From the hands of Charlotte E Hart comes a beguiling standalone romantic chiller. A jaw dropping story of love, hope and revenge.Maddy has only one decision left to make after the final bruise—leave him. And she’s doing it. She’s finally free.Her own home. Own life. Own decisions. There’s no-one to answer to anymore.But when her job as an antiques moderator leads her to the mysterious Blandenhyme … life. Own decisions.
There’s no-one to answer to anymore.
But when her job as an antiques moderator leads her to the mysterious Blandenhyme estate and the intriguing Mr. Caldwell, that freedom begins to turn into an unconventional love lost in shadows and fog.
And as chilling voices whisper words to cloud her judgement, and dangerous liasons bring terror and dread to the fore, she finds herself struggling to survive Blandemhyne’s sinister misgivings regardless of its beauty.
They say the dead never sleep, that they stalk this earth until retribution is served.
That time has come.
Standalone. Dark Romance. Spiralling. Thriller.
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What in the world did I just read? It took me about 80% of the book to figure out what was going on. Maddy has a husband who beats her and she leaves him. Then her friend dies but then later on we are told she isn’t dead and she never really had a house. She is stuck on this land with Jack because Selma his dead wife keeps possessing him. Interesting. But it was delivered well enough for me to have any clue that was happening. The author put unnecessary details about stuff and then kept going on and on about his dead wife and kid. Jack has sever mood swings and how any woman could or can love him is beyond me. The plot twist let’s just say I have no words. And no words is all I can say.
Wow, my mind is blown…..what a twisted imagination you have Charlotte Hart!! I absolutely love it and I want more
The Spiral was the definition of a dark, twisted, warped, sinister, mess with your head until the very end read. Fanflippingtastic!
I went into this book blind apart from reading the blurb and a warning that it was dark and disturbing. Bring it on I thought! I’m so glad I did, therefore I dont want to give anything away here, because the more I read the less clue I had as to what was happening!
Jack was a dark enigma with huge sex appeal, but is he just crazy or genius? Maddy was a broken soul but still with strength of character and a heart still willing to love and protect. Selma……you’re just going to have to read the book to find out her secrets mwahaha!!
Charlotte has created an intricate web of suspense, mystery and intrigue that completely tied my mind up in knots. It was chillingly brilliant and I cant wait to read more from her.
It’s an absolute 5 star mind f@$k!
I did not see that coming!!!
The end, oh my stars, I did not see that as the pivotal point of Maddy’s reality!
I have been pacing around the house since 2 today reliving the last three chapters and second guessing the first twenty.
How does Ms. Hart do that with all her books?
She brings you through the darkest, ugliest, parts of her characters’ experiences and has you feeling all kinds of anger, dread, and revenge only to drop you feet first in the midst of something unexpected. The Spiral is so much more than words can express. It is the light and dark in all of us if pushed beyond reason just like Jack and Madeline were. The Spiral is an emotionally charged read that will have you feeling every desire of Madeline’s heart and every breaking point that runs ramped through Jack’s revenge.
It’s been a few hours since I finished reading The Spiral and I don’t think my pulse has started to slow down, nor will it for quite some time. My mind is buzzing with everything that I have just read, and to be honest I don’t think that’s going to change in the near future either.
I know this review is going to be hard to write because I do not want to give one single thing away about this story. The author did an incredible job of writing this book, because she had me feeling that I was there too. I had chills. I felt the emotion. I didn’t have a clue where the story was leading and what was going to happen next. There were times I wanted to put my kindle down and take a breather but I couldn’t….. I needed to know what was happening and get some answers. I now actually want to re-read the book and look for clues.
The characters play their parts brilliantly. You’ll fall for Jack that’s a certainty. I loved and was intrigued with Maddy and Selma. The three of them have a unique relationship and their story will stay with you for a long time.
If you love a dark, eerie and mind blowing book, then this one is perfect for you. I haven’t read a book like this for quite some time. I’ll say no more other than enjoy!!
This is my first time reading this author and Ms. Hart most definitely be added to my list of must-read authors. This review will continue no spoilers as this is a book that you need to read it to believe it.
I am still trying to wrap my mind around the contents of this book! I was hooked from the first page to the last – talk about having a book hangover. I finished this book around 11:00 pm but I couldn’t get this book out of my head until around 3:00 am.
The story of Jack and Madeline was chocked full of twists and turns, love and sex, intrigue and mystery, beauty and darkness and I loved every minute of it!
Ms. Hart’s words in her blurb are point on “Standalone. Dark Romance. Spiralling. Thriller”.!!
PS…for those of you who have read this book. I awoke the next morning to mist and fog lurking outside. Talk about chilling!
The Spiral by Charlotte Hart is a dark, suspenseful, psychological mindf***k that will leave you begging for more!
From start to finish I was once again held by Ms Harts words. The storyline was so amazing and original. I didn’t know what to expect. And that huge little twist at the end, I was like… WHAT????
Now normally I don’t read paranormal type books, however The Spiral was so much more then the paranormal aspect. We get a psychological thriller, and a touch of some darker bdsm. The characters all AMAZING!!! Their connection to one another. I won’t give to much away, but this book is a must read. A 5 star thriller that will leave you guessing until the very end!
Wow what do you say about a book that will never be read the same. This book will take you down a dark interesting road that will have you in twists and steamy turns that have you wondering what you are missing in this amazing book. This book will draw you in from the beginning tell the very end. This book will have you flowing through this intense story that leave the words flowing through your mind and soul. This book is a must read as it will leave you with a thought that will be hard to describe what I have read.
Super dark and twisty! Just the way I like it. I love to read Charlotte’s books because they are so unique and not at all what I expect. They are not formulaic and will have you saying WTF more than you ever have. I love a book you can go into blind and know that you won’t be disappointed with a predictable story, this is one of those books. Pick it up and be ready to say WTF did I just read?
Now that was a trip plus some. This author weaves and I do mean weaves a tale that is dark and desperate and emotional and freaking disturbing but AWESOME!!! I wasn’t ready. I don’t know if it’s just me but it was so unexpected and done so well that I was floored. And then when it happens you go why didn’t I know. It’s an emotional tale one that some how works out. It’s a sad and yes emotional dark in the way it plays out but this author does it well. Many times during the read I found myself sitting up think what the heck through the actions and situations that came up.
It’s a great read by an author I had not been introduced to previously and man am I glad I did. This tale is intense. It will take you places you didn’t know you were going and then in the end after stringing you and twisting you it will end. This is an amazing standalone read from this author.
This is a new author to me and I will definitely be reading more from her. In this book she writes a chilling and suspenseful story that had me on the edge of my seat the whole time. My advice-go into this book with absolutely no preconceived notions about how this story is going to turn out. You won’t figure it out-trust me. I read the story and I am still going WTF did I just read?! Mind-blown!!
ANY Charlotte E Hart book needs to be savored. Each word is a window to the character – flawed and human. But not all the characters in The Spiral are human….if you want some ghostly presence with your delicious hot love story then you are in the right place! No spoilers here but Madeline Cavanaugh is escaping an abusive marriage and starting a new life. Enter the mysterious Mr Caldwell, a widower who is grieving losses that would cripple anyone. While Maddie only wants to see antiques, Max only sees something else. What happens in Jack Caldwell’s huge home is otherworldly and Maddy tries at every turn to keep up with her whirling thoughts and experiences. And the ending? Well let’s just say I’m re-reading because it was just that fantastic!
An eerie, erotic romance with somewhat paranormal elements, The Spiral takes us on a journey that truly makes us think again when it comes to matters of the heart. Maddie is done with the horrible life she’s living! But is Max the man for her? Those dark and depraved twists had me squirming, waiting to see what was next. The steamy scenes were scintillating and disturbingly provocative. So enthralling!
I really don’t know how to explain this book without giving too much away. Apart from, it is a total mind F*$k, with a capital F.
Just when you think you know which way the story is about to go you are thrown a curve ball and sent in a different direction.
A group is required for this book, to allow the readers to get their heads around it. I have only ever read one other book by Charlotte and that is the joint book written with Rachel De Lune. I should have known then I was in for a treat.
When you read a Charlotte E. Hart story always expect the unexpected and this book by far is just that.
It’s a tale that is full of twists and turns, darkness and mist and things that go bump in the night!
It was a little different from what I was expecting to read about as it’s a very big change in style and genre from other stories by this author but it was different in a good way as it showcases a talent for this style of writing that only further adds to their already impressive collection of stories.
I really can’t decide if this book should be called a romance or a thriller or maybe it’s a mind bending love story as it left me open mouthed as I was so gobsmacked at how it all ended. Maddy and Jack’s characters were superbly written and were very believable. I felt like I was there with them every step of the way. I actually felt and went through all their emotions with them and so I never expected things to turn out the way that they did. It took me totally by surprise.
I really enjoyed this book as it’s quite something out of the ordinary for me to read and was a very refreshing change. Charlotte has written a wonderful story that although it’s a little dark and will spook you it will also fill you with amazing sense of peace and wonder.
A brilliant 5 star read!
I think it might take a while for my head to stop spinning at the sheer insanity and mind-boggling plot that this book has!
This one was a hard one to figure out at times, but some parts sort of came to me as I read, the pieces of the puzzle slotting nicely into place or had me theorizing like mad at what bigger picture will hold.
I fell in love with the craziness of the characters, the bizarre and twisted story, and the dark edge that hung on the fringes of it all.
Madeline, the abused wife escaping from the past, and Jack Caldwell who is determined to live in it. How do you review a story full of intrigue, mystery and suspense such as this without ruining it? Good luck readers and just hold onto to your mind if you can!
Charlotte E Hart has certainly penned a strange one that is going to linger in my mind for a long time, its going to “Just hold on.”
Holy cow, I’m telling you there aren’t enough stars in the sky for me to be able to rate this book accurately!
Now before I say anything else I have a couple of things I need to mention.
Firstly this is absolutely NOTHING like anything else that I have read from Charlotte! I love her other stories for their darkness but this is so different and it’s stunningly beautiful in its difference!
Secondly, I’m really struggling to write this review. I want to shout and tell you all about it but I don’t want to spoil anything so forgive me if this is a rubbish review
When I started reading I had no idea at all what it was that I was reading, I thought I knew before I went in but no I really didn’t lol.
At 11% I was confused but so gripped by what I was reading I couldn’t put it down. By 43% I was in love with the story that was unfolding before my eyes! It is the most breathtakingly beautiful, no stunningly sublime story I have ever had the pleasure to read. By the end I had tears in my eyes, my heart ached but I was smiling so huge.
Yes I am a massive fan of Charlotte’s previous work but this has officially blown me away. It is genuinely the most brilliant, most beautiful, most mind blowing, most everything story with characters that have you confused one minute and loving them the next.
Seriously expect your mind to go on a journey, a journey that you don’t expect, a journey that will have your mind spiralling…
Come lose yourself in this story, let the words take you away from what you expect and show you something exceptional.
OMG. I have loved Charlotte E Harts writing from the beginning, be it poetry or novel. This one here though… let me tell you… If you’ve read her work before, leave it at the door before delving into this one, as you’ll not find a darker BDSM tale. This is something wholly different, yet so completely “her”. It’s everything I’ve come to expect from the writer in terms of word usage and talent. From her prose to her poetry she brings words to life and this one? Did she ever. I ran the complete course of emotions. From the “wtf” to the sniffling, to the laughter and relief. She writes with such force! Such heart. This story is amazing and I’ll gladly shout from the rooftops that it’s one you most assuredly should read. It falls somewhere under a mash up of genres that include a healthy dose of dark, a cup of psychological, as well as a cup of suspense (as it’s a total page turner), toss in a bit of paranormal and a dash of romance. It’s the perfect recipe for a wonderful read. Seriously, It’s a must read from one one my must read authors. The Spiral will leave you marked, there’s no doubt.
OMG, What was that!
This was a complete brain frazzle and I am still busy analysing the shit out of it internally.
I’m not even sure which category of fiction this fits best into; as it contains a bit of everything; a sort of crossover and blurring of the genre lines.
If I had to take a stab at it; Mmm maybe a Dark psychological ghost story with romantic elements.
There is definitely a love story involved here, but it might not be quite what you’re actually expecting.
If I had to give you one piece of sound advice going in here; it would be to start this with no preconceptions; just to go with it; don’t try to second guess; just experience this story as its meant to be told and keep an open mind throughout.
I went through a kaleidoscope of emotions during “The Spiral” and just when I thought I had a handle on things, events would veer swiftly in a completely opposite direction.
“The Spiral” even made me cry; which I really bloody hate.
I ran the gauntlet of despair, heartbreak, humour and Love.
Witnessed the depths people can sink in there ultimate despondency and anguish and also the hope that can bleed through to new beginnings.
I know I am not making much actual sense here; but I’m trying really hard to convey my opinion without going into specific details; hope I’m succeeding somewhat.
If you’ve read Charlotte Hart before well throw those expectations out of the window; this is the polar opposite to anything you would be expecting from her; I’m a massive fan of this authors books and “The Spiral” for me was one I equally devoured but for wholly different reasons.
A fantastic experience but also a totally new direction for this talented author.
I could easily see this on the big screen; imagine the chilling atmospheric intensity that could be achieved in such a setting; it would be so eerily seductive and appealing to the viewer; one I would so watch; definitely my cup of tea.
Charlotte Hart narrates this style of fiction just as beautifully as her other specialities.
The prose used here was enthralling and captivating; pulling me into its dark web and weaving such a fantastical intricate tale; I’m truly impressed.
So right I could go on and on here; so much did I enjoy this; But I’m just going to leave you with this and it’s so simple.
Just Read “The Spiral” And make up your own mind; Enter Blandenhyme estate at your own risk and dally with The Mysteriously Tragic Mr Caldwell and his lamentable moods.
Spend time with Maddy as she strives towards a finale; which honestly; she’s no clues upon final destination; I was truly quite amazed with where I eventually landed.
and that overall mystique was one of the best parts of this whole surreal journey.
And I actually felt that the ending here was really a beginning of a whole new chapter for Maddy; one she truly whole-heartedly deserves.
Thank You to the Author for providing me with an ARC of “The Spiral” of which I have reviewed voluntary.
All opinions expressed are entirely my own.
OMG, I’m not even sure what to say about this book, other than that it blew me away!! It was a unique story for me, for sure…but so satisfying!
Madeline was a woman who was capable of being strong, but she didn’t really realize that until she hit rock bottom and had to be. Jack was a man who was completely broken by the death of his wife and son when she met him. I can’t really say more without giving spoilers. It was an amazing story though! It went from being a little spooky and having an Alfred Hitchcock feel to it, to WTF is happening?? It was a beautiful mindfuck of a story!!
The Spiral
By Charlotte E Hart
5 stars
I have spent ages trying to write this review – Just how do you write a review for a story that leaves you speechless? A story that leaves you wishing you could start it all over again for the very first time just so you can feel the way you felt when you first read the words? A story that is so beautifully written nothing that you read after even compares to it? I don’t think that any words I use would do this book justice – it truly is an outstanding read.
I am a huge fan of this author – she introduced me to the darker side of romance and I have loved every single book that I have read but I wasn’t prepared for this!
Charlotte uses the words ‘This story ripped me in two – It will forever be engrained’ and believe me it is true! I was ripped apart and it will forever be engrained.
If you are expecting whips, chains, BDSM then you will be disappointed BUT what you will get is the raw love and passion that Charlotte pours into all of her stories with a beautiful twist. Be prepared for twists, turns and of course a spiral but most of all be prepared for a story that will grab hold of you and never let go.