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(Spirited Encounters Book 2)
By Penny Hampson
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
If you enjoy romance woven through mystery, with a touch of the supernatural shaping everything beneath the surface, then this is very much a book worth picking up.
At the heart of the story are Freddie and Marcus, and what makes their connection so compelling is how naturally it develops alongside everything else that’s happening. There isn’t a single dramatic moment where everything shifts; instead, it builds through small interactions, quiet understanding, and a growing sense that neither of them is quite as unaffected as they might like to be.
From their earliest meetings, there’s a clear awareness between them. It isn’t overwhelming or immediate in an obvious way, but it’s there—something steady, something that keeps drawing them back into conversation, into shared space, into each other’s orbit. It feels less like a spark and more like a pull that strengthens the more time they spend together.
As the story progresses, that connection deepens in ways that feel grounded rather than idealised. Their relationship isn’t separate from what’s happening around them; it’s shaped by it. The tension of the haunting, the uncertainty of what they’re uncovering, and the sense that things are becoming more complicated all feed into the way they relate to one another. Moments of closeness feel earned, often arriving quietly rather than dramatically, which gives them more weight.
There are points where that closeness becomes more difficult to ignore, particularly as the situation around them grows more intense. The balance between restraint and inevitability is handled well, with neither of them entirely in control of how things are developing. It gives the relationship a sense of progression that feels believable, even when everything else is far from settled.
What adds another layer to this is the presence of the supernatural. It never feels distant from their relationship; instead, it presses in on it, influencing the choices they make and the way they understand what’s happening. There’s a sense that what draws them together exists within the same space as everything else that’s unfolding, which makes their connection feel more significant without overstating it.
The mystery itself continues to widen, but it never overshadows the emotional core of the story. Instead, the two elements work alongside each other, each giving weight to the other. As more is uncovered, the stakes become clearer—not just in terms of what has happened, but in what it means for the people involved.
By the end, there’s a quiet sense that something has shifted. The relationship has settled into something more certain, shaped by everything it has had to move through, while the wider story brings a sense of understanding that feels earned rather than imposed.
A Plethora of Phantoms is a thoughtful blend of romance and the supernatural, where connection grows through uncertainty and where nothing—whether emotional or unexplained—is ever entirely separate from the rest.
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Penny Hampson
Penny Hampson writes mysteries, and because she has a passion for history, you’ll find her stories also reflect that. A Gentleman’s Promise, a traditional Regency romance, was Penny’s debut novel and the first of her Gentlemen Series. There are now four novels in the series, with the latest, An Adventurer’s Contract, released in November 2024. Penny also enjoys writing contemporary mysteries with a hint of the paranormal, because where do ghosts come from but the past? The Unquiet Spirit, a spooky mystery/romance set in Cornwall, is the first in the Spirited Encounters Series. Look out for A Plethora of Phantoms coming soon.
Penny lives with her family in Oxfordshire, and when she is not writing, she enjoys reading, walking, swimming, and the odd gin and tonic (not all at the same time).
If you’ve enjoyed any of Penny’s books please leave a review on Amazon, Bookbub, or Goodreads, and let other readers know!
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Thank you so much for your lovely review of A Plethora of Phantoms! 📚
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Thank you for taking the time to read and review my book. I'm delighted that you enjoyed it!
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