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Gwen's Ghost
Eternity
is a bloody bore for Valerian Caine. A swashbuckling, amoral 18th Century rake, he was cut down in a duel at age 27 by a ricocheting bullet fired by a cuckolded husband. Now stewing resentfully in a bureaucratic afterlife, he leaps at the chance to regain his human form and return to his previous existence. But there's a catch. He'll be transported to the England of a hundred years later, where he'll have one month to end the family feud launched by that fatal duel and ensure the happiness of the Caine and Sevaric descendants. If he succeeds, he'll be transported back to his former life and the bullet will miss him. But standing between him and his goal is the obstinately unhappy and acerbic Gwen Sevaric--and his surprising desire to be forever the one who makes her smile.
is a bloody bore for Valerian Caine. A swashbuckling, amoral 18th Century rake, he was cut down in a duel at age 27 by a ricocheting bullet fired by a cuckolded husband. Now stewing resentfully in a bureaucratic afterlife, he leaps at the chance to regain his human form and return to his previous existence. But there's a catch. He'll be transported to the England of a hundred years later, where he'll have one month to end the family feud launched by that fatal duel and ensure the happiness of the Caine and Sevaric descendants. If he succeeds, he'll be transported back to his former life and the bullet will miss him. But standing between him and his goal is the obstinately unhappy and acerbic Gwen Sevaric--and his surprising desire to be forever the one who makes her smile.
255 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 1, 1995
About the author
Lynn Kerstan
30 books18 followersLynn Kerstan is a former college professor, folksinger, professional bridge player, and nun.
Her first book, A Spirited Affair, published in 1993, was a double RITA finalist. In 1996, she took home a prestigious RITA Award for Gwen's Christmas Ghost, written with Indianapolis resident Alicia Rasley via E-Mail. A pioneer of on-line collaboration, she had previously collaborated with Rasley and Julie Caille on Lessons in Love, the world's first Electronic Regency Romance.
A four-time RITA finalist and regularly featured on awards lists, Kerstan has won the CRW Award of Excellence, the Golden Quill Award, two San Diego Book Awards, two Romance Communications Awards, and been a finalist for the National Readers' Choice Award, several Romantic Times awards, and the Holt Medallion.
Kerstan lives in Southern California, where she plots her books while riding her boogie board and does character research at the San Diego Zoo.
Her first book, A Spirited Affair, published in 1993, was a double RITA finalist. In 1996, she took home a prestigious RITA Award for Gwen's Christmas Ghost, written with Indianapolis resident Alicia Rasley via E-Mail. A pioneer of on-line collaboration, she had previously collaborated with Rasley and Julie Caille on Lessons in Love, the world's first Electronic Regency Romance.
A four-time RITA finalist and regularly featured on awards lists, Kerstan has won the CRW Award of Excellence, the Golden Quill Award, two San Diego Book Awards, two Romance Communications Awards, and been a finalist for the National Readers' Choice Award, several Romantic Times awards, and the Holt Medallion.
Kerstan lives in Southern California, where she plots her books while riding her boogie board and does character research at the San Diego Zoo.
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Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews
June 9, 2012
Valerian Caine is bored with eternity. His guardian offers him the deal of a lifetime – literally. He must return to earth a century after his own time and heal the wounds in the lives of the people he damaged by his actions while alive. He will only have one chance to claim his former existence. He must change his ways and try to help others do the same. And if he can bring this about within the allotted month, the deadly bullet will miss him when he finds himself back in the garden moments before his fatal duel.
Ms. Rasley kept me entertained throughout this fantastic story with her wonderfully descriptive phrases. Sentences such as: "There are many paths a soul may take after transition, from physical reincarnation to a position with the Directors. And you suit none of them." And …"If physical beauty reflected the soul, you would surely have been a saint." I loved her writing style and couldn't put the book down. This is a must read for any historical lovers!
Ms. Rasley kept me entertained throughout this fantastic story with her wonderfully descriptive phrases. Sentences such as: "There are many paths a soul may take after transition, from physical reincarnation to a position with the Directors. And you suit none of them." And …"If physical beauty reflected the soul, you would surely have been a saint." I loved her writing style and couldn't put the book down. This is a must read for any historical lovers!
June 23, 2012
I truly loved every minute I spent reading this delightful book. As the book said in the opening prologue, eternity was a "bloody bore" for Valerian Caine. Until his untimely death at the age of 27, he'd had just about everything an earthly existence could offer. He was wealthy, exceedingly good looking, athletic, and popular. Unfortunately, one of his many penchants was bedding the "unfulfilled" wives of his fellow gentry. Ultimately, his last conquest was the wife of Richard Sevarin, who, when he discovered them, challenged Valerian to a duel. In a twist of fate, while Valerian did kill Richard with a sure shot to the heart, Richard's wild shot hit a stone which ricocheted right into Valerian's head. That had been a hundred years ago and ever since he's been languishing in some middle portion of the Afterlife, neither heaven now hell. However, the boredom was a kind of a hell to Valerian and so he jumped at the chance to return to earth on a specific mission. His duel had sparked a century long feud between the Caine and Saverin families and at present there were 4 decidedly unhappy descendants still locked into the seemingly senseless feud. Valerian had no special "powers" but he was given one month to end the feid and ensure the happiness of these remaining descendants of both clans. Of the descendants, Gwen is the most decidedly unhappy of them all and she takes an immediate dislike to Valerian, who, a century later is known as Jocelyn Vayle. He looked and functioned human in every way except that he was unable to see his reflection. While helping the Sevarins and Caines he in a sense finds himself. In this novel, I found the characters, especially Gwen and the "ghost" engaging and very easy to care about. The plot moved along at a nice pace, and the descriptions of 18th century London were nicely done. While it was a fantasy, it did have a nice message of there always being a chance to change our ways and live a better, happier life. I would strongly recommend this delightful book.
December 18, 2012
Something like a cross between "It's a Wonderful Life" and your standard Regency Rake redemption story. Valerian Caine was killed in a duel with a wronged husband in 1716 and a hundred years later the lives of both families have been afflicted by vendetta ever since.
Valerian's guardian angels give him the chance to regain his former life if he can end the curse and make everybody happy by Christmas. Of course it's not so simple.
In general, I don't care for Rake redemption books, because the plots come in two sorts, either your chap fundamentally dislikes and distrusts women (in which case I won't believe in the redemption) or he's just a youngish man who's slept around a bit and had a few drinks with the lads, probably about ready to settle down anyway (in which case I don't think it's much of a plot). Valerian falls into the second category but it's okay because there's plenty more plot to keep my attention.
On the whole I really liked this book, Valerian is drawn sympathetically and I enjoyed his yearning for his lost long hair and brightly coloured clothes. The other characters are also well-drawn amd the fantasy elements are well-handled. As the book was drawing to it's conclusion, with the revelation of dark secrets counterbalanced by the healing touch of lurve I was actually considering blowing the dust off my 5 star paddle.
Unfortunately the end sequence, following a discovery scene, is too contrived and the atmosphere just felt wrong to me - almost like we'd walked into the swinging seventies rather than a nineteenth century home. It's a shame but this was still a good read.
Valerian's guardian angels give him the chance to regain his former life if he can end the curse and make everybody happy by Christmas. Of course it's not so simple.
In general, I don't care for Rake redemption books, because the plots come in two sorts, either your chap fundamentally dislikes and distrusts women (in which case I won't believe in the redemption) or he's just a youngish man who's slept around a bit and had a few drinks with the lads, probably about ready to settle down anyway (in which case I don't think it's much of a plot). Valerian falls into the second category but it's okay because there's plenty more plot to keep my attention.
On the whole I really liked this book, Valerian is drawn sympathetically and I enjoyed his yearning for his lost long hair and brightly coloured clothes. The other characters are also well-drawn amd the fantasy elements are well-handled. As the book was drawing to it's conclusion, with the revelation of dark secrets counterbalanced by the healing touch of lurve I was actually considering blowing the dust off my 5 star paddle.
Unfortunately the end sequence, following a discovery scene, is too contrived and the atmosphere just felt wrong to me - almost like we'd walked into the swinging seventies rather than a nineteenth century home. It's a shame but this was still a good read.
June 29, 2012
This is a reissue of a book that is on the very short list of my all time favorite romances. If you've tired of romance recently and thought you might have outgrown the genre, reading this book will remind you of why you fell in love with this kind of book years ago.
After posting the above paragraph I went back and reread this book on my Kindle. It continues to delight. The writing is accomplished and the characters believable. The mood is enchanting--light without being silly.
Both Lynn Kerstan and Alicia deserve to have much larger readerships. I hope that the greater availability of their books in e-format will give them just that.
After posting the above paragraph I went back and reread this book on my Kindle. It continues to delight. The writing is accomplished and the characters believable. The mood is enchanting--light without being silly.
Both Lynn Kerstan and Alicia deserve to have much larger readerships. I hope that the greater availability of their books in e-format will give them just that.
January 3, 2013
My sister's favorite Christmas book. I liked it very much. A wastrel who died in a duel 100 years ago is sent back to Earth to make the lives of his relatives and the fellow who he killed's relatives happy. Needless to say, he succeeds. Made me cry a little.
Want to Read
June 13, 2012Free Kindle book June 13, 2012 New Title 'Gwen's Ghost'.
December 10, 2012
Pleasantly pleased with this story of a rake's Christmas redemption.
February 20, 2026
2.5 out of 5 stars
Shorter Version:
An interesting, but rather imperfect, paranormal romance – really two love stories in one. Our main characters are an unrepentant ghost who’s fighting for a chance to resume his former life, the sharp-tongued spinster he eventually falls in love with, her morally rather rigid older brother, an ex-soldier who seems to genuinely miss his time in the regiment, and a beautiful woman (who really has very little characterization outside of being lovely, and sometimes stubborn). Though the beginning and ending of the novel are both quite well done (especially the premise of how our ghost earns his second chance and the resolution thereof), the middle sections meander. There’s a lot of switching back and forth between the four characters and their varying viewpoints, and most of it ends up feeling like summations rather than fleshed out scenes. It was a quick, light, and mostly enjoyable read, but not something I would strongly recommend.
Greater Detail:
We’ve got four main characters that we follow throughout this novel, with much of their back-story being told to us in the opening chapter:
1. Valerian Caine, who had been a bit of a rake and gamester, wasting away his life and enjoying every minute of it up until he was challenged to a duel by Richard Sevaric, a cuckolded husband, and killed. Since Valerian’s death, he’s existed as a shapeless spirit, tending to things like breeding sea-turtles and finding eternity in general to be a dead bore. Turns out that the bullet that hit him did so by pure luck, and that his guardian angel Francis feels a bit guilty about the whole debacle. Francis arranges for Valerian to have a chance at redemption if he can smooth over the Caine/Sevaric feud that started with Valerian’s duel from a hundred years ago. He is rematerialized as Jocelyn Vayle and has a month and a hundred pounds to accomplish his goal of ensuring Gwen, Max and Dorie are happy by Christmas.
2. Gwen Sevaric – a plain, sharp-tongued spinster who is (even relative to the stereotype of managing and sharp-tongued) really very, very irascible. She manages her brother’s household, plans to never marry, and finds fault with almost everyone. She is particularly suspicious of the mysterious Jocelyn Vayle, despite the fact that he saves her life in their first meeting, which makes her borderline annoying at times. She’s had a rough past (which gets revealed a LONG ways into the novel) but even so, she’s really very, very prickly.
3. Max Sevaric – retired soldier who is initially portrayed as quite a simple man: he believes people are either good or bad. Though he later has whole chapters being told from his point of view, he never really evolves past your initial description of a rather staid, moral soldier.
4. Dorie Caine – great-great-great (etc) niece of Valerian Caine, she is a beautiful woman who has had to fend for herself as her brother has gambled away quite a bit of her dowry and their holdings.
Part of the problem I have here is that the character descriptions (most of which happen in the first chapter) end up being more interesting than the characters themselves – other than Valerian/Vayle, none of the characters really grow or change throughout the course of this novel, and despite the fact that they fall in love and get married, it’s hard not to feel like the novel is a bit of a missed opportunity. Quite a few of the scenes in the middle feel like summations of plot that could have given us a deeper glimpse into the characters had they been more fleshed out.
Though I generally like the idea of switching viewpoints between the characters, two of our four (Dorie and Max) are really quite bland, and Gwen is so easily annoyed that she becomes a bit annoying herself. The feud ends up feeling (other than a major revelation that happens near the end) quite silly (though that might have been the point) and the characters’ refusal to just let it be becomes too much of a defining characteristic for the book.
This is my first paranormal romance – I liked it enough to explore the field more, but not enough to repeat or recommend this particular novel.
Shorter Version:
An interesting, but rather imperfect, paranormal romance – really two love stories in one. Our main characters are an unrepentant ghost who’s fighting for a chance to resume his former life, the sharp-tongued spinster he eventually falls in love with, her morally rather rigid older brother, an ex-soldier who seems to genuinely miss his time in the regiment, and a beautiful woman (who really has very little characterization outside of being lovely, and sometimes stubborn). Though the beginning and ending of the novel are both quite well done (especially the premise of how our ghost earns his second chance and the resolution thereof), the middle sections meander. There’s a lot of switching back and forth between the four characters and their varying viewpoints, and most of it ends up feeling like summations rather than fleshed out scenes. It was a quick, light, and mostly enjoyable read, but not something I would strongly recommend.
Greater Detail:
We’ve got four main characters that we follow throughout this novel, with much of their back-story being told to us in the opening chapter:
1. Valerian Caine, who had been a bit of a rake and gamester, wasting away his life and enjoying every minute of it up until he was challenged to a duel by Richard Sevaric, a cuckolded husband, and killed. Since Valerian’s death, he’s existed as a shapeless spirit, tending to things like breeding sea-turtles and finding eternity in general to be a dead bore. Turns out that the bullet that hit him did so by pure luck, and that his guardian angel Francis feels a bit guilty about the whole debacle. Francis arranges for Valerian to have a chance at redemption if he can smooth over the Caine/Sevaric feud that started with Valerian’s duel from a hundred years ago. He is rematerialized as Jocelyn Vayle and has a month and a hundred pounds to accomplish his goal of ensuring Gwen, Max and Dorie are happy by Christmas.
2. Gwen Sevaric – a plain, sharp-tongued spinster who is (even relative to the stereotype of managing and sharp-tongued) really very, very irascible. She manages her brother’s household, plans to never marry, and finds fault with almost everyone. She is particularly suspicious of the mysterious Jocelyn Vayle, despite the fact that he saves her life in their first meeting, which makes her borderline annoying at times. She’s had a rough past (which gets revealed a LONG ways into the novel) but even so, she’s really very, very prickly.
3. Max Sevaric – retired soldier who is initially portrayed as quite a simple man: he believes people are either good or bad. Though he later has whole chapters being told from his point of view, he never really evolves past your initial description of a rather staid, moral soldier.
4. Dorie Caine – great-great-great (etc) niece of Valerian Caine, she is a beautiful woman who has had to fend for herself as her brother has gambled away quite a bit of her dowry and their holdings.
Part of the problem I have here is that the character descriptions (most of which happen in the first chapter) end up being more interesting than the characters themselves – other than Valerian/Vayle, none of the characters really grow or change throughout the course of this novel, and despite the fact that they fall in love and get married, it’s hard not to feel like the novel is a bit of a missed opportunity. Quite a few of the scenes in the middle feel like summations of plot that could have given us a deeper glimpse into the characters had they been more fleshed out.
Though I generally like the idea of switching viewpoints between the characters, two of our four (Dorie and Max) are really quite bland, and Gwen is so easily annoyed that she becomes a bit annoying herself. The feud ends up feeling (other than a major revelation that happens near the end) quite silly (though that might have been the point) and the characters’ refusal to just let it be becomes too much of a defining characteristic for the book.
This is my first paranormal romance – I liked it enough to explore the field more, but not enough to repeat or recommend this particular novel.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 13, 2022
An entertaining, highly improbable, somewhat ludicrous tale. Valerian Caine/Jocelyn Vayle is a likeable rogue who gets a shot at redemption 100 years after his death. Gwen Sevaric is not much of a Regency heroine as she resorts to violence whenever her emotions get the better of her, & the idea of Lord Max Sevaric fixing his own roof is too ridiculous. Dorothea & Robin Caine, Lord Lynton, Valerian's great-great-grand niece & nephew, provide valuable support, & were more interesting than Gwen.
A pleasant way to spend some time.
A pleasant way to spend some time.
July 7, 2019
This is a sweet, entertaining, uplifting story. I enjoyed it. I'm a sucker for historical ghost romances especially when the ghost is manipulating people to encourage romance. It was the enchanting break I needed from ballroom angst!
June 15, 2023
Lovely book, though the heroine could have used a bit more development. Hero was 5 stars.
August 16, 2011
Very good Regency with a paranormal twist. There are friendly angels/spirits and devilish influences that try to knock Valerian Caine from his ascribed course of action: to "fix" the lives of his later descendants and those affected by his thoughtless actions.
You see, back in the 1700s, Valerian was killed in a duel over certain scandalous behavior that has had a lasting impact on the families involved. What developed from the events of that night is a bitter feud between the two families. Now, after 100 years in purgatory, he's been given a chance to return to his carefree rakehell lifestyle...if he can make the descendants of those involved "happy."
This directive is something of a new concept for the pleasure-seeking, self-indulgent Valerian, but after 100 years of purgatory and boredom, he dives into his role with the focus of a man determined to capture a prize he had imagined no longer in his grasp. He knows that failure will bring an eternity in purgatory with no more second chances, so he gives it his all with an eye towards reclaiming his title as Georgian London's most unrepentant rake.
In Regency England, Valerian Caine is newly dubbed Jocelyn Vayle, a name he detests but resigns himself to live with for what he believes is his temporary month-long stay in this world. Little does he know that one of the descendants whom he is to help, plain and unassuming Gwen Sevaric, will capture his interest and his heart.
This book is really about a wonderfully written Georgian rake who's forced to consider the consequences of his actions a century ago and improve the lives of those affected by such. His reformation is quite a joy to read, and much of the story is told from Valerian's POV. In addition, there's great tension in the plot with (i) our curiosity over how he is to fulfill his task, (ii) the question of how his "deal" will play out once his month is over, plus (iii) a missing heirloom that is at the center of the century-long feud. The romance itself is a little subdued what with all of the other goings-on, but even so, by the end of the book, I never doubted the sincerity of Valerian and Gwen's feelings for each other.
You see, back in the 1700s, Valerian was killed in a duel over certain scandalous behavior that has had a lasting impact on the families involved. What developed from the events of that night is a bitter feud between the two families. Now, after 100 years in purgatory, he's been given a chance to return to his carefree rakehell lifestyle...if he can make the descendants of those involved "happy."
This directive is something of a new concept for the pleasure-seeking, self-indulgent Valerian, but after 100 years of purgatory and boredom, he dives into his role with the focus of a man determined to capture a prize he had imagined no longer in his grasp. He knows that failure will bring an eternity in purgatory with no more second chances, so he gives it his all with an eye towards reclaiming his title as Georgian London's most unrepentant rake.
In Regency England, Valerian Caine is newly dubbed Jocelyn Vayle, a name he detests but resigns himself to live with for what he believes is his temporary month-long stay in this world. Little does he know that one of the descendants whom he is to help, plain and unassuming Gwen Sevaric, will capture his interest and his heart.
This book is really about a wonderfully written Georgian rake who's forced to consider the consequences of his actions a century ago and improve the lives of those affected by such. His reformation is quite a joy to read, and much of the story is told from Valerian's POV. In addition, there's great tension in the plot with (i) our curiosity over how he is to fulfill his task, (ii) the question of how his "deal" will play out once his month is over, plus (iii) a missing heirloom that is at the center of the century-long feud. The romance itself is a little subdued what with all of the other goings-on, but even so, by the end of the book, I never doubted the sincerity of Valerian and Gwen's feelings for each other.
September 10, 2016
A Georgian rake gets a second chance in the Regency period.
It was just too long. It was all I could do to plow through to the end and I fully cop to skimming the last 30-40 pages (everything post-Christmas).
I actually liked the secondary romance between Max and Dorrie better than Valerian/Gwen (to prove this, I had to go back and look up Gwen's name. That's how forgettable she was).
Thing is, I like a good trad Regency. I like the occasional ghost story and I'm a sucker for the reformed rake; however, this just didn't do it for me.
It was just too long. It was all I could do to plow through to the end and I fully cop to skimming the last 30-40 pages (everything post-Christmas).
I actually liked the secondary romance between Max and Dorrie better than Valerian/Gwen (to prove this, I had to go back and look up Gwen's name. That's how forgettable she was).
Thing is, I like a good trad Regency. I like the occasional ghost story and I'm a sucker for the reformed rake; however, this just didn't do it for me.
December 17, 2012
Definitely one of the best lines to open with, "eternity is a bloody bore". LOL
I think this is my third romance novel. My mother recommended it to me as her favorite Christmas romance, and I would like it. She was right, as per usual.
I had a feeling the reason Gwen hated Robin had to do with something like that... I was correct in my assumption.
I'm glad there was a happy ending for everyone.
I think this is my third romance novel. My mother recommended it to me as her favorite Christmas romance, and I would like it. She was right, as per usual.
I had a feeling the reason Gwen hated Robin had to do with something like that... I was correct in my assumption.
I'm glad there was a happy ending for everyone.
Read
January 20, 2015Georgette Heyer with a paranormal twist.
How is reprobate Valerian Caine supposed to reconcile a feud begun with his death a century ago? By Christmas? A dilemma that soon turns to a frustrating delight for a former rake and fop. Compounding his troubles is a sweet natured heavenly guardian and a stern monitor not to mention a devilish tempter of a valet. You'll enjoy this twisted tale of misunderstandings.
How is reprobate Valerian Caine supposed to reconcile a feud begun with his death a century ago? By Christmas? A dilemma that soon turns to a frustrating delight for a former rake and fop. Compounding his troubles is a sweet natured heavenly guardian and a stern monitor not to mention a devilish tempter of a valet. You'll enjoy this twisted tale of misunderstandings.
June 26, 2012
This is a charming story about a man killed in a duel but, given a second chance to redeem himself, is fast-forwarded 100 years; his job is to make three people happy in a month's time with Christmas as a deadline. Sounds easy? Not really, since the three (actually four) come from two families involved in a terrible fuel that dates back to the 100-year old duel.
July 26, 2012
I thought that this was a really cute story. I liked Gwen and her personality, also the relationship between her and her brother. Mr. Vayle was funny and I started to like him also throughout the book.
July 27, 2012
I got this as a free download but I would have gladly paid for it. A delight. I love Valerian who is caught out of his time and his element. Normally I don't read paranormal but this is a fun fast read.
November 11, 2015
3.5
Nice story, though it seemed like Gwen was the character we saw the least and the romance was kind of non-existent until the end. But the side characters were interesting, the rake is redeemed, and there is a happy ending.
Nice story, though it seemed like Gwen was the character we saw the least and the romance was kind of non-existent until the end. But the side characters were interesting, the rake is redeemed, and there is a happy ending.
August 23, 2017
Great story of a man who has to redeem his sins by helping his descendents find happiness.
Good secondary romance between Max and Dorothea.
Good secondary romance between Max and Dorothea.
July 26, 2012
3.5 stars
September 8, 2012
A second chance love story. Nice story.
Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews