This is a tough one to review- it's definitely a sweet, cozy read, which I love. I don't have any major negative feedback, but nothing wowed me or blew me away either.... it was good.

I loved this, felt quite different to other books that I have read, really fun ideas, I look forward to reading more by this author.

Thank you NetGalley for this arc!!

This was a fantastic book, very cozy just like I like them. I will definitely check out more from this author!

Ghost stories aren’t normally my thing, but I thought this sounded fun so decided to jump in. And I am so glad I did. I really enjoyed this coat romance with ghosts.

Callie accompanies her daughter on a school trip to Rowan Vale, a living village in the Cotswold. The village is beautiful and unbeknownst to most of the visitors, full of ghosts from different eras.

Sir Lawrence Davenport, owner of the village, is ready to retire and pass Rowan Vale and it’s spooky residents on to the next generation. The new owner has to be able to see the ghosts which rules out Davenport’s gorgeous grandson Brodie.

Callie agrees to take on the task of running Rowan Vale and moves into Harling Hall with her daughter Immy. But once she moves in it is clear that she has no idea exactly what she has got herself into.

As well as the estate and villagers, she has to get to know the ghostly residents – some of whom are not very impressed by her. There’s also the matter of the spark between her and Brodie.

This is such a fun and warm-hearted read. The ghost have their own tales to tell. The children are particularly poignant reminders of the tragedies of war and loss of young lives. I loved that even the ghosts could find families and a measure of contentment.

This is a really fun start to a promising series. And despite not being my normal genre, I will definitely be looking out for future books as there are a lot more stories to tell in Rowan Vale.

Thank you to Boldwood Books for my gifted digital copy of Kindred Spirits at Harling Hall, and to Rachel at Rachel’s Random Resources for inviting me to be a part of this spooky blog tour.

Kindred Spirits At Harling Hall by Sharon Booth is a most delightful contemporary fantasy novel that I thoroughly enjoyed. It is the first book in the Ghosts Of Rowan Vale series which promises to be fabulous.
The whole novel is highly entertaining with alight-hearted tone. It warms the reader’s heart as we enter the make-believe world of Rowan Vale.
There is a unique plotline where ghosts of past times interact with the few who can see them in the village. There are the usual spats and disagreements, as well as a lot of love and care.
We witness how events have been misconceived. Characters need to know the truth. Sometimes it has been with-held in order to protect, but the reality was that it has harmed those involved.
We witness the importance of love. When we have love, we will bloom. Some have shied away from love for fear of getting hurt – but it is always worth facing one’s fear and taking a chance on love.
Education is important. We are never too old to learn something new.
We see how a character has been ridiculed and squashed by her father. She believed she was ‘no good’ and ‘stupid’, when the reality was very different.
There are some delightful interactions between characters. I loved the two small girls who bonded.
Kindred Spirits At Harling Hall was a very charming and enchanting read that I loved.
I received a free copy. A favourable review was not required. All opinions are my own.

Thank you to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for this ARC!

I really liked this book! This book was right up my street from the start as I tend to love anything with ghosts, small towns/villages and romance.

Initially, I struggled a little bit to get into the story and it took some time for me to get to the middle of the book, but as soon as I got there I devoured the last half!

The characters made the story, and overall this book gave me cozy, charming and heartwarming vibes. I very much look forward to the rest of the series!

This was a fun and cozy read that’s reminiscent of BBC’s show “Ghost”. I thoroughly enjoyed the story, characters, and setting.

Thank you to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for this book. ~I was given this book and made no commitments to leave my opinions, favorable or otherwise~

What a wonderfully enchanting cosy tale. I was captivated from the start by the mix of characters and the antics that they got up to. Very reminiscent of of the BBC Ghosts series, this was an easy read and perfect for when you just want to escape.

I truly wanted to like this story. However, it was overall predictable and the writing was okay. Just dialog between characters was forced and fluffy.

Thank you to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for this eARC. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.

Sharon Booth's Kindred Spirits at Harling Hall offers a delightfully cozy and unique start to a new series, blending charming romance with a fun fantasy twist! The premise immediately caught my attention: a single mom who can see ghosts inherits a historic village. What's not to love?

Callie, our single mom heroine, visits the picturesque Cotswold village of Rowan Vale and discovers she can communicate with its spectral residents. This leads to an astonishing offer from the village's elderly owner, Sir Lawrence Davenport: she can purchase the entire estate for a song, provided she protects both the living and the highly opinionated dead. Among the spirited residents are a spectral lord, an imperious lady, a mischievous 1940s schoolgirl, and even William Shakespeare's former tutor, all adding layers of humor and personality to the setting.

The cast of characters, both living and departed, is wonderfully quirky and distinctive. While it took me a little while to warm up to Callie, her daughter, Immi, is an absolute delight and quickly became a favorite. The ghosts themselves are incredibly engaging, each with their own unique quirks and backstories that make them almost more interesting than some of the living villagers!

The budding romance with Brodie, Sir Lawrence's disinherited grandson, is a sweet addition to the story. He's the handsome, brooding type with a hidden soft heart, and their connection adds a lovely layer to the narrative. While the romance isn't the sole focus, its slow development felt appropriate for a series opener, allowing the intriguing world and its inhabitants to take center stage.

Kindred Spirits at Harling Hall has an interesting premise, even more interesting ghosts, and a beautiful village setting. It gently explores themes of self-esteem, found family, and the importance of forging new friendships. It's a charming read that leaves you curious to see what adventures, both earthly and otherworldly, the next book will bring!

Tropes to expect:

~ Single Mom Romance
~ Ghosts & Magic
~ Small Town Charm
~ Found Family
~ Enemies-to-Lovers (subtle)
~ Mystery/Intrigue

DNF @ 70%

Definitely for fans of BBC’s Ghosts. I think this book just got off to a really slow start and was difficult to get into.

The plot is so cool in theory, but it took way too long to build up any of the relationships. Despite there being several characters, dead and live, many of the characters were static and frustrating.

I think this could be done well with a tweaked focus.

I really enjoyed this book and loved the relationships the characters had with each other. I loved the ghost characters. I loved how it had the same vibes as the tv show ghosts!

For fans of BBC Ghosts craving something new to escape to, feast your eyes of the latest cosy book "Kindred Spirits at Harling Hall." The first novel in the Ghosts of Rowan Vale series introduces us to single mom Callie as she is hired on to help manage a cooky group of ghosts in a charming Cotswold village. As she comes to terms with the new arrangements and the long held magical gift that she's ignored all her life, Callie begins to open up to the possibilities of new friends, new opportunities, and new love. Though a bit slow at times this story makes for a wonderful introduction to a lovely series. Each character felt purposeful, well thought out, and a vital part in a forever growing family. I am so excited for future novels from Booth and can't wait to dive back into this sweet community.

Oh boy! What a treat! This book was truly a delight to read. It’s cozy and quirky and right up my alley. This is a series that I’m sure I’m going to love and and very impatiently awaiting the next release!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for a free ARC in exchange for a review.

I am still confused as to why Florrie had a POV but that's neither here nor there really.

Overall, this is a cute little book about a single mom and her kid, and she can see ghosts. There's not a huge amount of plot beyond that to be honest. It's a lot of interpersonal disputes which are easily solved in the cute, picturesque town.

Callie is a nice lady who is doing her best, and Immi is a cute kid. Beyond the surface, the characters aren't that deep, and frustratingly, Brodie doesn't have a personality at all. He's vaguely nice and cute. It wasn't that I didn't support them together, it was more that he could have been anyone, as they didn't really have much chemistry or reason for "loving" each other. I think he was sort of thrown in so that this could be in the romance genre, but it's much more about Callie tackling the various personal issues had by the ghosts.

Nothing remotely terrible ever happens, and it's very easy, light read. It makes for a nice palette cleanser between other reads but I don't think it will be anyone's best book of the year. If you're looking for a low stakes story about some funky ghosts, this is the quick read for you. Three stars.

Kindred Spirits at Harling Hall is a magical mystery tour of delight that tickles your fancy and tugs your heartstrings.

I was completely swept away into a world where ghosts are real, have real lives, and are accepted as citizens of Rowan Vale. Not everyone can see the ghosts but people know they’re there, that they are cherished and most welcome. I absolutely loved learning about all the ghosts and where (and when) each one was frozen in time.

The backdrop of this lovingly crafted story is beautifully illustrated through the eyes of Callie and the people of this charming English village. The book is utterly enchanting. The characters are vibrant, their storied pasts holding secret pieces of history, wonder, and whimsy.

The romance is a gentle breeze that lingers in the background of the story, but is no less powerful. Callie and Brodie have past hurts that have fundamentally affected them. It has made Callie skittish and caused her to tightly guard her heart. She also has a daughter to think about and doesn’t want her to experience the pain that Callie went through growing up.

Callie and Brodie’s relationship throughout the story is a tug-of-war of sorts as they struggle with their new realities, their futures uncertain. My gut clenched with every awkward encounter… until things stopped being awkward and started developing into something meaningful.

I couldn’t put the book down! I want to live in Rowan Vale and help Callie and Sir Lawrence wrangle ghosts. I really enjoyed discovering all the pleasant (and not so pleasant) surprises. I am SO happy this will be a series and I cannot wait for the next book!

Callie can see ghosts and a chance meeting leads to her being invited to purchase Harling estate which is full of living and dead residents...
Kindred Spirits at Harling Hall is a light hearted novel with a supernatural focus.
Callie has always hated being able to see ghosts and has hidden it for years. On a visit to a living museum, she meets some characters and realises they are ghosts and she is offered the opportunity to be the new estate owner as the current owner's descendants can't see ghosts. Callie has doubts about the whole situation but reluctantly agrees. She uproots herself and her daughter and struggles to fit into centuries of tradition.
This book has some vibes similar to TV’s Ghosts. Callie is at odds with several of the ghosts who see her as an interloper and not a worthy successor. The outgoing owner and his grandson are naturally upset about leaving their home and Callie feels guilty about letting down living and dead residents.
I loved the different ghost characters and how different eras are represented. They are set in their ways and Callie doesn’t have the force of personality to put her stamp on the estate but she gradually grows in confidence.
Most of the book is written in the first person to show Callie's experience and the dilemmas and challenges she faces. Some chapters do show other characters including the ghosts and I think this could have been more balanced to give a greater depth to their characters.
Kindred Spirits at Harling Hall is an entertaining book and it looks like there will be a series: yay!

As much as I wanted to read and enjoy this book, I just couldn’t connect with the characters and it, unfortunately, failed to capture my attention :( I’m so sorry team, I had to DNF this one at 30%.

This wasn't my cup of tea. It was inherently bad, but the writing was just not clicking for me.i couldn't bring myself to care about the characters either.

Cute ghost story set in a quaint small town in Britain. I wasn't sold on the romance however and was way more invested in the ghosts than the surprise happy ending for two characters who didn't actually seem to interact all that much. Loved the historical piece that all the different ghosts lent to the plot.