Blogiversary | Cemetery Tours by Jacqueline Smith – Book Review

BOOK REVIEW | CEMETERY TOURS

ABOUT THE BOOK

“Some secrets are best kept laid to rest.

At least, that’s as far as Michael Sinclair is concerned. At twenty-seven, he has spent his entire life perfecting the art of pretending that the ghosts he encounters on a daily basis do not exist. Now, if only the dead would let him rest in peace.

Unfortunately, that doesn’t seem likely, especially after Kate Avery and her ailing brother, Gavin, move in next door. Kate and Gavin are haunted, and not by a dearly departed loved one. This spirit is aggressive, menacing, and harboring a dark resentment toward Gavin. In spite of every instinct advising him to walk away, Michael finds himself seeking to uncover the mysteries of Gavin’s past, and falling for the bright and lovely Kate. Yet competing for her affection is Luke Rainer, television’s hottest celebrity ghost hunter and the only (living) person to know Michael’s secret.

But the dead have secrets, too. Some will go to any length to withhold what should have gone with them to the grave, while others will risk everything to make their voices heard, even if that means putting another’s life at stake. Now, for the sake of friends and strangers alike, Michael must choose between preserving his cherished anonymity and lending his aid to those for whom all hope seems lost.”

MY THOUGHTS

I’m not the type of person who believes in ghosts. I was telling my fiancé this the other day. I told him that I would essentially have to see it to believe it, but Kate Avery is the complete opposite. She believes in ghosts even though she can’t see them and Michael Sinclair can.

I never thought that I would like a book about ghosts, but I throughly enjoyed it. There were a lot of twists and turns in Cemetery Tours and the way Smith portrayed Michael’s ability reminded me of the movie Sixth Sense (if the boy was older).

While I was reading it, I started thinking about what I would do if I had the ability to see ghosts. Would I use my gift to help ghosts find peace or be like Michael and completely ignore them. I don’t blame him for ignoring them, especially after what happened to him as a teenager (I won’t give it away).

In Cemetery Tours, ghosts are people who have died and have some sort of unfinished business, at least that’s what I got from the book, but then Michael mentions that he talks to his grandmother and unofficial roommate all the time. Both seemed like they didn’t have any unfinished business. These two elements got me thinking, perhaps the ghosts had a choice about whether they stayed on earth or moved on.

I really admired Michael. He’s essentially keeping a part of himself locked up from everyone and can’t fully be who he is because of it, but I do understand why he would keep his ability to see ghosts a secret. Considering how cynical I am about ghosts, I personally would think that Michael was crazy and I wouldn’t believe him. Then Michael meets Kate and everything changes for him. She makes him want to open up about what he can do, but it takes a little push from a pseudo-celebrity and an angry ghost to finally admit to it.

Now let me tell you a bit about the character Kate Avery.

Kate was in a tragic car accident that left her with a lot of questions and left her feeling like a fragment of herself. Her family was keeping something important from her and I couldn’t put the book down when I realized what it was. I just couldn’t wait for that reveal.

Jacqueline Smith really keeps your attention and keeps your imagination flowing throughout the book. Each time I thought the book was ending something else smacked me in the face, but it was tying up loose ends I was questioning.

I honestly don’t want to give away any of the juicy details because I believe this is a great book to read and be surprised by the ending, but I can tell you that I was yearning to find out what happened. I will admit that there were a few parts that got me wanting to sleep with the lights on, but it wasn’t so bad that I couldn’t sleep (let’s just say I can’t sleep after reading Stephen King books).

Overall, I loved Cemetery Tours and it made me excited to read the sequel, Between Worlds (which I finished in two days). I would recommend this book to anyone who’s open to reading a story about ghosts.

FAVORITE QUOTES

“It was amazing, the effect that the simplest sentiment from the right guy could have on a girl’s entire day.”

“Illuminated only by the light of the waning moon, the headstones of the graveyard seemed far more sinister and ominous. If she didn’t know better, she’d have sworn that the eyes of the angels perched atop several graves were following them as they made their way to the center of the cemetery.”

“Michael had always thought that he wouldn’t fear death. He’d been wrong. The idea of death didn’t bother him. The act of dying, however, was a whole different story.”

OVERALL RATING

BUY LINKS: AMAZON | B&N

PUBLISHING COMPANY: Wind Trail Publishing

RELEASE DATE: September 17, 2013

GENRE: Paranormal Thriller

ABOUT JACQUELINE

WEBSITE | FACEBOOK | BLOG | TWITTER | GOODREADS

Jacqueline E. Smith was born and raised in Dallas, Texas. She attended the University of Texas at Dallas, where she earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Art and Performance in 2010. Two years later, she earned her Master’s Degree in Humanities.

Along with writing and publishing, Jacqueline loves photography, traveling, and nature. (Photo Credit: Kaylynn Krieg)

JACQUELINE SMITH GIVEAWAY

Jacqueline has generously provided (3) e-book copies of Cemetery Tours and (3) e-book copies of it’s sequel, Between Worlds. There will be (3) Winners who will receive one copy of each book. This is your last chance to enter this giveaway as it ends today. I will announce the winners tomorrow morning.

Enter here: a Rafflecopter giveaway

STORIES UNFOLDED BLOGIVERSARY GIVEAWAY

Don’t forget to enter the Stories Unfolded Blogiversary Giveaway that’s running from March 1st – March 31st.

(1) Grand Prize Winner

$25 Amazon Kindle Gift Card
(1) Signed physical copy of The End of Feeling by Cindy C Bennett
(1) Audiobook of The End of Feeling by Cindy C Bennett
(1) Signed physical copy of Family Inheritance by Terri Ann Leidich
(1) Signed physical copy of From a Grieving Mother’s Heart by Terri Ann Leidich
(1) Signed physical copy of For a Grieving Heart by Terri Ann Leidich
(1) Physical copy of Finding Zoe by Brandi Rarus and Gail Harris
(1) E-Book copy of the Off The Map Series by Lia Riley (Upside Down, Sideswiped, & Inside Out)
(1) E-Book copy of any Ginger Scott book
(1) E-Book copies of three children’s books by Alva Sachs (Circus Fever, I’m 5, & On Your Mark, Get Set,Go!)