Ghosts of Christmas Past, Haunted Holidays, #1

Jessica
Aspen
Genre: 
Paranormal

GOTHIC:  Nate Pierce is one step away from bankruptcy. Renting out the old family farmhouse while he renovates the manor house provides him with enough income to pay back the loans from his brothers. Unfortunately, he can’t keep tenants because they say the house is haunted, though he’s never experienced anything unusual in the house.

 

Jen McNamara needs to get away from Boston and everyone who lives there. Renting the farmhouse for two weeks to be completely by herself during Christmas is her way of rebelling against her mom, her ex-fiancé and her ex-best friend. She didn’t count on a hot landlord or a haunted house, but she’s not going to let that stop her from enjoying her freedom. All she has to do is figure out how to get rid of the ghost and keep her hands off Nate.

 

With a sexy landlord, a snowy landscape, a roaring fire and twinkling Christmas lights the stage is set for a romantic interlude. Jen experiences the sweet romance of the long dead Nate and Ginny in her dreams, but the malevolent ghost of Agnes adds a twist of peril. The world, plot and dialogue in this tale are top notch. However, the characters of Nate and Jen fail to live up to the rest of the story. Nate comes across as shallow and sex-obsessed with little interest in actually getting to know Jen. Jen is a doormat with no backbone, allowing others to walk all over her. Tweaking their personalities would turn this short paranormal romance into a swoon-worthy performance. 

 

Carol Conley