A historical romance with a paranormal twist. The world building uses the backdrop of the Great Chicago Fire. The characters are Irish-Americans. I really liked this back story to the series. The fire scenes were really well written and I liked the future MCs. I want to read more from this series.

However, let us take a moment to take in THAT COVER. The cover for my NOOK version is not nearly as majestic in the WTF status as this one shown here. The GCF is really seen through Jessie's POV; Jessie has premonitions and visions of the future, so seeing her vision come to terrifying life is really made extra after seeing this cover. I am using this book and cover for the PS prompt "book with an ugly cover".

Harper was a witch but she was determined to never use her powers again. Cindy was the mayor's wife and seemed to want to befriend Harper. Harper’s father was a Pentecostal minister who knew Harper had the talent of healing and he was determined to use Harper for it. He had a vision of an angel and he told Harper’s father [ Harper's name had originally been Alyssa but she legally changed it] she would be special. Harper had just moved to Cold creek which was a small town that Harper was somehow drawn to. Harper always seem to come upon people or things that pulled her heartstrings and she helped with her healing power and then she was basically run out of town by half the people ‘and the other half of the people revered her. But Harper didn’t want either she just wanted to live a normal life. Harper was twenty four and had never been kissed or had sex. For a long time after a tragic fire her father had her locked away in the cellar. In the fire Harper’s mom and brother Ezekiel also died. Harper saved a white cat’s life and he turned out to be a demon named Locke or the trickster. I liked the story a lot until the ending and it totally ruined the book for me. There were also a lot of unanswered questions also. So beware this is also a cliffhanger which I hate

I read the first book of the Fearless series, The Forest Bull, by Terry Maggert (and gave it 4 Stars), so when I saw this book and its interesting cover, I knew I would be in for a treat. I was correct!

Synopsis (from the author): Carlie McEwan loves many things.
She loves being a witch. She loves her town of Halfway, NY—a tourist destination nestled on the shores of an Adirondack lake. Carlie loves her enormous familiar, Gus, who is twenty-five pounds of judgmental Maine Coon cat, and she positively worships her Grandmother, a witch of incredible power and wisdom. Carlie spends her days cooking at the finest—and only—real diner in town, and her life is a balance between magic and the mundane, just as she likes it.
When a blonde stranger sits at the diner counter and calls her by name, that balance is gone. Major Pickford asks Carlie to lead him into the deepest shadows of the forest to find a mythical circle of chestnut trees, thought lost to forever to mankind. There are ghosts in the forest, and one of them cries out to Carlie across the years. Come find me.
Danger, like the shadowed pools of the forest, can run deep. The danger is real, but Carlie’s magic is born of a pure spirit. With the help of Gus, and Gran, and a rugged cop who really does want to save the world, she’ll fight to bring a ghost home, and deliver justice to a murderer who hides in the cool, mysterious green of a forest gone mad with magic.

What I liked: I have to say that I liked this story! Carlie was a good witch and her regular job as a cook in the local diner made her believable. Her cat acted like a typical cat with all the quirks associated with the animal - despite being her familiar. I liked the occasional interaction with her grandmother and her amazing magic. The addition of the cop as part of the trek into the forest to save the ghost made a nice addition, as did the potential love interest (in the form of a half-Viking half-vampire who lives in the forest). Add to that the excellent writing style and you have an entertaining read!

What I didn’t like: One of the characters referenced in the synopsis was Major Pickford, who appeared to have potential as a antagonist. Other than the brief appearance, the character disappeared, and since he had asked Carlie to accompany him to the chestnut trees, I thought he would play a significant role. I was left wondering why he was included. I also would have liked more about Carlie’s grandmother.

Overall impression: Halfway Dead is a well-written, entertaining book. With a nice plot, memorable characters, and enough action to keep my interest, this is an excellent read. Give this one a try!

My rating: 5 Stars!!