BLURB:

Millicent Foxboro is haunted.

Not by ghosts, but by the anguish of her past and the uncertainty of her future. After all, even in the progressive year of 1928, most people would balk at hiring a woman who’d spent two months in a mental ward for traumatic amnesia. So when an uncommon assistantship to a reclusive Professor of mythology falls into her lap with an ungodly salary attached, her desperation for stability overrides her cautious nature.

To Millie’s dismay, the widowed Professor Callum Hughes and his estate, Willowfield, are more than she bargained for. The once magnificent home, known for its sprawling gardens and dazzling parties, is falling to pieces after the death of the professor’s fragile wife. What’s more, the staff has been reduced to the only three people not frightened away by rumors of ghosts, leaving the halls empty and languishing in bitter memories.

The professor himself is a grim, intense man with unclear expectations, unpredictable moods, and hungry eyes that ignite Millie’s own dormant passions. The closer she finds herself drawn to Professor Hughes and his strange world of flowers and folklore, the more the house closes in, threatening to reveal her secrets. But the professor is keeping secrets of his own and the most dangerous of all is hers to discover.

MY THOUGHTS:

Okay, now this ARC is something I can totally get on board with! This book was absolutely fantastic, and I owe a big thank you to Net Galley for hooking me up with this ARC, even though the book is also on Kindle Unlimited! It has everything I look for in a book – it’s dark, spicy, a slow burn, thrilling, and a bit of horror to top it off. My goodness, Bea Northwick really knocked it out of the park with this one. I felt like I was aimlessly wandering the halls of Willowfield, soaking in its spooky vibes. I was completely mesmerized by the dark and tantalizing atmosphere of Willowfield. And that twist at the end? Mind-blowing! Who would’ve seen that coming, right? Let me just say, this will definitely not be the last book I pick up by Bea Northwick. I can’t wait to dive into more of her work. What a stellar debut! And, let’s be honest, even though Professor Callum is a fictional character, I couldn’t help but be drawn to him. He’s just so enchanting! (I think “enchanting” is my new favorite word now). He might just be my new book crush! I’ll definitely read this book again in the fall, during the haunting month of October, because it really gives me those cozy yet spooky vibes. If you’re a fan of gothic romance with an extra kick, I highly suggest adding this book to your to-be-read list, folks.

Happy Reading !