My abilities are growing every day. But thanks to my new friends, I know that I'm not insane.
Even so, there's a darkness inside me. It's been getting stronger. A reality that I've been trying to avoid.
Being near the boys draw it out. Being close to them also make me unafraid for the first time in my life.
I've never felt like this before, but at the same time, my mind has latched onto the feelings they evoke. Julian encourages me, Miles comforts me, Titus protects me, and Damen...
Damen gives me something to believe in.
We have days to solve this haunting, but my personal issues threaten to overwhelm me. With each passing day, it becomes more difficult to pretend to be normal.
And if I falter, for even a moment, then I could lose everything forever.
This is the second book in a multi-book slow burn reverse harem series. Be forewarned.
Lyla Oweds is an Amazon Bestselling paranormal romance and urban fantasy author who resides in the beautiful Pocono Mountains, Pennsylvania. She grew up near Gettysburg, Pennsylvania and is a native of Baltimore, Maryland, and has a deep appreciation for the paranormal, hauntings, and Edgar Allan Poe. As such, she loves all things fantasy, mystery, crime, and horror.
When not reading, writing, or working as a web programmer, Lyla can be found doing adult-y things such as being a single mom to a toddler and a bird. She also frequently enjoys makeup videos, massages, wine, and coffee.
Ghost is the second book in the Grimm Cases by Lyla Oweds, and it needs to be read after Origins. Origins introduces us to a lot, and Ghost starts to provide us with the answers we seek. Without reading the first book, readers will be lost to all that is taking place.
As with Origins, Ghost was a story that hooked me with ease and had me devouring the story in no time. Once I started, I could not put this one down. It was another story I finished in a single sitting, another tale that had me eager to see how things would play out. Although we were given plenty of answers, there were also lots of new elements introduced to leave the reader curious about what more would play out.
With plenty of new elements introduced, Ghost sucks the reader deeper into the world. My love for the characters grew, and the events were addictive. There are plenty of elements that leave the reader desperate for more, and that ensured I happily jumped into book three. Although a bit slow in places, this was a powerful second book that cemented my addiction to the storyline.
Without a doubt, Ghost is a must read for those who enjoyed Origins.
This book was okay but there were parts where I found myself drifting. I think that the story line is dragged out too much. Bianca does annoy me from time to time she seems too censored and her sexual knowledge or lack off is very annoying sometimes. The story line does have some good parts I like the idea if the medicine stopping her powers from coming through but we still don't know why. The boys are annoying by how they treat Bianca half the time they act like she's a little girl or not even in the room when they are talking about her.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
The mystery of Bianca is starting to make sense, and we get an inkling if what Finn was up too... but not why. There are still huge questions, along with a ghost to deal with. A bit faster paced than Book 1, but like that installment, this one just ENDS! No conclusion, not even an episodic one.... just done. Book 3 anyone?
I was already looking forward to this book the entire week. So yesterday, when I read the book of the day already, I secretly already started to make sure I could finish this one on my way to and from work. I have to say that my planning skills were absolutely excellent, because I finished 1 stop before mine. Perfect timing, if I may say so.
And that was partly because this book is just so amusing and great and so easy to read and fly through. I have to admit, I don't have a very clear idea of the plot and what is actually going on. But from what I read it's gonna be an 18 book series, so I'm very patient. Especially because there's a lot to make up for the messy and not always visible plot line.
Firstly there's Bianca. Bianca is one of the most awesome characters I've ever read about, mostly because she's so incredibly unique and herself. At times she makes me laugh out loud, at times I feel incredibly sorry for her and I always find her endearing and cute and heartwarming. It's not that hard to understand why all the boys feel this desperate need to protect her. Because I as a reader absolutely and totally feel that too.
Secondly: Her guys. I have an incredible soft spot for sweet and understanding guys and those four all fit the bill. Of course, they have a few extra characteristics and here and there they have some control issues, but mostly they are the kind of boyfriends I would want to have and I dream of. And I love it that once in a while we are in their heads and see what they think and what makes them tick.
Thirdly: The world and the worldbuilding. Yes, it's a lot of terms and information and since Bianca has some trouble understanding everything, it's not always easy to follow for the reader either. But it's fascinating anyway. And personally? I don't always have to understand everything from the start. I'm totally okay with being thrown into something and just enjoying the ride.
I'm already looking forward to next week, because then I'm gonna pick up the next book!
Bianca has abilities that she was not aware she had. Finn had lied to her for years. But now with his brother Damen, Miles, Julian, and Titus, she is able to start embracing what her new life entails. The world she has had her eyes opened to, is one of confusion and danger. But now that she knows she is not crazy, and there is such a thing as magic, shifters, ghosts and all the things that go bump in the night. Bianca can start trying to figure out what is haunting the house, why had she been lied to and just what does she stand to lose if she does not figure things out in time.
I have absolutely been captivated by Bianca and her guys. She was such a shy girl in the beginning and I have enjoyed watching her grow. She was purposely lied to and kept isolated. She was so innocent and not knowing of so much. Her reactions to things and her reasoning had me rolling with laughter many times. You have to keep in mind that she was isolated and everything she learned controlled. Seeing her discover things, sayings, reactions, relationships and what it is like to truly belong. The guys will steal your heart. Each one is different in their own ways, not to mention different rolls in their group. The supernatural aspect of the plot and the characters is addicting. Lyla does an excellent job of creating a different take on the supernatural, that I find refreshing. This series is well written, with memorable characters and I cannot wait to see what happens next.
I read the first four books in the series. I think that the books in this series are difficult to review individually because it is one continuous story. Each subsequent book picks up exactly where the last ends. In retrospect, I could of (and probably should have) just written a single review to cover the whole series (or what I've read of it). But I didn't realize that would be better until I was a couple books in and I felt like I'd already committed myself to the idea of individual reviews and I decided to stick with the plan. Plus, in retrospect, I kind of like how you can feel my frustration grow and attitude change from book to book.
I'm still enjoying this series and still think someone needs to make it a Shoujo style reverse harem manga. Seriously, someone get on that. I still think Bianca's clueless-ness comes across as forced at times. She creates all these misunderstandings (especially around sex) but then we're told she reads paranormal romances, for example. I get that they're really just played for the laugh, but I usually just end up rolling my eyes at it.
Plus, there's a bit of confusion in the world. Seelie and Unseelie got dropped in at one point (with no explanation) and I was like, wait, there are fae? The plot has also dragged a bit. As of the end of book two, we are approximately 550 pages into the plot-line and nothing has been resolved. Almost nothing has even been explored in any depth. Don't get me wrong, I'm enjoying spending time with these characters. But the story is one continuous one and there's not been a whole lot of plot progression. I see that the author emphasizes that the book is a slow burn. But that generally refers to the romance, not the plot as a whole.
Besides those few complaints though, I really am enjoying the series. I like all the characters and appreciate that we get each hero's POV (which we didn't in book one). They're complete sweethearts, every one. I look forward to seeing how things work out.
So fun, precious and enjoyable. And so fascinating! Her processing of certain things and her reactions are borderline preposterous. And I loved it! So adorable, every page.
All the guys are so freaking sweet and sexy and unique, and I loved them all, too. I really hope the third audiobook doesn't take as long as this one.
I really love this book! I was sucked in from the first sentence. The storyline is awesome and the characters are so endearing and relatable! Can't wait for the next one!
This series gets better and better with every book, because the plot is so intricated that you can't help but wonder how far ahead everything is planned.
We learn more about the world, Bianca and the guys as we progress further down the story. Many important things are reveled here, and yet many mysteries remain in hold as well as the haunted house arc.
If you liked Origins, please keep reading Ghost. If you haven't read Origins, then get that one first and enjoy this series. More people need to talk about these books!
Loved! Bianca and her wild imagination and naïveté had me laughing and probably looking real crazy. Can’t wait to see what happens next with Bianca and her men!
Definitely enjoying this series. Laugh out loud moments with Bianca and her guys and the slow burn...yasssss. I’m also loving the FMC’s naïveté. It definitely makes for some hilarious/awkward moments.
I like storyline here. I find it mostly interesting. I gave this 3 stars because of the first 2 statements. The worst part of this series is the main character. An 18 year old college student with internet access and practically lives with 4 hot guys is NOT going to be this naive! It's just ridiculous. I'll read the next in the series to see what the story is with the house now that I know what Titus and Julian are. This series would be so much better if the main character, Bianca, didn't come across as being mentally deficient.
Mystery. Paranormal. Rh. Slowburn. Ghosts. The plot is amazing. The characters are amazing. This mystery is amazing. I need to know what the heck is going on. And Bianca. She has to be my favorite hands down. Super funny and cute.
⭐⭐⭐⭐ / 🌶️ I actually just really enjoy this series. It is super slow-moving but the characters and story are compelling. Don't read this if you're there for the smut because you'll be unhappy.
Ghost picks up shortly after where book 1 ends. Bianca and the guys (Damon, Miles, Titus, and Julian) are dealing with her professor's haunted house. Bianca is also dealing with the realization of just how much Finn has betrayed her trust. Also, more of Bianca's powers are coming out to play and they guys are realizing that Bianca is so much more than they expected.
We get a lot of answers in this book, but we also get more questions as well. Also, more of Bianca's powers start to manifest, which is interesting and... . Im still curious about Bianca's past as well as her origins. Also, why Finn was keeping her a secret and who he was working with to suppress her abilities? Questions, questions, so many questions.
So yeah, when the author warns that this is slow burn, she's not lying. It definitely is slow burn, bordering on no burn, but I think its okay. Given Bianca's personality and all her quirks, it would be weird if their relationship progressed any faster than it has thus far. I like how the author has portrayed Bianca... its authentic. If your looking for a steamy RH with all the lusts and stuffs, this is not for you. This is the second book in the series and there still hasn't even been a kiss.
I really liked that that the author did this book in multiple POV, unlike the last one, so we get insight to the MMCs. I think it's helpful, especially with RH, to have multiple POV because it can be easy for some of the characters to get lost in the background. That wasn't a problem in the first book and definitely not with this one either.
Anyhoo, this one was equally as funny as book 1 (thank goodness). I was worried that it wouldn't be, as its the primary draw for me. I love Bianca's "rivalry" with Bryce. She has no reason to dislike him so much, but she really despises him.
This was a good sequel to Origins. A lot of people probably have a problem with the fact that not much has been resolved in the story, but I think it is still interesting and entertaining enough and it held my attention throughout. This series so far has been easy to read; their world is explained without it being confusing while the story also progresses and I haven't had any issues with editing (at least I haven't noticed anything or enough of it to bother me).
This story follows along Bianca Brosnan as she discovers that the house she’s watching for her professor is haunted and decides to do something about it. Especially when the haunting turns dangerous and Bianca starts getting hurt. When going to her best friend doesn’t work, she reaches out the the only person she think might actually believe her – even if she’s never met him before in her life. Desperate times call for desperate measures, right?
Bianca is a unique character to be in the head of. She’s quirky in a cute way and comes up with some of the wildest stories and assumptions about people that I’ve ever read. Put that together with her sheltered upbringing and subsequent naivety, and her thoughts can be downright unpredictable at times.
Being someone that suffers quite heavily from second hand embarrassment, I must admit that there’s a lot of that follow Bianca around. She can’t help it – not only is her brain a strange and wonderful place, but she has almost no filter between her thoughts and her words. It makes for one hell of a ride, that’s for sure.
But of course, the paranormal world around her more than makes up for the second hand embarrassment you might get. I always love seeing how different authors create their world and characters and Oweds does not disappoint. While there are some basic similarities that many paranormal stories have – like ghosts and poltergeists – this is a fantastic new (to me) take on what the paranormal world can look like. I enjoyed every little bit of information that I was able to soak up about the world and its inhabitants.
If you’re looking for a straight up ghost hunting story, then this isn’t the story you’re looking for. However. This story focuses on a group of friends and their abilities in a truly interesting way. It showcases how they help strengthen each other both emotionally and through their powers. This group of friends truly is the center point and highlight of this story.
I recommend this read for someone who’s interested in a good time, filled with paranormal mystery and intrigue. Bianca and her friends have a lot to overcome – whether you’re looking at Bianca’s haunting or the paranormal world as a whole. It’s fascinating to watch this story unfold.
I can't deny it any longer...I'm HEAD OVER HEELS in love with this story.
I laugh so often&grin so much &have such a great time being in this world that I don't even know what to do with myself RN +IT DOES THE ONE OTHER THING I LOVE THAT'S RARE IN RH..
SLOW BURN!
Bianca has not jumped into bed with anyone&there have been no, out of nowhere straight-outofa-porno sex scenes
&it makes me so happy&relieved that this is the pace we're going at!!
I love the mystery of it all&slowly but steadily learning the extent of Bianca's powers.
