In dark romance, love goes beyond the grave, even if it means risking everything for those still living.
In Kim Catanzarite's COME BACK AND HAUNT ME, twenty-six-year-old Veka meets a mysterious yet energetic man, Brady, under very suspicious circumstances at the animal rescue where she works as a vet technician. While talking to him, Veka cannot help but notice how electric and intoxicating the tension immediately is between them. Though it’s against her better judgment, she hopes that he feels it, too.
As it turns out, not only does Brady feel it; he acts on it immediately by getting her contact information and asking her on a date. Veka would normally say no, but not in this situation. The pair quickly becomes inseparable, showing readers that love (and much more) is on the horizon. However, from the very first page, it’s clear that Brady’s demeanor and willingness to take charge are somewhat unsettling to Veka. Some readers will find this romantic and reassuring, as Veka chooses to, but others might find it off-putting. This creates a very smooth transition for Brady to turn into a much more sinister presence later in the novel.
When tragedy strikes, ripping Brady straight out of her life, Veka grieves not just Brady but the colorful, random, charming spark he brought to her very well-planned and organized life. But tragedy and despair soon turn to foreboding, fear, and powerlessness as Brady begins to haunt Veka in her sleep. He speaks to her in her dreams, begging her to help him and keep their love alive. Brady’s attentiveness turns to obsession, his take-charge attitude escalates to control, and any sweetness of early dating life is replaced by dark possessiveness and hellish possibilities.
In retrospect, Catanzarite wants readers to be somewhat unsteady on their feet from the very beginning of this relationship. She continues to pepper questions throughout their relationship: Why, for instance, does Brady seem deeply attentive and energetic in one situation, and essentially brooding in the next? The darker, more mysterious tones of Brady’s character that allure Veka provide the perfect fodder to stoke upon his death and transform him—elevating his darker traits into something terrible and powerful. There’s even a sequence in their early dating days when Veka lists places where Brady has kissed her since they started going out: libraries, parking lots, workplaces, etc. The sequence, in the context of the later haunting, highly resembles paranormal marking. Between this and their initial meeting, it suggests that Veka was targeted to be Brady’s anchor to the earthly realm—giving their intimacy an even darker flair. With retrospective moments like this, the reader will become increasingly paranoid about what was real about their relationship and what was potentially a set up for a gothic romance all along.
Perfect for readers of dark romance (particularly stories with obsession, possessive love, eternal bonds, and supernatural elements), COME BACK AND HAUNT ME is a great read for those looking for a lighter version of Death’s Obsession by Avina St. Graves.
Kim Catanzarite's COME BACK AND HAUNT ME is a brooding, at times suffocating romance that's perfect for fans of possessive, stalking, and eternal-bond love interests.
~ McKenzie Lynn Tozan for IndieReader