Puppet Master

The Witch's Handbook #2

by Adriana Arrington

Desperate to shake her younger sister’s video game addiction, seventeen-year-old Maren creates an alternate reality game (ARG) that requires real-world missions called power plays. Her plan works beautifully until an unknown entity hacks the ARG. Her formerly harmless and meticulously-planned power plays turn malicious and unpredictable. Then the worst-case scenario happens—her sister, Fee, dies carrying out a dangerous task.

Consumed with guilt, Maren must hide her involvement in the ARG or risk her parents discovering her complicity. Her efforts to expose the hacker take a horrifying twist when Fee begins to haunt her. Terror morphs into uncertainty when Fee’s ghost announces she’s playing the ARG in a metaphysical mode, and that, once she successfully finishes the game, she’ll return home alive.

Propelled by equal measures of guilt, a desire for revenge, and the smallest of hopes that her sister still lives, Maren continues to participate in increasingly dangerous power plays. If she doesn’t unravel the truth about the hacked ARG, she risks losing her sister forever and allowing the hacker to get away with murder.

Genres: Paranormal, Fantasy, New Adult, Young Adult, Witches

Kindle Edition

First published June 1, 2015

About the author

Adriana Arrington writes speculative fiction that she hopes keeps you up at night. When not listening to true crime podcasts, you can find her snuggled on the couch with one (or all) of her three cats. Formerly an IT consultant to the DoD, she now writes full time. She lives in Northern Virginia with her husband and three children.

Reviews

[Amanda Minnock · Rating 3 out of 5]

So I had to start this book as soon as I finished the first one there was something about Emma Roberts that just made me fall in love with her and the first book was a little hidden gem.

I got the first book free off a deal on amazon and I couldn't believe how much I enjoyed it, I was in tears every time someone left and I found major love for all our characters but Jake took a special little place in my heart. Unfortunately I wasn't total blown away with the second instalment but nonetheless, I really did still enjoy it and for this, I rate a solid 3 stars!

After Emma tries to come to terms with her friends returning to the other side she can't seem to find a purpose that's until Walker insists she can help with murder cases doing a séance. Unfortunately, nothing much happens at the time until Emma returns home to find herself in a sticky situation with the dark side and starts to hear the voices of our murder victims and reliving their death. Will the book of shadows be the death of her or can she work her magic and get out of this one without raising the dead?

The books rather funny for being morbid and you do find yourself laughing at our characters, I love how there're so many unusual friendships just like in real life, maybe not as severe nevertheless everyone has a variety of friends which I think makes it easy to connect to each one.

Instead of focusing on the emotional side of things the story leans more to the action side which was good to see but I don't know, I feel the way Emma is with Jake is a bit of a brush off and Mike absolutely infuriates me at times I wanted to kick him in the shins. I did love how you heard from the murder victims it was really good and gripped me to the story.

I definitely will be reading on in the series as I think there is a lot to build and the character growth is pretty steady, both books are a quick read and they do keep you gripped so I would recommend this to our necromancer types who like a bit of witchcraft.

Check out my blog! www.amandaminnockx.tumblr.com

"You're jealous." Jake squeezes my hand. "Good. I was beginning to wonder about you."

[Ann M. Noser]

Book 1
Reread in preparation for re-release -- with an added scene (especially for all of Jake's many fans!)
new cover coming soon!

Hello again - rereading/editing/revising - again adding in additional scenes (and revising/cutting others) working with a new publisher - Immortal Works. (2023)

Book 2

Reread and MAJOR revisions to include what I had originally planned for book 3 into book 2, and reworking book 2 into what I really want it to be. Working with a new publisher - Immortal Works 2023

November 2023 Ditch Dead Guys MAJOR REVISION has been submitted to my editor. :)

January 2024 How to Ditch Dead Guys first round edits have been submitted to my editor - I'm so happy with the changes and the NEW ENDING. Basically, all my ideas for the third book have been blended into the second. The series will now be completed in two books, but no more cliffhangers - all will have been resolved.

