A Spirited Engagement (illustrated paperback) signed

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.

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!