I loved this little idealistic village full of psychics with some normal people mixed in. This was my second book in the Lily Dale series and I was so glad to return. I thoroughly loved it.

A close knit village where everybody looks out for one another and wherein several psychics have taken up residence. A very small village with four single women living in nearby cottages. A lead in that tends to lend itself to all kinds of drama at times. Let's make that "cozy drama".

A cute, cozy mystery that has everything. Charm, charms, laughter, great characters and a great story. I look forward to reading more about the ladies in Lily Dale.

Thanks to Crooked Lane Books and Net Galley for providing me with a free e-galley in exchange for an honest, unbiased review.

4 Stars!  #Nine Lives  @Crooked Lane Books  @WendyCorsiStaub

This was my first book by this author and it won't be my last. And this was a great choice for the month of October. Apparently Lily Dale is a town of Psychics and Mediums and what have you. Due to circumstances beyond her control, recently widowed Bella ends up there. And every time she thinks "this is her last day", something else happens to keep her there.

I thought this was a great little cozy mystery with lots of suspects and lots of nice neighborly people. There are several secrets going on besides the recent death of Leona the Manor House owner. I think it all came at a great time for Bella. Otherwise, she was going to have to go live with her mother-in-law. (I'm shivering to think that would have to happen.) Read the book and you would shiver too.

It was definitely a fun read which I found captivating and pleasant.

Thanks Crooked Lane Books and Net Galley for the free e-galley in exchange for an honest review. You have turned me on to another new author!

Lily Dale: The Town that Talks to the Dead wasn't quite what I expected (which isn't necessarily a bad thing). As the author is a former journalist, I expected heaping loads of skepticism.There was a fair amount but there were also fleeting moments of unchecked belief. More questions were raised than actually answered which I believe is the point. Spiritualism (the main topic of this book besides the town itself) can not be definitively proven (what religion can beyond a shadow of a doubt? that's why faith exists...) and yet the people in this town have an unshakable belief. While immersing herself in their customs, Wicker observed and participated in events that she could not explain through rational means. Was this spirits communicating beyond the grave? Were these people really capable of reading a person's future? Is it all a big crock of bull? Or is there something else going on here? If you're intrigued by the supernatural and/or want to learn more about a religion that has been popular since the 1800s then this is probably the book for you.

Another book I took out from the library, for the reason that the back had interested me after I read it. Though I've been trying to steer clear of books about ghosts I wanted to try picking this one up, thinking maybe it would be a little different.

It was in fact different, but I have to say it was in most parts, bland. I found it very hard to get past the first 20 pages. the beginning was dull, long, and I think over-descriptive. When however the plot began to unravel, I started to enjoy the book more.

Between Jacy and Blue, I think both guys are good, some part of me even likes Blue better, but I'm curious to see where the author will take Calla's relationship with both boys and who she'll fully end up with.

I think the author's biggest blunder was the way too descriptive and to be honest boring fortune telling descriptions, how Calla's grandma was talking to visitors and all that stuff. Also, Calla's sightings of all those ghosts weren't very convincing to me as a reader. I expected a little.....more, I think.

Yet surprisingly I did enjoy the book. Curious to see where the next book will take Calla. Not sure if this is worth buying a copy of for my personal library but when it comes to reading the next book I'm sure of reading them

I picked this book up because I live about an hour from Lily Dale and visit it as often as possible. Staub definitely captures Lily Dale as I know and love it. It's such a quaint town as if you literally stepped back into the 1800's. Its not spooky or eerie there, but you can feel the energy of spirits.This story is wonderful. At first I was a little put off by the narrative, I found the 3rd person narrative she uses to be a bit odd...but that's nothing that would detract from the story at all.Calla is a wonderful character. She's strong, but flawed. She makes mistakes but Odelia - Gammy - loves her no matter what. At first I was a little irritated with Calla's character because she was almost bratty. But then you stop and think why she's acting that way and realize all that she's gone through:-She lost her mother in a brutal murder-Her father moved clear across the country to CA-She's living with a grandmother she doesn't know who happens to be a medium.-She's starting a new school for her senior year.-She's 16--which is tough enough without all of that other stuff thrown in there.It gets a bit annoying how she's wishy washy about Blue & Jacy--which unfortunately follows into the next 2 books, but finally gets resolved in the 3rd book--as do other things...but that's for the review of that book not this one!I really enjoyed this book, and while I wouldn't say I loved it or that I'd recommend it to any and everyone, I really liked it and the story continues to get better.