The House on Persimmon Road

by Jackie Weger

Alternate cover edition - ASIN B00E9LS0OY.

Need Help? Hire a Ghost. She Cooks. Lottie Roberts is restless and lonely. She's been sitting on her bones since the Civil War, waiting for her ticket to heaven until... Justine Hale and her family take up residence in Lottie's two-hundred-year-old plantation house. Lottie senses in Justine a kindred spirit--filled with heartache and in reduced circumstances--which Lottie considers mirrors her own situation exactly. Yet Justine is trying to do the right thing. Else why is she burdened with a bankrupt mother without an ounce of common sense? Or an ex mother-in-law who looks like a pickled beet with a tongue sharper than a hatchet? And where is the father of the recalcitrant eleven year-old boy and the eight-year-old afraid of her own shadow? Justine needs help and Lottie is of a mind to provide it. But before Lottie can say squat and Justine even unlocks the front door, Tucker Highsmith shows up to steal her thunder. His dark eyes, lazy grin, and sexy Alabama drawl coupled with the dern braggart's Mr. Fix-it talents just might be the answer to all of Justine's problems. Or maybe not... Because Lottie has her own agenda, one she's been hoping and praying for since she found her bones on a hidden staircase.

Genres: Romance, Paranormal, Fiction, Ghosts, Fantasy, Ebooks, Contemporary Romance

388 pages, Kindle Edition

First published November 1, 1987

About the author

I would rather write an obit than my bio, mostly because I'm one of the most boring souls you'll ever meet. I have been to interesting places and met interesting people, but none of it rubbed off on me. Some of those places and some of those people found their way into characters or settings in my romance novels which lends me about an inch of panache--on the table below the salt. With family or solo, I've traveled since I was about eleven. I spent years living abroad in Central America in little jungle villages absorbing the native culture and language. I spent months on off-islands and sailed in the Pacific with a friend until his sloop sank--not with us on it--thank goodness. I spent a New Year's in Montreal, a summer semester in the U.K and a few glorious days in Paris before returning Stateside to finish a degree in history, then it was off to Panama and Costa Rica. While my passport is always handy, I've settled down in Texas to be near my family. Since I'm sitting still, I've plugged in my laptop and started writing again. After an absence of a few years, I've jumped back into the publishing world which has changed dramatically. I love the changes. In the past, category romance novels had a shelf life between yogurt and ice cream, but with the advent of e-books they can live on the Web for years. I'm excited to be publishing my backlist. I'm working on a new novel. I live with a man, a dog, seven feral cats and go to Bingo on Friday night. The most exciting thing that's happened in my life recently is a cow wandered into my yard and ate my garden. See what I mean about being boring?

Reviews

[Lorna · Rating 4 out of 5]

(PureTextuality.com)At first glance at this cover, it seems like a book I would never read. However, I found it on sale, read the blurb, found out it was a RWA Maggie award winner for romance, and I was sold. Like romance and humor, with more than a touch of the supernatural? This could be your next great read!

The cover doesn’t hint at a haunted house or a ghost, that’s for sure, but that’s what you get with this read. Justine is a woman that is starting over now that her former life is pretty much in ruins. Her husband left her to become a monk, and now she has to juggle a job, her two children, her once rich, but newly destitute mother, and even her crotchety, ex-mother-in-law. She has had to move to a new state-Alabama-and has rented a home, sight unseen. The house has been sitting empty for years, or so Justine thinks. In truth, it is inhabited by Lottie, a spirit with bones hidden in a secret place that have never found. She’s lived there since before the Civil War, and quickly becomes a big part of the read. She is also the one responsible for more than one humorous moment in this read.

Almost immediately, Justine meets her neighbor,Tucker, a bachelor that’s writing a cookbook and is embarrassed to tell anyone. He’s also gotten on the wrong side of her almost immediately as well. It doesn’t take long though, before the whole family has fallen in love with him-except of course the MIL, Agnes, but then she doesn’t like anything. Through it all, Lottie really wants the family to know she’s there. But she really manages to screw that up, and scare Justine’s eight year old daughter half to death, when she tries to participate in a tea party with her dolls. Yes, I laughed out loud. Lottie’s on a mission to come back to life and starts trying to ensure that happens. It makes for some amusing moments let me tell you!

I enjoyed the romance between Justine and Tucker, it was very sweet and actually pretty lustful in the end, although everything fades out before any sexual scenes are shown. Actually didn’t bother me, as I just enjoyed so many other aspects of this read. I loved the characters and the premise of a haunted house and the family that lives there, the romance and all the things that Lottie comes up with. Such a really good read for any romance reader, and I recommend it to ages 16 plus-due to the lust, and a few other sexual things.

[Kindle Ninja · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book had me in stitches from the beginning. The verbal tussle between Justine and her mother reminds me of Dorothy and Sophia in the Golden Girls. Add the mother-in-law to the mix and the hilarity increases threefold. But that’s just the sideshow to the story of Justine, who is starting over after her husband left the family to become a monk. And the best way to start over is to move to a new house. Although the house is not in the best of shape, it comes with its perks in the form of a restless ghost and a hunky neighbor.

I think this is a romance novel first, then a light ghost story second. I can understand injecting a paranormal element into the story to add novelty to a formulaic main plot. Although it has some minor loopholes, they can easily be overlooked, especially when the character interaction is exceptionally done. This gave me a heavy dose of wit and humor, which can only be a good thing.

[Myfanwy · Rating 2 out of 5]

All it needs is for somebody to play ‘sweet home Alabama’ and it would hit all the redneck cliches; we got our man with confederate flag tattoo and ‘inner rebel-warrior’, our bizarre notions of toxic masculinity, our childhood of desperate rural poverty which built character, our ghost with buried civil war treasure who definitely killed a union soldier or two and who’s ownership of slaves we will completely ignore.
So that’s great.
Aside from the terrible racism of the ghost plot, it’s also just kind of terrible and pointless and confusing narratively.
Justine is fine, but also kind of a mess of the author’s own notions of gender roles and internalized misogyny.
Tucker could have been fun, since he has a cranky dad and is writing a cookbook, but instead he got a giant tattoo celebrating losers on his arm, so no.
The only real bright spot is Pauline and Evelyn, who are definitely WASP lesbians, even if the author doesn’t realise is.

[Bronwyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think this book is generally listed under Romance. It’s not a genre I read often, but if all romance novels were as well written as this, I’d read more.

It is more than just a tale of love between man and woman – it’s a story of an extended family, and odd other characters. Some of them very odd – which all adds to the fun. And it is fun!

Light reading, good characters, humor. Just the sort of read to balance the less positive things that impinge on our lives.

I found The House on Persimmon Road a good introduction to this Author. I’ll look for other books by Jackie Weger.

[~Mindy Lynn~]

Freebie on Amazon 7/19/17

[Jackie Weger · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hello, GoodReaders: I don't write reviews on my own titles, so I thought I might share a few organic reviews from Amazon. I don't know these readers, but I am so grateful and appreciative for their kind comments and that each took the time out of a busy life to post a review.

Five Stars. By Lynda Butler (GRIFFIN, GA, US) Amazon Verified Purchase
This review is from: The House on Persimmon Road (Kindle Edition)
"This has got to be one of the most enjoyable books I have come across in a long time.. heartwarming and some crazy characters...funny-loveable-hopeful and believable!"

Five Stars. AWESOME! By Nan Amazon Verified Purchase
This review is from: The House on Persimmon Road (Kindle Edition)
"Best read in a long time. Thrilled with the whole book. Good clean book. Wish I could find more on the caliber."

Five Stars. By Amazon Customer "avid reader" (arkansas)
Amazon Verified Purchase.
This review is from: The House on Persimmon Road (Kindle Edition)
"This book is so funny, the characters come to life in this one literally. Plenty of mischief and mayhem keep you glued to this one."

Five Stars. M. Hollingsworth (REAL NAME) Amazon Verified Purchase.
This review is from: The House on Persimmon Road (Kindle Edition)
"I really think this is an enjoyable story. I have never read anything like it! Part romance, part paranormal and the characters are fantastic. I love it!"

[R.G. Phelps · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you for writing this delightful story. I enjoyed it on my Kindle and agree with you that it is so much easier for me to read, enjoy, and take books with me wherever I go. Back to your story, The House on Persimmon Road, it is the kind of story that while reading it you feel that you must share it with your wife. I would just have to close my Kindle and share what I had just read. I love to read a book like yours, that is so real and so enjoyable. I have written two historical fiction books, two mysteries, and two business books, and my wish is that my readers will enjoy them as much as I enjoyed your book! Dear reader, please believe me when I say that I know you will enjoy, The House On Persimmon Road, as much as I have.

[Pamela Mounce · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good read

I liked how the book kept you in suspense with the ghost d t and didn't get too mushy. It was a good read!

[Stefanie Kral · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ok, let me start off with I was asked by the author Jackie Weger. I have never read anything from her before. I'm really, really glad she asked me to read her book!! I haven't read a book this cute in a long time.

We start off with Justine Hale, her children Pip,Judy Ann and her mom and mother-in-law. They're moving to Alabama because Justine's husband left them to become a monk. Crazy I know!! They move into the old house and boy do I mean old!! It doesn't come with anything new. But, it does come with 2 things... Tucker, the sexy neighbor. Who falls for Justine the INSTANT he meets her. And, Lottie........ The ghost who's been living in the house for over 100 years.

I fell in love with these characters INSTANTLY!! There was so many times I found myself laughing. Poor Justine was stuck in the middle of her mom & mother-in-law constantly fighting & going back and forth. They've never worked a day in their lives. And, don't know how to live poor. They are trying to find themselves. It's really funny seeing them go back and forth all the time.

You have Tucker and his father Wheeler. Who's in a nursing home except for when Tucker brings him home on weekends. Tucker is always helping Justine & the family to fix stuff at the house. All while in love with Justine. He knows she's got her walls up. And, he gets it 100%. Which I loved about him. He didn't push her. But, he also let his feelings for her be known. Even though she vowed to never get into another relationship. They're something about Tucker that has her thinking different.

Pip and Judy Ann are adorable. They are def upset about their father leaving.They def push their mother's patience. Pip along with Wheeler start fishing and start taking pictures. It's really cute. Judy Ann stays close to her mother and grandmother.

Lottie on the other hand. She's a ghost who's “betwixt and between” and determined to regain her physical form. Everytime I read about her I laughed. The whole book she drove the family crazy. They all thought they were seeing things. Or couldn't figure out where their stuff was going. All she wanted was to be alive.

In this book you'll see a family learn to rebuild their lives. Learn to rebuild their family. I loved how they fought like crazy. But, they still watched each other. I loved watching Tucker & Justine grow. They both had a lot of baggage. They had a lot of walls to climb over. I loved the relationship Tucker and the kids had. And Lottie.... She was determined to get her life back as well. You will most certainly will not be disappointed!! I loved everything in this book. I am so glad I read this book. I'm excited to read more from Jackie Weger!!

Check out my other reviews at:

http://mommyslatenightbookup.blogspot...

[Effrosyni Moschoudi · Rating 5 out of 5]

A humorous and romantic family tale set in an old, haunted house

I don’t know why I feel so surprised upon reading this book. I should have known that an amazing writer like Jackie Weger would be the only one capable to write a ghost story that is about anything but the ghost! If I were to tell you that this is a tale about a family moving in a haunted house, you’d imagine chain dragging, spooky sightings and goosebumps, wouldn’t you now? And yet, this is a tender family tale that will have you laughing with the kind of humor you’d only expect from watching The Golden Girls!

Justine has recently been forced to become the head of her family. Her husband has selfishly abandoned her and their two small children to become a monk in some remote, exotic isle. Plagued by financial trouble, Justine decides to start a new life and moves into an old house in a rural location. As well as her two children, she brings along her mother and strangely enough, her mother-in-law too. The two elderly women are not the best of friends, making derisive and critical remarks about each other all day, while the children have their issues and insecurities too. In their midst of it all, Justine is wounded, uncertain and insecure, but somehow manages to play the role of referee and coordinator for them all. When love knocks gently on her door in the shape of her kindly neighbor Tucker Highsmith, Justine is irrevocably proven unsure on her feet, teetering between offending and flirting with this man who is severely drawn to her and has the gall to tell her so from the word go.

Jackie Weger has managed the impossible with Tucker; she’s had me fancying a man with facial hair. But that man is irresistible. Other than the fact that he’s incredibly confident, straightforward and honest, hating mind games—the way every woman wishes a man to be—he also has an affinity for cooking and aspires to writing a cookery book. I mean, how adorable is that?

Lottie is the resident ghost, and although the book is anything but a ghost story, she fits well in the mix, having her chance at interacting with Justine and her family in a delightful, ingenious way that the reader certainly won’t expect.

All in all, this is a delightful read, full of opportunities for laughter, chuckles and the inevitable sigh brought on by romantic, soppy lines. It will equally please the avid readers of humor, romance, family tales and ghost stories too. I will also say that I’ve read dozens of indie books and this is the only one I’ve read so far where I’ve found zero typos both in terms of spelling and punctuation. Well done, Jackie Weger!

Highly recommended!

[ReadAlongWithSue ★⋆. ࿐࿔catching up · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jackie Weger asked me if I would like to read and review this. And I jumped at the chance as I've seen lots of good things said about this author.
I was not disappointed at all. I can't wait to read more of her books!

I read a lot of books [as most reviewers do in a year] and this one stands out to me for the excellent talent that Jacke Weger has in writing. She is definitely in a class of best selling authors in my humble opinion. She writes fluently, understandably, makes it flow with pitch and power. I loved the little thoughts of things that bring a smile to a readers face, which it did me.

A husband who has left his wife for another woman, yep, hear about that all the time, affairs, yep, hear of that all the time, even a husband who leaves for another man! yep, heard of that, a husband who wants "space" and leaves the family home, yep, heard of that, but to leave to become a monk! Yep I can understand that, not something you hear of every day but very plausable and how the wife and children deal with it is amazing. She has her MIL and her own Mother with her, what fun that leads to, many a time I laughed, and sometimes I cried, this story is so good. I can't tell you anymore than this as it would spoil it for you. I loved the eerie presence, just loved it.

I can't rave about this book and this authors style of writing enough, I hope I get to read more of her books.

[Liz · Rating 3 out of 5]

I wish I had read the synopsis more carefully. Just suspend disbelief on this one.

There are two story lines that eventually converge. One is about Justine who has moved to Alabama with her 2 kids, mother, and ex-mother-in-law after her husband divorces her to become a monk. This sounds really quirky and fun, but the monk-bit is never explored just the aftermath of how these women and children need to learn to fend for themselves. A romance then develops between Justine and her neighbor Tucker but I found this to be lacking on many levels.

The second story is about Lottie, the ghost from the 1860's that lives in the house that Justine is leasing. While that was interesting, I HATED the ending involving Lottie and her descendent Milo and the missing inheritance. So much more could have been done with this.

And spoiler alert -- don't expect a typical ending with the family helping Lottie to move on to heaven to be with her deceased husband. It doesn't happen, but something else more far-fetched. It's odd, to say the least.

[Jennifer DeCuir · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved all the unique characters in this book. I'm trying to imagine a life saddled with a mother AND an ex mother-in-law who lived with me and can only imagine it'd be Hell. ;) Lottie was so refreshing! It was like Weger sat down and said to herself "What hasn't been done yet?" and proceeded to write just that. Great job.

The only thing that kept me from giving this book 5 stars was the sense of time. Tucker Highsmith has a mustache and I kept picturing Tom Selleck. There is talk of sweatbands and jogging. Justine smokes - not that people don't smoke in this day and age, but I just never see it written about. It was just very difficult to imagine when this story takes place. Is it the 70's, 80's, 90's? I was pretty certain it wasn't the 21st century. Just threw me a bit as I read. If you don't mind the setting being a bit of a mystery, then the rest of the story will totally draw you in.

[Helen Goltz · Rating 3 out of 5]

Actual rating: 3 1/2 stars

I thoroughly enjoyed this cosy read and the characters. Jackie Weger weaves a lovely story and I felt the frustration and vulnerabilty of Justine, the protagonist and the strength and loneliness of Tucker, her neighbour/soon-to-be lover.

I found the fighting between the mothers wearing after some time and I would have enjoyed this book more without the ghost character, Lottie. For me, that was unrealistic and unnecessary. The characters were so well woven and Justine's journey was enough for me. I was pleased that it didn't need gratuitious sex to create the love and tension between the two leads. It was also great to see mature love develop amongst the older characters.

