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Spirits #1
Restless Spirits
After losing the family fortune to a fraudulent psychic, inventor Henry Strauss is determined to bring the otherworld under control through the application of science. All he needs is a genuine haunting to prove his Electro-Séance will work. A letter from wealthy industrialist Dominic Gladfield seems the answer to his prayers. Gladfield’s a contest pitting science against spiritualism, with a hefty prize for the winner.
The contest takes Henry to Reyhome Castle, the site of a series of brutal murders decades earlier. There he meets his rival for the prize, the dangerously appealing Vincent Night. Vincent is handsome, charming…and determined to get Henry into bed.
Henry can’t afford to fall for a spirit medium, let alone the competition. But nothing in the haunted mansion is quite as it seems, and soon winning the contest is the least of Henry’s concerns.
For the evil stalking the halls of Reyhome Castle wants to claim not just Henry and Vincent’s lives, but their very souls.
69,409 words - 2174 KB
The contest takes Henry to Reyhome Castle, the site of a series of brutal murders decades earlier. There he meets his rival for the prize, the dangerously appealing Vincent Night. Vincent is handsome, charming…and determined to get Henry into bed.
Henry can’t afford to fall for a spirit medium, let alone the competition. But nothing in the haunted mansion is quite as it seems, and soon winning the contest is the least of Henry’s concerns.
For the evil stalking the halls of Reyhome Castle wants to claim not just Henry and Vincent’s lives, but their very souls.
69,409 words - 2174 KB
218 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 6, 2015
84 people are currently reading
2016 people want to read
About the author
Jordan L. Hawk
84 books2,634 followersJordan L. Hawk is a trans author from North Carolina. Childhood tales of mountain ghosts and mysterious creatures gave him a life-long love of things that go bump in the night. When he isn’t writing, he brews his own beer and tries to keep the cats from destroying the house. His best-selling Whyborne & Griffin series (beginning with Widdershins) can be found in print, ebook, and audiobook.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 450 reviews
February 16, 2016
I do love Jordan L Hawk's books and this is no exception. Masterful blend of scariness and sexiness. The concept of the rival ghost hunters, scientific and occult, is pure genius and I am deeply annoyed I didn't think of it, but delighted that a) Jordan has such excellent ideas and b) it's a series! Henry is adorable and the supporting cast (a huge strength of this author) are fascinating and I hope we hear lots more. Loved it.
June 25, 2019
Audio - 5 stars
Story - 3.5 stars round up for diversity
The spooky stuff was fun, but I need more convincing as far as the romance is concerned. There wasn't enough build up or tension. I'm hoping I can feel more connection between the MCs in the next book.
Story - 3.5 stars round up for diversity
The spooky stuff was fun, but I need more convincing as far as the romance is concerned. There wasn't enough build up or tension. I'm hoping I can feel more connection between the MCs in the next book.
January 14, 2015
Written January 13, 2015
4 Spooky Stars - Booo!! - A very promising start to a new series by a favorite writer
New modern technology and science versus old faith and questioned mysterious inner medium qualities. A hot but also impressive scary mess.
Stunning action-packed horror entertainment once again from the remarkable ghost master, Ms. Jordan L. Hawk (the superb 'Whyborne & Griffin" and 'Spectr' series 'writer).
***********************************************************
A yummy but also horrifying ghosts tale starts. - It all takes place on Reyhome Castle, the site of a series of brutal murders decades earlier, in north east U.S. - ..more than 100 years ago.
It creaks and cracks between the cobwebs, dust and old blood stains...
Restless Spirits is about the inventor Henry Strauss from Baltimore who is quite eager and determined to bring the otherworld under control through the application of science. All he needs is a genuine haunting to prove his Electro-Séance will work.
Henry is poor and the lack of money, reputation and honor —and his responsibilities for his young female (dark skinned) cousin, Miss Jo Strauss— makes him very happy when he gets an invitation to an contest.
“Pitting science against spiritualism”
...with a hefty ($500) prize for the winner.
Henry's rival for the prize is the dangerously appealing New York’er Vincent Night. Vincent is not just a stunning handsome and sexy charming man (‘.. a Red Indian, his skin bronze and his black hair thick and shining’) he is also a very talanted spiritualist medium. To add is he now also determined to get this dull "(smarty pants") inventor Henry, into a big warm bed.
However, Vincent has a big problem, he can easily make contact with spirits and ghosts, but he fears them. His and his medium partner, Miss Devereaux's honor is at stake: Vincent have to bite the bullet, he must face this scary opportunity.
***********************************************************
To try to explain what is happening here is next to impossible but very short: This is a story in grand Jordan L. Hawk style about an ghost hunting adventure in an old haunted house.
An old dusty house and seven visitors
That is for sure as made for a horror tale. There are deep secrets and shadowy intrigues. There are mysterious sounds, myths told about the dead and some scary weird accidents. Our characters are in danger from start to finish.
...Simply an freaking exhausting scary read.
I enjoyed naturally all sweet romantic parts best.
This new Hawk couple feels like a winner already. I can't wait to meet them again and get more of them.There are of course some cozy moments here, when they steal an minute from the ghosts to some yummy snuggling kisses up there in the bedrooms, but I want more. Much more!
An extra round of applause for this author who show us the then-current ugly discrimination problems against dark-skinned people in the U.S. I can't but still feel a bit shocked about it. What a dark world for some people. I just hope that 'those problems' are more or less over by now. (I guess that this story takes place around year 1900.)
***********************************************************
~ It will be fun to meet Henry and Vincent and their two "ladies" in the future.
I LIKE - when it's creepy and also very nicely sweet
********
A buddyread with Bev, Sofia and Andrea (thread). Thanks Ladies - you finished days ago but it was fun as long as it lasted...
4 Spooky Stars - Booo!! - A very promising start to a new series by a favorite writer
New modern technology and science versus old faith and questioned mysterious inner medium qualities. A hot but also impressive scary mess.
Stunning action-packed horror entertainment once again from the remarkable ghost master, Ms. Jordan L. Hawk (the superb 'Whyborne & Griffin" and 'Spectr' series 'writer).
***********************************************************
A yummy but also horrifying ghosts tale starts. - It all takes place on Reyhome Castle, the site of a series of brutal murders decades earlier, in north east U.S. - ..more than 100 years ago.
It creaks and cracks between the cobwebs, dust and old blood stains...
Restless Spirits is about the inventor Henry Strauss from Baltimore who is quite eager and determined to bring the otherworld under control through the application of science. All he needs is a genuine haunting to prove his Electro-Séance will work.
Henry is poor and the lack of money, reputation and honor —and his responsibilities for his young female (dark skinned) cousin, Miss Jo Strauss— makes him very happy when he gets an invitation to an contest.
“Pitting science against spiritualism”
...with a hefty ($500) prize for the winner.
Henry's rival for the prize is the dangerously appealing New York’er Vincent Night. Vincent is not just a stunning handsome and sexy charming man (‘.. a Red Indian, his skin bronze and his black hair thick and shining’) he is also a very talanted spiritualist medium. To add is he now also determined to get this dull "(smarty pants") inventor Henry, into a big warm bed.
“You’ve a fascinating mind. You don’t think the way everyone else does, and I find you intriguing.”
However, Vincent has a big problem, he can easily make contact with spirits and ghosts, but he fears them. His and his medium partner, Miss Devereaux's honor is at stake: Vincent have to bite the bullet, he must face this scary opportunity.
***********************************************************
To try to explain what is happening here is next to impossible but very short: This is a story in grand Jordan L. Hawk style about an ghost hunting adventure in an old haunted house.
An old dusty house and seven visitors
That is for sure as made for a horror tale. There are deep secrets and shadowy intrigues. There are mysterious sounds, myths told about the dead and some scary weird accidents. Our characters are in danger from start to finish.
...Simply an freaking exhausting scary read.
I enjoyed naturally all sweet romantic parts best.
This new Hawk couple feels like a winner already. I can't wait to meet them again and get more of them.There are of course some cozy moments here, when they steal an minute from the ghosts to some yummy snuggling kisses up there in the bedrooms, but I want more. Much more!
