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Chasing Shadows
Avery Smith, who returned to her hometown of Bethel Springs after time spent away in the big city, is finally beginning to absorb the culture shock and settle into her job at the local Sheriff's Department. The pay's not great, there's a decided lack of decent coffee and available women in town, but those are sacrifices she's willing to make to in order to be closer to her aging and increasingly eccentric grandmother. When the discovery of a dead body in the county coincides with the arrival of attractive but irritating tv personality Cameron Reinhart, Avery has to put aside her feelings of skepticism and disbelief when Cam claims to have seen Avery's murder victim -- after she was murdered. After the death of her great aunt, Cameron Reinhart has to take time off from her successful television Ghost Hunting show, Chasing Shadows, to settle her aunt's estate. The last thing she expected was to quickly reconnect with an old friend -- or to keep running afoul of the person she hopelessly crushed on back in high school. Cam has always just pretended to see ghosts on tv, but when her friend is found murdered, she suddenly starts to see them for real.Together, the two women must navigate a confusing maze of romance, murder, and intrigue as Avery tries to find a killer and both women fight their growing attraction to each other.
344 pages, Paperback
First published September 22, 2019
118 people are currently reading
493 people want to read
About the author
Lila Bruce
16 books62 followersLila Bruce makes her home in the mountains of North Georgia, where the air is sweet and the summers are hot. Growing up in a military family, she traveled extensively as a child, living everywhere from Maine to Mississippi, Germany to Georgia, and a few parts in between. Lila loves to read and write contemporary lesbian romances, and is a sucker for a happy ending. When not writing, she spends her days adding to her ever-growing pack of basset hounds, consuming unhealthy amounts of coffee, and dreaming of the day she's able to leave her evil day job behind.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 80 reviews
October 23, 2020
This was a lot of fun. This is one of those books that my friends keep recommending to me because they know I love paranormal reads. I’ve actually lost track of how many people told me I would like this… well all of you were right! This was an amusing read and another great pick for Halloween.
There are some wonderful reviews already for this book so I’ll keep this to a few things that I think could be important for potential readers. While this book is a paranormal book with ghosts, and is a tiny bit creepy, it actually has a lot of humor in it. Two of my favorite characters, crazy grandma Mildred and her sidekick for stirring up trouble Jane, produced a lot of smiles and even a few laughs from me. These two zany characters really helped to keep the book feeling much lighter than it could have been, especially since the mains are trying to solve a murder mystery.
I would not call this enemies to lovers but it definitely was annoyance to lovers when it came to the romance. I liked the romance but it wasn’t quite on the level I was hoping for. I needed more of them mooning over each other, more thoughts about their attraction because that inner angst seemed to be missing. I thought they made a cute couple and there was some chemistry and flirting going on that I liked, but I just missed that special spark. Ghosts, a murder mystery, and crazy septuagenarians is a lot to stick in a book so I think the romance was put more on the backburner which is understandable.
On the good side, I enjoyed the writing. I’m surprised to mention but this is my first book by Bruce so I wasn’t sure what to expect. I’m happy to say that I liked her style and her ability to easily hook me into the story. I was in after the first page and I ended up reading it in one sitting. The pace was really nice and steady and I felt like I flew through the book. While this might have been my first book by Bruce, it won’t be my last.
Overall this was a really enjoyable read. I would recommend this to people looking for a good Halloween read but want something not very scary. The humor and wacky moments do give this book a warmer feel than you might expect. This is currently available on Kindle Unlimited which makes it a bit of a steal.
There are some wonderful reviews already for this book so I’ll keep this to a few things that I think could be important for potential readers. While this book is a paranormal book with ghosts, and is a tiny bit creepy, it actually has a lot of humor in it. Two of my favorite characters, crazy grandma Mildred and her sidekick for stirring up trouble Jane, produced a lot of smiles and even a few laughs from me. These two zany characters really helped to keep the book feeling much lighter than it could have been, especially since the mains are trying to solve a murder mystery.
I would not call this enemies to lovers but it definitely was annoyance to lovers when it came to the romance. I liked the romance but it wasn’t quite on the level I was hoping for. I needed more of them mooning over each other, more thoughts about their attraction because that inner angst seemed to be missing. I thought they made a cute couple and there was some chemistry and flirting going on that I liked, but I just missed that special spark. Ghosts, a murder mystery, and crazy septuagenarians is a lot to stick in a book so I think the romance was put more on the backburner which is understandable.
On the good side, I enjoyed the writing. I’m surprised to mention but this is my first book by Bruce so I wasn’t sure what to expect. I’m happy to say that I liked her style and her ability to easily hook me into the story. I was in after the first page and I ended up reading it in one sitting. The pace was really nice and steady and I felt like I flew through the book. While this might have been my first book by Bruce, it won’t be my last.
Overall this was a really enjoyable read. I would recommend this to people looking for a good Halloween read but want something not very scary. The humor and wacky moments do give this book a warmer feel than you might expect. This is currently available on Kindle Unlimited which makes it a bit of a steal.
December 23, 2019
4.5*
Lila Bruce is the queen of opening paragraphs. I mean, seriously, I haven’t read all her books yet, but the opening of Little Lies was excellent, the start of Love Bites was hilarious, and here’s how Chasing Shadows begins: “For a dead woman, Loralyn Baker looked pretty damned good”. If that first sentence doesn’t make you want to keep reading, I don’t know what will.
After her parents died, Avery Smith came back to Bethel Springs, Alabama, to live with her grandma Mildred and Jane, her grandma’s best friend, or, rather, her sidekick, since Mildred is always up to some mischief. At the start of the book, Mildred and Jane are set on getting their hands on Laralyn Baker’s peach cobbler recipe. They’ll stop at nothing, not even searching the dead woman’s body on the eve of the funeral service. As a police detective, all their shenanigans often put Avery in difficult positions.
Cameron – Cam – Reinhart was Loralyn’s great-niece and she’s in town to settle her aunt’s affairs. Avery may not have noticed her as a high school student with a crush on the older girl but she definitely notices her now. Despite their meeting in less than favourable circumstances, they end up getting along quite well. Cam is now some sort of TV celebrity, with her own show and fans. Years ago, she became a ghost hunter by accident and jumped on the occasion to leave a dead-end job. Ghosts don’t exist but who cares?
Until they start talking to her…
I know I’m saying this quite often now but I didn’t expect to laugh so much. Blame it on the old ladies… I always thought Robin Alexander wrote the best snarky old ladies but Mildred can definitely hold her own.
I loved Avery and Cam too. Avery is a sweetheart, no wonder Cam has been smitten with her forever. She’s smart, patient and kind. Cam seems more cynical but her vulnerability to Avery and her brand-new experience with ghosts bring her real personality to the surface.
The mystery part is rather exciting too, with just enough suspense and scary moments (not only because, you know, ghosts). What I liked best, however, is the humour, the banter between Avery and Cam, the eccentric Mildred and the not-so-innocent Jane.
Lila Bruce is the queen of opening paragraphs. I mean, seriously, I haven’t read all her books yet, but the opening of Little Lies was excellent, the start of Love Bites was hilarious, and here’s how Chasing Shadows begins: “For a dead woman, Loralyn Baker looked pretty damned good”. If that first sentence doesn’t make you want to keep reading, I don’t know what will.
After her parents died, Avery Smith came back to Bethel Springs, Alabama, to live with her grandma Mildred and Jane, her grandma’s best friend, or, rather, her sidekick, since Mildred is always up to some mischief. At the start of the book, Mildred and Jane are set on getting their hands on Laralyn Baker’s peach cobbler recipe. They’ll stop at nothing, not even searching the dead woman’s body on the eve of the funeral service. As a police detective, all their shenanigans often put Avery in difficult positions.
Cameron – Cam – Reinhart was Loralyn’s great-niece and she’s in town to settle her aunt’s affairs. Avery may not have noticed her as a high school student with a crush on the older girl but she definitely notices her now. Despite their meeting in less than favourable circumstances, they end up getting along quite well. Cam is now some sort of TV celebrity, with her own show and fans. Years ago, she became a ghost hunter by accident and jumped on the occasion to leave a dead-end job. Ghosts don’t exist but who cares?
Until they start talking to her…
I know I’m saying this quite often now but I didn’t expect to laugh so much. Blame it on the old ladies… I always thought Robin Alexander wrote the best snarky old ladies but Mildred can definitely hold her own.
I loved Avery and Cam too. Avery is a sweetheart, no wonder Cam has been smitten with her forever. She’s smart, patient and kind. Cam seems more cynical but her vulnerability to Avery and her brand-new experience with ghosts bring her real personality to the surface.
The mystery part is rather exciting too, with just enough suspense and scary moments (not only because, you know, ghosts). What I liked best, however, is the humour, the banter between Avery and Cam, the eccentric Mildred and the not-so-innocent Jane.
April 14, 2020
Spooktacularly gripping yet funny.
The plot. Back in town for her great aunt's funeral, Cameron Reinhart runs into none other than Avery Smith, her high school crush, who now works for the local Sheriff’s Department. As if her encounter with Avery wasn't jarring enough, Cam soon finds herself in the middle of a murder investigation.
The characters. As much fun as it was to read about Cam and Avery getting to know each other again after a rocky start, the real stars for me in this book were Avery's grandmother Mildred and her partner in crime Jane. These two women provided lots of hilarious moments throughout the book that had me laughing out loud several times.
The writing. Lila Bruce managed to create a great balance in this book. The story had plenty of moments where you're trying to figure out what happened to this murder victim while wanting to scream at Cam and Avery to just kiss already. The romantic suspense coupled with the mystery and often funny situations truly make this a page turner.
The special. Oddly enough, I can't call this book a real thriller. It's not suspenseful or spooky enough. I can't call it a romance either because there's very little of that sprinkled throughout the book. And yet it all worked. That's some impressive writing!
The negative. I'm going to need a lot more of Cam and Avery. Oh who am I kidding just gimme more of The Adventures of Mildred & Jane, Crime Fighting Octogenarians Extraordinaire™.
The verdict. This is my fourth book by this author that scores another 4* rating. I will for sure be on the lookout for her next book.
The plot. Back in town for her great aunt's funeral, Cameron Reinhart runs into none other than Avery Smith, her high school crush, who now works for the local Sheriff’s Department. As if her encounter with Avery wasn't jarring enough, Cam soon finds herself in the middle of a murder investigation.
The characters. As much fun as it was to read about Cam and Avery getting to know each other again after a rocky start, the real stars for me in this book were Avery's grandmother Mildred and her partner in crime Jane. These two women provided lots of hilarious moments throughout the book that had me laughing out loud several times.
The writing. Lila Bruce managed to create a great balance in this book. The story had plenty of moments where you're trying to figure out what happened to this murder victim while wanting to scream at Cam and Avery to just kiss already. The romantic suspense coupled with the mystery and often funny situations truly make this a page turner.
The special. Oddly enough, I can't call this book a real thriller. It's not suspenseful or spooky enough. I can't call it a romance either because there's very little of that sprinkled throughout the book. And yet it all worked. That's some impressive writing!
The negative. I'm going to need a lot more of Cam and Avery. Oh who am I kidding just gimme more of The Adventures of Mildred & Jane, Crime Fighting Octogenarians Extraordinaire™.
The verdict. This is my fourth book by this author that scores another 4* rating. I will for sure be on the lookout for her next book.
May 8, 2020
“Chasing Shadows” is a very fun lesbian murder/mystery ghost story comedy with a terrific cast of characters and a very enjoyable new-for-me narrator.
MC Avery lives with her grandmother Mildred and Jane, the “Bonnie to Mildred Smith’s Clyde for as long as Avery could remember“. The story opens with Mildred and Jane being caught at the funeral home, searching their lifelong cooking nemesis’ dead body for a peach cobbler recipe they think she was planning to take with her to the grave!
MC Cameron (Cam) returns to the small town in Georgia to settle her recently deceased grandmother’s estate, and isn’t pleased to learn that Mildred and Jane dumped her grandmother’s body onto the floor during their 3am search!
Cam has crushed on Avery since high school, but Avery never noticed the younger (by one grade!) girl. But oh….she notices her now!
Anxious to return to LA and her job as a television show ghost hunter host, things go sideways when Cam and a local realtor see a real ghost while evaluating a local house as a film shooting location so she can get some work done while settling the estate.
As Cam starts seeing other ghosts, Avery is a skeptic…until confronted with evidence she can’t ignore!
There’s attraction between our likable MCs, and one brief but enjoyable explicit scene, but what makes the story so fun is the cast of characters and their activities and interactions. In addition to the hilarious Mildred and Jane, we have a bigoted detective, a talkative eager new detective, promoted in part because his uncle is Chief Deputy Sheriff, Cam’s high school friend Linda, whose murder creates one of the ghosts and leads to evidence of another murder in the late 1970s, that may very well have been committed by the same person.
Given a couple murders and a couple of other deaths, I’d be embarrassed to admit how much laughing I did throughout listening to this book if not for the fact that the author and narrator clearly intended for me to laugh! 4.7* rounded to 5*!
I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.
My rating and my review was not in anyway affected by my having been provided a review copy.
MC Avery lives with her grandmother Mildred and Jane, the “Bonnie to Mildred Smith’s Clyde for as long as Avery could remember“. The story opens with Mildred and Jane being caught at the funeral home, searching their lifelong cooking nemesis’ dead body for a peach cobbler recipe they think she was planning to take with her to the grave!
MC Cameron (Cam) returns to the small town in Georgia to settle her recently deceased grandmother’s estate, and isn’t pleased to learn that Mildred and Jane dumped her grandmother’s body onto the floor during their 3am search!
Cam has crushed on Avery since high school, but Avery never noticed the younger (by one grade!) girl. But oh….she notices her now!
Anxious to return to LA and her job as a television show ghost hunter host, things go sideways when Cam and a local realtor see a real ghost while evaluating a local house as a film shooting location so she can get some work done while settling the estate.
As Cam starts seeing other ghosts, Avery is a skeptic…until confronted with evidence she can’t ignore!
There’s attraction between our likable MCs, and one brief but enjoyable explicit scene, but what makes the story so fun is the cast of characters and their activities and interactions. In addition to the hilarious Mildred and Jane, we have a bigoted detective, a talkative eager new detective, promoted in part because his uncle is Chief Deputy Sheriff, Cam’s high school friend Linda, whose murder creates one of the ghosts and leads to evidence of another murder in the late 1970s, that may very well have been committed by the same person.
Given a couple murders and a couple of other deaths, I’d be embarrassed to admit how much laughing I did throughout listening to this book if not for the fact that the author and narrator clearly intended for me to laugh! 4.7* rounded to 5*!
I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.
My rating and my review was not in anyway affected by my having been provided a review copy.
December 28, 2019
Chasing Shadows by Lila Bruce was an entertaining slow burn romance with a paranormal twist. No high flyer but certainly a fun read.
Set in a small town in the American South, you can imagine two scheming old ladies will be there to liven things up, and they did. They feature in the funeral parlor opening scene of the story and set the tone for the rest of the book. And even though there was plenty of mischief between them, Mildred Smith and her trusty side-kick Jane Green were not as hilarious as, for example, a Robin Alexander can produce them. But they sure try.
Main characters, cop Avery and tv ghost hunter Cameron Reinhart have a bit of a rough start, but during the course of the story they grow on each other, despite the stunts grandma Mildred and Jane are trying to pull.
We do have some serious moments when someone we know gets murdered and there’s a killer on the loose. There was a nice little twist on the end.
f/f
Themes: Bethel Springs Alabama, Loralyn’s peach cobbler recipe, I see dead people, ghost hunters, an old diary with evidence of a murder, another body turns up, possession, who is buddy? A live show to flush out the killer, Jane’s pink taser saves the day.
3.6 Stars
Set in a small town in the American South, you can imagine two scheming old ladies will be there to liven things up, and they did. They feature in the funeral parlor opening scene of the story and set the tone for the rest of the book. And even though there was plenty of mischief between them, Mildred Smith and her trusty side-kick Jane Green were not as hilarious as, for example, a Robin Alexander can produce them. But they sure try.
Main characters, cop Avery and tv ghost hunter Cameron Reinhart have a bit of a rough start, but during the course of the story they grow on each other, despite the stunts grandma Mildred and Jane are trying to pull.
We do have some serious moments when someone we know gets murdered and there’s a killer on the loose. There was a nice little twist on the end.
f/f
Themes: Bethel Springs Alabama, Loralyn’s peach cobbler recipe, I see dead people, ghost hunters, an old diary with evidence of a murder, another body turns up, possession, who is buddy? A live show to flush out the killer, Jane’s pink taser saves the day.
3.6 Stars
April 8, 2020
The most beautiful stories always start with a wreckage
- Jack London -
Chasing Shadows had been on my list since I saw it appeared regularly on my feed. I didn't read the blurb nor the other reviews before getting the book between my hands as the cover was just too good looking to pass and the reviewers who read it were reliable ones.
I became that someone, I want to have my cake and eat it too. Ms.Bruce's sugar was like a drug, I thought I was just having fun but once done, I realized that I'm addicted and can't stop thinking about it and want more.
Effortless story-telling, entertaining dialogues
the feel-good plot, swoon-worthy heartthrob, Ms.Jane Green.
There's a special feeling you get when you start a genuinely fantastic book where you can just instantly feel that it's a winner. I was less than a page into this book before I'd fallen in love with it. From the start, the story had this almost palm-tingly feeling of anticipation, excitement, and intrigue to it.
What made this book extra special?
¹. There were multiple characters who all brought so much flavor to this. The Southern culture was a major character which played a huge part and was so enchanting. It was respectfully and honestly portrayed. The undercurrent of attraction between Avery and Cam framed everything, it was like the hidden ingredient which made a dish so good. I appreciated that Ms.Bruce did not rush anything between them, the build-up to their relationship was perfectly drawn-out, filled with a mixture of hate, attraction, frustration, and desire.
². Ms.Mildred Smith and Ms.Jane Green, what extremely fun characters. Never underestimate these sweet old ladies, Mildred might just kick you in the clit and Jane will pour a bottle of hot sauce to add to the pain. Mildred and Jane were given the right amount of page time to conjure the humor out and they were different from the 'in your face' senior citizens in Robin Alexander's books.
That said, there were a few other facts that made this a brilliant and laid back mystery/paranormal/
suspense book. The balance between all the elements. They were gripping in its intensity and flowed seamlessly together. Sometimes when you read such genre, it was either there was too much romance and not enough mystery or there was too much suspense and not enough romance. But here, Lila Bruce did a brilliant job at balancing them all.
It's mystery/thriller week on GR, for those who aren't big on the heavy stuffs, not that we have a lot under the lesfic category, then pick this book up. It's so damn good
- Jack London -
Chasing Shadows had been on my list since I saw it appeared regularly on my feed. I didn't read the blurb nor the other reviews before getting the book between my hands as the cover was just too good looking to pass and the reviewers who read it were reliable ones.
I became that someone, I want to have my cake and eat it too. Ms.Bruce's sugar was like a drug, I thought I was just having fun but once done, I realized that I'm addicted and can't stop thinking about it and want more.
Effortless story-telling, entertaining dialogues
the feel-good plot, swoon-worthy heartthrob, Ms.Jane Green.
There's a special feeling you get when you start a genuinely fantastic book where you can just instantly feel that it's a winner. I was less than a page into this book before I'd fallen in love with it. From the start, the story had this almost palm-tingly feeling of anticipation, excitement, and intrigue to it.
What made this book extra special?
¹. There were multiple characters who all brought so much flavor to this. The Southern culture was a major character which played a huge part and was so enchanting. It was respectfully and honestly portrayed. The undercurrent of attraction between Avery and Cam framed everything, it was like the hidden ingredient which made a dish so good. I appreciated that Ms.Bruce did not rush anything between them, the build-up to their relationship was perfectly drawn-out, filled with a mixture of hate, attraction, frustration, and desire.
². Ms.Mildred Smith and Ms.Jane Green, what extremely fun characters. Never underestimate these sweet old ladies, Mildred might just kick you in the clit and Jane will pour a bottle of hot sauce to add to the pain. Mildred and Jane were given the right amount of page time to conjure the humor out and they were different from the 'in your face' senior citizens in Robin Alexander's books.
That said, there were a few other facts that made this a brilliant and laid back mystery/paranormal/
suspense book. The balance between all the elements. They were gripping in its intensity and flowed seamlessly together. Sometimes when you read such genre, it was either there was too much romance and not enough mystery or there was too much suspense and not enough romance. But here, Lila Bruce did a brilliant job at balancing them all.
It's mystery/thriller week on GR, for those who aren't big on the heavy stuffs, not that we have a lot under the lesfic category, then pick this book up. It's so damn good
October 28, 2019
Absolutely brilliant! You've got your great spooky story line, you've got your MC's which have the 'feels'... you've got the humorous banter! And you've got your grannies which are up to no good!
Really do recommend this one.
4.5
Really do recommend this one.
4.5
October 30, 2020
‘Chasing Shadows’ is a paranormal mystery with a bit of a romance thrown it. I thoroughly enjoyed it from the first paragraph on. There’s quite a bit of humor throughout that keep the spooky and murder mystery elements from getting too heavy.
Avery is a detective and Cam is a host for a ghost hunting show (though she doesn’t believe in ghosts or spirits.) Cam is in town after her great aunt passes and she’s dealing with the estate. They don’t get off to a great start as Avery’s grandma has been caught messing with Cam’s aunt’s corpse at the funeral home looking for a recipe. They are later put in a position of having to work together to solve some local mysteries and a romance soon blooms. Cam had a crush on Avery in high school and it doesn’t take much for that to return. Avery is pretty sweet and seems to have the patience of a saint. Cam is bit more jaded but she’s still very kind, even when she’s had it with the ladies on the hunt for that peach cobbler recipe.
I felt sorry for poor Avery, she just seemed exasperated for most of the book. Having to babysit her grandma, Mildred, and Millie’s best friend, Jane, seems like it would be a full-time job in itself. She’s also been handed a rookie officer to train.
I will say that there is one chapter that’s a bit gory so be prepared for that, I wasn’t and was grossed out a bit. But as this isn’t my usual genre, it might’ve just been a me thing.
I recommend this for anyone a fan of comedy, murder mysteries, or ghosts.
Avery is a detective and Cam is a host for a ghost hunting show (though she doesn’t believe in ghosts or spirits.) Cam is in town after her great aunt passes and she’s dealing with the estate. They don’t get off to a great start as Avery’s grandma has been caught messing with Cam’s aunt’s corpse at the funeral home looking for a recipe. They are later put in a position of having to work together to solve some local mysteries and a romance soon blooms. Cam had a crush on Avery in high school and it doesn’t take much for that to return. Avery is pretty sweet and seems to have the patience of a saint. Cam is bit more jaded but she’s still very kind, even when she’s had it with the ladies on the hunt for that peach cobbler recipe.
I felt sorry for poor Avery, she just seemed exasperated for most of the book. Having to babysit her grandma, Mildred, and Millie’s best friend, Jane, seems like it would be a full-time job in itself. She’s also been handed a rookie officer to train.
I will say that there is one chapter that’s a bit gory so be prepared for that, I wasn’t and was grossed out a bit. But as this isn’t my usual genre, it might’ve just been a me thing.
I recommend this for anyone a fan of comedy, murder mysteries, or ghosts.
August 9, 2021
This is pretty good, but not so much as a romance. It's mostly a murder mystery with paranormal properties (there are ghosts and important plot developments happen by them being actual visitors from the dead). Fortunately, Avery works well as a lead investigator and Cam isn't bad as a helpful sidekick.
It's good that the mystery works. It holds together and the investigation goes pretty much how it should but without being predictable or obvious. And I liked Avery and Cam working together and connecting with one another.
And there were many interesting side-characters, particularly Avery's deputy partner. I'm not so sanguine with Millie and Jane, the elderly meddlers who propel many important developments, though. They lacked any sense of humanity, for me, and that made it hard to just roll with their hijinks. They were what I'd expect if the id and the ego ganked the superego in a gang fight and then let loose, Thelma and Louise style. Which makes them sound way more interesting than they actually were.
And the problem with the romance is that it's barely there. Which makes sense as the pace is driving and the plot develops quickly. And life and death are on the line (and not a Sicilian in sight!) so there isn't a lot of time for things like dating. I did like the trust they established and that they were able to put together a teamwork dynamic that felt satisfying. But the feelings, and the sex, happened way, waaaay too fast.
So this is a solid four stars. It's good for what it is and I found I didn't mind the warp speed romance when the mystery was good and the characters fun. I wish I could buy them lasting long-term (and long-distance), but I'm okay just taking that on faith at the end of this riveting ride.
A note about Steamy: There's a single explicit sex scene putting this on the low end of my steam tolerance. It was okay, but has a pretty shaky foundation as anything realistic, let alone long term.
It's good that the mystery works. It holds together and the investigation goes pretty much how it should but without being predictable or obvious. And I liked Avery and Cam working together and connecting with one another.
And there were many interesting side-characters, particularly Avery's deputy partner. I'm not so sanguine with Millie and Jane, the elderly meddlers who propel many important developments, though. They lacked any sense of humanity, for me, and that made it hard to just roll with their hijinks. They were what I'd expect if the id and the ego ganked the superego in a gang fight and then let loose, Thelma and Louise style. Which makes them sound way more interesting than they actually were.
And the problem with the romance is that it's barely there. Which makes sense as the pace is driving and the plot develops quickly. And life and death are on the line (and not a Sicilian in sight!) so there isn't a lot of time for things like dating. I did like the trust they established and that they were able to put together a teamwork dynamic that felt satisfying. But the feelings, and the sex, happened way, waaaay too fast.
So this is a solid four stars. It's good for what it is and I found I didn't mind the warp speed romance when the mystery was good and the characters fun. I wish I could buy them lasting long-term (and long-distance), but I'm okay just taking that on faith at the end of this riveting ride.
A note about Steamy: There's a single explicit sex scene putting this on the low end of my steam tolerance. It was okay, but has a pretty shaky foundation as anything realistic, let alone long term.
October 23, 2019
When a television ghost hunter returns to her hometown to settle her Aunt’s estate she must deal with a glut of little old ladies on the hunt for a much prized peach cobbler recipe. The opening scenes of Chasing Shadows are filled with slapstick entertainment bordering on corny but stick around for the mysteries to come.
Cam and Avery have a ghostly time trying to solve the unexplained events in Bethel Springs. Saying more will lead to spoilers which could ruin this cute and spooky lite tale. I'm not a horror fan so spooky lite works for me. I liked the big city detective Avery dealing with the local bumbling police force while trying to contain her erratic grandmother. She and Cam the cynical ghost hunter made this KU read a winner.
Well done, Lila Bruce.
Cam and Avery have a ghostly time trying to solve the unexplained events in Bethel Springs. Saying more will lead to spoilers which could ruin this cute and spooky lite tale. I'm not a horror fan so spooky lite works for me. I liked the big city detective Avery dealing with the local bumbling police force while trying to contain her erratic grandmother. She and Cam the cynical ghost hunter made this KU read a winner.
Well done, Lila Bruce.
October 25, 2019
Just in time for Halloween
It's been a bit since I've read a Lila Bruce book. This is a little difference from her normal romances as in this is more of a supernatural with romance attached. The two main characters are great but I will admit that the Mildred annoyed me and Jane was just awesome. Cam is a "ghost hunter" and I quote that because she's a fake. Avery is a detective in their small town. Suddenly murders happen and Cam can now see dead people. It's actually a pretty fun read that reminds me a bit of ghost whisperer. I enjoyed it and I think you might too. Plus it's a kU read
It's been a bit since I've read a Lila Bruce book. This is a little difference from her normal romances as in this is more of a supernatural with romance attached. The two main characters are great but I will admit that the Mildred annoyed me and Jane was just awesome. Cam is a "ghost hunter" and I quote that because she's a fake. Avery is a detective in their small town. Suddenly murders happen and Cam can now see dead people. It's actually a pretty fun read that reminds me a bit of ghost whisperer. I enjoyed it and I think you might too. Plus it's a kU read
July 15, 2020
An interesting slightly paranormal mystery with some good twists and witty banter and dialogue.
I enjoyed the characters of Detective Avery and her meddlesome grandmother, Mildred. The love interest Cam was intriguing and sassy, too.
My only complaint was I wanted more from these host of characters.
I enjoyed the characters of Detective Avery and her meddlesome grandmother, Mildred. The love interest Cam was intriguing and sassy, too.
My only complaint was I wanted more from these host of characters.
May 6, 2022
This is an author who I’m fairly certain I would not have attempted to read but for one particular reason: I had/have Kindle Unlimited and, except for anthologies that include work by her, and one sold separately short story, her work is and/or was in that KU program (like this book here is in KU). Oh, and I wanted to read lesbian fiction, and this author’s works fall into that fiction category. So I’ve read and mostly enjoyed works by this author, though it’s been years since I last read something by them (since at least 2016). Probably because there was a longish gap there wherein no new work was appearing. But enough of that.
It has been too long since I last read them to say something like ‘they normally write x, while this book here is . . .’, but I do have that vague recollection that the authors other works tended to be contemporary lesbian fiction with, if I recall correctly, injured or damaged women (well, there’s at least one or three with PTSD). While this work here doesn’t appear to include anyone ‘damaged’ prior to the start of this book (though both main characters get injured a lot, one to the point of being ‘taken off a case’, but that’s getting ahead of myself), and it isn’t a straight forward contemporary lesbian fiction. Though it has all the hallmarks of being a straight-forward contemporary lesbian fiction romance. Just, you know, one that includes ghosts.
Right, so. Two main points of view, two main characters. As I mentioned in a status update, I was starting to get vaguely bored and/or annoyed with the straight forward lesbian fiction I was reading, until suddenly everything changed with a rather shocking discovery in an old house.
But let’s back up a little.
Book involves two main point of view women. One is a police detective in a small town in Alabama. The other is something of a celeb in California – she hosts one of those paranormal/ghost hunting shows. The kind wherein people go into old houses, or the like, and wander around looking to see if anything looks ghost like.
Cameron Reinhart, who goes by the name of Barbie Blair (I think I recall) on her tv show, is back in town because her . . . hmm, I forget now the level, though I believe it was either aunt or great aunt died and Cam needs to take care of the estate. She initially has some help from her one school friend, Jennifer.
Meanwhile, Avery Smith (and for the life of me I cannot recall that actually being her name, was she always called Detective Smith or something? Why do I not recall the Avery part?) is also back in Bethel Springs Alabama, though she’s been there a while longer than Cam. She had been in Atlanta with the police, but returned home when her parents died and she worried about her elderly grandmother.
Book opens with some wacky family antics (grandmother and her friend robbing a funeral home), and I wasn’t sure if I’d really be that interested in this book. But things shifted to focus more on Cam and Avery, and then shifted more when spooky stuff started to happen. By the way, this is kind of the perfect time to be reading this type of book – Halloween to New Year’s (I include the Christmas season since that one also has some famous literary ghosts).
Cam, by the way, had lusted after Avery since school time, but Avery didn’t even realize they had attended the same school when their time in school together came up. It’s true they weren’t in the same year, but Cam also had the added benefit of being not exactly popular.
There was a lot more police work in this book than I expected. Probably because I went into it expecting a ghost story and didn’t think things through as to what else might be occurring in the book. Avery, you see, is investigating crimes during the course of the book, and has an understudy in the form of a man named Hobbs who she has been assigned to train to be a detective.
Meanwhile, Cam had only planned to be in the area for, at most, a week or two (and her producer keeps hounding her to hurry up and leave already, long before a week has passed, maybe even on the day she arrived on site), but certain things have slowed her departure. Like joking with her real estate agent about haunted houses in the area, immediately visiting a house that is said to be haunted with that real estate agent, then spotting a woman standing in one of the bedrooms in the house she thought was empty. Then noticing, once the woman turns and starts walking towards her, that there’s some odd things going on – like how Chuck, that real estate agent with her, didn’t seem to know what she was talking about regarding a woman in the room – then suddenly does see said woman – right around the time Cam started to think that the woman was looking a little see-through.
Roughly around the same moment, Avery is visiting a dead body – the police have literally stumbled across a dead body while conducting a different investigation involving a stolen car. And Avery is a detective, so she detects.
Book was quite fun and exciting with just a few ‘issues/problems’. Both main characters have flashbacks showing, in the case of Cam, how she got her job on the ghost hunting show, and in the case of Avery, her time as a police officer in Atlanta. Not horrible, no, to have said flashbacks. The problem was the way they were presented. There was nothing showing the break before and after the longish flashbacks. To the point that when I was reading the first flashback, Cam’s, I was literally trying to figure out if I might have missed Cam leaving. I mean, it was really early in the book and I didn’t really know she was involved with a show, I mean I think there was a line or two, but mostly some vague sense she had a specific job. New Chapter and . . . . she’s in a hotel room? In Las Vegas? Wasn’t she just in Alabama? WTF is going on? Somewhere along the line I realized I was getting the story of how Cam got the ghost hunting show but . . . the transition was weird. I mean, I think I vaguely recalled Jennifer and Cam packing up books in the prior chapter, with Jennifer making some comment about how she didn’t realize Cam had any psychic abilities, and Cam saying something about how she still doesn’t. Then that chapter ended. And a new one began. Or I’m misremembering what happened. I do recall Avery’s cop story blending into the ‘current events’ story, so . . . transitions were weird.
Rating: 4.5
November 4 2019
It has been too long since I last read them to say something like ‘they normally write x, while this book here is . . .’, but I do have that vague recollection that the authors other works tended to be contemporary lesbian fiction with, if I recall correctly, injured or damaged women (well, there’s at least one or three with PTSD). While this work here doesn’t appear to include anyone ‘damaged’ prior to the start of this book (though both main characters get injured a lot, one to the point of being ‘taken off a case’, but that’s getting ahead of myself), and it isn’t a straight forward contemporary lesbian fiction. Though it has all the hallmarks of being a straight-forward contemporary lesbian fiction romance. Just, you know, one that includes ghosts.
Right, so. Two main points of view, two main characters. As I mentioned in a status update, I was starting to get vaguely bored and/or annoyed with the straight forward lesbian fiction I was reading, until suddenly everything changed with a rather shocking discovery in an old house.
But let’s back up a little.
Book involves two main point of view women. One is a police detective in a small town in Alabama. The other is something of a celeb in California – she hosts one of those paranormal/ghost hunting shows. The kind wherein people go into old houses, or the like, and wander around looking to see if anything looks ghost like.
Cameron Reinhart, who goes by the name of Barbie Blair (I think I recall) on her tv show, is back in town because her . . . hmm, I forget now the level, though I believe it was either aunt or great aunt died and Cam needs to take care of the estate. She initially has some help from her one school friend, Jennifer.
Meanwhile, Avery Smith (and for the life of me I cannot recall that actually being her name, was she always called Detective Smith or something? Why do I not recall the Avery part?) is also back in Bethel Springs Alabama, though she’s been there a while longer than Cam. She had been in Atlanta with the police, but returned home when her parents died and she worried about her elderly grandmother.
Book opens with some wacky family antics (grandmother and her friend robbing a funeral home), and I wasn’t sure if I’d really be that interested in this book. But things shifted to focus more on Cam and Avery, and then shifted more when spooky stuff started to happen. By the way, this is kind of the perfect time to be reading this type of book – Halloween to New Year’s (I include the Christmas season since that one also has some famous literary ghosts).
Cam, by the way, had lusted after Avery since school time, but Avery didn’t even realize they had attended the same school when their time in school together came up. It’s true they weren’t in the same year, but Cam also had the added benefit of being not exactly popular.
There was a lot more police work in this book than I expected. Probably because I went into it expecting a ghost story and didn’t think things through as to what else might be occurring in the book. Avery, you see, is investigating crimes during the course of the book, and has an understudy in the form of a man named Hobbs who she has been assigned to train to be a detective.
