Halloween at the Graff

Holiday at the Graff #1

by Sinclair Jayne

Starting over at thirty-two is never fun, especially in a town the size of a postage stamp. Chasing that with having to beg for a job she’s wildly over-qualified for and Walker Wilder’s pride is really burned. But now that she’s the new events director for the historic Montana Graff Hotel, she’s tasked with creating buzz and traditions to fill rooms during the off-season. Halloween may not scream touristy, but hiring a spirit-hunting TV crew will definitely grab some headlines... But when the sexy spirit hunter shows up, he haunts more than her dreams. Calum Quest is done. He’s created an entertainment empire by chasing something he’s never seen and is tired of asking questions with no answers. His life has been defined by ghosts he needs to exorcise, yet, when a red-haired, grey-eyed beauty with a body that melts his mind pours him a double shot of Laphroaig whiskey and challenges him to one more round, how can he say no?

Genres: Romance, Halloween, Contemporary, Contemporary Romance, Holiday, Chick Lit, Small Town Romance

276 pages, Paperback

First published September 25, 2017

About the author

Sinclair has loved reading romance novels since she discovered Barbara Cartland historical romances when she was in sixth grade. By seventh grade, she was haunting the library shelves looking to fall in love over and over again with the heroes born from the imaginations of her favorite authors. After teaching writing classes and workshops to adults and teens for many years in Seattle and Portland, she returned to her first love of reading romances and became an editor for Tule Publishing last year. Sinclair lives in Oregon’s wine country where she and her family own a small vineyard of Pinot Noir and where she dreams of being able to write at a desk like Jane Austen instead of in parking lots waiting for her kids to finish one of their 12,000 extracurricular activities.

Reviews

[Carol [Goodreads Addict] · Rating 4 out of 5]

Halloween at the Graff is book one in the Holiday at the Graff series by Sinclair Jayne. I was looking for a Halloween themed book for October reading and the cover of this one drew me in.

Walker Wilder is thirty two years old and has had a very bad year. She’s forced from her high paying job in Washington D.C. and is completely starting over in Marietta, Montana working as an Event planner, marketer and public relations for their historic Graff Hotel. Since it’s October, business is slow and she is tasked with finding a way to bring the hotel some attention. What better way than to bring in a famous ghost hunter.



Calum Quest has been enjoying great success with his ghost hunting television program. But the last year the joy hasn’t been there anymore. He knows it’s time to find a new direction. He just happened to be close by when he got the email inviting him to the Graff Hotel. He really had no intention of accepting the job but he might as well check it out. Then he saw her, and everything changed.

“Maybe she was why he’d been summoned to this hotel, not to talk to the dead, but to talk to the living. To come back to life.”



Both Walker and Calum are at crossroads in their lives. Both trying to re-invent themselves. Both have lost so much and have very little reason to trust, especially Walker. Together they find something neither of them had ever experienced. They find a freedom with each other, a peace. At the same time, Calum helps Walker to let go a little bit, to relax.



Let’s not forget the reason Calum is there. Ghosts. There are some strange goings on. Is it just coincidence or could the hotel really be haunted?



This was enjoyable. I loved the setting, the old hotel and the quaint small town all decorated for Halloween. There was a lot of inner dialogue so that got a bit tedious at times. But I really wanted to see how everything worked out for these two. Especially for Walker. She’d been through so much. This was the perfect time of year for this book and I’m glad I decided to finally read it.

For more about this book and so many more, come and visit me at Carol's Crazy Bookish World.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/Carol...

[Carrie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Walker Wilder has had to start her life over again at the age of thirty two and it hasn't been easy nor has the move to the small town of Marietta, MT. Now however Walker is trying to get settled into her new job as the new events director for the historic Montana Graff Hotel. With Halloween coming up soon Walker was looking for something to tie in the holiday and bring in new guests for the hotel when she decides to hire a ghost hunting TV crew to come do a story on the Graff.

Calum Quest has made a name for himself and created an entertainment empire by chasing all those things that go bump in the night and hunting what others would run from. Calum's life has been defined by ghosts and he's not in a hurry to go chasing more of them but when he gets the call to meet with Walker he finds himself intrigued by her and as much as Walker tells herself she is done with men the sexy ghost hunter certainly has her interest too.

Halloween at the Graff by Sinclair Jayne is the first book in a new holiday series that takes place in the lovely little town of Marietta, MT. Anyone that has followed my reviews probably has noticed I'm quite obsessed with this charming little town that is the setting for quite a few contemporary romance reads over several different series. As soon as I saw a book featuring the Graff hotel in this lovely little town I just knew I would enjoy it and that I needed to read it immediately.

As with all of the other books I've read set in Marietta this one also contained lovely characters that come together amidst the small town charm that never fails to have some interesting things going on. Ghosts at the Graff had my interest right away as I love Halloween and anything happening in Marietta so it's no surprise this one gets a good rating from this reader. This story was a little more towards the sexy side than some of the others taking place here but the story, setting and characters won me over regardless. I'll be impatiently waiting for the next in this series for sure as I know I just can't go wrong with any relationship coming out of this lovely little town.

I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.

For more reviews please visit https://carriesbookreviews.wordpress....

[Wendy'sThoughts · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 Finding Your One to Trust Stars
* * * 1/2
Marietta Montana has this reputation for intertwined families, long lost relatives and love that hits hard right away. Halloween at the Graff by Sinclair Jayne has all of those conditions plus some Ghostly worldliness, too. With a title like that... how could it not?

Walker Wilder is in recovery and re-invention mode. Never in a million years would she ever believe she would be in this predicament....

Having her "Perfect for Each Other" Fiancé get caught with Walker's own Assistant on her knees... ah-hm servicing him...
Having same Ex-Fiancé throw her under the political bus causing her demise as the Senator's long time PR/Spin Handler...
Having survived the career, financial, almost legal and personal ruin and end up as the new Event Coordinator of The Graff Hotel

And if that wasn't enough for her to choke down... now she's practically praying a Cable Show dealing with Ghost-Busting would be filmed here at the Graff...

Oh, How Mighty have fallen...

Actually Walker was thankful for the pity job she got from a long ago intern. She sucked it up and decided to use her mother's maiden name, Kent, so as to not draw attention to herself. Also she was chicken... yes, chicken because she had long lost cousins that lived in the area and she wasn't ready to tackle that yet.

So here she was getting ready to meet with one Calum Quest... star and creator of Ghost Quests. She hoped his huge following and ratings would help put The Graff on the map...and since she was planning to do some type of Halloween event with the town, having the Ghost Quests finale filmed at the hotel would be perfect.

As Walker walks to the bar to meet this Ghost Chaser, she checks quickly on YouTube to see what the big deal is about the show...She sees bits and pieces, notices the guy is kind of interesting looking... and then pulls herself together as she approaches him.

Calum Quest is tired... tired of doing what use to be fun... he use to love traveling from place to place, digging out tales of haunted locations and finding out answers that asked more questions...Lately, though, he wants to be done. He was headed out to Marietta Montana due to an old friend and co worker who now lived here with new family. He was invited to stay at the ranch and when Walker's email telling him The Graff was the perfect location for his finale... he couldn't pass up the meeting...even if he was mentally done.

Calum hears the click clack of Walker's heels on the marble and when he looks in her direction, he is hit with a vision...A Strong Beautiful Woman who walks like she owns the world...swaying with every move towards him.

From the moment these two are in front of each other...sparks start to fly...It is not intended at all...it just seems to have a mind of its own... and both parties are helpless to stop it. Calum has no intention of filming here but he also does not want to stop the flow of whatever this is with Walker...

After some intensely sexy flirting, Walker pulls herself together and suggests showing Calum the attic where all of this Ghost stuff happened...In the dark, due to Calum's insistence, they both stand very close yet not touching...he makes her wait...and Walker is talking to herself...not understanding this draw to Calum...she flicks on the light as a defense and it is there Calum sees something which makes him become hard and distant...

How could she know...
Where did she find it...
Walker is confused...Why is he reacting that way...

It seems both of these people have dark secrets...things they have held back from everyone...And it is this Hotel and its own secrets that will bring them together.

This was a solid read about people who have pain from the past and have to get over them. The fear of being left behind...The fear of trusting... and the fear of being hurt...All of those issues are at play.

We are gifted with all of Marietta Montana in this tale. We get the Walker family, the community of Marietta and a sweet love story. This is the first of a Holiday Series... more stories of Marietta citizens all during the upcoming Holidays.

Halloween at the Graff (Holiday at the Graff #1)
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

A Christmas Miracle for Daisy (Taming of the Sheenans #5)
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
New Year's at the Graff (Holiday at the Graff Book 3)
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Valentine's at the Graff (Holiday at the Graff Book 4)
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

~~~~~ Before Reading ~~~~~~
Aw... How I love the Marietta Montana Tall Tales...
Perfect Timing...And what do we have...

A Television Ghost Hunter...
Who is tired of the Same Old Same Old...

A Political Spin Wonder...
A Woman who is in need of a Career Make Over...

The Reason they Collide Together...
Why the Ghostly Matchmaking of The Graff, Of Course...

A gifted copy was provided by author/publisher via NetGalley for an honest review.

For more Reviews, Free E-books and Giveaways

[Keri · Rating 2 out of 5]

Gosh, I hate giving such a low star review but this book was torture to get through! I contemplated many times just giving up on it. There was just too much of being inside both of the main characters head. They would continually think the same things over and over and over again! I seriously read that Calum was wearing all black, leather jacket, jeans and boots about 10 times! I get it! There would be long ongoing paragraphs with Walker repeatedly thinking about everything that went wrong the past year of her life. Also they both continually thought about how attractive the other character was, so do something about it! I got to the point where I only read where I saw quotation marks and was able to start making some progress. The ghost aspect of it was so minimal I'm not sure that there was any reason to have it included.
I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review. Thank you Tule Publishing.

[Book Gannet · Rating 2 out of 5]

The opening chapter of this book really intrigued me – a possible haunting at the Graff Hotel in Marietta? Just in time for Halloween? Perfect! I couldn’t wait to get started.

Except instead of a fun romantic ghost-caper, this book spent most of its time wallowing in Walker’s head. My word, woman – Just. Stop. Thinking! Too much thinking. All the thinking, all the time, and never any progress. Conversation between her and Calum was torturous because if we weren’t twisting and turning around inside her head about how attracted she was to him, despite him not being at all the kind of guy she likes, and oh, no, he can’t ever know her real name and ghosts aren’t real and this is all really stupid, we were in his head thinking about how hot she was and wasn’t it a shame because he was giving up this whole ghost thing and isn’t honesty like the best thing ever?

Over and over and over again.

Which is quite something considering the vast chunk of this book takes place over a couple of days.

And it’s a real shame, because this had so much potential. I might have liked Walker if she hadn’t been so snobby about the Graff, Marietta and Calum. And I might have liked Calum if he hadn’t dripped about so much. The ghost story had potential, but it never went anywhere and left me disappointed, the secret was blown way out of proportion – especially when it didn’t make sense for part of it to have been a secret at all – and she and Calum never really sat down and talked about who they were and what brought them to such a place at such a time. No one seems to be running the Graff either (except one guy on reception, a bar tender and a housekeeper) and I don’t think Walker actually has any bosses, since she seems free to do whatever she wants, whenever she wants to.

Mostly, though, it was the thinking that killed this for me. Too much time inside Walker’s head, not enough time getting on with the story. In all, this one was disappointing.

(Review copy provided by the publisher via NetGalley.)

[Tracy · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was excited to start this book this month, thought it would be the perfect seasonal Halloween romance read. However after reading 35% I had to give up. I think this book had lots of potential and could have been a really fun read. Ghost hunter, old hotel, romance in the mix. But I couldn't get past the repetitiveness. I lost count of how many times Calum's dark denim jeans, boots and blue eyes were described. Then there was the constant inner turmoil of Walker disliking Calum but being so attracted to him. At 35% they are still mostly in a battle for control and both very stubborn, Walker is a professional used to working for politicians in DC and Calum is used to running things his way. This is mentioned over and over too. I just couldn't take it, it felt like there wasn't much of a story line. The book could use some editing too, missing words, wrong use of words, Martha Stewart was referenced as Martha Steward....plus Calum is mentioned in the book as having long blonde hair, almost a surfer look and the guy on the cover has short brown hair? I feel like I am ranting but I guess I am just disappointed, I feel like this book could have been so much more.

