Genres: Mystery Romance
Published by Small Publisher
Released on February 14, 2018
Pages: 356
Format: eBook
Source: Purchased
The Delight
A small town. A ghost of the good kind. Tarot Cards that won’t stop forecasting. A murder and a delightful romance. This cozy mystery was a fun and suspenseful read. It certainly didn’t hurt that I’m a big fan of the author, Colleen Gleason.
Review
Diana is a big city, major law firm, lawyer. She’s the kind that works constantly and is in line for partnership. When she finds out her aunt, and the only relative she is close to, has died, she takes leave and goes to the small town of Wick’s Hollow for the funeral. It’s also up to her to handle her aunt’s affairs. She moves into her aunt’s large old home, not far from a lake front. When a scraggily looking man walks into her house like it’s his, she is shocked. He’s been away and had no idea her Aunt Jean had died. Diana dislikes him on sight and wants him out of her aunt’s home. Ethan is also shocked because he had heard about Diana for years and had no idea she was an uptight something that rhymes with kitch. Cold as ice. To be honest, you can’t really fault her. He has hair down his back, a long unkempt beard and old clothes on. But since he’d been on some kind of expedition in a third world country(or something of that sort)you can’t really fault him, especially since he and Jean were great friends and he never had to knock when she was home.
Eventually, he gets the hair and beard taken care of and Diana is delighted with what’s underneath all the hair. Still it takes her awhile to trust, especially when her house keeps getting broken into. Tarot cards are moved out of the box they are in and specific cards seem to be telling her to take notice. Diana isn’t having any of it. Jean was a believer and highly skilled in tarot reading, but Diana doesn’t believe. Then there’s the nightmares that start the first night she is there. Someone or something seems to be wanting to tell her something. And I am going to leave the major details at that.
I absolutely adored this small town setting and the people that go along with it. It’s a summer resort town and all the local people all know each other. Aunt Jean’s circle of friends were a fun, even though very nosy, group. They welcome her into the group and it’s not long before she realizes that Ethan is part of that group as well. Turns out he’s a professor and published author. He’s the good guy sort, although he’s sworn off woman after a bad break up. On Diana’s part, she has a boyfriend who’s a cheater and she is trying to come to terms with that. She’s also grieving the loss of her aunt, especially since it had been five years since she’d last seen her. And now Diana stands to inherit quite a bit of money. I really enjoyed the main characters, plus the people in the group were pretty unique and/or eccentric.
To be honest, I’m not a huge fan of cozy mysteries, but have read my share over the years. It’s just not my go to genre. However, I have loved every book I’ve ever read by this author. Her Gardella Vampire Hunter series is one of my top urban fantasy/paranormal romance series ever, and that’s saying a lot. I wasn’t even sure it was going to be a cozy until I really got into the story. But, add in a ghost and a fairly hot romance and I was hooked! Sure, this isn’t going to scare you into having nightmares or anything, but I really enjoyed my time with this ghost story mystery/romance. If this is your thing, I would recommend this to adult(sexy times)romance or cozy mystery fans. I fully intend to read the next one.
Recommendations
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I love cozy so if it’s not sp much your case and that you enjoyed this one, I’m even more curious!
It was a pretty good read, I thought anyway.
I like cozy…but its a hard one to find a good one.
I’ve read a few decent ones, but it had been quite awhile.
I don’t read many cozies either, Lorna, but I do like Gleason. In fact, reading your review reminded me that I need to finish up the Gardella series! (runs to put it on the list) I’m happy you enjoyed Sinister Summer so much. It does sound like a story I’d enjoy as well so I’ll add it to my tbr. 😉
I hope you like it if you get a chance to try it Brandee. And you really are missing out if you don’t get the chance to finish the Gardella series. Her Dystopian series is really good too, but I totally understand not being able to get to all the books you want to read.
I’ve yet to try her books, but you have me really intrigued by this one. I love paranormal cozies. Great review, Lorna!
I think you might really enjoy this and also my favorite of her series, The Gardella series-historical urban fantasy/romance. So different.
I read The Gardella Vampire series earlier this year and loved it. I do still need to read the spin-off series but also hope to read some of her other work. I will definitely be trying this one out.
I read one of her Roaring Twenties one recently and enjoyed it too. I loved her Dystopian series as well, it’s under a pen name that I can’t think of right now.
Ooo Sold! I just one clicked it Lorna <3
Yay! Hope you like it!
I’m not a huge cozy mystery reader either but I do enjoy them on occasion. They’re a nice easy comfort read.
Karen @ For What It’s Worth
Yes, they are-occasionally.
I haven’t read this author but it sounds interesting. Good review. I would like to try some of her books. Anne – Books of My Heart
Thank you. She writes several series and some aren’t my thing, but three are.
I’ve been looking for a thriller, in the mood for that kind of thing right now. This doesn’t sound like what I was looking for, but it does sound like something I’d love! I’m adding this to my TBR! Fab review, Lorna! 🙂
Thank you Rachel. I hope you like it if you get the chance to read it!
The small town setting sounds well done, I am quite fond of small towns in books. The mystery sounds pretty intriguing. Sounds interesting how there’s a bit of paranormal as well. Great review!
Thank you! I’m always up for a paranormal element in a read and a small town is a plus for me as well.
I would not have realized this was a cozy, but I do love a good cozy here and there. Thanks for sharing!
-Lauren
http://www.shootingstarsmag.net
It’s actually pretty steamy for a cozy. So kinda different.
I didn’t even realize this was a Colleen Gleason book until you mentioned the Gardella series lol. It does sound kinda cute, and definitely understandable for the characters to act and react how they did at the start! Glad you enjoyed this, despite not usually being a cozy fan 🙂
Thanks! I have bought the next book in the series but no telling when I will get to it.