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A Death That Lingers
A wife leaves her abusive husband, but soon realizes nothing will keep him away. Not even death.
Josie Collins is the wife of a world famous rock star and the envy of nearly every woman in the country. But the horrific truth is her husband wants nothing more than to see her dead.
Josie finally summons the courage to leave her famous, abusive husband and returns to her hometown among the winter wheat of Kansas. When her husband is killed in a fiery car accident while on his way to find her, she thinks she has escaped him at last, but she’s wrong. It quickly becomes clear that even in death he has no intention of letting her go.
As Josie develops a rapport with sexy police chief, Paul Stark, trouble begins to brew. There’s something special about the tall, mysterious officer with the long jagged scar down his face. But Josie soon learns that he’s haunted by a nightmarish past.
Sparks fly in their small, Midwestern town, and as their attraction grows, so does a dead husband’s fury. In order to smother this dark, sinister spirit, and perhaps find true and lasting happiness with each other, the living must learn to let go, give in, and leave their ghosts in the past.
Content Warning: Contains sensual sex and some explicit language
Josie Collins is the wife of a world famous rock star and the envy of nearly every woman in the country. But the horrific truth is her husband wants nothing more than to see her dead.
Josie finally summons the courage to leave her famous, abusive husband and returns to her hometown among the winter wheat of Kansas. When her husband is killed in a fiery car accident while on his way to find her, she thinks she has escaped him at last, but she’s wrong. It quickly becomes clear that even in death he has no intention of letting her go.
As Josie develops a rapport with sexy police chief, Paul Stark, trouble begins to brew. There’s something special about the tall, mysterious officer with the long jagged scar down his face. But Josie soon learns that he’s haunted by a nightmarish past.
Sparks fly in their small, Midwestern town, and as their attraction grows, so does a dead husband’s fury. In order to smother this dark, sinister spirit, and perhaps find true and lasting happiness with each other, the living must learn to let go, give in, and leave their ghosts in the past.
Content Warning: Contains sensual sex and some explicit language
366 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 21, 2011
4 people are currently reading
105 people want to read
About the author
Kaylie Newell
49 books301 followersKaylie Newell lives in Southern Oregon with her husband and two daughters. She’s the proud author of over a dozen romances, including the RITA® finalists, Christmas at The Graff and Tanner’s Promise.
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Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews
January 21, 2014
Now THAT my friends, is the way a great romance should be told.
Suggestions of poignancy, artfully detailed small town scenery and a most anticipated, non-insta-love story (thank god) I've read in a while. Sure, most romances are a bit predictable, but give the reader enough rope to hang on to the book even when they're not reading it. Make us wonder what they're doing and how they're feeling when we can't get back to it nearly as quickly as we'd like. And that's exactly what Ms. Newell did...but in such a deliciously sexy, non-cliche, way.
Newell took two broken characters who, for different reasons, had lost in love and brought them together slowly...taking the reader along on their journey of understanding and letting go. Equally intriguing were the secondary paranormal elements, which gave the story depth and a refreshingly unique, "fly on the wall", view.
I can't believe it's taken me so long to hop aboard the "Newell-train" and I for one won't be getting off anytime soon. Her third-person narrative is flawless and bliss for a reader and once you settle in, let her train take you on an amazing ride.
Suggestions of poignancy, artfully detailed small town scenery and a most anticipated, non-insta-love story (thank god) I've read in a while. Sure, most romances are a bit predictable, but give the reader enough rope to hang on to the book even when they're not reading it. Make us wonder what they're doing and how they're feeling when we can't get back to it nearly as quickly as we'd like. And that's exactly what Ms. Newell did...but in such a deliciously sexy, non-cliche, way.
Newell took two broken characters who, for different reasons, had lost in love and brought them together slowly...taking the reader along on their journey of understanding and letting go. Equally intriguing were the secondary paranormal elements, which gave the story depth and a refreshingly unique, "fly on the wall", view.
I can't believe it's taken me so long to hop aboard the "Newell-train" and I for one won't be getting off anytime soon. Her third-person narrative is flawless and bliss for a reader and once you settle in, let her train take you on an amazing ride.
November 20, 2011
This is one excellent read. The writing is rich and descriptive, the characters are wonderful and the story line is riveting. I read it straight through. Don't miss this one.
February 28, 2012
Originally posted at:http://longandshortreviews.blogspot.c...
Domestic abuse victim, Josie Collins, is finally leaving behind her superstar husband. She’s ready to start a new life back in her hometown, but her husband’s shadow haunts her everywhere she goes. Even after she learns of his death, his spirit still lingers by her.
Josie was a very realistic heroine. She came off as an average heartbroken woman on her search to forget and let go of the shadows that haunt her. I found her to be very enjoyable. Her relationships with the hero, her grandparents, and her best friend made the book come together. I felt as though I was reading about a real person's life. I also enjoyed Paul, the hero. He, too, was faced with a death that lingered, and the slow unraveling of his past made me understand him more and more as the pages turned. The scene near the end with him touched me. It was very beautifully written.
My favorite part of the book was the paranormal aspect of it. With most paranormal books, the supernatural elements sometimes overpower the plot and the characters. In this novel, however, the paranormal side of the plot was very slow in it’s development. It seemed more plausible. Ms. Newell also didn’t give her ghost any unrealistic powers. He was rather weak for a ghost, at times doing nothing but making scary noises or appearing here or there. Only near the end does he gain strength and cause some damage. I loved the scenes written from the other ghost’s point of view. That added some depth to the story.
Another part of the book I really enjoyed was the cat. Tumbleweed reminded me of my own cat, and I’m pretty certain the author must have had a cat. I really enjoyed the scenes with Josie’s furry friend.
For everything good about A Death That Lingers I did have a couple of minor issues. I thought the story dragged a bit and there were a few scenes that could have been shorter. Also, I wasn’t happy with the editing in this story. There were parts where more dialoge would have gone a long way to cut down on so much telling and not enough showing. The author's use of passive voice was a distraction for me but unless you know what to look for it probably won't affect your enjoyment of this story.
Besides those tiny little problems, however, I truly enjoyed this book and look forward to reading more from this wonderful, talented author. If you’re a fan of realistic contemporary with characters who have flaws and quirks that make them real, then you have to give this book a try.
Domestic abuse victim, Josie Collins, is finally leaving behind her superstar husband. She’s ready to start a new life back in her hometown, but her husband’s shadow haunts her everywhere she goes. Even after she learns of his death, his spirit still lingers by her.
Josie was a very realistic heroine. She came off as an average heartbroken woman on her search to forget and let go of the shadows that haunt her. I found her to be very enjoyable. Her relationships with the hero, her grandparents, and her best friend made the book come together. I felt as though I was reading about a real person's life. I also enjoyed Paul, the hero. He, too, was faced with a death that lingered, and the slow unraveling of his past made me understand him more and more as the pages turned. The scene near the end with him touched me. It was very beautifully written.
My favorite part of the book was the paranormal aspect of it. With most paranormal books, the supernatural elements sometimes overpower the plot and the characters. In this novel, however, the paranormal side of the plot was very slow in it’s development. It seemed more plausible. Ms. Newell also didn’t give her ghost any unrealistic powers. He was rather weak for a ghost, at times doing nothing but making scary noises or appearing here or there. Only near the end does he gain strength and cause some damage. I loved the scenes written from the other ghost’s point of view. That added some depth to the story.
Another part of the book I really enjoyed was the cat. Tumbleweed reminded me of my own cat, and I’m pretty certain the author must have had a cat. I really enjoyed the scenes with Josie’s furry friend.
