Book Review of The Unquiet Spirit (Spirited Encounters Book 1) by Penny Hampson

Oh dear… I thought I was signing up for a cosy blog tour. Instead, I’m wandering into a house that smells of rosemary, slams doors for fun, and might just be haunted. Welcome to The Unquiet Spirit — where mischief, and a dash of romance are served up with every creak and whisper.

The Unquiet Spirit 

(Spirited Encounters Book 1) 

By Penny Hampson

Publication Date: 17th October 2025

Publisher: PP&M Publishing

Page Length: 245

Genre: Paranormal Ghost Romance

Triggers: emotional abuse by partner

She wasn’t home alone...

With her love life in tatters, Kate Wilson needs a fresh start, and where could be better than the old Cornish house that had belonged to her godmother?

There’s just one problem – it comes with a ghost as a sitting tenant.

Her grumpy new neighbour, the broodingly handsome Tom Carbis, is another fly in the ointment – he seems to turn up wherever Kate goes. His dog might be friendly, but he’s definitely not.

Then the discovery of a hidden diary points Kate to a romantic mystery with links to both Tom’s family and her house’s past – a mystery that might explain the reason for her spectral lodger.

The downside? Kate needs Tom’s help to solve it and has to convince him that she is not his foe.

But working with Tom to unravel long-buried secrets has unexpected consequences, and Kate discovers far more than she bargained for.

The Unquiet Spirit is a spooky, suspense-filled, enemies-to-lovers romance.

Oh no, here we go again. I signed up to a blog tour thinking, “Sure, why not?” and next thing I know I’m clutching my cardigan, sniffing rosemary in a house that definitely has opinions, and jumping every time a door slams shut for no good reason. Kate Wilson’s new home is loud, spooky, and completely unbothered by her desire for peace. Honestly, it’s like the house has its own personality — a dramatic, melencolony one that keeps you on your toes.

Kate is trying to start over after heartbreak, bless her. All she wants is a fresh start and maybe a cup of tea that stays warm for more than five minutes. Instead, she gets whispers from the past, hidden secrets in every nook, and doors slamming. And naturally, I’m leaning in, muttering at the book like I can actually help her figure it all out. Classic.

And then there’s Tom. Oh, Tom. The grumpy neighbour with just enough charm to make you sigh and enough mystery to make you wonder if you should be worried for Kate. Their slow-burn relationship is painfully, delightfully awkward — the kind of thing where you want to shout at them, cheer them on, and occasionally swoon all at once. Honestly, I spent half the book rolling my eyes and the other half quietly approving every little interaction.

And yet, for all the bumps, whispers, and slamming doors, there’s humour and warmth threaded throughout. Hampson balances the supernatural and the human perfectly, so you’re never too scared to keep reading. I found myself laughing, sighing, and occasionally whispering “oh no, not again” as Kate navigated the increasingly chaotic house — and I loved every second of it.

In short, The Unquiet Spirit is a perfect cocktail of mystery, romance, and supernatural experiences. If you like your ghosts a little dramatic, your love interests awkward but charming, and your stories full of atmosphere and mischief, this is definitely your kind of book.

Brilliant, entertaining, and I may or may not be petitioning the ghosts for a spare room! I really want to live in Kate's house!

***

I highly recommend you grab a copy of this book, which you can find on Amazon. And get this — if you have a #KindleUnlimited subscription, you can read it for free. So… what are you waiting for?

***

Penny Hampson

Penny Hampson writes mysteries, and because she has a passion for history, you’ll find her stories also reflect that. A Gentleman’s Promise, a traditional Regency romance, was Penny’s debut novel and the first of her Gentlemen Series. There are now four novels in the series, with the latest, An Adventurer’s Contract, released in November 2024. Penny also enjoys writing contemporary mysteries with a hint of the paranormal, because where do ghosts come from but the past? The Unquiet Spirit, a spooky mystery/romance set in Cornwall, is the first in the Spirited Encounters Series. Look out for A Plethora of Phantoms coming soon.

Penny lives with her family in Oxfordshire, and when she is not writing, she enjoys reading, walking, swimming, and the odd gin and tonic (not all at the same time).

If you’ve enjoyed any of Penny’s books please leave a review on Amazon, Bookbub, or Goodreads, and let other readers know!

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Dance of the Earth by Anna M. Holmes

Dance of the Earth

By Anna M. Holmes

Publication Date: October 28th, 2025

Publisher: The Book Guild

Pages: 456

Genre: Historical Fiction / Ballet History

From world stages to theatres of war, Dance of the Earth is a sweeping family saga.

Set against the backdrops of London’s gilded Alhambra music hall, Diaghilev’s dazzling Ballets Russes, and the upheavals of the First World War, Rose and her children, Nina and Walter, pursue their ambitions, loves, and dreams. Dance and music shape their identities, helping each to find their place in the world.

Spanning the years 1875 to 1921—an era of profound artistic and social change—fact and fiction interweave in this tapestry of birth, sacrifice, and renewal. Art—both serious and comic—is at the story’s beating heart.

Praise

"Draws on her knowledge of British dance history to capture the changes from late 19th century to early 20th century."

