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The Secrets in Casten's Horn
Driftless Spirits
Charlotte Burke can’t shake her recurring dream.
Over and over again she dreams of finding a mysterious journal on a candlelit desk while wandering through a strange house in the middle of the night. Every dream has shown her a framed picture of an old woman sitting at the same desk, except the latest version. Last night, the woman stood and offered Charlotte a keyring. In the morning, Charlotte woke up with her car keys in her hand.
Her best friend is worried but skeptical when Charlotte insists the house is real. The dream is metaphorical, Ivy says, reflecting Charlotte’s restless state. Ivy gifts her a journal and urges her to take the trip her subconscious is demanding before she wakes up behind the wheel. A roadtrip of self-discovery will help Charlotte figure out what she really wants.
Charlotte agrees to the roadtrip but not for Ivy’s reasons. To her, the house, the journal and the woman in her dream are all too real. She sets off to do the impossible. If she can find the house and uncover its secrets in time, she might save far more than her driftless life.
Over and over again she dreams of finding a mysterious journal on a candlelit desk while wandering through a strange house in the middle of the night. Every dream has shown her a framed picture of an old woman sitting at the same desk, except the latest version. Last night, the woman stood and offered Charlotte a keyring. In the morning, Charlotte woke up with her car keys in her hand.
Her best friend is worried but skeptical when Charlotte insists the house is real. The dream is metaphorical, Ivy says, reflecting Charlotte’s restless state. Ivy gifts her a journal and urges her to take the trip her subconscious is demanding before she wakes up behind the wheel. A roadtrip of self-discovery will help Charlotte figure out what she really wants.
Charlotte agrees to the roadtrip but not for Ivy’s reasons. To her, the house, the journal and the woman in her dream are all too real. She sets off to do the impossible. If she can find the house and uncover its secrets in time, she might save far more than her driftless life.
261 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 24, 2025
About the author
Karen Ringel
1 book33 followersIn 2020, Karen Ringel retired from an engineering career to settle in the Driftless Area of Wisconsin with her husband. After taking some time to adapt to the rural lifestyle, she started creating the fictional Casten’s Horn, imagining how a small town might have been founded in the secluded valley she lives in. Always a researcher at heart, her books include references to real bits of history and traditions in an effort to enhance her stories. She writes what she likes to read: small-town mysteries with a cozy feel.
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
April 4, 2026
Dollycas’s Thoughts
Charlotte Burke finds herself trapped in a recurring dream that grows more vivid with each passing night. She envisions herself in an unfamiliar house in the middle of the night, drawn to a candlelit desk where a journal and a framed photograph of an elderly woman sit. In the latest dream, the woman stands and hands Charlotte a ring of keys. The experience becomes even more mysterious when Charlotte wakes up to find her own car keys in her hand.
Convinced that the house from her dreams truly exists, Charlotte shares her experience with her best friend, Ivy. While Ivy is skeptical, seeing Charlotte so affected by the dreams compels her to dig deeper. She discovers a journal matching Charlotte’s description and encourages Charlotte to locate the house from her dreams. Ivy proposes a road trip, hoping it will bring Charlotte some peace of mind.
Charlotte puts in for time off from work and takes off, literally chasing her dream. She believes all the elements in her dream are real. She has been adrift in her life. If she searches for the house and finds it, she believes secrets will be revealed. Secrets that could change her life.
I was intrigued by this story from the minute I saw the cover.
Charlotte Burke has been feeling stalled in her life, but taking a trip with an unknown destination is scary. Ivy gave her a hefty push to take the chance and jump into this new adventure. After completing her pending work projects, journey Awake Charlotte is a go. Ivy’s friendship shines; she intuitively knows that Charlotte needs this time, even if she doubts the house is real. Charlotte’s authenticity makes it easy for a reader to invest in her journey.
Charlotte’s natural curiosity leads her to the Driftless region of Wisconsin, where she feels drawn to the small, welcoming town of Casten’s Horn. As she becomes involved in a local event and meets the residents, the mystery deepens. Charlotte believes she has found the house, but questions remain—why was she led here, and why now? The story unfolds at a comfortable pace, blending Charlotte’s mission with her gradual integration into the community. She faces unexpected dangers, but the mystical elements of her journey develop organically, offering warmth rather than fear.
Driftless Spirits is a memorable and heartfelt story that invites reflection. Character-driven and cozy, it delivers a compelling mystery with touches of gentle paranormal intrigue. Readers will join Charlotte on her journey of self-discovery, learning to trust those inner voices and embrace change. The story is both an engaging escape and a reminder of the power of listening to oneself. It’s a Perfect Escape.
I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review. Thank you to the author for providing me with an ARC.
Charlotte Burke finds herself trapped in a recurring dream that grows more vivid with each passing night. She envisions herself in an unfamiliar house in the middle of the night, drawn to a candlelit desk where a journal and a framed photograph of an elderly woman sit. In the latest dream, the woman stands and hands Charlotte a ring of keys. The experience becomes even more mysterious when Charlotte wakes up to find her own car keys in her hand.
Convinced that the house from her dreams truly exists, Charlotte shares her experience with her best friend, Ivy. While Ivy is skeptical, seeing Charlotte so affected by the dreams compels her to dig deeper. She discovers a journal matching Charlotte’s description and encourages Charlotte to locate the house from her dreams. Ivy proposes a road trip, hoping it will bring Charlotte some peace of mind.
Charlotte puts in for time off from work and takes off, literally chasing her dream. She believes all the elements in her dream are real. She has been adrift in her life. If she searches for the house and finds it, she believes secrets will be revealed. Secrets that could change her life.
I was intrigued by this story from the minute I saw the cover.
Charlotte Burke has been feeling stalled in her life, but taking a trip with an unknown destination is scary. Ivy gave her a hefty push to take the chance and jump into this new adventure. After completing her pending work projects, journey Awake Charlotte is a go. Ivy’s friendship shines; she intuitively knows that Charlotte needs this time, even if she doubts the house is real. Charlotte’s authenticity makes it easy for a reader to invest in her journey.
Charlotte’s natural curiosity leads her to the Driftless region of Wisconsin, where she feels drawn to the small, welcoming town of Casten’s Horn. As she becomes involved in a local event and meets the residents, the mystery deepens. Charlotte believes she has found the house, but questions remain—why was she led here, and why now? The story unfolds at a comfortable pace, blending Charlotte’s mission with her gradual integration into the community. She faces unexpected dangers, but the mystical elements of her journey develop organically, offering warmth rather than fear.
Driftless Spirits is a memorable and heartfelt story that invites reflection. Character-driven and cozy, it delivers a compelling mystery with touches of gentle paranormal intrigue. Readers will join Charlotte on her journey of self-discovery, learning to trust those inner voices and embrace change. The story is both an engaging escape and a reminder of the power of listening to oneself. It’s a Perfect Escape.
I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review. Thank you to the author for providing me with an ARC.
December 14, 2025
From the opening dream sequence, Driftless Spirits establishes an atmosphere rooted in intuition, restlessness, and the slow pull of something unnamed. Charlotte’s story feels immediately familiar in the best way. She is not running from tragedy or danger but from stagnation, from the unsettling realization that her life has begun to feel paused. That emotional starting point gives the book a gentle but persistent momentum.
What Ringel does especially well is treat place as both setting and catalyst. Wisconsin’s Driftless region is not just where the story happens, it is part of what the story is about. The landscape mirrors Charlotte’s internal state: winding roads, unexpected valleys, quiet towns that seem easy to overlook unless you stop and really look. Casten’s Horn feels lived in rather than constructed, and its routines, celebrations, and peculiar rhythms give the town a sense of layered history without overwhelming the narrative.
Charlotte herself is an easy protagonist to root for because her doubts feel honest and unembellished. Her curiosity outweighs her fear, but just barely, and that balance keeps the tension grounded. The mystery elements arrive slowly and organically, never disrupting the cozy tone but gently complicating it. The supernatural aspects are understated and feel more like an extension of intuition and memory than something overtly threatening, which makes them more intriguing than alarming.
At its core, Driftless Spirits is a story about listening. Listening to instincts, to forgotten history, to places that seem to call quietly rather than loudly. The novel resists neat answers and dramatic twists, opting instead for gradual revelation and emotional payoff. It invites the reader to slow down, pay attention, and trust that small moments can still carry significance. The result is a story that feels comforting without being predictable, and reflective without losing narrative direction.
Find my full review here: https://likelystory.blog/2025/12/14/r...
What Ringel does especially well is treat place as both setting and catalyst. Wisconsin’s Driftless region is not just where the story happens, it is part of what the story is about. The landscape mirrors Charlotte’s internal state: winding roads, unexpected valleys, quiet towns that seem easy to overlook unless you stop and really look. Casten’s Horn feels lived in rather than constructed, and its routines, celebrations, and peculiar rhythms give the town a sense of layered history without overwhelming the narrative.
Charlotte herself is an easy protagonist to root for because her doubts feel honest and unembellished. Her curiosity outweighs her fear, but just barely, and that balance keeps the tension grounded. The mystery elements arrive slowly and organically, never disrupting the cozy tone but gently complicating it. The supernatural aspects are understated and feel more like an extension of intuition and memory than something overtly threatening, which makes them more intriguing than alarming.
At its core, Driftless Spirits is a story about listening. Listening to instincts, to forgotten history, to places that seem to call quietly rather than loudly. The novel resists neat answers and dramatic twists, opting instead for gradual revelation and emotional payoff. It invites the reader to slow down, pay attention, and trust that small moments can still carry significance. The result is a story that feels comforting without being predictable, and reflective without losing narrative direction.
Find my full review here: https://likelystory.blog/2025/12/14/r...
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews