Seeing is Believing

Cuttersville #3

by Erin McCarthy

Cuttersville, Ohio is full of ghosts, and they all want Piper Tucker’s help.
One guy in town just wants Piper.

Ever since Piper Tucker was young she wanted to be like everyone else, but her uncanny ability to see ghosts always put her on the other side of normal. And the apparitions are showing up now more than ever, desperately seeking help. But what can she possibly do for them? They’ve already been dead for years. Besides, she has a personal concern of her own right now. A real flesh and blood concern—named Brady.

He’s Piper’s childhood crush, and no sooner is he back in town than sparks start giving off heat. For Brady, it’s hard not to notice the sexy young woman Piper’s become, or forget the special gift she had as a girl. And right now it could come in handy, because a long-forgotten murder has been keeping a restless spirit from finding peace. All Piper and Brady have to do is solve the crime to put the specter to rest. But the passion brewing between them is just as restless, and could prove twice as dangerous.

Genres: Romance, Paranormal, Contemporary Romance, Contemporary, Ghosts, Paranormal Romance, Chick Lit

271 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published March 5, 2013

About the author

USA Today and New York Times Bestselling author Erin McCarthy sold her first book in 2002 and has since written over a hundred novels and novellas in teen fiction, new adult, and adult romance. Erin has a special weakness for high-heeled boots, beaches and martinis. She lives in Ohio with her family, two grumpy cats and a socially awkward dog.

Reviews

[Lisa Kay · Rating 3 out of 5]

★★★½☆ Awkward beginning, for quite awhile, actually. Especially the feelings and interactions between the H/h. It was like the author didn’t know how old to make her characters. Granted, I could see them reliving their childhood/teenage memories of one another, but they jarred with their current lustful adult thoughts. However, the story eventually hit its stride.

[Francesca the Fierce (Under the Covers Book Blog) · Rating 4 out of 5]

First of all, let me just say that this is a very sweet book that I would definitely recommend. It’s a story about a little girl that was awkward and not well adjusted, who had a crush on a boy that was older than her but always made her feel good. Now she’s a young woman and that boy is a man, and fate brings them back into each other lives. From there, they take matters into their own hands.

But there was also a big surprise for me when I started reading this, and not even so far into it. The heroine can see ghosts. She’s always been able to, people around her kind of know about it, and she’s learned to deal with it. Quite frankly, I don’t think I could go to sleep with the ghost of a dead woman sleeping at my feet but that’s just me. I often find that I’m not a fan of throwing a small paranormal element into a story like this but in this book, and after the initial shock, it worked for me. The author did an excellent job at not overwhelming the romance with this and it only added another layer instead of distracting. Well done!

Then there’s the romance. Piper and Brady have a ton of chemistry. They’re both a little innocent and cute at how they go about it but for the most part they are straightforward about what they want. Brady was thinking he would only be in town for a short amount of time while he got his head straight after being laid off from a big city advertising job. Piper is more than happy with her small town living. So they agree on a fling to get that attraction out of their system.

But where Piper is seen as the prodigy child that can do no wrong, Brady is seen as the loser or the fuck up. He never got his art career to blossom, he doesn’t currently have a job and he goes through women like he needs new socks everyday. Everyone thinks he’s not good enough for Piper. This he has to prove to himself, and to others, that he is.

SEEING IS BELIEVING is a sweet and sexy read. Not the most alpha hero and not the most kick ass heroine, but they were great together and they were fun to read about. If you love small town romances, with quirky characters, a sense of community and just a touch of magic…then you should give this one a try.

*ARC provided by publisher

[Kathy Davie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Third in the Cuttersville paranormal romance series set in Cuttersville, Ohio, and revolving around friends and family. The couple focus is on Brady---it's twelve years later!---and Piper Tucker.

The Murphy Sisters short stories are entangled in Cuttersville. Which explains why it hasn't turned into a full-length series, dang it.

My Take
I do enjoy this Cuttersville series. It's small town life where everyone knows everyone else's business with the usual assortment of characters from the nasty to the acerbic to the sweet. Thankfully, it's the sweet who predominate.

Although...McCarthy has slipped up on a few points. Maybe Brady has dropped the painting until reinspired, but where does it go from here? Is he really planning on making a career as a waiter just to stay in Cuttersville? Rachel's violence was totally unexpected---and we never do get a reason for it. Or why Rachel and Brady I never connected even though they're in the same house. Even a guess would have been useful. And Piper's reaction to Trina...gimme a break! I thought Piper was smarter than that! McCarthy has slipped on this one...and it's not what I would have expected of her.

Whoa, makes me happy for our more stringent policework in these days, as Rachel got shafted in so many ways. Then there's the name of the bludgeoned fiancé! Another whoa on that one!

It is, however, a sweet read with a nice blend of humor, tension, and drama as two people dance around each other, paying too much attention to what others are saying to them.

The Story
After escaping town to make his mark on the art world, Brady Stritmeyer shambles back into town, ashamed. Only to discover all the reasons why life is better in Cuttersville.

The Characters
Piper Tucker is Danny and Amanda's grown-up daughter ( Heiress for Hire , 2)---she's a schoolteacher now who still sees ghosts. The farm is doing well, and Amanda is keeping busy. Logan, 13, and Jack are her half-brothers. Marcus is the younger half-brother who didn't get as lucky as Piper; Trina claims to be his girlfriend. Cameron is Piper's best friend. Stuart is Amanda's art gallery-owning friend in New York City.

Brady Stritmeyer is Shelby's artistic cousin. The one who was going to take the world by storm and hasn't picked up a paintbrush in years. Heather is the sister who moved to Cincinnati. Jessie Stritmeyer is his outspoken grandmother, and yes, she still owns a bunch of houses around Cuttersville. Good thing, as Gran has no intention of letting Brady move in with her. It'd cut into her Saturday nights with Richard.

Emily and Lilly are Shelby and Boston's eight-year-old twins ( A Date with the Other Side , 1). Zach is their fourteen-year-old.

Rachel Strauss is the some-hundred-year-dead ghost executed for the murder of her fiancé, who haunts Shelby and Boston's home. Betsy Chambers is the maid who discovered the body. Dr. Cyrus Drummond was pretty advanced for his time.

Brady's old girlfriend (and psychic) Abby is now married to Darius Damiano. Bree Murphy-Carrington, Abby's sister, is the librarian, who reads tarot cards ( Magical Christmas Cat: Christmas Bree (Murphy Sisters, 2)). She's having a second baby with Ian; their first, Alistair, is ten.

The Cover
The cover is sweetness and innocence with the fresh spring green of meadow grass and the hazy view of the forest in the background and a happy dog with a huge flower in his mouth in the foreground while the near foreground finds a barefooted lass in virginal pink in the classic pose---up on her toes with one leg bent at the knee in the arms of her khaki-clad lover.

There's a lot of seeing going on in this story, and the title could well be referring to Brady rediscovering Piper or together their discovering the truth about Rachel's guilt or simply realizing that Piper truly can see ghosts, that Seeing is Believing.

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good book. Piper has seen ghosts ever since she was young. She doesn't tell people about it because she doesn't want that kind of attention. She just wants to be normal. While babysitting for a cousin her childhood crush appears to come to there. He has lost his job and is feeling pretty low. He remembers Piper as a child but the grown up Piper knocks his socks off. Even though he doesn't plan to stay in town for long he'd really like to get to know her much better.

I liked Piper. Her ability to see ghosts really freaks her out. She's gotten used to it but she doesn't like it. Brady's appearance in town brings back all her old memories of him. He was nice to her as a kid and didn't make fun of her abilities. She had quite a crush on him and now that crush has turned into an intense attraction. Because of the way her stepfather abused her when she was little Piper has trouble believing anyone would really want her but she begins to believe Brady when he does. I loved the way she took matters into her own hands at the beginning and got the ball rolling. I liked the way that she believed in Brady and that he can recover from his job loss. She spent a lot of time worrying about what other people thought but thanks to Brady started to think more about herself and what she wants. I liked the way that Piper decided that she had to get her own life together before she could be part of Brady's. I also enjoyed the mystery of why the ghost Rachel is suddenly appearing more often and looking angry. Piper and Brady worked well together as they investigated.

Brady was pretty cool. At the beginning he was kind of selfish being most interested in getting Piper into bed and not worrying too much about feelings. It didn't take long before she had gotten under his skin and he was thinking about more than that. I loved watching him look out for Piper when she was dealing with the ghosts. He also understood her self worth issues and was always treating her as a normal woman even when coping with the ghosts. He had a bit of growing up to do yet, but with his growing love for Piper he started to take responsibility for his own happiness. He also has to deal with everyone in town telling him that he's not good enough for Piper. I liked the way that he stuck with her through all of that and cared enough to give her space when she asked for it. I really liked the ending and how Brady helped her with the solution for Rachel.

[Norma · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this one. I'd been wanting to read it for a few months now and I'm not sorry I did. Make no mistake, this book did have it's flaws. But if you're an Erin McCarthy fan, which I am, and a fan of Heiress for Hire, which I am, then you can easily over-look those flaws.

My only complaint was that this book had a totally unnecessary split between the couple and it didn't work. It didn't make sense and it added nothing to the story. But we find that so often in romances, that I just shrugged and moved on.

Overall, I loved Piper and Brady and was super excited to see Danny and Amanda.

[Bungluna · Rating 2 out of 5]

This story felt forced and the 'gimmick' of the ghosts had no rhyme or reason to be included. The relationship between the hero and heroine felt forced.

[Carrie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm somewhat on the fence about this book. It was definitely engaging, but somehow not completely satisfying. I think it's a good thing I hadn't read the first two in the series recently, because Heiress for Hire is a favorite of mine and I don't think this stands up to that one. Seeing is Believing lacks some of the believable angst and the charming humor of the other book.

It's 15 years after Heiress for Hire and Brady comes back to Cuttersville after losing his job in Chicago. Piper is still there, now teaching school and living with her parents while she finds a place to live. Brady immediately notices what a lovely woman piper has grown into, and Piper is just as aware that she still has that long-time crush on Brady.

Piper suffers some PTSD due to her early childhood, and Brady has issues of his own. I felt like neither of those things were explored enough. I also felt the ending was a little abrupt and left us guessing about a few things (although not he HEA).

On the other hand, McCarthy does a good job of showing both Brady and Piper as well-developed characters, with flaws and good qualities. the "mystery" was interesting if easy to solve, and the relationship between Piper and Brady was sweet.

This is a good quick beach read, or a book to cleanse you palette after a difficult or angsty book. Worth reading and enjoyable, but not the best book by this author.

[Jacqueline J · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a pleasant read. Nothing lifted it to great heights however. It was fun to see Piper grown up. It was fun to see Danny and Amanda again. I thought the seeing ghosts thing was not developed as well as it could have been. The beginning of the story set us up to believe that ghosts etc., would play a greater role in the story which didn't happen. Plus some of the actions of the main ghost didn't make sense and weren't adequately explained/resolved.

The relationship was okay but seemed to happen awfully fast. I know they knew each other as young people but I thought their level of closeness after 12 years apart was too great. Plus the age difference when they were younger kept them from having the kind of relationship that could be easily picked up again after that length of time with no getting to know each other stage.

Plus the hero was a bit of a washed up loser which is not what I really like in my romance heroes. There was a requisite breakup before the resolution which was odd and not well motivated.

So ultimately just okay.

[Neha Oberoi · Rating 2 out of 5]

Without the alpha hero or the kick ass heroine, what is it that you look for? Quirkiness, oddball characters and laugh out loud situations. And I'm sorry , but the book didn't carry that forward very well.

[Molly · Rating 1 out of 5]

Not one of her good books. She doesn't even give detail about the ghost in the basement

[Annalee · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book!! Erin McCarthy did it again!! First with the Vegas vamps series for me and now this. I can't wait to read more of her work. Great story of live and finding yourself, personal growth, and moving on with your life. Highly recommend you read it! Lived the two main characters and the town 😊

[Aurian Booklover · Rating 4 out of 5]

Last year I read Heiress for Hire, the second book in the series, and enjoyed it very much. So when I saw this book, I had to snatch it up. The heroine in this book is the daughter/stepdaughter of that books couple, all grown up now. It was fun to see Amanda and her husband still very much in love and in lust, and with two young sons of their own.

Until she was 8 years old, Piper was a very much neglected little girl, malnourished and with no hair because of it all. Quiet, she had learned never to ask for anything, never to expect anything from adults at all. Then her stepfather dumped her on her father Danny Tucker’s doorstep, and she finally found out what a family should be. Danny never knew he had a daughter, but he loved her instantly and became the best father he could be for her.

Piper has always been a good girl, she is 24 years old now and a school teacher, but still living at the farm with her parents and brothers. She loves being at home, never alone, feeling loved by her family. But now, while she is babysitting Shelley’s twin daughters, no one else but her old crush appears out of nowhere. Brady is back in town and there is an instant connection between them. 10 years ago, Brady left Cuttersville for Chicago, sure that he would make it in the art world. But he did not, and now his job at the advertising firm has been terminated. He is down on his luck, out of a job and out of money. And so he has come home to figure out what to do with his life. He is 31, and has nothing to show for himself. His salary will only be paid for the next three weeks, and he has no live savings at all. He will have to break his leash on his apartment, as there is no way he can pay for that anymore.

But first, he is visiting his cousin Shelly, and hoping he can spend the night there as he does not want to disturb his grandmother this late at night. He does not count on the fact that his cousin has actually left town for the weekend, and to find a beautiful young woman as the babysitter. He does not recognize Piper, until she tells him who she is. And then he remembers the little girl, whom he painted a butterfly bedroom for. And who he really, really would not mind doing other things for … which is of course highly inappropriate, he used to baby-sit Piper! And her father, Danny, has big fists …

Piper is embarrassed that Brady finds her like this, in a top and shorts, her pyjama. But he is soaked through, and she can’t let him stand on the doorstep. After talking a bit, and teasing Piper about still seeing ghosts or not, they decide to go to bed. But Piper is for once in her life determined to go after what she wants, and that is Brady in her bed. And so she boldly goes after him, and has the best sex of her life. But so does Brady, and it really shocks him. Piper is not the kind of girl a man has a fling with, and he is leaving for Chicago in two days … or isn’t he?

Lucky for Brady, his grandmother has some rental properties in town, and is willing to let him live in one of them, in exchange for him to fix it up. But Piper has suddenly decided to get a place of herself, a place where she can have a social life, and Brady’s grandmother is willing to let her rent the Blue House, after Brady has fixed it up. Of course, if she is willing to help him with that, she could save on the deposit.

Everyone seems to be against Brady and Piper hooking up together, except for Brady’s grandmother. Piper is just the girl to keep him here in town and make him settle down…

It all seems to be going great, they are almost living together already, when something happens that sets of Piper’s insecurities, and she decides that maybe she needs more time. Time to really deal with her past, and with her ability to see ghosts. Time to stop wanting to be normal and fitting in, and time to do what she wants and needs.


I really enjoyed this sweet love story. It is not friends to lovers, as she was just a little girl when Brady left. Nor big brother’s best friend. But still, they already knew each other. And that was fun and added to the story. There is a big secondary story line about the ghosts living in Shelly’s house, and how the ghost Rachel is suddenly attacking Piper, and the ghost Brady is trying to tell her things. The new Brady is determined to get to the truth about what happened in the past, but Piper is too scared to dig any deeper. She just wishes the ghosts would leave her alone, to be normal.

So they both had growing up to do; to decide what they want in life. I enjoyed it that the journey was not so smoothly after all. There are some hot love scenes in this book, also some sweet scenes though. It is fun to see all the previous characters again, and I really have to find the anthology with the third story in this series.

Erin McCarthy writes fast paced stories, with loveable characters and a great sense of humor and wit that is exactly my taste. The little village of Cuttersville, Ohio, and its inhabitants are a great backdrop to the story. As there are plenty of children around, I do hope there will be more stories in this setting.

8 stars.

© 2014 Reviews by Aurian

[Jennesa · Rating 1 out of 5]

I just could not get into this book. It did not make it past my 30 page rule. The intro was too slow for me.

[T. · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was cute and a nice finish to the series, but it seemed to take forever to finish it. Sighs.

[Rowena · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ever since Piper Tucker was young she wanted to be like everyone else, but her uncanny ability to see ghosts always put her on the other side of normal. And the apparitions are showing up now more than ever, desperately seeking help. But what can she possibly do for them? They’ve already been dead for years. Besides, she has a personal concern of her own right now. A real flesh and blood concern—named Brady.

He’s Piper’s childhood crush, and no sooner is he back in town than sparks start giving off heat. For Brady, it’s hard not to notice the sexy young woman Piper’s become, or forget the special gift she had as a girl. And right now it could come in handy, because a long-forgotten murder has been keeping a restless spirit from finding peace. All Piper and Brady have to do is solve the crime to put the specter to rest. But the passion brewing between them is just as restless, and could prove twice as dangerous.

It’s been quite a long time since I read Heiress for Hire by Erin McCarthy, which features the couple from that book’s daughter…all grown up. My plan was to read Heiress for Hire again before opening up this book because I’m not quite the spring chicken that I used to be so I don’t remember a hot damn thing from that book. I only remember that I liked it, a great deal. Anyway, that re-read didn’t happen but I jumped into this book anyway.

So this book follows Danny’s daughter Piper Tucker as she finds happiness with the boy that she had such a crush on back in the day. Brady Stritmeyer. Brady used to have blue hair and he painted Piper’s room when she came to live with Danny and he was nice to her. Not a lot of people were nice to her because, well, she sees ghosts.

Everyone thought she was a freak when she was younger but now that she’s older, she knows how to control her reactions to her ghost sightings.

When we first met Piper, she was a young girl who lost her mother and was left with a prick of a step-father. Not wanting to deal with Piper anymore, her step father drops her on Danny Tucker’s front porch. Back then, Piper was emotionally scarred and it took Danny a long time to get Piper to trust him and still, Piper has issues with trust and well, life. Piper’s early life wasn’t easy and sometimes the memories keep her glued to what she knows and what she’s comfortable with. It doesn’t leave much room for growing as a person. She’s a kind person, someone who cares about those around her and she’s just genuinely, good.

Then there’s Brady Stritmeyer. He left town the minute he turned 18 and hasn’t come back since. He didn’t visit all that much but now he’s back. He got laid off from his job in Chicago, he’s not painting anymore and he’s 31 years old without a plan. He’s got three weeks of savings to hold him over until he finds something else so going home for the free rent is really all he’s thinking about. He hopes to crash at his cousin Shelby’s house but when he shows up and Shelby’s not there, he’s not that mad. He’s not that mad because in Shelby’s place is little Piper Tucker all grown up and looking good enough to eat.

I really liked getting to know both Brady and Piper. They were interesting characters that had a lot of growing left to do. I really liked that this was a contemporary romance about two characters that don’t have their shit together, are not super rich, dealing with real problems and were still able to get that happy ending that we’re all striving for in our real lives. They were believable characters with lives that were interesting and kept me invested in the story. I think McCarthy did a great job of making me want to read more. She created characters that warmed me right up and kept me entertained. I’m so glad that I picked this up to read because it was a solid story with characters that I remembered from Heiress for Hire.

I will say that my least favorite part of the book was the whole ghost love story of Rachel and the original Brady. That part of the story dragged for me but I enjoyed the other parts so much that it didn’t detract from my enjoyment of the story too much. I really liked seeing how far Brady came from the beginning to the end. When we first see him in this book, he’s so insecure and down on himself, not comfortable in his own skin but at the end? You saw the growth and I couldn’t help but admire the man he came to be…by coming back home.

And it was the same with Piper. She came a long way as well, though her’s was much more of an emotional journey than Brady’s. She was the perfect person before but I liked that Brady helped her become a more relaxed person, someone who went after what she wanted and didn’t worry too much about the people around her. She started living for herself and that was nice to see.

Overall, this was a good read. I’m glad that I read it.

[Book Binge · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's been quite a long time since I read Heiress for Hire by Erin McCarthy, which features the couple from that book's daughter...all grown up. My plan was to read Heiress for Hire again before opening up this book because I'm not quite the spring chicken that I used to be so I don't remember a hot damn thing from that book. I only remember that I liked it, a great deal. Anyway, that re-read didn't happen but I jumped into this book anyway.

So this book follows Danny's daughter Piper Tucker as she finds happiness with the boy that she had such a crush on back in the day. Brady Stritmeyer. Brady used to have blue hair and he painted Piper's room when she came to live with Danny and he was nice to her. Not a lot of people were nice to her because, well, she sees ghosts. Everyone thought she was a freak when she was younger but now that she's older, she knows how to control her reactions to her ghost sightings.

When we first met Piper, she was a young girl who lost her mother and was left with a prick of a step-father. Not wanting to deal with Piper anymore, her step father drops her on Danny Tucker's front porch. Back then, Piper was emotionally scarred and it took Danny a long time to get Piper to trust him and still, Piper has issues with trust and well, life. Piper's early life wasn't easy and sometimes the memories keep her glued to what she knows and what she's comfortable with. It doesn't leave much room for growing as a person. She's a kind person, someone who cares about those around her and she's just genuinely, good.

Then there's Brady Stritmeyer. He left town the minute he turned 18 and hasn't come back since. He didn't visit all that much but now he's back. He got laid off from his job in Chicago, he's not painting anymore and he's 31 years old without a plan. He's got three weeks of savings to hold him over until he finds something else so going home for the free rent is really all he's thinking about. He hopes to crash at his cousin Shelby's house but when he shows up and Shelby's not there, he's not that mad. He's not that mad because in Shelby's place is little Piper Tucker all grown up and looking good enough to eat.

I really liked getting to know both Brady and Piper. They were interesting characters that had a lot of growing left to do. I really liked that this was a contemporary romance about two characters that don't have their shit together, are not super rich, dealing with real problems and were still able to get that happy ending that we're all striving for in our real lives. They were believable characters with lives that were interesting and kept me invested in the story. I think McCarthy did a great job of making me want to read more. She created characters that warmed me right up and kept me entertained. I'm so glad that I picked this up to read because it was a solid story with characters that I remembered from Heiress for Hire.

I will say that my least favorite part of the book was the whole ghost love story of Rachel and the original Brady. That part of the story dragged for me but I enjoyed the other parts so much that it didn't detract from my enjoyment of the story too much. I really liked seeing how far Brady came from the beginning to the end. When we first see him in this book, he's so insecure and down on himself, not comfortable in his own skin but at the end? You saw the growth and I couldn't help but admire the man he came to be...by coming back home.

And it was the same with Piper. She came a long way as well, though her's was much more of an emotional journey than Brady's. She was the perfect person before but I liked that Brady helped her become a more relaxed person, someone who went after what she wanted and didn't worry too much about the people around her. She started living for herself and that was nice to see.

Overall, this was a good read. I'm glad that I read it.

Grade: 4 out of 5

This review was originally posted on Book Binge by Rowena.

[Ellie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Seeing is Believing, Cuttersville #3, by Erin McCarthy

Grade: C

“Are you comparing my hair to a Beatles album?”

