Nearly Departed in Deadwood by Ann Charles

5 of 5 Stars!

Book Blurb:

Little girls are vanishing from Deadwood, South Dakota. Fearing her daughter might be next, single mom, Violet Parker, is desperate to find the monster behind the abductions. With her savings dwindling and just three weeks left to sell her first house or lose her Realtor job, Violet is ecstatic when a handsome jeweler hires her to sell his century-old, Victorian masterpiece, until she sees the dilapidated dwelling. Now, if she could just convince her only buyer to stop rejecting vintage homes as if they're haunted. Short on time and long on worry, she refuses to give up her dream of a fresh start in Deadwood. But with a malicious coworker trying to get her fired, a secret admirer sending her creepy messages, and a sexy stranger hiding skeletons in his closet, will Violet end up as one of Deadwood's dearly departed?

 My review:

This book has everything a reader could possibly want. Great suspense? Check. Thrills? Check. Bad guys you love to hate? Check. Romance? Check. Paranormal tones? Check. It's the Grand Slam combination plate of books! 

Seriously. For some reason, strictly based on the cover and the title, I was expecting vampires. No vampires in this one and I was glad for it. Instead we've got devoted single mom Violet Parker, her rambunctious and mischievous twins, a child abductor on the loose, a co-worker who wants to oust her from her job, and several possible paramours. There are lots of other wonderful colorful characters throughout as well. 

I saw another reader compare it to Janet Evanovich's Stephanie Plum series, but for me there is no comparison. Don't get me wrong, I love Stephanie. But I find Violet a much more believable character, and the danger in her life also much more realistic - well except for maybe the paranormal stuff. But hey - I'm not saying it couldn't be real either! I like some unknown in my fiction and in my life. 

If I haven't sold you on this book yet, check out my friend Kriss' take on it. You can read her related articles here and here. She's the one who made me want to read it. And I'm so glad she did. 

About the author (Courtesy of her website - http://www.anncharles.com/):

I live in the lush Pacific Northwest with my clever husband, charming kids, and an incredibly sassy cat. I have a Bachelor’s Degree in English with an emphasis on creative writing from the University of Washington. For the past eleven years, I have written and edited documentation for a software company. While technical writing has some thrilling moments… no, wait. Technical writing has no thrilling moments, which is why I turn to writing fiction at the end of the day.

My books are mysteries full of mayhem and fun, romance and comedy, and whatever else feels right. I am a member of Sisters in Crime and the Guppies, and I have been a member of Romance Writers of America for so many moons that I’ve lost count.

I have written several contemporary, award-winning novels, including a couple of different series. I am currently toiling away on my next. While my reading preferences range from adventure to horror to mystery, ever since I tried on my first training bra, I have loved a good mix of romance, too.

When I am not dabbling in fiction, I am penning writing-themed articles or standing on my workshop soapbox, sharing what I have learned over the years about the craft and self-promotion.

If you have any specific questions for me, or just feel chatty, don’t hesitate to drop me an email. I love getting mail!

Besides hanging out with me here, you can visit me at:

www.anncharles.com/deadwood

Facebook (Author Page or Personal Page)

Twitter (as AnnWCharles or Deadwood Violet)