung along. We're two books in, and I still feel like I have no idea about Charley's abilities, limitations, role, ... who in holy hell is she? So, okay. Reyes is the son of Satan, as we found out in the last book. He carries on him the key to hell. H I just finished, and I can't make up my mind about it. On the one hand, I wasn't bored by it - I read it every chance I had (it has been kind of busy the last 2 days), and I liked the Mimi storyline, so that was all good. But on the other, I feel strung along. We're two books in, and I still feel like I have no idea about Charley's abilities, limitations, role, ... who in holy hell is she? So, okay. Reyes is the son of Satan, as we found out in the last book. He carries on him the key to hell. He elaborates on that a little bit at the end of this book: (view spoiler) And actually, if something like that is the case, I'm interested. It's a cool storyline. But thus far... I just feel like I don't know anything. And two books is a pretty large amount of time to invest and still not know anything.

Here's the other thing I am of two minds about. Alright, everyone is going to hate me for this, but I am just not fond of Reyes as her love interest. Don't get me wrong, he's hot for sure. He's got a great bad-boy thing going on. But... he's a bit of an emo douchebag. Eh. He spends this entire book (view spoiler), for crying out loud, and doing this really obnoxious schizophrenic song and dance of "I am dying horribly, being tortured... and btw, you have major superpowers and could kill all the demons" and "Don't find me! Don't even look for me! Don't you dare! I will kill you and everyone else if you do!" WTF Reyes, seriously. He needs to be put on medication, because I am getting whiplash. Other schizophrenic Reyes douchebaggery: he spends the first 40% or so of the book insisting that he's evil, and Charley should stop looking at him with rose-colored glasses... and threatening her friends, saying he has no problem hurting innocent people, etc melodramatic menacing etc. But then when Charley finds out that (view spoiler), he gets all kinds of offended that she is concerned about it. That she would believe that of him. You can't have it both ways, buddy. You're either some big badass who has no qualms cutting down fields of innocent bystanders and she needs to open her damn eyes, or you are a good guy at heart and are looking for a way to change your destiny. But he, in this book, simultaneously insists that he is both. WTF. >.<

He's an interesting character. The overall story - what he his, what he'll do, what Charley is, what she'll do - is an interesting one. But if you want me to buy him / root for him as a romantic lead, you need to make him more consistent, less emo, and just less of a general bitch. Seriously. Also, what was the "whore" thing? That was so out of left field that it ... it just doesn't even make sense. I don't know what the fuck happened there.

Though to be fair, I don't agree with what Charley did in the end. (view spoiler) If I were him, I'd never fucking talk to her again. Which is fine. Without him saving her ass, she'll likely be dead 15 pages into book 3 anyway. It sounds like that was pretty much a constant job for him over the course of her life, so she's kind of fucked now.

The stuff with her family... also left me baffled. Why would her dad not tell her? (view spoiler) It was a move that was fucking stupid - from a character that we have been lead to believe is very smart about this kind of thing - that I am just completely lost. And the stuff with Gemma... WTF, seriously. (view spoiler) *eyeroll*

I don't know. Thus far, I like it well enough to keep reading, but I am worried that ... I don't know. That it will never pan out to be what it could be. I am feeling preemptively disappointed. Which is maybe unfair, but I don't care. I'll read the third out of morbid curiosity, but if there isn't some real development, I don't know how much longer I'll hang in there. ...more

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Jul 19, 2011 Kimi rated it it was amazing

Shelves: kick-ass-fem, lol-hilarious, favorites, adult, shhh, favorite-adult, 02-top-50, paranormal, urban-fantasy, ghost

Amazing! So sad it's over. Now I have to start something new that's great. I hate starting a new series. Charley is amazing. I can't believe what she did to Reyes. He's going to hate her for a while. Maybe she can undo it. Ugh... I hate that ending. ...more

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Feb 09, 2011 Jacqueline J rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: angsty, from-the-library, urban-fantasy

Loved it, loved it, loved it. How wonderful that I loved the second in the series as much if not more than the first. The snarky heroine is still here and the romantic relationship ramps up to angsty levels. The characters are becoming comfortable old friends. I highly recommend this series to urban fantasy and paranormal romance lovers.

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Aug 25, 2011 Rosebud rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

every once in a while you pick up a book, look it over, hesitate, and put it down and move on. But then eventially go back and get it. I did this and have been kicking myself for not getting it right away. Get this book. Charley is the iconic abnormal problem child who didn`t wallow in what fate handed her but took it on head first. she works as a PI and consultant to PD but doesn`t flaunt her gifts. her soul mate isn`t a normal paranormal but i feel like i`m in citizen kane when he keeps bringi ...more

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Sep 29, 2011 LaCreasha rated it liked it

When I first started reading this book I almost put it back down. The author was like a kid with a new thesaurus fresh out the packaging. EVERY sentence was either a quip or an exercise in synonyms. Eventually, it calmed down and became less distracting.

In the first book, the heroine, Charlie was all over the place. I hoped by book 2, the author would have a better grasp of the character. There was a little more focus. Instead of being every stereotype, she is now just one, the wisecracking fema ...more

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Jun 20, 2011 Lili V rated it really liked it

Shelves: pnr

Only a week after the exciting and hilarious happenings in First Grave on the Right, Jones throws Charley Davidson into another tantalizing case with an aspiring U.S Senate candidate, a dated missing-persons file, and each person who could have known what happened dropping dead like flies. Knowing that she has to find Reyes soon before he decides it's too dangerous to keep his corporeal body alive, Charley takes on both cases and does everything in her PI-and-Grim-Reaper-Power to solve both befo Only a week after the exciting and hilarious happenings in First Grave on the Right, Jones throws Charley Davidson into another tantalizing case with an aspiring U.S Senate candidate, a dated missing-persons file, and each person who could have known what happened dropping dead like flies. Knowing that she has to find Reyes soon before he decides it's too dangerous to keep his corporeal body alive, Charley takes on both cases and does everything in her PI-and-Grim-Reaper-Power to solve both before it's too late to help either.

Famous for her one-liners, funny in an catch-you-off-guard kind of way, Second Grave on the Left left me laughing with a splash of tears that made the renown Charley Davidson more of an endearing and confident character all-around. More of an insight was shown of Charley's character, demonstrating how she's not really human just by her reactions whenever she's in danger or feels threatened. A calmness sort of takes over her that she subconsciously realizes has to do with the fact that, though she may currently be in a dangerous situation, the best thing to do is think analytically of what she should do to avoid the worst possible outcome--or her death, whichever.

The re-introduction to all of the old characters was something I enjoyed reading immensely. If there were ever a cast of characters I enjoyed reading more about, they're definitely the ones. Cookie was as auspicious and helpful as ever, Garret flirting and determined, Reyes the hottest of all man- and hell-kind, and as for Charley's family....I could never get enough of her Uncle Bob--Ubie to Charley--and her father made a rather significant appearance that, in the end, was quite tearful.

While the writing style was absolutely engaging and characters a thrill to read, the first look we have into the more sinister world that Reyes promised would soon come in the last book was a bit of an understatement but it was also the first development of Charley's true powers. Darynda Jones nailed it again with this audacious sequel that promises more development of the main character and more action in general. I am thoroughly ecstatic for the third book in the series to release and more PI-and-Grim-Reaper-Power.

Grade: B+/A- ...more

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