The Morgue the Merrier

by Karen Kelley, Dianne Castell, Rosemary Laurey

Take one town devoted to Christmas. Add a mysterious morgue-turned-hotel, a wonderland snowstorm, star-crossed lovers, determined spirits, and three of today's hottest romance authors, and you've got a sizzling treasury of hot and haunted Christmas tales. . .

In Christmastown it's always a special time of year. Just ask Annette. While visiting for the holidays, she discovers her Big Mistake from high school is in town and hotter than ever. A few Christmas spirits later, she finds out what she's been missing all these years. Or Sydney, the songwriter on sabbatical--until a ghostly Elvis impersonator gives her a hunk, a hunk of Christmas cheer. And is it the weather or a meddling ghost that forces Holly's ex-husband to land his plane right down in the middle of a steamy, delicious reunion?

Romantic, sexy, funny, and spirited, time to unwrap your gifts from. . .

Rosemary Laurey
Karen Kelley
Dianne Castell

Includes Special Holiday Bonu Story!

Genres: Anthologies, Romance, Paranormal Romance, Paranormal, Short Stories, Holiday, Ghosts

304 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published September 1, 2007

About the author

Karen Kelley always had a secret desire to live the life of a Gypsy. So she and her husband quit their jobs, sold their house, decluttered their lives and moved into their 5th wheel RV. Now they're traveling the United States. She works full time on her writing and spends her downtime walking on the beach or hiking in the mountains. Her motto has always been 'Who says you can't have it all.'

Reviews

[Ann aka Iftcan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ok, I am a holiday anthology junkie. I freely admit this and have not as of yet been dragged kicking and screaming to a 12-step program for this addiction--altho my family has threatened a time or two to stage an intervention.

Having admitted all of the above, I will also admit that I am well aware that holiday themed anthologies tend to be a little, well, 1 deminsional, but this doesn't detract from my enjoyment of them, its just a warning to those who haven't read them. The premise is usually a bit constraining (have to set in the same location/holiday/area/family etc.) and then you have to work the whole holly jolly theme into the Christmas ones.

This book is set in an Inn that used to be a morgue (hence the name of the book.) There had been a fire at the morgue in the past and there had been bodies there, awaiting burial/pick-up/whatever. As a result of the unplanned (in most cases) cremations, the ghosts of those people are now stuck in the Inn. I admit--I loved some of the ghosts--hello, ghost of Elvis impersonator who is fat, not very good, loves to matchmake, oh--and did I mention gay? Then there's the ghost of the stripper, and the TWO ghosts of one of the character's parents. . .

Anyway, you get the drift. I don't expect a lot from these anthologies, just that they provide an enjoyable couple of hours, since they are usually very quick reads. This one did have me giggling in a few spots and liking some of the characters (see above reference to El, the Elvis impersonator.) I very seldom give an anthology 5 stars, since there is usually 1 or 2 stories that are weak in them or that I don't really enjoy. But, on the whole, it did what I wanted it to do--gave me a nice, simple quick read.

[Weslyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

I honestly thought this was going to be terrible, but it was genuinely funny and kind of cute. The smut is well written. Most of the stories are second-chance romances, but it makes for easy and quick chemistry so I didn’t mind. Overall, very enjoyable and I would recommend it.

[Samaira · Rating 3 out of 5]

I would like to give it 3.5 stars. It was good, cute and I loved the little town all the stories we based in.

[Jessi · Rating 1 out of 5]

Okay, this book sucks. Really, did not enjoy any of the authors, none of the stories, am really surprised that this didn't end up as a wall-banger (so frustrated I throw the book at the wall). I think the only reason I finished it was because holiday romances are one of my favorite sub-genres.
Conceit of the book is that the couples in the stories are all stuck in "Christmastown" on Christmas Eve with a big storm rolling in. And if that weren't weird enough, one person in each of the couples is seeing a ghost. Thank god I got this from the library and in no way, shape, or form paid for it. Hm, that may be another reason I was so lenient in keeping the book in my hands rather than flinging it across the room.

[Kathy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Christmastown, Virginia... 10 years ago, the town was dying (industry gone)... so the town rallied, and decided to exploit its name and attract tourists and do the town in Christmas to the nth degree...

and the ex-cityhall / police station / morgue has been converted to the Sleigh Inn - and the ex-morgue rooms are decorated in the theme of the 12 days of christmas... and are haunted ... a gay Elvis impersonator who brings couples together & Annette's parents (whom she frees when she unearths their ashes and spreads them into the wind)... and Sally - whose ashes were incorrectly retained, while hers went to her love, Percival...

and on this Christmas Eve & Day... the various couples help the ghosts, while they find the love and passion they so desire... ahhhh

[Melea · Rating 3 out of 5]

Light, steamy nonsense. 4 separate stories. Set in a town called Christmastown that is trying to save itself by turning into a year-round Christmas tourist attraction. One of the town's inns is located in a refurbished, burned-out morgue with ghosts floating around causing mischief all in the name of pulling the characters into long lasting, sexually fulfilling love relationships. 4 happy endings in one book. Works for me!

[Jennifer · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book has four short stories in one. All the stories take place in a small town called Christmastown. I liked the idea enough; a town centered around Christmas with an inn that used to be a morgue and, with the help of a few ghosts, each couple realizes they are meant to be together.

Overall I thought the stories were just okay. They were a little cheesy at times, but the ghosts where entertaining and there were plenty of steamy sex scenes.

[Cindi Kelley · Rating 3 out of 5]

Of the 4 short stories, I think I enjoyed them in the order they were put in the book. Not great but not bad any of them. Mostly romance with a little bit of ghost action. I like that this was all set in the same place called Christmastown. Nice to read around Christmas but not my cup of tea otherwise.

[Cindy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Multi-author ghost anthology. The authors manage to mix a morgue which burned to the ground taking the resident bodies with it and a town trying to reinvent itself via the rabid commercialism of Christmas... Fun Read.

[Emily · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good fun. Not good clean fun because of the, you know, sex, but still fun.

[Moondance · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute anthology in Christmastown. THe local inn has renovated the former town morgue and mad it into rooms. Ghosts give love advice to the occupants.

[Amanda · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this novel!
A perfect read while getting ready for the Christmas season.
I would love to read more stories set in magical Christmastown!

[Irma · Rating 1 out of 5]

I love holiday romance stories but this ones just did not do it for me, if it was meant to be truly romantic and funny it failed.
I've never given a book 1 star, I guess is an "E" for effort...

[Karen Desmond · Rating 4 out of 5]

4

[Ruby]

Loved it! awesome writer.