Haunted Ever After
Author: Jen DeLuca
Reviewer: Sophia Rose
Rating: A-
What I’m Talking About:
Ghosts, coffee, and small beach town hijinks aren’t the typical backdrop to romance, but… She needs a new start and he needs to get out of his rut. After seeing rave reviews about Jen DeLuca’s earlier series and loving a good haunting and romance, I was excited to start a new series set in Boneyard Key, Florida.
Grumpy meets cautious when Cassie enters Nick’s coffee shop after second guessing her sudden move from the bright lights of Orlando to tourist schtick town, Boneyard Key. Nick thinks she’s a typical tourist just there to use his wifi and not even buy a cup of coffee so the meet cute starts out rough. But instead of holding a grudge, Cassie laughs and they start over.
I enjoyed getting to know the unique little town of Boneyard Key with Cassie as she realizes the beach cottage she bought resides in the most haunted town. There’s even a ghost tour with her house along the route. At first, she thinks its all for the tourist dollar, but then realizes she’s got a ghostly roomie who isn’t happy she’s taken up residence and then she learns that everyone else is rather laissez faire about ghosts and ghostly roommates. Nick’s got the former owner of his cafe causing cold spots, sending him text messages, and giving advice about the bake goods and his love life. Her own resident ghost has figured out how to use the magnetic words on the fridge to clue Cassie in about things.
Nick’s been burned in the past about transient women who love him and leave him, and Cassie has one foot out the door as she decides whether to stay or head back to Orlando. She came on a snap decision after realizing she was the odd gal out when her friends all got into relationships and started having babies. They are hesitant to act on their attraction and interest. This was a slow burn romance with a lot of sweetness. There is some ghostly interference that was sometimes funny and sometimes mysterious.
I enjoyed the historical research part Cassie did to learn about her ghost and what was wrong. She made friends along the way and slowly fell in love with Boneyard Key and her home as she found purpose and routine and acceptance. Nick slowly opened up and started taking a chance. Occasionally, he’d do an abrupt turn toward the ugly, but then there was that aha moment to explain this.
An exciting spooky climax and then a lovely finish for Nick and Cassie. I was left well-satisfied with this light paranormal romance with a hint of sexy spice and look forward to more spooky romancing in Boneyard Key. Fun and flirty storytelling style and just the right amount of drama for my taste. Definitely recommend to other cozy Paranormal Romance fans.
My Rating: A- Enjoyed A Lot
Sophia Rose
About the Book:
Small Florida coastal towns often find themselves scrambling for the tourism dollars that the Orlando theme parks leave behind. And within the town limits of Boneyard Key, the residents decided long ago to lean into its ghostliness. Nick Royer, owner of the Hallowed Grounds coffee shop, embraces the ghost tourism that keeps the local economy afloat, as well as his spectral roommate. At least he doesn’t have to run air-conditioning.
Cassie Rutherford possibly overreacted to all her friends getting married and having kids by leaving Orlando and buying a flipped historic cottage in Boneyard Key. Though there’s something unusual with her new home (her laptop won’t charge in any outlets, and the poetry magnets on her fridge definitely didn’t read “WRONG” and “MY HOUSE” when she put them up), she’s charmed by the colorful history surrounding her. And she’s catching a certain vibe from the grumpy coffee shop owner whenever he slips her a free slice of banana bread along with her coffee order.
As Nick takes her on a ghost tour, sharing town gossip that tourists don’t get to hear, and they spend nights side-by-side looking into the former owners of her haunted cottage, their connection solidifies into something very real and enticing. But Cassie’s worried she’s in too deep with this whole (haunted) home ownership thing…and Nick’s afraid to get too close in case Cassie gets scared away for good.
Release Date: August 13, 2024
Publisher: Berkley
Series: Boneyard Key #1
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Format(s): paperback (352 pages), e-book
Book Source: Publisher
Purchase Info:
Amazon (affiliate link)