The Reason is You

by Sharla Lovelace

In the small town of Bethany, Texas, Dani never fit in. Being different pushed her to the fringes of society, and even leaving town for two decades didn’t stop the talk. Now she’s back, trying to settle in with her daughter and have a normal life. But the men in her life might not make it that simple. First, there’s her old friend Alex. He’s mischievous, sexy, and still hot enough to melt her shoes. And he’s a ghost—a real one, who’s always been there for her when she most needed him. Of course, there are actual men in Bethany, too. Like Jason with his hard body. Dani seems to have a habit of running into him—literally. Now she must decide between a man who long ago touched her heart and a man she can actually touch…

Genres: Romance, Paranormal, Fantasy, Contemporary, Ghosts, Contemporary Romance, Mystery

320 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published April 3, 2012

About the author

Sharla Lovelace is the Bestselling and Award Winning Author of five standalone novels, the exciting Heart of the Storm series, and the fun and sexy Charmed in Texas series, all featuring sexy small town love stories with heat and humor. Being a Texas girl through and through, she's proud to say she lives in Southeast Texas with her husband, a souped up golf cart, and two crazy mutts.

Sharla is available by Skype for book club meetings and chats, and loves connecting with her readers! See her website www.sharlalovelace.com for a complete book listing, info on upcoming events, and to sign up for her newsletter.

You can follow her as @sharlalovelace on Twitter, Facebook, and Goodreads.

Reviews

[Terry (Ter05 TwiMoms/ MundieMoms) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Not a lot of books make me cry. They almost do but not quite real tears. This one did it twice. I set it down crying, but it ended beautifully. It's about a ghost, a woman and her daughter, a very nice real life man, some nice and some not so nice side characters, and about love. There is a bit of the reincarnation theme in some of it and the idea that dead people don't all cross over right away. All of that is tied up in love too.

I should explain why I read this book in the first place. I was a huge fan of the TV show Moonlight. I LOVED Mick St John (played by Alex O'Loughlin) I haven't watched CBS since they canceled the show after one short season. When a friend from the "Save Moonlight" days sent me an e-mail with a link to an article http://books.usatoday.com/happyeveraf... I was intrigued and ordered the book. I had no trouble picturing Alex in the book as Mick in the show which made this even more special. When Dani walked out of the house and saw him standing leaning against her car all dressed in black - that was it!

But I am ahead of myself here. I don't want to reveal too much, but Dani is the 41 year old mother of a 16 year old daughter, Riley, and is a single mom who has lost her job and had to come home to live with her dad and find a job in this small, according to Riley, podunk town on the coast. Dani had a very rough childhood as her mother died of an aueurysm just minutes after she was born. Dani can see and talk to dead people. As a child she didn't realize others could not until the other kids made fun of her for talking to herself. She became the brunt of their jokes and cruelty. When she was a teen she was led away from a bad situation by Alex, a hot guy of around 31 (Moonlight reference)and who just happened to be a ghost. Alex was her only friend for some very unhappy years, and then she left for college. She had long had a crush on Alex but the age difference kept her from ever telling him. She thought maybe he would come with her or she would see him when she visited home, but he was just gone. Dani fell in love with a man who left her when she got pregnant and who apparently had faked his entire identity. But she had a good job in Dallas and raised her daughter until she was laid off and no jobs were to be found. Which is where this story begins over 20 years later.

Alex is just THERE. And Riley can see and talk to him! Dani is torn about talking to her Riley and explaining that Alex is a ghost, puzzled by some photos and notes she finds that her mother wrote, finding her way with her dad, and having to deal with her new job - in the local BAIT SHOP. Alex is there and now that she is not an innocent teen and they are both "legal" their relationship is not the same. But they can not touch each other. She is alive. He is a ghost. Their relationship actually sizzles in spite of it. Then there is Dani's boss, Jason, who she meets when she crashes into the back of his car. She is drawn to Jason, but there is Alex and so many other things going on in her life. I just am not going to do spoilers here but while the reader gets acquainted with this situation, there are many mysteries that you only start learning in the last 1/3 or so of the book. The story starts getting really serious and truly beautiful as Dani falls for Jason but knows the true love of her life is the beautiful ghost in the black coat. One who is very very real to her. She is holding so many secrets and is torn so many ways. The real truth about Alex is not revealed until very late in the story - it's all worth a few tears.

This book is not YA. It is told in the first person by a grown woman who let's say knows what it is to want a man. She is very real, she is afraid to love, but is very lonely. It's a really good tale and different than anything I have read. I recommend it if you want a beautiful story that is a quick and enjoyable read. If you happened to be a Mick St John fan it is even better. (maybe quick because I did not want to stop reading)

[Melissa Cutler · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a wonderful, magical book. I loved every minute of it and can't wait for Lovelace's next book!

[Mayra M · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5

[Maria · Rating 5 out of 5]

Single mom Dani returns to her hometown of Bethany, Texas after losing her corporate job in Dallas, a fact her sixteen year old daughter Riley isn't too thrilled with. Dani moves in with her father and takes a job at the local bait store. If that doesn't sound dismal enough, Dani's past comes back to haunt her. Literally. Dani sees ghosts. She talks to them too. And they talk back.

Growing up, Dani was an outsider. Now, at 40, she's still an outsider. Her best friend, Alex, is a ghost who's been dead for 40 years. Dani first began seeing Alex when she was a teenager. Their relationship is sweet and sexy and mysterious. Things get complicated when Dani realizes that her teenage daughter can see ghosts too. Plus, there's a budding romance with a real flesh and blood living man--Dani's boss, Jason, who's got some baggage of his own.

I absolutely loved this novel. I especially loved the scenes between Dani and Riley, which feel so real. The ending had me sniffling, but was totally satisfying!

[Poppy*Reads*Romance · Rating 3 out of 5]

First off, I want to stress that Ms. Lovelace's writing is flawless. However, whereas I loved and felt connected to the characters of Don't Let Go, I just couldn't quite get into The Reason is You. The story doesn't allow itself to fit into a single genre, which made it confusing for me. It's not chick lit, it's not paranormal, it's not a contemporary romance, it's not fantasy and it's not a mystery either. There are too many characters (and most of them I didn't even like) and I don't get to know any of them really well, with the exception of Alex. Dani's whining became irritating and frankly, she should have grown a backbone years ago. Unfortunately, the romance doesn't kick in until the last quarter of the book (as does most of the other "action") which is way too late for me and sadly, I barely got acquainted with Jason.

The storyline is certainly original but unfortunately it lost its impact in the execution.

[Michelle [Helen Geek] · Rating 3 out of 5]

08/13/2014 --

Overall Rating = 3 Stars
Book Cover / Book Blurb / Book Title = 3 / 4 / 4 = 3.5 Stars
Writer’s Voice = 3 Stars
Character Development = 3.5 Stars
Story Appreciation = 3.5 Stars
Ending = 3 Stars
Worth the Chili = 2 Stars -- [$5.99 on Amazon]
Smexy [HEAT] Rating = Mild
334 pages

This was the author I vacationed with in New England. I really enjoyed this one, but felt the concept was better than the actual execution. She fails to pull deep emotion out in me and I'm easy. I like her stories, but they don't touch me like she intends them too. I do like her enough to read others.

Too damned expensive though -- took points off for that.

Happy Reading!

[Roni Loren · Rating 5 out of 5]

Full disclosure: I know this author.
God's honest truth: This book was fantastic. Like, didn't have time to read but finished it in two days because I couldn't stop fantastic. :) The charm of the small town life, the hilarious voice of the heroine, the richly drawn secondary characters, the depth of all the relationships--plus a hot hero AND a hot ghost--seriously, what more could you want? I felt drawn into the world and the story and am almost sad I read it so fast because it means I have to leave it now. I'm officially a fan girl. :)

[Elizabeth Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow! I have never read a book like it! I had to finish right away!!!!

[Dorine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Recommended Read! This review is also posted on my blog, the TBR MOUNTAIN RANGE. Come for a visit :)

Having the ability to write this good should be illegal, or revered somehow. Just when I thought I knew what was going to happen next in THE REASON IS YOU, author Sharla Lovelace made sure I knew that she was the one in control of my emotions!

I received THE REASON IS YOU for free through Goodreads First Reads. Had I known this book would be this good, I would have read it a long time ago. I should have suspected, given how much I loved Ms. Lovelace’s second book, BEFORE AND EVER SINCE. But, being skeptical, I always wonder if an author can hit one outside of the park over and over again. Not this time. I have proof that Sharla Lovelace’s talent is golden, and I’m forever grateful for being able to experience her gift. Both books will be part of my rare rereads in the future.

Dani Shane has experienced disappointments in her life but nothing is harder than going home at forty-years-old, feeling like the alien that everyone had always thought that she was, back to square one. It’s even harder when she has to bring her teenage daughter along for the ride. A single mother and having lost her job, Dani has no choice than to move them back to her hometown to live with her dad.

Being home with her dad feels good, if she could just say the same for the rest of the small-minded people who live in this town. Now she has to face them as a strong woman who doesn’t want her daughter to experience life under the same small-minded scrutiny. Especially when she realizes that her daughter is more like her than she ever imagined.

Dani has many secrets. The fact that she can see ghosts is just the beginning…

Although I sensed some of the surprises coming in this book, how they were revealed and the depth that they went into emotionally was breathtaking. I was completely mesmerized by the characters, taken in by their laughter and often sarcastic look at the world around them, a slow jaunt into their lives that soon becomes a whirlwind of feelings. Sometimes in awe, sometimes in shock, and sometimes in sorrow, the love found within these pages is an amazing journey.

Dani is quirky and her daughter suits her perfectly. Their banter is often laugh-out-loud funny and their relationship with Dani’s father is just as charming. Real-to-life in a way that makes the characters jump off the page and into your heart, as if they’re someone you know. None of them are perfect, which makes them great characters to connect with.

Following Dani’s journey to a happy-ever-after is gut-wrenching at times, but once you get started, you can’t bear to stop reading until you know how this book will end. Why do we read fiction? To be taken on a journey that we can’t quite imagine ourselves is my answer. There are many great books that do that, week after week I find them, but then I found “the one”. I can’t fathom for the life of me how anyone can write a book this good. It’s beyond conception when every layer is leading to a climax so completely unexpected and so good, that you just sit there stupefied, wondering how you were so sucked into it that the world you’re experiencing plays back like a movie in your head.

THE REASON IS YOU is the one book that everyone should read because it touches on the basic emotion within our lives. What is love, really? And, what risks would you take in the name of love?

After gasping through so many emotional pages, witness to a life that had always been leading to this very moment, I realized that I had just experienced a master storyteller. Bravo, Sharla Lovelace!

I’m not saying anything else. I want each reader to be just as surprised as I was—do yourself a favor and experience this romantic story for yourself. It’s beyond exceptional.

[Diana · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have to start by saying that Sharla Lovelace is going on my auto-buy list. Wow! I loved this book. THE REASON IS YOU is an impressive debut novel about love and loss, family bonds and family secrets, redemption and starting over. Oh, yeah, and also ghosts!

The last place Dani Shane wanted to end up was back in her hometown of Bethany. But that’s exactly what happened when she lost her job at a Dallas design firm. She and her teenage daughter, Riley, had little choice but to move to the sleepy river town where Dani takes a job at the local bait shop.

Growing up in Bethany, Dani was treated like an outcast, and twenty years later, nothing has changed. Dani has the ability to see and talk to ghosts, and only a small handful of people know her secret. Most of the town considers her a “freak” who talked to people who weren’t there.

Dani becomes very concerned with she sees Riley talking to Alex, her best friend from her teenage years, and also a ghost. This is the first time that Dani noticed Riley shared her special “gift,” and she is scared for her daughter. Dani only wants Riley to have a normal life, something she never had. Dani’s situation gets more complicated when she falls for her new boss, Jason, a man whose emotional baggage rivals her own. And, Dani finds out that dead-for-40-years Alex’s connection to her goes so much deeper than what she thought.

Ms. Lovelace has an amazing voice, and I loved her writing style. I was completely absorbed in this story, and I felt like I was wrapped up in the lives of the characters too. At times this was a heartbreaking story, and it definitely stirred up my emotions. (I shouldn’t have read the last few chapters in public! *tears*) Though, it wasn’t all sadness; it was also funny and uplifting, with witty dialogue, like when Jason and Dani would playfully argue about who had the biggest sob story from their pasts. I also loved Dani’s sassy friend Miss Olivia. She had me grinning many times. The characters were intriguing (both living and dead), and the dynamics between them were beautifully written. I think the book wrapped up with the perfect, bittersweet ending. I would highly recommend THE REASON IS YOU to fans of romantic women’s fiction.

[Kat ~ Forever Book Lover ♥ · Rating 5 out of 5]

You can find this entire review and an interview with the author at Forever Book Lover

I loved the blurb, I think that is what caught my interest, but it was the writer's style and storytelling that kept my attention all the way through until the last page. And even then, I said I wanted more!! At first I didn't understand the cover, but after reading the book, it is just perfect!! I am not going to give it away, you must read the book!!

It started out a bit slow, but I now understand that the author was setting the stage, building the plot and the characters. I honestly don't really know where to start, there was so much in this book. I was so torn between Alex and Jason. Oh my the tears I shed when the decision was made for her. Oh how I fell in love with Alex and my heart sadden for all he lost and what was in his reach, but really wasn't. Their "first" kiss was electrifying.

This book was emotional charged, I cheered, I laughed and cried. I loved the discovery period between Jason and Dani. I loved the relationship and honest conversation Dani had with her daughter, Riley. You don't want to miss Miss Olivia, she is a hoot! This story touched a upon "bullying", being an outsider, about love lost and love found and finally acceptance.

One single perfect white rose, lying in front of the cake. Jason is the second and greatest love of my life, my future, my best friend. He's my everything now. Alex gave me that gift.

I hope I did this book justice in my review. I almost cried writing this, remembering all the potent scenes between the characters. I quite honestly will read this again, it is a must read book. Bravo to Sharla Lovelace for having a hit with this one!! All I can say is follow the tour, know that I am not along with my thoughts and buy the book when it is available. I debated between a 4.5 and a 5, in the end it deserved all 5 hearts!!

[Lisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have never read this author before. She was giving away copies of this book for honest reviews and the blurb sounded interesting to me so i signed up to get one. It came in the mail a couple days ago and I immediately started reading. I only made it to page 86 the first night. Got a late start so that's pretty good for me in a couple hours of reading time. I was drawn in pretty quickly. I don't even know where to start. This was a such a different book for me. Book starts out with Dani moving back home with her teenage daughter. Same old people same old thing. People never seemed to change. Growing up was difficult for her because starting as a young child she could see dead people. Talk to them and she didn't realize for a long while no one else could see them which made her a freak in the eyes of her peers. When Dani is 16 she meets Alex a man who died the day she was born and he came her best friend. She doesn't realize that at the time but in present time she does and along with that a lot of other things start coming to light. Dani also finds out her daughter can see Alex and other dead people too. No she fears for what will happen with her daughter if people find out. In the midst of all this she starts working in a bait shop and meets and falls for the owner Jason. Who has some issues of his own. There is a very complicated love story or two going on and you can't help but feel grief for the characters and want things to work out for everyone. This book is funny,and quirky and will just draw you right through. The story and writing make you feel so many different things from laughter to tears. You start it and don't want to put it down which is my favorite kind of book.

[Lindsey · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is seriously amazing. I was pleasantly surprised how much I enjoyed it as I didn't expect it to be like books I normally read. It was much closer to what I'm used to reading than I thought. Description abounds in this book, and I loved every word of it. There were several laugh-out-loud funny parts and several crying-like-a-baby parts. It was complete perfection. Dani and Riley are a HILARIOUS duo. They both have great senses of humor that come across vividly in the story.

I read a review somewhere that said that after page 75 it got really interesting, and I completely agree. I was reading about a chapter a night...until I got to page 75. Goodbye midnight, 1am, and 2am. I didn't go to sleep until 230 in the morning because I HAD TO KNOW WHAT HAPPENED. The ending did not disappoint at all.

I want to add a slight clarification because I like to be transparent in my reviews. I did have a tiny bit of an advantage in this book because I know the author. She is the sister of my uncle (not my aunt). This doesn't affect my review of this book, however. We've never spent too much time together. However, it was nice knowing her, and her dad who was the white-bearded-fishing-hat-wearing Nathaniel. It was also nice having references from the area in which I live even though a lot of things were fictionalized (like the town Bethany in general.) I don't think I've ever read a book that took place in (even a fictionalized version) of my little corner of the world.

Would I read this again? Absolutely. It had all the elements of a book I could read and read and read.

[Paula Phillips · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow , this book was amazing. I have to admit I was a little wary as whether I would actually enjoy it or not as I picked it up because , shall I admit ...... I loved the cover. It wasn't until I read the first chapter and was introduced to them that I started to enjoy the story. The Reason is You follows the life of single mother Dani and her teenage daughter Riley, Dani has lost her job and now with nowhere else to go lugs Riley and herself back to her hometown of Bethany. Dani left Bethany as soon as she can due to one big issue that unfortunately followed her everywhere , she can see and speak to the dead and one in particular has always had her in knots- Alex. Dani has always wondered and hoped that the gift skipped Riley until she sees Riley talking to Alex and soon Dani will have to explain to Riley what's happening and what will start to follow. Dani hopes that life for Riley isn't what she experienced but when Riley starts to get harrassed , she will soon discover that her daughter does not back down to anyone. As the novel goes along , we also read as Dani and Alex's friendship increases and passions between the living and the dead start to spark. What happens though when Dani discovers the how Alex died and the true reason she feels so close to him ? Will Dani feel betrayed when she discovers the truth of why she is in the living and not in the land of the dead ?
An amazing tale of romance and love in both the lands of the living and the dead and a tale of how strong family bonds can form when the going gets tough and there is no-one else to turn too.

[R.C. Matthews · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a fascinating story that really made me think long and hard after reading it. I tend to prefer upbeat stories that make me laugh so I was a little worried about reading this because the first chapter that was free on-line included the heroine celebrating a serious "pity party" about how awful her circumstances were. But I read fantastic reviews and I was intrigued by the blurb. I'm so glad I gave it a try. The story starts out slow (which is why I gave it a 4 star rating instead of 5 star rating) but man, when it picks up it will knock your socks off. The author does a great job of mixing in humor throughout the book and the heroine is quirky but loveable. The mother / daughter relationship and mother / dad relationship are wonderful. The author tackled some really difficult concepts that could have bordered on creepy (for example, her relationship with Alex started when the heroine was a teenager but Alex was around a 30 years old ghost)but she wrote them in a way that was simply beautiful and touching. This is such a heart wrenching story in so many ways and really shows how friendship is the main foundation of a loving relationship. This story could have ended many different ways - and quite honestly - I would have been happy with any direction the author took it - including the ending she chose. Overall it is just a wonderful story that will make you laugh and cry and want to read it all over again.

[Barbara White · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the perfect beach read. A+ escapism from the stress of everyday life! I loved the characters, especially the sassy teenage daughter. Dani, the heroine, made me smile constantly. Even though she's an outcast in her home town, she never sees herself as a victim. I fell for her from the first line: "Starting over sucks, but at forty it sucks the life out of you." Add two gorgeous guys and a heartbreaking twist, and it's hard to put this novel down!

[Megan Fall · Rating 5 out of 5]

I need more stars!! I cried and cried reading this one, but I loved it soooo much. I really had a hard time choosing who to like better, Alex or Jason. I'm glad it ended so good, but I loved Alex and bawled like a baby at the end. I actually had to get a second box of Kleenex. Sharla is definitely a new favourite author of mine.

[Leigh Stuart · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sweet and haunting, this author's voice flows effortless from the page straight to the heart. This is a story of redemption, of accepting the past for what it is and having the courage to move forward. I don't usually cry, and this one got more than a couple of tears.

[Hmr28 · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was excellent. It reminded me in some ways of Pamela Morsi's contemporaries. Funny, touching and sweet. I'll read everything I can find by this author now, she's a keeper!

[Jessica Faust · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fans of Sarah Addison Allen have finally found a new author to read.

[Naomi · Rating 5 out of 5]

WOW! I'm so glad I own this book. :) Can't wait to lend it out and tell others about this debut author. An amazing read!

[Melissa T · Rating 5 out of 5]

*I received a copy of this book via Goodreads Giveaways*

This is a story that pulls you in. I was worried it might be slightly boring at first, a mom who has to go back to living in the town she grew up in because she lost her job.

But there are definitely twists and turns that made this story anything but boring. Dani, the main character can see, and talk to ghosts. And her best friend happens to be one.

When you read on to find out why she and Alex are so drawn to each other, it's unexpected. And it gave me chills.

There's more than a fair share of high school drama in the book. Both from past and present generations. Though it seems that Riley's (Dani's daughter) generation handles it with more grace than their parents did.

There's a bit of romance between Dani and her boss that feels a bit cliche. I probably only think that because I was rooting for her and Alex, even though it wasn't a possibility.

There are some intense scenes involving sex, so if that makes you squeamish, then this bok isn't for you.

There's also a reference to Charmed, which gave me a little chuckle, but as a whole the book left me with a few tears. Such a good read.

[Sara · Rating 2 out of 5]

I need to stop reading romances when I’m unable to suspend my disbelief in love and happy endings. I enjoyed the ghosty aspect, and the family dynamic with her father and daughter. I hate love triangles. And I expected Dani, as a successful ad exec away for 20 years, not to be pole axed anytime an old high school acquaintance was mean to her - she should have had a backbone by then. Jason was hit/miss for me - moody inconsistent men don’t attract me at any time. The writing and tempo were good, but overall this was just ok for me.

[Pauline Reardon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Heartbreaking

This might have been a debut novel for Sharla Lovelace but not for me, I've read several of her books before. This one, however, was totally different, unexpected and now it's finished, totally unforgettable. Love the concept of the spirit world and the subject was beautifully handled as were all the characters and the way they interacted with each other. Thoroughly good read and highly recommended.

[Sharla Roschewski · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Love Story Beyond

What happens when the body dies and Love isn’t ready to let go? This is it. Spooky spectacular but what do people mean when they say they’ll love forever? A tragedy for a family carries love further. Strong characters, a group of stinkers, and so it goes... Loved it, Sharla, from another Sharla.

[Jamie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dani Shane has been laid off from her job in Dallas. With no other options left to her, she moves with her sixteen year old daughter, Riley, back to her father’s house in the small town of Bethany. Dani is less than thrilled about the move, especially when her oldest friend suddenly appears at her car while she’s unpacking.

Alex looks exactly the same, with his dashing good looks and black clothes, and Dani is shocked to see him. Particularly when she notices Riley talking to him . . . because Alex is a ghost. Dani was the joke of the town when she was growing up because she talked to people who weren’t there. Ghosts only she could see. And now Riley could see them, too.

