Grim Reaper Charley Davidson is back in Eleventh Grave in Moonlight, the latest installment of Darynda Jones’ New York Times bestselling paranormal series. My entire life can be summed up in one sentence: “Well, that didn’t go as planned.” –T-Shirt A typical day in the life of Charley Davidson involves cheating husbands, errant wives, missing people, philandering business owners, and, oh … missing people, 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.
Now, 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, will Charley be able to defeat the ultimate evil and find a way to have her happily ever after after all?
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this author has the ability to reel you into the story and keep you hanging for the next story. Charley’s investigation turns to the dark side, with religious fanatics, kidnapping and murder. As Charley stumbles through her case, Uncle Bob takes on the a case that he shouldn’t be involved in. The ending of this story leaves you with your mouth hung opened and your head shaking.
Book source ~ NetGalley (for a tour)
This is a re-read for me for the tour and I really can’t think of anything to add or change to my original review, so I’m just going to copy and paste that here. I will say, even though I read this one not too long ago, it in no way detracted from my enjoyment at revisiting it again so soon. This is the kind of series that I can see myself reading over and over again and never getting tired of it. Ever. If you haven’t started this series then I highly suggest you get crackin’. Because, seriously? You don’t know what you’re missing.
Charley Davidson, grim reaper, PI, and goddess, is back to work. Balancing cases, goddess-type stuff, and helping the dead is not easy work, but Charley soldiers on because she needs to do her thing so her daughter can do her thing when the time comes. And amongst all the supernatural stuff, Charley needs to keep her uncle alive and out of hell and take care of Amber’s problem. But she can handle it, right? Right?
When I started this book, I panicked because I felt a sense of dissatisfaction at the direction the series was headed. All of this god and goddess stuff and thousands of dimensions makes my head hurt and I was afraid I’d end up falling into a deep pit of dontcare-itis by the end. However, for the most part, this book has Charley going about her usual business with the goddess stuff, while not taking a total back seat, at least muted a bit. The pre-ending seemed a bit rushed, but omfg, that for realz ending?! Holy shit! Lots of mystery, humor and hotness as per usual and I’m happy to claim I stayed well away from that nasty mid-series pit. I am very much looking forward to the next book and see how Charley fixes the mess she and Reyes just made. In the words of George Takei: “Oh, MY!”
“Rule #1 in the Charley Davidson Handbook: don’t f*** with the reaper. Payback is a bitch, and her name is Charley Davidson”
Oh my beloved Reyes! And curse you Darynda with that cliffhanger! Think I’m just gonna go sit in a corner and cry till the next book….
Luv this series! READ IT!
Wow the ending of this one! I will be reading the next one ASAP! I need to find out what happens. I’m just loving this series. I highly recommend this series.
Funny, clever, and sometimes lucky, but sometimes not Charley Davidson returns in the eleventh installment of a captivating and humorous urban fantasy suspense series. Charley has her usual private investigator work, her usual worries over her daughter’s safety, but now adds a few more tasks to her always-long to-do list.
Eleventh Grave in Moonlight is part of an ongoing series and must be read in order to figure out what is going on.
Private investigator Charley Davidson also happens to be a Reaper, yes the Grim sort though she is never grim. Charley is also married to the son of Satan. I do mean that literally, but Reyes is more than meets the eye and that is quite something already. Charley is joined in her escapades by gal-pal Cookie, Uncle Bob, a ghostly hound, a sexy teen ghost, a slave demon, a skeptical associate, and a wide assortment of other colorful characters.
In this installment, Charley is called upon to help a man discover his true parentage. This becomes problematic when his case involves Reyes who wants her to stay out of it. Cookie wants Charley to help figure out why her husband is acting oddly, Amber is having troubles, and a powerful god from another realm is on the loose gunning for Charley. All the while, Charley is trying to get her newly discovered powers under control under Reyes’ tutelage since she might have to use them sooner rather than later the way matters are shaping up.
With each story in this series, I continue to enjoy Charley’s humor, being along as she solves her cases and handles the encounters with the quirky posse in her circle of acquaintance. Things are still sizing up for the big conflict of epic proportions.
Charley’s need to do things for herself even when it would be better to call in the cavalry or even back down and come at it another time or from a different angle does make me groan a few times, but she has good motivations.
Have I mentioned before in my reviews of this series how much I adore Uncle Bob? Ubie is the bestest. Whether it is how he is with Charley or now with his step-daughter Amber, I find a lot of good-guy adorable-ness. He may not have any powers and he’s only human, but he is there in all the tough moments and comes through for everybody.
Charley is at a learning point and this is the first time she really starts to grasp just who and what she is. The reveals show her that Reyes was right to be cautious with knowledge because once known it can never be unknown or go back to a time of innocence when she wasn’t burdened by the knowledge.
For all that is going on, I did enjoy all the tender and passionate moments tucked in there between Charley and Reyes. They are a couple that don’t work on paper, but don’t let that stop them from being so right for each other. I really needed all their special times of connection because wow, do they really get challenged.
