Restless Spirits

Restless Spirits #1

by Jean Marie Bauhaus

Veronica “Ron” Wilson has her whole life behind her. At least, that’s what she comes to realize soon after waking up in the mysterious house she had come to investigate. A paranormal investigator by trade, Ron now finds herself investigating her own death with the help of a handful of helpful friendly ghosts -- and one who’s just a pain in the rear-end. Unfortunately, being dead doesn’t keep Ron from noticing that he also possesses quite the nice rear-end or from tingling in ways that almost make her feel alive whenever he’s near…. As if unwanted afterlife crushes weren’t bad enough, Ron soon discovers that she and her fellow ghosts aren’t the house’s only inhabitants. They’re all at the mercy of an entity named Sarah, who looks like a cute and innocent kid, but is in fact the reason each and every one of them died. Now Sarah keeps them prisoner and makes them her playthings, until she gets tired of them and… well, it turns out you can kill someone who’s already dead. Or at least Sarah can. With the help of her still-living sister, a psychic medium who can talk to the dead, Ron and her ghostly housemates must unlock all of the mysteries that the house has to offer and find the way to defeat Sarah once and for all. Only then will they be free to move on to the other side. But is Ron really ready to go, especially now that she knows there’s a lot of living to do after death?

Genres: Paranormal, Horror, Romance, Fantasy, Ghosts, Paranormal Romance

224 pages, Kindle Edition

First published June 14, 2011

About the author

Jean Marie Bauhaus is a traditionally-published and indie author of five novels and counting, as well as a number of novellas and short stories. She also writes freelance articles about dogs for a living.

Born and raised in Oklahoma, she currently makes her home in the middle of the woods deep in the Ozark mountains with her own dog, a fierce and mighty Chihuahua named Pete, her husband of 13 years, and a gaggle of other four-legged dependents. When she’s not writing about ghosts, zombies, vampires and other things that go bump in the night, she can usually be found hiking the side of the mountain or trading her keyboard for knitting needles and curling up with a mug of tea and a horror podcast.

Or at the microwave, re-heating her tea because she forgot to drink it before it got cold. #writerproblems

Jean has a Bachelor of Science in Social Science, Psych/Soc emphasis, which means she’s smart enough to finish college but not smart enough to choose a major that’s actually useful. But it comes in handy for building psychological character profiles and developing post-apocalyptic societies.

Easily spooked by ghost stories as a child, teen Jean faced her fears by forcing herself to watch horror movies and read Stephen King until she fell in love with the genre. As a grown-up (more or less, depending on who you ask), her tastes expanded to include a broader range of speculative fiction and romance, but she keeps coming back to the supernatural and paranormal. She has a strong affection for all things zombie-related, which is a good thing considering she’s currently writing a trilogy in that genre. Watch for Desolation of the Damned, the third book in her Walking Dead/ True Blood mashup Trilogy of the Damned, to come out in the summer of 2020.

Sign up for Jean’s mailing list at jeanmariebauhaus.com so you never miss a new release, and come chat with her on Twitter @jmbauhaus or follow her at fb.com/JeanMarieBauhaus.

Reviews

[Jay · Rating 4 out of 5]

~ 4 Stars ~

Veronica "Ron" Wilson, a newbie ghost hunter, decides to explore a haunted house where she is later killed by the evil spirit of a little girl called Sarah. Now a ghost, she's stuck in the house with a couple of other equally dead people, trying to figure out a way to escape the clutches of a psychotic 6-year-old. Trouble is, the little devil can make you relive (ha, pun) the way you died as many times as she wants to, which is pretty often. Especially if you try to escape. Which also happens pretty often.



Luckily, our Ron reaches peak don't-give-a-fuck pretty damn quick and with the help of her psychic sister, a handsome dead guy and a family worthy of an appearance on The Jeremy Kyle Show, she sets out to bitch-slap Sarah into the next world.

