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Familiar Haunts: A Witchy Fantasy Romance
She’s trying to rescue a gothic treasure. He’s trying to flip a haunted wreck for profit. The theater? It has other plans.
Ballerina Alice Wentworth never expected to return to Pembrooke, Oregon, where she once spent childhood summers. But after a devastating injury forces her off the stage, she’s back to choreograph The Nutcracker and salvage what’s left of her future.
That is, if the crumbling seaside theater doesn’t collapse first.
Between the flickering lights, rippling mirrors, and whispered voices, something about Onyx Hall feels deeply wrong. But nothing could prepare her for the arrival of the new owner.
Chase Hunter. Her first love. The boy who disappeared thirteen years ago, right when she needed him most.
He’s back as her boss—smirking, charming, and maddening as ever—and more interested in flipping the wreck for profit than fixing it. He’d sooner let a chandelier crash down on her than spend another penny.
But when catastrophe threatens Alice’s entire production—and Chase’s big sale—they’re forced into an uneasy partnership to repair the theater together… with a bit of magic thrown in for luck. And as they work together to save it, something long-buried begins to stir.
Onyx Hall isn’t just collapsing. It’s awakening.
Now, between the sparks flying onstage and the shadows slithering backstage, they’ll have to face their past, fight for their future, and survive whatever the hell is haunting the theater before curtain call on the Longest Night.
A slow burn, witchy, second-chance romance set in a crumbling gothic theater on the Oregon coast. For fans of atmospheric fantasy with a bit of humor, aching chemistry, and stories where the building itself has secrets.
(Second Chance / Forced Proximity / Paranormal Romance / Slow Burn/ Romantasy)
Ballerina Alice Wentworth never expected to return to Pembrooke, Oregon, where she once spent childhood summers. But after a devastating injury forces her off the stage, she’s back to choreograph The Nutcracker and salvage what’s left of her future.
That is, if the crumbling seaside theater doesn’t collapse first.
Between the flickering lights, rippling mirrors, and whispered voices, something about Onyx Hall feels deeply wrong. But nothing could prepare her for the arrival of the new owner.
Chase Hunter. Her first love. The boy who disappeared thirteen years ago, right when she needed him most.
He’s back as her boss—smirking, charming, and maddening as ever—and more interested in flipping the wreck for profit than fixing it. He’d sooner let a chandelier crash down on her than spend another penny.
But when catastrophe threatens Alice’s entire production—and Chase’s big sale—they’re forced into an uneasy partnership to repair the theater together… with a bit of magic thrown in for luck. And as they work together to save it, something long-buried begins to stir.
Onyx Hall isn’t just collapsing. It’s awakening.
Now, between the sparks flying onstage and the shadows slithering backstage, they’ll have to face their past, fight for their future, and survive whatever the hell is haunting the theater before curtain call on the Longest Night.
A slow burn, witchy, second-chance romance set in a crumbling gothic theater on the Oregon coast. For fans of atmospheric fantasy with a bit of humor, aching chemistry, and stories where the building itself has secrets.
(Second Chance / Forced Proximity / Paranormal Romance / Slow Burn/ Romantasy)
328 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 3, 2025
31 people are currently reading
45 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
October 24, 2025
Alice Wentworth is an injured ballerina and a witch, who has been forced to return to her home town of Pembrooke, Oregon, after a devastating injury to her knee. She used to love going to the old Onyx Hall theatre there during her summers there and has ended up with a job there, helping to produce and choreograph a performance of the Nutcracker, whilst trying to recuperate from her injury. The person who used t run the theatre is retiring, so she only had a few weeks to learn the ropes of the old building, which needs a lot of repairs, just to keep it safe for the kids’ rehearsals! On top of that, someone has bought the theatre and unbeknown to Alice, they are looking to quickly flip the property to a company that will change it to some sort of wedding venue or conference centre. To add to all of that, the person who bought it, is the boy she fell for, her first love as a teenager and her dance partner, until he didn’t show up for an important audition for her and she lost an important chance to further her career! She has never forgiven him for ghosting her and hadn’t heard from him since that fatal day. Chase Hunter doesn’t recognise her immediately, but she recognises him and her resentment of him is still percolating after all these years. They are both witches, Alice is an air witch and Chase is an earth witch. He went into his family’s property business and that wasn’t exactly what he had imagined for his future. Being an old building, it has many rumours and folk tales of hauntings and strange events taking place and Alice could swear she saw a man sitting in the audience, when no one else was in the building. She also starts to hear whispers and see shadows where there shouldn’t be any.
