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Viola Valentine Mystery #1
A Ghost of a Chance
They say there are blessings from Hurricane Katrina. One is starting over.
The hurricane gave Viola Valentine the chance she needed to leave her dead-end job and loveless marriage. But the storm also blew open a psychic door, one that Viola had worked hard to keep close.
Her first day in her new job as travel writer and ghosts who have died by water are demanding attention, asking her to solve their mysteries.
On top of it all, her goofy ex-husband isn’t about to let her go.
Can she insist on a clean slate while juggling communicating with those on the Other Side? And will her new talent allow her to reach her daughter who died of leukemia years before?
A paranormal mystery series by award-winning author Cherie Claire.
The hurricane gave Viola Valentine the chance she needed to leave her dead-end job and loveless marriage. But the storm also blew open a psychic door, one that Viola had worked hard to keep close.
Her first day in her new job as travel writer and ghosts who have died by water are demanding attention, asking her to solve their mysteries.
On top of it all, her goofy ex-husband isn’t about to let her go.
Can she insist on a clean slate while juggling communicating with those on the Other Side? And will her new talent allow her to reach her daughter who died of leukemia years before?
A paranormal mystery series by award-winning author Cherie Claire.
256 pages, Kindle Edition
Published January 11, 2017
742 people are currently reading
879 people want to read
About the author
Cherie Claire
27 books138 followersCherie Claire grew up in New Orleans, with mud between her toes and a rabid love of Mardi Gras parades. Naturally, she couldn't help but write about her unique, colorful state and the South.
Cherie is the award-winning author of several Cajun historical romances and The Cajun Embassy series of contemporary romances and the Viola Valentine paranormal mystery series. She's a Holt Award finalist, a Romantic Times Reviewer's Choice Award finalist, and received the Louisiana Press Women Book of the Year.
She also writes non-fiction books under the name of Cheré Dastugue Coen.
Visit her website at www.cherieclaire.net and write to her at CajunRomances@Yahoo.com.
Cherie is the award-winning author of several Cajun historical romances and The Cajun Embassy series of contemporary romances and the Viola Valentine paranormal mystery series. She's a Holt Award finalist, a Romantic Times Reviewer's Choice Award finalist, and received the Louisiana Press Women Book of the Year.
She also writes non-fiction books under the name of Cheré Dastugue Coen.
Visit her website at www.cherieclaire.net and write to her at CajunRomances@Yahoo.com.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 154 reviews
February 23, 2018
I have already mentioned that there are numerous homophone errors in this book. It is also littered with malapropisms like "taunt muscles" instead of "taut muscles" (I envisioned someone's abdomen going "Neener, neener, neener!") "half-hazard" instead of "haphazard," and, so help me God, a "sexual assassination" instead of a "sexual assignation."
And all of that is a real shame, because the story is good. Viola Valentine has lost both her home and her job to Hurricane Katrina, and she's on her first trip as a travel writer. She's seeing two things she doesn't want to see: ghosts, and her estranged husband T-Bubba, whom she is going to divorce (he shows up at the hotel where she's staying). One of the ghosts is trying to tell her about a series of murders, which constitute the mystery portion of the plot.
The premise is outstanding, and I could have really enjoyed this book if I weren't constantly being jerked out of the story by errors that a decent proofreader would have caught.
This is the third series by Cherie Claire that I have tried, and they all suffer from the same problem: great story lines marred by uncorrected poor grammar. I don't think I'll be trying any more.
Three stars for a decent story.
And all of that is a real shame, because the story is good. Viola Valentine has lost both her home and her job to Hurricane Katrina, and she's on her first trip as a travel writer. She's seeing two things she doesn't want to see: ghosts, and her estranged husband T-Bubba, whom she is going to divorce (he shows up at the hotel where she's staying). One of the ghosts is trying to tell her about a series of murders, which constitute the mystery portion of the plot.
The premise is outstanding, and I could have really enjoyed this book if I weren't constantly being jerked out of the story by errors that a decent proofreader would have caught.
This is the third series by Cherie Claire that I have tried, and they all suffer from the same problem: great story lines marred by uncorrected poor grammar. I don't think I'll be trying any more.
Three stars for a decent story.
February 16, 2018
Quirky, unusual, and definitely not a cozy mystery--no matter what the cover of this book depicts. It took me a little while to get into this story and characters, but I have to say by a 1/3 of the way in I was really enjoying reading it. I especially loved how the author dealt with ghosts, she had a different and unusual look that I enjoyed reading--most likely because (for me) it was new and fresh.
A first, for me, was I could really see this book being made in a tv. series. A first I say because I really prefer reading to watching any tv. Although Cherie Claire wrote really well and I was immersed in the story I can still see how watching this story could really be invigorating.
A first, for me, was I could really see this book being made in a tv. series. A first I say because I really prefer reading to watching any tv. Although Cherie Claire wrote really well and I was immersed in the story I can still see how watching this story could really be invigorating.
March 18, 2018
Katrina aftermath and paranormal happenings!
The background story of lives affected by hurricane Katrina gave some insight to those of us who were too overwhelmed at the time by press coverage to connect to the horror of the individuals who lived through it. It was like a mini history lesson in my favorite form: a good story! I gave the book a four rating for its plot and story. However I have to caution anyone reading it in its present form that it is in dire need of both editing and proofreading. There are grammar, sentence structure, and incorrect word usage problems throughout that I found extremely distracting but chose to overlook because of story was really very good.
The background story of lives affected by hurricane Katrina gave some insight to those of us who were too overwhelmed at the time by press coverage to connect to the horror of the individuals who lived through it. It was like a mini history lesson in my favorite form: a good story! I gave the book a four rating for its plot and story. However I have to caution anyone reading it in its present form that it is in dire need of both editing and proofreading. There are grammar, sentence structure, and incorrect word usage problems throughout that I found extremely distracting but chose to overlook because of story was really very good.
