Thanks to her ability to see ghosts, Callie is offered to be the owner and protector of the village of Rowan Vale, a place with an unusually high concentration of ghosts. All that Callie ever wanted was to be "normal", but in her new role she'll need to learn to accept her ability, and to care for the wellbeing of the villagers, both alive and dead.

This is a low stakes, cozy story with a dash of fantasy, focusing mainly on how Callie grows into her role, and how she wins the affection and respect of the villagers and ghosts who don’t want her there at first. I wouldn’t call this a romance since the romance plot wasn’t the main focus of the story.

Overall the story was cute and emotional at points. There’s a strong theme of found family, and learning to overcome one’s fears in order to find happiness.

On the other hand, it was really hard for me to connect with the main character.
I could understand her struggle to accept her gift after how her parents had treated her for it in her childhood, but at some points it became grating for me to read her internal monologue with so much self deprecation and insecurity on her part. As a character she lacked agency, and most of the plot depended on other characters making decisions for her.
Of course this could’ve been excused if there had been growth on her part, but she only seems to gain agency when other characters call her out. Her motivations are always external.

This is only the first book in a series so we might still see her grow in future books. I'd be curious to see how the romance progresses too, since there was little and it felt a bit rushed at the end.

Thanks to Boldwood Books via NetGalley for providing an eARC

Callie goes with her daughter to visit Rowan Vale.
While there she sees and talks to several people. Imagine her surprise to find out she’s been talking to ghosts.
This was such a fun book! I loved the whole seeing ghosts and everyone in town knows about it. It’s book one in a new series and I’m looking forward to see where it heads to next.

Kindred Spirits at Harding Hall - Sharon Booth

A cozy paranormal read. I found this so cozy and heartwarming. The setting was my absolute favourite, I want to move into Harding Hall and get to visit the historic village. It was so much fun. I loved that this was very low stakes but still really interesting.
The characters were all so charming. All of the ghosts were lovely and I want to read more on all of them.

The only thing I didn’t like was Callie, she seemed a little childish and rude often even if she was only trying to help, I’m not sure it came across in the right way.

Thanks @netgalley and @theboldbookclub for a copy of this book on exchange for my honest review.

Okay, so I'm not a fan of the BBC show Ghosts. It wasn’t until I started this book that I realised I’d made a mistake by blindly accepting an invitation to read and review. Of course, I could have refused my place and apologised, but that simply isn’t my style, thank goodness! The first couple of chapters drew me in, and I am now seriously considering looking up the series on BBC iPlayer. I have no idea why I doubted my ability to enjoy a book by this fabulous author, but here we are.
Callie is a single mum who escorts her daughter’s year group to a living museum in the Beautiful Cotswolds village of Rowan Vale. In honesty, I was onboard from the mere mention of The Cotswolds. With all the sights and sounds that you may imagine, including a vintage teashop and a steam railway. What she doesn’t expect to see is brawling and barefooted children who really ought to be in school. Determined to make the owner aware, Callie seeks out a meeting with Sir Lawrence Davenport, who is immediately impressed with what she has seen and heard.
The meeting results in an offer that Callie simply cannot refuse, so she turns her life upside down and moves to Rowan Vale to be the new owner of the estate. Of course, there’s the added bonus of Sir Lawrence’s grandson, Brodie. He’s gorgeous but about to be disinherited as a result of Callie’s deal. She is particularly drawn to the opportunity to bring Brodie down a peg or two.
With a ghostly ensemble that includes a former teacher of William Shakespeare, a Roman Centurion, and a wartime refugee, there’s something for everyone in this book that both challenged and changed my concepts. Utterly compelling with the most sublime characters, I’m already excited for the next book in this series.

A cute and cosy read!
The ghosts made this story amazing. Learning about them and their interpersonal dynamics was fun.
At the end I really wanted just a bit more plot development. If the first 50% of the book had been condensed there would have been room for some more development.

Kindred Spirits at Harling Hall is a fun, cozy and whimsical paranormal romance about a single mom and her daughter and their adventures in the hauntingly historic village of Cotswold.

The characters are charming, layered, fun and have interesting character arcs. Being a lover of romance books, the romance subplot left me wishing it had played a bigger role. The pacing also felt inconsistent; the first half of the story moved slowly until halfway through, and the romance arc felt rushed, especially at the very end.

Overall, I enjoyed this book (& the ghosts!) and definitely recommend it if you enjoy historical fiction, paranormal fantasy and cozy mysteries!

Thank you NetGalley for this eARC!

For Callie, a trip to a Cotswold village takes an unexpected turn when she finds out that what she
always considered a curse might become a blessing in disguise. Seeing ghosts was a part of her life she tried to bury because of shame. Being labeled as weird and delusional was not an easy experience for a child. In Rowan Vale, ghosts are real and they need a protector. She could get the whole estate for just a few pounds. That might make a huge difference, as a single mother, for not only her future but also her daughter's. Meeting Brodie, the handsome grandson of the current village owner definitely adds some spice to the new adventure.
I loved this story, the cozy vibes, the clean romance, and the way Callie embraces change that benefits everyone. The connection between her and Brodie was also intense. The only part that wasn't up to my liking was the linear storyline, with fewer sparks and turns than I expected.

An amazing, cozy and haunting tale of found family, love and the emotions that connect us all. Loved every minute of it and crying a lot too.

A fun read. I enjoyed the tale of Callie and her daughter Immie's finding a new life at Harding Hall. Modern and ghostly characters were well drawn and lively and 'came to life' throughout the story. A well written, pleasant light read.

Ooh a cozy lil book that feels like the UK series Ghosts (I can’t explain why it’s UK and not US Ghosts but it just is, okay) and feels like a warm hug from a loved one!

This book has everything: a small town full of ghosts from all eras, a sweet romance with two idiots who can’t share their feelings, a manipulative child ghost, a cat that looks like it’s wearing a tuxedo, and a single mom who works too hard who loves her kid and never stops!! I thought this was the perfect cozy, escapist book we could all use right now!

Thanks so much to Sharon Booth and NetGalley for a chance to read this in exchange for an honest review.

Finding love, family and small town lives this is the book for you. I really enjoyed reading this book as I do love a story with magic and love.

my main issues:

1. cozy doesn’t mean without conflict. if there is no conflict, what is driving your story? i wasn’t sure what “the point” of the book was besides just the main character talking to ghosts again and deciding to live somewhere with a lot of ghosts. like there was no issue with her daughter leaving her friends/school behind for them to move into a haunted estate? she was just cool with FaceTiming her friends & living somewhere with no one they know?

2. there was nothing happening for like 50% of the book. it was incredibly hard to get thru bc i would get bored.

3. this was advertised as a romance, but i didn’t pick up on it until the last 15% ? i’m ok with non-romances and romance subplots, but the expectations set by the blurb kind of set this book up for failure.

so there is no driving force for the story (conflict) and there is nothing happening (plot).

positives:

1. i really liked the idea of this book. obviously, the ability to talk to ghosts is a cool premise.

2. if the pacing was better and *something* at stake for the characters, it could have been really good.

3. the writing style is easy & comfortable to read while still being skillful. this would be the main reason i would consider reading another book by this author.

thank you net galley for providing me with the ARC 🫶🏻

I was kindly given an ARC of this novel by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This is an absolutely stunning novel about finding home, finding love, and finding family, no matter the day and age. I had no idea so many of my likes and interests could be combined in a book and be done so well! This book has history, romance, AND ghosts?! I was hooked from the very start. Sharon Booth writes beautifully, it was so easy to read, it flowed all the way through, but it still packed a punch and had so much depth and emotion. I loved this book and will definitely buy a physical copy of it to have it in my bookshelf and available to lend to friends. Five out of five stars, I can’t fault it.

Rate : 4.80

rate : 4.80

Callie is just an ordinary person. A single mom lived with her daughter, Immi. One day, on Immi's school trip, she volunteers to help the teachers take care of the kids. The whole group visited Rowan Vale, to visit Cotswold village, which has a museum. When she got there, she got cold, freezing chill feelings when she saw several people, or… a ghost?
Drinking a hot chocolate with gingerbread on Halloween. That’s what I feel about this story. It is a warm heart family story plot with a little bit of drama. Fun, enjoyable and many positive affirmations which fill your heart with love. It is very relaxing to watch the characters' actions and thoughts, which most of them do in the name of love. Obviously, some of them get into problems, but surprisingly, besides Callie’s doubts and negative emotions about herself with her stubbornness with help from other characters, she solves the problem. Indeed, she is from zero to hero.
There are so many lessons learned from this story, which means the story is perfect for holiday vibes. The writing style makes the reader feel cocooned comfortably with a warm heart, makes the story touch your heart and become personal.
I like Callie’s character development and growth in the story. Sometimes it is okay to doubt yourself after facing a hard time. Finding the person you can lean on and trust them with your love is a first step towards happiness. Even though this story is not a high fantasy book that I often read, this story is relaxing, and I like it.

First in a new series by Sharon Booth, and it's delightful.

When Callie helps out on her daughter's school trip to a 'bygones' type village in the Cotswolds, she discovers that she can see and talk to ghosts. She's offered the opportunity to buy Harling Hall and look after the ghosts in the village, as well as the estate - and in this first bok she takes the opportunity and we\re introduced to the ghosts in the village.

Delightful characters (even the difficult ones, once we find out why they behave as they do), a gentle romance in the middle, and a gorgeous mother-daughter relationship (with some surprises for Callie - not giving any spoilers!). Excellent backstories for the ghosts (who are all very different).

If you enjoyed the BBC sitcom 'Ghosts', you'll LOVE this. It has the same kind of warmth and charm. Very enjoyable, escapist book!

If you love small-town romance with a sprinkle of cozy magic and a strong, lovable heroine, Kindred Spirits at Harling Hall is worth the read!

Thanks so much to NetGalley and to the Publisher for allowing me to read this book as an e-Arc in exchange for my honest review.
I absolutely adored this book. It is everything someone would want from a cozy paranormal romance, and the characters are all so deeply lovable and easy to connect to. I especially love the two young foils Florrie and Immi. I really hope that they can someday solve a mystery a la Flavia de Luce and Undine, because that would be the cherry on top of the cake for this new series! The reluctant allies to lovers trope was well done here and didn’t feel tired or overdone at all. I can’t wait to read more from the friends in Rowan Vale and to learn more about the Wyrd Stones.

Thanks to the Publisher and Netgalley for an early review copy.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book, the first in a new series by Sharon Booth.

Cali is with her daughter and other children from her school travelling to a field trip in the Cotswold. When they arrive at the station, she sees something, and that is a place that has ghosts.

She’s in Rowan Vale where there are those that have died, but can speak to anyone that has the gift to see them.

When she goes to Harling Hall, to speak about something she saw in the village and at the station, she’s offered an opportunity to buy Harling Hall to live there and it’s not going to cost her a lot of money. She has to accept, even though she will be surrounded by the spirits.

She has to take over the place and live with the spirits as well as handle the estate.

I loved all the characters, each one so different from the next, whether they’ are dead or alive.

I’m looking forward to see what happens next.

I highly recommend this nook.

A great mix of ghostly activity, sweet romance, and historical fiction.
It was also pleasant to read because it contained no sex scenes, drug use, or vulgar language. Quite unusual for an adult book written nowadays!

*I received a digital copy from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are strictly my own.*

This was a cute story about how it is less important to feel normal than to embrace your own character and personalities.

The village and the estate are a nice setting with friendly ghost that are seen by only some people. The side characters make everything.

Cute and funny.