An Extreme Haunting (Tricks and Treats)

Cheryl Dragon
Ellora’s Cave (2007)
ISBN 9781419912405
Reviewed by Paige Lovitt for Reader Views (10/07)

Sean O’Brien discovers that he has a surprise inheritance of a haunted old castle in Ireland.  His sister discovered that the place is extremely haunted and she finds herself unable to stay there.  She hires Dana Rayne, who is a spiritual cleanser and an empath.  Dana and Sean share a flight together.  Finding himself attracted to her, Sean starts fantasizing about her on the plane.  When they get to the castle, Dana discovers that a former ancestor of Sean’s has a harem of twenty women.  He was a sexual dominant who forced his women into pain-filled submissive roles. 

Sean and Dana discover a dungeon that was also used as a pleasure chamber.  Dana and Sean feel sexual compulsions towards each other.  The ghosts are exerting some force over their desire.  They give into it in the dungeon.  For the first time, Dana is able to trust Sean so that she can fully allow herself to enjoy her role as a submissive.  They try to purge the ghosts from the castle by remarking it as their territory.  Sean’s ancestor is not so easy to get rid of and Sean discovers that he has to stay on guard from the ghost’s influence.  They also discover a desire for a future together.

“An Extreme Haunting” is a fun, quick read.  Less than fifty pages, it is perfect for someone who doesn’t have a lot of time on their hands, but really needs an erotic fix.  The sensual scenes are very well-written and the aspect of Sean having to fight off sexual compulsions being influenced by his ancestor made it more interesting and dramatic.  Because it is a small novella, the feelings between Sean and Dana are developed quickly, in less than 24 hours.   I found it easier to believe in ghosts, than in a couple truly being able to fall in love that quickly.  Still, “An Extreme Haunting” is a fun story that will definitely be enjoyed during the Halloween season.

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