When all anyone ever sees is a quintessential southern bell, they miss the mark on who I really am. That was just the face I shared with the world; I kept the hell I truly endured to myself, because here in the south, secrets and the truth are best left unsaid.
When returning home to Savannah after my mother’s passing, I had everything a girl could want: a new house, a handsome suitor, and the job of my dreams as an antique dealer. Little did I know that the choice to move on with my life would be the last decision I’d ever make.
My name is Jorja Graham and my story is proof that not every romance has a happy ending ... especially once demons, witches, and angels get involved.
I create charmed worlds by writing stories involving passionate, strong-willed characters with something to discover. I started out writing romance but, along the way, realized I wanted to write stories about people. If there happened to be a romance, then it was meant to be. Otherwise, the stories I write are about self-discovery—who the characters are in the beginning and who they end up becoming.
In the pages of a book, you can be anything you want to be. Who would you become and why? :P
The Life & Death of Jorja Graham is a Paranormal Romance gem. It's a book so original, so well written and so ballsy that I can't wait for it to hit the stores and people to have a chance to read it. I was lucky enough to beta read this book and I COULD NOT PUT IT DOWN. I thought I was done with anything PNR but Brynn Myers proved me wrong. Just when I thought any and every angle was already played out, this book happens and makes it fresh again.
Jorja Graham is a young, independent girl living in Savannah, a lover of history, working at Generation Antiques with her beloved aunts Vivian and Heddie. Those two were a total hoot, they adore Jorja and are very protective and nurturing of her, considering she wasn't her parents' biological child, and they weren't the best role models for her growing up. She had to endure the pain of living with her bitch of a mother and her father's drinking problems, not to mention they had a rocky, hateful relationship with each other that ended in separation early on. I loved how honourable, ladylike and independent Jorja was. You can tell she's led a difficult life already and that's polished her into an outstanding woman of grace.
Jorja gets chosen to oversee the cataloguing and auctioning of precious antiques from one of the most beautiful and well known estates in Savannah, a house that used to belong to a mysterious old lady by the name of Rhetta Ryland, rumoured to be a witch who practiced hoodoo in order to maintain her youth. Corbin Holbrook, her extended family, ends up handling the sale of the estate, and thus hiring Jorja to take care of the auction. He's charming, he's a gentleman (as much as Jorja is a lady) and first and foremost he wants Jorja. He makes no effort to hide his attraction and pursues her relentlessly. I loved reading about it... and seeing them slowly bond as Corbin tried his hardest to woo Jorja into succumbing to his dark and smouldering appeal.
But who is Corbin? And are there ulterior motives for his interest in the antiques held within the estate? He has his sights set on a specific heirloom, something he's desperate to locate. Is his passion for Jorja genuine? And first and foremost... who in the hells is he really?! The man seems so out of this world.
This book was romantic, suspenseful... creepy as hell in parts and a total page turner. I was jumping at every little noise because I was so invested in the book and wondering what new spooky thing would happen. I could not wait to find out how it all ended and what Corbin's deal really was. Jorja is easily relatable and I felt totally swept away in the series of events that follow after they meet, the genuine mystery and eerie nature of Rhetta's estate and the dark powers lurking underneath it all.
If you have a penchant for the mystical, for some frightening bits thrown in and for a well plotted, well written book to spend a few hours with... CHOOSE THIS. You won't be disappointed. It's not even that long and yet it packs such a punch. The ending is a bit WTF, but there's a rather soothing epilogue on the author's website that gives me hope for a sequel. I wouldn't say it's a cliffhanger ending, but more of a HFN with room for tons more between the main characters. Saying more would be spoiling it.
I really hope there is a sequel because I am intrigued by Jorja's journey. I love what I've read so far. ☆☆☆☆☆
First, I must admit the title led me to purchase this book. Everyone wants a happy ever after, but sometimes we need a change of pace. This book fell into my hands, figuratively speaking, at the very right moment. I read back to back and I'm an absolute book junkie. Sometimes I crave a buffer, a flavor change of sorts. I am a lover of many genres and I appreciate the unexpected. This novel definitely fit the bill.
Brynn Myers is an extremely talented writer. I knew nothing of the author, nor have I read her previous works. I was pleasantly surprised and genuinely happy to discover this book and author.
Jorja Graham appeased all my senses. She was a great female lead, and I truly enjoyed her character. She's feisty and feminine, independent and nurturing, strong-willed and beautiful. I loved her witty personality and her devotion to not only her family and friends but to her career as well. Jorja shed her scarred past and was determined to charter her own ship and delve into a life well deserved -a life of conquered happiness.
Jorja seems to have it all figured out, that is, until she meets Corbin Holbrook, Mr. Tall, Dark and Where-The-Hell-Did-He-Come-From Handsome. Corbin is enchanting and confusing as hell (Ha, ha! -you'll understand why I just laughed after you read the book). Corbin is a man who knows what he wants and how to get it.
Corbin is completely smitten with Savannah's southern bell, Miss Jorja Graham. Why yes, I did just say that in my best southern accent.
There lies mystery in Mr. Holbrook and his inherited plantation, and the author does an exceptional job keeping that mystery in tact. Darn you, Brynn Myers. It drove me crazy mad not knowing why, how, who, and what the hell was that!
This story had everything from romance to things that go bump in the night. The dialogue was eloquently written and flowed effortlessly. The imagery was perfectly detailed. The secondary characters were well defined. I absolutely loved Jorja's aunts, Heddie and Vivian.
If I could change anything about this book it would be the length. Although completely enthralled, I wanted more, so much more. I guess you can say I'm a greedy reader. I want Brynn to write a sequel....tomorrow. I want to know what "could" happen next. I want more Corbin. Actually, I need more Corbin.
The Life & Death of Jorja Graham is unique, enchanting, and will keep you guessing until the very end.
I received this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.
The moment i started reading the book, I knew Jorja Graham isn't your ordinary protagonist and as I continued to read it has become more evident. Having suffered in the hands (and words) of her mean-spirited (almost sadistic) mother she has to pull herself together again, and she wants nothing more than settling back to her own townhouse and work like she did before. This is where a certain catalyst to the quietness, a mysterious man named Corbin Holbrook enters her life and basically starts churning up all kinds of trouble not just with her business but also in the depths of her guarded heart.
The dynamics of their relationship were a little troublesome at first, since Jorja felt that Corbin came off as arrogant and it's a trait she abhors in a man. With some leg work and heart-tugging words, Corbin managed to stay well within Jorja's good side. While I think Corbin's extremely grand gestures were a little off-putting, he certainly made good points about then and even I found myself agreeing to them. I found him to be an incredibly suspicious character, since I read almost half-way through the story already and I couldn't figure out if he was a good guy or a bad guy.
I feel like with all of the characters, Cat was the one character who I think didn't get appropriate face time that her role deserved. Towards the end, she played a big role on the supernatural aspects of things, yet we see very little of these supernatural aspects in the first parts of the book (aside from the ground bricks being scattered and talks about her family's interests). Certain names being mentioned were also a little confusing but not entirely.
One of the aspects of the story that I love was the Southern feel mixed with the paranormal. It is a common theme, I assume but it's something I thoroughly enjoyed. The end wasn't at all surprising. There were certain parts of it that I found to be albeit cliche, still tugged a little bit on my heartstrings.
All in all, I found the story very engaging, and the writing style gave the characters a certain depth and individuality. I am definitely looking forward to reading the next book!
I’m a big fan of Brynn Myers, the author. Everything she wrote, I want to try it! I love her creativity, the sexiness in her scenes description and most of all her sense of humor. She has that kind of attraction on readers that crave paranormal romance stories. She’s able to pull me fast into the action with an attractive and mysterious intrigue and she knows how to stir many feelings inside of me during my read!
Expectations:
With a title like The Life and Death of Jorja Graham, I was expecting something tragically mixed with a lot of suspense. The presence of a strong heroine plus an alpha male I will instantly fall in love with. I expected a lot of paranormal aspects, phenomenons, actions and sizzling scenes!
What Stood Out:
The whole story was interesting; the plot was involving and the scenes intoxicating. Even if there aren’t any explicit sex scenes, the author let the reader with his own imagination, which is different from many paranormal romance stories. It’s even different from the first series by Brynn Myers has offer; Prophecies of the Nine.
The characters are typical human being with no strange or paranormal past and Jorja is the perfect representation of the good girl next door. Even with a non-easy family history, the girl has some spunk and wit, which I adore about her. I wish there was more paranormal elements through the story. While I was reading, I got this impression that something was about to come out, but each time, this aspect was remaining in the dark. I thought it would be more obvious, but Brynn Myers really wanted to keep it as a secret until the end! By then, I couldn’t put the book down, wanting to know what would happen to our main characters and what would be the paranormal aspect!
Favorite Character:
My favorite character was the enigmatic Corbin. I wish I could have say the same thing about Jorja, but nothing in particular stood out from her until it’s too late, I was already into Corbin! Corbin on the other hand was a mysterious stranger until the very end. Until everything is revealed, he stays a mystery and I liked to imagine what the big secret about him was. Nothing in the previous pages can foretell what the author has planned all this time! Corbin has many secrets and an ultimate goal by forcing his ways in Jorja’s life. I just wish I could have learned more about his true self and intention before the very end!
The End:
The ending was the most exciting part of this book, but also the most unpredictable to me. I wasn’t hoping a different ending, in fact the title tells us all, but this one really surprised me nonetheless. We discover many different things and secrets about many character of this story. Plus, a new character makes its appearance and I was kind of shocked (in a good way). I read the last chapters with eagerness, willing to sacrifice any other books just to know what would happen to Jorja, Corbin and this new character. Every reader will be astonished by this ending and Ms. Myers offers them an epilogue on her blog to satisfy their curiosity and hunger. I just hope that I will be able to read a sequel to this incredible story.
Our Review, by LITERAL ADDICTION's Pack Alpha - Chelle:
--actual rating 4.5 skulls
What a delightful breath of fresh air this book was!
Jorja thinks that the death of her mother is the start to her turning her life around and putting all of the hurt of the past behind her and it looks like she's right. As the synopsis says, she lands the job of her dreams running an auction out of this beautiful and mysterious old mansion that she's always had a fascination with, she finds a guy that admittedly she's unsure of at first, but who wins her over by spoiling her rotten, she has an incredible family support system behind her and more. And then the mystery kicks in....
There are secrets to this old mansion and its belongings. There are secrets that Corbin is keeping from Jorja, as well. And when everything is revealed layer by layer you will be sucked in and left gasping.
The first person narrative of The Life and Death of Jorja Graham allows you to really get into the heart and head of our heroine and feel everything that she's going through each step of the way. The supporting cast is stellar, and each and every one of them is needed and incredible. I love the aunts! They're little firecrackers, and I could totally relate. I mean who doesn't have a set of meddlesome family members. LOL. Corbin is a deep hero. He has so many facets and it's fun to reveal each of them as Jorja learns them herself.
The pace of the novel was perfect. It had a slow build, but was still utterly engaging, and when it hit its plateau... holy hannah! It sped along like a runaway freight train and when that last page was turned and all was revealed all you can do as a reader is sit there a bit stunned saying "whaa?", which is the PERFECT way to set up series for a sequel. :)
I highly recommend this book to all readers regardless of your 'normal' niche. But be warned... if you're looking for a spectacularly sparkly HEA, this is not the book you'll find it in, however, if you want something a little more gritty and real despite its fantastical elements, then you definitely want to read this!
I can't wait to see what's in store in the world of LDJG in book #2.
I am honored to have read this book as a beta reader. The life of Savannah native Jorja Graham is changing. With her mother's passing, she is breaking free of her unhappy childhood and moving on with her life. Lucky for her she has two doting aunts, Heddie and Vivian and her BFF Cat who love her dearly. The three of them are more than on board when tall, dark and handsome Corbin Holbrook enters Generations Antiques, the Graham family business. Corbin has assumed ownership of the local Rhetta Rhyland Estate and hired Jorja to sell off the antiques and collectables contained therein. He is totally smitten. Shes is not - at first. The banter(and HEAT)between the two made me wish I could stand between them turning my head left and right ala watching a tennis match. The push/pull is funny and endearing. However things are not what they seem with Jorja, Corbin and for sure with the Rhyland Mansion. Rhetta's alleged practice of dark magic is proving true and soon The Life of Jorja Graham is on the line.
This book is a delightful look at southern women, lifestyles and lore, cleverly written into life by author Brynn Myers.
I had the honor of reading Brynn's book before her release date...squee!! Preorder, order, follow Brynn Myers blog anything you can do to get your eyes on this riveting read. Truly, I sat down at 4:30 p and read all the way through Jorja's story. I was in Savannah with Jorja & Corbin (yum) , giggled with her humorous aunts and held my breath to the end. This is the reason I give this book 5 stars..... I was moved by the truth of how life really is "messy" and ya gotta roll with it! Thank you Brynn for the exciting roller coaster ride!
This was a new author for me and I liked how the book sounded it intrigued me . I was glad that I did it was amazing. I was hooked by the first page. I cant wait for the next book The story line was amazing and I liked how different it was from all the other books that I read . it will keep you turning the page all the way to the end of the book where you stand up and yell NO it cant end this way then you dig in to the change jar to get the next book<3 so dont miss out and get a copy You will love it ...
I really liked "The Life & Death of Jorja Graham." The story line was good, and the characters were superb. The characters really made it and were the best part of the book. The only problem I had was the ending. It wasn't bad, but everything happened in a short amount of time and kind of left you up in the air. Otherwise, it was very entertaining and full of mystery.
What a great read. The Life and Death of Jorja Graham was one of those books that I just couldn’t put down. I just had to see what was going to happen next! I think it only took me about 4 hours to read it, but I pretty much ignored everything else in the world for those 4 hours! It was a wonderful world to escape to.
Jorja Graham is one of those characters that I felt like I could relate to. The only thing we really have in common is a love for historical things and antiques. Old houses have always been a weakness of mine, and to find a character that loves and appreciates them in the way that I do was nice. Growing up, there were old houses that I fell in love with, which I was just dying to see for myself what treasures were hidden inside. I wanted to be the girl that when we went to a historical site, I could stand on the other side of the velvet ropes and touch all the pretties. That, to me is who Jorja is.
When Jorja’s mother dies, Jorja is finally free from her overbearing ways. I know she hated her mother, but I really wish I could have been the one to buy up that house at what she was selling it for! Because of her relationship with her mother, Jorja had a super crazy wall built up around her heart. I don’t really know how to explain it, but I think she would rather have “things” than people. She’s not materialistic, but she sees that things can’t hurt her the way people do.
Jorja is hired to put together an estate auction for a historical house in the area that has a bit of a past. When she meets the new owner, he is very convincing. For a woman like Jorja, he can be her ultimate downfall if she gets too close. Corbin seems to either have fallen head over heels in love with Jorja on site, or he’s a huge scam artist. I’ll let you read it and find out for yourself.
She has very few people in her life, but to Jorja, they are very important. Her 2 aunts and best friend seem to be the main characters in her life and seem to give her a kind of support that she never received from her mother. They give a sense of love and laughter to the story and you can tell they care about Jorja immensely. I think that Brynn Myers did a great job in describing the world that she has built. I’ve never been to Savannah, but I could see everything she wrote about. From the coffee shop, to Jorja’s townhouse, to the gates outside of the estate, I could see it all. I enjoyed the way Myers brought magical myth and history into the story as well.
I really can’t say too much more about this books plot without giving away more than I want to. Just know there is a woman who’s not ready to be dead, demons, witches, rubies, romance and drama. Each character is built enough for us to see who they are without giving away too much of whom they will grow into. I do wish that I had more back story on Rhetta, but that’s just me being greedy and curious.
I give this book a solid 5 stars despite the fact that I wasn’t 100% happy with the ending. The ending had to end the way it did and I understand that even though I didn’t like it. That’s life. I don’t always get what I want, so I’ll live.
I participated in a book blitz for The Life & Death of Jorja Graham a week or so ago. After reading the blurb and seeing a teaser, I really wanted to read this book. While is wasn't a fantastic read, it was still an alright read.
The title sounds very ominous which is another thing that made me want to read the book. It's very straight forward, and I think that suits the book just fine.
The girl on the cover, who I assume is Jorja Graham, looks a bit spooky which I love! I do sort of like the cover, but I would've liked to see the mansion which is mentioned a lot throughout the book on the cover too.
The world building was good, I thought. I found it to be believable for the most part. Towards the end, it gets a little big confusing though. I'd elaborate, but I want this to be a spoiler free review.
The pacing was a bit slow to begin with. I was starting to think I had made a mistake in buying this book. Luckily, the pacing starts picking up about thirty percent in.
The plot was alright. For about the first sixty percent or so, the book reads like a contemporary romance for the most part. However, it's like it becomes a different book for the rest of the way because it turns into more of a paranormal book. Again, I don't want to give away any spoilers, but let's just say there was a plot twist I was totally not expecting! There is a slight cliff hanger at the end of the book, and I do believe there will be another book in the series, but don't quote me on that.
I thought the character of Jorja was written really well. I instantly liked her and her charming nature. Corbin comes off as a bit of a stalker to begin with, but I eventually warmed to him and his passionate nature as well. The other minor characters were written a bit lukewarm, I felt. For example, Jorja's best friend Cat could've been written as a stronger character, but I felt that she was just a bit too bland. I would've liked to know more about her and more about hers and Jorja's friendship.
I did enjoy the dialogue, and I felt it flowed very well. I felt that maybe if this book was a bit longer and a had a bit more detail, it could've been better. There is some swearing and some violence.
All in all, The Life & Death of Jorja Graham is a decent read. The lead character is likable and the dialogue is fantastic!
I'd recommend this book to those aged 16+ who are big fans of paranormal romance.
I'd give The Life & Death of Jorja Graham by Brynn Myers a 3.5 out of 5.
(I bought this ebook with my own money from Amazon. I was not required to write a review).
Brynn Myers has a way of keeping a story fresh with such ease it is so intoxicating. I felt that The Life & Death of Jorja Graham was a breath of fresh air in the Romance/Suspense/Paranormal genre.
I felt that the book was fast paced but with a slow build up (I hope that makes sense) which I loved, I was so eager to get to that high point that I couldn't put it down. Brynn did an amazing job with the build up so when the story hit that high point and when it all comes together I was shaking with excitement.
I had an instant respect for Jorja and loved her depth. I could relate to her in many ways but with her strength the most. I loved the Aunts they remind me of my best friends. Jorja's best friend Cat, is very intriguing and I really hope one day she gets her story, I feel like she still has a story to tell. As far as Corbin, I didn't know how to feel about him till the end which is a testament to Brynn's writing, I liked that I questioned things, it kept me interested.
I didn't know what to expect as far the the Paranormal angle from this book because it was not hinted at until it hit you in the book like a truck and that had me reeling with excitement. It was unexpected and extremely suspenseful. I would love to go into more detail about the plot but I can't without spoiling anything and I really think that to spoil the plot would ruin the book for future readers. All I'm going to say is that its Earth shattering and messy and real and unlike anything I have read before and I loved it.
Brynn always has a way of leaving her reading begging for the next book which is infuriating cause we have to wait for the next installment, which is probably the best thing an author can do for herself to keep her readers hooked.
The Life & Death of Jorja Graham has a contemporary romance feel to it in the beginning but has a massive paranormal twist. I give this book 5 stars and I would recommend it to fans of romance, suspense, and paranormal genre fans.
Well done Brynn and please keep writing your talent is astonishing and relatively incomparable to most today, you are refreshing and I cant wait to see what your brain puts on the next page.
***THIS BOOK WAS GIVEN TO ME IN EXCHANGE FOR AN HONEST REVIEW***
***Tina, #NerdGirlMama’s Review***
I have to say that the title and the synopsis is what lead me to choose to read this book, it seem to have a little of everything I enjoy in it from life and death, antiques, Savannah, paranormal, and a bit a mystery. I had not read any of Brynn Myers books, so this was a treat. For me it started out a little slow but that was ok as it picked up the pace rather quickly and I found myself glued to the book, it is definitely a book you do not want to put down until you’re done. This book was well written and it flowed effortlessly and you can imagine everything as you are reading it.
The main character Jorja is an independent, strong, and feisty woman that is enjoyable and a true Southern bell to boot. Jorja endured a horrible childhood and has come through it all beautifully and it made her who she is. Corbin is your Tall, Dark and mysterious man that you are just not sure about, but he becomes likable. The Aunts Heddie and Vivian are adorable and make you smile.
Brynn Myers writing is detailed and keeps you hanging on throughout the book with things that go bump in the night to the much unexpected ending. If you enjoy a suspenseful, mysterious, mystical, eerie, and paranormal that comes out of nowhere and surprises you, then this book is for you. I give it 4 stars and cannot wait to read the next book in this series, if there is one as the ending leaves you wanting more, more, and more. Do not pass this one up, go one click it today and you will not be sorry.
***Review has been done in conjunction with Nerd Girl Official. ***
This was a fantastic read!!! I cannot wait for the next book in this series to come out!! I could not put it down and I even told my teenage children to fend for themselves because I had to know what happened next and I did not want to stop reading long enough to make them sandwiches for lunch. I cannot put into words just how much I really loved this book!! I HIGHLY recommend it to everyone!!!!
Alright so I know that it has been more then a week. Closer to a month honestly, but **sigh** life, it just got in the way of reviewing this book for me.
I wasn't given this book for an honest review from the author Brynn Myers.
What can I say? I finished this book in less then 3 days (I paced myself because I didn't want it to end to fast) and loved EVERY SINGLE SECOND OF IT!!! The writing style that is in this novel is beyond fantastic. I mean almost anything that Brynn writes that I have read is beyond fantastic so I wasn't surprised when I absolutely loved this. The characters are spot on, the angst and love and emotions and plot and everything about this is just perfect. The only this that really really made me angry was the fact that I cannot pick up the second book yet. Why you say? Because its not released!!! GAH! I mean really?? I just want to read it!!!
