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Lowcountry Mysteries #1
Not Quite Dead
A broken engagement sends Graciela Harper crawling back to Heron Creek with her tail between her legs, but finds the sleepy little town too changed to set her life right. Not even her budding drinking problem can obscure her Gramps’s failing health, or erase the mental picture of her first love happily married to her childhood best friend. To top it all off, she’s having a heck of time convincing the town’s dashing young mayor of her unfit-for-dating status.
When the ghost of 18th century lady pirate Anne Bonny starts insisting on a near daily audience, Graciela has to confront something else she never expected—being certifiably nuts at twenty-five years old.
Her brand new "I don't give a crap" attitude makes it easy to dismiss the mysterious threats that seem to be tied to her search for more information on the long dead pirate, but when her family becomes a target, Gracie knows she needs to find out why the ghost insists on being a constant, reeking companion.
If Graciela can put aside her prejudice against people without a pulse, she may discover that Anne Bonny’s problems are intricately linked with her own. The past harbors answers could help the cantankerous spirit find closure, but she is, after all, already dead. If Graciela doesn’t move fast, she might find herself doing the haunting, instead of the other way around.
When the ghost of 18th century lady pirate Anne Bonny starts insisting on a near daily audience, Graciela has to confront something else she never expected—being certifiably nuts at twenty-five years old.
Her brand new "I don't give a crap" attitude makes it easy to dismiss the mysterious threats that seem to be tied to her search for more information on the long dead pirate, but when her family becomes a target, Gracie knows she needs to find out why the ghost insists on being a constant, reeking companion.
If Graciela can put aside her prejudice against people without a pulse, she may discover that Anne Bonny’s problems are intricately linked with her own. The past harbors answers could help the cantankerous spirit find closure, but she is, after all, already dead. If Graciela doesn’t move fast, she might find herself doing the haunting, instead of the other way around.
379 pages, Paperback
First published March 27, 2014
457 people are currently reading
2443 people want to read
About the author
Lyla Payne
39 books856 followersI've been publishing New Adult romance novels for a little over a year, starting with Broken at Love and continuing with the rest of the Whitman University series. I adore telling stories, discovering the little reasons people fall in love, and uncovering hidden truths in the world around us – past and present.
In my spare time I cuddle my two dogs, pretend to enjoy exercising so that I can eat as much Chipotle as I want, and harbor a deep and abiding hope that Zac Efron likes older women. I loves reading, of course, along with movies, traveling, and Irish whiskey.
I'm hard at work, ALWAYS, and hope to bring you more Whitman University antics and at least one more Lowcountry ghost tale before the end of the year.
If you want to know more, please visit me at http://lylapayne.com
If you’re a fan of Young Adult fiction—science fiction or otherwise—please check out my work that’s published under the name Trisha Leigh. http://trishaleigh.com
I'm represented by Kathleen Rushall at Marsal Lyon Literary Agency.
In my spare time I cuddle my two dogs, pretend to enjoy exercising so that I can eat as much Chipotle as I want, and harbor a deep and abiding hope that Zac Efron likes older women. I loves reading, of course, along with movies, traveling, and Irish whiskey.
I'm hard at work, ALWAYS, and hope to bring you more Whitman University antics and at least one more Lowcountry ghost tale before the end of the year.
If you want to know more, please visit me at http://lylapayne.com
If you’re a fan of Young Adult fiction—science fiction or otherwise—please check out my work that’s published under the name Trisha Leigh. http://trishaleigh.com
I'm represented by Kathleen Rushall at Marsal Lyon Literary Agency.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 208 reviews
October 18, 2015
I wasn't sure what to expect with this book but I actually liked it quite a bit.
The story is well written and the characters are even better. I didn't really connect with the characters but I still enjoyed reading about them. I wasn't completely sold on the ghost story aspect of this book though. I think it was because I had no idea going in to this book that it was in the paranormal genre so it felt a little out of place. I did like the historical elements and the drama though out the story though.
Overall, I enjoyed this book a lot but it wasn't necessarily my favorite ghost book. I would recommend it if you're really into ghosts and paranormal books.
The story is well written and the characters are even better. I didn't really connect with the characters but I still enjoyed reading about them. I wasn't completely sold on the ghost story aspect of this book though. I think it was because I had no idea going in to this book that it was in the paranormal genre so it felt a little out of place. I did like the historical elements and the drama though out the story though.
Overall, I enjoyed this book a lot but it wasn't necessarily my favorite ghost book. I would recommend it if you're really into ghosts and paranormal books.
August 17, 2014
Did you see the genres this book is marked into? DID YOU FUCKING SEE THAT? God. This is so embarrassing. I’m still reeling from this, and apparently, I hadn’t even seen that Not Quite Dead is a paranormal story when I signed up for the blog tour. I disappoint myself well and truly.
BUT, Not Quite Dead worked for me like a charm (which is a delicate way of saying that I had to snuggle with my sister in the night in case of monsters). The book is just crazily good and holy shit. Can I say I just loved the characters? ALL OF THEM.
Not Quite Dead is the story of Graciela Harper and her return to her grandfather’s house in Heron Creek. He’s old and weak and Graciela runs from life with her “tail between her legs” and finds it in herself to spend time with and take care of him in his final days. But she’s deciding whether she’s an alcoholic and still reeling over the fact that her engagement was broken thanks to her stupid, cheating ex.
And also, she’s seeing the ghost of a two hundred and something old years lady pirate Anne Bonny.
Quite predictably, Graciela is all woe is me, shaking fist at the heavens, why-god-why in the beginning of the book. Something like this:
But then she runs into Anne Bonny and the absolutely gorgeous Mayor Beau…something and might I say that I loved this guy. I did. He’s so ungh and his words are so, so ungh and omg dimples.
I like that along with a bit of a ghost problem, Gracie (can I call you Gracie?) also has to sort through some of her own family issues. There’s a lot to be said about how she handles people but hindsight is 20/20 and now that I know her history with each of them, I can see now that there’s no other way she could have possibly reacted to these people.
I honestly loved the relationship Gracie had with her grandfather. While there were no parents in the book, the entire dynamic with her grandfather is just absolutely heartwarming.
There’s also a warning I’d like to give. There’s a specific part that deals with domestic abuse. It’s not too much, just one scene and you’ll know when you get there but it’s…you know, it’s there.
If I went into detail with the supporting characters, that’d be too meh, and I like my reviews to be anything but meh, so here’s what I think: They’re all important, they’re all believable and I can honestly say that Miss Payne is an expert storyteller because these characters? They grow on you.
I, for one, did not like a certain Mel in the beginning. But she grew as a person and that makes me real happy. It’s a nice thing to read and as someone who was very, very invested in these characters, it was absolute perfection.
Can we talk about Mr. Mayor now?
Is there anything about this guy that isn’t perfect? He’s all crooked lower teeth and sweetness and pasta and wow I’m not making any sense.
But no, seriously. I loved reading this guy. He was logical and strong and brave and someone help me I can’t stop talking about him!
I’m not going to mention anything about Anne Bonny. She’s basically a pirate lady ghost person and anything I tell you about her is a spoiler. My advise, though? This isn’t your typical ghost.
Anne Bonny pretty much kicks ass and I really, really liked the way she was written in the book. So, I Google’d her (because why the fuck not) and found…Assassin’s Creed 4? If someone could be kind enough to help me understand where exactly the two fit in, that’d be real swell. Is she like a pirate in the game or the villain or the prize or what?
Also, wow, this is what I found:
Kids these days. I’m pretty sure she didn’t look like she’d walked out of a breast implant commercial (no seriously, there are those. See my favourite here).
What were we talking about in the first place?
Are people going to let me host blog tours again?
Find this review and more at Rhea's Neon Journal.
BUT, Not Quite Dead worked for me like a charm (which is a delicate way of saying that I had to snuggle with my sister in the night in case of monsters). The book is just crazily good and holy shit. Can I say I just loved the characters? ALL OF THEM.
Not Quite Dead is the story of Graciela Harper and her return to her grandfather’s house in Heron Creek. He’s old and weak and Graciela runs from life with her “tail between her legs” and finds it in herself to spend time with and take care of him in his final days. But she’s deciding whether she’s an alcoholic and still reeling over the fact that her engagement was broken thanks to her stupid, cheating ex.
And also, she’s seeing the ghost of a two hundred and something old years lady pirate Anne Bonny.
Quite predictably, Graciela is all woe is me, shaking fist at the heavens, why-god-why in the beginning of the book. Something like this:
But then she runs into Anne Bonny and the absolutely gorgeous Mayor Beau…something and might I say that I loved this guy. I did. He’s so ungh and his words are so, so ungh and omg dimples.
I like that along with a bit of a ghost problem, Gracie (can I call you Gracie?) also has to sort through some of her own family issues. There’s a lot to be said about how she handles people but hindsight is 20/20 and now that I know her history with each of them, I can see now that there’s no other way she could have possibly reacted to these people.
I honestly loved the relationship Gracie had with her grandfather. While there were no parents in the book, the entire dynamic with her grandfather is just absolutely heartwarming.
There’s also a warning I’d like to give. There’s a specific part that deals with domestic abuse. It’s not too much, just one scene and you’ll know when you get there but it’s…you know, it’s there.
If I went into detail with the supporting characters, that’d be too meh, and I like my reviews to be anything but meh, so here’s what I think: They’re all important, they’re all believable and I can honestly say that Miss Payne is an expert storyteller because these characters? They grow on you.
I, for one, did not like a certain Mel in the beginning. But she grew as a person and that makes me real happy. It’s a nice thing to read and as someone who was very, very invested in these characters, it was absolute perfection.
Can we talk about Mr. Mayor now?
Is there anything about this guy that isn’t perfect? He’s all crooked lower teeth and sweetness and pasta and wow I’m not making any sense.
But no, seriously. I loved reading this guy. He was logical and strong and brave and someone help me I can’t stop talking about him!
I’m not going to mention anything about Anne Bonny. She’s basically a pirate lady ghost person and anything I tell you about her is a spoiler. My advise, though? This isn’t your typical ghost.
Anne Bonny pretty much kicks ass and I really, really liked the way she was written in the book. So, I Google’d her (because why the fuck not) and found…Assassin’s Creed 4? If someone could be kind enough to help me understand where exactly the two fit in, that’d be real swell. Is she like a pirate in the game or the villain or the prize or what?
Also, wow, this is what I found:
Kids these days. I’m pretty sure she didn’t look like she’d walked out of a breast implant commercial (no seriously, there are those. See my favourite here).
What were we talking about in the first place?
Are people going to let me host blog tours again?
Find this review and more at Rhea's Neon Journal.
September 25, 2018
This is a really fun book with a bit of everything. There's a mystery, there's a ghost, there's a romance, all these are perfectly blended lightly together to make a lovely read. I am ready for the next book.
June 26, 2014
Book – Not Quite Dead (A Lowcountry Ghost Story #1)
Author – Lyla Payne
Publication Date – April 1, 2014
Type – No Cliffhanger Series
Genre – Romance, Mystery
Rating – 4 out of 5 Stars
Book provided by Author (Blog Tour) in exchange for an honest review.
Wow – this story touched every single one of my emotions – I laughed, I cried, I got angry, I was happy, I got frustrated and I loved. This book had so much wrapped in 257 pages that I couldn’t stop reading even if the end of the world was coming (okay, that may be an exaggeration) but all in all this was such great book!
I did have a problem though in the beginning connecting with Gracie when she was going through her pity party and if I was Beau, I would have given up on her. Thank goodness he persisted though because by the time she got her head on straight – I could see their relationship going far!
I can’t stress enough how touching this book is in the beginning and how it grabs you….oh and don’t even think that since this is a “ghost” book that you can pass it up. This isn’t your normal ghost story – more it’s a cross between “Ghost Whisperer” and “Investigation Discovery” channel!
Definitely a book to try out and break out of your comfort zone!
Author – Lyla Payne
Publication Date – April 1, 2014
Type – No Cliffhanger Series
Genre – Romance, Mystery
Rating – 4 out of 5 Stars
Book provided by Author (Blog Tour) in exchange for an honest review.
Wow – this story touched every single one of my emotions – I laughed, I cried, I got angry, I was happy, I got frustrated and I loved. This book had so much wrapped in 257 pages that I couldn’t stop reading even if the end of the world was coming (okay, that may be an exaggeration) but all in all this was such great book!
I did have a problem though in the beginning connecting with Gracie when she was going through her pity party and if I was Beau, I would have given up on her. Thank goodness he persisted though because by the time she got her head on straight – I could see their relationship going far!
I can’t stress enough how touching this book is in the beginning and how it grabs you….oh and don’t even think that since this is a “ghost” book that you can pass it up. This isn’t your normal ghost story – more it’s a cross between “Ghost Whisperer” and “Investigation Discovery” channel!
Definitely a book to try out and break out of your comfort zone!
September 5, 2018
I downloaded this novel as part of a "package" of free ebooks & so by the ti originally me I got around to reading it I had completely forgotten what genre is was in.
It was quite a surprise when the ghostly element arose, & this just added to what was a fantastic story of small town life & going back to a childhood home. The novel was well written & characters were well thought out & rounded.
Without popping in a spoiler - I found myself crying at the end, laughing at Graciela's witty sarcasm & thoughtful at trying to work out her ghostie friend's mystery. There's intrigue in the final chapters when a hint is given that one of the characters is perhaps not to be trusted.
I thoroughly enjoyed this quick read.
It was quite a surprise when the ghostly element arose, & this just added to what was a fantastic story of small town life & going back to a childhood home. The novel was well written & characters were well thought out & rounded.
Without popping in a spoiler - I found myself crying at the end, laughing at Graciela's witty sarcasm & thoughtful at trying to work out her ghostie friend's mystery. There's intrigue in the final chapters when a hint is given that one of the characters is perhaps not to be trusted.
I thoroughly enjoyed this quick read.
January 1, 2022
Graciela has returned home to take care of her very ill grandfather. This book is a well written story of a family and old friends. Graciela believes she is going crazy when a ghost keeps trying to get her attention. The mystery is solid, and the story is emotional, interesting and I will be reading more from this series.
June 23, 2014
Not Quite Dead ( A Lowcountry Ghost Story) by Lyla Payne is a 2014 publication. I was provided a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Graciela is dealing with inner demons , an ill grandfather, tense family relations, old memories, and the mayor of Heron Creek , and one stinky and persistent ghost. That's a lot of for anyone, but Grace is tougher than she knows and she will need every last ounce of her strength to survive.
Graciela has lots of regrets and is nursing a broken heart and deep humiliation. Now she is face to face with her old boyfriend, Will and his wife, Melanie who was once Grace's bestie. Awkward. Being back in Heron Creek has also stirred up old memories for Grace. Her cousin who was like her sister growing up hasn't spoken to her in years, her relationship with Will which was a sure thing has her feeling like she missed out on something great with him, and to rub salt in the wound she has to watch him and her former best friend live the life she could have had. Instead she ended up with a guy that cheated on her countless times and left her in rotten state of mind. But, now the most important thing is her grandfather. Her elderly grandfather is struggling with his health and trying to maintain his dignity. He worries about Grace a lot, but tries not to show it. When the new mayor in town takes an instant liking to Grace, she puts up all her defenses. However, Beau refuses to give up on Grace. The town has decided that Grace may be one brick shy of a full load and she suffers odd looks and is the subject of much gossip. When the ghost of Anne Bonny shows up ,Grace has her memory refreshed about the legend of Anne and the reports of seeing her ghost from time to time.
It becomes apparent that Anne wants Grace to help her and if Grace wants any peace she will have to go along. As Grace begins to feel a little sympathy toward her ghost the history about Anne begins to put many things into perspective for Grace. But, before she can get all the facts she needs, her grandfather takes a turn for the worse and Grace has to deal with her bitch of Aunt, Melanie warning her away from Will, and before long a dreaded reunion with her cousin, Amelia. Not only that but Beau has found a way to break down some of Grace's walls but a disturbing story about Beau has left just a niggle of doubt in Grace's mind as to whether or not she can trust Beau in general, much less with her heart.
Grace is quite a character. Snarky, sarcastic, funny, and flawed, but you will root for her from start to finish. Gramps is also a great guy, but the other characters in the story all had me wondering who to trust or like . Melanie was kind of an odd duck I thought, Will was wishy washy, Beau was too tight lipped about his past, but didn't have any trouble pumping Grace for information about hers, Aunt Karen made me want to reach through the pages and slap her, Amelia was just in a really bad situation and I couldn't help but feel for her. Another of Grace's old friends from Heron Creek provides a mystery that we don't get to the bottom of in this chapter of the series, but I have a feeling we will learn a lot more about that soon. Then Anne Bonny and her sadness, determination, and her back story made her one of the best characters in the book. Of course she doesn't speak out loud, but her story is still told in her own words.
There is a lot going on in this book. The ghost story was really interesting as we get to hear about events of over 200 years ago from Anne herself. The family dynamics are really heavy and frankly realistic. Not all families are just perfect and Grace has pretty much been left on her own except for her grandfather due to some delicate situations in the past. An old curse that threatens all the descendants of Anne Bonny comes to light but Grace is having a hard time getting to the bottom of it because of a librarian who is overprotective of the archives. The relationship with Beau seems like a good one for Grace and I thought she deserved some happiness after everything she had gone through. While a part of me was glad to see Grace shrug off her doubts about Beau, another part of me wondered if that was a good thing or not. The reader will have to decide that for themselves and of course I'm sure the next book will reveal more about Beau and his all so secret past. There was closure for everyone thankfully on all other fronts. Amelia and Grace are going to finally be alright with each other, Will and Melanie are on solid ground and maybe Grace and Melanie's friendship will regain some of it's strength now that Melanie is not as insecure. But, it looks like Grace's job is not over just yet.... so stay tuned.
This is a New Adult Mystery/Ghost story with mature themes and some romance. The heat level is a one, there is some language sprinkled throughout and some mild violence.
This one gets a 4 star rating.
Graciela is dealing with inner demons , an ill grandfather, tense family relations, old memories, and the mayor of Heron Creek , and one stinky and persistent ghost. That's a lot of for anyone, but Grace is tougher than she knows and she will need every last ounce of her strength to survive.
Graciela has lots of regrets and is nursing a broken heart and deep humiliation. Now she is face to face with her old boyfriend, Will and his wife, Melanie who was once Grace's bestie. Awkward. Being back in Heron Creek has also stirred up old memories for Grace. Her cousin who was like her sister growing up hasn't spoken to her in years, her relationship with Will which was a sure thing has her feeling like she missed out on something great with him, and to rub salt in the wound she has to watch him and her former best friend live the life she could have had. Instead she ended up with a guy that cheated on her countless times and left her in rotten state of mind. But, now the most important thing is her grandfather. Her elderly grandfather is struggling with his health and trying to maintain his dignity. He worries about Grace a lot, but tries not to show it. When the new mayor in town takes an instant liking to Grace, she puts up all her defenses. However, Beau refuses to give up on Grace. The town has decided that Grace may be one brick shy of a full load and she suffers odd looks and is the subject of much gossip. When the ghost of Anne Bonny shows up ,Grace has her memory refreshed about the legend of Anne and the reports of seeing her ghost from time to time.
It becomes apparent that Anne wants Grace to help her and if Grace wants any peace she will have to go along. As Grace begins to feel a little sympathy toward her ghost the history about Anne begins to put many things into perspective for Grace. But, before she can get all the facts she needs, her grandfather takes a turn for the worse and Grace has to deal with her bitch of Aunt, Melanie warning her away from Will, and before long a dreaded reunion with her cousin, Amelia. Not only that but Beau has found a way to break down some of Grace's walls but a disturbing story about Beau has left just a niggle of doubt in Grace's mind as to whether or not she can trust Beau in general, much less with her heart.
Grace is quite a character. Snarky, sarcastic, funny, and flawed, but you will root for her from start to finish. Gramps is also a great guy, but the other characters in the story all had me wondering who to trust or like . Melanie was kind of an odd duck I thought, Will was wishy washy, Beau was too tight lipped about his past, but didn't have any trouble pumping Grace for information about hers, Aunt Karen made me want to reach through the pages and slap her, Amelia was just in a really bad situation and I couldn't help but feel for her. Another of Grace's old friends from Heron Creek provides a mystery that we don't get to the bottom of in this chapter of the series, but I have a feeling we will learn a lot more about that soon. Then Anne Bonny and her sadness, determination, and her back story made her one of the best characters in the book. Of course she doesn't speak out loud, but her story is still told in her own words.
There is a lot going on in this book. The ghost story was really interesting as we get to hear about events of over 200 years ago from Anne herself. The family dynamics are really heavy and frankly realistic. Not all families are just perfect and Grace has pretty much been left on her own except for her grandfather due to some delicate situations in the past. An old curse that threatens all the descendants of Anne Bonny comes to light but Grace is having a hard time getting to the bottom of it because of a librarian who is overprotective of the archives. The relationship with Beau seems like a good one for Grace and I thought she deserved some happiness after everything she had gone through. While a part of me was glad to see Grace shrug off her doubts about Beau, another part of me wondered if that was a good thing or not. The reader will have to decide that for themselves and of course I'm sure the next book will reveal more about Beau and his all so secret past. There was closure for everyone thankfully on all other fronts. Amelia and Grace are going to finally be alright with each other, Will and Melanie are on solid ground and maybe Grace and Melanie's friendship will regain some of it's strength now that Melanie is not as insecure. But, it looks like Grace's job is not over just yet.... so stay tuned.
This is a New Adult Mystery/Ghost story with mature themes and some romance. The heat level is a one, there is some language sprinkled throughout and some mild violence.
This one gets a 4 star rating.
March 29, 2015
5 stars!
Love, family, friendship, healing old wounds, saying goodbye and one hell of a ghost!
I absolutely loved this book! I have a thing for ghost stories whether they are real or not. Being someone who has had personal experience lol yes I did have a ghost encounter! I couldn’t put this book down.
We start out with Graciela Harper in her grandfather’s driveway, she seems a bit of a mess. The nosey neighbor is banging on her car window and now she has to deal with her. This is the neighbor that called her threatening to call social services if someone didn’t come take care of him. So Graciela has returned to her grandfather’s home to take care of him. She was living in another state and was engaged. The timing was perfect she needed to leave anyway. Gracie is back taking care of her grandfather, she hasn’t seen any of her friends from childhood. There was a falling out between her and her cousin Amelia whom she was very close to all their lives. Eventually she reconnects with each of them, but it’s not that easy, things have changed and not for the best; especially for Amelia. There is so much going on here with the friends and Amelia and the man she meets Beauregard Drayton. The relationships between all of them and the way the story is written I love it! I thought it was perfect I didn’t feel like anything was left unsaid here between these characters. Beauregard is one hot man!!!
Now (insert creepy scary music here) the story of Anne Bonny. There is a legend that anyone who sees Anne Bonny is considered crazy so when Graciela sees her in her rearview mirror she thinks she is losing her mind. I love this part of the story where Anne Bonny is involved I love the entire book. What could she possibly want from Graciela? Why is she “haunting” her? Is she really losing her mind? You need to read this!
I was so surprised by the ending. Most times I can figure stuff out and I am pretty much talking to the book saying “come on I know who it is” but this time there were some curve balls for sure! And the ending OMG!!! I can’t wait to continue reading these books. Great read!!
Love, family, friendship, healing old wounds, saying goodbye and one hell of a ghost!
I absolutely loved this book! I have a thing for ghost stories whether they are real or not. Being someone who has had personal experience lol yes I did have a ghost encounter! I couldn’t put this book down.
We start out with Graciela Harper in her grandfather’s driveway, she seems a bit of a mess. The nosey neighbor is banging on her car window and now she has to deal with her. This is the neighbor that called her threatening to call social services if someone didn’t come take care of him. So Graciela has returned to her grandfather’s home to take care of him. She was living in another state and was engaged. The timing was perfect she needed to leave anyway. Gracie is back taking care of her grandfather, she hasn’t seen any of her friends from childhood. There was a falling out between her and her cousin Amelia whom she was very close to all their lives. Eventually she reconnects with each of them, but it’s not that easy, things have changed and not for the best; especially for Amelia. There is so much going on here with the friends and Amelia and the man she meets Beauregard Drayton. The relationships between all of them and the way the story is written I love it! I thought it was perfect I didn’t feel like anything was left unsaid here between these characters. Beauregard is one hot man!!!
