Crushed

Paranormal Penny Nicols #2

by Sarah Hualde

Making new friends can be terrifying.

Especially when your secret can kill them.

Working at a gym was never a dream for Penny.

But when the job lands in her lap, she grabs it with gratitude- until a random theft sets off a chain reaction orchestrated by the Raven.

Penny struggles to keep her friends safe as the clock ticks down.

She reaches out for support to defeat the darkness.

Can the paranormal podcasters help her take down Death?

Or will Penny’s secret claim another victim?

One thing is for sure; The Raven is up to his old tricks.



★Jump into the second Paranormal Penny Mystery and hang on tight.★

This fast-paced series will captivate you from start to finish.

Genres: Mystery, Contemporary, Audiobook, Cozy Mystery

174 pages, Kindle Edition

Published February 2, 2021

About the author

Sarah lives in California, in a home that brings her happiness and hay fever. She loves God, loves her family, and loves freshly brewed coffee. She has a husband who cooks, a son who stop animates, a daughter who loves animals, a dog that follows her everywhere, and a turtle who scowls at her condescendingly.

Her mother raised her on Mary Higgins Clark, Diane Mott Davidson, and Remington Steele. Her grandmother shared True Crime stories with her as they plotted how to get away with the perfect murder. It's no surprise that Sarah became an award-winning spinner of suspenseful tales brimming with quirky characters. Mysteries are in her blood. Not that she could survive one of her own stories. She confesses, "I'd be snuffed out by chapter two."

Join Sarah's Super Sleuth Squad and follow her on YouTube for behind-the-scenes insider info.

Super Squad Newsletter ----> https://landing.mailerlite.com/webfor...

YouTube-----> https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCK9y...

Reviews

[Karen Barber · Rating 3 out of 5]

For someone so worried about getting close to people, Penny finds herself caught up in the lives of people remarkably easily. Within minutes of one of the gym workers helping her out of a tight spot Penny has got herself a job.
Crushin It gym is busy, particularly the smoothie bar that Penny is asked to help out on. As the days go by Penny is befriended by Shannon, the manager’s girlfriend, and is even exercising. She puts it down to the smoothie blend she’s given each day. Unfortunately, it’s only a matter of time until she sees the raven.
Before we know it there’s a death on the cards, Penny is under suspicion and it’s pretty obvious that there’s more going on at the gym than she realised.
As with book one, this is a fast-paced read. Cosy mystery with a bit of paranormal thrown into the mix. I liked Grandma, and her affinity with Penny and her gift was interesting. Still not entirely sure what the point of TC and Scrubb is.

[Donna OBrien · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoy Penny’s story but it’s never quite happily-ever-after. The story is well told, the mystery, the characters, the settings are well written and interesting. The raven is a puzzle. I’m waiting for Penny to decide that it’s a good thing to be forewarned of danger, not the curse she believes it is then maybe her future will brighten up a bit. T.C. and Scrubbs keep her head up though as does her travel companion, Spades, and she already has a new job lined up but first she needs to prevent the trouble circling her new friends.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Jamie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked this one better than the first one a bit. I liked seeing a more human side to Penny. She is still naive, but at least she does better in this one. This one hit home way to hard with the grandmother and Shannon. I don't want to say why but I had a really hard time reading about their relationship for personal reasons. I liked the human connections Penny makes, along with the budding likely relationship with someone. Something tells me they have a long road ahead though.

[Jodi Sweet · Rating 5 out of 5]

Penny is still haunted by the raven of impending death. This time she ends up working at a gym and, against her better judgment, makes a friend. Can she stop the raven from taking her new friend?
Penny is such a likable character. It’s sad that she can’t truly get close to anyone because of her, as she puts it, curse. At least she has T.C. and Scrubb just a call away. They swear they’re not afraid of the raven, but Penny won’t put them in harms way.
I really like this series. Hopefully, this next stop will be a good one for Penny. Can’t wait for the next book!

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Bev · Rating 5 out of 5]

Penny is looking for a job in a new town where no one knows her or OF her. She lands a job at Crushin It Gym. She makes friends with one of the employees and her grandmother. But when the Raven of Doom shows up, things change for Penny in a big way. But who is the intended person to die? That is for you to read to find out. I thoroughly enjoyed this story! I voluntarily reviewed a copy of this book from Booksprout.

[Cricket1327_Zmob King · Rating 5 out of 5]

A marvelously written book! Outstanding story with fantastically done characters!
I absolutely LOVE this chick and her ornery cat! Definitely someone that I would befriend, even or maybe because of the shroud of death. I really want to let her know that she's not alone and shouldn't feel like these things are her fault! I guess you can tell that these characters are well written huh?!? ;) lol
I definitely recommend this book!

[Katie Cunningham · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was drawn right into the story and couldn't put it down until I was finished. Penny is resilient and brave but also vulnerable, which made her more real to me. I have enjoyed all the books in the series and am sure I'll enjoy the rest to come also. I highly recommend the series.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Christie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received Crushed as an ARC from the author.  I loved it and once I started this story,  I could not put it down.  Penny is one of my favourite characters, I love her strength and her perseverance. Her developing trust and friendship with TJ and Scrub is great to see and it's interesting to see where it will lead. I enjoy reading their podcast too. I can't wait for the next story. 

[Bobbi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another fun book in this series. Penny has a tough road to follow, being able to see when someone is in danger of dying is not a desirable ability. This story takes place in a small town. You will enjoy the world building and the characters. Penny is a great character and I am hooked on following her story. Highly recommend to all cozy lovers.

[Ann · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was so good I read it in one sitting! It is full of suspense, drama and a mystery to solve. All of the books in this series are clean mysteries that will keep you guessing until the end.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Barbara Harrison · Rating 5 out of 5]

Allow a morning or afternoon for this second PG paranormal about Penny Nichols who tends to see a Raven twenty-four hours before a death.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Angieleigh · Rating 3 out of 5]

Actual Rating: 3.25*

There is a running theme through this series that I really don't like which is why, even though I enjoyed everything else about the books, the fat-shaming and focus on Penny's weight by everyone she comes in contact with is too much to ignore.

1. None of the covers for the first three books (the only books I've seen and read so far) show a woman who is "chubby", "plus-sized", "pudgy", or any other verb in relation to how Penny describes herself. If you're going to have a plus-sized character, OWN IT. Make sure the cover matches your character(s). Even the cover with the human model on them does not reflect a plus-sized woman.

2. It's rather tedious that at least one or two characters in the book only paid attention to how much Penny weighed rather than Penny as a person. A person is worth more than what they look like/weigh. And so what that she's overweight? She OWNS it.

*Steps off of soapbox*

I adore Penny and just want to cuddle her. She carries around some mad guilt and insecurity, half because of the focus on her weight, and the other half because of the gift that she feels is a curse.

A gift/curse she's had since she was six years old when she saw a raven and her father died, in her precious little arms, 24 hours later with her twin sister nearby.

Wherever she goes, Penny always makes a friend, and in this installment she becomes BFFS almost instantly with the lovely Shannon, hopeful supplement maker and fitness instructor at Crush Gym. Shannon saves Lucy from embarrassment when Lucy leans out of the shower (slightly stained blue as Penny has just dyed her red hair blue and it's turned a pretty shade of purple) to get her towel and it's gone. Shannon gets her a beach towel from the front desk and keeps people out of the shower room until Penny is safely ensconced behind the curtain of her changing stall.

Penny is offered a temporary part time job at the smoothie station of the gym when Paul, the owner and also Shannon's boyfriend/supplement partner, gets bogged down during a rush thanks to one of their workers being in the hospital. Being paid under the table works perfectly for her as her home is her VW van along with her spunky cat Ace of Spades - or Spade for short.

What I enjoyed:

1. TC and Penny's budding friendship/possibly a relationship. TC may not fully understand Penny's glimpses of impending death for those near her, but he is a staunch supporter of hers along with his snarky, and not always nice, assistant, Scrubbs.


2. Calling her former boss as proof that she is still alive. In a way, I think he is like a father figure to her.

3. That this is a fast-paced book that I easily listened to in just a handful of hours while doing digital cross stitch. The narrator's voice is perfect and I love her British accent for our semi-paranormal podcast host, TC.

4. While there's not exactly a happily ever after, things do progress in a good way for Penny as she is given directions and a name for her next employer, thanks to Granny Rosa, as she leaves town.

What I did not like (other than the above):

1. Penny mentions all these things that have happened to her in the past that would have made great series installments! Such a tease...I really would have liked to see how she was saved that one time...

2. That Penny somehow managed to forget to tell the police about who was at the hospital when she and Shannon got there to visit Blanca! WHY DID YOU NOT TELL THEM, GIRLFRIEND?!

