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Ghosted
“Long story, but ghosts are real. There’s an afterlife, death is not the end, and it’s all very complicated.”
For freelance exorcist Jason Kent there’s one thing that makes his job harder than anything else: mediums, especially the fake kind. So naturally he isn’t thrilled when he rolls into a job in New Orleans and finds psychic medium Desanges ‘Ange’ Passebon pretending to talk to ghosts in an extremely haunted mansion.
Ange is glittery, attention-hungry, and so annoyingly hot that things rapidly spill over into a steamy hookup. Only trouble is that Jason doesn’t do relationships. Or cuddling. Or sharing beds. The only thing he really knows is ghosts and how to get rid of them, or so he thinks. What he doesn’t know is that one of the ghosts from New Orleans has followed Ange home and now he’s sharing body space with a frightened ghost who seems determined to starve him out of his own body. Ghosted in more ways than one, Ange needs an exorcist, and he knows just where to find one.
As the two bumbling ghostbusters reunite and attempt to get to the bottom of Ange’s possession they find themselves digging deeper into the demons of their own pasts, stripping away layers that kept them both single for far too long. But time is ticking, and Ange is getting weaker. Is this job really too much for the unconventional exorcist who once attempted to purge a house using nothing but crystals, baby powder, and a twenty piece serving of chicken McNuggets?
Unsavory poltergeists, haunted refrigerators, inappropriate dairy production, and angry neighbors objecting to backyard sorcery – just some of the obstacles facing Ange and Jason as they navigate their way through a hot mess of paranormal activity. It’s not going to be easy, but then love never is.
For freelance exorcist Jason Kent there’s one thing that makes his job harder than anything else: mediums, especially the fake kind. So naturally he isn’t thrilled when he rolls into a job in New Orleans and finds psychic medium Desanges ‘Ange’ Passebon pretending to talk to ghosts in an extremely haunted mansion.
Ange is glittery, attention-hungry, and so annoyingly hot that things rapidly spill over into a steamy hookup. Only trouble is that Jason doesn’t do relationships. Or cuddling. Or sharing beds. The only thing he really knows is ghosts and how to get rid of them, or so he thinks. What he doesn’t know is that one of the ghosts from New Orleans has followed Ange home and now he’s sharing body space with a frightened ghost who seems determined to starve him out of his own body. Ghosted in more ways than one, Ange needs an exorcist, and he knows just where to find one.
As the two bumbling ghostbusters reunite and attempt to get to the bottom of Ange’s possession they find themselves digging deeper into the demons of their own pasts, stripping away layers that kept them both single for far too long. But time is ticking, and Ange is getting weaker. Is this job really too much for the unconventional exorcist who once attempted to purge a house using nothing but crystals, baby powder, and a twenty piece serving of chicken McNuggets?
Unsavory poltergeists, haunted refrigerators, inappropriate dairy production, and angry neighbors objecting to backyard sorcery – just some of the obstacles facing Ange and Jason as they navigate their way through a hot mess of paranormal activity. It’s not going to be easy, but then love never is.
360 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 15, 2022
37 people are currently reading
137 people want to read
About the author
Jess Whitecroft
24 books129 followersJess Whitecroft was born and educated in the UK, where she was once voted 'Most Likely To Think That Writing A Romantic Comedy About Bigfoot Is A Good Idea'.
After serving an apprenticeship with the late, great Black Lace books, and after many genres and many pseudonyms, she returned to romance, with a fondness for telling unconventional stories about unconventional lovers.
After serving an apprenticeship with the late, great Black Lace books, and after many genres and many pseudonyms, she returned to romance, with a fondness for telling unconventional stories about unconventional lovers.
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December 7, 20221st book by Jess Whitecroft and 100% torn on how to rate this.
There were so many 5 star moments but there were also moments where I thought: why is this so long? Why is this here? It's probably ending up as 3.75
TW: food
At first I was confused by the OTT floral language describing a painting of food but eventually everything made sense and I felt like the author did an amazing job at utilising food as a medium throughout the book and creating a top-notch framing.
- I adored Ange and liked Jason but together their dialogue and banter was chef's kiss. I sometimes ended up highlighting entire pages.
- The imagery of a 6ft7 Nordic God and a small drop dead gorgeous black man wearing fashion à la Miss Fisher: I need to see fan art of this couple! :D
- Somehow this book managed to be smutty and fade to black simultaneously. Personally I would have wished to have some of those scenes that were solely described written out cause they sounded great and what we were given was hot and above all the *intimacy* of them recollecting the moments before was top-notch! Sadly for me personally this took away from the connection they had created before the
- Ghosting happens: which is odd. Here is where I disconnected from the story a bit to say the truth. Because of the slightly odd pacing and the omitting of certain things I didn't feel their connection as much as I could have?
All in all if you're looking for a little bit of a mindf*ck, some hot imagery, some interesting dealings with food, Ghost hauntings and possessions and humourous writing: check it out!
Poor Ange is also still dealing with what Simon Watney was already writing in 1987 originally:
as his boss chooses a white cis woman over him for daytime television: "being sidelined for some cheesecloth GOOP-looking bitch who won't scare the housewives, because your personal psychic – the one who jumps through every damn hoop you put in front of him – is too Black, too gay, and dresses like Prince." (p. 63)
We are still working on positive and empowering imagery in mainstream media!
Some quotes:
Ange yawned loudly and rolled over on the bed. "Are you coming to bed? he said, as tired and plaintive as though they'd been married for over twenty years. (p. 42)
I can't make any promises that I won't spoon you in my sleep, though," said Ange, swallowing another huge yawn. "Rumor has it that I'm a very cuddly sleeper." Loneliness crashed over Jason like a freak wave. "Would you let me be the little spoon?" he asked, only half joking. (p.42)
I mean we have two men where neither one adheres to society's expectations of masculinity and femininity and it's lovely!
Some beautifully odd weirdness:
"Your tits are full of melted butter," he said. "You're gonna make me so fucking fat." Ange blinked, his conscious mind stirring (Well, hey there kink-I-had-no-idea-was-even-a-thing, I guess) as Jason lowered his head again." (p. 135)
I'm the one who's producing dairy. And I'm lactose intolerant. Fuck my life, man. Fuck my life." (p. 222)
Throwing shade on graphic design <3
"...My eyeballs are still reeling from your font choices." (p. 224)
But I can just imagine these guys having such an adorable but full of awesome sexy shenanigans relationship in the future!
"Can you stop being adorable, when I'm trying to have a meltdown, please?" (p. 322) Tried and tested method!
And to finish off: They were two odd peas in a freaky pod..." (p.337)
NSFW infos:
two out gay men, bigger one bottoms, smaller one tops
food but sadly unused lactation kink
There were so many 5 star moments but there were also moments where I thought: why is this so long? Why is this here? It's probably ending up as 3.75
TW: food
At first I was confused by the OTT floral language describing a painting of food but eventually everything made sense and I felt like the author did an amazing job at utilising food as a medium throughout the book and creating a top-notch framing.
- I adored Ange and liked Jason but together their dialogue and banter was chef's kiss. I sometimes ended up highlighting entire pages.
- The imagery of a 6ft7 Nordic God and a small drop dead gorgeous black man wearing fashion à la Miss Fisher: I need to see fan art of this couple! :D
- Somehow this book managed to be smutty and fade to black simultaneously. Personally I would have wished to have some of those scenes that were solely described written out cause they sounded great and what we were given was hot and above all the *intimacy* of them recollecting the moments before was top-notch! Sadly for me personally this took away from the connection they had created before the
- Ghosting happens: which is odd. Here is where I disconnected from the story a bit to say the truth. Because of the slightly odd pacing and the omitting of certain things I didn't feel their connection as much as I could have?
All in all if you're looking for a little bit of a mindf*ck, some hot imagery, some interesting dealings with food, Ghost hauntings and possessions and humourous writing: check it out!
Poor Ange is also still dealing with what Simon Watney was already writing in 1987 originally:
“Our frankness and articulacy and sheer gaiety disturbs the poky, repressive little world-of-the-family, and threatens to expose the brutal forces which hold it together across the entire field of ‘public’ representations.” (Watney 1997, 124)
as his boss chooses a white cis woman over him for daytime television: "being sidelined for some cheesecloth GOOP-looking bitch who won't scare the housewives, because your personal psychic – the one who jumps through every damn hoop you put in front of him – is too Black, too gay, and dresses like Prince." (p. 63)
We are still working on positive and empowering imagery in mainstream media!
Some quotes:
Ange yawned loudly and rolled over on the bed. "Are you coming to bed? he said, as tired and plaintive as though they'd been married for over twenty years. (p. 42)
I can't make any promises that I won't spoon you in my sleep, though," said Ange, swallowing another huge yawn. "Rumor has it that I'm a very cuddly sleeper." Loneliness crashed over Jason like a freak wave. "Would you let me be the little spoon?" he asked, only half joking. (p.42)
I mean we have two men where neither one adheres to society's expectations of masculinity and femininity and it's lovely!
Some beautifully odd weirdness:
"Your tits are full of melted butter," he said. "You're gonna make me so fucking fat." Ange blinked, his conscious mind stirring (Well, hey there kink-I-had-no-idea-was-even-a-thing, I guess) as Jason lowered his head again." (p. 135)
I'm the one who's producing dairy. And I'm lactose intolerant. Fuck my life, man. Fuck my life." (p. 222)
Throwing shade on graphic design <3
"...My eyeballs are still reeling from your font choices." (p. 224)
But I can just imagine these guys having such an adorable but full of awesome sexy shenanigans relationship in the future!
"Can you stop being adorable, when I'm trying to have a meltdown, please?" (p. 322) Tried and tested method!
And to finish off: They were two odd peas in a freaky pod..." (p.337)
NSFW infos:
two out gay men, bigger one bottoms, smaller one tops
food but sadly unused lactation kink
June 7, 2022
This book was full of things that are normally totally my thing but somehow, the execution just did not work for me.
New Orleans, ghosts, haunted houses and well, yeah, exorcism. I am all about it.
I just wasn't at all about this book. I've enjoyed the Authors work in the past but this book and me just did not jive.
I should have just given up the ghost (haha) and marked it as a DNF but I was hopeful.
I totally missed a lot of the pop culture references, although I got some. I learned a ton of new vocabulary words, there were a lot and I mean a lot of words I have never seen before and I read a lot of books and honestly, this could have used a good proof reader before it was published.
So yeah, this just did not work for me. I didn't like it and it wasn't even really ok.
New Orleans, ghosts, haunted houses and well, yeah, exorcism. I am all about it.
I just wasn't at all about this book. I've enjoyed the Authors work in the past but this book and me just did not jive.
I should have just given up the ghost (haha) and marked it as a DNF but I was hopeful.
I totally missed a lot of the pop culture references, although I got some. I learned a ton of new vocabulary words, there were a lot and I mean a lot of words I have never seen before and I read a lot of books and honestly, this could have used a good proof reader before it was published.
So yeah, this just did not work for me. I didn't like it and it wasn't even really ok.
February 14, 2023
Freelance exorcist Jason hates nothing more than fake mediums, but when he meets over-the-top medium and flim-flam artist Ange at a haunted house in New Orleans, he can’t resist the gorgeous man. When Ange ends up possessed by a very angry ghost causing his health to deteriorate, he’ll need Jason’s help to free himself and help the ghost find closure.
Jess Whitecroft always writes unique characters, hilarious banter, and original stories and this book was no different! I loved this opposites-attract paranormal romance. This book does get dark, but there’s so much humor it keeps it from feeling too heavy. Their investigation into the history of the house uncovers the ghost’s painful past during a dark time in America’s history and I loved Whitecroft’s handling of the sensitive topic.
Both characters have PTSD from painful experiences in their pasts and there are some pretty emotional moments. I loved watching their relationship change from hooking up to genuinely caring for each other. My only complaint is the pacing. It felt a bit longer than it needed to be and there were a few parts that dragged. Other than that I thought it was great and recommend it if you like ghost stories!
Jess Whitecroft always writes unique characters, hilarious banter, and original stories and this book was no different! I loved this opposites-attract paranormal romance. This book does get dark, but there’s so much humor it keeps it from feeling too heavy. Their investigation into the history of the house uncovers the ghost’s painful past during a dark time in America’s history and I loved Whitecroft’s handling of the sensitive topic.
Both characters have PTSD from painful experiences in their pasts and there are some pretty emotional moments. I loved watching their relationship change from hooking up to genuinely caring for each other. My only complaint is the pacing. It felt a bit longer than it needed to be and there were a few parts that dragged. Other than that I thought it was great and recommend it if you like ghost stories!
May 17, 2022
As a preteen and teen, Stephen King was my favorite author. I loved his twisted horror stories. I eventually broaden my reading interests and found myself straying away from horror. I think the last King book I read was 11/22/63, and none of his other books published after piqued my interest. Perhaps his writing style and my tastes diverged into different paths, but I still have a fondness for his later works.
Jess Whitecroft is an amazing storyteller; she could write about anything and make it interesting. Her humor is sharp, her characters have depth, and her plot twists are engaging. She has written about drag queens, aging pop stars, and chefs. She has mastered contemporary romance, comedy, fantasy, and historical. She could master any genre or topic.
Which brings us to Ghosted, a fantastic horror/paranormal story that hooked me from page one. And this is where Stephen King rears his head again. (I bet you were wondering what that tangent at the beginning of this review was about, huh?) Jason and Ange's adventures are very much reminiscent of what I loved about Stephen King. The story is complex and warped, and there are so many aspects that reminded me of Mr. King...with one very big difference.
Ghosted is hella funny. The one-liners hit a the right moment without taking away from the anticipation for the terror that is right around the corner. A few of my favorites:
"Whole damn country's darker than a Joy Division B-side."
"I think I'm having a nervous breakdown."
"You're not. You're just lactating."
"Arkansas is just one of those things that happens to you."
A good portion of the story is set in New Orleans, and I am a massive snob when it comes to non-residents using the city as a backdrop. Because I've lived here all my life, I hold authors to a high standard when describing NOLA, and any little discrepancy can turn me off of a story. Readers, Whitecroft f---king NAILED IT. She got the atmosphere right, and even shouted out a neighboring city, Metairie.
On a serious note, I appreciated the references to Hurricane Katrina and one of the character's first hand experiences. The trauma was handled with delicate candor. Those who lived through Katrina will never forget.
I highly recommend Ghosted for anyone looking to be horrified and tickled simultaneously. Trust me, Whitecroft makes the combo work.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Jess Whitecroft is an amazing storyteller; she could write about anything and make it interesting. Her humor is sharp, her characters have depth, and her plot twists are engaging. She has written about drag queens, aging pop stars, and chefs. She has mastered contemporary romance, comedy, fantasy, and historical. She could master any genre or topic.
Which brings us to Ghosted, a fantastic horror/paranormal story that hooked me from page one. And this is where Stephen King rears his head again. (I bet you were wondering what that tangent at the beginning of this review was about, huh?) Jason and Ange's adventures are very much reminiscent of what I loved about Stephen King. The story is complex and warped, and there are so many aspects that reminded me of Mr. King...with one very big difference.
Ghosted is hella funny. The one-liners hit a the right moment without taking away from the anticipation for the terror that is right around the corner. A few of my favorites:
"Whole damn country's darker than a Joy Division B-side."
"I think I'm having a nervous breakdown."
"You're not. You're just lactating."
"Arkansas is just one of those things that happens to you."
A good portion of the story is set in New Orleans, and I am a massive snob when it comes to non-residents using the city as a backdrop. Because I've lived here all my life, I hold authors to a high standard when describing NOLA, and any little discrepancy can turn me off of a story. Readers, Whitecroft f---king NAILED IT. She got the atmosphere right, and even shouted out a neighboring city, Metairie.
On a serious note, I appreciated the references to Hurricane Katrina and one of the character's first hand experiences. The trauma was handled with delicate candor. Those who lived through Katrina will never forget.
I highly recommend Ghosted for anyone looking to be horrified and tickled simultaneously. Trust me, Whitecroft makes the combo work.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
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August 2, 2024DNF @ 20%. This was fun to start (although I had some universe-internal-logic questions) but I got to the first sex scene and just fully checked out from boredom… which I’m taking as a sign to call it.
September 25, 2025
He was pink and gold and blue in sexy cupcake pastels, and Ange didn’t know if he wanted to fuck him or eat him alive.
I LOVE THIS BOOK!!!!!
this was sooo good and cute and gross at times but sweet and funny too???? i was completely obssessed how ange kept describing jason as cute things? pastels? and sweets?? because jason is a mountain of a white man and ange is this whimsical tiny black twink??
i genuinely laughed a lot reading this, but was also grossed out and spooked by the ghosts.
“You? Honeychild, you’re not gothic. You’re a cinnamon roll who just happens to take down ghosts. Do you even own a tube of black lipstick?”
Jason typed and shook his head. “Goth is a state of mind,” he said. “Not a shade of lipstick. I may be blond, but I am dark as fuck on the inside.”
the dialogue was just so on point and charming, i am completely in love with the writing in this, so i'm so bummed the author hasn't published in years :/ it's always the authors i enjoy the most...
I LOVE THIS BOOK!!!!!
this was sooo good and cute and gross at times but sweet and funny too???? i was completely obssessed how ange kept describing jason as cute things? pastels? and sweets?? because jason is a mountain of a white man and ange is this whimsical tiny black twink??
i genuinely laughed a lot reading this, but was also grossed out and spooked by the ghosts.
“You? Honeychild, you’re not gothic. You’re a cinnamon roll who just happens to take down ghosts. Do you even own a tube of black lipstick?”
Jason typed and shook his head. “Goth is a state of mind,” he said. “Not a shade of lipstick. I may be blond, but I am dark as fuck on the inside.”
the dialogue was just so on point and charming, i am completely in love with the writing in this, so i'm so bummed the author hasn't published in years :/ it's always the authors i enjoy the most...
May 20, 2022
Desanges (Anges) Passebon is a (mostly) fake psychic medium, and Jason Kent is a real exorcist, and they’ve both been hired to get rid of the ghost who’s putrefying all the food in the social media-ready New Orleans home of a would-be food influencer.
The plot makes use of Whitecroft’s snarky and intelligent insights into both popular culture (Ange has been living in the Malibu guest house of a podcasting millionaire who uses Ange to contact his dead wife) and the uncanny and/or fraudulent (infrasonic frequencies, Borley Rectory). Ghosted also features mouthy characters who’d very much like to (and sometime do) have sex while they argue with themselves and each other. Plus, there’s ghostly possession!
There are some genuinely creepy moments (mostly having to do with Jason’s past), and a few truly gross ones—avoiding rotting food is a compelling but stomach-churning plot engine. But Ghosted is also full of thoughtful characterizations:
"Ange had all the depth of a kiddie pool in a drought. Jason knew the type well—an unstable childhood, bouncing from trauma to trauma, thickening the skin along the way until it became an exoskeleton so thick that there was nothing there but surface."
And Whitecroft’s kind of romantic comedy is both dirty and hyper-intelligent. Here’s Jason, wondering why kissing Ange is so pleasurable:
"…maybe it was the intimacy of shared breaths, or the lingering taste of some of the lovely, filthy things they’d done to each other in this bed. Perhaps it was just hormones, and the autodidact in Jason understood this clearly. Endorphins, oxytocin. All those happy neurochemicals that made humans want to f**k each other in the first place, just in case these big-brained primates forgot they were here to make more of themselves, and got too distracted with warfare and agriculture and the very good reasons why they weren’t supposed to eat things like laundry detergent pods, but did anyway."
Then there’s this heart-melting bit:
“Growing up gay, weird, and never staying in one place for long had meant that Jason had missed out on all the usual teenage courtship rituals—dark theaters and jump scares, wandering hands and spilled Cokes, and the mouthwatering smell of warm popcorn. Ange lay on his stomach, propped on his elbows, the slight curve of his spine above his butt so irresistible that Jason—sitting up against the headboard—couldn’t help stroking it with his bare toes, as familiar as if they’d been together for five years instead of five minutes.
“‘What?’ said Ange. He peered over his shoulder with a tired, half-annoyed smile, and Jason’s heart dropped like a block into a toddler’s shape sorter as Ange fitted smoothly through the boyfriend shaped hole that become so much part of Jason’s self that he’d almost become used to it. “Why are you bugging me?'"
Anyway! Ghosted is raucous, bonkers, sexy, tender—don’t miss it.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
The plot makes use of Whitecroft’s snarky and intelligent insights into both popular culture (Ange has been living in the Malibu guest house of a podcasting millionaire who uses Ange to contact his dead wife) and the uncanny and/or fraudulent (infrasonic frequencies, Borley Rectory). Ghosted also features mouthy characters who’d very much like to (and sometime do) have sex while they argue with themselves and each other. Plus, there’s ghostly possession!
There are some genuinely creepy moments (mostly having to do with Jason’s past), and a few truly gross ones—avoiding rotting food is a compelling but stomach-churning plot engine. But Ghosted is also full of thoughtful characterizations:
"Ange had all the depth of a kiddie pool in a drought. Jason knew the type well—an unstable childhood, bouncing from trauma to trauma, thickening the skin along the way until it became an exoskeleton so thick that there was nothing there but surface."
And Whitecroft’s kind of romantic comedy is both dirty and hyper-intelligent. Here’s Jason, wondering why kissing Ange is so pleasurable:
"…maybe it was the intimacy of shared breaths, or the lingering taste of some of the lovely, filthy things they’d done to each other in this bed. Perhaps it was just hormones, and the autodidact in Jason understood this clearly. Endorphins, oxytocin. All those happy neurochemicals that made humans want to f**k each other in the first place, just in case these big-brained primates forgot they were here to make more of themselves, and got too distracted with warfare and agriculture and the very good reasons why they weren’t supposed to eat things like laundry detergent pods, but did anyway."
Then there’s this heart-melting bit:
“Growing up gay, weird, and never staying in one place for long had meant that Jason had missed out on all the usual teenage courtship rituals—dark theaters and jump scares, wandering hands and spilled Cokes, and the mouthwatering smell of warm popcorn. Ange lay on his stomach, propped on his elbows, the slight curve of his spine above his butt so irresistible that Jason—sitting up against the headboard—couldn’t help stroking it with his bare toes, as familiar as if they’d been together for five years instead of five minutes.
“‘What?’ said Ange. He peered over his shoulder with a tired, half-annoyed smile, and Jason’s heart dropped like a block into a toddler’s shape sorter as Ange fitted smoothly through the boyfriend shaped hole that become so much part of Jason’s self that he’d almost become used to it. “Why are you bugging me?'"
Anyway! Ghosted is raucous, bonkers, sexy, tender—don’t miss it.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
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August 5, 2024This was really good! Clashing individuals investigating the same haunted house (in New Orleans, no less) has been done a lot of time, but this played out differently than I expected, and I was completely satisfied with both the characters and the plot. I thought the prose and characterization were well done and original.
Do note that this book goes pretty hard. It's a lot closer to horror than I expected and there are graphic descriptions of both nasty supernatural effects (vomit, blood, maggots etc) and also of emotional suffering, abuse, and grief. I'd especially be cautious about this read if you have a fraught relationship with food/food deprivation.
