The Haunting of Ashburn House by Darcy Coates

Adrienne is down to her last twenty dollars when she arrives at Ashburn House. She doesn't remember much about her Aunt Eleanor and she's not sure why the house was left to her. What she does have is hazy memories of fleeing the house in the arms of her mother when Adrienne was young. 

But, her mother is now dead and Adrienne is in reduced circumstances so a free place to stay is a godsend. But the house is eerie. Set apart from the rest of the village and old, Adrienne is trepidatious about staying in this place. Especially when she realizes there are no mirrors. And there are words etched into tables, walls, and even her aunt's headboard that, without a context, are confusing.

I really enjoyed this book which was odd because I'm not much for thrillers but this one was a really fast read and I was almost halfway through when I realized this wasn't a straight-up mystery.

Four stars
This book came out July 20, 2016

Borrowed as ebook from Libby

Opinions are my own

Dark Light by Jayne Castle

Sierra McIntyre is an investigative reporter for a tabloid newspaper. In the beginning of the fifth book set in Castle's futuristic/sci-fi Harmony, she is sitting in the office of the local Guild boss, trying to get to the heart of some mysterious disappearances of some former hunters. When the boss, John Fontana, unexpectedly proposes a Marriage of Convenience (two people can dissolve a marriage immediately unless there are children, in which case, the people involved are immediately entered into a Covenant Marriage), Sierra is surprised but agrees to go along for the sake of getting her story.

The two are immediately attracted to each other but need to take some time during the marriage to figure out exactly what the other person is about. Luckily for them, they have some added distractions of finding the lost Hunters, being chased by a Motorcycle Gang and dealing with some near death experiences.

Three and a half stars

This book came out August 24, 2008

Ghost Hunters #5

Follows Silver Master

Followed by Obsidian Prey

Hard copy of my own

Opinions are my own

A Fatal Feast at Bramsford Manor by Darci Hannah

Chef Bunny is invited to be on a new show, "Food and Spirits" but the show is not what she thinks it is. She’s actually been conscripted to be on a show where the hosts cook dinner (her part) and talk to ghosts. They’re going to start at Bramsford Manor where there is the legend about a Mistletoe Bride.

This is a mystery so, of course, there is another body that turns up at the manor. And Bunny is the unfortunate person to discover it. And the way she discovers it is by following the white rabbit, a relic of her childhood and one that never leads to anything good. And this time, it leads to her becoming the chief suspect in the murder. She decides to call in reinforcements, her psychic Granny Mac.
There were some places that didn’t flow well but I couldn’t tell if that was because of a slight difference in language (the author may be Scottish and I am not) or if it was pre-editing or just a stylist choice I couldn’t get on board for.
Overall, I enjoyed the book (although the fantasy elements did surprise me) and I’d read the next in the series.

Three and a half stars

This book comes out August 20, 2024

ARC kindly provided by Kensington Publishing and NetGalley

Opinions are my own

Rise and Divine by Lana Harper

Daria "Dasha" Avramov is a devil eater and it's complicated her life in any number of ways. First, demons do NOT taste good. In fact, they are downright nasty. And eating them makes her thirsty. Really, really thirsty. And her ability makes it so that it is very easy for her to be pulled across the veil. In many ways, she'd actually prefer to be there. But Ivy Thorn isn't there.

Ivy knew that Dasha had a complicated past. Well, and that her current life is complicated. Her future probably will be as well. That's why the broke up. But she is incredibly hot. Which is why they got back together. But then they broke up again. Ivy would have said they were never, ever, ever getting back together but then things start happening 

Four stars

This book comes out August 20, 2024

The Witches of Thistle Grove #5

Follows In Charm's Way

ARC kindly provided by NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group

Opinions are my own

Miss Morton and the Deadly Inheritance by Catherine Lloyd

At the end of the last book in this series, Caroline's aunt had died. This book opens with an invitation to her aunt's funeral as well as a reminder that Caroline needs to get in touch with her father's lawyer about his will. Since her father was rather profligate, Caroline does not feel the need to rush over since she is fairly certain it will just be the lawyer wanting her to pay some of her late father's debts. 

The news at her aunt's funeral is not what Caroline expected. She and her sister both receive some inheritance. The news at her father's lawyer's is also unexpected. Both sets of information are going to lead to some harrowing experiences for Miss Morton... and her sister. 

Four stars

Miss Morton #3

Follows Miss Morton And The Spirits Of The Underworld

ARC kindly provided by Kensington Publishing and NetGalley

Opinions are my own 

What Got You Here Won't Get You There by Marshall Goldsmith

I enjoyed this book and think I will look for it in a hard copy. 

Goldsmith talks not only about the things that you SHOULD do but also the things you should NOT do. He mentioned that too many of us fall into the trap of thinking that we can just do MORE of the thing that got us to a particular point to help us get to the next level. There is also a lot of food for thought about how we talk to the people around us, being realistic without too much positivity or negativity.

Four stars

This book came out January 9, 2007

Borrowed as audiobook from Libby

Opinions are my own

Nosy Neighbors by Freya Sampson

This book is told mainly from the third person omniscient for Kat and Dorothy, both of whom live in Shelley House. Kat has only recently moved in but Dorothy has lived their most of her life. What brings the two together? The threat of eviction. Well, Dorothy doesn't believe it will happen and Kat is cynical about what they can do. But then someone in the building is attacked and the two, as well as the other people in their apartment building will band together and form a community.
I don't love time jumps but, other than that, this was a nice, easy read even though it dealt with some tough topics.

Three and a half stars

This book came out 

Borrowed as ebook from Libby

Opinions are my own