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Haunt
Darkly romantic and wickedly twisted; a young woman who learns to become strong in the face of impossible circumstances, and a man who finds light in the midst of overwhelming darkness. Prepare yourself for the first book in a haunting new series...Loveletting.
✦ GOLD WINNER FOR ROMANCE IN THE 2023 FEATHERED QUILL BOOK AWARDS ✦
✦ GOLD WINNER FOR BEST ROMANCE IN THE 2023 BESTSELLERS WORLD AWARDS ✦
✦ GOLD WINNER FOR ADULT FICTION IN THE 2023 LITERARY TITAN BOOK AWARDS ✦
Fleeing from her home after escaping the murder of her mother, inexperienced and petrified by reality with her horse as her only companion - Charlotte is met by the most notorious serial killer of the nation. His dark past and her dark future collide, in a world filled with dangers far greater than him.
Set in the rugged Victorian west at the end of the 19th century with a myriad of complex characters, all intertwined in a brutal environment that examines the conflicting nature and morality of humanity. Charlotte may be innocent at heart, but the world she lives in is not. Filled with dangers from gangs to cults and a mysterious horror element that persists throughout - the overarching gothic love story fills this thrilling, dark adventure up until the haunting end…leaving the reader with an existential dread so deep that it must be read to be understood, yet craving for more.
This novel is definitely for an adult audience, as the content is very heavy and challenging. It will appeal to those interested in a gothic romance with undertones of psychological horror. Most importantly, this book is a form of literary fiction; as character development is the most crucial factor in telling this story and it does not follow the typical tropes of a genre book. Subtle hints to the dark machinations behind the scenes, and interweaving characters who gradually change and grow over time, all work together to create a living world - filled with the unexpected - in which to lose yourself within.
If you want something to read on autopilot, and wish for the plot to follow a certain expected pattern, this is not the book for you. This experience will challenge you; a gripping story that will invade you, heart and mind, long after reading.
✦ GOLD WINNER FOR ROMANCE IN THE 2023 FEATHERED QUILL BOOK AWARDS ✦
✦ GOLD WINNER FOR BEST ROMANCE IN THE 2023 BESTSELLERS WORLD AWARDS ✦
✦ GOLD WINNER FOR ADULT FICTION IN THE 2023 LITERARY TITAN BOOK AWARDS ✦
Fleeing from her home after escaping the murder of her mother, inexperienced and petrified by reality with her horse as her only companion - Charlotte is met by the most notorious serial killer of the nation. His dark past and her dark future collide, in a world filled with dangers far greater than him.
Set in the rugged Victorian west at the end of the 19th century with a myriad of complex characters, all intertwined in a brutal environment that examines the conflicting nature and morality of humanity. Charlotte may be innocent at heart, but the world she lives in is not. Filled with dangers from gangs to cults and a mysterious horror element that persists throughout - the overarching gothic love story fills this thrilling, dark adventure up until the haunting end…leaving the reader with an existential dread so deep that it must be read to be understood, yet craving for more.
This novel is definitely for an adult audience, as the content is very heavy and challenging. It will appeal to those interested in a gothic romance with undertones of psychological horror. Most importantly, this book is a form of literary fiction; as character development is the most crucial factor in telling this story and it does not follow the typical tropes of a genre book. Subtle hints to the dark machinations behind the scenes, and interweaving characters who gradually change and grow over time, all work together to create a living world - filled with the unexpected - in which to lose yourself within.
If you want something to read on autopilot, and wish for the plot to follow a certain expected pattern, this is not the book for you. This experience will challenge you; a gripping story that will invade you, heart and mind, long after reading.
976 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 29, 2022
118 people are currently reading
4052 people want to read
About the author
Christina Maraziotis
9 books55 followersChristina was twenty-seven years old at the time she began writing Loveletting. Born and raised in Greece, she has always had an affinity for language; fluently speaking Greek, German, and English. After years of experimenting with different professions, suddenly it dawned on her: writing was the only thing that actually made sense. It all started with a simple prologue in the notes of her phone, and since then, she hasn’t missed a single day of writing and working on her very first novel series — breathing life into it, as it breathes life back into her. The primary goal as a writer is to strike certain melancholic chords in the heart while reading, pulling from deeply haunting personal experiences to create books that linger in the mind long after the story is finished. Her stories combine gothic romance, intense adventure with nerve-wracking suspense, entwined with vague and unsettling horror subplots — and a myriad of controversial subjects to challenge any reader’s views — all taking place in the historical setting of late 19th century Victorian west. Focus lays heavily on character development, as it is crucial to her and her story; for the reader to bond with the characters, and feel like they’re reading about an old friend. Her purpose is for the reader to be transported to another world, escaping from reality, and finding an eerie comfort within a haunting experience.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 78 reviews
March 19, 2023
TLDR at the end.
Technical – 1/10
Another review referred to this book as a first draft and I have to fully agree. As someone who offers first draft critiques, that is in part how I will approach this review. There are technical issues that should have never made it past even the most basic editing. You know you are in for a rough ride when the second sentence in the entire book is a sentence fragment. Punctuation is almost never used appropriately, with em dashes, semicolons, and commas used interchangeably throughout the text and in ways that end up making the text more confusing. Paragraphs struggle with bouncing between characters (often one person says something while the very next sentence gives someone else’s action, and then the original person continues talking without a paragraph break), and they often will refer to several men or women interacting without properly declaring nouns (he[Mac] took his[Levi] hat off of his[Levi] head and held it in his[Mac] hands as he[presumably Levi] growled in anger). There are many situations where the meaning of a sentence can be difficult to understand because multiple adjectives are not always divided by commas when describing something. And sometimes there are mid-sentence subject switches without referring to the new subject properly.
Word usage in this book is extremely poor. Many words in this book are rarely used in American English, even more rarely used in the context she uses them in, and then used so often that using them for a drinking game would have fatal consequences. Caustically is the absolute biggest offender, he said caustically, she lifted her brow caustically, he pointed caustically. It is used in such different circumstances that whatever you may originally think the author intended its usage to be becomes completely lost. Peoples limbs don’t go numb, then go benumbed. Every door snarls, even the ones that do so quietly. Every large noise is a caterwaul, whispers are soughed, they don’t ever linger, they dither, smiles “scarred” their lips, and in the final fourth of the book people constantly “fold” their lips.
I’m going to include the length as a technical issue, but I’m going to also include it as an issue with the storytelling. Plain and simple, this same story could easily be told in half the length. I’ll elaborate more on the later, for now I will list it as a technical issue simply because, as I was trying to finish this book up, reading more than I normally do (of this specific book) my elbow was actually sore from holding it. There are MANY people who will look at a 770 page book (which I have to assume is close to 400k words) and be too intimidated to attempt reading it.
From what I can tell from the author’s bio, she is not a native English speaker, let alone a native American English speaker. It shows in the text. “She looked around her own self.” “He was holding on the her being.” There are many other examples that I didn’t take note of, but when you read them you often find yourself thinking, “I don’t think that is technically wrong, but I don’t know anyone who would ever talk like that.” It would normally be forgivable, but this is a story set in one of the most iconic areas and time periods in American history. It would have been useful that have Americans proof read this and help correct some of those issues.
Lastly, the black pages with white text, for me personally (I’m getting a little old, I’ll admit it), they gave me a headache a bit. Like much of what is done within this book, it looks cool, but doesn’t serve a purpose and at times is a hindrance.
Story Telling – 2/10
As stated already, this could have easily been told in 330 pages or less. Not that much actually happens, and this is where the length also plays a major role in the book’s downfall. The pacing is slow, but not in a relaxing or intentional way. It takes forever for things to move forward because things are often repeated two to four times, sometimes with only a single word difference between each iteration, and it’s constant. This can also be seen with the author’s use of exclamation points and question marks, both resulting in the same effect; nothing means anything if you have to repeat yourself so many times to convey something. One exclamation point is borderline bored when you have other sentences after it that have two or three of them. It would be far better to just describe how their reaction is more dramatic than the previous exclamation point than to just keep adding more. Likewise, with words, say that Mac was struggling with deep and agonizing emotion once, rather than clarifying it by saying that over and over with slightly different words. This alone would cut the book in half.
The story has no actual arc. It meanders around like someone writing a story, who’s hoping that the story will reveal itself as they write. The result is that it isn’t until the final fourth of the book that the reader starts to get any sense of what the stakes are or what the story is potentially building toward. Because of this, there isn’t really a clear conflict/resolution or eventual payoff for the reader. Pretty much everything with Will could have been scrapped once he was separated from the main character. It was extra length, but no real value to the main story.
Characters – 3/10
Charlotte is insufferable at times, a moron most of the times, and her reactions are far to irrational for the time period. My experience with women even just two generations ago is that they were much harder, more logical, and almost cold compared to modern women. I’ve heard that women of the west during the late 1800s were even stronger than that. Charlotte does not meet those expectations.
Mac is almost a solid character, and his actions are mostly consistent with his cold portrayal. However, there is a tendency to write the characters saying or doing one thing, while then describing their intent or thoughts as being completely inconsistent with their actions. Mac seems to suffer from this the most. He is cold, confident, and quiet, but then is described as almost cowardly, hesitant, and far too concerned with the opinions of others. It didn’t make him seem complex, it just made him seem inconsistent.
Will is kind of a throwaway character (which seems confirmed by they way Levi replaces him). There is much about his story that I have issue with, though I won’t go into them too much and spoil the story for anyone who happens to read this review and still wants to read the story. Charlotte’s interactions and feelings toward him are not compelling, only frustrating.
Levi, I don’t know. The ending wasn’t great. His arc might be the most interesting of the story, but also way darker than the rest of Charlotte’s arc, definitely certain scenes between these two are a bit much and rather graphically described. Somehow, it just wasn’t rewarding to get through.
JB is the worst. He is used far to much near the end of the book to push the plot, character interactions/development, and story forward. He’s not funny. Slapstick humor doesn’t really convey well in written word, or at least it doesn’t in this one. His sudden, and extreme attachment to Mac, especially after Mac does what Mac is known to do, is unbelievable.
In general, the men are not written that well, especially for the time period. Men who have experience murdering people just aren’t going to blush. Even in the modern day, most men I know who have fully gone through puberty don’t roll their eyes, or at least, not as often as occurs in this book.
History – 2/10
Whether it is the use of modern slang (like a woman being referred to as a cougar), or mentions of things that hadn’t yet occurred in history, once you start to notice these issues, it makes you question everything you read. Silencers were not produced yet for guns, finger prints were not yet used during criminal investigations (the first conviction from a finger print in the US wasn’t until 1910). These things are generally minor, could easily be fixed in a second edition, and wouldn’t by themselves be deal breakers, but it takes away from the one thing that could still stand out among the myriad problems that plague this story, the setting.
Closing/TLDR
I really believe this book needs a second edition. As the beginning to a projected seven book series, this is a huge barrier to entry. The future books will be far more successful if this foundation is made more approachable. The lack of a solid story arc isn’t even the worst thing in the world if it could be told in less than half the words. I can tell the author has the heart for writing, and I hope she keeps it up, but I also hope that she will grow in her writing, and seek more input from others before releasing her future work so no one will be able to claim that they are reading the first draft again.
