Bitter Spirits

Starred review from November 11, 2013
Twenty years after the 1906 earthquake in San Francisco, two survivors cross paths under macabre circumstances. Aida Palmer is working the Gris-Gris speakeasy as a stage medium, and Winter Magnusson, the "Viking Bootlegger," is being haunted by the ghost of a Chinese prostitute who was brutally murdered. It's easy enough for Aida to exorcise the ghost, but not so easy for her to forget Winter. Debut author Bennett's complex and smart romantic leads are refreshingly frank with one another, and they know how to enjoy what they've got. Both Aida and Winter are burdened with terrible secrets, and Winter's ghosts continue to rise between themâliterally. Fans of ghost stories will love the pair's spooky, sexy voyage of discovery, which is erotic without being crass. The details of the Prohibition era are well researched but not intrusive, providing a solid and tangible backdrop for the developing romance and supernatural mystery. Most of all, the way Aida celebrates the "comfort and relief" that Winter provides really makes the story special. Expect historical romance authors and fans to eagerly hop on the Roaring '20s bandwagon, following Bennett's very able lead. Agent: Laura Bradford, Bradford Literary Agency.

Starred review from January 1, 2014
Bennett's absolutely delightful first in a new series stirs intrigue, paranormal activity, and romance into a wonderfully refreshing brew. In 1927 San Francisco, spirit medium Aida Palmer is working speakeasies, reuniting customers with their loved ones, when she meets rugged bootlegger Winter Magnusson, who's been poisoned and put under a spell he hopes she can cure. While this isn't her bailiwick, she knows someone who can get right of the poison, but not the curse that induces ghosts to attack him. As Aida and Winter hunt down the origins of the curse in Chinatown, they learn that a secret underground tong is trying to take over the bootlegging business. Fighting for their lives, they grow closer, and they finally agree to an affair. But what if their temporary liaison isn't enough? Will Aida give up a career that includes so much travel? Will Winter jump into marriage again after his tragic first foray? Bennett's fast-paced dialogue, often witty and sharp, as well as her charming characters and detailed setting, will truly captivate romance readers.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2014, American Library Association.)