a murder in 1898 and a murder in 2024, what do they have in common.? I loved the story, read in three afternoons.

Ghosts, evil, romance, and whodunnits. This book goes beyond a story of spirits causing havoc. There are layers of mystery of different types. I enjoyed there being more than one focus on what was going on and solving it. This was my first book by Kat Martin and I truly enjoy her style. An author I won't hesitate to read again.

Jerome, Arizona was once a thriving cooper mill town. In the late 1890's, the town would gain a reputation for lawlessness and a murder in the local hotel would haunt Jerome's history. The town is now a tourist destination famous for the haunted remnants of the former town, including the saloon. When the harmless become harmful, a murder in the saloon will cause comparisons between the past and present. But ghosts can't kill and there are too many other seemingly harmless happenings.

The mystery and it's back story are a good read. There are several examples of overly descriptive and harmful desciptions that made me a little uncomfortable and I've never run into this in a Kat Martin book before.

Rating: 3.5 Stars

Trigger Warnings: attempted rape of FMC; off-page animal abuse

What to Expect:
••» Paranormal/Ghosts
••» Mystery Romance
••» Opposites Attract

Having read Kat Martin before, I’ve always enjoyed her romance and mystery stories, especially the real-life history she weaves into her narratives. I always find myself googling the histories. Haunted is no exception, delivering an atmospheric blend of historical intrigue, romance, and the supernatural. Set in the rich mining town of Jerome, Arizona, the story intertwines a century-old murder with present-day hauntings at Jenny Spencer's Copper Star Saloon.

As strange occurrences disrupt her business, Jenny teams up with Cain Barrett, a wealthy hotel owner, to solve the mysteries threatening them both. Martin masterfully combines past and present, keeping readers hooked with suspense, ghostly sightings, and a budding romance.

This book is a treasure trove for fans of romantic suspense—it’s got angst, mystery, murder, and ghosts, along with strong friendships and undeniable attraction leading to a delightful happily ever after. The paranormal twist adds a captivating "haunted past" vibe, keeping things interesting. The villains add great depth to the plot, but it was the side romance that truly stole the show for me. Sweet, heartwarming, and even featuring a heroic moment, it completely won me over.

Thank you to NetGalley, the author, Kat Martin, and the Kensington Publishing team for the ARC opportunity.

TLDR: This book got off to a slow start but I was genuinely happy I toughed it out. Looking back, the slow start was needed to build the suspenseful AND romantic tension. Worth the read.

Haunted by Kat Martin delivers an atmospheric blend of historical mystery, romance, and the supernatural. Set in the rich mining town of Jerome, Arizona, the novel intertwines a brutal century-old murder with present-day hauntings at Jenny Spencer's Copper Star Saloon. As eerie occurrences disrupt her business, Jenny finds herself teaming up with Cain Barrett, a wealthy hotel owner, to solve the mysteries that threaten them both.

Martin blends past and present, keeping readers engaged with suspense, ghostly sightings, and an unfolding romance. Haunted is perfect for fans of historical intrigue and ghost stories, with a touch of romance.

Thank you Kat Martin, Kensington Publishing, and Netgalley for the advanced copy!

Haunted by Kat Martin revolves around Jenny who owns a historic Hotel in town known for its ghostly past and Cain who returns to his hometown and shortly after has his prized horse stolen. Eerie and unexplainable things begin to occur at an alarming rate for the two and the popular tourist destination of Jerome is thrust into chaos when a murder takes place at Jennys hotel.

This was such an easy read and I really enjoyed the setting of the old town and the paranormal aspects. The build up of chemistry between Jenny and Cain was fabulous and believable, and I especially loved their time on Cains ranch. This was a cosy mystery and very solid book.

Thank you Kensington Books and NetGalley for this ARC. #Haunted #NetGalley

Haunted by Kat Martin, I am a big fan of the authors romance/mystery stories and definitely appreciated the real true life history she’s woven into this book set in Jerome Arizona. What likable characters in Kane, Jenny, and many of the supporting characters there is a Lotta love about this book especially the lack of detail sex I think Kat Martin truly knows how to write a respectful romantic/sexy sex scene without being vulgar and disgusting. Now it is rare I dislike a cat Martin book as a matter of a fact I think this is the first time but they were things I wasn’t a fan of for example for Jenny to be an independent woman who can take care of herself, it seems many times had came not been there it would’ve been the end of Miss Spencer. An trust me when I say he saved her multiple times. I also want to say that I did like the spooky portion of the book and especially at the end although some of it could be explained a way, a lot was left to the who knows what happened category. I also felt bad for the poor kidnapped horse and everything that happened to him even though he’s made up. I also want to say I’ve seen in other peoples reviews saying that Kat Martin is fat phobic and prejudice but she wasn’t exactly calling these people names and as far as came thinking the chair was creaking he was pretty much stating what he saw and only thinking it not saying it I think people are too nitpicky and should get off your high horse because to be honest I didn’t even notice that in the book. But after everything is said and done I do recommend this book and gave it four stars I love the authors books in an always looking out for them and although this wasn’t my favorite it is far from being my least favorite. #NetGalley, #KensingtonBooks, #CatMartin, #Haunted,

