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A Passion for Haunted Fashion

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A good book. Well written with great characters and a good plot. The storyline flows and the mystery is enjoyable. I highly recommend.,

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What a fascinating book. I was impressed by the storyline and the characters were all well written and complex. Where there are complex storylines combined with intriguing characters the reader experience is magnified tremendously. To have a book that is well written as well as entertaining is a delight. Reading is about escaping your world and entering another one. The word building was phenomenal in this book. Here I forgot about my own life and was immersed in the world created by the author. I would recommend this book.

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Rose Pressey's retro fashion mysteries are full of great characters as well as good plot lines. I always await the next installment!

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Cookie Chanel loves vintage, she drives a 1948 Buick, decorates her home with a mixed years design and owns It's Vintage Y'all, a vintage clothing shop in Sugar Creek, Georgia. All would be well except for one thing, she can see and talk to ghosts. Sometimes when she buys a piece of vintage clothing, the ghost of the person who owned the item appear to her and stick around until they can figure out why they have not crossed over. This often requires her investigation an unsolved murder or suspicious death. In fact, her friend Charlotte Meadows is dead. Cookie is the only one who can see and hear her. She helped Charlotte discover who murdered her. Now the ghost hangs around to give fashion advice and help Cookie solve murders. If you are looking for a cozy series that is serious and believable, this one is not for you. If you are looking for a fun, paranormal, sassy cozy mystery, then you will enjoy this one.

Cookie's best friend Heather is suspected of killing the lead actor in the local play. Cookie is working for the theatre company in costuming so has easy access to the theatre. This gives her the perfect reason to be in and out. Of course, she has also picked up a ghost in the basement of the theatre, a young woman who has no memory of what happened to her, but wants to find out. Cookie, Charlotte and Peggy work together with Dylan and Ken (two men who fancy Cookie) to solve the crime and get Heather off the hook.

I do enjoy this series. Charlotte is sassy, classy and strong-willed. She gets Cookie involved in things and snooping in areas that she never would head without that push. Cookie, unfortunately, is the typical sleuth who jumps in without thinking and often puts herself in danger. This book it was really obvious and I did get frustrated with her a few times. Heather is usually a bubbly, somewhat air-headed female who pretends she is psychic, but can read a mean tarot card. Dylan the local detective is in a budding relationship with Cookie and although he often warns her about interfering in his cases, his heart is not in it and often gives Cookie information. Last but not least is Ken. He is the local lawyer who would love to have a relationship with Cookie, but is beginning to realize that they will just be friends. Each book has a new ghost, this one has Peggy. A teenager from the 1950s who snaps her gum, and eggs Charlotte on. A fun group of characters who I enjoy spending time with. The mystery moved quickly and was able to be solved by asking a lot of questions, following people around and noting their actions and generally making a nuisance of themselves. The murderer finally has enough, tries to kill Cookie and then reveals herself. It was fun and I will read more as they are a quick read and help to cleanse my mind after reading a thriller or dark mystery.

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Cookie puts her talent for finding vintage fashion to the test by costuming a local production of Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, but finds that she must also use her detective skills to prevent her friend from being railroaded for murder. I enjoyed this latest installment and found it to have a fun and engaging mystery.

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A Passion for Haunted Fashion is the sixth book in the Haunted Vintage Mystery series by Rose Pressey. I have not read the books from this series before, but I have read other books by the author. I think return readers to the series will get more out of it than newcomers, but I felt like I was able to get into the story and setting easily despite my lack of prior knowledge.

Folks say the Sugar Creek Theater is haunted, but that doesn’t scare off Cookie Chanel. She is the owner of Georgia’s chicest vintage clothing store, It’s Vintage Y’All, and just so happens to talk to the ghost of her grandmother every day through her cat Wind Song and a ghostly sidekick named Charlotte. Still, after she agrees to be in charge of costumes for a production of Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, she’s surprised to find the specter of a young woman in the theater, keeping watch over a trunk of 1950s dresses. And when Cookie's best friend Heather is found standing over a stabbed actor, she has two mysteries to solve. This is not a dress rehearsal. A desperate killer is waiting in the wings. If Cookie doesn't tread the boards lightly, it'll be curtains for her as well.

