REVIEW: The Trust by Ronald H. Balson

The Trust
by Ronald H. Balson

Publisher: St. Martin's Press
Page Count: 368
Release Date: September 19, 2017
Format: E-Book ARC Via NetGalley

How got: ARC from publisher via NetGalley

First attention getter: dealing with N Ireland drama

Synopsis:

From GoodReads:

When his uncle dies, Liam Taggart reluctantly returns to his childhood home in Northern Ireland for the funeral—a home he left years ago after a bitter confrontation with his family, never to look back. But when he arrives, Liam learns that not only was his uncle shot to death, but that he’d anticipated his own murder: In an astonishing last will and testament, Uncle Fergus has left his entire estate to a secret trust, directing that no distributions be made to any person until the killer is found. 

Did Fergus know, but refuse to name, his killer? Was this a crime of revenge, a vendetta leftover from Northern Ireland’s bloody sectarian war? After all, the Taggarts were deeply involved in the IRA. Or is it possible that the killer is a family member seeking Fergus’s estate? Otherwise, why postpone distributions to the heirs? Most menacingly, does the killer now have his sights on other family members?

As his investigation draws Liam farther and farther into the past he has abandoned, he realizes he is forced to reopen doors long ago shut and locked. Now, accepting the appointment as sole trustee of the Fergus Taggart Trust, Liam realizes he has stepped into the center of a firestorm.

My Thoughts:

Star Rating - 4

When I found out this book was the fourth in a series I’d previously had bad luck with, I was regretting my agreement to read/review. That previous encounter had to be dropped due to a massive info dump in the beginning that made continuing further impossible for me. Once my discovery was made, I braced myself for a similar experience. However, I was very pleasantly surprised. This particular work was written organically and well, giving us a fleshing out of one of our leads and some fascinating modern history of the Northern Ireland dilemma.

I think the problem with my first try with this series was the info dump plus being thrust into the story with characters I didn’t know. A common problem with trying to start a series mid-point, this volume, however, didn’t suffer from that. The central mystery has to do with Liam’s family history in Ireland so serves as an “introduction” to him as a character.

I felt like I got to know Liam very well. His loyalty to family, iron sense of right vs wrong, and dedication to his crime-solving craft shine through strongly. He’s a main character I could get behind and believe in. And though Catherine only played a peripheral part in this volume, being an ocean away for most of it, I still got a sense for her practical approach to problems and perfect common sense. She was a great foil to Liam’s passion for family, crime-solving, and protecting others.

I felt the crime-solving aspects were pretty well done. The story is chock full of red herrings and twisty turns that make any mystery a joy to read. The final whodunit was a surprise to me with a nail-biting journey to that final reveal. I liked that the author didn’t shy away from giving us some tragedy and emotion as well along the way. They gave the voyage to justice a perfect weight to the dry aspects of crime-solving.

There were times where the author felt repetitive in various aspects of storytelling. The constant amount of times that Liam went jogging, I’m surprised he’s not built like a quarterback on steroids. It also felt like some characters kept falling back to the same character traits again and again, Connor and his repetitive tries to oust Liam come to mind. Maybe the author was just making a point that Connor was a douche and putting him forward as a likely suspect, making his attempts as proof of his trying to kill Liam and company. However, it felt to me like he was just pounding this point too much with the proverbial two by four.

Despite that one flaw, and admittedly that one is a very personal quibble, I felt this was a solid book. Great character work and a mystery plot that wasn’t predictable nor stale make this a very enjoyable read. It even served as a great introduction to Liam and Catherine, in lieu of book one. I think I might need to look into books 1 and 3 now as well as re-thinking book 2. Highly recommended for mystery lovers everywhere.

Note: Book received for free from publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

REVIEW: Karolina's Twins by Ronald H Balson

Karolina's Twins
by Ronald H. Balson

Publisher: St. Martin's Press
Page Count: 320
Release Date: September 6, 2016
Format: ARC Kindle copy

How got: free ARC from NetGalley

First attention getter: setting and synopsis

Synopsis:

From GoodReads:

From the author of Once We Were Brothers comes a saga inspired by true events of a Holocaust survivor’s quest to fulfill a promise, return to Poland and find two sisters lost during World War II.

Lena Woodward, an elderly woman, enlists the help of both lawyer Catherine Lockhart and private investigator Liam Taggart to appraise the story of her harrowing past in Nazi occupied Poland. At the same time, Lena’s son Arthur presents her with a hefty lawsuit under the pretense of garnering her estate—and independence—for his own purposes. Where these stories intersect is through Lena’s dubious account of her life in war-torn Poland, and her sisterhood with a childhood friend named Karolina. Lena and Karolina struggled to live through the atrocity of the Holocaust, and at the same time harbored a courageous, yet mysterious secret of maternity that has troubled Lena throughout her adult life. In telling her story to Catherine and Liam, Lena not only exposes the realities of overcoming the horrors of the Holocaust, she also comes to terms with her own connection to her dark past.

Karolina’s Twins is a tale of survival, love, and resilience in more ways than one. As Lena recounts her story, Catherine herself also recognizes the unwavering importance of family as she prepares herself for the arrival of her unborn child. Through this association and many more, both Lena and Catherine begin to cherish the dogged ties that bind not only families and children, but the entirety of mankind.

My Thoughts:

Star Rating - none given since DNF-ed @ 20%

I must be in the severe minority when it came to this book and author. Maybe it was trying to get into characters and story while starting with book three; don’t know. Yet, I found myself disappointed, DNF-ing at 20% because I just couldn’t take it anymore.

Given the hype this author has garnered, there’s got to be something to his writing. I heard his first book was on book club reading lists, a bestseller, and the rights have recently been optioned for a movie. So obviously something good is going on here.

Apparently I’m not like most folks. Maybe books one and two were better. However, this one was a chore to get through, even up to the point of the 20% where I dropped it. Except for a few scenes between Catherine and Liam, the entire first 20% was one huge information dump in the form of a lawyer interview, conveying Lena’s story of Holocaust survival.

While the information and story doesn’t lend itself to boredom, I found myself slogging through one endless conversation. I couldn’t immerse myself into Lena’s story as we were just told everything. The sights, sounds, and emotions of that suspenseful tale were lost in the format in which they were told. I never thought I’d come across a book that would make the Holocaust boring, but this book accomplished that.

Sad to say I wasn’t thrilled with this one, especially since I dropped it so quickly. The endless slog of a lawyer interview/conversation that lasted chapters killed it quickly. Maybe if the author had chosen a different layout or format to tell the story. Who knows? I might give books one and two a look; maybe I’ll get the author’s writing style and Catherine’s and Liam’s characters better then. Sad I started with this one, though.

Note: Book received for free from publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

REVIEW: The Winter People by Jennifer McMahon

The Winter People
by Jennifer McMahon

Publisher: Doubleday
Page Count: 317
Release Date: February 11, 2014
Format: Trade Paperback

How got: bought used @ local library sale

First attention getter: a good review I read way back when

Synopsis:

From GoodReads:

West Hall, Vermont, has always been a town of strange disappearances and old legends. The most mysterious is that of Sara Harrison Shea, who, in 1908, was found dead in the field behind her house just months after the tragic death of her daughter, Gertie. 

Now, in present day, nineteen-year-old Ruthie lives in Sara's farmhouse with her mother, Alice, and her younger sister, Fawn. Alice has always insisted that they live off the grid, a decision that suddenly proves perilous when Ruthie wakes up one morning to find that Alice has vanished without a trace. 

Searching for clues, she is startled to find a copy of Sara Harrison Shea's diary hidden beneath the floorboards of her mother's bedroom. As Ruthie gets sucked deeper into the mystery of Sara's fate, she discovers that she's not the only person who's desperately looking for someone that they've lost. But she may be the only one who can stop history from repeating itself.

My Thoughts:

Star Rating - 4.5

I went into this book expecting a vivid horror, ala Pet Semetery (think I got that comparison from another review I read). While there are some aspects that echo this horror classic, this one shines as much in the mystery department as it does the actual horror stuff. A great introduction to the author, I look forward to more of her creepy stuff.

McMahon has a real talent for foreshadowing and hooking together crumbs she’s left throughout the story. Several times I had that “ah ha!” moment when things clicked together to create a creepy whole. She spreads out her clues smoothly throughout the entire story, having her different plot threads overlap and touch in enthralling ways. There was never a dull spot, and I was kept on tenderhooks the entire time.

I loved Ruthie and Sara as primary storytellers, Ruthie a bit more than Sara. Sara’s life was filled with unimaginable tragedy, so much so that she reaches a breaking point and makes a fateful decision that drives the rest of the book. How the rest of her situation devolved into the bloody finale to that thread made for engrossing reading and a jaw dropping character arc.

Yet, I felt more connected to Ruthie than Sara. Maybe it’s because Ruthie was experiencing the horror and tension from a position of ignorance, learning as the events happened just like the readers. With Sara’s previous knowledge, I didn’t connect with her on that score. I liked Ruthie on a personal level, too. She’s a typical young adult facing life after graduation, the whole world at her fingertips, yet being held back by her family’s past as well. I felt she faced the events portrayed with a realistic array of actions and attitudes, liking her for it.

The horror aspects were more of an atmosphere creepiness than outright, poop-in-you-pants scarefest. McMahon has a real gift for atmosphere, from skeletal trees to utter silence to local folklore legends of missing people and the walking dead (anyone see Rick Grimes walking through the snowy landscape?? LOL). The reality of the Sleepers, how they functioned and survived, harkened back enough to a classic horror story to really make this story stand out. That last scene?? Just shiver inducing for its subtle indications…

A fantastic introduction to McMahon and her ethereal creepiness, I found her type and brand of horror to be a great departure from the usual horror fare. While there’s enough to definitely classify this story as a horror story, what’s there serves as a creepy atmosphere for a great story and characters as well. All around, we get a great package. I look forward to more!

REVIEW: Lost Among the Living by Simone St. James

Lost Among the Living
by Simone St. James

Publisher: NAL
Page Count: 318
Release Date: April 5, 2016
Format: Trade Paperback

How got: personal buy from Amazon; pre-ordered

First attention getter: this author is awesome!!

Synopsis:

From GoodReads:

England, 1921. Three years after her husband, Alex, disappeared, shot down over Germany, Jo Manders still mourns his loss. Working as a paid companion to Alex's wealthy, condescending aunt, Dottie Forsyth, Jo travels to the family’s estate in the Sussex countryside. But there is much she never knew about her husband’s origins…and the revelation of a mysterious death in the Forsyths’ past is just the beginning…

All is not well at Wych Elm House. Dottie's husband is distant, and her son was grievously injured in the war. Footsteps follow Jo down empty halls, and items in her bedroom are eerily rearranged. The locals say the family is cursed, and that a ghost in the woods has never rested. And when Jo discovers her husband’s darkest secrets, she wonders if she ever really knew him. Isolated in a place of deception and grief, she must find the truth or lose herself forever.

And then a familiar stranger arrives at Wych Elm House…

My Thoughts:

Star Rating - 5

Another great addition to St. James’ body of works, I loved the feeling I got from this book. I felt like I was getting all the good creepy vibes that drew me to her first books on top of getting a suspenseful mystery to book that are so prevalent in her more recent novels.

First off, I love her heroine. She’s strong, courageous, feisty, driven, and a bit impulsive. Her grief from her war and personal losses didn’t stop her from creating a life for herself and striving for independence. I can think of other personalities that would have buckled under her plat but not Jo. I loved her guts and pluck.

More than one chill went up my spine from the horror elements in the story. They weren’t as in your face as her first books, yet they didn’t take second stage like in another of her works. The horror and ghosts were a driving element in the mystery story and created some truly spine-tingling imagery to spice up the narrative. They whole clothes in the chair thing? *shiver* Still spooks me out.

I actually liked the mystery in this one. While I wasn’t that surprised at the eventual whodunit (there being after all a limited suspect pool), I enjoyed the journey and sleuthing along the way. I felt the clues and steps along the way were spaced out well and kept up a good pace. The reasoning behind the crime surprised me, though. I never saw that bit coming.

That reasoning behind the crime tied in well with the historical details behind the story. I loved how the author tied in the developing situation in Europe pre-WWI, the effects that chaos had on the lives of ordinary people, and the beginnings of the British secret service all into her story. They brought the history behind to tale to life along with the little details like everyday life and the mourning process for late Edwardian England.

The romance was as emotional as in the previous works as well. I can’t say too much on this front as it would spoils lots of the story, but safe to say that I felt the story as much as read it. The romance is visceral in its strength and powerful in how it draws the readers in, making us root for both hero and heroine.

All in all, this is a worthy follow up to St. James’ other books. I loved everything: the romantic pull of the emotions, the great historical details, a chilling supernatural mystery, and a heroine I could get behind. This book illustrates why I keep going back to her again and again for my reading pleasure. Highly recommended!

REVIEW: The Medium Path by Elizabeth Davies

The Medium Path
by Elizabeth Davies

Publisher: Romance Beckons
Page Count: 250
Release Date: May 26, 2015
Format: Kindle

How got: free copy from author

First attention getter: liked the first book

Synopsis:

From GoodReads:
Ruby died nearly one hundred years ago. She saw spirits of the dead when she was alive, and now she is dead she has become a guide who helps ghosts pass on. When ghosts start being taken by darkness instead of the light, Ruby is forced to seek help from a handsome and unwilling medium, who awakens emotions she never knew she had.

My Thoughts:
Star Rating - 3

I was given the opportunity to read/review this book by the author; I had done the same with the first book in this series. I really enjoyed that exploration of her unique supernatural system and intriguing storyline. Davies meets those expectations again in this sequel. Yet, this second volume didn’t have the same magic as the first.

The author’s distinctive take on the world of ghosts with its spirit guides, how crossing over into the light works, the different levels of ghost power, and mediums makes for a unique mix. I found it interesting to tell the story through a spirit guide as the main storyteller this time rather than the medium like in the first volume.

The reader gets more of an in-depth view of what being a spirit guide entails and the various pitfalls of that position. To constantly be exposed to the rapture of crossing into the light to hardly ever get the chance to do so oneself just tears at the heart of the reader as well as the spirit guide.

Spirits being taken by darkness, a stealer of souls on the loose, and a young woman who died young and in tragic circumstances trying to find equilibrium as a spirit guide keeps the reader engaged. From scene to scene, I was always eager to find out what was going to happen next. The author went to some truly individual, unexplored realms as she spins a suspenseful story.

Yet, for all that strength, this book seemed to lack the draw that the first had for me after finishing. I loved the first, maybe it was being exposed to the unique supernatural system, forbidden romance, characters, and historical setting all for the first time.

However, this time round, I found the ending to be almost anti-climactic. Though definitely suspenseful with characters fighting for their lives/afterlives and not always succeeding, I found myself a bit hollow after finishing. I couldn’t care less what ultimately happens to them after finishing and almost didn’t care during that finale, either.

I think a big part of this might be attributed the characterization that the main character starts to display in the last third of the book. She starts to display a callousness and self-interest that was very off-putting. She seemed willing to throw her fellow spirits under the bus to obtain her own goals. Maybe it was the circumstances in which she was existing at the time, an influence from outside herself may have played a part. I don’t know if that was what the author was trying to portray or not. Once she started acting the way she did, though, I lost all empathy I had for her and couldn’t care less what happened to her.

Despite a strong storytelling skill and a special take on ghosts, I found this book to be a sub-par follow-up to the first. I was intrigued enough by the story to finish the book; some of the secondary characters were actually pretty strong. Yet, how the main character changed in that last part and some of her motivations turned me off big time. The ending was somewhat lack luster in my opinion and not what I was craving at all. So this follow-up to the original might work for another reader, but I wasn’t as in love with it as the first.

Note: Book received for free from author in exchange for honest review.

REVIEW: Whispers in the Reading Room by Shelley Bray

Whispers in the Reading Room
by Shelley Bray

Publisher: Zondervan
Page Count: 352
Release Date: November 10, 2015
Format: Kindle

How got: ARC copy from NetGalley

First attention getter: description

Synopsis:

From GoodReads:

Lydia’s job at the library is her world—until a mysterious patron catches her eye . . . and perhaps her heart.

Just months after the closure of the Chicago World’s Fair, librarian Lydia Bancroft finds herself fascinated by a mysterious dark-haired and dark-eyed patron. He has never given her his name; he actually never speaks to a single person. All she knows about him is that he loves books as much as she does.

Only when he rescues her in the lobby of the Hartman Hotel does she discover that his name is Sebastian Marks. She also discovers that he lives at the top of the prestigious hotel and that most everyone in Chicago is intrigued by him.

Lydia and Sebastian form a fragile friendship, but when she discovers that Mr. Marks isn’t merely a very wealthy gentleman, but also the proprietor of an infamous saloon and gambling club, she is shocked.

Lydia insists on visiting the club one fateful night and suddenly is a suspect to a murder. She must determine who she can trust, who is innocent, and if Sebastian Marks—the man so many people fear—is actually everything her heart believes him to be.

My Thoughts:

Star Rating - 2

This book held promise for me with the premise and how the characters started. However, that promise quickly turned into ashy disappointment as characters fell into two-dimensional stereotypes and the story/plot petered into a steady march into mediocrity and boredom.

I initially really liked Sebastian and Lydia. I liked that Sebastian was a self-made man who pulled himself out of the slums to become a successful businessman, ala Mafia-style. His protective streak towards Lydia and his devotion to his staff was admirable, in the beginning.

Lydia could have been me in a different life. Shy, awkward with strangers, book-lover working in a library (my dream job!!), and completely inept when it comes to relationships, she was channeling me, I swear. So of course, that made her immediately relatable to me.

Yet, things went downhill real fast. Lydia lost any depth she had when she let her shy, retiring side keep control. She was a passive vessel for others to channel their emotions through and for the story to push around. And Sebastian’s protective side quickly became controlling, obsessive, and scary. I’d almost say “stalker” but not quite that far (no doorway lurking happened). It seemed like whenever Lydia was in the picture, the rest of the world was valued at nothing as the story got rolling, which is not healthy in any relationship.

The secondary characters also suffered a bit here. Hunt was just as bad as Sebastian in the over-protective, controlling aspect. His insistence on focusing on Bridget to the exclusion of most everything else was scary, to say the least. He was a Sebastian junior. Bridget I actually liked. She was such a strong and practical character. She took life as it fell on her head and came up with concrete plans with which to meet those challenges.

Unfortunately, the plot/story didn’t do much to save the book overall. It waited way too long before kicking in. It wasn’t until 51% through the story before the murder happened or anything for that matter, story-wise. Before that point, it was endless conversations, movement from place to place, or melodramatic confrontations (i.e. more conversations!!).

An intriguing premise and initially good characters weren’t enough to save this puppy. Characterizations went sour (though Bridget rocked!!) and the actual plot waited too long before making an appearance. If I hadn’t been reading this book for NetGalley, would I have finished it? Meh… Who knows… Either way, I’d pass on this title.

Note: Book received for free from publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review (and boy was I honest!).

REVIEW: Against A Brightening Sky by Jaime Lee Moyer

Against A Brightening Sky
by Jaime Lee Moyer

Publisher: Tor Books
Page Count: 336
Release Date: October 6, 2015
Format: Hardcover

How got: personal library; bought from Amazon

First attention getter: adore the series already

Synopsis:

From GoodReads:

A ghost princess and a woman with nothing but a name to her fortune might change the course of history.

By 1919 the Great War has ended, peace talks are under way in Paris, and the world has been forever changed. Delia Martin, apprentice practitioner of magical arts, and her husband, Police Captain Gabriel Ryan, face the greatest challenge of their lives when fragments from the war descend on San Francisco.

As Delia prepares to meet friends at a St. Patrick's Day parade, the strange ghost of a European princess appears in her mirror. Her pleasant outing becomes a nightmare as the ghost reappears moments after a riot starts, warning her as a rooftop gunman begins shooting into the crowd. Delia rushes to get her friends to safety, and Gabe struggles to stop the killing—and to save himself.

Delia and Gabe realize all the chaos and bloodshed had one purpose—to flush Alina from hiding, a young woman with no memory of anything but her name.

As Delia works to discover how the princess ghost's secrets connect to this mysterious young woman, and Gabe tracks a ruthless killer around his city, they find all the answers hinge on two questions: Who is Alina...and why can't she remember?

Against a Brightening Sky is the thrilling conclusion to Moyer's glittering historical fantasy series.

My Thoughts:

Star Rating - 4

As another chapter in the saga of Delia Martin Ryan and family, this book excels. It’s a gripping story that doesn’t let you go. However, as a conclusion to the series? Dismal failure.

As usual, Moyer knows how to tell a gripping story. I loved all the new bits she included from the supernatural: how the ability to see ghosts manifested in a child, how the powers of a necromancer interacted with Delia’s and Dora’s abilities, and the strengthening of Delia overall in her abilities and confidence using them. Seeing her grow as a supernatural user and face off with a truly terrifying entity kept me enthralled.

I loved the historical background to the story as well as the crime fighting parts (though those were in lesser evidence than previous volumes). Using the Russian Revolution and the assassination of the tsar’s family tied in very well with the overall aura of the time period with the bubbling fervent feelings of revolution, anarchy, and change. The author also incorporates fantastic period details to make her setting come to life like the eerie San Francisco fog, period speedster cars, and the era’s fascination with Spiritualism.

Her characters also continue to shine. Delia’s growing confidence and courage in facing ghosts and supernatural entities, both enemies and allies, is always a treat. I love her with Gabe. His strengths in observance of details and putting all the pieces together continue to be a joy to read. His growing awareness of his own supernatural inclinations was also a nice change.

I also enjoyed the secondary characters, especially the ones that were introduced in this volume. Jordan was a special favorite. I loved seeing how he didn’t let prejudice influence his sense of dignity and justice; he did what the job required so that the victims of crime could have justice. I loved the window that his character provided into the world of police and how people of color were treated back then.

The only problem I have with this book was it being touted as a “conclusion”. It in no way reads as such. This is just another chapter in the life of Delia and allies as they battle the evil supernatural influences that seem to gravitate to early 20th century San Francisco. There is no wrapping up of overall story threads; the author even introduces some such threads in this volume, the last book in the series.

So there is no real closure as we say goodbye to these characters. I’m going to be very sad to see Delia and company go. I enjoyed her adventures every October; it was one of the things I looked forward to for the past few years. I can only hope that maybe the author is going to pursue a series about Dora?? If that’s the case, sign me up for that waitlist!!! I’d love a series about her.

A great addition to the series, this volume will keep you engaged with a gripping story, great characters, and wonderful supernatural additions. While this doesn’t read as a conclusion, it still stands as a great book under its own merits. I’ll be sad to see this series go, but here’s hoping the author intends to write one about Dora, ‘cause I’ll be there with bells on. Still a recommends volume for those who love historical supernatural mysteries.

REVIEW: Eleanor and the Iron King by Julie Daines

Eleanor and the Iron King
by Julie Daines

Publisher: Covenant Communications
Page Count: 224
Release Date: August 1, 2015
Format: Kindle

How got: ARC copy from NetGalley

First attention getter: pretty cover and setting

Synopsis:

From GoodReads:

Eleanor de Lacy has been bartered: her hand in marriage in exchange for a truce with her father’s sworn enemy.

Now the headstrong beauty must leave her ancestral home and the man she secretly loves to become the wife of the infamous Welsh king, Brach Goch. Tales of this cruel leader paint a chilling picture of a ruthless warrior, and all Eleanor knows for certain is that he is the villain responsible for the vicious attacks on her people and the death of her beloved brother.

Though she must marry against her will, she vows Brach Goch will never possess her heart. Her arrival at the inhospitable castle Bryn Du confirms her worst fears—a ghost walks the halls of the castle, and Eleanor receives an ominous warning from the uneasy spirit: Brach is not to be trusted.

Though resigned to a life of misery, Eleanor soon realizes all is not as it seems, for Brach is not the monster she dreaded but is a handsome and charming man whose gentle ways soon undermine her resolve to lock her heart. Clinging desperately to her pride, Eleanor finds herself trapped in a web of murder and deceit. And as the lines between good and evil become blurred, Eleanor must decide for herself who is to be trusted—and loved.

My Thoughts:

Star Rating - 1.5

Oh this book….. So much promise with so much flat return. I had high hopes with an intriguing setting and a potentially lovely romance (the arranged marriage gimmick is a new love for me). With an added supernatural flair, I was expecting a great book. Yet sadly, this book failed to deliver on almost everything.

I did like the Welsh, medieval setting. It was nicely pulled off with green, misty hills and forests. There was a certain air of mystical potential that I liked. There were also moments in the romance that I liked too. When Eleanor could actually deem to trust Brach and have an actual conversation/interaction, I liked how they played off each other. They had the potential to be a great romantic duo.

Where things started to go wrong quickly was the main character. She started out OK with some nice spunk to her. Unfortunately, she turned into the worst sort of shallow, stupid, and teenage YA heroine. She rushes into situations without the slightest pretense to planning. Stubbornly refuses to change her opinions or viewpoints after presented with evidence. She constantly jumps to conclusions on the flimsiest of information. And she doesn’t have the sense of a dodo bird in whom she trusts or how she acts.

Brach was much better, probably because he’s older and more mature. Yet, we’re given such little time with him that the reader isn’t given much of a chance to get to know him deeper. I found this very odd for a historical romance as it takes two to have such a relationship. So much time is given to Eleanor and her bungling antics that Brach is left in the dark most of the time.

The supernatural flairs to this book were promising before they started but quickly lost their luster. What I got was a grouping of campy bloody messages, eye rolling wailing women specters, and killer ghosts in the dungeon. I mean, really?! I got scarier stuff out of R L Stine’s series for kids back in the day. Every time the supernatural elements reared their head I had to sigh in frustration, what started out as potentially unique story element quickly turned into a drag on the book.

Hokey supernatural elements, a main heroine I’d rather shoot than cheer for, and not enough page time for the hero made for a drag of a read. The romantic bits and setting weren’t enough to save this puppy. I don’t think I’ll be hunting this author down again. I only gave the 1.5 since I finished the book and enjoyed a few things. Look elsewhere for reading material, folks! This one isn’t worth the time spent.

Note: Book received for free from publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.