Shadows of the Past

Shadow Slayers Stories #1

by Nellie H. Steele

When a disturbing recurring nightmare plagues Josie Benson, she finds herself unnerved, rattled to her core, even during her waking hours. As her health and well-being begin to deteriorate, her friends push her to seek help. Josie finds all sources of help useless until a mysterious man appears, providing support and promising answers. Her friends and family object to her involvement with the stranger, but she finds herself drawn to him even though his explanations do little to explain the mystery haunting and tormenting her.

Her bold actions bewilder not only her friends and family, but Josie herself. Who is this mystery man and can he really return normalcy to her life? From small town New York to the rocky coast of Maine, can Josie discover the secrets that lurk in the shadows of her past?

372 pages, Kindle Edition

First published February 18, 2020

About the author

Nellie H. Steele lives in the South Hills of Pittsburgh with her family and her many fur-babies. When she isn't writing, she enjoys teaching Statistics at a local university or watching her dogs and cats play in the yard.

Nellie is the author of the Cate Kensie Mystery Series, a cozy mystery series following the adventures of Dr. Catherine Kensie, a history professor turned Scottish Countess, and her beloved dog, Riley, as they navigate their new lives in their quirky Scottish highlands castle, solving mysteries along the way! She is the creator of the Shadow Slayers series, a suspenseful series with a supernatural twist! Follow the Shadow Slayers through time as they fight to banish darkness from the world. Nellie also writes an adventure series, Maggie Edwards Adventures. Follow Maggie Edwards as she travels the world solving mysteries and finding unique treasures!

Check out all Nellie offers at www.anovelideapublishing.com/novels, sign up for our newsletter to get the latest news about book releases or like us on facebook (facebook.com/anovelideapublishing) to keep up with us!

Reviews

[Peggy · Rating 2 out of 5]

Fun for fans of the Gothic soap Dark Shadows.

[Jodi Sweet · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great start!

After reading the Cate Kensie books, and learning about Celine, I had to read Celine’s story! It did not disappoint. I can’t wait to start on the next book!

[Susie Black · Rating 5 out of 5]

Shadows of the Past is the story of Josie, a young woman whose inexplicable, terrifying nightmares disturb her sleep and haunt her days. The arrival of a strange package with an antique music box and a necklace inside left with a note by a stranger compels her to face the fact that she might not be who she thinks she is. A chance meeting with the mystery man sends Josie on a magical, mystical journey of discovery uncovering the reason for her nightmares and the truth of who she really is. The discovery is one she is unprepared for and her life will never be the same.
This cleverly plotted, fast-paced paranormal mystery kept me engaged and interested from the first page to the last. The characters were believable and likable ones I rooted for to prevail against all odds. The author did a marvelous job of weaving magic and mystery as she propelled the reader on a journey back in time. I would recommend this book, especially to anyone who enjoys supernatural suspense and time-traveling.

[Roger Campbell · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thought the story was very intriguing, entertaining, and full of mystery. A young woman, Josie, is tormented by a reoccurring nightmare that she can not unravel or explain away. She begins losing sleep staying up late at night trying to analyze the strange dream or worse, falling asleep and the dream gets more frightening. Her two best friends try to help her untangle the mystery and eventually encourage her to seek help, only to make things more complicated. The conundrum becomes more complicated when Josie finds an ancient music box with a beautiful necklace inside. A stranger shows up in town who may have Josie's answers, or maybe the cause of her dilemma. The story is full of unique characters that add thrill and excitement to the story. I highly recommend the book as an unusual, exciting mystery.

[Kat · Rating 5 out of 5]

I borrowed this book from KU, but was gifted with the audiobook version. It was great to find that “Shadows of the Past” explains the beginning of Celine, Damien, Grayson & others from “The Secret of Dunmore Castle”. It begins with Josie (Celine) having very unsettling nightmares & severe headaches. Baffled by these new unexpected issues, Josie, Damien, & her ex. Michael, begin trying to unravel her new unusual health problems. Josie received a beautiful, antique music box from a mysterious man they all referred to as the stalker. The music box seems to be the only thing that provides her with a sense of relief.
If you prefer the audiobook format, Graham Mack does an excellent job retelling the story through his narration. He brings the wonderful characters to life and is able to visually paint the story for the reader. I’m loving becoming acquainted with this series while waiting for more of The Castle of Dunmore Mysteries. I’d give 5+ Stars to both the author & the narrator. Highly recommend 😍

