Haunting Miss Trentwood [NOOK Book]

Had potential

Some aspects not historically accurate. Gaps in plot and unbelievable character actions. But still a good story idea, interesting mystery.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

historical paranormal novel...

Reviewed by Lynn F. for Readers Favorite

Haunting Miss Trentwood by Belinda Kroll is a historical paranormal novel which reminded me of the Victoria Holt type books. Mary Trentwood not only had lost her mother, now she has lost her father. At the graveyard, she faints upon seeing her father clawing his way out of the grave. She thinks she must have been seeing things; that is, until he appears again in her room. Now, as she is caught having a conversation with someone who's not there, others begin to question her sanity. But Father is there to watch over her and steer her along the right course to a happy life. When a Mr. Hartwell appears at the manor, she thinks he the executor to read the will; instead, he is there for another kind of business, only he won't say what. When Mary's old flame, Mr. Steel, shows up a day later, she thinks he has returned to see her, but he is only there to read the will. Now the fun begins: someone is a blackmailer, two are after Mary's affections, the ghost of Mary's father just keeps popping up everywhere and Mary, at times, questions her own sanity.

This was quite an enjoyable and delightful read with characters that were so very likeable. Mary is brave; Mr. Hartwell reminds me of a sinister villain, while Mr. Steel reminds me of someone who lets his ego get the better of him. To me, the most loveable character of the whole book was Mary's father. This is a novel that not only is humorous throughout, there is also a touch of suspense that kept me turning the pages. With the secrets of others pulling Mary into the web, danger abounds, and death could be waiting at the door. This book contained just about everything I like to read: Victorian, slightly paranormal with humor and suspense combined throughout, and cleanly written. I really enjoyed this author's work and look forward to more if they are written in this style. If you like Victoria Holt or Jane Austen, then I feel you will like Haunting Miss Trentwood.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

A Surprising Good Time

As a general rule, I don't like historicals. I mean, I love Jane Austen, but other than my annual re-reading of Pride and Prejudice, I don't seek them out. I admit to a prejudice against them from having gotten ahold of a few too many with ninnies for heroines. So I was REALLY pleasantly surprised when I read this book. The heroine is spunky and witty, the hero honorable with just the right amount of rough around the edges. And FUNNY, OMG, I laughed so much during this story! Love, love, love the ghost. The whole situation kept me in stitches. My only gripe was that the ending felt a wee bit rushed. I'd have preferred to see those last few scenes stretched out a bit longer just so I could enjoy it more. But all in all, a delightful read and a good choice for your To Read shelf.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Father Knows Best

Haunting Miss Trentwood is a beautifully written story set in the 1800s about a young woman who's father is haunting her. Miss Trentwood was left her father's estate and her only family is Mrs. Durham, her mother's twin sister. When Mr. Hartwell makes his presence, Mrs. Durham is put on edge while Miss Trentwood is rather intrigued by his ghastly scar on his face. Mr. Hartwell announces to Miss Trentwood that he has come to find the person who is blackmailing his sister and everyone is a suspect. What no one knows however, is that the blackmailer is dangerous and won't think twice about hurting those who get in their way.


I don't know how someone can find humor in a story about your dead father haunting you while a dangerous blackmailer lives under the same roof as you, but Belinda Kroll found a way. If you enjoy Haunting Miss Trentwood, I highly recommend her first novel Catching the Rose. Belinda Kroll is the Queen of Quirky Historical Fiction.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Gothic Victorian Revival

The Haunting of Miss Trentwood is a gorgeously crafted Victorian novel through which Kroll creates a perfect gothic literary revival. Admittedly, the author suggests that upon completion she recognized the influence of Hamlet in the story. I also see other classical influences such as Bronte and Shirley Jackson. However, the most notable and flattering comparison I can draw is to The House of Seven Gables, by Nathanial Hawthorne because "The Haunting of Miss Trentwood" visits the archetypal theme of withdrawal and return. It explores isolation and redemption along with a person's relationship to the past and determination to a future. It's about escaping and embracing all that influences or paralyzes. This concept (theme) can be examined as it applies to each character, which is fascinating and would make for a lively literary analysis. Similarly, Kroll achieves the proper restraint evocative of the classical Victorian era while harmonizing it with just the right amount of shadowy eeriness necessary when portraying a haunting. The use of the dying house as a character as well as setting is specific and greatly important in this style of novel. Much like Jackson and other gothic authors, the home is often a breathing thing that isolates or separates characters. There is a definite elegance presented in the word choice and proves the painstaking effort the author took in committing to the voice of the story. The lead character, Mary, is vulnerable, but not overtly fragile. There is a feminist quality to her reactions and thoughts, which is evident in her finding a prince in need of rescuing.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Lovely historical romance with supernatural bent

Haunting Miss Trentwood was an enjoyable historical/paranormal read. While many of the usual suspects that you would find in an Austen novel are represented, Miss Kroll gives them a supernatural tweak.

The heroine, Mary, has suffered great loss: Both of her parents have died and she is left in charge of the debt-ridden crumbling family manor. Since the day of her father's funeral, when she is sure that she saw her father crawl from his grave, Mary has been haunted by him. I loved this father/daughter relationship. Mr. Trentwood was not a perfect man, but he was caring father who wanted to see his daughter live a happy life, so much so that he haunts her until she does what he knows is best for her!

Mary has another man looking out for her, her butler/houseman Pomeroy. Pomeroy has some of the best lines in the book and is a funny and loveable character. He snoops and orchestrates and protects Mary-he is like her other parent.

Mr. Steele is the handsome suitor/buffoon. Rejected as an acceptable mate for Mary by Trentwood, Steele continues on his merry way and forgets about Mary until he comes to the manor to read Trentwood's will. Steele is good for comic relief-he's pretty to imagine and slightly silly, but not malicious.

Mrs. Durham, Mary's aunt who lives with her, was the least fleshed out character for me in a novel of great characters. We are told she is evil and crazy, but don't see a lot of evidence of this until near the end. I perhaps wanted a bit more backstory on her.

I've saved Hartwell for last. You are meant to swoon at his frankness, his dashing, his destroyed former good looks, and I certainly did. The banter between him and Mary is classic. You know they're going to end up together from the start, but the journey is delicious.

I would recommend this book to anyone who likes historical romance. The paranormal aspects only add to the story and don't make it too "weird" or stray too far from the genre.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Very enjoyable!

Belinda Kroll describes herself as writer of "quirky historical fiction". I totally agree. I love historical fiction and I have read a lot of it. But I have never read a historical fiction like this one. There is romance, suspense, humour,drama and even the supernatural. Infact it reminded me a lot of Victoria Holt books which I devoured as a 16 year old.

The character development was great. You can't help but like Mary Trentwood. She is brave and has a great sense of humour. Alexander Hartwell is so different from the usual "sexy mysterious " heroes. I instantly liked him. The scenes and dialogues between him and Mary are very enjoyable.

Add to that , the ghost of Mr Trentwood whose one-liners created several laugh-out loud moments.
Then there is the whole suspense angle to the story...There is so much happening in every page you turn, that you can't wait to see what happens next.

Despite all the humour and mystery, there is still more depth to the story. Losing a parent is one of the hardest things to cope with. I think this book has captured that well , but with a twist.

Overall:
Humorous, fun and suspenseful!

Recommended?
Yes! To all those who want a historical fiction with a twist.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Very Entertaining!

I've been reading (and writing) so many modern paranormal romances, that I had to get used to the voice of this book. The style is just a little old fashioned, and it reminded me a lot of books I read in high school. This was definitely a ghost story, and it was set in the 1800's, but it wasn't typical by any means. There was a lot of quirky humor in this book, especially when Mr. Trentwood was around. And I love quirky humor.

I was really entertained by this book and I enjoyed it even more than I thought I would. It was one of those books where I carried my Kindle around reading, almost running into walls. :) Great story!

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Great book

Dont miss this funny, sweet, dark read!

0 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

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