This love story of instant attraction seemed a bit too contrived in the beginning and for someone with such a tortured past, Jorja gave in to his advances way too quickly for me. That being said, the story had a definite twist to it and became much more interesting about half way through the book. Corbin got on my nerves initially as he seemed very arrogant and annoying which Jorja totally agreed with though her aunts were great and reminded me of how nice Southern hospitality really is. Her best friend Cat seemed to fade in and out of the book altthough she came through for Jorja in the end. I do admit that the ending was a total surprise. I will definitely read the next book, it was a good start to what could hopefully be a brand new series.
A highly imaginative read with a flair for the dramatic. I loved every part of it. The life and death of Jorja Graham was a spectacularly entertaining read with a great mix of mystery, suspense, romance and paranormal.
An excellently plotted, perfectly paced paranormal romance with dark mythological overtones.
"Maybe next time you'll take me up on dinner." "I doubt it, Mr. Holbrook. I'm pretty sure hell will freeze over first." Again he smiled. "Well, that may be happening sooner than you think, my dear."
THE LIFE & DEATH OF JORJA GRAHAM by Brynn Myers is unlike anything I've ever read. I started reading it one evening this past week and was mesmerized from the very beginning. Sleep was out of the question until I'd read the very last word. It's FABULOUS and I've not been able to stop thinking about it even though I've now finished reading the duo logy.
As the blurb states, this novel does not have a happy ending; but, it's not an unhappy ending as there's a clear path to an HEA in the second book which I fortuitously already had on my nightstand (and which I've now also inhaled).Actually, I would consider these two books as one with two parts. Neither works well as a standalone. I can assure you without reservation that you will want to read THE ECHOED LIFE OF JORJA GRAHAM immediately after finishing the first book, so do yourself a favor and pick them both up at the same time.
THE LIFE & DEATH OF JORJA GRAHAM is a witty, very imaginative southern paranormal urban fantasy read with a sexy demonic hero. It's the story of human Jorja Graham and enigmatic Corbin Holbrook, who just happens to be a swoon worthy hot prince of hell. The story mixed a Southern feel with dark paranormal. Corbin was the epitome of a dark tortured hero. He was originally an arrogant, pompous alpha but quickly morphed into a Casanova when he was snared by Jorja's charm. Even though Jorja had a difficult childhood, she did not let it define her. She was self-reliant and self-assured, feisty, tenacious and beautiful. Corbin's and Jorja's interactions were liberally spiced by witty banter and never dull.
The supporting cast was stellar. I loved Cat and her mysterious persona. Jorja's aunts were hoots. They run Generation Antiques with Jorja.
As the story begins, art and history aficionado Jorja is in the process of closing one chapter in her life as she says goodbye and good riddance to her mother and to her childhood home filled with unhappy memories, As she prepares to return to her life in Savannah surrounded by her kitty cat, her best friend, Cat, and her two favorite aunts, her trip is interrupted by an phone call from the imperious new owner of the Rhyland estate, which the state has finally released from probate. The mansion is one of the most coveted in Savannah as it was one of the few grand homes spared when General Sherman's troops raided Savannah during the Civil War and it possesses a classic antebellum architecture reminiscent of the fabled Twelve Oaks mansion in 'Gone with the Wind.' Jorja has been enthralled by the property for as long as she could remember and it is truly a dream come true to have the closure of that estate drop into her lap at this time. However, behind the property's classic architecture, dark secrets reside. The estate previously belonged to Rhetta Ryland, rumored to be a witch who practiced the dark arts.
I'm so glad that I discovered this author at the Coastal Magic Convention as I was definitely missing out before her books came into my life. I've already resolved to read all of this author's books SOON! I can honestly say I was never tempted even for a second to glance at the clock while reading this. It's romantic and suspenseful. As it was dark outside, I kept the lights on while reading this as some scenes were downright creepy. Expect a myriad of surprising twists and unexpected turns herein. I highly recommend Brynn Myers' Jorja Graham duo logy to anyone who enjoys excellently plotted, perfectly paced paranormal romances with dark mythological overtones.
*I received a free ebook copy of this from Xpresso Book Tours in exchange for an honest review. **This is also posted on Fishing For Books.
Ratung: 4.5/5
The Life & Death of Jorja Graham is full of demons, romance, witches, lovers of history (Jorja adores historic artifacts and even helped her aunts with a shop in which they sell and action off historic pieces), ghosts, Hell, Eden, and even mystery. It has scary moments, action and everything flows brilliantly. It definitely wasn’t at ll what I expected it would be, and I was pleasantly surprised by how much I really enjoyed reading this book.
