** Previously found in VEXED**Lady Cassandra Priske sees dead people…not all the time, but occasionally. When her family is summoned to Castle Keyvnor for the reading of her great uncle’s will, Cassy is more than terrified. After all, the castle is famous for its hauntings. But the very last person, dead or alive, she expects to find there is the rakish Lord. St. Giles. After all, she spent the … spent the last season hiding from that very man.
Jack Hazleton, Baron St. Giles, has been skirt chasing most of his life. However, over the last year, he’s only been chasing one set of skirts. Unfortunately, Lady Cassandra always eludes his grasp and has become an expert at hiding from him. But when he learns she’ll be attending her great-uncle’s will reading, he manages an invite for himself, wagering that she’s finally run out of places to hide.
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*I originally read this novella in the “Vexed” Anthology**
Cassandra and Jack’s story was more along the lines of what I was expecting in this collection – lots of steam, ghosts and interaction with other characters featured in the other books. The only thing I didn’t care for was Jack’s willingness to walk away from Cassy because he thought she might be mad. But he does redeem himself and I could almost forgive his stupidness.
*I am voluntarily leaving a review for an eARC that was provided to me by NetGalley and the Publisher*
Lord & Lady Widcombe travel to Castle Keyvnor with their two daughters, Samantha, Cassandra & youngest son Tobias for the will reading of Lord Widcombe’s uncle. Lady Cassandra Priske also has her black poodle, Oscar with her., Cassy is more than terrified. After all, the castle is famous for its hauntings & she does see a man dressed all in black watching her as they arrive. But the very last person, dead or alive, she expects to find there is the rakish Jack Hazelwood, Lord. St. Giles, heir to the Duke of Margate. whom she spent the last season hiding from. Jack has travelled to the Castle with his friend Lord Michael Beck. Jack has been attracted to Cassy from the first time he saw her defending a friend.
We get to meet some of the relatives & their friends who have arrived for the will reading & I look forward to reading their stories. The chemistry between Jack & Cassy was hot & their characters well developed for a novella. However it is Oscar that steals the book. This is a well-written novella that kept me engrossed. I originally read it as part of the Vexed book of three novellas but it was so good it deserved it’s own review
This book for me had a lot of potential it was enjoyable to read; the book also had a quirky cast of characters. For me I like the persistence of Lord Giles and Lady Cassandra was slightly meek but a dear nonetheless. So let talk about this ending I felt like the writer was like nope I’m done and just dropped us off with a runaway. The epilogue was I guess to let you know they made their getaway and marriage but that last chapter was a let down. I received this book from NetGalley and this was my honest review.
Do you believe in ghosts? Well Lady Cassandra Priske does because she has seen them most of her life! When her family is summoned to Keyvnor Castle for the reading of her great uncle’s will, she knows the tales are true it being haunted when she sees an aberration in the window upon arrival. What she doesn’t expect to find is Lord Jack St Giles, a notorious rake who she has spent a year avoiding. But Jack came expressly to see her and try to win her over because she is all he has been able to think about. When ghosts start appearing that only Cassy can see and her family are trying to keep it secret in case she is thought mad, Jack begins to wonder what is really going on. As Jack spends time with Cassy and her adorable poodle Oscar (yes he steals the show at times!) his feelings only strength. But what is really happening to Cassy? Are there really spirits only she can see?
This is a delightful novella that kept my attention with the development between the main characters and all the wonderful secondary characters. I could not keep from smiling and wondering what was gong to happen! You will really enjoy this tale and will want to read more by Ava Stone.