Paranormal in Manhattan, #7
Lotta Smith
Self-Pub, Jul 2017
Kindle, 154 Pages
Also available in paperback
Genre(s) Cozy paranormal mystery, Magical Romance
Source purchased at current price
Other books in this series
Wicked for Hire #1, W is for Wicked #2, Wicked Little Secret #3, Wicked of the Christmas Past #4, Sweet Wicked of Mine #5, Wicked and Haunted #6, Wickedly Ever After #8, Speak of the Wicked #9, Wicked as a Christmas Fruitcake #10
My Disclaimer:
I purchased a copy of this book at the current price. I am voluntarily providing an honest review in which all opinions are fully my own. I am not being compensated in any way.
~ Judi E. Easley for Blue Cat Review
What it’s about…
Rick Rowling and Mandy Meyer, previously of FBI fame, are currently working for Rick’s family business, USCAB. Well, Rick is, Mandy is working on getting the wedding planned since it’s next month. Currently, her assignment from the wedding planner is the color and theme for her bridesmaids.
She meets her BFF from college, Fiona Edenfeld, who’s going to be one of her bridesmaids. Somehow their conversation about the wedding turns into a plea for help with the ghost of Fiona’s late grandmother at her family estate. And a warning of danger.
Mandy, Rick, and Mandy’s guardian spirit, Jackie, ask to join a paranormal tour with Brian Powers, their favorite exorcist and head towards Norwalk. Most of the people on the tour have done this before. There are only a few newcomers who have other agendas.
A little haunting by Grandma, a murder, and a couple of attempts on Fiona’s life all add up to more than anyone was prepared for. But not more than they can handle with Brian and Jackie helping out!
But pink sapphire will look wonderful on Mandy’s bridesmaids.
Technical Tidbits…
The cover is another great stylized one for this series.
The storyline is an excellent one with lots of twists and turns to keep you interested.
The characters are ones you know if you have been following the series at all. But they are easy to get to know in each book if you jump in on any one book. You miss out on the depth of the relationships and some of the details of the characters, but they are easy characters to follow if you choose to simply read this one book rather than the series.
The pace as always is fast forward. Rick is lucky he can find time to schmooze with his bride-to-be with Jackie popping in and out.
The tension never lags once it starts building and it really builds to a peak in this one.
And this is where you STOP if you don’t want to see any SPOILERS…
The good, the bad, and the ugly…and how much it lit up my life… ✰✰✰✰✰
Either these people eat some of the craziest things, or I just don’t eat very adventurously. Squid ink cake? And it tastes like what? No, I really can’t believe that one. I’m with Rick, I’ll stick with pineapple upsidedown cupcakes.
I absolutely love Fiona’s Nana. She’s so sweet and welcoming of the tours. She adores Fiona, too. She sure doesn’t think too highly of Leo, though. Of course, we find out why that is in the course of the story. He’s written as a sort of sleazy character from the beginning, though. You’re prepared not to like him. The comments about his weight are frequent and not so subtle, like his chipmunk cheeks. He can’t even open the lock of the warehouse. And the things he notices seem to be monetary. Then he seems to sort of disappear until he shows up in the garage with Vina.
And Vina. Vina Burwick. Just who the heck is she? She’s having an affair with the chipmunk, but we get no idea how long it’s been going on. Out of nowhere, she attempts to kill Fiona. That’s some serious affair! She’s ready to kill the wife! Wow! Good thing Brian’s there to take her out of the world. Then Wesley grabs Fiona and makes his attempt. At least he’s still among the living. And it’s Brian to the rescue again. Maybe Brian and Fiona should have an arrangement like Rick and Fiona do. Work together and get married so that he can take care of her so she stays safe. I mean, it works for Rick and Fiona, so far. Well, working together is a good start.
I have to wonder if they’ll ever come back to the film locked in the vault at USCAB? Fiona really does have a strange family history. Her grandmother told the whole story to Rick and Mandy. Will there come a time when Fiona needs to know it? Will they ever have to explain it all to her? And what would be the reason?
I think I’ll have to go back and read the books in this series I missed with trying to read the spooky ones for Halloween so I can fill in the gaps of the relationships. Tough job, huh?
855 wc
a thoughtful reveal 