I really enjoyed this book but I do wish it was a bit more... hmmm... detailed? We kind of flew from one thing to another like The Flash on cocaine, and as much as I love fast-paced stories, I would've preferred to have a bit more character development instead of getting a whiplash.

Still a fun read! :)

Thanks NetGalley for the ARC!

[Jean Marie Bauhaus · Rating 5 out of 5]

Of course I have to give my own book five stars. ;) But instead of writing a totally biased review, I'll use this space to talk a little about this book's journey. The book that would be Restless Spirits began life as a 2008 Nanowrimo project. I came to 'Wrimo three days late with no idea what I would write, and then suddenly Ron Wilson started talking to me and didn't stop until the book was finished. It was the second time I won Nanowrimo and the first and only time that I, a died-in-the-wool plotter, ever successfully pantsed my way through a book.

I decided to self-publish it in 2012, eventually making it perma-free in order to attract new readers to my work. I had always intended for it to be a stand-alone and had moved on to other things in spite of numerous requests for a sequel. But in 2015 I began to envision what life would be like for Chris Wilson, Ron's younger sister, with Ron's continued presence in her life.

As fate would have it, not long after that I was contacted by a senior editor from Vinspire Publishing. She had read Restless Spirits and was interested in acquiring it, and also would I be interested in continuing it as a series?

Of course I said yes. After another editing pass by Vinspire's editors to make sure it met their guidelines, the Vinspire version of Restless Spirits launched on Halloween of 2016, with the sequel, Kindred Spirits , coming out the following year.

And now I'm excited to say that the third book, Bound Spirits, is scheduled to come out at the end of July 2018. If you'd like to know more about that, watch this space, which I'll edit with news about the series as it becomes available, including when ARCs and pre-orders are available. You can also follow me so you'll be sure to see news updates on my blog, or sign up to my newsletter so you'll be the first to know the book's status and also get to read new excerpts before anyone else.

If you do subscribe to my newsletter, you'll also be sent a link to download a free copy of The Gift, a short prequel to Restless Spirits that focuses on Joe's time with the Collier family and his growing suspicions that something's not quite right about their youngest girl, Sarah.

Finally, if you have any questions about any of the books in this series, feel free to use the Ask the Author form on my profile.

[Dawn · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a pretty quick read and if you're into ghost or paranormal you'll probably enjoy this book.

A sister ghost hunting team who have run into a snag, the older sister, disobeying the younger sister who can see ghosts about waiting to investigate a very old, very famous house is killed within the first hour or so after she arrives.

She has company though, about a hundred years worth of ghosts that lived in the house. Veronica has met Joe and Lilly, Maxwell and Mrs. Baird and Ed and his dog Buster. Not to mention Sarah. She is the evil thing within the house.

Together with her now ghost roommates and her sister, Chris, they have to figure out what has happened and try to help everyone move on.

This was a bit different for me. I can see it as the beginning of a series and would probably read the next book in it. I didn't get as captivated as I was hoping but it was a good ghost story nonetheless.

I received this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Shannon · Rating 3 out of 5]

I won a Kindle version of Restless Spirits, a novella by Jean Marie Bauhaus from a giveaway on a blog that I read.

The book begins with the death of Veronica “Ronnie” Wilson. She and her sister are partners in a ghost hunting business, and they have finally received permission to investigate the old Baird house. This house is about 80 years with a history of tragic murders, suicides, and other deaths. Ronnie’s sister, Chris, is about two hours away at thee time they get the go ahead, and she begs Ronnie to wait for her. Obviously, Ronnie doesn’t listen, as when she wakes up, she is a ghost looking down on her body, twisted at a grotesque angle from falling down the stairs.

She meets other inhabitants of the house, including the Bairds themselves. Ruth Baird apparently went crazy and took an axe to her husband, then locked her daughter in the basement to starve to death before killing herself. Joe, a very quiet ghost, who is a mystery to Ronnie, and Ed, who keeps to himself in the attic, along with his ghost Jack Russell, are the other two occupants.

Well, there is one more… Sarah, a red-haired little girl in overalls seems sweet enough in appearance, but as Ronnie soon discovers, is the one that caused her death, among others. Sarah is strong, and she can transform into a demonic being with a gaping black maw that can apparently swallow up ghosts, seeming to kill them again. Sarah takes pleasure in keeping them all trapped inside the house, and making them relive their deaths over and over whenever she seems bored.

The others are used to this, trying to take sanctuary in the relatively safe kitchen, but Ronnie has had enough after a couple of days. She wants to fight back. Chris comes back to visit the house, and Ronnie is able to make sure that she knows she is there, but Sarah is angry enough that Ronnie tells Chris not to come back, afraid that Sarah will kill her, too.

Ronnie figures out that she can actually touch solid things, etc. when she is feeling an intense emotion. Originally, she thinks it is anger that allows her these abilities, but as she and Joe fall for each other, she discovers otherwise. This is when she finally figures out she can leave the house, and goes to visit her sister Chris.

Ronnie tells Chris everything she knows and Chris takes the information and uncovers as much as she can in her research. Ronnie hopes that she will find a way to defeat Sarah so that the ghosts can be free. But what Chris discovers only creates more questions for Ronnie. What kind of person is Joe? Did he play a role in Sarah’s death?

Ronnie returns to the house to find answers to these questions. She knows she must find out the truth in order to help herself, and all of them, be rid of Sarah and escape her prison.

I have very mixed feelings about this story. While the story was plotted out well, and I enjoyed it for the most part, I do have a few complaints.

Mainly, there were inconsistencies that should have corrected in the editing process. The main character’s last name is Wilson, but in one statement, she identifies herself with the last name of Parker. Also, Sarah was spelled as “Sara” in a few places, but was still referring to the same character. One statement read “If the look on Lilly’s face weren’t enough to…” “The look” is singular, so it should have read “wasn’t,” not “weren’t.” There were many grammar issues in dialogue, but that is accepted because it was the character’s speech that was incorrect, not the writing.

I also felt there were inconsistencies in Joe’s behavior. Initially, I was given the impression that he was honorable, and a gentleman from a past era, but then something happened that didn’t at all seem to fit with that description either.

Anyway, like I said, I enjoyed the story, but the grammar issues and inconsistencies were very distracting. There just should have been more editing before being published.

[Kristina Anderson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Restless Spirits by Jean Marie Bauhaus is a paranormal mystery novel. Veronica “Ron” Wilson is a romance writer and a ghost hunter. Ron went into business with her sister, Christine (prefers “Chris”). Chris can see and talk to ghosts. She has had the ability since she was a child (personally, I wish she was the main character). Ron gets a call from Chris that they finally have permission to enter the Baird house. The Baird house has a history of murder-suicides going back to the 1930s. It took them months to get permission from the latest heirs to enter the house (the heirs are fighting over the house—neither one of them want it). Ron rushes over to the Baird house (she decides to go by herself). Chris is two hours away on another case and advises Ron to wait for her. Ron, of course, decides to ignore her advice. Ron enters the house and sets up her computer along with cameras (and other ghost detecting equipment). Ron asks if anyone is present in the house. Someone types a message on the computer. They tell Ron to get out now while she can. Ron is going to leave, but then she hears a child crying. Ron goes up the stairs to investigate. Ron then wakes up at the bottom of the staircase—dead! Ron is locked in the house with other spirits (including the Baird family) and cannot escape. Another ghost is holding them captive. Ron sets out to find out who the spirit is and why she is terrorizing people and the other ghosts. Will Ron ever be free? Will she be able to communicate with her sister?

Restless Spirits is an interesting concept. The premise has potential and could be a good series with a little reworking. I found the main character, Ron to be pushy and annoying. She is a hard character to like with her “my way or the highway” approach. I would have preferred the sister, Chris to be the protagonist. It was different, though, to have a ghost as the central character. It did offer a different perspective. Restless Spirits had a little too much romance in it for a paranormal mystery novel. I give Restless Spirits 3 out of 5 stars (it was okay). The novel has a good pace, nice writing and some entertaining spirits. The mystery was intriguing. There are some grammar issues and inconsistencies in the novel that need to be corrected (the editor must have been asleep at her computer).

[Ann · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed reading this book about ghosts and the paranormal. Veronica goes for a preliminary investigation of a haunted house and is killed by an evil ghost in the form of a little girl. Ronnie and her sister operate a paranormal investigation company and now Ronnie has to figure out how to communicate with the living before her sister dies in this house too. Populated with various generations of ghosts, Ronnie makes friends and recruits them to help destroy the evil from the house. A good story line and hopefully there will be additional books. First published in 2011.

[Stacy Jackson · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent spin on the paranormal ghost hunter adventure! Looking forward to reading more by this author! 5 stars!

[Jessica · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was inventive and enjoyable.

[JWinter · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brilliant ghost story filled with drama and mystery with a touch of romance. I could not put this down and the twists were some of the best that i have read. The backstories of the ghosts were colorful and drama filled, and the villain wasn't some sad and misunderstood soul but rather a pure psychopath.
Absolutely loved it!

[Meghan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was expecting a romance and got a horror, but that's okay! While I don't normally read horror - I hate being scared - I really enjoyed this story. Learning about all the ghosts and how they died was interesting, and the evil ghost's backstory creeped me out (in a good way).

Veronica Wilson is dead. One minute she is investigating a haunted house for her ghost hunting business, and the next she is waking up next to her bloody corpse. She is not alone. There are other ghosts, trapped in the house along with her by a powerful young ghost named Sarah. And Sarah is angry. Very angry.

There is a bit of romance in this book, but it is largely overshadowed by the ghostly happenings. Veronica develops romantic feelings for another ghost, Joe, who is keeping a very big secret. They grow closer as the story progresses, but their relationship is tested when Joe's big secret is revealed. I thought I knew what it was pretty early on, and I did to a certain extent, but you're sure to be surprised when you find out how he died.

The writer is an amazing storyteller, and I felt like I was reading a story normally told around a campfire to scare everyone before they go to sleep. I am eternally grateful that I read this while the sun was still out.

**I received a free copy via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.**

[Jen · Rating 4 out of 5]

For my full review of this title, visit my book blog, So Few Books, at: https://sofewbooks.blogspot.com/2016/...!

This tale is a different take on the traditional ghost story, in that the protagonist is herself a ghost. As such, she’s hardly spooky, and neither are any of the other main characters, most of whom are ghosts as well. However, these is one entity who also haunts the house they are trapped in, who is definitely scary. Her name is Sara, and she usually appears as a cute little girl; she does, however, have the ability to transform into a seriously creepy demon-like entity that can apparently devour souls.

Mostly, the plot of the novel involves solving the mystery of how Sara came to be there and keep them all there, as well as how they might possibly escape from her clutches.

I did not want to put this book down once I started reading it and was sad to see it come to a close, even though the ending was quite a satisfying one. It does have a clear-cut resolution of the action presented in the narrative, but there is a lot of room for future story lines and potential sequels should the author have more stories to share about the main characters.

I received an eBook copy of this title free from NetGalley, and have willingly provided an honest review.

[Shannon Gambino · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ghost hunters beware. If you come across a very young red-haired girl crying and holding a red ball, RUN! Sarah can not only kill you once, but on a whim, she can force you to replay your death for her own morbid entertainment. Ms. Bauhaus does a fascinating job writing a story from the perspective of earth-bound spirits trapped together in their home of death, the Baird house. The flow of the story and character development moved as easily as an ethereal spirit in the night. Beautiful narrative where even in death love overpowers evil.

Ms Bauhaus also provides a glimpse into her next novel, "Dominion of the Damned." I tore through the sneak peek chapters wanting more with each page. I greatly enjoyed reading "Restless Spirits" and look forward to her next work, "Dominion of the Damned."

[D. Messing · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a very, very good story! I request this copy from Netgalley only to discover that I'd already purchased it from amazon a while ago!! Fortunately I loved the story then, and I loved it just as much this time! It was a fantastic ghost story, spooky but not gross, had a mile wide streak of mystery, topped off with a dash of sweet romance (I REALLY appreciated the romance not being graphic!). The timing was perfect as Halloween is in a few days!! Very well done, starts off with a bang (literally!), and just keeps racing on until you reach the end. I also like the way it ends, there is something very satisfying about everything coming to a resolution neatly at the end of a story. Absolutely loved it

[John Kilgallon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Captivating from the start. I got to thinking, ghosts, okay! But, it quickly turned into a story I couldn't wait to get back to. I've tried to read paranormal romance before, but they were always more romance than paranormal. Or the cozy mystery with the ghostly helper, always from the living main character's POV. This was different. Perhaps because the main character is a spirit, recently deceased? Perhaps because the romance is not front and center all the time? Perhaps the plot alone was quite engaging? Probably a combination of all three, and more. Needless to say, I liked the book and highly recommend it for a change of pace from the serious horror, thriller, and even science fiction reads you may have become accustomed to.

[Alana · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you like ghost stories and/or paranormal romance, you will love this book; it brings the two together brilliantly.

The characters are immediately likeable and I was sucked straight into the story from page one. When there are quite a few different characters in a story I find that there are usually one or two that I don't particularly care about, not so in this book. I found them all well rounded and believable and would happily read more about all of them.

Overall this was a very enjoyable read that I found hard to put down, and I will definitely be reading more from this author.

Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

[Nannette · Rating 5 out of 5]

"This hit me like a Hallmark commercial and a sappy love song and a particularly powerful episode of a Joss Whedon show all packaged together and topped with a PMS bow."
The entire book was as witty and entertaining as the above sentence. I really enjoyed it. A combination of a mystery and a ghost story, both genres well done. I will be checking out more of Ms. Bauhaus books. Give yourself a fun visit to a haunted house, filled with mystery and a pretty hot dead guy.

[teri sickels · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a fun read!

You get to know the characters, story blend ghosts, humor, + love, which lightens any sadness. It felt it a bit whimsical on a paranormal way and couldn't put the book down. I have never read a book written from this viewpoint of living/deceased which I loved. One paragraph in book have me the giggles for entire day. Definitely want to read more of this author....thanks!

[Videoclimber(AKA)MTsLilSis · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this new take on a ghost story. This was a unique, interesting story. It was a quick read which held my attention throughout. Imagine how strange it would be to be a ghost? What would you do? Can ghosts fall in love? Can they help us from the other side? I really loved this story it was just a little too over the top for me to make it a five star read. I would love to read more by this author!

[Danielle Donaldson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Picked up this novella for free from a tweet from Bauhaus. It was a fun and quick read. I read it by the pool on a sunny day. I loved the characters and only wish the story was a little longer. The characters are endearing and readers really root for them. As a fan of paranormal/ghost hunting shows, I was even more intrigued. This novella makes me want to search for more stories like it.

[Teri · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book! It melds the ghostly paranormal with a love story without the "sap" typically found in love stories. It had intrigue, romance, ghosts, murder...this story had it all. Definitely a fun book to read.

[Janice · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mega fantastic!

Absolutely adore this book! Not only does the story take place in my home State, but it grabs you com the very first paragraph. Fantastic book from beginning to end!

[Janae Mitchell · Rating 4 out of 5]

Being a paranormal investigator & geek, I really enjoyed this story. It had that spooky factor with ghost hunter elements, as well as some ghostly love. If you like ghost stories, you should give this one go.

[Brandi Nyborg · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm a huge fan of ghost stories, so of course this book is right up my alley. I loved the main character, Ron. She's intelligent, snarky, and takes no one's crap. This book is short, but it packs in plenty of action and suspense until it's heart warming conclusion!

[Becky · Rating 5 out of 5]

I want more! Can't wait for the next book in the series. Ms.Bauhaus knows how to write for this style of genre. I was captivated and captured while reading this book. I didn't want to put it down. Couldn't wait to see what was going to happen next. A must have book and a must have author!

[Suzanne Rowland · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful book. Couldn't put it down. You have a naughty little girl,romance, ghosthunters, and a surprising ending, If y
ou like ghost stories, happy endings and surprises, This is the book for you .

[Courtney Bycroft · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an amazing book! Seriously one of the best I've ever read, and I've read a lot! It is an easy read and a page-turner. Could not possibly recommend it any more!

[Tammy Ellis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great paranormal story...I couldn't put it down! It was a real page turner till the very end! Would recommend this book and author to anyone!

[Masquerade Crew]

SEE ALANA'S REVIEW HERE!

[Teresa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Restless Spirits by Jean Marie Bauhaus  
I love reading paranormal books. And My favorite cast of characters are ghosts.. This book was one of the better ones I have read. I love how the characters were predominately ghosts. There were very limited alive characters in the book and they had tiny parts. One the sister had a bit larger part but it was still a small part. I really enjoyed that this book was written in 1st person or should I say 1st ghost since it was the recently deceased Veronica's story.
 
Veronica "Ron" and her sister own their own paranormal research group. They finally get a chance to investigate a house all paranormal enthusiasts have been dreaming of. Veronica against her sisters wishes goes to the house alone to get a feel for the place. Once there she is killed and becomes one of the resident ghosts of the house. 
 
She learns from the other ghosts in the house that Sarah a small child ghost has turned this house into a prison for all of their souls and there s no escape. Veronica does not this news setting down and is determined to get them all out of the house. She knows her sister will come back to pick up the equipment that she brought with her on the day of her death and starts planning how to communicate with her. 
 
Her sister has always been able to see ghosts but with the way Sarah has their prison set up she knows her sister will not be able to see her. So sh strikes up a plan with the hep of the other ghosts to contact her sister. Eventually Ron figures out what she can and cannot do and how emotions play a part in enabling her to be able to touch things, make herself heard and eventually leave the house. She also figures out that Sarah must be beaten to save all of their souls.
 
This is kind of a short book, which is good because I couldn't put it down. I read late into the night but finished and was actually able to get some sleep, if it had been longer I probably would of never got any sleep I would of set up all night, 
 
I received this book from the Author or Publisher via Netgalley.com to read and review.

[Teresa · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love reading paranormal books. And My favorite cast of characters are ghosts.. This book was one of the better ones I have read. I love how the characters were predominately ghosts. There were very limited alive characters in the book and they had tiny parts. One the sister had a bit larger part but it was still a small part. I really enjoyed that this book was written in 1st person or should I say 1st ghost since it was the recently deceased Veronica's story.

Veronica "Ron" and her sister own their own paranormal research group. They finally get a chance to investigate a house all paranormal enthusiasts have been dreaming of. Veronica against her sisters wishes goes to the house alone to get a feel for the place. Once there she is killed and becomes one of the resident ghosts of the house.

She learns from the other ghosts in the house that Sarah a small child ghost has turned this house into a prison for all of their souls and there s no escape. Veronica does not this news setting down and is determined to get them all out of the house. She knows her sister will come back to pick up the equipment that she brought with her on the day of her death and starts planning how to communicate with her.

Her sister has always been able to see ghosts but with the way Sarah has their prison set up she knows her sister will not be able to see her. So sh strikes up a plan with the hep of the other ghosts to contact her sister. Eventually Ron figures out what she can and cannot do and how emotions play a part in enabling her to be able to touch things, make herself heard and eventually leave the house. She also figures out that Sarah must be beaten to save all of their souls.

This is kind of a short book, which is good because I couldn't put it down. I read late into the night but finished and was actually able to get some sleep, if it had been longer I probably would of never got any sleep I would of set up all night,

I received this book from the Author or Publisher via Netgalley.com to read and review.