Shaking Off the Dust [Paperback]

i was not sure if i would like this book,as most ghost stories are not my thing and tend to be the equivalent of a bad B-movie.however,this book is amazing and so worth the read.it was also nice to see a book that had an interracial relationship in the form of the lead characters. it is written in the first person,which i dont always like,but was perfect for this story.it is well written,with a good pace and provides weepy moments as well as a good dose of humour.
SYNOPSIS:
"when hannah campbell attends a memorical service for a neurosurgeon who once saved her life,the last thing she expects is a lightening strike that knocks her out cold and blasts her lungs full of the departed's ashes.things only get weider when she wakes up to find the deceased standing over her hospital bed,insisting she helps him track down the terrorists who blew up his plane.
Professor Takeshi shimodo doesn't know what to blieve when smart-mouthed hannah appears on his doorstep,claiming to be haunted by the ghost of his best friend.yet she exhibits some extraordinary psychic abilities.and her determination to find justice for th crash victims,in spite of her fragile health,touches his heart.
takeshi's acupressure techniques are meant to calm hannah's erratic heartbeat,but the longer they are together,the more his magic fingers have the opposite effect.soon their passion flares hotter than any lightening strike.
but now the terrorist they seek is hunting them.and the FBI is suspicious hannah knows just a little too much.

the characterization in this book is excellent.the lead characters are sound and we do get a good insight into the array of secondary characters,which is often lacking when books are written in the first person and only from a single characters point.the book is an emotional roller coaster,but is perhaps not as excessive as some.it is a well thought out and intelligent book which although has some medical terminology in it,does not lose the reader.things are explained,but not to the point where they become tedious.i especially liked how the relationship between hannah and tom evolved,from a mere doctor/patient/associate and ditached relationship where neither before had really known each other to a true friendship and better understanding of one another.i really liked the mixture of ghosts, all different in their own way and each having their own story to tell.overall this is an excellent book full of wit,suspense and emotion.the only downfall for me is that it had to end!the next book though not available in book format is a follow on called "the replacement list".i hope it will be available in book format soon and is as enjoyable as the first.truly deserving 5 stars!!

A friend recommended Shaking Off the Dust and I am so glad I picked up a copy! I enjoyed every word Rhianna Samuels' wrote and look forward to reading more! Shaking off the Dust was an amazing story and I loved it!

Tom Mercurio wasn't someone Hannah cared for, but when he dies, she attends his funeral. The saying that you could be hit by lightning for a lie nearly becomes a reality when Hannah is almost hit by lightning and inhales Tom's ashes. She wakes in the arms of sexy Takeshi Shimodo and life begins to become a wild ride.

Hannah believes Takeshi is nothing more than a fantasy, but matters take a turn for the worse when she begins to be haunted by Tom's spirit. How can she convince a virile male that she's not destined for the insane asylum and ask for his help in solving Tom's murder?

Ms. Samuels' writing is stunning--her characters are believable and enchanting. I loved Hannah's snarky sense of humor, and her strength. The hero,Takeshi, is the knight in shining armor, always at her side and determined to help her. Besides the page searing sex, the story is an exciting ride filled with laughter, suspense, drama, intrigue, and murder.