A Ghost for Maggie [Mass Market Paperback]

Emily Carmichael (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 3, 1999

She's a ghost with a disreputable past...and a heavenly mission.

With her trademark blend of sparkling humor and sizzling romance, Emily Carmichael has earned a legion of devoted fans. Now she returns to delight readers with a wickedly delicious tale of modern love--and some old-fashioned meddling....

Once, sultry Robin Rowe was the hottest madam in the whole Wild West. Then a jealous suitor shot her dead. But when the wicked Red Robin departed this life, she didn't depart this world. Instead she found herself hanging around, watching as her daughter and her daughter's daughters made first-class fools of themselves over the wrong men...until now, a hundred years later, Robin has just one descendant left.

It doesn't take a genius to see that bright, beautiful, mistrustful Maggie Potter is headed for spinsterhood. So when fate drops her on Robin's doorstep, the sexy ghost jumps at the chance to straighten out her great-great-granddaughter. Only Robin doesn't know how challenging the job of guiding Maggie's love life is going to be. For Maggie's on vacation from men--maybe even a permanent leave of absence. Still, Robin didn't get to be the most successful tart in town by giving up. Now she's prepared to do everything in her ghostly power to see that Maggie lands herself the perfect man, even if she has to teach Maggie her most erotic secrets....

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

In Finding Mr. Right, Carmichael sent to earth a naughty angel disguised as a dog to atone for her sins from a previous life. This time, she entertains with a mischievous ghost in the form of Robin Rowe, madam of Robin's Nest, the hottest whorehouse in Jerome, Ariz.Aor at least Robin was, until Jack Schmidt shot her dead in the outhouse. Now, in the present day, Robin haunts her old digs while playing matchmaker to great-great-granddaughter Maggie Potter, who has turned Robin's Nest into a historically themed B&B. Determined to find Maggie a suitable husband, Robin sets her sights on the unlikely Colby Drake, a reporter who's writing an expos? on Maggie and her ex-lover, a prominent politician. Robin's antics come off as Ghostbusters-esque slapstick, but her narrative boasts enough spice and humor to save an overplotted, overpopulated tale. (Aug.)
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Review

"You are guaranteed the unexpected from Emily Carmichael."
--Romantic Times

Don't miss Emily Carmichael's other delightful romance, Finding Mr. Right:

"A fresh, funny charmer of a romance. I howled with laughter."
--Teresa Medeiros

"Carmichael's latest has the irresistible warmth and charm of a newborn puppy."
--Publishers Weekly

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 380 pages
• Publisher: Bantam (August 3, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0553578758
• ISBN-13: 978-0553578751
• Product Dimensions: 4.2 x 0.8 x 6.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,776,672 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars A low-fat romance, July 11, 2004

By 

Emily Flippin Maruna "The Handmade Experiment" (Portland, OR United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: A Ghost for Maggie (Mass Market Paperback)

Maggie Potter is allergic to love. After being dumped off the campaign trail by presidential candidate nominee, Jack Kilbourne, and being raked through the mud by the press, Maggie tries to bury her past by opening a B&B in ghost town Jerome, Arizona. Only the B&B, Red Robin's Nest Inn, has a past of its own, and it, or shall we say she, isn't willing to stay buried.

Colby Drake is a shark with killer blue eyes and a boyish charm who's hoping to sink his teeth into a story that will ruin Jack Kilbourne's presidential aspirations once and for all. And who better to help Colby with the story but the Kilbourne's scandalized ex-aide and girlfriend, Maggie Potter. Only Maggie doesn't blame Kilbourne. She blames the press, and no matter how many fireworks he and Maggie seem to ignite around each other, all she sees are shark's teeth. Luckily, Colby has someone rooting for him, or he wouldn't have a ghost of a chance winning Maggie's trust.

"Red" Robin Rowe was the biggest tart in the Old West and ran her brothel, the Red Robin's Nest, like a true mother hen. Unfortunately, she suffered a most untimely and embarrassing death before she could shed the truth of her livelihood with her daughter or dispense any motherly advice. Since her death, her family line has been cursed in love. But when Maggie Potter, Red's last living descendent, takes up residence in the old Nest, Red Robin sees her chance to make things right.

This is not one I would recommend for those interested in "hot" romance or "cool" paranormal. Neither sizzling nor scary, this light romance is exactly that - light. If you're looking for something riveting to escape into, this book isn't going to cut it. But "A Ghost for Maggie" is entertaining. I found the subplot between Maggie's sister Catherine and bookstore owner/ghost guru Thomas Matthews while shorter and sweeter, just as interesting as the main event. Sprinkle a little south western spice onto the pages, and you just might have something.

Emily Flippin Maruna

2.0 out of 5 stars Terribly boring, January 22, 2011

By 

Book lover (Baltimore, MD) - See all my reviews

This review is from: A Ghost for Maggie (Mass Market Paperback)

This is a story about Maggie Potter who, hiding from a scandal in Politics, is residing as an inn keeper in Jerome, Arizona. The inn has a resident ghost, a great-many times removed granny who wants to see her settled in life. The prose was so boring, I had to skip many, many pages just so I could finish. Neither Colby, the male lead nor Maggie had much of personality. Frankly, I liked the ghost better and would have liked to read her story than the current one. Maggie is apparently so loyal, she thinks that it is not the politician's fault for her current predicament. Doormat anyone?or just plain stupid?This is the author's first book for me, and it will most likely be the last.

3.0 out of 5 stars Average, May 28, 2001

By 

Sarah (Connecticut) - See all my reviews

This review is from: A Ghost for Maggie (Mass Market Paperback)

A Ghost for Maggie takes place at a bed and breakfast run by a young woman named Maggie and her stepsister Catherine. As they set up for their Grand opening in a small Arizona town outside of Sedona, strange things begin to happen. Both Maggie and Catherine begin talking with a ghost who turns out to be Maggie's great, great grandmother named Roberta `Robin' Rowe. While questioning their own sanity, they come to learn that Robin Rowe is on a mission to ensure that Maggie, as her only surviving descendant, gets fixed up with a guy for good. Though this may seem a simple task for a woman who was `the hottest madam in the Wild West' a century ago, it turns out to be quite a pursuit. In the past, Maggie has had trouble with men including the candidate for president Jack Kilbourne, who ruined her by making her out to be a bimbo, in a press scandal. Therefore, she now finds all men, especially the press, hard to trust. Ironically, she falls for Colby Drake, a reporter doing a story on her. Multiple times she vows never to talk to him again, but with a little push from an alluring and tactful ghost Maggie is able to find and keep her true love. Overall, the book was ok. If u r looking for a nice simple read, read it because it is good enough to keep u interested, but don't expect to be surprised with the ending.