Shivers

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Book Review: THE GHOSTS OF CRAGERA BAY by Dawn Brown (Harlequin E Shivers)

GhostsCollageSeries: Harlequin E Shivers (Box Set, Volume 3)
Publisher: Harlequin E
Release Date: July 7, 2014
Source: Review copy from NetGalley
Rating: ★★★★½

Declan James is the reluctant heir to a crumbling Welsh estate with a deadly history. He’ll never sell Stonecliff with a parapsychologist poking around fueling ghostly rumors. But his truce with beautiful Dr. Carly Evans is destined to end in bloodshed.

I’ve read three out of the four books from the Harlequin E Shivers Box Set, Volume 3, and THE GHOSTS OF CRAGERA BAY is definitely the darkest and spookiest. It gave me chills! After his biological father dies, Declan James/Meyers inherits his family’s dreary estate on the Isle of Anglesey, Wales. All he wants to do is sell the dank place known as Stonecliff as soon as possible and return to his life in Seattle.

Unfortunately, there are two major problems interfering with Declan’s plan. First, the creepy bog on the property called The Devil’s Eye has been a hub of evil over the past few decades, including numerous murders and hauntings, and no one knows why. Secondly, persistent parapsychologist Dr. Carly Evans wants to investigate Stonecliff’s unexplained paranormal activity, and she has an idea about why evil is drawn to The Devil’s Eye. If she can prove her theory, it will make selling the place all the more difficult.

THE GHOSTS OF CRAGERA BAY was a fast-paced, creepy-good Gothic romance that I really enjoyed. I was intrigued by the complex and gruesome history of Stonecliff and the mysterious bog. Declan was the consummate Gothic hero – brooding, tortured, sexy, and needing a good woman to save his soul. Carly was a likable heroine, with smarts, determination, and a fearless streak a mile long.

While reading this, I didn’t realize there were two previous books connected to it — THE DEVIL’S EYE and THE WITCH OF STONECLIFF. You don’t need to read them in order to enjoy, but I would like to go back and find out more back story details, especially about Declan’s half-sisters, Brynn and Eleri.

Disclosure: I received a copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

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Book Review: VALLEY OF NIGHTMARES by Jane Godman (Harlequin E Shivers)

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Series: Harlequin E Shivers (Box Set, Volume 3)
Publisher: Harlequin E
Release Date: July 7, 2014
Source: Review copy from NetGalley
Rating: ★★★★½

It’s 1938, and war is looming as Lilly Divine leaves London for life as a governess in a crumbling mansion. Her employer, Gethin Taran, a man as remote and compelling as the mountains encircling his home, soon has Lilly intrigued and enthralled. But there is danger as well as passion in the valley, and its ghostly source begins to stalk Lilly’s nightmares…

VALLEY OF NIGHTMARES is another enjoyable book from the Harlequin E Shivers Box Set, Volume 3. It’s reminiscent of the vintage Gothic romances where the creepy old house was itself a dynamic character. This story takes readers back to Great Britain on the eve of World War II.

A young woman named Lilly Divine travels to a dilapidated mansion in a remote Welsh village to become the governess of an orphaned girl in her uncle’s care. A series of frightening events puts Lilly and her young charge’s lives in danger, and she begins to question whether she can trust her employer, the mysterious and seductive Gethin Taran. Lilly and Gethin’s relationship was volatile and passionate, perfect for a Gothic romance.

VALLEY OF NIGHTMARES was exciting and fast-paced, with many intriguing elements that kept me reading late into the night. The heroine gets entangled in dark forces beyond her control — scheming evil men and spooky supernatural forces surrounding the valley. The author has a beautifully descriptive way with words, and I enjoyed her writing style very much. I also loved the Welsh setting and Celtic lore at the heart of this story. I’m looking forward to reading more Gothics from Ms. Godman.

Disclosure: I received a copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

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Book Review: THE GIRL IN BLUE by Barbara J. Hancock (Harlequin E Shivers)

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Series: Harlequin E Shivers (Box Set, Volume 3)
Publisher: Harlequin E
Release Date: July 7, 2014
Source: Review copy from NetGalley
Rating: ★★★★

Trinity Chadwick once helped Samuel Creed cheat death. That long-ago kiss of life kindled an obsession both sensual and macabre. When Trinity, plagued by misfortune, returns to her hometown, Samuel is already there. Is he watching over her…or awaiting some dark chance?

Shivers is a line of new Gothic romances published by Harlequin E. Barbara J. Hancock’s THE GIRL IN BLUE is the first one I’ve read, and I was impressed. This book is part of the Shivers Box Set, Volume 3. (Reviews of the other books to follow shortly.)

This was a fairly quick read, but it was packed with all of my favorite elements of the genre – steamy romance, creepy atmosphere, and the best part – troubled ghosts. The story takes place in the spooky town of Scarlet Falls, Massachusetts. I had an ominous feeling about the place from the start, especially with the eerie, lifeless lake close by. I loved learning about the lake’s back story. Disturbing.

The heroine is a young woman named Trinity, who has returned to Scarlet Falls seeking sanctuary and possibly an answer to why tragedy follows wherever she goes. And it’s not just her – the whole town is plagued by unexplained accidents. I really enjoyed the world-building in this book, and since some things were left unexplained, I’m assuming this is the foundation for a series.

Trinity had some amazing chemistry with the hero, Samuel. Samuel is a town historian, obsessed with the mysterious and macabre happenings in Scarlet Falls. They have a volatile past and haven’t seen each other for years, but the trouble following Trinity brings them back together. Trinity learns that they have a darker and deeper connection than she was aware of.

THE GIRL IN BLUE was a creepy good modern Gothic romance, and I’m looking forward to reading the rest of the box set!

Disclosure: I received a copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.