The Ghost in the Pole Barn

Groom & Doom #5

by Hailey Edwards

Ana Sartori has her hands (claws?) full stepping into the role of magna of the Walsh clan. She’s got a double agent to babysit, a girl boss empire to supervise, and a slippery witch to subdue. Add to that Mercer’s determination to take her down at any cost, and Ana can’t catch her breath.

With enemies on all sides, Ana must protect her people. From dragonsbane. From other shifters. And from ambitious little girls armed with acrylic nails and cuticle nippers. As the battle for Brentwood heats up, so does Ana’s inner dragon. Flames will erupt and fur will fly in the fifth and final installment of the Groom & Doom series.

Genres: Fantasy, Shapeshifters, Dragons, Urban Fantasy, Romance, Werewolves, Paranormal

147 pages, Kindle Edition

First published June 23, 2026

About the author

Hailey Edwards writes about questionable applications of otherwise perfectly good magic, the transformative power of love, the family you choose for yourself, and blowing stuff up. Not necessarily all at once. That could get messy.

Hailey isn't on Goodreads.

Please email her via her website:
https://haileyedwards.net/contact-form/

Reviews

[SheLove2Read · Rating 3 out of 5]

This entire series has been a let down for me. There's zero chemistry between Ana and Rian. Even the ending was a disappointment.

I used to love Hailey Edwards books but the last two series have both been dull.

[TheBagOfHoldingReads · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ending wraps up all loose ends in this cozy romantasy by Hailey Edwards. The 5 short stories all tied up. Quick, easy escapism read - I gave it only 3 stars bc I really wanted more romance. I feel like we got more romance from the side characters than we did with the main ones. Maybe because the story line was broken up into 5 short stories it wasn't as apparent in the earlier books, but it really lacked in this one.

[Candice Kamencik · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.75 - rounded to 5 for Goodreads.

Ok, after the little hiccup that the 4th book experienced (imo), I was SUPER happy to see this one pick things back up for the series closer! I'm not a shifter genre reader, but this was such a short and sweet series. I really liked the characters, and the author did a great job with a large cast, keeping personalities from getting muddy even with a relatively large cast. Story was straightforward and well done, development was smooth - it is just overall an enjoyable read, and really high quality for both a Kindle Unlimited and shorter length series.

I will definitely check out some of this author's other wok!

[Darcy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Things are a bit up in the air at the start of this one. The clan is still in fear of the poisoner. That seems to be the biggest threat. They are working to find them and find an unexpected ally, who brings a bit of baggage that is a pleasant surprise. By working with the new ally, they manage to figure things out, have a big showdown with Santori (again!) where Jess shines bright! At the end it's all rainbows and puppies, the threat is gone, new allies are found and finally Ana and Rian have sealed their bond. It's nothing but up for them from here.

[Donna · Rating 3 out of 5]

These books are a fun, light and fast read. I enjoyed them all. I did find this one a bit lacking in how fast it wrapped everything up with what seemed to me very little plot tension or characters showing much personality. Sloane is a menace with her clinginess, especially considering she now has a boyfriend. So even though she was featured more than most, it wasn’t in a positive light.

Even Rian and Ana’s eventual mate bonding was anticlimactic.

[M · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute but…

Not as good as her usual writing style. These are light, fluffy, and not much depth to them, or that much story to be honest. I love and adore almost all of her other series but this one was just not that great.

[Barbara · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a wonderful conclusion to the Groom & Doom series! There is a lot going on in a short time, with Ana and Rian becoming closer, an unlikely couple figuring things out, Goldie gets a friend to influence - is that good or bad? There is a double agent working for Ana, who she feels responsible for, a perceived enemy becomes an ally, and Mercer is dealt with in a pretty humorous way (he deserves whatever happens). Ana and Rian are in a good place and all is right with the world, hopefully for good. Loved this series and I’m looking forward to whatever this author comes up with next, it’s an automatic buy for me.

[Kimberly · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute!

Cute, but....

With Ana embracing her role as Magna of the Walsh Clan, she's super busy. She volunteered to work with the double agent with the hopes of finding out who's poisoning the Dragons.

But to no one's surprise, it all points back to Mercer. He's as obsessed with Ana as Carmichael was.

Good series!

A good read!

[Krista · Rating 5 out of 5]

So sad this is the end of a terrific series. A very satisfying conclusion. I would love to see more Walsh clan adventures

[Donna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Shattered!!! It's so sad to see this story end. But what a fantastic ending! I enjoyed all the books in this series. An emotional ride with loveable characters leaves you wanting more.

[Tracy Smyth · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a fun read and a good way to end the series

[Charlene · Rating 2 out of 5]

Sigh

I liked the first two books in the series but book 3 was only so-so. I read book 3 and this one just to see how the series ended. I’m disappointed and annoyed that everything was dragged out to a non-climatic end.

[Mary Ciocca · Rating 3 out of 5]

Too short, wraps up too quickly, and the MC's relationship wirh her best friend is, quite frankly, weird and off-putting.

[Cinder · Rating 3 out of 5]

READ

𝗥𝗔𝗧𝗜𝗡𝗚: 3/5⭐
𝗚𝗘𝗡𝗥𝗘: 𝖴𝗋𝖻𝖺𝗇 𝖱𝗈𝗆𝖺𝗇𝗍𝖺𝗌𝗒
𝗧𝗬𝗣𝗘: 𝖲𝖾𝗋𝗂𝖾𝗌
𝗔𝗚𝗘: 𝖭𝖾𝗐 𝖠𝖽𝗎𝗅𝗍
𝗦𝗔𝗙𝗘𝗧𝗬: 🟡
✦•····························••····························•✦•····························••····························•✦
𝗘𝗩𝗔𝗟𝗨𝗔𝗧𝗜𝗢𝗡:
𝖢𝗈𝗇𝖼𝖾𝗉𝗍 𝗂𝖽𝖾𝖺: 3/𝟻 🤔
𝖯𝗅𝗈𝗍: 2/𝟻 📖
𝖶𝗈𝗋𝗅𝖽 𝖡𝗎𝗂𝗅𝖽𝗂𝗇𝗀: 2/𝟻 🌎
𝖶𝗋𝗂𝗍𝗂𝗇𝗀: 2/𝟻 📝
𝖯𝖺𝖼𝗂𝗇𝗀: 2/𝟻 ⏱
𝖫𝖾𝗇𝗀𝗍𝗁: 2/5 📏
𝖢𝗁𝖺𝗋𝖺𝖼𝗍𝖾𝗋𝗌: 2/𝟻 👥
𝖱𝗈𝗆𝖺𝗇𝖼𝖾: 1/𝟻 ❤️
𝖲𝗉𝗂𝖼𝖾: 0/𝟻 🔥
✦•····························••····························•✦•····························••····························•✦
𝗧𝗥𝗢𝗣𝗘𝗦 / 𝗙𝗘𝗔𝗧𝗨𝗥𝗘:
🐺 𝖲𝗁𝗂𝖿𝗍𝖾𝗋𝗌
🐉 𝖣𝗋𝖺𝗀𝗈𝗇𝗌
💖 𝖥𝖺𝗍𝖾𝖽 𝖬𝖺𝗍𝖾𝗌
💞⌛ 𝖲𝗅𝗈𝗐-𝖡𝗎𝗋𝗇
✦•····························••····························•✦•····························••····························•✦
𝗠𝗬 𝗧𝗛𝗢𝗨𝗚𝗛𝗧𝗦:
While the story is enjoyable and short, I didn't connect to the characters and was a bit bored.
✦•····························••····························•✦•····························••····························•✦
𝗦𝗨𝗠𝗠𝗔𝗥𝗬: Ana gains new allies and defeats her enemy. The polar bear is now the new alpha of her old pack, after she killed the old alpha.
✦•····························••····························•✦•····························••····························•✦
𝖶𝗂𝗅𝗅 𝖨 𝖼𝗈𝗇𝗍𝗂𝗇𝗎𝖾 𝗋𝖾𝖺𝖽𝗂𝗇𝗀 𝗍𝗁𝖾 𝗌𝖾𝗋𝗂𝖾𝗌? ✔️
𝖶𝗈𝗎𝗅𝖽 𝖨 𝗋𝖾𝖺𝖽 𝗆𝗈𝗋𝖾 𝖻𝗒 𝗍𝗁𝗂𝗌 𝖺𝗎𝗍𝗁𝗈𝗋? ✔️
𝖶𝗈𝗎𝗅𝖽 𝖨 𝗋𝖾𝖼𝗈𝗆𝗆𝖾𝗇𝖽? ✔️
✦•····························••····························•✦•····························••····························•✦
𝗧𝗪 / 𝗖𝗪: death, kidnapping, abuse, torture, bullying
✦•····························••····························•✦•····························••····························•✦
Groom & Doom Series
𝟏. The Vampire in the Potting Shed: 3⭐
𝟐. The Goblin in the Sink Drain: 3⭐
𝟑. The Mermaid in the Shot Glass: 3⭐
𝟒. The Pixie in the Pickle Jar: 3⭐
𝟓. The Ghost in the Pole Barn: 3⭐

[Kelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ana has dealt with a lot since the Walsh clan blew into her life and there are still a few things that need to be finished off. Like dealing with the new alpha of her old pack. And, you know, manifesting her dragon. Oh, and keeping her new friends safe.

Yeah. Just a few little things.

Fortunately for her, the Walshes are willing to give her the time and space to come to terms with this new reality she's been dragged into. Rian trusts her implicitly and has her back every step of the way. When their enemies strike at them, he follows her lead. He's also head over heels for Ana and isn't endearingly sweet in all the ways he shows it.

Endings, beginnings, one business-minded girl who will probably amass a massive hoard before long, found family, a dragon who trusts his lady to make the choices she can live with, and a lady who is finding out what it means to belong to people who adore her. *thumbs up* all around.

-Kelly @ Reading the Paranormal

[Victoria G · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think this one is supposed to be the last of the series and for the most part it feels final as it's wrapping everything up and taking care of all the loose ends.... Mostly! Except for one of the biggest bombs dropped in Book 4. Plus we never got Ana's coming out party which I anticipated after it being build up so much. We also didn't learn enough about her budding powers.

