Audible Book Review: Ghost Hunter by Jayne Castle

A good paranormal romance but not such a great listen.

Ghost Hunter

Written by: Jayne Castle

• Narrated by: Laural Merlington
• Length: 9 hrs and 18 mins 
• • Series: Ghost Hunters, Book 3
• Format: Unabridged


Release Date:10-17-08
Publisher: Brilliance Audio

Genre: Paranormal Romance

My Rating: 3.75 of 5.0

Publisher's Summary
Where deadly energy ghosts lurk in the ruins of an ancient alien civilization.
Where dust bunnies prove to be loyal pets.
And where a ghost hunter will discover that a woman's heart is the most dangerous adversary of all...
Local Guild boss and powerful ghost-hunter Cooper Boone is everything botanist Elly St. Clair could ask for - the handsome, strong, and silent type. Maybe too silent. For when Guild secrets threaten her career at the college, Elly has to call off their marriage - and leave small-town life behind...
But starting over in the thriving metropolis of Cadence City isn't easy, especially when one of Elly's new friends disappears in the eerie catacombs beneath the streets. Cooper turns up just in time to help Elly investigate. And as the mystery deepens and dangerous ghost myths and legends come to light, Cooper makes it clear he intends to stick around - and this time he's holding nothing back...
(P)2006 Brilliance Audio, Inc.

Review:
Elly often feels like an underachiever in her family of strong psi-gifted family of ghost hunters. Elly does have a psi-gift but it is with plants which even her family, not to mention the professionals, discount as a form of madness. Because of her family, Elly is a prime marital catch for anyone looking to gain position and influence in her local guild. Elly became engaged to Cooper because she was immediately attracted to him. However, Cooper is the new Guild boss and is often too busy to spend time with her. He has canceled several dates and has barely kissed her during their six month engagement. When Elly learns that Cooper basically fought a duel over her she is concerned about the scandal. She is even more concerned when Cooper shows little interest or understanding of her feelings. She feels the best way to get over him, or maybe stir his emotions if possible, is to move away.

Six months later Cooper shows up in Elly’s new community claiming to have some business to take care of. Cooper has always been focused and driven to reach his goals. He succeeded in business and now he has to find a way to succeed in his personal and emotional life. He isn’t ready to tell Elly that she is his important business but he is ready to try to win her back. Fortunately he has arrived just in time to use his skills to help her find a missing friend in the dangerous catacombs and tunnels that exist underground, left behind from a prior alien society.

I thought this series, with extra sensory skills and archaeological elements would be interesting. I enjoyed the mystery, danger and the romantic conflict and although there are some fun features -the dust bunnies - I wasn’t overly impressed with this one. That may have been due to the narration which was a bit of a whine for me or it may be that my tastes are shifting from romance to more action and suspense.

I have enjoyed a number of romances, contemporary and historical and some paranormal stories by Ms Castle (aka Jayne Krentz, aka Amanda Quick). I will give the first book in this series a try just to make sure.

Audio Notes: I was disappointed with this narrator who made the whole reading sound too blaise or too whiney. It detracted from the story this time as I see that I liked the story elements but was glad when I finished the audio.

I've had this in my Audible library for a while.