June 2024 - final edits and proof-reading complete! How to Date Dead Guys and How to Ditch Dead Guys will soon be available in ARCs. (this is the complete series)

update December 2024 - final reviews - set to be re-published with new publisher, Immortal Works Press in early 2025!

[Debbie "Buried in Her TBR Pile" · Rating 2 out of 5]

I didn't like this installment as much as the first - the story felt all over the place - I kept thinking - did the author just write down her dreams and tie them all loosely together for this book? 2 stars.

[Digital Book Freak · Rating 5 out of 5]

It all started at the lake...



"I need to feel something, even if it's pain. Otherwise, I'll go numb like always, and be half awake, half alive."
- Emma Roberts



"Jake's Doors shirt sits folded in the center of my bed, but I didn't put it there. My breath catches in my throat."
- Emma Roberts

With Mike gone and still yearning for Jake, Emma feels dead inside.



Charlie Walker, from the local police department, asks Emma to help him solve Steve and two other women's murders with the help of her spell book.

And then something seriously went wrong. After executing the spells, she starts having nightmares, strange visions and ghostly apparitions that are more frightening than death itself.



She finds out she is being possessed.
So.......what else can go wrong???

Then Emma's problems take a turn for the worse! Someone or something wants her, and she's tired of fighting, but can Emma solve this puzzle before she fades away?

I was scared that I wouldn't like this novel as much as I liked How to Date Dead Guys, but I was pleasantly surprised! I LOVED it!
This novel takes you in deeper, is more terrifying, than the first one. A page-turner for sure!
Where Emma is concerned, you won't have a dull moment in this novel! And then it ended in a great, big cliffhanger...which is great, can't wait for #3! There's a lot still to be revealed. Just when you think you have this novel figured out, it slams you back down again.

I would highly recommend this for all paranormal & YA readers.

How to Ditch Dead Guys was released on 24 March 2016 & available @ Amazon US.

Thank you for reading my review.

***Thank you, to the author, Ann M. Noser & Netgalley, for my copy of How to Ditch Dead Guys for a fair and honest review.

[Marjolein (UrlPhantomhive) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read all my reviews on http://urlphantomhive.booklikes.com

I would really recommend reading this only after reading How To Date Dead Guys (the first book in Under the Blood Moon) first, not only because it will explain a lot but also a lot of the characters will make another appearance. This review contains some minor spoilers for the first book.

Officer Walker now in on Emma's secret, the real trouble is only starting. As Emma no longer just can rewatch the past, but also relive it. When she's asked to help investigate some murders, things get out of hand, quickly.

I'm not sure about this one. While I still quite enjoyed it, it was a bit less than in the first novel. There were a few things that I had trouble believing, mostly the way Officer Walker is using Emma to solve the crimes. Even besides that it is obviously not standard procedure, I thought he was an idiot for not seeing that it had this kind of effect on Emma, even if she was trying to hide it.

Although I liked to see some of the characters from last book return, I didn't really buy the story and I'm undecided whether I liked it or not. The writing was much the same as the previous book, making it a quick read (Oh, I've read 35% already!) kind of book that's perfect when you need something light.

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for providing me with a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!

[Katie Hamstead · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved How to Date Dead Guys, so the second I had a chance to read this I snatched it up. All I really want to say is JAKE. JAKE, JAKE, JAKE. Noser continues the story from book one by delving deeper into Emma's past and new found abilities while she helps the cop who suspected her in book 1 solve mysterious occurrences. Favorite characters return, and not-so-favorite ones too. Things get a little darker, a little deeper, and way more intriguing. Now I HAVE to wait for book 3! But I wait eagerly, and ready to find out more about Emma and, well, JAKE!

[Vidya-BooksAreMagic · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sorry I had an emergency in my life and was unable to submit this review. This is an awesome read and I highly recommend this to everyone.

[Kit (Metaphors and Moonlight) · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 Stars

Full Review:
*I received a free ecopy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.*

I started reading this book almost immediately after finishing the first one, and then suddenly I was 70% in before I even knew what happened because I got so sucked into the story I just couldn't put it down!

This was not as emotional and heart-wrenching as the first book because it was more focused on mystery, however, it was still completely gripping. The plot was more complex and action-packed, the mystery aspect kept me on the edge of my seat, and reading from the POV of a character who was possessed and felt like she was losing her mind was interesting.

And even though the focus wasn't on the character growth this time, it was still there in smaller quantities, the characters were all still unique and well-developed, like real people, and there was still great, realistic relationships between them. I especially loved the unique friendship between Emma and Officer Walker. He may have made a mistake in pressuring her to do the spells, but he still tried to help her and didn't blame her for the things that happened. And the way everyone came together to help each other when times got tough was touching (I won't say who everyone was, but it was an interesting mix of characters I wouldn't have expected).

Also, as much I do love heart-wrenching books, it was actually nice to have a bit of a reprieve. There were still a couple scenes that brought tears to my eyes, I felt for Emma when she felt like she was completely alone and didn't know what to do about the supernatural mess she found herself in, but there were also some scenes with happiness and hope that kind of patched up some of the holes that Book 1 left in my heart. *SPOILER ALERT (major for Book 1, minor for Book 2)* I didn't want to ruin the emotional impact of all the dead guys disappearing back into the river in Book 1 for anyone who hasn't read it, but if you have already read it, you'll be happy to know the guys all make reappearances in this book! *END SPOILER ALERT* And there was still some of that quirky humor thrown in to crack me up every now and then.

Overall, this was a book I couldn't put down once I picked it up. If you liked the first book, I definitely recommend you continue with this one because I think you'll be really happy with it!

Recommended For:
Fans of Book 1 in Ann M. Noser's The Witch's Handbook Series. Anyone who likes urban fantasy with complex characters and edge-of-your-seat mystery.

Original Review on Blog

[Andrea Heltsley · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved How to Date Dead Guys, the first book in this series. We get to meet Emma, the main character, and the author laid out a fantastic story. It was a five-star read. The second book in the series was just as good! How to Ditch Dead Guys was a polar opposite of the first, yet included most of the characters from the first installment. The plot was clever and full of surprises. I was completely enthralled by the second page and couldn't put it down. Ann M. Noser writes compelling characters with a vivid storyline that keeps you guessing until the very end! I can't wait to get my hands on the next book! How to Ditch Dead Guys gets five glittery stars for a stellar follow-up to How to Date Dead Guys!

[Ann · Rating 5 out of 5]

Can't wait for book three. This is the second story in the series Under the Blood Moon , the Witches Handbook. and you should read book 1, How to date dead guys, first. This book is a little darker and more into the occult as Emma has a demon spirit inhabiting her body. As she tries to help Detective Walker solve the murders from book one as well as several new ones, the demons are getting more violent and nasty. A great addition to the series and I hope Ann Noser is fast at work for the next installment.

[Chantel DaCosta · Rating 4 out of 5]

How to Ditch Dead Guys is the amazingly addictive follow up to How to Date Guys. Got this book and dived right in. I was engrossed by Emma and Walker's investigation, so much more action in book two. And the book was filled with brilliant twists. So much more was revealed about Emma and the source of her powers. Excited about book three. Fingers crossed that it comes out soon.

Thanks to NetGalley and Curiosity Quill Press for granting me access to this digital ARC.

[Susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

How to Ditch Dead Guys is the follow up to How to Date Guys. I loved the first so I had to read the second. Not disappointed one bit! We get more background on Emma's family and it helps explain a lot. Our favorite dead guys are back and I'm loving it. I'm definitely Team Jake! I’m going to miss these characters.

[Donna · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read book 1 yesterday and I absolutely loved it! So,of course, I immediately bought a copy of book 2. This book has all the characters that I loved from book 1. I was glad that Jake was in this book but I didn't like his sister as much. Although it had a lot of the same characters, this book was quite different. The problems this time were more complex and dangerous for poor Emma. I hope the author keeps going with this series as I really enjoy it. I also hope that Jake continues to play a big part as he is my favorite character.

