Cursed Be The Wicked

Title – Cursed be the Wicked
Author – J.R.Richardson
Genre – Paranormal Mystery Romance
Release Date: March 5, 2014

Synopsis

Cooper Shaw lives his life under a pen name and enjoys the anonymity it provides during his journeys across the globe as a seasoned writer for a travel magazine. When his job lands him in his hometown of Salem, Massachusetts to cover the famous Festival of the Dead, he soon realizes that he can’t stay invisible forever as he faces ghosts from a past he’s been trying to forget ever since he left.

The city holds nothing but bad memories for Coop until he meets a quirky young woman with an old soul and curious insights by the name of Finnley Pierce. While she acts as his tour guide through a town he thought he knew, Finn helps him unearth the truth of his childhood and might even begin to open up his heart.

By unraveling the mystery of his father’s murder, Coop may finally accept who he is, where he came from, and perhaps even realize what he wants for his future.

Links

Amazon / Goodreads

Excerpt

“I came by Geneva’s to see you this morning,” I tell her. She slides her hands inside my jacket, around my waist. She holds us together tighter.

“You did?” There’s a smile in her voice. I grin but she can’t see it.

“I’ve gotten used to starting my days out with you in them.”

“You have?” She leans back to look at me. She’s stunned although I have no idea why. I’ve been so transparent even a bat could see through me the past few days.

“Yeah,” I tell her, “I have.” I brush the hair out of her face. Even through the rainfall I can see the blush in her cheeks. This is the most vulnerable I’ve seen Finn since Geneva’s, when she thanked me for handling Dan.

“Most people don’t like the way I’m so pushy sometimes,” she says. “They find it offensive. Some might even say I’ve got a smart mouth. Too smart for my own good, blah blah blah.”

She trails off at the end there and I laugh at the way she thinks I’m buying that none of it bothers her.

“Come to think of it, you did say something I found offensive yesterday,” I tell her half serious. She looks hurt but I can’t stop the smirk from spreading across my face as I back her up against the nearest tree.

She’s caught off guard by the move, I can hear it in the way her breath hitches. “What was that?”

She tries to recover but she fails.

“I believe the term you used was friends,” I tell her, narrowing my eyes. Her lips part, just barely. She swallows something down then clears her throat.

“Isn’t that what we are?”

I move my head from side to side. “I don’t think so, Finn.”

About the author

A writer of stories and lover of life.

Jo grew up in Maryland with four siblings, three parents and an endless number of cousins within the vicinity. Today she lives in Florida with her two girls and a husband that shares her same sense of humor and basic take on life as we know it.

Life is too short to put dreams on the back burner.

She’s always loved writing, and always enjoys a good mystery, so in 2012, Jo wrote a novel that
was picked up by the good people at Soul Mate Publishing.

Where you can find Jo

Website / Facebook / Twitter / Goodreads

                              

My Review

Cooper Shaw is hiding, lost. He's a writer for a travel magazine and goes by the name Cole Stone.  You know that old saying, "You can always go home"? Coop doesn't ever want to go home.  He had successfully evaded ever going back until his boss calls and tells him to go cover the festival going on and to find out more about "Crazy Maggie Shaw".  He's hesitant and tries to get Bill to let someone else go, but no Coop has to go to Salem. He just hopes he can get in, do what he needs to do and get right back out fast, and without being recognized.

When he gets to Salem, he meets Betsy. Something about Betsy calls to him, sounds hokey but she's special and he can tell.  He tries to find her the next morning but the woman that comes to the front desk of the B&B is not the Betsy from last night. Wondering if he'll ever see her again he trudges on in search of things for his article.  He goes to a seminar type meeting, a woman is talking about witch craft an he finds all of it ridiculous.  While making snide comments about what she's speaking about the woman next to him tells him to be quiet, and low and behold its ' Betsy'.  Actually her name is Finnley an the woman speaking is her grandmother, Geneva. Something about both of them make him feel like he has to tell them who he really is.

When he starting this journey he was certain he didn't want anything to do with his mother's past or even try an find out what went on. He was there to do his job and that was it, until he was there that is.  Someone keeps calling his phone and his room at the B&B, things just seem off and he needs to find out what. Maybe he'll learn the true story of his fathers death and why his mother went crazy.

The author has a way of weaving a tale that keeps you invested and entertained. Grabbing the edge of our seat wanting to know what is going to happen next and making you laugh to ease the tense moments. I've read other works by Jo and this didn't disappoint. She hit another one out of the park with this one! Check out this story and leave her some love in the form of a review!

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