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Where the Shadows Linger: A Southern Gothic Romance
It’s her job to chase monsters, but he’s only interested in chasing her.
Noelle Kinney doesn’t believe in soulmates. She believes in facts, ghosts, and podcast metrics. She was supposed to drive straight through Willow Grove on her way to a cryptid convention in Atlanta—but then her car broke down, the town got weird, and a local mechanic with rough hands and ruinous eyes offered to help.
Beau Ward has lived in Willow Grove his whole life. He knows its rhythms. Its secrets. And from the second he sees Noelle, he knows the the town brought her here. For him.
He doesn’t say it—not at first. But he touches her like he means it. Worships her like he’s waited his whole damn life.
And when she tells him she’s leaving, he just smiles and says, “Sure you are.”
Noelle keeps telling herself this is temporary, but the cryptid sightings are getting more frequent. The woods are shifting. The legend of the Shadow Painter is starting to feel a little too real.
And Beau Ward? He’s getting harder to leave by the hour.
Because some towns don’t let you go. Some love stories refuse to end. And some monsters were made for each other.
A Southern romance with spirits, spells, and values in the right damn place, GOSPELS & GRIMOIRES is perfect for fans of THE EX HEX and PRACTICAL MAGIC—but sexier, sharper, and proudly sinful.
Noelle Kinney doesn’t believe in soulmates. She believes in facts, ghosts, and podcast metrics. She was supposed to drive straight through Willow Grove on her way to a cryptid convention in Atlanta—but then her car broke down, the town got weird, and a local mechanic with rough hands and ruinous eyes offered to help.
Beau Ward has lived in Willow Grove his whole life. He knows its rhythms. Its secrets. And from the second he sees Noelle, he knows the the town brought her here. For him.
He doesn’t say it—not at first. But he touches her like he means it. Worships her like he’s waited his whole damn life.
And when she tells him she’s leaving, he just smiles and says, “Sure you are.”
Noelle keeps telling herself this is temporary, but the cryptid sightings are getting more frequent. The woods are shifting. The legend of the Shadow Painter is starting to feel a little too real.
And Beau Ward? He’s getting harder to leave by the hour.
Because some towns don’t let you go. Some love stories refuse to end. And some monsters were made for each other.
A Southern romance with spirits, spells, and values in the right damn place, GOSPELS & GRIMOIRES is perfect for fans of THE EX HEX and PRACTICAL MAGIC—but sexier, sharper, and proudly sinful.
262 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 23, 2025
14 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
September 18, 2025
Hauntingly Beautiful and Full of Heart
Where the Shadows Linger is a darkly enchanting entry in Eden Audley’s Gospels & Grimoires series, and Book 3 does not disappoint. The Southern Gothic atmosphere is thick with mood and mystery—dripping with decay, longing, and a magic that feels both old and deeply personal.
Audley’s prose continues to be one of the strongest draws. Her language is lyrical without being overwrought, and the emotional undercurrents between characters feel raw and lived-in. The romance here is slow-burning, complex, and just the right amount of tragic. It never overshadows the broader themes of grief, legacy, and the supernatural forces at play—but instead complements them beautifully.
The pacing occasionally lagged in the middle, and there were moments where I wished for a bit more clarity in the world-building or motivations. However, those are small critiques in an otherwise immersive and rewarding read. The way Audley ties personal stakes into the larger gothic tapestry is masterful, and I especially appreciated how much the setting itself felt like a character—alive with memory, myth, and menace.
If you've followed the series this far, this installment offers both emotional payoff and new shadows to explore. It lingers, just as the title promises—in the best, most haunting way.
Where the Shadows Linger is a darkly enchanting entry in Eden Audley’s Gospels & Grimoires series, and Book 3 does not disappoint. The Southern Gothic atmosphere is thick with mood and mystery—dripping with decay, longing, and a magic that feels both old and deeply personal.
Audley’s prose continues to be one of the strongest draws. Her language is lyrical without being overwrought, and the emotional undercurrents between characters feel raw and lived-in. The romance here is slow-burning, complex, and just the right amount of tragic. It never overshadows the broader themes of grief, legacy, and the supernatural forces at play—but instead complements them beautifully.
The pacing occasionally lagged in the middle, and there were moments where I wished for a bit more clarity in the world-building or motivations. However, those are small critiques in an otherwise immersive and rewarding read. The way Audley ties personal stakes into the larger gothic tapestry is masterful, and I especially appreciated how much the setting itself felt like a character—alive with memory, myth, and menace.
If you've followed the series this far, this installment offers both emotional payoff and new shadows to explore. It lingers, just as the title promises—in the best, most haunting way.
September 19, 2025
Noelle Kinney is a podcaster who chases down facts. Even though she doesn’t believe in those scary old legends or ghost, or anything of the like, she and her co-host hunt down those legends or myths and do their best to debunk them. She is on her way to a cryptid convention is Atlanta when her car breaks down in Willow Grove, GA. Beau Ward is the local mechanic and has lived in the small quirky town his whole life, and Noelle is instantly drawn to the gorgeous man with rough hands and kind eyes who makes her want to believe that soulmates could be real. Fantastic book with compelling characters, and fast paced dialogue that kept me fascinated from the firs page. Scar cryptids, steamy interactions, surprising twists in the plot and a happily ever after. I think this is a wonderful must-read book and series.
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary ARC of this book provided by the author.
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary ARC of this book provided by the author.
September 18, 2025
Where the Shadows Linger follows the third son in the Ward family of Willow Grove, Georgia. This book picks up where the last one end as Beau goes to help the stranded Noelle when her car breaks down outside of Mabel's Diner.
