Ghost Wind by Charlotte Boyett-Compo
Paranormal romance eBook published 2 May 07 by Ellora’s Cave Presents

This eBook novel is the first of this author’s books that I have read.  The heroine is a present-day, recently divorced author whose car breaks down in Iowa while driving home to Georgia from California.  I know, I know.  Iowa isn’t anywhere near a direct route between those two states – but bear with me here.  In the small Iowa town she meets an interesting cast of characters and buys an interesting old house with an interesting past.

Here’s the book blurb:

Author Lanelle Durant has left behind an abusive husband whom she was beginning to fear. It was kismet that her car broke down on Interstate 80 in the heart of Iowa, for she learns her ex-husband is lying in wait for her in her native Georgia, his anger building, his irrational behavior even more frightening.Deciding to stay in the little town of Grinnell as her car is being repaired, Lannie discovers an old farmstead that calls to the country girl in her, bidding her to buy the quaint Victorian farmhouse and make it her own.

But the long-vacant house at Rock Creek has a ghostly resident whose siren call to Lannie is stronger than death and more seductive than she can withstand. Glimpsing a handsome face in the depths of a mirror, she is spellbound and unwilling to forego the pleasures it whispers. In the arms of a spectral lover, she will discover that there really is life after death.

Reader Advisory: There is a graphic antagonist scene.

Read an excerpt

This book surprised me.  Really, really surprised me and is so far above the quality I’ve come to experience from Ellora’s Cave that it, well, just surprised the heck out of me.  The plot is tight and well conceived.  The dialogue is believable.  The sex scenes make sense and aren’t over the top for the story.  The characters are well developed and remain true to themselves thru the end of the novel.  And that’s another thing – it was TOO SHORT.  I wanted more – lots more!

There is a scene toward the end of the novel where one of the characters is brutalized.  That was heart-wrenching, but it had to happen that way.  The ending is not what you expect, but, again, it had to happen that way.  I would love to read a sequel – I want to know what happens next.  Buy this eBook.

Grade: A