Guest Review: Cross Your Heart by Michele Bardsley

Escaping the past isn’t that easy—especially when someone else’s past is out to get me. Now I have a vengeful ghost trying to kill me, a 150-year-old mystery to solve, and an outrageous were-jaguar named Tezozomoc “Tez” Abraham Elvis Jones trying to get into my boudoir. Tez is a homicide detective, who is vulgar, egotistical, presumptuous—and ridiculously hot. Mreow, indeed.

When the vampire/lycanthrope queen and her husband start cleaning out the attic of their mansion things start to go a little crazy in Broken Heart. Patsy, the queen, starts fighting with her husband – something that’s never happened before. Then she tries to kill him for cheating on her. People start disappearing and the entire town is acting funny.

Then there’s Elizabeth Bretton. Her friend brings her a silver box that was found in the attic – the mansion that once belonged to her ancestors. When she touches the box a ghost talks to her and starts to strangle her! During one of these instances Elizabeth runs into Tez. Tez protects her from the evil that’s trying to get her…and never leaves. You see he came to Broken Heart to talk to the were-cat alpha about possibly joining the community, but his nose led him straight to Elizabeth. He a trash talking homicide detective that’s got it bad for Elizabeth’s looks, her awesome vocabulary and her snooty attitude. The town discovers that not only a ghost, but a shadow demon are the ones that are terrorizing the town, but they’re only after a few people. In the middle of the chaos Elizabeth and Tez try to find out where their relationship is going, if anywhere.

Tez’s character seemed like he didn’t have a care in the world and the man had a constant smile on his face. He pretty much carried the story, imho, even though Elizabeth was the one telling the story. I would have liked to have heard a little bit more about his past but I never felt like something was missing. He could be serious and downright deadly when the situation called for it and I liked reading about him. He was so good for Elizabeth as well. He really brought out the lighter side of her which was something that she’d never experienced before. Her wealthy parents had raised her to be the perfect hostess and always “do the right thing” but she didn’t always do it for herself. I think it was good that she took care of her friends but she didn’t always take care of herself the same way. Tez helped her see who she really was and it was pretty moving when he did.

I have to tell you I really like Michele Bardsley writing style. It’s fun and quirky but when the mystery is involved she doesn’t skip any steps. I like that I was reading a mystery as well as a romance and fun, entertaining book.

Rating: 4 out of 5

You can read more from Tracy at Tracy’s Place.

This book is available from Signet. You can buy it here or here in e-format.