**I was given an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review**

5 bloody, glorious, heart pounding stars! Karen Marie Moning has absolutely done it AGAIN! She has created a world that is vibrant, gothic and mysterious.

I absolutely loved this first book in this series and I'm desperate for book 2! I will be re-reading this book when book 2 is closer to release date just to dive back into this world.

This has all the gothic vibes, witchy vibes and somewhat spooky vibes for this fall/spooky season. You follow a girl who is taking care of her dying mother from cancer. She does everything she can but always has a positive outlook on life, which is how her mother has raised her. When her mother passes in a terrible way she is given a letter that she is an heir to a fortune. When she travels to Divinity Louisiana, she is caught up in a mystery, a town that doesn't want her there and so many questions left unanswered all while a mysterious guy who stays on the grounds is tempting and alluring her to seduction.

I am OBSESSED!

This was a gorgeously atmospheric read and an absolute page turner! throughout my day I found myself thinking about how quickly I could get back to reading to find out what happens next! I’m entranced, spell-bound and caught in a web of theories…a feeling that really excites me as a reader and makes me so excited for future books!

This is the first installment in a paranormal fantasy trilogy and this book laid some serious groundwork. So much backstory is given but told with such beautiful prose that it doesn’t at all feel crowded or overwhelming. I feel so emotionally invested in every single character due to how intricately woven the author explained their histories. The plot points are so intriguing and explained with so much intention it was so easy to follow without it seeming elementary. The romance elements have so much tension although it’s definitely not the core focus of the story. I wished for more development in the chemistry build-up but aside from that, I have no notes 👏🏻

I can’t wait to tell my coworkers about this book 🤭

I thought this was something else entirely.

What I expected was a woman, discovering her ancestral history and powers, coming into her own.

What I found....a kind of complainy woman who is consumed by her mother. She can't keep a job, and then just accepts a strange inheritance. She blindly accepts a business-class seat/flight to New Orleans, an expensive hotel and black car services.

Then the book shifts into light erotica - but not enough to be called erotica? I mean, talk about an attitude about just using men for sex....and then completely cut that part out. Give me the stuff!

I don't know. I think the writing is good, but trying a bit too hard.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for the opportunity to read and review this book.

KMM is back! I am a Fever series fan, and this book did not disappoint.

A gothic, southern, mystery with the main character trying to discover who she really is. This book was definitely the "set up" book but there were no info dumps. Instead it was the opposite, with layers of information being given at a slow build up. Characters are introduced but who are they really? Who can be trusted? Who are the mysterious people working against her?

As Zo finds out her whole life has been a lie, and that she is a very powerful witch, she must solve the mystery of her history, figure out the politics of the witch community and learn how to safely use her magic. Just when things start to make sense, a new piece of information throws everything out the window.

I really liked Zo. Her hard upbringing molded her into a strong character. She adapts well until of course someting else happens to twist everything going on. Then she reevaluates and moves forward. She still doesn't have all the information, and that cliff hanger ending was not expected (though I really should've known better after reading the Fever series). I'm looking forward the next 2 books. This is going to be am amazing ride!

I have always loved Karen Marie Moning and her works. She builds wonderful stories and worlds and this is no exception!
I think the most important thing to keep in mind that this is slated to be a trilogy and this is the first book. There is a lot of world building and setting up of the characters and stories.
That said I really did enjoy the book. It is a bit of a slow burn but the writing is fantastic and the characters and town take hold of you.
I can not wait for the rest of this series and where the story goes from here!

This was a really fun read, and my first book by Karen Marie Moning. It reminded me a lot of books and movies like The Witches of East End and Practical Magic. This is definitely something you want to read around Halloween. I really liked the main character Zo, and enjoyed watching her unravel the mystery of the house she has inherited. I do think there's some more worldbuilding to be done, so I'm excited for the next book in the series.

This book really sneaks up on you and gets you hooked. It took a few chapters for me to get used to the Zo Grey as first-person narrator/protagonist, but once she arrives in Divinity, the oddities and quirks start to make more sense. As she learns more about her powers, her family history (or is it?) and the weight of the inheritance that she was left by a complete stranger, I got pulled into the story. Nothing is what it seems, so you (and Zo) are constantly questioning who is good, who is bad, and what the truth of everything really is. On its own, this is more paranormal thriller or women's fiction than paranormal/fantasy romance, but the series appears to be building to a potential love triangle that may play a bigger role going forward. This is definitely a very atmospheric story and would be a great Halloweed read. My one complaint is that it felt like book 1 set up too many questions without answers, so when the cliffhanger ending abruptly happened I didn't realize that was the end until I turned the page. Suffice it to say, I am very much looking forward to reading book 2 (and 3) of the series!

Thank you to William Morrow Books and Netgalley for providing an ARC for review!

"#1 New York Times bestselling author Karen Marie Moning is back with a gripping, imaginative, and seductive new series in which a young woman moves to Divinity, Louisiana, to inherit a large fortune and a Gothic mansion full of mysteries and ominous secrets...

Zo Grey is reeling from the sudden death of her mother when she receives a surprising call from an attorney in Divinity, Louisiana, with the news she has been left an inheritance by a distant relative, the terms of which he will only discuss in person. Destitute and alone, with nothing left to lose, Zo heads to Divinity and discovers she is the sole beneficiary of a huge fortune and a monstrosity of a house that sits ominously at the peak of Watch Hill - but she must live in it, alone, for three years before the house, or the money, is hers.

Met with this irresistible opportunity to finally build a future for herself, Zo puts aside her misgivings about the foreboding Gothic mansion and the strange circumstances, and moves in, where she is quickly met by a red-eyed Stygian owl and an impossibly sexy Scottish groundskeeper.

Her new home is full of countless secrets and mystifying riddles, with doors that go nowhere, others that are impossible to open, and a turret into which there is no visible means of ingress. And the townspeople are odd...

What Zo doesn't yet know is that her own roots lie in this very house and that in order to discover her true identity and awaken her dormant powers, she will have to face off against sinister forces she doesn't quite comprehend - or risk being consumed by them."

The real mystery though it a Scottish groundskeeper in Louisiana?

I was really hoping to like this more than I did, I will give it 3 stars. I am usually an easily pleased reader, and I will say I tried to read this while I was on vacation while I was trying to get into this and that probably was part of the reason was why I didn't like it as much. Karen Marie Moning is usually one of my top authors.

I have no clue how to rate or review this book. On one hand, it was a great book with a killer cliffhanger for the ending. It was enough to really have me looking forward to the next book. On the other hand, I really disliked the main character Zo ( and yes, that is what she prefers to be called). I found her to be childish in the extreme; as much as she was an adult taking care of her ailing mother, she was selfish when it came to other things. She never wanted to listen to anyone who might know more about what was happening; she never wanted to hear what was good for her. I did, however, love a lot of the other characters in this book.

The chapters were filled with Zo's angst, sexual thoughts, and long-winded ramblings, which I found annoying to the extreme. However, when there was someone else there or some action going on, it was a great book that allowed me to get lost in it. Unfortunately, those sections were few and far between. It was still enough for me to 'like' this book and to want to see what happens next.

*ARC was supplied by the publisher William Morrow, the author, and NetGalley. My thanks to all.

WOW! This book is absolutely, positively amazing! The story drew me in and captivated me from the very beginning!

The setting comes alive with the author's descriptions! The characters--so well fleshed out that I believe they actually breathe on the pages! And the plot--surely it was taken from the author's experiences, otherwise, how could she have written this?

5 stars!

I was not really sure what to expect from this new series but this book has exceeded my expectations! KMM has a true talent for creating an immersive, lush and vibrant atmosphere with her words and I immediately felt drawn into the story and characters. I also really like a book where I can’t guess immediately where the plot is going. I am so excited to see where the second book takes us because I feel like Zo still has no idea what is going on and hello cliffhanger!!
If you are needing a book to help you get into the fall, spooky season mood this book will definitely do it!

Thank you NetGalley and William Morrow for the ARC!

Thank you to William Morrow and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review

This is a great fall read. Haunted house vibes, magic and a lot of mystery that ends on such a cliffhanger. So incredibly atmospheric, perfect for cuddling on the couch with a warm mug of something.

Unfortunately this was not the book for me. It was a DNF about 30%. I have loved all of KMM's books but this one didn't hold my attention at all. It was confusing and honestly I just didn't want to pick it up to read.

Urban Fantasy Steamy Romance following a young woman grieving the loss of her mother moves to Louisiana to inherit a fortune and a Gothic mansion full of mysteries and ominous secrets.

4/5 stars: This is the first entry in Moning's Watch Hill Trilogy series, which is a Urban Fantasy Steamy Romance that features a woman who's reeling from the sudden death of her mother learns she's been left an inheritance by a distant relative. The terms: a huge fortune and a monstrosity of a house that she must live in it, alone, for three years. Destitute and alone, she puts aside her misgivings and moves into the foreboding Gothic mansion where she uncovers truths about her own history and learns that she has powerful dormant magical powers. But someone doesn't want to be be heir and she'll find herself facing off against sinister forces bent on stopping her from reaching her powerful potential and making her claim. The magical world Moning's crafted is well-crafted, loosely based on Celtic/Scottish folklore and traditions. Moning's writing and character work are excellent; the characters are well-rounded and complex while remaining incredibly likable. Zo's been through a lot and it's great to see her learn who she really is and grow into her burgeoning powers. There is an occasional secondary POV that's very mysterious and provides an interesting viewpoint; I can't wait to find out who they are. Additionally, I really like Mr Balfour and Rufus, the Stygian owl. Zo has sex with several different men (this isn't a Why Choose or Polyamourous book and there's no cheating.) And I have to say Moning brings the heat with incredibly sexy OPS scenes. Moning takes on some sensitive subjects; so take care and check the CWs. I'm really looking forward to reading the next book, the ending really left me hanging!

