The Ghost Slept Over

By: Marshall Thornton

Narrated by: Jason Frazier

Length: 6 hrs and 13 mins

Publisher's Summary

When failed actor Cal Parsons travels to rural New York to claim the estate of his famous and estranged ex-partner, he discovers something he wasn't expecting - the ghost of his ex! And, worse, his ex invites Cal to join him for all eternity. Now.

As Cal attempts to rid himself of the ghost by any means, he begins to fall for the attractive attorney representing the estate. Will Cal be able to begin a new relationship, or will he be seduced into the ever after?

Runner Up 2014 Rainbow Awards - Best Romantic Comedy

©2014 Marshall Thornton (P)2018 Marshall Thornton

Good narration. Fun story.

The narration: It’s been a while since I listened to this narrator. What I remembered was that Jason Frazier could produce some very delicious tones in his voice that could make me melt. And at times I think he could sound too sexual at times when it wasn’t quite right. I didn’t experience that in The Ghost Slept Over, though. I remembered how very talented he is at female voices. It is so different from his regular voice that I almost can’t believe it’s the same person. Overall, I was pretty pleased with his narration. I hope to hear some others from him soon.

The story: I have to explain that most of my experience reading Marshall Thorton is with his Nick Nowak Mysteries. I have read nine books in that series and I am used to that narrative. I always worry about checking out other books by an author who I associate with a certain series or set of characters. I shouldn’t have worried about this book though.

At first, the book did seem a bit slow for me. Cal isn’t really a likeable character. He is homeless but still trying to achieve his dream of acting. Usually that is the type of character I’m rooting for. Cal is just a bit full of himself though. Since I listened to the book and didn’t read it, it’s hard to say that that is the way the author wanted him to be or if that is more narrator portrayal. But I didn’t really care for him. As soon as the action started, though, I was jumping aboard this kooky ghost story.

Most ghost stories are a little more on the spooky side and I am a chicken. This story is more of a comedy. It brought back memories of watching Blackbeard’s Ghost when I was younger. Crazy ghost hijinks. I love that kind of story. The ghost of Mac is pretty egocentric and that narration is just right for him. Mac isn’t ready to get rid of his house or his ex, Cal. His attempts to stop the sale made me laugh. I didn’t really like him but enjoyed his character. His attempts to help Cal into the afterlife with him are a little bit menacing but overall, I think he just didn’t want to spend eternity alone.

There is a bit of romance in this book when Cal meets Mac’s lawyer, Dewey. I guess I like Dewey. He is pretty straight forward and wants to help others. He doesn’t seem to be your typical lawyer shark, but he is lacking a little bit of depth. His family moved out of the country and even though he is involved with the local drama group, he doesn’t seem to have any close friends. I guess since Cal is kind of a loner, too, that they make a pretty good pair. There isn’t anyone to keep them from each other and maybe they can fill the emptiness in their lives. The part that feels undeveloped is that neither of them really acknowledge being lonely. Maybe it doesn’t bother them, but I just wished for just a little bit more emotion in the story.

I am definitely glad I got this audio copy for review. There were parts that I found so funny and sweet. The narration was really good, too. I definitely think this is a good rec when you want something fun and less complicated.

Funny Love Story

I was a little sceptical at first becouse of the cover, bjt this turned out to be a really funny story. Its about Cal; a pritty much failed actor who live in his car when he get a call from his x-lovers lawyer Dewie, who tells him he is now the heir of millions. Cal and Mac had a relationship 15 years ago but when Macs carrere started up he said goodbye to Cal and drove of. The funniest with this book is Cals determination to get rid of Macs ghost, and Macs attempts to convince Cal they are ment to be together and that he should join him in the after life. The book could probably be better if it had been told from Macs prespective insted of Dewie. The whole plot of the theater group made me a little annoyed, stop plotting and just ask Cal to found you guys. But ofcourse, without them the book would be a little dead. Still a funny love comedy with not to much drama, and Jason Frazier did a good job with it! Defenately getting more books from him.

