Book Review: Night of the Loving Dead

Night of the Loving Dead (Pepper Martin, book 4) by Casey Daniels.

Introducing sleuth Pepper Martin...And now, in her fourth hip, quirky mystery, she's all ours.  Pepper Martin, heiress-turned-cemetery- tour-guide, often has her hands full with two hotties and the ghosts who won't let her rest or work, or shop in peace.  Now the specter of a young woman in a lab coat wants Pepper's help. Before the woman died, she worked with a sexy, mysterious doctor who coincidentally once saved Pepper's life and who the woman claims is now in danger. But Pepper doesn't know that there's more to the story, including a devious doctor and an obsessive, crazy love.


Looking for a fashion-conscious detective to the dead?  Pepper Martin is a fun, spunky character with a penchant for getting in way over her curly red tresses.  Night of the Loving Dead is the fourth book in the Pepper Martin series, a book I grabbed from the bargain bin, and it was such a fun read that I'll be going back to check out the other books in this series.  Pepper can speak with the dead and uses her gift to solve mysteries for the ghosts she encounters.  Since she's not dead herself, she tends to get a bit distracted by the hot men she attracts with her good looks and unique style.  Who said you can't wear stiletto boots and a mini skirt to a cemetery...during a snowstorm?  A lighthearted blend of mystery, supernatural suspense, and paranormal romance.

I recommend Night of the Loving Dead (Pepper Martin, book 4) to readers of paranormal romance, urban fantasy, paranormal suspense, and especially to fans of paranormal mysteries.  Night of the Loving Dead may appeal to fans of the Weather Warden series by Rachel Caine and the Cassandra Palmer series by Karen Chance.

Sensitive reader warning: mild violence, sexual situations.

Source: This book was purchased by E.J. for review.

Night of the Loving Dead on Amazon.
Night of the Loving Dead on Goodreads.

Guest Author Interview: Lisa Papademetriou

Please welcome today's guest author Lisa Papademetriou!  Lisa is the author of Sixth-Grade Glommers, Norks, and Me, the Accidentally Series, The Wizard, the Witch, and Two Girls from Jersey, How to Be a Girly Girl in Just Ten Days, Drop, Chasing Normal, M or F?, and coming in August Siren's Storm.

EJ:  When did you begin writing?

Lisa:   It’s funny--when I give talks on writing at schools, I always ask, “Who here is a writer?” and, generally, almost everyone raises a hand. Even as a kid, I saw myself as a writer, and I think that even if I didn’t earn a living putting words on a page, I would still see myself as a writer. So, in that way, I guess I started writing the minute I learned the alphabet. It’s still amazing to me that so many stories and concepts, so many thoughts about the world and life, can be expressed with only 26 letters.

EJ:  What brought you to the paranormal genre?

Lisa:   I’ve always loved fantasy--I used to sit in my room and draw maps of fantasy worlds, and come up with characters to inhabit them. I read fantasy nonstop: LeGuin, Lewis, Tolkien, Cooper, Alexander, L’ Engle. I always thought I would grow up to write high fantasy. A few years ago, I published my first fantasy novel, a parody called The Wizard, the Witch, and Two Girls from Jersey, which was an homage to some of my favorite books and authors. Siren’s Storm was born out of a dream I had, in which I saw a group of children treading water in a river, singing. Every now and again, one of the children would put a face in the water, and then look back up at me, and it slowly dawned on me that the children were waiting for something...something monstrous. I woke up and knew I had the beginning of a new story.

EJ:  If you could have any paranormal or supernatural talent, what would it be? Why?

Lisa:  Actually, I would despise having a paranormal or supernatural talent. It seems like a horrible responsibility, a frightening and lonely experience. I’m currently working on a sequel to Siren’s Storm, and a lot of the story is about that.

EJ:  Tell us why readers will enjoy your new release.

Lisa:   Siren’s Storm is a thriller, with both romance and action, but it also has a lot of humor. I hope readers love the characters as much as I do!

EJ:  If your book(s) were being made into a movie, who would you cast in the leading roles? Why?

Lisa:  I’d cast Emile Hirsch as Will. He’s able to portray the right kind of brooding vulnerability that I think Will needs. Emma Stone--if she had black hair--has the right look for Asia, although I’ve never seen her do anything that wasn’t a comedy. I’d like to see Gretchen played by someone like Emma Roberts. She’s a natural beauty in that girl-next-door way.

Siren's Storm by Lisa Papademetriou.

Nothing has been the same for Will ever since what happened last summer. One day, on an ordinary sailing trip with his brother, there is a strange accident. When Will wakes up, he learns his brother has disappeared, presumed drowned. Worst of all, Will can't remember what happened—his family finds him unconscious, with no memory of the accident.  Now Will and his best friend and neighbor, Gretchen, are starting a new summer. Gretchen seems troubled—her sleepwalking habit is getting worse, and she keeps waking up closer and closer to the water. Will is drawn to Asia, the exotic new girl in town. Nobody knows where she's from—all Will knows is that her beauty and her mesmerizing voice have a powerful effect on people.  Then there is another mysterious drowning, and Will and Gretchen begin to wonder: Is Asia just another beautiful, wealthy summer resident? Or is she something entirely more sinister . . . and inhuman?


Thank you Lisa for joining us here today at From the Shadows!

To learn more about Lisa and her books, please visit her website.

Truly, Madly: Lucy Valentine Giveaway

It's February and here at From the Shadows we are celebrating with fab guest authors, reviews, and giveaways!  A few titles on my TBR pile this month are Love Is Hell, Night of the Loving Dead, A Love Story Starring My Dead Best Friend, Dracula In Love, Jekel Loves Hyde, and Soul in Love.  Don't miss the Bloody Valentine Giveaway ending 2/14 or the chance to receive a signed Spirit Guide Series Valentine's Day Card from E.J. (while supplies last).

**Truly, Madly: Lucy Valentine Giveaway**

Enter to win a copy of Truly, Madly (Lucy Valentine, #1) by Heather Webber.

Lucy Valentine is as smart as can be, as single as you can get, and so not qualified to run a matchmaking service. But when her parents temporarily step down from the family business, Valentine, Inc., it’s Lucy’s turn to step up and help out—in the name of love.

Plus, her rent is due.

Here’s the problem: Lucy doesn’t have the knack for matchmaking. According to family legend, every Valentine has been blessed by Cupid with the ability to read “auras” and pair up perfect couples. But not Lucy. Her skills were zapped away years ago in an electrical surge, and now all she can do is find lost objects. What good is that in the matchmaking world? You’d be surprised. In a city like Boston, everyone’s looking for something. So when Lucy locates a missing wedding ring—on a dead body—she asks the sexy private eye who lives upstairs to help her solve the perfect crime. And who knows? Maybe she’ll find the perfect love while she’s at it…

To enter, please leave a comment on this post including your email address (so we may contact you if you win).  This giveaway is international (to anywhere The Book Depository ships)!  Giveaway ends February 28th midnight EST.

Bonus entries:

+1 GFC follower (old or new)
+1 Follow E.J. on Goodreads
+1 Follow E.J. on Twitter