The White Feather

This is an odd story, and I can tell you it didn’t go where I expected most of the time, but I enjoyed the read. I’ve read other Wessman Kneale stories set in her magic-infused Regency era, but this one stretches to the time of the Great War with only an homage to the other tales. This story jumps right into the middle, leaving me scrambling to get my bearings, but the important parts are clear enough to keep me going.

Miss Georgia Palmerton, otherwise known as the Stoweham Ghost, is a bit of a bully, but she mostly choses deserving victims. Her story is a true tragedy, but she’s had long enough to come to terms with the fact and move on in her naked unlife.

James Cowper was bullied so horribly as a kid that he has PTSD from the experience, not that it’s recognized in this time period. He’s been declared the village coward, an undeserved reputation but unsurprising when the village hero is none other than the bully who traumatized him as a kid. Yet, this very ostracism is what makes him willing to converse with a highly unconventional ghost.

While very much a sweet love and growth story, The White Feather has explicit and enthusiastic sex so is not appropriate for all ages.

I don’t always agree with the main characters’ actions, and I so wanted the story to prove only one bully existed rather than that the whole village took pleasure in making James miserable, but the events felt appropriate to the characters. There’s a strong theme about the nastiness of people and how they should get their comeuppance.

I did find it odd how magic was pervasive a hundred years ago but then vanished so completely from the collective memory that no one considered another explanation for the Stoweham Ghost. Still, the question made me curious rather than disrupting my enjoyment of the tale. I wondered what drove Aunt Violet as well. I loved the mix of the unreal and actual historical events, too.

The story is a short one, yet feels complete even so. The characters, however, are interesting enough to make me wonder if this isn’t the last we’ll see of this particular family and estate. Odd it may be, but in a good way.

P.S. I received this ARC from the publisher through NetGalley in return for an honest review.

What happens when you put together a ghost viewed as satanic and a man labeled as a coward? Well, you might just want to read this book and see for yourselves!

James Cowper is a young gentleman who freaks out when it comes to holding a gun. Thus, he is labeled as a coward when he can't be of any use during the Great War, and lives on being mocked by his village. Unable to keep going on like this, James decides to commit suicide - only to be stopped by the most unexpected person. The village's resident naked ghost, miss Georgia Palmerton, states she can't let him take away his life, seeing him as someone very precious to her. With this most unusual ally by his side, James finds courage he never thought he possessed - it's time for him to get back his honor. There's only one catch - he has to help Georgia get back to life!

With no small amount of witty dialogues - courtesy of our dear ghost - and beautiful, innocent romance, this book is certainly something else. While ghost romance has become quite popular recently, I found this one to be a much better choice than other titles of this kind I've read.

First of all, James is courteous, kind, and definitely much more of a man than he gives himself credit for. It's true that he found it hard to put his foot on the ground and demand things that were rightfully his, but I don't believe that was his fault entirely. The poor guy had a whole village making his life hell, and on top of that, a mother who kept trying to coddle him while listening to that stupid aunt of his on the matter. It was literally him against the world!

So it wasn't shocking at all, when he started showing some major backbone and badass tendencies the minute he realized he actually had someone in his corner. Georgia did him some good - scratch that, she practically made him see that he owned a set of balls, and it was long overdue he used them! Their relationship and teamwork was nothing short of beautiful!

The only reason this didn't get any more stars was because I felt something missing. I would have liked something more to be completely satisfied, though I'm not exactly sure what....

***I was given an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. The opinion stated in this review is solely mine, and no compensation was given or taken to alter it.***

Definitely a lovely fantasy about two who are not wanted by many but each other. When James has had it with the town labeling him as a coward he decides it's just too much to bear and is going to take his own life. That is until a beautiful, naked ghosts stops him. Or is she a ghost? By the definition she is but she has another tale that will explain why she is the way she is. And the ask James for his help. Will he be too much of a coward to help? Will they both be able to start over? A great read.

I received this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

It was too fluffy for me. I don't usually read romances, but from the description, I was expecting more of a historical urban fantasy. The book left me wanting, I'm afraid: wanting more substance, more backstory, more world building.