The Haunting of Ivy May

by Nancy Basile

Renovating a haunted house isn't part of the plan. When Ivy May moved to Mistwick, West Virginia, she was starting over after the divorce from her cockroach of an ex-husband.

Although she's ready to remodel her cozy Victorian fixer-upper, known as Buttercup Cottage, the locals' strange behavior is a mystery and none of the contractors will work with her, except a feisty and fashionable newcomer willing to take a chance on her.

But Ivy's first night in Buttercup Cottage is a nightmare starring the ghost of a wailing woman. Ivy can't shake the feeling that her nightmare was more than just a vision. The reality of living with a terrifying ghost could ruin her dream of a magical midlife re-invention.

The local tea shop owner seems helpful -- too helpful -- but even she seems secretive when she mentions that Ivy has a gift. What gift? A gift for picking loser husbands is the only gift she possesses.

And who is the handsome mystery man hanging around Buttercup Cottage? Is the the one leaving threatening notes in her mailbox? Or is he the partner she's always dreamed of?

Ivy has to face down a ghost, a greedy ex-husband, and a town full of skeptics to make her dream a reality. Otherwise, every penny of her inheritance will be wasted and she'll have to admit she can't make it on her own.

It's not until Ivy realizes she doesn't *have* to do it alone that her story looks like it might have a happy ending.

Genres: Horror, Mystery Thriller, Mystery

239 pages, Kindle Edition

First published October 23, 2022

About the author

Get a free novelette. Meet Robin Pearce, a web traffic analyst and amateur sleuth, and her sister, Jenn, in the prequel to the series, A Shoulder to Die On. Robin comes home for a girls' weekend with her sister and her friends from sorority, but winds up in the ER. Sign up to get your free prequel at https://www.nancy-basile.com

Nancy Basile wrote about TV, movies and lifestyle for more than 20 years. As a freelance writer, she has written articles for Paste Magazine, Comic Book Resource, The Penny Hoarder, Thought Co. and Pennsylvania newspapers.

Now, she's putting her wits and her writing skills to the test in a new cozy mystery series, River Sutton Mysteries.

Be sure to follow Nancy on Instagram https://instagram.com/authornancybasile and Facebook https://www.facebook.com/authornancyb...

Reviews

[Inés Molina · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed reading this book, it was a cozy one. i like that this gives that small town mystery vibe with a splash of ghost. I will say that out of everything I loved the plot the most, i never know how things will play out.

[Katie (spellboundbooks_) · Rating 5 out of 5]

I honestly did not expect this book to capture me like it did. This was such a cute - and creepy story! There’s something for everyone in this book for sure - ghosts, small-town vibes, woman discovering a new side to herself, a little mystery and a little love.

The MC Ivy just escaped her horrible ex-husband and moves to a town far from him and buys a fixer-upper. Well that house needs a LOT more fixing than she expected and it comes with a horrifying skeletal ghost who keeps trying to attack her. Along the way there’s a whole cast of quirky characters who come into her life.

I really, really enjoyed the plot to this one. There was so many different elements to this one but they all came together seamlessly. I was so involved in this characters creepy ghost story but I also loved that she was slowly becoming part of this small town. It was simultaneously creepy and funny.

The only thing that felt off for me was the romance vibe with a character who seemed a bit rude. But the rest of the story makes up for this small flaw.

Don’t let the low amount of reviews turn you away from this one because it’s worth the read! Especially for fans of small town mysteries with a paranormal aspect.

[Jen · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a light, quick read, kind of like a cozy mystery with a bit of paranormal thrown in. Ivy moves to a small town in WV after a divorce and buys a fixer upper that turns out to be haunted. She quickly makes friends with the neighbors and they band together to figure out what is causing the ghost to hang around and how to get her to go away and find peace.

There wasn't much conflict in the book- while the townies are initially suspicious of Ivy, she disarms them quickly and they all become friends. The "threatening notes" Ivy receives aren't all that threatening and are easily explained later. She even finds a love interest, though she initially didn't like him. The mystery surrounding the ghost wasn't all that mysterious to me- I think I was pretty far ahead of Ivy and her friends, but I still enjoyed the story overall and thought the author did a good job at providing a little mystery and creepiness and an ultimate happy ending.

Overall, if you are looking for something that is light but still packs some action, I think you'll like this paranormal book. Thanks to Netgalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

[Tammy Buchli · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fun cozy with just enough of an edge to keep it from tipping over into cloying territory

ThNks to NetGalley for providing an ARC copy for my review.

