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The Mortician’s Daughter #1
One Foot in the Grave
Her dad’s job is with the dead... and he’s bringing his work home with him.
Once again, seventeen-year-old Riley Smith is the new kid in school and her dad’s career has her back to being dubbed a freak. Truth is, she’s a much bigger freak than her classmates think. The only company she keeps these days is the dead who follow Dad home from work. She can see them. She can speak to them. And Fate seems to think she can help them solve their last problems so that they can move on to the other side. Which is odd, because with the loss of her mother and her father’s alcoholism, she’s got enough problems of her own.
But nothing could prepare her for the next tormented young spirit who darkens Riley’s door. The young woman’s death wasn’t the accident everyone believes. Soon Riley finds herself face-to-face with the killer and her only protection comes in the form of another spirit, Hayden, a boy her age with a heart-melting smile and understanding eyes that make her feel safe. If she can escape becoming the killer’s next victim, Riley knows she’ll have to help Hayden move on too, but what if she can’t let him go?
Once again, seventeen-year-old Riley Smith is the new kid in school and her dad’s career has her back to being dubbed a freak. Truth is, she’s a much bigger freak than her classmates think. The only company she keeps these days is the dead who follow Dad home from work. She can see them. She can speak to them. And Fate seems to think she can help them solve their last problems so that they can move on to the other side. Which is odd, because with the loss of her mother and her father’s alcoholism, she’s got enough problems of her own.
But nothing could prepare her for the next tormented young spirit who darkens Riley’s door. The young woman’s death wasn’t the accident everyone believes. Soon Riley finds herself face-to-face with the killer and her only protection comes in the form of another spirit, Hayden, a boy her age with a heart-melting smile and understanding eyes that make her feel safe. If she can escape becoming the killer’s next victim, Riley knows she’ll have to help Hayden move on too, but what if she can’t let him go?
209 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 31, 2017
676 people are currently reading
3950 people want to read
About the author
C.C. Hunter
37 books8,126 followersC. C. Hunter is the New York Times bestselling author of over thirty-five books, including her wildly popular Shadow Falls and Shadow Falls: After Dark series. In addition to winning numerous awards and rave reviews for her novels, C.C. is also a photojournalist, motivational speaker, and writing coach. In February 2018, Wednesday Books will publish her contemporary young adult and hardcover debut, This Heart of Mine. And the first book of her new paranormal young adult series, The Mortician's Daughter: One Foot in the Grave was released on October 31st 2017. C. C. currently resides in Texas with her husband, junkyard dog, Lady, and whatever wild creatures that meander out from woods surrounding home.
C.C. Hunter is a pseudonym. Her real name is Christie Craig and she also writes humorous romantic suspense romance novels. www.christie-craig.com
C.C. would love to hear from you. Because of deadlines, it may take her a day or so to get back with you, but she will reply. cc@cchunterbooks.com
C.C. Hunter is a pseudonym. Her real name is Christie Craig and she also writes humorous romantic suspense romance novels. www.christie-craig.com
C.C. would love to hear from you. Because of deadlines, it may take her a day or so to get back with you, but she will reply. cc@cchunterbooks.com
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November 11, 2017Dear Readers,
I just wanted to take a few minutes to thank you for leaving a review. After spending six years writing The Shadow Falls series—and yes, I miss those characters—I wrote This Heart of Mine. That story came from a personal experience of my husband’s own transplant. And it is very dear to my heart.
But because the book wasn’t scheduled for release until February 2018, it would mean a year without a release, so I came up with the idea of The Mortician’s Daughter. I wanted a contemporary feel to the story, one where a character is dealing with some real-life issues. Like having lost her mother, and now afraid of losing her father who may be an alcoholic. But I also wanted to keep my paranormal readers happy. Just a touch of woo-woo. And hence came the ghosts.
Those who read Shadow Falls knows I’m no stranger to writing about spirits. Poor Kylie from Shadow Falls had more ghosts than she cared to deal with, and now Riley follows in her footsteps. Some ghosts only need to be told it’s okay to cross over. Some need a lot more. And as Kylie had Della and Miranda, Riley has Kelsey. Of course, Kelsey doesn’t know Riley can see the dead. But in book two, she’s going to find out. I can’t wait to write that scene.
I love ghost stories. I was a total fan of the Ghost Whisperer. And Medium. Honestly, my love of ghosts stems from the times I actually felt that other worldly presence. Like the time when I was eleven and I woke up to find my great grandmother hovering over me. She’d died the week before. While scared, it was mostly comforting.
I guess I just want to believe our loved ones can reach out and touch us. That some of them might be looking over us. And if they can help us, why can’t people like Riley help them? I’m starting the next book in the series, Two Feet Under, and Riley once again finds herself between a rock and a hard place. The new ghost has spent the last the four years in jail, and let’s just say he's not in a good mood. And what he needs Riley to do is going get her in all kinds of trouble.
Thank you again for taking this journey with me. Please pop over to my website, cchunterbooks.com and check out my blog that I post on every Tuesday. And at least once a month, I do giveaways. So I hope to see you there.
CC
I just wanted to take a few minutes to thank you for leaving a review. After spending six years writing The Shadow Falls series—and yes, I miss those characters—I wrote This Heart of Mine. That story came from a personal experience of my husband’s own transplant. And it is very dear to my heart.
But because the book wasn’t scheduled for release until February 2018, it would mean a year without a release, so I came up with the idea of The Mortician’s Daughter. I wanted a contemporary feel to the story, one where a character is dealing with some real-life issues. Like having lost her mother, and now afraid of losing her father who may be an alcoholic. But I also wanted to keep my paranormal readers happy. Just a touch of woo-woo. And hence came the ghosts.
Those who read Shadow Falls knows I’m no stranger to writing about spirits. Poor Kylie from Shadow Falls had more ghosts than she cared to deal with, and now Riley follows in her footsteps. Some ghosts only need to be told it’s okay to cross over. Some need a lot more. And as Kylie had Della and Miranda, Riley has Kelsey. Of course, Kelsey doesn’t know Riley can see the dead. But in book two, she’s going to find out. I can’t wait to write that scene.
I love ghost stories. I was a total fan of the Ghost Whisperer. And Medium. Honestly, my love of ghosts stems from the times I actually felt that other worldly presence. Like the time when I was eleven and I woke up to find my great grandmother hovering over me. She’d died the week before. While scared, it was mostly comforting.
I guess I just want to believe our loved ones can reach out and touch us. That some of them might be looking over us. And if they can help us, why can’t people like Riley help them? I’m starting the next book in the series, Two Feet Under, and Riley once again finds herself between a rock and a hard place. The new ghost has spent the last the four years in jail, and let’s just say he's not in a good mood. And what he needs Riley to do is going get her in all kinds of trouble.
Thank you again for taking this journey with me. Please pop over to my website, cchunterbooks.com and check out my blog that I post on every Tuesday. And at least once a month, I do giveaways. So I hope to see you there.
CC
July 24, 2018
Official complaint addressed to CC Hunter author of Young Adult series: The Mortician Daughter.
The plaintiff: Sophie owner of the blog Beware Of The Reader
Nature of complaint: broken Kindle and excessive blood pressure. Possible weight gain in the near future (once the plaintiff stops binging on ice cream). Circumstances leading to said damages: reading The Mortician Daughter.
Aggravating circumstances: CC Hunter hasn’t released the sequel yet while ending the first installment on an unbearable cliffhanger.
Plaintiff recording:
“I was reading The Mortician Daughter when it happened.
I fell into CC’s world right from the start.
Riley is a touching lonely teenager as she moved often due to her father’s inability to keep a job these last years.
She reminded me of Kylie as she is seeing ghosts. Riley tries to help them and the plot revolves around helping Aby, recently deceased to find peace.
Of course with CC Hunter’s stories there is a mystery behind the death and Riley embarks on a thrilling even dangerous adventure.
Riley has recently moved to a new town and is the new girl in school. I felt bad for her as she is lonely and is seen as a freak by the other kids due to her dad’s job. Him being a mortician guarantee stupid questions from other kids and them being repulsed by her. There was this really vindictive girl Jami who made her mission to bully Riley as she felt threatened. You see Jacob, muscled, cute boy and Jami’s ex boyfriends seems fascinated by Riley. It had to be expected as Riley is kind, caring, smart, gorgeous and good with cars. A teenage wet dream right?
To complicate everything Riley is followed by another ghost Hayden. Really really really cute boy with dark hair and blue eye. Think maybe Luca’s clone.
