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Ghostly Howls #2
Ghostly Returns
Irish folklore meets small town USA
Strange visitors have appeared in Ethel, their clothes and mannerisms jarring against the familiar rhythm of the coastal town. The woman in Orla and Dave's spare room speaks in archaic phrases and marvels at electric lights, while the silent man staying with Molly and Cormac carries a translucent device that glows with symbols no one recognizes.
As fog rolls in from the sea, bringing with it the now-familiar whispers and cold spots that signal another haunting, the four friends realize they must unravel the temporal mystery before them. The clock tower strikes at midnight, and both past and future hang in the balance.
*Contains mature themes, open door sex scenes, and mature language.
Strange visitors have appeared in Ethel, their clothes and mannerisms jarring against the familiar rhythm of the coastal town. The woman in Orla and Dave's spare room speaks in archaic phrases and marvels at electric lights, while the silent man staying with Molly and Cormac carries a translucent device that glows with symbols no one recognizes.
As fog rolls in from the sea, bringing with it the now-familiar whispers and cold spots that signal another haunting, the four friends realize they must unravel the temporal mystery before them. The clock tower strikes at midnight, and both past and future hang in the balance.
*Contains mature themes, open door sex scenes, and mature language.
113 pages, Kindle Edition
Published February 10, 2026
About the author
Stephanie Hansen
24 books646 followersAgent @MetamorphLitAg | Altered Helix Game 2023 | PenCraft and Global Book Award Winning Author | Mom | deaf | Replaced Parts & Omitted Pieces @FireIceYABooks & @TantorAudio | Ghostly Howls 2023 | IMADJINN FINALIST | Armored Hours 2024
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
February 27, 2026
When the past still feels heavy
When I finished the book, I stayed thinking about something simple but a little strange. More than the ghosts or the odd things in the town, what caught my attention was how people carry parts of the past without noticing. Sometimes you think a stage of life is already behind you, finished. But then it comes back in small ways, memories, feelings, little things that appear again.
The book made me think that facing that is uncomfortable, even confusing sometimes, but maybe necessary. Nobody has everything clear all the time. Most people are just moving forward the best they can, trying, making mistakes, learning a bit along the way.
Maybe that is why the story feels kind of close to real life. Not because of the supernatural parts really, but because life keeps moving while people are still trying to understand things. And honestly, that happens to everyone.
When I finished the book, I stayed thinking about something simple but a little strange. More than the ghosts or the odd things in the town, what caught my attention was how people carry parts of the past without noticing. Sometimes you think a stage of life is already behind you, finished. But then it comes back in small ways, memories, feelings, little things that appear again.
The book made me think that facing that is uncomfortable, even confusing sometimes, but maybe necessary. Nobody has everything clear all the time. Most people are just moving forward the best they can, trying, making mistakes, learning a bit along the way.
Maybe that is why the story feels kind of close to real life. Not because of the supernatural parts really, but because life keeps moving while people are still trying to understand things. And honestly, that happens to everyone.
February 26, 2026
It absorbed me
This book is too engrossing. It begins with a mysterious circumstance that could cause anyone unease. In a place that is still healing from the past, our four characters cannot bear not understanding where these new visitors come from and what they are looking for.
We then delve into this adventure where the four friends will face dark things with an ancient and mystical appearance. How will this new journey they embark on be resolved?
I loved the book; it kept me hooked chapter after chapter. I must admit that this author has a spectacular narrative ability, with a tremendous capacity for staging.
Highly recommended for all types of readers.
This book is too engrossing. It begins with a mysterious circumstance that could cause anyone unease. In a place that is still healing from the past, our four characters cannot bear not understanding where these new visitors come from and what they are looking for.
We then delve into this adventure where the four friends will face dark things with an ancient and mystical appearance. How will this new journey they embark on be resolved?
I loved the book; it kept me hooked chapter after chapter. I must admit that this author has a spectacular narrative ability, with a tremendous capacity for staging.
Highly recommended for all types of readers.
February 13, 2026
Ghostly Returns by Stephanie Hansen is book 2 in the Ghostly Howls series by the author. This book is a YA paranormal romance. I read book one in the series before I read this one and I would definitely recommend doing that. You do not want to lose anything in the story by missing the first one! A little background on the characters, Orla and Molly are our MC's with gifts that make them very different from others. Orla is like Rouge from X'Men who can't touch others without her powers coming into play. Molly is a half banshee who in the last book were trying to find a killer who was killing people in their town. In this book Orla and Dave have a strange woman who speaks in old tongues living in their extra room. And strange people have started appearing in the town who where different clothes and acting different and bizarre to others in the town. And this book brings us another mystery for the group of friends(Molly, Orla, Dave, and Cormac) to solve. This book contains some mature spicy scenes so while it is a YA not for younger adults below a certain age if you want them to be clear of racy scenes. I liked the incorporation of Irish folklore in this book and overall in the series, makes the plot more interesting! I thought this was an interesting read and if you like paranormal romances mixed with mysteries, you will like this one!
April 10, 2026
This book is the second installment in a highly entertaining series. In this one, strangers have started showing up in Ethel. Orla and Dave don’t know what to make of it at first, nor do Cormac and Molly. Then, signs start to appear that another haunting is going to take place. Might it have something to do with the newcomers that have started to inundate the coastal town?
What’s fun about this book is that it’s a nice mixture of modern sensibilities and a good, old-fashioned mystery story. The supernatural or otherworldly aspects of it don’t jar with the modern setting. Instead, they play off each other to create a sense of unreality that allows the author to flex her considerable literary talents. The NSFW elements are definitely part of the fun.
What’s fun about this book is that it’s a nice mixture of modern sensibilities and a good, old-fashioned mystery story. The supernatural or otherworldly aspects of it don’t jar with the modern setting. Instead, they play off each other to create a sense of unreality that allows the author to flex her considerable literary talents. The NSFW elements are definitely part of the fun.
February 27, 2026
Ghostly Returns is about four friends who have to unravel the mysteries of strange visitors to their town and homes. One of them is a woman who uses outdated language and the other is a man who has lost his ability to speak. He also has a strange object that glows in symbols that no one of the current generation knows.
While the story has some interesting elements and the author is gifted at writing long sections that still feel fast paced, I was often uncomfortable reading it because of the explicit language and sexual content. However, if these things do not worry you, then this book might be very satisfying for you.
While the story has some interesting elements and the author is gifted at writing long sections that still feel fast paced, I was often uncomfortable reading it because of the explicit language and sexual content. However, if these things do not worry you, then this book might be very satisfying for you.
April 13, 2026
Four friends, a long-lasting past, and how to thrive in this new experience. The second amazing, long-awaited book, I was very happy when it came out, and reading it reminded me why this author is great. Stephanie Hansen’s writing style manages to catch your attention very easily. This book brings some mystery; time is key and how to deal with their pasts.
Every page will get you more intrigued and wanting to keep going. What for me was the most interesting and got my attention is the detail of each character. There is so much depth to each of them, and you get to know them very well and understand that each life has been meaningful and is going to be important in their new experiences.
Every page will get you more intrigued and wanting to keep going. What for me was the most interesting and got my attention is the detail of each character. There is so much depth to each of them, and you get to know them very well and understand that each life has been meaningful and is going to be important in their new experiences.
April 15, 2026
I liked Ghostly Returns a lot. I read the first book, and this one feels even better to me. The story is simple to follow but still interesting. I really enjoyed the mix of Irish folklore and the small town, it feels different.
Those creepy visitors kept me on edge the whole time.
The characters are good and felt more real in this book. Also, the mystery about time kept me reading, I wanted to know what was going on. It has some strong scenes, so maybe not for everyone, but overall, I think it’s a very good second book. I would recommend it if you enjoy ghost stories with a bit of mystery.
Those creepy visitors kept me on edge the whole time.
The characters are good and felt more real in this book. Also, the mystery about time kept me reading, I wanted to know what was going on. It has some strong scenes, so maybe not for everyone, but overall, I think it’s a very good second book. I would recommend it if you enjoy ghost stories with a bit of mystery.
April 3, 2026
Much like the first novella, Ghostly Howls, in Ghostly Returns we bounce between Molly and Orla's POVs. This one is a similarly fast-paced paranormal mystery with a bit of romance. The Irish folklore references were fun and I love the element of time and the past. A quick, fun read that I think fans of paranormal romance and mystery will enjoy.
💜Thank you to the author, Stephanie Hansen, and R&R Book Tours for having me on this tour and for the gifted digital review copy of Ghostly Returns. All thoughts expressed are my own.💜
💜Thank you to the author, Stephanie Hansen, and R&R Book Tours for having me on this tour and for the gifted digital review copy of Ghostly Returns. All thoughts expressed are my own.💜
April 15, 2026
I liked the mix of fantasy, romance and mystery that the story has. This is an engaging read from the very beginning. Once I started, I could not stop and put it down.
The author has a very good writing style which captured my whole attention. The setting was well created and characters were well developed too. I would recommend it.
The author has a very good writing style which captured my whole attention. The setting was well created and characters were well developed too. I would recommend it.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews