The Dravenhearst Brides

by Lindsay Barrett

An heiress with a haunted past enters a marriage of convenience with a man as tempting as the devil himself…and likely just as ruinous.

After a scandalous debut sent her into recluse, heiress Margaret Greenbrier returns to the Louisville social circuit for the 1933 season. Laudanum prescription or no, Margot is not crazy. She’s not. But perception is reality, and all the money in the world can’t buy the illusion of sanity. Nor, apparently, can it convince even the most red-blooded of men to get into bed with her.

Meanwhile, in the heartland of Kentucky, the Great Depression is sinking its roots into the Bluegrass. Prohibition has not been kind to the whiskey industry, and bourbon aristocrat Merrick Dravenhearst is feeling the squeeze. After a chance encounter with a beautiful heiress, sworn bachelor Merrick impulsively throws his hat in the ring for Margot’s hand. Just the right hint of lust, money, and quiet desperation…the best society marriages have been staked on far less, after all.

Upon arrival at Dravenhearst Distilling as a newlywed, Margot uncovers the legend of the Dravenhearst suicide brides—two generations of wives, both found dead on the grounds of the distillery. Her new manor home is teeming with ghostly glimmers of the women who lived there before her. And her brooding, beguiling new husband is unaware Margot has brought demons of her own to his estate, initiating a cataclysmic chain of events set to bring long-buried blood-tinged family secrets to the surface.

The Dravenhearst Brides is a loose retelling of du Maurier’s Rebecca and is set on a haunted bourbon distillery estate. With a marriage of convenience love story, a brooding Byronic hero, and ghost brides afoot, this book is perfect for fans of Isabel Canas and Crimson Peak.

Genres: Historical Romance, Romance, Gothic, Historical, Historical Fiction, Marriage Of Convenience, Ghosts

398 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 9, 2025

About the author

Lindsay Barrett is a Maggie and RWA award-winning author who crafts dark stories with lots of kissing. An avid world traveler, most of Lindsay’s writing inspiration comes from perpetual wanderlust. When she isn’t snowshoeing atop glaciers in Alaska, drinking bourbon in Kentucky, or binge eating tapas in Spain, she can be found in her home state of Maryland, where she lives with her husband and their tiny titan (read: prince) of a rescue dog.

Reviews

[Lauren · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read: 10/11/25
Setting: 1933 Kentucky
Trope: MOC, fortune hunter, virgin H, haunted house with 2 ghosts
POV: all through Margaret's eyes, but then it wouldn't be suspenseful otherwise

This was an okay story. If you're a fan of Gothic hr, then ignore my review. I think I've come to the conclusion that they aren't for me, so I can't judge this book fairly. Still, I will do it anyway 😉

plot:
Margaret's father is dying, and he wants her married to a man who can take care of her and her enormous wealth. Margaret isn't well. She has fainting spells and sometimes sees ghosts. Margaret has especially been suffering since her twin brother died. Unfortunately, everybody thinks she is mad and Margaret doesn't have any suitors despite her beauty and wealth. Her father has all but accepted a marriage proposal by his friend, a man 30 years older than Margaret. Then Margaret literally runs into Merrick at a party. They barely exchanged two words, but she feels a strong connection to him when he touched her. Merrick gets into an exchange with Margaret's soon to be fiancee and surprisingly offers for Margaret. She surprises everybody and says yes.

Now, she is married to a man she hardly knows. He doesn't seem to want her. Then, on top of everything, the house is haunted by 2 ghosts. The former brides of the Dravenhearst family. Both women hung themselves in the Rickhouse. Every night, Margaret is shown the crazy life Babette (dead MIL) led. Babette was a selfish woman who had numerous affairs and took pleasure in other people's pain. She enjoys tormenting Margaret.

Though, the real threat comes later when Margaret and Merrick's relationship begins to turn romantic and is finally consummated. The 2nd ghost appears when Margaret becomes pregnant. Eleanor (grandmother in-law) lost her children and was beaten by her husband. She wants Margaret to know her pain. Now, she is a threat to Margaret's baby.

So can Margaret stop the curse of the Dravenhearst brides, or will it consume her and her baby too? Can true love and friendship develop from this MOC?

liked:
1. Margaret is complicated. She is scared of life but who wouldn't be. 🤷‍♀️ Seeing ghosts would cause anyone to go mad. She starts out so weak, but we see her slowly grow into a strong woman by the end of the story. She faces down her demons and stands strong by her husband. Margaret becomes his rock by the end, and I loved that! Her journey could be frustrating, though.
2. Merrick. We don't get a lot from Merrick's character. For 55% of the book, he is a bit of a mystery. He doesn't consummate the marriage and kinda of ignores Margaret. Though, he (atheist) does go to church just for her. Then he sneaks out at midnight a couple of times a month. All signs look bad for their marriage, and then we learn the truth.

***spoiler ****Merrick never wanted to marry because of the Dravenhearst curse. He has been celibate for a decade. He picked Margaret for a reason. Yes, he needed the money, but it was more than that. While she never noticed him, he had noticed her for a long time and wanted her. He married her but was scared to let her into his life. He also isn't having an affair but is indebted to deliver bourbon to one of Capote's bootleggers. He is counting on Prohibition being abolished so he can finally bring his family's bourbon business back. He's deeply dedicated, something Margaret learns, to returning it back into the thriving company it once was. Though strangely, Merrick is using very little of Margaret's money and plans for her dowry to be a loan. Merrick even signed a prenup. If Margaret decided to leave him, he would get nothing. In the end, he really just wanted Margaret. He is just an idiot in the way he goes about showing it. Once this couple has a brave, honest conversation, Merrick becomes a true, loving husband.
3. The secondary characters were interesting. A bold, single spinster who trained racehorses in 1930s? Ruth could've had her own book!
4. The element of danger for Margaret was real. The suspense in the beginning was really nerve-wracking. I yelled, "Get out!" a couple of times. I wish the author could have kept the intrigue going through the whole book.