Now (insert creepy scary music here) the story of Anne Bonny. There is a legend that anyone who sees Anne Bonny is considered crazy so when Graciela sees her in her rearview mirror she thinks she is losing her mind. I love this part of the story where Anne Bonny is involved I love the entire book. What could she possibly want from Graciela? Why is she “haunting” her? Is she really losing her mind? You need to read this!
I was so surprised by the ending. Most times I can figure stuff out and I am pretty much talking to the book saying “come on I know who it is” but this time there were some curve balls for sure! And the ending OMG!!! I can’t wait to continue reading these books. Great read!!
April 1, 2014
Graciela Harper’s life isn’t exactly going the way she planned. At 25, she’s moving back to the small southern town where she spent her summers growing up to take care of her elderly grandfather and to escape a messy failed engagement. But the town she once knew doesn’t seem to be providing the escape she needed. Small town rumors about Gracie’s drinking preferences and late mornings lead her to become the town pariah. Being left alone is fine by her standards, however not everyone seems to be taking the hint. And unfortunately for her, the attention she garners is from the overly eager and devastatingly handsome mayor and the town ghost, who just happens to stink of salt water and pops up when its least expected.
But the more time she spends in Heron Creek, the more complicated things get. Her grandfather isn’t getting any better. Beau, the lovely mayor, keeps showing up. And the ghost of a pirate who can’t communicate is hell bent on getting her to perform some task. One that might end up getting her killed.
NOT QUITE DEAD is not your typical ghost story. It’s a story of family and coming together thrown in with some intrigue and adventure. I didn’t want the story to end, it was that good. Gracie is a narrator I couldn’t get enough of. With her quick wit and clumsy nature, she really fills the story with life and substance. Fans of Lyla Payne will not be disappointed with this hauntingly wonderful story.
But the more time she spends in Heron Creek, the more complicated things get. Her grandfather isn’t getting any better. Beau, the lovely mayor, keeps showing up. And the ghost of a pirate who can’t communicate is hell bent on getting her to perform some task. One that might end up getting her killed.
NOT QUITE DEAD is not your typical ghost story. It’s a story of family and coming together thrown in with some intrigue and adventure. I didn’t want the story to end, it was that good. Gracie is a narrator I couldn’t get enough of. With her quick wit and clumsy nature, she really fills the story with life and substance. Fans of Lyla Payne will not be disappointed with this hauntingly wonderful story.
September 25, 2024
The review for this book is nearly impossible to write in a condensed version and still do it justice. Gracie Harper returns home depressed, falling apart, and borderline alcoholic to care for Gramps. His health, already failing rapidly declines as Gracie desperately tries to gain her footing in the town that owns her childhood. Beau, the handsome Mayor, is a better welcome wagon than the ghost of the insistent Anne Bonny. As childhood friendships are mended, Gracie learns she does not have to seal her heart away to survive. Forces beyond her imagination prove to have a vendetta against her that leave her risking everything if she can't solve the mystery.
This amazing story sucked me in and spit me out with a myriad of emotions. My favorite character, Gramps, was written with such love and admiration that I dare say he transpired from someone very special. How lucky and loved we would all be to have a Gramps on our side.
As for Beau … I look forward to reading more about this man who chisels patiently at the walls around Gracie's heart.
So many characters in this book are worth loving, so start reading and join the adventure!
This amazing story sucked me in and spit me out with a myriad of emotions. My favorite character, Gramps, was written with such love and admiration that I dare say he transpired from someone very special. How lucky and loved we would all be to have a Gramps on our side.
As for Beau … I look forward to reading more about this man who chisels patiently at the walls around Gracie's heart.
So many characters in this book are worth loving, so start reading and join the adventure!
Read
April 21, 20154/20/2015
NOT QUITE DEAD is now FREE on all platforms (except Nook)!!! I'd love it if you'd give this series a try for me - it's my favorite. <3 <3
--
So, NOT QUITE DEAD is out a few days early (except for on iBooks, blah)!! I really, really love this book and hope that you will too, despite the fact that it's very different from the Whitman Books and am (nervously) hopeful that you will, too. I can't wait to hear!! xoxoxo
Amazon! http://www.amazon.com/Quite-Dead-Lowc...
Barnes and Noble! http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/not-q...
Kobo! http://store.kobobooks.com/en-US/eboo...
Happy Reading!
Good Monday to you, readers!
This is my latest offering to you, something different but also the same! I'd love it if you'd come along for the ride, and if you're interested in helping me reveal the cover in a couple of weeks, please shoot me an email!
lylapayneauthor at gmail!
NOT QUITE DEAD is now FREE on all platforms (except Nook)!!! I'd love it if you'd give this series a try for me - it's my favorite. <3 <3
--
So, NOT QUITE DEAD is out a few days early (except for on iBooks, blah)!! I really, really love this book and hope that you will too, despite the fact that it's very different from the Whitman Books and am (nervously) hopeful that you will, too. I can't wait to hear!! xoxoxo
Amazon! http://www.amazon.com/Quite-Dead-Lowc...
Barnes and Noble! http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/not-q...
Kobo! http://store.kobobooks.com/en-US/eboo...
Happy Reading!
Good Monday to you, readers!
This is my latest offering to you, something different but also the same! I'd love it if you'd come along for the ride, and if you're interested in helping me reveal the cover in a couple of weeks, please shoot me an email!
lylapayneauthor at gmail!
May 2, 2015
I love a good ghost story, and this one really delivers. A smelly female pirate apparition provides a delightfully creepy atmosphere for this tale of a troubled young woman returning to her childhood haunt to take care of her dying grandfather and pick up the pieces of her own life. Romantic entanglements, both old and new, serve to spice up mystery. All I can say is, thank goodness the next book in the series is readily available!
Want to read
November 21, 2017💝 FREE on Amazon today (11/22/2017)! 💝
January 15, 2020
I have very mixed views on this book and all I can say is read it & judge for yourselves. If you listen via audio, be prepared to lose interest.
October 22, 2022
Good Reading
Interesting, edge of my seat reading. Really enjoyable with good twists and turns. The storyline moved at a good pace with good character growth. Enjoyable read
Interesting, edge of my seat reading. Really enjoyable with good twists and turns. The storyline moved at a good pace with good character growth. Enjoyable read
September 5, 2017
3.5 stars. I'm intrigued.
September 5, 2014
You can also READ MY REVIEW HERE.
Look at me reading a ghost story and actually LOVING IT!
First of all, if you're looking for a ghost story with spine chilling chapters, I don't think this is for you. But if you want a ghost story with a heart and depth? HERE. READ IT. LOVE IT. SHARE IT WITH EVERYBODY. THE BOOK TWO IS ALREADY OUT AND IF YOU LOVE ME YOU'LL GIFT IT TO ME!
I did not type the last part. Maybe it's Anne Bonny, idk
I admit, what I wanted at first is to get a creepy, scary and horror-like story. Not because I'm into that genre, HA, but because I want to challenge myself. I'm always avoiding those books and I thought "you know what, i'm tired of being a wimp" So yeah, I've seen ghost in the title and I just signed up. Ghost is pretty hard core for me already, mind you.
Anyway! Imma stop the blabbering. Let's get down to business. Graciela Harper is a mess! From a broken engagement, she went back to her hometown where she practically ran away from, Heron Creek. With her Grandfather counting the last days of his life, she must deal with the fact that her Gramps won't always be at her side. She needs to cut off an old flame permanently, reconcile with lost relationships, deal with a brewing romance and... befriend a pirate ghost?
Graciela or Gracie is sooo amusing for me. Her inner monologues are always so interesting and even though there are some chapters that is spent nothing but just her thinking, I always found myself interested and fixated! Like, yes GRACIE THAT IS SO NONSENSE BUT OKAY I'LL LISTEN. Characters are well done, I must say. Fully developed and well detailed. When you finish the book, there's.. longing. You got to know them, and bonded with them so you'll really miss them. No worries, as it was mentioned, THE BOOK TWO IS ALREADY OUT.
The books atmosphere or/and setting is, just wow, I LOVE IT. Heron Creek (the setting of the book) sounds so enticing to me. When I was reading this book, I felt like I'm just there with Gracie, following her (there's a chance that I'm really Anne Bonny). It's like I also know those people, like I grew up with them. It's because, Lyla Payne is such an excellent writer that when it comes to describing us a particular scene, it is nothing but brilliant!
If there's one thing I'll ask, it's that Gracie needs to work on more to that 'Nancy Drew attitude' There's some circumstances here where certain things are so obvious, I was practically yelling at her. It's too obvious so it's kind of impossible to miss it. (But then again, there's a big chance she's drunk at those times, LOL)
The Romance is.. how do I say this, uh, slow burning? I was struggling at first because I HONESTLY don't trust Gracie's love interest. I don't know, there's something fishy about him and besides, the author did not give him enough character background, so I'll still keep my suspicion. But Ms. Layne, you need to fix this.
You know what I'm talking about! ;)
Overall, Not Quite Dead is a charming, mystifying and absolutely heartwarming read. It's not everyday that you'll come across a ghost story that will will satisfy your drama, mystery, and romance fix. A book with skillful writing, endearing characters and satisfying plot, I HIGHLY recommend it!
Look at me reading a ghost story and actually LOVING IT!
First of all, if you're looking for a ghost story with spine chilling chapters, I don't think this is for you. But if you want a ghost story with a heart and depth? HERE. READ IT. LOVE IT. SHARE IT WITH EVERYBODY. THE BOOK TWO IS ALREADY OUT AND IF YOU LOVE ME YOU'LL GIFT IT TO ME!
I did not type the last part. Maybe it's Anne Bonny, idk
I admit, what I wanted at first is to get a creepy, scary and horror-like story. Not because I'm into that genre, HA, but because I want to challenge myself. I'm always avoiding those books and I thought "you know what, i'm tired of being a wimp" So yeah, I've seen ghost in the title and I just signed up. Ghost is pretty hard core for me already, mind you.
Anyway! Imma stop the blabbering. Let's get down to business. Graciela Harper is a mess! From a broken engagement, she went back to her hometown where she practically ran away from, Heron Creek. With her Grandfather counting the last days of his life, she must deal with the fact that her Gramps won't always be at her side. She needs to cut off an old flame permanently, reconcile with lost relationships, deal with a brewing romance and... befriend a pirate ghost?
Graciela or Gracie is sooo amusing for me. Her inner monologues are always so interesting and even though there are some chapters that is spent nothing but just her thinking, I always found myself interested and fixated! Like, yes GRACIE THAT IS SO NONSENSE BUT OKAY I'LL LISTEN. Characters are well done, I must say. Fully developed and well detailed. When you finish the book, there's.. longing. You got to know them, and bonded with them so you'll really miss them. No worries, as it was mentioned, THE BOOK TWO IS ALREADY OUT.
The books atmosphere or/and setting is, just wow, I LOVE IT. Heron Creek (the setting of the book) sounds so enticing to me. When I was reading this book, I felt like I'm just there with Gracie, following her (there's a chance that I'm really Anne Bonny). It's like I also know those people, like I grew up with them. It's because, Lyla Payne is such an excellent writer that when it comes to describing us a particular scene, it is nothing but brilliant!
If there's one thing I'll ask, it's that Gracie needs to work on more to that 'Nancy Drew attitude' There's some circumstances here where certain things are so obvious, I was practically yelling at her. It's too obvious so it's kind of impossible to miss it. (But then again, there's a big chance she's drunk at those times, LOL)
The Romance is.. how do I say this, uh, slow burning? I was struggling at first because I HONESTLY don't trust Gracie's love interest. I don't know, there's something fishy about him and besides, the author did not give him enough character background, so I'll still keep my suspicion. But Ms. Layne, you need to fix this.
You know what I'm talking about! ;)
Overall, Not Quite Dead is a charming, mystifying and absolutely heartwarming read. It's not everyday that you'll come across a ghost story that will will satisfy your drama, mystery, and romance fix. A book with skillful writing, endearing characters and satisfying plot, I HIGHLY recommend it!
March 28, 2014
Not Quite Dead isn’t my typical type of read… you say ‘Ghosts’ to me and I kind of think ‘Meh’. But Lyla Payne is an author whose stories I happen to love, so I knew I had to give this a try.
I think what I love most about Payne’s stories are her characters. Don’t get me wrong, I love her writing style and she has an amazing way of telling a story and everything she comes up with is unique and really well done, but for me, her characters are what seal the deal.
In Not Quite Dead we meet Gracie… she’s had a shit couple of weeks. She’s caught her cheating ex and left him. Heron Creek, the only place she considers home, is the only place she considers going to lick her wounds but that isn’t the only reason she’s back home. After losing her grandmother only months ago, her grandfather’s health is seriously declining and she’s there to spend his last days with him.
But the place where she spent her summers isn’t exactly the same. Her cousin hasn’t spoken to her since they had a falling out years ago, and her ex-boyfriend who she broke up with, is now married to her other best friend. Add in the fact that the new Mayor, Beauregard Drayton, is seriously interested in her, and the ghost of Anne Bonny won’t leave her alone and Gracie has some major issues to work through.
This story isn’t completely about ghosts, though the paranormal element is strong here, Payne’s focuses part of this story on the relationships of her characters. Gracie is foul mouthed, sometimes drunk, definitely clumsy, and her life is a bit of a mess. Despite all of that, she is genuine and loved by the people around her, even if things are a bit strained at the moment. Her old friendships, though not what they once were are getting there and I really enjoyed her relationship with her grandfather the most.
Now let’s talk about the ghost story here. The intricacies of the story keep me from telling you a lot about Anne Bonny our resident ghost, but the story that Payne weaves is done really well. The suspense of finding out the ties between some of the residents of Heron Creek and Anne kept me turning pages and I really enjoyed the way Payne pulls all the threads of the story together.
Of course there is a bit of a romance … Mayor Beau is smitten with Gracie from the first time they literally run into each other on the streets of Heron Creek and I love the slow burn that Payne gives us. While Beau has his eyes set on Gracie, she is determined to set him in a different direction, convinced she just isn’t the right girl for the up and coming Mayor. He happens to see things a bit different and despite all her protests is there when she needs the support and he even manages to make her (and me) swoon a bit.
“I think you are terribly interesting Graciela Harper. I’d be honored to keep an eye on you.”
If you’re looking for something different, something with a unique story and wonderfully developed characters look no further. You’re definitely going to want to pick up Not Quite Dead when it arrives in April. I'm absolutely waiting patiently (not really) for the next book in this series!
Thank you to the author for an advance copy in exchange for my honest thoughts.
I think what I love most about Payne’s stories are her characters. Don’t get me wrong, I love her writing style and she has an amazing way of telling a story and everything she comes up with is unique and really well done, but for me, her characters are what seal the deal.
In Not Quite Dead we meet Gracie… she’s had a shit couple of weeks. She’s caught her cheating ex and left him. Heron Creek, the only place she considers home, is the only place she considers going to lick her wounds but that isn’t the only reason she’s back home. After losing her grandmother only months ago, her grandfather’s health is seriously declining and she’s there to spend his last days with him.
But the place where she spent her summers isn’t exactly the same. Her cousin hasn’t spoken to her since they had a falling out years ago, and her ex-boyfriend who she broke up with, is now married to her other best friend. Add in the fact that the new Mayor, Beauregard Drayton, is seriously interested in her, and the ghost of Anne Bonny won’t leave her alone and Gracie has some major issues to work through.
This story isn’t completely about ghosts, though the paranormal element is strong here, Payne’s focuses part of this story on the relationships of her characters. Gracie is foul mouthed, sometimes drunk, definitely clumsy, and her life is a bit of a mess. Despite all of that, she is genuine and loved by the people around her, even if things are a bit strained at the moment. Her old friendships, though not what they once were are getting there and I really enjoyed her relationship with her grandfather the most.
Now let’s talk about the ghost story here. The intricacies of the story keep me from telling you a lot about Anne Bonny our resident ghost, but the story that Payne weaves is done really well. The suspense of finding out the ties between some of the residents of Heron Creek and Anne kept me turning pages and I really enjoyed the way Payne pulls all the threads of the story together.
