A haunted house mystery with a clean romance. Previously published as A Bitter Swill to Swallow by award-winning author Nancy Basile. Ivy May moved to Mistwick, West Virginia, for a second chance after a bitter divorce from her cockroach of an ex-husband. She's ready to make her dream come true to remodel a cozy Victorian fixer-upper, known as Buttercup Cottage. But the locals keep giving her mysterious warnings and none of the contractors will work on her house. Until she meets an daring newcomer and possible BFF who's willing to take a chance on her money pit of a house. However, during Ivy's first night in Buttercup Cottage, she has a nightmare about a bloody, horrific wailing woman. Ivy can't shake the feeling that her nightmare was more than just a vision. The reality of living with a terrifying ghost could ruin her dream of a magical midlife re-invention. The local tea shop owner seems helpful, but even she seems secretive when she tells Ivy she has a gift. What gift? A gift for picking loser husbands is the only gift she knows of. And who is the handsome mystery man hanging around Buttercup Cottage? Is he the one leaving threatening notes in her mailbox? Or could their desire lead to a thrilling romance? Ivy has to exorcise a vengeful ghost, fight a crooked ex-husband, and win the hearts of a town full of skeptics to turn her house into a jaw-dropping showpiece. Otherwise, she'll end up bankrupt, lonely, and homeless. It's only when Ivy finds friends and joins forces that she wins a surprising triumph. Trigger Warning: This paranormal women's fiction is a haunted cozy mystery, and therefore doesn't include any overtly brutal, graphic, violent, or traumatizing material. However, people who are easily triggered by their past experiences may wish to read with caution. I don't want to be specific here because the warning would give away the mystery. Please know the issue is a small part of the story; it is handled with respect; and it is "healed" before the book ends. If you'd like to know more, visit my website for a full explanation. https://nancy-basile.com/warning/ "This is so cute I could just die! What a wholesome and sweet book. I initially picked it up because she calls her ex husband and cockroach and I liked her moxie but the entire book is amazing. It has all my favorite things: People hating on an ex husband, an old house, a lesbian bestie, small town charm, a mystery, and references to good food." - 5 STARS, Jamie Park, Goodreads Author "What a wonderfully lovely book this was. The mystery was heartbreaking and then resolved in a beautiful way." - 5 STARS, Stacey B., NetGalley "I honestly did not expect this book to capture me like it did. This was such a cute - and creepy story! There's something for everyone in this book for sure - ghosts, small-town vibes, woman discovering a new side to herself, a little mystery and a little love." - 5 STARS, Katie P., NetGalley "Fun cozy with just enough of an edge to keep it from tipping over into cloying territory." - 5 STARS, Tammy B., Goodreads "I was immediately pulled into the story and couldn't stop reading, wanting to find out what happened to Ivy and her victorian cottage." 5 STARS, Julia B., Amazon "This is a fun, paranormal mystery. I wasn't sure what to expect after reading other reviews, but was pleasantly surprised with how much I enjoyed the story. The characters are engaging and the plot intriguing. Quick paced and easy to figure out most twists, but doesn't spoil the atmosphere of the book." 5 STARS, Julie R., Goodreads I have a confession. There are many times that  I use a random name generator  to name characters in my books.  Sometimes I use the name exactly as is. Sometimes it inspires me to come up with a different name. I try to keep my characters diverse, which means having names from varying ethnicities, as well. When I was naming characters for  The Haunting of Ivy May , I did a little research  rather than grabbing names from thin air. (I usually think a little harder about names for main characters.) The name Ivy  came to me because I wanted to use a  plant that was popular in the Victorian era  since Ivy (the character) renovates a Victorian cottage. Her last name is May because she is in  a season of renewal  in her life. (Plus, I just love the sound of her name all put together: Ivy May. Looks good in type, too.) (Psst! Her mother's name isn't Rose  for nothin'.) Once her name was established, I moved onto her ex-husband. His last name, Preen, is perfect for two reasons.  The word "preen" means to congratulate oneself or pride oneself.   Well, Hayden is very good at that! But  Preen is also the brand name of a weed preventer.  It "prevent weeds before they even sprout rather than killing them after they've already had the chance to grow."  And if you've ever made the mistake of putting down Preen where you've seeded flowers or any other plants, you know it doesn't just work on weeds.