Love is Strong as Death

by Carolyn Nash

Rachel Elliot is a smart and cynical investigative journalist with a passion for exposing the truth behind every story. But when her editor asks her to look into a controversial real-estate deal involving an elusive tech billionaire and a supposedly haunted house, she unexpectedly uncovers dark secrets about her own past. With a beautiful pharmaceutical heiress, a relentless colleague, and one of the world’s most famous Internet innovators all staking a claim on her past and her future, it’s up to Rachel to figure out what binds this group together before fate overtakes them.

Genres: Fiction, Paranormal, Mystery, Romance

280 pages, Paperback

First published September 6, 2012

Reviews

[Cheryl · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this serialized book by the author of THE TRUNK KEY. I was lucky enough to get an Advanced Reading Copy of the whole thing and was very glad. Fun read.

[Linda · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is a page turner! I must say that the first few pages were so slow that I almost put the book down. I'm glad I didn't. I have just finished the first part of the serial and now I'm anxious to get on to the next. Great book with just the right amount of suspense. The characters are believable and well fleshed out. I feel like I am looking in on the lives of real people. This author has done a great job with this story and I will be looking for other works by her.

Well, I am now finished with the serial and I thoroughly enjoyed it. The rest of the book was as much of a page-turner as the beginning of the book. I found myself reading late into the night, even though I knew I had to get up early. I just wanted to know what happened next! I knew where the story was going, but I had to keep reading. Loved this book. I would recommend this book to anyone who wants a good read.

[Carol LeBras · Rating 4 out of 5]

fun, quick read chosen after a more difficult slow read I just finished before this book. The writer does a good job of conveying how very frightening the ghost-aspect of the story is to the main character in a way that did inspire some fear for me as well. Not every ghost story can do that. It is reminiscent of Shirley Jackson's The Haunting of Hll House but this one has rather a happy ending (one of the weaker aspects of the story) but for a light scary read it was fun.

(I edited this review - had the wrong story by Shirley Jackson in mind, meant Haunting of Hill House, but wrote The Lottery).

[Kristen Morris · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good fun mystery/supernatural read! I'm a major sucker for anything that remotely involves a haunting so this was right up my alley. I loved the twists and turns along the way, you can see some of them coming, but not all. Overall engaging and fun. I noticed a few people thought it was slow, I didn't feel that way at all.

I recieved an e-copy of this book via the first reads program.

[Shelley · Rating 4 out of 5]

thoroughly enjoyed this story! almost couldn't put it down. did not, however, care for Peter one bit and had to keep myself from yelling at Rachel to run far, far away from him and his controlling self!

[Kim Stewart · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fabulous novel. I just wanted to keep reading, uninterrupted, till I was done. I had too much going on at home so I went to a quiet coffee shop to keep reading. I highly recommend this book, especially if you like a good ghost/love story.

[Jan Crossen · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book has ghosts, mystery, and romance. It's the perfect book to read at Halloween!

[Mitsy · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a wild ride! Rachel and Terry are researching a story for their newspaper, right? At least that's the beginning. They investigate why a billionaire is buying a supposedy haunted house. The more they dig, the more questions they ask, the deeper they get, until they're quickly sucked into a mystery which threatens their sanity. Is the house haunted? Or are they losing their minds? Read and decide for yourself.

Ms. Nash wrote a very imaginative tale with humor and depth. Rachel is an enigma. I can only hope more books are being written about Rachel. Does she believe in haunted houses, ghosts, etc.? What happens to Rachel? If she believes in all that, is she sane? Some questions are answered at the end, yet I still wonder. The other characters are good.

Ms. Nash neatly seperates each section and writes so fluidly. Her humor is hilarious, perfectly timed and doesn't detract from a deeply serious, very thought provoking, story. For all of that, she lets this be pure escapism at its best. Because she doesn't take herself too seriously, all the questions that arise don't matter. Just let go and enjoy the ride!

Wow! I can not believe this is the same author who wrote The Trunk Key. What an imagination and extremely talented author - to write two stories so drastically different they would never fall under the same genre! Oh, wow.

4.5 stars

[Sharlene · Rating 4 out of 5]

Before I begin, I feel it prudent to state that the author was kind enough to send me a few of her books to read. She has not asked me to review the books but I have finished this one and would like to review it regardless.


I first read one of Nash's books because I was the lucky recipient of a First Reads giveaway...I loved the book and was expecting any other books of hers to be cookie cutter books...I am thrilled to say I couldn't be farther from the truth thinking that! I can't wait to put my nose in more of her books now.

This book is set in the present and ties in events from the past and deals with past lives. While this book could have been confusing to read, Nash enables the reader to follow the tale in such a smooth manner that it is becomes one of those books you kick yourself for reading late at night for...yes, it's that hard to set down. Throw in a twist of romance, mystery and a medium and you find yourself immersed in the story.

It is here that I have to thank the author for strong characters. They are realistic enough that they have their doubts but strong enough to push through fears or have too much pride to not do something.

Beautifully written and wonderful to read.

[Theresa · Rating 5 out of 5]

This suspensful romantic mystery just sucked me in and didn't let go, and right up to the end I was amazed at how Carolyn pulled it all together in the end! I highly recommend this book!

Rachel and Terry are reporters for a newspaper. They work as partners writing about the same story taking totally opposite directions. Terry writes about the good in people; Rachel exposes them for what they truly are. Rachel has no love in her heart, she is empty and depressed all the time.

When they get a new story to write about, it turns out to be about a mansion this is being sold and torn down that is over 100 years old and is said to be haunted. There are two possible buyers so Terry visits with one and Rachel meets with the other and this is when the mystery takes off!

I look forward to reading Carolyn Nash's future novels!

[Amy · Rating 2 out of 5]

I read this for free on my phone from a download from the author. A story about karma and living a life after a life. Kind of a weird story line, not your typical run of the mill ghost story. Characters were interesting though. Rachel and Terry are co-authors of a newspaper column. Their next story is one about a mansion that the owner claims is haunted. One company wants to come in a tear it down to develop the land, another is fighting to preserve the history as they believe it really is haunted. The story unfolds as each side defends their stance, and the truth only comes unraveled in the end with a dramatic twist.

[Jenny · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked the basis for the story, but the relationship between Rachel and Peter annoyed me. I prefer stronger female characters and when Rachel turned into such a zombie it annoyed me to no end. My interest in it spiked again when Rachel grew a pair and stood up to Peter. I think it would have been better if there was a little bit more going on in the story and it wasn't so short, or just cutting down Rachel's zombie mode.

*I received this ebook in exchange for a honest review from a publisher.

[Donna · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book. It took a little twist I wasn't expecting. Didn't like the character Peter but understood him better as the book went on. It started a little slow but didn't take long to grab my attention. Not a bad read at all.

[Dorel · Rating 1 out of 5]

When I seen the description of this book it sounded really good to me so I decided to read it but I got 30% into this book & stopped reading it. It was too slow moving, not enough action, & suspenseful to me.

[Audrey Page · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not believable.

[Melissa Levine · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really liked this story. There were some slow parts but nothing that really distracted me from the story itself. I was able to get this read within a couple hours because it was hard to put down.

[Allyson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Awesome book:)

[Amanda · Rating 2 out of 5]

not what I was expecting. thought it would be better. skimmed the last half. the writing seemed amateurish.

[Charles McDougald · Rating 2 out of 5]

I wanted to like this book but I just couldn't. I guess ghost story romances just aren't for me.

[Lisa Kinard · Rating 3 out of 5]

Too Far fetched.

I enjoyed this book but I don't really like time travel mysteries. It was a good story other than that.

[Cortney · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book is horrible dont waste your time.