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The House on Sunflower Lane
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Expected 3 Mar 26Win a free print copy of this book!
24 days and 13:19:53
3 copies available
U.S. only
The little farmhouse on Sunflower Lane was peaceful when Shannon and Marc moved in—quiet, ordinary, even charming. But when they brought their newborn daughter home from the hospital, something changed.
It started with footsteps in the dead of night. Then Marc, once kind and devoted, began to change. He became cold and distant, spending all day “working” in the spare room down the hall until eventually, he stopped coming out at night, too. By the time their marriage collapsed, Shannon could feel the house’s attention closing in on her daughter.
Desperate for answers, she uncovers the story of Fern Carlisle, a mother who lived in the same house sixty years ago. Neighbors still whisper about what happened to her little girl . . . and how Fern herself never walked out again.
Now, Shannon is alone on Sunflower Lane with a little girl of her own, and every day, the echoes of the past grow louder.
Because this house doesn’t let go of its history.
It waits for someone new to live it.
It started with footsteps in the dead of night. Then Marc, once kind and devoted, began to change. He became cold and distant, spending all day “working” in the spare room down the hall until eventually, he stopped coming out at night, too. By the time their marriage collapsed, Shannon could feel the house’s attention closing in on her daughter.
Desperate for answers, she uncovers the story of Fern Carlisle, a mother who lived in the same house sixty years ago. Neighbors still whisper about what happened to her little girl . . . and how Fern herself never walked out again.
Now, Shannon is alone on Sunflower Lane with a little girl of her own, and every day, the echoes of the past grow louder.
Because this house doesn’t let go of its history.
It waits for someone new to live it.
ebook
Expected publication March 3, 2026
3 people are currently reading
2454 people want to read
About the author
Gwenna McAllis
4 books69 followersGwenna McAllis is the author of The Compound Duology, a supernatural suspense series steeped in folklore, demons, and family secrets. She writes atmospheric fiction set in the American South, blending mystery, horror, and emotional depth.
A lifelong lover of scary stories, Gwenna grew up reading the Jeffrey series by Kathryn Tucker Windham and checking out anything spooky she could find at her small-town Alabama library (often against her mother’s wishes). She studied creative writing at the University of South Alabama and now lives in the Tennessee Valley with her husband, two young children, and an elderly rescue dog who’s seen too much.
When she’s not writing, she’s likely drinking coffee, dodging laundry, or daydreaming about a cabin in the woods where no one needs snacks.
You can follow Gwenna on Instagram, TikTok and Facebook: @gwennamcallis.
A lifelong lover of scary stories, Gwenna grew up reading the Jeffrey series by Kathryn Tucker Windham and checking out anything spooky she could find at her small-town Alabama library (often against her mother’s wishes). She studied creative writing at the University of South Alabama and now lives in the Tennessee Valley with her husband, two young children, and an elderly rescue dog who’s seen too much.
When she’s not writing, she’s likely drinking coffee, dodging laundry, or daydreaming about a cabin in the woods where no one needs snacks.
You can follow Gwenna on Instagram, TikTok and Facebook: @gwennamcallis.
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
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January 29, 2026Dear Reader,
This book isn't for everyone.
If you're looking for a gory splatterfest, this isn't it. Something warm and cozy and feel-good? This isn't that either.
THE HOUSE ON SUNFLOWER LANE is a slow-burn, atmospheric ghost story rooted in motherhood, in grief, and in the way some places seem to hold onto pain long after the living have tried to move on.
This is horror for readers who love the eerie, emotional, female-driven suspense of Jennifer McMahon and Simone St. James. It's a dual-timeline story that follows Shannon Reed in the 2020s and Fern Carlisle in the 1960s.
In this book, you’ll find:
- a haunted North Alabama farmhouse with a long memory
- mothers and daughters stuck in a cyclical haunting
- marriage falling apart/single mom survival
- secrets lost in time
- small child saying horrifying things
- "seen on the baby monitor" horror
If you love Southern Gothic settings, emotional suspense, and stories that slowly creep under your skin instead of jumping out at you, I hope you’ll feel at home here.
Thank you so much for reading. It's an honor to share my stories with you.
Warmly,
Gwenna McAllis
This book isn't for everyone.
If you're looking for a gory splatterfest, this isn't it. Something warm and cozy and feel-good? This isn't that either.
THE HOUSE ON SUNFLOWER LANE is a slow-burn, atmospheric ghost story rooted in motherhood, in grief, and in the way some places seem to hold onto pain long after the living have tried to move on.
This is horror for readers who love the eerie, emotional, female-driven suspense of Jennifer McMahon and Simone St. James. It's a dual-timeline story that follows Shannon Reed in the 2020s and Fern Carlisle in the 1960s.
