Ghost Maker

Ghost Seer #5

by Robin D. Owens

Clare Cermak has a gift for speaking to ghosts of the Old West, but in the latest from the author of Ghost Talker, she may soon join their ranks...

Genres: Urban Fantasy, Romance, Paranormal, Ghosts, Paranormal Romance, Fantasy, Mystery

270 pages, Kindle Edition

First published October 18, 2016

Reviews

[Sophia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ghost Maker takes things to a whole new level for Claire, Zach, and ghost dog, Enzo as they must defeat an evil ghost while searching for a ghostly healer for the spiritual tear in Claire's side slowly killing her.

Five books in and the series has hit its stride. Readers need to read this urban fantasy series in order from the beginning when Claire reluctantly receives her ghost seeing gift and spirit guide dog Enzo and when Zach thinks his career in law enforcement is over from a severe disability. Both have to fight personal demons and emerging psychic gifts to become a romantic partnership and ghost hunting team.

The series started slow and not completely engaging for me, but in the last few books, I have come to love what I'm getting. In this latest installment, Zach and Claire are trying to figure out things still, but have at least declared their 'I love you's. Claire is now 'out' as a psychic and has taken on jobs through the psychic community. Zach helps though he still keeps his lesser psychic gift to himself.

The latest job has torn the spiritual tear received on an earlier case open further in Claire's side. She wanted to pretend things were getting better and wants to resent Zach and Enzo's hovering, but they are right to be scared for her. Nothing is helping. But then The Other is coerced by Zach to explain that Claire must find a powerful healer spirit who can repair her spirit. Using her research skills and psychic hunches, Claire narrows down the location of where this spirit might be- Manitou Springs.

Right about the time Claire is ready to find the healer, Tony Rickman, Zach's boss, has an investigation job for him- find a runaway boy who's been on the streets for months. Zach knows that the situation isn't promising because it has been so long, but takes the case. He splits his time helping Claire hunt for the ghost healer and hunting the streets of Denver for a teenage boy. Meanwhile, a great evil is on the loose and a serial killing rampage is already underway. Claire, Zach and Enzo face another insurmountable challenge.

Yep, this one was chock-full of challenge for the team of ghost hunters. Claire is at her accountant eccentric heart best as is Zach. They might have gotten over the big hump of acceptance for their gifts and their differences, but that doesn't mean they don't still have issues to challenge them. I used to get very frustrated with their stubbornness over different things, but now there is a good balance between natural conflict and the resolution process.

I am also adjusted to the pacing of this series. It has its spikes of excitement, but in general it flows along smoothly and steadily like a cozy mystery with paranormal elements. The characters hunt down answers for their cases and then have the big supernatural confrontation making these lighter weight Urban Fantasy.

The worldbuilding continues to grow Claire and Zach's story. More little tidbits came out about their psychic abilities. With Claire its an issue of reading her great-aunt's journals, learning from her spirit guides, and practicing her gift, but with Zach, his background and gift are a mystery so it trickles out the reveals for him which I find exciting.

This latest case, like the others before, take Claire and Zach into an investigation into the past of the Old West. This time it is the town and environs of Manitou Springs where TB sufferers used to come for their health. The ghosts in this one were part of that from the sweet young married couple who both defied their families and found love even while dying of the disease and of the young Catholic nun who ministered to the sufferers. The author always does her homework and brings out different facets of Old West history through these stories.

Again and in summary, this series keeps getting better and I continue to look forward to each new installment and the ghost hunting case that comes with it. For those who enjoy a lighter and slower paced Urban Fantasy with quirky and different characters, give these a go.

My thanks to Penguin Group for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

[Krissys Bookshelf Reviews · Rating 3 out of 5]

With Clare’s health fading, she and her partner—the love of her life—detective Zach Slade, head to Manitou Springs, Colorado, in search of the only healer who can help them: the ghost of Sister Juliana Emmanuel, whose healing skills live on in the afterlife.

Unfortunately for Clare, the nun’s ghost is elusive, and the town is teeming with spirits who all want to speak with Clare—newer ones, street kids who've been killed and want their bodies found and their murders avenged.

Now, with the help of Zach and Sister Juliana, Clare must find the killer before he strikes again. But to do so, she will face an evil that could destroy everything she and Zach hold dear—including their love.





Ghost Maker was a little slower on the uptake compared to the last couple books. There were some moments that felt a little 'okay, we're here..now what?' so it took a little while to engage into the excitement once it picked back up again.

Clare and Zach also felt like they sort of stalled out as well. They've gotten to this point but mostly what they have in common right now is the fact that they're trying to figure out what's going on verses whats going on in their relationship, which felt a little disjointed to me since their relationship seemed like part of their strength - what made them better.

The secondary characters get some more page time which was interesting, but I was still looking for a more intimate vibe to pick up for Clare and Zach which kind of felt missing by the end.

My final opinion is that the book slows things down a bit and puts it into neutral but its still worth the read.

















Booklikes

Goodreads

Twitter

Google Plus

Blogger

Pinterest

Amazon

Facebook

Wordpress

RSS

BlogLovin





Krissy's Bookshelf Reviews received a digital copy in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts, comments and ratings are my own.




Krissy's Bookshelf Reviews received a digital copy in exchange for an honest review from Penguin/ Berkley Publishing




If any of Krissy's Bookshelf Reviews has been helpful please stop by to like or let me know what you think! I love hearing from followers! Thank you!

[Michele · Rating 4 out of 5]

Actual Rating: 3.5 Stars

Ghost Maker was another interesting installment in Robin D. Owens’ Ghost Seer series. This time around, Clare, Zach and Enzo had to scurry around to find a way to heal Clare’s supernatural wounds and locate a missing street kid before a killer could get to him.

I really like the world Owens has created for this series and it seems like with each installment the characters–as well as the readers–learn something new. There were a lot of little tidbits of information that Zach, Clare and Enzo uncovered in this story that will help them understand their ‘gifts’ more. And that will help them on future cases, of course. I love the learning process they’ve been immersed in. It makes the story seem more realistic that they’ve had to figure things out as they go and that they started from a more skeptical frame of mind.

Read More
_________________________
Original Notes:

Ghost Maker was another interesting installment in Robin D. Owens' Ghost Seer series. The story itself had a nice, fast-moving pace to it and the tidbits of information Clare and Zach learned here should help them on future cases. And while I might have found the dialogue a little disjointed this time, I liked that our two main characters still had a solid connection between them and they're making strides toward a long-term relationship. Full review to come.

[nikkia neil · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thanks Berkley Publishing Group and netgalley for this ARC.

I'm always amazed at how much Robin Owens packs into one book. Love, abandon, pain, and psychic power schemes all fit together and make sense!

[Marlene · Rating 5 out of 5]

This joint review was originally published at The Book Pushers

E: Marlene and I have jointly reviewed the previous books in this series since Owens falls on our autobuy list so we decided to join opinions once more.

Marlene: Basically, we have a streak going and were all too happy to extend it to another entry in this series!

E: And what an entry this was! The last book was one of the darker installments in this series and really left a lingering mark on Clare, one which was steadily taking a greater and greater toll on Clare’s health. She had finally pushed past her reluctance to take up her calling and was no longer in danger of dying by rejecting her power but she also learned that spirits and ghosts could do much more to harm her then use her living warmth to power their trip to the next stop. Unlike regaining warmth once the ghosts are gone, the wound to Clare’s spirit remained. So the focus was on healing Clare and along the way things got complicated.

Marlene: Things always get complicated when Clare and Zach (and Enzo!) are on the case. That’s what makes this series so compelling. But up until now, a big chunk of the conflict has been Clare’s reluctance to accept her gift. At first it was only the thought of the alternative, death, that kept her in practice. Just as she’s finally accepted her gift and her calling, she’s forced to deal with a spirit wound that may kill her even quicker. Clare has just accepted that she will have regular clients. Now she has to put everything on hold to take herself as a client. And she is not happy about it. At all.

E: Clare not being happy was probably an understatement. She grew up as the only reliable person in her family and was used to being alone, independent, and fully in control of all aspects of her life. Through the previous books as Marlene mentioned above she was coming to terms to her new full complicated life and had finally reached an equilibrium when this happened. One of the things I loved in this book is how Clare reacted to the sudden change by fearing she was going to skew the sense of equal partnership with Zach. This has repercussions later and some very interesting developments involving Zach, Enzo, and Clare and their separate impressions of what partnership means.

Marlene: Both Clare and Zach have been loners for most of their lives. They are used to depending on no one but themselves. They have managed to carve out a partnership after a lot of difficulty by finally managing to recognize that each of them have strengths that the other lacks. But Zach has a protective streak a mile wide, and Clare rightfully fears that if she is dependent, he will become overprotective. Again. And she has deep-seated fears of her own about depending too much (at all) on anyone else, because there hasn’t been anyone in her life that she could depend on. Part of what makes this relationship work for the reader is that we see them negotiate this important boundary.

Something else about this series and their relationship that we have to be reminded of over and over is just how little world-time has elapsed between the beginning of the series and now. We are five books in, and it’s taken two years for those books to be published. But for Clare and Zach, it’s been less than six weeks. That’s a very short time to adjust to discovering that your entire life is going to be extremely different from what you planned, and to develop what looks like the relationship that will sustain the rest of that life. In this book we see some of the two steps forward (except it’s more like three now) and one step back involved in blending two adult lives into one.

E: Ooh very good point about the actual passage of book time vs reader time. They have made some major steps forward and have started developing the little wordless routines/habits that come with blending lives but neither is completely comfortable with their weaknesses being balanced by their partner’s strengths. In addition to working on their relationship it was good to see both Clare and Zach becoming more comfortable with their psychic abilities and willing to call others in their close circle out when they were keeping things hidden.

I do think a certain conversation/promise Zach made is going to rear its ugly head at the worst moment in the future with the foundation they are currently building and Enzo’s influence to help calm the storm. I have my hopes the circle of friends will add some buffering but I am afraid Clare is going to try to isolate herself at a time when she really needs to depend on others.

Marlene: I agree with you about that promise. Those sorts of things ALWAYS come back to haunt. There is definitely a snake in the ectoplasmic grass (so to speak) who is going to bite Zach (and probably Clare and Enzo as well) in the ass at the worst possible time and in the worst possible way.

It is Clare’s way to isolate herself. Also Zach’s. Having the same bad habits can be as binding in a relationship as having the same good ones. (Been there, done that). Clare’s whole universe has been thrown on its ear – she has to depend on others and she doesn’t have much foundation to build on there. Zach is the same, but it manifests differently. Also, because Zach’s difficulty is physical and obvious, it is a bit easier to deal with, if only a bit. But still, the things that have brought them together have also completely upset both their worlds, and while a lot of it is good and the outcome of some it will depend on what they make of it, there is also plenty of bad stuff to deal with into the bargain.

Starting with this case. Or cases. Or unholy mess.

E: This was a mess! Zach was involved in a case which pushed so many of his protective buttons and his old senses as a cop kept him thinking hope was minimal. Then he was struggling with the search to find a way to heal Clare when no one could give him a concrete solution. Add in Clare’s need to heal herself, not feel dependent, not let others down (always responsible), and to find a ghost who really doesn’t want to be found and this book had so many different emotional aspects. I was especially struck by how much self awareness and understanding was required to survive everything Owens threw at her characters.

Marlene: This case really upped the stakes in so many different directions. So much of it was heartbreaking. While Zach’s instincts made him fear the worst, what finally happened was still plenty bad. It was a case where even the good ending had an awful lot of bitter mixed with the sweet. At the same time, it was a case that required both of their talents used to the fullest. Zach needed Clare’s ghost seeing ability to solve the real-world aspects of the case, and Clare needed Zach’s police work to find the ghost. In spite of everything going on, they managed to work together extremely well.

That Clare’s search for a good ghost to heal her turned out to be tied into Zach’s case wasn’t unexpected, but the way that everything worked together packed an emotional punch. At the same time, while they worked together well on a professional level, we could still see them figuring out where they stand as a couple. Those issues also required a lot of self awareness, and a whole bunch of compromise. But I love the way we see them working things out.

E: I really enjoyed watching Clare and Zach work together. It is similar to how one of the characters raised the possibility that Clare and Zach were put in a certain position to make things right, almost like a set of chess pieces who still had elements of free will. Something else that didn’t quite sit comfortably with either one. Yet at the end despite the bitter-sweetness of solving Zach’s case and Clare’s healing along with the changes needed for Zach to consider growing roots they almost seemed at peace. I loved how a reminder of the peace and happiness from the “spiritual” climax of the story came back to their house with them.

Marlene: YESSSSS! I also love the way that Enzo is growing and changing right along with them. He is still, in so many ways, a big, shaggy, playful, albeit spiritual, dog. But he is also a spirit who is gaining in intelligence and power as the three of them form a tighter team. And relying on Enzo has made it easier for Clare and Zach both to learn to rely on others and each other. I love Enzo.

But speaking of the spiritual side of this story, one of the things that I really liked was the way that each of the ghosts saw heaven as they believed it to be. All belief systems seem to be equally valid. I personally found this concept to be both very inclusive and very cool.

E: So completely agree with all of those points. Enzo is fabulous and watching his development with growing independence/autonomy is always a delight. I personally would love to see him vanquish a certain dweller of the ectoplasm *narrows eyes*. I also really like how heaven or the next step was individual to each ghost depending on who they were and what they valued. I also enjoyed the variety of different reasons each had for staying anchored instead of always needing the agent of their death tracked down.

The Ghost Seer series continues to grow and so does my enjoyment. Ghost Maker was a complex layered story which delivered in suspense, character growth, and worldbuilding without seeming heavy handed or overblown. I remain hooked on it and Owens’ writing.

I give Ghost Maker an A-/B+

Marlene: This series just gets better and better. I’ve enjoyed every entry, but Ghost Maker had me completely enthralled from beginning to end. And ending which was both just right and came much too soon – I wasn’t ready to let go yet. Hopefully it won’t be too long before the next book in the series!

Owens is one of my auto-buy authors, and books like Ghost Maker are the reason. She has created a compelling world, or in this case offshoot of our world, and populates it with fascinating people while creating a marvelous romance – in this case a sustained one that continues to add depth with each entry.

And I absolutely adore Enzo!

I give Ghost Maker an A-

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

[Kathy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ghost Seer #5
This is the last book in this series so far… It kind of ended, but not really. There were a lot of unresolved plot lines left dangling so there is definitely room to add more.

I have to honestly say that had I only purchased the first book in this series I would never have read the whole series as it is right now. At no time did I get hooked into this series to the point that I was dreaming about it or thinking about it outside of the time I spent listening to it. If another book in this series comes out I doubt that I will read it. Unlike the author's Celta's Heartmates series, which I still think about and hope for more books in, this series has not left me wanting more.

I will definitely be trading these five books for new books to listen to. I will never want to read them again and I only keep books that I think I will want to read again.

As it stands, my all time favorite psychic gift/ghostf genre series is the PsyCop series by Jordan Castille Price. Enjoy!

Read:
October 23-24, 2020 – Audible AudioBook

[Shirley Bennett · Rating 5 out of 5]

Exciting & action packed!

This deserves a 5+ rating- the continued adventures of Clare & Zack- Enzo and the whole gang are absolutely exciting!

I don't want to give away too much - but Clare & Zack both coming to terms with their new vocations & the strength of their love in this very action packed story will keep you hooked!!

Robin just MUST continue this series - there are so many possibilities for at least 4 more books!!!

[Lois Alston · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great story

Clare finally getting better. Hopefully the other learning to help more. Helping others is very important and welcoming. Finally appreciating what you were given.

[OpenBookSociety.com · Rating 4 out of 5]

http://openbooksociety.com/article/gh...

Ghost Maker
Ghost Seer, Book #5
By Robin D. Owens
Author’s website: http://robindowens.com/
Brought to you by OBS Reviewer Jerjen

Synopsis:

Clare Cermak has a gift for speaking to ghosts of the Old West, but in the latest from the author of Ghost Talker, she may soon join their ranks…

With Clare’s health fading, she and her partner—the love of her life—detective Zach Slade, head to Manitou Springs, Colorado, in search of the only healer who can help them: the ghost of Sister Juliana Emmanuel, whose healing skills live on in the afterlife.

Unfortunately for Clare, the nun’s ghost is elusive, and the town is teeming with spirits who all want to speak with Clare—newer ones, street kids who’ve been killed and want their bodies found and their murders avenged.

Now, with the help of Zach and Sister Juliana, Clare must find the killer before he strikes again. But to do so, she will face an evil that could destroy everything she and Zach hold dear—including their love…

Review:

Clare has started up a new business, where she continues helping spirits pass over, but in a much safer way. These spirits are not evil, they just do not want to move on or do not know how to move on. This should be much easier than fighting sinister entities and much safer. And it would be, except that every time she helps a spirit pass, a spiritual tear that Clare received while working an earlier case, gets torn open a little more. This is causing problems for her physical body and it becomes so bad that Clare and Zach, her lover and partner, become very concerned. They learn about a spiritual healer that may be able to help Clare recover. She may be the only one that can help her and they know they have to find her and enlist her services. But doing that is easier said than done, because when they locate her, she is evasive and not exactly willing to help. They need to convince her, and deal with many ghosts needing Clare’s help, before it is too late for Clare to recover.

The characters are well developed, well rounded and three dimensional. Clare is a very tough self sufficient woman, but she also has a softer side, especially when it comes to Zach, and Enzo, the ghost dog, who is really Clare’s spirit guide. Although you could tell how much Clare loved Zach, at times I felt like she did not like him very much. This made the relationship feel more realistic to me and I liked that. Zach often became very frustrated with Clare, mostly because he is very concerned about her health and well being. I enjoyed the bickering and bantering between the two of them, it was entertaining.

The writing style flows smoothly and the book is a quick easy read. The author is very talented in her descriptive writing and through much of the book I felt like I was right there, watching all the action taking place all around me. She is also very talented in creating suspense and tension with the written word. I was pulled through the book at a high speed and sometimes I had to stop and catch my breath. I was torn between wanting to the swipe the pages as fast as I could to see what would happen next, and not wanting to because I was afraid of what would happen next. That is a great thing to happen when you are a reader.

I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a well crafted paranormal ghost read. I have always enjoyed reading ghost stories and this book is a great addition to this genre. It is the second book that I have read in the series and I have enjoyed them both.

*OBS would like to thank the publisher for supplying a free copy of this title in exchange for an honest review*

[Jani Brooks · Rating 5 out of 5]

Colorado – Present Day

Ghost seer, Clare Cermak, is continuing her new “profession”, reluctantly, but determined to do it well. She was never asked to be a ghost seer, she inherited it from her great aunt, and eventually these abilities will be passed on to Clare’s niece. Clare helps people move on, and right now she must find help from an unknown ghost to heal the spectral wound she received from an evil being while on another mission. Her lover, Zach Slade, and her ghostly Labrador, Enzo, are by her side to assist in that endeavor.

After a session with the Other, a being that speaks through Enzo, Zach learns that the only way to cure Clare’s wound is to find a good ghost healer. When he and Clare are told by Zach’s boss’ wife about a feeling she has that a good ghost could be found in Manitou Springs, the two (with Enzo) head out of Denver to investigate. This also coincides with an assignment Zach has to find a teenager who has gone missing. The boy is the heir to an estate, and he ran away from his abusive, now deceased, father months ago.

Manitou Springs is filled with ghosts from Clare’s inclusive era (she can only see those in the late nineteenth century). It soon becomes apparent that Clare needs to find a ghost who was a nun, but when she finds her, the young girl is stressed about helping others and keeps disappearing. In order for Clare to get Sister Julianna Emmanuel to help her, she must help the nun by finding the person who is kidnapping and killing boys from around the area. The sister has been helping the tortured boys and her anguish makes it difficult to get her to help with Clare’s pain.

GHOST MAKER is yet another excellent Ghost Seer novel. As Clare settles into her new life style, she also must work on her relationship with Zach. They are clearly in love, but both of them have independence issues that have to be settled. As a team, however, they are well suited as Zach has minor abilities to see or feel ghosts. As a former cop who was disabled on the job, he has contacts he can use, as well as training in protection.

Well written, GHOST MAKER is a character-driven tale that is fast paced and exciting. The conclusion is surprising as well as thrilling, so be prepared!

[Barb Lie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ghost Maker by Robin D. Owens is the 5th book in her Ghost Seer series. Ghost Maker begins not too long after Ghost Talker left off. Clare still has an injury caused by an evil ghost, and nothing the she or Zach, or even Enzo (their ghost dog spirit) do can fix the injury. While she slowly tries to recover, Clare continues to take on cases to allow people to speak to their loves that have passed on or help ghosts who need to move on to heaven. Zach worries about Clare’s injury, as he can see her health deteriorating.

Zach becomes involved in a mystery about a missing boy. At the same time, they find out that there is a healer, who may be able to help Clare. They to Manitou Springs, Colorado to look for the ghost healer. Sister Juilana Emmanuel cannot move on, since she feels she must take care of the other ghosts, and help the young boys being tortured by an evil ghost. Clare will try to work with Sister Juliana to help the boys and find the ghost who inhabits another person’s body.

The case intensifies with more deaths of young boys, and Zach’s case comes closer to finding the missing boy. What follows is an exciting story with Clare putting herself at risk to find the killer, and helping Sister Juliana.

Enzo plays a big part in helping Clare, and I adore this ghost dog; he is so much fun. I can actually feel the cold when he goes through Clare. J In Ghost Maker, the romance between Zach and Clare escalates to more scorching sexual encounters, and they do have hot chemistry. As much as I love Clare and Enzo, and the recurring supporting characters, at times I do get annoyed with Zach. He is stubborn, and comes across as unlikable at times, though he does love Clare.

Once again, Robin D. Owens does a great job continuing the flow of Clare becoming more and more content in her seer abilities and to want to help ghosts move on to heaven. These are fun stories that take place in western towns, with ghosts usually from the same era in the old west. I suggest you read the first book in this series to be able to understand how Clare slowly evolves.

Barb

[Anne - Books of My Heart · Rating 3 out of 5]

   


The Ghost Seer series is urban fantasy by my personal classification since it follows the progress of one couple. I've liked the fact the romance has shared focus equally to the mystery. It's always been a quirky read, sort of silly sometimes.

Ghost Maker continued on its silly way and the plot was not too interesting to me. It may have been fewer ancillary characters. Enzo and the Other don't seem to develop much; we don't learn much more about them. Claire and Zach are learning some. It still feels a bit like running around in the dark or with your eyes shut.  Zach's work is more structured which helps.

As for their relationship, it was quite insta-love in the first book, Ghost Seer, and now it is weird. They admit they love each other. They back each other up in life and death situations. There is quite a bit of sexy times. But Zach is all strange now.

I didn't feel enough progress in either their personal growth or their relationship. So I didn't enjoy this as much as some of the others in the series.



 

 Read this review in its entirety at The Book Nympho

[Romance Between The Sheets · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ghost Maker is the continuation of Clare and Zach's story. Clare has settled into her role as someone who can aid the ghosts who have not transitioned yet. Zach is also settling into his role as her love and protector, even when that means protecting her from herself.

This addition of the Ghost Seer Series finds that Clare still has her spectral wound that isn't getting any better so she is having trouble completing her duties. She is slowly dying and Zach will do everything in his power to prevent that from happening. They find themselves looking for a specific type of ghost who can help Clare. This ghost just happens to be a nun who is still tormenting herself for her actions when she was alive.

Enzo also returns in Ghost Maker. I love what Enzo adds the innocence and wide eye optimism. He makes a great friend to both Clare and Zach and adds humour where the story needs it.

The Other also adds another dimension to this story because of his unwillingness to see Clare as anything more than a means to an end. He never shows real compassion for anyone unless they can help him get to the next level of existence.

This story was very touching. Clare continued to help spirits even at the risk of her own health. Zach was by her side every step of the way. When the case he was working on intersects with Clare's tormented nun, the story offers an emotional punch. I found this story felt a little long in parts but the ending gave the emotional balance that I was looking for in the story.

I was given this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Paraphrodite · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars.

In this installment, Clare and Zach need to find a "good" ghost who can heal Clare's invisible bad-ghost inflicted wound.

I have to admit now that I'm up-to-date with the series, unfortunately this is one of those that I can take it or leave it. I find the ghost cases pretty interesting, but Clare in particular is a bit lacklustre as the heroine. The cover images are false advertising as she's actually into wearing sundresses and cashmere sweaters! I wished Ms Owens had let Clare embraced her gypsy heritage a bit more. I think Clare needs to be more like her sorta boss's wife Desiree.

5 books in, Ms Owens is still emphasizing that it's only been just over a month since the start of the first book so we shouldn't be expecting Zach and Clare to have fully accepted their new circumstances.... I think it's the wrong move, it would probably have been better if they had more downtime between cases so that their characters could have developed more. So all in all, I don't hate the series but I don't love it either.

[Jo · Rating 4 out of 5]

Clair and Zack are off on another dangerous assignment. This starts off with Zack looking for a missing street kid and Clair looking for a good ghost to heal her spirt wound. Then the two quests collide and become intertwined. Clair and Zack are still working on accepting the changes in their lives and the new love they feel for each other. This quest adds to the tension between the two as they come to terms with those changes. Part of the problem is how short a time they have been together; just a little over a month. There is a very lovely ghost and a very bad ghost that drive this story line that is different from the previous books. Both are part of the both the problem and the solution for our two new lovers. Great addition to the Ghost Seer story line. This can stand-alone but is best if you start with book one.

[Sheri Jesse · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love, love, love this series. It's different enough from all the other series which keeps it fresh. I really like the relationship between Clare and Zach. Throw in Enzo and the picture is complete. In this episode, Clare is still suffering from the "bite" she got in the last story and it's draining her. Zach makes a deal with the Other to help her so it will be interesting to find out what form that's going to take. Clare and Zach head to Manitou Springs to find the good ghost that can heal Clare's injury and at the same time try to solve the missing street kid case that Zach picked up. The regular cast of characters are also there, Rickman & Desiree, Mrs. Flinton & Mr. Welliam, and Harry. The story moves at just the right pace, has plenty of drama, humor, and tender scenes. I hope I don't have to wait too long to read the next installment.

[Darcy · Rating 3 out of 5]

It seemed like Clare and Zack were at a cross roads with this book. While both have embraced their relationship, it happened quick and still fragile. I didn't care for how Zack seemed to think sex would fix things. Sure maybe in the short term, but the underlying issues would still be there. I was glad that at the end he started talking about what was freaking him out, better was that Clare did what in response.

I found myself laughing at Clare's continued uncomfortable behavior about Rickman's. I think by the end all of them have come to an agreement, one which should make future books interesting.

The ghost situation made me a bit sad. I was glad that Clare and the ghost were able to talk, that both were able to help each other and others.

[Elizabeth Wheeler · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent series

I enjoy the unusual relationship between the two main characters. I also have fallen in love with the spirit guide Enzo. My only complaint is the lack of clues to the "who done it" aspect of the story. I enjoy trying to figure out the mystery along with the characters. A few more clues would make the story more engaging.

[SandyKL · Rating 5 out of 5]

Turned out Better Than I Thought.. love Enzo... ALL of THEM

I enjoyed a series with Ghosts and looked at this one. I thought I might enjoy it and I Have. Good Storyline... There is something about each Person that is good, cute, funny... a little sad... but they all blend well together... You will enjoy this book. Hope Clair gets a break...

[Laurla2]

"damn know-it-alls, they didn't think. they considered their way the right way, their hubris correct, and didn't think about the consequences of their damn high-and-mightiness until it surprised them by biting them in the butt."

"clare squeaked while hanging onto the chicken bar." (we always called it the oh-shit handle)

[Mary J. Ball · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love her books

I have read all of her books and can't put them down. I can't wait for any more of the Ghost Seer stories.

[Callie I. Doyle · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the best series!!

Her books all link together and in order but each could stand alone, I recommend, however that they be read in sequence.

[Nicola Pike · Rating 3 out of 5]

The series started well but this book needs more to happen to really be a novel instead of fluff and endless "I love you."

[Anna Wick · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is book 5 and I still don't really like Clare. if this one doesn't develop better I'm done with this series.
It did improve towards the end. we'll see

[I dream of the ocean · Rating 3 out of 5]

i had a really hard time getting into this storyline. I did enjoy the other books in the series but this one fell short.

[Rita · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think this was the best one so far. It solved a few big things and there was character growth, too. Reasonably happy ending.