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Haunted Hearts
Does a ghost from the past want the man of her future?
Callie Thompson is thrilled when she inherits a house in the small town of Shadow Valley. The house is old and creaky, but she’s not afraid of hard work. Unfortunately, no matter how many repairs she makes, the strange noises won’t go away. Items disappear. Lights flicker. Footsteps echo down the hallway. Her nerves are soon so frayed that she resorts to calling the one person in town she hasn’t been able to get along with, bullheaded police chief Carter Landry.
Carter doesn’t have time to investigate things that go bump in the night—although, with Callie, the idea is tempting. He’s busy working with the governor’s task force on a major case and dealing with a rash of petty Halloween crimes. He knows that Callie’s house isn’t haunted… no matter what the town legend says. Still, when her distress call comes in, he hits the ground running.
Carter can’t help his protective instincts when it comes to the sassy blond. He doesn’t believe in ghosts, but someone is intentionally scaring her—and he doesn’t like it. He stays the night to investigate, and the friction that has always been between them ignites into passion.
As the couple gives in to their mutual attraction, the strange occurrences in the house subside. But could Carter’s presence be the reason? Callie fears that her sexy cop may be the one the ghost has wanted all along.
Callie Thompson is thrilled when she inherits a house in the small town of Shadow Valley. The house is old and creaky, but she’s not afraid of hard work. Unfortunately, no matter how many repairs she makes, the strange noises won’t go away. Items disappear. Lights flicker. Footsteps echo down the hallway. Her nerves are soon so frayed that she resorts to calling the one person in town she hasn’t been able to get along with, bullheaded police chief Carter Landry.
Carter doesn’t have time to investigate things that go bump in the night—although, with Callie, the idea is tempting. He’s busy working with the governor’s task force on a major case and dealing with a rash of petty Halloween crimes. He knows that Callie’s house isn’t haunted… no matter what the town legend says. Still, when her distress call comes in, he hits the ground running.
Carter can’t help his protective instincts when it comes to the sassy blond. He doesn’t believe in ghosts, but someone is intentionally scaring her—and he doesn’t like it. He stays the night to investigate, and the friction that has always been between them ignites into passion.
As the couple gives in to their mutual attraction, the strange occurrences in the house subside. But could Carter’s presence be the reason? Callie fears that her sexy cop may be the one the ghost has wanted all along.
262 pages, Kindle Edition
Published July 27, 2018
26 people are currently reading
93 people want to read
About the author
Kimberly Dean
49 books386 followersWhen taking the Myers-Briggs personality test in high school, Kimberly was rated as an INFJ (Introverted-Intuitive-Feeling-Judging). This result sent her into a panic, because there were no career paths recommended for the type. Fortunately, it turned out to be well-suited to a writing career. Since receiving that dismal outlook, Kimberly has become an award-winning author of romance and erotica. She has written for seven publishing houses, both domestic and international, and has recently focused her efforts on the exciting world of self-publishing. When not writing, she enjoys movies, sports, traveling, music, and sunshine. In her mind, a beach, some rock 'n' roll, and a good book make for a perfect day.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 36 reviews
December 26, 2025
Really? REALLY MS. MAIN CHARACTER? Do you think anything good will happen when you move to Shadow Valley???
"So long, Boston. Hello, Shadow Valley."
Ok, now that my rant is over, I really enjoyed this novel! It was witty, fun and engaging - and everything in between.
Calina "Callie" Thompson inherits an old property (the Calhoun Place) through a distant deceased relative and she's absolutely delighted.
Unfortunately, when she finally arrives, she realizes that things aren't quite what she expected.
But she's bound and determined to make the best of this...despite the mountains of work and the gossiping locals.
"The old Calhoun place was a dump.
But it was her dump now."
But Callie is ready to ignore all of the small-town gossip and pesky, strict (aka HOT) police officers, because she has her very, own house.
Except...the longer she stays, the less it seems like the house wants her.
Between the angry house and the hot police officer, what's a girl got to do?
"She'd only taken a step away from the door, though, when the handle began rattling."
I liked this one! It was fun, endearing and sweet.
I was really hesitant going in because I'm generally not a huge fan of the romance genre and this one does have some explicit content (and I am much more on the YA spectrum of romance) but I was pleasantly surprised by how much I grew to enjoy this one.
The romance developed naturally - though, there were (of course) a couple of scenes that felt a smidge odd (i.e. Callie visits "Officer Hardass" and ends up massaging his shoulders, leading up to a steamy...well, you'll have to read it to find out).
But for the most part, I was honestly swept away by the plot - so much that whenever Officer Hardass and Callie were making goo-goo eyes at each other, that I wanted to be all, "Shush! Can't you see there's a mystery going on? Sex later, plot now."
Definitely a fun little adventure in the romance section (and can I get a hallelujah when the novel's plot really holds despite being in the romance dept?).
Kudos to the author for writing a fantastic novel!
With thanks to the author for a free copy in exchange for an honest review
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April 15, 2020
This was a grabber right out the door! Really liked this creepy mystery!
Inheriting a house from an aunt she hardly knew was interesting enough for Callie Thompson, but to inherit one possibly considered haunted was beyond anything she could have imagined!
Not too long after moving into the house, she starts experiencing all kinds of strange phenomenon. She hears thumping from the basement, creaking noises up in the attic, footsteps around the house, flickering lights, things disappearing, and some of her boxes that were not unpacked yet were open.
She is on pins and needles most of the time while she is there, but then she meets the towns people who let her know that the house is haunted by a woman that lived there in the 1800's.
Callie also comes head to head with the police chief, Carter Landy, on a couple or so occasions while she is in town. Chief Landry tries to dissuade Callie from listening to town gossip about the house as he doesn't believe in ghosts and hauntings. He has other matters to worry about as there are a couple of prison escapees on the loose.
The more that things start heating up in the house with the haunting, that is not the only thing heating up as Carter and Callie's relationship intensifies to the point where he wants to protect her from whatever is causing havoc in her house.
I have never read this author before, but I thought the book was very well written and it was easy to get attached to the all the characters in the book. The book moves along at a fast pace and the haunting of the house threw me right into the thick of things as I felt that I was there experiencing the situations along with Callie. Giving this book four stars for giving me spooky chills.
Inheriting a house from an aunt she hardly knew was interesting enough for Callie Thompson, but to inherit one possibly considered haunted was beyond anything she could have imagined!
Not too long after moving into the house, she starts experiencing all kinds of strange phenomenon. She hears thumping from the basement, creaking noises up in the attic, footsteps around the house, flickering lights, things disappearing, and some of her boxes that were not unpacked yet were open.
She is on pins and needles most of the time while she is there, but then she meets the towns people who let her know that the house is haunted by a woman that lived there in the 1800's.
Callie also comes head to head with the police chief, Carter Landy, on a couple or so occasions while she is in town. Chief Landry tries to dissuade Callie from listening to town gossip about the house as he doesn't believe in ghosts and hauntings. He has other matters to worry about as there are a couple of prison escapees on the loose.
The more that things start heating up in the house with the haunting, that is not the only thing heating up as Carter and Callie's relationship intensifies to the point where he wants to protect her from whatever is causing havoc in her house.
I have never read this author before, but I thought the book was very well written and it was easy to get attached to the all the characters in the book. The book moves along at a fast pace and the haunting of the house threw me right into the thick of things as I felt that I was there experiencing the situations along with Callie. Giving this book four stars for giving me spooky chills.
August 2, 2020
It was OK...
October 3, 2018
Okay, Since it's October, I decided to add this book to my TBR pile of thriller, horror, paranormal, and mystery for this month.
This book is short and full of romance which I could do a lot without. However, the plot was surprisingly strong for this short novel. It does contain paranormal and suspense. It was relatively a quick easy read (3 hours) for me. It did send a slightly chill along my neck and couple of times which tells me the author is good with her prose.
If you're into strong romance along with paranormal and suspense with a beautiful house then this book is for you.
By the way, who who can deny this gorgeous cover?
I'm going to give this novel 3 3/4 stars for a strong plot, ability to keep my attention, characters are likeable and relatable, goodles prose, and gorgeous cover.
This book is short and full of romance which I could do a lot without. However, the plot was surprisingly strong for this short novel. It does contain paranormal and suspense. It was relatively a quick easy read (3 hours) for me. It did send a slightly chill along my neck and couple of times which tells me the author is good with her prose.
If you're into strong romance along with paranormal and suspense with a beautiful house then this book is for you.
By the way, who who can deny this gorgeous cover?
I'm going to give this novel 3 3/4 stars for a strong plot, ability to keep my attention, characters are likeable and relatable, goodles prose, and gorgeous cover.
October 15, 2018
I have read numerous good and great ghost stories and this one is one of the finest that I have ever had the pleasure to read. I have read many romances and this one just captivates heart, mind, body and soul. The easy way the author draws in a reader is a gift. Callie is dynamic and instantly lovable. Carter is incredible and it takes but one moment to realize these two must end up together. Toss in a brilliantly crafted small town with unforgettable characters, add a serious crime drama and wow!
I have to go back to the incredible nature of the ghost story. I have long said the late J.N. Williamson was the best horror author I have ever read. I have not seen such a well written ghost story since I read 'Horror House' for the first time in the 1980's. Usually horror authors lack the ability to have in depth characters for the living and the story is just fluff for the main feature - the haunting.
I’ve noticed normally strong romance authors can't reach the depth of feeling that creates dread in a reader because the focus is obviously on the love story. Haunted Hearts is a fantastic ghost story and a fantastic romance. If it was possible, I would give this book 100 stars. I love this book and recommend to everyone with a pulse and even those who have passed on would love it!
My Rating: 5++ stars
Reviewed by: Mr. N
This review first appeared: https://www.nnlightsbookheaven.com/si...
I have to go back to the incredible nature of the ghost story. I have long said the late J.N. Williamson was the best horror author I have ever read. I have not seen such a well written ghost story since I read 'Horror House' for the first time in the 1980's. Usually horror authors lack the ability to have in depth characters for the living and the story is just fluff for the main feature - the haunting.
I’ve noticed normally strong romance authors can't reach the depth of feeling that creates dread in a reader because the focus is obviously on the love story. Haunted Hearts is a fantastic ghost story and a fantastic romance. If it was possible, I would give this book 100 stars. I love this book and recommend to everyone with a pulse and even those who have passed on would love it!
My Rating: 5++ stars
Reviewed by: Mr. N
This review first appeared: https://www.nnlightsbookheaven.com/si...
April 6, 2019
A really good romance with a sweet ghost story thrown in. Not a great book, but a thoroughly enjoyable one. Callie Thompson inherits a large old house from a distant relative. After moving in strange sounds and strange things happen. She seek help from police chief Carter Landry and romance ensues.
The story flowed well and Callie was perky and charming. Reticent Carter made great strides in loosening up. It was fun listening to the audiobook in the car. The narrator did a great job with Callie, but less so with Carter. A very appealing book.
The story flowed well and Callie was perky and charming. Reticent Carter made great strides in loosening up. It was fun listening to the audiobook in the car. The narrator did a great job with Callie, but less so with Carter. A very appealing book.
September 24, 2018
I really loved this one. A little paranormal, a little romance, a little mystery...strong alpha male sheriff meets feisty new resident and sparks fly. When he learns she's inherited the Old Calhoun Place, he's worried the town gossips will fill her head with crazy stories and he'll get calls every time the floors in the old house creak. Callie, our heroine, is very excited to have inherited the old house in the country, and as a syndicated columnist, she can work from anywhere, so she's loving getting away from the city. Her new home has a few surprises in store for her though, not the least of which is the handsome sheriff with whom she keeps clashing. The author occasionally offers glimpses into the viewpoint of the spirit and I loved that... I loved Callie's connection with the troubled teenager across the street and the way she took his side immediately, despite the sheriff's classifying him as trouble. This is fun, quick read. The primary characters are well drawn, and I enjoyed spending time with them. As a reader, I figured out the secret pretty early on, but I think are supposed to. I did get a little frustrated a few times that our heroes couldn't figure it out when it seemed so obvious to me, but then they didn't have my 360 degree view. Nice romance, quick but believable connection, a little steamy. This is a new author for me and I will definitely be checking out more of her work.
I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed are entirely my own.
I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed are entirely my own.
October 2, 2018
I really enjoyed this little spooky mystery. It wasn’t terrifying or even all that mysterious (I figured it out long before the Police Chief did) but it was a pleasant ghostly story about my favorite thing...moving to a haunted house in a small town. Some of the dialogue was a bit cringe-worthy when the intimacy heated up but generally it was a great read. #NetGalley
October 3, 2018
My guest review appeared on Romance Rehab-
http://www.romancerehab.com/blog/haun...
Halloween is right around the corner! If you’re in the mood for a slightly sexy ghost story, give this book a try. I started reading it around midnight because I couldn’t sleep. Big mistake. I realize I’m a pretty big chicken, but I had to stop reading until daylight. I got pretty spooked!
Putting it under the Romance Rehab microscope, I did notice a problem. I felt like the physical side of things developed too quickly. But hey, if I was single and alone with a hot cop… who knows what I would do. I’m just not convinced they had time to go from enemies to lovers if I understood the timeline properly. It’s still a good read if you like mysteries involving apparitions. It’s a fast read, so expect things to evolve quickly.
Callie inherits an old house in the country and she’s excited to leave the big city of Boston behind. The house is in worse shape than she expected, but she rolls her sleeves up and sets out to turn it into a showplace. She makes repair after repair, yet nothing stops the strange noises going thump in the night.
Things disappear from under her nose. Lights and appliances have a mind of their own. She’s trying to be brave, but her nerves are already frayed when she hears footsteps echoing down the hallway. Time to call the only person she’s butted heads with in the small town—the stubborn police chief, Carter Landry.
Chief Landry knows the old place isn’t haunted no matter what town legend says. He’s convinced that someone is scaring Ms. Thompson and it’s his job to put a stop to these Halloween hijinks. Sure, he could let a deputy handle it, but this spunky blond brings out his protective instincts.
Carter decides to spend the night on Callie’s couch, so he can catch the perpetrators in the act. All he accomplishes is fueling the flames of mutual attraction between the two of them. And what bewilders Callie the most is the fact that nothing happens when the Chief is around. She starts to wonder if what the ghost has been after all along… is Chief Landry.
I don’t know why I do this to myself. I don’t enjoy being scared, but I can’t stay away from the stories with spooks in them! It freaks me out when it’s well written (which this one is) yet I keep reading them. If you’re tempted by stories of spirits like I am, you’ll enjoy this one. I even laughed out loud a few times because of Callie’s smartass comments.
Does it crush the romance stigma? Even though the book is great, the romance moved too quickly so I have to rate it a 4.
Full disclosure: We received an ARC from NetGalley, free of charge.
Does this book contribute to or help crush the romance stigma?
This book might not CRUSH the romance stigma, but it strongly discourages it.
http://www.romancerehab.com/blog/haun...
Halloween is right around the corner! If you’re in the mood for a slightly sexy ghost story, give this book a try. I started reading it around midnight because I couldn’t sleep. Big mistake. I realize I’m a pretty big chicken, but I had to stop reading until daylight. I got pretty spooked!
Putting it under the Romance Rehab microscope, I did notice a problem. I felt like the physical side of things developed too quickly. But hey, if I was single and alone with a hot cop… who knows what I would do. I’m just not convinced they had time to go from enemies to lovers if I understood the timeline properly. It’s still a good read if you like mysteries involving apparitions. It’s a fast read, so expect things to evolve quickly.
Callie inherits an old house in the country and she’s excited to leave the big city of Boston behind. The house is in worse shape than she expected, but she rolls her sleeves up and sets out to turn it into a showplace. She makes repair after repair, yet nothing stops the strange noises going thump in the night.
Things disappear from under her nose. Lights and appliances have a mind of their own. She’s trying to be brave, but her nerves are already frayed when she hears footsteps echoing down the hallway. Time to call the only person she’s butted heads with in the small town—the stubborn police chief, Carter Landry.
Chief Landry knows the old place isn’t haunted no matter what town legend says. He’s convinced that someone is scaring Ms. Thompson and it’s his job to put a stop to these Halloween hijinks. Sure, he could let a deputy handle it, but this spunky blond brings out his protective instincts.
Carter decides to spend the night on Callie’s couch, so he can catch the perpetrators in the act. All he accomplishes is fueling the flames of mutual attraction between the two of them. And what bewilders Callie the most is the fact that nothing happens when the Chief is around. She starts to wonder if what the ghost has been after all along… is Chief Landry.
I don’t know why I do this to myself. I don’t enjoy being scared, but I can’t stay away from the stories with spooks in them! It freaks me out when it’s well written (which this one is) yet I keep reading them. If you’re tempted by stories of spirits like I am, you’ll enjoy this one. I even laughed out loud a few times because of Callie’s smartass comments.
Does it crush the romance stigma? Even though the book is great, the romance moved too quickly so I have to rate it a 4.
Full disclosure: We received an ARC from NetGalley, free of charge.
Does this book contribute to or help crush the romance stigma?
This book might not CRUSH the romance stigma, but it strongly discourages it.
November 20, 2018
This was a great book. I loved the story between Carter and Callie. Loved the paranormal story of Adelaide Calhoun, especially how she connected to Callie. And loved the history of Adelaide and the Underground Railroad and then the story of the convict, Morton. Loved how it all melded together. All of it was great. But and it’s a big BUT, I didn’t love the graphic, explicit sexual content, so that is why I gave it 3 stars. I just don’t like all of that in books I read. It was the perfect book, except for that. I will not be recommending to my Christian friends, because of this. Don’t really recommend to anyone, because of the sexual content, but Others can read my review and decide for yourself how you would like to procede. Thank you to #NetGalley and the publishers for giving me the opportunity to read and give my honest review.
#HauntedHearts
#HauntedHearts
October 13, 2018
Readers are quickly pulled into this story as the author brilliantly sets the mood for this romance — one that will send chills running up and down one’s spine and hold readers hostage until the very end.
Read full review in the 2018 Oct issue of InD'tale Magazine.
Read full review in the 2018 Oct issue of InD'tale Magazine.
October 3, 2018
What do you get when you mix 1) a heated romance with plenty of sex 2) a haunted house 3) an unsolved mystery and 4) october 31st ... you get the best halloween romance book of the year! This is a quick read with a great, fresh story and I enjoyed every word. I loved the tension between the witty female protagonist and her sexy hero. Their banter throughout the book was funny and clever. I had the mystery solved halfway through the book but this did not take away from the ending at all which was very satisfying! I would highly recommend and will be searching for other books by this author, Kimberly Dean. I received an advance copy of this book from Netgalley! #hauntedhearts #netgalley
June 21, 2020
I really enjoyed this book. It was a lovely blend of mystery, fantasy and a bit of steamy romance. The story has a great pace and is told from two different perspectives, Callie and police chief Carter. The author does well to set the scene in a haunted house right from the start, when Callie finds that someone has been through her belongings, she's creeped out but passes it off as the estate agent trying to be nice. When she hears noises, she's nervous and a bit jumpy but passes it off as the normal interior of an old house with it's old furnace and squeaky floor boards. Even when the lights suddenly go out, she's terrified to go into the basement to look for the fusebox, but she powers through to get the lights working again. I can't tell if our protagonist is extremely brave or just completely naive at first. I don't know about anyone else but I'd be running for the door!
'On any given night in her old apartment in Boston, she'd had to sleep through music from next door, vacuuming from the obsessive-compulsive upstairs, or fighting from the newlyweds across the hall. A clunky furnace and a creaky shutter should be nothing. Then again, it could be because she was alone.
Click.
The soft sound was impossible to ignore. Callie's eyes flew open, and she sat straight up in bed. Her heart thudded as she reached over and turned on the bedside lamp. With wide eyes, she looked across the room. And her heart nearly stopped. Her bedroom door had just locked itself.'
I thought the characters were well written but I felt there wasn't a lot of time spent on their backstory for a good character build up, which may have been the point. You walk into the story as it is and learn to trust the characters within the story around you as you see them. I really liked David as a character and felt that his story was just as mysteriously intriguing as the haunted house itself. He's got secrets of his own and acts the part of a delinquent in the neighbourhood in order to distract himself from his complicated issue. The only person who can see him for who is he is, is Callie, who spends most of the book getting Carter to back off him as a suspected culprit to her hauntings. Callie feels that David is just lonely and needs someone to believe in him. Little did she know how much.
The connection between Callie and Carter sparked instantly. They would rather deny any friction between them and fight against each other instead, whether it was Callie's frustration at him giving her fines and parking tickets, Carter's annoyance that she would attempt to flirt with him to get out of it, or the way that they openly try and avoid the other. It's only when Callie needs his help that she realises that he isn't such a bad guy after all. For Carter, he was fighting his desires from the moment he saw her which makes the spark between them even more fierce. I really didn't like how quickly he became needy for her, especially at the end, but that's just me!
'Carter felt the knot in his back tighten so hard, it was amazing his shoulder didn't separate. "I know all I want, and I don't like him sniffing another you."
"For God's sake, Carter, he's not 'sniffing around me.' I've been blond all my life. Do you think I really would have made it this far without knowing how to pick up the signs? I know when a guy is interested."
Their gazes met - and held.'
Mamie and Alice were a lovely little addition to the story, they love to gossip and would risk going into the old Calhoun house to leap at the chance for more information swarming the place, even after Callie saw what the rumours were about with her own eyes. Mamie and Alice couldn't help but interrogate Callie the day she arrived to find out more about her. When they saw the way she and Carter interacted, they made it their task to become matchmaker for the both of them. They were exactly as you could imagine from being in a small town, Callie coming was the start of something new and interesting.
'On any given night in her old apartment in Boston, she'd had to sleep through music from next door, vacuuming from the obsessive-compulsive upstairs, or fighting from the newlyweds across the hall. A clunky furnace and a creaky shutter should be nothing. Then again, it could be because she was alone.
Click.
The soft sound was impossible to ignore. Callie's eyes flew open, and she sat straight up in bed. Her heart thudded as she reached over and turned on the bedside lamp. With wide eyes, she looked across the room. And her heart nearly stopped. Her bedroom door had just locked itself.'
I thought the characters were well written but I felt there wasn't a lot of time spent on their backstory for a good character build up, which may have been the point. You walk into the story as it is and learn to trust the characters within the story around you as you see them. I really liked David as a character and felt that his story was just as mysteriously intriguing as the haunted house itself. He's got secrets of his own and acts the part of a delinquent in the neighbourhood in order to distract himself from his complicated issue. The only person who can see him for who is he is, is Callie, who spends most of the book getting Carter to back off him as a suspected culprit to her hauntings. Callie feels that David is just lonely and needs someone to believe in him. Little did she know how much.
The connection between Callie and Carter sparked instantly. They would rather deny any friction between them and fight against each other instead, whether it was Callie's frustration at him giving her fines and parking tickets, Carter's annoyance that she would attempt to flirt with him to get out of it, or the way that they openly try and avoid the other. It's only when Callie needs his help that she realises that he isn't such a bad guy after all. For Carter, he was fighting his desires from the moment he saw her which makes the spark between them even more fierce. I really didn't like how quickly he became needy for her, especially at the end, but that's just me!
'Carter felt the knot in his back tighten so hard, it was amazing his shoulder didn't separate. "I know all I want, and I don't like him sniffing another you."
"For God's sake, Carter, he's not 'sniffing around me.' I've been blond all my life. Do you think I really would have made it this far without knowing how to pick up the signs? I know when a guy is interested."
Their gazes met - and held.'
Mamie and Alice were a lovely little addition to the story, they love to gossip and would risk going into the old Calhoun house to leap at the chance for more information swarming the place, even after Callie saw what the rumours were about with her own eyes. Mamie and Alice couldn't help but interrogate Callie the day she arrived to find out more about her. When they saw the way she and Carter interacted, they made it their task to become matchmaker for the both of them. They were exactly as you could imagine from being in a small town, Callie coming was the start of something new and interesting.
September 9, 2018
A haunted house, hot looking guy and plenty of sizzle makes for a good story. I like how Callie stirs of this little town from the minute she inherits the haunted house. She even has a fun job. There are some interesting characters too. A creepy but good ending to the book made this a page turner to see how it would all work out. I really liked this story.
I read this book on NetGalley
I read this book on NetGalley
August 30, 2018
*I received a copy of this book through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
I requested this book purely because the subject seemed interest and I usually like most things with a paranormal spin. I didn't expect to enjoy it as much as I did, but it was a very fun and enjoyable read. The chemistry between Callie and Carter was great and it was always fun to watch them spar. There were certainly parts of the book that were predictable, and once I got to 80% I had figured out what the climax/twist was going to be, but I was pleasantly surprised it took that long for me to see all the clues fall into place. I felt that supporting characters were well defined enough to be individuals, though I would have loved to have more details about the town and locations.
The writing and pacing seemed to fluctuate a little, but not to the point that it was off putting and the read itself was well paced on average. Overall I thoroughly enjoyed this book and think it would be great for anyone who enjoys paranormal romance.