Meanwhile, Cam had only planned to be in the area for, at most, a week or two (and her producer keeps hounding her to hurry up and leave already, long before a week has passed, maybe even on the day she arrived on site), but certain things have slowed her departure. Like joking with her real estate agent about haunted houses in the area, immediately visiting a house that is said to be haunted with that real estate agent, then spotting a woman standing in one of the bedrooms in the house she thought was empty. Then noticing, once the woman turns and starts walking towards her, that there’s some odd things going on – like how Chuck, that real estate agent with her, didn’t seem to know what she was talking about regarding a woman in the room – then suddenly does see said woman – right around the time Cam started to think that the woman was looking a little see-through.
Roughly around the same moment, Avery is visiting a dead body – the police have literally stumbled across a dead body while conducting a different investigation involving a stolen car. And Avery is a detective, so she detects.
Book was quite fun and exciting with just a few ‘issues/problems’. Both main characters have flashbacks showing, in the case of Cam, how she got her job on the ghost hunting show, and in the case of Avery, her time as a police officer in Atlanta. Not horrible, no, to have said flashbacks. The problem was the way they were presented. There was nothing showing the break before and after the longish flashbacks. To the point that when I was reading the first flashback, Cam’s, I was literally trying to figure out if I might have missed Cam leaving. I mean, it was really early in the book and I didn’t really know she was involved with a show, I mean I think there was a line or two, but mostly some vague sense she had a specific job. New Chapter and . . . . she’s in a hotel room? In Las Vegas? Wasn’t she just in Alabama? WTF is going on? Somewhere along the line I realized I was getting the story of how Cam got the ghost hunting show but . . . the transition was weird. I mean, I think I vaguely recalled Jennifer and Cam packing up books in the prior chapter, with Jennifer making some comment about how she didn’t realize Cam had any psychic abilities, and Cam saying something about how she still doesn’t. Then that chapter ended. And a new one began. Or I’m misremembering what happened. I do recall Avery’s cop story blending into the ‘current events’ story, so . . . transitions were weird.
Rating: 4.5
November 4 2019
August 17, 2020
Very funny, geriatrics for the win, ghosts and humour, one-sided short intimate scene, some creepy stuff thrown in (to the book, not the sex scene). I thoroughly enjoyed and think you will too.
January 5, 2022
Giving this five stars mainly because of the laughter I had over the grannies...oh my goodness! They are something and what crazy family drama one would have with them around.
The romance was lackluster, the mixin of the paranormal was alright it made for a good secondary (imo) plot because as far as I am concerned the grannies are the main juice of the story.
The romance was lackluster, the mixin of the paranormal was alright it made for a good secondary (imo) plot because as far as I am concerned the grannies are the main juice of the story.
May 6, 2022
3,5 stars
Very decent. I strongly disliked the granny gang, because they acted like irresponsible morons, but the MCs themselves were nice.
It wasn't the most original book, but it was still solid
Very decent. I strongly disliked the granny gang, because they acted like irresponsible morons, but the MCs themselves were nice.
It wasn't the most original book, but it was still solid
October 27, 2019
Fantastic story!
It starts with a lot of humor and then things got more serious. Put a detective, a ghost hunter and two eccentric old ladies together and bizarre things happen. This story is a perfect blend of humor, mystery, paranormal and a bit of romance. I loved the characters and the story is well put together. Two thumbs up!
It starts with a lot of humor and then things got more serious. Put a detective, a ghost hunter and two eccentric old ladies together and bizarre things happen. This story is a perfect blend of humor, mystery, paranormal and a bit of romance. I loved the characters and the story is well put together. Two thumbs up!
October 14, 2019
This was a fun read. I enjoyed the setting and also the relationship between Avery and Cam. An easy, comfortable read. Love the cover too.
October 22, 2019
Hauntingly Hilarious
Avery is a detective in a small town Sheriff‘s department. She lives with her grandmother and grandma’s best friend. The older ladies are pretty much menaces to society and a constant source of frustration for Avery. Cam has come home to Bethel Springs to bury her great aunt. She is the host of a ghost hunter type show who doesn’t believe in ghosts…. Until she starts seeing them. When Cam’s friend is murdered it takes all of these women to solve the mystery.
OMG, this book is so darn FUNNY!!! I didn’t even get three pages in before I was laughing so hard I could hardly see. Martha and Jane, Grandma and friend, are certifiable!!! Totally out of control and having no shame they steal the show! The rest of the book is just as excellently written. The mystery and ghost parts are so good and what the women devised to catch the killer, inspired. I loved the relationship between Avery and Cam. They worked well together and their ability to survive everything happening around them is a testament to their strength and resilience. This book was a delight. I loved every minute and I’m sure you will too!!
Avery is a detective in a small town Sheriff‘s department. She lives with her grandmother and grandma’s best friend. The older ladies are pretty much menaces to society and a constant source of frustration for Avery. Cam has come home to Bethel Springs to bury her great aunt. She is the host of a ghost hunter type show who doesn’t believe in ghosts…. Until she starts seeing them. When Cam’s friend is murdered it takes all of these women to solve the mystery.
OMG, this book is so darn FUNNY!!! I didn’t even get three pages in before I was laughing so hard I could hardly see. Martha and Jane, Grandma and friend, are certifiable!!! Totally out of control and having no shame they steal the show! The rest of the book is just as excellently written. The mystery and ghost parts are so good and what the women devised to catch the killer, inspired. I loved the relationship between Avery and Cam. They worked well together and their ability to survive everything happening around them is a testament to their strength and resilience. This book was a delight. I loved every minute and I’m sure you will too!!
November 3, 2019
Chasing shadows
I definitely read this book at the right time of year! Filled with supernatural spirits as well as 2 plucky octogenarians and a pair of lesbians it had a good mix of spunk, humour, a blossoming romance and of course, hauntings, to create an intriguing 'who done it'.
I definitely read this book at the right time of year! Filled with supernatural spirits as well as 2 plucky octogenarians and a pair of lesbians it had a good mix of spunk, humour, a blossoming romance and of course, hauntings, to create an intriguing 'who done it'.
November 7, 2019
I loved the characters in this book most especially Grandma Millie and Jane! They were bloody hilarious. It was a great story with unexpected twists and strange happenings.
November 12, 2019
One of my all-time favorite books is Love Bites by this same author, so I had high hopes for this book and I was not disappointed. The book was so laugh out loud funny with wonderfully quirky side characters. Mildred and Jane definitely stole the show, but that is not to say I didn't adore the two main characters. I am salivating at the knowledge there will be a follow-up to this book. Another winner from this author, now I can't decide on my favorite book from this author because she keeps writing such great stories. I am never disappointed. If you want a book to brighten your day and make you smile and laugh, look no further.
March 9, 2022
It was really funny as well as being a mystery and romance. I truly enjoyed it and can’t wait to see if there is a book 2.
February 26, 2020
When Cameron Reinhart returns to her hometown of Bethel Springs, Alabama to settle her great-aunt's estate she hasn't planned on running into her high school crush, Avery Smith.
This is a LOL funny book with Avery Smith's zany old grandmother getting into all types of trouble. Granny also has a side-kick, Jane, that supplies some of the laughs.
This is a LOL funny book with Avery Smith's zany old grandmother getting into all types of trouble. Granny also has a side-kick, Jane, that supplies some of the laughs.
October 21, 2019
I highly recommend this book.
This is a really good book. The characters are well developed and likable. Love a story with two feisty older women ,ghosts and a romance. Loved this book would love two see a sequel to catch up with the characters in this book. Thanks
This is a really good book. The characters are well developed and likable. Love a story with two feisty older women ,ghosts and a romance. Loved this book would love two see a sequel to catch up with the characters in this book. Thanks
October 23, 2019
Spooky fun
I really enjoyed reading this story. It was full of mystery, charming women and hijinks of two elder women that will keep you smiling.
I really enjoyed reading this story. It was full of mystery, charming women and hijinks of two elder women that will keep you smiling.
March 24, 2021
This was a fun book. It has everything – a little romance, a mystery, possible paranormal activity, and some comedic moments. It takes place in a small town in Alabama, which is not a typical lesfic setting. Both the main characters have returned to their small town for their own reasons. Avery, a detective with the local sheriff’s department, has been there for a while to take care of her elderly grandmother, Mildred, and her equally elderly friend and roommate, Jane. Cam, who is a TV personality in Hollywood, is there because of a relative’s death and settling the estate.
The novel opens with the elderly women in an unusual location trying to get a prized recipe. Parts of this book are almost slapstick, but there is a very real mystery and danger to all these women, as well a budding romance. It was very enjoyable. I don’t know how the author kept all these stands together, but it worked. I can’t wait to read more books by Lila Bruce.
The novel opens with the elderly women in an unusual location trying to get a prized recipe. Parts of this book are almost slapstick, but there is a very real mystery and danger to all these women, as well a budding romance. It was very enjoyable. I don’t know how the author kept all these stands together, but it worked. I can’t wait to read more books by Lila Bruce.
September 26, 2020
Spooky, funny, suspenseful and romantic, this book has it all. The story flows to a steady pace, the characters are interesting, and some of them definitively quirky ( Mildred and Jane, anybody?) and the mystery is engaging and very well developed.
I particularly enjoyed that Cameron's TV show was a sham, and yet, here, back into her native town, is where she discovers that ghosts are really a thing :P
And to watch how the less than amicable collaboration initial between Avery and Cameron blooms into a romance is very entertaining :P
A perfect mix of a lot of elements, I really enjoyed the story and I'm now wanting to know how will Avery and Cam manage their long-distance relationship.
This was my first Lilia Bruce's book, but I will be reading more.
Caroline McLaughlin did a fantastic job with the narration.
I particularly enjoyed that Cameron's TV show was a sham, and yet, here, back into her native town, is where she discovers that ghosts are really a thing :P
And to watch how the less than amicable collaboration initial between Avery and Cameron blooms into a romance is very entertaining :P
A perfect mix of a lot of elements, I really enjoyed the story and I'm now wanting to know how will Avery and Cam manage their long-distance relationship.
This was my first Lilia Bruce's book, but I will be reading more.
Caroline McLaughlin did a fantastic job with the narration.
October 14, 2022
4 stars. What a fun read. From the opening line I had a feeling this was going to be the book for me and I was so right. A detective (Avery) and a tv show host who can communicate with the dead (Cam) work together when a murder takes place.
I wasn’t expecting this to be as funny and humorous as it is that was a pleasant surprise. The writing was great, this was my first book by Bruce and I will definitely be reading more. The relationship between Cam and Avery was great and I liked the way it developed. They definitely don’t see eye to eye and their relationship starts out as enemies to lovers which I adore. I loved their banter and chemistry. Also, Avery *swoons*. I love her so much.
Everything wrapped up well and I just enjoyed the hell out of this book. It’s super entertaining with a likable cast of characters and a great romance.
I wasn’t expecting this to be as funny and humorous as it is that was a pleasant surprise. The writing was great, this was my first book by Bruce and I will definitely be reading more. The relationship between Cam and Avery was great and I liked the way it developed. They definitely don’t see eye to eye and their relationship starts out as enemies to lovers which I adore. I loved their banter and chemistry. Also, Avery *swoons*. I love her so much.
Everything wrapped up well and I just enjoyed the hell out of this book. It’s super entertaining with a likable cast of characters and a great romance.
June 24, 2020
I really enjoyed this book. The writing is excellent—right out of the gates you become invested in these characters. There is nothing “tropey” about this murder mystery. It has some of the best humor—I found myself laughing while listening. The relationships of family, neighbors & frenemies struck me as authentic.
A love relationship doesn’t overtake the mystery. The police procedural was believable even with the “paranormal investigators” thrown into the mix.
I became so invested in these characters I’d love to read a sequel. I will be looking for more books by this author.
The Narrator’s approach to various characters was excellent.
This was an extremely enjoyable, witty and entertaining book
**I was given a free copy of this book in lieu of an honest review
A love relationship doesn’t overtake the mystery. The police procedural was believable even with the “paranormal investigators” thrown into the mix.
I became so invested in these characters I’d love to read a sequel. I will be looking for more books by this author.
The Narrator’s approach to various characters was excellent.
This was an extremely enjoyable, witty and entertaining book
**I was given a free copy of this book in lieu of an honest review
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