One Foot in the Grave. Jeaniene Frost

One Foot in the Grave
Jeaniene Frost
Published: Gollancz 2008
Format: Paperback
Pages: 357
Genre: Paranormal
Source: Local library

Half-vampire Cat Crawfield is now Special Agent Cat Crawfield, working for the government to rid the world of the rogue undead. She’s still using everything Bones, her sexy and dangerous ex, taught her, but when Cat is targeted for assassination, the only man who can help her is the vampire she left behind.

Being around Bones awakens all her emotions, from the adrenaline rush of slaying vamps side by side to the reckless passion that consumed them. But a price on her head—wanted: dead or half-alive—means her survival depends on teaming up with Bones. And no matter how hard Cat tries to keep things professional between them, she’ll find that desire lasts forever…and Bones won’t let her get away again.

One Foot in the Grave is the second book in the Night Huntress series.  I am way behind with it, and while I am not a huge fan of vampires and other creatures such as ghouls, I have become hooked enough into the series to want to read it through.

So what hooks me into a series like this one?  Well first of all the characters are fascinating. Cat Crawfield is one gutsy woman, she is not someone that you would want to mess with.  She has an interesting background with a mother who hates vampires and an unknown Dad who just happens to be a vampire.  That makes Cat half vampire.  In this book we learn a little more about her father and another surprising relative.

Bones of course is a really good match for Cat, and while the book opens without him and we find Cat in a totally new set up, it turns out Bones is not that far away, and soon he is there, protecting her where she needs it, and supporting her in her dangerous undertakings.  It's action filled, which I think also makes for a good read.  Add in writing that is very good, and there you have it. A book that entertains.

I think I also have a kind of love hate relationship with books like this.  During a confrontation, Cat loses one of her men in a fight.  He happens to be a good friend and valued member of the team. Cat is gutted when he dies.  However he gets to live again - in a rather repulsive way.  I need to read the next book just to see how that exactly pans out!

Night Huntress series

Halfway to the Grave

One Foot in the Grave

At Grave's End

Destined for an Early Grave

One Grave at a Time

Up From the Grave

Halfway to the Grave. Jeaniene Frost

Halfway to the Grave
Jeaniene Frost
Published: Blackstone audio Inc. 2010
Narrator: Tavia Gilbert
Length: 11 hrs 17 min
Genre: Paranormal
Series: Night Huntress #1
Source: Own book.

Half-vampire Catherine Crawfield is going after the undead with a vengeance, hoping that one of these deadbeats is her father—the one responsible for ruining her mother's life. Then she's captured by Bones, a vampire bounty hunter, and is forced into an unlikely partnership.
In exchange for help finding her father, Cat agrees to train with the sexy night stalker until her battle reflexes are as sharp as his fangs. She's amazed she doesn't end up as his dinner…are there actually good vampires? Pretty soon, Bones will have her convinced that being half-dead doesn't have to be all bad. But before she can enjoy her status as kick-ass demon hunter, Cat and Bones are pursued by a group of killers. Now Cat will have to choose a side...and Bones is turning out to be as tempting as any man with a heartbeat.

My thoughts
I am not sure of my response to this book.  There were large elements I did like, and yet I am not sure that I like the vampire part of life - unless its Bones of course.

The book is well written, it has a great plot that hums along, there are very few if any dull moments. The characters are great.  Cat is an outstanding female heroine and I can see she is only going to grow even more into herself.  The book ends on a little bit of a cliff hanger, as series books sometimes do.  Almost enough to make me come back to the series in the future but.... I might have to wait a little while.

Bones is a great hero, he is courageous, caring, tough and totally in love.  I just know he and Cat have not had their last encounter!

The narrator was excellent, she had the voices distinctive, the pacing was perfect.  She reads a marvellous scene where Cat is crying, it sounded so real.  She is just the right narrator for the book in my opinion.

The following star value does not reflect on the book, it reflects more on me as a 'reluctant vampire' reader.