"A Ghostly Romp"

Nick Gerard is a man who has it all -- a very successful New York business, his picture on the cover of Forbes Magazine, and a family full of grasping, self- centered people who would like to share in Nick's financial success. But Nick is happy to answer only to himself. He has no intention of getting married or sharing his life at any time. His childhood has taught him not to believe in family at all. His company also owns an old building in the French Quarter of New Orleans. He has been trying to sell the building for a year, but Nick is sure his four tenants have been finding creative ways to scare off potential buyers. The latest attempt is the report of ghostly disturbances, complete with moans and a cold spot. So Nick is going undercover as a new tenant to catch the four. His cover story has him as a struggling young writer working on his first book.

Maggie Mayfair owns a mask shop in the old building at 1113 Royal Street. She came to New Orleans after a long- term engagement broke up. She is determined to avoid any more entanglements. With the three other tenants: Shirley, a psychic, Jaye a cross-dressing entertainer and Ed a retired history professor, they have formed a family unit that cares for each other. When Nick appears at their door the bad cold he had in New York has turned into pneumonia. Maggie, Shirley, Jaye and Ed take turns taking care of him, and it is the first time he has ever been taken care of by a family. But from his first night in the old house he sees a fifth person standing in the corner of his room, a fuzzy figure that coughs and sneezes, which he assumes is the fake ghost.

DREAMING OF YOU is great fun! The quirky characters are all delightful. Nick never stands a chance against his quirky family of tenants, and especially Maggie, who has no idea how sexy she is. The French Quarter is a great setting, and Ms. Kane has done a fabulous job depicting the neighborhood. This book is a must-read! I hope Ms. Kane is working on a new novel, because I can hardly wait to read her next book.

Reviewed by Cynthia Meidinger
Posted November 22, 2002

A ghost plays Cupid for a French Quarter mask maker and the man who is trying to sell her home out from under her.

When their New York landlord puts his French Quarter building up for sale, the tenants, a mask maker, a female impersonator, a psychic and a retired history professor, conspire to repel buyers. Their weapons include sparking electrical wires, rusty plumbing, and a ghost. The arrival of a new tenant (the landlord, incognito) forces them to dismantle their ghost. A real ghost takes over and plays Cupid for Maggie Mayfair, the mask maker, and Nick Gerard, the landlord. If Maggie and Nick fall in love, the curse that has kept the ghost earthbound for over one hundred years will end.

Summary

To end a century old curse, a French Quarter ghost plays cupid. His ghostly shenanigans bring together Magnolia Mayfair and her New York landlord, in New Orleans incognito to find out why his French Quarter building is not selling. His real estate agent tells him his tenants--a maskmaker, a psychic, a female impersonator and a retired history professor--are sabotaging the sale by haunting the building. They are, but when the real ghost decides to take a hand the tenants are as bumfuzzled as their landlord.