GLAMOUR was a book presented to me with only a brief summary. Because it was centered around the paranormal, I figured I would give it a chance; it is, after all, very much my genre. But, given that my spouse was homeless for several years, I was a little worried about how The Girls would be portrayed, among a few other things.

My worries were unfounded, though. As it turns out, Denise has done her research; she’s created an environment and people to populate it that make it feel like it could happen in your town. Her style makes it extremely easy to sink into the story and keep going, and is extremely easy to pick up where you left off. (Or, if you’re like me, pick up where you fell asleep because you kept reading until 3AM.)

The characters are well fleshed out. Grace’s background ties in to a lot of things she does and her way of thinking reflects her past. There aren’t many (if any!) things that I would consider an oversight, nothing that Grace does or thinks that’s out of what her character is established to be early on. Likewise with the rest of the cast; each character has their own distinct way of speaking and doing thing. This makes dialogue ridiculously easy to follow, which sometimes can be a little tricky.

The interactions between characters, both alive and dead, are also very well enacted and written. Sometimes they do take on a hint of a more formal tone than would otherwise be necessary (I.e. a 12 year old speaking full words rather than contractions, but then again Danny’s kind of a genius so what do I know) but otherwise easy to keep track of and pretty close to the kind of conversation an ex-cop would have with a ghost.

And I have to mention that I actually cried, in public, several times during the more emotional scenes. I like to believe that, if you read the book, you’ll be able to pinpoint exactly when and where I mean. This is what I look for in novels: if you can make me cry in public like a child, you have my undivided attention.

The climax was almost anticlimactic, but I promise you, keep reading; it’s absolutely worth it. I certainly didn’t regret pushing through.

All in all, despite a few minor grievances that come from being pagan and knowing about our own world’s equivalent of magic, this was a fantastic read. (Inhesitate to even call hem “grievances” honestly, I’m just picky about how secular witchcraft is represented and that is purely on me.) I would recommend this mostly for young adults, but honestly? If you like supernatural powers, ghosts and powerful female characters kicking ass (like, so many of them), his is absolutely the read for you.

Also, Mrs Winiarksy, you better let your son be happy. I’m watching you.

Brilliant Story. Enter the world of the para norms. Grace received her powers after a devastating accident that took the life of her young brother. I have never read any of this series before and will definitely not miss any more of it. A wonderful read and a definite five stars.

I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book

This was amazing!!! I absolutely adored this book. Bossarte has written a fun and engaging story! Grace is a bad a** and kick a** and I love her. I need more of her in my life. Please bring us some more action packed fun with this lovely woman!

I received a copy of this book and am voluntarily reviewing.

I received this as a pre-release edition. And man am I glad I did!

So fun to discover a new author! Grace Bishop is a kick-a** heroine with plenty of spunk and great supporting players. It's a quick read and a unique take on a world where the "Norms" are blissfully ignorant of the "Paranorms." Until, that is, Grace moves from the Norm to the Paranorm world. Good intro to the characters and more than engaging enough to make you itch for more. Be sure to catch this promising new character & world! And be sure to read the 2 mini novels, "Return" & "Beginnings" with insight to both Danny & Grace and the start of their adventures in the Paranorm world

An auto accident killed her brother, Danny, and brought Grace Bishop’s police career to an end. But, it left her with the ability to communicate with the dead, and to rematerialize Danny, who now assists her in her job as a PI determined to bring evil-doers to justice.

When a friend comes to her for help in determining the fate of missing homeless girls and prostitutes, Grace and Danny, with the assistance of her cop friend, Billy, who is aware of her paranormal ability, dig deep into the case. She discovers a paranormal ‘family’ that conceals great powers, and great evil, and is determined to put an end to it, even if it means risking her own life.

Glamorous by Denise Bossarte is a combination of mystery and magic that follows Grace as she employs her ‘ability’ to get to the truth of a serial killer who lacks remorse or any other human feelings. This is a story that will appeal to both mystery and paranormal fiction fans, with a strong, determined female heroine who takes no prisoners.

I received this book as a pre-release edition. I give it four stars.

I received this novel as a pre-release edition and it was a treat! The characters are believable and honest. I felt like Grace and Danny were people I would love to get to know. Life's thrown them some curveballs, but they're facing it as a team. The troublemakers in the book aren't mustache twirlers. It had me page flipping right through. Now she just has to write 12 more to make me happy lol!

For a book that isn't really what I read it's actually pretty good. I'm not going to give away anything.

Fans of mystery, suspense with paranormal elements and a dash of romance will love it. The writing is amazing. I was drawn to the characters.

I received an ARC for an honest and voluntarily review.

I received this as a pre-release edition,

Your hair stands on end along the back of your neck for no apparent reason as you traverse a darkened hallway in the dead of night. You catch the glimpse of something odd as you walk a city street or drive some forgotten back country road. But you move along, the supernatural is just a flight of fancy right. Those connected to the spiritual realm are all charlatans and mentally disturbed right?

Or are they?

Grace Bishop knows another truth. The uncanny survivor of a horrific accident that took the life of her dearest family members, she is now a conduit to the "other side", with powers and insights that the "normals" of the world would never believe. And just when she's managed to come to grips with this new found power, she's thrown deeper down the rabbit hole of the supernatural when a friend seeks her help as a Private Investigator. Someone, or some thing is kidnapping young girls from street corners in the dead of night, preying on the desperate prostitutes that clutter the dark corners in the bad section of town.

Mrs. Bossarte throws the reader into the dark underbelly of modern day big city life, secretly traversed and ruled by "Paranorms" and a mafia style family that works to further their own mysterious interest while keeping their powers hidden from the general public. This modern day Lovecraftian setting adds a dark foreboding danger to the flavor of the scene that our hero Grace Bishop finds herself in.

There's a presence stalking beautiful young girls of the night. Street corners where they sell their bodies in order to survive on the mean streets are now a hunting ground for a predator more sinister than Grace could ever imagine. This villain seems to have to pattern, leave no clues, and has no witnesses to his kidnapping of unsuspecting victims.

Luckily, Grace has more than just her keen investigative skills, experience as an ex-cop, connections to both the police force as well as the Family that rules the Paranormal society, and knowledge of the alleys and back rooms of the city to help her solve this case. Her new found connection to the supernatural world provides an ally that tips the odds in her favor, helps to protect her, and gives her insights beyond what a "normal" could ever have.

And she will need all that help, all of her toughness, street smarts, bravery, and powers as an "Aperto Rotto" to not only solve this crime, but survive the clash with its perpetrator. For this villain is more evil, more devious, and more clandestine than she could ever suspect. With twists and turns reminiscent of the movie Primal Fear, and the TV show Lost Girl, Mrs. Bossarte creates a wonderful introduction to her hero, the world she lives in, and the many layers of intrigue Grace is destined to delve deeper into in future novels.

I loved all of it,and can't wait for the next Grace Bishop adventure to hit the shelves!

I just finished reading Glamourous. I don't want to give away any spoilers, but this book is for anyone that likes paranormals, ghosts, mystery's, the supernatural and adding in romance... The book involves a serial killer that is killing off girls for his own undisclosed reason and picking them off on a set schedule that only he knows. Being the first book in the series, Grace Bishop is introduced and is just coming into and learning what she can do having acquired her abilities during an accident.

A few primary characters are added to the storyline through out the book with Grace needing to learn more about her abilities and at the same time hunt down the bad guy. All in all I enjoyed reading this book and would enjoy reading another in this series!

I really enjoyed the early read on this novel. The main character, Grace, has practical nature and a personal warmth. Her brother, Danny, is the young guy anybody would want as a friend. As they embark into the unknown, their responses are honest and realistic. And can I express my joy that the main character is not caught up in some codependent love triangle? Just two good people dealing with Life's unforeseeable twists. My only disappointment is when I realized the book was ending. But! But! I want to know more. Looking forward to more fun reads from this author.

I Loved reading this book. Goes into details about the paranormal.
Now that she's one. She's a ex-cop and knows how to take care of herself.
Getting almost killed will make you learn real fast.
It's a Long story. But its one that you won't want to stop.
No cliffhanger really, but a big opening to a part two book.
I received this pre release book free for my honest review of it.

This book has really gotten me out of my comfort zone of a certain type of genre. I'm so happy that it did too! Denise Bossarte has an amazing talent and I found myself so absorbed with the characters. Grace, the protagonist, is one of the strongest women I've ever read, yet can show her femininity and vulnerability with elegance and poise. Also, the combination of science fiction and detective thriller was something I NEVER would have imagined to be so engrossing. I absolutely cannot WAIT to see what happens next for Grace Bishop and the rest of the cast of colorful characters.

I received this for free as an Advanced Reader Copy.

I enjoyed this book very much. I really liked the main character Grace. She takes all that life hands her and keeps on going, not many could. She doesn't hide from the truth. First her parents died leave her younger brother in her care. Her brother was killed in terrible car accident, she survived, barely. When she woke up, she wasn't the same, she was more. Combine that with her natural desire to protect those who she feels need it, she experiences some very interesting situations. (I'm being vague, I hate it when reviews are spoilers). I truly liked her, I just wish she could loosen up a little.
I received a copy of the book for free from the author, in exchange for my honest opinion.

I read Glamorous as a pre-release. I was extremely pleased with the book, since it was the first work of Ms. Bossarte that I’ve read. Although not the subject I normally read, she has the capacity to change your mind. I definitely recommend this book and author.

The characters and situations in Glamorous left me wanting more. More information about the world Grace and her friends live in, more information about the back stories of every character and definitely more Grace Bishop crime solving. The story moved very fast and I would have loved a bit of a slow down to give more detail background as to how each character ended up at the place in life the book has them. I won't be specific because that would mean spoilers, but I truly hope the next adventure gives me an intimate look at the lives of everyone.

I liked that the book was a crime thriller first and paranormal thriller second. That allowed me to become involved with the mystery and the paranormal aspects quickly became the norm for the world where the story takes place. I also like that Grace was strong, could make tough decisions and was not broken despite her tragic losses in life. I look forward to the next adventure.

 "I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book." This book was great. Loved Grace, Danny, and Nicco. Grace was so passionate to help and that made the story what it is. Wish there was more to Grace and Nicco's relationship. There near the end he was willing to scrafice it all for her and she doesn't even know. Major cliffhanger. There will definitely be another book.

*I received an ARC from the author without any obligations*

This is the first book in an exciting new Urban Fantasy series, set in a world where paranorms with various abilities live undetected among so called norms. Grace Bishop used to be a police officer, but after a traumatic experience she suddenly found herself with paranormal abilities and she now works part time security and also as a PI. She is approached by a friend who is a social worker and who has noticed that a number of “his” runaway girls are dissappearing and Grace agrees to look into the matter. Thanks to her abilities she soon realizes that a paranorm with a kind of mesmerizing ability has to be involved. She comes to realize there are others like her and also that she needs help navigating the world of paranorms and that’s when her path first crosses with Nicco’s, who is kind of a boss in this world, although he describes himself as middle management…

Although it doesn’t sound so different from some other UF books (after all the combination of paranormal elements with a type of police procedural is a popular one), the story was well-paced and distinct enough to hold my attention. I really liked that the heroine is a confident, strong woman and nowhere is this more apparent then when she finally confronts the villain and Nicco rides to the rescue (quite literally), only to be completely ineffective once he arrives and unable to help Grace who has to save herself (with some help from other parties). The relationship between Grace and Nicco is tentative at this point, though there are hints that they are going to become important to each other…

So why couldn’t I give this book more than 4 stars? There are some issues that detract from the overall good impression. The first one is actually the beginning which sort of decides whether the story is going to hold the reader’s interest. And although the book is told in third person singular (not the most obvious choice for UF these days) from the perspective of Grace, it starts with the point of view of somebody who later on turns out to be a minor character. This is followed by the point of view of the villain (which is important for the development of the plot), but I still feel that putting it at the beginning was maybe not the most fortuitous choice. So the whole start feels a bit confusing until one has sorted out the players.
Another point of criticism concerns what I would call consistency of character: the guy who asked Grace for help insists on accompanying her when she attempts to set a trap for their suspect but when they arrive where the bad guy is supposed to hide, her friend all of a sudden meekly agrees to wait in the car (after having been very insistent about coming along) and Grace goes “oh, okay”. Of course he doesn’t stay in the car, but the irritation arises from the fact that Grace thought he would.
And the last point concerns the portrayal of “police procedure”. Not that I know much about it, but it struck me as very anachronistic that when at the beginning they are trying to connect the various disappearances they use markings of different colors on an actual physical map… in our technological age I would expect there to be a program for that into which you enter your data and then the algorithm spits out the map…

I think I am going to dive into the second book and if just to find out how this thing between Grace and Nicco plays out!

I received a pre-release edition of this novel.

Readers of paranormal fiction will enjoy this author's entry into the genre. The world is the one we know, except there exist among us those with paranormal abilities. I've never read anything quite like this before - the 'typical' paranormal abilities are here, but are a closely guarded secret known only to those in The Family, who are born with these abilities and exert tight control over everyone within this structure.

This is the setting into which the reader is plunged from the first page. There is little introduction, as you join the protagonist and her particular circumstances as if you are already aware of what is going on in her life. In fact, more than once I stopped and looked for the books prior to this one, sure that I had missed something. Nope, this is the first to be published book in the series, although we are teased with another 2 that will apparently explain some of the back story. But those aren't available yet.

This small frustration does nothing to detract from this story, which is a well told mystery/ crime/suspense novel with a paranormal twist. Readers should know that while the immediate story arc comes to a conclusion, the characters are left with stories to be told - it is very obviously the beginning (or actually the 'middle') of a series. I will eagerly await both the back stories and the future adventures of Grace and her friends.

I just finished Glamorous: A Grace Bishop Novel by Denise Bossarte. It is not what I expected, but I enjoyed it.
Grace was severely injured in an accident that killed her little brother Danny. She was on the police force before the accident. After the accident, she realized that she has new abilities, these abilities help with her new job as a private investigator.
She has a friend who helps with the underprivileged, and some of them were coming up missing. Grace agreed to help.
I didn’t expect this to be a paranormal novel, I did really enjoy this book though. The world building was great. So much so that I could “see” the story playing out in my head. There was a little romance in there, but not where I expected it to be.
I can really relate to the love she showed for her family and friends, that really came through for me.
My favorite part of the book was anything that had to do with Danny. She did a great job with Danny. His actions seemed appropriate for his age, which I think is hard for some authors to get right. He was my favorite character in the book (besides Grace).
I would recommend this book to anyone who likes detective stories and paranormal stories.
Thank you to Denise Bossarte for the chance to read this early! I can’t wait to see what happens in the next one!

Grace Bishop is responsible for causing the car accident in which her parents and young brother, Danny, are killed. She herself undergoes major life-changes - mentally and physically - that result in her developing psychometric and telepathic abilities [with Danny's help] and becoming first an 'Aperto Rosso' and later a Paranorm, in a world she never dreamt of in her wildest fantasies.
As a PI and former cop, Grace is only too willing to give what help she can when danger threatens her friend, DL and the young street girls, [linked through his refuge and rehab centre], who are being murdered and mutilated with alarming regularity.

Who does Grace initially turn to for help? Why is he reluctant to get involved in the case?
Why do the police refuse to investigate the case fully?
Who are Sophie and Anthony - how are they related to each other and to Grace and Bill?
Why does Grace have to prove her supernatural abilities to Niccolo? What result does this have?
What is the connection between Robyn and Gustav and which of them provides the 'glamour'?
How does Grace get help from the spirits of the victims and other ghosts? Where are the girls' remains buried and why?

