Gypsy

Traveling Girls #1

by Cynthia Harrison

Laura Berman has special gifts for use in another realm, but she accepts her fate. With the help of her otherworldly guide, she builds her skills to include traveling through time and space. In collaboration with Romany cop Nate Haywood, she is able to access even more power. Nate doesn't rely on the old superstitions to do his job, but Laurel tempts him in more ways than one. When an anti-Gypsy campaign in their town gets ugly, they work together to solve the hate crimes, forming a bond that seems unbreakable. But will Nate's aversion to Laurel's powers be the end of them?

216 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 4, 2014

About the author

Reader, writer, and former professional book critic for RT Book Reviews and Publishers Weekly. This is why I only give 3, 4 or 5 star reviews. I do not finish reading books that fall below that level. Life is too short to read bad books!

Reviews

[Rosie Amber · Rating 5 out of 5]

Laurel Berman has been travelling whilst asleep, helping poor souls pass over as they die. She's been helped by a wise boy called Ryan who she meets in a place called Paradise Fields.

Laurel reads her Tarot cards which help her in life. Her mother reads Tea leaves and Laurel and her sister have always believed they are part Romany. They live in Westport, Washington and had their house burnt down as part of a hate campaign against Romany people. She meets Nate Haywood a cop, asking for her help to begin a re-housing support group for victims of the fire. He suspects Vince Vale of the arson attacks, but he has no proof.

When Ann is raped one night, Laurel uses her powers to stop the attacker murdering her sister. She knows who this man is, but who will believe her when she cannot prove she was at the scene? Nate believes her and they find a Romany connection.

The spirits help Laurel fulfil her previously agreed destiny. She finds a lost child who will bring families together and melt hearts while business partner Sibyl cooks up a great money-raising event. Habitat for Humanity reels Vince Vale closer, but he has his own secrets which place Laurel in grave danger in Paradise fields.

I thought this was a great read, it mixed mystery with spiritualism and romance in a way which really worked.

[Bodicia · Rating 4 out of 5]

With the help of her guide Ryan, Laurel is growing into her gifts and is able to travel through time and witness an attack on her sister although she is unable to stop it. When Little Bohemia, the town’s Romany enclave is burnt down killing three of the residents in suspicious circumstances, she meets Nate, the local Romany policeman. He is on the case to try and help those involved but his background makes him nervous of trusting Laurel and her gifts. Ryan leads Laurel to a little girl, Tali, in the forest and she takes her home with her presuming the child is lost but in fact Tali has a surprising background which will pull at both Laurel and Nate’s hearts.

Cynthia Harrison blends paranormal and romance effortlessly in this novel which highlights issues faced by a minority group. I found the character of Nate to be rather difficult to like at times but his personality is true to the culture he was brought up in and the way he acts brings a definite realism to the story. A good choice for an easy and enjoyable weekend read.