I absolutely ADORE THIS series! So much, in fact, I've pre-order the third book due out in September 2025. And it's a Christmas themed story!!! Ahhh! I cannot wait.

As for this second installment, it was perfect. Again. I want to move to Rowan Vale. It's like .. Stars Hollow with ghosts. In England. This book followed the (after) life of Polly, war widow was murdered in the late 1940's as well as the current life of her great (great) nice, Shona. There was a good deal of mystery here and I honestly, did not see the twist coming. The romance as well was just lovely, slow paced and sweet. Again, just like the first book, I can't recommend this book enough. I did a mixture of kindle and audio book and both were FANTASTIC.

This book was a fun little adventure. It was interesting to see the dynamics between the current residents and the ghosts of the town. It took me a while to get through the first half of the book there were a lot of characters I just couldn’t keep track of. However towards the end it was easier to understand who was who. I did like the mystery portion with trying to find out who killed Aunt Polly, and why she was so secretive about the whole situation. There were a lot of parts that were dragged on and it made me feel a little disconnected to the story overall. Towards the end you are left with a heartwarming feeling and if you are looking for something light this would be the book for you!

Unfortunately was a dnf for me. I just didn't gel with the book. Might be because it's a 2nd book and I didn't realise that when I requested it. Nothing glaringly wrong with it just not for me.

Loving Spirits at the Vintage Teashop is book #2 in the Ghosts of Rowan Vale series by Sharon Booth.

Rowan Vale is an interesting place. The town is populated with the living and ghosts. Shona runs the village tea shop and the ghost of her great-aunt Polly lives there. In order to draw tourists, the village is hosting a 1940s-themed weekend. It is complicated because Polly was murdered in 1948 and a newcomer is comes to find out about is grandfather who was a PoW. I was pulled into this story and couldn’t put it down. I have purchased the first book so I can catch up on the series while waiting for the next one to come out.

Thank you to the author, Boldwood Books, and NetGalley for the Advanced Reader Copy (ARC) copy of this book and I am voluntarily leaving an honest review.

I had not read the first book in this series but didn't have a hard time catching up on what had happened, and will go back and read the first book now. The town of Rowan Vale was delightful & charming, as was the cast of characters. There was just enough going on beneath the surface to keep my head engaged along with my heart being pulled along by the cozy story.

Though I enjoyed reading this book. It wasn’t really for me. I personally didn’t enjoy the ghostly aspect of the story.

Light cosy ghost mystery set in cute British village.
This will appeal to the chick lit fans, with a lot of the village life trope, family life, 1940s era history and cold case mystery with a dash of romance.
I love ghosts so I was curious, but I hadn't realised this was a second volume so I was less implicated than lots of readers are at that stage.
I found there was a lot of exposition in the book and it was slow paced and over-explained. The voice was a little bland, which means it's a quicker read, but not an addictive one. Not really my thing.

I was delighted to return to Harling Hall to read “Loving Spirits at the Vintage Tea Shop”. Harling Hall is a wonderful old house set in a beautiful estate and historic village. However it has a big secret. The residents are not all alive. Some are ghosts who have died on the estate or returned there.

Very few people other than their relatives can see or hear them. The owner of the Hall and Estate must be able to see and communicate effectively with them. In the first book of the series we meet Callie who unexpectedly has to take the reins as owner because only she can see all the ghosts.

In this book Callie has decided to run a 1940’s themed week. She has the blessing to go ahead by most of the residents and workers, both living and dead but it also sets old memories alight, ones that were intended to stay hidden. They say time heals, but only if you acknowledge the pain of the past.

During this visit to the estate we get to know Shona the Manager of the Tearooms, her family and their lovely ghost Aunt Polly. Through both Shona and Polly we see hearts opened up to past misery but through the comfort of friendship and love they begin to heal.

As with Kindred Spirits, Loving Spirits at the Vintage Tea Shop is definitely a cosy read full of nostalgia and unique sometimes lovable characters, both living and dead, with relatable traits, people who I have enjoyed getting to know. The mysteries, underlying emotion and romance to the story adds to it’s appeal.

This is a sweet story of a small village populated by both humans and ghosts! For most of the residents, the humans can only see and interact with the ghosts of their family members. This is the second in the series. I haven't read the first, and there is enough explanation that I didn't need to to enjoy this story, but I do want to go back and read the first! The story is written from the perspectives of Shona, the current manager of the town's tea shop, and her great aunt Polly, who is a ghost. There is mystery surrounding Polly's death, and a potential romance for Shona. Overall a fun, cosy read!

This is the second book in the Ghost of Rowan Vale series and this focuses on the teashop and its inhabitants in the small reenacted village.

This reminds me of the TV series, Ghosts. Loving Spirits is the story of Shona who is running the teashop and Max who is the village to find out more about his PoW grandfather. At the centre of the mystery is Shona’s great aunt, Polly, who was murdered in the village.

It started a bit slow and random but when the action picked up, there was no stopping it. I enjoyed this a bit more than the first book because of the mystery. It was interesting coming up with various theories about the murder.

I love the slow pace of the village life and it was interesting getting to know the resident ghosts and their stories.

Told from two points of view, Shona and Polly, readers are taken on a reminiscence of wartime Britain, the effects of the war both on the locals and prisoners.

I enjoyed the budding romance between Shona and Max and I can’t wait to read more about the residents of this unique village.

Beautiful and such a lighthearted read with a focus on community, making it an enjoyable and comforting read. If you're looking for something uplifting and easy to get lost in with a hot drink, pick it up and cozy up. Loved it.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Sharon Booth for providing me with a complimentary digital ARC for Loving Spirits at the Vintage Teashop coming out June 25, 2025. The honest opinions expressed in this review are my own.

I really enjoyed the first book so I was excited to receive a second book in the series. I really love cozy stories. I love supernatural themed books. I’m not sure what was missing for me. I liked the story, but I didn’t feel the same as I did with the first book. I would definitely read other books by this author though.

What a delightful and refreshing concept for a book. This is book 2 in the Ghosts of Rowan Vale series. I didn't actually realise this when I requested a copy. Whilst I think the books can be read as a stand alone it would have been nice to have the background from the frst book. I enjoyed this, so will probably go back and read it. Cosy style mystery is nothing usually something I would read but I was intreagued with the idea that village of Rowan Vale is ran as a museum where the current villagers live alongside the ghosts of old residents.

Shona runs the villages 1940's themed teashop which was once owned by her Aunt Polly, who was by far my favourite character in the book. Aunt Polly is a ghost, but still has a wicked sense of humour and creates mischeif. She frequently visits the family home and catches up with the current generation, some of who have the gift of sight. What a wonderful though that would be if it were possible for some of us in real life.

I really enjoyed this book and would recommend it to those who enjoy romance, mystery or the vintage era.

Thank you to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Okay- I initially got this as an eARC and I must admit it took me a bit to finally get a review BECAUSE I loved it so much that I had to stop myself and read the previous book 😅
Yes, I think you can read out of order but TRUST ME, you’ll enjoy the first one AND enjoy the second one even more.
So cute!!

Sharon Booth's 'Loving Spirits at the Vintage Teashop' is a charming mix of cozy mystery, touching romance, and delightful paranormal fantasy, set in the unusual "living museum" village of Rowan Vale. This second title in the "Ghosts of Rowan Vale" series finds Shona, manager of the 1940s-themed teashop, juggling not just her own emerging romance with new arrival Max but also the residual secrets of her ghostly great-aunt, Polly.

While Rowan Vale is getting ready for a 1940s weekend, Max drops by looking for answers regarding his grandfather, a war prisoner in the village. This awakens long-hidden facts, particularly for Polly, who also has a tragic history entangled in the war years. The author expertly interlaces a complex story, incorporating issues of family, forgiveness, mourning, and second chances. The spectral characters contribute a distinct, humorous, and occasionally touching element, adding depth to the already colorful cast of characters. With its witty plot twists, interesting mystery, and masterfully managed emotional depth, 'Loving Spirits at the Vintage Teashop' is an absolutely captivating read that will have you smiling and wanting more from Rowan Vale.

I love this series, and so will you if you're a lover of BBC's Ghosts!

It's the second in Booth's Ghosts of Rowan Vale series, the first book being Kindred Spirits at Harling Hall. Nestled into the Cotswolds, Rowan Vale is a living museum where visitors get to experience a slice of history.

Not only are the settings idylls, the book also comes with a fabulous cast of characters, both living and dead.

I so want a job in that teashop!

Highly enjoyable, heartwarming and an absolute delight to read.

This has been the absolute surprise sensation this year for me. I requested this book on netgalley thinking it sounded like a great wee cosy read. Little did I know it was the 2nd in a series and although it could very much be read out of order, the completionist in me, had to read book 1 first.

I had such a wonderful time reading both stories. They brought me complete Heidi Swain vines, but with ghosts. This might sound a bit out there and I suppose it is, but oh my goodness it works so well.

In 'Loving Spirits at the Vintage Teashop' we meet Shona, a 52 year old divorcee running the teashop in Rowan Vale, a historic village, known amongst the residents as a hotspot for spirits living out their after life. Shona's great aunt Polly is one of the ghosts here and the circumstances of her death remain mysterious to this day.

Things to love about the book include, the age of the characters, the different stories from the past, following up characters we fell in love with last time and writing that takes care of the reader. These elements create a book that may well make you cry; it did me, and will attach itself to your heart.

Please tell me we will be able to return to Rowan Vale, especially for the Christmas season??

I adored this book even more than book 1. I was fully entertained and want to see this book everywhere. You all need in on this!! I want to gush about it with you.

If this is your first visit to Rowan Vale – and yes, you could most certainly enjoy this book without having read the first in the series – you’ll soon feel surprisingly comfortable there. And you’ll discover that there are ghosts among the residents of the living history museum in the Cotswolds, mostly only seen by some members of their families – although the new owner Callie took on her role because she’s able to interact with them all.

But this time, it’s Shona who we get to know rather better – universally liked, she’s in her 50s, long divorced and now living with her dad, and runs the village’s 1940s teashop. And in the flat upstairs, there’s her great aunt Polly – she was killed in 1948 (and it’s an incident no-one talks about – the murderer’s identity is still unknown), but now enjoys spending time in the teashop, staving off loneliness and keeping track of everything that’s going on in the village.

And she can soon see that Shona – who’s rather given up on any possibility of romance – is attracted to newcomer Max. He’s the father of Rissa, one of the land girls at the farm – and he’s rather horrified to find his daughter living with the family he believes were implicated in the death of his German grandfather, who spent time in Rowan Vale while a prisoner of war and never came home. As he doggedly tries to uncover the full story – ruffling a lot of feathers along the way – Shona does her utmost to help, but more secrets are revealed than either of them expected.

The story unfolds against the backdrop of the village preparing for a 1940s weekend – one of Callie’s new initiatives planned to appeal to visitors and to the ghosts from that time that are still around. There’s bunting everywhere, the shop windows are suitably decorated with wartime memorabilia, Brief Encounter is playing at the vintage cinema, the speakers are blaring Glenn Miller and songs from the time, everyone gets dressed up – but the ongoing story has a rather darker edge, as the truth about events of the past slowly emerges.

The characters are simply wonderful – I loved Shona with all my heart, trying to do the right thing by everyone whatever the personal consequences. Max was a lovely surprise too, with layers to his personality and history that were slowly uncovered – and I really believed in their slow-burn and gentle romance, along with all the barriers in its way. And as for Polly – her personal story was unexpected, and absolutely heartbreaking. The family relationships were beautifully drawn too – Shona’s with her daughters and father Jimmy, Max’s more complicated one with daughter Rissa, and Polly’s with the family she loves while wrestling with her own difficult memories and wartime secrets.

I absolutely loved the ghosts – distinct and very real personalities, all with their own stories. It was particularly good to get to know Harmony Hill (what a great character!), a 1940s Hollywood starlet who Shona tries to get involved in the events of the weekend, but who ultimately plays a rather more significant role in the story. Then there’s Isaac, the seventeenth century landlord of the village pub causing real complications by listening in to conversations – and the 1920s Reverend Silas angrier than ever about the influx of visitors. And as for the Roman centurion Quintus Severus, constantly patrolling the village perimeter – he has his own part to play in the cleverly constructed and quite wonderful story.

There’s humour, there’s drama, and there’s heartbreak – and the author’s emotional touch is faultless. The pacing is perfect, and the 1940s mystery kept me engaged throughout – but so did many aspects of the present day story, especially the desire for Shona and Max to have their own happy ending. The world the author has built is something so very special – such an imagination, such superb storytelling, and this book delighted me every bit as much as the first in the series. I’m very much looking forward to my next visit…

DNF - I unfortunately did not finish this book. It was a very interesting premise and reading it was enjoyable, but the pacing was slow and it was very confusing that the chapters did not say which character’s perspective we are in in a multiple-POV book. It does read very cozy and family-oriented, including the ghosts, which I enjoyed, but it was not for me. Fans of The Spellshop and Chocolate Chip Cookie Murders would enjoy this book.

Thank you NetGalley and Boldwood Books for the opportunity to read this ARC!

Full of whimsy, ghosts, and history!

I really enjoy reading about the quirky village of Rowan Vale where history is alive… and so are the ghosts!

In this book we get to learn more about Shona who runs the local teashop and her family, including the ghost of her great-aunt, Polly. I love that there’s a town full of ghosts and that they have everyday lives, hold grudges, fall in–and out–love, take care of each other, and contribute to the betterment of Rowan Vale.

In Loving Spirits at the Vintage Teashop, there’s mystery, surprises, and loads of history surrounding World War II. It’s such a treat to read.

I was able to relate to Shona so well and her life as a single mom. She’s resilient and brave and deserves all the happiness in the world. The ghosts of Rowan Vale are lovely and steal the spotlight again in this delightfully whimsical story.