This book never made the grade for me and I was disappointed.

I really didn't find this book as mysterious as the first book and I really just read it to get through the book. I really hate to do a "dnf" on a Darcy Coates book as usually I love her books along with the atmospheric haunting settings so I just kept reading hoping the book would get better, but to me this book just didn't live up to the standards of the first book "House of Shadows".

A little backstory for you readers.

James and Sophia Argenton are thrown back into the thick of things as the creature from the last book is not dead and it has latched itself onto the Joseph's cousin Elise. James and Sophia have to come to a decision of how they are going to rescue her cousin plus deal with the creature once and for all.

This book was really slow in the beginning up to the halfway point and though it did pick up a little speed, I just did not feel that same "mysterious dread" that I felt in the first book.

The first book was amazing compared to this one and I just could not feel every experience like I normally do with this author's work. I never could get back reconnected to the characters and there was just no "mystery spook factor" like there was with the first book. Giving this book three "disappointing" stars.
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House of Secrets is the continuation of Sophie and Joseph's story. We pick up with them immediately where House of Shadows left off. Sophie and Joseph thought they left their troubles behind when they left Northwood, they were wrong.

I love that Sophie continues to be so tenacious and the confidence she gained throughout the first novel is still with her.

Another great read for those who want mystery and thrills without the gory stuff. If you have yet to read Darcy Coates, you're missing out!

Thanks to Poisened Pen Press and Net Galley for my ARC copy to review. ( )

Book 1 was great and book 2 was equally great but I have to admit I might've shed a few tears in this one. It's not a tearjerker but there were some sad scenes. Nevertheless I loved it. Reminds me of Victoria Holt's books but with ghosts, and demons. ( )

This is book 2 of 2 in the Gothic horror romance “Ghosts and Shadows” series. Both were quick, fun reads, and very well-written. The pace was fast, with cliff-hangers at the end of most chapters, and it definitely kept me turning the pages.

I liked Sophie’s man, Joseph, a lot. He reminded me of my own husband and I loved how sweet and affectionate he was with Sophie. It’s always nice to see a married couple working together, even if it’s to fight evil (or maybe especially then?) :). I’d be happy to read more about these two, although at the same time, after all they’ve already been through, I’d be reluctant to see their HEA disturbed!

These are clean books with no explicit love scenes, but there is gore and violence of the paranormal variety. ( )