Haunting Miss Trentwood

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.

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.