REVIEW: Ghouls Rush In by H.P. Mallory

In Ghouls Rush In (Peyton Clark #1) by H.P. Mallory, Peyton Clark’s new home in New Orleans may need some work. Left to her by a great-aunt she never met, the mansion leaks like a sieve and is currently uninhabitable. But that doesn’t stop Peyton from moving in and convincing her neighbor Ryan Kelly to help with the renovations. Sparks flew between them from their first meeting, and as they work side-by-side to bring her house back to life, their feelings can no longer be ignored. Nor can Peyton ignore the strange footsteps and noises happening there, which Ryan believes may be due to a haunting.

“A ghost? Really, Ryan? Next, are you going to tell me Scooby and Shaggy are coming to solve the mystery?” I crossed my arms against my chest and frowned. “And wouldn’t you know it? I’m fresh out of Scooby Snacks.”

Peyton soon begins to have very realistic dreams about a policeman named Drake Montague who was alive in the early 1900s. He leads her to believe that he has been present in her house, watching her and becoming enamored with her. While Peyton is a bit freaked out, Drake is so charming and convincing that she in turn wants to help when a sinister spirit threatens to harm both of them. With the assistance of a local warlock-for-hire, his witch helper, and Ryan’s sister Trina, they all become involved in a battle against an unseen entity intent on doing evil in their sleepy neighborhood.

“I care about you, Drake,” I said softly as I squeezed his hand in mine. Even though he was just a spirit, he felt so whole, so real.
He didn’t break his gaze from mine. “I care about you, ma minette.”

Ghouls Rush In is a fun new paranormal romance set in the Big Easy and is full of quirky, lovable characters. This was a great way to begin H.P. Mallory’s new Peyton Clark series!

I have a confession to make: This is the first H.P. Mallory book I’ve read. I know, I know. For a huge paranormal fan such as myself, it’s a bit embarrassing. At least now I can finally join in the conversations and understand what the buzz is all about. (And I’ll be digging out her other titles I have on my kindle TBR list real soon as well…) I very much enjoyed the humor and charm throughout the story, with that lazy, relaxed southern mindset Peyton adopted as she moved in to her new home in New Orleans. Each person she met seemed to add their own twist to what happened, from Ryan and his sister Trina, to the warlock and witch combo of Christoper & Lovie, and of course Drake the corporeal policeman. One of the most interesting parts to me, aside from Peyton’s love triangle, was the fact that the Axeman murders mentioned were based on true facts. It made that part a bit more compelling as I read along.

Peyton herself was such a riot to meet. She was breaking free of her pre-divorce persona and could become who she really wanted to be. I liked that she was inquisitive and fun-loving. I could *see* Peyton getting wrapped up in the history of her home or in New Orleans’ history for that matter. It just seemed to fit her personality. And speaking of personalities. There’s not one, but two hot guys who are equally alluring to swoon over. Okay, so one of them was a ghost. But still. He was a sexy ghost who spoke French to Peyton. I thought Drake had a certain air about him that was rather sophisticated, whereas Ryan, dubbed “the barbarian” by Drake, was a brawny, down-home charming guy. As odd as it may sound to have a love triangle between two living people and a ghost, somehow it worked here and didn’t seem weird.

If you like your paranormal romances with a lot of humor, mystery, and loads of flirty banter, check out Ghouls Rush In. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did!

Book Info:

Published May 20th 2014 by Montlake Romance

Do you believe in love after life?

Looking for a fresh start, Peyton Clark becomes the proud owner of a piece of New Orleans history: an Antebellum-era two-story house in the Garden District. It’s going to take time and a fat wallet to restore the fixer-upper to its former glory, but after her recent divorce, Peyton could use the distraction.

It’s not long before Peyton discovers she’s moved into the haunted home of a flirtatious paranormal prankster. She’s receiving kisses from unseen lips and caresses from a ghostly hand, and soon she begins to have vivid dreams, bringing her face-to-face with the incomparably handsome ghost of Drake Montague.

When Peyton grows closer to her general contractor, Ryan Kelly—who is as charming as he is alive—the chill in the air could only suggest Drake’s jealousy from beyond the grave. But even though she’s definitely attracted to and interested in Ryan, Peyton also can’t get Drake out of her dreams, or her heart, as she begins to uncover the frightening truth behind his death a century ago…