From the author of Kings of Miskatonic Prep, the Amazon top-20 bestselling bully romance series, comes this chilling new dark paranormal reverse harem romance.Ivan, Titus, Dorien.These Bad Boys of Baroque may play like angels, but they’re determined to make my life hell.When my mom got sick, my dreams of a career in music imploded. That is, until Madame Usher wafts into my life like a ghost from … imploded. That is, until Madame Usher wafts into my life like a ghost from the past, offering me the chance to study at the exclusive Manderley Academy – a music school for the most gifted and wealthy.
It’s an offer I can’t refuse—free room and board at the gothic mansion where elite students immerse themselves in mastering their art. But there’s a catch, and it’s a big one.
I’m her slave.
I clean the rooms. I polish the piano keys. I serve her and the three pretentious a-hole guys who rule this school.
I must endure their bullying in silence. Even when they destroy my things, sabotage my performances, and try their best to drive me from Manderley.
Rich. Arrogant. Cruel.
They won’t have the poor little charity case ruining their fun.
They’ve heard me play.
They know I’m a serious contender for the prestigious Manderley Prize.
These broken muses aren’t used to losing, especially to the help.
But they’re not the only ones haunting me.
Something twisted and evil shrouds Manderley Academy. Maybe my bullies are the least of my problems. Maybe Dorien, Ivan, and Titus aren’t the ones behind the strange noises in the walls, the warnings scrawled on my mirror, and the gruesome murders on the school grounds.
Maybe…maybe Manderley’s ghosts are real.
A dark mystery unfolds around musician Faye de Winter in book one of this gripping gothic college reverse harem bully romance by USA Today best-selling author Steffanie Holmes. Warning: Proceed with caution – this tale of three spoiled rich boys with unsettling secrets and the girl who refuses to put up with their shit contains dark themes, a creepy house, a smoldering second-chance romance, college angst, cruel bullies and swoon-worthy sex.
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Ghosted: A gothic reverse harem bully romance (Broken Muses of Manderley Academy Book 1) by Steffanie Holmes is a wonderful story to read. This is book number one in this wonderful start to a brand new series and I can not wait to read the next book in this wonderful series. I highly recommned this story to everyone who loves reading about romantic suspense and paranormal romances.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
An amazing original story. Steffanie creates an immersive and surprising scenario full of music and mystery. What is behind the actions of certain characters? Why is Faye the target of everything is happening at the Manderley mansion? Will Faye shows her talent?
There is only one certainty here, Manderley and its residents keep many secrets and they hold us line after line. And there’s no way to stop reading until the end of the book.
I recommend you read it if you like mystery, ghosts and good music. 🙂
I’m looking forward to the next book.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Ghosted is the first book in Steffanie Holmes new Manderley Academy series and after reading the blurb I was excited to read this book. I am a huge fan of this author so I was, of course, expecting great things.
This book pulls me in from the beginning, but then it has me wondering about quite a few things as the story progresses. Faye’s mother is in the hospital and Faye is struggling to pay the bills for her mother’s care. One day her mother was fine and the next she was struck down by a mysterious illness that none of the doctors could identify. Cue the entrance of someone Faye never expected to see…a woman who wished to be or was her father’s mistress. Faye is offered a prime opportunity…not just for herself, but for her mother as well. She jumps at it, but things are about to take a twist that she never saw coming.
Ghosted is a reverse harem bullying paranormal romance novel. I am an avid reader and lover of paranormal novels and I do enjoy a good reverse harem book as well. I’ll admit that I tend to shy away from bully romance novels, but I was curious to see how this book would play out with the music angle. There is a lot of mystery in this book. Mystery swirls around Faye’s mother’s sickness, the strange happenings at the Manderley mansion, and what is really going on all around Faye. Strange things are going on from creepy noises in the walls, to the destruction of something truly precious to Faye. I’ll admit that I loved these strange occurrences, but I also kept waiting for…more.
