5 stars
Review by Leah
Late Night Reviewer
Up All Night w/ Books Blog

Although I jumped in with both feet into this book not realizing that it is Book 13 in a series, it is so freaking good! Summoned to the Thirteenth Grave by Darynda Jones takes you on a trip you will never forget. It took me a bit to wrap my head around all the characters and who they were but each character has such a unique personality that I have fallen in LOVE with this book. Now I just need to go back and start from book one.

Charlie “Grim Reaper” was exiled for over a hundred years for stepping in and saving a life. She would do it over and over again if needed. Charlie is full of adventure, not saying all her plans go as planned as that girl charges in like a bull in a china shop with everything she does. It took me a bit to figure out what the Grim Reaper part meant is this book since I hadn’t read in order but once I found out, I could not imagine knowing my life was for that reason. A reason that helps someone like that is heartwarming but also heart-wrenching. The part with her sister, Oh My Goodness! You about had me in tears. And then the end…. Really?!?! I have only read this one book in the series and I am freaking out on how this one ended.

Reyes, wow, a man of very few words but all you need is his presence in this book to feel him. Just the power this book emits for Reyes is fantastic. Yes, I know who exactly Reyes is but Darynda Jones does an AMAZING job writing him.

There are tons of characters in this book I am dying to find out about. I’m ready for a rainy day so that I can curl up and start this series from the start. Just thinking about it makes me think “What an adventure”.

First of all I want to thank Darynda Jones for breaking my heart. Saying goodbye to Charlie, Reyes, Cooks, Amber, Angel, Uncle Ubie, Osh, Garrett, and so on, and so on. It is tough, it is hard, and I don't know how possible or visible it is to get attached to a work of fiction like this. I had got invested in this series, and the world, and people it introduced to me. Is my life mimicked through Charlie and Reyes life? Did the real love story speak to me? The supernatural is a plus, but what I got out of this series is how attached Charlie and Reyes are. How in love, and connected body and soul. I also listened to the audio book more for this series. The narrator, Lorelei King is fabulous. Her version of Reyes is a panty dropper.(Just saying).

This last book, we said goodbye to some characters, like final goodbye. Then some character's real identity were revealed. Of course, Charlie and the gang had a gigantic problem on their hands. They solved it at a cost of course. The kicker? How Charlie and Reyes will be able to oversee their daughter without being revealed. The final shock? The final sentence in the book. I told you DJ is playing with my heart. That is so cold! So, finally??? I guess stay tuned! (A lot of exclamations in this review, that will tell you my state of mind. Just so you know).

The final tome in the Charley and Reyes saga.... It's almost like the end of an era. *sniff*
That being said, I actually didn't enjoy this book and I found it very formulaic and re-hashy of every other Charley book that Ms Jones has written. The final conclusion was rather odd and a very..... different..... ending than I ever would have contemplated. Thank you for this amazing series and for allowing us to love Charley (and Reyes, and Cookie, and Ubie....).

Charley Davidson one last time. What a way to end a series. I loved and hated it. Loved it because it is awesome and hated it as it is the end. All the gang is here. I am so happy to see them all pull together.

Charley was kicked off the earth plain, but some is back now. She thinks she has been gone for just over one hundred years. In Earth reality it has only been a few days. Now she needs to help close the hell dimension she helped to open. To do this she must find out want happened to her mother and how she died.
* ARC provided by NetGalley for an honest review.

Charlie, Reyes, Cookie and Co. They have become a favorite book family over the years. I voted Charlie as the one I most want to sit and have coffee with. This was a bittersweet read, I couldn't wait to read it and never wanted it to end. It is one long series that didn't burn out before it ended and I will miss my Charley Davidson friends.
Okay so Charlie has been gone a long long long time, but she's back know and there is a twisted twist. She finds nothing is as she thought and her finds floored me a few times along with her. There was one twist no two twists or was there three ? with relatives that totally shocked me. I'll need to re-read/listen to it I was in shock remember. Oh, please I'm not going to spoil it so don't ask. Charlie did what she does she went way off course and Holy Shitake was an ending. I was happy, sad, blubbering like a baby, cheering like a wild donkey and then just in shock. I'm not sure I liked how it ended, but I loved the book. I may have wanted them (Charlie/Reyes) to go another way but it wasn't my book to write they went where they should have. Bravo Ms. Jones I'll be waiting on that next book, so get to writing ; D

From book one Charlie captivated my heart and kept me interested. It’s hard to see one of your favorite heroines get to rest. Please note: if you’ve loved this series from the beginning have tissues there. You’ll need them and then some. It’s a bittersweet symphony with hits of humor in between.

The layers that make us open our eyes, NEVER take anything for granted. Life is a uphill battle but once you’ve reached the top is blue sky’s for days. Darynda will have you rethinking what you think you know. The entire series is well crafted and I would love to see this made into a TV series with the right producers.

Thank you to the author, publisher and Netgalley for this ARC for a honest review.

The spectacular, supernatural thriller, Summoned to the Thirteenth Grave by Darynda Jones, is the recent and final book in the Charley Davidson series. After being banned from earth to another dimension, Charley Davidson, Grim Reaper, returns to save the world yet again with mirth and cunning. There are some truly WHOA moments as well as a few laugh-out laugh funny moments.

I’ve read every book in this series and anticipated the release of this book and it didn’t disappoint. Although it’s sad to see this series come to an end, it couldn’t have been wrapped up any sweeter and tidier. All lose ends were tied up with a big Charley bow. All questioned were answered in this well-written finale and there were many surprises you won’t see coming. This is a bitter sweet ending to this series but I’m excited to see what Darynda Jones will write next. Her prose is both dynamic and comical. I highly recommend this book.

I received a review copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley for my honest review. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Synopsis from the Publisher/NetGalley.com
Grim Reaper Charley Davidson is back in the final installment of Darynda Jones’ New York Times bestselling paranormal series--Summoned to Thirteenth Grave.

Charley Davidson, Grim Reaper extraordinaire, is pissed. She’s been kicked off the earthly plane for eternity—which is exactly the amount of time it takes to make a person stark raving mad. But someone’s looking out for her, and she’s allowed to return after a mere hundred years in exile. Is it too much to hope for that not much has changed? Apparently it is. Bummer.

She’s missed her daughter. She’s missed Reyes. She’s missed Cookie and Garrett and Uncle Bob. Now that she’s back on earth, it’s time to put to rest burning questions that need answers. What happened to her mother? How did she really die? Who killed her? And are cupcakes or coffee the best medicine for a broken heart? It all comes to a head in an epic showdown between good and evil in this final smart and hilarious novel.

Amazing end of the series book. A cameo from all the crew. I’m not sure how I feel about the ending. I am having a hard time thinking that some are being left behind instead of everyone living with each other happily ever after. I enjoyed the story. It was written very well and that gets a 5 star rating. The character development is also a 5 star. I’m having trouble dealing with the fact the series is done. The whole series is a 5 star. The cohesion was great. I loved it all. I’m sad it’s done.

This review is SPOILER-FREE - I have not revealed anything that had happened in the book. Just that: have tissues near and read undisturbed!
The time has come. Yes - never an easy moment to say bye-bye to our favorite characters and series. But here we go. Some moments were bitter, some moments were sweet, some funny, some made me so devastated inwardly. Nothing is easy when it comes to Ms. Jones books. There are so many layers, so many things you need to consider in them, what is good, what is bad. Charlie had always a problem with math, but celestial beings know everything right?
NEVER take anything for granted - yes, that should be a caution sign at the beginning, as this book will put some elements upside-down n a way you had never expected and you will be staring at the words for a few minutes just from overwhelming shock and how unbelievably Ms. Jones crafted this story and the whole series.
I have a feeling that more is to come from the last line of the book and that's the only reason why I'm not a crying pulp today. Beep - you need a story, there is still a lot to come I HAVE FAITH in it! So I'm begging the author an the publisher let there be more!

Is this really the end? Jones has delivered another fun, sexy, action packed supernatural mystery that is a hilarious blend of romance,. quirky characters, and an epic battle to save the world from the forces of evil. There is no other protagonist quite like Charley Davidson. There is a bittersweet note that Summoned to Thirteenth Grave marks the end of this series. However, readers have the spin off series to look forward to while having to say goodbye to many of these beloved characters. I laughed, I swooned, and yes, I did cry during a few poignant moments.

All in all, a stellar send off!

I’ve love this series from beginning to end!! This was a whirlwind of a book! It provides us a complete story and answers questions the reader might be dieing to know and we find out things we had no idea about either. It’s an emotional read it provides high and lows for the reader but definitely worth the read! I loved the flow overall and couldn’t put it down and it’s bittersweet because I knew the end was coming and the author did an amazing job but I will miss the series and I hope to read more by the author. I highly recommend to any beloved fan of the authors work.

Many thanks to NetGalley, Darynda Jones, and St. Martin’s Press for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review. My opinions are 100% my own and independent of receiving an advanced copy.

The last in the Charley Davidson series. People are losing their minds! There is an epic event that only Charley and Reyes can solve. With their loyal posse of friends, both worldly and otherworldly, they are on the case. You can expect the usual snappy one liners, steamy scenes, and a wrap up of any story lines tied up with a bow. You know what you are getting and Jones does not disappoint.

I always thought this Darynda Jones series could go on forever. But this is the final Charley Davidson book. She says she chose to go out at number 13 because that would be something Charley would do and yes, it is.
After being in limbo for 107 years, Charley returns to earth to find it has been 10 days in Earth time. I know the feeling....Reyes and the rest of her crew are overjoyed to see her. As they ready to fight the demons from the hell dimension, Charley's guidance is invaluable and of course, absolutely hilarious. If you've followed Charley through the years, you'll be happy to see how Beep's army handles their adventures and sad to see them go.
If you have not read this series, you are officially an underprivileged child and should spend the next week reading them in order. You will not regret it!

So, I only discovered this series about 3 or 4 months ago and I’ve been sort of binge reading it. And I’m so sad that this is the last book in the series! (Note to author: should you decide to do another series where a grown-up Beep is the main character – with a little Osh, let us know!)

This is funny and heartbreaking and epic. It’s a fitting conclusion to the series and simply wonderful.

I think my eyes teared up about 4 times and I smiled a thousand times.

I’m going to miss these characters so much, but the author did them justice here.

So very happy to have discovered this!

*ARC Provided via Net Galley

After a hundred years, give or take, in featureless dimension with only wraiths for company, Charley is back on planet Earth! In the Sahara Desert, to be exact. But not for long, because the hell dimension she and Reyes accidentally opened in their apartment is spreading. Rapidly. And demons are infecting dozens of innocent humans, sometimes with fatal consequences. Time to gather her pals, both human and supernatural, and figure out a way to close the Shade dimension back up again before it swallows the planet and all of the coffee in the universe. Which would be a catastrophe of decaffeinated proportions.

The last book in the series! Thankfully, Ms. Jones leaves the door wide open for a spin-off series...most likely featuring Beep. Whew!

For readers' advisors: story and character doorways are strong. It's also got a language doorway (humor) for those who enjoy Charley's wise-cracking dialogue and have a high tolerance for profanity, including the "c" word that I personally loathe and wish had been omitted. There are descriptions of violence as demons (and a lion) rip people and ghosts to bits, and there are some steamy sex scenes.

Many many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with a free eGalley copy in exchange for my honest review.

Charley Davidson, the Grim Reaper, and her husband, Reyes, former demon and son of Satan, have one more hellish situation to fix in Summoned to Thirteenth Grave.

Charley is finally released from her purgatory from the last book. While she was gone, a new hell dimension has opened in Albuquerque. A flu from within is turning people homocidal and eventually suicidal. And the hell dimension is getting larger. To say more will spoil the surprises.

I hate when book series end. However, this is a great conclusion to a great series. The “army” is all here: Uncle Bob, Cookie, Quentin, Donovan, Osh plus plenty more. The story is an action-packed corker of a finale.

If you have read this series before, even just one book, you have to read Summoned to Thirteenth Grave. I’m sure there will be a spin-off so we may see Charley and Reyes again. 5 stars!

Thanks to St. Martin’s Press for an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

Summoned to Thirteenth Grave brings to an end the long-running series of the adventures of Charley Davidson, Grim Reaper and so much more. I started with the beginning book, First Grave on the Right, which captivated me with its humor and sheer imaginative power. To all appearances, Charley is an ordinary twenty-something who is trying to start a private investigation business. She lives upstairs over her retired cop father's restaurant in Albuquerque. Her main sidekick is Cookie Kowalksi, researcher extraordinaire, and Charley's secretary. Only those recently deceased and those who can see into the supernatural realm can also see Charley's light, a beacon summoning them to "pass-through" her into the next world. Enter Reyes Farrow, the devastatingly handsome, compelling new neighbor at the end of Charley's hall. Reyes is Charley's lifelong Guardian and the Son of Satan. The arc of the series follows Charley and Reyes through to the culmination of Charley's mission to save the world. Along the way, Charley and Reyes acquire more companions who help or hinder her mission. Some are family, others are friends and neighbors. All are quirky and believable, whether dead or alive, human or non-human. Most important is their baby daughter, nicknamed "Beep," whose mission in her turn is to again save the world from Satan's machinations.

I got a bit bogged down in the most recent books, to be truthful. It often seemed to me that the story just added more twists and turns and did not progress much. However, the final book ties together all the loose ends into a very satisfactory resolution. It's not quite the happy ending I was looking for but a good one, paving the way for the future of "Beep."

Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martins for an advance digital copy. The opinions are my own.

RATING- 4 Stars

OK, do NOT like that this book ended.... Ms Darynda, can't you just write all day, every day, just for little ol' me?! Ha ha! Charley doesn't disappoint, as per usual & I still wanna be her Bestie & hang out with her & the crew. The level of snark is strong here & that's a welcome treat. Sadly, the writing does feel a bit forced as compared to earlier in the series, but that could be expected, I suppose. I won't give anything away, but will just say that if you haven't read any of this series yet, you should amend that immediately!


Soooooo...... time for the next one, yeah??

*I voluntarily read and reviewed a copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.*

There will also be some spoilers about prior books in this review -- you were warned!

As with the other books in this series, I had a great time reading this. I laughed, I shook my head at Charlie's antics, and sympathized with everyone around her. My heart soared at the young love between Amber and Quentin, and other revelations had my groaning in sadness. It is an emotional ride. And yet, not my favorite book of the series.

Truly, this book feels like a wrap up of this series, getting all the loose ends together and answers given, in order to set up for Beep's story. YES, there has been confirmation that we will be getting Beep's series!! I for one am totally happy, because I need more Osh in my life.
Anyhow, because of this, there are quite a few revelations and changes to characters. We also are kind of told what all the side character's roles will be -- scholar, protector, etc. It is one part emotionally painful, because we see this from Charley's perspective and it just hurts to see she won't be there while reassuring because hey Beep will have some great people on her side, but at the same time adds to this book feeling more like a set up for the next series.

The ending of this and the resolutions to conflicts felt so... easy? Yes, there are some struggles, but for the most part everything felt anticlimatic and makes me wonder why Charley and Reyes can't be the ones to fight Beep's war for her. --I might have forgotten the reason from earlier books.

At the same time, I think it is a good send off for our characters and I'm not sure I'd have the ending be any other way. I look forward to Beep's story!! I highly recommend this series to anyone who like PNR.

My review won’t be long and especially not detailed, I leave you the pleasure to discover this last volume and to enjoy Charley and Reyes a little more.

I just loved it, everyone is there, we discover new things and at the action level it’s as usual, full of twists and turns. I love Charley and her humor, Reyes and his sexiness, Osh is my little darling even if we see him a little less, Cookie remains true to herself, Quentin and Amber have gained confidence, Uncle Bob is secretive and Garrett is brooding, as always.

Nothing changes in this team but it’s the last volume so you had to think big and Darynda Jones did it because this book is great, I love this series and I was really wondering how she would manage to close it. Now I have only one question left, the last sentence of the book disturbs me and I would like to know if we will ever get an answer.

Darynda introduced me to the man of my dreams, a dangerous, sexy and bewitching man, Reyes is perfect once again in volume.

As always I loved the sentences at the beginning of the chapters, they are just great.

Quick Word: Thank you Darynda Jones for making me dream for years with Reyes.