This Side of the Grave

I must start by saying that I didn't read `First Drop of Crimson' ( Spade's book) and `Eternal Kiss of Darkness' ( Mencheres' book) before I went onto `This Side of the Grave'. Maybe I should have as there is reference to Spade and Mencheres' relationships which are talked about in this book. Their stories are Night Huntress World # 1 and # 2. I would recommend reading those 2 books before going onto # 5 or else you get a couple spoilers, nothing too major but, enough. Dang me for not realising!!

Cat has some extra grief in this instalment. Not only is Apollyon with the whip around hairdo trying to start a war over Cat, Vampires vs Ghouls, truly, she should feel flattered the amount of trouble that follows her, hehe! But, she has Majestic pushing her buttons and keeping Bones on the clock for a couple days. No wonder he needed a cigarette *waggles eyebrows*.

Bones is picking up strays and ghouls are doing their best to eliminate vampires. Cat takes a thrilling elevator ride ( one of my worst fears) and prepare for a major lump in your throat. You just want to bawl. Justina for once has grown a set, even if it was just to snatch some extra time and Tate is not happy, Jan!

Dave goes undercover and Cat has a new fragrance she wears..ha!

Cat has to work out Marie's secret in saying goodbye to Remnants on command and Vlad and Cat have a rather interesting scene together. Shame she didn't work out the less painful answer beforehand.

Denise was a surprise to me, because well that would be one of the spoilers if you don't read Spade's story first, but she came in handy.

Oh, and there is another one of those uber , uber smexi chapters...* fans oneself and throws bucket of ice water over my head, repeatedly*

It's all hands on deck trying to sort the Apollyon problem out which makes for a kick butt action scene.

I loved this instalment, Jeaniene writes Bones like no other lead guy, he is something spesh.

FAVE QUOTES:

"You think I look like an angel? Well, Kitten , your hands are my heaven and your eyes are my home."

"Sweet bleedin' hell , luv, this was a smashing idea." His voice strained , and his hands were now clenched into fists.

"Am I the only one who has a wood over that little vixen?" Ian asked cheerfully even as he cleaved his sword right through the center of a ghoul.

Michelle

Though vampires are arguably at the top of the food chain, somehow they are turning up missing. It becomes doubly suspicious after rumors circulate about an impending ghoul/vampire war. It takes a ghoul to know a ghoul, and Cat and Bones will need to enlist help from the ghoul queen of New Orleans, but is she a friend or foe? There's no real time to find out.

I am noticing a fairly bizarre pattern for myself with this series; I tend to enjoy the odd books much better than their even counterparts. Though I wasn't completely on board with the premise this time around, I was much more engaged than during the prior installment. Unless I was just getting used to thing, I had noticed the amount of humor slipping a bit with this series. I can safely say that it was a bit more prominent this time, or at least it struck the right cord with me, which I hadn't been experiencing for a little while.

Cat seems to be adjusting to her full vampire status better, along with some pretty cool upgrades, inadvertent as they may be. I am finding her slightly less annoying since the change. Bones had me laughing a couple of times too (poking fun at Twilight), but, again, Vlad Vlad Vlad steals the show for me. He probably has my favorite quote of the novel. It's making me smirk just thinking about it:

"Premature inflammation! Very embarrassing, I don't like to talk about it!"

It's okay, Vlad. Happens to the best of us.

Even though I had a few laughs, overall this definitely is not the series at its best. The end was pretty predictable which cost it some points for me, but it sets up the future books to potentially be more interesting.

Well what can I say, I am never disappointed reading about Cat and Bones and their explosive life together. Cat and Bones are definitely one of my favourite fictional couples. Jeaniene Frost never fails to bring something fresh and exciting every time. Not my favourite in the series but a must read all the same. There is a whirlwind of emotions in this book, I was crying at one part and laughing at others.

This side of the grave picks up where Destined for an early grave leaves off. For new FULL vampire Cat Crawfield and her master vampire husband Bones, things never run smoothly. The ghoul Apollyon claims Cat is a danger to ghouls everywhere, he claims she could change into a vampire/ghoul hybrid and start an undead war.

Cat is trying to keep her new drinking requirements on the down low for the time being, to try and not add fuel to the claims Apollyon has made about her being dangerous.

Cat and Bones are forced to seek the aid of the very dangerous ghoul queen, Marie. They pay Marie a visit, but she seems to already know about Cat's unusual feeding requirements. She forces Cat to drink from her, but at what cost? and what is in it for her? Cat does not know.

With Cat's new abilities that she absorbed from Marie, ghosts flock to her like a moth to a flame. Cat spends her time trying to repel them, in-case it draws attention to her.

Meanwhile Cat discovers her uncle Don is very ill and rushes to his side. He is dying of cancer and she is furious no-one told her sooner. Cat takes the news very hard, Don is the only father like figure she has ever had in her life.

Cat and bones split up with the help of Denise, Cat's best-friend. Denise has the ability to shape-shift into Cat. They are trying to lead the ghouls into thinking she is somewhere else. While Bones and Cat are apart, she practices with some of her new abilities she absorbed from Marie, with nearly disastrous results for Vlad.

Cat is called urgently to her uncles side, he is deteriorating quickly. Cat asks him would he give her away to Bones, because there was no-one to do it the first time they got married. He agrees and dies straight after. It was very heartfelt and my heart went out to Cat.

The showdown at the end is amazing, lots of fast paced action. We finally find out why Marie made Cat drink her blood. There is an unexpected spectral visitor at the very end, which I am very excited about.

Some of my favourite highlights of the book are:

Cat letting down her barriers and declaring her love and baring her soul to Bones. It was quite beautiful.

Vlad and Cat in the graveyard, trying to activate Cat's new ability, it was laugh out loud funny. Vlad is one of my favourite characters and I love reading about him.

Marie queen of the ghouls, I am so intrigued by her dark nature.

Cat's great sense of humour is always a big plus to read. Not forgetting Bones who is simply swoon worthy.

The Night Huntress series is a must read series, if you haven't read them you are seriously missing out.

I have put off reading this book for quite a while because the previous book in this series, Destined for and Early Grave, left me feeling kind of disappointed in where the series was going. I should have had more faith. This book knocked it out of the park, and addressed all the character points that had me disappointed in the last book in such a way as to allow character growth and open up avenues for further development within the world she created. In short, Ms. Frost is a genius, and while I cannot promise never to doubt again, I will try to keep this experience firmly in my mind and at least promise to give her the benefit of the doubt and see it through. As far as I am concerned she has earned that right and the most precious gift I can bestow on an author, my trust.
This Side of the Grave picks up about two months after Eternal Kiss of Darkness, reuniting us with our favorite redhead and her irrepressibly roguish husband. Cat and Bones again face the threat of a vamp/ghoul war incited by the peculiarity--not of her half vamp status anymore--but of her disturbing abilities as a vampire with an occasional heartbeat. The whole gang reunites in this one, including cameos by all of our world book couples as well as the frightening Queen of New Orleans, Marie Laveau, our friendly ghost Fabian, friends and family from the compound and of course my personal favorite side character Vlad (Who I am thrilled to know has his own series, Night Prince, coming out soon...which in part fueled my fervor to work my way through the titles sitting on my shelf so that I could go out and get and then devour Vlad's story with zero guild. Only one book left to go and quite a while until release I think I'm good. :).
This book, to me, was all about characterization and growth. While the action scenes kicked butt, the plot was complex without being Machiavellian, and I truly enjoyed all the wit that was heavily sprinkled throughout with a tongue-in-cheek disregard for propriety, including writing in a scene with Joan of Arc; the real magic was in Cat's growth as a character. Honestly, without this I don't think I would have been able to continue reading the series, but Ms. Frost managed to round out her main character in a way that made her a more complete individual while still retaining her flaws. A hard thing to do when she is still the main push behind the series, as you don't want her perfect...then it becomes a bore...but you can't have her too dense...or people begin to lose patience. I think Ms. Frost managed to reach that plateau of balanced without losing momentum very well, and I am looking forward to seeing where she takes the story next. The one plus side to waiting so long to read this book is that I now have the next one in the series just sitting there waiting to be read. I can't wait.

*Note: Read and reviewed for The Season for Romance.

This Side of the Grave is the fifth installment in the Night Huntress series by Jeaniene Frost and I hardly know where to begin. I started this series a few months ago at the recommendation of a friend and was immediately and completely enchanted with this series. I had never read a series back to back, until Night Huntress. I simply could not get enough of infamous Cat & Bones.

In the course of the first four books, we meet and fall in love with the Cat's feminine strength and sharp wit as well as the charming, protective and terrifyingly sexy Bones. As a reader, we wonder how long can Frost keep up the momentum of such a beloved & powerful literary couple. I'm so glad to say that even five books into the series, Frost has managed to still keep us enthralled.

I would like to offer a warning that as the fifth book in the series, I must reveal events that occurred in previous novels. If you have not yet read the first four books, I would encourage you to proceed with caution.

In This Side of the Grave, Cat has now transitioned into a full vampire and is learning to cope with her new abilities, powers and cravings. She was no ordinary human and now she's no ordinary vampire. One of the oldest and most powerful ghoul leaders in the nation is attempting to use her as a rallying point to incite a war between the vampires and ghouls. In the meantime, this ghoul leader is attempting to weaken the vampires by killing the young, master-less ones. Cat is forced to turn to Marie, the ghoul queen of New Orleans for assistance. Marie tricks Cat into drinking some of her blood which gives her a very strong connection, albeit temporarily, to ghosts and spiritual forces. While all this is happening, Cat learns of some bad news involving her uncle. She worries for him but must stay focused on the potential war that is quickly brewing.

On a positive note, Cat and Bones' relationship is on the mend after the events of the fourth book (Destined for An Early Grave). They are as happy and in love as ever. Cat has really grown and evolved over the course of the series. She is no longer the immature, irrational and prejudicial character we first met. She's as snarky as ever, but she's also now a smart-thinking, ass-kicking, emotionally mature full vampire! There was a really tender scene in which Cat opens up to Bones about her love for him. She was emotionally vulnerable in a way she's never been before and this moment endeared me to her more than ever.

In addition to all this, we also get to spend some time with some of the secondary characters in this series and are even briefly reunited with a character from one of the earlier books. Frost has such a talent for creating a dynamic and interesting cast of characters that just work well together.

I would say this novel is nearly perfect with the exception of one thing. The villain in this piece was not as strong or frightening as his predecessors and his downfall was rather anti-climatic. For a character that is ancient and hell bent on world domination, he was a bit of a scaredy-cat.

This Side of the Grave is a thrill-ride with everything that I would expect of a Night Huntress novel: action, drama, suspense, humor, steamy love scenes and even a bit of tenderness. I enjoy every moment that I get to spend with Cat & Bones and am glad to say that this book is a great addition to an excellent series.

I highly recommend this series and its spin-off, Night Huntress World to all lovers of paranormal romance!

To date, the Night Huntress series has been at the top of my list of favorites, just above Kim Harrison's Hollows and Jim Butcher's Dresden Files. I absolutely love the dynamic between Cat and Bones and have read all the books, the spin-offs, plus listened to all the audio editions. So I'm sorry to say I have to add my voice to some of the other reviewers here that I didn't enjoy this book quite as much as the prior ones.

In the previous book, Destined for an Early Grave, Cat and Bones spend a good part of the time arguing and fighting with each other. Lots of tension, lots of action, and a total roller coaster ride. So maybe because of that, in Book 5, This Side of the Grave, Cat and Bones are a very happy loving married couple who are together all the time. They've become a little boring. It shouldn't be this way, but it is. Part of the book is the two of them reminiscing about the past, remember when I did this and you did that, and Cat even admits they are no longer in the bloom of first love anymore. There is no conflict or issues between them, they're just so lovey-dovey (I think Vlad called it "sappy" when he overheard one of their conversations), and although I like them together, I want to see some sparks too. I realize this is a challenge with established characters, but it has to be done to keep things spicy. I want more of Bones' wicked sense of humor and his verbal teasing/sparring with Justina. And I never get tired of him being jealous and over-protective where Cat is concerned. I have mixed feelings about Cat becoming a full vampire because now she and Bones have too much in common, but I understand you have to move the storyline forward and Cat has to stop aging. The section in the book where he teaches Cat how to fly and dunking her in the river was amusing, but there wasn't enough of that sort of thing.

Also, the story here (spoiler coming) of a possible war between the vampires and ghouls was not that compelling, especially compared to other Huntress books, and the wimpy bad guy was easily disposed of. Neither Cat or Bones (or their relationship) was ever in any real danger and the stakes didn't seem quite as desperate, such as in the confrontations with other villains like Patra and Gregor. I'm not saying I want either Cat or Bones to die or anything as someone else mentioned (please, no), but I do want to see them continue to overcome challenges that leave us guessing. I will continue to be a fan of Jeaniene Frost's books, but I hope the next installment of Cat and Bones is more exciting because they are my favorite couple.

Oh, and as an aside, the model on the cover of the book should maybe lay off the twinkies...

This Side of the Grave is book #5 in Jeaniene's Frost's Night Huntress Series about the half-breed human/vampire redheaded Cat Crawford and her vampire husband Bones. These two are happily married, although the poor duo never has a down moment. Now there's a war brewing between the vampires and the ghouls. They have to take down Apollynon, a centuries old ghoul, who'd love to eliminate Cat and Bones from the equation permanently. Not only is Cat called back into to action again, but she's having some nasty side effects from Bones's blood she drinks. Because of that, her senses are heightened so much so that she can hear people's thoughts. She also has a new awesome power she can't control; especially during those times she doesn't have any control over her emotions.

Cat tends to get into many scrapes, but knows how to handle herself in battle. She has accrued a great team as backup with some of the most powerful vampires in existence such as mega-vampire Mencheres, who is a type of grandfather figure to Bones (trust me, he's not decrepit in any way and looks like the actor, Oded Fehr) and Vlad, who's very snarky to Cat, can shoot fire out of his hands and is better known as the most acknowledge d vampire ever- Dracula. Cat has a love/hate relationship with Vlad, but he's a very powerful ally, so she has to play nice. Then there's her Uncle Don, who not only gave her a new lease on life, but also caused her a great deal of grief. Don is dying and Cat has to deal with the repercussions of his death.

