Happy Medium, the
third book in my Ramos Family trilogy, was released by Berkley Intermix on
January 21. All three books are ghost stories, and they feature a family of
reluctant mediums who only discover their powers when they’re confronted by
some nasty ghosts who need to be eliminated.
When I started working on Happy Medium, I’d already used ghosts who wanted someone to avenge
their deaths (the traditional ghostly function) in Medium Well and with ghosts who wanted to increase their power by
sucking vitality from humans (a slightly less traditional ghostly function) in Medium Rare. So I’d dealt with ghosts
seeking justice and seeking power—what else could they be looking for? Sex,
maybe?
Succubi (and incubi, the male version), are spirits who get
off on sex with humans. This idea has been around for a long, long time—Lilith,
Adam’s first wife, is supposed to be a succubus in Jewish mythology, and
succubi show up in folklore in a variety of cultures. Succubi are seductresses,
who prey on unsuspecting men with their sexual skills. And they’re also
shape-shifters, which allows them to assume the form of loved ones, or someone
you truly covet.
My hero, Ray Ramos, has to contend with this seductive ghost,
but he’s more repulsed than attracted. This particular succubus haunts the
house he’s trying to renovate, and she’s set free when he takes part in a
séance that was supposed to be fake. Unfortunately, when Ray, a hereditary
medium, takes part in the séance, it becomes the real thing. Leaving Ray with a
sexy ghost who has definite boundary problems.
But I along with Ray’s difficulties, I wanted to do
something slightly different with my particular succubus. She also haunts my
heroine, Emma Shea, who has a few self esteem problems. As it turns out, my
sexy ghost finds female victims by convincing them her skills can bring them
the man of their dreams. It’s a very seductive promise—let me use your body, and he’ll never leave you. My heroine knows
better than most that that promise is fatal, but even she finds herself
tempted.
In the end, Ray and Emma have to find a way to destroy the
succubus without being destroyed themselves, all the while working around
Emma’s employer, a phony television medium who has no idea what she’s up
against—or even that she’s up against anything at all.
Here’s a little taste of what Emma’s up against:
She closed her eyes. If this room wasn’t safe, what room
was?
You’re nothing. You’re
less than nothing, the voice whispered. He’ll
leave you soon.
Emma stiffened. “I know it’s you,” she muttered. “This won’t
work.”
He’ll leave you
because you’re nothing, the voice hissed viciously. You’re pitiful. Look at yourself. A fat frump. He doesn’t want you.
Emma’s shoulders tightened. She shook her head.
He’ll leave you. Why
would he stay? What could possibly make him want you?
Her breath rattled in her throat, her hands fisting at her
sides.
I could help you. I
could make him want you. The voice was smoother now. Almost seductive. Once he’d experienced what I can do, he’d
never leave.
Emma shook her head, her heart hammering almost painfully.
“Like you helped Amina? No thanks.”
An image flashed through her mind—Ray naked beneath her,
staring up with glazed, adoring eyes. He’d never leave. She’d never have to
worry. She’d have him always, all hers. No matter how fat she was. No matter
how ugly.
All hers. Until the succubus consumed them both.
Emma closed her eyes. “No. I won’t. No.”
You’re nothing.
Nothing, nothing, nothing.
She turned toward the door, running, half-blind with tears.
The blurb for Happy
Medium:
Love is good for the
soul… unless it’s one that you’re trying to exorcise.
Ray Ramos has a problem–the King William District mansion he and his business partner purchased for a fast renovation needs more work than expected. Ray could use a quick infusion of cash. Enter Emma Shea, assistant to Gabrielle DeVere, the star of American Medium. Gabrielle is looking for San Antonio houses to use for her televised séances, and Ray’s fixer upper seems to fit.
When Gabrielle does a sample séance, Ray and Emma become the target of a touchy ghost with no respect for boundaries. After Ray learns his family has a special affinity for ghosts, the two decide to investigate the haunted house. It doesn’t hurt that Emma is immediately attracted to the laconic Ray or that Ray is intrigued by the buttoned-down beauty who seems determined to hide her considerable assets behind sober business suits. But can the two of them fight off a vengeful succubus bound to the house while getting a lot closer than either of them planned?
Ray Ramos has a problem–the King William District mansion he and his business partner purchased for a fast renovation needs more work than expected. Ray could use a quick infusion of cash. Enter Emma Shea, assistant to Gabrielle DeVere, the star of American Medium. Gabrielle is looking for San Antonio houses to use for her televised séances, and Ray’s fixer upper seems to fit.
When Gabrielle does a sample séance, Ray and Emma become the target of a touchy ghost with no respect for boundaries. After Ray learns his family has a special affinity for ghosts, the two decide to investigate the haunted house. It doesn’t hurt that Emma is immediately attracted to the laconic Ray or that Ray is intrigued by the buttoned-down beauty who seems determined to hide her considerable assets behind sober business suits. But can the two of them fight off a vengeful succubus bound to the house while getting a lot closer than either of them planned?
2 comments:
Happy new release! That's a fascinating take on the succubus lore, having the spirit manipulate Emma like that :)
Congrats again on the new release, Meg. Another great ghost story. :)
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