Book and Audio Review: Ghost Hunter by Jayne Castle

Ghost Hunter
Author: Jayne Castle
Narrator: Laural Merlington
Series: Harmony (Book 3)
Publication: Berkley (May 30, 2006); Brilliance Audio (October 17, 2008)
Length: 335 p.; 9 hours and 18 minutes

Description: Where deadly energy ghosts lurk in the ruins of an ancient alien civilization.

Where dust bunnies prove to be loyal pets.

And where a ghost hunter will discover that a woman’s heart is the most dangerous adversary of all.…

Local Guild boss and powerful ghost hunter Cooper Boone is everything botanist Elly St. Clair could ask for—the handsome, strong and silent type. Maybe too silent. For when Guild secrets threaten her career at the college, Elly has to call off their marriage—and leave small-town life behind...

But starting over in the thriving metropolis of Cadence City isn’t easy, especially when one of Elly’s new friends disappears in the eerie catacombs beneath the streets. Cooper turns up just in time to help Elly investigate. And as the mystery deepens and dangerous ghost myths and legends come to light, Cooper makes it clear he intends to stick around—and this time he’s holding nothing back…

My Thoughts: This third Harmony paranormal romance takes place in Cadence City. Elly St. Clair is from a Guild family but she doesn't have the usual ghost hunter or tangler paranormal powers. That makes her family think that she is somehow fragile and needs protecting. But Elly has a new unusual paranormal power and she is neither fragile or helpless. 

When her romance with new Aurora Springs Guild boss Cooper Boone disappoints her, she decides to start again in Cadence City. She had fallen in love with Cooper but doesn't think he loves her. She's afraid that he only wants her because of her Guild connections. She opens an herb shop, adopts a dust bunny named Rose, and makes friends with some of her neighborhood ruin rats.

But Cooper isn't willing to let her go. He has a plan to win her back but decides to give her some time in the hopes that she will miss him. After six months, he heads to Cadence City to win back his girl.

Cooper arrives at a bad time. One of Elly's friends has been attacked down in the catacombs. Elly is determined to find her and Cooper's reappearance in her life is fortuitous since she needs a ghost hunter to help her locate her friend. Finding her friend leads to all sorts of problems including a new drug sweeping the city and someone determined to frame Cooper for its presence. Also, Cooper himself has an unusual and secret paranormal talent.

Besides the usual romantic misunderstandings between the two characters, there are all sorts of secrets to uncover for both characters. Elly's ability to see the psi emanations of plants and Cooper's ability to work with blue light mean that psychic talents are increasing and diversifying among the settlers of Harmony. They are also dealing with a villain who wants what Elly can do for him since he is eager to use her and her Guild connections and doesn't care who dies along the way. 

I thought Elly was a little bit whiny but ultimately enjoyed this science fiction lite paranormal romance. I am especially fond of dust bunnies and Rose is a great one. I loved her fascination with wearing Elly's bracelets as necklaces. I also like the idea of hidden rainforests down in the catalcombs built by long-fone aliens.

This one would be great for people who want a little science fiction and lots of romance in their reading. The narrator did a nice job with the pacing of the story. 

Favorite Quote:

"Figures," he said, sounding resigned. "Other Guild bosses have loyal minions to guard their backs. I get a dust bunny who's into glitz."

I bought this one. You can buy your copy here.