Dislike:
1. These are not shy ghosts. They appear to others. That took some of the mystery away. Also, why the hell would anyone live there? That's like agreeing to live in the Amityville Horror house. Vengeful spirits can be a bitch on a happy home so maybe get the F*ck out now! I guess i like the hauntings in my books to be more subtle, or I wonder why the person is too stupid to run.
3. The lack of romance for 50% of the book. I wish the relationship started sooner. Even once their marriage became a real one, I still wanted more. He kinda of remained a background character.
4. There really wasn't a mystery to be solved. Most Gothic novels the ghost has a point. They are trying to warn the MC or solve their own murder. The ghost brides in the story are just there mainly to annoy. I didn't care that much about their backstory because it doesn't matter or affect the present day plot thst much.
5. 1933 is one of the most exciting time periods in United States history. Why not use that more? Besides her husband trying to get Prohibition repealed, I wouldn't know what era the book took place. The plot focuses so much on the haunting in the house that it really could have been the Victorian times for all I knew.
6. Why have a twin brother in the story? I get since his death she doesn't feel whole but there was no other point of this character. Besides uttering the last line before his death he never appears. I thought he would maybe appear and save her at the end. Nope! Nothing. In fact her seeing ghosts doesn't really seem to matter in this story since practically everybody (at least the women) in that house have seen one of the brides. Why does Margaret have this ability? It was useless to the plot.

Conclusion: I have mixed feelings about this book. I was in the mood for a ghost story for Oct. but this book just isn't my cup of tea. I like my ghosts to be more secondary characters with some mystery that needs to be solved. This book focused more on Margaret slowly overcoming her weaknesses and becoming a strong, secure woman. She bravely creates her own happiness with Merrick. It had a message.

This just wasn't what I was looking for but other Gothic lovers might appreciate it this book more.

[Southern Lady Reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

Took me a while to finish this one but I just had a baby - so it’s not the books fault! With that being said - I really loved our tragic heroine… and hero? But it felt very much like a hazy old timey black and white movie!

- One of the things that made me pick it up immediately was the setting. Kentucky bourbon culture in the prohibition era?! Sign me up! What I didn’t expect was that there would be a few darker elements and def worth reading content warnings below.

- Dramatic but not necessarily ‘sexy’ very much reminds me of Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier. 🌶️🌶️/5 spice and cracked door not explicit.

If you’re a fan of gothic romance and legacies of family trauma - you’ll really enjoy Barrett’s prohibition era bourbon soaked romance!

Content Warnings: LOTS of talk of child loss, spousal abus3, cheating.

[𝘪𝘷 ⋆ ˚｡⋆୨୧˚ 🧸 · Rating 5 out of 5]

i. love. this.

this was SO good i could not stop reading it!!!

[Lara Loves Lit · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m so grateful to the author and @happilybookedpr for the opportunity to receive an advanced copy of The Dravenhearst Brides. I cannot believe how much I enjoyed this southern gothic romance filled with ghosts, mysteries and spooky vibes.

Margot is a disgraced debutante heiress, and Merrick is a bankrupt bourbon blue blood, and the two come together in a marriage of convenience. Their pasts are filled with heartache, loss and trauma. As Margot comes to live in his family manor, she begins to be haunted by its past brides and struggles to keep the Dravenhearst Bride’s curse from making her its next victim. The suffering of both the MCs could be felt viscerally, and I found myself not only feeling their pain but wanting to help them heal.

The mental health representation in this book was handled with such skill I had no doubt the author was writing from lived experiences—and after reading the author’s note, I got so emotional because she was, and I felt seen. Margot’s grief and depression were treated as hysteria—the book takes place near the end of prohibition when women’s illnesses were almost always labeled as such. Margot’s character developed her own strength and blossomed under the love and safety Merrick offers her which helps her fight not only her own ghosts, but those of Dravenhearst manor as well.

As the MMC, Merrick’s obsession with bourbon and keeping the family distillery in business makes him a solitary and brooding character in the beginning, but with Margot’s presence he begins to grow into the perfect partner for her. As an equestrian rider, Merrick looks incredible in his riding pants—which Margot calls The Devil’s Knickers🤣! I would certainly not complain about seeing Merrick in those or getting caught in the rain with him. (IYKYK)

This is a well written and researched story that honors not only Kentucky and bourbon’s history, but also the difficult and varied road to healing mental health issues require. If you love a gothic romance with a sexy tortured MC, ghosts, suspense, mystery, and a brave FMC, I highly recommend adding this to your TBR. It’s perfect for spooky season!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
🌶️🌶️

[quietpageturner · Rating 4 out of 5]

Margot and Merrick are a matched made in southern gothic! I enjoyed the author’s vivid writing and the flashbacks because they added an important depth to the characters and story.

While reading this book, the supernatural elements reigned supreme. Ghosts are visiting to leave messages and warnings? Main characters are recovering from past trauma annd melancholia while in anmarriage of convenience? This book had so many elements that were skillfully enmeshed and I can’t wait to read what the author has up next!

[Formerly Known as Spoiler W · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Dravenhearst Brides is a chilling, haunting, southern gothic tale that blends romance, mystery and the supernatural.

*Margot – a woman grappling with past trauma and panic attacks reenters the world after being a recluse.

*Merrick – a man from a once-powerful bourbon family now fading under Prohibition and who has past trauma as well and secrets…many many secrets.

As they get together, secrets get shared as well as their feelings and love(though it takes time but the timing had to be right). Words are spoken and they had me in my feeeeeels!

“How do you want me to look at you, Margot?
“I just…”
“I just want you to look.”
“Believe me, I’m looking.”
And then his lips were on hers….

From the moment Margot steps foot on the eerie Dravenhearst estate, it becomes clear that something is deeply wrong. The staff’s unease, the whispers of past brides, and the manor’s own unsettling presence raise a single, haunting question: is Margot losing her grip on reality, or is something darker at play within the house itself?

The Dravenhearst women- three unforgettable figures whose lives unfold across shifting timelines and perception. Each woman feels fully realized, with distinct voices that is revealed through visions and dialogues in their timelines. At times throughout the story is was just downright creepy...which I absolutely loved.

The author's vivid writing, tight pacing , and powerful characters make this a gripping read from start to finish. If you love atmospheric gothic tales with a strong emotional pull, I highly suggest you one click.

This is a favorite of 2025 and my second 5 star read of the year.

*arc courtesy of the author via The Nerd Fam...many thanks*

[Alex ⟡ ݁₊ ☪︎ · Rating 5 out of 5]

**4.5 stars rounded up**

First of all I would like to thank Lindsay for sending me this ARC to read and review. I absolutely adored this book. Once I got going on it, I couldn’t put it down. I quickly and effortlessly found myself loving Margot and relating to her in so many ways. And how easily I also fell for our tortured, dreamy, horse-riding, bourbon making MMC. I am SUCH a sucker for a marriage of convenience trope, and this was so well done. The way they start off as virtual strangers, learning how to navigate this new life they have together, slowly falling in love, and facing the obstacles they do together felt so authentic and real.

There is a lot of grief and trauma touched on in this story, as well as some other difficult topics. I feel they were handled with such care and I could feel the characters pain and healing as if it were my own. I cried many times throughout this story, I wish I could hug Margot and Merrick. And also Lindsay because girl, I’m still thinking about your authors note at the end 😭💞. I genuinely felt so seen.

I loved the time period and setting of this book, as well as the way the mystery around the curse of the Dravenhearst brides was unraveled. If you enjoy historical romance, marriage of convenience, mental health rep, haunted characters, mystery, and bourbon making - be sure to check this one out! 🥃💞

I’m definitely going to need a trophy copy when this releases, because it’s one I will definitely be reading again. And I mean, just look at that cover 😩😮‍💨

[Bookish.Helen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lindsay Barrett’s sophomore novel, The Dravenhearst Brides, is a gothic, supernatural tale, compelling in its portrayal of two haunted loners, each wounded by a past that holds them captive within their own lives. Margot suffers from what the doctors in the book describe as being vasovagal—she faints when distressed, her body trying to protect her from her troubled mind. Barrett uses it here as a historical lens to explore how Margot’s trauma manifests physically, long before modern terminology and understanding of mental health were available. Merrick, on the other hand, has buried himself in his family’s bourbon-making business, finding increasingly desperate ways to stay afloat after a decade of Prohibition in his native Kentucky, and as a shield from his own trauma. Both characters, in a desperate bid for some control over their respective circumstances, enter into marriage. What begins as a marriage of convenience slowly burns into a fraught understanding and eventually blossoms into love.

It’s a gothic story, filled with supernatural elements that bring three storylines together to show not only what is required for healing from traumatic grief, but also what is needed to live a life that’s free from the constraints of the past. It also does an incredible job of showing how misunderstood women have been around their pain and the mental health issues specific to women and mothers. The author’s note is a must-read.

There’s so much more to love about this book! Barrett’s prose is rich and lyrical; its beauty evident not only in the tender moments, but also in the most terrifying ones. I especially loved the use of symbolism and metaphor throughout the story’s development. The bourbon casks (with their “devil’s take” and “angel’s portion,” and the time and effort required to create their unique and wonderful flavours) serve as a powerful metaphor for identity: how we’re shaped by time, loss, and experience.

The love story takes centre stage, unfolding with both dramatic intensity and subtle emotional depth. Told only from Margot’s point of view, we’re left to wonder at Merrick’s motivations in the same way she is. Barrett makes this a rewarding experience for the reader and uses on-page action to reveal his character. The story is rich in detail, and it’s abundantly clear how Margot and Merrick help each other, and themselves, as they grow to understand one another better. It’s not a smooth journey, but one that makes for a propulsive read.

The plot twists in this story are surprisingly good. There were things I thought I had figured out that weren’t even close. Even Barrett’s eschewing of romance clichés lends a breathtaking freshness to the story. I was captivated fully by this book from the first page and found it increasingly hard to put down as the story went. Days later, I’m still thinking about it, and am unwilling to read anything else lest I lose this story’s world before I’m ready. The bonus epilogue is a wonderful gift and available through the author’s newsletter. Getting Merrick’s point of view years later is delightful. Can’t recommend this book enough.

I received an ARC for free and am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Brittanica Bold · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was my first read of Lindsay Barrett’s and I definitely want to go read her other published book now!

This book brought all of the southern gothic vibes in the best ways!! I loved that the book took place during a culturally significant time in American history, especially for a whiskey producer in the South like Merrick, and the author really dug into that time in America to amplify the stakes in their marriage of convenience.

Speaking of their marriage of convenience, I liked the idea that she had two options: a man she grew up with who was old AF and not who she wanted and this mysterious man who she met at a party and had insane chemistry with. Yeah…I think I’d go with the mystery man behind door number 2 as well!

Also a product of the time, I loved exploring Margot’s mind, grief, and depression. While I hate that women where undiagnosed for so long and just chalked up to being “hysterical”, I loved the undercurrent of feminism that ran through her thoughts about why she was told or prescribed certain things because she was a woman. I further loved how there were times she couldn’t trust her own mind because of her fainting spells and “wild thoughts”. It definitely added to the story the question of “Is all this weird stuff really happening? Or is there something wacky in her prescription? Or is she hallucinating for real??”. It was definitely fun to watch play out and Margot was a perfect vessel for this story.

Lastly, I enjoyed the mystery and seeing all the pieces come together about the deaths of the two previous Dravenhearst Brides. Is it a curse? Is it coincidence? Is it avoidable? You’ll just have to see for yourself 😊

Thank you to The Nerd Fam and Lindsay Barrett for the gifted eARC. The thoughts and opinions expressed above are honest and my own.

[Jess Reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to The NerdFam and the author for the advanced reader copy of this book.

This is a Rebecca retelling that was done really well. I really enjoyed the author's spin on this classic. This is set during prohibition in Kentucky in the 1920's. Our male main character owns a bourbon distillery that he is trying to keep afloat and enters into a marriage of convenience with an heiress that has been shunned by society. The female main character has been forced back into society due to an ailing father, she is in need of a husband to run her father's buisness.

The female main character has some untreated mental health issues (due to the lack of society's concern about these conditions during this time period) caused by a childhood trauma. The author does an excellent job addressing these issues as well as other issues that women were shunned for in this era.

The author also did a really good job of making the haunting atmosphere realistic and believable.

I really enjoyed this one and would definitely recommend.

4⭐️
2.5🌶
**trigger warnings for domestic violence and miscarriages**

[ReadwithNae24 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley for feeding my spooky little soul with this ARC 🖤👻

This book?? Ohhh it was serving ✨gothic vibes✨ on a haunted Kentucky bourbon distillery and I was LIVING. September/October read?? Perfect. Atmospheric?? Delicious. Did I actually get freaked out a few times?? Yeah babes, I was clutching my blanket like it was holy water 😅

Our FMC Margot is giving “not crazy but everyone thinks I am” energy (relatable), and she walks straight into this marriage of convenience with broody bourbon daddy Merrick 🍷🥵. Of course the manor is crawling with ghosts, family curses, and whispers of “suicide brides”… casual.

Now, did I guess the killer before the reveal? Yes 🙃. Did it ruin the vibes? Absolutely not. Because the vibes were IMMACULATE. Think Crimson Peak + Rebecca + a splash of bourbon = gothic girl dinner.

Highlights for me:
👻 Haunted wives showing up at inconvenient times
💍 Forced proximity “I married you for your money but oops I might actually like you”
🥃 Broody MMC who should come with a warning label
😱 Me scaring myself in broad daylight like an idiot

Basically… dark, eerie, romantic, slightly unhinged = my favourite combo. Perfect autumn rec.

[Emmy Wong · Rating 3 out of 5]

THE AUTHOR CLAIMS THAT THIS BOOK IS A "GOTHIC ROMANCE", HEADS UP, IF YOU'RE LOOKING FOR A ROMANCE BASED NOVEL, THIS ISN'T IT. IT'S DEFINITELY MORE GOTHIC, THRILLER BASED-MOST OF THIS BOOK IS ABOUT IS VERY SUSPENSEFUL AND INTENSE. MARGARET GETS MARRIED TO MERRICK DRAVENHEARST, THE
SMALL ESTATE
AND BOURBON MILL. BUT HIS HOUSE HOLD MANY SECRETS, AND THE GHOSTS OF THE PAST DRAVEN#
DES REMAIN
THERE, HAUNTING THEM. THIS PLOT WAS QUITE CRAZY, IT GOT CRAZY HARD TO TELL HATEWAS RE
AS
NOT. I LOVED ALL THE INSANE PLOT TWISTS, I COULD NEVER HAVE GUESSED SOME OF THESE AND THIESHOSTS, DRESMS AND HALLUCINATIONS ONLY ADDED TO EERIE, HAUNTING MOOD OF THIS BOOK AND ITS THRILL AGOR HONESTLY DON'T REALLY LIKE MERRICK, HE'S VERY ODD, WE DON'T ACTUALLY NOT MUCH ABOUT HIM APARTEROM TEER
T THAT HE
LOVES BOURBON, HAD A TERRIBLE CHILDHOOD SUFFERING FROM NEGLECT AND NOW HIAS MAYOR MOMMM AND DADDY ISSUES. HE DOES TRY HIS BEST FOR HER BUT, HONESTLY HE WAS PORTRAYED SO WELL IN THE FIRST TEN PAGES ONLY TO DROP. IT ACTUALLY GIVES LIKE BRIDGERTON SEASON 1, WHERE SIMON IS AMAZING BUT ONCE THEY GET MARRIED HE'S LIKE WEIRD AND IGNORES HER. ANYWAYS THEY DO GET OVER THEIR PROBLEMS AND HE DOES GET-A LITTLE BIT OF REDEMPTION AT THE END. BUT I LOVED THE COMPLEXITY OF MARGARET'S CHARAGTER AND HOW SHRICREW THROUGHC THE BOOK. SHE ENTERED AS A SHY, WORRIED GIRL AND CAME OUT A FIERCE, STUNNING WOMAN -PI
rHis I ge
WISH THERE WAS A LITTLE MORE OF A ROMANCE ELEMENTS.
5-113/5 |

[Jessica White · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow was this book an irresistible read! It’s been a long time since I’ve read anything with a dark ghostly gothic vibe and now that’s all I want to consume. If you’re looking for this mood, then The Dravenhearst Brides brings the madness of a Hitchcock film to a disheveled bourbon estate where mysteries of the past haunt its inhabitants. Lindsay Barrett writes this gothic story so well that I would recommend this to fans of everything from dark romance to thrillers.

At the heart of the story is Margaret (Margot) Greenbrier who suffers from fainting spells and has been deemed unwell by physicians. Already isolated because of her condition, when Margot moves to the remote tomb-like Dravenhearst manor for a marriage of convenience and begins having visions, is it a matter of ghosts or fits of insanity? As her dreams become more and more a part of her reality, Margot begins to question the wrongs that have befallen the prior Dravenhearst brides letting their presence interfere with her marriage and her well-being.

The story takes place during the time of Prohibition, right on the cusp of the states reversing the dry vote. As a defunct Kentucky bourbon distillery owner, Merrick has sunk every bit of his life and funds into saving his family’s legacy. Only a few inhabitants remain at the distillery, the caretaker and his wife, and the equestrian trainer. Barrett knows how to write peculiar characters and between the residents of the manor and the ghosts, I felt the unease that torments Margot. I can’t say I would be able to stay in a room where every morning someone to find my wedding dress in a noose or moved about the room, which advocates for Margot’s strength. There is a lot of grief in this book and in a way, the ghosts provide an outlet for Margot’s strain from losing both her brother and mother. It would be easy to imagine a woman losing her grip on reality when she’s suffered so much. But thankfully Merrick is her lighthouse and she is fortunate to have married a man that is unwilling to let the sins of his family drag his wife down with them.

The tension between Merrick and Margot holds their relationship together emotionally and intimately. These are not characters that have the option of seeking therapy, but they find that by confiding in each other they can share the burdens of their heart. By choosing each other in their marriage of convenience, Merrick and Margot are able to overcome the grief that has held them captive and are truly able to love freely.

I cannot stress how much I loved this book. Barrett is writing a romance for lovers of both historical and mystery genre and her storytelling captivated me from page 1. It truly is the perfect book for spooky season. I received an early copy from the author, all opinions are my own.

[kat · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 stars | the dravenhearst brides 💌
i knew this book would pull me out of my reading slump the moment it made me cry in the very first chapter. plus, the dravenhearst brides was a perfect read for a cold, rainy day, with a warm blanket and a hot chocolate.

but since i went in blind, the story caught me off guard with its darker and horror-ish moments especially the scene where a ghostly hand grabbed margaret’s ankle and dragged her away... that part gave me the creeps and had me pulling my feet under the blanket. but with each chapter, i realized that the ghosts were haunted by their own past. it actually reminded me a bit of the kdrama the light shop.... if I started talking about the lore of that drama, i would be here for a while, but all in all, it gave me the same feelings.

anyway, margot and merrick deserve the biggest hug for everything they went through. they faced their darkest times, yet in the end, they found each other and healed together. 🥹🤍

“How do you want me to look at you, Margot?” He pinned her with his gaze. She couldn’t have looked away if she tried. Her mouth opened, barely parted. “I just…” Her voice dropped to a whisper. “I just want you to look.” To see me and not turn away. Several more raindrops fell, one grazing her cheek, dripping like a tear. Merrick thumbed it away. “Believe me, I’m looking.”

the way this had me silently screaming into my pillow at 4am! 😭

[Nikki (awallflowerreads) · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 ⭐️

This book blew me away in so many ways and was one that stayed in my head long after the final page. Lindsay is such a skilled writer, and you can tell that immediately from the start of this book, and it carries throughout. She hooks you with her clever storytelling and characters that are so compelling you need to keep turning the page to learn more. But also her turns of phrase and the way she can so easily evoke emotion, and do more “showing” than “telling” are extremely strong in this. She uses really powerful symbolism here that just works, and she sets the tone immediately that this is going to be a gritty and dark love story. She makes her characters work, but I love it when authors do this because it makes the ending that much more satisfying.

Merrick and Margot are two deeply haunted characters, both plagued by their pasts and how it’s shaped their present and future. The single POV is a strong choice here, which really helps reinforce some of the anxieties Margot is feeling about her circumstances. It also helps keep Merrick mysterious, and you’re constantly wondering how he’s feeling. And when he eventually reveals more about himself, it’s even more powerful.

The haunting in this book is so cleverly done because, in ways, it feels very present and real. And in others, you’re wondering if it’s all in Margot’s head. She’s the best kind of unreliable narrator and is largely shaped by her past trauma and haunts. Lindsay does a great job of keeping you wondering while still exploring the depths of Margot’s thoughts and emotions. You don’t ever feel deceived by her as a narrator, even when you know you’re missing pieces. She’s untrusting of just about everyone in the house, and the house itself very much becomes a character in this. It feels alive both to us readers and to Margot. A companion when she’s navigating the lonely days of her marriage.

This novel is really the story of a haunted girl living in a haunted house, married to a man with many hidden secrets. And I adore that at a certain point, this shifts, and Margot decides to take control of her future and attempts to end the curse of the Dravenhearst Brides. This story really resonated with me in ways I can only scratch the surface in describing. And I think others will feel similarly attached to this one.

Thank you to the author for an eARC of this book. All opinions expressed are my own.

[Tess · Rating 4 out of 5]

I gave this 3.5 stars that I rounded up to 4. It wasn't great, but it was good. There were parts that felt a bit cringy in a failed attempt at being deep way. And some of the dialogue didn't feel like a natural way people talk, even for 1930s standards. The actual story had me hooked though. This is a gothic romance that takes place in 1933 Kentucky. Margot, the heroine, has married Merrick who owns a bourbon distillery right when prohibition is being repealed in the U.S. Margot is also being haunted by the ghosts of her husband's mother and grandmother. The mystery and drama in the books was great. The stakes of needing prohibition repealed for the sake of their livelihoods had me forgetting that I already know prohibition gets repealed. The setting was interesting. I thought the romance was good. The ghosts play a large role in this book. This is told from the point of view of Margot, and I understand why, but it felt like it should have been duel pov. This book does have some heavy themes. Overall, it was a good enough read, that I'd be willing to read this author again in the future.

[Sam · Rating 4 out of 5]

The author takes us on a journey through the Prohibition era, in a seamless haunting tale of loss, love, ghosts, trauma and healing.


If you are looking for something perfect for spooky season, look no further. The Dravenhearst Brides absolutely deliver’s.

Margot and Merrick are perfectly imperfect, slowly coming to trust, respect and love one another, even with all the ghosts (proverbial and real) that follow them with every step.

The time period? Prohibition era, one of the few that legitimately fascinates me, which brings its own set of hurdles to jump over for the characters (especially bourbon king Merrick). The author flawlessly keeps us trapped in the period, and it only adds to the dark vibes this book brings.

If you’re looking for a book that will spook you, tear your heart out, and put it back together, I highly recommend picking this one up!

[Kristin · Rating 4 out of 5]

I would like to thank the author for a free copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

A unique gothic story. Darker, but enjoyable.

[Darth C · Rating 3 out of 5]

Okay listen..this book is southern gothic dramaaa. Like, decaying manor, suspicious husbands, fainting couches, and enough emotional humidity to fog your brain. It’s beautifully written… lush, haunting, absolutely dripping in atmosphere, but also a little like reading poetry underwater while ghosts whisper about your trauma.

I respect it. I do. The mental health rep is handled with care, the prose is stunning, and the vibes are elite. But the pacing… ugh, the pacing is slower than molasses in January (*respectfully*). At one point I swear I blacked out and woke up still wandering the same haunted hallway with my emotional support candle.

It’s heavy, it’s heartfelt, it’s a lot. I didn’t fall in love, but I definitely felt something, and maybe that’s the point.


Tropes & Vibes
👻 Haunted manor with more red flags than rooms
💋 Sad girl meets sadder boy, cue emotional carnage
🪞 “Is it ghosts or is it trauma?” (spoiler: yes)
💔 Love story but make it generational therapy
🥃 Bourbon, secrets, and Southern repression
🕸 Gaslight ✨Gatekeep✨ Gothic Girlboss
🪶 Mentally unwell but make it ✨aesthetic✨


You’ll like this if you’re into….
🌙 Lush, lyrical writing that feels like drowning in velvet
📜 Family curses, haunted love, and dark southern secrets
💐 Pretty prose that makes you feel haunted and slightly dehydrated
🖤 Books that stare into your soul and politely ask, “how’s your mental health?”

TL;DR
It wasn’t for me, but it might be for you. It’s giving mentally ill girly meets emotionally cursed house and they trauma-bond 💅

[Kat Robbins · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book reads like it doesn’t want to be read.

✰ DNF 16%, the heroine is a little too passive and simpering for me, and the male love interest irritates me with this lack of communication and irritability

thank you to the publisher for an ebook arc in exchange for an honest review

source: kindle ebook arc

[Pam · Rating 5 out of 5]

What’s that clip that went viral on TikTok? “Spectacular, give me 14 of them right now,” or something like that? Well, that’s exactly how I felt finishing this book. I want 14 more of this type of gothic historical romance right now.

Margaret Greenbrier has been declared delicate, hysterical, and generally unwell by a patriarchal medical establishment that doesn’t know how to respond to depression and anxiety in a woman in 1933 Kentucky. After multiple family tragedies, Margot and her father are all that’s left of the Greenbriars—and even that won’t be for long. Her father has cancer and is determined to marry off his only child to ensure her safety.

Bourbon distiller Merrick Dravenhearst has been struggling under the weight of Prohibition and the Great Depression. With his business shuttered due to the 18th Amendment, he needs an infusion of cash to keep things afloat until Prohibition can be repealed. To that end, he throws his hat in the ring for Margaret. Her two options are Merrick and a man old enough to be her father, so she chooses Merrick—despite the rumors about his family.

The welcome for Margot at Dravenhearst Manor is chilly, to say the least. The staff is stunned that Merrick brought home another Dravenhearst bride after what happened to the previous two, Merrick's mother and grandmother. Margot is immediately haunted by her predecessors, leading her to wonder what happened to them to have caused such trauma in this house. But no one will talk about the past, so Margot has to piece together a painful and fragmented history if she ever wants to find peace in her new home.

This book was absolutely phenomenal. I am a gothic romance girl in my soul. I was raised on a steady diet of Daphne du Maurier, the Brontës, and Ann Radcliffe. I want 100% more gothic romance in my life, so I am thrilled to see the recent revival of the genre in indie publishing. There is nothing subtle about the gothic elements here. We have straight-up ghosts haunting most of our characters, and everyone in Dravenhearst Manor knows it. You can’t even describe the hauntings as an “open secret,” because basically everyone has a conversation with Margot about them at some point.

Where this book shines is in blurring the lines between the paranormal and the psychological. Were Margot alive today, she would likely be diagnosed with depression and anxiety and probably medicated as part of a treatment plan. In the 1930s, when women complained of mental health issues, they were declared “hysterical” or “delicate” and given things like laudanum or cocaine to deal with their problems—obviously not a great solution for someone struggling with their mental health.

Margot dealt with the death of her brother, followed shortly by her mother after a prolonged mental illness. She was left to cope on her own since mental health care didn’t exist, and she struggled, which led to a laudanum prescription. Over the course of the novel, we see that Margot is haunted with or without the laudanum, but her spectral visitations seem more vivid and tactile when she’s had the drug. I loved the way Lindsay Barrett managed to sensitively portray Margot’s struggles alongside the paranormal elements without sensationalizing her mental health issues.

Merrick is the Man Who Has Never Had a Feeling™️—but with a Kentucky accent and a bourbon recipe rather than a dukedom. I was locked in from the second he appeared on the page. Special thanks to Lindsay Barrett for actively including his chest hair in several scenes and having it on the cover. I am very tired of smooth historical romance heroes (also, all dark-haired historical romance heroes are Morgan Spector in my head, and I think that kind of works here) and would like more chest-hair representation, please.

I’m barely scratching the surface of all the amazing things in this book. If you’re a gothic romance person, this is a must-read. Just trust me and go get a copy right now. ★★★★★

[Kristin Sheppard · Rating 5 out of 5]

A hauntingly beautiful exploration of love and loss.

Before I dive into this review, I do want to urge anyone who is interested in this book to please read the content note to be sure that this one's for you. There are some pretty heavy themes in these pages, and while we do achieve a happily ever after, as in life, it is one tinged by sadness and difficulty. Those who struggle with depression, infertility, and/or miscarriage may wish to take extra caution when reading.

When Margot Greenbrier returns to the Kentucky social circuit in 1933 it is with a singular goal in mind: finding a husband. Unfortunately, thanks to her disastrous debut, her only option appears to be Alastair, a friend of her father's who is considerably older than she is. That is, until the enigmatic bourbon aristocrat Merrick Dravenhearst offers her a lifeline.

Grateful for any offer other than Alastair's, Margot wholeheartedly agrees to marry the elusive Mr. Dravenhearst and quickly finds herself wedded and spirited off to his crumbling Kentucky estate. Prohibition woes, however, quickly prove to be the least of the problems at the Dravenhearst estate.

Third in a line of Dravenhearst wives, Margot quickly finds herself immersed in the tragedies of the brides that came before her, haunted by their pasts. But Margo is no stranger to tragedy and her curiosity quickly gets the best of her. Can she discover the reason these unfortunate brides linger on the crumbling estate? And, more importantly, can she avoid becoming yet another tragic installment in the Dravenhearst curse?

What Barrett has achieved in The Dravenhearst Brides is the perfect blend of southern gothic and historical romance. The hauntingly eerie setting of the once proud Dravenhearst estate and distillery combines so perfectly with the tumultuous time period of prohibition and the Great Depression. The sense of desperation felt by Merrick in regards to his family home and legacy is heightened by the narrative of the ghost story. Misfortune has come for Dravenhearst on all fronts and success seems so impossibly out of reach. At least until Margot comes along.

That Margot is the savior of Dravenhearst on two different fronts is so beautifully poetic. Not only does her position as an heiress save Dravenhearst Manor from being lost to the scourge of the depression and prohibition, but her determination to subvert the curse upon her new family and move forward in her life with Merrick is the very thing that finally puts the ghosts that haunt them to rest.

Despite being told over and over that she's hysterical and must not get overexcited, Margot demonstrates time and again that she possesses a type of strength that not many people possess. Her strength is a quiet strength, a survivor's strength. She is wounded, but not broken. She struggles, but does not give up.

I particularly enjoy the way each of the characters in this novel, both living and deceased, struggle with love and grief. The way their journeys parallel each other but they are not identical. We're able to see the way events of the past ripple forward into the future, creating a domino effect that has a certain level of influence on future choices but does not necessarily define those future choices. Our heroine has her own agency. She is able to make decisions for herself, despite the way those around her worry (and practically insist) that she'll end up as another tragic statistic in the history of Dravenhearst.

The suspense level and pacing of this novel was on point. The way Barrett was able to keep me on edge and hungry for more was everything I could have wanted. Tidbits and morsels of information were offered piece by piece, ensuring the reader's appetite remained high all the way to the climactic end. If this is the level of storytelling we can always expect from Barrett, I'll be reading more of her work for certain.

Thank you to the Nerdfam and to Lindsay Barrett for the advance reader's copy of this story.

[Ash (so there’s this book) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Genre: Adult Gothic Hist-Rom
Spice: 2.5/5🌶️
*spice ratings are relative to similar books in the same genre; this one had a pretty average amount of spice, but was less detailed than others in the same genre*

The Catalog: F/M, bourbon distillery in 1930s prohibition Kentucky, marriage of convenience, age gap (22x31), bankrupt bourbon aristocrat x disgraced debutante heiress, slow burn mutual pining, haunted manor, literal and figurative ghosts of the past, they’re both inexperienced, strong mental health themes, hurt/care, breaking the cycle, mysteries & reveals

CWs/TWs: strong mental health themes, discrimination based on mental health, miscarriage, pregnancy, domestic violence & abuse, cheating (not by MCs), suicide and suicidal ideation, suspense & horror themes

Synopsis:
As the heir to her father’s fortune, Margot should be a prized match for any man, but after a mental health crisis sent her into isolation, she’s become a social pariah worth only a pity match with her father’s friend. Yet, at her reemergence into society, she literally bumps into Marrick Dravenhearst, heir to the former bourbon empire that has run dry during prohibition. He needs her inheritance, she needs any other prospect, so a marriage of desperation is what they shall have. However, when she arrives at the famed Dravenhearst Distillery manor, it becomes apparent that ghosts walk the halls and they are eager to make her the next victim of the Dravenhearst Bride curse.

Thoughts:
When I signed up for this ARC, I was excited by the prospect of a spooky, historical romance with an entirely too swoony cover. I couldn’t have predicted how entirely haunted I am by this story—simply, it was phenomenal. This book takes a hard look at women’s mental health issues, the physical manifestations of generational trauma, and asks the reader to question what it means to keep a legacy alive.

The story takes place on a bourbon distillery in 1930s, prohibition Kentucky, where the MMC’s family legacy has run dry. Marrick has been tending the distillery alone after promising that there would be no more Dravenhearst Brides after the horrid demise of both his mother and grandmother. Indeed, the few employees he keeps all believe there to be a curse; certainly the manor itself is haunted. Enter Margot, a woman with a history of mental health conditions, and a heart full of hope that her new married life is the new start she needs.

Little does she know that the ghosts of brides past will haunt her every waking and sleeping moment inside of the manor, making her question her own sanity, and sending her on a quest to root truths buried so deep, they fester.

The gothic, horror vibes of this book are fantastic. It was absolutely creepy and kept me on the edge of my seat, adrenaline pumping. On my own spooky scale, this is somewhere between a 2 and 3 out of 4, but given the darker themes, I’m leading toward 3/4.

The romance was one of deep pining, ecstatic tummy butterflies, and cycle breaking. Merrick is officially one of my new fave MMCs; he is so tortured but all he wants is to give Margot everything she wants, and to love her wholly in the process. As for Margot, she needs to be seen, to be accepted for who she is, and Mr. Dravenhearst just might be the man to do it.

I absolutely recommend this book to gothic romance lovers, and anyone looking for a little fright between the kissing.

******

A final note:
I just wanted to make note of this, in case anyone needs the warning, the MMC has an all black dog named “spook.” I do not think it was the intention of the author (or her character) for this to be offensive or harmful, but I wanted to mention it.

[Heather Brickley · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book... This book! This is such a perfect book for lovers of ghost stories and mysterious who done its. Set in the 1930s in Kentucky during the height of the Great Depression and the repealing of Prohibition, we explore several themes from political discourse and mental health challenges still relevant to today. A Louisville heiress who has experienced severe grief through the loss of her mother and brother and a straining health condition, she fears she will always be alone and never find love. Enter a debonair man who only has eyes for her with a sinking bourbon and race horse career that needs financial saving, they jump right into marriage. As soon as they arrive at Dravenhearst manor, the brides of the past begin to visit Margot. She is given the task of finding out why they are still haunting her new home, and she uncovers many dark secrets.

The love story between Margot and Merrick really pulled hard on my heartstrings. The way he truly saw her and listened once they got past their bumpy start, and the way she supported him was inspiring and something I wish I saw in more romance books. They both struggled with their own ghosts, but they trusted each other and helped pull each other up through encouragement to face their fears.

There are some major physical and mental triggers with this book, so please make sure to read the warning pages before diving in. If you or someone is sensitive to miscarriage and/or mental health troubles, please read this one cautiously. Lindsay does a beautiful job at the end of the book providing resources for anyone struggling with any of the mental health challenges in this book. She navigated them so well on page, too.

I'm not one for jump scares and horror books, but the chill and suspense factor was captured gracefully with the ghosts in this book and how they interacted with our main characters. At times I would wonder if Margot's mind was playing tricks on her, or if her medicines were making her hallucinate, but that's the joy of this book - it's up to your interpretation on whether the ghosts are real or not. (I have an opinion, but I don't want to sway your thoughts :))

Lindsay set this one up so well - I was beyond surprised by the twist at the end! I really thought I had it all figured out. There were some elements that set you up to guess correctly, but others were a complete surprise, and I appreciate it when an author can keep me guessing until the end.

I was fortunate enough to visit Kentucky this past summer to visit family, so having that trip fresh in my mind while reading this book made me savor this experience. If you want to learn more about bourbon, horse racing, ghosts, and rescuing yourself from your past traumas, grab this book.

I want to thank the author and The Nerd Fam for a copy of the e-ARC in exchange for my honest review.

[VickydpBooks · Rating 5 out of 5]

Omg I loved this book it’s amazing releases 9 October

Blurb

An heiress with a haunted past enters a marriage of convenience with a man as tempting as the devil himself…and likely just as ruinous.

“It’s very dangerous to love a Dravenhearst…even more dangerous, perhaps, to be loved by one.”

After a scandalous debut sent her into recluse, heiress Margaret Greenbrier returns to the Louisville social circuit for the 1933 season. Laudanum prescription or no, Margot is not crazy. She’s not. But perception is reality, and all the money in the world can’t buy the illusion of sanity. Nor, apparently, can it convince even the most red-blooded of men to get into bed with her.

Meanwhile, in the heartland of Kentucky, the Great Depression is sinking its roots into the Bluegrass. Prohibition has not been kind to the whiskey industry, and bourbon aristocrat Merrick Dravenhearst is feeling the squeeze. After a chance encounter with a beautiful heiress, sworn bachelor Merrick impulsively throws his hat in the ring for Margot’s hand. Just the right hint of lust, money, and quiet desperation…the best society marriages have been staked on far less, after all.

Upon arrival at Dravenhearst Distilling as a newlywed, Margot uncovers the legend of the Dravenhearst suicide brides—two generations of wives, both found dead on the grounds of the distillery. Her new manor home is teeming with ghostly glimmers of the women who lived there before her. And her brooding, beguiling new husband is unaware Margot has brought demons of her own to his estate, initiating a cataclysmic chain of events set to bring long-buried blood-tinged family secrets to the surface.

The Dravenhearst Brides is a loose retelling of du Maurier’s Rebecca and is set on a haunted bourbon distillery estate. With a marriage of convenience love story, a brooding Byronic hero, and ghost brides afoot, this book is perfect for fans of Isabel Canas and Crimson Peak.

