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The Cottage: A True Haunted House Story
When the Breitling family moves into a mountain cottage, they have no reason to believe there is anything strange about the small home. But before long they can’t deny something is very wrong with their new residence, and they find themselves trying to make sense of the unexplainable. After a year of coping with disembodied voices, flying objects, phantom footsteps, and apparitions of red eyes, the family moves away. But things will get even stranger at their new house. The Cottage details the true paranormal experiences of a real family in Southern California. If you enjoy The Cottage, please look for its sequel, The Bungalow.
26 pages, Kindle Edition
Published July 1, 2017
262 people are currently reading
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 63 reviews
December 25, 2019
A story based on a small family who moved into an old cottage near the mountains and their disturbing experiences that left them shaken and distraught!
I enjoyed this eerie and spooky short story especially since it was based upon true occurrences, although I felt it left more to be desired. The book seemed more of a build-up to the 2nd book, so I felt somewhat cheated with the story.
I have given a rating of 3 Haunting ⭐⭐⭐ Stars!!
I enjoyed this eerie and spooky short story especially since it was based upon true occurrences, although I felt it left more to be desired. The book seemed more of a build-up to the 2nd book, so I felt somewhat cheated with the story.
I have given a rating of 3 Haunting ⭐⭐⭐ Stars!!
April 23, 2024
A True Story?
Jess Breitling is the narrator of this haunting story.
She and her husband and two little children moved into a small cottage. They did not live there in peace.
Disembodied voices called her name and her daughter’s name. Her little girl saw evil eyes. Jess heard an evil laugh and lots of other disturbing things.
It is time to run for the hills. So, the Breitling family is moving. Can you blame them?
Four stars. ✨✨✨✨
Jess Breitling is the narrator of this haunting story.
She and her husband and two little children moved into a small cottage. They did not live there in peace.
Disembodied voices called her name and her daughter’s name. Her little girl saw evil eyes. Jess heard an evil laugh and lots of other disturbing things.
It is time to run for the hills. So, the Breitling family is moving. Can you blame them?
Four stars. ✨✨✨✨
September 25, 2017
This was a real short true paranormal story about the author and her family that lived in a cottage that was haunted. It was not scary as it was just different things that happened to the family during the time at the cottage. Three stars on this one.
May 20, 2018
Freaky and chilling. Told in a no-nonsense way that just makes you wonder what might be behind the doors of a seemingly innocent-looking house...
April 18, 2023
Good little read for what this was, be interested to read the follow up too.
June 5, 2024
average! but well written
September 23, 2025
A really short account of a family's experience in a haunted cottage. Really enjoyed this one. Believably creepy, I guess you could say.
December 4, 2024
If you enjoy haunted house stories, I think you will enjoy this.
June 15, 2020
Ehhhh. I don't know what I was expecting from such a short story but I didn't get it. The bit with the eyes was genuinely spooky but otherwise it just seems like a rash of events you have to live through to feel spooked. I wish there was a bit more substance to the story, for example if the author had even tried to find out anything about what could be causing the spookiness or how to stop it.
The writing style was breezy, but truly this isn't long enough to get tired of it anyways. I didn't hate this but I don't have much interesting in seeking out the sequel or more by this author.
The writing style was breezy, but truly this isn't long enough to get tired of it anyways. I didn't hate this but I don't have much interesting in seeking out the sequel or more by this author.
September 3, 2017
A short book true book about a woman and her family living in a small haunted house. There is a sequel to this apparently and I haven't read that one. This one was okay. I know the family was scared by what was happening, but it wasn't really a scary read. This was an okay book. May read the sequel at some point.
December 23, 2023
2.5 ⭐️
September 22, 2023
The ending messed it up
I was heavily invested in this book. The way the story was written was as if someone was sitting next to me telling me these bizarre events personally.
This had me wondering what was going on?? 😟
Had me feeling a bit eerie 😳 even a bit scared for those in which these occurrences happened to 😱
I felt as though this book was about to get to the good part when it ends abruptly when the family relocates. It just stops. 😒 🤦🏽♀️
So yeah ⭐️⭐️ is all you get. I feel like I just wasted these few minutes. And this author encouraged it falsely. Ugh 😩
I was heavily invested in this book. The way the story was written was as if someone was sitting next to me telling me these bizarre events personally.
