Dead Bolt: Haunted Home Renovation Series, Book 2

************************Spoiler Alert ***********************I really liked this book. I liked the first book in the series as well, but I liked the continuation of Mel's story with this one.I like reading about the way Mel is trying to close herself off to men because she was hurt by her ex-husband. I think she is a little unsure of herself when it comes to men after being thrown for a loop by Caleb's dad. However, she is obviously attractive and could probably have any man she wanted if she wanted one which is evident by people hitting on her and trying to cook her dinner.It is good for her to be an independent woman who doesn't want or need a man though. I think this shows strong character to not be needy or seeing every man as a possible mate. It shows she has been hurt and is guarded though, and I hope she comes out of that a little more in the next book. She does have an intense attraction to Graham though, and he seems to have the same. I am glad that he broke up with that party planner at the end of the book. I think that Mel has had enough time licking her wounds over Caleb's dad. I think she and Graham deserve to give what they may have a chance. It has been a long time coming for the two of them!I understand this is not purely a romance novel or strictly about Mel's love-life though, so I will touch on the ghostly aspect of the book a little bit as well. Let me tell you what!!! This part of the story had me fully engrossed from the first quarter of the book right up until the end. Ghosts, cats, cranky old man, crazy old cat lady & crazy old cat lady's daughter all really brought a lot to this story. I like how it kept me actively engaged and thinking and guessing right up until the end with this. I will admit at first though, when I finished the book and all of the details were sorted out, I was slightly disappointed at how quickly the pieces all fell into place.I could have read the resolution of the book for another 50-100 pages and would have been pleased. It seemed to keep building the whole way and just all came together at once with a slamming halt. I really liked the reader getting to think through all of the possibilities of what was going on right along with Mel - but all of sudden it turned on a time when it was discovered that Katenka was at Mel's house. Then it just nicely wrapped everything up in a bow and was over. Now that I have let it all settle into my mind over a little bit of time though, I am not sure what else could have been said to make it any better though. It did all fit into place well and left me only wondering when it came to the Mel-Graham situation - yet this looks very promising!I enjoyed the ghostly activity in this book being different for Mel than in the previous book. This shows that every situation is different and needs to be handled differently.All in all, I really enjoyed the book. It had me interested, kept me wanting to read more to find out what happened, and kept me guessing. It was an enjoyable way to pass the time. If a book does this and entertains me it definitely deserves 5 stars in my book.Can't wait for the next book in this series, and I love Juliet Blackwell's Witchcraft Series too!

Juliet Blackwell writes great character

Dead Bolt has an interesting premise, engaging back story, quirky but believable characters & is written w/a detailed, somewhat wry point of view. I liked this book's plot more than the first of this series even though the ghosts were much less likable. I found the Russian character more complex than I'd originally thought and the other new characters were believable. Yes, I've met that wealthy, driven technology guy, the weird cat lady who surprises you, and her ensemble of family & friends are blessedly believable.The ghosts in this book are not particularly nice, but they grabbed my attention and kept their own secrets. Their pull on Melanie and the others was chilling and I found myself actually worrying about everyone involved. The frustrations Mel encounters on the job, with romance, clients, subcontractors & the mystery itself was rendered realistic by Blackwell's rich descriptions, deft turn of phrase & keen awareness of her cast of characters, San Francisco and Oakland, the people who inhabit those cities & renovation of historic homes. I found myself immersed in her world, enthused and learning about history, construction & architecture while also being entertained. Having known women in construction, Mel's quirks actually make her more believable as do her challenges in running multiple jobs, dealing w/a male-dominated world in a matter of fact way & working to hone her new found ghost communicating talent. The ups & downs of her potential romance also rang true for me because responsibilities timing really do shape our romantic lives.I can honestly say that this series is staying w/me because now when I see or am in an old home, I view it differently than I did before I read these books. But lest you think that it's all about learning, remember it's also fun, spooky & entertaining. Bring us more Mel!!

This is the second book I've read in the Haunted Home Renovation series. The book hits several areas of interest for me: a story with a ghostly vein, a mystery and renovation of very old homes, The story grabbed my interest right away, it's a quick read and enjoyable for me. If you like reading about ghosts, reading mysteries, learning about how old homes are constructed or the details of bringing an old home back to its glory, and a story told from a woman's point of view, you'll find something to enjoy about this book and this series. Another thing I like is when I find a series of books where the main character becomes a "friend" of mine, and I get to share adventures with my "friend" through more than one book. Once I have read thru the books already written in this series, I know I can look forward to another visit with my "friend" when the next book comes out. I can't say that this book is a "blockbuster" or that it was written with deep meaning, impeccable literary style, etc. but it is something that I really enjoyed, thus my five star rating. I rate books for how much enjoyment I get from reading them and how difficult it is for me to put the book down so I can do the things I must get done (like getting back to work after lunch or turning off the light and going to sleep instead of staying up until 2am to continue reading). If you read this book, I hope you like it as much as I did.

If you love a cozy mystery with humor and a great story, this book is perfect 👌 part of her series but can be read as a stand alone as well 😊

Another page turner by Ms Blackwell. Previously read the other two books in the series - any more to come?

This is sheer light weight fun, goes well with a glass of wine and some really nice quality plain chocolate.

Having read volume 1 I was impressed enough to pay for this sequel, and good value it was. Mel, the builder heroine, encounters more very unhappy spirits whilst trying to renovate a complex old (in American years) building.The author develops the characters, main and support, with believable actions. I too was slow in picking the killer( not unusual) but the trail was skilfully camouflaged with some neat side-action.Top marks, bring on the next...

I like the fact the main character is older and seems to have the same hang ups a lot of us do. The ghost element adds to the story and I had not guessed who was the killer until towards the end of the book (trust me very unusual for me!) I would recommend this author.

Ich hatte ziemlich Mühe mit diesem Band, die ersten 150 Seiten haben mich nicht so richtig packen wollen, danach wurde es etwas besser, rasanter, aber immer noch nicht vollständig überzeugend. Ich glaube, ich werde bei ihrer anderen Serie bleiben und diese sein lassen. Die Charaktere sind einfach zu vage, und das liegt nicht nur dran, dass ich "als weibliches Wesen Kleider interessanter finde als Häuserrenovation". Ok, aber nicht umwerfend.