Type: Novella
Publisher: Turquoise Morning Press
My Copy: Sent By KLB Events
Kylie McAllister has it all until her world is shattered by the death of her husband, Jackson, in a car accident. After a year of grieving, Kylie uses the proceeds from Jackson’s life insurance to purchase a plantation home on the outskirts of New Orleans to start over with their daughter, Abby. Confirmed bachelor, Ryan LaCroix, has no intentions of settling down with anyone, let alone his best friend’s widow, but somehow Kylie and Abby find their way into his heart.
After discovering an old Ouija board in the attic of her new home, Kylie unwittingly opens a cosmic door to an incubus who pretends to be the dead husband she is so desperately struggling to let go of. She falls deep under his potent spell of delicious sex and malevolent obsession while he gradually drains her life to fortify his own. By the time she realizes he’s an imposter, she is powerless to stop him. Together, with Jackson’s subliminal guidance and the help of a kind voodoo practitioner, Ryan and Kylie wage a fight for her life against the evil entity.
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Let me start this out by saying I spent a good part of this book crying. Not those cute silent tears either. Like puffy red eyes, runny nose, sobbing uncontrollably type of crying. It was not pretty. My husband laughed at me…several times. Melissa Ecker has woven a story to pull at your heartstrings. From the instant I picked it up I was engaged in the story. Not once did I think…ok, lets just skip that part.
I enjoyed the slow warming of emotions for Ryan and Kylie. It was a simmer that became a full-on boil as he stepped in after her husbands death to help take care of her and her daughter. Ryan battled with some pretty intense loyalty emotions because Kylie’s husband had been his best friend. Falling in love was something he had shied away from for years. Though he always carried a torch for Kylie, she was off limits. When Jackson died, she was still off limits because of her mourning and fragile emotional state.
Kylie knew moving on would be hard. Jackson was her world. Trying to move on she bought a old plantation house and moved her and her infant daughter in. The house gave her a slight creepy feel but she brushed it off as being lonely. And she was. Very lonely. The old Ouija board in the attic left from someone years before, gave her the opportunity, although slight, to talk to her beloved husband again. Thrilled to have any response Kylie believes Jackson is communicating with her. But it’s not Jackson, no matter how much it says it is…this is something much worse. It’s jealous now. Jealous of the growing relationship with Ryan. Jealous of Kylie’s daughter. It wants Kylie. All of her. And it won’t stop until it drains her dry. Slowly.
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Giving Up The Ghost combined both a scorching sensuality and a Paranormal Activity (that movie scared me to death) type of feel. I felt horrible for Kylie. She ultimately felt responsible for the wreck that claimed her husband life. Coupled with the fact that she was now incredibly lonely. She wanted to believe Jackson was still with her. I’ve always been extremely leary of Ouija boards. I’ve always believed in demons. I could understand her need to talk and feel her husband again but I was screaming…don’t pick it up! Leave it alone! Voodoo intrigues me. I wasn’t surprised when something sinister slithered through the doorway she unknowingly opened. Something that said and did all the right things…at first. They lie.
Ryan was a great character. He was attentive, sensitive and very protective. His ability to slow it down when Kylie needed it was remarkable and I instantly loved him. Faced with the unexplainable he of course balked…who wouldn’t. But his love for Kylie was strong enough to overcome. Not to mention he was HAWT! Muscles on top of muscles under flawless skin. YUMMY.
I would recommend this book to all the paranormal romance lovers out there. Melissa Ecker has created a novella that will engage your heart and snare your sensual side. Both creepy and sexy will ensure you keep reading until the climactic ending.
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I give Giving Up the Ghost by Melissa Ecker 4 stars!
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