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The Haunting of Josie

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Seeking refuge from the pain of her past in an isolated house, Josie Douglas finds herself haunted by a mysterious spirit and by her handsome landlord, Marc Westbrook. Original.

256 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published August 1, 1994

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760 people want to read

About the author

Kay Hooper

107 books2,452 followers
Kay Hooper (aka Kay Robbins) was born in California, in an air force base hospital since her father was stationed there at the time. The family moved back to North Carolina shortly afterward, so she was raised and went to school there.

The oldest of three children, Kay has a brother two years younger and a sister seven years younger. Her father and brother are builders who own a highly respected construction company, and her mother worked for many years in personnel management before becoming Kay's personal assistant, a position she held until her untimely death in March 2002. Kay's sister Linda works as her Business Manager, Events Coordinator, and is playing a major role in the creation and operation of The Kay Hooper Foundation.

Kay graduated from East Rutherford High School and attended Isothermal Community College — where she quickly discovered that business classes did not in any way enthrall her. Switching to more involving courses such as history and literature, she also began to concentrate on writing, which had been a longtime interest. Very quickly hooked, she asked for a Christmas typewriter and began seriously working on her first novel. That book, a Regency romance titled Lady Thief, sold to Dell Publishing in 1980. She has since published more than 60 novels and four novellas.

Kay is single and lives in a very small town in North Carolina, not far from her father and siblings. Deigning to live with her are a flock of cats — Bonnie, Ginger, Oscar, Tuffy, Felix, Renny, and Isabel — of various personalities who all like sleeping on manuscripts and whatever research happens to be spread across Kay's desk. And living amongst the many felines are two cheerfully tolerant dogs, a shelter rescue, Bandit, who looks rather like a small sheepdog, and a Sheltie named Lizzie.

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5 stars
381 (22%)
4 stars
498 (29%)
3 stars
572 (34%)
2 stars
167 (10%)
1 star
43 (2%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 136 reviews
Profile Image for C.  (Don't blank click my reviews, comment please!.
1,563 reviews188 followers
May 28, 2021
I put this aside for several years because it sounds like a horror novel. The Haunting Of Josie was a very enjoyable 1994 mystery, with a few appearances by a spectre wanting a helping hand. No killer or death; a pure mystery! Other than wishing Josie and Marc had communicated with the ghost and seen him much more, it was a lovely story. In terms of the ghost, mystery, and a wonderful cat; this was my kind of story! A very pleasant surprise from literature I already owned. I wouldn’t choose a story driven by romance, however Marc was likeable.

I mainly balked at his insistence that they recognize profound affection after just meeting. It would be reasonable to progress slowly and for Josie not to have any feelings for him yet. I wish the kitty, Pendragon had stayed with them permanently, instead of being a helpful rolling stone. However he was vocal and dexterous with his paws like my cats are and I applauded the way he was portrayed. Intelligent, adorable, and much the way real cats are. His dialogue was hilarious because it was apt, the way Pendragon went "Prrrpt"!

Josie's secrecy about her project made no sense because nothing about her past threatened her. To the contrary, she should want to seek a lawyer friend and accomplice to succeed at her mission. My mild notes don't stop this novel from receiving five full stars. It was a wonderful jaunt, too seldom given to adult audiences, where we look for potentially important items in cellars and attics and in which a non crime mystery sets us on an adventure. I prefer a powerful mystical story, rather than only "a touch", as the author called it. However some etherealness did accompany this pure mystery and I enjoyed it immensely.
Profile Image for Rainz ❤️rainnbooks❤️(on a break).
1,370 reviews88 followers
April 21, 2021
The Haunting Of Josie is a book from my recommendation list that I tend to dive into when I’m really too short of time and can’t concentrate on anything. This had quite an interesting blurb and honestly had a high expectation after reading the prologue that begins with a CAT called pendragon. The story is OK but not anything to be impressed about. As a fun easy read, this fits the bill but am sure most readers would be disappointed with this story.

Marc Westbrook is recuperating from an accident in the cottage near his family home. Josie Douglas has rented out the family home in hope of seclusion and peace to work on something that has haunted her own life. The love is instantaneous which was alright considering the fast pace but the mystery about Luke Westbrook who died in the house also kind of happens rapidly without any gradual development of the plot. The cat does help at every turn which was amusing to read. There’s nothing spooky or spine-tingling in the story, so it is in reality a fairly quick read which was what I was looking for, 3 stars for that!

I haven’t read many books by kay Hooper to form an opinion but as a fan of ghostly and paranormal romances with mystery and suspense, I would definitely like to read other works by this author.
Profile Image for Kristina.
126 reviews66 followers
March 15, 2011
I adored this one! It has just a touch of paranormal but not enough to call it a "paranormal romance." Let's call it "old school" LOL! I also love that it was a "sweet" story. There isn't much in the way of explicit scenes between the two main characters so it was a refreshing story. I thought the characters were great...including the cat! The cover makes it appear to be a scary story but it really isn't. It reminded me of a story like Jennifer Crusie's Maybe This Time.

Now it is an older book that was originally pubbed in 1994 and re-issued in 2008 so you might have to look around a little bit if you want it. I enjoyed it so much that I ordered another of Kay Hooper's books called Haunting Rachel. I think it'll be good!

Profile Image for Ashton Reads.
1,269 reviews303 followers
November 5, 2022
The only character I actually liked was the black cat, Pendragon. The “hero” was a toxic and aggressive jerk who couldn’t take no for an answer and basically bullied the heroine into being with him. Oh, and he repeated mansplained her own career to her (she’s an author) and told her how she was supposed to feel and act about her own job. I cannot 🙄

I only didn’t DNF because I was curious about the ghostly mystery part, and even that reveal was incredibly underwhelming.
Profile Image for Sladjana Kovacevic.
846 reviews22 followers
November 11, 2025
PROGONJENA-KEJ HUPER
✒️"Sva vrata koja je ranije zaključala bila su i dalje čvrsto zabravljena, a reze su bile navučene. Svi prozori su bili zatvoreni. Nije bilo nijednog znaka da je neko bio - niti ostao u kući sa njom i mačkom.
Tačnije, niko živ."
😎Ideja da se odmori od teških tema uz ljubić s trafike ispostavila se iznenađujuće dobra 😁
😎Odmah u uvodu autorka navodi da je ovo poslednje u nizu ljubavnih romana i da će ubuduće pisati misterije.
😎I ovde zaista imamo prezanimljivu misteriju u kojoj duhu pokojnog pisca pomaže crni mačak, koji možda namerno obara i premešta stvari i možda ume da priča. I ne zna se čiji je a očigledno nije skitnica 🐈‍⬛
😎Prilično banalna ljubavna priča između devojke koja je iznajmila ukletu kuću i seksi stanodavca ovde zapravo samo smeta.
😎Dobro je što je autorka rešila da se prebaci na misterije, i ako naletim na neku- neću preskočiti 🤩

#7sensesofabook
Profile Image for Soo.
2,928 reviews346 followers
October 28, 2021
Notes:

Yay for libraries!

I read a lot of Kay Hooper back in the day. It's sort of weird to dive back in by audio vs paperback. An easy going romance with a touch of ghostly nudges.
Profile Image for Ari.
946 reviews217 followers
March 14, 2016
The whole thing was just bland and rushed and it had insta-love stamped all over the damn thing.

It did NOT read like a novel written by Kay Hooper.
Profile Image for Amanda Siegrist.
Author 64 books745 followers
March 14, 2021
Fun, quick read by Kay Hooper. She never fails to impress me.
Profile Image for Donna.
482 reviews20 followers
July 11, 2015
I mainly read mystery and don't like romance but I did like this book. I like this writers style and really wish the book had more of the mystery and less of the romance. I thought it was kinda funny that this ghost seemed to want her to do something and was getting impatient but for most of the book the guy was trying to get into the girl's pants and she was pushing him away but at the same time wanting him. Meanwhile, the ghost can't really do anything but mime at her to hurry up and keep moving a key around to get her attention. The cat part was very interesting and kinda funny and left me wishing I wasn't allergic to them.

So the bulk of the book, which is short, is about the relationship of the two main characters and the ghost part is short of a backdrop. Now that I've finished it I find myself wondering about things that were left dangling. Like, I wish I could have read about them working on her father's case, and what was up with the old woman having the same hair and eye color as Josie and asking if they were related? I mean, it is pretty odd for anyone to have red hair and "violet eyes" and then she meets this old woman who had the same hair and eye color (at least when she was younger.) It almost feels like I am missing the other half of the book.

I do have to say though, if I came across another book by this author I'd be tempted to read it since her romance writing isn't too "Gag me with a spoon man."
Profile Image for Vicki G.
244 reviews34 followers
January 25, 2011
Well I was going to give it 2 stars, but the cute kitty saved the book. I hated everything else about it though, and I wasn't scared when the ghost appears like I am in almost every other horror novel I read.
I tried not to use that as criteria though, b/c I've read every book, until 'The Dark Tower 7,' that Stephen King wrote. I don't compare other writers to him unless they're Anne Rice or Dean Koontz, both of whom I like better than Stephen King, especially Anne Rice (before she was saved, that is.)
Even w/out comparing its horror value I disliked the characters, especially that she chose a Defense Attorney to be her "handsome male character." If I were going to make a character an attorney, I'd make him a prosecuting attorney's assistant, but even that isn't what made me dislike the book the most.
The unrealistic dialogue is what made me upset, and I get upset at all straight romance stories, in which dialogue is even more unrealistic than the setting for a fantasy novel.
I like fantasy novels, b/c at least the dialogue is realistic. I HATE when people lie to me or play games, saying things like 'I've never wanted ANYONE more than you.' Or 'You DO seem to get younger w/ every year.'
I feel like saying 'Give me a break.'
I like compliments just not ones that are so obviously unrealistic.
Profile Image for Dharia Scarab.
3,255 reviews8 followers
June 4, 2015

Since I don't normally write reviews unless I have something specific to say, here's the break down of how I rate my books...

1 star... This book was bad, so bad I may have given up and skipped to the end. I will avoid this author like the plague in the future.

2 stars... This book was not very good, and I won't be reading any more from the author.

3 stars... This book was ok, but I won't go out of my way to read more, But if I find another book by the author for under a dollar I'd pick it up.

4 stars... I really enjoyed this book and will definitely be on the look out to pick up more from the series/author.

5 stars... I loved this book! It has earned a permanent home in my collection and I'll be picking up the rest of the series and other books from the author ASAP.
Profile Image for Kristin.
124 reviews1 follower
January 11, 2009
This was a good book despite what the "reviews" are from the people who subscribe to Goodreads. Of course, that is my opinion. I notice a few things Kay Hooper wrote in this book are the same as she wrote in "After Caroline". I like books better when the author can make each book "it's own" and different. However, I understand they [the author:] will have the same style, mannerisms and wording in all their books. I think that's why author's sometimes write books that are about the same character over and over so they can keep the same style, characters, working, etc...

Good read!
Profile Image for Amy.
402 reviews28 followers
March 19, 2009
Okay, I really enjoyed some of Kay Hooper's other supernatural romances ("Finding Laura" and "After Caroline" especially). Great supernatural suspense. This book? This book is AWFUL. Like, DREADFUL. It left me telling my cat very fervently that bad books like these should never be written. Complete waste of 3 hours of my life. DREADFUL. STAY AWAY. Simpering, weak heroine, pushy male who gets his way against the heroines better (?) judgement, superlame ghost, weak plot, ghastly dialogue... Ugh.
Profile Image for Vannessa Anderson.
Author 0 books225 followers
May 10, 2017
The Haunting of Josie is about Josie Douglas who rented an isolated country cottage for the peace and quiet she needed to concentrate on the clues to clear her father’s name. While there, she meets the owner, Marc Westbrook, the owner of the cottage who is there recuperating from a broken arm. Marc’s dead uncle appears to Josie beckoning her to solve his murder and, together, she and Marc do. Traci Svendsgaard did a good job in storytelling.
Profile Image for Kolleen.
505 reviews9 followers
March 7, 2021
I'm not sure whether I should waste too much time on this review or not. It was a short little book that was mismarketed (purposely I'm sure) as a paranormal mystery when in reality it was just another cheesy romance novel. And I don't like the ol' bait and switch. There was so much wrong with this book:

1.) Head over heels in love in a week.

2.) Marc himself. Marc was controlling, intrusive, demanding, sneaky, and overstepped boundaries constantly. I hate when romance novels portray these types of men as attractive and sexual. And they always do! There is something seriously wrong with portraying these types of men as desireable.

3.) Josie and her violet eyes. Fake news.

4.) Things that just didn't make sense throughout the whole story. Luke Westbrook being described as an old man, when at the end we find out he died in his 30s. Josie had straight red hair and then curly red hair. All little details but enough to be annoying.

5.) Josie's total transformation within a week to change all of her boundaries and ideas for Marc.

The worst part about all of this was the mystery portion of the book actually was enjoyable and the ending was sweet. If only the book was just honest about what it was, and spent more time focusing on that rather than Marc's psychoanalysis of Josie, it may have been a good book.
Profile Image for Anna McFadden.
1,016 reviews8 followers
March 9, 2019
Josie Douglas moves out to an isolated house with only her research, her secerts, and a gun for protection. But she has found that she isnt as alone as she wanted to be..... there is the black cat that show up the day she move in, the the ghost of the man who built the house and we cant forget the man whoses her landlord. Who can past as a twin of the ghost. Marc Westbrook is staying in the cottage behind the house that he just rented out while he heals from a car accident.. He cant get the beautiful redhead out of his head but he knows she's hiding behind a wall and he must find a way through it.
109 reviews
September 12, 2019
I absolutely enjoyed this book. The characters were interesting and the storyline kept me wondering how it would end. Of course I loved Pendragon.... he was absolutely adorable. Marc and Josie falling in love was magical and the explicit scenes were well written and not too graphic. I found myself rooting for Marc to reach Josie’s heart from the very beginning. The irony of the story was not lost with me.... Marc unknowingly needed to vindicate his ancestors name and the house finally got a redhead (Josie) and Josie’s past (her father) needed help legally to clear his name and Marc happens to be a lawyer. Ironic? Mysterious or just happenstance???
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Gloria Lucas.
Author 4 books25 followers
April 26, 2024
I can't get into a romance that starts with an extremely push man who won't go away. The romance felt very forced. The haunting felt minimal, which was a bummer. And I would have loved to hear more...and by more I mean anything...about Josie's search for evidence to clear her father's name. That sounded so interesting and all that it was used for was the reason why she didn't immediately have sex with Mr. Gotta Run A Background Check On Any Woman Who Says No To Me....

One star. The extra star is for the cat....WHO ALSO DESERVES MORE BACKGROUND STORY.

At least it was a super quick read.
Profile Image for Kerry.
Author 60 books172 followers
Read
September 24, 2024
Ever picked up a book thinking it was one thing, but while reading, you discover it is another thing entirely? The Haunting of Josie by Kay Hooper is not a paranormal thriller. It is, instead, a suspenseful romance with a touch of the paranormal. Josie meets Pendragon, an adorable and wise cat, Marc, a man who is caretaker for the home she rents, and a mysterious and helpful specter. Although this wasn’t the supernatural thriller I anticipated, this romance had “shades” of “The Ghost and Mrs. Muir.”
Profile Image for Diana H..
816 reviews2 followers
August 24, 2017
An truly excellent book by Kay Hooper (and the reader is starting to see more of the paranormal features that we all love in the Bishop books). However, we only see one of the mysteries solved in the book. Hooper has deliberately left us with information about how the second mystery will turn out, but we are hanging with only our imagination to fill in the "why" of the event.
Overall, I enjoyed the book and will read it again in the future I'm sure.
8 reviews1 follower
June 11, 2018
On the bright side this it only took a couple of hours to read this book. It wasn't very complex.

I was hoping there would be much more plot focus on a more intricate mystery but nearly all the clues fell into her lap, so most of the time the main character spent lusting after her very hot landlord. One could not forget that fact due to the vast number of paragraphs dedicated to describing him.

Fortunately there was a cat.
Profile Image for Lybo Buchanan.
259 reviews1 follower
July 26, 2019
Josie rents a house from Mark Westbrook, who is convelesing from a broken arm in a cottage across from the main house where Josie is. Her story is she is taking a year off to do some writing. In reality, she is looking for proof to clear her father's name from an arson & murder rap. In the meantime, she is confronted by a ghost of the Westbrook family, who wants her to do something. It is up to her to figure out what that is.
Profile Image for Misty Grim.
220 reviews22 followers
May 30, 2024
Josie Douglas rented a country cottage in hopes of having enough time to unravel the tragedy from years before
Little did she know she would be pulled into a paranormal mystery and living in a haunted cottage
A series of strange happenings and a ghostly visitor who seems to be leading her to something and for help
Then enters drop dead gorgeous Marc Westbrook a descendent of the ghostly visitor can they figure out this mystery

Wonderful read and storyline
I recommend this read 📖 👍
Profile Image for Chantell Reid.
413 reviews5 followers
March 1, 2018
Not terrible. Quite the easy read. Not what i expected at all and the intimate moments were unexpected. While not quite overrun with details, it was more graphic than expected.
Marc turns out to be a little needy and possessive. Josie fights a lot of internal demons.
The cat! I think the cat makes it lol
Profile Image for Pamela Tracy.
Author 41 books59 followers
June 21, 2018
Stumbled upon this and I'm glad we did. It took me back to when books were written for story and not for just shock and black moments.

I truly enjoyed this book: the setting, the characters, the ghost, and reasons why Josie needed to write a book and the reason why Luke couldn't rest.

I would have liked more tie-in to Josie's backstory. Other than that, perfect.
3 reviews
September 14, 2017
Joyful haunting

A fun read. A love story within a love story with just enough mystery to make one wonder. Never having read any early May Hooper works, this has me curious as to the rest!
Profile Image for Misti.
1,151 reviews65 followers
April 27, 2020
A used book store buy that I finally took off my shelf and tried. For pandemic reading it was fine. It really made me want a cat though. LOL this virus better finish before I do something drastic. I do not need a cat.
Profile Image for Jody.
75 reviews
May 24, 2020
More like 3 1/2

This book wasn't bad for a short story. Though it had paranormal and mystery elements in the book, it was still more of a love story. If your in the mood for past love mixed with new love adding in the extra elements, this is the book for you.
430 reviews
May 6, 2021
I couldn't get drawn into the story. I found the dialogue stiff in places and some grammatical errors. Additionally, there were paragraphs in which the sentence structure made it difficult to understand.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 136 reviews

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