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Shake Off the Ghosts
WANTED:
Housesitter for Cavendish House, an expansive medieval manor in the Highlands of Scotland. Must love country living and have maintenance skills. Decent pay for right applicant.
Sounds spectacular, doesn't it? Sadly, what the ad should've said was -
WANTED:
Idiot willing to live in abject misery for two months in the middle of nowhere Scotland. Must love ten-year-old dust bunnies, complete isolation, and have the courage to weather the nightly visits of the Blue Lady - the resident ghost. Great job for the right sucker!
And even that couldn't prepare me for the Cavendish heir, Branson Douglas. Branson is infuriating! Stubborn, smug, and worst of all, infuriatingly handsome. My god, that smile! Branson doesn't want me around and makes no secret of it, but there's one thing I have that might help him save Cavendish House from the auction block - I'm a force of nature with a hammer. Now, it'll take us both working together, day in and day out to get it done. If only I can keep from falling for the handsome bastard between now and then.
With every mystery of Cavendish we uncover, Branson's secrets come to the surface, and soon I see a whole new side to this beautiful creature - secrets that make my heart helpless to him. The way he looks at me - am I right to think he wants me too, or will the worst house-sitting job I've ever had turn into the hardest goodbye I'll ever have to say?"
Wanted:
Impenetrable heart lock. Must repel heart stopping smiles and Scottish charm. Please include money back guarantee.
Housesitter for Cavendish House, an expansive medieval manor in the Highlands of Scotland. Must love country living and have maintenance skills. Decent pay for right applicant.
Sounds spectacular, doesn't it? Sadly, what the ad should've said was -
WANTED:
Idiot willing to live in abject misery for two months in the middle of nowhere Scotland. Must love ten-year-old dust bunnies, complete isolation, and have the courage to weather the nightly visits of the Blue Lady - the resident ghost. Great job for the right sucker!
And even that couldn't prepare me for the Cavendish heir, Branson Douglas. Branson is infuriating! Stubborn, smug, and worst of all, infuriatingly handsome. My god, that smile! Branson doesn't want me around and makes no secret of it, but there's one thing I have that might help him save Cavendish House from the auction block - I'm a force of nature with a hammer. Now, it'll take us both working together, day in and day out to get it done. If only I can keep from falling for the handsome bastard between now and then.
With every mystery of Cavendish we uncover, Branson's secrets come to the surface, and soon I see a whole new side to this beautiful creature - secrets that make my heart helpless to him. The way he looks at me - am I right to think he wants me too, or will the worst house-sitting job I've ever had turn into the hardest goodbye I'll ever have to say?"
Wanted:
Impenetrable heart lock. Must repel heart stopping smiles and Scottish charm. Please include money back guarantee.
346 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2017
200 people are currently reading
1029 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 110 reviews
December 25, 2022
What can I say about this book? It’s adorable. A comfy little romance with enough excitement that I couldn’t put it down. I read through the night, and as the mother of a newborn, I wouldn’t give up sleep for just anything. A hard-working, badass female MC, an emotional and vulnerable love interest, trans representation, and a ghost! 10/10. 😍
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August 18, 2024
This had it's ups and downs for me. There were moments I really liked and moments I rolled my eyes so hard I gave myself a headache. There's a ton of miscommunication in this that I felt was unnecessary. There were some weird logic jumps that made no sense and then I really despised the ending reveal that just felt unnecessary. The spicy scene as well felt totally out of place with the moment that was being had and just didn't need to exist in this book at all. Also it needed way more ghosts.
What I did like was a lot of the funnier moments, good banter and I'm glad for how a lot of the characters that sucked ended up. I would have liked further vindication with Christopher because seriously that's it with him? I wanted a blow-up and I'm left unsatisfied there. Corinne frustrated me because the moment I thought she was having character growth she reverted and that was annoying. This books also said it has plus-size rep but I really didn't feel that aside from the one or two mentions to a dress size or the roof scene. I feel like if a book is going to call itself plus-size rep it needs to have that be a bit more central to the story which we didn't get.
I think overall this could have used a developmental editor to help with some of the jumps but it's not bad. I think for the spicy booktok people out there they'd enjoy it more than me. I still think it's a cute romance and that if it had left out the spicy scene I would have enjoyed this a lot more, that just felt like it was put there to mark itself as spicy rather than actually being relevant to the rest of the book.
