Series: Boneyard Key, Book 1
Publisher: Berkley
Genre: Contemporary Romance with Paranormal Elements
Release Date: August 13, 2024
Source: Publisher
Buy it here: Amazon | B&N | Kobo | Audible
Small Florida coastal towns often find themselves scrambling for the tourism dollars that the Orlando theme parks leave behind. And within the town limits of Boneyard Key, the residents decided long ago to lean into its ghostliness. Nick Royer, owner of the Hallowed Grounds coffee shop, embraces the ghost tourism that keeps the local economy afloat, as well as his spectral roommate. At least he doesn’t have to run air-conditioning.
Cassie Rutherford possibly overreacted to all her friends getting married and having kids by leaving Orlando and buying a flipped historic cottage in Boneyard Key. Though there’s something unusual with her new home (her laptop won’t charge in any outlets, and the poetry magnets on her fridge definitely didn’t read “WRONG” and “MY HOUSE” when she put them up), she’s charmed by the colorful history surrounding her. And she's catching a certain vibe from the grumpy coffee shop owner whenever he slips her a free slice of banana bread along with her coffee order.
As Nick takes her on a ghost tour, sharing town gossip that tourists don't get to hear, and they spend nights side-by-side looking into the former owners of her haunted cottage, their connection solidifies into something very real and enticing. But Cassie's worried she’s in too deep with this whole (haunted) home ownership thing…and Nick's afraid to get too close in case Cassie gets scared away for good.
Author Jen DeLuca leaves the Ren Faire circuit behind for a small, specter-filled town in Haunted Ever After. Nick and Cassie’s story is sweet, fun, and absolutely charming.
When Cassie uprooted her life and moved from Orlando to the small coastal town of Boneyard Key, she expected some changes…but none quite so dramatic as the ghost in her house. Nick has lived in Boneyard Key all his life and is very aware that ghosts are more than something used to get tourists’ money. So when Cassie bursts into his coffee shop, Hallowed Grounds, for a latte and a power source, the idea that a ghost may be tinkering with her electricity doesn’t faze him. It's Cassie that knocks him off his feet and for Nick, who hasn’t had a real relationship in a long time, that’s saying something.
Cassie and Nick are both charming, likeable characters. Cassie is at a crossroads in her life and she’s taking things in a new direction when she moves to Boneyard Key. I liked watching her find her place in the town and among the ghosts. It was fun learning about the supernatural residents of Boneyard Key; as much fun as it was meeting the living breathing residents of the town. Nick, in turn, is a sweetheart of a hero. He’s kind, a little vulnerable, and like Cassie is easy to be charmed by. Their romance is a slow burn one that is delightful. DeLuca saves the majority of the high drama for the ghosts, but what happens there I’ll leave readers to discover on their own.
Haunted Ever After is the first book in the Boneyard Key series and it’s an entertaining start. I loved the town DeLuca built and the supporting cast definitely has me looking forward to more haunt-filled love stories.
FTC Disclosure: I received this book for free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
0 comments:
Post a Comment