If you're looking for creepy vibes and spice, this is the book for you. Beau and Noelle hit it off instantly, and the the fires burn hot. He is a well baked cinnamon roll that helps her through her trauma even as they all get lost in the woods. Noelle has some good one-liners that are funny and the banter is great. Between the chemistry of the main characters and the creepy/scary moments, it's hard to put this book down.
If you're looking for creepy vibes and spice, this is the book for you. Beau and Noelle hit it off instantly, and the the fires burn hot. He is a well baked cinnamon roll that helps her through her trauma even as they all get lost in the woods. Noelle has some good one-liners that are funny and the banter is great. Between the chemistry of the main characters and the creepy/scary moments, it's hard to put this book down.
September 25, 2025
A wonderful read in a great series as Beau and Noelle meet when her car breaks down in Willow Grove. A podcaster and sceptic of the paranormal, Noelle finds more than she bargained for. Her relationship with Beau was beautiful and sweet. There are some seriously creepy moments in this. I absolutely loved the story and the cast of characters.
October 2, 2025
This starts with a good meet cute between the MCs, and moves along wonderfully through a story that has several different elements. Noelle and Beau are perfect together and the story is original and hard to put down.I Loved It!!! No Spoilers! I Recommend!.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
November 1, 2025
✨ Book 3 of 5 in the Gospels & Grimoires series and it could not have been more perfect for spooky season! Where the Shadows Linger drops us right into the haunted heart of Willow Grove—just in time for the town’s annual ghost festival 👻
🎙️ Noelle, a podcaster who lives to debunk the paranormal, is en route to a cryptid convention when fate (or something eerily like it) strands her in this ghost-loving town. And wouldn’t you know it—her car breaks down right in front of Beau Ward. Yep, that Beau Ward. The third brother in a family rumored to be cursed with destined love…
🔥 Sparks fly. Secrets are shared. And both Noelle and Beau have ghost stories of their own that might just rewrite what they believe about the supernatural—and each other.
💫 Like the previous books, this one delivers on the instalove, steamy moments, spectral guidance, and those deliciously eerie twists that make you question whether you’re steering your own story… or just following a path already written in the stars.
I’m already bracing myself for brother #4 in Where the Pages Bleed—because if anyone’s going to fight fate, it’s him. Stay tuned for that review soon!
🎙️ Noelle, a podcaster who lives to debunk the paranormal, is en route to a cryptid convention when fate (or something eerily like it) strands her in this ghost-loving town. And wouldn’t you know it—her car breaks down right in front of Beau Ward. Yep, that Beau Ward. The third brother in a family rumored to be cursed with destined love…
🔥 Sparks fly. Secrets are shared. And both Noelle and Beau have ghost stories of their own that might just rewrite what they believe about the supernatural—and each other.
💫 Like the previous books, this one delivers on the instalove, steamy moments, spectral guidance, and those deliciously eerie twists that make you question whether you’re steering your own story… or just following a path already written in the stars.
I’m already bracing myself for brother #4 in Where the Pages Bleed—because if anyone’s going to fight fate, it’s him. Stay tuned for that review soon!
September 23, 2025
**Thank you to the Author for the ARC; all opinions are my own.**
4.25 ⭐️
3 🌶
Ohhhh this one was spooky!!!
☆insta-lust
☆cryptids
☆weird towns
☆magic
☆southern gothic romance
☆black cat x golden retriever vibes
4.25 ⭐️
3 🌶
Ohhhh this one was spooky!!!
☆insta-lust
☆cryptids
☆weird towns
☆magic
☆southern gothic romance
☆black cat x golden retriever vibes
September 25, 2025
Cozy Cryptid Lovey Vibes. Gosh this one was my favorite. Cryptid festival to hunting them. Finding love in the unexpected figuring yourself out. Beau has the best of all worlds when Noelle fell into it.
October 9, 2025
This series has a hold on my heart! The Ward brothers and their family for generations are cursed, they believe if they fall in love their lives will end leaving their love alone. The town of Willow grove believes these brothers deserve love and brings it to them. GPS doesn’t work the same in Willow grove. It doesn’t always get you where you think you want to go but it absolutely gets you where you need to be!
Noelle is a well known podcaster and very much a magic/spiritual/ other worldly skeptic. In order to make it this far in her life in one piece her skepticism has helped her get through. She needed the scientific explanation to survive her youth, things she’s seen and the trauma in her childhood. Willow Grove and Beau Ward though, they might just make her a believer.
Beau Ward just wants people to be happy! He’s the easy going middle brother who isn’t looking for anything more. He’s content for now with his business as the town mechanic and his over zealous,yet very lovable dog Milo. Until Noelle comes into his life and tips it upside down.
I received this book as and ARC this is my honest review. The Ward brothers fall first, fall fast and as always tons of spice. This book just like the others in the series has me on the edge of my seat one minute and kicking my feet the next. This series is everything it promises to be and more.
***These need to be read in order as the story starts with the oldest brother and works its magic through the whole family.
Noelle is a well known podcaster and very much a magic/spiritual/ other worldly skeptic. In order to make it this far in her life in one piece her skepticism has helped her get through. She needed the scientific explanation to survive her youth, things she’s seen and the trauma in her childhood. Willow Grove and Beau Ward though, they might just make her a believer.
Beau Ward just wants people to be happy! He’s the easy going middle brother who isn’t looking for anything more. He’s content for now with his business as the town mechanic and his over zealous,yet very lovable dog Milo. Until Noelle comes into his life and tips it upside down.
I received this book as and ARC this is my honest review. The Ward brothers fall first, fall fast and as always tons of spice. This book just like the others in the series has me on the edge of my seat one minute and kicking my feet the next. This series is everything it promises to be and more.
***These need to be read in order as the story starts with the oldest brother and works its magic through the whole family.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews