Scan barcode
rosemarieshort's review
3.0
I feel that this book and I have been on a journey. Anthologies are always interesting beasts. There will inevitably be a lot of middling, a few select highs and some crushingly low lows. There are sixteen installments here, spanning the entirety of the above - with reviews as follows;
The Chinese Bed by Anna Campbell - 3 stars - I'd say this is a very middling start to an anthology. It doesn't stray too far outside of the generic haunted house concept. A couple re-enacting the mistakes of their distantly related romantic counterparts through the medium of a cursed object, inhabited by a vengeful spirit. It's supernatural romance A B C's.
Old Salt by Carolyn Crane - 2 stars - I think this massively suffered from being a short story. Sometimes I read shorts and come to the conclusion that their lack of time to develop plot and character are their biggest downfall. Old Salt certainly falls victim to that. The limited time frame means that both lead characters are painfully simplistic. The story line could be interesting, given development. Unfortunately everything just felt a bit rushed - and as a result fell flat.
Haints and Hobwebs by Jennifer Estep - 3 stars - I haven't read any of the Elemental Assassin series (of which this is an integrated novella) but found it easy to get into the rhythm of Estep's world. I thought the plot was fun, and the more involved fantasy elements were certainly a nice change of pace, but overall I don't think the writing was for me. A lot of the characters seemed like caricatures of themselves (or their hometowns).
Hat-trick by Gwyn Cready - 2 stars - I thought this was so simplistic as to make even a short story feel overly long. The characters weren't that engaging or relatable and the plot was barely there.
Ghost of Blackstone Manor by Donna Fletcher - 2 stars - I'm familiar with Donna Fletcher from her standalone novel [b:Whispers on the Wind|1382193|Whispers on the Wind|Donna Fletcher|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1183136175s/1382193.jpg|1372166] which I read many moons ago when I first got a Kindle. Ghost of Blackstone Manor left me feeling fairly non-plussed - the characters couldn't seem to maintain any continuity of characterization and the events which took place felt more creepy than sexy (the latter being what I think was the intended effect). Think "The Entity".
Seventeen Coppers by Jeannie Holmes - 4 stars - This was so much fun compared to many of the other painted by numbers ghost stories contained here. Seventeen Coppers has a great, fantasy based take on the ghost story and has a relatively likable pairing in its two leads. A bit more sound characterization of the supporting cast of characters would possibly have bumped this to a five.
Yours in Eternity by C T Adams - 1 star - I really didn't think this story had any impact. For me it felt disjointed and forced. What could have been a really dynamic ending just seemed flat, as the main villain had zero build up or page time, given nothing to do other than to leer menacingly and growl his misdeeds. Add to that a cop out ending and you have a one star story.
The Lovers by Julia London - 2 stars - Although the concept of a failing marriage being sparked back to life by a haunted house is at least something different in the realms of this collection, the characters were instantly forgettable and there was little to no plot to speak of. Its saving grace was probably the beginning scenes set in the late 1800's - the deceased characters interested me far more than the living, but predictably had comparatively little page time.
A Single Girl's Guide to Getting Ahead - 1 star - There was no build up of the relationship between the characters, meaning what could have been a fun and alternative ghostly love story seemed to lurch haphazardly from haunting to romance in one ungraceful stumble.
Jonquils in the Snow by Annette Blair - 5 stars - I don't think I can big up this entry in the anthology enough. It easily had the most careful characterization whilst also having a fairly simple story. My enjoyment of the interactions between the various characters meant that the simplicity was complimentary as opposed to stark. The part the ghost played here was also different to the norm found throughout the rest of the book, making it a breath of fresh air. The idea of much of the haunting being at the hands of past mistakes, as opposed to actual ghostly interference, was a great stroke. I will definitely be checking out more of Annette Blair's stuff.
The Heart Thief by Cindy Miles - 2 stars - Another entry which fails because of its limited characterization. I really didn't feel the build up of the romance between the two main characters at all. Very by the numbers - a shame, as the Scottish backdrop is written beautifully and I feel there may have been some great potential here.
Ghost in the Machine by Dru Pagliassoti - 3 stars - This isn't a great story, but it definitely gets points for being creative. A Steampunk style setting mixed with large chunks of quite exciting action meant that the slightly lackluster romance was less obvious than it otherwise may have been.
Three Little Words by Christie Ridgeway - 1 star - For me this made absolutely no sense. Neither of the characters were very likable, or relatable, and the ghost story element seemed fused on so that it could be a part of this series.
Ghost of a Chance by Caridad Pineiro - 4 stars - I really REALLY wish this had been about fifty pages longer. To love this I just needed a little bit more build up to the romance. The ghostly elements were great and the premise really interesting. The main characters were well fleshed out in the page time given and even supporting characters get a strong look in.
In His Hands by Sara Reinke - 2 stars - This is different from the majority of the rest of the pack, in that In His Hands has a male main protagonist instead of a female. Whilst I enjoyed that change I really didn't think much of the story. In fact, it could have been significantly shorter and brought much greater impact and resulted in a much tighter result. An interesting ghostly villain was the only saving grace, unfortunately.
Can You Hear Me Now? by Sharon Shinn - 3 stars - I actually quite liked the concept of this story, and the main characters were quite likable. I enjoyed the fact that the romance was a little more of a simmer as opposed to having the heat turned from zero to max halfway through. By the author taking more time to focus on the story and less on the relationship, everything felt a little less forced - something which is hard to do in a limited number of pages.
The Storm by Linda Wisdom - 3 stars - Whilst the rapid forming of a relationship between the two characters sort of tipped me on to the plot twist ending quite early on, I still liked this one. I thought both characters were likable and especially liked three small, furry side characters...
>>>--4EVR--> by Holly Lisly - 2 stars - I was quite surprised that this was chosen to be the last in the anthology. Whilst there are a couple of twists in here which could have been quite interesting, they are revealed in such a way as made them feel flat. Another male main protagonist here, likable enough. My main problem with this was the ending - a whole lot of tell don't show and endless exposition before concluding with something syrupy, but not necessarily sweet.
I also think one of the let downs here is the choosing of these stories. Some are severely lacking in quality, whilst others needed a good edit / and extra fifty pages to excel. Often even the placement (the first and last stories in particular) feel wrong, not giving the reader anything to sink their teeth into to begin or conclude with a satisfied smile at the end.
Saying that, this isn't a bad collection. It would perhaps have been better served if I had interspersed each story with other reading material, dipping in and out as opposed to reading the whole thing in one. Despite my criticisms, I would still attest that this is a good way to pass a long, stormy evening by the fire...with all the lights on, of course.
The Chinese Bed by Anna Campbell - 3 stars - I'd say this is a very middling start to an anthology. It doesn't stray too far outside of the generic haunted house concept. A couple re-enacting the mistakes of their distantly related romantic counterparts through the medium of a cursed object, inhabited by a vengeful spirit. It's supernatural romance A B C's.
Old Salt by Carolyn Crane - 2 stars - I think this massively suffered from being a short story. Sometimes I read shorts and come to the conclusion that their lack of time to develop plot and character are their biggest downfall. Old Salt certainly falls victim to that. The limited time frame means that both lead characters are painfully simplistic. The story line could be interesting, given development. Unfortunately everything just felt a bit rushed - and as a result fell flat.
Haints and Hobwebs by Jennifer Estep - 3 stars - I haven't read any of the Elemental Assassin series (of which this is an integrated novella) but found it easy to get into the rhythm of Estep's world. I thought the plot was fun, and the more involved fantasy elements were certainly a nice change of pace, but overall I don't think the writing was for me. A lot of the characters seemed like caricatures of themselves (or their hometowns).
Hat-trick by Gwyn Cready - 2 stars - I thought this was so simplistic as to make even a short story feel overly long. The characters weren't that engaging or relatable and the plot was barely there.
Ghost of Blackstone Manor by Donna Fletcher - 2 stars - I'm familiar with Donna Fletcher from her standalone novel [b:Whispers on the Wind|1382193|Whispers on the Wind|Donna Fletcher|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1183136175s/1382193.jpg|1372166] which I read many moons ago when I first got a Kindle. Ghost of Blackstone Manor left me feeling fairly non-plussed - the characters couldn't seem to maintain any continuity of characterization and the events which took place felt more creepy than sexy (the latter being what I think was the intended effect). Think "The Entity".
Seventeen Coppers by Jeannie Holmes - 4 stars - This was so much fun compared to many of the other painted by numbers ghost stories contained here. Seventeen Coppers has a great, fantasy based take on the ghost story and has a relatively likable pairing in its two leads. A bit more sound characterization of the supporting cast of characters would possibly have bumped this to a five.
Yours in Eternity by C T Adams - 1 star - I really didn't think this story had any impact. For me it felt disjointed and forced. What could have been a really dynamic ending just seemed flat, as the main villain had zero build up or page time, given nothing to do other than to leer menacingly and growl his misdeeds. Add to that a cop out ending and you have a one star story.
The Lovers by Julia London - 2 stars - Although the concept of a failing marriage being sparked back to life by a haunted house is at least something different in the realms of this collection, the characters were instantly forgettable and there was little to no plot to speak of. Its saving grace was probably the beginning scenes set in the late 1800's - the deceased characters interested me far more than the living, but predictably had comparatively little page time.
A Single Girl's Guide to Getting Ahead - 1 star - There was no build up of the relationship between the characters, meaning what could have been a fun and alternative ghostly love story seemed to lurch haphazardly from haunting to romance in one ungraceful stumble.
Jonquils in the Snow by Annette Blair - 5 stars - I don't think I can big up this entry in the anthology enough. It easily had the most careful characterization whilst also having a fairly simple story. My enjoyment of the interactions between the various characters meant that the simplicity was complimentary as opposed to stark. The part the ghost played here was also different to the norm found throughout the rest of the book, making it a breath of fresh air. The idea of much of the haunting being at the hands of past mistakes, as opposed to actual ghostly interference, was a great stroke. I will definitely be checking out more of Annette Blair's stuff.
The Heart Thief by Cindy Miles - 2 stars - Another entry which fails because of its limited characterization. I really didn't feel the build up of the romance between the two main characters at all. Very by the numbers - a shame, as the Scottish backdrop is written beautifully and I feel there may have been some great potential here.
Ghost in the Machine by Dru Pagliassoti - 3 stars - This isn't a great story, but it definitely gets points for being creative. A Steampunk style setting mixed with large chunks of quite exciting action meant that the slightly lackluster romance was less obvious than it otherwise may have been.
Three Little Words by Christie Ridgeway - 1 star - For me this made absolutely no sense. Neither of the characters were very likable, or relatable, and the ghost story element seemed fused on so that it could be a part of this series.
Ghost of a Chance by Caridad Pineiro - 4 stars - I really REALLY wish this had been about fifty pages longer. To love this I just needed a little bit more build up to the romance. The ghostly elements were great and the premise really interesting. The main characters were well fleshed out in the page time given and even supporting characters get a strong look in.
In His Hands by Sara Reinke - 2 stars - This is different from the majority of the rest of the pack, in that In His Hands has a male main protagonist instead of a female. Whilst I enjoyed that change I really didn't think much of the story. In fact, it could have been significantly shorter and brought much greater impact and resulted in a much tighter result. An interesting ghostly villain was the only saving grace, unfortunately.
Can You Hear Me Now? by Sharon Shinn - 3 stars - I actually quite liked the concept of this story, and the main characters were quite likable. I enjoyed the fact that the romance was a little more of a simmer as opposed to having the heat turned from zero to max halfway through. By the author taking more time to focus on the story and less on the relationship, everything felt a little less forced - something which is hard to do in a limited number of pages.
The Storm by Linda Wisdom - 3 stars - Whilst the rapid forming of a relationship between the two characters sort of tipped me on to the plot twist ending quite early on, I still liked this one. I thought both characters were likable and especially liked three small, furry side characters...
>>>--4EVR--> by Holly Lisly - 2 stars - I was quite surprised that this was chosen to be the last in the anthology. Whilst there are a couple of twists in here which could have been quite interesting, they are revealed in such a way as made them feel flat. Another male main protagonist here, likable enough. My main problem with this was the ending - a whole lot of tell don't show and endless exposition before concluding with something syrupy, but not necessarily sweet.
I also think one of the let downs here is the choosing of these stories. Some are severely lacking in quality, whilst others needed a good edit / and extra fifty pages to excel. Often even the placement (the first and last stories in particular) feel wrong, not giving the reader anything to sink their teeth into to begin or conclude with a satisfied smile at the end.
Saying that, this isn't a bad collection. It would perhaps have been better served if I had interspersed each story with other reading material, dipping in and out as opposed to reading the whole thing in one. Despite my criticisms, I would still attest that this is a good way to pass a long, stormy evening by the fire...with all the lights on, of course.
xakyr's review
3.0
I'm going to break this review down by story, since this is a huge anthology and each story has its own merits. If there was no other way to get some of these stories, I would purchase this book, but I would much rather just get the stories I enjoyed and not pay the $6 for the rest of it.
a. The Chinese Bed-Three different ghosts in this story, one malevolent and two just trying to come to terms with their deaths. It is a very quick story, but I found myself skimming over the parts with the present day couple to get back to the mystery of what had happened to the prior couple. Interesting way to wrap up the story, but the battle was somewhat anticlimactic. (2 stars)
b. Old Salt-This was more of your typical ghost story, but with an interesting twist: the heroine resents the ghost for interrupting her life, due to her parent’s unwillingness to sell their bar. I liked the twist in this one, and how the heroine and the ghost wound up falling for one another. (3 stars)
c. Haints and Hobwebs- This was the story that I got this book for! It was an interesting addition to the Gin Blanco universe. It demonstrated Owen’s devotion to Gin and continued to set up the Sophia’s story in book 9. I liked the unexpected twist in how the vampire was able to contain the horrible things he did. (4 stars)
d. Hat-Trick- Cute story and I was really rooting for the ghost and his “roommate”! The ending was extremely abrupt and wasn’t what I was expecting. I liked that they took the time to explain a hat-trick! (3 stars)
e. Ghost of Blackstone Manor- This was an ok story, using the ghost as a device to get the living people together. It was hard for me to get immersed in the story and things wrapped up way too quickly for my taste. (3 stars)
f. Seventeen Coppers- Futuristic story with minimial world building and a non-traditional ghost. Didn’t hold my interest and ultimately skipped over it. (1 star)
g. Yours in Eternity- Extremely short story. We get no background on why the sorcerer wants the souls or what he does with them, why Hector had a part in his brother’s death, or other pertinent details like that. Was mildly entertaining, but would not own if it was able to be purchased as a standalone. (2 stars)
h. The Lovers- Slightly boring story about saving your marriage through ghostly intervention. I did like the slight Romeo and Juliet story that was going on, but it wasn’t enough to save the story. (2 stars)
i. A Single Girl’s Guide to Getting Ahead- I loved this story! It was unique and very entertaining! Main characters were endearing and well written. Well worth owning as a single, if I could get it. (5 stars)
j. Jonquils in the Snow- Decent Amish story, though a bit sensual for an Amish story. Dealt with some tough subjects, but was quite happy with the ending. (4 stars)
k. The Heart Thief-Awesome story! I wanted more of it! I wanted to know if they actually succeeded in getting his curse lifted, I was that invested in the characters! (5 stars)
l. Ghost in the Machine-Interesting steampunk story. Not much to call it a romance, but it did remind me of Kady Cross’ Steampunk chronicles. Would like to see more of this! (4 stars)
m. Three Little Words-The ghost was a bit of an interesting twist, but couldn’t save the story, especially since all the characters, including the ghost, were complete jerks! Would not re-read or own. (1 star)
n. Ghost of a Chance-Story was mildly interesting. When things happened, it happened very quickly, and this reader was left feeling unsatisfied. (2 stars)
o. In His Hands- The description on this story is slightly misleading, as it’s not a demon, but a mythological creature after the spirit of the young woman. Interesting story, but I would have liked a slight bit more information on the Ker that was the main villain in the story. (3 stars)
p. Can You Hear Me Now?- Kinda cute story about a geeky next door neighbor that the heroine helps get closure from his estranged wife’s death. I liked how she tried to help others with her “enchanted” phone as she grew closer to her next door neighbor and finally found her happiness. (3 stars)
q. The Storm-Interesting story, didn’t see the twist at the end coming. Raised more questions than anything else, but was interesting nonetheless. (2 stars)
r. >>>--4EVR-->- Unusual story about unrequited love and the lengths someone in that type of relationship will go to. It had some twists and turns and was a bit suspenseful, but something felt off to me, and I didn’t enjoy it as much as other entries. (2 stars)
a. The Chinese Bed-Three different ghosts in this story, one malevolent and two just trying to come to terms with their deaths. It is a very quick story, but I found myself skimming over the parts with the present day couple to get back to the mystery of what had happened to the prior couple. Interesting way to wrap up the story, but the battle was somewhat anticlimactic. (2 stars)
b. Old Salt-This was more of your typical ghost story, but with an interesting twist: the heroine resents the ghost for interrupting her life, due to her parent’s unwillingness to sell their bar. I liked the twist in this one, and how the heroine and the ghost wound up falling for one another. (3 stars)
c. Haints and Hobwebs- This was the story that I got this book for! It was an interesting addition to the Gin Blanco universe. It demonstrated Owen’s devotion to Gin and continued to set up the Sophia’s story in book 9. I liked the unexpected twist in how the vampire was able to contain the horrible things he did. (4 stars)
d. Hat-Trick- Cute story and I was really rooting for the ghost and his “roommate”! The ending was extremely abrupt and wasn’t what I was expecting. I liked that they took the time to explain a hat-trick! (3 stars)
e. Ghost of Blackstone Manor- This was an ok story, using the ghost as a device to get the living people together. It was hard for me to get immersed in the story and things wrapped up way too quickly for my taste. (3 stars)
f. Seventeen Coppers- Futuristic story with minimial world building and a non-traditional ghost. Didn’t hold my interest and ultimately skipped over it. (1 star)
g. Yours in Eternity- Extremely short story. We get no background on why the sorcerer wants the souls or what he does with them, why Hector had a part in his brother’s death, or other pertinent details like that. Was mildly entertaining, but would not own if it was able to be purchased as a standalone. (2 stars)
h. The Lovers- Slightly boring story about saving your marriage through ghostly intervention. I did like the slight Romeo and Juliet story that was going on, but it wasn’t enough to save the story. (2 stars)
i. A Single Girl’s Guide to Getting Ahead- I loved this story! It was unique and very entertaining! Main characters were endearing and well written. Well worth owning as a single, if I could get it. (5 stars)
j. Jonquils in the Snow- Decent Amish story, though a bit sensual for an Amish story. Dealt with some tough subjects, but was quite happy with the ending. (4 stars)
k. The Heart Thief-Awesome story! I wanted more of it! I wanted to know if they actually succeeded in getting his curse lifted, I was that invested in the characters! (5 stars)
l. Ghost in the Machine-Interesting steampunk story. Not much to call it a romance, but it did remind me of Kady Cross’ Steampunk chronicles. Would like to see more of this! (4 stars)
m. Three Little Words-The ghost was a bit of an interesting twist, but couldn’t save the story, especially since all the characters, including the ghost, were complete jerks! Would not re-read or own. (1 star)
n. Ghost of a Chance-Story was mildly interesting. When things happened, it happened very quickly, and this reader was left feeling unsatisfied. (2 stars)
o. In His Hands- The description on this story is slightly misleading, as it’s not a demon, but a mythological creature after the spirit of the young woman. Interesting story, but I would have liked a slight bit more information on the Ker that was the main villain in the story. (3 stars)
p. Can You Hear Me Now?- Kinda cute story about a geeky next door neighbor that the heroine helps get closure from his estranged wife’s death. I liked how she tried to help others with her “enchanted” phone as she grew closer to her next door neighbor and finally found her happiness. (3 stars)
q. The Storm-Interesting story, didn’t see the twist at the end coming. Raised more questions than anything else, but was interesting nonetheless. (2 stars)
r. >>>--4EVR-->- Unusual story about unrequited love and the lengths someone in that type of relationship will go to. It had some twists and turns and was a bit suspenseful, but something felt off to me, and I didn’t enjoy it as much as other entries. (2 stars)
laurla's review
Haints and Hobwebs by Jennifer Estep - elemental assassin # 4.7. this is the story i read the book for. Even the Spider can’t escape a ghost’s web... I’m being haunted. As Gin Blanco, aka the assassin the Spider, I’m used to being haunted by all the bad things I’ve done over the years. I suppose it was only a matter of time before an actual ghost came back to haunt me. But for once, I’m not the bad guy, and I wasn’t the person who sent this ghost—this haint—into the afterlife. But this haint definitely wants something from me, and I can’t help but think that it’s revenge on the person responsible for her untimely demise. Good thing revenge is my specialty, whether it’s among the living or the dead.
Hat-Trick by Gwen Cready - a ghost falls in love with the girl living in the apartment he haunts.
Ghost of Blackstone Manor by Donna Fletcher - a gal hires a guy to get rid of the ghosts in the manor.
Seventeen Coppers by Jeannie Holmes - a gal is hired to steal back the orb with a womans husbands spirit in it and runs into someone from her past.
Yours in Eternity by C.T. Adams - a woman fights to find and free her dead husbands spirit.
The Lovers by Julia London - a husband and wife fall back in love in a haunted house.
A Single Girl's Guide to Getting Ahead by Liz Maverick - a woman hires a ghost to scare her ex into leaving and then helps the ghost get out of his afterlife contract.
Jonquils in the Snow by Annette Blair - an amish man who wife died falls in love with a woman whose husband, sister, and child died, with the help of her sisters ghost.
