All Hallow's Joy by Christine Merrill

Interesting start to this story.  Was the woman he saw actually a ghost?  Guess I'll be back to find out more tomorrow!

Great start! Now I can't wait for tomorrow.

I'm looking foward to the rest of the story. I'll be back tomorrow!

Wonder what is going on -- probably nothing good, except Joy.

Is it tomorrow yet?

love historicals and i can't wait to see what happens next.  definitely think that the girl in the window was a ghost.

Do you think that Joy was the woman he saw in the window or does she have a twin -- or maybe she was a ghost?  I am wondering if the bartender and all the men in the bar are smugglers, and maybe holding Joy, and if she has a twin, prisoner?

I'm ready for tomorrow's read already!

Well this story piqued my interest from the get-go. Now another little twist to the mix and I can't wait to find out what happens next. Who is Joy really? What are her secrets? We still don't know if she was the figure in the window or not. What of the locals, wary of a stranger/traveller or just one that is English speaking....? Hmmm... so many things to find out as the story unfolds. Thanks for the great story....

get to read 2 chapters?  I was surprised and pleased to read Thursday AND Friday chapters!!!  Of course, that now means I have to wait longer for chapter 6. 

I'm enjoying this story and greatly confused/intrigued at what's going on at the inn.  So, I'll now have to wait until Monday for more!

Almost every chapter so far could have been a cliffhanger, and Chapter 5 didn't disappoint.

What is going on, and who is Joy?  Very intrigueing!  Of course he won't leave now after her promise to do anything he wants if he promises her to leave before night!  Also, what about the Mad Lords of Penlowen?  Another mystery...

I will miss reading a chapter tomorrow, but really enjoyed reading two of them today.  Thanks for a great read!

Everyone, have a great weekend!

I also got to read 2 chapters.  Very exciting, unfortunately, long wait until Monday.  :(

Oh yeah, today is not Firday. I got to read two chapters also. LOL

but I'll just agree that this has been one cliff-hanger chapter after another. Monday seems so far away.

I'm getting in the mood for Halloween! LOL My neighbors put up decorations and we bought some pumpkins. This story is just what I needed. Fall is my favorite time of year.

This story is kind of frustrating.  It hints at things but I stay confused.

perhaps the bartender is part of a con game where they set up patrons to rob them, and he was afraid Joy had warned Jack away.  Who knows?  The story is very mysterious so far.

I suspect that Jack's little charade of drunken patron whose only interest is in fondling the help will change, though, to protect Joy from the cuffing the bartender seems ready to dole out to her.  Will this spur him into a quick escape with Joy, or will the ruse continue?  Hmm.

April, JV and everyone else, I agree this story is one surprise after another, the sign of a great book. This story could go off in so many different directions.... loving it! Chapter 5 and 6 are great, looking forward to tomorrow's to see how Jack reacts....

the bartender sure has a strong hold on Joy...  hope Jack takes him up on teh guinea and takes her to his room.  Maybe we'll find out more about what is going on in that strange inn and Jack can help her escape the hold on her...

Obviously the bartender doesn't have Joy's best interest at heart, nor Jack's I feel sure.  I think Jack should take Joy upstairs with him and find a way to escape with her. 

Perhaps that's a twin sister we saw in the window upstairs, and Joy i being so cowed and subservient to protect her from something.  In that case, Jack would have to save her, too.

Of course, this is a Hallowe'en type of read, so the imagine in the window upstairs could be any sort of unusual thing.  I'm fascinated to find the answers to some of these mysteries.

what's Jack's choice going to be. I agree, April/Cathy/Papay/JV/ Hazelnutz, I think it would be in Jack and Joy's best interests for Jack to take the innkeeper's offer and whisk Joy away from the man. At least, as far as a room to see if he can discover what's really going on in this very strange inn... can't wait to see what happens next....

TRULY don't like the bartender! 

April digs around in the barn.  She finds rope and a dirty old rag.  Making her way towards the door to exit with both items now in her possession, she all but trips over a stick.  Picking it up to throw out of her way, she notices it's sharply pointed on one end, perfect for her plan.

Who wants to help me torture the bartender for his behavior towards Joy? 

What a lovely man the bartender is!  What I can't understand is why Joy is looking so disappointed in Jack's answer.  Surely she knows what fate would befall her if he declined, and surely she knows from the other times he has "saved" her from a beating that he is trying to protect her and won't use her as the bartender suggests.  Of course, perhaps she's playing her part, as expected, in this charade.

I'm with you, papaya.  I am ready for some answers, and it's frustrating having to wait.

I also think that she should be somewhat grateful that Jack "paid" for her.  He will keep her safe -- though who is going to keep him safe?  I think that she spilled the drink on purpose -- was it drugged? 

Great story for this time of year!

Lidia

She just doesn't understand that Jack just wants to help her.  She has been so abused that she probably doesn't trust any man at all.

Will a twin sister be in Joy's bedrrom?  Joy seemed both angry and defient.  What will happen once Jack is in her room.

There are just so many questions without any answers so far.  I want more and more of this to read.

I think it is intriguing myself. For once, it is a book that doesn't cut straight to the chase. It definitely makes you leaving for more. It's possible she could be held against her will. The bartender making her do things she doesn't want to do. Holding a secret she cannot tell. I, personally, cannot wait until tomorrow to find out what is going to happen next. For one thing we know, she is trying her hardest to protect him.

One moment Joy is defiant; the next she is meek.  Then, she's ardent.  One minute she seems to despise him for taking the bartender up on his offer, and the next she's back to trying to protect him.  It's obvious she does not belong there and is kept there either by physical intimidation or by some other nefarious means of coercion (blackmail?). 

I must say that as much as I like a hot story, for this couple, this was not the time for hanky panky.  This was the time to explain a few things and make plans for a safe escape.  Once that is accomplished and they are safely away from that nasty place, then there can be time for other...uh...diversions.

Besides, he knows he is being set up and thinks (or thought for a brief moment, at least) that she might be part of the plot against him.  I wouldn't think that would rev his engines.  Adding to all that, she appears inexperienced.  Instead of spending the time showing her how a lady should be kissed, for heavens sake, he should have kissed her just long enough to close the door and preserve the illusion that he intended to bed her.  Oh, well.  Now that's he's stepped back a bit, maybe we'll start getting some answers! 

 Too bad we have to wait until Monday. This is rather frustrating.

I was hoping if I waited to read a few chapters all at once rather than one a day, it would be easier to wait for the next bunch of chapters. NOPE! I'm still full of questions, still want to join April and her plans of torture, still confused about Joy. I have a feeling we won't start to get some answers until at least chapter 15 or so.