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Haunted Love #4
Gardening with a Ghost
Peter Thorne has a secret—he can bring the dead back to life.
When Peter’s mother died, she passed him the touch of life and made him promise to use his abilities wisely. Unable to bring her back and afraid of being caught or causing too much imbalance in the world, Peter vowed to use his gift only on plants. After all, with people, sometimes dead is better.
Or that is what Peter thinks until he takes a gardening job at Benes Manor. The mystery of a missing girl, an old gothic home, and the whispers and tempting caresses of a ghost in his room lead him to delve deeper into his powers than ever before. Perhaps he can find the missing girl and the origins of his ghostly visitor, if only he knew who to trust—and who and what to touch.
Gardening with a Ghost is part of the MM paranormal romance collaboration Haunted Love.
When Peter’s mother died, she passed him the touch of life and made him promise to use his abilities wisely. Unable to bring her back and afraid of being caught or causing too much imbalance in the world, Peter vowed to use his gift only on plants. After all, with people, sometimes dead is better.
Or that is what Peter thinks until he takes a gardening job at Benes Manor. The mystery of a missing girl, an old gothic home, and the whispers and tempting caresses of a ghost in his room lead him to delve deeper into his powers than ever before. Perhaps he can find the missing girl and the origins of his ghostly visitor, if only he knew who to trust—and who and what to touch.
Gardening with a Ghost is part of the MM paranormal romance collaboration Haunted Love.
219 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 30, 2022
65 people are currently reading
170 people want to read
About the author
Amanda Meuwissen
57 books659 followersAmanda Meuwissen is a queer author with a primary focus on M/M fiction and romance. As the author of LGBTQ+ Fantasy #1 Best Seller, Coming Up for Air, LGBTQ+ Horror #1 Best Seller and #1 New Release, A Delicious Descent, and several other titles through various publishers, Amanda regularly attends local comic conventions for fun and to meet with fans, where she will often be seen in costume as one of her favorite fictional characters. She lives in Minnesota with her husband, John, and their cat, Helga.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 70 reviews
September 30, 2022
I freaking loved this story! It had such an intriguing plot!
Peter is a gardener, only he’s much much more. He can bring life to what was dead before.
It’s a heavy load on his shoulders, so he’s focused on plants and flowers to use his gift.
He can’t stay long in one place or else someone might discover anything strange about him.
His job, for now, is at a residence with a huge dead garden, it will take a long time to finish this job, and he’ll be more exhausted than ever.
The family who lives there is mourning, their little daughter, is missing.
Peter can feel the presence of an ethereal soul, first as a soft breeze, then light touches, it from a man, he has something on his mind.
Maybe with the help of this ghost, he can solve the mystery around the missing girl.
Oh wow, what an awesome story, hugely intriguing. The mystery was so well put together, the romantic part sweet, the outcome surprising! The delicate ghostly atmosphere was magnifique!
Strong written story, I highly enjoyed!
Peter is a gardener, only he’s much much more. He can bring life to what was dead before.
It’s a heavy load on his shoulders, so he’s focused on plants and flowers to use his gift.
He can’t stay long in one place or else someone might discover anything strange about him.
His job, for now, is at a residence with a huge dead garden, it will take a long time to finish this job, and he’ll be more exhausted than ever.
The family who lives there is mourning, their little daughter, is missing.
Peter can feel the presence of an ethereal soul, first as a soft breeze, then light touches, it from a man, he has something on his mind.
Maybe with the help of this ghost, he can solve the mystery around the missing girl.
Oh wow, what an awesome story, hugely intriguing. The mystery was so well put together, the romantic part sweet, the outcome surprising! The delicate ghostly atmosphere was magnifique!
Strong written story, I highly enjoyed!
October 8, 2022
I was curious about the premise here - gardener who brings plants back to life? Super neat. I guess I should have expected that it wouldn't be a ton about gardening, tragically.
the plot
Instead there's a babbys first murder whodunit, lead by the worlds worst detective (gardener man), for no apparent reason. He's there to fix the garden, and somehow decides "yes I will follow people around (unsneakily), question them (obviously and they notice he's being weird), and decided everything and everyone is Suspicious"
go back to your garden.
the romance
this was, all in all, kind of just whatever. They had instalove vibes though early on, before Peter even found out who the ghost was or what he looked like, which was a little too far for me to buy into, even for instalove. Feel a connection, sure, but they were very dramatic about it when the ghost dude was like a breeze and emotion cloud and nothing else. Just needed a little adjustment on the timing.
the writing
I struggled a bit with the writing, until I realized I could unfocus my eyes a little and skim and then it went okay.
Specific issues I had were:
• very long run on sentences with 20 commas
• oddly stilted language - almost like it wanted to be pseudo historical but didn't make it?
• lots of inconsequential detail - I don't really need to hear the description of every room and every single meal
Overall, this was generally meh. It gets two stars because I was mildly curious enough about the plot to skim to the end instead of DNFing. This book felt like it was gaining pages as I read. Surely it was 400 pages? No?
Read more reviews on my blog:
https://horsetalkreviews.blogspot.com/
the plot
Instead there's a babbys first murder whodunit, lead by the worlds worst detective (gardener man), for no apparent reason. He's there to fix the garden, and somehow decides "yes I will follow people around (unsneakily), question them (obviously and they notice he's being weird), and decided everything and everyone is Suspicious"
go back to your garden.
the romance
this was, all in all, kind of just whatever. They had instalove vibes though early on, before Peter even found out who the ghost was or what he looked like, which was a little too far for me to buy into, even for instalove. Feel a connection, sure, but they were very dramatic about it when the ghost dude was like a breeze and emotion cloud and nothing else. Just needed a little adjustment on the timing.
the writing
I struggled a bit with the writing, until I realized I could unfocus my eyes a little and skim and then it went okay.
Specific issues I had were:
• very long run on sentences with 20 commas
• oddly stilted language - almost like it wanted to be pseudo historical but didn't make it?
