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Haunted Destiny

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Destiny Dove is the only survivor of a tragic car crash that killed her parents and baby brother. A teen uprooted from her home, she is forced to live with her New Age Grandmother whom she’s been taught her entire life to fear. If that’s not enough Destiny soon discovers she has developed the family gift of being able to see and talk to ghosts, The Shade Sight, her grandmother calls it, and Grams Rose will be the one person who can help her understand her haunted destiny.

When Destiny meets hot hunk Jake Turner along with his jealous girlfriend Amy, sparks immediately fly. Jakes sees Destiny as a new kindred spirit, while Amy sees her as a threat and is determined to ruin Destiny’s life at Blake High. But when Amy’s mother, an antiques dealer, buys Amy some old furniture, it comes with a lot more than anyone bargained for. Only Destiny stands between Amy and an ancient ghostly evil so strong it might just take the entire town of Arcadia down with it. When called upon can Destiny forgive and draw upon her new gift to save Amy and a group of local teens from certain destruction?


A party at Amy’s becomes a showdown between good and evil and will be the ultimate test for Destiny.Will the help of her grandmother, two resident ghosts and a surprise visitor be enough to rid the Morgan family of the spirit possessing them? Or will the ancient evil destroy them all?

400 pages, Paperback

First published September 14, 2012

3 people are currently reading
126 people want to read

About the author

Kelly Abell

43 books75 followers
Kelly is the author of thirteen novels. She writes young adult thrillers as well as adult romance, romantic suspense and paranormal romance. She writes about gripping characters in tense situations that keep a reader turning the pages. The greatest compliment she can receive is for someone to say they lost sleep because they just couldn't put one of her books down. She also spends a great deal of time helping other writers through her blog Write with Kelly (www.writewithkelly.wordpress.com), as the Vice President of the Paranormal Romance Guild and a member of the Florida Writer’s Association.

When not writing, which isn't often, she enjoys living in Florida with her family and loyal dog companion Snickers.

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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
Profile Image for Jennifer Treviño.
555 reviews5 followers
March 28, 2014
Spooky Awesomeness!
There are so many reasons why I loved this story! The storyline is a mixture of traditional hauntings with an eclectic twist. While the plot is not overly complicated it is very entertaining in a spine tingling way. The characters are eccentric & pull you in. And what a finale! A terrific young adult paranormal tale I will enjoy sharing with my kids!
Profile Image for Kim Pruitt.
312 reviews
May 19, 2015
The story begins in 1815 with a psycho man killing his daughter because he thinks she is a witch! Not quite sure where this story will take me, this part of the story picks up again later in the book. Then we arrive in the present time with a happy family of four on vacation and they get into a car accident! Destiny, the teenage daughter, is the only one conscious after the wreck and is trying to help her baby brother out of his restraints when she is yanked out by her ankles only to then witness the car exploding! Even though the story has just begun, and I don't have any connection to the characters yet, I am in tears.

Three weeks later...Destiny is with her grandmother Rose now, her only living relative. Destiny had to say goodbye to her life and start a new one with grams in Arcadia, FL. She knows no one, is having nightmares about the crash, and mourning still, but Rose believes Destiny just needs to get out there and make some new friends to lift her spirits. Destiny meets her neighbor Amy and her boyfriend Jake while they are riding on the farm. Jake is immediately welcoming towards Destiny but Amy not so much...With Destiny finding out the family secret, and Amy hating on her for taking away her boyfriend's attention, how does one try to make friends in the middle of all that!

I really enjoyed the story of Destiny and her family. The tragedy that Destiny had endured I think is what opened her mind and allowed her to accept the family "gift" she inherited. Considering that Destiny had never met her grandmother, just lost her family, was still able to hold herself together with the "gift" news, and be intrigued enough to want to learn about it says a lot of her personality, maturity, and overall character. Rose's character was very likeable, and came across with the perfect blend of love, patience and understanding. There were many times when Destiny was being a heel, and Rose handled the situation like a pro.

Jake and Amy are night and day. Jake is hard working, polite, open minded, and friendly. Amy is not. How these two ended up as a couple I have no idea. But Jake and Destiny seem to have an immediate connection that Amy notices and she acts like a typical spoiled brat about the whole thing, even thought Destiny and Jake have kept their relationship platonic. Amy's possessiveness and jealousy only get worse and it really pisses Jake off. Like a true gentlemen however, Jake stays true to his nature and stays with Amy despite her crappy attitude towards Rose and Destiny.

The story takes on another tragedy and the evil plot thickens. Will Destiny embrace her gift and learn how to control it in time to help with the evil afoot or get her soul sucked out of her?? Will Amy and Jake make it through her jealous rage and be able to work things out? Does Destiny ever stop blaming herself for not saving her baby brother in time? There are so many awesome twists to this story that I haven't even touched on that you NEED to read about! I loved every minute of the drama, thrills, and tears. I give this my stamp of approval and highly recommend this book despite the fact that their were no sexy times in it all all!
Profile Image for Elissa.
Author 27 books75 followers
February 24, 2013
First off, let me just say that while I have enjoyed many books here recently, but to just say I loved this book, well it just doesn't cut it. Haunted Destiny is a Young Adult Paranormal Fiction, with some hint of romance. If you like a good ghost story, you are going to love this book.

Destiny Dove is in a tragic accident, losing her mother, father, and little brother, who she tries desperately to save. Suddenly orphaned, Destiny finds herself living with her estranged grandmother. Now I must say, her grandmother is my kind of woman, the town weirdo so to speak, with the gift of mediumship. When Destiny is lounging around on the farm, a man approaches her and strikes up a conversation, then mysteriously disappears. She later finds out he is a ghost, well a shade actually. From there Destiny's journey continues. She learns about her abilities and helps a friend's sister communicate through the other side.

Now that is just a portion of the tale. On the other side of the farm, you have Amy, beautiful cheerleader and spoiled brat. Her mother has bought her a set of furnishings to refurbish together. Unbeknownst to either of them, these furnishings came with their own baggage, a demon Azazul who is trying to possess the living beings around him, much like the Judge he possessed many years ago, making him a veritable monster who abused then killed his family. Amy thinks that Destiny is out to get her boyfriend, so we also have a semi-love triangle going on here too, which I actually enjoyed. Teenage angst, who knew?

I do not want to give away the whole story or how it ends, but I will say this. If you are anything like me you are going to have a great time reading this book. The characters are relatable, the writing is fantastic, and the pace makes it easy to read. The only negative comment I had was that I was not ready for it to end, even though everything was thoroughly wrapped up. Loved, loved, loved this book! Kelly Abell you are my definitely on my buy list!
Profile Image for OpenBookSociety.com .
4,108 reviews135 followers
November 19, 2012
Brought to you by OBS reviewer Dawn

The prologue is gripping. It’s so horrific that you can’t help but be sucked into the story.

Destiny is unique to say the least. Her whole world has changed since her family’s death. She meets her Grandmother Rose for the first time. Destiny’s mother had been estranged from her mother. Destiny has grown up with a prejudice against Rose but she puts it aside and keeps an open mind.

Destiny wants to make some friends before school begins. She meets Jake and Amy out riding horses. There’s an attraction between Destiny and Jake; not good. And don’t think Amy is unaware; she is a cruel self-absorbed spoiled brat.

Destiny discovers herself as she learns about her gifts. She’s very aware of the responsibility that comes with it. It’s scary but she faces it head on. I like Destiny; she is a very relatable character. She’s remarkably mature for a girl her age.

I love Grandma Rose! Rose welcomes Destiny with open arms. She guides her through the difficult times. She doesn’t coddle her but she shares wisdom through experiences.

Jake and Amy are an interesting pair. I was impressed with how accepting he was of Destiny’s gift. I also loved that he put Amy in her place when she got out of hand.

The plot is great, the characters are even better. I like the writing style.

It’s going to be a fun series. I recommend it to young adults and women.

http://openbooksociety.com/article/ha...
Profile Image for Karen Fuller.
Author 41 books79 followers
October 11, 2010
I purchased this book expecting a YA ghostly romance, and I got so much more. I really enjoyed Destiny's story. Kelly Abell spun a chillingly realistic tale, and a very good read. I highly recommend it.
Profile Image for PRINCESS.
440 reviews13 followers
September 28, 2017
Frosthaven, Connecticut 1815.
Believing that she is a witch and her mum and brother are carrying a curse, her father sets a firs in the house, kills her mum and little brother and Enya takes her last breath. The last thing Enya experienced in her short innocent life was the sulfurous stench of his breath as he laughed his demonic laugh.


Acradia, Florida 2008.
Destiny has lost her mother, brother and father less than a week ago. She is now leaving with her grandmother; Rose. She finally befriends their neighbor; Amy and Jake. These two couple are far away of having similarities and soon Jake gives his attention to Destiny where Amy starts to hate her.
With Amy’s drama of being jealous, the thriller starts and the books keeps your mind open for hints. The story goes on and we see that Destiny figures new talents or abilities in her which she has inherited from her grandmother and on the other hand Amy gets involved with Azazul who is trying to possess the living being around him.


A book of 400 pages but I wished that was longer. It made me engage deeply. I loved the storytelling, character’s details; the power of keeping you drawn in guessing for the next event and the fascinating opening where glues your finger to the last page.
Profile Image for Valerie Mcqueen.
204 reviews7 followers
January 10, 2013
Haunted Destiny by Kelly Abell

Rating5*****

This book was provided free from the author in exchange for honest literary review.
Michelle McQueen
YATR review panel

Destiny had her while world changed with the accident. Being the only person in her family to survive, she is now sent to live with her grandma. The same grandma she was never allowed to see. The sane grandma her mother thought was a witch.
Settling in with her grandmother Rose, Destiny realizes that there truly is something to the story her mother told her. At the same time, she feels drawn to the loving woman who really is all she has left in this world. Can she let go of where she came from in order to accept who she is destined to be....
I love this story. It is a very intense read. There is sorrow and joy, young love and pain all mixed up in one. Plus the demon capable of possession is seriously scary. I had to finish this one in one sitting.....it will not let you put it down.
Each of the characters are well developed and well some I down right loved and others I down right hated. The descriptions of scenes are excellent provided the reader with an excellent visual. Editing was awesome and the plot is original as well as fast moving. I would like to actually see more of Destiny. Hint to author, she would be an amazing star of a series!!!
A recommended read that goes for ya or adult. One I will definitely will read again!!! Happy Reading!!!
Profile Image for Grammy 1.
805 reviews18 followers
January 29, 2010
picked up Kelly Abells book as I saw it on a forum and wanted to be able to give myself and my grandchildren something fun to read and yet have it believeable...I always read first for content and just thought how wonderful this story was and how creative the writer...
Destiny is a young girl who was suddenly touched by tragedy. In a car accident that claimed her mother, father and baby brother she is taken from her rather elite home and moves to a trailer with a grandmother she never knew.

She is thrown into turmoil of being new in town, and wanting to make friends and ends up enemies with the "rich and spoiled" Amy who bellieves she wants her boyfriend Jake.

The story is about destiny finding herself, learning to deal with who she is and the evil that surrounds Amy and her family...The supernatural theme was written well, all characters were believable and being from the area Ms Abell writes about...I felt "there"

My grandson has started reading the story...I think he and his friends will love it as much as I did...Cudos Ms Abell...a story for all generations...
Profile Image for Jenifer Ruff.
Author 67 books633 followers
January 30, 2015
Haunted Destiny is a smoothly written spooky story. After a car crash kills her family, Destiny Dove is sent to live with her Grandmother, whom she hardly knows. Destiny soon discovers that her mother hid a family secret, one Destiny unknowingly inherited. With patience and wisdom, the grandmother teaches her to use her newly discovered gift. Meanwhile, Jake, the kind and handsome boy from down the road, does his best to help Destiny adjust to her new surroundings. But with Jake comes Amy, his jealous and vindictive girlfriend, who desperately wants to keep Jake from falling for Destiny. Amy and her friends produce some of the best and most realistic teenage dialogue I’ve ever read. This is a coming of age story within a ghost story. In the final pages, Abell delivers a positive lesson learned when one more secret is revealed about her Grandmother.

Kelly Abell writes with a soothing tone that makes the first unexpected events all the more spooky. Everything that happens and the accompanying explanations are believable.
Profile Image for ♦Jennifer♦.
143 reviews11 followers
March 6, 2010
Overall, this is something I would recommend for those on the younger end of the YA spectrum. Being closer to Destiny's age might help the reader like and/or understand Destiny better. The characters were consistent, and the story was solid. I just wish that Destiny would've been more assertive, or that it went a little more in depth to why the furniture was being haunted.

You'll soon be able to see the full review at Literary Escapism.
Profile Image for Susan Ritter.
129 reviews2 followers
December 17, 2015
Hauntingly amazing!!!!!
I loved this book!!! Yes it's a YA, yes I'm an adult, and yes I was hooked from the prologue. Please please please I want more books about Destiny, her friends, family, and others.... I was enthralled from the beginning to the end, I love the strong writing, the story flows so smoothly.  A must read for YAs and Adults if you are looking thriller, but the bonus is life lessons, relationships, love, ok some gross horror, supernatural and sooooo much more. 
Profile Image for Caroline Rolley.
43 reviews3 followers
June 21, 2013
The "final battle" and the ending felt really rushed compared to the rest of the book but it was a good read.
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews

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