It’s time to read the spooky stories to celebrate the Halloween season. And what’s better than a ghost story to scare yourself? A ghost romance. Tales of love across the veil of life and death and tales of love found by those surrounding the veil of life and death. We’ve compiled a list of seven ghost romances for you to read this season.
Ghost Huntress: The Awakening by Marley Gibson
Published May 4th, 2009, Ghost Huntress: The Awakening is the first book in a trilogy about a young girl, Kendall, who moves to a rural area from Chicago. When she moves to the historical town of Radisson, Georgia, Kendall begins to develop psychic abilities, which she then uses to investigate the ghosts that remain in her small town. This book has it all, the paranormal and technical side of hunting, friendships as well as a budding romance.
The reviews of Ghost Huntress: The Awakening, vary in ratings, from two to five stars. If you enjoy a good paranormal ghost story that is written with an understanding of the technical side of hunting, teenage angst, and romance, then this is the story for you. Of course, you should also be prepared for pop culture references for 2009, in this fresh and unique but slightly predictable ghost tale. To see the full reviews on Goodreads reviews click here, and to see the full Amazon reviews click here.
The Duke’s Ghost Bride by Fanny Finch
Published October 4th, 2022, The Duke’s Ghost Bride is a genius plot featuring a witty, daring, and funny main character, Elaine, that creates an endearing story that is delightful to read. Finch’s story begins with a runaway bride that seeks refuge in a nearby castle and uses the castle’s ghost story to her benefit. Now I won’t tell you how she does this, because who wants spoilers? But don’t just take my word for it, see what reviewers had to say about Finch’s work.
Reviewers from both Goodreads and Amazon have said that Finch’s story captured their attention from the very first page. Finch’s characters are well-developed and the plot intriguing with a hint of the paranormal. Even those that don’t normally enjoy paranormal elements found this book to be enthralling because of the well-written plot and character development.
A Ghost of a Chance by Donna Hatch
Published September 29th, 2022, A Ghost of a Chance is an enthralling tale of loss, redemption, and love. After suffering a loss, the main character, a young lady begins to search for her missing brother when she meets a soldier and begins to hope for more than loneliness. While seeking redemption for his past mistakes, a retired Calvary captain unable to escape the memories of war, finds hope in an entrancing young lady.
Published just this year, A Ghost of a Chance does not have many reviews but was rated with five stars by Mary Herrera. Herrera stated that Hatch’s story was an achingly sweet and melancholic romance that is quite satisfying. See Herrera’s full review here, and check out the author and editor reviews on Amazon here.
Possession by Lisa Demers
Possession is a fairly new ghost romance published just last year on October 26th. Demers has written a tale of love found between a young lady, who has the ability to see spirits, and a spy for the royal family. As Luke, our spy, and Scarlett set about catching a criminal, a romance between them begins to bloom. But will they be torn apart by the curse upon Luke’s family? You’ll have to read Possession to find out all the juicy details.
Demers’ novel is written flawlessly, with the paranormal aspect woven into a compelling plot. Her novel details are immersive and well-developed across the board. From the story to the characters, every detail is well-planned for a thrilling read that will keep you up well into the night. To see the full review of Possession click here.
Haunted on Bourbon Street by Deanna Chase
Deanna Chase’s novel Haunted on Bourbon Street, was published on December 4th, 2013. Jade, the main character, has moved to New Orleans but her apartment is haunted which is assumed wouldn’t be a problem. That is until the ghost decides to terrorize her friend, and she has to use her empathic gift to determine what he wants before her friend gets hurt.
Now the reviews for Chase’s novel are a mixture. A few of the reviewers loved her book for its intriguing plot and paranormal aspects. But it seems that despite the magic, spells, and spirits, the storyline had random time jumps that left quite a few readers confused. But don’t let me sway you one way or the other, check out the reader reviews on both Amazon and Goodreads for more information about Haunted on Bourbon Street.
Ghosts of Lovers Past by Bethany Sefchick
Bringing you another ghost-hunting story with a twist is Bethany Sefchick. Published on December 29th, 2020, Ghosts of Lovers Past is a love story that spans not only time but the veil of death. Rose, Sefchick’s main character, is a murdered ghost who cannot find peace because her murder remains unsolved. But hope comes in the form of her reincarnated husband. Ironically, the reincarnation of her husband, Justin, doesn’t believe in reincarnation, or ghosts even though he’s a ghost hunter. Maybe that’s because Rose is the first ghost he’s actually seen. But how will they get their happily ever after if Rose is already dead? Guess you’ll have to read Ghosts of Lovers Past and find out how their story unfolds.
Reviewers of Sefchick love her novel for its complex storytelling and well-developed characters. Her reviews show that readers are huge fans of her strong, independent, and complicated female characters. Ghosts of Lovers Past is written to tell the tale of love across a century through the memories of Sefchick’s characters creating a well-told and intriguing story that her readers have fallen in love with. To see the full reader reviews for Amazon click here and for Goodreads reviews click here.
The Monster Mash by Angie Fox
The Monster Mash is packed with action and adventure, suspense and mystery while throwing in some angst, humor, and romance. Fox’s main character, Dr. Petra, is a mash surgeon, recruited for a war started by the ancient gods which should be fine and all but she has a secret. A secret that would mean her death if anyone found out. She can see ghosts. But can she keep this secret while dealing with the dying on a daily basis? You’ll have to read The Monster Mash to find out.
Reviewers had quite a divided opinion on Fox’s story. Most seemed to be in favor of her writing style and well-developed characters. But it seems others struggled with the balance of her story, as the character development took a while, and even then the inner conflict was repetitive. But don’t take my word for it, check out the reviews on Amazon and Goodreads for yourself.
There are quite a few ghost stories out there to read for the Halloween season, but if you’re looking for someplace to start, check out these seven.
For more spooky season book recommendations from us at Bookstr, click here!