My Sweet Haunt

Baker City: Hearts & Haunts - Book 1

Romance - Paranormal
288 Pages
Reviewed on 04/28/2023
Buy on Amazon

This author participates in the Readers' Favorite Free Book Program, which is open to all readers and is completely free. The author will provide you with a free copy of their book in exchange for an honest review. You and the author will discuss what sites you will post your review to and what kind of copy of the book you would like to receive (eBook, PDF, Word, paperback, etc.). To begin, click the purple email icon to send this author a private email.

This author participates in the Readers' Favorite Book Review Exchange Program, which is open to all authors and is completely free. Simply put, you agree to provide an honest review an author's book in exchange for the author doing the same for you. What sites your reviews are posted on (B&N, Amazon, etc.) and whether you send digital (eBook, PDF, Word, etc.) or hard copies of your books to each other for review is up to you. To begin, click the purple email icon to send this author a private email, and be sure to describe your book or include a link to your Readers' Favorite review page or Amazon page.

This author participates in the Readers' Favorite Book Donation Program, which was created to help nonprofit and charitable organizations (schools, libraries, convalescent homes, soldier donation programs, etc.) by providing them with free books and to help authors garner more exposure for their work. This author is willing to donate free copies of their book in exchange for reviews (if circumstances allow) and the knowledge that their book is being read and enjoyed. To begin, click the purple email icon to send this author a private email. Be sure to tell the author who you are, what organization you are with, how many books you need, how they will be used, and the number of reviews, if any, you would be able to provide.

    Book Review

Reviewed by Susan Sewell for Readers' Favorite

When a mother and her two daughters move into their new home, the resident ghost and an unethical entrepreneur are determined to send them away in the paranormal romance My Sweet Haunt by Josie Malone. When her husband leaves her, Cat, her twins, Sophie and Samantha, their puppy Lad, and a couple of horses move to a ranch. Upon their arrival, the current occupant, Army Ranger Rob Williams who died forty years before, aims to scare them away. When Rob confronts Sophie and Sam, he is shocked to learn they can see and hear him and are unafraid. On the other hand, Cat hears his voice but refuses to acknowledge him and the pranks he plays. Admiring Cat's tenacity and the girls' precociousness, Rob reconsiders his plan to chase them off and actively takes part in rebuilding the ranch. Meanwhile, someone is trying to frighten Cat into leaving, and when Cat refuses to succumb to their tactics, things take a deadly turn. Can Rob protect them?

The spectacular paranormal romance, My Sweet Haunt by Josie Malone, captivates the reader from its spellbinding start. The combination of a breathtaking plot, appealing protagonists, imposing conflicts, and dramatic scenes creates the perfect novel. The story's intensity builds from the beginning, culminating in an explosive and thrilling conclusion. Once Rob's character entered the storyline, I couldn't put the book down. His character is the epitome of masculinity, making him the perfect romantic interest. Flavored with the paranormal, seasoned with a touch of violence, kissed with a hint of romance, and charged with suspense, it is a sensational story that will delight fans who love a brilliant ghost story. It is the first book in the series, and I can't wait to read the next one. I am officially a fan of Baker City Hearts and Haunts! Due to some intimate scenes, the story is more suitable for mature readers.

K.C. Finn

My Sweet Haunt is a work of romance by author Josie Malone, and it serves as the first installment in the Baker City: Hearts & Haunts book series. The romance content is spicy but not extreme, and the work is suited to a mature adult audience. We find ourselves back in the warm and wild atmosphere of Washington State as Malone lays out the delightful Baker City before us and introduces new protagonist Cat O’Leary McTavish and her twin daughters. But things take a sudden paranormal turn when Cat meets the ghost of former Army Ranger Rob Williams, who still wants to run the ranch that now belongs to her. Could peace, and even romance, ensue?

Paranormal romance isn’t something I choose to read outside of a review context, but Josie Malone’s effortless narrative style never fails to draw me in, and My Sweet Haunt will make a believer of even the most skeptical romance readers! Rob’s characterization interested me a lot, and the pain of his death and subsequent life as a ghost was not treated lightly but with real emotional sensitivity. I enjoyed the balance of tension, hair-raising moments, relatable drama, and deeply meaningful connections: it made for a balanced but varied journey where you couldn’t predict what would happen next. As I always find with Malone’s works, the dialogue was poignantly penned to hit the heartstrings and move the drama along without tons of chunky prose. Overall, I would highly recommend My Sweet Haunt to paranormal romance fans and those looking for a promising new series by a talented romance writer.

Hayley Haun

My Sweet Haunt by Josie Malone follows Cat O’Leary McTavish and her two daughters to their new home. A haunted house, to be exact. The girls keep insisting a Mister Robbie is talking to them, and Cat tries to convince herself it is only the children's imagination. They’ll grow out of it. However, when things happen around the house that make Cat keenly aware of a presence, she begins to suspect her daughters are telling the truth. Rob Williams wants to protect his home, and for a while, all he can think of is driving this new family out. But after realizing there is more to these people, Rob can’t deny the desire he has to not only protect his home but Cat too.

The paranormal romance sub-genre has recently sparked my interest. Finding My Sweet Haunt was the icing on the cake of a long search. Josie Malone’s novel surprised and thrilled me. I wondered how the main characters would overcome their problems and have a happy ending (because who doesn’t want one). There were plot twists that had me reeling with excitement and curiosity. I had to stay on my toes with this one but in a delightful way. I believe My Sweet Haunt has hit all the necessary elements on the mark. The cover is enticing and drew me in instantly. Features of the story are prominent. For example, the ranch, the love interest, and the horses grazing are vivid. The plot and development were well-handled and enjoyable. I never found myself stumbling or losing interest. As for marketability, I believe Malone will have no problem attracting her target audience.