Ghost Seer

RITA winner Owens, best known for her Celta’s HeartMates futuristic romance series, is gunning hard to broaden her audience with the first Ghost Seer paranormal contemporary, featuring cowboys, cops, and outlaws. It’s a notably successful experiment, combining much-loved character types with touches of humor and sizzle. Montana deputy sheriff Zach Slade has been injured and embittered in a shooting and needs a fresh start. Clare Cermak, a buttoned-up Denver accountant, has just inherited the estate of her psychic great-aunt, along with the ability to see ghosts herself. The ghosts want Clare to solve their mysteries so they can pass on; Zach just happens to have the necessary skill set, along with a job offer from a Denver private investigation firm. The blend of history and investigation makes the mystery persuasive, and the chemistry between Clare and Zach is well scripted. Owens knows just how to press her readers’ buttons, and they’ll love every minute of it. Agent: Deidre Knight, Knight Agency. (Apr.)