Cursed
by Lynn Ricci
Genre: Paranormal Romance
ISBN: 1481276034
ASIN: B00AQO2ISW
Number of pages: 259
Word Count: 70,000
The story takes place over the Christmas holiday… it involves a witch . . . and other surprises…
Book Description-
When Sarah Carter moves to Boston to escape her past she realizes there's more than meets the eye with the landlord and her mysterious new best friend.
What happened to the owner of this brownstone and what secrets lie within its walls and continue to torment?
Witchcraft, curses and timeless love are not what Sarah expected to find, but as she learns more, she wonders is she actually running back to her past instead of from it?
I loved, loved, loved this book! I was immediately immersed in Lynn Ricci's world of Boston and the old brownstones. From the moment I looked at the cover I could tell that this book would be one that I would have to read. And I was not disappointed. Sarah the main character was strong but you could tell after the break up with her ex she was ready for something new and moving to Boston to work at a new company and meeting new friends was just what she needed. But some of the new friends she met were not "new" as she first thought.
Mason, the landlord of the brownstone, was a lonely disfigured old man. He usually did he's grounds work at night and only spoke to the residents from the shadows. The moment he saw Sarah he questioned whether or not he should have let her come. Lynn did a great job of world building from the past and the present. I could picture the story so vividly in my head as she told the story. Also by the end of the story I felt like I knew Sarah, Mason, and the others in this story personally.
This was an awesome retelling of "Beauty and the Beast". But it wasn't your typical telling of the story. I totally recommend this to any one wanting to read a great paranormal romance. There were such twist in this story from times gone by coming to a head in this story. Mason finally gets his revenge and the girl.
I give Cursed and Lynn 5 stars!!
Staring out of the small dormered window, he could just see the corner of the street. Leaves on the trees lining the sidewalk were moving past their prime of orange and red and turning brown as autumn made its way through Boston. The ones still clinging to the trees blocked part of his view. Absentmindedly he pulled his pocket watch out of his pants and checked the time although he instinctively knew it was still early. Purposely, he had chosen this spot to watch the street for a sign. He didn’t want to miss a thing.
Mrs. Casey was nearly three stories below waiting on the sidewalk next to her white BMW. He gazed down at the plump woman in her camel jacket and brown plaid scarf. She had just arrived and was on her mobile phone, trusty bag over her shoulder. As he watched from above, he wondered if he might keep her for a while. She had proven to be discreet and respectful in their dealings thus far –always keeping her eyes conveniently averted. That was a big plus in his book.
The sky had been bright blue and clear all morning but now the sunlight dimmed and small gusts of wind kicked up from time to time, stirring up the brittle leaves, scratching at the sidewalk and causing drifts against the wrought iron fence. He would go out and clean up the two small patches of grass in front of the building later, when it got dark. After all these years, he was comfortable working outside after nightfall.
A flicker of yellow caught his eye as a taxi turned from Columbus Avenue onto Dunhill – a small side street in Boston’s South End, lined with fashionable brownstones. He straightened his bent frame as best he could and intently watched the cab's approach, completely absorbed in his surroundings and on high alert. Below, Mrs. Casey tucked her phone away and pulled her coat closed. Is it getting colder, he thought, touching the glass pane in front of him, the chill spreading through his fingertips.
The yellow checker taxi glided to a stop in front of the building and a young woman with ash blonde hair stepped out but held the door and leaned back in. His heart clenched as if it had been submerged in cold water and he grasped the windowsill to steady himself. From his vantage point, he could see the cabbie handing her some bills. She closed the car door and turned to Mrs. Casey, shaking hands. He wished he could hear the conversation, but knew that it would be pleasantries and then the expected basics.
Both women squinted up towards the window and he faded back as quickly as possible. He was sure he was a moment too late, but what did it really matter? He snuck another quick look and relaxed, realizing Mrs. Casey was pointing out items on the ground level – most likely the security system, or flower boxes. But as he continued to watch he finally saw it: the sign he had been waiting for.
Small gusts that had been making the crunchy, dry leaves rise and dance with their still colorful counterparts whipped up again a few buildings further along the street and came towards the women like a mounting wave. The leaves blew up waist high, swirling and twirling onto themselves until the force reached the women and spun around them in a leaf tornado. Mrs. Casey stepped back towards her BMW parked at the curb to get out of the maelstrom and the leaves continued, picking up energy and speed; surrounding the flaxen-haired woman, lifting and tossing her long hair like a Medusa at the center of the funnel. In reaction to the onslaught, the young woman covered her head with her arms and ran up the front walk toward the building to get out of its path. The wind disappeared and the leaves fell to the ground on the sidewalk as quickly as it had started. Overhead the sky was once again blue.
She’s here, he thought.
The leaves settled gently on the sidewalk. Sarah laughed, removing a few dry leaves that had snagged on her scarf and sweater.
“My goodness! It’s getting blustery!” Mrs. Casey exclaimed as she hurried across the brick sidewalk to the open gate that Sarah ran through, moments before. “Are you ok, dear?”
“I’m fine, really.” Sarah said almost to herself while smoothing her hair. “Just a little wind.”
“Well, dear, if it was any more wind it would have swept you away to Oz.” Sarah heard the deep Boston accent in the woman’s voice and felt immediately comfortable with the realtor. The cadence was almost like she was listening to her maternal grandmother, Rose. Growing up in Connecticut, her grandmother's Boston accent was fodder for jokes, but she always associated the distinctive pronunciations with happy childhood memories. Sarah waited as Mrs. Casey reached into her oversized bag and easily pulled out a business card.
“Thank you, Mrs. Casey,” Sarah said as she examined the card. “I’m so glad you were able to meet me on short notice.” Sarah stood on the bottom step and waited as Mrs. Casey dug paperwork out of her briefcase. Glancing around the small front enclosure she wasn’t sure was big enough to qualify as a yard, she noticed the black wrought iron flower boxes mounted below the bay windows, full of deep russet, red, and burnt orange mums. Mrs. Casey finished pulling out the listing sheet and noticed where Sarah was looking.
“The flowers are lovely, aren’t they? You should see this place in the summer! I don’t know how he does it. No one ever sees him working in the garden but it’s always immaculate.” She leaned over and pointed to the side of the building indicating she actually meant around the corner. “Over there are the rose bushes. This is actually one of the few brownstones that has a little side yard since the alley cuts through there.”
Sarah looked at the old-world cobblestone alley. Mrs. Casey continued her garden tour, “Not big enough to do much with, but he keeps pink roses in the summer all along those wooden trellises.”
“It’s very nice. You can tell the property is well kept; it’s wonderful that he cares so much for the landscaping.”
“Everything is kept well. This was a grand house in her day.” Mrs. Casey stressed the last sentence as she looked lovingly up to the front door. The realtor continued with a tone of letting Sarah in on a fact already well known in certain social circles, “This is one of the prime rental properties in the South End, dear.”
Mrs. Casey started to climb the front steps slowly. Sarah wondered if it was her age that slowed her down but this seemed different, almost hesitant. As if on cue, the woman turned and looked down at Sarah, two steps below. She put one hand on the railing to steady herself before speaking.
“Before we go in, I must tell you something. We will be meeting with the owner in a few minutes. He’s very particular about his renters since he lives on the first floor.”
Sarah started to say she would make a good impression but the woman laid her gloved hand on her arm to quiet her.
“There’s more.” Mrs. Casey looked down at her feet in discomfort with what she was about to say. “He had an accident . . . of some sort. I am not sure exactly what happened but he is disfigured and very, very self-conscious.” Her eyes darted back to Sarah’s and locked. “Don’t act like you pity him. Don’t ask any questions about it. And, whatever you do, don’t look straight at him.”
“Is it that bad?”
“I really don’t know the extent of it. He tries to cover as much he can and I pretend like nothing is wrong. But it’s bad. I always keep myself busy and interested in looking at something else.”
“I will avoid looking at him. Promise.”
“I’ve lost some good tenants by them being too interested in him. He’s a proud man. He has done a lot of beautiful work; everything in this home has been lovingly maintained. The whole building possesses a charm you just don’t see anymore.”
Mrs. Casey searched Sarah’s face, making sure all this had settled in.
“Ready, dear?”
“Ready.”
A little bit about Lynn ...
Lynn Ricci was born and raised in the Boston area. Her professional background is in financial communications and she pursues her artistic endeavors of writing and painting while enjoying an active family life with her two children and dog, Fenway. In the summer, she enjoys relaxing in Chatham on Cape Cod.
A writer of several published short stories including Daydreams which was picked up for an anthology collection through Outskirts Press, The Dating Intervention is her debut novel and Cursed, a paranormal romance, is her most recent novel released December 2012.
More information on novels available and underway can be found at www.lynnricci.com
What I would want isn't a superpower like leaping tall building in a single bound or flying or super strength but more of a paranormal power. On an old TV show called Bewitched - fitting for this book tour and book subject - there was a witch who could wiggle her nose and appear places or get things done by magic. Being a busy single mom, that nose twitch power would certainly come in handy with getting beds made, laundry done, and being at both children's baseball fields at the same time!
Tell us your most rewarding experience since being published.
Every time I hear from a stranger who read and enjoyed one of my books it's rewarding. Whether they contact me through Facebook or write a review - I feel I have given enjoyment to someone and it makes the work - and the nerve-wracking business of putting yourself and your book out there for people to judge - all worthwhile.
Please tell us in one sentence only, why we should read your book.
Cursed is a love story at its core, told in a way that offers history, mystery, and paranormal elements to broaden its appeal across a wide spectrum of readers.
Favorite food?
Being Italian, I have a love affair with food. It's hard to pick just one. Although this might only qualify as a dessert, I would say the one thing I crave and do indulge myself with on a daily basis is ice cream. And yes, daily.
What book are reading now?
I just downloaded a book yesterday that I plan to start tonight called A Discovery of Witches. Someone had compared the writing style of Cursed to it in a review so I wanted to check it out. Let's hope its good! I have a dozen or so others waiting for me on my kindle ranging from historical, paranormal and chick lit.
What’s your favorite season/weather?
I'm a summer girl! Give me a sunny, bright blue sky, gentle warm breezes and no jacket needed type of day and I am happy. Which begs the question, why haven't I left Boston for sunnier pastures? I think I appreciate summer more going through the cold winter.
What was your favorite children's book?
Maurice Sendak's Where the Wild Things Are was my favorite as a young girl and after reading it so many times to my own children I could recite the whole book by heart. That came in handy during car rides and waiting in restaurants. When I got a little older, James and the Giant Peach, drew me in to that fantastical world of Roald Dahl.
Beach or Pool?
The beach - love listening to the waves and it gives me a sense of peace.
What is one book everyone should read?
The Kite Runner was excellent and stayed with me long after the book was finished.
Any other books in the works? Goals for future projects?
I have started writing a few books - and have more ideas for books than time to write! I started one during NaNoWriMo in November which is a lighthearted romance called Matchless. I am also working on a prequel to Cursed and have two more - a contemporary romance and a paranormal - that I've scoped out. I took some time away from writing over the holidays to spend with family and launch Cursed but am now devoting more time to writing again.
Lynn, THANKS so much for being here today! I loved your book and I am looking forward to reading more of your work!
1 comments:
Thank you for having me on your blog during the Cursed tour - and THANK YOU for such a wonderful review! I was thrilled that you enjoyed it! I hope everyone enjoyed the review and the excerpt and good luck to all who enter the giveaway!
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