This was such a delightful read!
It had me cackling and the banter was top notch!

You’ll get:
Besties
Annoying Ghosts
Mystery
Slow Burn

The bestie relationships were exceptional and I love how each character was different and that they were willing to add possibly another friend to their group.

I am really looking forward to the next book!

Alyssa, our MC in this funny and entertaining paranormal mystery, discovers she is a ghost whisperer. However, the ghosts relentlessly pursue her, seeking her help to move on to the other side. Alyssa soon realizes that the only way to get rid of them is by solving the mystery that binds them together. The book has a cozy mystery vibe and is perfect for anyone looking for a light-hearted yet thrilling read.

Other Highlights:
✨Strong female friendships, swoony romance, supernatural elements (ghosts, mediums, tarot card readings), funny banter with the ghosts, and the ghosts’ antics.

I paired the e-book with the audiobook. The audiobook is an easy listen, thanks to the outstanding performances of Piper Goodeve and Aaron Shedlock.

This book was exactly what I needed after a few heavy, emotional reads and a couple thrillers.

This debut is fun, light hearted, and had me laughing. I felt there was more mystery than romance which was totally fine with me!

It was one of those books I could picture in my head as a fun movie or show! Definitely won’t be my last by this author!

OMG this one was so fun and had such a crazy mystery. Love a forty year old fmc.. and she was in a bad place after the loss of her husband. Her friends go to a medium for her 40th bday happy hour which starts a chain reaction of events causing her to start seeing ghosts. She then has to help them with their unresolved business which all seems to be connected. So fun!

In the book An Enchanting Case Of Spirits by Melissa Holt we meet Alyssa it’s her 40th birthday in the first milestone she has without her loving husband Garrett she is down in the dumps and drowning her sorrows in a tub of ice cream when her two best friends Laney and Nina come over to commiserate with her. When Alyssa learns they made reservations at her favorite Mexican restaurant she can’t resist the pool of endless chips and bottomless margaritas so decides to go out with the girls. At the end of the night Alyssa is surprised when they pull up to Corey‘s nail shop the doubles as a place for spiritualist Karina. This is where the three ladies lives will change starting with a Lissa who wakes up in the middle of the night to see a ghost named Billy Garrett standing at the end of her bed. The next thing she knows she is dripping wet and in the arms of her Super hot detective neighbor Nick west Nick checks it out but doesn’t believe that was a ghost ultimately Alyssa Goes back to Karina asking for her help. This begins the ladies new hobby being amature sleuths with the help of the afterlife. I just want to say in the book and at the end they made references to there possibly being another book and OMG if I am not so down for that. This book is so funny when I read the part where Nick goes to clear the Home for Alyssa I laughed so hard when he got tripped up in the netting and got scared by his own reflection and this is just the beginning of the book this was such a great book I love these ladies they each have distinct personalities and relationships with each other I love Alyssa and Korina‘s antagonistic relationship I can’t believe I’m leaving out the best first kiss ever in this book it is so good I loved it and honestly hope there’s a series to come. With well-developed characters well-developed plot in room to grow this is a great book with a great mystery and an awesome romance and one I definitely recommend big-time!!! I definitely want to thank Berkeley for the free Ark via NetGalley please forgive any mistakes as I am blind and dictate my review.

This was a cozy paranormal mystery mixed with a slow burn romance and I loved it!

Do you love strong women with supportive friends?

Do you love tarot cards and ghost stories?

Do you love romantic interests that are quiet, kind, and reliable?

If your answer is yes to any of these questions I think this needs to be your next read!

When I read this synopsis I knew I really wanted to read this story immediately. I turned 40 recently and could definitely relate to Alyssa. I too am not adventurous but more thoughtful and often in my head. I loved meeting Alyssa. She’s struggling with the loss of her husband. I have been reading so much about grief lately and her character relatable demonstrates how one has to keep going with that heart break. I have always really been into mediums and tarot cards and love that she wakes up to a ghost in her room!

I’m not sure if you can relate but sometimes I’ll wake in the middle of the night thinking that a shadow in my room is a ghost. I’ll get a little freaked out but soothe myself back to sleep only to find it was my jacket or pile of books shaped like a ghost in the morning. I don’t even know what I would do if I could speak to ghosts. I’d like to think I wouldn’t be freaked out (eventually) and help them just like Alyssa.

I love Alyssa’s ability to be brave and all the ways she works to help the ghosts she meets. She becomes and amateur sleuth and I really enjoyed that premise of the book. It remind me a bit of Jesse Q. Style in the book Vera Wong's Unsolicited Advice for Murderers. Alyssa and her friends are quirky and sometimes funny and definitely not always aware of what they are doing and those are my favorite kind of mystery solvers. The group of women supporting Alyssa remind me a lot of my own best friends and her neighbor Nick really captured my heart.

Finding peace and moving on after loss is never easy. I love the dynamic of Alyssa and Nick and how things blossom between them. I don’t want to give too much away so I’ll just say that I can’t wait for you to meet him.

This was a very impressive debut. I am so hopeful it will be a series! I loved the writing, the characters, and the whole vibe of the story! Can’t wait to hear your thoughts on this one!

Wow, what a debut! Melissa Holtz has delivered a fun, genre-bending novel full of snarky ghosts, lovable characters, a mystery to solve, and a hunky next-door neighbor. I absolutely loved this book and flew through the audio in an afternoon! Piper Goodeve and Aaron Sherlock are the perfect voices for this cozy mystery and kept me engaged and entertained the entire time!

It’s Alyssa’s 40th birthday but she’s in no mood for celebrating. Her husband was killed in a freak car accident two years ago and she hasn’t been the same since. Her two besties get her to rally and join them for ‘wine and woo’ (Drinks and tarot) but none of them thought the night would immediately change their futures. Something unlocked inside Alyssa and now she can see and talk to ghosts! They won’t leave her alone until she helps them with their unfinished business. Alyssa and her friends (and the hunky next-door detective) embark on a journey that sheds light on her husband’s death and connects them all in ways they never imagined.

Don’t let this cutesy cover fool you! These characters have depth and the mysteries they’re solving have some shocking twists! I loved the development of Alyssa’s character the most. She started out wallowing in self-pity but took her newfound ghost abilities and owned it! The red hat ladies add just the right amount of humor where it’s needed and this is an all-around feel good read!

Alyssa Mann is turning 40, and she is not happy about it. She could have made plans with friends, but instead she just wanted to stay home, eat ice cream, and drink wine. Every since her husband died in a car accident two years ago, Alyssa has spent more time at home. But then her two best friends show up to take her out, especially since it’s Thursday, and that’s Wine Night. With reservations at Alyssa’s favorite Mexican place, the promise of queso and margaritas, and talk about a tarot reading after dinner, the three set out for an epic birthday celebration.

But it was what came after that turned Alyssa’s life upside down. At the back of Cori’s Nail Salon, located in a rundown strip mall, Cori did her tarot readings. As a medium, she had clients who would come specifically for a reading and some who came to try to contact those who had gone before. Alyssa’s friends wanted the tarot reading, but she wanted to try to speak to her husband Garrett. But as soon as the women all sat around the table and Alyssa joined hands with Cori, she was struck with a powerful energy strike, so strong it caused Cori to leave the table and gulp down gin. But neither of Alyssa’s friends felt anything.

It wasn’t until later that night that Alyssa started to wrap her mind about what happened, when she’d been awakened by a man in her bedroom saying that she had summoned him. She screams and runs out of the house, right next door to the single detective who lives there. Nick goes to check out her house and finds no one there. But when she remembers that the man had said his name was Billy Garet, Nick stops. He uses her laptop to pull up a photo of Billy, and Alyssa verifies that was who she saw. Nick tells her that it’s not possible. Billy Garet is dead.

Alyssa admits she must have dreamed it all, to get Nick out of her house and giving herself a chance to try to figure out what’s going on. Cori tells her that somehow they must be connected, but Alyssa is at a loss as to know why, and Billy can’t remember everything that was happening before he died, so he’s not all that much help either. But as Alyssa taps more into her abilities and investigates Billy’s death (and life), the more she thinks that he may have been killed the same way her husband was. But Billy’s death was intentional. Is it possible that her husband was murdered too?

An Enchanting Case of Spirits is a laugh-out-loud mystery that blends the supernatural with the murder mystery in a way that’s irresistibly charming. Mom and widow Alyssa and her newfound ability to speak to the dead offers up moments of surprise, humor, and poignancy along with some snappy repartee worthy of siblings who had too much sugar. This book is sweet and smart and layered and funny, and I will be hoping these characters show up again in another book. I really like them, and I’d love to hang out with them again.

Egalleys for An Enchanting Case of Spirits were provided by Berkley through NetGalley, with many thanks.

This was a romance that somehow lacked any romance. The characters rarely showed any affection at all it was a fun debut idea but ultimately not for me

An Enchanting Case of Spirits by Melissa Holtz is somewhat of a romantic paranormal fantasy with a heaping side of mystery. The story in An Enchanting Case of Spirits is one that does change the point of view between the characters with a friends (neighbors) to lovers slow burn romance.

Alyssa Mann has been in mourning since her husband died in a horrible accident but Alyssa’s friends really want to see her get back to normal and have a little fun for a change. When Alyssa’s friends suggest going to a tarot reading to celebrate her big 4-0 Alyssa figures what the heck, nothing will probably happen but just what if she could contact her husband?

Alyssa ends up getting more than she expected at the tarot reader but still ends up disappointed when heading home. The next morning however Alyssa wakes to a strange man in her room that poofed away when confronted. In complete shock and terror Alyssa runs to her neighbor, Nick West, who happens to be a detective and is happy to help but Nick never expected to be investigating a ghost though.

An Enchanting Case of Spirits is a debut novel from author Melissa Holtz so of course I wasn’t sure what to expect going into this one. Thankfully what I found was a fun story that kept the pages turning all throughout. I do think that this one was a little heavier on the mystery side of the novel than the romance but I didn’t mind at all. I enjoyed the side of ghosts this one offered up just as much as the main characters and when finished I would definitely give this author another try if she writes more in the future.

I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.

This one was fun, the beginning was a little bit slow, but then it was a good pace! Loved Nick, and loved that we have his POV. It was a cozy mystery and interesting plot. I enjoyed having a little bit of everything and the humor was good. Reminded me of Charmed <3 Thank you Berkley for the finished copy.

When a tarot card reading goes wrong, Alyssa Mann gets more than her fortune told. She gets a few spirits haunting her needing her help to move on. With the help of her friends and her sexy neighbor, Detective Nick West, Alyssa tries to find out what really happened to these three ghosts so they can cross over.

I enjoyed this paranormal cozy mystery debut by Melissa Holtz. I thought that Alyssa was a relatable character (minus that she can speak to ghosts), and I liked that it focused on a woman in her 40’s as the main character. Nick was charming and the perfect love interest for Alyssa, but I wish there was a bit more focus on the romance throughout.

If you’re looking for scary ghosts, this book isn’t for you. But if you want snarky ghosts that bring some laughter to a story then I think you’ll really enjoy this one. From the way the book ended, I think it might be a series, and I’ll definitely check out book two.

Thank you Berkley Publishing and NetGalley for an advanced copy in exchange for my honest review!

An Enchanting Case of Spirits by Melissa Holtz would seem like the perfect book for me since I enjoyed watching the TV show, Medium, and I also enjoy reading about the paranormal, but this one fell flat for me.

The way the dialogue was written felt stilted and awkward, and I just couldn’t warm up to the characters. It was wonderful that Alyssa’s two friends are trying to help her grieve her husband, and I know everyone deals with death differently, but after a bit I got annoyed with how childish Alyssa was acting. At times this felt more like a YA book…
Alyssa is so depressed about losing the love of her life, but instead of healing and focusing on herself and her daughter, she jumps into a romance with her next door neighbor pretty quick. I am all for adult relationships, but the balance between how devastated Alyssa was to how fast she got over it, felt off.

And with how long the book took to get going, then to have it come to a conclusion so quickly, I felt like this book was on its third round of edits, and needed a few more passes to even out the story for a better book.

This debut novel was a fun blend of paranormal mystery and romance that read a lot like a cozy. Compelling characters, a town with secrets, snarky ghosts, and the unexpected romance between Alyssa and Nick kept me hooked. The book also delves into deeper themes like grief and loss, but the overall tone is lighthearted and humorous. The ghosts made me laugh, and the love interest, Nick, was undeniably swoon-worthy. The friendships depicted were heartwarming and lent a found family vibe. I liked the author's writing style and thought it was an enjoyable, fast-paced, and entertaining read. The end left me wondering if this might become a series. Count me in if that happens!

Thank you to Berkley Publishing and NetGalley for the free book!

An Enchanting Case of Spirits by Melissa Holtz lives up to its’ name with a beautiful & fascinating book that combines a cozy mystery with a widowed woman that gains the power of seeing ghosts on her 40th birthday. It was like a Scooby Doo gang of her friends, the handsome neighbor detective & the cast of ghosts that band together to solve a slew of mysteries for such an interesting ride.

An Enchanting Case of Spirits is perfect for fans of…
🩷 Paranormal/Ghosts/Spirits
🩷 Cozy Mystery
🩷 Slowburn Romance
🩷 Healing

If you have even a mild curiosity for supernatural, spirits &/or ghosts, then I recommend giving this one a read because it is such a fun & unique story that had me captivated throughout. The characters have depth, intriguing lives & beautiful friendships & relationships. I also really appreciated having a main character that was a woman turning 40.

While this sometimes dealt with serious topics such as grief & loss, the author did a wonderful job of also adding humor & healing for a wonderfully balanced story.

If you’re looking to be enchanted by a cozy mystery romance with ghosts, then I highly recommend An Enchanting Case of Spirits!

Massive thanks to NetGalley & Berkley Publishing for the gifted copy, which I voluntarily read & reviewed.

Alyssa sees ghosts. She doesn’t find out about this ability until her 40th birthday, when her friends take her to a tarot reading. She wanted to hear from her deceased husband, but wakes up the next day with a strange ghost sitting on her bed.

She’s terrified and wakes up her handsome detective neighbor, but finally realizes that she’s seeing ghosts. Now she has to figure out how to send them away. She still wants to contact her husband, but is unable to do that yet.

She and her best friend go on a hunt to discover what’s keeping each ghost with her. It’s interesting to see what each one needs.

I enjoyed this fun read, 4 stars.

Thanks to Berkley Publishing and NetGalley, I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

An Enchanting Case of Spirits is a paranormal, mystery romance. Alyssa is turning forty, and her heart still breaks with the lose of her husband, Garrett. In the two years, she's left all her joys to wallow in sorrow. Her two best friends finally get her out to celebrate, and visit a psychic.

Waking the next morning, Alyssa realizes she is "medium," seeing and talking to ghosts. Also, she conjured the wrong "Garrett" into in her house. This ghost, named Billy Garrett, died under suspicious circumstances. Determined to find out why she can't shake this ghost, she begins her own investigation into Billy's car accident, and other happenings in town.

Alyssa enlists the help of sexy neighbor, Nick, the small town detective. Nick is a skeptic in the spirit world, so Alyssa and her friends must convince him of the clues to uncover connections and the murderer. The characters, including the ghosts, were fun, snarky and entertaining. The budding romance has potential as we only get a few smooches.

This is a cozy, light-hearted debut novel. The cliffhanger leads me to believe another book is coming!

Thank you, Berkley.

What an interesting debut! Firstly, this was definitely more of a cozy paranormal mystery than a romance. The romance was minimal, and this story was mostly about a grieving widow named Alyssa who gets dragged out by her best friends on her 40th bday to get drinks and see a psychic. While with the psychic, Alyssa is hoping to see her late husband, but instead she ends up with a snarky ghost who refuses to move on until she helps him get justice for his death.

The romance in this book comes in when she starts enlisting her hot cop neighbor for help to solve these deaths. I liked the ghost elements, and I liked the mystery surrounding the ghosts, but I never felt super connected to most of the characters, and the romance was unsatisfying. The romance scenes were minimal (I think they kiss like 2-3 times?), however, I loved the male main character, Nick. 🥰

The small town aspect was VERY cute, the ghosts were snarky & entertaining, and the romance had a lot of potential. Part of the issue with the dissatisfaction was that this ended on a cliff-hanger, so there will definitely be a series potential with this one. I had a lot of fun reading this, so I’ll be picking the sequel when it’s released in the future. This was cozy, light hearted, funny, and I enjoyed the amateur sleuthing as well.

This reminded me a lot of Ghost and that episode of Charmed from season 1 called Dead Man Dating. I’m glad this wasn’t a romance between the living and the dead (which I initially thought was the plot), so I really enjoyed this unique take on a spooky fan fave!

Thank you NetGalley & Berkley for this ARC in exchange for my honest opinion!

It is great to read a book with characters in their late 30s/early 40s that manages to be both a romance and a great story about people with real lives and problems... plus the extra addition of seeing and talking to ghosts. It's a great, cozy adjacent type mystery with great characters, and I'd love more stories in this world.

I have to say this book was thoroughly engaging and really a fun read. I love paranormal romance and this one was done very well!

The story starts with widow Alyssa’s 2 bffs hoping to get her spirits up in time for her 40th birthday. They weren’t expecting much, so when Alyssa unexpectedly agreed to go out to celebrate, they couldn’t have been happier.

It has been 2 years since the loss of her husband and she really was not looking forward to turning 40. Alone and missing her daughter, Ava, who was currently attending a private high school, wanted to step out and see what the evening held for her.

Alyssa and her best friends, Lanie and Nina, decide to go to a tarot reading together. Not quite believers in the after-world (except for Lanie), or anything really of the occult, they are in for a huge surprise!

Alyssa’s hope to contact her late husband Garett turns into more than what she bargained for. She was able to harness the medium’s energy as well as her own, bringing home something not of this world.

It is from here, the story really starts to pick up, evolving into more than just a couple of friends looking for a fun night out.

There are layers to this book, which kept me interested. I really loved the crime-solving (with the help of ghosts) elements presented, the town’s secrets that are exposed at the end, and how they all tied in nicely together.

Oh and I also loved Nick (someone send me one please, and thank you). 😍 Nick is Alyssa’s hot next door neighbour who just happens to be a cop. He enters the story shortly after their visit to the psychic, and this is where the slow-burn romance begins. 🔥My heart was happy for both of them and loved how the two connected.