I have a secret. I see dead people. And they're everywhere.
When my mother died, I wished for just five more minutes with her, but I meant her alive, not her ghost. Apparently, the Universe has a sense of humor. As if I don’t already have enough going on in my life.
I’m not sure what’s worse, having a teenager drama-queen daughter, or the fact that when my mother died, she opened a portal between me and the other side, and now I see my mom’s spirit and the spirits of just about everyone else.
These ghosts aren’t your run of the mill, harmless, light-flickering, chair-moving kind. Nope, they’re here because they’re stuck earthbound, and apparently, it’s my job to unstick them and cross them over to the other side.
I’m totally out of my comfort zone.
Don’t get me wrong, I’m glad my mother’s still here, but I know she’s got unfinished business too, and I need to help her so she can cross over too.
Except that will mean I’ll never see her again. And I’m not sure I’m ready for that.
USA Today Bestselling Author Carolyn Ridder Aspenson writes cozy mysteries, thrillers, and paranormal women's fiction featuring strong female leads. Her stories shine through her dialogue, which readers have praised for being realistic and compelling. A multiple number one bestseller on Amazon, her first novel, Unfinished Business, was a five-star Reader's Favorite, a Rone Award finalist, as well as a number one bestseller on both Amazon and Barnes and Noble. In 2021, she introduced readers to detective Rachel Ryder in Damaging Secrets, also a number one bestseller on Amazon. Overkill, the third book in the Rachel Ryder series, was one of Thrillerfix’s best thrillers of 2021.Reviews have praised her work as ‘compelling, and intense,’ and ‘read through the night, edge of your seat thrillers. Carolyn’s most recent Rachel Ryder novel, Deadly Means, has been submitted for an Edgar Award by her publisher, Severn River Publishing. Prior to publishing, she worked as a journalist in the suburbs of Atlanta where her work appeared in multiple newspapers and magazines. She wrote a monthly featured column in Northside Woman magazine. Writing is only one of Carolyn's passions. She is an avid dog lover and currently spoils an American Staffordshire terrier boxer mix. She lives in the mountains of North Georgia as an empty nester (who misses her kids terribly but loves having a lower grocery bill) with her husband, a cantankerous cat, and her very spoiled pup.
Connect with Carolyn via carolyn@carolynridderaspenson.com
The series starts off okay, but then book 3 has someone speaking "jive" ebonics that are nothing you'd believe! I mean like cartoon Snoop Dogg with a kid saying that she needed to "fix the fizzle" and "make her aight."
Then her mother called vinegar, "va-nigger" and the author repeated it three times! She faux-chided her mother in the way that little kids tell on another kid saying a bad word while repeatedly saying the bad word because they think they won't get in trouble if they are quoting someone else, hoping for a free pass. This felt troll-like she was embedding a racist Easter egg for someone and trying to enact the pass to correct her mother, who isn't written as racist, thus having no excuse.
Her Asian friend is often referred to as her "Asian friend" or having an "Asian face" and the character and her mom were afraid that her friend was going to "hi-ya" Bruce Lee chop her ex. I'm still a little shell-shocked. In this day and age where everyone is touchy and so quick to say something is racist, it's surprising to see something that looks like you can't explain it away! I actually would like to talk to the author, hoping there's an excuse, but it seems pretty intentional and funny to her to be hateful. I don't get why she'd sandbag herself. The only excuses are dumb or mean and her writing doesn't lead me to believe she's dumb.
Book 1 -An intriguing story about Angela who's a middle aged housewife that discovered she can see ghosts. After her mom's death, she woke up to her mother's voice. Thinking that she was dreaming was her first thought. Her best friend, Mel, is her sounding board for everything going on in her life. I enjoyed the characters in this story and the realistic lives they led. It's a good book. Book 2 - I enjoyed reading this 2nd book in the Midlife Psychic Medium series. Angela has been learning to cope with her new found ability to see and talk to ghosts. Her father appears and talks to her. Angela then loses her ability to see and speak to ghosts. This story takes you through her struggles to regain her gift. Her best friend Mel adds more turmoil to the story when she figures out her husband is cheating on her... again! Book 3 - A gripping story about Panther, a midlife mother of two. She's trying to navigate her newly found skill as a psychic medium and keep her family life normal. She sees ghosts and spirits who are trying to find the light, get a message to a loved one or help solve a mysterious death. With help from her spirit guide, her dead mother, and support from her best friend, Mel, Panther tries to keep her focus on helping one ghost at a time.
Loved the humor and the heart in these stories. Plenty of snark and while it may sound trite, I laughed, I cried, I laughed some more, and ultimately finished (at 2 a.m. dagnabbit) feeling well blessed with family and friends and wanting to just give them all an extra hug.
My only complaint is that, at least in the free version I read, there were several cooy editing issues that will hopefully be caught and fixed. The stories are too good not to. I read a free ebook copy I found through The Fussy Librarian
Fantastic Series, Funny,Sad, and all around good read
Really enjoyed the first 3 books in this series. Carolyn had done it again! This series is funny, hilarious at times. It is also sad at times. Angela and Mel are very good friends. Angela is a Psychic medium who sees dead people. Her mom is one of them. Spirits appear to Angela and she helps them get messages to their loved ones. It’s not always easy. The discussions Angela, her mother and Mel all have kept me laughing and crying at the same time. Loved these books!
the early years of Angela Panther learning of the to her initially dubious gift of being a psychic medium.
working her way past her personal losses and their effects on her skills, she follows the pains, sorrows, suspicions, and support from some key people in her life.
her deceased mother is not only an important part of that journey, she is freaking hilarious, and touching as well.
intense emotional and paranormal drama, action and mysteries
I loved these 3 books. The relationship between Angela and her best friend, Mel, was wonderful! The things they talked about cracked me up. My husband even asked me what I was laughing at!
Great characters, wonderful story lines. I highly recommend this series if you like sparky characters, great stories, and a Psychic story line!
I love Angela & Mel! Her mother is too much! In fact I really like all the characters in this book (Except the Ex). You really get involved in their lives. Humor & deeply felt sadness live side by side. Carolyn Ridder Aspenson has got to be an awesome friend. I’d love to get coffee & cupcakes with her!
Really keeps your interest. And is the writer has a great since of humor.
This is a set of parents razing their teen daughter and all the angst that goes with it. Along with a shimmering spirit of the deceased grandmother of the mother. The author of this series has a wild sense of humor in her writing. You'll love it.
I’ve been reading so much PWF lately, but these books are a little different. No witches, but a middle aged woman with an incredible gift. I’m really enjoying this series. Lots of family love, good friends, and Angela’s Ma is a hoot. Giving people closure is so heartwarming. If you haven’t read these, you definitely need to.
Carolyn Rider Aspenson's 'The Midlife Psychic Medium Series Collection Books 1-3 are warm with humor, humanity and crazy paranormal activities. I loved them, and I most definitely will continue the series.
This series was very enjoyable me to read. It kept my attention and a I couldn't wait to get to the next book. Lots of chuckles the dialogue was hilarious.
These stories kept my interest and I didn't want to put them down. They are written with good dialogue as if you're hearing people speak and have good plots.
Enjoyable story about moms, daughters, and deceased moms, funny, entertaining, lots of family dynamics, mom/dad/children, mature friends and their direct daily interactions, and some magic.
This is the boxed set of books 1-3. I thoroughly enjoyed reading them. The characters cames to life and there were some laugh out loud sections. On to the next book!!
I read this set of books and liked them. The stories have humour and heartbreak, but I found them well balanced. I look forward to reading more of this series.