[Gail Cook · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thoroughly enjoyed this story although I did feel that it was a little slow to start with. Once I got into it I couldn't put it down. I kept trying to figure out how Josie could be Celine but couldn't. The explanation, when it came, made sense. There were so many twists and turns that it kept me guessing how it was going to turn out in the end.
This is a modern time travelling mystery that deserves to be read so treat yourself, you won't regret it.

[Michelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Shadows of the Past by Nellie H. Steele is an interesting, exciting, and enjoyable page-turner! It was intriguing to join Josie on this adventure to discover the cause of her recurring nightmare. Can't wait for the next installment of this very entertaining series! This series reminds me so much of the old tv show Dark Shadows! I loved this series!

[Madeline N. Fisher · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another suspense story

I enjoyed this book. I kept me on my toes from the very beginning. I still have questions about the characters especially Josie. Maybe the next book will fill in the blanks

[Audrey · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have never read anything like this book before, let’s face it at my age it’s not my genre but I do like this authors work so I persevered and I enjoyed it so much I have to read the next two books. Just shows your never to old for a little fantasy read !

[Danielle Palli · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Supernatural Hero’s Journey Into the Past!

Or, in this case, a heroine’s journey.

Shadows of the Past is book one in the Shadow Slayers stories, written by Nellie H. Steele and published by A Novel Idea, LLC. The book is the beginning of a suspenseful, time-traveling supernatural mystery series that follows Josie Benson, her cousin Damian, and ex-boyfriend Michael (who doesn’t seem to want to go away) as they battle the dark forces of evil across the centuries.

The story opens with twenty-five-year-old Josie having recurring nightmares of running through a dark cave with blood on her hands. Despite the support of family, friends, and therapy, nothing seems to help. Then, one day, a mysterious man leaves an antique music box on Josie’s doorstep, the first clue in Josie discovering her past, her legacy, and her need to confront her demons before it’s too late.

Steele weaves an intricate tale of suspenseful storytelling mixed with dark magic and fascinating characters. As someone with a background in metaphysical studies, I was intrigued watching this story unfold. My mind kept cycling through a plethora of possible scenarios. Past lives? Alternate realities? The occult? Time travel? Wormholes? Parallel universes? I won’t leave any spoilers here, but I will say that while Steele’s work is one of fiction, there are definite parallels to what you’d find in mythology and ancient lore. There are enough bread crumbs along the way to give the reader opportunity to try their best in figuring out exactly what’s happening.

I had the opportunity to listen to the audiobook version of this story, narrated by Graham Mack. Mack’s warm voice does a superb job of differentiating between both male and female character voices in such a way that there’s no question as to who is speaking. The pacing of both the story and the storytelling is solid, and it was easy to become immersed in Josie/Celine’s intriguing world.

[Kathy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Josie Benson is losing sleep and her sanity, plagued by a recurring nightmare. Her cousin, Damian, and ex-boyfriend, Michael, are desperate to get her help. When a mysterious package containing a music box and necklace is left for her, she becomes more confused. She has no memory of it but feels drawn to it all the same. The man who delivered it has been watching her and receives texts about the health of some children and worries that all will be doomed if Josie doesn’t remember. When Josie first meets the man, her friends think he’s a stalker, but she’s not sure. He swears he can help her and rid her of the nightmares. Josie doesn’t trust him but she’s desperate for answers all the same. Why does he insist she is Celine and is the key to saving everything? To find the answers, she must go to Maine and unravel the secrets of her past.