As she tries to push Chase to get as many repairs done as possible, they get stuck in a few strange situations, with trapdoors closing by themselves and pipes bursting for no reason. Parts of the building feel like they have a malevolent presence and cold pockets of air abound! Alice finally gets an explanation from Chase about the events of that day and why he hadn’t contacted her, leaving her feeling guilty in some ways, but also still hard to forgive after all these years. Alice’s friends are also witches and run businesses in town, which helps her with pain relief teas and witch coven meetings of like-minded friends. When she realises there may be more to the haunting of the old theatre than most think, it drags her back to long forgotten memories of their past and something they had done, which they shouldn’t have! A second chance romance with the man who got away some thirteen years before and whom she has resented for that fact ever since. After a few disasters and close calls in the theatre, they have to knuckle down and work together, even if at opposite ends of the building for some time, to do more to fix it up that Chase first expected. He can sense the dark magic energy in the place and a few unpleasant close calls, whilst Alice tries to connect, then even calls an exorcist, to help. She places herself in danger and is surprised when Chase comes to her aid. Something in the building has been awakened by the women’s actions as kids and now a demonic entity is tied to the theatre and feeding off all of the strong emotions people experience in a theatre. It isn’t happy with Chase trying to sell the place and Chase has family issues to deal with, as his competitive brother Brad and his father, push him to make a deal! A dangerous magical confrontation at the end, leaves them both battered and broken, with decisions for their future finally able to be made.
I received an ARC copy of this book from BookSprout, and I have freely given my own opinion of the book above.
As she tries to push Chase to get as many repairs done as possible, they get stuck in a few strange situations, with trapdoors closing by themselves and pipes bursting for no reason. Parts of the building feel like they have a malevolent presence and cold pockets of air abound! Alice finally gets an explanation from Chase about the events of that day and why he hadn’t contacted her, leaving her feeling guilty in some ways, but also still hard to forgive after all these years. Alice’s friends are also witches and run businesses in town, which helps her with pain relief teas and witch coven meetings of like-minded friends. When she realises there may be more to the haunting of the old theatre than most think, it drags her back to long forgotten memories of their past and something they had done, which they shouldn’t have! A second chance romance with the man who got away some thirteen years before and whom she has resented for that fact ever since. After a few disasters and close calls in the theatre, they have to knuckle down and work together, even if at opposite ends of the building for some time, to do more to fix it up that Chase first expected. He can sense the dark magic energy in the place and a few unpleasant close calls, whilst Alice tries to connect, then even calls an exorcist, to help. She places herself in danger and is surprised when Chase comes to her aid. Something in the building has been awakened by the women’s actions as kids and now a demonic entity is tied to the theatre and feeding off all of the strong emotions people experience in a theatre. It isn’t happy with Chase trying to sell the place and Chase has family issues to deal with, as his competitive brother Brad and his father, push him to make a deal! A dangerous magical confrontation at the end, leaves them both battered and broken, with decisions for their future finally able to be made.
I received an ARC copy of this book from BookSprout, and I have freely given my own opinion of the book above.
