"I do not just want to read books; I want to climb inside them and live there." -Anonymous

April 10, 2013

Better Off Dead by H. P. Mallory

Goodreads



Better Off Dead (Lilly Harper #1)
by H.P. Mallory
Publisher: HP Mallory
Pub. date: March 25, 2013
eBook
My Rating:  ♥♥♥♥



Summary ~from goodreads~

If there's such a good thing as luck, Lilly Harper definitely doesn't have it.

Killed in a car accident before it's her time to go, Lily learns that the hereafter isn't exactly what she hoped it might be.

First, there's AfterLife Enterprises, the company responsible for sorting out the recently dead and sending them on their way to the kingdom, (aka happily ever after,) or to the Underground city, (not so happily ever after.) Learning that Lily's death was indirectly their fault (her guardian angel Bill, was MIA during her accident and was one of their employees,) Afterlife Enterprises offers Lily the chance to live again.  But, as with most things involving the afterlife, beware the fine print.  Most notably, Lily will have to become a soul retriever, venturing into the bowels of the Underground City to retrieve souls that were mistakenly sent there by Afterlife Enterprises during a Y2K computer glitch.

Second, there's angel Bill. As if risking her second life the underground city wasn't enough, Lily's guide to the Underground is none other than her incompetent, alcoholic, womanizing guardian angel, Bill, the antithesis of anything wholesome.  With only Dante's Infernal and Bill to help her in her quest, Lily's future isn't looking bright.

Finally, there's the legendary blade smith, Tallis Black. As Scottish as his kilts and heavy brogue, Tallis Black is a centuries-old Celt who, for reasons only know to him, offers to train Lily and act as her escort into the depths of the Underground City.  Dark, brooding and definitely dangerous, Lily knows she shouldn't trust Tallis, but she also can't deny her attraction to him.

Between soul retrieving in hell, dealing with Bill and trying to figure out what's in it for Tallis, Lily wonders if maybe she would've just been better off dead.

My Review:

 A fun, entertaining, paranormal story with a unique combination of characters.   A very good first book to start a new series. Just like meeting a person for the first time, a readers feelings of a first book to a series, is based on first impressions. Meeting a new character, may be easy to get to know and some new characters take a little more time to grow on you. I will share with you my thoughts on the three main characters.

Lilly Harper is a character that is relate-able. She is an average young woman with a career, friends and family. She is a girl who works on staying positive with her life.  And like many of us, she is doing the best she can living her life. She has the misfortune of dying before her time, because her guardian angel Bill is not good at focusing on his job.  Because of this, she is given two choices, and she picks to live again. But like any choice a person makes, there are always consequences. It may be good, bad or a little of both, and Lily gets a little of both.

Bill, Lilly's guardian angel, cares for Lilly. But by first impression, you would never guess it. When he is not being Lilly's guardian, he does not act like how an angel should act. He is a drunk, a foul mouth womanizer, with an over the top sarcastic sense of humor. At first I did not know how to feel for Bill's character, I found myself feeling a little uneasy on some of his remarks, but with his comedic and sometimes gross remarks, I did grow to like him. Just like a person who unconditionally cares for an obnoxious relative.

Tallis Black is all man! He is described as a tall, strong, gorgeous man who is mysterious and dangerous with a dark past. He is Celt who has lived for hundreds of years. I did find his speech difficult to read but I eventually came accustomed to it. His way of speaking is a part of what makes Tallis Black a believable character who comes from a different time period.

I have always enjoyed all of H.P. Mallory's books. I loved meeting her new characters and seeing them come to life. I can't wait to read and learn more about Lilly, Tallis and Bill.

And congratulations to Sherita Landers, a fellow fan and book lover who won the contest to be a character in this book.  I loved reading Sherita being all tough! She will forever be imortalized in a book!  
I am so jealous!!  :P  LOL


Here are some links to learn more about H.P. Maloory and her other books:

https://www.facebook.com/hpmallory

http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4108184.H_P_Mallory

http://hpmallory.com/





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