The Heart Thief by Cindy Miles - a woman on a working vacation in scotland falls in love with a ghost.
Ghost in the Machine by Dru Pagliassotti - a gal learns the man she loved died but his spirit still lives and he helps her defeat the man who killed him and her father.
Three Little Words by Christie Ridgway - a gal and her ex are trapped in a haunted house and the ghost cant find peace until she convinces them they love each other.
Ghost of a Chance by Caridad Pineiro - a gal is invited to win a million dollars to help solve a mystery and falls for the attorney who arranged it when they're possessed by ghosts together.
In His Hands by Sara Reinke - a doctor has sex with what he learns is his patient's ghost, who is being hunted by a Ker that they have to fight so she can wake up.
Can You Hear Me Now? by Sharon Shinn - a gal receives phone calls from her dead father, and then other dead people, and is comforted by her neighbor whose wife died.
The Storm by Linda Wisdom - two lost souls find each other and fall in love even though they're already dead.
>>>--4EVR---> by Holly Lisle - a man finally discovers what happened to the woman he loved, and discovers they're both dead.
Hat-Trick by Gwen Cready - a ghost falls in love with the girl living in the apartment he haunts.
Ghost of Blackstone Manor by Donna Fletcher - a gal hires a guy to get rid of the ghosts in the manor.
Seventeen Coppers by Jeannie Holmes - a gal is hired to steal back the orb with a womans husbands spirit in it and runs into someone from her past.
Yours in Eternity by C.T. Adams - a woman fights to find and free her dead husbands spirit.
The Lovers by Julia London - a husband and wife fall back in love in a haunted house.
A Single Girl's Guide to Getting Ahead by Liz Maverick - a woman hires a ghost to scare her ex into leaving and then helps the ghost get out of his afterlife contract.
Jonquils in the Snow by Annette Blair - an amish man who wife died falls in love with a woman whose husband, sister, and child died, with the help of her sisters ghost.
The Heart Thief by Cindy Miles - a woman on a working vacation in scotland falls in love with a ghost.
Ghost in the Machine by Dru Pagliassotti - a gal learns the man she loved died but his spirit still lives and he helps her defeat the man who killed him and her father.
Three Little Words by Christie Ridgway - a gal and her ex are trapped in a haunted house and the ghost cant find peace until she convinces them they love each other.
Ghost of a Chance by Caridad Pineiro - a gal is invited to win a million dollars to help solve a mystery and falls for the attorney who arranged it when they're possessed by ghosts together.
In His Hands by Sara Reinke - a doctor has sex with what he learns is his patient's ghost, who is being hunted by a Ker that they have to fight so she can wake up.
Can You Hear Me Now? by Sharon Shinn - a gal receives phone calls from her dead father, and then other dead people, and is comforted by her neighbor whose wife died.
The Storm by Linda Wisdom - two lost souls find each other and fall in love even though they're already dead.
>>>--4EVR---> by Holly Lisle - a man finally discovers what happened to the woman he loved, and discovers they're both dead.
reader44ever's review
4.0
I reviewed this anthology as I finished each of the stories, but now that I am finally finished with this book, I have some overall thoughts that I'd like to share:
First, I enjoyed all of the stories in this collection, some more than others, but I enjoyed the whole of this book enough that I bought it. :-)
My favorite stories in this anthology are Haints and Hobwebs by Jennifer Estep; Seventeen Coppers by Jeannie Holmes; and Can You Hear Me Now? by Sharon Shinn.
I also loved Jonquils in the Snow by Annette Blair, but I cannot remember what it was about days after finishing it. So if I had rated each story individually, I might lower its star rating. But I did really enjoy it!
Also, A Single Girl's Guide to Getting Ahead by Liz Maverick was great fun!
So this was an excellent collection of romantic stories about Ghosts-involved-in-some-way. I am really looking forward to getting the copy I ordered from Book Depository so that I'll be able to revisit those stories that I especially enjoyed, and all of them from time to time!
And following are the individual reviews that I wrote as I finished the stories. They range from August 10th through to today, August 24th. :-)
The Chinese Bed by Anna Campbell
This was a good story, but I sort of skim-read it, reading some parts and outright skipping over other parts. But I enjoyed it. I'm glad Calista was saved from sharing Isabella's fate. But is the curse broken for good?
Old Salt by Carolyn Crane
This story left me in happy tears. It was really fun, though I'm rather bummed that Cassieonly became more accepting of William McHenry after she died and joined him in "ghostdom." But it was still a really good story.
And I didn't read as much as I hoped to on my first day with this book. I had a migraine, unfortunately. So today, August 11, I will try to read at least four stories.
Haints and Hobwebs by Jennifer Estep
I loved this story! I found myself randomly smiling as I was reading it (not sure why), and the ending put me in tears. It was wonderful! I loved how in this story we not only saw Gingetting involved in a pro bono case, but her client was a haint! And the ending was sooo happy. :-)
Also, Haints and Hobwebs was the reason why I wanted to read this book. And now that I finished it, I'm not sure if I'll read any more. I'd like to, but the drive to read more just isn't there. Maybe after I finish Crimson Death? Or, more likely, maybe after I finish Lonesome Dove. I'll just have to see how it goes.
I've decided to pay late fees on this book and try to finish it. You can see when I finished each story in my status updates below this review, but it is now August 20th and I've resumed my reading of this book. But before I get back to reviewing as I go along, I owe you all a review of the story I finished a week ago. . .
Hat-Trick by Gwyn Cready
I enjoyed this story, but I was sort of disappointed by the ending. It was my understanding that if a ghost "possesses" a living person, that the ghost "dies" and his/her personality is lost under the person he/she has possessed. But in the end of this story,Danny, the ghost, "possessed" Greg, Cass's ex-husband, and then he - meaning Danny - spoke to Cass. .
So, I have two complaints about this ending. First, how is it thatDanny spoke to Cass? ? And second, I hate that Danny is now in Cass's ex-husband. She divorced him! He's a cheating bastard! If Cass comes to her senses, Danny will lose out. . Though this sentence also brings a complaint to mind. Namely, Cass? What are you doing?! Your ex-husband cheated on you! You divorced him because of it! What are you doing?!?! ?!
Argh! Moving on now. . .
Ghost of Blackstone Manor by Donna Fletcher
This was also a good story "but" . . .
Amanda hires Mitch to rid her home of a ghost. What is this ghost doing that she finds so objectionable?The ghost is touching her, arousing her. So when Mitch and Amanda learn that the ghost is Michael Blackstone, who was killed in WWII, and then they learn that Michael Blackstone loved Amanda's grandmother, who is also now deceased and haunting Blackstone Manor . . . Ewww. :-(
But I'm glad that Amanda and Mitch seem to have a happy future ahead of them.
Seventeen Coppers by Jeannie Holmes
This story was great fun! Set on another world, it was a steampunk story. Is it part of a series? I sure hope so. Reading more about Ro and Mason would sure suit me fine!
Yours in Eternity by C.T. Adams
This short story was very short, less than 10 pages! Too short for me. I would have at least liked to have learned how/why Hector was responsible for Tomas's ghost being in the clutches of an evil sorcerer, but we weren't told. :-(
The Lovers by Julia London
This story was very good, but I was slightly disappointed that Agnes and John were the ghosts. The story openedwith Agnes and John alive and planning to elope. I had hoped that the ghosts would be found at Gretna Green, but Agnes fell to her death trying to reach a tree branch in a storm, and John killed himself when he learned that Agnes was dead. :-(
But I was glad Hillary and Matthew rekindled their marriage,with the help of Agnes and John. :-)
A Single Girl's Guide to Getting Ahead by Liz Maverick
This was a fun story. I really enjoyed Joe,the headless ghost. I was not expecting the twist in the end. :-)
Though now that I'm thinking about it, I'm happy that Joe and Shelby found love, but withhim being a ghost and her being alive, how is their relationship going to work? Will it last? ?
Jonquils in the Snow by Annette Blair
This story was wonderful. I found it to be such a beautiful story that I cried buckets after I finished it. And that even though the ghost in this story did not play much of a role!
Caleb and Hannah are perfect for one another. I hope they will have a long and happy life together. :-)
On August 24th, after I finished this book, in looking over my review I realized that I could no longer remember what Jonquils in the Snow was about. So I just flipped to it to refresh my memory. . .
Hopefully these clues will help this story stick in my memory! Caleb and Hannah areAmish. The ghost in this story was Hannah's sister, Anyah, who led Caleb and his daughter, Susie, to Hannah and sort of helped their romance along. In the end, nine months later, Caleb and Hannah are new parents to twin boys and step outside to see all of the jonquils Hannah had planted are blooming. Anyah appears a final time, with Hannah's baby Grace in her arms, and they say goodbye. Caleb and Hannah then have the ending that gifted me with tears. :-)
I'm going to pause here for the night. I finally made it past the halfway point! And that last story I read today (August 21st). . . It was sooo good that I need a break before reading a new story. So it's early to bed I go! :-)
The Heart Thief by Cindy Miles
This was a good story, but I wish it had included more about Justin's curse and how he and Dari are going to try to remove it. It felt like we ended this story just as it was beginning! Final line: "And so their story begins." *ARGH!*
Ghost in the Machine by Dru Pagliassotti
I really enjoyed this story despite my lack of understanding any of the science-y terminology and language. But once again, I'm left to wonder exactly how Constante and Stephen will love each other. With Connie's ideato build him a better battery-powered body, I'm envisioning some sort of life-size sex toy and. . . Ewww. . But it was a good story.
I had really hoped to finish this book today (August 22nd), but I found myself embroiled in too many distractions and they gave me a headache. :-( I'll try to finish it tomorrow, but I need to return it to the library before 8p and I don't know what sorts of distractions I'll be faced with. I'd buy this book, but B&N sadly reports that it is out-of-stock.
So, I found what I think is the U.K. edition of this book to buy from Book Depository, so I bought it in the wee hours of this morning (August 23rd). :-) (I don't understand why no one has new U.S. editions for sale. This book is not that old!) But I'm still going to try and finish it. I've decided that I will go to the library to return it, eight days late ($4 in late fees), tomorrow, Thursday, August 24th, my usual Thursday Library Day. So I hope to finish it today! :-)
Three Little Words by Christie Ridgway
This was a good story, and I'm glad Jemma and Troy reconciled, but I wish it had been slightly longer. I would have liked to hear the story of howRose, a ghost, saved Jemma from falling down the stairs. If Troy's hand went through her, how was she able to prevent Jem from falling? ?
Ghost of a Chance by Caridad Piñeiro
This was a very good story, but ifAnna escaped the house, why was she haunting it? ? Apart from a lack of explanation for this niggling detail, though, I really enjoyed this story. I think Tracy and Peter are pretty perfect together. :-)
In His Hands by Sara Reinke
I really enjoyed this story because it gave us a new type of "ghost." Laurawas the "ghost," or spirit (more accurately), but she wasn't dead. Instead, she was in a car crash and died briefly on the operating table, but Dr. Jack Harris saved her life. She then went into a coma of sorts, and her spirit was left to try to return to her body, but a Ker was after her.
Jack saved her from the Ker, and then returned to the unconscious Laura in the hospital and gave her a kiss, a la Snow White or Sleeping Beauty, and she woke up! So I am very pleased that Laura and Jack are now free to be together. :-)
Can You Hear Me Now? by Sharon Shinn
I adored this story. I had to laugh on page 4 (page 443) of it, and I cried buckets after I finished it. :-)
Here is the exchange that made me laugh: But first, Nathan arrived home with groceries, and a bag broke. Stacey heard the crash and went put into the hall. (She and Nathan are next-door neighbors.) She offers to help clean up; he offers a bottle of Jack Daniel's left over after a recent poker game. And after they've cleaned up. . .
And I cried in the end, because Stacey's dad stopped calling and it was just such a poignant scene and. . .
I wish ghosts lived in my reality. I would have LOVED to have heard from my dad after his passing.
Lastly, I mentioned this in my status update for this story, but Can You Hear Me Now? joins Haints and Hobwebs by Jennifer Estep in being a favorite story in this collection. :-)
I think I'm going to pause here for the night (on August 23rd). I have just 49 pages left to read, so I should easily be able to finish this book tomorrow in time to return it to the library. And this last story. . . I just don't want to say goodbye to it quite yet. Tomorrow, after I've slept, will be soon enough. ;-)
The Storm by Linda Wisdom
This was a good story, but the Epilogue took me aback when it shared that Zoe and Jonhad died, and so must have been the ghosts in this story. They didn't know they were dead, so how exactly is their move to town going to work?
I was also taken aback by how Zoeled Jon to her bedroom, where they had sex, after only sharing their first kiss in the kitchen. I know this was a short story, but surely things didn't have to move that fast. :-(
I can't really recall all of the stories I've read in this anthology, but I'm pretty sure all of the others leaned toward being or simply were really good and/or very enjoyable. Sadly, The Storm didn't reach those heights and is my least favorite so far. And with just one story left. . .
>>>--4EVR---> by Holly Lisle
This was a good story, but I think I'd have enjoyed it more had the flashback sequences been more obvious in that they were flashback sequences. It always soon became apparent that we were flashing back, but the segues seemed off.
And I liked that Mike and TJwere reunited in the end, but it would have been nice to have learned what happened to Brandon. Was he ever arrested and punished for killing TJ and Mike? ? ???
First, I enjoyed all of the stories in this collection, some more than others, but I enjoyed the whole of this book enough that I bought it. :-)
My favorite stories in this anthology are Haints and Hobwebs by Jennifer Estep; Seventeen Coppers by Jeannie Holmes; and Can You Hear Me Now? by Sharon Shinn.
I also loved Jonquils in the Snow by Annette Blair, but I cannot remember what it was about days after finishing it. So if I had rated each story individually, I might lower its star rating. But I did really enjoy it!
Also, A Single Girl's Guide to Getting Ahead by Liz Maverick was great fun!
So this was an excellent collection of romantic stories about Ghosts-involved-in-some-way. I am really looking forward to getting the copy I ordered from Book Depository so that I'll be able to revisit those stories that I especially enjoyed, and all of them from time to time!
And following are the individual reviews that I wrote as I finished the stories. They range from August 10th through to today, August 24th. :-)
The Chinese Bed by Anna Campbell
This was a good story, but I sort of skim-read it, reading some parts and outright skipping over other parts. But I enjoyed it. I'm glad Calista was saved from sharing Isabella's fate. But is the curse broken for good?
Old Salt by Carolyn Crane
This story left me in happy tears. It was really fun, though I'm rather bummed that Cassie
And I didn't read as much as I hoped to on my first day with this book. I had a migraine, unfortunately. So today, August 11, I will try to read at least four stories.
Haints and Hobwebs by Jennifer Estep
I loved this story! I found myself randomly smiling as I was reading it (not sure why), and the ending put me in tears. It was wonderful! I loved how in this story we not only saw Gin
Also, Haints and Hobwebs was the reason why I wanted to read this book. And now that I finished it, I'm not sure if I'll read any more. I'd like to, but the drive to read more just isn't there. Maybe after I finish Crimson Death? Or, more likely, maybe after I finish Lonesome Dove. I'll just have to see how it goes.
I've decided to pay late fees on this book and try to finish it. You can see when I finished each story in my status updates below this review, but it is now August 20th and I've resumed my reading of this book. But before I get back to reviewing as I go along, I owe you all a review of the story I finished a week ago. . .
Hat-Trick by Gwyn Cready
I enjoyed this story, but I was sort of disappointed by the ending. It was my understanding that if a ghost "possesses" a living person, that the ghost "dies" and his/her personality is lost under the person he/she has possessed. But in the end of this story,
So, I have two complaints about this ending. First, how is it that
Argh! Moving on now. . .
Ghost of Blackstone Manor by Donna Fletcher
This was also a good story "but" . . .
Amanda hires Mitch to rid her home of a ghost. What is this ghost doing that she finds so objectionable?
But I'm glad that Amanda and Mitch seem to have a happy future ahead of them.
Seventeen Coppers by Jeannie Holmes
This story was great fun! Set on another world, it was a steampunk story. Is it part of a series? I sure hope so. Reading more about Ro and Mason would sure suit me fine!
Yours in Eternity by C.T. Adams
This short story was very short, less than 10 pages! Too short for me. I would have at least liked to have learned how/why Hector was responsible for Tomas's ghost being in the clutches of an evil sorcerer, but we weren't told. :-(
The Lovers by Julia London
This story was very good, but I was slightly disappointed that Agnes and John were the ghosts. The story opened
But I was glad Hillary and Matthew rekindled their marriage,
A Single Girl's Guide to Getting Ahead by Liz Maverick
This was a fun story. I really enjoyed Joe,
Though now that I'm thinking about it, I'm happy that Joe and Shelby found love, but with
Jonquils in the Snow by Annette Blair
This story was wonderful. I found it to be such a beautiful story that I cried buckets after I finished it. And that even though the ghost in this story did not play much of a role!
Caleb and Hannah are perfect for one another. I hope they will have a long and happy life together. :-)
On August 24th, after I finished this book, in looking over my review I realized that I could no longer remember what Jonquils in the Snow was about. So I just flipped to it to refresh my memory. . .
Hopefully these clues will help this story stick in my memory! Caleb and Hannah are
I'm going to pause here for the night. I finally made it past the halfway point! And that last story I read today (August 21st). . . It was sooo good that I need a break before reading a new story. So it's early to bed I go! :-)
The Heart Thief by Cindy Miles
This was a good story, but I wish it had included more about Justin's curse and how he and Dari are going to try to remove it. It felt like we ended this story just as it was beginning! Final line: "And so their story begins." *ARGH!*
Ghost in the Machine by Dru Pagliassotti
I really enjoyed this story despite my lack of understanding any of the science-y terminology and language. But once again, I'm left to wonder exactly how Constante and Stephen will love each other. With Connie's idea
I had really hoped to finish this book today (August 22nd), but I found myself embroiled in too many distractions and they gave me a headache. :-( I'll try to finish it tomorrow, but I need to return it to the library before 8p and I don't know what sorts of distractions I'll be faced with. I'd buy this book, but B&N sadly reports that it is out-of-stock.
So, I found what I think is the U.K. edition of this book to buy from Book Depository, so I bought it in the wee hours of this morning (August 23rd). :-) (I don't understand why no one has new U.S. editions for sale. This book is not that old!) But I'm still going to try and finish it. I've decided that I will go to the library to return it, eight days late ($4 in late fees), tomorrow, Thursday, August 24th, my usual Thursday Library Day. So I hope to finish it today! :-)
Three Little Words by Christie Ridgway
This was a good story, and I'm glad Jemma and Troy reconciled, but I wish it had been slightly longer. I would have liked to hear the story of how
Ghost of a Chance by Caridad Piñeiro
This was a very good story, but if
In His Hands by Sara Reinke
I really enjoyed this story because it gave us a new type of "ghost." Laura
Jack saved her from the Ker, and then returned to the unconscious Laura in the hospital and gave her a kiss, a la Snow White or Sleeping Beauty, and she woke up!
Can You Hear Me Now? by Sharon Shinn
I adored this story. I had to laugh on page 4 (page 443) of it, and I cried buckets after I finished it. :-)
Here is the exchange that made me laugh: But first, Nathan arrived home with groceries, and a bag broke. Stacey heard the crash and went put into the hall. (She and Nathan are next-door neighbors.) She offers to help clean up; he offers a bottle of Jack Daniel's left over after a recent poker game. And after they've cleaned up. . .
Nathan reappeared, drying his hands on his jeans. "I really appreciate your help. Can I get you something to drink? I just remembered, I've got a couple beers, too, if that sounds better. Or Coke, if you'd rather."I LOVE this!
"I just got a phone call from my dad," Stacey said.
Something in the tone of her voice caused him to pause in the act of turning toward the kitchen. His eyebrows lifted. "Is that a good thing or a bad thing?"
"He's been dead for two months."
Nathan nodded and continued on toward the kitchen. "Right, then. Whiskey it is."
And I cried in the end, because Stacey's dad stopped calling and it was just such a poignant scene and. . .
I wish ghosts lived in my reality. I would have LOVED to have heard from my dad after his passing.
Lastly, I mentioned this in my status update for this story, but Can You Hear Me Now? joins Haints and Hobwebs by Jennifer Estep in being a favorite story in this collection. :-)
I think I'm going to pause here for the night (on August 23rd). I have just 49 pages left to read, so I should easily be able to finish this book tomorrow in time to return it to the library. And this last story. . . I just don't want to say goodbye to it quite yet. Tomorrow, after I've slept, will be soon enough. ;-)
The Storm by Linda Wisdom
This was a good story, but the Epilogue took me aback when it shared that Zoe and Jon
I was also taken aback by how Zoe
I can't really recall all of the stories I've read in this anthology, but I'm pretty sure all of the others leaned toward being or simply were really good and/or very enjoyable. Sadly, The Storm didn't reach those heights and is my least favorite so far. And with just one story left. . .
>>>--4EVR---> by Holly Lisle
This was a good story, but I think I'd have enjoyed it more had the flashback sequences been more obvious in that they were flashback sequences. It always soon became apparent that we were flashing back, but the segues seemed off.
And I liked that Mike and TJ
fernbell's review
4.0
Really enjoy stories that have ghost in them and add in some romance and what is not to like. All the stories were good with some being better for me than others. The nice thing is this is a mix of stories so something for everyone. One I would read again.
lootsfoz's review
3.0
A few stories were excellent, some were OK, and a few were utter crap. Picked this book for the Jennifer Estep short story, and it did not disappoint.
More...