Book Review: Desires of the Dead by Kimberly Derting.

Product details:
Publisher: Headline Book Publishing.
Release date: March 17th 2011.
Paperback, 358 pages.
Rating: 4½ out of 5.
Ages: 14+
Series: The Body Finder #2.
Other books in series: The Body Finder.
Source: Received from publisher for review.

The missing dead call to Violet. They want to be found.

When Violet Ambrose's morbid ability to sense the echoes of those who've been murdered leads her to the body of a young boy, she draws the attention of the FBI. She is reluctantly pulled into an investigation that will endanger more than just her secret...but her relationship and possibly her life as well.

Oh, how I swooned over The Body Finder by Kimberly Derting. That book grabbed me right from the first page, and made me fall completely and utterly in total book love. Then there was Jay, who I also fell completely and utterly in love with. Oh, swoon! If you are a regular reader of this blog, or if you follow me on twitter, you will know that I literally never stop talking about Jay Heaton! Out of all my book boyfriends, Jay is my number one. So, with all this in mind, you can imagine I how excited I was for this sequel, and I can safely say that Desires of the Dead totally impressed me. It’s a taut, fast-paced mystery, with the same great characters you’ve come to know and love, and of course, that hot romance that fans of the series just can’t get enough of!

For Violet, Desires of the Dead is all about her coming of age, self discovery and the realisation that her ability may lead to greater possibilities than she ever imagined. Three months on from that fateful night at the school prom, Violet is coming to terms with what her ability to sense the dead might mean for the future.  When Violet senses an echo and takes matters into her own hands, she unwittingly attracts the attention of an FBI agent and her mysterious co-worker, and these two might be about to change Violet’s life forever…

While the storyline here is multi-layered and engrossing, I will say that Desires of the Dead lacks a little of the suspense of The Body Finder, especially the darkly sinister elements of the first book that really made it stand apart from anything else I've read in YA literature. I loved the inclusion of the Seven Deadly Sins chapters here, and a certain stalker element that had Vi seething with jealousy, but I did think that the mystery here was more predictable than before. What this one lacked in suspense, it more than made up for in the hot romance department though! Oh yes!

In The Body Finder, we saw Jay and Violet transition from best friends to boyfriend and girlfriend. Watching their relationship unfold was adorable, and here their relationship naturally progresses and goes through changes. Jay and Vi have their ups and downs for sure. Their relationship is unique in the love-at-first-sight world of YA literature. It’s totally real, very relatable, and oh, so romantic!

While I have always liked Violet, it’s safe to say that she can be very stubborn and she sometimes doesn’t make the best choices. Here she is reluctant to confide in Jay because of the change in their dynamic. I didn’t entirely understand this at first. She’s been through so much with Jay, and has no reason to distrust him. But this is all about Violet finding her own way, and she does that. And then she realizes that she doesn’t have to do it all on her own. Awww…

Can I dedicate some time to Jay now!! I didn’t think I could love Jay more than I did in The Body Finder, but after reading this one, oh I do! Jay is the sweetest, most perfect guy ever! I love his sexy, lopsided grin. I love that he’s so hot, and is completely oblivious to that fact – guys like that are so totally appealing! And I love how he is so protective of Violet – her rock, her constant, and always there for her. I could probably go on for days about Jay, but, OK, I’ll stop now!

With Violet learning more about her ability and the new world of possibilities it brings to this series I seriously can’t wait to find out what happens next. I also think that the introduction of FBI agent, Sara Priest, and the mysterious Rafe with his connection to Vi means that things are about to get even more interesting in her already drama-filled life.  I am especially intrigued by Rafe, and what he might bring to the table. Hmmm...yes, indeed!   I have no idea where book #3 will take us, but I can't wait to read more about Violet and Jay. I hope I don't have to wait too long for my next fix!