Haunted: a dark bully romance (Manderley Academy Book 2)

Haunted: a paranormal reverse harem bully romance (Manderley Academy Book 2) Kindle Editionby Steffanie Holmes (Author)Miss Steffanie Holmes is a brilliant literary chameleon. She is able to change her style to which ever literary schools best fit the story she has to tell. Her gorgeous Miskatonic Prep series was a revelation for me. I've been completely obsessed with reading everything she has put out. Her latest series is positively, absolutely one of my favorite series of all time. Canton Bell, Charlotte Bronte to the modern reader, is one of my favorite author. I studied her and the Gothic Literature movement. As such, I was overwhelmed with glee at the very conceits of the style are used in a modern setting.But DuMaurier is not the only Gothic author to be put to work. Edgar Allen Poe plays a part here as well, with the Usher family making an appearance, as does the author of the first Gothic Novel, the Castle of Otranto, Horace Walpole is the namesake for the police officer that our heroine, must deal with to solve the mystery of what happened to her mother. Varney (named for the Vampire of legend that kept London gasping in fear over a long serial) appears as does Dorien Grey, and lots of other characters that populate the world of the Gothic. Charlotte Perkins Gilman almost makes an appearance, if you know where to look.One of the key aspects of Gothic Literature is high, even overwrought emotions. Ms. Holmes uses people in their late teens to early twenties. As most of us know, that is when you feel this kind of melodramatic emotions. The most emotional character is Faye's “Dark Prince” Dorien. He is an amalgamation of Mr. Rochester, Heathcliff and the inspiration for most of the dark, angry but awfully sexier hero, Lord Byron.Ms. Holmes adds to the growing body of Female Gothic Literature with her books. Where the heroine in most Gothic novels published Romances has agency only in a romantic situation, Holmes's heroines always have the most powerful role in the stories. This is not always true in the modern Female Gothics. I applaud her female characters, villain, heroine or supporting characters.Gothic Literature, modern and not, always uses the environment as an additional character. The story will include a dark and moldering mansion or castle. Ms. Holmes takes this one step further. Her characters land splat in the middle of one of the most Gothic locations – Romania (and by extension, Transylvania). We are immersed into the side by side schlocky Dracula merchandise and tourist traps and history that illustrates the fascinating dichotomy of the modern Romanian tourist economy and the actual dark history of the area. Faye, her men, her friends and her mother, wander about ancient manors, wind and rain swept gardens full of poison, modern hospitals and Eastern European hovels.Music is a central theme and motivator in this book. Drawing on the tradition best known for Gaston LeRoux's Phantom of the Opera, music can bind the dark to the light, can save and damn and can be used as a weapon or a method for soothing a savage beast. Composers and musicians pass through the story, keeping us grounding in what could probably be described as the Reverse Harem version of Black Swan.No Gothic, modern or not, would be complete without a trip through the grave yard and a bit of supernatural woo. The ghost is merely a hint or a whisper at the very beginning of the book. The phantasm grows larger and more dangerous by the end. There are several trips, a few for slightly nefarious purposes, to the grave yard. It is a graveyard, full of weeping angels and old headstones and not the clean and pretty offspring of the Victorian era.Ms. Holmes also takes the time to use such deliciously Gothic words like disgorged andSo, to summarize, Haunted contains ever necessary trope for a Gothic Romance:the plucky heroine who is in over her head – FayeMrs Usher lives up to her name as the strange, strict lady of the house with more secrets than any one knowsA faceless female ghost (or is it)Overwrought emotions and gorgeous language3 hot broken guys with dark secrets and hidden talentsSupporting characters with rich historiesThe mysterious invalid whose illness is more than it seemsEerie servantsA moldering setting that is in itself a complex character.Ms. Holmes books and growing body of work is something, were it in any other, less discounted genre would be something people would obsess on and write dissertations about. Much like the recent Jordan Peele movie “Us” there is so much more that meets the eye, and some of that is pure, unadulterated fun.5 stars out of 5https://www.amazon.com/Haunted-paranormal-reverse-romance-Manderley-ebook/dp/B0854KTT8M

Just when I didn't think that this book could get any more twisted, we are thrown curveball after curveball. There are so many unanswered questions for all the things that are happening in and around Manderley. This book has so much mystery that when I think I have figured something out, nope. Wrong.I have a few ideas that are brewing about who is this "Ghost of Manderley" and why things keep happening, but I can only assume that I may be wrong since I have been about a few other things.The end of this one is crazy. So much happens in the last few chapters that I was on the edge of my seat. Why? Why must these things happen, and why is someone trying to frame others? I can only assume who is doing the framing and pulling all the strings, but then again, I could have it all wrong.Diving into the last book soon!

Oh the cliff hanger the author left us with. I thought the ending of book one was enough to pull my hair out over, this one has me contemplating if I can handle the wait for the last book.We open this book picking up with Faye in a bit of conundrum. Once again disappointment marring her perception of Dorien. The best thing about Faye is she is a fighter, a very strong character who won't let what is happening to her keep her from doing what is necessary. And Oh my....the guys have become more intriguing as their story backgrounds are offered. Yes, ladies it seems the author knows the way to owning our hearts so that we are enthralled with these 3 different men she so loving gives to us. Yet we do have some wonderful female characters with a few vile characters in for us to love to hate.There is just something so special about the way the writer articulates her characters and the creepy things going on around them. She offers up just enough to snare us and then throws in a twist or two to once again bring us around to wonder what can happen next. This is not the first series of hers I've read which speaks volumes for me. The plot, the characters and even the sexy scenes are so well thought out that she has made it into my top 5 must read authors.With that said, this second book answers some important questions but leaves us with a few more to get answered in the next book. See if you can figure out who is behind the haunting. I have my opinions and look forward to seeing if I'm right. But more so I can't wait to see how the mix of characters are going to get out of the predicaments they seem to be piling up.Great series...Highly recommend!

Oh my goodness, the way Steffanie has woven this plot - it has me gripped and glued to my kindle. She has brought these characters to life perfectly with this series and I am hooked. I absolutely love how the suspense and heat are cranked in this second book.My heart broke and soared, only to be broken again for the kids at Manderley Academy. Faye, is still a pillar of strength, determination, and fire - I loved how she grows and develops even more. My heart aches for the twins, Ivan and Elena, as their past is revealed in this book. Titus has become one of my favorite characters, he shines bright with so much warmth and love - even if he is haunted by his past and how much he is truly hurting. Dorian is an enigma, this poor guy has been dealt so many bad hands and has been forced to make so many bad decisions - my heart bleeds for him as he keeps getting trapped by his puppeteers.Some of the secrets are revealed, but so many more are left to be uncovered - is there really a ghost? Who is creeping in the storage room (I have some ideas)? Will Claire’s real murderer be revealed? Will everyone involved finally be freed from the evil clutches of Mrs. Usher and make it out alive? I am diving into the final book of this series to see.

I love this series. I’m fast becoming a fan of this authors work. She has a way with words and her books are always a little unconventional and gritty. Utterly brilliant can’t wait for more.

Another brilliant book gripped from the start I couldn't put it down well written and a great story line loved it

EW! Did you really allow the supposed kick-ass heroine to cave in to Dorian and allow her to sleep with him? No true kick ass heroine would consider that at all. I didn’t consider her a consistent kick ass woman … her mates kept saving her at the last moment. There was a sense of creepiness and the cruelty is beyond belief. Enjoyed the story a lot.