[Deanne Patterson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Starting over career wise at 32 is never easy and it doesn't come as a shock to Walker Wilder that she hates it. As the new events director at historic Montana Graff Hotel, a job she is highly over qualified for it's her job to create a buzz about the place and fill rooms during off peak season. In her mind it's perfect, Halloween time and she decides to hire a spirit hunting tv crew. When just a very handsome spirit hunter shows up she just can't stop thinking about him. Calum Quest hunts things that go bump in the night but he's getting tired of the chase and questioning things that there are no answer to. He also can't stop thinking of Walker. Walker is really trying to reinvent herself and time with Calum and her new found cousins may just do it.
Pub Date 25 Sep 2017

Thank you to NetGalley and Tule Publishing for a book copy in exchange for my honest review.

[Priscilla · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book was free and I’m so glad it was because I can’t imagine paying for it. I almost always enjoy what I read but this book was one of the most frustrating books to get through. The characters’ names were confusing to keep up with. I don’t mean to offend anyone, but names like Walker, Shane, Dylan, and Tucker - I’ve always thought those to be names for guys. But those names are for the women in the story. And what exactly was the story about? There was something about a spooky chair, a girl starting over, and a guy scouting out a potential location for a ghost hunting show. There were so many typos, missing commas, and grammatical errors (“it’s wing” made me want to throw my Kindle across the room) that distracted me from the plot itself. Oh, and the book cover! It looked so familiar to me. Come to find out, there’s another book with the same cover - Her Backup Boyfriend, which I read last year. The best part of this book is that it’s over and I can say I finished it and move on to something else (hopefully) more enjoyable.

[Lisa · Rating 1 out of 5]

Ugh, I don't know why I even finished this book. It was so dumb and characters kept having the same conversation over and over again. And the ghost story part of this book was lame and had no closure.

[Joan]

Nothing is happening. Interminable conversations that don’t go anywhere. Far too much thinking, far to much about his clothes or her past. Questions never answered, and always back to the 'thinking' instead of moving the story forward.

I am bored.

DNF

[Betty Strohecker · Rating 2 out of 5]

This story had so much potential, but never really got there. Two people who are undergoing major changes in their lives find themselves in the small town of Marietta, Montana, just before Halloween. Walker Wilder, having just barely survived a scandal in the Washington political world, accepts a job as events coordinator at the Graff Hotel. Her ten year political career in shambles after being sacrificed for the benefit of the senator she worked for, Walker uses her mother's maiden name, arriving as Walker Kent to avoid any association with her past. Forget the fact that she's pretty sure she has cousins she's never met living on a ranch outside Marietta. To put on a Halloween extravaganza that will draw people and amaze, Walker contacts cable ghost show hunter Calum Quest to entice him into filming his next show at the century old hotel that just might have some ghosts. Of course Calum is thinking about ending his film career with this production and at loose ends as to where his life will go next. He decides to consider this job because an old friend, Laird Wilder, is living at the nearby ranch.

Naturally these two are immediately attracted to each other, and therein lies one of the problems. This book then seems to forget the plot and engages in lengthy descriptions of sexual innuendo and attraction. Another problem is the fact that the ghost angle is largely ignored, even after Walker has experienced strange sounds in the attic with a moving chair, and Calum sees a quilt reminiscent of one from his childhood thrown across the chair and constantly changing places. Since Calum was a history major, he digs up information about a nineteen year old Joshua Wilder who died in the hotel in the late 1800's after a mining accident. This fact is only mentioned briefly and never followed up on, even after Walker introduces herself to her cousins. The story wraps up quickly, ending with the showing of the film, but no indication or explanation of any ghosts. There are other curious unexplored details, such as the mention of a Wilder grandfather who lives on the original ranch, but doesn't have anything to do with all of the grandchildren. Perhaps one of the worst things about this book is the glaring errors that were missed by proofreaders - definitely distracting.

I hate to give this low rating, but this book fell far below expectations. It is apparently a part of a series of other holidays at the Graff, some of which are written by other authors. I enjoyed the western setting and might consider taking a look at one of the other books.

[Aerin · Rating 1 out of 5]

Alright, so this is going to be a really short review, because I just couldn't finish this book. In fact, I didn't finish Chapter 1. The writing was terrible. Tortuously long sentences, with far too many adjectives stuffed in to keep track of. As a general rule, if you regularly have paragraphs that are a single sentence - you need to edit! I was struggling with that when I got to the first description of the hero, including his black beanie. Uhhhh... what now?

