Welcome to Clay Point, Louisiana, home to not-so-average Joes, and Nonie Broussard, a feisty Cajun and trouble magnet. After losing her job when the Garmin factory shuts down, Nonie is left with major money issues—as in, she has none. Desperate, she has to turn to the one place she’s avoided working since dropping out of college–her family’s funeral home.It wasn’t that Nonie feared the dead. In … dead. In fact the opposite was true. She sees them—literally, and had been seeing the dead ever since she can remember. She tried telling her parents about it when she was a child, but they’d vehemently dismissed it to imaginary friends, so she’d stopped talking about it. There were only two people who actually knew Nonie’s secret and knew she was the real deal. One was Buggy Mouton, her best friend since kindergarten, and the other was Guy Skinard, whom Nonie considered her one true love since the day she’d laid eyes on him in high school. Buggy now worked at MeeMaw’s Café off of Main in Clay Point, and Guy, as usual, remained ever at her side—the only difference being he’d died in a freak boating accident nine years ago. Still the prankster even in death, Guy loved causing chaos, especially with men Nonie occasionally dated. She could only imagine what mayhem he might stir up while mirroring her at the funeral home and mingling with the newly departed.
Only hours into the first day of her new job, pandemonium engulfs the funeral home, and much to Nonie’s surprise, it has nothing to do with Guy. It’s brought on by the family they’re serving. Seventy-two–year-old Dover Fontenot, the Major of Clay Point, dies in a car accident after indulging in a little extra-curricular activity—only the activity wasn’t with his wife , Hazel. And when Dover’s mistress, Anna Mae Turner, shows up at the funeral home for the visitation hell’s gates rip open and Broussard’s Funeral Home suddenly turns into a geriatric war zone.
Amidst the flying hairpieces, canes and curses, Nonie’s best friend, Buggy, decides to drop by the funeral home with news she can’t wait to share. A cable network in New Orleans wants to put together a paranormal investigation team and have them check out purported haunted locations in Louisiana. For every location with solid filming potential, each member of the team gets a five hundred dollar pay check. And Buggy knows without question that if anyone can sniff out the ‘restless’ dead, it’s Nonie.
Knowing nothing about paranormal investigation, but lured by the sound of the adventure and the dollar signs circling through her head, Nonie agrees to become part of the Boo Krewe, the name Buggy has formally given the makeshift team.
The lure of money may be one thing, but what Nonie doesn’t realize is that occasionally the dead, so excited that someone can actually see and hear them, decide to follow her home, into her bed—the bathroom—the shower. And adding to this new-found frustration, Nonie barely finishes her first investigation when she gets a visit from Anna Mae Turner—the mayor’s former mistress—now dead, as well, and harassingly insistent that Nonie bring her killer to light.
Nonie quickly learns that the ‘gift’ she’s carried since birth is really a giant wart on the butt of life—and no amount of Compound W is going to make it go away!
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Nonie Broussard is (was) a closet medium until she finds herself in a situation where she needs to pay the rent! Throw in a job in a funeral parlour and a ghost hunt and you get an unexpectedly laugh out loud moments. Toe to Toe is a well-written story full of interesting characters (dead and alive) who find themselves in the strangest and most entertaining situations. I thoroughly enjoyed Toe to Toe by Deborah LeBlanc and definitely recommend. I do hope this book will be the first of a series!
This is my first time reading anything by Deborah LeBlanc, and I found that she is an interesting author—a professional in a field relative to her supernatural writing style. It is very clear this professional experience lends knowledge to her writing…at least particularly in this story.
Toe to Toe is the first story in the Nonie Broussard Ghost Tracker series. The story starts off immediately introducing us to Nonie as she is working her day job for her family. LeBlanc masterfully paints the picture of Clay Point in the first few paragraphs of the book. Clay Point, LA isn’t real, but it feels like a real place. The characters are relatable and are in character for their region. I feel that Nonie is a fictionalized resemblance of LeBlanc, and I think that helps this character really pop. Eventually romance creeps it way it, and (insert eyeroll), it does get cliché at times…but LeBlanc never let it get overboard and ruin the main story. It was a solid b- plotline.
This book stands out as a supernatural comedy, with horror undertones. This is a unique mix by itself but coupled with the author’s skill and experience it really puts this series high on the watchlist. I could be biased as darker humor is my wheelhouse, but I really enjoy this read. This book really kicks everything off, really opening to a world that is interesting and well worth the read.
Toe to Toe (Nonie Broussard Ghost Tracker Series Book 1) by Deborah Leblanc is one of the funniest and spookiest books around. Using her experience as a licensed death scene investigator and a paranormal investigator, the author has conjured up a laugh out loud funny story. Mix in a little romance, a funeral home, and ghosts that hang around Nonie Broussard the main character, and you have the makings for a unique and highly entertaining story. Nonie loses her job, returns to work in the family business, a funeral home, and from there the story takes off with murder, mayhem and more. With the promise of making some extra cash when a cable news outlet wants to send a paranormal team to investigate haunted locations in Louisiana, Nonie of course gets involved. A rambunctious cast of characters, improbable situations and a fast moving plot make this a must read for light entertainment. Highly recommend.
I really really enjoyed Toe to Toe. The characters were so fun and the style of the book so easy and exciting to read. Great for a day or two by the pool when you want to relax with a light read but also carrying some dark humour, mystery and romance. This is going to be a fab series, can’t wait for more.
Toe to Toe (Nonie Broussard Ghost Tracker) by Deborah Leblanc
I received a copy of the book and I am voluntarily leaving a review.
Nonie Broussard lives in Clay Point, LA and now works begrudgingly at her parents family-run funeral home. She dislikes it, frequently promising herself that it is only temporary but having a limited resume and there being a serious shortage of employment prospects, what other choice does she have, money is money.
When she isn’t at work, she relaxes with her best friend, Buggy Mouton, or her “ boyfriend “ Guy Skinard. Sounds like a life like any other right? The only difference being that Guy is now dead…
Nonie has had the ability to see and hear dead people for as long as she can remember, and at almost 30 years old she confided in Buggy, after trying to reveal her secret to her parents and being treated as if she had lost her marbles!
Her relationship with Guy is a diffcult one to say the least. He was her high school sweetheart, but a freak and fatal boat accident 9 years previously left him attached to Nonie as her protector, in his mind he is very much still her boyfriend.
When Buggy drops a bombshell having arranged a ghost-hunting gig for a TV producer, Nonie is far from impressed…more ghosts isn’t exactly what she needs, but the proposition of easy cash is tempting. Just how hard can it be?
Toe to Toe is entertaining paranormal fiction set in the midst of Cajun culture. Although there is the exploration of the paranormal included, it is written in a light-hearted manner with two plots in one. There is the romantic aspect concerning Nonie’s love prospects and private life in contrast to the paranormal element. The author’s writing style is easy to follow, the story evolves smoothly and is active from the beginning encouraging the reader to ask questions and wanting to dicover more. You can’t help feeling divided regarding the situation Nonie and Guy find themselves in, one minute head-over-heels in love and the next having it all ripped away, torn between the comfort of at least being able to see each other regularly but tormented by the loss of physical touch. Nonie however has her life still to lead.
I’m excited to find out more about Nonie’s life, love choices plus more investigative excitement- the possibilities are endless!
I knew from the opening line, that if nothing else, this was going to be an interesting read. By the end of the first chapter, I knew I was hooked. After that I was down a rabbit hole of ghosts, small town scandals, and a quirky group of ghost hunters. LeBlanc’s style had an easy flow to it, and I felt like I was watching a movie unfold before me. If you enjoy Odd Thomas or The Ghost Whisperer, you are going to fall in love with this book. I hope to see more of Noni and crew in future books!
This is one of the funniest books I have read in a long time. It was so much fun listening to Phil occasions get in and try to get out of trouble. No need Broussard sees ghost and when her best friend convinces her to start filming a cable show she starts to see them everywhere and she doesn’t like it at all! Not to mention the goings-on at the funeral home or family owns the broussards is enough to give you stitches. This book is so hilarious so well done and I can’t wait to read the next one I highly recommend this. If you like paranormal and goes on in and just general all to get the craziness you’ll love this book! I know I did
Nonie Broussard has started working at her family’s funeral home in Clay Point, L.A. solely because she urgently needs a source of income. Meanwhile, a certain television station is in the area looking for an exploration team to visit some houses that have a reputation for being haunted, to record the pilot of their new television program, so Buggy, Nonie’s friend, has seen a great opportunity in it for both of them to earn some extra income. Along with a team of strangers, Nonie must explore those places while she clarifies the direction that her heart will take, torn between the iron love of her ghost boyfriend and the new romances that knock on the door of her heart.
This book of supernatural romance and adventure, whose approach reminds me of the television series Ghost Whisperer, is part of the Nonie Broussard Ghost Tracker Series, by the same author. The plot centers on Nonie, a girl who lives with the spirit of her dead boyfriend while she tries to elucidate the path that her life will take now that he (or rather, his body) is no longer next to her. The plot is light and mixes several genres: supernatural mystery, crime and romance. Throughout the book a couple of mysteries are solved, although the book has left me with that peculiar sense of incompleteness typical of graphic novels published in installments and serial television programs.
Recommended for lovers of that area that mixes spooky supernatural mystery with romance, and of episodic stories.
Toe to Toe has a fantastic opening and I knew from the start this book was going to be ideal for me. There’s plenty of tongue in cheek humour verging on the dark side which is just my cup of tea. The plot is unique and engaging and it really is just a brilliant read. I loved the characters that seem so real and the paranormal tv theme that’s just so original. I can guarantee you won’t be disappointed with this book.
Spooky and comical, I absolutely loved Toe to Toe! The plot was so unique, I’m sure I’ve never read anything like this before. A genius mix of humour and paranormal that’s guaranteed to entertain. The characters really made the story feel real, I thought they were very well developed. All round a fun, amusing book to read – especially with Halloween around the corner.
This is a brilliant, spooky and funny book. I loved the characters and thought they were really fun and felt very realistic. The plot is a great idea. This is not something I would usually pick up with it having a paranormal element but I’m so glad I did. A nice blend of paranormal, mystery and romance. I thoroughly enjoyed the story and highly recommend.
I found this book to be very entertaining. I liked the dark but comical storyline and this new humorous style, while different, made the book just as good as some of the others I’ve read by Deborah LeBlanc. The characters were very relatable and fun and really made the story. Such an easy read and great for a relaxing weekend absorbed in a spooky, amusing book. I highly recommended this book and will be looking out for the rest of the series.
Toe to Toe by Deborah LeBlanc is the funniest horror novel you will read. Nonie Broussard lives deep in Cajun country were mysterious events are common place. Her ability to see and speak to the dead is unique even for this place. She tries hiding her medium gift when her friend, Buggy, recruits her to work as a team of novice ghost hunters. She is reluctant, afraid her secret will get out. As much as she enjoys the handsome team leader, she fears discovery. Even worse is how ghosts come to her to solve their problems.
I thoroughly enjoyed Toe to Toe. Deborah LeBlanc is known for her skill and talent in horror novels, but this one has just the right twist to keep it light and humorous. The pace builds as Nonie is bombarded with drama from work, guys, and ghost hunting. I would love to see more books featuring Nonie the ghost tracker.
Toe to Toe is a fun, adventurous beginning to the series. I enjoyed the writing style, which made for a quick and funny read. While the author used humor, it did not take away from the spooky feel and thorough development of characters and plot.
This book does a great job of setting us up for the second book in the series. If you’re looking for a book to get lost in, Toe to Toe has the perfect mix of humor, mystery, and romance to keep you entertained!
Well this was unexpected, I started this one totally blind; and I’m happy to step once in a while out of my comfort zone, this book is dark, but in a funny way if there’s one, if not, well Deborah Leblanc has created one. This book is bringing mystery, haunting characters – like literally- twisted and funny scenes in one great plot.
Nonie Broussard is able to see the dead, and now she finds herself working in her family business…a funeral home; yeah! You got that right, the place anyone with that gift is not so glad to be. So, with a new job, with new companions LOL, she has an adventure ahead!
The author has a great ability to create such a genuine character in such strange situations and bring humor and death in one great book.
Nonie Broussard is a medium – not always a willing one – and when an unfortunate set of circumstances sees her working in a funeral home, she doesn’t have much of a choice in using her ‘gift’. The ghosts come at her thick and fast, and Nonie finds herself put right in the centre of a paranormal investigation that she can’t walk away from.
Toe to Toe by Deborah LeBlanc is funny, exciting, and a little bit kooky! With Nonie, LeBlanc has created a great protagonist and I can’t wait to read more of her adventures in the future. If you’re looking for a light summer read, then Toe to Toe should definitely go on your reading list.
This was a really good book. I love to watch tv shows like the one in the book so I was sure I would like this and I did. The was a really good mix of characters; young, funny, older, unhappy, grumpy etc. I liked the element of self discovery and the romance and generally enjoyed the whole thing. Very entertaining.
This is definitely my kind of book. A light read but dark at the same time. A great story with really funny dark humour. It was so easy to read and I really really loved it. The characters were great and the storyline was so unique and modern. I see this is the first of a series and although I’ve never followed a book series before I’m looking forward to the next one.
I really enjoyed this, and it seems like this is a new style for the author from looking at her other books. In my opinion she’s written a fantastic book and it certainly suits her. I loved the spooky feel of the story and the humour interjected made it fun and so easy to read. In fact reading the whole thing in one weekend may be a record for me I loved it that much. I really hope to see more like this from Deborah Leblanc, I would certainly be buying it.
Louisiana author Deborah LeBlanc is not only an award-winning author: she is also a licensed death scene investigator and a paranormal investigator (also known as ghost hunter and occult investigator). In addition to her honors and positions of stature with the Horror Writers Association and the Mystery Writers of America, she is the founder of Literacy Inc, a non-profit organization to fight illiteracy and advocate motivation in America’s teenagers.
With this novel Deborah LeBlanc opens a new series that has enormous promise – the Nonie Broussard Ghost Tracker Series. Though all of her novels are of the dark occult range, this series introduces a lead character in Nonie Broussard who is a medium, and for those unfamiliar with the term, a medium is one who communicates between the natural world and the spiritual world. This may be a tough assignment for other writers, but for Deborah, she inhabits the role, even is to serve as the ‘clairsendium’ for an upcoming paranormal investigation television series!
Creating such a character requires skill, and in the very opening the book Deborah demonstrates her talent: ‘Panting, Nonie Broussard struggled to pull off Dover Fontenot’s underwear. The man weighed well over three hundred and fifty pounds and carried most of that lard in his barrel-chest, gut and butt. Fortunately, Nonie’s father had been gracious enough to cover Dover’s face with a sheet of black plastic so she didn’t have to look at it. In life, Dover had been no Brad Pitt. He’d looked more like a pit bull. A sixty-three-year-old, cigar smoking, bourbon-drinking foul-mouth pit bull and the mayor of Clay Point. LA…’
Using her fine-tuned skill at blending strange creatures and dark situations with fine wry humor, this story unfolds as follows: ‘Nonie Broussard is a medium—a closet medium. After losing her job at a local T-shirt factory, Nonie has to find a way to make ends meet. Not easy in a small town like Clay Point, LA. Two opportunities come her way, however, neither of them easy for someone with her abilities. Throw that medium into a funeral home and paranormal investigations with a gaggle of misfits, all because she has to pay the rent, and watch the fireworks fly!’
This is one fine novel and a strong beginning of a most promising series. Hats off to a Pro!