4/5 stars = WORTH READING
Scrappymags 5-word review: Hawt ghost in da house!!!!
All my reviews available at scrappymags.com
Genre: Romance/Mystery
The Short of It: Cook book writer Ava Collette is escaping guilt and a tragedy by downing her feelings in copious bottles of wine and gourmet foods as she researches her new book. The setting? Her rental home called Brodie’s Watch named after the hunky captain who first built it. But Brodie’s Watch carries spooky secrets… and Ava is about to become a part of it all…
My thoughts: This book lost me until a shift about 50% in. I’m not a romance fan, and the beginning started my eyes rolling into the farthest reaches of my head (cue emoji). Ghosts of E.L. James were bouncing through the narrative vexing every fiber of every last nerve of my body. Just as I questioned my sanity, a shift occurred. I started to enjoy the book. No spoilers here but I will say I detest the damsel in distress. I execrate moronic female leads with no sensibility. Ok, yeah I’m a bit harsh but that’s because I’ve been forced to read that drivel for too long.
Gerritsen is one of my favorite mystery writers but I’m going to place this as Romance/mystery and you’ll see why when you read it. I prefer her grittier work, but I give props to her tale-telling that has me wondering at the end what WAS real. Reliable narrator? Hmmm 🤔
Recommend to readers who like: Mystery, quick reads, romance, hot n spicy
Not recommended to: Those who can’t suspend some disbelief, anyone who doesn’t enjoy a single gal gettin’ some, prudes.
Thanks to NetGalley and Random House Ballantine and Ms. Gerritsen for an advanced copy (and for this single gal’s summer-long availability to house sit in Maine. I volunteer as tribute!)
