Split at the Seams by Yolanda Sfetsos

Released: August 21, 2012
Format: e-book
Publisher: Samhain

Series: Sierra Fox #2

Source: Personal (e-)shelf

All it takes is one broken stitch for everything to come apart at the seams.

Sierra Fox, Book 2

Spook catcher Sierra Fox has paid her debt to the Spook Catcher Council. Life should be easier. Except everything is going to the dogs—or demons, as the case may be. Her boyfriend Jonathon is acting like a possessive jerk. She can’t stop drooling over Jason, her hunky, injured houseguest, who turns out to be a werewolf. To top it off, something seriously freaky is happening to spooks all over Sydney.

Prime example: a ghost who wants to hire her fades while inside her office, and soon they’re disappearing all over Sydney— sucked out of existence. When Sierra finds out who’s behind it, it’s more than just her own life at stake.

As the problems continue to mount, keeping her head above water is a daily battle. Add a stalking, feral animal who is determined to take a piece out of her hide—literally—and life is anything but a bunch of buttercups. Especially when those around her start dropping their façades.

Eventually, she knows, the dust will settle. Only this time, life as she knew it may never be the same.

Warning: Spook catching: Do not try this at home, if you’re under eighteen, or under the influence. Must be prepared to fight off ghosts, demons, weird black dogs and sexy werewolves… Okay, maybe skip the werewolf.

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After enjoying A Patch of Darkness as much as I did, I had high expectations for Split at the Seams. After all, Yolanda Sfetsos has created an interesting world of spook catchers and other supernaturals, set in Sydney, Australia. I’m pleased to say that Split at the Seams was just as enjoyable as its predecessor and that I’m officially hooked on Sierra Fox!

This time around, Sierra is facing a couple sets of problems. On the romantic front, she’s realizing that there is something really wrong with her boyfriend, Jonathan, which is something I determined last book. (I find him creepy.) But now Sierra is figuring out just how wrong things are, which complicates the already strained relations in the merry band of hunters that she has been hooked up with. Plus, she’s also helping her sexy werewolf neighbor Papan hide from a different member of this super squad, who hates werewolves with a blinding rage. Sierra and Papan are in close quarters since she’s hiding him in her house, which is warded to the wazoo, and their building closeness helps push her in the right direction — toward Papan and away from he-who-keeps-secrets-and-consorts-with-unsavouries. I’m really glad that Sfetsos didn’t try to drag out this love triangle once Sierra realizes that Jonathan has changed and not for the better. There’s nothing worse than a willingly dense heroine and Sierra is far too smart for that.

Sierra’s other problem is a bit more dangerous, since she’s been chased by a black dog. (Please be happy that I avoided talking about how this baddie is dogging her…well, until now…) It’s a common figure in mythology and I’m pleased to see that Sfetsos continues to expand her world, bringing in new supernatural figures and threats. It keeps Sierra on her toes and I’m quite enjoying the ride.

There are also some really neat developments on the ghost front, but discussing them would involve spoilers so I’m trying not to delve too deeply into this part of the plot. Most of the ghost problem mentioned in the cover copy gets addressed in the latter part of the story, with some big reveals about Sierra and spooks, so I’ll just tell you that there are a couple OMG moments and leave it at that. If you want dish, you can find me on Twitter and we’ll dish!

Split at the Seams is another win for Sfetsos as she takes the danger, action, and mystery to the next level. It bodes well for the next instalment of the Sierra Fox series, though maybe not so well for Sierra herself!