Nothing will keep Louisa from her great-aunt’s fortune. Except perhaps a phantom who turns out to be a most eligible bachelor.
Although Louisa Banner insists she is not the least bit superstitious, she cannot help her misgivings when her family announces she must spend October with her great aunt in a rundown Welsh castle riddled with tales of ghosts. The family hopes Louisa will endear … ghosts. The family hopes Louisa will endear herself to her aunt enough to win a grand inheritance. Louisa’s only wish is to avoid a run-in with any of the phantoms spoken of by the local villagers. When Louisa stumbles upon a forgotten graveyard, and a man whose name comes directly from a tombstone, she isn’t certain whether to run away in terror or stay and get to know the handsome spirit.
Erasmus Grey is cursed, and not only because he sometimes hears the voices of his dead grandparents. While most men would count it a blessing to be a wealthy, eligible bachelor, Ras is absolutely panic-stricken at the idea of finding a bride. Rather than succumb to the matchmaking mothers of London, he retreats to an old family cottage with no plans to return to Society. Though he manages to keep his presence in the country a secret, coming upon a lovely young woman during one of his rambles nearly undoes all his careful work. But when he realizes Miss Banner thinks him a ghost, Ras wonders if he might have found a way to cure his own fears.
The sixth book in the Seasons of Change series, A Haunting at Havenwood is a stand-alone novel. Check out the other books in the multi-author series to discover stories about change and love.
Book One: The Road Through Rushbury by Martha Keyes
Book Two: The Last Eligible Bachelor by Ashtyn Newbold
Book Three: A Forgiving Heart by Kasey Stockton
Book Four: A Well-Trained Lady by Jess Heileman
Book Five: coming soon from Deborah M. Hathaway
Book Six: A Haunting at Havenwood by Sally Britton
Book Seven: coming soon from Jennie Goutet
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Enjoyed the audiobook version of A Haunting at Havenwood! I was expecting a scary ghost tale, but was delightfully surprised that the ghosts are anything but scary. There’s also a hidden treasure and a sweet slow burn romance.
I was immediately drawn to the main characters Ras and Louisa. They are both truly sympathetic and have their own reasons for seeking refuge in the small village of Harbottle. Louisa’s family is facing economic ruin after her father’s death. She’s also had to deal with a stifling mother who dictates her every move. Erasmus or Ras has his own secrets and desires peace from the matchmaking mamas of the ton. He’s also working on a novel.
I loved the way Louisa first meets Ras. She thinks he’s a ghost (Ras of course goes along with this.); but soon fear turns to curiosity. As their friendship flourishes, she learns he is much more human than spirit. I enjoyed how their relationship blossomed as they searched for the treasure. They had a genuine friendship and respect for one another. Another favorite character was Louisa’s aunt. While Louisa’s mother was cold and calculating, her aunt was loving and kind and truly cared for her. The ghosts are fun too with their desire to “help” Ras.
The narrator of this audiobook is quickly becoming a favorite. She has a pleasant voice that is easy to listen to. I enjoyed the way she distinguishes each of the characters in her narration.
All in all, a delightful audiobook that will keep you hooked to the very end! I received a copy from the author. I was not required to leave a review and all opinions are my own.
A fun story with a lovely stammering ghost and a long-hidden treasure
A Haunting at Havenwood by Sally Britton is a fun, romantic, and sweet historical romance with some lovely apparitions and exciting treasure hunting.
It is book #6 in the Season of Change series but can be read as a standalone.
Louisa’s father passed away a few years prior, and the family finances had deteriorated ever since.
After failing again to capture a husband, and with their finances reaching a breaking point, Louisa’s cold mother sent her to live with a distant great-aunt in the far north of England.
The great-aunt, to Louisa’s surprise, was actually quite nice. The place was remote and cold, but the people were so warm and different from her judgmental and distant mother.
The place’s most irresistible attraction was the ghost that ‘lived’ at the local graveyard and the treasure he was connected to.
The story was lovely! Ras, the ghost, was the sweetest of heroes. He was shy, stammered a bit, and was utterly captivating.
Together, Louisa and Ras, with the help of two other adorable ghosts, looked for the treasure, falling hopelessly in love in the meantime.
I loved how the story moved me by simply relaying their small gestures of affection. I love how it captures the magic of holding hands for the first time, the energy of an involuntary touch. It was pure and sweet.
Once again, the narration is very clear and well performed. It is my third audiobook by Jessica Elisa Boyd, and I like her more and more as I listen to her work. One of the characters was Scottish, and I loved her rendition of him.
A Haunting at Havenwood is a sweet romance with a bit of adventure, a tad of family drama, and a small fun dose of supernatural.
Lovely! Highly Recommended!
Disclosure: I received a promotional code for this audiobook from the author for an honest review.
*For more reviews, book art, and book-related articles, please visit https://lureviewsbooks.com *
Enchanting! I was mesmerized while reading this regency romance. Set in a small country town away from the hustle and bustle of London, Ras and Louisa meet in a graveyard. Very apropos for this time of year during the Halloween season, especially when Louisa originally mistakes his shadow for the ghost of the tombstone that she is looking at. Ras, on the other hand, is visited by the ghosts believed to be his ancestral grandparents. From this setting Ms Britton weaves a wonderfully enchanting love story growing at a leisurely pace clean and sweet. I loved the characters as I grew to know them. I will be thinking of them for many a time to come.
This was another wonderful book written by the talented author, Sally Britton. It is a sweet, clean romance with a couple of ghosts, some buried treasure and mystery and suspense.
Louisa was sent to the North to live with an aunt she’d never met when her mother went to live with a friend after her father’s death and they were left destitute. Louisa had no employable skills and she worried what she would find when she met her aunt. What she found was a wonderfully, sweet and caring woman who was a joy to be around. Her mother had been overbearing and hypercritical of Louisa and wanted to put her on display and have her save them from financial ruin by finding a rich husband. Louisa just wanted to be happy and loved.
On a walk one day, Louisa met Ras, who she believed to be a ghost since he was standing by a tombstone with his name on it. Ras played along initially and found that enjoyed spending time with the lovely lady, Louisa.
I won’t give away more details but I thoroughly enjoyed the pace of this story and was very pleased with the happy ending.
I was initially given an arc of this book but bought a copy because I am sure it is one I will enjoying reading again.
4.5 starts, but I’ll tip it in favor of the five stars on the rating meter because overall I enjoyed the originality that I found in the story. I loved the premise of this story going into it and as I read the aspects with the ghosts and lost treasure were really fun elements that kept me excited to keep on reading. Honestly, the setting and plot make this the perfect book to read during the Autumn season. I found the descriptions to be beautifully done and could easily imagine the weather, scenery, feel of it all.
Ras and Louisa were super fun characters. Both of their character arcs kept in style with the theme of the multi author series which this is a part of (Seasons of Change series, all standalones). They experience a change in their lives that allows them to grow individually as well as together. The only reason why I don’t give this straight up five stars was that after developing the characters so well and building up the excitement of the treasure and the ghosts, the ending felt a little anti-climactic as it finished quickly and left me wanting a bit more. It has a happy ending, but I’ll be honest, it felt a bit abrupt in that it more summed up everything that I was expecting to play out a bit more given the nature of the rest of the story.
The content is clean. The chemistry between Ras and Louisa was so sweet and sincere. The ghosts are not scary or gory, but a fun bit of paranormal that adds a bit of comedy and intrigue to a sweet romance. Definitely worth checking out!
I had thought this book would be very different from Mrs. Britton’s usual with the ghosts and everything, but it’s not. It’s what you would expect from her with a fun ghost element. I loved the ghosts and kept thinking how much I’d enjoy some of my own. Haha. Louisa and Ras were great characters that you couldn’t help falling in love with and rooting for. My only complaint is that I wanted more. I felt it wrapped up too soon and too neatly. I was hoping for a little more conflict. I am happy how things turned out for them, but it just felt almost too easy.
