Ghost Business - Paranormal Romance Review

Goodreads:  Ghost Business (Boneyard Key #2) by Jen DeLuca

Rating:  Liked It!  (3.5 Stars)
Source:   Publisher

Description: Boneyard Key, Florida, is the only home Sophie has ever known. Her love for its supernatural history has flourished into a career, as she guides the one and only ghost tour through the town’s can’t-miss haunted spots. And while her bank account isn’t full by any means, her heart is. Or at least, it was.

But there's a newcomer in town. The son of a Fortune 500 businessman, former theater kid Tristan has grown his tours from a fraternity fundraiser to a multicity ghost tour conglomerate. It’s doing well, but not well enough—if he can’t prove that he’s solidly in the black by the fall, Dad’s going to pull his funding, spelling the end of his career. Boneyard Key, with its haunted reputation, seems like the perfect place to boost his bottom line.

When the two ghost tours clash, Sophie’s expletive-filled rant goes viral, and the rivals strike up a deal. Whoever has the most successful business by summer’s end stays, while the loser must ghost. But the more Tristan comes to appreciate Boneyard Key, the more Sophie comes to appreciate Tristan, and what starts as begrudging respect becomes something spicier. Can they put their feuding businesses aside to make room for a chance at love, or is Boneyard Key too small for two ghost tours?

Genre: Romance - Paranormal

Why I Picked This Book:  I really enjoyed the first book so I was looking forward to this second book.

My Impression:  I love the community of Boneyard Key.  Between the ghosts, the community, and the history that is such a big part of life in the book.  Sophie is a great character.  She's a hard worker, a local with strong connections around her, and a true love for what she does.  I also really liked seeing past characters from the previous book both main and side characters as well as reading about how the events of the first book impacted the lore around town.  

DeLuca's writing style really works for me.  The pacing is good and her characters jump off the page.  There's a sense of humor woven throughout of the scenes that I really enjoy.  This is very much a case of it's not you it's me with this book.  I'm just not a fan of most enemies to lovers tropes and I really don't love the main characters in competition - especially when there is so much at stake.  As well, in this situation there is a character who is well established in town and the other character is coming in by their own choice and trying to disrupt the first character's business.   I've read another book with a similar plot this year and in both books I find it really hard to root for a relationship between the two characters - no matter how good they might be for each other and how much I like them.  I think it is safe to say that this particular trope does not work for me but if it isn't one of your issues I think that you'll really love this one.  

There's a lot to enjoy here.  The setting is fantastic, the characters are fun and who doesn't enjoy a good ghost-y book?  The fact that this story contained one of my least favorite tropes and I still enjoyed it is a good sign.   I can't wait to read more from this author.  

Would I Read More of this Series/Author?  I would!  While this wasn't my favorite I really enjoy this author's characters and writing style and am looking forward to reading more from her.

Would I Recommend this Book?  Yes, with reservations.  If, like me, you're not a fan of this trope this may not be your favorite.  That said I really recommend reading the first one and I bet you won't be able to resist picking this one up.

* I received this book in exchange for an honest review.  As always my opinions and impressions are completely my own. *