He’s the Ghost of Christmas Past. She’s not exactly Scrooge.
Ghost of Christmas Past Nolan Callahan intends to spend this holiday haunting like every other—get in, get out, return to his otherwise aimless existence as a ghost awaiting the afterlife. But when he’s faced with Harriet York, the sweetest assignment he’s ever had, he suddenly finds himself wishing for a future.
Harriet York has no idea why she’s being haunted. She’s a good person—or, at least, she tries to be. A people pleaser to her core, she always does what’s expected of her. But as she and Nolan begin to examine her past, they discover there are threads that bind them together— and realize there might be more to moving on than expected.
With the deadline of Christmas Eve fast approaching, will they find the key to their futures in each other’s pasts? Or will they stay firmly in the present, indulging in their unexpected, spirited connection?
Good Spirits is a paranormal holiday romance that’s a soft retelling of A Christmas Carol. It has all the charm and banter of a small-town romcom along with a ghostly twist that’s as much about healing as it is about magic!
The story follows Harriet York, whose holiday season takes a very unexpected turn when she’s visited by Nolan Callahan—the Ghost of Christmas Past. He’s on assignment to make her face the choices she’s been avoiding before Christmas Eve. As Nolan guides her through memories and regrets, the pair form an unlikely connection that forces them to reconsider what “moving on” really means.
The story is very much character-driven, alternating between Harriet’s and Nolan’s POVs. Harriet is a people-pleaser who has a fractured relationship with her family and needs a lot of introspection and healing. Nolan is a ghost with a past of his own that’s slowly revealed when readers least expect it. Their chemistry is evident right away, and their banter and open-hearted dialogue make their relationship development feel more believable than a typical “fireworks” romance. There are some great secondary characters that add depth to the story—namely Harriet’s family members and Nolan’s ghostly colleagues who take different spiritual forms. There’s also a lot of magic and time travel, all initiated by Nolan, that makes the story really enjoyable, especially for a holiday book. Healing and self-discovery are major themes of the book—Harriet learns how to take ownership of her life and voice her long pent-up feelings towards her family, while Nolan is forced to confront what it means to really let go. By the end their arcs are more satisfying than the romance itself!
The pacing is a nice balance of cozy and slow-burn. As much of the story is told through dialogue and inner monologues, readers really get to know the characters well and will care about their outcomes. Most action takes place during time travel sequences and the dramatic processings afterwards—and while these scenes/conversations (eventually) reveal why Harriet’s been stuck and give compelling insight into Nolan’s past, some readers may want the story to be a bit more propulsive. The ending ties up the emotional arcs in a satisfying way, but it also leaves important questions about the character’s choices unanswered—an epilogue would have been beneficial to give more clarity and resolution (but apparently there’s an epilogue in the OwlCrate special edition!). Having said that, this is the first book in what appears to be an interconnected standalone series, so there’s opportunity to expand the world-building and work out some of the loose threads in the forthcoming books!
For anyone craving a magical holiday read with emotional depth and romance, this book will hit the mark! And fans of A Christmas Carol or those who enjoy retellings of classics will also find a lot to love with this book!
Narrator Performance
The audiobook of Good Spirits is a magical listen narrated by award-winning narrators Karissa Vacker and Will Watt!!
Karissa Vacker portrays protagonist Harriet with a warm, sincere-sounding voice with an undertone of vulnerability that suits the character’s gentle, people‑pleasing nature perfectly. As the story unfolds and Harriet is forced to confront her past and take ownership of her life, Vacker subtly shifts her performance by giving Harriet a bolder, more self-assured voice while maintaining her warmth, making her character growth convincing—and it feels like Vacker really becomes Harriet! The dialogue between Harriet and her ghost‑love interest, Nolan Callahan, is executed with great pacing and emotional intensity—their banter and open-hearted exchanges come alive, much more vividly than any physical copy could provide! Vacker also gives distinct voices and unique personalities to all the side characters, especially Harriet’s mother and sister—and their heated exchanges with Harriet are a real highlight of the audiobook!
Will Watt portrays Nolan Callahan with a steady, charming voice that feels a bit rough‑around‑the‑edges. Nolan’s Irish‑tinged accent sounds a bit weary at times, which nicely conveys the centuries the ghost has under his belt and his past burdens. As a romantic spark ignites between Nolan and Harriet, Watt noticeably softens Nolan’s voice and conveys more vulnerability, longing, and affection in his tone—and the character becomes increasingly loveable! Overall, Watt’s nuanced performance of Nolan makes the character more multi-dimensional and will make his emotional stakes resonate with listeners!
Overall, Karissa Vacker and Will Watt’s performances vividly bring the characters to life, and their chemistry in the dialogue makes the characters’ romance feel authentic and immersive! This audiobook is perfect for fans of cozy paranormal romance, holiday love stories, and dual narration audiobooks where the narrators elevate the story and leave listeners emotionally stirred!
Narrator Performance
The audiobook of Good Spirits is a magical listen narrated by award-winning narrators Karissa Vacker and Will Watt!!
Karissa Vacker portrays protagonist Harriet with a warm, sincere-sounding voice with an undertone of vulnerability that suits the character’s gentle, people‑pleasing nature perfectly. As the story unfolds and Harriet is forced to confront her past and take ownership of her life, Vacker subtly shifts her performance by giving Harriet a bolder, more self-assured voice while maintaining her warmth, making her character growth convincing—and it feels like Vacker really becomes Harriet! The dialogue between Harriet and her ghost‑love interest, Nolan Callahan, is executed with great pacing and emotional intensity—their banter and open-hearted exchanges come alive, much more vividly than any physical copy could provide! Vacker also gives distinct voices and unique personalities to all the side characters, especially Harriet’s mother and sister—and their heated exchanges with Harriet are a real highlight of the audiobook!
Will Watt portrays Nolan Callahan with a steady, charming voice that feels a bit rough‑around‑the‑edges. Nolan’s Irish‑tinged accent sounds a bit weary at times, which nicely conveys the centuries the ghost has under his belt and his past burdens. As a romantic spark ignites between Nolan and Harriet, Watt noticeably softens Nolan’s voice and conveys more vulnerability, longing, and affection in his tone—and the character becomes increasingly loveable! Overall, Watt’s nuanced performance of Nolan makes the character more multi-dimensional and will make his emotional stakes resonate with listeners!
Overall, Karissa Vacker and Will Watt’s performances vividly bring the characters to life, and their chemistry in the dialogue makes the characters’ romance feel authentic and immersive! This audiobook is perfect for fans of cozy paranormal romance, holiday love stories, and dual narration audiobooks where the narrators elevate the story and leave listeners emotionally stirred!
The audiobook of Good Spirits is a magical listen narrated by award-winning narrators Karissa Vacker and Will Watt!!
Karissa Vacker portrays protagonist Harriet with a warm, sincere-sounding voice with an undertone of vulnerability that suits the character’s gentle, people‑pleasing nature perfectly. As the story unfolds and Harriet is forced to confront her past and take ownership of her life, Vacker subtly shifts her performance by giving Harriet a bolder, more self-assured voice while maintaining her warmth, making her character growth convincing—and it feels like Vacker really becomes Harriet! The dialogue between Harriet and her ghost‑love interest, Nolan Callahan, is executed with great pacing and emotional intensity—their banter and open-hearted exchanges come alive, much more vividly than any physical copy could provide! Vacker also gives distinct voices and unique personalities to all the side characters, especially Harriet’s mother and sister—and their heated exchanges with Harriet are a real highlight of the audiobook!
Will Watt portrays Nolan Callahan with a steady, charming voice that feels a bit rough‑around‑the‑edges. Nolan’s Irish‑tinged accent sounds a bit weary at times, which nicely conveys the centuries the ghost has under his belt and his past burdens. As a romantic spark ignites between Nolan and Harriet, Watt noticeably softens Nolan’s voice and conveys more vulnerability, longing, and affection in his tone—and the character becomes increasingly loveable! Overall, Watt’s nuanced performance of Nolan makes the character more multi-dimensional and will make his emotional stakes resonate with listeners!
Overall, Karissa Vacker and Will Watt’s performances vividly bring the characters to life, and their chemistry in the dialogue makes the characters’ romance feel authentic and immersive! This audiobook is perfect for fans of cozy paranormal romance, holiday love stories, and dual narration audiobooks where the narrators elevate the story and leave listeners emotionally stirred!