Of course there is a bit of a romance … Mayor Beau is smitten with Gracie from the first time they literally run into each other on the streets of Heron Creek and I love the slow burn that Payne gives us. While Beau has his eyes set on Gracie, she is determined to set him in a different direction, convinced she just isn’t the right girl for the up and coming Mayor. He happens to see things a bit different and despite all her protests is there when she needs the support and he even manages to make her (and me) swoon a bit.
“I think you are terribly interesting Graciela Harper. I’d be honored to keep an eye on you.”
If you’re looking for something different, something with a unique story and wonderfully developed characters look no further. You’re definitely going to want to pick up Not Quite Dead when it arrives in April. I'm absolutely waiting patiently (not really) for the next book in this series!
Thank you to the author for an advance copy in exchange for my honest thoughts.
August 13, 2014
I received a review copy of this book for my stop on the blog tour at Donnie Darko Girl.
Not Quite Dead surprised me in many ways, all of them good. I connected with Graciela, Gracie, right away - she's snarky, spirited, and a loving, devoted granddaughter. She's come back to Heron Creek to take care of her grandpa, who isn't doing well health wise, and while she's nursing a broken heart with alcohol every night, I really didn't think she was over indulgent in her self pity. She handled her fiance cheating on her better than I would have handled it.
Thinking she will get a reprieve from heartbreak and totally awkward situations for a while, Gracie couldn't be more wrong. Barely back for twenty-four hours, she comes face to face with her first love who married her childhood best friend. Yikes! I was relieved, actually, that this wasn't going to be a story where a girl runs from her cheating fiance and finds the perfect place to let her broken heal perfectly. Not Quite Dead is realistic, which I appreciated - Gracie has a lot of history in Heron Creek, and because of that, there are unpleasant situations she must deal with here, too.
The close relationship Gracie has with her grandpa warmed my heart and also brought tears with all of the little signs letting her know just how bad off he really is. I forgot several times that she only spent her summers in Heron Creek - with the love in her voice coming through loud and clear while reminiscing about spending time with her grandparents and going swimming with friends, I could tell how close her ties are to the town.
The young and handsome mayor had me laughing out loud with his banter with Gracie. He added humor which was a nice balance with the more serious topics addressed in this story, topics like cheating, depression, alcohol use, and domestic violence. There's a touch of romance, too, and I appreciated it wasn't the focus of the story but was happy it was there.
The mystery of whether Gracie is really seeing a ghost or if someone is trying to scare her away kept me glued to my Kindle. This book seemed so real it felt like everything in it could really happen. The voices of the characters, the way Payne paints scenes in her story, and the ease with which she draws you into the world she's created all lend the feeling of realness to Not Quite Dead. This was a great story to get lost in, and I'm looking forward to seeing where things go from here.
Not Quite Dead surprised me in many ways, all of them good. I connected with Graciela, Gracie, right away - she's snarky, spirited, and a loving, devoted granddaughter. She's come back to Heron Creek to take care of her grandpa, who isn't doing well health wise, and while she's nursing a broken heart with alcohol every night, I really didn't think she was over indulgent in her self pity. She handled her fiance cheating on her better than I would have handled it.
Thinking she will get a reprieve from heartbreak and totally awkward situations for a while, Gracie couldn't be more wrong. Barely back for twenty-four hours, she comes face to face with her first love who married her childhood best friend. Yikes! I was relieved, actually, that this wasn't going to be a story where a girl runs from her cheating fiance and finds the perfect place to let her broken heal perfectly. Not Quite Dead is realistic, which I appreciated - Gracie has a lot of history in Heron Creek, and because of that, there are unpleasant situations she must deal with here, too.
The close relationship Gracie has with her grandpa warmed my heart and also brought tears with all of the little signs letting her know just how bad off he really is. I forgot several times that she only spent her summers in Heron Creek - with the love in her voice coming through loud and clear while reminiscing about spending time with her grandparents and going swimming with friends, I could tell how close her ties are to the town.
The young and handsome mayor had me laughing out loud with his banter with Gracie. He added humor which was a nice balance with the more serious topics addressed in this story, topics like cheating, depression, alcohol use, and domestic violence. There's a touch of romance, too, and I appreciated it wasn't the focus of the story but was happy it was there.
The mystery of whether Gracie is really seeing a ghost or if someone is trying to scare her away kept me glued to my Kindle. This book seemed so real it felt like everything in it could really happen. The voices of the characters, the way Payne paints scenes in her story, and the ease with which she draws you into the world she's created all lend the feeling of realness to Not Quite Dead. This was a great story to get lost in, and I'm looking forward to seeing where things go from here.
August 13, 2014
For a full review please check out my blog: http://thebooksbuzz.blogspot.com/
After a broken engagement, Graciela Harper comes back to her hometown of Heron Creek to be with her beloved Grandpa. Gracie is back in town, with no ring, no fiancee, and a hazardous drinking problem. In this seemingly quaint and "normal" town, things seem to be going great for her Gramps. Until, of course, she is reintroduced to her childhood crush, who is married and a father. Gracie finds herself in quite the predicament. Between lost love, ghost, and her grandpa's looming death, how can Gracie keep up with herself?
I found myself really enjoying this book only after a few pages. And although this was supposed to be a "ghost story", I couldn't really see the scary factor. Rather than being a terrifying horror story, this book just turned out to be a realistic ghost story, which wasn't bad at all. I would've just preferred the book to be more haunting, ya know?
Gracie, the main protag. I really disliked Gracie! She was so annoying, and not only because she was an alcoholic. I mean maybe that's part of it, but I really really didn't like her. Yes, she was interesting... But her basic attitude about things really put me off. And it was mainly because she didn't give a crap about anything because she was in such a bad place at the time. But nonetheless I rooted for her from beginning to end because even thought she was flawed, she was also broken and under a lot of heartache. I couldn't help myself but pity for her. The relationship build in this story was easy to relate to. I don't think there is a greater bond than the one between Gracie and Gramps. They were adorable :P
Overall, I really enjoyed Lyla Payne's style and sense of writing. She enabled me to explore a brand new genre of books that I wasn't previously aware of. And I'll admit, I had so much fun reading this book. I think this could easily be a really enthralling and light ghost story for those are on the meh side of reading scary stories. It's not at all scary! But I also don't think that's what Payne was going for when writing this novel. So if you haven't picked up this book yet, I suggest you do because you won't find another quite like this one!
After a broken engagement, Graciela Harper comes back to her hometown of Heron Creek to be with her beloved Grandpa. Gracie is back in town, with no ring, no fiancee, and a hazardous drinking problem. In this seemingly quaint and "normal" town, things seem to be going great for her Gramps. Until, of course, she is reintroduced to her childhood crush, who is married and a father. Gracie finds herself in quite the predicament. Between lost love, ghost, and her grandpa's looming death, how can Gracie keep up with herself?
I found myself really enjoying this book only after a few pages. And although this was supposed to be a "ghost story", I couldn't really see the scary factor. Rather than being a terrifying horror story, this book just turned out to be a realistic ghost story, which wasn't bad at all. I would've just preferred the book to be more haunting, ya know?
Gracie, the main protag. I really disliked Gracie! She was so annoying, and not only because she was an alcoholic. I mean maybe that's part of it, but I really really didn't like her. Yes, she was interesting... But her basic attitude about things really put me off. And it was mainly because she didn't give a crap about anything because she was in such a bad place at the time. But nonetheless I rooted for her from beginning to end because even thought she was flawed, she was also broken and under a lot of heartache. I couldn't help myself but pity for her. The relationship build in this story was easy to relate to. I don't think there is a greater bond than the one between Gracie and Gramps. They were adorable :P
Overall, I really enjoyed Lyla Payne's style and sense of writing. She enabled me to explore a brand new genre of books that I wasn't previously aware of. And I'll admit, I had so much fun reading this book. I think this could easily be a really enthralling and light ghost story for those are on the meh side of reading scary stories. It's not at all scary! But I also don't think that's what Payne was going for when writing this novel. So if you haven't picked up this book yet, I suggest you do because you won't find another quite like this one!
