Stevie‘s review of Happy Medium (Ramos Family/Medium Trilogy, Book 3) by Meg Benjamin
Contemporary Paranormal Romance published by InterMix 21 Jan 14
When I read the previous book in this trilogy, I was slightly overwhelmed by the amount of plot elements squeezed into one novel, although I liked the particular paranormal elements unique to the series’ universe and the specific location that the story took place in. This book revisits not just the same town, but the same district of that town, and manages to give me all the elements I liked before in what feels to me a much more straightforward plot. Although we get to revisit quite a few characters from the previous book, and there are some references to characters and events in the first book, this one would, I feel, work very well as an introduction to the world of the Ramos family.
Ray (Raymundo – I love that name) Ramos makes his money from buying rundown houses with his business partner and fixing them up to sell on. His latest project, however, is turning out to need more work than either of them had expected and Ray is very concerned that they don’t have enough money to get the job finished before some of their debt payments become due. Fortunately his project house has caught the eye of Emma Shea, who is scouting out properties to feature in an episode of the paranormal reality show she’s working on. The fees from the show would certainly tide Ray over until the house is finished, and it also helps that Emma herself appeals to him even more than the cash.
Emma’s very much put upon by the star of the show, who dictates how she dresses and what her weight ought to be (so Emma’s on a constant diet and doesn’t have the greatest self-esteem because of that). On the other hand, Ray thinks she looks great the size she is, although he doesn’t particularly like the suits she insists on wearing until he can convince her that jeans are more suited to helping him get the house ready for filming. Not only is Emma’s boss a prize control freak, she’s also as psychically sensitive as the average concrete block, so when they hold a test séance prior to filming, she fails to notice the ghostly activities that instantly affect Ray and Emma.
While her boss is out of town, Emma goes over and above her usual research plans to help him figure out what’s haunting them both and how they can make it stop. Ray’s sister Rosie (from the previous book) steps in with help and advice, as do some of her supernatural sidekicks. The relationship between Ray and Emma feels very natural, although I’d like to hope she manages to get over the last of her image issues after the end of the book. The history they uncover relating to the house and its previous inhabitants is fascinating and makes a lot of sense. I think I guessed before the characters what the object was that they needed to destroy to get rid of the ghost, but that didn’t affect my enjoyment of the story.
All in all, a great book that makes me want to go back and read the first in the series and also to look into more of the author’s books (I’ve read at least one of her contemporary romances, but there are plenty more I haven’t got yet).
Grade: A
Summary:
Love is good for the soul… unless it’s one that you’re trying to exorcise.
Ray Ramos has a problem–the King William District mansion he and his business partner purchased for a fast renovation needs more work than expected. Ray could use a quick infusion of cash. Enter Emma Shea, assistant to Gabrielle DeVere, the star of American Medium. Gabrielle is looking for San Antonio houses to use for her televised séances, and Ray’s fixer upper seems to fit.
When Gabrielle does a sample séance, Ray and Emma become the target of a touchy ghost with no respect for boundaries. After Ray learns his family has a special affinity for ghosts, the two decide to investigate the haunted house. It doesn’t hurt that Emma is immediately attracted to the laconic Ray or that Ray is intrigued by the buttoned-down beauty who seems determined to hide her considerable assets behind sober business suits. But can the two of them fight off a vengeful succubus bound to the house while getting a lot closer than either of them planned?
Meg Benjamin writes contemporary romance for Berkley InterMix and Samhain Publishing. Happy Medium is the final book in her Ramos Family trilogy after Medium Rare.
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Other books in this series:
