Review copy was received from NetGalley. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
Double Vision by Elizabeth Hunter Series: Vista de Lirio #1
Published by Self-Published on April 19, 2022
Genres: Paranormal Romance
Pages: 310
Format: eARC
Source: NetGalley
Goodreads
Amazon
Successful realtor Julia Brooks moves to the quirky neighborhood of Vista de Lirio in the California desert and meets a riotous cast of eccentric characters. But her semi-retirement is spoiled when she finds the body of the neighborhood lothario dead in the kitchen of her brand new listing. Even more complicated? She also meets his ghost.
Double Vision is the first in a new Vista de Lirio series. The setting is the California desert, similar to Palm Springs with its wealthy and celebrities, with pools and mansions. The trilogy is paranormal women’s fiction with some mystery and romance.
I have enjoyed her other two series which are similar in being set in California and with women who develop paranormal or physic abilities. Glimmer Lake and Moonstone Cove were both excellent trilogies.
We are introduced to the three main women for the trilogy. Julia, Vivian and Evy seem to be in a bit of a wide age range. Yet they all seem to have a very flexible schedule and some level of wealth and ease. That sort of felt unrealistic to me. Nothing in their lives felt that urgent or important. Julia has an ideal relationship with her ex-husband and his husband, and their children. She’s living for free in their pool house, enjoying their household staff. She easily starts up a relationship with one of their friends.
Julia sees ghosts and the dead guy hangs around and talks to her. She meets some of the other ghosts in the neighborhood and learns about more secrets and history. She takes up the mystery to try to “get rid of” the ghost. There are enough possible suspects so she and her friends , utilizing their different skills, work to rule out suspects. It’s especially uncomfortable because they know some of them, and they are friends or at least acquaintances. They gradually gather enough information that Julia believes she has solved it. But the killer has noticed their efforts which puts them in danger.
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:
- 22-COYER
Well, that divorce seemed to work out splendidly for all involved. I do like the idea of the ghostly mystery part.
The ghosts were one of the most interesting part of the story. Julia is the oldest and retiring at 51. Vivian and Evy are much younger. It just didn’t feel very real to me.
Girl got lucky with that divorce!!
yes they remained business partners and very good friends.
Nice review. Thank you. I’ve read a few book by Hunter and enjoyed.
She’s a must read author for me. She writes in a few different genres.
It does dampen enjoyment when some of the story feels unrealistic, but it looks like you enjoyed the overall story. Hope the series gets better as it goes along!
yes, she’s a very favorite author for me, must read.
Too bad this book felt really unrealistic to you. This is an author that I do want to read. I do like ghosts!
I would highly recommend any of her books to you. She’s an absolute favorite and has many amazing series. I’m just better with urban fantasy, pnr and such which are obviously not real. lol
This entire series sounds so good. I love a bit of paranormal in my books.
All of her series are very good.
Hmm, I like this author, but it sounds like it lacks believability regarding the women and their status. The ghosts sound intriguing though.
She’s absolutely a favorite author but this one stretched my belief a bit too far.