• lots of inconsequential detail - I don't really need to hear the description of every room and every single meal
Overall, this was generally meh. It gets two stars because I was mildly curious enough about the plot to skim to the end instead of DNFing. This book felt like it was gaining pages as I read. Surely it was 400 pages? No?
Read more reviews on my blog:
https://horsetalkreviews.blogspot.com/
June 5, 2023
Amanda Meuwissen's Gardening with a Ghost is a fascinating paranormal romance. Such clever characters, and a very interesting mystery.
I loved the ensemble cast in the audio version. Kevin Earlywine, supported by Curtis Michael Holland, and Amanda Meuwissen work together and deliver a marvelous listening experience!
an audiobook copy of Gardening with a Ghost was provided for the purpose of my honest review, all opinions are my own
I loved the ensemble cast in the audio version. Kevin Earlywine, supported by Curtis Michael Holland, and Amanda Meuwissen work together and deliver a marvelous listening experience!
an audiobook copy of Gardening with a Ghost was provided for the purpose of my honest review, all opinions are my own
September 30, 2023
I love a good ghosty romance, and this didn't disappointment.
I loved the relationship between Peter and Arthur. Arthur especially stole my heart.
The mystery mixed in kept me guessing and I was just hooked.
This is apparently part of a series by all different authors, so I'll have to take a look at the rest.
I loved the relationship between Peter and Arthur. Arthur especially stole my heart.
The mystery mixed in kept me guessing and I was just hooked.
This is apparently part of a series by all different authors, so I'll have to take a look at the rest.
September 26, 2022
“𝑰𝒕 𝒘𝒂𝒔 𝒉𝒊𝒎 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝑨𝒓𝒕𝒉𝒖𝒓, 𝒕𝒘𝒐 𝒏𝒐𝒓𝒎𝒂𝒍 𝒚𝒐𝒖𝒏𝒈 𝒎𝒆𝒏 𝒘𝒓𝒊𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒑𝒂𝒘𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒂𝒕 𝒆𝒂𝒄𝒉 𝒐𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒓 𝒐𝒏 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒃𝒆𝒅.”
“𝑯𝒆’𝒅 𝒏𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒓 𝒌𝒏𝒐𝒘𝒏 𝒘𝒊𝒕𝒉 𝒂𝒏𝒚𝒐𝒏𝒆 𝒉𝒆’𝒅 𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒓 𝒉𝒆𝒍𝒅 𝒐𝒓 𝒌𝒊𝒔𝒔𝒆𝒅 𝒐𝒓 𝒍𝒐𝒄𝒌𝒆𝒅 𝒉𝒊𝒑𝒔 𝒘𝒊𝒕𝒉 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒓𝒖𝒕𝒕𝒆𝒅 𝒂𝒈𝒂𝒊𝒏𝒔𝒕. 𝑯𝒆’𝒅 𝒏𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒓 𝒌𝒏𝒐𝒘𝒏 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒔, 𝒏𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒓 𝒍𝒊𝒌𝒆 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒔, 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒉𝒆 𝒏𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒓 𝒘𝒂𝒏𝒕𝒆𝒅 𝒕𝒐 𝒃𝒆 𝒘𝒊𝒕𝒉𝒐𝒖𝒕 𝒊𝒕.”
Gardening With A Ghost By Amanda Meuwissen was such a thrilling whodunnit mystery. I had such fun reading this. I loved all the Indiana Jones fandom in it!! It gave me loads of nostalgic feelings, my brother and I always watched Indiana Jones as kids and this story felt like a comfort blanket of my past. I literally was on tenterhooks whilst reading Gardening With A Ghost and every time I was certain I had figured out the direction of the story. I was left questioning the suspects all over again by the subtle shifts in the storyline. I loved the progression of the characters relations with eachother and the fluidity of the book. Peter and Arthur were fire and ice, consuming eachother in the throes of passion. Their union of two souls was so delightful and steamy. I could have devoured this book over and over again. I certainly will be digging back into this beauty at a later date. I'm in love with Amanda's contribution to the Haunted Love series and totally recommend it.
“𝑯𝒆’𝒅 𝒏𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒓 𝒌𝒏𝒐𝒘𝒏 𝒘𝒊𝒕𝒉 𝒂𝒏𝒚𝒐𝒏𝒆 𝒉𝒆’𝒅 𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒓 𝒉𝒆𝒍𝒅 𝒐𝒓 𝒌𝒊𝒔𝒔𝒆𝒅 𝒐𝒓 𝒍𝒐𝒄𝒌𝒆𝒅 𝒉𝒊𝒑𝒔 𝒘𝒊𝒕𝒉 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒓𝒖𝒕𝒕𝒆𝒅 𝒂𝒈𝒂𝒊𝒏𝒔𝒕. 𝑯𝒆’𝒅 𝒏𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒓 𝒌𝒏𝒐𝒘𝒏 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒔, 𝒏𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒓 𝒍𝒊𝒌𝒆 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒔, 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒉𝒆 𝒏𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒓 𝒘𝒂𝒏𝒕𝒆𝒅 𝒕𝒐 𝒃𝒆 𝒘𝒊𝒕𝒉𝒐𝒖𝒕 𝒊𝒕.”
Gardening With A Ghost By Amanda Meuwissen was such a thrilling whodunnit mystery. I had such fun reading this. I loved all the Indiana Jones fandom in it!! It gave me loads of nostalgic feelings, my brother and I always watched Indiana Jones as kids and this story felt like a comfort blanket of my past. I literally was on tenterhooks whilst reading Gardening With A Ghost and every time I was certain I had figured out the direction of the story. I was left questioning the suspects all over again by the subtle shifts in the storyline. I loved the progression of the characters relations with eachother and the fluidity of the book. Peter and Arthur were fire and ice, consuming eachother in the throes of passion. Their union of two souls was so delightful and steamy. I could have devoured this book over and over again. I certainly will be digging back into this beauty at a later date. I'm in love with Amanda's contribution to the Haunted Love series and totally recommend it.
November 2, 2022
What an enjoyable read this was. I was very intrigued by the premise of this book and it ended up being super lovely and really captivated me. This book just had me so invested in the story just wanting to see what would happen next. This book has a super nice mystery that was well developed and fun to read about.
But most of all I just really enjoyed the romance in this one. This was such a cute romance but it was also super fun to read about and I caught myself grinning while reading this book, which is always a good thing in my book.
This was just a super fun reading experience and I enjoyed it a lot.
I received an ARC of this book and this is my honest opinion
But most of all I just really enjoyed the romance in this one. This was such a cute romance but it was also super fun to read about and I caught myself grinning while reading this book, which is always a good thing in my book.
This was just a super fun reading experience and I enjoyed it a lot.
I received an ARC of this book and this is my honest opinion
September 22, 2022
Amanda Meuwissen’s contribution to the Haunted Love, multi-author series, *Gardening with a Ghost* is a sweet tale of Peter Thorne, a gifted gardener with special life-giving powers, and Arthur Benes, the ghost of a young man who died in his family home many years ago.
This book had a little bit of everything. On the one hand, the mystery shrouding Benes Manor where the owners’ daughter’s disappearance several months prior, provided a great whodunit effect to the story. On the other is the appearance of Arthur who seems to know something about what happened to the little girl but just cannot remember what it is he saw. And finally, as they play detective, is the growing romance between Peter and Arthur but with the looming obstacle of how to sustain a relationship between the living and the dead hanging over their heads.
Peter and Arthur were instantly loveable characters as they slowly uncover the mystery behind Delia’s disappearance, as well as Arthur’s past, but also try to get to know each other. Peter’s abilities are so interesting and the way he has carved a trade in gardening so as to best use it without suspicion is genius. Arthur was also so playful and had such a vibrant personality despite being a character who is often without form or a voice. They are joined by a colourful ensemble cast made up of Peter’s employers, their son and the rest of the folks who work at the manor. Both the garden that Peter tends as well as the manor were also practically characters themselves adding a great old-house-spooky effect to the story. Tonally, I loved how the novel played with these small moments of suspense that are characteristic of ghost stories (although in a great twist, rarely coming from the ghost in question), but also contained some beautiful poignant scenes that centred around a grieving family trying to figure out how to move on after a loss. I deeply enjoyed how the story moved seamlessly between these elements and wrapped up the strands in a very satisfying HEA. 5 big ghosty stars!
The book releases on 9/30 and is part of a larger series that will be releasing books through October.
CW’s: Some discussions of suicide; grief after a loss; brief instances of captivity attempted violence as part of the crime plot.
This book had a little bit of everything. On the one hand, the mystery shrouding Benes Manor where the owners’ daughter’s disappearance several months prior, provided a great whodunit effect to the story. On the other is the appearance of Arthur who seems to know something about what happened to the little girl but just cannot remember what it is he saw. And finally, as they play detective, is the growing romance between Peter and Arthur but with the looming obstacle of how to sustain a relationship between the living and the dead hanging over their heads.
Peter and Arthur were instantly loveable characters as they slowly uncover the mystery behind Delia’s disappearance, as well as Arthur’s past, but also try to get to know each other. Peter’s abilities are so interesting and the way he has carved a trade in gardening so as to best use it without suspicion is genius. Arthur was also so playful and had such a vibrant personality despite being a character who is often without form or a voice. They are joined by a colourful ensemble cast made up of Peter’s employers, their son and the rest of the folks who work at the manor. Both the garden that Peter tends as well as the manor were also practically characters themselves adding a great old-house-spooky effect to the story. Tonally, I loved how the novel played with these small moments of suspense that are characteristic of ghost stories (although in a great twist, rarely coming from the ghost in question), but also contained some beautiful poignant scenes that centred around a grieving family trying to figure out how to move on after a loss. I deeply enjoyed how the story moved seamlessly between these elements and wrapped up the strands in a very satisfying HEA. 5 big ghosty stars!
The book releases on 9/30 and is part of a larger series that will be releasing books through October.
CW’s: Some discussions of suicide; grief after a loss; brief instances of captivity attempted violence as part of the crime plot.
September 20, 2022
“You make me feel whole.” Arthur sighed, head nuzzling into the hold of Peter’s palm. He sat up abruptly. “That’s not why I—”
“I know,” Peter assured him. “I don’t think I couldn’t… not know.” He scowled at the multiple negatives. “I can feel you, Arthur, what you feel. You make me whole too because I’ve never been allowed to be with another person, not in any real way. A part of me always had to hold back, but with you… I can be me.”
I don’t know how to explain it but some books from this author feel more poetic than others. And this book falls into that category. With a beginning super descriptive, it makes you feel like you know every corner of that mansion. I really liked how the mysteries were solved. The way all the clues were displayed and how the current mystery entwined with the past.
From the moment he appeared I adored Arthur’s personality. The happiest ghost that I’ve ever read about. He and Peter were just adorable. Though, at the beginning everything was more focused on Peter trying to find out what happened, I like how their relationship grew. Didn’t feel forced at all, which sometimes could happen with this type of “you’re the only one I can be with because of my powers” stories.
A ghost fan of Indiana Jones. A gardener trying to solve a crime. In one sentence: Clue mixed with paranormal phenomenons.
*Disclaimer: I received an ARC of this book in exchange for a free and honest review*
September 30, 2022
Gardening with a Ghost is part of the multi authored series, Haunted Love. I adored Arthur!! Arthur is a ghost that died about 40 years ago. Peter has a gift; he can rejuvenate and regrow flowers and plants. He comes to rejuvenate a garden for a family whose daughter has been missing for months. Arthur makes himself known to Peter and together they work to find the daughter and the mystery of how Arthur died. This was seriously sweet and steamy with a fantastic mystery and HEA! Overall, a fantastic read. Well written with catchy pacing that sucked me right in!
dnf
August 25, 2023Trying to whittle down my currently reading list. I haven’t picked this book up since April. I think I wasn’t feeling the romance in this one like I did in previous books in the series. There was just too much happening and then the thing with the cat happened and I was out. Might’ve been a good ending but I wasn’t vibing with it.
dnf
June 6, 2023DNF @ 50%
Im just not feeling this. Its not bad but I dont have a lot of interest in whats happening.
Im just not feeling this. Its not bad but I dont have a lot of interest in whats happening.
October 3, 2022
3.5⭐️
I don't know why he didn't doubt the caretaker .... Odd
Enjoyable 💃
I don't know why he didn't doubt the caretaker .... Odd
Enjoyable 💃
June 6, 2023
M/M
Paranormal
Ghost/magical gardener
Interracial
80s reference
Murder mystery
Tw: references to off page suicide and missing persons including a child and on page violence
This is a standalone. The other books in this series are by different authors and aren't connected. I have previously read Sexting with a ghost by Ashlynn Mills and highly recommend it as well as this one. Both books share the similar themes of ghosts playing a dual role of being a love interest as well as helping to solve a murder mystery. The latter being the main focus.
Paranormal
Ghost/magical gardener
Interracial
80s reference
Murder mystery
Tw: references to off page suicide and missing persons including a child and on page violence
This is a standalone. The other books in this series are by different authors and aren't connected. I have previously read Sexting with a ghost by Ashlynn Mills and highly recommend it as well as this one. Both books share the similar themes of ghosts playing a dual role of being a love interest as well as helping to solve a murder mystery. The latter being the main focus.
November 1, 2022
Simply Amazing ❤
Absolutely amazing another fantastic read in the haunted love series which I'm loving so much and in this one we have Peter & Arthur who are made for each other they are so perfect together it's something special. ❤
Absolutely amazing another fantastic read in the haunted love series which I'm loving so much and in this one we have Peter & Arthur who are made for each other they are so perfect together it's something special. ❤
November 8, 2022
Satisfying
I’m not sure why the word satisfying comes to mind with this read. The characters were lovely and the storyline was definitely different than most ghost reads. Very enjoyable read.
I’m not sure why the word satisfying comes to mind with this read. The characters were lovely and the storyline was definitely different than most ghost reads. Very enjoyable read.
October 20, 2022
LOVE LOVE LOVE- I normally read dark books but sometimes need a break from that and this book delivers in spades. A sweet intriguing story that you will enjoy reading! I don't give spoilers beyond the blurb so if the blurb draws you in, go on and read it!
October 5, 2022
If you like tragic events that have happy outcomes, enjoy good writing and love romance, you'll adore this ghostly romp in the gardens. I loved it!
September 25, 2022
Thank you for the ARC read, I voluntarily give this book an honest review. A truly amazing story that grabs and pulls you in, Casper has nothing on Arthur! With a miracle gift past on, his new landing was the Connelly's, a family home steeped in sadness and a mystery that was just to tempting to turn away..not to mention, I think it's super sweet that Peter stammered and blushes over a spirits show of attention. Peter uses his touch on things that won't turn against him if found out, just that can be such a lonesome job bouncing from place to place can take a tol on a body add the fact that touch was a real drain pun totally implied
October 28, 2022
I’ve read most of the books in this series, and this one is my favorite. Such a sweet and interesting story. Mystery, fantasy, and romance all in one. Great read.
September 5, 2022
Gardening with a Ghost is a paranormal romance and follows the story of Peter, who has some magical power and can see ghosts as well as Arthur, a ghost. Overall the book was well written and I liked the story. The book has all the elements of a great read and I also liked Rover the cat. A good read that comes recommended.
June 27, 2025
Un grand merci à l’auteure pour cet ARC et pour sa confiance.
Parfait pour débuter la Spooky Season!🎃👻🍂
Je suis un.e grand.e fan des romances spectrales! Si tant est qu’il s’agisse d’une HEA, bien sûr.
C’est une histoire de fantômes inquiétante et mystérieuse. Une romance adorable avec son lots de moments déchirants et tendres.
Peter a un talent hors du commun, celui de voir les fantômes et de ramener à la vie ce qui est mort. Cependant, il choisi d’utiliser son don avec parcimonie en devenant jardinier et en ne l’employant que pour guérir les plantes.🌿
C’est ainsi qu’il est amené à entretenir le domaine d’un manoir familial dont la fillette des propriétaires à disparu.
De nature altruiste et curieuse, Peter se laisse malgré lui happé par cette affaire classée sans suite par les autorités, mais également par le mystère entourant la mort d’Arthur survenue dans ce même manoir… plusieurs décennies auparavant.
J’adore la relation facile qu’il y a entre eux, je suis un.e grand.e fan de la communication non verbale. C’est très intuitif et fusionnel, les émotions et parfois les corps qui passent au travers l’un de l’autre. Et d’autres fois non…😇😉
J’aime aussi beaucoup que le décalage d’époques entre eux les rapproche plus qu’il ne les éloigne. Que cela donne lieu à des plaisanteries sur les magazines pour hommes d’il y a 40 ans, ou des discussions enflammées sur le meilleur Indiana Jones!😆
On en apprend davantage sur les personnages secondaires à mesure que Peter mène l’enquête, et on voit la manière dont chacun aborde et gère le deuil. C’est parfois fort en émotion, et si vous avez des triggers concernant le deuil ou la perte d’un enfant, procédez avec précaution.
P.S.: Chacun des livres de cette série est une standalone MM avec un fantôme. Et ils sont tous d’auteur.e.s différent.e.s, vous pouvez donc les lire indépendamment.👻
Parfait pour débuter la Spooky Season!🎃👻🍂
Je suis un.e grand.e fan des romances spectrales! Si tant est qu’il s’agisse d’une HEA, bien sûr.
C’est une histoire de fantômes inquiétante et mystérieuse. Une romance adorable avec son lots de moments déchirants et tendres.
Peter a un talent hors du commun, celui de voir les fantômes et de ramener à la vie ce qui est mort. Cependant, il choisi d’utiliser son don avec parcimonie en devenant jardinier et en ne l’employant que pour guérir les plantes.🌿
C’est ainsi qu’il est amené à entretenir le domaine d’un manoir familial dont la fillette des propriétaires à disparu.
De nature altruiste et curieuse, Peter se laisse malgré lui happé par cette affaire classée sans suite par les autorités, mais également par le mystère entourant la mort d’Arthur survenue dans ce même manoir… plusieurs décennies auparavant.
J’adore la relation facile qu’il y a entre eux, je suis un.e grand.e fan de la communication non verbale. C’est très intuitif et fusionnel, les émotions et parfois les corps qui passent au travers l’un de l’autre. Et d’autres fois non…😇😉
J’aime aussi beaucoup que le décalage d’époques entre eux les rapproche plus qu’il ne les éloigne. Que cela donne lieu à des plaisanteries sur les magazines pour hommes d’il y a 40 ans, ou des discussions enflammées sur le meilleur Indiana Jones!😆
On en apprend davantage sur les personnages secondaires à mesure que Peter mène l’enquête, et on voit la manière dont chacun aborde et gère le deuil. C’est parfois fort en émotion, et si vous avez des triggers concernant le deuil ou la perte d’un enfant, procédez avec précaution.
P.S.: Chacun des livres de cette série est une standalone MM avec un fantôme. Et ils sont tous d’auteur.e.s différent.e.s, vous pouvez donc les lire indépendamment.👻
June 6, 2023
This is a paranormal mysterious romance with a very sweet gardener a very charming ghost!
Peter is a gardener with a special touch. He can bring the most desolate garden back to life, and not just with fertilizer. Though Peter’s gift has made him great with plants, it’s held him back from getting close to people.
When Peter is hired for a beautiful manor with a dying garden, he also discovers there’s a mystery there. A little girl has been missing for months, leaving her family at a loss of what happened to her.
There’s also a spirit that Peter keeps feeling in his room, and as time progresses, he gets to know this spirit better. As the spirit grows in strength, their relationship progresses.
Now Peter has two mysteries on his hands: what happened to the little girl, and what happened to this charming ghost.
This is an emotional read, but there’s also laughter, steam, and very sweet moments. I loved the spooky storyline and the mysterious events throughout.
Peter is a gardener with a special touch. He can bring the most desolate garden back to life, and not just with fertilizer. Though Peter’s gift has made him great with plants, it’s held him back from getting close to people.
When Peter is hired for a beautiful manor with a dying garden, he also discovers there’s a mystery there. A little girl has been missing for months, leaving her family at a loss of what happened to her.
There’s also a spirit that Peter keeps feeling in his room, and as time progresses, he gets to know this spirit better. As the spirit grows in strength, their relationship progresses.
Now Peter has two mysteries on his hands: what happened to the little girl, and what happened to this charming ghost.
This is an emotional read, but there’s also laughter, steam, and very sweet moments. I loved the spooky storyline and the mysterious events throughout.
October 1, 2022
Gardening with a Ghost is a supernatural/paranormal mystery about Peter who has the ability to give life to the dying or the dead. It’s also a beautiful ghost story about romance and the wholeness that comes from finding your love.
Peter is caught in the middle of a family’s grief for their missing daughter, and tries to solve the case even at the detriment of his own being. It leads him to work with Arther, the ghost in his room, and eventually they figure out how to help the family get some closure.
The first thing I want to note is how much I love Peter’s powers and how unique they are. I really like the balance of the powers of how it would drain him to give life. That he didn’t just have an endless supply of life he could give without being affected by it whatsoever. Though I would’ve loved to know how far he could’ve expanded upon his powers with regular practice and use. If eventually it wouldn’t drain him so much to say bring back a dead bird.
I also really loved the environment. The house, the gardens, the history of the family and the grounds themselves.
The characters were fantastic as usual with Arther and Rover, the cat, being my personal favorites for this book. Amanda has such a knack for breathing in personality to each character that I’m always looking forward to seeing it in every book she writes.
****Spoilers****
The pacing was full of suspense as Peter tried to figure out who or what happened to the missing girl, but because I had a very strong inkling who the antagonist was from the moment where Hugh caught Peter following him, I kept wanting to warn Peter to stop making himself such an easy target. But of course the story has its own to path to follow or it wouldn’t have kept me so invested and on the edge of my seat as the plot thickened.
I second guessed my choice until Hugh began to show up where Peter was and the way he reacted to Peter changing things around the house.
I must admit, I really didn’t like him at all, especially when his selfish motives were revealed. I found it very tragic that he caused so many deaths and for what? Personally, I feel Hugh’s motives were kinda stupid, and it made him seem a little one dimensional even as a sociopath. It did, however, make me like and appreciate all the other characters so much more via comparison.
Also, not sure if I missed it, but I thought it was implied that Peter’s mom’s death wasn’t only of natural causes; that there was more to it, but then it was never really touched upon again, so I’m not sure. I kept waiting for it to come up.
Going back to strong positives. I Loved - LOVED - Arther’s antics as a ghost and his teamwork with Peter to figure everything out. I kept waiting for them to use his ghostly abilities more often to help them clue in to what was really going on. Regardless, I was very satisfied with how it all turned out with the plot line.
While I was happy Arther got to be his own person, I was a little sad he lost his home and that he wouldn’t really be connected to his family. I low-key expected him to pass himself off as the long lost “son” or “grandson” of his actual identity since they couldn’t know that he was in fact Arther. I would’ve liked for them to have found a home at the manor and to have been welcomed into the family. That way Arther would’ve had a chance at interacting with his aunt and other family members. It also would’ve been good for Peter in the sense that he wouldn’t have to keep moving around and would have a home with people who loved him and a garden that would’ve keep him plenty busy.
I was upset that they left in the end because it felt a little bittersweet and tragic to me even though I am aware that that isn’t what the story is going for. It’s the only other thing I was kind of really sad about (other than Arther’s parents being the permanent deaths in the story).
With that being said, I would highly recommend this for anyone who wants a suspenseful who-dun-it story with a fun paranormal romance at its heart.
Peter is caught in the middle of a family’s grief for their missing daughter, and tries to solve the case even at the detriment of his own being. It leads him to work with Arther, the ghost in his room, and eventually they figure out how to help the family get some closure.
The first thing I want to note is how much I love Peter’s powers and how unique they are. I really like the balance of the powers of how it would drain him to give life. That he didn’t just have an endless supply of life he could give without being affected by it whatsoever. Though I would’ve loved to know how far he could’ve expanded upon his powers with regular practice and use. If eventually it wouldn’t drain him so much to say bring back a dead bird.
I also really loved the environment. The house, the gardens, the history of the family and the grounds themselves.
The characters were fantastic as usual with Arther and Rover, the cat, being my personal favorites for this book. Amanda has such a knack for breathing in personality to each character that I’m always looking forward to seeing it in every book she writes.
****Spoilers****
The pacing was full of suspense as Peter tried to figure out who or what happened to the missing girl, but because I had a very strong inkling who the antagonist was from the moment where Hugh caught Peter following him, I kept wanting to warn Peter to stop making himself such an easy target. But of course the story has its own to path to follow or it wouldn’t have kept me so invested and on the edge of my seat as the plot thickened.
I second guessed my choice until Hugh began to show up where Peter was and the way he reacted to Peter changing things around the house.
I must admit, I really didn’t like him at all, especially when his selfish motives were revealed. I found it very tragic that he caused so many deaths and for what? Personally, I feel Hugh’s motives were kinda stupid, and it made him seem a little one dimensional even as a sociopath. It did, however, make me like and appreciate all the other characters so much more via comparison.
Also, not sure if I missed it, but I thought it was implied that Peter’s mom’s death wasn’t only of natural causes; that there was more to it, but then it was never really touched upon again, so I’m not sure. I kept waiting for it to come up.
Going back to strong positives. I Loved - LOVED - Arther’s antics as a ghost and his teamwork with Peter to figure everything out. I kept waiting for them to use his ghostly abilities more often to help them clue in to what was really going on. Regardless, I was very satisfied with how it all turned out with the plot line.
While I was happy Arther got to be his own person, I was a little sad he lost his home and that he wouldn’t really be connected to his family. I low-key expected him to pass himself off as the long lost “son” or “grandson” of his actual identity since they couldn’t know that he was in fact Arther. I would’ve liked for them to have found a home at the manor and to have been welcomed into the family. That way Arther would’ve had a chance at interacting with his aunt and other family members. It also would’ve been good for Peter in the sense that he wouldn’t have to keep moving around and would have a home with people who loved him and a garden that would’ve keep him plenty busy.
I was upset that they left in the end because it felt a little bittersweet and tragic to me even though I am aware that that isn’t what the story is going for. It’s the only other thing I was kind of really sad about (other than Arther’s parents being the permanent deaths in the story).
With that being said, I would highly recommend this for anyone who wants a suspenseful who-dun-it story with a fun paranormal romance at its heart.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 27, 2023
Fabulous Story & Listen🎧 Delightful & Intriguing!
Gardening with a Ghost
Haunted Love
By: Amanda Meuwissen
Narrated by: Kevin Earlywine, Curtis Michael Holland, Amanda Meuwissen
Wow, what an original and imaginative spin on a ghost story, and I loved everything about it, from Amanda Meuwissen’s wonderful writing story to the fascinating characters and storylines she created to the perfectly cast narrators who bring it all to life from the pages to your ears. Peter Thorne has a supernatural ability, an ability to bring the dead back to life with a touch of his hands. He is careful not to reveal this gift or touch anyone. His gift extends to plant life too, so he is great at bringing gardens back to life and made a career out of it. His next gardening job brings him to the Benes Manor, which has been empty for almost 40 years. He lives with the family while restoring the neglected garden, a family grieving for their young daughter, Delia, who disappeared and is presumed dead. Peter senses a spirit in the house and he thought it was Delia’s spirit, but it wasn’t her, it was Arthur Benes, who died forty years earlier. Peter thinks Arthur may know what happened to Delia, and talks to him, but he does not know or remember much, but Peter will try to help him remember. This story drew me like no other and once I started, I could not put it down because I needed to know what happened next. The story is a cleverly plotted paranormal whodunit mm romance, and I loved how it all played out. What started out with Peter trying to find out what happened to Delia expands to Arthur too, and how he died. There is never a dull moment in this book, it is has plenty of drama, a touch of angst, mystery, heartfelt emotions and steamy romance. Amanda Meuwissen, thank you for this fabulous story.
🎧📚🎧 And for the amazing narration, Kevin Earlywine, Curtis Michael Holland and Amanda Meuwissen are entertaining storytellers and versatile voice artists. The production of the audiobook was well done, with Earlywine covering the narrative and Peter’s narrative, Holland covers the other male role’s narrative and Meuwissen covers the female roles. A seamless production that enhances the already amazing story to another level. They set the perfect tone for the story, capture all the characters’s emotions and project them into their performance. This talented multi-cast production was a pleasure to listen to. Thank you for this fabulous listen.
Gardening with a Ghost
Haunted Love
By: Amanda Meuwissen
Narrated by: Kevin Earlywine, Curtis Michael Holland, Amanda Meuwissen
Wow, what an original and imaginative spin on a ghost story, and I loved everything about it, from Amanda Meuwissen’s wonderful writing story to the fascinating characters and storylines she created to the perfectly cast narrators who bring it all to life from the pages to your ears. Peter Thorne has a supernatural ability, an ability to bring the dead back to life with a touch of his hands. He is careful not to reveal this gift or touch anyone. His gift extends to plant life too, so he is great at bringing gardens back to life and made a career out of it. His next gardening job brings him to the Benes Manor, which has been empty for almost 40 years. He lives with the family while restoring the neglected garden, a family grieving for their young daughter, Delia, who disappeared and is presumed dead. Peter senses a spirit in the house and he thought it was Delia’s spirit, but it wasn’t her, it was Arthur Benes, who died forty years earlier. Peter thinks Arthur may know what happened to Delia, and talks to him, but he does not know or remember much, but Peter will try to help him remember. This story drew me like no other and once I started, I could not put it down because I needed to know what happened next. The story is a cleverly plotted paranormal whodunit mm romance, and I loved how it all played out. What started out with Peter trying to find out what happened to Delia expands to Arthur too, and how he died. There is never a dull moment in this book, it is has plenty of drama, a touch of angst, mystery, heartfelt emotions and steamy romance. Amanda Meuwissen, thank you for this fabulous story.
🎧📚🎧 And for the amazing narration, Kevin Earlywine, Curtis Michael Holland and Amanda Meuwissen are entertaining storytellers and versatile voice artists. The production of the audiobook was well done, with Earlywine covering the narrative and Peter’s narrative, Holland covers the other male role’s narrative and Meuwissen covers the female roles. A seamless production that enhances the already amazing story to another level. They set the perfect tone for the story, capture all the characters’s emotions and project them into their performance. This talented multi-cast production was a pleasure to listen to. Thank you for this fabulous listen.
June 3, 2023
Peter and Arthur's story was an enjoyable romance and fascinating mystery to unravel. From his healing hands to his amateur detective work at the Manor, Peter certainly ended up being essential for bringing the Benes family peace and closure. Peter's interactions with the living residents of Benes Manor were varied as he got to know everyone and started putting clues together, but it was his unexpected encounter with the ghost Arthur that shaped his time at the residence. Both budding attraction and a desire to solve the mystery of Delia's disappearance brought the two of them together, and they brought me right along for the ride. The pacing of Peter and Arthur's romance balanced nicely with the steps they took towards finding the truth about Delia, and I never once felt like I had a solid lead on who might have been involved until Peter or Arthur coaxed out a new reveal. Each individual at Benes Manor had fully fleshed out, complex motivations for their actions and kept me guessing all the way to the climax of the story. In parallel, Arthur and Peter's relationship started getting more serious, and though I knew the chances of them being able to stay together were slim, I still hoped that Peter's magic hands might be able to make the difference. This story went to some really unexpected places in the race towards the ending, and I was completely invested in seeing Peter and Arthur pull through together. Delia's disappearance ended up being just the tip of the iceberg to a much deeper truth, and though it was shocking, it was also very satisfying to lay to rest any and all questions I had about past and present. The audio for the story was in a format I've never listened to before--where a different person voiced narration, male characters, and female characters, and I liked the clarity it brought to the book as a whole. Each of the narrators did a great job bringing their piece of the story to life, and all together it made for a great listening experience!
**I voluntarily listened to a free copy of this book. This review expresses my honest thoughts and opinions.
**I voluntarily listened to a free copy of this book. This review expresses my honest thoughts and opinions.
May 28, 2023
Audiobook Review:
Overall – 5
Performance – 4
Story – 5
Intriguing story, duet style performance.
I thoroughly enjoyed this story. I’ve listened to other audiobooks performed by Kevin Earlywine and really enjoyed and he did great job on this one. Curtis Michael Holland is new to me and I thought he did a great job. The story held my attention and had more than a few surprises.
The sample is great for both of the male narrators but doesn’t have any of the female voice. I’ve listened to another audiobook that Amanda Meuwissen wrote and performed (Octopi My Heart) and I thought it was fine. The only complaint I have with her portion of Gardening with a Ghost is that it didn’t match the others. It’s hard to explain but it’s like she was narrating from very far away and the sound had a tinny quality to it. The voices she did were fine but the quality of her portion of the recording could have been better.
I would definitely listen to more books performed by the two male voice actors and I wouldn’t mind more from Amanda either – but only if it was a solo performance or if the quality of the sound could better match the other voice actors.
A complimentary copy of this audiobook was provided to me at my request; my review was voluntary and not influenced by the author and/or narrator.
Overall – 5
Performance – 4
Story – 5
Intriguing story, duet style performance.
I thoroughly enjoyed this story. I’ve listened to other audiobooks performed by Kevin Earlywine and really enjoyed and he did great job on this one. Curtis Michael Holland is new to me and I thought he did a great job. The story held my attention and had more than a few surprises.
The sample is great for both of the male narrators but doesn’t have any of the female voice. I’ve listened to another audiobook that Amanda Meuwissen wrote and performed (Octopi My Heart) and I thought it was fine. The only complaint I have with her portion of Gardening with a Ghost is that it didn’t match the others. It’s hard to explain but it’s like she was narrating from very far away and the sound had a tinny quality to it. The voices she did were fine but the quality of her portion of the recording could have been better.
I would definitely listen to more books performed by the two male voice actors and I wouldn’t mind more from Amanda either – but only if it was a solo performance or if the quality of the sound could better match the other voice actors.
A complimentary copy of this audiobook was provided to me at my request; my review was voluntary and not influenced by the author and/or narrator.
January 14, 2023
Loving This Collaboration
I have now read nearly all the books in this collaboration and they have been so enjoyable, satisfying my love of ghost stories.
This story was about Peter and Arthur. Peter was a gardener and a very special one. Before his mother died she passed on her gift and now every time he touches a plant, even a practically dead one, it becomes healthy again. This gift is not always a blessing as Peter is drained whenever he uses it and has to cover up his skin and wear gloves all the time so as not to alert anyone to his powers. He can pass off the occasional contact as static but before people can become suspicious he moves on. Word of mouth means he is always in demand and works on a lot of huge estates.
Whilst working at Benes Manor Peter finds himself in the middle of a grieving household and then discovers he is sharing his bedroom with the previous owner Arthur Benes. Peter and Arthur become close before Peter sees how gorgeous Arthur is and as Arthur feeds off Peter’s special energy he becomes stronger.
The book was beautifully written and running alongside their blossoming romance was an intriguing plot line which kept me guessing to the end and had one or two lovely twists.
I have now read nearly all the books in this collaboration and they have been so enjoyable, satisfying my love of ghost stories.
This story was about Peter and Arthur. Peter was a gardener and a very special one. Before his mother died she passed on her gift and now every time he touches a plant, even a practically dead one, it becomes healthy again. This gift is not always a blessing as Peter is drained whenever he uses it and has to cover up his skin and wear gloves all the time so as not to alert anyone to his powers. He can pass off the occasional contact as static but before people can become suspicious he moves on. Word of mouth means he is always in demand and works on a lot of huge estates.