What I did like was a lot of the funnier moments, good banter and I'm glad for how a lot of the characters that sucked ended up. I would have liked further vindication with Christopher because seriously that's it with him? I wanted a blow-up and I'm left unsatisfied there. Corinne frustrated me because the moment I thought she was having character growth she reverted and that was annoying. This books also said it has plus-size rep but I really didn't feel that aside from the one or two mentions to a dress size or the roof scene. I feel like if a book is going to call itself plus-size rep it needs to have that be a bit more central to the story which we didn't get.
I think overall this could have used a developmental editor to help with some of the jumps but it's not bad. I think for the spicy booktok people out there they'd enjoy it more than me. I still think it's a cute romance and that if it had left out the spicy scene I would have enjoyed this a lot more, that just felt like it was put there to mark itself as spicy rather than actually being relevant to the rest of the book.
November 5, 2022
Some truly laugh out loud moments and some frustrating ones. It took me a while to really get into the story and the relationship between Cor and Bran. Overall cute though.
July 1, 2023
Light cute book .
August 7, 2022
Supernaturally Sweet Rom Com
An enemies to lovers, forced proximity, sweet rom-com with a little bit of the supernatural thrown in for spice. Corrine is a capable heroine with terrible instincts when it comes to men and Bran is the cranky cinnamon roll who falls for her. There’s even a cute cuddly kitten thrown in the mix. Loved Bran’s sister, Callista, who is practically a fairy godmother. I had one issue with the story but won’t discuss it because it happens really late in the book. But if you run across it and feel the same way just know you’re not alone.
An enemies to lovers, forced proximity, sweet rom-com with a little bit of the supernatural thrown in for spice. Corrine is a capable heroine with terrible instincts when it comes to men and Bran is the cranky cinnamon roll who falls for her. There’s even a cute cuddly kitten thrown in the mix. Loved Bran’s sister, Callista, who is practically a fairy godmother. I had one issue with the story but won’t discuss it because it happens really late in the book. But if you run across it and feel the same way just know you’re not alone.
April 12, 2025
This was a solid 3.5 stars. Really charming and just the right blend of adventure and spookiness. A very sweet cast of characters surrounding the couple at the centre, including a great trans character. The book dealt thoughtfully with some complex topics, like addiction, hoarding and childhood neglect. There is a wee bit of spice, but it’s pretty mild. I could see many of the twists coming but didn’t mind.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 14, 2017
Having arrived at night in Scotland to begin her housesitting job, Corinne stood in front of Cavendish House, a 14th Century Scottish castle. Looking up from her cell phone, her jaw dropped open in awe -- while her cousin Patti on the other end of the phone jabbered away in excitement. The castle, where she would live for two months, was HUGE, overrun by ivy and an overgrown garden. The Executrix of the estate who had hired her finally called her back and, ignoring most of her questions such as reimbursement for the $100 cab fare, hastily disconnected the call and left her on her own. She had no transportation and no food, but at least the lights worked, which was a great assist in spotting the dead mouse on the floor. Pushing her duffle across the dust, she made her way to the staircase.
Sometime in the night, she woke to find her bedroom door was now open. She heard muffled sounds from downstairs and crept quietly down to the main floor carrying a fireplace poker for defense. A dark shape came through a doorway and she swung the poker, taking a chunk out of the priceless 500-year-old hand-carved bannister. The lights were turned on and she faced the stranger as they shouted back and forth at each other – even after she found out he was the owner/heir of the castle! Will they be able to straighten out this awkward mess? What will happen with the woman in a blue dress that Corrine saw dash around a corner several times now? Who took her passport from her room? And will Branson Douglas allow her to stay and give him her contractor skills – or maybe her heart?
I enjoyed this book right from the beginning. The humorous writing style made me immediately comfortable. Even though Corinne was nervous in the spooky old house, she still cracked jokes and made humorous comments to herself which brought a laugh into the situation. The suspense of waiting for one of her scary wild imaginings to materialize keeps the reader turning pages to find out what is going to happen next. With the expert descriptions the author provides of the events as Corinne hears strange sounds and catches a few glimpses of something moving in the dark, it feels as if you are right there with her, goosebumps and all! I will readily read another of this author’s books. It was fun and the characters were delightful! I was given a copy of this book and voluntarily chose to review it. My comments reflect my honest opinion.
Sometime in the night, she woke to find her bedroom door was now open. She heard muffled sounds from downstairs and crept quietly down to the main floor carrying a fireplace poker for defense. A dark shape came through a doorway and she swung the poker, taking a chunk out of the priceless 500-year-old hand-carved bannister. The lights were turned on and she faced the stranger as they shouted back and forth at each other – even after she found out he was the owner/heir of the castle! Will they be able to straighten out this awkward mess? What will happen with the woman in a blue dress that Corrine saw dash around a corner several times now? Who took her passport from her room? And will Branson Douglas allow her to stay and give him her contractor skills – or maybe her heart?
I enjoyed this book right from the beginning. The humorous writing style made me immediately comfortable. Even though Corinne was nervous in the spooky old house, she still cracked jokes and made humorous comments to herself which brought a laugh into the situation. The suspense of waiting for one of her scary wild imaginings to materialize keeps the reader turning pages to find out what is going to happen next. With the expert descriptions the author provides of the events as Corinne hears strange sounds and catches a few glimpses of something moving in the dark, it feels as if you are right there with her, goosebumps and all! I will readily read another of this author’s books. It was fun and the characters were delightful! I was given a copy of this book and voluntarily chose to review it. My comments reflect my honest opinion.
October 1, 2018
Shake Off the Ghosts - This is my first book by this author and I couldn't stand Corinne's character and her unnecessary use of vulgar language. What really offended me was the lower case usage of God and the fact God was in almost every paragraph. Besides the misuse of God, the book needed some editing to catch the inconsistencies, although the previous mentions aside, this is better edited than most books today. For a contractor, Corinne is soft; the executor of the estate and her disappearing boyfriend walk all over her. She should be used to dealing with people like that since she's a contractor. Bran is OK, just a typical guy, but it was weird that he tried to hide who he was from the locals who knew him and his family.
I didn't finish the book because the language and the horrendous misuse of God kept distracting me and getting in the way of whatever the book had to offer. It's like a screaming kid in a movie theater, annoying. I liked the idea of what the story could have offered otherwise, which is why I wanted to read it. I found this book on Booksprout.co. 3*
A Song For the Sea - This is my second and final book by this author. I looked forward to reading this book since the witch portion intrigued me. But the story dragged on and then the dialog between the hospital co-workers was so heavy with vulgar language that I couldn't take any more. I didn't care about any of the characters, especially the Craig woman. While better edited than most books nowadays, the author needs an editor; she can upper case diabetes, but not God? There are other corrections needed. I found this book on Booksprout.co. 3
I didn't finish the book because the language and the horrendous misuse of God kept distracting me and getting in the way of whatever the book had to offer. It's like a screaming kid in a movie theater, annoying. I liked the idea of what the story could have offered otherwise, which is why I wanted to read it. I found this book on Booksprout.co. 3*
A Song For the Sea - This is my second and final book by this author. I looked forward to reading this book since the witch portion intrigued me. But the story dragged on and then the dialog between the hospital co-workers was so heavy with vulgar language that I couldn't take any more. I didn't care about any of the characters, especially the Craig woman. While better edited than most books nowadays, the author needs an editor; she can upper case diabetes, but not God? There are other corrections needed. I found this book on Booksprout.co. 3
October 7, 2017
This review originally appeared on www.littlenovelist.com/blog/bookrevie...
I recently read another novel by Michaela and fell in love with her writing style. The cover is what drew me to the book to begin with. The title along with the image of the two lovers intrigued me as to what the story was about. The blurb made it sound super mysterious and that is why I requested to review it.
This book's title does give a little bit of a throw off as there aren't many ghosts in this novel. Although the first couple of chapters will have you fooled and creeped me out a little bit. It almost made me stop reading but on my train journey to London I decided to push through the creepiness and I am SO glad I did because I devoured this little gem of a book!
It was really good at keeping my attention, especially all through the stages of fixing up the house in Scotland. I liked it because the characters were relatable and real. There is a lot of cursing in this novel but I feel like that gives it authenticity, I mean who doesn't curse every now then? Plus there was a mystery door which sometimes was open and sometimes was closed.
I think Calista might have been my favourite character overall. Her presence was brilliant and I loved her relationship with Bran. Our main character Corinne was a little feisty and I loved her character development. I also loved the way she interacted with both love interests.
Overall, this was a wonderful story that was a slow-burner and ended just the way I wanted it to.
I recently read another novel by Michaela and fell in love with her writing style. The cover is what drew me to the book to begin with. The title along with the image of the two lovers intrigued me as to what the story was about. The blurb made it sound super mysterious and that is why I requested to review it.
