Moonlight Dancer

by Deb Atwood

Kendra JinJu MacGregor can resist neither the antique Korean doll in the dusty warehouse nor the handsome Hiro Peretti who sells it to her.

Once she brings the doll home, Kendra pays little attention to misplaced objects or her beloved dog’s fear. That is, until one terrifying night forces her to question her very sanity. Soon, the ethereal, brooding NanJu manifests herself, and Kendra begins her travels through time to 16th century Korea into a history of conflict and intrigue. For Kendra is about to discover the dark past of her ghostly visitor.

Now it’s up to Kendra, with Hiro by her side, to interpret the past and prevent murder. Everything depends upon Kendra’s success, even—she discovers to her horror—her own life.

Genres: Romance, Paranormal, Time Travel, Ghosts

283 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 2012

About the author

How would I spend a perfect day in Paradise you ask?

Okay, maybe you didn't ask, but I would spend it ambling along a shaded trail with my dog Nala, burying my nose in an engaging novel (ideally one with a ghost or a dog or both), closeting myself with pen and paper, connecting with happy readers, and finishing the day with pasta and pinot in the company of loved ones.

Warm sand and gentle waves preferred but not required.

My goal is to be the go-to girl when it comes to ghost novels. I review some (and I even wrote one), but I've definitely read more than I can ever review. You can find me (please do) in the supernatural reading group when talk turns to ghosts. Drop me a line. Tell me what you're reading. I'd love to hear from you (and it doesn't even have to be about ghosts because I read other genres, too!).

Reviews

[Melissa T · Rating 4 out of 5]

This review was originally posted on HERE on November 19, 2012.

A few months ago, Deb Atwood stopped by Melissa's Midnight Musings to talk about the lessons we can learn from ghosts. After reading Moonlight Dancer, I can see that these lessons can sometimes be pretty painful, but also liberating in a way.

Moonlight Dancer isn't quite what I expected it to be. I thought it was going to be a straight time travel story, but it's much more than that. It's historical fiction, romance, and paranormal all rolled into one.

The story starts out with Kendra, a seemingly typical college student browsing a storewith her friend, and finding herself drawn to a doll she sees on the shelves. That's not quite all she's drawn to, though, as the shop assistant, Hiro, also catches her eye. For some strange reason, Kendra cannot stop thinking about the doll she sees. So, she goes back to the store. She decides to spend her upcoming semesters' tuition money on this doll. She takes the doll home, and at first, it's just a doll. But then, things start happening. She narrowly misses being in a fatal car accident because the doll traps her in the house. Then, she starts getting unusual visions of a distant past, she starts observing the life of a 16th century Korean woman named Nanju. These visions hit her hard, and land her in some serious trouble, including a brief stay in a psychiatric facility. She must go on a journey not only to save herself but also to bring peace to the ghosts of the past.

The time travel element in this is really well done. The fact that Kendra is experiencing these images of the past while remaining in the present is an aspect that I really liked about this book. It works really well to weave the past and present together in this way, and sets up the events in the book nicely. I'm glad that it was set up this way rather than just having Kendra get pulled into the past and having to find her way back by the end of the novel.

The romance between Hiro and Kendra is nice too. It's not insta love, which I appreciated. It also has ups and downs. Hiro and Kendra fight, and disagree, and while they do end up together, it's done in a way that isn't overly cheesy. They play the cat and mouse game at times, each of them playing a bit hard to get, finding reasons to see each other. Then they bond over the myriad of experiences regarding the doll, some of them really dangerous. It's interesting to watch how their relationship ebbs and flows around what's happening with Nanju's spirit. Hiro is initially intrigued by the idea of the ghost, and tells Kendra to help her, to bring her peace. Then as things start to get dangerous he gets nervous about her involvement, but she's committed to finding out what happens, and they argue over the situation. Hiro thinks its' too dangerous because Nanju's spirit is taking over, and he wants her to stop, but Kendra has become too involved, too attached to stop and so they part ways for a time. In the end, Hiro ultimately supports Kendra in what she has to do to bring peace to Nanju's spirit.

There are some inconsistencies with Kendra's personality and how her and Hiro's relationship progresses, which I didn't quite like. For instance, she tells him that she was drugged at a party and presumes that something might have happened to her, so she's sworn off men. Then, within the next few scenes, she ends up kissing Hiro and they end up in bed together.

I do have to say that the scenes involving intimate moments are very tastefully written. I also have to say I appreciate the authors view on safe sex, and incorporating that into the story. It's as simple as "Hiro takes a condom out of his wallet and..." And that's all that's needed really. It's just not often that you see scenes like that written into books, a lot of the time it's left to the reader to assume.

There is a great deal of information about Korean culture embedded in the storyline of this book. I learned a lot while reading, and it shows that the author did her homework. There are a lot of scenes involving Korean culture and traditions, which are very detailed and easily imagined as you're reading. The only thing that I wish there had been in regards to this is a glossary of the Korean words at the back. There were some translations immediately following the words, but some were left out, so a dictionary at the back might have been helpful. Reading this also made me want to look further into the concept of automatic writing. Kendra does this when Nanju's spirit takes over, and it seems like a really cool concept, that's definitely worth looking into.

The setting was slightly familiar, as this is set in the California Bay Area. I grew up in the Bay Area so seeing familiar town names and imagining locales for some of these places was fun to do while I read.

Kendra's growth as a character has more to do with her letting people in than anything else. Since the death of her father she has held herself closed off to people, and forming relationships, because people always leave her as she says, specifically men. It takes a while, but she does learn to let Hiro in completely (not just in the physical sense) so that is nice to see. And Hiro, even with his troubled past is able to let go of some of his control to let Kendra in, so they really balance each other out nicely.

This is a book that is richly steeped in culture, relationships and love.

*I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.*

[Readiculously Peachy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Check out my original review on my blog: Readiculously Peachy

My Review:

** Disclaimer: I was privileged to receive a copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review. My review is not biased and it is written as my personal opinion**

This was truly a very intriguing book and something entirely different than what I have read before. Not only is the essence of the story so captivating, but also the entire content including the characters, the writing style, and the vast amount history put in to this book, so very fascinating! The story goes into so much thoughtful detail and there is no end to the unpredictable happenings throughout, that as a reader you don't have one moment to be bored. I  never knew what would happen next and this really kept my interest and curiosity at a peak throughout the entire book!

The characters were enjoyable to follow throughout. The main character, Kendra is primarily known to be a strong young Korean woman, who normally does not falter, let men hinder her in any way, or physically does not seem bothered by what others think. You would at first sight (or should I say at first 'read') perceive that she is throughout emotionally and physically grounded. This however changes drastically when she purchases a very expensive Korean doll which encases an ancient Korean ghost that slowly changes and possesses her life.

The characters surrounding Kendra were sincere, however sometimes I felt that not all the relationships she shared with other characters were put into much detail or depth as the relationship she had with Hiro, her lover. The connection between Kendra and Hiro was realistic to me as in how there was no 'love at first sight' and that it had its genuine ups and downs as usual relationship do. However I could not fathom how Hiro had developed (so instantly) a deep passion for Kendra that he would literally leap head over heals to make sure that she is safe and well treated.

I almost wished that Kendra's relationship with Hunter, her housemate, was more developed and pressed on more to really create a stronger 'love triangle'. But this was unfortunately for me not too much explored throughout the story. This is a downside for me, as you readers know by now how much I adore love triangles, but my downside could be strong positive for another depending on their preference in the existence of love triangles ;)

I want to emphasize on the doll and what kind of impact it had on me as a reader. Mrs. Atwood is so good at describing the doll's appearance, its effects on Kendra, and what it represents in totality, that the ghost within the doll truly frightened me and tugged at all my emotions. The doll physically is only a doll, but slowly throughout the story you realize there is much more beyond is physicality. I love how the doll was the instigator of the connection between Kendra and Hiro. Their relationship only grew stronger through the experiences they had with the doll.

The way Mrs. Atwood pulled the reader into the past of the Doll's ghost was very unique. I found it so creative how physically Kendra stayed in the present, but was pulled during her sleep, drugging, or other ways, into the 16th-Century in Korean history. You can really tell that Mrs. Atwood dug up a lot of dusty books and sought out for loads of expertise on Korean history to create such an in-depth and realistic portrayal of how times were back in that century. Due to my childhood friend who was from South Korea, I have always been very curious about their history and this book exceedingly fed that curiosity well.

I most definitely recommend this book to readers who love a bone thrilling story which is oh-so-much-more than just your usual ghost story. The present and past are so symbolically mingled together that it makes this book different than your every other paranormal, historical romance,  and action packed book.

[Heather Osborne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Heather Osborne on behalf of Readers' Favorite

Moonlight Dancer by Deb Atwood is an historical fiction novel with a paranormal twist. Kendra McGregor comes across an antique Korean doll while visiting a shop with her friend, Anna. Inexplicably drawn to it, she spills out her tuition money on the strange doll and takes it home, much to the displeasure of a young man working at the shop, Hiro. Hiro knows there is something not quite right about the doll. Shortly after the impulsive purchase, strange things begin happening to Kendra. She begins having visions of 16th century Korea and a woman, NanJu. NanJu fell in love with a man, but was forced to break her betrothal to answer the calling of the gods as a mudang. Kendra is thrown into a world she hardly understands, but knows that NanJu desperately needs her help to undo centuries of guilt. Can Kendra and Hiro uncover the secret of ancient tale before it’s too late?

Miss Atwood blew me away with her creative story. I’m from the San Francisco Bay Area so every location was familiar and touched my memories. I’m also part Korean so it made the story even more meaningful. I loved the contrast between 16th century life and modern times. Kendra is a very sweet character with a tormented past and I loved how Hiro went to great lengths to earn her trust and love. It was fascinating for me to see into a bit of my personal history as well because my family fled Korea when the Japanese invaded. I cannot praise this novel enough. Moonlight Dancer is a simply amazing read and I highly recommend it.

[Lauren · Rating 3 out of 5]

The overall story and plot worked well together. The author’s descriptive nature of Korean culture is developed clearly and is interesting to read about.

Hiro was my favorite character in the story. He was well developed and had a multifaceted personality while trying to find his own destiny. Nanju is quite interesting and fun. I liked how she was developed into a strong willed character. The main character, Kendra, seemed a little bland to me. I felt that the author could have developed her more and not made her such a one dimensional character to fit into the forced to grow up mold.

