What an eccentric mix of ghost story and small town romance, lol. Not enough romance for me, personally (or too much of a flawed one), but I actually did get pretty into the supernatural aspect. I can honestly say that I’ve never read a story quite like this one, and I enjoyed the unpredictability. It starts out strong, with some instant friction and spooky intrigue, before losing momentum somewhere along the way. The third person POV did leave me feeling a bit disconnected, but I also think the pacing of the romance didn’t help. It had some serious instalove vibes while also feeling woefully underdeveloped, so I struggled to become emotionally invested in the relationship. Much of this is solid, however, and I definitely think there’s an audience for this kind of hybrid reading experience.

The story follows Cassie, a woman who is excited to finally own a home. She’d just about given up on her home search until purchasing a house in a small Florida town - without ever stepping foot inside it. Sure, the town is known for being haunted, but Cassie is certain that’s a gimmick for tourists. At least… until she gets to know some of the locals, particularly one moody coffee shop owner. Though Cassie and Nick started off on the wrong foot, they soon find themselves growing closer. But Nick is unwilling to fall for a girl who won’t stick around, and living in a haunted house might be more than Cassie can handle.

I’ve been meaning to check out this new-to-me author, and this series starter seemed like the perfect place to begin. It kicks off a brand new small town series, and there was a lot of good stuff going on. I loved the community vibes and how much Nick’s hometown meant to him. He’s been living with ghosts all his life, so they don’t faze him anymore. Cassie, on the other hand, is entirely new to the supernatural experience, and she’s not sure how to feel about it. The ghosts and the stories behind them are central to the plot, with the romance often feeling like an afterthought. It sort felt like Nick took one look at Cassie and latched on to the only new girl living in town. I did like him, but there’s one particular scene that rubbed me the wrong way, and it was difficult to shake the feeling after that. I found myself more interested in the ghost story, and I’m exclusively a romance reader, so… yeah. There are definitely a lot of positives here though, and I’d consider checking out the next book revolving around this town.

I thought this was a super cute book. Got cozy vibes. Cassie and Nick are such a cute couple. And the chaos that ensues in a haunted town is very fun. I love the fact that how ghosts communicate can be different. This book takes place in summer for the most part, but this felt like the perfect fall read.
I love how sweet Nick was. And Cassie is the best independent FMC. I love the ghosts and the roles they played. I will definitely be recommending this book to others.

I thought this book was cute! I absolutely loved the small town vibes, the magical realism, the mystery, and the romance. I had liked but didn't love the Well Met series so I didn't have particular high expectations going in to this book; I don't know if that affected anything but I found myself pleasantly surprised.

I liked both of the main characters, loved the dual POV, and thought the whole book was just so charming. The romance was done well, but it does take a bit of a backseat to some of the other plot points. I wasn't particularly bothered by this, but if you're looking for JUST a romance, this won't quite hit that mark. Also, the middle dragged a little bit just because I thought that the answer to the mystery was quite obvious and the end wrapped up a bit quickly but overall I still had a great time while reading. I'm really excited for potential future books because the side characters that were introduced have tons of potential.

Looking for a fresh start, Cassie buys a home in the most haunted town in Florida.

After four fantastic books in the Well Met world, DeLuca transported me to Boneyard Key, Florida. I quickly fell in love with this small town, its history and lore, as well as all the colorful characters who inhabited it. I am a sucker for a small town, but here, part of the fun was that it was a tourist town. I never really lived somewhere that got invaded by tourists, so it was amusing to see all the different ways the locals reacted.

This wasn't any old town though. Boneyard Key was a place inhabited by many spirits, and one such spirit was making Cassie's life a bit difficult. Part of this story was getting to the root of Cassie's haunting. I thought this part of the story was interesting, and it gave me the opportunity to learn more about the town and the important members of the the community.

As much as I enjoyed this part of the story, I did think it overshadowed the romance a bit. I absolutely adored Nick and Cassie together, but there was a lot of stuff that needed to be dealt with before they could have their full-on romance. Regardless of the situation, they were a great pairing, and I was happy to cheer them on.

They were both so lonely in their circumstances. Nick had been left behind by those he loved. His sister left, his parents left, and his girlfriend left. He stayed. Nick felt Boneyard Key was his legacy as a member of the founding fifteen families, and he wanted to be a part of Boneyard Key's future.