So I was immersed in the story, following all her drama and complicated life *what with seeing ghosts and helping them without people knowing it because she would have seemed bat sh@t crazy*. I really rooted for Hayden even if my heart broke as I knew that a ghost could never really be a boyfriend. Riley knew this and yet...
Then everything accelerated by the end with a huge stressing and threatening event when CC Hunter dropped THAT bomb on us (something I had guessed) and LEFT US HANGING DRY!!!!!!!!
I could not believe that I would not know how it would turn out before a long time!
Before realizing what I was doing I hurled my Kindle against the wall and it exploded!
I felt dizzy and saw spots. My hubs had to call a doctor as my blood pressure was through the roof.
Hours after I still feel sooooo frustrated that I am eating my frustration away in ice cream.”
Plaintiff final request:
“I do not ask for the replacement of my kindle, nor to be paid for the doctor’s visit. See, I can be reasonable. But what I ask of CC Hunter is THAT DAMN SEQUEL NOW! Ooops! Too loud?
As my mom told me we catch more flies with honey than vinegar I will rephrase and ask “CC would you please hurry and write the sequel at lightning speed? Maybe use me as a beta reader? Because it’s inhuman to write such enthralling stories just to let us lost and frustrated. Please? Pretty please with a cherry on top?”
I will even grant you 5 stars *I planned to anyway*
I hope to hear from you soon.
Sophie
Have you read CC Hunter's books? Are you a fan?
Thanks for reading!
Sophie
Find me on:
Wordpress: Beware Of The Reader
Facebook: Beware Of The Reader
Facebook group : Beware Book Boyfriends Alert
Instagram: @bewareofthereader
Twitter: @BewareOffReader
The plaintiff: Sophie owner of the blog Beware Of The Reader
Nature of complaint: broken Kindle and excessive blood pressure. Possible weight gain in the near future (once the plaintiff stops binging on ice cream). Circumstances leading to said damages: reading The Mortician Daughter.
Aggravating circumstances: CC Hunter hasn’t released the sequel yet while ending the first installment on an unbearable cliffhanger.
Plaintiff recording:
“I was reading The Mortician Daughter when it happened.
I fell into CC’s world right from the start.
Riley is a touching lonely teenager as she moved often due to her father’s inability to keep a job these last years.
She reminded me of Kylie as she is seeing ghosts. Riley tries to help them and the plot revolves around helping Aby, recently deceased to find peace.
Of course with CC Hunter’s stories there is a mystery behind the death and Riley embarks on a thrilling even dangerous adventure.
Riley has recently moved to a new town and is the new girl in school. I felt bad for her as she is lonely and is seen as a freak by the other kids due to her dad’s job. Him being a mortician guarantee stupid questions from other kids and them being repulsed by her. There was this really vindictive girl Jami who made her mission to bully Riley as she felt threatened. You see Jacob, muscled, cute boy and Jami’s ex boyfriends seems fascinated by Riley. It had to be expected as Riley is kind, caring, smart, gorgeous and good with cars. A teenage wet dream right?
To complicate everything Riley is followed by another ghost Hayden. Really really really cute boy with dark hair and blue eye. Think maybe Luca’s clone.
So I was immersed in the story, following all her drama and complicated life *what with seeing ghosts and helping them without people knowing it because she would have seemed bat sh@t crazy*. I really rooted for Hayden even if my heart broke as I knew that a ghost could never really be a boyfriend. Riley knew this and yet...
Then everything accelerated by the end with a huge stressing and threatening event when CC Hunter dropped THAT bomb on us (something I had guessed) and LEFT US HANGING DRY!!!!!!!!
I could not believe that I would not know how it would turn out before a long time!
Before realizing what I was doing I hurled my Kindle against the wall and it exploded!
I felt dizzy and saw spots. My hubs had to call a doctor as my blood pressure was through the roof.
Hours after I still feel sooooo frustrated that I am eating my frustration away in ice cream.”
Plaintiff final request:
“I do not ask for the replacement of my kindle, nor to be paid for the doctor’s visit. See, I can be reasonable. But what I ask of CC Hunter is THAT DAMN SEQUEL NOW! Ooops! Too loud?
As my mom told me we catch more flies with honey than vinegar I will rephrase and ask “CC would you please hurry and write the sequel at lightning speed? Maybe use me as a beta reader? Because it’s inhuman to write such enthralling stories just to let us lost and frustrated. Please? Pretty please with a cherry on top?”
I will even grant you 5 stars *I planned to anyway*
I hope to hear from you soon.
Sophie
Have you read CC Hunter's books? Are you a fan?
Thanks for reading!
Sophie
Find me on:
Wordpress: Beware Of The Reader
Facebook: Beware Of The Reader
Facebook group : Beware Book Boyfriends Alert
Instagram: @bewareofthereader
Twitter: @BewareOffReader
February 10, 2019
(DNF at 20%)
OK. I know DNFing at 20% is pitiful. But quite frankly, so is this book.
There is such a horrendous amount of cliches that I want to stab myself in the eyes, and I just couldn't keep going any longer. I just couldn't.
First, there's the hot ghost boy who is following her who is ~different~ from all the other ghosts. And on top of that, he has that classic YA love interest borderline-predatory attitude; he stares at Riley when she's just in a towel, and he admits he was sleeping next to her - but "didn't touch her," no matter "how tempting it was." I'm sorry, but how is this considered acceptable? Is it because he's hot? Because if it was someone conventionally unattractive then he would be considered creepy, but because he's hot it's fine? Fuck off.
Also, there's the hint of a love triangle with Jacob, a (living) guy who goes to Riley's high school. And of course, he notices Riley the new girl straight away. And of COURSE, he has a cheerleader girlfriend who is a one-dimensional Barbie bitch who says "He's taken, bitch" when Riley dares to say a few words to Jacob, and "sashays." SASHAYS. Please murder me.
Another little thing that annoyed me: how she was apparently ostracised from her old school because her dad was a mortician. Absolute BULLSHIT. She used to live in Dallas, for fuck's sake; I lived in a small town and nobody gave a shit or even knew about what the other kids' parents did for a living, so in a city as big as Dallas? No way they would have known. And even if they didn't, they literally WOULD NOT care, and if anything, they'd find it cool. There's nothing cooler in young teens eyes than gory shit, and that's just the truth.
So that was everything that pissed me off about the first TWENTY PERCENT of the book, not to mention the lacklustre writing. I really doubt that all of this would somehow be rectified, so I have no interest in reading the rest when I have been so thoroughly irritated by a mere fifth of the thing. Sorry, not sorry.
OK. I know DNFing at 20% is pitiful. But quite frankly, so is this book.
There is such a horrendous amount of cliches that I want to stab myself in the eyes, and I just couldn't keep going any longer. I just couldn't.
First, there's the hot ghost boy who is following her who is ~different~ from all the other ghosts. And on top of that, he has that classic YA love interest borderline-predatory attitude; he stares at Riley when she's just in a towel, and he admits he was sleeping next to her - but "didn't touch her," no matter "how tempting it was." I'm sorry, but how is this considered acceptable? Is it because he's hot? Because if it was someone conventionally unattractive then he would be considered creepy, but because he's hot it's fine? Fuck off.
Also, there's the hint of a love triangle with Jacob, a (living) guy who goes to Riley's high school. And of course, he notices Riley the new girl straight away. And of COURSE, he has a cheerleader girlfriend who is a one-dimensional Barbie bitch who says "He's taken, bitch" when Riley dares to say a few words to Jacob, and "sashays." SASHAYS. Please murder me.
Another little thing that annoyed me: how she was apparently ostracised from her old school because her dad was a mortician. Absolute BULLSHIT. She used to live in Dallas, for fuck's sake; I lived in a small town and nobody gave a shit or even knew about what the other kids' parents did for a living, so in a city as big as Dallas? No way they would have known. And even if they didn't, they literally WOULD NOT care, and if anything, they'd find it cool. There's nothing cooler in young teens eyes than gory shit, and that's just the truth.
So that was everything that pissed me off about the first TWENTY PERCENT of the book, not to mention the lacklustre writing. I really doubt that all of this would somehow be rectified, so I have no interest in reading the rest when I have been so thoroughly irritated by a mere fifth of the thing. Sorry, not sorry.
February 26, 2020
I really enjoyed C.C. Hunter's Shadow Falls series that I had read a few years ago, so when I saw that she had released another YA Fantasy/Paranormal series about the daughter of a MORTICIAN *happy squeal* I just knew I had to read it. And going into it, I totally expected the mushy forbidden romance and the dramatic teenage angst riddled banter between characters. I was ready for a hot ghost boy, a girl with some home issues and a little murder/mystery to spice up my week.
But UGH! I'm surprised my eyes don't have a permanent twitch to them due to the constant eye-rolls and half-lidded cringes that were racking through my body while reading.
It's not like this was a bad story, because it wasn't! The plot was well-constructed, the characters felt familiar and had solid backgrounds, and it read like a fairly accurate representation of what a teenage girl who sees ghosts would be like. BUT what was really grinding on my nerves and making me cringe my head back and hunch my shoulders, was the awkward attempts at smooth talking and "badass" sentences made by Riley and other characters. The dialogue between Riley and Hayden was so simple and cliche, there was no substance to it at all and their romance was complete insta-love.
I didn't find their romance cute or sweet of swoon-worthy at all. I was awkward and forced, and things were just happening between them without there being any connection beforehand. Hayden literally popped into the room one day, they'd say like two flirty things, and then the next time they're suddenly intimate? What?!
Also, why is "bitch" said continuously but every other curse word is only alluded to...? If you're going to throw it in 10 times in three pages, you might as well go full throttle and drop that F-bomb too instead of only alluding to it. Like, C'mon. I can take it.
Anyways, once I got about halfway I started skimming most of it. It turned out decently, but it is definitely better suited for a younger audience - maybe pre-teens.
But UGH! I'm surprised my eyes don't have a permanent twitch to them due to the constant eye-rolls and half-lidded cringes that were racking through my body while reading.
It's not like this was a bad story, because it wasn't! The plot was well-constructed, the characters felt familiar and had solid backgrounds, and it read like a fairly accurate representation of what a teenage girl who sees ghosts would be like. BUT what was really grinding on my nerves and making me cringe my head back and hunch my shoulders, was the awkward attempts at smooth talking and "badass" sentences made by Riley and other characters. The dialogue between Riley and Hayden was so simple and cliche, there was no substance to it at all and their romance was complete insta-love.
I didn't find their romance cute or sweet of swoon-worthy at all. I was awkward and forced, and things were just happening between them without there being any connection beforehand. Hayden literally popped into the room one day, they'd say like two flirty things, and then the next time they're suddenly intimate? What?!
Also, why is "bitch" said continuously but every other curse word is only alluded to...? If you're going to throw it in 10 times in three pages, you might as well go full throttle and drop that F-bomb too instead of only alluding to it. Like, C'mon. I can take it.
Anyways, once I got about halfway I started skimming most of it. It turned out decently, but it is definitely better suited for a younger audience - maybe pre-teens.
November 1, 2017
I want to give a huge thank you to NetGalley and EverAfter Romance for providing me with an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review. I appreciate this opportunity.
Publication Date: 10/31/2017(Today!)
Synopsis: Riley Smith is not your average 17 year old high school senior. She has what some may call a gift and others may call a curse. Riley sees dead people. Since Riley's father is the town's mortician the dead seem to follow him home to Riley, where Riley helps them with whatever they need to cross over. Dealing with a new town, new school, her dad's alcoholism, missing her dead mom and two new troubled spirits that entered her life, Riley feels like she's losing it.
The two new dead people in her life are different than the others that she has encountered. Hayden is a beautiful guy and is the same age as Riley. He also has abilities that other ghosts don't have such as; Riley can kind of feel Hayden's touch and he's not listed in the obituaries. Abby is a very tormented soul. Some days Abby is dressed up nice because of Riley's dad, others she looks beat up and suffering. Riley also has the ability to feel the spirit's emotions and she realizes Abby's death was more tragic than a mere accident!
Hayden vows to help Riley find out what happened to Abby. The only problem is the increasing feelings that bubble up between the two. Riley knows she shouldn't fall in love with a ghost but Hayden's soul is so beautiful and kind.
While facing all her obstacles, Riley meets strong willed classmate Kelsey. The two girls share grief and other issues and become instant best friends. The two girls battle high school drama, boys and hard emotions.
Will Riley be able to help Hayden and Abby cross over? Will Riley be able to discover what really happened to Abby? Will Riley be able to let Hayden go and set him free and vice versa? Will Kelsey and Riley be able to cope with life and deep rooted issues? Read this YA Paranormal book to find out!
Review: OMG! I loved this book! One Foot in the Grave made me smile, laugh, made the hairs on my neck stick up, and warmed my heart. I loved the characters in this book! Riley was a down to earth girl and knew she has flaws but loves others intensely. Riley is such a compassionate person. Kelsey was strong willed and loving. Hayden was another fantastic character and made me wish he was alive as well! He was so open minded, compassionate and just wanted the best for Riley even if that meant setting Riley free!💖 The reason I am not giving this book 5 stars is because the ending. The ending left me with a cliffhanger and I admit, I can be impatient! At times, the story felt like there was a tad too much going on but overall still was a smooth and well rounded story. This title was perfect for the holiday! I highly recommend this title and can't wait until the next one is released!!!
Publication Date: 10/31/2017(Today!)
Synopsis: Riley Smith is not your average 17 year old high school senior. She has what some may call a gift and others may call a curse. Riley sees dead people. Since Riley's father is the town's mortician the dead seem to follow him home to Riley, where Riley helps them with whatever they need to cross over. Dealing with a new town, new school, her dad's alcoholism, missing her dead mom and two new troubled spirits that entered her life, Riley feels like she's losing it.
The two new dead people in her life are different than the others that she has encountered. Hayden is a beautiful guy and is the same age as Riley. He also has abilities that other ghosts don't have such as; Riley can kind of feel Hayden's touch and he's not listed in the obituaries. Abby is a very tormented soul. Some days Abby is dressed up nice because of Riley's dad, others she looks beat up and suffering. Riley also has the ability to feel the spirit's emotions and she realizes Abby's death was more tragic than a mere accident!
Hayden vows to help Riley find out what happened to Abby. The only problem is the increasing feelings that bubble up between the two. Riley knows she shouldn't fall in love with a ghost but Hayden's soul is so beautiful and kind.
While facing all her obstacles, Riley meets strong willed classmate Kelsey. The two girls share grief and other issues and become instant best friends. The two girls battle high school drama, boys and hard emotions.
Will Riley be able to help Hayden and Abby cross over? Will Riley be able to discover what really happened to Abby? Will Riley be able to let Hayden go and set him free and vice versa? Will Kelsey and Riley be able to cope with life and deep rooted issues? Read this YA Paranormal book to find out!
Review: OMG! I loved this book! One Foot in the Grave made me smile, laugh, made the hairs on my neck stick up, and warmed my heart. I loved the characters in this book! Riley was a down to earth girl and knew she has flaws but loves others intensely. Riley is such a compassionate person. Kelsey was strong willed and loving. Hayden was another fantastic character and made me wish he was alive as well! He was so open minded, compassionate and just wanted the best for Riley even if that meant setting Riley free!💖 The reason I am not giving this book 5 stars is because the ending. The ending left me with a cliffhanger and I admit, I can be impatient! At times, the story felt like there was a tad too much going on but overall still was a smooth and well rounded story. This title was perfect for the holiday! I highly recommend this title and can't wait until the next one is released!!!
August 25, 2018
I received a free e-copy through NetGalley from the publishers at EverAfter Romance.
Riley is the mortician’s daughter, and she knows it’s only a matter of time before her new school knows it and the rumors start. But her real secret is much bigger. Sometimes, her father’s work follows him home in the form of spirits of the recently dead, and they need Riley’s help. Usually, they need a small task completed or someone to listen to them before they can move on. When the ghost of a murder victim arrives, followed closely by the most “alive” spirit she’s ever met of a boy her age, Riley’s life gets a lot more complicated.
There are some YA books that cross easily into adult territory. There are others that remind me that I haven’t been a part of this audience for nearly a decade, and this is one of them. It’s possible that I might have liked it better when I was a teenager, since its paranormal world is interesting in concept. I probably would have been more interested in a love story with a teenage ghost as well, but as it is now, I thought it took up too much page time for a plot that isn’t adequately resolved.
The writing leaves a lot to be desired. Both the narrative and the dialogue are littered with ellipses, and people just sort of… trail off… in the middle of their sentences… for no reason that I can see. As a lover of beautiful sentences, I’m also not fond of narrative that’s nearly indistinguishable from the main character’s dialogue. Riley’s is full of questions, swearing, and slang that wore on me quickly. I already have one mindless train of thought going 24/7 in my head, and I don’t need another in my fiction. The chapter breaks are utterly odd, sometimes breaking in the middle of a conversation, again for no apparent reason.
Riley is a fairly typical YA heroine. She’s pretty but doesn’t know it (eesh), and the novel points out at least twice that she’s “not like other girls”, which is one of the most tiresome phrases in the English language. Her interest in cars might give her some dimension, except she doesn’t actually have an interest in cars; she has an interest in art, a detail that doesn’t feature until halfway into the novel and is mentioned maybe twice. She barely has a thought in her head that isn’t about counting carbs or going to hell. All that is to say that I don’t find her well-developed or compelling, and neither are the side characters.
My final complaint is how transparent the plot is. I caught on to Hayden’s situation almost immediately, as almost anyone familiar with paranormal popular culture will, but it takes Riley the entire novel to unravel it. For that matter, the book ends rather abruptly without pursuing or resolving that plot, even though the murder victim's is neatly wrapped up. I don’t care for ellipses in place of an ending either, and I doubt I’ll continue with the series.
I review regularly at brightbeautifulthings.tumblr.com.
Riley is the mortician’s daughter, and she knows it’s only a matter of time before her new school knows it and the rumors start. But her real secret is much bigger. Sometimes, her father’s work follows him home in the form of spirits of the recently dead, and they need Riley’s help. Usually, they need a small task completed or someone to listen to them before they can move on. When the ghost of a murder victim arrives, followed closely by the most “alive” spirit she’s ever met of a boy her age, Riley’s life gets a lot more complicated.
There are some YA books that cross easily into adult territory. There are others that remind me that I haven’t been a part of this audience for nearly a decade, and this is one of them. It’s possible that I might have liked it better when I was a teenager, since its paranormal world is interesting in concept. I probably would have been more interested in a love story with a teenage ghost as well, but as it is now, I thought it took up too much page time for a plot that isn’t adequately resolved.
The writing leaves a lot to be desired. Both the narrative and the dialogue are littered with ellipses, and people just sort of… trail off… in the middle of their sentences… for no reason that I can see. As a lover of beautiful sentences, I’m also not fond of narrative that’s nearly indistinguishable from the main character’s dialogue. Riley’s is full of questions, swearing, and slang that wore on me quickly. I already have one mindless train of thought going 24/7 in my head, and I don’t need another in my fiction. The chapter breaks are utterly odd, sometimes breaking in the middle of a conversation, again for no apparent reason.
Riley is a fairly typical YA heroine. She’s pretty but doesn’t know it (eesh), and the novel points out at least twice that she’s “not like other girls”, which is one of the most tiresome phrases in the English language. Her interest in cars might give her some dimension, except she doesn’t actually have an interest in cars; she has an interest in art, a detail that doesn’t feature until halfway into the novel and is mentioned maybe twice. She barely has a thought in her head that isn’t about counting carbs or going to hell. All that is to say that I don’t find her well-developed or compelling, and neither are the side characters.
My final complaint is how transparent the plot is. I caught on to Hayden’s situation almost immediately, as almost anyone familiar with paranormal popular culture will, but it takes Riley the entire novel to unravel it. For that matter, the book ends rather abruptly without pursuing or resolving that plot, even though the murder victim's is neatly wrapped up. I don’t care for ellipses in place of an ending either, and I doubt I’ll continue with the series.
I review regularly at brightbeautifulthings.tumblr.com.
September 6, 2020
Oh my gosh, this book!
Ok, I purchased this book, via Audible, simply for the narrator Amy McFadden. She is one of my favorite female narrators. I truly did not expect to like this book this much. I thought it would be a double win one for the narrator and two for fitting in with my only reading scary or Autumn themed books...until I start with my Christmas and winter reads.
But it turns out to be a triple win since I absolutely loved it. Normally I only listen to an audiobook while driving or folding laundry. I however found myself carrying my phone around the house with me and hitting play whenever I could. It was that good.
Did I find it scary? No. But I am immune to scary. I also know I am not a teenager, which our protagonist is, but I still loved every moment of it.
I went right to Audible and purchased book two upon this book's completion!
Ok, I purchased this book, via Audible, simply for the narrator Amy McFadden. She is one of my favorite female narrators. I truly did not expect to like this book this much. I thought it would be a double win one for the narrator and two for fitting in with my only reading scary or Autumn themed books...until I start with my Christmas and winter reads.
But it turns out to be a triple win since I absolutely loved it. Normally I only listen to an audiobook while driving or folding laundry. I however found myself carrying my phone around the house with me and hitting play whenever I could. It was that good.
Did I find it scary? No. But I am immune to scary. I also know I am not a teenager, which our protagonist is, but I still loved every moment of it.
I went right to Audible and purchased book two upon this book's completion!
April 19, 2019
Riley Smith has the ability to see ghosts, which sucks, seeing as her father works with the dead and they often follow him home. Add in dealing with a cute ghost who’d set up shop in her house, trying to help another ghost get justice, surviving school and the drama with a cute boy who’s interested in her (who is also among the living) and the bitchy cheerleader ex-girlfriend. What could go wrong?
I have to admit that I went into this book with quite some expectations. I’ve always loved medium stories from the time I first read Meg Cabot’s The Mediator series and fell in love with it. I thought this book would be fun and interesting but I was disappointed. The book wasn’t as fun or exciting or even creepy as I’d expected.
The writing was blunt and lacked a certain depth and flow, making the characters appear flat. I had a hard time staying engrossed in the story. I couldn’t connect to the main character, Riley. I wanted to like her but I found a lot of things annoying about her.
The mystery surrounding Hayden was kind of predictable and I guessed at the beginning itself the reason why he was “different”. Add in the hint of a love triangle, I’m sorry to say, that gave it all a tiring slant. It was just one YA cliché too many.
Even the romance felt off and just too fast without any deep connection between the characters. Riley got too comfortable with the ghost guy from the very moment she met him. I also wished we’d gotten a much better explanation of how Riley got her power.
The idea of the story was a good one but it just feels like an attempt to imitate The Mediator with some of the obvious similarities and none of the in-depth writing. The story was just a lot of teen angst rather than paranormal drama. I really wanted to like this book but it wasn’t for me. Maybe others would like it better. Do give it a try, who knows, you might like it. Every reader’s taste in books in different after all.
***Note: Received from Netgalley for an honest review.
Posted on Blog
June 22, 2019
Wow. What a whirlwind! It’s no secret that I’m a huge C.C. Hunter fan. One Foot in the Grave was unique and totally fun. It had the charm that is Ms. Hunter, all packaged up in a paranormal bow. Riley has a unique gift that allows her to talk to and help spirits cross over. There’s also the teeny tiny fact that her father is a mortician who sometimes brings his work home; without his knowledge.
What I loved most about this book is that it had a nice blend of romance and mystery. The love interest, Hayden, was such a dreamy character! I was immediately endeared to him—as was Riley. We have a mystery that’s a large part of the main plot and then we also have the smaller mystery on Hayden. And why he’s so different from every other spirit Riley’s ever dealt with.
I’ll admit that I knew right away the mystery surrounding our lovely guy. It still left me feeling anxious to get the next book! We meet a bunch of quirky characters that make huge impressions on the readers. If you’re looking for a somewhat lighthearted PNR, don’t pass this one up!
*Thank you to the author for providing a free copy for an honest and unbiased review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
What I loved most about this book is that it had a nice blend of romance and mystery. The love interest, Hayden, was such a dreamy character! I was immediately endeared to him—as was Riley. We have a mystery that’s a large part of the main plot and then we also have the smaller mystery on Hayden. And why he’s so different from every other spirit Riley’s ever dealt with.
I’ll admit that I knew right away the mystery surrounding our lovely guy. It still left me feeling anxious to get the next book! We meet a bunch of quirky characters that make huge impressions on the readers. If you’re looking for a somewhat lighthearted PNR, don’t pass this one up!
*Thank you to the author for providing a free copy for an honest and unbiased review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
December 8, 2017
Cannot wait for the next one.
March 11, 2018
Rating: 4.25/5
Review to come!
Review to come!
December 6, 2018
I love C. C. Hunter and have read all her books except “This Heart of Mine” for I have not gotten the chance to buy it, however, it is still on my to-read list. I have been reading C. C. Hunter’s book for nearly six years, ever since I was in 10th grade up until now, where I am currently finishing the last week of my college career. “One Foot in the Grave” was everything that I was hoping for it to have been, especially being introduced to new characters and their drama! While this is a new series with new characters, I still felt a connection to Riley and Kelsey, because they reminded me very much of Kylie and Della in the series “Shadow Falls”.
I am looking forward to reading the next book, “Two Feet Under” that comes out next week on December 15th, the day I will be a college graduate. I rate “One Food in the Grave” 5 stars.
I am looking forward to reading the next book, “Two Feet Under” that comes out next week on December 15th, the day I will be a college graduate. I rate “One Food in the Grave” 5 stars.
October 21, 2019
Hello, Operator? I'd like to report a terrible book.
I thought this would be a cute spooky season read, haaahahhaa the joke is on me. Now I feel as if I read this so y'all don't have to.
From technical issues and a misleading Kindle page count to a simply terribly-written protagonist, this was not what I expected. Just going to word-vomit my thoughts:
1) honestly, who couldn't figure out from almost page one what is up with ghost boy
2) I HATE THE MAIN CHARACTER. She has this horrific superior attitude about EVERYTHING and honestly came off like a manic pixie dream girl or whatever they call it. Her narration includes greaaat tidbits like I eat whatever I want and don't gain weight, I had sex alll the time in the town I lived in (she'd have been 16ish at the time and I just dunno, also, then how is she DEALING with this small town she's moved to and getting no action in? *swoony hand to forehead*), I'm brilliant at all subjects in school, Oh, AND I have a classic mustang AND take shop class TO WORK ON IT MYSELF. I'm sorry, I was laughing by a certain point.
3) I had the kindle version (woe betide whatever print publisher may have this sorry book) and it ABRUPTLY clifffhanger-ended AT 81% -AND- just when it got MAYBE good. I'm not paying for a sequel.
4) Every male character in this is either handsy as hell, mansplainy, or, gods forbid, BOTH. This ghost boy shows up in her bed, guys, before she knows him. The guy in shop class PRESSES HIS FINGERS TO HER MOUTH to SHUSH her AFTER he'd been working on a transmission or whatever.
Sorry, I cannot, lmao. See my highlights for gems and commentary from the text.
I thought this would be a cute spooky season read, haaahahhaa the joke is on me. Now I feel as if I read this so y'all don't have to.
From technical issues and a misleading Kindle page count to a simply terribly-written protagonist, this was not what I expected. Just going to word-vomit my thoughts:
1) honestly, who couldn't figure out from almost page one what is up with ghost boy
2) I HATE THE MAIN CHARACTER. She has this horrific superior attitude about EVERYTHING and honestly came off like a manic pixie dream girl or whatever they call it. Her narration includes greaaat tidbits like I eat whatever I want and don't gain weight, I had sex alll the time in the town I lived in (she'd have been 16ish at the time and I just dunno, also, then how is she DEALING with this small town she's moved to and getting no action in? *swoony hand to forehead*), I'm brilliant at all subjects in school, Oh, AND I have a classic mustang AND take shop class TO WORK ON IT MYSELF. I'm sorry, I was laughing by a certain point.
3) I had the kindle version (woe betide whatever print publisher may have this sorry book) and it ABRUPTLY clifffhanger-ended AT 81% -AND- just when it got MAYBE good. I'm not paying for a sequel.
4) Every male character in this is either handsy as hell, mansplainy, or, gods forbid, BOTH. This ghost boy shows up in her bed, guys, before she knows him. The guy in shop class PRESSES HIS FINGERS TO HER MOUTH to SHUSH her AFTER he'd been working on a transmission or whatever.
Sorry, I cannot, lmao. See my highlights for gems and commentary from the text.
October 23, 2020
2nd time reading
I did reread this because it fit a challenge, but I'm glad I did. I like the story and want to continue the series. It reminds me a lot of Hunter's series Shadow Falls; a girl who can see ghosts and helps them cross over, a love triangle, and parent issues. The story is well paced and kept my interest. I liked the romance between Riley and Hayden, but Jacob had his sweet moments as well.
I thought the drama was a bit anticlimactic and wish more would have happened, but I'm glad there was a (mostly) happy ending. The narrator on the audiobook did a great job and I'll be reading the sequel soon!
*****************************************
I really like the Shadow Falls series and this book was another fun read. I like supernatural stories and characters and seeing ghosts is pretty scary/cool. I really want Riley to get with Hayden. He's in a coma and not dead so maybe he can be healed and they can be together. I also want Riley to tell Kelsey about her ghost sight. I think she would accept it. The cashier at her school obviously knows what's going on, maybe she can be an ally also. I did feel like the capture of Bill was anticlimactic. I thought maybe he would actually kidnap her and she'd have to get free. Oh well.
Now I have to wait for book 2! So far away... haha
I did reread this because it fit a challenge, but I'm glad I did. I like the story and want to continue the series. It reminds me a lot of Hunter's series Shadow Falls; a girl who can see ghosts and helps them cross over, a love triangle, and parent issues. The story is well paced and kept my interest. I liked the romance between Riley and Hayden, but Jacob had his sweet moments as well.
I thought the drama was a bit anticlimactic and wish more would have happened, but I'm glad there was a (mostly) happy ending. The narrator on the audiobook did a great job and I'll be reading the sequel soon!
*****************************************
I really like the Shadow Falls series and this book was another fun read. I like supernatural stories and characters and seeing ghosts is pretty scary/cool. I really want Riley to get with Hayden. He's in a coma and not dead so maybe he can be healed and they can be together. I also want Riley to tell Kelsey about her ghost sight. I think she would accept it. The cashier at her school obviously knows what's going on, maybe she can be an ally also. I did feel like the capture of Bill was anticlimactic. I thought maybe he would actually kidnap her and she'd have to get free. Oh well.
Now I have to wait for book 2! So far away... haha
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 18, 2021
If you are already a fan of C.C. Hunter you will enjoy this book. (And by that I mean I thoroughly enjoyed it).
Riley Smith is a 17 year old girl who can see the dead.
She tries her best to help the dead move on and find peace. Sometimes this is an easy job, but this time things are getting scary. The ghost that arrives in her room was killed and Riley has to figure out what happened. Add to that, another new ghost, yes a very attractive guy, starts visiting her. And he is not like any other ghost she has met before (obviously!). Mix all of that together and you have a fantastic YA paranormal book.
Overall, this book was very enjoyable. I liked Riley a lot. She handled things very well. This book is also great because it is a paranormal, but that doesn't completely take over the main character's life. There is a great focus on Riley's life without all the paranormal crap and I love that!
Riley Smith is a 17 year old girl who can see the dead.
She tries her best to help the dead move on and find peace. Sometimes this is an easy job, but this time things are getting scary. The ghost that arrives in her room was killed and Riley has to figure out what happened. Add to that, another new ghost, yes a very attractive guy, starts visiting her. And he is not like any other ghost she has met before (obviously!). Mix all of that together and you have a fantastic YA paranormal book.
Overall, this book was very enjoyable. I liked Riley a lot. She handled things very well. This book is also great because it is a paranormal, but that doesn't completely take over the main character's life. There is a great focus on Riley's life without all the paranormal crap and I love that!
January 12, 2019
Perhaps not as polished as her other series, though there are obvious similarities. The story deals with some serious issues, while still managing to reign a lighter feel on things. there are a few threads woven here, which I expect to unravel fully in the next books of the series.
November 24, 2017
The author's series set in Shadow Falls are among my favorite books. I was definitely sad to see those wrap up, but I am so excited for this new series as well as another book she has coming out. So I was totally stoked when I won a giveaway from her website that included a digital ARC of this book on a nifty flash drive with the book cover on it, as well as bookmarks and a notebook with a personalized message written in it.
You have no idea how happy that made me! Unfortunately, at the time I received all this I had very high maintenance house guests stay for an extended visit, and I was only recently able to get back to normal and have time to read. So apologies for not having this review posted anywhere near the release date. I feel really bad about that. Now for the actual review.
Riley. I just want to go back to high school and be friends with her. My heart hurts for all that she is going through, but I love how she is working on herself and trying to be better. She definitely handles the seeing dead people thing well. Some of those ghosts would have sent me running for the hills.
Hayden. Omg. I had an inkling, but I was so not prepared for the truth of it all. And the book ending right after that reveal?!? I'm devastated and hooked and seriously need to know when the next book will be released.
I also read the included first few chapters of another book the author has coming out next year, This Heart of Mine. It looks amazing, and February can't come soon enough.
***I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book that I won in a giveaway.***
You have no idea how happy that made me! Unfortunately, at the time I received all this I had very high maintenance house guests stay for an extended visit, and I was only recently able to get back to normal and have time to read. So apologies for not having this review posted anywhere near the release date. I feel really bad about that. Now for the actual review.
Riley. I just want to go back to high school and be friends with her. My heart hurts for all that she is going through, but I love how she is working on herself and trying to be better. She definitely handles the seeing dead people thing well. Some of those ghosts would have sent me running for the hills.
