Tag: ghosts

Review: Haunted Hearts (The Bisbee Bachelors’ Club Book 1) by K Sterling

Rating: 4.5🌈

K Sterling’s series The Bisbee Bachelors’ Club is a wonderful strange world to tumble into. For starters, it exists. Bisbee, Arizona is a real place. That knowledge alone sent me running to google as much as I could about a place that is as descriptively beautiful, narratively haunting, and just outright fascinating as you might imagine. The photographs made me want to take the next plane out to see it for myself.

With that rich, historic haunted town as both a backdrop and foundation, Sterling populates it with some great characters, of equal degrees of emotional depth and haunted backstories. The Bisbee Batchelor s Club. Stories written about the single men of the queer friendly, hippy artsy former copper mining town.

And it starts with one of the most emotionally haunted man of them all,

Cace Talbot. Surrounded by his son and close friends, it’s still not enough to keep the pain away from losing his soul mate, the man who left him and the town to pursue his art. Cace is still struggling and Sterling make him easy to understand and relate to.

Especially when the man he’s been trying to forget returns to town. That’s Laurence “Lorrie” Nixon, who’s come back after 25 years away.

There’s a realistic look at the years these men have lost. It’s a true bittersweet element that runs through their reunion and reconnecting relationship. Discussions over what might have been, the children they should have had, the moments lost they will never get, it’s so sad in those moments when they are sharing memories , painful, and heartbreaking. It’s twenty-five years of love and loss and longing that they know could have been theirs but wasn’t. This aspect is there even as they decide to go forward because it’s ingrained into who they’ve become.

I love that Sterling is able to build this not only into the storyline but into their characters too. It makes the depth of their bond even more believable.

The murder mystery that runs along side the romance rebuilding is good but strangely just a secondary storyline. It never feels like a main theme. I liked how it plays out, but wanted a little bit more details and depth to the investigation until the reveal. It was all a bit pat for me.

But the relationship between Lorrie and Cace? That was emotional and heartfelt. And adding in all the found family members around them was perfect.

I’m onto the next. I’m absolutely sold on the town and these characters. And I’m a fan of the author, so I’m thrilled to gave a new series to binge.

I’m happily recommending Haunted Hearts (The Bisbee Bachelors’ Club Book 1) by K Sterling. Enjoy!

The Bisbee Bachelors’ Club:

✓ Haunted Hearts #1

◦ Moonlight & Madness #2

◦ Unhappy Medium #3

◦ Grave Expectations #4

◦ Riddles & Rivals #5

◦ Shadows & Reservations #6

◦ Heart & Soulless #7

◦ Specters & Sparks #8

Buy Link

Haunted Hearts (The Bisbee Bachelors’ Club Book 1)

Blurb:

There are worse things haunting Cace Talbot than the ghosts inhabiting his beloved hometown. Hidden in Arizona’s Mule Mountains, Bisbee was small in a cozy way and just casually haunted with specters from its wild and sometimes dark past. Then, Laurence “Lorrie” Nixon returns after breaking Cace’s heart twenty-five years earlier and the town becomes too small and the memories a lot scarier.

Lorrie’s waited long enough and is determined to win Cace back no matter how hard he has to grovel. He’s already got his work cut out for him when a pair of copycat killings with echoes from Bisbee’s past cast suspicion Lorrie’s way. Lorrie turns to Cace and their band of childhood friends for help solving the brutal murders.

Cace doesn’t want to see his first love accused of a gruesome crime he didn’t commit but that doesn’t mean he’s letting Lorrie Nixon back into his life. At least, that’s what Cace says. His body on the other hand… Can Cace help find a killer without getting caught up in the memories and the pull of Lorrie’s lips?

Review: Ghostly Target (Ghostly Book 5) by E M Laya

Rating: 4🌈

The Ghostly series continues with Ghostly Target, a book about a killer targeting police officers. This plot switches the focus from the normal plots where the bodies have been found to the detective team of Angus and Franks, and a suspenseful investigation.

One officer down, that’s the first body but the killer is shooting at officers, randomly it seems picking targets. So immediately Laya has a strong narrative full of fear, anger, and frustration from all the characters involved. This is not just Angus and Franks, the officers fearing for their own lives but dealing with the death of one of their own, but Lance, and the co workers, and all the ghosts who make up their found families .

It is also the ghost of the first officer who was shot, and dealing with the aftermath of his death. This element is always such a great aspect of this series and is a strong one here. The author is very good as portraying a person’s confusion and frustration at being dead and denied access to the life and people they love.

All the ghosts are so memorable and their roles in the investigation and events just make them more interesting.

Lance and Angus’s relationship is gotten more committed, obviously as they are talking about moving forward with one house. But so much of the story, naturally, has to be about this killer and their investigation, that I felt their relationship development was lost.

I need more of Frank actually. Frank’s a fascinating character and deserving of his new life, maybe a dog or something. His personality is crying out for another storyline.

There’s no indication if there’s to be a new book or if the author considers this a finale. It doesn’t read like one to me.

I enjoy the series and this new novel. Wonderful investigative plot and use of the ghosts!

Ghostly series:

✓ Ghostly Awakening #1

✓ Ghostly Findings #2

✓ Ghostly Envy #3

✓ Ghostly Claus #4

✓ Ghostly Target #5

Buy Link:

Ghostly Target

Blurb:

When someone starts killing police officers in the city, Detective Angus Young prioritizes finding out who’s attacking those he works with. He’s determined to take down the killer before any more officers are targeted.

Having the skill to speak to the ghosts of the dead is usually helpful to a medical examiner, but not when the ghosts can’t identify who killed them. Keeping Angus safe is Lance’s first priority as he does everything he can to try and help fit the clues together and bring peace to those who have died.

Working together, Angus and Lance put everything else on hold as they follow the leads to find a cop killer. With the help of friends both living and dead, the puzzle slowly starts to fit together, but once they have all the pieces, can they find the killer before another officer is shot?

Review: Soul Eater by Ofelia Gränd

Rating: 4.75🌈

Swedish author, Ofelia Gränd’s latest novel reminds me that I really need to put her on my auto buy list.

Soul Eater’s wonderful universe drew me in completely and the storylines kept me invested in the characters and the potential for more tales to come.

She begins the story with a Paranormal Investigations Department that employs a number of different beings, from a psychic to a witch with detectives of various shifter species, including a jaguar Captain.

We get a glimpse into a squad out of sorts with each other and the cases several missing women to solve.

The individuals within the squad are divided into two groups, the magical humans and the shifters, as personalities and deep feelings have contributed to conflict between the members. Gränd’s believable well defined characters help the reader understand the differences that now exist between them as the case investigation gets underway.

I’m not sure exactly what it is about this author’s work that adds that extra dimension to it. That touch of subtle horror or oddity that overlies the most mundane of actions.

Not that there’s much of those here in a paranormal mystery murder thriller where shifters, sorcery, a ghost, and Halloween overlap .

Especially a wereghost. I found that aspect of the story so satisfying as it develops on multiple levels.

The author’s world building expands as the story goes along, our knowledge of the magical universe coming to include a division of human witchcraft into wizards, mages, sorcerers and warlocks, an distinction that’s been hidden from the human population and paranormal one alike. This has implications for a major part of the storyline and not one I would spoil. It’s just one more thing I found entertaining and added more to the characters.

It’s elements like this that will keep me returning to Gränd’s books and hopefully more in this universe.

I found the narrative fascinating, the elements marvelous, the characters well developed, and all of it thrilling and suspenseful.

A definite recommendation for this author and book! Love it!

Buy Link:

Blurb:

Detective Thaddeus Ezax is in over his head. He’s the only wizard in Rockshade’s Paranormal Investigations Department, and it was his name that got him the job. The Ezaxs are known as some of the most powerful wizards in the world, but Thaddeus isn’t your average Ezaxs. Is it any wonder his family shuns him?