I absolutely loved this book. Cain is back in his hometown of Jerome and trying to figure out who stole his horse. The chemistry between him and Jenny is great and he finds himself wanting to spend time with her. The town is known for ghosts, is her hotel haunted? Is there a demon involved? The suspense level is high. Loved staying on edge and that they get a happy ever after. I voluntarily read an advanced readers copy and I highly recommend this book. I also won a physical book through Goodreads.

Another great read by Kat Martin! I adored these characters. Cain will make you swoon! The mystery is full of suspense and keeps you guessing. I loved the paranormal aspect of the ghosts. I couldn't wait for the answers and was up way past bedtime reading.

Strange happenings at a hotel are bad for business…

….but are they occurring because the hotel is haunted, or is someone very human determined to wreak havoc at the Copper Star?

The old mining town of Jerome, Arizona, was once known as the Wickedest Town in the West and for good reason. Plenty of drinking, brawls, prostitution, and killings happened there back in the day. Now the old ghost town is enjoying a resurgence in popularity with tourists, trading on its colorful past with more than a few of the old buildings in Jerome claiming to be haunted. One such place is the Copper Star Saloon and Hotel, currently owned and run by Jenny Spencer. She inherited it from her Uncle Charlie when he passed away a few months earlier, but she has been working there since she was a child and it was her father who ran things. It’s hard work and she has some loans to pay off, but she’s making it work. She’s also happy to be free of her abusive, cheating ex-husband Richard. Meanwhile local poor-boy-made good Cain Barrett, owner of Barrett Enterprises and worth millions, is readying another landmark in town, the Grandview Hotel, for its grand opening (and to provide a home for the woman who raised him, his ailing grandmother Nell, so that she can live there and spend her final years in the town she loves). Jenny and Cain are each dealing with some strange events impacting their lives; for Jenny, guests at the Copper Star are complaining about loud noises at night disturbing their stay, and Cain is dealing with the theft of a valuable horse from his ranch. Things escalate when first a member of a rowdy biker gang fixates on Jenny and then a guest turns up dead in one of the Copper Star’s rooms. Cain has been feeling his own attraction to Jenny, and is determined to keep her safe. But while he can help her deal with threats that come from people who wish her harm….is there a supernatural element at work as well and, if so, how can he keep Jenny safe from that type of menace?
An independent woman who is still recovering from a bad marriage and a driven businessman whose relationships have always been of the no-strings variety find themselves involved first professionally and then personally as they deal with the challenges that are facing them. Who wishes Jenny and/or the Copper Star ill, and why? What is happening in room #10 and elsewhere, and is there a logical explanation for the sights and sounds that are spooking guests (as Cain believes) or is there something evil that has lingered since the wild early days of Jeremy? And who is targeting Cain, first with theft and then far deadlier actions? Much of the lore of the Arizona ghost town of Jeremy in the story is based on actual history, which made for some interesting reading, Jenny and Cain are pretty standard protagonists, so while it was an enjoyable read Haunted didn’t break any new ground. I also had suspicions early on about who might be behind some of the misdeeds which proved correct, so the novel was a bit less suspenseful than it could have been. Fans of Kat Martin will enjoy the book, as will readers of authors like Heather Graham, Sharon Sala and Sandra Brown (especially if they are intrigued by the Old West). My thanks to NetGalley and Kensington Publishing for allowing me early access to a copy of this tale of romantic suspense.

This is a good old fashioned wild west mystery romance with a paranormal twist.

Jenny is the owner of the Copper Star Saloon, a historic saloon and inn located in Jerome, one of the most haunted places in America. Cain just bought and is renovating the Grandview Hotel and asks Jenny for help to keep the history and original elements of the place alive since Jenny was born and raised in the area and he likes the authentic look she put into her place.

As they spend time their attraction grows but mysterious things start happening at the saloon ever since she opened the old wing she just restored. Legend has it that it's haunted and bad things happen there. Jenny never believed it until a murder and more mysterious event happen in the old wing, especially room 10.

Can Jenny and Cain figure out if it’s really haunted or something more sinister is at play.

This was a fun book with a mystery element that was basic but kept my interest. The romance element was the main part of this story and the mystery/paranormal element drove the characters together. The plot of Cain’s stolen horse and then him getting targeted was more interesting than the paranormal activities in room 10 but I'm also not much into paranormal events.

Jenny and Cain were both a little jealous and cautious entering into their relationship, especially since Cain was such a womanizer in his past. It seemed like they were constantly reaffirming their feelings for each other. The story was slow moving at times with lots of indecisions and uncertainty. Her search for answers could have happened quicker. It was very drawn out.

Huge thanks to NetGalley and Kensington Publishing for sharing this book’s digital advanced review copy with me in exchange for an honest review.

Haunted by Kat Martin

Have you ever felt a chill in the air, visited a place and felt a presence, seen a ghost, wondered if some places might be evil magnets? I revisited past experiences and thought about some of these topics as I read about Jerome, Arizona and this novel set in this real historical town.

What I liked:
* Jenny Spencer: owner of Copper Star Saloon and Hotel, bartender, consultant, good friend, divorced, open-minded, caring, kind, responsible, rather attracted to Cain
* Cain Barratt: wealthy self-made man, raised by his grandmother-Nell, bad boy in HS, miner, footloose, ranch owner, bought & is refurbishing Grandview Hotel, attracted to Jenny
* That the town is real and many of the historical anecdotes are set in fact
* The plot, setting, pacing, and writing
* The prologue that sets the stage for ghostly happenings later – and how they play out
* Wondering if the bad things happening to both Jenny and Cain are related or separate – then finding out what was really happening and who was/wasn’t behind it all
* Nell: Cain’s grandmother and inspiration to buy the hotel and her suggestion of Cleo as a person to help Jenny with the situation in room ten of her hotel
* Nick Faraday: ex-military, private investigator, intriguing and worthy of a book of his own
* The creep-factor and wondering how I would deal with some of the things that occurred in this book
* That all of the threads were tied up at the end – though not all in the story had a happy ending
* reading on the authors website that this is second of three books in a trilogy and trying to figure out how this book and Ghost Illusion are related other than that there are paranormal elements and historical events that might create hauntings

What I didn’t like:
* Who and what I was meant not to like
* Thinking about how evil and ruthless some of the people were in this book – I can’t imagine doing some of the things that they did to humans or animals

Did I like this book? Yes
Would I read more by this author? Yes

Thank you to the author, Kensington Books and NetGalley for the ARC – This is my honest review.

4-5 Stars

BOOK: HAUNTED
AUTHOR: KAT MARTIN
PUB DATE: 24 SEPTEMBER 2024
👩🏼‍❤️‍💋‍👨🏼☠️
REVIEW- 3.
Thanks to Netgalley and the Publisher for this ARC. I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
☠️👩🏼‍❤️‍💋‍👨🏼
I grew up reading Kat Martin's romance books, so I was really excited when my request was accepted. I liked this book. Obviously, there were some things I didn't like. But, I didn't have any problem reading and finishing the book because the suspense was on point!
👩🏼‍❤️‍💋‍👨🏼☠️
I liked the romance and suspense, but mostly the suspense part. The romantic part of the book was free from drama, and the MMC knew what he wanted and went for it without fear. It was cute and kinda annoying sometimes. I was kinda disappointed because I wanted a little bit of drama, but there was none. That being said, I liked their chemistry and Cain's protectiveness of Jenny.
☠️👩🏼‍❤️‍💋‍👨🏼
The suspense delivered. Throughout the book, there were stories and viewings of ghosts and tangible danger. I kept wondering if the ghosts were real or not until the last chapter. I really didn't expect the ending or the culprit, but it was okay. I liked that the danger was two ways, Cain and Jenny were being attacked by different people. The culprits were obvious, but I totally missed it.
👩🏼‍❤️‍💋‍👨🏼☠️
The small town setting of Jerome was okay, but I didn't really feel the usual vibe here, but it was still okay. The side characters were okay.
☠️👩🏼‍❤️‍💋‍👨🏼
I liked reading this book and I'm sure you will too. I'm glad that I liked Kat Martin's books now like I did as a teen
👩🏼‍❤️‍💋‍👨🏼☠️

Tropes: MC's solve a mystery; opposites attract
Steam level: 3ish
TW's: attempted rape of MFC; off-page animal abuse

This was a quick read and a bit of a break from HR's for me, but ironically, I ended up enjoying the historical research (I'm an AZ native) and mystery/paranormal aspects of this book more than the central romance. MFC Jenny was fine, although I wish she had been consistently feisty and stood up to MMC Cain more, especially since her first husband was apparently awful. I honestly didn't care for Cain much; he was too stock alpha-ish and controlling (not to mention his rooting into Jenny's private life was more than creepy). Their sex scenes were plentiful but I didn't sense the passion or love.

As far as secondary characters go, I liked Dylan and Summer, and Cain's grandmother was OK, but the rest were a bit of a blur; The weight references were off-putting, particularly when describing Cleo. I'm not sure if the author meant for her to be comic relief or just colorful, but she came across as an unpleasant stereotype.

The mystery aspect wasn't bad. The paranormal aspect was interesting but it felt like the author wasn't quite sure where to go with it.

I've read books by this author in the past and feel that this one needed some polishing. Good premise, weak characterizations.

This story was told through the POVs of Jenny, owner of the Copper Star, and Cain owner of the Grandview Hotel. From the title and the description, I was expecting romance and spooks. The romance was definitely there and fiery, but it altered Jenny's personality in some ways that didn't seem consistent with the independent and jaded character she was introduced as. Cain's domineering personality was more consistent, and I liked his backstory. The spooky part of the plot with a murderous ghost was there and entertaining, but I would have liked more of it. I think fans of paranormal romance/romantic suspense would enjoy this book.

I received an arc from NetGalley and this is my honest opinion.

I really liked the two main characters and the storyline of this book even though ghosts and haunted places are not really my thing. Great story to read during Halloween time.

Jenny is working hard to build up her Hotel and Saloon business but the ghost town is giving her some trouble. Cain has been watching Jenny for awhile now and becomes very protective of Jenny when trouble starts, but is there trouble in his own backyard and Hotel business?

Will jealousy, business and trouble keep the two apart or will they get to the bottom of the ghost town and move on with their relationship?
3.75 stars

Haunted👻

The mining town of Jerome, used to be known as the Wickedest Town where murder and mayhem prevailed once upon a time. Jenny is the present day owner of the Copper Star and in the hopes of expanding, she renovates some old rooms when mysterious and dangerously unexpected occurrences take place. Not used to relying on the male species, she’s surprised when Cain inserts himself into her life just as these occurrences start, but he is also surprisingly helpful🥰

I really enjoyed this story, it was slightly different but I always love when tales have some paranormal aspects to them🙃 I slowly fell in love with Cain and imagine that’s just how Jenny felt when it happened. The story unfolded at a great pace and the backstory and development of the characters was realistic. I received an advanced copy from Netgalley and willingly leave my honest review❣️

I was hooked from the first page, just incredible!! Jenny & Cain made a great couple that you will absolutely love, I didn’t want their story to end. I can’t say enough about this book & author except that you must read this book!! I’m hoping Nick gets a book too. Fabulous, entertaining, you won’t want to put the book down!! I voluntarily read for an honest review.

Paranormal activity in the Cooper Star Hotel is happening in the newly renovated wing. Horse thieving is occurring in the county. And a murder. There is a lot happening in this book and the plot explores the really interesting history of the boom town of Jerome, Arizona. The romance seemed forced at times, I just didn't connect with the passion of Jenny and Cain. He was very controlling, and she just went along with him. I love Kat Martin's books, and this one was a great Romantic-Suspense with just the right amount of romance and suspense. I did have the distinct feeling that her style has changed over the last couple of books, but I was still engrossed in the plot and liked the book.

Jenny Spencer inherited the Copper Star Saloon and Hotel and is determined to make it a success in the boom to bust tourist town of Jerome, Arizona, which has a very colorful past. A town which came to be as part of a boom in copper mining and went bust when the mines played out. Now it is a popular tourist attraction and part of the draw is that several places are haunted. The Copper Star has that reputation, and several strange things have happened there since Jenny renovated and reopened a wing of the hotel her uncle had kept closed for many years.

Cain Barrett was the bad boy in his high school class. A drop out and general juvenal delinquent who acquired several abandoned mining leases and struck it rich. He bought and renovated the Grandview Hotel because his grandmother wanted to spend her last years in Jerome. Cain has never lacked for female companionship and when Jenny Spenser catches his eye, he remembers the feisty girl from high school and is interested in getting to know the woman she became.

When the strange occurrences at the Copper Star become more than an annoyance and a murder takes place with paranormal overtones, Cain is concerned for Jenny's safety. Jenny has become very important to Cain, but he is not willing to say that the reason for her problems is of a ghostly variety. Then Jenny uncovers a journal, and her research leads her to that conclusion. But Cain has problems of his own and when his prize-winning show horse is attacked, it smacks of revenge.

My thanks to the Publisher and the Author for providing a complimentary digital Advanced Reader Copy (ARC) of this novel via NetGalley. This is my fair, honest and personal review. All opinions are mine alone and were not biased in any way.

Hair raising story! Cain and Jenny team up to deal with ghosts and other bad people. Twists and turns galore.