I absolutely loved every single story in this collection! From start to finish, this book kept me entertained and coming back for more. Just when I thought I had read my favourite, the next one was just as good. The underlying theme of Halloween was fantastic as well. I highly recommend this book for lovers of short stories that will nevertheless leave you satisfied. I’m giving A WRAITH AT MIDNIGHT the judy.ann.loves.books stamp of approval, TBR & Enjoy!

The Cat Who Walked Through Walls Mary Jo Putney
this story is about feline match makers who help bring together a returning war hero and his childhood best friend. He has unexpectedly inherited a title and his aunt is hosting a party for him to find aside. With The help of the magical cats, they rediscover one another. It was vey sweet and clean. just my kind of ghost story (cats). Clean romance and New to me author 3/5

The Night We Met Chasity Bowlin
Another new to me author this story is a hose hold that is haunted y th ghost of the former governess. Philippa is a woman escaping something in her past and jumps a the chance to take a position in a remote area. Devon is the uncle and now caretaker of his niece after both her parents and her last governess passed away. Together they work to solve the haunting of the castle and bring his niece out of her shell all while falling in love. Clean romance. 3/5

Ghostly Lady of Braemore Susan King

I have read this author before but I just don't love medieval timeframe books. This one was great though I think cause it wasn't about war and stuff like that. Gavin loves Elinor but he discovers the details of the curse placed on his family and decides to take matters in his own hands. However they must work together to free the ghost and curse that haunts his family. Can they fall in love as well. Really a fun ghost story and sweet romance. Clean once again but 5/5 for what I was looking for in this anthology.

Midnight Tempest Mary Wine

New to me author, Not Clean Romance, medieval story. I liked this story quite a lot. There is a person that can see into the future that deliverers prophecy surrounding a ghost that is haunting the laird's tower and his son. I liked the ghost story a lot and even though it felt so quick to fall in love, it made sense in the context of this story. I only wish that the starting story with our MFC was completely wrapped up. 4.5/5

Lady Vengeance by Jade Lee

Not a new to me author but the prologue edited and an exert of another story which I may read some day. Lady Scot. This was interesting, it was more romance than spooky story but the spookiness came from nightmares that the MFC has. The MMC is introduced while he is helping her but also puts her in place so to speak and thus begins this lite enemies to lovers. Her dreams are not clean and very HOT. This is wanton woman and I get it. His kids are cute cause they aren't perfect little girls they cause some havoc and I loved that. Definitely adding the other series to my TBR if it isn't already there. 4/5 only cause I would have enjoyed a little more spooky/magic

A Regrettable Curse by Maeve Greyson

Not a new author to me. Hmm this story is centered around a family that is cursed And has ghost! the man that cursed the family, his grandson is trying to break it by falling into true love and finding happiness. We are introduce to our couple after their marriage and our MMC has fallen in love at first sight. This felt like it could have been great its a little macabre and if it leaned a little more in to that it could have been a comedy. This is probably not a true clean space but its like a 0 on the open door scale. I like how honest the couple was with one another. 2.5/5

A Love For All Time Paula Quinn

New to me author. A decent story, this ha the time travel troupe modern day lady inherits older family home and meets the ghost that haunts it. She works with him to resolve the issues so that they can be together. Not a troupe that really interest me BUT fit the theme Of the book so I liked it. Clean 4/5.

My Heart’s Song Ruth A. Casie

New to me author. Edythe is on the way to her ancestral home she inherited and meets James on the sway headed to the same area. She comes to find that the house is a little haunted by previous lovers and works with those in the House hold and James to lift the curse. Can James and her get their happy ending? Clean but felt just okay. I liked that their was a mystery and the music box. 3/5

The Earl’s Haunted Heart Aurrora St. James

New to me author. Open door but not descriptive. Eve is being forced in to a marriage she does not want because she is able to sense ghost. Ambrose is cursed by a previous family member and stuck going mad by himself at his home. They come together to lift the curse and to love one another, will they get their HEA? I really liked this book all the characters seemed well fleshed for such a short book. Also there is an adorable cat. This is linked to the authors previous series and a to a future series I will be on the look out for. 5/5

An Invitation to Murder by E.L. Johnson

New to me author. I would say more on the cozy mystery side with a slice of romance. I LOVED it. Very much reminded me of the game clue. A group of people are invited to stay the night at a haunted mansion if they make it till the next morning they get 100 pounds each. I appreciate the usage of Romani (see its not that hard to respect a group of people's desired name) I liked our female detective Violet. This was short and sweet and a good mystery with an obvious outcome but enough red herrings to make you doubt yourself. 5/5

I did not read one story in this book but I did not like what I previously read by that author so I decided to skip it.

I really enjoyed this as a historical romance anthology, it had that theme that I was expecting and each story worked overall. I’ve been a fan of the writer’s for a while and enjoyed each of the concepts for this anthology.

Whenever I am asked to recommend an author or genre to anyone looking for something new or different, I have a long list of anthologies, including this one, that I recommend. Anthologies are the best way to discover authors. They must flex their writing skills to provide great stories in th elength of most chapters. I've added many authors to my TBR lists and so have my reading buddies and family. This anthology is eleven authors tasked to write haunting romances. Each story weaves a gothic thread through a romance sure to find a place in your dreams this spooky season.

I'm always on the lookout for themed anthologies, and this collection of 11 Gothic, historical romance stories is the perfect way to spend a cozy evening, curled up with a warm blanket and some Halloween candy or hot chocolate.

Each entry is short and sweet, sitting at about 50 pages each with varying levels of spice and spooky, paranormal twists. You've got stories featuring haunted mansions, ghosts, time travel, ancient family curses, love potions, and murder mysteries. There also a mix of romance tropes including friends-to-lovers, a second chance romance, and insta-love. With so many options, there's bound to be something for everyone to enjoy.

Cat lovers will find the entries by Mary Jo Putney and Aurrora St. James to be a must read. My other favorites include "The Night We Met" by Chastity Bowlin for a very classic Gothic, Jane Eyre feel, and "A Regrettable Curse" by Maeve Greyson that has a ghostly pov to a very cute love story.

My overall impression of this anthology is that each story is well fitted to the collection's theme, but the editing as a whole was lacking. I felt like there were a few stories that were very similar either in plot or in the paranormal aspect that ended up next to each other. This made for a slower pace, and I admit that my enthusiasm and enjoyment of the collection weakened because of the repetition. If the order was changed, I know I would have enjoyed a few entries a lot more than I did.

Highly recommend for historical romance lovers and for anyone looking to spend the spooky season in a cozy way.

I was provided with an advanced copy for free through NetGalley. All opinions are my own and voluntarily given

An anthology of fabulous authors with each unique supernatural and scary story.
Enjoyable easy read with varying themes.
Authors are also know for their quality work in other books.
The Earl’s Haunted Heart and A Regrettable Curse were a couple of my favorites (personal preference) but I really think every story was good.
Highly recommend.

5 stars

A lovely collection of stories relating to Halloween and Wraiths. I certainly enjoyed the first two thirds of the book some of the latter stories were less to my take but all great. Thoroughly recommend.


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

this is such an amazing book for people who love historical gothic romance/horror books. my favorite story has got to be the second story in the book called the night we met by chasity bowlin I love the governess job she takes an takes care of a little girl but the little girl tells her the old governess died in a drowning, nothing is as what it seems when the girl and the governess see the dead governess down the halls at night, its perfect for a ghostly read, I loved it. I also love story the earls haunted heart by aurrora st james, these were perfect for halloween. thank you to netgalley for letting me read this I have been anticipating getting this book I am happy i got approved to read it!

I absolutely enjoyed the bundle of short stories with different levels of spooky and the romance of them all as well. Enjoyable reads all around.

Super Gothic Romantic!! This was such a a treat to read for the Halloween Season!! I felt as if I was in a haunted, beautiful mansion and all it's doors and gardens were revealing one beautiful story at a time! 💗

I applaud all the authors that came together to make a delicious book dessert available to us romance readers! When each alpha hero showed up on the pages I felt as if I was a casting director! Who can make my Halloween season even better?!! Lol 😏 naughty naughty I know!

The heroines were brave and mysteries with edges of delightful! The writing from all authors was delivered in a manner worthy of many standing ovations! 🎆

Bravo!!

Very. Cute “ Scary” stories especially for Halloween. Some cute, some sad, some scary and all lovely!
the cat who walked through walls
An adorable story of reminiscing, sneaky cats and a Great- Aunt who gets her way. I adored the chemistry between Sara and Rafe and how Lady Cynthia lost!

The Night we met
A cloak and dagger mystery that kept me on my toes. Devon and Phillipa’s chemistry is evident from the start and little Elizabeth is adorable

The Ghostly Lady of Braemore
Unrequited Love generations old that made unrequited love anew. I loved how Elinor kept hoping and gave Gavin time to change his heart. The ghosts were active and helpful in their own way!

Midnight Tempest
An interesting story of the fine line between life and death, treachery and love. Well written with wonderful characters.

Lady Vengeance
I love strong, witty women, and Sadie fits the bill! Protecting the abused, she gets in trouble and Lord Heath steps in. Loved how they, together, flushed out the banshee and their chemistry was palpable. I adored the little girls too!

A Regrettable Curse
What do you get when 2very enthusiastic ghosts try to help, only to cause more issues than help.? A cute love story! This is adorable!

A Love for all Time:
A time travel/ghost story that is so very sweet. The chemistry between the two just jumps out at you and you WANT them to be together. Love wins again!

My Heart’s Song
Though a little convoluted, this is a sweet story of love and acceptance. She is the last of her line; he is a titled gentleman. They both are running out of time to break a curse from an angry ghost. Very sweet.

An Accidental Love Spell
A spicy yet sweet about a woman finding the Duke she always dreamed of within the confines of her own home. A meet-cute story !

The Earl’s Haunted Heart
A sweet story of two people who can her ghosts. One understands, the other doesn’t. I loved how their story was love at first sight and how she saved him!

Invitation to a murder
A mystery who done it wrapped in with a sweet love story. I loved the mystery and how Violet found the murderer and I adored the last line!

3.5 stars rounded up. This is overall an entertaining collection of ghost-themed HR novellas, with varying levels of spookiness and romance. I discovered a couple of authors I would like to read more from in the future. (Note: the Jade Lee entry was edited from a previously published work).

I generally love a themed anthology, and I was looking forward to some spooky HistRom stories! I rarely read all stories in an antho and this one was no different, those that I did read were atmospheric, some more paranormal than others.

I did pick this up for one author specifically and was very disappointed that their story in this "never-before published" anthology was in fact "excerpted and edited from" a 2022 Dragonblade title.

Such a fun anthology!

I thought the stories were creative, spooky and romantic. I had a great time immersing myself into the stories. Plus I liked that all were historical romances too. Something different for each book.

Would recommend if you want to get in the mood for spooky season.