Ghost Town, by R E Ward, was a wonderful take of ghost hunters being targets of a mysterious string of murders in an old abandoned town. The book had good LGBT representation, but I found it to be somewhat rushed in how the pair come to be, but that didn’t stop me finding it any less cute! I loved the variety of characters and how their were very unique in how they dealt with the situation. I think I would have liked more explaination of the town itself, and why it was abandoned as it felt that was somewhat left out half way through the book. Otherwise, a very intriguing and interesting read, and one I will highly recommend!

Thank you NetGalley and Bold Stroke Books for allowing me to have this advanced copy. All opinions are my own.

4.0 stars.

Thank you to Bold Strokes Books and Netgalley for providing me with this eARC in exchange for my honest review.

Paranormal investigator, Blair Wyndon, is hell-bent on proving that ghosts are real, and she posts the evidence she collects on the website, SpiritScientific, a well-known haven for like-minded believers. Well, like-minded except for Leif Henderson.

Leif is a ghost hunter, not some stuffy paranormal investigator. She focuses on making the kind of videos that thrill her audience, not bore them with facts. It's all about clicks, views, and engagement. She's going to prove that ghosts exist with a dash of flair, unlike Blair.

When they each receive an exclusive invitation to investigate the famed ghost town of Masonville, they jump at the chance. But they aren't the only ones who have been invited, and soon the mystery turns deadly.

I genuinely had a fun time with this story. I do wish it developed the characters a bit more, because we don't know enough about the rivalry between the two leads other than they have different methods to the same job. From going to rivals in their ghost community with the obvious stated attraction from both sides to immediately using pet names, seemed a bit rushed from what we know about their dynamic. I understand that the trauma surrounding may increase their connection to help deal with the circumstances which is why I excused the fast-paced physical intimacy, but I wish there were more moments sprinkled through of understated intimacy (longing looks, hinting at past interactions, subtle touches). It would help push the narrative that they are more love than lust. And I kept assuming that they were younger than what was stated. It was like a quick, hallmark version of a ghost story, with a dash of romance in the background. It was a fun palette cleanser to enjoy a fun, spooky wlw story.

I had a hard time at the beginning but was happy I stuck with it. It was a very interesting thriller with a romantic aspect.

Leif and Blair are both ghost hunters, but each in their own way. Leif is a sensationalist wanting to capture real-time interaction with the paranormal. Blair is more scientific in her approach and wants to prove there is a paranormal part of life. Both jump at the chance to explore an abandoned supposedly ghost hotspot town in the middle of nowhere. They are less than thrilled, however, when they meet in person despite their mutual attraction? Can they figure out what’s going on when their friends start turning up dead and before they windup the same way?

I 110% misjudged this book in the beginning! The description checked all the trope boxes for me. The paranormal, enemies to lovers, lesbian main characters, and a plot that promised to capture my attention. I got bogged down in the first part of the book, though.

There was so much detail about the characters. I got a bit annoyed that each and every character was described in extreme detail. I was worried the plot would get bogged down and lost for me if the high level of detail continued. I was wrong, however, and the plot soon took off!

All the characters turned out be their own person outside of each other and all of them were relatable in some way. Leif and Blair were convincing when it came to their rivalry and their attempts to stonewall their growing feelings for each other. Their relationship developed organically and wasn’t rushed for the sake of the story.

The story itself was full of twists and turns that kept me interested. I can usually figure out where a book is going early in the story, but this one actually kept me guessing. Despite its slow start, the book turned out to be a wild ride and one very much worth the read!

I enjoyed reading this paranormal mystery, it was easy to read especially when coupled with romantic elements too.

I received an ARC copy of this book from the Publisher via Netgalley and voluntarily leaving my review.

Blair is a Paranormal investigator she is determined that ghosts are real and plan on proving it when she gets an invite famed ghost town of Masonville. Leif is a Ghost Hunter and she does believes in ghost but she uses this to get likes and fame while trying not to bored her audiences. Blair and Leif arrive and are both shock to see others have been invite as they start to investigate they found files with there names and information before they can understand things starts happening and people start disappearing and dying. As they race to find out what going on Blair and Leif despite their different opinions grow closer in the mix of trying find out who hunting them. Good read.

Blair Wyndon, Ghost Hunter, is determined to prove that ghosts are real. She and a group of ghost hunting vloggers receive invitations from a company Tanningcorp to stay at Hastings Manor; a historic estate known for paranormal activity. Located in the town Mansonville, this ghost of a town has been off-limits from visitors for 14 years. Rachel, Gen, Rose(a psychic), Abe, Johnny, Leif, Jessica along with Blair get stranded in Masonville after finding files within the estate all containing information on themselves along with maps and notes on an experiment that is happening. People start going missing, and bodies are turning up. Who invited them here? whom or what is hunting them down? Twisty, entertaining, and a fast-paced read!
The characters lacked some depth, and because I didn't get much info on them, It wasn't easy to form an attachment to them throughout this plot. So much so that everything happening felt like I was mearly watching from a distance. So as we move along this quick twisty plot, we are told the place is haunted, Rose is a psychic but there's no actual evidence of this and then with the high tension happening you suddenly find a love interest/connection happening between 2 characters and its not very convincing. The pace was just really off. The romance felt very rushed, very second thought or last minute add to the plot. would have loved to feel the connection because it was interesting, just not believable; it deserved better substance in the plot. This also read very YA. The references and dialogue between characters didn't fit the suggested maturity/age depicted in the characters.
Great ending! Overall, I enjoyed it and gave this a 3.5.

