Haunted by Debra Glass

Published by Champagne Books.

(My review copy came from Ms. Glass herself. Thank you, Debra!)

In Debra Glass’ YA debut Haunted, Seventeen-year old Wren has had a hard last few years. Involved in a car wreck that killed her best friend Kira, Wren nearly died. Well, okay she was technically dead. She came back with the ability to see the dead. She also had a really ugly scar that makes her the pariah of the school. So her parents do the only thing they can to help: they uproot the family, and move to Columbia, Tennesee, purchasing the spacious Polk House (AKA Ransom’s Run)—the one that Crazy old lady Polk died in. Little does Wren know the house is haunted, by the ghost of Jeremiah Ransom, who as a young man joined up with the Confederate army during the war, only to come home wounded, and die, in Wren’s own bedroom. Well, okay, at the time, it was his bedroom. Are they destined for each other? hmmmm…..
Wren’s already got enough to worry about, what with starting a new school, and trying to fit and make friends, and dodge the creepy Goth chick that seems after her. But she can’t ignore the fact that she has fallen for Jerimiah, despite the unfortunate fact that he’s a ghost. How is she to cope? Will she end up like crazy ole Ms. Polk, or will be able to snap out of it, do the right thing, and send Jeremiah where he belongs. Or will creepy ole Briar force the decision upon her, and harm her in the process? You’ll have to read to find out. I enjoyed this very much, and in fact, was in tears in several places. That’s usually a good sign, in my book. 🙂 I’m a fan (and friend) of Debra’s so I’d give everything she does 5 stars… and for her first YA effort this too deserves them, I think. 🙂 I must say I couldn’t figure out how it was going to end, and there’s a neat little twist in the epilogue I wasn’t expecting, which gives a hint for a possible sequel? Maybe….maybe.

Debra’s spent years involved with the Shoals Ghost Walk in Florence, Alabama, so she knows a thing or two about ghosts, and that research shows well in Haunted.

Best known for her steamy romances Debra branched out into teen fiction with Haunted and the result is charming. Ms. Glass weaves a poignant tale of teen love, with all the earmarks one comes to expect from her works—lots of cool tidbits about the Civil War are threaded herein. But don’t tell the kids that. 😉 I think fans of Supernatural and Meg Cabot’s Mediator series will thoroughly enjoy Haunted. If you’d like to check it out, you can find this book in Print and ebook via Champagne Books (in ebook and print), Amazon for Kindle and in print, and at AllRomanceBooks.

Want to know more about the story behind Jeremiah Ransom? Check out Debra’s essay on her site: Ghostly Ever After.