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Phantom Lovers #1
Gatekeeper
Evil shadow ghosts known as soul collectors haunted her childhood nightmares, so Nashville PD criminal profiler Jillian Drew did everything possible to turn her back on her psychic abilities. But now her eccentric sister has been abducted and nothing in her criminology background has prepared Jillian for that tragedy - or for Benton Smith, the powerful and devastatingly attractive ghost of a Civil War officer and the only witness to Amy's abduction. Fearful of the brazen specter, Jillian nevertheless needs him. Benton is her Gatekeeper, a spirit sworn to protect her from the soul collectors, who attack each time she unleashes her long-dormant psychic senses in an attempt to find her sister. Yet she must somehow keep the devilishly seductive spirit at arm's length, for Benton's soul is at stake - and succumbing to his desires could have dangerous consequences for them both.
232 pages, Paperback
First published February 16, 2008
6 people are currently reading
279 people want to read
About the author
Debra Glass
38 books101 followersGrowing up in the south where the air is thick with stories steeped in legend and truth, Debra came by her love of romance novels honestly. Well…sort of. At an early age, she pilfered from her grandmother’s extensive library and has been a fan of the genre since.
A full time freelance writer, Debra especially enjoys combining history, mystery and a touch of taboo to weave stories with unforgettable, haunted heroes.
She lives in Alabama with her sexy real life hero, a couple of smart-aleck ghosts and a diabolical black cat.
Email: DebraLGlass@gmail.com
A full time freelance writer, Debra especially enjoys combining history, mystery and a touch of taboo to weave stories with unforgettable, haunted heroes.
She lives in Alabama with her sexy real life hero, a couple of smart-aleck ghosts and a diabolical black cat.
Email: DebraLGlass@gmail.com
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
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August 14, 2011I'm electing not to rate "Gatekeeper" because I feel any star rating would mislead readers. This is one of Glass's earliest published works and the style and quality reflect that.
At the same time ... darn ... What a great story!
It is tough to find good Civil War fiction. Too many efforts start out honestly and morph into apologia for slavery and/or institutionalized racism and all the other controversial "issues" surrounding the Seccessionist cause and the efforts of pro-Secession states to create their own nation. Glass is a writer genuinely capable of "looking the Devil in the eye" and recognizing the era for what it was, both the glamour and the horror. Her Civil War characters are not squeaky-clean, politically correct types, nor are they grotesque. They are real people with positive and negative traits and they do not conform to stereotypes.
"Gatekeeper" combined several favorite genres of mine: paranormal + Civil War + erotic romance = a fascinating, sexy, and very readable supernatural thriller. Glass touches on several interesting themes, including the value of historical preservation (a very worthwhile and meaningful endaevor.)
Glass does good ghosts, especially constructing tension leading up to ghostly visits, manifestations, and other events. I was well and truly creeped out by a scene where Jillian first begins encountering Benton, the ghost of a dashing Confederate general. She doesn't see him, or really sense him; instead, she hears his footfall, including the jingling of spurs. My hair stood up on end because this is such a realistic example of how ghosts (and/or "explained phenomena") present themselves. You hear something, smell something, maybe sense something, and it's creepy in the sense you've no clue what's happening.
Glass also created interesting conflict in this story concerning unfinished business and unresolved issues people may endure with their past lives. She also drew attention to a prominent Civil War casualty too often unnoted, the loss of hopes for love. The villain/villainess in this story is as much a victim as anyone else of wartime propaganda and wartime hardship. The ambiguity of Benton's history with the woman he loved in his human life left me hard-pressed to pick a "side" in their struggle.
I would have found "Gatekeeper" much more enjoyable if some of the supernatural issues were touched upon and explained a little bit better. Not pages and pages of "shop talk," but just a bit more revelation and clarity would have been excellent. The mystery stalkers weren't all that mysterious (I guessed the character's involvement from the moment the character was introduced.) I also would have liked deeper character development of Jillian; I didn't feel I knew her all that well, possibly because she spent so much time hunting up info on her supernatural lover.
The romance and erotica between Jillian and Benton is fabulous and exciting. Glass never disappoints on that score. "Gatekeeper" is a great read for Glass fans.
At the same time ... darn ... What a great story!
It is tough to find good Civil War fiction. Too many efforts start out honestly and morph into apologia for slavery and/or institutionalized racism and all the other controversial "issues" surrounding the Seccessionist cause and the efforts of pro-Secession states to create their own nation. Glass is a writer genuinely capable of "looking the Devil in the eye" and recognizing the era for what it was, both the glamour and the horror. Her Civil War characters are not squeaky-clean, politically correct types, nor are they grotesque. They are real people with positive and negative traits and they do not conform to stereotypes.
"Gatekeeper" combined several favorite genres of mine: paranormal + Civil War + erotic romance = a fascinating, sexy, and very readable supernatural thriller. Glass touches on several interesting themes, including the value of historical preservation (a very worthwhile and meaningful endaevor.)
Glass does good ghosts, especially constructing tension leading up to ghostly visits, manifestations, and other events. I was well and truly creeped out by a scene where Jillian first begins encountering Benton, the ghost of a dashing Confederate general. She doesn't see him, or really sense him; instead, she hears his footfall, including the jingling of spurs. My hair stood up on end because this is such a realistic example of how ghosts (and/or "explained phenomena") present themselves. You hear something, smell something, maybe sense something, and it's creepy in the sense you've no clue what's happening.
Glass also created interesting conflict in this story concerning unfinished business and unresolved issues people may endure with their past lives. She also drew attention to a prominent Civil War casualty too often unnoted, the loss of hopes for love. The villain/villainess in this story is as much a victim as anyone else of wartime propaganda and wartime hardship. The ambiguity of Benton's history with the woman he loved in his human life left me hard-pressed to pick a "side" in their struggle.
I would have found "Gatekeeper" much more enjoyable if some of the supernatural issues were touched upon and explained a little bit better. Not pages and pages of "shop talk," but just a bit more revelation and clarity would have been excellent. The mystery stalkers weren't all that mysterious (I guessed the character's involvement from the moment the character was introduced.) I also would have liked deeper character development of Jillian; I didn't feel I knew her all that well, possibly because she spent so much time hunting up info on her supernatural lover.
The romance and erotica between Jillian and Benton is fabulous and exciting. Glass never disappoints on that score. "Gatekeeper" is a great read for Glass fans.
May 17, 2015
Ok kind of good imaginative 3.5 star story. Short review will be live on my blog in June 2015
May 2, 2013
I give this a 3.5
This was the best ghost romance book I've read so far. Except I would have liked it better as pure erotica. The HEA ending seemed forced and didn't work for me. I won't give it away though.
So Jillian a police profiler with psychic abilities falls in love the earthbound ghost of a Confederate general. Together they must help find Jillian's psychic sister who was kidnapped.
All the characters were well developed with distinct personalities, voices, and pasts. I loved Benton! I could fall in love with a Civil War ghost any day. Unfortunately, I didn't understand the whole Gatekeeper aspect to the book. Benton is Jillian's Gatekeeper and is supposed to keep her safe, but other than that I was confused. The conclusion of the mystery might blow some readers minds.
If you are not into the supernatural this isn't the romance for you. But I thought overall it was well done.
This was the best ghost romance book I've read so far. Except I would have liked it better as pure erotica. The HEA ending seemed forced and didn't work for me. I won't give it away though.
So Jillian a police profiler with psychic abilities falls in love the earthbound ghost of a Confederate general. Together they must help find Jillian's psychic sister who was kidnapped.
All the characters were well developed with distinct personalities, voices, and pasts. I loved Benton! I could fall in love with a Civil War ghost any day. Unfortunately, I didn't understand the whole Gatekeeper aspect to the book. Benton is Jillian's Gatekeeper and is supposed to keep her safe, but other than that I was confused. The conclusion of the mystery might blow some readers minds.
If you are not into the supernatural this isn't the romance for you. But I thought overall it was well done.
February 22, 2012
This was a good book, an easy read for sure. It had a good mystery to it that I wasn't able to figure out right away but I did figure out before the big reveal. The main character and her sister are both psychic and one is very open with her gifts and uses it every day while the other is shut off and scared of the abilities she has. The story was a pretty cut and dry suspense. The only thing a little unusual about it would be the main love interest isn't by any means conventional. I did enjoy this book and the writing style was pretty good. I have to say it has alot of adult content and its pretty descriptive every time it happens. So if you don't like sex in your story this book isn't for you. Otherwise it doesn't detract from the story and makes the love story more believable.
June 5, 2009
Debra is a member of Heart of Dixie Romance Writers. I joined HOD last month at their Readers Appreciation luncheon. I picked up this book while I was there. It was a great read. It made me want to do some research on the Civil War battles fought in my 'now' hometown. Especially the soliders fight in those battles. This is a great love story about a Ghost. I enjoyed it very much. It was a lot of fun to read about places in Nashville I had been to and those I should definitely check out. Read it. Enjoy it.
October 29, 2015
Entertaining, is what I'd have to say about this book. There are things that were left completely unclear, and the heroine acted unbearably stupid a lot of the time, but the interesting idea of a ghost lover made this book worth a read. Granted he was a confederate, and don't ask me why there are no romances about Yankee soldiers, but plenty about confederates... because I don't get it. As long as you're able to ignore that, you'll do fine.
September 11, 2021
3 1/2 - 4 stars. I really liked the twist of the hero being a ghost (trust me, it works).
A good erotic romance has both hot love scenes and a good story with developed characters. This book has both.
Granted, there were some holes in the backstory for both leads but overall a good read.
I'm looking forward to reading Amy's story next.
A good erotic romance has both hot love scenes and a good story with developed characters. This book has both.
Granted, there were some holes in the backstory for both leads but overall a good read.
I'm looking forward to reading Amy's story next.
August 14, 2012
I really enjoyed this novel!!!! Ms. Glass really has a wonderful imagination!!!! I have already purchased books 2 and 3!!!!! I also fell in love with Benton!!!!! This novel is for anyone who is into paranormal (beyond vamps and shifters) and romance lovers. It also has that element of mystery that is quite enjoyable as well.
July 26, 2013
My peeve with this story is the heroine kept thinking "This can't be happening" or "I shouldn't let this happen" even if it's like the 10th time it has happened. Clearly it is happening and I wish she'd stop saying that because it seemed stupid. But besides that complaint, I really enjoyed this ghost love story.
February 26, 2012
I got to 44% and decided I just didn't care enough about any one in the book to continue. The heroine seemed whiny and the constant need to mention the brand names she wore, drove, or slept under made her seem pretentious. It just got repetitive and boring, so I gave up.
July 28, 2012
Closer to a 3.5 than a 3, not a bad book, well written but there were a few parts that threw me out of the story.
I'd try another one from the author, not sure if I'd pick up the next in this series however.
I'd try another one from the author, not sure if I'd pick up the next in this series however.
February 20, 2012
I enjoy reading this book and look forward to the next one in the series.
February 23, 2012
ok this is erotica however, if you ignore the graphic sex the story is actually quite good and the characters are well developed, it is one that actually has something going for it not just sex
May 26, 2012
Unexpected. Didn't know what I was getting into. Once I got past the surprise of what I was reading, the story line is pretty good. Loved the ending.
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews