‘Ghosts of the forbidden’ would definitely be a 4 star read if not for the dialogues. The plot was interesting although it would need extra 100 pages to properly develop and fully immerse the reader. Nonetheless, I had fun reading this book and I did feel drawn to this story, as well as to the romance (which, just like the plot, needed few pages more to become better) but it did make me feel butterflies and it definitely did make me cheer on Lilliana and Nathaniel. I loved the whole premise of them being some sort of reincarnations of the past lovers and both of them sharing part of their past selves’ souls. I found the romantic bits very cute and I really wanted to spend more time with these two.

I also enjoyed the darker parts of this book and found the whole curse plot very intriguing. Unfortunately, because the book is so short, I feel like the author wanted to create something way bigger than she had time for. The are many things about the curse that were underdeveloped or mysteries that were left unsolved (like why Martha from the start of the book had a heart attack or what exactly was hiding in the old mine).

I think the shining point of this book are the characters. There are quite few of them but somehow the author manages to build their personalities well enough, I could feel for them straight away. Which was surprising because again, the book has only 144 pages!

Lastly, I want to circle back to what I said about dialogues. As much as I liked the book, the dialogues were awfully dry! They felt unnatural and I’m not sure it’s because the author tried to write them in an old fashioned style of speaking or is it because they were just bad. Because of this, I couldn’t fully immerse myself in many situations in this book because I was focusing so much on how robotic the dialogues were!

Anyway, even though it’s not one of the best books I’ve read this year, it was a fun read and I think if you want to read a short ghost story with romance, you should give this book a chance!

This was such a cute book. It felt a little short and more of a novelette than a full blown novel, but so very cute, warm and cozy. The other books I've read before by this author have been more in depth, more complicated stories, and while this one wasn't just like that, I still greatly loved it. I was torn between 4 and 5 stars, so I've decided on 4.5. It's definitely one of those stories that made me feel warm inside, and I loved how much ghost stuff we had - the ghosts in this one aren't just foreign objects and reflections, they're sort of their own characters. If this book has any sequels, I can't wait to read them.

I thank the publisher for giving me a free copy of the ebook in exchange to my honest review. This has not affected my opinion.

The description and cover of this book are everything. This is exactly what I wanted for a spooky fall read.

Unfortunately, I did not feel like it delivered.

Perhaps it was just the writing style of the author? The dialogue and writing in general felt very stiff. It lacked an emotion and depth that I come to expect and love, instead feeling like I was just being given facts or a second hand retelling.

The story, characters, setting, everything seemed like it would be an amazing story. There just wasn't enough depth to any of it to make it a compelling enough read. Instead, I struggled to get through.

Gothic setting, writing retreat, ghosts, and instant love. If these are your things, you are in for a treat.

I loved the way the author described the settings. It fit well with all the dark and picturesque forms the gothic novel deserves.

I’m happy to see this is a series and cannot wait to pick up the second one when it releases.

Some of the dialogue was weird and there were points where the story was a bit clunky so that’s why I’m rating it a 4/5. But it was a good time with extremely creepy moments and I’m grateful to have had a chance to read it.

Ghosts of the Forbidden (Glazier's Gap Book 1) by Leanna Renee Hieber is a slow burn but perfect for those who enjoy a nice gothic romp.

I was really looking forward to some Gothic ghostly action in this book. And while I definitely got what I was hoping for in some regards. In others not so much. It was very insta-love and it felt off. I was also hoping for some ghost sex, but sadly there was none.
I did love the setting and atmosphere. The description of the mansion was fantastic. I also really enjoyed the historical and supernatural aspects.
Overall I did like it. It just wasn't everything I had wanted it to be.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are my own.

I was so excited for this book and the gothic promise it held, but unfortunately, it fell short of my expectations. The story was predictable and drawn out, the characters were flat and boring, and the overall romance was, for lack of a better word, "meh".

