How to Sell a Haunted House

 

How to Sell a Haunted House by Grady Hendrix  419 pages

When Louise finds out her parents have died, she dreads going home. She doesn’t want to leave her daughter with her ex and fly to Charleston. She doesn’t want to deal with her family home, stuffed to the rafters with the remnants of her father’s academic career and her mother’s lifelong obsession with puppets and dolls. She doesn’t want to learn how to live without the two people who knew and loved her best in the world.

Most of all, she doesn’t want to deal with her brother, Mark, who never left their hometown, gets fired from one job after another, and resents her success. Unfortunately, she’ll need his help to get the house ready for sale because it’ll take more than some new paint on the walls and clearing out a lifetime of memories to get this place on the market.

But some houses don’t want to be sold, and their home has other plans for both of them.

This book went into a depth I wasn't expecting. I skimmed a little in the middle (back story). I would recommend it unless you have a fear of puppets!! I think it would make a good movie.

The Roommate by Rosie Danan

 The Roommate by Rosie Danan -- 325 pages

House Rules:
Do your own dishes.
Knock before entering the bathroom.
Never look up your roommate online.

The Wheatons are infamous among the east coast elite for their lack of impulse control, except for their daughter Clara. She’s the consummate socialite: over-achieving, well-mannered, predictable. But every Wheaton has their weakness. When Clara’s childhood crush invites her to move cross-country, the offer is too much to resist. Unfortunately, it’s also too good to be true.

After a bait-and-switch, Clara finds herself sharing a lease with a charming stranger. Josh might be a bit too perceptive—not to mention handsome—for comfort, but there’s a good chance he and Clara could have survived sharing a summer sublet if she hadn’t looked him up on the Internet...

Once she learns how Josh has made a name for himself, Clara realizes living with him might make her the Wheaton’s most scandalous story yet. His professional prowess inspires her to take tackling the stigma against female desire into her own hands. They may not agree on much, but Josh and Clara both believe women deserve better. What they decide to do about it will change both of their lives, and if they’re lucky, they’ll help everyone else get lucky too.

Just One Year by Penelope Ward

Just One Year by Penelope Ward -- 311 pages

The beginning of my sophomore year in college was off to a rough start. On the first day of orientation, I had an altercation with an infuriating British dude in a campus bathroom. (The ladies’ room was out of order. So, I used the men’s room. Don’t judge.) I got home later that night and realized that the foreign student we were expecting to rent a room in my parents’ house was allergic to our cat. So, the spare room went to someone else: Caleb—the British guy from the men’s room. And so it began…my love-hate story with Caleb Yates. Or was it hate-love in that order?

The guy knew how to push every one of my buttons. Sometimes I’d email him to express my aggravation and disdain. He’d actually rewrite my own words and send them back to me. That was the type of infuriating person Caleb was. So frustrating. And…Sometimes incredibly funny and endearingly sweet. And hot. He eventually grew on me, and Caleb soon became one of my best friends that year. Too bad he was headed back to England soon, so nothing could happen between us—for so many reasons. I definitely couldn't fall in love with him, especially since all we had was just one year.

Black Tangled Heart by Samantha Young

Black Tangled Heart by Samantha Young -- 374 pages

To my siblings, Jane was a friend. A pseudo-sister, the girl we grew up with. To me? She was everything. Our passion consumed us. When our world fell apart, I thought our love would be the thing that held us together. She was the love of my life. But she abandoned me when I needed her most. And I'll never forgive her.

For years I've been planning my revenge against the people who took everything from me. Jane won't be an exception. I'm coming for her. She knows it. She says she wants to help me serve my version of justice on the people who hurt me. I'll let her. She probably thinks it will save her from me. It won't. 

The MacKade Brothers: Devin & Shawn by Nora Roberts

The Heart of Devin MacKade by Nora Roberts - 217 pages
The Fall of Shawn MacKade by Nora Roberts - 231 pages

These are the last two books in the MacKade Brothers series by Nora Roberts.  They are older books and you can tell.  They could use a little updating.  Still, they were interesting books to read.

Larceny and Lace: A Vintage Magic Mystery by Annette Blair

Larceny and Lace by Annette Blair - 288 pages
A Vintage Magic Mystery #2

Maddie is running out of time before her shop's grand opening.  Unfortunately, things just keep getting in the way of her preparations.  There's a fire at the business across the street.  Her aunt convinces her to host a Halloween part in the upstairs room of the shop.  And there is another murder to be solved.

This is the second book in Annette Blair's Vintage Magic mystery series.  I really enjoyed the first book.  I thought the second book was a little more rushed in its story.  Still, it was an enjoyable a read and I look forward to reading more of the series.

Past the Size of Dreaming by Nina Kiriki Hoffman

Past the Size of Dreaming by Nina Kiriki Hoffman - 342 pages

House has a dream.  She wants to leave her confines and transform herself.  To do this she draws together her "children" to help with the transformation. Unfortunately, this also draws the attention of an evil wizard from the past who wants her children's powers.

This is the sequel to A Red Heart of Memories.  I really enjoyed this book.  It has a truly unique premise that I have not read before.  I liked the various characters and wish there were books about them.

The Girl Who Knew Too Much by Amanda Quick

The Girl Who Knew Too Much by Amanda Quick - 355 pages

Oliver Ward is intrigued by reporter Irene Glasson who discovered a dead woman floating in his hotel's pool.  Irene is determined to expose new Hollywood star Nick Tremayne as the killer.  Oliver is determined to protect Irene . . .

This is a historical romance by Jayne Ann Krentz under her pen name Amanda Quick.  She usually writes regency romances.  This is her first romance set in the 1930s and I really enjoyed it.  She tends to write more modern thinking female characters than fit into her usual time period.  So it wasn't as jarring in this book as in some of her other historicals.

Spellbound Falls by Janet Chapman

Spellbound Falls by Janet Chapman -343 pages

Olivia has been running her in-law's family camp for years when she is convinced to let Max and his son come a month early.  This is teh first of many changes for Olivia including her in-laws wanting to sell the camp, a new employee who seems to know a little too much about her, and the chance of romance with Max.  But Max has some pretty magical secrets that Olivia needs to know before they can make a future together.

This is the first in the Spellbound Falls series.  It is a great supernatural romance which includes characters from the lost island of Atlantis.

From Kiss to Queen by Janet Chapman

From Kiss to Queen by Janet Chapman - 404 pages

Jane Abbott was shocked when a plane crashed in a lake right in front of her.  After rescuing the pilot, she is abducted by him for her own safety.  Turns out the pilot is the heir to the Shelkovan throne.

This is a contemporary romance by Janet Chapman.  It is the first one of her books that did not have time travel or magic in it.  I think the book seemed dated in its views of women rights without those elements.  Other than that, it was a fun, quick read.

Thankless in Death by J.D. Robb

Thankless in Death by J.D. Robb - 402 pages

Eve Dallas is preparing for the Thanksgiving holiday and the invasion of Roarke's relatives when she catches a new case.  It seems that someone is going on a revenge killing spree against every person who ever nagged, offended or annoyed him -- including his parents, ex-girlfriend, teacher and more.  Will Eve catch him before he celebrates the holiday with even more blood?

This murder mystery was a little different in that you and the main character knew who the murderer was the entire book.  It was more about how Eve would finally catch him.  I listened to this book on audio and I truly enjoyed the narration.  Another great entry in the series.

Illusion Town by Jayne Castle

Illusion Town by Jayne Castle - 340 pages

Hannah and Elias aren't the first ones to wake up in Illusion Town with no recollection of how they got married.  However, in their case, it seems they did it to escape some motorcycle thugs that were trying to capture them.  Unlocking the mystery of their memories will lead them to corporate espionage, hidden identities, and more kidnappings.

This book is in both the Harmony series and the Arcane Society series.  It was a pretty good entry into both series.  It almost seems as if the author is resetting both series once again.

Bay of Sighs by Nora Roberts

Bay of Sighs by Nora Roberts - 338 pages
Book 2 - The Guardians Trilogy

The six have moved on to Island of Capri to search for the second star.  They beat back Nerezza after finding the first star, but now she has found an ally in Malmon who she slowly changes into something more than human.  It is up to Annika to find the lost star and Sawyer to help beat back Nerezza once again.

This is the second book in the romance trilogy.  It focuses on the mermaid Annika and the space/time traveler Sawyer.  While I enjoyed the book, it was not as engrossing as the first in the series.  Still, I look forward to the final book.

Dangerous by Amanda Quick

Dangerous by Amanda Quick - 338 pages

Prudence knows it is dangerous for a lady to visit a gentleman in the middle of the night, but she is desperate to avoid the duel between Sebastian and her brother.  Unfortunately, this is just the first of many dangerous situations she will find herself and Sebastian in.

I really enjoyed this historical romance by Amanda Quick.  It was quick and funny to read.

Wicked Widow by Amanda Quick

Wicked Widow by Amanda Quick - 330 pages

Madeline Deveridge is better known as the Wicked Widow throughout society ever since her husband was killed before being discovered in a burnt house.  It is believed that she is mad.  She is starting to wonder herself when it seems the ghost of her dead husband is haunting her.  She enlists the help of Artemas Hunt to help her discover the truth behind the hauntings.

This is the second book in the Vanzagara series by Amanda Quick.  The books are loosely tied together although the characters don't interact between the books.  I enjoyed the book and look forward to reading the final book in the series.

A Coral Kiss by Jayne Ann Krentz

A Coral Kiss by Jayne Ann Krentz - 377 pages

Amy has been having nightmares ever since the night eight months ago when her friend died cave diving.  Now she has to go back to the island where it happened and she takes her friend Jed with her.  Turns out there was more to the diving accident and it is coming back to haunt her in more ways than just nightmares.

I was disappointed with this book.  The premise was okay, however you could tell the book was written in the 80s with its extremely dated views of men and women and relationships.  I probably wouldn't have finished the book if I had another one at home to read.

Missing in Death by J.D. Robb

Missing in Death by J.D. Robb - 100 pages

Eve Dallas is facing one of her most confusing cases ever.  One woman  has gone missing from the Staten Island Ferry.  Another woman's blood covers the restroom - enough that she must be dead.  But where did they disappear to?  And why didn't anyone else on the ferry see the body or the missing woman?

I listened to this on audio.  I enjoyed the story even though I figured out how the missing body was moved pretty early on.  my main quibble was that though most of the dialects used for the characters was really well done -- there was one dialect that was very unauthentic and grating.

Stars of Fortune by Nora Roberts

Stars of Fortune by Nora Roberts - 336 pages

Sasha has been dreaming for months.  She dreams of people she hasn't met but seems to be extremely close with.  She dreams of a quest for stars fallen from the sky.  She dreams of a man she loves that will draw lightning from the sky.  Then she goes to the island of Corfu and meets these people . . .

This is the first book in Nora Roberts' latest trilogy -- The Guardians Trilogy.  I enjoyed the story.  The audio version I listened to was well done with a great narrator.

Cure for the Common Breakup by Beth Kendrick

Cure for the Common Breakup by Beth Kendrick - 318 pages

Flight attendant Summer is on her way to Paris with her pilot soon-to-be fiancee when the unthinkable happens.  Now she is in the heartbreak capital -- Black Dog Bay, Delaware -- trying to get over a broken heart.  She usually goes for the good-time fun guy, but instead she is drawn to the straitlaced mayor.  She's also falling for his sister, the town, and the old biddy who runs it all.

I really loved this book.  I liked the first book by the author I read, so I quickly put another on hold.  This one was better.  It was fun, quick read with a few deep moments thrown in.  The only thing I had an issue with is that the cover shows ice cream and ice cream is not mentioned even once in the story.  I can't wait to read more by this author.

The Unfortunate Miss Fortunes by Jennifer Crusie

The Unfortunate Miss Fortunes by Jennifer Crusie, Eileen Dreyer and Anne Stuart - 410 pages

Sisters Dee, Lizzie, and Mare have been hiding from their Aunt Xan ever since the night she killed their parents for their powers.  Now Xan has come up with a diabolical plan -- she'll send them their true loves so that they'll want to give up their magic for love.

This was a fun read.  The idea of "true love" being your downfall was an interesting idea.  I also enjoyed all the movie references included in the book.