Enter Jake Cox. When he tells Lucy that Karma sent him, her tired brain immediately jumps to one conclusion: he's a gigolo. The truth is Jake is a PI hoping that Lucy's next visitor will be the ghost of a murder victim who's a key witness in a case against a mob boss.

The opening scene drew me in and made me splutter with laughter while also making me feel sorry for Lucy. Descriptions of "The Larrinator's" striptease are hysterical. But having to deal with a bunch of horny dead guys trying to get their groove on with a straight face cannot be easy. And Lucy's misunderstanding when Jake first arrives leads to some really hilarious inner thoughts.

Both Jake and Lucy are well written characters who fit together perfectly, and not just in their steamy encounters. Jake is completely believable as a tough PI, which is evident from the first moment he appears in the book and wonders at Lucy's odd behavior. But his toughness is tempered by his attraction to Lucy who is about as soft-hearted as they come. She really fits the role of a caring medium trying to help her charges transcend, even when they're not sure they want to.

Though it is a somewhat fast paced story, the pacing fits the length and plot. One of my favorite things about the whole book, though, is the chapter headings. Each one is different and they make it impossible for the reader to forget that the story is supposed to be funny more than anything else. And it definitely lives up to that expectation.

Overall rating:
Sensuality rating: Explicit

Reviewer: Karin
August 13, 2009