While grieving the loss of her parents and two failed love relationships, city girl Shay Brennan is drawn to the Black Hills of South Dakota and finds herself the owner of a historic 1885 saloon. But, she soon realizes she s not alone in the Buckhorn. Two ghosts are sending her messages. One needs her help, while the other is intent on doing harm.
What do they want with Shay? And what part does she play in the terrible events that happened in the saloon over a century ago?
Colt Morgan, local realtor and listing agent for the Buckhorn, is a non-believer in the paranormal. But he unexpectedly finds himself helping Shay solve the mystery of who the spirits are and why they re communicating with her. Widowed for ten years, Colt s not looking for love. So why does his heart fly out of his chest every time he s near Shay? And how does his connection to an old friend tie in with her and the haunting?
Two hearts in the present are linked to two souls from the past. Could it be coincidence, or is it a Haunted Twist of Fate?
Stacey Coverstone wrote her first novel in 2006 after an inspiring week at Cowgirl Camp in New Mexico, a gift from her husband for earning her master’s degree. When that western romance was quickly accepted for publication, there was no looking back. She now writes in a variety of genres, including Gothic suspense, ghost stories, historical and contemporary western romance, humorous fiction, lighthouse stories, and more. She is also a freelance fiction editor.
Please visit Stacey’s website to view all her books and blurbs. Visit the Editing Services page for information on editing and testimonials.
Stacey and her husband call the charming lakeside town of Mount Dora, Florida home, where she is HR Manager and Special Events Manager at the historic (and some say haunted) 1883 Lakeside Inn. She enjoys the beach, bicycle riding, camping, traveling, reading, photography, and spending time with her family.
Shay Brennan is feeling a little bit lost. After losing her parents very close together, and two failed engagements due to the men being more interested in her money than in her, Shay needs a new start. Finding herself in South Dakota, with the newly purchased historical Buckhorn Saloon under her belt, Shay's life is about to get more change than she expected.
The Buckhorn has been home to tragedy in the past, as Shay is finding out when a female ghost beseeches her for help, and a male ghost seems intent on her destruction. What is even stranger is the connection Shay finds to these ghosts, once she begins researching the history of her new home. Help from the skeptical realtor she purchased the saloon from, Colt Morgan, makes Shay start to wonder... Did A Haunted Twist of Fate bring them together, or will it spell the end of Shay's life?
Things get even more complicated when Shay finds herself, however reluctantly at first, in a romantic relationship with Colt. He doubts her insistence that there are multiple ghosts in her home, some of which who mean her harm. Though Colt questions the existence of supernatural entities, he finds himself a partner, in more ways than one, to Shay as she continues her quest to get answers and solve the mystery of the Buckhorn Saloon.
The story of tragic events unfolding over 100 years ago dominates the tale we find in A Haunted Twist of Fate. However, the darkness is tempered by the romance brewing between Shay and Colt, as they grow closer, even while danger increases. An intriguing cast of secondary characters adds depth to the story, bringing in more opportunities for emotional development throughout the story.
Stacey Coverstone drew me in to A Haunted Twist of Fate from the very first page. That spooky beginning sets the tone for what we can come to expect throughout the rest of the novel. The mystery is carried throughout the whole book as we try to figure out who the ghosts are, what they want, and more importantly, why they are so strongly drawn to Shay. The twists brought about by revelations into all the players of this saga, will initially surprise readers, before making us wonder why we didn't figure it out sooner.
Stacey Coverstone's "A Haunted Twist of Fate" starts out with a spooky and chilling encounter with a ghost, and the spine-tingling thrills continue throughout this well-paced mystery romance. When Shay Brennan buys an 1885 historic saloon in Hill City, South Dakota, she gets more than just a building. She also gets restless spirits who are trapped in time in the saloon's history, a murder mystery to solve, a handsome real estate agent, and questions about her own family history. After the death of her wealthy parents, and two failed romances with men who were after her fortune, Shay longs to make a clean start in the little western town of Hill City. Deciding the "Buckhorn Saloon" could be wonderfully converted into a quaint Bed & Breakfast, Shay closes the deal with realtor Colt Morgan, who is loaded with "cowboy charm". As soon as Shay moves into the saloon, she is plauged by strange supernatural experiences, and she is determined to get to the bottom of the mysterious and sometimes malevolent occurrences. Colt, a widower for ten years, finds himself very attracted to Shay, but he is at first sceptical about the ghosts haunting the saloon. The more time they spend together, the more their mutual admiration grows. However, Shay is afraid to trust her heart, and she also senses that Colt does not fully accept her "ghost stories". Colt introduces her to his family, and he presses her for a closer relationship. Shay wants to give her heart and herself to her gorgeous cowboy, but first she must solve the puzzle of the haunted saloon. Complicating the twisted tale of the paranormal past is new information about Shay's true birthright. Will a "twist of fate" keep Shay and Colt apart, or will it bring them together with a lasting, lifetime love? I have come to believe that our “fate or luck” is determined by our choices. Once we make a choice, the fate that was predetermined by that choice will then follow through. However, I strongly believe in true love and one and only soul mates. Once that true love is embedded in your heart, it is there to stay. No matter how you try to deny it, or work around it, it is immovable. Your soulmate is worth a lifetime wait! "A Haunted Twist of Fate" is a well-done "whodunit" with a western twang and a sweet and sexy romance. Very enjoyable!
A haunted twist of fate is a nice western book set in the South Dakota. I enjoyed the portrayal of the characters. The beginning threw me right in, and kept me going to the the next chapters.
Shay is the main character, who buys an old saloon. She chose a bedroom to live in, and got settled. After meeting a ghost on her first night there, and somehow, the realtor, Colt, knows about it his own home, folk tales become real. Neither Colt, nor Shay are ready for another date, yet they both end up eating pancakes together the next morning. It was pretty sweet, and written well. It was very nice to read, seeing Shay struggle with her past engagements, but still letting Colt into her life. It is a pretty hard struggle for both, but it was a twist of fate for them to end up together:)
The ending of chapter 49 made me blush, so I skipped the rest of the chapter and picked up at the next one
What a great book! I really enjoyed the plot, and the characters are wonderful. The romance was realistic, a rarity in today's literary world, and the setting was charming and richly drawn. I've always been a fan of the wild west, and this book did not disappoint. Well done, Stacey Coverstone!
I picked this book up while I was searching my library's catalog for historical material about the Black Hills for research on my own book. This book popped up in my general search, and as a huge lover of Hill City, I thought this would be an enjoyable escape.
However, that was not the case. I understand this is a work of fiction, but the author apparently has no clue or did not think to look at a map when talking about relative distance between cities in the Hills. At one point the main character, Shay, is telling Colt that a gift shop attendant in Rapid City told her she should check out Deadwood because of the historical aspects but she doesn't like to gamble so she "skirted" Deadwood and opted for Hill City. These two cities are in COMPLETELY different directions when leaving Rapid!
The next unbelievable piece of writing was when Shay goes to the cemetery and finds a WOODEN CROSS from 1885 on the grave of a saloon girl/probable prostitute. 1. A wooden cross from 1885 would never have lasted 100+ let alone had carvings that would've been visible as stone tombstone carvings are barely visible at that age. 2. What saloon girl/probable prostitute would even be graced with a marker, let alone a cross?
Beyond those facts, it was only good for a laugh. I had a hard time deciding if it was due to the bad writing, or the one dimensional characters a la a Harlequin novel.
I have no one to blame but myself for thinking the book would be something different. But be warned all future readers!!!
Who says blood isn’t thicker than water? This is a true test of that statement. Stacey Coverstone writes a ghost story of love, deceit, and terror. In this book Shay Brennen has lost both of her parents and inherited their fortune. She moves to South Dakota and buys an old saloon. Unbeknownst to her, the saloon is haunted and she is soon pulled into drama of the 1800’s. As this drama plays out, she finds herself falling in love with the handsome, cowboy real estate agent who sold her the place. She also finds some unbeknownst to her relatives and realizes exactly why she was drawn to this state and town. I love Ms Coverstone’s books and this one hasn’t let me down either. There are tears, fear and happiness all wrapped within the covers of this book.
In Coverstone’s fantasy novel, Shay struggles with her grief and heads out to North Dakota seeking relief. In Hill City, the Buckhorn Saloon calls to her and soon she uses her inheritance to purchase the haunted saloon.
A wonderful blend of romance and a quality ghost story. The author has pulled off a story with style.
I picked this up on impulse in the "new fiction" section at the library. It wasn't really what I expected. Unfortunately, there was no synopsis to be found on the back or inside covers. I was hoping for a little more supernatural mystery and a little less cheesy romance novel.
What a good read! The story line was great. I thought I knew how it was going to end, but I was wrong. I was really surprised how it shifted and truly enjoyed this book!