Whilst working at Benes Manor Peter finds himself in the middle of a grieving household and then discovers he is sharing his bedroom with the previous owner Arthur Benes. Peter and Arthur become close before Peter sees how gorgeous Arthur is and as Arthur feeds off Peter’s special energy he becomes stronger.
The book was beautifully written and running alongside their blossoming romance was an intriguing plot line which kept me guessing to the end and had one or two lovely twists.
June 6, 2023
Lovely story (an audio review)
I have to admit I wasn’t certain what to expect from this audiobook. I’ve listened to Amanda Meuwissen audios before and I enjoy Kevin Earlywine’s performances, so I had high hopes for this book. Curtis Michael Holland is a new narrator to me, but I was happy to snag this one when it came up.
I’m so glad I did.
I don’t listen to a lot of radio-play style audios, so that intrigued me. Now, as an author who has audiobooks, I put myself in Amanda’s shoes and wondered about how much fun she must’ve had working with these two talented performers. Kevin did the yeoman’s work – narrating and doing the voice of the MC. Amanda performed all the women’s voices while Curtis did the men’s. I admit to being skeptical…but it worked.
Now, I found the pace a little slow at the beginning, but I’m so glad I held on and stuck it out because the story pulled me in and made me smile. A disappeared child, previous owners mysteriously dying, a gothic estate…and a ghost. What wasn’t to love?
I loved Peter and totally believed in his abilities. He was just the perfect protagonist and his epic ghost love story warmed me. Oh, and as a romance, I got my happy ending! Definitely worth a listen.
I have to admit I wasn’t certain what to expect from this audiobook. I’ve listened to Amanda Meuwissen audios before and I enjoy Kevin Earlywine’s performances, so I had high hopes for this book. Curtis Michael Holland is a new narrator to me, but I was happy to snag this one when it came up.
I’m so glad I did.
I don’t listen to a lot of radio-play style audios, so that intrigued me. Now, as an author who has audiobooks, I put myself in Amanda’s shoes and wondered about how much fun she must’ve had working with these two talented performers. Kevin did the yeoman’s work – narrating and doing the voice of the MC. Amanda performed all the women’s voices while Curtis did the men’s. I admit to being skeptical…but it worked.
Now, I found the pace a little slow at the beginning, but I’m so glad I held on and stuck it out because the story pulled me in and made me smile. A disappeared child, previous owners mysteriously dying, a gothic estate…and a ghost. What wasn’t to love?
I loved Peter and totally believed in his abilities. He was just the perfect protagonist and his epic ghost love story warmed me. Oh, and as a romance, I got my happy ending! Definitely worth a listen.
October 1, 2022
Hmmm Peter's has an unusual power here and I don't know if it's those that caused me pause.
Or perhaps because I love nature; seeing things grow and Bees, here it made for a cute cutout scene then remained largely off page. I was enchanted by The Secret Garden as a child and picked this up hoping for that magic. Yet the maze was left unexplored.
Mainly this is a whodunit in a stately home. A muted hint of emotion and fairly stock characters on the peripheral. I can see many readers loving it, I've shelves of these myself, can't pin why this one missed the mark for me.
Couldn't help feeling the missing person being a child, should break the cosy mold and inspire stronger reactions.
The culprit was obvious early on. But while many an amateur detective have only a tenuous connection to motivate, I never understood Peter's meddling on recent grief. It felt clumsy and often misplaced. Pre-showdown his experiences and powers aren't such that would help.
The ghost plot, it had moments, but again..
Likely I'm just a jaded curmudgeon and everyone else will love this. From the ingredients I should have, yet never quite engaged.
Or perhaps because I love nature; seeing things grow and Bees, here it made for a cute cutout scene then remained largely off page. I was enchanted by The Secret Garden as a child and picked this up hoping for that magic. Yet the maze was left unexplored.
Mainly this is a whodunit in a stately home. A muted hint of emotion and fairly stock characters on the peripheral. I can see many readers loving it, I've shelves of these myself, can't pin why this one missed the mark for me.
Couldn't help feeling the missing person being a child, should break the cosy mold and inspire stronger reactions.
The culprit was obvious early on. But while many an amateur detective have only a tenuous connection to motivate, I never understood Peter's meddling on recent grief. It felt clumsy and often misplaced. Pre-showdown his experiences and powers aren't such that would help.
The ghost plot, it had moments, but again..
Likely I'm just a jaded curmudgeon and everyone else will love this. From the ingredients I should have, yet never quite engaged.
June 6, 2023
I went into this one pretty confident I would enjoy it because I had read another story from this author between a "ghost" and a human, so I didn't doubt the romance would be my jam. And it was! The romance was so cute, and the sexy times were really done as well. Arthur and Peter are swoon worthy.
The mystery aspect of the story was also well done, but I'm not sure I really get the character's motivation on that one. I mean, yes, he wants to find that little girl but he seems much more invested in it than pretty much everyone else, which doesn't really make sense to me, but ok. The villain of the story was a surprise, so that's always fun in a mystery, and Their motivation was wild to me. People are weird.
And the narration was top notch. Several narrators can be a bit hit and miss, but honestly this one was just super well done. Transitions between the voices was flawless and having different voices made the listening experience pretty immersive. I highly recommend listening to the story if audiobooks are your thing because it's worth the added money.
I received a copy of this book from Gay Romance Reviews. It didn't influence my review in any way.
The mystery aspect of the story was also well done, but I'm not sure I really get the character's motivation on that one. I mean, yes, he wants to find that little girl but he seems much more invested in it than pretty much everyone else, which doesn't really make sense to me, but ok. The villain of the story was a surprise, so that's always fun in a mystery, and Their motivation was wild to me. People are weird.
And the narration was top notch. Several narrators can be a bit hit and miss, but honestly this one was just super well done. Transitions between the voices was flawless and having different voices made the listening experience pretty immersive. I highly recommend listening to the story if audiobooks are your thing because it's worth the added money.
I received a copy of this book from Gay Romance Reviews. It didn't influence my review in any way.
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