I don't know about you, but when I see beanie, this is what I think of - those little multi-coloured caps with the propeller on top. I don't care if it's black, if the guy I'm supposed to fall a little bit in love with is wearing one of these, un-ironically, you've lost me.

This book gets one star from me and I don't even feel bad about it.

Also published on my blog: http://editrix.ca/2018/11/review-12-h... ‎Edit

[Tanja Glavnik · Rating 2 out of 5]

This one left me with so many question marks ...

I get that it was a short story part of this Holiday at the Graff collection, but the holes were so big I could drive Range Rovers through them, sadly.

- The back story was never properly explained - what exactly happened that she was thrown under the bus? Why? What's the deal with the ex?
- The extended family was more than a little rushed, although I do kind of want to read that series specifically now.
- The ghost story. What's with that creepy chair and how does it tie to the guy who died and was an ancestor? Hello?

I feel like I shouldn't go on anymore. This was an okay-ish read if you feel like scratching your head after you're done. I may be missing something but ... nope.

[Monique · Rating 2 out of 5]

Review written: October 9, 2017
Star Rating: ★★½☆☆
Heat Rating: ☀☀☼☼☼

An Advanced Reader Copy (ARC) of this book was received free via Netgalley for an honest review.

This was a rather underwhelming addition to the Marietta lexicon. Neither Walker nor Calum really impressed or intrigued me. They lacked depth and the result was that I never really got into the story.

Walker is a new addition to the Wilder family, which seems to be growing, and not through procreation. Her downward trajectory to Marietta and her feelings about being there are hard to sympathize with. Calum also seems to be on a bit of a downward spiral.

That they hit it off in Marietta is not exactly pure chance, but close enough to it. There's a bit of paranormal activity (kind of a required element seeing as how Calum is a ghost hunter) but it's not a lot. Mostly, it felt like two people complaining about how awful their life seemed now compared to where they wanted to be.

I'd give this one miss unless you really have to read all the Marietta books or all the Wilder family books.

This review is ©October 2017 by Monique N. and has been posted to Netgalley.

[Sascha · Rating 2 out of 5]

2 1/2 stars

The first few pages of Halloween at the Graff intrigued me. Walker was a strong woman whose career imploded and now she was a fish out of water in Montana. And then there were some strange vibes with a chair in the attic, which made me think we might get a real Halloween story here.

Unfortunately not much happened, except for a lot of "telling." Walker and Calum kept having the same conversation. They just kept looking at each other and thinking of how attractive the other was. I found this to be highly repetitive.

Walker's character seemed to bounce around between being sharp and dim.

Needless to say, I lost interest.

[Claire - The Coffeeholic Bookworm]

First off, I’m so sorry for not posting this review immediately. I know it’s already three weeks since Halloween, but as you know, life gets in the way. I had to prioritize and set obligations that are sometimes beyond my control. But I’ve read this book during the first week of November, and luckily now I’ve found time to share my thoughts. So, there.

Now, on to my review: Halloween at the Graff successfully got me chills and thrills as if I am living in this little town of Marietta. Ever since I have discovered this fictional town, I’ve fell in love with the characters and the places and events happening around town. I’ve discovered The Graff from all the previous books I’ve read, and I am quite fascinated by this hotel’s splendor and history. Thanks Sinclair Jayne for this Halloween treat that made me fall for Calum Quest and Walker Wilder.

Actually, Walker’s name confused me from the beginning, because it clearly sounded like a man’s name to me. When I realized Walker was a girl, I had to mentally get accustomed to imagining her as a woman throughout the story. I liked what I read about her, and her competence and self-reliance was admirable.

Calum Quest, on the other hand, was stunning. Chasing ghosts and exposing them on his tv show appealed to me. Both of them spending time at the Graff doing ghost hunts and everything else in between created the kind of intimacy that made my heart swoon and scared.

Sinclair Jayne’s writing was flawless and romantic. I’d love to stay in Marietta for as long as these wonderful authors keep on writing about my favorite town.

[Coco.V]

💝FREE on Amazon today (10/9/18)!💝

Blurb:
tarting over at thirty-two is never fun, especially in a town the size of a postage stamp. Chasing that with having to beg for a job she’s wildly over-qualified for and Walker Wilder’s pride is really burned. But now that she’s the new events director for the historic Montana Graff Hotel, she’s tasked with creating buzz and traditions to fill rooms during the off-season. Halloween may not scream touristy, but hiring a spirit-hunting TV crew will definitely grab some headlines... But when the sexy spirit hunter shows up, he haunts more than her dreams.

Calum Quest is done. He’s created an entertainment empire by chasing something he’s never seen and is tired of asking questions with no answers. His life has been defined by ghosts he needs to exorcise, yet, when a red-haired, grey-eyed beauty with a body that melts his mind pours him a double shot of Laphroaig whiskey and challenges him to one more round, how can he say no?