This had me wondering what was going on?? 😟
Had me feeling a bit eerie 😳 even a bit scared for those in which these occurrences happened to 😱
I felt as though this book was about to get to the good part when it ends abruptly when the family relocates. It just stops. 😒 🤦🏽♀️
So yeah ⭐️⭐️ is all you get. I feel like I just wasted these few minutes. And this author encouraged it falsely. Ugh 😩
April 3, 2024
This book unfolds a concise yet riveting true story centered on a family's unsettling experiences after moving into an ancient cottage. The narrative meticulously captures the gradual intensification of paranormal events, beginning with seemingly innocuous incidents. Initially, the children report hearing their names being called by their parents' voices when no such calls were made, setting the stage for a series of increasingly eerie occurrences that pervade their new home.
The author presents this tale with a sincere and engaging prose style, claiming these events were genuinely endured by the family involved. This earnest approach lends the story an air of authenticity that grips the reader, driving a compelling need to discover how far these mysterious phenomena will escalate and what final straw will compel the family to abandon their home.
I found myself absorbed by the narrative from the outset, propelled through the pages by a mix of intrigue and a keen desire to uncover the culmination of these supernatural disturbances. The storytelling is adept, weaving a tapestry of suspense and fear without sacrificing believability, which is a testament to its well-crafted depiction of the family's ordeal.
For aficionados of the paranormal and readers fascinated by true accounts of otherworldly encounters, this book is a must-read. It not only offers a peek into the mysterious and often unnerving experiences of a family confronted by the inexplicable but does so with a narrative flair that makes it a thoroughly captivating and quick read. Whether you're a skeptic or a believer in the paranormal, this story holds a certain allure, offering a fascinating glimpse into the unknown that is sure to keep you engaged until the very end.
The author presents this tale with a sincere and engaging prose style, claiming these events were genuinely endured by the family involved. This earnest approach lends the story an air of authenticity that grips the reader, driving a compelling need to discover how far these mysterious phenomena will escalate and what final straw will compel the family to abandon their home.
I found myself absorbed by the narrative from the outset, propelled through the pages by a mix of intrigue and a keen desire to uncover the culmination of these supernatural disturbances. The storytelling is adept, weaving a tapestry of suspense and fear without sacrificing believability, which is a testament to its well-crafted depiction of the family's ordeal.
For aficionados of the paranormal and readers fascinated by true accounts of otherworldly encounters, this book is a must-read. It not only offers a peek into the mysterious and often unnerving experiences of a family confronted by the inexplicable but does so with a narrative flair that makes it a thoroughly captivating and quick read. Whether you're a skeptic or a believer in the paranormal, this story holds a certain allure, offering a fascinating glimpse into the unknown that is sure to keep you engaged until the very end.
December 30, 2023
Creepy story
This was really creepy. I can read about these things all day, but I hope I never have to experience anything remotely paranormal. I can't imagine what this family went through for about a year of their lives. I'm glad they didn't feel "threatened" per se, but they still endured some creepy and unsettling situations. Little did they know it wasn't over when they moved...I'll be downloading the next story immediately.
This was really creepy. I can read about these things all day, but I hope I never have to experience anything remotely paranormal. I can't imagine what this family went through for about a year of their lives. I'm glad they didn't feel "threatened" per se, but they still endured some creepy and unsettling situations. Little did they know it wasn't over when they moved...I'll be downloading the next story immediately.
December 31, 2023
I don’t doubt that this family feels like they had some creepy experiences in this cottage but after hearing disembodied voices and laughing as well as seeing floating red eyes the incident that made them finally move was so silly.
This could have been edited better as well. The description of things was far too wordy and the description of the layout of the house was clunky. I will not be reading the follow up story.
This could have been edited better as well. The description of things was far too wordy and the description of the layout of the house was clunky. I will not be reading the follow up story.
January 6, 2025
A tasty morsel!
This is a very brief read, but the author does a good job of setting the scene and explaining things in a more detailed manner than your bestie does when she tells you she lives in a haunted house (unless your bestie is also an author; I'm just generalizing here). If you want a small, spooky, based on a true story read, give this one a go. There are more in the series if you have a taste for more!
This is a very brief read, but the author does a good job of setting the scene and explaining things in a more detailed manner than your bestie does when she tells you she lives in a haunted house (unless your bestie is also an author; I'm just generalizing here). If you want a small, spooky, based on a true story read, give this one a go. There are more in the series if you have a taste for more!
December 3, 2018
Hmm
I read a lot of novels/novellas and stories like this. Some of those accounts sound legit and believable. I am not saying Ms Breitling is misrepresenting her family and/ or herself - the thing is, this story kind of threw me through a loop; I have not read or even heard anything quite like it. I am curious, character in fact, I plan to read the sequel "The Bungalow."
I read a lot of novels/novellas and stories like this. Some of those accounts sound legit and believable. I am not saying Ms Breitling is misrepresenting her family and/ or herself - the thing is, this story kind of threw me through a loop; I have not read or even heard anything quite like it. I am curious, character in fact, I plan to read the sequel "The Bungalow."
September 12, 2021
Such a good little scary story
This book was short but overall a good book. This is the true story of a family who moves into a cottage that some relatives in their family had previously owned. No phenomenon was reported when the old family lived there. This new family however, this evil spirit seems to enjoy torturing. The Cottage is a very short story but well worth it.
This book was short but overall a good book. This is the true story of a family who moves into a cottage that some relatives in their family had previously owned. No phenomenon was reported when the old family lived there. This new family however, this evil spirit seems to enjoy torturing. The Cottage is a very short story but well worth it.
November 1, 2023
Cute story, very amateur telling
There was no depth, no build up, no connection. It was as if we were having a long drawn-out discussion, where the person is so busy rambling, trying to get a bunch of combobulated thoughts out, that they aren't even sure what they are saying anymore and you can't sneak a single word in - this wordy nonending sentence as example.
There was no depth, no build up, no connection. It was as if we were having a long drawn-out discussion, where the person is so busy rambling, trying to get a bunch of combobulated thoughts out, that they aren't even sure what they are saying anymore and you can't sneak a single word in - this wordy nonending sentence as example.
January 31, 2024
Overall 4 stars.
Jess and her husband Gabe move into a house with their two children. When things take a sinister turn... Disembodied voices, footsteps and other strange things...
I really enjoyed this short read. Wish is was longer. Only 26 pages. A creepy chilling read. Will be getting the sequel to this book.
Jess and her husband Gabe move into a house with their two children. When things take a sinister turn... Disembodied voices, footsteps and other strange things...
I really enjoyed this short read. Wish is was longer. Only 26 pages. A creepy chilling read. Will be getting the sequel to this book.
December 30, 2018
Interesting Story
I always enjoy reading books about true haunted houses, because my family and I also live in one. I can relate to the family's concern and fear in dealing with the unexplainable. This book is very well written, and I highly recommend.
I always enjoy reading books about true haunted houses, because my family and I also live in one. I can relate to the family's concern and fear in dealing with the unexplainable. This book is very well written, and I highly recommend.
May 8, 2020
A pretty good haunted house memoir. I liked this because it was realistic and not sensationalized. There was an effective creepy factor that I found believable. I've added Jess Breitling's next book to my wish list....but at 48 pages and currently 2.99, I will wait for a deal.
April 8, 2022
Creepy Cottage
This short tale of a family being haunted by what seems to be intelligent entities is quite compelling and scary. I can't wait to read what happens next in their new home. This is my honest unbiased review of this short story.
This short tale of a family being haunted by what seems to be intelligent entities is quite compelling and scary. I can't wait to read what happens next in their new home. This is my honest unbiased review of this short story.
November 8, 2023
It was very short, more of a story than a novel. Not sure if I would continue to search for the continuation of the story, unfortunately I wasn’t very captivated by it. No Crescendo or spike that I would want to continue.
November 20, 2023
A bit rushed
The story is very short. Could probably just be a prologue to the next story at the next house. It was good though and makes me want to read the next one, but felt it was a little rushed.
The story is very short. Could probably just be a prologue to the next story at the next house. It was good though and makes me want to read the next one, but felt it was a little rushed.
January 2, 2024
Way too short
Only just getting into the story and it ends. It was nicely written, but not sure I even managed to care about the characters at all. The haunting was described, then they left and there was no closure. Explanation or even any real dread developed!
Only just getting into the story and it ends. It was nicely written, but not sure I even managed to care about the characters at all. The haunting was described, then they left and there was no closure. Explanation or even any real dread developed!
February 17, 2024
True? Maybe?
It is not my place to say whether the story of what the author experienced actually happened, but I do know this. It’s a genuinely disturbing story, enough to give any reader the creeps.
It is not my place to say whether the story of what the author experienced actually happened, but I do know this. It’s a genuinely disturbing story, enough to give any reader the creeps.
August 1, 2017
I liked this short haunting story.
October 25, 2017
Spooky
I've lived in three haunted houses in my life and love a good tale. This is one for sure. It's a quick read and U can't wait to read "The Bungalow"
I've lived in three haunted houses in my life and love a good tale. This is one for sure. It's a quick read and U can't wait to read "The Bungalow"
December 1, 2017
Haunted House
I give this 5 stars. I love reading about haunted houses and how the occupants dealt with it. Most times, moving seems to be the only option.
I give this 5 stars. I love reading about haunted houses and how the occupants dealt with it. Most times, moving seems to be the only option.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 63 reviews