When a kidnapping case is dropped into his lap, Thaddeus must act fast. While most five-year-olds can cast a location spell, Thaddeus can’t and is forced to get creative. When he finds himself in possession of a black market werewolf skull with a ghost trapped inside, accidentally releases the spirit, and somehow forms a connection with it, things get even crazier.

Sandulf Hunter doesn’t remember dying, but he remembers the last thing he saw before everything went black — a wizard. All wizards must die! The only problem is, the wizard standing next to him smells too damned good, so good Sandy thinks he might have to keep him.

And since wherever Thaddeus goes, Sandulf finds himself yanked along, he might not have a choice in the matter anyway.

• Publisher: JMS Books LLC (October 31, 2020)

• Publication date: October 31, 2020

• Print length: 186 pages

Review: Dearly & Vain Valentino (Dearly and The Departed #2) by L.A. Kaye

Rating: 3.25🌈

This is such a peculiar series. On one side, Kaye has created a terrific character in Keir Dearly, proprietor of Dearly & Son Funeral Home. Keir, one in a long line of Dearly men who can see and converse with the dead. That aspect of his life is due to an ancient curse on their family. Which is odd considering that it is really defined as a gift or a medium’s purpose not a curse outside of this world building.

But that perspective is reflective of the choices the author makes within this series.

But back to Keir. He’s intelligent, compassionate, an introvert who’s accepting of others and has a giving nature. In short, a fantastic person and character. And a perfect person to run a funeral home where the ghosts of the bodies delivered get a reception they deserve. Sometimes it’s funny, sometimes it’s grim, oftentimes it’s poignant, even heart wrenching. We get the ghosts memories of their last moments and then their families, if they have them, grieving at their services. All conducted by Keir.

That’s truly the best part of this book and series. It’s where the author goes spectacularly right. It’s in the smallest of details as Keir listens to the families or the ghosts pour out their hearts and emotions over the fact they’re dead, how they died, and then seeing them pass on.

It’s not even the ghosts that are the main aspect of each storyline but ones that factor in as part of the daily life of Dearly & Son Funeral Home that can make you feel the most emotions. The woman who denied her sexuality and the woman who loved her until it was too late. That bittersweet funeral was shattering. Or the young man in the wrong place at the wrong time who died by GSW and was met by the ghost of his father. Buckets of tears I tell you for such a small scene .

But it’s the other elements that make me question the world building, the storytelling and the series.

Unfortunately, it also includes the other main character and love interest.

That’s Dashiell Clegg, younger owner/mechanic of a cycle shop. First met when his nasty ghost brother wanted Keir to save Dash from the plot he set him up when he was alive. Yeah, it didn’t make much sense in the first book either.

Dash is a problematic character. Part of the two person narrative, his voice is a grating one. I never understood how writers could create such a self centered character and expect the reader to get on board with him as part of a romance. Here Dash has fled to another country rather than talk to Keir about his “gift/curse/fears” revelation. He also hasn’t communicated to his found family of coworkers in his shop who’ve always supported him, even in prison.

His thoughts and views are all about him. When eventually something happens to bring it to his attention that he’s causing Keir and others pain? It’s yes “I’m a jerk, I’m thoughtless “ but the author doesn’t create any real sense of realness or believability behind these thoughts.

It’s more a surface readymade answer you throw out rather than a real sense of introspection. In fact, there’s no sense of chemistry between Keir and Dash as characters. It seems like a forced element from the very beginning.

Aside from the lack of real relationships, there’s a new end of world story threads that again has little foundation but some interesting things about it. New characters appear, some very likable. And narratively, twists happen within the storyline that were predictable from the minute the clues begin to emerge. You knew which things or aspects of the plot were going to be the “bad ones “.

The author was telegraphing it with a red and black stamp. Ditto the good ones.

I can can definitely say that I’m reading these books with very mixed feelings. I’m appreciative of quite a bit of the author’s work here but just not connecting with some major elements too. Half and half.

It’s also fifty fifty as to if I’m going to continue to read on with the series. If I do, it will be for all the terrific moments and for the character of Keir that’s a true draw for me.

Dearly and Departed series:

✓ Dearly & Deviant Daniel #1

✓ Dearly & Vain Valentino #2

◦ Dearly & Notorious Nancy #3

◦ Dearly & Homeless Horace #4-Jan 16,2024

◦ Dearly & Threatening Thane #5-June 28, 2024

Buy link:

Dearly & Vain Valentino (Dearly and The Departed Book 2)

Blurb:

When the family business is death, how does one convince the deceased to embrace the afterlife without hurting their delicate feelings?

Keir Dearly, proprietor of Dearly & Son Funeral Home, is working his way through heartache after Dashiell Clegg, the object of his affection, has taken off on an adventure and left Keir behind. When a certain handsome detective shows up and wants to woo the mortician, temptation knocks. Will Keir answer while Dash is off trying to accept mind blowing news and navigate a new reality?

Valentino Rankin, a fledgling male model, becomes a client of Keir’s at Dearly & Son by paying more attention to his reflection in a store window than the flow of traffic. He refuses to give Keir information to assist with reconnecting him to his body and has a hard time accepting he has to fight a living biker and a cop for Keir Dearly’s affections.

How can Keir convince Valentino that the afterlife is calling, or is there something more to Valentino that Keir can’t see? Can Dash help clear things up with his newly acquiredskills that will be a surprise to everyone? There’s trouble with the electricity at Dearly & Son, and it’s nothing an electrician can fix!

Review: Dearly & Deviant Daniel (Dearly and The Departed #1) by L.A. Kaye

Rating: 3.75🌈

Dearly & Deviant Daniel is the first in a new series, Dearly and The Departed, by L.A. Kaye. Centered firmly in the popular trope of main characters who’re able to see and converse with the dead/newly departed, Kaye’s MC is Mortician Keir Dearly, of Dearly & Son Mortuary, a business that’s been handed down through generations of Dearly men.

He’s been able to see and talk to the dead since his teens, a fact he’s kept to himself. Naturally. Unfortunately, since he’s always in the mortuary, there’s dead people ready to talk to him and ask for favors constantly.

Which happens when a particularly nasty person dies and asks Keir to help his brother stay out of the prison . Seems that the dead man has framed his brother for things he regrets but definitely not murder.

That’s the basic premise of the story.

Around that Kaye needs to build her storyline,as well as fill in the paranormal background , all the weird characters, and continue with the growing relationships that started within the narrative.

Is the author successful? Only partially. The world building has the feeling of jumbled assembly. As a reader, I’m just getting into the interesting aspects of the historical paranormal history and foundations being setup but instead of continuing to explore the universe being laid out, the opposite happens. The narrative breaks here and there , so only bits and pieces are visible, or it opens gaps where elements disappear all together.

A mysterious helper arrives, background of which is constantly changing. A grandfather appears in an unexpected place and just as quickly disappears. His supportive role diminished when it is explained that it’s really a portent of darkness coming. So why not embellish it ? Why allow this to dribble narratively away? It’s elements like this that add up to storyline with issues.

There’s the odd physical descriptions. Forty-ish, Keir describes himself as tall, thin, of the whitish skin, with brown hair and ice blue eyes. An appearance typical of someone, he thinks, you associate with the mortuary and dead. He very much resembles all the Dearly men. Sounds a bit on the vampire/ghoul side. Not even a hint that’s he’s remotely attractive. But the other main character insists Keir is insanely hot. That’s so odd because the author hasn’t put in the groundwork for this. He’s kind, compassionate, and intelligent. Insanely hot? Nope, haven’t done the paperwork on that.

Mechanic Dashiell Clegg and his dead dreadful brother are weak points here. Not sure why Kaye called Daniel deviant outside of the need for a cute name. Dead Daniel is reprehensible. A man who thought nothing of betraying everyone around him, framing his brother, putting others into danger, a sexual predator, oddly he now decides to save his living brother he supposedly hates and has setup makes zero sense. Especially when he’s still a manipulative dead mess throughout the book. Great smarmy character though. Dashiell is younger hotheaded mechanic who borders on the TSTL character. When in doubt, run off into dangerous situations without telling anyone then be surprised at the obvious consequences. SMH.

When Keir has a chance to date two people, a great detective and Dashiell, I started rooting for the detective.

What saves Dearly & Deviant Daniel is the side storylines, those of the dearly departed of lesser characters . Some are funny, some grim, and one had me outright sobbing, it was so well written that the pain, regret , and bitter loss was overwhelming. That was believable and raw.

I wish the main characters and theme had showcased more of that aspect and emotion.

I’m onto the next to see what happens after the cliffhanger this ends on. A strange one that again made absolutely zero sense.

Read this for the fun of the trope, and the beauty of those small scenes I indicated above. They are worthy of the entire story.

Dearly and Departed series:

✓ Dearly & Deviant Daniel #1

◦ Dearly & Vain Valentino #2

◦ Dearly & Notorious Nancy #3

◦ Dearly & Homeless Horace #4-Jan 16,2024

◦ Dearly & Threatening Thane #5-June 28, 2024

Buy Link:

Dearly & Deviant Daniel: M/M Urban Fantasy Romance (Dearly and The Departed Book 1)

Blurb:

When the family business is death, what does it take to feel alive?

Maybe a gorgeous motorcycle mechanic with a dark past has a few ideas?

Mortician Keir Dearly has a secret he plans to take to his grave. If he tells anyone he speaks with the dead who come through his funeral home, who will believe him? Keeping the secret prevents Keir from pursuing a love life because how would a lover react to such news?

Mechanic Dashiell Clegg owns Clegg Cycles, the family business his father left to him and his estranged brother Daniel. Dash has only seen Daniel twice since Dash was released from prison, and that’s perfectly fine with both of them. The brothers stay out of each other’s lives until one day, Dash gets a call that changes everything.

When Dash’s brother, deviant Daniel Clegg, shows up on Keir’s table with a final request: Keep my brother from being blamed for my murder, the temptation to jump into the mix is too much for Keir to resist. Can Keir save Dashiell Clegg without telling anyone about his conversations with the dead?

After being warned about communing with the Departed, will Dearly have to pay a price for assisting them in finding their final peace?

L.A. Kaye’s debut novel, Dearly & Deviant Daniel, is the first tale in the Dearly & the Departed M/M paranormal romance series.It’s a little mysterious, a little creepy, and a lotta sexy, so be sure to check it out! It’s approximately 90,000 words in length and ends happily for now.

Review: Murder Without Magic (Tudor and Stewart Cosy Mystery Book 3) by Ripley Hayes

Rating: 4.75🌈

Murder Without Magic is a stellar story. Third in Ripley Hayes’ Tuder and Stewart Cosy Mystery series, it’s one that is so much more than its 169 pages numerically would have you believe.

Within a plot to find out who murdered the person in the garden next door to their new home, Hayes’ story encompasses a newly established relationship that deepens through adversity, personal differences over things held basic to Lorne like magic and ghosts, emotional doubts , and abiding love.

Yes , there’s a ghost. Our favorite horse from Abergwyn makes a hugely important contribution, as does Uncle Wint.

The mysteries, multiple, are poignant, terrifying , and fascinating. Hayes’ narrative lays out this element so well that it’s easy to get involved in the process of discovery. Ade, our detective from Abergwyn, is also part of the supporting cast.

But the heart is our couple, Peter and Lorne. Having a new home, establishing themselves in place where they don’t know anyone, a new dream job for Peter with all its stresses, a dream kitchen for Lorne. Only to have everything start to come apart.

That personal struggle to grow together as a couple while solving the mysteries is what makes me love this story, this series and author so.

The people have flaws, they don’t always react well, but because they do love each other, they eventually find a way to make it work and get the culprits.

I think this might be the final book in the series. Hope not. But if it is, I’m happy to see them off in their new kitchen and place by the sea.

Highly recommend this entire series. Read them in the order they are written.

Also don’t miss the recipe for Lorne’s Emergency Refrigerator Cake at the end! It’s a winner!

Tudor and Stewart Cosy Mystery series:

✓ No Accident at Abergwyn #1

✓ No Friends at Abergwyn #2

✓ Murder Without Magic #3

Buy Link:

Murder Without Magic: Tudor and Stewart Cosy Mystery 3 (Tudor and Stewart Abergwyn Mysteries)

Description:

Peter and Lorne have taken the plunge: moved in together in a little house by the sea.

Peter has his dream job, and Lorne has his dream kitchen, and so what if things go bump in the night next door? they can ignore it. The ghost with a violent streak isn’t so easy to ignore. Nor is the dead body in next door’s garden.

Much against their better judgement, and the advice of their friends, Peter and Lorne are dragged kicking and screaming into another investigation.

Only two questions remain: do the bad guys have any idea how hard it will be to to defeat Peter and Lorne, and second, has Peter finally started to believe in magic?

Review: Ghostly Findings (Ghostly Book 2) by E.M. Leya

Rating: 4.5🌈

Ghostly Findings finds ME Lance and his boyfriend, Detective Angus Young, soon involved in a horrific case of murder and a hunt for a serial killer who might have victims waiting to be found.

I thought this was a great case, one which added quite a few new ghosts to the paranormal family existing at Lance’s house, and maybe even more interesting tidbits about the life after each passes. Author Laya is building out to their already established ghostly foundation as well as the earthly one with each new book.

The crimes are heinous but have happened off page. The ghosts are no longer traumatized by the crimes and events they’ve endured.

Lance and Angus are trying to find time to work on their own relationship and romance but their jobs and workload realistically interferes. Plus we get a better look at Angus and Lance’s work situations and coworkers. This includes Angus’ partner Franks, a character we get to know well and become invested in too.

The determination, the investigation, the manner in which the ghostly details must be shared or threaded into their reports feels about right. Even the ending. Did I wish for more high drama? Yes. But was the way it unfolded probably more in keeping with the story? Yes.

I’m absolutely enjoying these stories and characters. The mysteries and the relationships are amazing.

So it’s onto Ghostly Envy and new murders, and obviously new ghosts. Can’t wait.

Definitely recommending the Ghostly series for all lovers of the paranormal romance trope with the elements of mystery and murder thrown in.

Ghostly series:

✓ Ghostly Awakening #1

✓ Ghostly Findings #2

✓ Ghostly Envy #3

◦ Ghostly Claus #4 – TBD

Buy Link :

Ghostly Findings

Description:

As a medical examiner, seeing ghosts has its advantages. After being informed by a ghost that there is a mass grave in the area, Lance and Detective Angus Young feel the fallout. As one investigates the murders, the other investigates the bodies, both trying to piece together what happened. Luckily, the dead aren’t all silent. As ghosts of the victims appear, clues to what happened start to come together. The only problem now is figuring out who the killer is and catching him before he strikes again.

Review: Ghostly Awakening (Ghostly Book 1) by E.M. Leya

Rating: 4🌈

There’s so many books written about paranormal characters that talk to ghosts along with a law enforcement element or partner that helps with solving mysteries/murders that’s it should be its own trope. It’s a marvelously creative framework. Over and over, by various authors, it’s been threaded, twisted and tweaked to fit their particular personal narrative takes on this theme to wonderful effect.

Such variety makes it a great thrill to explore new stories in the same lane by new authors when I run across them. Like this one.

Ghostly Awakening (Ghostly Book 1) by E.M. Leya is the first in her new series. It’s a slow burn, paranormal romance that involves murder mysteries and of course, a detective and a man, in this case, a assistant medical examiner, who talks to ghosts.

I enjoyed reading this story. The characters are interesting and layered, with good dialogue and the right balance of quirky family dynamics and vagueness of solid foundation that will allow them to grow in future stories. Unlike other books, these aren’t tragic, haunted men. Instead, both Angus, the detective, and Lance, the assistant ME, are people who have the normal reactions and emotions you’d expect from people in their professions and with their experiences.

Except Lance starts to see ghosts. It’s a new thing for him and I’ll leave that part of the story to the book.

The ghosts are great. Leya has created a foundation for them , religious based, and spiritually oriented. FYI I’m not a religious person so this isn’t a sticking issue for me. Heaven or another plain . You decide. I liked her ghosts a lot. Big personalities and small.

The murders, while gruesome, all have already occurred and happen off page. The mystery is solved through ghostly events and hard work.

The romance is molasses slow and the book ends and the relationship is getting started. Everything about this makes me want more. And I’m heading to the next book quickly.

I’m recommending this for all lovers of this genre and fans of the author.

Ghostly series:

✓ Ghostly Awakening #1

◦ Ghostly Findings #2

◦ Ghostly Envy #3

Buy Link:

Ghostly Awakening

Description:

As assistant medical examiner, Lance is used to seeing strange things, but when he suddenly starts seeing ghosts, he worries he’s losing his mind.

Angus grew up around the strange. With his mother able to see and speak to ghosts, he’s grown up knowing there are things most people can’t see or understand. When he accidentally catches Lance arguing with a ghost, he knows he has to step in before the man thinks he’s going crazy.

As Lance adjusts to his new ability, he also realizes seeing ghosts has its advantages. When several women are murdered in the area, it’s up to Lance and Angus to work with the ghosts of the victims to catch the killer.

Review: Dead Serious Case #1 Miz Dusty Le Frey(Crawshanks Guide to the Recently Departed) by Vawn Cassidy

by Vawn Cassidy

Rating: 4.5 🌈

Dead Serious is straight up marvelous. It gave me a “new to me author” to look for more novels and the start of a clearly fabulous series checks so many of my must have narrative elements.

Dead Serious has a layered storyline that includes a complicated mystery, ghosts, romance, and characters with emotional depth and histories that enrich themselves and the story.

I was hooked from the beginning when I met Tristan Everett, pathologist at the Hackney Public Mortuary. He’s socially awkward, great at his job at conducting autopsies, remembering the people he’s working on with respect. Something that proves important later. Tristan is engaging, real, and someone we connect with.

The story that quickly draws the reader in starts a tad before the case of the murdered drag Queen Dusty Le Frey, a charismatic character herself. It’s the surprising event that happens at a retirement party for a colleague of Tristan’s that will have reverberations for this book and series, actually all of Tristan’s life.

Cassidy weaves the impact from that event on Tristan’s life continuously throughout the story. And probably stories to come. The implications are that huge.

While that’s happening, there’s a mystery to solve, a poignant father/son relationship to reveal, a sexy romance with a hot detective, and a new expanding group of friends for the introverted Tristan to draw on for support and affection.

Honestly, what a fabulous story and group of people.

I adore them and am moving onto the next in the series.

Highly recommending it for the romance, mystery, fabulous characters and found family!

Crawshanks Guide to the Recently Departed series:

◦ Case 1: Miz Dusty Le Frey

◦ Case #2 : Mrs Delores Abernathy

Goodreadshttps://www.goodreads.com › showDead Serious Case #1: Miz Dusty Le Frey by Vawn Cassidy

Description:

In the business of unfinished business…

Tristan Everett has always preferred the company of the dead because they usually don’t talk back. Being a somewhat awkward introvert working as a pathologist at the Hackney Public Mortuary suits him just fine. That is, until a freak accident with a rogue ice cube and suddenly he can see ghosts. No longer content to just lie on the table and let him figure out how they died, they’re now peering over his shoulder critiquing his work and confessing their most lascivious sins before skipping off merrily into the afterlife.

Just when he thought his life couldn’t get any weirder, sassy drag queen, Dusty Le Frey, is wheeled in with a toe tag and she’s not prepared to go quietly into the light. Not only is she furious at the prospect of spending eternity in last season’s gold lame, she’s determined that he help her solve her murder.

Suddenly Tristan finds himself thrown into a world of sequins and fake eyelashes, and worse still, he may have developed a bit of a crush on Scotland Yard’s brand new drool-worthy detective, Inspector Danny Hayes, who’s been assigned to Dusty’s murder. Oh, and as the icing on top of a really crappy cake, the killer now wants him dead too…

All he ever wanted was a simple life but suddenly he’s juggling work, a deliciously sexy detective, a stubborn ghost and a relentless murderer… and things have just gotten dead serious….

From author Wendy Saunders writing as Vawn Cassidy comes this hot and funny, slow burn, opposites attract paranormal caper across the East End of London.

———-

Unless it’s noted, all books reviewed have been purchased by the reviewer.

Review: Vortex Conundrum (Ghostly Guardians #2) by Louisa Masters

Rating: 4.5 🌈

I was so excited to see the new story as I’ve been waiting to dive back into the fascinating world of Mannix Estates with its amazing group of characters.

That it includes a powerful medium in love with a blacksmith, a found family of ghosts from an assortment of eras , each with their own quirky personalities, as well as a staff that’s endearing and fascinating on their own, makes it a universe you can dwell in for a very long time.

The first book, Spirited Situations, introduced us to Josh, the medium, as he found his way to the very haunted Mannix Estates. It was also home to a 50 some odd year old open gateway, a beacon for trouble.

The ramifications from opening that gate continues into this story as the combined found family of Mannix Estates, alive and ghostly, need help to handle more trouble coming through that open gateway.

Masters builds upon a already lively and unique cast of amazing characters we come to love by adding several new people. One we’ve gotten to know anonymously by text when he’s helped in the last book. He acquires a name here. That’s Connor.

And his best friend, Gabe. And a paranormal enforcement agency.

So Masters is expanding her universe to include the growing series new topics, romances, and mysteries she’s threading through her storylines. It’s such an exciting element, one that lends a real sense of anticipation towards each new book and plot thread.

While that’s happening, there’s additional character growth in terms of power and romances.

Connor and site manager, Kieran, are the main couple working through their romantic impulses while dealing with demons, ghostly matchmakers, and, the everyday occurrences that comes with guests at a living history event sight.

The paranormal and the mundane, the magical and the murderous are all perfectly balanced for the most entertaining reads. I read right through!

And unfortunately now it looks like I’ll have to wait until 2023 for the next in the series.

Until then, I’m highly recommending the first two books in this fantastic series. Read them in the order they are written, to understand the relationships and theme storylines.

Ghostly Guardians:

Spirited Situation #1

Vortex Conundrum #2

https://www.goodreads.com › showVortex Conundrum (Ghostly Guardians, #2) by Louisa Masters – Goodreads

Synopsis:

Wanted: one demon hunter. Beware the matchmaking ghosts.

After years managing a haunted hotel and estate, I thought things were good. Sure, the ghosts can be a handful—nosy, opinionated, interfering—but they’re also friendly and fun. We have a system. Everything was under control.

Cue hysterical laughter.

But after a minor blip with a demon in the basement and a vortex to the spirit world, the ghosts swear they have no more secrets. The danger is gone, and we’ve done everything we can to make the vortex safe. It should be fine. Nothing’s come through it for fifty years.

It’s never that easy at Mannix Estate.

Lucky for us, the demon expert we met online is willing and able to help us out. I’m so grateful, I’d willingly kiss his feet. Until he arrives and opens his mouth.

Connor is… a jerk. But he’s a sexy jerk who’s doing us a favor, so I’m going to be polite no matter what. Even when he makes me mad. When he flirts hard. When the roof falls in and we have to share a bed. When we realize the vortex upstairs is just the beginning.

Suddenly, Connor’s real strengths shine. Beneath the smoking hot yet annoying surface is a heart of gold, and I don’t think I can hold out against it… or that I want to.

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Unless it’s noted, all books reviewed have been purchased by the reviewer.