Bitter Spirits by Jenn Bennett

First in a new romance series: It’s the roaring twenties, and San Francisco is a hotbed of illegal boozing, raw lust, and black magic. The fog-covered Bay Area can be an intoxicating scene, particularly when you specialize in spirits… Aida Palmer performs a spirit medium show onstage at Chinatown’s illustrious Gris-Gris speakeasy. However, her ability to summon (and expel) the dead is more than just an act. Winter Magnusson is a notorious bootlegger who’s more comfortable with guns than ghosts—unfortunately for him, he’s the recent target of a malevolent hex that renders him a magnet for hauntings. After Aida’s supernatural assistance is enlisted to banish the ghosts, her spirit-chilled aura heats up as the charming bootlegger casts a different sort of spell on her... On the hunt for the curseworker responsible for the hex, Aida and Winter become drunk on passion. And the closer they become, the more they realize they have ghosts of their own to exorcise. This is without a doubt a must read if you enjoy Historical Romance with a dash of Paranormal. It's the perfect blend of intriguing characters, history, suspense and a dash of sexy romance. The setting of 1920 San Francisco is far from the dark cities we usually see in this genre and lends a delightful feel to the history of the story. The heroine and hero are not your usual alpa heroes and their romance is just as unconventional, but somehow works. The characters feel very real, are well developed and definitely entertain. The immersion in Chinese History is fabulous and the author introduces you to the roaring 20's and its details without overwhelming. I found the story unfolding In my mind in such vivid detail due to Ms. Bennett's descriptive writing. Bitter Spirits is a well-written, fast paced and fascinating storyline that kept me reading right up until the very end. There are some dark moments, especially when we learn what Aida had to endure as a child. The pace of this novel is well done. The flow of the book makes it hard to put the book down and the slow build of the relationship makes the romance easier to relate to.I look forward to reading more from Jenn Bennett.