While this book is immersed with paranormal aspects, it’s also mixed with a bit of romance and thrill and suspense. It’s mysterious and edgy and at times makes the hair on the back of your your neck stand because of how creepy some parts are, what with the little paranormal occurrences and the possession and all. In fact, I would’ve run for the hills with my first encounter of the unthinkable! Just the way one scene worked out where the fog rolled up as Jorja was leaving the house that night and felt like tiny spiders crawling over her arms just made me itch, and the fact that no matter how many times Jorja swiped at her arms, the feeling just wouldn’t go away. That made me shudder because it’s the middle of the night, you got a chill and a paranoid feeling, and suddenly there’s this fog and these things crawling all over you but no matter how much you rub your arms the feeling won’t leave. That’s not normal!
Which brings me to say that I adored how the author added the paranormal aspects and made sure to keep things even a little but creepy. It made it really easy to love the story and enjoy immersing myself in Jorja’s story and feeling what she did, seeing it all play out in my mind. I was never bored, and I only wanted to keep reading.
The writing flows extremely well, the transitions are smooth and the descriptions were fairly easy to visualize. Despite this being a paranormal read, it couldn’t have felt more real! The situations and how the characters react are easy for readers to connect to because maybe we reacted that way too or we saw that in a movie or maybe a friend did that! It was easy to forget the paranormal parts in this book couldn’t actually happen. Except for Corbin. He can’t really happen, so when he is his… other self?… you are reminded of how unreal it all is. I needed the reminder though, so I never minded. Plus, Corbin is just a great character overall.
Actually, all the characters were great. They were all real and easy to connect with. Well, okay so maybe not the more evil of the characters, but they played pretty great villains so I’m not complaining. Overall though, the characters were very likeable.
Which brings me to this: I recommend this book to you lovers of paranormal romances! And anyone else who wants to give it a go. d:
Wow. I was pretty surprised with this book. I couldn't really get where it was going......other than Corbin was a bad guy. Why......because I love bad guys and he had me all flustered! :)
I loved all the paranormal twists. Demons. Lilith. Purgatory. Spirit Possessions. Goddesses. Rebirth.
I cannot wait to see what part two of this series holds. I am really hoping Corbin & Jorja find HEA!
Brynn Myers certainly brought the south to life in this story set in Savannah, GA. From Southern mannerisms to sprawling estates to sweet tea and fried chicken, I was reminded of all the reasons I love being from the South. I have to travel to Savannah a couple of times for work this year, and this book has convinced me to stay in a bed-and-breakfast and take a tour of some southern mansions. I can't wait.
However, while I loved the world building of the South, I felt a disconnect with the story. I think it was because Jorja, our heroine, served as a narrator for the most part and told us her story instead of making me feel a part of it. I am a reader that likes to envision myself as the main character, so the first person narration style just didn't work for me. Readers who like to be "told" a story will probably enjoy this much more than me. I hope that makes sense, I'm not sure how else to describe it.
Other than that, I liked all of the characters and following along with their day-to-day lives. The story meandered along at a pace that reminds you that things move much slower in the South. The relationship between Jorja and her aunts was sweet and usually involved loads of food. It reminded me of going to my memaw's house on Sunday afternoon when the table would be covered with fried chicken, cornbread, baked beans, potato salad and every other southern food you could think of. The relationship between Jorja and Corbin was a bit of instalove, despite their rough beginnings. I liked Corbin well enough, but his character wasn't really developed in the story. We don't know much about him until the very end.
Speaking of which, this really doesn't become a paranormal read until about the last 25% of the book. That is very different from most paranormals I've read where you seem to be immersed in the paranormal activity from very early on. I don't know if I liked it or not... I have mixed feelings. It was almost like the demonic aspects did not fit in with the lazy southern flow of the book. So when they started happening, it all seemed a little rushed. That could be a good set up for the rest of the series, so I will definitely continue reading to see how things play out.
I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. 3 stars / 2 flames.
The Jorja Graham Duology — BOOK REVIEW. I thoroughly enjoyed both of the books in the Jorja Graham series. This paranormal romance duology features a strong central female character, Jorja Graham, and an equally strong protagonistic love interest in Corbin, a rich and mysterious character who enters Jorja’s life at a tumultuous time. Corbin turns out to be a demon; yeah, you read that right. But, he’s not evil, let me set your mind at ease about that. He falls for Jorja (and she for him) in a big way. But, his brother has other evil plans that threaten Jorja and Corbin’s happiness — in fact, the happiness and very existence of the world. Jorja and Corbin and their friends must thwart Corbin’s evil brother’s plans and save the world. I’m not sure if it’s a spoiler alert to tell you that Jorja (who is all too human) dies at the end of the first book. But, fear not, she becomes a supernatural entity to equal her beloved Corbin in Book Two. If you wanna know whether they are victorious over evil, save the world, and find their happy ending together — well, you’re just gonna have to read the books to find that out. The Jorja Graham Duology is full of quick wit, romantic angst, action and is just an all-around fun read. You will not be disappointed. Also, a second couple-to-be (possibly?) is hinted at in Book Two. Do I smell a story about the two of them in the future? I was impressed enough with the author and the storyline to be interested in reading another series penned by Brynn Myers, the Prophecy of the Nine Series. Check out the Goodreads for each of these series below.
