Stolen Dreams - A Mary O'Reilly Paranormal Mystery - Book Fourteen (Mary O'Reilly Series)
Sol shook his head, disregarding Marty’s words, and started up the tall staircase to the second floor. “It just has to seem like a haunted house,” he said. “We’ll keep the crowds coming if it seems like a haunted house. People pay good money to spend the night in a haunted mansion.”
Marty followed him, shaking his head. “After that last paranormal research group came through and found nothing, we ain’t been getting the crowds like we used to,” he pointed out. “People look on the internet for everything. All they have to do is research the house and they’ll see we’ve been investigated by three different groups. They ain’t gonna pay top dollar to stay in the state’s most haunted house if it ain’t got no ghosts.”
Sol stopped at the top of the stairs and waited for Marty. “Then all we need is a ghost,” he said.
Marty shook his head and put his hand on his partner’s shoulder. “Sol, we’ve been at this for three years,” he replied. “The balloon payment is coming up in three months. We ain’t got the capital. We gotta let go of this place before we lose everything.”
Shoving Marty’s arm off his shoulder, Sol paced angrily down the hallway. “Don’t you get it, Marty?” he growled, his teeth clenched. “I’m going to lose everything if this place doesn’t pan out. I sunk everything I owned into this place. I don’t have any reserves. I don’t have anything to turn to. This place has to work out.”
Marty leaned one hand on the balustrade at the top of the staircase and sadly shook his head. “I’m sorry, Sol. I’d do anything to help you,” he said sadly. “But this place just ain’t got a ghost.”
Sol sighed deeply and turned back to his friend, nodding his head slowly. “Thank you, Marty,” he replied.
A icy tremor of fear swept through Marty’s body as he saw the cold, calculating look in Sol’s eyes. He lifted his hands defensively. “No, Sol, no,” he cried even as he felt the power of Sol’s body knock him backwards and down the stairs.
A few moments later, Sol stood at the top of the staircase, looking down at the broken, lifeless body of his business partner sprawled unnaturally on the black and white, ceramic tiled, lobby floor. He leaned against the same balustrade that only moments before had been held by Marty and nodded. “And now we have a ghost.”
Mary, Ian and Mike investigate a supposedly haunted house and discover there are more than just ghosts hidden behind its doors.
Reviews (202)
Pretty good series overall.
Rather than rate each book individually I will comment on the series here. I have read books 1-14 and I think this is a good place to stop. This book wound things up nicely for me and the hook at the end didn't leave me wanting more. Overall, I am pleased with the stories. I didn't have any of the negative reactions with the books that others experienced. I felt the storyline moved along at a normal pace with typical human drama. That being said, I became tired of certain over used descriptive phrases, possibly because I read the books one after the other. For example, there is just way too much biting. Biting back smiles, biting lips, biting inside cheeks to keep from laughing etc. Someone is always biting themselves which would only make sense if they were vampires. The next would be Bradley constantly running his hand through his hair. I am surprised he has any hair left. He couldn't seem to do anything without running his hand through his hair before, during and after. I don't know which hand it was, but he probably has one popeye arm. And I think I may have developed diabetes from reading about all the cookies eaten. Are there really people out there that bake cookies everyday and eat them that don't own a bakery? So with #14 I am finished. I would wish them all good luck with the demons, but of course they will prevail. And I am sure the miracle baby will become the next Dean Winchester (Supernatural TV series) and we'll all be safer as long as he doesn't succumb to childhood obesity from eating cookies and wind up playing a furry blue creature in a PBS show.
New Turn In Mary O'Reilly's world
Mary and Bradley are expecting a little boy and Mary is still helping ghosts find the light. In this latest volume in the Mary O'Reilly series, demons try to thwart her work. Prayer is introduced as both protection and weapon. I always liked the series because it hinted at Christian themes that have now approached coming out of the closet. There was an obvious way I'd like to see, keeping the Roman Catholic flavor while expanding the audience to Evangelicals: Ian is from Scotland, bastion of Knox and Calvinism. While Mary holds to the "being a good person makes you right with God" of Catholicism, Ian could easily introduce faith as the key to being right with God, widening the audience for the book. I loved the scene where Mike, an angel (admittedly a problem because doctrinally dead humans are saints, not angels - but also explained in another volume as a special situation due to Mike's urgent desire to aid and protect Mary and those she loves), is shown in his angelic state. Because of these turns in the story, which I have been quietly rooting for, I think this is the best book in the series thus far. I can't wait for the next one!
The Mary O'Reilly books are a series you can never have enough of!
There were many subplots in this book, and all blended into the main story very well. Terri Reid pulls you into the story and I always feel that I have become part of the story too. Mary and Bradley are expecting their first child together, and Clarissa has some very interesting Halloween costume ideas for Mary. This series offers a lot in the way that relationships work. Mary, Bradley, and Clarissa are finally coming to a place where Clarissa's past is not impacting the joy they feel as a family, as much as before. The dialog often makes me laugh out loud! Of course, Scottish Ian, and Guardian Angel Mike add a lot of humor, and head-turning good looks - well, at least Ian does. Not many can actually see Mike, as he is a ghost promoted to Guardian Angel. I start missing them all when I know I am in the last chapter and the next book is not out yet! Thanks, Terri, for adding so many enjoyable hours to my life!!!
Stolen Dreams, a Real Nightmare!
This is the last time I will ever buy or read Terri Reid's writing! I am so tired of her books that are just a lead into the next one and none of these are stand-alone books any more. The proofing is iffy and this book is the worst written of any of hers so far. Or at least, the ones I have read. I have eight of them. She started out with a decent book that was a stand-alone. Now, anyone who hasn't read the previous books are going to be totally lost. In this book, she started out really off-paced, picked it up and got to flowing again, then all of a sudden just lost her flow and started forcing her plot again. Her writing is more and more stilted and forced. It just loses its focus and drifts around until she finally catches her pace again. This was by far the worst, and my last!
Convents and haunted houses!
In this latest story, Mary O'Reilly has two mysteries to solve. The first involves a recurring nightmare she has, hearing a baby cry behind a locked door and not being able to reach her....yes, her, which means since she is pregnant with a boy, she is channeling someone else. She needs to find this person so she can resolve the dream. Her second mystery is more sinister. She is contacted by someone that wants her to validate his haunted house, because his business is z haunted bed and breakfast inN and they want his ghost to be publicly proven. But something seems off about this person and his request and this case could ultimately lead to Mary's demise. I really enjoy this series with all its interesting characters and ghosts. I love the interactions between Mary and her friends and family, including her guardian angel, Mike. I look forward to the next book in this series.
Addicting
I am honored to have had Terri as a personal friend for many years. As a child of the 70's I was weaned on cop shows (Beretta, Rockford Files etc) so I am drawn to her main character, Mary. I love the quirkiness of Stanley and the way Rose keeps him in line with lots of love and good cooking. Ian is adorable and Bradley I have conjured up as a young James Garner looking man in my head. I love the cliffhangers at the end of the books that leave you hungry for more and the sweet little surprises along the way that you don't see coming. Thank you Terri for the fun escapes from reality and the joy that your characters bring to our lives. Love - Michelle
Terri Reid is an excellent author and is very creative in her inventions of ...
Terri Reid is an excellent author and is very creative in her inventions of story line in each book. The Mary O'Reilly series is 20 books and they all are a pleasure to read. The setting is in north western Illinois.instead of one of the major cities. As the books progress they become more and more like a movie equivalent of a 'chick flick' because of the character details she includes. I may be a hard core mystery fan but I too enjoyed all of the books. I look forward to reading more of her work.
Many Truths to Learn!
So,14 books, and many lessons, we as readers need to remember to bring out to the public. Maybe a greater use of Facebook and Twitter... Terri Reid has exposed us to many messages....what true unconditional love really is, AND how to make it happen in each of our lives. Then,trafficking of children, "re-homing" of children through illegal contracts, the power of positive thinking, and most important, the POWER of FAITH through PRAYER. What writer has given all of these powerful messages to us through wonderful stories with believable characters?....Terri Reid, thank you so very much! God bless you...and I await book 15!
Another Awesome book Terri!
Another awesome book by Terri Reid. She is one of the best authors out there. Her books are so incredible. There is a little paranormal, a lot of humor and great friendships. Her characters are so easy to love. One of the things I also like very much is that Terri has kept the prices of her books down so that everyone can afford her books. I see her offer a free book all the time. Make sure you like her Facebook page and you get her emails. Terri keeps everyone up to date on what is going on with her books. I highly recommend all of her books.
waiting for number fifteen!
Terri Reid has done it again with her 14th book in her Mary O'Reilly Paranormal Mystery series! Terri has a quiet softness in her writing as she handles hard and sometimes dark issues. In her quiet way she shows the strengths her characters possess as they work toward finding resolution for Mary's "lost" clients. Mary has faced danger and evil before but in Stolen Dreams the evil takes on a new meaning as she faces off against her newest opposition who is determined to stop her in her work. Loved it Terri!!!!
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