#Saturday Review - A Ghostly Reunion by Tonya Kappes #Cozy #Mystery @tonyakappes11 @HarperCollins

Series: Ghostly Southern Mysteries # 5
Format: E-Galley, 352 pages
Release Date: December 27th 2016
Publisher: Witness
Source: Edelweiss
Genre: Cozy, Mystery

Emma Lee Raines sees dead people

Proprietor of the Eternal Slumber Funeral Home, Emma Lee can see, hear, and talk to ghosts of murdered folks. And when her high school nemesis is found dead, Jade Lee Peel is the same old mean girl—trying to come between Emma Lee and her hot boyfriend, Sheriff Jack Henry Ross, all over again.

There’s only one way for Emma Lee to be free of the trash-talking ghost—solve the murder so the former prom queen can cross over.

But the last thing Jade Lee wants is to leave the town where she had her glory days. And the more Emma Lee investigates on her own, the more complicated Miss Popularity turns out to be. Now Emma Lee will have to work extra closely with her hunky lawman to get to the twisty truth.

A Ghostly Reunion is the Fifth installment in author Tonya Kappes' Ghostly Southern Mysteries. Protagonist Emma Lee Raines is an Betweener. She sees, talks to, and hears dead people who have been murdered. Outside of her job at Eternal Slumber Funeral Home, which she now runs solo after her sister Charlotte left for greener pastures, it is her job to solve the mystery of what happened to them so that they can move on to the next phase of existence. 

But, that doesn't compare to having her 10th High School Reunion in Sleepy Hollow, Kentucky which she has organized. Especially when her nemesis Jade Lee Peel comes to town and upsets the balance by getting herself killed in Grandmother Zula Fae Raines' Inn. Jade is the bad girl who did all she could do to make Emma Lee's life miserable. From all outwards appearances, nothing has changed. Jade is either very insecure about her popularity, or she is really that awful. There might be those who think that Jade needs a bit of comeuppance. 

But, who would have thought that it would be Emma Lee who has to work with Jade to find out who cancelled her contract? As Emma Lee and Jade work together, as Emma Lee goes through a very long list of possible suspects, including almost all of her friends, she realizes that things aren't necessarily always as they appear. Especially when it comes to Jade and her obviously high maintenance lifestyle. But, who would hold such a grudge against Jade to want to "fire" her?

I started this series not that long ago, and find myself intrigued by where it is going from here. Especially with the way the author blindsides us at the end of the book. I, unfortunately, have missed out on books 2, & 3, but have just purchased A Ghostly Murder a short time ago, and have A Ghostly Mortality in Que to read. I never quite understood the relationship between Emma Lee and her sister Charlotte, and in this book, the relationship kind of over-shadows Emma Lee's investigation. I dare say that I do have to go back to the previous installments so I can get caught up before finishing book # 6. 

Ever since a plastic Santa hit Emma Lee in the head, folks in Sleepy Hollow have called her condition Funeral Trauma which gives Emma plenty of opportunity to act any way she wants.  Let's get to the other reasons I love this series. I love Emma Lee's hometown. It is everything I enjoy about southern small towns. I love Emma's quirky grandmother who is the one of the towns gossip queens. I love her relationship with Sheriff Jack Henry Ross, especially since he knows that she can see things and hear things that he can't. He has never judged her. I love Emma's friends who are wonderfully lovable and fun to follow along with.

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#Friday Review - A Ghostly Undertaking by Tonya Kappes #Cozy #Mystery

Series: Ghostly Southern Mysteries # 1
Format: Paperback, 273 pages
Release Date: February 24, 2015
Publisher: Witness
Source: Library
Recommended By: Braine aka +Talk Supe 
Genre: Cozy Mystery, Romance

Another day. Another funeral. Another ghost. Another average day in the life of young funeral home director, Emma Lee Raines. After a perilous run-in with a plastic Santa Claus, Emma Lee, co-owner of Eternal Slumber Funeral Home in Sleepy Hollow, Kentucky, sees the ghost of town gossip Ruthie Sue Payne, who is proving to be a real pain, more so in death than while living. Recently deceased, Ruthie reveals to Emma Lee that her demise wasn't caused by accidentally falling down the steps at the Sleepy Hollow Inn as everyone believes—she was pushed...murdered. In order for the ghost to cross over—and for Emma Lee to be rid of Ruthie for good—she must find a desperate killer...or risk being haunted forever.

A Ghostly Undertaking is the first installment in Author Tonya Kappes Ghostly Southern Mysteries series. This book was recommended to me by my friend Braine from Talk Supe Blog. I've been wanting to read this series for awhile now, and have even been sent the fifth and sixth installments in this series. This is a cozy mystery series set in the fictional town of Sleepy Hollow, Kentucky. 

Protagonist Emma Lee Raines is co-owner & director of Eternal Slumber Funeral Home. She works with her rather perfect in every way sister Charlotte Rae Raines. But, to get things in order, Emma Lee was recently hit in the head by a plastic Santa. Some, like Charlotte, have been calling it Funeral Trauma. Some think Emma Lee needs a bit of help. Regardless, Emma Lee can see, speak to, and touch ghosts!

One of those ghosts, is Ruthie Sue Payne, recently deceased, adversary to Emma Lee's own grandmother Zula Fae Raines who has every reason to want Ruthie dead. Ruthie, realizing that Emma Lee can hear and see her, pushes Emma Lee into doing a bit of detective work to find out who killed her. Oh, yes, Ruthie claims she was pushed, and didn't just suddenly fall down a flight of stairs. How embarrassing for a gentile southern belle who is the biggest town gossip this side of the Mississippi.

I have to admit that I went in to this book with some reservations. However, I have been trying to read other books outside of my so called comfort zone for years now. Braine was nice enough to recommend a few, including this series, to me. Emma Lee is a quirky character who you can't help but laugh along with, and hold you breath fearing she will make things even worse for those around her. Including one Sheriff Jack Henry Ross. 

The same Jack who opens up the case of Ruthie after some questions. The same Jack who knows that Emma Lee is speaking with ghosts, and doesn't seem offended by her bizarre nature. The same Jack that makes Emma's heart run like an engine in the Indianapolis 500. Jack and Emma's relationship is not so overwhelming that it takes over the guessing as to who could possibly stoop so low to kill Ruthie without any remorse.

As I have now started this series, I have requested the second novel, A Ghostly Grave, from my local library system. I do want to find out about Emma Lee's new status as a Betweener, and how she wiggles her way through the rest of this series. Thanks to B for opening my eyes and recommending this series to me. Thanks for a fun, fast pace story Tonya Kappes who this is the first book of any kind that I've had the pleasure to read.

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