Spirits, Stilettos, and a Silver Bustier

Pyper Rayne, Volume 1

By: Deanna Chase

Narrated by: Gabra Zackman

Length: 6 hrs and 38 mins

Publisher's summary

All Pyper Rayne - medium and coffee shop owner - wanted was the perfect vintage dress. What she got was a dead shop owner and a sexy ghost who's suddenly everywhere - at her shop, in her car, and even lounging in her bedroom. But he's not just any ghost. He's a witch and able to appear in solid form...sometimes. If only he'd stop disappearing on her.

And Pyper needs his help. When she becomes target numero uno and the prime suspect in the shop owner's death, it appears her ghost holds the key to solving the murder. In between stolen kisses, Pyper will need to get to the bottom of all of his secrets if she wants to stay alive and out of jail...and maybe finally get that date he keeps promising her.

©2015 Deanna Chase (P)2016 Deanna Chase

new spin off from Deanna Chase

***I would like to thank Deanna Chase for providing me with “Spirits, Stilettos, and a Silver Bustier” for free, for my honest review***

Deanna Chase created a spin off series about Pyper Rayne that we first met in Jade Calhoun series. We get to see Pyper in a different light and watch what happens when spirits show up. Pyper has accepted her powers and works to be certain things are taken care of. We do get to see Ida May (she is my personal favorite ghost) and a special man in Pyper’s life. We follow alongside on Pyper’s adventure. You will be hooked just like me and can't wait for more.

Gabra did a wonderful job getting different voices and tones while narrating. Pyper was not as husky as I would have thought. However, that didn't change the entertainment I had listening this for my very first audio book. I was glad to hear a woman voice since it was in Pyper’s point of view. I read simultaneously while listening. I was able to pause when needed and it starts right back where it was left off. I didn't even notice if there was a mixup in words or not, being too engrossed with the written words of Deanna spoken by Gabra.

What little shopping with a mix of Murder mystery!

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

This is first book as spin off from Jade Calhoun series she wrote Gebra Zackman has great voice!

Pyper becomes a medium (see Jade Calhoun series) with her gallery opening coming up Jade and her to find perfect dress, she found one she just loved but the price was insane, but after lunch she just has to have it when they go back to shop they find owner dead in back of shop, and cops of course point finger at her, With help of one sexy Ghost Julius who died back in 1924 trying protect a seer only to fail Julius was witch when he lived now he can be solid or ghostly with his inherent powers, with time running out a charge hanging over her head they work together find real culprit. As time runs out Julius fears past where he failed will repeat itself and he will lose Pyper. Witch they chase uses other people life force 2 mortals with no power 1 witch/seer/telepath/medium/or empath life force. When it all comes to a boil.......

Not telling you have to listen or read or both to find out what happens! There big twist and huge surprise to all.

Everything I want!

Wow, what a fun read. Had everything I'd want in a paranormal book. Ghosts, mediums, witches, suspense and romance! Well done!

1st audible book

I read this book before I tried audible for the 1st time. it was even better the second time. A thriller every step of the way. I love the Jade Calhoun series, but the Pyper Raines series has a humorous and snarky undertone about it. I can't wait to listen to book #2!

Ghostly friends, coffee and murder...sign me up!!

If you could sum up Spirits, Stilettos, and a Silver Bustier in three words, what would they be?

Spirits, Coffee, Murder

What did you like best about this story?

The interaction between Pyper and her friends, both solid and ghostly.

Have you listened to any of Gabra Zackman’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

I have heard a couple of other performances by Gabra and I think she is wonderful. She is very versatile, and has great pronunciation. She also knows how to keep good rhythm while narrating.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

Not just one. I was moved by the power of her friendships and how close she is with them, more like family.

Any additional comments?

I highly recommend this book. I am starting the next book in the series tomorrow.

Enjoyed it!!

I was looking for a new series to start. I got this book on sale. I am very happy I picked it I believe the series is going to be very enjoyable. if you enjoy Mary Janice Davidson you will enjoy this series I think I'm going to listen to the other series from Deanna Chase as well

Nothing like Amazing NOLA Fantasy!

I adore the Urban Paranormal World created by Ms. Chase. This series is a wonderful addition to the other worlds she has already created. Those connected and those not yet connected!

Witches and Ghosts O My

very good Ghost Witch Paranormal suspense romance story
Good characters,drama, suspense, romance
enjoyed reading and listening to.

Interesting, fun, and well done book.

I have only recently found this author (in a Facebook reading group of all places about 2 weeks ago), and last week I read the first book and half in her Jade Calhoun series so I thought I would give one of her audio books a try. I have two babies under three so audio books are much easier for my life style.
I really enjoyed this book, it has some spoilers for the other series of hers that I am reading, so if you haven’t finished that one be forewarned, but that didn’t ruin either the audio book or the series for me.
I found the story interesting and the plot moved at a decent pace. I find there is nothing worse then an audio book that lags on and on before anything happens. That for sure wasn’t the case here.
The only thing that I had a slight problem with was the narrator, it took me a chapter or two to get use to her. After that I enjoyed her performance. Truthfully I think my problem with her was that I started reading the sister series first so I had imagined how each character would sound and was not prepared for someone else interpretation. So totally my own fault not hers.
Also I felt this book had the right amount of romance, not so much that it was over powering but enough to add a good element to the book.
All in all I will for sure be getting the next book in the series, and trying her other series on audio as well.
Very excited to see where this story goes in the next book.

Middle of the Road Mystery w/Unexpected Characters

This was my first paranormal book from Deanna and I was entertained, although I wouldn’t say it was my absolute favorite. I did enjoy the characters, even though they were odd to put it mildly. The love interest with a ghost who could turn solid was just downright weird at first. It took a long time to warm up to that aspect. I think the raunchy ghost Ida May was hilarious and broke up the monotony pretty well.

I had several critiques though. When it came to the writing, there were times that scenes would change with a new chapter and a bit of time would have elapsed, or the setting would be completely different. It made the story a bit choppy. The hatred and bigotry against the NOPD (police) was also distracting. And to be honest, it was a bit of a put-off. I can understand writing in a bad cop every once in a while, but this felt more like an outright blanket across the entire force which was hard to stomach. Pyper as a character came across as a prude at times, but strong, confident, and bold at others when it came to men. When she was prudish, it was hard to imagine her as someone who “managed” a strip club at some point of her life. She was also way too trusting and finding the good in everyone for someone who had been trampled on for most of her life. When they wrapped up the mystery with several chapters to go, it was obvious there would be another twist which was easy to expect. Some of the details were a bit too conveniently written in to be a true mystery, but it was an ok read in that aspect.

All in all, I enjoyed the story enough to keep going in the series. I just wish the story had been a bit better written so that I could say I loved it as much as Deanna Chase’s other books.