The Challenge Factory discussion

Christina T. & Ariane



If You've Got It, Haunt It by Rose Pressey

I'm going to start this on audio today. I'll try and pop in here periodically to make my observations and such.

Through chapter 7...

So full disclosure, clothing is not something I'm interested in and old things is right next to clothing on my "not interested in" list. Which puts vintage clothing as a double no thanks. I'm listening to this book and hate to admit but I truly zoned out during her descriptions of all the clothing. I'm finding Cookie an ok character but find her friendship with the lady who owns the occult shop next door a bit questionable. They are supposed to be best friends and have been for years. Friends don't lie to each other.

Also Charlotte is so rude but I like her anyway. Don't know if you've ever seen the movie Ghost with Demi Moore and Patrick Swayze or not but when Charlotte threatened to sing to Cookie I had visions of a similar scene in that movie. It made me smile. https://youtu.be/iC2SGPBlZaU?si=B_ycA...

Through Chapter 20

Cookie is growing on me but she's a pretty typical MC for the genre. However something that is different is the Detective doesn't seem like an incompetent ass which many law enforcement officials tend to be in cozy mysteries. A problem I'm having with this book though is the cat, Windsong, (view spoiler)[ used the freaking ouija board to communicate with them! She totally speaks out entire sentences! (hide spoiler)]. How are they not freaking out! I think the cat is my favorite thing about this book. My grandma wore Windsong too. Ok honestly, whose grandma didn't wear Windsong? 😁

I started the audiobook this morning.
I read 6 chapters.
I like clothes, just not a passion for me, and I don't care about brands.
The whole description of clothes was quite OK for me; Cookie seems a bit posh but I still found it entertaining.
I love Charlotte as a character, her humor is totally my style, a bit sarcastic.
I got Ghost vibes too, which is fun.
I thought the discussion with the occult lady was a bit odd too, I quite don't know what it was supposed to bring to the story? You don't talk earnestly to the people you call friends?
So far, I am liking it.

Chapter 16
(view spoiler)[ so we have another murder and Cookie is threatened by the killer? (hide spoiler)] we're moving fast in the story, which I don't mind.
I love the Cookie/Charlotte duo. They are a bit cliche but that works for me still.
I wish I would see the detective more, he seems cute and not incomptetent as you said, But I guess we will have more of him for now.
I still don't know what Heather is supposed to do, I guess she's supposed to be the funny stupid girlfriend but that doesn't work for me.
The cat thing??? Why is everyone so chill about it?? I don't get it.
And I didn't know Windsong, that is funny, but I am not American, maybe that's it.
I guess I'll come back after finishing it tomorrow.

I agree the Detective should have more pages time but then if he did Cookie wouldn't have to investigate. I am not sure what Heather's purpose is other than to provide tools for Windsong to communicate with. Also she seems to watch Cookie's shop so Cookie can run around and investigate.

Yes, I agree about the detective but I thought we could have the start of a romance or someting, but I haven't finished yet ;)

Definitely start of a romance but I'm not exactly sure why he's interested in her. She is pretty shady with him telling him half truths and not confiding in him and then confiding everything to him other than she can see Charlotte. Her actions should have prevented him from liking her I'd think.

I finished the book.
I liked it, I liked the end, this was a good version of what it wants to deliver.
I think when you're into someone, no matter how that person behave, you'll want to know / have more of them.
I had a fun time listening to it, even if some people were quite annoying, everything falls back in place a the end :)

It was a typical cozy mystery to me, not bad by any means but nothing about it wowed me either. One thing that really bothered me though was when Cookie went to the house of the killer. She knew the scarf and handkerchief were both clues to the killer's identity but yet she went virtually by herself to the house to ask them about the items. I struggle with this sub-genre quite a bit because the MCs often go dumb and put themselves in dangerous situations without a thought.

Yeah, I probably would do something as stupid as that though...

Thanks for reading this book with me, Ariane!

Thank you, this was fun! I might read the other ones some day.