Captivating Spirits and Heartfelt Romance: A Review of Dani Elias’s Spellbinding Spirits

When the spirits call, you have to protect her.

Catherine
Some people think I’m a conundrum. University professor by day, hunting ghosts by night. But it all makes sense to me. The only person that understands me is Sebastian. I’m not sure where I would be without my best friend on my side. And now he has arranged for me to investigate some strange occurrences at the hotel he works. This promises to become a night to remember.

Sebastian
I have been night manager for so many years; the thought of returning to a “normal” life when I take up my new position as Front of House Manager makes me feel excited but also a tad nervous. Lucky for me, I can spend my last night shift with my favourite person in the world. Do I think Cat is a bit crazy for chasing spirits? Maybe. But I like her craziness, I like her passion, and if it means I can spend a night with her, I’m even willing to believe in ghosts.

• Author: Spellbinding Spirits
• Release Date: February 7, 2025
• Genre: Romance
• My Rating:
• ⭐⭐⭐⭐/5
• Spice: 🌶️

British ghost haunting, A lost love story, and a budding new love and no third act break up

Meet Catherine or Cat who is a professor by day and ghost haunts at night. Her best friend Sebastian or Seb works as the manager of the Greenview hotel where weird things have been happening. With some convincing Seb arranges for her to do what she does best and check out the weird things that are happening at the hotel.

I absolutely loved this novella, maybe my new favorite of Dani’s Spellbinding is book 5 in the Greenview Manor Tales series.  Again you do not have to read the books in order as it is a standalone series. The paranormal aspect reminded me of Supernatural, in the early seasons when there were less demons, and angles. Good old fashioned ghost haunting. I also love history (I’mma leave it at that, you’ll have to read to find out what time period the ghost is from)

Spoilers Ahead

During her research of the hotel Cat stumbles upon a story about a woman named Sally who used to work at the hotel during World War I. Sadly Sally had killed herself in the hotel attic. No one is really sure as to why, but the rumor is that she received a letter from her loved one George who was drafted into the army, and shortly after took her own life.

Lucky for Cat, Sally has one living relative left who she can talk to about Sally and what her life was like. Seb tags along even though he doesn’t really believe in the paranormal, but he couldn’t let Cat do this on her own in this small town. Low and behold the son of the niece is one of Seb’s friends.Unfortunately things didn’t go as planned as the niece didn’t have a lot to tell them, as she was a child when her Aunt Sally died. But the silver lining is that she kept all of the letters Sally received from George while he was deployed in the King’s Own Royal Lancaster Regiment

While going through Sally’s letters and doing her own research, she was able to find out more about George and who he was. Unfortunately George was executed for cowardice in 1915. But I don’t think he was running away, he was suffering from Shell Shock or what is known nowadays as PTSD.

“He was fighting for his life and they… they show him?”

“It was more common than many people realize” she says, her tone shifting to that professorial clam she always gets when she’s explaining something. “Men suffering from shell shock…what we’d call PTSD now, were often labelled as deserters or cowards. Hundreds of them were executed. Even though most of them were just…broken”

I shake my head, anger bubbling under my skin “Desertion? He was probably in shock. He was twenty-two years old, for God’s sake”

“I know” she says softly. “The record even mentions that he seemed… unwell. But back then they didn’t understand. They called cowardice and made an example of him.”

With George and Sally’s story of lost love it makes Seb think it may be time to act on his feelings for Cat. But he doesn’t want to ruin their friendship. Good thing Cat also feels the same way

“Of course you would,” I say softly. “You’re if for me. You always have been.”

✨💜Tropes💜✨

• 💕Dual POV
  👻Ghost Haunting
  💔Lost Love
  ♥️Best Friends to Lovers
  👻Paranormal 
  🏡Small Town Vibes 

Greenview Manor Tales Series

• Fierce Family
• Alluring Adventure
• Elusive Embrace
• Wistful Whispers
• Spellbinding Spirit