This book was such a new take on gothic romance - where our protagonist, Lillian, encounters a ghost who believes she is his second chance at love. Reading the summary/blurb, I thought this book was going to be a romance between a living being and a ghost but it's actually a little more aligned with reincarnations and fate instead.
The characters were likeable and it was an overall fun read, except that it felt a bit rushed. I'm generally not a huge fan of insta love, and this book is the ultimate insta love since the two leads are influenced by their past selves to pursue one another and everything happens in the course of 2-3 days. I did appreciate that the characters outside the relationship acknowledged how quickly they were moving and helped them realize they need to not listen to their ghost selves too much.
A little corny but a lot of fun and I read it in a day. Rated 3.5 but rounding up to 4.

3.5/5
**This top portion of the review is spoiler free! I have sectioned the secondary half so that if you do not wish to spoil yourself, you can simply ignore the rest of the review!**

Trigger Warnings:
-This book references the paranormal and the occult, please be forewarned if exorcisms and the mention of ghosts/spirits are an uncomfortable subject matter.

In Glazier’s Gap Colorado, everything is just a little bit…off. The streets are endlessly curving, winding paths, the trees all lean in a bit too close, and sometimes houses have more occupants than you’d expect.

Lillian Anders is a writer who happens across a retreat being offered by the revived Persephone Publishing house in Colorado, which is perfect luck as she’s just been fired from her job at the museum and has finally broken up with her manipulative on again/off again boyfriend…for real this time. With nothing holding her back she packs up her few belongings and makes her way to Glazier’s Gap.

Upon arrival, Lillian gets to work assisting the owner, Bethany, in the publishing house archives. With her museum background coming in clutch it shouldn’t be a problem, however she finds out that some of the authors suffered mysteries fatalities on the dates their books were released, and she finds herself the companion to a very handsome—but very cryptic Victorian ghost named William.

Quickly, Lillian finds herself having memories that aren’t strictly her own, but the memories of Camille Denny, William’s former lover who fell to her death after being locked away to keep the lovers from being together. Lillian being the reincarnation of such a spirit, finds more and more oddities as she continues her life in Glazier’s Gap. If she, Lillian, is a reincarnation of Camille Denny, though, shouldn’t there be a reincarnated William in this time too?

Enter Nathaniel Lynd. Nathaniel arrives in Glazier’s Gap looking for ghost stories, and boy does he find one—more so that he finds himself IN one. Lillian and Nathaniel’s attraction to one another is instantaneous and all-consuming. As they try to piece together all of their signs from their past selves, they can’t ignore the dangers happening around them. Lillian and Nathaniel feel obligated to stop the curse plaguing this town, if not just to avenge the lover’s tragic deaths, but to protect the town from more accidents and travesties occurring every day they don’t find out how to right these wrongs.



**Spoilers ahead. Stop here to avoid detailed descriptions of plot points and character arcs**

I really enjoyed this book. It was very much like “The Haunting of Hill House” by Shirley Jackson, if you’d ever seen one single ghost manifest itself in that novel. I found the plot fairly predictable for this type of story, while still enjoyable.

My concerns rest in the second half of the novel, though. Right after Lillian and Nathaniel meet, I find the author rapidly expedites the pace of the writing. It’s very quickly discovered what needs to be done, when a centuries old ghost escapes, and that it should be an exorcism of the home where the ghost resided in life.

This is made doubly obvious, as Lillian is a goth and the author doesn’t let us forget it even for a second. This seems like a plot point of convenience, assuming that she has any idea regarding what to be done in an exorcism just because she’s been able to see the ghosts in question. I did appreciate that the Reverend who came to assist our heroes was LGBTQ+, being married to another one of our side characters Carmen (the manager of the historic society/the old Denny Mansion where the ghost of Camille’s father is residing).

