CLOSE TO YOU
Downside Ghosts Series #5.5
by Stacia Kane
Publisher: St. Martin’s Paperbacks (Oct 2013)
Genre: Urban Fantasy, Adult
Format: eARC (35 pages/short story)
Source: Free book from publisher (NetGalley) for honest review
Find It: Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble
Rating: ★★★½☆ (3.5 stars)
The Holidays Are Hell
Churchwitch Chess Putnam has seen, and banished, her share of ghosts, but not of the Christmas Past variety—the holiday has been illegal since the Church of Real Truth defeated the undead and took control of the world in 1997.
Yet when she and her boyfriend, Terrible, make a trip to an abandoned auto junkyard, they find more than the rusted auto parts and spare tires they’d bargained for. They also run across a creepy Miss Havisham-type hell-bent on reuniting with her long-dead husband just in time for Christmas—even if it means taking Chess and Terrible down with her into the City of Eternity…
If Chess and Terrible don’t manage to keep these ghosts in the past, they won’t have a future…
At A Glance
Loved the creepiness, but was too short to really get into.
The Good
I will never think of the song “Close to You” by the Carpenters the same way again. I love that song but now it just creeps me out. Just imagine, walking through an abandoned junkyard at night with the song “Close to you” playing over and over again. CREEPY! I straight up got the chills. And the old crazy woman made me even more nervous. You know right away she is not right, but in the end you kind of understand her motives.
Chess and Terrible were awesome together. Terrible is so cool and calm in a crises. Chess is determined to keep Terrible safe no matter what. She thinks of him over herself and I love that about her in this one because sometimes she can be selfish. They totally handled the scary situation perfectly together.
This book definitely had a dark feel to it. And I think a lot of foreshadowing was going on as well. I now have a good idea on what the next full book is going to be about. I can’t wait for the next book. Close to You only wetted my appetite.
The Bad
I wish Close to You was longer. It was just too short to really get into. It wasn’t even a novella, it was straight up a short story. It won’t work for everyone.
The Snuggly
I loved the hot scene in the beginning with Chess and Terrible. It doesn’t get very far but their sexual chemistry is so hot, just them kissing melts the pages. Even in 35 pages, we see the love they have for each other.
Final Thoughts
Close to You is very short, so beware. But if you love short stories, then this is perfect for you. Downside Ghost lovers will want to read this, but as a stand alone for a person who hasn’t read any of Kane’s work, I would skip it. Recommended overall.
He fell. Chess watched him fall. Her own body had evaporated. She didn’t have a body, and she was so tired … Some part of her screamed and tried to move, knew that she couldn’t sleep there outside on the ground, but there was nothing else she could do. The sky grew hazy and narrowed to a slit, and in that slit Eliza Hudson’s face appeared, surrounded by a whitish corona.
“I am not letting you ruin my Christmas,” she snarled, and everything went black.
Chene Sterckx
This sounds like a good quick read! Why are some of the really good stories too short… Great Review Jennifer 🙂
Chanzie @ Mean Who You Are.
Jennifer Bielman
I know, it sucks more when they are short when they are really good.
Brandi Kosiner
The creep factor seems like a big plus
Jennifer Bielman
Oh yeah!!!
elisa
I am gathering this series to read soon. Looking forward to it! I have a hard time with the short stories/novellas too though…never enough! 🙂
Jennifer Bielman
Oooh, I will be interested to see what you think. it is very different.
Jaclyn Canada
I enjoy shorts and novellas more when they are an extra to a series like this one. I like the name Chess. That’s definitely unique. Great review! Jaclyn @ JC’s Book Haven.
Jennifer Bielman
This whole series is unique. I think you might like it.
Bookworm Brandee
This sounds great, Jennifer – even if it’s too short. I know I’ll read it because I love this series. But I almost always feel short-changed with novellas, so I understand how you felt reading this. Thanks for sharing! 🙂
Jennifer Bielman
I know, I think I have loved 1 out of every 10 novellas I read, the rest I feel short changed.
emaginette
I do love scary and creepy–stories that is–in any length. 🙂
Anna from Shout with Emaginette
Jennifer Bielman
hehe, totally agree.
Sarah Elizabeth
I get so fed up with Novellas, I rarely come across one that is worth reading.
Jennifer Bielman
I know, I would have been fine skipping this one.