DISCLAIMER: I was given the two ebooks in this series for free for purposes of review. No other compensation was received. All opinions are 100% my own.
I was given an ARC book for an honest review free of persuasion from the author or anyone else affiliated with this book.
CONTAINS SOME SPOILERS
Holy Wow!!!! This book was so good! I couldn't put it down! This book held my attention from page one to the very last. I am very excited to be reading book 2 in just a few minutes! I am sure I will be up all night gripped within it's pages just like I was with this one! I had this book read in 1 day.
Jorja lives a simple life. She works at an antique store with her two aunts. She makes lists. That is how she stays in control of her life. She doesn't read romance novels because the thought of weak minded females and love at first sight makes her gag. She lives alone in her townhouse with her cat. When an heir of a plantation home comes forth, Jorja is excited to be handling the estate auction. No one has set foot in this house in many years and Jorja cant wait to see what treasures it holds. That is until the heir becomes arrogant and pushy. Then Jorja just wants to be done with the job so she can move on with her life. When Jorja starts falling head over heels for the heir, things in her life become crazy! What happens to Jorja? Is her life in any sort of danger? What do her aunts and best friend think of the new stranger in their lives?
If you like witches and demons and other worldly beings, you will love this book! I read this book with out looking at synopsis or any other descriptions. I was so glad that I did to. I didn't know what to expect opening the cover and I think that was the best way to approach this book. I cant wait to read the next book. I will let you know how it is!
I cannot deal with the fact that the sequel to this book isn't out yet. Come on, man! You cannot just leave it there. I can't handle this kind of suspense!
This is a surprisingly good book. It had a lot of strikes against it before I started (cheap kindle book with not a lot of reviews and a high star rating on GR usually equals hot mess that I can't bear to sit through for more than a chapter) but it proved an interesting read pretty early on. Jorja is, again surprisingly, very likable and more so, her two aunts and best friend.
Her love interest, Corbin, I can take or leave. He doesn't really do it for me on his own, but his storyline with Jorja is pretty unique. So bonus points for that.
Overall, really fast and entertaining read. Looking forward to the next one.
I had a hard time getting into this book because of the speed at which the story flowed. I want a book to grab me at the first chapter and not let go throughout the book. This was my first Brynn Myer book so I didn’t know what to expect. I was sent these books for review through Xpresso book tours and sometimes there are just some books that you cannot get into. I know everything moves slower in the South but I was not a fan of the slow and sometimes tedious speed of the book. The characters were interesting but not enough for me to want to finish this book and start the next in the series.
Increasing suspense as you wait for the ghosts and demons to manifest that were introduced in the beginning of the book. Moves quickly. I wasn't sure he really loved her but in the end was convinced by actions and support of other characters. A sad and shocking ending in my opinion. I guess I should have realized it was going to happen. I hate cliff hangers. This is a book that stands and ends alone so it's not a cliff hanger. But I will say I'm glad I've already purchased the second of the set so I can immediately (I hope) get the closure and conclusion that I need.
Jorja hasn't had the easiest life, so when her bitter mother dies, she can finally be free of all the burdens of her childhood. After meeting Corbin through her aunts, she feels an instant attraction. She moves into the house Corbin gives her, and "things" start to happen. Possession, demons, lies, and underhanded plans come to surface. This was a great read. Can't wait to start the next book.
I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review. I'm reviewing this book for Kylie's Fiction Addiction.
The beginning established for me the paranormal mystery that the book wanted. However, in the progressing chapters, it focused more on the story and love between Jorja and Corbin that had me questioning "Where's the mystery? Where's the suspense? Come on!"
Southern gothic romance with decent atmosphere and moments of genuine creepiness. The manuscript suffers slightly from needed copy editing, and the main character seems to be stuck as more observer than participant. The spooky undercurrents keep the story flowing though, and I enjoyed the overall result more than enough to look forward to reading the second half of this duology.