The story begins in 1946, just after the end of WWII, during the wintertime in the north Cotswolds town of Moreton-in-Marsh where Lucy, better known as Mrs P has come back home to help out in her aging aunt and uncles’ publishing house “Kershaw and Kathay Book Press”.
Lucy’s husband was just killed during the war, and despite her experience is now working as a clerk/receptionist/tea girl alongside her uncle and a new editor named Robert Underhill. Underhill prior to the war was studying to become a doctor. Though he could have been excused, he volunteered in the war efforts only to be captured immediately and became a POW for the last 5 years. Underhill would disappear from the office from time to time and the mystery surrounding his disappearance from the office intrigues Mrs. P.
I love historical fiction reads especially the WWII period. I enjoy learning about the circumstances surrounding the story line and the author gifts the reader with amazing detail and backstories of the characters.
England at that time was still reeling from the war, and while the country recovers, the people remain in rations. The men have come back and the women have to step back from their roles - running the country while the men were gone. The widows are trying to find their way back and are dealing with the guilt from the loss of their loved ones, mostly finding difficulties with establish relationships.
There are new ways of speaking in society where prying questions are not acceptable unless information is freely offered. The men that have come back are dealing with their own trauma from the war and I find that the author did a great job in creating that world post WWII.
The story is told through Lucy’s experience and point of view. Overall, I did enjoy the writing as it feels very much to the time period and the details were rich and vivid. It did move a little slow for me though I did enjoy the beautiful descriptions and the character development in this story.
I recommend this book for HF fans who are interested in the post WWII England setting.

"The Cotswolds, Christmastime 1946: A young widow leaves behind the tragedy of her wartime life, and returns home to her ageing aunt and uncle. For Lucy – known as Mrs P – and the people who raised her, the books that line the walls of the family publishing business bring comfort and the promise of new beginnings.

But the kind and reserved new editor at the Kershaw and Kathay Book Press is a former prisoner of war, and he has his own shadows to bear. And when the old secrets of a little girl’s abandonment are uncovered within the pages of Robert Underhills’s latest project, Lucy must work quickly if she is to understand the truth behind his frequent trips away.

For a ghost dwells in the record of an orphan girl’s last days. And even as Lucy dares to risk her heart, the grief of her own past seems to be whispering a warning of fresh loss…

There are no white shrouded spectres here, no wailing ghouls. Just the echoes of those who have passed, whispering that history is set to repeat itself."
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I did enjoy this book for the most part, but writing this next bit will likely make it sound quite the opposite, but it seems that there is a whole lot of nothing happening and it progresses quite slowly as a result. I wasn't bored exactly, but there was really very little happening for some time. Things did eventually start to pick up a bit, but the storyline was still dragging and then rather abuptly it ends, with things mostly resolved.

The most honest thing that I can say is that this book takes place almost entirely inside Lucy's thoughts while she doubts and obsesses over how others perceive and respond to her and her actions. It was exhausting at times.

The Book Ghost manages to give the sense that a lot is happening, but also somehow that nothing is happening...it was a very strange feeling. I really wanted to like this book more, but it just fell flat. It constantly felt like it was building up to something that never came. I had to push myself to finish the book. The characters seemed 1-dimensional and I didn't feel any connection with them at all.

The thing that bothered me the most is that I was given the impression that The Book Ghost was going to be some form of gothic mystery with a bit of romance, the book blurb was misleading. The gothic element was mainly an impression and it was very light on romance, as in there was almost none. As for the mystery, there is a bit of one, but it seems to fade in and out of importance.

More than anything else, I think this is a book about trauma. Learning to cope with it and learning to overcome it. If this book were mainly a story of grief and trauma, I think it would have worked better.
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Thanks to NetGalley and HarperCollins UK, One More Chapter for giving me the opportunity to read and review this book by sharing an eARC with me. This is my honest review.

1946...Lucy is a war widow trying to come to terms with her husband's death. She returns to her aunt and uncle's publishing company where she meets Robert, a war veteran who spent 5 years as a prisoner of war. He returns to work as an editor at the publishing house as well. This book is primarily a romance with a touch of mystery and paranormal. While I basically liked the story, for some reason I found it difficult to understand at times and hard to follow.
Thanks to Netgalley for the opportunity to read an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

The Book Ghost is a historical romance set in the Cotswolds at Christmastime 1946. Lucy (also known as Mrs. P), a young war widow, works for her uncle’s publishing business. As the story progresses, Lucy begins to connect with the new editor, Robert Underhill.

I was really intrigued by the synopsis for this book, but unfortunately it fell short for me. There were a few parts of the story that I enjoyed, but overall it was a struggle. There were some parts of the plot that were confusing and I struggled to make sense of it all. The romance storyline was the best part, in my opinion.

With that being said, I’m truly appreciative to the author, Netgalley, and One More Chapter for the gifted copy in exchange for my honest review.

The Book Ghost leaves a lot to be desired. I simply could not get into the plot. I found it boring and wasn’t impressed with the writing. My thanks to the publisher for my advance ebook. This is my unbiased review.

Not what I expected: writing seemed old-fashioned🤔

When I picked up this book, I had just read a fantastic book on World War II that peaked my interest in the War and its aftermath. The summary for this story sounded interesting. Early on, however, I realized, that while the book's description of the rationing and economic belt-tightening in England after WWII were informative, the author's writing style was not a good fit for me.

The wordy descriptions seemed old-fashioned and somewhat unfocused on the point of the story. When I read a contemporary novel written about the past, I want to read a story using modern writing techniques and language (apart from the dialogue, of course). The long sentences and lack of action made the story drag for me. And certain passages about the metaphysical went right over my head. Unfortunately, this book could not hold my interest.

Thanks to publisher Harper Collins and NetGalley for providing a complimentary advance copy of the book; this is my voluntary and honest review.

Robert and Lucy are both healing from WWII. He was a prisoner of war for five years- what an immense burden he carries. She's a widow. She's at loose ends and without resources so she opts to return to the Cotswalds where her aunt and uncle have a publishing company- which is were Robert is working. The two of them slowly (very slowly but to be fair, this is probably more realistic than not) bond over a manuscript he's editing. This is interesting for the descriptions of immediate post War Britain and for a thoughtful approach to the two characters. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC.

The Book Ghost by Lorna Gray is a book that is part historical fiction part period drama that takes place in England 1946 . This book focusses on the aftermath and coming to terms with the ending war and picking up the pieces of the lives that are broken and touched by such devastation and loss and trying to make sense of where, and how, to move on.

Many books out now cover events during WWII, but not as many cover what becomes of the “ordinary” citizen after they are then thrust back into a life half-changed. One can neither go back nor forget and move on with their life as if they are they same person. This process of reflection, acceptance, and putting one foot forward step by step is where we read about Lucy (a war widow at the young age of 26) who has been forced to come back to a rather depressing position as a menial secretary living with her elderly aunt and uncle and Robert, whom has his own demons and ghosts to contend with, a man that was hired and is staying with her family to help edit and man the publishing company that Lucy’s relatives own. What ensues is a treading of water in which both characters just try to stay afloat while they figure out who they are now and where they want to go.

This is not an action-packed read, but one does not read the synopsis and think that is what they are getting. Just like a healing wound, things take time, and the author weaves her tale at that slow, but steady, pace to put her readers in the right frame of mind and lead them to an appropriate and fitting conclusion. This book puts the reader into what it may have felt like coming to terms with tragedies in one’s life, finding a way to accept these losses, and to discover a purpose and a route to happiness moving forward.

4/5 stars.

Thank you NetGalley and One More Chapter for this ARC and in return I am submitting my unbiased and voluntary review and opinion.

I am posting this review to my GR and Bookbub accounts immediately and will post it to my Amazon and B&N accounts upon publication.

3.5 stars rounded up to 4

Set at the end of WWII. Lucy is a war widow. Robert had been a prisoner of war. Lucy had returned home to help the aunt and uncle who had raised her. They own a small Publishing business. Robert had been hired by her uncle as an editor. Robert is also living with her aunt and uncle. Lucy's life is depressing. Shes doing a menial secretarial job and living in the room above the shop.

The author has done her research before writing this book but there seems to be several books set in this era just now. Lucy and Robert have an awkward kind of friendship. Could it be that they wanted to be more than just colleagues? There's also a mysterious element to the book they were editing. People are still coming to terms with the aftermath of the war. There's not very much romance to the story though we do get some towards the end of the book. Overall, a delightful read.

I would like to thank NetGalley, HarperCollins UK, One More Chapter and the author Lorna Gray for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I received an arc from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. This is a post WWII novel that is part historical fiction,romance and mystery. The characters are pretty stereotyped; a widow, her well meaning aunt and uncle, a somewhat suspicious employee, a murder, the detectives and a cast of high society types. At times the plot was all over the plat not really my style. 3.25

This was a page turner OMG!!!! I coulnt put this book down ! I Loved this authores writting a first by me I cant wait to read more by her! I felt as though I was inside this book! A truly captivating book I wont soon forget!! Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for my ARC copy in exchange for my honest review! My opions are mine and mine alone!! A must read!!!!!

An interesting WWII romance. I liked this one.

Many thanks to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for my ARC. All opinions are my own.

The Book Ghost is a historical romance by Lorna Gray that is set during WWII. A story of hope and determination as people struggle to survive. The characters are intriguing yet mysterious and pull you into a world unlike any other. The author has done her research and it slows in her writing. The Book Ghost is a captivating story that pulls you in and holds your attention until the end leaving you wanting more.

I was 25% into reading this book and I was just pushing myself through it. I had just read a fantastic book and thought maybe that was why I was feeling as I did. I went to scan some reviews on Goodreads for this book and saw that the reviews posted at that time, were a reflection of how I was feeling. I was determined to continue to read to the end.
Approximately 50% through the book, the story finally was holding my interest, but the it was still moving very slow. About 80% read, I was finally involved in the story and was anxious to know how it ended.
In summary, the book had a pretty good plot, but it was not written well in my opinion. The story dragged quite a bit and was very wordy. I do think that if the reader can hang on long enough to finish the book, the story is worthwhile.
I was not very interested in any of the characters except in the very last part of the book, when new characters were the focus. I wish the story revolved more around them.
I want to thank HarperCollins UK, One More Chapter for allowing me to read the ARC. My review is my own opinion, not influence by receiving the ARC.

I loved the idea of this book, but I did not love the book. Throughout the story, there were more questions being asked than answered. And, yes, there was a mostly cohesive ending, there were too many things to sift through to get to that ending. I feel there was too much fluff to dig through in order to get to the meat of the story.
The prologue does not fit the book. It gives an expectation of events that do not happen. The same sentiments and ideas that the author is trying to give in the prologue have been woven into the remainder of the story in a way that works. But the main emphasis of the prologue is on a minor peripheral character, and that amount of attention is unnecessary for the story progression.
There are also two characters, Amy and the Dr, that I feel were given more time in the story than was merited. Neither of the characters is terribly important to the heart of the story and its progression. Taking these characters out and putting their dialogue into the story as the narrative would have made things a bit smoother and cohesive.

I received an ARC of this book to read through NetGalley in exchange for a fair review. The Book Ghost by Lorna Gray is a story that takes place shortly after the end of World War II. Widow Lucy Peuse has returned home to help out the aunt and uncle who raised her in their small publishing business. Things are much changed and the former prisoner of war Robert Underhill that her uncle hired as an editor seems to have usurped her place in the family home and business and secrets and mysteries abound both with her family and in the manuscript that Robert is editing and passes on to her. As Lucy comes to understand that only by dealing with her grief and the ghosts of the past that seem to haunt her present she finds first friendship and then perhaps love with Robert. I enjoyed this book very much and highly recommend it. Publishing Date December 14, 2019. #NetGalley #TheBooKGhost #LornaGray
#HistoricalFiction #bookstagram #HarperCollinsUK #OneMoreChapter #GeneralFiction

Not exactly what I had in mind since I'm not into spiritualists. As much as I wanted to, I couldn't read the story. However, I appreciate receiving the ARC in exchange for an honest opinion, (no matter how difficult to give it).

This book is a study of people. Lucy’s husband was killed in the war and she is a young widow trying to make her way. While working for her aunt and uncle’s publishing business, she meets Robert, a man who was a soldier in the war. They are both kind of fragile, but they seem to be good for each other. There are a few mentions of a ghost and some unusual people and events. Although the story is much more character driven than action driven.

I thought the description sounded interesting. Sadly, the book didn't meet my expectations. I found the story confusing. The dialogue was stilted, which made it hard to stay engaged. It was a struggle to read this book, and I found myself skipping around a lot.

Life is Never What We Expect

The Book Ghost sounded like a great historical romance from the description. I found it to be a bit hard to read and not what I thought it would be. The book was not so interesting to me.

It was , for the most part, about a failing book publishing company and two editors, Lucy a war widow , and Robert a former POW. It explored their insecurities and their feelings and thoughts. It very vaguely touched on their war experience. It was a rather awkward friendship between the two and never developed into a love between the two until toward the end of the book . I got the feeling it was kind of off and on until the very last few chapters. There was a small mysterious element (very small) in the book they were researching, but was overshadowed until the last part of the book. It did have a lovely cover.

Thanks to Lorna Gray, Harper Collins UK, One More Chapter, and NetGalley for allowing me to read and advance copy of the book.