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Ghostly Guardians #2
Vortex Conundrum
Wanted: one demon hunter. Beware the matchmaking ghosts.
After years managing a haunted hotel and estate, I thought things were good. Sure, the ghosts can be a handful—nosy, opinionated, interfering—but they’re also friendly and fun. We have a system. Everything was under control.
Cue hysterical laughter.
But after a minor blip with a demon in the basement and a vortex to the spirit world, the ghosts swear they have no more secrets. The danger is gone, and we’ve done everything we can to make the vortex safe. It should be fine. Nothing’s come through it for fifty years.
It’s never that easy at Mannix Estate.
Lucky for us, the demon expert we met online is willing and able to help us out. I’m so grateful, I’d willingly kiss his feet. Until he arrives and opens his mouth.
Connor is... a jerk. But he’s a sexy jerk who’s doing us a favor, so I’m going to be polite no matter what. Even when he makes me mad. When he flirts hard. When the roof falls in and we have to share a bed. When we realize the vortex upstairs is just the beginning.
Suddenly, Connor’s real strengths shine. Beneath the smoking hot yet annoying surface is a heart of gold, and I don’t think I can hold out against it� or that I want to.
After years managing a haunted hotel and estate, I thought things were good. Sure, the ghosts can be a handful—nosy, opinionated, interfering—but they’re also friendly and fun. We have a system. Everything was under control.
Cue hysterical laughter.
But after a minor blip with a demon in the basement and a vortex to the spirit world, the ghosts swear they have no more secrets. The danger is gone, and we’ve done everything we can to make the vortex safe. It should be fine. Nothing’s come through it for fifty years.
It’s never that easy at Mannix Estate.
Lucky for us, the demon expert we met online is willing and able to help us out. I’m so grateful, I’d willingly kiss his feet. Until he arrives and opens his mouth.
Connor is... a jerk. But he’s a sexy jerk who’s doing us a favor, so I’m going to be polite no matter what. Even when he makes me mad. When he flirts hard. When the roof falls in and we have to share a bed. When we realize the vortex upstairs is just the beginning.
Suddenly, Connor’s real strengths shine. Beneath the smoking hot yet annoying surface is a heart of gold, and I don’t think I can hold out against it� or that I want to.
268 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 22, 2022
255 people are currently reading
462 people want to read
About the author
Louisa Masters
78books1,459followersLOUISA MASTERS started reading romance much earlier than her mother thought she should. While other teenagers were sneaking out of the house, Louisa was sneaking romance novels in and working out how to read them without being discovered. She’s spent most of her life feeling sorry for people who don’t read, convinced that books are the solution to every problem. As an adult, she feeds her addiction in every spare second, only occasionally tearing herself away to do things like answer the phone and pay bills. She spent years trying to build a “sensible� career, working in bookstores, recruitment, resource management, administration, and as a travel agent, before finally conceding defeat and devoting herself to the world of romance novels. Louisa has a long list of places first discovered in books that she wants to visit, and every so often she overcomes her loathing of jet lag and takes a trip that charges her imagination. She lives in Melbourne, Australia, where she whines about the weather for most of the year while secretly admitting she’ll probably never move.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 288 reviews
March 17, 2025
A fun and light read, but not as engaging as book 1. I found it a bit bland in comparison.
There is a lot of explaining how vortex works, I got bored. The romance between Kieran and Connor is rushed and relies too much on convenience. I prefer when a relationship develops in a more natural way, without so much interference from every character around them. Also their initial animosity and Connor's flirtations feel forced.
I did really enjoy spending more time with the characters I met in the previous book and I liked the introduction of Gabe's character.
There is a lot of explaining how vortex works, I got bored. The romance between Kieran and Connor is rushed and relies too much on convenience. I prefer when a relationship develops in a more natural way, without so much interference from every character around them. Also their initial animosity and Connor's flirtations feel forced.
I did really enjoy spending more time with the characters I met in the previous book and I liked the introduction of Gabe's character.
April 6, 2024
after the 50th read. still my favorite. period.
August 18, 2023
Louisa Masters has become one of my auto-buy authors this year and this book right here is the perfect example of why.
This is the perfect mix of humor and action. I couldn't stop reading.
We got a lot more lore in this than the first one and the the world is built is just so interesting. So much so that I didn't even mind the romance taking the backseat. Kieran and Connor were lovely though. And the snark... I loved the snark.
This is the perfect mix of humor and action. I couldn't stop reading.
We got a lot more lore in this than the first one and the the world is built is just so interesting. So much so that I didn't even mind the romance taking the backseat. Kieran and Connor were lovely though. And the snark... I loved the snark.
December 19, 2023
Fun but didn't quite hit the same tension level as book one
This was another fun read from Louisa in this paranormal world she's building where ghosts are a part of 'life' and people stay in haunted hotels to experience their existence.
Which, I have to say, confuses me somewhat given the not so subtle dropping of Franklin U into this book.
Because, as far as I'm aware, that's just supposed to be a contemporary romance shared world but it will be home to two of the secondary characters we met here.
Still, that's a small niggle in what was otherwise another great read with compelling MCs and a sort of snarky frenemies to lovers and forced proximity vibe.
I loved Kieran in book one so I was totally down with him finding a happy ever after and Connor was an interesting choice for him and I was hugely entertained by their snipping and poking at each other.
The ghosts are as wonderful as ever and I adore the found family that lives in this Estate and am very much looking forward to getting Skye and Daniel's story next.
I'm wondering if it might end up as an MMM with Gabe too and I'd be on board with that 100%.
This was another fun read from Louisa in this paranormal world she's building where ghosts are a part of 'life' and people stay in haunted hotels to experience their existence.
Which, I have to say, confuses me somewhat given the not so subtle dropping of Franklin U into this book.
Because, as far as I'm aware, that's just supposed to be a contemporary romance shared world but it will be home to two of the secondary characters we met here.
Still, that's a small niggle in what was otherwise another great read with compelling MCs and a sort of snarky frenemies to lovers and forced proximity vibe.
I loved Kieran in book one so I was totally down with him finding a happy ever after and Connor was an interesting choice for him and I was hugely entertained by their snipping and poking at each other.
The ghosts are as wonderful as ever and I adore the found family that lives in this Estate and am very much looking forward to getting Skye and Daniel's story next.
I'm wondering if it might end up as an MMM with Gabe too and I'd be on board with that 100%.
June 27, 2022
3 stars
The romance in this book not the best, but the ghosts in this book are the best haha
The ghosts and the paranormal are what kept me coming back, but I wouldn’t say I love this series. Also Nick J Russos narrations help get me through the books.
I am guessing Skye and Daniels book is coming up, unless it’ll be an MMM then add Gabe to that mix lol.
Overall an okay read, but I probably won’t reread.
The romance in this book not the best, but the ghosts in this book are the best haha
The ghosts and the paranormal are what kept me coming back, but I wouldn’t say I love this series. Also Nick J Russos narrations help get me through the books.
I am guessing Skye and Daniels book is coming up, unless it’ll be an MMM then add Gabe to that mix lol.
Overall an okay read, but I probably won’t reread.
July 30, 2022
I've given this a C at AAR.
Vortex Conundrum, the second book in Louisa Masters� Ghostly Guardians series, picks up a few months after the events of , and I really would advise reading that first if you plan on reading this one. It’s an easy read, but it’s very insubstantial in terms of both plot and characterisation.
Please note that this review contains spoilers for the previous book.
The Ghostly Guardians series takes place at the Mannix Estate in Illinois, an old country house that is now a museum and re-enactment centre that is reportedly“haunted as fuck�.InSpirited Situation, we learned that the friendly ghosts who live there have been guarding a kind of portal � they call it a vortex � to the ‘otherworld� (where all the nasty spirits and demons come from) for the last fifty years, ever since a guest summoned a demon which subsequently killed her. At the end of the book, Josh � a medium and one of the leads in the story � fought and vanquished a soul-eating demon that had found its way through the vortex. The ghosts now keep a round-the-clock watch on the vortex and have done the best they can to stop anything from crossing over; but then Skye, one of the hotel receptionists, is possessed by an unknown entity that clearly managed to make it through.
At a complete loss as to what to do next, Josh makes contact with the guy he’d been in touch with before when they had to fight the soul-eater, someone he’s found on the internet who clearly knows a lot about the supernatural. The guy � Connor � asks a lot of questions and explains to the stunned Mannix crew that he’s a paranormal hunter/troubleshooter. He concludes that Skye is a conduit, someone with a strong connection to the spirit world, and says he’ll be there in a few days to see what he can do.
Something about Connor rubs Kieran, the estate manager, up the wrong way from the moment they meet. Keiran thinks Connor is arrogant and condescending, Connor thinks Kieran is too tightly-wound and can’t resist pushing his buttons. But arrogant or not, Connor clearly knows what he’s doing, expelling the demon he calls a body-hopper from Skye easily and then insisting on being taken to the gateway he’s sensed up in one of the guest rooms. Kieran and Josh realise they can’t keep the vortex a secret any longer; Connor explains to them that while the ghosts have done a decent job of trying to stop anything coming through, they’ve been lucky until now.. The measures they’ve taken aren’t enough to stop it happening again, and there’s no guarantee that whatever comes through next will be as easy to deal with.
So far so good. I liked the author’s explanation of the purpose and workings of the soul, and was intrigued by the idea of The Collective � an organisation dedicated to safeguarding the Earth from the dangers of the otherworld that’s been around for more than a millenuim. The trouble is that it’s all conveyed through lenghty explanations and info-dumps.
As I said in my review of the previous book, the author has an engaging writing style that’s easy to read, the setting is interesting and the characters are likeable � but on the downside, there’s no real depth to them, the romance is superficial and there’s very little plot. Connor being a member of The Collective means he knows just about all there is to know about just about every supernatural entity in existence and how to combat it, so there’s no tension, no finding out stuff alongside the characters and never any real sense of peril. There’s one tiny moment near the end when we find out that Connor is capable of making a mistake, but, eh, blink and you’ll miss it. I also had to do a double take when, in the middle of trying to hold off an unexpectedly powerful demon he has to RUN OUT TO HIS CAR to get something! Dafuq??
Connor and Kieran are likeable but two-dimensional. They’re set up as antagonists, with Kieran bristling over Connor’s bluntness and tendency to say whatever comes into his head, and Connor being deliberately flirtatious to rile him up, but that doesn’t last very long. The romance, though, is nothing we haven’t seen before. Boy meets boy, boy likes pulling other boy’s metaphorical pig-tails, boy gives other boy a handjob for stress relief� it’s all rushed with no relationship development and no sense of why these people are attracted to each other apart from appearance.
I breezed through the book in a few hours, but I spent most of it waiting for something dramatic to happen � and it doesn’t. In a story about ghosts, demons and supernatural entities, I’d have expected some chills and spooky moments, a climactic battle between good and evil and an epic conclusion. There’s none of that here.
Vortex Conundrum is pretty bland, with a lacklustre romance and very little plot. I probably won’t be continuing with the series.
Vortex Conundrum, the second book in Louisa Masters� Ghostly Guardians series, picks up a few months after the events of , and I really would advise reading that first if you plan on reading this one. It’s an easy read, but it’s very insubstantial in terms of both plot and characterisation.
Please note that this review contains spoilers for the previous book.
The Ghostly Guardians series takes place at the Mannix Estate in Illinois, an old country house that is now a museum and re-enactment centre that is reportedly“haunted as fuck�.InSpirited Situation, we learned that the friendly ghosts who live there have been guarding a kind of portal � they call it a vortex � to the ‘otherworld� (where all the nasty spirits and demons come from) for the last fifty years, ever since a guest summoned a demon which subsequently killed her. At the end of the book, Josh � a medium and one of the leads in the story � fought and vanquished a soul-eating demon that had found its way through the vortex. The ghosts now keep a round-the-clock watch on the vortex and have done the best they can to stop anything from crossing over; but then Skye, one of the hotel receptionists, is possessed by an unknown entity that clearly managed to make it through.
At a complete loss as to what to do next, Josh makes contact with the guy he’d been in touch with before when they had to fight the soul-eater, someone he’s found on the internet who clearly knows a lot about the supernatural. The guy � Connor � asks a lot of questions and explains to the stunned Mannix crew that he’s a paranormal hunter/troubleshooter. He concludes that Skye is a conduit, someone with a strong connection to the spirit world, and says he’ll be there in a few days to see what he can do.
Something about Connor rubs Kieran, the estate manager, up the wrong way from the moment they meet. Keiran thinks Connor is arrogant and condescending, Connor thinks Kieran is too tightly-wound and can’t resist pushing his buttons. But arrogant or not, Connor clearly knows what he’s doing, expelling the demon he calls a body-hopper from Skye easily and then insisting on being taken to the gateway he’s sensed up in one of the guest rooms. Kieran and Josh realise they can’t keep the vortex a secret any longer; Connor explains to them that while the ghosts have done a decent job of trying to stop anything coming through, they’ve been lucky until now.. The measures they’ve taken aren’t enough to stop it happening again, and there’s no guarantee that whatever comes through next will be as easy to deal with.
So far so good. I liked the author’s explanation of the purpose and workings of the soul, and was intrigued by the idea of The Collective � an organisation dedicated to safeguarding the Earth from the dangers of the otherworld that’s been around for more than a millenuim. The trouble is that it’s all conveyed through lenghty explanations and info-dumps.
As I said in my review of the previous book, the author has an engaging writing style that’s easy to read, the setting is interesting and the characters are likeable � but on the downside, there’s no real depth to them, the romance is superficial and there’s very little plot. Connor being a member of The Collective means he knows just about all there is to know about just about every supernatural entity in existence and how to combat it, so there’s no tension, no finding out stuff alongside the characters and never any real sense of peril. There’s one tiny moment near the end when we find out that Connor is capable of making a mistake, but, eh, blink and you’ll miss it. I also had to do a double take when, in the middle of trying to hold off an unexpectedly powerful demon he has to RUN OUT TO HIS CAR to get something! Dafuq??
Connor and Kieran are likeable but two-dimensional. They’re set up as antagonists, with Kieran bristling over Connor’s bluntness and tendency to say whatever comes into his head, and Connor being deliberately flirtatious to rile him up, but that doesn’t last very long. The romance, though, is nothing we haven’t seen before. Boy meets boy, boy likes pulling other boy’s metaphorical pig-tails, boy gives other boy a handjob for stress relief� it’s all rushed with no relationship development and no sense of why these people are attracted to each other apart from appearance.
I breezed through the book in a few hours, but I spent most of it waiting for something dramatic to happen � and it doesn’t. In a story about ghosts, demons and supernatural entities, I’d have expected some chills and spooky moments, a climactic battle between good and evil and an epic conclusion. There’s none of that here.
Vortex Conundrum is pretty bland, with a lacklustre romance and very little plot. I probably won’t be continuing with the series.
June 25, 2022
2.5 stars rounded up
So I didn't, like, hate this book? But I didn't like it much either. The first 30% is spent explaining how vortexes/gateways work and it goes on and on and on blah blah blah who cares anymore. There is also a lot of callbacks and characters from the first book. Like, I understand this book is in a series but there is a better way to revisit previous events and introduce characters than this. Also, there were WAY too many characters overall and even a backdoor pilot for the forthcoming Franklin U multi-author series??? Seriously authors let your books breathe on their own.
Anyway, I did like the two main characters and their cute little hook up turned into romance thing. What I didn't like was the meddling family in the form of a 1000 year old ghost or constantly being told that certain things were annoying or rude when they weren't. Let me decide for myself based on the character's actions and words. But overall it was fairly readable I guess.
I received an ARC copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.
Read this review and more on my blog:
So I didn't, like, hate this book? But I didn't like it much either. The first 30% is spent explaining how vortexes/gateways work and it goes on and on and on blah blah blah who cares anymore. There is also a lot of callbacks and characters from the first book. Like, I understand this book is in a series but there is a better way to revisit previous events and introduce characters than this. Also, there were WAY too many characters overall and even a backdoor pilot for the forthcoming Franklin U multi-author series??? Seriously authors let your books breathe on their own.
Anyway, I did like the two main characters and their cute little hook up turned into romance thing. What I didn't like was the meddling family in the form of a 1000 year old ghost or constantly being told that certain things were annoying or rude when they weren't. Let me decide for myself based on the character's actions and words. But overall it was fairly readable I guess.
I received an ARC copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.
Read this review and more on my blog:
June 5, 2022
What a delightful return to the haunted estate this was! There were lots of parts that made me giggle, as well as some action and a bit of mystery. The side characters, including the ghosts, are all so fun!
I’m really enjoying this series and can’t wait for the next one!
I’m really enjoying this series and can’t wait for the next one!
April 19, 2025
This one was a bit of a mixed bag for me. Ilovedthe first book; it had that perfect blend of charm, chemistry, and paranormal mischief that totally hooked me. So naturally, I went into book2with pretty high expectations� but it didn’t quite deliver the same magic. I just didn’t feel that spark between the MCs this time around.
The romance felt more like “We’ve both got a pulse and don't feel weird aboutghosts, wanna date?� rather than a deep, natural connection. Compared to the first book’s couple; who had all the tension and believable emotional buildup; these two felt a bit like roommates who decided to make it official because, hey, why not?
That said, it’s not all doom and gloom! The ghostly shenanigans were still a highlight. I loved the chaotic paranormal energy in this world; ghosts being weird, and our characters trying to manage it all with varying degrees of success. Those moments kept me entertained and reminded me why I enjoyed the first book so much.
As for the ending� it was giving HFN energy, not quite the HEA I was hoping for. I wouldve liked a little more emotional payoff after all the spectral drama, but this one wrapped up in a kind of “cool, guess we’ll see how this goes� way.
Still, it was a fun read overall soI'm rating it 3.5 stars rounded down; it just wasn't quite on the same level as the first book. I’m definitely curious to see where the series goes next, and I’m holding out hope we’ll get back to the same vibes that made the first one such a hit for me.
The romance felt more like “We’ve both got a pulse and don't feel weird aboutghosts, wanna date?� rather than a deep, natural connection. Compared to the first book’s couple; who had all the tension and believable emotional buildup; these two felt a bit like roommates who decided to make it official because, hey, why not?
That said, it’s not all doom and gloom! The ghostly shenanigans were still a highlight. I loved the chaotic paranormal energy in this world; ghosts being weird, and our characters trying to manage it all with varying degrees of success. Those moments kept me entertained and reminded me why I enjoyed the first book so much.
As for the ending� it was giving HFN energy, not quite the HEA I was hoping for. I wouldve liked a little more emotional payoff after all the spectral drama, but this one wrapped up in a kind of “cool, guess we’ll see how this goes� way.
Still, it was a fun read overall soI'm rating it 3.5 stars rounded down; it just wasn't quite on the same level as the first book. I’m definitely curious to see where the series goes next, and I’m holding out hope we’ll get back to the same vibes that made the first one such a hit for me.
April 25, 2024
Getting me to feel a relationship with a character like Connor is hard, yet here Louisa managed. I don't usually like conflictive assholes, yet she managed to make him endearing. Good job.
January 19, 2023
**3.25 stars
I liked this one just slightly better than the first only because I felt a little more connection with Kieran and Connor. There was still the found family and ghostly shenanigans I love, but the romance is still taking a backseat. So still an enjoyable read, but nothing too meaty to really grab onto. I liked the buildup and push/pull dynamic between Connor and Korean but then it was kinda just settled and gone. The transition into more wasn’t very smooth and we end with a HFN and then an epilogue that shows they are going strong. I just need more.
I am looking forward to Skye and Daniel’s book and hope we get Gabe and then the brothers from Mr. Romance. This series had some characters that make you want to come back even when the book is only okay.
I liked this one just slightly better than the first only because I felt a little more connection with Kieran and Connor. There was still the found family and ghostly shenanigans I love, but the romance is still taking a backseat. So still an enjoyable read, but nothing too meaty to really grab onto. I liked the buildup and push/pull dynamic between Connor and Korean but then it was kinda just settled and gone. The transition into more wasn’t very smooth and we end with a HFN and then an epilogue that shows they are going strong. I just need more.
I am looking forward to Skye and Daniel’s book and hope we get Gabe and then the brothers from Mr. Romance. This series had some characters that make you want to come back even when the book is only okay.
March 10, 2024
Darum geht’s:
Auf dem Gelände von Mannix Estate gibt es ein Portal zur Anderswelt, das den Angestellten dieses historischen Erlebnishotels große Sorgen macht. Denn gerade ist ein Wesen durchgeschlüpft und in den Körper des Rezeptionisten Skye gefahren. Da Connor ihnen schon online mit der Entfernung eines Dämons helfen konnte, bitten sie ihn erneut um Rat. Connor reist schleunigst an, um sich die gefährliche Öffnung und den besessenen Skye anzusehen. Als sein Blick aber auf den Chef Kieran fällt, hat er spontan auch noch andere Dinge im Sinn als Geister und Dämonen.
So fand ich’s:
Die Lebenden und die Geister auf Mannix Estate mochte ich schon im ersten Band “Spuk und Schmied�. Mit dem Geisterjäger Connor kommt endlich jemand ins Hotel, der sich wirklich mit Dämonen und sonstigen Wesen von der anderen Seite des Portals auskennt. Er ist nicht nur kompetent, sondern auch sehr von sich überzeugt, ein Großmaul und Sprücheklopfer und hat von der ersten Sekunde an Spaß daran, Kieran zu ärgern. Dass sich dahinter die Weisheit des Spruches “Was sich liebt, das neckt sich� verbirgt und neben dem Geplänkel auch echte Gefühle ins Spiel kommen, merken Connor und Kieran erst nach einer Weile. Die Geister und die Angestellten des Estate haben es schon früher erkannt, doch ihre Verkupplungsversuche sind eher witzig als erfolgreich.
Der Handlungsstrang um das Portal und die übernatürlichen Wesen, die es anzieht, ist nicht nur ein Alibi für eine sehr süße Lovestory, sondern bietet selbst einiges an Spannung und guter Unterhaltung. Dieser Aspekt ist gut durchdacht und man bekommt auch einiges an Wissen darüber vermittelt, indem Connor seine Expertise mit den Bewohnern von Mannix Estate teilt.
Das “charismatische Arschloch� alias Dämonenfachmann Connor und der großherzige Hotelmanager Kieran erzählen abwechselnd, sodass man beiden in die Seele schauen kann. Auch die anderen Menschen und Geister auf Mannix Estate spielen wieder größere Rollen und nicht nur Connor und sein bester Freund Gabriel fühlen sich vom ersten Moment auf Mannix Estate pudelwohl, weil dort eine gute Atmosphäre herrscht. Mir ging es genauso.
Die lockere Erzählweise, der gute Humor, die Spannung, eine interessante Welt voller übernatürlicher Wesen und natürlich die zögerlich beginnende, später dann umso heißere Lovestory bilden ein Gemisch, das meinen Geschmack zu hundert Prozent getroffen hat. Ich empfehle, mit “Spuk und Schmied� anzufangen, das ebenso gute Unterhaltung geboten hat, und die Vorgeschichte zu “Drama und Dämonenjäger� erzählt. Auf die beiden noch nicht übersetzten Teile dieser Reihe freue ich mich schon sehr � für den 18. Juli ist der nächste Band angekündigt und ich stehe bereit!
Auf dem Gelände von Mannix Estate gibt es ein Portal zur Anderswelt, das den Angestellten dieses historischen Erlebnishotels große Sorgen macht. Denn gerade ist ein Wesen durchgeschlüpft und in den Körper des Rezeptionisten Skye gefahren. Da Connor ihnen schon online mit der Entfernung eines Dämons helfen konnte, bitten sie ihn erneut um Rat. Connor reist schleunigst an, um sich die gefährliche Öffnung und den besessenen Skye anzusehen. Als sein Blick aber auf den Chef Kieran fällt, hat er spontan auch noch andere Dinge im Sinn als Geister und Dämonen.
So fand ich’s:
Die Lebenden und die Geister auf Mannix Estate mochte ich schon im ersten Band “Spuk und Schmied�. Mit dem Geisterjäger Connor kommt endlich jemand ins Hotel, der sich wirklich mit Dämonen und sonstigen Wesen von der anderen Seite des Portals auskennt. Er ist nicht nur kompetent, sondern auch sehr von sich überzeugt, ein Großmaul und Sprücheklopfer und hat von der ersten Sekunde an Spaß daran, Kieran zu ärgern. Dass sich dahinter die Weisheit des Spruches “Was sich liebt, das neckt sich� verbirgt und neben dem Geplänkel auch echte Gefühle ins Spiel kommen, merken Connor und Kieran erst nach einer Weile. Die Geister und die Angestellten des Estate haben es schon früher erkannt, doch ihre Verkupplungsversuche sind eher witzig als erfolgreich.
Der Handlungsstrang um das Portal und die übernatürlichen Wesen, die es anzieht, ist nicht nur ein Alibi für eine sehr süße Lovestory, sondern bietet selbst einiges an Spannung und guter Unterhaltung. Dieser Aspekt ist gut durchdacht und man bekommt auch einiges an Wissen darüber vermittelt, indem Connor seine Expertise mit den Bewohnern von Mannix Estate teilt.
Das “charismatische Arschloch� alias Dämonenfachmann Connor und der großherzige Hotelmanager Kieran erzählen abwechselnd, sodass man beiden in die Seele schauen kann. Auch die anderen Menschen und Geister auf Mannix Estate spielen wieder größere Rollen und nicht nur Connor und sein bester Freund Gabriel fühlen sich vom ersten Moment auf Mannix Estate pudelwohl, weil dort eine gute Atmosphäre herrscht. Mir ging es genauso.
Die lockere Erzählweise, der gute Humor, die Spannung, eine interessante Welt voller übernatürlicher Wesen und natürlich die zögerlich beginnende, später dann umso heißere Lovestory bilden ein Gemisch, das meinen Geschmack zu hundert Prozent getroffen hat. Ich empfehle, mit “Spuk und Schmied� anzufangen, das ebenso gute Unterhaltung geboten hat, und die Vorgeschichte zu “Drama und Dämonenjäger� erzählt. Auf die beiden noch nicht übersetzten Teile dieser Reihe freue ich mich schon sehr � für den 18. Juli ist der nächste Band angekündigt und ich stehe bereit!
January 6, 2024
Not as intense as book one. Yet nice world building
June 6, 2022
Spirited Situation & VortexConundrum
Thank you to the author and GRR for the arc in exchange for my honest review.
I would give VortexConundrum 2 stars, but if I took both books into consideration it would be 2.5 stars overall. Note: You need to read Book 1 to understand Book 2.
Given that folks loved both books, it would be safe to say this is on me and not the books. I went into the books expecting a dash of humor, ghosts that would make chills run up my spine, and lots of spooky feels. And lots of tension and an epic conclusion.
Both books had a lot going for them - great characters, lovable ghosts, interesting setting. But given the complexityof what the books were trying to convey, the world-building wasn't balanced enough. There were areas where the world-building came on as an info-dump and I found myself struggling to retain what I was reading, and then there were areas where the characters seemed to know stuff and I was just catching up, barely. This was more the case in Book 2 where Connor seemed to know everything about everyone and every situation upfront and I was left wondering how was that possible, and also how was it possible that the dude had no vulnerabilities at all? I didn't feel a speck of worry for him or any of them. I also felt a bit like an outsider during those scenes in the book, and there were quite a few of those.
Also, majority of the books are devoted to humor and romance and snarky banter - which ordinarily I love when in balance - and the demon/ghostly bits took place in the last few chapters. Those were so rushed that it was hard for me to be scared or take them seriously, because the previousmood up until those moments had been light. So I think the balance here was also off for me.
I had hoped to love both books more because I love spooky reads. But this one was not a great fit for me unfortunately. :(
Thank you to the author and GRR for the arc in exchange for my honest review.
I would give VortexConundrum 2 stars, but if I took both books into consideration it would be 2.5 stars overall. Note: You need to read Book 1 to understand Book 2.
Given that folks loved both books, it would be safe to say this is on me and not the books. I went into the books expecting a dash of humor, ghosts that would make chills run up my spine, and lots of spooky feels. And lots of tension and an epic conclusion.
Both books had a lot going for them - great characters, lovable ghosts, interesting setting. But given the complexityof what the books were trying to convey, the world-building wasn't balanced enough. There were areas where the world-building came on as an info-dump and I found myself struggling to retain what I was reading, and then there were areas where the characters seemed to know stuff and I was just catching up, barely. This was more the case in Book 2 where Connor seemed to know everything about everyone and every situation upfront and I was left wondering how was that possible, and also how was it possible that the dude had no vulnerabilities at all? I didn't feel a speck of worry for him or any of them. I also felt a bit like an outsider during those scenes in the book, and there were quite a few of those.
Also, majority of the books are devoted to humor and romance and snarky banter - which ordinarily I love when in balance - and the demon/ghostly bits took place in the last few chapters. Those were so rushed that it was hard for me to be scared or take them seriously, because the previousmood up until those moments had been light. So I think the balance here was also off for me.
I had hoped to love both books more because I love spooky reads. But this one was not a great fit for me unfortunately. :(
June 23, 2022
Cute, fast-paced and there are demons!
In other words, this story is pretty darn entertaining.
So there's Kieran - the slightly uptight estate manager - and there's Connor - the demon hunter who's there to save the day. Kieran doesn't like Connor, not even a little bit, but he needs him to solve the little problem of having a gateway to another dimension in the hotel. And like he didn't have enough to deal with already, Connor keeps flirting with him while also being the most annoying person ever. He's hot though, so if he offers to help relieve some of Kieran's tension, that shouldn't complicate things, right?
Having Kieran and Connor starting out with some sort of annoying-roomies-with-benefits thing was genius. It kick-started the story and allowed for some spice before credible feeling could be established. It also added even more tension to the chaos at the estate. Because it was chaos, in the very best way. The estate staff juggles ghosts, unwelcome spirits, and smuggles demon hunters into the hotel, with the guests none the wiser.
Overall I liked this book more than the first in the series. Spirited Situation was sweet (with the best opening chapter!) but the faster pace in Vortex was more entertaining if you ask me. This book was more of everything. More characters, more world-building, more directions of the story.
It was great seeing all the characters from Spirited Situation again. Especially Josh and Ewan. But apart from Kieran and Josh, Skye captured a lot of my attention. I can't wait to get his story, so I keep my fingers crossed for the third book.
Quirky and fun with some delicious man-on-man action.
Highly recommend. 4 strong stars!
*** A free e-copy of this book was kindly provided by Gay Romance Reviews and this is my voluntary and unbiased review ***
In other words, this story is pretty darn entertaining.
So there's Kieran - the slightly uptight estate manager - and there's Connor - the demon hunter who's there to save the day. Kieran doesn't like Connor, not even a little bit, but he needs him to solve the little problem of having a gateway to another dimension in the hotel. And like he didn't have enough to deal with already, Connor keeps flirting with him while also being the most annoying person ever. He's hot though, so if he offers to help relieve some of Kieran's tension, that shouldn't complicate things, right?
Having Kieran and Connor starting out with some sort of annoying-roomies-with-benefits thing was genius. It kick-started the story and allowed for some spice before credible feeling could be established. It also added even more tension to the chaos at the estate. Because it was chaos, in the very best way. The estate staff juggles ghosts, unwelcome spirits, and smuggles demon hunters into the hotel, with the guests none the wiser.
Overall I liked this book more than the first in the series. Spirited Situation was sweet (with the best opening chapter!) but the faster pace in Vortex was more entertaining if you ask me. This book was more of everything. More characters, more world-building, more directions of the story.
It was great seeing all the characters from Spirited Situation again. Especially Josh and Ewan. But apart from Kieran and Josh, Skye captured a lot of my attention. I can't wait to get his story, so I keep my fingers crossed for the third book.
Quirky and fun with some delicious man-on-man action.
Highly recommend. 4 strong stars!
*** A free e-copy of this book was kindly provided by Gay Romance Reviews and this is my voluntary and unbiased review ***
June 30, 2022
4.5 stars
I really enjoyed this book and this series so far! The demon was scary but Connor was awesome. Connor was a bit of a jerk to Kieran on the surface, so I was glad we got to see his point of view. They really had chemistry. Learning more of the lore was good and I’m looking forward to more.
I really enjoyed this book and this series so far! The demon was scary but Connor was awesome. Connor was a bit of a jerk to Kieran on the surface, so I was glad we got to see his point of view. They really had chemistry. Learning more of the lore was good and I’m looking forward to more.
July 15, 2022
Yep, this series is definitely working for me! The world-building is moving right along and Kerrian's love life is looking up? We had all the things I needed to make this a good read!
June 25, 2022
4.25 Stars!
Vortex Conundrum is the second book in the Ghostly Guardians series, which needs to be read in order.
This book follows Kieran, Mannix Estate's manager, and Connor, a demon hunter who comes to the hotel to help them out with a pesky vortex that doesn't want to close.
Connor is sarcastic and could come across as arrogant, which made Kieran dislike him at first. Connor, on the other hand, likes everything about Kieran, and with the help of some meddling ghosts and the rest of the hotel's staff, Kieran starts seeing Connor in another light. They had chemistry and were good together, but I felt kind of cheated. There was so much going on with the vortex/gateway and The Collective that the moments between them weren't as many as I would've liked.
I liked that we got some closure with Emma's ex, who was worse than I anticipated. And I'm intrigued over how they're going to find the rogue gateway.
All in all, a solid, interesting read. I would've liked it to be more romance-focused, but it was still fun and engaging. Recommendable!
*** Copy provided for my reading pleasure, a review wasn't a requirement. ***
Vortex Conundrum is the second book in the Ghostly Guardians series, which needs to be read in order.
This book follows Kieran, Mannix Estate's manager, and Connor, a demon hunter who comes to the hotel to help them out with a pesky vortex that doesn't want to close.
Connor is sarcastic and could come across as arrogant, which made Kieran dislike him at first. Connor, on the other hand, likes everything about Kieran, and with the help of some meddling ghosts and the rest of the hotel's staff, Kieran starts seeing Connor in another light. They had chemistry and were good together, but I felt kind of cheated. There was so much going on with the vortex/gateway and The Collective that the moments between them weren't as many as I would've liked.
I liked that we got some closure with Emma's ex, who was worse than I anticipated. And I'm intrigued over how they're going to find the rogue gateway.
All in all, a solid, interesting read. I would've liked it to be more romance-focused, but it was still fun and engaging. Recommendable!
*** Copy provided for my reading pleasure, a review wasn't a requirement. ***
February 21, 2024
Story:
Nachdem der Seelenfresser auf dem Mannix Estate gebannt ist, glaubt Geschäftsführer Kieran, dass im Hotel endlich Ruhe einkehrt, auch wenn das Vortex noch geöffnet ist, dass es den Geistern ermöglicht sich jedem zu zeigen. Das ändert sich schlagartig, als der Angestellte Skye von einem Wesen aus der anderen Welt besessen wird und sie gezwungen sind zu einem waschechten Dämonenjäger Kontakt aufzunehmen. Connor, der ihnen bereits aus der ferne mit dem Seelenfresser geholfen hat, ist bereit, sie dieses Mal direkt zu unterstützen. Schnell wird klar, dass er nicht nur ein Experte ist und zu einer viel größeren, Jahrhunderte alten Organisation gehört, er hat auch einen Narren an Kieran gefressen, der mit den Neckereien des Dämonenjägers so gar nichts anfangen kann �
Eigene Meinung:
Mit „Geister und Dämonenjäger� legt der Second Chances Verlag den zweiten Teil der Gay Urban Fantasy Reihe „Geister inklusive� von Louisa Masters vor. Wie schon in „Spuk und Schmied� ist die Geschichte im Spukhotel Mannix Estate angesiedelt und führt die Geschichte um Josh, Kieran und die Hotelangestellten weiter. Dabei steht dieses Mal mit Kieran und Connor ein anderes Pärchen im Zentrum, während die Rahmengeschichte und auch die Hintergrundwelt weiterentwickelt wird. Zur Reihe gehören noch zwei weitere Bände, die sich auf die restlichen, vorwiegend schwulen bzw. bisexuellen Charaktere konzentrieren.
Die Geschichte ist recht generisch gehalten, da bereits beim Lesen des Klappentextes klar war, in welche Richtung die Handlung entwickelt. Sicherlich legt Louisa Masters auch Wert darauf die Rahmenhandlung weiterzuentwickeln und setzt auf die Mischung aus Fantasy, Humor und queerer Lovestory, dennoch bietet „Drama und Dämonenjäger� wenig Spannung und Abwechslung. Das liegt vor allem daran, dass sowohl die Geister als auch die Dämonen aus der Welt jenseits des Vortex nur eine sehr untergeordnete Rolle spielen und man auf ein großes Finale, wie man es am Ende des ersten Bandes hatte, vergeblich wartet. Stattdessen liegt der Fokus auf Kieran und Connor, die so forciert in eine Liebesgeschichte hineingezwungen werden, dass man kurz davor ist, die Lust an der Geschichte zu verlieren. Das liegt vor allem an den Nebenfiguren (Menschen und Geister), deren Anwesenheit in diesem Band scheinbar nur dazu dient, die beiden Männer miteinander zu verkuppeln � durch Andeutungen, Sprüche und entsprechende Aktionen. Hauptgrund für die meisten: Der bisexuelle Kieran ist einsam und hatte ewig keine Beziehung mehr und Connor steht auf rothaarige Männer wie Kieran und ärgert ihn die meiste Zeit. Dass Kieran kein Interesse hat und die meiste Zeit von Connor genervt ist, wird wegignoriert � denn das Necken ist ja ein Ausdruck seine Gefühle für ihn. Das ist nicht nur auf so vielen Ebenen falsch, es sorgt auch dafür, dass man die sich entwickelnde Liebe der Beiden nicht wirklich nachvollziehen kann. Nichtsdestotrotz kommen Kieran und Connor zusammen, denn das ist letztendlich Ziel der Buches. Als Leser*in hat man leider das Gefühl, dass dies stark von der Autorin forciert wurde und andere Möglichkeiten nicht einmal in Erwägung gezogen wurden. Es muss ein schwules Liebespaar geben, die beiden stehen im Zentrum, also wird das bis zum bitteren Ende inklusive einigen expliziten Szenen durchgezogen. Es ist schade, dass über diese forcierte Beziehung die Hintergrundhandlung nur am Rande fortgeführt wird � sicher man erfährt einiges über die Dämonenwelt (Connor ist schließlich seit Jahren Dämonenjäger und Teil einer entsprechenden Organisation) und es werden neue Figuren eingeführt, doch die Spannung und Action, die Louisa Masters im ersten Band eingebaut hat, fehlt fast vollkommen. Man hat eher das Gefühl, als falle der Autorin auf den letzten 50 Seiten auf, dass man vielleicht noch eine Actionszene mit einem Dämon einbauen sollte, um die Urban Fantasy Leser*innen nicht ganz zu verlieren. Das ist schade, denn wer den Mix aus Fantasy, Geistern, Dämonen und Liebesgeschichte aus dem ersten Band mochte, wird enttäuscht sein.
Die Figuren sind nichtsdestotrotz sympathisch, wenngleich sie wesentlich stereotyper daher kommen und den üblichen Klischees entsprechen � natürlich sind die Hauptfiguren sexy und finden den jeweils anderen optisch ansprechend, als sei dieser Aspekt das wichtigste an dem Love Interest. Kieran ist die meiste Zeit genervt und kann Connor im Grunde nicht ausstehen (warum er einem Techtelmechtel im Doppelbett zustimmt, kann man nur schwer verstehen), Connor wiederum verhält sich recht kindisch, trägt aber viel Wissen in sich und weiß, wie man mit dem Vortex/Portal umgehen muss.
Die übrigen Figuren kommen nur am Rande vor � sie nehmen noch weniger Raum ein, als im ersten Band, was sehr schade ist, denn die Interaktionen zwischen den Menschen und den Geistern haben im zweiten Band wirklich gefehlt.
Stilistisch gibt es nichts zu bemängeln � Louisa Masters hat einen schönen, flüssigen und sicheren Schreibstil, der Leser*innen schnell in die Geschichte zieht und durch die Seiten fliegen lässt. Sie hat in Händchen für Dialoge und Beschreibungen, ebenso für ihre verschiedenen Figuren. Hin und wieder könnte der Fokus mehr auf der Fantasy Geschichte und den Geistern liegen, anstatt auf der Beziehung und der Liebesgeschichte zwischen dem Main Pairing, doch bei solch generischen Büchern sollte man sich von Anfang an darauf einstellen, dass die jeweiligen Pärchen im Mittelpunkt stehen. Bleibt zu hoffen, dass es im nächsten Teil wieder mehr um die fantastische Rahmenhandlung geht und man mehr über die daraus resultierenden Probleme erfährt, als über die Beziehung des nächsten Pärchens, das verkuppelt werden will �
Fazit:
„Drama und Dämonenjäger� führt die „Geister inklusive Reihe� von Louisa Masters mit viel Drama, generischer Liebe und einigen recht stereotypen Figuren fort, erreicht jedoch nicht den Witz und Charme des ersten Bandes. Dafür rückt die eigentliche Urban Fantasy Handlung zu sehr in den Hintergrund und der Fokus liegt zu stark auf dem Zusammenbringen eines Pärchens, das eigentlich nicht so wirklich zusammenpasst. Es ist schade, denn bei „Spuk und Schmied� stimmte die Mischung, man hatte Spaß an den Figuren und wurde am Ende mit einem spannenden Kampf gegen einen Dämonen belohnt � im zweiten Band wirkt alles leider weniger stimmig, die Liebesgeschichte zu forciert. Bleibt zu hoffen, dass der dritte Teil der Reihe wieder mit einer ausgewogenen Mischung aus Fantasy, Action und Liebe punkten kann, „Drama und Dämonenjäger� gelingt dies leider nicht �
Nachdem der Seelenfresser auf dem Mannix Estate gebannt ist, glaubt Geschäftsführer Kieran, dass im Hotel endlich Ruhe einkehrt, auch wenn das Vortex noch geöffnet ist, dass es den Geistern ermöglicht sich jedem zu zeigen. Das ändert sich schlagartig, als der Angestellte Skye von einem Wesen aus der anderen Welt besessen wird und sie gezwungen sind zu einem waschechten Dämonenjäger Kontakt aufzunehmen. Connor, der ihnen bereits aus der ferne mit dem Seelenfresser geholfen hat, ist bereit, sie dieses Mal direkt zu unterstützen. Schnell wird klar, dass er nicht nur ein Experte ist und zu einer viel größeren, Jahrhunderte alten Organisation gehört, er hat auch einen Narren an Kieran gefressen, der mit den Neckereien des Dämonenjägers so gar nichts anfangen kann �
Eigene Meinung:
Mit „Geister und Dämonenjäger� legt der Second Chances Verlag den zweiten Teil der Gay Urban Fantasy Reihe „Geister inklusive� von Louisa Masters vor. Wie schon in „Spuk und Schmied� ist die Geschichte im Spukhotel Mannix Estate angesiedelt und führt die Geschichte um Josh, Kieran und die Hotelangestellten weiter. Dabei steht dieses Mal mit Kieran und Connor ein anderes Pärchen im Zentrum, während die Rahmengeschichte und auch die Hintergrundwelt weiterentwickelt wird. Zur Reihe gehören noch zwei weitere Bände, die sich auf die restlichen, vorwiegend schwulen bzw. bisexuellen Charaktere konzentrieren.
Die Geschichte ist recht generisch gehalten, da bereits beim Lesen des Klappentextes klar war, in welche Richtung die Handlung entwickelt. Sicherlich legt Louisa Masters auch Wert darauf die Rahmenhandlung weiterzuentwickeln und setzt auf die Mischung aus Fantasy, Humor und queerer Lovestory, dennoch bietet „Drama und Dämonenjäger� wenig Spannung und Abwechslung. Das liegt vor allem daran, dass sowohl die Geister als auch die Dämonen aus der Welt jenseits des Vortex nur eine sehr untergeordnete Rolle spielen und man auf ein großes Finale, wie man es am Ende des ersten Bandes hatte, vergeblich wartet. Stattdessen liegt der Fokus auf Kieran und Connor, die so forciert in eine Liebesgeschichte hineingezwungen werden, dass man kurz davor ist, die Lust an der Geschichte zu verlieren. Das liegt vor allem an den Nebenfiguren (Menschen und Geister), deren Anwesenheit in diesem Band scheinbar nur dazu dient, die beiden Männer miteinander zu verkuppeln � durch Andeutungen, Sprüche und entsprechende Aktionen. Hauptgrund für die meisten: Der bisexuelle Kieran ist einsam und hatte ewig keine Beziehung mehr und Connor steht auf rothaarige Männer wie Kieran und ärgert ihn die meiste Zeit. Dass Kieran kein Interesse hat und die meiste Zeit von Connor genervt ist, wird wegignoriert � denn das Necken ist ja ein Ausdruck seine Gefühle für ihn. Das ist nicht nur auf so vielen Ebenen falsch, es sorgt auch dafür, dass man die sich entwickelnde Liebe der Beiden nicht wirklich nachvollziehen kann. Nichtsdestotrotz kommen Kieran und Connor zusammen, denn das ist letztendlich Ziel der Buches. Als Leser*in hat man leider das Gefühl, dass dies stark von der Autorin forciert wurde und andere Möglichkeiten nicht einmal in Erwägung gezogen wurden. Es muss ein schwules Liebespaar geben, die beiden stehen im Zentrum, also wird das bis zum bitteren Ende inklusive einigen expliziten Szenen durchgezogen. Es ist schade, dass über diese forcierte Beziehung die Hintergrundhandlung nur am Rande fortgeführt wird � sicher man erfährt einiges über die Dämonenwelt (Connor ist schließlich seit Jahren Dämonenjäger und Teil einer entsprechenden Organisation) und es werden neue Figuren eingeführt, doch die Spannung und Action, die Louisa Masters im ersten Band eingebaut hat, fehlt fast vollkommen. Man hat eher das Gefühl, als falle der Autorin auf den letzten 50 Seiten auf, dass man vielleicht noch eine Actionszene mit einem Dämon einbauen sollte, um die Urban Fantasy Leser*innen nicht ganz zu verlieren. Das ist schade, denn wer den Mix aus Fantasy, Geistern, Dämonen und Liebesgeschichte aus dem ersten Band mochte, wird enttäuscht sein.
Die Figuren sind nichtsdestotrotz sympathisch, wenngleich sie wesentlich stereotyper daher kommen und den üblichen Klischees entsprechen � natürlich sind die Hauptfiguren sexy und finden den jeweils anderen optisch ansprechend, als sei dieser Aspekt das wichtigste an dem Love Interest. Kieran ist die meiste Zeit genervt und kann Connor im Grunde nicht ausstehen (warum er einem Techtelmechtel im Doppelbett zustimmt, kann man nur schwer verstehen), Connor wiederum verhält sich recht kindisch, trägt aber viel Wissen in sich und weiß, wie man mit dem Vortex/Portal umgehen muss.
Die übrigen Figuren kommen nur am Rande vor � sie nehmen noch weniger Raum ein, als im ersten Band, was sehr schade ist, denn die Interaktionen zwischen den Menschen und den Geistern haben im zweiten Band wirklich gefehlt.
Stilistisch gibt es nichts zu bemängeln � Louisa Masters hat einen schönen, flüssigen und sicheren Schreibstil, der Leser*innen schnell in die Geschichte zieht und durch die Seiten fliegen lässt. Sie hat in Händchen für Dialoge und Beschreibungen, ebenso für ihre verschiedenen Figuren. Hin und wieder könnte der Fokus mehr auf der Fantasy Geschichte und den Geistern liegen, anstatt auf der Beziehung und der Liebesgeschichte zwischen dem Main Pairing, doch bei solch generischen Büchern sollte man sich von Anfang an darauf einstellen, dass die jeweiligen Pärchen im Mittelpunkt stehen. Bleibt zu hoffen, dass es im nächsten Teil wieder mehr um die fantastische Rahmenhandlung geht und man mehr über die daraus resultierenden Probleme erfährt, als über die Beziehung des nächsten Pärchens, das verkuppelt werden will �
Fazit:
„Drama und Dämonenjäger� führt die „Geister inklusive Reihe� von Louisa Masters mit viel Drama, generischer Liebe und einigen recht stereotypen Figuren fort, erreicht jedoch nicht den Witz und Charme des ersten Bandes. Dafür rückt die eigentliche Urban Fantasy Handlung zu sehr in den Hintergrund und der Fokus liegt zu stark auf dem Zusammenbringen eines Pärchens, das eigentlich nicht so wirklich zusammenpasst. Es ist schade, denn bei „Spuk und Schmied� stimmte die Mischung, man hatte Spaß an den Figuren und wurde am Ende mit einem spannenden Kampf gegen einen Dämonen belohnt � im zweiten Band wirkt alles leider weniger stimmig, die Liebesgeschichte zu forciert. Bleibt zu hoffen, dass der dritte Teil der Reihe wieder mit einer ausgewogenen Mischung aus Fantasy, Action und Liebe punkten kann, „Drama und Dämonenjäger� gelingt dies leider nicht �
April 11, 2023
A fun read ⭐️⭐️⭐️
May 31, 2022
Yall, I inhaled this book. I started and finished it yesterday. Louisa Masters has a way of worldbuilding that just sucks you in and does not let you go until it is ready to.
In this series, we have an older hotel/bed-n-breakfast that is located in an area that is different. It has lot of crystals and a group of friendly ghosts and it feels good to those who have special abilities.
In the first book of the series, we learned that there was a vortex that was located in a closet and thanks to Josh, some ghosts, and an internet dude, they were able to get rid of a demon and mostly close the opening.
Or so they thought.
Come to find out, something was able to squeeze through and caused some mischief bad enough for Josh to reach out to the internet friend again.
And surprise! The friend, who is Conner, is actually gifted as well and knows what is going on as soon as he gets near the farm. I am calling it a farm cause it does have gardens and a hunky blacksmith. Think of it as one of those places you had to go experience the olden days when you were in school and had to pack a lunch.
Anyways, Kieran of the red hair is the manager of the place and these two have an insta-attraction situation going on, even though Conner is not a people person and really peeves Kieran off.
Spooky things happen and Conner gets to be the superhero and Kieran really likes that.
In this series, we have an older hotel/bed-n-breakfast that is located in an area that is different. It has lot of crystals and a group of friendly ghosts and it feels good to those who have special abilities.
In the first book of the series, we learned that there was a vortex that was located in a closet and thanks to Josh, some ghosts, and an internet dude, they were able to get rid of a demon and mostly close the opening.
Or so they thought.
Come to find out, something was able to squeeze through and caused some mischief bad enough for Josh to reach out to the internet friend again.
And surprise! The friend, who is Conner, is actually gifted as well and knows what is going on as soon as he gets near the farm. I am calling it a farm cause it does have gardens and a hunky blacksmith. Think of it as one of those places you had to go experience the olden days when you were in school and had to pack a lunch.
Anyways, Kieran of the red hair is the manager of the place and these two have an insta-attraction situation going on, even though Conner is not a people person and really peeves Kieran off.
Spooky things happen and Conner gets to be the superhero and Kieran really likes that.
I steady my nerves and vow to sex him up so good later. He deserves it after this.
June 21, 2022
I loved reading book one of this paranormal series from Louisa Masters and Vortex Conundrum is just as entertaining whilst getting to know the cast of characters better and adding a couple to the group as well.
Keiran gets his turn here at his own HEA, something much deserved with what he has out up with, running the estate on a daily basis whilst dealing with guests, staff and ghosts. Their very own vortex conundrum gets an assist from a very infuriating man who also happens to be easy on the eye. Connor has been a hunter for years and after turning up at the estate, knows there's a lot more going on than what he's been told. His personality is amusing in that he doesn't seem to care what he says, just that he gets the job done but the group of people he meets here he can't help but become attached to, and no one more so than Keiran.
These two are so funny together. Connor riles Keiran up on purpose, loving the reactions he gets while Keiran just really wants to slap him and have just one good day at work with no demons, no vortexes, and maybe even 100% happy guests. There a sizzle of something there between them from the start but it takes a while before one of them takes a chance. I enjoyed how this develop between them, not just rushing headfirst into anything once they first get together but there are also sweet smiles and lingering glances.
The series arc is getting a bit more serious as Connor reveals a lot about the vortex/gateway and its history along with what can be done about it going forward. Whilst there isn't a moment quite as dark and dangerous as the end of book one, there's still plenty to keep you on your toes and a lot to think about going forward with a mystery that has one hunter and one gatekeeper unsure which can't be a good thing.
Another recommended read from Louisa. I love how she balances so many aspects whilst keeping the story entertaining with serious moments, has fun between the ghosts and the living, and builds a relationship that has a lot going for it moving forward.
I received an ARC and am happily giving a review.
Keiran gets his turn here at his own HEA, something much deserved with what he has out up with, running the estate on a daily basis whilst dealing with guests, staff and ghosts. Their very own vortex conundrum gets an assist from a very infuriating man who also happens to be easy on the eye. Connor has been a hunter for years and after turning up at the estate, knows there's a lot more going on than what he's been told. His personality is amusing in that he doesn't seem to care what he says, just that he gets the job done but the group of people he meets here he can't help but become attached to, and no one more so than Keiran.
These two are so funny together. Connor riles Keiran up on purpose, loving the reactions he gets while Keiran just really wants to slap him and have just one good day at work with no demons, no vortexes, and maybe even 100% happy guests. There a sizzle of something there between them from the start but it takes a while before one of them takes a chance. I enjoyed how this develop between them, not just rushing headfirst into anything once they first get together but there are also sweet smiles and lingering glances.
The series arc is getting a bit more serious as Connor reveals a lot about the vortex/gateway and its history along with what can be done about it going forward. Whilst there isn't a moment quite as dark and dangerous as the end of book one, there's still plenty to keep you on your toes and a lot to think about going forward with a mystery that has one hunter and one gatekeeper unsure which can't be a good thing.
Another recommended read from Louisa. I love how she balances so many aspects whilst keeping the story entertaining with serious moments, has fun between the ghosts and the living, and builds a relationship that has a lot going for it moving forward.
I received an ARC and am happily giving a review.
June 19, 2022
I wasn't sure how the next adventure at Mannix Estate could top a spooky vortex and demon trapped in the basement, but I genuinely loved the direction Kieran and Connor's story took. Instead of being all about the next big bad, their story focused more on learning about the different types of otherworldly beings and understanding how the gateway formed in the first place. Having Connor act as the subject matter expert went a long way towards answering some of the questionsthe first book raised and opened up new, exciting mysteries for the group to get involved in. I'm very intrigued by the concept of the Collective, and now that they know about the unexplained happenings around the estate, it feels like there's a whole host of new people to be introduced and psychic conundrums waiting to be discovered. The Mannix Estate crew was as vibrant and gossipy as ever, and I especially loved the addition of ghost Uncle Norval. Their shenanigans never failed to make me laugh out loud, and despite Kieran's stress about all the chaos around the resort, the overall story maintained its upbeat feel. Kieran was the definition of tightly wound, and while I can definitely understand how overwhelming the ghostly activity must have been, there was a part of me that was downright delighted every time Connor poked at his carefully controlled facade. Their romance seemed like a total disaster at first, with Kieran more likely to punch Connor than kiss him, but that only made it more fun to watch the two of them be in forced proximity to one another. Kieran may have been unwilling at first, but once he and Connor gave in to their chemistry there was no going back. I got butterflies myself watching the two of them fall for each other, and I'm thrilled they found a way to make their relationship work around their busy careers.
**I voluntarily read an ARC of this book. Thisreview expresses my honest thoughts and opinions.
**I voluntarily read an ARC of this book. Thisreview expresses my honest thoughts and opinions.
May 27, 2024
After Skye is possessed by a spirit when the block the ghosts installed in the vortex, Josh and Kieran reach out to the person (Connor) who helped them with the soul eater demon for help. Connor comes to Mannix Estate to help with the body hopper spirit and falls in love with Kieran.
I love this series. I like that the romance takes a back seat to the (honestly?) killer lore that Masters has created for the universe of this series, but the romance is still there and swoony. I love this and am super sad that I'm halfway through the series..
ALSO hilarious to learn that this is connected to in the Franklin U series because that means there are demons and ghosts confirmed to exist in some of my other favorite MM romance authors' (namely Saxon James and Eden Finley) universes. I just love knowing that, while reading a book about hockey idiots that they've connected to Franklin U, there are also ghosts existing in the world. So thanks VERY much for that, Louisa Masters!
I love this series. I like that the romance takes a back seat to the (honestly?) killer lore that Masters has created for the universe of this series, but the romance is still there and swoony. I love this and am super sad that I'm halfway through the series..
ALSO hilarious to learn that this is connected to in the Franklin U series because that means there are demons and ghosts confirmed to exist in some of my other favorite MM romance authors' (namely Saxon James and Eden Finley) universes. I just love knowing that, while reading a book about hockey idiots that they've connected to Franklin U, there are also ghosts existing in the world. So thanks VERY much for that, Louisa Masters!
June 26, 2022
I've been looking forward to this since I finished book 1, but I was disappointed. Compared to what I remember of the action and peril of book 1, this book seemed to lack any real conflict that lasted more than a chapter. The relationship between the 2 main characters had potential and some nice moments but ended up being just OK. I wasn't particularly invested in them. All in all, I felt like I was still waiting for the story to start when I turned the page and found myself in the epilogue. I was left going ". . . That's it?"
May 18, 2023
I'm enjoying this series, I like the supernatural aspect of it. The characters at the manix estate are all great, including the ghosts. I like the introduction of Connor and Gabe into the found family there. I enjoyed Connor and Kieran's blossoming attraction to each other, though o thought Kieran was over the top in his reactions to him in the beginning, but he toned them down soon enough. I can't wait to start the next book.
July 3, 2022
This was a fun one. Took a while to remember the characters. I liked this one more than the first. Kieran already dealing with the ghost craziness and taking care of his people. Connor wasn't so bad from the start, they made a cute couple and it was fun. Wasn't expecting the whole hero thing. Curious about Gabe and of course the bigger picture. Looking forward to the next one.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 22, 2022
I loved the first book in this series, Spirited Situation, and was eager to keep up with the happenings with this fun cast. I wouldn't recommend reading Vortex Conundrum without reading Spirited Situation first, because it introduces most of the characters and starts the story arc with the vortex.
But that's a good thing because the first book is SO good.
This one lives up to the first one. It's with a different pair of MCs, and ends in a satisfying HFN, just like Spirited Situation did.
Vortex Conundrum is funny, steamy, and has just the right balance of romance, sex, and storyline. I can't wait to see what happens next!
But that's a good thing because the first book is SO good.
This one lives up to the first one. It's with a different pair of MCs, and ends in a satisfying HFN, just like Spirited Situation did.
Vortex Conundrum is funny, steamy, and has just the right balance of romance, sex, and storyline. I can't wait to see what happens next!
August 15, 2024
3.5 stars
June 25, 2022
I really enjoyed this book and loved being back at Mannix Estate. Connor and Kieran have so much chemistry and I loved seeing them play off each other. I was glad they were both able to put their guards down enough to let the other in. I am very interested in how this series will continue.
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