[Darlene Chisholm · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really only started to like this book when I got about 60% into it. Up to that point, the author kept repeating the same thing over and over regarding Walker's former life and I just found it annoying. But then the story started to get more interesting and started to focus more on the present with the past finely woven in, instead of repetition. So with the turn around in the story, I started to really enjoy it and embrace all the characters and the town that Walker was finally embracing as some place she could be happy in. The Graff Hotel is a great backdrop for this story and I now look forward to reading more in this series.

[Lise · Rating 1 out of 5]

DNF! Run away from this mess!!!

Wow, a whole lot of thinking but no doing. Walker can’t get out of her own head long enough to walk across a small bar without have seriously long flashbacks to her “previous life.” I picture her just blanking out and staring vacantly into the distance all the time. Seriously, everything happens inside these characters heads. Every. Single. Thing. And the typos! They can’t even get her ex’s name the same from one paragraph to the next! He’s Jared at the end of one paragraph and Jarod in the 1st sentence of the next paragraph. Sheesh! (Page 45 in the Nook version for reference in case someone decides to edit this crap.)

So this is a DNF for and I would recommend that you DNS (Do Not Start) it either.

[Cindy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a freebie from Amazon.
I was actually going to give this one 3 stars, but it improved after chapter 3. Before that I was going nuts with the internal dialogue! I really hate when someone asks a question & 3 pages later the other person finally answers & by that time you've forgotten what the original question even was.

So, the Graff Hotel may or may not be haunted. I would say yes, but we never do get a definite answer. The chair is creepy. The romance is ok. This is fairly clean, one scene of heavy petting. There's actually another series before this one, so you get all of them (4 couples) making an appearance. This is totally stand alone though.
I would be interested in Rafe's story, but it doesn't look like we ever get it.

[Karen · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

I've never read this author before, so the title and season was what I was looking for at the time. I wasn't sure of either character at first, both were dealing with their own problems. Calum was in need of some career changes and wasn't exactly likeable at first. Walker was trying too hard to get Calum interested in getting coverage for the Graff, but when you find out more, you understand her need to make her new career a success. The chemistry between the two is slow building, no insta-love here which I enjoyed. All in all I thought the story was a well written if not a little uneven (at first) enjoyable romantic read.
I received an ARC thru NetGalley for my honest opinion

[Hanna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Almost 5 Stars

Why oh why do wonderful authors let second-rate copyeditors spoil their books? Sinclair Jayne is one of the best writers I have read in a while. Her word usage and turn of phrase show a masterful use of language. Scenes that could have been trite are imaginative instead. A lot of the sex was suggestive rather than explicit, which I much prefer. But oh, the poor punctuation, misused words and some places where words and even lines appear to have been dropped. Please, whoever is responsible for proofreading and copyeditingg: find someone competent!

[Kristy Loftis · Rating 3 out of 5]

Walker Wilder ran from DC to Marietta Montana after a scandal left all the blame to her. Hoping to just be able to see her cousins that she never got to know. Callus Quest is the star of a cable show Ghost Quests who is ready to move on with his life.
When Callum gets an email from a hotel in Montana wanting to be on the show he decides to swing by and politely decline and continue on to his friends ranch. When Walker and Callum spot one another there is an instant connection. Can Walker lower her guard and take a chance? And will Callum stick around long enough to let her?

I went into this book with so many expectations and ended up feeling let down. The whole thing seemed rushed to me as well as the first few chapters were hard for me to really get into it.. I did like Walker and Callum’s characters and the setting of the Graff Hotel.

[N.N. Heaven · Rating 4 out of 5]

Halloween at the Graff is a sweet romance in a small town. Both Calum Quest and Walker Wilder are at a crossroads in their lives. Walker is a woman but it was jarring for me every time I read her name. Unfortunately, for the author, it's a poor choice for a heroine's name. The paranormal aspect I wasn't expecting and brought this up from a two-star review to a 4.5 star. I'm new to this author and will definitely be checking out her other books.

My Rating: 4.5 stars

[Marsha Keeper Bookshelf · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reviewed at Keeper Bookshelf

Halloween at The Graff begins the Holiday at The Graff series written by various authors. I enjoyed Walker and Calum’s story, I do need to say that at times I was torn about Walker. Life changing events have happened to her in the last year. Her reputation and political career in tatters, tossed under the bus as a sacrificial lamb, her discovery of what a cheating jerk her was going to be groom truly was, and the decision to move far from DC to the wilds of Montana… and the possible homestead of part of her extended family. Yes, life sucks and she’s in hiding far away from anyone who might know her and using her mother’s maiden name. She’s trying to build a new life with half-truths and the intention of leaving in six months. She’s running and hasn’t stopped running. I really wanted to like Walker, and eventually I did… once she stopped thinking, thinking, thinking so much.

Calum has ridden the ghost hunting show of his creation for a very long run. Yet now he’s ready for something else. He’s grown tired of the extras that go with making his show. He still enjoys the chase, sometimes, but now it’s time to wrap it up with his Halloween special. He’s in Marietta to visit with a friend, a man who had been with him back in the beginning of their ghost questing when he gets an interesting email.

I enjoyed Halloween At The Graff. The ghost story was left unfinished in my mind, unless I missed it. Yet the overall story was fun and entertaining. It’s always fun to run into old friends in Marietta and that we did with Sage, the Wilder brothers and their ladies… and perhaps a few secondary characters who will have their own story told one day. Lookin’ at you Shane. I had fun, I was entertained and that’s the whole point. If you’re addicted to small town Marietta then you’ll want to get started on this new series. I’d definitely recommend this one to anyone who enjoys holiday themed stories, interesting characters and a touch of mystery.

*I received an e-ARC of this novel from the publisher via NetGalley. That does not change what I think of this story. It is my choice to leave a review giving my personal opinion about this book.*

[Charity Bradford · Rating 3 out of 5]

Where to start? This had so much potential but the story got lost in the words. It's like the author didn't trust me to get what Walker or Calum were thinking/feeling so she told me every other page. Instead of the story moving along, we kept rehashing Walker's past, how hot Calum looked in all black, and how gorgeous Walker was and that's why Calum kept putting off telling her he was done with the show.

There really isn't any ghost story either. Just kissing, running away, kissing, "oh he's hot!", run away, sigh. I really wanted to like this story but it just irritated me.

Sorry, I wish I could have brought you a good book to add to next fall's reading list, but I'd skip this one.

I'll give it a 2.5 rounding up to a 3 simply because I did finish reading it. PG rating because it felt like the physical attraction was the only thing keeping these two together. I don't remember them thinking about anything else.

1-5 scale and what it means:
1: I couldn’t even finish it / just plain bad
2: I hope I didn’t pay for this / disappointing
3: I didn’t hate it, but it was still missing something / forgettable but inoffensive
3.5: On the line between good and ok / like, not love
4: Solid mind candy / worth reading
4.5: So very close to perfection! / must read
5: I could not put it down and I’m still thinking about it! / a true treasure

Movie Ratings in relation to my review:
Clean--Hallmark movies, some kissing, no nudity, no sex on or off "screen"
PG--Some innuendo but nothing kids don't hear every day, sex is all closed door
PG-13--some language (swear words not related to sex), more talk about sex, heavy petting, removal of clothing on screen, but sex is closed door.
PG-14—somewhere between PG-13 and R. Not erotica, but at least a paragraph of on-screen sex
R--swearing (F-bomb, on “screen” sex, sometimes feels like the whole story is about the sex and not the relationship or some other plot, but not always

[Kerry Croucier · Rating 4 out of 5]

A small town, an historic hotel, and a ghost...what more can you ask for at Halloween? Walker Wilder's entire life has taken a dramatic turn in the past year. Her only chance to start over is a job in PR at the Graff Hotel in Marietta, thanks to an intern from her past life. Determined to make things work without her past interfering, she adopts her mother's last name and tries to figure out a way to up the hotel's bookings. A visit to the attic for Halloween decorations leaves her with an uneasy feeling, prompting an email to Ghost Quests in the hope of getting the Graff's name out there. Calum Quest has lost his feel for his show. He has come to Marietta to stay with his friend and figure out what he wants to do next, but takes a side-trip to the Graff when he receives Walker's email.
Calum is more interested in Walker and her secrets than the possibility of a ghost at the Graff. The more time he spends, the more he finds himself charmed by the town and Walker.
Walker is used to the high-powered career and life she used to have and doesn't expect to stay in Marietta too long. Her job and Marietta, as well as Calum, not to mention the family she has always wondered about, start to make her re-think her future and where she thinks she should be.
Both Walker and Calum have some baggage, and I do like these two, especially together. It's fun to see them discover what a special place Marietta is, and for Walker to find her family. The was a Halloween ghost story that wasn't overly spooky, and in fact, had me giggling in some spots.
This is a fun start to a new Marietta series set around the historic Graff hotel. It will be fun to see what's next for the Graff.
**I received an advanced copy via NetGalley. My opinions are my own and freely given.

[Matilda Dix · Rating 4 out of 5]

Walker Wilder found herself in the small town of Marietta, Montana, trying to move forward after her previous life imploded, leaving her at the point of starting over. We get the impression at the start of the book that she is done with men. Her energy is focused on bring guests to the Graff hotel and making them a destination. She wants to start by working on a family friendly Halloween event. Walker needed some publicity for the hotel, so she invited Calum Quest and his Ghost Quest to see if the setting at the Graff would make for a good show.

Calum wants to be done with is show because it’s just gotten too big and he is not passionate about it anymore. He’s been on the road too long and now something is just missing. He is more than ready to film the finale of his show. He came to Marietta because it’s on his way to his friend, Laird Walker’s, house where he will take a much needed break. He wasn’t really looking for a location for his last show.

This was the first book that I have read by Sinclair Jayne and I didn’t really know what to expect. It was definitely a sweet romance. I love the Halloween holiday theme and the bit of paranormal activity. I don’t think I have ever read a ghost hunting romance, so it was fun! This book has some hot chemistry, some awkward moments, funny lines, an underlying mystery and definitely adventure. The dialogue between the characters flows effortlessly and the sparks definitely are flying. Calum was totally my book boyfriend while I was reading this book. He was hot, romantic and had a take-charge attitude. The author can’t go wrong with a man looking for a long term commitment ;) Read this book if you are looking for a sweet romance. *dreamy sigh*

[Debbie Lesley · Rating 3 out of 5]

Run of the Mill Chick-Lit

This book, quite frankly, did nothing for me. Now, that said, the premise was good and the book could have been really good but...

There was too much repetition of Walker Wilder/Kent’s background or maybe more about her insecurities. An explanation of her past including her downfall in politics would have sufficed once with simple references later. However, I a, not sure it was ever totally explained. Why did amChief of Staff lose everything yet her former boss could run for President? Does not make sense. Maybe the prologue could have been the actual downfall explained including the fiancé ‘s cheating. Then an explanation of how she got her job? Who,was the former intern who reached out to her, giving her a chance at a new beginning?

And Calum? His story was also a bit incomplete.

Lust carried the story line through most of the book and the constant references to Calum’s hard body got old. Then the lust got mixed up with Walker obsessing over her previous relationship and worrying about the four year age difference between them.

Then suddenly, the Halloween event simply happened and her long lost family immediately took her ( and her twin brother who just showed up) in as though they had been waiting for her. And we never heard of where the younger sister is.

This is a current day book so questions concerning family—-who they were, where they lived, how to find them, how to reach out, how to get someone’s history, and more—- the internet! Ignorance about family cannot be pled when suddenly it was used for some parts.

As stated, the story idea works but it just needs to be redone. I wonder how the next few books in the series will run. Hoping the author does not spend so much to,e on background reflection.

[Terric853 · Rating 3 out of 5]

Walker Wilder, 32, had been a successful chief of staff for a prominent Washington Senator. Some sort of scandal happened (the author is never clear on exactly what it was) and the Senator used Walker as a scapegoat. As a result, Walker was hauled before a Congressional hearing and, while not found guilty, nevertheless lost her job and her reputation. On top of that, she caught her fiance cheating with her intern in her office.

In an attempt to start over and reclaim her life, Walker moves to Marietta, Montana, her father's hometown, to be the PR director for the struggling Graff Hotel. The town and the hotel have fallen on hard times since the rodeo arena in town was burned down several months ago. She contacts famous ghosthunter Calum Quest in the hope that he'll film an episode of his popular show at the Graff. Calum is on his way to town to visit an old friend, a cousin of Walker's whom she's never met, so he stops by the hotel to check on Walker's proposition. Walker and Calum are wildly attracted to each other the moment they meet. He had every intention of turning her down, but his attraction to her overrides his original determination and he starts to investigate supernatural phenomena at the hotel.

This was a cute, fun read. That said, I have some quibbles. Walker's ex-boyfriend is Jared, but on occasion was Jarod. Calum was spelled Calem at least once. The plural of hotels is not hotel's and one sentence had a random "s" smack dab in the middle of it. I also wish the author had been more explicit about what happened to Walker in Washington since all of her insecurities and self-doubt seemed to revolve around that incident.