Cassie was being left behind as all her friends married and had children. It's never easy being the only singleton in a group. I think it was difficult for her to move away from the friends she had known, but she knew changes were needed. I love that the universe brought Cassie and Nick together. They just clicked and understood each other on a higher level.

Overall, I thought this was a solid start to DeLuca's new series. I am excited to find out whose story will be next, and I am looking forward to returning to Boneyard Key.

This was such a cute, cozy romance mystery that takes place in a (fictional) small town in Florida which, I wishhhhh Boneyard Key was a real place because I would be booking my next trip there asap😂 I liked Cassie’s personality and humor, same with Nick. His personality was utterly adorable. I really enjoyed the plot because it wasn’t just your average romance, you get a mix of heartfelt situations, emotional situations and paranormal activity (no pun intended) 😆 this is the perfect book to read during the fall 🍂

Thank you NetGalley and Berkeley Publishing for the Arc.

Do you believe in ghosts? Ask anyone that lives in Boneyard Key and they will tell you they exist. The town embraces the spirit world and uses it to their advantage. When Cassie purchaes a newly renovated house and moves to town everyone's interest is piqued, including coffee shop owner Nick Royer.

This fun and lighthearted paranormal romance has me wishing Boneyard Key was a real place to experience. The author did a fantastic job of creating a small town that makes the reader feel as if they can picture the shops and stores in their head. As if one was pulling memories from a visit.
The romance was a slow burn and often took a backseat to the history and hauntings of Boneyard Key. It all worked for me. The main characters were believable and easy to root for. The side characters were delightful. I do believe this is a first in a series of books so I hope we find out more about Cassie's new friends and neighbors. My bags are definitely packed for the next trip to Boneyard Key.

Thank you to the publisher and netgalley for an early digital copy. Opinions and thoughts at my own.

This is the perfect fall read if you like cozy romance with a side of supernatural. I expected it to be a bit spookier but the ghosts were mostly sweet, not creepy. The book takes place in a cute small town on the Florida coast, with characters who are charming and fun to get to know. The story is told through alternating POVs from the two main characters, and though we're told they're into each other, I didn't really feel the chemistry between them. I would've liked more spice, more ghosts, and more from the other characters in the town. I also thought the end was a little rushed. But overall, I liked the book -- it's cozy, lighthearted, and the paranormal parts are low-stakes rather than stressful. Would definitely recommend!

Thank you to NetGalley, Jen DeLuca, and Berkley for the ARC!

This is the first Jen DeLuca book that I have read and it was a very cute book to start with, I believe!

Cassie has moved away from Orlando and her fast paced life when it seems like her friends are moving on with their lives and leaving her behind. She has bought a house in Boneyard Key, a small town with a haunted history that they use to attract tourist. When Cassie has trouble with her electricity, she starts working at a local coffee shop where she initially butt heads with the shops owner, Nick. Soon Cassie finds out that the town's haunted history isn't just a ruse. It's all too real, and her own house is haunted! Nick and Cassie find themselves attracted to each other and working together to solve some of Cassie's haunted house's history.

It's a cozy book that I recommend to lovers of cozy romances.

This was a lovely and charming romance! I loved the twist that Mrs. Hawkins wasn’t the mean one and I loved how both Cassie and Nick engaged with the ghostly aspect of the town. As a native Floridian, I LOVED how Florida this book was! The discussion of missing pubsubs and the sub in question… the love for publix fried chicken were too real.

I really enjoyed this book and I imagine it will do well in my store!

3.5 STARS

On a whim, Cassie Rutherford relocates to a small coastal town with the spooky name of Boneyard Key. She was tired of being priced out of Orlando and feeling as if all her friends had either gotten married or were in relationships. Cassie’s new home happens to be a recently renovated cottage with a ghostly history. Ghosts are the main theme in this quirky town which uses its unusual affinity for spirits and haunted places to attract tourists. Business owner, Nick Royer, a local who runs Hallowed Ground coffee shop, has a ghostly roommate of his own. At first, his seemingly grumpy demeanor is off-putting to Cassie, but once they spend time together investigating the history of Cassie’s house, that begins to change.

Most everyone who lives in Boneyard Key either believes in ghosts, or has a connection to them with an ability to communicate with the spirits. Cassie does not buy into it at first until it appears she too has a ghostly housemate who wants to tell Cassie her story. Along with her ghost, another issue might be going on in Cassie’s house. Something or someone is certainly messing with her laptop sending Cassie to Nick’s coffee shop to get work done.

