While inheriting a country mansion in the north of Scotland may sound fascinating, adventurous, and highly desirable, this story shows that it isn’t necessarily as easy as it sounds. As Callum finds out when he confronts the fact that the grandfather he never met has left him the family home. The repairs and upkeep of the old house alone would require more money than he has, there is a bona fide ghost haunting (mostly) the library, and Callum’s life is in Edinburgh, a few hours drive away. But then there is the mystery of the family journal, a very attractive neighbor, and the fact that Callum is both curious about and drawn to the family residence once he has seen it. The resulting story is entertaining, very erotic, and has a touch of old wrongs that need fixing and ghostly interference that I found very charming.

Callum has both feet firmly on the ground, has a good job, is settled in his life (not to say stuck in a rut), and he is curious about why he has inherited his grandfather’s house. After all, his father was estranged from the old man, and Callum never even met him. But the more he finds out about the family history once he is there and is practically handed the family journal by what seems to be the family ghost, the more intrigued he becomes. I enjoyed the slow reveal about some of his relatives and the family secrets and scandals he uncovers. I could see him slowly sliding into liking the house far more than he was ready to admit, and the final solution – what he does with the house and why – was just perfect.

A big part of what attracts Callum to the mansion is his neighbor, a farmer named Craig. They meet when Craig drives by and comes into the house to check if Callum is a burglar. Lust flares and their physical relationship develops quickly, but both men know what they want and aren’t afraid to go after it. Callum has an ugly past relationship that taught him what he does not want in a man, and Craig is the exact opposite of his ex – so why not? Craig’s support and the friendship that grows as they get to know each other is fantastic and nicely complements all the somewhat dark family history.

If you like the idea of exploring an old country manor in Scotland, ghost included, if two men who meet by coincidence only to discover they work – and play – well together sound interesting, and if you’re looking for a read that has a touch of the paranormal, an interesting family history, and lots of hot action between the sheets, then you will probably like this novella.


NOTE: This book was provided by Pride Publishing for the purpose of a review on Rainbow Book Reviews. ( )