Book 74, 2024

[chez_jae]

ADVENTURES OF A PSYCHIC MEDIUM WEDDING PLANNER: Book 1: Connecting with Ghosts & Sexy Blake Rhodes by Lori Francis Butcher

My rating: 2 of 5 stars



I completed an ebook last night--Connecting with Ghosts & Sexy Blake Rhodes by Lori Francis Butcher. It's the first in the "Adventures of a Psychic Medium Wedding Planner" series. The main character is Staci Drake, who works with her family's event business and has also just learned she's a medium.

On her 29th birthday, Staci is visited by the spirit of her departed Aunt Mamie, who tells her she can choose to train as a medium or keep on keepin' on with her life as is. Staci is up for a change, but first she must pass the test as well as complete two challenges. She's thrown into the deep end of mediumship on her first day when she witnesses two masked figures sabotage a bicycle race, resulting in casualties. Fortunately her brother, Charlie, is there to assist her as they help spirits cross over. However, Staci is now in the crosshairs of an evil spirit who has been pulling the strings on a series of mass casualty events. Staci will need to harness her new abilities quickly to not only pass her challenges, but also to survive.

Oof. The idea behind this was interesting, but the story itself left a lot to be desired. There was precious little world building (it was mostly info dump), and characters were not portrayed very well. The narrative lacked cohesion and continuity and seemed more of a series of 'this happened, that happened' than a smoothly flowing plot. Other issues that bothered me :
- The story was rife with editing errors, such as misusing the word 'waive' for 'wave' (oddly enough, most writers who mess that up do it the other way around!).
- This line: Charlie parked in a parking lot near a little park. I think that one caused me to develop a nervous tic.
- When Staci was relaying messages to living people from spirits, she repeated what the spirits said, word for word. I can understand why she did so, but the author could have handled it in a less wordy manner, methinks.
- There was a romantic interest added, which really seemed to have been thrown in there for the sole purpose of having a romantic interest.
- Why can't a new medium call the entity who vanquishes evil spirits? Staci learned she wouldn't have that ability for a whole year. That made no sense.

Favorite line: A little retail therapy always helps.

I didn't see any other reviews for this book, and I hate to be a Debbie Downer right out of the gate, but this doesn't deserve more than two stars. It wasn't awful, but it was far from being good. It was lite and uncomplicated for the most part, so if that appeals to you, give it a read.