A Haunted Love
by Dakota Star

I detest Halloween. Three years ago, my husband’s death during the same week left me scarred. Now, all I desire is a simple, ordered life in my small town of Humble, Connecticut and time with the cutest boy ever – my nephew. That becomes impossible when my sister brings a handsome soldier, Cole, to my door. It’s hard to ignore his good looks and those intense gray eyes that have seen enough war and heartbreak to fill a lifetime. What starts as a mutual attraction and a romp in bed leads me to face some demons. War has left Cole with more than just physical scars as well. As if our emotional baggage isn’t enough, Halloween turns to horror when someone or something starts stalking me. Does Cole have what it takes to incinerate my doubts and keep me safe?

5 out of 5 fairies

This was a wonderful book. Ash and Cole are real, and relatable. I loved the chemistry between them, and how Cole was respectful of Ash’s grief, even though it’s obvious these two are attracted to each other. Star handled Ash’s grief and guilt over thinking about moving on from her dead husband well, it’s a clear obstacle to her budding relationship with Cole, but it doesn’t overwhelm the story either. I loved the tension of Ash’s mysterious stalker, it gets your heart-racing differently than the sparks between Ash and Cole. A great thrilling romance, with a touch of my favorite holiday – Halloween.

Til next time,
Lily

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Lily:  Thank you so much for agreeing to this interview Dakota Star I enjoyed reading A Haunted Love. Ash hates Halloween – how do you feel about it?

Dakota: Favorite holiday ever. It is so fun to watch scary movies, decorate the house, and get a little spooky. I’m a huge horror movie fan so a binge watch them for a few days.

Lily:  It’s one of my favorites too! What inspired you to write this romance-thriller?

Dakota: As mentioned, I’m a huge fan of Halloween as a holiday. Actually, I love most anything scary such as a ghostly stalker. I also think there must be magic in the world, whether it is a little otherworldly help finding love or a ghostly visit. It was fun writing a book with so many of my favorite things. 

Lily:  It was a great read, and I think you wove all the elements together well. Would you rather spend a day with Ash or Cole, and what would you do?

Dakota:  I have three rescue dogs and Ash has Rambo, her adorable Boston Terrier. I’d love a playdate with Ash, Rambo, and my three crazy puppies. What fun chaos that would entail. Ash and I could settle back with a glass of wine and commiserate on destructive dogs and small-town Connecticut. 

Lily:  That sounds like so much fun! Is there any significance behind the name you chose for the town this story takes place in?

Dakota:  Yes, there is significance in the town’s name and the characters’ names. Ash and Cole are related to fire. Cole needs to reignite the flames of Ash’s heart. Sure, it’s corny, but it was an added layer to play with while writing. Humble, Connecticut sounds uninspired, ordinary, average, even generic, but the town turns out to be anything but that. Ash finds ghostly mementos from her late husband, there is a stalker who might be real or otherworldly, and lots of hot romance.

Lily:  I love the reasons behind the names! Now we’d like to talk about you as a writer. What time of day do you prefer to write?

Dakota:  I am a morning person. I like to get up early, especially in the summer when not teaching, and write for a few hours. Then I still have the rest of the day to accomplish other things. As long as coffee is available, I can usually make some progress on whatever I’m trying to complete.

Lily:  I’m a night person myself, but I can do almost anything with enough coffee in the mornign. How do you prefer to write your first draft, by hand, on a computer, with a typewriter, or by dictation? Which one would you least like to do?

Dakota: I use the computer for most everything. Sometimes if I’m out, I’ll write in a notebook. I haven’t used a typewriter since high school (dating myself) and I don’t love dictation. I prefer the clatter of the keyboard. 

Lily:  Hehe I actually use a keyboard that makes the nice click-clack sound like the old school keyboards. Are you a plotter, a pantser, or anywhere in between?

Dakota:    Most definitely a pantser and an unorganized one at that. This makes me a slow writer. I tend to write what comes to mind and spend a lot of time revising and editing. A lot of time in the revision on editing stages. 

Lily:  I think it’s working out well for you, even if it makes you a little slower with writing. Let’s finish up with some fun questions and get inside your mind. What movie/tv show can you watch over and over without ever getting tired of?

Dakota:  I’m addicted to Bridgerton at the moment. You can often hear my husband call from the other room: “That show again?”

Lily:  Haha yes I love that show! What weird food combination(s) do you really enjoy?

Dakota:  I like a fried egg on my pizza. It’s very tasty. Give it a try if you haven’t yet. 

Lily:  I’m definitely going to have to try it. Spicy food: yes or no? If yes, what’s your favorite? If no, what’s the spiciest thing you’ve tried?

Dakota:  I love spicy food. I’m vegetarian and love to spice up meals, but I haven’t done any of the crazy pepper challenges like the Carolina Reaper challenge. 

Lily:  Hehe I know my brother did the one chip challenge – I never could. What’s your favorite way to spend a day off?

Dakota:  I love to do anything active. I’ll bike, hike, kayak. If I can be outdoors even in bad weather, I’ll take it. 

Lily:  That’s awesome, and I know nature helps me ground myself. Do you like going to the movies or prefer watching at home?

Dakota:  I want to cuddle up in bed with my pups, a good book or a good movie, and a glass of wine. If I can avoid going out, I will. 

Lily:  I can totally understand that. Is there anything else you would like to add that I haven’t included?

Dakota:  Thanks so much for taking the time to interview me. I really appreciate it! Happy Mother’s Day to all the mothers out there. 

Dakota Star likes worn-in cowboy boots, a well-trained horse, a cold beverage, and trails to ride in the woods. She lives in Connecticut with her husband and two daughters. Both her daughters have finished college and moved away so her dogs, cats, and retired horse now keep her busy. When not outside hiking or horseback riding, she loves to read and travel. She has worked as an editor, a freelance writer for local newspapers, and an educator at local environmental non-profits like aquariums and The National Audubon Society.

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