I received this book for free from Netgalley in order to prepare an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

FINAL DECISION: ENTER THE NIGHTMARE combines an intriguing mystery, strong suspense, and lively character interaction that Jayne Castle does so well.

THE STORY: Alice Radstone has spent most of her life sheltered from the outside world because of her unusual psychic abilities. After the death of her mentor forces her to make a new life for herself, she visits the mysterious Hotel of Dreams only to awaken in a hospital for the criminally insane. She is told that she murdered her husband on their wedding night, although she has no memory of either the man or the marriage. Ten months later, Alice returns to the hotel looking for answers. Instead, she finds a dead body in her shower and two masked men attempting to kidnap her. Owen March arrives claiming that he is there to rescue her, but he is mysterious and more than a little dangerous.

OPINION: Alice and Owen are a terrific pair in this book as their interaction is the highlight of the book. Owen is mysterious and somewhat dangerous when he first appears, making it difficult for Alice (but never the reader) to know whether he can be trusted. Alice, meanwhile, has a genuinely tragic background. She has been isolated, manipulated, and made to question her own memories and sanity, but she remains intelligent, capable, and determined to discover the truth. Castle excels at writing dialogue, and that talent is on full display here. The conversations between Alice and Owen are sharp, entertaining, and often funny. Their exchanges reveal their personalities and allow the trust between them to develop naturally. They work especially well together because both are competent characters who recognize and respect the other’s abilities. The mystery surrounding Alice’s missing memories and the events at the Hotel of Dreams provides good suspense. There is a constant sense that someone is manipulating events from behind the scenes, and Owen’s unclear motives add another layer of uncertainty at the beginning. The danger keeps the story moving, but the character interaction remains its greatest strength.

WORTH MENTIONING: And, as always, I loved the dust bunny. Sebastian brings humor and personality to the story and once again proves that no visit to Harmony would be complete without one.

CONNECTED BOOKS: ENTER THE NIGHTMARE is book eighteen in the Ghost Hunters/Harmony series. The romance and mystery stand on their own, so you can read the book without reading the previous books. Readers already familiar with Harmony, its psychic talents, and its dust bunnies will have a richer understanding of the world.

STAR RATING: I give this book 4.5 stars.

NOTE: I received an eARC of this book via NetGalley to facilitate writing this review. I was not required to write a review or to write a positive review. All opinions contained herein are my own.