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Crawshanks Guide to Mischievous Spectres & Spirits #1
The Haunted Hotel
Have a frightfully good stay…
Morgan Ashton-Drake hasn’t given his ancestral home in Yorkshire a second thought in decades. He has a great life in the States, running his stepfathers hotel empire with his brother. So what if he’s all work and no play? He’s not missing out on anything important.
But when a suspicious death and rather public scandal at his childhood home forces Morgan to return to England for the first time in years, he’s not keen to confront his past. What he didn’t count on was the seriously cute little blonde disaster who seems to be single-handedly running his eccentric grandfather’s hotel.
Ellis Sparks has worked at the Ashton-Drake Manor House Hotel since he was sixteen and he loves it from the bottom of his soul. Always the eternal optimist, he’s never met a frown he can’t turn upside down; that is, until he meets Morgan Ashton-Drake, the grumpy grandson of his employer. With the hotel in danger of closing, and convinced Morgan is the only one who can help to save it, the resident ghosts decide to try their ghostly hand at a little matchmaking. After all, how hard can it be to get a grumpy workaholic to fall in love with a twinky ray of sunshine?
From the creator of Dead Serious comes this hilarious grumpy/sunshine spin off which will leave you wanting to book your own room at The Ashton-Drake Manor House Hotel.
Morgan Ashton-Drake hasn’t given his ancestral home in Yorkshire a second thought in decades. He has a great life in the States, running his stepfathers hotel empire with his brother. So what if he’s all work and no play? He’s not missing out on anything important.
But when a suspicious death and rather public scandal at his childhood home forces Morgan to return to England for the first time in years, he’s not keen to confront his past. What he didn’t count on was the seriously cute little blonde disaster who seems to be single-handedly running his eccentric grandfather’s hotel.
Ellis Sparks has worked at the Ashton-Drake Manor House Hotel since he was sixteen and he loves it from the bottom of his soul. Always the eternal optimist, he’s never met a frown he can’t turn upside down; that is, until he meets Morgan Ashton-Drake, the grumpy grandson of his employer. With the hotel in danger of closing, and convinced Morgan is the only one who can help to save it, the resident ghosts decide to try their ghostly hand at a little matchmaking. After all, how hard can it be to get a grumpy workaholic to fall in love with a twinky ray of sunshine?
From the creator of Dead Serious comes this hilarious grumpy/sunshine spin off which will leave you wanting to book your own room at The Ashton-Drake Manor House Hotel.
8 pages, Audible Audio
First published August 24, 2024
About the author
Vawn Cassidy
22 books482 followersVawn Cassidy is the MM pen name of British author Wendy Saunders.
She writes MM Romance and Queer Fiction. She's created fantastical realities filled with sassy ghosts, witches and demons. She's also taken readers on a wild journey through the dangerous streets of Victorian London to the secret Molly houses and underground gay community. She also writes contemporary love stories.
She's known especially for her mad world building skills and for creating unforgettable characters you’ll fall forever in love with.
She writes MM Romance and Queer Fiction. She's created fantastical realities filled with sassy ghosts, witches and demons. She's also taken readers on a wild journey through the dangerous streets of Victorian London to the secret Molly houses and underground gay community. She also writes contemporary love stories.
She's known especially for her mad world building skills and for creating unforgettable characters you’ll fall forever in love with.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 155 reviews
August 26, 2024
Brilliant!
I just love this world that Vawn Cassidy has created and the first in her spin-off series set in a run-down and haunted hotel on the Yorkshire Moors is an absolute belter!
It's just as funny as the Crawshanks Guide To The Recently Departed series, if you've read Book Four in that series, you'd understand more about how the Ashton-Drake Manor House Hotel is connected, but this one does work as a standalone.
All the things you'd expect from Vawn are here - a grumpy/sunshine couple, age gap, cheeky ghosts, humour, madcap actions, a challenge to be met and a mystery to unravel and, ultimately, a couple to fall in love with.
Ellis and Morgan might not be quite as swoony as Tristan and Danny, but they still spark in all the best ways.
As with the Dead Serious books, we get three PoVs, from the two MCs and the ghosts, who are just as important to the telling of the story, and lead to some rather amusing set-ups as they plot to try and get Morgan to fall in love with Ellis and save the hotel!
No spoilers here, but let's just say Vawn has a wonderful skill of marrying the twin aspects of humour and tragedy together to create sympathy and understanding in the reader, leading into a fervent desire for the happy ending to be achieved.
We get a very strong HFN and, as I believe Morgan's brother might be up next, I'm hoping we're going to be back on the windy Yorkshire Moors at the Ashton-Drake Manor House Hotel in the not too distant future with more glimpses of Ellis and Morgan enjoying their life together!
#ARC kindly received from the author, I am voluntarily leaving a review
I just love this world that Vawn Cassidy has created and the first in her spin-off series set in a run-down and haunted hotel on the Yorkshire Moors is an absolute belter!
It's just as funny as the Crawshanks Guide To The Recently Departed series, if you've read Book Four in that series, you'd understand more about how the Ashton-Drake Manor House Hotel is connected, but this one does work as a standalone.
All the things you'd expect from Vawn are here - a grumpy/sunshine couple, age gap, cheeky ghosts, humour, madcap actions, a challenge to be met and a mystery to unravel and, ultimately, a couple to fall in love with.
Ellis and Morgan might not be quite as swoony as Tristan and Danny, but they still spark in all the best ways.
As with the Dead Serious books, we get three PoVs, from the two MCs and the ghosts, who are just as important to the telling of the story, and lead to some rather amusing set-ups as they plot to try and get Morgan to fall in love with Ellis and save the hotel!
No spoilers here, but let's just say Vawn has a wonderful skill of marrying the twin aspects of humour and tragedy together to create sympathy and understanding in the reader, leading into a fervent desire for the happy ending to be achieved.
We get a very strong HFN and, as I believe Morgan's brother might be up next, I'm hoping we're going to be back on the windy Yorkshire Moors at the Ashton-Drake Manor House Hotel in the not too distant future with more glimpses of Ellis and Morgan enjoying their life together!
#ARC kindly received from the author, I am voluntarily leaving a review
September 8, 2025
Ahhh this was SO CUTE! I loved it- possibly even more than the original series that this was part of. It’s not spooky at all, for those who aren’t fans of horror. It was funny and filled with silly moments, but also had some deeply emotional and touching moments that definitely made me cry (wasn’t expecting that hahah). Ellis and Morgan are adorable together, and even though it’s 1:30 am I am definitely going straight into book 2!
August 25, 2024
"In that one moment, I know without a doubt that I will lose something important when he leaves. He'll be taking a little piece of my heart that I didn't mean to give but did anyway."
I was so happy when Vawn Cassidy announced this book and I realized that Ellis was the MC! After meeting him in Dead Serious book 4, I was firmly in the Ellis needs a book camp. You can't help but love the adorable man. He's so sweet and bubbly. I don't think he's ever gone a day without smiling in his life. He's had his share of struggles, but he hasn't let any of it dampen his light.
