Within the bounds of complacency, there exists a boring, beautiful sort of peace, and Khalida has found it. Welcomes it, in fact. A nice, comfortable life, with a great job, a good, albeit on and off again boyfriend, a great relationship with her younger sister... She has nothing to complain about. But that's only if she ignores the sense of unrest that has haunted her ever since she could remember, overshadowing her ability to connect in love. Only if she glosses over the fact that she’s leaning more toward a permanent off switch when it comes to Travis. Only if she tunes out her way-too-old-for-make-believe younger sister's sudden insistence that some things are a little suspicious when it comes to the details of their past. A month ago... Everything was fine. But now — and suspiciously timed with the entry of sexier than possible Aram Duncan into her life — unexplained hallucinations have Khalida questioning if maybe there’s something other-worldly happening around her. But all of that nonsense... Psychic abilities, immortals, time manipulation, mind control.... None of that really exists... Right?
This was a super quick audiobook and I was really excited to read a paranormal from Christina C Jones. While I was intrigued by the story in the beginning, I unfortunately didn't love this book as much as I wanted to. I really wanted more development between Khalida and Aram. I was all in for this mysterious, dangerous stranger who was obviously a paranormal creature that shows up and intrigues Khalida. What happened, though, was that Khalida and Aram didn't really spend a lot of time together to develop a relationship that wasn't physical. I wanted a more emotional connection with them and, with how short this was, I really missed that with all of the physical interactions with them. I'm intrigued enough to read book two, but I wanted more out of the relationship in this book.
This was a hard one for me to rate! I think that the world building could have used a little more work so I'm going to go with 3.5 stars
Ya'll know I'm slowly becoming a huge fan of the Christina C. Jones and I'm slowly going through and devouring everything that she's every written. Haunted is definitely different from her contemporary works as it is a paranormal romance. My biggest hang up about this book was actually the world building and the character development. This is particularly shocking for me because usually I'm a huge fan of Jones' character development, but it didn't work in this book. The steamy scenes were great and I enjoyed them; however, they took precedent to the reader actually getting to know the characters. I didn't know enough about Khalida or Aram to be invested in what they had or the connection that they were attempting to build. I think that one of the key things about writing paranormal romance is the world building. Although it make take place in a version of Earth that we are familiar with, readers won't be familiar with the paranormal aspects of this world. While reading I kept wanting Jones to explore more of Aram's background and how it was so interconnected with Khalida's. This isn't to say that we didn't get any of that, but I wanted more that would capture my attention and make me wholly invested in these characters.
Nevertheless, Jones did some great things with this book as well. I'm willing to read anything that deals with Black immortal beings and the parts of the world building that we did get were great. I really enjoyed seeing the beginnings of how Khalida and Aram connected to this immortal world. Of course, Jones never fails me with her beautiful writing. It is a writing style that is fluid and grabs the attention of readers quickly. I completely love it and it keeps me coming back for me. While I think that this one could have used a little more work, I still think it was a solid story.
With the recent release of book three in the Eternally Tethered series, I felt it necessary to re-read books one and two to familiarize myself with the story so that I wouldn’t be confused when I read Restored. I'm so happy I re-read Haunted. My initial review was unfair because, it was based solely on the narrator's performance and not the storyline. While paranormal isn't my go to genre, I really enjoyed Haunted. Khalida and Aram are long lost immortal lovers who were torn apart by her spiteful azz Grandmother. She erased Khalida's memory and put her in the mortal world to hide her from Aram so, she doesn't even remember she’s married or that she’s a royal. Khalida is just existing, going through the motions, and living a complacent life but not understanding why until Aram walks back into her life. The journey CCJ takes you on is a mysterious and sexy one. Aram is a man on a mission to get the love of his life back and make her remember him and the love they had for each other. Khalida and Aram's love story spans centuries so, you can't help but to root for them. Haunting was an intriguing and sexy tale about timeless love that will captivate you from beginning to end. If you're a fan of paranormal romance, this book is a must read.
I'm not a big fan of paranormal romance so, I was pleasantly surprised at how much I really liked this book. I guess I'll be adding it to my list of favorite genres.
I love you ccj and this was super sexy but I wanted more character interactions that didn’t end in sex. They were both such interesting people and I don’t know anything about them 😢😢😢
Pros -beautiful black folk being sexy -the smut slaps! Incredibly spicy -secret princess?? -the flashback chapter hit different!! I wish that scene had been in the beginning -black immortal beings! -THIS PART: ““Don’t you compare the way I feel about you to these pathetic mortal men you seem to have such an obsession with. Their weaknesses, their flaws, their lack of discipline is not mine. My love for you has no end. I haven’t tired of you yet, and I’ll never get tired of you.””
Cons -the whole immortality thing was so vague, what are they??? -very twilight “I’m stalking you but I’m immortal and love you so it’s cute” -i don’t know anything about Aram beyond the facts that he’s cute, has tattoos, and likes fingering khalida -i don’t know anything about khalida beyond the fact that she likes sex, her bf in the beginning was corny, and um she has/had memory lost. -i think the book would have worked better for me if CCJ organized it so the flashback chapter happened first to establish their connection so then when the reunite and immediately get down and dirty it would make more sense to me.
Despite that I thought it was a fun, undeniably sexy way to close out spooky season
I've had this book on my list for a while now. Now that I'm getting into the paranormal genre, I thought now was the time to pull this out. Khalida's life is pretty mundane. Physically, she's there, but emotionally and mentally, she's checked out. Even with her BF. Then enters Aram and Khalidas life's been hit with a sense of nostalgia. But, there's a reason why. Aram came off as brash, a little intrusive, and it made him sexy. He was on a mission, and that was to get his queen back. This was different, well developed, layered, and sexy af.
Well, after my read of Christina C. Jones’ “Haunted”, I’m still being haunted! She’s made a fool of me.
I promise you, I can be walking down the street or turning a corner while driving in my car and think about those ‘infinite pools onyx’ eyes watching. I can’t forget Aram’s bruised ego when Khalida wasn’t progressing in her will to remember ‘them’ as fast as he preferred. OMG, this man is a freaking warrior for crying out loud, with brandings and tattoos!
Khalida was key in this tale, too. Her character actually guided me into the story, behaving in a manner I would if I were in her shoes. She was extremely down to earth and believable.
“Haunted” is a tale about a timeless love. About a man who haunts his true love over the span of years, cultural phenomenon’s and lifetimes. After a wide span of time, Aram was still bound to Khalida. Who wouldn’t want a love like that?
There are no dead people walking, animals mating with humans, or magic spells going on in here. It is truly the essence of love being tried over the expansive stretch of years, even through key African American historical events. I don’t know what else to say and not give away the book.
I would give ten stars but for the fact that it’s too short. I want more of Aram and Khalida, so the author will just have to settle with five.
This was my second paranormal romance and I enjoyed CCJ’s spin. It was very similar to Alexandria House’ Sanctuary but since CCJ’s came out first…..😬😬 I’m just going to leave that right there. Anywho I need me some paranormal peen because Aram had sis climbing the walls, showers, windows, freezers in the grocery store… you name it, she climbed it🥵🥵. I love how patient Aram was with Khalida! He could’ve knocked her over the head caveman style but he wanted her to remember the connection they once had! I enjoyed the narrator but there were times when the sound quality changed. Still a great story nonetheless!
this was goodt. i think it moved a bit fast & i wanted to know more about aram's distinct powers as an immortal, and his background as an adoptee. him communicating with animals was dope asf. i also wanted to know more about khalida's life & how she ended up "placed" into the perfect life. but overall it was goodt & i enjoyed the spice!!
I did not know that CCJ wrote PNR books!! Okay, you’ve got my attention. I loved it. There were some gaps or lack of answers to important questions that I needed, but other than that it had all the things. Diving into book 2 soon!
Khalida had it all. A great job and a stable relationship. But there was just an emptiness, a restlessness she couldn't shake. Well, that is until she comes to the sudden realization that dreams can take on a life of their own and ignite desires beyond her wildest imagination. Aram has been restless too, searching for something..someone. His presence shifts Khalida's entire world and haunts her very existence.