Note: I received this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.

[Nikki Palm]

While this is not my usual genre choice, it sounds like a very interesting read. I look forward to reading this:)

[Venky Iyer · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fine story, told in a way that I think could have been improved. Several times while reading this book, I had to stop reading and take a breather. I felt the book had been stretched out too much, with scenes/descriptions/incidents that could have been eliminated or described in less words. There is a certain disjointed quality to the narration which left me confused about small points of interest here and there, making me refer back often. But even when I did put the book down, I couldn't wait to get back to it. It definitely made for a gripping read.

Conclusion: You definitely want to read this book.

[March McCarron · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 Stars

The blurb for Moonlight Dancer immediately snared my interest for two reasons: first, that it is a novel which blends history and present day, and ever since reading Susanna Kearsley’s The Winter Sea I’ve been in love with these kinds of narratives; and second, because this particular story was about ancient Korea, and as someone who teaches English in Korea, I’ve really fallen in love with the culture (plus, as a reader, there’s always a kind of enjoyable jolt of recognition when characters go to a place where you’ve been before). I read the novel with great interest, but now, having finished, I’m having a hard time assessing my own reaction to the book—perhaps because I rarely have such mixed feelings; rarely do I read a story that works so very well in some ways, while leaving me so disappointed in others.

The Story:

It all begins when Kendra finds, and is mysteriously drawn to, an old Korean doll at an antique shop. Part Korean, but with no knowledge of Korean culture or history, Kendra is haunted by the ghost of a mudang (a kind of Korean shaman) with unfinished business, and is in for a crash course in history. The story is spooky—with a gothic feel at times and a horror vibe at others, and with a surprising amount of action (thanks to a karate master love interest). It’s briskly paced and full of the unexpected.

What I Loved:

I loved the flavor and texture of this story—the feeling of the culture, the sense that history does not die, that the past and the present are interwoven. I also very much appreciated the overall impression that this story was well researched. There are a lot of little details of language, culture, and history that made me smile and nod my head down at my kindle—lots of winks and nudges for those who are familiar with Korean culture, but still totally accessible for readers who aren’t (Does anyone else do a fist pump at all mentions of the word ‘turtle boat?’ No? Just me? Ok, carry on…). Most of all, it is something different. So many historical novels are about the same kinds of people telling the same kinds of stories—in this respect, Moonlight Dancer is like a breath of fresh air. NanJu’s story is fascinating and unique, and the style of the narration during these sections is extremely effective (though some clearer formatting in the ebook would probably help delineate these transitions). The parts of the story that took place in the past were, for me, by far the most interesting and well-written. I wish there had been more!

What I Didn’t Love:

While I adored some parts of this story, overall I felt there was an imbalance. It’s no easy feat, telling two stories in the same book—one inside the other—and having everything feel as though it jives. For me, Moonlight Dancer didn’t quite hit the mark.
The frame story simply did not work for me. I didn’t really like Kendra or her love interest, but even putting those opinions aside, I felt as though Kendra did not function well as a protagonist. She had no overarching goals and we do not spend enough time with her in the second-half to see NanJu’s experiences inform her development. This is where the imbalance comes in: the first half is largely about Kendra just living her day-to-day life, which is mostly her trying to make ends meet. She gets a job, gets a boyfriend, finds a roommate—most of which does not play into the later portion of the book very much. She is apparently a student, but we do not see her in school nor feel that she has any passion for her schoolwork. The major storyline in Kendra’s tale is a romance which, in my opinion, develops too abruptly (and I did not particularly like the way they treated each other as a couple, but that could just be me). The second part is predominantly in the past, in which Kendra is reliving history. But by the time NanJu’s story really gets rolling, we barely see Kendra. She isn’t really doing anything and she has no agency—NanJu’s tale seems to only effect Kendra in so much as she is being forced to experience it, and in no more significant way. If the main character had been the ghost then we wouldn’t have a problem, but that is not the case. We can assume Kendra was changed by her interactions with the past, but we don’t really know—she seems more like a mere vessel through which we are receiving the more interesting tale.
What I would have loved is if the flashbacks were more spread-out throughout the book, if Kendra had had time to process and be changed by them. I wanted to see her develop significantly because of these strange events in some way—perhaps a journey of self-discovery as a person disconnected from her ethnic identity? I wanted the interior story to help shape the exterior story. As it is, it feels like there are a lot of beautiful components that don’t totally come together.
I also wish—and this is likely just personal preference—that there was less inner-monologue and more description. It seemed a pity that we should have traveled to Korea, a country with breathtaking countryside, and had so little setting described.

Conclusion:

So, all in all, I’m a bit mixed on this one, and I’m not sure I did a good job of articulating why… There are parts of something wonderful and interesting here, that I think readers of historical fiction would really enjoy—and as a tale about a time and place little represented in english-language fiction, I think it has a lot of value—but I can’t say that I loved the book as a whole. I felt like I was digging through the vanilla ice-cream to get to the cookie dough.

[Esraa]

amazing

[Cherese A. Vines · Rating 4 out of 5]

Moonlight Dancer by Deb Atwood is a paranormal novel with romantic elements about Kendra JinJu MacGregor a 23-year-old half-Korean (on her father’s side) college student. Following her father’s death a few years before the opening of the book, Kendra learned two things: men always leave and there is no such thing as ghosts. She is challenged on both these views on the first page when Kendra meets an antique Korean doll and a man named Hiro Peretti (half-Japanese on his mother’s side). Both send her life reeling.

Kendra is drawn to the antique Korean doll and impulsively purchases it from the young handsome, antiques business owner, Hiro. From there, all their lives are intertwined. The doll somehow creates a bridge from 16th century Korea to present day California. NanJu, the spirit of a lower class 16th century young Korean woman, crosses the gap to reach Kendra. NanJu has an agenda and soon Kendra has to choice in the matter.

Reading Moonlight Dancer is like when you see something in your peripheral vision and you turn to look and don’t see anything out of the ordinary. The book also felt claustrophobic. Although there were several different locations, they all led back to Kendra’s bedroom. It was like the hub from which everything in the book happened. It was the sanctuary she retreated to at every major junction in the plot.

Kendra is a solitary figure. She trusts no one and is fiercely independent to her detriment. Her decisions are made from a position of distrust. By the time she figures out that she does have support and love, it is almost too late.

I got a sense of Kendra’s relationships with her father, her mother, her friend Anna; but they’re all vague. Her father is dead. Her mother, adopted younger sister and grandfather have gone abroad for a year to Shanghai, leaving Kendra in the family home alone. Anna, who could have been her confidant, is incapacitated early on. Kendra is alone except for her dog Akira. So when the ghost of NanJu enters Kendra’s life the only thing standing between them is a stranger and a man at that, Hiro.

Hiro has his own obstacles to overcome in his pursuit of Kendra, not including NanJu’s presence. Because of Hiro’s Japanese heritage and NanJu’s horrific experiences during a Japanese invasion of her Korean village, she frequently stands between Kendra and Hiro’s developing relationship.

Moonlight Dancer has great imagery and I was able to get a good sense of NanJu’s village, her struggles and her loves and losses. The book follows Kendra for the majority of the story, but it gradually merges with NanJu’s story. There is a major portion where the reader is completely submerged in NanJu’s tale. It was interesting, entertaining and could really have been its own book. This leads me to the fact that the book was a bit long for me. There were periods of the plot slowing down and then something exciting happens to kick it back up for a little while, then slow and then exciting again. There is always a hint of the something big that is supposed to happen, but it takes a while to get there.

I enjoyed the book and would recommend to readers who like a bit a of romance with their ghost story.


I received this book to read in exchange for an honest review.

[Patricia Eddy · Rating 4 out of 5]

**I originally posted this review on Author Alliance.**

There's something to be said for a book that weaves the old almost seamlessly with the new.

In the first few pages, Kendra impulsively purchases an old Korean doll. She doesn't know why she has to have this doll, but she knows that she does. She spends money she doesn't have-money intended for her school tuition-on the doll after Hiro, a man who works at the shop where she first saw the doll, puts it away for her.

The first night that she has the doll, strange things start to happen. First the doll's hairpin goes missing. Then, her dog becomes frightened of the doll. Soon after, in a truly frightening series of events, the doll (we're led to believe), traps Kendra in her house. She's prevented from leaving to join her friend Anna (and Anna's boyfriend) for the evening. She doesn't understand what's happening until the next day when she gets a call that Anna and her boyfriend were in a terrible car accident. The whole back end of the car was sheared off. The back of the car where Kendra would have been.

Dreams plague Kendra-both when she's asleep and when she's awake. They are so bad that she even finds herself on a 72 hour psych hold. Kendra's dreams are not of present day, but of a time long ago. In her dreams, she even speaks Korean.

I can't say much more because I don't want to spoil this book for you. The descriptions are stunning-the surroundings, the action, the clothing, sights, sounds, and smells. Kendra is a complex and sympathetic heroine, even when she occasionally does things that make you shake your head. Hiro, as the hero, is equally as sympathetic and admirable, even when he does things that make you want to shake him.

I loved the sense of history that this book carried with it through almost every page. At times, I wished the plot moved along a tad quicker and several times I decided to put the book down for a day so that I could adequately process what I'd read. While the former might be the reason why I felt this book deserved 4 stars rather than 5, the latter should not be seen as anything other than a masterful telling of a richly detailed story. I did not take breaks from this book because I didn't want to continue. I took breaks so that I could appreciate what I was reading.

My only real criticism of this book is that in many ways it should be billed as paranormal *historical* women's fiction rather than simply paranormal women's fiction. I say this only because if you don't enjoy reading about history and events far in the past, you might not be satisfied by this book. That said, I have never been a fan of historical fiction. Until now.

[Kristine Hall · Rating 4 out of 5]

In Moonlight Dancer, Deb Atwood creates an irresistible mix of romance, mystery, and mysticism which will keep readers turning pages. On a trip to an antique shop, Kendra JinJu MacGregor is drawn to an old Korean doll, only to find purchasing it cost prohibitive. When Kendra can't help returning and spending all her living and college tuition money to purchase the doll, it is only the beginning of the high price she ultimately pays for bringing it into her life. Once Kendra has the doll, which Kendra names NanJu, at home, strange things immediately begin happening, leading Kendra back to the shop for answers from the sexy and mysterious salesman Hiro Peretti. The magnetism between Hiro and Kendra is immediate, and though each has secrets that keep them apart, it is NanJu that creates the biggest barrier. Soon NanJu, who is really the ghost of a sixteenth century Korean shaman, is asserting full control, with a plan to carry Kendra into the ancient world of Korea to soothe and release NanJu’s tortured, restless spirit. Kendra’s actions are not her own, the stakes are high, and having pushed Hiro out of her life, will Kendra be able to survive the past on her own to return to the present?

Moonlight Dancer is told from several viewpoints, including NanJu’s, which is told in a series of not always sequential flashbacks. The writing is beautifully done, and Deb Atwood clearly has a gift for description that is truly lyrical, shining especially in the chapters with NanJu as narrator. Readers will feel transported into ancient Korea and will experience NanJu’s trials and tribulations as if sitting on her shoulder. The inclusion of tidbits of Korean traditions, conditions, and history provided for a very rich reading experience. Kendra’s and Hiro’s chapters were less lyrical but certainly helpful in defining their characters and moving the story forward; however, readers will need to be willing to suspend their disbelief in order to accept how their relationship unfolds and how realistic are the conditions. Kendra never shakes the damsel-in-distress persona, nor Hiro the hero, but perhaps that makes them a perfect match. Moonlight Dancer will appeal to fans of New Adult – though the sex scenes are mild – who enjoy the mysteries of the past woven in with some insta-lust of the present.

This book was reviewed for Readers' Favorite, who provided me a free eBook in exchange for my honest review -- the only kind I give.

[Sreedevi Viswambaran · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Book starts with focus on a love story while I was expecting a Spooky paranormal story. It did take me by surprise. The romance was cliché and the ‘Damsel-in-distress’ heroine sometimes got on to my nerves. But once you cross that cliché part, you will be amused by the vivid and colourful picture of past and Korean set up drawn by the author.

Korean Culture…

The author does a very good job in portraying a vivid picture of Korean Culture and its long forgotten legends. It was interesting to say the least. I would say the soul of the book lies in this past journey and the its finesse. I loved that part and it needs special mention.

Story…

Story starts with an accidental meeting of the protagonists, Hiro, Kendra and the Doll, Who form a bond with each other. The story is almost told in this one sentence “I won’t hurt you. Her, I can’t speak for”. Premonitions did keep up the rhythm and Kendra’s first encounter with the ghost was really spooky. But then it takes a slow pace till the middle of the book.

The entire wedding track and Hiro’s family intro was kind of redundant, especially since the family reaction on Kendra’s hospitalization was missing. it appeared as a sharp edit in that story thread.

Then, the story, the paragraphs, even the words, seem to pick up a new beat in the second part where the Korean set up comes in. It was enchanting with all the rituals and MU initialization. In comparison with this second part of the book, the first romance part fell flat and looked lacklustre.

Characters…

Kendra, The Heroine of the story and her scenes sometimes goes to the category of emotional overdose. Though the background story of being-forced-into-maturity-because-of-her-fathers-death and abandonment-of-family somewhat alleviated that bitterness later, a little of that initial image lingers. The character is weak and lacks growth in the story.

Nanju – is an interesting character and fares well in capturing your interest compared to Kendra. All the while, she come across as a strong willed woman who has a mind of her own.

Hiro – A perfect haunted-by-inner-demons Hero, who finally comes out of the shell and fights his own way to find his destiny. The way author connects his past, his love, his dreams, his guilt and finally his way of removing the chains of past – nicely plotted.

I would go with a 3 for this novel. ***

[Joan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Romance, ancient Korea/Japanese Conflict, Ghosts

This is a complex novel, although intriguing, and it takes a few chapters to understand the dramas being played out. Kendra Jinju MacGregor is a 23 year old Eurasian student at Berkeley, half Korean by her deceased father. After her death, her mother and sister moved to Shanghai, leaving her so she could finish college. Kendra found an antique doll in a store, and at the same time she met the salesman, a Japanese American, Hiro Peretti, who was attractive and intelligent. Immediately he was interested in her, and she went back another day and purchased the doll, even though she couldn’t explain why, especially when it used up her tuition funds and she had to now work on the side. The story gains momentum as Kendra became embroiled in certain violent experiences and it was obvious to her that the doll was protecting her. But why?

In time she found the doll could communicate with her mentally and the doll’s former name when she was alive was NanJu, she having died in the 16th century in Korea during an invasion by the Japanese. NanJu had been in love with a young Korean man, but because she had been selected by the local shaman to also become a shaman, she would dedicate her life to that and could not marry, even though her former fiancé, a military man, always remained in love with her and she with him.

The story is a series of flashbacks between NanJu in her former lifetime and her dramatic experiences then and Kendra, now being slowly absorbed by NanJu. NanJu was destined to be a ghost forever unless Kendra could perform certain actions to release NanJu from her ghostly existence. The scenes are well written, although in the flashbacks, it sometimes gets a little tedious to be so tied up in NanJu’s experiences. By the same token, Kendra is not a physically strong women and yet she is thrown into situations where she has to physically fight her way out, which is confusing to the story line. The plot is complex, fascinating and informative, but perhaps the overall story would be better if it hadn’t been so long. I kept hoping it would end soon but I recommend it as a good book for those who enjoy history, the paranormal and romance all in one novel.

