When Blacksouls begins, both Edward "Teach" Drummond and Anne Barrett are making their way across the sea to Nassau, where they hope to reunite.  While a romance between the son of a wealthy British merchant and the bi-racial daughter of a black slave has little chance of thriving in rigid English society, perhaps it might flourish in the Bahamas.  But first, the couple has to find each other.  

Teach is happy to be first mate of the Deliverance until a disagreement with the captain causes him to question whether his superior really has the crew's best interest in mind.  There's only one way to keep himself and his mates safe from attacking Spanish ships—mutiny.  Teach doesn't want to risk his neck only to find himself hanging by it back in England, but there's no other solution.  Will he survive long enough to reach his love in Nassau?  

Although Anne has arrived in Nassau mostly unscathed, it quickly becomes apparent that safety is a relative term.  On an island already teeming with discord and danger, stirring up trouble is a very, very bad idea.  Especially when the man in charge might be the most treacherous of them all.  All Anne wants is a long, peaceful reunion with Teach, a dream which grows more unlikely every day ...

Chock-full of tense action, Blacksouls is engaging from the get-go.  The intensity never lets up, guaranteeing a wild, nail-biter of a boat ride.  The novel is a page turner that demands to be read in one sitting—you won't be able to put it down anyway.  It's not a super original pirate story, but who cares?  Blacksouls is fun, exciting, and peopled with lovable characters brimming with bravery, loyalty, and determination.  I, for one, have thoroughly enjoyed this series.  I'm definitely looking forward to seeing how Castroman wraps up the story in the final installment.

There's only one thing 12-year-old Tiffany Hart wants—to be president of her 7th grade class.  She's well on her way to achieving that goal when the unthinkable happens.  After almost dying in an abandoned slaughterhouse, she develops the ability to see ghosts.  This unexpected "gift" is so not what she needs right now.  If her classmates find out what a complete freak she is, there's no way they will elect her president.  Cue a shattered heart and crushed dreams.  Tiffany is not going to let that happen to herself.  No way, no how.

With no one she can really talk to about her sudden supernatural ability, Tiffany is forced to rely on the person with whom she least wants to associate.  Justin Henderson has been claiming to see spirits since he was nine, meaning he's been a total outcast for three long years.  With her dream of being class president on the line, Tiffany can't afford to be seen with Justin, but who else can understand what she's going through?  No one.

Against all odds, the unlikely pair teams up to solve a puzzling, ghoulish mystery.  With plenty of lives—and afterlives—on the line, they must work together to banish the evil presence that haunts their small town.  Can they defeat a powerful, vengeful spirit?  Can they save themselves and their home?  More importantly, will Tiffany ever fulfill her dream of becoming class president?  

Ghostsitter by Shelly Brown is a fun middle grade read perfect for Halloween consumption.  With plenty of action to keep kids turning pages, it's an exciting story that's more cute than creepy.  The characters are likable, the plot's exciting, and the overall vibe is hopeful and upbeat.  Poor copy editing definitely marred my enjoyment of the book, as did out-of-date cultural references (What 12-year-old knows who Betty White is?).  Kids might be put off by that as well as the juvenile book jacket.  Overall, though, this is an entertaining, easy read that will definitely appeal to ghost-loving middle graders.  Despite the irritants I mentioned, I'd still recommend Ghostsitter to interested readers.

(Readalikes:  Apparently I don't read a lot of middle grade ghost stories because nothing is coming to mind.  Suggestions?)

Grade:

If this were a movie, it would be rated:

for scary images

To the FTC, with love:  I received a finished e-copy of Ghostsitter for contest judging purposes from the generous folks at Future House Publishing via those on the Whitney Awards Committee.  Thank you!

(Image from Barnes & Noble) 

During the ten years he spent in foreign lands fighting for the Crown, Color Sergeant Conall Stewart dreamed of one thing: home.  Now that he's back in Scotland, he's devastated by what he sees.  While the Highlands are as beautiful as he remembers, his childhood house has been burned to the ground, his ancestral lands charred by the greed of his own countrymen.  With his family run off their land, maybe even killed, Conall has no idea what to do now. 

While he sends out inquiries, hoping to discover his family's fate, Conall rents a farm in a nearby town.  His home is one of the nicest in the village, naturally attractive to thieves.  When Conall discovers one such trespasser, he hauls the young boy home to his mother, sure the wee burglar will receive a sufficient scolding.  The soldier is shocked by Aileen Leslie's indignant response to his accusations.  Taken aback by the woman's negligent parenting and unwillingness to face the reality of Jaime's obvious criminal behavior, Conall washes his hands of the family altogether.

It's not long, though, before Conall finds himself coming to the aid of the widow and her son.  Before he knows it, he's developed a fondness for the boy.  His feelings for Jaime's mother have grown, well, far beyond fondness.  Before the relationship has a chance to go anywhere, though, Aileen's past comes calling.  With everything he cares about on the line, Conall must decide how far he's willing to go to save the people he loves.  

I've never been a big fan of romance novels, but I do enjoy a sweet Regency love story every so often.  Author Jennifer Moore is one of my go-to authors in this genre.  Having read most of her books, I know I can count on Moore to deliver an exciting, engaging tale featuring a brave, likable heroine; a courageous, dashing hero; a rich, exotic setting; and a positive, uplifting tone.  Moore's newest novel, Miss Leslie's Secret, is no exception.  It offers everything I love in a Regency romance—and more.  Although I've enjoyed all the books I've read by Moore, I think this one is my favorite.  I adored the setting, the characters, and the sweet romance between Conall and Aileen.  If you are in the mood for a swift, swoony read set in the always enchanting Scottish Highlands, I definitely recommend Miss Leslie's Secret.

(Readalikes: Reminded me of other books by Jennifer Moore, including Lady Emma's Campaign; Miss Burton Unmasks a Prince; Simply Anna; Miss Whitaker Opens Her Heart; A Place for Miss Snow; and Lady Helen Finds Her Song)

Grade:

If this were a movie, it would be rated:

for violence and some disturbing subject matter

To the FTC, with love:  I received a finished copy of Miss Leslie's Secret from the generous folks at Covenant.  Thank you!

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