I really enjoy the "Past Midnight" series. When I read the first book I felt like it was just a fun, cute, YA ghost story. I loved the set up which is about a teenage girl who lives with her parents who are relatively famous for doing a ghost hunting show on television. Charlotte is a smart, kind, realistic teenage girl and I enjoyed her adventures and her crazy family. The next book took the series in a more serious direction. Some grave things went down at the conclusion of "One Hundred Candles". Charlotte and her boyfriend Noah were injured and Charlotte's mother remains in a coma. A young man was killed because an evil entity used him.

The short story "Haunting the Night" takes up where the second book left off. Because its a short story and separate from the regular series book there isn't a lot of progression to the actual story. Still this was very much worth reading. There is more characterization and we get to see some nice glimpses of Noah and Charlotte's sisters boyfriend. We see Charlotte dealing with the aftermath of her mother's coma. There is a little mystery about a ghostly shadow that seems to follow Charlotte and that is resolved.

This certainly shouldn't be where you start this series. Much of this story wouldn't make sense. I am very eager to start the third and final regular book "Beyond The Grave". Unfortunately that is the last book planned for Charlotte and her friends. If you like ghost stories and/or good YA novels, I can't encourage you enough though to start with the first book "Past Midnight". ( )

When “Haunting the Night” was announced, and offered as a free e-book, I was excited. I’ve honestly fallen in love with the “Past Midnight” series and Mara Purnhagen’s writing. I’m going to be a bit sad going into “Beyond the Grave” knowing that it’s the final “Past Midnight” book.

“Haunting the Night” takes places a few weeks after the events from “One Hundred Candles”. After Marcus’ death and her mother falling into a coma, Charlotte is struggling with her guilt. She believes its all her fault, that she could’ve done something to prevent it all. She’s trying to go on with her life, but it’s impossible to go on until she’s ready to let go of her guilt.

While “Haunting the Night” doesn’t give readers answers to what’s next, it does give them plenty of questions…which isn’t necessarily a bad thing. With Noah’s bruise, the shadow creature, Charlotte’s mother still being in a coma, and Zelden’s quest to avoid her…you get a feel of what to expect in “Beyond the Grave” (which I’ll be reading this weekend).

If you’re a fan of the series, the novellas are a must.

I love where the story is headed, but I’m going to be sad to see it end. ( )