Tag Archives: Haunted house

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The Haunting of Ashburn House

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I would likely have rated this book five stars if not for its somewhat slow start; however, once it gained momentum, I found it impossible to put down. The characters are exceptionally well-developed, and as I delved deeper into the story, I genuinely grew attached to their fates. Initially, the main character comes off as somewhat naive and childish, particularly in her attempts to rationalize the unexpected inheritance she has received. Yet, as the narrative unfolds, she gradually evolves into a more mature and relatable figure.

The setting of the story is a small town, which I believe is portrayed quite authentically based on typical small-town dynamics. The plot centers on Adrienne, who unexpectedly inherits Ashburn House from an aunt she had no idea existed, as her mother had always claimed that their family tree ended with her. Adrienne initially dismissed a vivid dream she had about the house as mere fantasy, only to discover that the dream was a prelude to this shocking reality—now the house belongs to her.

However, the seemingly idyllic inheritance is shadowed by ominous rumors and chilling myths surrounding both the house and her late aunt. The narrative reveals a dark history; the town has been haunted by a gruesome family murder committed many years ago, with no one ever brought to justice, and this haunting legacy looms over its residents like a dark cloud. As Adrienne unravels the secrets of her new home, she begins to confront the possibility of ghosts, both literal and metaphorical, as she fights to escape the eerie fate that seems ready to ensnare her.

The ending truly captivated me, completely blindsiding me with a twist I never saw coming. It’s a masterful turn of events that adds an incredible layer to the story. I wholeheartedly hope that others who read this book find as much enjoyment in it as I did!

My rating: ☺☺☺☺

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Mom, I’m Scared

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The narrative took a while to resonate with me, which diminished my enjoyment. Initially, I felt disconnected from the protagonists due to their lackluster backstories. As a short story, the failure to captivate from the start is a critical flaw, given the brief window to engage the reader. Although the pace improved towards the end, the story struggled to reach a satisfying conclusion. The lack of explanations for the events left the resolution feeling incomplete.

Allison Bright, a single mother, sought a new beginning. She and her teenage daughter relocated to a dilapidated farmhouse on Maryland’s eastern shore. Soon, they began to realize the reasons behind its affordability.

Moreover, the story lacked any element of horror.

My rating: ⚝⚝

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First Contact

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First Contact by Kat Green

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


This is my first read by this author and I am glad that I took the time to try it out. The idea behind what the character does for a living is interesting and different from anything I have seen before. The setting is current and therefore makes it easier to relate to the surroundings. The characters themselves are fairly well defined and fleshed out giving you a good idea of who they are and what their motivations are. I was pretty much drawn into the story immediately, even though I had taken a bit of a dislike for the main character right away.

Sloane Osborne is a paranormal realtor, which basically means that she sells haunted houses once she can authenticate there is a haunting. Sloane’s real reason for doing this is to try and contact her dead fiance, Michael, who always said to wait or try things for a year and a day. Sloane has been looking and it has gotten to day 366 and she is hoping beyond hope it will happen.

Sloane has gone to a job in Wisconsin which she has found on her own in the hopes that it will be the one that allows her to make contact and gain her gift/curse of being able to speak with the dead. The house has a feel to it and the person employing her has not met with her. She investigates further in order to see who or what might be in the house. This places her in danger she could not have seen coming.

I did finally warm up to Sloane even if I felt like she was a weak individual in the beginning she showed me she could step up. I ended this really liking the story enough to want to read the next book in the series. There is a total creep factor and some great atmosphere. Not a lot of scares but it has a heavy feel that pulls you in and makes you a part of the hurt and betrayal of the story. Great for a Halloween read or just if you like a good ghost story.

Recommended!



View all my reviews

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The Haunting of Hill House

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The Haunting of Hill House

My rating: 4 of 5 stars
I have seen both versions of this story in movie form and actually prefer the 1960’s version for its lack of overt special effects. Saying that this is the first time I have ever read the book, though I have wanted to for years. This is a character study more than a haunted house story, but the house does play a central role. There is not an emphasis on scares but a setting of mood and atmosphere that really draws you in, very much like the original movie. The characters are not flat but come to life as well-rounded and with personalities that make them very approachable.

Hill House has stood for 80 years and is considered to be haunted or at least tainted in some way. A researcher decides to try to prove that the supernatural exists by bringing in a team to stay at the house and document their experiences. The question that needs to be answered is whether there is a haunting or is it only the imagination and psychosis of those in the house that brings it to life. Eleanor and her companions find that Hill House has its own agenda and they are a part of it.

All of the characters are very different from their cinematic counterparts in subtle ways and some very big ways. Eleanor is even more of a neurotic in the book, Theo is actually a bit nicer than depicted, and Luke is not a lush. The other characters, one not even depicted in the movie are vastly different and not necessarily for the better. If you enjoyed either movie, you should read this to get a better understanding of what happened and how things progressed. And you can see that Shirley Jackson was very good for her time.

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The Haunted

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The Haunted by Michaelbrent Collings

I would give this a solid 4.5 rating. Though the opening lines are
familiar, this just makes it feel like a story I might enjoy. I would
have just expected something a bit more original. I have always liked
haunted house mysteries because they can be the creepiest.

The
story has a slow build as you meet the characters, though there are only
two, as most of the action takes place within the walls of the house.
This house has been vacant for a long time, only occupied for short
periods of time by people from away who do not or do not believe its
history. The townspeople avoid the house perched on the hill because
though it is vacant it is not empty.

Sarah and Cap arrive and
start to move into their dream home, which they got for a low price, and
immediately feel that things are strange. Sarah is pregnant and looking
forward to starting a new life and home with her family. The only
problem is that she feels she is being watched and things keep being
moved around. Is she going crazy or is there something else going on her
new house?

I have read a lot of horror novels and it is not easy
to make me feel the dread that is supposed to be conveyed in these
stories. This one drew me in and gave me that feeling of panic and
desperation our couple were feeling. I was with them as they tried to
first find out what was happening and then trying to fight it. While it
is not super scary, it is a nail biter with a fantastic twist ending.

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