[Hannah Lindley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ever since I had the privilege of being an ARC reader for Lindsay Barrett’s debut novel, Savannah Royals, I have counted her among my favorite authors. I can now say with certainty that Lindsay has done it again. Her new book, The Dravenhearst Brides, is an aptly described Kentucky gothic romance. It tells the story of Margaret “Margot” Greenbrier, who — after suffering back-to-back, unspeakably traumatic tragedies in her youth — now suffers from a mental illness which confines her almost exclusively to her home and attracts ugly labels such as “mad” and “hysterical” from doctors and the community alike. When the irresistibly handsome Merrick Dravenhearst swoops in to save Margot from the frightening prospect of marriage to her father’s leering, much older friend, she sees potential for happiness in her future. But upon arriving at Dravenhearst Manor after her wedding, Margot sees that something is terribly amiss within the walls of her new home.
As a woman who has experienced mental illness and endured extensive trauma, I was truly taken aback by the mental illness representation in this book. Paired though they are with the creeping, atmospheric dread characteristic of a gothic novel, the characters’ psychiatric symptoms are in no way sensationalized. Instead, readers are granted a breathtaking balance of ghost story and domestic drama. While there is pain, grief, and generational trauma within this novel’s pages that are not at all for the faint of heart, I laughed while reading it far more than I cried. Wry humor abounds throughout this story, and multidimensional characters and mysterious subplots have been devised to perfection. This is unquestionably a new favorite of mine. Any prospective readers should check their content warnings. The author has my utmost gratitude for allowing me to be an ARC reader.

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Dravenhearst Brides by Lindsay Barrett

What a beautifully written gothic romance. As always, I try to go in almost blind when starting a story, and what drew me in right away was that stunning cover and the promise of a gothic romance set in 1930s Kentucky and in a bourbon distillery, no less.
If that doesn’t immediately catch your attention, this probably isn’t the book for you.

The atmosphere is haunting and lush, the writing elegant and evocative. I absolutely loved our heroine, Margot Greenbrier, strong, flawed, and navigating a world where every woman’s struggle was dismissed as hysteria.

Her chemistry with Merrick was undeniable, their passion simmering in a deliciously slow burn filled with angst and longing.

My only hesitation was in the middle portion of the story, where the haunting elements dragged a bit and the lack of communication frustrated me, but the emotional depth and the payoff made up for it.

Some of my favorite moments:

“I have only ever needed you.” “But why?” he asked, whispering. “Why does the earth need rain?” … “Why does your bourbon need the barrel?” … “Some things,” she finished, “are just supposed to be together. To make each other better. Stronger.”

“It’s not you, Margot, it’s me. I’m the one who’s mad,” he murmured against her lips, his hands twining deep into her hair. “I’m positively mad for you.”

“In case I haven’t made it abundantly clear,” he murmured, his chest rumbling against hers, “you are simultaneously the best and worst thing that has ever happened to me.” … “Yes. You’ve ruined me. Quintessentially and thoroughly.”


Please note: this book touches on several triggering themes.

⭐️ 4 stars
🌶️ 2 chili peppers

Thank you The Nerd Fam and Lindsay Barrett for the review copy, all opinions are my own.

[The Sewist's Bookshelf · Rating 5 out of 5]

⭐ 4.5
🌶️ 1.5
🥵 Spicy Chapters: 18, 23, 25
📚 Tropes/Themes: marriage of convenience, tortured hero, disgraced debutante heiress x bankrupt bourbon aristocrat, mental health rep, historical, ghost brides
👀 Single POV 3rd person 
💔 Triggers: depression, suicide, panic attacks, DV, death, infertility/miscarriage
🛍️ Available: 10/9

💬 Ok so I was right to be excited about this book because 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼 it was so good. It sucked me in so fast. This is probably the third non regency historical romance I've read and I think I almost like this time period - the early 1900s better. 

It's definitely more of a romantic suspense, thought. That's not a bad thing, I adore romantic suspense but because I forget blurbs within minutes I thought it was going to be less suspense and more romance. Just the focus is more on the ghost story.

I'm obsessed with the cover and the gothic vibes are ✨ perfection ✨ especially since Halloween is fast approaching. Like this is an honest to goodness ghost story that left be a little unsettled at night 😅

I definitely got emotional too, for Margot and what she dealt with, as well as the other brides. I have.... Feelings about the other brides, I guess... Not all charitable feelings but I don't want to give too much away. I guessed part of it but there were a lot of little twists. 

I wish there had been a bit more about Merricks character because I felt like I didn't really know him at all, and I would've enjoyed more spice but honestly I don't think that would've added much to the story itself. 

Highly recommend, especially if you liked The Cruel Dark by Bea Northwick

[Danielle · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Dravenhearst Brides is a historical gothic romance that also feels like a haunted murder mystery. I had so much fun with this book. It’s a loose retelling of Rebecca, and please don’t come for my head, but dare I say I enjoyed it infinitely more.

The story takes place in Kentucky during the 1920s and follows Margaret Greenbrier and Merrick Dravenhearst. Margot struggles with debilitating mental health issues, but because of the time period, she’s viewed as unwell and undesirable despite being an heiress. Merrick is a bourbon aristocrat with no bourbon and no money thanks to Prohibition. The two enter a marriage of convenience since Merrick needs money, and Margot needs a husband.

After moving into Merrick’s estate, she learns about the Dravenhearst suicide brides. Now a Dravenhearst bride herself, Margot must learn how to be a wife, manage a haunted estate and its ghostly occupants, and face her past traumas, grief, and fears.

The mental health representation in this book is incredible and so well written. As someone who deals with anxiety and depression, the way Margot’s episodes are portrayed feels raw and deeply relatable.

Another thing I loved was how much this read like a mystery. There were so many moments when I wasn’t sure who had done what, and it kept me on the edge of my seat.

Be sure to check trigger warnings, a significant portion of this story has themes of miscarriage, infertility, and child loss.

[ThatsSomeGoodSmut · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Dravenhearst Brides is an atmospheric, gothic tale that weaves together love, loss, and lingering ghosts, both literal and emotional. Set against the eerie beauty of a haunted bourbon distillery in Depression and Prohibition-era Kentucky, this story delivers everything I crave in a southern gothic: a brooding estate, family secrets, and a marriage of convenience that slowly turns into something achingly real.

Margot and Merrick are both deeply haunted—she by her own mind and the way society refuses to understand her, and he by the weight of legacy and grief. Their dynamic feels fragile and genuine, built on empathy as much as attraction. I loved how the romance grew quietly amid the chaos, offering a glimmer of hope even as the ghosts of Dravenhearst brides whispered from the walls.

The mental health representation here is handled with so much care. Barrett doesn’t shy away from the stigma and misunderstanding of the time, showing how easily women’s pain was dismissed. Margot’s journey toward self-trust and healing is both painful and empowering, and it made the ending land beautifully.

That said, the book touches on heavy themes of grief, trauma, and pregnancy loss among other things so I definitely recommend checking the trigger warnings before diving in.

Thank you to the author for an copy of this book.