Technical – 1/10
Another review referred to this book as a first draft and I have to fully agree. As someone who offers first draft critiques, that is in part how I will approach this review. There are technical issues that should have never made it past even the most basic editing. You know you are in for a rough ride when the second sentence in the entire book is a sentence fragment. Punctuation is almost never used appropriately, with em dashes, semicolons, and commas used interchangeably throughout the text and in ways that end up making the text more confusing. Paragraphs struggle with bouncing between characters (often one person says something while the very next sentence gives someone else’s action, and then the original person continues talking without a paragraph break), and they often will refer to several men or women interacting without properly declaring nouns (he[Mac] took his[Levi] hat off of his[Levi] head and held it in his[Mac] hands as he[presumably Levi] growled in anger). There are many situations where the meaning of a sentence can be difficult to understand because multiple adjectives are not always divided by commas when describing something. And sometimes there are mid-sentence subject switches without referring to the new subject properly.
Word usage in this book is extremely poor. Many words in this book are rarely used in American English, even more rarely used in the context she uses them in, and then used so often that using them for a drinking game would have fatal consequences. Caustically is the absolute biggest offender, he said caustically, she lifted her brow caustically, he pointed caustically. It is used in such different circumstances that whatever you may originally think the author intended its usage to be becomes completely lost. Peoples limbs don’t go numb, then go benumbed. Every door snarls, even the ones that do so quietly. Every large noise is a caterwaul, whispers are soughed, they don’t ever linger, they dither, smiles “scarred” their lips, and in the final fourth of the book people constantly “fold” their lips.
I’m going to include the length as a technical issue, but I’m going to also include it as an issue with the storytelling. Plain and simple, this same story could easily be told in half the length. I’ll elaborate more on the later, for now I will list it as a technical issue simply because, as I was trying to finish this book up, reading more than I normally do (of this specific book) my elbow was actually sore from holding it. There are MANY people who will look at a 770 page book (which I have to assume is close to 400k words) and be too intimidated to attempt reading it.
From what I can tell from the author’s bio, she is not a native English speaker, let alone a native American English speaker. It shows in the text. “She looked around her own self.” “He was holding on the her being.” There are many other examples that I didn’t take note of, but when you read them you often find yourself thinking, “I don’t think that is technically wrong, but I don’t know anyone who would ever talk like that.” It would normally be forgivable, but this is a story set in one of the most iconic areas and time periods in American history. It would have been useful that have Americans proof read this and help correct some of those issues.
Lastly, the black pages with white text, for me personally (I’m getting a little old, I’ll admit it), they gave me a headache a bit. Like much of what is done within this book, it looks cool, but doesn’t serve a purpose and at times is a hindrance.
Story Telling – 2/10
As stated already, this could have easily been told in 330 pages or less. Not that much actually happens, and this is where the length also plays a major role in the book’s downfall. The pacing is slow, but not in a relaxing or intentional way. It takes forever for things to move forward because things are often repeated two to four times, sometimes with only a single word difference between each iteration, and it’s constant. This can also be seen with the author’s use of exclamation points and question marks, both resulting in the same effect; nothing means anything if you have to repeat yourself so many times to convey something. One exclamation point is borderline bored when you have other sentences after it that have two or three of them. It would be far better to just describe how their reaction is more dramatic than the previous exclamation point than to just keep adding more. Likewise, with words, say that Mac was struggling with deep and agonizing emotion once, rather than clarifying it by saying that over and over with slightly different words. This alone would cut the book in half.
The story has no actual arc. It meanders around like someone writing a story, who’s hoping that the story will reveal itself as they write. The result is that it isn’t until the final fourth of the book that the reader starts to get any sense of what the stakes are or what the story is potentially building toward. Because of this, there isn’t really a clear conflict/resolution or eventual payoff for the reader. Pretty much everything with Will could have been scrapped once he was separated from the main character. It was extra length, but no real value to the main story.
Characters – 3/10
Charlotte is insufferable at times, a moron most of the times, and her reactions are far to irrational for the time period. My experience with women even just two generations ago is that they were much harder, more logical, and almost cold compared to modern women. I’ve heard that women of the west during the late 1800s were even stronger than that. Charlotte does not meet those expectations.
Mac is almost a solid character, and his actions are mostly consistent with his cold portrayal. However, there is a tendency to write the characters saying or doing one thing, while then describing their intent or thoughts as being completely inconsistent with their actions. Mac seems to suffer from this the most. He is cold, confident, and quiet, but then is described as almost cowardly, hesitant, and far too concerned with the opinions of others. It didn’t make him seem complex, it just made him seem inconsistent.
Will is kind of a throwaway character (which seems confirmed by they way Levi replaces him). There is much about his story that I have issue with, though I won’t go into them too much and spoil the story for anyone who happens to read this review and still wants to read the story. Charlotte’s interactions and feelings toward him are not compelling, only frustrating.
Levi, I don’t know. The ending wasn’t great. His arc might be the most interesting of the story, but also way darker than the rest of Charlotte’s arc, definitely certain scenes between these two are a bit much and rather graphically described. Somehow, it just wasn’t rewarding to get through.
JB is the worst. He is used far to much near the end of the book to push the plot, character interactions/development, and story forward. He’s not funny. Slapstick humor doesn’t really convey well in written word, or at least it doesn’t in this one. His sudden, and extreme attachment to Mac, especially after Mac does what Mac is known to do, is unbelievable.
In general, the men are not written that well, especially for the time period. Men who have experience murdering people just aren’t going to blush. Even in the modern day, most men I know who have fully gone through puberty don’t roll their eyes, or at least, not as often as occurs in this book.
History – 2/10
Whether it is the use of modern slang (like a woman being referred to as a cougar), or mentions of things that hadn’t yet occurred in history, once you start to notice these issues, it makes you question everything you read. Silencers were not produced yet for guns, finger prints were not yet used during criminal investigations (the first conviction from a finger print in the US wasn’t until 1910). These things are generally minor, could easily be fixed in a second edition, and wouldn’t by themselves be deal breakers, but it takes away from the one thing that could still stand out among the myriad problems that plague this story, the setting.
Closing/TLDR
I really believe this book needs a second edition. As the beginning to a projected seven book series, this is a huge barrier to entry. The future books will be far more successful if this foundation is made more approachable. The lack of a solid story arc isn’t even the worst thing in the world if it could be told in less than half the words. I can tell the author has the heart for writing, and I hope she keeps it up, but I also hope that she will grow in her writing, and seek more input from others before releasing her future work so no one will be able to claim that they are reading the first draft again.
May 9, 2023
Quite intriguing
Usually I stay away from stories that involve romance but this one peaked my interest. I snagged a copy in a Goodreads giveaway and found it to be a great story. It has twists and turns and suspense all built in some fantastic characters. Definitely would recommend it
Usually I stay away from stories that involve romance but this one peaked my interest. I snagged a copy in a Goodreads giveaway and found it to be a great story. It has twists and turns and suspense all built in some fantastic characters. Definitely would recommend it
November 17, 2024
This book took my breath away. I had to take some time after this one. I honestly loved this book and was sorry to see it end. Christina Maraziotis has earned a place on my favorite authors list for Haunt alone.
There was so much heartbreak, hope, anguish, and even the stolen glances stole my heart over and over again. I loved the mystery and the love, and then you have the little betrayal that happened, and then you have the big bad bone deep you'll never get over how did I survive this betrayal.
This novel just floored me. And I am not one to like mysteries like this. But this one, this one just called to me, then stole me away. I would call Haunt a masterclass in every way. The writing, the culture mix, the historical mixes. From page one to the final chapter, this book is going to keep you in its grip and never let you go.
This book is told more from an omniscient POV and reads more like a TV show or movie.
I'll speak of the descriptions. The world-building is just amazing. I loved the world-building. The world-building was so exact that I could see the dust being kicked up by the horses, I could taste the moonshine, hear each and every gunshot.
And the characters, I loved meeting each and every character. I loved their arcs and their descriptions, and it was so exact that I could close my eyes and I could see them in front of me. I could hear their voices in my ears. The writing was just so perfect and masterful.
One of the things that I loved about our characters is that not one of our characters is perfectly evil, but no one is perfectly good either. Just like in real life, there is not one person who is perfectly good or perfectly evil. We all embody both. Everyone in this book is a victim of these circumstances or this past.
We have the opportunity in this book to really feel for these characters that are deep and truly immense. I truly grieved and my breath was taken from my lungs and there were times that I was crying so hard I was clutching at my chest feeling like I had just lost a beloved family member or my best friend. And all this over what the characters in this book have endured.
I am not going to say anything else about this book because this story is one that you have to figure out for yourself and it is a story that is truly a cannon event for you to go through for yourself.
Yes, this book is a clunker, and it can be intimidating. And if you can get past that, you will go on the ride of a life time and your life will be forever changed, and you're not going to be sorry for reading it and YOU'LL NEVER REGET READING THIS BOOK.
I just can't recommend this book enough. I can't say enough good about this book. It's a beautiful story. It's the first book in a series. I am invested now, and this book just delivered beyond what I expected and in ways that I never imagined possible.
There was so much heartbreak, hope, anguish, and even the stolen glances stole my heart over and over again. I loved the mystery and the love, and then you have the little betrayal that happened, and then you have the big bad bone deep you'll never get over how did I survive this betrayal.
This novel just floored me. And I am not one to like mysteries like this. But this one, this one just called to me, then stole me away. I would call Haunt a masterclass in every way. The writing, the culture mix, the historical mixes. From page one to the final chapter, this book is going to keep you in its grip and never let you go.
This book is told more from an omniscient POV and reads more like a TV show or movie.
I'll speak of the descriptions. The world-building is just amazing. I loved the world-building. The world-building was so exact that I could see the dust being kicked up by the horses, I could taste the moonshine, hear each and every gunshot.
And the characters, I loved meeting each and every character. I loved their arcs and their descriptions, and it was so exact that I could close my eyes and I could see them in front of me. I could hear their voices in my ears. The writing was just so perfect and masterful.
One of the things that I loved about our characters is that not one of our characters is perfectly evil, but no one is perfectly good either. Just like in real life, there is not one person who is perfectly good or perfectly evil. We all embody both. Everyone in this book is a victim of these circumstances or this past.
We have the opportunity in this book to really feel for these characters that are deep and truly immense. I truly grieved and my breath was taken from my lungs and there were times that I was crying so hard I was clutching at my chest feeling like I had just lost a beloved family member or my best friend. And all this over what the characters in this book have endured.
I am not going to say anything else about this book because this story is one that you have to figure out for yourself and it is a story that is truly a cannon event for you to go through for yourself.
Yes, this book is a clunker, and it can be intimidating. And if you can get past that, you will go on the ride of a life time and your life will be forever changed, and you're not going to be sorry for reading it and YOU'LL NEVER REGET READING THIS BOOK.
I just can't recommend this book enough. I can't say enough good about this book. It's a beautiful story. It's the first book in a series. I am invested now, and this book just delivered beyond what I expected and in ways that I never imagined possible.
August 17, 2024
INFINITY STARS!!
I cannot breathe.
The anguish, the hope, the glances, the heartbreak over and over and OVER again, the little betrayals and the big bad bone deep betrayals, the love, the mystery!!!
I am absolutely floored at this novel. It is a masterclass in every way. The poetic writing, the mix of cultures, the historical nature. I was captivated by the book from the first chapter and it didn't let me go until the very end.
More of an omniscient POV, this novel will read like a TV show or a movie. Speaking to that, the descriptions of the world and the characters is so exact that I could see the dust kicked up by the horses, taste the moonshine, and hear all of those gunshots. The writing was masterful.
Our characters are amazing. No one is purely good and no one is purely evil, but everyone is a victim to their circumstances or past.
The depth that I was able to feel for these characters was immense. I was grieving, halting my breath, and clutching my chest at everything these characters endured.
I don't want to give anything away because this story is truly a cannon event that you will need to figure out for yourself. Just know, if you can get past the intimidating length of this novel and enjoy the ride, you will NOT be disappointed.
Overall: Highly, HIGHLY recommend
I cannot breathe.
The anguish, the hope, the glances, the heartbreak over and over and OVER again, the little betrayals and the big bad bone deep betrayals, the love, the mystery!!!
I am absolutely floored at this novel. It is a masterclass in every way. The poetic writing, the mix of cultures, the historical nature. I was captivated by the book from the first chapter and it didn't let me go until the very end.
More of an omniscient POV, this novel will read like a TV show or a movie. Speaking to that, the descriptions of the world and the characters is so exact that I could see the dust kicked up by the horses, taste the moonshine, and hear all of those gunshots. The writing was masterful.
Our characters are amazing. No one is purely good and no one is purely evil, but everyone is a victim to their circumstances or past.
The depth that I was able to feel for these characters was immense. I was grieving, halting my breath, and clutching my chest at everything these characters endured.
I don't want to give anything away because this story is truly a cannon event that you will need to figure out for yourself. Just know, if you can get past the intimidating length of this novel and enjoy the ride, you will NOT be disappointed.
Overall: Highly, HIGHLY recommend
June 3, 2023
'Haunt' is the story of Charlotte, a young woman on the run in the late 19th century Victorian West. She is tough, smart, innocent and brave. She encounters Mac Kinnon, another fugitive on the run and they team up to escape an evil and unscrupulous Sherriff sworn to catch them and maybe even kill them. They have many, many wild adventures on their trail of escape into the wilderness. And they establish a relationship of sorts, a love that both are not accustomed to. There are other men in young Charlottes life, but Mac is the one she truly loves, and he her. This story has a lot of action, a lot of violence and is told in a fast pace. A lot happens to Charlotte and Mac during their time together. It is a very long book and could have been shorter, but the author has created a world of her own for these characters so perhaps they deserve length of their story. This is the first in a seven part series and I look forward to reading the next one. 3.5 Stars. Recommended.
March 13, 2023
A love to shatter souls.....
An epic love story shattering in its hopelessness and heartbreak. A young woman who has never known anything of life but unkindness and a young outlaw formed in a crucible of abuse and pain are drawn together by fate as both struggle against the pull of love. Never given the chance to share their love, he dies in her arms in a blizzard after she shoots her rapist and his killer... Content to lie there and freeze to death, she is rescued by a young man whose blue eyes are the very image of the outlaw...
An epic love story shattering in its hopelessness and heartbreak. A young woman who has never known anything of life but unkindness and a young outlaw formed in a crucible of abuse and pain are drawn together by fate as both struggle against the pull of love. Never given the chance to share their love, he dies in her arms in a blizzard after she shoots her rapist and his killer... Content to lie there and freeze to death, she is rescued by a young man whose blue eyes are the very image of the outlaw...
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 27, 2022
Haunt is a very well written dark western novel featuring a strong female lead and other lovable side characters. I loved the romance, particularly the one with our rough and rugged wanted serial killer (Mac Kinnon). It's a very long read, so be in for a long ride. Can't wait for more from this series/author!.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
September 1, 2024
➳❥༻🌵🏜️🌵༺➳❥
➳❥༻☕️🄱🄾🄾🄺•🅁🄴🅅🄸🄴🅆☕️༺➳❥
Hᴀᴜɴᴛ: Tʜᴇ Lᴏᴠᴇʟᴇᴛᴛɪɴɢ Sᴇʀɪᴇs ʙʏ Cʜʀɪsᴛɪɴᴀ Mᴀʀᴀᴢɪᴏᴛɪs
📚📝✨𝐁𝐎𝐎𝐊•𝐃𝐄𝐓𝐀𝐈𝐋𝐒✨📝📚
🏜️𝙱𝙾𝙾𝙺 𝟷 𝙸𝙽 𝚃𝙷𝙴 𝙻𝙾𝚅𝙴𝙻𝙴𝚃𝚃𝙸𝙽𝙶 𝚂𝙴𝚁𝙸𝙴𝚂
🌵𝐆𝐄𝐍𝐑𝐄: 𝙻𝙸𝚃𝙴𝚁𝙰𝚁𝚈 𝙵𝙸𝙲𝚃𝙸𝙾𝙽; 𝙿𝚂𝚈𝙲𝙷𝙾𝙻𝙾𝙶𝙸𝙲𝙰𝙻 𝙷𝙾𝚁𝚁𝙾𝚁; 𝙷𝙸𝚂𝚃𝙾𝚁𝙸𝙲𝙰𝙻 𝚁𝙾𝙼𝙰𝙽𝙲𝙴
✨𝐑𝐄𝐋𝐄𝐀𝐒𝐄 𝐃𝐀𝐓𝐄: 𝙾𝙲𝚃𝙾𝙱𝙴𝚁 𝟸𝟿𝚃𝙷 𝟸𝟶𝟸𝟸
🏜️𝐌𝐎𝐎𝐃𝐘 𝐕𝐈𝐁𝐄𝐒: 𝙳𝙰𝚁𝙺; 𝙼𝚈𝚂𝚃𝙴𝚁𝙸𝙾𝚄𝚂; 𝙴𝙼𝙾𝚃𝙸𝙾𝙽𝙰𝙻; 𝚃𝙴𝙽𝚂𝙴; 𝙰𝙳𝚅𝙴𝙽𝚃𝚄𝚁𝙾𝚄𝚂
🌵𝐏𝐀𝐆𝐄 𝐍𝐔𝐌𝐁𝐄𝐑: 𝟽𝟸𝟸 𝙿𝙰𝙶𝙴𝚂
🏜️𝐏𝐄𝐑𝐅𝐄𝐂𝐓 𝐈𝐅 𝐘𝐎𝐔 𝐋𝐎𝐕𝐄: 𝙶𝙾𝚃𝙷𝙸𝙲 𝚁𝙾𝙼𝙰𝙽𝙲𝙴; 𝙲𝙾𝙼𝙿𝙻𝙴𝚇 𝙲𝙷𝙰𝚁𝙰𝙲𝚃𝙴𝚁𝚂; 𝙿𝙻𝙾𝚃 𝚃𝚆𝙸𝚂𝚃𝚂; 𝙵𝙸𝙽𝙳𝙸𝙽𝙶 𝙻𝙸𝙶𝙷𝚃 𝙸𝙽 𝚃𝙷𝙴 𝙳𝙰𝚁𝙺; 𝚂𝚃𝚁𝙴𝙽𝙶𝚃𝙷 𝙸𝙽 𝚃𝙷𝙴 𝙵𝙰𝙲𝙴 𝙾𝙵 𝙰𝙳𝚅𝙴𝚁𝚂𝙸𝚃𝚈
✨𝐑𝐀𝐓𝐈𝐍𝐆: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ || 𝟻
➳❥༻🌵🏜️🌵༺➳❥
✨✨𝑀𝑦 𝑇ℎ𝑜𝑢𝑔ℎ𝑡𝑠✨✨
Thank you so much to @christina.maraziotis and @bookofmatchesmedia for my Advanced Reader Copy of 𝐇𝐀𝐔𝐍𝐓 - this review is comprised entirely of my own thoughts & opinions, & is based on the copy I received.
🚨 𝐂𝐇𝐄𝐂𝐊 𝐓𝐑𝐈𝐆𝐆𝐄𝐑 𝐖𝐀𝐑𝐍𝐈𝐍𝐆𝐒 𝐁𝐄𝐅𝐎𝐑𝐄 𝐑𝐄𝐀𝐃𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐀𝐒 𝐓𝐇𝐈𝐒 𝐈𝐒 𝐀 𝐃𝐀𝐑𝐊, 𝐇𝐈𝐒𝐓𝐎𝐑𝐈𝐂𝐀𝐋 𝐑𝐎𝐌𝐀𝐍𝐂𝐄 𝐖/ 𝐄𝐋𝐄𝐌𝐄𝐍𝐓𝐒 𝐎𝐅 𝐏𝐒𝐘𝐂𝐇𝐎𝐋𝐎𝐆𝐈𝐂𝐀𝐋 𝐇𝐎𝐑𝐑𝐎𝐑🚨
First and foremost, please ensure you check the trigger warnings before diving into this book! This book touches on some dark themes and your mental health is important.
This book, while being a behemoth of a story, was hauntingly beautiful, emotionally impactful, and SO compelling to read. I was so invested in the story and in the characters, and it’s definitely a book that I lost myself in every time I picked it up. One of my favorite things about Haunt was that you could absolutely tell that Christina put her heart and soul into this book. The writing style was so poetic and descriptive and used a lot of emotionally charged phrases - it was beautifully described and you can just feel how important these characters and story are to the author and that’s one of the most beautiful things to see when reading a book.
Charlotte and Mac are both in the run in the Victorian West from a Sheriff who is determined and sworn to catch them. They encounter many dangers while on the run and they develop feelings for each other, which neither was fully ready for. Charlotte is a strong FMC and I found myself rooting for her from the beginning - I loved the chemistry and relationship that she developed with Mac and I loved seeing their journey as the story unfolded.
The plot and the twists and turns this story took kept me really invested in the story and the romance was so beautifully woven into the story. It created a phenomenal narrative, and adding in the prose and style of the writing, it really blew me away! There are so many action packed scenes and you can just feel the momentum of the story keep a steady pace.
Overall, I definitely recommend this one! It’s a beautiful story and I’m definitely intrigued enough to read the rest of the series! I love a long book where I get emotionally invested and this book delivered that feel in every way imaginable.
➳❥༻🌵🏜️🌵༺➳❥
➳❥༻☕️🄱🄾🄾🄺•🅁🄴🅅🄸🄴🅆☕️༺➳❥
Hᴀᴜɴᴛ: Tʜᴇ Lᴏᴠᴇʟᴇᴛᴛɪɴɢ Sᴇʀɪᴇs ʙʏ Cʜʀɪsᴛɪɴᴀ Mᴀʀᴀᴢɪᴏᴛɪs
📚📝✨𝐁𝐎𝐎𝐊•𝐃𝐄𝐓𝐀𝐈𝐋𝐒✨📝📚
🏜️𝙱𝙾𝙾𝙺 𝟷 𝙸𝙽 𝚃𝙷𝙴 𝙻𝙾𝚅𝙴𝙻𝙴𝚃𝚃𝙸𝙽𝙶 𝚂𝙴𝚁𝙸𝙴𝚂
🌵𝐆𝐄𝐍𝐑𝐄: 𝙻𝙸𝚃𝙴𝚁𝙰𝚁𝚈 𝙵𝙸𝙲𝚃𝙸𝙾𝙽; 𝙿𝚂𝚈𝙲𝙷𝙾𝙻𝙾𝙶𝙸𝙲𝙰𝙻 𝙷𝙾𝚁𝚁𝙾𝚁; 𝙷𝙸𝚂𝚃𝙾𝚁𝙸𝙲𝙰𝙻 𝚁𝙾𝙼𝙰𝙽𝙲𝙴
✨𝐑𝐄𝐋𝐄𝐀𝐒𝐄 𝐃𝐀𝐓𝐄: 𝙾𝙲𝚃𝙾𝙱𝙴𝚁 𝟸𝟿𝚃𝙷 𝟸𝟶𝟸𝟸
🏜️𝐌𝐎𝐎𝐃𝐘 𝐕𝐈𝐁𝐄𝐒: 𝙳𝙰𝚁𝙺; 𝙼𝚈𝚂𝚃𝙴𝚁𝙸𝙾𝚄𝚂; 𝙴𝙼𝙾𝚃𝙸𝙾𝙽𝙰𝙻; 𝚃𝙴𝙽𝚂𝙴; 𝙰𝙳𝚅𝙴𝙽𝚃𝚄𝚁𝙾𝚄𝚂
🌵𝐏𝐀𝐆𝐄 𝐍𝐔𝐌𝐁𝐄𝐑: 𝟽𝟸𝟸 𝙿𝙰𝙶𝙴𝚂
🏜️𝐏𝐄𝐑𝐅𝐄𝐂𝐓 𝐈𝐅 𝐘𝐎𝐔 𝐋𝐎𝐕𝐄: 𝙶𝙾𝚃𝙷𝙸𝙲 𝚁𝙾𝙼𝙰𝙽𝙲𝙴; 𝙲𝙾𝙼𝙿𝙻𝙴𝚇 𝙲𝙷𝙰𝚁𝙰𝙲𝚃𝙴𝚁𝚂; 𝙿𝙻𝙾𝚃 𝚃𝚆𝙸𝚂𝚃𝚂; 𝙵𝙸𝙽𝙳𝙸𝙽𝙶 𝙻𝙸𝙶𝙷𝚃 𝙸𝙽 𝚃𝙷𝙴 𝙳𝙰𝚁𝙺; 𝚂𝚃𝚁𝙴𝙽𝙶𝚃𝙷 𝙸𝙽 𝚃𝙷𝙴 𝙵𝙰𝙲𝙴 𝙾𝙵 𝙰𝙳𝚅𝙴𝚁𝚂𝙸𝚃𝚈
✨𝐑𝐀𝐓𝐈𝐍𝐆: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ || 𝟻
➳❥༻🌵🏜️🌵༺➳❥
✨✨𝑀𝑦 𝑇ℎ𝑜𝑢𝑔ℎ𝑡𝑠✨✨
Thank you so much to @christina.maraziotis and @bookofmatchesmedia for my Advanced Reader Copy of 𝐇𝐀𝐔𝐍𝐓 - this review is comprised entirely of my own thoughts & opinions, & is based on the copy I received.
🚨 𝐂𝐇𝐄𝐂𝐊 𝐓𝐑𝐈𝐆𝐆𝐄𝐑 𝐖𝐀𝐑𝐍𝐈𝐍𝐆𝐒 𝐁𝐄𝐅𝐎𝐑𝐄 𝐑𝐄𝐀𝐃𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐀𝐒 𝐓𝐇𝐈𝐒 𝐈𝐒 𝐀 𝐃𝐀𝐑𝐊, 𝐇𝐈𝐒𝐓𝐎𝐑𝐈𝐂𝐀𝐋 𝐑𝐎𝐌𝐀𝐍𝐂𝐄 𝐖/ 𝐄𝐋𝐄𝐌𝐄𝐍𝐓𝐒 𝐎𝐅 𝐏𝐒𝐘𝐂𝐇𝐎𝐋𝐎𝐆𝐈𝐂𝐀𝐋 𝐇𝐎𝐑𝐑𝐎𝐑🚨
First and foremost, please ensure you check the trigger warnings before diving into this book! This book touches on some dark themes and your mental health is important.
This book, while being a behemoth of a story, was hauntingly beautiful, emotionally impactful, and SO compelling to read. I was so invested in the story and in the characters, and it’s definitely a book that I lost myself in every time I picked it up. One of my favorite things about Haunt was that you could absolutely tell that Christina put her heart and soul into this book. The writing style was so poetic and descriptive and used a lot of emotionally charged phrases - it was beautifully described and you can just feel how important these characters and story are to the author and that’s one of the most beautiful things to see when reading a book.
Charlotte and Mac are both in the run in the Victorian West from a Sheriff who is determined and sworn to catch them. They encounter many dangers while on the run and they develop feelings for each other, which neither was fully ready for. Charlotte is a strong FMC and I found myself rooting for her from the beginning - I loved the chemistry and relationship that she developed with Mac and I loved seeing their journey as the story unfolded.
The plot and the twists and turns this story took kept me really invested in the story and the romance was so beautifully woven into the story. It created a phenomenal narrative, and adding in the prose and style of the writing, it really blew me away! There are so many action packed scenes and you can just feel the momentum of the story keep a steady pace.
Overall, I definitely recommend this one! It’s a beautiful story and I’m definitely intrigued enough to read the rest of the series! I love a long book where I get emotionally invested and this book delivered that feel in every way imaginable.
➳❥༻🌵🏜️🌵༺➳❥
January 3, 2023
I really wanted to like this book. When it arrived in the mail, a thick tome promising a gritty story of love and survival in the West, I was quick to tear into it over the holidays. In my opinion this book was more of a first draft. I hope the Author keeps writing as she clearly has a great imagination and ideas but this was so fraught with cliche and poor writing technique I can't bear to finish it. That being said, I am a die-hard Western fanatic so I may have just strayed too far from my interests with this choice. Also, this was my first 'romance' novel, so I am no expert critic by any means. I know there is a fanbase for this sort of thing so perhaps I simply chose the wrong title. Regardless, here are the main issues that made me give up on the narrative after about 3/4 of the book.
1. Again, as a massive fan of Westerns, my main let-down was the setting. The author either did little research into the Western genre or was not able to properly portray the world she sought. It certainly had the classic western tropes (bandits, hat, pistol, horse, heat, whiskey) but there was little beyond that. This is, of course, a very particular pain-point, but for anyone looking for Westerns, you'd be better off anywhere else.
2. Adjectives-galore and the strange over-use of the word "caustically". The descriptions are stuffed with adjectives that use as many words as possible to paint a very limited image in my mind as a reader. I don't even know what to say about the word "caustically" but at one point it was used twice in a single paragraph and seemingly incorrectly at one point. It's one of those things where once a reader sees the pattern, they can't un-see it.
3. Dialogue. It doesn't seem to match the character speaking and it is often flat and simply used to push the narrative along. In a single word, I would describe it as awkward. It is a tough thing to write dialogue for a Western setting but again that comes down to research. I'd suggest studying McCarthy or McMurtry for examples on excellent dialogue for this place and time.
4. Exposition. Like too many adjectives, exposition is a relatively elementary error but one that can be overlooked. Sometimes there is no avoiding exposition but it came at such strange moments I found myself setting the book down in frustration.
5. The characters. From the horse, to the protag, to the love interest, I will not long remember these characters. It has been a week since I stopped reading and I can't even remember the main character's name. I think, for me, it came down to motivation. I did not understand the motivations of the characters and therefor I lost interest in what they were doing/seeking.
Again, I hope the author continues writing. But for me, this book was just not the one I was hoping to read.
1. Again, as a massive fan of Westerns, my main let-down was the setting. The author either did little research into the Western genre or was not able to properly portray the world she sought. It certainly had the classic western tropes (bandits, hat, pistol, horse, heat, whiskey) but there was little beyond that. This is, of course, a very particular pain-point, but for anyone looking for Westerns, you'd be better off anywhere else.
2. Adjectives-galore and the strange over-use of the word "caustically". The descriptions are stuffed with adjectives that use as many words as possible to paint a very limited image in my mind as a reader. I don't even know what to say about the word "caustically" but at one point it was used twice in a single paragraph and seemingly incorrectly at one point. It's one of those things where once a reader sees the pattern, they can't un-see it.
3. Dialogue. It doesn't seem to match the character speaking and it is often flat and simply used to push the narrative along. In a single word, I would describe it as awkward. It is a tough thing to write dialogue for a Western setting but again that comes down to research. I'd suggest studying McCarthy or McMurtry for examples on excellent dialogue for this place and time.
4. Exposition. Like too many adjectives, exposition is a relatively elementary error but one that can be overlooked. Sometimes there is no avoiding exposition but it came at such strange moments I found myself setting the book down in frustration.
5. The characters. From the horse, to the protag, to the love interest, I will not long remember these characters. It has been a week since I stopped reading and I can't even remember the main character's name. I think, for me, it came down to motivation. I did not understand the motivations of the characters and therefor I lost interest in what they were doing/seeking.
Again, I hope the author continues writing. But for me, this book was just not the one I was hoping to read.
April 29, 2023
My thanks to LibraryThing and the author for providing this advance reader’s copy in exchange for the honest review.
Well, I must admit, I have mixed feelings about this book. Let’s start with the good ones. I love adventures – the good, the bad – all sorts. I enjoyed this aspect of the book the most – the adventurous one. I'm always a fan of a few plot twists here and there, a bit unexpected ending.
The story is quite gritty and has a trigger warning for those who might be more sensitive towards a range of dark, brutal things such as child abuse, rape, and sexual assault to name a few. Read with caution, which I did having all this in mind – the author touches upon a few grey areas, where refraining from straightforward judgement is beneficial. I applaud the author for her bravery – some actions of the characters leave you thinking about all the whys, ifs and buts. This can be both a good and bad thing depending on who’s reading.
Now to the rest of the things... As someone before has already mentioned, I must agree that this book could have been so much better with a good English language editor. The vocabulary is weak and repetitive and some words felt oddly out of place even for a non-native English reader like me. While I admire the author's will, determination and huge work (this is the first book of the series and is waaayy over 700 pages), I appreciate that English is not her mother tongue and unfortunately, it shows. A good editor, however, should be able to fix a lot of those problems. It feels like a good draft of the book and I hope that the rest of the books in the series will get a better treatment and help.
Some style inconsistency was something that I kept stumbling onto as well. While I enjoy the idea of chapter division into smaller pieces (helps if you read in shorter bursts, so you can easily stop at any time), some of them felt a bit jumping all over the place. Again, good editor?...
While pure romance is not my favourite genre, I don’t mind when it takes a good chunk of a good story. So long it feels natural in a way. I was having a bit of a hard time understanding the main character… I know that as a reader, I don’t have to relate to somebody in a book in order to enjoy reading it.. But there were some points I was groaning in disbelief! Ha, maybe that was the whole point to make me feel that way. I’ll leave this in a grey area, as I would prefer my review to stay without spoilers.
Well, I must admit, I have mixed feelings about this book. Let’s start with the good ones. I love adventures – the good, the bad – all sorts. I enjoyed this aspect of the book the most – the adventurous one. I'm always a fan of a few plot twists here and there, a bit unexpected ending.
The story is quite gritty and has a trigger warning for those who might be more sensitive towards a range of dark, brutal things such as child abuse, rape, and sexual assault to name a few. Read with caution, which I did having all this in mind – the author touches upon a few grey areas, where refraining from straightforward judgement is beneficial. I applaud the author for her bravery – some actions of the characters leave you thinking about all the whys, ifs and buts. This can be both a good and bad thing depending on who’s reading.
Now to the rest of the things... As someone before has already mentioned, I must agree that this book could have been so much better with a good English language editor. The vocabulary is weak and repetitive and some words felt oddly out of place even for a non-native English reader like me. While I admire the author's will, determination and huge work (this is the first book of the series and is waaayy over 700 pages), I appreciate that English is not her mother tongue and unfortunately, it shows. A good editor, however, should be able to fix a lot of those problems. It feels like a good draft of the book and I hope that the rest of the books in the series will get a better treatment and help.
Some style inconsistency was something that I kept stumbling onto as well. While I enjoy the idea of chapter division into smaller pieces (helps if you read in shorter bursts, so you can easily stop at any time), some of them felt a bit jumping all over the place. Again, good editor?...
While pure romance is not my favourite genre, I don’t mind when it takes a good chunk of a good story. So long it feels natural in a way. I was having a bit of a hard time understanding the main character… I know that as a reader, I don’t have to relate to somebody in a book in order to enjoy reading it.. But there were some points I was groaning in disbelief! Ha, maybe that was the whole point to make me feel that way. I’ll leave this in a grey area, as I would prefer my review to stay without spoilers.
February 23, 2025
I found “Haunt” by Christina Maraziotis on Voraciousreadersonly.com. It was 1204 pgs long; or 70 chapters with sections as well.
It was difficult read with a slow pace. It seemed to jump between characters, making it difficult to follow. Also, the vocabulary is just… a lot. She used words that I feel she may have consulted the thesaurus for (such as immure, which she used a few times/ and her use of the word noose and not just for lynching). The main character Charlotte was not particularly likeable; though there are actually 3 main characters with POVs. It was touted as a Dark, Victorian, gothic romance with some horror while being set in the wild west.
I’m all about dark romance. I can totally get down with Victorian gothic, but the west setting through me off a bit. This from the girl who LOVED Firefly (TV show/movie). Reviews compared it to Diana Gabaldon (who entire Outlander series I have read and loved), and Neil Gaiman (I’ve read many of his books and loved them as well). I was riding the struggle bus hard trying to read the digital copy of this book. Perhaps, if it were in audiobook format, I may have had an easier time with it.
This book felt long. There were lots of opportunity to make it a bit more concise while also developing characters and carrying the story along but there were scenes where I finished reading them and thought to myself… “what the hell was that about?” and then, “well maybe it will come into play later in the book”. However, it took so long to get further in the book and I had so many events like that, that I was maxed out.
I finally started picking up on the storylines and flow around chapter 3, maybe. By chapter 4, we start seeing some possible romance. Ch 4- 8 flowed well, and were readable, but Chapter 8 has me wanting to DNF this book. My issues include:
Hard to believe/ failure to develop the character: She (Charlotte) is warned not to ride through a sketchy town. She can’t really avoid it though, and she rides through. Of course, she meets a violent man and some how comes out unscathed. Yet she still has the ability to NOT have a healthy, elevated fear of random men. I don’t even think she had her head on a swivel. I can barely walk through a poorly lit parking lot at night without having my key strategically placed in my hands to cause damaged in the event that some one comes at me. This girl is rolling up in shadeyville, with no money, no escort, and a gun (which back in the day- was very heavy and probably gave a pretty good kick). SMH…. IDK about that. She also has multiple traumatic events that just don’t give me the heart stopping fear I can feel for a character.
Another example of things that didn’t jive for me:
Early in the book, there is a scene that was well written and nice about a man trying to sell the main character an item. She could not afford, so some guy got it for her. No cost to her. It was weird. I expect him to sweep her off her feet like a romance, or rape her and killer her like in a horror. Maybe write some dark poetry to her? Nah, she just moved along from the weird nice man that gave her what I can only expect was a very pricey item considering that getting your horse taken care of (fed, brushed and watered) was $0.35, but the item was $4. Just saying.
Irrational flow of events:
(Mild spoiler!!!) One minute she is in a field with lavender, in a short time she in a frozen tundra. I know climates can change quickly going from plains to mountains, but I’m not buying that scenario. And the transition was started by animal attack, (I’ve lived in Alaska and Northern California- large animals generally don’t attack unless you’re near their babies or getting too close which was not the case). Maybe I completely missed an important fact like the bear was under weight and looked starved or had been fishing in a stream nearby- but I didn’t.
Characters: My favorite character was the horse, and Ch 8 almost made me stop reading the book full stop (which would have been a good emotional response oddly enough). The FMC seemed naive and annoying. MMC has potential, but did not show up well in the first 9 chapters. 2nd MMC was odd, might have gotten better later in the book.
World building: Wasn’t bad, but it also wasn’t amazing. Author actually does a good job describing things like smells and feelings. But the unusual vocabulary and mix of dialects throws me off, the Spanish felt a bit formal. I also don’t love the use of “topaz” a couple of times to express an orange or brown color… My first thought was blue topaz so it threw me off a bit.
I will try to get through the book, but I do not have high hopes. Not with a massive reading list I’m excited to get to. Things that may have made it better for me --> change how the chapters are structured to help the flow, improve the vocabulary to help with a more realistic feel to the language, maybe make transitions a bit smoother so I don’t feel like I blink and some weird event has changed that doesn’t make sense.
There are 2 more books in the series.
********About 10 days later******
So I'm now at 26% of the book (Ch 16). It is getting much easier to read, flowing a bit better. I swear she has used immure 10 times (nails on a chalk board but for my eyes); used topaz again to describe bourbon; I might have chose caramel? Anyhow, we're starting to get more emotional development and learning more about MMC. All the weird parts that made ZERO sense before are starting to make sense. Still not 100% vibing with this love triangle but I can see the potential. WARNING horses are placed in mortal danger (I am one of those people who can't watch horses die in movies though I do love a good ID network show). I will keep trying to get through this while reading other books. I have finish 4 other in the time it taking me to manage this one.
It was difficult read with a slow pace. It seemed to jump between characters, making it difficult to follow. Also, the vocabulary is just… a lot. She used words that I feel she may have consulted the thesaurus for (such as immure, which she used a few times/ and her use of the word noose and not just for lynching). The main character Charlotte was not particularly likeable; though there are actually 3 main characters with POVs. It was touted as a Dark, Victorian, gothic romance with some horror while being set in the wild west.
I’m all about dark romance. I can totally get down with Victorian gothic, but the west setting through me off a bit. This from the girl who LOVED Firefly (TV show/movie). Reviews compared it to Diana Gabaldon (who entire Outlander series I have read and loved), and Neil Gaiman (I’ve read many of his books and loved them as well). I was riding the struggle bus hard trying to read the digital copy of this book. Perhaps, if it were in audiobook format, I may have had an easier time with it.
This book felt long. There were lots of opportunity to make it a bit more concise while also developing characters and carrying the story along but there were scenes where I finished reading them and thought to myself… “what the hell was that about?” and then, “well maybe it will come into play later in the book”. However, it took so long to get further in the book and I had so many events like that, that I was maxed out.
I finally started picking up on the storylines and flow around chapter 3, maybe. By chapter 4, we start seeing some possible romance. Ch 4- 8 flowed well, and were readable, but Chapter 8 has me wanting to DNF this book. My issues include:
Hard to believe/ failure to develop the character: She (Charlotte) is warned not to ride through a sketchy town. She can’t really avoid it though, and she rides through. Of course, she meets a violent man and some how comes out unscathed. Yet she still has the ability to NOT have a healthy, elevated fear of random men. I don’t even think she had her head on a swivel. I can barely walk through a poorly lit parking lot at night without having my key strategically placed in my hands to cause damaged in the event that some one comes at me. This girl is rolling up in shadeyville, with no money, no escort, and a gun (which back in the day- was very heavy and probably gave a pretty good kick). SMH…. IDK about that. She also has multiple traumatic events that just don’t give me the heart stopping fear I can feel for a character.
Another example of things that didn’t jive for me:
Early in the book, there is a scene that was well written and nice about a man trying to sell the main character an item. She could not afford, so some guy got it for her. No cost to her. It was weird. I expect him to sweep her off her feet like a romance, or rape her and killer her like in a horror. Maybe write some dark poetry to her? Nah, she just moved along from the weird nice man that gave her what I can only expect was a very pricey item considering that getting your horse taken care of (fed, brushed and watered) was $0.35, but the item was $4. Just saying.
Irrational flow of events:
(Mild spoiler!!!) One minute she is in a field with lavender, in a short time she in a frozen tundra. I know climates can change quickly going from plains to mountains, but I’m not buying that scenario. And the transition was started by animal attack, (I’ve lived in Alaska and Northern California- large animals generally don’t attack unless you’re near their babies or getting too close which was not the case). Maybe I completely missed an important fact like the bear was under weight and looked starved or had been fishing in a stream nearby- but I didn’t.
Characters: My favorite character was the horse, and Ch 8 almost made me stop reading the book full stop (which would have been a good emotional response oddly enough). The FMC seemed naive and annoying. MMC has potential, but did not show up well in the first 9 chapters. 2nd MMC was odd, might have gotten better later in the book.
World building: Wasn’t bad, but it also wasn’t amazing. Author actually does a good job describing things like smells and feelings. But the unusual vocabulary and mix of dialects throws me off, the Spanish felt a bit formal. I also don’t love the use of “topaz” a couple of times to express an orange or brown color… My first thought was blue topaz so it threw me off a bit.
I will try to get through the book, but I do not have high hopes. Not with a massive reading list I’m excited to get to. Things that may have made it better for me --> change how the chapters are structured to help the flow, improve the vocabulary to help with a more realistic feel to the language, maybe make transitions a bit smoother so I don’t feel like I blink and some weird event has changed that doesn’t make sense.
There are 2 more books in the series.
********About 10 days later******
So I'm now at 26% of the book (Ch 16). It is getting much easier to read, flowing a bit better. I swear she has used immure 10 times (nails on a chalk board but for my eyes); used topaz again to describe bourbon; I might have chose caramel? Anyhow, we're starting to get more emotional development and learning more about MMC. All the weird parts that made ZERO sense before are starting to make sense. Still not 100% vibing with this love triangle but I can see the potential. WARNING horses are placed in mortal danger (I am one of those people who can't watch horses die in movies though I do love a good ID network show). I will keep trying to get through this while reading other books. I have finish 4 other in the time it taking me to manage this one.
August 22, 2024
DNF @35% 1.5⭐️
°
As much as I want to enjoy this, the writing isn't just for me. I feel like the author did too much in general, and I really think the descriptions or the paragraphs— it could have been constructed in much better lines.
Interesting concept, tho and really intriguing, in my opinion, but the writing just couldn't do it for me 🙈
Thank you, author, for the review copy via BOMM.
°
As much as I want to enjoy this, the writing isn't just for me. I feel like the author did too much in general, and I really think the descriptions or the paragraphs— it could have been constructed in much better lines.
Interesting concept, tho and really intriguing, in my opinion, but the writing just couldn't do it for me 🙈
Thank you, author, for the review copy via BOMM.
November 1, 2024
OH MY GOSH!!! I read this book in a 48-hour time period during the Halloween days. I would truly recommend this book to anyone who loves horror books.
January 6, 2023
From the beginning, you can tell that work when into this book. You can tell it's the author's baby. It's just not for me. It's has a more poetic style that I have a hard time enjoying. I'd rather things be more straight forward.
But if you like books with that kind of poetic language, you can do worse with authors that don't try nearly as hard.
But if you like books with that kind of poetic language, you can do worse with authors that don't try nearly as hard.
September 4, 2024
Haunt is a very deep read. Make yourself comfortable, grab a glass of your favorite whiskey, and spend some time, because the way this book is written it’ll sweep you away into the Victorian West as if you’re entering a time warp. This one has it all. A character driven journey and a plot ripe with an unbelievable amount of hard times. There’s a hard core FMC, unlikely lovers and unbelievable circumstances. I highly recommend book!
April 12, 2024
1.5⭐️
I won a copy of this book from a giveaway on LibraryThing in exchange for a review.
For the first 200 pages, this book was a 3-star for me. I liked the idea of it. I had fun hearing Arthur Morgan's voice from RDR2 as Mac. 215-470 was a 2-star (maybe less than 470). The rest of the book was a 1-star. By page 514 all the characters were irritating me except the horses. There were crows. (?) I don't understand their relevance, especially near the end. I think I'm just missing the reference for this one.
I think this book was a good draft. It did not need to be as long as it was. Especially since I see it's supposed to be 7 books somehow? This book could have easily been cut in half. There were many overused words. For example: "soughed" and "A smirk scarring their face." We had excessive punctuation with exclamation and question marks (?????!!!!!!!). Some words were IN ALL CAPS!!!!! The characters were either muttering or using their outside voices.
The romance was a square. Which, I hated. Will gave me the ick. Will's POVs could have been completely cut out. They did nothing. Did not encourage character growth. They just made the book drag (in my opinion.)
Charlotte had zero character development throughout the story. She continuously reliably flip-flopped between the 3 men in her romance square (and not in a reverse harem kinda way). Charlotte experienced some harrowing situations and came out unscathed with little to no trauma. You'd think she'd be a lot less trusty of men.
I liked Mountain Man Mac. I like how the flashbacks to the past were done for him. I didn't like the random anonymous "murders" throughout the book. They just upped the word count.
There was something off for me throughout the action scenes. It felt like it was missing a sense of urgency and stakes. They didn't feel Western- if that makes sense? (If not, same).
This book would have been better if it stuck with only 3 POVs: Charlotte's, Mac's, and Sherif Dorman's. These 3 were the core of the story. Charlotte's and Mac's character development could have improved through fewer perspectives. The Romance Square should have been a triangle before becoming a pair. I must say I'm a little bitter about the ending. This was not my cup of tea. What happened in the last chapter should have happened in book two. Or, we should have had more time before what happened. My OG feelings for this scene were WHAT A WASTE OF MY TIME. I have zero reason to read book two now. If, we had gotten more before what happened at the end. My heart would have been ripped out of my chest. Which could have been *cheifs kiss*. And maybe I would have an interest in continuing.
Overall, The idea is there. But not the execution.
I won a copy of this book from a giveaway on LibraryThing in exchange for a review.
For the first 200 pages, this book was a 3-star for me. I liked the idea of it. I had fun hearing Arthur Morgan's voice from RDR2 as Mac. 215-470 was a 2-star (maybe less than 470). The rest of the book was a 1-star. By page 514 all the characters were irritating me except the horses. There were crows. (?) I don't understand their relevance, especially near the end. I think I'm just missing the reference for this one.
I think this book was a good draft. It did not need to be as long as it was. Especially since I see it's supposed to be 7 books somehow? This book could have easily been cut in half. There were many overused words. For example: "soughed" and "A smirk scarring their face." We had excessive punctuation with exclamation and question marks (?????!!!!!!!). Some words were IN ALL CAPS!!!!! The characters were either muttering or using their outside voices.
The romance was a square. Which, I hated. Will gave me the ick. Will's POVs could have been completely cut out. They did nothing. Did not encourage character growth. They just made the book drag (in my opinion.)
Charlotte had zero character development throughout the story. She continuously reliably flip-flopped between the 3 men in her romance square (and not in a reverse harem kinda way). Charlotte experienced some harrowing situations and came out unscathed with little to no trauma. You'd think she'd be a lot less trusty of men.
I liked Mountain Man Mac. I like how the flashbacks to the past were done for him. I didn't like the random anonymous "murders" throughout the book. They just upped the word count.
There was something off for me throughout the action scenes. It felt like it was missing a sense of urgency and stakes. They didn't feel Western- if that makes sense? (If not, same).
This book would have been better if it stuck with only 3 POVs: Charlotte's, Mac's, and Sherif Dorman's. These 3 were the core of the story. Charlotte's and Mac's character development could have improved through fewer perspectives. The Romance Square should have been a triangle before becoming a pair. I must say I'm a little bitter about the ending. This was not my cup of tea. What happened in the last chapter should have happened in book two. Or, we should have had more time before what happened. My OG feelings for this scene were WHAT A WASTE OF MY TIME. I have zero reason to read book two now. If, we had gotten more before what happened at the end. My heart would have been ripped out of my chest. Which could have been *cheifs kiss*. And maybe I would have an interest in continuing.
Overall, The idea is there. But not the execution.
December 20, 2022
Unfortunately, I really struggled to read this. The idea sounded interesting, but 754 pages of inconsistent writing styles, sporadic overly detailed description and dialogue that did not match the character development or move on the action was far too much.
February 26, 2023
***I received a copy of this book from the author as a LibraryThing Early Reviewers winner. My review is strictly voluntary.***
This was one of the most unique and engrossing books I've ever had the pleasure of reading. I had absolutely no idea what type of story was about to unfold, but the heart, depth and soul that went into the writing of this magnificent opus is undeniable. With poetic images and evocative phrasing throughout, each page became a mesmerizing trip, transporting me to another time and place.
There are really no words to describe the complex, yet simple, story of a myriad cast of characters and their journey to find love, reason and redemption. With each turn of the page, you find new surprises and thrilling twists that you'd never image happening.
This book became, for me, an instant classic. From the unique titling to the mysterious cover photos, this is one series I'm going to read, collect and keep. What an amazing accomplishment.
This was one of the most unique and engrossing books I've ever had the pleasure of reading. I had absolutely no idea what type of story was about to unfold, but the heart, depth and soul that went into the writing of this magnificent opus is undeniable. With poetic images and evocative phrasing throughout, each page became a mesmerizing trip, transporting me to another time and place.
There are really no words to describe the complex, yet simple, story of a myriad cast of characters and their journey to find love, reason and redemption. With each turn of the page, you find new surprises and thrilling twists that you'd never image happening.
This book became, for me, an instant classic. From the unique titling to the mysterious cover photos, this is one series I'm going to read, collect and keep. What an amazing accomplishment.
October 7, 2024
very well thought out and researched, and very attention keeping.
I will read this book again. And will be reading more from this author.
I will read this book again. And will be reading more from this author.
September 1, 2023
I don't usually read stories that involve much romance but won this for an honest review - I found it to be a great story - many twists and turns - murder - romance - suspense all built in with fantastic characters -Well written - the author just draws you into the characters - a LONG story but a page turner to the end -
April 17, 2023
4.4 out of 5 stars
Haunt by Christina Maraziotis is an intriguing and immersive story that I completely devoured.
I don’t normally read books this long as I lose interest quite easily, but I adored this book. Whilst over 750 pages, I was so engrossed and attached to the story, I finished it in two days!
It has a slow and steady pace throughout and is very consistent with this, which I enjoyed (apart from the ending which sped up quite a bit). It felt easy-going and was just a joy to read. The slow pace gave me time to enjoy the writing and whilst literary fiction is not something I read a lot of; I did really enjoy it.
The story had a really authentic feel to it and a great atmosphere throughout. I also found the characters fascinating. Truthfully, it wasn’t immediately gripping for me until I got past the first thirty or so pages and then you do get really invested in the characters as the story moves along. I would’ve perhaps liked to see a little more character development, but I’m sure I’ll see more of that in the rest of the series.
I felt that the first half was a bit better than second as I felt the beginning just felt that it had a bit more of an ease in terms of the writing and the fluidity you want when reading. The ending though was fantastic despite messing up the pacing a bit.
Overall, this was such a great read and I’m excited to read the rest of the series!
Thank you Christina and Library Thing for my copy.
Haunt by Christina Maraziotis is an intriguing and immersive story that I completely devoured.
I don’t normally read books this long as I lose interest quite easily, but I adored this book. Whilst over 750 pages, I was so engrossed and attached to the story, I finished it in two days!
It has a slow and steady pace throughout and is very consistent with this, which I enjoyed (apart from the ending which sped up quite a bit). It felt easy-going and was just a joy to read. The slow pace gave me time to enjoy the writing and whilst literary fiction is not something I read a lot of; I did really enjoy it.
The story had a really authentic feel to it and a great atmosphere throughout. I also found the characters fascinating. Truthfully, it wasn’t immediately gripping for me until I got past the first thirty or so pages and then you do get really invested in the characters as the story moves along. I would’ve perhaps liked to see a little more character development, but I’m sure I’ll see more of that in the rest of the series.
I felt that the first half was a bit better than second as I felt the beginning just felt that it had a bit more of an ease in terms of the writing and the fluidity you want when reading. The ending though was fantastic despite messing up the pacing a bit.
Overall, this was such a great read and I’m excited to read the rest of the series!
Thank you Christina and Library Thing for my copy.
giveaways
April 5, 2023Really got interesting & emotional at end was slow in places, but really liked the ending and makes you wonder what is next on Charlotte's adventure.
#goodreadsgiveaway
#goodreadsgiveaway
February 12, 2023
1.5 stars
I received this book for free, this does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
How she wished she had asked for his name, as no one had ever saved her life before---no one would ever have cared to either.
H(a)unt is the first book in the Loveletting series that follows a twenty-six year old woman named Charlotte. Born to a sex worker in the late 1800s wild west, Charlotte never knew her father, learned men only want one thing, and had a tough mother. When her mother is murdered, Charlotte decides to take off with her only friend in the world, her horse Finn to the West Rockies. Riding through a town, a man gets thrown out of a saloon and spooks her horse, they lock eyes but the tall man in black with blue eyes rides away. Charlotte later learns from a Wanted poster that it was the infamous Mac Kinnon, wanted for over a decade for numerous murders. A sheriff obsessed with catching Mac, enlists Charlotte to help draw Mac out and from there Charlotte is drawn into danger, adventures, and romances.
“Ain't no Lord out there, princess.” he finally said, and she froze upon his remark.
A book of over seven hundred pages, this was written in a lyrical and poetic style that at times made it a little hard to stick with. I liked the beginning of Charlotte starting off in the west alone and then meeting up with a notorious wanted man but the story started to utilize a rinse and repeat formula that started to get exhausting. Charlotte gets saved from a rape by Mac and they both think about how they are drawn to the other but Charlotte then meets another man, Will, who is a rich “elite” and ridiculously talked with some kind of chivalrous knight of old parlance, calling Charlotte “my lady”. The story then gives us a love triangle and Charlotte thinks she is in love with Will but can't get Mac out of her mind, Will loves Charlotte but has some kind of secret, and Mac thinks he isn't good enough for Charlotte.
She hardly knew him, yet she craved to know more of him.
While our characters are running, falling in love, Mac saving Charlotte from a grizzly, and generally be-bopping around, there would sometimes be flashbacks and inside a character's head passages. The flashbacks were to tell Mac's backstory, he was an orphan who was adopted by a mentally, physically, and sexually abusive farmer who claimed to be a man of God. They worked to show how and why Mac has become the man he is today. The passages that came from inside a character's head, didn't work as well for me, there was some working out who it was supposed to be in the beginning. The passages would follow a man committing murders from almost a trance or outside himself. The “serial killer” aspect didn't really work for me and that was the only part of the story I felt could come even close to giving this a “horror” tag.
One was a cold-blooded murderer that pretended to care about her, or rather took pride in rescuing helpless women in all his heroic ways, then disappearing like a phantom into thin air; and the other---a one-of-a-kind gentleman that any woman would give anything for, yet, carrying a deep secret within him.
Charlotte is mostly who we follow but there were numerous povs from other characters to give a wide look at the world. Later in the book, Will's secret becomes known and he has to leave Charlotte to deal with it. Charlotte then meets a bounty hunter on Mac's trail named Levi and our love triangle becomes a square. Will has his own adventure and we then go back and forth showing Charlotte with Levi and Mac. It eventually all comes to ahead with Mac, Charlotte, the obsessed sheriff, and Levi. As this is book one in a series, the ending is not final and Charlotte has more adventures ahead of her.
“There lies kindness within your hear, Mac Kinnon. Ya just don't know it yet.”
