When private detective Jude Byrne took his first breath, his mother, Carol, took her last. Told his mother cursed him with her final words, Jude has never been interested in connecting with Carol. As far as he is concerned, his life is perfect with his husband and son.
Psychic Copeland Forbes is surprised to find the spirit of Carol Byrne standing in his kitchen a few days before Christmas. Jude’s estranged mother pleads for one chance to speak to her son and make amends. When Cope tells Jude his mother’s request, his husband is shocked by her audacity but strangely curious all the same.
Agreeing to a tentative meeting, Jude faces the fact that he might not know the entire story. With the help of his family, friends, Jude takes the first step toward forgiveness.
Will the magic of Christmas help Jude and his mother find peace? Or will Carol Byrne fade into the background as the ghost of Christmas past?
Sick of the slogging rat-race of her 9-5 job, Pandora Pine put pen to paper (literally!) to make her ambition of becoming a romance novelist a reality. She cut her teeth in the dog-eat-dog world of fanfiction, still dreaming of the day when she would be a published author. She lives in Massachusetts with her blabbermouth muse who’ s a fan of middle of the night plot twists.
In her spare time, Pandora fancies herself an amateur nature photographer. She enjoys mucking around in swamps, hiking through the woods and crawling around on her hands and knees in her backyard seeking out the perfect shot. Pandora is a fan of roadside seafood shacks and always thinks Mexican food is a good idea at the time.
Some of Pandora’s favorite things are chocolate, writing longhand with purple pens and handsome men falling in love with each other.
Don't miss Pandora’s seductive new novel coming soon to an e-reader near you.
It took me by surprise how emotional this book is. I went into it expecting one thing and came out with a whole new appreciation for Jude and Cope and for the incredible family they’ve formed. “Their life wasn’t near perfect. It was perfect.” I mean the interactions between Jude and Ronan alone fill my heart with happiness but the love between Cope and Jude and between Jude and Wolf is special. Plus, seeing the strong friendships these kids have formed would make anyone smile. Full of feel-good, heartwarming and heartfelt moments, this is a holiday book that will make you thankful no matter when you read it.
Ghost of Christmas Past will wring your heartstrings and wrap you up in a peppermint hug
What to do when unexpected relatives show up at Christmas is a common theme. When the relative is not only dead, but one you have never met, it becomes much more complicated. Jude Byrne never met his mother in life. He wasn't ready to do so in death because he was raised to hating her. It's Christmas time, a time when wishes come true, whether you know you wished for them or not.
This book wrung both tears and laughter from me. I was enchanted by the love of a very special family. There was pain tempered by love, judgment balanced by forgiveness, and hope following despair. Basically everything you could ask of a Christmas story.
I'm not going to be one of those readers who give away secrets, but I will say if you are looking for a sex fest, this is not your book. If you want a wonderfully character driven story about men who love men, and children experiencing the wonder of the season of giving, you're in the right place. It's a story of family, community, and hope.
I received an advance reader copy from the author. I have not been paid or otherwise influenced in my writing of this review.
Christmas is about children, family and love. Jude never really experienced that until he met the crew from West Side Magicks. Being included with their family including Bertha was solidified once he fell in love with Cope. Wolfie joining their family and Jude was happy. This is Jude's Christmas story and readers of this series are going to be surprised, shocked and little angry by this book. It is also about love. I loved this book. The journey through this book will be surprising, uplifting and honest. When all is said and done, it is about a blended family both alive and dead that love and support each other through everything. Merry Christmas West Side Magicks.
I received an ARC for this book for my honest review. Thank you.
Oh lord, where do I start with this? I don't want to drop any spoilers, so I won't say anything beyond the blurb, other than that I really enjoyed the different vibe for this installment in the Haunted Souls series in that the focus is 100% on Jude and his family, rather than there being a case to solve as well.
The net result of that, though, is a real emotional rollercoaster. Poor Jude is put through the wringer so much that I just want to hug the stuffing out of him, but then there are also truly heartwarming moments and truly hilarious moments too. It's all about family relationship themes (blood and found), as is the case with Pandora Pine books. I'm sure I say this every time, but the bonds between Jude and Cope, and between Jude and his brother from another mother (Ronan) are wonderful. I genuinely think no-one writes this kind of stuff quite like this author. She absolutely nails the joy and wonders that family can bring you at one end of the scale, and the gut-wrenching hurt and betrayal at the other...love it!
One of my favourite things about Ghost Of Christmas Past, though, is that Wolf is growing up a bit - he's talking and developing a real personality. I love how he engages with Everly and the other children - very sweet and beautifully written. We also get to see Bertha being her protective and sassy self which is always a treat.
All in all, Ghost Of Christmas Past is a great seasonal (anytime really) read, just make sure you have tissues and comfort food, wine - whatever works for you to hand for the seriously emotional parts.
It was great being with Jude and Cope again. They are so may favourite couple and Wolf is such a cutie. The Christmas season and one particular tree ornament, has Jude thinking about his mum. Later on Jude is visited by the the ghost of Jude's mum and she wants to have the chance to reconnect with her son. Jude isn't happy about it at first, but when we find out the truth of what actually happens when she died its a really sad tale. I felt so sorry for Jude, he has suffered so much due to what he was told about his mums finally moments. I wanted to slap a certain someone a long with everyone else. It was great that there was no bad guy to chase this time, just the ghosts of Jude's past. I wanted to hug him when he cried. He has kept so much bottled up and it all just came to the surface here. Jude has a great family round him and I loved his moments with Ronan. He is really here for him in this one and if anyone can understand Jude, it's Ronan. Jude and Cope have created such a great family for themselves and they are both amazing parents to Wolf. We see that Everly is really coming into her Psychic powers and I love how she is with Wolf. This story is all about family and healing old wounds. I glad that it was left until now to deal with Jude's mum, he wouldn't have been ready before now. He needed Cope, Wolf and their made family, in his life before he was emotionally read to tackle it. Just can't wait to see where their journey goes from here.
Pandora Pines has done it again! Made me get get all teary eyes and wan to stuf my face with junk food and be all "I love Christmas!" lol
Always thought Jude get his impulsive anger from his navejo father but it seems he gets it from another family member from his past. It's Christmas time again with the people of Salem and this time it features Jude, Cope and little wolfie. Cope struggles to navigate through Jude impulsive anger then a rollercoaster of emotions right after once he finds out his mother's spirit has been with him since the beginning. So naturally, a certain cackling spirit helps this family out by being protective and helping this family understand the whys and whats of Jude's past. But Jude struggles to find a way to start a coversation with his dead mother. Of course, a certain redheaded little girl from another family be all wise and give a few pointers. Also Wolfie might truly be a part of the family.
Ugh both of these families are just too much for my heart. Definitely earned 5 star in this lated Haunted Soul installment that features Jude and Cope. <3 <3 <3 Keep up the good work Pandora Pines! Maybe one day your books will hit the motion pictures one day!
Oh, my heart! Jude's chance to connect with his mother who died during childbirth may sound like a wonderful thing but the something his father told him ruined the image he's always had of her. With Cope's help, along with the rest of their family, he's able to think through and step towards meeting Carol. Pandora has written a beautifully emotional Christmas story that is full of ghosts from the past, present and possible futures. It's emotional in the best and worst of ways with Jude dealing with over thirty years of feelings and memories. Cope is, of course, right there by his side though, at times, he doesn't make that easy, as is his best friend, Ronan, and all of the Cold Case Psychic/Haunted Souls family. Along with the small dose of family drama is the wonder or Christmas with young children and the joy and innocence they bring to the season. Wolf especially is a delight!! Highly recommended Christmas story from this author. Fans of these characters will love the outcome for Jude and having all of the guys come together again. I received an ARC and am happily giving a review.
This book is a little different from the others I have read in this series. The only mystery Jude and Cope have to deal with in this story is the mystery of Jude’s mother Carol and her motivations. But that makes this story no less intriguing to read and actually deals with much of what makes Cope and Jude and all of the rest of the guys so amazing: found family and what brings us all together. I haven’t read every single one of the books in both series or all of the spin-offs but that doesn’t mean I don’t love this extended family and all of its children. Jude is dealing with the specter of why he has never been very fond of Christmas until Cope and Wolf came into his life. When the spirit of Carol, Jude’s mom, visits Copeland, it drags a lot of Jude’s long suppressed pain and anger roaring back to the surface. This is an amazing holiday story of finding peace with the past and finding it in your heart to forgive. Have your tissues handy because this one is packed with all kinds of emotions, but our favorite large family handles it all as they do everything else: together!
Finding the truth and making peace with your past is the journey for Jude in this story. Learning the truth about how his mother died and how his father handled that loss creates a powerful and emotional story of forgiveness and acceptance of being loved. Jude and Cope are beautifully represented in this story as an imperfect couple who love each other and work to forgive and love.
I love the extended and very connected, created family that make up the West Side Magicks. Each person brings strength and perspective that is valuable. I enjoyed that this was a Christmas story with all the Santa visits, shopping for gifts and finding those special moments that make the season special.
This is the eleventh book of the Haunted Souls series and would be most enjoyable when read in sequence. The characters and their relationships have grown over all of these books and to get the full flavor you would want to enjoy them as they were created for the reader.
4.5 stars. Fans of Jude and Cope (and of course, little Wolfie) will appreciate this bittersweet Christmas Story. After 30+ years, Jude’s mother (in ghost form) makes an appearance to Cope asking him to tell Jude she loves him. All jude has ever known is that his mother cursed him with the name Judas when she died while delivering him. But how much of what Jude knows is the truth? Jude finally get some buried answers about his birth and his subsequent life after his mother died during childbirth and his father is killed 13 years later. Old resentments come pouring out of Jude threatening their loving home, and it’s up to Cope and Bertha to help put the fractured Byrne family back together. But Christmas is a time for forgiving and maybe that is in the cards for Jude and his family. Meanwhile Christmas shenanigans are in overdrive for the rest of the gang as Christmas approaches and everyone wants the kids to have the best Christmas EVAR!.
4.5 stars. Lots of feels in this heartwarming Christmas read.
Watching Jude come to terms with what he believed to be the truth regarding the death of his mother whilst giving birth, and what the truth was revealed to be had my heart aching for him. There’s so much emotional turmoil for Jude but with the help of Cope and all of their found family, on both sides of the veil, a resolution is found that left me smiling so hard and my heart feeling so very happy. There’s also the joy of seeing all the Dad’s going just a smidge crazy with Christmas presents for all the kids, an hilarious visit to Santa at the mall and everyone getting what they wished for - a wonderful family Christmas together.
Jude’s mothers ghost comes to visit at Christmas time. He’s never had an interest in hearing from her. She cursed him when she gave birth to him, then immediately died according to his father. Cope is surprised to get a visit from Carol, she’s never visited before. He’s worried how Jude will take the visit. The backstory of Jude’s birth was heartbreaking!! My emotions were all over the place reading this one! I always loved Jude and Cope but I love them even more now! Wolfie for the win!! That kid made the story so much more! Overall, this was sooo freakin fantastic, a total page turner, couldn’t put it down! It was really well written, highly recommend. I am voluntarily leaving a review form an advanced copy that I received. My reviews are solely based on my thoughts and opinions.
Jude’s past has always been mysterious, so it’s no surprise that finally the rest of the circumstances surrounding his birth come to light courtesy of a visit from his long deceased mother’s spirit. This is a deeply emotional story, complete with holiday shenanigans and lots of family, found and not. I’m so impressed with how far Jude has come from his beginnings with the West Side crew umpteen books ago. His ability to open both his mind and heart and forgive everyone involved (including himself) nearly brought me to tears (in a good way) and showed real holiday spirit. Copeland is such a bastion of strength and comfort for Jude as he struggles through all the revelations that I’m just a little bit more in love with him as a character.
Wow. It was so great to play a little catch up with all the different characters around Christmas time. This book though focuses on Jude and the fact that his father lied about how he got his name and what his mom said after she gave birth. It was heartbreaking to read that for over 30 years Jude had this in his head until his mom showed up and let him know what really happened. As his husband Copeland can see ghosts, they were able to set the record straight as to what happened. I loved this and the way all the fathers were with their kids, it was lovely to see. I wish I could go to Disney world.
¸.•´¸★*´¨) ¸.•*¨) (¸.★¨*.¸¸.•`★¤Ghost of Christmas Past.¤★¨*.¸¸.*ˑ˞★
"Words spoken in the heat of the moment can have devastating, life-long consequences."
There is nothing like being invited back to the family for a Christmas celebration. This time, the ghost of Christmas past paid a visit to the illustrious Jude in the form of his deceased mother and father. FINALLY all the answers to the questions us readers were wondering about Jude's previous life came to light, revealed in shocking increments. Along the way, Cope helps his husband deal with the happenings, all the while, taking care of his family and preparing for the big day.
As always, special appearances from friends and family keep the tradition going as the men enjoy hilarious times with the children and continue to look out for each other. It was such fun having these men back into our lives and watching everyone grow in strength and powers. I always wonder where Pandora will take us when a book is published, and she never leads us astray. As I have said too many times, this entire world - now with three series and a multitude of spinoffs- can go on for a long time and I don't think I'd get bored.
And...and...who laughed out loud and so hard when Carol called the name Ronan for her son: "the worst name yet!" I am hoping she would tease the real Ronan one day on that. I was expecting it to be done. #missedopportunity.
Highly recommended, but I would say start with the book that started it all Vision of Love.
This one was a really emotional Christmas story for Jude and Cope. It’s a bittersweet journey of forgiveness, making amends, and healing past wounds. Don’t fear though, the ever-present love between Cope and Jude, as well as their entire found family, holds strong. I felt so sorry for Jude as he learns about what happened to his mother. He’s suffered a great deal and it is by no means easy for him to face the ghosts of his past. It may hit hard, but at its core, this is another beautiful, heartfelt, and hope-inspiring look into the wonderful lives these men have built for themselves. They’re like family to me now.
Jude Byrne's mom died giving birth to him and her last words were to curse him. And give him the name Judas. Or that's what his father told him. After his father, Victor, is murdered, Jude is raised by his grandfather who has nothing good to say about the white woman who stole Victor from his Navajo life. So when Carol Byrne approaches Jude's psychic husband right before Christmas to make contact with her son, Jude wants no part of her. This is a sweet, angst filled story. Pine's recurring themes of acceptance, forgiveness and found family make this a feel good book. The children, Wolf, Everly, Aurora and the velociraptors offer needed lightness. Another solid, Pandora Pine work.
I knew going in this one was going to tear me up & it did. So Jude has grown up thinking that the last words his mother said was calling him a Judas as she died giving birth to him on the kitchen floor. What we find out that really happened didn't really surprise me. Not that it happened the way it happened, just that it wasn't shocking. You will understand when you read it. What I liked in this one is the focus was on Jude & his family ; both blood and chosen. There weren't any killers to catch, ghosts wanting them to fix things, etc going on. It was all about family & healing. Sometimes kids can be annoying in books, but in this series they really fit in are so adorable that I love when they have page time. I also loved how OTT the guys were in gift buying for the kids. I don't know how they are ever going to top this one! This will be going on my yearly holiday re-reads.
I received a copy of this book from the author and this is my honest opinion.
You know you've found an amazing writer when you come into a story in the 11th book and you still feel like you've sunk into a book you can completely relate to... I was lucky enough to join Pandora Pine's ARC team through a connection I have with a fabulous PA and the first ARC I received was Ghost of Christmas Past, which I later discovered is part of a long continuum - Haunted Souls...
Omg!!!! Major Christmas feels in this book,all the characters from the cold case and haunted souls series are some of my absolute favourites and I love every second of there adventures. There's no flying bullets or crazy people trying to kill them in this book but there is a WHOLE lotta LOVE,I've laughed and cried and laughed some more reading this if you only get one chance to read a Christmas book make it this one. Highly recommended loved every second of this book
Ghost of Christmas Past will tug at your heartstrings for sure. This story has all the feels you could want and then some! Without giving away any spoilers I'll say that my heart ached for all that Jude goes through. The love and support of Cope, along with friends and family, is his saving grace. I loved seeing Jude and Cope along with their found family enjoying family, holiday and life! What a wonderful addition to the Haunted Souls series!
All you could want from this paranormal family. Hilarious kids with enormous medium potential, equally hilarious adults, bickering and arguing over anything! All the over the top Christmas shenanigans. But at it’s base, this is Jude’s story, his discovery of a turbulent past that wasn’t ever the one he’d been led to believe. There are laughs but there are copious tears and the ending is everything this reader could wish for!
Now this was a really great Christmas! Wolf loves Every and its so sweet how great his love for her is. All these kids are wonderful, I love watching them grow. Jude came to terms with his family drama. I really like having Carol and Jude reunited. There is nothing like a mothers love and Jude really deserves to feel it. She has been by his side his whole life and that proves her loyalty and love. Jude should let Wolf grow up with her love known as well.
Another great add to the series. Jude and Copeland have always been my favorite couple and this makes it more so. This plot hits all the past questions you might have had about Jude and we finally get to know more about his mother (which I loved!). Holiday moments, chemistry and emotional connections make this a must read for the season. Can't wait for the next.
Cope and Jude are in for a great Christmas journey. A journey that will take them into emotional times. It is perfect for the holiday season. I loved Wolf and all his scenes. He is such a cute character. I loved the narration and the depth of feeling in this story. I received this as an arc and freely left this review.
I love the new addition to the Haunted Souls series. Jude finally get his closure about his family and Cope is there for him through it all. The book is sweet, funny, a lot of angst, and I love the babies. Wolf and Everly stole the show. It was great seeing all the previous characters and I'm looking forward to the next book in this series. Overall, it's a great feel-good book.
This is a wonderful snapshot of a particular time in the life of Jude, Cope and Wolfie. Just as A Christmas Carol gave Scrooge a chance to examine his life and relationships, Jude and the spirit of his mother now get their chance. This let's us see a brand new part of Jude's history in a story perfect for the season.