Petal to the Metal

4.5 4.5 out of 5 stars | 5,009 ratings

Price: 17.46

Last update: 01-07-2025


About this item

Forty-two-year-old Mia Thorne is not living her best life. After a disastrous career-and-relationship-ending event, she escapes New York City and moves to a sleepy river town in Pennsylvania, courtesy of a dead aunt she never knew. Aunt Hazel was the reclusive family nut, a self-proclaimed psychic. Of course, Mia’s dad always told her that she, too, had the gift, but after his death, her mother made sure to squelch the notion. No square pegs allowed!

Aunt Hazel’s old cottage is only slightly better than the decrepit gardens surrounding it. Mia doesn’t know the first thing about gardening and expects this will be one more failure on her seemingly endless list. Even Aunt Hazel’s ancient cat seems to have pegged her as a loser.

When Mia stumbles over a body in the overgrown garden, the newcomer catches the eye of the police chief and his hotshot detective, Derek Fairfax, and she becomes the number-one suspect in the case. Much to her shock and awe, she also catches the eye of Derek’s brother, Dane, a lawyer with a head for what’s legal and a bod for what isn’t - but getting arrested for murder would certainly put a damper on her dating life.

Will Mia tap into her long-buried psychic skills in order to save herself, or will she end up digging her own grave?

Petal to the Metal is the first book in The Bloomin’ Psychic series.


Top reviews from the United States

  • KAT
    5.0 out of 5 stars What a treat!
    Reviewed in the United States on December 19, 2024
    I stumbled across this book in Kindle Unlimited and I am one happy camper I did. This is such a delightful read. Funny characters, especially the heroine, with a great story line and twist at the end. A little supernatural stuff, hunky guys and quirky townsfolk keep the story rolling from sentence one through to the end. No typos, no errors in the plot; finally an author with an editor that knows spelling and punctuation. Thank you Ms. Chase for coming into my literary life. Can't wait to dig into Mia's next misadventure!
  • Lexie
    4.0 out of 5 stars Lots of fun
    Reviewed in the United States on August 11, 2021
    I like the writing, the characters, the premise, the witty dialog, and the perfect, waterfront location. This is a fun read, and I enjoyed it. However, I have to nitpick a little about Mia. She says she's having hot flashes and memory problems, can't sleep, and pees too much, especially at night. She's 42. Most women don't experience these problems until their late 40s. When I was 42, I was still thin and pretty and full of energy, and I WASN'T having hot flashes. That didn't happen till I was 50. I suspect the author started out with Mia around 48, then changed her age, but every time I read about Mia's hot flashes, I cringe. It just isn't correct unless there's something going on with her physically the reader doesn't know.

    And yes, another nitpick: When I turned 40, men stopped noticing me. It was like someone flipped a switch, and I became invisible even though I was just as attractive as I'd been at 39. So how is it Mia, with all her self-proclaimed faults, has two gorgeous men falling all over themselves to take her to bed? If it's due to her being "special," that should somehow be noted.
  • Changingwoman
    5.0 out of 5 stars Enjoyable
    Reviewed in the United States on March 24, 2024
    Very appealing book. I hate books that treat "designer" clothes brands as if they were nouns instead of the expensive marketing of an item being exploited. "You can only be special if you wear/buy this item and you are inferior if you do not". Ridiculous that people need validation in such a petty way.

    The story is interesting and believable. The characters are also. I liked meeting them. Sometimes characters are not at all likable. Or they are interesting but you would not want them as friends or neighbors. I look forward to watching them grow and develop skills and knowledge.
  • Judith
    5.0 out of 5 stars A Riotous Romp
    Reviewed in the United States on January 23, 2022
    It takes a lot to make me laugh out loud. Even books acclaimed by readers and critics alike to ring all the bells on the humor scale seldom draw more than a few smiles. But Chase has written a story with well-developed, sympathetic characters and a good solid mystery, and woven it through and through with rich, riotous dialogue that had me chortling aloud until the tears fell. I can’t wait to read more from this author.
  • Kbaxburn
    3.0 out of 5 stars promising
    Reviewed in the United States on November 15, 2024
    I like the premise but sometimes this character acted 52 instead of 42. I know I’m only 4 years away but I don’t have age spots nor worry about getting hot flashes… this screams lot 40s probably closer to 50. But I digress. How is it that she had clothes? If her dbag bf kicked her out with nothing, it all being in storage… how did she get her clothes? Hoping it gets better.
  • BookwormMomma
    5.0 out of 5 stars A Bloomin’ Start
    Reviewed in the United States on March 2, 2024
    Loved the start to this new series, this author is amazing at showing development in her characters and I can already see some of the fodder being used in this one. Once again a brilliant start.
  • A. Comport
    4.0 out of 5 stars Quirky and fun
    Reviewed in the United States on December 27, 2024
    It took me a little while to get into the author's casual and fun writing style, but then I went with the flow and had a great time reading this book. I plan to devour the series!
  • I like reading
    5.0 out of 5 stars how losing your job turns into a good thing
    Reviewed in the United States on October 8, 2024
    The book starts off with several examples of the lead character’s life going downhill fast. When She learns she has inherited a house she sees her life as maybe turning around, so she moves there. She meets new people. Then she finds a dead body and becomes the lead suspect. So much for getting away from problems! Does she have a “special gift” that will help her solve the crime? Will she be able to make friends with the cat that comes with the house? You can only find the answers to these questions and more by reading the book.

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