I chose to read this book as it was classified as a thriller. I disagree with this classification. I would classify it as a suspenseful romance, at most. The romance part was way over the top for me, wayyy too sickly sweet! Overall, felt quite cheesy to me. Again, I wouldn't have elected to read this book had I known that it was actually more of a romance novel.

The two main characters bothered me. Made things difficult to read. they were completely unlikeable. The actual ghost interactions were very minimal. A lot of the plot felt all over the place.

I guess this just wasn't for me, as the overall rating for this book is high.

Thank you Kensington Books | Kensington and NetGalley for the copy in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC.
Really interesting book with some mystery and supernatural thrown in. I enjoyed reading it and found it to be well written and filled with suspense. I want to read more by this author now.

An excellent paranormal romantic suspense story. I loved the mystical aspect and the characters. Very well written.
Many thanks to Kensington and to Netgalley for providing me with a galley in exchange for my honest opinion.

I really wanted to love this story but it felt more like a romance than a ghost story. It wasn't awful but it wasn't great.

Thank you to NetGalley for my ARC!

⭐️⭐️⭐️

It took me a while to warm up to this book. For some reason, I found the beginning very dark and almost frightening. I suppose that's actually a good testimonial for a ghost story. Having set it aside for some time, I am glad that I went back to it because it sucked me in and kept me on the edge darkness and romance and all.
Eve St. Clair is an educated, rational woman but the goings on in the house that she's newly inherited frighten her enough to call in Paranormal Investigations run by billionaire Ransom King. Ransom and his team arrive at the house with their state-of-the-art equipment to find that Eve's fears are not unfounded. There is definitely evidence of Paranormal activity and it's not at all friendly towards Eve.
Of course, there's more than a ghost story happening here. As the romance between Eve and Ransom heats up, the team's investigation kicks into high gear. You'll be turning pages totally caught up in the expertly written suspense.
Sorry for the initial reaction, I should have known that Ms. Martin is one of my go to authors for a reason.

Kensington Books and Kat Martin kindly provided a free ebook Advance Reader Copy (ARC) of this novel through NetGalley.

Romance, suspense, ghosts, death, and more are expertly combined in Kat Martin's thrilling novel, *The Ghost Illusion*. Eve St. Clair unexpectedly inherits a haunted house in the picturesque countryside of England and, feeling overwhelmed by the paranormal occurrences, she seeks the assistance of Paranormal Investigations, Inc., a renowned organization specializing in supernatural phenomena. Intrigued by the challenge, Ransom King, a billionaire with a deep fascination for the paranormal, personally selects his top-notch team to conduct a thorough investigation of the mysterious estate.

As the story unfolds, the main characters, Eve and Ransom, undergo profound personal transformations as they navigate through the treacherous twists and turns of their haunted surroundings. With every secret unveiled, the plot becomes increasingly dangerous, keeping readers on the edge of their seats with a constant sense of anticipation.

Kat Martin's writing style effortlessly carries the reader through this unsettling tale, immersing them in the vivid setting of the haunted house. The author's descriptive prowess allows readers to easily visualize the eerie atmosphere and the chilling encounters that unfold within its walls.

While the romance between Eve and Ransom may follow a predictable path, it adds an extra layer of interest to the story, intertwining with the suspense and danger that permeate the narrative. The well-crafted mix of romance, suspense, and danger in this novel keeps readers engaged and invested until the very end.

Overall, *The Ghost Illusion* is an entertaining and engrossing novel that stands out for its exceptional characterization. Kat Martin has created a cast of engaging and relatable characters that readers will quickly become attached to. Whether you are a fan of ghost stories, romance, or simply enjoy a well-plotted and captivating read, this book is a must-read.

I've loved several of Kat Martin's latest books but this one fell a bit flat for me. I hate to say that because I usually really enjoy her books. If you like a good ghost story with some romance you'll probably enjoy this. I will still read her in the future.

Thank you Netgalley for the opportunity to read and review. All opinions are my own.

Publication date: 26 September 2023

This is a book that is a fictional story built around a tragic accident that did occur. Dr Eve St. Claire inherited a house from her uncle, but it's haunted. She hires Ransom King and his team to help find the cause. What she didn't plan on was falling in love with him. It's been a while since I've read a Kat Martin book. I'd forgotten how well she writes. She has a great imagination. She knows how to spin a story and throw in some hot steamy sex scenes. If you like paranormal books, then this book is right up your alley. It also has suspense and non-paranormal elements, not to mention a lovely romance.

Thank you to NetGalley, Kat Martin and Kensington Books for the opportunity to read this ARC.

The Ghost Illusion by Kat Martin is suspense/thriller/romance with a lot of paranormal activity. Eve has moved to England to take over ownership of her Uncle's house that was left to her but the only problem is that there seems to be paranormal activity and Eve is unsure whether she is going crazy. She finally reaches out to the paranormal investigators and Ransom King the billionaire who funds the investigations. Parts of the story was predictable ie: Eve and Ransom's romance but I don't mind predictable as long as it fits the story. Kat Martin was able to weave real life historical events into this story. I enjoyed this book.
I want to thank #NetGalley and Kensington Books for the digital advanced reader copy for my review.

Kat Martin has done it once again. I admit, I was skeptical about this one, but I really enjoy her work, so I read it. It was so good and not what I expected at all. There is great action and suspense, mystery galore and the characters are wonderful. The story ebbs and flows fairly rhythmically, which keeps you engaged.

As a fan of Kat Martin this story wasn't what I expected the female lead was your typical damsel in destress who loved the feel of the male lead who made her feel protected. Which is fine but as a fan I was used to Kat Martin female leads being strong and independent.
This seems to be the go-to line in all Romantic suspense (“She knew what he wanted. The question was what did she want?) I have to admit I am a little tired of this constant story line in RS series.

The author uses some truth to tell her story and readers will have to figure out what is the true story and what is false.
Thank you to Netgalley

3/5 stars

Thank you NetGalley and Kensington for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review!

So this is my first book by Kat Martin and it definitely had some promise! The book kept my attention for the most part and the storyline really intrigued me! In the middle of the book there were some parts where there were a lot of things that seemed to be going on at the same time and that got a little confusing but overall it seemed like a really good book! As a side note I loved that the MC was a psychologist, but there were some parts that weren’t realistic in which the MC shared personal client information (i.e. stating the clients name and what time their appointment was) with the other characters of the book, which in real life would be a violation of confidential information. While it really wasn’t a big part of the storyline and didn’t really play a part, as a psychologist myself it was just really bothersome and took away from the storyline for me. Overall, it was still a decent book that I enjoyed reading and I think there are some people out there that would really enjoy the storyline part of it!

Eve St Clair inherits a house in England from her uncle. She realizes her home is haunted. She gets a team from Seattle to assist her in the haunting.
Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC and to the publisher Kensington.

Ransom King, what a name. Billionaire and philanthropist who happens to believe in ghosts. Eve reached out for help and what follows is a ghost story, a tale of good v. Evil, and a bit of horrific history that comes together as a captivating story. At times smiling, chuckling, smirking, and crying this book evokes vivid images and emotion. The team dynamic was strong and full of potential for more stories? And the relationship between Eve and Ran had a great blend of chemistry, dialogue, and emotion as they grew to love each other. The outcome of the book was multifaceted and I enjoyed how all the tendrils to the story were addressed.

Thank you to Kat Martin, Kensington, and NetGalley for allowing me to read a free ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This was...odd. It starts out like one of those romances with ex-military peeps building a team for their private investigation business or something. Then it's like one of those paranormal investigation shows on Discovery. Then I think there's something about sex trafficking of minors and virginity auctions? That's pretty much where the book lost me. I wanted to DNF around 58% because all I could think what the heck is going on? But I pushed through and gave it a second chance, tuning back in when they figured out what happened to the children and resolved that. That was great--tragic, but great.

I wonder if someone else had narrated it if I'd have been more engaged with the story. Morgan Hallett wasn't the worst narrator I've ever listened to, but she certainly wasn't great. She was very bland. She sounded professional and had clear enunciation, but man, was she boring. She hardly gave any inflection or emotion, and her delivery robbed the characters of any chrisma they might have had. The romance lacked heat and any humor fell flat. Truly a shame.

Overall the execution was odd but the ghost story was decent. I'd recommend reading a print copy.

This is a well-written, entertaining, paranormal romantic suspense novel. It has a likable, intelligent, and empathic female protagonist, a kind and caring, billionaire male protagonist, sizzling chemistry, suspense, a heartbreaking tragedy, and a happily ever after ending. The author's note is interesting and informative, and is truly appreciated. Ms. Martin never disappoints her readers!
Many thanks to NetGalley, Kensington Books, and Kat Martin, who kindly provided me with an ARC of this novel. This is my honest opinion.
The following is a link to Kensington's BTC club, of which I am a member, "Exploring a Ghost Town" provided by the author, which is fascinating and informative: https://www.kensingtonbooks.com/between-the-chapters/exploring-a-ghost-town-with-kat-martin/?utm_source=Kensington+Publishing+Corp.&utm_campaign=708ce4ca5e-btcmain0522_COPY_01&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_192cb02888-708ce4ca5e-189773869

The Ghost Illusion
By: Kat Martin

5 Stars

Eve inherits a house, and with it, comes something else, someone else. This leads her to call in Paranormal Investigations, Inc. With Ran and the rest of his talented team, Eve hopes to get her house back. No matter what, her life will never be the same.

This story hit the ground running and never let up. From start to finish, it was action-packed. I love a good ghost story and this one was great. Every new thing that happened left me in aww of such an awesome story. The characters were fun to watch and follow. The storyline had history, danger, romance, and hauntings. It really had it all.

As a reader, I love coming across a new author. It's even better when the story is one that grabs and intrigues. This book did that and more.

*I want to thank Netgalley and the Author for this book in return for my honest review.*

Stormi Ellis
Boundless Book Reviews

The idea behind this book was good, however the story just didn't flesh out for me. The main female character was weak and unlikable and the romantic interest was your stereotypical billionaire knight in shinning armor. The ghost interactions were minimal and it seemed like some plot developments were just randomly thrown in.

Overall I think the lack of relationship building between characters and the ghosts unfortunately led to me being unable to connect to the story and find it pretty boring.

Dr. Eve St. Clair took over the Victorian house that she inherited from her uncle in Sunderland, England. After selling everything to start over following her divorce, Eve hears the sound of children laughing amidst angry voices and thuds of running feet. There's no one there. Eve decides to reach out to Paranormal Investigations for help.

Ransom "Ran" King, a billionaire, started Paranormal Investigations following the death of his wife and daughter. He blames himself for their deaths and hopes to find out that they are okay in the afterlife.

Ran is intrigued by Eve and decides to take his team to investigate. They brought in a new hire, Zane Tanner, a PI and former marine, who would do research and provide security.

It's obvious that Eve is in trouble and the more research done the more hidden secrets come to light. After one bad encounter, Ran moves Eve to the hotel where the team is staying for her safety. Whatever they are dealing with is over their heads and Ran decides to call in a friend and former priest, Lucas "Luke" Devereaux, for backup. Remember: "Not all ghosts are spirits, but all spirits are ghosts."

I enjoyed this story and read it in two days. This is a perfect spooky read for this time of year. Along with a ghost story, there is a romance between Ran and Eve; each having their baggage to unload. I wanted to shake Ran for his stubbornness and short-sightedness due to the guilt he carried around. I liked how the team was more family than coworkers. I would love for this to turn into a series! This was a very haunting, captivating read!

I received an advanced reader's copy and voluntarily read and reviewed this book.

I just finished The Ghost Illusion by Kat Martin and here is my review.

Eve St Clair inherited a house in the UK from her uncle… Problem is she is absolutely sure the place is haunted. As a psychologist it sounds like lunacy but she finds a paranormal team online and in desperation reaches out.

Seattle billionaire Ransom King spends his time researching the paranormal and debunking fraud. After the loss of his wife and child, it is what he does to atone for living when they didn’t. When Eve reaches out to his team, he cannot help but wonder if she is telling the truth. When he meets Eve he cannot help falling for her and he wants to save her from the darkness that is consuming her home.

This book was insane!! The ghost story part was excellent! I really enjoyed the build up with that. It was super interesting that Eve was sensitive to supernatural beings and that's why her Uncle never noticed the ghosts was a really cool twist to the story. I could have done with more from the ex priest and getting rid of the ghosts but I enjoyed what we did get.

The plot was the best part of the whole book. I wasn’t sold on all the romance. I could have done with a lot less of that and I also felt the characters all felt a little one dimensional and had there been more substance to the characters, this would have been a 5 star book.

I also had no idea that the book was based on the true story of the Victoria Hall disaster that occurred in the town of Sunderland in 1883. It sent me on a huge deep dive. I also felt the trafficking part was really unnecessary.

I really did enjoy the book though

4 stars. Thank you @netgalley and @kensingtonbooks for my gifted copy