The Psychic

Starlight Cafe

by Lovelyn Bettison

Traumatized by her past but hoping for a happy ending, can one medium cope when her feigned second sight becomes spectacularly authentic?

Cheryl Alvarez is barely getting by. Struggling to find clients after escaping an abusive relationship, the tarot reader still feels she’s helping folks… even if she doesn’t actually believe in the paranormal. But when a desperate man badgers her into clearing his haunted house, the fake fortune teller is terrified when she discovers she can suddenly see real ghosts.

Uncertain if the spirits trailing her are malevolent or misunderstood, Cheryl flees in panic. But with her business on the rocks and the handsome guy refusing to leave her alone, the determined woman resolves to get to the eerie truth.

Can the reluctant clairvoyant conquer her fears and embark on a new beginning?

The Psychic is the suspenseful first book in the Suncoast Paranormal thriller series. If you like quirky characters, sinister themes, and shivers of romance, then you’ll adore Lovelyn Bettison’s graveyard gambol.

Buy The Psychic to delight in dark divinations today!

Genres: Paranormal, Science Fiction Fantasy, Fiction, Horror

262 pages, Paperback

Published April 3, 2021

About the author

Lovelyn Bettison writes speculative fiction with a multicultural cast.

In her stories, the normal world is slightly askew, magic happens every day, and ordinary people end up in extraordinary situations. Her novels explore the themes of loss, regret, and striving to be better. There's almost always a love story. There is definitely magic, and she likes all her ending to be the happy kind.

If you want to explore a world that is different than your own and full of quirky characters and unusual occurrences check out her books.

Join Lovelyn's readers group to be the first to hear about new releases, special offers, and get some extra goodies. You can sign on her website: lovelynbettison.com.

Reviews

[Montzalee Wittmann · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Psychic
By Lovelyn Bettison
I loved this book. The start was a bit disjointed, but then it hooked itself together for a wild ride to the end! Like ghost stories, scare the poo outta you stories? This is it! Fantastic ending! Great characters and plot! I want to get the rest of the series but will wait for a sale. I'm a poor old lady who likes expensive books!

[Montzalee Wittmann · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a re-read. I bought the series and wanted to start from book one.
The Psychic
By Lovelyn Bettison
Our gal of the story reads tarot cards and operates a psychic hotline. She doesn't actually believe in it, but it helps the people she talks to. Then, one of the guys she reads for begs her to come to his house. He swears it's haunted. That's when she she becomes a believer! Load of fun if you like ghost stories!

[Cheryl · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a 4.25 star read.

Wow ..... I drank this down like a person dying of thirst ... in one great gulp! I love it when you find a book you instantly click with and literally can't put down until you've finished it.

[Stace · Rating 5 out of 5]

Book Reviewed by Nia on www.whisperingstories.com

This is a brilliant novella and a great paranormal pick-me-up to get you in the mood for Halloween – very much like Ghost Whisperer if you’ve ever seen the series.

This is a great exercise in story-telling, fitting in two different plots within 175 pages and pacing everything just right. It’s a satisfying and fun read, even if the romance aspect is a bit lazy – I was 100% in it for the paranormal aspect and would have been satisfied without any romance at all.

Cheryl is a likable main character with a past she’s trying to overcome, she’s struggling to make ends meet with her tarot card readings so she’s quick to take on a job helping a local man with a haunting problem and expand her repertoire of supernatural skills. I love the hauntings in this book and how they’re resolved, there are some spine chilling moments in there while we figure out what type of ghosts the main character is dealing with so we feel her fear as she explores this side of the paranormal.

It’s difficult to review this title as the synopsis is very cagey about the specifics and I don’t want to give anything away, but if you like investigative ghost stories – you’ll enjoy this.

Sign me up for the rest of the series if it features these main characters, I’m dying (pun intended!) to find out what happens next.

[Kelley · Rating 2 out of 5]

I had high hopes for this book after reading the reviews but this author needs a better editor. The initial ghosts that were haunting Adam were initially described as “Gatsby” type which would put them in the 1920s. Later they’re described as being from the 1940s but the timeline doesn’t work. Then suddenly they’re just gone. Cheryl describes what happened to Adam but that is not shared with the reader. Then a few chapters later it just says they’re gone and were only haunting Adam because they were related. Um, what? How did all of that transpire? If you weren’t going to share those details, why was that a storyline?

The abusive ex-boyfriend is initially named Mark and that name is carried throughout the book until you hit chapter 23 and suddenly his name is Carl.

Continuity matters. I found myself so frustrated with these changes and lack of detail that it was hard to enjoy the story. I bought the whole series so I’m really hoping it gets better as it goes.

[Maria Russo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Better than i expected. Can't wait to read the series.

[Mindykyle23 · Rating 1 out of 5]

Spoiler Alert. I bought this book because of all the glowing reviews and statements of “scariest book I ever read”. What? This was a huge disappointment that made me think that these 4-5stars had to be friends of the author. If not, I’m sorry to go against the trend. This was not only the worst “scary” book I’ve ever read, but probably the worst book I’ve ever read.
The entire story was so cliche. A story that has been told 1000 times. The characters have very little depth to them which made you not care about them at all. Everything going on with them was told to you from their mind instead of shown or created for the reader to experience. For example: “He thought he was going crazy”, “He wondered if other people had to deal with ghosts”, “He felt like he was going insane”. The whole book is like that. I hate disparaging someone who has taken time to actually sit down and write a book (and actually looks like many) as I know that is a daunting task, but really- this was written like a middle schooler wrote it. She needed to find a decent editor- which I find often happens to people who self-publish. I didn’t know it was self-published til I got it. However, plot lines were just dropped out of nowhere-what ever happened to Adam’s ghosts? Supposedly they wanted help- how did she help them? They just went away and he was happy about it. Then near the end something about he was related to them?
There were pages of conversations and scenes that did not need to be in the book as it didn’t move the plot at all. So many character conversations were repetitive. A scene we already as a reader went through was redescribed again and again to other characters. We know what happened, why do we have to endure her retelling it over and over again. Adam talking to these ghosts was ridiculous- mundane conversation from someone who was supposed to be scared. At least he should have been with the first encounter or two. The cliches were so bad with her “helping people with their ghosts”- yes, yes- they want to tell you it wasn’t your fault, that they love you, etc. etc. Nothing interesting. And you knew the author was going to try and throw in these two characters falling in love with each other in the end- but of course, there was no build-up or chemistry at all.

So this is how it went with me- I read the first four chapters and found it so non-interesting and somewhat written more for juveniles, but still was curious what made this the scariest book of many reviewers. I then took to skimming it, and you could easily skim and just skip through most of the filler and unnecessary conversations to find parts of the story. I was done with it in about 2 hours- and never found anything in it that would make this scary at all. It was a ghost story told like a kid’s story. I then left it on the plane to be tossed. I won’t be reading any of this author’s other books.

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book. It has some errors where an editor or a proofreader missed making some corrections. For example, in one place, Cheryl is talking to a ghost named Sam. A paragraph later, the same ghost's name is Jonathan, but it reverts back to Sam as you continue reading. Same with Cheryl's boyfriend's name, which switches between Mark and Carl.
Despite some continuity errors, I liked the character development, the dialogue was pretty good, and the author didn't fall into the trap of over-using the characters' names.
The book does have a bit of a rushed feel to it. We drop right into the action, but there are places where the author doesn't take the time to fill us in on how things transpired. In one situation, she's working with the ghosts at Adam's house. A bit later, Adam and Cheryl are talking about how those ghosts are gone. Where'd they go? Adam kinda says that Cheryl took care of them, but it'd be nice to know how she moved them on, why they were there in the first place, and what they wanted.
The editing and storyline issues might bother people more than it bothered me. I liked the plot, so perhaps I was willing to overlook this book's weaknesses. I found it engaging enough that I read it in one sitting.

[Sandra Lopez · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cheryl works as a tarot reader and was good at it. She liked helping people gain insight. Realizing that no one would hire a philosophy major, she charged a small fee for her readings at the café and worked part-time for a psychic hotline.

She then meets a client, who claimed death was following him. Apparently, he was being haunted by ghosts. Strange things have been happening to Adam and he wanted Cheryl’s help to get rid of them. In trying to help Adam, she sees them—the ghosts. And it freaked her out (well, of course!)

I thought this was interesting and fairly easy to fall into; however, there was some major lag, which slowed down the progress. It started off well, which kept me vested, but then it petered out in the second part. Although not as good as I thought it would be, it’s still a fascinating concept and an okay ghost story.

[Karen F · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting premise, needs work on the mechanics. The book cried out for a good editor who could help with some continuity issues. It felt as if the author rushed this one in an effort to get it out there. When the bulk of your book involves a pair of ghosts haunting some poor guy and the psychic gets rid of them, it would sure be nice to know how she accomplished that. The author sums it up in one sentence. The story poured out of her. Ah that's it, Hmm. Why not tell us, the audience, that story? Aren't we supposed to be invested enough to care? Just one example, but there were more. I'd have given this one 3 stars, but I was engaged enough to finish, the characters were interesting, and I'm intrigued enough to read one more.

[Vicki · Rating 4 out of 5]

If I could give half stars, this would be rated 4 1/2. A light, fun book, perfect for fans of The Ghost Whisperer, this is the first in a series. Cheryl reads tarot cards for a living, until her ability to see and communicate with ghosts is revealed. A well-timed romance with Adam provides her with the partner she needs, for her new business and for her life. My only complaint is that, as with so many other ebooks, there are multiple editing errors. Also, a couple of glaring inconsistencies: Sam becomes Jonathan and then Sam again; and her business changes names. These types of books are like eating popcorn - not great literature but a lot of fun to read.

[Joanne H · Rating 5 out of 5]

A tarot card psychic, Cheryl knew how to read the cards and for most give good honest readings. She operated out of a small barista that she was let go of and how her life changed drastically. Meeting a guy turned her world upside down and made a believer out of her. This is a very good storytelling read. Story moves swiftly and had defining characters. Good reading, good book. I received a complimentary copy of this book.

[Jeannie Huie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this paranormal book because the characters were normal people who were astounded to find themselves believing in ghosts! This was a very believable type book that was easy and quick to read! I think the following books will be just as fine!! I received this book from the author and this is my freely given opinion.

[Susan Otto · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fascinating story about a house on Psychic came to be

After traumatizing beginning Cheryl took up tarot reading and then begin helping a client with his ghost problem.

The characters are intriguing and the ghosts too. This is a modern paranormal Romance that I know makes a good series. As such I highly recommend it for something different.

bookwormsuzy

[Linda Rorex · Rating 5 out of 5]

This novel from the Starlight Cafe series by Lovelyn Bettison tells the story of psychic Cheryl who reads tarot cards at the Starlight Cafe for a living. She is hired by a customer at the cafe to get rid of the ghosts that haunt his home. Thus starts the adventure into the realm of the paranormal for Cheryl. I really enjoyed reading this fascinating book.

[Vivian Byfield · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good read

I really enjoyed this book, very well written with excellent storytelling. Filled with lots of twists and turns and so believable. I warn you if you are of a nervous disposition I would not recommend, but on the other hand you enjoy a good paranormal mystery then I can recommend can't wait to read the next book.

[Dawn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting, easy read

I enjoyed this book. Simple, easy to read, and the characters are interesting enough. I expect the series to become more interesting as it progresses since the foundation was laid in this book.
My only complaint was the multiple typos in the book. I decided to leave my rating at 4 stars based strictly on the story, typos aside.

[Terri Voth(TV) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Is the new job worth it!!!

This is a first time read for this author. I had a hard time getting into this book at first. After the characters started interacting with each other, it was a lot better. I enjoyed the interaction between Cheryl and Adam, and the other characters were interesting. I plan on reading the second book before deciding to finish the series.

[Lesley Hewitt · Rating 5 out of 5]

Different

This book was different to the books I normally read. It was actually quite believable. Cheryl needs to get a grip though. She meets Adam in a coffee shop where she does Tarot readings, she helps him to find out who and why two ghosts are in his apartment. She not only does Tarot readings but can also see and speak to ghosts. I did enjoy this book once I got into it.

[Donna Marie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good book, but scenes were jumpy

I enjoyed this book. I read thru it quickly which means it held my attention. Changing scenes weren’t very clear and I needed to re read some pages just to get the gist that the author was on to a different scene. Confused me with Sam then mentioned Jonathon. Story line was good and character development was good .

[Robin L DiSalvo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this story about Cheryl a tarot card reader turned psychic medium and how circumstances occurred to transform her in that direction. I have always been fascinated with people who have a gift beyond anything unknown. I can’t wait to read the next story with Cheryl and Adam’s new ghost adventures.

[Mj · Rating 5 out of 5]

Quirky and fun

I like a story that has a “touch of extra help” given to the main characters to complete their mission and with a bit of romance thrown in. This book had that and more. Fun and enjoyable read.

[Tina Goldberg · Rating 4 out of 5]

The characters and story development reminded me of one of my favorite TV shows--Dead Files. I don't need a psychic to tell me that I will enjoy reading about Cheryl and Adam's future paranormal cases.

[Stephanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was such a fun ghosty story about a tarot card reader, Cheryl, finding she actually has powers to see and help dead people. Cheryl was so charming and enjoyable. It reminded me of The Ghost Whisperer a lot and I loved that show.

[Shawn M. Farmer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ghost Stories and Psychics Oh My!

I enjoyed this book so much. I loved the characters, the relationships, and the adventure of it. I’ve always been so fascinated by the unseen and have read series on paranormal investigators and this book did not disappoint. Great story.

[Edith Moreida · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great read!

This was my first read by Lovelyn Bettison and it was a great read. I really enjoyed it. Very good first a beginning paranormal reader. I will definitely read this series.

[Barbara · Rating 5 out of 5]

I bought a set of this series online and I am always worried that I will be disappointed in them. I don't have that worry anymore. I loved this book and the relationship starting between Cheryl and Adam. Great storyline. On to the next book. Recommend reading.

[Tamara Thomas · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book has it all. Cheryl is a psychic that learns she can see ghosts and then she sets out to help them. Throw in romance and you have a very good book.

[Hilda Baard · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great story with strong characters and plot line. I enjoyed it so much I snatched up book 2 in the series the moment I finished this book. well worth the read.

[Deb · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great psychic novel.