Sandy M’s review of Seeing is Believing (Cuttersville, Ohio Series, Book 2) by Erin McCarthy
Contemporary Paranormal Romance published by Berkley 5 Mar 13
When I first began reading this book, I had a problem with the hero, Brady. I just didn’t like his actions and attitude, not what a thirty-one-year-old man should act like. That kinda teed me off, because I like older heroes over a lot of the twenty-somethings there’s so much of in romance novels. But you have to give a man just enough at the right time to make him see what’s right, what he needs, and hope to heck he doesn’t screw it up anymore.
Piper Tucker is tired of being different and unique. She sees ghosts. Everywhere. They apparently need her help, but she hasn’t a clue what to do for them. She dreams of being normal, but this latest ghost, Rachel, just won’t let her be. Then there’s Brady, her old crush who never looked at her in the same way. He’s back in town and very hard to resist. Brady is the only one who didn’t think she was a freak because of her otherworldly ability, especially after the childhood she had, finally being dumped by her stepfather on her biological dad’s doorstep. Which was the best thing that ever happened to her. It’s taken a while, but she’s learned to trust and love, though some doubt and vulnerability still remains.
Brady is the laid-back type of guy out for fun. He’s been booted from his job in Chicago, so he headed home to stay with family while he figures out what to do next. He hasn’t painted in years, despite that being a dream when he left home at eighteen. Hoping to stay at his cousin Shelby’s for a bit, he finds Piper there instead, babysitting. Little Piper Tucker is all grown up, and being the typical male, his thoughts zero down to one thing and one thing only – Piper in his bed. He flexes muscles and does all those guy things, hoping she’ll sit up and take notice, and this is where Brady just gets on my nerves. But then he does something sweet and you can’t help but like him – until he does something stupid again.
But after a while, when I see that first change in him, I realize all the growing up he still has to do, and he does it quite admirably by the end of the book. He actually grows into his age, decides to take responsibility for his life, do something meaningful, and love Piper for all he’s worth. Piper has growing to do also, but her growth is more emotional, filling out in her trust of others and living more for herself instead of for others.
The only element that doesn’t work that well for me is the actual ghost story of Rachel and Brady, the first Brady Stritmeyer. It just doesn’t keep the story going that much, a little on the blah side. It feels like something just to keep Brady and Piper occupied when they aren’t arguing or making love. I wish there’d been a little more oomph in that aspect of the story. Other than that, this is still a nice story with fun characters – especially Brady’s grandmother – who live life just like us. I haven’t read Heiress for Hire, the story of Danny, Piper’s father, but I’m now curious about that man and his heroine. I might have to pull it out of the TRB pile soon.
Grade: B
Summary:
Cuttersville, Ohio is full of ghosts, and they all want Piper Tucker’s help. One guy in town just wants Piper.Ever since Piper Tucker was young she wanted to be like everyone else, but her uncanny ability to see ghosts always put her on the other side of normal. They’re showing up now more than ever, desperately seeking help. But what can she possibly do for them? They’ve already been dead for years. Besides, she has a personal concern of her own right now. A real flesh and blood concern—named Brady.He’s Piper’s old grade school crush, and no sooner is he back in town than sparks start giving off heat. For Brady it’s hard not to notice the sexy young woman Piper’s become, or forget the special gift she had as a girl. And right now it could come in handy because a long-forgotten murder has been keeping a restless spirit from finding peace. All Piper and Brady have to do is solve the crime and put it to rest. But the passion brewing between them is just as restless, and could prove twice as dangerous.
Read an excerpt.
Other books in this series:
