This was a perfect October read. It was a mix of paranormal, mystery, and romance.

Willa Dunn was a successful author of YA ghost stories. Lee Chandler was a single mom to her geeky teenage daughter who absorbed Willa’s books and was the ultimate fan. Lee was also the director of Camp Prism, an overnight summer camp for LGBTQ kids ages 8-14. Both women knew each other when they summered together with their families at Forestlands Lake. They even shared a few kisses. When the girls were almost sixteen, a heartbreaking event took place and the girls never saw each other again…until twenty-five years later. Willa returned to the lake to work on her new book. She took her 17 year old rebellious sister with her in the hope that they returned to the close bond they once had. Willa also hoped to reestablish that closeness she shared with Lee. But a series of ghostly events continually disrupted their lives.

Aside from the paranormal storyline, there were other interesting elements that made this story engaging. The characters were very likable with a history that accelerated their romance. It was instant love type of relationship. Even though they weren’t in each other’s lives for so many years, they were always in their thoughts. Willa’s sister was a bit rebellious at times, but you felt for her because of her backstory. She was also quite funny with her sarcasm directed mostly at her sister. I think she actually made the story more interesting because of her troubled ways. The secondary characters added a good mix to their diverse community neighbors. For example, there were the friendly supportive gay dads and in direct opposition were the fanatical neighbors condemning LGBTQ people as sinners. These and others added depth to the story.

I also liked the mother- daughter relationship and how they handled the artificial insemination topic when explaining it to others. It was nice to see these children represented in a story. It was different and welcoming.

I enjoyed this author’s writing style. The ghostly/mystery storyline was entertaining while other parts were both heartbreaking and heartfelt. But everything balanced out nicely.

An ARC was given for an honest review.

this is a first author for me (have not read any of her past books) so my expectations were middle of the fence going in. Also, I am not a big fan of paranormal genre but I loved the cover art on this book and the description intrigued me. With that all being said, I loved this story-the author's flow with words and keeping the pace up in the book was perfect. I am such a sucker for dialog in stories, and this one was so full of rich, engaging dialog, I could not put the book down. I fell in love with Willa and Lee from the start, and setting the story up when they were teenagers gave the story line even more depth.

I said I wasn't a big fan of paranormal genre but this book had me hooked right at the start of hearing splashing water when no one was there. The story is full of colorful characters, some more suspicious, and I had about 3 pegged as 'the one', but in the end, a twist I did not see coming.

Along the way of the mystery, the love story of Lee and Willa built, although there was a 25 year break, they feel into each other once again.

I am so glad I picked up this book, this author will definitely be on my must read list going forward, and I plan to pick up her past books with anticipation.

I received an ARC through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review, but would have written the same opinion if I had come across this author on my own.

To see my Amazon review, it is under CC-Could not put it down

Ok, I’m not the bravest person out there. And by that I mean, my courage can be measured in grams or milliliters, not kilos or liters. In fact, why was I ever a devoted X-Files fan is sometimes surprising to me. And for those lingering X-Philes out there, this one is a treat with even a reference to my beloved series in it!

Willa Dunn and Lee Chandler spent the summers at the Forestlands Lake community in Upstate New York. Inseparable, and just about to explore more than friendship, their lives are separated by tragedy the summer before their sixteen birthday. A quarter of a century later, now famous author Willa returns to the community looking for a writer’s retreat and time with her estranged sister, Nicole. Once there, she reconnects with Lee, who is the director of a summer camp on the other side of the lake and lives there with daughter Maggie. Together they must unearth the community’s secrets and lay old tragedies to rest.

I really enjoyed this book. The descriptions are great and suck you right into a ghostly atmosphere. Now, this is not horror, but was enough for my brave self to talk to the book. You know, ‘don’t go there’, ‘that’s not a good idea’ kind of talking. The community’s setup around the forest and lake and the disjointed cabin owners offer an abundance of immediate suspects and frightening places.

Elizabeth’s best skill as an author, besides dropping the word maggots nonchalantly, is her ability to write great chemistry. We all fell in love with Thayer and Corey, and although this is more in the mystery category, Willa and Lee’s chemistry was palpable from the beginning. The adolescent version was sweet and full of promise, paving the way to an adult version that picked up where they had left off seamlessly, yet with a bit of reality at missing the past 25 years of their lives. Maggie was a smart, sensible and sweet adolescent. Nicole’s character is complex and at times not personable, but her journey is vital to the story and the author did a fantastic job at balancing it so the end result is a likable teenager...or you know, a teenager.

The mystery and paranormal aspect of the story was also well done. I don’t want to
get into it as to not add spoilers since the book’s blurb was pretty circumspect. There is a mysterious disappearance and a death, and then some paranormal events as the story unfolds. It was suspenseful at times when I wasn’t gasping or cringing.

Overall, an excellent mystery/paranormal story with a sweet romance in the background. This one was a page turner for me at a time not many stories have kept me engaged. 5 stars

ARC generously provided to me by the author and BB via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Willa and Lee was the best of friends as kids they spent summer together at Forestlands Lake. Their world change when Willa sister Emily drown and no one knows what made Emily go out into the lake after Lee took her home and her mother put her to bed people was already concern about the lake because a young girl Sasha disappeared.

Years later Willa has become a famous author with a hit series she always was into paranormal activities now she coming back to Forestlands Lake to look for writers retreat and to connect with her sister Nicole who thinks she is accident and that she annoy the she a split image of a sister that she never met.

Lee is single mom to a teenager daughter Maggie who seems wise beyond her years. She now director of summer camp on the opposite side of Forestlands Lake that deal with LGBTQ kids.

Willa and Lee heard a lot about each other throughout the years but never got into contact. Lee thought Willa hated her because she was the only other person to see Emily alive. Willa who was trying to live each day and wondering why Emily went out into the lake causes her to never reach out because she didn’t want to think of it. They both surprise to see each other and Willa even surprise that Lee has a daughter and that she her biggest fan. As they get to know each other again strange things start happening and it seems to affect Nicole more then others as we learn the reason Emily left her room that night and we might learn what happen to Sasha in the process. I love all the characters some not but their your typical characters especially I loves Maggie because she calls Nicole out on her attitude.

This was a good read. I love the premise of the supernatural because I always wonder do spriits stay or do they crossover and why some can hear them and why some can’t.

I received an ARC copy of this book from the Publisher via Netgalley and voluntarily leaving my review.