"A Haunting at Havenwood" is the 6th book in the Seasons of Change
series.
I do love it when I find an entertaining series where every book is a
unique historical romance adventure. Each of the
Seasons of Change books has been quite enjoyable to read, but I have
only chosen to review my favorites of this series.
By the title
alone, A Haunting at Havenwood promised an unusual plot.
Once I started reading, I stayed up all night. I simply could not put
the book down! Yes, I paid the price the next day, but it was worth
it.
Seeing ghosts in a graveyard is not a rare plot, nor is the idea that the
ghosts communicate with someone. However, the idea that they might
encourage a descendant to travel to an ancestral home and then continue to
accompany him throughout his time there is a rather intriguing concept for a
historical romance novel. Because the ghosts spoke to each other as
well, the phantom couple was rather endearing as they revealed information
about their own relationship and lives. I liked them as well as any of
the other characters in the book.
A Haunting at Havenwood
Erasmus "Ras" Grey is a wealthy, single gentleman who provides for his mother and
sisters. He enjoys writing Gothic novels under a nom de plume, which
he uses to protect his family from criticism or gossip. Ras doesn't like social gatherings because he tends to stutter if he gets nervous, which often happens around women. When he
recently started hearing voices that told him to go to Havenwood, an
ancestral home that he still owns, he decided time alone would be just what he needed. He had not visited the "hunting
lodge" in quite some time, but he had always loved it and the seclusion it offered.
Upon arrival at Havenwood, located next to the village of Harbottle, Ras
settled in for a quiet stay. He didn't want anyone in town to know he
was there because he had no desire to entertain or to accept visitors.
Havenwood had a small staff that lived there and cared for the lodge
year-round and he let them know he needed them to keep his visit a secret.
A Haunting at Havenwood
(Seasons of Change Book 6)Check Price He continued to hear the voices, but it wasn't until he responded to them
that the ghosts of his great-grandparents appeared to him. After that,
he became accustomed to having them pop in and out when they desired, giving
him tidbits of information, but encouraging him to find the treasure that
awaited his discovery.
Ras enjoyed taking his notebook and walking around the woods that
surrounded the lodge. He had not expected to encounter anyone in the
woods, but when he happened upon a young woman in the cemetery, he stood a
good distance away, under the shade of the tree. When she spoke to
him, he answered with as few words as possible because he didn't want her to
hear his stutter. When she turned to leave, he moved back behind a
tree where she could no longer see or talk to him.
__________
After Louisa Banner's father died, her mother ran through their remaining
money quickly. Mrs. Banner decided to visit an old friend for a while,
but Louisa was not invited. She was sent to live with an aunt she had
never met, in a village she had never visited.
Far from society or anything familiar, she was uncertain what was expected
of her; who would be her friends; what were her prospects for the future;
what if her aunt didn't want her either. So many concerns filled her
mind as she arrived in Harbottle with only her maid and a few pieces of
luggage.
When the door to the Manse opened, Louisa was welcomed with a warm embrace
from the aunt she had never met, into a house that actually felt like a
home. Perhaps, everything would be okay after all.
Louisa was captivated by the tales of the old castles in the area and the
stories of hidden treasure. When she was encouraged to walk around the
area, she felt a sense of freedom that she had never experienced before.
She wandered aimlessly until she came upon a graveyard and that is where she
met a new friend, "her ghost".
As the days went by, Louisa returned to the cemetery to met with "her
ghost". She started investigating the history of the area and asks lots of questions. Like everyone else in Harbottle, she hoped to discover the hidden treasure.
______
The grandparent ghosts continued to talk to Ras throughout the book. Even though they did not send him to Ravenwood to meet Louisa, they did encourage the romance between them. The conversations between the two ghosts were rather comical. They were like an old bickering couple, but it was clear they loved each other deeply.
My Opinion of "A Haunting at Havenwood"
I loved this combination of romance and mystery. As I mentioned earlier, it is rare to have ghosts in a romance novel, but the concept worked perfectly. The author did an excellent job of weaving a connecting thread through every layer of the plot. I felt I had a few new friends in the end, including the ghosts.
Previously Reviewed from the Seasons of Change Series
Books by Sally Britton Previously Reviewed on ReviewThisReviews.com
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