Full of suspense and good, clean romance
5
By Dawn Pearson
Note: I purchased book 1 separately and was given a complimentary copy of books 2 & 3 for honest review. When I saw that they'd been compiled in a box set, I decided to summarize my previous reviews.
Book 1, The Ghost Next Door
When the book opens, you meet Elizabeth and Claire who have just arrived in town. They notice a cemetery across the street, but dismiss it. Later that night, they get spooked, but it turns out to be Nathan, the town's sheriff. As the days and weeks go by, Elizabeth and Nathan grow close together, but they can't shake the feeling that something is different. Why can't Elizabeth call her boss back in the city? Where have other people in the town gone?
I do not normally read paranormal books, but this one is gentle and subtle as the clues keep building. Then, when the ending arrives, everything clicks! I found myself mentally going back through each of the events in the story and I was impressed by how well the author tied everything together.
This appears to be Ginny's first paranormal and I loved it.
My rating - 5 stars
Book 2, The Light at the End of the Road.
Wow, just wow, did I love this book.
First, let me say that I have read a lot of this author's works and consistently enjoy them. But, I can honestly say that this surpassed my expectations. In fact, midway through reading it, I had to pause to email the author and exclaim over the book. I was completely blown away. This is the first time I've ever done that.
This is a gripping tale that holds true to several themes - fog, light, darkness, cold, warmth, life, death, keeping promises and most of all - love.
The book opens with fog and a cold, sleeting night. Our heroine, Samantha (Sam) is desperately trying to get home to her father who collapsed with a heart attack and is going into surgery.
We next meet Jake, our hero, who is a lawyer heading out on emergency assignment because his client has suddenly fallen ill and needs to make sure everything is in order in case he dies.
Both Sam and Jake are caught up in the same ice storm on the backroads over a mountain pass. At this point, I need to be careful not to give spoilers. But, let me say this - Once you begin reading, you're going to want a block of time dedicated to finish reading this because you're not going to be able to stop until you read "The End."
There is a hint of paranormal, but it works well. So well in fact, that I didn't even realize the paranormal aspect until much later in the book. It was only near the end that I was able to put the pieces together. It actually helps tie the story together and bring closure to the characters. There's also discussion of luck, the fates, and chance.
This is one of those stories that would benefit from reading more than once. I'm sure that there are elements to the story that I missed the first time through and that would jump out at me with a second reading.
One last comment - I think that one detail that helped me enjoy the book even more was the fact that I started reading it without any prior knowledge of the plot or any details. It was completely new to me. Therefore, I had nothing to sway my thoughts and I could truly enjoy the "I wonder what happens next" feeling.
This is, hands down, a 5 star read.
Language - clean
Romance - a couple of kisses, but cleanly described.
Ending - HEA, although there are scenes that can be very emotional depending on your level of sensitivity, so be warned.
Genre - Romantic Suspense, Paranormal,
Sub-Genre - Military veteran, medical
Book 3, The House at Homecoming Cove
This is another gripping romance with just the right balance of suspense and romance.
Melissa is a musician who's in a slump. Her music seems to have dried up. So, in a last effort to revive her career, she heads to the eastern shoreline of Virginia, to an old farmhouse. There, she encounters Stone, who is currently working the grounds until he can get the motivation to pursue his dream of opening a museum.
As soon as Stone and Melissa meet, they are drawn to each other - almost as if they have a past. But, that's impossible since they just met. They recognize the pull, but can't explain it. Yet, together, they feel complete - ready to reach for their dreams and make them happen.
Unlike the previous two books in this series, the paranormal element begins early in the book. Melissa learns shortly after moving in that the house is considered haunted, but she's convinced that there's a logical explanation to everything - that is until it becomes all too real.
Stone has heard the rumors too, but always dismissed them because he's never witnessed anything - until Melissa shows up. What is it about Melissa that's stirred up the ghosts of the past? Are there ghosts or is there an explanation? Is Melissa in danger?
The plot develops nicely - giving just enough clues to keep you reading.
The romance feels slightly steamier than the previous books in this series, but it still stays within the bounds of a PG rating.
The language is clean, without anything offensive
And, the end is satisfying with a good sense of closure.
My rating - 5 stars.
Personally, I loved these stories. They are full of suspense and good, clean romance. Also, you can definitely tell how the author develops her skill through the series.
