This Verity Long novelette is set as the holidays approach. Ghost of a Chance nicely straddles that line between fun fluff and too-silly-to-care, easily managing to keep both feet firmly planted on the delicious treat side while sprinkling a bit of festive warmth on the confection. Unlike most readers, I hadn’t yet read any full-length entries in the Southern Ghost Hunter mystery series, but had no trouble getting a feel for its tone from this shorter story. I didn’t run across anything that seemed like a spoiler to the other entries, nor did I find anything that made me roll my eyes, as this genre all-too-often has a tendency to do. This is fluff done right.

Verity is making sugar cookies with deceased gangster Frankie hanging around when a Union soldier — deceased, of course — named Matthew shows up on her doorstep in need of help. He wants to marry but needs a necklace to present to his bride-to-be that only Verity can get for him, because he was forbidden to enter his old home when he joined the Union Army. Since she’ll need to use Frankie’s power to go there and see the dead, which saps Frankie, she has to use Southern Belles as an enticement. As good fortune would have it, Verity’s friend Lauralee is catering so there is some fun stuff going on as she mingles with the corporeal and the non-corporeal.

It doesn’t take long for Verity to realize mending a family relationship is just as important as obtaining that necklace for Matthew. Ghost of a Chance has just the right dash of fun — Frankie’s urn gets used as a serving tray ornament — and enough warmth and holiday spirit — no pun intended — to make this a short and enjoyable read. It’s fluff, but fluff with enough warmth and whimsy that you don’t feel too ridiculous for having read and enjoyed it. A nice treat. ( )

This was a fun short listen! When I finished listening to the previous installment in the Southern Ghost Hunter Mystery series, I had about another hour of time to fill so I decided to dive right into this short story. I feel like this story would work well on its own without having read any of the other books in the series.

Verity and Frankie go to work at a party in order to help a ghost we met in the previous installment retrieve an item that he needs. Verity is working a party serving food but there is a ghostly funeral occurring in the same space. Nothing seems to go as planned. I couldn’t wait to see how Verity would be able to do achieve her goals. Tavia Gilbert’s performance was wonderful and added to the overall experience.

I would recommend this story to others! I think that this was a very entertaining story which would be an ideal way for readers to give the series a try. I definitely plan to read more of this series just as soon as I can. ( )

A sweet, short story set before Christmas, about family, honor, and forgiveness that can be read while waiting for dinner to cook in the oven. ( )

For a short story/novella, Angie Fox packed in the emotional wallops. I really started to feel for Verity and Frankie in this one. In Ghost of Chance, I felt like the author really gave us a good idea of how lonely both Frankie and Verity’s existence are. Verity’s ostracization from Sugarland doesn’t seem to have eased any from Skeletons in the Closet and it appears that she and Ellis are still keeping their relationship on the down low. This leads Verity to a very quiet Christmas and poor Frankie still being tethered to her house can’t really seem to find any joy in the season either. But the big emotional was Mrs. Jackson’s heartbreak over her losing her son in the Civil War. Goodness the author did a great job of describing her pain and loss. I was glad to see the story end happily but it was one emotional ride to get there.

Tavia Gilbert continues to delight as the voice of Verity and the citizens of Sugarland
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ghosts, grieving, novella, series, family-dynamics
Although part of a series, this nice little tale can be appreciated as a stand alone. The publisher's blurb gives hints, but can't show you the fun or the interesting relationships between the ghosts. A very positive ending made the story even more enjoyable.
Tavia Gilbert gives an interesting narration. ( )