Miles

The House of Bannerman #1

by Melissa R.L. Simonin

Nineteen year olds Anika Riley and Miles Bannerman have been best friends since the day she fell through the rotten cellar doors and into the abandoned House of Bannerman castle-like estate. They belong together and would stay together... if that was an option.But Miles isn’t like other guys. He’s stuck in semi-transparent mode, unable to leave his family home. Miles doesn’t believe evidence exists to clear his name of the 144 year old false accusation that has him trapped, but an answered prayer convinces Anika that it does.Anika learns of a plot to take control of the estate from the current trustee and it’s a race to prove her friend innocent before she’s banned from the estate and his last hope of ever being set free is destroyed.The price Anika must pay in order to free Miles is higher than she can bear, but to leave him trapped and alone is unthinkable. She must make a choice. Her decision results in a chain reaction that no one could have foreseen, but there’s no going back… and nothing will ever be the same again.

297 pages, Paperback

First published November 7, 2014

Reviews

[Bridget Hollister]

I thought the story had great potential but felt the ghost had too many "abilities" such as using a computer, playing video games, writing a letter, etc. I also wished that Anika was a stronger character, especially at the end which I thought got very mushy.

I started the second book but had to put it down because it started off with the lovey, mushy, can't be without you for a second...After a break, maybe I'll be able to pick it up again.

[Linda Maples]

Great Read

Love this story clean and a fun read with a HEA ending. Now it’s on to the next adventure in Book 2

[Kevin]

to-read

[Meghan]

to-read

[C.M.]

I'm not usually a fan of ghost stories, but this one was wonderful.

Miles has been trapped on the Bannerman estate for over 144 years, unseen and unheard, left to watch silently as his family grieves and time moves on, wondering why he was left in this state. Everyone says that he attacked his brother in a jealous rage over a girl they both loved, and both brothers died in the crossfire. Miles is the only one who knows the truth, but he has never been able to tell a soul. Until now.

Anika Riley is nearly killed when she wanders onto the Bannerman estate in each of her runaway dog. The incident leads to elderly Polly Bannerman giving her the position of caretaker for the estate, in hopes in can be fixed up well enough that the relative plotting to take the estate from her will not be able to, while she searches desperately for her missing grandson and only remaining heir.

When Anika and Miles stumble across each other, Miles receives the shock of his life. She can see him! Anika believes his innocence, but how do they prove it? A lot of evidence can be lost in 144 years.

Read the rest of this review and ratings here on my blog: https://embersreviews.wordpress.com/2...

[Caroline Baisley]

Excellent Tear Jerker!

Really good mystery. Wonderful romance that makes more sense than any I've read in a long while. And the sad part really makes you cry even though you know what's coming. The weakest part of the book is Anika's family situation but in that it sets the stage for the mystery and romance, I'm quite willing to forgive it's relatively minor deficits. The book is engrossing, engaging and hard to put down. A must read from a reader who bestows that honor sparingly!

[Marianne]

A disappointing read.

This book started out really good and became more and more contrived. It seemed the author tried it make it all flow together by creating absurd situations and incidents. Not a well crafted story and not in the least bit believable.

[HELEN A. RITTENHOUSE]

Miles

The story Had me from the very beginning and held me to the end. Love all the history and mystery. Well done!