Cindy Miles, Spirited Away

Spirited Away

Cindy Miles

Signet, May 2007, $6.99

ISBN: 0451221451

In 1292 Tristan de Barre and his men were betrayed, murdered and cursed to haunt Dreadmoor Castle in Northern England by his foster father De Sabre who blames the "Dragonhawk" for the death of his son. Hundreds of years go by as Dragonhawk and his ghostly men observe, but cannot do anything about their cursed status although he recently rescued a teenage female (Andi Monroe) who snuck into the castle.

When a storm uproots a centuries-old oak tree, the skeletal remains of Tristan and his squad are revealed; their weapons are also uncovered. The spirits of these men have hopes for the first time since the medieval betrayal that they finally might move on. The castle's caretaker Jameson arranges with Kirk Grey for an archeological dig led by his prot g forensic archaeologist Andi Monroe. As she methodically begins the excavation, Andi is taken aback by talking ghosts, especially falling in love with their leader.

SPIRITED AWAY is an energetic, amusing, ghostly romance starring a likable intelligent mortal and a somewhat frustrated ghost. The paranormal storyline grips readers once Tristan and Andi begin talking although she fears she is losing her mind. Sub-genre fans will appreciate Cindy Miles first castle haunting novel.

Harriet Klausner