TEST
Beaudry’s Ghost is an electronic book available from Dreams Unlimited. It’s not a bad read, and is actually better than many traditionally published ghost romances.
Mourning the loss of her twin brother, Taylor Brannon takes his place on a Civil War Reenactment field. Their last conversation ended in a heated argument and Taylor never had the chance to make amends before Troy was killed. Taylor has a paranormal ability that allows her to feel an affinity for the dead. She hopes that dressing in his clothing and playing his part on the battlefield will allow her to feel close enough to him that he’ll contact her from beyond the grave.
Jared Beaudry, a young soldier brutally killed, dishonored, and beheaded by a crazed lieutenant during the Civil War, has been wandering the earth in a ghostly limbo for over a hundred years. His soul is unable to rest because of the rage he feels over his ghastly murderer. When he spies the re-enactment, he realizes this is his final chance for redemption and, with the help of Troy’s ghost, he takes over the body of one of the re-enactors and puts his plans for revenge into action.
When Taylor “captures” the body Jared has possessed and turns him in, she’s appalled at the violent treatment he receives from her commander. She speaks up and is knocked in the head for her trouble. Something has obviously gone terribly wrong. Before long she realizes that those around her have become possessed by ghosts and are no longer acting, but are actually reliving the battle. Taylor is the only person not possessed and once she figures out what is going on, she makes every attempt to protect her “prisoner” from certain death. During the process they get to know each other and fall quickly and deeply in love. But their happiness can only be temporary – he’s a ghost, after all, and is in possession of another man’s body!
You may wonder how on earth the author ultimately makes this type of love story work. Would the author cheat the reader out of an HEA ending? The poor sucker whose body Jared “steals” wants it back, of course, and Taylor cannot possibly spend the rest of her life with a headless spirit. Amazingly, the author made it work and although there were several loose ends left dangling, and the story is obviously set-up for a sequel, the love story was successfully brought to a satisfying close.
The love story was sensual, warm and well done, but due to the subject matter, it took quite a while to get going. Nearly half of the book takes place on the battlefield where blood, grit and gore abound. Gentle readers be warned: this isn’t a pretty read. Even hardened readers may find themselves disturbed by one particular scene where the heroine is forced to do something against her wishes or die. It still gives me the shivers.
This was an absorbing story and will especially be of interest to Civil War buffs. The characters are interesting, multi-leveled people who are easy to care about and who make some very human mistakes. Although a very dark book, Beaudry’s Ghost contains plenty of sexual tension, moments of humor and emotional poignancy that help to lighten up the dreariness a bit. Though flawed both by a narrative that takes too long to set up and by too many loose ends unresolved, I look forward to the sequel but sure hope it takes place somewhere much more pleasant than a bloody battlefield.
This book can be ordered directly from Dreams Unlimited http://www.dreams-unlimited.com or in a print edition by using the Amazon link below.
Grade: C+
Book Type: Contemporary Romance
Sensuality: Warm
Review Date: 26/06/99
Publication Date: 2002
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Recent Comments …
Yep
This sounds delightful! I’m grabbing it, thanks
excellent book: interesting, funny dialogs, deep understanding of each character, interesting secondary characters, and also sexy.
I don’t think anyone expects you to post UK prices – it’s just a shame that such a great sale…
I’m sorry about that. We don’t have any way to post British prices as an American based site.
I have several of her books on my TBR and after reading this am moving them up the pile.