⭐⭐⭐ Was I hooked by that book? Parts of it, for sure. The ghosts at Harling Hall take center stage in this cozy paranormal romance.
When single mum Callie visits Rowan Vale with her daughter, she is enchanted. The beautiful Cotswold village is run as a living museum, allowing tourists to see history in action. But there’s more to the place than meets the eye. To the residents’ surprise, Callie is observed talking to several villagers she simply shouldn’t be able to see – as they’re ghosts. The elderly owner of the village, Sir Lawrence Davenport, then makes an astonishing offer to sell Callie the whole estate for a tiny sum, if she agrees to protect the village’s present tenants and its headstrong spirits. With a spectral lord of the manor and his imperious wife, a naughty 1940s schoolgirl and William Shakespeare’s former tutor among them, it seems Callie’s role as owner wouldn’t be easy. And that’s without the added complication of Sir Lawrence’s disinherited grandson, the gorgeous Brodie. Rowan Vale and Callie may need each other. But is this a match made in heaven or hell?
MY THOUGHTS
The first chapter drew me in, especially the way the ghosts were revealed to Callie and to us, the readers. I enjoyed the way Callie shook things up a bit and brought a new perspective, even though she made plenty of mistakes along the way. Immi’s enthusiasm for the entire project was infectious and I was feeling positive and keen alongside her.
I quite liked Callie and Brodie and when it looked like they might start something, I was excited. But they had one kiss and many non-romantic interactions that were adversarial at times. That was not enough to build a believable relationship on. The ending would’ve been phenomenal if the romance between Callie and Brodie had been better established. It felt more like they were at a very good place to start something, but not necessarily declare their undying love for each other.
Ultimately, this was a story about people, their fears and insecurities, their heartaches, and what made them happy. The ghosts were an interesting way of delivering all of that and they all came with unique personalities.
The history of Harling Hall was captivating, but I had a lot of questions about the ghosts and how everything worked and that kept taking me out of the story at times. I enjoyed the author’s writing style and I can recommend this book if you like ghosts and human nature stories.
Thank you to Netgalley and Boldwood Books for providing me with a copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Were you hooked by that book? Let me know in the comments below.
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Published: March 28, 2025
Sensuality Rating: Subtle
Series: Book 1 of Ghosts of Rowan Vale
