Death and the Girl Next Door (Darklight Book 1)

Review courtesy of Dark Faerie Tales

Quick & Dirty: A love triangle with a nephilim and an archangel. And I thought my high school drama was bad.

Opening Sentence: The small town of Riley's Switch, New Mexico, had only one coffee house, and I sat at a booth in it with my two best friends.

The Review:

Best-selling author, Darynda Jones, takes on young hearts and paranormal mayhem with her debut Young Adult novel, Death and the Girl Next Door. Small town girl, Lorelei, is about to get a crash course in all things angelic when she is saved from a fatal collision with a bus by the sexy new transfer student, Jared Kovach. If that wasn't enough to set her heart racing, maybe the crazy supernatural fight she witnesses right afterward will. Things start speeding up in Riley's Switch that includes some dark secrets, a destiny, and the Angel of Death.

Lorelei McAlister has always had visions. It's not something she feels makes her special in anyway. At least that's what she believed before she met Jared Kovach and her life was forever changed. He saved her when she should have died, keeping her soul on this Earthly plane for reasons of his own. Now with the help of her friends, Lorelei will find out the unintentional consequences of changing this one event in history. Her character is smart and sassy while underplayed physically, making her very likable indeed. The love of her grandparents and support of her friends allows her to be more self-confident than other teenage girls that might be thrown into situations beyond the ordinary. Rather than brood and whine about her lot in life, she seizes and enjoys each moment. Without the support of all of the secondary characters, Lorelei would come off as less than genuine.

There is a forbidden quality to the love interest in this book. Lorelei and Jared most assuredly have chemistry but do they have what it takes to make it last? Jared is not in the least bit human and has confessed to breaking "the rules" for her at least once. Their relationship definitely has a "star-crossed" feel to it but I hope that there is a happier ending for them than Romeo and Juliet had. While they do not have other characters making themselves known as contenders of affection, they most certainly have others that are against their relationship. Cameron certainly offers a negative, both verbally and physically, aspect toward anything to do with Jared.

Cameron Lusk is a fantastic character that enriches the entire story. Lorelei has supporters, like her friends and family, that trust her judgment. This is not the case with Cameron. He has known her most of his life but also has extensive knowledge of the supernatural aspects that she is just becoming privy to. His character offers a brooding and pessimistic view of events as they unfold. His pain and anger provide a more well-rounded emotional response to the story as a whole. All the characters in this book represent multiple facets of human nature that give the reader a fuller overall appreciation of circumstances.

The story itself is fast-paced and the revelations never stop coming. I ended up reading it twice just so that I had time to absorb all the information. Death and the Girl Next Door offers a ride which leaves you breathless and longing for more. I can recommend this to established fans and new comers alike. If you enjoy Kenyon's Chronicles of Nick, you're going to love this series as well!

FTC Advisory: St. Martin's Press graciously provided me with a copy of Death and the Girl Next Door. No goody bags, sponsorships, "material connections," or bribes were exchanged for my review. The only payment received came in the form of hugs and kisses from my little boys.

I saw the captivating cover on Goodreads. I know I have to read this book quick. Not only is the cover pretty but the summary left me salivating. Death and the Girl Next Door is witty, impressive, and downright sexy.
Let me give you glimpse of the story with no spoilers. Lorelei thinks she's living a normal life. Until two hot guys started getting her attention. One who is dark and broody. The other is light and protective. Did I mention that they're both hot? Things started to get puzzling for Lorelei when Cameron started stalking her. Who is that new mysterious guy? What do the two boys want from her? Who is she really? You have to read this book to find out.

The world building is good and believable. I like the school setting. It made it more realistic. I also find the plot thrilling, it truly grabbed my attention. While reading this book, I have several "laughing moments" Yes, the dialogues are witty and funny. Though there were some slow moments in the first part of the book; some scenes were quite detached from the story. But it was worth sticking till the end. The secrets and twists made this book engaging. After finding out what Lorelei is...................(No Spoilers) I swear! I didn't see it coming. I love those kinds of book, where I get electrified or shocked! This book is infused with it. I truly enjoyed "Death and the Girl Next Door".

