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Direct Strike
There's no rest for the haunted.
If someone had asked Zoey Hawthorne eighteen months ago to describe her life she would have said it couldn't be better. Perfect marriage, booming business, and best of all, her son was alive. Today she's divorced, unemployed, and pissed at the universe for taking her child, a loss that's cracked her soul in half. To date, she's addicted to pain meds and anger, with no intention of turning back.
When Zoey inherits a ranch in rural Colorado from an estranged great uncle, she leaves Chicago behind to self-destruct in peace. But lightning changes her plans. Zoey is struck and left with an extrasensory gift that lets her see one more problem on her vengeful spirits haunting her land. To stop the cycle of death rampant on her property, Zoey must solve a fifty-year-old mass murder while keeping her hot lover from melting her armor. She's tough enough for the task--provided she isn't killed in the process.
This title contains adult language and explicit sex.
70,000 Words
If someone had asked Zoey Hawthorne eighteen months ago to describe her life she would have said it couldn't be better. Perfect marriage, booming business, and best of all, her son was alive. Today she's divorced, unemployed, and pissed at the universe for taking her child, a loss that's cracked her soul in half. To date, she's addicted to pain meds and anger, with no intention of turning back.
When Zoey inherits a ranch in rural Colorado from an estranged great uncle, she leaves Chicago behind to self-destruct in peace. But lightning changes her plans. Zoey is struck and left with an extrasensory gift that lets her see one more problem on her vengeful spirits haunting her land. To stop the cycle of death rampant on her property, Zoey must solve a fifty-year-old mass murder while keeping her hot lover from melting her armor. She's tough enough for the task--provided she isn't killed in the process.
This title contains adult language and explicit sex.
70,000 Words
- GenresRomanceParanormal
210 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2012
1 person is currently reading
11 people want to read
About the author
Lorelei Buckley
9 books8 followersLorelei Buckley authored several paranormal romance novels including "Direct Strike" (Kensington) which earned a star review from Publishers Weekly. In 2016 she took a three year writing hiatus to focus on photography. She's currently putting stories on paper again as shorts and screenplays. To date, she lives in Texas with her husband and their rambunctious fur-kids.
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
May 19, 2012
My Review:
Honestly, this book is like nothing I've ever read before. I don't think I've ever read a book where the heroine is so completely unlikable as Zoey is at the beginning of this book. She's mean. She's harsh. She's completely unfeeling to others. She's unapologetically addicted to prescription drugs and is honestly suicidal. She's very aware that she's sunk to a really bad place. She just doesn't know how to dig herself out.
Eighteen months ago, she watched while her 10 yo son died on a malfunctioning ferris wheel. Every night since, she has the nightmare where she watches it happen over and over again...every. single. night. The only thing she's found that even makes a dent in her never-ending pain is the drugs which she takes like candy.
When she inherits a ranch, she figures living there is no worse than living in her empty place in Chicago so she moves. The first night there, she is high when she sees a toddler out in the woods. When she goes to help, she's struck by lightening. That lightening does several things to her. First of all, it doesn't kill her which everyone medically finds shocking, but it does take away the nightmares. It also leaves her with an ability to hear spirits. And that's truly the beginning of her transition back into life.
There are three men in Zoey's life who are all wonderful characters in this book:
1. Mitch- her ex-husband who honestly still loves her, but can't stand to watch her drug her life away. He lost his child too and is still hurting from that also. Mitch broke my heart. Even though he still loves Zoey, he's tried to move on and has a girlfriend in Sterling (I loved Sterling! She has her own set of psychic gifts and I love the way that she and Zoey connected over them.) Mitch is always there for Zoey to pick her up when she needs it. She abuses him horribly, but she is also aware that he's really her foundation whether they are together or not.
2. Lance- the hot young stud of a boyfriend. She picked up this motorcycle, tattooed guy in a bar, but OMG, he's perfect for her. He absolutely accepts her at the same time that he helps to anchor and build her up. When no one believes her about the voices, he just accepts it and does whatever he can to help her. I love what he did for Zoey. He's young. He's hot. He provides Zoey with an escape and complete acceptance that she needs to find her place in the world again.
3. Zane- the older gentlemen who lives next door. He has a ten year old daughter who's the same age as Zoey's son when he died. Zane's wife died suddenly in an automobile accident so he understands her profound and devastating loss. They have a connection through that.
