Better Homes and Hauntings

By: Molly Harper

Narrated by: Amanda Ronconi

Length: 8 hrs and 52 mins

Publisher's summary

Author of the beloved Half-Moon Hollow series of vampire romances (Nice Girls Don’t Have Fangs), Molly Harper has created a standalone paranormal romance in which a dilapidated haunted house could bring star-crossed lovers together - if it doesn’t kill them first!

When Nina Linden is hired to landscape a private island off the New England coast, she sees it as her chance to rebuild her failing business after being cheated by her unscrupulous ex. She never expects that her new client, software mogul Deacon Whitney, would see more in her than just a talented gardener. Deacon has paid top dollar to the crews he’s hired to renovate the desolate Whitney estate - he had to, because the bumps, thumps, and unexplained sightings of ghostly figures in 19th-century dress are driving workers away faster than he can say “Boo.”

But Nina shows no signs of being scared away, even as she experiences some unnerving apparitions herself. And as the two of them work closely together to restore the mansion’s faded glory, Deacon realizes that he’s found someone who doesn’t seem to like his fortune more than himself - while Nina may have finally found the one man she can trust with her bruised and battered heart.

But something on the island doesn’t believe in true love…and if Nina and Deacon can’t figure out how to put these angry spirits to rest, their own love doesn’t stand a ghost of a chance.

©2014 Molly Harper White (P)2014 Audible Inc.

Love this story and love Molly Harper's writing.

I do enjoy Molly Harper's books and Amanda Ronconi's narration. Keep up the good work.

Interesting enough

Overall I liked the book. I think the one thing I liked most was that the author took time in developing more than just the main two characters. I ended up liking and caring for all 5 of the focused characters.

A Haunted mansion filled with ghosts and friends

Being a fan of Molly's Jane Jameson and Naked Werewolf series, my wife and I were pretty excited with the prospects of a stand-alone novel. It wasn't a great experience.

There's some great positives in the book. The protagonists are one of them. From Nina the Landscape architect, Deacon the rich homeowner, to Cindy the cleaner etc. They are pretty fun and likeable characters. They all get some different points of view for us to follow, while Nina and Deacon are the biggest focus, the rest do get their own time to shine.

The setting is pretty cool. It's a private island with a mansion known as the Crane's Nest. Deacon's great great grandparents built the home, and his great great grandmother was killed there. There's a bit of a mystery around the murder, and there are some general assumptions made about who did it. There are some great descriptions of both the mansion and the hauntings.

The biggest issue we found was with the hauntings themselves. They felt out of place, and didn't work. The initial visions and events are ok and entertaining, the later events. It takes the fun out of the book. Sure it's kind of creepy, but it breaks the immersion. The other villians dont' work either. Rick seems like an afterthought. He's there at first, then he disappears for most of the book. He doesn't pose a real threat with anyone until the end, which makes sense, but he still feels like an afterthought.

Amanda Ronconi provides her usual high level narration and brings the characters to life.

Overall this is an OK book, but it just doesn't have the same feel as the Jane Jameson and Naked Werewolf books. I hesitate to highly recommend it, but Harper fans will enjoy. It's got some snark, it's still sweet, but the haunting aspect is the biggest weakness in the story and didn't work for us.

Ghost story Mystery not very haunting

I've listened to this book now twice, the first time, I liked it more than the second time.
Ghost stories, can be quirky, haunting, scary, this one, just lacked a foundation, picking something it wanted to be, it seemed a tad confused. Unlike Molly Harper's other books about both vampires and werewolves, this book, lacked the enduring realistic characters. Even the setting seemed drab and unfocused. Amanda Ronconi is once again an amazing reader that gives each character their 'own voice'

Typical yet different story from Molly Harper

I really enjoyed the change from your typical wolves and/or vampires story line in other novels by Molly Harper, to a great ghost story. Be warned, you might prefer to listen to some parts of this story during the daytime or with the lights on!

Thoroughly entertaining

This unconventional love story is thoroughly entertaining. There's suspense and humor. A book you'll not want to stop listening to.

Don't Go into That Spooky Island Mansion

A limited access island, a group of strangers, a haunted mansion, assorted ghosts, and references to the Scooby Gang, with a side order of romance....cool...........

A very enjoyable stand alone book by the ever entertaining Molly Harper, narrated by the awesome Amanda Ronconi. The combo of Harper & Ronconi bring to life quirky but lovable characters, gives you several laugh out loud moments (generally at the most inconvenient times like when you are standing in line at the grocery store, entering a church, or in the store bathroom), and fabulous story telling makes all her/their books a joy to read or listen to.

Fun Ghost Story

Very lighthearted and enjoyable story. Easy to listen too. Characters are well developed and personable.

A fun romcom with a dash or mystery!

A fun romcom with a dash of mystery. What do 5 co-workers do when a ghost disturbs their sleep? Vodka pursuit. ... like trivial pursuit but with vodka.... Let the shannagins begin.

slow start but made up for it over time

great story. started off slow and I almost stopped listening. halfway through it picked up and was funny and suspenseful just like always.