[Yue · Rating 3 out of 5]

First, I want to thank the author for letting me know when this e-book was free on Amazon. You were very kind Mrs Atwood!

I wanted to read this book because I am very interested in everything that relates to Japan. And lately, Korea has caught also my attention (mostly because of manhwas and of this fabulous girl band 2ne1). And this book has a mix of both cultures, how great is that? There are a lot of cultural mentions, which made me learn more about these two exotic countries.

Kendra, the heroine, is half Korean. And Hiro is Japanese. They meet in a store where Hiro works. Kendra instantly feels this attraction for this doll and she buys it. But the doll hides secrets, and our heroine gets possessed by a ghost, which wants her to listen to her story and help her. The whole thing with the ghost and her life was intriguing and interesting, and also, a little sad.

I liked Hiro a lot. He is the kind of romantic interest I am looking for lately: nice, sweet, protective, intelligent, strong, AND Asian! On the other hand, I could not get to like Kendra. First of all, she has this past with a boy who made her 'mistrust' all men. So at first, she tries hard not to get involved with Hiro. But it took him what, a few days to kiss her and immediately take her to bed. In the same day. In the same hour. So where were her supposed issues with men? And it is like we do not get to know her. I wondered a couple of times why did Hiro fall in love with her? Besides her beauty, she was kind of bland.

Recommended to all people who likes ghost, drama and these two amazing places, Japan and Korea.

[Linda Harley · Rating 3 out of 5]

The author did a fantastic job in portraying the 16th century Korean culture. In all honesty I knew nothing about Korean culture and custom, or their belief system, and I feel like this book did an excellent job of portraying that information. From the level of detail in the book (and the set of official references at the end) it is clear that the author spent a considerable amount of time in researching this information. However, she was able to weave the details in seamlessly in her story, so as not to obstruct the telling of the story. I never felt like the author was lecturing about anything, she showed me the culture, and people of those times. For that reason alone, this book was enjoyable.

However, I was annoyed by the naivete of Kendra, the heroin character, in this book. She needlessly put herself in danger several times, and went strictly against her own believe system. This to me felt like an over kill, as if the author was looking for ways to push Kendra of the cliff, and after so many attempts it became repetitive and predictable. There was character growth in Kendra, but some of it felt plastered on and not sincere. Admittedly, I am not a ghost story fan, but can see how for some people this would be enjoyable. There were however, periods where the story dragged, and it was not until half way through the book, before the story really started to pick up.

As for family friendliness, I have to rate it a 1 out of 5, since I would rate it R. There is a lot of mature content in this novel, and is definitely not appropriate for tweens and younger to read.

For more reviews visit www.rosebuz.com

[Bert Edens · Rating 4 out of 5]

I added this to my to-read list because it had a Korean history edge to it. Being fascinated with the culture, I just couldn't resist. Then when the author informed me when the book was available as a free Kindle download, I had to snag it.

Overall, I am glad I did. I was very pleased with the Korean history aspects of the book. After some email exchanges with the author, it appears she has a similar fascination with Korean culture, for her own reasons, and it shows in the research detail, from the period clothing to the language to the intrigue surrounding 16th century Admiral Yi Sun-Shin, Atwood's interest in the culture shines through.

I did find the book predictable, and I'm not really sure why. I suppose my familiarity with the culture helped me see where some of it was going. Perhaps it was a little too standard fare with the damsel in distress and brave Hiro, I mean hero, bent on saving her. I also would have liked to have seen Kendra / Jin-Ju be stronger without always needing Hiro to save her. I was really hoping she could accomplish the climax of the book without his involvement, although I know he had his own demons to exorcise too.

I would also like to have seen more Korean language used in the book, besides the pervasive "Unni / 언니" (what one girl will call an older sister). But again, that's my personal preference and love of the language and culture, not a shortcoming on Atwood's part.

All that said, the book was well-written and well-paced. Should Atwood produce any more novels, I will certainly check them out.

[Marti · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a good read! You know why? One word: Ghosts! I love stories with ghosts in them, that is if the ghosts aren't bloody, murdering creatures out for mayhem and destruction. I like an intelligent ghost story. And this was truly an intelligent ghost story.

Our main character, Kendra, goes into a kind of Asian art warehouse store, and a beautiful Korean doll in traditional costume catches her attention. She's unique, once owned by the only Korean first lady to be assassinated. Her husband's assassination followed. Some history, right?

After buying the doll and being in her home for a day or so, she realizes the hair pick is missing. A few days later, a shoe from the doll is missing, and the doll seems to have moved to another location. She begins to have hallucinations(?) visions(?) dreams (?) where she seems to be a Korean woman from 16th century Korean named NanJu. Nanju looks like that doll!

Meanwhile, the nice young man from the Art warehouse is completely enamored of her.

So we have this lovely love story interwoven throughout the story of the ghost trying to tell her story through Kendra, so it's a story within a story. Boy, did I make that seem complicated. And it isn't, it is merely complex what with the intertwining threads. The story(ies) is (are) simple to follow, and you get so caught up in what's going on and what's going to happen next that you keep turning pages even when you have to go make dinner or clean the house or walk the dog!

I love a book where you can't wait to find out what happens next.

[K.T. · Rating 5 out of 5]

I started reading this novel, not expecting it to be so tightly interwoven in the Korean and Japanese cultures. Very quickly I became immersed in the intricate storyline and had to keep reading until I was finished. I loved the historical aspect, which walked the reader through events and times about which I knew nothing, but had clearly been thoroughly researched, giving me an opportunity to learn. The characters of Hiro and Kendra were both likeable and plausible. I wouldn't usually pick a novel from this genre but am really glad that I did. I appreciated the time that went into the descriptions of both the Korean culture and NanJu's own life, which played a large part of the story and was heavily threaded through Kendra's. Many authors nowadays are guilty of not developing their characters fully, or allowing the reader the chance to 'get to know them' before the action starts. Moonlight Dancer does allow that, the consequence being that the reader feels great affection for the two main characters, as though we have a vested interest in the outcome for them. The storyline flowed quickly and evenly enough to keep me really interested and wanting to read on. Parts of it were quite frightening, but realistic and kept me on the edge of my seat. I enjoyed this novel and can heartily recommend it.

[Debra Chapoton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Moonlight Dancer by Deb Atwood is one of those books you can linger over, enjoying the literary art form of a well-crafted novel, savoring an intricate plot, and even learning about another culture (in this case, 16th century Korean). I would classify this novel in the New Adult genre and rate it PG13, meaning the characters are in their twenties, there are sex scenes (not explicit), but no foul language. The plot revolves around Kendra, a present day woman, and her relationship with NanJu, the spirit of a Korean woman who is trying to right a few terrible wrongs.

I don’t believe in ghosts or Korean gods but that doesn't stop me from relishing a good tale that draws the reader in steadily. The easy suspension of disbelief is due to Atwood’s measured hand at creating a wonderful story. She writes the perfect balance of reality with increasing splashes of fantasy until finally the two worlds she creates overlap in a believable and entertaining experience.

I’ll leave plot summaries to other reviewers. Suffice it to say that I paused often as I read to relish scenes that Atwood crafts with vibrant style. I highlighted phrases that resonated with me and I appreciated the skill she showed in weaving plot, sub-plots, and character growth – all that literary goodness. I found nothing to criticize. 5 stars!

[Kristin Scearce · Rating 5 out of 5]

Disclaimer: I received an e-copy in exchange for an honest review.

Kendra is a college student, trying to make ends meet on her own while the rest of her family is in China. One day, while out shopping with a friend, she is captivated my a beautiful Korean doll, and she just can't get it out of her head. Knowing she's probably making a big mistake, she tells the handsome boy at the store she'll take it, spending her tuition money in the process. Little does she know money will soon be the least of her worries...

Hiro is infatuated with Kendra, and he uses her purchase of the doll as an in to speak with her. However, the closer he gets to her, the more he notices things are not all they seem. Is it her? Could it really be the doll? Or is there something else going on here that can't readily be explained?

This is a great story, and it kept me turning page after page as quickly as I could. The history associated within it is a very interesting one, and it's incorporated so beautifully into the "present" story that it doesn't get distracting or confusing at all. There's romance, mystery, danger, and it all culminates in a fantastic way. You'll just have to read it yourself to find out.

5 stars

[Abby Vandiver · Rating 4 out of 5]

A doll, an ancient war torn country and it's people, and love that lasts throughout the ages.

Atwood tells the story of a woman who becomes possessed by an ancient spirit that has come to her through the purchase of a doll. It's about time travel, ghosts and love. Unfortunately, the romance in the story takes away from the suspenseful, intriguing story that begins the book.

The books starts of with Kendra first discovering that something is off about her doll. Scenes are set up beautifully, with many of them set in moonlight. It was quite engrossing. Then the book, in my opinion, went off kilter to introduce and prolong the description of a love interest, not only in the present time, but in the past. When it finally got back to the story, an alternate communication technique was used to contact the ghost. Why it was needed when the ghost never found it difficult to communicate seemed only included to add drama, but the book was doing so well without it.

A good book, however, and an Author who has a flair for writing and is creative and original with her story.

[Jemima Pett · Rating 3 out of 5]

Moonlight Dancer is full of contradictions. It is fast paced but it takes a long time to get anywhere. The protag, Kendra, wants to sort things out, but gets thoroughly waylaid by Hiro, who is so memorable I couldn’t remember who he was when I picked the book up again. She has dreams which take her off to a far-off place which appears to be in the past, with lots of fighting going on. And her friend’s mother hates her.

Frankly, I got so confused by it I lost interest. There is a very interesting complicated story in here, but Kendra’s relationships and whining bored me. And, as you know, questioning your sanity is not high on my agenda at present. I did speed-read it. I think it’s very YA, and YAs will love it. For a jaded old scifi fan like me, it reminds me of a short story called the Janissaries of Emilion, which I remember for the word janissaries, which was new to me at the time, and the concept of time travel where you have sand in your bed when you wake up.

I suspect some of my readers will like Moonlight Dancer a lot. But then, you’re younger than me!

[Sonya Dodd · Rating 5 out of 5]

This novel is an amazing adventure into a world of fantasy and nightmares tied up in ancient Korean history.

The main character, Kendra, becomes obsessed with a doll she sees in an antique shop and ends up using all her savings to buy the doll. In the shop, she befriends Hiro who will prove to be her saviour.

The doll is not just a doll. As Kendra begins to experience strange dreams about a world she is unfamiliar with, Hiro helps her to understand some of what she is seeing and experiencing.

This tale is beautifully told and so engaging. As a reader I was drawn into the web the doll weaves around Kendra, using her to change the character's past who is represented by the doll.

Kendra becomes ill and drives a wedge between herself and those who care about her as the doll wields its mighty power over her to ensure its own story is played out.

This novel will grip you until the very last page of the epilogue. Brilliant!

[Demelza Carlton · Rating 5 out of 5]

I found the book description for this intriguing and kept coming back to it...in the end, I gave in and bought it. Then I fell asleep. The next morning, it caught my eye again and I tried to buy it again, only to discover I already had. It's one of those stories that just sticks in your mind - or at least it did in mine.

The incredible amount of detailed research that's clear throughout the book was fascinating, without bogging down the story with unnecessary detail or description. I admit the action or rapid conversation sometimes proceeded so fast it confused me on occasion, but it didn't stop me enjoying Moonlight Dancer immensely. It probably helped that I have a particular interest in that period of Japanese history, so their invasion of Korea from a Korean perspective was quite refreshing.

While I didn't buy this book twice, I'm delighted I did buy it, so I can read it again.

[Abigail · Rating 1 out of 5]

Had to move this one to the DNF pile at 16%. It had a lot of potential, but I knew I would just be torturing myself trying to finish this and my mind would constantly be on what book I want to read next, not this one.

The characters were not bad but not good either. The author gave us no background info on anybody or the setting, so as a reader you're stuck trying to figure out where the story is taking place and who exactly these people are. The story jumped around a lot. In all honesty, it read as though the author was imaging a screenplay in her head and trying to quickly get her imaginings down on paper. Unfortunately, for the reader that doesn't translate the same way. We're given no idea where things are taking place, who these characters truly are, etc. This book reads as a bare-bones novel that needs filled in with descriptions, and I couldn't spend any more of my time trying to figure out what the author was seeing instead of enjoying an adventure.

[Nicolas Wilson · Rating 4 out of 5]

This review is written by Nic's wife.

I'll be the first to admit that Korean history and culture is not my strong suite. I know more than some people, but less than many more. So I really enjoyed the perspective and cultures explored in Moonlight Dancer, and will probably check out some of the books referenced as research. For the most part, the characters were solidly written, though there were a few spots where their development felt a little rushed.
The story was entertaining, though the end threw me a bit. I had some peeves with the plotting, but mainly I was jarred by the switches in the narration, from recollection, to letters, to modern day, etc. without the formatting setting any visual cues. At times it was a little difficult to follow whether I was still reading a letter, or whether it was present day again.

Still a fun read.

[Cynthia James · Rating 5 out of 5]

Feisty Kendra, a beautiful half-Korean young woman, falls under the spell of an enchanted doll. Through the doll, along comes NanJu, an ancient ghost with plenty of demons and a dangerous agenda. As NanJu's grip on Kendra intensifies, a handsome and chivalrous man named Hiro comes to her rescue. Of course Kendra isn't sure she needs rescuing. She thinks she will be fine, with her faithful chow-mix pup by her side.

I love Hiro. I want to marry Hiro. Why don't I ever meet men like Hiro?!?

I really enjoyed this book!
One last thing - I don't like romances which end badly. For that we can all just go to the 6 o'clock news. The way Moonlight Dancer wrapped up was very satisfying. I would be delighted if Deb Atwood wrote a sequel!

[Jada Ryker · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dance in the Moonlight

Once Kendra saw the doll in the shop, she had to have it. While attracted to the doll, she is also strangely repelled by it. She spent her next semester’s tuition on the doll.

When strange things happen, Kendra and Hiro, from the shop, join forces in the drama and in a rising attraction.

The book is beautifully written and represents accurate and thorough research. The well-woven story shuttles back and forth between modern day San Francisco and Korea hundreds of years ago. In addition to the entertainment of the story, I also learned about Korean history.

You won’t regret reading this book.

[Ginger Gelsheimer · Rating 5 out of 5]

I wasn't certain whether I would enjoy a story about a ghostly doll, but the description perked my interest so I decided to give it a shot! What a great surprise! Moonlight Dancer is a fast paced story about Kendra who has been chosen to fix a mistake from hundreds of years ago. Haunted by Nanju, she is given this special task and will not be able to rest until she has completed it. Following Kendra and Nanju on their adventure got my heartrate numerous times as I knew doom was near! The prose is fantastic, the story is fun and the characters are believable.

I definitely recommend this book and would read other titles from Deb Atwood.

[Amanda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Moonlight Dancer is a great debut novel for author Deb Atwood. Once I started this book I could not put it down! It seamlessly blends current times with historic Korea. Add in a ghost and what more could you want? Plenty of romance, action, intrigue and plot twists to keep any reader entertained; I would recommend this book to anyone. It is clear that the author put a lot of time, research and love into this story and I hope that everyone gets the opportunity to read it. The cover art is pretty cool too.