In the midst of all that are the ghosts who were murdered. They want justice for their murders and plan to use Zoey to get that.
Like I said, it's a really interesting story and I found it completely fresh in the way that it was written. The ghosts offer some suspense and intrigue to the story and through Zoey you find tons of emotional layers. I really enjoyed it. The ending was a complete surprise, but I'm thrilled that this looks like it may be part of an ongoing series. I certainly hope so. I'd LOVE to read more Zoey...and Lance...and Zane....and Mitch....and Sterling. This was just a really good book!
Honestly, this book is like nothing I've ever read before. I don't think I've ever read a book where the heroine is so completely unlikable as Zoey is at the beginning of this book. She's mean. She's harsh. She's completely unfeeling to others. She's unapologetically addicted to prescription drugs and is honestly suicidal. She's very aware that she's sunk to a really bad place. She just doesn't know how to dig herself out.
Eighteen months ago, she watched while her 10 yo son died on a malfunctioning ferris wheel. Every night since, she has the nightmare where she watches it happen over and over again...every. single. night. The only thing she's found that even makes a dent in her never-ending pain is the drugs which she takes like candy.
When she inherits a ranch, she figures living there is no worse than living in her empty place in Chicago so she moves. The first night there, she is high when she sees a toddler out in the woods. When she goes to help, she's struck by lightening. That lightening does several things to her. First of all, it doesn't kill her which everyone medically finds shocking, but it does take away the nightmares. It also leaves her with an ability to hear spirits. And that's truly the beginning of her transition back into life.
There are three men in Zoey's life who are all wonderful characters in this book:
1. Mitch- her ex-husband who honestly still loves her, but can't stand to watch her drug her life away. He lost his child too and is still hurting from that also. Mitch broke my heart. Even though he still loves Zoey, he's tried to move on and has a girlfriend in Sterling (I loved Sterling! She has her own set of psychic gifts and I love the way that she and Zoey connected over them.) Mitch is always there for Zoey to pick her up when she needs it. She abuses him horribly, but she is also aware that he's really her foundation whether they are together or not.
2. Lance- the hot young stud of a boyfriend. She picked up this motorcycle, tattooed guy in a bar, but OMG, he's perfect for her. He absolutely accepts her at the same time that he helps to anchor and build her up. When no one believes her about the voices, he just accepts it and does whatever he can to help her. I love what he did for Zoey. He's young. He's hot. He provides Zoey with an escape and complete acceptance that she needs to find her place in the world again.
3. Zane- the older gentlemen who lives next door. He has a ten year old daughter who's the same age as Zoey's son when he died. Zane's wife died suddenly in an automobile accident so he understands her profound and devastating loss. They have a connection through that.
In the midst of all that are the ghosts who were murdered. They want justice for their murders and plan to use Zoey to get that.
Like I said, it's a really interesting story and I found it completely fresh in the way that it was written. The ghosts offer some suspense and intrigue to the story and through Zoey you find tons of emotional layers. I really enjoyed it. The ending was a complete surprise, but I'm thrilled that this looks like it may be part of an ongoing series. I certainly hope so. I'd LOVE to read more Zoey...and Lance...and Zane....and Mitch....and Sterling. This was just a really good book!
April 18, 2012
Zoey Hawthorne, in hopes of escaping the sadness that weighs her down in Chicago, moved to Colorado to take possession of the ranch left to her now deceased son by her great-uncle. Dependent on prescription medicine, hostile to the world because he son was killed in a freak accident she thinks this ranch will be the one place where she can connect with her deceased son.
In a stupor after a nightmare, Zoey wanders into the woods around the ranch during a storm. She's struck by lightning, which leaves her with a gift she didn't want...the ability to hear spirits roaming her ranch.
To keep her sanity, Zoey tries to solve the mystery surrounding the voices she hears with the help of hot, younger man, Luke. His free spirited thinking is just what she needs to solve what happened at her ranch and to ease her battered soul.
Zoey was a very interesting character. She was a woman on the edge and that tightrope she walked was almost tangible to the reader. You felt her devastation, her anger and her inability to deal with the loss of her son, her marriage and the joy in her work as a photographer. You knew as she continued to down pills it was the only way to numb the pain that was her constant companion. You also knew that part of what was driving her to this point was her ex-husband. He hovered, he criticized, and almost minimized what Zoey was feeling.
What helped Zoey out of her downward spiral was Luke's belief in her. No matter what craziness she spouted or the rage that flowed out of her, he was there for her. It was that belief and faith that made it possible for Zoey to believe in herself, open up to her gift and to release her grief.
A different sort of read, but still very entertaining.
In a stupor after a nightmare, Zoey wanders into the woods around the ranch during a storm. She's struck by lightning, which leaves her with a gift she didn't want...the ability to hear spirits roaming her ranch.
To keep her sanity, Zoey tries to solve the mystery surrounding the voices she hears with the help of hot, younger man, Luke. His free spirited thinking is just what she needs to solve what happened at her ranch and to ease her battered soul.
Zoey was a very interesting character. She was a woman on the edge and that tightrope she walked was almost tangible to the reader. You felt her devastation, her anger and her inability to deal with the loss of her son, her marriage and the joy in her work as a photographer. You knew as she continued to down pills it was the only way to numb the pain that was her constant companion. You also knew that part of what was driving her to this point was her ex-husband. He hovered, he criticized, and almost minimized what Zoey was feeling.
What helped Zoey out of her downward spiral was Luke's belief in her. No matter what craziness she spouted or the rage that flowed out of her, he was there for her. It was that belief and faith that made it possible for Zoey to believe in herself, open up to her gift and to release her grief.
A different sort of read, but still very entertaining.
January 13, 2014
Reviewed by Aubrey
Book provided by the publisher for review
Review originally posted at Romancing the Book
Direct Strike is definitely a book that is different from any other books I’ve read. I could not stand the main character from the beginning. Zoey, is mourning the loss of her ten year old but has turn to abusing alcohol and prescription drugs to ease her pain. You want to feel sorry for her but she is so mean and harsh to everyone she talks to especially her ex-husband who clearly still has feelings for her. She moves from her home town to a small town in Colorado after she inherits a house and a bunch of money from an unknown uncle.
In a stupor Zoey thinks she sees a young child being murdered in the forest behind her house. When she rushes out to save him in the middle of a storm she gets struck by lighting. After she returns from the hospital the story gets interesting. You wonder if the voices she hears are ghosts or figments of her imagination from the overuse of drugs. A mystery is presented to her from these voices and the rest of the novel is about how she solves the mystery of the young man she saw murdered.
By the end of the novel I started to like Zoey because she learns to deal with life without being drunk and high. You learn to like her as you get to know the real Zoey. The author does a very good job getting into the psyche of all the characters. I would really like to read more books about Zoey.
Book provided by the publisher for review
Review originally posted at Romancing the Book
Direct Strike is definitely a book that is different from any other books I’ve read. I could not stand the main character from the beginning. Zoey, is mourning the loss of her ten year old but has turn to abusing alcohol and prescription drugs to ease her pain. You want to feel sorry for her but she is so mean and harsh to everyone she talks to especially her ex-husband who clearly still has feelings for her. She moves from her home town to a small town in Colorado after she inherits a house and a bunch of money from an unknown uncle.
In a stupor Zoey thinks she sees a young child being murdered in the forest behind her house. When she rushes out to save him in the middle of a storm she gets struck by lighting. After she returns from the hospital the story gets interesting. You wonder if the voices she hears are ghosts or figments of her imagination from the overuse of drugs. A mystery is presented to her from these voices and the rest of the novel is about how she solves the mystery of the young man she saw murdered.
By the end of the novel I started to like Zoey because she learns to deal with life without being drunk and high. You learn to like her as you get to know the real Zoey. The author does a very good job getting into the psyche of all the characters. I would really like to read more books about Zoey.
April 23, 2012
Normally, I read a book in a day. This took two, because I’d only read it during the day. The first few pages of the book were so dark and disturbing, I knew instantly it was going to be a different kind of read for me. Reminiscent of early Stephen King, the protagonist is emotionally flawed. The book was unpredictable and scary. I’m guessing that this was the first in a series and I’m looking forward to getting to know Zoey a bit more. For the full review, visit www.spunkybean.com/chilling-ghost-sto....
April 3, 2014
A page turner.
I loved this book. I couldn't put it down. Great characters who have real depth. Looking forward to more books from this author.
I loved this book. I couldn't put it down. Great characters who have real depth. Looking forward to more books from this author.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews