Challenge Corner discussion

An enemies to lovers romance with a spooky twist where two feuding writers end up on a writers retreat together at a haunted castle in Scotland

It's been months since horror author Penelope Skinner threw a book at Neil Storm. But he was so infuriating, with his sparkling green eyes and his bestselling horror novels that claimed to break Native stereotypes. And now she’s a publishing pariah and hasn’t been able to write a word since. So when her friend invites her on a too-good-to-be-true writers retreat in a supposedly haunted Scottish castle, she seizes the opportunity. Of course, some things really are too good to be true.

Neil wants nothing less than to be trapped in a castle with the frustratingly adorable woman who threw a book at him. She drew blood! Worse still, she unleashed a serious case of self-doubt! Neil is terrified to write another bestselling “book without a soul,” as Pen called it. All Neil wants is to find inspiration, while completely avoiding her.

But as the retreat begins, Pen and Neil are stunned to find themselves trapped in a real-life ghost story. Even more horrifying, they’re stuck together and a truly shocking (extremely hot) almost-kiss has left them rethinking their feelings, and… maybe they shouldn’t have been enemies at all? But if they can’t stop the ghosts pursuing them, they may never have the chance to find out.

Full of spooky chills and even more sexy thrills, If I Stopped Haunting You by Colby Wilkens is the funny, fast-paced romp romance readers have been waiting for!

oh no!! I did read this, I just forgot to post my thoughts and posted them elsewhere instead! I'll post them here, just in case you end up reading it!

this is so cute so far!

7 chapters / 24%

(view spoiler)[ love their feud. I don't really understand hating someone but secretly finding them hot or being drawn to them - but I've been married for about forever so it makes sense I don't get it - but I can roll with it! lol

I love the feel of this castle - but if her friend put this "writing retreat" together, I've never heard of them not having some organization - like break out groups and organized writing time but also relax time. I guess I can understand why no one else showed up!

anyway, cute so far but what has got Franny so scared? (hide spoiler)]

15 chapters / 49%

(view spoiler)[ it's definitely cute but it's less about the ghosts and much more about the romance
which isn't bad.
I love that the he actually had a plan for them to do things! The little breakout groups he's planned are cute.

the snowball fight was fun too! lol

I also like how Pen is venting her frustration at him taking the easy way. It's an interesting argument and I like that she's challenging him to publish more stories that sound how he wants and not what is just easier for the publisher to hear/read (hide spoiler)]

24 chapters / 76%

(view spoiler)[ I'm a bit disappointed that the romance and feud has definitely taken a huge lead in the story - the haunting and the spooky house feels like it's a side story

I mean, the author kind of told us the "haunting" part was them just "haunting" each other's thoughts but I thought it would be because of a haunted castle!

it's still cute just not the haunting story I thought it would be (hide spoiler)]

and done

(view spoiler)[ meh, I'd say this is 2 1/2 stars I'm rounding up.

I found a few moments just gross.

and I think the paranormal side of the story was pretty meh. Definitely more a romance.

I can't believe how much Neil lived through! lol He took a boot to the face, fell down the stairs, and was constantly battered and bruised. Poor guy, I'm glad he got the girl in the end (hide spoiler)]

I have a feeling your ratings will be lower than mine lol

Yeah, my friend read this and said it was bad so I haven't been looking forward to it 😂

Trisha wrote: "and done

meh, I'd say this is 2 1/2 stars I'm rounding up..."
When I finally started it I ended DNFing pretty early on. I was just not into it all. And now with everything coming out about the author I'm glad I didn't try to push through