Secrets, Lies and Fireflies by Angie Fox Southern Ghost Hunter Mysteries series #14. Paranormal cozy mystery. Can be read as a stand-alone but better aSecrets, Lies and Fireflies by Angie Fox Southern Ghost Hunter Mysteries series #14. Paranormal cozy mystery. Can be read as a stand-alone but better as part of the series. There was a fire in the Sugarland library and Verity can’t wait for the fire trucks to arrive. Her sister is in there! Ghosts Frankie and Grandma Rose help Verity find her sister and get them both out of the library. After the fire is put out, a skeleton is found behind a false wall. Now it’s up to Verity and all her ghost friends to figure out who and why.
Suffragettes, a hidden underground beneath the peach orchard with ghosts stuck in 1919, Frankie in a sweater and penny loafers, gangsters chased by their mothers, Lucy learning tricks from Fingers McGee, Officer Alec Duranja letting Verity speed by without a ticket, a tiger on a leash, premium moonshine and so much more! Don’t miss this adventure filled mystery as Verity, ghosts Frankie and Grandma search for answers. ...more
All Hallows Eve by Heather Graham Krewe of Hunters series #16.5. Paranormal suspense, horror. Can be read as a stand-alone. Salem, MA at Halloween for All Hallows Eve by Heather Graham Krewe of Hunters series #16.5. Paranormal suspense, horror. Can be read as a stand-alone. Salem, MA at Halloween for most would be fun and entertaining. For those that see ghosts, not so much. Paranormal forensics specialist Jenna Duffy and attorney Samual Hall (series #4) return to Salem to investigate the creepy horrors reported and find themselves in a fight for their lives.
Boo-hag. A new supernatural for me. I don't recommend reading this in the dark at night. At least not for a wimp like me where horror is an exception and not a standard read. It’s a chilling novella not to be missed from the series. ...more
The Forgotten by Heather Graham Krewe of Hunters series #16. Paranormal romantic suspense. Can be read as a stand-alone. Lara, Matt and Meg are from boThe Forgotten by Heather Graham Krewe of Hunters series #16. Paranormal romantic suspense. Can be read as a stand-alone. Lara, Matt and Meg are from book #15. FBI Agent Brett Cody doesn’t believe that Miguel Gomez killed his wife, Maria. First, the man is dead. Second, Miguel loved his wife unconditionally and would never have harmed her. Then pieces of Miguel are discovered and questions have to be directed to the funeral parlor and cemetery. Another death and rumors of zombies start. Lara Mathew works at a dolphin research facility in Florida and is appalled when one of the dolphins drops a finger in her hand. But she’s analytical and is soon working with Brett, and the Krewe to figure out how a dead man can still be walking.
Dolphins, ghosts, and zombies in Florida. Of course it’s Florida. I liked that Lara was able to live in the prior book. She’s even stronger in this book, able to handle not only the macabre deaths, but the paranormal as well. I always expect ghosts in this series but never expected zombies. The dolphins were more than welcome. On to the next ghost. ...more
The Shadow Girls by Lucienne Diver Dark epic fantasy. Trigger warnings. Three women fated to change their world. They are in Jucari and it’s a man’s woThe Shadow Girls by Lucienne Diver Dark epic fantasy. Trigger warnings. Three women fated to change their world. They are in Jucari and it’s a man’s world. They have little to no rights. No acknowledged power. No voice. No status. They yearn for safety. For freedom from abuse. For their children’s lives to be better. One demands sacrifice. Cia, Ulan, and Bloody Bess will change their world.
Painful. And so dark. These women endure so much. And keep on. I had to read this in short bursts. True dark epic fantasy with unique magic. While most of this book made me ill because of abuse, war, death, starvation, killing, etc, I did find myself totally agreeing with Ceramor in wanting to bite(and more!) the hand that holds him. The rage was inside me. A language slant in the story, because why would everything match our world? ni, nes, nim, nimself
Powerful, desperate, utterly compelling. Mythical and bloody. So bloody. Only the beginning. ...more
Southern Bound by Stuart Jaffe Max Porter series #1. Paranormal mystery with ghosts. Retro noir style format. Max Porter and his wife moved to North CSouthern Bound by Stuart Jaffe Max Porter series #1. Paranormal mystery with ghosts. Retro noir style format. Max Porter and his wife moved to North Carolina for his new job doing research. He’s told not to move the furniture and when it happens accidentally, Max finds he’s freed a ghost from the 1940’s and suddenly the research job is complicated with witches, curses and dangerous enemies. The generous paycheck makes it hard to walk away.
It was so great when his wife stepped up and admitted to seeing ghosts. And that she had a hand in their new life. A dark retro style paranormal mystery. I look forward to reading more of this series. ...more
The Mirror by Nora Roberts The Lost Bride trilogy, book #2. Thriller, horror. Paranormal with a malevolent ghost. Should be read in series order. CliffThe Mirror by Nora Roberts The Lost Bride trilogy, book #2. Thriller, horror. Paranormal with a malevolent ghost. Should be read in series order. Cliffhanger. Sonya MacTavish has inherited a haunted Victorian house on the coast of Maine. An antique mirror draws Sonya and shows her over and over the death of a bride and the stolen gold rings. Sonya and her housemates need to figure out how to break the curse and get rid of the malicious ghost.
Wish I Were Here by Melissa Wiesner Contemporary romance. Catherine Lipton’s goals are lining up. She’s moved into a nice apartment on her own and she�Wish I Were Here by Melissa Wiesner Contemporary romance. Catherine Lipton’s goals are lining up. She’s moved into a nice apartment on her own and she’s interviewing for a university position in the math department that’s on the path to tenure. Sure, there’s a hiccup or two with the doorman who never seems to be at his desk, and then running into her father with her new boss at the university, but she can handle it. When she shows up for orientation though, things start falling apart. Her paperwork was rejected saying she doesn’t exist. Then her credit card is declined and the Social Security office says she doesn’t exist. Doorman Luca Morelli has friends and family all over the city and he helps Catherine track down the details she needs to get her life back online. Becoming friends with many of the elderly residents in the building and realizing that Luca may be more than he seems, adds a spark of possibilities to her life. Her future may be different than she planned.
Catherine and Luca are at odds from the beginning. But really, how was she supposed to know he’s helping the other residents? She only sees that he’s missing from his post. As Catherine gets to know Luca, her eyes are opened to so much more. She finds out about her own history, and Italian families, and community involvement.
Romance, family, community. I loved this story. While there are a lot of shocks for Catherine, she handles it all remarkably well. For the most part. I doubt I’d be anywhere near as composed if I was told I didn’t exist. Poignant and romantic. Bonus Reading Questions included at the end of the Print version.
If I Stopped Haunting You by Colby Wilkens Contemporary paranormal romance. Enemies to lovers troupe. Horror writers Penelope Skinner and Neil Storm enIf I Stopped Haunting You by Colby Wilkens Contemporary paranormal romance. Enemies to lovers troupe. Horror writers Penelope Skinner and Neil Storm end up on a writers retreat together in a haunted Scottish castle. She thinks he sold out to get his book published and then threw a book at him at a conference. Neither have been able to write since the conference so the retreat is exactly what they need. As soon as they can civically talk to each other and get rid of a ghost or two.
Mark of the Necromancer by Tamsin L Silver Sabrina Grayson series #1. Dark urban fantasy. Sabrina Grayson is dead. Wrong place, wrong time. Detective AMark of the Necromancer by Tamsin L Silver Sabrina Grayson series #1. Dark urban fantasy. Sabrina Grayson is dead. Wrong place, wrong time. Detective Alex Price isn’t willing to lose her and turns her into a vampire. Now Bree is a necromancer and needs to learn all about her new world and leave her rich socialite activities behind. There is evil on the prowl and Bree’s friends are dying. Alex and Bree team up to investigate and soon she’s on the Death Highway meeting Satan himself. It’s going to be a wild ride.
The Death Highway is interesting and not what it seems. The toll booth people funny, especially the second time around. I also enjoyed the pool scene. The tension between Bree and Alex is not surprising when it turns into a slow burn romance. I did find Satan a chuckle. Mostly wrapped up but a few strings left open. ...more
I’ll be Waiting by Kelley Armstrong Supernatural horror. Nicole Laughton never expected to live long enough to love someone, but now she’s a widow. NeI’ll be Waiting by Kelley Armstrong Supernatural horror. Nicole Laughton never expected to live long enough to love someone, but now she’s a widow. News of the auto accident and photos of a supposed ghost, makes his death into a public interest nightmare for Nicole by psychics and spiritualists. Nicole is now using her skepticism to expose the fakes. In hopes of closure, family and friends find a reputable medium and they rent the Toronto Lake Erie beach house that Anton’s family once owned. The goal is three sessions but unusual things start happening almost immediately. Locked doors mysteriously open, a neighbor is missing, clouds of insects engulf the house, footsteps overhead, and the creak of an old dumbwaiter from an empty shaft. And then a body is found.
The Phantom in the Footlights by Violet Howe Cedar Creek Mysteries #3. Mystery with some romance. Best read as part of the series. Same main couple witThe Phantom in the Footlights by Violet Howe Cedar Creek Mysteries #3. Mystery with some romance. Best read as part of the series. Same main couple with many secondary characters spanning the three novels. Sloane Reid decides to audition at the new Cedar Creek community theater when she hears about it. The old warehouse is undergoing renovations to turn it into a theater and Sloane feels she and Dani Ward could become friends. As they discuss the changes being made, some of the bags of groceries that Dani had just brought in fell off the table. And one of the maintenance men said his tools had been pushed to the floor by someone. But no one else was in the building. Yes, there appears to be a ghost in residence. Dani and Sloane investigate other wild stories by former tenants of the building to find what what’s going on and who the ghost might be. Assuming it is a ghost and not someone that simply doesn’t want the theater to open.
By this time in the series we know Sloane and expect arguments with Tristan and paparazzi around town. This books expands the town parameters a bit as well as expanding the ghost factor. Expect a few goosebumps when unexpected things happen at the theater. A good mystery and addition to the series. I enjoyed the concept and twists. 4.5
Merged review:
The Phantom in the Footlights by Violet Howe Cedar Creek Mysteries #3. Mystery with some romance. Best read as part of the series. Same main couple with many secondary characters spanning the three novels. Sloane Reid decides to audition at the new Cedar Creek community theater when she hears about it. The old warehouse is undergoing renovations to turn it into a theater and Sloane feels she and Dani Ward could become friends. As they discuss the changes being made, some of the bags of groceries that Dani had just brought in fell off the table. And one of the maintenance men said his tools had been pushed to the floor by someone. But no one else was in the building. Yes, there appears to be a ghost in residence. Dani and Sloane investigate other wild stories by former tenants of the building to find what what’s going on and who the ghost might be. Assuming it is a ghost and not someone that simply doesn’t want the theater to open.
By this time in the series we know Sloane and expect arguments with Tristan and paparazzi around town. This books expands the town parameters a bit as well as expanding the ghost factor. Expect a few goosebumps when unexpected things happen at the theater. A good mystery and addition to the series. I enjoyed the concept and twists. 4.5...more
Fooled Around and Spelled in Love by Michelle M Pillow
3rd of the Everlasting series. Different authors connected by a town of paranormals and characteFooled Around and Spelled in Love by Michelle M Pillow
3rd of the Everlasting series. Different authors connected by a town of paranormals and characters within. Part lite mystery, part romance. Fully enjoyable. Can be read as a stand alone. A witch and a journalist investigate a mysterious death with the help of a magical camera. But can that antique be trusted?
Merged review:
Fooled Around and Spelled in Love by Michelle M Pillow
3rd of the Everlasting series. Different authors connected by a town of paranormals and characters within. Part lite mystery, part romance. Fully enjoyable. Can be read as a stand alone. A witch and a journalist investigate a mysterious death with the help of a magical camera. But can that antique be trusted?...more
Wild Irish Fortune by Tricia O’Malley The Enchanted Highlands series #6. Paranormal Scottish romance. Alternating POV. Can be read as a stand-alone butWild Irish Fortune by Tricia O’Malley The Enchanted Highlands series #6. Paranormal Scottish romance. Alternating POV. Can be read as a stand-alone but best read in series order as The Order expands. Orla Clarke is a master builder working on the newest distillery in Loren Brea. She also sees ghosts and that’s why she’s been called to the town. Having grown up in an orphanage, she has learned to rely only on herself. The ghosts may be plentiful but they always want something and she can’t always help. Finlay Thompson is the director of the distillery project. He loves the old stone building and believes it’s the perfect place for making the gin. Betrayed by family and past relationships, he’s not interested in any new relationships. But with strange things happening around the town of Loren Brae and Orla somehow in the middle of it, he’s intrigued with her and can’t help getting closer.
Death Behind Every Door by Heather Graham The Blackbird Files seres #1. Spin off of the prior Blackbird series, Harrison Investigations and Krewe of HDeath Behind Every Door by Heather Graham The Blackbird Files seres #1. Spin off of the prior Blackbird series, Harrison Investigations and Krewe of Hunters. Mystery, romantic thriller. FBI Special Agent Luke Kendrick find evidence of a secret killing society modeled after the notorious H.H. Holmes. He travels to the Scottish castle turned B and B where it seems guests check in, but never check out. Luke is joined by Special Agent Carly MacDonald and they pose as tourists to try to catch the killers. As they search for hidden passages and stairs down to the dungeon, another group of killers pop up on their radar, and then a third. They need to survive before they can help the other victims.
Fast moving seek, find, rescue, kill, then repeat as the secret society grows. Luke and Carly try to stay ahead but the killers have the advantage of knowing Scotland and where the hidden dungeons can be found. There is a slight paranormal help from a ghost which made me think that the evil they are searching for can travel from person to person to person. Maybe that was just my reading more into the society. Glad they were find the gruesome torturers and saving the innocents. There was no downtime between sites and little time for the romance either. Clearly the author knew a lot of this history but they moved so fast from location to killing, to location that it seemed we missed some closure or case analysis or simple character connection and caring.
I’ve read a lot by this author. This one wasn’t my favorite. I’m going back to the Krewe and Finnegan’s Pub. ...more
Haunted by Kat Martin Thriller, romantic paranormal suspense. Ghosts. Jenny Spencer owns the Copper Star Saloon and Hotel in the copper mining town of Haunted by Kat Martin Thriller, romantic paranormal suspense. Ghosts. Jenny Spencer owns the Copper Star Saloon and Hotel in the copper mining town of Jerome, Arizona. It’s been in her family for generations. She has recently remodeled and reopened a section of the hotel that’s been closed for years. Problems in the newly opens rooms have her searching for answers in dusty journals. Family said only “trouble� before closing the rooms. Jenny needs to know more since it’s impacting her current business with complaints of noise and possible ghosts. Needing the income, Jenny agrees to help the owner of the Grandview Hotel with interior design. As they work together, their relationship grows deeper than he usually commits to. Cain Barrett is a wealthy land owner outside of Jerome. He hired Jenny to get to know her better and realizes there is something more going on with her and the Copper Star. He has his own problems with a stolen horse and threats and has hired a private investigator to help. With so many problems where there usually aren’t any, Cain has to wonder is any of them are tied together.
Whether you believe in ghosts or not, there is something strange going on in room 10. Jenny and Cain have witnessed it themselves. And it’s not benign. A romantic suspense ghost story with expected twists and a surprise or two. I didn’t feel the specialness of the love story but maybe I was just more interested in the malevolent ghost. ...more
Wild Scottish Beauty by Tricia O’Malley The Enchanted Highlands series #5. Contemporary paranormal romance. Can be read as a stand-alone but better as Wild Scottish Beauty by Tricia O’Malley The Enchanted Highlands series #5. Contemporary paranormal romance. Can be read as a stand-alone but better as part of the series. Willow Barlowe wants to be a designer and support herself. She wants out from under the controlling hands of her brother Miles. Willow accepts a job offer in the small town of Loren Brae, Scotland, that’s sound perfect. When she finds out that she’ll be working for Ramsay McMillan, she’s crushed, thinking it was all prearranged since Ramsay is a friend of her brothers. What’s worse, Ramsay doesn’t want her working for him. But the town has a bit of a supernatural side, and Willow moving to Loren Brae is more fortuitous than expected. Maybe she’ll actually act on that crush she had for Ramsay all those years ago.
The Vampire’s Former Flame by Kristen Painter Nocturne Falls series #16. Paranormal romance on the lighter side. Can be read as a stand-alone. Nocturne The Vampire’s Former Flame by Kristen Painter Nocturne Falls series #16. Paranormal romance on the lighter side. Can be read as a stand-alone. Nocturne Falls. A town that celebrates Halloween 365 days a year, so paranormals can live openly and tourist just think it’s just tourism. Remy Lafitte travels to New Orleans to pay his respects to a former mentor and ends up having dinner with his lost love and disapproving mother. Remy is shocked when Ephelia is convinced to travel with him back to Nocturne Falls as a way to protect her from a threat. As expected, that threat does follow the trail back to the small town and it’s up to Remy and other residents to save the day.
Death at the Drive-In by Angie Fox Southern Ghost Hunter mystery series #13. Paranormal cozy mystery. Best read as part of the series in order, but canDeath at the Drive-In by Angie Fox Southern Ghost Hunter mystery series #13. Paranormal cozy mystery. Best read as part of the series in order, but can be read as a standalone. Verity Long is officially in the ghost hunter business and everyone in Sugarland, both alive and dead is aware of her unique abilities. When Molly is inhabited by another ghost, Frankie and Verity must work quickly to figure out who, why and how to fix it before both Molly and Frankie disappear permanently. In 1956, Kitty Cunningham disappeared on the way to the Starlite Drive-in. So that’s where Verity and Frankie start. On the same land there is also a mob club house and the no-tell motel, all of which have ghosts and stories to tell. Watch out for the gangsters. They are all carrying at least one gun and probably more.
A fun gangster and ghost hunting mystery series. This one isn’t quite as scary as one or two of the past ones have been, but then I can’t imagine the dangers that Verity actually sees superimposed from two different times. For which I’m grateful! I love revisiting with all the regulars including the pet skunk. We actually get to know Veronica better in this story. She is Ellis’s Moher and the one who took everything from Verity in the first place. Not necessarily someone we wanted to know better, but she certainly proved useful in this ghost hunter story.
Exciting adventure and mystery. Who knew those old, established, southern towns had so many ghosts! And so many secrets! ...more
Wild Scottish Rose by Tricia O’Malley The Enchanted Highlands series #4. Magical Scottish romance. Can be read as a stand-alone but better as part of tWild Scottish Rose by Tricia O’Malley The Enchanted Highlands series #4. Magical Scottish romance. Can be read as a stand-alone but better as part of the series. World building flows through all the books as do a few of the characters. Shona Scott has had enough of supplying flowers for weddings and decides to renovate a cottage on her property to earn money. Her first rental is to Owen Williams who is investigating his friend’s story of water horses that dragged him under the loch. Owen is a filmmaker and determined to catch anything unusual in Loren Brae. When a garden gnome starts talking to Shona, her life takes a turn to the magical. And while she can’t control what magical beings show themselves to Owen, she does know those creatures cannot be shared with the world.
The King’s Champion by Nancy Northcott The Boar King’s Honor series #3. Historical WWII fantasy with mages, ghosts and romance. Conclusion to the serieThe King’s Champion by Nancy Northcott The Boar King’s Honor series #3. Historical WWII fantasy with mages, ghosts and romance. Conclusion to the series. Can be read as a stand-alone. Series premise: A King wrongly blamed for murder. A bloodline cursed until they clear the king’s name. The books span three different generations. The first in the 17th century, the second in Napoleon’s lifetime, the third and final WWII.
American reporter Kate Shaw is in England covering the war. She takes photos of the men and the situation in Dunkirk and helps triage the wounded before finally escaping on a boat back to Dover. She meets Major Sebastian Mainwaring and is told that not only is she a distant relative but that she has been practicing magic in healing the wounded and hiding those around her by becoming invisible targets. Sebastian also tells her that the family needs her help in finding a cursed document from the 17th century and that her two make-believe friends from her childhood are actually ghosts and distant relatives that need help. Kate and Sebastian are Seers. While searching for the lost document, they also help England against the Nazi’s. Dual storyline of war and magic while Kate and Sebastian fall in love.
Enthralling tension of war offset by tender emerging feelings of love and family connections. It’s a rich story on one side with tidbits of the early 1940’s from the shared rooming house to blackout curtains to how car headlights would be covered. Most of the actual events are only mentioned as time passes since this story is more about the magic and romance. Kate and Seb grow closer as he helps her learn to control her visions and they travel the magic world to end the curse. It’s dark with war and death, but also hopeful with love and a touch of magic. I have not read the previous two stories but I do intend to go back and catch up at some point. 4.5...more
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