It took me awhile to get into this book but I found it enjoyable. The characters are well written and the their friendship is soild, I enjoyed that more then anything the mystery was well written with interesting side characters.

In Occult & Battery, the second book in the Bay Island Psychic Mystery series, author Lena Gregory weaves an intriguing cozy mystery tale that follows the latest amateur sleuth adventures of psychic Cass Donovan.

Set in the quaint Long Island coastal town of Bay Island, Cass is the owner of Mystical Musings, a psychic shop in her hometown. She has provided the local residents with many psychic readings, but as winter sets in, Cass's business wanes, so she decides to host a murder mystery weekend hoping to draw in customers. But when a blizzard traps everyone inside the haunted mansion, a guest is found murdered, and Cass's ex-husband shows up with his fiancee (and Cass's ex-BFF), suddenly the murder mystery weekend turns into a murder investigation with Cass using her psychic abilities in order to find the real killer and save her reputation.

Occult & Battery is a captivating and fast-paced whodunit tale that has enough quirky characters, witty banter and humor, drama, danger, and intriguing twists and turns that will keep you guessing the identity of the murderer. You can't help but get caught up in the drama and calamity that ensues as Cass uses her psychic instincts to solve the murder. Cass' amateur investigative adventure unfolds with a wonderful balance of comedy, drama, and suspense that easily kept me guessing, and left me wanting more. I would be remiss if I didn't mention how much I enjoyed the rich description of the wintry setting of the quaint coastal Long Island seaside town of Bay Island.

Occult & Battery is an entertaining cozy murder mystery that will easily engage you to join Cass in her latest psychic mystery adventures!

RATING: 5 STARS

Disclaimer: I received a copy of the book from the author / publisher via NetGalley in exchange for my honest review and participation in a virtual book tour event hosted by Great Escapes Virtual Book Tours.

http://jerseygirlbookreviews.blogspot.com/2017/04/occult-battery-by-lena-gregory-book.html

This series just became an auto-buy for me which is pretty impressive considering it's the first book I've read by Lena Gregory. It was an absolute delight. I pretty much want to go hang out with Cass, Bee (especially Bee), and Stephanie and play with Cass's enormous dog Beast. Though perhaps I might wait to hang out with them when they're not falling over dead bodies. The characters were so likable and interesting. I loved that they're such great friends and that Cass is really aware of how special their relationships are. I really enjoyed getting to know Cass herself which isn't always the case with the primary character as in cozy mysteries they tend to be incredibly nosy. Cass is nosy but I wanted to know the answers just as much as she did so I had no problem there. As well her interactions with her ex-husband and ex-best friend were perfectly low angsty. She didn't dismiss her feelings but at the same time didn't dwell on them. It felt very realistic and mature.

But I'll take a break from gushing about how much I loved the characters to talk about how much enjoyed the mystery. It was solid and interesting with lots of hidden secrets and just a little touch of paranormal. Just the way I like them! The reveal was surprising, entertaining and thoroughly satisfying. If you're new to Bay Island and Cass's world don't worry about jumping in here. This was the first book I'd read and I knew who was who and what was what pretty quick. Plus, now I can go back and read the first book while I wait for Lena Gregory to write book #3!

Cass Donovan is desperate to keep her business, Mystical Musings, afloat but winter time is not the best time for tourists on Bay Island. So, she comes up with a plan to create more interest in her shop, but it ends up being a weekend of real life murder. Unfortunately, she finds herself in the middle of it all.

The author gives us a wonderful cast of characters starting with Cass and her two friends Bee and Stephanie. Their close-knit group makes the whole storyline come to life. I can’t imagine one without the other two. They are a great sleuthing team. The rest of the characters, especially Stephanie's husband Tank are strong ones. Cass' love interest isn't in the book much so I don't really get a real feeling about him one way or the other.

I thought I had this story figured out rather early in the book, but I learned how wrong I was. I had part of it correct, but I didn’t see the full explanation coming at all. It made for a nice twist to the plot. I enjoyed every minute of trying to figure this out – right along with Cass and her crew.

I love books set in my area and this is one of those books. That’s what initially grabbed my attention in reading this series. However, it's the author who keeps my attention going with her intriguing storylines and interesting characters. It’s fast-paced, she never misses a beat. There’s mystery mixed with just a small hint of romance and paranormal activity. It’s the perfect blend for cozy mystery fans. I’m hoping to read more in this captivating series.