Thank you, Netgalley and Bold Strokes Books, for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest review!

A truly creepy and at times scary paranormal romance - most of the plot does focus on the events at Masonville and the horror that unfolds as the group of ghost investigators spend more time there, but it's just as nice to watch Leif and Blair grow closer during all of the drama.

I do wish there had been a little more build up, either to their animosity or attraction despite that before they met in person, and their relationship does seem to proceed really quickly, but trauma and horror bonds people together pretty quickly I guess, though between the speed of their relationship and the dialogue, I kept thinking both characters were younger than they were.

I also wish there had been a little more time spent on Masonville and everything that was going on - we get a little bit at the end, and the twist is pretty worth it, but I do wish there was more linking back to the events that gave Masonville its reputation and just how the present events got set up. However, what we get sent more than a few shivers down my spine and while I raced through the book, I definitely had to space out readings so that I wasn't reading it in the dark.

the entire concept of this book sounded extremely interesting to me, as someone who personally loves a lot of things paranormal i was excited to see what it had to offer. i didn't hate it by any means but, it wasn't my favorite, i feel like the romance was sort of unnecessary? i know that was sort of the point but it seemed like it was just off place in a way, and i wish the characters were explained more in depth and given a bit more story. the plot twist surprised me though, and i didn't put the book down much after that so, a solid three stars! thank you to netgalley for giving me an arc of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I had a great time reading this, the story was incredibly captivating and the tension between characters was so palpable that I had to set the book down at times to collect myself. I would've absolutely loved Ghost Town if the romance wasn't involved, it seemed very unnecessary to the overall storyline, but I can also understand why it was added. Logistically this book was easy to read and understand, however I would've liked if the POVs of Leif and Blair would've been a little more defined rather than just by a line break. Overall, I really enjoyed Ghost Town. It had an incredibly satisfying climax and the mystery of it all kept me intrigued throughout. I give this a high 3.5 and would absolutely recommend it to anyone looking for a fun, Agatha Christie-esque paranormal horror novel.

Blair is committed to scientifically proving that ghosts exist while Leif knows that they do and hunts them for clicks on her social media posts. The two are at odds with each other.
That is, until they both end up in Masonville, a famed ghost town where they and others of their ilk have been invited gather.
The mystery and thrills begin there as one by one someone is murdered survivors must unite to save their lives as they are all stranded in Masonville without phone service. The story unfolds from there. Blair and Leif find under the friction, there is attraction brewing. An unexpected twist occurs that ups the tension even further.
I enjoyed this sapphic murder mystery. Thank you to Boldstrokes Books and NetGalley for the arc in exchange for an honest review.

The two main characters are Blair & Leif. Blair is a paranormal investigator and Leif is a ghost hunter. Both of these women have been at odds due to not liking how the other runs their investigations.
Things become even more tense when they both find out they have been invited to do investigations at the same place that has been off limits for years.
Both women have brought their teams with them in preparation for doing some in depth investigation. Before they can do any investigating, a team member disappears. That is the beginning of many more disappearances and deaths.
The plot twist was a big surprise and very unexpected.
I enjoyed this book, but there was not much character development between the two women and it seemed very rushed.
I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

First of all thank you very much to Netgallery for the copy of this book, and for giving me the opportunity to read it.
I read the book very quickly because I could not put it down. The synopsis caught my attention and it was everything I expected.
"Ghost Town" is a thriller and mystery novel that follows Blair Wyndon and Leif Henderson , who receive an exclusive invitation to investigate the mythical ghost town of Masonville. However, they soon realize that they are not the only ones who have been invited.
For me the setting is important in a reading and this one met my expectations, I think the plot and setting is perfect for people who love horror and everything related to the paranormal.
The reading is fast paced and has some twists and turns, I also liked the LGBTQIA representation.
If you like paranormal themed shows ,and some romance maybe this book for you.

Ghost Town is a quick read thriller mystery. Blair Wyndon is a college student who is also a paranormal investigator. She wants to scientifically prove the existence of ghosts. Leif Henderson refers to herself as a ghost hunter and wants her videos to be sensational, causing thrills and clicks. Both women are invited with their camera crews to a mystery town called Masonville. It is owned by a private corporation. When they arrive they find a few more people they know from their online shows. They decide to stay together at the mayor’s historic home. But creepy things start happening and they are cut off from leaving or communicating with the outside world.

At the start of the story I thought Leif was very immature. In fact I wondered if she was still in high school. But that went away as the book picked up. The author does a good job of setting up the doomed adventure and the various characters. The whole investigator vs. ghost hunter doesn’t really build to anything other than they have differing online styles. Once there is a body they are both in investigative mode. Also Leif and Blair seem to go from comfort to kissing quickly. And without much preamble Leif is calling Blair babe. For them to move along so quickly I almost wish their pasts had crossed previously.

I did like the twists and turns and while I got some of the ending correct did not get the big reveal. This was a likable mystery with just the right amount of creep. Thank you to NetGalley and Bold Strokes Books for the ARC and I am leaving a voluntary review. (3.5 Stars)

I went into this book expecting it to be different from what it was. That is not particularly negative, it was just not my preferred book. I believe other people would still like it.

While some parts of this were predictable, there were also quite a few things I didn't see coming. I liked that this was fast-paced and the murder mystery aspect of it, but the last third felt quite different than the first two-thirds. The ending wasn't awful, but it also wasn't the payoff I was hoping for. Still, it was overall a fun quick read and I always like a wlw book about ghosts.

The romance was cute and the cast characters were interesting. The characters and backstories were set up in a way that was hard to understand at a few spots in the first chapter but things became a lot more clear after that and then the characters felt a lot more distinct and interesting.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC of this book in an exchange for my honest review!

Ghost Town is a murder mystery that for the most part plays in the haunted town of Masonville. The story revolves around Blair Wyndon, a passionate paranormal investigator, and Leif Henderson, who is a ghost hunter. Both of them get invited to the town of Masonville, given the chance to investigate the infamous manor. Though, turns out, they’re not the only ones who have been invited. Once the group arrives there, everything seems normal, and not creepy at all. Until it no longer is…..

I enjoyed the plot of the book and honestly did not expect the plot twist at all, because it left me guessing until the very end. My only critique is that the writing felt too fast and rushed at places where it needed more detail, and it was too slow paced when it didn’t have to be. Some parts of the dialogue were a bit immature and made me question whether the book I was reading was supposed to be adult or YA. The romance between Leif and Blair was cute but it also lacked development in my opinion. But we love to see lesbians winning!

Overal rating: 3.5 /5

I've mixed thoughts about this book.

It starts off with a similar vibe to a YA read, which i enjoyed. People are going missing, turning up dead. There is hated towards two of the characters that suddenly switches to romance. It felt forced, I would have preferred a build-up. The spicy scene was unexpected (as i thought it was YA), but well written.

The last part felt like a totally different book, and, for me personally, I didn't enjoy it as much as I had hoped. It seemed to change when they went into the building. Up until that point, I was loving it.

Well written, great build up but with a disappointing ending

I love ghosts and the paranormal so naturally I wanted to see what this book had to offer. I've never been so spooked. This book had me looking over my shoulder whenever something terrifying happened. The writing was easy to read and very captivating and I didn't want to put it down. I loved the representation of LGBTQIA relationships too. Blair and Leif were perfect for each other!

If you're looking for a short read and want to be spooked, this is the book for you!

*TW: There are some descriptions of body mutilation and gore.

2.5/5 ⭐️

I was so hopeful that I'd love this book; The premise, of a pair of dueling ghost hunters falling in love, seemed like the perfect setup for a new favourite book. In hindsight, that probably would have been the case if I'd read this book as a teenager rather than as an adult.

The tone of this book felt distinctly like a YA novel when I'd hoped it would feel a bit more mature. As a 25-year-old Canadian myself (a bit of bad luck on my part, because it had the side effect of making me a little more critical of the main characters), I found myself regularly questioning if the characters felt relatable-- and often came up feeling like the protagonists seemed much younger. This feeling was reinforced by a "quirky" style of characterization that resulted in quotes like the following:

"She was greeted by a post from Wyndon. Of course. And a selfie. A selfie where she looked way too pretty to be allowed."

To me, this expression of romantic frustration felt more like it came from a teenager than someone in their 20s, and it could be challenging to stay engaged when this was consistently the case. This issue was persistent in romantic scenes as a whole, and I felt the relationship between Leif and Blair developed with surprising speed. It's not story-ruining by any means, but the romance seemed to develop with very little by way of conflict despite their "rivalry."

The mystery itself, however, was well-paced and drove the story forward in a way that kept me eager to continue reading. I found the overall conclusion to the mystery somewhat disappointing, but the reveal of the story's antagonist was an awesome surprise.

Overall, this was a cute debut novel but didn't feel like it was for me. I hope to try again if Ward ends up releasing more books in the future!

Likes:
- Fun cast of side characters
- Well-paced mystery
- Lesbians (quite frankly, always a win in any book)

Dislikes:
- "Quirky" characterization & writing style
- High-speed romantic development, with little real conflict despite the "enemies to lovers" premise