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.

——-

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

Review: Dead Over Heals (Blackhaven Manor #6) by Arden Steele

Rating: 3.25🌈

Dead Over Heals gives us another unusual pairing and storyline. The local sheriff, a werewolf, has been in several of the stories, especially the last couple that have involved hate groups against Otherlings.

Now Sheriff Vander Hale finds his mate when Fritz Tolliver is sent over by Skye Maddox to inquire about the open position there.

Fritz is adorably bumbling, as well as astonished to find that the silver haired werewolf is claiming to be his fated mate. He also sees dead people.

Unfortunately, moments later he’s also being haunted by a nasty ghost who seeks to undermine their relationship and his positivity.

Fritz was a harder character for me to connect with. I’m not sure I understood the mate bond here between the two as I kept expecting Vander Hale to sense the ghost and at least realize his mate wasn’t communicating everything that was happening.

Either way, this just was a odd story with most of it dealing with Fritz and his ghost, then eventually the resolution of removing the ghost and the romance.

There was a funny aspect to the ghost where he was mistakenly moved to another, but it was short lived.

For me, this was the story that misses the mark. And that could just be my perspective.

Read it because you’re reading the series and you’re curious as to who the Sheriff got as a mate.

Blackhaven Manor Series:

✓ Purrfect Harmony #1

✓ Night and Fae #2

✓ Dragon It Out #3

✓ Grin and Bear it #4

✓ Pixie Little Liar #5

✓ Dead Over Heals #6

◦ Silent Knight #7

https://www.goodreads.com › showDead Over Heels (Blackhaven Manor #6) by Arden Steele – Goodreads

Synopsis:

It’s been twelve years since the Awakening. Otherlings are out of the paranormal closet. The whole world knows that creatures like vampires, werewolves, and witches exist. So, seeing dead people barely even rates on the freaky scale. Right?

Wrong.

Fritz Tolliver figures he must have done something terrible in a previous life to be afflicted with such a curse. In fact, every bad thing that has ever happened to him can be traced back to his unwanted ability. So, when a stupidly hot werewolf who’s way out of his league claims to be his mate, he should be thrilled. And he probably would have been if he hadn’t gone and gotten himself haunted by a nasty spirit on the same day.

When a human male strolls into the station asking for a job—and promptly spills an entire Americano on him—Sheriff Vander Hale has a feeling it’s going to be a bad day. Then, the door opens, the wind shifts, and suddenly, his whole world changes. There’s nothing he wouldn’t do for his mate, no battle he wouldn’t wage, even if his enemy is technically already dead. Unfortunately, there’s just one problem with his plan.

He’d go to hell and back for Fritz, but how is he supposed to fight something he can’t see?

Review: The Spooky Life (The Spectral Files #4) by S.E. Harmon

Rating: 5🌈

Once again S.E. Harmon’s spectacular series has managed to ride that edge of horror, scaring the ever loving crap out of me, while providing me (and her magnificent characters) with so many witty, hilarious conversations and sayings that sellers out there in Etsy should be pounding at the author’s proverbial door asking for the right to put them up on crafting projects.

Rain Christiansen and fellow detective, Daniel McKenna, are finally getting married. They’ve set the date. Now if they can wade through all the wedding planning mountains of decisions people made for them, and wedding agenda items that have gotten so out of their control. Then they just might make it to wedded bliss.

I love this series and the characters. The author gives us an established couple that’s recovering from the traumatic events of Spooky Business, rebuilding their house, and trying to move forward with their future, in all its quirky, exasperating, and often murderous aspects.

Even in the most mundane periods of Rain’s and Danny’s life, ghosts are bound to make an appearance. As they do when Rain and his future MIL are touring a possible wedding venue.

This ghost and her request will lend The Spooky Life a fascinating, multilayered paranormal investigation that will eventually have major horror overtones. Just a fantastic element. Gives me the chills still thinking about it.

As to the rest? It’s witty, sarcastic, full of the found family that has been gathered through the paranormal crime unit , Rain’s hippie parents, his sister, Danny’s family, their aging GSD, and all the rest. Each adding memorable scenes, warmth, and often gentle hilarity to the mixture.

I would love to see another story, with their kids they are planning for. But if this is the last one, I’m content.

The author is leaving them at a wonderful place .

The Spooky Life (The Spectral Files #4) by S.E. Harmon is a outstanding story in a great series. It’s got fabulous characters and complicated plots. Read them in the order they are written for character and relationship development.

I’m highly recommending them all.

The Spectral Files :

✓ P.S. I Spook You #1

✓ Principles of Spookology #2

✓ Spooky Business #3

✓ The Spooky Life #4

https://www.goodreads.com › showThe Spooky Life (The Spectral Files #4) by S.E. Harmon – Goodreads

Synopsis:

Rain Christiansen isn’t sure he’ll ever fully understand the supernatural. But he’s finally finding his groove as a reluctant medium and cold-case detective. That’s not to say everything is going smoothly—there’s a wedding in the works, after all. He’s finally taking that enormous step with fellow detective, Daniel McKenna, and he couldn’t be happier…about the marriage. Not so much the wedding. The hoopla is enough to make him wish for a quick flight to Vegas and an Elvis officiant.

At least work is keeping Rain and the PTU plenty busy. Their latest case involves Hannah Caldwell, a silent ghost who can’t—or won’t—speak. She still manages to request that they find her dear friend, Cherry Parker, so that she can say goodbye. Piece of cake. Finding people is pretty high on the list of things that Rain does best.

But when it comes to ghosts, nothing is ever quite what it seems. Before long, his simple missing person’s case takes a dark and twisted turn. And Rain realizes he’s been so busy trying to protect Danny that he forgot to protect himself.

If he doesn’t turn things around—and quickly—his spooky life might be cut short for good.

Review: Spooky Business (The Spectral Files #3) by S.E. Harmon

Rating: 5 🌈

Spooky Business finishes up the amazing paranormal trilogy from S.E. Harmon. The author manages to pull off an absolutely perfect series finale that ties up all of Rain Christiansen and Daniel McKenna’s relationship issues satisfactorily as well as finalizing the cases the Brickell Bay, Florida PI squad (and the FBI) were investigating.

As with everything Rain seems to come into contact with , it’s all connected once more in Spooky Business but the how’s and why’s are so complex and the methodology to getting the answers so labyrinthine that the reader is so deeply involved with the investigations (yes, multiple) that when the true danger to Rain and Danny becomes apparent, it’s not from the person everyone would suspect.

How surprising ! And shockingly perfect! And it makes for a needed character growth that begs for a sequel trilogy. Especially given that ending!

An aspect of these stories is that Harmon never lets us forget the person and lives behind the ghosts Rain encounters. A conversation with a ghostly cantankerous grandmother turns into an unexpectedly poignant and loving moment. And I’m sniffing when I least thought I would.

The investigations are filled with raw emotions, moments of pain, confusion, and death. Ghostly and the very realistic.

Harmon also finds humor and threads it throughout to mitigate the themes of murder and death the plots deal with.

Amazing writing, incredible characters, storylines that are complex and beautiful in their way. This is a series you won’t want to miss. Including this fantastic finale.

Read them in the order they are written for relationship and storylines development.

I’m highly recommending this and the series.

The Spectral Files : 3 of 3:

✓ P.S. I Spook You #1

✓ Principles of Spookology #2

✓ Spooky Business #3

https://www.goodreads.com › showSpooky Business (The Spectral Files, #3) by S.E. Harmon – Goodreads

Synopsis:

Being insatiably curious is a good way to end up dead.

Rain Christiansen, cold case detective and reluctant medium, is very aware of that fact. But when infamous serial killer Thomas Kane wants to meet, there’s no way Rain can say no. He also can’t refuse Kane’s offer—find his missing wife, Delilah, and he’ll reveal the location of his victim’s bodies.

Rain has never turned down a good quid pro quo, and he doesn’t intend to start.

The hunt for Kane’s wife leads to yet another cold case, three copycat murders, and an investigation where nothing is as it seems. Soon, Rain is dealing with a ghost unlike any he’s ever dealt with before…a ghost capable of doing things he shouldn’t be able to do. How can Rain control something he doesn’t even understand? And what will he do when the unknown threatens the safety of the most important person in his life?

Rain is starting to realize that he can only battle the supernatural with the supernatural, and that is spooky business indeed.

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