Life was...okay. Life was ..normal. Until the haunting.
Okay, let's start off on the fact I haven't read paranormal in yearssssss. It was my thing for so long until the genre just got ..well let's say it just got too trite for me. CCJones effortlessly takes my mind, heart and libido on a journey with this one. I just loved how the story took on a life of its own from the very beginning. Whew, I was wrapped up in Aram and Khalida's chemistry. At one point I had goosebumps...freaking goosebumps! The attraction..the seduction just had me glued to my Kindle screen with eyes wide open and heart churning to see what would become of this dynamic mystical coupling. I am a stickler for timelines and accuracy and CCJ is spot on in how she weaves the past into the present. I was able to get a hearty glimpse of what happened that led them to the present time. I am always in awe at how she takes on new genres and just pours so much of her talent into them. Contemp romance..check Suspense romance..check And now Paranormal.. double check I can not wait for more from this series! Kudos!!!
Haunted by Christina C. Jones is one of those stories that creeps up on you slowly soft, strange, and a little seductive. The tension between what’s real and what’s imagined lingers long after the last page. It’s not just about the supernatural, it’s about the ghosts we carry, the memories we can’t shake, and the love that pulls us through the dark.
I love a good paranormal story--especially one that is creepy and sexy at the same time--so I was intrigued when author Christina C. Jones began sharing teasers on Facebook of a paranormal story she was working on. The more I read, the more intrigued I became. I finally had to ask her if she'd already released it--the impatient Golden in me just couldn't wait. :)
Haunted - a paranormal love story is very different from Christina's other books, which has been more romantic in nature(contemporary romance and romantic suspense), so I could understand when she said she was hesitant in releasing it. Fans do not always react well when authors release something that is completely different from what they usually write.
Well, I can say that, having read Haunted, I am one very happy Christina C. Jones fan. We start with what seems like a very normal situation, club manager Khalida is in bed with her boyfriend Travis (whom she is beginning to find a bit tiresome) and she is unable to sleep. But pretty soon we understand that all is not what it seems. Beneath the very normal veneer of her life, Khalida is hiding a secret--a fantasy (phantom, perhaps?) lover who satisfies her in ways that Travis never could. The intensity of her fantasies is increasing to the point that she is fnding it hard to tell the difference between fantasy and reality. And then a very handsome, very intense man called Aram walks into her life. Aram has secrets of his own and Khalida is connected to them--even if she doesn't initially understand how or why.
I won't give away more of the plot, just know that if you want to read a well-written, intriguing and sexy paranormal novella featuring African American characters, then Haunted - a paranormal love story is just what you need! I loved reading it and I think you will too!
I so wanted to like this book. Paranormal romance is my favorite sub genre of romance.
Many women in my book group recommend this author. I recently read Wonder and it was great.
Then I moved on to this book.
I forced myself not to DNF this book, hoping I would enjoy it. I found myself wanting it to be over asap. I did enjoy the flashback chapter though.
There was potential here. I would have been happy for the love scenes to be tossed out if I could have gotten more development into the plot. There was a huge 'why' in the plot that should have been answered. Maybe it's answered in the sequel? I'm not going to read it to find out.
The love scenes. Honestly, I found them less sexy and more creepy when it was discovered what was really happening.
The prose. I like descriptive, poetic prose but it wasn't hitting right in this book for me.
I'm not gonna give up on this author though. Like I said, I enjoyed Wonder. So I'm gonna go for one of her normal romance books. Authors can't right well in every genre. Maybe paranormal just isn't her strong suit.
I don't think I've ever rated a CCJ book below a 5. But this was wierd. One it's a supernatural book taking place in regular CCJ universe...don't get me wrong I love a fantasy book, but this was just erotica, and not her best work in that department . I found myself skimming thru those scenes to get back to the plot...to no avail. There was no character development, just sex and not explanation on why they are who they are, nor what got them there. Storyline just left in the air.
I'm shocked. I've done over 20 CCJ books and love her. This one did not do it for me.
I really liked this story, but I really, really want to know why Khalida and Aram were separated in the first place.... I'm moving on to Coveted- book 2 tomorrow. It's late right now or I'd go ahead and start. This is not a cliffy though. Book 2 is about the FMC's sister. I'm just interested and hopeing for more information. Happy reading!
The story had a cute unique paranormal romance, and I really enjoyed the chemistry between Khalida and Arman. I do wish we had gotten more background on Khalida especially the reason behind the spell her grandmother cast on her and her sister but the overall theme of love finding its way shined through beautifully. In the end, Arman found his girl, and that made it all worth it!
short, quick, steamy paranormal romance with low plot, nice characters, and fated mates - we stan. the worldbuilding isn't really complex but it's not something i mind at all. i do wish we learned more about the MCs but i still liked them a lot!
This is one of those reads that’ll give you a boost of bad bitch confidence-like Baby you deserve someone who has adored you across hundreds of years and has been searching for you! Beautiful writing, a very intriguing plot line that personally I could’ve, wanted to see certain aspects of delved a little deeper into but such a fun read I couldn’t stop listening to!
Soooo I was confused for most of this but I think I got the gist of the story. The ending was quite abrupt but glad she got her man back after remembering who she truly is.
Audiobook 🎧 Narrator: Jillian Gee 2/5
This audiobook needs to be re-recorded. Poor quality imo 🤷🏽♀️
Whooooooooooo girl. I started reading this at work and SOON realized that that was not the place to be reading this steamy, ultra sexy paranormal love story from Ms. Christina Jones. I discovered her by stalking YES STALKING folks' twitter accounts in my search for indie black women authors. I snapped up her Serendipitous Love Series and have REALLY enjoyed her writing-- engaging and down to earth featuring characters of color that I can relate to!
Haunted is a departure from the work that I've read. It is dark, mysterious and complex, weaving a tale that spans not simply years but *generations* and not a mere city or country setting but entire kingdoms to explore. I am told that Haunted is the first novella in this series and I'm extremely interested in picking up where this book left off.
I enjoyed Mrs. Jones' first foray into paranormal. I love Khalida's strong, independent attitude and I so can completely relate to her feeling of knowing something was missing. The history between Aram and Khalida made me exceedingly happy. I love that the author showcased us as the kings and queens we are. And yes, I can't forget about the steamy love scenes. Well written and juicy. Now I'd like to know more about what happened between the heroine and hero before she was spirited away. We need a part 2.
So I was a bit reluctant to read this story because I knew it wasn't CCJ's usual genre of work. It sat in my queue for nearly a year before I decided to read it and well...I didn't like it. At all.
It started off good and had my full attention, then somewhere along the way it fell off. Maybe it was the characters or the storyline itself, because it really didn't have a plot, but I got bored and pushed through it (even when dozing off a few times) just so I could get to the end.
It's safe to say I won't be reading the rest of this series.
Make sure you clear your schedule for at least two, two and a half hours before you start reading this one. You won’t be able to put it down! Not a big fan of Paranormal Romance, but Khalida and Aram’s story was enthralling…
This paranormal romance was so erotic! 🔥A beautiful story of immortal love showing how time can not defeat the love of two souls that are tethered together. 💜
I loved this story you could not tell what was real or imagined and if imagined how was it not real???!!! 🤯
Khalida living life, existing, feeling complacent and not understanding why...until it begins the dreams and hallucinations. So vivid and real that there was physical evidence of the events. When she meets Aram she can not deny the chemistry of her attraction to him and before long life as she knew it changes! Her truth is revealed and it was mind blowing! No matter how many times they were separated they found their way back...this time may be different.
This is a must read, although I experienced the audio book narrated by Jillian Gee. I was not fond of the tone and cadence that Ms Gee used too slow and exaggerated and her male voices where not convincing. The power of Mrs Jones’ pen made this story impossible to destroy.
When your history saves your future...The back story sharing their history was mystical!!!
My rating: 💜🔥💜🔥🔥 5 Hearts and fire because the heat almost singed my brows 😂😂😂