Wherever, Whenever: A Friends to Lovers Second Chance Romantasy (Hearts and Haunts Book 2)
by C.J. Burright
Paranormal Romance
Date Published: 07-30-2024
Publisher: Totally Bound Publishing
Sometimes the only way to forget the ghosts of the past is to face the
curse of love head on.
Artist Vi Keller made a holy vow to never return to her quirky hometown of
Devils Hollow. But when the sister she left behind pleads for help during
the busy Halloween season, Vi can’t say no. Even if it means a month
of watching her ex-BFF Max loving someone new…and braving the
darkness awaiting her return.
Max has fantasized about Vi every day since she disappeared. Some of those
dreams revolve around revenge, but when Vi shows up at his historic bed and
breakfast, his thoughts take a steamier turn. She may still own his heart,
but he rebuilt life without her and doesn’t need a blonde bombshell
with tempting artwork skin to wreck him again.
When Vi and Max are forced to partner up during the seasonal festivities,
it’s just like old times, resurrecting a desire that never died. But
happily-ever-afters in Devils Hollow are paid in blood and bones. Missing
pets, tourist attractions turning sinister, and shadows stalking the lake
point to Vi’s worst fear—the spirit that failed to destroy her
once has neither forgiven nor forgotten. If Max and Vi can’t untangle
the tragic past of a local urban legend, they’ll lose more than a
second chance at love.
Are you into romance with a healthy dose of banter, slow burn,
best-friends-to-lovers, and second chances with a supernatural twist? Scroll
up and grab your copy of Wherever, Whenever today!
Julie’s Review:
It’s been a while since I devoured a book in about two sittings. I’m glad I got to enjoy Wherever, Whenever on the plane and finish it in my recliner.
Wherever, Whenever is a second chance paranormal romance. Immediately when the story began, it was a: picking up where Violet and Max left off but 5 years later with flirty banter and palpable attraction, kind of romance. Though, their plans were to torture each other, I suppose, it backfired on both of them.
I enjoyed the setting a lot: a small town where lovers of all things supernatural come to stay to enjoy October and Halloween. The town has an urban legend, and until about half way through the book I thought that was all there was to it. Then the urban legend becomes the focus, and the book’s setting becomes a character in the story, dark and with a complicated past, only to be unraveled and resolved by our main heroes baring their souls and breaking through all their mental blocks.
There’s so much more supernatural going on in the Forbidden Lake than meets the eye, and as the story unfolds we begin to understand the terrifying premonition which explains why Violet ran away 5 years ago. At first I was angry at her for running away, only seeing the part she starts to show us: that she ran away to not stand in the way of someone else’s happiness.
I liked how the book switched from Violet to Max in POV even though it remained 3rd person, we still got a little bit of Max’s perceptions even though Violet was the main focus for the narrator.
There’s summonings, and hauntings, and painful words spoken both by the living and from the beyond. There’s steamy pages and no curtains drawn, there’s middle of the night whiskey sneaking and beloved family bonding. There’s hearts breaking completely through and resolutions to heal again. There’s a book boyfriend who never gives up on his lost love, repeatedly telling her she’s the most perfect soul in the world for him. Most of all, there’s a strong and terrified heroine who goes through the gambit of emotions, emerging finally whole on the other side.
So if you enjoy a happy ending after a deep transformative hurt, with family reuniting and reconciling with the help of an actual witch and an urban legend with horrifying and painful truth behind it – check out this book.
About the Author
Once upon a time, a girl with flat hobbit feet dreamed of adventures in the woods with an elven hero, fighting off orcs and saving magical rings. All grown up now, C.J. Burright resides in Oregon (at least she got the trees).
While she faces her duties at the law office day job, she avoids writing legal thrillers and instead turns toward romance—contemporary (sometimes with a supernatural flair), paranormal or fantasy. With a 5th Dan Black Belt in Tae Kwon Do, it’s no surprise she prefers feisty heroines who aren’t afraid to jump into the fight. Her slivers of spare time are spent working out, gardening, playing the latest Assassin’s Creed, and rooting on the Seattle Mariners, always with music. She shares a house with her husband (not elven, alas, but a fine alternative) and a devoted cat herd while missing her daughter from afar. C. J. is represented by Brittany Booker of The Booker Albert Literary Agency.
Contact Links
Twitter: @CJBurright
Purchase Link
Thank you so much for the lovely review – and for sharing Wherever, Whenever! <3
Thanks, C.J.!