Genre: Paranormal Romance
Publishing Date: June 24, 2014
Publisher: Gallery Books
Length: 352 pages
Source: Publisher via NetGalley
Format: eARC
Author of the beloved Half Moon Hollow series of vampire romances (Nice Girls Don’t Have Fangs), Molly Harper has created a standalone paranormal romance in which a dilapidated haunted house could bring star-crossed lovers together—if it doesn’t kill them first!
When Nina Linden is hired to landscape a private island off the New England coast, she sees it as her chance to rebuild her failing business after being cheated by her unscrupulous ex. She never expects that her new client, software mogul Deacon Whitney, would see more in her than just a talented gardener. Deacon has paid top dollar to the crews he’s hired to renovate the desolate Whitney estate—he had to, because the bumps, thumps, and unexplained sightings of ghostly figures in nineteenth-century dress are driving workers away faster than he can say “Boo.”
But Nina shows no signs of being scared away, even as she experiences some unnerving apparitions herself. And as the two of them work closely together to restore the mansion’s faded glory, Deacon realizes that he’s found someone who doesn’t seem to like his fortune more than himself—while Nina may have finally found the one man she can trust with her bruised and battered heart.
But something on the island doesn’t believe in true love…and if Nina and Deacon can’t figure out how to put these angry spirits to rest, their own love doesn’t stand a ghost of a chance.
Karan’s thoughts:
Nina did not allow her fear of the ghosties or her dislike of the resident diva-slash-attempted-boyfriend-stealer affect her job (much) and I loved that about her. Deacon, despite being a gazillionaire, seemed very down to Earth which is always a good thing. The author described him as a “yummy geek-chic package” and I could not think of a better phrase.
Most of the secondary characters were enjoyable as well once you got to know them. Jake cracked me up with his unintended pervy comment towards the beginning of the story. After their arrival to the island, he also put Deacon in his place bringing him out of his shell. Cindy made it very clear that she did not like Jake (poor Jake!!) on the boat and throughout most of their time on the island so I was a little irked with her, but later she told her reasons.
Better Homes and Hauntings is my first Molly Harper novel and I’m hooked! I know I say this a lot and the few of you that read this blog are probably sick of hearing it, but I could NOT put this story down. Romance, hauntings, possession, nerdy boy, creative girl, friends and a remote island? What’s not to like? Also, hello to TWO new book boyfriends, Deacon and Jake! 😉
Thank you Molly and Gallery Books for the opportunity to read this novel! I am preordering the paperback now!!
Leave a Reply