No Humans Involved

i dropped in on this series at book 7, and it was a romp. I don't actually care for the world-building at all, but the characters are great and it was a fun read. ( )

I love this series. A lot. It’s well developed, well-rounded, and well written. The heroines are strong and yet versatile, and the relationships make sense. A very nice series indeed.

This specific book could, if you chose, be read out of order without much confusion. Jaime, the narrator, hasn’t been a huge part of the previous books, and the parts she has played are touched on as good reminders of her background or ways to introduce new readers to her. (I suspect that the format change from paperback to hardback made it a priority that this book be able to support readers who are new to the series.) There are plot points from prior books that will be spoiled if this one is read first, and there are nuances to character that will be missed, but the book should hook new readers as well as old.

As to that hook, it starts off with Jaime preparing for a séance to raise the spirit of Marilyn Monroe and discovering that she’s going to be staying in a house where she’ll be required to eat her meals inches away from a hanged man – only he’s a ghost, so she’s the only one who notices. Jaime is a necromancer, and her powers of being able to see and contact the dead alert her to the presence of half-ghosts in the garden… ghosts which shouldn’t exist in the fashion they do. It’s written with a good blend of humor and substance, romance and action and thought. This is possibly my second or third favorite book in the series. But it’s definitely near the top of the series, and comes with high praise from me. ( )

Listened to audio version, narrated by Laural Merlington. Mostly injoyed this story involving Jaime as she tries to solve the mystery of ghosts stuck between worlds. She brings in Jeremy, Hope, Savannah and Eve to help. Children have been murdered and their ghosts are stuck between worlds and Jaime is determined to help them.
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I really like Jamie and Jeremy so this story was great! ( )

"I saw my true power. The darkest power. The greatest power."

Jaime Vegas is a stage performer who sees and can talk to ghosts. She is a necromancer who uses her skills to build a relatively successful career doing live shows and less regular TV slots. One day she offered the opportunity to do a “reality” show with two other spiritualists where the aim is to talk to Marilyn Monroe. If she performs well it could launch her television career where she would have her own show. Jaime, unlike her co-stars can truly talk to the dead and see ghosts.

The location for the show is a house in Brentwood whose garden is haunted by a group of young children. Unlike the usual ghosts that Jaime comes into contact with she cannot either see or talk with them, merely feels their presence and their touch.

Jeremy Danvers, the Alpha of the Werewolf Pack and Jaime's love interest, is visiting her for a week. Together they set out to try and solve the mystery of their deaths and why their spirits seem trapped in this location finding themselves in a fight to the death with a tight-knit group of wannabe spell casters.

Things are complicated by the relationship between Jaime and Jeremy. Jaime is usually so confident and self assured but is a bit of mess when it comes to Jeremy. She wants to move their relationship on to the next stage, sex, but is unsure as to whether or not he feels the same way. Whereas Jeremy has to balance his duties to his pack with his desire to have a relationship with Jaime.

Jaime views necromancy as one of the lesser paranormal powers especially as she is constantly being hounded by ghosts who want her to carry out their last wishes whether it is to say goodbye to a loved one or to solve the mystery of their deaths. However, she comes to realise that it is a fearsome ability and she comes to see her place, not only within the supernatural world, but also in the corporeal realm.

Now I must admit that this is not the sort of thing that I would have picked up in a month of Sundays but was sent it as a surprise offering by a fellow bookcrosser. Having received it I felt that it would be rude not to at least give it a whirl. I have to admit that I was quietly surprised. I enjoyed the author's writing style and felt that she managed to deliver a book filled with action, emotion, sexiness and suspense. This is the seventh book in the series yet I feel that readers could pick it up and enjoy, as I did, without having read the previous ones. Overall it may be viewed as a bit of fluff but as an enjoyable diversion all the same. ( )