I feel the storyline should have held out just a bit longer before resolution, to add more suspense and tension to the characters and strengthen their resolve in saving the town, rather than fleeing form it. I hope that the next books in the series will take more time in the major plot points and final conflicts, as they did in the beginning exposition and laying the groundwork for the setting and the characters.

I look forward to reading more of Renee’s work, and picking up an physical copy of Ghosts of the Forbidden during its’ October launch!

Great gothic fun. Long lost ghostly romance in a spooky town with a tongue-in-cheek wink at the pulpy gothic novels of the 1960-70s

I was intrigued with this storyline and the cover is just beautiful. However, once I started it was difficult to keep my attention.
The setting was creatively descriptive. I loved the spooky aspect the best. I think there could have been a bit more emotional connection between the love interests, it seems they fell in love too fast for my taste. I enjoyed the read, thank you!

Many thanks to NetGalley and Castle Bridge Media for allowing me to read Ghosts of the Forbidden (Glazier's Gap Book 1) by Leanna Renee Hieber.

The Story is about a girl coming to an old house to join different authors writing their stories.
When she notices that she can see a ghost the others can't see, she starts investigating. Suddenly bad things happen and it's on her to safe the people she got to know and loves as she dives deep into a story that is also hers.

I really liked the synopsis because I really love paranormal love stories. Sadly, I didn't feel like the story was well developed. I sometimes felt like the author just made things up and decided that they work in her book when they don't make much sense to everyone else.
I enjoyed reading the book anyways. :)

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Leanna Renee Hieber for providing me with a complimentary digital ARC for Ghosts of the Forbidden, coming out October 11, 2022. The honest opinions expressed in this review are my own.

35 year old writer Lillian Anders is recently unemployed. She receives the opportunity to go to Glazier's Gap for a writer's conference hosted by a reviving Gothic romance publisher. She immediately finds herself in her own Gothic novel when a ghost, William appears to her in her dreams and at the Victorian mansion.

Journalist Nathaniel Lynd arrives at the mansion. Lillian senses something familiar about him. It also helps that he’s extremely charming. He and Lillian connect immediately as intimate memories surface from the past. Dark forces that killed star-crossed lovers in the Victorian era seek to harm Lillian and Nathaniel. Can they band together to stop it?

I loved everything about this story! this story! It was concise and fun. It was fast paced and interesting. It had all of my favorite things! Creepy mansion, Victorian era ghosts, history, paranormal romance, etc!

I connected a lot with Lillian. I loved her love of Jane Eyre. She was invested in finding out what happened to William and Camille. I loved her relationship with Nathaniel. I also really love books that explore the idea of reincarnation. I wouldn’t change anything about it, except maybe a little more of all of it. I think Nathaniel could’ve used a little more backstory, but I loved it. I’m excited to read more from this author!

I would recommend this book to anyone interested stories about old, dark houses and ghosts from the past.

I will update the review with a link to our blog closer to publication date.
I'd like to thank the publisher Castle Bridge Media and Netgalley for providing me with an advance reader copy in exchange for an honest review

FLEW through this excellent, incredible book. Tightly written, earnest, eerie and creepy—one of the best page-turning books I've read in ages.

I adored all the characters and the atmosphere so much and I hope the author continues putting out more books like this!

Leanna Renee Heiber is a talented writer and I always enjoy her ghost stories. She has a knack for turning the terrifying into a wicked, beautiful romance. So when I ran across the opportunity to review her new book "Ghosts of the Forbidden: Glazier's Gap Book 1" on Netgalley.com I clicked "yes!".


"Ghosts of the Forbidden: Glazier's Gap Book 1" will be released on Oct. 11, 2022 but you can preorder a copy on Amazon or any other major book seller website or bookstore. The story follows the main character Lillian as she leaves for Glazier's Gap, Colorado to work for a reestablished publishing company on a writer's retreat. While there she encounters a ghost who claims that she is the reincarnation of his past lover.

Heiber did a wonderful job combining an old lover's reunion with a new romance experience within the same individuals, which may seem confusing but you'll need to read the story to completely understand. Keep in mind we are talking about ghost. possessions, and alternative universes.

I would love to visit Glazier Gap, since I love to visit haunted towns, buildings, and mansions. Unfortunately, this place, according to my extensive search, is fictional but does remind me of other buildings and places known for hauntings in Colorado, such as the famous Stanley Hotel in Estates Park, Co. from The Shining.

If you are looking for a ghostly, romantic mystery this Halloween be sure to order your copy of "Ghosts of the Forbidden: Glazier's Gap Book 1". It won't disappoint!

#GhostsoftheForbiddenGlaziersGapBook1 #NetGalley #leannareneeheiber

Thank you to net-galley for providing the arc.

The premise was really nice, and the blurb was what intrigued me to try this book out. Unfortunately, I wasn't fully satisfied. The setting and mood of the book was excellent. I feel like the author managed to capture the eery gloominess of the Glazier Gap. This felt like a gothic romance. Sadly it's the 'romance' part that fell extremely flat. The characters were not fleshed out and the dialogues were clunky and unnatural. The plot and the interactions felt very artificial. I didn't mind the insta-love too much, but the author should have tried to convince us more how Lillian understood him as her lover, and why she wasn't scared, especially since he was a ghost from the 1800s. It was a relatively short book. A little bit more time could have been spent to expand the world and characters a bit more.

The book cover is absolutely stunning and is what drew me in! This was my first gothic romance book & I found the story to be quite interesting but not entirely for me.

Thank you to Castle Bridge Media for the advanced copy💚

A fun, modern Gothic Romance. Ghosts, forbidden love, mystery, and suspense. I couldn't put it down! The main character is extremely likeable, and there is a diverse supporting cast. Dark Shadows (the show not the movie) vibes abound. Highly Recommended. Looking forward to more books in the series.

Thank you to NetGalley and Castle Bridge Media for this ARC in exchange for a fair and honest review.

This has all the things I like. Ghosts, Gothic architecture and theme, and a writer MC.

I thought the storyline was really fun and interesting, although it left me wanting more! I wish I could go write in Glazier's Gap, I bet it would be rife with inspiration. I really enjoyed the overall aesthetic of the manor and town surrounding (even if I wish we knew more about it).

The reason I rated this 3 stars is because I found the writing to be a bit choppy and verbose which made it hard for me to follow.

However, I found it to be quite enjoyable! This will be out October 11th!

Thank you so much to Netgalley and the publisher for the e-arc copy of this book.

I picked this up because of both the cover and description. I am looking forward to reading more horror, mystery, gothic book, and this just fit my wants for something to add to my tbr, minus the romance. I'm not really into romance, but I thought I'd give it a chance because we follow here a writer and a journalist AND books about books and libraries and authors and publishing houses are <3. I was expecting book mentions and aaaaah! Thanks so much, Hieber!

Let me share what I loved and not-so-much about the different parts of the books and my reading experience:

Concept:
✓ - Writers. Retreat. Mystery. History. And how these things affect us in our modern or current "now". These are always interesting for me.
✗ - I feel like the author can do better on how they execute the overall concept. The mystery was there, check. The love was there, check. The history was there, check. But there's no scare. I honestly won't categorize this as a horror book if not for the mention of a [hot] ghost and a witch. Also, some parts of the book felt like they were just there but didn't add value nor substance to the story. I might be missing the point/s or what the author wanted to tell me, but that's exactly why it didn't add value to me as a reader - they're not catchy enough for me to connect them to what is actually currently happening during those scenario/s, I couldn't connect them to the plot.

Setting:
✓ - I love that the setting was well-described to my mind that I can actually see and feel the eerie vibe. Love that the author used more than one setting to compare the vibes and linking them to the plot.