The character building is awesome. They are likable and connectable. Lorelei is the main character here. She's the girl to envy. Two drool worthy guys are constantly battering each other for her to be safe. What makes Lorelei so special? Again you gave to read this book to find out. Cameron is not your typical jock guy. Don't let the looks fool you. His character is downright mysterious. He's the type of guy who doesn't like attention yet his looks say a different thing. He is so hot! His mysteriousness glued me to him. As for Jared, he's the tough guy. Yep, girls who like bad guys will definitely drool over him. The characters are so colorful and vibrant. You would really wish that they were real people instead of just from a book. I also like how the author took her time describing the them. I didn't have a hard time imagining what they look like.

As for the love angle, it was okay. I think it was a bit rushed. I wish there's more pull to Jared and Lorelei's blossoming relationship. Like a Jared's POV on why he was drawn to Lorelei. This will let the readers feel that it was not "I love you already". Though, the scenes between Jared and Lorelei turned my heart into marshmallows. It was sweet and sexy. Is there a love triangle? Well, you have to buy this book first.

Overall, this book is a wonderful read. I enjoyed the dialogues and shocking moments. The story is not predictable which gave this book an edge. I can't wait for book two!! I need to know what happens next.

I give this book 4 whales.

I recently got into reading Darynda's Charley Davidson series and had to read this one as I loved her writing style. I am happy to see that style translated over to this book. It was a really cute read that I loved. Lorelei is not your typical teen but we soon learn she is way more than that. I loved her character and how the author made her so independent and so snarky. She is really cool and witty. I loved that she was just a little bit different too but if she only knew just how different she really was.

We start this book with Lor being a typical teenager enjoying her life until things take a drastic change for her in the form of Cameron and Jared. These boys are both so different in some many ways and we really learn just how different as the book goes on. I loved everything about both of them even if they were both a little too eager to always fight and be a little crazy. It made for an entertaining read though especially when they would argue with each other. I loved that Lor could make them listen to her though and tone down their issues around her. She had a calming effect on both of them.

Lor learns pretty quickly some really interesting facts about herself and the boys and whoa was it a doozy. I have to say I didn't see that coming. I loved the world that the author created too of the small town life and the high school drama that Lor dealt with too. It was a great look into that world. The author did a good job of creating such complex characters that had some serious issues to deal with. I loved that they all tried to stay as normal as possible though throughout it all.

Overall this was a great read and I loved everything about it. The world building and character development was well thought out. I loved the pace of the book and how it all flowed so well. It made for a really enjoyable read. I loved this book and can't wait for the next installment.I think you should check this one out for a great read.

I received this book for free for review from the publisher and that in no way infulenced my review.

Originally posted here: [...]
Darynda Jones became famous for her adult series started with First grave on the right and Death and the girl next door is her first book for young adult. My first reaction was absolutely enthusiastic, because I thought that the book had all the ingredients for a compelling and funny reading, but later on I had to change my mind a bit. Overall, I liked it and I will surely keep on reading this series, even if, for me, it has some flaws.

The plot caught my attention: Lorelai, whose parents disappeared under weird circumstances, has always had visions. Things began to change when a new mysterious guy, Jared, comes into her school and Cameron starts following her around. Then Lorelai is hit by a truck and is about to die, when Jared brings her back to life. But Jared and Cameron do not get along that well and things start to get really complicated when Lor finds out something about herself and her past.

So, in this book there are angels and demons. An angel of Death, to be very precise, and an angel who became human. Oh, and a Nephilim, too. I know, there are just so many books with angels in them, but I can't help it, I like them a lot. Too bad that there were some cliché which prevent me from really loving the story; also, the ending was a little bit too fast and I am not sure I liked the twist.

What about the characters? Lorelai is our usual girl; she underestimates herself but has exceptional powers. She considers herself 'average' but she made bad and sexy Jared fall in love with her at first sight (oh, no!). Jared defies divine laws just to save her; Jared, a human angel, can kill easily and has a supernatural beauty (clearly). That's what I was referring to when I mentioned cliché. Even the other characters, like the blond nemesis of Jared, Cameron, and Lorelai's gang of friends, fit perfectly in this scenario.

That said, I have to admit I did enjoy the book. The writing is lovely and there are some pretty funny lines; Lor and her friends have a way of talking that crack me up. And I am very curious to see what will happen next to Lor and to discover who the mysterious woman in her dream was. So I really hope the next book will be better, now that we got to know the characters.

If you like angels and quick stories, then you may like this one.

My favourite quote:

"I know," he said in almost bored contemplation. "My manners suck. I like to chalk it up to a dissatisfying childhood."
"I'd chalk it up to that narcissistic personality disorder laces with a smidgen of schizophrenia. Your mother would be proud."

Death and the Girl Next Door had a promising synopsis and I had high hopes for this novel, however I was mildly disappointed. From the first page I felt this novel was lacking in maturity, whether in characters or plot. The characters were a bit childish and two dimentional while the plot felt a bit slow and then very rushed and confusing in the middle and the end.
Characters: I personally could not connect or even much care for any of the characters in this novel. The main protagonist Lorelei was forgettable, I honestly don't remember much about her and I've only read this novel a couple of days ago. She was smitten at first sight by Jared and I just didn't comprehend how they have surpassed their confessions of love and went straight into angst over how they can ever be together and if their love is strong enough to go through it all. I did however enjoy Cameron, he was funny, and while he did feel a bit of a boy with the way he picks fights left and right, he was at least better than the brooding Jared. Don't get me wrong, I love brooding bad boys but Jared just couldn't pull it off. Plot: oh boy, I really didn't like how the author randomly jumped into action when one second they were sitting down chilling and the next windows are breaking and blood is being splattered. Then the next second the two main characters are kissing each other while everything else broke loose. I just felt I couldn't really follow the action and I just felt it was a bit absurd with the way the plot developed.
While I had a ton of issues with this novel, I did enjoy it and never thought about stopping the novel. I just hoped that the plot was complex enough but didn't leave us wondering on the intentions of all the characters and I just hoped the characters and romance were better developed. All in all, I know many people who have enjoyed this novel and if you are a paranormal fan, then you should check this one out!

This book was awesome. It has love, visions, fighting, and Death. Lorelie is a sweet high school girl. She has great friends and a great sense of humor. She also happens to be able to see visions when she touches people. When she touches a new boy and sees a vision of him in gladiator form fighting a huge monster she thinks it is only jibberish. Then her childhood neighbor, Cameron, starts stalking her. Look out her window at night, there he is. Turn the corner at school, guess who. He is kind of an ass by all appearances. Plus he HATES the new guy. Keeps calling him reaper. Turns out that Cameron is a Nephilim and Jared (the new guy) is an angel of death.

Jared was sent down to take Lorelie a few minutes before her time in order to stop a chain of events and answer a prayer. She was destined to die and he was going to make sure that it was quick and painless instead of drawn out. The only thing is he doesn't want to. He wants her to live and do what she is destined to do. Would have been fine if Cameron didn't know who and what he was after seeing him as a child. Cameron hates Jared and they have some hella awesome fights. Like stop time make it look like a tornado went through fight.

Read this book and tell me what you think. You have to laugh out loud at parts and tear up at others. Just to give you a small hint, a few quotes that I love.

"She was elderly. Probably, like, forty or something."

"still had to pray every night for the girl-part fairy to get off her butt and do her job."

"Nothing like a society with two heads of state and one poverty-stricken, uneducated, mentally ill constituent to back us."

Can you say you didn't laugh at least once? Cause I am almost thirty and so NOT elderly damn it.

reviewed by Stacy

5 Stars

5 Flames

Brought to you by OBS reviewer Autumn

*Beware of possible Spoilers*

Lorelei McAlister knew she was a bit different. But everyone feels like that in high school, right? Her friends, Brooklyn and Glitch, have always been there to support her and in the end that's all that matters.

All that matters until she realizes that the very same day she finds the school loner, Cameron, has been following her, a mysterious new boy makes his appearance at Riley High. Lorelei can't believe how beautiful Jared is (He's a total supernova!) but when she accidentally makes contact with him, she sees only fear and destruction. Of course, it's just her luck that the only boy she has ever been interested in might just be the Angel of Death.

As the story unfolds, Lorelei and her friends all have a part to play in the war between heaven and hell. Nothing is as it seems and sometimes you can't help but break all the rules.

Death and the Girl Next Door is Jones' first venture into the "Young Adult" genre and she really makes the grade. Her characters are funny, intelligent and lovable. The boys (I'm Team Cameron!) are mysterious and totally swoon worthy. The banter is hilarious and the plot is complex. My only reservation was that the story was a bit slow in the beginning but I was not at all disappointed with the outcome. The next installment of the trilogy, Death, Doom and Detention, is set for release in March 2013 and I can't wait to see where Darynda takes it from here.

This review and more at openbooksociety dot com

The following is based on an eARC the publisher provided to me via NetGalley in exchange for my honest opinion.

Review (no spoilers):
I really enjoyed this book, though it was very different from what I had expected when I picked it up. I was under the impression that it's a Reaper story, but it's actually not. Not really anyway, or not in the way I had supposed. Instead, the novel both taps into and builds on a kind of mythological background I hadn't anticipated but was definitely intrigued by! I can't say too much about it because of spoilers but I'm really curious to see this develop and unfold in the next book now that the cards are on the table, so to speak.

I found Lorelei likeable and easy to relate to. Despite her strange and unreliable ability (she sometimes gets short visions or glimpses when she touches people) she is just a regular teenager, hanging out with her friends and trying to make it through highschool while trying not to think about the ten-year-anniversary of her parents' mysterious disappearance too much. She's strong but she also has flaws and insecurities. One of my favorite aspects in the book was the dynamic between her and her two best friends, Glitch and Booklyn. Especially Brooke because she was so snarky and called bullshit when she saw it. The three of them really stick together no matter what and had each others' backs. I also really liked that Lorelei's grandparents played such an important role because quite often in YA, the protagonists' parents/families are very marginal or absent.

When Cameron Lusk, the school loner, starts stalking Lorelei and standing outside her house all night, she is really freaked out and doesn't know how to react or how to confront him. And when Jared, the new guy at school, gives her visions which are impossible and warm, fuzzy feelings despite the fact that there's also an aura of danger added to the hotness of his perfect features, things move into the weird and mysterious fast. Why can't Cameron and Jared be in the same room (much less talk) without breaking into a fight? What do they know about Lorelei that she doesn't? Which one of them is dangerous for her and which one tries to protect her - and from whom? What really happened the day Lorelei's parents disappeared and why can she not remember? Why are both Cameron and Jared so strong?

Another thing I had more or less resigned myself to after reading the book description was a love triangle. I'm not a big fan of those usually. So I'm glad to say that Darynda Jones manages to pull a two-guys-one-girl story off without one! The Romance between Jared and Lorelei starts with an instant attraction but it's not insta-love. She's interested and she crushes, also because the now hottest guy in school seems to have eyes for her only. But she doesn't fancy herself head over heels in love with him even though she barely knows him and is certain that he's hiding something. I really liked Jared. Being who and what he is isn't easy and I found it adorable that for once, the super-hot guy is kinda shy and embarrassed about the reaction he gets from the female part of the student body. He doesn't sport the cocky attitude most gorgeous boys in YA have. He's on a mission, committed and ready to make sacrifices. He really cares about Lorelei a lot, enough to risk losing all of his power. But he's not a goody-goody either. The characters generally emerged as well fleshed-out, complex people over the course of the novel and each had a clearly distinguishable voice.

I know I've been vague about the plot and what actually happens in the novel, but that is because it's nearly impossible to talk about it without spoilers. Let it be said that there's loads of action, mystery, investigating, and discovering things about the past. However, after an important, long action scene near the beginning, things drag a little and we see nothing of Cameron and Jared while Lorelei puzzles over them. That frustrated me a bit. But once Lorelei and her friends find the two guys again, things get moving once more and there are no more draggy bits until the end. Seriously, I found it hard to put the book down to get some much-needed sleep. It's just so compelling to read on! And I want to talk about all the spoilery stuff and discuss it with other people who have already read the book so I can speculate about what's going to happen. Because though I had an idea of who was who and what was happening, there were quite a few turns at the end when things are revealed that I just never saw coming. At all. But they made perfect sense in the story.

Two minor things: in some scenes Lorelei was a bit too innocent or naïve for my taste, and the way she and Brooke sometimes talked about Jared's hotness and objectified him rubbed me a bit the wrong way. It was mostly just at the beginning but I felt the need to point it out. Why does the guy-crush always have to be defined primarily by his hotness while the girl is unaware of her own appeal? Fortunately, Jared also had other traits to make him awesome and didn't care/know about the effect of his appearance.

