Christmas is coming to Salem and Charlene is looking forward to the festive time at her new B&B. Too bad she won't get the holiday cheer she wants. To start with her parents are staying at the B&B and, while her Dad is a mellow guy, her mother is driving her crazy with her abrasive demeanor. She needs a better functioning filter between her thoughts and her mouth. Charlene decides to take them to her favorite Italian restaurant which is hosting a fundraiser for a local children's home. Her mother makes some not so nice comments to various people, complains about the food but, at the start, it's a nice evening. Things go sideways when David, the owner (but really only part owner) hands out a portion of his new lottery winnings to select people - not family - and tensions heat up. Before Charlene can say ho, ho, ho, David sees something out of the front window that makes him bolt out the door. Next thing he is lying dead in the street but no car in sight. Hit and run and by whom? And so the mystery begins.
I really enjoy the puzzle and the relationship between Charlene and her ghostly housemate, Dr. Jack Strathmore, former owner of the house and tied to it for who knows how long. Let's just say he's a real hunk and he's a bit jealous of Charlene's police detective boyfriend. Sam is the opposite of Jack in looks but he's a keeper. Only Charlene and her cat can see Jack but others can feel his presence.
The series can be read in any order but I'm in the 'read them in order' camp. I already have a spot on my TBR list set aside for #4, Mrs. Morris and the Sorceress due out 3/30/2021.
My thanks to the publisher, Kensington and to NetGalley for giving me an advance copy in exchange for my honest review.

Mrs. Morris and the Ghost of Christmas Past by Traci Wilton is the 3rd book in A Salem B&B mystery series, and a fun Christmas story. Charlene Morris is a grieving widow, who bought an historic mansion sight unseen in New England, she is from Chicago. In this book, Charlene parent's are in town for Christmas, and her mom is driving Charlene and her resident ghost crazy. When a recent lottery winner is murdered, the sleuthing begins. This book is such fun. I found this book to have a well developed plot and characters. I look forward to reading the next book in the series. This book makes me feel that I was right there, and part of all the chaos. I love the cover of this book and the cat. I highly recommend this book for anyone who enjoys cozy mysteries, with a little paranormal activity.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

It’s Christmas time and Charlene’s parents are visiting her and Salem. Charlene’s mom is rather critical and annoying. Her dad is pretty nice. Charlene is closer to being ready to date. Jack, the ghost, is still around, and he is very jealous of any time or thought Charlene gives to Sam, the detective.
At a dinner and auction to benefit a local children’s group, David, the host, is killed.
Charlene investigates even though she has little connection to any part of what is going on. The 3 stars is because there is so little reason behind Charlene getting involved other than her over -confidence that she can figure things out better than the police. Oh, there is lip service to the police being in charge and that they will find the person behind the hit and run, but Charlene thinks that she knows best.
In the end, she stumbles upon the culprit putting herself in danger again.
The ending feels like it drops off in the middle of a party. I don’t feel satisfied with the ending. I wish that the author had addressed the conversation that Sam and Charlene need to have about her involvement with investigating murders.
I rather wish Jack would move on to the afterlife. His presence worked for the first book, but now he is holding Charlene back from moving forward with her life.
I really like the setting in Salem. Each of the three books has made me want to visit. I like the B&B setting. I like Charlene for the most part, just not the character trait that makes her think she is a great detective.

Mrs. Morris and the Ghost of Christmas Past is book three in the A Salem B&B Mystery. This is one of my favorite series. It can be read as a stand alone.
Charlene is settling in her new B&B and ready for her first Christmas. Her B&B is booked and her parents are in town. While at a charity auction at a local restaurant, the manager of the place is hit in a hit skip. Was it truly an accident or an intentional hit. David recently won the lottery and had made promises to some of the locals and it was starting to appear he was not following through. Who would benefit, his new not so nice wife, his son, his business partner, or someone from his past. Charlene knows what it's like to lose someone to a hit and run and sets out to get answers on her own.
There are plenty of suspects and twist and turns. The characters are likeable, but her mother does have her moments, her resident ghost is a character his self. I love the setting and am ready to book a trip to Salem. There is humor, I laughed out loud a couple times, and a touch of romance. I also enjoyed the side story with the families.
I was given an ARC by Kensington and NetGalley.

This was such an awesome Christmas mystery! I just love the cover of this book and could really picture the B&B all decked out for Christmas. I felt sad for Jack knowing how much he's always liked Charlene that he couldn't give her a Christmas hug, but he seemed fairly happy. He always came in handy for helping to research during a case, and he made a good silent sleuthing partner for Charlene. This case was dealing with the murder of one of the locals, and it was actually someone who was a good benefactor, so it was a little sad to have them killed.

Charlene was dealing with her parents staying till after Christmas, and her mom wasn't the most likable person, but I have to admit, she grew on me after a while especially what she helped with toward the end. I wasn't right about the killer this time, but finding the real one was a good little adventure and showdown. I'm hoping that Charlene is getting a little closer to opening her heart to Sam after this book, at least they seemed to be in a decent place for now. I really liked Charlene's dad a lot! That man was a saint to put up with her mom lol. And I liked the character of Avery who Charlene hired to help Minnie with housekeeping chores. I hope she sticks around. I'm always anxious for the next book in this series!

I voluntarily read and reviewed an ARC of this book provided by the publisher via NetGalley, and my opinions are my own.

This is the third installment in Traci Wilton's Salem B&B Mystery series. Charlene Morris moved to Salem, Massachusetts, for a fresh start after her husband's tragic death. She is now the proud owner of a B&B and is looking forward to her first Christmas in her new home. Her parents are also visiting, and she takes them out to eat at a local restaurant where she witnesses the restaurant owner, David Baldwin, being run over by a car. David had just won the lottery and was dealing with a cheating wife and several people who thought they deserved some of his money. While trying to solve the murder, Charlene also does her best to raise money for a local children's home.

The Salem B&B Mysteries is quickly becoming one of my favorite cozy mystery series. I enjoyed this third book immensely. The characters are engaging, the setting charming, and I was unable to solve the mystery, which is always a plus. The writing style flows effortlessly and the wintry Christmas atmosphere will leave you longing for the holiday season. Charlene is a character that you can definitely root for. She's kind-hearted, intelligent, and determined. I enjoy her interactions with Jack. It was also fun getting to meet her parents. They really add to the story and I would love to see them again in future installments.
All in all, a delightful Christmas themed cozy mystery. I just read the synopsis of the fourth book and look forward to reading it.

Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington Books for the opportunity to read this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

You won’t regret this visit to Salem and Charlene’s B&B

Charlene Morris has reinvented herself as a B&B owner after her husband is killed in a car accident. She’d never planned on giving up her life as a marketing exec to run her own bustling B&B, and she surely never expected to run it alongside her ghostly housemate, Jack.

While Jack usually doesn’t interact with the guests, he can’t help but entertain himself by driving Charlene’s mom a little bit crazy while she and Charlene’s dad are in town, visiting from Chicago for Christmas. Her mom is a bit of a challenge, to be sure, and now there is another murder to be solved, when local restaurant owner David Baldwin is mysteriously run down during a charity auction. As the list of suspects continue to grow, will Charlene and Jack be able solve the murder before Christmas is ruined for all?

The third novel in Traci Wilton’s Salem B&B Mystery series does not disappoint. Whether this is your first visit to Charlene’s B&B, or you are a repeat guest, you are in for a treat. Grab a cup of cocoa or a holiday Martini and settle in by a nice warm fire for this delightful read. The book is engaging and is difficult to set down once you start, so you may want to grab some holiday cookies to go along with your beverage!

While the story line builds upon the previous books, the novel can easily be read on its own. Favorite characters from the earlier stories reappear, including B&B staff Minnie and Will, Sam the detective (who’s not kept his interest in Charlene a secret), and others. You’ll also be introduced to delightful new characters, including Avery, a teen living at Felicity House (a home for children and teens). Traci cleverly embeds Salem’s setting and culture into this Christmas themed story as it twists and turns and keeps you guessing right until the very end.

*I received an ARC of this book via NetGalley in return for my honest review.

This is one of the most entertaining series I've read! Would you like to have a ghost for a roommate? He will allow you to "cry on his shoulder", let you tell him your problems, and "have a glass of wine" while doing so! Extremely well written with great characterization. If you want to leave "real life" behind pick up this book and laugh or gasp or cry or just enjoy the read. Enjoy! 📚

I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest, voluntary review.

I will leave a review on Amazon or B&N on Sept. 29, 2020

Mrs. Morris and the Ghost of Christmas Past is the third book in the Salem B&B Mystery series. No matter what Charlene always seems to find herself involved in trying to solve a mystery. It's Christmas time and Charlene's parents have come for a visit, what follows is a storyline that will have you laughing at times. What would a cozy be without a couple ghosts tossed into the mix, as with the previous books I enjoyed Charlene, Jack and Sam. I look forward to more of this series because I want to see where the author will take these characters. I would definitely recommend this book to others.

I received a ARC from NetGalley and Kensington and am under no obligation to leave a favorable review, all opinions expressed here are my own.

I am really enjoying this series, and I was excited to see this third book added. I dived in and pretty much read it in one setting. I loved seeing Mrs. Morris’ parents; they were fun. The mystery was great, and I was surprised at the end by who the culprit was. There were a couple of places where I wish things were different. Charlene’s mother can be quite rude and cruel, but then other times she was nice and loving. She was too cruel, especially to Charlene, I think. I also am not really fond of Jack as a potential love interest. She can’t be with him, so I wish the slight feelings she has for him would go away. Other than that, I quite enjoyed this latest in the series. Recommend. I was provided a complimentary copy which I voluntarily reviewed.

This gentle Christmas tale is part murder mystery, part ghost story, part romance, and part family dysfunction.

With so many angles in play, the tale could feel crowded and rushed, but instead it’s very leisurely, with plenty of time for B&B owner Charlotte to contemplate what is going on around her both in the investigation and in her relationships with her family, her love interests, and the staff and guests at her B&B.

If you're looking for tense drama and high emotion, this isn't the book for you. The mother-daughter conflict feels contrived and there's not much tension in other relationships either. While the ghost's jealousy of the living is a nice quirk, I didn’t particularly care about the murder victim nor about most of the suspects., In fact the person I found most engaging was the wild child, Avery, who works first at the restaurant where the router happens, and later at Charlotte‘s B and B. Avery has a lot of personality beneath her stray-dog charm., and I'd like to see her on the pages of a sequel.

The setting is delightfully homey. Discussions of Christmas decorations, descriptions of food go hand in hand with tourist attractions to be explored around Salem. All in all, this is an easy, soothing read in what is often a hectic season.

Mrs. Morris and the Ghost of Christmas Past is the third book in the Salem B&B Mystery. Although this is the third book in a series, it can be read by itself. However, there are some spoilers for the previous books.

Charlene is the owner of a bed and breakfast in Salem, Massachusetts. In addition to Charlene, her cat, small staff, and guests, the house is inhabited by Jack, who happens to be a ghost. In this book, Charlene's parents are visiting for Christmas when a local restaurant owner is killed. Was it an accident or murder?

This book dragged on for me and I did not really connect with the characters. Even Jack, the ghost, was not very interesting. One thing I learned over and over is that Charlene's mother is annoying and often rude. The reader is pounded over the head with that. The murder mystery was not very engaging in my opinion. Unfortunately, I have no interest in reading anymore of this series.

I received a free copy of this book from the publishers and Netgalley. My review is voluntary.

Charlene, a recent transplant to Salem Massachusetts, is finally getting the hang of running a bed and breakfast, even one with a resident mischievious ghost in residence. Charlene's parents are visiting from Chicago for the holidays and Charlene has her hands full ensuring they feel welcome and attempting to convince Jack to stop moving her mother's slippers around. A nice family meal out at Charlene's favorite restuarant Bella's takes a tragic turn when David, part owner of Bella's and recent lottery winner is struck by a car after leaving the restaurant in a hurry. When news of David's passing and the mysterious circumstances surrounding his death make their way through the rumor mill, Charlene can't help but put her sleuthing skills to the test and suss out the killer living amongst them. Charlene's mother, an avid reader of crime fiction, is excited to lend a hand as well. The pair set off to collect money for Felicity House for Children, a local organization promised money by the deceseased that needs to be replaced, lending Charlene and her mom a convenient way to question suspects. The suspect list is long however since many individuals were none to pleased with David at the time of his death. Charlene and her mother draw ever closer to uncovering the killer however with each new clue they come closer to becoming next on the killer's list as well.
Mrs. Morris and the Ghost of Christmas Past is an excellent addition to this charming atmospheric series. The author does an excellent job of detailing life in Salem Massachusetts, allowing readers to feel as though they are walking the streets of this historic town right alongside Charlene. Regular town residents make an apperance in this story and new delightful characters are introduced as well, including Charlene's parents who stole the show with their witty banter. Jack engaged in plenty of comical antics of his own, adding a bit of levity and challenging Charlene's mother's stodgy ways. I highly recommend this book as well as the previous two in the series for those looking for a charming cozy mystery with plenty of atmospheric vibes to get lost inside.

Mrs. Morris and the Ghost of Christmas Past finds Charlene Morris, owner of a B&B in Salem MA, hosting her parents for Christmas. Charlene's relationship with her mother is problematic, and both she and Dr. Jack Strathmore, are dreading the visit. Bella's, a local restaurant is holding a fundraiser for Felicity's House, the local home for children and teens. Charlene takes her parents to dinner at the restaurant the evening of the event. David Baldwin, the co-owner of Bella's, has just won the lottery and ends the event by distributing checks to his partner, a few employees, and the owners of Felicity's House. Tensions are high at the event between David, his son from his first marriage, his current much-younger wife, and business partner. Shortly after the checks are distributed David sees someone outside the restaurant and runs outside where he is the victim of a hit and run and dies.

Charlene is not convinced the hit and run was an accident and begins to investigate. While investigating, Charlene has to deal with her overly critical mother, her guests at the B&B, Jack, whom only she can see, and her relationship with Detective Sam Holden. The relationship between Charlene and Jack, complicates the budding relationship between Charlene and Sam, as she does not feel she can tell Sam about Jack and she is very attracted to Jack even though he's a ghost - will be interesting to see how this works out! Jack is a very likable and apparently good-looking ghost - his antics only add to the story and I found myself wishing he was more of a "presence" in this story. The book takes several twists and turns and the culprit in the end turns out to be quite a surprise.

The book is very enjoyable, is a fast read and can be read as a standalone, even though it is the third in a series. I highly recommend this book and look forward to more in the series!

Thanks to Kensington and NetGalley for providing the ARC and introducing me to this thoroughly engaging series!

Okay listen. Is it well written? Very much no. But is it fun? Yes. I mean, the protagonist runs a B&B in Salem, MA and has a ghost for a roommate. On top of that, she finds herself involved in a murder mystery. Oh and there's a cat. What other book has captured so many of my interests?

This book was definitely better than the last one. I enjoyed the Christmas atmosphere. However, I was missing the regular cast of characters. The book seemed to be centered on Charlene, her parents and Jack. Other than some slight interactions interspersed in the pages, the rest of the gang was missing.

This book centers on the murder of David Baldwin, manager of Bella's restaurant. He has just won the lottery and is handing out checks during a fundraiser before being rundown outside of his restaurant. Charlene is on scene when this happens and starts asking questions. Will she solve the murder, survive her mother's visit and have a B&B full of guests for Christmas Eve?

I really liked the first book in the series but my enthusiasm is dwindling a little with each subsequent book. I think it's silly Charlene is torn between a living man and a ghost and I loathe love triangles in mysteries, especially since this one strikes me as ridiculous. I found that part of the story to be trying on my nerves and I detracted from my enjoyment.

As I said, a lot of the staple characters are missing - I like the spunky winery owner and her mother and Kevin, the bartender friend of Charlene's. Even her interactions with Jack were stilted. I think what caused this one to lose a star is Charlene inserts herself into a lot of people's lives asking nosy questions and no one ever tells her to mind her own business. They get angry but they give up information anyway. Usually cozies take place in a small towns where everyone knows everyone and the amateur sleuth asking questions of acquaintances makes sense but these people don't know her from a hole in the wall. It's puzzling to say the least.

The 3rd install of the Salem Bed and Breakfast cozy mystery series does not disappoint. A hit and run that takes places during the holidays soon reveals that there is more to many community members than meets the eye. I highly recommend reading this series. If you are a cozy mystery fan, you will not be disappointed.

It's the first holiday season for Charlene Morris and her Salem B&B. While she loves her mother, her parent's visit has added some extra stress to the mix, especially when Charlene starts investigating a hit and run. Her ghost resident ghost seems intent on pranking her mother and being jealous of her potential new beau(s). The mystery itself is solid and full of viable suspects. The interplay between the characters adds to the charm making this one of my top series to read.

Charlene Morris is a young widow who owns a B&B in Salem, Massachusetts. It's the Christmas holidays, and her parents, Brenda and Michael, have come to visit. Unfortunately, her relationship with her mother has been contentious and is partly the reason she fled Chicago for the safety of Salem after her husband was unexpectedly killed. She also has other guests at her B&B, so her time to spend with them is limited. Her only respite is her resident ghost, Dr. Jack Strathmore, who was murdered three years ago, and is living with her -- she is the only person who can see and hear him, which makes it difficult when guests are around and he talks to her.

But Charlene has taken her parents to a local Italian restaurant for the evening - Bella's - and its owner, David Baldwin has just won the lottery. Still, he's hosting a raffle for a local childrens' home, and Charlene plans to have fun, even if her mother is complaining. But after the meal when the gifts are raffled off, David distributes envelopes containing 'gifts' of his own to several people at the restaurant. Some don't seem happy, including his silent partner Vincent, or the childrens' home managers; even his son shows up and is surprised when he receives nothing.

But no one is more surprised than Charlene when David says two names and then promptly runs into the road and is run down by a hit-and-run driver. Now Charlene is determined to find out who killed David and why, even after being warned away by Detective Sam Holden. It doesn't help that her mother has already decided the young widow is the culprit, and wants to investigate with Charlene. She has her hands full running her B&B, keeping her mother otherwise occupied, trying to spend time with her ghost, and looking for a killer who might be the most oddest suspect of all...

This is the third book in the series and I've read them all. Let me first say that I love books with ghosts (friendly ones, not poltergeists), and even more so when they have personal relationships with the main protagonist. This series is no different than that. But Charlene is finding it difficult to maintain her attraction to Jack, knowing he's a ghost and can't reciprocate the way she wants, and her dawning attraction to Sam, knowing he can. It makes for problems in her life.

When she's on the hunt for a killer, it makes things even more difficult knowing Sam wants her out of it. But she's sure the widow knows something, and even has a desire to talk to the ex-wife, who was left by her husband for another woman. Even more so is her questions for Kyle, the son, and Vincent, the partner. But no one is giving any information, and Charlene is on her own.

It makes for quite an interesting mystery, and I truly enjoyed it. I also loved the descriptions of Charlene's home decorated for Christmas, and I myself would love to see it. That is what draws the reader in - descriptions we can discover in our own mind and make us want to share the story with the protagonist.

I do love the character of Jack, and my romantic side wishes there were some way he could become more than a ghost (through, perhaps, a miracle of sorts where anything can happen). I do, unfortunately, like him a bit better than Sam, who comes off hard sometimes. But these are my own opinions and others will see things differently.

Throughout the book I found that Brenda was growing on me, and her conversations with her husband started to become humorous by the end of the book. Sometimes marriages seem strange to others, but whatever seems strange to some people wind up being others' own forms of love. It was delightful visiting with Charlene's parents and watching her own relationship with them.

When the ending comes and we discover the murderer, it was sad in a way, knowing the lengths people will go to. Still, it all came out nicely and the book ended in such a way that left me looking forward to the next in the series soon. Recommended.

I have been enjoying this series, each book more than the last! I enjoyed this one but I have a rather large issue. I will get that out of the way first.
None of the innocent accused women and men were burned at the stake in Salem. This did happen, but primarily in Europe and not once in Salem. The accused died by hanging, being pressed with rocks or in jail. I know this is a work of fiction, but it is a common misconception.
Other than that it is truly enjoyable, I loved reading about Salem in a holiday setting. Charlene’s parents are in for a visit and her mother is quite a pain. Charlene gets involved in fundraising for a charity when what is promised to them does not arrive. Things heat up with Sam, and Jack is of course still in the (semi visible) picture.
I am hoping there will be more in this series!