This was an excellent collection of short(er) Gothic love tales. Each one was about eight chapters, longer than a short story, but shorter than a typical novella. Many featured ghosts, but other supernatural creatures made appearances as well. My top five favorites were:

The Others of Ochil, by Mary Lancaster

Into the Night, by Chasity Bowlin

The Haunted Hart, by Emily Royal

The Dauntless Boy, by Whitney Blake

Moonstone Landing, by Meara Platt


Other stand-outs for me:

Percy’s Perdition, by Aubrey Wynne

Grey Lady of the Manor, by Elizabeth Keysian

Rohaise the Red of Delgatie Castle, by Heather McCollum

White Lady Lost, by Maggi Andersen

The Bridge to Love, by Alexa Aston

Haunted Knight, by Elizabeth Johns

Blind Faith, by Anna Markland

Once Upon a Haunted Heart, by Anna St. Clair

Cute, sweet, funny, and/or moving…there is something in this huge book for every romance fan, I’m sure :). ( )

I am voluntarily posting an honest review after reading an advance reader copy of this story.

An interesting anthology of spooky stories by 20 authors. Each story is about the length of a novella. A few are new plots and many are a take on old stories like Edgar Allen Poe or even Cinderella. It took me quite some time to make it through the entire book. As usual there are some stories I didn't care for and some that worth the read. ( )

Upon A Midnight Dreary: A Halloween Anthology

The perfect way to read favorite historical romance authors and meet new ones. I have seen many of these names in the past but realized, while looking through the list of authors, that I have only read a few of these authors’ work. I have read four of the twenty stories and each one was interesting and well written. I am looking forward to reading one or two per night until Halloween.

The stories span the centuries, are wonderfully told, had paranormal disturbances of the nice and not so nice ghost type, and all that I read made me want to read more.

Rohaise the Red of Delgatie Castle by Heather McCollum was scary for more than one reason. Glad I didn’t read IT before I went to sleep because that ghost was a nightmare in the making though the romance between Abigail and Kerrick was a delight!

Nevernmore by Kathryn Le Veque was first up in the anthology but second that I read. The evil abbess was someone I really didn’t like but I was thrilled with the romance between the night and his lady.

Blind Faith by Anna Markland was a sweet story with a ghostly presence that encouraged the blind soldier and the new housekeeper that came to his home. Liked this story quite a bit though not necessarily as scary as some of the others.

Into the Night by Chastity Bowlin had a mail order marriage with the couple meeting at an Inn only to have a rather horror filled night to contend with. This one was scary but in a different way that the first two.

I am eager to read the other books in this anthology and have told my sister that we might need it for our ereaders so we can revisit the stories again…or at least I can. Maybe I should have my daughter buy them for me as a Christmas gift? Hm…

Did I enjoy this book? Yes
Would I read more by the authors in this anthology? Definitely

Thank you to NetGalley and Dragonblade Publishing for the ARC – this is my honest review.

5 Stars ( )

Halloween Treat!

A feast of gothic type historical tales with a romantic twist by a host of our favorite authors. From Medieval times to Regency. All centered around British tales from places where the paranormal is no surprise. Here’s a few I enjoyed.

“Nevermore” by Kathryn Le Veque. This is a medieval romance. The scene is near Whitby Abbey in 1295. A religious order ruled by an intractable, brutally righteous Mother Abbess.
Atreus de Norville a young knight has fallen in love with Mariana Prendwick de Allerston daughter of a noble house, banished to the Abbey for her involvement with a servant. Knight and postulant have met and fallen in love. But at the Abbey, Mariana is threatened, punished and abused by the Abbess to drive the demons of wildness out of her. Will Mariana and Artreus’ love survive?
“Into the night” by Chasity Bowlin
This set the hairs standing straight up on the back of my neck. A young woman and her intended (and how that came to pass is fascinating!) find themselves in an inn with a malevolent spirit.
“The Others of Ochil” by Mary Lancaster
A young woman who can talk to ghosts helps a Scottish Earl.
Moonstone Landing by Meara Platt
Love across the divide. Gorgeously gentle.

For those who wish to explore the divide when the veil is thin, it’s well worth the read!

A Dragonblade ARC via NetGalley ( )