A Day in the Life of Carleigh Warner by Amy M. Reade

Apr 28, 2015 | A Day In My Life

The Ghosts of Peppernell ManorMy day usually starts in one of two ways:
a) I wake up my daughter, Lucy, in which case she’s grumpy and the day is off to a slow start, or
b) Lucy wakes me up, in which case I’m tired but happy and the day is off and running. Just like Lucy.

After I take her to preschool in Charleston, I usually head straight back to the manor where we’re living right now. It’s called Peppernell Manor and I’ve been hired to restore it to the way it might have looked during the days before the Civil War. The house is beautiful, but it’s been neglected and I’m thrilled to have the opportunity to work on it.

I have a detailed plan for the restoration and I work hard on the floors, the ceilings, the walls, and the trim. You name it, I work on it. It can be a dirty, grimy job, but I love what I do and the reward is seeing an old home get a new lease on life.

So my days are planned and predicable, right?

Wrong.

Something’s not right at Peppernell Manor. The family is divided over its future: Cora-Camille, the Peppernell matriarch, has hinted that she plans to change her will to leave the management of the property to the state of South Carolina. Other members of the family think the property should be administered by a for-profit investment group (the family will stand to make more money that way). I try not to get involved, but emotions run high and sometimes I wonder if Cora-Camille is safe in her own home.

I wonder if Lucy and I are safe here, too. There have been some frightening incidents since we arrived, and I don’t know who’s behind them. I don’t want to leave the restoration of Peppernell Manor unfinished, but protecting Lucy is my top priority.

Cora-Camille’s granddaughter, Evie, is one of my best friends. I love Evie dearly, but on top of everything else that’s going on, she wants me to start dating again. I’ve been anti-men since my divorce (my ex-husband left me for a stripper – that still stings), so Evie is a bit more enthusiastic about my love life than I am. But we’ll see. . .

Add to all of that the house manager who talks to ghosts, and you can see why my days don’t always go exactly as planned.

Did I mention it is hurricane season?

You can read more about Carleigh in The Ghosts of Peppernell Manor, published by Kensington.

Outside of Charleston, South Carolina, beyond hanging curtains of Spanish moss, at the end of a shaded tunnel of overarching oaks, stands the antebellum mansion of Peppernell Manor in all its faded grandeur. At the request of her friend Evie Peppernell, recently divorced Carleigh Warner and her young daughter Lucy have come to the plantation house to refurbish the interior. But the tall white columns and black shutters hide a dark history of slavery, violence, and greed. The ghost of a former slave is said to haunt the home, and Carleigh is told she disapproves of her restoration efforts. And beneath the polite hospitality of the Peppernell family lie simmering resentments and poisonous secrets that culminate in murder—and place Carleigh and her child in grave danger. . .

GIVEAWAY: Leave a comment by 12 a.m. eastern on May 5 for the chance to win a kindle copy of The Ghosts of Peppernell Manor. The e-book giveaway is open to everyone. Winner will be notified within 48 hours after giveaway closes and you will have three days to respond after being contacted or another winner will be selected. Make sure to check your SPAM folder.

About the author
Amy M. Reade grew up in northern New York. After graduating from college and law school, she practiced law in New AmyRYork City before moving to southern New Jersey, where she lives now with her husband, three children, dog, and two cats. She writes full time and is also the author of Secrets of Hallstead House, a novel of romantic suspense set in the Thousand Islands region of New York. She is currently working on her third and fourth novels, set in Hawaii and Cape May, New Jersey, respectively. She loves cooking, reading, and traveling, and is entranced by the beauty and charm of the South.

Amy can be found online at website, her blog, on Twitter or on Facebook

64 Comments

  1. Barbara Hawk
    Barbara Hawk on April 28, 2015 at 1:24 am

    Sounds Great! New author to me! I am going to check her series out! Thanks for the chance!

  2. Jen
    Jen on April 28, 2015 at 1:51 am

    The Ghosts of Peppernell Manor sounds like a great mystery! Thank you for the giveaway.
    myrifraf(at)gmail(dot)com

  3. bookwoman
    bookwoman on April 28, 2015 at 2:36 am

    I enjoyed Secrets and I am looking forword to reading this new one.

