Reviewed by Valerie
TITLE: The Winter Spirit
AUTHOR: Indra Vaughn
PUBLISHER: Self Published
LENGTH: 81 pages
RELEASE DATE: November 16, 2015
BLURB:
Nathaniel O’Donnelly likes his life quiet, his guests happy, and his ghosts well-behaved.
Although a boyfriend wouldn’t go amiss. Someone to share his beautiful B&B with, even if it is in the middle of nowhere and he’s long past the wrong side of thirty. Problem is, Nathaniel’s living with a ghost who thinks he’s cupid, and whose arrows fly a little too straight.
Gabriel Wickfield had the unfortunate luck of dying before his time, and now he’s stuck trying to make romance happen to earn his right to move along. Not that he’s bored in the meantime—Nathaniel is just too easy to tease. And also a little bit scrumptious…
With the curse reaching its expiration date, Gabriel needs to make a final match this Christmas. Without it, nothing but darkness awaits.
Love can conquer all, but can it beat death?
VALERIE’S REVIEW:
The Winter Spirit is a short and sweet, holiday love story featuring a mischievous ghost who’s been dead for 100 years and the innkeeper who falls for him.
Nathaniel inherited his uncle’s dilapidated, old house twelve years ago. Three years and lots of renovations later, he opened it as the Lake House Bed and Breakfast. All that time, it has been haunted – in a whimsical way – by Gabriel, who was born in the nineteenth century. He’s a matchmaking ghost, it seems. He’s paying penance for something he did while alive and is stuck only appearing as a reflection in mirrors until he facilitates a couple falling in love. What happens after that is unknown, even to him; can he find a way to stay in the present?
It’s easy to see where this story is headed and it’s a delightful journey to a perfect happily ever after. Nathaniel and Gabriel are both sympathetic characters; this is low angst but Gabriel’s backstory broke my heart a little bit. Gabriel’s a good guy. Even when he’s presented with a situation where he could encourage two people to fall in love and thus end his purgatory, he does the right thing and doesn’t push them together when he recognizes they’re not right for each other. Nathaniel is a sweet, honorable man, too. Even as he’s falling in love with Gabriel, he wants what’s best for the ghost, even if that means helping Gabriel move on without him.
Overall, this is a well-written a story with a creative plot, a warm, cozy setting, and highly likable leading men (ghost). Nathaniel’s best friend and employee, Elisa, and guests Mrs. Anderson and Mr. Houzer are enjoyable side characters. This is a fun story with Gabriel playing silly, harmless pranks around the inn while Nathaniel calls him “the little poltergeist” and other choice nicknames.
During the holiday season, down time is a luxury, so being able to start and finish a book in one sitting – perhaps with a mug of hot cocoa in front of a fire – is a welcome gift. Give yourself a little break to enjoy this feel-good novella.
VALERIE’S RATING: 
RETRO REVIEW BY VICKI: November 20, 2015
What a lovely little story!
Indra Vaughn is a new author for me, the blurb caught my eye but I wasn’t familiar with her writing. I’ll be checking out her other books for sure!
This story is from the perspective of Nate, owner of a small B&B, slightly chunky, a little lonely, with no family and not a lot of friends. He lives in his B&B which he inherited from an uncle, he has an employee (Elisa) that comes in every day to help, and he has contact with his guests, but otherwise he seems pretty lonely. He does have one friend, Gabriel the resident ghost. Nate and Elisa are pretty comfortable with Gabriel’s presence, they stop to chat with him in a mirror now and then, and put up with him trying to hook them up. Eventually Gabriel figures out that Elisa is not Nate’s type and gives up.
Nate is lonely and would like a man, but he lives in a small town and isn’t very outgoing. He is a little excited to see the name of an old crush of his show up on a reservation right before Christmas. He tries not to think about it though, he hasn’t seen Owen in 20 years. Who knows if he’s even gay? Or single? Owen arrives and flirts, giving Nate some hope, and pissing off Gabriel!
I wasn’t sure where this story was going for a bit, and I was pleasantly surprised to see where Indra took us. I loved it. This is just such a gentle love story, as we learn about each man, and they are drawn closer together. There is a nice little side story involving two other guests that I loved. But what I really loved was Gabriel. Such a great character, with such a poignant story.
This is a very good story. It’s just the right length, not too short to leave me frustrated and wanting more, but enough time to tell us the background of the characters, give us a nice love story, and a perfect ending. Indra didn’t cram too much in, and didn’t rush the story. I would have liked a little more sex, although this story is more about the romance than the sex. Then there is the ending. Oh yes, the perfect ending. Brought a tear to my eye.
I highly recommend everyone pick up this sweet little Christmas story. I loved the story, the characters, and the writing! Get in the spirit and buy this one!
VICKI’S RATING: 
BUY LINKS: