✧ Book Review ✧ The Unquiet Spirit (Spirited Encounters Book 1) by Penny Hampson

She wasn’t home alone...

With her love life in tatters, Kate Wilson needs a fresh start, and where could be better than the old Cornish house that had belonged to her godmother?

There’s just one problem – it comes with a ghost as a sitting tenant.

Her grumpy new neighbour, the broodingly handsome Tom Carbis, is another fly in the ointment – he seems to turn up wherever Kate goes. His dog might be friendly, but he’s definitely not.

Then the discovery of a hidden diary points Kate to a romantic mystery with links to both Tom’s family and her house’s past – a mystery that might explain the reason for her spectral lodger.

The downside? Kate needs Tom’s help to solve it and has to convince him that she is not his foe.

But working with Tom to unravel long-buried secrets has unexpected consequences, and Kate discovers far more than she bargained for.

The Unquiet Spirit is a spooky, suspense-filled, enemies-to-lovers romance.

✧ Praise ✧

“The Unquiet Spirit” by Penny Hampson is an enthralling paranormal romance that weaves together elements of mystery and the supernatural. In this captivating tale, readers are drawn into a world where love transcends the boundaries of life and death, unveiling a profound connection between the living and the restless spirits that linger in the shadows.

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✧ Review ✧

From the moment I started The Unquiet Spirit, I had the feeling this was going to be one of those books that quietly settles in and stays with you. It isn’t loud or over-dramatic; instead, it draws you in gently, building atmosphere and emotion in a way that feels completely natural. The supernatural elements are handled with a light touch, creating an eerie mood without ever overwhelming the story.

Kate Wilson is at a crossroads in her life when she inherits The Beeches, an old house near the Cornish coast. Hoping for a fresh start, she finds herself instead surrounded by unanswered questions, unexplained happenings, and a house that clearly has a past. As Kate explores its hidden corners, uncovering old letters and long-buried secrets, the mystery deepens in a way that keeps you fully engaged.

What really stood out to me was how well the emotional side of the story is handled. Kate feels believable and easy to sympathise with, and her reactions to both the strange events and her personal situation feel authentic. The paranormal storyline is beautifully balanced with themes of healing, loss, and new beginnings, making the book feel warm as well as intriguing.

The slow-burn relationship between Kate and her neighbour Tom develops at a pleasing, unforced pace. Their interactions are understated and realistic, built on small moments rather than grand gestures, which makes their growing connection all the more enjoyable to read.

The setting plays a strong role throughout the book. Cornwall is brought to life through its coastal atmosphere, quiet isolation, and sense of history, all of which add depth to the story and enhance its gentle haunting quality.

The Unquiet Spirit is a thoughtful, atmospheric read that blends mystery, romance, and the paranormal with ease. It’s the sort of book that encourages you to slow down and savour the story, and one that lingers in the mind long after you’ve finished reading.

A well-deserved five-star read.

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Penny Hampson

Penny Hampson writes mysteries, and because she has a passion for history, you’ll find her stories also reflect that. A Gentleman’s Promise, a traditional Regency romance, was Penny’s debut novel and the first of her Gentlemen Series. There are now four novels in the series, with the latest, An Adventurer’s Contract, released in November 2024. Penny also enjoys writing contemporary mysteries with a hint of the paranormal, because where do ghosts come from but the past? The Unquiet Spirit, a spooky mystery/romance set in Cornwall, is the first in the Spirited Encounters Series. Look out for A Plethora of Phantoms coming soon.

Penny lives with her family in Oxfordshire, and when she is not writing, she enjoys reading, walking, swimming, and the odd gin and tonic (not all at the same time).

If you’ve enjoyed any of Penny’s books please leave a review on Amazon, Bookbub, or Goodreads, and let other readers know!

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✧ Book in the Spotlight ✧ Rough Diamond - Rough Justice by Avien Gray #RoughDiamondRoughJustice #thriller #suspense #blogtour #YardeBookPromotions @aviengrayauthor @maryanneyarde

Rough Diamond - Rough Justice 

By Avien Gray

Publisher: Avien Gray

Page Length: 446

Genre: Political Thrillers & Suspense / Historical Fiction

After a first kill, MI5 Agent and erstwhile photographer Cain becomes an undercover, extra-judicial killer for a secret Bureau.

Recovering from injuries sustained protecting the Royal Family, Cain embracesa new life and romance in sun-drenched Australia, leaving his past life behind.

But when tragedy strikes, he is on the move again. This time to a new career in the world of diamond dealings in Florida.

Curiosity takes Cain to the diamond world in South Africa, where his past finally catches up with him, the criminal world allies against him and he becomes a killer again.

In Cain's action-packed escapades, a spectacular betrayal takes him into the rigours of a Chinese prison where the truth about his past begins to unravel.

Aided by a loyal band of friends from the shadowy world of intelligence, he delivers his own particular brand of rough justice.

However, with enemies closing in on all sides, will Cain prevail?

Triggers: Trigger warnings: violence, murder

 ✧ Praise ✧ 

“Rough Diamond, Rough Justice” by Avien Gray is a riveting spy thriller that seamlessly blends electrifying elements of espionage, adrenaline-charged action, and daring escapades.

 

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“A gripping high-stakes thriller, “Rough Diamond - Rough Justice” by Avien Gray is driven by the urgent question of whether one can ever truly escape a dark and violent past.”

The Coffee Pot Book Club

“Avien Gray’s Rough Diamond, Rough Justice is a gritty and cinematic thriller that follows Cain, a former professional photographer turned MI5 surveillance agent, as he navigates a world of espionage, betrayal, and violence.”

Literary Titan

✧ Purchase Link ✧

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✧ Avien Gray ✧ 

Avien Gray, the English author behind Rough Diamond – Rough Justice, brings a wealth of experience to his gripping debut novel. Born in the UK, Gray has led a dynamic, bachelor’s life marked by an impressive array of skills and global adventures. He has a driver’s license, motorbike license, and pilot’s license. His physical discipline extends to martial arts, where he earned a karate black belt, complemented by a lifelong passion for photography that captures the world through his discerning lens.

Gray’s rumoured travels paint the picture of a man unbound by borders. He is said to have spent many months in Saudi Arabia, Australia, the USA, South Africa, Europe and China. This rich tapestry of experiences infuses his writing with authenticity, lending a vivid, worldly edge to the thrilling narrative of his complex protagonist: a man called Cain.

Avien and his best friend shared a flat and went out with various female friends together. They had a great time. As it says in the book when Cain is talking with his best friend: a Royal Protection Officer.

 ‘We will have to write that book when we retire,’ Cain said.

 They looked at each other with knowing smiles – for a long few seconds.

 ‘All those secrets,’ said Jerry. ‘Perhaps we will.’

 And time moved on.

But in real life, his best friend tragically died – leaving Avien to write their book alone.

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✧ Book Review ✧ Spells for Forgetting by Adrienne Young

 BOOK REVIEW

Spells for Forgetting: A Novel 

By Adrienne Young

Emery Blackwood’s life changed forever the night her best friend was found dead and the love of her life, August Salt, was accused of murdering her. Years later, she is doing what her teenage self swore she never would: living a quiet existence on the misty, remote shores of Saoirse Island and running the family’s business, Blackwood’s Tea Shoppe Herbal Tonics & Tea Leaf Readings. But when the island, rooted in folklore and magic, begins to show signs of strange happenings, Emery knows that something is coming. The morning she wakes to find that every single tree on Saoirse has turned color in a single night, August returns for the first time in fourteen years and unearths the past that the town has tried desperately to forget.

August knows he is not welcome on Saiorse, not after the night everything changed. As a fire raged on at the Salt family orchard, Lily Morgan was found dead in the dark woods, shaking the bedrock of their tight-knit community and branding August a murderer. When he returns to bury his mother’s ashes, he must confront the people who turned their backs on him and face the one wound from his past that has never healed—Emery. But the town has more than one reason to want August gone, and the emergence of deep betrayals and hidden promises spanning generations threaten to reveal the truth behind Lily’s mysterious death once and for all.

REVIEW

FIVE STARS 

I genuinely didn’t want this book to end.

From the very first chapter, Spells for Forgetting completely drew me in. Adrienne Young’s writing is atmospheric, lyrical, and deeply emotive — the kind of storytelling that makes you slow down and savour every word. Saoirse Island feels vividly real: the sea mist rolling in, the quiet weight of old legends, and the sense that the past is never quite done with you.

What stayed with me most were the characters. They are beautifully flawed and feel entirely human, which made their struggles and growth all the more affecting. Emery and August’s story is shaped by grief, memory, and unfinished love, and their connection feels raw, tender, and painfully authentic. I found myself fully invested in their journey, turning pages late into the night because I simply had to know how it would unfold.

The magic in this novel is subtle and understated, woven seamlessly into the setting and the emotional core of the story rather than dominating it. It enhances the themes of loss, forgiveness, and family legacy in a way that feels natural and deeply moving.

This is one of those books that lingers long after you’ve finished reading. If you enjoy character-driven novels with a strong sense of place and a gentle touch of magic, Spells for Forgetting is an absolute must-read. I couldn’t recommend it more.

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Adrienne Young 

Adrienne Young is the New York Times, USA Today, and Indie list bestselling author of the Fable duology and the Sky in the Deep duology. She is a foodie with a deep love of history and travel and a shameless addiction to coffee. When she’s not writing, you can find her on her yoga mat, sipping wine over long dinners or disappearing into her favorite art museums. She lives with her documentary filmmaker husband and their four little wildlings in the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina.