REVIEW: Hamlet’s Ghost by Jane Tara

In Hamlet’s Ghost (Shakespeare Sisters #3) by Jane Tara, Rhiannon Dee is a witch with a very famous family. They were the first reality t.v. stars, a past that she wishes she could forget. She’s forever trying to find a serious role as an actress, but thanks to her parent’s talk show, no one will take her seriously. After her best friend betrays her, Rhi winds up on a road trip and finds a sleepy little town called Hamlet that draws her in. There she finds her purpose: to restore the Hamlet Majestic theater to its former glory and to teach and act there.

“You are a witch, Rhiannon. You can’t escape that.”
Rhi felt like she was about to cry, which would be embarrassing in the middle of the restaurant. “I can try.”

The town of Hamlet welcomes Rhi with open arms, as does its former owner, actor Kip Daniels who neglects to tell her that he’s a ghost. This poses some problems when Rhi meets Tad, Kip’s son, for the first time. Even though they have insane attraction together, Tad and Rhi wind up thinking that the other is a bit crazy. Once the entire town gets involved in the restoration project, secrets and true feelings become known among Rhi’s friends, and will set them all on a course that will change their lives forever.

“So ‘fess up…is it Tad you like, or me?”
“Holy shit, you’re arrogant. I’m talking about your son and you’re flirting with me.”
“I was alone for nearly thirty years. Can I help it if I get carried away?” Kip grinned.

Hamlet’s Ghost is a very well written paranormal romance that was quite touching as well as a lot of fun. The journey Rhiannon takes to Hamlet, Massachusetts, ends up filling her life with friendship, a sense of purpose, and of course love.

‘…Life is filled with goodbyes and relationships you mourn. And despite ourselves, our pain, and the belief that we’ll never survive some of these things, we do.’

I thought author Jane Tara did a great job of creating characters that were unique, that interacted naturally, and who were very well defined. The dialogue was eloquent, especially amongst the theater actors, but it didn’t come across as fake. And I have to say that out of all the characters, Kip was the one who had me laughing out loud on more than one occasion with his quirky, flirty charm and witty comebacks. Who knew a dead guy could be so funny? That’s not to say that there wasn’t also some very poignant moments for all of our characters as they lost or found love and dealt with life’s troubles.

Even though we had a glimpse of the story from everyone’s point of view, Rhiannon was the main focus of the book. It was easy to understand her struggle to find out who she was apart from her family’s famous background. Her mother’s meddling did frustrate me to no end for most of the book until we learn more about her and the reason behind her attitude. To say that Rhi’s family, as well as the community she moves into, is complicated is a vast understatement. Just like her relationship with Tad and Kip is a big old mess. I had moments where Kip’s interest in her made me a little creeped out, oddly not because he was a ghost, but because he was Tad’s father. And that was…well, a little weird at first. But by the end of the book as more information came to light about everyone involved, there was a natural progression to what happened and it all ended as it should.

If you like your paranormal romances with an involved, complex plot (love triangles!) and characters who go through a lot of personal growth, try Hamlet’s Ghost.

Book Info:

Published July 24th 2014 by Momentum | (Shakespeare Sisters #3)

Rhiannon Dee, a gorgeous witch, moves to a country town to reopen a theater and finds herself torn between the man who owns it, and his father who haunts it.

Kip Daniels has been haunting the Hamlet Majestic for thirty dull years, ever since the stage roof collapsed on him during what was meant to be his piece de resistance: his performance of Hamlet. All he really wants is to get to the end of the play, but that won’t happen while the theater stands abandoned and boarded up. He’s resigned himself to an endless limbo … until Rhiannon Dee moves to town to bring the theater back to life.

Rhi has fled a failed life in New York. She can’t find work as an actress. She’s overshadowed by her mother who has a hit TV show about witchcraft. Rhi is sick of being seen as a witch and intends to turn her back on the craft. But she quickly discovers she can’t escape her gifts, especially when she needs to use them to help one very sexy but sad ghost cross over. Surrounded by new friends and supportive townsfolk, Rhi breathes new life into the Hamlet Majestic, and helps Kip accept his death.

Hamlet’s Ghost is a story about those moments in life that define us, and how to truly move forward we must find peace with the past.