A grieving mother. A haunted inn. A past that won’t stay buried. Countenance is a hauntingly beautiful tale about a grieving woman who returns to her family’s Southern inn seeking peace—but instead discovers hidden memories, ghostly visitors, and the strength to reclaim her life. With lyrical prose and a touch of the supernatural, it’s a story of resilience, love that lingers beyond the veil, and the quiet magic of finding home again. With the emotional depth of The Lovely Bones and the atmospheric suspense of The Thirteenth Tale , Joy Ross Davis’s Countenance is a tender, gothic mystery where trauma meets transcendence—and where not all ghosts are to be feared. "From the unspeakable, to the ghostly and angelic, author Joy Ross Davis immediately captured my attention by masterfully bringing her characters to life, one by one, generation by generation, in this heartfelt gem of wonder and intrigue. Surrounding the reader with a most unique setting within the rolling hills of Tennessee, the author opens the doors of The Playhouse Inn-a bed and breakfast full of secrets, as it breathes magic and mayhem amongst the peculiar and eccentric, and leads its guests on a journey where good and evil exist under one roof, where love and forgiveness are genuine, and the romantic and adventurous walk hand in hand. A journey of the best kind! With a treasure trove of meaningful characters, a whirlwind of suspense, and vivid descriptions throughout, I not only fell in love with this story as I became emotionally attached, but Countenance became the story I hadn't realized I was missing, until now... The haunting, the heartwarming, and heroic, are the very elements which make this mystical, paranormal narrative a delightful blend of the charming and captivating!" -Wild Sage Book Blog "The story was a good read before, but now it is even better. I recommend this book to other readers." -JudyAnn Lorenz "This story has ghosts, an angel, a Scottish hound name Lulu, and some serious magic with some serious bad guys. Loved this book." -Roxane Twisdale "I love a good mystery, and Davis did well to entice readers with the secrets that Sylvie is about to share with her niece. Before her death, Nealey's mother made her daughter swear not to go back to Playhouse Inn. Intriguingly, something happened to her mother when she and Nealey spent the night at the inn. The prose is evocative; the description of the inn is wonderful and it makes me want to go there myself...the twists and turns of the central characters will keep readers engrossed. It's a great mix of good versus evil and a ghost story. The prose is evocative; the description of the inn is wonderful and it makes me want to go there myself. Some parts of the story progress at an unhurried pace, but the twists and turns of the central characters will keep readers engrossed. 5 Stars" -Readers' Favorite "Great read. Hard to put down. Characters were well developed, story took twists and turns that held my attention and ending was quite a surprise." -Lita Lynn "At this point I don't know if this author could write a bad book. I've read everything she has published and each one is wonderful and truly delightful. She touches your heart with the characters and delights you with plot and settings. The Playhouse Inn is a place I would love to visit, and I'll admit 've reread the book several times to do just that." -Tiffany Seachrist