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Midlife Spirits #8

Magic in the Night

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Paranormal Women's Fiction from NY Times Bestseller, HP Mallory, co-author of the Haven Hollow Series!

Witches, possessed dolls, and teenagers? I need a vacation from my life…


I moved to New Orleans with two thoughts in mind--to escape a bad marriage and to fix up the huge mansion my great aunt left me.

While my bad marriage is now a thing of the past, my ownership of the house on Prytania Street is threatened. By whom? None other than a relative of Drake's, the ghost who’s haunting my house.

Luke Montague is the embodiment of Drake in everything but disposition and he's proving to be a big pain in my a#$!

To make matters worse, my health and my sanity is suffering by some unseen force. Visions of ghosts dance in my head, warping my understanding of what's real and what isn't.

Furthermore, these visions prove to be a warning of a larger threat that's impacting the city--antiques are going missing, stolen by the ghosts of children.

If I get involved, like I inevitably always do, I’ll face more than I bargained for--including witches, possessed dolls, and (drumroll) my teenage niece.

4 pages, Audible Audio

First published January 3, 2016

47 people are currently reading
60 people want to read

About the author

H.P. Mallory

369 books2,808 followers
I’m a huge fan of anything paranormal and I always have been. I get super excited whenever they have those Twilight Zone Marathon days and anything ghost or vampire related will always attract my attention.

My interests are varied but aside from writing, I’m most excited about traveling. I’m extremely fortunate to have been able to live in England and Scotland, both places really having a profound effect on my books.

Thanks for checking out my books and I hope you enjoy them! Happy Haunting!

H.P.

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Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews
Profile Image for Montzalee Wittmann.
5,255 reviews2,350 followers
February 7, 2024
Magic in the Night
By H.P. Mallory and J.R. Rain
I hadn't read any earlier books but it didn't throw me off by reading this book that's further down the list. I liked the characters, plot, and paranormal aspects of the book. What I didn't like is the ending which was just a blunt ending! It just stopped. Not even a cliffhanger, but I don't like those either. It pedals along then brakes. Weird.
Profile Image for Jennifer.
1,221 reviews26 followers
June 28, 2022
I have enjoyed re-reading this series lately. I just visited New Orleans again and it was so much fun traveling and thinking about the series, especially since I went on one of the famous New Orleans ghost tours.

That being said this is a great installment of the series but the cliffhanger felt odd. The next book is already out so you don't have to wait for it but I did feel this book ended oddly. I feel like maybe it could have been one book. I forgot about the cliffhanger before

That being said you should read this series, like I said the next book is out so it isn't like you have to wait that long.

I love all the characters, although Drake wasn't as involved in this book as in previous editions. This book will make you curious to see where the author is going. I guess you will have to wait to find out.
Profile Image for Patricia.
1,801 reviews46 followers
August 18, 2021
Welcome back to New Orleans where the ghosts live among the living . Peyton is loving what she is doing . She has two men in her life Ryan the sexy next door neighbour and Drake the sexy ghost that inhabits her house . He once spent time in her body . She is torn between these two men , now lets throw in a niece who coming for a visit . To make the whole situation worse she is feeling horrible . Her health is declining and it seems like she is starting to go crazy. With the visions and Ryan drifting away from her . Her health declining and a dog that seems to help her out when she is feeling crappy . Then there is the mystery of antiques going missing being stolen by ghosts of childresn . Can she survive and will she ever get the happily ever after she so deserves .
I really liked this series I love the characters . Peyton is a fiesty woman who can see ghosts . She is a really fun character . I really liked her and guess what I really like her with Drake . Who is dapper and suave . He will melt your heart as you read him Ryan is a sweet guy too but sometimes he can be a real idiot and you kind of want to hit him over the head cause well he is a male . Like Drake he is tall and sexy as sin . We do get some recurring characters back Lovie is back and trying to keep Peyton safe . We also get a new addition to the family Maggie Peytons cousin . Don't know what to think of her, I believe there is more to her then we know and I hope the next book will bring her out more .
This is one a newer series by the author and I truly like it . The characters are well written and complex and you truly get invested in them . I love the fact that the story is set in New Orleans one of the most haunted city's in the world . The author takes us on a rollercoaster ride through out this book and you will gladly go along for the ride . The story will suck you i from the very first chapter. You will get invested in the characters and you will want to hug them or slap them upside the head with a frying pan . Oh and the ending will make you go what the heck . Its a great ending people and I so can't wait to read the next installment . So if you want a really good series to start your 2020 check it out . I promise you will love it . (
Profile Image for Toni Glitz.
295 reviews3 followers
August 22, 2021
Haunted dreams, strange happenings and new faces. Its never a quiet life for Peyton.