We start off this book meeting Bee, Cass, and Stephanie. Who are Priscilla and Conrad Wellington? When a former client of Cass's store comes in and asks for help again, what is she asking for and why? What did Cass do for her the first time? How do they know one another and where are they going that they almost get thrown through the windshield of the car by Bee when he is told to stop? Who are Priscilla, Jim, and Conrad? What happens that night when Cass is asked to perform a seance? Later that night, who screams and why? What has happened? What does Cass find? When people are invited down to the kitchen after the discovery for hot chocolate and something to eat, what plan does Cass hatch? When Cass makes it downstairs, she is confronted by Sylvia asking her where Donald is. Who are Donald and Sylvia to Cass? The barbs that Cass zings at Sylvia had me chuckling ruefully. When we go into the kitchen and speak with Isabella, how does Isabella know Conrad? How does she know Cass, Stephanie, and Bee? What is going on? What does Joan want to know from Conrad? This was definitely a Mystery I did not want to put down. Even to go to work! This book made me sort of think of Agatha Christie-esque in the way it captured my attention and held me to reading it. Wanna know who was behind it all? Read and find out!

RECEIVED THIS BOOK AS A GIFT FOR A FAIR/HONEST REVIEW and REVIEWER FOR Bloggin' With M. Brennan.

Occult and Battery is now one of my favorite cozy mystery books ever!

Cass, Bee, Stephanie, and Tank are a great team. Their dynamics create a friendship that is warm and emotional and they have each other's backs - no matter what. Cass's character is very down-to-earth. She's likable from the start. It is easy to connect to her, whether you believe in psychic abilities or not. Stephanie and Bee are wonderful sidekicks to Cass main character. They are supportive and comforting to Cass. Tank, Stephanie's cop husband, adds a great element as the voice of reason and a protector. He's also finally warming up to Bee. Cass also has a low key relationship going with a police officer named Kyle who lives and works on the mainland. This isn't explored too much but Kyle does make an appearance.

The story is unique and entertaining. I was completely engaged from the very beginning. Cass's decision to host a group reading and seance in a haunted mansion stems from the thought of possibly losing her business, Mystical Musings, due to a bleak winter (meaning less customers). When the power goes out in the mansion during the seance, chaos ensues. Making everything a bit scarier is the body found hanging in the cupola later that evening. Was it suicide or is there a killer among the guests?

The author introduces many characters that could be suspects making it hard to figure out the murderer. I was completely blindsided by the revelation of who committed the crime, the lengths that were gone to, and the methods used to put the plan into place. As per usual Cass, the protagonist, does some pretty dumb things, but unlike other cozies I've read, she at least acknowledges the danger of her actions. She's not oblivious to the danger but her need to figure things out in order to save her business is stronger than her common sense.

I loved this book and cannot wait for Book 3.

I voluntarily reviewed a copy of this book.

Diving right into this book, Cass owns an occult shop that is very busy during the summer months but needs to find some business for the winter months. Thankfully, she is able to partner-up with the family that is opening up an inn by hosting a séance and psychic reading party during opening weekend. But things immediately go wrong when a dead body is found. Will she be able to salvage her reputation/business and solve the murder? I was immediately drawn into the book with the likeable characters and interesting plot. Cass was a wonderful mix of skeptic and tiny, slight believer in psychic abilities, and I really liked how she used both her abilities as a psychiatrist and psychic to read people and do séances to the point where we really never knew exactly if she *does* have abilities or not. I loved that. Also, her dog Beast was a great comedic element in the story, but I really did think she needs to train him! I hadn’t read the previous book in the series and I had absolutely no problem following along. If you love paranormal, cozy mysteries, you will love this book! I can’t wait to read the first one and, hopefully, the next one! Highly recommend! Thanks to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group for the e-book which I voluntarily reviewed. This exact review will be posted on both Amazon and Goodreads.

Occult and Battery: A Bay Island Psychic Mystery
By Lena Gregory
Berkley
April 2017

Review by Cynthia Chow

Cass Donovan may not have psychic powers, but she is intent on making her Magical Musings psychic shop a success. Winter is hitting New York’s tiny Bay Island hard though, chasing away tourists and placing her business at risk. To keep her herbal, crystal, and psychic store running Cass is hosting a psychic reading event at the Madison Estate before it opens as a newly renovated bed-and-breakfast. Supposedly haunted by the cursed Madison family, Cass believes that it will be the perfect partnership between Magical Musings and the Wellington family’s investment company. The psychic weekend is off to a bumpy start when Cass’s ex-husband and new fiancé arrive as guests, a storm takes out power, and the most dissenting Wellington relative is found hanging in the cupola.

Cass is the first to suspect that Conrad Wellington did not commit suicide, and with the threat of having to return booking fees she is determined to investigate and protect her reputation. Cass’s best friends Bee Maxwell and Stephanie Lawrence may not entirely buy her reasoning, but they are willing to help her break into rooms and undercover Wellington secrets if it means keeping Cass on the island. Cass could use the advice of Luke, a detective whose work schedule on the mainland has kept him out of her life for the past month, with her own commitment issues are not making connections any easier. Her guilt of failing one of her patients may have caused Cass to leave her psychiatric practice, but the skills she learned at reading body language and their subconscious cues prove essential in both her new business and her investigations. Another body, a possible concussion, and her ex-husband’s continual involvement place her mental health, not to mention her life, in dire jeopardy.

This second in the series succeeds in blending Cass’s detective efforts with her “psychic” readings of suspects and witnesses. Although she can’t explain the occasional foreboding feeling or the strange apparition that appeared during a séance, Cass relies on her intuition and mental acuity to provide her clients with crystals, herbs, and some much-needed affirmations. She could use some advice herself when dealing with her aptly-named Leonberger puppy Beast, who continues to eat furniture and is completely unaware of his massive size. Beast and Cass’s friends ensure for a laugh-filled romp of a mystery, with added intrigue from her mystical and psychological knowledge. A traditional gathering-of-the-suspects has the twist of being made at a psychic reading session, providing a solution that will be as surprising to the reader as it is to Cass. She may not believe in the paranormal, but when her “intuitions” are combined with the support of her friends, Cass is sure to outsmart the most greedy and deceptive criminals.

I enjoyed the paranormal aspects of this book and I liked the idea behind the Mystical Musings shop. Cass and her friends are really likable characters. I also really enjoyed the dog Beast and all the things he got into. He reminds me of my own dog, Killian. The mystery was well written and the killer threw me for a loop. The only reason this didn't get a higher star rating is because while I liked the story, I just couldn't seem to invest myself in it.

Book two of the Bay Island Physic Mystery series. I do believe that the paranormal parts of this story are my favorites, and I would love to keep her dog Beast since he is constantly cracking me up with all the things he eats. In this story Cass is hosting a physic weekend at a newly opening bed and breakfast that is going into the haunted mansion on the island. It is believed there is a curse on the mansion which the killer uses to try to blame the murders on. Of course this never works as the investigation continues, but the killer threw me for a loop as I was not totally expecting that. A good choice for fans of cozy mysteries with a paranormal twist to them. I give it 4/5 stars.

I didn't read the first story in this series but I didn't feel like I needed to. The story of Cass Donovan, a former psychiatrist with just a hint of the psychic about her (though she doesn't seem to believe it.) She's excited to have been hired for a weekend party, even if it is at a supposedly haunted house.
But nothing seems to go right. A big storm moves in, her husband is there with the ex-best-friend he cheated on Cass with, and she seems to have conjured a real ghost. Then, one of the three siblings who hired her to make their new hotel a success is found dead. Why was he up in the cupola? And how much can Cass and her friends do while trapped in the hotel by the snowstorm?
The character of her (presumably gay) friend Bee was just a little too, too but I have hopes for future books in the series.

Four stars
This book comes out April 4

Leonburgers and Tarot and Ghosts - Oh MY!
Cass and her friends are back to hold a seance as the Wellingtons open their new B&B.
Big Bee wants no part of talking to the dead but there is no better showman to help with the set-up. or to have your back (and hold your dog) when all get snowed in at the Inn.
I love these three friends and the community in which they live. If Cass can't find a way to earn an income when tourist season ends, her shop Mystical Musings may disappear with the winter snow.
Even if you are not really trying to conjure the dead, secrets will be revealed when doing a group reading. This series is just plain fun.
From the troubles with an undisciplined giant puppy, to jealousy and greed and other negative emotions, to romance and best friends who won't let you fail, the action and difficulties are never ending. Even as I rooted for Cass to succeed, I couldn't wait to see what trouble would check in next.
I wish I lived in a town where people pulled together.

This is quickly becoming one of my favorite mystery series.

My review can be seen on rtbookreviews.com

This is a nice cozy mystery. Set on a small island off New York, Cass is looking for a way to bring tourist in over the winter. Her small psychic shop is popular for crystals and readings. She decides to use the local haunted mansion that is being renovated for a weekend of events for lovers of the paranormal. When a murder occurs she must help the police solve before her business suffers. A good cast of characters help round out the village. This is the 2nd book in the Bay Island Psychic Mysteries and since I didn't read book 1 I wasn't sure I'd like it but the review and re-introduction to all the folks was well presented and I had no problems following the story. Bay Island sounds like a neat place to live and I'm sure I'll read future books to keep up with the island families.

Cass Donovan never imagined she’d be using her degree in psychiatry to run her shop, Magical Musings but needs must. As winter descends, Cass gets fewer and fewer customers. To bring in more clients, she hosts a Murder Mystery weekend in a “haunted” house. But things go downhill fast when her ex-husband and his fiance, Cass’s ex-best friend, show up for the festivities. Then one of the guests is killed, just as a blizzard descends, leaving all of them, including the killer, trapped together. Something about being trapped by a blizzard is so creepy, add a killer to the mix, and the fear factor ratchets up a few more notches. Tremendous fun