Emily's Ghost

by Antoinette Stockenberg

Leave it to bestselling author Antoinette Stockenberg to deliver a modern tale that moves effortlessly between this world and the next as a man, a woman, and a hundred-year-old ghost cross paths on the way to their destinies. EMILY'S GHOST is a RITA award-winning novel filled with humor, passion, and profound emotion; a classic of the genre.



A SHOWDOWN between a U.S. Senator who believes in ghosts and a reporter who doesn't. What could possibly go wrong?


Emily Bowditch, investigative journalist, is a typical New proud, stubborn, tightfisted and skeptical. So she's determined to expose aristocratic Senator Lee Alden's fascination with psychic phenomena and his willingness to waste good taxpayer dollars to fund research in it.

Her plan is first to gain his confidence by convincing him that she has psychic powers. That plan flops. The tables are turned and somehow Emily finds herself at a seance as guest of the sexy, recently widowed young senator.

As seances go, not much happens, despite the disturbing, electrifying tension in the room. It's not until Emily is back in her tiny Boston condo that she realizes ... she hasn't come home alone. Fergus O'Malley, a handsome 19th century scoundrel hanged for a murder he swears he didn't commit, needs someone to clear him of the crime. Emily, apparently, is it.

And so begins a hair-raising odyssey full of twists and turns and danger on both sides of the veil as Emily tries to navigate between senator and ghost and her growing feelings for both.


"Booksellers' recommended read."
--Publishers Weekly

"It's one of the best books I've read in a long time."
--Denise Little, B. Dalton

"Readers looking for highly original and emotionally rich reading will find this outstanding contemporary novel a veritable feast for the senses ... pure and unadulterated reading pleasure."
--Romantic Times Magazine, 4 1/2 stars

"EMILY'S GHOST is great fun. A witty, entertaining romantic read that has everything -- a lively ghost, an old murder mystery and a charming romance. A fresh, engaging voice in romantic fiction."
--Jayne Ann Krentz (Jayne Castle)

"I loved EMILY'S GHOST. It's an exciting story with a surprise plot twist."
--Jude Deveraux

"An engaging heroine, a sexy senator, and a rapscallion ghost make EMILY'S GHOST an irresistible read."
--Susan Elizabeth Phillips


About the author

Acclaimed USA Today bestselling author Antoinette Stockenberg is the author of more than a dozen novels, nearly all of them set in New England coastal settings and some of them featuring paranormal elements. She has won numerous awards and her books regularly have appeared on bestseller lists.

Genres: Romance, Paranormal Romance, Paranormal, Ghosts, Fantasy, Mystery, Fiction

400 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 1992

Reviews

[Nanci de Suffren · Rating 4 out of 5]

Emily, the reporter, Fergus, the ghost and Lee, the handsome senator are all interesting characters. I enjoyed the story but it seemed the relationship with the senator moved a little too fast in order to keep up with the rest of the story. One minute she's recklessly scamming her way into the office of a widowed, charismatic U. S. Senator, next thing they're "falling irresistibly in love." Being the decent, grieving husband, that part of the story didn't work as well as it should have. Fergus, however, moved from the beginning of his relationship with Emily, slowly, unwillingly and achingly to the realization that the original reason for his "haunting" her had evolved into something else. That relationship made sense. Of course, falling in love with a gorgeous senator could happen too but it just went too fast to feel real.

That being said, I did enjoy the book. Antoinette Stockenberg writes lovely stories that are very readable. Her stories add to my pleasure of relaxing with a good book.

[Debbie McClure · Rating 4 out of 5]

Antoinette Stockenberg's Emily's Ghost proved to be a really good story. I hadn't gone into it with any expectations, but found I didn't want to put it down once I got started. I chose the book because, as a paranormal romance writer who's about to release a book about the love between a ghost and a woman, I wanted to see how this author handled the subject. I was pleased at her depiction of the ghost, Fergus, and how the protagonist, Emily, would deal with her developing feelings for him.

I also quite enjoyed the developing love story between Emily and her human suitor, Lee. I thought she played the scenes well and made the characters believable and easy to relate to. It was a unique love triangle and I enjoyed every minute of it. I'd certainly recommend it to any romance reader who is looking for something a little different, but fun.

Great job Antoinette.

[Thehilk4 · Rating 2 out of 5]

Great idea for a story, but too long, drawn out and a disappointing ending.

[Carole Mcwilson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Couldn't put it down.

I enjoy books with a paranormal twist and have this one five stars; I couldn't quite understand how or why Emily was so conflicted between Fergus and Lee. She wanted to have her cake and eat it too.

[kim caldwell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent novel with ghosts and love!

I adored this book. Very in depth feelings with great characters and warmth. Such a choice to make at the end of a long journey. Emily is so strong yet vulnerable. Which love will win?

[Terri Weitze · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had read this already as part of a 3-part book. Antoinette Stockenberg does a good job of inserting her character into the world of Sherlock Holmes with the added note of a woman doctor (educated in the United States) passing as male in England.

[Sharon · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's okay but the book was updated when I had already read half way through. I lost my focus.

[Marlene · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good beginning didnt like the end. It had a happy ending but the way it got there was so unsatisfying.

[Linda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great read.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. A little bit of everything, romance, mystery, humor. I look forward to reading more by this author.

[MargeGordon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it!

[mmobsby · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fun, if predictable, spooky romance.

[Elizabeth · Rating 3 out of 5]

I had serious issues with this book mostly due to the first eight chapters being a repeated dismissal of the senator and then suddenly the main character has hot passionate sex with him. The book continues as they have a strained relationship which vacillates between hot and cold and punctuated by the jealousies of the ghost. It would have been a stronger story had she not unexpectedly slept with the senator and then played the stereotypical girl. The book would be moving at a healthy pace and then activity would suddenly happen which was not well explained or set up. It was interesting enough that I will read more from this author, but not so captivating that I will put her on my favorites list.

[Stephanie Roach · Rating 2 out of 5]

I can't believe I finished it. This book was horrible and I was thrilled when it was over. It wasn't remotely suspenseful, and it was unrealistic and disjointed. I love Stephen King, so I have no unrealistic expectations about the ghost story genre. The characters were undeveloped and unloveable, and the story seemed to jump around. The last 50 or so pages it felt like the author just gave up or that she'd forgotten the previous 30 pages. And I wanted to slap Emily silly most of the time.

I gave it 2 stars because I finished it.

Also, the description on goodreads is for a different book.

[Melissa · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was really excited about this book until about 2/3 of the way through. It went from a compelling story to almost an afterthought by the author. It was as if she got bored with writing it and decided to just randomly end it. I wanted to know what specifically became of Fergus. Also, the wishy-washiness of Emily drove me absolutely insane!!! Don't think I'll be suggesting this one to many people.

[Pattianne · Rating 3 out of 5]

Emily's Ghost - New England Shore Stories - (Lee and Emily) - No one believes in ghosts anymore, not even in Salem, Massachusetts--especially not Helen Evett, a widow who lives for her two teenaged kids and who runs the best preschool in town. When Katie Byrne enters her school, strange things begin to happen, and Helen is convinced Katie's dead mother, Linda, is trying to send her a message. Did Linda die under mysterious circumstances?

[Sarah McBee Conner · Rating 3 out of 5]

Impossibly handsome, single senator. Yes, this was a bit predictable. I really don't read much in the romance novel field so I don't really know the formula anymore but I think this one stayed on course. The part I didn't like was when she was having romantic feelings for the ghost. This was a little much. Overall it was an interesting easy read.

[Sandy Voegtlen · Rating 3 out of 5]

I wish I'd known up front that this was an occult romance. I liked the ghost story aspect, but the romance left me cold. I also didn't feel that the protagonist was very believable. She was too uneducated in the way of the world and relationships. She didn't seem to have a good grasp on any type of relationship let alone romantic ones.

[Diane Francis · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a fun, quick read. The ghost was a fun and interesting character! The romance part was almost a side piece to the mystery of the ghost! I really enjoyed it, and I'm not a real ghost story fan! This one was a winner!

[Sharon · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was one of the best books... I really enjoyed it... very very funny in parts... I love books like this.

[Nicole Shernoff-ohri · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very enjoyable book.

[Billandkitty · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good book, The author tells a very compelling story.

[Laurie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked the story. I would have liked to understand the bed & breakfast manager role a little better.

[Wanda Troupe · Rating 3 out of 5]

Was ok. But sure took me a while to get thru it. Not my favorite for sure but not the worst either. Definitely not a must read.

[Susan Rehm · Rating 5 out of 5]

Enjoyed...like paranormal stories....will read more by Antoinette Stockenberg

[Terry · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed it. Might read more by this author

[Kim · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fun, light read....if you like the haunted house and ghost story books, you'll like this wkth a romance thrown in.

[Kristina Beaudoin · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thought it was a fast and interesting read. I also liked that it had humor in it.

[Sandra Cox · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of my all time favorites

[Sandy Hodges · Rating 4 out of 5]

Short easy read

[Cristen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great read with light-hearted romance mixed with a ghost mystery. I love Stockenberg's easy prose.