Not Dead Yet (Not Dead #1)
"Not Dead Yet is a quirky, noirish paranormal roller-coaster with memorable characters, steamy sexual tension, and an urban fantasy universe that's a pure delight. I can't wait for the next book--I am completely hooked!"
-Amy Lane, RITA finalist for the Bells of Times Square and Rainbow Award Winner for Beneath the Stain
"Such fun! A snarky sort-of-ghost, his sexy ex-boyfriend who's gone through some significant changes, some loyal sidekicks, and a dastardly scheme. There's a rapidly moving plot with plenty of suspense and hefty sprinklings of magic and romance. I'm a little bit in love with Wes and Hudson, and I'm looking forward to more."
-Bestselling author Kim Fielding
NOT DEAD YET by Jenn Burke
Series: Not Dead Yet #1
Publisher: Carina Press
Release Date: February 4, 2019 (ebook only)
Length: 91,000 words
Subgenre: Paranormal mystery romance
Warnings: Depression, talk of suicide, murders, paranormal violence
Links:
Synopsis:
Dying isn’t what it used to be.
Wes Cooper was dead. Then he wasn’t—though he’s not exactly alive, either. As an immortal not-ghost, he can transition between this world and the otherplane, which makes him the perfect thief for hire. For seventy years he’s made a “living” returning items to their rightful owners, seeing his fair share of the bizarre in the process. But he’s never witnessed murder. Until now.
His latest mission brings him more than he bargained for: a very-dead actor who is definitely going to stay that way. It’s just Wes’s luck that his ex-boyfriend, Detective Hudson Rojas, is assigned to the case. Hudson broke Wes’s heart years ago—and could again, given he’s rocking a hot silver-fox look that shouldn’t be legal.
As they work together to track down the murderer before anyone else gets hurt, it becomes clear Wes and Hudson have unfinished business. And when a secret Hudson’s been keeping threatens more than just their happiness, it might mean the end of their not-life together—permanently.
Teaser
When I woke up, I knew exactly where I was and exactly whose arms were around me. I’d gotten up a couple of times to use the bathroom, because I had the bladder of an elderly man even if the rest of me looked like a college student. Each time I crawled back into bed, enjoying the heat Hudson emitted—enough to keep me warm but not enough to make me overheat—he pulled me close and held me tight.
So waking up with my face mashed into his chest and our legs intertwined was not a surprise. The fact that I was rubbing my morning wood against his thigh? That was a little more shocking.
But damn, it felt good.
Okay, no. I had to stop. He was still asleep, and rubbing one out using his incredibly hard and muscular thigh with the perfect amount of rough texture—no. Bad Wes. Consent. Gotta have it. I forced myself to stop and pull away—
Only to have Hudson’s hand clap my butt and haul me back to where I’d been, my erection drilling into his leg.
“Hud?”
He grunted and pressed on my ass to get me humping again.
I was only so strong.
Release Blitz Excerpt:
It seemed like I’d barely closed my eyes before something woke me. Thuds on my door. I thought for a second it might be Lexi again, but she never knocked on my door like that, all authoritative and belligerent. I flung the blankets away from my face long enough to yell, “You’ve got the wrong apartment!” before diving back into my fluff pile.
The bursts of heavy knocks slid into something more rhythmic, an indication that whoever was at my door had settled in for the long haul. I kicked the blankets off with severe prejudice. Who the fuck made that kind of noise at—I squinted at the clock—midnight? I scrambled out of bed and marched to the front door, bouncing off a doorjamb on my way. And banging my knee on the end table. And almost tripping over the edge of the throw rug.
I did not function well without sufficient sleep. I also did not think clearly, or else I might have checked the peephole in the door before flinging it open with a harried, “What?”
Hudson stood there in dark jeans and a black leather bomber jacket open over a plain gray T-shirt, revealing his badge on a chain. His gun sat on his hip, an unusual choice for him, and his hair was…not mussed, but definitely not as styled as when he wore a suit. Five o’clock shadow peppered his jaw, silver glinting among the darker shades.
“You’re not wearing a suit,” I observed. Call me Captain Obvious.
“Night off,” he said distractedly, his gaze traveling from my head down…down…down. The tip of his tongue emerged to wet his lips. “You’re not wearing clothes.”
I jerked my gaze away from him to look at myself and—yep, naked. “Christ,” I muttered, and darted back toward the bedroom.
Reviewed by Stephanie
I thoroughly enjoyed this story. There were quite a few PNR elements thrown in that I wasn't expecting, but apparently neither was Wes, despite his BFF and long time family friend of the Aster witches, Lexi's warnings.
I also wasn't sure how I would feel about this, dead-not-dead, element, but I didn't need to worry. Jenn did a very good job with it and I liked the aspect of the "otherplane". I did, however, want to shake Hudson for being a prick half the time. Yeah, yeah, he had his reasons, but damn him! lol At least he redeems himself, not only with Wes but in taking responsibility for Evan. (Evan is a kid he meets at a club and an unfortunate accident happens).
This story is a slow burn between Hudson and Wes but the simmering heat between the 2 makes it all worth it. It also seems Wes is asexual until it comes to Hudson.
The story is action packed and flows pretty well, IMO. I am excited to see where this "Family of Freaks" is headed.
4*
About the author:
Jenn Burke has loved out-of-this-world romance since she first read about heroes and heroines kicking butt and falling in love as a preteen. Now that she’s an author, she couldn’t be happier to bring adventure, romance, and sexy times to her readers.
Jenn is the author of a number of paranormal and science fiction romance titles, including the critically acclaimed Chaos Station science fiction romance series (authored with Kelly Jensen) from Carina Press.
She’s been called a pocket-sized and puntastic Canadian on social media, and she’ll happily own that label. Jenn lives just outside of Ottawa, Ontario, with her husband and two kids, plus two dogs named after video game characters…because her geekiness knows no bounds.
Connect With Jenn:
Twitter: https://twitter.com/jeralibu
Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/jeralibu/
Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/295814398039168/ (Jenn Burke’s Epic Adventurers)
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jeralibu/
Newsletter sign-up: http://bit.ly/jennburkenewsletter
Tumblr: http://jeralibu.tumblr.com/
Giveaway:
2 prize packs:
One signed paperback copy of Not Dead Yet (exclusive; you can’t buy it in print!) with some Canadian swag – will ship internationally
$10 Amazon gift card
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