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The Spectral Files #2

Principles of Spookology

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No one said being a medium would be easy.

Rain Christiansen, former FBI agent and current cold case detective, is starting to think it's the hardest job he's ever had—and the most important. He's determined to accept all the changes in his formerly well-ordered life, but that means embracing a whole lot of weird. There's no instruction manual for meshing his work with his medium duties, and he's painfully aware that he's flubbing the job. So are the ghosts, who are becoming increasingly impatient. And stronger.

To complicate matters, he's not sure what these spooktacular developments mean for his relationship. It certainly seems like Daniel McKenna, his partner in work and life, is in it for the long haul. But Rain can't help but wonder how long that patience will last...and what he'll do if Danny decides the intrusive ghosts are just too much.

Rain thought accepting his supernatural gifts would be the solution to his troubles. But he's starting to realize his problems are just getting started.

332 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 14, 2020

300 people are currently reading
1104 people want to read

About the author

S.E. Harmon

21 books1,699 followers
S.E. Harmon has had a lifelong love affair with writing. It's been both wonderful and rocky (they've divorced several times), but they always manage to come back together. She's a native Floridian with a Bachelor of Arts and a Masters in Fine Arts, and used to spend her time writing educational grants. She now splits her days between voraciously reading romance novels and squirreling away someplace to write them. Her current beta reader is a nosy American Eskimo who begrudgingly accepts payment in the form of dog biscuits.
http://seharmon.weebly.com/

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Displaying 1 - 30 of 691 reviews
Profile Image for Snjez.
985 reviews985 followers
March 29, 2022
4.5 stars

This ended up being so much better than I thought it would be while going through the first half of the book. Mainly because I found the ghosts extremely annoying, I hated that Rain had no control over them, and on top of that the case seemed to be going nowhere.

I'm glad I pushed through because I absolutely loved the last third of the book or so. I really liked how Rain decided to deal with the ghost situation. The case they were working on turned out to be more complex than it seemed at first. I actually liked the mystery in this book more than in the first. I think the author did a really good job at keeping us in the dark for a long time, as frustrating as it was at times.

My favourite part of the story were Rain and Danny. They have an amazing relationship and I loved seeing them grow as a couple. Loved the humor, the banter and the chemistry between them, as well as some really sweet moments.

*******
9/2020 Re-read via audio: I liked Kirt's narration overall, but I wasn't a fan of the voice he gave every other character except for Rain. All of them sounded almost the same, kind of tired and bored. I wouldn't mind it that much if only he'd given Danny a nicer voice.

Re-read 3/2022: Rain and Danny are definitely one of my favourite couples. The mystery was just as good as the first time I read this. I wasn't even that annoyed by the ghosts. I switched between ebook and audiobook and enjoyed the audio more this time around.
Profile Image for Wendys Wycked Words.
1,590 reviews3,953 followers
January 13, 2020
4,5

I fell deeply in love with Rainstorm when I read the first book about him and Daniel, P.S. I Spook You. It turned out to be a real favorite of mine. I mean hot detectives, paranormal activity, mystery/suspense, gay romance...what is not to love. 

OMG I Love It All! GIF | Gfycat

I had no idea that there would a second book, which might be a good thing because I would have been anxiously waiting the whole time. Now it just came as a big pleasant surprise.

This one should not be read as a stand-alone though, so if you haven't read the first book yet....off you go ;) 

Off you go GIFs - Get the best GIF on GIPHY

Rain and Danny are finally back together..where they should be and they are solid. Much more solid than the ghosts surrounding Rain :P 

Who are starting to be an issue really...the ghosts.  More and more seem to be seeking Rain out , and they don't seem to care for boundaries much. Rain really wants to help them all out, and he has a nice crew helping him out, the PTU (Paranormal Tactical Unit), but not all is going as it should...

He is working "cold cases" as best as he can, while also trying to listen to all the ghosts wanting...no demanding.. his attention.

