I must have a thing for books that are set in small towns on the Gulf Coast of Florida because this is the third one I can think of, and I’ve loved them all. Boneyard Key is a fictional place but it felt quite real, so kudos to Jen DeLuca. Nick owns a coffee shop in town and has grown up in Boneyard Key, known for having quite a few haunted spots (and tourists). Cassie is a newcomer who has bought a haunted house without knowing it was haunted. Cassie has picked up and moved to Boneyard Key from Orlando after the landlord she was renting from decided to sell. Once she realized she couldn’t find anything affordable nearby, she broadened her search, figuring that if she could work remotely during the pandemic, she could continue to do so, and that means she could live anywhere. The house she chose overlooks the Gulf and is super-charming, having been repaired and updated by a house flipper - before that it had been empty for a very long time.

Nick and Cassie have wonderful chemistry, but they both have personal issues that make them cautious about having a serious relationship.

The ghosts in this book are wonderful! Elmer is the former owner of the coffee shop that Nick owns, while Sarah is the former resident of Cassie’s house, who was known around town as Mean Mrs. Hawkins. How Elmer and Sarah communicate is so creative.

The story is a lovely combination of romance and mystery. And it works. We get chapters from either Cassie’s or Nick’s point of view. I loved the references to the Florida weather and the quirky history of towns along the Gulf Coast. I had to laugh out loud at the descriptions of the sub sandwiches from Publix, a widespread Florida supermarket chain which Cassie sorely misses since there’s no Publix in or near Boneyard Key.

This looks to be the start of a series and I will be happy to read those books once they are available.

Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley for the opportunity to read a review copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

(Note: If you’re wondering about the other books/series I mentioned above, check out the Haunted Haven Mysteries by Carol J. Perry and the Coffee Lover’s Mysteries by Tara Lush.)

The cover had me, and the story kept me. This was everything I wanted and more. I loved that haunted house ghost stories are becoming more mainstream. This is perfect for the spooky season; it's part romance, part mystery, everything spooky. PLU S NO THIRD ACT BREAKUPPPP. Which honestly is my new favorite trope. If you loved the Well met Series, you will love this.

Tropes:
Slow Burn
Friends to lovers
Small Town
Found Family
Grumpy x Sunshine

Thanks to Berkley Romance for inviting me to participate in the Blog Tour!

This is an unexpectedly fun paranormal romance that I thoroughly enjoyed.

When Cassie buys a house in the small town of Boneyard Key, she notices that there are references to ghosts everywhere. When she hears the ghost tour stop in front of her house, she wants to find out why. Her housekeeper haan
She has inexplicable power issues so she’s been working at the coffee shop, owned by a handsome guy named Nick. He explains that the ghosts are real, and he’s got one as a roommate who communicates through text messages!
Cassie’s ghostly roommate communicates through magnetic words on her refrigerator, and Cassie senses something is off. As she and Nick research the history of her house, they develop a relationship, but something in her house doesn’t like him. They need to solve her mystery with help from her friendly ghost.

I really enjoyed this book, 4.5 stars.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley, I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

I was really looking forward to this one because I loved her Well Met series. It’s actually one of my favorites of all time!

This book is told from two point-of-views and they come from Cassie and Nick. Cassie moves into the tiny town of Boneyard Key after needing something new in her life. She meets Nick not too long into her move because of her laptop not changing at her home and heads to the local coffee shop. They get off on the wrong foot, but quickly turn it around and she finds herself coming there more often than not.

I did like the setting for this story because we learn about the start of the town and the founding members. Some of those members are still lingering and although the blurb talked about ghosts I thought it would be fake or something haha. I was pleasantly surprised! It was actually my favorite part of the story, learning more about the ghosts. Cassie took this all very well. I would have freaked out a whole lot more!

The romance is really what was lackluster. I felt that there wasn’t enough sustenance and I didn’t feel the connection between them. They were cute together but I don’t know. I just needed more.

I also felt like the ending was kind of abrupt when it came to the climatic part. It felt rushed and I wish that there would have been more from the “villainous” character. I am assuming there wasn’t because the book is still meant to be light.

Overall, this was decent but I was just expecting more.

