Ghosts Gone Wild by Danielle Garrett Narrator: Amanda Ronconi
Length: 5 hours 58 minutes
Series: Beechwood Harbor Ghost Mystery, #2
Published by Tantor Audio on September 30, 2017
Genres: Paranormal, Cozy Mystery
Format: Audiobook
Source: Publisher
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Rating:
I received this book for free from Publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
There’s never a good time for a ghost crisis.
However, it's particularly inconvenient while I'm trying to tackle my first wedding season. Between twelve hour days, an assistant with a case of butter fingers (not the chocolate kind), and the flood of tourists in town, I’m struggling to keep a grip on my sanity.
All I want is three months of peace from the spirit world.
But when local ghosts start going missing, I have to do something.
After all, it’s not like they go to the Hamptons.
Missing ghosts, a posthumously alimony-hungry divorcee, and a raging bridezilla. Yup, my bingo card is officially full. Can I get a prize and go home now?
Ghosts Gone Wild is the second book in the Beechwood Harbor Ghost Mystery series. Spooky paranormal cozies with a twist! Perfect for fans of Kristen Painter and Angie Fox. Come explore the harbor with Scarlet Sanderson, Beechwood's own ghost whisperer!
The title is definitely apropos in this one. Two she-devil ghosts tug back and forth at Scarlett to solve their otherworldly problems, Gwen starts seeing another ghost leaving poor Hayward devastated, and now ghosts are going missing. Meanwhile, Scarlett gets a visit from Lucas on his vacation and she starts to panic because she’s out of her depth. And, her flower shop assistant is a constant calamity. Has the world gone mad, she wonders?
Ghosts Gone Wild is the second of the Beechwood Harbor Ghost mysteries. The first book set up the world and connected things to the earlier series while establishing this ghost-filled side world of mysteries with Scarlett in the lead. Scarlett has two live in ghosts- her former cat, Flapjack, now gifted with speech that is sarcasm 24/7 and does the job of both stirring things up and grounding them when necessary. There is Hayward, a Victorian era ghost, with Old-World gentleman charm who has a crush on Gwen and is so devastatingly sweet and reticent that he can’t bring himself to approach her. Gwen, a once hippie, ghosts around the town keeping up with the local gossip, human and ghostly, and is friends with Scarlett and the others at the flower shop.
I thought it was interesting to see the relationship dynamics play a larger role in this one including the glaring issue that Scarlett is more in tune to the ghost world than her own human world. She is terrified that Lucas will pull back so she nearly self-sabotages her own relationship to save him the trouble. I foresee this staying an ongoing problem because Scarlett looks for reasons to back away when none exist. I hope she can get over it soon.
The mystery in this one was actually more than one with bridezilla Kimberly’s murder, devil divorcee wife’s blackmail haunting of her ex, and then Gwen bringing up that ghosts are disappearing.
I confess that I felt Scar was somewhat all over the place in this one. She’s back and forth with Lucas who has been honest and open all along. She’s helpful to the most obnoxious ghosts and ignores her old ghost friend’s genuine concern. I liked the story well enough, but I did give Scarlett a few side-eyes. We’ll see what happens in the next book.
Amanda Ronconi was a great narrator as usual. I love the way she voices each ghost and person in the cast both male and female. She has a knack for the comedy elements and the blend of paranormal and mystery.
This was light and fun with a few nice little series developments and some excitement in the big confrontation scene. The mystery of who killed Kimberly was not that tough, but the disappearing ghosts was one that came out of left field. I enjoyed both.
I can recommend this series to those who enjoy paranormal cozy mysteries. I’m doing fine jumping in with this spin off, but I can see how starting with the earlier Beechwood Harbor Magic series would probably be even better.
My thanks to Tantor Audio for the opportunity to listen to this book in exchange for an honest review.
About Sophia Rose
Sophia is a quiet though curious gal who dabbles in cooking, book reviewing, and gardening. Encouraged and supported by an incredible man and loving family. A Northern Californian transplant to the Great Lakes Region of the US. Lover of Jane Austen, Baseball, Cats, Scooby Doo, and Chocolate.
I love how you said you gave her side-eyes, I think I do that a lot with books like these LOL! Great review!
Haha, yeah, I wanted to shake her especially when she ghosted him at the restaurant w/o waiting to see what he had to say.
Thanks!
I so need to try these :=D
I think you’d have a good time with both series together. Flapjack the cat ghost is not to be missed. 🙂
The cover is so darn cute. I will have to consider this series. I do love a good paranormal cozy series.
Yes! You’d probably want to start with the Beechwood Harbor Magic series first if you can. Very cute!
That cover is adorable. Thanks for the head’s up that the series would probably be best if started from the beginning. I’ll keep that in mind. Great review!
The covers for this series and the previous one are all so smile-inducing. 🙂 They rep the stories well.
I love the title! And the mystery sounds pretty fun too!
These are light and fun. I’m having a good time with them.
It sounds like the ghosts were a fun aspect in this story. Seems that this was an easy read to figure out. Glad you enjoyed it.
The ghosts are my favorite. Flapjack is so pragmatic and sarcastic while Hayward is a sweetie. The screechy new ghosts that were in this one were great for a laugh or two. Fun series.
This one looks pretty cute. For some reason it’s reminding me of a Janet Evanovich series she did with Charlotte Hughes - I think it was the Full series?
I’ve not read that one so can’t help you out. This was a fun one, though. 🙂
Terrific review! I enjoy books with paranormal characters and also like cozies. I need to give this a try and will remember to start at the beginning. I don’t always do that myself, but I should try more. 😊
Cool! Glad to point you to one you might like, Jennifer!
I do like the sound of this story and really enjoy Amanda Ronconi’s narration so I have my eye on this one. It sounds like it was a good listen even if one of the characters was all over the place.
I didn’t see that issue in the first one so I’m hoping it was just this book. I love the ghost characters and the mysteries so I’ll definitely be pressing forward.
I need to give this a try! In fact, there are quite a few of this type of series I’m seeing around and liking the look of!
This is the spinoff series and I’ve heard good things about the original one, too. Yep, you have fun times ahead with these. 🙂
I started listening to the first series set in Beechwood Harbor and once I finish it I plan to continue to this one. It sounds so fun to have it set in the same town, but with a different main character. And from the reviews I read so far it sounds like a good one. And cats that get speech can be so fun in books. Sounds neat how the relationship dynamics play a bigger role in this one. The mysteries in this one sound fun. I already listened to one book by this narrator and I agree with you that she has a nice style.
I need to go back to read/listen to the early books. I’ve met the characters, but don’t feel that I’m missing any story so I think I’ll have no trouble going back for the earlier ones.
Oh yes, this cat ghost is hilarious. Even his name, Flapjack, makes me laugh.