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Tassamara #2
A Gift of Thought
At seventeen, Sylvie Blair ran away from the small town of Tassamara, Florida. She joined the Marines, traveled the world and made a life for herself, but she never forgot what she left behind. Now a close protection security consultant (aka bodyguard) for a spoiled teenager in Washington DC, her empathic gift helps her keep her charge safe, if not out of trouble. When her past catches up with her, though, in the form of her telepathic high school sweetheart, Lucas, she’s forced to face her regrets even as she tries to decide whether his ridiculous stories about ghosts and Mexican drug cartels are signs of insanity or somehow true.
For Dillon Latimer, meeting his mom comes too late—it's been five years since the drug overdose that killed him. But a little thing like death isn’t going to get in Dillon’s way when he decides that his parents would be much better off together. Unfortunately, it’s not easy for ghosts to influence the world of matter, especially when every choice Sylvie makes takes her deeper and deeper into danger. Can Dillon keep his mom alive long enough for her to live happily ever after with his dad?
For Dillon Latimer, meeting his mom comes too late—it's been five years since the drug overdose that killed him. But a little thing like death isn’t going to get in Dillon’s way when he decides that his parents would be much better off together. Unfortunately, it’s not easy for ghosts to influence the world of matter, especially when every choice Sylvie makes takes her deeper and deeper into danger. Can Dillon keep his mom alive long enough for her to live happily ever after with his dad?
264 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 1, 2012
249 people are currently reading
540 people want to read
About the author
Sarah Wynde
19 books191 followersSarah Wynde graduated from Wesleyan University with a degree in English, which she actually managed to put to use by becoming an editor. She's worked on magazines, websites, and books, including ten years spent as a senior acquisitions editor with Pearson. Eventually, her love of writing pushed her into independent publishing. She likes to think of the stories she writes as unexpected fiction—bending, blending, and occasionally breaking genres.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 95 reviews
April 12, 2014
I loved this novel. It’s #2 in the series, and I was glad to meet several of the characters I befriended in #1, A Gift of Ghosts. Here is my review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
This novel is better though, with deeper characterization and more focused, tightly knitted plot. To my delight, my favorite character from book #1 – the ghost of a teenage boy Dillon – made a seamless, triumphant transition into the book #2. Here, he is the protagonist. It’s his story, or rather the story of his family. It follows three main characters: Sylvie, Lucas, and Dillon.
When Sylvie was seventeen and Lucas was fifteen, they fell in love, and Sylvie got pregnant. Dillon was their son. After he was born, Sylvie fled their hometown to escape prosecution as a sex offender. She didn’t know Lucas was fifteen and below the consent age, but it didn’t matter in the eyes of the law. She had never seen her baby again.
Now, 18 years later, all three meet by chance, but they are all different. Sylvie is not a confused girl anymore. She is a strong, confident woman, a former Marine, working as a bodyguard for a rich man’s daughter. She has built a new life for herself.
Lucas is not a schoolboy either. His work for the government involves various and often dangerous assignments. When he crosses Sylvie’s path, it’s unintentional. He is investigating her employer for possible drug connections and doesn’t know Sylvie works for his suspect. But as soon as they see each other, sparks fly anew between the two. It seems their love might have survived the 18-year separation.
And Dillon, their baby-son, is not a baby anymore. He is a ghost. He died when he was fifteen, from overdose, and he is still adjusting to his new invisible self. Recently, he learned to send text messages on cell phones, and those help him communicate with his father. Dillon frequently accompanies his father on his business trips, and Lucas accepts his son’s ghostly essence without qualms. For Lucas, a ghost son is better that no son at all; he is still grieving over Dillon’s death.
When Dillon sees his mother for the first time, he knows his new mission in life: to bring his parents back together. But first, he has to convince her that he is real. Well, kind of. Cell-phone-realm real anyway. All ghosts are energy, and the digital world is built of energy too. Computers, cell-phones, car alarms, remote controls – they are all ghost-friendly, at least in Wynde’s universe, and I love the author’s novel approach to the ghostly trope.
Unfortunately, Dillon’s mission is complicated by his mother’s shock and disbelief in his ethereal existence. She didn’t know her son was dead. She doesn’t believe in his ghost either, so her grief wars with her anger: someone must be playing cruel jokes on her. Those text messages can’t be from her dead son, right?
Desperate times call for desperate measures, and Dillon's resourcefulness in dealing with the living world is amazing. Almost all Dillon’s scenes are simultaneously funny and poignant. He didn’t lose any of his human qualities when he died. He still worries for his loved ones. He still can be sneaky. He still behaves like a fifteen-year-old. He is such a great kid. Pity he is a ghost.
The exploits of this unconventional family and their awkward but heart-felt attempts at communication and understanding make for a fun-filled ride. I cheered for them all, as they tumbled into one misadventure after another.
The action was fast-moving and very logical, despite the ghosts and other paranormal baggage, as the goals of all three protagonists weave around each other, sometimes coinciding, other times going cross-purposes, but always inspired by love. The entire book is a love story, encompassing romantic love as well as the love between parents and children.
The narrative is clean and terse, with no unnecessary words, and the dialog sparkles. The only flaw in this book – its villain is rather one-dimensional – isn’t really a flaw for me. I don’t read for villains. I read for the heroes, and I fell in love with all three of them.
And I’m definitely in love with the author. From now on, everything she writes will automatically go into my TBR list. I’m off to her next novel now. Can’t wait to start it.
This novel is better though, with deeper characterization and more focused, tightly knitted plot. To my delight, my favorite character from book #1 – the ghost of a teenage boy Dillon – made a seamless, triumphant transition into the book #2. Here, he is the protagonist. It’s his story, or rather the story of his family. It follows three main characters: Sylvie, Lucas, and Dillon.
When Sylvie was seventeen and Lucas was fifteen, they fell in love, and Sylvie got pregnant. Dillon was their son. After he was born, Sylvie fled their hometown to escape prosecution as a sex offender. She didn’t know Lucas was fifteen and below the consent age, but it didn’t matter in the eyes of the law. She had never seen her baby again.
Now, 18 years later, all three meet by chance, but they are all different. Sylvie is not a confused girl anymore. She is a strong, confident woman, a former Marine, working as a bodyguard for a rich man’s daughter. She has built a new life for herself.
Lucas is not a schoolboy either. His work for the government involves various and often dangerous assignments. When he crosses Sylvie’s path, it’s unintentional. He is investigating her employer for possible drug connections and doesn’t know Sylvie works for his suspect. But as soon as they see each other, sparks fly anew between the two. It seems their love might have survived the 18-year separation.
And Dillon, their baby-son, is not a baby anymore. He is a ghost. He died when he was fifteen, from overdose, and he is still adjusting to his new invisible self. Recently, he learned to send text messages on cell phones, and those help him communicate with his father. Dillon frequently accompanies his father on his business trips, and Lucas accepts his son’s ghostly essence without qualms. For Lucas, a ghost son is better that no son at all; he is still grieving over Dillon’s death.
When Dillon sees his mother for the first time, he knows his new mission in life: to bring his parents back together. But first, he has to convince her that he is real. Well, kind of. Cell-phone-realm real anyway. All ghosts are energy, and the digital world is built of energy too. Computers, cell-phones, car alarms, remote controls – they are all ghost-friendly, at least in Wynde’s universe, and I love the author’s novel approach to the ghostly trope.
Unfortunately, Dillon’s mission is complicated by his mother’s shock and disbelief in his ethereal existence. She didn’t know her son was dead. She doesn’t believe in his ghost either, so her grief wars with her anger: someone must be playing cruel jokes on her. Those text messages can’t be from her dead son, right?
Desperate times call for desperate measures, and Dillon's resourcefulness in dealing with the living world is amazing. Almost all Dillon’s scenes are simultaneously funny and poignant. He didn’t lose any of his human qualities when he died. He still worries for his loved ones. He still can be sneaky. He still behaves like a fifteen-year-old. He is such a great kid. Pity he is a ghost.
The exploits of this unconventional family and their awkward but heart-felt attempts at communication and understanding make for a fun-filled ride. I cheered for them all, as they tumbled into one misadventure after another.
The action was fast-moving and very logical, despite the ghosts and other paranormal baggage, as the goals of all three protagonists weave around each other, sometimes coinciding, other times going cross-purposes, but always inspired by love. The entire book is a love story, encompassing romantic love as well as the love between parents and children.
The narrative is clean and terse, with no unnecessary words, and the dialog sparkles. The only flaw in this book – its villain is rather one-dimensional – isn’t really a flaw for me. I don’t read for villains. I read for the heroes, and I fell in love with all three of them.
And I’m definitely in love with the author. From now on, everything she writes will automatically go into my TBR list. I’m off to her next novel now. Can’t wait to start it.
April 1, 2015
Been reading this off and on for the better part of a week, and it just didn't work for me, on really any level. First, if you're going to set your series in a charming village that acts as a haven or people with psychic or paranormal gifts, probably best to set a bit more of the book there. Second, the idea of bonding over a shared past and complementary psychic abilities is a good one, particularly the idea that no one else will understand what life is like for you - that worked. But I'm less certain how I feel about throwing the ghostly son into the mix. Something in the balance there felt off. Third, the whole being a bodyguard, and your client's father turns out to work for the Mexican drug cartels, and all the intrigue there felt like it didn't really match the tone of the rest of the book. I don't know, I like a lot of the individual characters, and I liked the dynamic between the main couple, but the overarching narrative of this one just didn't come together in any sort of cohesive way, as far as I'm concerned.
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August 27, 2018Another enjoyable entry. A very strong opening indeed, though some decisions of Sylvie later in the book (including when sleep deprivation weren't a factor) didn't impress me. Dillon remains a highlight.
December 29, 2014
4.5 stars. I LOVED THIS SO MUCH!!!!!!!! I don't know why, but somehow it just happens that I'm reading these books in the opposite order. I loved Time but oh my god, Thought was my everything. The high school lovers reunite later in life trope is a difficult one for me, but I liked it SO much here because it became clear that they were completely different people at the point in their life when they met again, and that they didn't just fall back into old patterns.
That said, I loved Sylvie and Lucas and their tragic but partly amazing story (teenage parents, she takes off after he's born for various [legitimate] reasons, son dies when he's 15, oh and when Sylvie and Lucas are around each other, their powers are shared. Normally he can read minds, which she normally can't- and she reads people's emotions. They meet again after years of not seeing each other because she's working private security and he breaks into her boss' house, which is also amazing.)
But what I loved even more? DILLON. Their ghost son, who communicates with the living via text message. Also, Rachel, a shady arms dealer's teenage daughter, the one Sylvie is tasked to protect, and the weird ghost-human friendship they form.
I really loved this entire story, and I loved seeing Tassamara again at the end. I absolutely have to track down a copy of Ghosts now because of Rose. I love Rose so much.
The only reason I took a half star off is that the start was a little bit slow for me, but by the time I was around 25 percent into the book, I couldn't stop. I finished the book at 5AM, and appropriately bawled my eyes out in the best way. Highly recommend.
That said, I loved Sylvie and Lucas and their tragic but partly amazing story (teenage parents, she takes off after he's born for various [legitimate] reasons, son dies when he's 15, oh and when Sylvie and Lucas are around each other, their powers are shared. Normally he can read minds, which she normally can't- and she reads people's emotions. They meet again after years of not seeing each other because she's working private security and he breaks into her boss' house, which is also amazing.)
But what I loved even more? DILLON. Their ghost son, who communicates with the living via text message. Also, Rachel, a shady arms dealer's teenage daughter, the one Sylvie is tasked to protect, and the weird ghost-human friendship they form.
I really loved this entire story, and I loved seeing Tassamara again at the end. I absolutely have to track down a copy of Ghosts now because of Rose. I love Rose so much.
The only reason I took a half star off is that the start was a little bit slow for me, but by the time I was around 25 percent into the book, I couldn't stop. I finished the book at 5AM, and appropriately bawled my eyes out in the best way. Highly recommend.
March 26, 2018
This is another good book from the author, she wrote the characters well enough that I felt immediate connections with them and made me curious about their lives wanting to hear and see what they did next :) it intrigued me and it was really well written scenes were described in such detail that you felt you were there without going into too much detail that you were bored. I can say I felt the emotions the author was trying to convey during her work and that to me makes this a great book. I'll be reading more of her writing obviously.
Re-read March 2018
Re-reading another of these books I fell in love with the new characters introduced, we learnt a lot more about Dillion during this one and the turbulent relationship of his parents Lucas and Sylvie.
Lucas in the previous books was a dark, brooding, mysterious character who we didn't know much about it. But he changed well he didn't change but we saw another side to him, we saw him sweet caring and generally as a love sick puppy too.
Sylvie well I loved her as a character, strong determined motivated ok stubborn too and over confident at times but it worked for her, she was a strong woman she wasn't a week fragile damsel in distress, I loved her sarcasm and her snapping at Lucas.
The relationship between Sylvie and Lucas in this book were great characters they bounced off of each other, snappy, sarcastic with the major underlying sexual tension.
Overall I really enjoyed reading this book again as it made me laugh cry and relate to the characters especially to Sylvie for me.
Re-read March 2018
Re-reading another of these books I fell in love with the new characters introduced, we learnt a lot more about Dillion during this one and the turbulent relationship of his parents Lucas and Sylvie.
Lucas in the previous books was a dark, brooding, mysterious character who we didn't know much about it. But he changed well he didn't change but we saw another side to him, we saw him sweet caring and generally as a love sick puppy too.
Sylvie well I loved her as a character, strong determined motivated ok stubborn too and over confident at times but it worked for her, she was a strong woman she wasn't a week fragile damsel in distress, I loved her sarcasm and her snapping at Lucas.
The relationship between Sylvie and Lucas in this book were great characters they bounced off of each other, snappy, sarcastic with the major underlying sexual tension.
Overall I really enjoyed reading this book again as it made me laugh cry and relate to the characters especially to Sylvie for me.
October 23, 2016
I actually liked this much better than the first one because it had more of an actual story and a good one at that. Wynde writes tight, beautiful sentences and really knows how to move a story along. The only irritating bits were the nudge, nudge, wink, wink fan fic references. Now, I love a bit of a reference to Firefly like the next Malcolm Reynolds devotee and I, too, think the world would be a duller place without Joss Wheedon etc but there was a point when I wanted to grab Wynde by the collar, shake her a bit and shout 'you don't need these references, you are better than this'. Because she is and she is doing herself and Tassamara an injustice. Eureka and Tassamara are two distinctly different places and if Wynde allowed Tassamara a book without any references to scifi channel's finest she might find that one day she'll be rated as an equal.
June 28, 2012
Different from the first book-----------was expecting the same type of story ---this one almost changed genre ----I liked it all the same---there are ghosts and mind readers etc.. but the story was really about a bodyguard and her client moreso than it was about ghosts. will re-read at some point. Have already read the first book. A gift of ghosts twice.
September 4, 2012
A very nice story with a few different points of view throughout. Good mix of genres and straightforward character development. Would like to visit with these characters again!!
Good for youngsters - minimal violence, minimal sexual stuff... just good story and mind stretching ideas... what more could one ask for.
I definitely recommend for a fun read.
All the best,
Jay
Good for youngsters - minimal violence, minimal sexual stuff... just good story and mind stretching ideas... what more could one ask for.
I definitely recommend for a fun read.
All the best,
Jay
August 29, 2018
I think I would have liked to see more of Lucas's PoV, instead of just Sylvie's, and Dillon's. I did like the story and the characters. Still interested in seeing where this series goes next.
October 31, 2017
Sylvie ran away from Tassamara and her son twenty years ago hoping to save herself from going to jail and to give her son a better life. Sylvie works as a bodyguard for her friend, Ty’s company and is recently tasked with protecting a fourteen-year-old girl. When Rachel and Sylvie return home unexpectedly, Sylvie is shocked to come face to face with Lucas, her boyfriend from what seems a life time ago. Sylvie learns that her son has died five years ago but that he still lingers as a ghost.
Dillon decides that his parents should reunite and be happy. He figures that he can help that process along by helping Rachel with her life and tricking his parents into following her to Tassamara. As the adventure continues unexpected dangers lurk that could end all Dillon’s plans of happily ever after.
Tassamara is filled with different paranormal activities and gifts. Psychics, telepaths, and ghosts are just a few that will pique your curiosity. Filled with fun, romance and mystery this is another must read by Sarah Wynde.
Dillon decides that his parents should reunite and be happy. He figures that he can help that process along by helping Rachel with her life and tricking his parents into following her to Tassamara. As the adventure continues unexpected dangers lurk that could end all Dillon’s plans of happily ever after.
Tassamara is filled with different paranormal activities and gifts. Psychics, telepaths, and ghosts are just a few that will pique your curiosity. Filled with fun, romance and mystery this is another must read by Sarah Wynde.
August 20, 2023
I loved A Gift of Ghosts and was looking forward to reuniting with Dillon and Akira. This book does not hold the same kind of magic as the first one, though. I love Dillon and would have wanted to love this book too. We do get to know what happened with Dillon's parents and meet his mom. The story did not enthrall me and, even though this is a relatively short book, I found myself hoping for it to end already. The mess nearing the end felt rather unnecessary. Let's hope the next book will be just as magical as the first one.
June 11, 2017
Excellent!
Takes the reader further into the lives of the main characters, both living and ghostly. It's well written and not hokey when bringing feelings of ghostly characters into more of a reality. You get to know each and every character and the author leaves you wanting more of the Larimer family.
Takes the reader further into the lives of the main characters, both living and ghostly. It's well written and not hokey when bringing feelings of ghostly characters into more of a reality. You get to know each and every character and the author leaves you wanting more of the Larimer family.
July 5, 2018
They probably exist, but I have only come across one other series where psychics are a theme. Of the two, this is my favorite! I've added myself to Ms. Wyndes list of blog and announcement subscribers. I had to fill out an Overdrive digital purchase request at LAPL to get access to this one, so my next challenge is to get access to the short Christmas story and then book # 3.
August 25, 2018
The second in the series did what the first did, made me run right to the third.
This one didn't have the feel goodness about it that the first did, but then we were reading about two adults who'd lost a teenage son. Not an easy topic.
The bad guy was very convincingly bad
I maybe wasn't as sympathetic towards Sylvie as I needed to be.
This one didn't have the feel goodness about it that the first did, but then we were reading about two adults who'd lost a teenage son. Not an easy topic.
The bad guy was very convincingly bad
I maybe wasn't as sympathetic towards Sylvie as I needed to be.
May 10, 2025
Things I liked:
1: FMC and MMC had plausible reason for splitting up as teens
2. Dillon the ghost teenage child of the MMC and FMC is funny
3. Interesting use of telepathy
Things I didn’t like:
1. The romance is really secondary
2. The ending felt rushed
3. The drug cartel plot seemed forced
1: FMC and MMC had plausible reason for splitting up as teens
2. Dillon the ghost teenage child of the MMC and FMC is funny
3. Interesting use of telepathy
Things I didn’t like:
1. The romance is really secondary
2. The ending felt rushed
3. The drug cartel plot seemed forced
May 27, 2017
Loved it! I've been enjoying the entire series. Sarah has a great ability to weave in magic/supernatural phenomena without leaving huge holes in the plot. The characters are really interesting, the dialogue is good. Couldn't put it down.
September 4, 2018
Enjoyed it.
This book is part 2. So be sure to read " A Gift of Ghost" first or you will not understand a lot of it. Makes this book so much more enjoyable. These books are not scary kind of Ghost, it is more like Casper the ghost. Enjoy it.
This book is part 2. So be sure to read " A Gift of Ghost" first or you will not understand a lot of it. Makes this book so much more enjoyable. These books are not scary kind of Ghost, it is more like Casper the ghost. Enjoy it.
January 3, 2019
I thought this book was a good second part to the series. We met a lot of characters in book one and this book fleshed out those side characters. I also really enjoyed reading the book from Dillan’s point of view; more Dillan in book three please.
July 17, 2022
Unfortunately I lost interest in this second book. I found Sylvie ridiculously stubborn and the plot just sort of dragged on too much on things that weren't interesting for me. A real shame because the premise of this one had a lot of potential.
February 21, 2025
really enjoyable read
A pleasant and enjoyable read. Will go onto the next book. I love the cross between science trying to explain ghosts/spirits and the other side. Try and enjoy
A pleasant and enjoyable read. Will go onto the next book. I love the cross between science trying to explain ghosts/spirits and the other side. Try and enjoy
June 11, 2017
lovely paranormal romance, I read the whole series.
August 8, 2017
This is a terrific series. It is well written, with interesting stories and great characters.
October 17, 2017
I really enjoyed this story, can't wait for the next one.
January 11, 2018
Intruiging
A really interesting read. Enjoyed it very much. Was quite surprised with some events that I did not expect at all
A really interesting read. Enjoyed it very much. Was quite surprised with some events that I did not expect at all
April 25, 2018
This follow on story was great. This family and town come alive with the writer Sarah. I look forward to seeing what happens to the next family member.
June 29, 2018
Dillion to the rescue
Dillon is unhappy with his parents and goes all out to change things. A great book, written with a lot of thought and feeling. Great read.
Dillon is unhappy with his parents and goes all out to change things. A great book, written with a lot of thought and feeling. Great read.
July 15, 2018
As good as the first one
I am enjoying this series. Good characters and an interesting way to include ghosts without being intent on a scary book.
I am enjoying this series. Good characters and an interesting way to include ghosts without being intent on a scary book.
August 30, 2018
Enjoyable read.
October 7, 2018
couldn’t put down
love this book, second book, and was really good, and ghost!! love the combination- really good story!! looking forward to the next one
love this book, second book, and was really good, and ghost!! love the combination- really good story!! looking forward to the next one
October 24, 2018
Another awesome story
Love that the books seem to flow from one to the other even if introducing new characters. Each can be a stand alone but they do go together great!
Love that the books seem to flow from one to the other even if introducing new characters. Each can be a stand alone but they do go together great!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 95 reviews