Auctioneers claim that they saw the face of Father Henry Garnet, a priest who was executed for treason over the Gunpowder Plot in 1606, could be seen peering from the cover of this rare and macabre book. The book, called A True and Perfect Relation of the Whole Proceedings Against the Late Most Barbarous Traitors, Garnet, a Jesuit and his Confederates, was published in 1606 just after his execution. Some claim that the book was bound in the late priest’s skin. It is considered so unusual that there is no reserve price attached to it.

Source: BBC News

Ancient Danger Stalks the Jungle on Velvet Paws…

What if she had lived before? What if she had created a legacy of betrayal that spanned several millennia? What if passion could heal her soul and love could release her from bondage?

THE JAGUAR LEGACY is a vivid story of romance and humor, peril and suspense, betrayal and trust, healing and absolution.

Despite baffling panic attacks that devastated her career, journalist Charley Underhill barges in on a Mexican archaeological dig, bent on sniffing out a juicy exposé that will restore her reputation and earn enough money for her mother’s life-saving treatment. Haunted by past betrayals, Dr. Alistair Kincaid isn’t about to let a smart-mouthed reporter leak word of his latest discovery, an ancient Olmec city, to the press. A battle of wills and wits ensues. Strands from a past life intertwine with the present, drawing the couple into a vortex of chilling evil. Torn between redeeming her soul and betraying the man she loves, Charley faces impossible choices.

About the Author

The skirl of bagpipes still brings a tear to Maureen’s eye. An only child torn from her beloved Scotland by well-meaning parents at age seven, she sailed to Canada where she immersed herself in the imaginary world of books for ten years, surfacing only to eat and attend school. Unfurling her wings at the University of Toronto, she studied Fine Art between social engagements. Shortly after graduation, her first marriage precipitated a move to Ottawa where she succeeded in convincing the federal government to hire a Fine Arts specialist as a computer programmer. After a rocky start in the world of bits and bytes, she discovered bridge, downhill skiing, and women’s canoe trips.

Three years later, Maureen graduated again, this time to full-time homemaker and mom, raising two wonderful sons, orchestrating countless dinner parties, playing bridge, and reading romance novels. Eight years later, she plunged back into the business world to start a thriving management consulting business in partnership with her second husband. This marriage survived because she and her husband pledged never to work on the same project again. Ever.

After a century in the consulting world, Maureen grew weary of wearing snappy power suits, squeezing into panty hose, and fighting rush hour traffic. She still didn’t know what she wanted to be when she grew up, but was certain it wasn’t a consultant. An avid fan of romantic suspense, she announced to her husband, “I’m going to write a book.” After a five-day course, she quit her day job, rolled up her sleeves, and started to write. Fifteen rejections, six tons of chocolate, and ninety-five re-writes later, Lachesis Publishing acquired her prizewinning paranormal romantic suspense and first book, The Jaguar Legacy.

Between trips, Maureen and her husband live in Ottawa where she volunteers for an addiction family program, plays bridge, and slaves several hours a day over her computer to improve her writing skills.

I checked out this book after reading Author Scares Up Iowa Ghost Stories. As it turns out, this is the latest in a series of haunted road guides by authors, Chad Lewis and Terry Fisk. Thanks to Amazon’s Search Inside feature, I was able to read a bit of this book. It’s very well laid out, giving the location of each haunt spot, as well as “ghost lore” about the place, an historic time line, and the results of their investigation.

The authors’ concise writing style make this book a very easy and compelling read. I found myself hooked after reading the story about the Holy Cross Cemetery and it’s haunted “hangman’s tree.”

Eccentric tobacco tycoon Rodger Hawthorne III can have anything his heart desires except his dead wife, Sarah. Feeling responsible for the car crash that killed her thirty years ago, he offers one million dollars to anyone who can find her spirit and bring it to him within one week or the money is forfeited. Six spiritually-challenged-but highly intuitive-women find his ad over the Internet and accept his challenge only to embark on a journey they didn’t quite expect that covers astral traveling, past life regressions and spiritual encounters of the unworldly kind. While this book is lightly based on a true story of a real man who is offering one million dollars to anyone who can prove that spirits exist, this story is purely fictional.

This story begins with the appearance of Roger Hawthorne III on a talk show, promising $1M to anyone who can prove to him that ghosts exist. What he doesn’t share with the public is that he is looking for his young wife, Sarah, who died thirty years ago in a car accident. He gets plenty of emails from crazies. However, six women with varying psychic abilities stand out as good candidates.

Shiloh Swallowtail: a psychic who lost her husband and feels lost on her new spiritual path.
Ezra Anne Thornberry: a clairaudient who has visitations from a helpful ghost named Henri.
Brianna Campbell: a curious dabbler, who misses her dead husband Rick.
Fanella: a psychic who feels as if life is moving around her too quickly.
Peggy Maguire: a metaphysical Sunday school teacher.
Brooke Murphy: an herbal practitioner and Wiccan.

Each of these women have their own motivations for finding this ghost and winning the money. As soon as Hawthorne accepts their applications, the story centers on them finding his beloved Sarah while dealing with their own spiritual hurdles. I loved the tight pace in the beginning, when Hawthorne struggled over whether or not he should air his challenge and his opinion of the afterlife and the psychics. Then there was the town’s negative reaction to the women’s presence. Both these elements gave this story a good balance between believers and skeptics.

As for the psychics, I had mixed feelings. A lot of this had to do with the writing, which needed a good editor’s pen. At times, the wording in the dialogue was almost preachy, where spiritual matters were concerned. Then there was a scene in the climax that I felt was too fantastical.

That said, I thought that the ending was great. Despite my issue with the editing, I enjoyed this book because of its original premise. It’s definitely worth the read. To learn more about the book and the authors, visit The Search for the Million $$$ Ghost blog.