When Darkness Follows by Athena Daniels is the fourth book in the Beyond the Grave series. Rachel Sommers doesn’t believe that anything bad could happen on a haunted shipwreck, but now one of her friends is dead, the other is missing and she can't remember a thing. When a TV show called Debunking Reality turns up to investigate, they are accompanied by the one person Rachel didn’t want to see again – Daniel Smith, ex-Special Forces detective. Things are about to take a nasty turn as whatever they unleashed on the boat that night turns its attention to Rachel and her niece. Only Rachel can put an end to this, but can she fight a demonic force by herself? Can Daniel save the woman he loves or is Rachel about to make the ultimate sacrifice?

When Darkness Follows: Beyond the Grave Series #4 by Athena Daniels is a heart-stopping, explosive tale of the paranormal. I have not read any of the previous books, but this can be read as a standalone. It had me on the edge of my seat. I didn’t want to put the book down until I had finished it. This is a masterpiece, written in exactly the right tone to send shivers down the spine; a combination of strong romance, horror and the paranormal all wound up in a neat bundle and then spread out in a web that draws the reader in. Every character is developed thoroughly, their stories woven into the main story seamlessly. Although the previous books in the series tell their tales, I didn’t feel that I had missed out by not reading them – that said, I will now go back and read the entire series! Great book, highly recommended for fans of the paranormal genre.

Rachel was part of a successful small band, Trinity Beat, until one night a cancelled gig left them at a loose end and they wound up exploring a haunted ghost ship. Rachel had always been drawn to the paranormal, but this place felt different. No sooner had they stepped foot aboard, when she wanted to leave. She should have listened to her instincts. She remembers the Ouija board, the strange behaviour of her friend Rob, but what she doesn't remember was Trey's murder, how she received the strange slashes on her back, and what had happened to Rob. The police are content to believe Rob was the killer, but knowing something else is afoot, Rachel contacts Debunking Reality. This show explores the supernatural, and she prays they will help her find answers. They bring her former lover, Daniel, in tow - the hunky detective she used to have a casual relationship with who now occasionally provides security for this show. Something sinister is lurking in the shadows, and while Rachel is determined not to cling to her ex, no matter the pull she feels towards him, something is determined to cling to her. She never should have gone aboard that boat, because something has been waiting for one of her ancestry for a very long time, and now that is has marked her it will never let her go.

When Darkness Follows is the fourth book in Athena Daniels' Beyond the Grave series. As a supernatural suspense tale it certainly delivers on both aspects. From the very start you are introduced to the looming danger, watching as it escalates from tricks of the mind to physical manifestations. The danger is real, proven, and beyond anything either Rachel or Daniel feel equipped to handle. The dark plot is supported by a cast of unique characters, and even its own alternative sub-plot involving kidnapped students, making it an engrossing read. It is written in an alternating, character-specific third person perspective, allowing the reader to be drawn into the characters' minds and understand exactly what they're thinking, feeling, and experiencing. It's a nice touch which really adds to this story. Since it's the fourth book in the series, whilst not everything is made clear, a lot of the important things of the seemingly complex history are mentioned to allow the story to be self-contained. It doesn't rely on knowledge from the previous books, but there are certain places where a reader of the series would be rewarded with their knowledge of what came before. This is a good romance/paranormal suspense story, filled with danger, manipulation, and uncertainty.

When Darkness Follows: Beyond the Grave Series, Book 4 by Athena Daniels is a paranormal romance that takes the reader on a thrilling ride that I wished would never end. Steamy and sizzling enough to fog my reading glasses, I did not want to put it down and neither did I want Daniel and Rachel’s story to end. This is the story of Rachel, a singer who goes to visit a haunted shipwreck in the middle of the night with two of her best friends. Something happens there, something dangerous because one of her friends is now missing and the other one is dead. The kicker is, Rachel has no idea what happened and she remembers nothing that happened that night.

So she does what any sane person would do; she asks for help. And as fate would have it, the person who comes to help her is the last man on earth that she would want to meet again. Daniel Smith and Rachel used to be an item; they thought they were the one for each other, but things didn’t work out. Now that Daniel has the chance to get Rachel back, there is nothing that can stop him, not even something evil that has attached itself to Rachel and is threatening her family. He will do whatever it takes to keep her safe and make her his once again. But can he?

What can I say about this novel? Simply amazing! At times, it reduced me to a puddle of mush and at others, it made me want more and more from the characters. Rachel and Daniel’s chemistry was perfect and they complemented each other really well. The pace was fast, the development of the story was excellent and the author ensured that the story remained interesting and entertaining. The mystery and the element of surprise were on point and kept the pace of the story. Although Rachel and Daniel were the main characters, nothing and I mean absolutely nothing distracted the flow of the story and took the spotlight away from the mystery of the evil spirit. I loved how the author could balance both of these and still deliver a punch with every single development. It deserves 5 stars and a lot more.

When Darkness Follows is a sexy paranormal thriller by author Athena Daniels, and the fourth book in the Beyond the Grave series. This romantic and edgy novel takes a step towards the ghostly from the start when our heroine, Rachel Sommers, is drawn to an old shipwreck for a bit of a laugh with a couple of friends. As you might expect, the deep-sea tragedy holds some terrifying secrets, and a spiritual disaster is unleashed by the girls’ presence. Death and mystery follow as Rachel loses her memory, and who should appear to help her but her old flame, Daniel Smith. It’s clear that he still adores their once-fiery past, but Rachel is determined to keep him at arm’s length as the pair solve the paranormal mystery of the past, now causing hell in the future.

Athena Daniels does so much more than your standard paranormal romance. I’d go so far as to say that this novel verges into horror at its most terrifying points, and for me that was a huge plus to its atmospheric authenticity. Though both Rachel and Daniel have strong and capable personalities, their perils and struggles at times of crisis are genuine, and the ways they get out of trouble are innovative and not at all predictable. The romantic story line is as hot and steamy as you’d expect from any book of this type, but if you’re looking for a real mystery that sends chills up your spine, with or without the romance, then this is it. When Darkness Follows is highly recommended for ghost story and romance fans alike.