[Jeni · Rating 5 out of 5]

So frickin good!!!

OMG! What an amazing sequel to this series! I really really hope the author continues writing a third book as this ended with an absolutely frustrating cliff hanger! LOL Loved it!

[Phoebe Prince · Rating 4 out of 5]

We start where How to Date Dead Guys left off. There’s no time skip—we jump right in after Mike disappears into the river. Emma is still dealing from the shock of losing all of her friends, and she wants to solve Steve’s murder. She also clearly has unresolved feelings for Jake, even though she came to grips with her issues with Mike at the end of How to Date Dead Guys.

Emma and Walker investigate a series of murders, and Emma becomes possessed by the spirits of the victims. She relives their deaths, and a particularly evil spirit, Shadow, inhabits her, too. Through Shadow, Emma learns that 'the Master' wants to turn her to The Dark Side. This part of the plot isn't particularly clear, but it launches the story into the possession plot line, which carries through the remainder of the story in a more satisfying way than whatever is meant to happen with the Master.

There are lots of horror elements in this novel, more so than in the first book of the series. The dead church ladies coupled with Emma’s hallucinations are creepy, and while the visualization works, it's not the story's strongest elements. The psychological tension between Emma, Walker, and their respective families grips much harder than anything with dead people and witches. The tone in How to Ditch Dead Guys isn't as lighthearted as the one in How to Date Dead Guys, but during its best moments, the book tries for it. The ease with which the characters interact offsets the darker moments in this series.

The award of 'Most Improved Character' goes to Walker. He's an actual character in this novel instead of a plot device! Walker's growing relationship with Emma and the tension between Emma and his family is more dramatic than a thousand spirit possessions. I genuinely cared what would happen with Walker this time, and I'm glad he's sticking around in this series. Being that this is, you know, a series about dead people and necromancy, that's not a guarantee.



Part 2 opens when Emma ‘dies’ and goes to purgatory. Her spell to destroy the Book of Shadows goes awry and she finds herself in a swim center. The bad news? She thinks she's dead. The best news? Jake is back, and oh boy, did this story need the romantic tension he shares with Emma. The purgatory section focused on what this series does best: interpersonal tensions. All of the paranormal elements are side dressings to how Bernard misses his wife or how none of them trust Steve or how Emma can't parse her complicated feelings for Jake. The paranormal elements are underwhelming compared to what's happening between the characters, which is the tension the feeds the story.

This carries through to the end of the novel, where Mike and his brother, Kevin, come back into the story. Kevin's a cop now, and he helps Emma clear Walker's name. Emma's guilt propelled How to Date Dead Guys into the final act, and Emma's understandable stubbornness in the face of her family and friends' struggles brings this second book in the series to a close. If I'm honest, I wasn't quite as into the earlier parts of this book because I didn't feel the focus on the paranormal elements did Emma or the story any favors, but these stories are slow burners. The later parts of the book make up for some of what I found lacking early on because the story shifted back to relying on the tension between the characters for drama, which is what worked the best in this novel.


Full review at Throw This Book at Me

[Torri · Rating 4 out of 5]

Me, when I opened the email
saying I received this book.

I was in the middle of a really great book when I read the email, otherwise I would have been writing this review yesterday. I started it this morning and finished it this afternoon. It went by so quickly, I couldn't believe it...and now the wait for the third book begins. It'll be worth it, I'm sure.

Minor spoilers beyond this point.

How to Ditch Dead Guys starts off with Emma feeling pretty down. She's been left without any of the (dead)friends she'd come to care for. Walker doesn't really help because he also leaves, chasing a lead in Steve's murder, but soon he is back and asking her for help in solving some new murders.

There are some things in life that witchcraft can't fix. Sometimes, witchcraft makes everything worse.

I feel like this was the theme for the majority of the book. Every time she figured something out, there was the bad guy to stop her.

Soon after casting the spell to reveal the first murder something starts whispering in her ear. The murder scene is something only she can see this time around, they are brutal, and she can't say anything about it. Every time she attempts to tell Walker what's going on, this thing that has been talking to her is threatening her life, and the people around her.

The book follows Emma through murder scenes, tracking down a murderer and family secrets revealed. New and old friends make appearances and enough questions were answered to keep me satisfied until the next book—which I absolutely can't wait for. I want to see her come into her powers, to know more about the Faded Witch and to see Emma kick some Cobra butt!

I did receive this book from Curiosity Quills Press for an honest review.

[Tricia (McAllister) Houseman · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have to give Ms. Noser credit, I was not completely sure I would like this story. The story did seem interesting but it was book two in this series … and lately picking a book in a series (without reading those prior) tends to make you start looking for the prior books, so you know what is going on. I was rather surprised that I could pick this one & read it without back tracking to prior books. I LOVE series like this, because it means the author (Ms. Noser, in the case) put the back story in the current book!!!
Emma Roberts is able to call the dead back into a host body. Which allows that dead spirit to accomplish what they need to.
Officer Walker is a homicide detective, he is working on the Smiley Face murder case, which took one of Emma’s friends.
In this tale, Emma learns that the Book of Shadows that she uses is not safe. But it keeps pulling her in, demanding that she use the book. The how & why is answered in this tale, along with explaining how Emma became to be the witch she is.
Sadly, to get to these answers, Emma must loose so much. She will be tortured by the deaths that Officer Walker wants her to help him solve. Her live will be placed in the hands of those she loves, but the problem is will they be able to see what is going on or will it kill Emma? Those who want the power that Emma has, will use what every they can to obtain it & her … because without Emma, there is no power.
Emma will learn more about the Smiley Face murders & the gang involved. She will witness, her friends murder again but with more detail than she did in the prior book.

Sometimes when you bring back the dead, you have to accept what they may do. Every action has it’s one set of results, some are easy to accept but others can destroy your life. These are what Emma must learn, and go though … because when she decided to become the witch she is, that alone has consequences. Pity, that there was no one to show her the ropes!

https://booksbooksbooksmorebooks.word...

[Rebekah Crain · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you enjoyed getting to know Emma and her friends in book one, How to Date Dead Guys, you will likely also enjoy this follow up. I did, but like so often I didn't think it was as good as the original. (Note: If you are coming to this book unfamiliar with the happenings of the first installment then stop right here. I strongly recommend catching up on book one before attempting to jump into this book as the storylines are completely intertwined. Without reading the original story you won't have a proper understanding for how any of the characters got to where they are in How to Ditch Dead Guys. Simply put, you won't be able to get the most out of your reading experience.)

Following where How to Date Guys left off, this book begins with Emma and Walker still working to solve Steve's murder. Having seen what her powers can do, Walker asks Emma for a little extra help in solving a couple of other murders he's been working on. Unfortunately, neither is prepared for how terrifyingly wrong things go. Once again, Emma packs a punch and comes out with both barrels blazing. She is a strong female character who, though she relies on others at times, finds herself having to fend for herself or risk putting her friends and family in harm's way.

Most, if not all, of the original characters reprised their roles in this sequel which was fun. However, the storyline got a bit weird, in my opinion, a little less than half way through. I felt once it pulled out from that the story seemed to take better shape again. And overall I did have a good time following Emma along on her bizarre journey, so I give this a 4 out of 5 stars. It seems the author left the story open for further developments down the line, in which case I will definitely be in line to get my copy as soon as it comes out. I have to see where everything goes from here.

Thanks to the author for allowing me this review opportunity.

[Penny · Rating 5 out of 5]

Emma’s life seems to be back on track after taking care of the people she had raised from the dead. Maybe boring, but everything is settled. Officer Walker calls Emma one day and asks for her help on another murder case, just like the help she gave him with Steve’s murder, and since Emma is ready for something to happen, she agrees. However, things don’t go like they did before. Now, she’s being haunted by both the murderer and the victim. When he asks for help with another murder, Emma isn’t sure, but eventually agrees thinking the first one was just a fluke. But it wasn’t. Now Emma is haunted by four people, and they don’t want her to talk to anyone about what is going on, or to help her out of the situation, even if it kills her.

