Her Ghostly Embrace

Lockwood Coven #1

by Colette Rivera

Kiss girls and scorch the earth.
Gia Balzano’s life is ruled by two inescapable she’s the daughter of Ashton Lakes’ ruling crime boss and their family ties are forever. But Gia is a prisoner in her own home, and when she finds out everything was built on a lie, she must break free.

Aurora Thornfield is bound to an evil coven. Her magic is useless against her captors—her family—and there’s only one way to escape their sever all earthly ties and free her soul. There’s just one problem. Once Aurora’s spirit leaves her body, she can’t find her way back to her mortal vessel.

Aurora is a ghost trapped between life and death. All seems lost until the day a beautiful woman walks into her, and screams.

Gia didn’t know magic was real, and if every day since fleeing her family wasn’t stranger than the last, she might not accept the truth. But Aurora draws her in like no one in this world ever has, and Gia has a feeling that together they’ll have the power to conquer anything.


***
Her Ghosty Embrace is an FF paranormal romance about two women who have had enough and will stop at nothing to get their happily ever after. And vengeance. This is the first book in the Lockwood Coven series, a group of interconnected, stand-alone novels. Content warnings can be found using the look inside feature and on the author’s website.

Genres: Lesbian, Fantasy

248 pages, Kindle Edition

Published May 4, 2026

About the author

Colette (she/they) is an author of queer paranormal romance novels living in New Zealand. Colette loves to write couples who take care of each other and show their soft sides in love, even when they’re prickly in other facets of their lives. Sugar, spice, and magic are key ingredients in all of Colette’s books.

Reviews

[Rosie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I just love that there’s never any messy miscommunication tropes or anything awful of that nature to trudge through for our main characters in Colette Rivera’s books. The characters feel the feelings and face the challenges together - never gets old!

Gia and Aurora have so much in common with being held prisoner by their own circumstances. It was so satisfying watching them unravel the truth about Gia’s past.

I loved being back in Shearwater Landing!

[Wren Rivers · Rating 4 out of 5]

ARC review:

This was such a unique story that I truly enjoyed. I honestly have been struggling to read do to some life happenings lately and this was just the book to get me back into the swing of things.
Gia is the daughter of a crime family. Aurora is magically bound to an evil coven. Both want to escape and find their freedom. After fleeing from her family Gia meets Aurora, whose ghost is stuck between life and death after a spell gone awry. With both their families at their heels and feelings blossoming between them they will have to learn to trust each other and themselves as they work together to fight for their freedom.
This book was on the shorter side but it was written incredibly well to match the length. I really appreciated the pacing and how nothing felt too rushed. With each chapter we got to know Gia and Aurora, their circumstances, and eventually their dynamic together.
Gia and Aurora are such lovely characters and they had me wanting more of them pretty much instantly. Gia is such a refreshing take on a crime family’s daughter and Aurora on a witch. Gia wants out and makes it happen and maybe I read too much dark romance but I don’t see that too often. And Aurora isn’t all powerful she has her limitations and has to work with others to accomplish her goals.
Their relationship together was beautifully written as well. Though it happened quickly it wasn’t immediate and trust had to be earned. The chemistry between them was electric and I was all for it.
Colette Rivera truly did a beautiful job with this book and if you are looking for a paranormal sapphic romance this is definitely one to read.

[Issy Waldrom · Rating 5 out of 5]

A new to me author, picked up from a launch party, and I am so glad that I did. A witch and a mobster's daughter, both of whom are trying to escape their abusive families and start a life of their own, and somehow manage to end up in each others orbit. From a startling encounter (ghosts kinda do that), they grow closer while helping each other out. It's not all sunshine and roses, though, given the darkness that they are escaping from, but they are there for each other, and I am very happy with how it all resolved.

It's a very sweet and enjoyable story, with its dark moments for sure, but also showing the strength of found family, and how much a difference it can be when you have people in your life who actually care for you. There's a little spice, plenty of tender moments, and lots of action. A great start to the series, and I look forward to reading the following books to come.

[my_throne_of_books · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this one so much! It had been a while since I ready any paranormal romance with witches so it was nice reading this one!
Gia Balzano’s life is ruled by her father as he is the mafia leader. When she finds out everything she knows is a lie she escapes it all. Aurora Thornfield is bound by her evil coven. Her magic is useless against them unless she leaves her body. When the spell goes right but also wrong her ghost is trapped. Gia doesn’t know the first thing about magic but she wants to help Aurora. They grow closer each day but can they both escape the evil.
Gia was a really interesting character and with her background with the mafia she was a great liar. Aurora being a ghost when they first meet does make for some interesting things. I loved seeing the dynamic grow between them especially once they figure more things out! I was really intrigued by the story as I wanted to know what was going on with the covens. I also loved seeing a small cameo of a character we know from Colette's other series. So if you are looking for a queer FF paranormal romance this one is for you!
Thanks to Colette Rivera for this eARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Ashley Dead.inside_but_reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

This one isn't too dark but I would just check the CWs before going in...there is a good note from the author in there about how Aurora becomes a ghost!

