Review: This Side of the Grave by Jeaniene Frost

I was so excited to get this book, and start reading it as soon as it came out! I've been on Cat & Bones withdrawals because the 4th book in the series was a bit mehh, and then we got 2 books in the Night Huntress World spin-off, and I was not so happy with Spade's, and I did liked Mencheres.

But here we are back with Cat & Bones.... Ahhhh... Opening scene... LOVED IT! I wouldn't mind having him shackled to a cave wall! After that though it started going really slow for me.

The story was ok enough, but it wasn't GREAT. I had really high expectations for this book, and didn't feel like it met them 100%, even though it was a good book (I did rate it 4 stars!) I mainly feel like Cat lost some of her spark and spunk from the beginning of the series, and she didn't feel like she was as confident.  Where's the bad ass Reaper? And although she was funny at times, sometimes she got a little on my nerves. And that's not good since we're getting the story from her POV.

Bones was amazing in this book however! OMG! I'm in love with him, he can do no wrong! His connection to Cat felt rekindled in this book where it was a bit lacking in the last NH book. And yeah, of course, that brings up the elephant in the room... Chapter 21!!!! I knew before hand from reading other reviews to watch out for that chapter, so I paid extra attention (I might've read it twice)  It was HOT, YOWZA, INTENSE and did I mention REALLY HOT? It has been compared to Chapter 32 of One Foot in the Grave, and I'll agree it gives it a run for the money. It all depends on your preferences. I actually went back and re-read Chapter 32 after finishing this book to be able to compare with a fresh image (for research purposes only, I keep telling myself that). There's a lot of biting involved in both, except OFITG was Bones doing the biting, in TSOTG was Cat. But biting aside, I think this book gives us a little bit more intense view of what else they were doing aside from all the biting ;) And I loved seeing Bones lose control! Enough said!

One of my favorite lines in the book is from Bones, when he tells Timmy to ask what he wants about vampires but then he says "If you ask me if I sparkle I'll kill you" LMAO!

Vlad... where do I start... He's the best! He had the best lines in the book ("Premature inflammation! Very embarrassing, I don't like to talk about it!" Come on! I was ROTFLMAO) There was plenty of him in this book and I still want more!

Mencheres... two things.... 1 - Him having sex with Kira while Bones and Cat where waiting to see and could hear him... LOL 2 - The shorts and t-shirt at the airport?!?!? That I would have to see!

Ian... Not enough of him in this one. I would love to see his character developed a bit more, I know he has to mature before he can get his own book but he has so much potential. And I couldn't believe his comment about Veritas... I always picture her as a kid! Even though she's old as dirt.

The twist at the end.... I could've used at least one more page after the last word!!!! WHAT?!?!?!?!? I'm dying to read the next book and see what the hell happened there!!!!!