When Louisa Banner's mother announces they are poor, she cannot help her misgivings when her mother sends her away to live with her great aunt in a tiny, Northumberland village. Louisa's aunt also happens to live near the ruins of an ancient castle. Although Louisa insists she is not the least bit superstitious, tales of lost treasure and ghosts intrigue her. When Louisa stumbles upon a forgotten graveyard, and a man whose name comes directly from a tombstone, she isn’t certain whether to run away in terror or stay and get to know the handsome spirit. Erasmus Grey is cursed, and not only because he sometimes hears the voices of ghosts claiming to be his dead grandparents. While most men would count it a blessing to be a wealthy, eligible bachelor, Ras has no hope of finding a bride who will tolerate his stammer or his passion for writing Gothic novels. Rather than succumb to the matchmaking mothers of London, he retreats to an old family estate at the behest of the ghostly voices. Though he manages to keep his presence in the country a secret, coming upon a lovely young woman during one of his rambles nearly undoes all his careful work. But when he realizes Miss Banner thinks him a ghost, Ras wonders if he might have found someone who truly understands him. Treasures, castles, and ghosts combine in an autumn romance in a haunted wood. The sixth book in the Seasons of Change series, A Haunting at Havenwood is a stand-alone novel. Check out the other books in the multi-author series to discover stories about change and love.* Book The Road Through Rushbury by Martha Keyes Book The Last Eligible Bachelor by Ashtyn Newbold Book A Forgiving Heart by Kasey Stockton Book A Well-Trained Lady by Jess Heileman Book The Cottage by Conistone Deborah M. Hathaway Book A Haunting at Havenwood by Sally Britton Book His Disinclined Bride Jennie Goutet *These books may be read in any order.
Sally Britton is sixth generation Texan, received her BA in English forever ago, and reads voraciously. She started her writing journey at the tender age of fourteen on an electric typewriter, and she’s never looked back.
Sally lives in Oklahoma with her husband, four children, and their overly energetic Australian Shepherds, cat, and snake named Nancy. She loves researching, hiking, and eating too much chocolate.
Lovely historical romance with paranormal elements. I adore Sally Britton's romances, and this was a just as beautiful as I had hoped. I listened to the audiobook that the author made available FOR FREE on YouTube (as she does with most of her books). The narration by Jessica Elisa Boyd was awesome.
This was such a simple sweet romance. It has a fall feeling with a bit of halloween thrown in for the perfect regency fall read. This got me more in the mood for cooler fall days and warmer clothes. This was a sweet, gentle romance with good hearted kind people. These kind of books are like the icing on the cake for me. I don't know why I love them so much but I do.
The Seasons of Change books have been delightful. I've read a handful of them and have to admit that I really have been looking forward to reading them all, but this one kept catching my eye because of the haunting aspect and the time of year it came out. I'm not a scary and spooky story type of person. I don't like scary movies. Nope! Not for me at all! Thank you very much! But being a fan of Sally Britton's books and knowing what reading her stories entails for me, I thought this would be a delightful book and have some fun mystery to it. I was not disappointed at all. I loved every minute of it. I actually did a mix of listening and reading to it. The narrator of the audiobook has such a soothing voice that I loved listening to her read the book.
Louisa's family situation isn't the best and she finds herself being shipped off to a great aunt's home by herself. She isn't sure what to expect but finds her situation better than expected. Her aunt is kind and caring. Finding time to explore the area, she runs into Erasmus Grey. They have a couple fun interactions and first meetings. I giggled at the creativeness of Sally Britton of their initial acquaintance and developing friendship. It was delightful.
The haunting aspect, or rather the ghosts aspect was quite fun. Delightful is the word I would use for it. I know I used that word about Louisa and Erasmus's friendship, but I think it's a great word to describe the characters and the story of this book.
The mystery and slight suspense (not scary) of the book had me turning the pages and listening during every spare minute that I could. If you enjoy fun books and stories that pull you into them, not letting go even after the last page, this book is one I would recommend for your reading pleasure. There are some other characters aside from the main two and the ghosts, some of them I liked and others I didn't care for. But then again that was their purpose. I'll let you read and discover who those characters are. ;-)
Content: Clean. Ghosts are some of the characters but they aren't malicious or scary. Well written!
I received an audiobook copy but also purchased my own ebook. All thoughts and opinions in the review are my own.
A fun story with a lovely stammering ghost and a long-hidden treasure
A Haunting at Havenwood by Sally Britton is a fun, romantic, and sweet historical romance with some lovely apparitions and exciting treasure hunting.
It is book #6 in the Season of Change series but can be read as a standalone.
Louisa’s father passed away a few years prior, and the family finances had deteriorated ever since.
After failing again to capture a husband, and with their finances reaching a breaking point, Louisa’s cold mother sent her to live with a distant great-aunt in the far north of England.
The great-aunt, to Louisa’s surprise, was actually quite nice. The place was remote and cold, but the people were so warm and different from her judgmental and distant mother.
The place’s most irresistible attraction was the ghost that ‘lived’ at the local graveyard and the treasure he was connected to.
The story was lovely! Ras, the ghost, was the sweetest of heroes. He was shy, stammered a bit, and was utterly captivating.
Together, Louisa and Ras, with the help of two other adorable ghosts, looked for the treasure, falling hopelessly in love in the meantime.
I loved how the story moved me by simply relaying their small gestures of affection. I love how it captures the magic of holding hands for the first time, the energy of an involuntary touch. It was pure and sweet.
Once again, the narration is very clear and well performed. It is my third audiobook by Jessica Elisa Boyd, and I like her more and more as I listen to her work. One of the characters was Scottish, and I loved her rendition of him.
A Haunting at Havenwood is a sweet romance with a bit of adventure, a tad of family drama, and a small fun dose of supernatural.
Lovely! Highly Recommended!
Disclosure: I received a promotional code for this audiobook from the author for an honest review.
Enjoyed the audiobook version of A Haunting at Havenwood! I was expecting a scary ghost tale, but was delightfully surprised that the ghosts are anything but scary. There’s also a hidden treasure and a sweet slow burn romance.
I was immediately drawn to the main characters Ras and Louisa. They are both truly sympathetic and have their own reasons for seeking refuge in the small village of Harbottle. Louisa’s family is facing economic ruin after her father’s death. She’s also had to deal with a stifling mother who dictates her every move. Erasmus or Ras has his own secrets and desires peace from the matchmaking mamas of the ton. He’s also working on a novel.
I loved the way Louisa first meets Ras. She thinks he’s a ghost (Ras of course goes along with this.); but soon fear turns to curiosity. As their friendship flourishes, she learns he is much more human than spirit. I enjoyed how their relationship blossomed as they searched for the treasure. They had a genuine friendship and respect for one another. Another favorite character was Louisa’s aunt. While Louisa’s mother was cold and calculating, her aunt was loving and kind and truly cared for her. The ghosts are fun too with their desire to “help” Ras.
The narrator of this audiobook is quickly becoming a favorite. She has a pleasant voice that is easy to listen to. I enjoyed the way she distinguishes each of the characters in her narration.
All in all, a delightful audiobook that will keep you hooked to the very end! I received a copy from the author. I was not required to leave a review and all opinions are my own.
A Haunting at Havenwood was the perfect Halloween read, not because it’s scary, but because of its strong sense of atmosphere, mystery, and two thoroughly endearing ghosts.
The plot was interesting and the romance beautiful, but the story’s strongest aspect is its sense of setting. I became fully immersed in the gorgeous countryside, the historic Welsh castle, and the beautiful descriptions as well as all the interesting history of the landscape. The romance was lovely on its own, but it was enhanced by the mystery and legends surrounding the lost treasure.
The characters were wonderful. While Louisa was very likable, I might have fallen in with Erasmus, a shy, sweet, endearing introverted writer who enjoys rambles through the countryside, truly a man after my own heart. Thanks to my own love for the craft, his love for writing as well as his journey as an author were delightful for me to read about.
Ras’s meeting with Louisa where she mistakes him for a ghost was so creative and fun to watch unfold, as was their friendship and growing romance. I loved how they complemented each other and helped each other grow in confidence. The plot was interesting and their love story was incredibly sweet.
Overall, A Haunting at Havenwood was a charming, cozy, beautiful, and had me thoroughly engrossed as it took me on a lovely journey. It’s definitely one of my favorites by Sally Britton, and a story I can envision myself reading every autumn.
I loved this slow and sweet romance set in an isolated village by the Scottish border. Louisa is a bit adrift, but eager to please her aunt and quickly becomes accustomed to her newfound independence. I enjoyed her lovely personality that is steady with a good sense of humor. Ras has been considered an odd duck with his stammer and preference for solitude, and it was wonderful to see his personality unfold as he befriends Louisa and they entertain each other while hunting clues for the legendary hidden treasure. The haunting by the grandparents was whimsical rather than scary, and their vibrant personalities shone through as they subtly encouraged Ras in his endeavors. Ras and Louisa have charming chemistry and their gentle romance was a pleasure to read!
Disclosure statement: A complimentary copy of this book was provided from a tour group, publisher, publicist, or author, including NetGalley, OR was borrowed from the library, including OverDrive, OR borrowed from Kindle Unlimited, OR purchased. A review was not required and all views and opinions expressed are unbiased and my own.
I very much enjoyed this story. It was especially fun that Louisa mistook Ras as a ghost when they first met when Ras himself was seeing ghosts and had a hard time accepting that fact. Their love story was sweet. Louisa was in a hard position being in reduced circumstances and Ras had his own struggles with his stammer. I had a stutter for years growing up and had to be in speech therapy for years. Kids can be cruel. I can’t imagine how my life would have been different back in these days without speech therapy and the modern treatments that are available. Anyway, I was endeared to the characters, especially the sweet Aunt Penrith.
Just finished this for the second time. This time I listened to the audiobook. I enjoyed it. The narrator does a great job.
This is a sweet, lovely romance with a little mystery and humor. It’s so well written that I didn’t want it to end. This is the third Sally Britton book that I’ve read this month and all have been excellent, lighthearted and engaging reads.
What an adorable book! This was so cute, I flew through it! A Haunting at Havenwood is the sixth book in the Seasons of Love series, which is a collection of stand-alone regency era books that can be read in any order. This is the first book I have read from it and now I am definitely going to read the others. In A Haunting at Havenwood, Lousia Banner has been sent to live in the small town of Havenwood with her aunt, after her mother declares them poor. Eramaus Grey, a wealthy and eligible bachelor, who nonetheless has problems of his own, also come to Havenwood looking for peace and quiet. Lousia is determined to find the missing treasure told of throughout the town, though she is shocked to run into a handsome man whose name matches the tombstone before her. Erasmus is equally surprised to run into Lousia, especially as he is already dealing with the voices of those who claim to be his dead grandparents, his stammer, and the gothic novels he secretly writes. Through keeping his stay at Havenwood, his childhood home, a secret, he has achieved solitude. However, their meeting proves to be more than a passing acquaintance, as Lousia and Eramaus discover their connection and maybe a treasure… I loved this book! Lousia grew so much throughout the story. She had come from a society background, but had constantly felt stifled and awkward. Her mother was very focused on her marrying well. When she is sent to live with her aunt, she is apprehensive, however she soon finds that the quiet town and the country surrounding appeals to her. She is very curious about the legends that she hears about treasure and is determined to get to the bottom of it. I love how she grows in her understanding of herself and her comfort in who she is. She and Ras (Eramaus) complemented each other, making each other feel more comfortable and confident. Ras was so sweet! He was a little shy and not completely comfortable in himself. However, he was also thoughtful and polite. He cared about his family, but did not feel similar to them. Ras was very startled by the ghosts that seem to haunt him, though it was not scary at all. It was very sweet actually, as his grandparents tried to guide him along. I loved how you could really see how he and Lousia connected. They could talk to each other, as well as understand and appreciate the other. The story was also really sweet! It was a journey for both of the characters as people and in their relationship. I loved how relaxing it was. While there was definitely plot and problems to overcome, it was not so stressful that I had to stop reading to breathe. They dealt with the problems without being rash or carefless. I also loved Lousia’s aunt Penrith! She is so caring! And of course there is a HEA! Of all Ms. Britton’s books, this has become one of my favorites! It is clean, sweet, and feels perfect for fall! It felt like a lovely book to curl up with tea or coffee!
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from the author. All views expressed are only my honest opinion
The haunting in this book was not quite what I expected, but it was delightful! I loved the way the author had Erasmus’ (or Ras as he was called to distinguish him from his great-grandfather) ancestors spend time talking to him and helping him through the things he was doing. It kind of made me think, what if our own ancestors were as invested in our lives as his were. Maybe they are and they’re just not as visible. Anyway…
I really liked Louisa. When she went to Harbottle, I think she thought that her life as she knew it was over. But her Aunt Penrith was kind. She had more freedom than she was used to. And there were kind people to meet. People like Ras. I really enjoyed how she thought he was a ghost for a bit. And there was the treasure to search for. It was really fun how she got interested in that and spent time searching.
Ras is a great character too. He put up with his great-grandparents meddling in his life like a champ. And he was a good friend to Louisa when she didn’t seem to have anyone.
I loved this book! Such a great story.
I was sent an e-copy of A Haunting at Havenwood as a gift from the author. All opinions are my own.
The book started a little slow for me but picked up quickly and my interest was piqued! I loved everything about the main characters, Ras and Louisa, and their beautiful friendship that formed and slowly grew into something a little bit more. So many fun side characters including Louisa's aunt and Ras's friendly ancestors. This is most definitely NOT a scary story in any way.
This book has a beautiful, remote setting combined with some friendly ghosts, a hunt for a missing treasure, and a sweet romance between two genuinely good people - the perfect combination for a great read!
The author has long been a favorite of mine and this book was no exception. I would have liked to see things play out a little bit more in the end but enjoyed the epilogue immensely. 4.5/5*
I received a complimentary copy of this book but my opinions are my own.
I had thought this book would be very different from Mrs. Britton's usual with the ghosts and everything, but it's not. It's what you would expect from her with a fun ghost element. I loved the ghosts and kept thinking how much I'd enjoy some of my own. Haha. Louisa and Ras were great characters that you couldn't help falling in love with and rooting for. My only complaint is that I wanted more. I felt it wrapped up too soon and too neatly. I was hoping for a little more conflict. I am happy how things turned out for them, but it just felt almost too easy.
I really enjoyed this book by Sally Britton! I loved how she included some friendly ghost to help Ras on his journey to love. I loved how the main characters came together while trying to find a lost local treasure. I also loved that Louisa didn’t seem to notice Ras’ stutter and that they were able to feel comfortable with each other. I think this is a perfect story to read during the fall.
I received a complimentary book from publishers, publicists, and or authors. A review was not required and all opinions and ideas expressed are my own.
Despite the title this is a sweet regency romance with a few friendly spirits. Super enjoyable read with great main characters that were flawed but not overly hard on themselves so they didn’t unnecessarily sabotage their relationship in annoying ways! Always enjoy Britton’s books and this one is no different. All books in this series have been fantastic.
I really enjoyed this book. It was a sweet love simmering, along with Ghosts, and a lost treasure, and two young people at odds with their duties, and what was in their hearts. I enjoyed their walks while talking of things important to them. Our heroine had been sent to her GREAT aunt, by a careless mother, more interested in being at parties, and in the public eyes, than how her daughter had felt. I loved her great Aunt she was warm, loving,and wise. She welcomed her great niece to Northern England, near the Scottish. border, to her home, and to her heart. Our hero was from a wealthy working class family, but he had no need for balls, and society. He had stammered as a youth, and sent out to find the perfect bride, but most had conspired, or laughed at him. This had only caused the stammer to increase, as it had when he went off to Eaton. He liked to write, and had the ability to tell stories, and books that sold. He had to write under another name for his family felt it was a foolish waste of time. He had come home to the large hunting lodge, as a hidden neighbor. His presence was soon discovered in a graveyard, by a young woman he had never seen before, and wanted to see again. The clues to the treasure hunt were carefully hidden, and no one since the days of King James from Scotland had ever found it. Yet it seemed to be his destiny, and hers to help him. They had a different desire to help others in their small perish, rather than waste it buying things they had no desire to own, or flaunt. The whole book was his ancestors, as ghosts now encouraging him now to earn the treasure, and try to win the love of his life. She in turn was very bright, and was good at observation, and puzzles, and was more happy in the small hamlet than she could ever remember being, especially at his side, giving him the strength to move past what others may think.. I loved the ending... 5 stars..A few kisses, but no bad language, or sexual innuendos. A delight ... another success from Ms. Britton.
“Ras and Louisa laughed. He threaded his fingers through hers and they followed after the kitten, hardly speaking. But the need for words lessened when people spoke to each other with their hearts.”
This book is so intriguing and fun. I love the setting, the spooky fall feel, and the two main characters that I loved getting to know!!! There are also ghosts, a mystery to be solved, a quaint village with an interesting history, and long walks in the gorgeous countryside.
This is the perfect cozy fall read with a light Gothic feel to it. I loved getting lost in this world with these characters that I fell in love with!
Read for: 🤍Endearing characters 🤍The sweet slow burn romance 🤍The cozy fall feel 🤍You will feel like you’re there walking among the green rolling hills and gray skies of Northumberland 🤍The fun and unique storyline
If you’re looking for an atmospheric, cozy fall read definitely check out this wonderful story! I really loved it! You will love Ras and Louisa!
This is a very sweet Regency romance. Even the ghosts are kindly relatives.
Louisa is cast upon a great-aunt after the death of her father, and she finds herself going from riches to, well, not quite rags. But life is definitely different in tranquil Northumberland, compared to her lively Scarborough home.
The plot moves along at a steady, sedate pace. And the characters are brought to life with wonderful writing.
One of the ghosts wears a kilt, and brings a lovely Scottish flair to this story which is set close to the border. Not scary at all.
Erasmus, the haunted great-grandson, has a stammer which he has been ridiculed for all his life. He has tried his best to overcome it, but there's still traces which has left him reluctant to socialise enough to pursue a wife.
A thoroughly enjoyable Regency tale with a treasure hunt!
* I received an ARC of this book but am voluntarily leaving a fair, honest review. There is no sex, violence or swearing - a gently bred young lady
Oh my word, this was the perfect uplifting story! If you're looking for a somewhat dark, gothic read, this is not it. But, it is full of charm!
I wasn't expecting actual ghosts, but they are portrayed in such a fun, lighthearted way. The story is heartwarming and sweet, yet not in a cheesy way. Just in a curl up with a cup of cocoa and enjoy something that's comforting sort of way. Perfect for Fall, minus anything particularly spooky.
The characters are lovable and free of unnecessary angst or conflict. I'll be keeping this on my shelf for days when I just need a light, comfort read. 🧡
This was another wonderful book written by the talented author, Sally Britton. It is a sweet, clean romance with a couple of ghosts, some buried treasure and mystery and suspense.
Louisa was sent to the North to live with an aunt she'd never met when her mother went to live with a friend after her father's death and they were left destitute. Louisa had no employable skills and she worried what she would find when she met her aunt. What she found was a wonderfully, sweet and caring woman who was a joy to be around. Her mother had been overbearing and hypercritical of Louisa and wanted to put her on display and have her save them from financial ruin by finding a rich husband. Louisa just wanted to be happy and loved.
On a walk one day, Louisa met Ras, who she believed to be a ghost since he was standing by a tombstone with his name on it. Ras played along initially and found that enjoyed spending time with the lovely lady, Louisa.
I won't give away more details but I thoroughly enjoyed the pace of this story and was very pleased with the happy ending.
I was initially given an arc of this book but bought a copy because I am sure it is one I will enjoying reading again.
4.5 stars rounded up This book was just sweet and lovely. I loved that it was slightly slower paced, not rushed about or filled over much with adventures and mishaps. It was simply a tender romance story. With ghosts and hidden treasure.
Not to worry, the ghosts were not cruel or creepy. But it definitely lent the book an air of otherworldliness. It was the perfect fall read, one I see myself returning to each October.
I loved Ras right from the beginning. His exasperation with his phantom ghosts, who show up at any random time, his desire to write a perfect gothic novel, even under the guise of a pseudonym, and pretending to be a ghost himself. And his stutter. Everything just endeared him to me.
Louisa was no less lovable. And her character development was so perfect. She does a lot of growing in this book and learning about herself. Thank heavens for Aunt Penrith and Louisa’s getting away from her devious, scheming mother. Her mother is a piece of work, in fact. What is up with these parents who only view their children as a means of bettering their own lives through advantageous marriages? I just can’t with these people. Anyway, Louisa is still a wonderful person even for it all. Also, the scene with the Cunninghams and Ras at the dinner party was splendid. Bravo, Louisa!
Sally has crafted a beautifully simple book that still has depth and development. The setting and characters are wonderful. I loved that this book didn’t feature ballrooms and social calls and scheming for husbands. I loved that it wasn’t set in London but a far removed, almost forgotten corner of the English countryside. I loved the simplicity of it. The story was vastly more about the people and their growth than the settings. It was really just lovely.
4.5 starts, but I'll tip it in favor of the five stars on the rating meter because overall I enjoyed the originality that I found in the story. I loved the premise of this story going into it and as I read the aspects with the ghosts and lost treasure were really fun elements that kept me excited to keep on reading. Honestly, the setting and plot make this the perfect book to read during the Autumn season. I found the descriptions to be beautifully done and could easily imagine the weather, scenery, feel of it all. Ras and Louisa were super fun characters. Both of their character arcs kept in style with the theme of the multi author series which this is a part of (Seasons of Change series, all standalones). They experience a change in their lives that allows them to grow individually as well as together. The only reason why I don't give this straight up five stars was that after developing the characters so well and building up the excitement of the treasure and the ghosts, the ending felt a little anti-climactic as it finished quickly and left me wanting a bit more. It has a happy ending, but I'll be honest, it felt a bit abrupt in that it more summed up everything that I was expecting to play out a bit more given the nature of the rest of the story. The content is clean. The chemistry between Ras and Louisa was so sweet and sincere. The ghosts are not scary or gory, but a fun bit of paranormal that adds a bit of comedy and intrigue to a sweet romance. Definitely worth checking out!
I liked the story as it was endearing how LOUISA was so patient with Erasmus that he eventually stopped stuttering around her. You could see why he was drawn to her. There also wasn’t a lot of unnecessary angst. It was obvious from the beginning that they both liked each other and suited each other. The treasure hunt was initially the reason they were around each other, but then it became a minor part of the ending which felt a bit anticlimactic. Initially, the voices and his head thing was weird, but I think that’s just because you don’t see ghost stories very much in this genre. I was engaged during the whole story. The ending was a bit unfulfilling, but it hit all the marks in terms of a happy ending.
After Louisa’s father’s death, her mother constantly parades her out to be married. However, she is successful as her dowery is small. Her mother is also a shopaholic and the book opens with the mother telling LOUISA that they don’t have money anymore and she must travel to her great aunt in Northumberland. Her mother tells her Louisa will stay with her great aunt for a year and she must obtain her favor. Her mother helps the great aunt will make LOUISA her heir. Her mother is going to stay with a friend. Louisa obediently goes and finds her great aunt to be kind. because she arrives in October the great aunt is always encouraging her to walk outdoors before the winter comes. On one such walk, she follows a raven bird to a cemetery. There she sees a man by a tree because of that encounter she believes the man might be a ghost. The man, Erasmus Gray, is the son of a wealthy mine owner. He has inherited the wealth after his father also died. Erasmus has a stutter and is more of an introvert. He has come to their home in Northumberland to get away from society so that he can write his book. He also thinks he may be going mad as he is starting to hear voices. He has sworn his servants to secrecy regarding him being in residence so that he doesn’t have to go to society events. So when LOUISA ask her great Aunt about somebody living at the nearby cottage. Her aunt says no one has been there and in a long time. Once Erasmus arrives, the voices appear as ghost and identify themselves as his many times over great grandmother and grandfather. He is the name stake of this grandfather. So when he identifies himself to LOUISA, she is able to see a nearby gravestone that has his same name. He notices how she is kind and patient well he stutters through his words. In order to minimize his stutter, he speaks and very short phrases. In order to occupy her mind LOUISA decides that she will investigate the local folklore that there is a hidden treasure. She finds out that Erasmus Gray is involved having been sent by the king to find the treasure. So she asks the man the next time she sees him and he identifies that there are books at the cottage that might have information. At this point, she suspects that he is not a ghost so she playfully pretends to go along putting Erasmus into awkward situations. At one point she is in the library while Erasmus waits in bushes outside of his own library. At this point, he lets slip that he is not the Erasmus of old. Louisa smiles at him, and he realizes his blunder and drops the act. At this point, his stutter has mostly subsided around her. His ghostly grandparents explain that he needs to find the treasure, but they can’t tell him where they buried it because he has to find it on his own. Louisa becomes his muse for the book he is reading, and he gives her a copy of one of his other novels already published. She tells him at their next encounter that she loved it. She gives him constructive feedback on the ending and feels bad when she learns he is the author. He is grateful and she continues. Researching the treasure she realizes that there are quotes around artwork associated with the old Erasmus’s wife. So she shows up at Erasmus‘s home for a tour around his house. Over the course of the tour, she convinces Erasmus that there is something to her hypothesis. In the interim her great aunt has invited Erasmus to dinner and let it slip to the local Baron‘s family. The great aunt feels forced into inviting them to the same dinner. It is at that dinner that the family out itself as being snobby. Erasmus’ stutter comes out in full force. Louisa stand up for him for which he is grateful. After that, he kisses her and asks to court her. Soon after that, his mother and sisters arrive unannounced and will spend the holiday with him. They have learned that he is the author of books and read the first one which they all left. LOUISA has come down with a cold and can’t meet with anyone but receive a letter from her mother telling her she must go to her mother‘s wedding as her mother is getting married. However, after the marriage, her mother expects her to live at the country estate of her new stepfather. However, neither her stepfather or her mother will be in residence. LOUISA is torn as she feels the pool to obey, but does not want that life. Her great aunt says Louisa can stay as long as she wants with her and she will be the great aunt’s heir. Once she’s better she’s able to tell her was to Erasmus who wants her to stay. Louisa confesses she also wants to stay with him. They figure out that it is weird that Erasmus Gray of old is buried by himself in the graveyard they first met in. The ghosts clearly convey to Erasmus that they love each other, so it doesn’t make sense that his wife is not buried next to him. Louisa and Erasmus get married and for their wedding trip they go north and find the real grave of his ghostly grandparents. When they get back to Northumberland, a treasure dig occurs in the night where boxes are located containing the treasure that has long been searched for. Louisa and Erasmus believe it is the locals money and use it to that end. They find love, comfort, confidence, and companionship in their union.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Haunting at Havenwood is the sixth in the Seasons of Change multi-author series. They are all standalone and can be read in any order. The interactions between Ras and Louisa were so sweet. Their instantaneous chemistry and the desire to continue Ras's ruse in order to spend time together gave me all of the romantic sighs of appreciation. I thought that Erasmus the Elder and Lady Elizabeth's sections were incongruous to the storyline. I personally would have loved a little bit more from the ghosts for a good spooky feel, reminiscent of Catherine Moreland and Northanger Abbey. I wanted more of them and their importance seems to fall off in the last half of the book. Sally is a go-to regency author for me. While this one isn't my favorite, there is quite a bit to enjoy. The supporting cast features characters I would love to see more of in the future!
Louisa and Erasmus are two beautiful characters that come together in a wonderful heartfelt book. This book will make you chuckle at the ridiculousness of some of the fibs told between the main characters. Louisa struggles with the feelings of being wanted, which is difficult to read about and my heart went out to her. Lousia learns what “freedom” is throughout the book, since having lived her life by the rules of an overbearing mother. Erasmus struggles with a speech impediment that has given him grief and heartache throughout his life, but his difficulties have made him into a stronger person, who cares little for what the TON thinks and their rules of propriety. You will fall in love with the ghosts as well.
Ras is being haunted by his dearly long-time departed ancestors. A rather lively couple of spirits who send their grandson to his family home where there is lore and tales of treasure and druids. It is here he chances upon meeting Miss Louisa Banner. Their story is told with the backdrop of Northumberland among well kept secrets.
Sally Britton has easily become one of my favorite authors in this genre, and while I freely admit this particular book is not my favorite, it still holds the sweet factor and brings a holiday appeal that is unique. I personally would have loved to read more of the ghostly couple and feel more than simplicity at the books end.
I loved this slightly gothic story set in Northumberland. The characters are relateable and I found the circumstances Louisa finds herself in completely entertaining. I really enjoyed the love story between her and her 'ghost' and kept reading late into the night to find out what would happen next.
This is my favorite book of this authors. I have such a soft spot for hero’s that are flawed and Ras had a stutter so he made the perfect humble, flawed and sweet hero.