Saving the World and Other Bad Ideas

Grave Concerns #3

by Jayce Carter

I finally get four hot men and the world's going to end. Typical.

I've gone to hell, I've faced off against the devil and I've lost someone who meant the world to me. That's usually the end of the story, but it seems the universe isn't quite done with me yet.

Lilith is still out there, the end of the world is getting closer and only I can hope to stop it. The more I discover, the deeper I dig into the mystery of Lilith's past and my own powers, the less sure I am that I can actually defeat her.

Still by my side are the four men I've fallen hopelessly in love with—leave it to me to get my romantic life in order just as the world falls apart. With all the questions, there are only two things I know for certain—I will face Lilith, and only one of us will walk away from it.

Genres: Paranormal, Vampires, Romance, Urban Fantasy, Shapeshifters, Fantasy, Demons

308 pages, Audiobook

First published September 28, 2021

About the author

Jayce Carter lives in Southern California with her husband and two spawns. She originally wanted to take over the world but realized that would require wearing pants. This led her to choosing writing, a completely pants-free occupation. She has a fear of heights yet rock climbs for fun and enjoys making up excuses for not going out and socializing.

Reviews

[Tara Hamilton · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am a HUGE fan of Jayce Carter, her books are the reason I got hooked on RH novels in the first place, so of course when I saw a new series I had to read! Although it is not as spicy qnd her Claimed series there is definitely enough steam to keep your inner fire burning!!
**possible spoiler, not a big one though **
The way this series ends pulls everything together and actually made me rethink some of the things going on in my own life. The deep look in the guys personal struggles, as well as Ava's, while in Purgatory not only added to how invested I was in the series itself, but also had me invested on a personal level. The acceptance and peace everyone received after living in essential mental hell forever hit close to home for me and was a great way to end the series!
I HIGHLY recommend this series and all other Jayce Carter books as she definitely knows her way around a group scene, fancy peens and interesting combos in between!!

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Ann_Nyaruai · Rating 4 out of 5]

[  ] This book surprised me. Not just because I had underestimated it but also because there was more feeling in this book than the other two.
[  ] To me, it was like a therapy session. She actually got through her issues and found a way to be herself. She also felt more like a person. Without all of the forced comedy.
The twist with Lilith was my favorite part. I will probably remember that part for a while. It was done so well and answered so many of my questions from book two. I knew she wasn't the bad guy! I just knew she couldn't be!
[  ] The connection between the five of them also felt more real this time. More natural and they let each other in. It started with Grant, then with Kace and Troy. Hunter was perfect as usual.
[  ] Overall I'm glad I got to book three and felt those warm fuzzies you get when you finish a good book.
[  ] I would give this five stars but I'm still angry at book two. So four stars⭐⭐⭐⭐

[Ash J · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have been loving this throughout the whole thing. Jayce Carter is one of my favorite authors and I was definitely not disappointed with the ending to this series. It was different than any reverse harem romances that I have read before and definitely not a story that I could guess the outcome to. There was a huge twist that was so unexpected but I actually loved. The characters drew me in and the story line was very interesting. I don't want to give too much away in this review so I don't ruin the story for new readers but this is an awesome story that will have you excited and surprised. It was steamy and very interesting. I definitely recommend this series to anyone who loves reverse harem reads!

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Katyana · Rating 2 out of 5]

Ugh, this series ended badly. Like, I could barely get through it. *1.5 stars*

Ava became the most weak-willed, whiny, pathetic FMC I think I have ever encountered in UF. In the end battle, the Big Bad talked her into paralyzing self doubt like 3 times in 5 min. And in the end, the universe is so embarrassed at her pathetic lameness that it literally stops time to Mary Sue super-charge her and give her a clue about stuff that's been so obvious for an age.

Also, somewhere between the first book and this book, what started out as a snarky FMC morphed into absolute bitchy. Whiny and bitchy and TSTL - the trifecta of bad.

Glad it's over. Wouldn't have continued on if it wasn't.

