Review: Spirit by John Inman

Reviewed by Whuppsy
Spirit by John Inman
Dreamspinner Press
Novel: 214pgs
5 Pants Off

Blurb:
Jason Day, brilliant designer of video games, is not only a confirmed bachelor, but he’s as gay as a maypole. One wouldn’t think being saddled with his precocious four-year-old nephew for four weeks would be enough to throw him off-kilter. 

Wrong. Timmy, Jason’s nephew, is a true handful. 

But just when Timmy and Uncle Jason begin to bond, and Jason feels he’s getting a grip on this babysitting business once and for all, he’s thrown for a loop by a couple of visitors—one from Tucson, the other from beyond the grave. 

I’m sorry. Say what? 

Toss a murder, a hot young stud, an unexpected love affair, and a spooky-ass ghost with a weird sense of humor into Jason’s summer plans, and you’ve got the makings for one hell of a ride.

Review
This story had so many things going on and it was Wonderful!!

Jason has taken on the responsibility for his nephew Timmy for 4 weeks while his sister and her boyfriend take a vacation to the east coast. Jason had no idea what he was getting into!!

Jason is this wonderfully flaky man. He’s got such loyalty and honor. He’s this single gay man who works from home designing video games. Jason is funny, smart and an all-around good guy. He is this guy who has bought his sister’s house after her husband disappeared years ago. He’s loved this house and is happy to buy it and make it his own. Jason makes me laugh as he has this wonderful sense of humor and he is just flamboyant enough in his ways that just makes him so very endearing. I love listening to him and know that he’s going to make me laugh.

Sam is the other MC in this book. His brother, Paul married Jason’s sister, Sally and had Timmy. Sam is in San Diego to see Timmy and find out what has really happened to Paul. Sally has cut off all communication with Paul’s family. He’s this young man who is an engineer and was in the Navy. He’s got all the wonderful sense of honor and loyalty for family. He loved his brother and he knows that something bad has had to happen for him to leave and not have ANY contact with his family. Sam comes and meets his nephew and meets Jason again for the second time, yet this time is so very different. He’s a grown man with needs that Jason seems to fill.

The secondary characters of Timmy and the resident ghost were just great!! Timmy was this great character. He was not only this wonderfully vibrant child; he was also this smartass child who was on point with his sarcasm. He was not only one of the catalysts in this story, but he was this sweet, innocent child who was wronged in the loss of his father. His mother, Sally and Jack, her boyfriend were these characters that had some screen time and yet, whenever, they were on screen there was always something going on. They just weren’t the nicest of people and you could feel that. The ghost in Jason’s house was the wonderfully big presence. The ghost showed itself to Timmy and to Jason and Sam in ways that scared Jason and Sam, but was always so very gentle with Timmy.

This story had so much happening, the bonding relationship between Jason and Timmy. The romance between Jason and Sam, the ghost and the presence it had in the house. The mystery of who the ghost was and why it reacted the way it did. Not only did this story have a great romance and a mystery to solve (how very Scooby Doo of me). The humor that Timmy, Sam and Jason had working in this story was just the best. I loved the dry, sarcastic humor. I loved that there was lots of smartass comments thrown back and forth. That it was taken in the spirit (great reference of the title, if I do say so) in which it meant. I loved that these three worked not only as a team but worked on becoming a family.

This is one of John’s greatest works and I love all of his books. He’s always got such humor and he can really allow a story to unfold. I enjoy taking the time to read and experience his wonderful body of work and this book is no exception. The story flowed smoothly along and you were never taken out of what was going on in the story. You were on this journey with Jason, Sam and Timmy and you wanted to solve the mystery just as much as they did. You wanted them to have their HEA.

This was worth the read. You won’t regret taking the leap and falling into this story.

5 Pants Off