Eternal Luck

Ghostly Guardians #0

by Louisa Masters

Luck brought us together… but can it last forever?

I was working a dead-end job and living with too many roommates when I met Carlos. That meeting was our first stroke of luck, changing both our lives and tying us together. I’ll never regret it, but after eight amazing years, I’m starting to think he does.

More than anything, I want to spend the rest of my life with Carlos, but making him miserable isn’t an option. He might think this getaway to Illinois is to visit friends, but for me, it’s a last-ditch push to save our relationship.

A wrong turn brings us to Mannix Estate… and suddenly it seems like our luck might have struck again.

This Ghostly Guardians prequel novella was previously a newsletter serial. No changes have been made.

Genres: Paranormal, M M Romance, Romance, Ghosts, Fantasy, Novella, LGBT

64 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 19, 2023

About the author

LOUISA MASTERS started reading romance much earlier than her mother thought she should. While other teenagers were sneaking out of the house, Louisa was sneaking romance novels in and working out how to read them without being discovered. She’s spent most of her life feeling sorry for people who don’t read, convinced that books are the solution to every problem. As an adult, she feeds her addiction in every spare second, only occasionally tearing herself away to do things like answer the phone and pay bills. She spent years trying to build a “sensible” career, working in bookstores, recruitment, resource management, administration, and as a travel agent, before finally conceding defeat and devoting herself to the world of romance novels. Louisa has a long list of places first discovered in books that she wants to visit, and every so often she overcomes her loathing of jet lag and takes a trip that charges her imagination. She lives in Melbourne, Australia, where she whines about the weather for most of the year while secretly admitting she’ll probably never move.

Reviews

[Cadiva · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great prequel

This is super cute and sets up the background to how the Mannix Estate Hotel came to be.

Ned and Carlos are a lovely pairing and it almost seems like there's some kind of otherworldly intervention pushing them along on their journey!

[Elena Rodríguez · Rating 3 out of 5]

Relato que constituye la precuela de la saga Ghostly Guardians. Ocurre cronológicamente unas décadas antes de los acontecimientos de la saga principal. Ha estado lindo, sin lugar a dudas. No contiene drama exagerado. Tampoco es necesaria para poder entender la historia principal y solo da un poco de trasfondo.

[Nick Vallina (MisterGhostReads) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very cute prequel novel about Ned and Carlos, the couple who bought and renovated Mannix Estate. I loved watching the ghosts help them through their relationship troubles. Love these ghosts.

[Dan · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was incredibly cute, I love seeing long term couples being happy

[Natalia Forciniti · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐️: 8/10 🌶️: 2/5 😭: -/5 🤣: 2/5

Tropes:
👻 Paranormal

“Babe?” Carlos kneels beside me. “You okay?” “They’re ghosts,” I whisper to him. “Yeah, not thinking about that right now. You good?”

(ESP) Muy buena precuela en la que se nos presenta el mundo en el que se desarrollará la serie. Están perfectamente aprovechados los tiempos en la novela dándonos la cantidad justa de romance y comedia con un buen desarrollo de los personajes y su relación.
Los fantasmas son lo más y ya necesito saber más de ellos!!!

(ENG) Very good prequel that introduces us to the world in which the series will develop. The pacing in the novel is perfect, giving us just the right amount of romance and comedy with a good development of the characters and their relationship.
The ghosts are the best and I already need to know more about them!!!!!

[Danis ❤️ MM · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the prequel to the series.

We see Ned and Carlos. Two men who, through random chance, meet each other and win the lottery together on the same day. They fall in love and are happy for a time. But years later have seemed to drift apart. One day they happen upon a quirky little town and end up at the unkept Mannix Estate. After meeting the ghosts, and getting much needed relationship advice, the two rekindle their love and decide to buy the estate and make it into a hotel.

It's sweet, short and fluffy. It lightly delves into the reasons two lovers drift apart over the years without being overly angsty.

[Aubrey · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a very sweet introduction to the Ghostly Guardians series. Carlos and Ned clearly love each other very much, and they love Mannix Estate just as much. And the fact that they seem to get along with the ghosts of Mannix Estate seems like a great bonus, too.

I'm all in for a small town, paranormal romance series. With ghosts, am estate turned tourist destination, and two very caring owners, I'm really excited to see where this series goes!

[M.J. Calabrese · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this

The origin story of the Ghostly Guardians series was well thought out and fun. I loved how Ned and Carlos rejuvenate a flagging relationship and bring back Mannix Estate. Highly recommended for anyone who loves this series as much as I do.

[Fay MMBookworm · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good start as book nook begins in 1992 with Ned with icecream after a bad day.
Ned 33yrs meets Carlos at the checkout and saves him some embarrassment. A dinner invitation which finally Carlos has the courage to approach his man.
8 years later after the winning lotto ticket. Who knew a trip and getting lost would find the Mannix👻 Estate and the start of a book series.

[li (stupid canadian wolf bird fanatic) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very cute!

[Books_inthe_Batcave · Rating 5 out of 5]

Have read the books in the Ghostly Guardians & was so nice to go back & get the history of the owners of the Mannix Estate & how they came to own it.