September 17, 2015
2.5 stars
Trisha/Lyla is a good friend of mine; I even met her in person once. She’s really great and I actually really liked reading this book, don’t let the rating fool you. To put it all up front, I thought Not Quite Dead was a super fun paranormal mystery with a fabulous setting, but I had an issue with the way the mystery resolved that was big enough I had to rate down to 2.5, which is my mixed feelings love/hate rating.
What I Liked: Not Quite Dead has a total Hart of Dixie vibe. Graciela’s come to live in Heron Creek to care for her grandfather in his declining years. She spent much of her childhood in Heron Creek and left her first love behind there. Now reeling from the horrendous ending of her engagement, Graciela’s back. I loved her relationship with her grandfather a lot. I also love that, like in Hart of Dixie, there are a bunch of romantic options (Trisha’s good about this). There’s her ex and first love, Will, who is now married to her best friend and who, I’m happy to report, doesn’t seem to be a viable romantic choice. Thank goodness because he would be the George if he was. Then there’s the mayor, Beau, who is sexy and very into Graciela. I’m pro them for the time being, but eventually I’m hoping she hooks up with her former childhood rival because I can see him being the good side of Wade. YES, PLEASE.
Also, the mystery is all centered around the ghost of a lady pirate, which yes to that also. It’s so much fun and kinda light-hearted for the most part, as mysteries go. It’s got this great light tone and I love Graciela’s grumpiness a whole lot.
What I Did Not Like: Unfortunately, I can’t get past the unfortunate diversity here. So far as I can tell, almost everyone in this novel is white (perhaps some were not explicitly stated or I missed something, but). The only diverse characters are black and are not portrayed in a favorable light. View Spoiler »
That aside, I did really like the rest of the book and may carry on with it at some point in the future, though current bandwidth is sort of limited because of the mountain of BEA books.
Trisha/Lyla is a good friend of mine; I even met her in person once. She’s really great and I actually really liked reading this book, don’t let the rating fool you. To put it all up front, I thought Not Quite Dead was a super fun paranormal mystery with a fabulous setting, but I had an issue with the way the mystery resolved that was big enough I had to rate down to 2.5, which is my mixed feelings love/hate rating.
What I Liked: Not Quite Dead has a total Hart of Dixie vibe. Graciela’s come to live in Heron Creek to care for her grandfather in his declining years. She spent much of her childhood in Heron Creek and left her first love behind there. Now reeling from the horrendous ending of her engagement, Graciela’s back. I loved her relationship with her grandfather a lot. I also love that, like in Hart of Dixie, there are a bunch of romantic options (Trisha’s good about this). There’s her ex and first love, Will, who is now married to her best friend and who, I’m happy to report, doesn’t seem to be a viable romantic choice. Thank goodness because he would be the George if he was. Then there’s the mayor, Beau, who is sexy and very into Graciela. I’m pro them for the time being, but eventually I’m hoping she hooks up with her former childhood rival because I can see him being the good side of Wade. YES, PLEASE.
Also, the mystery is all centered around the ghost of a lady pirate, which yes to that also. It’s so much fun and kinda light-hearted for the most part, as mysteries go. It’s got this great light tone and I love Graciela’s grumpiness a whole lot.
What I Did Not Like: Unfortunately, I can’t get past the unfortunate diversity here. So far as I can tell, almost everyone in this novel is white (perhaps some were not explicitly stated or I missed something, but). The only diverse characters are black and are not portrayed in a favorable light. View Spoiler »
That aside, I did really like the rest of the book and may carry on with it at some point in the future, though current bandwidth is sort of limited because of the mountain of BEA books.
August 15, 2014
I received this book from the author in exchange for an honest review
They say you can't go home, and that's even more true when talking about a small town. Graciela knew that when returning, but that couldn't stop her need to run and escape when her life fell apart. In many ways the paranormal mystery takes a backseat to Graciela recovering and pulling her life back together. Though I really think the ghost helped that more than hurt. Fortunately Graciela was open minded about the paranormal, so rather than the ghost bothering her, she embraces the mystery presented.
Graciela was really hurting. She'd lost her mother, her grandmother, not to mention her broken engagement when she caught the rat cheating on her. She also had to deal with her grandfather's fading health. She spent much of the first third of the book rather depressed as one would expect. Really, the list of crap this woman has had to deal with is long and very sad.
I liked Graciela. She was sassy and fun (when she finally stopped her pity party). She seemed to meet her match in the new mayor Beau, who she loved to call Mr. Mayor to irk him. I enjoyed their budding friendship and relationship. Frankly I was worried she might go after her first love in her despair. Not Quite Dead isn't just a paranormal mystery, it's a story about mending friendships, starting over-- and it really makes one realize how precious life really is.
The mystery surrounding Anne Bonny's ghost is interesting, and I liked the romps back through history. While I really enjoyed the plot, it moved a tad slowly for my taste. I found myself skimming more than I like to. It was also quite sad and a bit of a downer at times. I do not recommend reading this if you're feeling down, save it for a brighter day. The ending is quite intriguing, letting the reader know that Graciela's life will not be boring.
They say you can't go home, and that's even more true when talking about a small town. Graciela knew that when returning, but that couldn't stop her need to run and escape when her life fell apart. In many ways the paranormal mystery takes a backseat to Graciela recovering and pulling her life back together. Though I really think the ghost helped that more than hurt. Fortunately Graciela was open minded about the paranormal, so rather than the ghost bothering her, she embraces the mystery presented.
Graciela was really hurting. She'd lost her mother, her grandmother, not to mention her broken engagement when she caught the rat cheating on her. She also had to deal with her grandfather's fading health. She spent much of the first third of the book rather depressed as one would expect. Really, the list of crap this woman has had to deal with is long and very sad.
I liked Graciela. She was sassy and fun (when she finally stopped her pity party). She seemed to meet her match in the new mayor Beau, who she loved to call Mr. Mayor to irk him. I enjoyed their budding friendship and relationship. Frankly I was worried she might go after her first love in her despair. Not Quite Dead isn't just a paranormal mystery, it's a story about mending friendships, starting over-- and it really makes one realize how precious life really is.
The mystery surrounding Anne Bonny's ghost is interesting, and I liked the romps back through history. While I really enjoyed the plot, it moved a tad slowly for my taste. I found myself skimming more than I like to. It was also quite sad and a bit of a downer at times. I do not recommend reading this if you're feeling down, save it for a brighter day. The ending is quite intriguing, letting the reader know that Graciela's life will not be boring.
September 10, 2015
Book One: Not Quite Dead – available for FREE – Download your copy today
I usually type a few notes after I finish a book so that I can remember what I felt upon completing it. This was the note I left myself about Not Quite Dead by Lyla Payne… This book is AWESOME! I really enjoyed reading it!
Enough said…right?! Just kidding. Let me tell you why I loved this book.
The writing style. I LOVED the writing style. It feels very personal and connected. Almost like you’re sitting down to have a chat with a close friend but this time the close friend is main character, Graciela (Gracie) Harper.
The first sentence opens with
“In retrospect, perhaps drinking myself to sleep in my grandparents’ driveway hadn’t been the best idea.”
No Gracie it certainly isn’t your best idea but as we get to know Gracie we learn she’s in a bit of a slump and has a set plan for feeling sorry for herself. Normally this type of character would get on my nerves but Gracie has a strength and humor about her that kept pulling me in and eventually she gets her act together so don’t let her wallowing in self-pity hold you back from falling in love with her.
The characters and their personalities are what made this book great with the plot and romance coming in a close second and third. This is a book that gave me all the “feels”. I laughed, cried, and cringed as Gracie tries to solve the mystery of a family curse in time to save her cousin.
If you enjoy ghost stories and mysteries featuring great characters then don’t miss reading Not Quite Dead (A Lowcountry Ghost Story) by Lyla Payne.
Book One: Not Quite Dead – available for FREE – Download your copy today
I usually type a few notes after I finish a book so that I can remember what I felt upon completing it. This was the note I left myself about Not Quite Dead by Lyla Payne… This book is AWESOME! I really enjoyed reading it!
Enough said…right?! Just kidding. Let me tell you why I loved this book.
The writing style. I LOVED the writing style. It feels very personal and connected. Almost like you’re sitting down to have a chat with a close friend but this time the close friend is main character, Graciela (Gracie) Harper.
The first sentence opens with
“In retrospect, perhaps drinking myself to sleep in my grandparents’ driveway hadn’t been the best idea.”
No Gracie it certainly isn’t your best idea but as we get to know Gracie we learn she’s in a bit of a slump and has a set plan for feeling sorry for herself. Normally this type of character would get on my nerves but Gracie has a strength and humor about her that kept pulling me in and eventually she gets her act together so don’t let her wallowing in self-pity hold you back from falling in love with her.
The characters and their personalities are what made this book great with the plot and romance coming in a close second and third. This is a book that gave me all the “feels”. I laughed, cried, and cringed as Gracie tries to solve the mystery of a family curse in time to save her cousin.
If you enjoy ghost stories and mysteries featuring great characters then don’t miss reading Not Quite Dead (A Lowcountry Ghost Story) by Lyla Payne.
Book One: Not Quite Dead – available for FREE – Download your copy today
June 30, 2015
I thoroughly enjoyed this book, and give it four and a half stars very enthusiastic stars. Oh what the heck... let's round it up to five. Yeah, it's really good, and not a "typical" ghost story at all.
Yeah, one of the characters is a ghost... but she isn't exactly scary. A little pushy maybe. And smelly. Yeah, she's definitely smelly. Then again, during her life as a pirate, she didn't exactly smell like lilacs and roses, and another couple hundred years without a bath haven't helped a bit.
When Graciela leaves her cheating ex-fiance behind, and moves across the country to South Carolina to take care of her ailing grandfather, she hopes returning to the safe cocoon of his love will help her get her life back together again, and hopes to heal some broken relationships from her past, and to regain her lost self-confidence and adventurous spirit, too. Well, she got a lot of what she was looking for... especially the adventurous spirit part, although not precisely in the way she expected. She never expected the "adventurous spirit" to turn out to be a long-dead pirate named Anne Bonnie. Never expected to become friends with that smelly ghost, either. Or with the new hunky mayor in town.
This book touches on so many different topics... like life, death, friendship, love, hatred, and forgiveness. Parts of it made me cry, parts of it made me laugh out loud, and parts of it scared me just a teensy little bit. (Not the pirate ghost... something else.) Let's just say it has a little bit of everything... and it's all good. Although this book could stand on its own, it is the first in a series, a series which I can't wait to read. I've already bought the second book.
Yeah, one of the characters is a ghost... but she isn't exactly scary. A little pushy maybe. And smelly. Yeah, she's definitely smelly. Then again, during her life as a pirate, she didn't exactly smell like lilacs and roses, and another couple hundred years without a bath haven't helped a bit.
When Graciela leaves her cheating ex-fiance behind, and moves across the country to South Carolina to take care of her ailing grandfather, she hopes returning to the safe cocoon of his love will help her get her life back together again, and hopes to heal some broken relationships from her past, and to regain her lost self-confidence and adventurous spirit, too. Well, she got a lot of what she was looking for... especially the adventurous spirit part, although not precisely in the way she expected. She never expected the "adventurous spirit" to turn out to be a long-dead pirate named Anne Bonnie. Never expected to become friends with that smelly ghost, either. Or with the new hunky mayor in town.
This book touches on so many different topics... like life, death, friendship, love, hatred, and forgiveness. Parts of it made me cry, parts of it made me laugh out loud, and parts of it scared me just a teensy little bit. (Not the pirate ghost... something else.) Let's just say it has a little bit of everything... and it's all good. Although this book could stand on its own, it is the first in a series, a series which I can't wait to read. I've already bought the second book.
March 20, 2015
Without giving away the plot - it's a nicely written book, although I feel some deeply emotive parts could have been dwelt on further. Saying that, if you're after something easy to read on a wet afternoon with a cup of tea which is a different take on the usual post-apocolyptic novel - this could be exactly what you're looking for though NOT QUITE DEAD is not your typical ghost story.The protagonist changes and grows as a person, and I could see the changes not only from her own descriptions of herself, but from the way she acted and spoke. Once I realised the changes were being intergrated into her more subtly than I original thought, there was an appreciation for the writer.The story was quick, creepy, and pretty fun read.I'd strongly recommend this book if you're looking for something interesting yet don't require a deep emotional investment with the exhilarating ingredients of suspense,horror,pirates and treasure hunts etc etc combined. To be honest, I got a little bored in the middle of the book because things slowed down, but I saw that it had to be that way in order for the story to make sense and to prevent one from thinking, "but what about...?" I also kind of felt that parts were added mostly to increase the length but they were still interesting and the author was good at adding intriguing twists just before it slowed down too much. Overall, A great and entertaining read.
October 10, 2016
I'll start with the positives. This author has a very interesting and poetic way of describing how something smells. The way Lyla Payne writes about scents, odors and fragrances reminds me of the fetish-like descriptions of food in a George RR Martin book. You can also tell she is most in her element when writing about romance- not that the romance was well written, but the focus on sensations (poetic descriptions of tingling, stomach flips, etc...) felt fairly genuine and had a good turn of phrase here and there.
However, this book was painfully slow-paced, lacked tension and was extremely predictable to the point you have to question the intelligence of the characters for not seeing the obvious. I kept waiting for a twist or surprise, but the only real surprise was how absolutely cheesy and terribly written the resolution was. Characters were paper thin caricatures and thoroughly unbelievable. I rarely abandon books, but this one came close and had more instances of induced eye-rolling than any book I've read in a long time.
However, this book was painfully slow-paced, lacked tension and was extremely predictable to the point you have to question the intelligence of the characters for not seeing the obvious. I kept waiting for a twist or surprise, but the only real surprise was how absolutely cheesy and terribly written the resolution was. Characters were paper thin caricatures and thoroughly unbelievable. I rarely abandon books, but this one came close and had more instances of induced eye-rolling than any book I've read in a long time.
November 23, 2015
I enjoyed this book.
The heroine was genuinely likable, something that I haven't found in a lot of the fiction in the past few years. She was surrounded by people that seemed real, not all good or fun to be around but comparable to the people that we have to deal with in our lives on a daily basis, whether they be family, co-worker or boss.
I liked that she had good friends, both male and female, who were strong characters in their own right.
I like that the character was growing and learning as a person but had a good sense of self or how her self should be. She was aware of her faults and hang ups. She made mistakes but took responsibility for them and even realized when she wasn't being fair to herself if taking more of the blame than she should.
As I said previously, I like this character and I'm looking forward to having more adventures with her and her friends.
The heroine was genuinely likable, something that I haven't found in a lot of the fiction in the past few years. She was surrounded by people that seemed real, not all good or fun to be around but comparable to the people that we have to deal with in our lives on a daily basis, whether they be family, co-worker or boss.
I liked that she had good friends, both male and female, who were strong characters in their own right.
I like that the character was growing and learning as a person but had a good sense of self or how her self should be. She was aware of her faults and hang ups. She made mistakes but took responsibility for them and even realized when she wasn't being fair to herself if taking more of the blame than she should.
As I said previously, I like this character and I'm looking forward to having more adventures with her and her friends.
May 22, 2015
Calico Jack
I wavered between 4 and 5 stars. It wouldn't just let me choose 4.5. I know I will reread this at a future date. If you are from the south or like southern history this is a must read. Throw in pirates, voodoo curses and ghosts I'm in heaven. Lol, and this is actually a book I could you would not need to worry about leaving out if little fingers find it.
I wavered between 4 and 5 stars. It wouldn't just let me choose 4.5. I know I will reread this at a future date. If you are from the south or like southern history this is a must read. Throw in pirates, voodoo curses and ghosts I'm in heaven. Lol, and this is actually a book I could you would not need to worry about leaving out if little fingers find it.
July 2, 2015
I'm sorry I didn't love this as much as other readers. Maybe I'm not the right kind of audience it was intended for but in any case I didn't connect with the characters so straight away, that's a problem. The story was ok as far as ghost stories go but I've read far better. This became more of a genealogy story than a shivver me timbers.
June 25, 2015
I need to see if she's written more in this series. It was well done and rather new take amongst the plethora of supernatural stories in the fantasy genre. I also admire how the issues of race were acknowledged, especially in light of current events in the USA.
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