Book Reviews

Book Blurb

Julian Ridgley is buying a house, known as Dexter’s Manor, on a hill in a seaside community. The original owner, Dexter Larabee, is widely rumored to haunt it, but Julian dismisses such fanciful rumors.

His plan is to renovate the old mansion so he and his lover can live there, with the goal of creating their own seaside shop. After moving in, Julian experiences strange happenings, including the appearance of the gorgeous Dexter himself. Dexter calls Julian another name, Owen, and insists that Julian is his reincarnated love.

Seduced by Dexter, Julian has a passionate affair with the spirit, prompting him to end things with his boyfriend. When Julian realizes Dex is trapped, waiting endlessly for Owen, he knows the right thing to do is to set Dex free. But he’s fallen in love with Dexter. How will he ever be able to let go?

Book Review

“Maybe love at first sight isn’t what we think it is. Maybe it’s recognising a soul we loved in a past life and falling in love with them again.” ~ Kamand Kojouri

There are certain people who feel that your life doesn't end when you die; that you come back to life with the same soul, but with a different body and no memories of your past life. Julian Ridgley, of 'Dexter's Haunting' by Shawn Lane, gets a firsthand look at this process when he buys a house that is haunted.

When he becomes tired of city life, Julian leaves his fiancé, Mace, in the city and purchases an old house, called Dexter Manor, in the country. The plan is to fix up the house while waiting for his fiancé, who is coming shortly to be with him. Julian is told by the locals that the house is indeed haunted by Dexter Larabee, who died under mysterious circumstances. Julian blows it off as local superstition but the more he learns about Dexter, the more curious he becomes. When he tours the house and opens the door to the master bedroom, there's a man standing by the window, a strikingly handsome man. Julian asks if he is Dexter, rubs his eyes, but when he opens them, the man is gone. Julian doesn't believe in ghosts, but something has just happened. Instead of being scared he is intrigued.

Julian buys and takes possession of the house a short time later. When he goes into the master bedroom, he hears a voice calling the name of Owen. Right away, Dexter begins to seduce Julian who can't help himself from going along, even enjoying the seduction, even though he knows that technically he's cheating on his fiancé, Mace. Although he has to wonder if it is cheating when the sex is with a ghost? Julian learns that Dexter is convinced that Julian is his reincarnated lover, Owen. Julian carries on with their affair with Dexter, but Dexter begins to try to convince Julian that he should end his relationship with Mace, and live there with him, forever. It becomes harder to talk to Mace. Julian knows he's not being fair to him when, ghost or not, he is in love with Dexter. Julian decides to break it off with Mace, but how is he going to tell Mace the real reason for wanting to end it?

This story has some hot, steamy scenes and an interesting premise, but it was difficult for me to suspend my disbelief at times. From all I know or have read about ghosts, it is extremely difficult for a ghost to stay in a corporeal state for any length of time, much less “carry on” the way that Dexter and Julian did! I especially enjoyed the ending, which, for Julian, was actually another beginning. Thanks, Shawn, for a different kind of love story.

 

 

 

 

DISCLAIMER: Books reviewed on this site were usually provided at no cost by the publisher or author. This book has been provided by JMS Books for the purpose of a review.

Additional Information

Format	ebook
Length	Novella, 18307 words
Heat Level
Publication Date	27-October-2018
Price	$2.99 ebook
Buy Link	https://www.jms-books.com/erotic-romance-c-29_94/dexters-haunting-p-2539.html