Sexy, funny, creepy. Solid horror-romance.
Do note that this book goes pretty hard. It's a lot closer to horror than I expected and there are graphic descriptions of both nasty supernatural effects (vomit, blood, maggots etc) and also of emotional suffering, abuse, and grief. I'd especially be cautious about this read if you have a fraught relationship with food/food deprivation.
Sexy, funny, creepy. Solid horror-romance.
May 17, 2022
If you like stories that make you laugh at one moment and shiver the next, this is the book for you!
Although it has some dark moments, the story is more funny than creepy overall, I think. That’s largely down to the banter between Jason and Ange, which is often hilarious. Many of the best bits are too naughty to quote in a review, but how can you not laugh at lines like “I have been probed longer and harder than a redneck in UFO country” and “Does your sex life have an address? Because I really want to send it a funeral wreath right now.” Between the snarky quips, humorous descriptions, and clever pop culture references, I spent a lot of time snickering to myself as I read.
That said, while words on a page don’t generally scare me, I did get the willies at times. Jason and Ange both have a few dreams that are just -shudder-, but Ange’s possession by the ghost really shifts the book into Exorcist territory. That pea soup scene? Think along those lines, and that’s just part of what Ange experiences. He may try to joke about it, but the body horror is real.
Between the humor and the horror lies a love story. As sarcastic as Jason and Ange can be with each other, their romance has an underlying sweetness that I really enjoyed. On the face of it, the serious cinnamon roll of an exorcist and the flamboyant, hard-edged flimflam artist have nothing in common. But both Ange and Jason suffer from PTSD, Ange from living through Hurricane Katrina and Jason from a horrific personal tragedy that Jason blames himself for. As a result, Ange believes he can’t rely on anyone but himself, and Jason holds people at arm’s length out of fear. So, when these two lonely souls find each other, they find the support and love they hadn't realized they needed. Ange helps Jason begin to work through what happened to him, Jason is someone Ange can depend on no matter what, and neither of them will ever be alone again.
I wasn’t sure how much I’d like a book about an exorcist, a medium, and an angry ghost, but I loved it. Highly recommended!
This review is based on a complimentary advanced reader copy; all opinions are my own.
Although it has some dark moments, the story is more funny than creepy overall, I think. That’s largely down to the banter between Jason and Ange, which is often hilarious. Many of the best bits are too naughty to quote in a review, but how can you not laugh at lines like “I have been probed longer and harder than a redneck in UFO country” and “Does your sex life have an address? Because I really want to send it a funeral wreath right now.” Between the snarky quips, humorous descriptions, and clever pop culture references, I spent a lot of time snickering to myself as I read.
That said, while words on a page don’t generally scare me, I did get the willies at times. Jason and Ange both have a few dreams that are just -shudder-, but Ange’s possession by the ghost really shifts the book into Exorcist territory. That pea soup scene? Think along those lines, and that’s just part of what Ange experiences. He may try to joke about it, but the body horror is real.
Between the humor and the horror lies a love story. As sarcastic as Jason and Ange can be with each other, their romance has an underlying sweetness that I really enjoyed. On the face of it, the serious cinnamon roll of an exorcist and the flamboyant, hard-edged flimflam artist have nothing in common. But both Ange and Jason suffer from PTSD, Ange from living through Hurricane Katrina and Jason from a horrific personal tragedy that Jason blames himself for. As a result, Ange believes he can’t rely on anyone but himself, and Jason holds people at arm’s length out of fear. So, when these two lonely souls find each other, they find the support and love they hadn't realized they needed. Ange helps Jason begin to work through what happened to him, Jason is someone Ange can depend on no matter what, and neither of them will ever be alone again.
I wasn’t sure how much I’d like a book about an exorcist, a medium, and an angry ghost, but I loved it. Highly recommended!
This review is based on a complimentary advanced reader copy; all opinions are my own.
mm-dnf
July 4, 2022The writing just felt way too chaotic for me and I couldn’t make it through
May 30, 2022
"Honey, what kind of fucked up version of Hogwarts did you go to?" WERID AS FUCK BUT SO GOOD, IN THE BEST WAYS. If this was supernatural I would watch 19 seasons of it and I don't even watch supernatural. Funniest ghost story I've ever read and as the two MCs say, nothing if not original. No two stories are the same with Whitecroft and this one is again a breath of fresh air. Incredible wit and banter and twist and turns and heartfelt emotions and hot sex with clear emotional connection. Where do you even get your metaphors Whitecroft because you are a genius. The story is just so satisfying in so many ways, it's PERFECT. Thank you thank you thank you for this wonderful gem. Really enjoyed it.
(Also am hearing a sequel might be in the works and lemme just SQUEAL YES PLEASE YES YES YES!!!)
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
(Also am hearing a sequel might be in the works and lemme just SQUEAL YES PLEASE YES YES YES!!!)
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
May 29, 2022
I've read nearly all of Jess Whitecroft's books, clearly I enjoy her writing style and with good reason, but this is right up there as a favourite of mine. This match of humour and sexiness and edgy/horror is wonderfully nuanced, the characters a mix of pleasure and pain. The writing is clever and balances something that could be rubbish in the wrong writer's hands but is a gem in Whitecroft's.
RTC
RTC
May 17, 2022
4.5 spooky stars!
This book is an interesting mix of haunted house spookiness, Supernatural (the show) vibes, and social commentary. I was pulled in by the mystery of the haunted house and stayed for the delightful main characters. I loved how Ange and Jason drive each other absolutely nuts, but then they can’t keep their hands off each other. Their banter is absolutely hilarious and I loved every moment with them. Plus, Ange is Black and native to Louisiana, and his voice and perspective were an important part of the story since the haunted house is located in New Orleans and was built pre Civil War. The side characters are all wacky archetypes and I couldn’t stop laughing at how the author wrote them into the story. The ghost plot was super interesting, especially with how it’s historically informed, and there is a totally satisfying wrap up of the haunting and what all is going on.
Oh, and there’s some steamy parts to this romance, but it’s mostly focused on figuring out the ghost mystery and getting to know Anges and Jason, who have a lot to hide from the world.
Overall I loved this story, but I do have to complain about the pacing. It slows down at parts and the book felt longer than it needed to be. A little editing to tighten things up would have helped. But the characters and story were enough to keep me interested and reading.
I definitely recommend this book, especially if you like spooky historical ghost stories.
This book is an interesting mix of haunted house spookiness, Supernatural (the show) vibes, and social commentary. I was pulled in by the mystery of the haunted house and stayed for the delightful main characters. I loved how Ange and Jason drive each other absolutely nuts, but then they can’t keep their hands off each other. Their banter is absolutely hilarious and I loved every moment with them. Plus, Ange is Black and native to Louisiana, and his voice and perspective were an important part of the story since the haunted house is located in New Orleans and was built pre Civil War. The side characters are all wacky archetypes and I couldn’t stop laughing at how the author wrote them into the story. The ghost plot was super interesting, especially with how it’s historically informed, and there is a totally satisfying wrap up of the haunting and what all is going on.
Oh, and there’s some steamy parts to this romance, but it’s mostly focused on figuring out the ghost mystery and getting to know Anges and Jason, who have a lot to hide from the world.
Overall I loved this story, but I do have to complain about the pacing. It slows down at parts and the book felt longer than it needed to be. A little editing to tighten things up would have helped. But the characters and story were enough to keep me interested and reading.
I definitely recommend this book, especially if you like spooky historical ghost stories.
August 19, 2024
It was average.
Ange and his constant hating on white people. Why? Why does it always have to come back to how much he dislikes white people? I mean, why is he attracted to Jason if it's just about skin tones?
I didn't come here to read a racist book, I came here to read a horror story. Which was pretty mild. And disappointing.
The book is confusingly written in alot of places. It drops majorly as it goes on.
It's jumps but keeps it the same scene. Ange eating, then bathroom, then back at the table? He teleported around that scene and it made no sense. The ghost is back, but he says nothing and they go on a road trip? Huh?
Mariebelle made no sense around 80% through. Ange sees a snippet and then he explains (at hospital? They don't even clarify where he is) and he has a 100% page for page history of her. None of it makes sense.
Ange admitting he had a colonoscopy and endoscopy then 80% through or so, cringing at getting a colonoscopy?
Um...Gary?
It's an average read. The ending was just meh. The twist was meh.
Ange and his constant hating on white people. Why? Why does it always have to come back to how much he dislikes white people? I mean, why is he attracted to Jason if it's just about skin tones?
I didn't come here to read a racist book, I came here to read a horror story. Which was pretty mild. And disappointing.
The book is confusingly written in alot of places. It drops majorly as it goes on.
It's jumps but keeps it the same scene. Ange eating, then bathroom, then back at the table? He teleported around that scene and it made no sense. The ghost is back, but he says nothing and they go on a road trip? Huh?
Mariebelle made no sense around 80% through. Ange sees a snippet and then he explains (at hospital? They don't even clarify where he is) and he has a 100% page for page history of her. None of it makes sense.
Ange admitting he had a colonoscopy and endoscopy then 80% through or so, cringing at getting a colonoscopy?
Um...Gary?
It's an average read. The ending was just meh. The twist was meh.
July 28, 2022
First off, Jess Whitecroft is my jam. She writes the best dialogues.
Also? This premise was really fun. A medium and an exorcist falling in love over a haunted house? Be still my heart.
I appreciated that the story was more than just smut (I am not knocking just-smut, I love me some just-smut!) that had me in tears at some points because, y'know, just fuck white supremacy and its bullshit. I hate it and I hate that what happened to a character in this book happened in real life to so many people and it's the worst.
So yeah. This is a four and a half star read for me because Jason's characterization was kind of all over the place and that made the relationship between him and Ange feel a bit forced.
Still, you should read it.
Also? This premise was really fun. A medium and an exorcist falling in love over a haunted house? Be still my heart.
I appreciated that the story was more than just smut (I am not knocking just-smut, I love me some just-smut!) that had me in tears at some points because, y'know, just fuck white supremacy and its bullshit. I hate it and I hate that what happened to a character in this book happened in real life to so many people and it's the worst.
So yeah. This is a four and a half star read for me because Jason's characterization was kind of all over the place and that made the relationship between him and Ange feel a bit forced.
Still, you should read it.
April 25, 2023
Pretty much everything by Jess Whitecroft is a must-read for me and Ghosted was unputdownable. A frequently hilarious and sometimes downright spooky glimpse into the world of paranormal professionals when exorcist Jason and mainly fake medium Ange meet at a haunted house in New Orleans and begin an opposites-attract romance.
I really enjoyed that although there was plenty of humour throughout, the personal tragedies of the main characters (and assorted ghosts) were taken seriously, which made me believe in and care for them. Gorgeously eclectic and sweetly romantic (in between the hauntings), this story just swept me away. I really couldn't get enough of Jason and Ange.
I really enjoyed that although there was plenty of humour throughout, the personal tragedies of the main characters (and assorted ghosts) were taken seriously, which made me believe in and care for them. Gorgeously eclectic and sweetly romantic (in between the hauntings), this story just swept me away. I really couldn't get enough of Jason and Ange.
May 17, 2022
There is a free lance exorcist, Jason Kent, who comes to town to do a job. There he meets Desanges aka Ange Passebon, a psychic medium claiming to talk to ghosts. And a really scary house. This book had all of the elements. Good characters, something that was going bump that provided some suspense and even some humor. 4.5 strong stars of good reading.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
May 18, 2022
This book was my introduction to Jess Whitecroft and I'm so glad I got the chance to read it. I loved the Story from start to finish. It was mysterious and interesting yet had several funny parts to help lighten the mood before things got too heavy. I could definitely go for more stories featuring Ange & Jason.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
May 17, 2022
A definite page-turner from one of my favorite authors. Very suspenseful, and the setting in New Orleans was great. Ange and Jason were wonderful characters, both very warm and real. Some of the ghostly stuff even had me wondering if I'd sleep!.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
May 18, 2022
Sometimes you read a story where the characters jump out at you. Ange was that person for me. He was hilarious and over the top fabulous. I hope the author based him on a character they know. His experiences as a medium, while maybe shouldn't have been funny per se, they made you cringe with sympathy.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
May 18, 2022
This book is amazing. The m/c’s take you on the ride of your life. From the beginning the story took off. It drew you in and it didn’t let go til the very end. Excellent characters, excellent story and a terrific happy ending.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
May 30, 2022
Fun and appropriately spooky! Some Britishisms crept in, but the banter between the leads was snappy, and there was a good balance of them lusting after each other and genuinely falling for each other. Sex scenes didn't entirely do it for me though, the dirty talk was on the derogatory end for my preferences. That aside, not-quite-fake medium/exorcist is a great pairing dynamic.
June 17, 2022
Heart-wrenching, exciting, funny, sexy. Heart-wrenching both in the personal stories and in the history referenced.
I adore her books - they are emotionally and mentally meaty while also sexy and funny - this was right there at the top for me.
I adore her books - they are emotionally and mentally meaty while also sexy and funny - this was right there at the top for me.
October 12, 2022
This was fun - the banter between the two main characters is on point -but also parts were genuinely creepy. Featured a case of the anti-Chekhov's gun -Jason's trunk full of medieval weapons was mentioned more than once but never used.
dnf
November 18, 2022No rating DNF at 4%. There’s some casual mention of a side character’s probable disordered eating that felt stereotyped and overly critical that just didn’t work for me. The intro chapter didn’t pull me in enough to look past it.
May 20, 2022
3.5⭐️ I had a really hard time getting into this book and sometimes the humor just landed wrong for me but by the end I was glad I stuck with it.
May 28, 2022
3.5*
June 1, 2022
Interesting
I love books about mediums when they are well-written and this one just happens to be that. Interesting read. Highly recommended.
I love books about mediums when they are well-written and this one just happens to be that. Interesting read. Highly recommended.
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October 28, 2022Free at Amazon - 28 Oct 22
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