So overall I really liked Death and the Girl Next Door. The writing kept me hooked, it was witty, action-filled, and I had fun trying to figure things out. The romance took a bit longer to develop than I'd thought but then it took off and there were also some steamish bits, though nothing too extreme. The important characters are well-developed. The mythological world-building background was easily my favorite part though because it picked up on an aspect I hadn't heard of before, and I'm curious to see things continue in the next installment of the series!

Review courtesy of All Things Urban Fantasy.

Witty friends, brooding supernatural beings, and otherworldly hi-jinx wrapped in high school drama, DEATH AND THE GIRL NEXT DOOR capitalizes on some of my favorite Buffy the Vampire Slayer tropes. Though the silliness of Lorelei, Brooklyn, and Glitch's conversation didn't always hit the mark, the premise and character dynamic was entertaining enough that I'll be interested to try more Darynda Jones, either Darklight or Charley Davidson.

DEATH AND THE GIRL NEXT DOOR introduces a world that has a lot of potential, though the this first book doesn't necessarily stand out as unique. The banter between Lorelei and her friends reminded me of UNSPOKEN, the romantic dynamic reminded me of a (lighter) FALLEN, and all of these elements combined brought to mind Buffy. While the mix of enjoyable elements has me ready to try other books by this author, I'm not convinced that Darklight will stand out in the crowd. Still, DEATH AND THE GIRL NEXT DOOR was a quick read that introduced danger, romance, and humor in equal parts, which is enough to bring me back for more.

Fans of high school drama mixed with magic will enjoy DEATH AND THE GIRL NEXT DOOR, but only if they don't mind a bit of silliness to lighten the drama. The tone and character dynamic definitely worked for me, even if the premise wasn't quite a slam dunk. As this was my first Darynda Jones book, I'll be checking out both the next Darklight, DEATH, DOOM, AND DETENTION, as well as Jones's prior series, Charley Davidson.

Sexual Content: Kissing.

Courtesy of Happy Endings Reviews

Death and the Girl Next Door is the first in a new series about a high school girl who is like any other - slightly awkward, quiet but quirky, and loved but not popular - except Lorelei McAlister also has visions that are inexplicable, and things are about to get very complicated. When a new boy Jared Kovach arrives in town who seems... different, Lorelei is immediately drawn to him. But this is a problem for Cameron Lusk, a lurker in Lorelei's class who suddenly has very strong, very violent feelings toward the new guy. Of course, what's a girl without her two best friends, Glitch and Brooklyn, who are also drawn into the fray. And this is all before lunch.

High school's hard, but for this gang, it really is life or death. As with any first book in the series, there's a certain amount of world-building, set up, and exposition to be done. At times this bogs down the beginning of the book, and the first real confrontation between Jared and Cameron with Lorelei at the center is so extreme that it all gets a little confusing.

This new series is still finding its footing, but shows real promise in what's to come. Once Lorelei and Jared really begin to interact, past that initial spark that lights between them in the hallways of their school - like any great teen romance - and once Lorelei begins to get some answers, the story really picks up through the end. The ghostbusters gang formed by Lorelei, Jared, Cameron, Brooklyn, and Glitch is so much fun and so full of personality that it's easy to see how they'll carry the rest of the series. The humor we've come to expect from Darynda Jones is alive and well here. And there's enough tension, conflict, and unanswered questions to fuel momentum for the next book and beyond.

Series: Darklight
#1 Death and the Girl Next Door
#2 Death, Doom, and Detention
#3 Death and the Girl He Loves

Courtesy of Happy Endings Reviews

Death and the Girl Next Door is the first in a new series about a high school girl who is like any other - slightly awkward, quiet but quirky, and loved but not popular - except Lorelei McAlister also has visions that are inexplicable, and things are about to get very complicated. When a new boy Jared Kovach arrives in town who seems... different, Lorelei is immediately drawn to him. But this is a problem for Cameron Lusk, a lurker in Lorelei's class who suddenly has very strong, very violent feelings toward the new guy. Of course, what's a girl without her two best friends, Glitch and Brooklyn, who are also drawn into the fray. And this is all before lunch.

High school's hard, but for this gang, it really is life or death. As with any first book in the series, there's a certain amount of world-building, set up, and exposition to be done. At times this bogs down the beginning of the book, and the first real confrontation between Jared and Cameron with Lorelei at the center is so extreme that it all gets a little confusing.

This new series is still finding its footing, but shows real promise in what's to come. Once Lorelei and Jared really begin to interact, past that initial spark that lights between them in the hallways of their school - like any great teen romance - and once Lorelei begins to get some answers, the story really picks up through the end. The ghostbusters gang formed by Lorelei, Jared, Cameron, Brooklyn, and Glitch is so much fun and so full of personality that it's easy to see how they'll carry the rest of the series. The humor we've come to expect from Darynda Jones is alive and well here. And there's enough tension, conflict, and unanswered questions to fuel momentum for the next book and beyond.

Series: Darklight
#1 Death and the Girl Next Door
#2 Death, Doom, and Detention
#3 Death and the Girl He Loves

This was Darynda Jones first venture into the young adult world and I was impressed. I thoroughly enjoyed Death and the Girl Next Door. While maybe not perfect, there is a lot I can overlook when I have a host of fantastic characters to capture my attention, and that's what I found here.

Lorelei, the protagonist, has two amazing best friends, Glitch and Brooklyn. So when Cameron begins to stalk her, and then Jared shows up and weird things start to happen, like her dying and being brought back to life, she has them to fall back on and tells them everything. Unlike a lot of books where the heroine will keep the secrets and loses her friends. And when Cameron and Jared start hanging out with these three, I enjoyed the banter, the sarcasm and wit really kept me entertained.

There is a lot of mystery in this book. Lorelei's parents just disappeared one day ten years ago and no one knows what happened. Then, there's Cameron and Jared, who between them, seem to have a lot of secrets. There's a lot of questions that come up and not all of them are answered by the end of the book.

I really enjoyed the touch of romance here too. Thankfully there's no love triangle though I did feel as though the cover hinted at one.

With the revelations that came at the end of this book, I'm really looking forward to the next in the series, Death, Doom and Devotion and I'm expecting great things from it.

Lorelei's life is a bit odd. Her parents disappeared ten years ago and she's been raised by her grandparents ever since. And Lorelei has visions. Strange visions that she often doesn't understand, like the one she had about the new guy, Jared, fighting a dark, demonic creature. While Lorelei tries to figure that one out, she also realizes that a fellow classmate is stalking her. But that's just the beginning.

Ooh, I don't want to give too much away on this one. This is the first in Darynda's new Darklight series and it's perfect for teen readers and fans of the Charley Davidson books as well. The premise is definitely unique and the characters are great -- plus it's all packaged in Darynda's trademark style!

Lorelei and her friends are fantastic characters. In fact, all of the characters are convincing and real. The teens act like teens -- with a little more freedom than I recall at that age, but given what you learn about them later that actually becomes understandable.

My one complaint -- and I'm sure others will note this as well -- is that as the first in a series, there's understandably a lot of set up. There's no info-dump here, but the majority of DGND is clearly set up for what will come next in the series. As such, I really wish there was less of a wait time before the release of book two, but them's the breaks.

From the cover art and description, I thought this was another supernatural love triangle story, which I don't mind, but they are a little overdone. Refreshingly, there is no love triangle with the main character, just some solid, somewhat angsty, romance. I was also very pleased with the voice of Loralei's narration and dialogue--there is a lot of humor and wordplay, such that it reminded me of "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" at times. I'm surprised this book hasn't gotten more attention as far as review numbers.

I borrowed the first book from my library's e-site, but I paid for the second in the series--had to keep reading!

Diehard fans of the angel genre may enjoy this book more than I did. Lor is a high school student who sees visions and gets caught up with dueling angels. It's mostly a book about teen girl romance. The angelology is rather puerile and vapid. The author doesn't appear to have given much thought to the angel aspect of the plot as much it is just stupid. Let's just say there are about 100 better angel books out there than this. What rescues this book from the lowest pit of shame and abuse is the writing. It is well written and the author does have a very engaging, sassy, smart mouth writing style that keeps you flipping the pages even though there ain't much to this story behind the style and clever lines. The main character, Lor, is well done, and she did engage my interest. I also enjoyed the secondary characters. It's just the plot...It seemed to spiral from 'what the f***' to the 'oh please, I'm not that stupid.' Right? Or am I?

I Love Darynda Jones! I love her Charlie Davidson series and now I'm loving her Darklight series! I'm just reading this series now eventhough it was written in 2012. If you love her adult novels than you will love her ya novels too!! You rock Darynda and I can not wait for the final Charlie book! Heartbroken but still excited!!??

Contemporary, Paranormal Riley's Switch, New Mexico

Lorelei McAlister is starting to accept the fact that her parents that disappeared ten years ago just aren't coming back. And while she misses them life must go on and she has her grandparents and best friends. Being a sophomore she is finding that high school isn't as bad as she thought it would be.

At least it wasn't until the school loner, Cameron Lusk, started stalking her. Every time she turns around Cameron is there. Not to mention the fact she can find him outside her house night after night. Things are further complicated by a new guy that comes to town, Jared Kovach. Jared is tough and sexy and when he comes to school things change even more.

Cameron and Jared despise each other instantly and Lorelei is completely mystified by the fact that it seems to be completely due to her.

Lorelei gets the feeling the Jared knows something about her parents but what? And what does Cameron mean when he says Jared can't have her?

This is wonderful story. The twist to the Angel of Death makes this a very fun read and will have readers clamoring for more. The story line is very interesting and will keep the reader guessing as to just what is going on and what each character has to do with everything that is happening. The story also gives some really good twists that the reader will never see coming. It will also have readers very happy to find out this is the beginning of a new series of books that will have them eagerly reaching and waiting for the next books in the series. This is a Young Adult that is sure to please everyone and will have readers checking out other books by this author.

I couldn't even finish this one. The dialogue was so poorly written, and the characters tried SO HARD to be funny that I honestly wanted to punch them. Seriously. Lorelei refuses to say the word hell, so she consistently says heck. Like she's 10. And no, I do not in any way conflate swearing with maturity, but that was just ridiculous.

So then Lorelei and her best friend Brooklyn (who is even more annoying than Lorelei--yes, it is apparently possible to be more annoying than Lorelei), basically sit around and talk about nothing in the voices of 10-13 year olds, are mad casual about the fact that Lorelei has premonitions and is being stalked. And natch, Lorelei doesn't think she's pretty, but cut to INEXPLICABLY SMOLDER-Y TEENAGE BOYS WITH THE SEXUAL COMMAND OF GROWN MEN PINING FOR HER AND TRYING TO SEDUCE HER. I mean, COME ON.

So she's the queen of insta-love, and this dude shows up with a fake name, and she KNOWS that it's fake, and she's like, "Meh, I'm going to roll with it because he's HAWT." I was like, honey, please--he ain't the boy for you.

If I dare say it, Lorelei is too DUMB to be a book heroine. I just wanted her to wise up and stop being so ignorant and dumb and downright incapable of saying anything funny at all.

I'm glad I got this from the library and that I didn't waste my money on it.

This series isnt as good as her Charley Davidson's series, & the plot is a bit odd, not believable. Plot started out good, then the last 3 chapters, the Sanctuary part til the end, i dont know, it was just kind of an odd explanation for Lorelei, Cameron & Jared's roles in Riley Town, their histories. You hav 2 angels which cant get rid of a demon in the main character?!? And the Angel of Death's reason for stayn on earth, NO surprise, he's in luv w/ Lorelei. I cudnt wait to end the book, unfortunately, i wont get the next books, not interesting enough for me.

I love Darynda Jones and feel like everything that she touches is gold. When I found this series I was so excited and oh how I wish it was as good as I hoped it would be. Getting through this series was almost painful. I am not sure if Lorelei was written to be so annoying because she is young or if the heroine was just meant to be annoying and whiny. The no common sense, continuous self deprecation....it made it hard to get through the books. I wanted to love these but unfortunately I was just disappointed.

Spoiler.

This was a very enjoyable fun Young Adult read. But the one thing that bugged me was the extreme height disparity between the lead male and female characters. He's a giant 6'5 and the girl is a hobbity 5 foot nothing? They would look just ridiculous together. I couldn't remotely envision a romance between these two.

While I think Darynda Jones' Charlie Charlie Davidson series is far superior to this one, it was still enjoyable to read.

I fell in love with Darynda Jones' writing with Charley Davidson. While waiting for the newest release of the Grave series, I checked out this series. It is geared toward a younger audience but it provides the mystery and suspense that Jones is known for. The characters keep you guessing and coming back for more. If you need a great comfort book, this is it!

Loved the beginning of her teen series, I am also a fan of Charley Davidson so this was defiantly a switch but a great one, I'm not one for teen novels either but like I said this blew me away :D great book!