The ending left things, yes, sigh, on the edge of a huge cliff so be prepared going in that you’ll be needing book twelve STAT when the last page is turned on this one.
All in all, this was a solid one and proves why this series is still going strong. The stakes are getting higher, but I love how the humor is still ever present and Charley works to keep it light for everyone. Definitely recommend these books to anyone needing a new urban fantasy series to start and love.
Eleventh Grave in Moonlight, #11 in the Charley Davidson series by Darynda Jones is a fast paced adventure filled with sass and humor. there are some steamy scenes as Reyes and Charley’s chemistry intensifies. Hidden truths ad fears erupt into a new reality for our favorite couple– it left me breathless! The ending is shocking and not at all as I expected. A fabulous read!
I have a horrible confession to make — I don’t exactly remember the details of this book. I borrowed the audiobooks from the library (thank you, Libby!), and books 11, 12, and 13 (Kindle, not audio) all became available in just a few days, so I binged while traveling and listened to/read them back-to-back-to-back.
The details sort of blurred together. I can’t remember the specifics about this one, but clearly it captured and held my attention because I binged the last three books in three days. I do remember enough about it to say this:
Steamy. Funny. A fun and continued blend of excitement, frustration, and heartbreak that held my attention to the end. And I can’t say it enough: I love, love, LOVE that Jones lets Reyes and Charley develop their relationship. They don’t stay in a perpetual state of distrust and non-commitment.
R-rated for sex and language.
Okay, this one is possibly my favorite book of the entire series right now. We actually see some growth in Charley’s AND Reyes character. Previous books it’s like they were exactly the same as before they met, but now they’re just screwing. Reyes still doesn’t trust her at all or tell her anything and Charley still didn’t think of the consequences before acting. To be fair to Charley, though, people don’t TELL HER ANYTHING so she can have that information before making a choice. Just saying.
In this book though, she seems a bit more mature and coming into herself as a less impulsive and reckless heroine. Reyes seems to genuinely be trying to open up to her more.
That said, Uncle Bob’s behavior AND Reyes DID tick me off how much they wanted to her ‘safe’ despite the fact she’s a freaking powerful god. Just saying. It’s kind of dumb Reyes didn’t allow Angel to tell Charley he was ‘captured.’ Geez.
That said, the ending of this book has me skipping all my blogging to open up book 12!
Charley and Reyes are so.. Phew! smokin’ hot together. The pages sizzle. Major cliffy in this one,… I’m continuing to enjoy the stories and the characters.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. My thoughts and opinions are my own and without bias or favor.
I love this series and I love everything about Charley and Reyes but I absolutely HATE how Charley keeps talking about how she and Reyes are not going to be around to raise Beep. Uuuggghhh!!! I just know that this series is going to end with Charley and Reyes dying. Nooooo!!!!! They have to stick around to finally be able to raise Beep!!!
Snark abounds, the humor is awesome. That is the only good thing I can say, regarding this book. These stories have become so far “out there”. I have finished this one, because I can’t imagine how these are going to end and make any sense. I love Charley and her group of characters, but the story line keeps growing and now, it is just out of control. Have to finish, cannot imagine the ending. On to the next.
Darynda Jones you rock! This book put me back on the hook, I love this series. I love how each chapter starts with a meme and gets me laughing. The author manages to add all these hilarious moments between the drama and danger. Charley and Reyes are evolving in each book, more and more powers coming to light. As well as their pasts catching up with them. Reyes sounds like one hot dude, the chemistry between them is combustible
The ending!! OMG the ending!! I’m repeating myself but the ending!!! When is the next book?
I highly recommend this series, this one is the best…well so far.
Charley and the gang are back! She is learning more about her powers and the universe. And of course there are problems to be solved! Charley is still the same crazy that we all know and love. I can’t wait for the next book!
Eleventh Grave in Moonlight, book eleven of the Charley Davidson series, is just as strong and entertaining as the rest. While I am happy to discover more about certain characters and events, it is also bittersweet knowing things are coming to a final conclusion. I need to know what happens next but each word read is a word closer to the end. Aagh. So I console myself with the surety of two more books to devour before the true series end.
I read a complementary ebook from NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press. All opinions are my own. Review posted on NetGalley, Amazon, Goodreads, and BookBub.
Ho-ly heck!!! Let me just say I am so very thankful I don’t have to wait for the next book to be released. This series has taken me on one wild ride but I never in a million years expected this to happen and I’m about to chew my nails off because of it. And I’ve got book twelve queued up and ready.
This time around things are a bit slower for Charlie, at least in Charley’s world which is really saying something because the girl is always in the middle of something. During her “down” time she’s taking lessons from Reyes and I appreciated them because they also helped me to understand exactly what/who Charley was. The total expanse of it was a great reminder as we near the end.
