Excellent gothic novel!
587137
When Catherine came home from school in France, she found her home as gloomy and repressive as ever.  She longed for a chance to escape from it, and when she met Gabriel, she did just that.  They were married and she went to live with him in Kirkland Revels.  Almost as soon as the arrived, Gabriel died.  People said it was suicide, but Catherine thought otherwise.  After she found out she was with child, strange things started happening, and she realized that someone was trying to kill her - and her child!

I love gothic novels, and this one is one of the best!  If you have never read one before, or if you have read a hundred, this is the book for you!
2780966
It has been awhile since a book in the Gothic genre has entertained me so well. The story rings true, all the expectations of an old fashioned horror tale are met. Unlike the old books, this story held nothing back. The macabre was presented to the adult reader in an honest manner while adhering to the conventions of a real Gothic horror. Great scenes and descriptions of churches and Paris streets, developed characters with love interests and secrets, and let's not forget the heroes and villains who jump off the page.

Don't read this book in the dark.

I first read the short story Carmilla by J.S. Le Fanu since the author did get inspiration from that short story and used the character General Spielsdorf, as his protagonist, and the Karnstein brother and sister as antagonists. The author, William Garrett Evans, breathed new life into these characters and submerged them into a twisting plot that kept a good pace. The horrors were over the top, just the way we like our Gothic fiction.

I will begin the second book in the series, compelled to see what develops for General Theodore Spielsdorf and his new associates  introduced at the end of the first tale. It suggests an even deeper, mystery with much more to come . . . I'm looking forward to reading book two.
4249423
This story put me in mind of Northanger Abbey by Jane Austen. It has a Gothic feel to it, with talk of ghosts, fairies, and a "haunted" forest. Sarah E. Ladd writes an intriguing story, with a plot that is ripe with surprises. I wanted to visit Emberwilde in all it's grandeur and the Emberwilde Forest (a.k.a. the Black Wood Forest) in all it's haunting beauty.

I love Isabel Creston. She does her best to remain true to herself, even with all the changes and expectations her family places on her. I admired her ability to, in the end, do what's right. Colin Galloway is now one of my favorite male heroes. His ability to accept his birthright and fit in with those from all classes is unmatched. He is honorable, good, and handsome. With a cast full of overbearing characters like Mrs. Ellison and Mr. Bradford, and characters that just like to keep the peace, such as Constance Ellison, Colin helps Isabel hold on to herself.

The message of the story, as the title would imply, is about God's mercies being new every morning. As Isabel's friend Mary reminds her, "We do not find ourselves in new situations by accident. Oh, no! Remember, with each dawn seek guidance, and with each night give gratitude." Isabel learns to turn to God each morning for guidance and give gratitude for the things He has done for her by facing the trials that her family imposes on her.

Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed this story. It was an exciting change of pace from what I had been reading and I look forward to reading more from this wonderful author.

*I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher through the Litfuse blogging program in exchange for my honest review*
4169121
This is a treacherous romance set within a backdrop of Steampunk and dark Gothic Victorian England. The machinery of the book does not eclipse the development of the main characters. The gas lamps and mechanical horses add to a flavor of fantasy that is very appealing as it provides both a dark and cold atmosphere that perfectly complements the affair of the two men.

The young story teller, Cedo Reilly, is lost in the city's streets since his mother disappeared in his childhood. He was more enterprising than rogue, although perhaps equal parts exist in his psyche. His street life changes overnight when the principle warmonger and weapons creator, Erus Veetu, decides to be entertained.

From the moment that Cedo decides to follow Ventu, his life grows slowly more passionate, and ultimately much more dangerous. Like all imbalanced relationships, there is growing danger and disaster in the story line. It has many twists and plot developments that I found excellently executed and delightfully revealed.

