Better Dead by Pamela Kopfler

Holly Davis owns a bed and breakfast in Delta Ridge LA. She was just about to serve her husband with divorce papers when he was killed in a plane crash. Easy out? Think again. Burl appears to her now as a ghost with a favor. If she can't help him out then he's doomed to stay in the B&B forever. Holly figures she should make the best of it while she tries to come up with a way to help Burl. He had been involved with drug smuggling and she figures if she can bust their operation, Burl will be free and clear to go to heaven like St. Peter had told him. She convinces Burl that if he learns how to haunt the house, her B&B will become popular and she'll get the reservations she needs to make ends meet. In the meantime, Holly's former boyfriend, Jake McCann is in town working at the Gazette and he needs to stay at the B&B for awhile. This could get interesting with her dead husband's ghost and her very real current interest. As much as she doesn't want to admit it, Holly still has feelings for Jake. Can Jake help her help Burl without Holly having to tell her about Burl and risk Jake thinking she's nuts? Read it and find out! Oh my goodness, I haven't read a good fun ghost story in awhile so this is just what I needed! It was funny, a little sad, very exciting, and hard to put down. Once the action started I just kept on reading and boy what a good twist. This cozy was a little bit different in that there was no murder, aside from Burl dying before his time. The main characters were all so real and likable and yes, even Burl grew on me. I can't wait to visit Delta Ridge again. There was plenty of suspense and suspects, a very satisfying take down, and an ending that was a touch sad. I just about devoured the first chapter provided for the next book. I pre-ordered that book but yikes, I have to wait until September to read it!