I received this eARC thanks to NetGalley and William Morrow in exchange for an honest review. Publishing dates are subject to change.

This is the kind of story that will haunt you for weeks in the best way -- from the beginning, I had so many questions, and for every answer that was uncovered, several more questions appeared. I. was.. hooked. The way KMM revealed the world was so beautiful - peace by peace, in a pace that made sense for the protagonist - it kept me on the edge of my seat for the entire book. The House at Watch Hill was so curious, so mysterious, that exploring it alone was magnificent, but when you add in the fascinating townspeople, the unusual society, and the expectations that come with The House, I was absolutely entranced. I did not want to put this book down. I found myself daydreaming about the House when I was working, or driving, or trying to fall asleep. I was surprised when I had the delightfully eerie sensation that there was more going on as I was up late reading. I have been thinking about this story for weeks since finishing it. I want to read this book again and again, because I am certain that every time I do, the House at Watch Hill will unveil something new. Book two cannot come soon enough!

I’ve never really been a fan of witchy books, but that seems to be changing now. I’ve read some great books about witches recently and this one is no exception.

This book was spooky and atmospheric. There were witches and vampires and old spirits in a house. One scene spooked me out enough, I was thinking of it when I woke up in the middle of the night! Still couldn’t wait to wake up and continue reading though.

This is my first KMM book, but after reading The House At Watch Hill, I am sure it will not be my last. Great book, and perfect for the upcoming spooky season!

Thank you to NetGalley and William Morrow for sending me a copy in exchange for an honest review.

Zodeckymira "Zo" Grey has had a rough life of always being on the move and never staying in one place long enough to establish roots. It's always been Zo and her mom Joanna. Then tragedy strikes leaving Zo with more questions than answers. Zo is brought to Divinity where she's considered The Cameron Heir. Zo doesn't know what to make of all this. Yet she finds purpose and meaning in staying. Is she really The Cameron Heir? What does that mean exactly? Find out in The House at Watch Hill.

I would like to thank HarperCollins Publisher for this ARC via Netgalley.

Thank you to NetGalley for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinions.

First of all Karen Marie Moning is finally back!!!!!

I was so excited to get this ARC because I am such a huge fan. I will say the first part of the book felt very hard to get through because it’s so much world building and character building but not a lot actually happening. Then you get to part two and things start to happen and I couldn’t put the book down.

What started off as maybe a 3/5 star book for me ended up a 5/5 star book for me. That ending!! Holy cow! I absolutely can’t wait for the next book in the series I will definitely read everything she writes.

Zo grey has just lost her mother and found out she’s set to inherit a huge mansion and hundreds of millions of dollars from someone she’s never met or even heard of. The only stipulation is she has to stay in the house for three years.

Now I thought this was going to be more of a spooky haunted house book but it was actually more of a fantasy book. Still very good just not quite what I thought it was going to be.

5/5 stars and I would highly recommend this book and I will be buying a physical copy for my shelf.

Possible Triggers:
Death | Mild Gore

Final Thoughts:
You know, I went into this expecting more along the lines of some of the other books I have read from Karen Marie Moning, and I think that is where I went wrong. It's hard to remember that every new series is like a 100% new slab of stone that is eventually going to be a beautifully crafted finished piece of work. That being said, as a set up for a new series, I was very underwhelmed. We followed Zo Grey into a supernatural world that she had never realized existed. Something or someone is hinted at throughout the story, which is interesting but also very vague and it's never fleshed out.

I had such a hard time connecting with Zo. She was a pretty stereotypical clueless person thrown into a world of crazy that she has to deal with. Her ways of dealing are anger and release. Surprisingly, with the amount of lust she constantly comments upon, you’d think she’d actually DO something about it.

All in all, this was a paranormal spooky romance that had not so very many paranormal anythings discussed, almost no romance, and the spoop was mostly the chilling lack of the previous two. The ending was compelling enough to make me want to know if more excitement will happen in the books to come. I would be interested in reading the next to see if the story grows more as there is so much promise, but as a single installment it left me with a sense of “meh”.