👻 Book Review 👻

Haunted Ever After by Jen DeLuca
👻
This book was totally unique. It felt like a mix of Ghostbusters, a cozy mystery, and a Hallmark movie featuring a small beach town. In the best possible way. It was fun, lighthearted, quirky, romantic, and absolutely delightful. It’s a super quick read and would be perfect for spooky season. I love the concept of a small town that’s haunted and leans into that for tourism. How do I visit? I had a blast reading it and I hope she turns it into a series, because I would devour each book. It was a little creepy and a lot cute, and I’ve never read anything like it. Give me more!!
👻
My rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice level: 🌶️🌶️
👻
Read if you like:
▫️ghosts
▫️small town
▫️slow burn
▫️he falls first and harder
▫️dual POV
👻
Thank you to Berkley, NetGalley, and Jen DeLuca for the ARC. I received an advanced copy for free, and am leaving this review voluntarily.

I loved the premises of this book and I loved the little town. But I just didn’t love it like I thought it would. But it is such a great transition book from summer to fall. When it came to the romance, for me I didn’t really pick up on the chemistry between the main characters. I actually found myself more interested in the side characters a little more than the main couple.

Haunted Ever After is a delightful blend of romance and paranormal mystery. It’s cute, fun and full of small-town charm! I loved the tight-knit community and the way they look out for each other.

Nick and Cassie were adorable together and had amazing chemistry. Despite the initial attraction, they start out as friends but the romance that develops between them is sweet and a little steamy.

While I enjoyed the romance, my favorite parts were centered around the ghosts and Cassie’s house. I loved following along as she was discovering the truth about her houses previous owner.

If you’re looking for a paranormal rom-com, this should definitely be on your radar! Cassie’s haunted house, the ghosts in the town and nighttime tours all make this a wonderful addition to your spooky season TBR.

I keep telling myself that I am not much of a romance fan, but here I am, the second time in as many months, singing the praises of a romance. I have not read anything by Jen DeLuca prior to HAUNTED EVER AFTER, but I think I am now a fan. I love the premise featuring ghosts and the small beachside town setting. In a place labeled the most haunted town in Florida by a travel magazine, the residents of Boneyard Key lean into everything kitschy related to being a haunted tourist destination. But, here’s the rub…there are plenty of real ghosts still residing in town.

Our protagonists Cassie and Nick get off to a rough start when Cassie comes into Nick’s coffee café to charge her laptop and use the free WIFI, but it is obvious from their first meeting that they are destined to be a couple. They are likable and realistically portrayed. I would enjoy being friends with both of them. The supporting cast is also well drawn, and I especially enjoyed Nan, who can talk to ghosts, and ghosts Sarah and Elmer. I might have shed a tear for Elmer.

This is very much a romance, but a slow burn. I love the paranormal aspect even more than the lovey dovey parts. The whole book is delightfully quirky. And, I’m now hungry for banana bread. Highly recommended to DeLuca’s fans, readers of Southern fiction, contemporary romance, and those who like a dose of well-meaning ghosts.

Thank you to Berkley and NetGalley for an ARC of this title.

I have enjoyed Jen DeLuca's work in the past, but not all her titles have worked for me. I was excited to see that she was moving on from the Ren Faire series and starting something new and I do want to see more entries in Boneyard Key if she's got stories to tell with other characters in this small Florida tourist haunted town.

Key words: representation of a heroine with endometriosis and cysts who can't/won't have children, a hero and heroine who are hurting and lonely coming together to find family and belonging, ghosts, paranormal activity, slow burn (I MEAN IT), no 3rd act breakup (but a misunderstanding earlier), small town romance

Nick is the cafe owner who is haunted by the former ghostly owner, Elmer, via text message who gives him all the commentary and opinions regarding Nick's life from his banana bread recipe to how he should approach Cassie. Cassie has moved from Orlando into one of the more haunted houses in this haunted ghostly town to start fresh and work from home and is adjusting to her new life in Boneyard Key. She finds that Mrs. Sarah Hawkins ghost still resides in her house via the magnetic poetry on her fridge and is determined to get to the bottom of what has Sarah so active and restless and shed light on the true history of what happened at the "Hawkins House."

This is a slow burn romance, and what I mean is these two don't have spicy times until the 90% mark which is late in the story even for traditionally published romance. There's the one scene and while it is certainly earned, if you like things to be a bit more spicy, you might be disappointed. Nick and Cassie are a couple to root for, and the characters (ghostly and human) in Boneyard Key we get to know are fully realized. I would say that the romantic plot sometimes takes a backseat to the ghost/paranormal storyline, but I do think that the paranormal storyline was engaging and interesting! I would just go into this story knowing that so you can manage your expectations.

Cassie who was struggling to find affordable real estate near her big city job moves to a small coastal Florida town. The aptly named Boneyard Key really plays up the haunted town vibe which she assumes is just a ploy for tourist dollars. That is until Nick, the grumpy coffee shop owner, and the incredibly welcoming townies clue her in on the truth of their ghostly inhabitants.

It isn’t long before Cassie discovers she’s got a ghost roommate of her own. With the help of the surprisingly helpful (and handsome) Nick, she now she has to figure out if she can handle living in a literal haunted house and what her ghostly roomie is trying to tell her.

This book is just further proof to me that Jen can’t write a bad book. As a supernatural skeptic, I would have never thought I’d be so invested in a ghost story and yet I couldn’t get enough of this.

I was instantly captivated by this small town and its occupants. The mystery of Cassie’s house and her ghost got me invested but the found family vibes is what really stole the show.

Nick outwardly is this grumpy small business owner and yet he’s a little bit of a town gossip and he’s surprisingly tolerant of his own specter. His past romantic trauma makes him a little awkward and hesitant with Cassie which fits with her own personality quite well.

This is a super slow burn but it does pay off with one steamy scene that felt well worth the build up. The chemistry between Cassie and Nick was unmatched. It was so satisfying seeing Cassie fit in seamlessly as a local as acceptance was what she really craved all along.

If you’re ready to explore this haunted town and unlock its secrets while falling in love with its quirky residents and benevolent ghosts then you need to make this your next read.

This novel has everything!!! Small town romance. Fantasitic characters and Ghosts!!! I loved how Jen weaved the story together. I would absolutely read a series based off these characters and the town. It is just that good.

I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for a review.

I blew right through this one, but that's not a bad thing. It was a nice respite from the daily grind of my life and I was happy I could dedicate some time reading. I liked the characters, and I also liked the ghost story aspect. It's not often you see ghosts show up in a romance novel. There wasn't really anything shocking in this - I figured out certain plot points fairly early on, but that didn't detract from my enjoyment of this book.

Cassie moves to Bonyard Key, Florida after her search for an affordable house in Orlando doesn’t work out. Also, she now feels like an outsider to her original friend group when they’ve moved onto marriage and kids while she remains single. It quickly becomes apparent that the ghost hauntings the town is famous for are real, and one of those ghosts seems to inhabit her cute, historic cottage. She’s freaked out, but with the help of Nick, the town’s coffee shop owner, Cassie starts to get used to the idea. It becomes clear that her ghost has a few things to clear up.

Nick is used to the ghosts in Boneyard Key, after all he’s a descendant of the “Founding Fifteen” the group of families that originally settled there. Nick has an affinity with ghosts and so he helps introduce Cassie to the oddities of the town and show her some of the wonderful things about living there.

I enjoyed this romance with a side of paranormal mystery! It was easy to figure out most of what was going on and I did wonder at how Cassie and Nick didn’t sooner, but I had fun “exploring” the town, getting its history as they sorted things out. Cassie and Nick had some relationship hangups they had to get over on their way to a HEA. It was a low romance drama read that I thoroughly enjoyed!

I alternately read and listened to an audio copy of Haunted Ever After and can recommend either version. Jeannie Sheneman did a wonderful job with all voices, male and female, brining each character to life. I listened at my usual 1.5x normal speed.

10/10!
Haunted Ever After had me hooked from page one! I loved the characters Nick and Cassie, the setting of Boneyard Key, and omg.. I didn't expect to love the ghosts as well!!

The story is fun, the romance is both sweet and adorable. I laughed out loud and swooned at their romance, some parts were a bit more suspenseful and had me on the edge of my seat, and I loved when Cassie and Sophie went into investigation mode. I had the best time both reading and listening to this on Libro FM, and this is one I will be reading again!.

Also, when transferring my review over to Goodreads, I realized that this is Boneyard Keys #1! I can't wait to see what will happen next in Boneyard Keys!!!!

Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC!

This book is a super cute and cozy small town romance story and it's perfect for the fall! I can't wait to read this again when the leaves start changing, sitting on my patio, with a cup of tea! This book is set in a small town know for its haunted houses and spooky areas. It is a fun, flirty, and feel good story that leaves you happy and smiling. I loved Cassie and Nick and their relationship.

Jen Deluca’s RenFaire series is one of my favorites so I was HYPE for this one! A haunted Florida beach town, a paranormal mystery to solve, and a hunky coffee shop owner that texts his residential ghost roommate? Sounded perfectly up my alley!

But this fell short for me on the romance aspect and, for the first half of the book, on the plot aspect. I don’t mind a slow burn but for the first 50% there was next to no movement on the romance end. And while the bits and pieces we did get of the plot involving Cassie’s mysterious ghost and Nick’s weird, unexplained behavior were unique and interesting, there just wasn’t enough of it.

It was cute and a lighthearted summer read, but not my favorite. But the town and its residents were so charming, I wouldn’t mind giving the next in the series a shot!

Thank you to Berkley for an arc!

I really wanted to move this book. The concept of a spooky fun ghost story and a romcom combining definitely peeked my interest. But… it wasn’t quite what I was hoping for. I haven’t read anything by the author before, and she definitely has a talent for writing. You can tell this isn’t a debut. But by page 75, nothing has happened except the main characters laptop isn’t charging and adding cinnamon to banana bread is a criminal offense. It just was bland and nothing happened.

Haunted Ever After
By Jen DeLuca
(Boneyard Key book 1)

Narrated by Jeannie Sheneman

Story Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (0-5)
Narration: 🎧🎧🎧🎧 (0-5)
Overall: 4/5
Steam: 🔥🔥🔥 (0-5) Beautifully described open door, just not many scenes.

What I’m Starry-Eyed Over:
🤩 My initial mini review: I can’t believe I liked a book with an exorcism! 👻
🤩 Straight from my notes: Read this book if you like a haunted beach town mystery with a side of romance because the ghosts keep c0ck-blocking the MCs. 😂
🤩 3rd person dual POV, so one narrator works fine. Jeannie Sheneman is a great storyteller and does a fantastic job with the conversations between Cassie and Nick, changing her voice just enough for the two characters.
🤩 The new-in-town plot is a fun, supernatural mystery.
🤩 I think I like the ghost stuff because neither of the MCs are ghosts and the ghosts are written as part of the whole haunted setting.
🤩 Speaking of the haunted setting, the haunted small beach town vibes are beautifully described and so immersive.
🤩 When the fabulous enemies-to-lovers banter turns into Nick getting rid of a customer so Cassie can have the spot she needs. She’s been coming into his coffee shop regularly to use the electricity because her newly purchased house is having issues.
🤩 The Magnetic Poetry and texting fun are just so cleverly written with the ghostly interaction.
🤩 The cutest first kiss.
🤩 Nick is an amazing book boyfriend. I especially like how he helps Cassie feel comfortable in and around the supernatural environment.

What I’m Wishing/Dizzy About:
💫 I think I just prefer first person dual POV with two narrators more for all the feels.
💫 I would have loved the kitchen counter scene instead of just the mention of it. And we definitely deserved a little spice after the downer feels.
💫 Who else gets a story? Sophie and Theo?

It's love at first haunting 🌴

This was the perfect book for that summer to fall transition. It gave all the beachy summer romance vibes, but it also had me hyped for spooky book season. If you like a cozy, beachside, small town romance with a bit of mystery, then this is for you! I'm excited to see where book two takes us!

Synopsis👻
Boneyard Key is known for its ghost tours and haunted reputation. When Cassie suddenly moves to this cozy beachside town, she's not expecting the locals to really believe in the paranormal. But then she meets grumpy coffee-shop owner Nick, who invites her on a ghost tour, and she learns about his own connection to the paranormal. When strange things start happening in her own home, she realizes she might just have a ghostly roommate of her own. As she and Nick grow closer, Cassie's not sure if she's ready for a "hauntedly" ever after, and the ghosts might just scare her away.

Omg I adored this one! A mix of slow burn, small town ghost mystery, my sweltering Florida world and a steamy, banter-filled romance.

The audio is narrated by Jeannie Sheneman and I felt she did a splendid job between the voices and the emotion. Cassie purchased a coastal home in Boneyard Key only to learn that some past residents never left. Forced to conduct business at the local coffee spot due to some sketchy wiring, the beans get heated (lol yes I went there with it) when the owner, Nick, comes into the picture.

This is the perfect summer read for a bookie like me. The banter kept me cheesy grinning as the two MCs get to know each other and the haunts around them. The ghostly haunting editions were wonderful and actually added to the retirement charm that is Florida. The way the town embraces their ghosts is just adorable.

I finished this in a day. If I wasn't listening, I was curled up with my face in a screen. This is noted as the first in a possible series and I'm really hoping there is more!

If you love cozy haunted mysteries tied around love stories than this is perfect for you. True rating 4.5/5.