Good Spirits Book Summary: A Paranormal Holiday Romance with an Irish Ghost
Introduction
Good Spirits by B.K. Borison is the first book in the Ghosted series, a paranormal holiday romance set in Annapolis, Maryland.
This article provides a neutral, factual summary of the novel for readers who want to understand its story, characters, and major themes before picking it up.
The book follows Harriet York, an antiques shop owner whose quiet December is interrupted by a surly Irish ghost named Nolan Callahan.
What follows is a Christmas Carol-inspired journey through memory, regret, and unexpected connection.
👉 On YouTube: Good Spirits Summary & Recap
TL;DR: A Haunting That Becomes a Love Story
Good Spirits is a cozy paranormal holiday romance with a Christmas Carol twist.
Harriet York, a people-pleasing antiques shop owner, is visited on December 1st by Nolan Callahan, a ghost from 1902 who works for the Department of Hauntings and Spirits.
His assignment is to help her confront her past mistakes before Christmas Eve.
Instead, they fall in love.
- Harriet must make amends or face a life of misery.
- Nolan’s unfinished business is not what it seems.
- The story blends supernatural rules with emotional vulnerability.
- The ending offers Nolan a choice between rest and a second chance at life.
Good Spirits Summary: A Ghost, a Compass, and a Second Chance at Life
SPOILER WARNING: This section recounts the full plot, including the ending.
Explore the Detailed Chapter-by-Chapter Summary
Harriet York lives in Annapolis, Maryland, where she runs The Crow’s Nest, an antiques shop she inherited from her late Aunt Matilda.
She recently left a prestigious law career, a decision her mother Donna treats as a personal betrayal. Harriet has spent years shrinking herself to fit her family’s cold, formal expectations.
On December 1st, a stranger appears in her living room. Nolan Callahan introduces himself as a Ghost of Christmas Past and an employee of the Department of Hauntings and Spirits.
He tells Harriet that she has been deemed salvageable and must make amends before Christmas Eve. Their first meeting ends with Harriet throwing a TV remote at him.
After convincing her with a vivid trip to a childhood memory, Nolan begins guiding Harriet through her past.
The memories are surprisingly mundane: a six-year-old stealing a toy boat, a twenty-one-year-old cutting down a Christmas tree alone, a younger Harriet making jam with a caterer.
None of these events seem to justify a haunting, which makes Nolan suspect a mistake or a hidden secret.
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As they spend more time together, Nolan starts regaining human sensations. He tastes burnt coffee, feels the sting of a fireplace burn, and begins having intimate dreams about Harriet.
Their dynamic shifts from assignment to genuine connection. Nolan defends her against her cold family, and Harriet helps him remember the man he was.
The haunting takes a strange turn when they begin visiting Nolan’s own memories. They see his life in Ireland and the cottage where he lived in 1902.
The anomalies culminate in the memory of his death during a winter storm. Harriet falls into the freezing sea during the memory, and Nolan dives in to save her.
That moment reveals a shocking truth. Nolan sees Harriet in her pink coat and realizes he saw her during his actual dying moments a century earlier.
Their connection predates the haunting assignment.
The broken compass that once belonged to Nolan turns out to be the object tied to his unfinished business. He finds it hidden in Harriet’s shop but hides it from her, fearing it will force him to move on.
Harriet eventually discovers the compass and gives it to him as a Christmas gift, wanting him to find peace.
On Christmas Eve, Nolan’s magic pulls him away. Harriet is left grieving but changed. She reconciles with her sister Samantha and begins standing firm in her own identity.
In a spiritual waiting room, Nolan meets Aunt Matilda, who reveals that his unfinished business was never the compass. It was Harriet. Their souls were together in the beginning and made for each other.
Nolan is given a choice between two doors: one to eternal rest and one back to Harriet.
He chooses the latter. On a snowy night after Christmas, he knocks on Harriet’s door as a living man. He tells her he has moved on into a life with her.
The book ends with his promise to see her every tomorrow.
Read Also: Holiday Unscripted Summary: A Sizzling Second Chance Romance
Characters In This Book
| Character | Role |
|---|---|
| Harriet York | Owner of The Crow’s Nest antiques shop in Annapolis and the protagonist. |
| Nolan Callahan | Ghost of Christmas Past and former Irish fisherman who died in 1902. |
| Sasha | Manager of The Crow’s Nest and Harriet’s best friend. |
| Isabella | Head of Holiday Spirits at the Department of Hauntings and Spirits. |
| Aunt Matilda | Harriet’s late aunt who left her the antiques shop. |
| Donna York | Harriet’s mother. |
| Samantha York | Harriet’s older sister and a lawyer. |
| Builín (aka Oliver) | A calico cat that links Nolan and Harriet. |
| Betty | Receptionist at the Department of Hauntings and Spirits. |
| Darryl | Local postman who misdelivers mail to Harriet. |
Books Like Good Spirits
The Dead Romantics by Ashley Poston — A romance about a woman who can see ghosts, with humor and emotional depth.
The Ex Hex by Erin Sterling — A witchy romance with a small-town setting and a second-chance love story.
The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches by Sangu Mandanna — A cozy paranormal romance about witches finding family and love.
Lovelight Farms by B.K. Borison — The author’s earlier small-town romance, also set during the holidays with a fake-dating premise.
In a Holidaze by Christina Lauren — A time-loop Christmas romance about second chances and self-discovery.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Good Spirits about?
Good Spirits follows Harriet York, an antiques shop owner in Annapolis, who is visited by a ghost named Nolan Callahan. He claims she must address her past before Christmas Eve or face a life of misery.
Does Good Spirits have a happy ending?
Yes, Good Spirits ends with Nolan choosing to return to Harriet as a living man. The final scene shows him knocking on her door after Christmas and promising to stay with her.
Is Good Spirits part of a series?
Good Spirits is the first book in the Ghosted series. It was published in October 2025 under the Avon imprint.
Who is Nolan Callahan in Good Spirits?
Nolan Callahan is an Irish fisherman who died in 1902 and works as a Ghost of Christmas Past for the Department of Hauntings and Spirits. He is assigned to help Harriet York confront her past.
What genre is Good Spirits?
Good Spirits is a contemporary holiday romance with paranormal elements. It combines a Christmas Carol-inspired haunting with a small-town love story.
Where does Good Spirits take place?
Good Spirits is set in Annapolis, Maryland, during December. Key locations include Harriet’s antiques shop, The Crow’s Nest, and her craftsman-style home.
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