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Review and Giveaway: Three Days to Dead by Kelly Meding

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They’ll never see her coming. . . .

When Evangeline Stone wakes up naked and bruised on a cold slab at the morgue—in a stranger’s body, with no memory of who she is and how she got there—her troubles are only just beginning. Before that night she and the two other members of her Triad were the city’s star bounty hunters, mercilessly cleansing the city of the murderous creatures living in the shadows, from vampires to shape-shifters to trolls. Then something terrible happened that not only cost all three of them their lives but also convinced the city’s other Hunters that Evy was a traitor—and she can’t even remember what it was.

Now she’s a fugitive, piecing together her memory, trying to deal some serious justice—and discovering that she has only three days to solve her own murder before the reincarnation spell wears off. Because in three days Evy will die again—but this time there’s no second chance. . . .


Three Days to Dead – Kelly Meding
November 24, 2009
Urban Fantasy
Paperback, 416 Pages
Dell

It has been awhile since I have felt this passionate about a book. I love my romances with the steamy smex, but I also am a huge fan of urban fantasy. I love the altered worlds, kick ass heroines, the sexual tension, and great action. Three Days to Dead, a debut novel by Kelly Meding, has it all, written so well there were times I had to make myself take a deep breath so I could get through the page. I laughed out loud and at one point I had to read with one eye open because of the awful things that were being done. This book also brought back my bad habit of sneaking peeks ahead. Yes, I’m a peeker and it is this book’s fault. There were two occasions where I absolutely had to take a quick look to make sure a certain character was coming back. The reason I had to look is because Kelly Meding doesn’t write a perfect world. Innocents die, bad things happen to characters you like, Evy doesn’t always succeed in what she is trying to do. So as the reader, you are left on the edge of your seat without being able to guess what the outcome is going to be. Although the world has supernatural rules, it felt real. Bad things happen, and that makes a great book.

There are about two hundred things I want to talk about, but I knew nothing of this book when I started it and I think it greatly enhanced my reading experience, so I am not going to go heavy into the plot. The book has one of the best beginnings I have read this year. Evy opens her eyes and she is in a morgue and in a different body, but she has retained her mind and memories – at least all of her memories except for the past few days – those detailing how and why she died. After scanning the charts, she discovers her new name is Challice. Desperate for clothes, money and transportation, she goes to Challice’s address. Her plans become somewhat mottled when she runs into Alex, Challice’s roommate who discovered Challice dead and identified her at the morgue. Think he is a bit freaked out to see her now?

The world Evy lives in is full of magic, although most people don’t even realize it. Most are oblivious because Evy has spent the past four years working in a secret organization. She is a bounty hunter that protects the innocent humans from the dregs – otherwise known as the vampires, goblins, shifters, etc. She works in what is called a triad, with two other team members. All triads have a handler that send them out on their mission. It can be a very violent job, and Evy has lived quite a hard life, but she likes it. Her triad is elite with more kills than any other. She likes to think of imaginative ways to kill the rogue supernaturals, she lives for that high.

When Evy awakes in the morgue, she knows someone must have performed a spell to put her spirit in another body. But she has no idea who, nor why. She can’t remember the past couple of days. She has no idea how or why she died. The last of her memories are of her teammates being killed, her being blamed for it, and innocent shifters being slaughtered.

The only person that is alive that she can trust is her handler, Wyatt. After literally running into him and convincing him that it is actually her in another’s body, they must figure out who set up Evy to die. Wyatt knows Evy was captured and tortured, but why is the big question. The twist is, the spell performed to bring Evy back lasts only three days. She has 72 hours to live, to bring justice to those murdered, and to try to remember the past few days before she is dead, forever.

There were a few times where I thought Evy may have forgotten she only had three days to live, where she seemed a little too nonchalant about the situation. However, the desperation starts to seep into her as the clock ticks and towards the end it becomes a full out race. To put it plain and simple, Evy is kind of bitchy but that is not necessarily a deterrent for liking her character. She doesn’t take crap from anyone, and to say she is enraged that someone set her up, is an understatement. The funny thing is, she isn’t really that upset that she is dead. She is more angry that innocent shifters that were trying to protect her were killed. She is angry that she was deceived by people she thought were trustworthy. And she is angry that Wyatt has been dragged into this. Ultimately, I found her to be extremely unselfish and because of that, she becomes a very likable heroine.

In these three days, Evy has a monumental task of figuring out how she dies and why, and coming to terms with her feelings for Wyatt. Wyatt and her have a history, and as her memories come back from her final days, although her physical body is healed, her emotional memories are dark, and hurtful. Her relationship with Wyatt is very complex and this definitely becomes Evy’s weakness. Wyatt tells Evy three simple words, and with everything going on in her life, these three words become the most difficult for her to deal with:

“You’ve got me”

She does. He is her base. He is not only her mentor, her friend, but he becomes so much more. And if you look from his perspective, he loves this girl that he only has three days left with. He has to be strong for her, be the rock, give her space when her emotions topple. For as strong as she is, he holds it together for them.

Three Days to Dead is a thrilling blend of action, romance and edge of your seat excitement. I really could not put this book down. Go read!!!

Rating: Five Stars

Kelly Meding’s website.

Thank you to Random House, I have two copies of this book to give away. Just leave a comment and I will pick two winners at random.

Contest open through Friday December 11th and I will announce both winners on Saturday. Open to all.

Comments

  9. Thank you for the thoughtful review.
    Thank you also for the opportunity to win Kelly's debut novel.
    My email's
    rkcharron at gmail.com
    :)

    Reply

  10. Great Review! This book sounds awesome! I can't wait to read it.

    jenniferyandle [at] gmail [dot]com

    Reply

  11. Ooh, me too. I'm not allowed to buy books until after Christmas, but I haven't been told not to win them.

    Reply

  12. Hey Mandi…you forgot to put Rating: 5 stars at the bottom of the review! I obviously spend way too much time reading your reviews since I noticed that.

    Reply

  14. Great review Mandi, count me in! I'd love to read this book.

    :o)

    MsM

    Reply

  17. Great review Mandi. I'm lovin' this book as well. There's been a couple things that I've questioned but maybe I'll get the answers in the next 50 pages LOL. (Don't enter me, I've got extra copies too)

    Reply

  19. *jumps up and down with hand in the air* Pick me!! Pick me!!

    Seriously, this sounds like a fantastic read – I've had my eye on it for a while and your review cemented my decision to read it.

    Reply

  22. I saw this at the bookstore just yesterday and thought it sounded awesome and your review makes me even more excited for it.

    I would love to win it :)

    adliberity [at] gmail [dot] com

    Reply

  25. I am a peeker too! I can't help it! I have to know NOW! lol! :D I saw your thoughts of this book on goodreads and it made me put it on my to buy list.. but now there is a chance to get it for FREE!!! Count me in, sign my name down, and throw my ticket into the hat!!!

    sarahalizabeth14@yahoo.com

    Reply

  30. I would love to get my hands on this book, please enter me too. Debut novels are always so intriguing

    Reply

  33. I've been hearing great things about this book. Glad to see you feel the same way. I can't wait to read it!

    Reply

  34. Wow, great review – this book has everything!! This is the first I've heard of the book or it's author – am definitely adding it to the TBB list – thanks annhonATaolDOTcom

    Reply

  35. Eeeewwwwww!!!! I am sooo excited!

    I was sooooo happy last week when you mentioned you where giving away copies of this book.

    I am glad to see your review. This book sounds fabulous! I can not wait for this book! I hope I can win this one.

    Thanks you for the chance to win!

    hayden392@comcast.net

    Reply

  39. oh my god this sounds AWESOME, im right there with you on loving the beginning set up. i usually have a tough time with the "realistic" side of things with people you like dying, etc. but this sounds too good to pass up. i would love to win!

    Reply

  44. Sounds so good! Your review makes me want to go out and read it right now! Can't wait to get my hands on it.

    Reply

  47. The cover had me suckered in, but yours is the first review I've read of this book – I'm so glad to hear you liked it. Definitely going in my TBR pile.

    Great review!

    Reply

  48. This just goes to show what's on my mind today: when I first saw the title of this post, I thought Dead was Read. I was like, "Why does she only have three days to read?!?" Phew, I was worried there for a second. :P

    Great review, Mandi! I think I might be a little burned out on urban fantasy at the moment, but this still sounds like a great book.

    Reply

  49. The opening description definitely got my attention! And along with your stellar review I ssssoooooo want this book!

    joderjo402 AT gmail DOT com

    Reply

  50. I love UF novels and have been on the hunt for new debuts and such, and this one seems just so awesome! You can definitely count me in.

    Reply

  51. I've read a ton of great things about this book.

    Thanks for the review and contest. Please count me in.

    Jen
    iiiioneloveiiii(AT)gmail(DOT)com

    Reply

  52. WOW! This sounds good. I'm not a huge UF heroine fan – I find it hard to relate to them. But your review – Mandi, you've got me sold. The question is…can I persuade my library that they want to buy it? I'm making them a Guinness chocolate cake tomorrow, so that should help *grin*

    Thank you so much for the giveaway! And can I just say – amazing cover! Normally I'm not so keen on UF covers, but this I really like!

    Reply

  62. Since, I'm not all that patient, Three Days To Dead is winging its way toward the TBR stack as I type. ;) Thanks for another great review.

    Reply

  63. Book sounds amazing, so please count me in! And so funny that you mentioned you were a peeker, as I am too! Sometimes I just HAVE to peek to make sure a certain someone survives! Hubby mocks me for this, so glad I'm not alone. :D

    Alexia561@yahoo.com

    Reply

  64. Hi :)
    Thank you for the opportunity to win.
    I posted about your great giveaway on my blog for my 5am EST Thurs Dec 10 post. (http://rkcharron.blogspot.com)
    I also Tweeted about it.
    I really like Kelly!
    Also to all fellow commentors, Kelly Meding is on Twitter! She's @KellyMeding.
    :)
    Happy Holidays,
    RKCharron

    Reply

  66. Mandi I can't believe I missed this! Stupid end of the year meeting *kicks rollie chair* – great contest. Another one to add to my list.

    Reply

  67. Wow 5 stars and a great review! I am not really a big fan of UF, but still looking for books to give the genre another try. It does sound good!

    Reply

  70. Talk about a hawt, sought after release, dang, those are many in the giveaway pool *wink* Guess I'm diving in there too, if the contest is international!

    Reply

  72. I've been hearing amazing things all around about this book. I think I should definitely check it out for myself.

    Reply

  74. Oooo this sounds really good Mandi! Great review!

    I'd love a chance to win this. Count me in!

    Hugs, VFG

    Reply

  81. Heard many great reviews, would love to win this. Please enter me :)

    Van P.
    Littlebookaholic(at)yahoo(dot)com

    Reply

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