Review copy was received from Author. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
Fate Actually by Elizabeth Hunter Series: Moonstone Cove #2
Published by Self-Published on December 15, 2020
Genres: Paranormal
Pages: 330
Format: eARC
Source: Author
Goodreads
Amazon
Toni Dusi grew up knowing everyone’s business and everyone knowing hers, because in Moonstone Cove, you can’t pass a restaurant, farm, or winery that doesn’t have at least one Dusi involved. Despite that, Toni has managed to carve out a private niche for herself. She has a car shop she loves, a country cottage all to herself, and has carefully avoided any long-term romantic commitments.
Then fate handed Toni a shot of supernatural empathy that threw all that out the window of her prized vintage Ford.
Now she’s feeling the mood swings of everyone from her parts guy to her reluctant crush to her second cousin going through a messy divorce. She’s losing her temper; she’s crying a river; and she’s definitely giving in to temptation.
For a woman who prides herself on always being prepared, Toni has no idea how to handle a supernatural storm of emotion.
Which is not to say empathy doesn’t have its advantages. When the body of a long-time family rival turns up on a back acre of her cousin’s winery, Toni realizes that her inconvenient feelings magic has turned her into one heck of a lie detector. Along with her new friends, Katherine and Megan, she might be the only one who can clear her cousin’s name.
When fate throws a final curveball in Toni’s direction, will she drop everything with disastrous consequences? Or can a forty-one-year-old empath learn enough new tricks to keep the life she’s built without sacrificing her happiness?
I have only read Elizabeth Hunter’s offerings in the Paranormal Women’s Fiction (no other authors yet). I like paranormal and the concept of older, more realistic heroines. Her first trilogy, Glimmer Lake is set in the same world as the Moonstone Cove trilogy.
The main character is Toni Dusi who is a prickly woman with a relative everywhere in town, who has been running an auto shop for years. She has also found out she can feel others’ emotions and sometimes change them. To top things off, she is even more fractious as she has new personal issues to handle. Then her cousin who runs the winery next to her house, is going through a bad divorce and becomes a suspect in a murder case. She needs all the help her family and new friends can give.
Of course, Katherine and Megan, are all aboard to help. Luckily, the police detective has accepted their unusual ways of helping. Toni’s skills help her detect those not telling the truth. They work through the messy facts as to who and why the murder happened. While they do, Toni finds her personal strength to make choices for the future.
The investigation of the murder was rather mad-cap. I did worry about them putting themselves in danger. There were a few situations where I thought people should be a bit more careful. Overall it was a fun adventure. It was a pleasure to see Toni accept some help and love into her life.
About Elizabeth Hunter
Elizabeth Hunter is a contemporary fantasy and romance author. She is a graduate of the University of Houston Honors College and a former English teacher.
She currently lives in Central California with her husband, son, very ineffective canine assistants, and a pitifully empty fish tank.
ELIZABETH HUNTER is a ten-time USA Today and international best-selling author of romance, contemporary fantasy, and paranormal mystery. Based in both Central California and Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, she travels extensively to write fantasy fiction exploring world mythologies, history, and the universal bonds of love, friendship, and family.
She has published over forty works of fiction and sold over a million books worldwide. She is the author of the Glimmer Lake series, Love Stories on 7th and Main, the Elemental Legacy series, the Irin Chronicles, the Cambio Springs Mysteries, and other works of fiction.
I read all types of books but my favorites are urban fantasy and romantic suspense.I like some romance and some action / adventure / mystery in everything.I like sex in my books but please, only between TWO people.Intimate conversation is equally important to the sex in a book.It lets me see the characters.The other thing I enjoy is humor.
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Reading this book contributed to these challenges:
- COYER-20
I do love prickly characters, and I think I’d like Toni?
Me too! I liked her a lot.
I can’t remember if it was an earlier review you did or someone else, but I liked the sound of this older heroine paranormal series, too.
Oh it’s been so long since I haven’t read one of her books
I just came across this one earlier and was reminded that I haven’t read one of her books in a while. These characters sound entertaining and so does the series.
Oh, I like the power of lie detection! A sort of mad-cap investigation? Kind of sounds like Charley Davidson to me. Sounds like some fun. Fab review as always, Sophia Rose! 🙂
Whoops! I meant Anne! Lol! It’s been a long day at work and I’m drinking a glass of wine while visiting blogs. 🙂
I have *got* to read this this author.