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Gull Harbor
Kathryn Knight

The Wild Rose Press
June 2013
ISBN 978-1-61217-836-3
Paranormal Romance

Reviewed by Leslie Halpern

 

Once planning a career in law, Claire Linden now works as a medium instead. Tasked with evicting an angry ghost from the house it's been haunting, she finds herself taking up temporary residence in Gull Harbor. Her job becomes even more difficult when she discovers her college boyfriend, Max Baron - the same person who encouraged her to give up law for her paranormal work - also lives there, and dreads seeing her as much as she dreads seeing him. The reason for all this discomfort between them was that after graduation, Max suddenly vanished from her life with no explanation, just a brief written apology.

So while delving into the gruesome circumstances that left an unsettled spirit trapped between two worlds, Claire must also figure out whether or not to resist her newly revived attraction toward Max. For his part, Max also has some trepidation about getting involved with his former lover. The problem that caused the breakup still exists, but he must reveal the secret surrounding his departure in order to re-establish her trust.

In Gull Harbor, the author skillfully weaves the ghost story and romance from separate strands that eventually become entangled. Tension builds as Claire gets closer to learning two painful truths: about the ghost and about Max. There's a perfect blending of clues, hints, and foreshadowing to keep readers informed, but the story never veers into the obvious or predictable.

Extra details help flesh out the characters: We learn what Claire likes to eat for breakfast; we know Max's favorite hobby; we cringe at a drug dealer's bad habits; and we experience the ghost's sense of humor. Pace, plot, story, dialogue, and characters combine into a thrilling and thoroughly entertaining page-turner that should delight paranormal romance readers.

Reviewer Leslie C. Halpern is the author of Passionate About Their Work: 151 Celebrities, Artists, and Experts on Creativity, Rub, Scrub, Clean the Tub: Funny Children's Poems About Self-Image, and Shakes, Cakes, Frosted Flakes: Funny Children's Poems About Table Manners.

Reviewer Note: Sexuality, Violence
Reviewed 2014
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