This was an interesting collection of short stories, that I would recommend to those who think it sounds good!

I received an e-ARC from the publisher

I used to consume historical fiction of this ilk quite often in my college year, but it has been a while since I read so many of them in one go. Each of the stories has a short introduction of sorts; many are part of a larger collection/series. They each have a basic introduction to the author and to the other books that one can pick up written by them. I would have paid closer attention to the ones that I did enjoy if I did not already have a bursting TBR in that regard. Also, all stories have a ghostly presence as the central plot point.

The Phantom Bride By Kathryn Le Veque
This is a more general sort of haunting. There is an abandoned area and a weary traveller. The ending is left hanging for maximum effect. The writing explains everything atmospherically. 3 stars

When The Night Closes By Chasity Bowlin
This is a more romantic, forced proximity kind of story. There is a background that is waiting to be uncovered and a relationship to build. There are also a meddling grandmother and a vengeful ghost. – 4 stars

Ghostly Lover By Mary Lancaster
This story feels like a smaller section of a bigger narrative. The couple is an already established one. The husband is known for his logic and is invited to get to the root of a death and a haunting. Both are seemingly unrelated till the very end. Even though we do not know of their pasts, the story does not leave the reader feeling left out. 3 stars

When The Midnight Bell Tolls By Maeve Greyson
Time travel has resulted in the current couple, and there are multiple people who have made their life in 1600s Scotland. The dead wife of the chieftain wants to have her voice heard, and the story is all about figuring things out to put her to rest. I would have liked it more if I had met the people from before they got to this stage to establish the characters. 2 stars

The Dauntless Girl By Whitney Blake
The title of this story refers more to the lady who tries to communicate with restless spirits than the spirit’s story itself. It was an involved investigation that uncovers some misunderstandings. 3 stars

Loved By The Laird By Jillian Eaton
There are more romantic interludes here than in several of the previous stories. A curse has bound a spirit for years, and she has to make a choice when a man who does not expect to meet her crosses her path. 3 stars

The Midnight Flame By Mary Wine
A woman is offered up as a sacrifice to the man who wields some power over the supernatural (or so the sayings go). Her presence may just change his life for the better. 3 stars

The Secrets Of A Moonlit Night By Elisa Braden
A woman who is trying to straighten her path ends up locked in a room by a ghost. The fact that a man is locked in with her does not escape her. 3 stars

A Lady’s Revenge By Nicole Locke
A man who brings a letter from another’s fiance does not feel ready to hand it over to her when he sees her. He ends up wanting to keep her happy and around. Only the presence of a ghost accelerates their story. 3 stars

The Haunting Of Rose Abbey By Kathleen Ayers
A woman who uses a more ambiguous name talks her way into becoming a secretary to a brusque man. There is more treachery in the old Abbey, now home, than is immediately apparent. This had a mix of everything, from romance to adventure. 4 stars

Highland Ghost By Elizabeth Rose
A woman does not want to marry the man she has been fixed up with. She hopes things will prevent this from happening. Without her knowledge, there are even bigger hurdles that her groom is trying to jump over to get to her. 4 stars

Where The Wolf Howls By Mia Pride
The time slip story has reincarnation and something further along those lines. I liked the more current timeline than the entire concept. Although it did feel like a foundational chapter as the author confirms at the end. 2 stars

Harrowing Hall By Sky Purington
The story here has a hint of deception than actual haunting, but the questions are all answered by the end. There are a couple who end up married as they try to decipher clues left behind by an earlier bride. 3 stars

The Witching Hour By Anna Bradley
This was a pretty emotional story. It begins with a love match that sours due to a lack of communication. The space between life and death plays a bigger role in getting the happily ever after back on track than an actual ghost. 4 stars

The Duke’s Bluestocking By Celeste Barclay
This story had a slightly adventurous spin. Some of the plot points were a little darker than many of the previous stories. I thought it could have been slightly shorter, given the speed of progression between different events. 2 stars

Each story has a romantic focus, some more explicit than others, but it is part of the narrative as a whole. I liked my reading experience. It is a pretty full volume. Some novellas are longer than the other short stories, and the book as a whole is one I would recommend to fans of the genre.

I received an ARC thanks to NetGalley and the publishers but the review is entirely based on my own reading experience.

Fun collection of mostly very mild ghost and gothic romance type stories. Don’t expect to be scared. It is a fairly entertaining collection if you’re in the mood for short fiction, however.

I tried reading a couple of stories in this collection, but found them miserably lacking. Not worth reading.

A spooktacular compilation from all my favorites! Romance amid hauntingly mysterious stories. Always enjoyable with a bit of paranormal activity. Definitely recommended.
Thank you authors, Dragonblade Publishing and NetGalley for allowing me an advance copy for my honest feedback.

I would like to thank Netgalley and Dragonblade Publishing for a free copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

Some enjoyable stories, other stores didn’t seem to fit with the collection.

I really enjoyed reading the stories, there were a few that was part of a series thst I didn't read and had to purchase so that I knew the back story. It had something for every reader. Didnt disappoint.

If you like reading spooky, gothic romances, then this is one collection you will definitely want to get your hands on. I don't often read paranormal stories, but I picked this up because it includes a few of the authors whose books I've enjoyed and I was looking forward to reading more of their stories. I have to tell you, all of the authors in this collection have put together a set of stories that will pull you right in and won't let go until you finish. Each one did a fantastic job with providing vivid descriptions and interesting plots. The storylines were all artfully crafted with well-defined characters and kept me hooked until I finished. I had to pace myself as I wanted to read all in one sitting! The stories are short, so if you like to binge read, you can breeze through quite a few of them at a time. The stories will captivate you, spook you, and keep you on the edge of your seat. An engaging and entertaining set that I am happy to have had the chance to read.

Thank you to Netgalley and Dragonblade for providing a complimentary copy. This is my voluntary review.

4.75 stars

This is a great anthology. There were just a couple of stories I didn't enjoy at the end, especially Celeste's offering.as it seemed to be part of a convoluted series. She had to spend a lot of time explaining the back story and unfortunately I didn't buy it. Hence the 4.75 stars instead of the 5

Kathyrn's gruesome spooky start is very enjoyable. I really like Mary Lancaster's work so it was great to reacquaint myself with Griz and her handsome husband. In that story there's a mystery to solve as well as the ghost. There's something for everyone so I heartily recommend this book.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Anthologies fill a necessary space in my reading history. I find short stories that feed into my favorite series and excellent stories by authors who quickly become favorites on my TBR lists. I always have at least one anthology with me wherever I go, just in case I have time to read and finish a short story. This annual contribution to my library is one I would recommend to any and everyone looking for something different.

Especially in the historical fiction. romance genre where there are new authors every week. It's so much easier to find a new author's work to love if you can read their short stories. Short stories are a great example because the author has to quickly grab your attention and tell a whole adventure within a few pages.

I love a good anthology! Each story was immersive, and unique to each other! They kept my heart racing!

A Midnight Requiem by various Dragonblade authors, including Kathryn Le Veque, Chasity Bowlin, Mary Lancaster, Maeve Greyson, Whitney Blake, Jillian Eaton, Mary Wine, Elisa Braden, Nicole Locke, Kathleen Ayers, Elizabeth Rose, Mia Pride, Sky Purington, Anna Bradley, and Celeste Barclay is the perfect Halloween read with these mostly Gothic romances. They are short and easy to read and could easily fit into more than one sitting if one so choose. They are spooky, romantic, and sexy. If you are a fan of Dragonblade or Gothic, this is the perfect choice for you.

I was invited to read a free e-ARC of A Midnight Requiem by Dragonblade, through Netgalley. All thoughts an opinions are mine. #Netgalley #Dragonblade #AMidnightRequiem #KathrynLeVeque #ChasityBowlin #MaryLancaster #MaeveGreyson #WhitneyBlake #JillianEaton #MaryWine #ElisaBraden #NicoleLocke #KathleenAyers #ElizabethRose #MiaPride #SkyPurington #AnnaBradley #CelesteBarclay

A fun collection of bite-sized historical romances with supernatural enhancements! Each story seems to feature a ghost, so they make great reads for the weeks leading up to Halloween.

When fall comes around I've always got a tall stack of TBR gothic romances I long to dive into, but much less time to read. This book solved that problem for me. I could get my fix of spooky and spicy and not stress about time management.

There are so many stories packed in this collection it could take me a couple of seasons to finish. You definitely get your money's worth with this compilation!

Thanks Netgalley, Dragonblade Publishing and the authors of this compilation for an ARC - this review is left voluntarily and without bias.

Well, I am a little late reviewing for spooky season but if you're anything like me you like a gothic romance any time of the year. There are some interesting reads in here - the first story by Katherine Le Veque sets the spooky theme but there are some absolutely lovely romantic gems in there as well, especially by my favourites, Chastity Bowlin, Jillian Eaton and Elisa Braden.

I don't usually Loooove a compilation of short stories, but recently I haven't been able to read for long periods of time, so if you can snatch an hour before bed, this is perfect for you.

4 stars.

𝗔 𝗠𝗜𝗗𝗡𝗜𝗚𝗛𝗧 𝗥𝗘𝗤𝗨𝗜𝗘𝗠: 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗚𝗛𝗢𝗦𝗧𝗟𝗬 𝗛𝗢𝗨𝗥 was my first experience reading these kinds of romance novels, historical or contemporary. To my surprise, I enjoyed them much more than I was expecting to.
These collections are becoming an absolute favorite of mine because they expose me to new and interesting reads.

I particularly enjoyed 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘋𝘶𝘬𝘦'𝘴 𝘉𝘭𝘶𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘰𝘤𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨 by 𝘊𝘦𝘭𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘦 𝘉𝘢𝘳𝘤𝘭𝘢𝘺 and 𝘞𝘩𝘦𝘯 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘕𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘊𝘭𝘰𝘴𝘦𝘴 by 𝘊𝘩𝘢𝘴𝘪𝘵𝘺 𝘉𝘰𝘸𝘭𝘪𝘯. I highly recommend reading 𝗔 𝗠𝗜𝗗𝗡𝗜𝗚𝗛𝗧 𝗥𝗘𝗤𝗨𝗜𝗘𝗠: 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗚𝗛𝗢𝗦𝗧𝗟𝗬 𝗛𝗢𝗨𝗥 one story at a time in between longer, heavier reads. I’m giving it the judy.ann.loves.books stamp of approval TBR and Enjoy!

Wow, some of these stories are dark. And scary. Contains very few spoilers.
Because this is an anthology, it is hard to specify each novella. But I will say there were much more good stories than flat stories. For the most part, they all contained heroines who had to overcome paranormal and normal circumstances. I know that I will never again pick up a piece of white fabric that I see flapping or floating in the wind. No, sir!
What I liked about these stories, is that for the most part, the heroines were working women of some kind. They were secretaries, tavern workers, companions, homemakers and wives. I did not read many where the heroine just was concerned with fashion and parties. The heroes were mostly brooding and introspective. But still resourceful and dependable.
But since this was a Halloween themed anthology, all the stories were scary. Twice, I found myself unable to read when it was dark because of the things that it created in my imagination. Not lying or exaggerating, this book had some very dark stories.
What I liked best about these stories was that they were mostly well written and contained subject matter and themes that I really enjoyed. Most times with Anthologies, you have one good story and two or three meh stories. No, I read sll the stories and enjoyed each one to some level. The one I remember the best was about Rose Abbey. The one that scared me the most was about the lady in the ruins who stole souls. It was gruesome in it's own way. Some of the stories were longer than others and were still enjoyable. I give this book 5 stars and recommend reading.

I enjoyed this Halloween anthology as it has the perfect blend of historical/paranormal romances. Great for the Halloween spooky season. All have a similar ghost or haunting theme but plenty of a variety. This was a nice refresher for me for the historical paranormal genre, because I don't really read too many ghost stories or maybe I just don't come across enough of them. This is a pretty cover.

I received this book at my request and have voluntarily left this unbiased review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

Just in time for Halloween! A fun collection of fun stories by 16 Dragonblade authors who have fantastic books of their own!

Spooky, haunting, murder, mayhem and of course there is a touch of romance that cannot be denied! Wandering ghosts, noises unexplained, mystery and all you would want to put you in the spirit!

Sit back and enjoy!

Beware of reading on a dark and stormy night. Ghosts and spirits create upheavals as they look for revenge or find peace. Give yourself plenty of time to read 15 stories that may raise the hair on the back of your neck.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book.

A Midnight Requiem: The Ghostly Hour has 16 amazing authors, that write about haunted houses and spooky graveyards, but the central theme is love.
Kathryn Le Veque’s ‘The Phantom Bride’ - Sir Lucas de Lara stumbles across a young woman living in a crumbling manor, only to find his life forever changed.
Chasity Bowlin’s ‘When the Night closes’ – When Tess arrives to care for Maxim’s grandmother, she soon finds herself betrothed when she begins her search for the story behind the young female ghost.
Mary Lancaster ‘Ghostly Lover’ which explores Drag and Grizel Tizsa who investigate the death of Richard Cathlinn’s fiancée. The relationship between Drag and Grizel is strengthened as they explore the mystery behind the death.
Elisa Braden’s ‘The Secrets of a moonlight night’ – Elizabeth who is the governess to the children, living in the estate next door to the scarred Thomas. When the children begin to meddle in Thomas’ quiet life and Elizabeth intervenes, the resist ghost begins to do her matchmaking with them.
Other authors including Elizabeth Johns, Maeve Greyson, Whitney Blake, Jillian Eaton, Mary Wine, Nicole Locke, Kathleen Ayer, Elizabeth Rose, Mia Pride, Sky Purington and Anna Bradley, spin their magic and ghostly charms, to bring some great stories to light.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book from NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.