High Spirits at the Village Inn (Ghosts of Rowan Vale Book 4) by Sharon Booth

 

High Spirits at the Village Inn

Spring has arrived in the Cotswold village of Rowan Vale and everyone is in an optimistic mood.

Everyone except Danny. He’s had a rotten eighteen years stuck in a village where all his hopes and dreams were shattered. His annoying ex-work colleague, who seems determined to look on the bright side of the afterlife, won't leave him alone. And – as if that wasn’t bad enough – he’s facing eternity dressed as Adam Ant.

Meanwhile, in London, Rory plans to whisk his wife Kirsty away to the Cotswolds for their wedding anniversary. But when they arrive in Rowan Vale, Kirsty is horrified. How could her husband be so insensitive?

Rory insists that they stay at The Quicken Tree Inn and face up to the issues in their marriage. Kirsty has no choice but to go along with him, hoping she can finally put what happened all those years ago behind her. But when she spots her long-dead cousin in the village, things take a decidedly difficult turn...

Will confronting the ghosts from her past be a recipe for happiness or disaster?

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High Spirits at the Village Inn is another gorgeous addition to one of my favourite cosy fantasy series. I’ve always adored the concept of Rowan Vale. A village where the living and the dead coexist, not in a spooky way, but in a tender, community‑minded way. The idea that families can still see their loved ones, resolve old hurts, and offer care long after a sudden loss is incredibly moving, and this book leans beautifully into that theme. I particularly enjoy that the ghosts come from all historical eras, from ancient to modern, and that they are wearing the clothes they died in. This led to a rather funny scene in which Rory frantically bought sensible pyjamas for himself and Kirstie when he discovered that his own relative had died wearing a fancy-dress costume.

This instalment focuses on two ghosts, Danny and Brooke, and their living relatives, Rory and Kirstie. Their relationships are tangled and messy. Danny was once married to Kirstie, who is now married to his brother Rory. Brooke is Kirstie's cousin and has been secretly in love with Danny for years. It sounds complicated, and it is, but Sharon Booth handles it with such warmth and clarity that it feels completely natural.

What I loved most is how each character is given space to confront the past. Danny’s frustration with his afterlife, Brooke’s optimism, Kirstie’s unresolved grief, and Rory’s determination to save his marriage all weave together into a story that is funny and heartwarming. The ghostly twist is very charming rather than gimmicky.

As always, Rowan Vale itself feels like a character, a place full of kindness, humour, and second chances. I finished the book wishing it were real.

A touching, magical, and thoroughly enjoyable read. I’m already looking forward to the next visit to Rowan Vale.

Author Bio

Sharon Booth is the author of feel-good stories set in charming, quirky locations, and now writes cosy romances with a magical twist for Boldwood. She lives with her husband in East Yorkshire, England.

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