There was a lot to like about Tucker with his dark eyes, lazy grin, and sexy Alabama drawl although this wasn't over worked, thank goodness.

I recommend this book to anyone looking for a story of hope and strength.

[Carmen DeSousa · Rating 5 out of 5]

I just know that whenever I read a book by Jackie Weger, I'm going to laugh out loud, learn something, and swoon a bit!

Her characters are so real, so lifelike, you'd swear they must be based on someone she knows. Don't miss her bio at the end. WOW! Maybe she does know all her characters. Jackie has lived an interesting story, to the say the least.

Oh, about the book... It's fun. It's sweet. It's romantic. It's about family and starting over and taking chances! The trope is similar to books where the heroine buys or inherits a home and wants to turn it into a B&B, except Justine needs this big "falling apart" house for her two kids, mother, and mother-in-law. Yes, this poor woman inherited a mother-in-law!

Thankfully, as in all sweet romance like these, there's a dashing hero in overalls next door.

Okay, that should be enough to wet your whistle. The story is cute and well worth the read, if only to learn how to "dobe" a roast from a ghost!

[Maria · Rating 4 out of 5]

HOUSE ON PERSIMMON ROAD is a cozy family story. Justine already has her hands full with two children, a wayward husband, and her mother and mother-in-law. When she moves to make a better life, things turn upside down. The house is worse than imagined, the older women bicker, and the children hate the move. Justine is a fantastic character. She keeps a level head through it all, and when a little romance presents itself, Justine shoves it aside to keep up with her duties. This novel was well written, and the characters were very good. It's an enjoyable page-turner.

[E.W. Brooks · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Relatable Love Story with a Twist

The House on Persimmon Road tells the story of a divorcee and her family’s search for love and acceptance after being abandoned by their husband and father. This love story reels you in as Justine is wooed by her hunk and handy man of a neighbor. All the while, keeping you wondering what Lottie, the ghost of the home, has planned. This novel reiterates the idea that love can exist – if only you’re willing to accept it.
Good read.

[Susan Tarr · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a delightful story! As fiction, it’s certainly one out of the box. Written tongue-in-cheek, it covers generational family relationships, romances, the dramas that sudden change can bring to anyone’s life, and it even incorporates a friendly ghost. Well written, and in a humorous style, it is a thoroughly enjoyable read. I look forward to adding this author to my list of favorites.

[Cathy Geha · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jackie Weger always writes about wonderful people that I would love to have as friends. This story has a ghost that wants her body back, a hunky neighbor for the new tenant, two children and both the woman's mother AND her mother-in-law. A great story and very fun to read :)

[Christine Gabriel · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book and literally read it in one day. The characters were well developed and the story line moved along at a good pace. I am really looking forward to reading more from this author.

[Lesley Book Lover · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book took a while to get going, I was getting a little bored, especially with the old ladies bickering, but I wanted to see how it ended. Then the ending just seemed so rushed that I feel there should be more, a lot could be cut out for more 'ending' to be added I feel.

[Waverly Rodriquez · Rating 4 out of 5]

A refreshing look at divorce and families. Fun, quirky and a great read.

[Una Tiers]

What I liked was putting the character in a remote setting, thereby limiting the number of characters. I am ambiguous about the book although I read it.

[Deloris Mercer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely love it

Thank you Ms. Weger for a wonderful book. Will be reading more from this author. Great characters and the setting is wonderful. She brings a story alive.

[Danielle · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is very well written, with engaging, endearing characters. I enjoyed this book.

[LetyM]

Hilariously haunted!
I love this author's writing. I just recently discovered this author and the three books I have read so far are so very well written. Actually, not sure if anyone could tell if there are any editing issues because the characters I have read so far speak like Dolly Parton from the mountain peoples so it's sometimes difficult to tell but this is part of the attraction for me. Their point of view is so down to earth, hone and blunt it's hilariously great!

Keep in mind that this is fiction so you have to get in the right mind in order to just go with the flow of the story and characters. All the characters are great, even the children. Some funnier that others, such as the geriatrics. The residents include Justine's bankrupt mother, her ex-mother in law and her two children. Poor Justine, recently divorced, moves south and moves into a run down two hundred year old home in which the original resident, ghost Lottie Roberts, still resides. Lottie resides in the attic where she died back in the civil was hiding from the Yankee soldiers. Lottie is a very active character throughout the book trying to engage her new house guests and wants to help Justine with the chores of her home. She is actually horrified with the state of her home. When all of Lottie's attempts to get her guest's attention fail, Lottie attempts to become human again. Hence the hilarious parts.

Lottie's home also had a barn which was sold separately from the house. The barn/home belongs to Tucker, a great handyman who is very interested in Justine and doesn't mind helping her with repairs around the house. Tucker also has an elderly father who the court ordered he live in a home because he accidentally almost burned his home down. Tucker also loves to cook and is writing a cook book.

Thrown all of this together and you have a very entertaining story with the characters intertwining getting to know each other and creating hilarious situations.
Definitely a must read. I love that this author does not go into detailed sex scenes so although it is a romance it has a lot more 'story' content to keep the reader entertained. Jackie's summary of herself at the end of the book will tell all and it is also succinct, honest and bluntly funny.

[IslandRiverScribe · Rating 3 out of 5]

This work was originally published as "Full House" in 1989. In doing the re-title, new cover art, new promotional blurb and revised copyright date (2013), Ms. Weger apparently wished to imply to readers that the storyline was a contemporary romance with a side order of paranormal.

Well - there is a definite and well-written paranormal sub-plot involved, but the romance is anything but modern-day. The expressed culture of the area, the speech patterns, the vehicles, the telephone system, the dress, the Federal minimum wage amount and even the references to Martha Stewart are all in line with the mid-1980's.

Unfortunately, the author gives no clue in the plot line as to when the events are taking place. It took me a mentally confusing 0ne-third of the book to finally pick up enough cultural references to realize that this romance was indeed contemporary - 30 years ago!

(post-script: it appears there has been yet another revision in 2014, with yet a different cover. Perhaps that one has been updated past the 1980's.)

[Linda Rorex · Rating 5 out of 5]

Justine Hale moves into a two-hundred year old farmhouse in Alabama with her two children, mother and mother-in-law. Lottie Roberts is the ghost haunting the farmhouse. Pauline is Justine's mother whose money is tied up in bankruptcy court after the death of her husband. Agnes Hale is Justine's ex-mother-in-law who Justine takes care of after her husband left to become a monk. Tucker Highsmith is their neighbor and is friends with Justine but Pauline wants them to date. Lottie is the resident ghost who wants to be back in her body. Since Lottie's body was never found, she is between earth and the spirit world. Justine is trying to raise her eleven-year old son Pip and eight-year old daughter Judy Ann. Justine must navigate with life as a mother while dealing with her mother and mother-in-law and a wacky ghost and starting a romance with Tucker. I really enjoyed this hysterically zany paranormal romance novel.

[Di Aitken · Rating 1 out of 5]

Haven’t read this author before but always like to try new book. Was nearly a DNF on several occasions but kept going thinking it will get better! Wrong!!!!
What a frustrating lot of characters. Justine drove me nuts with her spineless inability to stand up for herself against two cantankerous old bags! And the boy next door who falls madly in love with her at first site. The sexual tension between the two should have lead to a fabulous steamy love scene, wrong again. Not even a fondle, passionate kiss nothing! The author totally wiped out the whole lot and just skipped to the next morning!!!!! I didn’t realise it was a kids novel! And a ghost who’s not a ghost that just loiters in the background trying to make her body real again. Total load of rubbish.
Will stick to my usuals after this bollocks.

[Suzanne Pixley · Rating 5 out of 5]

A modern family in a Southern Alabama haunted house

Another humorous women's fiction by Jackie Weger. Justin's husband decided to become a monk, leaving her to care for their two children, his Mom as well as hers. Tired of dealing with all the finger pointing and rumors in Birmingham she decides to find an isolated large home in southern Alabama near Mobile. Shortly after arrival she meets the good looking man from next door and slow but sure discovers their new home is haunted. Typical of Jackie Weber books, it's funny, a fast read and still explores modern life. I would usually stop reading a story with ghosts but the ghost named Lottie added a great of humor.