Sweetheart, Sweetheart by Bernard Taylor


Sweetheart, Sweetheart by Bernard Taylor
Narrated by Matt Godfrey
Released: October 2016 by Valancourt Books
Length: 10 Hours, 10 Minutes
Amazon ♦ Goodreads

DARK FOREBODINGS.

All should have been well for Colin and his English bride -- but his twin brother, David, sensed trouble. Growing obsessed, David made his way to England to calm his fears -- instead he found an...

UNBOUNDED HELL.

Colin and his wive were dead -- victims of ghastly violence. Their seemingly serene cottage seethed with an aura of murder, madness, and betrayal. Overpowered by the evil, David soon embarked on a...

JOURNEY INTO THE MACABRE.

Suffocatingly, the presence grew...grew to a malevolent force trying to kill David's fiancee...grew until David himself was a helpless prisoner of unholy passion!

My Thoughts

David has an ominous feeling that his twin brother Colin is in serious danger so he leaves the US and heads off to England to see what’s what. He discovers terrible things have indeed occurred. As he attempts to figure out exactly what has happened, he finds himself residing temporarily in Colin’s gorgeous cabin and meeting some interesting characters along the way who clue him in on Colin, Colin’s wife and the home’s ominous past. He is left to ferret out the rest of the secrets on his own. He is tenacious. I would've been scurrying back home after a few events but that's just me.


This book was a beautiful example of the atmospheric, slow burn ghost story. Why it isn’t better known is beyond me. It was leagues better than most of the recent novels I’ve read. It actually gave me the creeps a time or two and that almost never happens.

It is a product of its time though (the 70’s). David is one of those stubborn guys who keeps everything to himself (oooh, how that makes me crazy!) and tells the love of his life next to nothing. I’d strangle a guy like that in real life or at the very least drive him crazy with my questions but here it works well enough. I suppose if he shared everything things would’ve ended very differently and I thought the ending was dark perfection.

The characters are engaging and some of the dialogue between David and his love just hit me in all the right ways.
"You could bring me a good book.

Right, I'll bring you a good book. Your usual taste and nothing to get you too excited. Just sex, lust, rape, mayhem . . .

And murder, she finished for me."

I listened to this book as an unabridged audio and you will feel that ominous feeling of dread that accompanies David wherever he goes as soon as the narrator begins to speak. His voice seems made for this kind of story.

I can’t tell you any more without spoiling everything for you. I hate when that happens so I am stopping here. Just know that the buildup is slow and worth the wait. You are left, just as David is, to attempt to make sense of the strange goings-on occurring at the beautiful cabin. I didn’t figure it out before the reveal but I’m not very good at these things. If you like an old-fashioned, get under your skin ghost story listen to the audio or read the book. I don’t think you’ll be sorry.

Comments

  1. I've never ever heard of this but you make it sound intriguing. I'm in the middle of a book where I just hope EVERYONE dies at the end so I'm looking for something to make my next read better!

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    1. lol, that's the worst! That happened to me in The Ruins. They were all so dumb it just drove me crazy. This one is fantastic if you're looking for a slow burn.

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  2. This looks good. I am curious as to who the narrator is.

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    1. Sorry about that. It's Matt Godfrey. I purchased the Kindle version and then added on the Whispersync narration for $1.99 or so more. So worth it!

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  3. Yeah, I love listening to horror books rather than read them for that very reason. Depending on the narrator, I find the experience more enhanced.

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    1. Yep, the narrator can definitely make or break a book.

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  4. I am not a fan of audio books, but this do sound intriguing.

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    1. It's available as a paperback & on Kindle too. Thanks for visiting, Nadene!

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  5. Oh I love stories with towns. Even better when it is in a book like this. I will have to look into this audio. Great review!

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    1. Thanks, Grace. I hope you enjoy it on audio as much as I did :)

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  6. I love a good scary ghost story...especially one where I can't guess the ending. Will have to look for this one. :)

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  7. I'm still laughing at that video!!! You've sold me on this book too!

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  8. I probably wouldn't have really looked too hard at this one just based on the cover but after your review, I am interested. I could use a ghost story.

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    1. This is a good one, Carole. I'd tell you if it wasn't ;)

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  9. Love the ducks chasing the cat! I hate cats so I found that pretty funny!

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    1. You hate cats, Chuckles? Awww, you can still be my friend though :) Cats can be evil little creatures.

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  10. LOL! That gif! Ohhh I love creepy. Will definitely add this.

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  11. Ooo does sound like it would have some creepies. Older books are great :)

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  12. I thought this was totally new to me, but I went to add it to Goodreads and somehow it was on my wishlist already. :) So thanks for the reminder! This sounds really, really good.

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