I read the previous book in this series and really liked it, even though it was not what I expected. I was reluctant to try this one, but since I did really like the first one, I thought I’d go ahead and try it. This book was even better! It was different than the first one but just as engrossing, albeit in a different way. The plot was interesting, bordering on horror, the characters were still interesting (one character changed from the first book, and I am hoping the next one explains more of what’s going on), and it was very well-written. One thing really bugged me, however. I got tired of all the nagging the characters were aiming at Emma about how she shouldn’t be doing witchcraft, even when she explained her motives. We get it, everyone is concerned, just move on. I really felt for her. You really need to try this series; it really is well-worth it! Highly recommend!

Thanks to NetGalley and Curiosity Quills Press for the free ebook in exchange for an honest review. This same review will be posted on both Goodreads and Amazon.

[Casia Pickering · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received a copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley for an honest review. I was not compensated in any other way aside from the enjoyment of reading.

How to Ditch Dead Guys is the sequel to How to Date Dead Guys and follows Emma Roberts after the events of the first book. Even though it has been a while since I read the first book, I wasn't completely lost in this one. It was easy to get back into the swing of Emma Roberts' story.

The writing was easy to get into and despite the large number of chapters, the book was a quick read. I technically finished it in a day or two, but if I had nothing to do I could have been done within a day. The story is separated into three parts with the second one giving the readers a tidbit on the afterlife. We also get a bit of Emma's family history and just how she has the power to do what she does.

There is a big baddie in the series. We briefly meet them in Steve's seance', but the gang becomes more prevalent in this book. I'm still not sure what their endgame is, but they seem like a scary bunch of guys.

You may have trouble with the way Emma acts around people in this book. I did have problems with her attitude towards a new neighbor. I felt she was too harsh to the girl. However, I took this to be attributed to what is happening to Emma. Being the narrator, you can't really trust exactly what goes on with Emma. You are seeing it through her eyes and I had to remind myself that maybe this isn't her and she just doesn't recognize it completely.

I think I was right in that assumption, but I won't go into details.

All in all, it was a good sequel to the book. It was quick, fun, and ended with a hanger. I wonder what the third book will have going on. I'll be waiting.

[Montzalee Wittmann · Rating 5 out of 5]

How to Ditch Dead Guys (The Witch's Handbook #2) by Ann M. Noser is such an awesome book that I had to buy the first book as soon as I finished reading this one! I received this book for a honest review from NetGalley and boy am I glad I did! This book is a hoot! Emma is a witch that has a spell book, which is bad for her but she is obsessed with and she keeps loosing it or it gets stolen and has to get it back. She also had a gang of killers after her, she gets possessed by spirits, good and bad, and later by friends! She ends up in Almost Heaven and stirs things up there, you can't take her anywhere! She was helping a cop with murders and she would relive the murders over and over, bruises, choking, etc. She gets her cop friend framed for attempted murder while she is in a coma, she finds out family secrets that shock her and when she addresses it with her dad, well...let's say he isn't around long. She keeps accidentally popping dead guys in and out of Almost Heaven, they are so confused! This girl has so many issues. It is a fun read and you just keep cheering the poor girl on, hoping something will change for her but no, she gets in more trouble. She is determined, strong, resourceful and things work out in the end...sort of...
Loved this book! It is book 2 but can be read as a stand alone but if you are like me, after reading it you will want to read book one also. Great job Noser!

[The Suburban Eclectic · Rating 2 out of 5]

I enjoyed the blending of science fiction/fantasy with the new adult genre. The snakes, smoke, and strange scenes were interesting, but numerous identical sightings felt repetitious. I enjoyed the humor, and Emma was likeable and relatable, but I found it difficult to focus on the story. How to Ditch Dead Guys is well written it just wasn’t as engaging as I hoped. I would say it’s perfect for a light, breezy read that you can pick up whenever you want, but I think it is too scattered (i.e. lots of characters) to be a casual read.
The story does end on a cliffhanger of the abrupt and “is there something missing?” kind. And while I enjoy a good keep em guessing ending I felt it there wasn’t enough there for me to invest in book 3. Just okay.