The same cannot be said for our other MC. Morgan is a workaholic and a major grump. Just as Ellis is often seen with a smile, Morgan is known for his scowl. But just like everyone else, he cannot help but be charmed by Ellis' sunshiney nature. The problem lies in the fact that Ellis lives at the hotel while Morgans home and life is an entire continent away back in the states.
"He's everything I never knew I needed and the one thing I can't keep."
It killed me to know that a potential heartbreak was on the horizon for Ellis while he was also dealing with the possibility of losing his home. The hotel is all he's known for most of his life. He's created a family there with all it's quirky staff. Even the resident ghosts consider him one of their own.
We end this book with a HFN for the couple, but more to come in regards to the hotel. I'm pretty sure Morgan's younger brother is on his way, and based on the few bits of him in this book, he's definitely going to be shaking things up a bit. It's gonna be fun!
I was so happy when Vawn Cassidy announced this book and I realized that Ellis was the MC! After meeting him in Dead Serious book 4, I was firmly in the Ellis needs a book camp. You can't help but love the adorable man. He's so sweet and bubbly. I don't think he's ever gone a day without smiling in his life. He's had his share of struggles, but he hasn't let any of it dampen his light.
The same cannot be said for our other MC. Morgan is a workaholic and a major grump. Just as Ellis is often seen with a smile, Morgan is known for his scowl. But just like everyone else, he cannot help but be charmed by Ellis' sunshiney nature. The problem lies in the fact that Ellis lives at the hotel while Morgans home and life is an entire continent away back in the states.
"He's everything I never knew I needed and the one thing I can't keep."
It killed me to know that a potential heartbreak was on the horizon for Ellis while he was also dealing with the possibility of losing his home. The hotel is all he's known for most of his life. He's created a family there with all it's quirky staff. Even the resident ghosts consider him one of their own.
We end this book with a HFN for the couple, but more to come in regards to the hotel. I'm pretty sure Morgan's younger brother is on his way, and based on the few bits of him in this book, he's definitely going to be shaking things up a bit. It's gonna be fun!
October 7, 2024
Fun story!
A love story with ghosts! This was fun! Don't expect this to be like the other "Crawshanks" books, its not! Those were murder mysteries, this is a romance. Fun story, great characters! 4.25 stars!
A love story with ghosts! This was fun! Don't expect this to be like the other "Crawshanks" books, its not! Those were murder mysteries, this is a romance. Fun story, great characters! 4.25 stars!
May 13, 2026
This book was just lovely and got me in my feels. Ugh the aching eyes now! I wasn't sure I was going to like this right off the bat. It was a new author for me and at first grumpy Morgan came off as someone I wasn't going to like. But of course Ellis wore him down quite quickly. And of course the ghosts were amusing in their antics. I felt for Morgan as his past was flying back in his face and he had a lot of unprocessed feelings about it all. Having lost his father at such a young age and supressing all memories of his early childhood it's strange for him to find himself in England and back at his grandfather's hotel. Ellis is determined to find a way to save the hotel he loves and maybe the arrival of Mr. Ashton-Drake's grandson is just what they need. Afterall he runs a successful hotel group.
This whole story was charming. Ellis was adorable and I loved his interactions with the ghosts. He's cute in his blasé acceptance of them. Everything about this hotel was lovely and made it a place I would love to check out. It sounds like it would be so much fun to stay there. The connection between Ellis and Morgan felt genuine as well. Ellis gave Morgan the space he needed while also giving him a reason to laugh again.
I'm now hooked and need more by this author.
This whole story was charming. Ellis was adorable and I loved his interactions with the ghosts. He's cute in his blasé acceptance of them. Everything about this hotel was lovely and made it a place I would love to check out. It sounds like it would be so much fun to stay there. The connection between Ellis and Morgan felt genuine as well. Ellis gave Morgan the space he needed while also giving him a reason to laugh again.
I'm now hooked and need more by this author.
August 23, 2024
Ok so...
First off, I want to say I absolutely loved this. While not totally a standalone series (knowing about how Tristan visited the hotel and all that will give you more details) - one can absolutely read this and get what is happening.
Second off, Ellis and Morgan worked wonderfully. I was hoping it was not going to be just retread of the dynamic of the first two couples in the series and while similar, they had enough differences to make me happy.
Third off, the ghosts were awesome. Each had their own personality and while I wish we did not have to have so many descriptions of them each time a fleshie saw them, they were great. They also got their own POVs, just like Dusty did.
Fourth off, the hotel was its own character. Without it, there would not need to be a series.
Fifth off, I inhaled this story. I could not make myself slow down, even when the goodbye scene happened and made me teary.
My only nitpick were the many descriptions of the ghosts. I mean, it seemed to happen every other paragraph.
I cant wait to meet the brother. He seemed awesome.
First off, I want to say I absolutely loved this. While not totally a standalone series (knowing about how Tristan visited the hotel and all that will give you more details) - one can absolutely read this and get what is happening.
Second off, Ellis and Morgan worked wonderfully. I was hoping it was not going to be just retread of the dynamic of the first two couples in the series and while similar, they had enough differences to make me happy.
Third off, the ghosts were awesome. Each had their own personality and while I wish we did not have to have so many descriptions of them each time a fleshie saw them, they were great. They also got their own POVs, just like Dusty did.
Fourth off, the hotel was its own character. Without it, there would not need to be a series.
Fifth off, I inhaled this story. I could not make myself slow down, even when the goodbye scene happened and made me teary.
My only nitpick were the many descriptions of the ghosts. I mean, it seemed to happen every other paragraph.
I cant wait to meet the brother. He seemed awesome.
August 22, 2024
The Haunted Hotel is the first book Crawshanks Guide to Mischievous Spectres & Spirits series. This is a spinoff series from Vawn Cassidy's Dead Serious series. This is Ellis a sun shiny employee at the Ashton-Drake Manor House Hotel and Morgan Ashton-Drake the grumpy owner. This book is just as good if not better than the Dead Serious books. I love Vawn's characters so much. This book has all the feels you could ask for and then some. I couldn't put the book down once I started it. I can't wait to see what comes next in the series. Any book that can make me laugh and cry is one I would recommend and this one did both. This was a definite 5 star read.
August 24, 2024
I love the staff and ghosts of Ashton House! Ellis is such a ray of sunshine. He is impossible not to love. Morgan never stood a chance and neither did Cedric, Mr Ashton Drake. Morgan doesn’t know what to think about the hotel or his grandfather and the staff but it doesn’t take long for him to see the quirky charm of the place. I loved it! The ghosts are meddling matchmakers and up to all kinds of shenanigans while Ellis and Rosie try to save the hotel. Adorable story and well worth a read. If you haven’t read the book that introduces the hotel, you really need to go read about Tristan and Danny and Dusty.
August 23, 2024
Such a cute start!
While no one will ever be Tristan and Danny, Ellis and Morgan are perfect and wonderful in their own way. This was a great start to their love story, and the perfect way to introduce us to the lore and backstory of the hotel all at once. Also, the paranormal side characters in this world bring a new feel to the comfort of the familiar setup.
They are clearly in the same universe, but they have an entirely different energy and vibe. It’s refreshing but still has all of the same things we loved so much about the Dead Serious books.
Oh, and Cedric is the new Martin, and I’m already prepared to sob uncontrollably at some point all over again. I feel it in my book nerd bones.
4.5/5. I can’t wait for more. This was sweet and cosy and fun, with some heavy feels, baby healing journey steps, and hijinks for balance. #TeamDilys because she’s everything.
**[I received an ARC from the author. All ratings, reviews, and opinions are my own.]**
While no one will ever be Tristan and Danny, Ellis and Morgan are perfect and wonderful in their own way. This was a great start to their love story, and the perfect way to introduce us to the lore and backstory of the hotel all at once. Also, the paranormal side characters in this world bring a new feel to the comfort of the familiar setup.
They are clearly in the same universe, but they have an entirely different energy and vibe. It’s refreshing but still has all of the same things we loved so much about the Dead Serious books.
Oh, and Cedric is the new Martin, and I’m already prepared to sob uncontrollably at some point all over again. I feel it in my book nerd bones.
4.5/5. I can’t wait for more. This was sweet and cosy and fun, with some heavy feels, baby healing journey steps, and hijinks for balance. #TeamDilys because she’s everything.
**[I received an ARC from the author. All ratings, reviews, and opinions are my own.]**
January 21, 2026
**Audiobook Review**
I absolutely loved this spin off to the Dead Serious Cases series. Loved that the author gave me the chance to purchase this audio off her website. I didn't have the chance to read the actual ecopy but since I adore the narrator...this was a no brainer. The characters from Case 4 came back and it was a hoot. Ellis is still as sunshiny as ever...Bernie and Roger are still funny and full of matchmaking schemes. But everything comes to play when Morgan, the long lost grandson who is stoic and very grumpy comes to visit. Shenanigans and romance ensues. Lovely story of second chances and togetherness as a found family...ghosts and humans....Loved it!...can't wait to see what's next!
I absolutely loved this spin off to the Dead Serious Cases series. Loved that the author gave me the chance to purchase this audio off her website. I didn't have the chance to read the actual ecopy but since I adore the narrator...this was a no brainer. The characters from Case 4 came back and it was a hoot. Ellis is still as sunshiny as ever...Bernie and Roger are still funny and full of matchmaking schemes. But everything comes to play when Morgan, the long lost grandson who is stoic and very grumpy comes to visit. Shenanigans and romance ensues. Lovely story of second chances and togetherness as a found family...ghosts and humans....Loved it!...can't wait to see what's next!
December 5, 2024
4.5 really! :)
What an awesome start to a new series! I love the different POVs. I love Ellis and Morgan and I definitely can't wait to read more of them. Definitely want to read about Warren, too!
Hoping for more!
What an awesome start to a new series! I love the different POVs. I love Ellis and Morgan and I definitely can't wait to read more of them. Definitely want to read about Warren, too!
Hoping for more!
August 22, 2024
gahhhhhhhhh twinky sunshine heart eyes
this made me ugly cry in the best ways. fuck this is a great fucking book.
this made me ugly cry in the best ways. fuck this is a great fucking book.
December 19, 2024
Ellis is the biggest brightest ray of sunshine that ever sunshined (it’s a word) and I’m sure this adorably gorgeous man doesn’t even know the word pessimist. Circumstances bring the very grumpy and just as prickly silver fox Morgan to the very haunted/financially troubled Ashton-Drake Manor House Hotel.
Their first encounter involves Ellis being his clumsy self, a Christmas tree, fairy lights and a ladder. So begins a delightful journey as these two wonderful men navigate their way to a HFN, with “assistance” from the meddling ghosts. I laughed out loud at the numerous antics of the Hotel residents and guests and felt their heartache when all appeared lost. I easily imagined myself in the various magnificent rooms of the Hotel and longed to explore all the hidden nooks and crannies. The connection between Ellis and Morgan and their budding romance was perfectly balanced with the financial problems element and I loved the addition of the Bureau of Domestic Hauntings storyline. This was a one sitting read for me and I can’t wait for adventures at the Ashton-Drake Manor House Hotel.
Their first encounter involves Ellis being his clumsy self, a Christmas tree, fairy lights and a ladder. So begins a delightful journey as these two wonderful men navigate their way to a HFN, with “assistance” from the meddling ghosts. I laughed out loud at the numerous antics of the Hotel residents and guests and felt their heartache when all appeared lost. I easily imagined myself in the various magnificent rooms of the Hotel and longed to explore all the hidden nooks and crannies. The connection between Ellis and Morgan and their budding romance was perfectly balanced with the financial problems element and I loved the addition of the Bureau of Domestic Hauntings storyline. This was a one sitting read for me and I can’t wait for adventures at the Ashton-Drake Manor House Hotel.
August 28, 2024
It's pretty "insta-love/lust" and I didn't think there was a real connection between the MC's. I'm guessing the next couple will be John the Maid and Warren. I could be wrong!
August 28, 2024
OMG this was fantastic!!!! We are back at the Ashton House! I adore Ellis! He is such a ray of sunshine. Morgan doesn’t remember anything about the Asthon House and his time there, everything about his time there was very traumatic but he is back there to know what is happening in there, meeting Ellis is a very good surprise, he really never stood a chance. I loved how Ellis and Morgan have an instant reaction to one another but they don’t want to make things complicated but they strong connection was hard to ignore. It was fun watching all the ghost trying to setup these two. This was a great spin off serie, Morgan and Ellis are adorable and I loved every second of this book!!! I’m so looking forward for more of this new series!!!
August 24, 2024
Remember the Ashton-Drake Manor House Hotel and their loveable staff from Dead Serious #4? Well, this is their story in the aftermath of those events.
Ellis has been with the Hotel his whole life and will do anything to stay at his home with his found family, including dealing and catering to pesty ghosts. Morgan hasn't been back to his family, Manor, since the untimely death of his father. When he returns, he doesn't expect to fall for the charms of this unique mix of people. The ghosts make a huge part of this story and appreciate what Vawn does with them in showing how important they are to the manor and the history that makes it such an amazing place. A beautiful combination of humor and emotions that makes you just want more from this world and can not wait for Warren to visit. He is going to fit right in with this bunch.
Ellis has been with the Hotel his whole life and will do anything to stay at his home with his found family, including dealing and catering to pesty ghosts. Morgan hasn't been back to his family, Manor, since the untimely death of his father. When he returns, he doesn't expect to fall for the charms of this unique mix of people. The ghosts make a huge part of this story and appreciate what Vawn does with them in showing how important they are to the manor and the history that makes it such an amazing place. A beautiful combination of humor and emotions that makes you just want more from this world and can not wait for Warren to visit. He is going to fit right in with this bunch.
May 1, 2025
Fun read
Vibrant characters, sweet if fast romance, found family, and ghosts!!
I really enjoyed seeing the hotel again after reading about it in the Seriously Dead series. Ellis is a sweetheart and helped Morgan blossom. I look forward to more in this world
Vibrant characters, sweet if fast romance, found family, and ghosts!!
I really enjoyed seeing the hotel again after reading about it in the Seriously Dead series. Ellis is a sweetheart and helped Morgan blossom. I look forward to more in this world
September 11, 2024
I should have loved this, don't know why I just liked it
February 20, 2025
4.5*
This is such a good spin off but I would recommend reading the Dead Serious books first as they lead up to this and introduce the characters. I enjoyed every moment of reading this book.
This is such a good spin off but I would recommend reading the Dead Serious books first as they lead up to this and introduce the characters. I enjoyed every moment of reading this book.
September 1, 2024
Love it so much. Just finished the book and I have to say I had a merry time. There were so many instances I laughed out loud. Just charming. There are different threads to this story keeping you entertained, the romance plot between Morgan and our sweet Ellis, the ghosts and their own drama behind the scenes, the family history and the financial part. Together creating a compelling story you will loath to put down when you finally have to go to bed to get some shut eye... trust me, I speak from experience here.
The connection between the main MCs was palpable and believable. I enjoyed that all the small moments between them that made their interest clear, the soft touches, the not wanting to let go, the smiles and conversations.
I simply cannot wait for the next book in this new spin-off series. Will it continue on in this hotel, will we move to America to Morgan's brother Warren or will we see Warren reconnect with the one who got away in our haunted hotel with the ghosts playing match maker once more? Maybe the one who got away is the family lawyer and who Morgan needs to aid him in the court battle? So many possibilities. Maybe we will meet someone new? Uh, maybe the one who got away is a hotel manager and wants a change of scenery and applies to become the new manager across the pond only to realize that it is owned by Warren's brother. Maybe we will meet someone completely knew, some poor sod looking for a new start in live and finding love in our beloved hotel? Or maybe we will keep with our lovely couple Morgan and Ellis and witness them having more adventures together?
Well, you see, I'm invested now and cannot wait.
The connection between the main MCs was palpable and believable. I enjoyed that all the small moments between them that made their interest clear, the soft touches, the not wanting to let go, the smiles and conversations.
I simply cannot wait for the next book in this new spin-off series. Will it continue on in this hotel, will we move to America to Morgan's brother Warren or will we see Warren reconnect with the one who got away in our haunted hotel with the ghosts playing match maker once more? Maybe the one who got away is the family lawyer and who Morgan needs to aid him in the court battle? So many possibilities. Maybe we will meet someone new? Uh, maybe the one who got away is a hotel manager and wants a change of scenery and applies to become the new manager across the pond only to realize that it is owned by Warren's brother. Maybe we will meet someone completely knew, some poor sod looking for a new start in live and finding love in our beloved hotel? Or maybe we will keep with our lovely couple Morgan and Ellis and witness them having more adventures together?
Well, you see, I'm invested now and cannot wait.
October 6, 2024
I devoured the Dead Serious series and as soon as I saw Vawn Cassidy had written another book, even better a spin off… I knew it would be incredible and it did not disappoint!
This book shares the story of Ellis, the adorable, sunshiney hotel worker that we meet in Book 4 of Danny and Tristan’s series and Morgan, the estranged grandson of the hotel’s owner.
The Ashton-Drake Manor House Hotel is struggling to survive, especially considering recent events and is facing closure. Desperate to keep it alive, Ellis and his fellow hotel workers try to come up with a plan, along with the hotel’s colourful cast of ghosts. Having his name be tied to the scandal, Morgan flies his grumpy self over from the US to confront his grandfather. Is he the answer the hotel needs to stay alive?
In this book you get the usual humour, spice, romance and ghosts you would expect with a Vawn Cassidy novel. I laughed, I ‘aww’ed’ aloud and most importantly I fell in love with Ellis and Morgan and the matchmaking ghosts of Ashton-Drake Manor House Hotel.
This book shares the story of Ellis, the adorable, sunshiney hotel worker that we meet in Book 4 of Danny and Tristan’s series and Morgan, the estranged grandson of the hotel’s owner.
The Ashton-Drake Manor House Hotel is struggling to survive, especially considering recent events and is facing closure. Desperate to keep it alive, Ellis and his fellow hotel workers try to come up with a plan, along with the hotel’s colourful cast of ghosts. Having his name be tied to the scandal, Morgan flies his grumpy self over from the US to confront his grandfather. Is he the answer the hotel needs to stay alive?
In this book you get the usual humour, spice, romance and ghosts you would expect with a Vawn Cassidy novel. I laughed, I ‘aww’ed’ aloud and most importantly I fell in love with Ellis and Morgan and the matchmaking ghosts of Ashton-Drake Manor House Hotel.
March 1, 2025
I actually had 2 gos at this, and it only stuck on the second read. Maybe my expectations were too high, coming from the main Crawshanks stories to this, or maybe I was just in a reading funk. Somehow I found it quite slow and meandering in the first half of the book, but when it picked up the pace it got marginally better, although the ending felt a little abrupt and left me seriously wanting.
The characters as usual, were well done, and the ghosts certainly were a fun and hilarious bunch. The MCs though, had a delicious and simmering tension right off the bat and had a steady progression. I liked that it was not an insta-love and that even at the end, their relationship was not fully defined.
All in all I did enjoy it, and it was nice to revisit this quirky hotel with its quirky residents, corporeal or otherwise, that we had the pleasure of knowing from book 4 of the main crawshanks series, and I will actually like to revisit again soon.
The characters as usual, were well done, and the ghosts certainly were a fun and hilarious bunch. The MCs though, had a delicious and simmering tension right off the bat and had a steady progression. I liked that it was not an insta-love and that even at the end, their relationship was not fully defined.
All in all I did enjoy it, and it was nice to revisit this quirky hotel with its quirky residents, corporeal or otherwise, that we had the pleasure of knowing from book 4 of the main crawshanks series, and I will actually like to revisit again soon.
August 30, 2024
We first met these guys when Tristan went on vacation to England.
Ellis and Rosie are managing the hotel with no guests and no staff.
We meet the owner and his grandson who comes to England after some back press.
The ghosts play a big part in getting our Hero Ellis with Morgan.
Its left so there can be more in this universe.
Ellis and Rosie are managing the hotel with no guests and no staff.
We meet the owner and his grandson who comes to England after some back press.
The ghosts play a big part in getting our Hero Ellis with Morgan.
Its left so there can be more in this universe.
August 24, 2024
A sweet and funny spin off from Vawn Cassidy's Dead Serious series.
The Haunted Hotel focuses on the residents (both living and corporally challenged) of Asthon House, an old hotel up in Yorkshire. If you're familiar with the authors' Dead Serious books, you might recognize the place as the location of the infamous murder mystery weekend in book 4.
The story is set just a few weeks later, showing the behind the scenes of running and trying to save the old hotel.
Ellis is the receptionist/waiter/maid/event planner of the hotel. He's a ray of sunshine who always has kind words to everyone and loves the hotel and all of its residents with all of his heart. His character really is a breath of fresh air. I hope to see a bit more serious side of him, but so far, that only comes about in glimpses. I hope his character is rounded out in the books to come.
He, along with the resident ghosts, is on a mission to figure out how to save the hotel from financial trouble.
I liked that Bertie and the other ghosts were quite integral to the story. This book is definitely not a mystery, but it is a paranormal romance as there are quite a few ghosts, and they do show themselves to the employees, especially Ellis. Bertie has her own chapters showing her and the others' shenanigans. They try to save the hotel, deal with a ghostly investigator auditing their hauntings, and help Ellis fall madly in love with Morgan.
Morgan, who is the owner's grandson and who hasn't stepped foot in the house ever since he and his mom moved away after his dad's death. In my opinion, Morgan is the most developed character so far. We get to know him and his past through several conversations with his brother, his memories of the place, and also his granddad's stories. His struggles with fitting in with his stepdad and brother, his repressed memories about Ashton House from when he was little and his tentative conversations with his estranged grandfather all depict a clear picture of him that is sweet and heartbreaking at the same time. His grumpy exterior hides a very soft and loyal inside that comes out in spades during his stay in the hotel.
The one thing that is a bit lacking in the story is the romance between Ellis and Morgan. While there is much physical attraction, I didn't get the vibe of them connecting on a deeper level. I hope to see them getting to know each other a lot more thoroughly in the continuation of the story because so far, their fledgling fling is very superficial and lacks any kind of substance.
The story is written to amuse and entertain. It's full of funny and heartwarming scenes and characters that bring a very cosy vibe to the book. It's definitely a cosy, paranormal romance book that is lighthearted and fun. I smiled a lot, I teared up at scenes and, all in all, really enjoyed myself while reading it.
I started this book with great expectations after adoring the Dead Serious series and all other books related to the universe so far. This one is a fun little branch out from the original story with little lighter undertones. It's got humour and fantastic living and ghostly characters that we are used to from the author. It hasn't quite reached my expectations in terms of the romance, but I see where the story is going next, and I can't wait to read more.
* I received a complimentary copy of this book to share my honest review.*
The Haunted Hotel focuses on the residents (both living and corporally challenged) of Asthon House, an old hotel up in Yorkshire. If you're familiar with the authors' Dead Serious books, you might recognize the place as the location of the infamous murder mystery weekend in book 4.
The story is set just a few weeks later, showing the behind the scenes of running and trying to save the old hotel.
Ellis is the receptionist/waiter/maid/event planner of the hotel. He's a ray of sunshine who always has kind words to everyone and loves the hotel and all of its residents with all of his heart. His character really is a breath of fresh air. I hope to see a bit more serious side of him, but so far, that only comes about in glimpses. I hope his character is rounded out in the books to come.
He, along with the resident ghosts, is on a mission to figure out how to save the hotel from financial trouble.
I liked that Bertie and the other ghosts were quite integral to the story. This book is definitely not a mystery, but it is a paranormal romance as there are quite a few ghosts, and they do show themselves to the employees, especially Ellis. Bertie has her own chapters showing her and the others' shenanigans. They try to save the hotel, deal with a ghostly investigator auditing their hauntings, and help Ellis fall madly in love with Morgan.
Morgan, who is the owner's grandson and who hasn't stepped foot in the house ever since he and his mom moved away after his dad's death. In my opinion, Morgan is the most developed character so far. We get to know him and his past through several conversations with his brother, his memories of the place, and also his granddad's stories. His struggles with fitting in with his stepdad and brother, his repressed memories about Ashton House from when he was little and his tentative conversations with his estranged grandfather all depict a clear picture of him that is sweet and heartbreaking at the same time. His grumpy exterior hides a very soft and loyal inside that comes out in spades during his stay in the hotel.
The one thing that is a bit lacking in the story is the romance between Ellis and Morgan. While there is much physical attraction, I didn't get the vibe of them connecting on a deeper level. I hope to see them getting to know each other a lot more thoroughly in the continuation of the story because so far, their fledgling fling is very superficial and lacks any kind of substance.
The story is written to amuse and entertain. It's full of funny and heartwarming scenes and characters that bring a very cosy vibe to the book. It's definitely a cosy, paranormal romance book that is lighthearted and fun. I smiled a lot, I teared up at scenes and, all in all, really enjoyed myself while reading it.
I started this book with great expectations after adoring the Dead Serious series and all other books related to the universe so far. This one is a fun little branch out from the original story with little lighter undertones. It's got humour and fantastic living and ghostly characters that we are used to from the author. It hasn't quite reached my expectations in terms of the romance, but I see where the story is going next, and I can't wait to read more.
* I received a complimentary copy of this book to share my honest review.*
March 20, 2025
'The Haunted Hotel' (Crawshanks Guide to Mischievous Spectres & Spirits, #1)
by Vawn Cassidy
What a delightful book!
First off, I'd like to encourage other readers to go read the other books in the 'Crawshanks Guides' series, that this one is a spin-off from, as they're hilarious albeit more serious, since they do involve murder & mayhem.
Second, this could be read as a stand-alone although you'd miss a lot of the references, so you might be scratching your head a bit.
Last but not least (maybe should be first):
This was a really fun book with all sorts of ghosts, all from different eras, wandering hither & yon...(yep, I said it; it fits with the location, lol)...having their own adventures as they continuously meddle in the lives of the "fleshies" (live people).
Great cast of diverse characters! I want more, so hope I'm not just whistling in the wind when I am hoping for forthcoming books in this spin-off series! (thank you, Vawn Cassidy, for feeding us more fun and interesting characters!)
Loved Ellis; he was such a lovely person, always helping out where needed, and it was wonderful to see him start to do things that made him happy, too!
Morgan took a while for me to get used to, as he was a grumpy sod to begin with, so it was charming to see him start to unwind that "suit" and start to relax and smile and enjoy himself! And hopefully help his granddad and all the others figure out how to save the grand old family mansion!
Plus I want to find out more about the other residents, like how did big lumberjack-beefy "John, the Maid" come to live there and how did he become the maid? (his responses made me lol; I want more!) And Aggie the grumpy but excellent cook? And Dilys the small and ancient (really ancient) bartender who shuffles her way around the dining room serving drinks; how long has she been there and where did she come from?
Anyway, can't wait for more in this intriguing storyline; it makes me smile!
I do have a couple of annoyances though:
I don't know if Cassidy changed editors but there were several mistakes in this paperback version, which is unlike her past books which have all been much better proofed!
It also felt like the ending was rushed, with lots of loose ends, so I'm hopeful that's a precursor of another book to come and that this is a new series and not a stand alone... (fingers crossed).
Note: I would have given this 5-stars, but in comparison with other books in her other series, like the 'Crawshanks Guides' series, and the 'Belong To Me' series ('Suddenly Beck' being my all-time fave!), somehow this lacked passion and snark...although, I guess it wouldn't be in keeping with the main MCs, so I'm hoping for that from Morgan's brother Warren, who seems like he has that kind of potential!
That said, I DO want to read more in this series!
(waiting with baited breath...oh wait, maybe that's the tunafish sandwich I had for lunch?) ;-)
by Vawn Cassidy
What a delightful book!
First off, I'd like to encourage other readers to go read the other books in the 'Crawshanks Guides' series, that this one is a spin-off from, as they're hilarious albeit more serious, since they do involve murder & mayhem.
Second, this could be read as a stand-alone although you'd miss a lot of the references, so you might be scratching your head a bit.
Last but not least (maybe should be first):
This was a really fun book with all sorts of ghosts, all from different eras, wandering hither & yon...(yep, I said it; it fits with the location, lol)...having their own adventures as they continuously meddle in the lives of the "fleshies" (live people).
Great cast of diverse characters! I want more, so hope I'm not just whistling in the wind when I am hoping for forthcoming books in this spin-off series! (thank you, Vawn Cassidy, for feeding us more fun and interesting characters!)
Loved Ellis; he was such a lovely person, always helping out where needed, and it was wonderful to see him start to do things that made him happy, too!
Morgan took a while for me to get used to, as he was a grumpy sod to begin with, so it was charming to see him start to unwind that "suit" and start to relax and smile and enjoy himself! And hopefully help his granddad and all the others figure out how to save the grand old family mansion!
Plus I want to find out more about the other residents, like how did big lumberjack-beefy "John, the Maid" come to live there and how did he become the maid? (his responses made me lol; I want more!) And Aggie the grumpy but excellent cook? And Dilys the small and ancient (really ancient) bartender who shuffles her way around the dining room serving drinks; how long has she been there and where did she come from?
Anyway, can't wait for more in this intriguing storyline; it makes me smile!
I do have a couple of annoyances though:
I don't know if Cassidy changed editors but there were several mistakes in this paperback version, which is unlike her past books which have all been much better proofed!
It also felt like the ending was rushed, with lots of loose ends, so I'm hopeful that's a precursor of another book to come and that this is a new series and not a stand alone... (fingers crossed).
Note: I would have given this 5-stars, but in comparison with other books in her other series, like the 'Crawshanks Guides' series, and the 'Belong To Me' series ('Suddenly Beck' being my all-time fave!), somehow this lacked passion and snark...although, I guess it wouldn't be in keeping with the main MCs, so I'm hoping for that from Morgan's brother Warren, who seems like he has that kind of potential!
That said, I DO want to read more in this series!
(waiting with baited breath...oh wait, maybe that's the tunafish sandwich I had for lunch?) ;-)
September 15, 2025
The story was alright, but the pacing was glacial. There was a time limit and very pressing issues (like the ghosts being audited and the hotel clearly running out of time) but somehow, there was very little in the way of plot progressiong until 80% in then it all comes crashing down. I liked that the book spent a majority of its time trying to show Ellis and Morgan, but even their courtship felt underdeveloped because for all the time they spent, their only ended up together for like a week before Morgan had to leave.
Morgan's lost memories were also incredibly underwhelming considering all he ended up remembering was that he used to have an imaginary friend (aka ghost) and that he used to steal cookies from the cook.
Morgan's brother expo dumping that Morgan was only ever truly happy being on the ground managing hotels was dumb considering the story could've just shown us that instead of the fluffy nothing most of the book ended up being. Why waste so much time having Morgan dilly dally when the story could've instead shown him taking charge of the clearly mismanaged hotel then gaining memories back while he did? He could've even started gaining feelings for Ellis while they worked together. That would've have been a better way of showing us his character, developing his story, and progressing the romance instead of the last minute "You're happiest when you're on the hotel floor" BS expo dump on the third act.
Same thing for the ghost audit that had almost zero repercussions and magically ends up solving itself when the auditor somehow declares the bond between ghosts and humans was essential. Would've been nice if we'd een the ghosts actually be helpful instead of physically harassing Morgan to try and get him together with Ellis. Why couldn't the ghosts have been supportive of trying to help with guests while trying to hide from the auditor (who reveals at the end that he knew what was going on?).
Everything suddenly being solved in the last 10% sort of just emphasized how little the cast actually had to do to save themselves. Morgan's rich brother, Warren, shows up to randomly invest money in a failing hotel, saving them from immediate bankruptcy. Guests pop out of nowhere apparently now willing to stay at the hotel because of its prior reputation. Nobody had to work hard to save anything because money came from thin air and guests arrived because of something that happened prior to the story starting.
TL;DR: Pacing needed to be revisted because it felt like nothing happened for a good 85% then everything is just solved. The romance was sweet, but the lack of actual conflict between Morgan and Ellis meant that a fluffy courting was not nearly enough to sustain 250+ pages.
Morgan's lost memories were also incredibly underwhelming considering all he ended up remembering was that he used to have an imaginary friend (aka ghost) and that he used to steal cookies from the cook.
Morgan's brother expo dumping that Morgan was only ever truly happy being on the ground managing hotels was dumb considering the story could've just shown us that instead of the fluffy nothing most of the book ended up being. Why waste so much time having Morgan dilly dally when the story could've instead shown him taking charge of the clearly mismanaged hotel then gaining memories back while he did? He could've even started gaining feelings for Ellis while they worked together. That would've have been a better way of showing us his character, developing his story, and progressing the romance instead of the last minute "You're happiest when you're on the hotel floor" BS expo dump on the third act.
Same thing for the ghost audit that had almost zero repercussions and magically ends up solving itself when the auditor somehow declares the bond between ghosts and humans was essential. Would've been nice if we'd een the ghosts actually be helpful instead of physically harassing Morgan to try and get him together with Ellis. Why couldn't the ghosts have been supportive of trying to help with guests while trying to hide from the auditor (who reveals at the end that he knew what was going on?).
Everything suddenly being solved in the last 10% sort of just emphasized how little the cast actually had to do to save themselves. Morgan's rich brother, Warren, shows up to randomly invest money in a failing hotel, saving them from immediate bankruptcy. Guests pop out of nowhere apparently now willing to stay at the hotel because of its prior reputation. Nobody had to work hard to save anything because money came from thin air and guests arrived because of something that happened prior to the story starting.
TL;DR: Pacing needed to be revisted because it felt like nothing happened for a good 85% then everything is just solved. The romance was sweet, but the lack of actual conflict between Morgan and Ellis meant that a fluffy courting was not nearly enough to sustain 250+ pages.
November 24, 2025
I loved this first book in the new series. It definitely intertwines with the Dead Serious Universe, and I had so much pleasure to read and then to listen to the Audio too.
It is so beautifully written with so much humor and wit, you don't even feel that some characters are actually not living entities, but ghosts, because of all the shenanigans they get into, you forget that you should feel sorry that they are dead, because they are simply hilarious and enjoy their afterlife existence with such ardor!
Ellis is an angelic little love cherub who lives and breathes Ashton-Drake Manor Hotel. He is the sunshine bottled in the little, cute twink body, and has an enormous reservoir of patience, especially when it concerns the owner of the place or the unruly inhabitants, aka ghosts. You can not rebuff his charm no matter how hard you try, and he managed to conquer the heart of a hard-set, cynical workaholic, the grandson of Ellis's boss, Mr. Ashton-Drake.
Morgan is gorgeous, and he is exactly the man of Ellis's dreams, but he is stubborn and absolutely set in his view of the relationship with the men who are, according to him, too young. Plus, he carries an unsolved resentment toward the place where he spent some of his childhood and has traumatic memories about. Losing his Dad at a very young age, being taken away and repressing that memory, becoming an adoptee of his Mom's new husband- well, that's a lot for a little boy.
When he meets Ellis and realizes the condition of the house and the Hotel it hosts, he is shocked. Being brought by his stepfather as a savvy hotelier, he can't comprehend how it is possible that the place still exists.