Characters:
✗ - Ooh this is tricky, I've thought a lot about whether or not to put a check on this but I just can't think of anything to love about the characters. I understand we have different perspectives on everything including how we look or feel about a fictional character, so don't hate me for not loving anyone here. I just don't get their priorities sometimes and it's confusing, and basically the main reason why it took me so long to finish reading the book.

I am not a big fan of romance, but I do appreciate good story-telling. Unfortunately, I didn't enjoy the experience so much, but will I read the next book in the series? YES. I'd love to witness the development on the execution and characterization in book two.

I was a little hesitant when I first started reading this book, but quickly became enthralled with the plot. I wish it was a bit longer and had more character building, but ultimately, this was still a good story. I’m interested to see what the other stories will be (assuming this is a series by the Glazier’s Gap #1 in the title).

I was given an advanced e-book to read and review voluntarily and honestly from the publisher and NetGalley.

**Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC. All opinions are my own.**

First what I liked: The descriptions of buildings and the town were amazing. I felt like I was there and could easily imagine the mansions, as well as every other setting. I adored the plot of second chance love and past lives coming together later in the future. I also loved the paranormal aspect of curses and ghosts.

What I didn’t like: The dialogue was so clunky and awkward at times. The characters didn’t act normal in certain situations and everyone was way too willing to accept what was happening between Lillian and Nathaniel. It just didn’t feel realistic whatsoever that Lillian could tell everyone that, crazily enough, she’s found a past lover from the 1800s and everyone just sort of blindly agreed and didn’t think she was nuts. I also thought Lillian and Nathaniel were too willing to accept it and there wasn’t ANY conflict surrounding that. It just felt rushed, especially considering Nathaniel didn’t come into the story until past 50% through the book.

Overall I did enjoy the book, but I’m not sure I’d read any additional books in the series.

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/4779836770

Points > Paragraphs

Overall 3.5
Spice 1


• Gothic Lite
• Short & Very Fast-Paced
• Ghost Story Meets Romance
• Simple yet Effective Writing Style
• 70s gothic-inspired
• Women Running from Houses Trope
• Star-crossed Lovers
• Fated Love
• Past Lives
• love at First Sight. (Not a fan)
• First Book of Unfinished Series
• Will be on KU

Thank you to NetGalley and Castle Bridge Media for an ARC copy of Ghosts of the Forbidden (Glazier's Gap Book 1) by Leanna Renee Hieber. Conceptually this book was amazing. A gothic past life love story with a ghostly twist? Sign me up! However, the execution just wasn't for me personally. I thought the “love at first sight” trope was too cliché but, in all honesty, I rarely, if ever, resonate with that trope. So, if it’s one of your favorites then I think you might enjoy this. Also, some of the themes felt VERY forced fed to the reader (another pet peeve of mine.) Overall, this was a short gothic lite fantasy with plenty of love and just enough spooky.

• Review will be posted on Amazon GoodReads StoryGraph during the following window: 10/3-10/11
• A release day post will go live on 10/11 on Instagram

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC. Even when the premise of the book called my attention and the book cover is STUNNING, I knew this wasn't going to be for me, still wanted to give it a chance. It's my first time reading gothic romance, and I felt like it missed that eerie something. also the insta love of the MCs didn't help.

A short summary of my other two reviews both on Instagram and Goodreads:
This book has potential with the plot and setting, but the characters had no emotional depth and seemed incredibly flat.
I loved the paranormal atmosphere and how the present time was intertwined with the past, and adored the history behind the town and previous relationship between William and Camille. The only downside is that the story was rushed heavily.
Despite the odds, it was a very fun read and I’m quite interested to see where the adventures in Glazier’s Gap goes next!

I am a fan of gothic novels so when a read that this is a gothic romance I was like GIVE IT TO ME. It didn't disappoint.

I really enjoyed de romance and the characters in this book but the writing felt flat. Too many dialogues and too little explanation of the surroundings. The pacing of the story was great.

It was a quick read and even though there is not much of emotional depth, I think it is an enjoyable book.