I wouldn't read this for the horror and while there is romance in it, it wouldn't be considered romance genre as the ending doesn't give an HEA or HFN. I lost a lot steam to keep reading the story around page three hundred, was briefly awakened when out of nowhere, inbred hillbillies made an appearance, and then tired of the rinse and repeat of Charlotte feeling drawn to Mac but getting entranced with kisses with first Will and then Levi; the story felt like a drawn out trip to see if Charlotte could hang on to her virginity and/or who she would “give” it to. . There was some interesting story here but the overly descriptive, lyrical prose cloyed it up, Will's character honestly felt like a waste of time, too many character's “soughing” too many times, emotions/characters felt overly immature, and the ending felt more disappointing than emotional and didn't really leave me itching to continue Charlotte's story.
I received this book for free, this does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
How she wished she had asked for his name, as no one had ever saved her life before---no one would ever have cared to either.
H(a)unt is the first book in the Loveletting series that follows a twenty-six year old woman named Charlotte. Born to a sex worker in the late 1800s wild west, Charlotte never knew her father, learned men only want one thing, and had a tough mother. When her mother is murdered, Charlotte decides to take off with her only friend in the world, her horse Finn to the West Rockies. Riding through a town, a man gets thrown out of a saloon and spooks her horse, they lock eyes but the tall man in black with blue eyes rides away. Charlotte later learns from a Wanted poster that it was the infamous Mac Kinnon, wanted for over a decade for numerous murders. A sheriff obsessed with catching Mac, enlists Charlotte to help draw Mac out and from there Charlotte is drawn into danger, adventures, and romances.
“Ain't no Lord out there, princess.” he finally said, and she froze upon his remark.
A book of over seven hundred pages, this was written in a lyrical and poetic style that at times made it a little hard to stick with. I liked the beginning of Charlotte starting off in the west alone and then meeting up with a notorious wanted man but the story started to utilize a rinse and repeat formula that started to get exhausting. Charlotte gets saved from a rape by Mac and they both think about how they are drawn to the other but Charlotte then meets another man, Will, who is a rich “elite” and ridiculously talked with some kind of chivalrous knight of old parlance, calling Charlotte “my lady”. The story then gives us a love triangle and Charlotte thinks she is in love with Will but can't get Mac out of her mind, Will loves Charlotte but has some kind of secret, and Mac thinks he isn't good enough for Charlotte.
She hardly knew him, yet she craved to know more of him.
While our characters are running, falling in love, Mac saving Charlotte from a grizzly, and generally be-bopping around, there would sometimes be flashbacks and inside a character's head passages. The flashbacks were to tell Mac's backstory, he was an orphan who was adopted by a mentally, physically, and sexually abusive farmer who claimed to be a man of God. They worked to show how and why Mac has become the man he is today. The passages that came from inside a character's head, didn't work as well for me, there was some working out who it was supposed to be in the beginning. The passages would follow a man committing murders from almost a trance or outside himself. The “serial killer” aspect didn't really work for me and that was the only part of the story I felt could come even close to giving this a “horror” tag.
One was a cold-blooded murderer that pretended to care about her, or rather took pride in rescuing helpless women in all his heroic ways, then disappearing like a phantom into thin air; and the other---a one-of-a-kind gentleman that any woman would give anything for, yet, carrying a deep secret within him.
Charlotte is mostly who we follow but there were numerous povs from other characters to give a wide look at the world. Later in the book, Will's secret becomes known and he has to leave Charlotte to deal with it. Charlotte then meets a bounty hunter on Mac's trail named Levi and our love triangle becomes a square. Will has his own adventure and we then go back and forth showing Charlotte with Levi and Mac. It eventually all comes to ahead with Mac, Charlotte, the obsessed sheriff, and Levi. As this is book one in a series, the ending is not final and Charlotte has more adventures ahead of her.
“There lies kindness within your hear, Mac Kinnon. Ya just don't know it yet.”
I wouldn't read this for the horror and while there is romance in it, it wouldn't be considered romance genre as the ending doesn't give an HEA or HFN. I lost a lot steam to keep reading the story around page three hundred, was briefly awakened when out of nowhere, inbred hillbillies made an appearance, and then tired of the rinse and repeat of Charlotte feeling drawn to Mac but getting entranced with kisses with first Will and then Levi; the story felt like a drawn out trip to see if Charlotte could hang on to her virginity and/or who she would “give” it to. . There was some interesting story here but the overly descriptive, lyrical prose cloyed it up, Will's character honestly felt like a waste of time, too many character's “soughing” too many times, emotions/characters felt overly immature, and the ending felt more disappointing than emotional and didn't really leave me itching to continue Charlotte's story.
February 25, 2023
Clear trigger warnings for this entire book about everything you could imagine. Reader discretion is advised.
Podcast episode Interview Christina:
https://anchor.fm/lavendersbtcpodcast...
_Overall rating of 4.8/5
Received a free copy from LibraryThings to read and review. 100% opinions are my own with no influence or favoritism to the author. My interview with the author on my podcast does not cloud my judgment or change my rating. I genuinely enjoy this book and the challenges I faced while reading it. My favorite characters are Roy & Finn...the horses. All the humans in this book have little to no redeeming qualities. Which is not necessary and intentional. The meme of Jamie Lee Curtis on her Halloween film tour repeatedly saying "It is a story about trauma" is this book. All the characters in some way or another are acting out due to their pain. Using alcohol, cigarettes, drugs, sex, or murder to relieve their woes. I do not think one of the character's stories is done and that's just a feeling I have because water has memory and is healing is all I am going to say. I found that in my own life, I have faced complicated feelings that have made me want to hurt someone, myself, or be wicked. It can be hard to be open when you have not necessarily been seen. A common theme is feelings and the actions that follow. I resonate and being seen is what I describe it as. I felt I always felt too much like charlotte and had bad experiences with people who hurt me. Taking advice from others who are put on a pedestal led to my regret. I would read book two to know what more bad luck Charlotte could get herself into. JD is the only character who is gonna hurt the most and does not deserve it. Mrs. Marga will probably also be important. The price and length of the book may be difficult for some but luckily there is an ebook and hopefully soon an audiobook.
_Writing style 5/5 each character has a distinctive voice and I could hear it-envision it in my head.
_4.7/5 for the plot that kept me on edge. Could not guess all the twists and turns. Charlotte & Mac truly have the worst luck in the world. Most of the characters unfortunately do. Not a happy book or happy ending to this first one in the series.
_Notes on Goodreads while reading:
This is not a novel but a tome. Like seriously why are there so many pages!? so far it's good though on chapter 5."
"Charlotte is a fool who will probably fall for mac and will die."
A common theme is jealousy.
When they had the chance to have a bouncy fun time"
"Humans are dumb. All the human characters annoy me at this point. Still a good story."
"Jealousy and miscommunication"
Spotify playlist: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/2Da...
Podcast episode Interview Christina:
https://anchor.fm/lavendersbtcpodcast...
_Overall rating of 4.8/5
Received a free copy from LibraryThings to read and review. 100% opinions are my own with no influence or favoritism to the author. My interview with the author on my podcast does not cloud my judgment or change my rating. I genuinely enjoy this book and the challenges I faced while reading it. My favorite characters are Roy & Finn...the horses. All the humans in this book have little to no redeeming qualities. Which is not necessary and intentional. The meme of Jamie Lee Curtis on her Halloween film tour repeatedly saying "It is a story about trauma" is this book. All the characters in some way or another are acting out due to their pain. Using alcohol, cigarettes, drugs, sex, or murder to relieve their woes. I do not think one of the character's stories is done and that's just a feeling I have because water has memory and is healing is all I am going to say. I found that in my own life, I have faced complicated feelings that have made me want to hurt someone, myself, or be wicked. It can be hard to be open when you have not necessarily been seen. A common theme is feelings and the actions that follow. I resonate and being seen is what I describe it as. I felt I always felt too much like charlotte and had bad experiences with people who hurt me. Taking advice from others who are put on a pedestal led to my regret. I would read book two to know what more bad luck Charlotte could get herself into. JD is the only character who is gonna hurt the most and does not deserve it. Mrs. Marga will probably also be important. The price and length of the book may be difficult for some but luckily there is an ebook and hopefully soon an audiobook.
_Writing style 5/5 each character has a distinctive voice and I could hear it-envision it in my head.
_4.7/5 for the plot that kept me on edge. Could not guess all the twists and turns. Charlotte & Mac truly have the worst luck in the world. Most of the characters unfortunately do. Not a happy book or happy ending to this first one in the series.
_Notes on Goodreads while reading:
This is not a novel but a tome. Like seriously why are there so many pages!? so far it's good though on chapter 5."
"Charlotte is a fool who will probably fall for mac and will die."
A common theme is jealousy.
When they had the chance to have a bouncy fun time"
"Humans are dumb. All the human characters annoy me at this point. Still a good story."
"Jealousy and miscommunication"
Spotify playlist: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/2Da...
May 30, 2025
"Haunt" by Christina Maraziotis is a breathtaking tale that immerses readers in an epic love story filled with passion and heartache. The characters are beautifully crafted, each with a tragic history that shapes their journey and deepens their connection. This story features unlikely lovers who find solace in each other despite the daunting circumstances they face. Their bond is forged through adversity, revealing a poignant message about the power of seeing the good in another person, even when surrounded by chaos. Maraziotis has a unique ability to build chemistry between her characters, drawing readers into their world and making their struggles feel real and relatable.
The narrative unfolds in a pulse-pounding manner, combining intense action with touching, intimate moments that keep readers on the edge of their seats. The heart-wrenching events the characters endure weave together into a tapestry of bittersweet memories that resonate long after the book is closed. Each page is filled with gripping tension as the unlikely lovers navigate their adventures, facing challenges that test their resolve and strengthen their bond. The inclusion of a “villain” protagonist who is both loveable and infuriating adds an extra layer of excitement to the plot, making readers both root for the heroes and grapple with their feelings about the antagonist.
For anyone who craves a captivating romance filled with depth, "Haunt" emerges as a must-read. The combination of action-packed sequences and heartfelt moments ensures a thrilling experience that satisfies the audience's hunger for adventure and love. Maraziotis masterfully presents arguments and emotions that resonate deeply, creating a narrative so compelling it feels personal. The characters’ journey of finding light in the darkness makes it an unforgettable tale of resilience and hope, one that highlights the strength of love amidst trials. With all its elements perfectly intertwined, "Haunt" offers an enriching reading experience, leaving readers eagerly anticipating Maraziotis’s next work.
I was honored to receive an early copy from NetGalley (Thank You!) All thoughts and opinions are my own.
The narrative unfolds in a pulse-pounding manner, combining intense action with touching, intimate moments that keep readers on the edge of their seats. The heart-wrenching events the characters endure weave together into a tapestry of bittersweet memories that resonate long after the book is closed. Each page is filled with gripping tension as the unlikely lovers navigate their adventures, facing challenges that test their resolve and strengthen their bond. The inclusion of a “villain” protagonist who is both loveable and infuriating adds an extra layer of excitement to the plot, making readers both root for the heroes and grapple with their feelings about the antagonist.
For anyone who craves a captivating romance filled with depth, "Haunt" emerges as a must-read. The combination of action-packed sequences and heartfelt moments ensures a thrilling experience that satisfies the audience's hunger for adventure and love. Maraziotis masterfully presents arguments and emotions that resonate deeply, creating a narrative so compelling it feels personal. The characters’ journey of finding light in the darkness makes it an unforgettable tale of resilience and hope, one that highlights the strength of love amidst trials. With all its elements perfectly intertwined, "Haunt" offers an enriching reading experience, leaving readers eagerly anticipating Maraziotis’s next work.
I was honored to receive an early copy from NetGalley (Thank You!) All thoughts and opinions are my own.
July 5, 2023
A Thrilling Blend of Action and Romance
Haunt by Christina Maraziotis is a gripping novel that seamlessly combines fast-paced action, heartwarming romance, and a compelling cast of characters. From the very first page, readers are thrown into a world filled with danger, excitement, and an irresistible love story.
The story revolves around two main characters, whose chemistry leaps off the pages. The author's skillful characterization brings them to life, making them both relatable and endearing. Their journey is filled with unexpected twists and turns, keeping readers hooked until the very end.
Maraziotis masterfully weaves together the action and romance genres, creating a unique reading experience. The action sequences are intense and well-paced, ensuring that readers are constantly on the edge of their seats. From heart-pounding confrontations to adrenaline-fueled escapes, the story never loses its momentum.
The romance aspect of Haunt is equally satisfying. The love story unfolds naturally, allowing readers to become emotionally invested in the characters' journey. The author skillfully balances the tender moments between the protagonists with the adrenaline-fueled action scenes, creating a perfect blend of excitement and passion.
One of the highlights of Haunt is the antagonist, a villain so well-crafted that readers will find themselves both despising and being fascinated by them. The author's ability to create a character that evokes such strong emotions is truly commendable, adding an extra layer of depth to the story.
Maraziotis's writing style is engaging and immersive, making it easy for readers to lose themselves in the world she has created. The dialogue is sharp and snappy, enhancing the chemistry between the characters and adding an extra layer of authenticity.
In conclusion, Haunt by Christina Maraziotis is a must-read for fans of action-packed romance novels. With its lovable main characters, pulse-pounding action sequences, and a villain you'll love to hate, this book is a thrilling and satisfying read from start to finish.
Haunt by Christina Maraziotis is a gripping novel that seamlessly combines fast-paced action, heartwarming romance, and a compelling cast of characters. From the very first page, readers are thrown into a world filled with danger, excitement, and an irresistible love story.
The story revolves around two main characters, whose chemistry leaps off the pages. The author's skillful characterization brings them to life, making them both relatable and endearing. Their journey is filled with unexpected twists and turns, keeping readers hooked until the very end.
Maraziotis masterfully weaves together the action and romance genres, creating a unique reading experience. The action sequences are intense and well-paced, ensuring that readers are constantly on the edge of their seats. From heart-pounding confrontations to adrenaline-fueled escapes, the story never loses its momentum.
The romance aspect of Haunt is equally satisfying. The love story unfolds naturally, allowing readers to become emotionally invested in the characters' journey. The author skillfully balances the tender moments between the protagonists with the adrenaline-fueled action scenes, creating a perfect blend of excitement and passion.
One of the highlights of Haunt is the antagonist, a villain so well-crafted that readers will find themselves both despising and being fascinated by them. The author's ability to create a character that evokes such strong emotions is truly commendable, adding an extra layer of depth to the story.
Maraziotis's writing style is engaging and immersive, making it easy for readers to lose themselves in the world she has created. The dialogue is sharp and snappy, enhancing the chemistry between the characters and adding an extra layer of authenticity.
In conclusion, Haunt by Christina Maraziotis is a must-read for fans of action-packed romance novels. With its lovable main characters, pulse-pounding action sequences, and a villain you'll love to hate, this book is a thrilling and satisfying read from start to finish.
January 16, 2023
In an attempt to flee from a world that has turned her life upside down, Charlotte and her darling horse are only met with more complications—running into a serial killer. Having no choice but to stay with him after becoming a wanted woman herself (for a crime she did not commit), Charlotte and her newfound companion are thrust into situations previously unimaginable. A man with a dark and haunting past, and a woman who fears a dark and haunting future, these two souls collide in a thrilling romance.
Haunt by Christina Maraziotis is a book that makes itself very clear right away: it is not for an audience who cannot handle certain topics and themes. At the front of the book, before getting to the story itself, there is a list of trigger warnings, so readers will know what they are getting into with this novel ahead of time.
The characters and settings in Haunt are truly ones to be remembered as they all feel full, fleshed out, and alive. Even characters who aren’t important are given full personalities and recognizable traits. The story itself is nothing less than a page-turner, and readers will most definitely feel themselves eagerly turning the page to see what will happen next—good or bad.
The writing in this novel is eye-catching. The style is complex at times, fightings with itself to have beautiful words and prose and then having sentences that feel out of place, much like the characters feel at times. The formatting can also be distracting; there are often POV changes that can be disorienting for the reader. While some may find these a deterrent, they are actually brilliant literary elements that add to the haunting and intricate storyline.
Haunt is truly a thrilling western story with characters readers will yearn for, feel for, and never forget. Readers will feel their own hearts break as they look into the minds of characters that they normally wouldn’t and have to choose whether their actions are justified.
Haunt by Christina Maraziotis is a book that makes itself very clear right away: it is not for an audience who cannot handle certain topics and themes. At the front of the book, before getting to the story itself, there is a list of trigger warnings, so readers will know what they are getting into with this novel ahead of time.
The characters and settings in Haunt are truly ones to be remembered as they all feel full, fleshed out, and alive. Even characters who aren’t important are given full personalities and recognizable traits. The story itself is nothing less than a page-turner, and readers will most definitely feel themselves eagerly turning the page to see what will happen next—good or bad.
The writing in this novel is eye-catching. The style is complex at times, fightings with itself to have beautiful words and prose and then having sentences that feel out of place, much like the characters feel at times. The formatting can also be distracting; there are often POV changes that can be disorienting for the reader. While some may find these a deterrent, they are actually brilliant literary elements that add to the haunting and intricate storyline.
Haunt is truly a thrilling western story with characters readers will yearn for, feel for, and never forget. Readers will feel their own hearts break as they look into the minds of characters that they normally wouldn’t and have to choose whether their actions are justified.
June 6, 2023
*** NO SPOILERS ***
This is the first book in a series which promises to be exceptional. The atmosphere is dark and challenging. The characters are well developed and complicated. The scenes are described in a manner that made them come to life for me as if I were watching a film. The plot(s) are interwoven and the intertwining is the source of many of the conflicts.
It is a western. Not just because of the setting. That was important to me as I've seen too many "westerns" that are simply stories, most of them romances that are set in the old west but could have worked just as well in any other setting. The author makes the setting an integral part of the story.
It is a romance. It's not like most that you will find advertised as romance books. This is no "Hallmark Channel Movie" story. That is a compliment. The romance is an intrinsic part of the character development but it is not the point of the novel.
There is so much more to this book than can easily be summed up in a short review. Not a fast paced page turner but a story that I think should be read at your own pace so you can savor every bit of it. Having said that the story is engaging and you'll want to find time to read it because you can't wait to see how the story ends. Or, at least how this introduction to the story ends.
I think this a challenging but rewarding read for the serious reader who will take the time to read it. It isn't like the quick but shallow reward of a fast moving page turner that is mostly superficial and predictable right up to the "...and they lived happily ever after."
This is so much more.
I strongly recommend it and give it five stars. I am an avid reader who ARC and Beta reads for some authors while other books like this one were promoted with a copy to read in exchange for an honest review. Although some might assume the five stars is a "gimme" I've also handed out well deserved one and two star reviews,
*** NO SPOILERS ***
This is the first book in a series which promises to be exceptional. The atmosphere is dark and challenging. The characters are well developed and complicated. The scenes are described in a manner that made them come to life for me as if I were watching a film. The plot(s) are interwoven and the intertwining is the source of many of the conflicts.
It is a western. Not just because of the setting. That was important to me as I've seen too many "westerns" that are simply stories, most of them romances that are set in the old west but could have worked just as well in any other setting. The author makes the setting an integral part of the story.
It is a romance. It's not like most that you will find advertised as romance books. This is no "Hallmark Channel Movie" story. That is a compliment. The romance is an intrinsic part of the character development but it is not the point of the novel.
There is so much more to this book than can easily be summed up in a short review. Not a fast paced page turner but a story that I think should be read at your own pace so you can savor every bit of it. Having said that the story is engaging and you'll want to find time to read it because you can't wait to see how the story ends. Or, at least how this introduction to the story ends.
I think this a challenging but rewarding read for the serious reader who will take the time to read it. It isn't like the quick but shallow reward of a fast moving page turner that is mostly superficial and predictable right up to the "...and they lived happily ever after."
This is so much more.
I strongly recommend it and give it five stars. I am an avid reader who ARC and Beta reads for some authors while other books like this one were promoted with a copy to read in exchange for an honest review. Although some might assume the five stars is a "gimme" I've also handed out well deserved one and two star reviews,
*** NO SPOILERS ***
August 9, 2023
I've just finished this book and I'm not sure what words to use to best describe this incredible adventure this book has taken me through. It is the most gut wrenching, heart string pulling, frustrating yet breathtaking and incredible adventure I've ever read. Ever. It's raw and brutally honest to the core yet delicate and beautifully written in a way that really make you feel that you know these characters. Like you've met them before. The ones you love, the ones you loathe with your entire being. The ones that makes you laugh however f*cked up the situation may be, the ones that makes your heart skip a beat, the ones who betrayed your trust, the ones who keeps you from drowning. This is a western styled love story that brings you equally pain as it gives you satisfaction that shivers down to the bone and once you've read it you can't live without it. Trauma is one hell of a thing and it's a big part of the story. How it shapes us, molded in a shape you never asked for, beyond our control. But through the love from those who doesn't judge you, who sees with eyes capable of seeing deeper than the image you were made to believe you are, you find the courage and realisation that you were more than just damaged goods and an angry son of a gun. If just given the chance. A very well done and big thanks to the author for bringing this masterpiece of a book for the world to take part of. This story will Haunt me in the most exquisite way and I crave more.
December 8, 2023
I don’t normally read westerns but thanks to the author for giving me a chance to read it and give it a honest review after winning her second book.
Charlotte who took off after her mom got murdered was just trying to find a new life for herself. Hardly any money or food and only a horse for a companion. She stops in a town to stay the night and runs into a nice gentleman by the name of Will who offered her a job on his ranch. She refused. Next day run into a guy named Mac which she found out later is wanted by the law for killing people. But men have this rugged, handsome bad boy look to them. She kinda had a slight love triangle with them,
Mac had saved Charlottes life on more than one occasion. The first time she was almost raped and Mac killed the guy and all of a sudden it made her a wanted woman by the law. I swear the sheriff has a sick sense of humor for thinking charlotte killed anyone. Will helps and protects them to the best of his ability but that didn’t work out.
A lot of torment, bad memories that almost kill, the rape, and love story behind it drags you in besides the adventure. You will get invested in the characters and be rooting for one or the other. The way the story ends makes you want to read the next book to see what happens.
Charlotte who took off after her mom got murdered was just trying to find a new life for herself. Hardly any money or food and only a horse for a companion. She stops in a town to stay the night and runs into a nice gentleman by the name of Will who offered her a job on his ranch. She refused. Next day run into a guy named Mac which she found out later is wanted by the law for killing people. But men have this rugged, handsome bad boy look to them. She kinda had a slight love triangle with them,
Mac had saved Charlottes life on more than one occasion. The first time she was almost raped and Mac killed the guy and all of a sudden it made her a wanted woman by the law. I swear the sheriff has a sick sense of humor for thinking charlotte killed anyone. Will helps and protects them to the best of his ability but that didn’t work out.
A lot of torment, bad memories that almost kill, the rape, and love story behind it drags you in besides the adventure. You will get invested in the characters and be rooting for one or the other. The way the story ends makes you want to read the next book to see what happens.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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