By Your Request! How To Date Dead Guys Review AND Bonus Author Interview

From Goodreads:
College sophomore Emma Roberts remembers her mother’s sage advice: “don’t sleep around, don’t burp in public, and don’t tell anyone you see ghosts”. But when cute Mike Carlson drowns in the campus river under her watch, Emma’s sheltered life shatters.

Blamed for Mike’s death and haunted by nightmares, Emma turns to witchcraft and a mysterious Book of Shadows to bring him back. Under a Blood Moon, she lights candles, draws a pentacle on the campus bridge, and casts a spell. The invoked river rages up against her, but she escapes its fury. As she stumbles back to the dorm, a stranger drags himself from the water and follows her home. And he isn’t the only one…

Instead of raising Mike, Emma assists the others she stole back from the dead—a pre-med student who jumped off the bridge, a young man determined to solve his own murder, and a frat boy Emma can’t stand…at first. More comfortable with the dead than the living, Emma delves deeper into the seductive Book of Shadows. Her powers grow, but witchcraft may not be enough to protect her against the vengeful river and the killers that feed it their victims.

Inspired by the controversial Smiley Face Murders, HOW TO DATE DEAD GUYS will appeal to the secret powers hidden deep within each of us.


My Thoughts:
Talk about all the feels! When I first met Mike, before he died, I soon decided I didn't WANT him to die. This is really early on, so I'm not giving out spoilers. So when he did, I was so sad! But meeting him, getting to know him a but made his death and the events that follow, believable.
Poor Emma. What a crazy series of events she faces in this book. She starts out reserved, kind of beaten down from her high school days and lacking in confidence. But as the book progresses, she changes and grows with each of the lessons the guys unwittingly teach her... some wittingly teach her too. Although she starts out thinking everyone hates her, she learns it's not true. Yes, Mike's brother blames her for his death, but although again she thinks everyone does, it's really just him.
Chrissy I want to beat over the head. Just saying. And Abby is a doll.
But each of the guys you develop a connection with. Each one has his own unique thoughts, feelings and situation he has to take care of, and Emma's there to assist them all, whether she wants to be or not.
All up, a great all around read. I loved it from start to finish, especially all the guys and how well rounded and believable they were. I'm anxious for the next book!

AND! Ann has given me an interview to go with this!!! She graciously answered my questions about the book. Here they are:


What made you turn the Smiley Face Murders theory into a novel?
*** Sudden inspiration while driving home from the Twin Cities to Eau Claire, Wisconsin in the dark. NPR had a program on discussing the Smiley Face Theory. I wondered why none of these missing young men (and the ones found dead later, presumed drowned due to intoxication...or not, according to the theory) had any sober person looking after them. How sad. ***
How did you come up with each of the characters?
***Emma and Mike were "born" that very night (on the drive home). Bernard and Clare were characters that I dearly loved, but had to cut from a different book. Steve had to be there, as you'll find out near the end. Sam came from some earlier friendships in my life. I've no idea where Jake came from, although I've been accused of basing him on my husband. HOWEVER, this never occurred to me, and was not intentional. Yes, my husband likes the Doors, but that is it.***
I love Emma's arch, and how, even though each of the guys comes back for his own unfinished business, they help her too. So I guess I want to know, how is the next book coming along? I'm dying to know if certain people show up again.
***Book 2: How to DITCH Dead Guys was submitted to CQ for publication on Labor Day. (big sigh of relief) And, yes, "certain people" do show up again--but I'm not going to explain how or why. (evil laugh)
***GLARING***
The Book of Shadows. Is that based on something real, or completely fictional? 

The Book of Shadows is a "real thing" as long as you believe in witchcraft. It was NOT thought up for the TV show CHARMED, BTW. hahaha
Here's a snippet on the Book of Shadows from Ann:
A Brief History Lesson You Probably Didn't Learn in High School
Gerald Gardner, the "Father of Modern Wicca", began work on a scrapbook of magical instructions entitled Ye Bok of Ye Art Magical between 1945-1950. Doreen Valiente, the High Priestess of his Bricket Wood coven, helped him with revisions.
She claimed that Gardner reverted to the title Book of Shadows after discovering the term in a magazine article describing how to foretell the future based upon the length of a person's shadow.
Early on, a single copy of the Book existed for each coven, kept by the High Priest or Priestess. When a witch died, her Book of Shadows was to be destroyed to avoid detection.
Starting in the 1970s, it became much more common for solitary practitioners to each possess their own copy of the Book.
Although Gardner is credited with the idea and the original title, now the term Book of Shadows can mean several different things. Some Wiccans use it to refer to a personal journal of rituals and spells, rather than a traditional text. Those who utilize copies of Gardner's original Book may add rituals and teachings, but typically nothing is ever removed.

The termBook of Mirrors refers to a separate magic book, used to collect thoughts, feelings, and experiences.
Thank you so much, Ann, for being such a great sport and giving me this interview. I truly loved the book and anxiously await the next one.And everyone! Come back on the 16th to vote for next month's read and review.Peace out ;-)