An intricate mystery involving time travel, occultism, immortality, and an epic fight of good versus evil. The story will keep you guessing along with the characters as to how Josie, a normal woman, can also be Celine. Josie is a relatable character and her confusion and pain are felt throughout. As she pieces together what led to this point, she has a heart wrenching decision to make. Michael and Damian are overprotective but come from a place of love and concern. As they get pulled deeper into the mystery, their loyalty to Josie is commendable. A page turning adventure that will have you rooting for good to prevail and looking forward to what comes next.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Michelle · Rating 3 out of 5]

I’m nit quite sure what to make of this book. It’s a lot. There’s elements of a magical world, time travel, mystery, a hidden/past life and so much more. At times it was a bit co fusing for me. It’s an intriguing premise no doubt but I’m not sure about another book. I just had trouble falling into the story. Your mileage may vary.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Peggy Baldwin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Josie thinks she is an ordinary girl but then she starts having constant nightmares and cannot get much sleep then a strange man shows up and needs her help but Josie just want to lead a normal life but she agrees to help and finds out who and what she is.I really loved this book and will read the whole series.

[Rachel Lynne · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this story line! Time travel, mystery across time, reminded me of Dark Shadows. So hard to summarize without giving things away. Josie is a young woman suffering from nightmares and visions. She feels hunted and haunted by something she gets vague impressions of when sleeping.
With the prodding of her roommates, Josie sees a therapist who hypnotizes her and that is when things start moving! The therapy unlocks what is in her nightmares, setting Josie and her friends on a quest to right wrongs of the past to save the present.
I'm sorry I'm being vague but NO SPOILERS!
If you like Dark Shadows, if you like Gothic Thrillers, you'll love Shadows of the Past.

[Lynn DeLano · Rating 5 out of 5]

exciting

Yes exciting at the end. But very confusing for most of the book up to then. Still an interesting read

[Mickey Noel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Terrific writing, loved it!

Time travel and immortality are seductive powers that make a suspensful and addictive story. The cleverly written characters supply the surprises and the dedication to destroying the evils of the past. Well done!

[Cheryl Drake johnson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Josie has been having nightmares for months and she cannot figure out why or what is causing this problem, it is wearing her out she and her cousin Damien share the house as well as work from there part-time and go into the office several times a week. A box sitting on the porch when they got home one day in the box was a jewelry box and inside of that was a necklace, the box was not addressed to Josie but no postage or return address. There was a concern because they knew something was strange about it. Then a man was sitting outside of the house watching what she doesn't know or realize that he is her husband. But she and Damien were somewhat upset. Something else happens and Michael decides he is going to stay at their house and look out for Josie and Damien agrees. Things seem to continue but Josie starts back to running in the mornings early and the man talks to her and she allows it and he begins to educate her on who he is and how he can help her remember who she really is. This really upsets her but she wants to know what the nightmares are and why their increasing and she doesn't feel like the doctor that they took her to didn't act like he cared about her but Grayson came up with another solution and Josie agrees and then a couple weeks later she runs off with Grayson but doesn't tell the guys but Damien has been tracking her phone because he is worried about her.
They all in up in Bucksville, Maine.
In another time a young woman named Celine was about to turn sixteen and several things happen that shocked and frightened and excited her all at the same time including her sister Celeste's and her husband's betrayal. This is a fascinating story of magic and a cult and traveling back in time. Great storyline and the characters were very interesting. I was given a copy as a gift from Bookfunnel without obligations. I am providing an honest review.

[Genevieve Paquette]

"By lunchtime, she had made great progress. She headedout for lunch and a few work-related errands. She stopped by a local café for a salad and iced tea before making a few stops to pick up and drop off various things for work.
Her last stop was at the local office supply store, she had a list a mile long of supplies she needed. She took a cart and began to navigate the aisles, looking for everything she needed. As she rounded the aisle, she almost ran into someone on the corner. “Oh, I’m sorry, excuse me,” she apologized, smiling at the person. Her smile faded as the man
turned to faced her. He seemed familiar, but she couldn’t place him. Then she realized. “Oh, oh my goodness, you’re the man from the mall, you caught me when I fainted. Wow, this is the second time I’ve almost run into you, you should
really stay away from me,” she joked.
“Yes, how are you?” the man asked."

The above is an excerpt from page 53.It may seem like I cherry-picked a particularly awkward passage, but no, it really is representative of the writing style throughout. Here's a quote from a few pages later:
“I wasn’t attacked. Some crazy guy was just talking nonsense at the office supply store. He was the same guy who caught me when I fainted at the mall. He was at the office store and was just saying crazy stuff to me."