[Jamie Park · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is so cute I could just die! What a wholesome and sweet book.
I initially picked it up because she calls her ex husband and cockroach and I liked her moxie but the entire book is amazing.
It has all my favorite things: People hating on an ex husband, an old house, a lesbian bestie, small town charm, a mystery, and references to good food.

[Alison James · Rating 3 out of 5]

I had very mixed feelings about this book.

The descriptive writing was phenomenal. It was so easy to picture what was going on.

I personally hated Ivy and Cole together. It felt like Ivy moved on from one asshole (her ex husband ) and found another one. Cole was one of the worst written characters I have read in a while. Nothing about their chemistry felt authentic, it felt very forced.

I also wish there was more creepy ghost stuff. There were only like 4 small scenes.

Some minor continuity issues. Like about 19% through with the first mention of the diary it says it has "diary" in gold lettering on the front. But later about 56% through it says it has "journal" in gold lettering.

[Stacey · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a wonderfully lovely book this was. The mystery was heartbreaking and then resolved in a beautiful way.

Ivy divorces her husband and buys a house unseen in Mistwick, WV. Her first night in the broken down home, she is chased by a wailing ghost. Unable to find a contractor to help restore her new home, she plans to sell only to change her mind when the tea shop owner tells her she knows someone to help. She meets Izzy and together they begin to fix the house. Ivy is chased away from the house with injuries to both her and Izzy. What could the ghost possibly want?

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. The haunting was scary, the characters well written and the ending beautiful. I hope that the author is planning to make this a series.

[Denise · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun story.

This is a fun entertaining haunting story. The Wailing Woman provides the haunting, creepiness and chaos. The haunting that Ivy and anyone who enters Buttercup Cottage experiences is only a part of the story. Ivy finds her own strength and independence along with the kind of friendships she’s always wanted. Ultimately a feel good story with a little haunting to get your heart racing.

[Julie Rhinehart · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a fun, paranormal mystery. I wasn’t sure what to expect after reading other reviews, but was pleasantly surprised with how much I enjoyed the story. The characters are engaging and the plot intriguing. Quick paced and easy to figure out most twists, but doesn’t spoil the atmosphere of the book.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. Thank you NetGalley and Nancy Basile for hearing my honest review. Looking forward to reading more with you
#partner

[DemiReads_ · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Haunting of Ivy May Overview

👻 Classified as scary, not scary though
⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ 3 Stars
🫑 No Spice

Visual Appearance

The cover was pretty typical for a horror or haunting type story. Just a spooky looking house. It isn’t really anything special though.

Expectations

I was hopeful that this was going to be a scary story. Horror is one of my favorite genres. The story fell flat though. There were maybe three scenes that were intended to be scary. However they weren’t.

The Haunting of Ivy May Plot

Ivy May leaves her arrogant wealthy husband to start a fresh life. She purchases a cottage in a small town sight unseen, only to find out it is a bigger disaster than she imagined. Ivy's first night in the house she realizes she’s not alone.

Unfortunately the plot was lacking for me. There were aspects that were interesting. The history of the house, the friendships but things didn’t fully connect and I was often bored. I don’t think I would have finished this book if I hadn’t planned to review it.

However if you like books set in small towns with an older MC this might be for you. There is a found family that makes the story heartwarming.

The Haunting of Ivy May Characters

The characters were all likable, besides the ex. However I did not feel attached to anyone. Everyone felt very surface level.




Spoilers




The ex-husband plot point didn’t really make sense to me. He had been hiding away tens of thousands of dollars, she said. So he wasn’t broke. I guess it was supposed to be that he was just so controlling he wanted that last grab. But he also liked to keep up appearances and a wealthy man from a high profile family suing his ex wife for money would have made him look weak and pathetic to anyone who found out.

[Alisha Carderella · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ivy May is finally free from her rotten ex-husband and looking for a fresh start in Mistwick, West Virginia. Getting her hands dirty with her new Victorian fixer-upper is just the therapy she needs, but what she didn’t sign up for was the wailing ghost terrifying her at night. The locals are being secretive, a mysterious man is hanging around, and someone is leaving Ivy threatening notes in her mailbox. Will she unravel the secrets of her new house in order to make her new dream a reality?

What a great surprise this book was. While I started out on the fence hating Ivy’s relationship with her ex (that made her look quite weak - which drives me bonkers in stories), the book quickly found its flow and I was sold. I couldn’t put it down. I actually stayed up all night reading.

I wasn’t completely sold on Ivy’s love interest in the story, just not feeling their chemistry, but that didn’t bother me or take away from the story. There was the perfect amount of cute and creepy.

I would consider this more cozy or gothic than horror, and I found this book to be fast-paced, atmospheric with a fun mystery.

*Thank you to Media Medusa LLC and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest and voluntary review.

[HEATHER · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was my first read from Nancy Basile and I was not disappointed. There’s something for everyone in this book ghosts, small-town vibes, woman discovering a new side to herself, a little mystery and a little love. This was a quick cozy mystery and I just loved it. I would recommend this book if you like a good read with the above tropes.


Thank you NetGalley and Media Medusa LLC for allowing me to read this ARC for my honest opinion.

[Melinda Anders]

Ivy May buys a cottage unseen in West Virginia. When she gets to the cottage she discovers it needs lots more work than she expected plus the place is haunted.
A cute haunted mystery.
Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC and to the publsiher Kindle.

[Elizabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thoroughly enjoyed this! It immediately hooked me in, and I love that a Victorian ghost showed up early.

I enjoyed the details about the renovation and Izzy's personality - love how female-centric it all was. I thought there'd be a bit more hidden drama and layers to her ex and the inheritance, but I guess it was a good simple side plot that raised the stakes.

I think a major missed opportunity was that diary: Basically nothing of major note came from it, other than 2 simple details that we learned elsewhere. While I wouldn't call it slow, I know my head moved faster than the action, and a conclusion they confirmed much later was one I thought was obvious before.

My biggest gripe is that I hated Cole. Ivy could do WAY better and I didn't like how rude he continued to be. He seemed kind of two-dimensional as well in addition to being downright creepy at first. Their first scene was a little unrealistic, though I also wouldn't have ever spent the night in the shack as it was at the beginning.

I thought the ending was a pretty good page-turner and it had a nice denouement. Definitely spookier than I thought it would be. Perfect intro to Halloween season!

[Heather Harrison · Rating 4 out of 5]

Meet Ivy May - a divorcee who's recently escaped her toxic ex, thereafter referred to as the 'cockraoch in khaki', who's first action as a free woman is to buy an old house with the intention of fixing it up. She has a vision of new life as a Hallmark Movie, but instead finds herself in a Southern Gothic. 

I would hesitate to classify this purely as horror, and prefer to think of it more as a Southern Gothic. Its' references to molasses, beans, cornbread, biscuits and critters immediately transported me to the small town alongside Ivy, her new contractor bestie Izzie and the infamous wailing woman. The plot was very well built for the first 70% of the story but I found the ending a bit weak and forgettable. Didn't think that Cole's character was anything special. 
There was some awkward wording ("Knowing that gossip spread like melted shortening on a hot pan in a small town...") and continuity issues (diary vs. journal) which did detract a bit. 

Overall, I found the story fascinating and enjoyed the read. 
Thank you NetGalley & publisher for ARC.

[The Starry Library · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Haunting of Ivy May is a spooky cozy mystery about a woman who buys a fixer upper for a fresh start and inherits more than a derelict old house in this charming supernatural tale.

I really enjoyed this story because it was an easy read that featured a lot of things I like about stories. A small town setting, an old Victorian manor, ghosts, and strong female characters. The story was suspenseful and had a nice flow. The writing was really good and the characters were well-rounded and interesting. The spooky parts were very atmospheric and gave me the chills. I don't often read such spine tingling stories so I have to give credit to the author for creating such creepy scenes. My only criticism is that two of the characters had similar names, Ivy and Izzy which sounded too similar and could be confusing for a fast reader.

Overall I really liked this book and I look forward to reading more from the author.

Thank you to the publisher for providing me with a free arc via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

[Amber · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed the plot of this book; it was very well written, with many different elements coming into play. A short fun-filled read that did not disappoint. Fresh out of a not-so-great relationship, Ivy moved to a town a reasonable distance from her ex-husband and purchased a new beginning for herself. She purchases a fixer-upper, which ends up needing a lot more fixing than she initially anticipated, and it’s a packaged deal with this horrifying ghost who always tries to attack her, it seems. The story is excellent, I loved all the diverse, quirky characters, and the way that Ivy was being incorporated into the town was great too. It had creepy vibes but also laughing-light vibes at times. This book did have a mysterious vibe going on that I enjoyed it! I went into this book blind, and I loved it! A quick short, fun read! If you enjoy cozy paranormal mysteries then this should be your next read! Thank you to Netgalley and Media Medusa LLC for the opportunity to read and review this one!

[Casey Halvorsen · Rating 2 out of 5]

Thanks NetGalley and Media Medusa LLC for this

1.5/5 stars rounded up

This had a lot of potential but really fell apart for me in the last 35%. I'm glad Ivy got her divorce and her cockroach ends up leaving her alone, but damn girl you can do so much better than Cole 😭 don't just jump in with the first guy who gives you cutie eyes, that's a rebound! They also started dating or whatever they're doing really fast. I'd have thought she would take it slow finding another love interest after getting out of a shitty 15 year marriage, but nope I guess. I was honestly hoping she and Izzy (the lesbian carpenter) would have gotten together, but alas, no. I am pleased there were no hints of homophobia that I caught though!

I felt Ivy just being stubborn and honestly outright rude to some of the people trying to help her got real old real fast. And so did everyone hating on house flippers, holy shit! Like, we get it, the author has a vendetta against people who buy houses to flip them then rent them out, you don't have to repeat it so many times!

I guessed what the ghost wanted right away, and the house getting worked on that quickly was really unrealistic, but I thought hey it's a light easy read things don't have to make sense right? But reading further I just couldn't with this book. I didn't hate it, but I definitely won't be picking up any of this authors other works.

[Diane Marina · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a fun read, but I really was in the mood for something that would give me the creeps and this book wasn't that. It was more like a general fiction book with a ghost thrown in.

Ivy May is a recently-divorced woman who takes back her independence by buying a ramshackle cottage, sight unseen. It just so happens the place is more run-down than the online photos indicated and she's left with not only a crumbling home, but a live-in ghost. Along the way, she makes new friends, finds a job, starts renovating her home, and a few other things I don't want to spoil.

All in all, it was a good read, just not what I was looking for.

[Josette Thomas · Rating 5 out of 5]

When Ivy bought the Buttercup Cottage, she thought she was gaining her independence from a miserable husband. Little did she know what was coming. Ivy tried to be very brave when she encountered her visitor. The second visit she decided to take a loss on the home. With help from new friends, she was able to replace her fear with excitement for her future.
I really enjoyed this cozy mystery. There were so many moments of terror but also times of compassion. It is amazing what good friends and a little faith in people will make a difference.

[Amy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I thought the author had a good plot and the characters, while not fully developed, I did enjoy, but there definitely were some editing issues that took me out of the story-missing words and portions of the plot that didn’t quite fit (diary/journal description, the seance started in the basement but somehow they ended up upstairs so they could see the front door). Overall I enjoyed the read though.

[Kristi Nailor · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book was fast- moving, which I liked in a shorter, quick read. The plot was enjoyable, and many of the characters were likeable. For me, it was just lacking more mystery, more suspense. I would have loved if the story had expanded much more on the history of the Stewart family and perhaps how life may have been for Myrtle. While the book was enjoyable, it left me feeling deprived of what could have been.

[Lulu Nichelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

8/10 honest review

I loved this book, I love reading anything romance/mystery. This was an amazing story but it was short for my liking. More mystery than romance. I like more romance than mystery. That’s the only reason it isn’t a full 10/10 for me. It was a short read if you’re looking for something quick or to get you out of a reading funk this is for you!

[Sara Mcfadden · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to Media Medusa LLC for the opportunity to read, rate and review this arc. It was published Jan 19, 2023.

It’s a ghost haunting, weird town, divorcee book with twists and turns. Some are predictable. Others were a surprise. It was formulaic but a fun little read. I enjoyed it.

[Gwen Hight · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Haunting of Ivy May

Ivy moved to a small town in West Virginia and bought her house unseen It was a shambles and has its resident crying ghost and hee friends help her send the ghost unto the light and her other problems are taken care of A good read

[Eileen Ortiz · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun, spooky and a quick read to boot! Ivy has finally escaped her crappy husband and has started over at Buttercup cottage. Too bad for her it happens to be haunted. This was a fun cozy read with a good dash of creep factor

[Raven Lonick · Rating 4 out of 5]

Super cute cozy mystery with a touch of paranormal spookiness. I enjoyed this book tremendously. Look forward to the follow up!

[Kristina (seekerofbooksandcoffee) · Rating 2 out of 5]

Thank you!

I felt like this book had so much potential but it felt a bit rushed and it felt like it just didn’t quit hit the mark.

Still will read more by the author!

[Michelle Mclane · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 stars

[Amy Oxendine · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved this book.. well written and spooky. Such a cute story!