My rating:4.5/5
I’ve been reading Linda Kage for years, but lately, I simply lost track of her releases. I loved “The Forbidden Men” series and her reinterpretation of famous stories because she knows how to mix a sweet story with emotion and sometimes, action. Being part of her Facebook has its perks, so when I found out about “The Seven” series, I was completely hooked. Pay attention – I didn’t even read the blurb, which has to say a lot about my confidence in my next read and in my trust that Linda wrote a book I will LOVE.
“Vacancy” was special and I knew from the first pages that this was something Linda was newly diving into and killing it in the process. This story is with paranormal influences, mixed with action, suspense, and an intense love story. All this is beautifully blended, delivering an enchanting story that kept me reading until late hours into the night. If it happened to me, it will happen to you.
Oaklynn has it all figured out – her career in journalism will be huge, but she just needs to focus on her goals and don’t fall in love, because it will be a distraction she is not willing to handle. Short on money and options, she is looking for a place to rent near her campus. Luck is on her side and she finds a beautiful house, with a vibe she cannot resist. Her tenant is Thalia, a vibrant and funny young woman who welcomes her into her house, which is currently rented together with her brother, Damien. Oaklynn’s reaction to him is almost immediate and soon, they will find each other in a very attractive situation, very hard to control, which will soon escalate into love.
The only problem here is that Oaklynn has a gift she is not aware of and her connection with Thalia is literally out of this world, making her relationship with Damien complicated and on to a bumpy start. There will be secrets kept, but also a connection which will be very hard to break.
I loved the characters and I liked the idea behind the plot. The Romance element was so pronounced, and all were marked by the paranormal plot, which makes the story more alert, making you read and read until you find your answers. I was very surprised that the main idea of the book was spilled in the blurb and I thought that maybe it would have been a major spoiler. But after thinking it through, I found it very smart from Linda, because that spoiler made the difference between an average Romance story and “Vacancy”. The details were a little scary, but I love a good Thriller and this certainly delivered.
I liked Damien and his loyalty towards his sister and finding the truth. The trauma he lived was truly heavy and you could feel his torment, but he was also capable of being vulnerable and driven by a sense of justice. With Oaklynn, they made a great pair, and even if at the beginning, they were united by attraction, you could feel how much they began to love one another.
The ending was exactly like I wanted it to be, a true tribute to “The Ghost Whisperer” and it was rewarding and sweet. It made me very emotional and made me realize how unfair life can be. 😦 I dropped 0.5 on the final rating because there were some scenes and dialogues that seemed very long and a little boring, especially with the banter between the boys. I understand that they were meant for us to get to know them, but I was so invested in the initial plot, that I just wanted to get to the good part. 😀
Overall, a very good book and for you to understand my drive for this story – I even told my husband about the book and kept him informed about the developments and important moments. Linda – please bring us as soon as possible the second book!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Ramonisme 