Rachel Wilson
Wilson, Rachel - BITTERSWEET SUMMER (Jove - 6/99) (3+)
Tobias Rakes had been fighting Indians in the "Army of the West," but he was shot in the leg and disabled, at the same time he was left a substantial inheritance. Since he's out of the army, he decides to purchase Crowfoot Castle, even though the Rakes and Crowfoot families have been feuding for over one-hundred years...and the castle is rumored to be haunted.
Genevieve Crowfoot lives in a small cottage on the grounds and she doesn't believe in perpetuating the feud. While cleaning one day, she finds a piece of paper that indicates there is a hidden treasure in the castle, and she is determined to find it. What she finds instead is the family ghost, known as "Granny Crowfoot," who is outraged that a Rakes is buying Crowfoot Castle! Genevieve convinces Tobias to give her the job of housekeeper so she can stay on at the castle, and they soon form a friendship. However, someone is trying to kill Tobias, and while Genevieve first suspects the ghost, they come to realize the culprit is all too human. Together, they uncover family secrets in their quest to find the treasure—and they also fall in love. However, the murder attempts grow more deadly before they discover who is behind them, and there are still more family secrets waiting to be revealed.
BITTERSWEET SUMMER features likable main characters and a ghost who provides comic relief, but the main focus of this book is the healing power of truth and love. Rachel Wilson (a.k.a. Alice Duncan) has written an enjoyable addition to the Haunting Hearts line. ~Karen Witkowski for Bookbug on the Web
Wilson, Rachel - HEAVEN'S PROMISE (Jove - 1998) (4)
For a long time, Susanna Clement has been intrigued by the disappearance of her great-aunt Magdalena, who had helped to run the Underground Railroad. Susanna is convinced she was a good woman, rather than the "black sheep" the family made her out to be. When Julian Kittrick, reporter for the Denver Post, comes
to town to write a scandalous story about Magdalena, she is determined to uncover the truth and prove that her great-aunt
was a virtuous woman.
Julian and Susanna are adversaries at first, but the two end up working together, and their attraction for each other grows as they piece together the events that took place forty years earlier. With the help of a dramatic ghost who once loved Magdalena, they are led to an old cabin in the woods that seems to radiate evil—and which may be the key that unlocks the mystery. After Susanna begins having dreams about a woman in chains, she realizes they are actually her great-aunt's memories and she is determined to help set Magdalena's spirit free. Eventually the truth about her great-aunt is revealed, and some ghostly visitors help Julian and Susanna reveal their own truths, as well.
HEAVEN'S PROMISE will please romance readers who also enjoy a good ghost story. This book has a likable hero and heroine, lots of atmosphere, and even a confrontation between good and evil—all of which make it a high-spirited addition to the Haunting Hearts line. ~Karen Witkowski for Bookbug on the Web
Wilson, Rachel - RESTLESS SPIRITS (Jove - 1998) (4)
Penelope Potter and her brother, Harry, traveled to England to attend the nuptials of Harry's best friend, Arthur Collingsworth. Penny had been only 14-years old at the time of his last visit to the Potters' Montana Territory ranch, and she had almost maimed Art for life in the exuberant enthusiasm of her highly-emotional
schoolgirl crush. As Art was relieved to note, nothing about Harry had changed; although he also noted that nothing about Penny seemed the same. Especially her matured woman's body. . .yessir, some changes were good.
Poor Art was caught between the proverbial rock and hard place. He felt duty bound to repay his family for the expense of all his years of adventure by taking to wife the extremely worthy and most proper heiress, Miss Juliette Griffin. Her family needed Art's aristocratic lineage and his family needed Juliette's money. But, alas!—what about Art's needs? Tragedy struck when the contrary spirit of Chester Pease was released from a jug of "corn likker," that was ingested by Harry, and took up residence in his body. Then came the problem of convincing Chester's ornery spirit to take up residence elsewhere. But, not to worry!—they had the help of "Herr Doktor Professor Harmut R. Gruenstein!"
Reading RESTLESS SPIRITS surprised me like waking up to find a present given for no particular occasion. No overused premise or story line here. No heavy dose of realism, just craziness and fun. Wherever the author gets her characters, I hope she goes back and gets some more. I loved this story and I am ready for more by Rachel Wilson! ~Mona Montana for Bookbug on the Web
Wilson, Rachel - SPIRIT OF LOVE (Jove - 10/99) (3+)
Setting: New Mexico Territory, 1896
When Georgina Weatherspoon's family receives word that her grandmother needs special care, Georgina begs to travel west and help her. Secretly, she is thrilled to escape the confines that society imposes upon a young woman, as well as the limits her parents have set for her. This also presents a golden opportunity to elude the uninspiring man she is expected to wed. But upon her arrival in Picacho Wells, New Mexico Territory, Georgina is somewhat disappointed by what she finds.
The landscape is bleak and dusty, and her preconception of a western sheriff is deflated when she meets Ash Barrett. He is clean-shaven and wears his gun tucked in the front of his jeans instead of in a holster. Georgina yearns for excitement and adventure, but when a shootout does occur, Ash hastily shoves her down and causes her to miss what's happening! Antagonism brews between the handsome sheriff and this "fluffy piece of a girl" from New York City who keeps getting in his way—but opposites do, indeed, attract.
Rachel Wilson's SPIRIT OF LOVE is a witty, playful romance that had me chuckling more than a few times. The conflict between Ash and Georgina is great fun, especially when she dumps whatever is handy over Ash's head in the midst of an argument. Add an Irish ghost named Devlin O'Rourke, the reason why Georgina's family considers grandmother to be a bit "touched," and you have the makings of a spirited western romp that is pure entertainment. ~Pat Cavender for Bookbug on the Web
Wilson, Rachel - SWEET CHARITY (Jove - 1997) (5)
Setting: New Mexico Territory - 1880
Gracie Malloy has loved Jake, her "almost" brother, since she was
four years old. She put spice in his life way back then, coercing
him to help people. Now she is a runaway, with a two-year-old child in tow, seeking his protection. Jake hasn't seen Gracie
since she was a child herself, so he is nearly speechless when she shows up on his doorstep—especially since she is the very person he's been thinking about. Gracie hasn't changed very much over the years, and the immediate problem is that Jake no longer feels like her "brother." Aware that she's not telling him the truth about the circumstances that caused her to flee, he patiently waits for her to trust him enough to divulge the secrets she's hiding about herself and little Charity.
Jake had once been a victim of his own past. As a lawless drunkard, he reached the very bottom of the pit of life and killed a man in a brawl. He was sentenced to five years in jail, where his life was completely turned around by a preacher. Now an ordained minister, he lives in Diabolito Lindo, a town at the end of the world where the only citizens are thieves, gamblers, and drunkards. Preacher Jake loves and is loved by these desperados; and when Gracie first attends church services in the saloon, she is in for a real eye-opener upon meeting the congregation—a bunch of ugly, dirty and mean men. What Gracie eventually does to this saloon and these men will tickle your funny bone.
What Rachel Wilson (aka Alice Duncan) does with this story is amazing. Using much humor and wit, she deals with the tough issues of abuse, alcoholism, intolerance and prejudice—and she still gives you a tender romance. SWEET CHARITY is filled with inspiration towards God and mankind, with lessons about love. When you finish reading it, you will feel humbled and perhaps judge a man by what is in his heart rather than by his outward appearance. You'll laugh out loud during some scenes and shed tears at other times, while you get to know the realistic characters personally and cheer them on. Not only will you see growth in Jake and Gracie, but most likely you will experience it in yourself as well. The epilogue is an added bonus to a five-star-rated book that had to come straight from the author's heart. ~Carol Carter for Bookbug on the Web
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