Renee Tate needs to spread her grandmother’s ashes around a special tree in the small town of Garland Falls, MN. Her grandmother’s ghost decided to tag along and do some matchmaking. There, Renee meets a tall, quiet man with a gift for gardening. What would he think if he knew she could see and talk to ghosts? Parker Callahan is the groundskeeper at Warner’s Bed and Breakfast. When Renee arrives, he’s asked to help her find the special oak tree she needs to spread her grandmother’s ashes. What would she say if she knew he’s one of the mythical Green Men and a spirit conduit between this world and the other side? As Halloween approaches, and a dark presence is detected by Parker and the town elders. He’ll need Renee’s help to cross over the ghosts before they’re taken by the looming shadow.
First of all , I'd like to thank the author,Annette Miller, for sharing her novel with me to read and review. It is always exciting to read books especially when they been sent personally to me . And let's start .
I called it . "Whispers Among the Oak Leaves”
By my lifestyle 💙🦋
In the quietude of autumn, when leaves pirouette to the ground, I found myself drawn to the sleepy town of Garland Falls. It was there, beneath the ancient oak tree, that my grandmother’s final wish unfurled—a delicate whisper carried by the wind.
Renee Tate, that’s me—a seeker of stories and keeper of secrets. My grandmother’s ghost, ethereal and mischievous, accompanied me on this peculiar pilgrimage. She had always been a woman of mystery, and in death, she retained her enigmatic charm.
The oak tree stood sentinel, its gnarled branches reaching toward the heavens. “Spread my ashes here,” she urged, her spectral hand guiding mine. “This place holds magic, child.”
And magic it was. For as I knelt, scattering her remains, I glimpsed him—a man tending the garden nearby. Parker Callahan, with eyes like mossy pools and hands that cradled life. His silence spoke volumes, and I wondered what secrets lay hidden behind those earth-stained fingers.
Parker, too, bore a burden. He was no ordinary gardener. No, he belonged to the lineage of the Green Men—an ancient order bridging realms. His touch coaxed life from soil, and his gaze held the weight of forgotten memories.
Our paths converged, fate weaving us together like ivy on the oak. We shared laughter over fallen acorns, whispered secrets to the rustling leaves. Beneath the harvest moon, Parker confessed his truth: “I see ghosts, Renee. They linger, restless.”
And so, our days unfolded—a spirited romance, unbidden yet inevitable. We tended the garden side by side, our hands brushing against eternity. The town buzzed with anticipation—the approach of Halloween, the veil thinning between worlds. Shadows danced, and Parker sensed a darkness encroaching.
Together, we guided lost souls toward the light. Beneath moonlit boughs, we unraveled mysteries—the forgotten love letters, the echoes of laughter, the unfinished symphonies. Parker’s touch healed fractured spirits, and my words eased their passage.
Yet, our love remained unspoken. Perhaps it was the oak’s ancient wisdom that whispered restraint. Or perhaps fate reveled in our longing, knowing that love transcends time and form.
So, here we stand—Renee and Parker—two souls entwined, bound by duty and desire. Our romance, like fallen leaves, swirls in the autumn breeze. We tread the delicate line between friendship and forever, knowing that some stories are written in stardust and ink.
And as the oak tree rustles its approval, I wonder: Can love bloom among ghosts and Green Men? Perhaps the answer lies in the quiet moments—the shared glances, the laughter, the way his hand brushes mine when no one is watching.
For now, we remain friends, our hearts echoing beneath the moon’s knowing gaze. But who’s to say what the next season holds? Perhaps love, like leaves, will change color and fall, leaving imprints on our souls. And so ends my tale, dear reader. May you find your own spirited romance, whether among oaks or city streets or even your class hhhh. 🍂❤ Ps: I'm in love with the cover
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
How cute is this story and how magical is Garland Falls?!!! 🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰
First off, I’d like to thank the author, Annette Miller, for sharing her novel with me to read and review. It’s always super exciting to read when it’s personally sent to me.
This story was mega cute! We have Renee who has just lost for grandmother sent away in the will to spread her grandmother’s ashes around a specific oak tree in Garland Falls where her grandfather proposed to her. Here she meets a man named Parker Callahan who is asked to help her get this done. A man unlike the boyfriend back home she is realizing she wants to leave.
Apparently, Renee can see ghosts. A fun little twist and little does she know how magical civilians are in Garland Falls.
This story, I won’t lie, is a cheesy rom com love story you’d watch on The Hallmark Channel; but, it’s so fricking cute and fun. It’s 155 pages long; so, definitely a quick read! I am not a super romance book person; but every now and then I like to have a little guilty pleasure! Now at 15/52 books for the year now! I give this fun story 4 ⭐️!
Tells the story of a woman who went to Garland Fall because his grandmother's last will wanted her to go there. Garland Falls is a town full of magic. She met Parker who helped her find the big tree his grandmother wanted to scatter the final ashes on.
I have points to judge this story
1. Plots. The plot that runs is unique with a fantasy romance. This story is light and not too long-winded. Arranged in stages so it doesn't get messy. Quite a good, sweet romance.
2. Cover. The cover of this book looks ordinary and not interesting in my opinion. Maybe it could be made better with unique illustrations like the story in it to better illustrate the contents of the book itself.
3. Sentence. The sentences are light and easy to understand for beginners like me. So this is a good thing.
Based on the points above I decided to give a 4/5 rating for this story.
Although this isn’t the typical kind of books that I read it’s one that I enjoyed. I especially loved reading about Parker. I don’t usually read about ghosts so this was new for me. I liked the pacing of the story and overall I found it to be a fun read. I wish the characters were a bit more diverse, but other than that it’s a decent story.
Honestly, I was a bit skeptical to start reading this book cuz its not like my normal romance genre. I give it a try however and it's growing on me. It starts to get my interest page by page.
I love the writer's writing. It's just neatly the way i like. I was afraid of not understanding the storyline because it is something related to different universe (?) but it turns out I can easily dive into the story.
Garland Falls is a magical place all in its own. It has colorful ghosts, fairies, and even some leprechauns. A Spirited Romance is a portable magic you take with yourself. Whether you like big cities or small towns, this book makes you feel right at home. Renee returns to Garland Falls to spread the ashes of her grandma under an Oak tree, she leaves the hustle and the bustle of the big city, finds herself, speaking to ghosts and falling in love. Her grandma playing a superb matchmaker through her journey. A spirited romance is so much more then a love story, it’s a search for finding a soul like you, one who understands you. Garland Falls is a city who teaches you to be yourself and maybe to act a bit crazy in your life and keep your loved ones in your heart. Remember them through memory. I appreciated Miller’s kind eye to detail. From the very first page I was hooked and found myself easily escaping into a Spirited Romance. The ending had unexpected elements and made you keep reading. Every character was well developed and had a story to tell. If you are a sucker like me and love ghosts, this should be your next read. Sometimes books call out to you, they restore your faith and provide your life with a little bit of magic. I hope you fall in love with Parker, and Renee as much as I did.
First of all, huge thanks to BookTasters and Annette Miller for giving me a free digital copy of the book in exchange of a honest review. All thoughts are on my own.
So, second of all, I have mixed feelings on this book, probably due to a personal opinion, which I'll explain further, but let's start focusing on my reading experience.
One thing that I have to appreciate is Miller's writing, her writing is simple, which is something I really appreciate in short books like this one, when the writing is really complex in short books it makes the reading tedious in my personal experience. When I pick a short book, it's because I want an easy read between my much more larger and difficult books, wether they are for school o high fantasy.
Now, on to the book: A Spirited Romance is the story of Renee Tate, her grandmother just passed and she has the mission of spreading her ashes on a very special tree, when her grandfather asked her hand in marriage. To accomplish this mission, she has to go to the small town of Garland Falls, where she'll meet Parker Callahan, a handsome and quiet groundskeeper that is going to help her to find her grandmother's special tree so she can spread her ashes.
With this short description you're probably wondering: Where's the spirit in this romance? Well, the thing here is that both Renee and Parker have the ability to see and communicate with ghosts, in fact, even when Renee's grandmother is dead, her ghost is pretty much alive, and playing matchmaker even though her granddaughter has a boyfriend named Wayne —who is, to be honest, a lame boyfriend, but a boyfriend nevertheless—.
And here we go with my first complicated feeling, even though there is no cheating involved, I don't like the idea of the heroine falling for another guy and not immediately breaking up with her boyfriend. It's the right thing to do. Specially when we, as readers, know they've been having problems for far too long and they're more like roommates than partners, so Renee not getting straight to the point and breaking up with him since the beginning was something that made me a little upset.
However, the book has other things that made up for that, I really liked the humor and the ghost characters that we got to know throughout the book were my favorite part. I also liked Lucas, Parker's brother, and a special plot twist towards the end of the book made the whole story better altogether.
I would really recommend this book if you want a short read and if you want to get into magical realism. Also, I think is a wonderful read if you're starting to read books in English, as I said in the beginning, Miller's writing is simple, and this book is set in a contemporary setting. I highly recommend it as a first read to dive into English books.
This story was sweet, touching, and magical with a couple of matchmaking ghosts who tag along to make sure our main characters see how well they fit together.
Like the ghosts, I felt that Renee and Parker were a great match for one another. She can see and talk to ghosts and he is a Green Man who can also them to cross over to 'other-side'.
The contemporary romance and the magical realism/paranormal elements work for me with the slow introduction of the dark presence in the woods and mystery of what happened there.
This story had so many lovely elements--magic and the paranormal included.
I only wish we could have 'seen' when Renee first encountered her grandmother's ghost.
I would recommend this book and will be looking for any Ms. Miller might add to make this a series... there are singles available and a couple or two in this magical small town that may like to have their stories told.
Thank-you to The Wild Rose Press and NetGalley for providing me with a digital ARC in exchange for my honest review.
I was drawn to this book by the attractive cover illustration, and the description intrigued me. I also remembered afterwards that I read and reviewed another book by this author some months ago.
I quickly warmed to Renee as a protagonist, and I found her grandmother endearing. The book was romantic, but there was nothing sugar-coated about it. It was not a very long read at all, but I found it amusing and entertaining. It made me smile, and there was something about it that I found comforting.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for a free copy to review.
A ghost-seeing girl, a matchmaking grandmother, and a quaint little town… what could go wrong? First off, a big thank you to the author (or should I say authoress?😁) and book tasters for the book , it was a fun read . This is my first time reviewing a book and I had to rewrite it for a while because my feelings about the book changed throughout the book but I feel this sums up mybthoughts on the novel's plot.
The premise of this book really stood out to me: a girl who can see ghosts returns to a quiet town due to her grandmother's will—and things quickly get more complicated, both romantically and supernaturally. The mix of light paranormal elements with small-town romance gave the story a fun twist.
At first, it felt a bit Hallmark movie-ish—big city girl, small town, family secrets, unexpected romance—but the addition of the ghostly subplot gave it a unique flavor that elevated it beyond the usual tropes. My favourite would definitely be the grandmother, she's just so Alive (pun absolutely intended), and miss dee was also a very warm and kind presence, in fact everyone was warm and kind and so very welcoming, even the ex came around. I am so used to backstabbing friends, jerk exes and jealous family members so this was just wholesome.
My main critique is that the plot felt rushed, especially toward the end. There were several reveals happening one after another, and not enough breathing room to really take them in or connect emotionally. The characters were charming and had great potential, but they felt a little underdeveloped emotionally—I would’ve loved to see more inner conflict or growth.
That said, if you’re a fan of sweet, cozy romances with a paranormal twist—especially Hallmark-style storytelling—this will absolutely be your cup of tea. Personally, I lean more toward darker, edgier reads, so this one leaned more toward sweet and safe than my usual dark-and-twisty picks 😅
This book attracted me at first sight. An old Victorian style house in autumn colors. My first conclusion based on the picture and the title of the book was that it must be about love between a woman who sees ghosts and a ghost who is stuck in this world. And I was so wrong.
The story tells about the small town of Garland Falls, which is actually magical in all way possible. Residents of Garland Falls have certain possibilities and believe that their small town chooses who lives there and who is not welcome. The residents, among whom there are ghosts waiting for the transition to another world, function as one community, and that delighted me. With the death of her grandmother, Renee comes to this small town to scatter her ashes and fulfill her grandmother's last wish. There she meets one of the residence, a guy named Parker, and little by little realizes that she is not the only one with the ability to communicate with spirits. She falls in love with a local boy who has similar capabilities and is not quite human. Every inhabitant of that town has his own story which is great because it is like they were chosen to live there and not the other way around. Story also have fairies, ogre and many more but that is for the reader to discover.
I must admit that I love the way Annette writes. It is very simple and that makes it easier for the reader to be drawn into the story and into the world that has been created. Reading about that town, I wanted to come and live there myself. Everyone can be who they are without any prejudices and actually show how the world should work. Many thanks to Booktasters for connecting me with Annette and to Annette who allowed me to read this wonderful book she wrote and give my opinion.
Thank you @booktasters_ and @annettemillerauthor or the free copy of this book to give my honest opinion 🥰
While I enjoyed this book I also had a few things here and there I didn't love. The story itself I really liked, and while I was reading I was picturing it in my head and I believe this would be really really good as a movie 🥰 the characters seemed sweet and it was very Hallmark coded , but with ghosts involved , most of them super lovable 😂 The romance was cute and had the fated mates kind of vibe, eventhough I don't believe it's marketed that way. The writing was good and very easy to follow, which I appreciate in smaller books because when I reach for smaller books it means I want something light and palatable 🤭 What I didn't love was the grandmother kind of playing cupid while our FMC was in a serious relationship. I get that she didn't like the boyfriend but he's still a person, and I don't think that your grandma not liking your boyfriend is reason enough for the incentive to have an emotional affair before breaking up. If I were the boyfriend I would be extremely hurt, and I would be right. I also feel that a lot of things were kind of left unexplained, about either the town, the characters or about the little twist at the end 🤷♀️ maybe the book should've been a little bit longer just to explore its options a bit more .
Overall a fun read, very on theme with the season because it's Halloween season in the book and real life so I was definetly feeling the vibes 🎃
Annette Millers' book Spirited Romance kindles a new chord with readers.
The story begins when a girl named Renee, who recently lost his grandmother, visits Garland Falls to spread Granma's ashes. But wait, she sees and hears her Grandma; not only this, she can see her but others too with the motive to find that particular oak tree to fulfill her gran's wish.
When Renee is away from her fiance and the bustling city, she sees a different side of the world. Renee is set on an adventure amid the blooming nature kindling of new bonds. What happens when she discovers that her interest, Parker Callahan, can also talk to ghosts?
Will Renee's grandmother be successful in playing Cupid at Garland Falls or will she stick to her decision?
🧚♀️Ghostly Good: The storyline is cute, yes that's the word; Renee is slowly discovering the place, people, and herself too Each chapter leaves you with a feel-good factor. Author has portrayed ghosts, their wishes, their participation to the world after life is a quirky read.
🫣Deadly miss: The connect Renne had with Grandmother is evident in the story but how she discover that she can see ghosts is missed 🤔
🎯Final Word: Annette Millers' book Spirited Romance will take you on a paranomical journey where the lead character Renne visits a new place Grandfalls for an important work and how that visit end up to change her life is a delight read. Pick up this book and dive into pool of emotions. 4/5
Just like the other book I read from the author, I enjoyed reading this just as much as the other one. Something that intrigued me about the book is the way the author blends the magical realm into the real world while making a beautiful love story out of it. Every event that led to Renee's trip to Garland falls was well put and coordinated. The novel had the right amount of suspense, so much that it felt like I was seeing a movie, itching to know how the huntsman was defeated. A spirited romance showed the importance of history, little did they know that they was a while history behind Lily's death and they didn't see the big picture. I loved the fact that Renee was the missing piece in the puzzle. By going to Garland falls she was able to find her Gran's oak tree and spread her ashes, Wayne got to know his history and she found love with Parker. What stood out for me was that among all the chaos and putting things in order, Renee was able to reach her full potential. It was a win win situation for everyone except the huntsman of course. This was definitely a good read and I'm looking forward to reading more books from the author.
A Delightful Mix of Romance, Humor, and the Supernatural!
“A Spirited Romance” by Annette Miller is such a heartwarming and enchanting read! From the very first chapter, I was hooked on the unique blend of romance and the supernatural. The main character, Renee, dealing with grief while being guided by her ghostly grandmother, made the story both touching and humorous. And can we talk about Parker Callahan? He’s the perfect blend of rugged charm and mystery—someone you just can’t help but root for!
What I loved most about this book is how Miller beautifully balanced lighthearted, funny moments (thanks to Gran’s hilarious commentary!) with deeper themes of love, loss, and moving forward. The paranormal twist, with spirits and small-town charm, gives the story a fresh edge. It’s not your typical romance—there’s an added layer of magic that makes it all the more captivating.
If you’re a fan of cozy, feel-good romances with a hint of ghostly fun, then this book is for you. I absolutely adored it and can’t wait to read more from Annette Miller!
Renne and Parker seem like the sweetest people, along with the whole town of Garland Falls. Wayne seemed a little off at first but when I got to know his and his parents story, it made a little sense.
It was funny how there were not one but two ghosts playing matchmaker for Renee and Parker! The whole idea about the Hunt and Huntsman was very interesting and the existence of a fairy world feels amazing.
I liked that the story was not only focused on romance but mostly about the ghosts of the town and solving the Lily mystery. I didn't expect the plot twist at all. AND Parker wanting to dance on the table at the news that Renee would be living in Garland Falls was THE cutest scene ever!
All in all, it was a fun and fast paced read for a book containing this much suspense and mystery. Loved how everything was tued up neatly at the end(although I do wonder if the sea captain ghost left for the afterlife or not). Thank you to Booktasters for giving me a chance to review this book!
A Spirited Romance is a short, fun read. There are ghosts, paranormals, an evil creature, and an underlying love story.
Renee Tate’s grandmother has left her with one final duty: spread her ashes around a special tree in the small town of Garland Falls. Her grandmother’s ghost tags along for the trip and continues the matchmaking she did in life.
Enter Parker Callahan, a tall, quiet man with a gift for gardening and possibly a perfect match for her bearing in mind their otherworldly abilities. But, even as their love story seems to be coming together, trouble is brewing for the town. They will need to work together to save those they love - living and dead.
If you’re looking for a sweet read with a touch of spookiness and a HEA, then this is the book for you. Suitable for a YA market and up.
Not exactly the type of romance I enjoy but this quite interesting. Intrigued by the cover art I also found myself simply fascinated by the description. ⭐️⭐️⭐️
- a heart touching romance set in a magical place (which also happens to be a light read) - the characters are entertaining and very well developed - I enjoyed the authors writing and attention to light details This book follows Renee who returns to Garland Falls to spread her grandmothers ashes. From learning how to be her true self, speaking to ghosts and falling in love, Renee finds herself a Spirited Romance.
Thank you to the author and BookTasters as I received a free copy in exchange for an honest review
When you spend your childhood while reading fairytales and magical stories but after growing up you find no more interesting book then this is a time to pick up "A Spirited Romance" novel. Annette Miller will take you a perfect magical place called Garland Falls where you will find a sweet heart touching romance, a believe in yourself what you really are and what you want in your life, how to help others when hardly few people stand with you but their trust and unconditional love make you strong enough to fight evil souls... Yes that's the book you need to read and find yourself in Garland Falls.
This book is wholesome! I am in love with the characters, especially Renee's grandmother! I also love the ghosts that haunts the small town of Garland falls! The plot though, to me seems a bit rushed. I didn't like the fact that Renee was entertaining going out with Parker before she even broke up with her boyfriend—no matter her excuse. That was just plain cheating. Parker is such a sweet soul. I especially love his introverted nature, and could relate with the way he reacted to some things.
Overall, this story is a fun, short, cozy read. I definitely recommend!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
I am enjoying the books in the Garland Falls series, which includes mythical creatures, magic, and a bit of romance. The stories are quick to read and leave you with a smile!
In A Spirited Romance, Renee comes to Garland Falls to spread her dear grandmother's ashes. She meets Parker, a groundskeeper at the B&B where she will be staying. There is an instant attraction between Renee and Parker, but each of them has a secret they are afraid to share.
There is mystery, adventure, and romance in this quick, enjoyable read!
Thank you to Booktasters, and the author for a chance to review this book.
I normally don't read romance. I'm normally horror,and thriller. This has some elements of horror, but not the way I typically read them. Although this was more of a romance, I enjoyed the story,and the characters. I enjoyed the authors writing, and it all kept me reading. I'm glad I took the chance to try something new.
A spirited romance is much more than a love story! It is slightly unusual from the normal, but quite interesting. The ending was quite unexpected, I must say, however, the writing keeps you going for more until the pages are ended.
A spirited romance is a blend of the paranormal, magic and love.
I highly recommend, for an exploration into the world of romance, fairytales, paranormal and love. Well done, Annette!
It was really a nice book, I enjoyed the calm romantic mood of the story. Also the characters were well created especially the female protagonist. The only downside was the part of the war of the hounds man, I felt it wasn't compatible with the mood of the story, otherwise it is really a good well-written story.
"A Spirited Romance" is full of spirited excitement!
Wow! What a great story line! The main characters are genuine and motivated me to sympathize with them. I could not put this book done and finished it in one reading. The story just got better and better! I was on pins and needles by the end of it! Whew! What a ride!
It was a short, fun reading book...There were paranormals, an evil creature, and a love story. As I am saying again when I finish a book in one lay.. Means it must be interesting .. I am reading Annette Miller second book and I genuinely love her books, story.. I'm looking forward for her more books..
A sweet paranormal romance that kept me reading and rooting for the characters. I liked the storytelling and the ghost are very interesting. Recommended. Many thanks to the publisher for this arc, all opinions are mine
Rene meet Parker when she on mission to fullfil her grandma last wishes. Rene need to find this special oak tree with Parker help theey journey begin. They both have special ability who can see ghost, and these ghost are trying to matchmaking them. Parker have doubt to open about his abilty but he need Rene help to cross over ghost in Halloween.
This is unique story when abilty to see other thing can lead to something wrong, open up about this not easy, people who cant see might think they are sick and insane. Too bad this story in rush to finish.
Thank you to NetGalley for provide this book, it is pleasure to review this book.
I rarely enjoy fairies world stories .. but I love how this book talks about our emotional needs to find our soulmates and trying to find the one but in a parallel universe and in a different magical way .. this is my second book I read by Annette and she didn’t disappoint me in either books