A Passion for Haunted Fashion is a well paced cozy mystery that had a couple surprises and some fun distractions. I liked the characters, I thought that Cookie was smart and independent- with her own insecurities and flaws. He ghost companion, friends, and boyfriend were all interesting characters. I do think return readers will get more significance and have more invested in their interactions than I was. I will admit the hints at changing up the romance or adding a bit of a love triangle annoyed me a bit, but that is because I am have seen it too much- not because it was overt or badly bone. I enjoyed the unraveling of the dual mysteries and the crazy conversations ad situations Cookie gets herself in along the way. I do think she made a decision or two that made me want to kick her, because they were not all that smart, but they were needed to get to the final scenes.

A Passion for Haunted Fashion is a fun cozy mystery with some quirky characters and plenty of twists. I enjoyed the read, and think that fans of the series will enjoy it even more than I.

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I enjoy this series. This is book 6 in A Haunted Vintage Mystery series and as the title indicates there are ghosts. Cookie and her sidekick, ghost Charlotte. When they are in the basement of the local theater looking for costumes they discover another ghost dressed in vintage dress, Peggy. They agree to help Peggy find out who murdered her when there is a murder upstairs on stage. With friend Heather as the prime candidate as murderer the girls investigate and hope to reveal the killer before Cookie joins the ghosts permanently. Can be read as a standalone and I love all the fashion hints from both Cookie and Charlotte. I received a copy of this ARC in exchange for a fair and honest review.

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ghosts, vintage fashions and a grandmother who is now a cat. fun cozy mystery. the ghosts talk an awful lot though, poor Cookie. I was given a free book through Netgalley. My review is freely and honestly given

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A Passion for Haunted Fashion: A Haunted Vintage Mystery
By Rose Pressey
Kensington
June 2018

Review by Cynthia Chow

The owner of the It’s Vintage Y’all boutique in Sugar Creek Georgia, nothing gets Cookie Chanel’s heart racing more than the discovery of a 1940s Dior dress or an authentic hoop skirt. Well, encountering yet another ghost seeking to find peace probably comes close, and it’s been happening ever since Cookie found the spectre of Charlotte Meadows haunting the fashionista’s fashion collection. Charlotte hasn’t expressed any interest in moving along to the next plane of existence any time soon, but she is willing to help other ghosts find their way; as long as it’s Cookie doing most of the legwork. Peggy Page is the latest ghost haunting Cookie’s life, and until she remembers anything before 1956 she seems content to hang around for the ride. And a bumpy one it will be, as within the same theater they find Peggy they also discover Cookie’s best friend Heather Sweet, covered in blood and standing over the body of her fellow amateur actor, Morris Palmer.

While Morris’s ghost fails to appear and identify his killer, Peggy and Charlotte are more than willing to hang around and provide dubious advice and encouragement. More helpful is the spirit of Cookie’s grandmother, now inhabiting the body of Wind Song, a Ouija board-reading and tarot card-manipulating cat who provides invaluable hints and clues. As Heather pessimistically spirals into depression as she awaits being arrested, Cookie and Company investigate the rest of the cast of Cat on a Hot Tin Roof while also attempting to discover how Peggy met her fate.

Mileage may vary on readers’ tolerance for the ghosts in Cookie’s life, as having their constant presence and unwanted criticism continually being voice would test the patience of most sane individuals. Cookie has become accustomed to Charlotte’s forthright opinions though, and doesn’t even seem to mind the ghosts being third and fourth wheels on dates with her boyfriend, Detective Dylan Valentine. Alternately chapter headings provide hilarious “Fabulous Afterlife” advice from Charlotte and clever Vintage Shopping hints from Cookie. They perfectly capture the voice of both women, with Charlotte’s being characteristically blunt and acerbic while Cookie’s are far more helpful for fashion aficionados. Snarky humor, an engaging heroine, and an abundance of vintage fashion details are the highlights of the fun romp of a mystery.

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I voluntarily offered to review this book with no obligations and my opinions are honest
The characters + storytelling were very captivating
There is another mystery for Cookie to solve.
The storytelling + the character's build were awesome!
It has all the ingredients that you need for a great book!
I can't wait for the next book in the series!

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I have mixed feelings about A Passion for Haunted Fashion.  Cookie Chanel’s haphazard and somewhat neurotic approach to investigating is painful to watch and funny simultaneously.  The nonstop chatter of her ghosts, Charlotte and Peggy, is more of a hindrance than a help, and is often distracting. It is easy to understand why Cookie isn’t completely “with it”.  At the same time she does things so profoundly stupid that they are difficult to accept. Still, it is easy to like Cookie.


When I started A Passion for Haunted Fashion, I at first thought I was missing a chapter.  The novel begins with Cookie exploring the basement of the theatre, finding a ghost (Peggy) and hearing a scream.  The scream turns out to be Heather standing over a dead body, blood on her hands. There was no introduction to the victim, no hint of what led to his murder - unusual for a cozy mystery.  Heather is the top suspect, but there is no connection between her and the dead man, and no motive for her to kill him. Cookie intends to clear Heather’s name.


A Passion for Haunted Fashion is entertaining.  Cookie is not a skilled investigator, but she is lucky enough to find important information.  Rose Pressey tries a bit too hard to be funny- with very mixed results. The novel makes for a pleasant afternoon escape, but is otherwise unexceptional.


3 / 5


I received a copy of A Passion for Haunted Fashion from the publisher and Netgalley.com in exchange for an honest review.


— Crittermom

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I enjoyed this Vintage cozy and thought that the story was a good one. The characters are definitely eccentric and sometimes the ghosts can get a bit annoying. I received a copy from NetGalley and this is my honest opinion.

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my first experience with this author. The story was ok for me. The characters were fine and interesting. I loved the vintage clothing storyline and the theater references. The ghost creeped me out a little.
Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for gifting me with an arc of this book. The opinions are mine alone

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This is the sixth book in the Haunted Vintage Mystery series. I've read all the books in the series. Cookie Chanel is back in her vintage clothing store, and she's accompanied by her constant companion, Charlotte, the ghost in her life.

Cookie not only can see and hear ghosts but over the course of her previous books, she's found out how a few of them actually died and became ghosts in the first place. In this book, Cookie is making costumes for the local production of Cat on a Hot Tin Roof. She finds an old trunk of clothes and picks up another lost ghost named Rose. She also discovers her best friend Heather standing over a dead body.

Now Cookie has two deaths to solve. She needs to clear Heather's name, and Rose can't remember how she died.

I enjoyed this book but the dialogue got a little confusing sometimes because Cookie not only talks to those around her but carries on conversations with her ghosts, and it was hard to follow.

I recommend this book. Thanks to Kensington Publishing and NetGalley for the ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

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This series always makes me smile. Cookie Chanel makes her living selling vintage clothing, which often brings her into contact with the former owners of those clothes -- especially if they've died of unnatural causes. This time, Cookie is in the basement of a local theater, looking for 1950s dresses to costume a production of Cat on a Hot Tin roof when she picks up a new ghost. One of the actors in the play has been stabbed to death and her best friend is a suspect, so Cookie once again finds herself with two mysteries to solve.