Too Funny

I had been eyeing this book for some time after FEMME became one of my favorite audiobooks. This was a romantic comedy with a side of paranormal. I love Marshall Thornton's dry, yet subtle humor for me he has a way of easing so many funny lines in. It is "paranormal" but not your typical OTT story, it being a comedy the Ghost is one of the best parts. I enjoy his writing so much, as well as the narration was fantastic.

An actor, a lawyer and a ghost walk into a bedroom

4.5

This charming book is full of delightfully flawed characters, ghostly shenanigans and wit. At the apex of this spiritual love triangle is Cal Parsons, a struggling actor living out of his truck and performing his one-man show in coffee shops along the California coastline. Enter Dewitt “Dewey” Morgan, the somewhat stiff and straight-laced lawyer who informs Cal that his ex-boyfriend, award-winning playwright McCormack “Mac” Williams has died and left Cal his estate. When Cal visits his new home, he soon comes face to face with the recently deceased Mac, the man who unceremoniously dumped him fifteen years ago and who now insists Cal is the love of is life and is determined to start their eternity together as soon as possible.

Cal is a bit self-absorbed and hilarious and certainly shows how unglamorous being a working actor can be. His and Dewey’s relationship is definitely not love/lust at first sight. There’s no instant chemistry or connection pulling them together, and their initial interactions and first dates are awkwardly funny and relatable. Mac is a selfish, snarky and spiteful delight. He is unrepentantly egotistical, demanding, manipulative and steals every scene he is in. Between Mac’s attempts to alternatively woo or force Cal into the afterlife with him and the story arc involving the local theater troupe and its amusing cast of characters, this was such a fun, entertaining book. Moreover, Jason Frazier does an excellent job matching the voices to the personality traits and characteristics in the book and bringing the comedy and snark to life. I plan on reading much more of Mr. Thornton’s work.

I voluntarily reviewed an audiobook copy of this book provided by the author.

Lololol lol 😂😂😂

seriously !I don't know what to write about this book😂😂 I laughed so much.... I was laughing so so hard in thsome moments in the book. Michael is the most hilarious ghost out there 😂😂😂 the story as a story maybe a little bit weird ...but I did enjoy it. I laughed a lot, and though the book wasn't the most romantic book or the most obvious book... seriously it was like listening to renovating yaoi ! the intimate scene was a yaoi scene !!!!!!!! it was hilarious ,and disturbing at the same time. but it was good! I think I it's the same feeling I have while I'm reading yaoi manga.... you enjoy it but you're feeling disturbed and your asking your self w**!!!!! same here I enjoyed the book but I had what the heck moments. the narrator did a great job I loved his voice quite much. so overall I'm giving this book 5 stars and I'm taking one star from the story only because two little things that annoyed me but I won't write about them because they would spoiler you... but the story as an LGBT book was cute and hilarious I'm very nice.... if you like yaoi like I do or did when I was a teenager you will like the story quite much I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review."

Low trauma ghost story

I rather enjoyed this, but I went in knowing that the main character was a bit of a jerk, which helped set expectations. I had just given Femme a not good review (good humor, problem story) but had also downloaded this too with the Audible package. It was less funny but I liked the story more. It’s a bit meta/recursive with the main story echoing the the play, so there’s reinforcement of what’s going on. Cal isn’t a great guy but eventually becomes a good one. Dewey is fine and good in an emergency, if not assertive. Mac is a campy ol’ perv. The small town players are gossipy and generally good natured. Steam: Med low. There is a little M/M/ghost action to liven things up. Narration: I thought it was good but agree with other reviewers that it’s hard to tell if. Cal coming off as a jerk is because he’s written as a jerk or if the voice acting adds extra jerky flair to his character. The varied voices help to bring the characters to life.

Perfectly cute

An easy boy romance with a ghost. I enjoyed how we got to see the world of scarcity from the actor’s perspective, even after he inherits. There’s a line about a guy having a smile that could sell watermelon mint toothpaste that made me actually laugh out loud. Great narration.

Cute story

I really enjoyed listening to this story. the narrator did a good job as well.

delightful!!!!

story itself is funny and warm, so good that i'm finna scour amazon, audible and overdrive for everything thornton has ever written. and the audio performance is fantastic. Each character is so distinct that i truly have trouble believing they are all performed by one person.

Weird but hilarious

Honestly, this story is totally ridiculous and silly, but the characters and relationships are really interesting and there are so many laugh-out-loud moments that it’s just good fun.

A Ghost of a Problem

What made the experience of listening to The Ghost Slept Over the most enjoyable?

It is just a really great story with an excellent narrator.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Cal. He was just so real. Thoughtful but determined and quite bolshy at times but in a good way.

Have you listened to any of Jason Frazier’s other performances? How does this one compare?

No - first time

Did you have an emotional reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

Laugh. I laughed and smiled all the way through.

Any additional comments?

I thoroughly enjoyed this! It is really amusing and great fun to listen to, with an excellent narration.

Cal Parsons is a struggling actor living out of his truck and performing his one-man drama wherever he can. He isn't famous, or at least not in the way he would like to be, but he does have a kind of notoriety. People remember Cal as the young ex lover of the famous playwright McCormack Williams and they also remember Cal from a porn movie he starred in some years ago.

Life is tough and so Cal is very surprised when he finds out that he is the sole beneficiary of McCormack's estate. Cal travels to rural New York to claim the estate and he finds that he is now a very wealthy man because McCormack has left Cal a house, a car and money galore, but the only downside of all this is that McCormack himself hasnt left.

Cal is shocked to find that McCormack is still around as a ghost and this is where the fun begins because Cal wants to get on with his life, but McCormack thinks they should revive their relationship.

Needless to say Cal isnt interested. He came to terms with his split from McCormack and it happened when he was 25. Cal is now 40, much older, much wiser, very much interested in staying alive and very, very interested in McCormack's lawyer Dewey.

Dewey Morgan is executing McCormack's estate. He is quite happy to give Cal advice and act as his lawyer even if Cal is a bit weird and talks to himself, and does odd things like spreading salt on the doorstep. Dewey thinks Cal is grieving and so he decides to support him as much as he can.
Meanwhile Cal is trying his best to get rid of the ghostly McCormack but salt and exorcists don't seem to be effective.

Cal also has to think about his future (now that he is financially secure) and this includes getting used to the local community and theatre group who unbeknownst to Cal are trying their best to see if Cal will give them some of the money he has inherited because they are broke and they have a drama to put on.

Suddenly everyone wants a piece of Cal!

Cal negotiates ghosts, towns people, ex boyfriends, lawyers and everyone else and as he does so he gets to know more about McCormack, Dewey and himself, but how do you get rid of an ex when the ex can pop up anywhere, any time and any place too?

Cal has a ghost of a problem!

I really enjoyed listening to this. It is like cinema for the ears. The narrator brings this romantic comedy to life in a really creative way. As I listened each character came to life and I laughed and smiled was thoroughly entertained. I think this was exactly what I wanted from this story.

This is a pick-me-up audiobook. It is one I will listen to whenever I need to laugh. I really hope there will be a sequel at some point because not only do I want to know what happens to Dewey and Cal in the future, I also want to know what happens to the ghost and the Barnyard Players.

More! More!

Many thanks to the author for providing this via Audiobook Boom in exchange for an unbiased review.

as good as the ebook

The story is always full stars, because if I wouldn't like the story as ebook, I wouldn't listen to the audiobook. I can't listen to an audiobook without knowing the book, that's not possible for me. The performance from the narrator is also very important for me. I can't listen to a lot, because my English as a non-native-speaker isn't so perfect to follow a whole story over hours, when the narrator speaks too fast or too sloppy. Normally I have to SEE the person, who is talking to me in English. It took me a little bit, to come into the narrator, but at the end, it worked. I only have to take a few breaks between. I'm just not yet finish with the book, but I listen enough to give a review. PLEASE READ MY RATING SYSTEM!!! To my ratings: 5* - very very good it's like an A+ 4* - very good and will be often re-listening it's like an A 3* - it's more then a one-time-listening. it's like a B

Entertaining

Charming and funny story. The romance is low key and takes second place to the amusing ghost story. Narrator does an excellent job.