The Last April (audio)

Great author, wonderful follow through and very involved in the process

The stickers were adorable and I loved using the bookmark from this pack with the book!

Hier herrscht das Gegenteil von Langeweile, und es geht deutlich ernster und auch gefährlicher zu als im ersten Band. Phantasievoll, spannend und nichts für Kleingeister …

This was a bit different for me to read and the characters had a lot going on. It was a period piece centering on Tessa, a very powerful medium. Being a medium, and a young woman of color made things challenging at this time in history, but she handled it. I liked Tessa. She was smart, competent and strong. No wilting or the vapors for her. Her line of work didn't afford that. Especially with ghosts running all over the place all the time.

Called in to train a new charge (Mary), an old love reappears in her life (Jasper), with a big bad coming for her, Tessa steps all the way up with the help of her newfound squad.

The story was entertaining. The pacing was good and the plot points were relevant to each other, had enough scary to it and didn't stuck in one place for too long.

Overall, we get a sweet, tidy ending with a classic battle of good versus evil with a human soul hanging in the balance! Quite the ride!

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review

A Spirited Engagement is book two of The Hesitant Mediums series by Belinda Kroll. This can be read as a standalone story and there is more than enough context given if needed, however, this book does carry over some details from the first book to some extent.

I absolutely adore the concept of this book (and series). Drawing on VIctorian England's fascination for Spirits, Seances and Mediums, it has the feels of something worthy of Charles Dickens (or at least an episode of Doctor Who minus the time travelling alien). Add into this a mixed race, resilient leading lady - Miss Tessa Preston - who has experience enough racism to make her wary of many.

Tessa Preston is also a medium who has the ability to see and speak to ghosts, a gift that she gained after a tragic carriage accident brought her close to death and she lost her parents. Now she has her uncle, Sir Hubert Preston, who escorts her as she takes on jobs helping people with her medium skills. That job has brought her back to London for the first time in nearly a decade, to help an old friend and his fiancé. However, things get complicated when another man from her past, who incidentally broke her heart, turns up also needing help.

Jasper Steele's biggest problem was once his mother's continual nagging for him to find a wife. But at one of those attempts to match him, he attended a seance and now has the ghost of a Society Belle attached to him and adamant that he is now her fiancé. Finding Tessa again, Jasper wants to make things right and make it clear that his intentions for her are completely honourable. Yet, in between all that there is a wild ride of ghosts, shadows, ghouls and they pose a danger to both Jasper and Tessa.

I am looking forward to the next book, which appears to follow the story of the living twin sister to the young lady ghost that had attached herself onto Jasper. Incidentally, that lady's ghost, Eloise, made me laugh with her continual antics - but being an Eloise myself, I am always charmed to see my name come up in books since it so rarely happens.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

I really enjoyed this book! Loved the characters. Tessa was excellent, and I was really rooting for Jasper. The story is more intense than book 1 and a little darker. Because of this, it wasn't as funny as the first one, but it was still very engaging. A sweet love story, and the interracial element was very well done.

This was so much fun! I had not read any other stories from this series, so I went into this completely blind. While I was definitely a tad bit confused at times, it wasn't enough to keep me from thoroughly enjoying myself on this fun little journey.

I adored the mix of historical romance, historical fantasy, ghost story, and intrigue. Belinda's writing was witty and superb, andI will absolutely continue on with this series (and go back and actually read the first book in the series!). I can't wait to learn more about Jasper and Eloise and to journey back into this world!.

Thanks to the author for a review copy of this book. I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Belinda Kroll's humor shines through as brightly - and perhaps a bit more - as it did in Haunting Miss Trentwood, and her characters are as enchanting as ever!

Jasper returns in this story to find his match in Tessa, a sassy medium hoping to prove herself. She finds her worth as she helps Mary learn to control her new medium abilities, and rid Jasper of the ghost determined to marry him. While Tessa believes they are in an enemies-to-lovers story, Jasper thinks this is his second chance romance. Let the hilarity ensue!

When I read Haunting Miss Trentwood, I desperately wanted Jasper to grow a backbone for his story, and I can assure you he does just that. The man redeems himself fully for everything he got caught up in with Mary and Alex. I honestly didn't think I'd love him as much as I love Alex, but I do! He's exactly the right man for Tessa.

By the end of the book, I was biting my fingernails for how action packed and exciting the climax was. If you thought Haunting Miss Trentwood ended with a punch, hold on to your bonnets because Tessa does NOT mess around! She's the kick butt hero I want in my corner if ghosts ever come calling.

I read this book in one sitting because I could not put it down! It was everything I loved from Haunting Miss Trentwood and so much more! I can't wait for Book 3!

I absolutely ADORED this book!

When I first read the synopsis, I was a little worried I was getting into a scary story, but I'm very pleased to tell you I had nothing to worry about. Instead of hiding under the covers of my bed I was laughing all the way through! Belinda's characters are sassy and hilarious and she weaves a beautiful sweet romance into this cozy Victorian setting.

Mary and Alex's story starts out with one of my favorite tropes - annoyances to lovers! I'm a sucker for two people who start off on the wrong foot and then completely fall head over heels for each other. Alex is just everything, and Mary feels familiar in so many ways. I adored them and cheered the whole way through as they grew to love each other. Then there's Trentwood. He will have you laughing so hard your friends and family will look at you funny as you look at your phone screen because you have to know what he's going to say next. I fell in love with all of them and was a little sad when I turned the page to the Acknowledgements because it meant I didn't get more Mary and Alex.

This whole book is darling and I love it! I can't wait for Jasper and Tessa's story and to get to see Jasper grow up - and good heavens I hope the man grows a backbone. This really is your next feel good read!

This charmingly well written story reminds me of a humorous classic Cary Grant movie. Who wouldn’t want a loving, caring parental ghost to crawl from the grave to protect them from danger? I thoroughly enjoyed this combination mystery, ghost story, and romance tale. This is one of those stories that you have terrible putting down. Definitely worth reading!

Loved it!

I read A LOT, so it’s rare when I see a book—especially a fiction book--that is truly something different. This is one of those rare unique books, and though I’ve finished it, I haven’t quite decided whether or not I like it.

The book feels a bit uneven to me, going between a very British tongue-in-cheek humor and a somewhat macabre Gothic feel. The dialogue felt a little stilted at times, like the author was trying a little too hard, perhaps. If the dialogue were better, I think I would have been more firmly on the “like” side of the equation.

The characters have strongly distinctive voices; you can easily determine which perspective character a chapter is written from before you read too far. The heroine is strong, cannily intelligent, and sure of herself, even in unusual circumstances. The hero is a no-nonsense guy… who has to deal with a lot of nonsense. The butler Pomeroy was a hoot, in the classically English understated way, whenever he showed up. The ghost dad was a bit gruff, but you could tell he loved his daughter and wanted the best for her.

So, this is a quirky read that you’ll probably either love or hate, depending on how you feel about a book that could be called whimsically Gothic.

this was a great short story in the hesitant mediums series, the characters had what I enjoyed from the first book and left me ready for the second book. The plot does what I wanted it was really well done.

A short story bridge between book 1 and the upcoming book 2. Miss Tessa Preston's story continues in this story. A fun short story to read. I received a copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

Haunting Miss Trentwood is a charming, sweet romance that will have you devouring each chapter in pursuit of answers and just more time with these eccentric characters. The ghost is very nearly the star of the show with his frank and teasing observations. That said the rest of the cast hold their own, each being interesting individuals with backstories, motives and agendas of their own.
For all the darker moments, ultimately this story is charming and more often than not the characters leave you smiling and wanting more. I loved reading every page of this story.