The Ghost and Charlie Muir

By: Felice Stevens

Narrated by: Matt Haynes

Bad enough the big old house Charlie Muir inherits is next door to Ian Gregg - the most gorgeous guy he’s ever seen - it also happens to be occupied by Rachel, the ghost who keeps running off his dates. It’s impossible to get any love, when the bed starts shaking...and not because you’re having fun in it.

When Ian helps Charlie search for the source of strange noises in his house, they stumble upon a stack of photographs hiding century-old secrets. Curious of the friendship between the two men pictured, Charlie and Ian set off to solve the mystery of their relationship. With the help of the meddling ghost, a magical mirror, and a way-too-smart TV, they find answers...and more.

And as things heat up between Charlie and Ian, they begin to wonder if Rachel's meddling has gone too far.

Doesn’t Rachel know Ian is straight? Or is he?

That kiss they shared the other night sure didn't seem like it. Or the one after that...

©2020 Felice Stevens (P)2020 Felice Stevens

Ok, not as good as I hoped

The story kind of rambled about. Things would be revealed and then the main characters would act as if it never happened and reveal the same stuff again later. Very odd for anyone with a memory. The narrator was frustrating too. At times great, other times blasse and not in the story at all. The premise is fantastic and could have been a great and hilarious read. Too bad and so sad for me.... Can I get my $13 back... Lol

Intriguingly different

This was an interesting story, about two men (and neighbors) meeting and falling in love in current times. They learn, a little at a time, about two men who fell in love a hundred years ago living in their same homes. At the forefront is the cultural differences on how very much times have changed for gays and what is accepted now vs what was morally repugnant and even illegal all those years ago. And one of the current neighbors is straight, but his whole world changes when he meets his new neighbor Charlie.
I enjoyed this story very much, especially Charlie, and the mysterious Rachel. And the way the story unfolded, seeing the two MCs falling for each other was just so cool. Will enjoy this again down the road, is definitely going in my re-read pile.
Most of all, I enjoyed the narrator Matt Haynes. Almost hyptnotic, I had a hard time ever getting to a stopping point. He's like a storyteller that makes you keep wanting to ask "and then what happened?" again and again. And Felice Stevens is one of my favorite authors, always enjoy her books so much.

enjoyed it

Not at all what I had in mind, but nonetheless I enjoyed it.

Characters were likeable, it had a good rhythm an an entertaining story. I'd happily listen to it again.

Matt Haynes did a good job on the narration, his inflections and intonations bought the characters and their story to life.

REINCARNATION WITH A TWIST

I received this book for free and am giving my honest and voluntary review

Charlie has spent his life trying to survive. His mother gave him up when he was two and going through foster care as a gay person was rough. Everyone only wanted to use him. He inherits a house from a very distant relative and is set for life, except the house seems haunted and Charlie sees a ghost. He meets his neighbor, Ian a straight guy and instantly falls in love with him.

Ian sees Charlie in a different light, there is a golden aura surrounding him. Ian also begins to see and hear Charlie’s visiting ghost. The two learn why they are being haunted and it is up to them to determine what happens next. Ian has to find himself and Charlie has to learn to believe in love.

Felice did a wonderful job in making these characters and exposing the problems gay men had in the early 1900s.

The narration is good and captures the moods of the characters.

So this IS a Lambda winner! This is how it's done

Felice Stevens penned the brutality of denial of the heart and a person's true self in writing 'The Ghost and Charlie Muir'. The book features Charlie Muir, a young homosexual misfit that grew up in foster care being emotional, verbally, and physically mistreated--a past that leaves him feeling unwanted, unloved, and unappreciated. He finds he has inherited a home from a great-great-aunt Rachel then later discovers the home is haunted with her spirit. Her objective is to reunite the spirits of her brother Eddie and his lover Robert, the boy who lived next door. Charlie, it seems, is the modern-day reincarnation of her brother Eddie who died in World War II heartbroken that his lover married a woman of whom his family approves. Suffering from a heart ailment as a child, Robert had been pampered and coddled by his family leaving him more prone to familial and societal restraints concerning a homosexual love affair with Eddie. The present-day next-door neighbor, Ian Gregg, feels pulled inexorably towards Charlie Muir though he identified as definitely heterosexual. His past intimacies with women had not prepared him for the intensity of arousal he experiences with Charlie. Appearing to the men individually, then together as they form a more-than-friends relationship, the ghost of great-great aunt Rachel shows them how the past conspired to keep Robert and Eddie apart. The overall feel of this book was poignant as the ghost engages in poltergeist shenanigans to get Charlie and Ian together as a loving couple. With the story of Robert and Eddie unfolding, I felt such sadness at the crippling constraint of the lives of homosexual men. I did the ugly cry several times throughout the audiobook. The soul-cleansing it gave me was admittedly satisfying. The book ends with the men's spirits rejoined and great-great-aunt Rachel's ghost removed from the home and the present men's lives. With excellent world-building, impeccable character development, as well as a narrative that was well-paced and well-balanced, Felice Stevens is a writer I will fear! Beautifully narrated by Matt Haynes, who reading was just perfect for the story, this (audio)book wrecked me. Lambda winner? You better believe it!

Wow

This was an amazing story. I haven't been this moved by a story in quite some time. Since I just finished reading and listening to this I'm still in tears, tears of happiness and sorrow. This is a definite must read if you enjoy a good love story especially with the added twist of a ghost.

Hidden Gem

This book is a romance novel between two men that gets a little spicy at times, with a paranormal twist. And what a magnificent find. I'm such a picky reader/listener, and I'm thrilled to have discovered this fantastic book.
First of all, I'm a narration snob. If the narrator is not completely committed (and talented), I don't care how great the book is - I'm out. I feel so fortunate to have discovered Matt Haynes as one of my favorite new narrators. He does two different men's voices with enough distinction that there was never any question as to who was speaking.
Second, I'm so excited that Felice Stevens is a great storyteller. There's a level of trust that I need when I listen to a book. I want to know that there will be some humor, natural-sounding dialog and story that makes sense. This book hits every mark.
I should note that I am a straight, married woman and I freaking loved this book. Love is love, and great writing is great writing. I couldn't imagine being such a big fan of LBGT paranormal romance but here I am, owning it. I plan to explore the other works of both this author and this narrator.

Awesome

Wow!!! You can describe this book with just one word, Amazing!!! This book is a friends to lovers, slow burn, second chances at love and a friendly ghost. This is a great romance, set in the modern world with a background of First Love set in times of the World War I.
We get to witness the love story between Eddie and Robert through Rachel, it broke my heart all the letters and how they never get to be together when they were alive but you have to read this book to finally know what happen to them, Matt Hayes did a great job narrating this audiobook, Ian and Charlie sound amazing. I highly recommended this audiobook, love it!!!

Charlie

This is more to my liking in a romance story. Not so much about sex but the journey to fall in love. I loved Rachel. She was a feisty woman with a lot of grit.

A sweet contemporary romance with a paranormal twist!

This was such a sweet contemporary romance with a paranormal twist!

Charlie has had it hard in life, and being gay didn't make his life any easier.
When he inherits a house from a distant relative he meets his new neighbor Ian, and is instantly smitten by him. Too bad Ian is straight.
But soon after they meet Ian feels a strange attraction towards Charlie which is unusual for him.

Not only do Charlie and Ian have to understand their strange attraction to eachother but also have to solve an age old mystery.
They also have to contend with an unexpected house guest who won't just leave them alone.

This was a sweet opposites attract, friends to lovers romance, peppered with a bit of suspense and mystery and a paranormal twist.
A very interesting and engaging listen for sure.
Matt Hayne's narration was perfect for this and made it all the more compelling to listen to.