2-in-1 Audio Reviews: The Mint Julep Murders & The Ghost of Christmas Past

Author: Angie Fox

Narrator: Tavia Gilbertt

Title: The Mint Julep Murders

Series: Southern Ghost Hunter Mysteries #8

Genre: Cozy mystery, Fantasy, Paranormal, Mystery, Thriller, UF, & Romance

Format: Audiobook

Published: April 25, 2019

Where I got It: Audible

Summary: 

For Southern girl Verity Long, friendship means sitting down to stories and sweet tea on the front porch. For her gangster ghost housemate, it means dragging Verity out to a remote haunted asylum during a raging thunderstorm to do a favor for a long-dead mob boss.

But Verity is always ready to help out a friend, even one as eternally eccentric as Frankie. And in the case of Mint Julep Manor, the stakes are too high to refuse. The criminally insane mob boss holds a secret to Frankie’s past, one that might set Frankie free. Do the favor—survive the favor—and they might change Frankie’s afterlife for good. Fail, and they might never leave the asylum.

Review:

Yayy! Back to our gal! 

Verity Long is being dragged out to a remote haunted asylum during a bad storm. She is willing to help, but something seems not right about the house, the ghostly patients, and ghostly staff. Doing a favor for Frankie may be her last. 

Always a lot of fun and this one for sure a lot of fun. Love Verity and love Frankie. This one made me sad though...those poor patients. Ugh the asylum life was not a good life. 

The big reveal had me all "WHAT?" It was a nice twist and turn and it was good. Curious to see if there will be something big heading our way. I have a feeling. That baddie was certainly a good baddie. 

The narrator was great as per normal. 

What else to say? It was good. I don't want to spoil anything.

4 stars from me. 

Author: Angie Fox

Narrator: Tavia Gilbertt

Title: The Ghost of Christmas Past

Series: Southern Ghost Hunter Mysteries #8.5

Genre: Cozy mystery, Fantasy, Paranormal, Mystery, Thriller, UF, & Romance

Format: Audiobook

Published: November 29, 2019

Where I got It: Audible

Summary: 

Verity Long is ready to deck the halls, jingle some bells, and maybe, just maybe have a merry Christmas with her boyfriend’s stuffy family. Truly, if she doesn’t extend the proverbial olive branch to the overbearing Wydells, she’s afraid she’ll hit them over the head with it.

But when her boyfriend’s mother pulls a shocking stunt, Verity finds herself with a big decision to make. And if that’s not enough, there’s an unexpected guest at her door. It’s the ghost of the woman who helped rescue Verity’s pet skunk three years ago that very night. And now she’s there to change Verity’s life as well..

Review:

Decided to re-read this little gem for the holidays! Plus....why not? I need the numbers and this is a short!

After the events of the last story, Verity is ready to sit back and relax. Deck the halls and so forth. However, she snaps at Mama Wydell and is super done and just wants to stay home. However, she will have an unexpected guest at her door and she will be forced to see the past, present, and future before she makes any big life decisions. 

I'm still proud of Verity for standing up to that MIL! However, I get where the ghosts are coming from. Yes, have your boundaries and don't let people treat you like dirt BUT you need to be kind. *grumbles* Fiooooonnnneeee. 

But yes, this was good and a nice little break from "big" adventures. You will want to have read book 8 and maybe book 1 or 2 before reading this. I did fine when I first read it a while back (yes out of order because I'm an idiot sometimes) but it meant more after reading book 8. 

Narrator is the same and amazing. 

In the end, this was really good and I LOVE this series. 

4 stars. 

Challenge(s):

- #59 & 60 for Audiobook Challenge

Another 2-in1 Short Story Review: A Curse for Christmas & The Ghost of Christmas Past

Author: P.A. Mason

Title: A Curse for Christmas

Genre: Urban Fiction, Fantasy, Paranormal, Cozy mystery, short story

Format: ebook

Pages: 75

Published: November 5th 2021

Where I Got It: My shelf (Amazon)

Summary: 

Christmas back home in Arkansas sounded like a chance to put my feet up for a few weeks. Little did I know that a magical calamity would threaten the big day.

You know the real kicker? It was Mom—a renowned magical healer—who came down with a mystery malaise on Christmas Eve. I couldn’t remember a time where she had anything worse than a sniffle. To see her bedridden scared me to my core.

To examine the facts and solve the case, I had to think fast before Mom’s condition got any worse. With a new werewolf beau in her life, half the town of Tumbling Springs were whispering behind Mom’s back, the loudest of them a hex witch with a nasty view of weres. On the other hand, a new business rival in the next town over had Mom’s healing services on the rocks. The question was—did either witch have enough motive to do something as awful as all that to Mom?

Review:

Clearing out a lot of these Xmas shorts I downloaded (and yesss I downloaded a lot for my vacation!) 

Kat is back home for the holidays. Little did she know that a magical calamity was going to be waiting for her. Kat's mom - who is a renowned magical healer - has come down with a mystery sickness. Along with her family, they have to find who did it and how to cure her...before it is too late. There are a lot of suspects from Mom's new werewolf beau to the hex witch who hates weres. Maybe it is her Mom's rival? It can be literally anyone. 

Hadn't read a cozy mystery in a hot min so this is precisely what the doctor ordered. A mystery and a small town with paranormal elements. 

I am curious about this world. The author talked a little bit about it, but I am curious to learn more. I wonder if there will be more books down the line. I wouldn't mind following Kat around more and another character. I'm game! 

But yes - I good mystery and I wasn't sure how they were going to resolve this. I certainly did worry for good ol' Mom!! Poor thing didn't deserve the curse. 

Overall, this was a fun holiday read. Magic, curses, werewolves, and a mystery. I want to understand more about the world. More please!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I'll give this 4 stars. Very good, but it needs more.  

Author: Angie Fox

Title: The Ghost of Christmas Past

(Southern Ghost Hunter Mysteries #8.5)

Genre: Paranormal, Fantasy, Cozy Mystery, Romance, short story

Format: ebook

Pages: 152 

Published: November 29th 2019

Where I Got It: My shelf (Amazon)

Summary: Verity Long is ready to deck the halls, jingle some bells, and maybe, just maybe have a merry Christmas with her boyfriend’s stuffy family. Truly, if she doesn’t extend the proverbial olive branch to the overbearing Wydells, she’s afraid she’ll hit them over the head with it.

But when her boyfriend’s mother pulls a shocking stunt, Verity finds herself with a big decision to make. And if that’s not enough, there’s an unexpected guest at her door. It’s the ghost of the woman who helped rescue Verity’s pet skunk three years ago that very night. And now she’s there to change Verity’s life as well.

Review:

Ope! I swore this said book 2.5. Which, whatever...only skipping 2 books. Whelp this is 8.5 *questions my ability to read properly). Oh well.

We follow Verity Long as she is ready to deck the halls, jingle some bells, and maybe have a good holiday with her boyfriend and his stuff family. She is prepared to extend an olive branch and hold her tongue. Until her boyfriend's mother pulls a shocking and offensive stunt. Verity has had enough and decides she is done and will not go to the family party...after some choice words with that woman. While enjoying her loneliness on Christmas, the ghost of a woman she adored and who helped rescue Verity's pet is knocking on her door. Verity finds herself on a rescue mission, but she will also face a decision to make that can change her life forever. 

This did very, very well as a standalone. Some references that I could ignore or make assumptions about, but overall I felt like I wasn't missing anything. Which yayy, but I am curious about going to book 1. I have heard great things about this series. I have book 1 on my maybe-someday list, but I since have moved it to my TBR list.

I adore Verity and I applaud her for standing up for herself! That dang MIL deserves a few choice words from everyone. Maybe if everyone grouped up and belittled her for an hour...maybe she would see the light and change her ways. She needs something. Sadly, she reminds me a tiny bit of my MIL-to-be. WHICH no one in her family ever stands up to her. I did once and now she keeps her comments to herself and talks behind my back. At least she is scared to come at me face-to-face. Hopefully, that will be Verity's future too. LOL

But the mini twist had me angry at first. I did get WHERE they were coming from and Verity's role and how important it is....buuuuuuuut that shouldn't fall on her shoulders. That isn't fair. The family needs to fix themselves. Her boyfriend's mom is a cancer to everyone around her. BUT I get it and grew to accept these things told/shown to Verity. Okay, okay. 

Anyway (sorry I can ramble on and on about it).....

Yes - I enjoyed this. I loved Frankie and the skunk. Such a fun group of sidekicks. 

Loved Verity. I am unsure of her beau though. Maybe I will appreciate him once I read past books. 

All-in-all, this was a fun read for the holidays and it was a good standalone. Now I am curious about the past books. I adored Verity! I'm annoyed she has to be the hero to that family, but it is what it is. I shall give this 4 stars though! I couldn't stop reading and now I wanted moreee.