For everything good about A Death That Lingers I did have a couple of minor issues. I thought the story dragged a bit and there were a few scenes that could have been shorter. Also, I wasn’t happy with the editing in this story. There were parts where more dialoge would have gone a long way to cut down on so much telling and not enough showing. The author's use of passive voice was a distraction for me but unless you know what to look for it probably won't affect your enjoyment of this story.
Besides those tiny little problems, however, I truly enjoyed this book and look forward to reading more from this wonderful, talented author. If you’re a fan of realistic contemporary with characters who have flaws and quirks that make them real, then you have to give this book a try.
December 14, 2011
This is my second time reading this book. And I have never read a book more then once! So that just shows how amazing this book is! The first time I read it, it took me two days because I couldn't put it down. It has suspense, romance, and so much more!! I love this book, and I'm sure anybody else that picks it up will love it too!!
September 3, 2016
I am not a romance reader but this book grabbed me and wouldn't let go! It was a great thriller and I loved not knowing where the story was going. A lot of fun! Can't wait to see more by this author.
April 25, 2024
An interesting slow-burn steamy romance story with a dash of the paranormal and poltergeists.
One has to set aside some rational and logical questions when reading or listening to a book like this. Indulgent escapism romance is probably a good category for this book. This is not a Dean Koontz paranormal novel. The characters that Kaylie Newell creates for this novel do draw you into their individually broken worlds and let you put some of the logic and rationality of this world aside. You avoid such logical questions as 'why is Josie Collins not pursued by every print and video journalist trying to make a name for themselves?' And 'how does a Police Chief leave the state to visit the grave of his dead girlfriend without informing anyone?' As well as 'what happened to Alice's husband or baby daddy?' The one haunting question throughout the book is 'is Josie's rock star husband really dead or faking it?'
I chose this story on Audible because the Publisher's summary sounded somewhat interesting and because it was listed as being set in the state of Kansas. The fictional town of Adeline (deliberate change from the real town of Abilene) is so universal small town Midwest and without description that it could be anywhere USA. I do not believe that Ms. Newell has visited Kansas as there were no story details to lead the reader to believe it so. It was a nice dart thrown at the map for a location.
As for the outstanding narration provided by Erica Sullivan, that is what made the book. Thank you Blackstone Audio. Her voice characterizations were outstanding and her emotional pacing of the story was superb. I will look for more audio books narrated by Ms. Sullivan.
One has to set aside some rational and logical questions when reading or listening to a book like this. Indulgent escapism romance is probably a good category for this book. This is not a Dean Koontz paranormal novel. The characters that Kaylie Newell creates for this novel do draw you into their individually broken worlds and let you put some of the logic and rationality of this world aside. You avoid such logical questions as 'why is Josie Collins not pursued by every print and video journalist trying to make a name for themselves?' And 'how does a Police Chief leave the state to visit the grave of his dead girlfriend without informing anyone?' As well as 'what happened to Alice's husband or baby daddy?' The one haunting question throughout the book is 'is Josie's rock star husband really dead or faking it?'
I chose this story on Audible because the Publisher's summary sounded somewhat interesting and because it was listed as being set in the state of Kansas. The fictional town of Adeline (deliberate change from the real town of Abilene) is so universal small town Midwest and without description that it could be anywhere USA. I do not believe that Ms. Newell has visited Kansas as there were no story details to lead the reader to believe it so. It was a nice dart thrown at the map for a location.
As for the outstanding narration provided by Erica Sullivan, that is what made the book. Thank you Blackstone Audio. Her voice characterizations were outstanding and her emotional pacing of the story was superb. I will look for more audio books narrated by Ms. Sullivan.
October 8, 2021
3 Stars for me!
My rating range of this story... 2 - 4 Stars
If significant, why? The H drove me crazy
Main Character Ratings...
