A ghost in shining armor

There's love after life in this charming rom-com from Beharrie (And They Lived Happily Ever After). Gemma Daniels, 28, has been seeing ghosts and helping them settle unfinished business since she turned 18, so it's not surprising when the stranger she kisses at her best friend's bachelorette party turns out to be a ghost. What does shock her is that, this time, he's here to help her, revealing that Gemma has a twin sister, Gaia, who was left in the foster system when Gemma was adopted. Phantom Levi Walker has been offered the chance to return to life if he can help Gemma and Gaia reconnect within three months--but if he fails, he'll face grave consequences. This mission proves more complicated than anticipated: when Gemma meets Gaia, she lies, pretending to be a fan of Gaia's novels rather than revealing their true connection. The deception spirals further when Gemma and Levi must explain his continued presence to her friends and family--so, of course, they pretend that they're dating. Levi is a charming hero up against impossibly high stakes, and Gemma's sunshiny outlook is sure to endear her to readers. Their slow-burning will-they, won't-they combined with Beharrie's laugh-out-loud narration makes this a surefire crowd pleaser. Agent: Courtney Miller-Callihan, Handspun Literary. (Oct.)

When Gemma Daniels kisses Levi Walker on a bachelorette night dare, she has no idea that he's a ghost sent to help her reunite with her long-lost twin sister. Levi has just three months to fulfill his purpose. If he is successful, he'll return to his own life as if he never died. If he fails, he disappears completely. He hasn't shared this information with Gemma, however, and his secrecy could ruin everything. This slow-burn paranormal romance features well-developed, likable protagonists, but the secondary characters are two-dimensional and add little to the plot, which revolves around the emotional development of Gemma and Levi. Though there is a happily ever after, it's a conflicted one, with plot threads left hanging for a sequel. VERDICT Readers looking for character introspection and growth may enjoy this one from Beharrie (And They Lived Happily Ever After), but most will find it disappointing.--Heather Miller Cover