Archived Book Reviews

Darynda Jones Even when she was a toddler, Darynda would pick up a pencil and paper and scribble nonsense on it, asking her mother to read her literary genius aloud. Soon after, she started writing plays for the neighborhood kids, making up stories for her brother, and creating age inappropriate fantastical stories for Barbie and Ken to enact. In high school she almost finished her first manuscript, and even then, was dabbling in romance and the paranormal.

She took a break from actively writing for several years, wherein she got married, had a couple children, graduated Summa cum Laude from UNM and got a job as a teacher and sign language translator. She missed writing though, and started up again in 2002 with the goal of getting a publishing contract securely in her mind’s eye. After 3 complete manuscripts, she finally landed an agent, a three book deal, and won the 2009 Golden Heart award for Best Paranormal Romance in 2009.

In February of 2011, “First Grave On The Right”, the first book in the CHARLEY DAVIDSON series was released. It was called the best debut novel in years, and a must read for paranormal lovers. Book #2, “Second Grave On The Left”, was released on August 16t, 2011 and got even more amazing praise and kudos. Book #3, “Third Grave Dead Ahead” was released 1/31/12, and the fourth book, “Fourth Grave Beneath My Feet” came out on 10/30/12.

We’re here to help Darynda celebrate and promote her new Paranormal YA series today though. “Death and the Girl Next Door”, book #1 of the DARKLIGHT series was released on 10/2/12, and Book #2, “Death, Doom and Detention” just came out today - 3/5/13!

Death, Doom & Detention

Order in Print or eBook from Amazon:

*Just click on the Cover Art...

In Print or eBook from B&N:

*Just click on the link...

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/death-doom-and-detention-darynda-jones/1111298344?ean=9780312625214

Hello everyone! LITERAL ADDICTION is very happy to be promoting for the incredibly talented Darynda Jones again today.

For our readers who aren’t yet familiar with Darynda’s new series, first, we suggest that you check out her ENTIRE backlist, but we’ll get you up to speed with the DARKLIGHT series now…

“Death and the Girl Next Door”

DARKLIGHT Book #1:

Buy from Amazon | B&N

Read LITERAL ADDICTION’s Review HERE

Ten years ago, Lorelei’s parents disappeared without a trace. Raised by her grandparents and leaning on the support of her best friends, Lorelei is finally beginning to accept the fact that her parents are never coming home. For Lorelei, life goes on.

High school is not quite as painful as she thinks it will be, and things are as normal as they can be. Until the day the school’s designated loner, Cameron Lusk, begins to stalk her, turning up where she least expects it, standing outside her house in the dark, night after night. Things get even more complicated when a new guy—terrifying, tough, sexy Jared Kovach—comes to school. Cameron and Jared instantly despise each other and Lorelei seems to be the reason for their animosity. What does Jared know about her parents? Why does Cameron tell Jared he can’t have Lorelei? And what will any of them do when Death comes knocking for real? Thrilling, sassy, sexy, and inventive, Darynda Jones’s first foray into the world of teens will leave readers eager for the next installment.

Death, Doom and

Detention”

DARKLIGHT Book #2:

JUST RELEASED TODAY, 3/5/13!

Buy from Amazon | B&N

The normal part of Lorelei MacAlister’s life didn’t just slip away quietly the day Jared Kovach came to town. Nope. The normal part of her life shattered. It exploded. It burst into a gazillion shards of fleeting light.

It went out with a bang.

Goodbye normal.

Hello dark and eerie.

While her best friend, Brooklyn, is focusing all of her energy on helping Lorelei hone her abilities, Lorelei is dealing with the reality that Satan’s second in command has taken up residence inside her body. Oh, and the fact that she has a crush on the Angel of Death. But what a beautiful death it is. If those weren’t bad enough, something sinister has come to town and it wants nothing more than to hear Lorelei’s dying breath as it strangles it out of her. Thank goodness the gang has a supernatural champion. But what happens when the only being who can save them switches sides midstream? How can a group of misfits capture one of the most powerful beings ever created? And will they find out how to bring Jared back to them before it’s too late?

“Death, and the Girl He Loves”

DARKLIGHT Book #3

COMING 10/8/13!

Pre-Order from Amazon | B&N

I hope that I’ve hooked some new readers on this great new series!? Make sure to check them out as soon as you get a chance, and get ready for book #3, “Death, and the Girl He Loves”, slotted to be released on 10/8/13.

Our Review, by LITERAL ADDICTION's Pack Alpha - Michelle L. Olson:

*ARC received from the Publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Death, Doom & Detention, book #2 of Darynda Jones's DARKLIGHT series is a great continuation installment with lots of great moments, tons of character growth for the leading characters' supporting cast, a new evil villain, and a wonderfully developing storyline. I didn't love it as much as the first book, but it was still a very enjoyable read.

Darynda does an amazing job of both making the book work well as a stand-alone, yet allow many of the missing pieces from book #1 to be filled in for those of us that read and enjoyed it.

To be honest, I think the reason I didn't love this release as much as the debut was the lack of Jared, and therefore the lack of the continuation of Jared and Lorelei's love story. The necessity of Jared's removal for much of the main story allowed for a lot more Brooke and Cameron though, and THAT I thoroughly enjoyed! It solidified one of the things that I loved most about Darynda's YA... the lack of a love triangle for the leading characters! There is somewhat of a love triangle amongst the supporting cast, but it's subtle, and even that is broken up by the introduction of another interest.

Like all of Darynda's books, DD&D is chock full of mystery, and while this release wasn't as action packed as I generally expect from Darynda, it was very intense towards the end and ended with a crazy cliffhanger that had me wishing for Death and the Girl He Loves immediately.

LITERAL ADDICTION gives Death, Doom and Detention 4 Skulls and would suggest that those who started the series definitely read it! And while I would still suggest it for those looking for a good stand-alone, my personal opinion is that the series is better served by enjoying the books in order.

Death Doom and Detention