Hayden. Omg. I had an inkling, but I was so not prepared for the truth of it all. And the book ending right after that reveal?!? I'm devastated and hooked and seriously need to know when the next book will be released.
I also read the included first few chapters of another book the author has coming out next year, This Heart of Mine. It looks amazing, and February can't come soon enough.
***I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book that I won in a giveaway.***
June 26, 2018
Okay... holy crap!
CC you've really outdone yourself this time. First of all I just got done reading This Heart of Mine, and made my mom listen to my incoherent crying about the book. Holy hell...
Where do I begin? From the beginning right? Well right away I fell in love with Riley. She's spunky, different, and well doesn't take any shit from anyone. What really got me was the fact her father was an alcoholic. It really hit home.. growing up in a home with an alcoholic wasn't easy, but it taught me a lot of lessons. Although the member of my family was open about it, he still tried to hide it from me. It hurt me to see someone I love go through a pain I couldn't understand. How can I help? What can I do?
I felt and shared Riley's pain through every moment of her struggles.
But let's get off this heavy topic... I seriously think CC has my perfect dream guy. (Now if she could really make him a real living person that would be perfect!) I'm all for Hayden. He's the total badboy/charming kind of guy, but there is a soft side to him. I love that side of him; getting to really know his pain as well reminded me of how I react to things. I try to shove my issues down until they explode. I want what's best for people even if it means hurting myself. I want to hold Hayden and give him all the love he deserves. I know Riley does too.
That ending though.. I'm going to be honest I DIDNT SEE IT COMING!!!!! I didn't think Hayden was Jacobs friend. It is still shocking me...
CC you manage to still amaze me and bring me knowledgeable lessons I can apply to my life. Your beautiful words bring me comfort and hope that life can get better and everything will be okay. Thank you for giving me this story!
CC you've really outdone yourself this time. First of all I just got done reading This Heart of Mine, and made my mom listen to my incoherent crying about the book. Holy hell...
Where do I begin? From the beginning right? Well right away I fell in love with Riley. She's spunky, different, and well doesn't take any shit from anyone. What really got me was the fact her father was an alcoholic. It really hit home.. growing up in a home with an alcoholic wasn't easy, but it taught me a lot of lessons. Although the member of my family was open about it, he still tried to hide it from me. It hurt me to see someone I love go through a pain I couldn't understand. How can I help? What can I do?
I felt and shared Riley's pain through every moment of her struggles.
But let's get off this heavy topic... I seriously think CC has my perfect dream guy. (Now if she could really make him a real living person that would be perfect!) I'm all for Hayden. He's the total badboy/charming kind of guy, but there is a soft side to him. I love that side of him; getting to really know his pain as well reminded me of how I react to things. I try to shove my issues down until they explode. I want what's best for people even if it means hurting myself. I want to hold Hayden and give him all the love he deserves. I know Riley does too.
That ending though.. I'm going to be honest I DIDNT SEE IT COMING!!!!! I didn't think Hayden was Jacobs friend. It is still shocking me...
CC you manage to still amaze me and bring me knowledgeable lessons I can apply to my life. Your beautiful words bring me comfort and hope that life can get better and everything will be okay. Thank you for giving me this story!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 7, 2017
I was so happy to get my hand on this book! If you know me, then you know that C.C. Hunter is one of my favorites.
Our main character is Riley and she can talk to ghosts. Her ghosts follow her dad home from work and she helps them crossover. One night she gets two ghosts at the same time, except one doesn’t seem like a regular ghost.
I loved Riley! She was smart, brave, and stood up for what she thought was right. She had a lot on her plate with finding her way in a new town and school, making friends, and trying to be a teenager.
The two ghosts she's introduced to are Abby and Hayden. Abby wants Riley to get her wedding ring back to give to her sister and to also uncover the truth about what might have happened to her.
Hayden was a different case. Even though he came to Riley like the ghost normally do, she can feel him and he's not at her dad's funeral home. They form a relationship and become close. I was actually a fan of this relationship even though he is a ghost. I kept reading to see how their relationship would evolve.
While the author gives you Hayden in all his dreaminess, she also throws another love interest at you with Jacob. He goes to her school and is really pursuing Riley. I liked him too! She gave me a dilemma with who to pick between.
This book also covers a lot of topics such as grief, race, even some harder topics like rape. I wish they would’ve gone into her dads drinking more, but maybe they will in the next book.
Overall, this book sucked me in and I'm ready for the next one in this series. Especially after that ending. I did not see that coming! I’m already coming up with ideas in my head on how it will affect the next book.
Our main character is Riley and she can talk to ghosts. Her ghosts follow her dad home from work and she helps them crossover. One night she gets two ghosts at the same time, except one doesn’t seem like a regular ghost.
I loved Riley! She was smart, brave, and stood up for what she thought was right. She had a lot on her plate with finding her way in a new town and school, making friends, and trying to be a teenager.
The two ghosts she's introduced to are Abby and Hayden. Abby wants Riley to get her wedding ring back to give to her sister and to also uncover the truth about what might have happened to her.
Hayden was a different case. Even though he came to Riley like the ghost normally do, she can feel him and he's not at her dad's funeral home. They form a relationship and become close. I was actually a fan of this relationship even though he is a ghost. I kept reading to see how their relationship would evolve.
While the author gives you Hayden in all his dreaminess, she also throws another love interest at you with Jacob. He goes to her school and is really pursuing Riley. I liked him too! She gave me a dilemma with who to pick between.
This book also covers a lot of topics such as grief, race, even some harder topics like rape. I wish they would’ve gone into her dads drinking more, but maybe they will in the next book.
Overall, this book sucked me in and I'm ready for the next one in this series. Especially after that ending. I did not see that coming! I’m already coming up with ideas in my head on how it will affect the next book.
February 16, 2019
This particular book when I was reading it, I felt a bit of deja vu as it has a storyline that has been used quite a bit before. Riley Smith has just moved to town with her dad who is the town's mortician. Riley though has a secret; she has a gift. She can see ghosts who have not yet passed over to the other side. These are the ghosts who have unfinished business on earth, a bit like Jennifer Love Hewitt's Ghost Whisperer. A few of the spirits in this book include a grandma who leads Riley to finding a new best friend Kayla to helping someone who supposedly fell down a cliff get to the truth of her death and as it turns out it was murder and if Riley isn't careful, she may find herself on the other side of reality. During this time, a young male appears to Riley, but something is a little off as he doesn't seem to be like the other ghosts who visit her yet no-one else can see him. As the book goes along, he becomes like a friend to Riley, and we see hints of maybe something a bit more. Think Jesse in Meg Cabot's Mediator series. However, what happens when she learns the truth about her mysterious guy and that he is closer to her than she realizes? Can Riley learn how to keep her life under wraps as well as start a new school? Find out in One Foot in the Grave. After the cliffhanger in this book, I am now looking forward to reading the next book.
July 17, 2019
Riley Smith's father is a mortician who makes the dead more better looking and look alive inside the coffin. One would think he rubs shoulders with the dead, but the truth us, it's his daughter that deals with the spirits. Yes, Riley sees ghosts, feels their chillingly cold vibes and as much as possible, helps them cross over the light. She's had this experience for more than a year now, except this time, she encounters one that's warm, clingy and looks oh so handsomely alive..
But this isn't only Riley's dilemma. Lately she feels like his father is turning into an alcoholic and she's discovering mysteries that surrounds her long departed mother.
Hayden Parker isn't like any other ghosts. He's different and he doesn't really seem intent to see the light. Being with Riley has made him felt more alive and happy unlike never before. He helps her with her predicaments with wayward spirits but doesn't want to be helped with his own issues. Together, they are a tandem to beat, if only both of them were alive.
I don't know how CC Hunter does it, but I've no doubt in my mind that every book she's penned becomes a must read in my list. One Foot in the Grave got me sitting at the edge of my seat, one foot dangling, the other one bent under my knee, hunchbacked, hands gripped and my spectacled eyes bloodshot from reading during the ghostly hours of the night.
Yes, I thought this book with a creepy-sounding title deserved to be perused in the middle of the night. I knew it would throw me off the loop and would make me nervous & frightened. CC Hunter delivers... OMG. I wasn't able to sleep nor even dared wink, because The Mortician's Daughter is so hauntingly good, beautifully scary and astoundingly ghostly. Love love love every minute of it. I don't mind the cliffhanger ending; I live for this kind of stories! I am absolutely reading the second book right after this review!
But this isn't only Riley's dilemma. Lately she feels like his father is turning into an alcoholic and she's discovering mysteries that surrounds her long departed mother.
Hayden Parker isn't like any other ghosts. He's different and he doesn't really seem intent to see the light. Being with Riley has made him felt more alive and happy unlike never before. He helps her with her predicaments with wayward spirits but doesn't want to be helped with his own issues. Together, they are a tandem to beat, if only both of them were alive.
I don't know how CC Hunter does it, but I've no doubt in my mind that every book she's penned becomes a must read in my list. One Foot in the Grave got me sitting at the edge of my seat, one foot dangling, the other one bent under my knee, hunchbacked, hands gripped and my spectacled eyes bloodshot from reading during the ghostly hours of the night.
Yes, I thought this book with a creepy-sounding title deserved to be perused in the middle of the night. I knew it would throw me off the loop and would make me nervous & frightened. CC Hunter delivers... OMG. I wasn't able to sleep nor even dared wink, because The Mortician's Daughter is so hauntingly good, beautifully scary and astoundingly ghostly. Love love love every minute of it. I don't mind the cliffhanger ending; I live for this kind of stories! I am absolutely reading the second book right after this review!
December 31, 2018
Promising Start
One Foot in the Grave is a promising start to the Mortician’s Daughter series. Riley can see dead people. And in her father’s line of work, she can’t avoid them. Riley has all the woes and worries of a teenage girl, plus a whole lot more. Fresh idea, like-able characters, and a story that will keep you turning the pages. Looking forward to more in this series.
One Foot in the Grave is a promising start to the Mortician’s Daughter series. Riley can see dead people. And in her father’s line of work, she can’t avoid them. Riley has all the woes and worries of a teenage girl, plus a whole lot more. Fresh idea, like-able characters, and a story that will keep you turning the pages. Looking forward to more in this series.
November 2, 2017
*Source* NetGalley
*Genre* Young Adult, Contemporary
*Rating* 3.0
*Thoughts*
One Foot in the Grave, by author C.C. Hunter, is the first installment in The Mortician's Daughter trilogy. 17-year old Riley Smith is the new girl in Catwalk, Texas. She's also a senior at her High School where everyone believes she is a freak because of what her father does for a living. But, if they really understood Riley and what she can do, they would probably run away screaming. No seriously. You see, Riley can see and talk to the departed. She has also been helping the departed with certain requests before they move on for the past year or so.
*Full Review @ Gizmos Reviews*
http://gizmosreviews.blogspot.com/201...
*Genre* Young Adult, Contemporary
*Rating* 3.0
*Thoughts*
One Foot in the Grave, by author C.C. Hunter, is the first installment in The Mortician's Daughter trilogy. 17-year old Riley Smith is the new girl in Catwalk, Texas. She's also a senior at her High School where everyone believes she is a freak because of what her father does for a living. But, if they really understood Riley and what she can do, they would probably run away screaming. No seriously. You see, Riley can see and talk to the departed. She has also been helping the departed with certain requests before they move on for the past year or so.
*Full Review @ Gizmos Reviews*
http://gizmosreviews.blogspot.com/201...
August 2, 2019
KNEW IT!!!!!! And that’s all I’ll say about that. I really enjoyed this book. It was pretty straight to the point. It didn’t overshare or spend to much time describing things. I liked the mystery and the bit of romance. Interested to see where the rest of the series goes.
December 28, 2020
Pretty standard YA fare with all the classic tropes but still a fun read if you like that sort of thing.
October 2, 2017
I love getting in on the ground floor of a new series. This book was soo awesome. I read it in one night and could not put it down. This book has YA romance, paranormal and a mystery all rolled up in one.
Riley and Hayden were amazing characters. Riley is a grim reaper and helps ghosts go into the light. As I had just read an adult book with a grim reaper in it, I was able to look at both of these books and really could not decide which one was better. Riley's character was pretty spunky and I love that she didn't let people walk all over her. Hayden was a dream guy and I can't wait to see what comes of this romance. There was a pretty neat twist at the end that I saw coming about midway through the book but I bet a lot of people will be surprised by it. This was a fun read and I can't wait to read the next books coming out.
Riley and Hayden were amazing characters. Riley is a grim reaper and helps ghosts go into the light. As I had just read an adult book with a grim reaper in it, I was able to look at both of these books and really could not decide which one was better. Riley's character was pretty spunky and I love that she didn't let people walk all over her. Hayden was a dream guy and I can't wait to see what comes of this romance. There was a pretty neat twist at the end that I saw coming about midway through the book but I bet a lot of people will be surprised by it. This was a fun read and I can't wait to read the next books coming out.
July 21, 2018
*cue friends theme song* so that’s what they meant when they said your love life’s doa!
“One Foot in the Grave” tells the story of Riley, a young girl starting over in a new town and trying to navigate these changes with her widowed father who may or may not be an alcoholic, and who also happens to have the ability to see and talk to the dead. When a spirit comes forward with unfinished business and another joins the group who refuses to be helped Riley sets off to right the wrongs of the past all the while hoping not to end up on the other side herself.
Here’s the thing and it’s going to sound stupid so stick with me but my biggest critique for this novel is that it didn’t make me feel anything because it spent so much time telling me things instead of having them come about organically over the course of the book.
The characters are so flat or amped up just enough to be a perfect cutout or whatever their role is without any variation making them completely unique to this world. The mean girl is easily identified as the cheerleader with the hot boyfriend who ends her threats with “bitch”, the boyfriend never realizes he’s dating the early 2000s mean girl until she comes after the newbie, the main character needs to be brave and courageous so let’s call her a badass 14 times and say she looks good with a black eye early on in the story instead of actually making her do something worthy of the title, you catch my drift?
It’s all so dull and boring that I felt nothing over the course of the book, even the romance was off because it happens so fast and from the very beginning despite the bits of foreshadowing it’s got a few technicals no one ever acknowledges, it sits there lurking just off into the shadows of some conversations but there’s never a moment where the absurdity of the entire ordeal is ever addressed and I couldn’t suspend my disbelief enough to hang around for that ride.
I was really hoping for a fun, slightly dark story with echoes of a Ghost Whisperer premise but sadly this was nothing but a dead end.
**special thanks to the publishers and netgalley for providing a copy in exchange for a fair and honest review**
“One Foot in the Grave” tells the story of Riley, a young girl starting over in a new town and trying to navigate these changes with her widowed father who may or may not be an alcoholic, and who also happens to have the ability to see and talk to the dead. When a spirit comes forward with unfinished business and another joins the group who refuses to be helped Riley sets off to right the wrongs of the past all the while hoping not to end up on the other side herself.
Here’s the thing and it’s going to sound stupid so stick with me but my biggest critique for this novel is that it didn’t make me feel anything because it spent so much time telling me things instead of having them come about organically over the course of the book.
The characters are so flat or amped up just enough to be a perfect cutout or whatever their role is without any variation making them completely unique to this world. The mean girl is easily identified as the cheerleader with the hot boyfriend who ends her threats with “bitch”, the boyfriend never realizes he’s dating the early 2000s mean girl until she comes after the newbie, the main character needs to be brave and courageous so let’s call her a badass 14 times and say she looks good with a black eye early on in the story instead of actually making her do something worthy of the title, you catch my drift?
It’s all so dull and boring that I felt nothing over the course of the book, even the romance was off because it happens so fast and from the very beginning despite the bits of foreshadowing it’s got a few technicals no one ever acknowledges, it sits there lurking just off into the shadows of some conversations but there’s never a moment where the absurdity of the entire ordeal is ever addressed and I couldn’t suspend my disbelief enough to hang around for that ride.
I was really hoping for a fun, slightly dark story with echoes of a Ghost Whisperer premise but sadly this was nothing but a dead end.
**special thanks to the publishers and netgalley for providing a copy in exchange for a fair and honest review**
January 26, 2020
Review to come.
November 1, 2017
I received this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest and voluntary review. I was in no way compensated for this review.
I was beyond ecstatic to learn that C.C. Hunter had a new Paranormal YA series coming out! One Foot in the Grave is the start of The Mortician’s Daughter trilogy. This time, our heroine already knows of her connection to the paranormal, she can see and talk to ghosts! I love me a good ghost read! Possibly because The Mediator series was one of the very first Paranormal YA series I read eons ago and I loved the possibility of a romance between a living human and ghost! It has it problems, but you still can’t help but rooting for there to be a way!
Not only does this story have the possibility of a cross-dimensional romance, but there’s also a murder mystery of sorts afoot! But I’m getting ahead of myself! The story begins with Riley trying to settle into her new surroundings at the second move she and her dad made in the past two years. She’s beginning to suspect her father is a closet alcoholic but hasn’t been able to prove it yet, but since he lost his last two jobs and she’s seen other signs that could be the result of drinking too much. Then it happens, a ghost comes to Riley begging for help! She wants Riley to find her ring to give to her family. But then a funny thing happens, yet another ghost appears, only this time, he looks different than the usual sort of ghosts she sees, but he’s still clearly not of the living. Hayden is just different.
I was actually rather surprised by how quickly things started to develop between Hayden and Riley. Sure I expected romance between them, the cover description gives us that much of an idea. But man, I felt like it just happened so quickly. Add in that there also happens to be another guy, Jacob, at Riley’s school who has a crush on her and you have the makings of one awkward love triangle! Lol! What will eventually come to be final though has yet to be seen at this point, though I am pretty sure I will be heartbroken either way!
It’s not long though before the first ghost reveals that she didn’t die by accident, she was murdered and she wants Riley’s help to get her killer put behind bars. Though it doesn’t exactly come out that way. It was while Riley was trying to find the ring that she ended up running into the murderer. And now he has set his sights on Riley.
There was definitely an air of danger to this story once it’s revealed who the killer is. It was positively frightening because he was one seriously bad dude. And when a serial rapist sets his sights on you, well, it naturally makes for intense and scary reading!
Then there’s also the fact that Riley is trying to prove her dad is drinking and confront him about it. There’s a good deal of drama in this story as well in that scope of things. Add in the conflicting feelings over two boys, one dead, one alive and you pretty much have one rockin story in your hands!
The ending to One Foot in the Grave gives you a sense of conclusion to the murder mystery and yet still packs a punch with one whopper of a cliffhanger! Granted, I did sort of see this one coming once some things were laid out for us to know. I made a guess and it turns out I was right!! And man, I don’t envy Riley for the troubles she will be having in the books to come!
One Foot in the Grave is the perfect paranormal read! There’s ghosts, there’s mystery, there’s romance, there’s surprises around every turn and there is still more to come! This is going to be one delightful series! I can already tell!
Overall Rating 5/5 stars
I was beyond ecstatic to learn that C.C. Hunter had a new Paranormal YA series coming out! One Foot in the Grave is the start of The Mortician’s Daughter trilogy. This time, our heroine already knows of her connection to the paranormal, she can see and talk to ghosts! I love me a good ghost read! Possibly because The Mediator series was one of the very first Paranormal YA series I read eons ago and I loved the possibility of a romance between a living human and ghost! It has it problems, but you still can’t help but rooting for there to be a way!
Not only does this story have the possibility of a cross-dimensional romance, but there’s also a murder mystery of sorts afoot! But I’m getting ahead of myself! The story begins with Riley trying to settle into her new surroundings at the second move she and her dad made in the past two years. She’s beginning to suspect her father is a closet alcoholic but hasn’t been able to prove it yet, but since he lost his last two jobs and she’s seen other signs that could be the result of drinking too much. Then it happens, a ghost comes to Riley begging for help! She wants Riley to find her ring to give to her family. But then a funny thing happens, yet another ghost appears, only this time, he looks different than the usual sort of ghosts she sees, but he’s still clearly not of the living. Hayden is just different.
I was actually rather surprised by how quickly things started to develop between Hayden and Riley. Sure I expected romance between them, the cover description gives us that much of an idea. But man, I felt like it just happened so quickly. Add in that there also happens to be another guy, Jacob, at Riley’s school who has a crush on her and you have the makings of one awkward love triangle! Lol! What will eventually come to be final though has yet to be seen at this point, though I am pretty sure I will be heartbroken either way!
It’s not long though before the first ghost reveals that she didn’t die by accident, she was murdered and she wants Riley’s help to get her killer put behind bars. Though it doesn’t exactly come out that way. It was while Riley was trying to find the ring that she ended up running into the murderer. And now he has set his sights on Riley.
There was definitely an air of danger to this story once it’s revealed who the killer is. It was positively frightening because he was one seriously bad dude. And when a serial rapist sets his sights on you, well, it naturally makes for intense and scary reading!
Then there’s also the fact that Riley is trying to prove her dad is drinking and confront him about it. There’s a good deal of drama in this story as well in that scope of things. Add in the conflicting feelings over two boys, one dead, one alive and you pretty much have one rockin story in your hands!
The ending to One Foot in the Grave gives you a sense of conclusion to the murder mystery and yet still packs a punch with one whopper of a cliffhanger! Granted, I did sort of see this one coming once some things were laid out for us to know. I made a guess and it turns out I was right!! And man, I don’t envy Riley for the troubles she will be having in the books to come!
One Foot in the Grave is the perfect paranormal read! There’s ghosts, there’s mystery, there’s romance, there’s surprises around every turn and there is still more to come! This is going to be one delightful series! I can already tell!
Overall Rating 5/5 stars
January 8, 2019
**Review can be found at https://smadasbooksmack.blogspot.com/ **
Riley has a lot on her plate at the moment- be it the drama of starting a new high school her senior year, dealing with her father's potential alcoholism, the grief that comes with everyone at school knowing she is the daughter of a mortician, oh and yeah, doing favors for the dead so they can pass on. Riley sees the dead and has for the last year and a half, keeping her secret while doing small tasks for the spirits so their souls can be free. But now she has two ghosts coming to her, one a cute mysterious boy who seems so alive and another a woman who wants a big favor from Riley.
I am a big fan of C.C. Hunter, be it her YA mysteries or supernatural and when I was lucky enough to discover this series I was so excited to read it. I feel like not enough people know about The Mortician's Daughter series and that is a huge shame since it is so freaking good! I loved everything about this series and was instantly lost in the pages, not even aware that hours past and I was half way through in a sitting. The mystery was great, the supernatural was scary, and the characters were realistic and relatable.
Riley is our narrator, a teen girl who tries hard to be a good person and do right with so many burdens overwhelming her. I really liked Riley, I found her to be an endearing character and I wanted to help her any way I could. I love that she is self sufficient and capable, and that she goes against the norm by doing things such as joining auto-shop (not to be cool, but for practical reasons so she can fix her own old/expensive car) and standing up to bullies even if it makes her unpopular. She doesn't really care, just biding her time for the last 6 months of high school until she can escape- but unfortunately she will never be able to escape what she is.
I loved Hayden and his charm and mysteriousness. I will say that I knew his secret basically from the beginning (hey I am a movie buff and love Reece Witherspoon), but that in no way took away from the story or the world. It was odd for me though to root for a relationship between a dead boy and a living girl, only heartbreak can be the outcome, but boy I shipped Hayden and Riley hard.
I loved everything about this story and want more asap. I highly recommend this for fans of YA paranormal and mysteries. Give the series a try, you will enjoy it!
Riley has a lot on her plate at the moment- be it the drama of starting a new high school her senior year, dealing with her father's potential alcoholism, the grief that comes with everyone at school knowing she is the daughter of a mortician, oh and yeah, doing favors for the dead so they can pass on. Riley sees the dead and has for the last year and a half, keeping her secret while doing small tasks for the spirits so their souls can be free. But now she has two ghosts coming to her, one a cute mysterious boy who seems so alive and another a woman who wants a big favor from Riley.
I am a big fan of C.C. Hunter, be it her YA mysteries or supernatural and when I was lucky enough to discover this series I was so excited to read it. I feel like not enough people know about The Mortician's Daughter series and that is a huge shame since it is so freaking good! I loved everything about this series and was instantly lost in the pages, not even aware that hours past and I was half way through in a sitting. The mystery was great, the supernatural was scary, and the characters were realistic and relatable.
Riley is our narrator, a teen girl who tries hard to be a good person and do right with so many burdens overwhelming her. I really liked Riley, I found her to be an endearing character and I wanted to help her any way I could. I love that she is self sufficient and capable, and that she goes against the norm by doing things such as joining auto-shop (not to be cool, but for practical reasons so she can fix her own old/expensive car) and standing up to bullies even if it makes her unpopular. She doesn't really care, just biding her time for the last 6 months of high school until she can escape- but unfortunately she will never be able to escape what she is.
I loved Hayden and his charm and mysteriousness. I will say that I knew his secret basically from the beginning (hey I am a movie buff and love Reece Witherspoon), but that in no way took away from the story or the world. It was odd for me though to root for a relationship between a dead boy and a living girl, only heartbreak can be the outcome, but boy I shipped Hayden and Riley hard.
I loved everything about this story and want more asap. I highly recommend this for fans of YA paranormal and mysteries. Give the series a try, you will enjoy it!
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