Jane Pritchard, M.B.E, Curator of Dance, V&A

"A wonderful blend of fun and grit. I love the delivery and descriptions and I will be looking for more of Anna M Holmes's work."

 Abbe, 5* Amazon Review

Excerpt

DANCE OF THE EARTH.  ACT 2.  

A little about Nina, Rose’s daughter, as a young teenager.

‘Ma, take a look!’ Nina flourished the latest edition of Votes for Women, with news from the National Women’s Social and Political Union, under Ma’s nose. She flipped through the pages. ‘See! I want to join!’

‘What? You expect me to collect you from a police station for chucking a brick through a window?’ 

‘Not them. This.’ She pointed to an advert. ‘Mrs Holt’s classes aren’t difficult to get to. And she trained with Raymond Duncan, Isadora’s brother. She says, “Grace and supplement of movement are necessary for a woman’s well-being and charm.”’

‘Are they indeed,’ Ma said. ‘No harm trying.’

Wearing flowing draperies, her passion became bare-foot dancing learning to ebb and flow. Her plump teacher would stand hand to heart and begin her stories. ‘When Mr Duncan said…’ so that Nina felt a mere breath away from his famous sister. In the church hall that Mrs Holt hired, Nina would lift her chest and arms, leaping in unbounded skips – ‘Feel the breath in your lungs, filling your heart, girls” – gaining height with each inhalation. Then she’d exhale, sinking into poses only to breathe and gather herself again. Locating her solar plexus under a knobbly rib cage was tricky, and any level of grace an on-going endeavour. But Nina was nothing if not an enthusiastic pupil. For a time.

She longed to canter ahead, unseen roots holding her back.

On her fourteenth birthday, Ma and Mo sang ‘happy birthday dear Nina ’n Walter…’ and there were two cakes as always. This brother who’d been given away was a shadowy figure featuring every 29th May only to disappear for another year. Walter’s cake would be sent to him, Ma used to insist. Some years earlier it had been a surprise when a child from a big family down the street called out, ‘Mama says to tell your Ma, thanks for the cake!’ that Nina realised where Walter’s cake really went. Then she’d learnt the full story from Ma, how she’d been in love, how there’d been a handsome man, how she’d not managed to keep Walter… Once the story was told, Nina didn’t think of it again.

One day the front door banged shut and Ma yelled, ‘Molly? You here?’

‘Just me,’ she called out.

When Ma appeared, she didn’t look quite herself. ‘Oh. Oh!’ was all she could say. Whatever had happened had sent Ma into a spin. ‘Walter’s asked to meet.’ Her eyes were bright. ‘Mr Quince sent word—’

‘Who’s Mr Quince when he’s at home?’

‘A lawyer. Your father’s. I can’t believe it. I’m so excited! After all this time!’

‘Oh.’ While Ma jigged about, Nina felt heavy, as if there was a stone in her stomach. It was one thing to have a brother with a cake baked for him each year. It was another thing to have him claim a part of Ma.

Ma talked on about where to meet and what she might wear, whether she should have her hair done and what he might look like. ‘I’ll tell you all about it.’

‘I’m coming too, Ma!’

‘Not the first time, love. This will just be me and Walter.’ 

‘I want to come. Why can’t I come?’

‘Mr Quince says so. And I say so. That’ll be best.’

‘Well, don’t bring him here! I don’t want him here!’

‘Oh, no, love. It’ll be somewhere else.’

The corners of Nina’s mouth drew down. She wished this Walter Roberts had not piped up but had left them alone. Me, Ma ’n Mo. That was enough. Had always been. 

She was resolute. From now on, she hated Walter.

Buy this fabulous book over on your favourite bookstore!

Anna Holmes

Stories with big themes written as page-turners are Anna M Holmes’s speciality.

With an extensive background in dance and theatre, Dance of the Earth is a story she has longed to write.

Her novels—The Find, Wayward Voyage, and Blind Eye—are all typified by deep research.

Anna worked as a radio journalist before embarking on a career in arts management. Originally from New Zealand, she now lives in South-West London.

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Therein Lies the Pearl by Catherine Hughes

Therein Lies the Pearl

By Catherine Hughes

Publication Date: January 19th, 2026

Publisher: Historium Press

Pages: 474

Genre: Historical Fiction

History books record the experiences of the powerful, the rich, the famous. Their voices dominate the pages, commanding us to accept their perspective as truth. But what if we could hear the whispers of those who were never given a chance to speak? How would this affect our understanding of the past?

Normandy, 1064

Celia Campion, a girl of humble background, finds herself caught in a web of intrigue when Duke William commands her to work as his spy, holding her younger sister hostage. Her mission: to sail across the sea to Wilton Abbey and convince Margaret, daughter of Edward the Exile, to take final vows rather than form a marriage alliance with the newly crowned king to the North, Malcolm III of Scotland. Preventing a union between the Saxons and Scots is critical to the success of the Duke’s plan to take England, and more importantly for Celia, it is the only way to keep her sister alive.  

In this sweeping epic that spans the years before and after the Conquest, two women from opposite sides of the English Channel whisper across the chasm of time to tell their story of the tumultuous days that eventually changed the course of history.  As they struggle to survive in a world marked by danger, loss, and betrayal, their lives intersect, and they soon come to realize they are both searching for the same thing--someone they can trust amidst the treachery that surrounds them.  

Together, their voices form a narrative never before told.

Excerpt

Taking the cue from his wife, William laid out the terms. “It is settled. You will go to England—that is, if you ever want to see your sister again. She is under my power, and she will remain my hostage until I am satisfied that you have fulfilled your mission. If you choose to run away or if you perform the task half-heartedly, your sister will disappear. Hostages do have a way of disappearing, do they not, my dear?” He turned to his wife for affirmation.

Matilda picked up the thread. “And what a pity it would be to see so beautiful a child reduced to rags and enslaved to some filthy plowman somewhere.”

Celia despised them both. Her hands shook with rage.

“My love,” William patiently corrected his wife, “you know I am not fond of enslavement. Better it be to dispose of the urchin immediately. We have had a good deal of success in the past with tainted food or adulterated drink, have we not? Quick, tidy, and effective.”

Celia had heard enough. Dropping to her knees once more, she lowered her head to kiss the ground before the Duchess’ feet. “I will do as you wish. I will go to England. I will discover all I can about this girl and her brother and her suitor. I will not fail.”

Hearing Celia’s acceptance, Matilda reverted back to the sweet sovereign she was purported to be. “There, there, my girl. I knew you could come around to our way of thinking. I told you some time ago you were special. But sometimes even a viper needs to be reminded of where and when it needs to strike.”

Celia wanted to scream out loud to drown out the Duchess’ compliment. Matilda’s words made her feel dirty and ashamed. She hated how she was forced to perform for them like some marionette at the mercy of another’s pull. And she despised herself even more for being too powerless to free herself or her sister from their demands.

But what else could she do? And did it really matter anyway, if she continued to be a sinner while she pretended to be a saint? If she must send the Saxon girl to the convent or her grave, then so be it. She felt nothing and owed nothing to this stranger. In fact, she hated this “Margaret” already because it was she who would determine whether Vivienne lived or died.

William kissed his wife’s cheek with heartfelt admiration. Wrapping his arm about her waist, he guided her toward the door.  Before leaving, they stopped long enough for him to add, “The boat departs at dawn. Do not fail to be there.” The Duchess tucked her arm in his as they moved together as one.

In the empty room, Celia sat alone with her shame. She did not move for quite some time, reviewing her predicament over and over again. There was no decision to be made. She had no freedom to make one. Their will would be done. Was it shameful to commit wrong in order to preserve a greater good? She did not believe it to be so. There was no disgrace in that. What did it matter anyway? She had no choice.

Swiftly and stealthily she would work, embodying the spirit of the perfect novice—obedient, contemplative, kind, patient—qualities normally foreign to her. Indeed, she would be so convincing that a figurative halo would glow about her head. Benevolent confidante. She would make the Saxon girl forgo marital vows for solemn ones, binding her to the church and not a king.

Tomorrow it begins. She would ride across the sea to keep Vivienne alive here. Her success depended on her ability to fit in, her capacity to blend in seamlessly with her new environment. But is that not what vipers do best? Teardrops borne of helplessness melted away as her lips turned upward in a knowing smile. The white veil would disguise her true intent. She rose to her feet as Sister Celia, leaving behind any trace of the woman she once was.

Doesn't this book sounds amazing? You can grab your copy on your favourite bookshop.

Catherine Hughes

Award winning writer, Catherine Hughes is a first-time author who, from her earliest years, immersed herself in reading. Historical fiction is her genre of choice, and her bookshelves are stocked with selections from ancient, Medieval, and Renaissance Europe as well as those involving New England settlements and pioneer life in America. After double-majoring in English and business management on the undergraduate level, Catherine completed her Master's degree in British literature at Drew University and then entered the classroom where she has been teaching American, British, and World Literature at the high school level for the last thirty years.

Aside from teaching and reading, Catherine can often be found outdoors, drawing beauty and inspiration from the world of nature. Taking the words of Thoreau to heart, "It is the marriage of the soul with nature that makes the intellect fruitful," Catherine sets aside time every day to lace up her sneakers and run with her dog in pre-dawn or late afternoon hours on the beaches of Long Island. When her furry companion isn't busy chasing seagulls or digging up remnants of dead fish, she soaks in the tranquility of the ocean setting, freeing her mind to tap into its deepest recesses where creativity and imagination preside.

In Silence Cries the Heart, Hughes’s first book, received the Gold Medal in Romance for the Feathered Quill 2024 Book of the Year contest, the Gold Medal for Fiction in the 2024 Literary Titan competition, and the 2024 International Impact Book Award for Historical Fiction. In addition, the Historical Fiction Company gave it a five star rating and a Silver Medal in the category of Historical Fiction Romance. The book was also featured in the February 2024 Issue 31 of the Historical Times magazine and was listed as one of the Best Historical Fiction Books of 2024 by the History Bards Podcast. Therein Lies the Pearl is her second venture into the world of historical fiction.

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