H = 4/10
h = 7/10
Was cheating involved? No
Any major triggers to be aware of? Abusive Husband
Scenes with heat... Yes
What point does it start? 60%
How much of the story? 5%
Anything beyond M/F? No
If yes, explained
Heat Rating... 5/10
Clean or Fade to Black - 1 or 2
Normal to Descriptive 3-5
Detailed Descriptive Sex - 6-7
Um, Wow, Beyond Descriptive Sex - 8 or above
Was there so much sex or unrealistic sex that you rolled your eyes and/or skipped forward? No
The back story... The h escapes her abusive husband. He follows her and is killed in an accident. He becomes a very angry ghost intent on killing his wife.
The Romance... Difficult to see as the H takes brooding to an extreme until the last 5% of the story.
The drama explosion... The psycho-ghost attacks.
Did it feel real or contrived? Neither
Was it OTT? Yes... But ok
Separation involved? Minor
Was it resolved properly or rushed? Properly
Final Notes... I wish that the authors would not make you hate a character past 60% before starting them on the path to redemption. 90% or more cements them in the negative category for me.
HEA or HFN? HFN
My rating range of this story... 2 - 4 Stars
If significant, why? The H drove me crazy
Main Character Ratings...
H = 4/10
h = 7/10
Was cheating involved? No
Any major triggers to be aware of? Abusive Husband
Scenes with heat... Yes
What point does it start? 60%
How much of the story? 5%
Anything beyond M/F? No
If yes, explained
Heat Rating... 5/10
Clean or Fade to Black - 1 or 2
Normal to Descriptive 3-5
Detailed Descriptive Sex - 6-7
Um, Wow, Beyond Descriptive Sex - 8 or above
Was there so much sex or unrealistic sex that you rolled your eyes and/or skipped forward? No
The back story... The h escapes her abusive husband. He follows her and is killed in an accident. He becomes a very angry ghost intent on killing his wife.
The Romance... Difficult to see as the H takes brooding to an extreme until the last 5% of the story.
The drama explosion... The psycho-ghost attacks.
Did it feel real or contrived? Neither
Was it OTT? Yes... But ok
Separation involved? Minor
Was it resolved properly or rushed? Properly
Final Notes... I wish that the authors would not make you hate a character past 60% before starting them on the path to redemption. 90% or more cements them in the negative category for me.
HEA or HFN? HFN
September 7, 2019
This was a surprise great read!! It has lots of heat, elements of the supernatural and just an overall great plot!
June 13, 2022
4*. I really liked this book it was different. I liked the characters. Except the evil husband. He was aughful. Not sure I like the idea of the dead hurting us in anyway.
March 5, 2024
Similar to a lifetime movie. You’re 12 and sick from school, can’t get up to change the channel because you’re tired, so you’re stuck with this shit.
February 8, 2012
Reviewed today http://atastyread.blogspot.com
This Debut release by Kaylie Newell will linger in your mind long after you read the last page.
The day that she finally leaves her abusive Rock star husband, Josie Collins knows he will be coming after her. Even after she finds out he is dead.
Josie moves back to the small-town where she grew up, back to her Gran and Poppy who raised her, back to working at the Antique Shop and hanging out with her best friend, Angela. The only thing different, besides the Handsome New Police Chief, is the feeling that Liam is somehow there in the town, in her home and has no plans to let her go.
Police Chief, Paul Stark has his own Ghosts that linger in his mind, but it is because he has not been able to free himself of the blame for her death. From the first glance, Paul has an attraction to Josie, but she is a forever kind of girl and he isn't looking for forever. But something is out to hurt Josie, and Paul will do whatever it takes to make sure that she is safe.
With a little Paranormal Flair, Kaylie writes a very different kind of Romance Suspense. From the first page, we are connected to Josie. She is finally leaving her abusive husband and knows it will not be an easy task. From that point on, we can FEEL him around. Looking behind our shoulders for him.....creepy.
Even when she arrives at her grandparents, we have no idea if Liam will be there, or if he is coming after her, I honestly will say I had NO idea what was going to happen, and I love that about a book, when I can't guess what will be happening next.