If you already enjoy elements of Gothic Fiction, Steampunk culture, and forbidden romances then you will truly enjoy "Mars On The Rise". 5 Stars.
342333
A beautifully written gothic romance novel with the sexy turned up to modern' readers tastes. The scarred hero with his brooding and self-loathing, the spirited young woman struggling to make sense of things who manages to break through his walls, the mysterious happenings in a gloomy castle, possible haunting and the lingering spirit of a crazy, dead first wife. It has all the hallmarks of the genre. Also has some serious heat and sex scenes. Plays it off quite well. I look forward to the writer's next offering!
1530291
Gothic Creepiness and Plenty of Terror
I have never been a lover of historical books however in The Sance Jack Rollins gives such effortless atmosphere that I found myself drawn in from page one.  At 56 pages this in not a long read but it is full of gothic creepiness and plenty of terror, with twists and turns that will keep you looking over your shoulder and a surprise ending that does not disappoint.

Albert Kench arrives back from Australia to find his sister in the rather strange and creepy Oakbridge Asylum.  The staff are all smiles and everything seems too perfect so Albert sets out to discover why his sister is catatonic. He visits an old flame who tells him that she attended a sance and there begins his desire to investigate the supernatural.

This book is beautifully written and the author is able to immerse you in both the period and the characters. You are there with them all the way and it makes the twists and turns of this story all the more terrifying.  5 Creepy Stars for The Sance.
3693660
I could not put my e reader down. I love Gothic novels. Juila Eliston is a woman who is an orphan and who is placed in the care of her guardian that is determined to send her to Scotland to as a companion to a widow. She resolves to get a husband but who will she chose Edward the man she loves or the mysterious Mr. Macy who claims he can keep her safe? This was an intriguing novel with twists and I was constantly questioning the characters motives. I can wait to read the next novel in this series as several questions and plots were left unresloved. Jessica Dotta is an author whose  suspensful writing and vivid characterization makes her an author to watch. I have already cleared a space on my bookshelf for her  future novels. A special thanks to Tyndale and net galley for this arc!
1480321
As a kid, I loved those tame gothic romances.  As an adult, I need more- more twists, more suspense; and more spice in my story.  This book covers all the bases, as well as having a twist at the end that surprised me.  I love when that happens. This is Eve Silver's best story yet.  Be advised that it is dark (that's what a gothic is about) and the hero and heroine had to endure horrible experiences in their pasts.  You are drawn into wanting them to find love and healing, as well as retribution for the killer.  The story keeps you on the edge of your chair, and culminates absolutely PERFECTLY!  Can't wait for Eve's next book.
3570974
Really enjoyed this book. I must admit I do like gothic type novels. This had many twists and turns in it which were all satisfactorily answered. Nothing was left up in the air.
Its about a woman (Mrs Morgan) who has married an undertaker in Victorian London. She finds she has a talent for dealing with the dead and their families. The preparation of the body is interesting as embalming was just coming into favour from America. It is very tastefully written. She comes in contact with Prince Albert who finds her occupation fasinating and tell Queen Victoria when his time comes he wants Mrs Morgan to prepare him and organise his funeral.
This novel has a bit of everything - abandoned child, train crash, smuggling arms to America, the civil war, Queen Victoria and murder.  As I mentioned it all ties in very well.
For anyone interested in Victorian funeral customs this was just fascinating. Funeral establishments dealt with everything from laying out of the body to the funeral, burial, monuments even mourning clothes and jewellery.
3659300
I loved every minute of this book! (Except for the beginning prologue. I nearly put it aside as being yet another vampire book. Im very glad I didn't since I love old-fashioned Gothic-type stories, and this felt inspired by Daphne du Mauriers Rebecca, but with several paranormal twists). At its heart is an entrenching mystery, that you have fun unraveling and figuring out just what makes Thaddeus so shy, reclusive, and mysterious. Just like in Rebecca we have the reclusive billionaire just bringing home a new woman from a low income bracket, who struggles to fit in with all the wealth and expectations suddenly surrounding her. We also have the remote sprawling mansion complete with locked doors as well as the dead wife who seems to haunt the story with a massive mystery surrounding her. What we are lacking is the suspicious housekeeper and other assorted people visiting the mansion. Where I thought the book fell short in was the people hunting Thaddeus. They were your typical blood-thirsty killers. And the whole reveal felt off-kilter from the rest of the story which had a leisurely, fog-filled atmosphere, then suddenly in a rush within one chapter, everything is revealed to the heroine with no real leading up to it other than the closing in of the killers, turning the story from a contemporary mystery with a dash of paranormal into a full-fledged flight of fantasy paranormal, with tons of facts and history being thrown at the reader (not that I don't read full fantasy paranormals, but all the facts that suddenly flooded the chapter was a bit much). Still, I am attached enough to dark, troubled Thaddeus, and insecure Winnie enough to itch to pick up the next installment of The Moon Trilogy and see where it takes them.
2768425
Call me crazy, but I am all sorts into moors right now. I'm reading another book, inspired by Jane Eyre and I decided to pick up another book that had been sitting on my ereader, just begging to be read. I won an e-copy of this through a contest. So totally excited!

Sara Foster's debut Beneath the Shadows is a contemporary gothic novel that surprised me quite a bit. I was under the impression that gothic novels were only historical. Boy, was I wrong!

In the beginning, I was hooked. It only took about 5 pages before I literally could NOT put the book down and ended up reading it in a nearly marathon, nonstop session. The character of Grace is clear. You see her navigate the cautious path of an abandoned woman trying to regain a sense of self as well as carve out a life of her own for her child's sake. I don't envy her, she almost seems to calm, until you see her shaken. From the beginning, I kept thinking about motives and who could have been responsible for what. Yes, I thought foul play from the beginning,

I really enjoyed how real all of the characters seemed, despite some of the more fantastical elements the spooky environment would lend to them. I've never been to England, but I picture the countryside being spooky and having fantastical elements that would prompt spooky nights and probably bad dreams. From the middle of the book, I was thinking there would be a link to another character, but I was wrong. Which I LOVED! So rare is it that I can read a book and be surprised, that I love when it happens and want to read more and more from the author.

Sara Foster gives the reader a great story, coupled with a really fantastic cast of unforgettable characters. People who read Beneath the Shadows will be drawn in and really excited to see what happens next, even if they aren't necessarily gothic fans. This is a gothic novel that reads contemporary. While I wouldn't call it a beach read (only because you won't get spooked), I would say this is a perfect `I want to stay up all night' book. Because you WILL stay up all night, drawn into the story and the characters and even the ghosts in this book.

Yes, there are ghosts...what `gothic' novel would be without ghosts?

I cannot say enough about how fantastic I found this book to be and you can now go get it--it's been out for just over a week. So rather than keep you here, I would suggest you go buy it now.

Special thanks to Minotaur Books and NetGalley for making this possible. I was provided an egalley copy as part of winning a contest. Author Sara Foster has a website you can go and look around
2703929
This book is a gothic suspense of the highest calibre, one that challenges the reader to decipher between what your mind and eyes want you to see and what is actually happening. The reader has to wonder what connections the mind is joining and what connections are occuring in reality, and it isn't always easy to guess right.

When Eve meets Dom in a garden labrynth by Lake Geneva she cannot believe her good fortune. She has been feeling bored and unmoored from her current job and life and has been wondering what she was really supposed to be doing with her life. Dom is older, rich and at free to do as he wishes when he sold his business for a great profit. He is kind and seems to really enjoy spending his time with Eve. When he alerts her that he is moving to the French countryside in Province she feels it is the right thing to do to go with him. After all, it will be so exciting renovating and repairing the derelict hamlet called Les Genevriers Dom as purchased and it will give her the chance to work on her dream project: translating some little known French gem of a text into English.

One point seems to be quite a thorn in Dom and Eve's relationship, however: Dom's ex-wife Rachel. He refuses to speak about her beyond saying that thier relationship ended badly and demands that Eve drop her from all conversations. When Dom lets slip that Rachel had been to Les Genevriers a black shadow seems to slowly begin to fall over them. Why has Dom brought her to this isolated but lovely hamlet? Where is Rachel and what happened between her and Dom?

As Eve and Dom's story unfolds and as their fresh beginnings of the summer begin to chill into the wintery landscape, Even begins to feel that she doesn't really know Dom at all. A local Provencal business woman, Sabine, seems intent on leading Eve down a path towards what happened to Rachel. But who is Eve to trust, when she is stuck out in a lonely countryside and not sure that she truly knows the man lying next to her? And what of the strange occurences that seem to be happening just outside of Eve's understanding? Are they not alone at Les Genevriers?

Interspered with Eve's story is the story of Benedicte Lincel, former occupant of Les Genevriers. Her family had owned the house and land for many generations, but a dark cloud hung over them as well. With a psychotic brother and a loving but sometimes distrant blind sister, Benedicte is left to try to keep Les Genevriers and her family from destruction. But when her brother demands that the farm and land be sold after the death of their parents and neither sister wishes to do so, how far will he go to get what he wants? Will Benedicte ever be able to forgive herself for her believed part in the destruction of their family?

I cannot recommend this book enough for anyone who loves a good mystery into what goes bump in the night and what our mind deciphers of the darkness in each corner. The descriptions of the landscape and the history of the harsh hillside life of France was simply breathtaking. If you don't smell the lavendar and feel the sharp stones underfoot than you aren't reading the same book. I cannot wait to see what Deborah Lawrenson has next to offer!
3822749
The Madman's Daughter is a unique gothic adventure with breathtaking romance and a terrifying fight for survival on an island gone mad.

Our heroine, Juliet is alone, possessing an inner strength that has sustained her through her familys fall from society and her mothers death. She is quiet, humble, yet confident and very brave when the situation calls for it. She is also odd, different from most other people, and harbors great fear of descending into the same madness as her father.

The love triangle in this novel is perfectly executed and oh so romantic. Prepare for much swooning while reading this book. Just for the record I am Team Montgomery.

Her childhood friend, Montgomery is a seemingly steadfast young man. An orphan who looks to Juliets father, the man who practiacally rasied him, as a parent and sorce of encouragement. Yet his motives remain very mysterious, which only adds to his appeal as a romantic interest. That and the fact that he is clearly in love with Juliet. However he does keep some very important and possibly dangerous secrets.

Edward is the strange and compelling castaway, I must admit I didn't care for him at first. During the readers initial encounter with him, he is boring and his back story seems achingly predictable. However near the middle of the novel as the truth of how he ended up adrift at sea is revealed my opinion of him shifted. Readers will find him engaging and an appealing enigma.

The other characters are no less intriguing. On this island of misfits Dr. Moreau's experiments worship him as a deity and the doctor relishes being in control of his own little world. He pushes the boundaries of morality and science in his quest to create a better, or even perfect ,being.

Throughout the story the author teases the reader with the strange behavior and small revelations of some characters, heightening the mystery and excitement. The characters themselves are thoughtful and incredibly complex. No one is who they say they are, or even who they think they are.

The best part of this novel has to be the many surprises and unexpected twists. Especially the big surprise, which I can't even mention because of obvious reasons. This particular twist is just absolute genius and comes completely out of the blue. And that ending! Arrggghhh! Not exactly a cliff hanger but still enough intrigue to have you running to the book store for the next installment.
2395924
I'd forgotten how much fun this novel is! Northanger Abbey was actually Austen's first completed novel as far as history knows, although it was published posthumously, long after her other works were published.  It's really the funniest and most satirical of all her novels, and the gothic tomfoolery is what kills me.  I just love it.

A brief plot summary is that the story's protagonist, Catherine, is invited to spend some time in Bath with some family friends, where she meets the characters that will carry out the various themes in the story, namely two sets of siblings:  Isabella and John Thorpe, and Frederick and Eleanor Tilney.  A recurring theme any Austen fan will recognize is that of first impressions and innocence giving way to deception and misunderstandings, as a young, naive Catherine finds that her dear new friend, Isabella, is not quite who she at first appears to be, and that all kinds of scheming and plotting are going on behind Catherine's guileless back - based mostly, of course, on gross misconceptions that will cause all manner of ruckus down the road.

The real jewel of this book in particular, though, is the hysterically funny and affectionately rendered spoof on the gothic suspense novel genre that was in its heyday during this period, a la' Radcliffe, Burney and Walpole.  Anyone familiar with The Castle of Otranto, The Mysteries of Udolpho or any of the other gothic classics will really appreciate the humor.  I absolutely love the gothic suspense novel in all its forms, so I get a huge kick out of it.  The scene between Frederick and Catherine in the carriage on the way to Northanger Abbey where he teases her mercilessly (merciless because she's only about 2% sure she's being teased and is 98% wide-eyed with horror) about the abbey's dark corridors and hidden passages is so funny it makes me laugh out loud every time.  Catherine's discovery that the abbey is decidedly un-haunted, sadly lacking in cobwebs and absolutely devoid of gothic gloom is even more amusing.

There's a love story here too, and in fact a triangle or two, and as with all of Austen's stories, all's well that ends well.  Wonderfully soothing balm for the Austen-starved soul, and secretly my favorite of her books (I usually lie and say Mansfield Park is my favorite.  Sometimes Pride & Prejudice.  Or even Sense & Sensibility.  All lies.  Northanger Abbey is it, hands down).
2592462
This is classic Victorian Gothic at its best. This story is haunting and completely engrossing. Along with Rebecca Ravenshaw, I was transported from India to Victorian England, where Rebecca is thrust into the care of Captain Luke Whitfield. Sandra Byrd is a master of layered storytelling that left me eagerly awaiting the next installment of this series.

Thank you to the publisher, Howard Books, who furnished an ARC of this book for my honest opinion, which this certainly is.
2444069
I was kind of skeptical of this book in the beginning, after all, a book that has like three generations of families, half of them with the same name is really confusing. In addition, it seemed that I could find any good characters in this book. Even the main character has faults that I would look down upon. This book centers around the revenge of the main character Heathcliff. After trudging along several chapters I found this book to be quite interesting.

This book incorporates a lot of gothic elements within the book. Emily Bronte conveys a deep horror and arouses our morbid curiosity with this. One will find many supernatural elements and suspenseful atmosphere within this book, and even a ghost! Because Bronte writes this book through the eyes of several characters, it is hard to judge the objectivity of the story, forcing readers to determine for themselves whether or not certain actions were justified. In the retellings through one character who used to care for Heathcliff's lover, she consistently paints him as the antagonist, emphasizing his faults and his actions against the family. This makes the book that much more interesting to read.

The story of Wuthering Heights is a really complicated love story that focuses mainly on Heathcliff and Catherine Earnshaw. Through Bronte's appeal to pathos, she is able to convey and build up the romance between Heathcliff and Catherine. When she dies, Heathcliff, literally becomes a monster mentally, and Bronte applies this to a figurative level, describing him as a monster too. This also reveals the inner turmoil he experiences upon her death.

Emily Bronte definitely writes on par with her sister Charlotte Bronte. Emily's work on Wuthering Heights, with her use of pathos and figurative language definitely makes it a classical gothic romance novel with a novel storyline.

It is a beautifully written book that is full of human emotion from the seemingly cold and calculating Heathcliff. After the death of Catherine he burns for revenge. It is a great book, one just needs to get through the first couple of chapter to realize this. The conclusion is also satisfactory and provides for a good release of tension and an epiphany-like ending.

I find this book to be a good read, because it has some adult themes, I would not exactly advise little kids to read it, but I am sure that anyone who appreciates literature would be "wowed" and amazed by this book. Give it a chance, and you will find that this book is worth every single penny!
2580607
The Darkling Bride is an incredibly enjoyable dark tale about the Gallaghers and their ancestral home of Deeprath in Ireland. Fans of Gothic fiction would love every bit of this read, as well as bibliophiles and historical fiction fans. The story jumps between three time periods (the present, the 1970s-80s, and the 1880s) but the author does it so seamlessly that it doesnt feel jarring. The prose is haunting but beautiful, much like the setting itself, and the pacing stays both suspenseful and measured throughout the book. I found the ending to be very satisfying as well.

I enjoyed all of the characters. Each is flawed in their own way but I think that adds to them being more complex. Carragh was a great protagonist but I was a big fan of Nessa and the inspector as well. I appreciated the fact that there was a smidgen of romance in the present story line so that it didn't overwhelm the focal point of the mystery. The mansion itself is a character too, watching over the events as they unfold. That moment when Carragh goes into Bride Tower, talk about goosebumps!

I really look forward to reading more books from the author. Its so easy to lose balance within the elements of between historical fiction, mystery, and paranormal but Andersen does it expertly.

Note: I received a free Kindle edition of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. I would like to thank NetGalley, the publisher Random House - Ballantine, and the author Laura Andersen for the opportunity to do so.