This is book eight of Midlife Spirits, a Paranormal Women’s Fiction series of short novels from HP Mallory. The book is set in the Garden District of New Orleans, USA. There is some romantic interest but there are no scenes of a sexual nature.

As ever, HP Mallory's writing style just pulled me into the story and I raced through it in an evening. If the fact that I’m on book eight hasn’t given it away, I’m really invested in these characters and their journeys. They are well thought out and interesting.

Peyton’s journey back to the past has changed her. Despite the fact that Drake is no longer possessing her and has returned to haunting their house, she is increasingly sensitive to the spirit world around her and is getting a five star reputation for her paranormal investigations. Peyton’s new interest is collecting items with ties to the occult. Her latest acquisition being a porcelain doll which houses a seemingly benevolent spirit.

Paranormal activity in New Orleans seems to be ramping up and both Peyton and Ryan are being drawn into it, whether they want to be or not. The arrival of a new witch in town, some strange goings on which cannot be explained and a visit from Peyton’s young cousin, who is also sensitive to spirit, all serve to interrupt the developing relationship between Peyton and Ryan. Its never a quiet life for the couple.

As ever, the spectres of Guarda and Baron Samedi lurk in the background, seemingly waiting for their moment. They haunt her dreams and they want something from Peyton but what that could be remains a mystery.

The reading order for this series is as follows:

Book 1: Afraid of the Dark
Book 2: A Ghost of a Chance
Book 3: Mischief Brewing
Book 4: Bump in the Night
Book 5: Bone Voyage
Book 6: Deadly Intentions
Book 7: Ghostly Gathering
Book 8: Magic in the Night
Profile Image for Sapphyria  .
2,268 reviews58 followers
August 31, 2021
Peyton is having weird visions and dreams, causing discombobulation within her mind. Someone is threatening to take her home away, and by that, Drake’s home. There are ghost children stealing certain artifacts from various placed around New Orleans. Mysterious women keep popping up in Peyton's dreams, visions, and life. To top it all off, Peyton's niece, Maggie, is here for a visit with news of her own. There is no end to the weird occurrences in this book.

I love Peyton, Ryan, Drake, Maggie, and Lovie. I enjoy the author's smooth and conversational writing style. The characters are likable, complex, and easy to read about, and the story is fun yet terrifying. I was thoroughly engaged and invested in the characters, story, and book, overall.

I was provided a copy of this book to review.
Profile Image for Starla B.
550 reviews17 followers
August 20, 2021
I was very excited for this new story about Peyton and the gang. New friends, new mysteries. Ghosts, thefts and snakes. A heck of a cliffhanger! I love Peyton's niece Maggie, and I hope she gets to stay around for a while. I'm not so sure about some of our other new friends, but I have a feeling there will be more time travel in future stories, so I'm pumped for that. I am curious what happened to Trina, though! We haven't heard about her in a couple of books. Hopefully she makes an appearance soon. I'm pretty worried about Ryan, too. Seems like he might not be at 100%. I'm wondering if that's natural, a coincidence...or maybe Baron and Guarda haven't faded to the background and are still pulling strings. We'll have to just keep reading and see what happens next!
Profile Image for Wendy.
55 reviews
December 1, 2022
Entertaining but sloppy writing. The inconsistencies in the series are off-putting. First of all Peyton started off as a 40 something year old divorced woman, and a few books in she becomes a late 20-year-old. Kind of leaves the "midlife spirits series" rather ill-named.
Now in this book we meet Peyton's cousin who she last saw at a family reunion (and her aunt never liked her), yet we were told up to this point that Peyton has no family after her mother died, and never knew of any family because her mother never mentioned any.
I can get past the random spelling error, forgotten word, etc., but this is really sloppy attention to detail on the part of the author(s). The story is fun, but the gaping holes really detract from the story and make it feel like the story was just half-assed.
Profile Image for Brandy Barber.
969 reviews23 followers
August 27, 2021
We are back!! In this book we see a bunch of new Characters. I was so excited to see how Payton was going to get through all these new problems and have a teenager around. Yawl there was some funny parts, I felt for Payton. I hope we see less of Drake and more of Ryan. Just adding my vote in while I can. LOL. HP keeps you guessing in this book. She really weaves a spell over this book. Then we don't even want to cover the end. That sucker really hits you hard. I hope everyone enjoys this book as much as me. Very easy to read.
Profile Image for Linda.
1,379 reviews
January 16, 2022
Hmmm, where is this going?

Peyton's is cousin is visiting during a time of ghostly thefts and she happens to be sensitive to ghosts too. Speculation is rife that something wicked is coming. A new witch is in town hoping to figure out what is going on and has ripped in Peyton and gang to help. Things get interesting when Peyton adds a possessed doll to her collection of paranormal antiques.
Profile Image for Jami Kehr.
1,099 reviews15 followers
August 20, 2021
Just when you think everything is going good for Peyton, Mallory spins that right around. Peyton's not feeling 100% and then enters... the teenager..I joke..teens aren't that bad but I'm not sure what to make of Maggie, Peyton's teenage cousin. Of course Drake and Ryan are both still in the picture and I'm drooling over both. Another great installment in the Midlife Spirits series!
1,898 reviews5 followers
September 6, 2021
My love of New Orleans grows with every book of this series that I read. It is so much fun to read about places I have visited. I get frustrated with the triangle of Peyton, Drake and Ryan but I suspect they all are also. Ryan is amazingly tolerant of a world that he doesn't necessarily understand. Peyton's niece is a wonderful additional character.
Profile Image for Stephanie Barnes.
456 reviews12 followers
August 29, 2021
This is a great series. Two ladies come to Peyton wanting to find a relative. In order to do so, she has to travel back in time to New York 1910. Drake will be in the flesh with her. Peyton has always had a weird attraction toward the ghost in her head but now she can feel him, but what if Ryan?
The characters really come to life. From the description given I feel like I was thrust into the time period.
I will continue reading this series to the conclusion.
Profile Image for Stephanie Manning.
85 reviews1 follower
August 19, 2021
Loving the new characters!!! Hope we see more of them...and maybe less of ryan lol 🤔
1,785 reviews6 followers
August 22, 2021
This was an entertaining, well-written book. There's non-stop action, and no predicting what will happen. I enjoyed this book and would recommend it to others.
18 reviews1 follower
August 25, 2021
Entranced by story

I was deeply involved in the climaxes of this book. I had to keep reading until I finished. Excellent series
9 reviews
August 25, 2021
Started the series with this book

It has been years since I was able to read a book from start to finish in a few days. It kept my interest and I enjoyed the characters.
8 reviews
August 26, 2021
Got me coming back 🙂

You have the ability to keep one guessing and guessing and guessing you did make one mistake and close at the car and one scene instead of the truck
1,190 reviews9 followers
August 27, 2021
I am enjoying rediscovering this series. I really enjoyed this book so much. Love the twist and turns of what happens in this series. I recommend reading it.
Profile Image for Terri Pykosh.
15 reviews2 followers
August 29, 2021
Another attention grabber!

I'm hooked! Can't wait to see where this goes and I want to know a real life Peyton. Definitely recommend this series!
Profile Image for Michelle Jenkins.
903 reviews3 followers
September 2, 2021
ghost story

you can’t help but love the ghost. the main character tends to get on my nerves but you can’t help but like her with Ryan
Profile Image for Nadine.
1,907 reviews2 followers
September 5, 2021
Whoa, what a ride!

What an exciting story! Some weird occurrences. The new characters were a good addition! Twists and turns until I didn’t know what was left or right anymore, LOL. Recommend!
Profile Image for Andrea Latham.
1,352 reviews26 followers
April 11, 2025
More ghosts, possessed doll and romance may be going sideways. Nice fun relaxing story.
Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews

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