Brady Stritmeyer couldn’t wait to get out of the small town of Cuttersville, Ohio and start his life in a big city. Now over a decade later he’s back in his hometown unemployed, broke and no idea what to do with his life. Brady is lost until he meets Piper Tucker the skinny kid he used to babysit for when she was younger. Piper has turned into Brady’s dream woman and being around her makes him realize that what he needed might have been waiting for him at home all along.

Piper Tucker just wants to be normal and like everyone else. She wants her father to forget he missed the first eight years of her life, her mother to forget she can see ghosts and brady to forget that she is younger than him. Piper has had a crush on Brady since she was eleven and now that she’s all grown up she is determined to break out of her shell and go for what she wants. Not everyone is happy about their relationship most of all Red-eyed Rachel, a ghost who is doing everything she can to keep Piper and brady apart. Together they must figure out Rachel’s past to have have a future of their own.

Seeing is Believing is a cute book that is mostly contemporary romance with a little paranormal thrown in to spice things up. This is the third book of a series but it can be read as a stand alone with no problems. The author does a great job of catching up the reader to everything that has happened before and the history between Piper and Brady. I liked the book but I did have a few issues mostly about why in the world Piper could see ghosts.

Piper had a rough childhood, can see ghosts and was bald until she was thirteen and because of that everyone treats her as ‘special’. I felt bad for Piper and was really glad when she stepped out of her comfort zone with Brady. The romance between them is super cute but I would have liked to see more of them getting to know each other then we got. I really wanted to know more about Brady and all of his issues. I did feel at times their relationship was rushed and they needed to get from point A to point B and wrap everything up quickly.

I just didn't get Piper seeing ghosts and why that was important. I think this could have been a very cute contemporary without all the paranormal stuff but I think that the ghosts tied in with the rest of the series since Cuttersville, Ohio is the ‘most haunted town in America’. My other big issue was how Brady talked about all the women from Chicago. As a woman from Chicago I found the jobs to be annoying and made all the women living in the city to be unfeeling and more worried about their careers than having a relationship with Brady. I think it was Brady and not the people of Chicago who was the problem and it really rubbed me the wrong way.

I liked Seeing is Believing but I didn’t love it. I have no idea if there will be more books in the Cuttersville series and I’m not sure I would want to read anymore. Sadly the highlight of the whole book was reading the excerpt for the next Fast Track book, Full Throttle, that I didn’t think we were going to get.

[Sandy M · Rating 4 out of 5]

When I first began reading this book, I had a problem with the hero, Brady. I just didn’t like his actions and attitude, not what a thirty-one-year-old man should act like. That kinda teed me off, because I like older heroes over a lot of the twenty-somethings there’s so much of in romance novels. But you have to give a man just enough at the right time to make him see what’s right, what he needs, and hope to heck he doesn’t screw it up anymore.

Piper Tucker is tired of being different and unique. She sees ghosts. Everywhere. They apparently need her help, but she hasn’t a clue what to do for them. She dreams of being normal, but this latest ghost, Rachel, just won’t let her be. Then there’s Brady, her old crush who never looked at her in the same way. He’s back in town and very hard to resist. Brady is the only one who didn’t think she was a freak because of her otherworldly ability, especially after the childhood she had, finally being dumped by her stepfather on her biological dad’s doorstep. Which was the best thing that ever happened to her. It’s taken a while, but she’s learned to trust and love, though some doubt and vulnerability still remains.

Brady is the laid-back type of guy out for fun. He’s been booted from his job in Chicago, so he headed home to stay with family while he figures out what to do next. He hasn’t painted in years, despite that being a dream when he left home at eighteen. Hoping to stay at his cousin Shelby’s for a bit, he finds Piper there instead, babysitting. Little Piper Tucker is all grown up, and being the typical male, his thoughts zero down to one thing and one thing only – Piper in his bed. He flexes muscles and does all those guy things, hoping she’ll sit up and take notice, and this is where Brady just gets on my nerves. But then he does something sweet and you can’t help but like him – until he does something stupid again.

But after a while, when I see that first change in him, I realize all the growing up he still has to do, and he does it quite admirably by the end of the book. He actually grows into his age, decides to take responsibility for his life, do something meaningful, and love Piper for all he’s worth. Piper has growing to do also, but her growth is more emotional, filling out in her trust of others and living more for herself instead of for others.

The only element that doesn’t work that well for me is the actual ghost story of Rachel and Brady, the first Brady Stritmeyer. It just doesn’t keep the story going that much, a little on the blah side. It feels like something just to keep Brady and Piper occupied when they aren’t arguing or making love. I wish there’d been a little more oomph in that aspect of the story. Other than that, this is still a nice story with fun characters – especially Brady’s grandmother – who live life just like us. I haven’t read Heiress for Hire, the story of Danny, Piper’s father, but I’m now curious about that man and his heroine. I might have to pull it out of the TRB pile soon.

See my complete review at http://www.goodbadandunread.com

[Paige · Rating 2 out of 5]

***Detailed Review***

I thought I would be able to fly through this fairly short book with enjoyment; however that was not the case with SEEING IS BELIEVING. I’ve always had problems with books that follow the children of the previous book characters and I don’t really don’t have a logical reason as to why. I think it’s hard for me to think that those beloved characters from before are older and that their children are now adults and can get down and dirty.

The second was definitely Piper Tucker’s problem. Now 24, she wants her parents, her family and the town to see her as a woman and not the scared, bald little girl she first come to them as. At the same time she struggles with herself at overcoming the limitations she places on herself due to that scared little girl she used to be and learning to not let what others think rule her life.

I was really surprised at how Brady Stritmeyer was treated by his family. Yes, at 31 years old, he hadn’t made such great choices in his life nor reached any level of success, but when he returns home from getting laid off, I was expecting them to be a little more caring towards him.

Instead he’s instantly warned away from Piper after his unannounced visit results in him and Piper staying together. Of course by then it was too late.

Everyone disapproved of what was going on between Piper and Brady. The two of them though, they knew what to expect and were content to spend a few weeks together fixing up a rental house before Brady went back to job search.

Except their time spent together becomes more and more enjoyable, especially as they now have their own place to explore. Piper’s ghost ability adds in a little ghost adventure as they solve a murder mystery on a small scale.

Through the weeks Brady comes to realize how superficial his life was in Chicago and that he wants to take his relationship with Piper to the next level. While he’s gone to pack his things, his decision only solidifies, but it gives Piper’s doubts a chance to grow.

When Brady calls her to meet him, she arrives right as her half-brother’s drugged up girlfriend is offering her services for money.

This dispute is handled fairly quickly as Piper puts together who the girl was. However it makes Piper realize how her past still affects her by making her clingy and not relationship material.

For two months Brady hangs on to the ring he had in his pocket that long ago night and finally gets the chance to show Piper everyone has challenges to overcome, but together they can accomplish them together.

[May Mostly Romance · Rating 2 out of 5]

หยิบเล่มนี้มาอ่านโดยไม่รู้เลยว่า นี่คือเล่มสามในชุด แล้วก็เล่าเรื่องตัวละครเด็กในสองเล่มแรก แต่ก้ไม่เป็นปัญหาอะไรนะคะ เราไม่ได้อ่านเรื่องชุดนี้เรียงกันมา ก็อ่านได้รู้เรื่อง (แม้จะงงไปกับความสัมพันธ์ของคาแร็คเตอร์ในชุดไปบ้าง)

เราหยุดอ่านงานเขียนของเอริน แม็คคาร์ธี้ไปพักใหญ่ๆ เลยนะคะ เรายังไม่ได้อ่านชุด Fast track ของเธอเลยสักเล่ม ระหว่างนั้นก็ได้ยินแต่เสียงวิจารณ์ในทางที่ดีเกี่ยวกับงานของเธอ แต่ไม่รู้ว่า คำวิจารณ์ที่ได้ยินเป็นเรื่องในชุด Fast Track รึเปล่า เราดันมาหยิบเล่มนี้ที่ไม่ได้อยู่ในชุดนั้นมาอ่าน เราเลยรู้สึกผิดหวังไม่น้อย

ปัญหาใหญ่ที่เรามีต่อเล่มนี้ก็คือ การที่พระนางกระโจนไปที่เตียงอย่างรวดเร็ว เรื่องอาจจะปูพื้นมาว่า ไพเพอร์นางเอกแอบหลงรักเบรดี้มาตั้งแต่เด็ก แต่มันก็ดูไม่เข้าท่าเท่าไหรสำหรับเรา ที่เมื่อทั้งคู่กลับมาพบกันอีกครั้งอย่างบังเอิญ เพียงแค่วันเดียว ก็จบลงบนเตียง กับฉากเซ็กส์ที่บรรยายเห็นภาพชัดเจน

เราอาจจะหัวเก่าเกินไปมั้งคะ ไม่ได้เตรียมใจไว้ก่อน เพราะเรื่องนี้ไม่ใช่อีโรติกโรแมนซ์ อีกอย่างอายุของตัวละครในเรื่องก็ไม่ได้มากมายอะไร (อยู่ในวัยยี่สิบต้น ๆ) เราเลยรู้สึกแปลก ๆ ที่ทั้งสองรีบร้อนที่จะมีเซ็กส์กันเร็วแบบนี้ แต่ก็อีกนะคะ อาจจะเป็นไปได้ว่า เพราะอายุของตัวละครน้อยก็ได้ เลยรีบมีเซ็ก��์ เพราะไม่มีความคิดในหัวเท่าไหร มีแต่ฮอร์โมน

ดังนั้นประเด็นนี้จึงเป็นปัญหาสำหรับเรา ไม่แน่ใจว่า สำหรับคนอื่นจะรู้สึกไหมนะคะ

นอกจากประเด็นที่กล่าวไป ก็ยังเป็นความไร้พล็อตของเรื่อง เรื่องเปิดมาว่า นางเอกเป็นผู้มีความสามารถพิเศษ มองเห็นผีได้ เรื่องจึงเปิดประเด็นเกี่ยวกับความลับในอดีตของผีสาวที่สิงอยู่ในบ้านที่นางเอกอาศัยอยู่เล็กน้อย ส่วนพระเอกเป็นศิลปินตกอับ คนที่ขายพรสวรรค์แล้วหันไปทำงานบริษัท แต่ก็ล้มเหลวโดนไล่ออกจากงาน และกลับซบซานมายังบ้านเกิด เราไม่ได้มีปัญหากับพระเอกตกอับนะคะ (เราชอบ และชอบเรื่อง In Sinful Harmony ของแมริลีน แพพพาโนมาก) แต่เราอ่านไปจนจบเรื่อง ก็ไม่ได้รู้สึกว่า มันตอบโจทย์เรื่องราวอะไรเลย ก็แค่ เป็นศิลปินดี ทำงานบริษัทเลว ไม่มีจุดกึ่งกลาง

และเนื่องจากเรื่องไม่มีพล็อตเป็นชิ้นเป็นอัน เราจึงคาดหวังไว้กับความสัมพันธ์ระหว่างพระนาง ซึ่งมันล้มเหลวตั้งแต่เริ่มเรื่อง เมื่อพระเอกนางเอกมีเซ็กส์กันแบบฟ้าผ่า ชนิดเรายังไม่ได้เตรียมใจ ก็ขึ้นเตียงกันแล้ว (จริง ๆ เรื่องแนว contemporary romance ที่เริ่มต้นด้วยการมีความสัมพันธ์ทางเพศของพระนางเลยตั้งแต่บทแรกก็มีอีกหลายเล่มนะคะ แล้วที่เขียนดี ๆ ก็ยังมีอีกเยอะ แต่เล่มนี้ไม่ได้เข้าข่ายนั้นเลย) เราไม่รู้สึกว่า ไพเพอร์และเบรดี้เรียนรู้อะไรจากเหตุการณ์ที่เกิดขึ้นในเล่มนี้ หรือเรียนรู้อะไรจากกันและกัน ทำให้ตลอดทั้งเรื่องเราไม่เชื่อในโรแมนซ์ที่เกิด ไม่เชื่อในตอนจบอย่างมีความสุขของเรื่อง

คะแนนที่ 57

[Cindy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Contemporary paranormal with unprotected sex.

I REALLY wanted to like this one enough to give it 4 stars, but it just came up short for me. This is a Cuttersville story. Cuttersville, if you don't know is the most haunted town in Ohio. This is the 3rd full length novel. There's also 3 short stories about the Murphy sister witches. Bree & Brady's old girlfriend, Abby make appearances in this story. Piper (our heroine) is the daughter of Danny, from "Heiress For Hire", which I remember liking a lot better then this one.

What I didn't like : Brady (our hero) comes across as kind of a douchebag in the beginning. I really didn't need the toenail contemplation sentence, it was pretty weird.
I hated that they jumped right into sex a 1/2 hour after meeting again for the first time in 12 years. It was UNPROTECTED sex!!! Brady is a man whore of the 1st caliber. Piper had no conversation with him about if he'd been tested for STDs or at LEAST USE A CONDOM!!! That's as much on her as it is on him.
The thing in the basement is never mentioned again after the 3rd chapter. I was pretty interested to know what the heck it was (or WHO the heck it was).
The end of the story seemed rushed & ended too quickly.

What I DID like : I often find it hard to articulate what I like about a book. It's so much easier to figure out what I didn't like.
I liked Piper. She's a nice person, sometimes too nice. I like that she makes mistakes, & then owns up to them. She figures out that she still has childhood abuse issues & makes plans to see a therapist.
I did like Brady. After the 4rth chapter he actually acts thoughtful in contemplating his feelings for Piper & his life in shambles.
I like that he believes that Piper can see ghosts & it doesn't freak him out too much. He likes kids & comes to appreciate his family.

So, it was a half & half novel for me. 3 stars is the best I can do!

[Christi Snow · Rating 4 out of 5]

My Review:
There were some things about this story that I never did understand (like why the heck was Piper bald at age 8?) that were never answered and a few other plot details that I didn't understand why they were included, but at the heart of the story is Piper and Brady and I did really like them together.

Piper is the misfit in town. At least that's the way she sees it, but honestly watching the locals interact her, they adore her. But she's always been a bit different. First, there was the way she came to be in Cuttersville after a horrible, abusive first 8 years. That inauspicious beginning would have been bad enough, but she also sees ghosts.

Brady on the other hand is the kid that fit in completely and all he wanted to do was escape. But circumstances have made it that Brady has had to come home and he's shocked to find a VERY grown-up, sexy Piper. The thing that made this book work for me was their undeniable chemistry. There were definite issues with this story, but whenever the author put these two characters on the page together, I loved it.

I loved that Brady is an artist (who's lost his art in the last few years....I wish this part of the story line had been played up a bit more) and that he and Piper bonded when they were younger and he would draw her ghosts from her descriptions. That memory for the two of them seemed so incredibly sweet. I liked that aspect of it. I also LOVED that Piper set out to fulfill one of Brady's fantasies in the apple pasture. Just pure romance there and I loved it!

This was a fun book. It had a small town life persona with a touch of the paranormal. It was interesting. I look forward to more from this series...I'm pretty sure there's going to be more.

I received a complimentary copy of this book in return for an honest review.

[Jay · Rating 2 out of 5]

SEEING IS BELIEVING is Erin McCarthy returning to her Cuttersville ghosts series. This book picks up 14 years since the previous book in the series, HEIRESS FOR HIRE ended. In real time, it's been 6 years since the last book in the series, and McCarthy has written SEEING IS BELIEVING as though readers finished the previous book a mere 6 months ago. I would assume she reread the previous books to get in the zone of writing this one, and perhaps readers should do the same. Even though all of the previous characters are present and we get caught up on what's been happening in their lives since the last story, for me, there was too much of this is what Shelby is up to, and not enough reminding me of exactly who Shelby was again. This took away from my enjoyment of what could have easily have been written as a standalone book, if only the author hadn't assumed I had kept all of these characters in my head for the past 6 years.

Those complaints aside, I didn't really love SEEING IS BELIEVING. In the past I've loved all of McCarthy's contemporaries, but I just didn't believe in the chemistry between these two. I also found it annoying that nothing happened for the majority of the book. This would have been fine if SEEING IS BELIEVING had been a character driven, rather than a conflict driven book, but McCarthy sets up a paranormal/ghost/mystery in the first couple of chapters that is completely dropped until the last 50 pages or so. By then I no longer cared about the ghost and thought it was just filler to keep the page count up and keep Piper and Brady from their happy ending.

Perhaps from a lesser author these things wouldn't have bothered me, but I really do enjoy McCarthy's contemporary books, so the fact that this one was such of a miss for me is really sad.

[Pam · Rating 4 out of 5]

Piper Tucker has lived in Cutterville, Ohio for most of her life and does not plan on leaving. She was dropped off at her father’s place when she was eight years old by her stepfather who did not treat her well and did not want her. It was the first time her biological father knew about her and she has been treated special ever since.

Brady Stritmeyer comes back to town after being away for twelve years. Brady just lost his job and decides he wants to come home for awhile to make some decisions. Piper has had a crush on Brady ever since she can remember but he was years older and left for school and until now never returned. Brady does remember Piper and how she would ask him to sketch pictures of her ghosts as she described them.

Piper has seen ghosts ever since she can remember and Rachel is a ghost that Piper has seen several times throughout her life, she died 150 years ago in an asylum after being accused of killing her fiancé.

Piper and Brady find an old newspaper clipping of the murder that Rachel committed and he finds out that he has the same name as the man Rachel killed. As they spend more time together and get to know each other it seems that Rachel disapproves and gets angry, she even hits Piper over the head with a candlestick. To find out more Piper and Brady dig deeper into the murder and find some interesting things that may shed new light on who killed the old Brady and why Rachel seems to be jealous of Piper and the current Brady.

Seeing is Believing is a wonderfully fun contemporary romance with a twist. I enjoyed the humor, the sweet romance and mystery of a century old murder. A recommend read for me.

[Mnix · Rating 4 out of 5]

Piper Tucker can see ghosts. The only one who knows about her ability is Brady Stritmeyer-the boy she's loved since she was a little girl. Brady left town years ago, but he's come back after losing his job. Seeing Piper again is a surprise to Brady. A pleasant one when they start a passionate affair. But Brady plans to leave again, so Piper has to take what she can get and keep her heart from breaking. Will this city boy find his hometown roots and see that what he's been searching for has been right here all along?

Seeing is Believing is a small-town romance with a twist. Piper's ability to see ghosts adds to her quirky and fun personality. While she's afraid of disappointing her father and of getting her heart broken by getting involved with Brady, the chemistry between them is too strong for her to deny. Brady is sexy and charming, and everyone likes him, but they know he'll probably hurt Piper when, not if, he leaves. Everyone thinks Brady is no good for Piper, except Piper herself. They both have to take a chance to see if what they've started is a forever kind of thing. The ghost story in Seeing is Believing is interesting and entertaining and secondary to the romance. It feels a little rushed at the end. But what happens between Brady and Piper is anything but. Their love story was years in the making.

This book was reviewed by Nannette for Joyfully Reviewed (JR), and was provided by the publisher/author at no cost to JR for the purpose of being reviewed.

[Jessi · Rating 3 out of 5]

I saw a review for this book on Book Binge that intrigued me. Unfortunately, I hadn't read the first two books in the series and I think that was a handicap. Also, the line editor did not do a very good job. There were at least three different instances where I was pulled out of the story as I puzzled over what a sentence could mean. Also, it had a LOT more sex than the cutesy cover might lead you to believe. Like, from page one. Maybe two.
So, Piper Tucker, former bald-headed waif who was dumped on her father's driveway, is now all groweds up and babysitting for her friend's eight-year-olds twins. And who comes a-knocking on the door, needing a place to stay while he regroups from a recent layoff? Why, it's her childhood crush, Brady Stritmeyer. And there's immediate lust. Immediate.
I was disappointed that there wasn't more interaction with the psychic connection that Piper had with the ghosts. And that story, as well as the story of Brady exploring his new place in the world, now that he was laide off, were laid aside for so much of the sexxing. It was a fun story but not as much character development as there could have been.

[Skye · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m kind of sad that this is the ending to the series. I’ve been enjoying Cuttersville so much over the past few weeks. And now it is over… I’ll just have to find another series to sink my teeth into next I suppose. And this was such a great and fitting end to this sweet romance series as well. Piper is so much sweeter and more huggable than the other women featured. And I love that you have watched her and Brady grow up a little over the preceding books.

Although there are ghostly interventions and influences over the other Cuttersville stories, this is the first one in which there is a really intense spiritual storyline. I love the fact that an intense ghost story was mixed in with a beautiful and sweet romance. It’s not a mix that I’ve seen often, and it is one that I both loved and never wanted to put down.

I loved the simplicity and beauty of this sweet romance. And it worked even better, because I read it while I was plagued with a migraine. The easy read meant that it was hard to put down and easy to lose track of time throughout the pages. So easy that I spent an entire morning feeling my heart melt while I was avoiding study. And now I have to get back to it and catch up on the mountain of work that has been sitting there…

[Marie · Rating 1 out of 5]

I couldn't finish this book... Or maybe I did. Apparently, I read this in May 2017 and promptly forgot everything by the time I tried to read it again today, in September. Regardless, I couldn't get past the first sex scene this time around.

There is something about getting to know a character as a child and then cutting straight to adulthood that never really works for me...Or at least very rarely. This book didn't do it for me. It was to jarring to go from little Piper Tucker to a grown Piper who boldly drops her robe to flash a childhood friend in her parents' home.

Even the Hero seemed really shallow and...flat, as far as characters go. Or at the very least, he wasn't all that likeable at all. He ran off from his family and his hometown to pursue a career as an artist, but then didn't make anything of all the incredible opportunities that came to him. All the while, he never even visited back home, just to say hi to all the people who believed in him and pushed him to pursue his dreams.

And I don't know about you, but I would rather read about a manly, alpha hero than about a guy who likes how the woman's passiveness makes him feel like a manly, alpha hero.

[Deb · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 stars. For me, this didn't hold up to it's predecessor Heiress for Hire (or Date with the Other Side for that matter). Piper grew up well, and she should have been proud of herself, and although her insecurities, to an extent, were understandable, the way she handled them in the hand didn't seem to mesh with the forthrightness she had displayed throughout the book. Brady was written as admittedly selfish, but that made it hard to warm to him the way Piper seemed to have no trouble doing. I was glad to see Rachel's storyline resolved, with her innocence believed by most and her seemingly getting sent to the beyond with the original Brady. But the part that truly disappointed me was the breakup at the end of the book. It was unnecessary, and even if Piper thought she needed some space to make some decisions about getting over her past, two months in which she and Brady played phone tag but didn't connect was too much, too long, too silly.

[Kelly at · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a fun book. Although at first I could not figure out why the seeing of ghosts was so important. But in the end I finally learned. Seeing is Believing is kinda a second chance at first love story. Piper has been in love with Brady since she was a little girl. But Brady never really saw her as that. But after so much time apart and Brady’s return to town that all changes.

Only problem. No one thinks Brady is good enough for Piper. But when a mystery surrounding a murder many years ago through Piper and Brady together they both will do some growing up and learn that sometimes it is best not to listen to anyone except your own heart.

I really did enjoy this book even if I am having a hard time writing this review.

Disclaimer:
I received a complimentary copy of the book in exchange for an honest review. This review is my own opinion and not a paid review.