The Dead Romantics by Ashley Poston – Blog Tour Book Review
About the Book
Florence Day is a ghost-writer with one big problem. She’s supposed to be penning swoon-worthy novels for a famous romance author but, after a bad break-up, Florence no longer believes in love. And when her strict (but undeniably hot) new editor, Benji Andor, won’t give her an extension on her book deadline, Florence prepares to kiss her career goodbye.
Although when tragedy strikes and Florence has to head home, the last thing she expects to see is a ghost at her front door. Not just any ghost, however, but the stern form of her still very hot – yet now unquestionably dead – new editor.
As sparks start to fly between them, Florence tells herself she can’t be falling for a ghost – even an infuriatingly sexy one.
But can Benji help Florence to realise love isn’t dead, after all?
About the Author
Ashley Poston writes stories about love and friendship and ever after a. A native to South Carolina, she now lives in a small grey house with her sassy cat and too many books. You can find her on the internet, somewhere, watching cat videos and reading fan fiction.
AshPoston.com
Facebook and Instagram- HeyAshPoston
Twitter – AshPoston
What I Thought
Well. What can I say. Ashley Poston has done it again – I’m not sure I was ready for a book with a squatty potty reference 😂 – but I’m here for it (it’s good for the digestion!).
I am a huge fan of Ashley’s YA Geekerella series which uses fandom as a backdrop to her romances. Now with this foray into adult fiction we have publishing as our backdrop but with some additional supernatural goings on. This makes this a perfect spooky season read.
This is the second book recently I’ve read where I can reference Ghost Whisperer as a comparison (see my review of middle grade book The Whisperling) and I’m not at all mad about that – what with it being one of my favourite shows.
Florence Day has grown up around death – literally. Her family run Days Gone Funeral Home (excellent name) and both her father and her see dead people walking around like regular people! Hounded out of her small town because of this gift, Florence headed to the big smoke and tried to turn her love of writing smutty X-Files fan fic into a career in romance fiction. After her first novel doesn’t take off in quite the way she’d hoped she ends up ghostwriting (lol) for a hugely successful romance writer. We meet her as the last book on that contract is due – but the thing is she has writer’s block. How can you write romance when you’ve had your heart smashed?
Florence’s ex is a despicable piece of work who deserves much worse than he gets in my opinion. Seriously he makes my blood boil.
Pulled back to her home after a family tragedy she finds a ghost on the doorstep of her family home but this ghost is very out of place and unwelcome. After all he didn’t give her an extension on her novel! Rude. It’s her very hot editor Benji Andor who on first meeting him the words “climb him” were screamed by her inner voice – although sadly that turns out not to be possible when you can’t touch a ghost. But is it possible for the spirit of romance to be reignited? No spoilers here but I was satisfied with the journey Florence went on.
I will say that this was perhaps a slightly slower start than we’ve grown used to but the payoff makes it worth it and Ashley’s writing is easy to read and comforting.
This mixes the best echoes of Christmas Hallmark movies (but with Halloween vibes in April – and not Christmas), Sweet Home Alabama and A million funerals and a wedding! I loved this exploration of complex family relationships, small town gossip and an incorporeal romance. Poston brings her humour and pop culture references naturally across into the adult sphere where she can be a little more spicy (although only in small doses – we don’t actually get any of the X-Files smut on the page! More’s the pity).
The small town of Mairmont with its doggie Mayor (this needs to become a thing – the world would be so much kinder) becomes a character itself and I fell in love with it too. I loved the incidental non binary and queer characters because there was no negative focus on this – they just were and this is what the world should be.
If the Reader Discussion questions are anything to go by keep your fingers crossed for a sequel and more Mairmont. I’d equally be happy with other books following some of our side characters.
Although grief is a big theme in this story the book itself is hopeful and not macabre and focuses very much on death as part of life. In the author’s note Ashley Poston talks about her fear of death which I very much share – so to write such a book must have been a therapy session as much as it was reading it.
A huge thank you to Ashley for this piece of magic and to HQ Stories for the gifted copy for the purposes of an honest review. Do check out what everyone else on the tour thought.
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The Whisperling by Hayley Hoskins – Blog Tour Book Review
About the Book
When you’re dead, you’re dead. When you’re gone, you’re gone. Unless, of course, you’re not. And that’s where I come in.
The year is 1897, and Peggy Devona can speak with ghosts.
She hides her gift from those afraid of a girl with such powers, terrified of the secrets the dead could reveal through her. But when her best friend is accused of murdering her rich mistress, Peggy knows only she – a whisperling – can save her.
Peggy escapes to her uncle’s psychic emporium in the city, seeking out new ghosts to help her solve Sally’s case.
Yet time is running out, and each step towards uncovering the truth also brings Sally one step closer to the gallows. . .
About the Author
Long listed for the Bath Children’s Novel award, Hayley Hoskins writes in the space between family and work, with much support from her writing group.
Mum to a teenage boy, she spends a disproportionate amount of time hoping that her son’s life is far less complicated than those of the characters in her books, and trying to ensure he becomes a ‘good egg’.
Originally from the Forest of Dean, Hayley lives with her family and hairy breezeblock of a dog in Cheltenham, Gloucestershire.
Twitter: http://twitter.com/HayleyHoskins
What I Thought
Spooky season is upon us and The Whisperling is a great addition to a spooky TBR. Set in Bristol in the Victorian era we start with Peggy (Margaret Devon’s) and her best friend Sally having a disagreement and then Sally goes silent on her. But it’s not just a case of Peggy being sent to Coventry, instead Sally has been charged with murdering her mistress and is set to hang.
Peggy is a Whisperling and she can see and speak to ghosts and witness their burn (where they head to the next plane of existence) but although signs around town suggest that people are to accept any Whisperlings amongst them people still remember when witches roamed and dictating inclusion does not inclusion create. Especially not with judgemental clergy spouting about the devil.
For her own “safety” Peggy joins her estranged uncle in the city and is set to work at his Psychic Emporium with Oti and Cecily. The Victorian fascination with Spiritualism led to a lot of hokey seances but what happens when a real Whisperling is added to the mix?
The thread of mystery runs alongside with the urgency of solving the murder to clear Sally’s name before she hangs. There’s a Q&A with the author at the back of the book that talks about her inspirations and some of the real life cases of young girls receiving a death sentence. Add in the threat of ‘The Righteous’ – Whisperling Finders and there is plenty of peril for a middle grade tale.
The villain of the piece may be who you expect but there’s enough red herrings along the way to keep you guessing. In fact there’s a really early gasp inducing moment that gets twisted (although I think it would have also made an interesting story to go with what I thought had happened).
I really liked the family story alongside this too. With Peggy’s father not having trusted her with the family secrets, mysterious pictures of her uncle and mother and a generational line of whisperlings – not to mention the not quite spectre with raven hair.
This is like a middle grade Ghost Whisperer and it is left open for more stories of whisperlings past, present and future. I’ll definitely check them out when they appear.
A nod must also go to Kristina Kister for the stunning cover design which makes me hope to see this as an animated film.
A huge thanks to Blue at Kaleidoscopic Tours and the publisher Puffin for the gifted copy for the purposes of an honest review. Do check out the rest of the tour stops to see what everyone else thought or to read some extracts.
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The Book of Stolen Dreams by David Farr – Blog Tour – Author Guest Video
About the Book
When Rachel and Robert are passed a stolen book by their librarian father, they have to go on the run and protect it at all costs. With their father captured and everyone hunting for the Book, they must uncover its secrets and track down the final, missing page.
But the cruel and calculating Charles Malstain is on their trail. When the children discover the astonishing, magical truth about the Book, they resolve to do everything in their power to stop it falling into his hands. For if it does, he could rule forever.
Step inside the pages of an immortal adventure and discover a truly unforgettable journey of wonder, courage and magic…
About the Author
David Farr is one of the UK’s leading screenwriters and directors for film, TV and theatre. In 2009, he was appointed Associate Director of the Royal Shakespeare Company, where his productions of The Winter’s Tale, King Lear and The Homecoming all opened to critical acclaim. David is known for his work on Spooks and his 2016 BBC adaptation of The Night Manager, starring Hugh Laurie and Tom Hiddleston. He completed his first feature film, Hanna, in 2009, and has since adapted it into a hugely successful series for Amazon Prime, and has recently adapted The Midwich Cuckoos for Sky. The Book of Stolen Dreams is his first novel.
Twitter: http://twitter.com/DavidFarrUK
Author – Guest Video – What books would you protect at all costs?
So over to you – What books would you protect at all costs? Do tell me in the comments below or over on one of my social channels.
Do check out the rest of the blog tour for more interview questions and some reviews (banner to be added later). I believe I have a gifted copy on the way so I will share my thoughts when I’ve had time to read. Thanks to Blue at Kaleidoscopic Tours and the publisher.
kirstyes 