She fell deeply in love with him in the early days of her childhood. And in return, she captured his heart the moment he first cast his gaze upon her...
Renowned artist, Mariah Jennings hired to paint a thirteenth-century Scottish castle, gets the shock of her life when she encounters the handsome knight who has dominated a lifetime of portraits and sketchbooks.
But Sir Cailen Braithnoch is no ordinary ghost, nor did he suffer an ordinary death. Magic of the blackest kind cast a pall over the knights centuries ago. As the ghost and his lady seek to unravel the paradox surrounding his death, black arts, otherworldly forces, and a jealous rival conspire against them.
Will those forces tear them apart, or is their love destined to last throughout the ages?
Making an impossible love quite possible after all...
Debbie is an author of sweet paranormal and fantasy romance. She has always had a soft spot for fairy tales, the joy of falling in love, making an impossible love possible, and happily ever after endings. She loves music, art, beautiful sunrises, sunsets, and thunder storms.
When she's not busy conjuring her latest novel, She spends time with the members of her very large and nutty family in the lovely, arid deserts of southern Nevada. She also pursues her interests in family history, mythology, and history.
I've never been one to enjoy ghost stories or any scary books for that matter...but...I. LOVED. THIS. BOOK. It drew me in from page one and I was completely absorbed into the story and could not put it down. The beautiful and talented artist Mariah has found herself always drawing and painting a mysterious knight that she dreamed about when she was young...even going so far as to compare him to every man she dates ...or meets. Now she finds herself staying in an enchanting yet haunted castle in the Highlands of Scotland...assigned to paint several pictures of the property. Little does she know the adventure she is about to begin....and luckily it includes her dashing knight. :) This is beautifully written in rich detail and intrigue. Clean romance at its finest.
A Scottish castle, an artist, a knightly ghost and his retinue, and a curse that holds them all in its thrall. Sounds like just my thing so I was enthused to jump in with a new to me author and narrator for this lively and engaging romance.
Spirit of the Knight opens with painter, Mariah Jennings, coming to the castle to capture several scenes for an art exhibition designed to preserve the past before it crumbles away. Painting medieval castles are something of a specialty since she's been seeing the same knight in her dreams since childhood and can see and interact with ghosts. Imagine her shock when the knight of her dreams turns out to be one of the ghosts of this castle and he acts like no ghost she has ever encounters- none of them do, but then again, as she helps Sir Cailen uncover the truth about himself and fellow knights, they learn that dark deeds happened in the past and are stirring once again.
It has been a while since I enjoyed a 'ghost' romance story. I know some folks can't get past the ghost bit, but I've never minded that type of unrealistic element. I enjoy the mystery of how the author is going to make this huge barrier work out.
Mariah and Cailen were an engaging pair from the moment they met. I thought it was hilarious that she just took his first few appearances matter of factly and left him scratching his head. When, in truth, she thought she was just delusional and seeing things. There was a sweet and fun quality to their relationship and I loved the knightly chivalry and her easy nature. Add in Cailen's knights who like to party like its 1999 and that castle was a happening place.
There was some lag in the middle, but it never actually lost my attention. I just wanted things to hustle of and get to the good parts again.
But, it wasn't all sun and fun. There was dark magic involved and a good mystery. There were a few modern-day villains, too. The reader/listener spots the one right away and I had the urge to kick him several times.
Dawson McBride's narration work was engaging from the beginning. I enjoyed it whether he was voicing Mariah's POV or Cailen's. He caught the tone of the story so well and delivered on the complication of her being a modern woman and Cailen and the others being from the past. I had no trouble seeing the story in my mind. I will definitely be looking out for more of his work.
All in all, this was a delightful story through and through, surprising me with just how much I was enjoying it so the hours clicked past and I didn't want to shut it off. Those who enjoy Highland castle settings, medieval historicals, ghostly romances, and some witchery will be the target audience for this tale.
Mariah Jennings is in for a surprise. An artist who has been commissioned to produce several works for a worldwide tour, she arrives at an old Scottish castle to capture its history and surroundings in oils. Although the locals warn the castle is haunted, she is undaunted about staying there alone. She’s already encountered several ghosts in her life, and what castle worth its salt wouldn’t have at least one?
It turns out her castle has many--including the phantom of a knight who has haunted her dreams since she was a child. Along with his men, Sir Calien Braithnoch, has been haunting his family estate for centuries, after being dispatched through treachery on the battlefield. The moment he spies Mariah, he feels a connection spring between them. It isn’t long before they find themselves falling deeply in love. But it isn’t simply their incompatible states of mortal and ghost that threaten their relationship.
There is something sinister buried deep in the history of the castle. Something that involves Cailen, his men, witchcraft, and several mysterious female ghosts that only Mariah can see. As the mystery grows, danger does too. There is a local villager who has set his sights on Mariah, and he’s willing to do just about anything to convince her they belong together.
Spirit of the Knight, is a tender romance rife with mystery and fascinating historical references. Once again, Debbie Peterson proves she is an enchantress when weaving these elements together. This is the third book in her “Spirit” series, each one focusing on a mortal woman and a ghostly hero from a different era in time. Highly recommended to those who enjoy a ghostly romance with mystery!
I have fallen so in love with Cailen. The romance between Mariah and her knight found a place in my heart. This book is now listed among my favorite books of all time.
Mariah Jennings has been hired to paint a thirteenth century castle for an upcoming showcase. After reaching her new home for the next 6 months, she never expected it to be already occupied by a ghostly knight by the name of Sir Cailen Braithnoch and his entire fiefdom... But what is even stranger then meeting a castle of ghostly knights, is that she has seen Sir Cailen Braithnoch before, ever since childhood.... Sir Cailen Braithnoch has never been so entranced by a woman like he is with Mariah Jennings... And Mariah Jennings has been in love with him since the first time she sketched his form on paper... And after their first encounter their feelings just keep getting stronger. And as time goes by, Mariah discovers that Cailen and his fiefdom aren't your ordinary ghosts... And that dark magic may have been involved.... Will Mariah and Cailen be able to find the clues to figure out the events that transpired when they died? And will they have their Happily Ever After?
I had the privilege of reading an ARC copy of this book and I wasn't disappointed. I truly enjoyed reading this book. The story was well thought out, leaving no holes or leaving any unanswered questions by the end of the book. It was a fun storyline and I enjoyed every minute I read and wished I didn't have to put it down to go to work, run errands, and etc.. I liked every last one of the characters. Mariah is one of my favorite heroines I have read in a book. She never backed down even when her fears played with her emotions, and she saw things through until the end. Cailen was an absolutely dreamy character, and makes me want pack a bag and go visit a thirteenth century castle to find him!!! And I loved how their relationship kept budding from page to page. The knights of Cailen's fiefdom were really fun, and it is shame that only few were able to make their presence really known in the book, because they were a bunch of fun and mischievous boys. But who knows maybe some of them will have their own story told? I think Evan was really written well and the saying goes "never judge a book by its cover". This was really a fun book for me to read. I enjoyed it a lot more, because it didn't have all the swearing and graphic sexual content that many books have nowadays, but I did enjoy the few steamy kiss scenes between our hero and heroine!!
First let me say that I love stories about Knights and Castle’s especially when there are ghost involved. This was a very long winded but interesting story.
I enjoyed meeting Mariah the human artist that had the special ability to capture not only all the details around her but see beyond and connect with ghostly figures. I really enjoyed meeting the Ghost of Sir Cailen Braithnoch and his group of Knights. Their cursed past kept me intrigued throughout the whole story as Cailen and Mariah figure out the mystery behind their deaths and why they were bound only to certain areas. The whole mystery behind how they died and how other ghostly female figures co-existed with each other without either of them knowing it just totally fascinated me. It was also interesting how other passing spirits/ghost that did not go towards the light would stop in at the castle and they’d have parties throughout the night and end right before dawn.
I love the old cliché` of how a spirit/ghost will not move on until a wrong is made right or they seek some kind of forgiveness from their loved ones. Add some sorcery and Wiccan witchcraft to the story and the story becomes spell bounding. The added spells and curses from the evil hag and ancestors added to the visionary scenes making me feel as if I was literally there witnessing the whole thing and apart of the ritual itself – it actually gave me chills.
The sweet love connection between Mariah and Cailen built up slowly – I give this one star for heat level for there is only kissing throughout the whole book. The chemistry between all the characters was well built, the Knight’s bantering between each other was very humorous at times and I could clearly feel their dedication towards each other.
Overall I did enjoy this historical ghost story. It was a little long but the happy ever after of Sir Cailen curse being lifted and becoming mortal again, which in returned allowed him to be with Mariah and live in her world made the story so worth it. The ending totally brought a smile to my face.
I look forward to reading more of this author’s work. Great Ghost Story!
**Copy provided by Author for a Fair and Honest Review**
I received this book from the author and Paranormal Romance & Authors that Rock for an honest review.
Mariah has been commissioned to paint for a project Gallery of Castles, on her last stop Laird MacNaughton's castle, she finds she isn't alone. The castle is inhabited by a group of knights. One of thise knights Sir Cailen is the man from her childhood dreams. Mariah has been drawing him since a young child. Cailen begins falling in love with Mariah, and Mariah has been in love with him most of her life. There is more the romance going on at the castle. other ghosts that the knights can't see, Evan from town is up to something. Can Mariah solve the mystery before something bad happens?
I enjoyed the storyline. There is a lot going on at the castle, other ghosts, why the group of knights are all stuck there as ghosts. How it all ties together. Debbie does a wonderful job of keeping the story moving and solving all the mysteries without missing a beat. I loved the romance between Cailen and Mariah, it moves slowly along, you can feel as they become closer and their feelings grow stronger.
If you love paranormal/ romance this is a fantastic read.
Talk about a book that keeps you guessing! Spirit of the Knight is definitely not a book for the dimwitted. There are more threads to this story than a Persian rug. Not only is there a castle with one ghost knight, there is a whole garrison and they evidently like to party like Prince in the nineties. Who knew there was a party circuit in the afterlife? There is obviously a bad guy, I mean it says so right in the blurb, but is there just one?? Ah ha! Could be, or maybe not. It also says Cailen is no ordinary ghost, I mean, these guys have ghost food and can SNOG!! Entire review posted at http://ragesexandteddybears.blogspot....
I've always believed in fate and Cailen and Mariah were certainly fated to be together. I love it when two people from two totally different backgrounds (and worlds really) can see past all of the differences and challenges to find a way to be together. I have seen it in my own life! I was Cailen and Mariah's biggest fans and rode the roller coaster of both setbacks and despair and hope and encouragement with them! I will have no problem reading this book over and over. Plus I loved that there was a character named Alison!
I dont want to talk too much about the content of the book as I dont want to give any spoilers but I will say that reading the book was like watching a movie. The author is so descriptive, I imagined the handsome knights and pretty Scottish maidens living out their long days in the medieval castles. Such gallantry and honor; characteristics I wish I saw more of today in real life! I couldnt give it any less than 5 stars!
I received this book as a gift and I absolutely loved it! I was riveted from page one and read half the book in one sitting. The author has a way of descriping situations and surrounds that make you feel as though you are there. Great story line and well researched. I definately recommend this book and l will be ordering other books by Debbie Peterson for myself and as gifts to others.
I loved it! The Scottish setting was so fascinating and her characters were wonderful and so well described. It was crazy how believable the spirits were and how the author drew me in so quickly. I couldn't stop reading. I had to get everything worked out. It's a book I will look for in print form to have in hand to read again.
I just loved this book. Cailen was a man you enjoyed reading about. I love the way Debbie Peterson writes her characters and dialogue.. She keeps you laughing crying and jumping for joy..I hate when her books end..Keep them coming..
Oh my! Spirit of the Knight was a delightfully wonderful surprise. It had been ages since I read a ghostly romance. Add in Scottish knights? Oh yes, I was in!
The Gist: Mariah has been tasked with painting a castle for an art exhibit. When she arrives she finds it's inhabited...by a herd of 700+ year old ghostly Scottish knights. Including one that she's somehow been sketching since she was a child.
I loved Mariah and Cailen. They're both wonderful. She's incredibly talented and kind hearted. Dedicated and open minded. And Cailen. He's everything you could want in a hero. He's a good man. Honorable and charming.
Their romance was so sweet. They're fated. Pure and simple. These two were meant for each other. I loved seeing them get to know each other. Offer support in different ways. It's kept fairly PG with just some creative kissing (because ghost/human thing happening) but it was romantic and lovely. And how it worked out in the end...perfect.
There's some intrigue along the way, too. How 50 knights became trapped in a castle for centuries along with mysterious female ghosts they couldn't see. Was dark magic involved? It was curious and interesting and kept me guessing as to how things went down centuries ago and how things would work themselves out in the present day.
All in all, Spirit of the Knight was a lovely give-you-all-the-feels romance that warmed the heart. I'd love to see the other knights finding their romances, too.
When you read a lot of books it easy to get a preconceived notion about the plot, characters, etc. This book surprised me on a few levels.
The book does take place in a castle in Scotland. The book does have several interesting knights and an assortment of ghosts. The book does have a romance, some things are predictable, but it has it's own spin on a medieval/contemporary romantic ghost story.
Mariah visits a castle in Scotland to paint it and preserve it in memory as part of an exhibit. She expects there to be ghosts. She does not expect one to be the Knight she has painted and drawn since she was a little girl. It would appear that fate brought her to this particular time and place.
Along with Sir Cailen are an assortment of knights who all have a great love of fun, loyalty, and wonderful personalities. You can't help but love them all and wish that you knew them in person, instead of just in the pages of a book.
This is a very fun romance between a mortal and a ghost. Their love and attraction has chemistry. There is successful kissing between the two. (Who would have thought that possible?) There are a few exceptions to the mortal/ghost realm in this book that is an intrinsic part of the plot. Debbie Peterson explains it and makes it seem plausible, if you believe in ghosts. :)
This book is clean! There is a little bit of violence, witchcraft, and kissing.
First, my disclosure: Generally, I do not like ghost stories and this is a ghost story. I do not know exactly how I came to choose this. However, I really did "research" this book on Goodreads and Amazon before I bought it. I must have known it was a paranormal story. My only guess is that it must have said something about time travel (or some variation) or Scotland or something else intriguing to make me disregard the paranormal angle??
The plot line kept me reading and reading to see how it turned out. There were distractions like the incorporal nature of Cailen and the convenient resolutions at the end. It just did not ring true that Calien can sit on a bed, kiss or touch Mariah, open doors, light torches and walk on surfaces (not float above) but he cannot hug her very tightly or she slides through him? That doesn't add up. Either he is transparent and therfore beyond mortal touch or he is not--you cannot have it both ways and be entirely believable or credible even in a fictional sense. At the end, the loose ends were just wrapped up so tidily that I was disappointed.
Overal this was a nice story and a clean story. I just had to overlook a few things I considered flaws.
This book was amazingly good. You know how people say they couldn't put a book down? Well I shooed away husband, kids and cats until I had finished! I have already nominated her for some awards and I look forward to reading other 'clean' books from this author. Well done Ms. Peterson!
This is not the typical book that I would read, I like reading crime, mystery, suspense with a little paranormal but not usually romance. This book was recommended to me by a friend. I trust their opinion so I went ahead and read it. To my surprise it was a really really good book.
This book was compelling. I did not realize it would have a mystery within it's pages. It was a sweet happily ever after just the kind of endings I love.
Um, yeah. Not my kind of story. I really didn't care for it. The writing was smooth and fluid and I even appreciated the heroine at the beginning, but I just really couldn't get into it.
SPIRIT OF THE KNIGHT is a stand-alone story of romance between a modern woman and a 13th century ghost of a knight. This is a clean romance that is suitable for most ears, but it does include witches, sorcery, and a bit of passionate kissing.
When I was a young girl there was a show on TV called THE GHOST AND MRS. MUIR. I loved that show and wanted to be swept off my feet by a dashing otherworldly man. I haven’t thought of the Captain in years; yes, this story brought that happy, wonderful, innocent series back to mind.
Just like the old TV show, this story is romantic, light-hearted, and charming. Cailen and his band of knights would be welcome in any woman’s home or heart.
Not only is this a sweet and ghostly romance, but it is a suspense-filled race for justice.
My only frustration was hanging pronouns. This is a personal pet peeve in real life, too. I need to know to which “he” each one is referring.
In looking up the rest of the information for this blog post, I found that Ms. Peterson has written two other “Spirit” books. I will be wishing for them on audiobook as soon as possible!
Narration: Dawson McBride did a beautiful job narrating this story. I loved how his tone changed from campfire ghost story at the beginning to supernatural romance to suspense romance and somehow managed to mix the three in the end – all while managing to maintain multiple voices.
Note: While I received this book as a gifted audiobook copy via Audiobookworm Promotions' Adopt-an-Audiobook, my opinions are my own and are given freely.
Title: SPIRIT OF THE KNIGHT Series: N/A Category /Genre: Paranormal Romance Recommended for: 14+ (witchcraft & passionate kisses) Listenability: OK for most ears Received from: Debbie Peterson (as an Audible gifted copy)
I don’t read many paranormal romances and even fewer with historical elements so this book was a bit out of my comfort zone. I’m really glad I took the plunge and tried something new. The creativity involved in the book was remarkable.
Mariah Jennings is a painter whose latest commission takes her to a virtually abandoned castle in the Scottish highlands. OMG, I was so envious. I’ve always wanted to visit Scotland and Brigadoon was my favorite musical. Heather in the highlands? Lovely. So Mariah heads to the castle and encounters a bunch of ghosts. Now, I might be freaked, but Mariah takes it all in stride. Turns out she might have done this before.
Even when she encounters the knight she’s seen in her dreams for most of her life, she doesn’t freak out. Now, who hasn’t fantasized about their own knight? Sir Cailen Braithnoch has ‘lived’ within the grounds of the castle for hundreds of years with no hope of reprieve. He and his men are, they believe, destined to live in a purgatory of sorts. When he meets Mariah, he recognizes a kindred spirit and he allows himself the hope that maybe they’ll be together one day.
As I’ve said, this is a creative book with lots of different elements and moving parts. It is also a long book but it works. Overall, I enjoyed the book and am glad I listened to it. Almost enough to head to Scotland to find my own Cailen.
Dawson McBride is a great narrator. I haven’t listened to one of his books before but I’d be willing to again in the future. His Scottish brogue worked for me and I thought he did a good job with all the characters. Overall, a great audiobook.
Mariah is commisioned to paint a Scottish castle is has seen ghosts before but none as clearly or that speak to her as Cailin does. but to her shock, she has been painting him since she was a teen and thought he was just from her dreams. He is taken by her as well and they fall in love though. He thinks there could be a chance since he has a friend that is a ghost and has a human lover but he cannot travel out of his circle. So once her job is done she will have to leave and leave him behind, unless she finds out why he seems to be cursed and why another man is ting to bespell her as well.
There is a lot going on in this book. It is so well written it nearly casts a spell over you as you read or listen... wanting to find out more. I fell in love with Cailin and rooted for him and Mariah from the beginning. Dawson McBride has such a sexy Scottish brogue that he really brought the characters to life. I was glued to my seat listening to this story and couldn't get enough! There is magic, mischief and a beautiful romance that can stand the test of eternity! mix that with the sexy brogue and what more could you want!
I'm not normally a fan of paranormal but this book captivated me from the start. Mariah is a well known artist, who has been commissioned to paint an ancient Scottish castle. Imagine her surprise when she encounters a ghost who looks exactly like the image that she has been painting since early childhood. Mariah meets Sir Cailen Braithnoch and his knights and is fascinated by the fact that she can converse with everyone. But as the weeks go by and feelings grow between Mariah and Cailen, she begins to wonder if there is some dark magic that confines the knights to the castle...and what of the female ghosts that keeps appearing but whom the knights are unable to see? Romance, suspense and some Scotts history, plus a great performance by one of my fave narrators, equals a book that will keep you engrossed to the end. Now I have to download some more of this author's work!! I voluntarily accepted a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Spirit of the Knight is my first introduction to Debbie Peterson's writing. It is a fun and entertaining read, involving ghosts, curses, castles, and romance. Mariah is an artist who is working on the visual history of an old castle in Scotland. I loved Spirit of the Knight. I had the pleasure of listening the audio version of it and thought the narrator, Dawson McBride, did a great job portraying the story. His voice was perfect to bring the tale to life. I loved the spooky setting of a Scottish castle. It made the mystery and suspense so much more intriguing. I am giving Spirit of the Knight four stars. I would love to read more by this author in the future. I believe many readers who enjoy paranormal romances would love this one. Great book! I received the audio version of this book from the publisher. This review is 100% my own honest opinion.
CENTRAL FEMALE CHARACTER: Mariah Jennings; Artist extraordinaire; Able to see ghosts
CENTRAL MALE CHARACTER: Sir Cailen Braithnoch; Leader of 13th century knights.
SYNOPSIS: She had 6 months to complete paintings of the castle for a worldwide exhibit. She had drawn pictures of him since she was a little girl but she never knew who he was.
WHAT I LIKED: Her meeting his partying friends.
WHAT I DID NOT LIKE: Took too long to find out how Evan was directly connected to the mystery. For much of the book he sneaked around.
RATING: (5) stars. If you like a nice CLEAN Paranormal Mystery, you will like this book.
This story is haunting at times, but you grow to love the ghost Cailan. Each of the characters are well-written and bring meaning and depth to the story. I love listening to Dawson McBride as the reader. He always does an excellent job. I also how the author took the time to explain the painting process of such difficult pieces. The process is written across the story of the book, but it is all there. I don't like the aspect of witchcraft in this story, but it is important as why all 53 men were trapped at one time on earth. The evil that Evan purported was egged on by another ghost, his distant aunt Elspeth who is the one who cast the incomplete spell. The story falls together with the intense climax and frightening ending.
A true romance with a little bit of mystery and paranormal magic set in a castle in Scotland. I love the MC, Mariah. She is a talented, strong woman that isn't deterred by a few ghosts in the castle. And Cailen is the gentleman Scot that you can't help but fall in love with. It is a beautifully told romance with so much more. I listened to this one on audible (even though I could have gotten the book for free through Kindle Unlimited,) and I am so glad I did. The narrator has a wonderful Scottish accent. I have already purchased 2 more of Debbie Peterson' books.