Posted Tuesday, 21 May, 2019 by jorielov (Narrator) Kristin James, Kathryn Knight, Self Published, The Haunting of Hill House 2 Comments
Acquired Audiobook By: I started to listen to audiobooks in [2016] as a way to offset my readings of print books whilst noting there was a rumour about how audiobooks could help curb chronic migraines as you are switching up how your reading rather than allowing only one format to be your bookish choice. As I found colouring and knitting agreeable companions to listening to audiobooks, I have embarked on a new chapter of my reading life where I spend time outside of print editions of the stories I love reading and exchange them for audio versions. Through hosting for the Audiobookworm I’ve expanded my knowledge of authors who are producing audio versions of their stories whilst finding podcasters who are sharing their bookish lives through pods (ie. AudioShelf and Talking Audiobooks; see my sidebar). Meanwhile, I am also curating my own wanderings in audio via my local library who uses Overdrive for their digital audiobook catalogue whilst making purchase requests for audio CDs. It is a wonderful new journey and one I enjoy sharing – I am hoping to expand the percentage of how many audios I listen to per year starting in 2018.
I received a complimentary audiobook copy of “The Haunting of Hillwood Farm” via Audiobookworm Promotion who is working with Sara Pascoe on this blog tour in exchange for an honest review. I did not receive compensation for my opinions or thoughts shared herein.
What inspired me to listen to this audiobook:
I love watching Paranormal Suspense stories on television whilst I also have a healthy appetite for them in fiction. Series like “Ghost Whisperer” have such a layered effect of bridging the paranormal into our contemporary & modern world with a healthy effect of keeping the unseen world spilt & splintered from our view in the foreground of the stories.
It is a curious thought to recognise that not everything can be readily explained – that there are things which can seek to do harm which go unseen from most who never are aware of anything amiss. And, this story felt like it was walking between those concepts – as it is a ghost story with an unforeseen foe and you have to determine as you listen to the story – was this a benign presence or one who had malicious intentions?
I wanted to seek out the paranormal during #WyrdAndWonder – as during this 2nd Year, although I’m predominately focusing on traditional Fantasy, there are aspects within Fantasy such as Magical Realism, Paranormal Suspense & Witchy story-lines which hug closer to Fantasy than they do other sub-niches of Speculative Fiction. Therefore, as I sought out my reading list for the month, I decided to cast a bit of a wider net this year and see which of the stories I was going to pursue would become the reads I could not put down.
The Haunting of Hillwood Farm
by Kathryn Knight
Narrator: Kristin James
After tragedy strikes, Callie Sinclair is left with a gift she never wanted - the ability to communicate with ghosts. But when a desperate widow begs for her help, she reluctantly agrees to investigate the strange occurrences at Hillwood Farm. She quickly realizes she’s dealing with a dangerous presence beyond anything she’s ever experienced, and something else becomes equally clear - the only other living person in the house, Mrs. Turner’s handsome grandson, thinks she’s a scam artist. While she’d prefer to just ignore him, her heart beats a little faster every time he’s nearby.
Luke Turner doesn’t believe in spirits. He’s moved back to restore the family farm, but living on the property serves a dual purpose - he can watch out for his grandmother. He’s not happy about the sudden appearance of a self-described psychic, or his inexplicable attraction to her. His initial suspicions crumble as evidence points to an actual haunting, but he’s still determined not to fall for Callie - the past has taught him it’s best to avoid relationships.
As Callie is drawn deeper into the mystery, she becomes the target of a vengeful spirit, and Luke can no longer fight his feelings for her. Unable to resist their desire, passion ignites…even as the paranormal activity escalates to a final deadly confrontation.
Genres: Ghost Story, Gothic Literature, Paranormal Suspense Places to find the book:
Add to LibraryThing
ASIN: B07QMZNFCZ
Published by Self Published
on 15th April, 2019
Format: Audiobook | Digital
Length: 5 hours and 18 minutes (unabridged)
This is a self-published audiobook.
Formats Available: Trade Paperback, Audiobook and Ebook
Converse via: #TheHauntingOfHillwoodFarm + #AudioReads, #Audiobook
OR #Paranormal, #ParanormalSuspense and #WyrdAndWonder
About Kathryn Knight
Kathryn Knight spends a great deal of time in her fictional world, where mundane chores don’t exist and daily life involves steamy romance, dangerous secrets, and spooky suspense.
Kathryn writes contemporary romance spiked with mysterious hauntings as well as YA paranormal romance filled with forbidden love. Her novels are award-winning #1 Amazon and Barnes & Noble Bestsellers and RomCon Reader-Rated picks.
When she’s not reading or writing, Kathryn spends her time catching up on those mundane chores, driving kids around, and teaching fitness classes. She lives on beautiful Cape Cod with her husband, their two sons, and a number of rescued pets.
Website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads | LibraryThing
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Posted Tuesday, 21 May, 2019 by jorielov in #WyrdAndWonder, Audiobookworm Promotions, Blog Tour Host, Dark Fantasy, Fantasy Fiction, Ghost Story, Ghosts & the Supernatural, Good vs. Evil, Gothic Literature, Gothic Mystery, Haunting & Ethereal, Indie Author, Mediums & Clairvoyants, Mental Health, Parapsychological Gifts, Parapsychological Suspense, Realistic Fiction, Speculative Fiction, Supernatural Creatures & Beings, Supernatural Fiction, Urban Fantasy
Posted Saturday, 18 October, 2014 by jorielov A Grave Matter, A Stitch in Time, Amanda James, An Uninvited Ghost, Anna Lee Huber, Berni Stevens, Blood for Blood, Bram Stroker, Brandy Purdy, Category 5, Charlotte Bronte, Dance Until Dawn, Dracula, E. Chris Garrison, E.J. Copperman, Edith Wharton, Elaine Bergstrom, Emily Bronte, Ghost Stories by Edith Wharton, Henriette Gyland, Jane Eyre, Lady Darby Mysteries, Mortal Arts, Night of the Living Deed, Old Haunts, Paul Mark Tag, Prophecy, Rebecca Mascull, S.K. Rizzolo, Shirley Jackson, Simone St. James, Sinking Down, Somewhere Beyond the Sea, Susan Hill, The Anatomist's Wife, The Door through Washington Square, The Haunting of Hill House, The Haunting of Maddy Clare, The Ripper's Wife, The Rose in the Wheel, The Visitors, The Woman in Black, Up Close, White Thaw: The Helheim Conspiracy, Wuthering Heights 1 Comment
Calendar of Events on Oh! the Books Host Site
{ Reading Selections for Horror October 2014 }
Focus One: Psychological Suspense | Thriller:
(note: all book synopsis links re-direct to Riffle>
- A Stitch in Time by Amanda James <synopsis> (moving to 1st November for SFN)
- The Anatomist’s Wife by Anna Lee Huber <synopsis>
- Mortal Arts by Anna Lee Huber <synopsis> (moved to November)
- A Grave Matter by Anna Lee Huber <synopsis> (moved to November)
- The Rose in the Wheel by S.K. Rizzolo <synopsis> (moved to #IndieWriterMonth)
- Somewhere Beyond the Sea by Amanda James <synopsis> (moved to #IndieWriterMonth)
- Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronté <synopsis> (on hold)
- Up Close by Henriette Gyland <synopsis> (moved to #IndieWriterMonth)
- Blood for Blood by S.K. Rizzolo <synopsis> (moved to #IndieWriterMonth)
- Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronté (Part II of my journalling) <synopsis> (on hold)
- The Ripper’s Wife by Brandy Purdy <synopsis>
- Category 5 by Paul Mark Tag (synopsis) (previously read) (moved to #IndieWriterMonth)
- Prophecy by Paul Mark Tag <synopsis>(moved to #IndieWriterMonth)
- White Thaw: The Helheim Conspiracy by Paul Mark Tag <synopsis>(moved to #IndieWriterMonth)
Focus Two: Cosy Horror | Cosy Horror Suspense (including ghosts):
- Night of the Living Deed by E.J. Copperman <synopsis>
- An Uninvited Ghost by E.J. Copperman <synopsis>
- Old Haunts by E.J. Copperman <synopsis>
- Sinking Down by E. Chris Garrison <synopsis> (moved to SFN)
- The Visitors by Rebecca Mascull <synopsis> (moved to #IndieWriterMonth)
- Dance Until Dawn by Berni Stevens <synopsis> (moved to SFN)
- Dracula by Bram Stroker <synopsis> (moved to SFN)
- The Haunting of Maddy Clare by Simone St. James <synopsis> (moving to November)
- The Woman in Black by Susan Hill <synopsis> (re-scheduled for 2015)
- Ghost Stories by Edith Wharton <synopsis>
- The Haunting of Hill House by Shirley Jackson <synopsis> (re-scheduled for 2015)
- The Door through Washington Square by Elaine Bergstrom <synopsis> (re-scheduled for 2015)
The following is the tentative schedule for my 1st Participation in Horror October. Most of the schedule should remain as it is seen, however, there could be spontaneous changes to the line-up &/or I might include a few extras as I go through the fortnight!
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Reading this book contributed to these challenges:
Posted Saturday, 18 October, 2014 by jorielov in #HorrorOctober, Anthology Collection of Stories, Blog Hop, Blogosphere Events & Happenings, Blogs I Regularly Read, Book Blogosphere Regular Haunts, Classic Horror, Cosy Horror, Cosy Horror Suspense, Cosy Mystery, Crime Fiction, Ghost Story, Ghosts & the Supernatural, Good vs. Evil, Haunting & Ethereal, Historical Fiction, Historical Thriller Suspense, Horror, Horror October Bingo, Horror-Lite, Indie Author, Inspirational Fiction & Non-Fiction, Library Find, Light vs Dark, Local Libraries | Research Libraries, Psychological Suspense, Reading Challenges, Supernatural Fiction, Suspense
Posted Sunday, 5 January, 2014 by jorielov Anthony Berkeley Cox, Henry James, James M. Cain, Patricia Highsmith, Shirley Jackson, Strangers on a Train, The Ambassadors, The Haunting of Hill House, The Poisoned Chocolates Case, The Postman Always Rings Twice, The Talented Mr. Ripley 10 Comments
On the same vein of itching to join The Classics Club, I have been an appreciator from afar of “Back to the Classics” reading challenge, which this year, has a new hostess: Books and Chocolate! Whilst I know most are going to have cross-relating books per each challenge they commit to completing, I wanted to take a different track and pick out books that would be insular to each individual challenge! Therefore, the books you will see as my selections here will not be cross-referenced nor cross-applied to my tCC list!
Rules Specific to this Challenge: {taken from the official blurb!}
- All books must be read in 2014. Books started prior to January 1, 2014 are not eligible. Reviews must be linked by December 31, 2014.
- E-books and audiobooks are eligible! Books can count for other challenges you may be working on. However, books may NOT crossover categories within this challenge.You may NOT count the same book twice for different categories in this challenge.
- If you do not have a blog, you may link your review from Goodreads or other publicly accessible online format.
- Please sign up for the challenge using the linky below BEFORE MARCH 1, 2014. Please link to your sign-up announcement post (if possible/applicable).
- You do not have to list your books prior to starting the challenge, but it is more fun that way. :) You can always change your list at any time. You can read the books in any order (including mixing in the optional categories at any time).
- You can decide to attempt the optional categories at any point (you can also bow out of the optional categories at any point as well).
- Please identify the categories you’ve read in your wrap-up post so that I can easily add up your entries for the prize drawing! Adding links within the post would also be greatly appreciated.
- Main Stipulation: *ALL* stories read are only considered a ‘classic’ if published prior to 1964!
Required:
- A 20th Century Classic
- A 19th Century Classic
- A Classic by a Woman Author
- A Classic in TranslationIf English is not your primary language, then books originally published in English are acceptable. You could also read the book in its original language if you are willing and able to do so.
- A Classic About War2014 will be the 100th anniversary of the beginning of World War I. Any book relating to a war is fine — WWI, WWII, the French Revolution, the War of the Worlds — your choice.
- A Classic by an Author Who Is New To You This can be any author whose works you have not read before. It doesn’t necessarily have to be an author you’ve never heard of.
Optional Categories:
- An American Classic
- A Classic Mystery, Suspense or Thriller
- A Historical Fiction Classic. This is any classic set at least 50 years before the time when it was written. For example, Margaret Mitchell published Gone with the Wind 70 years after the end of the Civil War; therefore, it is considered a historical novel. A Tale of Two Cities and The Scarlet Letter are also historical novels. However, older classicsset during the period in which they were writtenare not considered historical; for example, the novels of Jane Austen.
- A Classic That’s Been Adapted Into a Movie or TV Series. Any period, any genre! This is practically a free choice category. However, it’s a separate category than the required categories.
- Extra Fun Category: Write a Review of the Movie or TV Series adapted from Optional Category #4. This should be some kind of posting reviewing the book read for the previous optional category above. It can be any adaptation — does not have to be adapted before 1964. For example, if you chose Pride and Prejudice as your the optional classic above,you could review any adaptation — 1940, 1980, 1995, 2005, etc. These two optional categories go together, but this must be a separate blog posting — no fair just mentioning it in the book review!
And, Jorie’s choices are as follows:
Curious or no, there appears to be a slight bent towards reading classical crime fiction this year, as nearly every single book which leapt out at me to read falls under this particular category of fiction! I have wanted to focus on classical noir fiction as well as crime, but sometimes I suppose the day you set down to write down a list for reading challenge, you can surprise yourself by your responses to the ‘fill-in-the-blank’ spaces!! Alas, the Hitchcokian girl is showing her preference for suspense!
Required:
- A 20th Century Classic:
The Poisoned Chocolates Case by Anthony Berkeley Cox {1929}
{classic detective fiction}
- A 19th Century Classic: *The Way We Live Now* by Anthony Trollope (considering)
- A Classic by a Woman Author:
The Haunting of Hill House by Shirley Jackson {1959}
- A Classic in Translation: {reading in January!}
“Au Bonhear des Dames” | The Ladies Paradise by Emile Zola {1883}*
- A Classic About War:
The Riddle of the Sands by Erskine Childers {1903}
{influenced espionage & spy fiction}
- A Classic by an Author Who Is New To You:
Strangers on a Train by Patricia Highsmith {1950}
{*} By a sweet happy coincidence, I happened to have placed a purchase request for “The Ladies Paradise” prior to joining Back to the Classics! I hadn’t connected the dots to the book and author, until Karen kindly left me a note on this post! You see, I was wrapped up in the memory of seeing Episode 3 I believe it was on Masterpiece Theater!? I hadn’t realised a new BBC drama was already in-progress, and whilst recognising the quality, I immediately looked up the drama after the episode concluded! This led me to realise that we didn’t have a copy of this book in our card catalogue (hence the request!)!! Quite a fortuitous strike of luck, eh?
- An American Classic:
The Postman Always Rings Twice by James M. Cain {1934}
- A Classic Mystery, Suspense or Thriller:
The Ambassadors by Henry James {1903} {inspired: The Talented Mr. Ripley}
- A Historical Fiction Classic:
The Bridge of San Luis Rey by Thorton Wilder {1927} {takes place in 1714}
- A Classic That’s Been Adapted Into a Movie or TV Series: The Talented Mr. Ripley by Patricia Highsmith {1955}
- Extra Fun Category: Write a Review of the Movie or TV Series adapted from Optional Category #4: The Talented Mr. Ripley {starring Matt Damon, 1999}
{SOURCE: A selection of buttons, dividers, and blog decorative freebies were chosen from the Shabby Blogs blog OR from Shabby Blogs website; such as the button post divider. Jorie Loves A Story badge created by Ravven with edits by Jorie in PicMonkey.}
Copyright © Jorie Loves A Story, 2014.
Related Articles:
1000 Books Everyone Must Read – (theguardian.com)
100 Best Novels – (modernlibrary.com)
Posted Sunday, 5 January, 2014 by jorielov in 19th Century, 20th Century, Back to the Classics, Classical Literature, Crime Fiction, Gothic Mystery, Hard-Boiled Mystery, Reading Challenges, Suspense