"thoroughly enjoyable story"

Annie Beltane is haunted by the death of her twin sister, an unsolved murder that took place up at the Old Witch Bailey house. She knows there is something up there, some power that she doesn't understand.

Cal Peterson promises Annie that he will always protect her. He loves her, but for some reason he refuses to let their relationship flourish, always holding back the commitment.

Lola Miller is beautiful, popular, and use to having her way. She is the one that issues the dare to spend the night at the Old Witch Bailey house, letting her friends go up there alone.

The three never realize, until it is too late, that the dare to spend the night in the mansion will change their lives forever, and that it will ultimately cost Cal his life. Lola blames Annie for his death, throwing it her face whenever she can. Annie grieves for Cal , not wanting to let him go. His ghost appears beseeching her to uncover the reason why he had to die. The closer Annie comes to the truth, the more frightening her future becomes.

The eerie tale unfolds with Annie's flashbacks starting with the dare and leading up to Cal 's death. We learn why Annie's twin was murdered and why Cal 's spirit is trapped between worlds. Ms. Tomas spins a tale shrouded in mystery of an old age myth where love can conquer even death itself. This story is well written, not giving all the answers in the beginning, but letting you take the journey with Annie as she uncovers the truth. I thoroughly enjoyed the story!

Apart from one love scene (that is done tastefully), I think this story would have made an excellent young adult novel; it has an urban legend feel to it. Maybe this is something to consider in the future.

Reviewed by
Karen Michelle Nutt
for Paranormal Romance Reviews

Reviewed by PNR Group Member
Courtesy Karen Michelle Nutt, author
Posted October 12, 2006

Read an Excerpt

Summary

The answers to the present lie in the past...

Or at least that's what Annie Beltane is hoping. In years gone past, Annie's twin sister Audrey was killed, and in a visit to an abandoned mansion previously belonging to a suspected witch, Annie and her best friend Cal Peterson watched in shock as the murder was re-enacted out on Audrey's spirit. The murder went unsolved. But as Cal investigated matters privately, he, too, lost his life. Now Cal lives as a ghost, and he implores Annie to delve deeper, to find out who killed both him and Audrey...and why.

With nothing else left to do, Annie throws herself into her memories as she pieces it all together. Her love for Cal, and the dark secret she'd kept hidden for so many years, is about to be uncovered. And the closer she gets to the truth, the more frightening the future looks.

Annie knows she must find the answers, must avenge what was lost, but that's not easy when her own family doubts her sanity, and a violent end seems very close...