🌶

Gia is on the run from her mob family. Having recently found out she had a long lost Aunt who died and left everything to Gia she decided to head to Shearwater Landing for a fresh start. When she gets there though she quickly learns that this Aunt wasn't part of the mob BUT she was part of a coven of witches. Gia decides that's a bit too much for her right now so she starts going through her Aunt's assets and finds the theater that her Aunt also left her. That is way more doable for Gia so she heads over to the theater to look at the books only to be greeted by a ghost 🤣 After Gia's initial freak out about the ghost we learn that our ghost Aurora isn't actually a ghost but a lost soul. Gia is now roped in to helping Aurora get back to her body but she also has to still stay out of the way of her family!
Boy was this an adventure! I loved the multiple plots, there was always something going on here! There were a couple twists along the way too and I really blew through this one wanting to know how it was all going to play out! I'm really excited for this new series and can't wait to see where we go next!

[Elizabeth D · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.25/5 Gia and Aurora are both trapped in terrible situations, and I loved seeing them fight to get free (admittedly with sometimes unexpected consequences). I enjoyed their growing attraction and the way they slowly opened up to one another. Gia especially has a lot of mistrust and suspicion (entirely warranted by her upbringing) that they have to work through.

There are lots of revelations here (some that made me really angry), family behaving badly, and found family coming to the rescue. It was a little violent/a tad dark for me, but that’s just personal preference. (For a book with bad covens, vampires, and mafia, it’s absolutely not super dark.)

I’m looking forward to seeing more of some of the side characters, and I’m glad to be spending more time in Shearwater Landing.

I received an ARC from the author. This is my honest review.

[Carly (carly_reads_queer) · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fast-paced, enthralling, edge-of-your-seat fight for freedom melded together with a scorching sapphic romance.

As if a ghost separated from her body and a mafia princess on the run wasn’t good enough, this story was absolutely full of twists and turns. Dynamic paranormal elements woven seamlessly with high stakes life-or-death ordeals made this a non-stop thrill.

Two controlling families and two equally lost women who find safety in one another. I was locked in from the first page and holding my breath. The wonderful found family that came through for them both, the secrets revealed. It all came together to make this an exciting, emotional, and tension filled ride.

What you’ll get:
•Sapphic Paranormal Romance
•Ghost/Mafia Princess
•Both on the Run
•Secrets & Lies
•Twists & Turns
•Magic/Covens + More
•Touch Her + D*e
•Horrid Families
•Forced Proximity
•Found Family

[kirsten ❀ · Rating 4 out of 5]

★ ★ ★ ★ / 5

I’m not normally one for insta love / lust but I really enjoyed the surrounding plot and their cute moments. Their attraction made sense and I thought it was really sweet they were drawn to each other.

Their past situations are so similar yet so different and it was intriguing to see how they both dealt with that differently and how they were both able to face it together.

I really enjoyed being back in Shearwater Landing and I’d love to see if Aurora and Harper were to meet how that would go after Aurora not knowing much about his situation either.

I’m excited for Viv’s book and to see what her past will bring. She seems like an interesting character.

Thank you Colette for letting me be apart of your ARC team ~ all opinions are my own and honest.

[Barb · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a very enjoyable read! I loved being back in Shearwater Landing and the cameo we got of a favorite character from another book! This author has definitely become one of my favorites and this book is why! Such a wonderful storyline and great characters who have depth to them. Loved getting to know them and their backstories. My heart definitely went out to a few of them! This was kind of a unique read for me and it was definitely engaging and kept me turning the pages! I can’t wait to see what’s coming next! This is my honest opinion of this complimentary copy of this book

[Georgina Jones · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this

This is my first Colette Rivera book and I can not wait to read more of her work.

This book was surprising in its twists and turns and I enjoyed the way the relationship blossomed between Gia and Aurora

[Kait · Rating 4 out of 5]

Her Ghostly Embrace is the first book in Colette Rivera’s new Lockwood Coven series and it is so good! See the author’s website for content/trigger warnings.

This book is set in the same universe as the Lovers of the Damned series and I absolutely love this universe! Shearwater Landing is such a special setting and I am so glad there are more books set there.

Gia and Aurora were so much fun to read! I loved Gia’s journey of discovering magic and how it relates to her. Aurora was the perfect partner for her, both in magic and in love!

If you’re looking for a sapphic romance, look no further. Thank you Colette for the eARC. Her Ghostly Embrace releases May 4.

[Em (Diversify Your Shelf) · Rating 5 out of 5]

*I got an arc*

CW: parental death (in the past); abusive family; mind control (not between MCs); insta-love

TLDR: A delightful sapphic counterpart to Colette's "Lovers of the Damned" series.

I have thoroughly enjoyed all of Colette Rivera's books that I have read *but* I was so completely unprepared for the perfection that is "Her Ghostly Embrace." Everything about this book is perfect: the characters, the plot, THE GLORIOUS ANGST! There is no unnecessary conflict or second-guessing of sexual orientation just to artificially build tension.

For me, 5 stars is more a feeling than a logical assessment and "Her Ghostly Embrace" is absolutely a five star read. I thought Colette couldn't top Onyx's book (which I have read three times) BUT I WAS A NAIVE FOOL!

I read this a few weeks ago and hoped that waiting a but between reading and reviewing would enable me to be more critical of it but I am still filled with the same sense of giddy joy.