I was really looking forward to this novel since it would feature a haunted mansion. However, the story seemed really predictable, drawn out, and simple. There was not much action in this story. Thus, I was really hoping for more. Still, I recommend this for fans of paranormal mysteries.

The cover and description is what made me want to ask about this book and read it. Unfortunately it flopped and it flopped badly. There was no really anything gothic about it and it was boring. The characters had no depth, the plot was boring, and I just couldnt enjoy it.

DNF - I have a super low tolerance for poor editing today, and I can’t get past how badly edited this is even for an advanced copy. For example: “The town didn’t just change people. Things changed too. As if nothing was quite as you remembered it. Subtle shifts of angle or detail.” It’s also very hung up on descriptions of people and how they look, as well as how everything looks. I usually really like Gothic stories, but I’m not really vibing with this one. Someone else might enjoy this but I don’t have the patience for it.

2.5/5 stars
This was not what I expected nor wanted. The writing, especially the dialogue, was very cheesy and almost childish. The MC's only trait was being goth and reminding us every other page. The romance could have been good but everything leading up to it was just so unrealistic that I didn't care about any of it. Everything happened so fast and no one seemed to be bothered by anything going on and I know for a fact if there's a ghost floating around, whether you believe or not, it's gonna spook you. Even if you are so totally goth. *Insert eye roll here.* The gothic setting and the ideas behind the book were good and mildly enjoyable, they were just executed very poorly I feel. Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for providing me with any e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

A good premise with atmosphere.
Many thanks to Castle Bridge Media and to NetGalley for providing me with a galley in exchange for my honest opinion.

I felt an immediate connection to this book the second I read the first chapter. The entire story is wonderful, while it may seem simple the story itself can be complex at times. I enjoyed every moment of reading it.

Loved the cover and synopsis of this book so I requested it from Netgalley. I thought it started out really good. Loved the creepy gothic setting. I actually liked that it had a bit of romance in it. Unfortunately the male lead Nathaniel fell really flat for me. I actually didn't mind the insta-love but he just didn't convince me enough. I will read the next book because I did like the story and how it ended.

I read in the description that it will be a gothic romance set in modern times with a ghost twist - and this got me interested in it as I'm always curious about something new. And with this cover, it was like a great package to be sold. Especially with the pinch of mystery - it works great in my imagination, but what will be the outcome?
Lillian, our main character, had a really bad day when our history starts. This s when she gets an invitation to a writers' retreat in Glazier Gap, where the action will be set - and some strange thing will take place. The beginning was rather slow, but I hoped for it to get some speed in the events, which will happen but I could not get into it. This story has some nice parts like the overall concept, mystery behind this little town, and vibe that I was getting from this story - I will not enlengthen those points as I think they are quite self-explanatory and I don't want to spoil anything to anyone.
I think this story is the debut of the author when it comes to writing novels, as the ingredients were there but somehow the style was not there to match my expectations sadly as I wanted to like it. The same goes for the creation of dialogues which were not making me engaged in what was happening to the characters, which is one of the most important things to me.
I'm giving "Ghosts of the Forbidden" three stars as I have some hopes that this potential that I saw here (it would be a spoiler) will be used in future books - as it will give some better sides to it.

Dangerous mine shafts, an abandoned ski resort, families feuding for generations, and ghosts galore—the town of Glazier’s Gap has enough fodder for a whole string of Gothic novels. And that’s the idea. Ghosts of the Forbidden by Leanna Renee Hieber is the first book in the new Glazier’s Gap series published by Castle Bridge Media, which will include loosely connected novels that all feature a supernatural romance set in this unusual town. As the queen of haunting heartwarmers, Leanna Renee Hieber is the perfect author to start this series off, though this is her first foray into contemporary romance. But not to fear—while the story may take place in the twenty-first century, the lovers in Ghosts of the Forbidden are as stuck in the nineteenth-century as Leanna’s devoted readers are. Ghosts of the Forbidden comes out October 11.

Lillian Anders receives an offer she can’t refuse right at the moment when it seems like her life is crumbling apart: the owner of Persephone Publications is trying to relaunch their gothic romance line and looking for authors to come stay at the historic Glazier mansion for a writing retreat. With nothing to lose, Lillian sets out for the small Colorado town of Glazier’s Gap. From the moment she arrives, it is clear the mansion is haunted. A handsome ghost dogs Lillian’s footsteps, begging her to “remember” and giving ominous warnings about a curse. The carriage house in which she’s staying seems to occasionally revert to its nineteenth-century appearance. And the plot of the 1970s gothic Lillian has been assigned to read feels uncannily familiar. Things heat up when Lillian meets Nathaniel, a curious journalist who seems to be a living incarnation of the gorgeous ghost she met in the mansion. The town has clearly drawn Lillian to it for a reason. But is she here to live out the fulfillment of a passionate love story that was tragically cut short centuries before? Or will she become just another victim of the Glazier Gap curse?

The romance in this story is as delightful as it is unique. Lillian and Nathaniel fall hard for each other at first sight—due in large part to tantalizing memories of their past lives together that begin bubbling uncontrollably to the surface. But though at times they seem to be almost taken over by the spirits of star-crossed lovers Camille and William, our two protagonists strive earnestly to walk the line between honoring their past selves and asserting their own individuality.

As lovable as they are as a couple, I have an extra soft spot in my heart for Lillian. It’s not often that you get to see self-proclaimed goths starring in a Gothic romance. There are fun Easter eggs for readers familiar with the goth subculture, from mentions of Lillian’s favor bands to subtle references to prominent figures in the scene like Jillian Venters, author of Gothic Charm School. The story is peppered with lush descriptions of Lillian’s wardrobe choices, which tend to involve flowing black fabrics and silhouettes out of time with the twenty-first century. But more than just great taste in music and a killer fashion sense, Lillian’s gothic sensibilities and predilection for darker literature give her some self-awareness of the genre she’s inhabiting. Lillian is swift to accept the paranormal, and also not to be frightened of the spirits that don’t seem to mean her harm. And even when curses and malicious spirits threaten her safety, she still ultimately feels at home in this Gothic setting.

The novel also plays with a myriad of Gothic tropes. There are several iterations of doppelgängers in this reincarnated-lovers tale, along with the requisite scenes with old portraits and photos that bear an eerie resemblance to living characters. There’s also a local legend of a witch casting a vengeful curse over the town and a brief mention of a Faustian bargain.

If you love all things both goth and Gothic and want to see the mid-century-style Gothic romances brought into the modern day, you absolutely do not want to miss this first book in the Glazier’s Gap series.

A spooky, gothic, romance set in a creepy and haunted location were the details that made this book a must read for me. However, I found myself feeling disappointed within the opening chapters. It felt clunky and forced. It was difficult to connect with the main character and the details and dialogue didn't flow very well. The character's propensity to continuously refer to the unreliable narrator was a tad annoying for me.

I enjoyed the ghostly apparitions and the hauntings in this book. The tragic historical love story was a good hook. I especially liked the heartbroken William and I really wanted to see him and Camille reunited in the afterlife. Nathaniel and Lillian's instant relationship was more superficial and I wasn't very invested in them.

Overall, a quick read that I enjoyed over the Halloween season.

Once I saw the cover and synopsis I thought this book was just for me: scary gothic paranormal romance? Sign me up baby!

Well, this didn't go as planned, the book ended up not being scary enough or gothic enough, and most importantly not romantic enough. I was so disappointed.

4/5 stars

Thank you to Netgalley, the publishers, and Leanna Renee Hieber for allowing me to read and review this book.

This was a short book but really good. You really get to know the characters and get involved in the mystery that is playing out. The love story is something to hope for with the passion and chemistry between the characters. Everything is really well written and I cannot wait to see what the rest of the series has in store.

Ghosts and romance is a fun twist on the norm and I enjoyed. Thought the writing style could be better flowing? But loved otherwise