[BookStrand Paranormal Romantic Suspense]
All her life, Reggie Stanton has felt connected to Bennett House. Her childhood dreams come true when she's asked to restore the old place. Unfortunately, old friend and combatant Chase McCann has been hired to do the landscaping.
They share a tension filled past he won't talk about, and things are definitely heating up between them. Seeing him, all hot and dirty day after day, wears down Reggie's resistance. The situation is made worse when unexplained and often dangerous things start to happen around the house. What is the soul-sucking evil lurking in the library and what do the children have to do with it? She enlists the help of the meddlesome, matchmaking ghost haunting the garden.
Reggie's willing to risk everything to solve the mystery surrounding Bennett House, but sex with Chase would really complicate matters. Especially since Reggie's been secretly in love with him for years.
"I fell in love with Reggie Stanton in Trouble and had to give her a story of her own. What better time than at Halloween? New Crescent is the perfect setting for lurking evil and meddlesome ghosts. On one else but Reggie would have the strength of character to solve the mystery surrounding Bennett House and win Chase's heart." ~Mary~
A BookStrand Mainstream Romance
A Halloween Special
5 Pixies: "Have you ever read a book and been torn between wanting to find out how the story is going to be resolved and considering putting the book down because you don't want it to end? That's what happened to me with SPIRIT. I so wanted to know how Reggie and Chase defeated the ghost and how their love story would come out, but I didn't want the story to end. I love the characters and I love the town Ms. George created. SPIRIT pulled me in form the first page and kept me engaged until the very end when I wiped my eyes. That's when I made up my mind to buy the first book in this series as well as the next one when it comes out. SPIRIT is one of those rare books that interweaves a gripping suspense plot, this one paranormal in nature, with an intricate love story. I did have a suspicion about one delightful aspect of the story, but it didn't negate my enjoyment of SPIRIT one little bit. Ms. George gives hints, so I suspect she wanted readers to at least have an inkling. However, the gift Reggie is given at the end of the story was totally unexpected and made the story perfect for me." -- Dark Angel Reviews
4 Tombstones: "It felt like "home week." I reconnected with my old friends in New Crescent and was glad to see that some things never change. Don't let my familiarity with the characters dissuade you if you haven't read the first book. Spirit can easily stand alone. Ms. George does a delightful job of getting you caught up on what happened last summer. This book really delves into our friends Regina and Chase since they were secondary characters in the first book, yet we still have an opportunity to connect with Travis, Gillian and Sam. Spirit is romantic, mysterious and fun. Ms. George hints at bringing in an old/new character for book three that we haven't actually met yet. I am anxiously awaiting the next adventure." -- Jaded, Bitten by Books
STORY EXCERPT
Between bites, she explained her experience in the library and summed it up by adding, “That room is wrong, on a level we can’t even comprehend right now. It’s messed up. There’s something mad and unnatural in there.”
Chase narrowed his eyes and paused before saying, “I believe you. I’ll check it out myself after lunch.”
Her stomach dropped, and she regretted taking such a big drink of water as her throat clenched. She didn’t want him to go near that room, but she didn’t know what to say to stop him. She’d sound so stupid, and knowing Chase, he’d surely ignore her concerns.
Inspiration hit. She said, “I’ll go with you.”
Bless him. He walked right into her trap. “No, you won’t.”
She almost began to enjoy herself. “Oh, yes I will.”
“No, you won’t.” His voice was firmer this time, and he ignored her provocative smile.
“Oh yeah? If you’re going in there, then so am I.”
“Reggie, you’re not going into that room again.” Chase’s jaw clenched revealing an agitation that only spurred her on. Excitement flickered in her eyes.
Standing inches from him, and just for the hell of it, she challenged him.
“You can’t stop me, so accept it.”
“No.” He stood.
With her heart racing, she did the same.
“And how in hot and humid hell are you going to stop me?”
The tension between them was a writhing, tacile thing as they faced off. She knew he was just as keyed up as she was. She could see it coming and did nothing to prevent it. Damn it, she wanted it.
He took her by the shoulders. At the same time he pressed her body to his, he took her lips. He wasn’t gentle, and Reggie was glad because that was the last thing she wanted. She returned his passion, kiss for kiss. His mouth made love to hers, his tongue, teasing, demanding, exciting, all in one. He even used his teeth. It was glorious. Lost in each other, he was hot and hard and more than ready. Reggie wanted him to sink into her right there in the garden in broad daylight.
A low whistle permeated their sensual haze, and they pulled apart just far enough to peer into each other’s dazed eyes. They ignored the whoops and cheers of the amused workers around them and stared at each other.
Without taking his eyes from hers, Chase told their enthusiastic audience to get back to work. After a few more taunts, they moved off. Still, he held Reggie.
Her heart broke just a little when he shook his head as if clearing his mind of something unwanted. When he looked at her again, he’d reverted to the Chase she’d always known, the damnable frustrating one. He backed away from her in embarrassment. She saw the apology in his eyes and before he could say anything she said, “If you apologize, I swear, I will find something really heavy and hit you with it...twice…and just for the hell of it, I’d hit you again. Trust me. I’d go for the triple.” She poked his chest with a finger.
He raised his eyebrows and smiled. “What would you have me do then, Reggie?”
“I don’t know. Admit that it felt good maybe?”
He looked down at his still-aroused body. “I would have thought that was obvious.”
She gave him a little smile. “Good.”
His laugh was filled with self deprecation. “For you maybe. But I’ve got to face my guys like this.”
Their shared laughter broke the tension, and they sat down on the bench again.
He avoided her eyes when he said, “I should explain myself.”
Amusement gone, she tilted her head and challenged him. “Do you want to?”
“Honestly? No.” He held up a hand and prepared to continue.
She didn’t want to hear it and ignored his gesture. His grudging desire for her wasn’t something Reggie felt up to discussing. She interrupted him and changed the subject before he could say anything that would smart. “What I felt in the library sure proves I’m back in New Crescent with a vengeance.”
“Yeah.” he nodded and swept out his arm. “Alas, people, I give you our hometown, the source of all things strange. I still don’t want you going into the library again.”
“And I still don’t want you to go there without me.”
He nodded with defeat. “How about a compromise?”
When she looked at him, she narrowed her eyes, and he chuckled. “No tricks, I swear. I’ll get Duncan’s guys to clean it out and we’ll go in together when they’re done. Deal?” He held out his hand to her. She hesitated a second then placed her palm firmly against his, and they shook on it.
For a split second, she saw her hand and his joining and becoming one. She thought she’d been hallucinating until she looked up and realized that he’d seen it too.
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