Then she meets Paul Stark, *swoon*, our handsome Police Chief. The two of them are wildly attracted to each other, but neither is looking to jump into a relationship, until things heat up one night. Josie starts to have feelings for him, but doesn't want to risk getting hurt again, which we can all understand, especially with a man who tries to keep woman at a distance.
Throw in a lingering spirit that doesn't want Josie to be happy or alive, for that matter, and we have an eerie romance that will have you up late into the night.
This Debut release by Kaylie Newell will linger in your mind long after you read the last page.
The day that she finally leaves her abusive Rock star husband, Josie Collins knows he will be coming after her. Even after she finds out he is dead.
Josie moves back to the small-town where she grew up, back to her Gran and Poppy who raised her, back to working at the Antique Shop and hanging out with her best friend, Angela. The only thing different, besides the Handsome New Police Chief, is the feeling that Liam is somehow there in the town, in her home and has no plans to let her go.
Police Chief, Paul Stark has his own Ghosts that linger in his mind, but it is because he has not been able to free himself of the blame for her death. From the first glance, Paul has an attraction to Josie, but she is a forever kind of girl and he isn't looking for forever. But something is out to hurt Josie, and Paul will do whatever it takes to make sure that she is safe.
With a little Paranormal Flair, Kaylie writes a very different kind of Romance Suspense. From the first page, we are connected to Josie. She is finally leaving her abusive husband and knows it will not be an easy task. From that point on, we can FEEL him around. Looking behind our shoulders for him.....creepy.
Even when she arrives at her grandparents, we have no idea if Liam will be there, or if he is coming after her, I honestly will say I had NO idea what was going to happen, and I love that about a book, when I can't guess what will be happening next.
Then she meets Paul Stark, *swoon*, our handsome Police Chief. The two of them are wildly attracted to each other, but neither is looking to jump into a relationship, until things heat up one night. Josie starts to have feelings for him, but doesn't want to risk getting hurt again, which we can all understand, especially with a man who tries to keep woman at a distance.
Throw in a lingering spirit that doesn't want Josie to be happy or alive, for that matter, and we have an eerie romance that will have you up late into the night.
December 14, 2011
Josie Collins knows the next time her husband lays a hand on her it will be with her last breath in mind. On the run from the famous Rock Star Liam, she knows others can't believe she would leave him, he is famous of course, but behind closed doors he is a monster. Running to the only place she feels safe, her Grandparents in Kansas.
Police Chief Paul Stark is aware of Josie's past, something about the haunting woman calls to him. Paul has never been able to move past the death the love of his life, but bwing around Josie has him questioning if it maybe time.
When Josie's husband is killed in a car crash, she is ready to move on, but something tells her that it may not be that easy. She still feels his presence and the only time she feels safe is in Paul's arms, but Paul keeps pushing her away not wanting to hurt her. Will Paul be too late when realizes that the only way to move on is with Josie by his side.
I thought this was a captivating read, I was not sure where the story was leading too but pleased when I found out. I really liked Paul Stark, he is haunted by his past and in a way punishing himself over and over afraid of taking another risk again. Would definitely try another Kaylie Newell book again.
Police Chief Paul Stark is aware of Josie's past, something about the haunting woman calls to him. Paul has never been able to move past the death the love of his life, but bwing around Josie has him questioning if it maybe time.
When Josie's husband is killed in a car crash, she is ready to move on, but something tells her that it may not be that easy. She still feels his presence and the only time she feels safe is in Paul's arms, but Paul keeps pushing her away not wanting to hurt her. Will Paul be too late when realizes that the only way to move on is with Josie by his side.
I thought this was a captivating read, I was not sure where the story was leading too but pleased when I found out. I really liked Paul Stark, he is haunted by his past and in a way punishing himself over and over afraid of taking another risk again. Would definitely try another Kaylie Newell book again.
March 13, 2013
It's not over until the rock star dies...No, that's definitely not the case. This isn't a rock and roll fantasy, it's hell. And when it's time to break free, the hell only gets worse.
You can envy Josie all you want, but if anyone knew the truth, the heartbreaking secret she bears, one would know that being the wife of a famous star isn't all it's cracked up to be. But Josie is strong enough now, she's ready to go. But that won't stop her husband.
A Death That Lingers thrills. The plot was crafted to keep readers begging for more. A little dark, a little paranormal, the author has created a story that keeps us on our toes. You won't know what to expect next. If you enjoy a well written story, A Death That Lingers is one you should add to your list.
You can envy Josie all you want, but if anyone knew the truth, the heartbreaking secret she bears, one would know that being the wife of a famous star isn't all it's cracked up to be. But Josie is strong enough now, she's ready to go. But that won't stop her husband.
A Death That Lingers thrills. The plot was crafted to keep readers begging for more. A little dark, a little paranormal, the author has created a story that keeps us on our toes. You won't know what to expect next. If you enjoy a well written story, A Death That Lingers is one you should add to your list.
November 27, 2011
In the mood for a great romantic suspense? Well, you'll find it in this book. And be sure you have some time to devote to this book also. I made the mistake of starting it when I only had a few minutes. This is one of those you could easily find yourself staying up until 3am to finish. The love story is sweet in this one. It was nice to see Paul and Josie find happiness after so much heartache.
This book has everything, from humor, to love, and even ghosts that will leave you shivering. Kaylie Newell writes wonderfully and very descriptive that you can see the scenes vividly in your head. Don't miss this one.
This book has everything, from humor, to love, and even ghosts that will leave you shivering. Kaylie Newell writes wonderfully and very descriptive that you can see the scenes vividly in your head. Don't miss this one.
May 26, 2012
ROCK STAR AND A SEXY COP...
"Fear ran its icy fingertips along her spine..." This is a extremely well written romance with a dash of thriller thrown in. I don't want to give too much away, but I certainly was surprised at some of the plot twists in the story. I'm a sucker for character development and this book has that in spades. You identify with the heroine from the beginning and get that chest tightening feeling when she is mistreated/ignored/rejected.
Two warnings: 1. Don't read it alone on a rainy night, and
2. Will have you looking at uniformed police officers in a way that will make you blush
So glad I downloaded this book.
"Fear ran its icy fingertips along her spine..." This is a extremely well written romance with a dash of thriller thrown in. I don't want to give too much away, but I certainly was surprised at some of the plot twists in the story. I'm a sucker for character development and this book has that in spades. You identify with the heroine from the beginning and get that chest tightening feeling when she is mistreated/ignored/rejected.
Two warnings: 1. Don't read it alone on a rainy night, and
2. Will have you looking at uniformed police officers in a way that will make you blush
So glad I downloaded this book.
December 15, 2011
I loved this book. I bought it on a Saturday afternoon and couldn't put it down. I finished it in a day. This was a romance with a twist. I'll say no more so that I don't spoil the book for anyone else. It's a definite "must read"! I will buy Kaylie's next book that is due out next year.
October 24, 2013
Didn't expected that! I really thought it was going one way but it didn't. Not want would normally read but it was a great book. A little Different for me. Good to change it up a little. I will say she does get rid of Him.
January 11, 2016
Two-haiku review:
She leaves abuser
He tries to follow and dies
But she still feels him
Whether good or bad
Spirits can stay close to us
Impacting our lives
She leaves abuser
He tries to follow and dies
But she still feels him
Whether good or bad
Spirits can stay close to us
Impacting our lives
June 5, 2013
check out my review at the link below :)
http://milesapartbooks.blogspot.com/2...
http://milesapartbooks.blogspot.com/2...
January 27, 2014
Different kind of romantic suspense with ghosts haunting the main characters.
Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews