Member Reviews

Maureen has just lost her job when she receives notice she just inherited an inn in Haven, Florida from a person she has never heard of. There's nothing keeping her here so she packs up her few belongings and her dog, Finn, and heads to her new home in Florida. Once there, she learns the Inn is supposedly haunted. Since she has never believed in ghosts, she isn't worried...until she meets one who has taken up residence in her apartment. And, worse, the rumours of ghosts have made the Inn a popular destination for ghost hunters, a fact the staff and townsfolk resent since they don't want the ghosts bothered by all the unwanted attention. But when one hunter is murdered on the Inn's front porch and she has the misfortune of discovering the body, Maureen becomes the prime suspect, forcing her to try to find the real culprit before she is arrested.

Be My Ghost is the first book in the Haunted Haven Mystery Series by author Carol J. Perry and it is a fun fast cozy mystery. There's plenty of clues, suspects, friendly ghosts, and, of course, a budding romance with the handsome bartender to keep readers entertained. There's also plenty of characters to like and dislike but perhaps the most likeable are the four legged ones especially Finn, the golden retriever. I recommend it for anyone who enjoys a cozy mystery with a touch of the paranormal.

<i>Thanks to Netgalley and Kensington Books for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review</i>

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An inn, ghosts and the beach! What's not to love? Maureen lost her job and received a letter that she inherited an inn. Is she ready for all the messy mystery that surrounds the inn and it's residents? This was a cozy mystery and so much fun to read. If you're looking for a cute quick read that includes a fun loving pup, then this is for you! It out me in the mood for Halloween and a quaint town.

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Maureen and Finn move to Florida after someone she doesn’t know left her an old inn in Haven FL. Her first impression is of a place that needs updating and more customers to keep it going. Lots of famous people have visited in the past and according to the resident ghost still stop by from time to time. After a man is found dead Maureen begins looking to find the killer. First in a new paranormal cozy series.
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I discovered Carol Perry’s Witch City series last year and really enjoyed her style of writing. That style is carried over into this new series featuring a former department store buyer who suddenly finds herself the owner of a vintage inn located in Haven, Florida.

Witch City focuses on, you guessed it, witches. This new series is all about ghosts. The inn our heroine Maureen inherits is haunted you see, as is the entire town of Haven. Perry spins an engaging yarn involving ghost hunters, a pissed off inn manager, a mysterious bequest to our intrepid heroine, and at least one fun ghost haunting Maureen’s penthouse suite.

While this isn’t anything new in terms of cozy mysteries, Perry successfully begins building the foundation of what I hope will become a lengthy series featuring Maureen Doherty, her golden retriever Finn, and a host of quirky, colorful characters inhabiting the picturesque town of Haven, Florida. Some cozies are super ridiculous with just about every genre cliche thrown in for good measure; others take themselves too seriously, resulting in a boring story. Be My Ghost is just right - great characters, great writing, great setting. A winner all the way.

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What a fun novel! I absolutely loved Maureen and the little town of Haven. I thought this was a fantastic beginning of a series. There is enough loose ends that I am already looking forward to the second book in the series.

I was a bit surprised at how quickly it got wrapped up, and for once was also right in who the murderer was. I was suspicious of the person from the get go so it was both exciting to be right but was expecting more of a twist.

If you love a good cozy mystery, I highly recommend this one, especially with the dash of paranormal that is thrown in.

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Excellent start for a new paranormal series.
Carol J Perry delivers an entertaining and engrossing story featuring an interesting MC and setting.
The paranormal side is interesting, the mystery solid and kept me guessing.
I can't wait to read other stories in this series.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine

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I LOVED this book and I loved even more that it's the beginning of a new series. Carol J Perry writes an a fun and engaging story....every time. Well worth picking up. Thank you Netgalley for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed are mine and mine alone.

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/3973515684

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I received this book for free for an honest review from netgalley #netgalley

It started out great however... I found it hard to get into the main character. I really wanted to love this book.

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Wow! I really enjoyed this cozy mystery! It totally exceeded my expectations and I highly recommend it to fellow cozy lovers! The haunted hotel and paranormal vibes were right up my alley. Florida is my hometown so those references got me in the feels too! It was a great read and I look forward to more from this author.

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This was an excellent cozy mystery that blended a little Halloween season cheer with launching the series.. I felt like I really got to know the main character and the cast of supporting characters at the hotel, both the living and the not so living. Also adored Finn, the dog. There were some spooky aspects but they were not too spooky, which I appreciated. Definitely looking forward to the rest in this series!

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Be my Ghost by Carol J Perry is a fun edition to ghostly cozies. Maureen and her dog Finn and the setting of a haunted inn make for a comforting story.

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First in a new series by Carol J.Perry. Be My Ghost

Maureen Doherty is a retail buyer that is losing her job because it’s going out of business. She receives a mysterious inheritance of an inn by a woman she doesn’t know to a place she went to as a child. So she and Finn her golden lab, are leaving Boston for Haven Florida.
Upon arrival she meets the guests that live there year round that help with chores around the house for their rent. She meets Elizabeth who has been running the place sine the last owner died and she isn’t thrilled to see Maureen.
Maureen moves into the penthouse and meets her first ghost who she can see and talk to.
Maureen discovers the ghost hunter dead on the front porch, when he slides out of his chair. Of course she is a suspect, so she investigates to clear her name. But all the clues are pointing at her. With a little ghostly and human help will she find the killer before they find her?

I love Carol J. Perry and and this new book in the serie was a delight to read. I can’t wait for the next book to see what happens!!

I received this temporary e-book from Kensington Publishing via NetGalley for my honest opinion. Thank you.

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Be My Ghost is set in Haven, Florida and features Maureen Doherty, who has unexpectedly a) laid off from her job as a sportswear buyer for a department store and b) inherited an old Inn from a woman that she's never met. Packing up her golden retriever Finn, who has failed at being a guide dog, Maureen leaves Boston and heads for her new home.

Maureen is surprised to learn that the Inn comes with a collection of year round residents, a miserable manager, two cats and GHOSTS! Her first guests are a group of ghost hunters and when of them winds up dead Maureen must rely on her tenants, a few of the locals and her "housemate" Lorna to find a killer.

A fun debut set at Halloween, a likable cast of characters, a furry collection of pets, and friendly ghosts make for an enjoyable afternoon read. I hope that there are more adventures to come for Maureen and Finn. The only question I still have is who was the lady who left the Inn to Maureen?

I received an advanced copy of Be My Ghost from NetGalley via Kensington Publishing. While not required to write a review I am happy to offer my honest opinion.

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This was a nice cozy ghost story mystery. Maureen inherits an inn in Florida just as she looses her job. She along with her golden retriever Finn( such a good dog name) pack up and move. Did I mention the inn is supposedly haunted too?!
Not long after she arrives, she finds a dead body on the inn’s front porch. The body belongs to a ghost hunter staying at the inn. In between trying to fix up the inn, Maureen also tries to investigate.
The story has some interesting characters and a few ghosts wander in and out. It was a nice mystery and look forward to more in this series.
Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for the early copy

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When the department store that Maureen Doherty works at goes bankrupt, it's a stressful time until she and her failed guide dog Finn (he failed because he was too friendly) find their lives changed forever by an inheritance, ghosts and murder!

I'm a big fan of Carol J. Perry's books and this first book, in her new series, was everything I'd hoped. The mystery was fast-paced and filled with red herrings. A favorite thing about the author's characters is that they are genuine and relatable. Maureen is smart, kind and determined to make a new life for her and Finn. I also enjoyed the witty banter between Lorna and Maureen. Lorna is fun and a fashionista, but that's all I'm saying! I enjoyed the descriptions of balmy Florida, the Inn and beach...I felt as if I was there, searching for clues. The quirky characters who work at the Haven Inn are perfect and the gorgeous felines, Bogey and Bacall, become great friends with Finn.

I'm looking forward to another visit to Haven!

I received an ARC from NetGalley and the opinions expressed in this review are my own.

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I loved this book from page 1 and so cool to land in Haven, Florida. Carol's best ever. A real page-turner. Can't wait for the next one. A great start to a new series. thank you Net Galley for giving me the opportunity to sing the praises of this new book by Carol J. Perry.

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Appealing debut cozy ghost series. Protagonist, Maureen Doherty, is in her mid-thirties when she inherits the historic Haven House Inn in a Florida beach town from a woman she’s never heard of! Maureen just lost her fashion merchandising job so she loads her dog, Finn, in the car and drives from Massachusetts to Florida. Greeted at the Inn by four oddball ‘porch rockers’ and the disagreeable manager, Elizabeth, Maureen gets a taste of what she’s going to have to contend with. She doesn’t believe in ghosts, but once she’s settled in a room she becomes a believer! LOL! Author Perry gives her ghost characters a lot of freedom—they’re not restricted to the Inn and can travel, and some of the ghosts that visit the Inn are well-known names I recognized which I thought was cool!

The main murder mystery centers around the death of a ghost hunter and his success in capturing images that will prove his apparition investigations are true. A pool of suspects is on display early in the story that provide interesting decoys around the actual culprits. Maureen’s dog and the two cats, Bogie and Bacall that she inherits with the Inn enhance the cozy atmosphere of the old Florida charm in the Inn and the pet-friendly town. A great cast of supporting characters are formed in this first story who will support and move forward with Maureen’s vision for Haunted Haven. Various ghosts have their own haunting mysteries and humor livens up the plot! Recipes included.

I honestly reviewed a digital arc provided by NetGalley and Kensington Publishing. All opinions are my own. Thank you.

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Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington Publishers for the opportunity to read this book and review it. Also thank you to Carol J. Perry for sharing her ideas and talents with us.
Ghosts and dogs...how could this go wrong?. Those are two of my favorite things. That being said, I enjoyed this book way more than I thought I would. Maureen Dougherty finds out, right after losing her job, that she has been left Haven House Inn by a woman that she, nor her parents, have ever heard of. Despite the oddness of the situation, Maureen packs up her entire life and her dog, Finn, and moves from Minnesota to Florida. What she finds is an inn that is in a dire financial situation...and that is haunted. What follows is a delightful, if half baked, murder mystery.
There were so many great things about this book. I loved the diverse cast of characters. Finn, the golden retriever, was my favorite, although Lorna, the ghost movie star, was a close second. A good dog always adds such warmth and depth to a story. Finn’s job was to keep things light. Lorna, the lingering ghost of a B movie actress, gives the lead character a friend and forces her to accept that things aren’t always what they seem. There are also Molly, Gert, Sam, and George. These characters live at the inn in exchange for various services. Then, there’s Elizabeth. She’s the manager and is incredibly rude and bitter. All members of the hotel staff are annoyed by the presence of a ghost hunter. This is a fun story with a variety of characters.
As many things as this book had going for it, there were also a few drawbacks. Firstly, we never find out why Maureen inherits the inn from a complete stranger. The murder mystery part of the story feels predictable and half-baked. The method and motives are tired. While this didn’t take away much of the pleasant story, it was a bit irritating.
Overall, this book was a reasonably fun way to spend an evening.

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A murder mystery with a twist. The ghosts in the story are fun and although not totally believable add to the story.
I liked most of the characters (those I was supposed to!) and the plot. A couple of loose ends are not tied up. I was not keen on the police characters . Loved the descriptions of the place and buildings which brought it alive. Lots about clothes and interior design too, but it read easily and didn't seem too much. The crime was well thought out.
I will look out for more from this author . Thank you to Net Galley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review

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Oh man, this was so good. I'm a sucker for a good and "spooky" paranormal cozy and this fit the bill so well. Plus, a loveable golden retriever!

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