Ghosts GIFs - Get the best GIF on GIPHY

They also seem to be getting stronger and stronger and they have no issues invading his privacy and therefore intruding into his relationship.

He really needs to find a way to control his gift, but all the gurus around him seem to be nutjobs, so what now... 

Im Surrounded By Idiots Annoyes GIF - ImSurroundedByIdiots ...

I love this series so hard!! I can only hope there will be more and if not, that the author will come up with something just as good. I have high hopes !!

If you are a fan of the paranormal, mystery/suspense and some sweet man on man lovin', then you should definitely give this series a go. You won't be sorry!!

Highly recommended!!

 

An ARC was provided to
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in exchange for an honest review

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Profile Image for Judith.
724 reviews2,923 followers
January 25, 2020
4.5







Yes!!

More Rain & Danny & delicious banter...



When I read the first book, P.S. I Spook You I pretty much fell in love with this Author so this was just such a pleasant surprise...





My boys-Danny and Rain.I couldn't love them more.This was the perfect mix of ghostly goings on,mystery,and relationship.




It would have been so easy for the Author to add angst,relationship drama here for the two men (many would have I imagine), but she didn't.What you get is two men who are pretty much perfect together and definitely perfect to read about.They're sassy,snarky,passionate....and hello,I'd forgotten how well she can write sex scenes.No unnecessary drawn out foreplay or pages and pages of descriptive scenes.She manages to show desperation with emotion and chemistry that is off the charts.





Add into the mix a ghost story with an outcome I didn't see coming and this was a joy to read...







Recommended read-but you'll need to read book one first to get the vibe and fully appreciate these men.❤️❤️💜💙


Review copy.
Profile Image for Shile (Hazard's Version) on-hiatus.
1,120 reviews1,044 followers
May 3, 2021
Audiobook - 4.5 stars

Story 4 - stars.
It could have been 5 stars but Rain released the breath he didn't know he was holding.

description

S.E Harmon has become one of my favorite authors, her sarcastic sense of humor is the kind I love.

I love Rain and Danny and they did not disappoint here. I love their relationship and how effortlessly it is developing, at the same time they have grown on their own as characters. Their chemistry is so strong, the sex was so hot. I love me some bossy Danny.

The ghosts in this book were cock blockers. 😆😫 Good thing some of them were funny, others not so much.

I enjoyed the mystery and Rain's interactions with the gurus/therapists.

Overall, it was fun and enjoyable.
Profile Image for * A Reader Obsessed *.
2,612 reviews560 followers
September 18, 2024
4 Stars

I adored the first book and this sequel was no slouch!

As per the burb, Rain is working for the unofficial paranormal department to help solve cold cases and success hasn’t really been well… successful. He’s still trying to work out the kinks with his “gift” of seeing ghosts and most of the time, it’s mainly an exercise in frustration. Lots of frustration. When a ghostly young man asks for Rain’s help regarding his murder 10 years ago, trouble is not too far behind.

What I loved about this was still the funny snark of Rain. He’s got a great voice, and I laughed out loud and snorted in amusement throughout this book. His partner on and off the job Danny, still maintains his book boyfriend status showcasing all his yummy alpha protective sexy glory.

Beware what felt like a bazillion cock blocking ghosts that got a lot annoying, as well as Rain's resistance at trying to get a better hold of his gift to make his and Danny’s life saner. The process was entertaining as much as it taxed my patience.

Overall, a solid mystery solved by Rain and his team, securing their importance to the police department’s wins. It obviously doesn’t hurt that the romance was further strengthened with some fab smexy when Rain and Danny had a chance to actually accomplish it. I only hope this is a long standing series and look forward to more!!


The Spectral Files
1. P.S I Spook You - 4.5 Stars
2. Principles of Spookology - 4 Stars
3. Spooky Business - 4 Stars
4. The Spooky Life - 5 Stars
5. A Spooky Legacy - 4.5 Stars
Profile Image for Pauline.
344 reviews140 followers
May 2, 2025
This series just keeps getting better.

What I love most is how it juggles spooky murder mystery vibes with laugh-out-loud humor. Rain’s sarcasm and sharp one-liners had me cracking up again - his voice is so strong and distinct. But while the first book leaned more into the cozy side, this one definitely amped up the creep factor.

Samuel the ghost? Absolutely not. He freaked me the fuck out. And the way Rain started losing control over the spirits genuinely gave me anxiety lol. The supernatural tension was much more intense this time around, and I was here for it.

And then there’s the romance. Rain and Danny’s relationship development felt very real and organic and just all in all incredibly sweet - and hot, these two are horny 😂
They have so much chemistry, and I loved watching them navigate that unspoken shift of basically moving in together without ever actually talking about it. Like, were they hoping the other wouldn’t notice? Or kind of hoping they would? Either way, I ate it up.

Also: I have SUCH a crush on Danny, it’s not even funny.

Quick note on the audio: the switch in narrator threw me off at first (as it always does mid-series), but I ended up loving Kirt Graves as Rain. He totally grew on me and brought Rain’s voice to life in such a compelling way. That said, I do still miss Danny’s sexy little twang from the first book. All in all, though, a very pleasant audio experience.

This series continues to hit all the right notes for me - funny, creepy, sexy, and suspenseful.

4,5⭐️
Profile Image for Rain.
2,468 reviews21 followers
December 24, 2023
So happy I decided to reread this series. It’s even better the second time around. I’m able to relax and absorb more details, now that I’m not rushing through to figure out the murder mystery!

*****
“I love you because my heart says so.” He sent me a crooked smile. “I like you because I say so.”
I loved this book! Rain and Danny are easily in my top five favorite gay/mm couples. It’s all because of Harmon’s fabulous writing and dry wit that she verbally vomits out of Rain’s mouth.
Dear Diary, Today I was given permission to be the saltiest motherfucker that ever walked the earth.
There are so many mysteries to solve and so many more ghosts in this one!

That shower scene had me howling. The chemistry and banter between Rain and Danny is what makes these stories shine. Read for the love and get a few murder mysteries solved for a bonus.
Profile Image for Drusilla.
974 reviews378 followers
April 10, 2025
Aww my sweet Moonbeam ... this was awesome.
Entertaining, the case was interesting and even though I had a hunch early on, I still wasn't sure. The suspense was really good.
Also, absolutely amusing, I laughed so much and had a lot of fun.
I love how the relationship between Danny and Rain is developing. I love how unconditionally they are there for each other and how they both equally don't address the “important” things but are still perfectly on the same wavelength. It's just great writing.
Of course, there are countless sex scenes that add a certain spice. And even though there are quite a lot of scenes, I didn't feel like it was too much or too repetitive. So it's really well written.

“I promise to fulfill all your monstrous demands.”
“Good. When we get home, you’re the new evidence clerk who didn’t log in my evidence properly, and I’m the detective who’s offering you a way to make it up to me.”
“God, your sex fantasies are so weird.”
💞🤭💞

“Now. Feel the energy coursing through your body, opening you up like a flower,” he said. “Focus on opening. You’re a flower. A beautifully open flower.”
I’m a flower. I closed my eyes in concentration as I thought about that. My stomach rumbled in warning as I caught a hint of sugar and butter in the air. No, you’re not hungry, you’re a flower. Although I suppose flowers do get hungry. Isn’t that what the whole photosynthesis thing is all about?
I struggled to focus. I was a flower who wasn’t hungry, and that was energy coursing through my fingertips. I was receptive and open and… my stomach rumbled again. Fuck. I was receptive and open to some damned donuts.
🍩🤣😂🤣🍩

I'm off to buy the next book so that it's ready the next time I'm in the mood for crazy ghosts and strange gurus. And my, I'm curious to see what comes next. But my brain is probably craving another book for now, let's see.
Profile Image for Bhavya Marya.
76 reviews103 followers
October 23, 2020
“If you were any sappier, I’d just squeeze you over some pancakes.”
“Last time I checked, we’re cops. We can’t turn down donuts. People will talk, Daniel.”

I just wanted to appreciate the great one-liners this book has. Rain's sarcasm is just everything.



I love reading an established couple. The scenes that come after the initial getting together are my favourite . So, naturally, my expectations were kinda high and it met each and every one. The little glimpses of their domestic life were everything. I'm so glad I picked this series up.

I'm enjoying the mystery aspect of the books too. I think romantic suspense as a genre is really becoming one of my favourites.
Also, I'm really curious to find out what actually happens with the ghosts and how Rain's gonna manage them. Guess I better go read the next one. ;)
Profile Image for Diana.
636 reviews18 followers
February 19, 2020
I was a little nervous to read this one because I read book 1 P.S. I Spook You a few years ago, but no worries, I fell right back into the grove with Rain and Danny. I love reading a story with an established couple, and Danny and Rain are strong in their relationship. More than once, I had to smile at their sexy banter.

Rain and Danny are trying to solve a murder of one of Rain’s visitors, but of course, it’s not that easy. Rain is struggling with his gift because ghosts are popping in 24/7 needing help, and Rain has trouble saying no. This also leads to Rain and Danny on a few life threatening adventures.

Even though this is a fairly long book (439 pages), I never felt like the story dragged. The writing was fluid and they story just flowed nicely. I highly recommend this one, but you must read book 1 first.
Profile Image for Mwanamali .
456 reviews262 followers
August 16, 2023
First of all, the author should have called this The Book of Rain. He himself says so flippantly at some point. I picked this up impulsively because I remember fairly enjoying the first book, and I never really continued the series. Is this a newfound compunction to finish every series I ever started? No. It's a desperate attempt to get out of a reading slump. My soul is severely dehydrated of whatever juice souls run on. But like any other bibliophile, the written word serves to restore me.

haunted bridge

This book picks up where the first one ended. Rain and Danny have finally confessed their undying love for each other. They are now working together in a Cold Case unit that utilises Rain's uncanny ability to speak to the dead. It reminded me of a joke. I spoke to a medium once, she told me she only comes extra large. I'll see myself out.

Rain's commune with the dead is also on the fritz. More ghosts with unresolved business are manifesting and what's worse, the apparitions are becoming corporeal. Serving as industrial-grade nightmare fuel and the cause of Rain's perennial dark eyes and chronic fatigue. It's unclear why ghosts can solidify around him. But Rain avoids finding answers.

The greater mystery is about a man, Mason, who doesn't know where he was killed. Neither is he aware of the identity of his murderer. Through the power of sheer deductive will and highly convenient plot armour, he figures out where Mason's remains are. As this mystery unfolds, it's occasionally punctuated by Rain's lacklustre attempts to get his medium powers in control. The only reason why he ever agrees to see gurus is because Danny bribes him with sex. One such outing ended with his guru in the back of a police vehicle. A subplot that would have been a delightful interlude to witness unfold but this author's commitment to skipping the good parts made me want to scream.

Once more, a mystery novel forgets that the best part of the mystery is slowly unraveling the killer. The detective or the sleuth connecting the dots to create a picture-perfect murderer. In this case, Rain coincidentally figured out who the killer was. In the first book, he, well, joined the dots and got himself in a heap of trouble.

This book lacks the same gravitas as the first. Perhaps because in the first book, Rain was trying to save his job and rekindle his relationship with Danny. In the first book, he's reassigned to Nowheresville to help trace a missing girl after contacting a victim's family, whose ghost had urgently requested a message be sent. We, as readers, were worried for his career, his relationship. But those were resolved neatly and tied with a cute little ghost-printed bow. Boo, you happy ending.

The second book doesn't quite carry the same weight as the first. We're here to enjoy Rain, and Danny test the waters of a part deux relationship. It's boring. Rain is under fire from his boss who thinks the police department doesn't need a cold case unit that costs the PD so much money and goodwill. I don't care. Mason may have been the victim of a serial killer, and the other victims can physically hurt Rain. Yes! That's what I'm talking about! Rain's mother wants to run interference with his guru search... kill me.

It also serves as filler for the third book, which seems to have the most wonderful premise. Rain may have to consult with a serial killer up for execution, but he refuses to reveal anything about his victims. Except, to Rain. A good book would have ended there. But this book just had to remind you that where there is murder, human happiness will shit all over it.

3.5 stars.
Profile Image for Ariana  (mostly offline).
1,640 reviews91 followers
April 10, 2024
Reread April 2024

And I thoroughly enjoyed myself again. Maybe even more than the first time?
Anyway I really felt the need to upgrade this at least to ...

4,5 stars

original review

Full marks for the spectacular banter.
S.E. Harmon has a talent for sarcastic, self-deprecating humour. It’s one reason why I love this series.

Another reason is Rain.
Uptight and very, very ‘square’ and very FBI on the one hand, he can’t deny his hippie heritage and his knack for connecting with ghosts.
Something that makes his life a bit miserable, particularly when they turn up at the most inappropriate (like intimate) times. And when they keep haunting him or trying to kill him …
But also something that makes him special and different, and gives him a purpose beyond being an agent.

Tbh, I did feel sorry or Rain. I was glad that, by the end of the book, he is starting to learn to deal better with the constant stream of spirits bothering him.
At times it annoyed me how they interfere with his life. Danny is a total saint for putting up with it that admirably.

Speaking of which … these two are pretty solid. I expected way more relationship troubles in this book, but as it turns out Danny is sticking by his man and so does Rain. There are minor hick-ups, but not as many as you might expect, considering the increasing number of ghosts seeking Rain’s help. Danny is so romantic in the most unromantic ways ... it’s brilliantly done!

Things that will remain memorable:

- the shower sex (Omg, the laughs!)
- Rain’s therapy session with highly debatable gurus
- Danny’s all-encompassing love and care for Rain
- And most of all – the humour.

This is light and funny and entertaining.
There is an interesting mystery at the centre, but for me that’s not the core of the book.
That’s Rain starting to deal with his gift.
And Rain starting to believe that Danny’s there for keeps.
And Rain starting to build a new life.

Great fun!
Recommended (but you need to read book 1 first!)
Profile Image for Susan.
2,327 reviews454 followers
July 19, 2020
Re-read July 2020

Rain!!!
description


---------------------------------

I loved this. Rain was his awesome snarky self and Danny was wonderfully growly and possessive.

I loved the first book, but I did think the romance could be slightly more romantic. I still really loved Rain and this whole ghost business was the bomb.

And that’s why I was so excited when I saw that there was going to be a sequel! Since Rain and Danny were pretty solid at the end of the first book, I figured this book would be even better. And it was.

I’m a pretty fast reader and sometimes that bums be out. So I decided to take it slow with this book so I could savor it more and it worked. I spent several days reading this book and every time I put it down I got all excited when thinking of continuing. I love it when I’m that invested in a book and its characters.

There were lots of things I loved about this book. I loved how Rain was still a bit insecure about his relationship with Danny, and how he slowly tried to move in without Danny noticing.

I loved how Rain kept trying to find the right ‘guru’ but kept finding the weirdos instead.

I loved how snarky Rain was, but how he secretly loved it that his weed growing hippie parents moved in next door.

I loved the mystery in this and how everything got tied together at the end. Trying to solve cases where the dead victim is trying to help, oh yeah!

All in all this was a total winner, and I can’t wait to read both books again. And of course I hope this is going to be a super long series with at least 10 more books about Rainstorm and Danny. :D
Profile Image for Jilly.
1,838 reviews6,646 followers
August 25, 2020
Well, well, well... someone kicked it up a notch or two! The first book was good, but not mind-blowing. This second book? I want there to be 20 more books immediately!

The mystery was great. I loved that there were a lot of murders to solve. It was murder all over the place! Thank you very much! None of that sissy stuff with just one murder to solve, oh no.


Oh Barney, you always got me.

It starts with just one ghost, but soon there are bodies and ghosts all over the place. It was glorious!

Then, the romance part of things? So much better than before. Now that these two are settled in a relationship, and Rain has accepted that he's the less busty Ghost Whisperer, it is fun. There is banter that got me laughing, and tons of steamy scenes.


It's a mystery.

I guess Rain must have a different kind of ghostly sex appeal because the ghosts do have a tendency to watch him having hot man-sex with his boyfriend. ... which I guess I could see. It's kinda hot.

Everything about this book was fun. I loved the mystery, the couple, the way it got me laughing, and the side characters. Rain's parents are hippies, and trying to help him find the perfect "guru" to help him learn more about his "gift". The people he goes to include a guy in a bedazzled cape, and who wouldn't like that? I mean capes? I think they should make a comeback. And, shiny things? I'm all in!


Oh, fuck no! Never mind! I'm out. All out.
Profile Image for Mila .
250 reviews355 followers
May 22, 2022
***4.0 rating***

"He buried his face in my hair, his breathing even and comforting so close to my ear. I knew he worried about not having my back, but I never was. I’d never felt so safe and cared for in my entire life."💗

Are we surprised that I am devouring this series?

I think not.

S.E. Harmon does it again with this charming series, that has suddenly become a favorite of mine. An enjoyable read filled with banter, sarcasm, loving characters, the not so annoying characters, cockblockers in the form of ghosts, and villains that are unhinged serial killers. So, I think its safe to say that yes I did indeed enjoy book 2 of the Spectral Files. I loved book 1 because there was so much intensity, passion and romance. Two old flames rekindling, their history and unsaid feelings made the book an overall page turner. Rain's banter and supernatural abilities as a medium made it more interesting and Danny was the cherry on top to make me fall in love with this series.

Book 2 picks up where we left off in book 1, with Rain finally accepting his identity as a medium, the establishment of the Paranormal Unit and our faves reuniting. What could possibly go wrong? Welp, anything really with ghosts and serial killers lingering around the corner. As Rain is coming in terms with his newly established identity as a medium so are his troubles and lack of knowledge about his "gift". Rain still doesn't know much about the extent of his power and how to truly set boundaries with the dead, so much so that he is losing sleep and becoming a coffee addict hehe. Jokes aside, there were moments that this gift of his truly threatened his life and the nightmares? yeah not fun. In this book, Rain is trying to grasp the knowledge and limits of his abilities, he even seeks the help of a guru, Dakota Day Dream (lol these names are funny af). Danny and Rain are thriving together but there wasn't much romance as I had hoped and book two lacked the intensity and passion of book 1. It didn't really help that the ghosts kept cockblocking them either. However, these two never failed to make me smile like a good old sap. Danny is so loving, sweet, protective, grumpy and kind, he is right up there with Emery Hazard 😉. Rain and his banter made the gruesome cold cases tolerable. The cold case in book 2 was much more interesting than the Amy Greene case, even though the suspect was predictable.

I am curious about the dangers that Rain's power poses to his life because in this book he danced with death a few times and those nightmares he had gave me chills. I am also curious about Thomas Kane, the serial killer introduced at the end. Wonder how that story will be told in book 3. I am hoping that there is more romance and intensity in book 3, I felt that this book lacked what I loved about book 1. Hopefully, I can witness more of that in book 3.

All in all, I still loved book 2, I probably won't be able to read book 3 for another week or so because two of my favorite authors are releasing books tomorrow but I cannot wait to revisit my spooky faves soon.😉
Profile Image for Gerbera_Reads.
1,625 reviews152 followers
September 11, 2021
Even though I read the first book a while ago, I knew from the first page that I would love this one even more. S.E. Harmon nailed the snark and sarcastic humor. It was so spontaneous and fit Rain and Daniel so well. There were moments that I couldn't help it *snorts, chuckles, laugh out loud* - this was so much fun to read. I liked that all the characters had backbone, were sharp and well written. The only thing I had a problem with was that it only had single POV, Rain's. I would have given my pinkie to know what Daniel thought and how he saw Rain before and now.

The case of a single missing person appeared to be simple on the surface but snowballed into such a suspenseful convoluted cold case mystery! I loved all the twists and turns, all the dead ends and all the ghosts that lead Rain to discoveries. The ghosts themselves as much as they brought annoyance to both Rain and Daniel were an important part of investigation and helped Rain see his own purpose, how important was what he could do.

I hope there will be more Rain and Daniel stories. While both men at times can be aggravating and difficult, at their core they are both decent men who love deeply, serve and protect diligently, and are a great team. I enjoyed this so much. I highly recommend it.
Profile Image for Jamie.
757 reviews118 followers
January 1, 2024
I annoyed my family the entire day today by telling them I had to finish this book by midnight to meet my reading goal 😂

Not only did I meet my reading goal this year- I am happy to say I ended it on a high note! After a string of three star books, so happy to end the year on a 5 star read.

Love the mystery aspect of this book and I loved rain and Danny’s relationship- love how they always give each other shit. Such a good book

Happy new year everyone!!
Profile Image for Dani.
1,497 reviews261 followers
February 14, 2024
Enjoying this series a lot. Crime mysteries have always been a favourite of mine, especially when there's a lot going on and there's a romance element too. I spent most of my teen years binging all of the CSI and NCIS series much to my mum's dismay and I find it hard not to read crime and mysteries all the time 😂

I really like how Rain is growing into his acceptance at being a bridge for spirits, and his control freak tendencies about his whiteboards. I also love his relationship with Danny, as well as with his family too.

My only complaint still is that I tend to prefer a dual POV, but again the story made sense without it - I just like to get inside the minds of both main characters!
Profile Image for Kati *☆・゚.
1,216 reviews624 followers
dropped
October 4, 2022
dnf @10%


I’m pretty pissed tbh. I’m sure it may not really be his fault but somehow Kirt Graves' performance for the audio took everything away I loved about the first (audio)book when he took over.

And… as the mc’s got back together in the first book there is also not the second-chance motivating me anymore to keep going. I just stopped caring about it altogether.



***********
The Spectral Files:

Book 1 - P.S. I Spook You - 4.5 stars
Book 2 - Principles of Spookology - dnf
Profile Image for Lisazj1.
2,072 reviews189 followers
February 28, 2020
4.5 stars. I've liked everything I've read by S.E. Harmon but she just put herself on my favorite authors shelf with this one.

I really liked Rain and Danny in P.S. I Spook You but here, they've worked out *most of* the kinks in their relationship and I flat out love them together. Rain is just the kind of friend I would love to hang out with because he would be so damn much fun. Add Danny and Rain's family and you would never need any other form of entertainment, LOL. And also, they're just really good guys. Though Rain's ghosts can be super annoying, he and Danny both care about helping them find whatever they need so they can move on.

And the banter. *grins* Be still, my snarky heart. This author writes some of the best banter I've ever read, and it fits the characters and their relationship perfectly.

The investigation was really well done and kept the story moving. It's hard to manage both the mystery and the romance and not let one overshadow the other but it was just right here. The mix of both aspects was seamless for me, I was equally fascinated no matter what was happening. Ok, that's a bit of a lie *or a big fat one, but whatever* because Rain and Danny are hot. Their chemistry sizzles on page the sex is passionate, dirty and amazing. But I also loved the way they cared for and about each other.

I hope this is the start of many stories with these guys, I'm here for all of them. <3
Profile Image for yaishin.
895 reviews115 followers
May 5, 2022
if my parents moved across the street from me I would have literally started crying💀.

There is always a part in crime stories where there are no leads and it's boring but here Rain, *cough* sorry Rainstorm's life is just beyond hilarious and enough to keep me entertained😌.

One part white blood cells, one part plasma, one part nosy motherfucker.
Basically Rainstorm Moonbeam Christiansen in one sentence.
Profile Image for Leslie.
1,177 reviews300 followers
February 3, 2020
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5 Stars
🔥🔥🔥.5/5 Heat Factor
👻👻👻👻👻/5 Ghost Level!

