AT GRAVE'S END

Author: Jeaniene Frost ISBN: 9780061583070 1/2009 PARANORMAL Publisher: AVON

Some things won't stay buried . . . at grave's end. It should be the best time of half-vampire Cat Crawfield's life. With her undead lover Bones at her side, she's successfully protected mortals from the rogue undead. But though Cat's worn disguise after disguise to keep her true identity a secret from the brazen bloodsuckers, her cover's finally been blown, placing her in terrible danger. As if that wasn't enough, a woman from Bones's past is determined to bury him once and for all. Caught in the crosshairs of a vengeful vamp, yet determined to help Bones stop a lethal magic from being unleashed, Cat's about to learn the true meaning of bad blood. And the tricks she's learned as a special agent won't help her. She will need to fully embrace her vampire instincts in order to save herself—and Bones—from a fate worse that the grave.

RRAH's THOUGHTS AND PONDERINGS:

AT GRAVE'S END is the third book in the Night Huntress series. A lot of the characters feel like old friends by this time, and I eagerly fell right into this story. It did not disappoint. Jeaniene Frost has another hit on her hands with AT GRAVE'S END! Cat and Bones, and even Cat's mother, all shine yet again.

Cat, half human and half vampire, is at the helm of a group who hunt and kill bad vampires. They keep mortals safe and, with their silver knives and unorthodox ways, make the world a better place all around. Cat is, in some respects, the ultimate peacekeeper.

The characters in Ms. Frost's stories always feel larger than life and these are no exception. There are ghouls who frighten, others who soothe, and vampires and humans mix freely. All seem real, and their dialogue is exactly as any reader would imagine it should be. The world Cat and Bones inhabit seems completely real, and their story is fast-paced and engaging.

While I love the fact that Cat's father makes an appearance in this story, I must admit I was a little overcome by the gore and mayhem he causes. Cat has superhuman powers, and with a vampire's healing at her disposal it's almost impossible to kill her, but still she takes a beating. Multiple gunshot wounds and having her throat ripped out are just a few of the hurts she endures. Then there's the fact that her heart breaks—hard. Even though she heals, well, it wasn't easy to see this likeable heroine endure so much.

But of course, all's well that ends well, and Cat, Bones and the crew overcome every obstacle and kick the bad guys. This is fun, romantic, and even though it has its grisly bits, this story is wonderfully entertaining. I can't wait to see what Ms. Frost has in store next for Cat!

Kay James