This novel has everything!!! Small town romance. Fantasitic characters and Ghosts!!! I loved how Jen weaved the story together. I would absolutely read a series based off these characters and the town. It is just that good.

I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for a review.

I blew right through this one, but that's not a bad thing. It was a nice respite from the daily grind of my life and I was happy I could dedicate some time reading. I liked the characters, and I also liked the ghost story aspect. It's not often you see ghosts show up in a romance novel. There wasn't really anything shocking in this - I figured out certain plot points fairly early on, but that didn't detract from my enjoyment of this book.

Cassie moves to Bonyard Key, Florida after her search for an affordable house in Orlando doesn’t work out. Also, she now feels like an outsider to her original friend group when they’ve moved onto marriage and kids while she remains single. It quickly becomes apparent that the ghost hauntings the town is famous for are real, and one of those ghosts seems to inhabit her cute, historic cottage. She’s freaked out, but with the help of Nick, the town’s coffee shop owner, Cassie starts to get used to the idea. It becomes clear that her ghost has a few things to clear up.

Nick is used to the ghosts in Boneyard Key, after all he’s a descendant of the “Founding Fifteen” the group of families that originally settled there. Nick has an affinity with ghosts and so he helps introduce Cassie to the oddities of the town and show her some of the wonderful things about living there.

I enjoyed this romance with a side of paranormal mystery! It was easy to figure out most of what was going on and I did wonder at how Cassie and Nick didn’t sooner, but I had fun “exploring” the town, getting its history as they sorted things out. Cassie and Nick had some relationship hangups they had to get over on their way to a HEA. It was a low romance drama read that I thoroughly enjoyed!

I alternately read and listened to an audio copy of Haunted Ever After and can recommend either version. Jeannie Sheneman did a wonderful job with all voices, male and female, brining each character to life. I listened at my usual 1.5x normal speed.

10/10!
Haunted Ever After had me hooked from page one! I loved the characters Nick and Cassie, the setting of Boneyard Key, and omg.. I didn't expect to love the ghosts as well!!

The story is fun, the romance is both sweet and adorable. I laughed out loud and swooned at their romance, some parts were a bit more suspenseful and had me on the edge of my seat, and I loved when Cassie and Sophie went into investigation mode. I had the best time both reading and listening to this on Libro FM, and this is one I will be reading again!.

Also, when transferring my review over to Goodreads, I realized that this is Boneyard Keys #1! I can't wait to see what will happen next in Boneyard Keys!!!!

Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC!

This book is a super cute and cozy small town romance story and it's perfect for the fall! I can't wait to read this again when the leaves start changing, sitting on my patio, with a cup of tea! This book is set in a small town know for its haunted houses and spooky areas. It is a fun, flirty, and feel good story that leaves you happy and smiling. I loved Cassie and Nick and their relationship.

Jen Deluca’s RenFaire series is one of my favorites so I was HYPE for this one! A haunted Florida beach town, a paranormal mystery to solve, and a hunky coffee shop owner that texts his residential ghost roommate? Sounded perfectly up my alley!

But this fell short for me on the romance aspect and, for the first half of the book, on the plot aspect. I don’t mind a slow burn but for the first 50% there was next to no movement on the romance end. And while the bits and pieces we did get of the plot involving Cassie’s mysterious ghost and Nick’s weird, unexplained behavior were unique and interesting, there just wasn’t enough of it.

It was cute and a lighthearted summer read, but not my favorite. But the town and its residents were so charming, I wouldn’t mind giving the next in the series a shot!

Thank you to Berkley for an arc!

I really wanted to move this book. The concept of a spooky fun ghost story and a romcom combining definitely peeked my interest. But… it wasn’t quite what I was hoping for. I haven’t read anything by the author before, and she definitely has a talent for writing. You can tell this isn’t a debut. But by page 75, nothing has happened except the main characters laptop isn’t charging and adding cinnamon to banana bread is a criminal offense. It just was bland and nothing happened.

Haunted Ever After
By Jen DeLuca
(Boneyard Key book 1)

Narrated by Jeannie Sheneman

Story Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (0-5)
Narration: 🎧🎧🎧🎧 (0-5)
Overall: 4/5
Steam: 🔥🔥🔥 (0-5) Beautifully described open door, just not many scenes.

What I’m Starry-Eyed Over:
🤩 My initial mini review: I can’t believe I liked a book with an exorcism! 👻
🤩 Straight from my notes: Read this book if you like a haunted beach town mystery with a side of romance because the ghosts keep c0ck-blocking the MCs. 😂
🤩 3rd person dual POV, so one narrator works fine. Jeannie Sheneman is a great storyteller and does a fantastic job with the conversations between Cassie and Nick, changing her voice just enough for the two characters.
🤩 The new-in-town plot is a fun, supernatural mystery.
🤩 I think I like the ghost stuff because neither of the MCs are ghosts and the ghosts are written as part of the whole haunted setting.
🤩 Speaking of the haunted setting, the haunted small beach town vibes are beautifully described and so immersive.
🤩 When the fabulous enemies-to-lovers banter turns into Nick getting rid of a customer so Cassie can have the spot she needs. She’s been coming into his coffee shop regularly to use the electricity because her newly purchased house is having issues.
🤩 The Magnetic Poetry and texting fun are just so cleverly written with the ghostly interaction.
🤩 The cutest first kiss.
🤩 Nick is an amazing book boyfriend. I especially like how he helps Cassie feel comfortable in and around the supernatural environment.

What I’m Wishing/Dizzy About:
💫 I think I just prefer first person dual POV with two narrators more for all the feels.
💫 I would have loved the kitchen counter scene instead of just the mention of it. And we definitely deserved a little spice after the downer feels.
💫 Who else gets a story? Sophie and Theo?

It's love at first haunting 🌴

This was the perfect book for that summer to fall transition. It gave all the beachy summer romance vibes, but it also had me hyped for spooky book season. If you like a cozy, beachside, small town romance with a bit of mystery, then this is for you! I'm excited to see where book two takes us!

Synopsis👻
Boneyard Key is known for its ghost tours and haunted reputation. When Cassie suddenly moves to this cozy beachside town, she's not expecting the locals to really believe in the paranormal. But then she meets grumpy coffee-shop owner Nick, who invites her on a ghost tour, and she learns about his own connection to the paranormal. When strange things start happening in her own home, she realizes she might just have a ghostly roommate of her own. As she and Nick grow closer, Cassie's not sure if she's ready for a "hauntedly" ever after, and the ghosts might just scare her away.

Omg I adored this one! A mix of slow burn, small town ghost mystery, my sweltering Florida world and a steamy, banter-filled romance.

The audio is narrated by Jeannie Sheneman and I felt she did a splendid job between the voices and the emotion. Cassie purchased a coastal home in Boneyard Key only to learn that some past residents never left. Forced to conduct business at the local coffee spot due to some sketchy wiring, the beans get heated (lol yes I went there with it) when the owner, Nick, comes into the picture.

This is the perfect summer read for a bookie like me. The banter kept me cheesy grinning as the two MCs get to know each other and the haunts around them. The ghostly haunting editions were wonderful and actually added to the retirement charm that is Florida. The way the town embraces their ghosts is just adorable.

I finished this in a day. If I wasn't listening, I was curled up with my face in a screen. This is noted as the first in a possible series and I'm really hoping there is more!

If you love cozy haunted mysteries tied around love stories than this is perfect for you. True rating 4.5/5.

3.5 rounded up

I had fun with this, the ghost/haunted town storyline was great and I think for the most part executed really well!

I found myself really interested in the town history and finding out what’s going on with the ghosts in the town and why Cassie’s laptop would never charge at home lol

The romance itself felt underdeveloped to me. There’s a friendship that builds pretty fast with Cassie and Nick but the romance itself just kinda happens without really feeling like it made sense for it to happen and it takes a backseat to the ghost plotline.

It’s overall a fun spooky read (that still has a nice summer vibe) I just wanted a little more from it.

Thank you to Jen DeLuca and Berkley Publishing for the ARC!

2.5⭐️
Thank you so much to Berkeley Romance, Netgalley, and PRH Audio for providing free advanced copies of this! All thoughts and opinions are still my own.

Wow did this book drag on and on and on and.......

I was so excited for a new series from Jen Deluca. I enjoyed the Well Met series but was really looking forward to a new setting. Especially a paranormal one!

Unfortunately this just didn't deliver on any of the aspects - the paranormal, the small town, the romance... nothing.

This follows Cassie who is looking for a fresh start. She feels like she's grown apart from her friends who are all settling down and having kids. So she buys a house in a small costal town on the other side of Florida. Only to get there and learn that everyone truly believes this small town to be haunted.

After a not-so-great first impression with local coffee shop owner, Cassie finds herself wrapped up in her own haunted ghost story. And needs the help of the locals to find a way to live (or get rid of) her house's ghost.

I think one thing a small town romance relies on is its desirability. I need to fall in love with the town and quirks. But this didn't have any of that... I felt like we saw the same 2 places over and over again and none of them really had any personality. I never had that feeling of wanting to go there. Instead it sounded like an actual nightmare...

But the part that really brought this whole book down was its lack of plot and driving force. The entire story revolves around Cassie learning her house is haunted, coming to terms with the ghost, and then wanting to learn about the ghost's past & potentially help her move on.

All of which was fine. But we followed her doing the same things so many time it became frustrating. The outlets, the coffee shop, the tour, the fridge words... it was so repetitive.

Because I was enjoying the actual plot and pace of the story, the final little twist grated on my nerves even more. Because OBVIOUSLY. It took the MCs so long to come to then conclusion that felt so obvious from the very beginning. And that stacked on top of my lack of enjoyment left me feeling so very unenthused by this entire book.

Unfortunately I don't think this is a series I'll be continuing on with. I have a feeling the next couple will be the tour guide and the librarian and I just.... don't care.

The audio book was well narrated however. So if you're still interested in picking this one up, I highly suggest checking out the audio version.2.5⭐️
Thank you so much to Berkeley Romance, Netgalley, and PRH Audio for providing free advanced copies of this! All thoughts and opinions are still my own.

Wow did this book drag on and on and on and.......

I was so excited for a new series from Jen Deluca. I enjoyed the Well Met series but was really looking forward to a new setting. Especially a paranormal one!

Unfortunately this just didn't deliver on any of the aspects - the paranormal, the small town, the romance... nothing.

This follows Cassie who is looking for a fresh start. She feels like she's grown apart from her friends who are all settling down and having kids. So she buys a house in a small costal town on the other side of Florida. Only to get there and learn that everyone truly believes this small town to be haunted.

After a not-so-great first impression with local coffee shop owner, Cassie finds herself wrapped up in her own haunted ghost story. And needs the help of the locals to find a way to live (or get rid of) her house's ghost.

I think one thing a small town romance relies on is its desirability. I need to fall in love with the town and quirks. But this didn't have any of that... I felt like we saw the same 2 places over and over again and none of them really had any personality. I never had that feeling of wanting to go there. Instead it sounded like an actual nightmare...

But the part that really brought this whole book down was its lack of plot and driving force. The entire story revolves around Cassie learning her house is haunted, coming to terms with the ghost, and then wanting to learn about the ghost's past & potentially help her move on.

All of which was fine. But we followed her doing the same things so many time it became frustrating. The outlets, the coffee shop, the tour, the fridge words... it was so repetitive.

Because I was enjoying the actual plot and pace of the story, the final little twist grated on my nerves even more. Because OBVIOUSLY. It took the MCs so long to come to then conclusion that felt so obvious from the very beginning. And that stacked on top of my lack of enjoyment left me feeling so very unenthused by this entire book.

Unfortunately I don't think this is a series I'll be continuing on with. I have a feeling the next couple will be the tour guide and the librarian and I just.... don't care.

The audio book was well narrated however. So if you're still interested in picking this one up, I highly suggest checking out the audio version.

This was fun! In a really saturated romcom market, this felt fresh. I loved the paranormal aspect, the humor was on-point, and the characters were interesting. I hope we get to stay in this vividly-drawn world for a few more books!

I really enjoyed Jen DeLuca's Well Met series and I was excited to read something new from her and this did not disappoint! We are down in FL in Boneyard Key, the Most Haunted Small Town in Florida. I love quaint towns and this one was so much fun. I don't usually love paranormal characters but these ghosts were so much fun and so were the real characters as well. I love that this is going to be another series and I can't wait to read more! Just a fun ride and you don't have to read it anytime (it's summer now as I read it) but it would be perfect for a fall read, in time for spooky season! If I can enjoy a story with ghosts, I think it's a home run!

Cute, fluffy romance with hauntings of the non-scary variety. This small town love story -- with ghosts! -- is sweet and light, and introduces engaging characters in a quirky setting. Looking forward to more of this series!

Thank you Berkley Romance for the free book and to PRHAudio and LibroFM for the complimentary audiobook. These opinions are my own.

Cassie buys a house in Boneyard Key. She has heard about how the area brands itself as the most haunted town in Florida. But she assumes that is marketing for the tourists. And then she starts getting messages from the ghost living in her house.

I found the haunting and ghost tour aspects of this book so fun. The plot included a neat twist with lots of hints and foreshadowing to make it guessable. And the town was absolutely fascinating. I'm thrilled this is the first in the series named for the town, as it means I'll get to revisit Boneyard Key.

I didn't find the romance between Cassie and Nick quite as strong. The chemistry didn't quite connect for me, and I especially felt the steamy scene didn't fit well in the narrative.

The audiobook featured great narration by Jeannie Sheneman and was just under 11 hours long. It's a great book for the transition to fall.

Haunted Ever After was a cute small town romance told in dual point of view with a little steam. It is also first in a new series.

Nick is the owner of Hallowed Grounds coffee shop plus a lifelong resident of Boneyard Key. Cassie is new in town having just purchased a recently refurbished cottage that locals believe to be haunted. While Nick takes the town's ghostly happenings in stride, Cassie isn't too sure she wants to live with a misunderstood ghost. I especially liked Cassie's character and the spooky vibes make this a good read for fall. I'm looking forward to the next in the series!

Read this one if you enjoy:
--a coastal small town setting
--mostly friendly ghosts
--banter/humor
--a little mystery

Thank you to the publisher for my e-copy of this book.

Jen DeLuca’s Well Met series is one I have read and really enjoyed, so when I saw she had a new book release this August, it was a no brainer for me. I had to read it!

Cassie has recently moved from Orlando to the sleepy seaside town of Boneyard Key. She buys a beautiful home without knowing the history- it’s haunted! Her outlets aren’t charging her computer and since she works from home, she ventures to the local coffee shop, Hallowed Grounds. There she meets Nick, the owner of the shop. He’s from Boneyard Key and he recommends an electrician. What ensues is a lot of fun and also very heartfelt. Each doesn’t know it yet but they are the key to righting some wrongs in the town, and who knew ghosts needed their happily ever after too!!

This is such a unique romance and it’s the perfect entry into autumn. Ghosts that text and communicate through magnetic fridge tiles …oh and an exorcism too. If you are ready for spooky season, this book has all the paranormal lite and ghostly vibes you need. Plus a slow burn romance that’s so swoony and worth the read. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I received an advance copy of this book in exchange for my honest review:)

👻 #HauntedEverAfter: 🌊⁣
⁣
Thanks for the free book @prhaudio @berkleyromance @librofm #BerkleyPartner #PRHAudioPartner ⁣
⁣
“But how do you live without Publix subs?” - ⁣
⁣
Cassie out here asking the REAL questions. Pub Sub for life. ⁣
⁣
Flordiaians, do you need a good audio or book to get you through your next hurricane party? Well, search no further than Haunted Ever After! This was the biggest love letter to Florida and all its “Florida” things. As a Floridian tourist/brief stint resident, the vibes were immaculate to make me feel like I was hanging in the state. Lots of great references that I don’t know many would understand if they weren’t aware of Floridaisms. ⁣
⁣
Our girl Cassie bought a house to get out of Orlando, but ummm.. it talks back? Nick, owner of the coffee shop is like “no biggie, it’s just haunted, I’ve actually got one myself” I’m sorry, what? These spirits truly put the “ghost” in “ghost town”. The former owner of the Hawkins house (now Cassie’s home) is trying to tell her something, but she doesn’t quite yet get it. As she tries to understand, she also gets to understand the town of Boneyard Key and gets cozy towards the coffee guru himself. ⁣
⁣
Honestly this was a solid 5 ⭐️ and then we hit this weird spat that was out of left field. Like I’m sorry, we really gonna pull this off as the 3rd act breakup substitute play it off for something else and be cool? No. I get why it was done, and it makes sense, but I feel like that little spat may get others to DNF. (Please don’t it’s wonderful). ⁣
⁣
Audio was wonderful! Jeannie Sheneman is a newer to me narrator and I really enjoyed her pacing and sarcastic wit! I felt like Elmer was perfectly portrayed on audio.⁣
⁣
Out tomorrow, 8/13!⁣
⁣
QOTD: where’s the most fun, or unique place you’ve taken a picture for Booksta?⁣
⁣
I’m pretty sure I used this one back in 2021, but it’s perfect for this story so I had to!

Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley for this advanced copy. I recieved this as part of the #BerkleyBesties program. All thoughts are my own!

Haunted Ever After follows Cassie after she has left Orlando and landed in Boneyard Key in need of a fresh start. She doesn't know anything about the ghostly history of the town and is surprised to find her newly renovated cottage has some interesting "quirks". After meeting coffee shop owner Nick, the two recognize a bit of a spark between them. Cassie learns the history of Mean Sarah Hawkins, the so-called ghost that haunts her home and she is hesitant to believe in all the hocus pocus, despite Nick's own connections to the ghosts of Boneyard Key. As ghostly shenanigans start to ramp up and Nick and Cassie get closer, they realize that maybe there's more to the stories of this sleepy yet spooky beach town.

This was an anticipated 2024 release for me and it did not disappoint! I thought it was so cool in terms of the ghost "system" and how the ghosts and citizens communicate with each other. I don't want to spoil anything but the backstory of Sarah Hawkins will break your heart. Boneyard Key itself was so vivid in terms of setting, I could easily see this place and its residents being a real place. I appreciated the crumbs we get of other potentail couples in this series and I'm not sure which pairing I'm more excited for.

What I loved most about this book was that while it was a fun romance in a beach town, there was almost an undertone of melancholy to it. There's a lot of commentary on the concept of loneliness and how that can make you less receptive to trying to find a connection with others. Also, f*ck the patriarchy!

I think this was a great set up for Jen DeLuca's new series and I am eagerly anticipating more.