Debbie Peterson

Mingling America's contemporary times with Scotland's Medieval Age, fantasy/paranormal author Debbie Peterson fodders her readers wildest imagination in her novel Spirit of the Knight from Wild Rose Press. Primarily set in Scotland at a castle that dates back to the early 14th century, the story bounces between the past and the present, sometimes confusing readers about which one is being represented as the line between the two ages is blurred. Maybe even done intentionally by the author to show that time is continuous. Regardless of which era one character is in, a character from another era can understand him/her and the two can shares feelings, thoughts, and the sentiment of love. Even enjoying the same bridge that served as a respite for each of the characters during their own lifetime. Symbolically, life and time is like a bridge. It is always there and not defined by man-made eras.

Audiences are introduced to American born Mariah Jennings who travels to a Medieval castle in Scotland to paint the Gothic citadel. Her assignment is to make the portrait for a book sponsored by a wealthy entrepreneur who wants to immortalize ancient castles in a tome before they are destroyed and their past forgotten along with them. This premise engages readers, making them aware about a disturbing trend in modern times to erase past structures along with their history and significance.

As the story evolves, readers are introduced to a garrison of Scottish knights that are all ghosts, killed in battle at Dupplin in 1332 and bound to the castle and its surrounding grounds by black magic. Unknown to them is a company of female apparitions from the same time as the knights that roam the castle and grounds. A PG-rated romance develops between Mariah and Sir Cailen Braithnoch, one of the ghostly knights. Making their romance more interesting is that Mariah has been painting portraits of Cailen since she was a little girl, sketching a knight whom she had never met and did know ever existed.

The author demonstrates that the line between the past and the present is blurred, giving the reader a sense that time is continuous. That death cannot divide people. Lives continue in spirit form, and people's memories are the reservoir that stores their experiences whether they remember those experiences in their present life or not. Audiences are familiar to this concept, which has been addressed in a number of popular ghost stories like the 1937 film Topper and the 1946 motion picture The Time of Their Lives.

Peterson incorporates many ancillary characters, often too many that play a small role in the partnership of Mariah and Cailen. Her writing style is engaging and her knowledge of the Medieval Scottish diction gives the story authenticity. The biggest drawback is that Peterson drags out the scenes, and readers find that the story has not moved in several chapters.

Another drawback is that Peterson's malicious characters don't quite fit. She leads the reader to believe that black magic has cursed the ghostly knights and ladies to stay at the castle and its grounds, though it isn't entirely believable. PG-rated characters, Peterson can conjure up easily but with evil characters, the writing struggles. Out of no where, these evil-like characters mean to destroy Cailen though their motives are not substantiated. The author tells audiences that these characters are evil but it comes off as contrived. Quite satisfying is that Peterson writes Cailen so he doesn't feel cursed being a ghost while the woman he loves is mortal. Talking about alternative lifestyles, it works that Cailen is a ghost and Mariah is mortal and the two are in love.… (mehr)

Pennsylvania, ghosts, romantic, family, friendship, verbal-humor, situational-humor, historical research,*****

Who will absolutely adore this book? Well, besides American Revolutionary War reenactors and history geeks, there's those whose jobs make them need temporary escape from reality, those whose lives are so ultra busy that they need a brief escape, those who are too busy with everything to see the romance in their own lives, and anybody who likes a really well written story. This is not an unbiased review because we were American Revolutionary War reenactors until my husband's death and the rest of us are still history geeks, but it's such a good story! Suspend disbelief and meet a few of the men from Morgan's Rangers who did not survive the war but remain as ghosts in a home near where theirs were and the friendship and antics they share with the delightful violinist who has restored it.
I requested and received a free ebook copy from The Wild Rose Press via NetGalley. Thank you! !… (mehr)

WONDERFUL!
MAGNIFICENT!
ROMANTIC!
LEAVES YOU WANTING MORE!
Debbie Peterson's books are INCREDIBLE!

Mariah has been drawing since she can remember.

And her most frequent drawing in her sketchbook is of a knight.

He has been with her from the very beginning....

Mariah's fame is now such that she is commissioned to paint castles to be presented in a special collection.

Her most recent castle is a thirteenth century Scottish castle.

She loves these castles and requests to stay inside them to get the full effect for her paintings.

She is not surprised that the local townsfolk talk of ghosts residing in the castle....she has encountered ghosts before.

What does surprise her is that this ghost happens to be the same knight from her childhood drawings.

She finds out his name is Sir Cailen Braithnoch and he and his garrison fell at the hands of black magic.

A spell woven centuries ago that still holds them captive...

As Mariah spends time with these ghosts she begins dreaming of another ghost...

One who shows her the way to break the spell.

Will fate and a jealous rival keep them apart, or can they find a way for their love to "last through the ages?"

SO. SO. SO. GOOD!
A DEFINITE MUST READ!… (mehr)