Sweet Melissa by Cynthia Harrison

Sweet Melissa by Cynthia Harrison

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I read Sweet Melissa straight after Gypsy, the first book in this Traveling Girls series. I really enjoyed the first book and was equally thrilled with the second, reading it all in just one night.

Melissa is aged 16 years old, she lives in West Port, Washington. Her best friend Popcorn persuades her to take off on a reckless adventure. Melissa agrees hoping her wildness will attract Popcorn’s older brother David, lead guitar player in an up and coming band.

The two girls hitch to Colorado Springs lurching between danger and safety with the rides they accept. When they finally arrive a Jeff’s place it’s not the homely welcome Melissa had hoped for.

In West Port, Natalia’s Romany gifts take her to Paradise Fields. It’s a place across the veil where she is contacted by her Spirit Guides. It has fields, oceans and mountains where the spirits dwell. Aunt Fadelty has died and contacts Natalia asking her to find the person who murdered her. A dark entity known as The Dark Initiate. He tried to hitch a ride to Paradise Fields with Fadelty’s spirit when she died. He’s dangerous and he’ll try again.

When Melissa and Popcorn are reported missing, Natalia’s Dad, Detective Haywood is given the case. He’s a Rom cop who prefers traditional police methods to crack a case, but does allow his own Romany gifts to help when necessary. When Natalia becomes Melissa’s guide to keep her safe Natalia’s Dad’s not happy. When the runaways split, disaster happens. The need to track down a murderer brings Natalia and her Dad together, but Natalia’s parents must work together and be the ones to finally stop the evil force.

This book was just as good as the first, there are lots of twists and turns which had me pointing my finger at several suspects then changing my mind. I love the role of the spirit guides and the whole idea of Paradise fields. A really great series.

Find a copy here from Amazon.co.uk or Amazon.com

View all my reviews on Goodreads.