I got an ARC of this book.

This book is strange, but not strange in that fun way. Instead strange in that way that is a bit off putting. First it is labeled as a YA book everywhere that I have been able to check, but it follows a nurse in her early 30's. None of the characters are close to YA age. I can't see the appeal for YA readers. It doesn't really follow YA themes. I have no idea where YA came from. So that was the first thing that was off putting. If the nurse was fresh out of nursing school I could see that being a more accurate label.

The second strange thing is the description of the book. Usually descriptions leave something to the imagination, but this one worked like a movie trailer. I knew the plot and pretty much the ending down to the last few pages. There were no twists and turns. There was nothing to captivate my attention for long, but I was still reading. I wanted to read this story. It was one of those lazy Sunday afternoon reads where it is fun and good enough to hold your attention, but you will forget it the moment you put it down. There is no suspense or romantic tension. The big bad of the book was a jealous ghost, but it was never super clear what she was jealous of. 

I'm not sure what else I can say. It wasn't spooky. It wasn't romantic. It just was what it was. If you are a horror fan, this will be disappointing. It you want a low heat romance with a small bit of angst, with tons of red flags (jealousy, stealing, stalking, etc) then this will fit for you. It took pretty much every aspect I dislike from romance and made it into a ghost romance. 

So it wasn't awful, but it wasn't amazing. I would be curious in reading more by this author though.

This book had so many wonderful elements that it was difficult to determine if I should classify it as a mystery, horror, or romance. I think it was a little bit of all three, with an obvious paranormal element that really brought a unique feel to the whole story. What I found most interesting about this book was that it never made it obvious where the story was going. At first, I had an inkling where the story would go, but then other things would happen to throw me off. Molly Ringle did an amazing job keeping me on the edge of my seat and making this an engaging read.

After being responsible for the death of one of her patients, nurse Lina Zuendel has left her position at the hospital and taken up a position as a live-in nurse at a retirement home called Drake House. Unknowing of the history of the house nor its reputation, she quickly discovers that there is a reason the position had not yet been filled. Between the unexplained noises she hears at night and the mysterious behavior of the houseboy, Ren, Lina is beginning to wonder exactly what she's gotten herself into. Things only become stanger once she finds out that the house used to be a sorority house and that a murder-suicide occurred there in the 1930s. Now it appears that there is a ghost still haunting the place - or are there two?

A lover of mysteries and history, I was immediately intrigued by this story and its characters. I am not overly familiar with the way things were in the 1930s, particularly sorority culture, so I was excited to read some new material in this story about things like houseboys and how girls interacted in the sorority houses. Lina and Ren drew me in quickly with their reserved characters, because I felt like I needed to continue reading to really understand who they were and why. Ren was the most interesting, as I couldn't get a handle on what exactly his role would be in the story. What ended up being his role was both expected and yet surprising. The ending is heart-wrenching, and I was flipping through the pages like mad wondering if this is truly how it ends. But have no fear - this is not a book that will leave you wanting to throw it across the room in the end. I like happily-ever-afters.

Although I originally picked this up thinking it was a brand new book, it turns out it was first released several years ago. I am surprised I had not read it before, but I am thrilled to have read it finally. I am eager to read more books by this author.

I️ just couldn’t get into this book. It’s a slow go.

I ended up reading this book in one day only because once I started it I couldn't put it down. I loved the haunted house aspect of the story. This was a different take on the classic haunted house tale. This put a romance between Ren and Lina that sounded too good. I would recommend this book to all haunted tale lovers and those who just enjoy a different kind of book to read. Thanks to Netgalley for letting me read this book as an ARC for an honest review.

Sweet paranormal love story that's tied into a tragedy from 1936. Bit quirky at times but a good mystery into what really happened all those years ago and wondering how a woman from today could get a HEA with a man who died many years ago.

I received this ARC copy from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. So thank you netgalley and publishers. This story is about Lina. After accidentally giving a patient the wrong medicine, it lead to his death, so Lina she quit her job as a nurse.  She is then hired to take care of the elderly residents at retirement home. Lina’s patients tell her about the ghost that wanders around the house at night. Lina likes the houseboy, and the ghost gets mad and starts targeting Lina with dangerous pranks. The houseboy can’t leave the property. The only explanation Lina gets from her employer is that he is under house arrest for a crime that happened years ago. This is my first book from this author and I can say it won't be my last, it is perfect for halloween coming up! Fall is my favorite time of the year so this book just made me happy. It's light hearted, funny, and intriguing. I love a good mystery, it's a 1940's time period sorority house, where an accidental murder and suicide once happened. My birthday is coming up on October 1st, so I'm going to see if I can track down a hard copy as a late bday gift to myself, so I can one day pass down to my daughter. Such a good book!!

great book, you must read the book so much going on

This is the first book I’ve read by Molly Ringle and it won’t be my last. What an amazing first experience to have with an author!

The premise of this book intrigued me; a haunted nursing home and a splash of romance, an excellent combination. I went in with no expectations other than the hope for an enjoyable story. It was that and so much more. I would categorise this story as primarily a romance with a suspenseful twist. The story definitely has a spooky theme through it, and there are certainly moments that make you want to check over your shoulder; but the book is not a horror. The ghostly encounters serve a purpose in illustrating the frustrations, jealousy, and growing anger of the trapped spirit. The main theme is a love story that must defy the odds if it is to overcome what seems to be its inevitable fate.

The author has a lovely writing style. It flows well and has an addictively dreamy, relaxing quality to it while simultaneously being completely compelling, capturing the creepiness you would expect of a ghost story.

Character development is very well done. Lina and Ren are genuinely likeable characters; they each have their flaws, and are scarred by their past bad experiences but these only add depth to their personalities and make them more relatable. The secondary and minor characters are fleshed out enough according to their roles in the story so that they each have a unique personality, but you are not drowning in too much descriptive detail. The primary secondary characters of Marla and Mrs B have their own individual roles in developing and progressing the story and the minor characters, primarily the other nursing home residents, add colour and flavour giving the impression of a generally happy and relaxed environment; that is until the ghost’s behaviour is no longer limited to harmless mischievousness but becomes increasingly erratic and violent, directed towards Lena and anyone in her periphery.

The Ghost Downstairs was a lovely story with enough creepiness to give it that bit of an edge. It had me compulsively turning the pages to discover just how Lina and Ren were going to beat the odds and I was more than happy with the ending.

I would thoroughly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a sweet romance with a dash of ghostly creepiness.

An interesting twist on the ghost story. Lina, a 30+ nurse, accidentally gives a patient in the hospital the wrong medication, and the man dies. Horrified by what she did, she leaves her job, although no charges were filled, and takes up residence at a nursing home. While there, she becomes close to many of the patients, and the young man who works in the kitchen. With all the tales of ghosts, and things moving or sounds happening, the tension builds. The hints about Ren, the young man, led to me guess fairly quickly, but didn't distract me from the story. A few minor things threw me a bit though, like why Mrs. B. was targeted, and why the house needed to burn down. The idea of the house controlling things seemed a bit out of place, but otherwise I really liked this story. Highly recommend this book and author.