This Side of the Grave is more of a day in the life telling of Cat. It's a never ending cycle with her constantly on her toes and navigating the vampire world she feels she doesn't really fit into. She has a choice to become a full-fledged vampire, but Bones isn't too keen on the idea. Cat is very strong has a half-vamp. Can you imagine what she'd be like as a full one?

There's a lot of great on-liners this time around, mainly from Cat and Vlad. The scene where Cat and Bones are at the mall and Cat grumbles that the female buyers are eye-humping him gave me a good laugh. Also Vlad's view of himself is very cocky, but adorable. When I first met Vlad, he didn't make a good first impression, but now I can't wait for him to be the star of his own book, which looks like it's a go. It will be great to see him matched up with a woman who can take him down a notch.

The best thing about this series is the relationship between Cat and Bones. It's always refreshing to see a married couple so in love and passionate about each other. For those who read these books, you all know about the amazing erotic Chapter 32 that's now synonymous with Jeaniene's name. Well, Jeaniene has done it again with Chapter 21, starting on page 199, (yes, I marked the page number down) where Cat and Bones have more bedroom fun together. Candles and wax are involved ala the movie Body of Evidence. It's a bit kinky, and at one point I cringed because of where the wax ended up on Bones, but woo wee, it's quite the humdinger of hotness. I ended up re-reading that chapter three times, back-to-back, because it was that good.

This Side of the Grave is had pretty solid reading with engaging characters. I count Jeaniene Frost as one of my comfort reads I can always look forward to. If you're looking for a new paranormal vampire series, where the vampires don't sparkle, as Bones points out in this book, I'd definitely say read Jeaniene Frost and introduce yourself to Cat Crawford, vampire fighter extraordinaire.

Katiebabs

Jeaniene Frost's latest Night Huntress (more affectionately known as Cat & Bones) series novel gets the whole gang back together as they try to defuse some very nasty political violence & insidious rumormongoring, and prevent an all-out vamps vs. ghouls undead civil war. This novel has everything fans of the Night Huntress world have come to love and expect from the series: quick wit, explosive action, a spunky kick-ass heroine (Cat), a strong sexy & deadly leading man (Bones), and Ms. Frost's trademark unique & inventive passionate Cat & Bones moments. With threats coming from all sides, and the passion between Cat & Bones as combustible as ever, our favorite paranormal couple is in for a wild ride.

One of the things I like most about Cat, aside from being a strong, kick-ass chic with fangs, is that after 5 books (7 if you count the NHWorld books) and 8 years of battles, political standoffs, and hanging around some of the oldest, most powerful creatures on earth, she's still a little socially awkward. Her irreverent modern slang dialogue and off-the-cuff reactions make for some unforgettably fun scenes! I mean, honestly, who can identify with a gal who's got an unlimited lifespan, a battle-honed figure, frequently gains ridiculously awesome new powers, AND has a gorgeous, talented lover? She's got to have something to make her a little more human... ok, maybe not "human" so much as vulnerable... and Ms. Frost has done an excellent job keepin' it real. =)

Cat has finally come to terms with who and what she is, and has publicly accepted it. She's come full circle from the girl we first met in Halfway to the Grave... from hating & killing vampires, to eating them and marrying one. Cat & Bones are a powerhouse- as a couple, as a fighting team, and as leaders of their extensive undead "family" line. Oh, and don't miss the preview excerpt from the next Cat & Bones book (One Grave at a Time) at the end of this one. "Fall 2011" is a long time to wait for the next installment, and I can't wait!

This novel was all I wanted it to be, and that's some pretty high expectations to live up to! If you haven't read the first 4 (plus 2 World books, Spade and Mencheres), I'd recommend reading them first, as there's a ton of history and a fairly large cast of characters brought in at the climax of this story. Even without reading the other novels, though, this will still be a good read, and you'll get to see what all the "Cat & Bones" fuss is about. =) A more detailed review of this novel (including memorable quotes!), as well as other paranormal romance and urban fantasy book news, reviews, & recommendations, is available on my GraveTells blog on Wordpress.

Really, it seems like things will never settle down enough for Cat and Bones to get some time alone. The undead world is far from quiet, with ghouls attacking masterless vampires, and the threat of war leaving everyone jumpy. The ghoul Apollyon has singled Cat out as the reason for the tension, and the cause of the uprising. So now Cat, Bones, and the crew must find a way to diffuse the situation before an undead war turns the world upside down.

This book made me finally move Jeaniene Frost to the Do Not Read In Public catagory. Not because the book was bad, but because I was sick of the weird looks I keep getting whenever I laugh out loud, smile at the page, or squirm on the end of my seat because I can't handle all the action. Cat and Bones get into the most delicious scrapes, and I literally wiggle in my seat to see how the heck they manage to get themselves out. There are some readers out there that talk about books being crack - well Jeaniene Frost is my drug of choice. I crave these characters and their interactions. I love to see how they deal with each new situation. And you can genuinely see the character development from book to book, even with the characters that get less limelight.

The one thing I missed in this book was the tension between Cat and Bones. Where they fought not only the outside world, but each other in their attempts to keep the other safe. But this goes along with the development aspects. Considering what happened at the end of "One Foot in the Grave," Cat and Bones took a huge step forward in their relationship, and "This Side of the Grave" truly reflects that change. But as I said, I admit to still missing it, just a little. Another book for the keeper shelf, "This Side of the Grave" did not disappoint. A fast-paced, intricate plot and characters that are beyond loveable, I eagerly anticipate the next one. Heck, I eagerly anticipate my next re-read of the series.

Definitely something for fans of excellent, epic Urban Fantasy and Paranormal Romance. This is one of my favorite series of all time, and is the subject of much re-reading. I would recommend the entire series to anyone.

Reviewed at Another Look Book Reviews

Well I finished the Night Huntress series as far as I can go for now. *taps fingers waiting for Fall 2011* I avoided the teaser pages at the end because I can't stand angst while waiting for books to be released (so I have no idea what the next book is about).

I completely totally 100% enjoyed each and every book. I love Cat and Bones as well as all their friends. Excellent series to dive into.

Now for This Side of the Grave, it was good but it didn't have me as spell bound as some of the other books. That's quite alright though. Not each of the books needs to be a 5 heart rating to be enjoyable and satisfying. This Side of the Grave was just that, satisfying. There was closure to some dragging storylines and some wonderful new plots were formed. *rubs hands*

Jeaniene Frost continues to write Cat with some of the best lines and the steam factor in This Side of the Grave was turned up. Hot wax anyone?

I had a few tears spring from eyes after reading a particularly emotional chapter and I laughed out loud many times. (thanks to Cat's lines). At the beginning of the book I felt a bit nostaligic with the story beginning where Cat and Bones first met and I loved going back to revisit the cave. I also thought it was interesting that Jeaniene Frost brought back Timmie from the first book Halfway to the Grave so that makes me wonder what the future has in store for him.

Awesome turn of events with Cat's mom but I won't reveal as a spoiler and I continue to love Ian and Vlad. Ian wasn't in This Side of the Grave much but he delivers a funny line near the end that was one of my laugh out loud moments. I also enjoyed that all characters from the Night Huntress World series made appearances. Love the "Fang Family".

So now we wait for One Grave at a Time!

First off I want to say that I LOVED the fifth installment of the Night Huntress series, This Side of the Grave by Jeaniene Frost not only for reuniting us with Cat & Bones but for the development of the characters and the trip down memory lane. This book contains so many elements that satisfied my needs that I found myself taking the time the read the book slowly so I could savor every moment, re-play scenes over and over again in my head and wanting to imprint them into memory. Several key components stood out for me in This Side of the Grave one being the growth and development of not only Cat as a person, but also her relationship with Bones. At certain points in the book we are taken back to the early days of Cat's life and her relationship with not only Bones but with some of the secondary characters which were implemented to demonstrate the grow in Cat and in the storyline. I found myself smiling many times during Cat's times of reflection and felt a even closer emotional connection to her when she showed this softer and more mature side of herself.

It was wonderful to finally see Bones again (missed him so much) and I fell deeper in love with him because of his deep love and commitment to Cat. There is nothing he wouldn't do for her (oh Bones if only you could be mine) and the level of their love is incomparable to any other fictional couples in the paranormal romance genre. Many times I laughed out loud at not only at the many quotes throughout the book, but during various scenarios one in particular involving Cat, Vlad and Mencheres. :)

Cat & Bones are more understanding of each other and more loving to each other. They have grown as a couple and I LOVE IT! Their relationship is so much stronger and that is what I want to see in the series. I want to read about Cat & Bones and their love growing not their constant bickering. While some have mentioned the lack of spark between Cat & Bones due to the lack of drama, tension, jealousy etc. which they feel makes it exciting, I completely disagree and do see the spark between Cat & Bones. The spark of everlasting love and deep passion for each other.

I do not feel that drama, tension and jealousy makes the relationship more exciting. Personally I know I wouldn't want to deal with that in real life and I sure don't want to constantly read about it with my favorite fictional characters. After awhile it gets on my nerves and frustrates me instead of entertaining me and making me enjoy my escape from reality into their world. After 3 years of Cat & Bones being reunited, they should be developing a deeper passion for each other which I felt was the main premise of This Side of the Grave.

There is nothing I can fault about this book as I saw this book focusing on Cat's growth and demonstrating to me that love endures, matures and deepens with time. I highly recommend this book to all the hopeless romantics out there such as myself. :)

5 Stars!!!

This is the fifth book in the Night Huntress series, the 6th book in this series (One Grave at a Time: A Night Huntress Novel) was released in August 2011 . This was an excellent addition to this series and does an excellent job of wrapping up the story arc that started in the last book (where the ghouls were worried about Cat becoming an uber-powerful supernatural entity). I listened to this on audio book and these audiobooks are extremely well done. I would recommend the audiobooks over reading the books on paper, the narrator is just so awesome.

Cat and Bones are struggling to figure out how to predict and control Cat's new powers. They've been trying to keep her crazy new vampire powers secret, but some rumors have gotten out and the ghouls aren't happy. Cat and Bones thought Cat becoming a vampire would make the ghoul factions happy, but now that she has strange new powers the vampire-ghoul balance is being threatened again. Cat and Bones will have to petition the super scary ghoul queen, Majestic, for help if they are going to avoid all our war between the two races.

This book wasn't as emotionally wrenching as the last one, but it was a solid and entertaining story. We learn a lot more about Cat's new powers and get to watch Car try to master flying (some very entertaining scenes there). There are lots of awesome action scenes and the pace moves quicklly.

Bones and Cat are stable as a couple; it was nice to see their loving relationship for each other and for them to finally get a little bit of a break in this book. There are some very well done steamy scenes between the two and I continue to adore them as a couple.

There were a couple things that completely floored me. I had know idea where Denise had gotten demon blood, I was like what the heck! Then there was Mencheres new girlfriend, who I liked, but was completely confused about where she entered the story. Finally I figured out that those two stories are featured in the Night Huntress World books. Of course now I totally want to read those books. It would have been nice to get a little bit more background on those things though so I wasn't completely confused in this book. So, if you really want to understand what's going on here go read the first two Night Hutress World books and then come back and read this one.

This book did a nice job of tying up the story thread about the ghouls being worried about Cat taking over the supernatural world. It makes me wonder what is next for our favorite vampire couple.

Overall a very solid addition to the series. I enjoyed the book, it was well written and well paced. I continue to enjoy Cat and Bones as a couple. I was a bit irked at being completely lost about what was going on with Denise and Mencheres; I wish a little more back story had been included. Other than that I was pleased with this book and am eager to see where the story goes in the next book, One Grave at a Time: A Night Huntress Novel.

Oh, Ms. Frost. How much do you love to tease us? I was looking forward to see how the author was going to create a new plot for us with her latest installment in the series. I am so glad it was worth the wait!

I loved the chemistry that we have grown to love between Cat and Bones! Can I get a shout out for Chapter 21? Sexy and hot are the first words that come to mind when reading that chapter even though I am sure there are stronger descriptive words for it. Seeing the pair connect and stay true to the nature of personality the author created for them was great.

The side characters were wonderful as well. I really wish the author would hurry and write Vlad's book! I am in desperate need to see him have some happiness! I also loved how we got to see a softer side of Mencheres in this book. Kira has brought out his softer side and I love it! We also get to see more of Spade and Denise as well. I love how they are so protective of each other. Fabian, Dave, Tate, Don and even mentions of Juan were included in the story as well.

Not only is the romance, witty dialogue, favorite characters and action packed scenes included in this story, but we also deal with sadness and heartbreak for Cat. She finds out something is wrong with someone close to her and has to learn to let go of this person. What does happen to this person was beautifully written and I wanted to cry with their last thoughts.

While it wasn't one of my favorites in the series, I still thought the author did a wonderful job of continuing the series for Cat and Bones. It was exactly what we needed at the right time. Now if we can just get her to write faster and produce even more stories!

The Night Huntress series is one of my favorite series. Cat and Bones are characters I connected with immediately and they continue to entertain me and make an impression. This story is a little sad, though, because one of the major characters isn't long for this world. I'm still trying to figure out Marie, the voodoo queen. Is she an ally or an enemy? Several times in this book, my opinion fluctuated regarding her motives.

One of my favorite parts of the book is when Bones is teaching Cat how to fly. The means with which he is trying to trigger her flight skill was quite humorous and thoroughly enjoyable. There are some other new abilities that Cat receives in this story that were a little creepy and didn't make any sense initially.

We see quite a bit more of Vlad in this story and I'm looking forward to reading his story when it comes out this month.

My only problem with this story is the very tiny appearance of Ian. I love this character and think he brings fantastic irony to otherwise tense situations and his special brand of humor and smart aleck remarks were sorely missed in this book.

Overall, another great installment of the Night Huntress series and I am eagerly anticipating the next one. If you enjoy paranormal romance, urban fantasy or action packed stories with lots of great fight scenes and covert military ops missions, this is a series you can really sink your teeth into.

MY THOUGHTS
Jeaniene Frost is one of those authors who writes stories so engaging and entertaining the pages seem to flip of their own accord and we end up reading one hundred pages in the time it takes us to read fifty in another story. We find ourselves smiling, blushing, and snorting in amusement at certain characters' impressive one-liner retorts, relaxing fully and completely as we make ourselves comfortable and give ourselves over to a creative mastermind. This Side of the Grave is another fun-filled romp through the Night Huntress world, one where the laughs keep coming, the smoldering heat of Cat and Bones continues to singe the pages, and the relationships between the protagonists and those around them continue to grow until our emotional proximity to those whose lives unfold before us can get no closer. Ms. Frost's characters, for all their undead status, absolutely come to life through her effortless storytelling, engaging us, taunting us, and drawing us in to their world as though we've belonged there all along.

Cat and Bones are as enjoyable as ever, their journey from tentative allies to lovers to husband and wife one we don't mind returning to experience over and over again. Cat, previously one to act impulsively in an effort to protect Bones and those she loves, makes a valid effort in this tale to curb that instinct and work with Bones as opposed to acting on what she believes is his behalf. She is still her witty, amusing self, but now in her we see a new maturity and our already healthy respect increases a few more notches. Bones, always impossibly and gloriously charming, doesn't disappoint as his unabashed and unapologetic love and admiration for Cat is a powerful force that never fails to cause our hearts to flutter and our limbs to liquify as we simultaneously harbor an irrational jealousy toward Cat for her luck in men, and yet smile warmly in appreciation of an enviable and beautiful relationship.

Aside from a romantic pair that has held us captivated through four prior books and maintains their possession of our undivided attention yet again in this story, Ms. Frost has a true gift for creating secondary characters who manage to make an unforgettable impression with their presence. The banter between Vlad, Bones, Cat, and Mencheres (as well as an all too short exclamation from Ian) is a staple in these books, and one of the elements most anticipated whenever a Night Huntress spine is cracked. Each character is full bodied and spectacularly developed, their distinct personalities as unique as a genetic marker and their presence always resulting in a richer reading experience as we glory in their humor, sit up and take note when they are unexpectedly serious, and frantically highlight their unforgettable quotes so we can share them with everyone we know.

Though This Side of the Grave is not necessarily the most memorable or impressive of the series as the plot lulls a bit at times, the action does pick up at the end and we are left with an interesting new development. Jeaniene Frost writes a well-rounded story, one that mixes a bevy of elements together in a most delectable blend, and if you've yet to experience Cat, Bones, and crew, grow a pair (of fangs) and get to the bookstore for a taste.

Rating: 4/5

We are back with Cat and Bones again and now they are facing off with the ghouls. We pick up pretty much where we left off which made for a smooth transition from the last book. It had been a while since I had read the previous book, but with Cat and Bones it is easy to slide right back into their lives and fall in step with them.

One of the surprising elements in this book for me was the level of irony. Or maybe throwback is the right word, not so sure right now. There were so many events happening to others that mirrored Cat and Bones struggles it made her roll her eyes, and it made me laugh. Cat looked at her life through fresh eyes and those moments made it fun for the reader to reflect back on past events as well.

One element I have always adored about these book is their humor. Cat's inner dialogue is always entertaining to me and her quick wit always makes me laugh out loud. My two favorite quotes in this book come from two other characters though, Bones and Vlad.

First up is Bones. Timmie (remember him from earlier books? He makes a quick appearence) he asks Bones:

"Before we go, I gotta know: If mind reading-abilities are real, there's something else I wondered if fiction got right about vampires-"

Bones response:

"Ask me if I sparkle and I'll kill you where you stand!"

I think I laughed for a minute straight after that one. Can't you picture Bones saying that? I can. Not to be outdone though is Vlad, he is in the middle of torturing some ghouls with his pyrotechnic abilities when he hesitates a little.

Cat says: ""What the hell was that?" I gasped"

Vlad's reply: ""Premature inflamulation," he replied. "Happens sometimes. Very embarrassing, I don't like to talk about it."

Seriously, that guy is hysterical. I can't wait until we get to read his story! I love Vlad, no matter how tough he tries to make everyone think he is, I think he is sentimental deep down. I will have to wait for his books to see though.

I have always enjoyed the humor that laces through this series and this book just proved to me how good Jeanine is at mixing multiple genres. I don't think you can categorize this series into just one genre, because it is paranormal and of course the romance is there with Cat and Bones, but they are also pumped full of action and humor, they cross multiple genre boundaries which is why this series is one of my favorites!

I will leave you with something to look forward to when you get your hands on this book and it is this: Chapter 21 and candles. Enough said. Too cryptic for you? I bet you can riddle it out and if not, go get the book and discover it for yourselves! I am sure you will be very happy once you do

When Bones and Cat meet two masterless vampires who tell them several of their friends have gone missing, Bones and Cat know something fishy is going on. They have also noticed an influx of ghouls to the Ohio area, the same area Cat is from. Cat is not a full vampire, but she is still very unique. She gets the occasional heartbeat, and she must drink undead blood. When she does, she picks up the talents of those she drinks from. This makes it difficult for her. She obviously wants to drink from her husband Bones, but then she is bombarded with reading everyone's thoughts.

Soon Bones and Cat learn the head ghoul, Apollyon wants a war between ghouls and vampires, and he is using Cat and her once half-breed status to incite the fire. Using the rumor Cat could turn into a "vampire-ghoul hybrid" he is causing unrest in the undead world. When they turn to Marie, the ghoul queen for her assistance, Cat gets more than what she bargained for. Cat not only needs her strong, sexy husband to fight this battle, but she calls upon her old team for help.

This Side of the Grave is book five in Jeaniene Frost's Night Huntress series. I love Bones and Cat. Period. This is absolutely one of my favorite series. Jeaniene Frost has taken us on quite an emotional roller coaster with these two, but now on book five, things have settled - somewhat. What I love, and even Cat admits to in this book is that they are at a point in their relationship where those first intense feelings - that romantic new love is long gone. Now, together for quite some time, they have a rhythm, a familiarity with each other. BUT - that doesn't mean that sexy time is over. Bones is very much filled with vitality and amorous feelings. They have some very wicked scenes in this book (even a twist on our beloved chapter 32 from One Foot in the Grave.) Bones never rolls over and lets Cat have her way - which makes their relationship always fresh and surprising. Cat will give it right back to him, and their flirtatious banter, and stubborn bickering just gives this couple even more charm.

Cat herself has gone through quite a busy year and she has matured so much in this book. The once immediate smart-alec reply is muted, and the stubborn streak that went through her is now faded a little. She is willing to accept apologies, and offer an olive branch where a few months ago she would not have had the maturity to do so. She is also realizing just how absolutely deep her feelings for Bones runs. She knows although they are both undead, there is always that chance one of them may face their true death, and their discussion of this is a very poignant scene in the book.

We get some great stuff with Spade, Mencheres, Vlad (had me cracking up!), Tate (my favorite cranky-ass vampire), and her Uncle Don. Although the conflict with the ghouls in this one didn't really stand out and wasn't my favorite, the growth of Cat, and the combination of the her maturity with Bones and their all out just sexy relationship seals the deal in this book.

Jeaniene Frost has created a fabulous cast of characters, and I don't think I will ever tire of them.

Rating: B+

(Review originally posted at GoneWithTheWords.com)

This Side of the Grave begins with, well...actually it begins with Bones in chains, rawr! Yes, hot, but aside from that, it begins with Cat and Bones meeting up a couple of vampires who have information about the recent ghoul attacks in Ohio. These attacks are happening because Apollyon, a ghoul with a hatred for vampires, is trying to incite a race war, and he's using Cat as his scapegoat. Now Cat and Bones have to find him and stop him.

On one of their visits to Verses's club, Cat and Bones pick up...Timmie!! That's right! Timmie, as in Cat's old geeky neighbor from when she was in college in the first book!! That was such a cool surprise! Of course, now Timmie is Tim, and he's grown into himself...but he's still a little geeky, as Cat and Bones were there to pick him because he writes to expose those in the supernatural world. I hope he makes more appearances in the series.

I don't know what it was, but I was missing something between Cat and Bones. Maybe since no one is trying to get in between them in this book and now they get along, only bickering with regular married couple stuff. I don't really know what it is that I was missing because it was still sweet to see them this way with each other.

I loveee the chemistry between Vlad and Cat! They crack me up! He's like her annoying older brother who loves to pick on her. And I loved seeing Mencheres act more loosely. Obviously Kira is a very good influence on him. Denise and Spade also make an appearance, and Spade is still so awesome. Their relationship is a lot like Bone and Cat's. Ian makes a cameo appearance, which was not nearly long enough! Cat's old crew is the same as always. Tate still hates Bones and Cat's mom is training with them!! That was pretty awesome.

I didn't think I was going to be so sadden by Don's outcome, but I did get a little teary eyed. And the twist in the end wasn't too surprising, what with Cat's new powers thanks to Marie, but I am curious to see it play out in the next book.

I do wonder if we'll ever get to see a Cat and Bones wedding extravaganza! I would love it!

Overall, not my favorite in the series so far, but still VERY enjoyable. :)

I have no excuse, except for the size of my TBR mountain, but This Side of the Grave has been trapped there waiting for me since the day it came out. Now that I've finally rescued it to prepare for to read One Grave at a Time, I am asking myself why I waited so long.

I had forgotten how snarkily funny Frost's characters can be, my new favorite Frost quote? Vlad's lines about "premature inflamulation" - I am so ready for his book. Unlike some other readers, I found a solidly cemented relationship between Bones and Cat far more satisfying than an on again off again one would be - it's nice not to have to ride the heartbreak-reunion rollercoaster that some series with standing pairs put the reader on. I also really liked that Cat is starting to grow up, that she has learned from her past and is starting to think before she acts - there is actually a possiblity this new Cat may actually get a fair number of years from her immortality, the old one wouldn't have survived long.

The background plot with a ghoul uprising is mostly just an excuse for Cat to go places and do things and have an interesting life changing encounter with old frenemy Marie Lavereau, but that didn't really bother me. I liked just rambling through Cat's world and most of the fun of the book was catching up with old friends Menchares and Kira, Spade and Deniece (whose stories were in the Night Huntress world spinoffs), and with Cat's old Homeland security team - I think it's time for more of them. And there were some really poignant moments for Cat family-wise which had me tearing up.

So, bottom line for This Side of the Grave? I laughed, I cried ... and Bones still left me dreamy-eyed :)

The story began as it usually did with its clear confidence that radiated from the authors writing. I'm not the kind who wouldn't enjoy the next book of the series like some do. But I embrace the effort taken by the authors.

Jeaniene Frost, added a wonderful addition to the Night Huntress series. Cat and Bones have gone a long way and is now trying their best to fight out whatever evil lurks around trying to destroy the current known vampire half-breed out there. I must warn you and tell you, that you have to read First Drop of Crimson & Eternal Kiss of Darkness before you read the 5th installment of the Night Huntress series. Trust me you will be confused. So awfully confused that you'd like to rip your hair out because you know that you've read the 4th book but you have no memory of certain characters who are now filling permanent rolls beside our favorite characters.

Cat continues to make me laugh, cry, and gasp in her awesomeness and weird choices. I love taking a break from YA paranormal just to read a nice Paranormal Romance that doesn't involve a School, a dorm and love triangles that drive me mad.

Best parts of the book were Mencheres and Kira's little love scenes that always made Cat blush. And Bones hottness that no one can stay away from. This series continues to wow me and will continue to do so until the end of it. I hope it'll be awhile because I definitely love this series. This marks my 71st book this year and it was more unputdownable than the book before! (Not for young readers)

This Side of the Grave is an interesting outing in the Night Huntress series, and I'm not entirely clear of my thoughts on it. Yes, I enjoyed it. No, it's not been my favourite so far, but don't get me wrong, my confusion with this book is not necessarily a bad thing.

The ghoul, Appollyon, is stirring up trouble, trying to incite a race war between vampires and ghouls. And who's been drawn right into the middle? None other than Cat, of course. The ghoul claims Cat is intending to become an unstoppable Vampire/Ghoul hybrid, loyal to the vampires, and will be the cause of the enslavement of the ghoul race.

Cat and Bones are forced to seek help from the Ghoul Queen of New Orleans, but whose side is she really on... and what is she after?

I loved seeing Cat and Bones settle into a real, stable, and emotionally mature relationship. The couple still sizzle, but the tension is forced to come from the plot, more than the two of them, now.

This is also one of the funniest outings in series yet, with laugh-out-loud dialogue, (again) courtesy largely of Vlad. There's one line which has to be shared from Bones. An unexpected side character reappears, and asks if he may ask Bones a question. Bone's response: "Ask me if I sparkle, and I kill you where you stand."

***BEWARE: From here on, there be SPOILERS.***

In previous installments, we always new we were going to get a HEA, regardless of what argument our heroes were having... now there seems to be an ominous undertone lurking in the story, and it scares me. I could be reading something into this, but there seemed to be a number of roadsigns that something very big and very bad is on the horizon.

While we leave Cat and Bones in a happy place, we're left with a question of Majestic's true intentions... what is she manouevering towards? There were a number of conversations between Cat and Bones, and also Marie, that are bothering me. Cat and Bones discuss their true love for each other, with Cat saying that while she promised to go on without him if anything happened to Bones, she wouldn't want to. And Bones promising they'd always find a way to be together, be it 'this side of the grave, or the next'. It gives me the willies. Is this really just the proclamation of holding nothing back love we've been waiting for, or is it foreshadowing something dark in the future for our favourite couple. We also see an advance chapter for book 6, and a secret angent overseeing Tate at Cat's old work has me worried.

I also read an ask the author recently, where Frost refused to answer a question of whether vampires could leave ghosts. She's promised a Cat and Bones HEA... but a HEA 'of sorts'. I'm in love with this couple, and I want Cat and Bones together for ever, with matching love heart tattoes, and sugary loves scenes and warm gooey centres. This book has me worried.

While the romantic side of me is worried, the objective reader has to appreciate the external tension which Frost has carefully woven into the series in this installment.

*** END POTENTIAL SPOILERS ***

Here's hoping for much more happy, balanced Cat and Bones, and a nice big HEA in 4 books' time!

Cat and Bones are back and in danger again. Ghouls are still hunting her and it is going to take all their friends if they are going to survive. In the midst of everything Cat and Bones become closer yet as they face tragedy and loss along the way. I love this series and I have to say it is my favorite Vamp series ever!!! I can't wait for the next book, I hope Jeaniene Frost never stops writing this series.

I have to start by saying I love this series! It's my all time fav and I really try not to read it every time I want my fix of Cat and Bones, but sometimes I just can't help myself;) every book in this series truly has everything I enjoy reading; lots of emotion, action, romance, a heroine that is absolutly perfect (not whiney, badass...but not too full of herself) and Bones can Not be any sexier or lovable! They're great together and I have to disagree with some of the reviews I read thet called this book boring because I didn't feel it was at all boring, personally. Cat and bones are now in a good place in thier relationship and I am glad! I read these books because they are together and I loved the journey through the first four books that lead up to this one. I enjoyed the tension between them and the excitement and build up while they were finding each other again or fighting to be together (or just fighting!) But who wants to read about their favorite characters getting jerked around book after book? This book didn't have that and I still thought it was great. My hat is off to J.Frost because by keeping Cat and Bones together, book after book, she has limited her options as a writer, but she is creative enough to make it work better than other authors who have love triangles that last for years, literally, or main characters who just can't make up thier damn mind already. Bottom line, I do like a little tension or some obsticles thrown into the mix, but just because it's not front and center in the relationship in this book does not make it boring, it's just another stage in a series that has been, for me, even at it's lowest point...six out of five stars!!

No need for a synopsis as others have already given them. This book was a decent read, but nothing particularly exciting. There were a few funny parts, and a few sentimental parts. But, in my opinion the book was a bit boring. After reading this book I think my feelings of boredom stem from the fact that a lot what is going on in this book would be better told from more than Cat's point of view.

I know this series is set up to be about Cat but the author has created characters that are fairly interesting: Bones, Vlad, Justina, Mencheres, even Tate the jacka-- would be served better by having some parts of the story told from their point of view. What we got is a bunch of self-reflective internal dialogue from Cat which frankly for me got a bit tiresome and and boring. Cat was on her soap-box about the injustice of the world and acceptance of peoples differences waaay too much. The sentiment is all fine and great, but I got the point the first time it was bought up, no need to keep harping on it. Which all goes back to this story really needed to be told from more than one point of view.

I loved this series through book 3, At Grave's End. Then book 4, Destined for an Early Grave annoyed me because of how Cat went off on her own to deal with an uber-villain and doubted Bones and thought he was cheating on her. Then I read the two Night Huntress World spinoff books (about Spade and Mencheres) before starting this one. They are, in a way, a continuation of the series and should be read in order, but they are also the better books at this point, in my view.

Always love Bones. Not enough Ian. Vlad is always a highlight.

I just didn't care for the ghoul story and everything culminated at the end too abruptly - plus a lot of it seemed like filler...

Best parts: There was a great, highly emotional scene with Cat's uncle that was very touching and Cat finally fully opens up to Bones.

How often does one come across a paranormal that centers on a sizzling HOT MARRIED couple?!?!? Cat and Bones are not only serious kicking it vampires who fight to keep the world safe, they are totally devoted and completely dedicated to each other! This is such an incredible change of pace that I actually have to include a quote:

"A wave of heat rolled over my subconscious, as if my nerve endings had just been brushed with the warmest of caresses. My hands slowly fisted while I reisisted the urge to touch him, enjoying the building tension between us. Yes, this was different from the first giddy stage of attraction I'd felt for him, but that didn't diminish his effect on me. Instead, the desire I felt was richer, stronger, and far more intoxicating when combined with the hold Bones had over my heart"

Oh, let us burst forth into the hallelujah chorus!!! That kind of sizzling attraction is rarely shown in marriage, no matter the genre.

All the most loved characters from previous books come back in this installment to help Cat and Bones also, allowing us to enjoy catching up with their stories as well. While the plot wasn't quite as edge of your seat exciting as previous offerings, it was still a lot of fun!

*For those sex scene skippers, there is one potentially uncomfortable scene*

Day: I don't know where to begin. I almost feel like I need a cigarette after reading the fifth installment in Frost's `Night Huntress Series' because the wait is finally over.

I am fairly new to the whole Urban Fantasy genre, and this series was one of the first (after Charlaine Harris' Sookie books) that I picked up and I instantly fell in love with Cat & Bones. Since my initiation into the UF world in 2007, my horizons have broadened and I have read many other fantastic books. That being said, I am still loyal to the ones that got me hooked and Frost's work is no exception.

This Side of The Grave took me a while longer to fall back into rhythm with and it's not from a lack of desire to read the book. It just didn't impact me the way the earlier books had. The plot was a bit slower than I had anticipated. That could be a "me" thing or a "waiting so long for book I am not in the zone" thing. But, somewhere around page 125 or so I decided I was over thinking the story and that I just needed to sit back and enjoy the book candy. Then everything clicked for me and I got my reading groove back. Once the mojo was restored, I started enjoying it more and seeing where Jeaniene Frost's talent really shines through... and that is in her characters.

And what characters they are! Many will go on & on about Bones and his yumminess, but I really love her side characters like Mencheres, Tate, Fabian (the ghost) and Vlad....I really love Vlad! Vlad had some of my favorite scenes in the book and I love the chemistry between him and Cat. Speaking of Cat, she has grown so much since the beginning of the series. Her maturity has been well written and it appears that married life agrees with her...at least if she can mange to keep her jealousy over women scoping out her man in check;).

Okay, so I already said that I think Jeaniene has some great characters but there is one thing I feel she does better than create these great characters. What's that you ask? Well, the woman can really write some fun and blush inducing sex scenes. That is something she does like no other and she does it without them feeling overly dirty or sweetly romantic. She writes sex scenes that are realistic in the way a man & woman might tease each other during the act. Yet, she also manages to take it to that fantastical level so that even though there is a slice of realism in their interaction, they are far more sexy than your everyday real-life shag.

All in all I liked This Side of The Grave. I had hoped to love it, and maybe I will once I get a chance to read all the books back to back. But, the wait is finally over and I feel grateful that I got a chance to reacquaint myself with some truly great UF characters and even more grateful that the wait for book 6 won't be near as long. Bring on Vlad's book! I really can't wait for that!!!

Kitt: Jeaniene Frost is an automatic buy for me, whether it be her Night Huntress series or her Night Huntress World series. Like Day said, this woman can write! Characters, plots, ... smexy time. ;) All of it. She sucks you in and holds you until the turn of that last page.

My feelings on This Side of the Grave aren't all that different from Day's and that's the biggest part of the reason I'm going to make this short. Like her, it took me some time to get back in the groove of things and I really wish I had done re-read of Destined for an Early Grave before hand to refresh my memory after reading First Drop of Crimson and Eternal Kiss of Darkness.

This edition is a lot slower than the previous ones so Cat can deal with some family issues and old enemies. However, while we waited, we got some great one-on-one time with one of my favorite sub-characters, Vlad! Having more of him in any book is always a plus, but because Ms.Frost writes such great characters - but books can only be so long - there is always someone who doesn't get ample page space. This time around, sadly, it's Ian. Never fret though, he does make a cameo; I just wish it were longer.

This Side of the Grave is a good addition to the series. We get everything we've come to expect from Ms. Frost - action, adventure, romance, .. chapter 32's. I think fans will be quite happy with the result.

Elvie: I get a pat on the back for being prepared. To get ready for This Side of the Grave, I actually managed to listen to all six audiobooks set in the Night Huntress world beforehand, so I was ready to jump in at full speed!

I think the best adjective to describe this latest addition to the Night Huntress series is "solid." Ms. Frost delivers a respectable, enjoyable read that doesn't color outside the lines or offer jaw-dropping surprises (although, I will say two words - Jeanne d'Arc!). That's not to say that nothing new happens - it wouldn't be Cat's crazy life if bizarreness, emergencies, and tragedies didn't crop up regularly. The main conflict of the story, of course, is the need to deal with the race war that the ghoul Apollyon is trying to stir up, using Cat as a focal point despite her transition to full vampire status. The side stories and the introduction of what is likely to be the next be problem in Cat's world help mix it up, though.

Aside from the previously mentioned big role for Vlad (I'm a fan of Ms. Frost's take on Transylvanian snark, too! Vlad's book soon, please??), my favorite thing about this book was Tate's redemption. Yes, Tate manages to finally lose the asshat provocateur role he's been adopting ever since Bones re-entered Cat's life. Aside from being generally annoying, I felt like it was a real barrier to Tate's character coming into his own and fulfilling his potential. And it's just in time, too, because I think Tate is going to need all the friends he can get in the next book...

All our friends from previous books and spin-offs put in an appearance, even if some of them are tragically short. Even Veritas makes an appearance. Surprisingly, it was Mencheres and Kira who provided one of my LOL moments in this book. In general, though, the tone of this book was more somber than many of the other entries in the series. Of course, Bones is still a smart aleck, and Vlad is, well, Vlad. He was another bright spot. He really elevated his friendship with Cat to a new level in this book, and it made him even more likable than before (if possible). And, of course, Ms. Frost managed to steam up my glasses a few times in that way she does. Nobody does the smexy quite like her!

Another definite positive about This Side of the Grave was the way it ended. Although there are several plot threads left unresolved, and the situation isn't exactly what I'd call stable, Ms. Frost bucks the general trend and does not end the book on a horrible cliffhanger. Whew. So, those of you that worry about such things can go ahead and read with confidence. You won't be letting yourself in for months of unbearable torture. Instead, it would be a real shame to deprive yourself of reading this thoroughly enjoyable installment.

Mona Leigh: Have Cat and Bones finally met their match? Does someone exist in their supernatural world capable of kicking their butts? You'll find the answers to those questions between the covers of the latest Cat and Bones offering, This Side of the Grave.

A war is brewing between the ghouls and vampires. Without giving any spoilers, suffice it to say there are unfortunate and unpleasant surprises and sadness in store for Cat and she's totally unprepared for them.
True to form, This Side of the Grave has plenty of action, both in the boudoir and in the field. We get a peek at a softer side of Cat kept hidden until now, and it's nice to see her willingly expose it. Even Vlad displays a nicer side to his personality.

With war looming on the horizon, Ms. Frost brings new vampire Kira and new demon Denise in on the action alongside the other kickass vamps. Marie Laveau makes an unforgettable appearance showing us some serious power heretofore unknown in Cat's world.

As a Cat and Bones fan, I liked this addition to their saga. I especially liked the interactions among the new wives as they met and learned to work together. And I'd be remiss if I didn't say I read one chapter with tears in my eyes and a lump in my throat. All in all, I loved it.

In this 5th book of the series, we find a more mature Cat, learning to reflect before acting given the catastrophic results in the previous two books because of her leaping before looking. She and Bones are settling into their marriage, becoming more comfortable with their relationship but still keeping the steam in it!

Cat's maturing isn't just limited to her decision making but also extended to the other people in her life. She's more contemplative and is thinking beyond the obvious and is learning to work as a team with all of the talent surrounding her.

In this story, she's having to deal with a rogue ghoul who is trying to use her "half-breed" origins to make other races frightened of her. Cat's display of skills, though temporarily borrowed, doesn't help matters. There's a lot more strategic thinking and execution in this story, which makes it a less stressful ride but a lot more interesting. Many of the secondary characters from the past appear as well.

There are still highly emotional moments that will tug at your heartstrings and tear ducts. And, the ending is just as climatic as those in the past. Another winner in the ongoing saga of Cat and Bones.

The last two books didn't really make it for me but I found this one a pleasure to read - Cat and Bones personalities are back! A war between ghouls and vampires is brewing as Apollyon is using Cat's news abilities to turn his followers against the vampires. This story is filled with fights and the "dead" moments are pretty amusing (like references to "Galaxy Quest"!) There's some Vlad, Mencheres and Marie of New Orleans plays a big role here with her own magic. It's a very entertaining book, there's lots of action, romance and funny lines.

The only thing I didn't like about this book was the Castilian. The sentence "¿Bones, mi amigo, cómo es usted?" doesn't ask how Bones is but actually what he looks like. I have to admit I don't like when this happens because I know these books are verified tons of times before being published and it seems nobody cares about verifying the foreign sentences - this is not the first time either as it previously happened in First Drop of Crimson (Night Huntress World, Book 1). I wish someone would take the time to correct these.

My first read of the year and I rushed to finish, I liked the story but the end was a little to easy, the bad was a little soft and didn’t put much of a challenge. We could see the changing from the previous books and it was predictable to see those ghouls were up to something bad pretty soon. In this book we can see Cat and Bones trying to stop the murder of vampires. Those ghouls are following some stories that Cat could kill them all.

I liked two things from this story, we have more Vlad and all those friends decided to help. Mencheres has changed a lot since Kira became his new boo and we could see a different and more soft side of him in this book. Spade also changed, but only because now life is really dangerous for Denise and he’s always worried. For me the friends and all those funny moments made this book so much fun.

The storylines arc was a continuation of the last book. Ghouls want to use Cat as a catalyst for war. She and Bones strike out on their own.. well for a short period of time. Eventually the entire gang gets into it. Overall a good read. I like the exploration of the relationships between Cat, Mencheres and Vlad. Watching the three of interact without Bones gives depth to all the characters. Bones teaching Cat how to fly was really funny and very much like their earliest escapades. Loved Cat using her brain instead of just running off half cocked every time something went wrong. You can see her mature throughout this book. Don's storyline was very moving and I loved the twist at the end. I also appreciate the inclusion of more supernatural species. Love Fabian and I'm glad to see Frost is making them a larger part of the storyline. I'm hoping in the next book we get to see more of the relationship between Kira, Cat and Denise.

I know it's hard to keep the tension sky high in every book. I agree with another reviewer who said they really didn't feel the threat that the previous books brought but also it was satisfying to see the characters mature and handle things with less havoc and more skill.

Cat and Bones are most favorite couple in a book series. I love reading about them and there adventures. They have gone through so much together and it is fantastic that they are at the point that they are happy with there lives and flow and support each other so beautifully. They tackle problems together and still stay strong. Frost brought back the romance, action and drama from other books as she continued Cats story in THIS SIDE OF THE GRAVE. All my fave characters made an appearance and worked together to get rid of the problem. THIS SIDE OF THE GRAVE was missing something that previous books had but I cant quite put my finger on the words to convey it. The closets I can come to expressing it is to say story It didn't get my heart pumping and my mind racing like previous books did. Don't get me wrong the story rocked and all just didn't have that extra element. It really is a fantastic addition to the Night Huntress series and I'm still in love with the books and Jeaniene Frost's writing and plan on purchasing every book she comes out with.

Every now and then a series comes along that I just can't say no to. The Night Huntress series is one such series for me. I love Bones and Cat and I make sure I pimp these books to everyone I know even if they've already read them. So when I read a new installment I dig in with my expectations set fairly high.

Cat is a unique half vampire with some characteristics that some of the members of the supernatural community feel threatened by. One of her biggest foes is at it again, this time using Cat and her abilities as an excuse to insight war between the ghouls and vampires. Bones and Cat enlist the help of the ghoul queen of New Orleans as well as Cat's old team and their group of vampire friends to stop the crazy Apollynon from bringing war that would net massive losses on both sides.

After some rocky times in Destined For An Early Grave, Bones and Cat's relationship is solid and they are still in the "I love you desperately" stage. They've had their ups and downs but they love each other, Frost leaves no room for doubt about that. They fight hard, love hard, and sex it up hard. In fact, chapter 21 may just be the new chapter 32. *waggles eyebrows

Amidst the romance, sex, violence and good old vampire fun Frost never fails to draw her readers in and make them genuinely care for her characters as though they are friends. Not only is there Bones and Cat but their ever growing circle of friends are evolving into a family, one that is fiercely loyal to each other. All Bones and Cat need do is call and help is always on the way.

In This Side Of The Grave we see a Cat that seems to be more at peace with her vampirism and all that comes with it. Her character is maturing and evening out, however she can kick ass and take names even better than before.

We also get a good dose of action, violence and as always the dialogue is laced with clever wit and humor. However the one thing that bothered me throughout the story was the absence of the villain. He is referred to often and we know he is the big bad, but he doesn't make an appearance until very late in the story. I think because of his absence he seemed less evil and less of a threat and because of that the conflict lost some of its steam.

Vlad gets some good page time in this book and I'm not going to lie, I'm an ungrateful reader. I wanted more Vlad. Of all the secondary characters in this series Vlad is the one has touched me the most. He is a good friend to Cat and despite his horrific reputation as a cold blooded killer, I love him. Frost has a knack for creating characters that do unspeakable violence and making her readers love them anyway.

After not being all that thrilled with first book in Night Huntress World series, (First Drop Of Crimson) I didn't continue with the series and so I skipped Mencheres story in Eternal Kiss Of Darkness. However, after reading This Side Of The Grave I am very intrigued with Kira and Mencheres's story and I plan to the put it on my kindle ASAP. I realized that as much as I love Cat and Bones I need more Night Huntress world.

The Night Huntress series is one of the best romantic urban fantasy series I've read and I very much enjoyed this latest installment in the ongoing romance between Cat and Bones. Jeaniene Frost packs a serious punch with sensual romance, action and at times a very violent supernatural world in The Side Of The Grave.

DO NOT READ THIS BOOK UNTIL YOU HAVE READ THE TWO HUNTRESS WORLD NOVELS (First Drop of Crimson and Eternal Kiss of Darkness) -- IF YOU READ THIS BEFORE THEM YOU WILL SPOIL BOTH OF THOSE BOOKS!

I learned the above the hard way and was half-way through this book when I finally realized why I felt like I had missed something. I have never read a series where a spin-off contained information that was vital for the continuation of the current series and it PISSED ME OFF!

Because there was no alert in the book and there was no precedent for writing a series where the "spin-off" was not really a spin-off, there was no way I could have known.

I stopped this book in the middle, read the other two books (which were less enjoyable because there was no suspense, even though the stories themselves were very good) then was able to finish this one. I'm glad I stopped where I did because the further I read in "This Side of the Grave" the more the characters and outcomes of "Crimson" and "Kiss" became involved. :(

I would have given this book a much higher rating if it hadn't been for that.

This Side of the Grave by author Jeanine Frost is the 5th book in her Night Huntress series. I waited on pins and needles for my next fix of Cat and Bones. PINS AND NEEDLES PEOPLE! lol. Okay, I will calm down now. *deep breaths in and out* So after months and months of waiting did This Side of the Grave meet my high expectations? Yes, but for me, a few things either seemed lacking or kind of soft compared to previous books. Read on and see....

So in book 5 we have our main squeezes, Cat and Bones. These two are such an awesome pair. I love the dynamic they have and how they get each other on all levels. Cat and Bones are off to investigate the disappearance of masterless vampires. There are ghouls creating tension and conflict between the various factions, so to avoid a supernatural war, Cat and Bones head out to find allies and kick some butt. Niiice. Me likes so far.... until the plot continues. :( Now here is the hard part, if I say too much I'll spoil it for you IF you have yet to grab this book. If I say too little, you're left scratching your head trying to figure me out! *sigh* Ok, Ok that's me most of the time already. Guilty as charged. :)

I will say that "certain" characters in the book were not as edgy or enticing as in previous books. The enemy this time around seemed kind of weak and not very worthy. Cat didn't really get to let loose as she had in the past. It seemed very tame to me. I really do NOT like saying that! I enjoy reading these books so much that I can overlook the small stuff, but this book just lacked some of that sparkle. When you know what a writer is capable of, it's hard to look past things when they drop the ball (even if that ball only drops a little).

I will say that you do get to see Vlad (I love you Vlad, marry me!!!) and the whole cast of pals that we have grown to love/hate. The romance department was not lacking in this story. Cat and Bones are never dull in that area. ;) I hope book 6 takes us back on the action/adventure/twisting plot/witty dialog track and I look forward to reading it. *raises glass in the air* And here's to hoping the next spin-off book is for Vlad! *cheers with Amber and Richard* :) To wrap, the book is good, not mind-blowing great like previous books, but still worth the money and time.

Getting 4 Vlady Sheep
[...]

Another good addition to the Night Huntress series. Not one of my favorite in the whole bunch but after finishing all the books, realized that this sets up some of the plot work that's going to happen later on.

We see Cat developing more and more of her super powers. She is truly something to be getting this strong so fast. Some might think Jeaniene's going overboard but I didn't care and loved that the series still had good adventures and plot twists. In this one, powerful ghosts and ghouls are brought into the mix with Cat and Bones in the thick of it all.

Not a must read before you die but I enjoyed it.

Don't know how to hide spoilers on an the store review, so see my profile's website link for spoilers.

So much promise...so much bore.

EVERYTHING about this book is summed up with "well, that was boring". The end? Really? That's the climax of the book? Snore....sorry I stayed up till 12:30 last night to finish it after the kids went to bed and I did my work I brought home. NOTHING made that "the end". Nothing. Even the intimate scenes in this book were a snore.

There were a plethora of unnecessary characters. Veritas shows up again. Awesome, cool, she has great potential. Nada. No reason. No info given as to WHY she shows up either...she could have thrown "Bob" in just as easily. Timmie? WHY? The whole role he plays could have been summed up by 2 lines in the book: Mencheres says he has some info for us. Yes, I do, I heard from a contact of mine...blah blah blah. Done. Over with. New characters named within that sub story, never ever used, never needed, never mined for anything.

And the backstory...oh my dear gawd, please enough with the backstory. Seriously, if you are reading this book, you've read at least 2 of the others. OR you should have. There are so many little backstory reminders...2-6 sentences. They stop the story dead. I don't need 6 reminders thru the book that Bones and Cat wanted to kill each other the first time they met. How many times does she have to point out that vamps are territorial over property, spouses, lovers, rights etc etc etc? We got it...I promise.

And the big "oh my, how is this going to play out" from the meeting with Marie? Totally not used. The practice sessions, the discussions of how this works, implied fear, apocolaypse etc etc...NADA. Nothing. Whole new cool thing, for nothing.

I can remember things from book to book. I hope the author gets a better flow going in the book that comes out later this year. Otherwise, I'll be done with the series, and I bet she will be too.

After reading two of the spin-off books highlighting secondary characters, I was excited to get back to Cat and Bones and this book didn't let me down. Once again, we get humor, sexiness, action, with an interesting plot. I really missed the humor and banter from these two main characters, so it was like coming home in a sense. This book contained a bit more emotion than some of the others and further expounded on the paranormal world Frost has created, making it a stellar read.

This Side of the Grave (Night Huntress, Book 5) by Jeaniene Frost is awesome! It continues the adventures of Cat and Bones, who are facing more trouble than they know what to do with. I honestly loved this book & had been anxiously awaiting the release to see what Cat and Bones got into next. But, I have had the worst time trying to write a review of it. I've been trying off and on for several days, but every time I write something it feels too spoiler-ish and I start over. I figure that if you are reading the series, you certainly won't be disappointed and if you're not familiar with the series, start it. Go buy or download or borrow Halfway to the Grave (Night Huntress, Book 1) and get started. Cat is an incredibly interesting character who continually evolves over the course of the series & Bones is, well, Bones is freaking hot :) If you like a little spice with your vampires, et al, read Jeaniene Frost.

Enough said.

Follow my reviews at readerbarbara dot blogspot dot com

This was another fantastic Cat and Bones adventure. This time tensions between vampires and ghouls are rising and Cat and Bones go to New Orleans to seek help from the ghoul queen Marie Leveau. Their request has unexpected results, and the adventure begins. Their friends Mencheres and Kira, Spade and Denise, and Vlad are there to help, as well as some of Cat’s former teammates. These stories are always a delight because besides all the kick ass action and wonderful chemistry between her and Bones, there is always growth for Cat, in her relationships, her abilities, and her self-awareness. These books just keep getting better and better and I look forward to further adventures.

I wanted to like this book but found myself a bit bored. In this installment, Cat and Bones are faced with serious family illness and the threat of another "Big Bad". I found the scenes revolving around Cat's family to be real and authentic. Definitely some tears there. Also any scene with Vlad and Mencheres got my attention since they're both such alpha guys and I feel like they jump off the page. Unfortunately the book lost steam for me with Cat and Bones. I understand their relationship and how it works. I get that they have amazing sex. I see how much they love and rely on each other. So what's new? There seemed to be a lot of rehashing and many of the characters were all in previous books so I didn't see that spark of newness or things yet undiscovered. The nice part of the Night Huntress world books is that we see characters we've met before in new contexts and situations that add something to what we know of them. At this point I'm not sure what else there is to know about Cat and Bones. I'm wishing Frost took the route of Richelle Mead or Larissa Ione and wound this series down as she started the spinoffs.

Cat and Bones have had a very rough time of it lately and while they have come out on top in the last few battles, there still were loved ones lost and irreparable consequences. In this latest installment, Cat is still coming to terms with her new, mostly pulse-less status. She was unique as a half vampire, so it makes sense she wouldn't be a normal full one either. However, this spells trouble as a nasty Ghoul is using the threat of the "Red Reaper" to incite a war between the Vampires and Ghouls. They must scramble to round up their allies as well as try and find away to stop the war that could destroy them all. They seek out the help of Majestic, the Queen of New Orleans. The biggest question is not whether or not they will get her support, but if they will survive her "help" if she gives it, because one never knows just what the VooDoo Queen may have up her sleeve.

Cat has really had just about all she can take of dangers and threats to herself and her loved ones. So when her "borrowed" powers start causing her problems she scrambles to find a way to tone them down. She tells Bones that she isn't meant to handle them since she isn't a master vampire. This may be true, but when push comes to shove, she will do whatever it takes when her loved ones are at risk, even if it means using powers that wreak havoc and completely overwhelm her. However, I think most of her problems with the powers is that when she tries to use them, she over thinks it, as well as refuses to accept them as her own. Granted, they are only borrowed, but until they wear off, they belong to her, and I think if she could learn to accept them, she just might surprise herself.

I was so thrilled to see Cat and Bones fully together in this book. Their separation in the previous book was very hard to bear as they are by far my favorite fictional couple. In this book it seems they are closer than ever, and Cat is really trying to not repeat the mistakes of her past. Every time she has the inclination to run off on her own to try and save the day, she stops and takes a moment to talk herself out of it. She finally has come to terms with the fact that where she goes, Bones will, and no matter how much she may want to protect him, he will always be there at her side whenever danger strikes. Bones has even made some major strides in accepting that she will always have to be hip deep in the action and that he can't keep her on the sidelines either. I'm sure there will always be some tension between them as they are both extremely strong willed, but in the end they could not be more perfect for one another.

Since this is my favorite series, there always is the fear that the latest book will not live up to my admittedly high expectations. However, after reading this book I realized my fear was completely unnecessary, as this book was every bit as good as its predecessors. Be prepared for plenty of high stakes, heart pounding action, and plenty of steaminess. The book was jammed packed with emotions, and the ending will leave a smile on your face. Fans of the series will not be disappointed. If you haven't checked out this series yet, you don't know what you are missing.

Unlike many of the other Night Huntress fans, I didn't have a 2 year wait between DESTINED FOR AN EARLY GRAVE and THIS SIDE OF THE GRAVE. I was lucky enough to introduced to this series via audiobooks. When the this series was released at Audible.com late last year, I devoured each book as it was came out. This series is a witty, sexy, and emotional joyride, that you never want to end.

Cat's really come into her own in this book. She didn't want to hide or apologize for what she has become. She finally understands what it takes to be a leader and keep your people safe. Sometimes violence is the only alternative, when your authority is being challenged. She is also finally completely letting her walls down when if comes to Bones. She has always loved him and been attracted to him, but she's always held a bit of herself back. She finally laid all her cards on the table for the husband.

As in all of the previous Night Huntress Series books, THIS SIDE OF THE GRAVE's secondary character are just as amazing as it's primary characters. I probably love Vlad just as much as I love Bones. He is hysterical! When he steps into a screen, you know you are in for a treat. He really is instrumental in helping Cat realize what it means to me a leader. It was also wonderful to get to see Night Huntress World characters Denise and Spade, along with Kira and Menchere. While it was great saying hello to old favorites, we also had to say goodbye an important characters. Though this character wasn't always my favorite, he always did what he felt was right. He will be greatly missed!

I have always felt that Jeaniene Frost's writing in The Night Huntess Series is bloody brilliant! She has a very good balance of humor, drama, sexuality, and heartfelt emotions. I mean who else could come up, "garlic plus ganja equaled ghosts be gone"? This book have sooo many amazing quotes from this book. One of my very favorites was, "Ask me if I sparkle and I`ll kill you where you stand." I honestly laughed out loud on the plane, while listening to this audiobook. I'm pretty sure the other passengers thought I was crazy!

If you are a fan Jeaniene Frost`s series, I recommend that you pick up this series on audiobook. Reading this book and listening to it, are two totally different experiences. Never in my mind, could I dream up the amazing accents that Tavia Gilbert uses in this series. The characters range voices range from New Orleans honeyed French Creole to proper British gentlemen, and Tavia make them all shine!

If you are a big fan of the Urban Fantasy genre, this series is a MUST HAVE on your book shelf. I recommend Jeaniene Frost's Night Huntress World series also. This series is meant to complement the Night Huntress Series, and give you a glimpse into the lives of some of my other favorite characters.

Cat and Bones never seem to have any downtime. Now they head to Cat's old home state, Ohio, where there are rumors of Masterless vampires disappearing and ghouls are beginning to cause problems.

Apollyon is a ghoul who has lived for several centuries. He has waited six hundred years for a half-breed, such as Cat, to appear. He intends to use Cat's oddities as kindling to bring about war between the ghouls and the vampires. This is not for any benefit to his species, but for his own personal power gain.

Cat and Bones will need the aid of their friends (and not just from the vampire variety) if they are to stop a civil war.

*** THREE STARS! History fans will enjoy the fact that Marie Laveau plays a vital role in this episode, as does Vlad. However much of this story is simply Cat traveling to meet numerous powerful beings, somehow explaining to the reader who s/he is, and also of any special abilities the inhuman may have. There are even a few lulls in the story while Cat learns to fly and other skills, but the author has made Cat's training sections extremely interesting.

Cat's mother and uncle are in the story this time around too. Her mother has only a brief cameo or two. Looks as though Cat will be interacting with her mother and old team members in future titles. But Cat's uncle, Don, has been sick in the previous stories and readers finally find out what is wrong with the man. I will not say more for fear of revealing spoilers. All-in-all, I enjoyed this story; however, there is not as much suspense as in Cat's prior stories and readers that have not read the previous titles will be lost. ***

Reviewed by Detra Fitch of Huntress Reviews.

I thought I'd be generous and offer 3 stars instead.

This book was actually kind of on the boring side. I'd hate to say it because I do enjoy JF's novels. I was really hoping for more action, more wit and humor and sexiness. Instead the book dragged on and Cat repeated herself throughout the entire novel. Rehashing old stories over and over and treating the reader as if it was their first time reading this series.

The villain was more of an annoying pest more so than a dangerous threat that would cause all the powerful forces to gather together to stand against him. The ending was so anti-climatic. In fact the only excitement you get in the series was a scene when Cat and Bones were attacked in the elevator and that attack wasn't even orchestrated by the main villain, but some other ghoul who was trying to kill Cat.

I think the main problem with this book was that the heroes were WAY too strong for the villains. It just wasn't even remotely equal so the entire time you're reading the book, you just know that villain doesn't have a snowball's chance in hell of even scraping Cat's skin or pulling her hair. Mencheres alone could have been the hero of this book, it really was overkill considering what a wimp the villain was.

I will read the next book in this series, but I do hope for more action.

I was worried when the author veered away from Bones and Cat to write supporting characters' stories. But I am glad to see that Ms. Frost has not lost the passion for Cat and Bones.

This Side of the Grave has Cat and Bones in a stable romantic relationship for once in the series. I know other reviewers' missed the conflict, but I was just happy to see them happy and left alone for once. Cat and Bones are forever and I hate when authors introduce conflicts just for conflict sake.

The wit is back in this back and some of the one-liners (especially with Vlad) are hilarious. This book was not as action-packed as the others, but had enough to keep me interested. Thoroughly entertaining and I can't wait for the next one.

I started out by being really annoyed with this book. Cat has to borrow powers, people are still being stupidly secretive and I totally missed some type of relationship happening by not reading the spin off novels which I find highly irritating. That being said, the whole Don thing had me bawling so badly I had to put the book down to dry my eyes. I love the characters and love the way Jeaniene writes, I'm just frustrated that to really get a feel for everything going on, I have to read the spin-offs. I want to just read the series. If you want to have a spin off storyline, great, just include it in the reading sequence. All-in-all, a great series.

Cat Crawford, our beloved night huntress, is back in action with her sexy vampire husband Bones. Since becoming a full-fledged vampire Cat reckons she is more of a freak than even she thought possible. Cat can only get her nourishment from other vampires. There's a bit of a problem with that, she's absorbing the powers of the vampires she drinks from. These new abilities threaten her sanity as well as the balance of the supernatural society.

Masterless vampires are going missing and Cat and Bones are called in to help discover what is happening to all these vampires. What they find is more disturbing than they could possibly imagine. It seems that their nemesis Apollyon may be gearing up for a war between the ghouls and vampires and Cat is destined to play an integral role in the conflict.

Cat and Bones must seek the help of the ghoul queen but her help always comes with a price. Will the price be too high this time? Can Cat harness her newfound abilities to help her fight the war or will they be a hindrance? Cat and Bones will rush against the clock to find Apollyon and attempt to conquer this enemy once and for all. Every war has its casualties let's pray Cat and Bones stop Apollyon before they lose someone they love.

The famous dynamic undead duo Bones and Cat are back better than ever in This Side of the Grave. I absolutely love Bones and Cat. They are definitely one of my favorite paranormal couples. They have something that simply cannot be duplicated. Jeaniene Frost is the queen of witty, naughty, fun dialog. Cat and Bones each have some hysterical one-liners that left me laughing out loud.

This Side of the Grave brings back several characters that we haven't seen in quite awhile. It was almost like a reunion of sorts and so exciting to see some of my old favorites back in action. They also brought with them several shocking revelations that held severe ramifications for Cat. Ms. Frost has the ability to create characters that intrigue you and leaving you wanting more of them, so it was a definite plus to get to hang out with some favorites again in This Side of the Grave.

Ms. Frost never fails to create an original plot driven story. This is the fifth book of the series and she still manages to drop our favorite characters into a life or death situation and keep it fresh and thrilling. For the majority of This Side of the Grave you are on the edge of your seat awaiting the heart stopping finish you know is coming--but you don't want it to come too soon! This Side of the Grave does not disappoint there is plenty of action throughout the book and it all leads up to the powerful finish. I believe one of the things I love about this series is its ability to get me emotionally involved. I care about the characters, whether its Cat and Bones, or secondary characters I want to know what is going to happen with them and most of all I want them to be happy. Unfortunately, we don't always get what we want but the love and loss are what make this series a winner.

The drama and action are amped up in This Side of the Grave. This Side of the Grave is an exhilarating fast-paced adventure guaranteed to leave you quaking in your boots with excitement and begging for more of Cat and Bones!

Miranda
Reviewed for Joyfully Reviewed

This is Book 5 in the Cat and Bones series after Destined for an Early Grave (Bk 4), however the story assumes you have read two spin-off books. These are in sequence: First Drop of Crimson which tells Spade's story with Denise and Eternal Kiss of Darkness which tells Mencheres' story with Kira. I wasn't lost in this story due to not having read those but it was obvious some changes had occurred which I knew nothing about. So, ideally one would read those other two titles in between Cat and Bones Bk 4 and 5 but the story was still enjoyable without.

I have read every book in this series, in order, and I felt like I was missing a huge chunk of the story when I started reading this book. It constantly alludes to events that happened between Book 4 and this book (that, according to another reviewer, occured in Eternal Kiss of Darkness). It is a pet peeve of mine when an author writes subsequent books in a series as if you have not read the previous books, filling the first few chapters with "fluff" that the readers have to skim through so as not to be redundant. It's pretty safe to assume that 90% of readers will make sure that they are reading a book series in order. But it is COMPLETELY RUDE of the author to assume that everyone has read a book from a COMPLETELY DIFFERENT SERIES (albeit a spin-off) and then, to top it off, she doesn't even go back and summarize those events. Why would you summarize the events of previous books in the same series but not of relevant events that happened in a different series? Finding this out after the fact, I downloaded a sample of Eternal Kiss to decide whether or not I wanted to read it and it's written in the THIRD PERSON!!! I hate reading books in 3rd person because, more often than not, there is a larger since of detachment between the reader and the main character of the story; you don't always feel like you're there. In short, this book was disappointing to me. The story line was okay but I found it so much harder to follow because I felt like I was no longer familiar with the story. The jury is still out on whether or not I will be purchasing the Book 6.

It's been a long wait for a new Cat & Bones book. And though I was glad to be back with two of my favorite characters, it didn't quite enthrall me as much as the previous installments. Don't get me wrong, the Night Huntress series on a bad day, is still leaps and bounds ahead of most books on their best days. Some of the dialogue was laugh-out-loud funny. I love our characters and the great world Jeaniene Frost has built around them. But noticeably absent in this installment is any tension between Cat and Bones. Of course, at a certain point it is laughable to think anything can come between these two. But the tension present in every book before this one helped make them explosive. Here, we had one memorable sex scene, which frankly had me more distracted by the practicality of the abundant use of hot wax, than allowing me to really get into the moment.

The premise for this story is that the ghouls are still pushing the idea of war against the vampires. And Cat is their rallying point, with the unusual talents she has manifested. She and Bones go back to New Orleans to consult with Marie Laveau who boosts Cat with some black magic mojo. In the meantime, Cat reaches out to her network of friends to try to stop the war from happening.

To me, the threat just didn't seem as in-your-face as in times past. I never felt real danger. I was only really moved with the surprising storyline surrounding Don. And other than with him, I didn't feel the same connection I usually do with the supporting characters.

I don't want to sound like I'm disparaging the book, because I did enjoy it.... just not as much as the ones that came before. I look forward to our next installment. 4 stars.

Several thoughts have run through my head as I prepared to write this, but everything I want to say might be considered a plot spoiler for someone. So briefly, Apollyon is still inciting the ghoul nation, warning his followers that Cat will be their downfall; Masterless vampires are going missing; and things are getting tenser and tenser between the vamps and the ghouls. Cat and her crew need to find a way to stop Apollyon. There is another visit to the underground lair of Marie Laveau, a secret mission for Dave the ghoul, some drama with Don, and ghosts. The ending is very satisfactory, and leaves an interesting and enticing set up for next book.

In Ohio Ghouls have been attacking vampires without Masters. There is a fear of a species war exploding unless the assaults ends. Vampire couple Cat and Bones head to the Buckeye State to prevent the deadly combat. Once the notorious half-breed government agent the Red Reaper who destroyed vampires Cat has evolved into a full Undead, but has skills no one has seen since the death in medieval times of Joan of Arc.

Apollyon the Ghoul insists that Cat is proof that the vampires are trying to take over the world starting with his species. Marie Laveau the Ghoul feels yanked in two directions that have friends and foes wondering who she sides with while Cat's mother has turned into a vampire at a time when all hell is breaking loose within her family and across the paranormal communities. Only with Bones does Cat feel comforted, but has little time for that respite.

The Night Huntress urban fantasy (see Destined for an Early Grave) continues one of the better series as the romantic subplot takes a back seat to the prime theme of the likely hellish paranormal species war. The cast that runs the species gamut is fully developed while the lead heroes struggle with preventing a nasty war; as each has come a long way from innocence and uncle dearest. Fast-paced and loaded with non-stop action, readers will appreciate Jeaniene Frost's aptly titled exhilarating thriller.

Harriet Klausner

I was so excited for this book, but I just don't think it reached its potential.

The best way for me to write this review is to do a list of pros and cons. This may contain spoilers, but I'll try my best not to give too much away.

Pro:
Cat was less pompous in this installment. A lot of her annoying bravado that bugged me in books 2-4 was toned down significantly and it made for a more relatable character.

Con:
There wasn't enough drama with the characters. There is a character in the series who's dying and refuses to have Cat or any other vampire turn him. I thought it would have been more interesting to have Vlad or Mencheres turn him anyway since they don`t owe him anything, especially considering what happens at the very end of the book. I think having him be a vampire would have been more entertaining.

Pro:
The villain was consistent enough with a history that proved he was a threat that needed to be dealt with.

Con:
The villain didn't cause enough trouble in the novel, so the storyline lacked a sufficient amount of action and you were left with a lot of filler. By that I mean, Cat reiterated herself A LOT in this book, over explaining things, making certain parts of this book boring.

Pro:
It was nice to see Marie the voodoo queen ghoul in this book and see how she manipulated the other characters making her a force to be reckoned with one day.

Con:
It was disappointing that Ian was barely an afterthought in this book. I realize that Vlad is a popular character. Hey, I love Vlad, but I'm missing the hell out of my Ian. Personally, I think he's JF most complicated character. Can you imagine the kind of woman would be his perfect mate? Same for Vlad too. I hope to see more Ian in the next book.

Pro and Con at the same time: One super long sex scene that seemed to go forever. I skimmed through it to read the really juicy parts. Now don't get me wrong, I love reading sex scenes, just not ones THAT long. However, for those of you who do, it was pretty detailed, well written and had some bdsm elements in it.

Pro:
Cat wasn't really whining about the fact that she's a vampire who drinks vampire blood.

Con:
I didn't get to see any vampire bite scenes in this book which was a huge disappointment. No feeding scenes, wait, I take that back, There was some during the sex scenes, but that was for sexual gratification and she wasn't really feeding. I wanted to see Cat drinking for food from a vampire who wasn't her husband.

Pro:
Cat gains a new ability that has a side-effect that makes her "hungry" for sex like no one's business.

Con:
She blacks out during the whole sex-craze and you get a recap story from Bones. I would have much rather read about THAT in detail than the long drawn out "death" scene of one of the characters.

Pro:
The characters were accountable for their actions and I appreciate that in a story. If they said something wrong, someone else called them on it and that always gets my respect.

Con:
Cat did some stupid things in the story, not a lot, but one thing that stood out to me was ignoring phone calls from her husband while she was hunting down the ghouls. She just assumed he wanted to "chat" and claimed she didn't have time. I thought this was stupid because he could have been calling to say something important such as "I found our bad guy" and she'd never know because she didn't answer her phone. Then afterwards when she trying to return the call, Bones didn't answer. I thought that was a lost opportunity. JF could have put some spark into the story at that point by putting Bones and Denise in peril. Instead, it all worked out and everyone laughed gaily when they reunited and realized they were just playing phone tag.

So bottom line is: The characters personalities were improved upon. The villain seemed to be focused and his scheme wasn't so convoluted like Gregor's and Patra's was. But there just wasn't enough interesting things going on in this book to keep me on the edge of my seat.

A delicate balance stood centuries between vampires and ghouls. Along came the Red Reaper, who tipped that balance on little Cat feet.

[...]

I can sum up the entire Night Huntress in this sentence: This is a love story. If you're new to the series, go right for the first audiobook, Halfway to the Grave. There Bones, the guy, clubs Cat, the girl, over the head and drags her to his cave where he chains her up, beats her up, and keeps her there until she learns to like him. I'm not kidding. That's a summary of the first few chapters and, my feminist sensibilities aside, it's down-right romantic.

Enduring romance is something Jeaniene Frost does better than almost any author I can think of. Most urban fantasy novels - heck, most any romance novels - center on the chase, the tension, the possibility, between the protagonist and the love interest actually coming together. However, in this series, marriage is the story. It's compelling, it's possessive, and it's immortal. Oh, and it's also pretty hot. Jeaniene Frost knows how to write a sex scene, and Tavia Gilbert knows how to read one. If you're looking for a typical vampire love novel This Side of the Grave will not disappoint. If you like your sex scenes with some fangs and a little blood, check out this audiobook after you're done watching True Blood.

I hate to say it, but there was something missing. This Night Huntress book read more like one of the Night Huntress World books, the two spin-offs. As I mention above, the love is there - it's always there. If that's what you're looking for, look no further. But that's not quite what I'm looking for. I love this series for its suspense and action as well as for the romance. In this book, there was a lack of real danger to anyone the listener cares about. Cat & Bones must stop a war from happening, but no one the listener cares about is in danger of imminent death if they fail. I know that a lot of vampires will die, and a lot of ghouls are getting hurt, but I don't know these vampires, I don't know these ghouls. Overall, I enjoyed the story, but not quite as much as the earlier books in the series.

The characters are extremely lovable and intelligently written. They are not cookie cutter boring. They actually have depth and layers. I found the book to be exciting and full of humor. There is nothing about Cat that I do not like, especially her love of Bones and her new found love for herself. There is a small amount of sex, which does not overpower the book. It moves the story along. I enjoy the fact that Ms. Frost writes her books as if her readers are intelligent and she does not have to hand hold us or "spell every thing out". Anyone who reads any of her books will fall in love with these characters and Ms. Frost's story telling. Try it, I dare you.

I think the synopsis says it all. There is a Hitler-like ghoul causing an uprising and turning ghouls against the vampires. Cat and Bones turn to the Queen of New Orleans for help and end up getting more than they bargained for as Cat starts manifesting a new power.

Cat, Bones and company unite once more to battle evil forces in order to prevent this zealot from spreading his poison and preventing war. Another exciting adventure filled with laughter, crazy sex and kickin' ass.

Woohoo, Cat and Bones are finally back!!! We've been waiting for this for so long.. and once again, they have not disappointed. If you haven't read this serie yet, start it asap!! Trust me, you don't know what you are missing!

Even after Cat became a full-blooded vampire, she still has enemies claiming her to be a threat to the ghoul nation. A war is coming, a war like never before - between two undead races and Cat stands right between them.

Where do I start? Oh yes, Vlad is mine!!!!! LOL..
The book couldn't start better!!! Naked Bones in chains? Hell yes!!!! And Bones was as sexy as always.
"Ask me if I sparkle, and I'll kill you where you stand." was one of my most favorite quotes!

Cat's and Bones's personal life has never been better - as a couple, they are stronger than ever before. The first infatuation has changed to something much more deeper, no more drama, no more inner or outer conflicts, no more rushed decisions or fights. (Even though I have to admit I missed some of that, some of the previous tension between them was missing.)

Chapter 21.. *sigh* OMG, CHAPTER 21!! The motto Cat bites back!" really says it all!! Oh yes, we might have a new chapter 32, ladies and gentlemen!!! I surely won't look at candles the same way again :-)

I loved how Cat finally dropped her guard with Bones and told him how she really feels about him, resulting in one of the most heart-warming moments of this book.
"I am forever yours, Kitten, in this life or the next."

The main storyline didn't grab my attention as much as the previous ones. Maybe I didn't feel the danger as much as before. I would appreciate more direct action I guess.

After meeting with Marie, the queen of New Orleans, Cat gets some surprising new ability that will cause the probably most embarrassing moments in Cat's life and later one of the best scenes in the book including Cat and Vlad's and Mencheres's packages :-) We also learn about the previous half-breed and let's just say I didn't expect that history lesson!

One of the things I loved most in this book were the secondary characters. The girls here know that I absolutely LOVE Vlad.. *giggle* ..and I was enjoying every part with him (and of him.. *giggle*)!!! Beside Bones, he is the most intriguing character, cocky, with his wicked sense of humor and his loyalty to Cat. Once again he had one of the best quotes in this book where I was literally laughing out loud :-)
"What the hell was that?" I gasped.
"Premature inflamulation," he replied. "Happens sometimes. Very embarrassing, I don't like to talk about it."
Can't wait for his serie!!

And I also loved seeing Mencheres and Kira!! The scene when Cat and Bones arrived to find them busy" and later sitting all prim and proper drinking tea was hilarious :-)

I really liked this book!!! Jeaniene Frost did it again! I wasn't able to put it down. It is not my favorite NH book though, something was missing in this one, but it is still one of the TOP paranormal series I have read. The ending just left me with a huge smile on my face :-) Cat and Bones are one of my favorite couples, whether falling in love, fighting with each other or enjoying their mature relationship. Can't wait for the next book this fall!!! So my rating is 4* for the story and a half bonus star for Vlad and Mencheres :-)

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I had been looking forward to this book ever since the released date was announce. I was not disappointed. This is the fifth novel in the Night Huntress series by Jeaniene Frost. This is one of my favorites Urban Fantasy series.

This Side of the Grave was a very fast paced book for me but I loved every minute of it. I love Cat and Bones. Without given too much away I must say in this book we see all the characters we have come to know in the series Mencheres, Spade, Denise, Tate, Juan, Don, Dave, Fabien , and even Vlad! I love Vlad!

This book starts a couple of months after Eternal Kiss of Darkness, so we also see Kira. I would not recommend reading this book if you have not yet read Mencheres story in Eternal Kiss of Darkness.

In this book Cat is still being sought after for being a different kind of Vampire. She is still adjusting to her new life as well. Old time nemesis Apollyon is trying to use Cat as the reason ghouls should go to war against vampires. The story follows Cat and Bones as they make their way to different cities to try to get allies, including the New Orleans queen of ghouls.

This book has a little bit of everything, we could ask in a story. And the sex scene wow, Ms. Frost does not disappoint in this one either, she somehow manages to write a good sex scene without been too graphic and vulgar if that even makes sense. But is not just about sex the romance between Cat and Bones is one of the things I love about this series. Bones is a man who is not afraid to express his feelings and thoughts about the woman he loves.

In this book we finally see Cat coming out of her conform zone and finally lets herself not only accept but express herself about her feelings towards those she loves. She loses someone very close to her but she endures that lost and keeps on doing what she must do, fighting!

I'm already looking forward to reading the seventh novel One Grave at a Time, coming out this fall!

I give This Side of the Grave - 5 Stars!

This Side of the Grave (Night Huntress, Book 5)

I loved all Jeaniene Frost books, and rushed to get it into my reader the same day, I thought I would not stop reading it, just as I did with the other books, but somehow that didn't happened. I missed all those romantic sessions between Cat and Bones, those exiting action of fighting along side each other, I too had no connection with Cat and Bones. I miss staying up all night to read this book like I did with the previous once. I waited with such anticipation for this book. This doesn't mean I will stop reading her future books.

I loved all Jeaniene Frost books, and rushed to get it into my reader the same day, I thought I would not stop reading it, just as I did with the other books, but somehow that didn't happened. I missed all those romantic sessions between Cat and Bones, those exiting action of fighting along side each other, I too had no connection with Cat and Bones. I miss staying up all night to read this book like I did with the previous once. I waited with such anticipation for this book. This doesn't mean I will stop reading her future books.

This was my least favorite book of the series. I felt as though the threat to Cat and Bones was not great and that their relationship was a little stale. There was 1 steamy encounter the entire book and there was little going on across several chapters. I did, as always, like Vlad. I look forward to his book. I was also touched by the relationship between Cat and Don. However I did feel a little cheated in the end. That ultimately is my issue with the series, the hero always wins. I think that is why I liked the first few books because the HEA was unresolved. But if you are OCD like me, read the book since it's next in the series. I hope Mrs. Frost can spice things up in the next book. But judging from the excerpt she included at the end of the book, it doesn't look like it.

loved all Jeaniene Frost books, and rushed to get it into my reader the same day, I thought I would not stop reading it, just as I did with the other books, but somehow that didn't happened. I missed all those romantic sessions between Cat and Bones, those exiting action of fighting along side each other, I too had no connection with Cat and Bones. I miss staying up all night to read this book like I did with the previous once. I waited with such anticipation for this book. This doesn't mean I will stop reading her future books.

It just keeps getting better and better! Not only does this Author keep up the pace with this series, she takes on the challenge of writing another using a minor character from Night Huntress ......and she nails them both! I can't wait to download the next adventure in both series!

Even though Cat Crawfield is now a full vampire like her husband Bones, she still posses unusual abilities. Ones that if they become common knowledge, could end an uneasy truce and start an all out war between vampires and ghouls. As a crazed ghoul who is out for Cat's blood starts to incite hate against vampires, Cat and Bones seek assistance from Marie, the undead queen of New Orleans. But she has a secret agenda of her own. One that has an unexpected impact on Cat herself.

*Spoilers from previous book*

In the last book (Destined for an Early Grave) Cat was turned into a full vampire with unexpected side effects. Not only does she need to drink vampire blood instead of human but she also temporarily absorbs whatever powers that vampire has. This led to her publicly killing an enemy vampire with powers she didn't have before. That incident is now being used to fan the flames of a war that could break out against ghouls. Apollyon is a power hungry ghoul who has been encouraging his kind to fight the vampires by convincing them that Cat could become the most lethal undead if she combined her powers with a ghoul and then she would turn all the vampires against them.

This series is one of my favorites because of story lines like this. It's good guys vs bad and while there is some connection, each book has its own battle to be won then the story moves on to the next. No long, drawn out story line that lasts 3 or 4 books and ultimately has an unsatisfying end. Cat and Bones are back and a stronger couple than ever. There is no more fighting behind the others back or Cat going off and doing something foolish. I didn't start warming up to Cat until the last book and I couldn't help but like her in this one. She is smarter about the moves she makes and is less whiny during her training than she was before. Bones is, well Bones. Gorgeous, smart and deadly.

There isn't as much action in this book as in the previous ones. A lot of time is spent finding Apollyon and Cat figuring out what Marie did to her. Cat and Bones seek out Marie to see where her alliances are, whether she'll join Apollyon or not, and unexpected things occur when she forces Cat to ingest her blood. The lack of action did slow the book down a bit but the story with Apollyon, Marie and the ghouls was more than enough to keep my attention. It also helps that one of my favorites, Vlad, has a lot of page time. His sense of humor and fierce loyalty to his own has me looking forward Vlad's book.

I could not put this book down. This Side of the Grave reminded me why this is one of my favorite series. The humor, drama and the wide variety of instantly likable characters will have me coming back for more. To fans of the series, you're all aware of chapter 32 correct? Well, chapter 21. That's all I'm going to say.

I'm very caught up in this series. Just can't wait to get to the next book. I really hope Ian and Vlad get their mate soon. I would love to see them fall. Thanks to Jeanniene for giving me the ability to forget my reality for awhile.
The story was told well and in each book she ties up some story lines and opens up more for the continuation. I just love the chemistry between Bones and Cat. They keep learning things about each other through each book and keep growing to love each other more and more.

Sadly, I agree with some of the other reviewers who have given this book 3 stars. I'm a huge Cat & Bones fan and have loaned my books to so many friends so they too can become a fan. But like someone else said, it took me nearly two weeks to finish this book! That's never happened before and I felt guilty when I chose to do something else instead of picking up the book to read. I'm in agreement that the whole thing was generally boring and lacked tension, especially between Cat and Bones. They're a happy couple and they will be in love with each other forever. That's great, but I don't want to read about a happily married couple. I like reading about two people who I know belong together but must overcome obstacles to be together. There's a reason why romantic movies end when the couple finally gets together -- because no one wants to see what happens after. We all know what happens after... life goes on and it's boring.

A couple of sex scenes thrown in there doesn't do it... I want that tension to run throughout the story. I like the urban fantasy part of it, but there has to be romance too. And a happily married couple doesn't bring enough excitement, not enough will they/won't they?

I really don't see how Jeanine is going to continue this story for another two books. I guess it will have to rely heavily on the urban fantasy/fighting the big bad versus the romance since everything's all okey dokey there.

This Side of the Grave, the 5th installment in the Night Huntress Series by Jeaniene Frost, was much anticipated this past year but failed to live up to that wait. The previous installments had more blood, more action and definitely more tension.
This Side of the Grave starts out with Cat and Bones in a good place within their marriage but find an interspecies war about to take place. With vampires disappearing and ghouls being blamed they have to approach Marie Laveau, Queen of New Orleans for help. Their friends come to their aid before war can devastate the population, but Apollyn the ancient ghoul who hates half-breeds, is out to get rid of half-breed born/full vampire Cat Crawfield for good and is using Cat to encite the ghouls to war.
This installment was a little blaise' as far as tension building and twists and turns. The good part is- that Cat is finally comfortable in her new skin and in her marriage to Bones. The bad part is- that something was missing this time around. The villian failed to show up till the end of the book, and a lot was lost here. If Ms. Frost had used the villian to crank up the suspense during the book, this would have been much better. Very little action and a very anti-climatic ending where someone close to Cat dies was also a little flat. Ms. Frost could have used this scenario to her advantage as well- but did not. I also was left wondering why Cat's mother's is now living on the military compound and in training with Tate and the boys. Frankly, this book was just a tad boring. Just a tad mind you as I have always been a fan of the Night Huntress series as well as the spin-off books, Night Huntress World. I hope Ms. Frost will go back to writing much more exciting books in the future as she did in previous books, as it would be a shame for so many Cat&Bones fans out there,(and there are many), to be disappointed.

The series has gone a bit downhill I'm afraid. First off, I'm rather irritated that it's now necessary to read her other spinoff series to have a true grasp of events that are happening. It seems that the two series are too intimately linked to take one without the other now, which is a disappointment. And you'd think Cat had turned into a Mary Sue instead of a vampire. Finally, the plot just wasn't there in this book. It was sex, sex, sex, plot, sex, sex, side plot, sex, sex, SEX whereas earlier books had a much better balance. Somewhat enjoyable, but nowhere near being a favorite series anymore.

~Night Huntress~
~Book 5~

Well I've read 5 installments and haven't been Disappointed Yet! Love all the bantering between Cat & Bones,the Storyline is Always Great! Amazing Characters I haven't found anyone of the books to be boring.always keeps my interest! I couldn't put them Down! JF is an Amazing Story Teller!! READ the Series it will make you laugh and Cry at parts!! Can't Wait to See what happens Next!!

I love Cat and Bones, and was eagerly anticipating this book's release. I was disappointed with this one, but still found it a good read. I get the sense that Jeaniene is not only setting us up for the final books, but also moving from Paranormal Romance to Fiction (as can be seen on the side of the book). I wasn't wowed by the one sex scene in the book, and picked 'One Foot in the Grave' off my shelf right after finishing this one remind me how good Bones and Cat can be together.

SPOILER ALERT!

I thought that Don's death scene was very well written. I cried, and loved how Cat grew emotionally through that moment. I loved the chapters surrounding Cat's flying lesson as well. Other than that, the normal tension from Books 1-4 seemed to be missing, and I was mildly annoyed by all the recapping. I'm still eagerly awaiting the next book due out in Fall 2011, but I hope we have a little more action on all fronts in that one.

Cat and Bones surely has gone a long way.. From trying to kill each other, well mostly Cat killing Bones in her mind, to being husband and wife. I highly recommend buying the first four books for you to understand what I mean. This book is never boring and Frost made it certain that her characters are as dynamic as ever!I can't wait for the other sequels because from what I heard it was not published yet.

I must agree with most of these reviews in that this book was good, but not quite what I have come to expect with the series. My biggest disappointment was with the lack of romance. I kept waiting for some steamy scenes with Cat and Bones, and then kept waiting and waiting.... I've always complimented the author on her ability to mix action with romance, but this book is definately action heavy. I will look forward to the next book, with hopefully a bit more romance!!

Did anyone else familiar with this series feel like this book had a LOT more graphic sex in it? I have been listening to the series on audiobook while I sew. I started This Side of the Grave yesterday and was blind-sided by the entire chapter of graphic marital sex. Don't get me wrong, I'm not a prude but I was just surprised as I had listened, a little red-faced to the action. The other books had me expecting some undead-on-half-breed sex but, wow! All I can figure is that this book was published AFTER Fifty Shades of Gray. I will continue with the series and will appreciate the next racy chapter now that I know to expect it! Enjoy!

Cat and Bones never fail to keep me glued to their escapades. Fighting ghouls and remnants keeps the team on their toes, while trying to stop the rhetoric being put out about Cat putting another bullseye on her back.

This is my favorite series and I was so excited to download this book when it came out. Unfortunately, unlike all the others in the series I had no problem putting this book down - compared to the previous books, I didn't find this one as captivating at all. It was still good, but I kind of felt like most of the books were about the "chase" - Cat & Bones are finally together so now what?

What a great ending. No, sorry, I won't give any spoiler ending away. I continue to enjoy this series and will start the next book momentarily. I will be going on Good Reads to give a 5 star rating too.

The Night Huntress Series is still very interesting. Still lots of kick butt action, and big things that alter Cat's life from here on out. It's an ever changing series. The one thing that hasn't changed is Bones and Cat. I will say that all the romantic tension is not there anymore but it's still good.

Love the Night Huntress books. Did not like the ending of this one
My favorite character is Vlad, with his witty remarks and quick comebacks. I can't wait to read his story.
What I just can't get is Tate. Will he ever get the message? He needs somebody.

Have you ever been on a really long road trip and all you can think about is getting back home...where you can put on your favorite pair of sweats, indulge in a glass of wine, and flop back on the couch? There's nothing like the feel of going home, and that's exactly what this book felt like to me.. After so many months of waiting for the next Night Huntress book, I was pleasantly surprised at how easy it was for me to get back in the "Cat & Bones" groove. It was like they never left me. And now, after getting my fill....I'm sated, happily basking in my "morning after" glow. (Ahhhhhh)

Book six in the Night Huntress series is much different than its predecessors. Yes, someone is still out for Cat's blood...but hey, Cat's demise is usually the focal point of this series, right? What is different with TSOTG is that Cat has grown. She's still a smart-arse, but now she's a smarter, wiser, and overall more mature smart-arse whose come to terms with her vampire nature, almost relishing in it. This was a nice change to see..In addition to this, Cat lets her guard down with bones, revealing to him just how much she truly loves him. In my opinion, this was the most memorable part of the book...While few words were said, the intimacy in that moment was palpable and intensely beautiful.

One of my favorite parts of this series is the side characters. The one's readers love to hate, ie Justina, Tate, -really redeemed themselves in this book. Kudos to them. Readers beware...there is a tragedy in this book, one that affects the entire team, so make sure you have a Kleenex handy. As for the humor, you know the satirical kind that Jeaniene masters so very well? (Hail the queen of Satire!!) Well, Jeaniene proves once again to be the master. This time around, the "Funnies" award goes to the show hound, aka Vlad the Impaler.

"What the hell was that?" I gasped. "Premature inflamulation," he replied. "Happens sometimes. Very embarrassing. I don't like to talk about it."

Other memorable quotes include:

"Ask me if I sparkle, and I'll kill you where you stand."

"See?" I'd whispered to Bones, nudging him with a grin. "He never argues with her. Isn't that sweet?" A snort preceded his response. "Keep dreaming, pet."

"You think I look like an angel? Well, Kitten, your hands are my heaven and your eyes are my home."

Overall, this was a great edition to the Night Huntress world. Cat and Bones, - you're still my favorite book couple. In TSOTG, readers get to see their relationship at its strongest. Any doubts I formally had, was reaffirmed with Chapter 21, so appropriately nicknamed, "Cat Bites Back!" Watch out 32, there's a new number in town, lol!! This chapter is Hawt, like flammable hawt, no pun intended! My only complaint witho TSOTG, however, would be the lack of sexual tension between Cat/Bones, Cat/Tate, Cat/Vlad, Bones/Annette, etc. I missed the fights, jealousy issues, and pissing contests that were so prevalent in previous books. Scenes like these, while frustrating as they often were, yielded some of the best "make up" scenes, ahem 32! One other minor complaint.....my favorite pervy vampire, Ian, with the exception of one or two lines, was MIA throughout the entire story (pouts)! Other wise, another wonderful book, Kudos to you Mrs. Frost! Now, if your not already reading this book, go out and get it, like pronto Frost Fans!

I highly recommend this book as well as the entire series. The characters are so well written they truly come alive... Jeaniene Frost delivers... I really have only one complaint... once I start listening I don't want to stop...can be irritating if you get to work and have to stop listening at a really good spot !!! Arrggh hahah but it makes for wonderful commutes.. I live in LA and now I see traffic snarls as more Cat and Bones time yayyyyy

I ABSOLUTELY LOVE THIS BOOK, THIS SERIES AND THIS AUTHOR. She is my inspiration for my writing. I love her love her love her! I have re read this series over and over and over and over! If I could I would give it more than 5 stars rating!

The first two books of this series were some of my favorites in urban fantasy, but I feel like things have been going downhill since then. With each installment, I got a little less invested in the characters. The romance and sense of danger have increasingly fallen flat. I was so bored with this book that in the middle I had to force myself to read it. It picked-up a little in the end. But not enough. I'll probably check the next one out of the library before buying it to see if it's worth my time.

I will always have a fondness for Cat and Bones, but this time I barely made it thru. There were just too many weird characters for me to keep up with and the story went spinning off to I don't know where at times. Maybe it's time for them to take a bow.

There is not much I needed to know about this product, before purchasing it. All books that we order thru the store, are at an excellent price and even if they are used, most often (99%) of the time, arrive before their arrival date and in excellent condition. And because of this, I continue to order my books through the store.

I love the Night Huntress Series and have also read the spin off on Spade and Mencheres. In general, Jeaniene Frost rocks!!
But as several readers have commented, this book although much anticipated kinda fizzled and never really took off for me.
Perhaps it's the lack of tension between Bones and Cat-their chemistry was always so exciting and incredible in prior installments.
Overall, still entertaining but not quite hitting all 5 stars that I'm used to by Frost.

okay let me start off by saying I love Jeaniene Frost I think she is an incredible writer I love her books and especially the Night Huntress series, BUT...This latest addition to the series was CRAP I really hate to slam one of my favorite authors BUT WTF was this??? There was ABSOLUTELY NO PLOT the book mainly centered on how much Cat LOVED Bones and how much She Loved her Friends BLAH BLAH BLAH I found myself on numerous occasions Falling asleep, and when I wasn't falling asleep I was rolling my eyes at how incredibly SAPPY the book was.Out of the whole 38 chapters I only enjoyed chapters 16 some of 36 and 37 and of course the last line of 38 because I was finally done with the book. I really think she should have branch this off a little not just with denise and Spade in a different series but she could have a book about Vlad, or Ivan something other then THIS novel that made NO SENSE. I knew when I started to read this book that it wasn't going to be as good as the others because after Bones and Cat Married in the previous Novel the plot ended once Cat became full Vampire in the previous Novel the plot ended her being a weird Vampire was all that was left and it wasn't even mention more then a few times to develop a awesome plot with that would have been great..better instead of dwelling on things that we already knew like Cat loving her some Bones was in every darn chapter in almost every other paragraph at this point I need for Bones to either Die or get kidnapped and tortured for me to renew my interest in this series because I refuse to read another book from this series where Cat tells us OVER AND OVER AGAIN HOW MUCH SHE LOOOOVVVVVEEEEESSSS BONES...WE GET IT!!!!! *sighs a breath of relief after getting that off my chest* like I said before I feel bad to have to slam one of my favorites authors books but this was rushed,sloppy and bad as hell considering her other books I gave it two stars just because I love her work and didn't want to be too harsh ^^^^^ I dont think I was too harsh in my opinion :-)

I was disapointed by this book. I had enjoyed the series thus far and really enjoyed book 4. I listened to the book on audio and at several times wanted to rip my earphones out. I didn't understand the purpose or point of this book, it really felt like a space saver, like the author was required to provide so many books so she HAD to write it. Literally nothing happened throughout the book but a lot of sex and self realization which do not fit with the series or genre. It seemed like it was a backburner piece, even the main point of the book which seemed to be to prevent the World War 2 of Night Huntress land, the story was a slow simmer that never seemed to reach a full boil. Today I looked at the timer on the book and realized I was alomst to the end of the book and not a darn thing had happened yet. I'm sorry to write a unfavorable review, but this book was simply terrible.

One of the very few writers out there today that can make a fantasy novel so enthralling. Filled with mystery, Action, laughter and great tastefully done love scenes this book is another great installment in the series. Cant wait for the next.

This series is the only series of books i can't do without! I absolutely love them! Iv read all the books twice and still dont tire of them. They are hot and steamy and action packed! Bones is my dream man!

Favorite Quote from the book: "what the hell was that?" I gasped. "Premature inflammation," he replied. "Happens sometimes. Very embarrassing, I don't like to talk about it." -Vlad I laughed my butt off!

I'm such a big fan of this series...Bones and Cat are wonderful together. The entire series should be read prior to the 5th book for better understanding of the characters involved. Jeaniene Frost has done it yet again.