This was a fabulous book two! I hope the author has plans for more. I would gladly follow Rain and Danny on their ghost adventures for many more books.

What I loved:

1) The mystery was solid and kept my interest. I wouldn’t say it was scary but it did get a tad more dark.

2)Secondary characters, both alive and spectral. The book’s main ghost Mason was as good as Ethan, the ghost from book one. He was so sad and lost and I wanted so badly for him to find peace. Rain’s parents were hilarious as usual. And of course I can’t forget about Danny’s partner Kevin who ate his way through the book, much to Rain’s dismay. 😂

“My guest chair squeaked alarmingly. I glanced up, surprised to still find Kevin there. He smiled pleasantly… and then his gaze landed on my pastries. We had a brief battle of the eyes. My steely gaze told him I wasn’t above licking a Danish to claim it. His steady stare told me he wasn’t above eating a licked Danish. To seal the deal, he hit me with rounded Puss-in-Boots eyes.”

3) Rain and Danny’s relationship. Book one ended with a HFN and this book continued to expand on that. Rain, “sneakily,” moving his stuff into Danny’s house little by little cracked me up. That and the fact that Danny was onto him the whole time. Also, the snark is high with this pair and I love it!

“The feature I loved the most about him was that he had the biggest heart of anyone I’d ever known. And the most sculpted ass. Hey, I can love more than one thing.”

4) The romance. Neither man is the most romantic in the traditional sense of the word. But they made me melt with all of their cute little moments. I’d say the steam level was a medium.

I need more Rain and Danny ASAP!! 😍
Profile Image for Erth.
4,457 reviews
November 16, 2020
Principles of Spookology is a good continuation of The Spectral Files series.
The cold case(s) is delivered much better this time around, with lots of twists and turns and a few surprises thrown in for flavor.
I got a better understanding of Rain's gift this go-round. With things changing in Rain’s dealings with the ghosts, Danny convinces him to seek out someone who can help him to get a handle on the whole process. This search turned into a comedy of errors that kept me in stitches.
The romance between Rain and Danny has progressed to the point where I am confident in a HEA, and I continue to root for them to commit 100% to each other. Their passion is just as strong as ever.
The snark and sass from the first book are back with a vengeance. These two play off each other beautifully, and they don't spare anyone else who dares to join them.
The cold cases evolve into something heartbreaking and disturbing. The facts uncovered had me on the edge of my seat, and I shed a few tears for those poor souls.
I enjoyed this. I look forward to more from this author.
Profile Image for Cat the bookworm (semi hiatus ish).
886 reviews166 followers
April 18, 2025
Reread 04/2025: I’ll gladly report that it’s still a 5 stars review for me, and tbh I’ve been happy that my original read was almost 4 years ago, so I couldn’t quite remember the details of the mystery, and it kept me on my toes. Looked seeing Rain getting more familiar with his abilities, and loved even more reliving the early stages of Rain and Danny’s relationship 🥰 also: I REALLY need to check out of there’s a Dakota-book, his character is so interesting!

Original review:
All the stars I could have wished for 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

This book picked up about 1 year after the previous one. Rain moved in with Danny, even though neither of them addresses the pink elephant in the room. And Rain is still haunted by ghosts who try to find closure through him. The case is a very mysterious one that kept me guessing until almost the very end, in a showdown worthy of blockbusters.

I laughed so many times while listening to this book, I’m afraid my family stared at me uncomprehendingly more than once. I’m more than glad that the narration was done by Kirt Graves and not the guy from the first book, who wasn’t bad, but doesn’t hold a candle to Kirt. Also, the brilliant and funny characterisation of Rain was all I could wish for in a MC, and his relationship with Danny <3 is nothing short of a perfect balance of love, holy hotness, love, snark and protectiveness.

Also, I loved all the encounters with the gurus who’re supposed to help Rain.
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