A High Heels Haunting

High Heels #4.5

by Gemma Halliday

From New York Times, USA Today, and #1 Kindle Bestselling author Gemma designer Kya Badder is as Plain-Jane as they come. So, when she sees an ad for a impractically gorgeous pair of red heels on Maddie Springer's wesbite, where the model is everything Kya isn't - beautiful, confident and sexy - she can't help buying them. And can't help doing a little strutting around town in them. Suddenly, thanks to her fab footwear, Kya's caught up in a new whirlwind life - a modeling contract of her own, a gorgeous boyfriend, and a life in the fast lane. It's almost as if she's stepped right into that sexy model's life. But when Kya begins having strange dreams and learns that the model died under mysterious circumstances, she learns to be careful what she wishes for, as the killer threatens to strike Previously published as "Haunted" and "So I Dated an Axe Murderer" in the anthology "These Boots Were Made for Strutting"."In Gemma Halliday's delightfully clever (A High Heels Haunting), office worker Kya buys a pair of killer stilettos worn by a supermodel and somehow ends up dating the woman's model boyfriend, Blake, who just might have murdered his ex… fresh, fun and fabulous." - Chicago Tribune"A nice love story with a suspenseful twist!" - All About Romance"(A High Heels Haunting) will entertain and delight!" - Romantic Times

Genres: Mystery, Romance, Cozy Mystery, Chick Lit, Short Stories, Fiction, Mystery Thriller

98 pages, Kindle Edition

First published April 1, 2008

About the author

Gemma had a hard time figuring out what she wanted to be when she grew up. She worked as a film and television actress, a teddy bear importer, a department store administrator, a preschool teacher, a temporary tattoo artist, and a 900 number psychic, before finally selling her first book, Spying in High Heels, in 2005 and deciding to be a writer.

Since then, Gemma has written several mystery novels and been the recipient of numerous awards, including a National Reader's Choice award and three RITA nominations. Her books have hit both the USA Today and the New York Times Bestseller lists.

Gemma now makes her home in the San Francisco Bay area where she is hard at work on her next book.

Reviews

[Ann · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read half of the books in this series a few years ago but had missed this novella. Unfortunately, other than a couple of mentions of her name, the main character of the series wasn’t in this book.

[Kara Rutledge · Rating 4 out of 5]

While purchasing Peril in High Heels (High Heels, #11) by Gemma Halliday and Kelly Rey, I thought I'd check to see if A High Heels Haunting (High Heels, #4.5) by Gemma Halliday was available for purchase because every time I went to buy it previously, it was never available. I was super excited that I was finally able to buy it.

Since A High Heels Haunting is really a novella, I was able to finish it in one sitting. Although it is technically part of the High Heels book series, Maddie Springer was barely in the book, and I wasn't expecting that, so I was very disappointed.

It was very well written and kept me intrigued. I feel like if it hadn't been tied to the High Heels book series, I would've enjoyed it so much more because I kept waiting for Maddie to make a big appearance. What I did love was that I never guessed who the killer was . . . I guessed someone completely different.

The novella is about a web designer named Kya Badder who falls in love with a pair of red high heels that she finds on Maddie Springer's website and decides to buy them. When Kya finally gets the shoes and puts them on, she feels like a supermodel and becomes very confident in herself. All of a sudden, her luck changes and lands a modeling contract AND a boyfriend. But, when Kya starts dreaming about a supermodel's death, she becomes suspicious and starts asking all the right questions to the wrong people.

I gave A High Heels Haunting (High Heels, #4.5) by Gemma Halliday four out of five stars since it didn't feature Maddie Springer, which disappointed me. This novella can be read as a stand alone book and doesn't need to be read between Alibi in High Heels (High Heels, #4) and Mayhem in High Heels (High Heels, #5) since it doesn't really progress the story line of Maddie.

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[Ken Finlay · Rating 3 out of 5]

“A High Heels Haunting”, a shot prequel to the 'High Heels' series, is a funny piece of fluff.
Kya Badder is a computer nerd, more or less invisible to men, and she's happy that way.
Until she impulse buy a pair of incredibly sexy red shoes … meet party-girl Kya Star!
She even lands a job as a model and gets herself a brand new boyfriend, the model and incredibly sexy Blake Stone.
But, even as she is increasingly attracted to him, she's having nightmares about the death of his previous girlfriend - officially it was death by misadventure but the dreams suggest something different.
Unfortunately for the reader by the time it gets interesting on the murder front it is all over.
It's professionally plotted and well written but doesn't really do anything more than sketch the details.
3 Stars.

[Ashley Sabatka · Rating 3 out of 5]

Quick read. Enjoyed it & want to read the rest of thos series I haven't read yet.

[Nancy Bultman]

Fun

Fast, fun read. Love the High Heels Mysteries series. Can't wait to read more. Could use a bit more story. Otherwise, I liked it.

[Mrs V Reaney · Rating 5 out of 5]

These books are so great! As soon as I’ve read one, I start the next. Easy to read, not too deep. Great stories at the same time. Just what you need to escape real life. 👍🏼

[Brandie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Short story. Enjoyable read.

[Martine · Rating 2 out of 5]

The main character of this series isn't in this book, she is only mentioned briefly as the designer of the red shoes the main character in this book buys and wears.

[Veronica]

Skipping this book in the series as it doesn’t seem to fit along with fashion designer and amateur sleuth Maddie.

[Alexandria Blaelock · Rating 4 out of 5]

Quick read, didn’t see the end coming. Nice cosy mystery.

[Melissa · Rating 1 out of 5]

This was a short story set somewhat in the world of the High Heels series. It was okay, but I wanted another round with the HH gang and got a whole other gang instead. This new gang didn't feel fleshed out and the mystery was pretty easy to figure out.



Taking place in San Francisco, we have Kya Bader, web designer and plain Jane. Kya decides on a spur of the moment to buy a pair of Maddie Springer original design from her High Heels Seduction line (hence the connection to the HH series). Kya receives the pair of red strappy high heels and decides to go out with two co-workers to a club before returning the sexy shoes and returning to her boring life. After a series of events and much discovery is that the model who wore those shoes in Maddie's ads died under mysterious circumstances and Kya was not so slowly starting to live the model's life up to the day she died. Kya decides to catch the killer by using herself as bait. She gets the killer (sort of) and the model's former boyfriend for herself, but keeps the shoes.



I read this while working out at the gym. It was something to keep my mind occupied, but I wasn't invested in any of this. Maddie makes a brief appearance, but not enough to get me to care.

[Pattianne · Rating 5 out of 5]

A High Heels Haunting - High Heel Mystery Series - (Jack and Maddie) this is ot a Maddie story

Web designer Kya Badder is as Plain-Jane as they come. So, when she sees an ad for a impractically gorgeous pair of red heels on Maddie Springer's website, where the model is everything Kya isn't - beautiful, confident and sexy - she can't help buying them. And can't help doing a little strutting around town in them. Suddenly, thanks to her fab footwear, Kya's caught up in a new whirlwind life - a modeling contract of her own, a gorgeous boyfriend, and a life in the fast lane. It's almost as if she's stepped right into that sexy model's life. But when Kya begins having strange dreams and learns that the model died under mysterious circumstances, she learns to be careful what she wishes for, as the killer threatens to strike again.

[Elizabeth Graf · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very cute short story.

Kya Bader is a plain Jane. One day she spies an ad for a pair of Maddie Springer shoes. She is in love with this pair red strappy heels. Kya caves in and purchases them. Kya suddenly has the confidence of a woman who knows what she wants, has fun, flirts, and everything else. While wearing the shoes she meets RJ Alexander who is with a modeling agency. Kya goes along with it as she figures the next they will see she is nothing specoal and just a plain Jane. Kya meets Blake who is a model as well.

I won't spoil the rest for you but need to have a bit of an open mind when reading as the story goes on around a series of dreams which seem to be the truth about a death that occurred in the past.

A cute enjoyable read. Finished it in one setting.

[Lori · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed reading this novella, my first Gemma Halliday, and would have given it 4 stars except I figured out who the murderer was before it was revealed. I hate when I'm right because I miss the excitement of the revelation. I will be reading more Gemma Halliday in future and hope that I won't be able to figure out who the killer(s) is, if any.

[Maetta · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another fun mystery with a quirky female lead character. Fast read! Kya is a shy accountant who has admired the Maddie Springer (another Halliday character) line of sexy shoes. She buys a pair and decides to loosen up by going to a club where she impresses a guy who offers her a job modeling. Then other things happen.

[Edna Faaiu · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ghosts, Murder, and Maddie’s Usual Chaos

A haunted house, a mystery, and Maddie right in the middle of it? Yes, please! This book had the perfect mix of humor, spooky vibes, and twists that kept me hooked. Maddie’s antics were hilarious, the mystery was fun, and Ramirez? Still a favorite. A fast, entertaining read with a paranormal twist!

[Lisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this after reading the High Heel Series. It has nothing to do with those characters, aside from Maddie's shoes. It's a really good plot, I enjoyed Kya's character as well. I liked the ghost/premonitions too, very different from the High Heels series and it was cool to read.

[Vickie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am a big fan of Gemma Halliday's High Heel Mysteries, so of course I had to read this! I tip my hat to the author for creating characters so likable and giving them a great plot full of mystery, suspense, action, and romance. Great little read.

[Mark Anthony DiBernardo · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a fantastic read, the author kept the storyline going with new twists at every chapter. Great thriller, recommend highly, would make an awesome movie!------Mark A. DiBernardo, author and playwright

[Dana · Rating 5 out of 5]

this book is more paranormal suspense rather than paranormal romance, but it was well written and highly entertaining, a great read, excellently written...

[Sally Walker · Rating 3 out of 5]

Well I have to say it is one of the best dollars I have spent. It kept me entertained though :)

[Teresa Scott · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was good, but not as good as the high heel series.

[Heidi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyed the story. A plain Jane turns model and party girl with the help of some sexy shoes! Love the high heels book and enjoyed this book even with the break from the usual characters.

[Genji Bailey · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a fun short story! Loved it!

[Sherry · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute story, but not really part of the series.

[Charleen Marx sowards · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was a "cute" book, not the typical High Heels so I was mildly disappointed. Still it was decent and easy to read.

[Joan N · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute story. Short and sweet. You could almost hear Kya talking and telling her story.

[Jessie · Rating 4 out of 5]

A quick and suspenseful read.

[Bkwrm · Rating 2 out of 5]

It was a simple and easy read. The ending was predictable but i still likes its simplicity. Good read for a novice.

[Nicky · Rating 3 out of 5]

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