January 13, 2018
This was an engaging story. You were pulled along with the plot by the main character, Viola, and even though I didn't find her that likable I did feel sorry for her on occasion. Driven out of New Orleans after a horrendous time during Hurricane Katrina, Viola Valentine walks away from the ruins of her home and husband. Despite losing everything she begins rebuilding a life for herself that includes a freelance gig as a travel writer. It's a pity that the luxury hotel she's booked into seems to include hot and cold running ghosts along with the room service! If ever there was a time to discover you could see ghosts it would have to be just when her life was getting back to some kind of normal!
A good read overall, found my attention wandering in the middle section though. Not sure I engaged with Viola enough to read the sequels but I might check out other books by this author because overall she has a good scope for mysteries, which if you enjoy then this might be the book for you.
A good read overall, found my attention wandering in the middle section though. Not sure I engaged with Viola enough to read the sequels but I might check out other books by this author because overall she has a good scope for mysteries, which if you enjoy then this might be the book for you.
February 16, 2018
Surprisingly dark, this ghost mystery moves apace with Viola seeing drowned ghosts everywhere. She's trying to leave her husband, trying to start a career in travel reporting, trying to move on with her life after the death of her daughter and the ravages of Katrina.
When she gets a press trip to Eureka Springs, Arkansas, she thinks life is finally going her way. What she finds instead are five ghosts who want vindication. Her soon-to-be ex invites himself along on her press tour, driving her bonkers, and a ghost in her room gives her longing looks. One of her fellow travel reporters is an ass who believes post-Katrina New Orleans is just looking for handouts, another thinks she's entitled just because she works for a fancy magazine. How will Viola deal with all this and write her article too?
Claire comes off as having a real understanding of Katrina victims, as well as how losing a child affects a person. Thus, the pathos is genuine and heartfelt. I actually teared up once.
February 18, 2017
The story was pretty good, but the bad grammar and spelling made it PAINFUL to get through. Someone send the author a proofreader for Christmas!
February 1, 2019
3.5 stars (3 here, 4 on Amazon) At the half-way point, this turned into a page-turning paranormal mystery. Until then, I wondered where the story was going, especially with so much time devoted to other things, such as the main character's feelings about the soon-to-be-ex-husband, whom I liked a lot, but whose contribution to the plot (except for the sex scene) could have been covered by one of the other characters. I never did understand why the main character didn't want to remain married to him, although she tried numerous times to explain to the reader. His demise made the ending a little disappointing. I've never lost a child, so perhaps that often rips couples apart permanently. But the ghost story is a good one, and I like the author's writing style.
I was quite familiar with the details surrounding hurricane Katrina because I was a Louisiana native living on the Mississippi coast at the time (where Katrina landed), which suffered as much as New Orleans but didn't receive the press coverage. The author brought in politics, so I'll add that the mayor of New Orleans (Ray Nagin) and some Louisiana state officials at the time kept the people of N.O. from evacuating more easily (there was time to do so) or receiving aid quickly afterward, not President Bush. Lots of people in Louisiana and Mississippi chose to "ride out" hurricanes, never expecting Katrina to be as bad as she was. The people of Mississippi suffered the same hurricane, with it literally wiping entire towns off the landscape, but because of Mississippi state and local officials, businesses in the state, and the neighborly actions of the people, citizens received relief and recovered more quickly. I still shiver when thinking of the true stories of lives lost, heroism exhibited, and generosity shown by people in both states.
Back to the story itself ... if you enjoy ghost stories or those related to natural disasters, I recommend this one, but for adults only, not teens.
I was quite familiar with the details surrounding hurricane Katrina because I was a Louisiana native living on the Mississippi coast at the time (where Katrina landed), which suffered as much as New Orleans but didn't receive the press coverage. The author brought in politics, so I'll add that the mayor of New Orleans (Ray Nagin) and some Louisiana state officials at the time kept the people of N.O. from evacuating more easily (there was time to do so) or receiving aid quickly afterward, not President Bush. Lots of people in Louisiana and Mississippi chose to "ride out" hurricanes, never expecting Katrina to be as bad as she was. The people of Mississippi suffered the same hurricane, with it literally wiping entire towns off the landscape, but because of Mississippi state and local officials, businesses in the state, and the neighborly actions of the people, citizens received relief and recovered more quickly. I still shiver when thinking of the true stories of lives lost, heroism exhibited, and generosity shown by people in both states.
Back to the story itself ... if you enjoy ghost stories or those related to natural disasters, I recommend this one, but for adults only, not teens.
May 9, 2020
One of the wonderful things about Kindles (which I fought against for years - I loved my Kobo - still do but that’s a story for another time) is that you have the chance to try books that are new to you. So many of those are free (though I’m not sure I like the idea of having to return them - I’m notorious for re-reading my favourite books). This means there is the potential to find a new favourite author.
Ghost of a Chance is about a Hurricane Katrina survivor who is living in circumstances that are not ideal, to say the least. She lives in a tiny house ‘a potting shed’ as the main character, Viola Valentine, describes it. She is also at loggerheads with her soon to be ex-husband and has a difficult relationship with her mother. Add into that mix that she has lost her child and it’s understandable that she leaps at the chance to escape to Eureka Springs.
Viola takes her courage in both hands and follows her dreams, embarking on a new career. The character reminds me of me. On a tour of some new caves, Viola wanders off to explore a part of the cave she should not be in - with life changing results.
Abruptly, Viola (who seems to be as accident prone as me - I didn’t know I knew this author personally for surely that’s the only way she could have written a character so similar to me). I’m joking, of course. Poor Vi finds herself sliding and, after being knocked unconscious, discovers that she is visited by the spirits of those who have died near water. One, popularly known as Annabelle, is believed to have committed suicide by throwing herself off a balcony when the hotel was used as a school during the winter months - but she, perhaps sensing a kindred spirit, demands Viola’s attention, clearly wanting something - but what?
Viola faces many obstacles - not least her fear because she doesn’t understand what’s going on. The situation is made much more complicated by the fact that Annabelle appears unable to speak. She basically has to mime what she’s trying to ask. This spirit shows Vi how she died and the tragic circumstances that led up to her death. Can Vi solve the mystery of what this young girl wants? And how does she explain to the hunky police chief that she ‘sees dead people’? Why does the Mayor of Eureka Springs despise Viola? All these problems are exacerbated by the appearance of her soon to be ex-husband at her hotel. She is furious when he worms his way into the affections of the hotel and travel writers staff.
To say this particular book is - right now - a favourite may be a slight exaggeration. Though it is definitely one of the best in its genre.
However, I was highly impressed. I’ll start with the negatives first (and, sadly, there are a few) because I want to highlight the positives (of which there are many). I do not want the reader of this review to come away feeling I didn’t like it.
Although it doesn’t state who the publisher is, I do suspect the book is self published. The reason I say this (and I am in no way denigrating self-published books as there are some excellent ones out there) is that there are an awful lot of mistakes, point of view switches, spelling/typos, grammatical mistakes, long sentences - to the point where I lost the sense of what was being said.
Now, I have to say that I’m not the type of person who is overly bothered by typos. Mistakes happen but the problem comes when the mistake throws you right out of the book - which happened to me a couple of times.
Also, one line leaped out at me. Towards the end of the book, the writer tells the reader that (and I’m paraphrasing here) the spirit was her best friend or something like that. At that point I paused … Vi had never heard of this girl until a week earlier, they had lived at vastly different times (around 100 years between them) and, while her story took up a good 70 percent of the book, there were a lot of subplots weaved through like a beautiful silver thread in an embroidery. So, surely it would be a stretch to describe her as a friend. I understand that she cared about her (if that was me, I would, too) but it jarred in a big way.
Only one thing seriously annoyed me though. Look, I’m no prude. I understand why sex scenes are put in so many books. However, I was hoping that, just for once, I would not be subjected to a scene like this.
Ghost of a Chance is - well, a ghost story. This scene came from nowhere at around 80% through the book. It was, I’m sorry, in my opinion completely gratuitous. It was like the writer had realised that there was an almost electrical sexual charge between the pair and thought, “Oh, I have to put a sex scene in there.” That was so sad because it was unnecessary. Somehow - like the way the book is written - what’s NOT said is hotter than what IS said. We all know what goes on behind the bedroom doors, let’s leave it there. Admittedly, it had consequences later - but it would have been better to just close the scene with them falling into each others arms - then re-open with their clothes strewn all over the floor. We all know what happened but we don’t need to see it.
OK, having lambasted it - for which I feel very guilty - I will now tell you what I loved about it.
Cherie Clair is certainly an excellent writer. It took me a little while to get into the story but I’m so glad I stayed with it.
Cherie brilliantly ratcheted up the tension. We start by feeling her anger towards her ex-husband (I so hope they get back together at the end of this series) and can sense how relieved she is to be shot of him when she leaves on the trip of a lifetime. As unhappy as she clearly is at the beginning of the story, you sense that she yearns to move forward and somehow find inner peace. She has experienced a terrible family tragedy and, like all of us who have had an experience like that, feels it’s almost impossible to carry on.
When she discovered TB in her room, I couldn’t help but laugh. Although he’s a slob, takes advantage, tells everyone who will listen what it was like to live through Katrina and will take all the freebies he can get, there’s something very likeable about him. He clearly genuinely cares for her and there’s something about her that makes me feel she DOES still love him on some level, and it’s not just the feeling of bonding that comes from experiencing some catastrophe.
The characters are extremely well written. They feel so real and I had to wonder whether these were based on people the author had met during her own press trips.
Let me tell you something about myself here. I do not like to be scared. I will not read a scary book because - if, like this one, it’s well done it will stay with me, especially before I go to bed.
This book got full marks because it was very frightening at times - but not to the extent that I couldn’t sleep. The author made me jump several times and I realised I was totally sucked in that I felt as if I was in the scene. It’s very hard to do that to me - only the best books do.
She also got points for the fact that (for the most part) she got her 3rd person narration right. It made a lovely change to read a book that was not written in first person!
I could actually see the places she was describing - the hotel and caves, as well as the springs. I usually like to imagine it for myself but on this occasion I did look up the places and was pleasantly surprised that she’d described them almost exactly.
I apologise for the length of this review. I hope if the writer ever reads it she will not be offended by the negative comments. There is so much to like about the book.
Would I read the rest of the series? Yes, definitely.
As you may know my review scores range from 1 through 10. 1-4 are reserved for books I really hate for whatever reason; 6-10 are for those I like or love, with 5 (very rare) being reserved for those I’m undecided upon. It works for me! Usually, I give a solid score but occasionally a book is worth more than one number but not as much as the next … so I give 1/4, 1/2 or 3/4.
I really like this book - it would have scored higher if it hadn’t been for the faults I mentioned earlier. I have given it 7 3/4.
If you like ghost stories (or even ones that seem to be travel ones - this book really takes you to the places it’s set) then this is a book for you.
Ghost of a Chance by Cherie Clair deserves a place on any self-respecting reader!
Ghost of a Chance is about a Hurricane Katrina survivor who is living in circumstances that are not ideal, to say the least. She lives in a tiny house ‘a potting shed’ as the main character, Viola Valentine, describes it. She is also at loggerheads with her soon to be ex-husband and has a difficult relationship with her mother. Add into that mix that she has lost her child and it’s understandable that she leaps at the chance to escape to Eureka Springs.
Viola takes her courage in both hands and follows her dreams, embarking on a new career. The character reminds me of me. On a tour of some new caves, Viola wanders off to explore a part of the cave she should not be in - with life changing results.
Abruptly, Viola (who seems to be as accident prone as me - I didn’t know I knew this author personally for surely that’s the only way she could have written a character so similar to me). I’m joking, of course. Poor Vi finds herself sliding and, after being knocked unconscious, discovers that she is visited by the spirits of those who have died near water. One, popularly known as Annabelle, is believed to have committed suicide by throwing herself off a balcony when the hotel was used as a school during the winter months - but she, perhaps sensing a kindred spirit, demands Viola’s attention, clearly wanting something - but what?
Viola faces many obstacles - not least her fear because she doesn’t understand what’s going on. The situation is made much more complicated by the fact that Annabelle appears unable to speak. She basically has to mime what she’s trying to ask. This spirit shows Vi how she died and the tragic circumstances that led up to her death. Can Vi solve the mystery of what this young girl wants? And how does she explain to the hunky police chief that she ‘sees dead people’? Why does the Mayor of Eureka Springs despise Viola? All these problems are exacerbated by the appearance of her soon to be ex-husband at her hotel. She is furious when he worms his way into the affections of the hotel and travel writers staff.
To say this particular book is - right now - a favourite may be a slight exaggeration. Though it is definitely one of the best in its genre.
However, I was highly impressed. I’ll start with the negatives first (and, sadly, there are a few) because I want to highlight the positives (of which there are many). I do not want the reader of this review to come away feeling I didn’t like it.
Although it doesn’t state who the publisher is, I do suspect the book is self published. The reason I say this (and I am in no way denigrating self-published books as there are some excellent ones out there) is that there are an awful lot of mistakes, point of view switches, spelling/typos, grammatical mistakes, long sentences - to the point where I lost the sense of what was being said.
Now, I have to say that I’m not the type of person who is overly bothered by typos. Mistakes happen but the problem comes when the mistake throws you right out of the book - which happened to me a couple of times.
Also, one line leaped out at me. Towards the end of the book, the writer tells the reader that (and I’m paraphrasing here) the spirit was her best friend or something like that. At that point I paused … Vi had never heard of this girl until a week earlier, they had lived at vastly different times (around 100 years between them) and, while her story took up a good 70 percent of the book, there were a lot of subplots weaved through like a beautiful silver thread in an embroidery. So, surely it would be a stretch to describe her as a friend. I understand that she cared about her (if that was me, I would, too) but it jarred in a big way.
Only one thing seriously annoyed me though. Look, I’m no prude. I understand why sex scenes are put in so many books. However, I was hoping that, just for once, I would not be subjected to a scene like this.
Ghost of a Chance is - well, a ghost story. This scene came from nowhere at around 80% through the book. It was, I’m sorry, in my opinion completely gratuitous. It was like the writer had realised that there was an almost electrical sexual charge between the pair and thought, “Oh, I have to put a sex scene in there.” That was so sad because it was unnecessary. Somehow - like the way the book is written - what’s NOT said is hotter than what IS said. We all know what goes on behind the bedroom doors, let’s leave it there. Admittedly, it had consequences later - but it would have been better to just close the scene with them falling into each others arms - then re-open with their clothes strewn all over the floor. We all know what happened but we don’t need to see it.
OK, having lambasted it - for which I feel very guilty - I will now tell you what I loved about it.
Cherie Clair is certainly an excellent writer. It took me a little while to get into the story but I’m so glad I stayed with it.
Cherie brilliantly ratcheted up the tension. We start by feeling her anger towards her ex-husband (I so hope they get back together at the end of this series) and can sense how relieved she is to be shot of him when she leaves on the trip of a lifetime. As unhappy as she clearly is at the beginning of the story, you sense that she yearns to move forward and somehow find inner peace. She has experienced a terrible family tragedy and, like all of us who have had an experience like that, feels it’s almost impossible to carry on.
When she discovered TB in her room, I couldn’t help but laugh. Although he’s a slob, takes advantage, tells everyone who will listen what it was like to live through Katrina and will take all the freebies he can get, there’s something very likeable about him. He clearly genuinely cares for her and there’s something about her that makes me feel she DOES still love him on some level, and it’s not just the feeling of bonding that comes from experiencing some catastrophe.
The characters are extremely well written. They feel so real and I had to wonder whether these were based on people the author had met during her own press trips.
Let me tell you something about myself here. I do not like to be scared. I will not read a scary book because - if, like this one, it’s well done it will stay with me, especially before I go to bed.
This book got full marks because it was very frightening at times - but not to the extent that I couldn’t sleep. The author made me jump several times and I realised I was totally sucked in that I felt as if I was in the scene. It’s very hard to do that to me - only the best books do.
She also got points for the fact that (for the most part) she got her 3rd person narration right. It made a lovely change to read a book that was not written in first person!
I could actually see the places she was describing - the hotel and caves, as well as the springs. I usually like to imagine it for myself but on this occasion I did look up the places and was pleasantly surprised that she’d described them almost exactly.
I apologise for the length of this review. I hope if the writer ever reads it she will not be offended by the negative comments. There is so much to like about the book.
Would I read the rest of the series? Yes, definitely.
As you may know my review scores range from 1 through 10. 1-4 are reserved for books I really hate for whatever reason; 6-10 are for those I like or love, with 5 (very rare) being reserved for those I’m undecided upon. It works for me! Usually, I give a solid score but occasionally a book is worth more than one number but not as much as the next … so I give 1/4, 1/2 or 3/4.
I really like this book - it would have scored higher if it hadn’t been for the faults I mentioned earlier. I have given it 7 3/4.
If you like ghost stories (or even ones that seem to be travel ones - this book really takes you to the places it’s set) then this is a book for you.
Ghost of a Chance by Cherie Clair deserves a place on any self-respecting reader!
February 26, 2017
Firstly, the cover of this book put me off a little. It just didn't grab me and say 'Pick me, this is a terrific story'!
However, finally, I find a book that is written just as you would think about things, places, people etc. Random comments that are spoken aloud, garnering strange looks (I have done this myself, on the odd occasion, lol).
I have heard that, sometimes, traumatic events can trigger all sorts of reactions, phobias and other manifestations.
This book just resonated with me and I just couldn't put it down.
I am not going into details of this book as I hate spoilers.
I just can't wait to find out what happens with the Opera Singer though.
Bring on the next book, quickly please
However, finally, I find a book that is written just as you would think about things, places, people etc. Random comments that are spoken aloud, garnering strange looks (I have done this myself, on the odd occasion, lol).
I have heard that, sometimes, traumatic events can trigger all sorts of reactions, phobias and other manifestations.
This book just resonated with me and I just couldn't put it down.
I am not going into details of this book as I hate spoilers.
I just can't wait to find out what happens with the Opera Singer though.
Bring on the next book, quickly please
November 11, 2017
Viola Valentine is a damaged by grief, she lost her daughter to leukemia and couldn’t find her balance. She is then damaged by hurricane Katrina, left on her rooftop for two days in the floodwaters. Now following her dream of becoming a travel writer on her PR trip to Arkansas, she is hounded by the ghosts she sees. Is she going crazy? What will she do to change her life? Her career?
A different plotting for a ghost story. I wasn’t sure as I began reading if I would like the story, the heroine is just so prickly and defensive; so, wrapped up in her own memories. But this author was up to the challenge of creating sense and compassion out of chaos.
A different plotting for a ghost story. I wasn’t sure as I began reading if I would like the story, the heroine is just so prickly and defensive; so, wrapped up in her own memories. But this author was up to the challenge of creating sense and compassion out of chaos.
October 17, 2017
Touching
I didn’t know exactly what to expect when I downloaded this book. What I discovered was a well written story that touched me in many ways. A story of a woman who suffered a tragic loss and PTSD. A Katrina survivor whose marriage was ending. A new medium who was trying to get her life in order. With a new dream job starting, we go on a journey of self discovery, self doubts and an actual reckoning. Told with a simplicity, Viola is a character one can empathize with.
I didn’t know exactly what to expect when I downloaded this book. What I discovered was a well written story that touched me in many ways. A story of a woman who suffered a tragic loss and PTSD. A Katrina survivor whose marriage was ending. A new medium who was trying to get her life in order. With a new dream job starting, we go on a journey of self discovery, self doubts and an actual reckoning. Told with a simplicity, Viola is a character one can empathize with.
November 5, 2017
Enjoyable paranormal story
Except for the smattering of some foul language, this was a fun Viola Valentine mystery book. Viola escaped from Hurricane Katrina and the effects give her the ability to see and communicate with ghosts. As a travel journalist, Viola goes to Eureka Springs, Arkansas, a town with numerous ghosts. She has many adventures trying to help the ghosts in town and control her almost ex husband who shows up unexpectedly. Loved the ending and look forward to reading more in this series
Except for the smattering of some foul language, this was a fun Viola Valentine mystery book. Viola escaped from Hurricane Katrina and the effects give her the ability to see and communicate with ghosts. As a travel journalist, Viola goes to Eureka Springs, Arkansas, a town with numerous ghosts. She has many adventures trying to help the ghosts in town and control her almost ex husband who shows up unexpectedly. Loved the ending and look forward to reading more in this series
June 23, 2019
If you love Eureka Springs, Arkansas like I do this might be your cup of tea. I felt like I was on an adventure with the main character as she talked of the devastation of Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans, seeing ghosts in and around the Crescent Hotel in Eureka Springs and the anxiety of her relationship with her soon to be ex-husband. Great book.
August 5, 2020
I really wanted to like this. I read the whole thing and even up until the end I was holding out hope that I would, but I just didn't. The main character is just so terrible and unlikable. It makes it really hard to enjoy the plot, because her terrible attitude, manners, disagreeable personality, all are just so distracting.
September 20, 2021
Too poorly written with multiple grammar, punctuation, and wrong word errors. DNF
September 22, 2019
*** Possible Spoilers ***
I rated this a three because it falls in between 1 and 5. Some part of this book warrant a 5 while others are a 1 so I selected a number in the middle.
There are really three stories embedded in the one book. The first is a ghost story and it's a 5. The ghost story leads into a mystery and it's a 5 as well. The third story is about a woman beset by lots of emotional turmoil. She lost her daughter to leukemia. She lost her home to hurricane Katrina. She suffers from ADHD. She may be suffering from PTSD. She's in the process of walking away from her marriage. Simply put she's a mess and now she's trying to take the first steps towards building a new life starting with a new career. I rated this one a 1 because I can't stand characters who emote all over the page; however, I think the 80/20 rules applies to this story and I'm in the 20. I believe 80% of readers will thoroughly enjoy this third arc so I think it can be recommended.
It's pretty standard these days in books coming out to focus on characters more and plot less. Certainly during the course of this book we encounter an individual who's struggling and barely keeping her life together. Frankly I disliked the protagonist so much I found myself rooting for the villains and two of them, although long dead, were pretty bad. The third wasn't so much a villain as an irritant. We meet Richard early in the story and he seems pretty unlikable. He never improves but as we get to know Vi, our heroine, Richard starts looking pretty good. At least he can function.
Vi tells us at the outset her marriage is over. Then her ex shows up and instead of telling him to take a hike, she allows him to stay with her and they even partake in the obligatory sex scene. Fortunately it's only a couple of pages so it doesn't detract from the story to any great extent but I found her willingness to do that sort of thing with someone who's supposedly in her past a little difficult to believe.
There is a subplot involving the mayor of the town these travel writers are visiting. This mayor believes Vi is in cahoots with some activists trying to stop a development project. It had definite possibilities but it sort of fizzles out without any real climax. Yes the development is stopped and the mayor who was about to run for governor changes her mind but we are told that. It isn't dramatized within the story.
As I said, I didn't like the protagonist and therefore I couldn't relate to the story. I do think plenty of others can read and thoroughly enjoy this book to I recommend it with the caveat that if you want a protagonist who's fully functional and has her life together then stay away. Everyone else can read and enjoy it.
I rated this a three because it falls in between 1 and 5. Some part of this book warrant a 5 while others are a 1 so I selected a number in the middle.
There are really three stories embedded in the one book. The first is a ghost story and it's a 5. The ghost story leads into a mystery and it's a 5 as well. The third story is about a woman beset by lots of emotional turmoil. She lost her daughter to leukemia. She lost her home to hurricane Katrina. She suffers from ADHD. She may be suffering from PTSD. She's in the process of walking away from her marriage. Simply put she's a mess and now she's trying to take the first steps towards building a new life starting with a new career. I rated this one a 1 because I can't stand characters who emote all over the page; however, I think the 80/20 rules applies to this story and I'm in the 20. I believe 80% of readers will thoroughly enjoy this third arc so I think it can be recommended.
It's pretty standard these days in books coming out to focus on characters more and plot less. Certainly during the course of this book we encounter an individual who's struggling and barely keeping her life together. Frankly I disliked the protagonist so much I found myself rooting for the villains and two of them, although long dead, were pretty bad. The third wasn't so much a villain as an irritant. We meet Richard early in the story and he seems pretty unlikable. He never improves but as we get to know Vi, our heroine, Richard starts looking pretty good. At least he can function.
Vi tells us at the outset her marriage is over. Then her ex shows up and instead of telling him to take a hike, she allows him to stay with her and they even partake in the obligatory sex scene. Fortunately it's only a couple of pages so it doesn't detract from the story to any great extent but I found her willingness to do that sort of thing with someone who's supposedly in her past a little difficult to believe.
There is a subplot involving the mayor of the town these travel writers are visiting. This mayor believes Vi is in cahoots with some activists trying to stop a development project. It had definite possibilities but it sort of fizzles out without any real climax. Yes the development is stopped and the mayor who was about to run for governor changes her mind but we are told that. It isn't dramatized within the story.
As I said, I didn't like the protagonist and therefore I couldn't relate to the story. I do think plenty of others can read and thoroughly enjoy this book to I recommend it with the caveat that if you want a protagonist who's fully functional and has her life together then stay away. Everyone else can read and enjoy it.
January 8, 2024
Hurricane Katrina gave newspaper report Viola Valentine the chance she needed to leave her dead-end job and loveless marriage. It also reawakened her ability to see dead people, an ability she had as a child, but stuffed down so far she didn’t even remember she had it. Now ghosts who have died by water are demanding her help in solving their mysteries.
Post Katrina, she finally gets her dream job – being a travel writer. She also takes a job as a secret customer hotel; at least it helps her make ends meet, and she gets ideas for travel articles. But she finds that every time she’s near water, she sees ghosts who seek her help to solve their mysteries. This makes her life very complicated, because she’s still grieving the loss of her marriage, her job, her five-year-old daughter, and the life swept away by Katrina.
I liked this story much more than I thought I would. I almost hit the delete key in the first 40 pages because the story is written mostly in present tense, and that usually irritates me. But the plot and the characters reeled me in this time; I got caught up in solving the various mysteries, and hooked by Viola and her complicated life. The characters are well-drawn and multi-dimensional, even the minor ones, and the scenes well-described. I felt like I was seeing the destruction of her home when she and her husband returned home right after the storm to see the damage. Also, the parts about newspapering rang true, adding depth to the plot.
I enjoyed the author’s writing style: “The old guilt pours over me like concrete on Jimmy Hoffa” and “Whatever stitches pulled my broken heart back together, they ripped open in Katrina. How could the Corps of Engineers let eighty percent of our city flood? How could our president move in slow motion to come to our aid and why is recovery happening at a snail’s pace? I’m burying my child all over again.” I appreciate that the paranormal elements are plausible and dealt with in a real way. I’m intrigued at Viola’s attempts to make contact with her deceased daughter while she’s trying to help others “go toward the light.”
I liked this book so much, I bought book 2 in the series and read it quickly as well. I’m pleased there are five or six more to go. I will read more in this series.
Post Katrina, she finally gets her dream job – being a travel writer. She also takes a job as a secret customer hotel; at least it helps her make ends meet, and she gets ideas for travel articles. But she finds that every time she’s near water, she sees ghosts who seek her help to solve their mysteries. This makes her life very complicated, because she’s still grieving the loss of her marriage, her job, her five-year-old daughter, and the life swept away by Katrina.
I liked this story much more than I thought I would. I almost hit the delete key in the first 40 pages because the story is written mostly in present tense, and that usually irritates me. But the plot and the characters reeled me in this time; I got caught up in solving the various mysteries, and hooked by Viola and her complicated life. The characters are well-drawn and multi-dimensional, even the minor ones, and the scenes well-described. I felt like I was seeing the destruction of her home when she and her husband returned home right after the storm to see the damage. Also, the parts about newspapering rang true, adding depth to the plot.
I enjoyed the author’s writing style: “The old guilt pours over me like concrete on Jimmy Hoffa” and “Whatever stitches pulled my broken heart back together, they ripped open in Katrina. How could the Corps of Engineers let eighty percent of our city flood? How could our president move in slow motion to come to our aid and why is recovery happening at a snail’s pace? I’m burying my child all over again.” I appreciate that the paranormal elements are plausible and dealt with in a real way. I’m intrigued at Viola’s attempts to make contact with her deceased daughter while she’s trying to help others “go toward the light.”
I liked this book so much, I bought book 2 in the series and read it quickly as well. I’m pleased there are five or six more to go. I will read more in this series.
August 19, 2020
This book is so much fun to read. Viola is starting a new life. Her home in New Orleans was destroyed by Katrina. She has separated from her husband and is living in a tiny new place, miles away. Viola had a job at a newspaper, but now she's starting on a new career as a travel writer.
As she's traveling to her first opportunity as a travel writer, she sees a woman singing in the airport but no one else seems to see her. The woman is soaking wet. As Viola begins visiting sites for her travel assignment, along with other travel writers, she veers off the path in a cave and encounters a ghost. As the story develops, Viola is drawn into trying to find out who the ghost is.
I really enjoyed this book. The author has done her research for some of the basic backbone of the story, but she builds the story into her own work Although the book isn't at all similar to the Sue Grafton books (A is for Alibi), I found the writing style reminded me of her work. And I've been a fan of Sue Grafton for years. The story is well told. The story line takes some unexpected twists. I just recommended the book to my husband. I think any reader except for the youngest will enjoy this well written book.
As she's traveling to her first opportunity as a travel writer, she sees a woman singing in the airport but no one else seems to see her. The woman is soaking wet. As Viola begins visiting sites for her travel assignment, along with other travel writers, she veers off the path in a cave and encounters a ghost. As the story develops, Viola is drawn into trying to find out who the ghost is.
I really enjoyed this book. The author has done her research for some of the basic backbone of the story, but she builds the story into her own work Although the book isn't at all similar to the Sue Grafton books (A is for Alibi), I found the writing style reminded me of her work. And I've been a fan of Sue Grafton for years. The story is well told. The story line takes some unexpected twists. I just recommended the book to my husband. I think any reader except for the youngest will enjoy this well written book.
October 29, 2021
Hurricane Katrina wrought much change in Viola Valentine's life. With her house and marriage left in tatters, she finds the strength to ditch everything that's been weighing her down and start afresh. A new career as a travel writer leads her to Arkansas and a haunted hotel where she realizes a further development: the ability to talk to spirits who have perished in water.
I was drawn into this book right from the start. This led to several late-night reading sessions when I really should have been preparing for the following day. Several reviewers have said that they don't like Vi or they don't understand her motivations, but I do - all too well. I doubt that the Viola books are going to be an easy read; this book was complex with several plotlines to monitor. Additionally, the story needed a good editing to weed out grammatical errors. Finally, I feel the cover suggests a cosy which A Ghost of a Chance is not. It is, however, divisive - you will find yourself in either one camp or the other. I hope it's mine and that you enjoy this read as much as I did.
Recommended as a non-cosy paranormal quasi-mystery. (Wow! But yes, that's where I'm pegging it.)
I was drawn into this book right from the start. This led to several late-night reading sessions when I really should have been preparing for the following day. Several reviewers have said that they don't like Vi or they don't understand her motivations, but I do - all too well. I doubt that the Viola books are going to be an easy read; this book was complex with several plotlines to monitor. Additionally, the story needed a good editing to weed out grammatical errors. Finally, I feel the cover suggests a cosy which A Ghost of a Chance is not. It is, however, divisive - you will find yourself in either one camp or the other. I hope it's mine and that you enjoy this read as much as I did.
Recommended as a non-cosy paranormal quasi-mystery. (Wow! But yes, that's where I'm pegging it.)
August 12, 2022
Viola Valentine, a struggling journalist is fighting to get her life back on track after losing home, belongings, her job and, most probably, her marriage after Hurricane Katarina devastates New Orleans. An unexpected offer of a week with a group of travel writers brings a ray of hope into her life and the chance to fulfil her lifetime ambition. Setting off on the trip, at the Airport, itself, she spots a drenched woman, dripping water on the floor and singing out loud, but no one else seems to notice. And this strange experience does not stop here. The trip through the beauty spots of North Arkansas and the beautiful vintage hotels is not just a regular sightseeing jaunt. A number of apparitions appear to her alone, and seem to be conveying messages. Her week of relaxation and pampering in luxurious hotels turns into a nightmare, when she finds the remains of long past murders and the police begin to view her with suspicion. An involved murder mystery with paranormal undertones to chill the reader.
June 16, 2024
This book was a free download from somewhere, it had a nice cover and I thought I'd give it a go. Judging by the cover, I wasn't sure what to expect - a young adult mystery history? Well, it is an adult enough book, though on the younger side. And I'm not a big ghost enthusiast, but they blended in acceptably. I learned things, e.g. about the Deep South and the enormous impact a hurricane can have on people's lives. As for Viola, she claims that she greatly values good food, yet she keeps skipping so many good meals and delicacies she's being offered free of charge, smells delicious food when waking up, starving after a hectic night, but does she give herself time to eat - no, she grabs a coffee which she probable won't finish either. This is such disturbing behaviour, she would feel and function much better if she would allow herself to eat properly. And she should patch things up with her husband, whose crashing Viola's business trip seems rather improbable. A nice read, had to make it to the end, but this was enough of Viola for me.
October 24, 2022
Let me begin by saying the story is better than 3 stars, but I was so frustrated by all the misused words, grammatical errors, and the portions of the book that felt like a travelogue that I couldn’t in good conscience give the book 4 stars. I hope that some of the errors are because I read a Kindle edition, but I feel as if that is wishful thinking. Hopefully the issues will be resolved as the author continues the series. I’ll probably give the 2nd title a chance once I’ve recovered from this one.
I like so many elements of the plot. The use of Hurricane Katrina as a backdrop is excellent. The complexity of issues that Vi is dealing with makes her very human and relatable even if I didn’t always like her. Some of the pacing is off and it seems that there were a few storylines that didn’t quite fit together, but the author gave herself lots of fodder for a continuing series. I just hope she finds a better editor and gets a dictionary, writing manual, and a thesaurus.
I like so many elements of the plot. The use of Hurricane Katrina as a backdrop is excellent. The complexity of issues that Vi is dealing with makes her very human and relatable even if I didn’t always like her. Some of the pacing is off and it seems that there were a few storylines that didn’t quite fit together, but the author gave herself lots of fodder for a continuing series. I just hope she finds a better editor and gets a dictionary, writing manual, and a thesaurus.
January 11, 2024
This was a fun story to read for something a little different. Viola goes on a trip with other travel writers to Eureka Springs, Arkansas to write a sample travel article for a new employer. If all goes well, she may have a bright future. The author does a good job describing Eureka Springs and Viola's home in New Orleans during Hurricane Katrina. As Viola's trip gets underway her fellow travelers add to the story. It was easy to picture the types as described. There's always one who can get under your skin! Then the ghost sightings start happening which throw a wrench into Viola's trip. The author writes with touches of humor which keeps the whole story from getting too dark or scary. Yet, an intriguing murder mystery kept me reading to find out how all the pieces tie together.
June 23, 2019
This is the first in a new series introducing Viola, a travel reporter in a new career, on her first group assignment. What is special about Viola is not that she lost everything in Hurricane Katrina, including her house and job, and that she is in the process of getting a divorce (her choice) but now she apparently can see ghosts. She finds herself reluctantly in the middle of an apparent cold case murder, or is she just hallucinating? This series has fun and quirky main characters such as Vi, her soon-to-be-ex husband TB, and even her Aunt Mimi.but the story started out a bit slow for me, and there was a bit too much travelogue information to wade through. Overall, the ghost/murder part of the story proved enjoyable with some interesting twists.
January 19, 2018
A Ghost Of A Chance is book one of Cherie Claire's Viola Valentine Mysteries. Claire is new to me and as such I was looking forward to reading this book. A Ghost Of A Chance did not disappoint me. I loved the book!
The book moves a bit slower than the cozy mysteries I most often read. Initially I was annoyed by the snail's pace but toward's the middle of the book I found the slower pace actually a refreshing change allowing a more thorough exploration of the characters and story than what is revealed in a typical book from the cozy mystery genre.
Ghost Of A Chance fits into the definition of the cozy mystery genre however it is so much more! Highly recommend.
The book moves a bit slower than the cozy mysteries I most often read. Initially I was annoyed by the snail's pace but toward's the middle of the book I found the slower pace actually a refreshing change allowing a more thorough exploration of the characters and story than what is revealed in a typical book from the cozy mystery genre.
Ghost Of A Chance fits into the definition of the cozy mystery genre however it is so much more! Highly recommend.
August 2, 2019
I really wanted to hate Viola Valentine. From her inability to forgive her soon-to-be ex-husband to her whining about Katrina and her grief over her daughter, she definitely had grating qualities that made me wonder why I liked her... but I did. And by the end of the book, I wanted to know her better. There was this sliver of hope, of positivism, that drew you in to her story and just as you were drawn in, she slowly changed (as we all do) through her experiences. She learned to let go. She learned that sometimes life is not cut and dry. She learned not to hold in all those emotions that were suffocating her. I will happily be reading the next in the series.
March 25, 2022
After Katrina destroys her home in New Orleans, Viola leaves to start over some where else, shes hoping that becoming a travel writer will help her get her life back on track. Once her and a small group of other travel writers check into a motel strange visions start happening... Viola thinks she is going crazy having this psychic ability and seeing ghosts..
This took a bit to get into because the first part was mostly her dealing with the loss of everything after Katrina, but once the ghosts came into the story then it was interesting and held my attention. I would consider reading on in the series.
This took a bit to get into because the first part was mostly her dealing with the loss of everything after Katrina, but once the ghosts came into the story then it was interesting and held my attention. I would consider reading on in the series.
January 10, 2023
Viola Valentine, free-lance writer, heads out on her first writing assignment. Unfortunately she's haunted by ghosts: the memory of her daughter Lillye who passed from leukemia, her over and done marriage & the ex that can't quite grasp that fact, the horror of being trapped in her home when Katrina broke the levees, & literal ghosts. That last one hadn't really been an issue but ever since she survived a hurricane by clinging to a roof, people who've died by drowning seem drawn to her.
This book was clever. The writing was sharp. Viola is a complex character who definitely makes one to follow her on her next adventure (even though this book was a stand-alone).
This book was clever. The writing was sharp. Viola is a complex character who definitely makes one to follow her on her next adventure (even though this book was a stand-alone).
July 10, 2024
With a name like Viola Valentine, one expects love and hearts to follow her around. Instead, she keeps seeing ghosts. As a freelance travel writer, unsolved murders don’t top her list of priorities but they keep appearing to her. Despite the stress this and some unpleasant coworkers, she makes new friends and discovers a little more about herself. But will all this commotion lose her the new job and her sanity?
The story contains an interesting premise and some fun characters but the writing felt rushed in some places and then lingered on scenes of inappropriate behavior. Also, the number of typos and poor choices of word or grammar would have benefited from a good editor.
The story contains an interesting premise and some fun characters but the writing felt rushed in some places and then lingered on scenes of inappropriate behavior. Also, the number of typos and poor choices of word or grammar would have benefited from a good editor.
July 23, 2017
This is one check of a book.
Several story lines run through this book. A survivor of Katrina with trauma issues, the loss of a child, and suddenly seeing dead people, gets involved in a serial killing at the beginning of the last century. Struggling with all her own problems she now has to struggle through solving the killings of students at a school a hundred years before, as they appear before her and beg for help so they can go on. Very well written. Your heart will go out to Viola. I will be getting the next book.
Several story lines run through this book. A survivor of Katrina with trauma issues, the loss of a child, and suddenly seeing dead people, gets involved in a serial killing at the beginning of the last century. Struggling with all her own problems she now has to struggle through solving the killings of students at a school a hundred years before, as they appear before her and beg for help so they can go on. Very well written. Your heart will go out to Viola. I will be getting the next book.
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