“When we first met, I thought you a self-aggrandizing prick. I was wrong.”
‘God. Henry had known it was insane. Known he should hold firm, make it clear there were to be no more intimacies of any kind between them. But confronted with the warmth of those dark eyes, the roguish curve of that smile, he’d crumbled.'
An extra round of applause for this author who show us the then-current ugly discrimination problems against dark-skinned people in the U.S. I can't but still feel a bit shocked about it. What a dark world for some people. I just hope that 'those problems' are more or less over by now. (I guess that this story takes place around year 1900.)
***********************************************************
~ It will be fun to meet Henry and Vincent and their two "ladies" in the future. I LIKE - when it's creepy and also very nicely sweet
********
A buddyread with Bev, Sofia and Andrea (thread). Thanks Ladies - you finished days ago but it was fun as long as it lasted...
September 11, 2016
Jordan L. Hawk does it again! This was a sexy, scary treat and I loved it to pieces. It has all the charm and thrills of Hawk's other books, but this one adds in some meditations on race and gender that are surprisingly rare in m/m reads. Great fun and highly recommended.
July 3, 2021
Audiobook - 5+++stars
Story - 3.5 stars
Story - 3.5 stars
October 14, 2021
Henry Strauss has spent most of his life plotting revenge on mediums. Duped as a teenager, both romantically and financially, he has made it his life's work to demonstrate the superiority of scientific methods over medium powers. He was certain that the Physical Society would appreciate his efforts, but with no ghost to banish, things are looking rather grim.
Vincent Night's Native-American ancestry has always made him ripe for discrimination, but his skills as a medium have eventually opened doors into the homes of rich and bereaved. Unfortunately, his mentor's unexpected and brutal death has put a serious damper on his career.
Enter Dominic Gladfield, who challenges our protagonists to a ghost banishing contest: whoever manages to make his haunted mansion fit for tourists, will win $500, and quite a bit of professional credit.
For years now, I've been yearning for the perfect novel to terrorize me, but just couldn't seem to get into all the gore and blood. I mean, I'd certainly find it all disgusting, but the creepy little shiver down my spine was missing. Little did I realize, that I was looking in the wrong genre. My imagination had no interest in the odd severed limb, spraying buckets and buckets of blood. Oh no, it was craving the corny and rather cliched hint of white nightgowns fluttering around dark corners, the soft suggestion of unwelcome touches, and of course the icy cold spots so typical of... ghost stories!
And boy, did Mr. Hawk deliver here! There was the dreary mansion with a tragic past, the ghosts that refused to let the living be, the living that were only too happy to take scrupulous advantage of the haunting to do their own misdeeds. All wrapped in the most deliciously creepy Victorian Gothic atmosphere...Or you know, whatever the American equivalent for the period is.
In any case, I was definitely wary of reading in the dark, especially with a cat intent on using my stomach as a trampoline, during key scenes. She's got a 6th sense for these things. I tell ya!
As for the romance, it was not quite there. Oh sure, Henry and Vincent have definite chemistry, and I greatly appreciated the latter's unapologetic flirting, but... I was looking for a bit more electricity as opposed to purple prose, between the two. In a metaphorical sense I mean, because when it came to literal electricity, the ghosts of the mansion certainly contributed their fair share of sizzling.
Score: 3.2/5 stars
Came for the romance, stayed for the ghosts.
===================
Review of book 2: Dangerous Spirits
review of book 3: Guardian Spirits
Vincent Night's Native-American ancestry has always made him ripe for discrimination, but his skills as a medium have eventually opened doors into the homes of rich and bereaved. Unfortunately, his mentor's unexpected and brutal death has put a serious damper on his career.
Enter Dominic Gladfield, who challenges our protagonists to a ghost banishing contest: whoever manages to make his haunted mansion fit for tourists, will win $500, and quite a bit of professional credit.
For years now, I've been yearning for the perfect novel to terrorize me, but just couldn't seem to get into all the gore and blood. I mean, I'd certainly find it all disgusting, but the creepy little shiver down my spine was missing. Little did I realize, that I was looking in the wrong genre. My imagination had no interest in the odd severed limb, spraying buckets and buckets of blood. Oh no, it was craving the corny and rather cliched hint of white nightgowns fluttering around dark corners, the soft suggestion of unwelcome touches, and of course the icy cold spots so typical of... ghost stories!
And boy, did Mr. Hawk deliver here! There was the dreary mansion with a tragic past, the ghosts that refused to let the living be, the living that were only too happy to take scrupulous advantage of the haunting to do their own misdeeds. All wrapped in the most deliciously creepy Victorian Gothic atmosphere...Or you know, whatever the American equivalent for the period is.
In any case, I was definitely wary of reading in the dark, especially with a cat intent on using my stomach as a trampoline, during key scenes. She's got a 6th sense for these things. I tell ya!
As for the romance, it was not quite there. Oh sure, Henry and Vincent have definite chemistry, and I greatly appreciated the latter's unapologetic flirting, but... I was looking for a bit more electricity as opposed to purple prose, between the two. In a metaphorical sense I mean, because when it came to literal electricity, the ghosts of the mansion certainly contributed their fair share of sizzling.
Score: 3.2/5 stars
Came for the romance, stayed for the ghosts.
===================
Review of book 2: Dangerous Spirits
review of book 3: Guardian Spirits
September 18, 2015
This is my second attempt reading this book. The first time was back earlier this year when it was just released. Maybe I wasn't in the right frame of mind because I couldn't even pass Chapter 1. So I put it aside. Since then, a couple of my RL friends have read this: one liked it just okay, the other one didn't. So I got their opinions about it. Then book #2 was released couple of days ago and I thought I should give it a second look. This is Jordan L. Hawk's book, we're talking about :)
Well, it worked!! I guess sometimes a book needs the right 'moment' and this was one of the case.
I'm going to be honest, the main characters especially Henry Strauss and Elizabeth Devereux weren't easy to like. Henry was bordering snobbish and judgy towards all mediums while Elizabeth was also a bit cold. Duly noted they both had valid reasons to react like they did: Henry because he lost his family fortune to a fraud medium while Elizabeth had a totally different problem (which you must read by yourself, since I thought it was brilliant). Compared to them, I found Vincent Night was easier to like -- although the most darling character here was definitely Jo Strauss, Henry's black cousin slash assistant.
Having said that, because I have been pretty much 'warned' by those two friends of mine, I was also able to put a kind of 'distance' towards the characters. Meaning that I was able to enjoy the snappish behavior from Henry or Elizabeth as well as Henry's penchant to keep repeating that science was better than human as pure entertainment. I was actually amused with their rivalry and kept wondering who was going to 'win' the contest to get rid of the ghosts. I thought it was cute ^o^.
On top of that, I also very much enjoyed the ghost hunting part. It was creepy but it was good.
I'm looking forward to the next adventure of these people :)
Well, it worked!! I guess sometimes a book needs the right 'moment' and this was one of the case.
I'm going to be honest, the main characters especially Henry Strauss and Elizabeth Devereux weren't easy to like. Henry was bordering snobbish and judgy towards all mediums while Elizabeth was also a bit cold. Duly noted they both had valid reasons to react like they did: Henry because he lost his family fortune to a fraud medium while Elizabeth had a totally different problem (which you must read by yourself, since I thought it was brilliant). Compared to them, I found Vincent Night was easier to like -- although the most darling character here was definitely Jo Strauss, Henry's black cousin slash assistant.
Having said that, because I have been pretty much 'warned' by those two friends of mine, I was also able to put a kind of 'distance' towards the characters. Meaning that I was able to enjoy the snappish behavior from Henry or Elizabeth as well as Henry's penchant to keep repeating that science was better than human as pure entertainment. I was actually amused with their rivalry and kept wondering who was going to 'win' the contest to get rid of the ghosts. I thought it was cute ^o^.
On top of that, I also very much enjoyed the ghost hunting part. It was creepy but it was good.