And the real fun begins, because the band of merry ghosts decides to help save the Hotel and arrange the love match at the same time. I had laughed so hard at the hilarity of their efforts, and I was very much on their side when they tried so hard, but the execution was so poorly done that sometimes it was hard for Ellis to prevent the disastrous consequences!
Of course, Morgan found out that under an innocent, cutest face he's ever seen lives a little bedroom siren, who he can't resist. Their romance and the way they fell in love is my favourite part of the book.
I love Bertie, Roger, Grandpa Ashton-Drake, Rosie, Aggie, John the Maid, and little Artie; they all play a big part in the book. And Morgan's brother, who definitely needs to be in the next one and maybe get his own story, wouldn't it be nice? I would definitely recommend the Audio edition. Joel Leslie did an amazing job in bringing even the dead people to life, lol.
s
It is so beautifully written with so much humor and wit, you don't even feel that some characters are actually not living entities, but ghosts, because of all the shenanigans they get into, you forget that you should feel sorry that they are dead, because they are simply hilarious and enjoy their afterlife existence with such ardor!
Ellis is an angelic little love cherub who lives and breathes Ashton-Drake Manor Hotel. He is the sunshine bottled in the little, cute twink body, and has an enormous reservoir of patience, especially when it concerns the owner of the place or the unruly inhabitants, aka ghosts. You can not rebuff his charm no matter how hard you try, and he managed to conquer the heart of a hard-set, cynical workaholic, the grandson of Ellis's boss, Mr. Ashton-Drake.
Morgan is gorgeous, and he is exactly the man of Ellis's dreams, but he is stubborn and absolutely set in his view of the relationship with the men who are, according to him, too young. Plus, he carries an unsolved resentment toward the place where he spent some of his childhood and has traumatic memories about. Losing his Dad at a very young age, being taken away and repressing that memory, becoming an adoptee of his Mom's new husband- well, that's a lot for a little boy.
When he meets Ellis and realizes the condition of the house and the Hotel it hosts, he is shocked. Being brought by his stepfather as a savvy hotelier, he can't comprehend how it is possible that the place still exists.
And the real fun begins, because the band of merry ghosts decides to help save the Hotel and arrange the love match at the same time. I had laughed so hard at the hilarity of their efforts, and I was very much on their side when they tried so hard, but the execution was so poorly done that sometimes it was hard for Ellis to prevent the disastrous consequences!
Of course, Morgan found out that under an innocent, cutest face he's ever seen lives a little bedroom siren, who he can't resist. Their romance and the way they fell in love is my favourite part of the book.
I love Bertie, Roger, Grandpa Ashton-Drake, Rosie, Aggie, John the Maid, and little Artie; they all play a big part in the book. And Morgan's brother, who definitely needs to be in the next one and maybe get his own story, wouldn't it be nice? I would definitely recommend the Audio edition. Joel Leslie did an amazing job in bringing even the dead people to life, lol.
s
February 9, 2026
********** Contains Spoilers**********
I’m new Vawn Cassidy’s work and I’m looking forward to reading more. I really enjoyed this book and thought that it was a good start to the Crawshanks Guide to Mischievous Spectres & Spirits Series, which is a spin-off to the Crawshanks Guide to the Recently Departed Series. I liked getting to immerse myself in this magical world that Vawn has created. This series is set in the Aston-Drake Haunted Hotel from Dead Serious Case #4 where Danny & Tristan planned to spend a Ghost & murder free romantic holiday over the New Year’s break but the hotel was holding their first annual murder mystery event and the hotel is haunted, when one of the murder mystery actors actually ends up dead, so it’s up to Tristan & Danny to solve the murder with some well meaning but pretty ridiculous help from the spirits that live at the hotel.
I’m so glad that Ellis gets finds his own person, he’s such a happy, total sunshine of a human being and I thought he’s utterly perfect for the grumpy, workaholic, stubborn Morgan who has come from America to reconnect with his Grandfather after his name was connected to the disaster of a murder mystery weekend, the media has always been brutal towards Morgan all because he’s not biologically related to his step-father who never treated him any different from his biological son, Morgan’s younger brother Warren but Morgan always felt like he had to earn a place in their family and felt like something was missing. Things don’t go great with Morgan & his grandfather to start with but Ellis being the optimistic person he is takes Morgan under his wing and shows him what makes the hotel so great.
Morgan & his mother left and moved to America when Morgan was 6 years old after his father died. Morgan doesn’t have any memories of his grandfather or the hotel, so he agrees to have Ellis to show him around so hopefully be able to reconnect to his roots. The ghosts’ antics during this book completely cracked me up with how Bertie & Roger were trying to match make Ellis & Morgan, so then they’ll end up falling in love and Morgan will stay to help save the hotel. It’s very instalove between Ellis & Morgan but it worked for me during this story. How will Morgan react when he learns the truth about the Ashton-Drake? I’m really looking forward to reading the next book, as well as more books from Vawn Cassidy in the future. I’d recommend this book, series, universe and author to others.
I’m new Vawn Cassidy’s work and I’m looking forward to reading more. I really enjoyed this book and thought that it was a good start to the Crawshanks Guide to Mischievous Spectres & Spirits Series, which is a spin-off to the Crawshanks Guide to the Recently Departed Series. I liked getting to immerse myself in this magical world that Vawn has created. This series is set in the Aston-Drake Haunted Hotel from Dead Serious Case #4 where Danny & Tristan planned to spend a Ghost & murder free romantic holiday over the New Year’s break but the hotel was holding their first annual murder mystery event and the hotel is haunted, when one of the murder mystery actors actually ends up dead, so it’s up to Tristan & Danny to solve the murder with some well meaning but pretty ridiculous help from the spirits that live at the hotel.
I’m so glad that Ellis gets finds his own person, he’s such a happy, total sunshine of a human being and I thought he’s utterly perfect for the grumpy, workaholic, stubborn Morgan who has come from America to reconnect with his Grandfather after his name was connected to the disaster of a murder mystery weekend, the media has always been brutal towards Morgan all because he’s not biologically related to his step-father who never treated him any different from his biological son, Morgan’s younger brother Warren but Morgan always felt like he had to earn a place in their family and felt like something was missing. Things don’t go great with Morgan & his grandfather to start with but Ellis being the optimistic person he is takes Morgan under his wing and shows him what makes the hotel so great.
Morgan & his mother left and moved to America when Morgan was 6 years old after his father died. Morgan doesn’t have any memories of his grandfather or the hotel, so he agrees to have Ellis to show him around so hopefully be able to reconnect to his roots. The ghosts’ antics during this book completely cracked me up with how Bertie & Roger were trying to match make Ellis & Morgan, so then they’ll end up falling in love and Morgan will stay to help save the hotel. It’s very instalove between Ellis & Morgan but it worked for me during this story. How will Morgan react when he learns the truth about the Ashton-Drake? I’m really looking forward to reading the next book, as well as more books from Vawn Cassidy in the future. I’d recommend this book, series, universe and author to others.
October 23, 2024
Series: Crawshanks Guide to Mischievous Spectres & Spirits #1
Rating: 4 stars - It was really good
Morgan Ashton-Drake hasn’t thought about his ancestral home in decades, but when the scandal of the murder at the hotel reaches him he can’t ignore it anymore. Morgan returns to England for the first time since he was a child and finds that the house may be outdated, but it is well kept and homey, which he didn’t expect. Nor does he expect to find himself attracted to the cute receptionist, Ellis.
After being introduced to this hotel and characters in Dead Serious Case #4 Professor Prometheus Plume, I really wanted to know more about the ghosts within. So as you can imagine I was happy to see this new spin-off series all about this haunted hotel!
Ellis has been working at the Ashton-Drake Manor since he was 16 and the people and ghosts within are his family. He works hard daily to try and keep the manor running, but things are getting dire. Ellis was a sweet, happy guy who will do whatever he can to save the manor and help his family. I really liked Ellis and his determination to save this historical manor.
Morgan is a grumpy workaholic who runs a successful chain of hotels. He comes to the Manor angry and reluctant to restart a relationship with his grandfather, who he hasn’t spoken to since he was a child. I really enjoyed Morgan’s character development in this. He arrives grumpy and stressed and as the story progresses we see him reevaluate his life and what he wants. He starts to laugh and smile again and lets some of the stress that he has put on himself over the years go. We also see him rebuilding the bond with his grandfather and realizing how similar they are.
The ghosts in the Manor are all great and each one is unique. I love that we are getting this series because we can really get to know all the different ancestors and other people who have died in this house. Bertie and Roger were hilarious and such troublemakers. I can’t wait to read more of this series and see what other kinds of shenanigans the ghost gets up to.
Overall, this was a great start to a spin-off series and I really enjoyed Ellis and Morgan’s story. I can’t wait to see what will happen next for them and how they will save the manor.
TW: threat of loss of job and home; death of family members discussed;
Rating: 4 stars - It was really good
Morgan Ashton-Drake hasn’t thought about his ancestral home in decades, but when the scandal of the murder at the hotel reaches him he can’t ignore it anymore. Morgan returns to England for the first time since he was a child and finds that the house may be outdated, but it is well kept and homey, which he didn’t expect. Nor does he expect to find himself attracted to the cute receptionist, Ellis.
After being introduced to this hotel and characters in Dead Serious Case #4 Professor Prometheus Plume, I really wanted to know more about the ghosts within. So as you can imagine I was happy to see this new spin-off series all about this haunted hotel!
Ellis has been working at the Ashton-Drake Manor since he was 16 and the people and ghosts within are his family. He works hard daily to try and keep the manor running, but things are getting dire. Ellis was a sweet, happy guy who will do whatever he can to save the manor and help his family. I really liked Ellis and his determination to save this historical manor.
Morgan is a grumpy workaholic who runs a successful chain of hotels. He comes to the Manor angry and reluctant to restart a relationship with his grandfather, who he hasn’t spoken to since he was a child. I really enjoyed Morgan’s character development in this. He arrives grumpy and stressed and as the story progresses we see him reevaluate his life and what he wants. He starts to laugh and smile again and lets some of the stress that he has put on himself over the years go. We also see him rebuilding the bond with his grandfather and realizing how similar they are.
The ghosts in the Manor are all great and each one is unique. I love that we are getting this series because we can really get to know all the different ancestors and other people who have died in this house. Bertie and Roger were hilarious and such troublemakers. I can’t wait to read more of this series and see what other kinds of shenanigans the ghost gets up to.
Overall, this was a great start to a spin-off series and I really enjoyed Ellis and Morgan’s story. I can’t wait to see what will happen next for them and how they will save the manor.
TW: threat of loss of job and home; death of family members discussed;
March 12, 2025
We met Ellis during one of Tristan and Danny's adventures. They stayed at the Ashton-Drake Manor over a snowy holiday season, and were greeted by ghosts. A lot of ghosts. So many ghosts. And now those ghosts have made themselves quite known around the Manor. And this might be a problem.
Ellis is determined to keep the hotel open. But that's proving a major challenge when it's bleeding money everywhere he looks. And that's not helped when Morgan, the grandson of the Aston-Drake patriarch and owner of the hotel, arrives following all the salacious press the hotel has garnered of late with no intentions on keeping its doors open.
And just to throw a spanner in the works, the ghosts are in heaps of trouble with the powers that be for the stunts they've been pulling around the Manor and in front of the living.
Also, Ellis and Morgan are hopelessly attracted to each other, and are determined to do nothing about it. Of course, fate (meaning, the ghosts) tend to have other plans.
Their attraction to each other may be instant, but the way their relationship develops takes a bit of a slower route. Morgan and Ellis realize they should keep their boundaries professional - Morgan will inherit the Manor one day, and Ellis does work for his grandfather. But the more they get to know each other, the more they want to be in each others' company in less and less platonic ways. And with a smidge of ghostly intervention, that's exactly what happens.
But at the heart of everything lies the fact that the hotel is in danger. Decades - maybe even centuries - of mismanagement has left the manor with a pile of extreme debt, and in various states of disrepair. Ellis is willing to do anything and everything to save the Manor, but he needs a little help. And a plan. And a metric fuck-tonne of money.
As the start of a series, I have to say I'm delighted! This was the perfect setup for Morgan and Ellis to begin their story set in a universe I adore. I truly cannot wait to see how they plan to save the Manor, and continue running it as a hotel. And I can't wait to see what kind of mischief the resident ghosts get themselves up to.
I'm really looking forward to seeing how this series progresses, and I'm also hopeful we'll see more of Tristan and Danny, too. All I know is that I am absolutely hooked already, and I can't wait to see what happens next!
Ellis is determined to keep the hotel open. But that's proving a major challenge when it's bleeding money everywhere he looks. And that's not helped when Morgan, the grandson of the Aston-Drake patriarch and owner of the hotel, arrives following all the salacious press the hotel has garnered of late with no intentions on keeping its doors open.
And just to throw a spanner in the works, the ghosts are in heaps of trouble with the powers that be for the stunts they've been pulling around the Manor and in front of the living.
Also, Ellis and Morgan are hopelessly attracted to each other, and are determined to do nothing about it. Of course, fate (meaning, the ghosts) tend to have other plans.
Their attraction to each other may be instant, but the way their relationship develops takes a bit of a slower route. Morgan and Ellis realize they should keep their boundaries professional - Morgan will inherit the Manor one day, and Ellis does work for his grandfather. But the more they get to know each other, the more they want to be in each others' company in less and less platonic ways. And with a smidge of ghostly intervention, that's exactly what happens.
But at the heart of everything lies the fact that the hotel is in danger. Decades - maybe even centuries - of mismanagement has left the manor with a pile of extreme debt, and in various states of disrepair. Ellis is willing to do anything and everything to save the Manor, but he needs a little help. And a plan. And a metric fuck-tonne of money.
As the start of a series, I have to say I'm delighted! This was the perfect setup for Morgan and Ellis to begin their story set in a universe I adore. I truly cannot wait to see how they plan to save the Manor, and continue running it as a hotel. And I can't wait to see what kind of mischief the resident ghosts get themselves up to.
I'm really looking forward to seeing how this series progresses, and I'm also hopeful we'll see more of Tristan and Danny, too. All I know is that I am absolutely hooked already, and I can't wait to see what happens next!
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