[Marcie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jayce outdid herself with this epic finale to her Grave Concerns series.
Once I started it, I wanted to go slow and savor it but I ended up devouring it because I couldn’t put it down. This has turned out to be one of my most favorite series ever.
I loved Ava before, her snark and wit (along with her lack of filter) spoke to my soul - but I love her even more now. As this series progressed Ava grew but she never lost any of her personality- in this book she learned to accept what she really was and that her fantastic men were gonna love her no matter what. Ava is such an incredible FMC that truly learns how strong she really is and that strength isn’t just physical.
These guys, oh my sweetness…I love all of them and how Jayce showed the parts they tried to hide in this book. Grant, Kase and Troy’s pasts had my heart clinching along with making me love them even more because it shows how much each of them have over come. Hunter continues to be the hellhound with a huge heart that I adore along with his mischievous smirks and jokes to crack to the tension.
These five make for a team that has a bond like no other I have ever read. I love the twists and unexpected surprises, don’t even get me started on the steamy scenes that had me biting my lip and fanning myself. Add in the most fantastic ending and epilogue - I despised reaching the end because I didn’t want to say goodbye. This is one series that I am already making plans to read again and add to my physical library so I can have one of my favorite series on proud display.

[Colleen Ritz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Book 3 was everything I hoped it would be and more. Jayce Carter kept on with the Roller Coaster of emotions with book 3. There was definitely a shocking Twist that I did not see coming but was Oh SOOOOOOOOO good!!! This whole series was a great read. Definitely different from any RH books I have read before. Each Character will have you Loving them and Hating them at different times throughout the books (Except for maybe Hunter..he is too fun to be mad at haha). Ava grew into the Bad A** that everyone who read book 1 wanted her to be, it was such an interesting path for her to get there!! There is definitely lots of steaminess in this book as well. A fitting end to this book series. I almost wish it wasn't ending. I would love to read more books about these characters!!!

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Harlequin Madness · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m so sad to say goodbye to these characters.

I have loved every minute of this series. This is the final book of this trilogy. Ava and her men; Kase, Troy, Hunter and Grant have returned from hell. They still need to track down, and deal with, Lilith. She seems hell bent on destroying the world. But that’s not going to happen, if they have anything to say about that.

Oh my, this author can not only weave a story, but she created some fantastic characters to help her tell it. Usually, in RH books, character building never really seems complete. There always seems to be at least one member of the harem that isn’t well fleshed out. That is not the case here. Each of her mates have had some of their back story come out over the course of the previous 2 books, but it all culminates with their trip through purgatory. Apparently, to get there one has to cross the abyss. The abyss tends to trap people there that have some type of hurt or trauma in their lives that they can’t seem to get over. So they’re stuck there, with their trauma playing out in an endless loop over and over and over. (Sounds like hell to me, but what do I know?) Each of her men have theirs to confront, and make peace with, in order to move forward. Ava is there for each of them to help them past their pain and see themselves in a new light. It was sad but satisfying to read. The moral of the story here really is forgiveness.

Just because something was over didn’t mean we would let it go. Funny that it wasn’t the event but our holding on to it that really fucked us living creatures over.

The truth behind why forgiveness is so important. Not for the transgressor, but for the aggrieved. It frees YOU. Otherwise you live in bondage to it.

The author does such an excellent job of infusing humor and angst into her dialog. There was never a dull moment in any of these books. This is one series that I would love to see on the big screen. . . Or even the little one. I thoroughly enjoyed it and highly recommend it.

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

The writing and editing was clean, with no typos that I found and well constructed sentences. The world building was vivid. The characterization was good, with the heroine especially being a sympathetic individual with nuance. The heroes were not as well developed, which is a common pitfall in RH romances. The development of the romantic relationships were okay, though the plot took more of a center stage. The heat level of this book was five chili peppers. The plot and pacing were action packed and exciting. As a consequence, the pacing sped by. There was a low to medium amount of well justified angst and high stakes throughout this novel, which tends to be one of my preferred narrative structures for a romance novel. This novel used the Chosen One trope. The world building was five stars. The plot and pacing were both four stars. The characterization was four stars and the development of the romantic relationship was three stars. I therefore gave this novel a combined rating of four stars. I recommend this novel to readers who enjoy great world building in their paranormal romances. I look forward to reading the next book in this series when it releases. I will not buy myself a keeper copy of this novel.

I received a free copy of this book, and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Danyelle La Pookette · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really like this book. It's the final part of a fantasy, medium-burn, reverse harem romance. There is plenty of fast-paced action, funny moments, and some steamy scenes. While the mystery has been solved, the big problem has not been fixed. Ava and her guys have a new assignment in another part of the afterworld. I like how the worldbuilding has taken some things from the Christian ideas of the afterlife / afterworlds and shaken things up.

While the second book in this series took a trip to Hell, this one has the gang going to Purgatory. It's not until the last quarter of the story, but the build-up in the world of the living is really good. I also like how almost everyone has to deal with their inner demons. I think that part is my favorite of this book. I had no problem identifying with Ava from the beginning, but getting to know Kase, Grant, Hunter, and Troy has been difficult at times.

I still love Ava’s sassy mouth, her stubbornness, self-esteem issues, and her confusion about her past. Well, until she gets some more information about her past. I also adore her relationship with the guys. Everyone has formed friendships (and other kinds of relationships), which is why they make a good team.

There are still lots of typos, but nothing too distracting.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Sadie Forsythe · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5

I thought this wrapped the whole series up marvelously. I liked that the traumatic past of each male got some attention and we see the group really gelling nicely. I love the way Ava was so protective of them and was just adored and valued by each as they developed a respect for one another (even if there were still contentions). And, of course, the sex was hot.

As throughout the series, I still feel we never get to truly know the men beyond their particular caricatures. This is the stoic one, this is the joker, this is the irreverent one, this is the staid one, etc. And I understand the books would need to be significantly longer to allow for this. But since I liked each of them, I did miss getting the chance to really get to know them.

All in all, reverse harem isn't my favorite erotic genre. But I enjoyed this series quite a bit.

[Kit · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read : January 9, 2022
Rating :4 Stars

This wraps it up sort of nicely, although I did feel like something was missing.

Our h found her powers and is coming to grips with it, but sort immediately? Which came across as a little weird compared to her whole song and dance about wanting to be normal and human.

But they get to it and then, the we have the epilogue and that really was a letdown, I was really hoping for something more like : (massive spoiler of you haven't read the previous 2 books)
her actually using her reaper powers or if she became immortal like all her men since that's not really discussed???

I dunno if I liked this enough for the 4 Stars I gave it, but it is better than the first 2.

[Beth · Rating 4 out of 5]

We start off a few weeks after returning from hell and it definitely seems like things have flip flopped. The one guy who was resistant in book 2 is now the one that’s all in, while others have seemingly stepped back, uh oh what happened… Grant was not my favorite of the guys in the beginning, but we find out his back story and learn more about him and I really liked him. He grew on me, Lilith did to know her own villainous way. She’s a sympathetic baddie for me. Enjoyable ending to a good series.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Jenn · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Desperate Hunt

I mean, Lilith is planning to end the world as we know it, so it’s pretty desperate! Unfortunately, Ava and her guys (Kase, Troy, Grant and Hunter) need to find her before they can stop her, and that proves a challenge. I liked how we got a more in-depth look at each of the guys and their vulnerabilities - often, reverse harem stories build her story arc, but the guys done develop as much, so seeing what made Grant, Troy and Kase what they are was enlightening. An immensely satisfying, engrossing and action packed book.

[Helena Mendes · Rating 3 out of 5]

I tried to read this story but it was a dnf at 26% for now, because I didn't realize when I picked it that it was part of a continuing series, so I have to read books #1 & 2 and then get back to this one, because I was really enjoying it but things weren't going well with out the background from the other books. So after that I will probably change my 3 stars to 4,5 or 5 and then include my fully updated opinion about the book.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Kimberly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nice ending

I was really hesitant to read this book because I was not a fan of the second book. The FMC was a pushover and whiny. She finally found some backbone and became a contributing member of the harem. The quality of the relationships still wasn’t that great but they did get better. That scene with the visions in the past really gave the guys some substance. Without that scene, the characters were lacking. Overall I loved how the series was wrapped up. Only one thing was left unresolved for me.

[P Jones · Rating 5 out of 5]

Look closer...

So the twist in this installment was like WHAT! Omg that's crazy and makes so much sense at the same time... I swear this series just gets better each book. Ava and her harem absolutely have their work cut out for them. They have no idea what's in store. With everything on the line, futures hanging in the balance will the crew rise to the occasion and save the world? Well read this story and gasp and tense and tighten those thighs just like everyone else who reads it. Jayce Carter always knows what she's doing.

[Mr D · Rating 5 out of 5]

Utterly Brilliant!

A lot of life lessons to be had from this one. A great ending to this series, Ava and the guys have to track down Lilith and stop her from her world ending goals. Not exactly easy when you’re up against someone who’s been there since the beginning of ..well everything, no pressure right?
It also prompted me with the famous Oscar Wild saying; “Be yourself, because everybody else is taken.”

Loved this series so now I’m planning to have a look at the author’s other works. Highly recommend for urban fantasy readers.

[Jo · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the third book in the series and I am very sorry to see it end. It was hard to put down. Ava and her men continue to try to save the world. Each character grows and you learn details about their difficult pasts. Lots of twists and turns, danger, and of course Heat! The story and characters are very well written and the ending was great. Will definitely read more from this author.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Caroline Doig · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this series and I was looking forward to reading this story and it didn’t disappoint at all I loved this story but sadly this is the last book in this series and wow what an ending. I loved the characters, the descriptions, the action, suspense, danger, drama, and very 🔥 sizzling passion. Ava ended up being such a bad ass and she found out more about herself and her men sorry guys no spoilers, this is a fantastic story/ series and I definitely recommend this book.

[Jacqueline · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm sorry to see this series end. Ava and her guys finally figure out where Lillith is and go after her. We get a little more of the back story to each of the guys in this book which helped fill out their characters. This book is more introspective and thoughtful and less action but there is still plenty of steam to keep it interesting.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Giovanna · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have a love/hate relationship with the last book of a series. I love to get the answers and the HEA, but I have so much trouble letting go of these characters. I love Ava, I love how they all work through their issues and be prepared for some serious twists. You can't help but fall in love with the characters and the world that Jayce creates. Can't wait for the next series she creates.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Lori · Rating 5 out of 5]

I LOVED this series and the way it ended was just perfect! Ava was still snarky as hell but she finally learned the truth about herself and her four “men” were still hot and alpha as ever! This book wrapped everything up with the back stories and even had me feeling for Lilith at the end!

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Heather · Rating 4 out of 5]

The conclusion to Ava's story takes you on a wild ride. She learns so much about herself as well as her men. There is lots of action with a heavy dose of emotions thrown in. I really wasn't sure how this would end but I was pleasantly surprised by how much I loved it. This series is definitely worth checking out and well worth a reread.

[Kathryn · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the third and final book in the Grave Concerns series. It wraps up the series very well. I love the continued world building and the growth in the characters and their relationships. I liked there that were unexpected surprises and twists. It is an amazing read and I highly recommend this series.

[Lacy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great end to a great story

I didn’t expect that ending and I kinda hoped a little bit of revenge would happen but it was never brought up so I guess they were all dead already. I liked how it ended though and I hope there will be another series in this world with a new character with maybe some cameos from the characters in this story.

[Boo · Rating 5 out of 5]

great ending

This was such a great series and I will miss these characters. I so hope we can get a novella and more of these characters. This last book was just great and I loved it. It wrapped up great. The journey was great with laughter and tears and the ending was just perfect.

[Jessica · Rating 5 out of 5]

Now we know and knowing half the battle. There are worse things then death. Souls are the unseen sufferers. Sometimes its hard to remember that everyone has one. Even the villain. Overcoming individual battles like bloodlust and pomois power hungry mages will prepare these characters for a f-ing conclusion that will have the devil saying "well that thing that happened".

[Deanna Batt · Rating 5 out of 5]

Exceptional Read

This series was so much fun to read. Most books give you a villain and a hero. This series gave you several. It shows how we all have hang ups and bad memories, but it's our choices that define who and what we are. There is so much humor intertwined with the bad and sad and scary and happy. It flows well and the characters are divine. Must read!!!

[Nobody · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked the story line and the characters relationship but I wish the guys had more depth and at the end they were useless. I hope that we get a story on Lilith and that she gets a happy ending and maybe she could kill adam the ass.

[Reader03 · Rating 5 out of 5]

An amazing end to the series with plot twists, emotion, and plenty of action until the end with a heroine who shows great growth overall. I received a copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.