September 7, 2025
I fell hard for Familiar Haunts from page one. Alice Wentworth returning to Pembrooke, with her bruised body and aching heart, immediately had me rooting for her. And then Chase Hunter shows up—her first love, the one who shattered her trust years ago—and my heart went full rollercoaster mode. Thirteen years of tension, heartbreak, and unresolved feelings? Kate Swansea makes it sizzle and ache at the same time.
But this isn’t just a slow-burn romance—Onyx Hall itself is a character. The creaking floors, whispering shadows, and ancient magic lurking in the walls kept me on edge while the sparks between Alice and Chase had me sighing, rolling my eyes, and cheering all at once. The mix of danger, romance, and supernatural intrigue is perfect.
What really grabbed me was how their history, the theater’s haunting, and the magic all intertwined. It’s passionate, emotional, and just the right amount of spooky without being too dark. Watching Alice and Chase navigate their past while facing something far older and far scarier than either of them was an absolute thrill.
If you love your romance with a twist of ghostly mystery, heartfelt second-chance tension, and just a touch of magical mayhem, this one’s impossible to put down.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ – A heart-stirring, spellbinding ride that left me longing for Onyx Hall and every shadowy corner of its secrets.
But this isn’t just a slow-burn romance—Onyx Hall itself is a character. The creaking floors, whispering shadows, and ancient magic lurking in the walls kept me on edge while the sparks between Alice and Chase had me sighing, rolling my eyes, and cheering all at once. The mix of danger, romance, and supernatural intrigue is perfect.
What really grabbed me was how their history, the theater’s haunting, and the magic all intertwined. It’s passionate, emotional, and just the right amount of spooky without being too dark. Watching Alice and Chase navigate their past while facing something far older and far scarier than either of them was an absolute thrill.
If you love your romance with a twist of ghostly mystery, heartfelt second-chance tension, and just a touch of magical mayhem, this one’s impossible to put down.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ – A heart-stirring, spellbinding ride that left me longing for Onyx Hall and every shadowy corner of its secrets.
September 15, 2025
Alice Wentworth spent summers in Pembrooke, Oregon during her childhood. An unexpected injury has put her ballet career on hold, so she came back. Now she is choreographing The Nutcracker and hoping to find a way to save the old theater she fell in love with as a girl. The last thing Chase Hunter expected to find in Pembrooke was Alice, a girl, now woman he has never forgotten. She is determined to save the old theater his family’s real estate company bought, but his father expects him to flip it for a large margin of profit. Unfortunately, Onyx Hall will do anything, to prevent the sale and keep Alice.
Oh, man, I loved the characters in the book. While Alice and Chase are the lead characters, their reactions to one another and their realistic dialog and reactions to each other kept me engaged in their story. Some steamy interactions, plenty of magic, and an unexpected twist kept me engrossed from the first page. I think this is a must read and recommend it to other readers.
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary ARC of this book provided by Hidden Gems.
Oh, man, I loved the characters in the book. While Alice and Chase are the lead characters, their reactions to one another and their realistic dialog and reactions to each other kept me engaged in their story. Some steamy interactions, plenty of magic, and an unexpected twist kept me engrossed from the first page. I think this is a must read and recommend it to other readers.
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary ARC of this book provided by Hidden Gems.
October 27, 2025
A Haunting Reunion of Love and Magic
Familiar Haunts by Kate Swansea is an enchanting blend of romance, magic, and mystery that draws you in from the very first page. The story follows Alice Wentworth, a talented choreographer and former ballerina who returns to her hometown after a serious injury to take on a new challenge, reviving a ballet production at the eerie Onyx Hall. The theatre itself seems alive with enchanted energy.
Swansea’s writing beautifully captures the balance between the eerie and the romantic, crafting a world that feels atmospheric and alive. The haunted theatre becomes a character of its own… mysterious, whimsical, and slightly dangerous. With witty dialogue, heartfelt moments, and just the right amount of spooky charm, Familiar Haunts offers readers a cozy yet thrilling escape. It’s perfect for fans of witchy fantasy romances who love stories where love and magic intertwine against a hauntingly beautiful backdrop.
Familiar Haunts by Kate Swansea is an enchanting blend of romance, magic, and mystery that draws you in from the very first page. The story follows Alice Wentworth, a talented choreographer and former ballerina who returns to her hometown after a serious injury to take on a new challenge, reviving a ballet production at the eerie Onyx Hall. The theatre itself seems alive with enchanted energy.
Swansea’s writing beautifully captures the balance between the eerie and the romantic, crafting a world that feels atmospheric and alive. The haunted theatre becomes a character of its own… mysterious, whimsical, and slightly dangerous. With witty dialogue, heartfelt moments, and just the right amount of spooky charm, Familiar Haunts offers readers a cozy yet thrilling escape. It’s perfect for fans of witchy fantasy romances who love stories where love and magic intertwine against a hauntingly beautiful backdrop.
September 4, 2025
I really liked this book. The atmosphere was rich and creepy and I could totally picture the haunted theater on the sea. The romance had me hooked from the start. Alice and Chase have a complicated, angsty history and the slow-burn tension between them made the love scenes worth the wait. I’d call it mild spice. There were some flashbacks to their past teen romance that were sweet and elevated the feels in the main timeline. I also really liked how the magical elements were woven in without taking over the story. It still felt grounded and emotional. If you like second chance romance, spooky vibes, and a little witchy magic on the side, definitely pick this one up. I will definitely read the next in the series.
October 2, 2025
I really wanted to like this book as I love witchy stories and I thought it was unique that the lead was a ballerina as well, but unfortunately it just did not work for me. I kind of felt like there was no buildup to the story or the characters and maybe that's because this is book two in a series but I'm not sure. I ended up not caring for our MC's or their romance although some parts of the story were a bit interesting. I personally found the book as a whole to be a bit on the wordy side - adding in unnecessary dialogue and scenes where we didn't need them. There was also at least one instance where a sentence just stopped in the middle and didn't continue.
I received a free ARC of this book via BookSirens and am leaving this review voluntarily.
I received a free ARC of this book via BookSirens and am leaving this review voluntarily.
October 7, 2025
This was a great witchy tale of love and curses. The plot flowed well and the dialogue was very well written. The MCs had good chemistry and worked well to bring the curse to a worthy ending. It was a second chance romance between the MCs that brought out their insecurities with each other and their lives. The curse involved both of them and needed them both to bring it to an end. There was a part in the middle of the book that I found a bit wordy and unnecessary. All in all it was a very good book and I recommend this book to all paranormal witchy readers.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
September 4, 2025
sometimes an intense connection from your youth can be a lingering melody for you, and just a passing interlude for someone else.
but oh how vivid elements if the encounter can be - sounds, colors, loves and losses.
positives and pains from our youths and childhood might lead family to be more competitive, datk, or an enduring light.
this is a magical legacy of echoes and new songs past and present, linking the mundane with erratic and cryptic elements.
intense, moving, and sometimes explosive.
but oh how vivid elements if the encounter can be - sounds, colors, loves and losses.
positives and pains from our youths and childhood might lead family to be more competitive, datk, or an enduring light.
this is a magical legacy of echoes and new songs past and present, linking the mundane with erratic and cryptic elements.
intense, moving, and sometimes explosive.
September 15, 2025
I voluntarily reviewed this after receiving a complimentary copy. Alice Wentworth was a Ballerina who returned home after a career-ending injury. She has taken a job choreographing "The Nutcracker" in Onyx Hall. Onyx Hall is literally falling apart, and there are some paranormal activities, not the good kind, happening as well. Chase Hunter, Alice's first love and owner of Onyx Hall, has returned to quickly fix the property and sell it.
Chase and Alice work together to figure out what is going on with Onyx Hall, those old feelings from years ago are still burning for each other.
Chase and Alice work together to figure out what is going on with Onyx Hall, those old feelings from years ago are still burning for each other.
