Customer Reviews

Romancing the Dead (Garnet Lacey, Book 3)

5 star:		(12)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Garnet Lacey, a witch, is thinking her life might be returning to relative normalcy now that the Vatican witch hunters and FBI think she is dead. Sure, normal for Garnet isn't your everyday normal... Garnet normal simply means she's starting a new coven and she'll continue practicing magic with the Goddess Lilith camped out in her belly. She's getting engaged to her Vampire boyfriend and possibly moving into his haunted farm house. Garnet is contemplating all this and much more when her Vampire boyfriend, Sebastian, goes missing.

Suddenly Garnet's life changes and contemplations get put on hold as she sets out to find out what happened to her man. Adding to the complications is the mysterious stranger, Micah. Coming to her aid is Matyas, Sebastian's son and former co-conspirator with the Vatican. This character has a lot of depth and I like what Ms. Hallaway did with his person, she made him intriguing and he added a lot of humor to this story.

Like the previous books in this series, there is no shortage of the magical and supernatural realm. When Garnet forms a circle and practices her magic you can almost feel her power on the pages. Garnet is a smart and sexy heroine, she is strong in her magic and in her convictions, yet she has no trouble showing her very real and sweet softer side. That makes her extremely tangible and these books incredibly lifelike.

Mixed in with plenty of sex, magic, humor and bloodsucking is an ample amount of mystery as more than one force seems out to get Garnet and Sebastian. This was an extremely fun and fast paced novel. The usual suspects reappear as the ultra unique and ever entertaining supporting cast. This is a series that I am happily addicted to and I am eagerly waiting for Ms. Hallaway to supply my next fix.

Tall, Dark & Dead (Garnet Lacey, Book 1)
Dead Sexy (Garnet Lacey, Book 2)

Cherise Everhard, May 2008

Romancing the Dead has great character development! I am quickly bored with a series where the main character never grows and is forever solving the same problem. (That's why I stopped reading the Stephanie Plum novels by Janet Evanovich, although I admit that Evanovich's humor engaged me for many books).

Lyda Morehouse, writing as Tate Hallaway for the Garnet Lacey series, has the skill to show her characters changing and their relationships developing. Morehouse also sees the humor inherent in human relationships and has created a marvelous funny first person narrator in Garnet Lacey.
Morehouse handles Garnet's internal monologue deftly and readers are amused, informed and moved by Garnet's occassionally self-depricating and always perceptive humor.

Each book in the three book series (and counting!) has it's own satisfying resolution so you won't feel cheated, and yet when you start reading the next book in the series, there's a comfortable sense of `Of course, this is exactly the kind of problem Garnet would get into next," followed by the anticipation of "I wonder what crazy, inspired thing she and Sebastian will do with this situation."

If you've enjoyed the first two books in the series (Tall, Dark and Dead and Dead Sexy), you're going to love Romancing the Dead! If you haven't read these books yet, get busy, because the fourth book is going to be a hoot! I was lucky enough to be at a reading where Lyda Morehouse read the first chapter of the upcoming book, Dead if I Do. The entire audience laughed almost non-stop. The only thing better than reading the Garnet Lacey books is having them read aloud to you by the author.

I can't wait to get my hands on the next Garnet book!

Surely Garnet Lacey's life has settled down now that the Vatican Killers think she is dead, right? Garnet is starting to get cold feet about her upcoming marriage to her vampire boyfriend, Sebastian. Can she really share him with the ghouls? Unfortunately, Sebastian disappears after an argument and Garnet is stuck with Sebastian's son, Mátyás, as neither of them knows if he is just angry or if something has happened to him. Meanwhile, there seems to be an influx of unusual wolves in the area. Surely werewolves aren't real as well... Garnet is going to have to make some weighty decisions while ROMANCING THE DEAD!

ROMANCING THE DEAD is the third book in the series. While the immediate story is a stand alone, readers probably should read the two prior books before starting this one. The relationship between Garnet and Sebastian is established in the prior books and since he goes missing early on, it would be hard for new readers to truly get a sense of their relationship. In addition, Garnet's struggles with her inner Goddess Lilith may not seem as important if the two previous books haven't been read.

Garnet Lacey is just a fun character all around. Trouble seems to follow her no matter what and Tate Hallaway does an excellent job at keeping Garnet real without coming across as TSTL (Too Stupid To Live). The secondary characters are almost as fun as Garnet and Sebastian as they add a nice touch of quirkiness to the overall storyline. After all, who isn't a little bit in love with the beta male, William, for being such a dedicated friend to Garnet despite everything?

ROMANCING THE DEAD shows Garnet beginning to mature a little bit. Tate Hallaway has crafted a world in which readers can expect the unexpected while enjoying the friendships that are growing and developing. Excellent book in an enjoyable series!

COURTESY OF CK2S KWIPS AND KRITIQUES

Just when Garnet thinks life has settled down, and she may be settling down (she's engaged to Sebastian), her fiance disappears. The third installment of the series featuring Garnet is a fast and fun read. Garnet sets out to find her beloved, and meets some unique characters along the way. I really enjoyed this book, as much as if not more than Dead Sexy (which I loved). Tate has another gem with this installment of her witch series. I love the spells and magic she conjures up, and look forward to more.

One of the great things about this series is how it mixes so many different types of characters. We have witches, vampires, dhampirs and shape shifting God's. With all of these character's Tate Halloway brings lots of humor, magic, mystery, lust and sex. I mean really, what more can you ask for?!? This entry in the series finds Garnet newly engaged to her vampire love Sebastian. Just as she's getting used to the idea, Sebastian disappears. Is it cold feet? Is he in trouble? Then on top of all of that, from all sides it appears someone is out to kill Garnet. As the title of my review says... this is, in my opinion, the best book in the series by far! It's a good stand alone book but to truly appreciate all of the characters the first 2 books should be read first. Enjoy! I sure did!

Twice, Amazon sent me a copy of this book. And twice, pages 119-150 were missing, and instead pages 87-118 were printed twice. Obviously the printing error is not Amazon's fault, but seriously, to send me two copies with the same problem? Is it too much to ask that they check their stock for product quality? I finally gave up and asked for a refund, then went to a bookstore. I enjoyed reading the story, once I had the whole thing in front of me.

The FBI and the Vatican are leaving her alone. In fact, they think Garnet is dead. The love of her life, even if he is undead, is now her fiancé. Garnet has possibilities in her future. The most beautiful being her new coven and the possibility of buying the bookstore she currently manages. Life is good, possibly too good.

Of course, thinking of how good life is can jinx any life. Now her fiancé is missing, and her life has become very interesting, very fast.

Ms. Hallaway has written a light, pleasant paranormal romance with an interesting character in the female lead. Garnet did what she had to for survival of herself and those around her. I admit to being a bit lost as I have not read the first two books but I will be looking for them to enjoy the full effect of Romancing the Dead.

Emma
Reviewed for Joyfully Reviewed

ROMANCING THE DEAD
TATE HALLAWAY


Rating: 4.5 Enchantments

Garnet Lacey should be on top of the world - her vampire boyfriend just proposed and they're about to start their own coven. Even the Goddess Lilith who lives inside Garnet seems to be behaving. But then things suddenly start to go downhill, fast. Sebastian disappears without a trace; his grown son Matyas suddenly appears and Garnet might just have to do the unthinkable and work with her sometimes evil and soon to be stepson to find her fiancé.

I really liked Garnet, she has a great voice and a surprising knack for getting herself into some rather odd, and sometimes scary situations. One of my favorite scenes from the book is when Garnet, desperate to track down Sebastian starts calling people listed in his little black book of ghouls. Imagine her surprise when one shows up at the bookstore and offers to help her track down Sebastian, assuming Garnet is another ghoul and not Sebastian's actual fiancée.

ROMANCING THE DEAD is a great page-turning read. From Sebastian's mysterious disappearance, to the suspicious accidents that start happening to Garnet to the mysterious Micah, all combine to create a fast paced enjoyable story.

ROMANCING THE DEAD is the third book in Ms. Hallaway's Garnet series. I look forward to reading more from this talented author.

Ms. Hallaway lives in St. Paul, Minnesota. You can visit her online at www.tatehallaway.com

Lisa
Enchanting Reviews
May 2008

Romancing the Dead is a welcome addition to Tate Hallaway's Garnet adventures. The heroine, Garnet Lacey is a quirky likeable witch who happens to be a vessel for the goddess Lilith. Her super sexy vampire fiancé goes missing while they are in the process of forming a new coven. Garnet doesn't know if Sebastian is in trouble, or if he just has a case of cold feet. While trying to figure this out, Garnet discovers that someone is trying to kill her and steal her goddess. She finds that her future step son Matyas, is back in town and looking to reconnect with his father who he betrayed. Matyas becomes an unlikely ally in Garnet's search for Sebastian and the truth.

I enjoyed reading this book and recommend it to anyone who enjoys magic, mystery, and of course love.

Starting her life over in a new town is a challenge, but not totally unpleasant for Garnet Lacey. She and her vampire lover are engaged, he's breaking up with all his ghouls, the Vatican no longer wants to kill her, and she's starting a new coven. That's the upside. Now,the down; Sebastian, her fiancé, has vanished and to save him, she's forced to work with his son, who was responsible for the whole Vatican trying to kill her bit, plus, she has a demon goddess lodged inside her, and a trickster is after her. All in all, life is a witch.

*** Let me preface this by saying that if I were familiar with the first two books in this series, I have no doubt it would have been rated higher. However, lack of knowing who was who, despite the author's good references, made it less than an ideal read. But, those who know Garnet will love the wit and humor displayed as well as the serious tone to events that keeps it balanced. I'd suggest new readers go back to book one for maximum appreciation. ***

Amanda Killgore