Thank you to Curiosity Quills for the arc.

[Donna Tarver · Rating 5 out of 5]

really hope book three comes out soon

I really love the story in this book. I had a few things in this one I didn’t like. Why was Steve so annoying now? We really needed more Jake. Jake’s sister did a complete turnaround and we had no explanation for why. I have Ideas but I need more info. I hope book three comes out soon and ties up all the loose ends. Edited to add after reading the rerelease advance reader copy given to me by the author. I think they really love how it turned out. Some of the changes were very subtle, but I believe the ending was completely new. I really like the details and the fact that we got a definitive ending. So I highly recommend this series to anyone who enjoys a semi young adult fantasy.

[Irene Well Worth A Read · Rating 5 out of 5]

In this captivating sequel to How To Date Dead Guys (The Witch's Handbook #1) we find Emma pretty much where we left her at the end of the first book. Though she is now a bit wiser and a lot stronger, which is a good thing because she is facing some much bigger challenges than she did in the first book. I don't want to spoil it for you if you have not yet read book 1 (which you really should.) I will just say that this is the further adventures of Emma and her friends, though this book is much darker than the first. Emma is dealing with some seriously evil entities this time but her sarcastic wit still makes it a fun read.

I received a complimentary copy for review.

[Kristi Housman Confessions of a YA Reader · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received a copy of this book from netgalley for review.

Book two started off exactly where book one ended. It grabbed me right away and the first half was pretty exciting. Emma was helping Walker with murder cases. She was able to see what happened to each victim, but also started feeling what happened this time, too. The halfway point got a little slower, but eventually picked back up again. I was happy for some of the old characters to be back and loved some of the new ones. The book ends with more mystery, so I'm looking forward to the next book in the series to find out what happens.

[Lisa Foster · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dating & Ditching Dead Guys

An unreal premise but worked so far in this 3 book series so far. I anticipate the arrival for a third novel sometime to finalized the all the open story plots within. It's amazing the different personalities of each character and how well the heroine is able is able to appear to keep her sanity as she declares herself a witch but can't recognize anyone else like her new Wiccan neighbor, Phoebe. I recommend this as a fun read book and not to take it seriously. Just enjoy reading!

[Ruby · Rating 4 out of 5]

So I went and purchased the first so I could deliver a well placed review for Netgalley as well as Curiosity and the author....

This series is a perfect mix of urban fantasy and detective noir. With characters like Officer Walker who tries so hard to pressure Emma to be more than she wants to be or Emma herself who is just amazing in her relentlessness. The mystery holds you in your chair though you will move to the edge of it several times as you read. It will engulf you in a way that makes books like these ones you need to return to. Can't wait for book 3.

[Ayanami Faerudo · Rating 3 out of 5]

Dear Emma,

There's nothing wrong with reading from a book. Unless, it's a book of witchcraft, you're reading a spell and you're reading the spell out loud.

But that's in the first book. You're a witch, who knew? But baddies are out there and everything goes wrong when you're dealing with the dead and crazy people bent on power.

What are you going to do now?

[Stephanie Vander Ploeg · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed this tequilas much as the first book!

I'm 40 years old and never expected to enjoy How to Date Dead Guys and How to Ditch Dead Guys as much as I did. I expected my 16 year old daughter would love these books but as soon as I started reading them, I couldn't stop until I was completely finished. I loved them.

[N.N. Heaven]

Due to terrifying fear of all things snake, I was not able to finish this book. From the cover to the chapter breaks to the scene breaks to the descriptive narration of snakes, I couldn't read more than 32%.

I'm sorry to the author and publisher. It's not you, it's me. :(

MRS N