Book Review: Deader Homes and Gardens by Angie Fox

Deader Homes and Gardens by Angie Fox is the fourth book in the Southern Ghost Hunter Mystery series. The previous books, in order, were Southern Spirits, The Skeleton in the Closet, and The Haunted Heist with novellas between each book. I think the previous stories help to understand Verity's powers and some character dynamics. However, I think newcomers could catch up quickly and enjoy the story.

Southern belle Verity Long is back in business—as a ghost hunter. Now all she has to do is visit the town's creepiest mansion and exorcise a family of vengeful spirits. Piece of cake. After all, ghosts love her and need her...that is until she meets the ghosts of Rock Fall mansion. They'll do anything to keep their murderous secrets hidden within the cliff-side fortress—even if that means getting rid of one meddling ghost hunter. With the entire town skeptical and scrutinizing her every move, Verity struggles to uncover the century-old mystery behind the house. And when she stumbles upon a very fresh, very dead body, she realizes there’s more to it than she ever imagined. With the help of her sexy cop boyfriend, Ellis, and her ghostly gangster sidekick, Frankie, she braves the overgrown gardens, the desolate family cemetery, and the haunted mansion that have been locked away for generations.

Deader Homes and Gardens puts Verity and her ghostly partner Frankie back in the thick of a mystery. This time there are angry ghosts (yes again), Egyptian artifacts, and the possibility of an ancient curse. As Verity tries to solve the murders of an entire family, and avoid being killed by those same ghosts, Frankie is looking for more independence and Verity and Ellis are still trying to find their feet as a happy couple. I like that romance between Verity and Ellis is part of the story, and her character development, it does not overwhelm the story around the mystery or Frankie's own troubles. I liked the complication involved in the mystery- long assumed haunted house steeped in tragedy and odd happenings is the main focus of the story. Verity, Ellis, and Frankie all have their roles to play and I like that they each give each other the trust and space to do what they need to while being true to themselves. I will admit to seeing some of the final climax coming, but the journey was good fun and I enjoyed the read.

Deader Homes and Gardens is another fun, fast read by Fox. While it was not something that will stick with me after moving onto the next read, it certainly made what was hopefully the last snow day of the year more entertaining than expected.

Book Review: Graveyard Shift by Casey Daniels

Graveyard Shift is the tenth book in the Pepper Martin series by Casey Daniels. I have read several of these books, but somehow missed the last three, but feel like I was able to catch up pretty quickly. I do not suggest going into the series cold, but if you missed a few I think you will still be able to fully enjoy the story. 

Pepper Martin, now Community Relations Director of Garden View Cemetery, is contacted by the ghost of Eliot Ness, one of Cleveland’s most famous dearly departed. According to Ness, the ashes scattered at the ceremony twenty years earlier weren’t his. His were stolen prior to the ceremony by a Ness groupie, and he cannot rest until those ashes are found. Luckily, Pepper has an idea where they may be. Knowing she’ll have no peace until she does what the ghost wants, Pepper travels across town to retrieve the ashes. When she gets there, though, she finds more – and less – than she bargained for. There is a dead body in the house and Eliot Ness’s ashes have vanished. Pepper sets out to solve the murder of the man in the house where the ashes were supposed to be. But when a mysterious package arrives for Pepper, containing the spirit of Al Capone, and her boyfriend Quinn begins acting strange, things go from bad to worse.

Graveyard Shift is another installment of the Pepper Martin series, and offers few surprises. I missed a couple books- and so missed some of the relationship development between Pepper and Quinn. However, I think I was able to catch up quickly as far as that goes. I had missed the reintroduction of her parents too, that took me a bit longer to get used to. I liked the larger mystery- getting to delve into a gangster related mystery again was fun, even of we were on the right side of the law this time around. My most common complaint with cozy mysteries is when I expect a big twist long before it is revealed, and that did happen here. However, there was also the introduction of new characters with personalities and implications I was not expecting. I liked the pace of the mystery, and the danger Pepper finds herself in. I think the story offers good entertainment, and I was thinking about what would need to happen next when I had to put the book down to deal with necessities (like feeding my family) but overall it was not as enthralling as I had hoped for.

Graveyard Shift is a quick read that offers followers of the series exactly what they expect, and are looking for. It was a entertaining read, but nothing that stood out to me in a genre that I have been reading more and more. It was fun, and a nice diversion- but did not stay with me after I finished. 

Book Review: The House of Months and Years by Emma Trevayne

The House of Months and Years by Emma Trevayne is a middle grade novel with a Gothic or horror feel. When her distant aunt and uncle die, Amelia Howling is forced to move into their home when they leave her parents in charge of their children. Her parents assure her that it will be like having a grand adventure with three new siblings, but Amelia is not convinced. Luckily, the house is large, filled with nooks and crannies perfect for hiding from her cousins. But even with all the nooks and crannies, the rumbling and crumbling rooms are more sinister than they seem. The house was built years ago by a creature named Horatio, and he’s been waiting for the perfect human inhabitant: Amelia. Horatio has the power to travel through time and memories, and lures Amelia into his world. The memories of children, he told her, were the best, and Amelia agreed—her cousins were full of good memories. Until she noticed that once she and Horatio visited a memory, it was gone forever. And she had been stealing the good memories of her cousins and their parents without even noticing! Horrified and scared, Amelia lets her cousins in on her secret, and asks them for help. Together, they must race through time to recover their minds and break the perfect clockwork of the evil Calendar House.

The House of Months and Years is an eerie adventure with a Gothic atmosphere that comes alive. The writing style is lyrical, with significant metaphors and descriptions that paint the picture of the moods of the characters and the atmosphere of the house. I liked Amelia’s character, who has to make some big changes and knows that what she is feeling towards her now larger family is not fair to them, but cannot change those feelings. The concept of the Boogeyman stealing good memories and the steps Amelia and her cousins had to take together make for a compelling story. I could find no fault with the story, but I never really felt enthralled by the story even though it was exactly what I normally like. Good characters, a creepy atmosphere and big bad, and coming to terms with relationships and life were all there. I think the volume of descriptive text was what

The House of Months and Years had all the things that usually make me love a book, but for some reason I just never got completely drawn in. The story had suspense, character development, and some good creepy moments. I am not sure why the book and I never connected, but I think it will be a favorite for many readers.

Book Review: Melody Bittersweet and the Girls Ghoustbusting Agency by Kitty French

Melody Bittersweet and the Girls Ghoustbusting Agency is the first book in a series by Kitty French. Life’s tough for Melody Bittersweet. She’s single, addicted to sugar and super heroes, her family are officially bonkers, and she sees dead people. Is it any wonder no-one’s swiping right on Tinder? Waking up lonely on her twenty seventh birthday, Melody finally snaps. She can’t carry on basing all of her life decisions on the advice of her magic 8 ball; things have got to change. Fast forward two months, and she’s now the proud proprietor of her very own ghostbusting agency - kind of like in the movies but without the dodgy white jumpsuits. She’s also flirting with her ex Leo Dark, fraternising with her enemy in alleyways, and she’s somehow ended up with a pug called Lestat. Life just went from dull to dynamite and it’s showing no sign of slowing up anytime soon. Melody’s been hired to clear Scarborough House of its incumbent ghosts, there’s the small matter of a murder to solve, and then there’s the two very handsome, totally inappropriate men hoping to distract her from the job.

Melody Bittersweet and the Girls Ghoustbusting Agency was a quick read, which I thoroughly enjoyed. Melody has a wacky family, that wants the best for her but has their own ideas on what that might be.Once she gets her new job up and running. A conflict with the ex boyfriend,  a handsome ghost, and an old murder mystery make Melody's effort to secure her first paying job as a ghost removal service is off to an interesting start. I really enjoyed the wacky secondary characters and the complexity of the mystery and danger that Melody finds herself embroiled in. While it certainly was a cozy mystery, there was enough danger that I was worried a few times for the safety of our main players. I liked that the book offered a clear resolution for the characters, rather than leaving readers hanging until the next book, while leaving enough possibilities for future craziness and chaos that I want to see what happens next. A nearly perfect balance, and one that is hard to write.

Melody Bittersweet and the Girls Ghoustbusting Agency is a fun cozy. mystery with a ghostly bent. I liked the characters and that it was complex while still being lots of fun. I do believe that I wil keeping my eye it for the continuation of this series.

Early Book Review: A Guide to the Other Side (Beyond Baylor) by Robert Imfeld

A Guide to the Other Side is the first book in the Beyond Baylor series by Robert Imfeld. It is currently scheduled for release on October 4 2016. There are a few things you should know about Baylor Bosco: He’s thirteen-years-old, he has a twin sister, and he really does NOT like ghosts…which is problematic because he’s a medium and sees ghosts everywhere. Oh, and his twin sister, Kristina? She’s a ghost too. They’ve been working as a pair for years, expertly relaying messages from ghosts to their still-living loved ones. Baylor’s even managed to come up with an introductory phrase—one that he has to use far too often. But when a strange ghost shows up close to Halloween, a grown man, covered in a sheet, with only his black leather shoes showing from the bottom, Baylor starts to wonder if something else has taken notice of him. And when his sister goes missing, somehow ghost-napped, he’s forced to figure out the truth about the Sheet Man and his sister’s disappearance, all without his usual ghostly ambassador.

A Guide to the Other Side is the story of a very special middle grade boy that has the ability to see and speak to ghosts. While dealing with the inopportune requests from the other side he still needs to get through school and family life without constantly freaking out other people with his abilities. The added complication of a ghostly twin acting as his companion, confidant, and protector make things more complicated. By the time readers join Baylor on his adventure he is well versed on blending in and feels fairly confident in his skills and place as messenger for the dead. However, things are about to get harder and Baylor needs to face his responsibilities and learn more all aspects of the world around him. I like that he has both scary moments, and some very emotional issues to face. While the mystery of the sheet man and the danger Baylor faces is a huge part of the story, I really love that his emotional growth and understanding- including empathy for his family and friends- is just as important to the story. This is not just a paranormal adventure full of mischief and mayhem, it is also a heartfelt coming of age story, I also enjoyed the fact that while the adults in Baylor’s life dogged upset with him for putting himself in harm’s way and breaking rules, they are also aware and intelligent characters rather than the bumbling adults that seem to frequent children’s fiction. 

A Guide to the Other Side is a wonderful middle grade novel with plenty of heart, excitement, and wonder for readers. I am very glad I read it and can think of many I would recommend it to. 

Book Review: Skeleton Island (Araminta Spookie) by Angie Sage

Skeleton Island is the seventh book in the Araminta Spookie series by Angie Sage. I have not read the entire series, I have only read book number one, My Haunted House, and book number six, Gargoyle Hall. I think newcomers could catch up quickly, but knowing some of the quirks of the characters beforehand does make the characters easier to understand. 

Araminta and her best friend Wanda are going on a school trip to Skeleton Island, a place rumored to be the site of a scary ghost shipwreck. And when the pair is stranded overnight, they discover that there might be more truth to the island's name than they would have preferred. Now some terrifying pirate skeletons are on the loose, and they want to take the girls down to Davy Jones's locker with them! Will Araminta, Wanda, and an unexpected friend be able to thwart the ghostly crew, avoid a watery fate, and maybe find some lost treasure to boot?

Skeleton Island is as entertaining and interesting as the previous books that I have read from this series. Araminta and Wanda are two very different girls, and best friends both because of and despite those differences. The have to deal with the normal school age struggles like family, bullies, and school work, however there is always a bit of a twist to Araminta’s view of the world. When they are stranded on Skeleton Island after a school trip the stories they had told about pirates, measure, and ghost seem to come true- but of course there is much more to the story than even they knew. I like that things are never as simple as they seem, and that smarts and compassion are what save the day.

Skeleton Island is a fun story with plenty of adventure and some scary fun. I think that readers that enjoy some spooky fun with their adventure will enjoy the read. 

Book Review: The Haunted Pub by Melanie Tushmore

The Haunted Pub by Melanie Rushmore is a contemporary novel that will appeal to adult and new adult readers. Suffering from depression, and going through a rough time because of it, Fizz's misery culminates in his parents throwing him out, leaving him with two bags, twenty pounds, and nowhere to go. Desperate, he calls his brother, who takes him to The Queen Anne's Revenge, where Fizz winds up living in a room that hasn't had a human inhabitant for more years than anyone can actually count—a room that seems to already have an occupant.

The Haunted Pub is full of characters with flaws. Fizz has struggled with depression, and perhaps more, all his life. His parents have just kicked him out of the house, and the only place for him to stay is with his cousin at a pub that is rumored to be haunted- in the creepiest room to boot. The majority of the pub’s staff lives in the upper floors as well, and one roommate’s band also reverses there. The story is about the haunted inhabitants of the pub, and the connections the living inhabitants make as well. I really felt like I got to know five or six characters really well, and enjoyed reading about their interactions and growth individually. The ghostly aspected built slowly, but that was the perfect pace to make the big conflict at the end so real and high emotion. I became so enthralled with the characters that I really have not stopped thinking about them, and how they might be doing, since I finished the book. Since it is the characters that hook me, I know I will be looking for more from the author.

The Haunted Pub has a little bit of everything. Readers that are offended by LGBTQ relationships or characters will want to steer clear, but readers that do not care how the characters identify as long as they are well written and that their book is compelling will enjoy the read. There is a gothic feel, with plenty of adult angst and mental and emotional struggles to keep readers (and characters) guessing at every turn. I only wish I could read more about how the characters deal with whatever comes next, because life always throws something new at you when you least expect it. 

Book Review: Must Love Ghosts (Banchee Creek #1) by Ani Gonzalez

Must Love Ghosts is the first book in the Banchee Creek contemporary romance series by Ani Gonzalez. Abby Reed believes in folk songs and ghosts, but she doesn’t believe in love. She lost her soulmate when her fiancé died while deployed in Afghanistan, but she still has her music, her crazy spectre-filled town, and her pen-pal-slash-best-friend, Mike Stone. It's a good life and she's happy, but when Mike arrives in Banshee Creek after his last tour of duty in Afghanistan, Abby starts to have doubts, about music, ghosts and, most importantly love. Like a good soldier, Mike Stone follows the rules, and Rule #1 is: Don't Fall For Your Buddy's Fiancée. His relationship with Abby has been strictly platonic despite his long term infatuation. But when he arrives in Banshee Creek, a town where the impossible is an everyday occurrence, he'll find out that sometimes rules are meant to be broken.

Must Love Ghosts is a contemporary romance between two people that have been pen pals for years. Abby was engaged to Mike’s best friend, and that bond keeps them close, and apart at the same time. Mike has been longing for Abby since he first saw her, while she was engaged to his best friend. This makes for a challenge that is hard to overcome- but the lack of try to talk things out causes more issues than anything else. I did not really connect with either character, rather I though the secondary characters and a couple outside influences were much more entertaining than Abby and Mike. There were some hot moments, and more than one funny moment, and the story came together nicely. However, I just never really felt invested in the main players. I am tempted to read follow up books because I found the characters of Banshee Creek to be wacky and interesting, but worry that getting inside their heads will make them less entertaining.

Must Love Ghosts is good weekend read, but nothing that has me eagerly awaiting the next book. I liked the characters, and had a few good laughs, but did not love them or care about them much once I finished the story.  

Book Review: The Haunted Heist (Southern Ghost Hunter Mysteries #3) by Angie Fox

The Haunted Heist is the third book in the Southern Ghost Hunter Mysteries series by Angie Fox. The first two books are Southern Spirits and The Skeleton in the Closet. While it is better to read the books in order, there are enough mentions of important past events that readers can catch up quickly. Although, it is such a fun, quirky series that I do recommend reading them all. 

Just because she can see the dead doesn’t mean Verity Long wants to spend her days hunting ghosts. Instead, she is hoping to land a marketing job at the local bank, until she finds her new boss dead in the vault. Even her ghost friend, Frankie, knows that's no way to start a career. Relieved to let the police take charge, Verity steps aside, bound and determined to keep her ghost sightings to herself. But when she learns the main suspect in the murder is a very crooked, very dead mobster, Verity knows it's up to her to solve the case. She teams up with her ghostly gangster buddy Frankie, as well as the irresistible and charming Ellis, as the three of them search haunted mob hideouts, hidden passageways, and historic cemeteries for the facts behind the heist of the century—and a modern-day motive for murder. Too bad uncovering the truth could very well make Verity the next victim.

The Haunted Heist is a fun romp through a ghost infested mystery. I like that the ghosts are varied and have just as many issues as the living characters. Verity is still struggling, she is trying to make ends meet but a vindictive ex and his mother do not help, nor does the fact that she is dating said ex's brother (kinda) and is afraid to move forward with much. When she steps up with a possible job offer everything is made more complicated with getting caught up in another murder mystery and losing the hope for a paying gig any time soon. Ghostly antics, dealing with the grief, trying to free Franky, and figuring out just what is going on with her love life are all weighing heavily on her mind and driving the story. There is so much for Verity to deal with, but she keeps moving forward with determination, humor, and concern for others. This was a fun read and kept me interested and entertain through the entire read.

The Haunted Heist is a fun cozy mystery that manages to include some significant character growth, humor, and move along some aspects of the larger story that flows through the series. This was a nice, quick read to escape from reality for a weekend.