The relationship between her and Reyes is so very moving at times that it brings tears to my eyes. He’s just so perfect for her just as she is for him. I love his protectiveness for not only her but for Beep as well. I just wish we had more of him…always more. I’m greedy like that.
While this might seem slower, that doesn’t mean that things don’t heat up rather quickly – again towards the end as these books tend to do – and even while Charley battles her enemies she is constantly evolving into who she truly is. I’ve been shell shocked one too many times during this series to let this author catch me unaware again, or so I say each time, and yet she does so, again and again and again. This time even as I felt sick at what had happened, things took a turn and suddenly it was all so much worse! Thus the nail biting.
So yeah, I’ve got the next one ready but unfortunately life is going to force me to put it on hold for a few days. However, I might just be able to sneak in the first chapter…
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book provided by NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
This series has had me hooked from book one and just keeps getting more addicting with each new journey. An emotional, fun, sexy, engaging and thrilling adventure that takes you through exciting highs to heart breaking lows and makes you want to see Charley and the gang finally win. Looking forward to the next adventure.
Great series
What an ending to this book!!!!! I swear, I can’t get enough of this series and it keeps me wanting more. I absolutely love the characters in this story because it’s hard to hate them; especially the son of Satan. Reyes never disappoints and him and Charley couldn’t be more perfect for each other in the best and worst ways possible. I get more than a few laughs while reading this story and when it comes to steamy parts it does not disappoint. There’s mystery, suspense, laughs and so much more in this series. I can’t wait to start the next book.
4.5 stars–ELEVENTH GRAVE IN MOONLIGHT is the eleventh installment in Darynda Jones’s contemporary, adult CHARLEY DAVIDSON urban fantasy series focusing on part time PI/ full time Grim Reaper/ omnipotent god Charley Davidson.
NOTE: If you have not read the previous installments there may be some spoilers in my review.
SOME BACKGROUND: This is the continuing story of Charley’s life as the Grim Reaper, the corporeal spirits who have yet to pass, and the man to whom she has pledged her undying love-the son of Satan-Reyes Farrow. Charley Davidson, and now their daughter, are the key to saving or destroying the world.
Told from first person point of view (Charley Davidson) ELEVENTH GRAVE continues to focus on Charley’s growing powers and abilities, ones that have remained dormant throughout most of her human life. Charley has recently discovered she and her hunky husband Reyes Farrow aka the Son of Satan, are gods-powerful, omnipotent beings whose futures, along with the two month old daughter, are destined to either destroy the world, or bring peace to the heavens and earth.
Meanwhile, our heroine is desperate to uncover the truth about the people who destroyed her husband’s human life-a life measured by a kidnapping, abuse, torture and death, but what Charley’s discovers is an evil worse than any she could have imagined. A new character is introduced-perhaps another member of Charley’s army as the gang heads towards a final showdown.
Reyes and Charley’s relationship continues to have its ups and downs, mostly because our heroine is determined to make right all of the wrongs; to end the ongoing threats against the people she loves; and to avenge her husband for the abuse he has suffered-all at the expense of her own safety and possibly her life.
Darynda Jones ongoing use of humor, wit, one-liners, t-shirt slogans, internet memes and hilarious banter draws the reader into a story and series that continues to evolve through a myriad of paths that will eventually intersect wherein we shall see the true meaning of the power of love. The premise is intriguing, intelligent and entertaining; the characters are energetic, inspiring and engaging. ELEVENTH GRAVE IN MOONLIGHT is a fantastic addition to Darynda’s CHARLEY DAVIDSON series-a series that will seduce you into a world from which you never want to return.
I can honestly say that the Charley Davidson series is my all time favorite. Darynda Jones has cracked the code of keeping a series fresh even after 10 books. I love every character in this series and they all play such an important role in what makes this series so amazing. In Eleventh Grave in Moonlight Charley is up to her usual Private Investigating activities while also dealing with the paranormal danger that is hanging over the gangs heads. The combination of the two is just perfect and makes the read so enjoyable.
In each book we discover new things that may rock Charley and Reyes world. But they are not without support from their friends and family. These group of people are amazing, I especially love Angel. His scenes are my favorites and I just love his interaction with Charley. In this book Uncle Bob is acting really strange, but nobody knows what is going on. We get to see more of Reyes’ past and it is heartbreaking. Also Charley takes a case where she has to investigate Reyes’ foster parents which Reyes is against. He does his best to get her to drop the case, but Charley is very headstrong and goes against his wishes. Reyes is still my number one book boyfriend, he is such an alpha male and very protective. The love between Charley and Reyes is perfect.
This book is a phenomenal addition to the series. It just gets better and better and the ending has me anticipating the next book like an addict. My love for the characters has grown stronger each book and I just hope this series never ends. I see the characters as part of my family and I cry when they cry and laugh when they laugh. This series is the only one that can make me laugh out loud one moment and cry the other. Charley is the best and I love her quirky and crazy ways, she is one of a kind and I can’t wait for Reyes and her to reach their full potential. All the characters continue to grow each book and their bond becomes stronger.