Title: A Ghost in the Green Bestiary (Christmas in the Castle)
Author: Margaret L. Carter
Genre: Paranormal Romance, Holiday Paranormal Romance
Book Blurb:
Spending the Christmas season at her aunt and uncle’s country manor for the first time since her father’s death, Lucy both yearns for and dreads reuniting with Walter, to whom she’d almost become engaged. In her present financial straits, Lucy feels she’s no longer a proper match for a wealthy gentleman’s heir. How can she let Walter down gently without destroying the friendship she still treasures?
On the night before Christmas Eve, Walter tells a tale of a long-ago daughter of the household who eloped with her forbidden lover, a simple farmer. After his violent death in the mansion’s topiary garden, his spirit supposedly lingered. When Lucy’s little brother claims to glimpse the ghost among the animal-shaped bushes, she joins Walter in investigating the apparition—forcing them to face their shared past and the challenges of the future.
My Review:
Can the ghost roaming the mansion’s garden help Lucy and Walter determine what their future is? A Ghost in the Green Bestiary is a wonderful gothic paranormal romance I thoroughly enjoyed. There’s a sublime gothic vibe to the narration, making it impossible to put down. The world-building is immersive and captured my imagination. The characters, though, are what make A Ghost in the Green Bestiary an unputdownable read.
Let’s start with the characters. Lucy is our heroine and she’s such a well-written character. She’s easy to relate to and full of emotion. Her plight tore my heart out.
Walter is our hero and what a fabulous one at that. I connected with him on many levels. While his character is complex, his heart is open.
The world-building deserves top billing. It’s so well done, it’s like a main character. Margaret L. Carter weaves a brilliant paranormal romance by using intricate world-building you’ll swear is real. I loved every minute while reading.
If you’re looking for an incredible gothic paranormal romance set at Christmas, pick up A Ghost in the Green Bestiary.
My Rating: 5+ stars
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Author Biography:
Reading Dracula at the age of twelve ignited Margaret L. Carter’s interest in a wide range of speculative fiction and inspired her to become a writer. Vampires, however, have always remained close to her heart. Her first published book was an anthology of vampire stories she edited, Curse of the Undead. Her work on vampirism in literature includes Dracula: The Vampire and the Critics, The Vampire in Literature: A Critical Bibliography, and Different Blood: The Vampire as Alien. She holds a PhD in English, and her dissertation contained a chapter on Dracula. In fiction, she has written horror, fantasy, and paranormal romance on vampires, werewolves, Lovecraftian entities, and other “monsters.” Her stories have appeared in various webzines and anthologies, including several of Marion Zimmer Bradley’s Darkover and Sword and Sorceress volumes. Her vampire novels include Dark Changeling and its sequel, Child of Twilight, now available in an omnibus edition, Twilight’s Changelings, as well as several vampire romances. With her husband, Leslie Roy Carter, a retired naval officer, she co-authored a fantasy series beginning with Wild Sorceress. Her recent novellas include a Christmas paranormal romance, Chocolate Chip Charm, a spring-themed contemporary fantasy, Bunny Hunt, and a Victorian Christmas romance, A Ghost in the Green Bestiary. Her most recent novel, Against the Dark Devourer, is a dark paranormal romance with Lovecraftian elements. She and Les, who live in Maryland, have four children and numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Please explore love among the monsters at Carter’s Crypt: http://www.margaretlcarter.com
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Reviewed by: Nancy