Sara Mackenzie, Passions of the Ghost

Passions of the Ghost

Sara Mackenzie

Avon, December 2006, $5.99

ISBN: 0060795824

The Sorceress decides her next second chance hero will be thirteenth century Welsh legend Reynold de Mortimer, better known seven centuries ago as the "Ghost". He was tough but honest, and kept his land and people safe from marauding English and Welsh. However, he failed to plan for the deluge after he died in 1299, so his people suffered from war. Thus he can atone for his arrogance and ultimate failure.

In the present, Amy Fairweather is a guest at Reynold's castle, a tourist attraction hosting a Medieval Long Weekend. Though she prefers not to be here, she owes her brother big time, so she is here acting nice to the odious Prince Nicco as her sibling directed to do. She is to distract the Prince while her sibling steals the Star of Russia from him. However, when Nicco tries to get his way with his "Aimee", Rey intercedes. Already stunned, not so much from his reawakening, but to learn that his castle is a hotel, he feels even more confused by his attraction to Amy. As they fall in love, she comes to believe his tale of being the thirteenth century owner of this castle, especially when a dormant fuming dragon awakens.

The third Sorceress romantic fantasy (see RETURN OF THE HIGHLANDER and SECRETS OF THE HIGHWAYMAN) is an over-the-top absolute fun tale starring two likable protagonists. Rey is perfect, as he struggles to understand the modern world, where initially everything he held sacrosanct seems defaced, yet he quickly understands real values like honor and love remain the same, and men still abuse positions of authority. Amy is his perfect guide to the twenty first century, as they battle arrogant royals and lethal dragons while falling in love.