Nick is very interested in Cassie but relationship shy after feeling that family and friends have abandoned him over the years leaving his beloved hometown. Cassie has been feeling out of sync with her friends as they marry, have children, and then focus on things she has no connection to being single and now, living in another place.

This story is a new series and departure from Ms. De Luca’s previous books that focus on the Ren Fair life. If you enjoy stories where ghosts are real and part of everyday life along with romance that is helped and hindered by said ghosts, this book might be your idea of a fun summer read.

Boneyard Key plays up it's haunted history for tourists, but the ghosts the haunt the place are very real. Take, for example, Elmer, Nick's ghostly roommate and the former owner of his coffee shop. Elmer likes to let Nick know what he's doing wrong with the business.

Cassie has just moved to Boneyard Key, and she doesn't believe in ghosts; she assumes everyone has leaned into the schtick to get more tourism dollars. However, ghosts soon become startlingly real when Cassie finds out her new home is haunted by the ghost of mean Mrs. Hawkins. Cassie is starting to like the quirky town, and Nick in particular, but she isn't sure if she can stand being haunted.

Jen DeLuca had me with her Well Met series, and she continued to impress me with the first in the Boneyard Key series. Cassie and Nick had adorable banter and sizzling chemistry, and the backdrop of the Florida Keys was delightful. Add in a supernatural element, and I was hooked - the Mediator Series by Meg Cabot was a favorite as a child, so this hit me in the nostalgia while also being delightfully different and unique. I'm excited to see what relationship she's going to explore next - I have my suspicions, but I'll keep them to myself :)

This book takes you to the charming, eerie setting of Boneyard Key, Florida, where the warmth of summer mingles with the cozy vibes of fall. I loved the overall atmosphere!

Spontaneously moving from Orlando to Boneyard Key, purchasing a quaint historic cottage, Cassie soon discovers the history and spooky surprises within. Is it worth staying?

Nick, the local coffee shop owner with a knack for banana bread, is no stranger to the paranormal. Struggling to open his heart after a rough breakup, his endearing loneliness is only eased by his unconventional and persistently amusing roommate.

One aspect of the story took a strange turn for me in the second half, but if you’re open to a paranormal adventure with a fun mystery, I loved the heartwarming conclusion for these characters. It was a delightful mix of romance, ghostly thrills, revenge, and small-town charm!

Author Jen DeLuca leaves the Ren Faire circuit behind for a small, specter-filled town in Haunted Ever After. Nick and Cassie’s story is sweet, fun, and absolutely charming.

When Cassie uprooted her life and moved from Orlando to the small coastal town of Boneyard Key, she expected some changes…but none quite so dramatic as the ghost in her house. Nick has lived in Boneyard Key all his life and is very aware that ghosts are more than something used to get tourists’ money. So when Cassie bursts into his coffee shop, Hallowed Grounds, for a latte and a power source, the idea that a ghost may be tinkering with her electricity doesn’t faze him. It's Cassie that knocks him off his feet and for Nick, who hasn’t had a real relationship in a long time, that’s saying something.

Cassie and Nick are both charming, likeable characters. Cassie is at a crossroads in her life and she’s taking things in a new direction when she moves to Boneyard Key. I liked watching her find her place in the town and among the ghosts. It was fun learning about the supernatural residents of Boneyard Key; as much fun as it was meeting the living breathing residents of the town. Nick, in turn, is a sweetheart of a hero. He’s kind, a little vulnerable, and like Cassie is easy to be charmed by. Their romance is a slow burn one that is delightful. DeLuca saves the majority of the high drama for the ghosts, but what happens there I’ll leave readers to discover on their own.

Haunted Ever After is the first book in the Boneyard Key series and it’s an entertaining start. I loved the town DeLuca built and the supporting cast definitely has me looking forward to more haunt-filled love stories.

I found this charming and a welcome development on the author's strengths. I think the addition of a paranormal element that introduced an external conflict was a nice balance to the slow burn, small town romance I've come to enjoy from this author. I'm hoping we get a sequel with Sophie and Theo. All around - a fun & cute read with a more lighthearted tone for a paranormal than we sometimes get

CW - plot intentional/resolved misogyny

This is a solid ghost romance. Girl moves to "most haunted town in FL", buys a house on the cheap and finds messages from the beyond. Boy lives in and runs the local coffee shop with the long since deceased previous owner. There is a little mystery, a lot small town and a slow burn romance. I really enjoyed bits and pieces of DeLuca's Ren Faire series, but this might be a little more developed and have a smidge more heart.

