Hi y’all. I’m Holly Davis. I’m tickled pink you want to hear about my typical day. Maybe one day you’ll make it down to Louisiana to stay at my B&B and see for yourself how I spend my days.
If you do, I’ll greet you with a smile as you join me on the veranda. I’ll serve you a mint julep in a silver julep cup that has been in my family for generations.
As the bourbon in the mint julep works its magic, you’ll barely notice the chill of another kind of spirit. You see, Holly Grove has a history. Her spirit is in the breeze on her balconies, the worn groves on cypress stairs, the flicker of a gasolier, and the scent of magnolias. But mostly she lives through me, the last in the direct line of the Holly family.
There’s a bit of baggage that comes with my family tree though. I have nose for trouble. It’s genic. No, really. Everyone in Delta Ridge believes it. When you live in a town so small one caution light handles the traffic flow, folks know you and all your kin through the generations. Fortunately, after all that experience with trouble, I know how to handle it. Usually.
Until I married trouble. . . Have you ever heard a woman going through a divorce say, It would have been easier if he’d just died? Thought it? Said it?
Don’t! It’s worse than saying Beetlejuice.
Whew! It makes me sweat just thinking about that day.
My cheatin’ husband deserved to choke on his divorce papers and spend eternity roasting in Hades after he nearly bankrupted my beloved B&B. I was half right when he turned up dead, but dead wrong when I accidently called him back from the grave.
If you think divorce is tough, imagine rooming with your ex—for life. Mercy!
Until that happened, I didn’t see dead people or solve crimes. Southern hospitality was my thing. Still is. . .
When night falls, the sky fills with a canvas stars only seen far from city life. After a dinner of Southern fried deliciousness, you’ll amble to your room and find crisp sheets folded back and a homemade praline in a wax paper pouch on your pillow. You may dismiss the creaks and groans as old house sounds or think your dreams are the result of too much dinner, but you’ll know something isn’t right.
Other than indoor plumbing and electricity, Holly Grove is frozen in 1855. That’s what my guests come to experience.
I give them what they want, but sometimes they get what they deserve.
And some guests check in but never check out without my help.
You can read more about Holly in Better Dead, the first book in the NEW “B&B Spirits” mystery series, coming December 26, 2017.
As the owner of a charming Louisiana bed and breakfast, Holly Davis believes in Southern hospitality—but she draws the line at welcoming the ghost of her cheating husband . . .
Burl Davis checked out of this life a little earlier than expected—before Holly could serve him with divorce papers over his extramarital flings. Unfortunately, it was not before he nearly bankrupted her beloved B&B, Holly Grove, a converted plantation that has been in her family for generations. Holly would never wish anyone dead, but three months later she’s feeling a lot more relief than grief.
Until Burl’s ghost appears as an unwelcome guest. Before his spirit can move on, her not-so-dearly departed needs Holly’s human help to bust up the drug smuggling ring he was involved with. She has reservations, to say the least, but agrees to assist him if he’ll make a show of haunting the B&B to draw in visitors. But when Holly’s former love, Jack McCann, mysteriously resurfaces in town and checks in, she has to wonder if her B&B is big enough for the ghost of her husband and the very real physical presence of her old flame . . .
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Meet the author
Pamela Kopfler is a novelist, Southern-fried and sassy. She writes award-winning humorous mysteries with a kick of Southern sass. Her debut novel, Better Dead, is the first in her B&B Spirits Mystery series, to be followed by Downright Dead, and Hog Wild Dead. (Kensington Books) She is a four-time Golden Heart® finalist and a Daphne du Maurier award winner.
She can stir up a roux, mix a cocktail, and loves swapping stories. Putting words on the page keeps her alligator mouth from overloading her hummingbird heinie in real life. She marks her time on earth by the lives of the dogs she has loved who often show up in her stories.
Pamela lives in South Louisiana where the spirits are restless, the food is spicy, and the living is divine.
For lagniappe (a little something extra), sign up for her newsletter at pamelakopfler.com ~~ Unique cocktail recipes, finger-licking-good Southern recipes, sassy short stories, news about new books, giveaways, and sales. Get social with Pamela on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. She’d love to see you there!
Stay sassy, y’all!
All comments are welcomed.
This is such a fantastic book (I got a sneak peek!), and after reading this blog post, I’m ready to book a weekend at Holly Grove. 🙂
You’re a doll, Jennifer. Holly lives to welcome guests with a different signature cocktail for each month. She’s working on something very special for her next book and having a big ol’ time perfecting the recipe.
This sounds wonderful!! I’m looking forward to reading this. Love Holly’s sense of humor and I can’t wait to see what happens with the ghostly ex.
Ha! All I can say is he had it coming!
Thanks for coming by to meet Holly.
Love Holly already! Can’t wait to get the book!
Thanks, Vicky. She’s a kick.
I’m tickled you stopped by.
Holly’s life sounds abnormally delicious! Wishing you lots of success on the series, Pamela!!
Ohh, speaking of delicious. There are recipes. Holly has sweet-talked the best cook in town out of her secret recipes, but it’s gonna cost her. LOL
Thanks for stopping by Arlene!
I have been waiting for this book forever. I love everything about Holly and her life. I wish you tons of success with this series, Pamela!
Thanks, Sharon! Holly has a nose for trouble but that’s what keeps her interesting and fun to write about. Thanks for stopping by!
Wishing you tons and tons of success with your series (and did I mention, I ADORE your new website — smokin’ hot! – just like you, Missy! Happy Holidays!
Thanks, Denny! I’m somewhat obsessed with my new website. It was so much for to dream up. I’m still fine tuning it, but I think it’s going to be a good representation of my stories. It’s was great to see you here!
Love Holly! Can’t wait to read about her and her B&B.
Thanks, Dawn. Holly is keeping me busy with book three now. I hope you enjoy the series. I’m tickled you dropped by today.
As somebody who operated a b&b for 8 years I can’t wait to read this….
Ah, ha! Now I know who to call for research questions! I hope you enjoy the read as much as I enjoyed writing it. Stay sassy!
This sound so fun and Holly delightfully sassy. Can’t wait to read it!
Thanks, Tracy! She’s a hoot. Thanks for stopping by.
Stay sassy!
Holly sounds quite interesting. Looking forward to reading this book. Thanks for giving us a peek into Holly’s world.
Thanks for dropping in Michele! Holly was happy to share her slice of life.
Hi Holly! Sign me up for some of that Southern hospitality and a little bit of that trouble. 😉 Your place sounds wonderful and I can’t wait until I can spend more time there, creaks and groan and all!
And tell that sassy and darling gal Pamela that I am so excited for her release and can’t wait to read it myself!
Hugs hugs hugs
Well, come on down anytime. I’ll stir a mint julep up for you and maybe another kind of spirit! Stay sassy!
Sounds like a great book! I’m looking forward to reading this one!
Thanks, Tina. It was a kick to write. I hope you get a laugh or two on the way to the end.
Stay sassy!
Hi ladies! I love this post and all it’s southern sass! ❤️❤️❤️❤️
Thanks, McCall!
Stay sassy!
Pamela, I have been tapping my foot and waiting for this book to come out. Can’t wait to watch you sign my copy and see your beautiful smile while you’re holding your book!
Me too, June! I’m so excited I can hardly stand it. I’m looking forward to signing BETTER DEAD for you.
Stay sassy!
Really looking forward to reading this, Pamela. Wishing you much success with your debut novel!
I’ve been waiting for this fabulous book and I can’t wait to read about Holly! Wishing you heaps of success on your debut, Pamela!!! ❤️
Love this slice of life and the blurb for your new book, Pamela! Wishing you much success!!
I love old B&Bs and would definitely enjoy a stay at Holly’s with or without a dash of something spooky. Happy book birthday Pamela!!!