I love how even though she continues to be so so naive, that she's also super intelligent&quick on her feet which balances her character out.
Have to knock off a star though because once again, the author left off with a cliffhanger that in no way felt like a traditional earned cliffhanger.
Stopping in the middle of the book is not a cliffhanger in my eyes.
Other than that, reading this book was a complete&total breeze...
I generally as a rule- hate multiple POVs, especially in RH because I feel like they're only used to pad a story that would be much too short without it +the author that uses them IMO starts to prioritize the dudes POV over the main characters POV which is a big no no for me...but for THIS STORY OMMFG I was having an absolute blast being in all the guys' headspace.
It was nice to get some time away from Bianca's anxiety -nice to find out new information about the plot from a different perspective but the nicest part was to see the true depths of their feelings for Bianca in their own words.
That's how you can tell how up this series *** I am, that even multiple POVS couldn't stop me from having the most exhilarating time.
I also love how no guy has taken on the being-a-dick role, in the sense that there is no guy that's willing to hurt her badly in order to "protect her".
No guy has done anything I find unforgivable yet (I mean there's a lot of books in this series..so it could happen at any point but for now I'm chilling) which is such a breath of fresh air that I'm basically floating on a cloud of cotton candy joy right now.
I have to get started on book 3..so I'll leave with this:
Alright, so have I decided to sometimes ignore the complete craziness Bianca cooks up inside her brain just to see what happens in the plot? Yeah, I guess I am. There aren’t too many of those moments in the book like the first book (or I’ve just learned to ignore them). And I was happy to see the author has decided to add in other POVs from the guys. Makes the book much more interesting and gives a more grounded feel than just following shy and uncertain Bianca around while she makes outlandish assumptions about pretty much everyone she meets. And, I begrudgingly admit that sometimes the resolution to her assumptions can be entertaining.
We still don’t know shit about her or her past. It’s fine for now, but if we don’t get some answers in the next book I’m gonna be peeved. Also don’t know Finn’s agenda still. However, we definitely got some answers as to why Bianca and the guys are feeling more attached than they normally do to people. We also see more history on the guys, their whole group dynamic, and the world building...and it’s much more detailed than I would have given this series credit for. So I’ll stick around for the third book.
Definitely made me more intrigued to see what will happen later on in the series.
This last month I was really on a paranormal & shifter RH romance kick - I read a LOT of paranormal earlier in the year and needed a break from it, and was ready to dive back in this month. That being said, because so many of these books use similar tropes, plot devices, and mythical creatures, it becomes easy to see which books come out on top.
This series seemed like it would have some laughs for me and definitely seemed original in a multitude of ways. However, this is an example of one of those series where I don't think the story is THAT good or interesting that it needs as many books as it already has, let alone the additional books that will be released here. I notice this is a pattern with some of these paranormal books, where they just keep going and going and releasing books without giving you a strong exposition. It's just not for me and I'm obviously not a fan. I made it through book four of this series and then just found myself tired of reading about these characters without moving forward significantly in the overall story. I hate feeling stagnant in a series; hard to keep interested for a long period of time.
The volume I picked up says Part One. But I discovered that it's actually four books in one. My review applies to all four installments, since I read them as part of one book, and now I can't figure out what happened when.
I spent most of the (four) book(s) confused. I realize that this started off intentional, but then in later installments, the author wasn't paying attention to what characters were privy to what information. That was annoying.
This is not my kind of female lead. She's self-conscious and apologetic, nervous and overly naive. She's so naive, that it's not believable. I understand you were sheltered, and only had one friend. But am I expected to believe that the girl never watched TV or movies, or even paid attention that goings on around her at high school? Nope.
There's no romance in these stories, and everything takes FOREVER to happen because the main character has to be self conscious and apologize and misinterpret every interaction with every person before we can move on.
Minor grammatical errors (skipped words and such).
After reading this book Damen creeped up on me and took Titus' place as my favorite D:< The affectionate touches and pet names are killing me!
Ghost continues from where Origins left off and we learn more about Bianca and the guys. We got some answers in this book about how Bianca is tied to the boys and we might learn if Finn was actually trying to protect Bianca all along or was it just a lie? Things are starting to really pick up and now I'm hoping we can understand who Finn really is and if he's actually on Bianca's side in the next book. Also that cliff hanger at the end though! I need more information!
However, I'm excited for Home to come out because we get to see how Finn and Bianca met. I desperately want to know more about Finn and how they became "best friends" for so long that his own brother and group didn't know that Finn was friends with Bianca. Can't wait!
I love the idea of the book but I just got to frustrated. This is a personal preference and some people probably aren’t bothered.
I’m not against books with secrets but this felt like every little thing had to be kept from Bianca. From the secrets about the supernatural stuff to simple things like the internet! It also annoyed me how utterly naive she is, I prefer my heroine to be more independent and strong.
The guys I really wanted to like and I do like them, they were all so easy to love but again it’s the secrets they kept me from being able to invest in them! They kept everything from her and for a relationship honesty is a huge thing.
I really wanted to like these books but it’s a DNF for me and I’m not planning on reading anymore. Again this is personal preference and others probably enjoyed this series.
These books are convoluted and strange in the best way. I don’t even know how to explain it. The world building is in depth and drawn out, there is still so much about the characters, their lives, and culture that we don’t know... But instead of being off putting it has just drawn me in. Like a frog in a pot not noticing the temperature is rising.
The FMC is clueless and naive but hilarious. The way she goes off in her brain and decides things are facts makes me giggle. But if you had tried to describe it I would have thought it sounded terrible. Because we all like a strong FMC. The thing is, despite her cluelessness, she IS strong. And funny. And smart. And immensely likable.
You should read these books. Give them a try. Let the characters come to life in your head. You’ll love it.
This book gives us povs from all the characters which is so great to hear from the guys give this more answer look more into this world more character development I love The Chemistry Between the characters how to maintain I love the build-up it makes it meaningful but it still gives us a taste of what we want the guys admit to themselves they are all into her and they all care for her it seems like she will belong with them and there will be a reason for it they give her more answers to the story is addictive funny and sucks you in this gives you a larger plot in a larger scale while still dealing with the mystery in the first book where I should say Mysteries there's so much going on but in a great way I love everything about the series it is a 6 star read for sure
Oh my this second book in the series really ramped things up! I was unsure about whether to continue with the series after feeling like the first book fell slightly flat but I’m so glad I did!
Bianca is really starting to come into her own and I didn’t find myself cringing at her the way I did in the first book but found her funny and endearing - definitely one of the most brilliantly quirky FMCs I’ve come across.
We get to discover more about the men but Miles and Julian still remain a bit of a mystery but I’m sure we’ll find out more about them and their powers soon.
I loved the addition of the men’s POVs in this book, it was a real treat and it was nice to be privy to how they’re feelings are starting to grow for Bianca.
On to the third book in the series and I’m sure I won’t be disappointed!
3.75 These books are amazing, but hard to read. Information on Bianca's past is being fed to the reader through a straw (a.k.a. very slowly). Am I enjoying the journey? Sure, but I'm beginning to understand why there are 7+ books. In this book they are still dealing with the mystery from the first book. I'm not sure I would say any progress was made on this plot point during this installment though. I believe this book was more about discovering things about Bianca's powers and her mysterious past, which only becomes more mysterious throughout the book.
**Spoilerish ** There were parts in this book that I was worried the quintet would decide to distance themselves from Bianca to "keep her safe" . I'm really glad that didn't happen. I absolutely hate when authors decide to go this route.
I love the characters I think they are forming a really great bond and its fun to read. Bianca is definitely naive and it can be a bit cute and charming at times but then suddenly she goes on a wild tangent in her head just like making shit up out of nowhere which is just so strange. Like doesn't even try to get the correction from anyone, just assumes in her head and moves on like its true. I would like to be on the inside with the guys and knowing what is happening since I don't usually like to be left in the dark about whats happening or when characters say they cant tell them the truth right yet is very frustrating. Normally I put a book down when its like that but this one has charm and has kept me interested. For sure need the next one asap!
I was excited to dive into this one after reading the first in the series, and I wasn't disappointed.
While the first book built up the entire situation and characters, this one goes more in depth into each one. It isn't as fast-paced as the last one but sinks more into the relationships and psyche. Of course, the mystery surrounding the main character's powers and her background grow, but this switches into a slightly lower gear as we get to learn more about each of the guys, and her connection with each one grows.
This is by no means a quick romance or even steamy in any way. It's clean, very slow-burn, and really concentrates on these characters learning to know each other. And yes, it did leave me wanting to grab up the next book right away, too.