Erin Grady, Whispers

Whispers

Erin Grady

Berkley, Apr 2006, $6.99

ISBN: 0425209636

In Los Angeles, elderly Chloe LaMonte came to writer Reilly Alexander's book signing to inform the former Badlands musician that she was his guide to his destiny. The next thing he knows she mentions Carolina Beck's spirit calling to her to bring Reilly home. In spite of being skeptical Reilly returns to his hometown, Diablo Springs, Arizona.

In San Diego, Eddie Rodriguez visits Gracie Beck. Since they have not seen one another in years Gracie is surprised, but Eddie tells her that her grandma has just died and that her high school honor student daughter Analise was in a car accident with a boy named Brendan in Diablo Springs, Gracie's hometown. Bewildered as well as upset, Gracie goes home to find her daughter okay, and that she has inherited the family owned Diablo Hotel and a curse that she believes brought her and Analise here, as it has haunted her relatives since 1890. Gracie plans to end the curse so it cannot harm Analise. When she and Reilly see one another for the first time in seventeen years, even Analise can see the attraction between them.

This is a terrific contemporary romance with mystery and paranormal spins, that actually plays out on two parallel time lines with the present being the primary plot, but 1890 serving as a key subplot. The storyline is character driven as the key cast members seem genuine, including the psychic seemingly whispering with ghosts. Fans will treasure this strong tale that is a one sitting read, to simply learn the link between today and yesterday and whether each era's lead couple survives the challenges.