This sweet, clean romance was a delightful story. When I see the word haunting in a book title I think it is going to be spooky but this one was more amusing than anything. Bickering ghosts? They were funny. I would have liked more time with them. I always enjoy Ms. Britton’s writing and this book was no exception.
I loved the main characters. Both Louisa and Erasmus had some growing to do and they kind of did it together. Louisa’s aunt did a lot to help Louisa see she could enjoy her own life instead of living the life her mother imposed for her. And Erasmus learned how to talk to a woman if nothing else. His speech impediment made socializing rather difficult for him. And they solved the mystery together. I think Louisa missed her calling as an investigator because she was good at figuring things out.
I would have been happy to have this story continue longer. As it wrapped up I was disappointed that it was over already. Better to leave people wanting more? I enjoyed it.
No sex, language or violence
*I received a complimentary ARC of this book and voluntarily chose to review it.
I loved this slow and sweet romance set in an isolated village by the Scottish border. Louisa is a bit adrift, but eager to please her aunt and quickly becomes accustomed to her newfound independence. I enjoyed her lovely personality that is steady with a good sense of humor. Ras has been considered an odd duck with his stammer and preference for solitude, and it was wonderful to see his personality unfold as he befriends Louisa and they entertain each other while hunting clues for the legendary hidden treasure. The haunting by the grandparents was whimsical rather than scary, and their vibrant personalities shone through as they subtly encouraged Ras in his endeavors. Ras and Louisa have charming chemistry and their gentle romance was a pleasure to read!
Disclosure statement: A complimentary copy of this book was provided from a tour group, publisher, publicist, or author, including NetGalley, OR was borrowed from the library, including OverDrive, OR borrowed from Kindle Unlimited, OR purchased. A review was not required and all views and opinions expressed are unbiased and my own.
I loved Ras and Louisa. What charming characters and what a fun and delightful story! I love the warm hearts of both main characters as well as the love and humor they shared. The mystery of the treasure was so much fun and a great addition in how it moves the storyline and their relationship along!
Aunt Penrith was a wonderful supporting character and such a catalyst for change in Louisa’s life. Erasmus and lady Elizabeth were so much fun; they reminded me a bit of the ghosts in the old Topper movie which has always kept me in stitches whenever I watched it.
In addition, I also listen to the audiobook version which was so well done. I definitely recommend this one!
An ancient castle, a forgotten graveyard, a ghost (or couple of them), a lost treasure – it all makes this story charming and unforgettable!
The narration is as magical as the story itself!!!
The haunting in this book was not quite what I expected, but it was delightful! I loved the way the author had Erasmus’ (or Ras as he was called to distinguish him from his great-grandfather) ancestors spend time talking to him and helping him through the things he was doing. It kind of made me think, what if our own ancestors were as invested in our lives as his were. Maybe they are and they’re just not as visible. Anyway…
I really liked Louisa. When she went to Harbottle, I think she thought that her life as she knew it was over. But her Aunt Penrith was kind. She had more freedom than she was used to. And there were kind people to meet. People like Ras. I really enjoyed how she thought he was a ghost for a bit. And there was the treasure to search for. It was really fun how she got interested in that and spent time searching.
Ras is a great character too. He put up with his great-grandparents meddling in his life like a champ. And he was a good friend to Louisa when she didn’t seem to have anyone.
I loved this book! Such a great story.
I was sent an e-copy of A Haunting at Havenwood as a gift from the author. All opinions are my own.
Story: 5 stars
I thoroughly enjoyed this story; a set of bickering (delightful) ghosts, a Marquess trying to get on with writing his latest gothic novel, and a poor young lady come to live as a companion to her estranged aunt.
Nothing is as it seems and everything is delightful, with just a touch of the supernatural and some stellar detective work thrown in!
Sally Britton does it again! She tells an enjoyable regency tale with imperfect, lovable main characters and memorable side characters.
I have yet to not just absolutely love a Sally Britton book!
Narrator: 5 stars
Jessica Elisa Boyd is stellar! She does some really authentic-sounding British and Scottish accents/dialects. Her male voices are low enough to be believable and her expressions, pace and acting is top-notch! She makes this book come alive!
*poor, **ok, ***good, ****very good, *****something special
A Haunting at Havenwood was such an interesting read! I loved this spooky listen (even though we are not in that season anymore). Funny thing is, I consider myself a scaredy-cat sort of person, but if one doesn’t listen to the first time the ghosts appear really late at night, then everything flows just nicely. Yes, there are mentions of legends, druids, and several meetings at a cemetery, but none detract from the story nor do they make this story fall into the “horror” genre at all.
Miss Louisa Banner and Erasmus ‘Ras’ Grey were the perfect main characters in this story, as were they perfect for each other. I loved their meet-cute, the ghost charade, and watching them slowly fall for each other was just the cherry on top. I thought it wonderful how they helped strengthen each other’s weaker points as well as how they complemented the other and accepted them just as they were, flaws and all. The fact that Ras was a Gothic author upped the enjoyment factor for me, and I loved how good he was with words.
The narrator did a great job of bringing both of them, as well as all the rest of the cast of characters, to life. She was on point with Ras’s stuttering (she made my heart go out to him and all the mockery he suffered in his life), as well as did a perfect job with the accents, especially the Scottish one from the ghost (kind of hard to follow for a non-native English speaker, but still good!). Of course, her performance of Ras and Louisa’s love story was excellent and had me looking forward to their next interaction.
Overall, this is the kind of story that has a bit of everything for everyone: sweet romance, ghosts, old legends, and a mystery treasure. One can’t go wrong with this one. ~ 5 stars
A delightful audiobook! I increased the play speed so I could finish it quickly. The narrator is the perfect voice to bring this story to life. Darby is a loveable character and pulls the reader right into the mystery. Tate has the right qualities to draw out and balance Darby. Together, they make a great team and I hope that there are more stories with these two. Hallmark does such a great job of making clean, enjoyable stories. I received a complimentary copy from the author and NetGalley and all opinions expressed are my own, freely given.
A Haunting at Havenwood is absolutely delightful! Some of the characters are less than lovely, but those who count (living and dead) make it a lively heart-warming tale. I enjoyed my read from beginning to end! This is certainly a book that I will read again.
What a wonderful ghost story by Sally Britton! A Haunting at Havenwood, Seasons of Change book 6, is so unexpected. Louisa is lovely yet unsure of herself, her value, and her place in the world. I adore her aunt and her kindness. Ras is unique and interesting. I love Louisa and Ras’ first encounter. I think my favorite characters though are Ras’ grandparents. What a fun couple and a great reason for them to show up in Ras’ life. A really fun and cute story that led to true treasure.
I received a complimentary copy of the book. All opinions are my own and are expressed voluntarily.
I love the characters and setting of this book! Ras especially was my favorite. This is the ultimate autumn book, where you just want to curl up in front of the fire and read for hours.
This was such a simple sweet romance. It has a fall feeling with a bit of halloween thrown in for the perfect regency fall read. This got me more in the mood for cooler fall days and warmer clothes. This was a sweet, gentle romance with good hearted kind people. These kind of books are like the icing on the cake for me. I don’t know why I love them so much but I do.
I always enjoy Sally Britton’s books, and I found this one particularly engaging. It’s a sweet, unique twist on historical romance with admirable protagonists, a charming setting, friendly ghosts, and a treasure hunt, too. A delightful October read!
I have to say, first of all, I don’t usually care for stories with ghosts. With that said that said, I thoroughly enjoyed this one. The characters, both alive and the ghosts, were so easy to like . It was fun read how everything evolved into a very happily ever after.