Jocelyn Kelley, Lost in Shadow

Lost in Shadow

Jocelyn Kelley

Signet, Jul 2007, $6.99

ISBN: 0451221710

Research professor Lord Nethercott was working on proving that ghosts live. However, before he can prove his theory he dies leaving a legacy to his daughters to question everything and to expect the unexpected.

So when the ghost of Sir Mitchell Renshaw visits Nethercott's middle child Jade, she thinks nothing of seeing a spirit. Mitchell swears that he met her father who wants her to help him bring his killer brought to justice. In death as in life Mitchell is an obnoxious bore, but she agrees to help him if he manifests in front of other people; proving her beloved dad was not a crackpot. He accepts her terms with the additional stipulation she find proof that the disreputable Lord Gideon Bannatyne, the brother of his fianc e, killed him.

Jade meets Gideon and requests he help her as she has some questions. He decides to assist her on her quest for one week, but if she fails to find what she seeks she will join him in his bed for one month. However, he hides for now his honorable willingness to risk a murder arrest rather than ruin his Jade.

Leaving Queen Eleanor and her female knights in the Medieval Times, Jocelyn Kelley provides an entertaining paranormal Regency romance. The lead couple is a fascinating pairing as his rep is tattered yet he acts honorable towards her. The dilemma jade faces as to who to believe, her beloved or a ghost she disdained when he was alive and still does now that he is dead though she knows not to say anything bad about those who passed away but not on. Regency readers will enjoy this fine tale of love amongst the spirited crowd.

Harriet Klausner