The writing wasn't for me, but because I received a copy from the author via Voracious Readers Only, I felt obliged to see it through. Besides, the concept was compellingly mysterious and I wanted to know how it would all play out. (Also, it was advertised as being a good bet for fans of Haven, and I live that show, so...)

Basically, the first third of the book is about a girl with a sleep disorder being fussed over by her boyfriend and make cousin, constantly checking in to see how she's sleeping. There's also a mystery delivery of a jewelry box which the nightmare ridden protagonist becomes fixated with, and a mystery guy who insists that she's actually a person named Celine. Their fist real conversation, and the first real advancement in the plot, comes in around page 98. Ok, now I see where the Haven reference comes in, although it's a bit if a stretch. I can't say any more, though, for fear of spoiling it, but I will say, the it gets supernatural, and the protagonist, somehow, is receptive to the idea, even though it is totally unbelievable, and the mystery stranger is basically a walking red flag.

The second third has the two bumbling, creepily overprotective men in her life making a nuisance of themselves and seriously overstepping boundaries in an effort to protect the protagonist and figure out what she's hiding, and, generally, what the heck is going on. (Their behavior is totally out of line, but also totally understandable, because what's going on is bat-guano crazy.) At the same time, the mystery stranger and his companions have their own protagonist-centred mission going on. Again, I can't elaborate, spoilers.
Last third, all the cast has assembled at the manor. Stuff finally happens.
Here's another quote:
"Celine removed her finger from Celeste’s lips, her wound already beginning to heal until it was completely healed. Within moments, Celeste’s eyes opened. Confused, she roseslowly looking around at everyone. “What happened? Why am I here?” she asked. Celine turned to Theodore, “I need to go, keep her hidden, keep her safe.”
“Celine, wait,” Gray called after her.
Celine was in no mood to wait; she walked toward the main entrance. The doors blew open in front of her and she left the house.
“I’m going after her,” Gray said, pulling on a light jacket."
End scene.
Shortly thereafter, BAM, we are in 18th century Martinique. The plot starts moving at this point, and then, suddenly, it's all over. It ends by introducing the main conflict in the sequel.

I was obviously not the target audience, here, and because of that, I feel like I should be more generous in my assessment. But the writing was awkward, the characters not just underdeveloped but barely developed at all, and the pacing was glacial until near the end. The best I can do is not give it a star rating and not post any kind of a review on other sites.
Honestly, I'm mad at myself. Life is too short to read books you don't like when you don't have to. All this did was frustrate me, and then make me feel guilty for letting the author down.

[Rose Auburn · Rating 3 out of 5]

Josie Benson is struggling with vivid and disturbing nightmares that are beginning to impact her mental and physical health. The nightmare is the same each time and when a music box is left at her door which plays a strangely familiar tune the situation becomes decidedly weird. Her cousin and ex-boyfriend desperately want her to seek help but when understanding and answers begin to be provided by a stranger, Josie feels compelled to hear what he has to say despite the fact he only refers to her as ‘Celine’…

Shadows of the Past is a lively page-turner with tons of appeal. The prose is upbeat and breezy. Ms Steele has an uncomplicated and animated writing style which provides an easy read. Personally, I thought the first half of the novel was the strongest. It was an intriguing concept; the main thrust of the plot is well-imagined and clearly constructed. Josie is a fairly likeable main character and her despair and torment from the nightmares and sleep deprivation are described in unsettling detail. The arrival of the music box closely followed by Grayson Buckley, the man who appears to have the answers, really piques reader curiosity. The music box was a good linking motif lending the tinkle of the supernatural and I was happily baffled as to where it was all heading. However, the involvement of Damien, her cousin and then Michael, her ex-boyfriend, I found to be irksome in places. Personally, I felt their behaviour meddlesome rather than helpful and I would have liked to have seen less of them or have them utilised in a different way.

There is a great deal of imagination and enthusiasm at work in Shadows of the Past and it nicely tees up the series. I did think the disclosure from Josie’s Mother (I won’t spoil it) was dealt with a little casually and occasionally I felt the narrative trip itself up as it galloped forward; it does get very pacey towards the end.

Notwithstanding, there is lots to enjoy in this book; it’s an entertaining read that fairly sweeps you along. Recommended.

[Laura Moylan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Celine has powers and she is being hunted by Marcus, who is a Duke. He believes that she is perfect for him and as time goes by (A LOT OF IT!), he pretty much tortures her and anyone she cares for. After the prologue, which is a horrifying nightmare of a dream, we find that Josie is actually getting ill from the nightmares she is having. Everything is getting worse. Her cousin, Damien, who lives with her is really worried. Michael, her ex bf, is even worried about her and things just keep getting worse, until a stranger comes and says he can help. I don’t want to give anything away. It starts out being a little slow because of exposition and then it gets rather crazy. I mean really crazy. The Duke, aka Marcus is terrifying. So much happens in this book! It was very hard to put it down and I definitely did not read it after 5pm as it can get very dark and scary. But there is a reason behind it. Finding out the whys and wherefores was fascinating. But, there is more to Josie than meets the eye and there is a reason she is dreaming about Celine. I can’t wait to read more of the books!.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Stephanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was so well written and the characters were really entertaining. This book follows Josie/Celine and her nightmares and then she meets Gray and he tells her that he can help with the nightmares and at first she tries to ignore him but the nightmares and the visions are getting to vivid so she takes him up on the offer and she meets Dr. Amelia who she calls Millie but she doesn't know why and when she asks Amelia, she says we will meet again and we will hypnotize you again and more will be revealed and Josie agreed and that night she finally gets a good night's sleep and so she is interested to do the next treatment because she wants to know what is going on and that is only the beginning. I recommend this book because the story is amazing and you get pulled into because you want to see if Josie remembers Celine.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Lisa Hunt · Rating 5 out of 5]

Received as an ARC, I am leaving my honest review. I could not put this book down. A fast paced, breath holding storyline will quickly have you gripped from the first page as the plot intensifies. Nightmares and visions of desperation plague a young woman and upend her life until she seeks help. But that just makes things more intense as a past life is revealed. She must heed a calling for her return to stop an evil entity from destroying her family. Her friends don’t understand what’s happening, and she can’t remember, until she meets a mysterious man who helps her find her way. The ending is epic, but will leave you wanting to know more!.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Sketchy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was a little slow to get into, but once I did, the characters were worth investing in. The beginning was a little... predictable, even knowing the basic premise of the book. So we're all just waiting for Josie to catch up. After that, it's much more interesting with twists and turns. Not an amazing, world shattering book, but a solid addition and worth following up.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Jenn · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed reading Shadows of the Past. The characters were interesting and fun to read about, and the story was intriguing. Overall, the book held my interest and was hard to put down. I look forward to reading more in the Shadow Slayers series. I highly recommend this book for fans of suspense-filled supernatural mysteries.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Mayda Moncrief · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was disappointed in this one. I had read the introduction, In The Shadow Of Darkness and it interested me enough that I went looking for the next one. The first third of Shadows Of The Past was interesting and it looked like a good supernatural mystery. The problem was that the middle of the story was very slow moving. Finally it took to almost the last quarter of the book to get back on track and find out the end of the mystery.

[Kari Tidwell (karisbookstodevour) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Incredibly captivating, definitely keeps you flipping pages as Celine races to defeat The Duke and save herself and possibly the rest of the world. Lots of intrigue and deep friendships really keep you immersed and invested in the outcome of all the characters. A great paranormal mystery read!.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Rhonda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful paranormal story with lots of twists and turns. The main character is interesting and is fun to follow along as she tries to discover herself and how to come to a resolution or find ways to get through the twists and turns of the story. Hard to put this book down.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Cheryl Hollingsworth · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was so wonderful to meet all of the characters in this book, and to learn how the Shadow Slayers began. The book definitely kept me guessing along the way! Now I'm very much looking forward to reading the next book in this series!.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[WT Sharpe · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved it.

None of the Goodreads versions of this book mention the narrator, and I'm too lazy tonight to add another version, but I'm a big believer in going credit where it's due. Graham Mack was the reader, and he did an excellent job.

I will be returning to this series,

[Cat · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was out the of the kindness of my heart to give three stars. I was halfway through the book and still had no clue what was happening and extremely annoyed. The further I read, the less I cared for any of the characters and the story was a jumble.