Now, I’m probably going to be viewed as really strange for this opinion, but…I had mixed feelings about the bullying in this book. I viewed some of the things that happened as harmless pranks, but, of course, the line gets crossed when something truly precious is destroyed. Question arises though…who…or what…really did it? While Faye does get bullied…she does some bullying herself so she’s not completely viewable as the victim in everything. I’ll even go so far as to say that I did get a bit annoyed with her in one scene for her behavior. I honestly feel that the target of her anger should have been mostly Dorian and less towards the other two since they barely do anything if they do anything at all. So…hence why I said I had mixed feelings about it all.
This book has a couple of steamy scenes, but they aren’t overly graphic or too in-depth. They are in enjoyable, but I was hoping for a bit more and for them to be a bit more…balanced. They seem a bit rushed. I get that Faye is attracted to the guys and vice versa, but I feel that she accepts things a bit too quickly. I’m waiting for some real drama to kick up that will threaten her being able to stay. Hopefully, that will occur in the next book.
For now, I am rating this book 4 out of 5 stars. This book is classified as a paranormal book, but I didn’t get as much of that as I would have liked. Odd occurrences, weird noises, unexplained happenings…it’s a start, but I’m ready for something bigger to happen and reveal some secrets to Faye as to what is going on in that house. I truly did enjoy this book, but I’m hopeful that the next book will be a bit more balanced and have less of the teenage pranks. If you enjoy a good bully romance novel then I’m sure that you’ll enjoy this book, as it is a good start to a new series.
What can I say about this first book in this new series except for WOW!!! Totally brilliant. Loved it!! Who can’t love three gorgeous bad boys and beautiful Faye. Faye ends up at Manderley Academy after her mother gets very ill and is now in a coma. She is recruited by the evil Madame Usher who once had an affair with Faye’s father. He then did a bunk. He was also a world-renowned violinist and Faye also has his talent for the violin. She and her mother have no money left as it has all gone on medical bills. But she is recruited for a reason but what is it really? And who does she find at the academy but Dorien, her childhood friend who told her he didn’t want to see her anymore and left her life. But he had his reasons for doing this. There is also Ivan and Titus, who along with Dorien, form the Broken Muse Boys, an extremely talented music group. But why do they have it in for Faye? Mysteries. Lots of mysteries. Ghosts? Mysterious music in the middle of the night. Noises in the walls. Danger for Faye. I cannot wait to start the next book in this series. If it is as good as this one then it is also a winner.
Ghosted by Steffanie Holmes is the First book in the Broken Muses of Manderley Academy Series. This starts the story of Faye de Winter. Faye dreams of being a successful Violinist. But that seems to end when her mother gets sick and of course money is a issue. But then Madame Usher offers her both a job and the chance to learn at the Manderley Academy. Faye has to be pretty much a slave to her job just to have this chance. Of course some that isn’t going to be the worst of it when Ivan, Titus & Dorien set out to bully her around. This is a bully, reverse harem with a Cinderella theme story and does end with a cliffhanger setting us up for the next installment.
Violinist Faye de Winter is about to have her life turned upside down by her old music instructor Madame Usher whom claims she wants to help her and all she has to do is come to her Academy and work for her lessons and her keep. Faye is aware that something is going on but she is unsure what it might be, but she agrees because of her mother’s health and a promise of top care. Faye encounters an old friend from childhood who just happens to be at the same Academy that she is attending when he shouldn’t be there at all nor should his closest friends. But there is a lot more on her plate. Book 1 of this new series.
I was given ARC as a gift by the author without obligation, I am providing an honest review.
Ghosted!
Faye De Winter is a promising violinist. Her father was talented and she is as well. Her father left her mother for Madame Usher the proprietor of a Music Academy for gifted students, Manderlay Academy. Faye’s father then disappeared.
Since then it has been Faye and her Mom. Faye’s mom gets sick and Faye’s world falls apart. They lose their home, business and way of life. Faye has to go to school and visit her mother who is in a coma. This leaves her very little time to practice her violin and advance her studies. They have fallen on hard times.
Then Madame Usher visits Faye and offers her a way to study her music and attend the prestigious Manderlay Academy. She will have to be a servant to the other students, cooking and cleaning all while attending classes.
She is bullied and her precious violin is destroyed. Faye fights back against the three hot guys Dorien, Ivan and Titus. There is an attraction and they are hard to resist.
Everyone is keeping secrets. What are they and how are they entwined with each other? Why does Madame Usher hate Faye? Will Faye’s mom survive the poisoning? Are there really ghosts?
This book was a page turner! So much going on and you are not able to put it down. It is a reverse harem but the mysteries surrounding the characters draws you in. Who is Madame Usher and what does she hold over these musicians? Be forewarned there is a cliff hanger and oh my, I am dying to know what comes next!
This book was great. I was pulled into the story from the start and was kept pulled in throughout. It’s a very well written book with well written characters. I’m definitely looking forward to the next book. I recommend reading.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Faye was a music protege, but her dreams die when her mother went into a coma, the only person whom was to help was the woman who had an affair with Fayes father. Faye is able to go Manderley school but has to be a slave to her. By cleaning the rooms and other things. Faye is bullied by Ivan, Dorian, Titus, they would do anything to destroy faye performance and life. And to add on worst and worser life there might be a ghost. This was a great read. I. highly recommend it
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Someone is out to get Faye and her mom. But why? Faye is talented and had to leave was a prestigious music academy afterl her father had an affair with the co-owner, Madame Usher, and then disappeared. For years she and her mother struggled then her mother went to college and had a successfull career but is now in a coma due to an illness no one can diagnose. Then out of the blue her former teacher and the woman who had an affair with her father promises to put her mom in a better hospital and let her come back to the academy if she will agree to cook and clean. But something isn’t right with the school and all six of the other students are tormenting her, especially a boy who was her friend years ago and then threw her away. And she keeps hearing music and bumps in the night near her room. Is there a ghost in the mansiion? And who murdered the previous maid. The police believe she was pushed down the stairs. Was it one of her tormentors? An then she finds out her mother had slowly been poisoned over time. Who has it out for she and her mom? They have never hurt any of these people and never knew any of them except Dorien and Madame Usher. I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Ghosted is the first book in the Broken Muses of Manderley Academy series and absolutely incredible! This is my first book by this author and certainly won’t be my last. This book is filled with secrets, bullying, steam, mystery, and twists you don’t expect. The storyline was engaging and entertaining, and the characters were intriguing and complex, making this a page turner of a read and one I highly recommend. I’m looking forward to reading the next book!
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Received ARC from BookSprout for Honest Review.
I Give this Book a 3.5-4/5 Star Rating, Listing as 4.
Cliffhanger(?): Yes!
No Spoilers.
Heat: 3.5/5, it did feel a bit rushed in some sections though.
Romance(?): No Rating? More Like Lust Lol
Dark(?): 2/5 (to me)
Drama & Suspense: 4/5
Relationship Type: RH – Reverse Harem
I really see this as a potential anime, cause I can visualize it as such.
This book goes one way and then it goes another, not in a bad way but you definitely need to keep focus.
It kinda feels a bit…fast paced.
It’s also a bit dramatic which even though fits, it does feel a bit over excessive.
The paranormal-esc aspect is very interesting!
Looking forward to Book 2!
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
First off let me share this ends in a cliff hanger so be ready for that. But know this book is so good it will have you scratching your head and wondering things. Just when you think you have figured out “Who done it” you will discover that the answer in your mind is not possible. I love the style and writing of author Steffanie Holmes as it took me away from my own thoughts and had me escaping to Manderley Academy. Even though I might not want to go there in the dark again. An Avid reader who reviews every book that I read as a way to thank the authors for their gifts of words.
Spiteful students & a vicious Headmistress – Madame Usher make Faye’s (FMC) life a living hell in this book. When she accepts a job Manderley Academy. A job she has no choice but to accept for the sake of her mother & to further her studies to become a violist with free lessons. Like Cinderella Faye is treated like a servant and worse than dirt by the students. The worse being – Ivan, Titus & Dorien. Who all seem hell bent on breaking her. I love how strong and resilient Faye is. Not letting anyone get the better of her and fiercely loyal she is to her mother. My mind is struggling to work out everything that that happened in this book. Omg so much to keep in my mind. Horrible Headmistresses, Ghosts, Murder, Bullying snide students………..the list goes on. It was so flaming good!! I cant praise it up enough. Bring on book 2………..quickly please!!!!
Ghosted: A gothic reverse harem bully romance (Broken Muses of Manderley Academy Book 1) Kindle Edition
by Steffanie Holmes
I borrowed this book via the Kindle Unlimited program and am leaving a fair and honest review.
Buy this book. Read this book. Right now. I’ll wait.
No one was safe at Manderley…
We all wore masks at Manderley. It seemed the only time we stripped ourselves bare was when we played.
It is always a good sign when you read the inner flap blurb and get the warm fuzzies. Ms. Holmes brings her unique talent for folding in bits and pieces of a genre to the Gothic Ghost Story. And you know those warm fuzzies? When I saw Madame Usher, my inner Gothic girl just squeeeed all over the place.
In the first few pages, we are gifted with references to Oscar Wilde, Daphne Du Maurier and Edgar Allen Poe. In just a few pages in the beginning, Ms. Holmes manages to create a Gothic atmosphere, something that other authors take chapters or entire books to do. The atmosphere of the house and of its occupants is delightfully creepy! The story has the feel of great and classic stories like The Yellow Wallpaper. There is a sense that something is happening but is it real. Ms. Holmes even brings in more modern Gothic/horror writers with references to Joe Hill.
Ms. Holmes also creates some of the best inside voice insults I’ve seen in a long, long time. Dickweasal remains one of my favorites. Ms. Holmes takes at least one opportunity at shameless, but adorable self-promotion with Faye, our heroine, reading the Lovecraftian RH Bully series, Miskatonic Prep.
Faye De Winter is a musical genius who used to have it all until her mother becomes mysteriously ill. In order to take care of her brilliant entrepreneur mother, she sells everything and gives up on her possible future as a classical musician. Until her former music teacher, the famed Madame Usher offers her the chance to study at her famous, prestigious school. But at price. Faye will replace the recently dead maid as a servant. She readily agrees. She finds herself the focus of three of the students, Ivan, Titus and Dorien. Dorien was once her best friend. Now, all three try to chase her away from the school while protecting their secrets. Can the tension between Faye and the three bad boys end in anything but a disaster?
The sensory impressions, from the unique scents of the boys to the emotions and feelings that classical music gives to its lovers and beloved musicians carve the story into the soul of the readers. Rich, haunting and every bit as Baroque as the music this book showcases.
Reverse Harem meets the lovechild of Henry James, Edgar Allen Poe and Daphne Du Maurier.
5 stars out of 5
https://www.amazon.com/Ghosted-reverse-romance-Manderley-Academy-ebook/dp/B083BF7YZG
This story was well written, engaging, and I love how the author always adds a little paranormal to each series! I loved Miskontic Prep, and this new series so far is turning out just as good! Cant wait for the next book!
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Faye de Winter is a musician with dreams of the concert stage, bu when her mom gets sick her dream dies. Or does it? Out of the blue she is offered a chance to study at the prestigious Manderly Academy, a school for young, classical musicians. Her opportunity comes with strings, she is basically a slave for the woman who runs the academy, and the six other students. Three of the students are members of the wildly popular musical group known as the Broken Muses. Dorien was a friend to Faye at one time, as well as Ivan, and Titus, all of whom are sinfully good looking, and also responsible for the bullying Faye receives at the hands of the other students.
Wow, mystery, suspense, bullying, a haunting, and some dark, unexpected, and surprising twists in the plot. I think this is a must read. Definitely complicated, but at the same time compelling, lets not forget sizzling hot, characters most of whom seem to be caught up, and trapped in a scheme with a dark figure pulling the strings. Fantastic book, I loved it!
I am voluntarily leaving an honest and non-incentivized review of this ARC.