Kathi Oram Peterson

Wow! This book has to be my favorite Kathi Oram Peterson book! From the first, I was on the edge of my seat. It’s a heart pounding, romantic suspense, mystery, and ghost story all in one! The story is extremely compelling and based on actual events in history. I loved the main characters and quickly fell in love with Jonathan, the handsome, charming, sand pounder from the 1940’s who happens to be dead, and his trusty dog Max.

Jonathan’s death in 1947 is a mystery. Since that time, he and Max have existed as ghosts tied to the same stretch of beach on the Olympic peninsula. Over the years, he’s helped numerous people who get caught in the dangerous underwater vortex. In 2022, when he rescues Gloryanna Griffin, a beautiful marine biology student, their lives become inexplicably tied.

Gloryanna is in competition with an ex boyfriend for grant money to help fund her education. When her diving tank is sabotaged and she’s caught in an underwater vortex, she thinks she’s as good as dead. Instead, she’s rescued by a handsome stranger who claims to be a ghost. Her doubts about his story are soon laid to rest when he disappears before her eyes only to reappear in her home days later.

Soon Jonathan, Gloryanna, and Max are caught up in a harrowing mystery as they try to discover who is out to get Gloryanna. There are several suspects which make it hard to know whom to trust. With Jonathan’s unique capabilities and Max’s uncanny ability to detect danger, they go from one suspenseful situation to the next as they search for clues. At the same time, they try to discover who may have killed Jonathan in the past and if Gloryanna’s current problems are somehow linked. Then there’s Gloryanna’s grandfather who may hold a key to the mystery.

Jonathan & Gloryanna’s romance was surprisingly swoony and palpable considering he’s a ghost. I was hoping the entire time that there would be a way for them to be together. Both characters were so enjoyable and I liked Gloryanna’s intelligence and strength. They made a great team.

The mystery was intelligent and well written. While I guessed pretty early on who the villain was, I wasn’t sure until the end who all might be involved. There were some good twists along the way too. I had a really hard time putting this one down and loved the way actual events were woven into the story. Now, I need to go watch the documentary mentioned in the author’s afterword. It’s a suspenseful, romantic mystery that I highly recommend! I received advanced complimentary copies from the publisher and NetGalley. All opinions are my own and I was not required to provide a positive review.… (mais)

Gloryanna Griffin is a marine biologist focused on taking underwater pictures for a paper she needs to write in order to qualify for a grant. In her attempt to capture the best pictures, she gets caught up in a strong vortex. Gloryanna tries with all her might to get loose, but with all her experience and training, she can’t get out of the clutches of the vortex. She wakes up on a beach with a handsome man and her dog next to her. All is well until she learns who this man, Jonathan Dawson and his dog, are ghosts. They tell her they are stuck in time, not able to move on to their resting place. She just couldn’t believe it. This guy is delusional. She had to get home.

This unlikely group, teams up to track down the person who is trying to kill Gloryanna and learn how to get Jonathan and Max back to their timeline. Strange things happening around her, as Jonathan and Max do their best to keep her safe. Out of all the people Jonathan & Max helped through the years, Gloryanna was the only one to see him. I enjoyed this love story between Jonathan and Gloryanna.

I liked this unique, sweet, and fun story as Jonathan and Gloranna try to stay alive long enough to solve the mystery that lies under the sea. This novel touches on WWII and the U-boats. The author has a Fact and Fiction section at the end of the book that was interesting to read and would make great antidotes for your book club meeting.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I requested and received a copy of this book by the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising”

Nora St. Laurent
TBCN Where Book Fun Begins!
The Book Club Network blog https://psalm516.blogspot.com/… (mais)

Kathi Oram Peterson is a new to me author, and I thoroughly enjoyed this mystery/suspense/romance! Kathi’s writing style reminded me somewhat of Mary Higgins Clark and I think fans of hers will enjoy this mystery. It definitely started off with a bang and kept me anxiously turning those pages to find out what would happen next. Taking place in both Nevada and Montana, Ms. Peterson takes the reader on a rollercoaster ride as Brooke Steward and her six year old daughter Isabelle try to escape from the killer who murdered her husband.

Brooke is the daughter of a wealthy senator on the run with her daughter after her police officer husband is killed by his partner Gerald. Isabelle witnessed the murder and has refused to speak ever since. When Gerald catches up to them, Brooke and Izzy drive away just in time headed for Montana. After driving nonstop, Brooke drives off the road when she sleepily thinks Gerald’s BMW is coming toward them. With her mother lying unconscious after the accident, Izzy finds her way to Michael Calder’s horse ranch looking for help.

Michael is an Iraqi War veteran and recovering alcoholic suffering from PTSD. When Izzy arrives on his doorstep, he thinks she’s part of his nightmare. He soon realizes she’s real and follows her to her unconscious mother. Michael’s ranch offers sanctuary, and the horse therapy which proved so beneficial to his healing process promises hope for Isabelle. But trouble is never far away, and Gerald once again discovers their location. As they try to unravel the mystery of Gerald’s pursuit and Brooke’s husband’s death, it’s a game of cat and mouse which turns deadly at one point.

I have to admit this book kept me reading late into the night. It was definitely hard to put down. I enjoyed the relationship between Brooke and Michael. I also loved meeting Cap and his wife Little Bear Paw. Isabelle is a darling little girl who has been through a lot and definitely captures your heart. Her interactions with Sherlock the horse were so sweet and I loved the way horse therapy played a role in the story. The ending was surprising and almost hard to believe, however, I enjoyed the suspense and the way everything played out.

This mystery novel would most likely be rated PG. There’s some violence, betrayal, and mentions of alcoholism and drug use. There is no profanity and no sexual content other than kissing. I really enjoyed this romantic suspense and look forward to reading the author’s other books. I received an arc from the publisher through NetGalley. All opinions are my own and I was not required to provide a positive review.… (mais)

The author does a great job of quickly getting readers emotionally invested in the story as soon as (main character) Anna sits down with her grandfather in a busy restaurant to discuss what happened to her Great-Grandparents during the Holocaust. Things soon take an unexpected deadly turn which sends Anna running for her life. She can’t stop hearing her Grandfather say to her “Run. Trust No One!” Where should she go? What should she do? That is the question. Anna was thankful her father had taught her some things to look for in evaluating a situation and locating a safe house. Journalist, Kristofer Tomasson surprises Anna. He says she can trust him because her grandfather did. Kristofer tells Anna they have to keep moving because people are trying to find them. He would fill her in on the project he has been working on with her grandfather. They start to formulate a plan. Everything has happening so fast, again, she wonders who to trust?

I like the wide range of colorful characters and the fast-paced trek this unlikely crew finds themselves on. I liked how the author weaves in historical facts throughout this engaging story. I enjoyed this thrilling journey through Iceland and Denmark to chase down secrets they hope to uncover about WWII, Anna’s father and grandparents. This is an intriguing read and one that would work well for your book club. There is so much to discuss. It is an entertaining clean romantic suspense story I could not put down. This is the first novel I have read by this author it won’t be the last.
Disclosure of Material Connection: I have received a complimentary copy of this book by the publisher and NetGalley. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising”

Nora St. Laurent
TBCN Where Book Fun Begins!
The Book Club Network blog www.bookfun.org… (mais)