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The Spirits #1
Spirits in the Trees
EVIL DOES EXIST
An abandoned house, a serial killer, and a victim reaching out from the grave. A woman races against time to unearth buried secrets before she becomes a ghost herself.
YOU ARE NOT ALONE
Madeline Anderson goes to Isabelle Island, Washington, to sell a family home abandoned over forty years before. Strange things occur the moment she steps on the property. Inside the dilapidated old house, items move about on their own accord. Noises come from empty rooms. She has a vivid, recurring dream of a woman running for her life. The wind rustling through the trees sounds like urgent, murmuring voices. When the cacophony dies down, one single word emerges: Madeline, Madeline, Madeline.
YOU CAN NOT HIDE
At first, Doug Lindstrom, the hot fireman helping Maddy restore the old home, doesn't believe anything bizarre is going on. He’s certain Maddy is jumping at shadows because the local kids call the house haunted. That is until he witnesses horrific violence he can't explain. After Maddy’s life is threatened not once, but twice, Doug vows there will not be a third time.
THEY ARE WATCHING
While searching for answers, Maddy uncovers astonishing secrets about her aunt's past. Finding more questions then answers, she digs deeper until she stumbles across evidence of a cold case involving a serial killer named The Seaside Strangler. Now Maddy must unmask the killer. The life she saves just might be their own.
DON'T FORGET TO PICK UP THE NEXT SPINE TINGLING BOOK IN THE SPIRITS TRILOGY: SPIRITS AMONG US
AVAILABLE NOW!
An abandoned house, a serial killer, and a victim reaching out from the grave. A woman races against time to unearth buried secrets before she becomes a ghost herself.
YOU ARE NOT ALONE
Madeline Anderson goes to Isabelle Island, Washington, to sell a family home abandoned over forty years before. Strange things occur the moment she steps on the property. Inside the dilapidated old house, items move about on their own accord. Noises come from empty rooms. She has a vivid, recurring dream of a woman running for her life. The wind rustling through the trees sounds like urgent, murmuring voices. When the cacophony dies down, one single word emerges: Madeline, Madeline, Madeline.
YOU CAN NOT HIDE
At first, Doug Lindstrom, the hot fireman helping Maddy restore the old home, doesn't believe anything bizarre is going on. He’s certain Maddy is jumping at shadows because the local kids call the house haunted. That is until he witnesses horrific violence he can't explain. After Maddy’s life is threatened not once, but twice, Doug vows there will not be a third time.
THEY ARE WATCHING
While searching for answers, Maddy uncovers astonishing secrets about her aunt's past. Finding more questions then answers, she digs deeper until she stumbles across evidence of a cold case involving a serial killer named The Seaside Strangler. Now Maddy must unmask the killer. The life she saves just might be their own.
DON'T FORGET TO PICK UP THE NEXT SPINE TINGLING BOOK IN THE SPIRITS TRILOGY: SPIRITS AMONG US
AVAILABLE NOW!
408 pages, Paperback
First published June 27, 2012
345 people are currently reading
1520 people want to read
About the author
Morgan Hannah MacDonald
18 books273 followersMorgan Hannah MacDonald writes Romantic Thrillers that are NOT for the Faint of Heart. A two-time semi-finalist in the 2016 KINDLE BOOK AWARDS. She's held many positions including a teller where her hands and feet were bound while armed robbers took over the bank. Years later she discovered she'd dated a serial killer. That's when she knew her destiny was in writing, because sometimes fact is stranger than fiction. She belongs to Romance Writers of America and International Thriller Writers. She resides in San Diego, California, where she’s busy working on her next novel. She loves to hear from readers.
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Write to her at [email protected] To ensure you don’t miss a single book
You can sign up for newsletter alerts on her website & Facebook page.
Website:http://www.morganhannahmacdonald.com
For her twisted weird humor LIKE her on Facebook : http://www.facebook.com/#!/MorganHann....
Twitter: morganhannah2u
See what she likes on Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/morganhanna...
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 150 reviews
July 8, 2012
After reading and enjoying Hannah Morgan MacDonald’s (“MacDonald”) first book, “Sandman,” about a serial killer, I thought I give her new book, “Spirit in the Trees” a chance. I was hesitant at first as I didn’t think I’d enjoy reading about spirits and ghosts that haunt a house. However, once I started I couldn’t stop.
“Spirits in the Trees” is an intriguing and mysterious story about a home that is haunted by spirits from the past. MacDonald delivers a haunting story that is easy to imagine, that moves at a good pace, and which also holds the reader’s attention without being overly descriptive or redundant (thank goodness).
It’s also the story of Maddie overcoming a personal tragedy and falling in love with Doug, her “handsome handyman.” Both Maddie and Doug are two people you can’t help but love, especially Doug. (I’d love to have my own handsome handyman.) You can feel the love he has for Maddie and he doesn’t hold back. They have such chemistry. It’s quite refreshing to read about two people with such an attraction to each other that do not let tragedies, or failed romances impede them from falling in love. They just go for it. Thru words written by the author, to me it felt like I was reading about his and her respective first love. You could feel their love and happiness for one another coming off the pages.
MacDonald is an author that has a lot of talent when it comes to story-telling. She’s quickly become one of my favorite authors. I look forward to her next book in her new series.
If you can open your mind to a fictional story of spirits and ghosts, you’ll truly enjoy the story. At $2.99 for a Kindle edition on Amazon, it’s a steal.
“Spirits in the Trees” is an intriguing and mysterious story about a home that is haunted by spirits from the past. MacDonald delivers a haunting story that is easy to imagine, that moves at a good pace, and which also holds the reader’s attention without being overly descriptive or redundant (thank goodness).
It’s also the story of Maddie overcoming a personal tragedy and falling in love with Doug, her “handsome handyman.” Both Maddie and Doug are two people you can’t help but love, especially Doug. (I’d love to have my own handsome handyman.) You can feel the love he has for Maddie and he doesn’t hold back. They have such chemistry. It’s quite refreshing to read about two people with such an attraction to each other that do not let tragedies, or failed romances impede them from falling in love. They just go for it. Thru words written by the author, to me it felt like I was reading about his and her respective first love. You could feel their love and happiness for one another coming off the pages.
MacDonald is an author that has a lot of talent when it comes to story-telling. She’s quickly become one of my favorite authors. I look forward to her next book in her new series.
If you can open your mind to a fictional story of spirits and ghosts, you’ll truly enjoy the story. At $2.99 for a Kindle edition on Amazon, it’s a steal.
May 8, 2013
This book was great!!
Where to start with this book, hmmm!! It was extremely creepy and so flipping real feeling!! I was having a hard time trying to keep my heart from racing out of my chest with each page I turned. I loved everything about this book, from the start to the finish....well maybe not the first chapter, it was really sad...but after that it picked up, still a little emotional from Maddy's memories. I had no idea where this book was going to go, I loved the fact that I couldn't put it down!!
After dealing with the lost of her husband and child in a house fire, Maddy takes up helping her grandmother with her great-aunt who has taking a turn for the worse. After discovering the deed to a house her great-aunt lived in, that was supposedly sold along time ago according to her grandmother, she sets off to fix up the place to put on the market. There she meets Doug, complete hotness in one package, she begins with his help to complete renovations on the bungalow. Weird things start to occur almost immediately and Maddy finds herself fighting for her life every day she stays in that house.
The book was in multiple POV's and I loved it. It helps to relate more to the character if you get to see what they are really thinking. The connection between Maddy and Doug is not immediate but it does gradually grow with each page you read. I loved the fact it wasn't a complete love at first site like some books I have read. This connection seemed more real. The details in the story really helped you visualize the scenes and the horror that Maddy was dealing with by being in that house. There would have been no way I would have stayed in that house after the first night of hearing voices or even with the whole swinging door issue!!
I do believe that there are ghost that walk among us and that do reside in places, but I have not experienced any and really don't want to, haha!! Specially if they are anything like the ghost that lives in the house!! I actually had a hard time trying to figure out who it would be, but in the end was surprised to know there were other factors involved.
This was my first book by this author and I really look forward to reading more by her, she really has a way of capturing the reader and bringing the story to life. The story line and plot was well written and had just the right amount of details without being overboard. If you like paranormal/thriller/murder/romance all in one package then you will love this book. I am looking forward to the next book!
Where to start with this book, hmmm!! It was extremely creepy and so flipping real feeling!! I was having a hard time trying to keep my heart from racing out of my chest with each page I turned. I loved everything about this book, from the start to the finish....well maybe not the first chapter, it was really sad...but after that it picked up, still a little emotional from Maddy's memories. I had no idea where this book was going to go, I loved the fact that I couldn't put it down!!
After dealing with the lost of her husband and child in a house fire, Maddy takes up helping her grandmother with her great-aunt who has taking a turn for the worse. After discovering the deed to a house her great-aunt lived in, that was supposedly sold along time ago according to her grandmother, she sets off to fix up the place to put on the market. There she meets Doug, complete hotness in one package, she begins with his help to complete renovations on the bungalow. Weird things start to occur almost immediately and Maddy finds herself fighting for her life every day she stays in that house.
The book was in multiple POV's and I loved it. It helps to relate more to the character if you get to see what they are really thinking. The connection between Maddy and Doug is not immediate but it does gradually grow with each page you read. I loved the fact it wasn't a complete love at first site like some books I have read. This connection seemed more real. The details in the story really helped you visualize the scenes and the horror that Maddy was dealing with by being in that house. There would have been no way I would have stayed in that house after the first night of hearing voices or even with the whole swinging door issue!!
I do believe that there are ghost that walk among us and that do reside in places, but I have not experienced any and really don't want to, haha!! Specially if they are anything like the ghost that lives in the house!! I actually had a hard time trying to figure out who it would be, but in the end was surprised to know there were other factors involved.
This was my first book by this author and I really look forward to reading more by her, she really has a way of capturing the reader and bringing the story to life. The story line and plot was well written and had just the right amount of details without being overboard. If you like paranormal/thriller/murder/romance all in one package then you will love this book. I am looking forward to the next book!
July 28, 2015
Can I say first that I'm a little confused with the name of the book. When I first read it and saw the cover I thought this was about a haunted wood or something like that, but it's not, it's a haunted house! Maybe it's just me but that's what it conjured up for me!! ;)
Anyway, this was such a great book and if I'm honest, quite scary. I love a good ghost story, even though I'm a wuss and can't read it at night!! This one was fast paced and captured my attention right from the start.
Maddies' life has been hell for the last year after a fire claimed the life of her husband and daughter. She decides to go to her great aunts' (who has dementia) old house to renovate it for sale. Little does she know that it's not going to be as easy as she thinks!
Maddie was such an amazing character. She lost both her husband and daughter in one night yet she kept going. Her will and strength of character was admirable. She wants to help settle her great aunts affairs and goes to the old house to see what she can do. Her life changes in both good ways and bad! She was beaten, abused, terrified, yet throughout everything, she remained strong and I have to say that at one certain part, my heart absolutely broke for her!!! (You will have to read/listen to it to see what I mean ;))
Then we have Doug. *Sigh* The hot handy man who lives next door and volunteers his help with the house!! You can tell where it's going!! I loved their relationship and see it blossom into something more. He was such a sweetie!!
This was terrifying yet I would love to see it as a movie!! It's fast paced, gripping and had plenty of mystery surrounding the house and spirit. I loved that Maddie found the journals and we got to see the story unfold alongside her. This book will stay with me for a long time! The author created such a chilling story that it almost feels real. I had chills at so many parts that goosebumps rose!! I will definitely check out more by her!
Teri Schnaubelt was amazing. She brought the story to life. She sounded terrified during certain parts that it was almost like she was seeing a real ghost ;)
*I received a copy of this in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.*
Anyway, this was such a great book and if I'm honest, quite scary. I love a good ghost story, even though I'm a wuss and can't read it at night!! This one was fast paced and captured my attention right from the start.
Maddies' life has been hell for the last year after a fire claimed the life of her husband and daughter. She decides to go to her great aunts' (who has dementia) old house to renovate it for sale. Little does she know that it's not going to be as easy as she thinks!
Maddie was such an amazing character. She lost both her husband and daughter in one night yet she kept going. Her will and strength of character was admirable. She wants to help settle her great aunts affairs and goes to the old house to see what she can do. Her life changes in both good ways and bad! She was beaten, abused, terrified, yet throughout everything, she remained strong and I have to say that at one certain part, my heart absolutely broke for her!!! (You will have to read/listen to it to see what I mean ;))
Then we have Doug. *Sigh* The hot handy man who lives next door and volunteers his help with the house!! You can tell where it's going!! I loved their relationship and see it blossom into something more. He was such a sweetie!!
This was terrifying yet I would love to see it as a movie!! It's fast paced, gripping and had plenty of mystery surrounding the house and spirit. I loved that Maddie found the journals and we got to see the story unfold alongside her. This book will stay with me for a long time! The author created such a chilling story that it almost feels real. I had chills at so many parts that goosebumps rose!! I will definitely check out more by her!
Teri Schnaubelt was amazing. She brought the story to life. She sounded terrified during certain parts that it was almost like she was seeing a real ghost ;)
*I received a copy of this in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.*
April 8, 2017
EVIL DOES EXIST
An abandoned house, a serial killer, and a victim reaching out from the grave. A woman races against time to unearth buried secrets before she becomes a ghost herself.
YOU ARE NOT ALONE
Madeline Anderson goes to Isabelle Island, Washington, to sell a family home abandoned over forty years before. Strange things occur the moment she steps on the property. Inside the dilapidated old house, items move about on their own accord. Noises come from empty rooms. She has a vivid, recurring dream of a woman running for her life. The wind rustling through the trees sounds like urgent, murmuring voices. When the cacophony dies down, one single word emerges: Madeline, Madeline, Madeline.
YOU CAN NOT HIDE
At first, Doug Lindstrom, the hot fireman helping Maddy restore the old home, doesn't believe anything bizarre is going on. He’s certain Maddy is jumping at shadows because the local kids call the house haunted. That is until he witnesses horrific violence he can't explain. After Maddy’s life is threatened not once, but twice, Doug vows there will not be a third time.
THEY ARE WATCHING
While searching for answers, Maddy uncovers astonishing secrets about her aunt's past. Finding more questions then answers, she digs deeper until she stumbles across evidence of a cold case involving a serial killer named The Seaside Strangler. Now Maddy must unmask the killer. The life she saves just might be their own.
What did I think:
OMG and here I thought this trilogy couldn't get any better then book 3 which is Spirits of the Bayou but I have to say that I was wrong, ok so I'm read these books out of order but that's ok , in fact I don't know which one I like the best between the two I've read so far, just like Sprits of the Bayou this reachs out and pulls you in to the story , and once that happens your hooked and it won't let go. you have to set back and enjoy the ride , its also just as chilling and terrifying as Sprits of the Bayou is, and it to has Lots of unexpected, moments that gives you a creeping sensation on your skin that cause the hair on your arms to raise, and when you think that that your at a non creepy part of the book , she laughs at you and say I'm not do with you get, so just set back and hold on to your chair and enjoy the ride, because that's when she throws more surprises at you ,so if you love to be on the edge of your set, and are not afraid of the unexpected, or that creepy sensation then this is the book and series for you, plus it show You that the best thing to do is to leave things along that you don't understand and when you start to hear voices or shadows I'm your room then its time to get out of there and don't come back no matter what, also once again I have to say this but there is just something about her writing style , with that said I would love to say thinks to Morgan Hannah MacDonald for send me a copy of her book to read in a change for my honest opinion, which this is 100% , this series is a must read .
January 25, 2013
When I was in my late twenty’s I was a huge fan of Stephen King, James Patterson and Peter Straub. I also enjoy Dan Brown’s books. Later on in life I switched to romance novels, which I have been reading since then. I have always wished for a good mystery, psychological thriller/supernatural and romance novel, but sadly have never found one what satisfied me…until now!
Spirit in the Trees by Morgan Hannah MacDonald fulfilled that wish. It was a mysterious and captivating story that scared the crap out of me. At one point during reading, late at night mind you, while reading by myself in the living room, I became so spooked that I went to bed with my book, so I could lay next to my husband. (Made me feel safe) But, I couldn’t put the book down.
Madeline Anderson, known as Maddy, has lost her husband and child 10 months ago and returns home to Seattle to be with her mother. Once home she discovers that her aunt, who is suffering from Alzheimer, still owns a house out on one of the islands. Deciding that this would be a good distraction from her grieving, Maddy heads over to the house to oversee the repairs and pending sale of the house.
The first person she meets is her neighbor and handyman Doug, who offers his help in repairing the old and dilapidated place. No one has live at the house for over 40 years. The moment Maddy step foot on the grounds, strange things begin to happen. Maddy wonders if the house is haunted. She refused to say anything to Doug, in fear that he would think she was crazy, because she realizes that she is falling in love with the handyman.
All I will reveal is, there is EVIL living in this house!!!
After Doug finds Maddy beaten and raped, he finally learns the truth about the house next door. Doug never leaves Maddy’s side and promises her that they will get to the bottom of what is lucking in the house. Together the two of them with the help of some friends, who are paranormal sleuths, Maddy and Doug, do indeed solved the mystery.
DAMN THIS WAS A FANTASTIC BOOK!!!! I started reading about 5 pm and didn’t finish till 4 am the next morning.
If you enjoying a story that is menacingly sinister with a paranormal twist, that has a touch of romance, Sprits in the Trees is for you.
Spirit in the Trees by Morgan Hannah MacDonald fulfilled that wish. It was a mysterious and captivating story that scared the crap out of me. At one point during reading, late at night mind you, while reading by myself in the living room, I became so spooked that I went to bed with my book, so I could lay next to my husband. (Made me feel safe) But, I couldn’t put the book down.
Madeline Anderson, known as Maddy, has lost her husband and child 10 months ago and returns home to Seattle to be with her mother. Once home she discovers that her aunt, who is suffering from Alzheimer, still owns a house out on one of the islands. Deciding that this would be a good distraction from her grieving, Maddy heads over to the house to oversee the repairs and pending sale of the house.
The first person she meets is her neighbor and handyman Doug, who offers his help in repairing the old and dilapidated place. No one has live at the house for over 40 years. The moment Maddy step foot on the grounds, strange things begin to happen. Maddy wonders if the house is haunted. She refused to say anything to Doug, in fear that he would think she was crazy, because she realizes that she is falling in love with the handyman.
All I will reveal is, there is EVIL living in this house!!!
After Doug finds Maddy beaten and raped, he finally learns the truth about the house next door. Doug never leaves Maddy’s side and promises her that they will get to the bottom of what is lucking in the house. Together the two of them with the help of some friends, who are paranormal sleuths, Maddy and Doug, do indeed solved the mystery.
DAMN THIS WAS A FANTASTIC BOOK!!!! I started reading about 5 pm and didn’t finish till 4 am the next morning.
If you enjoying a story that is menacingly sinister with a paranormal twist, that has a touch of romance, Sprits in the Trees is for you.
August 14, 2012
How to review this book...? Well for starters, it scared the crap out of me! I was home alone while I read Spirits in the Trees and at one point I literally got up and turned every light in the house on. For the most part every scene in which something creepy is happening is described in great detail, and allows you to imagine you are living through it with the main characters. That being said, I agree with other reviewers who said that the end scene was much too quick. Honestly, after everything they went through throughout the book, I was expecting a lot more.
I did have one MAJOR issue with this story and that was the vividly described rape scenes. Yes, I said "scenes". There were three of them. I really don't want to read how good it felt when some creep was abusing a woman. It was very disturbing, to say the least.
Other than my main issue; however, I enjoyed Spirits in the Trees very much and would definitely reccomend it to my friends.
I did have one MAJOR issue with this story and that was the vividly described rape scenes. Yes, I said "scenes". There were three of them. I really don't want to read how good it felt when some creep was abusing a woman. It was very disturbing, to say the least.
Other than my main issue; however, I enjoyed Spirits in the Trees very much and would definitely reccomend it to my friends.
April 18, 2015
I was given a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Spirits in the trees was nothing like I had imagined. Expecting quite an intense paranormal story bordering on being a thriller, what I got was intense, but it was a mysterious story of love, lust, murder and the paranormal. Combining stories of the past with events happening now, the author has created a dialogue that keeps you guessing what will happen next.
I was excited about reading this book. The language used created the perfect environment for my imagination and every word kept me hanging. I felt like I was one of the characters experiencing the pain, fear, joy and passion that the they were feeling. I can't wait to read book 2.
Spirits in the trees was nothing like I had imagined. Expecting quite an intense paranormal story bordering on being a thriller, what I got was intense, but it was a mysterious story of love, lust, murder and the paranormal. Combining stories of the past with events happening now, the author has created a dialogue that keeps you guessing what will happen next.
I was excited about reading this book. The language used created the perfect environment for my imagination and every word kept me hanging. I felt like I was one of the characters experiencing the pain, fear, joy and passion that the they were feeling. I can't wait to read book 2.
April 6, 2017
Wow
What a scary ghost story. If you are upset about spousal abuse and sex. This may not be for you. Very explicit scenes of murder rape and general mayham.
It is a age turner. I didn't want to put it down. It is a really scary ghost story.
What a scary ghost story. If you are upset about spousal abuse and sex. This may not be for you. Very explicit scenes of murder rape and general mayham.
It is a age turner. I didn't want to put it down. It is a really scary ghost story.
April 11, 2013
Following a personal tragedy, Maddy begins helping her Grandmother go through her great aunt's things because her great aunt, Madeline, has Alzheimers and is unable to take care of her affairs herself. While looking through old papers, she discovers that her great aunt holds the deed to a house on Isabella Island in Washington. In an effort to help futher, Maddy decides to move up to the house, clean it out, and fix it up so it can be put on the market. However, when she arrives, strange things begin happening.
I loved that her great aunt, Madeline, was a pretty prominent secondary character even though there was only one scene in the book where it focuses directly on her in present time. All other times she comes into play are through diary entries which explain her life and the things she went through/witnessed while living in the house on the island. Her husband and in laws were pretty descpicable people and you were left rooting for Madeline and Maddy through the entire book.
I thought that the author did a really good job describing the haunting events that took place in the house. She created a good sense of urgency and fear, plus the inheret creep factor when dealing with hauntings and evil spirits.
Ultimately the only thing I disliked were the romance scenes. They weren't horrible, and weren't even badly written (no real cringe-worthy, eye rollingly bad sex scenes and no references to a woman's privates as "her sex." Ugh, I hate that term); I just tend to dislike romance scenes in the books I'm reading, especially when I'm not expecting them. A lot of times I don't feel it lends to the story aside from "look at us, we can't keep our hands off each other and now we're having sex." Thankfully there were only a couple of these scenes throughout the book, so they didn't detract from the book much and in one sense, they actually spurred the story with the ghost along.
Additionally, there was one inconsistency that bugged me...Ang and Maddy talk about the ghose hunter shows and how Ang is obsessed with them. Maddy says she's never heard of them before and doesn't seem to know what ghost hunters do. HOWEVER, she has two friends from college WHO HUNT GHOSTS and come to help her out.
I loved that her great aunt, Madeline, was a pretty prominent secondary character even though there was only one scene in the book where it focuses directly on her in present time. All other times she comes into play are through diary entries which explain her life and the things she went through/witnessed while living in the house on the island. Her husband and in laws were pretty descpicable people and you were left rooting for Madeline and Maddy through the entire book.
I thought that the author did a really good job describing the haunting events that took place in the house. She created a good sense of urgency and fear, plus the inheret creep factor when dealing with hauntings and evil spirits.
Ultimately the only thing I disliked were the romance scenes. They weren't horrible, and weren't even badly written (no real cringe-worthy, eye rollingly bad sex scenes and no references to a woman's privates as "her sex." Ugh, I hate that term); I just tend to dislike romance scenes in the books I'm reading, especially when I'm not expecting them. A lot of times I don't feel it lends to the story aside from "look at us, we can't keep our hands off each other and now we're having sex." Thankfully there were only a couple of these scenes throughout the book, so they didn't detract from the book much and in one sense, they actually spurred the story with the ghost along.
Additionally, there was one inconsistency that bugged me...Ang and Maddy talk about the ghose hunter shows and how Ang is obsessed with them. Maddy says she's never heard of them before and doesn't seem to know what ghost hunters do. HOWEVER, she has two friends from college WHO HUNT GHOSTS and come to help her out.
December 29, 2012
Today's review is on Spirits in the Trees by Morgan Hannah MacDonald
A good psychological thriller is one that you could see actually happening. One that stays with you for more than a few minutes and makes you wonder what you would do if it were to happen to you. Spirits in the Trees is one of those books. Now I'm not saying that I believe in ghosts, demons, or hauntings, but there are some sick people out there that do unspeakable things to others.
Spirits in the Trees mixes the supernatural with a murder mystery that keeps you glued to the edge of your seat. You know something bad is going to happen but you just can't force yourself to close the book and turn away.
Madeline "Maddy" Anderson has suffered the ultimate loss when her home went down in flames taking her husband and daughter with it. It had been a long and hard road to cope with it, but she finally has a purpose once again when her gram's needs her help.
Maddy's aunt and namesake is not well. Along with her alzheimer's, her health is failing. While looking into her stack of "important" papers, Maddy and grams discover the deed to her first husbands childhood home, and Maddy sets out to get it ready to be sold.
Almost immediately, strange things begin to happen in the Heller home. Things that Maddy cannot explain to herself or the handsome "handyman" she has helping her.
Evil lurks in the old Heller house, and Maddy seems to be its only target.
There were some editing misses, and that is a pet peeve of mine, but the story was so captivating that I just cannot see myself lowering my rating for it, and this hardly happens.
There is Love, mystery, a supernatural element, and even an erotic scene! What more could you ask for?
Spirits in the Trees is a great addition to anyone's bookshelf.
4 of 5 stars
Available at Amazon
A good psychological thriller is one that you could see actually happening. One that stays with you for more than a few minutes and makes you wonder what you would do if it were to happen to you. Spirits in the Trees is one of those books. Now I'm not saying that I believe in ghosts, demons, or hauntings, but there are some sick people out there that do unspeakable things to others.
Spirits in the Trees mixes the supernatural with a murder mystery that keeps you glued to the edge of your seat. You know something bad is going to happen but you just can't force yourself to close the book and turn away.
Madeline "Maddy" Anderson has suffered the ultimate loss when her home went down in flames taking her husband and daughter with it. It had been a long and hard road to cope with it, but she finally has a purpose once again when her gram's needs her help.
Maddy's aunt and namesake is not well. Along with her alzheimer's, her health is failing. While looking into her stack of "important" papers, Maddy and grams discover the deed to her first husbands childhood home, and Maddy sets out to get it ready to be sold.
Almost immediately, strange things begin to happen in the Heller home. Things that Maddy cannot explain to herself or the handsome "handyman" she has helping her.
Evil lurks in the old Heller house, and Maddy seems to be its only target.
There were some editing misses, and that is a pet peeve of mine, but the story was so captivating that I just cannot see myself lowering my rating for it, and this hardly happens.
There is Love, mystery, a supernatural element, and even an erotic scene! What more could you ask for?
Spirits in the Trees is a great addition to anyone's bookshelf.
4 of 5 stars
Available at Amazon
January 9, 2013
Note: This book contains quite of few graphic violent scenes.
I love watching scary movies but it never really interested me to read a scary book. This one blew me away. Its like Poltergeist 1 and 2 and The Entity all rolled into one with a sweet romance around all the craziness.
Madeline Anderson knows grief. She lost her husband and child in a house fire that she managed to survive. When her Grandmother's sister takes a turn for the worse Madeline goes to help get her great-aunts finances in order. In going threw her things they find a deed to a house her grandmother thought that her sister had gotten rid of many years ago. Maddie jumps at the chance to go to Isabelle Island and get the house ready to sell so she didnt have to think about all that she had lost. What she finds is a house that no one has stepped foot in 40 years and its in bad shape. She meets her neighbor Doug Lindstrom who is a fireman and he offers his services to help her get the place restored so she can put it on the market.
But as these two are growing attracted to each other while working on the house, strange things start happening. As the occurrences get more violent Madeline finds her great-aunts journal. This was her in-laws house where she lived with them and her husband after they got married and many bad things happened.
The evil does not leave Madeline alone and we go on the quest with her and Doug to find out what really happened all those years ago and how it ties into what is going in today.
I love watching scary movies but it never really interested me to read a scary book. This one blew me away. Its like Poltergeist 1 and 2 and The Entity all rolled into one with a sweet romance around all the craziness.
Madeline Anderson knows grief. She lost her husband and child in a house fire that she managed to survive. When her Grandmother's sister takes a turn for the worse Madeline goes to help get her great-aunts finances in order. In going threw her things they find a deed to a house her grandmother thought that her sister had gotten rid of many years ago. Maddie jumps at the chance to go to Isabelle Island and get the house ready to sell so she didnt have to think about all that she had lost. What she finds is a house that no one has stepped foot in 40 years and its in bad shape. She meets her neighbor Doug Lindstrom who is a fireman and he offers his services to help her get the place restored so she can put it on the market.
But as these two are growing attracted to each other while working on the house, strange things start happening. As the occurrences get more violent Madeline finds her great-aunts journal. This was her in-laws house where she lived with them and her husband after they got married and many bad things happened.
The evil does not leave Madeline alone and we go on the quest with her and Doug to find out what really happened all those years ago and how it ties into what is going in today.
October 27, 2017
I'm afraid there are just a lot of problems with this book, and so although I was looking forward to reading it, I can't say that I really ever got swept up into it--it wouldn't have been finished, let alone read so quickly, if not for the incredibly large print and the fact that my other current books were a bit more stressful or difficult than what I wanted to be reading at night. I actually picked it up because I wanted a good scary read after being dismayed by my journey to see a horror movie (the new It) in the theaters, and not having been scared. This one had atmosphere... but not much beyond that.
Part of the problem was that there was just a bit too much of everything--too much chaos to the hauntings, too much obsessed romance, too much melodrama, etc. The phrase 'everything and the kitchen sink got thrown in' comes to mind, and also because of the other problem--clichés. So many clichés. In characters, in the writing, in the situations... and going along with them, contrived moments and coincidences.
Add to all this that the book needed better editing at the most basic level (proofing), and that the end was so quickly wrapped up that it seemed far too easy, and the end conclusion is that, over all, this book just needed more work before getting published. So, much as I'm probably the target audience for something like this, I can't say I'd recommend it, and I don't think I could pick up another of the author's books if it were again self-published. Some self-published books are beyond ready for readers, and are great--this one just wasn't there yet.
Part of the problem was that there was just a bit too much of everything--too much chaos to the hauntings, too much obsessed romance, too much melodrama, etc. The phrase 'everything and the kitchen sink got thrown in' comes to mind, and also because of the other problem--clichés. So many clichés. In characters, in the writing, in the situations... and going along with them, contrived moments and coincidences.
Add to all this that the book needed better editing at the most basic level (proofing), and that the end was so quickly wrapped up that it seemed far too easy, and the end conclusion is that, over all, this book just needed more work before getting published. So, much as I'm probably the target audience for something like this, I can't say I'd recommend it, and I don't think I could pick up another of the author's books if it were again self-published. Some self-published books are beyond ready for readers, and are great--this one just wasn't there yet.
May 18, 2016
This book has the most criminally stupid heroine I have ever had the misfortune to encounter.
She is attacked by a ghost.
She goes back in the house.
She thinks the ghost is gone for no real reason.
She goes back in the house.
She is beaten and actually RAPED by the ghost.
She goes back in the house.
She is nearly drowned put in a COMA for a week by the ghost.
She goes back in the house AND takes another bath.
She is attacked and trapped by the ghost.
She goes back in the house.
She thinks the ghost is gone (again).
She goes back in the house.
The heroine has zero sense and zero sense of self preservation. I don't care what thin plot devices the author uses to try to make it seem plausible that the heroine would think it was ok to go back in the house, they fail at making it seem reasonable, and after a while they just come off as incredibly, excruciatingly dumb.
Ok, I'll give her the amnesia early on, but then she remembers and she still. goes. back.
The hero who has been trapped in the house by the ghost before? Is next to the BACK PORCH but chooses to carry the heroine all the way THROUGH THE HOUSE after the ghost has been throwing knives. And he's surprised when the ghost locks the doors and attacks him again.
Unbelievable. I am so sorry I wasted my time on this.
She is attacked by a ghost.
She goes back in the house.
She thinks the ghost is gone for no real reason.
She goes back in the house.
She is beaten and actually RAPED by the ghost.
She goes back in the house.
She is nearly drowned put in a COMA for a week by the ghost.
She goes back in the house AND takes another bath.
She is attacked and trapped by the ghost.
She goes back in the house.
She thinks the ghost is gone (again).
She goes back in the house.
The heroine has zero sense and zero sense of self preservation. I don't care what thin plot devices the author uses to try to make it seem plausible that the heroine would think it was ok to go back in the house, they fail at making it seem reasonable, and after a while they just come off as incredibly, excruciatingly dumb.
Ok, I'll give her the amnesia early on, but then she remembers and she still. goes. back.
The hero who has been trapped in the house by the ghost before? Is next to the BACK PORCH but chooses to carry the heroine all the way THROUGH THE HOUSE after the ghost has been throwing knives. And he's surprised when the ghost locks the doors and attacks him again.
Unbelievable. I am so sorry I wasted my time on this.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 8, 2019
23% and I'm done...
I couldn't go on.
Maddy...ten months after losing her husband and daughter in a house fire:
1) She goes to help her grandmother with things with her great aunt who has dementia. She's there not even a day really when she's running off to an island to a house the great aunt owns, so she can see what needs to be done to sell it.
2) When she arrives on the island she goes into a diner to get food and just happens to meet an attractive man (Doug), who just so happens to be a next-door neighbor, and he offers to help her fix things. She's too quickly attracted to him especially since it's not even a year after losing her husband.
3) Doug's constant ill-fitting t-shirts. If I had to read once more about his shirt being "stretched across his broad shoulders".
I thought I was getting paranormal with maybe a little romance thrown in towards the end. I thought I'd be getting scared, not annoyed.
I couldn't go on.
Maddy...ten months after losing her husband and daughter in a house fire:
1) She goes to help her grandmother with things with her great aunt who has dementia. She's there not even a day really when she's running off to an island to a house the great aunt owns, so she can see what needs to be done to sell it.
2) When she arrives on the island she goes into a diner to get food and just happens to meet an attractive man (Doug), who just so happens to be a next-door neighbor, and he offers to help her fix things. She's too quickly attracted to him especially since it's not even a year after losing her husband.
3) Doug's constant ill-fitting t-shirts. If I had to read once more about his shirt being "stretched across his broad shoulders".
I thought I was getting paranormal with maybe a little romance thrown in towards the end. I thought I'd be getting scared, not annoyed.
June 8, 2013
Wow I loved this book. It was very well written as well. This is another Morgan Hannah MacDonald book I didn't want to put down. I really liked the characters in this book to and they had really good story lines. It had a little of everything too while the story was unfolding from shear terror to great sex. It did not disappoint me and I can not wait to see what happens next in the follow up book. This is a good read, don't miss out on it!
February 17, 2015
A good paranormal mystery. A woman goes to clean out a wreck of a house that belongs to her great-aunt. Unfortunately there are some very violent spirits still occupying the house.
The story is about her fight for life against those spirits. The current day story is interspersed with her aunt's story from a long time ago.
Good ending, a bit of the backstory/character development that goes on in a series.
The story is about her fight for life against those spirits. The current day story is interspersed with her aunt's story from a long time ago.
Good ending, a bit of the backstory/character development that goes on in a series.
July 2, 2012
Wow... all I can say is Morgan Hannah MacDonald has done it again! I love reading her books and they just keep getting better and better. I read this book from start to finish today and I don't think I took any breaks except to get lunch. Other than that my face was glued to my kindle screen! Such a talented author and I can't wait for the next book in the series to come out!
February 5, 2013
Enjoyed this book, very spellbinding, kept me thinking of whats going to happen next! Had my thoughts on it at all times as real life situations were tearing me away, kept my interest right from the start, if you enjoy a weekend of reading, this is a good one to curl up with. was entangled in with the characters,.. as a good book does! ~good job Morgan~
February 21, 2014
first time reader of Morgan Hannah McDonald but i loved " the spirits in the trees"-it was suspenseful, romantic and paranormal all in one-I just love how it ended a surprise twist so to speak. will be researching new and seasoned books by this lovely author especially the the other spirit trilogy/
February 25, 2015
This was quite a macabre story involving the living and the dead. The author Morgan Hannah MacDonald very cleverly intermingled the characters. It was very creepy and really scary. Definitely a good read.
April 10, 2015
4 1/2. Just the book I have been searching for. Something scary. Something wirh ghosts. Something with romance and this one had it in perfect proportion.
I couldn't stop reading this after I downloaded a sample.
I can not wait to read more from this author!!
I couldn't stop reading this after I downloaded a sample.
I can not wait to read more from this author!!
May 25, 2016
Irritating
Couldn't get past first 100 pages. Reads like a cheap Harlequin romance. I would have kept reading but found reading about the ridiculous thoughts of attraction between the main characters too irritating.
Couldn't get past first 100 pages. Reads like a cheap Harlequin romance. I would have kept reading but found reading about the ridiculous thoughts of attraction between the main characters too irritating.
August 6, 2012
This is probably one of the best paranormal books I've ever read.The author managed to combine suspense & romance and,as for the ghost scenes,I'd say that they were scary enough for me :)
January 30, 2013
Spooky enough to scare me, but not enough to stop me from finishing!
November 7, 2013
I loved this book! I bought it on a whim, ad I am so glad I did. The story was well thought out, and told very well. I am looking forward to the next book.
March 26, 2015
SPIRITS IN THE TREES
Well this one caused a little lose of sleep! What A spellbinding book. You shouldn't read too late at night cause YOU will stay up! Loved it!!!
Well this one caused a little lose of sleep! What A spellbinding book. You shouldn't read too late at night cause YOU will stay up! Loved it!!!
May 18, 2016
Oh, damn, she went back in the house. Again. And again. And again....
July 19, 2017
Maddy is a widow who lost both her husband and 5 year old daughter in a tragic house fire. Almost a year after the fire Maddy is living in California when her Grandmother calls asking for her help with Maddy's Great Aunt who is sick and has Alzheimer's and it is discovered while going through the Great Aunts possessions that she still owns a house in Washington state. Maddy decides she will go and fix up the house in Washington to sell in order to help cover her Great Aunts medical bills.
Maddy arrives to find the house has been strangely left with rotten food out and other items that made it appear someone just up and left in the middle of normal day to day life. Maddy notices right away there is something odd going on. Doors she leaves open are closed, doors she has locked are wide open and items in the house appear to have been moved around from where she left them.
Doug, her neighbor she met it town has offered to help her fix up the old house and in the process the chemistry between them grows strong. Maddy starts seeing shadows and hearing voices whispering to each other and calling her name. She finds some journals that her Great Aunt wrote in when she lived in the home and discovers secrets of horrible things that happened in this house. She also learns she looks just like her Great Aunt Madeline whom Maddy was named after. The issues in the house only get worse and the Spirits grow stronger but Maddy doesn't want to tell Doug what is going on so he doesn't think she is crazy.
This book started off really good and was a page turner for me until half way through and then it flipped on me and wasn't as great. The story slowly builds until midway through and then explodes with drama, which would be fine if the storyline didn't go all over the place and didn't go to the extreme that Maddy was raped by the ghost of her Great Aunt's Father In-Law. I love a good ghost story and this one I have mixed feelings about. There were parts that were really good and left me wanting to stay up reading all night and then the second half left me wanting to quickly finish the book because it was hard to finish.
I enjoyed the characters in this story, it was just the extreme changes of the storyline and some of the things that happened which made me go from feeling slightly spooked to rolling my eyes. But then at the very end it pulled me back in again. Because of my mixed feelings on this book I decided to give it 3 out of 5 stars.
Maddy arrives to find the house has been strangely left with rotten food out and other items that made it appear someone just up and left in the middle of normal day to day life. Maddy notices right away there is something odd going on. Doors she leaves open are closed, doors she has locked are wide open and items in the house appear to have been moved around from where she left them.
Doug, her neighbor she met it town has offered to help her fix up the old house and in the process the chemistry between them grows strong. Maddy starts seeing shadows and hearing voices whispering to each other and calling her name. She finds some journals that her Great Aunt wrote in when she lived in the home and discovers secrets of horrible things that happened in this house. She also learns she looks just like her Great Aunt Madeline whom Maddy was named after. The issues in the house only get worse and the Spirits grow stronger but Maddy doesn't want to tell Doug what is going on so he doesn't think she is crazy.
This book started off really good and was a page turner for me until half way through and then it flipped on me and wasn't as great. The story slowly builds until midway through and then explodes with drama, which would be fine if the storyline didn't go all over the place and didn't go to the extreme that Maddy was raped by the ghost of her Great Aunt's Father In-Law. I love a good ghost story and this one I have mixed feelings about. There were parts that were really good and left me wanting to stay up reading all night and then the second half left me wanting to quickly finish the book because it was hard to finish.
I enjoyed the characters in this story, it was just the extreme changes of the storyline and some of the things that happened which made me go from feeling slightly spooked to rolling my eyes. But then at the very end it pulled me back in again. Because of my mixed feelings on this book I decided to give it 3 out of 5 stars.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 10, 2025
Good in theory, not so much on execution. Writing was a little stilted and it felt lazy, with way too many things happening off-screen and the main characters not doing much and being overall dumb and slow to grasp what was going on despite it being rather obvious. Some plot points had holes in them and didn't make the most sense or were dropped without explanation, like the author forgot we aren't in her head and know everything about the story/characters.
The story and supernatural mystery had potential, but it wasn't explored very well and neither Maddy not Doug did any actual investigating on their own, instead choosing to rely on a couple of minor characters that arrived late in the game and had zero personality outside of "ghostfacers". Other things like Heller being a prolific serial killer on a small town for years and years was just silly and improbable but could've been explained away with the use of some decent editing.
Another aspect that annoyed me was Maddy's backstory and how useless it felt. She lost her family to a tragic fire only a year prior but it didn't seem to affect her in the slightest, so I don't get what was the point of it. Plus, her new man having to be better at everything than her dead spouse was immature and stupid. Why can't grown ass women enjoy healthy sex lives before they meet the mmc?
Anyway, it was fine, but it left me wanting more spooks and a better story that doesn't forget its characters (whatever happened to Angie? She disappeared from the novel without a trace) and makes more logical sense.
The story and supernatural mystery had potential, but it wasn't explored very well and neither Maddy not Doug did any actual investigating on their own, instead choosing to rely on a couple of minor characters that arrived late in the game and had zero personality outside of "ghostfacers". Other things like Heller being a prolific serial killer on a small town for years and years was just silly and improbable but could've been explained away with the use of some decent editing.
Another aspect that annoyed me was Maddy's backstory and how useless it felt. She lost her family to a tragic fire only a year prior but it didn't seem to affect her in the slightest, so I don't get what was the point of it. Plus, her new man having to be better at everything than her dead spouse was immature and stupid. Why can't grown ass women enjoy healthy sex lives before they meet the mmc?
Anyway, it was fine, but it left me wanting more spooks and a better story that doesn't forget its characters (whatever happened to Angie? She disappeared from the novel without a trace) and makes more logical sense.
August 6, 2018
You can read more of my reviews at my blog The Book Chick.
What I wanted and expected was some spine chilling horror/mystery. What I got was a silly love story in a hunted house and some confusion.
How shall I review this book? Well for starter, the writing did not work that well for me. It was somewhat confusing in the way that the author probably forgot to mention some details to make some other details later on make sense. And some stuff was only mention once or twice. This infuriates me. Do not include something huge in the story, and then just ignore it later on. A violation will not that easily be forgotten. And to not mention it again will just make it sham and frivolous.
I did however like the idea of the story. The hunted house, the family mystery's, the 50 year old crimes, the island, the sickness and all that. Not so much the violations and there really should be a trigger warning on this book. Because there are some graphically described chapters from different point of views and I would have liked to be warned. But on the other hand, if I knew, it could have been a reason for me to not read it at all.
The characters are the usual ones. The great hero and the broken heroine on the way back to life. Somewhat shallow but still readable. I did like it. But if I remember correctly, I had the same writing problem with one of the other books I have read by McDonald. So even though it is a good story, I do see a pattern and maybe this is not an author for me.
What I wanted and expected was some spine chilling horror/mystery. What I got was a silly love story in a hunted house and some confusion.
How shall I review this book? Well for starter, the writing did not work that well for me. It was somewhat confusing in the way that the author probably forgot to mention some details to make some other details later on make sense. And some stuff was only mention once or twice. This infuriates me. Do not include something huge in the story, and then just ignore it later on. A violation will not that easily be forgotten. And to not mention it again will just make it sham and frivolous.
I did however like the idea of the story. The hunted house, the family mystery's, the 50 year old crimes, the island, the sickness and all that. Not so much the violations and there really should be a trigger warning on this book. Because there are some graphically described chapters from different point of views and I would have liked to be warned. But on the other hand, if I knew, it could have been a reason for me to not read it at all.
The characters are the usual ones. The great hero and the broken heroine on the way back to life. Somewhat shallow but still readable. I did like it. But if I remember correctly, I had the same writing problem with one of the other books I have read by McDonald. So even though it is a good story, I do see a pattern and maybe this is not an author for me.
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