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sassysmutlover's review
4.0
I received a copy in exchange for an honest review.
A Dance With the Devil by Michelle Willingham
This story will suck you in from the start as soon as the ghosts start their magic. I loved that there is more about the castle and a mystery to solve that I couldn't figure out until it was revealed. There is a ghost that will make you laugh with everything he does to help along the way. There are many secrets surrounding Jane and the castle and they can shock you. The library scene was my favorite and I could picture it perfectly.
Jane is a very sweet girl that fears what happened to her mother will happen to her. I loved that she didn't believe in ghosts, but also didn't ignore them when they did something. She never thought her life would be turned upside down when she joined her friends family at the castle.
Devon was a very open man. He felt the ghosts and listened to them. I loved his nickname even though it didn't seem to match him most of the time. He thought about others first and realized that sometimes he needed to listen to his heart instead of his mind. I also liked that he didn't blink at Jane's past.
I was glad to see that the new earl was a good guy and treated Jane like one of his daughters even if he didn't always show it.
Lady Tamsyn and the Pixie's Curse by Deb Marlowe
You know it will be a great story when pixies are involved. This one was really magical and captivating from the start. I loved that the pixies were actually involved in everything and little Paul was able to do something for his mama. The backstory was great and made perfect sense to everything. I loved everything about it from beginning to end and was on the edge of my seat towards the end afraid of what might happen. Her gift of seeing the truth was perfect.
Tamsyn was great from the start. She may have held a grudge because of what happened in the past, but she wasn't going to be rude and wanted to clear the air right away. I loved that she didn't run from her gift and realized it would come in handy.
Gryff was quick to judge, but he was just as quick to see he was wrong. I loved that he didn't blink an eye at her gift because of his family and that he believed in everything. He never lied and had nothing to hide like he was an open book.
I got chills when it came to the darkness she saw with the one man and wanted to know what it was and why it was there. I liked getting to know her family a bit more and his family said great.
A Ghost of a Chance by Kate Pearce
I loved seeing Benedict again and how he helped along the way in his odd, but fun way. It was a good story and liked it, but it just wasn't my style. I liked that they had known each other for years and the way they were so straight forward with talking to each other. I did like the rescues and how there were two love stories going on and they were meant to be.
Violet was blinded by a love she has had for years and doesn't see Charlie's childish personality and that he see's her as a sister. That love made her blind to what was right in front of her and she almost missed it forever. She put her everyone else's happiness first.
Edwin seemed very uptight because of his responsibility to his family and his brother. He was always protecting his brother but realized he had to stop and let him prove himself. He didn't always know how to show his emotions and it clear what he thought.
They were a unique couple and meant for each other. They needed each other to come out of the shadows of their siblings.
A Dance With the Devil by Michelle Willingham
This story will suck you in from the start as soon as the ghosts start their magic. I loved that there is more about the castle and a mystery to solve that I couldn't figure out until it was revealed. There is a ghost that will make you laugh with everything he does to help along the way. There are many secrets surrounding Jane and the castle and they can shock you. The library scene was my favorite and I could picture it perfectly.
Jane is a very sweet girl that fears what happened to her mother will happen to her. I loved that she didn't believe in ghosts, but also didn't ignore them when they did something. She never thought her life would be turned upside down when she joined her friends family at the castle.
Devon was a very open man. He felt the ghosts and listened to them. I loved his nickname even though it didn't seem to match him most of the time. He thought about others first and realized that sometimes he needed to listen to his heart instead of his mind. I also liked that he didn't blink at Jane's past.
I was glad to see that the new earl was a good guy and treated Jane like one of his daughters even if he didn't always show it.
Lady Tamsyn and the Pixie's Curse by Deb Marlowe
You know it will be a great story when pixies are involved. This one was really magical and captivating from the start. I loved that the pixies were actually involved in everything and little Paul was able to do something for his mama. The backstory was great and made perfect sense to everything. I loved everything about it from beginning to end and was on the edge of my seat towards the end afraid of what might happen. Her gift of seeing the truth was perfect.
Tamsyn was great from the start. She may have held a grudge because of what happened in the past, but she wasn't going to be rude and wanted to clear the air right away. I loved that she didn't run from her gift and realized it would come in handy.
Gryff was quick to judge, but he was just as quick to see he was wrong. I loved that he didn't blink an eye at her gift because of his family and that he believed in everything. He never lied and had nothing to hide like he was an open book.
I got chills when it came to the darkness she saw with the one man and wanted to know what it was and why it was there. I liked getting to know her family a bit more and his family said great.
A Ghost of a Chance by Kate Pearce
I loved seeing Benedict again and how he helped along the way in his odd, but fun way. It was a good story and liked it, but it just wasn't my style. I liked that they had known each other for years and the way they were so straight forward with talking to each other. I did like the rescues and how there were two love stories going on and they were meant to be.
Violet was blinded by a love she has had for years and doesn't see Charlie's childish personality and that he see's her as a sister. That love made her blind to what was right in front of her and she almost missed it forever. She put her everyone else's happiness first.
Edwin seemed very uptight because of his responsibility to his family and his brother. He was always protecting his brother but realized he had to stop and let him prove himself. He didn't always know how to show his emotions and it clear what he thought.
They were a unique couple and meant for each other. They needed each other to come out of the shadows of their siblings.
dianed's review
4.0
This is the second in a series of of books dealing with Castle Keyvnor and what happens there. In this volume, the novellas are written by Deb Marlowe and two new (to me)authors Michelle Willingham and Kate Pearce.
The first story by Michelle Willingham starts out by saying "They say Castle Keyvnor is haunted.""Don't be silly, the's no such things as ghosts." Could there ever be an opening to a book that dared you to deny everything is said. In this story, Jane Hawkins comes to the Castle as a companion to Marjorie (the daughter of the new Earl). Little does she know, she is actually there because she is included in the will. Jane is the adopted daughter of a vicar. She doesn't belong in this gathering of Lords and Ladies. Then she meets the handsome Devon Lancaster, 4th son of the Viscount Newbury.There is no possibility of a match between them, he needs to marry an heiress. But the attraction is there.
For some reason, someone seems to be after Jane. First, she is locked in the wine cellar (with Devon of coursse) then on a wlak back from town, she is grabbed by a servant and almost tossed over a cliff. Luckily Devon came just in time to save her. Why is Jane really at Castle Keyvnor? Why is the servant trying to scare her off? You'll have to read the story to find out. Jane and Devon seem like an unikely couple but they fight the odds to get to their happily ever after.
The second story is written by Deb Marlowe. It starts earier than the will reading when Lady Tamsyn is only 15. She is visiting the castle with her family and meets a local lad Gryff. They strike up a friendship and Tamsyn goes to meet him in pixie territory. While she is walking to meet Gryff, a local pixie causes some havoc and Tamsyn is inadvertantly knocked into the pond. If that isn't bad enough, the pixie, Tuft, starts laughing. Tamsyn thinks it is Gryff who is laughing t her and she runs home and never wants to see him again.
Fast forward 8 years and Tamsyn has returned as the daughter of the new Earl. Gryff is also at the Castle because he has been included in the will. When the two meet there is tension in the air because each thinks the other ruined their meeting. When Paul, a ghost from teh castle tells Tuft what he has done he gives Tamsyn the gift of being able to see what men are really thinking. At first this is a confusing gift but when a Mr Ravencourt shows up to meet with her father, she is able to see that something is wrong and strong enough to brek his evil magic. This story was well written and the characters were interesting and the pixies were colorful. This is a little something different from the ghosts and haunting that are in the other storeis.
In the final story by Kate Pearce, Benedict the ghost (who was beheaded by Henry VIII) decides to take it upon himself to help with a little matchmaking. Violet DeLisle is attending the will reading with her family which includes her half-sister Letitia. Letty is the sister that everyone loves, she is having her first season and she has been pushed forward while Violet is the smart, most-likely to become a spinster sister.
The two sisters are attracted to the two Sutton brothers. Edwin is the heir, serious and responsible. Charlie is the lovable younger brother, a rake who loves nothing better than gambling and drinking. OF course, Letty' s mother wants her to go after Edwin but she seems to be attracted to Charlie. Violet has been in love with Charlie since she was younger but she is good friends with Edwin. Violet and Edwin each try to "help" the other to attract their sibling. What Violet doesn't realize is that Edwin is attrated to her not her sister and Charlie would make her a horrible husband.
Violet, gets matchmaking help from Benedict but every time he says he is helping her with Charlie, instead she is rescued by Edwin. The two have more in common than Violet sees. They both have younger siblings that everyone loves leaving them to be the serious (not fun) older sibling.
Benedict has his work cut out for him getting these two couples together correctly but as the Bard says "alls well that ends well.' This was a fun story of misunderstandings and the right brother ends up with the right sister all thanks to a ghost. So not all hauntings are scary or to be avoided.
The first story by Michelle Willingham starts out by saying "They say Castle Keyvnor is haunted.""Don't be silly, the's no such things as ghosts." Could there ever be an opening to a book that dared you to deny everything is said. In this story, Jane Hawkins comes to the Castle as a companion to Marjorie (the daughter of the new Earl). Little does she know, she is actually there because she is included in the will. Jane is the adopted daughter of a vicar. She doesn't belong in this gathering of Lords and Ladies. Then she meets the handsome Devon Lancaster, 4th son of the Viscount Newbury.There is no possibility of a match between them, he needs to marry an heiress. But the attraction is there.
For some reason, someone seems to be after Jane. First, she is locked in the wine cellar (with Devon of coursse) then on a wlak back from town, she is grabbed by a servant and almost tossed over a cliff. Luckily Devon came just in time to save her. Why is Jane really at Castle Keyvnor? Why is the servant trying to scare her off? You'll have to read the story to find out. Jane and Devon seem like an unikely couple but they fight the odds to get to their happily ever after.
The second story is written by Deb Marlowe. It starts earier than the will reading when Lady Tamsyn is only 15. She is visiting the castle with her family and meets a local lad Gryff. They strike up a friendship and Tamsyn goes to meet him in pixie territory. While she is walking to meet Gryff, a local pixie causes some havoc and Tamsyn is inadvertantly knocked into the pond. If that isn't bad enough, the pixie, Tuft, starts laughing. Tamsyn thinks it is Gryff who is laughing t her and she runs home and never wants to see him again.
Fast forward 8 years and Tamsyn has returned as the daughter of the new Earl. Gryff is also at the Castle because he has been included in the will. When the two meet there is tension in the air because each thinks the other ruined their meeting. When Paul, a ghost from teh castle tells Tuft what he has done he gives Tamsyn the gift of being able to see what men are really thinking. At first this is a confusing gift but when a Mr Ravencourt shows up to meet with her father, she is able to see that something is wrong and strong enough to brek his evil magic. This story was well written and the characters were interesting and the pixies were colorful. This is a little something different from the ghosts and haunting that are in the other storeis.
In the final story by Kate Pearce, Benedict the ghost (who was beheaded by Henry VIII) decides to take it upon himself to help with a little matchmaking. Violet DeLisle is attending the will reading with her family which includes her half-sister Letitia. Letty is the sister that everyone loves, she is having her first season and she has been pushed forward while Violet is the smart, most-likely to become a spinster sister.
The two sisters are attracted to the two Sutton brothers. Edwin is the heir, serious and responsible. Charlie is the lovable younger brother, a rake who loves nothing better than gambling and drinking. OF course, Letty' s mother wants her to go after Edwin but she seems to be attracted to Charlie. Violet has been in love with Charlie since she was younger but she is good friends with Edwin. Violet and Edwin each try to "help" the other to attract their sibling. What Violet doesn't realize is that Edwin is attrated to her not her sister and Charlie would make her a horrible husband.
Violet, gets matchmaking help from Benedict but every time he says he is helping her with Charlie, instead she is rescued by Edwin. The two have more in common than Violet sees. They both have younger siblings that everyone loves leaving them to be the serious (not fun) older sibling.
Benedict has his work cut out for him getting these two couples together correctly but as the Bard says "alls well that ends well.' This was a fun story of misunderstandings and the right brother ends up with the right sister all thanks to a ghost. So not all hauntings are scary or to be avoided.
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