  4. Debbie Carnes
    Debbie Carnes on April 28, 2015 at 4:47 am

    Sounds good , will have to check out other books by this author

  5. C Culp
    C Culp on April 28, 2015 at 5:49 am

    Sounds like a great mystery involving a part of history in the restoration of great manor of a time long ago. Thank you

  6. tempewytch
    tempewytch on April 28, 2015 at 5:54 am

    this sounds good! Hmm another e-book to add to the increasing TBR file I think 😀

  9. ladyjanel
    ladyjanel on April 28, 2015 at 6:19 am

    Love reading about old homes like this. Can not wait to read this one. lady.janel@hotmail.com Thank you for the chance.

  10. Linda
    Linda on April 28, 2015 at 6:25 am

    Sounds like a great read! I can’t wait to read it. Thank you for a chance to win a copy of the book.

  11. amreade
    amreade on April 28, 2015 at 6:40 am

    Thank you for hosting me today and many thanks to everyone for their kind comments!

  12. Terri Crossley
    Terri Crossley on April 28, 2015 at 6:41 am

    Thanks for the chance! This sounds like a great book!
    edtercross7304@yahoo.com

  13. Dawn Frazier
    Dawn Frazier on April 28, 2015 at 7:01 am

    This sounds great!!

  14. Barbara Hackel
    Barbara Hackel on April 28, 2015 at 7:48 am

    This sounds like it has it all-restoration of a historic gem, a cute little girl, a best friend pushing dating, and of course, a ghost! 😮 I love it already! Thanks Amy and Dru for the opportunity to win a copy. This sounds like a must read! 🙂

  15. Pat
    Pat on April 28, 2015 at 8:06 am

    This is a new author to me but I love the review of her book and would love the chance to win a copy. Think I will look for her previous book as well. 🙂

  16. cyn209
    cyn209 on April 28, 2015 at 8:08 am

    I love the house on the cover!!
    Thank you for the giveaway….

  17. kuzlin
    kuzlin on April 28, 2015 at 8:14 am

    Sounds good.nthanks for the giveaway. Kuzlin at aol.com

  18. Lisa Garrett
    Lisa Garrett on April 28, 2015 at 9:04 am

    I would love to actually see Peppernell Manor!

  19. Sheila K.
    Sheila K. on April 28, 2015 at 9:25 am

    This sounds like such a good read—thanks for the chance to win a copy!

  20. rachbrown2015
    rachbrown2015 on April 28, 2015 at 9:39 am

    Thank you for the chance. I just discovered this author and look forward to reading her books.

  21. Robin L. Coxon
    Robin L. Coxon on April 28, 2015 at 9:41 am

    I am enchanted with the manors of the South. To have a story set inside one and with ghosts too, I know it has to be a good read. Thank you for the opportunity to win a copy of it. robeader53@yahoo.com

  22. Nancy Bradford
    Nancy Bradford on April 28, 2015 at 9:44 am

    Sounds really good.
    nlb1050(at)yahoo(dot)com

  23. Nancy Funkhouser
    Nancy Funkhouser on April 28, 2015 at 9:53 am

    This sounds “spooky” good. I love old southern manors.

  24. Patty Allen
    Patty Allen on April 28, 2015 at 10:00 am

    This book sounds really good, gotta love a little spooky. Thanks for the chance to win 🙂

  25. Patricia
    Patricia on April 28, 2015 at 10:06 am

    Thanks, Dru and Carleigh/Amy! The Ghosts of Peppernell Manor sounds SO interesting!

  26. Dina stout
    Dina stout on April 28, 2015 at 10:37 am

    I would so love to read this! Thanks for the chance to win!

  27. Betty W
    Betty W on April 28, 2015 at 10:47 am

    Amazing cover! This sounds like an intriguing book! Thank you for the great post and contest!

  28. rochf
    rochf on April 28, 2015 at 11:04 am

    I love the Charleston area and can’t wait to read this.

  29. Betty Escobar
    Betty Escobar on April 28, 2015 at 11:27 am

    Book sounds good, gl2all

  30. Libby Dodd
    Libby Dodd on April 28, 2015 at 11:36 am

    Southern “gentility” have cover a lot a “stuff”.

  31. Kathy Gonzales
    Kathy Gonzales on April 28, 2015 at 12:02 pm

    I love the title and premise, and I really love e books ! Thanks for the chance to win !

