Isn't It Romantic?

The Kindred Spirits Supper Club
Amy E. Reichert
Age/Genre: Adult, Romance, Paranormal touch
Publisher: Berkley
Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
Goodreads

Jobless and forced home to Wisconsin, journalist Sabrina Monroe can tolerate reunions with frenemies and kisses from old boyfriends, but not the literal ghosts that greet her in this heartwarming tale of the power of love and connection from acclaimed author Amy E. Reichert.

For Sabrina Monroe, moving back home to the Wisconsin Dells–the self-described Waterpark Capital of the World–means returning to the Monroe family curse: the women in her family can see spirits who come to them for help with unfinished business. But Sabrina’s always redirected the needy spirits to her mom, who’s much better suited for the job. The one exception has always been Molly, a bubbly rom-com loving ghost, who stuck by Sabrina’s side all through her lonely childhood.

Her personal life starts looking up when Ray, the new local restaurateur, invites Sabrina to his supper club, where he flirts with her over his famous Brandy Old-Fashioneds. He’s charming and handsome, but Sabrina tells herself she doesn’t have time for romance–she needs to focus on finding a job. Except the longer she’s in the Dells, the harder it is to resist her feelings for Ray. Who can turn down a cute guy with a fondness for rescue dogs and an obsession with perfecting his fried cheese curds recipe?

When the Dells starts to feel like home for the first time and with Ray in her corner, Sabrina begins to realize that she can make a difference and help others wherever she is.

Life in the Dells wasn't easy for Sabrina. She couldn't wait to escape her hometown and all the lingering spirits looking to her for assistance. Outside of her town, she was free, but after losing yet another job, she was forced to return home, and she was dreading it. Back to the Dells, the spirits, and her childhood nemesis. When Sabrina connected with recent transplant Ray, she began to think that maybe there was a future for her here. 

This book was adorable, charming, and smile inducing. Seriously, my face hurt when I was finished reading it, because I just could not get rid of my ear-to-ear grin. The characters, the story, the romance - it added up to something really special for me. 

A HEROINE YOU WILL ROOT FOR

The star of this book was Sabrina. She was none too happy about returning home and was biding her time until she could leave again. Though she loved her family to death, her hometown reminded her of the isolation and loneliness she experienced growing up. Some of that she could attribute to her shyness and anxiety, but some of it was due to her "gift". The women in her family were cursed to be beacons for spirits. For generations, her family assisted the dearly departed with their unfinished business. But her refusal to embrace this responsibility had nothing to due with her heart. On the contrary, Sabrina frequently committed random acts of kindness throughout the book. Those moments endeared her to me, and I just basked in the warm fuzzies they produced. Sabrina was also lots of fun and quirky, and I wanted the whole kit and caboodle for her. 

A SWEET ROMANCE

Ray and Sabrina were an amazing duo. I loved their chemistry and banter, and oh! I was a goner when they talked nerdy to each other. From their super awkward meet-cute to them finally going all in, I loved these two. Ray was so gentle with Sabrina, and his little gestures were actually really big ones in disguise. Sabrina complemented and supported Ray too. I believed so much in this pair, that I was renting the hall and mailing the invitations - this couple was totally happening for me.

A FRIENDLY GHOST 

There was one spirit who Sabrina had known her whole life, Molly. They were never able to help Molly with her unfinished business, and therefore, she still roamed the Dells. She was a sweet and sassy soul, who was also one of Sabrina's closest friends and confidants. I immediately loved her and adored getting to know her. 

A MYSTERY

As if I wasn't already having enough fun, Reichert wove a little family mystery into this tale. Pieces were slowly revealed, but I won't say I didn't see it coming. You know what, I DIDN'T CARE! I delighted in this part of the story, and it might have even moved me to happy-tears. 

Overall, this romance touching on mental health wrapped in a family mystery with a paranormal touch was a winning combination for me. It was heartwarming, fun, and enchanting. It made me laugh out loud, while lifting my spirits and filling my heart with joy. 

**ARC received in exchange for an honest review.

One of the fun things Ray did in this book was experiment with food. He was looking to capture the heart of Wisconsin flavors in his dishes, and I really enjoyed hearing about each and every dish. When my father and grandparents emigrated to America, they were originally sponsored by a family in Wisconsin, because that's where they sent all the Germans (alas, that arrangement fell through and they came through NYC). The state still boasts a large population of people with German heritage, and the combination of cheese and German influence in the food is a winning one for me.  I did some research, and below are some the Wisconsin dishes I am lusting for. 

What's your favorite cheesy dish?
Let us know in the comments!