This was delightful and hot. I loved the setting. It was perfect. I loved the ending too. This is a short and entertaining listen. Oh and the narration was perfect!

Olivia Markham is writing a new book, and since the story is about a haunted house, where better to write the book then in an actual haunted house? Along with the creaks, groans, and bumps in the night, Olivia has company in the form of a caretaker, who actually turns out to be a police officer in search of his missing sister. This book is a reissue, but if you enjoy a Gothic romance, and there is definitely an intensely sexual scene, you’ll enjoy this book.

Author Olivia Markham is working on a new book. She wants to really put herself into the setting for her story and rents a "cursed" mansion in the Louisiana Bayou to set the mood. The house is full of creepy sounds and hidden passageways as well as an unexpected caretaker, John Landry. John has his own agenda at the mansion. He isn't really the caretaker but rather is a police officer searching for his sister who went missing from the house. When it seems someone is trying to scare Olivia away, John teams up with her to get to the bottom of mansion's mysteries.

This is a little bit older book, but the description caught my attention in NetGalley for the audiobook and the book did not disappoint! It was suspenseful, has some twists, and a solid story. The book is described as Romantic Suspense and while Oliva and John do have a romantic interest going on, the suspense took front seat. When a small spicy section came up in the middle of the book, it actually seemed out of place and kind of took away from the storyline that had been building. Really enjoyed this audiobook!

Thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin Audio for the audiobook for review

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this eARC in audiobook format.

This story is a well-written, clever mystery/romance that includes a graphic sex scene. The narrator does a flawless job telling this story. The characters and the plot are interesting and well developed,

However, I am tired of stories which include supposedly strong women who become helpless the minute they encounter an attractive man.

Please do not hesitate to listen to this audiobook if you are a fan of standard boy saves girl romances; this one includes a cool Gothic supernatural twist.

Personally, I will continue in my quest, searching for books that include strong female protagonists who can neutralize threats without male intervention.

Let's flip the script so that 2025 redefines what it means to be a female; I would love to read stories that include truly heroic, strong, self-reliant and happily independent female protagonists.

Love a good Louisiana bayou lure! Jana DeLeon is a Louisiana native and tells these south Louisiana stories so well!

This book is on the short side so a quick fast-paced read. I listened to the audiobook and narration was done well. Pronunciation can be difficult for Cajun names but it was done well.

Loved the storyline! Great read!

Thanks to NetGalley, Jana DeLeon, and Harlequin Audio for an ALC and chance to give my honest opinion

I love Jana DeLeon's Miss Fortune series, so I was excited to give this rerelease of an audiobook title from her backlog a listen. If you've ever visited the Louisiana bayou country, it's easy to appreciate how it makes an ideal setting for all things mysterious and sinister. The swamps are thick with folklore and DeLeon weaves it right into this gothic tale.

Olivia Markham is an author who finds writing in haunted houses inspiring. However, it doesn't take long after arriving at laMalediction to realize that something isn't right.

Is she being watched?

The old house is located deep in the bayou, filled with hidden passages, secret rooms, prone to power outages, and unexplained occurrences. Locals have warned her the place is cursed and that some visitors leave in body bags or not at all. Olivia is sure they are trying to scare her off, but why? John Landry is the groundskeeper with a secret of his own. The pair share a heady attraction 🔥and a drive to get to the bottom of the truth about laMalediction before it's too late.

The house is the most developed character in the novel which is like a double-edged sword because on the one hand I LOVE architecture with this much life, but I wanted more from the other characters. The name laMalediction means curse and this gothic monstrosity delivered with its sliding walls, trap doors, and hidden spaces including a library with 19th century diaries which had my inner Nancy Drew sleuthing. 🔎 The house and the twisted history of its past inhabitants was deliciously creepy to explore. I kept wondering what our brave duo would discover next. The mystery was unique, and I love that DeLeon didn't jump the shark with it. Things tied up a little fast, but it was a satisfying ending.

The narration was too fast in some sections to the point the words were almost blurred. I think it was an attempt to increase suspense, but it was off putting. There is romance with steam alongside a mystery plot, but the romance is secondary. The house on the cover does not match description of the house in the book at all. It goes fine with the title, but once you read the novel it sticks out.

I would love a prequel featuring the origin story. The bits and pieces of backstory were compelling and tantalizing. Those characters seemed fascinating and I'm adding a half star for them.💗

If you enjoy a spooky gothic house with a bloody history, you may want to give this one a go.

3.5⭐

Many thanks to NetGalley and Harlequin Audio for providing an Advance Listening Copy for review. These are my unbiased opinions.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.
I finished this book in one day. I loved the setting. A creepy older house that is in need of repair and filled with secret passageways and rooms. Add in some mystery and a little romance and it’s the perfect book.
Great narration. Well written. I enjoyed the characters. Also a good ending as well.