She Smells the Dead (Spirit Guide, book 1)
It's the beginning of senior year and Yuki's psychic awareness of ghostly spirits is threatening to ruin her life. Her ability to sense spirits of the dead isn't glamorous like the ghost hunting on television.
SHE SMELLS THE DEAD.
The smell impressions are becoming stronger. Yuki is being visited in her dreams, and she suspects that her friend Calvin is involved in something strange. To make matters worse her crush on Garrett is going unrequited, Yuki's friend Emma is on a rampage against bee oppression, and annoying Calvin Miller mysteriously disappears.
Will Yuki be able to focus her powers in time to save the lost soul who is haunting her? Meanwhile, who will save Yuki from following the spirits into the light?
She Smells the Dead by E.J. Stevens
Young Adult, Mystery, Paranormal Romance, Urban Fantasy, Supernatural Suspense
Release date: September 9, 2010
Official Spirit Guide Series Website
Reviews of She Smells the Dead:
"She Smells the Dead by E.J. Stevens is a captivating read that I completely enjoyed on so many levels. The next in the series, Spirit Storm promises to be as fanfaerytastic as She Smells the Dead! I know this because I’ve already read it!
THE BOOK FAERY SAYS ROCK ON E.J. STEVENS! "
-The Book Faery (November 25, 2011)
"She Smells the Dead was a fun lighter type of mystery with paranormal elements. "
-For What It's Worth (November 14, 2011)
"Excellent storytelling from EJ, as she takes readers into a whole new dimension of fun! I think people of all ages will love it!"
-Freda's Voice (November 08, 2011)
"As for this book’s grade, I am quite aware that this is the first time I have given the rating “The Jetsetter’s Must-Have." I know it’s a tall order for any book to be highly entertaining with full character development and passing our “travelability” meter at the same time. But I believe She Smells the Dead accomplished all that with flying colors. E.J. Stevens’ tale delivered a punch with a crisp saucy voice; no senseless mumblings from her. I like that. And I know you also would. So try reading the Spirit Guide Series if you’re up for a more than average teen paranormal story."
-The Traveling Reader (November 03, 2011)
"Everything about this book is unique. I had fun and I hope you'll check it out too."
-One A Day YA (October 27, 2011)
"The characters felt like my best friends and at point I felt like I was a character, that’s always the best feeling I look for in a book and I got it!"
-You Know What They Say About Book People (September 14, 2011)
"What can I say? E.J. Stevens knocked this one out of the park! She made a plot premise that is so overused – a girl being haunted by the spirits of the dead who want her to do something for them, and took it in a whole new and interesting direction! I love her for that!"
-My Shelf Confessions (September 05, 2011)
"She Smells the Dead was filled with funny, intriguing, and witty characters...She Smells the Dead is a book that I would recommend to anyone who loves paranormal novels!"
-The Book Bubble (September 03, 2011)
"Funny, quirky, supernatural and romantic, this is a unique read that will get you loving these characters and their situations. A mystery story, a romance, a completely different supernatural twist, all rolled into one book. The cover for this is perfect and actually exactly how I imagined that Yuki would look. I defy you not to get swept up in this fun story, which is like a refreshing breath of fresh air in this genre."
-Always Lost in Stories (August 29, 2011)
"Think “Nancy Drew goes Goth, meets Glee!” and you’ve got E.J. Stevens’ smart and snappy SHE SMELLS THE DEAD"
-Kindle Nation Daily (August 08, 2011)
"I love how original Yuki was. She wasn’t your average cookie cutter character. She was a goth girl and she was darn proud of it. She was hilarious, sarcastic and kick butt. She was all the things that I love in characters.
The plot was so fun, fast paced and it seemed like there was adventure around every corner! "
-Two Readers Reviews (August 01, 2011)
"She Smells the Dead, a novel that made me laugh, smile and gasp in delight...Yuki is the awesomest (is that even a word?) character I've ever read."
-Cup of Tea Reviews (July 25, 2011)
"I can guarantee fans of the paranormal and fantasy will love this book."
-Books that Spark (July 13, 2011)
"Check out this book if you're looking for a neat, unique heroine and some weird and wonderful paranormal elements."
-All Consuming Books (July 10, 2011)
"This fast-paced, ghostly mystery had me cheering Yuki and her friends on and looking forward to reading the next installment in the series."
-The Book Buzz (July 05, 2011)
"Overall, this is a really quick, fun read. I really enjoyed it, and am looking forward to the next book. "
-The Reader Bee (July 04, 2011)
"It truly is a brilliant series beginning."
-A Tale of Many Reviews (June 29, 2011)
"Great read."
-Tanya (June 24, 2011)
"She Smells the Dead is very different. You will love it. You will love the fast pacing, the crazy characters and the adventures they go through. Stevens' writing will get you addicted. Read up on it!"
-Steph Short and Sweet (June 23, 2011)
"I think that fans of Kimberly Derting's "The Body Finder" series and Meg Cabot's "Mediator" series will gobble this book up in a heartbeat, becoming instant fans of E.J. Stevens (and Cal, we obviously cannot forget Cal the heartthrob)."
-Avery's Book Nook (June 21, 2011)
"I really really enjoyed this book! A fresh new look at spirits and ghosts, werewolves and the unknown."
-Mlpmom (June 19, 2011)
"I LOVED this book. Those of you who know me, know I am a Ghost-Story-Whore (Ghost related books are my favorite type of paranormal story and I consume them with greed and happiness, especially when the book is a good one). This was a GREAT one! The story was original, not something that has been done over and over and over again. Big plus for me...So if you haven't read this one yet, get to it!"
-Brandi (June 15, 2011)
"The paranormal aspects of this book kept me enthralled; I couldn't get enough.
The characters in this one also helped me enjoy the read. I am absolutely smitten with Calvin Miller. He might actually be the hottest werewolf in YA fiction for me. He is so strong and protective. I also love that in spite of his hotness, he is not a jerk. Calvin is down to earth and truly cares about Yuki. I think YA needs more characters like him to show teen girls about what being in a good relationship can be like. In addition, I also really liked Yuki. She is spunky, funny, and sensitive. Her goth wardrobe and dark makeup keep her from fitting in at school. I have always gravitated toward the fringe characters in literature. She is the kind of main character who can keep me loving a series. I look forward to seeing more of her in future books."
-Reading Lark (June 12, 2011)
"I am so glad that I read this novel because it seriously does not disappoint and I had a blast reading it. I can’t wait to jump right into the second novel, that's how excited I am."
-Breathing Books (June 12, 2011)
"I really enjoyed the unique spin on this paranormal story. It took the paranormal, ghost story, and spirits to a completely different level.
If you like a quick witted, fast paced light read of the paranormal kind, I think that you will enjoy this book. I am looking forward to reading the second in the series. "
-A Journey in Reading (June 2, 2011)
"I couldn't put this book down. Once I started I had to finish the whole thing. Yuki is my kind of gal. Like Abby from NCIS. This is a wonderful, amazing, and entertaining story. Yuki and Cal are perfect for each other. This story had me smiling, frowning, laughing, and nearly crying with the characters. The hero is strong yet vulnerable and the the heroine is spunky yet shy. I had wanted to read this story for so long after hearing all the rave reviews about it and I was definitely not disappointed. This book has made it to the top three of my favorite books. I can't wait to read the next one! Kudo's to E.J. Stevens for being an imaginative author with a powerful mind. Love it!"
-Jill (June 2, 2011)
"Firstly the cover of this book is so stunning, when my copy arrived in the mail I was breathless, the picture online does not do it justice. I loved that this story was so original in the way that Yuki smells dead people and needs to help them move on before the smell will go away. I loved that it was written in a way that was so easy to relate to and the little bad jokes in there are so similar to what gets said in this house that I could't help laughing. Also you can't help but love all the characters they are each unique in their own way but at the same time are so gorgeous, pure and characters that you would love to be friends with."
-Kym (May 30, 2011)
"I have to admit I was pleasantly surprised by this book. I wasn't sure what to expect but this went above and beyond whatever I expected. There are a lot of mysterious things going on in this book. There is paranormal stuff going on, mystery, murder, werewolves, spirit guides and all kinds of good stuff.
I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a good read. This is an excellent book."
-Amber (May 30, 2011)
"Ms. Stevens writes a thrilling novel filled with the paranormal, adventure, mystery, and the unknown. The Spirit Guide series is a spell binding YA read, brimming over and reminding me of all those fantastic adventure and fantasy books I read as a teen. Readers will sit, enraptured by the author’s skill in creating characters that explode from the pages.
I loved She Smells the Dead and highly recommend it and Spirit Storm to anyone that has a weakness for well-written YA novels. 5 fantastic Stars!"
-At Your Fingertips (May 26, 2011)
"She Smells The Dead is an outstanding read that surprised me with its to-the-point writing style that immediately grabbed my interest."
-Rabid Reads (May 24, 2011)
"Stevens is a talented writer who pulls you into the story and keeps up the fast pace throughout the novel. I love her writing style and how she tells her story. It is straight to the point without the meandering that has been plaguing me in so many novels of late. This is an easy read you can just sit back and enjoy."
-Mel's Books (May 24, 2011)
"What I loved most about this YA series was the originality of the story. The lead female Yuki has an unusual power of smelling the dead. She very spirited and has an awesome assortment of gothic attire; she’s just a bundle of fun...A quick read that gets down to the point of the story, Steven wraps you up in her world she’s created with her fantastic writing. I loved her characters and the paranormal elements. The secret that revolves around Calvin and the crush that Yuki has, just made me smile with excitement to see what would happen next.
I recommend this book to YA fans that love humor, paranormal elements and a fun mystery."
-Seeing Night Reviews (May 14, 2011)
"...the more i read, the more addicting it became. Yuki and Cal are amazing. I love them and i cant wait to start reading the next book."
-Mo (May 14, 2011)
"I loved the originality of this story. So different from any ghost whisper I have read. Yuki is Very unique, and loveable. The Writing style and pace flows well. I love how E. J. Stevens built the characters. Her friends Calvin and Emma were awesome.
Great YA Paranormal Romance."
-Were Vamps Romance (May 10, 2011)
"SHE SMELLS THE DEAD was a unique, easy read filled with a fantastic array of characters. I enjoyed E.J. Stevens to the point no nonsense writing. Yuki was a great lead character. She was unique and had a wonderful view of the world and who she is. The story flowed perfectly from scene to scene."
-Urban Fantasy Investigations (May 10, 2011)
"E.J. Stevens, truly took me into her world from page one. I fell in love with her MC, Yuki from the first moment she wrinkled her adorable nose at the smell of vinegar...or the smell of the dead.
It's a fun fast paced read, great for any YA readers!"
-Thomas Amo (May 06, 2011)
"E. J. Stevens has brought a new and fun element to YA paranormal fiction.
I truly enjoyed this book. I am a fan of dream imagery and E. J. Stevens weaves this into the story nicely. The characters are charming, quirky and interesting and they each seem to blossom as the book progresses."
-Bonnie Lamer (May 06, 2011)
"...honestly, it was totally, amazingly, awesome!"
-Book Trends (May 04, 2011)
"E.J. Stevens' She Smells the Dead was quite interesting. First the title alone had my eyebrows raising in curiosity and the cover is beautiful and eerie at the same time, so I had to give this one a shot! And it was pretty interesting overall!"
-A Great Read (May 03, 2011)
"This story is clearly for the Young Adult genre, but I still enjoyed it as an adult reader. Yes, there is a romance side as well as a paranormal side. Another plus, there’s no swearing or sex scenes involved in this story line. "
-Shelley (May 01, 2011)
"I give this strength four tea: good concept, good characters, good writing, good fun. A quick read that I want to read more of."
-Death Books and Tea (Apr 28, 2011)
"I fell in love with Yuki...she has to learn how to protect herself and solve the problems of the ghosts she encounters. A pretty tall order when you still have homework and a curfew."
"In this mysterious and intriguing Y.A novel, Yuki is cool and unique girl, with a name to match. Calvin is her best friend, who can quirk one eyebrow up (*heart skips a beat*) and who has secrets of his own. Then there is Emma, who I loved, she’s Yuki’s friend, witty, a vegan and believes in animal rights. The book is fast paced and is filled with romance, mystery and great, quirky characters. E.J Stevens style of writing flows well and keeps you hooked. It all ends on a cliffhanger and I can’t wait to read the next installment. Definitely recommend it to you if you enjoy paranormal novels with some romance thrown in!"
-Moonlight Reader (Apr 25, 2011)
"A clever premise (yes, she smells dead people) combined with high school angst, in-crowds, out-crowds and a cute boyfriend with his own secret made this a fast, fun read."
"She Smells the Dead was quite a refreshing read. Yuki is, without a doubt, a very unique character.
The development of the story moved into a completely different direction than i initially assumed. It was quite exciting. She Smells the dead was very quick paced and the plot was developed without stall, making E.J. Stevens a straight-to-the-point kind of author. Very admirable."
-A Cupcake and a Latte (Apr 20, 2011)
"...like a Nancy Drew with a paranormal twist. Original and fresh."
-Ami Blackwelder (Apr 20, 2011)
“What an interesting power! Yuki, as the title suggests, can smell the dead. This isn't your average superpower; nothing like flying, invisibility or super-strength. As a lover of the strange, I found this idea to be intriguing and it held my attention through the course of the book.”
-The Magick Pen (Apr 19, 2011)
“Well, I'm happy to say that I've found a new paranormal romance series to obsess over.
A touch of the paranormal, romance, mystery, action... this book has it all. The characters were all different, unique, and amazingly written.”
-The Awesome Magic Attic (Apr 13, 2011)
“There are some great ideas in this book that I found quite original and I'm sure others would agree.”
-Dark Fantasy: Adult + YA Fiction (Apr 3, 2011)
“E.J. Stevens' novel is a combination of paranormal romance and mystery with a good bit of humor thrown in.
I really loved this story. The romance was just enough. The paranormal was definitely something new and it wasn't just the smelling dead people.
This novel is G rated. Anyone that likes paranormal romance/mystery should enjoy this quick read.”
-Buried in Books (Mar 27, 2011)
“E.J. pulls out all the stops with the first installment to the Spirit Guide series.”
-Book Noise (Mar 19, 2011)
“Yuki would have to be one of my favorite heroines that I have read about in a long time.”
-Forbidden Passion Reviews (formerly Black Rose Reviews) (Mar 7, 2011)
“With so many current YA series nearing the end I am glad to find this one in its early stages to keep me entertained.”
-Bitten by Books (Jan 24, 2011)
“Yuki, Calvin and Emma each come into their own in this outstanding break-out novel for young adults and the young of heart.”
-Laurie's Thoughts and Reviews (Jan 11, 2011)
“I really had a hard time putting this one down. Part ghost story, part mystery, part supernatural and ALL EXCELLENT!”
-Read For Your Future (2011)
“When I read this I wanted to stand up and say, “Bravo!” Very well done, indeed.
It’s well-written and it flows, it’s not too violent, and surprisingly original.”
-Journal of Always (reprinted at Pixel of Ink) (Dec 29, 2010)
“I so enjoyed the story. The Ghost Whisperer in Smell-O-Rama. Yuki may not be the most popular girl at school, but she definitely has the Bestest Friends a girl could ask for. This story was a refreshing new slant on helping the dead cross over to the light. I won't give any of the exciting details away, but when an unexpected romance starts, and complications start to arise with the lingering smelly dead and the annoying wet dog smell, you are sure to be swallowed up into E. J. Stevens exciting, twisting turning plot. Can't wait to see what happens on Samhain.”
-T.Lynne Tolles, author of the Blood Series (Dec 16, 2010)
“LOVED this book!
She smells the dead is quirky, funny (Seriously, I giggled everytime I read the words: Bee Oppression) and terrific for those who want a new spin on your paranormal stories.”
-Far From Reality (Dec 11, 2010)
“I would definitely recommend reading She Smells the Dead.
So grab a copy of ‘She Smells the Dead’ get comfortable and enjoy. You might not be able to get up till you've finished.”
-My Neurotic Book Affair (Nov 29, 2010)
“Can I say how creative this story is? Smelling the dead? Wow! Not only is it original but it is done well, and interesting to read about.
The book is full of mystery and is a great paranormal read.”
-Young Adult Books Reviewed (Nov 2, 2010)
“To say that this book is rather unlike anything I've ever read before seems a bit of an understatement. I mean where else in YA fiction have you ever found a main character that smells dead people? See them, yup. Sense them, definitely. Smell them? Yuki is absolutely one of a kind in that respect. It was this little fact that first drew me to the book, and then had me hooked by the middle of the first chapter.
Original, fantastic and fun!”
-Hopelessly Devoted Bibliophile (formerly A Fanatic's Book Blog) (Oct 31, 2010)
“This very entertaining story is a great addition to the YA market, appropriate for young readers and adults as well.”
-One Book Shy of a Full Shelf (Oct 31, 2010)
“Loved this gem of a book!”
-vvb32 reads (Oct 30, 2010)
“She Smells The Dead lays the foundation for a great new YA series.
If you love ghosts, Goths, and a little bit of YA romance, you will want to check this book out.”
-Diva's Bookcase (Oct 18, 2010)
“I adored the main character Yuki, and her drive to be herself no matter what others thought.
It's a great book in my opinion and I recommend that you check it out.”
-The Cajun Book Lady (Oct 12, 2010)
“Author E. J. Stevens’ delightfully original She Smells the Dead impressed me from its first pages and I now include it among my favorite novels. Yuki is one of the most likeable heroines a reader has the joy to be introduced to, and I loved hearing her every thought as much as following her story adventure. The author’s great character development shines through with the entire cast. Calvin, simultaneously cool and down-to-earth and Emma, passionate vegan and animal advocate, are the best friends we all wish we had. This paranormal romance of blossoming love and great friendships, with laugh-out-loud moments, shares the wonderful “high school can be hell” metaphor and witty dialogue of the TV series, “Buffy the Vampire Slayer,” but in a unique story all its own and with the distinctive voice of its talented author. I eagerly await the next book in the Spirit Guide series! Highly recommended.”
-Krisi Keley, author of On the Soul of a Vampire (Oct 01, 2010)
“I loved the quirkiness of this book.”
-Stories and Sweeties (Sep 27, 2010)
“I absolutely loved every last delicious page of She Smells The Dead!”
-Sparkling Reviews (Sep 23, 2010)
“THIS BOOK IS BRILLIANT!!!”
-Moonlight Book Reviews (Sep 23, 2010)
“I loved the sleuthing aspect that goes along with Yuki’s gift/curse... This series is like Nancy Drew meets the Winchester Brother’s from Supernatural.”
-I'd So Rather Be Reading (Sep 22, 2010)
“I loved this book it was a wonderful mix of romance and mystery behind everything that Yuki goes though and has to deal with. The story flows wonderfully the way it introduces who Yuki will end up with as well as how she must learn to control her gift, was done perfectly in my opinion. I can't wait for another book because I want to know what the hell happens on Halloween. So EJ Stevens PLEASE KEEP WRITING!!!!!!!”
-Deanna (Sep 20, 2010)
“I recommend it to Paranormal lovers, YA, mystery fans. I think young teens could read this with ease of their parents.”
-Jessica's Vision (Sep 16, 2010)
“She Smells the Dead provides something new and fresh to the YA realm.”
-Flippin' Fabulous: A Reader's Record (Sep 15, 2010)
“She Smells the Dead is an exciting new take on wolves, spirits, and more.”
-I Swim for Oceans (Sep 11, 2010)
“It’s enchanting and very entertaining!
Very much looking forward to the sequel!”
-Amaterasu Reads (Sep 9, 2010)
“With its unique take on the paranormal world we all love so much, I recommend it to lovers of all things haunted!”
-Book Crazy (Sep 9, 2010)
“This book is part mystery, part romance, part adventure and all the things a person wants!”
-Scarrlet Reader (Sep 9, 2010)
“I received this one yesterday, started reading it last night and finished it today.”
-Vampires and Tofu (Sep 8, 2010)
“I have just come upon an enchanting new Paranormal Mystery Story written by Dark Poetess , EJ Stevens. She Smells the Dead is just what the Moms and Librarians have been looking for. A New Series of books with enchantment, mystery, love and commitment.”
-Paranormal Romance Guild (2010)
