The Abandoned by Amanda Stevens

I received a copy of The Restorer (Book I of The Graveyard Queen Series) by Amanda Stevens from NetGalley not long ago. I thought the synopsis was interesting, but I hadn't read her work before. So when I started to read it, I found the first couple of pages very interesting.  I logged back into NetGalley to read the synopsis again, when I noticed a few extras the author had provided (i.e. a link to the book site, trailer, and prequel).  Prequel???  I didn't even realize there was one. Since this is a series, I can't read Book I before the prequel, can I?  A lot of the time the prequel comes at the end, an afterthought once the series is complete; Amanda has been kind enough to give us a true prequel - before the first book in the series was released!

Goodreads: 

There are rules for dealing with ghosts. Too bad Ree Hutchins doesn't know them.

When her favorite patient at a private mental hospital passes away, psychology student Ree Hutchins mourns the elderly woman's death. But more unsettling is her growing suspicion that something unnatural is shadowing her.

Amateur ghost hunter Hayden Priest believes Ree is being haunted. Even Amelia Gray, known in Charleston as The Graveyard Queen, senses a gathering darkness. Driven by a force she doesn't understand, Ree is compelled to uncover an old secret and put abandoned souls to rest—before she is locked away forever....

An ebook exclusive prequel to The Graveyard Queen series.

Review:

Wonderful! The Abandoned captured my interest from page one and held it captive until the last word. Ree Hutchins is a genuinely kind woman, but like most people she doesn't quite believe in ghosts. She volunteers at an exclusive mental hospital, run by Dr. Nicholas Farrante, whose family has run the facility for nearly a century. When an elderly facility resident dies in Ree's presence, she suddenly finds herself considering the fact that ghosts might be more real than she ever imagined.

The story is an attention grabber. Although short, it was long enough to tell the tale, without holes. You get to know Ree and a bit about her background, while she tries to figure out what the hell is going on. Ghost hunter, Hayden Priest, provides a bit of a romantic interlude. Most importantly, you're introduced to Amelia Gray - the main character in The Graveyard Queen series.

I really enjoyed this story, so I give it:

You can download The Abandoned for free from the Harlequin e-book store or the Amazon Kindle store.
I haven't finished The Restorer, but here's the book trailer.  Tell me what you think:

Stop by the Amanda Stevens website to see what new in the series.  I encourage you to follow her on Twitter as well. 

I downloaded this book for free from the Harlequin e-book store.  I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.