This Side of the Grave by Jeaniene Frost

[Sheri, Bookworm]

Besides those two Leigh posted - here are a couple more of my favorites

"Villains had nothing on the stress my relatives could cause me."

"I didn't blame him. God, I wouldn't hae blamed Bones if he'd duct-taped a vibrator to me and just took care of the whole sordid nightmare that way."

[Leigh, ⚔️ Wonder Woman ⚔️]

I have some from up coming chapters I will post later.

[Leigh, ⚔️ Wonder Woman ⚔️]

I love the reference to Twilight in the first quote.LOL

[Shahbaz]

I must say I do love Vlad, he always steals the show for me. Always something funny comming from him.

Marie is one scary woman, and yea like you all said she has a reason for everything she does, which is even scarier, she's playing chess while everyone else playing go fish, way above their leagues.

[Leigh, ⚔️ Wonder Woman ⚔️]

Shahbaz, I love your analogy of Marie playing chess. She is stronger and scarier than Mencheres. She could rule the world with her killer strategy.

[Sheri, Bookworm]

Shahbaz - have you read ? All Vlad. Loved it!

[Sheri, Bookworm]

We're supposed to be getting up to 9 inches of snow tonight. Maybe we should go buy a couple of sleds.

[Leigh, ⚔️ Wonder Woman ⚔️]

I hope you can dig yourself out. We are going to get 3 to 4 inches of rain. YAY!!

[Sheri, Bookworm]

Yay for rain. The only good thing about the snow is everything is cancelled for tonight and tomorrow, so maybe I can get some extra reading in!

My husband applied for a couple of jobs in Minnesota, so if he ends up getting one we will be moving :)

[Leigh, ⚔️ Wonder Woman ⚔️]

Are we hoping he gets it? Minnesota, I'm sure gets plenty snow.

[Sheri, Bookworm]

Yep, plenty of snow. I grew up in Minnesota. I'm hoping he gets it mostly because it would be a pretty good promotion (plus raise). Eventually we'd like to move south. My family is in Oklahoma and Missouri.

[Leigh, ⚔️ Wonder Woman ⚔️]

Sounds like a great job and I hope he gets it.

[Sheri, Bookworm]

I finished today's reading - up through chapter 28. Not much happened. I really, really like Vlad. I like his and Cat's relationship.

[Shahbaz]

I have not read the book about Vlad yet, it is one of my to reads I plan to get around to next week.

I finished this book last week and I must say Marie is a major force to be reckoned with...wonder what she's going to be up to soon, she has to have a plan for something major.

This book really wasn't that great to me, I think the series is starting to die because to me it feels like its on it last leg. Not enough Bones in this one i'm sure you ladies agree, but as always Vlad's scenes saved the book to me.

[Leigh, ⚔️ Wonder Woman ⚔️]

Shahbaz, I agree with you. I liked some elements, Vlad and Marie, but it wasn't as good as the other books.

[Sheri, Bookworm]

That's the thing about series. I think anything over three or four books and you're going to have a lag somewhere.

[Shahbaz]

True, mot series books start to lag after 3 or 4, but then we get the special ones that are just always great. Hoping the next is better, and we get more Marie in it, I really want to know what she's up to

[Sheri, Bookworm]

Leigh, have you read Slammed yet? Alyssia and I are going to be discussing Point of Retreat over the weekend since we both just finished Slammed.

[Leigh, ⚔️ Wonder Woman ⚔️]

I am sorry to say I haven't read Slammed or Point of Retreat. The library didn't have it and I didn't want I think to buy it.


I think some authors have the ability to continue the integrity and intensity throughout the series.
Fever series is an example of that for me.

I think some series should have ended earlier. Sookie Stackhouse should have ended several books ago.

[Leigh, ⚔️ Wonder Woman ⚔️]

Some more favorite quotes.


“We now know I can do it, but I feel like hell," I went on. "I'm so cold, my teeth would chatter if they still could. And I'm hungry enough that both of you are starting to looking really, really good."
Vlad's lips curled. "Is this the part where I'm supposed to remind you that this is just the leftover power talking and you don't really want to cheat on Hones?"
"Not that kind of hungry!" I gasped, eyes bulging that Vlad thought I'd just casually thrown out that I wanted him and Mencheres to double-team me. "I meant hungry like drinking you guys' blood. Not hungry for... you know."
Without thought, my gaze flew to the areas in question before skipping away once I realized what I was doing. Then my cheeks actually tingled with mortification as Vlad let out a long, hearty laugh. Mencheres, more courteous, pretended to suddenly find something fascinating in the door frame, but I saw his lips twitch.
"My dear Reaper," Vlad said, still laughing. "Did you just check out our--"
"No!" I interrupted at once, almost lunging toward the staircase. "I'm tired and still dazed from the Remnants and... fuck it, I'm taking a shower. I mean, not a cold shower, because I don't need that"--Oh Jesus, I was only making this worse--"because I am cold already, and I need to get hot. I mean, warmer. Oh, just shut up!”

“I smelled smoke right before hearing the "pop" like a firecracker had gone off. The ghouls body was a smoldering mess where his head had been. I turned around to see Vlad examining his fingernails as if his hands weren't still ablaze. "What the hell was that?!" I gasped. "Premature inflamulation," he replied. "Happens sometimes. Very embarrassing. I don't like to talk about it."

“…well just call me Hannibal Lecter. With cleavage.”
― Jeaniene Frost, This Side of the Grave

[Sheri, Bookworm]

Leigh wrote: "I think some series should have ended earlier. Sookie Stackhouse should have ended several books ago."

I agree with both of those. In fact, I was thinking of Sookie Stackhouse when I wrote that...and Black Dagger Brotherhood. Overall I love both of those, but there are a couple of books in each that were let downs.

[Leigh, ⚔️ Wonder Woman ⚔️]

Sookie Stackhouse sieries I loved the first 9 and read the rest because I just had to. I have read a few of the Black Dagger Brotherhood. I liked them but can't say I loved them.

Are we re-reading Once Burned or just going on to the next in that series?

I know we read next.

[Sheri, Bookworm]

I wouldn't mind re-reading Once Burned again before the next one comes out since it's been so long since we read it. Wasn't that one of our first buddy reads? I'd especially like to read it again since now I have all the background on Vlad. I went into it before not knowing anything about him.

If you guys don't want to re-read it that's fine. Either way :)

[Leigh, ⚔️ Wonder Woman ⚔️]

Either way is fine with me. I don't mind reading more Vlad.

When does come out?

[Sheri, Bookworm]

March 26

[Leigh, ⚔️ Wonder Woman ⚔️]

We know what we are reading the next three buddy reads. We will have to wait to read until the end of March.

[Sheri, Bookworm]

We didn't get our 9 inches of snow. I think we got about 4 or 5 inches with more to come next week. We didn't go sledding but we did build a snowman...and of course I put the kids to work shoveling :)

[Lys]

Sheri wrote: "About the whole Joan of Arc thing...like you said, Leigh, each book has some sort of significant person or happening from the past that relates to Cat or someone around her. Again, though, if Fros..."

I agree. I know I am late to the party -- life has kept me from the computer. It was sad, because I wanted to "call" some things, but didn't get the chance to. Anyways ...
on the note of historical accuracy, I have beef.

So, at one point Mencheres is being all chivalrous and Cat comments (mentally) on how this is to be expected.

Um. No.
Ancient Egypt was not so much about the chivalry. Also, he was a PHAROAH>? So. NO. NO that is not part of his historical/cultural experience.
Shut up Cat, you look dumb now.
I highlighted the passage because it made me laugh out loud. In the bad way.

[Lys]

Sheri wrote: "Oh yeah...notice how she brings up past characters (Spade/Denise) but they aren't actually in the book. Is that just to make sure we don't forget about them?

And even Cat notices that Kira runs t..."

and yet, somehow more likable.
:)
Bleh to Mencheres. At least Marie knows how to be a manipulative soul-sucking bitch. :D

[Lys]

Sheri wrote: "That's the thing about series. I think anything over three or four books and you're going to have a lag somewhere."

I thought this one was better than the last one, personally. And the one before that maybe too.

[Lys]

Leigh wrote: "I am sorry to say I haven't read Slammed or Point of Retreat. The library didn't have it and I didn't want I think to buy it.


I think some authors have the ability to continue the integrity and i..."

Slammed was really surprisingly good Leigh. I thought that the blurb was the most unremarkable blurb in the history of blurbs (well, not that bad, BUT...) but it was really good. The sequel is turning out pretty good too. Both times, I thought I would like the book a LOT less than I did.

[Lys]

Sheri wrote: "I wouldn't mind re-reading Once Burned again before the next one comes out since it's been so long since we read it. Wasn't that one of our first buddy reads? I'd especially like to read it again..."

haha! It was one of the earlier ones. I read it in one night and got in trouble. *shame face*
It's 1.99 today for anyone who doesn't own it. On Amazon, that is.

[Sheri, Bookworm]

Alyssia wrote: "Shut up Cat, you look dumb now.
I highlighted the passage because it made me laugh out loud. In the bad way."

Lol! That made me laugh :)

[Sheri, Bookworm]

I agree about Slammed. I got it because everyone was raving about it, and I really liked it. I think you would like it, Leigh.

[Leigh, ⚔️ Wonder Woman ⚔️]

I will have to add it to my to buy list which is getting longer every day.

Alyssia, I agree with you Mencheres should not be chivalrous according to his Pharaoh statis. Everyone would be considered beneath him. He doesn't bother me. I avoid thinking about it except when we have these discussions.

[Tasha]

Alyssia wrote: "Sheri wrote: "I wouldn't mind re-reading Once Burned again before the next one comes out since it's been so long since we read it. Wasn't that one of our first buddy reads? I'd especially like to..."

I bought it for the $1.99 I haven't read it yet.

[Sheri, Bookworm]

We're going to read it starting Monday if you want to read it with us Tasha.

[Tasha]

I think I will :D

[Lys]

Sheri wrote: "We're going to read it starting Monday if you want to read it with us Tasha."

Sheri, check your messages.

[Sheri, Bookworm]

Alyssia wrote: "Sheri wrote: "We're going to read it starting Monday if you want to read it with us Tasha."

Sheri, check your messages."

Just did, thanks.