Rage, Sex, and Teddy Bears: Sidelined Afterlife (Hauntings at Inner Harbor #3)

Published: December 24th 2013 by Decadent Publishing

Veronica Matthews hates her psychic-medium "gift" of being able to communicate with ghosts and dying people. All it's ever brought her is pain and grief. When her neighbor Hunter Anderson, an ER doctor, realizes her talent, he begs her to help get rid of the ghost that’s been haunting him for two years and endangering his job. She’s torn—her need to help the attractive man who saves peoples’ lives wars with her guilt over not being about to lead police to crime victims until they were already dead. She agrees to help Hunter. They soon find out the ghost is likely to turn dangerous if he doesn’t cross over to the next world in the coming weeks.

After losing his wife in a tragic accident, Hunter's only solace is his work. The ghost that haunts him jeopardizes the one thing he cares about. But spending time with Veronica, getting to know her passionate lips and sassy attitude, gives him something new to care about.

She can't risk her heart... he’s afraid to love and lose again. Can a ghost help them break through a barrier of mistrust and guilt?

“I am an idiot. The biggest idiot ever. If you want me to pierce something for you, to prove I’m an idiot, I have some sterilized instruments upstairs in my apartment.” Her tongue poked against her cheek, signaling a laugh that wanted to erupt. Suddenly, he really wanted to be the one who could make her laugh.

“Maybe I could do your lower lip?”

Her short laugh erupted. A sweet, melodic sound that filled the small apartment.
His gaze stayed on that full mouth and he lifted his fingers closer, compelled to touch her. She stared at him with wide eyes as he traced the corner of her mouth lightly with his finger.

“I’m a liar. I could never tarnish something as beautiful as this.”

Christ. What a line. Where had those words come from? But he meant it.
Her breath was hot against his finger as he traced the line of her lower lip. Her gaze held his. His stomach growled again, breaking the spell, and she blinked and leaned against the sofa.

“You know what? We never had dessert,” she said.

He had room for dessert. But not the food kind. He swallowed to quell his appetite for her.

“Uh…how about I make an ice cream run? Then we’ll get to work.”

Enough of this temptation. He needed to get away from her, from this pull she had on his body and emotions.

I love characters who have the whole "I see dead people" thing going on. One of the problems with this is that most of the time is spent convincing the other characters that they aren't head cases. Not so in Sidelined Afterlife. One of my favorite aspects of this book is that everyone of note already believes in Veronica's ability. This eliminated so much drama and head smacking. It made for a very smooth story and a much more enjoyable reading experience.

Not too long ago an author asked me why I read romance, and I replied "For the illusion of perfection". What I meant by that was that even with whatever issues the characters are dealing with, they are at their core, decent, good and worthy beings who can overcome all obstacles. Hunter and Veronica are perfect examples of what I was talking about. Both are dealing with heavy duty baggage, from sorrow, sobriety, trust, the problems just run the gamut. Neither lets the weight of their combined issues destroy their eventual HEA, in fact it makes their relationship all the stronger because of their struggles.

The basic story line itself was fun with just a pinch of heartbreak and some really delicious sexiness. This was definitely a feel good, pick me up kind of book. With so many books drowning in angst and self pitying main characters, this book was truly a gem. Not to say either characters were little Mary Sunshine, but they didn't make me want to play in traffic. This book definitely makes me a die hard fan of the series, and although this was my first foray into Joya Fields work, it will most definitely will not be the last. Well done Ms. Fields, well done.

Joya Fields has had over 100 stories and articles published
in local and national magazines. Her debut novel, a romantic suspense, was a NJRW GOLDEN LEAF WINNER FOR BEST FIRST BOOK OF 2012 and was nominated for RT Book Reviews 2012 Indie Press/Self-Published Contemporary Romance award. She's since released three more books, with lots more on the way

Over the years, Joya has taught arts and crafts, worked in public relations, owned a daycare center, helped her children raise prize-winning 4-H livestock, competed in three marathons, and even spent a year as a Baltimore Colts cheerleader. Joya loves spending time with her high school sweetheart/husband of over twenty-five years, two very supportive children, and a pug who follows her everywhere.