
Tracey S. (
Aerlinn) wrote on 4/27/2009...
I got suckered into trying this by the premise of a haunted production of Hamlet. But ... This book read like a Three Stooges film. There were moronic ghosts. There was idiotic behavior, there were prat falls, there was screaming and running and fainting. There were random acts of violence played for laughs. There was a sword pole vault. I'm a little stunned there were no kilt wardrobe malfunctions, but then I stopped reading around page 60, so anything's possible.
It was evident from constant references that the writer flatters herself that anyone picking up this book will have read whatever others she has written. I didn't know she'd written any, haven't read them - and have no desire to ever do so. This book is an object lesson in how *not* to continue a series: don't assume your reader knows who all the players are. Don't assume your reader knows which are dead and which are not. Don't blurt out the key points to your other books' endings, because that takes away a great deal of the motivation to read them if one hasn't.
Even aside from the above, the characters were unlikeable (I'm expected to accept that the "heroine" will continue to nurse a passion for a moron who has shown himself to be outrageously rude? Welcome to the 21st century...?). They were alternately insecure, smug, or simply annoying, and, in the case of the ghosts, caricatures. (Now that I've mentioned the Stooges, one of the ghosts is, no offence to the human, very like Moe.) The undead were horrendous parodies of characters the writer read about somewhere else, and the living characters... Evidently the ghosts' primary reason for continued existence is to play matchmaker. If these mortals couldn't find mates for themselves, they would do far better to refrain from breeding.
I adore Diana Gabaldon; she created a wonderful, wonderful series - but she has a great deal to answer for in the massive amounts of trash written to grab onto her coattails.

(
Guinan) wrote on 10/12/2006...
Not my favorite of Lyn Kurlands books but definitely still a good read. I think My problem has more to do with part of the resolution of the story, which I won't reveal and spoil the story. Many characters from other stories make brief appearances, including Jamie, my absolute favorite Highlander.
Even if you've never picked up a Lyn Kurland novel you will not be lost as she weaves just enough of previous events to bring you up to speed but not so much as to bore her regular readers.
If you like paranormal romance with a touch of humor, and a smidge of time travel this and her other novels are definitely for you.

Sandra S. (
Doss) wrote on 8/20/2006...
It started out really slow so I had some trouble getting into it. But I'm glad I continued. I cried a lot and smiled a lot.
A new selection. The story of an 800 year old ghost and the modern woman who turns his plans for a peaceful afterlife upside down.
Enter, Victoria McKinnon, director of plays, et cetera.
Connor MacDougal has no intention of relinquishing his authority over Thorpewold Castle to anyone, let alone a McKinnon, but when he catches a glimpse of the beautiful intruder, suddenly he can't help but wonder why it's taken eight hundred years into his afterlife to find the love of a lifetime.

Karen L. wrote on 7/27/2006...
Best book yet! Can't wait to read more about the McKinnon family

Shelly G. (
BondGirl) wrote on 6/11/2006...
Once again, another great read from Lynn Kurland. I would definitely recommend this book as well as the author.
Another great book by Lynn Kurland! It wasn't my absolute favorite, but it was very good- I savored each chapter!
I just love these stories...this one was especially intriguing. The love story was just beautiful and the characters so well developed. A great read.

Pat H. (
Patois) wrote on 5/20/2006...
Many of the characters who have played major roles in her last few books return in this story. And Shakespeare has a cameo appearance as well!
Delightful and so sweet, just like all her novels. Another winner.