Haunting Olivia [Mass Market Paperback]

Janelle Taylor (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 1, 2006

Blueberry, Maine holds only bittersweet memories for Olivia - heart rendering memories of Zach, her long-lost love, and the child she gave up for adoption. But what begins as a brief trip north becomes a journey of revelation when she runs into Zach himself - and their beautiful daughter. Zach is stunned that Olivia has returned to the small town where they fell in love. But what's more shocking is the realisation that her father lied to them both, driving them apart all those years ago. Now someone is determined to break apart their small family once more, and will stop at nothing to do it.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

The second novel in Taylor's trilogy about three half-sisters' inheritance begins when New York fashion magazine editor Olivia Sedgwick learns she's been willed her wealthy, deceased father's cottage in Blueberry, Maine, the hometown she fled 13 years before following a teenage pregnancy that ended in stillbirth. Once back home, she runs into her first love, Zachary Archer, and their child, 13-year-old Kayla—very much alive. As Olivia unravels the familial conspiracy to keep her from her daughter, she struggles to find a place in the lives of Kayla and Zach, who believe she abandoned them. Complications arise when someone begins a terror campaign against Olivia, sending threatening notes and trashing her cottage. When Kayla's entry into the Blueberry Inner-Beauty Pageant puts her in harm's way, too, Olivia and Zach must race to discover who's behind the threat. Taylor tells a compelling suspense story with vivid characters, plenty of heartfelt human drama and winning romance, but the conclusion leaves too many questions unanswered, and Olivia's past and present don't ever line up convincingly. (Oct.)
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

From Booklist

Olivia Sedgwick decides to honor the terms of her wealthy father's bizarre will. First, she has to move to his summer cottage in Blueberry, Maine; then she has to go into town each day to buy items at two businesses. This seems simple enough, but as soon as Olivia arrives, she starts receiving threatening notes. The fear these messages arouse is nothing, however, compared to the shock Olivia feels when she discovers that the baby she had 13 years ago at 16 was not stillborn, as she was told, but is alive and well. Zachary Archer doesn't understand why Olivia has suddenly shown up in Blueberry. After all, she gave birth to Kayla, then left. Taylor doubles the tension when someone goes after the contestants of the teen beauty pageant Kayla has entered. This suspenseful tale is part of a trilogy about three half sisters that began with Watching Amanda (2005). Shelley Mosley
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 352 pages
• Publisher: Zebra Books (October 1, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0821778919
• ISBN-13: 978-0821778913
• Product Dimensions: 6.7 x 4.1 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #934,505 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars 4 stars., October 26, 2006

By 

AK "Bro" (USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Haunting Olivia (Mass Market Paperback)

For thirteen years, Olivia Sedgwick has been haunted by a vision of two children. She presumes it is due to the fact that she never knew whether her stillborn child was a girl or boy, but after her estranged father's death, ghostly visions are the least of her concern. According to the terms of his will, she will inherit quite nicely if she lives in Blueberry, Maine for one month and goes to town daily to buy two items. Only to help her mom out of a financial jam is Olivia willing to do so. Immediately, strange incidents designed to scare her into leaving begin plauging Olivia. She also meets the father of her child again, and the child herself. It seems that her father had arranged to have Olivia be told her baby was dead, then gave Baby Kayla to Zach Archer. Once the mix up is cleared away, there is hope for the little family to have a new chance, however, there is definitely a psychotic person after not only Olivia, but after all the teen-aged beauty contestants, including Kayla, in town.

**** This is a decidely convoluted, but delightful mystery. The paranormal element is so slight that the minority of people who avoid anything that hints at weird will not even be bothered by it. Though a bit soapy, it's a great thriller with an absorbing, character-driven plot. ****

Reviewed by Amanda Killgore for Huntress Reviews.

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars wonderful second chance at love thriller, October 4, 2006

By 

Harriet Klausner - See all my reviews
(#1 Hall OF FAME REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Haunting Olivia (Mass Market Paperback)

Thirteen years ago in Blueberry, Maine Olivia Sedgwick gave birth to a stillborn child. She never saw her offspring and was so distraught she never learned the sex of her baby. She left Maine vowing to never return as even the father of her child Zach Archer was not there for her. However Olivia is haunted by dreams of a boy and a girl, whom she assumes is a subconscious memory of her lost baby.

When her father dies, his will contains a stipulation if she and her mother are to inherit anything. Olivia must live in his summer cottage in Blueberry for one month and everyday during her stay she must buy one item each at two local stores everyday. She wants to say no, but she knows her mom needs the money so she agrees to the terms set forth by the dad she never met and quits her job at Glitz Magazine.

In Blueberry, accidents begin to happen as if someone wants Olivia to leave town. More haunting is seeing Zach with his daughter Kayla, whose age would be the same as the child they lost. Olivia soon realizes that her father lied about his granddaughter as her baby is now a young teen raised by Zach. As they try to clear up misunderstandings fostered by Olivia's late dad, someone wants Olivia and seemingly all the teen-age beauty contestants dead.

This is a fascinating complex romantic mystery with a touch of the paranormal. Olivia is a terrific protagonist who finds herself stunned to learn her daughter lives and that she still loves Zach. He feels the same way, but has problems trusting his beloved though he realizes her father manipulated everyone. Though the beauty pageant killer subplot seems over the edge (Miss Congeniality aside) the sequel to Watching Amanda (Olivia's half-sister) is a wonderful second chance at love thriller.

Harriet Klausner

5.0 out of 5 stars Very good series, October 27, 2011

By 

Loves Westerns - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Haunting Olivia (Kindle Edition)

I loved this series about three sisters, same father, different mothers. I liked each having a separate story but the other making appearances in them. Too bad authors get slammed for the copyeditor's bad work.