emmsbookshelf 's review for:

Riley Thorn and the Blast from the Past by Lucy Score

4.0

adventurous funny medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Complicated

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It took me a while to finish Blast From The Past as I wasn’t aware that it was the third book in the Riley Thorne series.  I will admit, I was confused and adrift when I started and feel that reading the first two books is necessary for understanding and appreciating this book in all it hilarious and entertaining glory.  So I back tracked and read the first two books, and I am so glad, as this has been a series I have enjoyed immensely.

The series follows Riley Thorn, a reluctant psychic in a family full of similar ‘gifts’ emerging from a divorce and thrown into the path of Nick Santiago, a private investigator whom she enters into a relationship with.  First and foremost, these books are great, full of witty banter and hilarious exchanges.  They have the tell-tale Lucy Score touch of a dog that is borderline human and enough personality to carry its own novel.  Blast from the Past shook up the traditional formula set forth in the first two novels and I found it refreshing, whilst still having the same wit and banter of the first two books.

As a character, Riley is incredibly relatable in her insecurities, in her job, appearance and relationships.  She Is such a well rounded character in that regard and it was nice to se a continued journey of self love and acceptance in this book.  I thought that this journey was further propelled by her loss of access to Cotton Candy Land (I don’t want to spoil to much so if you know, you know). Additionally, Nick’s point of view is incredibly entertaining to read from, for someone whose career as a private investigator revolves around him being observant, he is quite dense when it comes to understanding the emotions of those around him.  Also, props to him, 10/10 for calling out his mothers bad attitude to Riley.

I can’t wait to continue Riley and Nick (and Burts!) adventures in the psychic PI realm.  Thank you to Netgalley and Sourcebooks Bloom Books for giving me the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review, these thoughts are all my own.