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Return to Me
Determined to find the source of the nightly creaking she alone can hear, Sam Reading discovers Harrison Benning, a ghost who becomes corporeal for one night of the the summer solstice. Their warm friendship soon becomes powerful love that lasts through decades, tragedies, and even beyond death.
- GenresRomanceParanormal
Audible Audio
First published October 30, 2011
29 people want to read
About the author
Tara Fox Hall
88 books449 followersTara Fox Hall’s writing credits include nonfiction, horror, suspense, erotica, and contemporary and historical paranormal romance. She also coauthored the essay “The Allure of the Serial Killer,” published in Serial Killers - Philosophy for Everyone: Being and Killing (Wiley-Blackwell, 2010). Her first full-length action-adventure novel, Lash, published in April 2012. Her vampire series begins in June 2012, with the 1st novel Promise Me. Tara divides her free time unequally between writing novels and short stories, chainsawing firewood, caring for stray animals, sewing cat and dog beds for donation to animal shelters, and target practice.
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
February 28, 2012
At just twenty-two pages, this story may be short, but it's jam-packed with sentimental, paranormal goodness. Tara Fox Hall brings us a love story in which half of the participants are from beyond the grave.
Samantha Reading loves spending the summer at her family's vacation property. Until one fateful night when the strange noises and footsteps materialize into something unexpected--a full-fledged ghost.
Harrison Benning built the house that Sam and her family now enjoy. Way back in 1816, that is. Unfortunately, he met an untimely demise and is bound to the property, but can only become solid one one night a year--the summer solstice.
As soon as young Sam and Harrison meet, and after she gets over her initial shock, they form an instant connection. Since she was just a teenager, I was glad it didn't progress beyond that for a few years. Finally, on that one night when Harrison can touch her, the two of them can't resist each other any longer, and it's that moment you wait for in every romance novel.
But it doesn't end there. Years pass and things change, but really only for Sam. It was painful to read about Harrison's suffering as he waited for her to return to him. Sometimes, she didn't, and sometimes she did, but he was forced to watch her move on as a mortal young woman would.
The only thing that never changed was their love for one another, even across decades and beyond.
I enjoyed this short read from Ms. Hall. Her writing style is light and easy, and she doesn't shy away from some really painful events. The only thing I wanted was more about Harrison. I didn't feel like I knew him as well as I'd like. However, for a powerfully moving, paranormal love story, I give Return to Me a solid 4.5 stars!
I'd recommend this story for adults who enjoy short, rather spicy romance. Grab your copy today!
Samantha Reading loves spending the summer at her family's vacation property. Until one fateful night when the strange noises and footsteps materialize into something unexpected--a full-fledged ghost.
Harrison Benning built the house that Sam and her family now enjoy. Way back in 1816, that is. Unfortunately, he met an untimely demise and is bound to the property, but can only become solid one one night a year--the summer solstice.
As soon as young Sam and Harrison meet, and after she gets over her initial shock, they form an instant connection. Since she was just a teenager, I was glad it didn't progress beyond that for a few years. Finally, on that one night when Harrison can touch her, the two of them can't resist each other any longer, and it's that moment you wait for in every romance novel.
But it doesn't end there. Years pass and things change, but really only for Sam. It was painful to read about Harrison's suffering as he waited for her to return to him. Sometimes, she didn't, and sometimes she did, but he was forced to watch her move on as a mortal young woman would.
The only thing that never changed was their love for one another, even across decades and beyond.
I enjoyed this short read from Ms. Hall. Her writing style is light and easy, and she doesn't shy away from some really painful events. The only thing I wanted was more about Harrison. I didn't feel like I knew him as well as I'd like. However, for a powerfully moving, paranormal love story, I give Return to Me a solid 4.5 stars!
I'd recommend this story for adults who enjoy short, rather spicy romance. Grab your copy today!
June 10, 2012
This story was provided to me for the purpose of an honest review. When I was asked to choose a book to review from a long list, the description of RETURN TO ME really stood out. For readers old enough to remember and love “The Ghost and Mrs. Muir,” this story will be right up your alley, as it would for lovers of supernatural romance.
While vacationing at her family’s beach house, teen Sam Reading hears nightly creaking noises only she can hear and then, on the summer solstice, she discovers gentlemanly ghost Harrison Benning in his physical form. Eternally bound to remain in his family’s home, the solstice is the one day out of each year that Harrison becomes flesh and blood.
Sam and Harrison form an enduring friendship over years of summer vacations and though he only materializes on that one day, he remains ever near and leaves signs of affection for her eyes only. As Sam becomes a young woman, their relationship blooms into an everlasting love that endures through loneliness, separation, loss, decades and even death.
I did not know that this was a short story going in and I finished it wanting more. That is not a negative; I wanted to spend more time with Sam and Harrison and their story. In actuality, I found it to be a spanning romance stripped to its core. Ms. Fox Hall wastes no time pulling the reader in to quickly know the characters and feel deeply for them as life takes its twists and turns.
So as not to make this review longer than the short story, I will end by highly recommending that you read RETURN TO ME. I will certainly be reading more of author Tara Fox Hall’s books.
While vacationing at her family’s beach house, teen Sam Reading hears nightly creaking noises only she can hear and then, on the summer solstice, she discovers gentlemanly ghost Harrison Benning in his physical form. Eternally bound to remain in his family’s home, the solstice is the one day out of each year that Harrison becomes flesh and blood.
Sam and Harrison form an enduring friendship over years of summer vacations and though he only materializes on that one day, he remains ever near and leaves signs of affection for her eyes only. As Sam becomes a young woman, their relationship blooms into an everlasting love that endures through loneliness, separation, loss, decades and even death.
I did not know that this was a short story going in and I finished it wanting more. That is not a negative; I wanted to spend more time with Sam and Harrison and their story. In actuality, I found it to be a spanning romance stripped to its core. Ms. Fox Hall wastes no time pulling the reader in to quickly know the characters and feel deeply for them as life takes its twists and turns.
So as not to make this review longer than the short story, I will end by highly recommending that you read RETURN TO ME. I will certainly be reading more of author Tara Fox Hall’s books.
November 10, 2011
A Haunting Love Story
Return to Me
Sam is the only person who knows about the ghost in their family cottage. She hears his footsteps and senses his presence. But Harrison is no ordinary ghost. Once a year he becomes flesh and blood.
Once again Tara Fox Hall caught my imagination in the first few words and held it until the end. She is a born storyteller, and the stories she tells are exactly the kind I love to read. She has a writing style that many more experienced authors will envy. Deceptively simple, accurate and incisive. Nothing gets in the way of the story. I read the book in one sitting and couldn't believe the time when I resurfaced at the end. Not many authors can do this. Those who can should be cherished.
Read this story. You won't be disappointed.
Jenny Twist
Return to Me
Sam is the only person who knows about the ghost in their family cottage. She hears his footsteps and senses his presence. But Harrison is no ordinary ghost. Once a year he becomes flesh and blood.
Once again Tara Fox Hall caught my imagination in the first few words and held it until the end. She is a born storyteller, and the stories she tells are exactly the kind I love to read. She has a writing style that many more experienced authors will envy. Deceptively simple, accurate and incisive. Nothing gets in the way of the story. I read the book in one sitting and couldn't believe the time when I resurfaced at the end. Not many authors can do this. Those who can should be cherished.
Read this story. You won't be disappointed.
Jenny Twist
February 3, 2012
Among my daydreams when I was a girl was the vision of falling completely and perfectly in love. Tara Fox Hall has captured that longing in a memorable and imaginative tale about the ghost and the girl whose sixth sense enables them to defeat the ordinary limitations of the mundane world. Like "The Time Traveller's Wife", this novel spans a lifetime in which the all-too brief encounters between the lovers, Harrison and Sam, both challenge and cement the bond between them. I was swept away by the romance of this story. Tara Fox Hall's portrayal of a timeless love, a connection which was perhaps always meant to be, is an escape from the ordinary which is not to be missed. If you liked "The Time Traveller's Wife," the Outlander series, or the film "Ghost", you will love "Return to Me".
February 5, 2012
Ghost story/romance
I really enjoyed this book. It would have been nice to have gone more indepth with the characters, as things felt a little rushed. It's a quick read and adding pages would have surely added to the enjoyment. Just my way of asking for more.
I really enjoyed this book. It would have been nice to have gone more indepth with the characters, as things felt a little rushed. It's a quick read and adding pages would have surely added to the enjoyment. Just my way of asking for more.
May 10, 2012
This is another short story by Tara Fox Hall and I gotta say, I think I liked this one even more than Surrender to Me. Read the rest of this review here: http://paperbacksandfrosting.com
December 31, 2021
I loved this short story!There is a ghost in the lake house.A girl falls for him but,can they have a life together? Jennifer Fournier was a very good narrator.I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews