Raven's Rest

I had this book sitting in my wish list and I wish I had gotten this one sooner. Stephen Osborne is a new author to me and I look forward to reading more of his works.

I was not sure how well I would like the story but the blurb caught my attention and I love ghostie stories.

He has a wonderful writing style. It flowed very well and you caught me as from the first paragraph where Michael doubted himself and if he was making the wrong choice. I could feel it, those nerves and those steps toward a new future wrought with insecurity.

I loved how Stephen brought everyone together, from the moment Cole made his "appearance". I was caught, engaged and I could not put the book down and was disappointed because I did not want it to end. I finished it in one setting instead of going to bed because I needed them to figure it out. Very well thought out nice touch with the box, Mr Osborne, it made it believable why Cole was still around.

I love the mystery, the suspense and how Michael got in touch with his "other side". I have started to read Ghost Mystery/Suspense and I had to put them down because they made me yawn and felt counterproductive.

If you happen to decide on a sequel, I am soooo there. I mean Lisa is there and who entered the Raven Suite. I adored the Edgar Allan Poe themed rooms, very inspired. ::::snickering::::: Poe nut!! Nope, you have to read the story to find out. I laughed and laughed at that.

So, fellow readers, if you like a good ghost story with suspense and mystery (I felt like I was reading Ghost Story, a movie with Fred Astaire and Alice Krige) then this book is for you.

4 1/2 Hearts Reviewed by Pixie

After five years Michael has left his psychologically abusive lover and is hiding out in a small town. Staying at the local Inn, Raven’s Rest, he’s told the story of its ghosts and becomes fascinated by one of them especially when he sees the ghost of that past resident, Coleman, a young man who disappeared many years before. Michael decides to stay in town and stumbles across a job in a small café as well as Trey, a laid back guy who sparks Michael’s interest.

Michael and Trey begin to look into Coleman’s story after an altercation with the ghost and they discover a sad story of young love torn apart and destroyed. While getting to the bottom of the mystery of the ghost Michael still has to deal with his ex when Kevin comes hunting for him.

This is brilliant story where a man running from his ex-lover stumbles across a ghost story that leads to a decades old mystery. Michael has suffered from mental abuse from the man who was supposed to love him for years, Michael’s finally found the courage to leave him but he knows Kevin will follow him so he heads for a small town. It’s the beginning of a ghostly adventure of mystery and murder, and discovering new love.

I really enjoyed this story, it flowed really well and Michael and Trey connected from the instant they met, their romance moves quickly but fits them perfectly. The mystery part of the story was excellent, with Michael determined to get to the truth and discover just what happened to Coleman. It’s a terrible tale of bigotry and murder.

Both Michael and Trey are excellent characters and there are also one or two other jewels floating through the story like Jesenia (who wears a badge labelled ‘The Town Witch’) and Gloria Ramsey (Trey’s mother), they both add to the story and bring some lightness to the story as well. I also liked the fact that Michael got some closure with Kevin as well, there is a confrontation where Kevin loses it but he does finally accept that his actions drove Michael away and hopefully he’ll learn a lesson from losing Michael.

I recommend this to those who love ghost mysteries, finding peace with yourself, discovering new love, dodging danger and an excellent ending.

Stephen Osborne is a new to me author. This is my first book from this author, and will definitely won't be my last.
I liked the story, I liked the writing style. Ravens Rest is one of those book I should've avoided in a first place, because I'm not a fan of ghost story. I saw too many in real life, and it's not pretty. But, this one caught my attention just fine. And I liked this. A lot.

This is actually the interesting story with ghost and mystery around them, not to mention a little distraction from a douche ex.
Many things happens in one go. Kinda good distraction for me to know this is not the ghost story only. I was even cry when I know how the ghost story ended in this book, and that solely broke my heart.
Moral of the ghost story :
Some parents, need to learn the hard way how to love their children unconditionally. And just so you know, I hate parents with 'conditional' love! HATE!

As for Michael and Trey, they have this one called 'insta-love'. I'm not complaining, the author did it smoothly with these two, starting with a kiss, and everything suddenly fit into places.
There's some scenes with Kevin, Michael's ex, I almost felt sorry for him. But once again, when you love someone, let them be who they are, not the one you want them to be. That alone, won't make your relationship last. And Kevin's finally knew that.

This is a good distraction from my usual read, so, I think, in the near future, I'll find some of Stephen Osborne books!

Recommended!
Thanks Ami for the recommendation :)


* I was given the ARC by Dreamspinner Press in exchange for a fair and unbiased review.*

Michael has left his verbally abusive boyfriend Kevin and took off to Banning. The Holiday Inn is full, but they give him directions to an Inn in own the Raven's Rest. The in is a tourist attraction and rumored to be haunted.
Michael soon finds out it's not just rumors when he is visited by one of the resident ghosts Cole and its is apparent that Michael is a dead ringer for Bryan Cole's missing boyfriend.

Michael meets Trey at a diner, and they find themselves in a mystery trying to figure out what happened to Cole nd Bryan as, Cole's father says he has moved away and married, but that can't be true if they see his ghost.

I liked this story a lot.I liked the characters, the plot and the tension. I liked that you could feel Michaels fear but he still kept trying to help the ghost. I loved Jesenia, the town witch as they called her. My only issue was the speed in which Trey and Micael became lovers with all Michael was going through. I also liked that there were some hints that left openings for more stories of more ghosts. I would like to see more.

If you like ghosts, mediums, murder mysteries and a very fast moving romance with off-page sex, this is for you.