This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
Published by Tantor Audio
Released on 10/23/18
Format: Audiobook
Source: Publisher
The Delight
Always a delight to discover a book you picked up on a whim is a perfect match for your mood and taste. I wanted a romantic suspense with a paranormal element in keeping with my (mild) spooky reads binge and first the title caught my eye and then the blurb. I already enjoy the narrator’s work so this was a win all around.
Review
PS I Spook You does not list as part of a series and stands alone just fine, but I could see it also as the start to a great series.
And, why’s that? I had a blast getting to know FBI profiler, Rain Christiansen, his police detective ex, Danny McKenna, and Rain’s eccentric hippie family, along with his ghost pest/friend.
Rain tries to be the opposite of his parents and sister and he is in some ways and not others. He likes order, facts, neatness in his person and surroundings, and he resents that he has to fight to have ‘normal’. He walked away from Danny saying it was a big chance at the job at FBI headquarters after they had a strong and good relationship because Rain is hiding the fact that he is not nor ever will be normal. He sees, hears, and can talk to ghosts.
This story begins after Rain comes back from administrative leave because he slipped up and gave a pair of grieving parents their son’s message. No one trusts working with him and word has gotten out that he’s cracked after pushing and working too hard. His own boss chooses to send him to work on cold cases with local police agencies rather than big profile bureau cases.
So, he’s back in his Florida home town and working with his ex on a missing girl case. His past and his issues all swirl around him as he works to track down the facts even while he already knows what they will find at the end because her ghost is one of the many who show up wanting him to help bring them closure. And, the biggest ghost of all is the chance at love he tossed away because he didn’t want Danny to leave him first when he found out the truth about the ghosts.
So, yes, this one sounds like it could be rather dramatic and it was, but the humor and snark the author infused into the story balanced any angst caused by the conflicts along the way. Rain is the sole narrator and his wry outlook that can be cynical, but not unkind especially when assessing his own actions was what tipped this book into the enjoyable category.
At first, I was none too keen on Rain. I wanted to smack him every time he copped a ‘tude with Danny for keeping distance and protecting himself because it crushed him when Rain walked away from their love. Rain was mad that Danny let him go without a fight and never came after him. Drama Queen, much? But, see, that’s the thing… I figured out soon enough that the starched up, otherwise analytical and even-keeled Rain was also impulsive and dramatic. He didn’t even have common sense as evidenced by a too stupid to live move he made late in the book that had me throwing up my hands and calling him an idiot. He spewed whatever entered his head even if he put himself in the most embarrassing situations. He knew he was snippy with people and unfair to Danny. I liked him, but was also just fine when Danny got up in his grill and called him on his jerk-moves. I don’t usually like characters like Rain so the author did a great job of giving him that extra something to make me root him on to get his act together with Danny, accept himself, the ghosts, and solve the case.
The romance was a slow mover at first even if the physical attraction was front and center. Rain screwed up and now he has the job of mending what he broke while Danny is willing to have a fling, but no more. And, what a fling it was. But, I was cheering for this pair to work out and was glad to see little moments when Danny tentatively gave him a chance.
Noah Michael Levine is a long-time favorite narrator. I enjoyed his intuitive ability to catch the tone and pace of the story, voice Rain and the others. Some of his female voices were breathy, but not overly so. I think his timing with the humor and the dialogue was the best part.
All in all, I was well pleased with this impulse grab. The suspense was strong, the psychic and ghosts were great, and the characters and romance the best. I hope the author writes more of Rain and Danny’s story.
My thanks to Tantor Audio for the opportunity to listen to this book in exchange of an honest review.
Challenges
New Release #183
Audio #82
Recommendations
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I have this one on my TBR, so I’m glad to see you liked it. I love it when two characters have a past that brings on the abrasiveness! LOL
Great review. 🙂
Oh man, you are in for quite the ride with this pair. Rain is a crack up. 🙂
Isn’t it great when an impulse grab works out. i’m so glad you enjoyed this.
Thanks, Tracy! It worked out so well and now I wish there were more.
I love randomly picking up a book. Whim books can burn you but it is so delightful when they work out
Yes! It’s the gamble that is exciting and picking a winner is almost euphoric because, yeah, so many duds, too. 🙂
Oh hadn’t heard of this one.
I think I would be okay with Rain if Danny is calling him out on his BS lol
Karen @ For What It’s Worth
I just happened to catch it when I was scrolling through lists on GoodReads and decided to give it a go.
Haha, yes! He isn’t allowed to get away with his attitude for long. Oh yeah, he got to do some groveling and some of it was of his own making because he blurted out some embarrassing stuff and Danny made him squirm. 🙂
I do love a second chance romance and I’m glad to hear Rain was likable even if he did walk away from Danny. The added twist of him seeing ghosts sounds intriguing. Wonderful review, Sophia Rose! 🙂
I didn’t expect to like him, but the author did a good job winning me over. Yes, the ghosts were a great addition to the story. Some were funny and others really helped him solve crime.
humor and snark sounds right up my alley it’s always great when a book you picked up on a whim works for you!
Tori @ In Tori Lex
LOL, I agree, Tori! Make me laugh and I’m hooked. 🙂
This sounds really good. I love it when a book is so well written that I end up liking the same things that usually bother me.
I agree. I was all set to go on a rant about Rain and then suddenly realized that yes, he irritated me at times, but I also rather liked him when he saw that he was being a jerk and worked to change. But, it was the humor. I’ve always said, make me laugh and I’ll love it. 🙂
Yay for a good impulse buy! I totally came over because of the title. PS I Love You is one of my favorite movies and I was like Oooo. Heh
I love that movie, too. 🙂 This was nothing like it, of course, but it was humorous and engaging with a fun ghost detective angle.