Review: The Ghost of Glendale by Natalie Kleinman

I'm delighted to share my review today of The Ghost of Glendale, a gentle Regency romance by Natalie Kleinman.

My thanks to the author for a Kindle copy.

The Ghost of Glendale

Natalie Kleinman

Regency Romance

Having recently reviewed When Only Pride Remains, an earlier release by Natalie Kleinman, I was very happy to read The Ghost of Glendale – and I was not disappointed. It is a gentle read romance with a touch of the paranormal and adventure. A joy to read!

Phoebe Marcham is a young woman who, at age 24, has no interest in marriage. Having spent two seasons in London, and seen her cousin Clarissa wed, she is content living with her widower father in their manor in Somerset.

When she meets a tall Scottish stranger, who had lost his way, on her morning ride, she soon forms a firm friendship with Duncan Armstrong, a guest staying with her good friend and neighbour, Rupert.

Slowly, she begins to trust this open, respectful man, and eventually tells him about the secret that hangs over Glendale, her home. As they investigate, they grow closer, but neither is certain of the other's feelings, and neither wants to be misunderstood.

Theirs is a typical Regency romance conundrum, and the author describes their journey very well. Both Phoebe and Duncan are quite independent. She is used to running her father's household, whilst he was away travelling as he did not get on with his parents. 

In their quest to resolve the mystery of the sad ghost of Simon Marcham, they uncover a potential reason for a long-running family feud with the Marchams’ neighbours, the Rushmores, that dates back to the Civil War. Was it a case of religious views, combined with the politics of the day, that pulled these two families apart? Or was there more to Simon's sadness. A statue of two lovers helps them discover a tragic fate!

Meanwhile, Phoebe's strict Aunt Sophie arrives with her daughter, Lydia, and the girl is instantly smitten by Rupert, Phoebe's childhood friend. As their romance develops slowly, under the watchful eye of Aunt Sophia, Phoebe and Duncan continue their paranormal investigations, whilst still uncertain about each other's feelings. 

Then a family emergency strikes, and Duncan is called north.

Will he forget all about Phoebe, or will his path lead him back to Glendale? And will the old family secret finally be uncovered?

I thoroughly enjoyed The Ghost of Glendale. It has an intriguing mystery, two gentle romances, and not forgetting a nasty villain who tries to compromise poor Phoebe. Told in a literary, omniscient point of view, the story is so gripping, it draws you in quickly. You want to keep turning the pages to see how the plot unfolds. 

I really liked Phoebe and Duncan. Both were strong characters, yet still of their times. His instinct to protect her is strong, whilst her own independent streak is still in evidence. I thought their romance developed well, and their uncertainties about the feelings of the other were realistic. 

The setting is exquisite, a country manor away from the bustle of London, although we can catch a glimpse of the teeming capital too.

I only thought the ghost story ended a little abruptly, but it served its purpose in bringing Duncan and Phoebe together. And the resolution uncovered the reason for the family feud, so all ends are neatly tied up.

A thoroughly enjoyable Regency romance, I can highly recommend The Ghost of Glendale. 

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Blurb:

Can Phoebe and Duncan bring peace to a tortured soul…?

Having never been in love, twenty-four-year-old Phoebe Marcham has no interest in marriage. Fiercely independent, she spends her days helping to manage Glendale, her ancestral home — a centuries-old estate full of long-buried secrets.

While out riding, Phoebe crosses paths with Duncan Armstrong, a charming wanderer who has just returned from the Continent. Finding that they share a penchant for mystery, Phoebe shares the biggest enigma that haunts Glendale: the tortured ghost of her ancestor, Simon Marcham, who took a secret sadness to his grave.

Convinced that Simon’s soul will never be at rest until they uncover his secret, Phoebe and Duncan set about unravelling the riddles that he left behind. As they delve deeper, a story of heartbreak and intrigue soon starts to emerge.

Faced with the darkness of the past, Phoebe is determined to make the most of the future. And as she and Duncan grow closer, she soon begins to wonder whether she has at last met her fate…

International buy link: www.getbook.at/GhostOfGlendale

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About the Author:

Natalie Kleinman

Natalie’s passion for reading became a compulsion to write when she attended a ten-week course in creative writing some sixteen or so years ago. She takes delight in creating short stories of which more than forty have been published, but it was her lifelong love of Regency romance that led her to turn from contemporary romantic fiction to try her hand at her favourite genre. Raised on a diet of Jane Austen and Georgette Heyer, she is never happier than when immersed in an age of etiquette and manners, fashion and intrigue, all combined into a romping good tale. 

She lives on the London/Kent border, close to the capital’s plethora of museums and galleries which she uses for research as well as pleasure. A perfect day though is when she heads out of town to enjoy lunch by a pub on the river, any river, in company with her husband and friends. 

Natalie is a member of the Romantic Novelists Association, the Society of Authors and the Society of Women Writers and Journalists.

Connect with Natalie: 

https://nataliekleinman.com/

https://www.facebook.com/NatalieKleinmanAuthor/

https://twitter.com/NatKleinman

https://www.instagram.com/nataliekleinman6279