Good Spirits Summary Chapter by Chapter | B.K. Borison
Introduction To Good Spirits (Chapter-by-Chapter Summary)
Have you ever wondered what magic might appear if you were truly seen for who you are?
That’s the beautiful question at the heart of B.K. Borison’s Good Spirits, a cozy, whimsical romance that blends holiday cheer with paranormal charm.
This chapter-by-chapter guide is designed for readers who have finished the novel and want to revisit its magical journey, or for those who don’t mind a spoiler-filled path through its enchanting plot.
Let’s trace the steps of this unique love story, one chapter at a time.
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Book Structure Overview
Total Chapters: 39
Prologue/Epilogue: None; story spans all 39 chapters
POV: Dual first-person (Harriet and Nolan)
Timeframe: December 1st to late January
Setting: Annapolis and Baltimore, Maryland; 1902 Ireland (memories)
Narrative Flow: Linear in the present, with magical realism for memory exploration
Book Table of Contents
The novel consists of the following 39 chapters, titled by the perspective character’s name:
Chapter One: Harriet
Chapter Two: Nolan
Chapter Three: Nolan
Chapter Four: Harriet
Chapter Five: Nolan
Chapter Six: Harriet
Chapter Seven: Nolan
Chapter Eight: Harriet
Chapter Nine: Nolan
Chapter Ten: Nolan
Chapter Eleven: Harriet
Chapter Twelve: Nolan
Chapter Thirteen: Harriet
Chapter Fourteen: Nolan
Chapter Fifteen: Harriet
Chapter Sixteen: Nolan
Chapter Seventeen: Harriet
Chapter Eighteen: Harriet
Chapter Nineteen: Nolan
Chapter Twenty: Harriet
Chapter Twenty-One: Harriet
Chapter Twenty-Two: Nolan
Chapter Twenty-Three: Harriet
Chapter Twenty-Four: Nolan
Chapter Twenty-Five: Harriet
Chapter Twenty-Six: Nolan
Chapter Twenty-Seven: Harriet
Chapter Twenty-Eight: Nolan
Chapter Twenty-Nine: Harriet
Chapter Thirty: Harriet
Chapter Thirty-One: Nolan
Chapter Thirty-Two: Harriet
Chapter Thirty-Three: Harriet
Chapter Thirty-Four: Nolan
Chapter Thirty-Five: Harriet
Chapter Thirty-Six: Harriet
Chapter Thirty-Seven: Harriet
Chapter Thirty-Eight: Nolan
Chapter Thirty-Nine: Harriet
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Good Spirits Summary Chapter by Chapter
⚠️ Spoiler Warning: This section contains detailed, chapter-by-chapter plot summaries.
Chapter One: Harriet
Harriet York’s December begins with a bruised knee and a formal invitation to her family’s cold, annual gala, delivered by her cat.
She spends her day in her sunny, helpful manner, even fixing mail delivery issues for her postman.
After work at her antique shop, The Crow’s Nest, she settles in for a cozy evening that is violently interrupted.
A tall, shadowed figure materializes in her living room, claiming to be a Ghost of Christmas Past sent for her “reclamation,” leaving Harriet in stunned disbelief.
Chapter Two: Nolan
Nolan, the ghost, is taken aback by Harriet’s frightened reaction and her whimsical reindeer pajamas.
Harriet demands proof of his supernatural claims, leading Nolan to explain his role with the Department of Hauntings and Spirits and show her an official assignment slip with her name.
Convinced she’s having a medical episode, Harriet refuses to go with him and demands he consult his supervisor before they proceed with any haunting of her past.
Chapter Three: Nolan
Nolan visits the hidden office of the Department, waiting under a massive yew tree before seeing his intimidating supervisor, Isabella.
He questions Harriet’s assignment, as she seems kind, unlike his usual targets.
Isabella firmly dismisses his doubts, stating mistakes are not made, and warns him he must complete her “reclamation” by Christmas Eve or face severe consequences for them both.
Chapter Four: Harriet
At her shop, Harriet deals with a difficult customer, showcasing her tendency to be a “steamroll” who gives in to avoid conflict.
Nolan appears unexpectedly, bringing her a peppermint mocha and explaining how ghosts are perceived and quickly forgotten by the living.
He formally introduces himself as Nolan Callahan and insists they begin, offering his hand and a promise not to let go during their first journey into her memories.
Chapter Five: Nolan
Nolan takes Harriet’s hand, and the travel through magic feels like being tossed into a storm.
They land in the cold lobby of her parents’ law firm years ago, observing a young Harriet and her sister.
Harriet’s mother, Donna, scolds her for childish whimsy, prompting young Harriet to defiantly steal a small wooden boat from a holiday display. Nolan is puzzled that this minor act of rebellion is the memory they see.
Chapter Six: Harriet
Back in the present, Harriet reflects on her distant relationship with her sister, Samantha, and sends her an impulsive text.
Nolan materializes in her kitchen, startling her and leading to an argument about boundaries.
He humorously complies with her demand to “use the door” by magically appearing on her porch to ring the doorbell, sparking some teasing banter between them.
Chapter Seven: Nolan
Their second trip takes them to a snowy tree farm where a younger Harriet is determined to cut down a tree alone. Nolan notes her past self exists in a protective “bubble.”
He offers her his hand-knit mittens and watches as she triumphantly, if clumsily, fells the tree.
After returning, a vulnerable Harriet questions if she can ever be “good” again, and Nolan leaves a magical “peace offering” swirling in her tea.
Chapter Eight: Harriet
At the shop, Harriet and her manager, Sasha, discuss ghosts and “unfinished business.”
In a dark storage closet, Nolan appears, explaining a five-day absence due to his injured cat.
He tenderly cleans Harriet’s dirty hand, creating a moment of deep intimacy. Harriet voices her growing theory: perhaps Nolan was assigned to her so that she can help him move on.
Chapter Nine: Nolan
A third memory visit involves young Harriet making fig jam.
An attempt to steal a jar to the present causes a sticky explosion. Cleaning up in the closet, Nolan tastes jam from Harriet’s skin and realizes his sense of taste is returning.
When Harriet repeats her theory that she is his “key,” Nolan reacts with cruel dismissal, mocking her helpful nature and leaving her deeply hurt.
Chapter Ten: Nolan
Full of regret for his harsh words, Nolan lies awake and experiences his first dream in a century—an intimate dream about Harriet.
He wakes up horrified and “lust-drunk,” forced to confront the terrifying reality that he is developing real feelings for his mortal assignment.
Chapter Eleven: Harriet
Nolan returns three days later with another peace offering. After a hesitant standoff, Harriet lets him in after he apologizes for being a “jerk.”
Her mother calls, coldly demanding a gala RSVP, and Nolan overhears, defending Harriet. He suggests they skip the past for the day and instead examine her present life.
Chapter Twelve: Nolan
Harriet takes Nolan ice skating at a private rink.
Nolan struggles with the skates but is captivated watching her. He opens up about dying on his fishing boat and feeling trapped in the afterlife. Harriet shares her family history, and they share a tender moment on a bench.
They attempt another memory trip, but the magic malfunctions unexpectedly.
Chapter Thirteen: Harriet
The malfunction strands them on a beach Harriet doesn’t recognize. Nolan turns pale, realizing they are in his past, not hers.
They witness a joyful memory of his father, which Nolan had forgotten.
Panicked by this dangerous anomaly, he pulls them back to the present, where he collapses in distress and insists he must report to Isabella immediately.
Chapter Fourteen: Nolan
Rushing to the Department office, Nolan finds Isabella away. He confesses the incident to the receptionist, Betty, who is shocked and suggests he may need rest or reassignment.
Nolan refuses, realizing he has only 14 days until his deadline. He resolves to “run the time down to the wire” to maximize his remaining days with Harriet.
Chapter Fifteen: Harriet
Nolan returns to Harriet in a frantic, energized state. He follows her into the bathroom and admits she was right—he is there for his own unfinished business.
He confesses he is beginning to feel sensations again and reveals his dream. He tells her, “I think you’re bringing me back to life,” and Harriet decides to help him move on, despite the personal cost.
Chapter Sixteen: Nolan
Nolan accompanies Harriet to shop for a gala dress. She gravitates toward navy to please her mother, but Nolan encourages her to wear color.
He picks out a plum silk dress and tricks her into trying it on.
When she gets stuck, he enters the dressing room to help, overwhelmed by the sight of her and telling her she looks “lovely.”
Chapter Seventeen: Harriet
Back at the shop, Nolan searches through buttons for clues to his past. Harriet teasingly calls him a “coward” afraid to travel again.
A charged moment across the counter leads Nolan to reveal his full name and challenge her to take his hand so he can “prove a point.”
Chapter Eighteen: Harriet
They travel to a memory of Harriet’s Aunt Matilda comforting a teenage Harriet at The Crow’s Nest.
Witnessing this profound kindness moves adult Harriet to tears.
Deeply affected, Nolan uses his magic to make mistletoe bloom across the shop’s ceiling in the present and pulls Harriet into their first, passionate kiss.
Chapter Nineteen: Nolan
The kiss is hungry and frantic, a loss of control for the usually stoic ghost. Behind the counter, Nolan realizes he hasn’t felt this alive in a century.
He warns Harriet that even if he stays, the magic will make her forget him after Christmas Eve. They make a pact to “pretend” and enjoy their present for as long as they can.
Chapter Twenty: Harriet
Another unintentional jump takes them to Nolan’s Irish home in 1902.
They watch a young Nolan alone with a book and soup, and he explains his mother’s tradition of lighting a candle for lost sailors.
Harriet spots a broken compass on a shelf before Nolan’s magic flares painfully, forcing a retreat.
Chapter Twenty-One: Harriet
They land in a Christmas market from Harriet’s past, where she is with an ex-boyfriend who demanded she change her appearance.
Nolan is offended by this subdued version of her.
The magic glitches again, dragging them through a whirlwind of combined memories before they crash back at the shop, with Nolan collapsing unconscious.
Chapter Twenty-Two: Nolan
Nolan wakes up in Harriet’s bed, spooning her, with their clothes magically gone. Harriet admits he was affectionate in his sleep.
Facing the looming deadline, Nolan decides he doesn’t want to leave. In a moment of quiet intimacy, he realizes he can feel the sensation of touch fully through her.
Chapter Twenty-Three: Harriet
Harriet tends to Nolan, and he creates a magical “snow globe” effect for her from the ceiling.
They exchange heartfelt compliments, and Harriet feels truly “lovely” for the first time. Nolan promises to want her completely, “inch by inch.”
Chapter Twenty-Four: Nolan
An hour later at the shop, Nolan is glowing. Sasha arrives and notices the animated mistletoe.
Their moment is shattered when Isabella appears, warning that a Reaper has taken over and the “consequences of failure” will now impact Harriet.
She demands to meet the woman Nolan is risking everything for.
Chapter Twenty-Five: Harriet
Isabella meets Harriet and Sasha. Intriguingly, Sasha can see the supernatural beings clearly. Harriet tries to defend Nolan’s work.
Isabella finds a birdcage music box, reveals a personal connection to it, and Harriet gifts it to her. Nolan then snaps at Harriet for being a “steamroll,” causing a brief rift.
Chapter Twenty-Six: Nolan
They visit the memory of the night Harriet quit law school, witnessing her family’s cruel belittlement and her mother casting her out. Nolan is furious on her behalf. Later, in the shop’s supply closet, he discovers the same broken compass from his 1902 home and hides it, fearing it will trigger his departure.
Chapter Twenty-Seven: Harriet
Harriet prepares for the gala, battling anxiety and her mother’s dress code. Nolan arrives at her door in a tuxedo. He gives her a powerful pep talk, affirming her goodness and worth.
Using his magic, he frees her coiled hair and adorns it with gold holly berries, preparing her to face her family.
Chapter Twenty-Eight: Nolan
Nolan escorts Harriet into the gala, where they immediately encounter her mother, Donna, who criticizes Harriet’s dress.
Nolan introduces himself as an “auditor” and delivers a subtly threatening defense of Harriet. After Donna retreats, Nolan leads Harriet to the dance floor.
Chapter Twenty-Nine: Harriet
While dancing, Harriet confesses her exhaustion with “hiding.” She confronts her sister, Samantha, who reveals envy for Harriet’s authenticity.
Donna interrupts for a family photo, prompting Nolan to openly call her “foolish.” Harriet finally stands her ground, tells her mother who she truly is, and walks out, leaving the gala behind.
Chapter Thirty: Harriet
Driving home, Harriet feels euphoric. Nolan admits he told Donna she “resembled a root vegetable.”
He uses magic to transport them directly from the car into her bed, where they share a deep, emotional connection, and he finally “ruins” her gala dress with a burst of magic.
Chapter Thirty-One: Nolan
The next morning, they realize their cats are the same entity, further entwining their lives. They discuss the inevitable: Nolan must move on.
Though heartbroken, Harriet insists they complete his journey so he can find peace, and Nolan agrees to one final trip to his past.
Chapter Thirty-Two: Harriet
Their last journey takes them to Nolan’s fishing boat on the stormy day he died in 1902. They watch as the violent storm capsizes the vessel and the “past Nolan” is thrown into the churning sea.
Chapter Thirty-Three: Harriet
During the traumatic memory, Harriet falls into the freezing water. She sinks and sees Nolan’s lifeless body below her. Reaching for him, she is violently yanked back to the present by his magic.
Chapter Thirty-Four: Nolan
They land in Harriet’s living room; she is unconscious and not breathing.
In a panic, Nolan performs CPR, begging her to live. She revives, and he wraps her in warmth.
In this moment, Nolan realizes the “angelic” form he saw when he died a century ago was Harriet.
Chapter Thirty-Five: Harriet
Three days before Christmas, they share an early celebration. Nolan gifts Harriet a hand-knit scarf, and she gives him the compass she found.
The moment he touches it, the object’s magic activates, beginning to pull him away. They share a tearful, heartbreaking goodbye, with Nolan promising to “see her tomorrow.”
Chapter Thirty-Six: Harriet
Harriet wakes up alone on Christmas Eve. She places a candle in the window, holding onto hope, but Nolan does not return.
Chapter Thirty-Seven: Harriet
Weeks later, Samantha visits the shop, and the sisters reconcile. Samantha admits she stayed in the family “mold” while Harriet was always the brave one, showing Harriet’s lasting growth from Nolan’s influence.
Chapter Thirty-Eight: Nolan
Nolan finds himself in a white waiting room with Harriet’s Aunt Matilda.
She and Isabella reveal the truth: the compass was not his unfinished business—Harriet was.
They were soulmates waiting to exist in the same time. Now, Nolan must make a choice between moving on peacefully or returning to her.
Chapter Thirty-Nine: Harriet
Having begun to move on, Harriet decides to blow out her magic candle. As she does, a knock sounds at the door. It is Nolan, now a living, mortal man.
He reveals he chose to return to the woman he loves, promising to see her “every tomorrow” as they reunite with a kiss.
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