Series Info/Source: This is the first book in the Moonstone Cove series. This book is a sister series to the Glimmer Lake series and takes place after that series, it features a different set of characters but we do get cameos from some of the Glimmer Lake characters. I borrowed this through Kindle Unlimited to read.

Story (4/5): I really enjoyed this book a lot. The story features three women who are involved with stopping a shooting at a gym and as a result of the event find out they develop psychic powers. It is definitely similar in formula and theme to the Glimmer Lake series but different enough to still be a fun read. There is a good mystery here and the story definitely propels the reader forward. I loved how the plot came together, enjoyed the humor, and just had a lot of fun reading this.

Characters (5/5): The trio of women featured here was very well done. This book focuses on Katherine who is a psychics professor; she doesn’t have kids but has decided to focus on her career and is married to the most wonderful math professor. I loved Katherine as a character and could relate to her really well. The other women she meets up with are Toni (a car mechanic who comes from a large Italian family) and Megan (who has given up her job in the South to move here with her teenagers for her husband’s job). They are all fun and engaging characters who have a lot of depth to them.

Setting (5/5): I loved the small seaside college town setting in California. It’s different enough from Glimmer Lake that it has a very different vibe going. I love visiting college towns, they just have such a high energy vibe to them and Hunter captures that feeling really well in this book. I would love to visit Moonstone Cove in person and loved reading about it.

Writing Style (5/5): I continue to be very impressed with how readable and engaging Hunter’s writing style is. She does a great job of balancing an intricate and intriguing mystery with lovable and complex characters. I enjoy the setting of the story and how human all these characters feel. The way the psychic elements are blended into these women’s lives (women who already have husbands, kids, and jobs) is really well done and feels very real.

My Summary (5/5): Overall I loved the start to the Moonstone Cove series even more than the Glimmer Lake series. This book just cemented my love for Hunter’s writing style and makes me want to check out all of the series she has written (and there are a lot of them!). There is a very well done mystery here, some interesting psychic elements, amazing characters, and a fun setting. This is just really well done and I would recommend it to those who enjoy a good paranormal mystery in a small town setting. ( )

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Runaway Fate by Elizabeth Hunter
Book 1 of the Moonstone Cove series, a spin-off fro the Glimmer Lake series. Paranormal women’s fiction. While the characters from Glimmer Lake make an appearance, those books do not need to be read first unless minor spoilers are an issue.

While Katherine is at her gym working out, she experiences a vision of a student pulling out a gun and shooting people. Suddenly he’s there and reaching into his jacket. Katherine and two other women in the gym prevent the shooting and subdue him. But it’s not over. Katherine and her two new friends investigate another “worst nightmare” situation and find more than one connection and more than one student who doesn’t remember how they things went so wrong.

A strong and smart heroine with a successful career and a supporting spouse. She’s not sure why she’s getting visions suddenly but she doesn’t hesitate to act. I loved the building friendships of the three women after meeting at the gym and each manifesting some psychic ability. Just like in the Glimmer Lake series. I can’t wait to read the next book.

Immediately engaging, quick moving and fascinating. ( )