When Good Ghosts Get the Blues

Scarlet is visiting Lucas in NOLA on the set of his show. A murder occurs and Lucas is the prime suspect. Scarlet insists on investigating over Lucas’ objections. That I think was the annoying part of the book for me, Scarlett not acknowledging Lucas’ feelings and how her meddling could make his situation worse. Anyway she meddles, murder solves, she discovers a new power.

This review was originally posted on <a href="https://booksofmyheart.net/2019/05/04/audio-when-good-ghosts-get-the-blues-by-danielle-garrett/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener"> Books of My Heart</a><br /> <br />Review copy was received from Publisher. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.<br /> <br />I recently reviewed <strong>Betwixt </strong>which has a variety of novellas set in the town, and is a bridge between <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/series/186676-beechwood-harbor-magic-mystery" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener"> <em> <strong>Beechwood Harbor Magic Mysteries</strong> </em> </a> and the <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/series/218631-beechwood-harbor-ghost-mystery" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener"> <em> <strong>Beechwood Harbor Ghost Mysteries</strong> </em> </a>, and introduces Scarlet.  <strong>Ghost Hunter Next Door</strong> is the first in her series.  The books of both series are in Kindle Unlimited.<br /><br />In <strong>When Good Ghosts Get the Blues</strong>,  Scarlet continues her personal development. The setting is New Orleans where Lucas is working and she comes to vacation a week with him.  Of course, something goes wrong on the mansion being rebuilt which is ghost related.  We don't get much of Beechwood Harbor, but Scarlet's ghost friends do come to her rescue.<br /><br />I feel even though she was on vacation and Lucas didn't want her to get involved, I can't believe she didn't ask more questions of the ghosts faster, especially Gayle. Scarlet was slow on the uptake compared to usual.  As previously,  the real revelations are in the last chapter, after the mystery is solved,  both for learning about Scarlet's personal talents and her relationship growth.  Somehow I wish this was slightly more interwoven with the story all along.  It continues to be fun and I'll be along for the ride.<br /><br /> <strong>Narration:</strong> <br />Amanda Ronconi is a well-loved narrator and handles this series well.    Scarlet, Lucas, Flapjack, Gwen and Hayward are all unique and now familiar to me.  I listened at my usual 1.5x speed. Her performance added to my enjoyment.<br /><br /><strong>Listen to a clip: </strong><br /><a target="_blank" rel="noopener nofollow" href="https://soundcloud.com/user-149056452/when-good-ghosts-get-the-blues-by-danielle-garrett-narrated-by-amanda-ronconi">https://soundcloud.com/user-149056452...</a><br /> 

Poor Flapjack and Hayward. They tried so hard to change Scarlett’s mind, but she’s determined to have a ghost free vacation. The Big Easy, chocolate and romance lose their luster when Lucas is accused of murder! Before you know it Gwen, Flapjack, and Hayward will come to Scarlet’s aid as the case against Lucas worsens.<br /><br />The case took center stage, and NOLA became a backdrop despite a few fun scenes in the beginning. This was an intense one with all clues pointing directly at poor Lucas. He frustrated me. I felt like he went down without a fight or had too much faith it would all work out. I wanted Lucas to get mad, but he’s just not that kind of guy. Ah well, it is one trait Scar likes best about him; he is truly a nice guy. <br /><br />Clues, dark entities, New Orleans witches and more await you in this fun, light paranormal cozy. We gain more insight into what Scarlett is capable of, and I am eager for her to embrace and master some of her abilities besides speaking to ghosts and solving cases.<br /><br />When Good Ghosts Get the Blues was a fun, addictive cozy mystery with paranormal elements and twists that will keep you listening.<br /><br />This is Garrett’s second series set in Beechwood and it’s fast becoming a favorite. Amanda Ronconi once again narrates and I just love her for these cozy mysteries. From Scarlett to the different ghosts she makes the story pop and pulls me in. The length of these audios make them perfect for day trips and weekend chores.<a href="https://caffeinatedbookreviewer.com/2019/07/when-good-ghosts-get-the-blues-by-danielle-garrett.html" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener"> This review was originally posted at Caffeinated Reviewer</a>

Picking up shortly after the conclusion of the previous story, Scarlet is going on a week’s vacation to New Orleans with boyfriend Lucas, where he is working. She is insistent the trip be ghost-free, so Flapjack, Hayward, and Gwen are left home. But of course, the no-ghost zone doesn’t last 24 hours as Scarlet runs into a spirit at Lucas’s project site. The ghost warns that there is a malevolent spirit trapped in the library, so she’s making havoc on the set to keep people from entering. Cue the high-profile murder victim discovered in the library, only this time around Lucas is the primary suspect.<br /><br />When Good Ghosts Get the Blues is the third entertaining tale in the Beechwood Harbor Ghost Mysteries. I like how Scarlet continues to grow and develop her powers as the series progresses. I also enjoy the fact that Scarlet has found a true friend and confidant in Lucas, who is accepting of her quirks and the supernatural world around him - one he can’t even see. Just when I think Scarlet will make a mess of things, she stays grounded, or she’ll confide in Lucas, giving her a good perspective on any situation. I love the progress of their relationship - steadily moving forward, hiccups and all.<br /><br />While I think it was pretty silly of Scarlet to expect a ghost-free time in one of the most notorious haunted cities in the U.S., I appreciate that she wants some normal interactions with Lucas. Yet when things go south (suspect of murder!), Scarlet’s ghost besties make their way down to NOLA ready to help. I felt that Scarlet was a bit of an idiot for not utilizing their help more immediately and efficiently. I was also disappointed that she made a few poor decisions in this one - for example, going to the murder scene on her own in the middle of the night?! But it all worked out in the end.<br /><br />I did enjoy learning more about the magical aspects behind Scarlet’s ability to see ghosts. I wish more had been explored when she was in NOLA, but I understand the need to pull back and take it slow. She did have a long chat with Beechwood’s resident witch, Holly, which I enjoyed.<br /><br />Narration: I’ve been listening to Amanda Ronconi read the original series and now this spin-off for over a half dozen books, and she has consistently done a wonderful job. The Beechwood Harbor Ghost Mysteries is voiced from the first person POV of Scarlet. Ms. Ronconi captures Scarlet’s kindness, generosity, and determination. But also convincingly voices her frustration when called for. Additionally, Ms. Ronconi gives each of the three primary ghost regulars distinct and appropriate voices, and her male voices are generally deeper and fitting. The only negative I have this time around is that Scarlet and Holly (main character of the original series) sound nearly identical, so when they had their one-on-one conversation in this book, it was a bit confusing.<br /><br />Overall, When Good Ghosts Get the Blues is another fun story in Ms. Garrett’s entertaining Beechwood Harbor universe. The balance of Scarlet’s personal relationships and growth with murder mysteries and ghosts is ideal. I really enjoyed learning more about Scarlet and her unique gifts. <br /><br />My Ratings: 
Story: B+<br />Narration A- <br /><br />Review copy provided by Tantor Audio.<br />Originally posted at That's What I'm Talking About

5/5 ⭐️ <br />Amazing as the last two!

<strong>I love this series!</strong><br /><br />Scarlet is back at the action! I absolutely love the characters in this book especially Scarlet and three ghostly pals! I love Hayward and how he speaks! Him and Flapjack are too much fun together and you can't help but love Gwen and her sweet but meddling heart. I also enjoy how this is truly a cozy without any nasty triggers which is perfect for this year and the Pandemic! Scarlet &amp; her ghostly pals always get up to right amount of mischief and the right amount of adventures!

My review and an extended sample of the audiobook are posted at <a href="http://www.hotlistens.com/when-good-ghosts-get-the-blues-audiobook-by-danielle-garrett-review/" rel="nofollow noopener">Hotlistens.com</a>.<br /><br />In this story, Scarlett heads to the Big Easy for ghost free vacation and to see Lucas at his new location in New Orleans. I’m not always a fan of when authors take their characters to new locations. As a fan of secondary characters, I tend to miss them when the main character travels without them. Sometimes it works for me and sometimes it doesn’t. This one worked.<br /><br />Scarlett goes to the set with Lucas only to find that the set is once again haunted. And of course, that doesn’t bode well for the ghost free vacation. Oh and when someone shows up dead on the set, things only get worse.<br /><br />I continue to enjoy this series. I do love Scarlett as a main character. Lucas makes a good love interest. It is a fun series. I love how Scarlett works through the mysteries. We don’t get as much of the other ghosts that are usually around Scarlett, but that doesn’t dampen the fun.<br /><br />If you’re looking for a fun paranormal cozy mystery, this series is great. I highly recommend it.<br /><br />Narration<br />Amanda Ronconi continues to do an amazing job with this series. I love everything about her narration. She’s great at bringing the humor to the forefront of the stories. If you’ve never listened to one of her stories, you’re really missing out.<br /><br />**I'd like to thank the publisher for providing me with a copy of this audiobook in exchange for an honest review.

Scarlett is going on vacation to the Big Easy where her boyfriend, Lucas, is working the security for a home improvement show set. This is a ghost-free trip and she plans to enjoy it. But, of course, the universe laughs at her 'vacation rules' and delivers her a murder in which Lucas is suspect number one and the house for the show is haunted by a dangerous ghost. Not all the beignets in New Orleans are enough for this stressful trip.<br /><br />When Good Ghosts Get the Blues is book three in the Beechwood Harbor Ghost Mystery series and works best when gotten in order since the main characters are recurring and there are references to past events. Though, yes, in a pinch, one could pick it up and enjoy it to an extent without the others. Also, just a reminder, that this series is a spin off of the Beechwood Harbor Magic Series.<br /><br />I enjoy light paranormal cozy mysteries for a change up and the floral shop owning Scarlett and her ghost besties are great entertainment. Scarlett is a well-adjusted person except with the idea of keeping a boyfriend like Lucas around since she comes with ghostly baggage. She's waiting for the moment that too much is too much especially with the other supernatural secrets she's keeping from him, but Lucas keeps surprising her and plans to stick around. Most of this book, things are very tense because someone is framing Lucas for murder and the police seem content to accept him as a prime suspect. Lucas wants to ignore the problem while Scarlett thinks dealing with it head on is best.<br /><br />The New Orleans' setting was fun and I loved being along on Scarlett and Lucas' sight-seeing dates and particularly for those calorie-laced meals.<br /><br />The murder mystery was front and center though there wasn't much actual investigating on Scarlet's part until later. In the latter half, she did go into sleuth-mode with some surprising help and nab the culprit. I figured out the who quickly enough, but had no idea about the why until the reveal since there was a detail I didn't have that made sense of it all. Right at the end, Scarlett learns something big about her ghost abilities that will be a series game changer. I look forward to seeing where that takes things.<br /><br />Amanda Ronconi was superb as usual in her narration role. I like her portrayal of all the regular characters and the New Orleans characters had a believable regional accent for southern Louisiana. I get a real kick out of her Flapjack voice- so droll. I'm glad she's doing this series.<br /><br />All in all, it was fun times as usual and I enjoyed this latest series installment. I can heartily recommend this one to those looking for light paranormal cozy mysteries to enjoy.<br /><br />My thanks to Tantor Audio for the opportunity to listen to this book in exchange for an honest review.

AudioBook Review: <br />Stars: Overall 4 Narration 5 Story 4 <br /><br />Oh this is such a FUN series – and Scarlett is starting to show more of her own personality, and I can’t wait to see more of her skills in action. She’s in desperate need of a vacation- AWAY from all of her ghostly pals at Beechwood Harbor. It’s a bitter pill for Flapjack and Hayward to swallow – she’s told them they aren’t invited. All she wants is a quiet bit of time to spend with Lucas – and a change of scenery. And if you can’t find fun among the beignets, jazz and atmosphere of New Orleans – it’s not gonna happen. But, Scarlett being who she is – NEVER gets a break. There’s ghosts galore, a touch of darkness, plenty of beignets and a dead body. Of course a dead body. With all clues pointing to Lucas – who has little to nothing to say for himself except he didn’t do it. <br /><br />So it’s back to sleuthing for Scarlett, and her erstwhile ghostly friends join the vacation that wasn’t to help dig for the truth. We’re starting to see that Scarlett doesn’t just speak to ghosts, and she’s starting to see that solving murders isn’t all she’s capable of…. There will, I am sure, be more of that in the future as she starts to experiment with and learn her new skills. With dark omens, ghosts, clues, fake clues and more laughs – the story just twists and turns to the end – even after Lucas seems to just ‘go with’ the ‘whatever happens will happen and Scarlett will fix it all” sort of faith in the ‘rightness’ of truth. A bit of a disappointment that – I wanted to see more oomph from Lucas: but I think Scarlett is more comfortable with one solid, unemotional corporeal person in her life – and that’s Lucas to a T. You’ll find this light cozy a ton of fun and laughs, along with a clever mystery working through the moments to the solution. <br /><br />Narrated by Amanda Ronconi, I have to say that for this sort of light paranormal cozy, she’s a favorite. Not only does she know that characters and their motivations, but her voicing of each is distinct, clear and recognizable: with emotions, dramatic effects (usually from one or the other ghosts) and Scarlett’s interior voices being particular favorites. Not too long – these are great “commute listens’ as you’ll finish up in a week and be entertained as the journey takes you ever closer to the day gig. <br /><br />I received an AudioBook copy of the title from Tantor Audio for purpose of honest review. I was not compensated for this review: all conclusions are my own responsibility. <br /><br />Review first appeared at &lt; a href=” <a target="_blank" rel="noopener nofollow" href="https://wp.me/p3OmRo-aDg">https://wp.me/p3OmRo-aDg</a> /” &gt; <a> I am, Indeed </a> <br />

Ghost Whisperer Scarlet visits boyfriend and security chief of a house-renovating-TV-show in New Orleans. While he takes a week off his job (*huh* - he can do that) to show her the sights a murder happens at the set. Guess who the main suspect is?<br /><br />Something about this series got me hooked, and I am overlooking super sloppy editing, a stupid female protagonist who refuses to use the tools she has on hand, an exceptional bland male protagonist, and a story line that has so many holes in it that a Swiss cheese would pale with envy.<br /><br />This said: for a light read this is a good one, but if you are not in the mood for stomach cramps at things such as people walking from one place to the other, but needing to use a cab "across town" to go back where they came from, then don't touch it, as this happens more often than once, besides other things.