What do you think?
Rate this book
The Gravedigger's Brawl
When the past comes back to haunt you, order a double.
Dr. Wyatt Case is never happier than when he’s walking the halls of his history museum. Playing wingman for his best friend at Gravedigger’s Tavern throws him way out of his comfort zone, but not as much as the eccentric man behind the bar, Ash Lucroix.
Ash is everything Wyatt doesn’t understand: exuberant, quirky, and elbow deep in a Gaslight lifestyle that weaves history into everyday life. He coordinates his suspenders with his tongue rings. Within hours, Wyatt and Ash are hooked.
But strange things are afoot at Gravedigger’s, and after a knock to the head, Ash starts seeing things that can’t be explained by old appliances or faulty wiring. Soon everyone at Gravedigger’s is wondering if they’re seeing ghosts, or just going crazy. The answer to that question could end more than just Wyatt and Ash’s fragile relationship—it might also end their lives.
Dr. Wyatt Case is never happier than when he’s walking the halls of his history museum. Playing wingman for his best friend at Gravedigger’s Tavern throws him way out of his comfort zone, but not as much as the eccentric man behind the bar, Ash Lucroix.
Ash is everything Wyatt doesn’t understand: exuberant, quirky, and elbow deep in a Gaslight lifestyle that weaves history into everyday life. He coordinates his suspenders with his tongue rings. Within hours, Wyatt and Ash are hooked.
But strange things are afoot at Gravedigger’s, and after a knock to the head, Ash starts seeing things that can’t be explained by old appliances or faulty wiring. Soon everyone at Gravedigger’s is wondering if they’re seeing ghosts, or just going crazy. The answer to that question could end more than just Wyatt and Ash’s fragile relationship—it might also end their lives.
256 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 15, 2012
27 people are currently reading
1504 people want to read
About the author
Abigail Roux
42 books4,977 followersAbigail Roux was born and raised in North Carolina. A past volleyball star who specializes in sarcasm and painful historical accuracy, she currently spends her time coaching high school volleyball and investigating the mysteries of single motherhood. Any spare time is spent living and dying with every Atlanta Braves and Carolina Panthers game of the year. Abigail has a daughter, Little Roux, who is the light of her life, a boxer, four rescued cats who play an ongoing live-action variation of 'Call of Duty' throughout the house, a certifiable extended family down the road, and a cast of thousands in her head.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 358 reviews
August 5, 2016
Hello Readers!!
Welcome to the Gravedigger's Tavern---
Be careful while going in!!
Strange things have been happening!!
Now,you don't want to be caught in here alone.........
...........Do you???
----------------------------------------------------------------
Meet Dr. Wyatt Case--
Dr. Wyatt Case loves his history museum.He is the curator but the real power lies with the Board of Directors.Over the years,the Board has rejected his ideas for drawing more people to the museum one after the other.Now,when the museum's resources are dwindling,they are making a spacegoat of him and blaming him for the downfall.Now,he has to come up with a brilliant idea and fast or he will lose his job.
It is then that his friend and colleague Noah Drake takes him to the Gravedigger's Tavern.
Now meet the man behind the bar,Ash Lucroix--
With kohl lining his eye's,lithe body,tongue rings,he's hot and wild.
They are very different from each other but the attraction between them is fiery hot!!!
Now,they have to decide if they want a relationship and somehow make it work.Also,Wyatt has to pull off a brilliant plan to keep his job.
And on top of these, strange things are happening in Gravedigger's Tavern.AC's are breaking down,fridges keep bumping,faulty wiring,fires in kitchen,......
WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON HERE???
And then when Ash gets a bad knock to his head,even stranger things start happening!!!
Is it because of concussion or is something else underfoot??Are their very lives at stake here??
As you can see,my lips are completely sealed!!
Go and get the book and find out!!
You'll have loads of fun,that I can promise!
Now,I guess you are all wondering what is Gravedigger's Brawl??
It is an huge costume party held every year at Gravedigger's Tavern.And it plays a climactic role in the story.I'll leave that for you to find out with the rest!!
That's all for now.
Ta-Ta!!
Read
August 10, 2012This book is cursed. I take no responsibility for any harm done to your electronics after the downloading of this book.
If you buy the paperback... I'm sorry.
If you buy the paperback... I'm sorry.
October 13, 2012
This book was SO MUCH FUN to read!
There’s no doubt this is an Abi Roux book. It had some really humorous banter and random one-liners that had me cracking up. The side character of Noah even reminded me a tiny bit of Ty from her Cut & Run series with his dry, hilarious remarks.
The relationship between Wyatt, a shy, academic museum curator, and Ash, a “Gaslight” flair bartender, was sweet and I’m hoping this is just the beginning of their journey. I’d also love to read more about Noah and Caleb as well. Each of the characters was truly interesting and I found this lone book too brief an introduction to them.
The book was, however, a little tame for me. My inner smut-addict was hoping for some more va-va-vavoom in between the sheets. I was quite enjoying the chemistry among the couples and wanted MORE! Turn up the heat, Abi!
Still, the whole ghost story backdrop was highly entertaining and perfectly timed for Halloween coming up! I have to admit...I WAS SCARED! ha! (recommendation: read in the daylight if you're a wuss like me)
If this is going to be a series, then SIGN ME UP for more! (please!)
December 20, 2012
So, I"m struggling with how to rate this one. If I go by my actual enjoyment of this, I'd give it 1 star, but at the same time I can see why some people could like this so maybe a 2? Right now I'll go with 1. I"m in the minority, obviously, so maybe check out some reviews of people that like this sort of thing.
The Positives
I think the cover is absolutely gorgeous so props to Reese Dante.
I really, really loved Noah and Caleb. I think the gruff but kind Caleb paired with the quick, caring Noah was a great pairing. If the book had been about them, I think my rating and enjoyment would have gone up considerably.
I liked the setting of the bar and this small, close-nit group of friends.
I liked the idea of the October ghost story. The execution? Not so much.
The Rest
That's where the positives end for me. I thought the ghost story was really weak. Now, in general, I don't find ghost stories/movies scary. Ever. This was the case with this book, as well. I wasn't scared once, and I find it all a bit tedious. I guessed maybe 30 pages in exactly how it would all play out, it did, I laughed at how bad it was, and then it was over.
I thought the characterizations were nonexistent. I know nothing but surface things about Wyatt (one of the most boring characters ever created) and Ash. I do know that Ash has a shit-ton of tongue rings, wears suspenders, does flair at a bar and will fuck really boring men if he's in the mood. I have zero, zilch, nada idea why those two were attracted to each other so quickly and in lurve, let alone at all.
If he was being honest with himself, he didn't know if it was Ash or if it was merely Ash's eccentricities that Wyatt found exciting.
-- Yeah, me either, buddy.
The fact that Ash changed his tongue ring to match his outfit and exuded an odd Victorian charm and held almost rock star status among the denizens of the night didn't mean that Ash was scary. All that, in fact, made him more intriguing. And on top of all that, Ash was interested in him.
-- Uh, what? Do you see how this is what I have to go on for why Wyatt likes Ash? That is all surface things. I don't understand at all what these two like about each other other than tongue rings, clothes, and fancy drink twirling. And, again, I've stated on my opinion of Wyatt.
I skimmed the sex scenes. Me...I skimmed the sex scenes, people.
Overall, I just didn't like it at all. I have liked the Ty and Zane series by this author, and I even liked Caught Running. I just wish this had featured Noah and Caleb, worked on building more what these characters were about, and that I had found the plot entertaining.
The Positives
I think the cover is absolutely gorgeous so props to Reese Dante.
I really, really loved Noah and Caleb. I think the gruff but kind Caleb paired with the quick, caring Noah was a great pairing. If the book had been about them, I think my rating and enjoyment would have gone up considerably.
I liked the setting of the bar and this small, close-nit group of friends.
I liked the idea of the October ghost story. The execution? Not so much.
The Rest
That's where the positives end for me. I thought the ghost story was really weak. Now, in general, I don't find ghost stories/movies scary. Ever. This was the case with this book, as well. I wasn't scared once, and I find it all a bit tedious. I guessed maybe 30 pages in exactly how it would all play out, it did, I laughed at how bad it was, and then it was over.
I thought the characterizations were nonexistent. I know nothing but surface things about Wyatt (one of the most boring characters ever created) and Ash. I do know that Ash has a shit-ton of tongue rings, wears suspenders, does flair at a bar and will fuck really boring men if he's in the mood. I have zero, zilch, nada idea why those two were attracted to each other so quickly and in lurve, let alone at all.
If he was being honest with himself, he didn't know if it was Ash or if it was merely Ash's eccentricities that Wyatt found exciting.
-- Yeah, me either, buddy.
The fact that Ash changed his tongue ring to match his outfit and exuded an odd Victorian charm and held almost rock star status among the denizens of the night didn't mean that Ash was scary. All that, in fact, made him more intriguing. And on top of all that, Ash was interested in him.
-- Uh, what? Do you see how this is what I have to go on for why Wyatt likes Ash? That is all surface things. I don't understand at all what these two like about each other other than tongue rings, clothes, and fancy drink twirling. And, again, I've stated on my opinion of Wyatt.
I skimmed the sex scenes. Me...I skimmed the sex scenes, people.
Overall, I just didn't like it at all. I have liked the Ty and Zane series by this author, and I even liked Caught Running. I just wish this had featured Noah and Caleb, worked on building more what these characters were about, and that I had found the plot entertaining.
November 26, 2012
Awesome and spooky as hell!
All the things I loved about this book:
♦ The Characters: ...all the characters! Wyatt and Ash; Noah and Caleb; Delilah and Ryan. Such a great, well developed cast! I thought both Wyatt and Ash were easily likable characters. Even though Wyatt did have his moment of asshole-ish-ness.
♦ The Ghost Mystery: ...was frickin' scary!!! This story was so vivid in my head, I felt like I was watching a scary movie instead! I read this book while I was the only person in..or awake at my house and it really freaked me out. I was hearing every little noise in my house and waking up my dog so she could protect me! I was so entranced with this story and loved every minute of it. I did NOT want it to end!
♦ The History: I've been putting this off for so long because for some reason I thought it was a historical. Um, it wasn't a historical but it did include a lot of history...factual and fictional. I grew up with stories about the LaLauries so I loved how she tied that into her fictional DuBois family. Creepy!
♦ The Romance: In the beginning I was worried there wasn't going to be much sexual tension, but because of Wyatt's aforementioned asshole-ish-ness...there was plenty of tension! Woo-hoo! Wyatt and Ash were über hot and adorable together. Perfect!
♦ The Tongue Rings: ...there are no words!!
I think a sequel would be nice, but I think this works nicely as a perfectly wrapped up stand-alone.
My experience with The Curse:
♦ First, I downloaded the PDF and it was all corrupted with blank pages. But when opening it in web view, it displayed fine.
♦ Second, once I started reading it on my Kindle Paperwhite, the "time left in book" was all wacky. For a while it said I had around 8 hours left, then it switched to 11 hours left. Finally, at about 27% into the book, it changed to "1 hour and 20 minutes left in book" and slowly counted down from there. This is the first (and only) time I've ever had trouble with this feature.
All the things I loved about this book:
♦ The Characters: ...all the characters! Wyatt and Ash; Noah and Caleb; Delilah and Ryan. Such a great, well developed cast! I thought both Wyatt and Ash were easily likable characters. Even though Wyatt did have his moment of asshole-ish-ness.
♦ The Ghost Mystery: ...was frickin' scary!!! This story was so vivid in my head, I felt like I was watching a scary movie instead! I read this book while I was the only person in..or awake at my house and it really freaked me out. I was hearing every little noise in my house and waking up my dog so she could protect me! I was so entranced with this story and loved every minute of it. I did NOT want it to end!
♦ The History: I've been putting this off for so long because for some reason I thought it was a historical. Um, it wasn't a historical but it did include a lot of history...factual and fictional. I grew up with stories about the LaLauries so I loved how she tied that into her fictional DuBois family. Creepy!
♦ The Romance: In the beginning I was worried there wasn't going to be much sexual tension, but because of Wyatt's aforementioned asshole-ish-ness...there was plenty of tension! Woo-hoo! Wyatt and Ash were über hot and adorable together. Perfect!
♦ The Tongue Rings: ...there are no words!!
I think a sequel would be nice, but I think this works nicely as a perfectly wrapped up stand-alone.
My experience with The Curse:
♦ First, I downloaded the PDF and it was all corrupted with blank pages. But when opening it in web view, it displayed fine.
♦ Second, once I started reading it on my Kindle Paperwhite, the "time left in book" was all wacky. For a while it said I had around 8 hours left, then it switched to 11 hours left. Finally, at about 27% into the book, it changed to "1 hour and 20 minutes left in book" and slowly counted down from there. This is the first (and only) time I've ever had trouble with this feature.
March 12, 2013
Best Abigail Roux story I've read up to now ( aside from 'cut n run' series which I love) and I've read most. What a brilliant concept and done with flair and panache. This is not just a m/m romance, but is a book of many parts - it's funny and snarky, full of witty banter,sexy, sizzling, suspenseful and creepy with a capital C! Every character is interesting and quirky, in their own right and each one integral to the story, I grew to love everyone of them. Ash and Wyatt are fabulous together - opposites but a perfect fit, the chemistry they generate is fantastic, their love scenes hot and passionate and the ghostly goings on are really eerie and had me shivering a few times, she has managed to capture the atmosphere of a haunted residence perfectly. I honestly didn't want it to end. Learned a lot about different subcultures aswell. Brilliant can't Reccomend it enough. Refreshingly different.
October 26, 2012
If anyone can pull me out of my morose self loathing I-don't-know-what-to-read pity party, it's Abigail Roux. I needed an upbeat, easy and fun read, and that's what I got. Admittedly, I came into this with low expectations, but I ended up pleasantly surprised.
Ash was a different character from what I usually come across and I loved him. Suspenders and eyeliner? Yes, please! Then, you combine him with a cute intellectual? Sold. I only wish there were more scenes between the two of them. Right when things were about to get hot, some ghost would interrupt them (and me) and I found myself feeling like I just got gypped. The couple of scenes they did share though, I thoroughly enjoyed ;)
I thought it was really cool that she included actual historical events (like the LaLauries) and managed to tie them in with her own story. And, thanks to Abi, I also now know the difference between steampunk, gaslight, and "original" goth. Maybe I'll sound like I know what I'm talking about the next time I'm at a tattoo shop or some trendy bar.
Overall, this was a good time, I just recommend going into it for fun and not for a real scare.
Ash was a different character from what I usually come across and I loved him. Suspenders and eyeliner? Yes, please! Then, you combine him with a cute intellectual? Sold. I only wish there were more scenes between the two of them. Right when things were about to get hot, some ghost would interrupt them (and me) and I found myself feeling like I just got gypped. The couple of scenes they did share though, I thoroughly enjoyed ;)
I thought it was really cool that she included actual historical events (like the LaLauries) and managed to tie them in with her own story. And, thanks to Abi, I also now know the difference between steampunk, gaslight, and "original" goth. Maybe I'll sound like I know what I'm talking about the next time I'm at a tattoo shop or some trendy bar.
Overall, this was a good time, I just recommend going into it for fun and not for a real scare.
October 14, 2012
This is a ghost story first and foremost. Romance and relationships definitely play second fiddle here but this is good creepy fun.
Roux writes such fun dialogue and she creates very solid, likeable characters. I almost wish this story had focused on Noah and Caleb, they were the secondary relationship here after Wyatt and Ash and I really enjoyed it when they were on the page. I would have loved a more detailed look at the two of them.
While Wyatt and Ash were interesting I felt that their romance wasn't as strong as the Noah/Caleb one. There was the screw up right at the beginning that led to the constant back and forth that went on a bit too long for me. Of the two of them I'd have to say that Ash was pretty cool. I would have loved a deeper understanding of both characters with more background on them for me to really root for them together.
The best part of this story were the ghosts. This book really freaked me out in places. Lots of suspense and disturbing situations that really worked for me, it was atmospheric and creepy.
This is a beautifully written book but a bit too light on the characterization and the romance for me to really love it. Read it for the fabulous plot, it's definitley relationship light but the characters are finely written and the dialogue is snappy.
Roux writes such fun dialogue and she creates very solid, likeable characters. I almost wish this story had focused on Noah and Caleb, they were the secondary relationship here after Wyatt and Ash and I really enjoyed it when they were on the page. I would have loved a more detailed look at the two of them.
While Wyatt and Ash were interesting I felt that their romance wasn't as strong as the Noah/Caleb one. There was the screw up right at the beginning that led to the constant back and forth that went on a bit too long for me. Of the two of them I'd have to say that Ash was pretty cool. I would have loved a deeper understanding of both characters with more background on them for me to really root for them together.
The best part of this story were the ghosts. This book really freaked me out in places. Lots of suspense and disturbing situations that really worked for me, it was atmospheric and creepy.
This is a beautifully written book but a bit too light on the characterization and the romance for me to really love it. Read it for the fabulous plot, it's definitley relationship light but the characters are finely written and the dialogue is snappy.
October 4, 2013
2.5 stars
First the Good:
-Cool cover, reminiscent of Victorian London.
-Interesting historical details from a New Orleans murder case.
-The Gravedigger's tavern (main setting and place where Ash, one of the MCs work) was well sketched out.
-Fun tidbits about Goth and other subculture groups.
Then the Bad:
-Two poorly developed MCs: Ash changes out his tongue studs and has a cracked canine tooth, and also wears suspenders; Wyatt is a history museum curator and wears tweed. And...yeah, that's about it. I didn't feel these two at all. What drives them? Nope. They just fell flat.
-Silly ghost story/mystery that went completely batshit crazy at the end. I'm not usually a huge paranormal fan, but I also don't mind a few ghosts when the story's done well. And this one was not done well. There were a lot of red herrings (Oh, fuck, is that blood? Oh, just kidding, it's the fridge leaking. And so on....). There was nothing remotely spooky here.
-Unnecessary side romance(s) involving Noah/Caleb and Ryan/Delilah. I think this was an effort to flesh out the story, but it just took away from the Ash/Wyatt story, and frankly Noah/Caleb seemed like a more interesting couple, except they sounded too much alike and just served to highlight how UNinteresting Ash/Wyatt really were.
And, finally, the Ugly:
-The romance was essentially nonexistent. There were some silly reasons contrived to create conflict/tension for Ash and Wyatt, but they were eye-rollingly silly. I have this on my "M/M steamy" bookshelf, but this was not steamy in the least. There were a couple of rushed sex scenes, nothing exciting, sort of boring actually.
-The writing wasn't good. There was a lot of cackling, smirking, pursing of lips, grumbling, and snickering. The characters all said "shut up" to each other A LOT (who over the age of 16 says that?). The dialogue tried way too hard to be snappy. All the characters sounded the same, like they were fed comedy one-liners.
(I received a free copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for my honest review.)
First the Good:
-Cool cover, reminiscent of Victorian London.
-Interesting historical details from a New Orleans murder case.
-The Gravedigger's tavern (main setting and place where Ash, one of the MCs work) was well sketched out.
-Fun tidbits about Goth and other subculture groups.
Then the Bad:
-Two poorly developed MCs: Ash changes out his tongue studs and has a cracked canine tooth, and also wears suspenders; Wyatt is a history museum curator and wears tweed. And...yeah, that's about it. I didn't feel these two at all. What drives them? Nope. They just fell flat.
-Silly ghost story/mystery that went completely batshit crazy at the end. I'm not usually a huge paranormal fan, but I also don't mind a few ghosts when the story's done well. And this one was not done well. There were a lot of red herrings (Oh, fuck, is that blood? Oh, just kidding, it's the fridge leaking. And so on....). There was nothing remotely spooky here.
-Unnecessary side romance(s) involving Noah/Caleb and Ryan/Delilah. I think this was an effort to flesh out the story, but it just took away from the Ash/Wyatt story, and frankly Noah/Caleb seemed like a more interesting couple, except they sounded too much alike and just served to highlight how UNinteresting Ash/Wyatt really were.
And, finally, the Ugly:
-The romance was essentially nonexistent. There were some silly reasons contrived to create conflict/tension for Ash and Wyatt, but they were eye-rollingly silly. I have this on my "M/M steamy" bookshelf, but this was not steamy in the least. There were a couple of rushed sex scenes, nothing exciting, sort of boring actually.
-The writing wasn't good. There was a lot of cackling, smirking, pursing of lips, grumbling, and snickering. The characters all said "shut up" to each other A LOT (who over the age of 16 says that?). The dialogue tried way too hard to be snappy. All the characters sounded the same, like they were fed comedy one-liners.
(I received a free copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for my honest review.)
October 31, 2012
Gravedigger’s Brawl stirs up all kinds of trouble and mystery with a perfect blend of shadows, bumps, whispers & cries in the night topped off with suspenders, angel wings, sexy tongue piercings, and top hats. Come on…belly up to the bar for a fun spooky dose of history and romance!
The fun begins right off the bat when we meet Wyatt Case under his desk noticing all kinds of head room. *clears throat* Get your mind out of the gutter. It’s not what you think. Haha…Dr. Wyatt Case, an adorable, bumbling, blushing, history geek with an oolala sexy layer hidden under his khakis, is hiding and fighting for his job as curator of the history museum. To take his mind off his troubles, Noah Drake, a friend and co-worker, takes him out on the town to introduce him to a friend. Do you smell that? Fix-up! Haha….Wyatt’s world and heart turns all topsy-turvy as soon as he sets foot in Gravedigger's Tavern and sees Ash Lucroix--the tall, dark, and sexy bar tender. But as sparks and heat fly between Ash and Wyatt, the mystery and danger begins to boil, toil, and bubble as well. After one too many bumps on the head, Ash begins to see, feel, and hear strange, spooky things around the bar. Is Ash really seeing ghosts or slowly going mad? Can the Gravedigger Gang and a pair of history buffs solve the puzzle, save the day and Ash’s sanity?
My favorite part of this story is the use of history. The past brings this mystery to life with color, creeps, and humor. Readers will feel and see Ms. Roux’s love for history on every page and odd fun fact. I could feel that ole history *spark* in the halls of the museum, on the streets of Richmond and Ash—“Like Ash had come out of the past and put a modern twist on it.” The dueling Frenchmen in the hot air balloons were my favorite visual and fun bit though. Yes, I looked it up. :D As I history geek, these pages made me very happy! Nothing like the smell of library research in the morning. ;)
Speaking of duels. A bit of romantic dueling played with my heart here. Noah was set up the same time Ash locked gazes with Wyatt. Noah and (why hello there…) Caleb, Ash’s boss at the Tavern, could have had their own tale! Their chemistry was immediate, fun, and sexy. More than once, I longed to follow Noah and Caleb home to see Caleb’s husky, hot, huffiness in action. :D Don’t get me wrong! Wyatt and Ash are hot, adorable, and fun, but daaamn so were Caleb and Noah. I wanted it all! And at times I felt like I missed out. Plus Noah held the best lines.
Noah crossed his arms and said for the third time, I don’t like this, not one bit. I don’t have many morals, but the ones I do have are not happy.”
Now if you are looking for big juicy (aka bloody) scares, this is not the story for you. These pages provide more of an eerie atmosphere and spooky tickle than a jump out of your skin fright. I realize everyone has different scare scales, but in my opinion, this tale is the perfect Halloween treat for readers of all fear levels.
Ms. Roux can always make me smile with characters so full of life and love. Her characters captivate me from head to toe! Noah’s one liners, Ash’s tongue action, Wyatt’s blushes, and Caleb’s well…everything--will bring some treats and tricks to your night for sure!
Abigail Roux always has some sexy fun on tap!
Happy Halloween!
Want to read
August 10, 2012"He coordinates his suspenders with his tongue rings."
That's all I need to know. Sign me up!
August 11, 2013
I am a big fan of this author so I have been anticipating the release of this book for quite some time.
The Gravedigger's Brawl
is your typical ghost/haunting story but with the classic Abigail Roux twist.
Dr. Wyatt Case is the curator of a history museum. He is a typical academic who is happiest in the midst of the museum's historic objects. His best friend, Noah, also an academic, is the complete opposite of Wyatt. While Wyatt comes across as straight-laced, Noah is fun and not afraid of trying new things... and new people.. *grin* Going to Gravedigger's Tavern with Noah so that Noah can meet the owner, Caleb, completely throws Wyatt out of his comfort zone. When Wyatt meets Ash LuCroix, the tavern's eccentric bartender, Wyatt's straight-laced world is thrown out the window. Ash dresses in the style of the tavern (Gaslight) and has a large selection of tongue rings that he coordinates with the clothes he's wearing. After an interesting meeting between Wyatt and Ash, the story begins to unfold.
Gravedigger's Tavern is rumored to be haunted. It is in an old, historic building that has a violent past. Ash never believed the haunting stories until he gets a hard hit on his head. Suddenly he is seeing and hearing things that can not be explained. Not only is he seeing and hearing things, but he is being attacked physically. This gets to be so common that Ash starts to believe that he is going crazy. His actions lead others to believe it as well.
Wyatt is on the verge of losing his curator job. After being given a final chance by the trustees of the museum he turns to Ash for help. Wyatt's idea of bringing in patrons to the museum is to set up an exhibit about legends and ghost stories from the surrounding area. Ash has a lot of knowledge of the local folklore so Wyatt turns to him for help. By the time Wyatt reaches out to Ash, a misunderstanding (to put it mildly) has occurred between the two of them. Ash grudgingly consents to help. This plays a big part in what happens later.
There is a small group of secondary characters who are integral to the story. Caleb, the owner of Gravedigger's Tavern. Noah, Wyatt's best friend. Ryan, a bartender at the tavern. Delilah, a waitress. Then there are the ones who may or may not be haunting not just the tavern, but Ash.
This is a very well thought out, researched story. I could feel myself being drawn in by all of the details that the author added. She did an excellent job of adding the creep factor and throwing the reader off at just the right time.
What this is not, however, is a big love story. Sure, it is there between Wyatt and Ash but they are not center. The hauntings are. In honesty, I found Noah and Caleb's romance to be much more interesting than Ash and Wyatt's. I felt that more time was given to Caleb and Noah (as far as their romance) and you could see each step of their relationship unfold. Wyatt and Ash, not so much. While things progressed rather quickly in the beginning, they do not for Wyatt and Ash. They meet and get to know each other early but then they (as a couple) go on the back burner for awhile as the hauntings take center stage. I was quite a bit into the book still waiting to see where the author was going with Ash and Wyatt. They did get there eventually.
Overall, this was a good read. As mentioned above, the author did her research and did it well. This is the perfect read for the month of October because when I say there is a creep factor, I mean there is a major creep factor. Abigail Roux writes her ghosts well. :)
While I would have loved to have seen more between the two main characters, I am very satisfied with how the story played out. While a bit rushed, the ending was absolutely perfect.
I highly recommend this to anyone interested in reading a good story about hauntings with a bit of romance thrown in. If you are already a fan of this author, as I am, you will enjoy it even more.
Review can also be found at On Top Down Under Book Reviews.
Dr. Wyatt Case is the curator of a history museum. He is a typical academic who is happiest in the midst of the museum's historic objects. His best friend, Noah, also an academic, is the complete opposite of Wyatt. While Wyatt comes across as straight-laced, Noah is fun and not afraid of trying new things... and new people.. *grin* Going to Gravedigger's Tavern with Noah so that Noah can meet the owner, Caleb, completely throws Wyatt out of his comfort zone. When Wyatt meets Ash LuCroix, the tavern's eccentric bartender, Wyatt's straight-laced world is thrown out the window. Ash dresses in the style of the tavern (Gaslight) and has a large selection of tongue rings that he coordinates with the clothes he's wearing. After an interesting meeting between Wyatt and Ash, the story begins to unfold.
Gravedigger's Tavern is rumored to be haunted. It is in an old, historic building that has a violent past. Ash never believed the haunting stories until he gets a hard hit on his head. Suddenly he is seeing and hearing things that can not be explained. Not only is he seeing and hearing things, but he is being attacked physically. This gets to be so common that Ash starts to believe that he is going crazy. His actions lead others to believe it as well.
Wyatt is on the verge of losing his curator job. After being given a final chance by the trustees of the museum he turns to Ash for help. Wyatt's idea of bringing in patrons to the museum is to set up an exhibit about legends and ghost stories from the surrounding area. Ash has a lot of knowledge of the local folklore so Wyatt turns to him for help. By the time Wyatt reaches out to Ash, a misunderstanding (to put it mildly) has occurred between the two of them. Ash grudgingly consents to help. This plays a big part in what happens later.
There is a small group of secondary characters who are integral to the story. Caleb, the owner of Gravedigger's Tavern. Noah, Wyatt's best friend. Ryan, a bartender at the tavern. Delilah, a waitress. Then there are the ones who may or may not be haunting not just the tavern, but Ash.
This is a very well thought out, researched story. I could feel myself being drawn in by all of the details that the author added. She did an excellent job of adding the creep factor and throwing the reader off at just the right time.
What this is not, however, is a big love story. Sure, it is there between Wyatt and Ash but they are not center. The hauntings are. In honesty, I found Noah and Caleb's romance to be much more interesting than Ash and Wyatt's. I felt that more time was given to Caleb and Noah (as far as their romance) and you could see each step of their relationship unfold. Wyatt and Ash, not so much. While things progressed rather quickly in the beginning, they do not for Wyatt and Ash. They meet and get to know each other early but then they (as a couple) go on the back burner for awhile as the hauntings take center stage. I was quite a bit into the book still waiting to see where the author was going with Ash and Wyatt. They did get there eventually.
Overall, this was a good read. As mentioned above, the author did her research and did it well. This is the perfect read for the month of October because when I say there is a creep factor, I mean there is a major creep factor. Abigail Roux writes her ghosts well. :)
While I would have loved to have seen more between the two main characters, I am very satisfied with how the story played out. While a bit rushed, the ending was absolutely perfect.
I highly recommend this to anyone interested in reading a good story about hauntings with a bit of romance thrown in. If you are already a fan of this author, as I am, you will enjoy it even more.
Review can also be found at On Top Down Under Book Reviews.
November 1, 2019
I often bitch about cover art but there will be no bitchery today because this cover with its sepia tones and shadows so evoke the mood and eerie old timey feel of the book that I wouldn’t change a thing. I also loved the little addition of the top hat in-between sections and chapters. It made me smile every time it popped up.
Dr. Wyatt Case is head curator of the Virginia Historical Society Museum. He’s a bit of a bumbling professor type and is at home with history but unfortunately visitor numbers are down and the trustees are breathing down his neck to come up with something spectacular to draw people in or they’re going to terminate him. He needs a distraction and some stress relief and finds both after a friend brings him out to lunch at a place called “Gravedigger’s Tavern”. The place is like walking into another world and it’s there that he spots Ash Lucroix. Ash is an irresistible mix of quirky allure and sex with his lined eyes, tongue ring and penchant for suspenders and he fits right in with the gaslight aura of the tavern where he works as one of the talented barkeeps. Though Wyatt is reserved by nature, the two share an instant attraction that they act upon later that night after way too much booze. But Wyatt screws it all up when he panics . . .
Guilt ridden and unable to get Ash out of his head he frets and finally visits an annoyed and pissed off Ash to apologize mumbling something about the tavern’s “ghost tours” before he leaves.
Their romance doesn’t exactly get off to a spectacular start but both are entranced by the other and when strange events plague Ash and the tavern Wyatt gets an idea to research its history and create a haunting exhibit to save his job.
What follows is charming romance between two slightly off-beat guys who are very different but fit together perfectly. I adored them both but I’d be lying if I didn’t say Ash stole the show for me. He is one of those irresistible types who is content in his own skin and can still laugh at himself. He’s lovely and never cocky despite the fact that he’s also super talented as well.
I hadn’t read author Roux previously but am going to change that. She excels at bringing “Gravedigger’s Tavern” to life. I love it when an author pays as much attention to her setting as her characters and doesn’t depend solely on the sex (though, damn, it was good) to keep me hooked. Gravedigger’s came to life for me and I could completely understand its appeal. The cast of friends add a sense of belonging, of fitting in even you’re a little bit of an oddball, and they add lots of humor to the story. The writing has a great vibe and the dialogue often drips with sarcasm. Really, how could I not love it?
There is plenty of romance throughout the story (and even a charming secondary romance or two) but once Ash and Wyatt work out the kinks in their relationship, the second half focuses more on figuring out the cause of the genuinely chilling events going on around them. I thought it was fantastically entertaining and perfectly done and can’t wait to read more by Abigail Roux.
Dr. Wyatt Case is head curator of the Virginia Historical Society Museum. He’s a bit of a bumbling professor type and is at home with history but unfortunately visitor numbers are down and the trustees are breathing down his neck to come up with something spectacular to draw people in or they’re going to terminate him. He needs a distraction and some stress relief and finds both after a friend brings him out to lunch at a place called “Gravedigger’s Tavern”. The place is like walking into another world and it’s there that he spots Ash Lucroix. Ash is an irresistible mix of quirky allure and sex with his lined eyes, tongue ring and penchant for suspenders and he fits right in with the gaslight aura of the tavern where he works as one of the talented barkeeps. Though Wyatt is reserved by nature, the two share an instant attraction that they act upon later that night after way too much booze. But Wyatt screws it all up when he panics . . .
Guilt ridden and unable to get Ash out of his head he frets and finally visits an annoyed and pissed off Ash to apologize mumbling something about the tavern’s “ghost tours” before he leaves.
Ash stood at the door, frowning as he watched Wyatt jog down the sidewalk toward the museum. “Why is it always the wackadoos who’re so good in bed?” he said sadly.
Their romance doesn’t exactly get off to a spectacular start but both are entranced by the other and when strange events plague Ash and the tavern Wyatt gets an idea to research its history and create a haunting exhibit to save his job.
What follows is charming romance between two slightly off-beat guys who are very different but fit together perfectly. I adored them both but I’d be lying if I didn’t say Ash stole the show for me. He is one of those irresistible types who is content in his own skin and can still laugh at himself. He’s lovely and never cocky despite the fact that he’s also super talented as well.
“Hold on! What are you doing?” Ash hurried to unload the silverware and follow. “You don’t know what’s up there, it might be dangerous. Hold on.”
“Ash, I don’t need a big bad man to protect me, okay?”
“Do I look like a big bad anything?” Ash asked, laughing as he put a hand on his chest.
I hadn’t read author Roux previously but am going to change that. She excels at bringing “Gravedigger’s Tavern” to life. I love it when an author pays as much attention to her setting as her characters and doesn’t depend solely on the sex (though, damn, it was good) to keep me hooked. Gravedigger’s came to life for me and I could completely understand its appeal. The cast of friends add a sense of belonging, of fitting in even you’re a little bit of an oddball, and they add lots of humor to the story. The writing has a great vibe and the dialogue often drips with sarcasm. Really, how could I not love it?
There is plenty of romance throughout the story (and even a charming secondary romance or two) but once Ash and Wyatt work out the kinks in their relationship, the second half focuses more on figuring out the cause of the genuinely chilling events going on around them. I thought it was fantastically entertaining and perfectly done and can’t wait to read more by Abigail Roux.
February 21, 2021
I don't know why I thought it would be a historical romance. I don't think I read the description on the back cover thoroughly and the cover suggested that it could be a case. Of course, it turned out that the action of this book takes place in modern times. But I am not disappointed, even if I know that it will not be a book that will remain in my memory for long. It's been a few days since I read it and I already feel that I don't have much to say.
The main characters, Wyatt and Ash, are cute, although I would prefer their personalities to be a little more developed. That doesn't mean they're flat as a pancakes, by the way. I only think that there is room for improvement here. They're good, interesting characters who deserve more personality. Together they make a nice couple. Supporting characters are fine too.
The plot is fine too, although I think I liked the idea a lot more than the execution. The non-romance part is very strong, I would even say that it balances on the verge of horror. I don't like horror stories, so it's not exactly my vibe, but if you like that kind of stuff, I think you'll enjoy it. As for me, I wish Ash and Wyatt spent more time together trying to find out what was going on. Too many things just happen without their participation or commitment. But that's not a big problem.
In general, I'd prefer to see them together more often. At one point it seemed to me that they were spending as much time together as they did separately. A little too often for my liking, they split up. They make a lovely couple together, so I would like to see their emerging feeling more often. I also wonder if the paranormal thread is something that connects them or divides them. And I really cannot answer this question unambiguously. I believe that clarity on this point would add coherence to the whole story and allow me to remember it better.
But it's a good and fun story with cute characters. I wouldn't be angry either if one day another book with these characters came out and that story turned into a series.
The main characters, Wyatt and Ash, are cute, although I would prefer their personalities to be a little more developed. That doesn't mean they're flat as a pancakes, by the way. I only think that there is room for improvement here. They're good, interesting characters who deserve more personality. Together they make a nice couple. Supporting characters are fine too.
The plot is fine too, although I think I liked the idea a lot more than the execution. The non-romance part is very strong, I would even say that it balances on the verge of horror. I don't like horror stories, so it's not exactly my vibe, but if you like that kind of stuff, I think you'll enjoy it. As for me, I wish Ash and Wyatt spent more time together trying to find out what was going on. Too many things just happen without their participation or commitment. But that's not a big problem.
In general, I'd prefer to see them together more often. At one point it seemed to me that they were spending as much time together as they did separately. A little too often for my liking, they split up. They make a lovely couple together, so I would like to see their emerging feeling more often. I also wonder if the paranormal thread is something that connects them or divides them. And I really cannot answer this question unambiguously. I believe that clarity on this point would add coherence to the whole story and allow me to remember it better.
But it's a good and fun story with cute characters. I wouldn't be angry either if one day another book with these characters came out and that story turned into a series.
October 29, 2013
A seesaw story with some interesting characters and cheeky dialogue.
Wyatt is funny, adorkable, and I really enjoyed his interactions with the museum board. While the timeline for throwing together the exhibition was incredibly unrealistic, the tombstones and signage alone would have consumed the allotted time, I loved the Hail Mary pass he pitched to them. The constant tenor of trying to avoid them and hiding was hysterical:
Better yet, he has a friend, Noah who is both an instigator and the sanity check for him. Noah means well, but no one is completely selfless in their actions:
Ash is unconventional, sexy and has a serious outfit coordinating fixation. Not that I wouldn't mind having a gander at a few of his accessories of choice. Lucky Wyatt, he becomes acquainted with several.
The actual romance is cute and the elements of Ash and his job and Wyatt meeting and how they intersect is fun and filled with a lot of nifty details. The constant back and forth about whether one should believe what's happening or not is well done and not resolved until the end. I'm not a huge ghost story fan. It's not like a believe or disbelieve their existence, but I don't spend time thinking about them. If I was a bigger paranormal fan than I probably would have rated this higher, but I did enjoy it.
Favorite quote:
Wyatt is funny, adorkable, and I really enjoyed his interactions with the museum board. While the timeline for throwing together the exhibition was incredibly unrealistic, the tombstones and signage alone would have consumed the allotted time, I loved the Hail Mary pass he pitched to them. The constant tenor of trying to avoid them and hiding was hysterical:
“You do Pilates under your desk?”
You don’t?” Wyatt asked, eyes going wide.
Better yet, he has a friend, Noah who is both an instigator and the sanity check for him. Noah means well, but no one is completely selfless in their actions:
"He told me he wanted me to meet the guy he worked for and I thought, ‘Hey, I’ll toss him Wyatt in return.’”With friends like that what could possibly go wrong? And boring, pish-posh.
Ash is unconventional, sexy and has a serious outfit coordinating fixation. Not that I wouldn't mind having a gander at a few of his accessories of choice. Lucky Wyatt, he becomes acquainted with several.
The actual romance is cute and the elements of Ash and his job and Wyatt meeting and how they intersect is fun and filled with a lot of nifty details. The constant back and forth about whether one should believe what's happening or not is well done and not resolved until the end. I'm not a huge ghost story fan. It's not like a believe or disbelieve their existence, but I don't spend time thinking about them. If I was a bigger paranormal fan than I probably would have rated this higher, but I did enjoy it.
Favorite quote:
"Noah crossed his arms and said for the third time, “I don’t like this, not one bit. I don’t have many morals, but the ones I do have are not happy.”"
October 15, 2012
3.25, maybe? I liked this but didn't love it. It was actually a pretty good book to be reading on a chilly October night, appropriately spooky and mysterious. The gaslight stuff is interesting, too. But while it mostly succeeds as a ghost story, it falls short as a romance. Near the end I found myself skimming a lot, looking for something in Ash and Wyatt to really grab me and make feel invested in their relationship. (I never did find it.)
October 15, 2012
I have been a fan of Abigail Roux since I first read Cut & Run last year. I even consider myself one of her faithful minions! So when I heard her new book was available to pre-order I didn’t hesitate and I am happy to say that I was not disappointed.
This is the story of Dr. Wyatt Case, a head museum curator, who loves history and keeps to himself or as Noah so eloquently put it: “Wyatt’s been oblivious to all things sex-related for like fifteen years…” when he meets Ash Lucroix. A bar keep at Gravedigger’s Brawl, Ash has a penchant for suspenders and is scared of ghosts. He is also very funny and I found him to be extremely adorable. That’s not to say that Wyatt wasn’t adorable or funny, but he was more closed off and his humor was more on the sarcastic side. Anyway, these two were amazing characters to read and their dialog alone was worth my all-through-the night reading.
I could feel the connection between these two immediately. I am not a fan of the ‘insta-love’ and I was glad that Abi didn’t go that route with these two. It would have taken a lot from their story. Wyatt’s doubts and Ash’s hesitation was what made their finally getting together all the more worthwhile for me. Abi made sure that I could understand where each of them was coming from and what they were feeling, so that when they each took that step into relationship territory I believed it and cheered them on for good measure.
Their chemistry was very palpable and I knew that the moment they got together the passion would be off the charts. And dear Lord, I was not disappointed. That has got to be one of the hottest, most sensual scenes I have read lately. Not only that, it was filled with an array of emotions that had me gripping my tablet as if by doing so I could ease the tension. There was sizzling passion, unquenchable lust then came the anxiety, followed by the fear and ending with the disappointment. By the end I was misty-eyed and ready to beat the shit out of someone who shall remain nameless.
The ghost story that Abi brought to the page was amazing. It was filled with a lot of history which is very different from any ghost story I have ever read. The events that she described in regards to the ghost were very creepy and very detailed. She managed to constantly keep me in suspense throughout the story, which is another reason that I read the book in one sitting. I could not put it down. Literally! I was so worried about Ash and what he was going through and of course I wanted to know how it all played out.
I enjoyed all the characters and their interactions with each other. Noah, Wyatt’s best friend, was hilarious. I enjoyed him a lot. He was funny, sarcastic and totally out there. His interaction with Wyatt was very enlightening in the sense that it really showed me a side of Wyatt that he usually kept hidden from others. I also enjoyed Ash’s friends – Caleb, Delilah and Ryan. I liked how he interacted with them. They were like a family and since he felt so comfortable with them he tended to be more himself which really helped in me connecting with him.
The writing was excellent – with well developed characters, great dialog filled with humor and emotion and a story full of mystery and suspense. The resolution to the main plot was handled very well and the confrontations with the ghost were very spooky to say the least. All the paranormal aspects of the story were brought forward in a way that made it very interesting and easy to read.
I would recommend this book to anyone who has enjoyed an Abigail Roux book and/or likes ghost stories.
This is the story of Dr. Wyatt Case, a head museum curator, who loves history and keeps to himself or as Noah so eloquently put it: “Wyatt’s been oblivious to all things sex-related for like fifteen years…” when he meets Ash Lucroix. A bar keep at Gravedigger’s Brawl, Ash has a penchant for suspenders and is scared of ghosts. He is also very funny and I found him to be extremely adorable. That’s not to say that Wyatt wasn’t adorable or funny, but he was more closed off and his humor was more on the sarcastic side. Anyway, these two were amazing characters to read and their dialog alone was worth my all-through-the night reading.
I could feel the connection between these two immediately. I am not a fan of the ‘insta-love’ and I was glad that Abi didn’t go that route with these two. It would have taken a lot from their story. Wyatt’s doubts and Ash’s hesitation was what made their finally getting together all the more worthwhile for me. Abi made sure that I could understand where each of them was coming from and what they were feeling, so that when they each took that step into relationship territory I believed it and cheered them on for good measure.
Their chemistry was very palpable and I knew that the moment they got together the passion would be off the charts. And dear Lord, I was not disappointed. That has got to be one of the hottest, most sensual scenes I have read lately. Not only that, it was filled with an array of emotions that had me gripping my tablet as if by doing so I could ease the tension. There was sizzling passion, unquenchable lust then came the anxiety, followed by the fear and ending with the disappointment. By the end I was misty-eyed and ready to beat the shit out of someone who shall remain nameless.
The ghost story that Abi brought to the page was amazing. It was filled with a lot of history which is very different from any ghost story I have ever read. The events that she described in regards to the ghost were very creepy and very detailed. She managed to constantly keep me in suspense throughout the story, which is another reason that I read the book in one sitting. I could not put it down. Literally! I was so worried about Ash and what he was going through and of course I wanted to know how it all played out.
I enjoyed all the characters and their interactions with each other. Noah, Wyatt’s best friend, was hilarious. I enjoyed him a lot. He was funny, sarcastic and totally out there. His interaction with Wyatt was very enlightening in the sense that it really showed me a side of Wyatt that he usually kept hidden from others. I also enjoyed Ash’s friends – Caleb, Delilah and Ryan. I liked how he interacted with them. They were like a family and since he felt so comfortable with them he tended to be more himself which really helped in me connecting with him.
The writing was excellent – with well developed characters, great dialog filled with humor and emotion and a story full of mystery and suspense. The resolution to the main plot was handled very well and the confrontations with the ghost were very spooky to say the least. All the paranormal aspects of the story were brought forward in a way that made it very interesting and easy to read.
I would recommend this book to anyone who has enjoyed an Abigail Roux book and/or likes ghost stories.
October 18, 2012
I had such high hopes for this I think I might have jinxed it a bit. I liked it, it was nice enough. I just didn't connect with the main characters at all. I would much rather have seen Noah and Caleb because I loved Caleb from word go, nothing like a grumpy git turn lover really.
I daresay I'd have gotten more in to the characters/story if it had been a bit longer, it felt short and almost like parts had been taken out that would have beefed up the relationship AND the plot.
One thing I loved though was the build up of the MC's relationship, I liked that they struggled like normal people, again could have been longer :)
I think it's a 3.5 star rounded down as it felt a bit like skinny latte rather than hot chocolate with whipped cream. A nice story, well written but short. If there is a follow up I would definitely buy it and read it, and would recommend this too for anyone looking for a quick, cute easy read.
I daresay I'd have gotten more in to the characters/story if it had been a bit longer, it felt short and almost like parts had been taken out that would have beefed up the relationship AND the plot.
One thing I loved though was the build up of the MC's relationship, I liked that they struggled like normal people, again could have been longer :)
I think it's a 3.5 star rounded down as it felt a bit like skinny latte rather than hot chocolate with whipped cream. A nice story, well written but short. If there is a follow up I would definitely buy it and read it, and would recommend this too for anyone looking for a quick, cute easy read.
October 26, 2012
I love this book and the author is one of my favourites. The story had me gripped and was very interesting to read :)
October 28, 2012
4.5 stars. I've read a few ghost related books lately, but this one is by far my favourite.
I'm going to just quickly go over what makes me give this 4.5 stars rating and not a 5 stars one so I can get to the good stuff. Some parts seemed to be a bit long, like the history and backstory bits. But, that's just a personal issue because I get easily bored, but some people do like to read about all the history so those parts might not seem long to other people at all.
Now, on to everything that made this book so great...
The setting: LOVED IT! The pub was such a great place, cozy and friendly (when you take away the paranormal stuff that was going on). It had a historical vibe to it, but still remained contemporary, which was so so great. Caleb really did an amazing job with his pub, and honestly if I could chose to have a part time-job anywhere it would be in a place like that... without the ghosts of course.
The characters: Loved every single one of the main characters and I loved especially the friendship they had together; great group of friends! They were funny and witty and their interactions were great. Kind of sad this book is a stand-alone book (if I'm not wrong?), because I'm going to miss them. Truly enjoyed reading about them!
The romances: I could almost touch the chemistry between all the couples. Yes, the book is focused on Ash and Wyatt's romance, but you do get a few glimpses at Caleb and Noah's and Delilah and Ryan's relationships, which pleased me a lot. And to be honest, I wouldn't mind having a book focused on Caleb and Noah's relationship alone, because they were so great and sweet together. So I'm very glad we had a bit of Ryan's POV near the end, it permitted to see a bit more of his interaction with Caleb.
Overall, this book had everything I was looking for, especially for the month of October, with Halloween approaching. The spooky ambiance was there, but it was also a great book friendship and romance wise.
I'm going to just quickly go over what makes me give this 4.5 stars rating and not a 5 stars one so I can get to the good stuff. Some parts seemed to be a bit long, like the history and backstory bits. But, that's just a personal issue because I get easily bored, but some people do like to read about all the history so those parts might not seem long to other people at all.
Now, on to everything that made this book so great...
The setting: LOVED IT! The pub was such a great place, cozy and friendly (when you take away the paranormal stuff that was going on). It had a historical vibe to it, but still remained contemporary, which was so so great. Caleb really did an amazing job with his pub, and honestly if I could chose to have a part time-job anywhere it would be in a place like that... without the ghosts of course.
The characters: Loved every single one of the main characters and I loved especially the friendship they had together; great group of friends! They were funny and witty and their interactions were great. Kind of sad this book is a stand-alone book (if I'm not wrong?), because I'm going to miss them. Truly enjoyed reading about them!
The romances: I could almost touch the chemistry between all the couples. Yes, the book is focused on Ash and Wyatt's romance, but you do get a few glimpses at Caleb and Noah's and Delilah and Ryan's relationships, which pleased me a lot. And to be honest, I wouldn't mind having a book focused on Caleb and Noah's relationship alone, because they were so great and sweet together. So I'm very glad we had a bit of Ryan's POV near the end, it permitted to see a bit more of his interaction with Caleb.
Overall, this book had everything I was looking for, especially for the month of October, with Halloween approaching. The spooky ambiance was there, but it was also a great book friendship and romance wise.
March 15, 2013
I bought the book because my lovely friends Macky, Mark and Bev recommended it to me (thx sweethearts
). That it's written by Abigail Roux helped my decision significantly. I have to admit I'm not exactly a fan of ghost books. To my great joy this one turned out to be a wonderful surprise!The Gravedigger's Brawl is a dark story, perfect for those who like things getting creepy. Reading this right before going to bed is probably a bad idea. :)
Wyatt is the director at the local history museum. He's a history geek and not much except his work is important. Until his best friend and co-worker Noah brings him to Gravedigger's, a bar famous for its gaslight atmosphere and bottle spinning bartenders.
Ash is a master of flairing and he and Wyatt immediately hit it off. They are so hot together... I was in love with Ash from the moment the author described his features - his eyes lined in kajal and his tongue pierced. He even owns a vibrating tongue piercing!
The ghost mystery is perfect and takes many twists and turns. It has the right Halloween atmosphere - suspense, romance and horror. Maybe I should have read it in October 31th... :)
I would have loved seeing more from the supporting characters Noah and Caleb, though. Caleb is pretty grumpy. His character has so much potential. A Caleb prequel would be great, he seems to have an eventful past.
I warmly recommend the book.. :)
November 18, 2012
Fave Quote: "You don't like Wyatt?" he said to the empty room. "Well go fuck yourself. I'm keeping him."'
- Storyline - 10/10
- Hero - 10/10
- Hero - 10/10
- Chemistry - 10/10
- Steaminess - 10/10
- Sweetness - 8/10
- Secondary Characters - 10/10
- Setting - 10/10
- Details/Quirks - 9/10
- Banter/Humor - 8/10
- Ending - 10/10
- Ridiculousness - 0/10
- Annoying the shit out of me factor - 0/10
- This book described in one word/phrase - Magic
What an awesome surprise this turned out to be! I didn't really like the sound of it when I read the blurb, but as it was by Abigail Roux, I had to buy it, seeing as I love her 'Cut and Run' series sooooo much. I was an idiot for putting off reading it for so long though, because despite it being really odd, it was just... fun. Through and through. I also LOVED Ash's character as he was just so funky and quirky, and his relationship with Wyatt moved along at a good pace. The circumstances of them actually being in a relationship is a little complicated, and I don't want to add any spoilers, but i liked the way it was handled. Plus this book was hot - I mean, holy hell, vibrating tongue studs? Yes please!
- Storyline - 10/10
- Hero - 10/10
- Hero - 10/10
- Chemistry - 10/10
- Steaminess - 10/10
- Sweetness - 8/10
- Secondary Characters - 10/10
- Setting - 10/10
- Details/Quirks - 9/10
- Banter/Humor - 8/10
- Ending - 10/10
- Ridiculousness - 0/10
- Annoying the shit out of me factor - 0/10
- This book described in one word/phrase - Magic
What an awesome surprise this turned out to be! I didn't really like the sound of it when I read the blurb, but as it was by Abigail Roux, I had to buy it, seeing as I love her 'Cut and Run' series sooooo much. I was an idiot for putting off reading it for so long though, because despite it being really odd, it was just... fun. Through and through. I also LOVED Ash's character as he was just so funky and quirky, and his relationship with Wyatt moved along at a good pace. The circumstances of them actually being in a relationship is a little complicated, and I don't want to add any spoilers, but i liked the way it was handled. Plus this book was hot - I mean, holy hell, vibrating tongue studs? Yes please!
March 13, 2013
The ideal m/m Halloween story. Intriguing, spooky and romantic, who could want more. I loved the contrast in characters, Wyatt a rather awkward academic museum curator and Ash an adorable but quirky bartender who flairs. He also has the most amazing collection of tongue rings and one that even vibrates. I must admit to having googled this for some pictures to get an idea, myself belonging to the piercing uninitiated. Ash and Wyatt, a most unlikely pair, end up fighting for their love after Ash is possessed by the demon of the Gravedigger's Tavern.
The tavern provides the backdrop to some very spooky, creepy and ghastly goings-on. It has a long and sordid history which is revealed very carefully, bit by bit, by Ash digging up its history from old documents and newspaper stories in his museum. The author builds up the suspense very well, until the final scene where everything comes to an head.
What I always like about Abigail Roux's books is that she always manages to provide an enthralling story whilst providing an m/m romance theme. This book pressed all the right buttons for me and I would personally give it 5* x2 if I could.
The tavern provides the backdrop to some very spooky, creepy and ghastly goings-on. It has a long and sordid history which is revealed very carefully, bit by bit, by Ash digging up its history from old documents and newspaper stories in his museum. The author builds up the suspense very well, until the final scene where everything comes to an head.
What I always like about Abigail Roux's books is that she always manages to provide an enthralling story whilst providing an m/m romance theme. This book pressed all the right buttons for me and I would personally give it 5* x2 if I could.
October 19, 2012
I really liked the book. Ash was so cute; I loved him the most! No formal review here though, I just liked it, and I would recommend it.
I should add though, the legend of the book got me too...
Abi said that she thought the book was cursed based on some strange occurrences while she was writing it.
One thing that was a little different was that on my main Kindle page, it wouldn't show my progress. Okay, no big.
I got a little more concerned last night. My 3 year old, for the second or third time since I've been reading the book, ran out of his room screaming in terror, late at night. I was reading it while it happened too. Last night, he told me that he was seeing "shadows". So, I vowed that I had to finish the book last night because I was getting spooked, and my poor kid was being spooked. LOL! I was close to done anyway, and I really thought it was great!
I should add though, the legend of the book got me too...
Abi said that she thought the book was cursed based on some strange occurrences while she was writing it.
One thing that was a little different was that on my main Kindle page, it wouldn't show my progress. Okay, no big.
I got a little more concerned last night. My 3 year old, for the second or third time since I've been reading the book, ran out of his room screaming in terror, late at night. I was reading it while it happened too. Last night, he told me that he was seeing "shadows". So, I vowed that I had to finish the book last night because I was getting spooked, and my poor kid was being spooked. LOL! I was close to done anyway, and I really thought it was great!
September 30, 2013
A very different HAUNTED 4 SARS ... Spooky... Mysterious
and a sweet love story
and a sweet love story
February 12, 2013
This was awesome. I loved that it was a historical and creepy ghost story! I also really want to see a picture of what Ash looks like. Please?
July 16, 2014
4 stars
Oh, oh, oh, Ghostbusters! I had that song running through my head at the end of this book. It conjured up the same feeling of a good, fun time. Only with the added m/m loving, hot/cute/unique history buffs and a tongue ring that's almost a character on its own: really, what's not to love?
“That’s all I have. Really, all I had to go on was ‘I miss you.’ If that hadn’t worked, my backup plan was this.” He stuck out his tongue to display a stud shaped like a red rose.
Wyatt laughed and met Ash’s eyes as delight flooded him. “That’s . . . the most romantic thing I’ve ever seen.”
See what I was talking about? Sooo cute :)
But, Back to the Basics. What is this book about, dear readers?
Well, there's this Museum curator, Wyatt. He's in big trouble when it comes to his job and he has to think of something to bring people in, and fast or he's out of the job he loves. In an effort to get him to relax a little, his equally quirky/cute friend Noah takes him to a bar "Gravedigger's Tavern" where he meets the bartender, Ash. Ash is... different. And anything but boring. And at a moment when everything seems less than bright he might be exactly what Wyatt needs.
Ash (owner of the infamous tongue ring) is a subscriber of the "Gaslight" culture.
“Gaslight,” Wyatt repeated. “Noah told me something about it. And I . . . may have looked into it. Pseudo-Victorian. Gothic cousins.”
------
A lot of it, though, the real gothic culture, stems from a fascination with the Victorian era and a love of gothic literature and art. That’s actually what people have begun to call gaslight now, to separate the real from the trendy."
It also involves wearing cool old-style clothes(think suspenders). He also does this cool fun thing called "flairing"-doing these routines with juggling bottles and pouring drinks and stuff.
Oh, and if you have no clue what I just said, don't worry. I didn't either. That's why God invented Google and Wikipedia. :)
Ash likes the shy, funny curator but the haunting and ghosts just might get in the way.
I loved this! Ash and Wyatt are unusual, yet very endearing heroes. They're very sweet together. The side characters were equally engrossing. The ambiance is perfect, the ghost story intriguing. Really, the only thing that bothered me here is the development of the relationship between Ash and Wyatt. It was too fast, or not explored enough in the very beginning. And even the struggles that are presented are not clear enough.
But I have to admit though, I've never seen a book with curators, bartenders and ghosts.
I'll leave you with an another example of Roux's cool writing style: a snatch of conversation between Wyatt and Noah.
“Collective names are fascinating, have you ever studied them?”
“I can’t say that I have.”
“Some of them are pretty self-explanatory. A prickle of porcupines, a cackle of hyenas, a pounce of cats, a slither of snakes. But it’s a nest of vipers, a quiver of cobras, and a rhumba of rattlesnakes. They also have a parliament of owls and a congress of baboons, which I find insulting to baboons myself.”
Wyatt sighed.
-------
“-My favorite is a smack of jellyfish.”
“How do you get laid as much as you do?”
ARC provided by Riptide Publishing via NetGalley
If it's somethin' weird an' it don't look good
Who ya gonna call?
(Ghostbusters!)
I ain't afraid o' no ghost
I ain't afraid o' no ghost
If you're seein' things runnin' through your head
Who can you call?
(Ghostbusters!)
An invisible man sleepin' in your bed
Oh who ya gonna call?
(Ghostbusters!)
Oh, oh, oh, Ghostbusters! I had that song running through my head at the end of this book. It conjured up the same feeling of a good, fun time. Only with the added m/m loving, hot/cute/unique history buffs and a tongue ring that's almost a character on its own: really, what's not to love?
“That’s all I have. Really, all I had to go on was ‘I miss you.’ If that hadn’t worked, my backup plan was this.” He stuck out his tongue to display a stud shaped like a red rose.
Wyatt laughed and met Ash’s eyes as delight flooded him. “That’s . . . the most romantic thing I’ve ever seen.”
See what I was talking about? Sooo cute :)
But, Back to the Basics. What is this book about, dear readers?
Well, there's this Museum curator, Wyatt. He's in big trouble when it comes to his job and he has to think of something to bring people in, and fast or he's out of the job he loves. In an effort to get him to relax a little, his equally quirky/cute friend Noah takes him to a bar "Gravedigger's Tavern" where he meets the bartender, Ash. Ash is... different. And anything but boring. And at a moment when everything seems less than bright he might be exactly what Wyatt needs.
Ash (owner of the infamous tongue ring) is a subscriber of the "Gaslight" culture.
“Gaslight,” Wyatt repeated. “Noah told me something about it. And I . . . may have looked into it. Pseudo-Victorian. Gothic cousins.”
------
A lot of it, though, the real gothic culture, stems from a fascination with the Victorian era and a love of gothic literature and art. That’s actually what people have begun to call gaslight now, to separate the real from the trendy."
It also involves wearing cool old-style clothes(think suspenders). He also does this cool fun thing called "flairing"-doing these routines with juggling bottles and pouring drinks and stuff.
Oh, and if you have no clue what I just said, don't worry. I didn't either. That's why God invented Google and Wikipedia. :)
Ash likes the shy, funny curator but the haunting and ghosts just might get in the way.
I loved this! Ash and Wyatt are unusual, yet very endearing heroes. They're very sweet together. The side characters were equally engrossing. The ambiance is perfect, the ghost story intriguing. Really, the only thing that bothered me here is the development of the relationship between Ash and Wyatt. It was too fast, or not explored enough in the very beginning. And even the struggles that are presented are not clear enough.
But I have to admit though, I've never seen a book with curators, bartenders and ghosts.
I'll leave you with an another example of Roux's cool writing style: a snatch of conversation between Wyatt and Noah.
“Collective names are fascinating, have you ever studied them?”
“I can’t say that I have.”
“Some of them are pretty self-explanatory. A prickle of porcupines, a cackle of hyenas, a pounce of cats, a slither of snakes. But it’s a nest of vipers, a quiver of cobras, and a rhumba of rattlesnakes. They also have a parliament of owls and a congress of baboons, which I find insulting to baboons myself.”
Wyatt sighed.
-------
“-My favorite is a smack of jellyfish.”
“How do you get laid as much as you do?”
ARC provided by Riptide Publishing via NetGalley
October 25, 2012
What do suspenders, tongue piercings, history museums, ghosts and taverns have in common? All combined, they make a great freaking book!
Wyatt is the head curator at a history museum. Having just finished construction on a new wing, the museum needs a fantastic new exhibit to bring in the masses. Can you say stress? Luckily, one of the fellow historians at the museum is his best friend. Noah helps Wyatt get his mind off of things, even if Noah does have ulterior motives.
Enter The Garvedigger's Tavern. Out to lunch, Noah can't help but introduce Wyatt to one of the bartenders. Ash is decked out in his "gaslight" glory... Trousers, suspenders, slicked back hair and a tongue ring with ever changing jewelry complete his look. He's cheeky and has a knack for flair bartending. I must admit, I fell for him immediately and it's no wonder that he intrigues Wyatt so much.
They have a rocky start but soon are spending quite a lot of time together. Inspired by the ghost tours that hit up The Gravedigger's Tavern in the fan district, Wyatt starts researching the history of the fan district and a certain house specifically. He's well on his way to to setting up the new exhibit when trouble strikes.
This book was fantastic! We have humor, romance and sexy men. What more could I ask for? Oh yeah, to be creeped out! I like a good spooky story! This is a work of fiction but certain storylines are inspired by true, gruesome events like the LaLauries of New Orleans. All combined I LOVED this book! The pace is quick, the cast of characters quirky. I enjoyed Noah and Caleb a lot! Even Delilah and Ryan are fun to read about.
I HIGHLY recommend this! Get your copy today!
ARC provided by Riptide Publishing via Netgalley
Review posted at Sinfully Delicious Book Reviews
May 5, 2017
4.5 stars
I went into The Gravedigger's Brawl expecting the best simply because Abigail Roux wrote it. She is, quite simply, fabulous. However, it exceeded my expectations. It was even better than I was hoping. Color me surprised!
The main characters were wonderfully developed, and I think I'm a little in love with Ash. He charmed me from the beginning with his adorable smile (chipped tooth and all), quirky clothes, the kohl around his eyes, and the constantly changing tongue rings. Yep, I am definitely in love with Ash. And then there was Wyatt. The first time we meet him, he's hiding under his desk. I knew then and there it was going to be an interesting ride with him. My favorite thing about him, though, was his obsession with what color Ash's tongue ring was each day. So damn cute!
I also enjoyed the secondary characters very much: Noah and Caleb, Ryan and Delilah. In the past, I have read books where the author introduces other characters and then essentially forgets about them as the book goes on. Luckily, Ms. Roux does not have that problem. They were present enough that I became involved with them as well, but not too much that they took away from Ash and Wyatt. That's the way it should be, in my opinion.
Also, I loved the ghost aspect of this book. I don't tend to read books that involve ghosts because it does not often interest me. However, this one was written in such a way that I could not put it down; I had to force myself to go to bed at an obscenely late hour instead of finishing it.
Everything about this book was a win for me, and I am fairly confident that it will become a reread, as seems to be a pattern for me with Abigail Roux's books.
Read Nov. 25, 2012-Nov. 26, 2012
Read July 23, 2013-July 26, 2013
I went into The Gravedigger's Brawl expecting the best simply because Abigail Roux wrote it. She is, quite simply, fabulous. However, it exceeded my expectations. It was even better than I was hoping. Color me surprised!
The main characters were wonderfully developed, and I think I'm a little in love with Ash. He charmed me from the beginning with his adorable smile (chipped tooth and all), quirky clothes, the kohl around his eyes, and the constantly changing tongue rings. Yep, I am definitely in love with Ash. And then there was Wyatt. The first time we meet him, he's hiding under his desk. I knew then and there it was going to be an interesting ride with him. My favorite thing about him, though, was his obsession with what color Ash's tongue ring was each day. So damn cute!
I also enjoyed the secondary characters very much: Noah and Caleb, Ryan and Delilah. In the past, I have read books where the author introduces other characters and then essentially forgets about them as the book goes on. Luckily, Ms. Roux does not have that problem. They were present enough that I became involved with them as well, but not too much that they took away from Ash and Wyatt. That's the way it should be, in my opinion.
Also, I loved the ghost aspect of this book. I don't tend to read books that involve ghosts because it does not often interest me. However, this one was written in such a way that I could not put it down; I had to force myself to go to bed at an obscenely late hour instead of finishing it.
Everything about this book was a win for me, and I am fairly confident that it will become a reread, as seems to be a pattern for me with Abigail Roux's books.
Read Nov. 25, 2012-Nov. 26, 2012
Read July 23, 2013-July 26, 2013
October 28, 2012
As a Halloween-themed book: 4.0 Stars
As an m/m romance: 2.5 Stars
As a preliminary matter, I am a HUGE Abigail Roux fan! I love her writing style and the characters she creates. This book was well written and the characters were lovable. So why the rating? I guess I was expecting a Halloween-themed m/m romance à la Ty and Zane. Maybe that was an unfair expectation. But this book, first and foremost, is a ghost story; it is not a romance book. There are elements of romance in it but it is not a romance. Rather, the book centers on the haunting of Gravediggers and the surrounding mystery. There are two couples featured: Wyatt and Ash; and, Noah and Caleb. There are some smexy scenes, albeit far too few IMHO.
The problem is that I didn't care about the ghost story enough to really enjoy this book. Had the emphasis been on the romance between Wyatt and Ash or Noah and Caleb or both, with the ghost story as a backdrop, I think I would have enjoyed this read much more. As it stood, the mystery behind Gravediggers was slow and dry to me at times and made this book a struggle to finish.
Bottom line: This is not a Halloween-themed Cut & Run type of romance! So if that's what you're looking for ... sorry, but no. If, however, you're interested in a ghost story with some romantic elements ... I say go for it!
As an m/m romance: 2.5 Stars
As a preliminary matter, I am a HUGE Abigail Roux fan! I love her writing style and the characters she creates. This book was well written and the characters were lovable. So why the rating? I guess I was expecting a Halloween-themed m/m romance à la Ty and Zane. Maybe that was an unfair expectation. But this book, first and foremost, is a ghost story; it is not a romance book. There are elements of romance in it but it is not a romance. Rather, the book centers on the haunting of Gravediggers and the surrounding mystery. There are two couples featured: Wyatt and Ash; and, Noah and Caleb. There are some smexy scenes, albeit far too few IMHO.
The problem is that I didn't care about the ghost story enough to really enjoy this book. Had the emphasis been on the romance between Wyatt and Ash or Noah and Caleb or both, with the ghost story as a backdrop, I think I would have enjoyed this read much more. As it stood, the mystery behind Gravediggers was slow and dry to me at times and made this book a struggle to finish.
Bottom line: This is not a Halloween-themed Cut & Run type of romance! So if that's what you're looking for ... sorry, but no. If, however, you're interested in a ghost story with some romantic elements ... I say go for it!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 358 reviews