I'm looking forward to the next adventure of these people :)
December 19, 2014
I have never hidden my love for Jordan L. Hawk's writing. To do so would be like trying to keep the sun concealed under an umbrella. Not only would it be a neat trick, the umbrella would go up in flames. Just as it would trying to hide the sheer magnificence of Hawk’s writing.
Restless Spirits launches Hawk’s new series, Spirits and damn, what a great launch it is. Vincent and Henry are at odds, both philosophically, Henry is a scientist where Vincent is a spiritualist, and socially as Vincent is a Native American man during a time when being darker than a flushed beige relegated a person to the “lesser” column. However, Henry isn’t one to let social constructs guide his behaviour, not where race is concerned.
Homosexuality, during the heyday of an alternative universe’s Industrial Revolution , is a different matter altogether.
The story is a tightly knit, nearly single-room adventure reminiscent of Agatha Christie’s And Then There Were None. Caught in a paranormal mystery complete with murderous ghosts and stolen bits of forbidden love, Hawk crafts a damned good tale of scientific theory, spiritualism and simmering sexuality. This is definitely an origin story of a couple of men who first are at odds and then only find their footing when working together.
I’m looking so forward to seeing where we’re taken in the rest of this series. Fantastic writing, great characters and burgeoning tension as only Jordan L. Hawk can deliver.
Restless Spirits launches Hawk’s new series, Spirits and damn, what a great launch it is. Vincent and Henry are at odds, both philosophically, Henry is a scientist where Vincent is a spiritualist, and socially as Vincent is a Native American man during a time when being darker than a flushed beige relegated a person to the “lesser” column. However, Henry isn’t one to let social constructs guide his behaviour, not where race is concerned.
Homosexuality, during the heyday of an alternative universe’s Industrial Revolution , is a different matter altogether.
The story is a tightly knit, nearly single-room adventure reminiscent of Agatha Christie’s And Then There Were None. Caught in a paranormal mystery complete with murderous ghosts and stolen bits of forbidden love, Hawk crafts a damned good tale of scientific theory, spiritualism and simmering sexuality. This is definitely an origin story of a couple of men who first are at odds and then only find their footing when working together.
I’m looking so forward to seeing where we’re taken in the rest of this series. Fantastic writing, great characters and burgeoning tension as only Jordan L. Hawk can deliver.
December 28, 2019
Fascinating, just fascinating!! I really never understood [or was that interested in, it has to be said] what ghosts et al were all about, but the explanations the author gives in this story are simple enough for even little old me to understand, and the mechanics of Henry's machines are incredibly well thought out . Electro-magnetism folks, that's what it's all about!! 5 stars from me for this, the first in a new series from Jordan L Hawk. Loved it.
Yes, it gave me the shivers, I wanted to throttle Henry several times, and Vincent...well, what a sexy beast he was BUT the absolute best part for me was that the author used really diverse types of character that other authors wouldn't normally use...African American (Jo), Native American (Vincent), complete idiots (sorry Henry) and then...well, then there's Miss Lizzie Devereaux . And why they didn't think to take the bag of gold with them at the end, I'll never know...it's not as though Miss Prandle would miss it!! The 'baddie', and yes I'd guessed who it was, and his boss got their just rewards, richly deserved...especially in case, disgusting person, and the ending...well, let's all move on to book 2 shall we?? Wonderful, just wonderful.
***Thanks to Inge, Sofia and Andrea for the buddy read.***
Yes, it gave me the shivers, I wanted to throttle Henry several times, and Vincent...well, what a sexy beast he was BUT the absolute best part for me was that the author used really diverse types of character that other authors wouldn't normally use...African American (Jo), Native American (Vincent), complete idiots (sorry Henry) and then...well, then there's Miss Lizzie Devereaux . And why they didn't think to take the bag of gold with them at the end, I'll never know...it's not as though Miss Prandle would miss it!! The 'baddie', and yes I'd guessed who it was, and his boss got their just rewards, richly deserved...especially in case, disgusting person, and the ending...well, let's all move on to book 2 shall we?? Wonderful, just wonderful.
***Thanks to Inge, Sofia and Andrea for the buddy read.***
May 9, 2023
After his family was conned, Henry is determined to make headway into the paranormal world with scientific inventions and logic/sense. He's paired with a relative who is 'colored', a controversy of the time when he fights for her equality. On the other end of the coin is another paranormal duo with their own baggage - Vincent Night is an Indian and used to controversy of his own, but he's also extremely gifted with spiritual abilities and ghost hunting. His companion has her own hidden story. Both are on the verge of bankrupcy, so when both teams are invited by an eccentric wealthy man to compete in a house to prove whether the talent versus science will win, all hell breaks loose.
The plot for this one was more than worthy. Convincing motivations and warring pairs who complement and work off each other. The mansion with its mysteries was an isolated, haunting setting that delivered the goods for creepy, ghost adventures. The overlying mystery of which ghost is who and what the ghost is up to is daunting and well-done. The finale at the end is a strong battle to the finish since the author gave plenty of steel behind a certain ghost.
There's intriguing world-building with the spirits, hauntings, and a strong balance of different types of mediums with different abilities. Jordan Hawk writes well with loveable characters, unique twists, and easily flowing dialogue. I love she included racial issues of the times on both teams, which complemented how unique the pairs stood out from society. I was annoyed with a character revealing a big secret/misunderstanding, but that worked well in the end.
I loved Henry, even if he is bumbling, stumbling and standoffish. His stubbornness can get on the nerves but he has redeeming qualities. Vincent as the handsome and flirting medium was an epic romantic interest. There's not heavy steam but I totally felt the chemistry to be legit between the two and was rooting for them all the way. Both had baggage but fortunately the author avoided angst and doom/gloom.
The only bad thing is I wanted more. A fun, rewarding book with humor, genuine tension and creative paranormal world-building, I highly recommend this one for m/m historical fans.
The plot for this one was more than worthy. Convincing motivations and warring pairs who complement and work off each other. The mansion with its mysteries was an isolated, haunting setting that delivered the goods for creepy, ghost adventures. The overlying mystery of which ghost is who and what the ghost is up to is daunting and well-done. The finale at the end is a strong battle to the finish since the author gave plenty of steel behind a certain ghost.
There's intriguing world-building with the spirits, hauntings, and a strong balance of different types of mediums with different abilities. Jordan Hawk writes well with loveable characters, unique twists, and easily flowing dialogue. I love she included racial issues of the times on both teams, which complemented how unique the pairs stood out from society. I was annoyed with a character revealing a big secret/misunderstanding, but that worked well in the end.
I loved Henry, even if he is bumbling, stumbling and standoffish. His stubbornness can get on the nerves but he has redeeming qualities. Vincent as the handsome and flirting medium was an epic romantic interest. There's not heavy steam but I totally felt the chemistry to be legit between the two and was rooting for them all the way. Both had baggage but fortunately the author avoided angst and doom/gloom.
The only bad thing is I wanted more. A fun, rewarding book with humor, genuine tension and creative paranormal world-building, I highly recommend this one for m/m historical fans.
April 10, 2015
I love Whyborne & Griffin series because it combines lovecraftian horror with action and romance. It is definitely not original, true, but how it combines all the above is what makes it good. Besides, I love all three main characters. What's not to like? You cannot go wrong with those themes. The series has everything I like.
One of the things that redeems Restless Spirits is that it is a ghost story. Then you have great characters like Lizzie, Vincent and Jo. And it's not contemporary.
Considering the genre(s), I think Hawk went a bit overboard with the ugly. Sure, readers could argue that the times were exactly like that and they would be right. However, this is a paranormal romance and a ghost story and you don't have to beat me over the head with it.
As far as I am concerned, it failed as a romance. It went too far. When I don't want the two main characters together in the end, that speaks volumes.
One of the things that redeems Restless Spirits is that it is a ghost story. Then you have great characters like Lizzie, Vincent and Jo. And it's not contemporary.
Considering the genre(s), I think Hawk went a bit overboard with the ugly. Sure, readers could argue that the times were exactly like that and they would be right. However, this is a paranormal romance and a ghost story and you don't have to beat me over the head with it.
As far as I am concerned, it failed as a romance. It went too far. When I don't want the two main characters together in the end, that speaks volumes.
January 15, 2015
FINALLY!
Okay, it's no secret that I really, REALLY admire Jordan Hawk's skills with plot and characterization. I think her books are so creative, and her characters so endearing--I couldn't help but feel frustrated in the past when I felt her books weren't edited as well as her writing deserves. And yes, as a fellow writer and as an editor, I NOTICE these things, and I am not the average reader, and I *am* harder to please.
HALLE-FREAKING-LUJAH!
This book is, IMO, not only Hawk's best work, but also her best-edited, most polished, most elegantly written work. It was well paced, the character motivations consistent and well described, the scary bits were appropriately scary, the sexy bits were appropriately sexy, and I did not break out my yellow highlighter a single time in the entire reading of this book. Not once.
I loved it. Loved it.
Highly recommend.
Okay, it's no secret that I really, REALLY admire Jordan Hawk's skills with plot and characterization. I think her books are so creative, and her characters so endearing--I couldn't help but feel frustrated in the past when I felt her books weren't edited as well as her writing deserves. And yes, as a fellow writer and as an editor, I NOTICE these things, and I am not the average reader, and I *am* harder to please.
HALLE-FREAKING-LUJAH!
This book is, IMO, not only Hawk's best work, but also her best-edited, most polished, most elegantly written work. It was well paced, the character motivations consistent and well described, the scary bits were appropriately scary, the sexy bits were appropriately sexy, and I did not break out my yellow highlighter a single time in the entire reading of this book. Not once.
I loved it. Loved it.
Highly recommend.
January 13, 2015
Well that was fantastic! Jordan L Hawk has kicked off the new year for me with a most satisfying and stupendous reading session, that I really didn't want to finish. All I can say is thank goodness this is a series because I've just fallen (again) for two more of her intriguing, engaging, unusual pairings. One book about this new couple would just NOT be enough. Psychical Society member and scientist, Henry Strauss and mysterious medium, Vincent Knight are definitely a winning combination.
Science meets Spiritual in a delightfully creepy, atmospheric story with both out of this world spookiness AND down to earth mystery. Plus a sexually charged, sensual romance that set my heart a fluttering, as well as thumping when the danger and ghostly shenanigans notched up a gear. Book one introduces us to two enigmatic men—and the people important to them in their lives—who begin their relationship at odds, as their conflicting ideas about the world of spiritualism, conspire to pit them, and their opposite beliefs, against each other in a lonely mansion where menace lurks amongst the cobwebbed corridors and impending peril hides in its dark, shadowy corners.
A cross between an "Olde Worlde" episode of Ghost Hunters and The Haunting Of Hill House, it kept me totally immersed and nicely creeped out all the way through. Set in the late nineteenth century, the historical side feels authentic yet at the same time never comes over as stuffy or formal, which I guess comes down to the paranormal aspects that add a touch of fantasy to the mix, and because of Henry's extraordinary ghost hunting inventions and machines; almost a bit steampunky...but not...
Anyway, however you pigeonhole it, Restless Spirits is an absolute blast and I loved every spookalicious moment of it!
Link to rest of review: http://bit.ly/1sukimI
️SINFULLY...Addicted To All Male Romance
Formerly
Science meets Spiritual in a delightfully creepy, atmospheric story with both out of this world spookiness AND down to earth mystery. Plus a sexually charged, sensual romance that set my heart a fluttering, as well as thumping when the danger and ghostly shenanigans notched up a gear. Book one introduces us to two enigmatic men—and the people important to them in their lives—who begin their relationship at odds, as their conflicting ideas about the world of spiritualism, conspire to pit them, and their opposite beliefs, against each other in a lonely mansion where menace lurks amongst the cobwebbed corridors and impending peril hides in its dark, shadowy corners.
A cross between an "Olde Worlde" episode of Ghost Hunters and The Haunting Of Hill House, it kept me totally immersed and nicely creeped out all the way through. Set in the late nineteenth century, the historical side feels authentic yet at the same time never comes over as stuffy or formal, which I guess comes down to the paranormal aspects that add a touch of fantasy to the mix, and because of Henry's extraordinary ghost hunting inventions and machines; almost a bit steampunky...but not...
Anyway, however you pigeonhole it, Restless Spirits is an absolute blast and I loved every spookalicious moment of it!
Link to rest of review: http://bit.ly/1sukimI
️SINFULLY...Addicted To All Male Romance
Formerly
February 1, 2015
This was the first novel by Jordan L. Hawk I've read, and OH MY GOD, I adored it!!! Seriously... An old castle + ghosts + romance + great characters + fantastic writing = recipe for perfection!!!
This story is about Henry Strauss, firm believer in science and inventor of the Electro-Séance, a device meant to put mediums out of business. Due to a bad experience with a medium, Henry now believes they are all frauds, and is eager to prove himself. Enter Gladfield, who proposes a challenge–science against spiritualism–and offers the winner a prize.
The competition comes in the form of Vincent Night, devilishly handsome, charming medium, who's keen on not only flustering Henry with every given chance, but also getting the man into bed. Just like Henry, Vincent also knows the meaning of loss, as he has been forced to deal with it, too.
Bringing these two together should spell disaster, right? Well, yeah, but not quiet. They do exchange a lot of banter, especially on Vincent's side, they butt heads a lot, because each of them has his own beliefs, but when they work together, things finally fall into place... Their interactions were either laugh-out-loud funny or super hot, or a combination of both with a sprinkle of misunderstandings. Oh, by the way, that séance scene was SEXY!
Now, I wanted to smack Henry real bad at one point, and I really couldn't stand him for the way he acted. But luckily, he got over his arrogant, judgmental asshole act, and things eventually worked out and he apologized.
Another amazing thing about this book were the secondary characters who deserve being mentioned. Firstly, there's Jo, Henry's African-American cousin and assistant. Secondly, there's Elizabeth Devereaux , Vincent's partner since they were young and taken in by their mentor. They are both strong women, loyal, smart, and I loved how different they were!
And last but not least, Reyhome Castle was truly creepy, and the murders were all tragic. I was on the edge of my seat throughout every scary scene, and I loved every second of it.
I could go on and on about this book, and I still wouldn't do it justice, so I'll just say I can't recommend it highly enough!!! If you're a sucker for ghost stories and romance–like I am–go ahead and read this!
This story is about Henry Strauss, firm believer in science and inventor of the Electro-Séance, a device meant to put mediums out of business. Due to a bad experience with a medium, Henry now believes they are all frauds, and is eager to prove himself. Enter Gladfield, who proposes a challenge–science against spiritualism–and offers the winner a prize.
The competition comes in the form of Vincent Night, devilishly handsome, charming medium, who's keen on not only flustering Henry with every given chance, but also getting the man into bed. Just like Henry, Vincent also knows the meaning of loss, as he has been forced to deal with it, too.
Bringing these two together should spell disaster, right? Well, yeah, but not quiet. They do exchange a lot of banter, especially on Vincent's side, they butt heads a lot, because each of them has his own beliefs, but when they work together, things finally fall into place... Their interactions were either laugh-out-loud funny or super hot, or a combination of both with a sprinkle of misunderstandings. Oh, by the way, that séance scene was SEXY!
Now, I wanted to smack Henry real bad at one point, and I really couldn't stand him for the way he acted. But luckily, he got over his arrogant, judgmental asshole act, and things eventually worked out and he apologized.
Another amazing thing about this book were the secondary characters who deserve being mentioned. Firstly, there's Jo, Henry's African-American cousin and assistant. Secondly, there's Elizabeth Devereaux , Vincent's partner since they were young and taken in by their mentor. They are both strong women, loyal, smart, and I loved how different they were!
And last but not least, Reyhome Castle was truly creepy, and the murders were all tragic. I was on the edge of my seat throughout every scary scene, and I loved every second of it.
I could go on and on about this book, and I still wouldn't do it justice, so I'll just say I can't recommend it highly enough!!! If you're a sucker for ghost stories and romance–like I am–go ahead and read this!
January 28, 2015
BR, January 24th with Julie, Marte and Momo.
4,5 stars
This story totally worked for me!!!
It had just enough romance, suspense and creepiness…
I loved it…..
It’s about Henry Strauss, inventor of the “Electro-Séance”. Henry just needs one haunting to prove his invention works and so forever to control the otherworld. To prove the world has no need of mediums because all of them are frauds.
Then he receives a letter from Dominic Gladfield, to enter a contest to free a castle of its ghosts.
Reyhome Castle has been haunted for years. Ever since the brutal murders that took place there.
Reyhome Castle
Henry meets his rival, mr. Vincent Night. Vincent is a very specially talented medium a clairgustance. Vincent tastes ghosts by the taste he gets in his mouth…
Wanted to say … I do so love the language in historicals!! It just takes me back to the actual time being…
“As always, you miss the point. At first I thought you had no heart at all, but your conduct with your cousin convinced me otherwise. Yet you insist on challenging us - belligerently - on every point. Could you not just quietly stand back for one moment?”
I loved Vincent’s banter..
"There is nothing quite so rousing for a man as to have his bells played with.
And Vincent and Henry together? Sigh ….
The hot “naughty” séance
Need I say more?
Until Henry made this stupid mistake. Because of that
All in all works out fine in the end, thankfully...
I can’t wait to read more about Henry’s and Vincent’s adventures in the spiritual world.
September 26, 2016
Malevolence in life and death.
Henry and Jo Strauss are bent on exposing scam artists and protecting vulnerable bereaved. These cousins use their scientific instruments to deal with the spirits of the dead. An unlikely partnership that pushes social restrictions of the time.
Vincent Night and Lizzie Devereaux are experienced mediums when the challenge set forth by a client pits them against the Strausses. It isn't long before the true opponent in this rather grim story appears and the teams begin to realize that there's is more at stake than prize money, it's life and death.
This is written like classic horror with true evil and a plot that goes beyond chills and thrills. The plot itself is entertaining and creepy. This is not a happy ghost story. The intent and violence is gritty. There are a few twists in the social commentary between the characters and the time period, as well as the plot itself. I like the details of Strauss's invention and its performance as well as the discussion of race and gender roles, which is what pushes my rating from solid 3.5 stars to round up to 4.
Overall, chilling historical ghost story.
Henry and Jo Strauss are bent on exposing scam artists and protecting vulnerable bereaved. These cousins use their scientific instruments to deal with the spirits of the dead. An unlikely partnership that pushes social restrictions of the time.
Vincent Night and Lizzie Devereaux are experienced mediums when the challenge set forth by a client pits them against the Strausses. It isn't long before the true opponent in this rather grim story appears and the teams begin to realize that there's is more at stake than prize money, it's life and death.
This is written like classic horror with true evil and a plot that goes beyond chills and thrills. The plot itself is entertaining and creepy. This is not a happy ghost story. The intent and violence is gritty. There are a few twists in the social commentary between the characters and the time period, as well as the plot itself. I like the details of Strauss's invention and its performance as well as the discussion of race and gender roles, which is what pushes my rating from solid 3.5 stars to round up to 4.
Overall, chilling historical ghost story.
November 17, 2024
4.5 stars. This book gave me nightmares - and I enjoyed every second that I spent reading it. But that is no surprise; it is a Jordan L. Hawk book, after all. Full review to come.
Read for SBTB July - September 2018 Quarterly Challenge: A historical not set in England.
Read for SBTB July - September 2018 Quarterly Challenge: A historical not set in England.
January 29, 2015
This book was awesome! I think it could easily be a movie or a TV series! In fact, I demand it!
We first meet our two lovable MCs. I was taken with them from the first!
But then, the competition.. I was torn,who should I root for, I like them both... OK, I can do this I shall be on Henry's side.. but.. no, Vincent's side.. but..
On the one hand we have Henry trying to be all proper and saying shit like "The effrontery of the scoundrel" I mean, seriously! I could just eat him up.
And on the other hand we have Vincent who just can't help himself and tries to fluster Henry at every turn "There is nothing quite so rousing for a man as to have his bells played with." You tell me, who do I choose?
Luckily before dying of indecision shit started to get down! We have ghosts left and right and a smokin' séance with some hot action.
And then things start to get creepy
and scary
with a little brake for Henry to be stupid!!
Henry!!! I expected more of you!
But I couldn't put the book down even if my life depended on it! I was hooked!
(although at some choice moments the popcorn eating was down under the blanket, with the light on and a bag of salt under my pillow).
But all is well when it ends well!
Well done Jordan L. Hawk, well done!
We first meet our two lovable MCs. I was taken with them from the first!
But then, the competition.. I was torn,who should I root for, I like them both... OK, I can do this I shall be on Henry's side.. but.. no, Vincent's side.. but..
On the one hand we have Henry trying to be all proper and saying shit like "The effrontery of the scoundrel" I mean, seriously! I could just eat him up.
And on the other hand we have Vincent who just can't help himself and tries to fluster Henry at every turn "There is nothing quite so rousing for a man as to have his bells played with." You tell me, who do I choose?
Luckily before dying of indecision shit started to get down! We have ghosts left and right and a smokin' séance with some hot action.
And then things start to get creepy
and scary
with a little brake for Henry to be stupid!!
Henry!!! I expected more of you!But I couldn't put the book down even if my life depended on it! I was hooked!
(although at some choice moments the popcorn eating was down under the blanket, with the light on and a bag of salt under my pillow).But all is well when it ends well!
Well done Jordan L. Hawk, well done!
January 4, 2015
Of course Jordan L. Hawk never fails to hook me!! She has created another world here that immediately sucked me in and creeped me the HELL out…while I fell in love with a whole new set of characters once again!
It’s late 1800s, in a time when electricity is quickly beginning to power the world, Henry Strauss is set on proving his electrical contraptions can take the place of psychic mediums and protect those grieving from fraud. Of course, making his name famous and securing the future for his young niece Jo would certainly be a plus! After spirit medium Vincent Night’s mentor was killed in séance a few months ago, he has let fear get in the way of his practice. Close to losing their shop, Vincent’s partner Lizzie has convinced him to enter a competition to exorcise a haunted mansion in upstate New York that will put the two mediums up against Henry…spiritualism against science. The mediums and the scientist will have to work together or they might all die before it's over.
OhMyGod! So, this was amazing!
The Setting: Even though this is historical romance, it had a very modern feel to me. I mean, yes it had all the advancements and prejudices you would expect to see during the Gilded Age, but maybe the isolation of the haunted mansion setting helped to separate it from the outside world and I kept forgetting I wasn’t reading in a present time. Or maybe I’m just crazy and have read too many historicals??
The Romance: I love enemies to lovers and Henry and Vincent were pitted against each other from the very beginning. Henry, distrustful of all mediums, was an arrogant snit, but I still found myself rooting for him. Vincent’s flirtations and constant sexual innuendo and double entendres were possibly a front to mask many of his vulnerabilities, but it certainly helped to increase the sexual tension between them. But DAMN there was some GOOD sexual tension and even a bit of risqué behavior taking place! I totally felt the current flowing between Henry and Vincent! Yes, Henry could be an asshat, but he had a big heart. I’m just glad Vincent was able to forgive Henry of his massive blunder.
The Ghosts: I love ghost stories! And let me tell you this is one of the scariest hauntings I’ve read in years. Of course it didn’t help that I was reading alone in my house and all the creepy things happening in Reyhome Castle had me jumping at every sound. The entire idea of how Henry planned to use his devices was so well done and uniqueness of Vincent’s talent was very vividly described. I never could predict how they were going to exorcise those ghosts!
The Mystery: Along with the ghost story, there is another, more subtle mystery taking place…maybe even a few mini mysterious because there were surely some crazy revelations near the end. I was taken by surprise over and over!
The Female Sidekicks: Jo was freakin’ adorable and I loved how eager she was in her role as Henry’s “assistant”. I admit I wasn’t a big fan of Lizzie’s in the beginning and I didn’t trust her at all…but she has a reason for her secrets…
What’s next? Restless Spirits appears to be the start of an ongoing series and the HFN ending has the perfect set up for many more dangerous adventures to come for Henry and Vincent. I can’t wait!
Reviewed for The Blogger Girls
It’s late 1800s, in a time when electricity is quickly beginning to power the world, Henry Strauss is set on proving his electrical contraptions can take the place of psychic mediums and protect those grieving from fraud. Of course, making his name famous and securing the future for his young niece Jo would certainly be a plus! After spirit medium Vincent Night’s mentor was killed in séance a few months ago, he has let fear get in the way of his practice. Close to losing their shop, Vincent’s partner Lizzie has convinced him to enter a competition to exorcise a haunted mansion in upstate New York that will put the two mediums up against Henry…spiritualism against science. The mediums and the scientist will have to work together or they might all die before it's over.
OhMyGod! So, this was amazing!
The Setting: Even though this is historical romance, it had a very modern feel to me. I mean, yes it had all the advancements and prejudices you would expect to see during the Gilded Age, but maybe the isolation of the haunted mansion setting helped to separate it from the outside world and I kept forgetting I wasn’t reading in a present time. Or maybe I’m just crazy and have read too many historicals??
The Romance: I love enemies to lovers and Henry and Vincent were pitted against each other from the very beginning. Henry, distrustful of all mediums, was an arrogant snit, but I still found myself rooting for him. Vincent’s flirtations and constant sexual innuendo and double entendres were possibly a front to mask many of his vulnerabilities, but it certainly helped to increase the sexual tension between them. But DAMN there was some GOOD sexual tension and even a bit of risqué behavior taking place! I totally felt the current flowing between Henry and Vincent! Yes, Henry could be an asshat, but he had a big heart. I’m just glad Vincent was able to forgive Henry of his massive blunder.
The Ghosts: I love ghost stories! And let me tell you this is one of the scariest hauntings I’ve read in years. Of course it didn’t help that I was reading alone in my house and all the creepy things happening in Reyhome Castle had me jumping at every sound. The entire idea of how Henry planned to use his devices was so well done and uniqueness of Vincent’s talent was very vividly described. I never could predict how they were going to exorcise those ghosts!
The Mystery: Along with the ghost story, there is another, more subtle mystery taking place…maybe even a few mini mysterious because there were surely some crazy revelations near the end. I was taken by surprise over and over!
The Female Sidekicks: Jo was freakin’ adorable and I loved how eager she was in her role as Henry’s “assistant”. I admit I wasn’t a big fan of Lizzie’s in the beginning and I didn’t trust her at all…but she has a reason for her secrets…
What’s next? Restless Spirits appears to be the start of an ongoing series and the HFN ending has the perfect set up for many more dangerous adventures to come for Henry and Vincent. I can’t wait!
Reviewed for The Blogger Girls
March 24, 2020
I guess they never heard the phrase "salt and burn" because that would've saved everyone here a lot of trouble. Then again, the book would be much shorter.
Overall, I liked this a lot. The paranormal elements were pretty predictable and hit all the major plot points you'd expect from a typical ghost story. I can't say I was ever really on the edge of my seat at any point during the book, and so that whole plot was the weakest point of the story.
What I did really like was the relationships. Henry has been hurt by fake psychics before and wants to save others from being scammed too. His solution is taking a scientific approach to ghost hunting. He's teaching his cousin, a young girl named Jo, to be his apprentice. This raises eyebrows everywhere because Jo is mixed race, half-white, half-black, and acknowledging her as family in that day and age (I don't recall reading a precise year, but sometime after the Civil War) was a big no-no. Henry doesn't care. He's dedicated to raising and protecting his cousin and teaching her a livelihood that she can use to support herself.
Vincent is a medium and can sense ghosts through smell. His last seance went horribly wrong and since then he's been hesitant to have anything to do with ghosts at all. Vincent is half-Native American, but was never raised among his tribe and doesn't even know which tribe he's from. His partner at work is Lizzie, who has secrets of her own. She convinces Vincent to join her on a ghost hunt that could save their shop. They too are very dedicated to each other, and have no secrets between them.
I wasn't entirely feeling the relationship between Vincent and Henry, but I admit I was distracted while reading this book and that no doubt effected it. There's also an element of insta-love here since they go from being wary of each other as competitors to risking life and limb for each other over the course of a couple of days. Insta-love isn't usually my thing and it didn't really work for me here. Still, there was enough genuine caring between them that it didn't bother me too much. (Edit: After thinking upon this and discussing it more, I've decided it wasn't just me being distracted. Their relationship really didn't make much sense. It had a couple of sweet moments but the rest was so much drama that it detracted from any sweetness there was.)
Overall, I liked this a lot. The paranormal elements were pretty predictable and hit all the major plot points you'd expect from a typical ghost story. I can't say I was ever really on the edge of my seat at any point during the book, and so that whole plot was the weakest point of the story.
What I did really like was the relationships. Henry has been hurt by fake psychics before and wants to save others from being scammed too. His solution is taking a scientific approach to ghost hunting. He's teaching his cousin, a young girl named Jo, to be his apprentice. This raises eyebrows everywhere because Jo is mixed race, half-white, half-black, and acknowledging her as family in that day and age (I don't recall reading a precise year, but sometime after the Civil War) was a big no-no. Henry doesn't care. He's dedicated to raising and protecting his cousin and teaching her a livelihood that she can use to support herself.
Vincent is a medium and can sense ghosts through smell. His last seance went horribly wrong and since then he's been hesitant to have anything to do with ghosts at all. Vincent is half-Native American, but was never raised among his tribe and doesn't even know which tribe he's from. His partner at work is Lizzie, who has secrets of her own. She convinces Vincent to join her on a ghost hunt that could save their shop. They too are very dedicated to each other, and have no secrets between them.
I wasn't entirely feeling the relationship between Vincent and Henry, but I admit I was distracted while reading this book and that no doubt effected it. There's also an element of insta-love here since they go from being wary of each other as competitors to risking life and limb for each other over the course of a couple of days. Insta-love isn't usually my thing and it didn't really work for me here. Still, there was enough genuine caring between them that it didn't bother me too much. (Edit: After thinking upon this and discussing it more, I've decided it wasn't just me being distracted. Their relationship really didn't make much sense. It had a couple of sweet moments but the rest was so much drama that it detracted from any sweetness there was.)
February 2, 2015
***** 4,5 spirits stars *****
Great main characters, mystery, paranormal, hotness, suspense and scary stuff!
Recommended!
BR with Julie, Elsbeth and Momo! :D
September 12, 2018
3.5 stars
Predictable plot notwithstanding, the writing, the characters and the dynamics between them made for a very enjoyable read.
Jordan L. Hawk isn’t new to a diverse cast of characters, sometimes pushing the boundaries of realism when it comes to openness of mind in an historical setting and characters having ways of thinking so ahead of their time, and yet, somehow it just works and I never find it jarring. Maybe because I hope it really was like that, that there were people so accepting even at times when racism was the norm and sexual and gender orientations considered unnatural.
The relationship between Henry and Vincent was maybe a bit rushed, given how they started as adversaries. I wouldn’t call it insta-love, because thankfully , but at times their concern for the other’s well-being seemed to come a little out of nowhere. Since it didn’t clash too badly with their characterization, though, I chose to interpret that and the ending as an indication that they felt a connection and want to explore things further.
Predictable plot notwithstanding, the writing, the characters and the dynamics between them made for a very enjoyable read.
Jordan L. Hawk isn’t new to a diverse cast of characters, sometimes pushing the boundaries of realism when it comes to openness of mind in an historical setting and characters having ways of thinking so ahead of their time, and yet, somehow it just works and I never find it jarring. Maybe because I hope it really was like that, that there were people so accepting even at times when racism was the norm and sexual and gender orientations considered unnatural.
The relationship between Henry and Vincent was maybe a bit rushed, given how they started as adversaries. I wouldn’t call it insta-love, because thankfully , but at times their concern for the other’s well-being seemed to come a little out of nowhere. Since it didn’t clash too badly with their characterization, though, I chose to interpret that and the ending as an indication that they felt a connection and want to explore things further.
January 16, 2015
I love that feeling of picking up a book and getting so lost in it that you can't put it down and you even think of *maybe* calling in sick the next morning and skip work so you can keep reading... And I got exactly that from this!.
This was my very first Jordan L. Hawk novel (yes, i swear I'm not lying), and I absolutely loved it. I loved the writing and I loved the great flow of the story.
Henry Strauss is working on a project that (he thinks, and expects) will put all mediums out of business. He believes that science can do what any medium can, and even more. One day Henry and his cousin, Jo, (who his like his apprentice) get a letter from the owner of a haunted house offering him a good amount of money if they get rid of a ghost that it's been bothering everyone. This same letter is also sent to medium Vincent Night, and his partner Lizzie, who is also a medium. All four of them are appointed to be in this place at the same time and prove themselves by getting rid of the ghost in a contest.
The romance element is amazing. You can see it all from the very beginning but it really evolves at a delicious pace, not too slow but not extremely rushed either - This made the book extremely enjoyable for me. I craved any interaction between the two MC, and I always got more than I expected.
The characters are very well defined, and though at first glance you wonder how the hell is that going to work given how different they both are they actually work amazingly well together. These two men come from different backgrounds, and both have gone through pain and heartache. They both have experienced loss and they both had to find a way to get through it.. or at least try. Both men are noble, and kind (most of the time lol). I loved Vincent's flirty ways and how Henry reacted to it. They are both brave and strong in their own ways.
They are not really perfect, tho. Henry is proud and quick to jump into conclusions and make royal fuck ups, but he's also good at recognizing where he failed and apologizes for it. Vincent is too scared of who he is, and in an attempt to protect himself (and others), he also fucks up... kind of.
Another great thing about this was the secondary characters: I loved Lizzie and Jo, so much. I think it was great to have two strong female characters who where also great support and incredibly important for the MCs. The diversity in this book is also really, really appreciated.
The paranormal part was really fun to read. I really can't wait to read the second book... but oh, well.. I guess I'll have to wait a while for that one, right? LOL. :(
This was my very first Jordan L. Hawk novel (yes, i swear I'm not lying), and I absolutely loved it. I loved the writing and I loved the great flow of the story.
Henry Strauss is working on a project that (he thinks, and expects) will put all mediums out of business. He believes that science can do what any medium can, and even more. One day Henry and his cousin, Jo, (who his like his apprentice) get a letter from the owner of a haunted house offering him a good amount of money if they get rid of a ghost that it's been bothering everyone. This same letter is also sent to medium Vincent Night, and his partner Lizzie, who is also a medium. All four of them are appointed to be in this place at the same time and prove themselves by getting rid of the ghost in a contest.
The romance element is amazing. You can see it all from the very beginning but it really evolves at a delicious pace, not too slow but not extremely rushed either - This made the book extremely enjoyable for me. I craved any interaction between the two MC, and I always got more than I expected.
The characters are very well defined, and though at first glance you wonder how the hell is that going to work given how different they both are they actually work amazingly well together. These two men come from different backgrounds, and both have gone through pain and heartache. They both have experienced loss and they both had to find a way to get through it.. or at least try. Both men are noble, and kind (most of the time lol). I loved Vincent's flirty ways and how Henry reacted to it. They are both brave and strong in their own ways.
They are not really perfect, tho. Henry is proud and quick to jump into conclusions and make royal fuck ups, but he's also good at recognizing where he failed and apologizes for it. Vincent is too scared of who he is, and in an attempt to protect himself (and others), he also fucks up... kind of.
Another great thing about this was the secondary characters: I loved Lizzie and Jo, so much. I think it was great to have two strong female characters who where also great support and incredibly important for the MCs. The diversity in this book is also really, really appreciated.
The paranormal part was really fun to read. I really can't wait to read the second book... but oh, well.. I guess I'll have to wait a while for that one, right? LOL. :(
November 27, 2020
Re-read
Having been enjoying the Whyborne & Griffin stories, I couldn’t help trying the beginning of this trilogy, featuring a scientist and a medium, of all people!
Once more, Hawk puts together one scary story with ghosts this time. I’m not usually a reader of horror but somehow I’m completely hooked on the author’s style, and I believe it is because the characters, main two as well as supporting ones, are so well drawn.
The other thing I’m impressed by is Hawk’s ability to include LGBT aspects, with the MM romance, naturally, but also in a wider angle, to include all diversities. Gender is one that appeared too in the Whyborne & Griffin I read, but here you also get racial prejudices, all treated expertly and in accordance to the time setting. Ultimately, these stories are Fun!
Having been enjoying the Whyborne & Griffin stories, I couldn’t help trying the beginning of this trilogy, featuring a scientist and a medium, of all people!
Once more, Hawk puts together one scary story with ghosts this time. I’m not usually a reader of horror but somehow I’m completely hooked on the author’s style, and I believe it is because the characters, main two as well as supporting ones, are so well drawn.
The other thing I’m impressed by is Hawk’s ability to include LGBT aspects, with the MM romance, naturally, but also in a wider angle, to include all diversities. Gender is one that appeared too in the Whyborne & Griffin I read, but here you also get racial prejudices, all treated expertly and in accordance to the time setting. Ultimately, these stories are Fun!
January 12, 2015
This is a very promising start to a new historical paranormal series. The setting is the late 1800s, the main characters are part of an ensemble cast, and the theme is spiritualism and ghost hunting, as two teams are brought into competition to rid an old house of the presence that haunts it.
Harry Strauss is a man who's caught between two worlds. He firmly believes in the supernatural, in ghosts and spectres and hauntings. But he's determined to apply science to that world, to prove that the supernatural can affect and be affected by physical instruments and electrical devices of the natural world. He has been burned by the charlatanry of fake "mediums". Harry hopes that his science can give people confidence and a way to tell the true psychic phenomena from the false, protecting them from con men. He wants the $500 prize being offered for clearing the haunting of Reyhome Castle to fund his science and inventions.
Vincent Night is a medium of the old school, a man who has allowed spirits to take up temporary home in his body many times, to convey messages or dispel ghosts. But along the way, he recently met with forces darker and stronger than he was prepared for. He has been left afraid, and shaken. Vincent's desperate to help his partner, Lizzie, keep their occult business going, but he has avoided spirit contact, and failed to come through for her more than once now. Solving the haunting of Reyhome Castle would keep their shop going and in a small way make up for his past failures.
But when the men, along with Lizzie, and Harry's niece and assistant Jo, meet at the castle, it becomes clear that there is more going on than a brief exorcism will deal with. This haunting is not just some over-imaginative fiction. Tensions run high, even before Vincent decides to see if a little flirtation can distract Harry from his mission.
I enjoyed meeting the characters, including the secondary ones. The MCs unfold gradually, with painful back-stories that will no doubt come into play in powerful ways down the road. The secondary characters are an ethnic mix, and include two women who are in the center of the action, and more, allowing the author to comment through the story on the politics of race and gender in that time and place. It occasionally felt a bit deliberate, but it will open a host of avenues for future stories as well. And while I was not as affected by the characters off the start as with Whyborne and Griffin, they did definitely grow on me. Vincent, in particular, with all his issues and his stoicism, has caught my attention and I look forward to my next glimpse of him.
Harry Strauss is a man who's caught between two worlds. He firmly believes in the supernatural, in ghosts and spectres and hauntings. But he's determined to apply science to that world, to prove that the supernatural can affect and be affected by physical instruments and electrical devices of the natural world. He has been burned by the charlatanry of fake "mediums". Harry hopes that his science can give people confidence and a way to tell the true psychic phenomena from the false, protecting them from con men. He wants the $500 prize being offered for clearing the haunting of Reyhome Castle to fund his science and inventions.
Vincent Night is a medium of the old school, a man who has allowed spirits to take up temporary home in his body many times, to convey messages or dispel ghosts. But along the way, he recently met with forces darker and stronger than he was prepared for. He has been left afraid, and shaken. Vincent's desperate to help his partner, Lizzie, keep their occult business going, but he has avoided spirit contact, and failed to come through for her more than once now. Solving the haunting of Reyhome Castle would keep their shop going and in a small way make up for his past failures.
But when the men, along with Lizzie, and Harry's niece and assistant Jo, meet at the castle, it becomes clear that there is more going on than a brief exorcism will deal with. This haunting is not just some over-imaginative fiction. Tensions run high, even before Vincent decides to see if a little flirtation can distract Harry from his mission.
I enjoyed meeting the characters, including the secondary ones. The MCs unfold gradually, with painful back-stories that will no doubt come into play in powerful ways down the road. The secondary characters are an ethnic mix, and include two women who are in the center of the action, and more, allowing the author to comment through the story on the politics of race and gender in that time and place. It occasionally felt a bit deliberate, but it will open a host of avenues for future stories as well. And while I was not as affected by the characters off the start as with Whyborne and Griffin, they did definitely grow on me. Vincent, in particular, with all his issues and his stoicism, has caught my attention and I look forward to my next glimpse of him.
February 13, 2015
The start of another great series by Jordan L. Hawk!
Henry Strauss is an impoverished inventor, who's trying to get his Electro-Séance method in to production. By using science to deal with the supernatural world, he wishes replace mediums, who he believes are mostly frauds. He's also taking care of his African-American cousin Jo, which in the late 1800s was unheard of. A competition at Reyhome Castle with a cash prize would help him launch his inventions, and would secure a future for Jo.
Vincent Night, an accomplished medium, went through a traumatic supernatural experience which resulted in the death of his mentor. Months later, he lives in constant fear and tries to stay as far as possible from the occultic world. As a Native American and a professed medium, he's used to being an outcast in society. The competition at Reyhome Castle would help him keep his, and his partner Elizabeth Devereaux's, shop open.
When the two meet each other at Reyhome Castle, they get off to a rocky start. Henry is convinced that Vincent and Elizabeth are frauds. On his end, Vincent feels a strong evil within the castle and would rather that they all leave. Despite the contest, he's attracted towards Henry, and wouldn't mind exploring it further.
This book is a mix of sexy and scary. Hawk's description of the haunting and spirits are chill-inducing, and very entertaining. The house's story is equally horrifying, and the old decrepit mansion is a great setting. I also really liked that there were one or two other plotlines incorporated in to the story, which helped give the book a realistic edge. The mystery will certainly keep you on the edge of your seat.
The UST is through the roof! Vincent is definitely a sauvé seducer. However, I liked that the two didn't just fall in to the sex. Vincent has to work for it, and the only sex scene is after the half-way point. This keeps most of the attention on the mystery, which was fine by me. I also loved that the author incorporated subtle discussions on race and gender.
'Restless Spirits' was a great mix of horror, mystery and romance. I'm not really a fan of horror in general, but ghosts/spirits are particularly a no-go for me. I'm okay with monsters, ghouls and axe-wielding murderers, but throw in a haunting or possession and I'll be running for the hills. So I wasn't sure whether I'd like this, but I can now say that I really enjoyed and I can't wait for the sequel!
Henry Strauss is an impoverished inventor, who's trying to get his Electro-Séance method in to production. By using science to deal with the supernatural world, he wishes replace mediums, who he believes are mostly frauds. He's also taking care of his African-American cousin Jo, which in the late 1800s was unheard of. A competition at Reyhome Castle with a cash prize would help him launch his inventions, and would secure a future for Jo.
Vincent Night, an accomplished medium, went through a traumatic supernatural experience which resulted in the death of his mentor. Months later, he lives in constant fear and tries to stay as far as possible from the occultic world. As a Native American and a professed medium, he's used to being an outcast in society. The competition at Reyhome Castle would help him keep his, and his partner Elizabeth Devereaux's, shop open.
When the two meet each other at Reyhome Castle, they get off to a rocky start. Henry is convinced that Vincent and Elizabeth are frauds. On his end, Vincent feels a strong evil within the castle and would rather that they all leave. Despite the contest, he's attracted towards Henry, and wouldn't mind exploring it further.
This book is a mix of sexy and scary. Hawk's description of the haunting and spirits are chill-inducing, and very entertaining. The house's story is equally horrifying, and the old decrepit mansion is a great setting. I also really liked that there were one or two other plotlines incorporated in to the story, which helped give the book a realistic edge. The mystery will certainly keep you on the edge of your seat.
The UST is through the roof! Vincent is definitely a sauvé seducer. However, I liked that the two didn't just fall in to the sex. Vincent has to work for it, and the only sex scene is after the half-way point. This keeps most of the attention on the mystery, which was fine by me. I also loved that the author incorporated subtle discussions on race and gender.
'Restless Spirits' was a great mix of horror, mystery and romance. I'm not really a fan of horror in general, but ghosts/spirits are particularly a no-go for me. I'm okay with monsters, ghouls and axe-wielding murderers, but throw in a haunting or possession and I'll be running for the hills. So I wasn't sure whether I'd like this, but I can now say that I really enjoyed and I can't wait for the sequel!
December 1, 2015
Highly entertaining. The ghost story was genuinely scary, but it was the characters who made this. Both leads were wonderful and believable, flawed but capable of growth. I especially appreciated Jo and Lizzie, in part because female characters are so often the weak point in M/M, and these were actual agents with fully drawn personalities, who were clearly valued in their own right and not just as support or sidekicks for the main couple.
This is also a story in which all the main characters are people who would have been (and still often are) marginalized by conventional "respectable" society to a greater or lesser degree because of race, gender, sexuality, and class. Hawk did an amazing job depicting the different ways the characters both receive and at times succumb to bigotry, mostly casual and unintentional but sometimes vicious and violent, and the sacrifices and compromises they make--or refuse to make--trying to carve out a life for themselves. I found Hawk's handling of these issues to be remarkably graceful and believable; there is a danger of turning characters suffering from marginalization into Moral Illustrations of Bad Things, which is its own kind of oppression, so I really admired how thoroughly each character was taken on his or her own terms.
Bottom line: this is a great read that offers both thrilling ghostly hijinks AND an unusually inclusive and diverse cast of well-drawn characters--in other words, a home run.
This is also a story in which all the main characters are people who would have been (and still often are) marginalized by conventional "respectable" society to a greater or lesser degree because of race, gender, sexuality, and class. Hawk did an amazing job depicting the different ways the characters both receive and at times succumb to bigotry, mostly casual and unintentional but sometimes vicious and violent, and the sacrifices and compromises they make--or refuse to make--trying to carve out a life for themselves. I found Hawk's handling of these issues to be remarkably graceful and believable; there is a danger of turning characters suffering from marginalization into Moral Illustrations of Bad Things, which is its own kind of oppression, so I really admired how thoroughly each character was taken on his or her own terms.
Bottom line: this is a great read that offers both thrilling ghostly hijinks AND an unusually inclusive and diverse cast of well-drawn characters--in other words, a home run.
October 24, 2015
Amazing! Loved it. But is that really a shock? I mean, it's JLH. She really knows how to put you in each scene and make you feel apart of the story. Loved her characters and I am thrilled that this is a series. I can't wait for the next book. The two guys are adorable together. I look forward to seeing how their relationship develops. Another win for JLH!
January 11, 2015
Very solid flowing writing with lovely repartee and verbal sparring all building up to a creepy, creepy climax. Loved the characters Ms Hawk chose to explore in this series. Looking forward to more of them especially Lizzie whose point of view so needs to be heard. A good one Ms Hawk.
I wanted to shake Henry until his teeth fell off but he did acknowledge his errors and said so, so he is an example to follow. Not a paragon, who needs those, not me, but one of us, fumblers.
I love Christine in the Widdershins series, here we have Lizzie and Jo, two different perspectives which I welcome. There was also the admirable Martha.
Am a Vincent fan already, craving for more.
BR with Ingela, Bev and Andrea
Want to read
November 16, 2020Thank you for the gift, Santa's Naughty Elf!
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