Believe — Ann DeFee

The Great Smokey Mountains came alive with the sound of music when the O'Flaherty Family Revival rolled through the hills and hollows bringing a party atmosphere to the celebration of God. Springen was the youngest of the O'Flaherty children, and with her sisters they sang the gospel music of the angels. To a casual observer, Spring was a normal kid, but appearances can be deceptive. She could see auras and lived in a Popsicle world where the kids were swathed in brilliant colors and the grown-ups were a fuzzy pastel. Being different wasn't a problem, it was simply her gift. That illusion was destroyed during one of the revival services when she touched a visiting preacher and was transported into the mind of a serial killer. Being different was no longer fun, it was horrifying.
Spring's precognition and retrocognition powers multiplied throughout her teen years. She was terrified that a casual hug or a handshake might send her back into that black abyss. Fast forward several years and Spring has created a successful life in Atlanta. Truthfully, she's lonely but that was okay until she met Jed Collinsworth and fell head over heels in love. He's the love of her life, the other half of her soul, but lasting love can't be built on lies and deceptions. It's imperative that she tell Jed about her ability to talk to dead people.
The sudden murder of her dad lays waste to Spring's well-laid plans to reveal her secrets. Ready or not, Jed is about to be introduced to the O'Flaherty clan of western Virginia with all their eccentricities and quirks -- tent revival preachers, gospel musicians, healers, heroes and pot growers. Is he ready for a true Southern wake and memorial service -- Irish style -- complete with raucous eating, drinking and storytelling?
Can their love endure despite Spring's unusual abilities? And can she discover that elusive sense of love, peace and acceptance that she's always wanted? This is a feel good story so anything is possible.