Summoned to the Thirteenth Grave by Darynda Jones

​PARANORMAL ROMANCE
URBAN FANTASY

Publication date: 01/15/2019
Kindle Unlimited: No

This one’s a bittersweet review for me, folks. I ADORE this series, and this book lived up to every expectation I had for it...but it’s the last book in the series. So, while I’m sad that, like all good things, the series has come to an end, I’m so freakin’ happy to have read it from start to finish.

I’m not going to talk about the plot, because if you’re a fan of the series I’ll give too much away, and if you’re not a fan of the series, you’ll just be confused because there’s A LOT going on (all of it fabulous, of course). What I’ll talk about instead is all the other stuff I adore about the series:

A strong female lead
Charley is the strongest character in the book. She has powers that not even she understands to their fullest potential. She doesn’t need Reyes to swoop in and save her. He does from time to time, because that’s just who he is, but if he wasn’t there, Charley would figure things out on her own. There are few things I love in my romance novels more than a strong heroine, and Charley is one of the strongest I’ve ever had the pleasure of reading about.

via GIPHY

Reyes 
Reyes is, quite possibly, the sexiest alpha male hero who has ever graced a page. There’s nothing I don’t thoroughly enjoy about him. But besides all the yummy hotness, I think what I most love about Reyes is his willingness to let Charley be Charley. He doesn’t try to change her, even though his life would be WAY easier if she would tone down some of her natural self-sacrificing tendencies. He loves her for who she is and he celebrates rather than laments her uniqueness. Charley and Reyes = #RelationshipGoals 

The friendships 
This entire series portrays some of the strongest, healthiest friendships I’ve ever read about. Sure, these are people who are thrown into crazy-ass situations, but their loyalty to one another remains intact no matter what. It’s inspirational. 

Pee-your-pants hilarity
Charley is hilarious and snarky and wonderfully weird. If you don’t laugh when she speaks, seek medical help because there’s something wrong with you. 

Was the ending exactly what I wanted? Honestly? No. But was it probably the best possible ending for all the characters? Yes. And it set the stage nicely for what I hope (and pray to the book gods) will be a spin-off series featuring Charley and Reyes’ daughter. (I will 1-click the CRAP out of that spin-off series)

So, with a heavy heart, I bid farewell to the Charley Davidson series. You’ve given me hours and hours of reading enjoyment. You’ve never let me down. And Reyes? I think I’ll miss you most of all…

via GIPHY

Full disclosure: We received an ARC from NetGalley free of charge.     

Does this book contribute to or help crush the romance stigma?
Charley Davidson: Kicking the crap out of the romance stigma since 2011.

Other reading suggestions
What? You're looking for even more paranormal awesomeness? Well, you've come to the right place. We have a little something for everyone including: laugh-out-loud paranormal romance, badass heroines, and even an interview with the fabulous Darynda Jones herself. You should see her dream casting for the series…

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