"It's love at first haunting in a seaside town that raises everyone's spirits in this new series from USA Today bestselling author Jen DeLuca.

Small Florida coastal towns often find themselves scrambling for the tourism dollars that the Orlando theme parks leave behind. And within the town limits of Boneyard Key, the residents decided long ago to lean into its ghostliness. Nick Royer, owner of the Hallowed Grounds coffee shop, embraces the ghost tourism that keeps the local economy afloat, as well as his spectral roommate. At least he doesn't have to run air-conditioning.

Cassie Rutherford possibly overreacted to all her friends getting married and having kids by leaving Orlando and buying a flipped historic cottage in Boneyard Key. Though there's something unusual with her new home (her laptop won't charge in any outlets, and the poetry magnets on her fridge definitely didn't read "WRONG" and "MY HOUSE" when she put them up), she's charmed by the colorful history surrounding her. And she's catching a certain vibe from the grumpy coffee shop owner whenever he slips her a free slice of banana bread along with her coffee order.

As Nick takes her on a ghost tour, sharing town gossip that tourists don't get to hear, and they spend nights side-by-side looking into the former owners of her haunted cottage, their connection solidifies into something very real and enticing. But Cassie's worried she's in too deep with this whole (haunted) home ownership thing...and Nick's afraid to get too close in case Cassie gets scared away for good."

What's a ghost or two when love is on the line?

This book was just delightful - and it is the perfect fall book to snuggle up with a cozy blanket and a cup of tea. HAUNTED EVER AFTER is the first in a new series from Jen DeLuca and I am thrilled by the potential of this series! {Thank you to @berkleyromance for the #gifted ARC to read and review!} 👻🏠

You get a small, coastal town setting, found family and a great cast of characters, Florida things, the paranormal, cockblocking ghosts (yes.), a hot romance, and an exorcism - all in one book! But you get more than just a romance - but if you love a good paranormal thriller, then you also get a bit of a ghost mystery.

This book was cozy, funny, fresh, and just so so fun. I loved the whole cast of characters, which just makes me that much more excited for the rest of the series. It truly is the perfect book if you are ready to say goodbye to this hot hot weather and welcome in fall vibes!

HAUNTED EVER AFTER is out on August 13!

This was soo fun! Loved the theme of this one. It was the perfect paranormal romance book. A total must read!

Haunted Ever After by Jen DeLuca
Narrator: Jeannie Sheneman
Rating: 4 stars
Steam: 1 chili
Pub date: 8/13

Thank you so much to Netgalley and Berkley for my advanced copy and to PRH Audio for my complimentary audiobook. #prhaudiopartner

Cassie Rutherford is looking for a fresh start after feeling left out as her friends settle down, so she buys a haunted historic cottage in a coastal town known for its ghostly charm. Enter Nick Royer, the slightly grumpy but lovable owner of Hallowed Grounds coffee shop, who gives Cassie a place to work and a crash course in all things ghostly.

The supernatural element of the story was my favorite part! The spooky ghost stories and hauntings were a lot of fun and kept me flipping pages. Boneyard Key feels like it's straight out of a Halloween movie, with spooky decorations and a cozy vibe all year round. The town's unique personality shines through, making it a perfect backdrop for Cassie and Nick's budding romance.

The romance really took a backseat to the other side plots and ghostly elements. But the chemistry between Cassie and Nick is delightful, and the way they bond over ghost tours and late-night chats is heartwarming.

The narrator did a great job bringing the characters to life. In this case, I would have liked to experience a male narrator doing the voice of Nick, but it was still an enjoyable experience without.
I can’t wait to see what comes next in this series! If you enjoy romances with a cozy, supernatural twist, then this is the book for you.

Read if you like:
*supernatural vibes
*cozy mysteries
*ghosts
*dual POV

This paranormal romance landed with a thud for me. The insta-love went to quickly to be believable. I enjoyed the coastal oasis more the love story. I will say I agree, Publix subs are pretty amazing! I was NOT invested in this love story, contemplated a DNF multiple times.

Thank you, Berkley Publishing Group | Berkley