We ain’t afraid of no ghost

Synopsis

The beautiful Cotswold village of Rowan Vale is run as a living museum, allowing tourists to see history in action. But there’s more to the place than any visitor would guess…

Fifty-something Shona grew up in the village and now runs its vintage, 1940s-themed teashop. Not everyone knows that the previous manager, her great-aunt Polly, still lives there too… as a ghost!

When newcomer Max arrives, hoping to find out more about the place where his German grandfather was a prisoner of war, both Shona and Polly are unsettled. Shona, because handsome, interesting Max is the first man to catch her eye since her divorce, and Polly, because she must finally confront the terrible truth about her past.

A 1940s-themed weekend planned for the village brings the families’ connections to a head and tragic secrets to light.

Can Shona help her ghostly great-aunt to find love and forgiveness once more, while also creating her own happy ever after?

The second in the comforting, feel-good, romantic series with a dash of fantasy that started with Kindred Spirits at Harling Hall.

My review

Rowan Vale is a unique village, not only because the tourists truly believe they went back in time, but for something even more special. And that is that beside the lovely community living there, there are also many spirits wandering around. Not the evil kind, but the kind that still have relatives around and are living peacefully together with the living one.
As the new ‘owner’ of the village (yes, Callie actually is the owner of Rowan Vale), organizes a 1940’s – themed weekend, it attracts attention and visits. One visit in particular, that of Max, with reasons that go beyond the weekend, it worries Shona, who runs the local teashop. Because with his German descendance, it may unsettle her spirit great – aunt Polly. Because somehow, Max’s grandfather and Polly are connected in a way, and it may be time for Polly to confront her past, a painful one. And while Shona stands by Polly’s side, she cannot deny the attraction she starts to feel for Max. But how could she possible prefer Max above her own family?

Like I said in my review of the first book of the series, I don’t believe in ghosts. But in doubt, I don’t dismiss the possibility either. And even if I am skeptical about that fact, you know that I have fallen in love with Rowan Vale.

While I was very eager to read more about Shona and her romantic journey, it was Polly’s story that intrigued me the most. Is it because she’s a ghost and there are so many questions about her past that intrigued me? I don’t know. I just wanted to get to know her better. And of course, I wanted to know what happened to her in the 1940s. And of course I wanted to know how Max’s grandfather was linked with Polly’s passing.

But I was also intrigued by Max himself.  And how his arrival in Rowan Vale would affect not only the community, but especially Shona!

Shona is a woman that loves her life in Rowan Vale, even if it hasn’t been always sunshine and rainbows, as she saw her marriage ending  and has been picking up the pieces of her life. Luckily, she has and still can be counting on the support of Rowan Vale, the living people and all the ghosts. And that warmed my heart, to see how an unlikely, even impossible, community sticks together, is always there for each other, and even protects each other.

That protecting is also seen towards Polly… Polly who is just a great character, an amazing ghost to have around. And I felt sorry for her, reading how she died and how many question marks there still are about what actually happened. I even found it a bit of a cosy mystery, as there was the need to discover it all, but also the realization that in fact, it was too late, even for justice. But it is never too late for peace, isn’t it?

I have to admit, that when the truth came out about what happened to Polly, I was a bit flabbergasted, as I didn’t see it coming. But while it was heartbreaking, within that timesetting, i could comprehend what had taken place… And like I said, it is never too late for peace, in anyway that may occur…

Peace and also redemption in a way, as the truth came out eventually, and that names got cleared, forgiveness given and even great solutions and changes are taking place.

Changes that also involve Shona, as she gets the chance to find a romantic interest. But not only that, but with Max appearing in her life, she also realizes that she never got the chance to get over her marriage. Not that she is still in love with her ex, but with how things ended, she never had the chance to come to terms and digest how it all went.

Of course with Max’s arrival in Rowan Vale, there is also the dilemma that Shona has to face: to be united as a family, or follow Max and his quest? It is an impossible dilemma, and Shona tries her best to be there for anyone, and tries to do the right thing. But let’s be honest, no matter what Shona would do, it would be hurting one of them anyway… 

So I was happy in a way with how this lovely author came up with the perfect solution. She gave us all the answers we needed to have, and she gave us the outcome that we were all hoping for!

I absolutely loved returning to the ghostly village of Rowan Vale, getting to know new people and ghosts. If there are truly ghosts existing amongst us, i for sure hope they are all that lovely and funny as they are in this book. And if the place would truly exist, I for sure would buy a ticket to have a holiday there myself, or rather, live there myself. Because who wouldn’t love to live in such an amazing, wonderful, warm and committed community?