Finder's Keeper

Reviewed by Morningstar for Diverse Reader

I was hooked on this story. It’s uniqueness caught me and it’s characters held me tight.

Although Zane was the guy that wasn’t “different” and sort billed as normal and boring I liked him that way. It showed the contrast between him and Kit so much the better. One not taking the spotlight away from the other but showing even more clear their roles regarding protecting the gate even better. Kit was magical and giving and shy and beautiful. He tried to be more to his Keeper, to be the thing that kept them there but with Zane his feelings changed. He didn’t want to trap him knowing his dreams were bigger than the house Kit was not allowed to leave.

The descriptions of not just the house that Kit lived in but of Kit and the world beyond the gate was a huge part of this story and it was so well written that I felt that world and lived that world with every word in this book. I loved Ren, Zane’s sister, even with the little bit she was visible in the story, she made things interesting but definitely not as much as Lor who was mischief and fun but for a demon his care for Kit shined through.

The chemistry between these two was sweet and slow but perfect for the Dreamspun series since that’s exactly what you should expect going into one. I loved them together, I loved them learning each other and saving each other, Their relationship made this fun to read. Oh and the magic because I love me some magic!

I was intrigued when I read the summary for this book. A half-human, half-fox spirit gatekeeper to the realm of the spirits? This was going to be a whole different ballgame! Boy, was I right.

Zane is a clueless Keeper, the power source that Kit needs in order to operate the Gate and stay strong himself. Having been orphaned at a very young age, he has never gotten the history of his family and how necessary he is to the continued operation of the Gate. Kit has served the Gate and the Carter household for 200 years. His strong spirit has been severely weakened by five years without a Keeper. Now the two have to figure out how to not only live with each other, but what to do with an attraction that just won’t quit.

I thoroughly enjoyed this story. The premise is so unusual that it was captivating almost from the start. I say almost because the very beginning is a bit slow, though I promise it’s worth it. There is a lot of background on Kit and his service that needs to be gone through, but Zane’s obliviousness to everything makes his portion of the beginning drag things out.

From there, however, it picks up considerably and turns into a well-spun intrigue of a story. The Gatekeeper and his servant, Lor, a very cheeky demon, have constant conversations that are both amusing and informational. Zane’s twin, Ren, plays an integral part of the story, as well, even though she is nowhere near Ohio. A trip through the Gate with Kit brings us Traalo, mayor of the village of spirits that has sprung up around Kit’s Gate. With diverse and charismatic characters, you become fully engaged and desperate to know more.

The story takes place in Cleveland and in the spirit village, and while Cleveland is pretty much a minor backdrop, the village is simply incredibly written. The imagery is such that a solid picture forms in the mind, and you can easily walk with the characters through a wonderland.

The character growth on both sides is enormous and messy, a realistic expectation followed through beautifully.

The chemistry is instant upon meeting, but Kit is an innocent, and it’s a very slow buildup that takes you three quarters of the way through the book before they act on their attraction. Even here, though, paranormal twists come through, and it makes for a delightfully sexy time.

By the time I reached the end, I was thrilled for both Kit and Zane, wishing that the incredibly adorable Lor had someone of his own to love, and hoping against hope that there would be more books on this line.

Finder’s Keeper is a curious twist on the paranormal, to be sure! It’s worth a solid four stars and a hearty recommendation, and I was so excited to learn that it IS actually the first in a new series! I look forward to seeing where things go from here.


**Same worded review will appear on Goodreads, Amazon.co.uk and Amazon.com.**