I requested this book purely because the subject seemed interest and I usually like most things with a paranormal spin. I didn't expect to enjoy it as much as I did, but it was a very fun and enjoyable read. The chemistry between Callie and Carter was great and it was always fun to watch them spar. There were certainly parts of the book that were predictable, and once I got to 80% I had figured out what the climax/twist was going to be, but I was pleasantly surprised it took that long for me to see all the clues fall into place. I felt that supporting characters were well defined enough to be individuals, though I would have loved to have more details about the town and locations.
The writing and pacing seemed to fluctuate a little, but not to the point that it was off putting and the read itself was well paced on average. Overall I thoroughly enjoyed this book and think it would be great for anyone who enjoys paranormal romance.
May 28, 2019
Our heroine is Callie Thompson, she's on her way to her new home which she inherited from a distant aunt. It's in a tiny town in Western Mass., and she's been ready to leave Boston for a while. She meets the hero, Sheriff Carter Landry, when he pulls her over for speeding. This again, only this time, she's determined to flirt her way out of a ticket by being blonde and pretty at him. It was a lot. Carter doesn't fall for it which was the only reason I kept reading. Basically, the house she inherited in haunted and there is a prisoner who has escaped on the loose and a rash of small thefts in town.
Golly, I wonder how it will all come together.
Pluses: Once I got past the beginning, it was fine. A ghost story felt like a refreshing change in the category.
Wishes: I think the relationship between Carter & Callie is dominated by the mystery about the ghost haunting her house, so much so that there's are no dates and they don't really talk much about other things, and I felt that was missing. There's a whole subplot about the house being used on the Underground Railroad that was 100% based on myths about the UR. I guess I thought everyone knew they didn't really use quilts? And that the idea that Northern white abolitionists were a huge part of some secret underground network helping slaves to escape is just...false? But these stories are so common in America, idk.
Anyhoo, Verdict: it was okay and competently written and I'd recommend it to the right reader. Despite a rough start and getting historical facts about the Underground Railroad wrong (which everyone does, it seems), it was enjoyable.
Copied & Pasted from Twitter as part of a project where I'm reading all the 2019 RITA finalists
Golly, I wonder how it will all come together.
Pluses: Once I got past the beginning, it was fine. A ghost story felt like a refreshing change in the category.
Wishes: I think the relationship between Carter & Callie is dominated by the mystery about the ghost haunting her house, so much so that there's are no dates and they don't really talk much about other things, and I felt that was missing. There's a whole subplot about the house being used on the Underground Railroad that was 100% based on myths about the UR. I guess I thought everyone knew they didn't really use quilts? And that the idea that Northern white abolitionists were a huge part of some secret underground network helping slaves to escape is just...false? But these stories are so common in America, idk.
Anyhoo, Verdict: it was okay and competently written and I'd recommend it to the right reader. Despite a rough start and getting historical facts about the Underground Railroad wrong (which everyone does, it seems), it was enjoyable.
Copied & Pasted from Twitter as part of a project where I'm reading all the 2019 RITA finalists
November 28, 2020
This is my review of the audio version as posted on Audible:
Well, this is a book that proves to you that first impressions don't have to be true... Yes, we all know that you shouldn't always trust your first impressions and look deeper behind the facade to really get to know somebody but it was fun to see that done so well in this book...:)
Callie and Carter - fire and ice, opposite personalities, opposite attitudes to life, one trusting everyone, the other seemingly trusting and believing no-one... Well, it's only the first impressions, you see, and Callie and Carter prove it, finding real love when and where least expected:)
The greatest fun in that really well written romance? The ghost in the haunted house as the catalyst of everything that happens:) The 'hauting' part, with the strange noises, objects moving on their own, ghostly apparitions and so on, feels like a classic gothic story, scary but in that good way you like:) And the solution is so well-fitting for the book's 'romance with a cozy mystery mix' feel that you just clap your hands at the end:)
And as a whole it's so engaging that the 'This has been Haunted Hearts' end phrase almost took me by surprise - I hadn't noticed the time fly:)
Narration by Ms Marlowe is very good; I liked the pace of her reading and also the way she read the dialogues. She's one of those narrators who don't do much of voicing differentiation but you still know exactly who is speaking to whom cause the characters' personalities show so vividly in the way they speak:) It's a really good interpretation of the book.
DISCLAIMER: I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.
Well, this is a book that proves to you that first impressions don't have to be true... Yes, we all know that you shouldn't always trust your first impressions and look deeper behind the facade to really get to know somebody but it was fun to see that done so well in this book...:)
Callie and Carter - fire and ice, opposite personalities, opposite attitudes to life, one trusting everyone, the other seemingly trusting and believing no-one... Well, it's only the first impressions, you see, and Callie and Carter prove it, finding real love when and where least expected:)
The greatest fun in that really well written romance? The ghost in the haunted house as the catalyst of everything that happens:) The 'hauting' part, with the strange noises, objects moving on their own, ghostly apparitions and so on, feels like a classic gothic story, scary but in that good way you like:) And the solution is so well-fitting for the book's 'romance with a cozy mystery mix' feel that you just clap your hands at the end:)
And as a whole it's so engaging that the 'This has been Haunted Hearts' end phrase almost took me by surprise - I hadn't noticed the time fly:)
Narration by Ms Marlowe is very good; I liked the pace of her reading and also the way she read the dialogues. She's one of those narrators who don't do much of voicing differentiation but you still know exactly who is speaking to whom cause the characters' personalities show so vividly in the way they speak:) It's a really good interpretation of the book.
DISCLAIMER: I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.
January 29, 2019
https://twitter.com/Limecello/status/...
... that should kinda say it all.
This might change? But ... DNF really ...
this dumb bitch.
I get "the point" of her just " " being ornery to the police chief and bratty - but there's being bratty, and there's being a stupid fucking awful person.
And oh, I guess one of my lines for that is STALKING.
I don't even care if the kid is a juvenile delinquent. (Which he is, but like ... bad but not THAT bad based on what the characters are saying. Or like .... maybe really bad for Very White Upper Middle Class ... but for like what I see? - ASIDE FROM THE STALKING - meh.)
Also didn't like the whole "BIG CITIES ARE EEEVIIIIILLLLLLLLL" vibe from the police chief.
And the heroine's sulkiness/"I'm beautiful so I should get out of tickets" thing - but REALLY what got me /put her in the dumber than rocks category is that ... apparently she moved into a house SIGHT UNSEEN AND NOT INSPECTED.
Like - who DOES that in 2018?!?! It's been vacant for YEARS - who would make the assumption it's liveable? To just DRIVE OVER AND THINK YOU CAN MOVE RIGHT IN?! ARE YOU KIDDING ME??!?!? Where is her BRAIN!?
And it kinda made it worse that she'd had all her stuff shipped there. BITCH DIDN'T YOU THINK TO HIRE A CLEANING SERVICE? And THEN - betting it's the ghost doing the things/"unpacking" but her assuming it's the O_o realtor or whatever?
[I had thought it was the escaped convicts TBH]
And all the creepy shit - which sure maybe could be explained but - not the bedroom lock. Come on now.
Update 1/29/19:
I'M A LIAR LIE-Y FACE WHO LIES. I finished the book!
This book *had* been on my DNF shelf but I was so "meh" to everything and ... >.> probably need to add more books to my DNF shelf and I didn't want to commit to anything really so I wouldn't feel bad if I DID again put down this book so I picked it back up because I DO generally like Kimberly Dean's writing and it helped that most of the 😒😒😒😒😒 was already behind me.
Waffling between 2 and 3 stars because once the book hits ~25% and on it's fine - so ... I dunno.
Re: the "twist" - I knew it I KNEW it. I KNEW IT!!! I KNEW KNEW KNEW IT!!!
I did think things moved super SUPER fast between Callie and Landry but ... I mean it works for them.
Was NOT expecting the part about David, and thought that was really cool.
C-- I think.
... that should kinda say it all.
This might change? But ... DNF really ...
this dumb bitch.
I get "the point" of her just " " being ornery to the police chief and bratty - but there's being bratty, and there's being a stupid fucking awful person.
And oh, I guess one of my lines for that is STALKING.
I don't even care if the kid is a juvenile delinquent. (Which he is, but like ... bad but not THAT bad based on what the characters are saying. Or like .... maybe really bad for Very White Upper Middle Class ... but for like what I see? - ASIDE FROM THE STALKING - meh.)
Also didn't like the whole "BIG CITIES ARE EEEVIIIIILLLLLLLLL" vibe from the police chief.
And the heroine's sulkiness/"I'm beautiful so I should get out of tickets" thing - but REALLY what got me /put her in the dumber than rocks category is that ... apparently she moved into a house SIGHT UNSEEN AND NOT INSPECTED.
Like - who DOES that in 2018?!?! It's been vacant for YEARS - who would make the assumption it's liveable? To just DRIVE OVER AND THINK YOU CAN MOVE RIGHT IN?! ARE YOU KIDDING ME??!?!? Where is her BRAIN!?
And it kinda made it worse that she'd had all her stuff shipped there. BITCH DIDN'T YOU THINK TO HIRE A CLEANING SERVICE? And THEN - betting it's the ghost doing the things/"unpacking" but her assuming it's the O_o realtor or whatever?
[I had thought it was the escaped convicts TBH]
And all the creepy shit - which sure maybe could be explained but - not the bedroom lock. Come on now.
Update 1/29/19:
I'M A LIAR LIE-Y FACE WHO LIES. I finished the book!
This book *had* been on my DNF shelf but I was so "meh" to everything and ... >.> probably need to add more books to my DNF shelf and I didn't want to commit to anything really so I wouldn't feel bad if I DID again put down this book so I picked it back up because I DO generally like Kimberly Dean's writing and it helped that most of the 😒😒😒😒😒 was already behind me.
Waffling between 2 and 3 stars because once the book hits ~25% and on it's fine - so ... I dunno.
Re: the "twist" - I knew it I KNEW it. I KNEW IT!!! I KNEW KNEW KNEW IT!!!
I did think things moved super SUPER fast between Callie and Landry but ... I mean it works for them.
Was NOT expecting the part about David, and thought that was really cool.
C-- I think.
October 12, 2018
Since I adore Gothic style type romance this one called out to me. This is also the first time in reading this author. Callie has the personality to take you into this one with her house also being part of it. The little things that happen will have you unknowingly pulling forward as you read. Lets not leave out the police chief in town-Carter whom will have you paying closer attention. The suspense in here is the type that does it with style knowing how to hype you up. The mystery is one you savor trying to figure it out before you get the answers. The relationship is one that warms you while everything is going on hoping for what you want to happen. He also has his own drama going on that adds spice to this already thrilling read. Overall one that will go down nicely from beginning to end.
October 11, 2018
I received an advanced copy from the published via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
With Halloween quickly approaching, I decided to try this ghost story out. It reminded me of a Heather Graham Krewe of Hunters story in that there are some paranormal and some normal people factors playing into the story. There is also a romantic story playing out.
Callie and Carter are cute and got passed their differences fairly quickly. Man did he fall hard. Classic opposites attract scenario.
I was a little disappointed in that I solved the mystery very early on. So it was more of just reading how everything played out. I was surprised by David though. It was a fun, spooky, romantic story for those who aren't necessarily looking for a super scary horror story.
With Halloween quickly approaching, I decided to try this ghost story out. It reminded me of a Heather Graham Krewe of Hunters story in that there are some paranormal and some normal people factors playing into the story. There is also a romantic story playing out.
Callie and Carter are cute and got passed their differences fairly quickly. Man did he fall hard. Classic opposites attract scenario.
I was a little disappointed in that I solved the mystery very early on. So it was more of just reading how everything played out. I was surprised by David though. It was a fun, spooky, romantic story for those who aren't necessarily looking for a super scary horror story.
July 18, 2019
This book was fantastic! I stumbled upon it somehow, and was a little turned off from the cover- but really liked the blurb, and there aren’t many ghost story romances out there, so I gave it a try- and I loooooved it!
The main characters relationship start off as an enemies to lovers which is my favorite! Also small town romance, which gets another plus for me- and their banter, chemistry, and steam was enough of a story on its own- but wait there’s more- a ghost mystery and a criminal hunt also add action and intrigue to the story! Which keeps you on your toes! The pacing was perfect, and I devoured this read pretty quickly!
And I loved how protective, yet brooding the hero was. He was so adorable in his own way.
Read it!
The main characters relationship start off as an enemies to lovers which is my favorite! Also small town romance, which gets another plus for me- and their banter, chemistry, and steam was enough of a story on its own- but wait there’s more- a ghost mystery and a criminal hunt also add action and intrigue to the story! Which keeps you on your toes! The pacing was perfect, and I devoured this read pretty quickly!
And I loved how protective, yet brooding the hero was. He was so adorable in his own way.
Read it!
June 19, 2019
I absolutely loved this book. Having lived in a haunted house with a friendly ghost this really hit home. There were some twists that were unexpected and a pleasant surprise. Western Massachusetts is a beautiful area and it was fun to recognize the towns. I only hesitated a little on the 5 star rating because as I always say sex is not romance and never needed in a book with an actual story of its own. Thus said, I skipped over those sections.
June 29, 2019
This book will draw you in from the first listen from a woman that had it with the big city with all the noise and lights. When she got a letter about a house that she got from her aunt. She driver her silver mustang to the town where the house she now owns. But not everything is what it seams. Now would be the time to get this book to find out what is going on. I will be waiting to see it there will be another book to this book.
March 19, 2021
Wow! I loved it! This is an amazing Ghost Romance. Callie and Carter's story is enthralling, intriguing, and captivating. Callie is strong, and smart. Carter is handsome, and protective. They are opposites attract, and they share an instant attraction. The supporting characters are interesting. The storyline is fast-paced, suspenseful, and filled with mystery, and twists and turns. Susan Marlowe did a fantastic job with the narration. I enjoyed it, and I HIGHLY recommend it.
January 20, 2020
Callie inherited an old house, a haunted house she didn’t expect. The town people say a woman from 1800’s lived there. Enough with the sounds above her, when she calls the sheriff. Which led to other things and house became quiet, was it the sheriff they wanted. Felt the sexual content was not needed and didn’t fit in, the other part was good.
July 20, 2021
Callie and Carter’s story was a great read! I absolutely love the paranormal aspect of the book; everything was really well done. Both main characters had engaging personalities that complimented one another. There was just enough tension between them for it to not be annoying but instead a fun read. I loved this book! I need more paranormal romances like this one. :-)
March 1, 2019
I really enjoyed this book. There were a lot of surprises! Overall, a wonderful read. I thought Callie was a tough, brave woman. Oh, and she really loves writing, peanut butter and the town's sheriff!
May 14, 2021
audible:This was a very good,typical ghost story.A woman inherits an old haunted house.She meets the police chief as she speeds into town. Susan Marlowe was a fine narrator.I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.
October 12, 2021
A heartwarming Halloween read with a building romance, a ghost and suspense. The narrator did a fantastic job of relaying all aspects of the authors intent. I listened to this one on audible and really enjoyed it. Highly recommend!
May 12, 2019
I really enjoyed this story! The writing was good, the characters were good, and the mystery of the ghost was good, too
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