Then there’s the new owner of the bait shop, Jason Miller, who is also her new boss. His hard body is graced with a handsome face, and Dani can’t seem to avoid running into him . . . literally. When she discovers his softer side, she begins developing feelings for him. But he’s new in town, and the skeletons--or ghosts--in her closet are bound to come out at some point.

Dani has to face her past while trying to build her future. And, she has to help her daughter learn how to deal with her new “gift” before she becomes the next town joke.


I didn’t read the back cover before starting The Reason is You. My first impression of the author’s style was the dedication to her family. It was poetic and flowing, and made me eager to get to the first chapter. But, the acknowledgments came before that coveted first word. They were cryptic, written for the minds of those they recognized, but they were also inspiring for this aspiring writer, confirming my characters loosely based on real people, and encouraging participation in conferences for the connections and support earned.

I would say that the book started off a bit slow, but at the same time the author throws the reader into the story from the beginning. No back story is needed at this point because the main character is starting over. Lovelace does a great job of pulling the reader in quickly, too. I was hooked directly after meeting Alex, and before page 8.

The back story that is needed is filled in at just the right pace. We learn about Alex out of necessity because of Riley’s newfound ability to see and converse with spirits. We learn about Dani’s history with the town of Bethany as the people from her adolescence begin to trickle into the story through her new job at the bait store, a place everyone seems to need for one thing or another in such a small town.

Throughout the story more is discerned about Dani’s history with Alex, eventually culminating in a revelation that perhaps Dani should have seen earlier. But, when you have that much crap going on in your life, maybe putting puzzle pieces together becomes tedious and trivial. After all, if Alex would just come out and say what he wants Dani to figure out, she wouldn’t have to worry about it. Until the secret is revealed, of course. At which point her world goes a bit topsy-turvy again.

The sexual tension between Dani and Alex is palpable. The fact that they are so obviously in love and yet unable even to touch draws out the tension until it feels like it would snap in a light breeze. Delicious proof that sex scenes aren’t needed if it’s written with finesse.

Dani grows tremendously through the story. She begins to stand up for herself instead of crawling into the safety of her psyche. She also comes to terms with her gift with the help of a photo album filled with pictures her mother had taken in her youth. It’s easy to sympathize with Dani. She starts out a meek woman, who, by the end, becomes a strong person who stands up for herself and others.

Sharla Lovelace does a wonderful job of telling this story. Her style is easy to read, and I love her metaphors and descriptions. There were a couple places where I was confused by her description of a person or place--meeting Miss Olivia stands out in my memory--but, after reading through the page and going back to reread the description, it made sense. She is very creative in the way she uses the character's memory of a person or place to describe it. And she doesn’t use typical adjectives for her descriptions, filling them with the flavor of the person or location. I was able to watch the story play out in my mind’s eye like I was there as it happened.

While there was the typical romance novel wedding ending, it lacked the speed that annoys me with other romance stories. Without giving a time frame, Lovelace makes it clear that the wedding didn’t happen two weeks or two months after the characters met, that they were given time to get to know each other before saying their vows.

And here is my favorite thing about the ending . . . . . . No sequel! This is so rare in any genre these days. I honestly couldn’t tell you the last time I picked up a book that was a “stand alone” story. It was incredibly refreshing to not have to wait for the next book to find out “what now.”

All in all, a well written, well told story that I highly recommend.

[Virginia Markhart · Rating 2 out of 5]

I struggled with this book. The concept of talking to people who have “crossed over” is foreign to me and uncomfortable. Parts of the book were humorous and very very good. But for the most part, I barely tolerated the story.

[Desiree · Rating 5 out of 5]

I''m a fucking wreck right now.

[Gretchen · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5

[Julia Amante · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well written book with interesting characters. Some parts were a little weird for me (talking to a ghost), but only because this is not the kind of book I typically read.