This cleverly laid-out fantasy, [ that I received as a pre-release edition] has solid [and ethereal], believable characters, who are three-dimensional, [for the most part] and develop the plot in a delicious way that engages the reader from the start. Denise Bessarte writes an intelligent plot that is contained in an all-action psychological murder-mystery with a paranormal twist - once started you won't want to put this book down...I loved it - and you will too!

I received a pre-release edition of this book.

I was hooked from the first page. I have never before read a novel that included paranormal elements and I found it fascinating.

It's also a mystery, a crime procedural, and a story that, at times, offers heart-stopping suspense.

The main character is Grace Bishop, a former police officer now working as a Private Investigator with paranormal abilities such as telepathy and being able to speak to the dead. One of her adversaries is "The Family" who seek to control all paranormal activity. Another adversary is a serial killer of young girls. He is one of the most horrendously evil characters I have ever encountered.

My only criticism is that the author did not include a backstory for some of the characters. This made it seem that the story was somewhat rushed. I wanted to know more about them, but that information was not forthcoming in this book. Since this is the first book in the series I think we may learn more about them in subsequent books.

If you like this genre I know that you will enjoy this book.

Denise Bossarte's Glamorous: A Grace Bishop Novel is a must read if you like nail-biting thrillers.

Grace is a strong, confident and highly-skilled PI who had at one time served on the police force. But after a horrific automobile accident, and Grace's subsequent healing, she was left with physical scars and newly acquired supernatural abilities.

She was soon thrust into the secret world of Paranorms and The Family when she takes on a mysterious and mystical case involving a vicious serial killer.

The story takes so many interesting twists and turns that it is hard to put the book down. The characters are fully formed and engaging. Grace, though warm and kind, can be stubborn, Danny is funny yet protective, DL has a wonderful heart, Billy is the best friend anyone can ask for, Sophie, Anthony, Nicco--among others--are all unique in their own way.

What's next for Grace Bishop? I can't wait to find out.

This book was entered in The Wishing Shelf Book Awards. This is what our readers thought: Title: Glamorous: A Grace Bishop Novel Author: Denise Bossarte Star Rating: 5 Stars Number of Readers: 22 Stats Editing: 9/10 Writing Style: 10/10 Content: 10/10 Cover: 9/10 Of the 22 readers: 22 would read another book by this author. 21 thought the cover was good or excellent. 22 felt it was easy to follow. 22 would recommend this story to another reader to try. Of all the readers, 12 felt the author’s strongest skill was ‘plotting a story’. Of all the readers, 10 felt the author’s strongest skill was ‘developing the characters’. 22 felt the pacing was good or excellent. 22 thought the author understood the readership and what they wanted. Readers’ Comments ‘This is a superb thriller for older YA or adults. Full of twists and turns, I enjoyed it in a single sitting. Couldn’t stop reading.’ Male reader, aged 43 ‘Grace is the character that holds everything together. She’s strong, gritty but also vulnerable. The perfect hero. Fast-paced with elements of paranormal powers, this is a strong adventure story and a strong mystery too. This author will go far.’ Female reader, aged 53 ‘I enjoy a good murder/mystery. The PI element enriched the story even further. This author should start writing for a mature readership; she’s got the talent.’ Female reader, aged 62 ‘Charismatic characters, a little romance, plenty going on and a mystery of missing girls to solve. This is a fantastic summer read. The author’s writing style works well for this genre as it’s pacey with a well-structured plot. Thriller-lovers will love this!!!’ Male reader, aged 24 ‘I’m now going to read all of her books.’ Female reader, aged 19 To Sum It Up: ‘A superbly written paranormal thriller packed full of memorable characters. A BRONZE MEDAL WINNER and highly recommended.’

I really enjoyed reading Glamorous, with its kick-ass heroine and paranormal storyline. I was drawn in by the story from page one, related to the characters and couldn't wait to see what would happen next.
I would recommend this to lovers of paranormal, suspense and mystery novel