This book contains 4 novellas (or perhaps short stories) by 4 different authors with a paranormal theme in common. Despite the title, I didn't find much scary about the stories contained in the book.

WARNING: SPOILERS MAY LIE AHEAD

*****

Haunted In Death by J.D. Robb (Nora Roberts) was the first novella in the book. It contains characters from her In Death series. The "paranormal" aspect comes in the form of a building that seems cursed and haunted and either a possession or a mental illness. Of course, Eve Dallas is too pragmatic to believe in ghosts and curses (though everyone else in the book seems to to some level or another). She just wants to solve the murder.

What I liked: seeing familiar characters, the sex is between husband and wife (though I do think it could have been left out or been less graphic and the novella would not have suffered).

What I disliked: the fixation on the building and family being cursed, the "haunting" which isn't really explained

Poppy's Coin by Mary Blayney: The paranormal aspect comes from a gold coin that apparently interprets wishes in ways the wishee doesn't expect. I suspect the docent was the same "spirit" as the one who appeared to Poppy and to her papa after they made wishes.

What I liked: It was a good story, the discussion of miracles and magic

What I disliked: the shift from present day to past and then back to the present

The Passenger by Ruth Ryan Langan took a bit of a different turn than what I expected. I thought it would be more like a Bermuda Triangle where Josh disappeared or that he'd end up in a "world" where his colleagues couldn't see or detect him. Instead, he "crashes" and is rescued by Grace, who is there on a photojournalism assignment regarding strange lights or a woman who appear on the lake. They are visited by a man and dog, and the man gives Grace an envelope of items about her mother. They later find out the man has been dead for some time. The phenomenon is apparently Grace's mother's spirit (being fueled by Josh's father's spirit as well) so that she and Grace can meet at least once. Then it seems time resets itself and Josh's manager and colleagues arrive and Josh's plane is back to being whole. So several paranormal aspects.

What I liked: the plot surprised me, Barnaby's meaning and that Barnaby lived up to that meaning

What I disliked: Josh and Grace fall into lust with one another and eventually give in and have sex (they've only known each other a few days at that point), holes in the plot--if Josh really wants to contact his colleagues why does he not ask Wyatt about it when Wyatt visits them? He doesn't ask if Wyatt has a radio they can use or ask him to contact anyone to let them know where he is.,

Mellow Lemon Yellow by Mary Kay McComas was a bit more humorous than the other stories. After Charlotte's father dies, her childhood imaginary friend, Mel, reappears. Until eventually Charlotte starts to connect more with the world around her in a different kind of busyness than what she used to always claim. It seems that Mel changes form and becomes her (step)son's imaginary friend for a time though I don't think Charlotte sees him once that happens.

What I liked: It was an interesting view of imaginary friends--I'm sure I had one when younger but don't remember much about him/her, who Charlotte ended up with surprised me

What I disliked: the plot relied more on paranormal than the other stories in this book ( )

Eve's murder is related to a murder 100 years previous. Is it a ghostly murder or is the murderer just that clever. I'm with Eve, not believing, was an okay read for me.
( )

I starlet disappeared over 6 centuries ago and her descendents want revenge. But Eve doesn't believe in ghosts because ghosts can't shoot guns. ( )

Haunted in Death by J. D. Robb - I listened to the audio of this one and reviewed it earlier. It was an entertaining story that had ultra-rational Eve confronting a ghost. I liked the by-play between Eve and Roarke in this one. The story was well-told and well-read.

Poppy's Coin by Mary Blayney -- This is a historical romance centered around a magic coin. A gentleman, short of coin and the guardian to two young children, takes a job as a companion for a rich widow and then has to deal with falling in love with her without feeling like he sold himself to her. It was a nice romance.

The Passenger by Ruth Ryan Langan is a contemporary ghost story. The hero and heroine meet in the wilderness where she is trying to get a story of a mysterious light on a lake and he is beginning a daredevil quest of survival. They meet when his plane crashes and she finds him and fall in love - guided by the spirit of her dead mother. It was also entertaining as the two lonely people decided that they had found the perfect person for each of them.

Mellow Lemon Yellow by Mary Kay McComas -- I abandoned this one when the male lead (at least I think so) made his first appearance at the heroine's father's funeral wearing ruby red slippers. Apparently the heroine was the only one who could see him. I didn't have the patience to keep reading and figure out what was going on.

All in all, the J. D. Robb story was great, the other two stories I read were entertaining, and only one didn't suit my taste. ( )

The theme for this series is paranormal with some romance. I say some because really Eve Dallas, while romantic, is more futuristic detective than true romance.

Haunted in Death is an Eve Dallas story. There's a murder, there's a skeleton found and theres a story to unravel. There's also strange goings on in the building and Eve remains skeptical while all around her ask if ghosts are real.

Poppy's Coin by Mary Blayney could have lost the framing story of an American abroad and not missed much, except possibly the reinforcement of the magical elements of the coin. The story is mostly about a couple in Regency England and their wishes for love. Pretty standard story.

Ruth Ryan Langan's The Passenger is a story about a ghost, some people who need each other and some stretching of time. This one came across as the story with the most paranormal elements. A bit predictable though.

Mellow Lemon Yellow by Mary Kay McComas is the story of a woman whose "imaginary friend" comes to visit when she loses her parents and helps her find a more solid sense of self and love.

Overall the J D Robb story was the most solid, the others were pretty predictable romances, readable but nothing that really stood out exceptionally. ( )