Title: A Reason to Believe by Diana Copland
Publisher: Carina Press
Genre: M/M, Contemporary, Romance, Paranormal (Ghost/Psychic), Mysery
Length: 81,000 words
Book Rating: B+
Review Copy Obtained from Publisher Through NetGalley
Summary:
Detective Matthew Bennett doesn’t believe in ghosts. So when the spirit of a murdered child leads him to her body, he’s shaken to the core–and taken off the case. Unable to explain his vision, or to let go of the investigation, Matthew turns to renowned medium Kiernan Fitzpatrick. Though he has doubts about Kiernan’s claims to communicate with the dead, Matt is nevertheless drawn to the handsome psychic, who awakens feelings he thought were long-buried.
Haunted by the lingering spirit of the little girl, Kiernan is compelled to aid in the search for her killer. The chance to get closer to the enigmatic Matt is an unexpected bonus. Although Kiernan’s been betrayed by people who turned out to be more interested in his fame than in himself, with Matt he’s willing to risk his heart. As the two men grow closer, Kiernan helps Matt rediscover that life offers no guarantees–but love offers a reason to believe…
81,000 words
The Review:
If you are a fan of paranormal ghost stories, then you are going to love Diana Copland’s A Reason to Believe. It is a captivating mystery starring Matt Bennett, a police detective who is quite skeptical of psychic phenomena and a famous medium, Kiernan Fitzpatrick.
Matt Bennett is no stranger to tragedy and he is still recovering from a traumatic loss of his own when he is called to the scene of a missing young girl. Matt is led to the victim’s body by an unlikely source: the ghost of the victim, Abby. With his career already on the rocks, he is placed on administrative leave when he admits Abby’s spirit led him to her body. In an attempt to help him understand what he experienced, his sister in law and best friend, Sheila, takes Matt to “A Paranormal Gathering” where Kiernan Fitzpatrick is conducting psychic readings. With Kiernan’s (and Abby’s) assistance, Matt is soon hot on the trail of a killer.
The two protagonists of A Reason to Believe are fully developed, three dimensional characters. Both men have complicated pasts and although their personalities are complete opposites, they perfectly balance one another. Matt is a no-nonsense and slightly cynical cop with a sharply analytical mind who does not believe in communing with the dead despite his experiences to the contrary. Kiernan is light-hearted, full of energy and the more impulsive of the two. He is comfortable with who he is and completely at ease with his psychic abilities. The chemistry between the two men is sizzling and their relationship positively simmers with sexual tension.
The mystery aspect of the storyline is very well done. Although I was able to guess the killer’s identity fairly early on, I was completely stumped as to the motive for the murder. But what I really enjoyed the most about A Reason to Believe is the paranormal element of the plot. While I am not a fan of paranormal stories with shapeshifters, vampires, etc, I do love a good ghost story, and I can honestly say that Ms. Copland far exceeded my expectations with this part of the storyline. Kiernan’s psychic readings were just incredible and Abby’s ghostly appearances were spooky yet very moving.
A Reason to Believe is an outstanding read that I highly recommend to anyone who enjoys romantic suspense. It is an incredibly sexy romance with absolutely delightful cast of characters and a compelling mystery. Diana Copland is a fabulous author and I am crossing my fingers that we will see more of Matt and Kiernan in future books.