In this book, you’ll find:
- a haunted North Alabama farmhouse with a long memory
- mothers and daughters stuck in a cyclical haunting
- marriage falling apart/single mom survival
- secrets lost in time
- small child saying horrifying things
- "seen on the baby monitor" horror
If you love Southern Gothic settings, emotional suspense, and stories that slowly creep under your skin instead of jumping out at you, I hope you’ll feel at home here.
Thank you so much for reading. It's an honor to share my stories with you.
Warmly,
Gwenna McAllis
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
This book is binge-worthy in the truest sense. I planned to read a chapter or two and suddenly I had finished the whole thing 🤣
What makes this story hit so hard is how relatable the motherhood themes are. The exhaustion, the fierce protectiveness, and the way your entire world shifts when you bring a baby home all feel painfully real. That emotional honesty grounds the horror and makes it feel uncomfortably close to home. If you’re a mother, especially, some moments will sink right into your chest and stay there.
The atmosphere is spooky as heck. The house feels like a living, breathing presence—watchful, patient, and unsettling. The tension builds slowly and relentlessly, weaving the past and present together in a way that keeps you questioning what darkness is…
The spiritual element takes the story to another level. The supernatural experience feels intense and almost wild, adding a deeply personal and emotional layer to the story. It doesn’t just scare you—it pulls you in, making the danger feel intimate and like you need to question every little sound your real house makes.
There’s also a powerful exploration of marriage, isolation, and how women’s voices can be dismissed across generations. That emotional weight gives the horror depth and makes it linger long after the final page. Which, had me wanting a sequel…
If you love demonic stories with motherhood at the center, and chills that creep in quietly and refuse to let go, this is an absolute must-read. Sleep may be optional… but worth it. I can’t wait to read more by this author!
What makes this story hit so hard is how relatable the motherhood themes are. The exhaustion, the fierce protectiveness, and the way your entire world shifts when you bring a baby home all feel painfully real. That emotional honesty grounds the horror and makes it feel uncomfortably close to home. If you’re a mother, especially, some moments will sink right into your chest and stay there.
The atmosphere is spooky as heck. The house feels like a living, breathing presence—watchful, patient, and unsettling. The tension builds slowly and relentlessly, weaving the past and present together in a way that keeps you questioning what darkness is…
The spiritual element takes the story to another level. The supernatural experience feels intense and almost wild, adding a deeply personal and emotional layer to the story. It doesn’t just scare you—it pulls you in, making the danger feel intimate and like you need to question every little sound your real house makes.
There’s also a powerful exploration of marriage, isolation, and how women’s voices can be dismissed across generations. That emotional weight gives the horror depth and makes it linger long after the final page. Which, had me wanting a sequel…
If you love demonic stories with motherhood at the center, and chills that creep in quietly and refuse to let go, this is an absolute must-read. Sleep may be optional… but worth it. I can’t wait to read more by this author!
February 3, 2026
This is a powerful story about motherhood with a supernatural twist. Through a dual timeline readers get to know Shannon, a young mother from the 2020s, and Fern, a young mother from the 1960s. I found it very moving that the house is not the only tie between the two women, but also the shared experience of raising young children and the trials that come with motherhood. Both Shannon and Fern work to overcome difficult real-life circumstances and face a paranormal threat at the same time.
Details about previous events at the house were slowly revealed over the course of the book, providing plenty of gasp-inducing moments. It was easy and just plain fun to become absorbed in this story!
I received an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Details about previous events at the house were slowly revealed over the course of the book, providing plenty of gasp-inducing moments. It was easy and just plain fun to become absorbed in this story!
I received an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Netgalley Arc Reader!
Now that is a damn good book!! Loved the eery settings, the back and forth characters was great as I loved both womens stories, super creepy! My heart did break for both of them ( the husbands ) but both very strong characters. Never will I ever buy a baby camera monitor again!! Super suspenseful and overall great story definitely need more like this. amazing author.
Now that is a damn good book!! Loved the eery settings, the back and forth characters was great as I loved both womens stories, super creepy! My heart did break for both of them ( the husbands ) but both very strong characters. Never will I ever buy a baby camera monitor again!! Super suspenseful and overall great story definitely need more like this. amazing author.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
4.5 Stars!
This was such a good read, I read it almost in one sitting! It has just the right amount of mystery and horror that kept me on edge and eagerly wanting to know what new horrors would be uncovered next. I absolutely devoured it and couldn't get enough!
*ARC provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.*
This was such a good read, I read it almost in one sitting! It has just the right amount of mystery and horror that kept me on edge and eagerly wanting to know what new horrors would be uncovered next. I absolutely devoured it and couldn't get enough!
*ARC provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.*
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
This book read like a movie! It was so good and gave me the creeps to the point where I didn't want to read it if I was home alone. This is definitely in my top 5 favorite horror books! Thank you so much to the publisher and author, Gwenna McAllis for this early copy. I loved it!
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews