Book ~ "Ghost Lover" (2013) Liza O'Connor

From Goodreads ~ Two sexy English brothers. One irresistible ghost. Who would you choose as your lover?

Completely broke and with a criminal record to boot, Senna Smith is one day from eviction from her apartment when Brendon, her promiscuous roommate from London, suggests she go to England, marry him and manage his fortune. With few other options, she agrees to an open marriage. But she’ll never, ever, have sex with him, knowing if she falls in love with him, he’ll break her heart.

As trustee of Brendon’s family fortune, there is no way Brendon’s older brother, Garrison Durran, is going to let him marry a self-professed American gold-digger. As Senna tries to embrace castle life and English society for Brendon’s sake, Gar discovers Senna is the perfect woman for him – beautiful and intelligent, kind and caring. Now, if she wasn’t already engaged to his brother ...

The ancestral ghost of Durran Castle has to intervene if the Durran brothers have any chance of an heir. He can’t leave them to fix matters on their own. They are useless buggers when it comes to love. As counselor to Gar, matchmaker for Brendon and lover to Senna, a ghost’s work is never done.

Senna is friends with Brendon.  She is broke so they strike up a deal that they will marry so he can get access to his trust fund and he will support her.  She has made it clear that the marriage will be in name only and he is free to have as many relationships as he wants.  Even though Brendon has stolen from her, she sees only the best in him and blames his upbringing for him being the way he is.  They head to Brendon's family's castle in England so Senna can meet Gar, his brother who is responsible for his trust.

“So my brother steals all your money and to compensate you, he suggests you come to England, marry him, and he’ll give you his trust fund.” Only his brother could contrive such an absurd plan.

“Yes.” By her brief answer, he gathered she thought it a perfectly reasonable solution.

His brother might be an idiot, but this gold digger would soon discover Gar a force to reckon with. “Did he steal a half million from your bank account?”

Brendon laughed. “Do you have any idea how long that would take? Cash machines only allow you two visits a day at two hundred dollars a pop.”

“How much did he take?” Gar restated his question.

“Four hundred,” Senna replied.

Gar stared up at the ceiling praying for patience, then glared at Ditz. “So why didn’t you pay her back the four hundred?”

Ditz stubbornly refused to answer, and instead glanced at the girl.

She sighed and faced Gar. “Precisely what I asked. He said he didn’t have the four hundred, but if I married him, he would come into a half million. Since the landlord planned to evict me, I really had no choice but to accept the offer.”

At first there is friction between Gar and Senna but as they get to know each other, they begin to care for each other.  But alas, she is engaged to his brother.  The castle has ghosts ... two appear prominently in this story.  One is a ghost cat named Mr. Finch and the other is Lassier, an ancestor of Gar and Brendon's who has a hand in guiding the events that happen.

This is the second book I've read by this author and I liked it.  The story is farfetched and silly at times but it's a fun read.  You have to leave your sense of belief at the door and go with it.  I liked the writing style ... it's written in third person.  At times the language is for mature readers.

The characters are fun.  Senna is caring and loyal.  Gar starts out being dominating and mean but with Senna's influence ends up being a nice guy.  When I was reading this book, I pictured Russell Brand as Brendon ... spoiled and selfish but not meaning any harm.

If you are looking for a fun romantic escape, you should check this book out.