This book's title does give a little bit of a throw off as there aren't many ghosts in this novel. Although the first couple of chapters will have you fooled and creeped me out a little bit. It almost made me stop reading but on my train journey to London I decided to push through the creepiness and I am SO glad I did because I devoured this little gem of a book!
It was really good at keeping my attention, especially all through the stages of fixing up the house in Scotland. I liked it because the characters were relatable and real. There is a lot of cursing in this novel but I feel like that gives it authenticity, I mean who doesn't curse every now then? Plus there was a mystery door which sometimes was open and sometimes was closed.
I think Calista might have been my favourite character overall. Her presence was brilliant and I loved her relationship with Bran. Our main character Corinne was a little feisty and I loved her character development. I also loved the way she interacted with both love interests.
Overall, this was a wonderful story that was a slow-burner and ended just the way I wanted it to.
August 27, 2018
Corinne enjoys being an international housesitter and gets the opportunity of a lifetime to housesit Cavendish House (a 14th Century Castle) while the home is in probate. She thinks that a job in Scotland will have her close by to Christopher her sexy Skype buddy and chance at some romance. But the new job is more than she bargained for when she arrives and sees a falling down castle whose current (deceased) owner was a hoarder. She also didn’t expect to come face to face with the heir of the castle, Earl Bransom Douglass.
Bransom (Bran) needs to have the castle in living condition so that he can rightfully claim the castle as his own and finds that he needs the help of Corinne (Cor) to meet his 8 week deadline. They soon find that they don’t have luck on their side, something odd is happening at the castle (is it haunted), and if they ever get past all the misunderstandings perhaps there could be a love connection.
The book combines a bit of humor, some romance, a paranormal element, and some intrigue all together. I found that Corinne is quite a bit naïve and way too trusting, Bransom is struggling with his emotions and at times is worse than a woman with PMS, and Christopher just seems too good to be true. Overall, there was enough of a good storyline and plot to keep me reading and in the end found myself happily entertained.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Bransom (Bran) needs to have the castle in living condition so that he can rightfully claim the castle as his own and finds that he needs the help of Corinne (Cor) to meet his 8 week deadline. They soon find that they don’t have luck on their side, something odd is happening at the castle (is it haunted), and if they ever get past all the misunderstandings perhaps there could be a love connection.
The book combines a bit of humor, some romance, a paranormal element, and some intrigue all together. I found that Corinne is quite a bit naïve and way too trusting, Bransom is struggling with his emotions and at times is worse than a woman with PMS, and Christopher just seems too good to be true. Overall, there was enough of a good storyline and plot to keep me reading and in the end found myself happily entertained.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
April 6, 2023
WARNING - Suboptimal handing of transgender issues: The hero's sister is transgender. The author clearly meant this to be a positive thing. She is a loved, vibrant woman with her own interests and life. But I really wish the author had taken the time to research further or had a reader from the community read the book. There is a LOT of deadnaming and misgendering (I think only once to the character's face, but definitely by other characters when the transgender character is not present). It's just...not great.
THE REST - I love a fixer upper! I love a Scottish castle! I love a romantic comedy!
Fixer upper - yes, it definitely kind of delivers on this. Could have used more lush descriptions.
Castle/stately home - see above
Romantic comedy - X Sorry, we have a failure here. Romantic comedy to this author mainly seems to revolve around people possibly shitting themselves in front of other people. It's a recurring thing here. I just didn't...even remotely find it funny.
As for the whole final breakup before reconciliation it was ridiculous and annoying and made me hate the heroine- also I was mad at her because at the beginning she was like and then she apparently COMPLETELY FORGETS THIS AND ALL THE PROBLEMS ARE HER FAULT. So I kind of hated her for that.
THE REST - I love a fixer upper! I love a Scottish castle! I love a romantic comedy!
Fixer upper - yes, it definitely kind of delivers on this. Could have used more lush descriptions.
Castle/stately home - see above
Romantic comedy - X Sorry, we have a failure here. Romantic comedy to this author mainly seems to revolve around people possibly shitting themselves in front of other people. It's a recurring thing here. I just didn't...even remotely find it funny.
As for the whole final breakup before reconciliation it was ridiculous and annoying and made me hate the heroine- also I was mad at her because at the beginning she was like and then she apparently COMPLETELY FORGETS THIS AND ALL THE PROBLEMS ARE HER FAULT. So I kind of hated her for that.
October 24, 2017
Corrine came to Scotland because she was hoping to start a new relationship as well as house sit at Cavendish House she arrives but she certainly was not expecting what she saw when opened the door the person who hired her did not tell her what she was in for nor did she tell her that she would have so much work. And to top that off she finds she has several room mates to contend with and one claimed to be the Earl, Bransom Douglass only he is not the one she came to this country for that would be Christopher her Skype buddy but something chances along the way while working on the house.she gets help from some friends she and Bran met at a pot-luck, and she inadvertently outs the Earl and gets arrested and deported. This was a pretty good story but Corrine was pathically ignorant or just had her head up her behind for abt.10 weeks. before she realized what was going on around her. Would recommend. I was given a copy as a gift from author. I am providing an honest review without obligation.
March 26, 2023
Warnings:
This book contains a super obvious miscommunication about 70% of the way through. It was frustrating, but at least it wasn’t drawn out too long before being resolved.
Corinne and Bran are stuck together in a crumbling old manor house. According to Corinne, Bran is infuriating. I didn’t really get that assessment from their interactions, but that’s what we’re told by Corinne. Maybe we’re just getting the perspective of someone who wants to think that they hate him when they really love him 🤷🏻♀️ From my perspective, Bran isn’t infuriating so much as he is mildly irritating. Most of their interaction seemed like friendly banter. So, not really the enemies to lovers experience that I expected but cute nonetheless.
Writing wise, usually first person helps the reader to feel more immediately immersed, but I felt a weird distance from Corinne’s external experience. However, I appreciated the amount of dialogue and how well it was done.
Overall, cute book and a nice diversion.
This book contains a super obvious miscommunication about 70% of the way through. It was frustrating, but at least it wasn’t drawn out too long before being resolved.
Corinne and Bran are stuck together in a crumbling old manor house. According to Corinne, Bran is infuriating. I didn’t really get that assessment from their interactions, but that’s what we’re told by Corinne. Maybe we’re just getting the perspective of someone who wants to think that they hate him when they really love him 🤷🏻♀️ From my perspective, Bran isn’t infuriating so much as he is mildly irritating. Most of their interaction seemed like friendly banter. So, not really the enemies to lovers experience that I expected but cute nonetheless.
Writing wise, usually first person helps the reader to feel more immediately immersed, but I felt a weird distance from Corinne’s external experience. However, I appreciated the amount of dialogue and how well it was done.
Overall, cute book and a nice diversion.
October 3, 2017
This was a very slow-burn type of story about a woman who goes house-sitting all over the world (what a great job!) She gets to Scotland to house-sit a mansion (and to be close to a guy she met online) and finds the actual owner there already. She agrees to help fix up the place against her employer's wishes. The story goes on from there and even though there is a ghost it is not a prominent feature in the book but has its place especially around the end. I won't say who she ends up with but it is a sweet story with excellent writing in my opinion.
I have been a fan of Michaela Wright's writing since Catch My Fall and Writing Mr. Right and I hope that she keeps writing excellent books.
I have been a fan of Michaela Wright's writing since Catch My Fall and Writing Mr. Right and I hope that she keeps writing excellent books.
September 13, 2018
bloody useless long distance Scot - that is what her doctor boy is.
researcher, come to visit and shag each other blind - ah but busy the whole time you are here - bollocks!
so after Corinne lands in a refuse pile of trouble, can she find her skills, herself, and maybe true love?
raised by a contractor, she is a contractor herself - and happily has more than the limited skill set the ad says might be required
the horrid true state of the pile that once was an estate really needs more than her limited help
if it takes a village to accomplish it, can she, her pride, and her new heart throb survive the efforts?
will she be fool enough to fall for the bloody air bag who lied in the first place?
can she find the strength to follow her heart in romance, and with family, and face her evil step monster?
global adventure, romance and challneges abound!
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
researcher, come to visit and shag each other blind - ah but busy the whole time you are here - bollocks!
so after Corinne lands in a refuse pile of trouble, can she find her skills, herself, and maybe true love?
raised by a contractor, she is a contractor herself - and happily has more than the limited skill set the ad says might be required
the horrid true state of the pile that once was an estate really needs more than her limited help
if it takes a village to accomplish it, can she, her pride, and her new heart throb survive the efforts?
will she be fool enough to fall for the bloody air bag who lied in the first place?
can she find the strength to follow her heart in romance, and with family, and face her evil step monster?
global adventure, romance and challneges abound!
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
January 17, 2024
Shake off the Ghosts - Miranda Newfield
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
4 stars. Good story line! I loved the story. I struggled to sit back down and read it every time I put it down. During the times I put the book down: we hadThanksgiving in New Mexico and then took a trip to Scotland, then after Scotland/UK trip, it was Christmas and New Years! I couldn’t get it done. Some parts dragged on. Once the storyline got going it was great! lol I laughed out loud frequently! I did have a wonderful next door neighbor who had the same issue as Branson’s dad. That was an interesting experience to witness as a kid. Writing was good but the descriptions of the Scotland highlands seemed to be vague and having traveled there recently I felt they could have been more detailed. Guess you just have to visit to understand d what she was trying to convey! All in all it was a fun story, it just seemed rather long and the book print was soooo small! On to the next!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
4 stars. Good story line! I loved the story. I struggled to sit back down and read it every time I put it down. During the times I put the book down: we hadThanksgiving in New Mexico and then took a trip to Scotland, then after Scotland/UK trip, it was Christmas and New Years! I couldn’t get it done. Some parts dragged on. Once the storyline got going it was great! lol I laughed out loud frequently! I did have a wonderful next door neighbor who had the same issue as Branson’s dad. That was an interesting experience to witness as a kid. Writing was good but the descriptions of the Scotland highlands seemed to be vague and having traveled there recently I felt they could have been more detailed. Guess you just have to visit to understand d what she was trying to convey! All in all it was a fun story, it just seemed rather long and the book print was soooo small! On to the next!
January 12, 2024
Great read
I enjoyed almost every aspect of this book: the building of the romantic relationship, the heroine being a bad ass woman, the hero just being an awesome person as well as romantic interest, the setting of a dilapidated Scottish castle.
And the author’s LOTR and other pop culture references made me exceedingly happy. I laughed out loud countless times during this read and cried a few as well.
I loved this book but I just couldn’t get over the actions of the heroine near the end. It was so incredibly frustrating. And her total obliviousness to what was going on - her almost intentional misunderstanding of the situations were infuriating to read.
That is the only reason that I took off a star. I don’t know if I would pick this book up again but I will definitely be reading more of Miranda Newfield!
I enjoyed almost every aspect of this book: the building of the romantic relationship, the heroine being a bad ass woman, the hero just being an awesome person as well as romantic interest, the setting of a dilapidated Scottish castle.
And the author’s LOTR and other pop culture references made me exceedingly happy. I laughed out loud countless times during this read and cried a few as well.
I loved this book but I just couldn’t get over the actions of the heroine near the end. It was so incredibly frustrating. And her total obliviousness to what was going on - her almost intentional misunderstanding of the situations were infuriating to read.
That is the only reason that I took off a star. I don’t know if I would pick this book up again but I will definitely be reading more of Miranda Newfield!
April 10, 2023
If you like diy home renovation shows on hgtv, Scottish castles/manors, enemies to friends to lovers, sexy men with Scottish accents and a smidge of ghostly apparitions, run do not walk to this book!
Why do more people not know about this book?!
It’s a slow burn romance with just the right dash of spicy, it’s near the end of the book but it fits with the story people not everything is about the smut. The main characters have real issues in their pasts from some serious family trauma but they help each other through it not just breeze through them. Yes there’s some paranormal ghostly activity but it doesn’t overtake the story, it gives it just a little something extra. This was just darling.
Why do more people not know about this book?!
It’s a slow burn romance with just the right dash of spicy, it’s near the end of the book but it fits with the story people not everything is about the smut. The main characters have real issues in their pasts from some serious family trauma but they help each other through it not just breeze through them. Yes there’s some paranormal ghostly activity but it doesn’t overtake the story, it gives it just a little something extra. This was just darling.
May 24, 2023
God. This book is DISGUSTING! The female MC IS A WHORE. EWWWWWW... SO GROSS!!!@
She has ZERO self-esteem. She just goes and believes a guy who used her when he says the guy she loves has a GF. Then she just moves in with him and tsljs constantly about sucking him off and hiw she hates it and the sex but she still sleeps with him. OMG. It is so so gross. I am never ever ever reading a book by this author again. She just sleeps around for a place to sleep. Because he "puts a roof over her head" it's disgusting. She disgusting.
This book started with so much potential, but the MC Is so horrible. She literally ruined the entire book. Gosh she started out only sorta sad, chasing a guy, but ugh.... this book couldn't end fast enough. I almost DNF'D it.
She has ZERO self-esteem. She just goes and believes a guy who used her when he says the guy she loves has a GF. Then she just moves in with him and tsljs constantly about sucking him off and hiw she hates it and the sex but she still sleeps with him. OMG. It is so so gross. I am never ever ever reading a book by this author again. She just sleeps around for a place to sleep. Because he "puts a roof over her head" it's disgusting. She disgusting.
This book started with so much potential, but the MC Is so horrible. She literally ruined the entire book. Gosh she started out only sorta sad, chasing a guy, but ugh.... this book couldn't end fast enough. I almost DNF'D it.
October 16, 2023
This was a pretty cool atmospheric read and during the first 200 pages it was looking like a solid 4-star read, until the last 100 pages ruined the book with the way the romance was written.
It was unfurtiating the way the main character fully ignored her own feelings after being disappointed again and again by a certain someone's hurtful behaviour and even though her inner dialogue insinuated that she has learned her lesson she kept letting that shitty person back in. There were quite a few dichotomies with the main character like that, like on one hand she carried herself confidently, giving a not-gonna-take-any-shit vibes but then did nothing to stand up for herself at all. That really influenced the reading experience for the worse unfortunately.
It was unfurtiating the way the main character fully ignored her own feelings after being disappointed again and again by a certain someone's hurtful behaviour and even though her inner dialogue insinuated that she has learned her lesson she kept letting that shitty person back in. There were quite a few dichotomies with the main character like that, like on one hand she carried herself confidently, giving a not-gonna-take-any-shit vibes but then did nothing to stand up for herself at all. That really influenced the reading experience for the worse unfortunately.
October 22, 2023
I loved this book. It was almost perfect, the only thing that drove me bonkers was the 80% break up. Not only was the reason stupid and could have been solved with one text or phonecall, she also got together with a man she didn’t really like and who was clearly an asshole. I would have understand if she stayed with him platonically so she wouldn’t end up homeless, but to sleep with him? Stupid.
Normally I only give 5 stars to books I absolutely loved with nothing I didn’t like or what angered me, which were 100% perfect in my eyes. That being said I still give this book 5 stars because the rest of the book was just sooooo good. The slow burn, the banter, the kitten, the ghost, the sister, and the fun story of fixing the house.
Normally I only give 5 stars to books I absolutely loved with nothing I didn’t like or what angered me, which were 100% perfect in my eyes. That being said I still give this book 5 stars because the rest of the book was just sooooo good. The slow burn, the banter, the kitten, the ghost, the sister, and the fun story of fixing the house.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 30, 2024
I don’t understand when books can’t get simple facts correct. It’s easy enough to see what an exchange rate is and to say that the pound is worth double the dollar? And this book was published in 2022? Not even close. It was about 1.27 to 1 dollar. I know that seems minor but, that was the first problem. The second thing was she was completely unprepared with food walking into a house she knows has not been lived in for at least a month. That’s not smart. She expected that food would be there. Finally, she hears what she thinks is a burglar and she screams she’s called 911 (honest to god, the stupidity!) and swings blindly with a poker. Who swings blindly with the poker at somebody? The whole thing just bothered me immensely. So I stopped reading.
November 13, 2023
Great Chick Lit
This was a heartwarming read, and I enjoyed it a lot. However- a few things stand out to me for it.
1. It’s not very heavy on comedy. I don’t think I’d call it a rom com.
2. The FMC is supposed to be American (USA), but the phrasing she uses is not very American. It caught my attention several times.
3. The title and description indicate a more ghost-heavy book. It’s not really. They’re present, but not a centerpiece.
4. The best friend Patti and journal seem to be afterthoughts- they aren’t woven in to be seamless.
So if you can get past the incongruous bits, it is really good, but I wasn’t looking for stuff to nitpick and this stuff jumped out at me.
This was a heartwarming read, and I enjoyed it a lot. However- a few things stand out to me for it.
1. It’s not very heavy on comedy. I don’t think I’d call it a rom com.
2. The FMC is supposed to be American (USA), but the phrasing she uses is not very American. It caught my attention several times.
3. The title and description indicate a more ghost-heavy book. It’s not really. They’re present, but not a centerpiece.
4. The best friend Patti and journal seem to be afterthoughts- they aren’t woven in to be seamless.
So if you can get past the incongruous bits, it is really good, but I wasn’t looking for stuff to nitpick and this stuff jumped out at me.
September 14, 2017
**I voluntarily received an Advance Reader Copy of this book.**
Shake off the Ghosts has become one of my favorite stories. I do not know if anyone actually travels the world housesitting, but what a great job.
I love the accents of the characters; Brooklyn meets Scotland, quite the combo. The main characters are intriguing and endearing. The setting, while off-putting at first is enchanting. I would love to go to Scotland just from reading this story. The paranormal aspect the story is also very entertaining.
Overall this story needs 10 stars!
Shake off the Ghosts has become one of my favorite stories. I do not know if anyone actually travels the world housesitting, but what a great job.
I love the accents of the characters; Brooklyn meets Scotland, quite the combo. The main characters are intriguing and endearing. The setting, while off-putting at first is enchanting. I would love to go to Scotland just from reading this story. The paranormal aspect the story is also very entertaining.
Overall this story needs 10 stars!
September 19, 2017
I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
This story captivated me from the start. It captured my attention and kept it through the stages of fixing up the old house in Scotland. The book characters were interesting and real. Though there was a lot of cursing, which I don't mind but I know that some people do, it did follow along nicely with the type of character as well as the depth of the characters. There was also the great mystery of the door that would jam and open at seemingly random intervals.
All in all this book was worth the read.
This story captivated me from the start. It captured my attention and kept it through the stages of fixing up the old house in Scotland. The book characters were interesting and real. Though there was a lot of cursing, which I don't mind but I know that some people do, it did follow along nicely with the type of character as well as the depth of the characters. There was also the great mystery of the door that would jam and open at seemingly random intervals.
All in all this book was worth the read.
September 24, 2017
Don't let the title fool you. This is not really a "ghost" story. Yes, there is a ghost but this more a "getting over the past" story. Both Corinne and Bran have things in their pasts that have shaped their lives. Working to restore Cavendish House to it's glory brings them together. But someone doesn't want them to succeed. When an accident threatens to possibly end deadly, help comes from an unexpected place.
*I received an Advance Reader's Copy of this book which I am voluntarily reviewing*
*I received an Advance Reader's Copy of this book which I am voluntarily reviewing*
August 29, 2018
This is a well written book with an intriguing story line. The author brings strong characters in Corinne and Branson and takes them on an adventure. She fills the story with twists and turns , bringing humor and a bit of the paranormal as well as the evolving relationship between them. The secondary characters help to move the story quickly and smoothly. I enjoyed their story and would recommend reading.
I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book. All opinions in this review are my own and freely given.
I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book. All opinions in this review are my own and freely given.
July 20, 2022
Entertaining but…
Well done story and fun characters. Now the reason I gave it only 2 stars. Cussing was way overdone and unnecessary. It didn’t even make sense in some of the instances. They cussed more than my brother and his friends and they are in the military. I don’t mind cussing if it adds to the story. This did not. In fact it would have been a lot funnier if they used surprising words rather than horrible language. As much as I like the story. I don’t think I will read this author again.
Well done story and fun characters. Now the reason I gave it only 2 stars. Cussing was way overdone and unnecessary. It didn’t even make sense in some of the instances. They cussed more than my brother and his friends and they are in the military. I don’t mind cussing if it adds to the story. This did not. In fact it would have been a lot funnier if they used surprising words rather than horrible language. As much as I like the story. I don’t think I will read this author again.
October 15, 2022
Five stars aren't enough!
I absolutely loved this book, and the main characters in it. (Except for two--real jerkfaces we've all met in one form or another.)
The beautiful, horrible truth that (paraphrasing slightly) "if a man treats you in such a way that he makes you sick, he is NOT going be the cure to heal you" is one I'm living 35 years in. All you younger ladies that still have time to find your perfect hero please take this to heart.
This is a brilliant story that will make you laugh, make you mad, make you cry, and rejoice in the end. Not to be missed.
I absolutely loved this book, and the main characters in it. (Except for two--real jerkfaces we've all met in one form or another.)
The beautiful, horrible truth that (paraphrasing slightly) "if a man treats you in such a way that he makes you sick, he is NOT going be the cure to heal you" is one I'm living 35 years in. All you younger ladies that still have time to find your perfect hero please take this to heart.
This is a brilliant story that will make you laugh, make you mad, make you cry, and rejoice in the end. Not to be missed.
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