Ned & Carlos started off hot & heavy but their relationship has fallen by the wayside over time. Due to a lack of communication they each feel the other wants out. But stumbling upon the dilapidated Estate they confront their fears & find a new way to maintain a future together.

Was such a cute loveable quick story of how the Estate came to be, with the ghost who make you laugh.

[Maureen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I didn't write a review back when I first read it, back then I didn't think I was eloquent and confident enough. I recently came across it again and, remembering what a lovely novella it was, I decided to read it again. These two men are sooo freaking sweet and their story warms the heart. A tender tale both times.I was silly back then, who needs to be eloquent when you only need to say what you liked about the story.

[Kate Seymour · Rating 4 out of 5]

Luck is on Their Side

Carlos and Ned meet at a convenience store after Carlos loans Ned a dollar so he can buy a lottery ticket, asking only for a date in exchange. After purchasing the ticket, Ned insists that if he wins anything half of it belongs to Carlos. The two men have a perfect first date and later discover they’ve won the lottery when they return to Carlos’ home. Unfortunately, eight years later their relationship has grown stale and neither one is sure what to do about it.

During their vacation in a small town near Chicago, Carlos and Ned decide to go on a day trip with the intention of adding some excitement back into their relationship. While exploring the area, they stumble upon a dilapidated house that still holds some of its former beauty. The two men are immediately captivated by its charm and decide to take a closer look. As they explore the grounds, they discover some intriguing secrets about both the property and their own relationship that bring them even closer together. The newfound knowledge they gain from this experience allows them to deepen their connection and reignite the spark in their relationship.

In 'Eternal Luck', readers are taken on a thrilling and captivating journey of love and haunting. This steamy short novel serves as a prequel to the Ghostly Guardian series and does an excellent job of introducing readers to the world of the series. The romance between the main characters is passionate and intense, and it's fascinating to see how their relationship evolves over time. While the spicy scenes are limited, they are still hot enough to keep readers engaged and wanting more. Overall, I would rate this book four stars, and would highly recommend it to anyone looking for a quick and enjoyable romantic read.

[fishreads (back? from hiatus) · Rating 2 out of 5]

(2,5 stars rated down) Ned and Carlos have a meet-cute at the convenience store when Carlos chips in with a dollar Ned is short for his purchases (ice cream and a lottery ticket). Ned works a mind-numbing office job, and Carlos is a construction worker. Carlos invites Ned on a date, and they agree to share the lottery ticket's winnings. Their date goes perfectly and becomes even better when they find out they have won the lottery.

Eight years later, Ned and Carlos are still together but they have drifted apart. They both fear that the other one doesn't love them anymore and aren't really talking to each other about their perceived issues. On one of their visits with rich friends, they decide to go on a drive, get lost, discover a small town, stay at the local B&B, and then decide to visit Mannix Estate, the town's haunted mansion.

Ned and Carlos' story was cute, but the main character of the story was the estate itself as this story serves as a light introduction to ghosts living on the estate and also as a teaser for the secret that is apparently hidden in the estate basement. This didn't exactly win me over but it was a quick read.

Themes: dual POV, meet cute, established relationship, ghosts

[Lana (Lore & Lullabies) · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a cute, sweet, and relateable read.

2 Guys, a chance encounter, and a lottery ticket. Just your average hot viking mets hot, slighly younger guy romance, right? Almost.

Eternal Luck is the prequel to Masters Ghostly Guardians Series, which sets up the premise for the rest of the series in the sweetest and wholesomest way. It's exactly as good as I have come to expect from her, but all in less than 60 pages.

Ned and Carlos met at a corner store. Ned would call it luck, Carlos would say he grew a pair (or his brother would). A friendly gesture, a date, and snippets of near a decade of their relationship until they settle upon a quaint town in Illinois. Here we get to meet and wonder at who the next 4 books will be about and what is up with the ominous thing about the..... no spoilers, folks. You'll just have to read and find out like me. 😁

Can't wait to devour this series. And now is the perfect time to catch up before Masters releases the spin-off series, coming in 2024!!

If sweet wholesome MM paranormal romance is your jam, Louisa is the Master

[Jenny · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was an adorable story. There was a brief mention of another series I wondered if I should read first, but it looks like my decision to skip it will be fine.

I noticed this in other books I have read by this author: they kiss for like a second and then usually jump right to genitals unless the person has little to no sexual experiences like in the last Demon-in-Laws book. Whatever happened to make outs and stuff? Is it that short and boring to symbolize straight sex?

Also, the first chapter takes place in 1992, and the book acted like the cordless phone was brand new technology. Cordless phones were invented in the 60s, and they became common in the early-to-mid 1980s. Buying one in 1992 wasn't something avant guard. Your sister making fun of you for never remembering to put it on the charger? That part was totally true, and it still is today ;)

[Severin Beck · Rating 4 out of 5]

A quick, enjoyable read. I liked that the author included this form of miscommunication -- rooted in insecurity -- because it felt very real. Normally I get frustrated with books that involve characters who don't talk to each other because the problems they are avoiding are often so simple. I just want to lock them in a small room together and scream "Talk to each other!" But miscommunication that is rooted in poor self-image is common, complicated, and reinforced by confirmation bias [every interaction is viewed through the lens of the self-image and confirms the fear]. Disentangling it is challenging, to say the least. Though this was short, and the resolution simple, it still felt satisfyingly real.

[Emilyrose · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this as part of Louisa's newsletter serial and I was on tenterhooks waiting for each installment because it was just so good! Ned and Carlos are great together and I like the fact that the book is more about them communicating than focusing on when they initially met. Both feel they are somehow 'losing' the other but aren't sure how to fix it. They have wonderful chemistry and are clearly well-suited...who knew that all they'd need would be to encounter Mannix estate and some of our favourite ghosts!

This is a brilliant prequel to the Ghostly Guardian series and I'd definitely recommend this book and the rest of the series too.

[Manuela · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's short although it's spanning 25 years of Ned and Carlos. How they met, how they solved their relationship issues and how they became owners of a hotel mansion that is haunted by six mostly friendly ghosts. It leaves open a few questions and it skips over years of Ned and Carlos living the high life together. It also introduces family members that you won't hear about again, so I have to check out if this is a prequel and if there is more to those two guys who shared a lottery ticket at the beginning of their relationship.

[Donna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well, wasn't that just adorable! Having read about Ned and Carlos in passing, it was quite interesting to get the whole story and see how things played out leading up to the series beginning!

Sad to say, now I have to wait until next month to get Conduit Crisis. Waiting is NOT my forte... grrr LOL!!!

[isthisakink · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely adorable, as usual..

I’ve come to expect this series to just.. drip sugar. I’m okay and on board with this.

This entire world and the all of the characters have just been awesome. I loved getting a peek at the beginning of the journey that is Mannix Estate. This is definitely one of those book worlds that I wish was legit, and that’s saying a lot considering it spans several series.

[Cheryl_cajun · Rating 5 out of 5]

Eternal luck

What started out as a fast whirling encounter for Ned and Carlos, from finally landing the one.
Winning a lottery seems to make Ned  inverted more into his deep fears while watching Carlos flourish in their new found freedom.
Getting lost in the country side..while trying to mend his relationship with Ned, Carlos adventurous nature leads to a haunted house, with some hilarious spooks even if it was a tad terrifying.      

[Kayra · Rating 5 out of 5]

so good!

I love that we get to see the beginning of the mysterious estate owners' relationship, that they figure out their $h!+ and buy the estate AND we get to see a glimpse of when Kieran got interviewed, leading us right back into the series! Which I'm going to reread right now :) Love this series, and I'm excited about more books dropping soon. Also recommend LM's dragon series.

[Beth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lovely background intro for the series

I’ve been reading this series since it started so it was fun to read this flashback story explaining the background on the Mannix Estate. The owners of the estate have been mentioned in the previous books so filling in those details adds to the series’ universe.

It’s a quick fun read. Having read the earlier books the ending to this is amusing knowing what’s coming.

[Elizabeth D · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.25/5 This was short and sweet (with a big but also low-key misunderstanding in the middle). I thought the meet cute was adorable, and I liked the time jumps to let us see various parts of Ned and Carlos’s life. It definitely highlighted the importance of communication, and I’m so glad for quirky small towns and finding them at the right time.

I came across this at the end of the series instead of the beginning, and it was nice to get this little glimpse into the past.

[Lois · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute prequel about the current owners of Mannix Estate, how they met and what prompted them to buy the old dilapidated house. The guys were cute even though the book wasn't really long enough for a complex plot and character development. It was nice to catch up with the ghosts and learn a little more about what happened in the basement. Hopefully we'll meet Ned and Carlos again in future books. 4*

[Lindsay Hamilton · Rating 5 out of 5]

fun prequel

I know this novella came out after books 1&2, but I’m excited to be reading the series in order. I loved the introduction to the hotel and it’s sexy owners. As I’ve come to expect from Louisa Masters, I also adored the imperfect/realistic relationship between Ned and Carlos.
I can’t wait to read more.

[CB · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sweet novella that is the story of the owners of Mannix Estate. The 4 novels follow this (4th book to be released June 2023).

I read this book after the 3rd book because I did not realize it existed until then and it was great to get this perspective because the owners are mentioned a few times in the books. I would recommend reading it first but could be read at any time. Very sweet :-)

[Wayne Blood · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fun backstory covering a couple of decades that sets up the history of the Mannix Estate and its ghostly inhabitants and the basement mystery. The estate goes from dilapidated eyesore to bougie destination hotel and immersive experience. The two owners are cute together, but I’m guessing that they will be more or less out of the picture from here on out.

[Ashley (Kindled Souls Book Blog) · Rating 4 out of 5]

In this Ghostly Guardians prequel, readers get to meet the owners of the Mannix estate. This quick novella takes readers from Carlos and Ned's first introduction through some of their relationship's trials and tribulations and all the way through their later years as the owners of Mannix estate. Readers get to see Ned and Carlos's first interactions with the estate ghosts and witness their decision to purchase the estate. This story is quick and fun, and it perfectly sets up the Ghostly Guardians series.