Bakers Dozen 11

Shadow's Kiss by Joan Hohl

This is a historical/paranormal/romance novel, that really struck me as unique.  Now I know that there are a million different historical romance novels and paranormal romance novels, but I have to say, this is the first that I have read that combined the two genres.  Again, this author was another one suggested by Kristi and whenever she has suggested something to me I have never been disappointed (this is a reason why she is so awesome.)

Anyway, the story starts off with Darcy Flynn, leaving her Philadelphia home to Denver to help her mother for what she thought was a boarding house.  When she gets there she found out that her mother had passed away and the boarding house is actually a whore house.  Darcy who had lived in a all girls catholic school all her life, is shocked that her mother ran a whore house, but after she gets to know the girls, she realizes that her mother actually helped the girls by helping them escape from horrible upbringings.  Being inspired by these girls stories, she decides to transforms the whore house into a school for ladies so that they can learn skills and be accepted into society.

The romance starts when two days prior to Darcy's arrival Jonathan Stuart is murdered in the whore house.  He has unfinished business and his spirit walks the house.  Only Darcy can see and feel his presence, she soon starts to fall in love, but obviously because he is a ghost it seems impossible.  Or is it?

I just loved how this story was written.  It was the perfect combination of romance/historical/paranormal, and it kind of had a little bit of girl power.  Even though the character Darcy falls in love and that is a huge factor in the book, I just loved how Joan Hohl wrote this character to be very self-aware and very much empowered to help these women.  I also felt the that the love story was very sweet, and you find yourself rooting for this couple even though it seems impossible.