THE RUBY GHOST

Author: June Calvin ISBN: 0451210115 1/2006 HISTORICAL Publisher: NAL/Signet Regency
Time Period: Regency

Penelope Jones is a young woman of reduced means, eager to give her family one less mouth to feed. Seeking a position as governess for the Silverthorne family, she is put off by James Betterton—Lord Silverthorne's notoriously rakish cousin—around whom her unsullied reputation will certainly be at risk. Then she is startled to see a painting of Silverthorne Castle—the exact image that has haunted her dreams since childhood. Still, Penny cannot let some handsome, well-fed roisterer—or some eerily coincidental dream—place her future at risk.... Penny decides to accept the position, hoping to help Lady Silverthorne, who is being haunted by ghosts identical to those in Penelope's dreams. Though she doesn't believe in such things, Penny has to agree that something out of the ordinary is happening at the castle. There are ghosts indeed, and they seem to want to bestow on her a great treasure that a dangerous man intends to steal. James Betterton wants to protect Penny. But first he must convince her to forget her fears about his past reputation ...and to accept his love.

RRAH's THOUGHTS AND PONDERINGS:

I liked June Calvin's THE RUBY GHOST. It was a quick read, with likable characters and an interesting plot. Every now and again it's nice to sit down with a short book and finish it in an hour or two. In my opinion, THE RUBY GHOST was more of a ghost story than a romance. However, once I started reading it, it didn't matter.

Right away we are introduced to Penelope Jones. She has left her current job as a governess due to unwanted advancements from the master of the house. She hopes to gain another governess position with the Silverthorne family. What she doesn't know is that the Silverthorne residence is the backdrop to the horrible nightmares that she's been having since she's been a young girl. If that isn't enough to deter her from accepting the position, Silverthorne's all too handsome cousin, James Betterton, is instantly attracted to Penelope, and isn't shy about his affections toward her.

Penelope is more or less coerced into accepting the job as governess by the family because of her dreams and her knowledge of what her dreams mean. It seems that ghosts, the same ghosts that appear as people in Penelope's dreams, have visited some of the other inhabitants of Silverthorne castle. It's now up to Penelope and the Silverthorne family, including James Betterton, to piece together Penelope's dreams and the history behind Silverthorne castle.

THE RUBY GHOST was an entertaining read. It has ghosts, a mysterious necklace, likable characters and a touch of romance. I would recommend THE RUBY GHOST if you're in the mood for a ghost story with a backdrop of romance.

Julie Kornhausl