COME BACK AND HAUNT ME

In Catanzarite’s novel, a woman who has lost her fiancé must decide how far she’s willing to go to save both of their souls.

Victoria, who goes by Veka, is a veterinary technician who has always believed in the power of love. When a man named Brady brings his sister’s dog into the clinic where she works, their connection is instant. They exchange numbers, sparking a whirlwind romance. Despite being opposites in many ways, they fall hard for each other, eventually become engaged, and share all the joy and messiness of building a life together. Then, the unthinkable happens: Brady is killed in a tragic incident, leaving Veka devastated. In the midst of her grieving, she’s stunned when Brady appears as a ghost in her dreams. She’s grateful to have him back in some form, but Veka soon learns his return comes with a terrifying catch—he needs her to vouch for him with the “black box,” an all-knowing entity responsible for deciding whether Brady (and possibly Veka as well) deserves to spend eternity in hell. (“They’re a powerful being who holds the line, you might say, between two realms.”) Caught between protecting the man she loves and confronting the mistakes he made in life, Veka is forced into difficult conversations with Brady and his brother, Doug, with whom he had a contentious relationship. As lifelong secrets are revealed, shaking her perception of reality, Veka must learn to trust herself and stand on her own. With engaging, easy-to-read prose, Catanzarite delivers a unique story with surprises at every turn. The pacing is pleasingly brisk, but the plot requires a fair amount of suspension of disbelief. Brady is frequently described as being a bad and dangerous person, but little evidence of this behavior is shown until after his death, which makes the characterization difficult to believe. Still, while the novel doesn’t follow the typical formula for romance, readers who enjoy insta-love, complex characters, and paranormal elements will find much to enjoy here.

A haunting romance that gives a whole new meaning to ghosting.