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A Passion for Haunted Fashion by Rose Pressey is the sixth tale in A Haunted Vintage Mystery series. Cookie Chanel the owner of Vintage Y’All in Sugar Creek, Georgia is doing the costumes for Sugar Creek Theater’s production of A Cat on a Hot Tin Roof. She is in the costume room checking out a trunk when the ghost of Peggy Page appears. Peggy does not know what happened to her and Cookie agrees to help her. Then Cookie hears a scream from the stage and takes off running. Her best friend, heather Sweet is standing over Morris Palmer with blood on her hands and he has a knife sticking out of his chest. This is definitely not part of the play. With Heather the prime suspect and Dylan being pressured to make an arrest, Cookie dons her investigators cap and plunges into the case. Cookie needs to track down the killer or Heather’s new role will be that of a prisoner!

A Passion for Haunted Fashion is a light, humorous cozy mystery. While is sixth book in the series, it can be read alone. The book is nicely written and has a steady pace throughout. However, Cookie did not seem like herself in A Passion for Haunted Fashion. Cookie is normally a fun character with a flair for vintage fashion. In this story, Cookie was scared, nervous and paranoid throughout the whole book. The murder of Morris Palmer was uncomplicated. I felt the author missed the mark by not introducing readers to the victim before he was offed. Peggy’s story was sadly neglected. It is the one that I found more appealing, and I wanted to know more about Peggy and what happened to her. I enjoyed the interactions between Charlotte, Peggy and Cookie. Charlotte’s witty and sarcastic dialogue had me laughing along her tips for the afterlife. Wind Song (or Cookie’s Grandma) had a bigger presence, and I like how she aided the investigation. I do wish that the ghosts were better utilized in the investigations and during dangerous situations. I love the descriptions of the vintage fashions and Cookie’s 1948 red convertible. I am rating A Passion for Haunted Fashion 3 out of 5 stars. A cute story, but it is not my favorite book in A Haunted Vintage Mystery series.

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Rose Pressey once more shows a deft hand in the latest Haunted Vintage Mystery as Cookie needs to deal with the over-talking of two ghosts in solving the latest murder in Sugar Creek. Her best friend Heather is the main suspect the local police think she is guilty. Cookie springs into action and the rest is suspenseful and fun! I thoroughly enjoy this entire series!

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Princess Fuzzypants here: You know right off the bat things are going to be quirky when the main character in a cozy, the owner of a vintage clothing store, is a ghost magnet and lives with a cat who channels her dead grandmother and paws a ouija board. As long as you can sign on for the ride, these books are fun.
There is always a guest ghost who needs to find out how they were murdered and why. This time the ghost is not the victim Cookie is trying to help. It is a ghost who has been trapped in a theatre for 60 years.. The crime victim is an actor in the current production and Cookie gets involved because her best friend seems to be suspect #1. My biggest complaint with Cookie is that despite having a detective boyfriend who accepts her unusual “gifts” and is understanding of her meddling, she still does not reach out to him when she is heading down the rabbit hole of danger. I know. I know. Suspense and all that but really, an intelligent woman would not do some of the things Cookie does. Even her grandmother, the cat, shakes her head.
Still, I enjoy each outing and look forward to the next. Why? The books are fun and light and enjoyable.
I give it four purrs and two paws up.

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Author Rose Pressey delivers another delightful installment to her Haunted Vintage Mystery series. This book is not only full of intrigue, but shares quirky and enjoyable characters that allow the plot to unfold at a rapid pace.
This series in particular is always a pleasure for me to read; they contain two of my favourite things, ghosts and mysteries. I am always eager to read the newest adventure of this series, and this one did not disappoint!
I received an advanced digital copy of this book from Kensington Books in exchange for an honest review. It has been my pleasure to review this book.

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Vintage fashion and ghosts keep Cookie Chanel busy. While her shop, It's Vintage Y'all, and costuming local theatre productions keep her busy, a murder at the theatre and a new ghost looking for answers about her death rose to the top of her to-do list. Breezy tone and engaging characters make this a fun cozy to read. Recommended.

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