October 21, 2025
I adored Familiar Haunts. It’s got everything I love—witchy vibes, found family, and a slow-burn second-chance romance- all set in a haunted theater by the sea. Alice is an injured ballerina with air magic and a coven of loyal, quirky “sisters” who help her face the ghosts, both literal and emotional, that haunt her. And then there’s Chase, the man who broke her heart years ago and now owns the very theater she’s trying to save. The whole story is moody, romantic, and dangerous. I couldn’t put it down, and I’m already waiting for book 3!
October 4, 2025
Besides a few moments that I felt I was just re-reading a few sentences written differently (probably a minor edit gone wrong/unnoticed) I really enjoyed the story!! A mix of romance, magic, ballet and action. A fun way to end my September and start spooky season reading. I only wish there was more of an explanation when it comes to the magic being used but I enjoyed the glimpses of the past when the two main characters first meet.
September 15, 2025
Her injury has stopped her career so she goes home to recover if it is possible. She get a job in the theater to help put a show on. The owner arrives wanted to sell it for profit but the theater has other plans for them. They will need to work together but the theater may just have other ideas. See where it will take them
I received an advance copy from hidden gems and a great read
I received an advance copy from hidden gems and a great read
September 23, 2025
Haunting, romantic, and impossible to put down. Onyx Hall is the perfect blend of gothic atmosphere, slow-burn second chances, and a theater with secrets of its own. Alice and Chase’s chemistry was electric, the setting gave me chills, and the mix of magic, mystery, and romance was pure perfection. 🌙✨
October 17, 2025
Magically Fun!
Fast, fun read! I liked the history Alice and Chase had and it was fun going back in time go revisit how they met and became friends. Loved the characters from the tea house were incorporated too
Fast, fun read! I liked the history Alice and Chase had and it was fun going back in time go revisit how they met and became friends. Loved the characters from the tea house were incorporated too
December 18, 2025
cute but the writing and grammar could’ve been better. would i keep reading the serious? of course. why not. is it esteemed literature? no.
read on Kindle Unlimited
read on Kindle Unlimited
January 7, 2026
Familiar Haunts was a story that's enchanting. We have a second chance romance, a theater that seems alive and just magical. Its fast paced and atmospheric. I look forward to more in this series.
October 14, 2025
Familiar haunts is an unexpected read. I went into the book thinking it would be a cozy, creepy romance.
There were those elements plus more.
I wasn’t expecting the touch of dark magic and Celtic lore that crept into the story but it added to the uniqueness of the book.
The writing itself was well done. I enjoyed the present and past tense, MMC and FMC point of views which gave broader perspective.
Thank you for the voluntary arc Kate Swansea
There were those elements plus more.
I wasn’t expecting the touch of dark magic and Celtic lore that crept into the story but it added to the uniqueness of the book.
The writing itself was well done. I enjoyed the present and past tense, MMC and FMC point of views which gave broader perspective.
Thank you for the voluntary arc Kate Swansea
October 20, 2025
I was really looking forward to this one - ballerinas and a coven of teahouse witches! But unfortunately, this one left me a little confused; I couldn't decide if this was meant to be a cozy urban romantasy or a gothic dark fantasy romance: it had elements of both but it didn't blend easily or effortlessly for me.
The actual romance between the couple was fun - I really enjoyed the second-chance romance of it all! Chase and Alice's flashbacks to their young love summer romance in their teens was a great insight into their feelings and motivations in the present day.
Thank you to Kate Swansea and BookSirens for the opportunity to read & review Familiar Haunts prior to its release.
The actual romance between the couple was fun - I really enjoyed the second-chance romance of it all! Chase and Alice's flashbacks to their young love summer romance in their teens was a great insight into their feelings and motivations in the present day.
Thank you to Kate Swansea and BookSirens for the opportunity to read & review Familiar Haunts prior to its release.
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews