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Elemental Assassin #4.7 - Haints and Hobwebs
The Mammoth Book of Ghost Romance: 18 Tales of Love After Death. Edited by Trisha Telep
Sexy, romantic, and . . . dead? Ghost romance offers a perfect blend of popular forms of contemporary romance: paranormal, time travel, fantasy, and a mix of modern-day and historical. Fans of "The Mammoth Book of Paranormal Romance" collection are sure to enjoy the next volume in the genre.
512 pages, Paperback
First published June 7, 2012
40 people are currently reading
1394 people want to read
About the author
Trisha Telep
23 books244 followersTrisha Telep was the romance and fantasy book buyer at Murder One, a London crime, mystery, and romance bookstore; she's now co-owner of the virtual bookstore www.murderone.co.uk and an editor of romance and supernatural anthologies for Mammoth. Originally from Vancouver, Canada, she now lives in London.
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August 24, 2017
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 Cassie 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 Gin 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, .
So, I have two complaints about this ending. First, how is it that ? And second, . Though this sentence also brings a complaint to mind. Namely, ?!
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? So when Mitch and Amanda learn that the ghost is 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 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, 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 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 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 idea . 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 how ?
Ghost of a Chance by Caridad Piñeiro
This was a very good story, but if ? 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." Laura 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 Jon
I was also taken aback by how Zoe 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 TJ but it would have been nice to have learned what happened to Brandon. Was ? ???
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 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 Gin 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, .
So, I have two complaints about this ending. First, how is it that ? And second, . Though this sentence also brings a complaint to mind. Namely, ?!
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? So when Mitch and Amanda learn that the ghost is 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 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, 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 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 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 idea . 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 how ?
Ghost of a Chance by Caridad Piñeiro
This was a very good story, but if ? 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." Laura 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. . .
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 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 TJ but it would have been nice to have learned what happened to Brandon. Was ? ???
December 22, 2015
My rating and review are based on one story only, the Haints and Hobwebs by Jennifer Estep as part of her Elemental Assassin series.
I loved this story and such a great addition to Gin's adventures and what she truly is like and of course, all of her wonderful friends and family, truly the best part of the series.
I loved this story and such a great addition to Gin's adventures and what she truly is like and of course, all of her wonderful friends and family, truly the best part of the series.
February 22, 2016
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 Whispers on the Wind 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 Whispers on the Wind 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.
July 29, 2016
18 short stories by various authors. I'm mainly reading this for Jennifer Estep’s Elemental Assassin story: Haints and Hobwebs. But will review the others as well. Here’s list of the stories and their authors.
1) ‘The Chinese Bed’ by Anna Campbell. 3 stars. A bed haunted by a jilted Chinese princess that curses all newlyweds on their wedding day
2)‘Old Salt’ by Carolyn Crane. 2 stars. A scriptwriter who had to return home to care for her parents and a ghost captain whose ship went down in 1879 find true love as ghosts
3) ‘Haints and Hobwebs’ by Jennifer Estep. 4.7 Gin: Elemental Assassin series. 4 stars. While Gin is visiting Fletcher’s grave, she runs into a haint (ghost) who needs her help revenging the death of her, her lover and dozens of others by a soul eating vampire.
4) ‘Hat-trick’ by Gwyn Cready. 2 stars. Cass moves into an apartment that haunted by a sports agent. They fall in love, but can’t touch each other.
5) ‘Ghost of Blackstone Manor’ by Donna Fletcher. 3 stars. After Amanda inherits an ancient mansion from her grandmother, she discovers it’s haunted by an amorous ghost. She calls in a ghost detective to help her remove the possessive ghost.
6) ‘Seventeen Coppers’ by Jeannie Holmes. 5 stars. Half elven Ro is hired to steal Lady Helena’s husband’s ecto-impression back from Dacat who murdered him, so she can lay him to rest. But Ro’s childhood friend Mason wants it to pay for clearing his debt to Dacat. Their needs conflict until one changes their priority. Very detailed story. Would make great series.
7) ‘Yours in Eternity’ by C T Adams.3 stars. Short, sweet, simple story. Lola returns home years after her husband disappeared to be told by a ghost that his spirit was trapped by an evil man
8) ‘The Lovers’ by Julia London. 4 stars. 1898 England. A Romeo and Juliet story with a twist in the future. Young lovers are accidently killed as they try to elope. 100 years later a married couple whose marriage is failing visit an inherited house. As they fix it up, they receive strange visitors
9) ‘A Single Girl’s Guide to Getting Ahead’ by Liz Maverick. 4 Stars. Shelby orders a prepackaged ghost to scare her ex-boyfriend out of her house. But the order get mixed up and she doesn’t get the result she expected. Very original story
10)‘Jonquils in the Snow’ by Annette Blair. 3 stars. An Amish love story. 2 brokenhearted people find one another. Both from loveless arranged marriages. One from his wife committing suicide, the other from a freak carriage accident. Story is kind of confusing,
11)‘The Heart Thief’ by Cindy Miles. 3 stars. Quirky little story. On a photography tour in Scotland, a middle aged woman discovers that ghosts are real, especially a certain gorgeous sea captain with an odd sense of humor
12)‘Ghost in the Machine’ by Dru Pagliassoti. 2 stars. Wicketsmith’s Wondrous Automata uses aetheric energy to power its creations, but it can also be used to charge up the batteries of ghosts.
13)‘Three Little Words’ by Christie Ridgeway.3 stars. After her best friend’s wedding at a haunted house, Jemma is locked in overnight with Troy, the man who walked out on her six months ago.
14)‘Ghost of a Chance’ by Caridad Pineiro. 4 stars. Reviewed as a stand-alone book. Please refer to that.
15)‘In His Hands’ by Sara Reinke. 4 stars. After a heroic emergency procedure to save a woman critically injured in a car accident, the doctor has to help fight off a demon set to keep her spirit from returning to her body.
16)‘Can You Hear Me Now?’ by Sharon Shinn. 3 Stars. Stacey is on the cell phone with her dad when he has a heart attack. But after the funeral she’s still getting calls from him, and from other people who have died while on the phone. He’s concerned about her dating status and wants her to date her hunky next door neighbor
17)‘The Storm’ by Linda Wisdom. 3 stars. Zoe has been living alone in her remote deceased parents'house for over a year. Since she works online, she hasn’t seen or talked to anyone during that time. When a severe thunderstorm blankets the area, she is surprised when Jon knocks on her door. His truck had overturn on the snow-covered road. They feel an instant attraction to each other.
18)'>>>--4EVR--> by Holly Lisle.
1) ‘The Chinese Bed’ by Anna Campbell. 3 stars. A bed haunted by a jilted Chinese princess that curses all newlyweds on their wedding day
2)‘Old Salt’ by Carolyn Crane. 2 stars. A scriptwriter who had to return home to care for her parents and a ghost captain whose ship went down in 1879 find true love as ghosts
3) ‘Haints and Hobwebs’ by Jennifer Estep. 4.7 Gin: Elemental Assassin series. 4 stars. While Gin is visiting Fletcher’s grave, she runs into a haint (ghost) who needs her help revenging the death of her, her lover and dozens of others by a soul eating vampire.
4) ‘Hat-trick’ by Gwyn Cready. 2 stars. Cass moves into an apartment that haunted by a sports agent. They fall in love, but can’t touch each other.
5) ‘Ghost of Blackstone Manor’ by Donna Fletcher. 3 stars. After Amanda inherits an ancient mansion from her grandmother, she discovers it’s haunted by an amorous ghost. She calls in a ghost detective to help her remove the possessive ghost.
6) ‘Seventeen Coppers’ by Jeannie Holmes. 5 stars. Half elven Ro is hired to steal Lady Helena’s husband’s ecto-impression back from Dacat who murdered him, so she can lay him to rest. But Ro’s childhood friend Mason wants it to pay for clearing his debt to Dacat. Their needs conflict until one changes their priority. Very detailed story. Would make great series.
7) ‘Yours in Eternity’ by C T Adams.3 stars. Short, sweet, simple story. Lola returns home years after her husband disappeared to be told by a ghost that his spirit was trapped by an evil man
8) ‘The Lovers’ by Julia London. 4 stars. 1898 England. A Romeo and Juliet story with a twist in the future. Young lovers are accidently killed as they try to elope. 100 years later a married couple whose marriage is failing visit an inherited house. As they fix it up, they receive strange visitors
9) ‘A Single Girl’s Guide to Getting Ahead’ by Liz Maverick. 4 Stars. Shelby orders a prepackaged ghost to scare her ex-boyfriend out of her house. But the order get mixed up and she doesn’t get the result she expected. Very original story
10)‘Jonquils in the Snow’ by Annette Blair. 3 stars. An Amish love story. 2 brokenhearted people find one another. Both from loveless arranged marriages. One from his wife committing suicide, the other from a freak carriage accident. Story is kind of confusing,
11)‘The Heart Thief’ by Cindy Miles. 3 stars. Quirky little story. On a photography tour in Scotland, a middle aged woman discovers that ghosts are real, especially a certain gorgeous sea captain with an odd sense of humor
12)‘Ghost in the Machine’ by Dru Pagliassoti. 2 stars. Wicketsmith’s Wondrous Automata uses aetheric energy to power its creations, but it can also be used to charge up the batteries of ghosts.
13)‘Three Little Words’ by Christie Ridgeway.3 stars. After her best friend’s wedding at a haunted house, Jemma is locked in overnight with Troy, the man who walked out on her six months ago.
14)‘Ghost of a Chance’ by Caridad Pineiro. 4 stars. Reviewed as a stand-alone book. Please refer to that.
15)‘In His Hands’ by Sara Reinke. 4 stars. After a heroic emergency procedure to save a woman critically injured in a car accident, the doctor has to help fight off a demon set to keep her spirit from returning to her body.
16)‘Can You Hear Me Now?’ by Sharon Shinn. 3 Stars. Stacey is on the cell phone with her dad when he has a heart attack. But after the funeral she’s still getting calls from him, and from other people who have died while on the phone. He’s concerned about her dating status and wants her to date her hunky next door neighbor
17)‘The Storm’ by Linda Wisdom. 3 stars. Zoe has been living alone in her remote deceased parents'house for over a year. Since she works online, she hasn’t seen or talked to anyone during that time. When a severe thunderstorm blankets the area, she is surprised when Jon knocks on her door. His truck had overturn on the snow-covered road. They feel an instant attraction to each other.
18)'>>>--4EVR--> by Holly Lisle.
June 12, 2012
Mammoth Book Of Ghost Romance, Edited by Trisha Telep
Why did I read this book?
1. I liked the cover (I'm easily swayed by nice packaging).
2. Carolyn Crane wrote something in here.
Yep, I'm pretty easy.
This anthology is a collection of ghost stories. Some of them are excellent, and some are less than stellar. From an editing perspective, there is a good mix of romantic, historical, funny, serious, intense and contemporary. I thought the flow was good from one story to the next, although it is sometimes tough to transition from a reality-based contemporary to a sci-fi or steampunk. But in an anthology you need to mix it up. On the other hand, I found some of these novellas to be very polished, professional pieces, and others to be amateur-quality writing. That's not too easy to gloss over in an anthology like this.
The anthology starts out strong with Anna Campbell's The Chinese Bed, a lovely paranormal story about two different couples, separated by time, but both under the evil influence of some malevolent forces which threaten their love. Campbell's novella is very romantic and satisfying.
Next up is Carolyn Crane's hilarious and quirky contemporary story Old Salt. It's no secret that I am a huge fan of CC's writing, and this story really showcases her talents. I could not stop laughing out loud at the toilet flushing scene (you had to be there), but what always astonishes me about Crane is that she manages to successfully mix the humor, a well-crafted story, interesting characters, and romance. This one's a winner. (✯ Favorite)
Some of the stories didn't hook me right away, but others I loved.
Here are the high-lights for me.....
I really enjoyed Hat-Trick by Gwyn Cready, an appealing contemporary story about a hockey lover ghost and the woman he falls in love with.
The Lovers by Julia London, about a couple whose rocky marriage is revived in an old, haunted house, was a well-written piece that jumps from a historical POV to a contemporary POV. I loved the ending.
✯ (A favorite) A Single Girl's Guide To Getting Ahead by Liz Maverick, is an absolutely hysterical piece that had me in stitches (and ready to read more books by this author). Her voice is fabulous, and the humor is spot-on.
✯ (A favorite) Jonquils in the Snow by Annette Blair, is another favorite. I totally fell in love with this gorgeous novella. Like her other Amish story I've read, it is very emotional, intense and romantic. I adored it!
The Heart Thief by Cindy Miles is a super romantic tale set in Scotland, with an intriguing ending that hints at more to come (I'll be reading).
✯ (A favorite) Ghost in the Machine by Dru Pagliassotti, is an incredible action-packed steampunk novella. Really outstanding. The world Pagliassotti creates in this short story has fantastic imagery and a very satisfying story. This was a great introduction to this author.
Ghost of a Chance by Caridad Pineiro packs a whole murder mystery into a short piece. The setting is atmospheric, the cast of characters intriguing, and I love how the mystery is solved and the romance develops. Cool story.
✯In His Hands by Sara Reinke is another favorite. It's a sexy, well-written, well-crafted story with a very cool mythological bent and a great ending.
The last couple of stories were the weakest. With some head-hopping POV issues, a major plot hole in one of them (power is out, the heroine puts bread in the toaster), weak storyline in the last one. I didn't think the writing was nearly as strong in these novellas as the others.
However, overall I found this anthology to be an entertaining read. I'm really glad I discovered some new author voices that were so superb, and I'm looking forward to reading more of their books. Which is really what a good anthology should do.
Overall Grade: B
Why did I read this book?
1. I liked the cover (I'm easily swayed by nice packaging).
2. Carolyn Crane wrote something in here.
Yep, I'm pretty easy.
This anthology is a collection of ghost stories. Some of them are excellent, and some are less than stellar. From an editing perspective, there is a good mix of romantic, historical, funny, serious, intense and contemporary. I thought the flow was good from one story to the next, although it is sometimes tough to transition from a reality-based contemporary to a sci-fi or steampunk. But in an anthology you need to mix it up. On the other hand, I found some of these novellas to be very polished, professional pieces, and others to be amateur-quality writing. That's not too easy to gloss over in an anthology like this.
The anthology starts out strong with Anna Campbell's The Chinese Bed, a lovely paranormal story about two different couples, separated by time, but both under the evil influence of some malevolent forces which threaten their love. Campbell's novella is very romantic and satisfying.
Next up is Carolyn Crane's hilarious and quirky contemporary story Old Salt. It's no secret that I am a huge fan of CC's writing, and this story really showcases her talents. I could not stop laughing out loud at the toilet flushing scene (you had to be there), but what always astonishes me about Crane is that she manages to successfully mix the humor, a well-crafted story, interesting characters, and romance. This one's a winner. (✯ Favorite)
Some of the stories didn't hook me right away, but others I loved.
Here are the high-lights for me.....
I really enjoyed Hat-Trick by Gwyn Cready, an appealing contemporary story about a hockey lover ghost and the woman he falls in love with.
The Lovers by Julia London, about a couple whose rocky marriage is revived in an old, haunted house, was a well-written piece that jumps from a historical POV to a contemporary POV. I loved the ending.
✯ (A favorite) A Single Girl's Guide To Getting Ahead by Liz Maverick, is an absolutely hysterical piece that had me in stitches (and ready to read more books by this author). Her voice is fabulous, and the humor is spot-on.
✯ (A favorite) Jonquils in the Snow by Annette Blair, is another favorite. I totally fell in love with this gorgeous novella. Like her other Amish story I've read, it is very emotional, intense and romantic. I adored it!
The Heart Thief by Cindy Miles is a super romantic tale set in Scotland, with an intriguing ending that hints at more to come (I'll be reading).
✯ (A favorite) Ghost in the Machine by Dru Pagliassotti, is an incredible action-packed steampunk novella. Really outstanding. The world Pagliassotti creates in this short story has fantastic imagery and a very satisfying story. This was a great introduction to this author.
Ghost of a Chance by Caridad Pineiro packs a whole murder mystery into a short piece. The setting is atmospheric, the cast of characters intriguing, and I love how the mystery is solved and the romance develops. Cool story.
✯In His Hands by Sara Reinke is another favorite. It's a sexy, well-written, well-crafted story with a very cool mythological bent and a great ending.
The last couple of stories were the weakest. With some head-hopping POV issues, a major plot hole in one of them (power is out, the heroine puts bread in the toaster), weak storyline in the last one. I didn't think the writing was nearly as strong in these novellas as the others.
However, overall I found this anthology to be an entertaining read. I'm really glad I discovered some new author voices that were so superb, and I'm looking forward to reading more of their books. Which is really what a good anthology should do.
Overall Grade: B
Want to read
June 11, 2012Ugh. Never mind. I wanted to read Carolyn Crane's story, but I can't support the editor's bigotry.
books-acquired
October 7, 2015OK, not my style but it was only a buck!
April 11, 2013
I didn't rate the book as a whole since I only read two of the stories in it.
Carolyn Crane - Old Salt 4/5 stars
I love Carolyn Crane. Everything she writes is fresh and new; completely unlike anything else. Even this short is different and I loved every second of it.
Jennifer Estep - Haints & Hobwebs 3/5 stars
Ultimately this short was frustrating. Not because it wasn't good and didn't fit in the Elemental Assassin series. I actually liked it and thought that it was pretty good, except it felt a little rushed. No, the reason this was so frustrating is because I didn't read it when it actually fell in the series. Instead I've read it after everything that has gone down in Widow's Web and Deadly Sting. That made everything that happened between Gin and Owen in this short frustrating to read, but it also gave me a tiny bit of hope.
Carolyn Crane - Old Salt 4/5 stars
I love Carolyn Crane. Everything she writes is fresh and new; completely unlike anything else. Even this short is different and I loved every second of it.
Jennifer Estep - Haints & Hobwebs 3/5 stars
Ultimately this short was frustrating. Not because it wasn't good and didn't fit in the Elemental Assassin series. I actually liked it and thought that it was pretty good, except it felt a little rushed. No, the reason this was so frustrating is because I didn't read it when it actually fell in the series. Instead I've read it after everything that has gone down in Widow's Web and Deadly Sting. That made everything that happened between Gin and Owen in this short frustrating to read, but it also gave me a tiny bit of hope.
September 22, 2013
Update: Ok, ok. This book was available as an e-book from my library, so I just count resist. I still don't agree with Trisha Telep, but I love Carolyn Crane, so whatever, I read Old Salt. It was pretty good, maybe not my favorite CC story, but I'm still happy to have read it.
I was really looking forward to reading this, mostly for Carolyn Crane's story, but I can't read it because of Trisha Telep. I hope Carolyn will eventually publish her story independently.
I was really looking forward to reading this, mostly for Carolyn Crane's story, but I can't read it because of Trisha Telep. I hope Carolyn will eventually publish her story independently.
August 16, 2015
My rating only applies to the "Haints and Hobwebs" Elemental Assassin short story by Jennifer Estep.
November 30, 2014
Finally finished this book, took me longer than I thought it would but I'm glad I have finished.
Was getting a little bored with the constant male and females falling in love, you can see it happening at the start of every story and at the end of every story there is a perfect happy ending, and yet we all know that happy endings aren't exactly real. But a few stories stuck out like a sore thumb in this book, whereas most of them shined and showed how amazing these writers are.
Here's what I thought of each story:
The Chinese Bed - Anna Campbell
This was such a good story, probably done time and time again as things that happen in the past is repeated. Josiah was an amazing character and you could really feel his love for Isabella. Especially when he is watching Calista and Miles. I also like how Josiah and Isabella can't remember how they died or why and it's the repeat of the events that makes them remember. It was a good twist on a common story that was exciting so much so it kept me reading until the very last word. (5/5)
Old Salt - Carolyn Crane
Talk about slow! I couldn't stop asking it to speed the hell up and it still never listened to my cries. It felt bland and unsurprising. But I finally got hooked by the story and although I wasn't eager on reading more of this Old Salt I kinda fell in love with the ending. Definitely related easily to the main character who was a script writer. And I would so have been one of those tourists visiting the town to hear Old Salt cry for his woman. (2/5)
Haints and Hobwebs - Jennifer Estep
Cute love story. That sums it up overall... I found the start slow and I think I just didn't feel as involved as I wanted to. I like the idea of including different supernatural creatures allowing us to get to know everyone but in doing so I felt lost, not sure who was who at some points and although gripping it didn't hold me long enough. I liked the idea of air elementary magic, it's been done plenty of times but not in this way before. (3/5)
Hat-Trick - Gwyn Cready
A story that teaches me about hockey, kind of haha. Found the whole concept inspiring although the ending could have been written better and even though I understand what happened I'm a bit confused, just needed to be edited a bit more and written better. Not going to lie, I want an affable ghost to live with, so much mischief haha shame I don't know of one. Why Cass wanted to be rid of him I don't know. However there would definitely be fights over the TV remote if I did have an affable ghost haha. (4/5)
Ghost of Blackstone Manor - Donna Fletcher
This was slow at the beginning, I nearly gave up and skipped this story altogether until, FINALLY, speech was included along with a whole new character who definitely perked my interest. Then it got even better and I couldn't believe I was reading the same story. I loved the ghost hunter, and the whole thing that Grams had said "to wait for the one true love in the world for you, as it will be worth the wait". It inspired and consoled me, I can wait for that special person. A nice happy enlightened ending that totally made up for the awful beginning. (3/5)
Seventeen Coppers - Jeannie Holmes
Finally another amazing ghost story that gripped me from beginning to end. Ro is one of those characters you fall in love with instantly. She's one character who you feel for especially since the whole town looks down at her because she is half fae which is entirely not her fault. I also loved Lord Duffy and how he's presence can be seen in a green and blue light. It was enrapturing and engaging, I just loved the whole story and I became upset when the peacemakers found Mason. Poor Ro and yet everything worked out in the end. YAY. (5/5)
Yours In Eternity - C. T. Adams
Well this one annoyed me, no details in the magic used, and seriously...? If you're going to include a bad guy at least make him known to us so that we identify him as the bad guy later on. Especially since he liked to make deals and yet doesn't stick to them. Written amazingly yet characterization failed overall, wasn't gripped and definitely didn't feel that much towards the characters. What should have been a sad ending for Lola, fell totally flat on the readers. (2/5)
The Lovers - Julia London
Awww a story that makes me wish there is a love out there just like that for me. Loved the opening (prologue) effortlessly maintained and gave extra insight for the reader, I did disapprove of it when I started reading about Hilary and Matthew, but it became key to the whole thing and I came to understand the reason for that start and it got me excited to see where the story would become more. I found Hilary a stuck up nobody at first and Matthew was a slob. I definitely didn't like either of them but I came to love them slowly as characters and really felt for them during the story. The ending was superb and although I found a few spelling and grammatical errors. I am more than happy to overlook them since this story and writing style was inspirational and flawless. (5/5)
A Single Girl's Guide To Getting Ahead - Liz Maverick
Just WOW, this was superb writing, perfect storyline and you automatically jump into the story. I loved it so much although it was a little rushed at times. This story felt like it was meant to be longer and yet was cut down completely. Either way Shelby was easy to identify with, and Joe was just dreamlike, even if he has no head, I want a guy like him to come into my life! Thought this was funny and great and something I'm going to remember, I definitely will be able to draw inspiration from this. And this is an author I will definitely read more of when I get the chance. (5/5)
Jonquils In The Snow - Annette Blair
This had an extremely slow start that had me questioning whether I should just skip this story altogether. But I forced onwards and I'm glad I did because it got better and better. I have to admit these romance stories are making me a little jealous, where's my perfect ghost or man to come into my life? This was set in an Amish village and it was a whole different level but it worked well. Very little ghosts were included and it kind of felt like they weren't in the story at first and had been added later just so this story would make this book. Liked the story nonetheless though. (3/5)
The Heart Thief - Cindy Miles
This one was interesting and different although I felt everything wasn't explained and characterization was mainly on Justin, I never connected with the main character, Dari, who seemed to have quite a lot going for her. I loved Justin being a pirate and I always looked forward to reading the way he talked. I just felt this story as a whole fell flat. (2/5)
Ghost In The Machine - Dru Pagliassotti
I hold my hands up. I rarely, if ever, skip a short story because I can normally plod through it and get something to grasp a hold of. But this was a complete mess and although may appeal to others, it just wasn't my sort of short story. It lost me in the first three paragraphs however it was an all right opening that made me want to know more. It knocked me out with all the technical terms later on in the opening. Confusing me and losing me. It drew me back in at the mention of spirits and ghosts but it wasn't long until I started drowning via uninteresting and unexciting. No characterization on the two main characters Constante and Davenport. I was much more interested in Scrapes, the dog, but since focus wasn't on the dog, I couldn't keep enough of a hold on Scrapes to help me through the story. Totally disappointed in this short story and I hope this is the only bad one out of all the stories in this book. (0/5)
Three Little Words - Christie Ridgway
Well this surprised me, was a little worried I was going to have bad story after bad story, especially after the previous one, but this certainly wasn't the case. Loved Jemma and Troy although they won't be memorable characters. As for the ghost, that was a bit of a surprise and I would've liked to have more characterization on her as I could imagine liking her a lot. Story felt complete and perfect and I will definitely remember it. Set in a "haunted house" the maid of honour and the best man has to slum it alone. Just felt I needed to get to know the ghost more, I wanted more inclusion and more of a back story. (4/5)
Ghost Of A Chance - Caridad Piñeiro
Talk about being done a hundred times and more! People are enlisted to go into a haunted house and solve the mystery... Totally nothing new and although then opening totally gripped me it definitely lost its way and I was no longer interested in Tracy. I believe my lost of interest came after the seance and even though I was eager to know more, I was no longer enthralled within the pages and it was one of those stories I plodded through hoping to reach the end soon. Also one of those stories you not only wanted to stop reading but one you wanted to stop picking up and wish you were doing or reading something else. (1/5)
In His Hands - Sara Reinke
This was a stand out story and especially after a few not so amazing stories. Definitely not a typical ghost story and I think that's why this stood out so much. I loved the main character, Jack, and the whole back story. The attacks of the Ker were vivid and interesting, it sure did paint a picture and definitely made me eager for the next attack. So much imagery was involved. It felt real and definitely a story I shall be taking inspiration from. (5/5)
Can You Hear Me Now? - Sharon Shinn
Another amazing story in this amazing collection of stories. Was totally gripped with the main character, Stacey, and her ghostly ability, hearing ghosts down the telephone is such a great idea. Totally different and definitely intriguing. I liked the developing love interest between Stacey and Nathan. The back story on Nathan was engaging and although we didn't hear much about Stacey, it still worked well. This was definitely a story that kept me involved. (5/5)
The Storm - Linda Wisdom
I still don't know what to make of this story... Zoe was interesting and I only liked Jon because his name is spelt exactly the same way my nickname is spelt... But I couldn't get into this and I couldn't help wondering where this story was going and where the ghosts were... But it soon made up for that. It was unsurprising and a very typical story that I expected and wasn't at all enthralled within the pages. (2/5)
>>>--4EVR---> - Holly Lisle
Well this one will be one I won't be forgetting. Just when I was going to slate this book for one single reason alone, this story saved that slating and made me happy. This story wasn't the best out of the collection, but the characters made it even if it were a bit on the cheesy side, but cheese can sometimes be a good thing. I was shocked as to what happened and I think it's kind of cute too. But you would totally question why your girlfriend who "ran away" just appears again and needs to talk to you. Or not... I like how there was flashbacks of memories from when they were together. And I totally identified with the murderer, I know what it feels like, but the murderer was weak, whereas we all need to be strong or we would easily go off the rails just like the murderer did. The ending was nice, but didn't wrap everything up. (4/5)
Overall a MAMMOTH book of Ghost romance with some absolute treasures that has enlightened me to some amazing authors that I definitely will keep my eyes out for. And I would definitely recommend this to people who want to read more stories with ghosts in, this won't disappoint!
Was getting a little bored with the constant male and females falling in love, you can see it happening at the start of every story and at the end of every story there is a perfect happy ending, and yet we all know that happy endings aren't exactly real. But a few stories stuck out like a sore thumb in this book, whereas most of them shined and showed how amazing these writers are.
Here's what I thought of each story:
The Chinese Bed - Anna Campbell
This was such a good story, probably done time and time again as things that happen in the past is repeated. Josiah was an amazing character and you could really feel his love for Isabella. Especially when he is watching Calista and Miles. I also like how Josiah and Isabella can't remember how they died or why and it's the repeat of the events that makes them remember. It was a good twist on a common story that was exciting so much so it kept me reading until the very last word. (5/5)
Old Salt - Carolyn Crane
Talk about slow! I couldn't stop asking it to speed the hell up and it still never listened to my cries. It felt bland and unsurprising. But I finally got hooked by the story and although I wasn't eager on reading more of this Old Salt I kinda fell in love with the ending. Definitely related easily to the main character who was a script writer. And I would so have been one of those tourists visiting the town to hear Old Salt cry for his woman. (2/5)
Haints and Hobwebs - Jennifer Estep
Cute love story. That sums it up overall... I found the start slow and I think I just didn't feel as involved as I wanted to. I like the idea of including different supernatural creatures allowing us to get to know everyone but in doing so I felt lost, not sure who was who at some points and although gripping it didn't hold me long enough. I liked the idea of air elementary magic, it's been done plenty of times but not in this way before. (3/5)
Hat-Trick - Gwyn Cready
A story that teaches me about hockey, kind of haha. Found the whole concept inspiring although the ending could have been written better and even though I understand what happened I'm a bit confused, just needed to be edited a bit more and written better. Not going to lie, I want an affable ghost to live with, so much mischief haha shame I don't know of one. Why Cass wanted to be rid of him I don't know. However there would definitely be fights over the TV remote if I did have an affable ghost haha. (4/5)
Ghost of Blackstone Manor - Donna Fletcher
This was slow at the beginning, I nearly gave up and skipped this story altogether until, FINALLY, speech was included along with a whole new character who definitely perked my interest. Then it got even better and I couldn't believe I was reading the same story. I loved the ghost hunter, and the whole thing that Grams had said "to wait for the one true love in the world for you, as it will be worth the wait". It inspired and consoled me, I can wait for that special person. A nice happy enlightened ending that totally made up for the awful beginning. (3/5)
Seventeen Coppers - Jeannie Holmes
Finally another amazing ghost story that gripped me from beginning to end. Ro is one of those characters you fall in love with instantly. She's one character who you feel for especially since the whole town looks down at her because she is half fae which is entirely not her fault. I also loved Lord Duffy and how he's presence can be seen in a green and blue light. It was enrapturing and engaging, I just loved the whole story and I became upset when the peacemakers found Mason. Poor Ro and yet everything worked out in the end. YAY. (5/5)
Yours In Eternity - C. T. Adams
Well this one annoyed me, no details in the magic used, and seriously...? If you're going to include a bad guy at least make him known to us so that we identify him as the bad guy later on. Especially since he liked to make deals and yet doesn't stick to them. Written amazingly yet characterization failed overall, wasn't gripped and definitely didn't feel that much towards the characters. What should have been a sad ending for Lola, fell totally flat on the readers. (2/5)
The Lovers - Julia London
Awww a story that makes me wish there is a love out there just like that for me. Loved the opening (prologue) effortlessly maintained and gave extra insight for the reader, I did disapprove of it when I started reading about Hilary and Matthew, but it became key to the whole thing and I came to understand the reason for that start and it got me excited to see where the story would become more. I found Hilary a stuck up nobody at first and Matthew was a slob. I definitely didn't like either of them but I came to love them slowly as characters and really felt for them during the story. The ending was superb and although I found a few spelling and grammatical errors. I am more than happy to overlook them since this story and writing style was inspirational and flawless. (5/5)
A Single Girl's Guide To Getting Ahead - Liz Maverick
Just WOW, this was superb writing, perfect storyline and you automatically jump into the story. I loved it so much although it was a little rushed at times. This story felt like it was meant to be longer and yet was cut down completely. Either way Shelby was easy to identify with, and Joe was just dreamlike, even if he has no head, I want a guy like him to come into my life! Thought this was funny and great and something I'm going to remember, I definitely will be able to draw inspiration from this. And this is an author I will definitely read more of when I get the chance. (5/5)
Jonquils In The Snow - Annette Blair
This had an extremely slow start that had me questioning whether I should just skip this story altogether. But I forced onwards and I'm glad I did because it got better and better. I have to admit these romance stories are making me a little jealous, where's my perfect ghost or man to come into my life? This was set in an Amish village and it was a whole different level but it worked well. Very little ghosts were included and it kind of felt like they weren't in the story at first and had been added later just so this story would make this book. Liked the story nonetheless though. (3/5)
The Heart Thief - Cindy Miles
This one was interesting and different although I felt everything wasn't explained and characterization was mainly on Justin, I never connected with the main character, Dari, who seemed to have quite a lot going for her. I loved Justin being a pirate and I always looked forward to reading the way he talked. I just felt this story as a whole fell flat. (2/5)
Ghost In The Machine - Dru Pagliassotti
I hold my hands up. I rarely, if ever, skip a short story because I can normally plod through it and get something to grasp a hold of. But this was a complete mess and although may appeal to others, it just wasn't my sort of short story. It lost me in the first three paragraphs however it was an all right opening that made me want to know more. It knocked me out with all the technical terms later on in the opening. Confusing me and losing me. It drew me back in at the mention of spirits and ghosts but it wasn't long until I started drowning via uninteresting and unexciting. No characterization on the two main characters Constante and Davenport. I was much more interested in Scrapes, the dog, but since focus wasn't on the dog, I couldn't keep enough of a hold on Scrapes to help me through the story. Totally disappointed in this short story and I hope this is the only bad one out of all the stories in this book. (0/5)
Three Little Words - Christie Ridgway
Well this surprised me, was a little worried I was going to have bad story after bad story, especially after the previous one, but this certainly wasn't the case. Loved Jemma and Troy although they won't be memorable characters. As for the ghost, that was a bit of a surprise and I would've liked to have more characterization on her as I could imagine liking her a lot. Story felt complete and perfect and I will definitely remember it. Set in a "haunted house" the maid of honour and the best man has to slum it alone. Just felt I needed to get to know the ghost more, I wanted more inclusion and more of a back story. (4/5)
Ghost Of A Chance - Caridad Piñeiro
Talk about being done a hundred times and more! People are enlisted to go into a haunted house and solve the mystery... Totally nothing new and although then opening totally gripped me it definitely lost its way and I was no longer interested in Tracy. I believe my lost of interest came after the seance and even though I was eager to know more, I was no longer enthralled within the pages and it was one of those stories I plodded through hoping to reach the end soon. Also one of those stories you not only wanted to stop reading but one you wanted to stop picking up and wish you were doing or reading something else. (1/5)
In His Hands - Sara Reinke
This was a stand out story and especially after a few not so amazing stories. Definitely not a typical ghost story and I think that's why this stood out so much. I loved the main character, Jack, and the whole back story. The attacks of the Ker were vivid and interesting, it sure did paint a picture and definitely made me eager for the next attack. So much imagery was involved. It felt real and definitely a story I shall be taking inspiration from. (5/5)
Can You Hear Me Now? - Sharon Shinn
Another amazing story in this amazing collection of stories. Was totally gripped with the main character, Stacey, and her ghostly ability, hearing ghosts down the telephone is such a great idea. Totally different and definitely intriguing. I liked the developing love interest between Stacey and Nathan. The back story on Nathan was engaging and although we didn't hear much about Stacey, it still worked well. This was definitely a story that kept me involved. (5/5)
The Storm - Linda Wisdom
I still don't know what to make of this story... Zoe was interesting and I only liked Jon because his name is spelt exactly the same way my nickname is spelt... But I couldn't get into this and I couldn't help wondering where this story was going and where the ghosts were... But it soon made up for that. It was unsurprising and a very typical story that I expected and wasn't at all enthralled within the pages. (2/5)
>>>--4EVR---> - Holly Lisle
Well this one will be one I won't be forgetting. Just when I was going to slate this book for one single reason alone, this story saved that slating and made me happy. This story wasn't the best out of the collection, but the characters made it even if it were a bit on the cheesy side, but cheese can sometimes be a good thing. I was shocked as to what happened and I think it's kind of cute too. But you would totally question why your girlfriend who "ran away" just appears again and needs to talk to you. Or not... I like how there was flashbacks of memories from when they were together. And I totally identified with the murderer, I know what it feels like, but the murderer was weak, whereas we all need to be strong or we would easily go off the rails just like the murderer did. The ending was nice, but didn't wrap everything up. (4/5)
Overall a MAMMOTH book of Ghost romance with some absolute treasures that has enlightened me to some amazing authors that I definitely will keep my eyes out for. And I would definitely recommend this to people who want to read more stories with ghosts in, this won't disappoint!
Read
January 1, 2021Haints 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.
February 16, 2019
I was expecting some cliched romance stories featuring ghosts, but I was definitely in for a surprise! A few of the stories threw in some SERIOUS surprise endings that caught me all the way off guard. There were even a few that really
clenched
my heart strings and had me thinking of them well after I'd finished reading the story.
Going into this, don't expect the cliched HEAs. Although they all round-off to a happy ending in a way, they aren't your typical "lived happily ever after". Some of them you have to use your own determination of happiness in a spiritual way. A couple of the endings were definitely non-traditional.
Most Memorable (for me):
The Storm by Linda Wisdom
Whew boy!! My heart still clenches thinking about this story. Although it wasn't all that special while I was reading it, the ending had me all kinds of twisted up! I had to go back and read it a second time just to figure out what happened and really cherish the situation the couple was in.
Going into this, don't expect the cliched HEAs. Although they all round-off to a happy ending in a way, they aren't your typical "lived happily ever after". Some of them you have to use your own determination of happiness in a spiritual way. A couple of the endings were definitely non-traditional.
Most Memorable (for me):
The Storm by Linda Wisdom
Whew boy!! My heart still clenches thinking about this story. Although it wasn't all that special while I was reading it, the ending had me all kinds of twisted up! I had to go back and read it a second time just to figure out what happened and really cherish the situation the couple was in.
March 15, 2018
A solid anthology, though not any stand out stories for me. I picked it up for Sharon Shinn's contribution, and I enjoyed her "Can You Hear Me Now?" though I think the concept was more intriguing than the actual execution.
Some of the stories appeared to be linked to longer series, so they were unsatisfying for anyone not familiar with that world. There were some improbable romances in there too, where the romance is between a ghost and a living person...not sure how that's supposed to work out long term.
Some of the stories appeared to be linked to longer series, so they were unsatisfying for anyone not familiar with that world. There were some improbable romances in there too, where the romance is between a ghost and a living person...not sure how that's supposed to work out long term.
May 4, 2020
Most of these stories are decent and overall enjoyable to read but here are a few that are hard to get into . I say about about 70% of the stories are about helpful ghost getting people together. Over all, I believe another editing would really help a lot of these stories and book. But if you just want a book to pick up once in awhile or you have a few minutes here and there, this might be a good choice for you,
July 15, 2024
This book has interesting short stories. Are you just trying to read in bed until your eyes get tired? Well, your mission will be accomplished. Do not expect Edge-of-your-Bed-I cannot sleep-page turner.
The Mammoth Book of Ghost Romance
The Mammoth Book of Ghost Romance
September 18, 2017
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.
October 30, 2017
This anthology contained more awful short stories than good ones. Fortunately the few good ones were amazing. Unfortunately I did not take note of them, and don't intend to waste time going back through.
Overall? Don't waste your time, but if you've nothing better to read....
Overall? Don't waste your time, but if you've nothing better to read....
July 4, 2019
Pretty good series
Some were cute and funny, a few were a bit hokey but all in all decent short stories. Gotta love ghosts! Perfect for before bed reading.
Some were cute and funny, a few were a bit hokey but all in all decent short stories. Gotta love ghosts! Perfect for before bed reading.
June 18, 2022
Some cute, some spicy, some cheesy. Should be something in here for everyone.
September 15, 2014
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)
June 15, 2012
A nice collection of 'spirited' romance shorts – I like these Mammoth books for the sheer number and variety of stories. From matchmakers from beyond the veil bringing lovers together, to loves that triumph over death, this collection had it all and included some really different stories by some old favorite authors for me to enjoy but also gave me a chance to see how well some new to me authors handle a romance in a small amount of pages. So when the last page was turned this ended up being a decent addition to the Mammoth Book of (fill in the blank) Romance series.
The Chinese Bed by Anna Campbell
===========================
A cursed bed and two sets of lovers - a bit odd, but I liked both of the heroes.
Old Salt by Carolyn Crane
========================
The leader of a ghost tour gets a new appreciation for the ghost who has sought his lost 'love' for a hundred years - I liked the ghost and way that the pair help each other to become unstuck from their pasts.
Haints and Hobwebs by Jennifer Estep
==============================
A Gin Bianco short - A ghost is in desperate need of Gin's kind of justice, I liked it and was able to pick right back up on the series even though it's been way too long since I read the first Elemental Assassin book.
Hat Trick by Gwen Creedy
====================
A great apartment comes with an affable ghost roomie - this was okay.
Ghost of Blackstone Manor by Donna Fletcher
==================================
A woman inheriting a haunted house seeks professional help from a sexy ghost buster - I like it, but the twist to the ending was odd.
Seventeen Copper by Jeannie Holmes
============================
The only story in the collection that had more of a fantasy/scifi-ish setting, a thief takes a job to recover a 'lost' soul and finds herself in competition with a man from her past - I liked this one with the rougish friend and the little 'honorable' thief.
Yours In Eternity by C T Adams
========================
An abandoned wife learns the truth about the man she's never stopped loving - I really enjoyed this story but I would have loved to have seen the lovers together a bit in the past.
The Lovers by Julia London
========================
Inheriting a haunted estate brings two sets of lovers back together - this was okay.
A Single Girl's Guide to Getting Ahead by Liz Maverick
=========================================
A mix up in her order for a scary spirit, does more than solve a woman's 'pest' problem - this was pretty good, and you gotta love a guy who can work his 'magic' by mere proximaty;)
Jonquils in the Snow by Annette Blair
==============================
This was another favorite, Blair managed to squeeze an incredible amount of story into this short romance between an Amish couple, a widower with a traumatized daughter and a widow who feels responsible for the accident that killed her child, husband, and twin sister.
The Heart Thief by Cindy Miles
=========================
This was one of my favorites, the romance between the photographer and the scottish pirate ghost was well done.
Ghost in the Machine by Dru Pagliassotti
==============================
In this steampunk offering, the plans for an improvement in automatons is the motive for murder - love finds a way to circumvent death, but it is in an odd way - this was okay
Three Little Words by Christie Ridgway
================================
A ghost plays matchmaker - it helped that the pair had a preexisting connection.
Ghost of a Chance by Caridad Pineiro
============================
I enjoyed this one a lot too, the contestants vying to solve an eighty year old murder get some unexpected help.
In His Hands by Sara Reinke
========================
"Can someone haunt you if they're not even dead" - I liked this story of a doctor who fights to save a woman from death - twice.
Can You Hear Me Now? by Sharon Shinn
==============================
A woman with one heck of a cell phone plan, gets a little dating help from beyond the grave - this is another short that didn't feel short, and I found both of the leads appealing.
The Storm by Linda Wisdom
==========================
Soul mates with a twist that made me buy the quick connection - I liked it.
>>--4EVR--> by Holly Lisle
=========================
A love to last 4EVR, I liked it even though pretty quickly I could see where it was going, but the characters and the flashbacks of their relationship made this story seem longer.
The Chinese Bed by Anna Campbell
===========================
A cursed bed and two sets of lovers - a bit odd, but I liked both of the heroes.
Old Salt by Carolyn Crane
========================
The leader of a ghost tour gets a new appreciation for the ghost who has sought his lost 'love' for a hundred years - I liked the ghost and way that the pair help each other to become unstuck from their pasts.
Haints and Hobwebs by Jennifer Estep
==============================
A Gin Bianco short - A ghost is in desperate need of Gin's kind of justice, I liked it and was able to pick right back up on the series even though it's been way too long since I read the first Elemental Assassin book.
Hat Trick by Gwen Creedy
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A great apartment comes with an affable ghost roomie - this was okay.
Ghost of Blackstone Manor by Donna Fletcher
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A woman inheriting a haunted house seeks professional help from a sexy ghost buster - I like it, but the twist to the ending was odd.
Seventeen Copper by Jeannie Holmes
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The only story in the collection that had more of a fantasy/scifi-ish setting, a thief takes a job to recover a 'lost' soul and finds herself in competition with a man from her past - I liked this one with the rougish friend and the little 'honorable' thief.
Yours In Eternity by C T Adams
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An abandoned wife learns the truth about the man she's never stopped loving - I really enjoyed this story but I would have loved to have seen the lovers together a bit in the past.
The Lovers by Julia London
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Inheriting a haunted estate brings two sets of lovers back together - this was okay.
A Single Girl's Guide to Getting Ahead by Liz Maverick
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A mix up in her order for a scary spirit, does more than solve a woman's 'pest' problem - this was pretty good, and you gotta love a guy who can work his 'magic' by mere proximaty;)
Jonquils in the Snow by Annette Blair
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This was another favorite, Blair managed to squeeze an incredible amount of story into this short romance between an Amish couple, a widower with a traumatized daughter and a widow who feels responsible for the accident that killed her child, husband, and twin sister.
The Heart Thief by Cindy Miles
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This was one of my favorites, the romance between the photographer and the scottish pirate ghost was well done.
Ghost in the Machine by Dru Pagliassotti
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In this steampunk offering, the plans for an improvement in automatons is the motive for murder - love finds a way to circumvent death, but it is in an odd way - this was okay
Three Little Words by Christie Ridgway
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A ghost plays matchmaker - it helped that the pair had a preexisting connection.
Ghost of a Chance by Caridad Pineiro
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I enjoyed this one a lot too, the contestants vying to solve an eighty year old murder get some unexpected help.
In His Hands by Sara Reinke
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"Can someone haunt you if they're not even dead" - I liked this story of a doctor who fights to save a woman from death - twice.
Can You Hear Me Now? by Sharon Shinn
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A woman with one heck of a cell phone plan, gets a little dating help from beyond the grave - this is another short that didn't feel short, and I found both of the leads appealing.
The Storm by Linda Wisdom
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Soul mates with a twist that made me buy the quick connection - I liked it.
>>--4EVR--> by Holly Lisle
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A love to last 4EVR, I liked it even though pretty quickly I could see where it was going, but the characters and the flashbacks of their relationship made this story seem longer.
February 9, 2021
This was a really interesting collection of ghost romances and it was very cool to see how different authors interpreted "ghost romance" - not always choosing to make the ghost the romantic lead, for example.
There really wasn't a badly written piece, but there were a couple of stories that I didn't enjoy as much. For example, yes "Yours In Eternity" had a great love (I wouldn't call it romance as the relationship was told to us in the main character's memories; we never get to see it) and it's pretty much a tragic story. So yea, not my cup of tea. "Ghost in the Machine" had potential but again, you don't really see any actual romance.
"Jonquils in the Snow" was an Amish romance, another genre I'm not really into; however, I will say it was a very well-written story and romance was sweet.
Some of my favorites (kind of in order of preference) include:
Old Salt - a modern story with a sarcastic heroine and some humor. Liked the way this was written and would definitely read more by author Carolyn Crane
A Single Girl's Guide to Getting Ahead by Liz Maverick- I don't normally go for a lot of humor in romance but this was very well done. This one has the ghost being a kind of service delivered to customers. I'd read more by her.
The Heart Thief by Cindy Miles - Scottish ghost, among my favorites. My only complaint here is that the ending seemed like it was just the beginning - but this story is it, apparently. But it made me want to read more of her stories. After reading other stories and going back to this one it’s a shame Justin Catesby’s story never was fully told as he was one of my favorite characters in her books.
The Storm by Linda Wisdom was very well done. I didn't know where this was going until the end and it was an interesting twist.
Ghost of Blackstone Manor by Donna Fletcher- more of a "haunted house" story but good chemistry between the characters
In His Hands boy Sara Reinke - asks the question "Can you be haunted by someone if they're not dead?" and offers an interesting answer. This one has more explicit sex/lust than romance and no real explanation as to why, BUT it was well written and has some other action in it. And I learned about a Ker from Greek mythology (which I thought I was well versed in but never heard of a Ker).
With a collection of so many authors and different interpretations of "ghost romance" this was very good and gave me several writers I will be reading more of.
There really wasn't a badly written piece, but there were a couple of stories that I didn't enjoy as much. For example, yes "Yours In Eternity" had a great love (I wouldn't call it romance as the relationship was told to us in the main character's memories; we never get to see it) and it's pretty much a tragic story. So yea, not my cup of tea. "Ghost in the Machine" had potential but again, you don't really see any actual romance.
"Jonquils in the Snow" was an Amish romance, another genre I'm not really into; however, I will say it was a very well-written story and romance was sweet.
Some of my favorites (kind of in order of preference) include:
Old Salt - a modern story with a sarcastic heroine and some humor. Liked the way this was written and would definitely read more by author Carolyn Crane
A Single Girl's Guide to Getting Ahead by Liz Maverick- I don't normally go for a lot of humor in romance but this was very well done. This one has the ghost being a kind of service delivered to customers. I'd read more by her.
The Heart Thief by Cindy Miles - Scottish ghost, among my favorites. My only complaint here is that the ending seemed like it was just the beginning - but this story is it, apparently. But it made me want to read more of her stories. After reading other stories and going back to this one it’s a shame Justin Catesby’s story never was fully told as he was one of my favorite characters in her books.
The Storm by Linda Wisdom was very well done. I didn't know where this was going until the end and it was an interesting twist.
Ghost of Blackstone Manor by Donna Fletcher- more of a "haunted house" story but good chemistry between the characters
In His Hands boy Sara Reinke - asks the question "Can you be haunted by someone if they're not dead?" and offers an interesting answer. This one has more explicit sex/lust than romance and no real explanation as to why, BUT it was well written and has some other action in it. And I learned about a Ker from Greek mythology (which I thought I was well versed in but never heard of a Ker).
With a collection of so many authors and different interpretations of "ghost romance" this was very good and gave me several writers I will be reading more of.
May 30, 2016
The Chinese Bed
3 stars
Josiah wakes up in bed and hasn't a clue what's happened to his bride. When he finds her, he learns it's 70 years after the fact and they're both dead for reasons he doesn't know. His descendant, Calista and her fiancée Miles, have the bed rebuilt for their upcoming nuptials but things don't go accordingly...
This was a creepy, intriguing short involving a cursed bed and the power of trusting in love.
Yours in Eternity
C. T. Adams
2.5 stars
Lola is back home to clean out her parents house but every where she looks reminds her of her lost love, Tomas. When she finds her wedding ring and a ghost in the attic, she ventures out to his family to find answers with the help of voodoo and Marie Laveau.
Anything involving voodoo is bound to be interesting but this story was scattered. I didn't grasp what happened to Tomas, the bad guy beyond the mob connection I guess was in the spirit world? And the ending...bittersweet comes to mind after what happens.
Three Little Words
Christie Ridgeway
2.5 stars
Forget her friend's gorgeous wedding, it's still a haunted mansion and spooky setting! Jemma is already on edge because of the location but Troy has pushed her to her limit-leaving her unexpectedly months ago and acting like nothing ever happened now-she's done. Fortunately for her, the spectral residents of the house have other ideas for these two.
Miscommunication abounds as a ghost tries to redeem herself by helping a couple reconnect at their friend's wedding. Jemma and Troy's chemistry wasn't rocking any boats, they were more like friends with benefits with no chance of real love on the horizon. The ghosts efforts to have them say three words so she could move on felt pushy more than anything else.
3 stars
Josiah wakes up in bed and hasn't a clue what's happened to his bride. When he finds her, he learns it's 70 years after the fact and they're both dead for reasons he doesn't know. His descendant, Calista and her fiancée Miles, have the bed rebuilt for their upcoming nuptials but things don't go accordingly...
This was a creepy, intriguing short involving a cursed bed and the power of trusting in love.
Yours in Eternity
C. T. Adams
2.5 stars
Lola is back home to clean out her parents house but every where she looks reminds her of her lost love, Tomas. When she finds her wedding ring and a ghost in the attic, she ventures out to his family to find answers with the help of voodoo and Marie Laveau.
Anything involving voodoo is bound to be interesting but this story was scattered. I didn't grasp what happened to Tomas, the bad guy beyond the mob connection I guess was in the spirit world? And the ending...bittersweet comes to mind after what happens.
Three Little Words
Christie Ridgeway
2.5 stars
Forget her friend's gorgeous wedding, it's still a haunted mansion and spooky setting! Jemma is already on edge because of the location but Troy has pushed her to her limit-leaving her unexpectedly months ago and acting like nothing ever happened now-she's done. Fortunately for her, the spectral residents of the house have other ideas for these two.
Miscommunication abounds as a ghost tries to redeem herself by helping a couple reconnect at their friend's wedding. Jemma and Troy's chemistry wasn't rocking any boats, they were more like friends with benefits with no chance of real love on the horizon. The ghosts efforts to have them say three words so she could move on felt pushy more than anything else.
August 27, 2012
kereennntt bangett !!!!!
walo membutuhkan waktu dua hari untuk menyelesaikan ebook ini, tapi astaga, gag rugi sama sekali !
dan semua cerita bagus-bagus , bahkan ada yang aku kaya berkaca2 gitu, seperti "can you hear me", yang ceritanya tentang seorang perempuan karir yang selalu ditelpon ayahnya saat masih hidup, suatu ketika pas dia lagi telpon2an, ayahnya serangan jantung, nah pas pemakaman 2 bulan kemudian, tiba2 dia ditelpon ayahnya yang nanyakan tentang kehidupannya (kudu nangis eike), jadilah dia sering nerima telpon dari dunia lain yang minta disampaikan pesan ke orang yang ditinggali... hikss
terus ada cerita seorang wanita yang hidup disuatu pondok kecil ditemani 3 orang kitten, pas keadaan hujan deras+storm+lampu matin ada yang ngetuk, eh ada cowok kebasahan yang pengen numpang berteduh, jadilah mereka jatuh cinta gitu,,.. nah ternyata cowo yang numpang berteduh itu kecelakaan mobil dan lehernya patah,, sedangkan cewenya itu ternyata sudah meninggal sebulan lalu karena kesamber petir..
ada juga cerita tentang ranjang cina yang katanya terkutuk dan hantu yang membayanginya yang dituduh membunuh istrinya dan dijatuhi hukuman mati-padahal asline dia gak tau apa2 tentang sebab istrinya meninggal, dia dijatuhi hukuman mati juga karena dia udah gag bisa mikir apa2 soale istrinya meninggal... hikss
nah lanjutt mammoth book lainnya ahhhh
walo membutuhkan waktu dua hari untuk menyelesaikan ebook ini, tapi astaga, gag rugi sama sekali !
dan semua cerita bagus-bagus , bahkan ada yang aku kaya berkaca2 gitu, seperti "can you hear me", yang ceritanya tentang seorang perempuan karir yang selalu ditelpon ayahnya saat masih hidup, suatu ketika pas dia lagi telpon2an, ayahnya serangan jantung, nah pas pemakaman 2 bulan kemudian, tiba2 dia ditelpon ayahnya yang nanyakan tentang kehidupannya (kudu nangis eike), jadilah dia sering nerima telpon dari dunia lain yang minta disampaikan pesan ke orang yang ditinggali... hikss
terus ada cerita seorang wanita yang hidup disuatu pondok kecil ditemani 3 orang kitten, pas keadaan hujan deras+storm+lampu matin ada yang ngetuk, eh ada cowok kebasahan yang pengen numpang berteduh, jadilah mereka jatuh cinta gitu,,.. nah ternyata cowo yang numpang berteduh itu kecelakaan mobil dan lehernya patah,, sedangkan cewenya itu ternyata sudah meninggal sebulan lalu karena kesamber petir..
ada juga cerita tentang ranjang cina yang katanya terkutuk dan hantu yang membayanginya yang dituduh membunuh istrinya dan dijatuhi hukuman mati-padahal asline dia gak tau apa2 tentang sebab istrinya meninggal, dia dijatuhi hukuman mati juga karena dia udah gag bisa mikir apa2 soale istrinya meninggal... hikss
nah lanjutt mammoth book lainnya ahhhh
February 22, 2015
‘The Chinese Bed’ by Anna Campbell. 4/5
‘Old Salt’ by Carolyn Crane. 2/5
‘Haints and Hobwebs’ by Jennifer Estep. 3/5
‘Hat-trick’ by Gwyn Cready. 2/5
‘Ghost of Blackstone Manor’ by Donna Fletcher. 3/5
‘Seventeen Coppers’ by Jeannie Holmes. 3/5
‘Yours in Eternity’ by C T Adams. 2/5
‘The Lovers’ by Julia London. 4/5
‘A Single Girl’s Guide to Getting Ahead’ by Liz Maverick. 3/5
‘Jonquils in the Snow’ by Annette Blair. 3/5
‘The Heart Thief’ by Cindy Miles. 4/5
‘Ghost in the Machine’ by Dru Pagliassoti. 2/5
‘Three Little Words’ by Christie Ridgeway. 3/5
‘Ghost of a Chance’ by Caridad Pineiro. 4/5
‘In His Hands’ by Sara Reinke. 4/5
‘Can You Hear Me Now?’ by Sharon Shinn 4/5 Too bad the end was so abrupt
‘The Storm’ by Linda Wisdom 3/5
'>>>--4EVR-->’ by Holly Lisle. 4/5
‘Old Salt’ by Carolyn Crane. 2/5
‘Haints and Hobwebs’ by Jennifer Estep. 3/5
‘Hat-trick’ by Gwyn Cready. 2/5
‘Ghost of Blackstone Manor’ by Donna Fletcher. 3/5
‘Seventeen Coppers’ by Jeannie Holmes. 3/5
‘Yours in Eternity’ by C T Adams. 2/5
‘The Lovers’ by Julia London. 4/5
‘A Single Girl’s Guide to Getting Ahead’ by Liz Maverick. 3/5
‘Jonquils in the Snow’ by Annette Blair. 3/5
‘The Heart Thief’ by Cindy Miles. 4/5
‘Ghost in the Machine’ by Dru Pagliassoti. 2/5
‘Three Little Words’ by Christie Ridgeway. 3/5
‘Ghost of a Chance’ by Caridad Pineiro. 4/5
‘In His Hands’ by Sara Reinke. 4/5
‘Can You Hear Me Now?’ by Sharon Shinn 4/5 Too bad the end was so abrupt
‘The Storm’ by Linda Wisdom 3/5
'>>>--4EVR-->’ by Holly Lisle. 4/5
Want to read
February 4, 2016OVERALL:
The Chinese Bed by Anna Campbell
Old Salt by Carolyn Crane
Haints and Hobwebs by Jennifer Estep
Hat-Trick by Gwen Cready
Ghost of Blackstone Manor by Donna Fletcher
Seventeen Coppers by Jeannie Holmes
Yours in Eternity by C.T. Adams
The Lovers by Julia London
A Single Girl's Guide to Getting Ahead by Liz Maverick
Jonquils in the Snow by Annette Blair
The Heart Thief by Cindy Miles
Ghost in the Machine by Dru Pagliassotti
Three Little Words by Christie Ridgway
Ghost of a Chance by Caridad Pineiro
In His Hands by Sara Reinke
Can You Hear Me Now? by Sharon Shinn
The Storm by Linda Wisdom
>>>--4EVR---> by Holly Lisle
The Chinese Bed by Anna Campbell
Old Salt by Carolyn Crane
Haints and Hobwebs by Jennifer Estep
Hat-Trick by Gwen Cready
Ghost of Blackstone Manor by Donna Fletcher
Seventeen Coppers by Jeannie Holmes
Yours in Eternity by C.T. Adams
The Lovers by Julia London
A Single Girl's Guide to Getting Ahead by Liz Maverick
Jonquils in the Snow by Annette Blair
The Heart Thief by Cindy Miles
Ghost in the Machine by Dru Pagliassotti
Three Little Words by Christie Ridgway
Ghost of a Chance by Caridad Pineiro
In His Hands by Sara Reinke
Can You Hear Me Now? by Sharon Shinn
The Storm by Linda Wisdom
>>>--4EVR---> by Holly Lisle
March 11, 2013
My rating is based on the two stories that I read.
Carolyn Crane - Old Salt
I had not read this author before so I did not know what to expect. It was a pleasant surprise. I really enjoyed this story. I loved the writing. I'm going to add this author to my TBR pile.
Jennifer Estep - Haints & Hobwebs
This is the reason that I picked up this book and I was not disappointed. It was fun to see Gin and Owen at the beginning of their relationship. They have only been together a few weeks when this story takes place.
Carolyn Crane - Old Salt
I had not read this author before so I did not know what to expect. It was a pleasant surprise. I really enjoyed this story. I loved the writing. I'm going to add this author to my TBR pile.
Jennifer Estep - Haints & Hobwebs
This is the reason that I picked up this book and I was not disappointed. It was fun to see Gin and Owen at the beginning of their relationship. They have only been together a few weeks when this story takes place.
February 2, 2015
I didn't read *every* story in this anthology. If it didn't grab me quickly, I didn't bother. My top 3:
Old Salt- liked the story of the haunting ghost
Haints and Hobwebs- This is what a short story in a series should do! I haven't started the Elemental Assassin series yet and I wasn't lost. Enjoyable.
Seventeen Coppers- Ro was a great character, but I felt she needed a little too much rescuing.
Old Salt- liked the story of the haunting ghost
Haints and Hobwebs- This is what a short story in a series should do! I haven't started the Elemental Assassin series yet and I wasn't lost. Enjoyable.
Seventeen Coppers- Ro was a great character, but I felt she needed a little too much rescuing.
June 20, 2012
This anthology was something of a mixed bag for me. It started out very strong and then waivered up and down through the middle and end. I would say about 25% of the novellas would have earned 4 or 5 stars from me; 25% earned 2 or less, and the rest fell into the 3 star range. It's difficult to tell a complete, satisfying story in such a short word count. However, there were four or five that were extremely good. Overall I was pleased.
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