Good Spirits, B.K. Borison (Review by Kristin Kurek)

Rating: 5.0/5 Stars

Harriet York is preparing to spend the holidays with as much Christmas spirit as she can possibly muster: Christmas pajamas, candy canes, and decorations abound. She is making preparations on the first of December when Nolan Callahan, a ghost of Christmas past, shows up for her “reckoning.” There must be some mistake as she is hardly a villainous “Scrooge.” Harriet and Nolan are forced to explore her (and his) past to make sense of this assignment. As Harriet and Nolan begin to fall in love with each other, Nolan’s power spins out of control, creating a more magical Christmas than either of them could have predicted.

This book was a true Christmas present! The reversal of daylight savings time on the eastern coast of the United States has left me feeling as cold and dark as the sky at 5pm. My seasonal saddies are on full blast! I could not handle tackling my daily routine much less reading my usual heavy, historical fiction. I picked up this book at a very unique moment in time, and it was just what I needed. Harriet and Nolan’s story rattled my Christmas spirit awake exactly when I wanted it most. I became bolstered by the realization that Christmas spirit is such an extraordinary occurrence in my reality.

Good Spirits is teeming with magical realism and romance. Harriet and Nolan fall deeply in love with acknowledgement of each other’s strengths and flaws. They discuss relationship and mental health. Harriet must face excising toxic people from their lives and cherishing those who bolster her. As Nolan falls deeper in love with Harriet, he begins to lose control of his magic. Snowflakes fall from the bedroom ceiling and mistletoe is plastered on ever surface of Harriet’s antiques shop. The romantic scenes had me sighing out loud, and I will not soon forget the warmth generated by reading these scenes.

Good Spirits found me at a time when I needed my spirit bolstered. Now that I have finished reading the book, I deeply and personally miss the characters. As I am writing (gushing?) about this book, I noticed that this is listed as the first book in the Ghosted series. I hope that I will be able to join Harriet and Nolan again. If you are looking to have your Christmas spirit renewed… if you are looking to get to know characters that could easily be your best friends… if you are looking to fall in love with a swoon-worthy, mustachioed Irish fisherman-ghost… if you are looking for a book that brings hope with every page,… if you are looking to rediscover joy… please pick up Good Spirits. Happy Holidays, all!