The Haunting of Willows Cottage (The Strathbairn Trilogy Book 3) by Isobel Blackthorn

 

Ingrid and her daughter Susan return to the Western Highlands of Scotland, staying at Strathbairn with Gertrude McCleod while their new home, a cottage by the loch, is redecorated. The very same day, the ghosts of Ingrid's past return when Gertrude's brother Miles arrives with his new bride and his friend Timothy.

When her former beau turned betrayer Hamish starts work on a barn conversion, Ingrid is desperate to leave Strathbairn. She rushes to move into the cottage only to find she is sharing her new home with a violent ghost.

Realising the haunting is somehow connected to Strathbairn and sensing that something at Willows Cottage must be returned, she makes every effort to discover what that it is.

While Hamish and Gertrude conspire to force Ingrid into marriage, Timothy becomes a regular caller with a romantic motive. With two suitors and two marriage proposals, who will she choose - and can she solve the haunting of Willows Cottage?

A gripping conclusion to a classic gothic mystery trilogy laced with dark family secrets.

 Ingrid and her daughter Susan have once again returned to the devious home of Gertrude McCleod in the lovely land of Scotland. The house at Strathbairn has never been a pleasant place for her to be. She has gone from being a mistreated housekeeper to a mistreated guest. Always being manipulated in some way by the family and the staff. They even use Ingrid's daughter to try to gain control over her decisions. But Ingrid is determined to fix up the cottage she has inherited and make it a lovely home for herself and her daughter. As the repairs are coming to completion and she moves into the cottage, she is once again haunted by a harmful ghost, and she must solve the mystery of why. 

 I have felt transported to the Scotland Highlands and the time of the late 19th century, experiencing the history, and the beauty of the highlands.  The way they live and the expectations of propriety. But what lies deep within, are dark family secrets, drama, harmful ghosts, and mystery.

 Isobel Blackthorn transports us into a dark, gothic atmosphere with descriptive characters. It takes us on a journey of mystery, intrigue, and a woman's will to overcome her trials and tribulations throughout this trilogy. 

 I am sad that this has come to an end. I have a love, hate relationship with these characters. It is truly Ingrid's story that I have invested in. She has been through so much turmoil and to see her finally find happiness is just so satisfying.

Format: Complimentary eBook from the author through BookSirens

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In Their Eyes by Simon F. Godin

 

A gripping slow-burn psychological horror filled with paranoia, suspense, and emotional tension from debut Canadian novelist Simon F. Godin.
Gracie Boone’s small-town life has always felt safe and comfortable. She has a doting father, a steady relationship, and a promising future at university. But the illusion of security begins to crumble the moment she moves into her new dorm room.

Before long, a motionless figure looms in the darkness outside Gracie’s window, silent and watching her in the night. But no one else sees it, and no one else believes her. Gracie’s world further unravels when she faces evidence suggesting she may have been abducted as a child by her hometown’s police chief, the man she calls Dad.

Driven by her rising paranoia, Gracie must unearth the truth about herself and determine who keeps watching her in the dark. But she has to tread lightly, as alerting her father could ruin their relationship forever, or even put her in danger.

Most of all, Gracie fears uncovering her darkest reality, that she’s been manipulated for years, and that her life is nothing more than a carefully constructed façade.

 Gracie is so excited to finally leave her small-town life and start college. Make new friends and learn to be independent. But choices made and unexplained happenings turns Gracie's life into confusion and uncertainty. As the only life she has ever known starts to unravel around her, she doesn't know who she can trust anymore. Will her choices reveal exactly what is happening and what will she do when all the secrets are uncovered?

 Gracie is the kind of character that I wanted to protect. She is young, a bit naive in her choices, and just starting to experience life outside of the safety of her home. All the strange occurrences that are happening to her are concerning and also frightening. There is a dark sense of foreboding and danger, and it only gets more intense as the story unfolds.

 The wonderful thing is that as she learns more and more about herself, she begins to become stronger, and she starts to trust herself and her own instincts. It was great to see her grow in her strengths. 

 Her father was such a frustrating character, very overprotective and something about him just didn't seem right. I guess he comes across as very loving at first, but something was always just off, and holy smokes, when all is revealed, it's crazy. What a plot twist!

 There were many moments that created that sense of not knowing exactly what was going on and there were also moments of what the hell just happened. Keeps one wanting to continue reading because you just have to know. Especially as the chapters become more intense, things are revealed, and plot twists are thrown in. 

 The ending was left a bit open to interpretation; I can only hope that Gracie finds what she is looking for.

 This is a very well written debut, and it shows the authors talent as a writer. One to watch for in the future!

Format: eBook ARC received from the author

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Night of the Witch (Crooked Tales Book 2) by Chris Harrison

In the aftermath of their harrowing escape from Crooked House, Kane and JJ return home to a hostile reception: accused of perpetrating a town-wide hoax, their dreams of online stardom are shattered. Now, alongside Zach, Meridia, and Izzy, they endure the ridicule of St Swithun’s school, trying to rebuild shattered lives.

But looming over them is a greater threat—an ancient prophecy portending apocalypse. With paranormal expert Peter Higginsworth now teaching at their school, the group stumbles upon dark secrets in Cold Christmas, awakening an ancient evil within Crooked House.

Meridia, plagued by terrifying visions, grapples with a newfound, chilling power. As nightmares bleed into reality, they're drawn into a deadly game with the malevolent Cold Christmas witch. With an enigmatic priest hunting a missing boy, they confront the sinister forces of Crooked House once more.

In the second book of the Crooked Tales series, the five friends face a supernatural entity hunting them from beyond the grave. As darkness descends, who will survive the night of the witch?

Some spirits never rest...

"But as the great Sherlock Holmes often says: when you have eliminated all which is impossible, then whatever remains, however improbable, must be the truth."

The Crooked house is ever daunting. The souls within stirring and haunting. It continues to unleash its wickedness that lies within. This time a malevolent soul, an ancient witch even more sinister of all that came before. Hunting for the soul of the one that is desired. A force so evil it takes the strong might of all to overcome its wrath. The mystery of "The Crooked House" and its haunted rooms continue to reveal its dark and sinister secrets. The Night of the Witch has begun.

"In the shadows of the past a witch's curse is reborn..."

Meridia's visions are becoming stronger and frightening. She sees that which is occurring and what is to come if she and her friends do not stand strong and fight for their very souls. The events that pull them into the darkness of all that has happened in the past and of that which is yet to come is far more frightening than what they have already battled. Peter, Meridia, Izzy, Kane, JJ, and Zach and their new friend, Father Alexander must solve the mystery of why the witch has appeared and who she is. 

Continuing from the first book The Rising, we learn so much more about the characters. each of them has their own strengths and endearing qualities. Even through the most challenging times, they are a strong unit. They must trust each other to make the right decisions to protect each other. To overcome the evil that has entered their world. What they come upon as they search for answers is pure corruption and black as pitch. So much sadness and truly fear inducing.  

The imagery is so descriptive and unsettling as it gives glimpses into futuristic desolation and into the darkest evil places. Night of the Witch is disturbing and chilling as the horrors are much more sinister, and the witch is malefic and hostile.

Leaving us with an open ending, building up the anticipation of what is yet to come in the next installment of this series, I can only imagine what kind of horrors, thrills, and chills there will be. 

Format: Purchased eBook

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