I had the pleasure of receiving this book in exchange for my honest review. The story is about two very unlikely people, Sephie and Luke, being trapped in a magical mansion that has an attitude. Sephie is a self-proclaimed skeptic of all things paranormal, while Luke is able to communicate with the other side. With her petite frame, sharp wit (and even sharper tongue) Sephie is the perfect foil for Luke. He's tall, broad-shouldered and and boisterous, which is a good trait to have when dealing with a tiny spitfire such as Sephie.
From the beginning, their relationship is a mix of oil and water, but they're forced to put their differences aside and work together to defeat the most unlikely of opponents, a magical mansion called Ashland Manor. The house has so many tricks up its sleeve that if you blink you might find yourself in a very compromising position- literally! The characters are all intriguing in their own way- feisty Sephie, rambunctious Luke, as well Sephie's younger sister, Thalia, who brings her own wit and charm as well as love for romance and adventure. The sisters share an unmistakable bond which also helps Sephie during her battle with the manor. There's also Jace, the heartthrob whose face makes women want to swoon, but whose arrogant attitude makes everyone else want to rearrange his features for him.
The plot is pretty straightforward- a tv crew is assembled to explore a beautiful historical mansion that's rumored to be haunted. During filming, Sephie and Luke become trapped inside and have to put aside their almost instant dislike of each other in order to find a way out. The pacing of the story is good, there's plenty of action to keep you wanting to turn the pages, and once you reach the end of the story, you will find yourself missing this magical world. Ms. Casino's dialogue is realistic, snappy, and delivers on sarcastic turns of phrase. This book will appeal to a variety of audiences, especially those who love a tale of enemies to lovers, "will they or won't they?" and "if they do, will there be spice?" My answer is yes! There is spice and it's nicely done. Luke is considered a good cook in the kitchen, and let's just say his talents extend to other rooms as well....
I highly recommend this book because it's well-written, entertaining, and at many times, outright funny. You won't want to put it down. Thank you again, Ms. Casino, for another fun ride.