Grave Secrets

I received a copy of this book from the publisher from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

2/5 stars

I really loved the premise of this book but I was sadly disappointed. This book is just became ridiculous. The situations the characters found themselves in were funny at first and quite unqiue but eventually it just got tiring because they all ended in such a lack luster way because this book was trying to have too many aspects they find themselves in are hilarious and unique. I've never read anything like it. The events were all over the place and by the end nothing seemed worthwhile.

The original premise was very intriguing because there was a murder mystery and our main character could raise the dead to help her solve the mystery. The main character dating a vampire would add an interesting element but that took over the whole middle of the book. A good 70% of this book in the middle was just vampire politics that seemed very Twilight-esque. They really had nothing to do with the plot and most of the characters were unbearable. The murder mystery was only really in the first 20% and the last 10% so it has no proper build up.

Another big interest for me was having the main character have the power to raise the dead and having a zombie best friend because of that. But the zombie best friend was only there in the beginning and in the middle he wasn't there at all, but then showed up at the end just when it was convenient for him to be there. Her power also extended farther than originally stated and that also seemed a bit to convenient and there was no real rules for it. The main character seemed to be powerful when it fits the plot.

The writing I think was also supposed to come across as funny but after a while it got old and just seemed a bit immature. The main character used a lot of immature words and I think it was supposed to show how immature and young she was compared to the vampires but it just didn't work. The main character also did something that worked out but it was dangerous and the vampires barely even paid attention to it. All the conflicts were so brushed over in their conclusions and it's due to a lack of buildup.

One of the things I did like in here was the steamy scenes and I did like some side characters quite a bit. The two main characters needed work and while their chemistry started off strong it began to dwindle a bit. This also did have polyamous rep in it which I enjoyed and appreicated.

Overall the original premise I liked which was mostly the first 20%. The rest of the book was confusing and lacked originality and correct pacing.

Lavington Windsor (Toni) has been raising the dead since she was a little girl. It is second nature to her. She is also a real estate agent and has been to help find an estate to a new vampires in town. She finds the vampire very sexy and they start a relationship. Someone wants the vampires to go away and Lavington gets targeted by the group as well.

Toni's attracted to Oscar but I like her relationship with Peter more. He seems much more attentive to her and her needs. Oscar is very one dimensional character but his superior Benedict Akil is more interesting to me.

It was a fun read even though it was rather violent. Lots of heads flying off. LOL.