  32. Mari Krampach
    Mari Krampach on April 28, 2015 at 12:10 pm

    Sounds interesting, can always find time for a good book.

  33. Cathy Serada
    Cathy Serada on April 28, 2015 at 12:14 pm

    Sounds like a great read! Thank you for the chance to win

  34. Judy Weaver
    Judy Weaver on April 28, 2015 at 2:18 pm

    Sounds great!!

  35. Mary Jane H
    Mary Jane H on April 28, 2015 at 3:46 pm

    Old houses, not to mention old mansions, are so interesting! Can’t wait to read this one. Thanks for the chance to win!

  36. Vickie Williams
    Vickie Williams on April 28, 2015 at 5:10 pm

    I always love to find new books to read!

  37. Katreader
    Katreader on April 28, 2015 at 6:44 pm

    I love historic homes and ghosts. The book sounds great!

  38. Jeanie Dannheim
    Jeanie Dannheim on April 28, 2015 at 7:49 pm

    Sounds so interesting – a Southern mansion to be restored – cool! Would love to read more about Carleigh actually living there! Would love to win the Kindle copy…thank you for the chance to win!

  39. Lisa Cobb Sabatini
    Lisa Cobb Sabatini on April 28, 2015 at 10:37 pm

    It seems that a storm is brewing, and Peppernell Manor is in the eye of that hurricane.

  40. Pamela Woodfield
    Pamela Woodfield on April 28, 2015 at 11:13 pm

    This book sounds very intriguing. Please enter me. Thanks!

  41. jamlambert
    jamlambert on April 30, 2015 at 1:40 pm

    I’m intrigued. Thanks for the chance to win.

  42. MaryB
    MaryB on April 30, 2015 at 8:41 pm

    How I love southern stories! Looking forward to reading this one. Thanks for the chance to win.

  43. Mare F
    Mare F on May 2, 2015 at 6:32 am

    This book sounds wonderful! I look forward to reading this one.

  45. Penny
    Penny on May 2, 2015 at 10:57 am

    This sounds like a wonderful adventure:) Mystery,restoration,changes in weather,and ghosts, you can’t go wrong. Looking forward to reading this one. Thank you for the chance.

  46. Pam
    Pam on May 2, 2015 at 11:10 am

    Thanks for the opportunity to read this book!

  47. Karin
    Karin on May 2, 2015 at 11:30 am

    Love old homes. I grew up in one and when our dad was doing some restoration work, my brother and I wrote notes and hide them between the beams so they could be found the next time someone did some work there. Did Carleigh find anything like that???

  49. Sue C
    Sue C on May 2, 2015 at 3:27 pm

    Sounds like a great read.

  50. Teri Fish
    Teri Fish on May 2, 2015 at 3:38 pm

    Sounds like a good one. on my wish list just in case.

  51. Donna Gantt
    Donna Gantt on May 2, 2015 at 3:54 pm

    Sounds like a book I would love to read! Thank you for the opportunity to enter.

  53. Kathy Cook
    Kathy Cook on May 2, 2015 at 4:41 pm

    Enjoy what I have read. She is a new author to me but am looking forwrd to reading other books by Ms. Reade. Thank you for the chance to win a free copy.

  55. vickie
    vickie on May 2, 2015 at 6:19 pm

    Another new and interesting book to read

  56. Jane Firebaugh
    Jane Firebaugh on May 3, 2015 at 2:35 pm

    I would be thrilled to win a copy of this book. 🙂

  57. Lynn hogan
    Lynn hogan on May 3, 2015 at 10:25 pm

    Yes please please please. It looks like s great book. Would love to read and review.

  58. Margo Sue
    Margo Sue on May 4, 2015 at 7:58 am

    Thanks for the review. on my too read list

  59. Gina B.
    Gina B. on May 4, 2015 at 8:02 am

    Looks great! Thanks for the giveaway!

  60. Cheryl Corbitt
    Cheryl Corbitt on May 4, 2015 at 11:53 am

    Sounds like an interesting read!

  61. Margaret Rushton
    Margaret Rushton on May 4, 2015 at 3:07 pm

    Would love to win. Really sounds like a great new book to put on my must read list.

  62. Lindar
    Lindar on May 4, 2015 at 8:36 pm

    Thai you for the review. I’ll check it out.

  63. Dru
    Dru on May 5, 2015 at 5:16 am

    contest is closed.