Jensen Murphy, Ghost for Hire, Book 2
Synopsis: Jensen Murphy is back in the spooky sequel to Only the Good Die Young.
Some people think that ghosts are spirits that refuse to go to the other side because they have unfinished business. Take my word—that’s true. I should know. I’m a ghost.
I was an ordinary eighties California girl, dead before my time, until psychic Amanda Lee Minter pulled me out of the time loop where I was reliving my death over and over. Now I’m Jensen Murphy, Ghost for Hire. I decided to put my spooky talents to use in helping Amanda Lee track down bad guys and killers (including my own).
It’s taken time to figure out exactly how that will work (our first case was definitely a learning experience for all involved), so when a young woman asks Amanda Lee for help convincing her best friend to leave a dangerously hot-tempered boyfriend, I’m ready and willing to use our collective powers on her behalf. But some people are dangerous not only to the living—especially when there are darker forces involved…
Review: I had a great time with the first novel and I was really curious to read more. I must say that it is quite rare to have a story featuring a ghost as the main character and it was very interesting to learn more about her.
We thus find our heroine Jensen part in a new survey. A Wendy’s friend shows up at Amanda’s house asking for help to save her best friend. Oh yes because she thinks that the new boyfriend of the girl, Tim, is dangerous and could kill her in one of his impulses. And whatever happens, her friend is not listening and she still lives with this boy. Jensen needs therefore to understand whether Tim is actually dangerous or not to know what steps to take. But it is very difficult for our heroine and her friends to know what happens to this disturbed boy. Yet it is true that with the dreams, hallucinations and passages in his head, we realize that Tim could be more. Is he to the point of killing? I confess that I do not quite understand why the woman did not break up with Tim after all she suffered, but relationships are always quite complicated, like in real life. It is also true that this character makes us uneasy … It’s hard to know how far he will be able to go, but we feel that he is capable of anything. I found that the author had really succeeded in creating a tortured naughty, crazy and impulsive guy.
But that’s not all because many stories are mixed here. We have the chance to see Gavin and Wendy again, trying to manage the consequences of the events of the first volume. It hurt the heart to see that Wendy refused to talk to Jensen, while the latter was doing everything to protect her. Well my heart sank once more for our ghost and her feelings for Gavin. It is well known that nothing is possible between them … How would it be between a living man and a spirit? And yet the Jensen’s feelings touch us and break our heart, even if like her, we would like to have a solution to her problem.
Besides talking about Jensen, we also learn a lot about her, about her murder and her murderer and I admit that I was surprised more than once about it. We also meet her old friends, we see the feelings they have for her and it is true that the whole thing was really touching. We also have the opportunity to meet several times a demonic entity discovered in the first book and I was surprised multiple times about it. Plus, I’m very curious to learn more about him. Yet something else? Oh yes because Jensen has to manage a large number of events! So we have Fake Dean. Ah … this character is so complex, it’s so hard to understand who he is and what he wants from our ghost. We feel that he cares for our heroine and at the same time he is also trying to manipulate her. Whatever is happening between them, it is difficult to explain it and it is true that the end has made me quite sad for Jensen.
Our heroine has to manage a lot of things here as you can see. It is an intense and touching story, which broke my heart several times but I took a great pleasure in discovering it. I’m curious in any case to read more about this. It was a very good novel.
blodeuedd
It continues to be good, intriguing….I do need a new series
Melliane
yes, I really like this one, it’s so fun!
Jennifer Bielman @ Bad Bird Reads
Wow, I have never seen a ghost as a main character. That’s awesome!
Melliane
it’s so nice to have something different like that
Carmel @ Rabid Reads
You didn’t waste any time between installments! The fact that you immediately needed more after book 1 is a super good sign, and your 4-star rating is an even better one. I enjoy ghost stories, but have yet to read a book where one was the main character, sounds kinda cool.
Carmel @ Rabid Reads
Melliane
I was impatient for the release of this one. Well I’ve read the previous book a few months ago. But it’s really great and fun, you should try!
kimbacaffeinate
I am so glad to see you enjoyed book two. I am looking forward to diving into these. I love the premise
Melliane
you really need to try it!
Kristi
This sounds like it was make for me! I’ll have to try the first in the series!
Great review, Melliane!
Melliane
I hope you’ll find the time to try it! It’s so fun!
Jenny @ Supernatural Snark
This sounds like my kind of series to be sure! I don’t know that I’ve read anything that features a ghost as the main character, so I’m really looking forward to meeting Jensen. And of course I’m mordbidly curious about her murder, I look forward to being surprised!
Melliane
it’s fun to have something different like that. I hope you’ll like her too. Yes her murder is quite a thing…
Lily
Oh it looks like we both reviewed books with ghosts are the main character today! Exciting, right? LOL
The fact that you rushed to read this one after the first installment has me curious Melliane! Lovely, review 🙂
Melliane
it’s rare right? It’s fun. It’s a great series!
Sarah @ One Curvy Blogger
Wow, I don’t think I’ve had a chance to read a book where it’s written in the ghosts pov. That’s so cool! I love ghost stories! Thanks for sharing this one, I’ll definitely be checking it out. 🙂
Melliane
it’s so good! I think you should try it!
kindlemom1
The first book for this series is on my wishlist! I can’t wait to read it and I am so happy the sequel was great too!
Melliane
I hope you’ll be able to try soon!
Kirsty-Marie
I’ve only read one (I think) where the main characters a ghost, it’s pretty different, that’s for sure. But they definitely make things interesting, and it sounds like it continues to be! 🙂
Melliane
yes it’s so nice to discover more of them on this side on the story.
Lupdilup
Sunds like a great find Mellanie. The broken heart part makes me a little nervous, but it’s a sing of agod read when a book touches you that way. Very intersting indeed.
Thanks Mellanie 🙂
Melliane
it’s just that it’s an impossible story so it’s a little sad for her0. thanks to you!
Braine
THIS is the series that I forgot to add! Just thinking about this yesterday and I can recall the name of the book or the author and where I saw it. THANK YOU for reviewing this ! Adding now, this sounds so badass!!
Melliane
lol my pleasure, I’m glad I was able to help you
Joy (Joyousreads)
Is there anything more impossible than a romance between a ghost and a living? Sigh.
Melliane
yeah right?
Melissa (Books and Things)
Oh looks like you just pushed this series up my wishlist. This does sound like something I would enjoy!
Melliane
I think you could like it.
Mogsy @ BiblioSanctum
Yay, I’m excited about your review and the rating you gave it. I’m actually starting up this book today!
Melliane
Oh I can’t wait to see what you think of it!
Heidi
OH a ghostly UF I really want to check this out now. I love the sound of it. The only problem is now I have that old Queen Song in my head….another one bites the dust…..
Melliane
lol I don’t remember the song
Chris Marie Green
Melliane, thank you so much! And it’s good to see that others would like to read the series, too! All the best to everyone. 🙂
Melliane
my pleasure, I really enjoyed it.
Stephanie Faris
That is a spooky ghost cover, for sure! Sounds like an interesting sequel.
Melliane
yes it was really good.
LilyElement
I need to read these 🙂 Thanks for the reminder!
Melliane
My pleasure.