Also that ending feels pretty open - we absolutely need a real wrap up instead of that rushed cut off ending. And if another in this series is not possible, I'd love to have an additional book from let's say Jess's point of view? Scratch that I'd love a Jess book anyway 🔥🐻‍❄️

As a whole I enjoyed the series, the humour, the plot and the characters! I just wished it was structured like her usual books so that the separate books didn't feel so empty of things happening and the cliff hanging endings weren't a problem.

[Susan1566 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ana is growing into her role as magna (alpha) of the Walsh clan, her dragon is making little appearances, she’s looking into the poisoning problem and more. She also has to deal with the fact that Mercer is still after her.
She is enjoying being believed in by Rian and the other Walsh members. It’s a big difference from how she was treated previously.
These books were so much fun to read. There are serious parts mixed in with fun parts. A bit of action, interesting characters, surprises, suspense, romance and humour.
This is a fast, quick, easy read. I’m very sad it’s finished.
If you're expecting the usual type of book by the author, this isn't it. But just as good in a different way.

[Penny · Rating 5 out of 5]

I can’t believe this series is over, but I enjoyed every minute of it. In this series ender, Ana, Rian, Sloane, and Liam, as well as the others, must stop Mercer before he takes them all down. I just loved this series, and I loved how Ana and Rian became a couple. One tiny sour note is a very tiny thread that was left hanging at the end, and I wanted to see what happened with that. *pout* Anyway, fans of this series will enjoy this series ender. Highly recommend. I was provided a complimentary copy which I voluntarily reviewed.

[Sandy Schleich · Rating 4 out of 5]

good

I do like these books, but it takes me a while to remember what happened in previous books. The only thing I don’t like about these books is how short they are. The FMC is learning how to control her dragon powers a little bit more and she’s hoping that her dragon will manifest in this book. I think it is very interesting how her dragon manifests in this book compared to the other dragons in this book. I will read the next book in the series.

[Jeanna Alvarez · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic Finale

This 5 novella series is a fun read that has a slow burn romance, plenty of snark / funny parts, and is an overall satisfying read. Great plot in each book, fantastic character and world development. Shifters, witches, magic. This author should be on all Urban Fantasy lovers TBR. I’ve not been disappointed yet!

[IdRatherBeReading · Rating 5 out of 5]

loved the entire series

Such a perfect pace series. I’ll always love all of Hailey’s work of arts. I’m curious to see how the negotiating goes with Rian and his sight, so hoping there’s another book/series with that info. I think I love Sloane more with her hard core clinger status to Ana, hilarious!

[Charlie · Rating 3 out of 5]

5 Star - Couldn't put this book down. Its stay up late reading and be late to work good.
4 Stars - Couldn't put this book down but I still got a goodnights sleep
3 Stars - An enjoyable read that took me a few days to a week to finish
2 Stars - An okay book that I struggled to get through in places - next book is still on my TBR list
1 Stars - DNF

[MimiAmi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great paranormal shifter series!

The Ghost in the Pole Barn is the last book of the Groom & Doom series and it gives a very satisfying conclusion. All of the loose ends are tied and the HEA I crave is wonderful. I will miss the main characters and I hope Hailey will be inspired to write a spin-off for future reading enjoyment.

Kindle Unlimited

[Amber · Rating 1 out of 5]

This whole "series" just felt like a silly, poorly disguised marketing strategy. 5 "novels" that could easily have been put into one MAYBE two books max. Terrible, unnecessary writing, weird trope characters that have little personality or personhood beyond said tropes, and an absolutely boring and completely unworthy "sex scene" in book 5 that I nearly fell asleep through.

[Jennifer Miller · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great ending!

I loved this series all the characters are incredible! Here's hoping to reading a spinoff series from the new alpha. Would love to see future glimpses of the Walsh clan.

[Katy de La Cruz · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 STAR READ!!

What an incredible ending to a great series! Anna and Rian have been through so much and to finally see them in peace is so amazing! Kudos to Hailey Edward’s for giving us romance, comedy, adventure and heartache.

[gremlin · Rating 3 out of 5]

The ending is maybe a bit more lightweight than I would have expected from reading this author before.

It's a cute novella series, things get wrapped up nicely (if quickly).

I find myself curious how much money Goldie will have accumulated by the time she's 18. :)

[Sue Ellen · Rating 3 out of 5]

As a series ender, this was just OK. Too much was left hanging as "maybe." I wanted to know what comes next. I did not expect or appreciate that the author decided to end it with a graphic sex scene. UGH!

[Christin Ketelsen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Epic finale to the Groom and Doom series

I absolutely loved these characters for their humor, sass, and love of their found family. Though I need updates on Goldie and her plan to take over the world! It was a perfect way to wrap the mystery and the justice needed.

[Kat Klein · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was not crazy about the individual books, but I really enjoyed the series. Now that it's complete, I would recommend it to UF, or Hailey Edwards fans. It's not as much fun as Beginner's Guide to Necromancy, but it's a fun read.