Halfway to the Grave (Night Huntress, Book 1)
By Jeaniene Frost
Mass Market Paperback: 384 pages
Publisher: Avon (October 30, 2007)
ISBN-13: 978-0061245084
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 unholy partnership.
In exchange for 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 newfound 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 most favorite book pimp of all time has done it again. Ms. Smexy also known as Mandi at SmexyBooks.com informed me that Jeaniene Frost’s Night Huntress Series was an absolute must read and even went so far as to lend me her copy of Halfway to the Grave just to get me hooked started. Now, I know I’m on the slow boat on this series, but don’t blame me, blame Ms. Smexy, she tells me what I like. *g* Since Ms. Smexy never steers me wrong I couldn’t wait to jump right into the series.
Cat Crawfield is a young woman with an interesting heritage. She is the daughter of a human mother and vampire father. Her parents union was not one of love though, Cat is the result of a date rape. Raised by her mother to believe that all vampires are evil and deserve to die she stalks the local night spots picking up vampires and staking them hoping one day to come across her father to avenge her mothers rape. Then one night she meets Bones, a sexy master vampire who seems a little different from the rest of her usual targets.
Bones is an old vampire who hunts other vampires for money. When Cat sets her sights on him in a bar thinking he’ll be her next kill, he dismisses her, throwing her completely off her game. Later when Bones witnesses Cat take down and kill another vampire he realizes she is more than just your average girl and suspects she may be in allegiance with his enemy. So, as any good vampire worth his fangs would do, he lures her, abducts her and chains her half naked in a cave of course. During his interrogation of her he comes to believe she does not work for his enemy and he convinces her to form an alliance with him. She’ll help him hunt his bounty with her special hybrid vamp/human skills, and he’ll help her hunt down her father.
The physical training begins and they spend long hours together. Cat’s hard shell of vampire hatred begins to crack as she gets to know Bones and maybe even trust him a little. As their relationship develops, so does the attraction.
There are a couple of points that puzzled me in the story. One was Cat’s mother. She is a complete Vamp-O-Phobe and that’s totally understandable based on what happened to her. However, she has only one child who I assume she loves but yet she encourages Cat to continuously put herself in extreme danger to satisfy her own need for vengeance. Cat is fiercely loyal to her mother but the relationship seems to border on dysfunctional.
The other issue I had was how Cat’s desire to find and kill her father seemed to fade away and the focus became totally on helping Bones catch a band criminal vampires. Well into the book there is no mention of Cat’s original goal of vengeance or of Bones promise to help her. Perhaps this will be addressed in the next book?
I’d like to talk about the ending since it affected me in such an emotional way but I’m not sure I can do that without spoiling those that haven’t read the book yet. Is there anyone left who hasn’t read this book yet? I’ll just say I understand Cat’s choice, but I don’t have to like it! I’m ready for the next book in the series, One Foot In The Grave now! I have to know Cat fixes this!
From the moment I picked this book up and began to read I was completely hooked. I’d even venture to say this is probably one of the best UF “first book in a series” I’ve read in a very long time.
Best quote from Bones:
“Lucifer’s bouncing balls, Kitten, not again!”
I think I may have snorted when I read that. “Lucifer’s bouncing balls…” he he
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Purchase Halfway to the Grave
A special thank you to Mandi at SmexyBooks.com for generously lending me her copy of Halfway To The Grave.
Hi
Thank you for the thoughtful review.
All the best,
RKCharron
xoxo
oh dear…. just wait. The quotes get better and better. This is one of my all time favorite series.
Cat and her mom don't just border on dysfunctional… more comes later. Same with Cat and her dad.
Read read read faster! Just wait until chapter 32 of One Foot in the grave…. *fans self just thinking of it*
I have this whole series on m shelves and just haven't gotten round to reading it yet. It does sound brilliant. Maybe I should bump it up my list. Thanks for the great review
Great review! This series is mesmerizing. (For the record, Mandi got me hooked, too…she is like a crack dealer of paranormal romance.)
Do I know what Ms. Vixen likes or what?!?
Oh Bones – that man…
I love that Jeaniene Frost writes an entertaining, action filled story – but she also goes "there" – and I am saying this based on the entire series – there are times where Bones and Cat say or do something and my mouth falls open. That is why I love Frost so much.
Don't worry – mommy issues continue in further books, and in a way it will make more sense. Daddy comes by too….
And for the record – you pimped Bound to Please to me recently and have now turned me into a BDSM lover;)
Ah, so this is the infamous Bones I've been reading about on Twitter. This book sounds tantizingly hot!
Another book added to my TBR list. FV – you're dangerous to my TBR list!
RKCharron-Thanks for stopping by!
@KindleVixen-That chapter 32 is legendary. Everyone keeps telling me about it. I vow to not skip ahead. I will not skip ahead. (have to keep saying it out loud so I don't forget lol)
@BCC-YES bump it up! I am so glad Mandi suggested this series to me. I LOVE it!
@Penelope-When Mandi told me this was a must read I was teasing her about being a book pushing pimp. I headed over to GoodReads.com and to check it out and the first review I saw was yours with something like "Mandi at smexybooks says…" LOL She got to you too! lol
Mandi-I bow down, you are the master (D/s reference-get it? lol) You rock and I if you say I need to read it, I'm gonna read it!
BV-You need to meet Bones. He's a cutie and Cat is awesome. You know me and my bad ass females.
cute blog! I'm a follower now! Come see mine sometime!
My Border's coupon pimp just sent me a 50% off coupon…you know what this means right? It's a sign that I need to get this book, LIKE NOW!
@Cindy-Your blog makes me hungry lol
@smokinhotbooks-50%? You've got no choice. Like it's meant to be ya know? Who are you to argue with the gods of books and discounts? Go now, go in peace. hehe
Bones + chapter 32 = hawtness to the tenth degree.
This is one of my favorite series – great review! There were some laugh out loud moments and of course I must mention the infamous Chapter 32 (whew! where's my fan?).
Can't wait for her spinoff – First Drop of Crimson!
after all this Bones talk, I think I need to get to the store & grab the whole series!
Mel
@Katiebabs-I'm sold, I'm sold!! Totally Kindle-ing this book today! Chapter 32, here I come!
@Patti-I agree, I love Ms. Frost's sense of humor. I LOL'd throughout the book.
@Mel-YES, get it! The whole series!!
I LOVE this series!! I think a lot of your questions will be answered in the next books. They do not disappoint! Cannot wait until the next book comes out!
Now off to see what reading ideas I can get from Smexy Books…
Tara SG
25hourbooks.com
I haven't started this series yet either but I have the book. Now, I want to read it especially after a quote like that! My curiosity meter just spiked.
I LOVE this series. Great review. I've only read the first 2 books, the others are sitting here waiting. Not sure what I'm waiting for lol, but can I say that the next book has some MAJOR wow and HOT moments!
I might just have to go grab book 2right now just to read that chapter 32… gasping!
Enjoy the other books, I look forward to hearing what you think about the next book.
)
-Lisa
I know I really liked this. I zipped through it and the 2nd and 3rd. And I had managed to forget most of the plot anyway soI'm glad I read your review. =) I've got teh forth waiting with my TBR books.
I dunno, something about that cover is just…. off. The legs are like twice as long as they should be proportionately; that girl would look like a circus stilt-walker if she stood up. It bugs.
OK, I'm grouchy. I don't know why I don't think I want to read these books.
This series has a lot to offer. Thx for the review. I'm interested in what you think of the series as it develops. I enjoyed it, but my wife thought the fighting in the relationship was a bit contrived in the last one in particular.
I'll be following. SB Frank