I'm halfway through this lovely series and hope that as we go along, Penny learns forgiveness and to own her gift.

[Sarah Elizabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars

* Penny goes to a new town and ends up working at a smoothie bar inside a gym.
* She makes friends with a girl called Shannon who is dating the owner of the gym Paul.
* Shannon has created a special blend of herbs which has helped her grandmother who was seriously ill. Paul is trying to take her blend public, but meantime staff at the gym use it.
* One of the gym members ends up dead in a steam room, with Penny's smoothie cup in her hands. Everyone assumes that the heat killed her, but it turns out that she was poisoned, and the poison was in the special blend.
* Penny still sees a raven on Shannon and wants to protect her, but gets picked up by the police and questioned.
* Penny discusses with Shannon's grandfather what's going on, and Shannon goes to the gym to confront Paul and ends up roasting in a chained shut tanning bed.
* Shannon's grandmother takes out Paul, Penny tries to help Shannon, and then the police arrive.
* Shannon's grandmother gives Penny $500 and tells her to leave town. She also gives her a number for her niece who needs a new employee.
* TC calls Penny and once again tells her that he wants to meet her in real life, and that he's not scared of her gift.

[Marcia - itsabookthing2021 · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love the Penny Nicols series! Crushed was no exception.
Crushed saw our Penny manage to get a job at the local gym on the smoothie bar.
As with Penny the raven is never too far away!

I loved this story, It was nice seeing Penny making friends with Sharon and her Grams. I have read all 7 books and I think this one pulled at my heart strings. I actually felt sorry for Penny towards the end. The story in Crushed showed the reality of the downside to Penny's "gift". The writing and mystery was just as fantastic as the previous book. There's more to Penny and I feel like we're just touching upon it.

I highly recommend this series, it's the best paranormal cozy mysteries I've read.

[Linda (ellsky) Jackson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed the mystery in this installment! In general, the mysteries are very well-crafted in the series, but I find that the constant anxiety and depression of the character tends not to sit well with me. There has been very little forward momentum regarding her search for her missing twin sister, which sounds like an interesting plot-line to continue with. I'm not sure if I will continue with this series, as I like the over-all story arc to be a little more present in the books of a series. I received a free copy of this audiobook and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Larry · Rating 4 out of 5]

This poor girl is haunted by a raven who shows her when someone is going to die. This time, she meets a guy running a smoothie bar. She helps him fill out orders, because his normal helper is in the hospital. He offers her a job and is willing to pay her under the counter. The raven shows her that the really nice girl who the smoothie owner claims as his girlfriend is to be the next victim, so Penny tries her best to protect her. It's a strange story and there are more things happening than I have told you, so read the story.

[Carol Amorosi · Rating 4 out of 5]

In the second book, Penny has moved to another town, another job. Once again, she tries to make friends, and the raven, the harbinger of death, dashes her hopes, making things more complicated. Supported by a podcaster, who believes in her, Penny once again fumbles her way through trying to prevent tragedy. I read Grounded, so when I came across this one, I thought I would give it a read—an entertaining book with a plucky main character.

[Wolf (Alpha) · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked this one better than the first. Definitely a bit more of a mystery this time. I like how they’re doing the podcast at the end of the book. I liked that we see where she’s going this time and have a name for the next book. Crazy that they had a special powder that ended up being drugged. I’ll be continuing the series.

[Karla · Rating 3 out of 5]

Penny sees herself as a curse to other people, dooming them to death if they get too close to her. I think it's more likely that she just has an insider scoop on things that are going to happen, with the change to do something about it. A bit like Quantum Leap, in that sense.

I was disappointed in Grannie. I think she could have been a better mentor than she chose to be.

[Carol · Rating 5 out of 5]

Couldn’t put it down

Sarah Hualde has quickly become a favorite author of mine. She keeps the story moving and is purposeful with each detail. I love the minimalist feel of her stories with a handful of characters to keep up with. It is refreshing. Can’t wait to read the rest of this series!

[Molly]

Penny struggles once again with the death harbingers she sees.

Meeting Shannon and her Grammie is both balm and wounding to her heart. The family shares some sort of precognitive gifts, yet that does not keep Grammie from trying to shield Shannon from knowledge of death close to her

Broken friendships are hard to bear.

Heart breaking lethal mysteries and resolutions

Well worth more than one reading!