Genre: Paranormal
LGBTQ+ Category: Gay
Reviewer: Maryann
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About The Book
A magical bookshop holds the keys.
When Mason Chynoweth inherits an old house in small-town New Zealand, he hopes to discover what happened to his great-great uncle Lewis after he returned from the war in 1945. Mason’s first encounter with the property is thankfully reassuring—his sensitive psychic powers aren’t triggered and he has a calm sense of coming home.
Elijah Whitaker arrives in Kedgetown for an extended visit with his aunts. He’s quickly drawn to Mason and offers to help him try to find some answers in the dusty old house. It soon becomes clear that Mason is keeping secrets, but Elijah has a few secrets of his own. Like his closely guarded knowledge of the hidden supernatural world, and the fact that many of the townspeople are psi and supernaturals.
What is the connection between the house and Postscript, the town’s enigmatic bookshop? Mason’s glimpses of the past give some clues, but not enough to make sense of the puzzle.
When a hidden journal comes to light, the true story of Lewis’s journey is revealed, and his path and Mason and Elijah’s begin to intertwine.
The Review
Mason Chynoweth has come to Kedgetown, a unique little town in New Zealand. He’s inherited an old house on Main Street from his great-great Uncle, Lewis Newman.
Annalise Whitaker shows Mason the house. She owns the Moonside B&B in town and is married to Rilla. Annalise drops hints that Mason would work out fine in Kedgetown, and it makes him uncomfortable. He jas a secret, an ability that he won’t risk using.
He meets Elijah Beresford, Annalise’s nephew, and their relationship gets off to a rough start. Elijah is leery of Mason, despite his Aunts’ high opinion of the newcomer. Elijah has had a failed relationship already, and is a bit wary of his matchmaking Aunts. He has a secret of his own, one that’s impossible to share it with someone else. He’s also trying to decide if Kedgetown is where he belongs.
Mason wears gloves to protect himself, which seems strange to others, especially Elijah. As Mason’s ability starts to pick up some odd things, Elijah becomes suspicious. He takes Mason on a tour of Kedgetown, and they are both cautious around each other, trying hard not to reveal their respectivesecrets.
Mason meets Scott and some of the other locals, and notices something odd about them. The alluring attraction of a vacated bakery catches his attention, but when he looks inside he is disturbed by a vision.
He runs from Elijah, filled with doubts about Kedgetown. He’d thought, just maybe, that he had found a place where he could be himself and live in peace.
Will Mason and Elijah work things out? And what will they discover about themselves, the old house, those that lived there, and a mysterious bookshop called Postscript?
Anne Barwell has never failed to entertain me with her novels, contemporary, wartime and supernatural. Postscript is an especially marvelous creation combining elements of all of those – an enigmatic small town filled with humans, supernatural beings, ghosts, and a cozy and magical bookshop. There are mysterious keys, and a journal that tells a heartwarming and tragic story of those from the past.
I loved this story. There isn’t one character that I didn’t like. Elijah’s Aunts – Rilla and Annalise – are just delightful at both baking and matchmaking. Mason’s great-great Uncle Lewis and his partner Cyrus Godfrey and Lewis’s sister Louisa were enjoyable, as was Donagh and his story of the Wexford Rebellion of 1798. There’s also Victor and Esme; Dr. Scott Kelly and Wendy; Mac Fowler, Adam Latimer and Father Elard; who all have tales of their own.
A special mention goes out to Wordsworth – he’s proof that furry critters who are loved, live forever.
I highly recommend Postscript, a heartwarming and passionate tale with a “pocket universe” and the idea for a book store that’s just incredible. It touched my heart, and had a delightful supernatural twist that I loved. I hope Barwell explores this charming village in future books – the characters have so much more to share.
The Reviewer
Hi, I’m Maryann, I started life in New York, moved to New Hampshire and in 1965 uprooted again to Sacramento, California. Once I retired I moved to West Palm Beach, Florida in 2011 and just moved back to Sacramento in March of 2018. My son, his wife and step-daughter flew out to Florida and we road tripped back so they got to see sights they have never seen. New Orleans and the Grand Canyon were the highlights. Now I am back on the west coast again to stay! From a young age Ialways liked to read.
I remember going to the library and reading the “Doctor Dolittle” books by Hugh Lofting. Much later on became a big fan of the classics, Edgar Alan Poe, Mary Shelley, Bram Stoker and as time went by Agatha Christie, Ray Bradbury and Stephen Kingand many other authors.
My first M/M shifter book I read was written by Jan Irving the “Uncommon Cowboys” series from 2012. She was the first author I ever contacted and sent an email to letting her know how much I liked this series. Sometime along the way I read “Zero to the Bone”by Jane Seville, I think just about everyone has read this book!
As it stands right now I’m really into mysteries, grit, gore and “triggers” don’t bother me. But if a blurb piques my interest I will read the book.
My kindle collection eclectic and over three thousand books and my Audible collection is slowly growing. I have both the kindle and audible apps on my ipod, ipads, and MAC. So there is never an excuse not to be listening or reading.
I joined Goodreads around 2012 and started posting reviews. One day a wonderful lady, Lisa Horan of The Novel Approach, sent me an email to see if I wanted to join her review group. Joining her site was such an eye opener. I got introduce to so many new authors that write for the LGBTQ genre. Needless to say, it was heart breaking when it ended.
But I found a really great site, QRI and it’s right here in Sacramento. Last year at QSAC I actually got to meet Scott Coatsworth, Amy Lane and Jeff Adams.