Ready and Willing by Elizabeth Bevarly

Ready & Willing by Elizabeth Bevarlyby jjmachshev

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November 22, 2008: Reviewed for queuemyreview.com; book release Nov08

Ghosts and mobsters and hats --Oh my! Elizabeth Bevarly?s second novel set against a backdrop of slow, southern gentility and the Kentucky Derby goes down as smooth and refreshing as a sparkling mint julep. ?Ready & Willing? is a tale of filly hats, a luscious ghost, and modern love. For me, Bevarly?s books have always been hit or miss and this one is a hit.

When faithful widow Audrey brings home a painting of Silas Summerfield, a handsome riverboat pilot who once lived in her new home/business, she has no idea that the ghost of said pilot is moving in too! When Silas? ghost manages to prove he?s real, he then gives her an assignment?his `great-great-however-many-greats grandson? is in danger of losing his soul and he wants Audrey to help prevent that. Uh, sure?and why doesn?t she bring about world peace in the meantime? But Silas is insistent and Audrey decides to give it a try. But when she meets Nathaniel Summerfield, she quickly realizes that: A-he thinks she?s a nutcase; B-he?s an incredibly handsome man who makes her formerly-dead senses spin; and C-he?s such a jerk he probably won?t even miss his soul!

Nathaniel Summerfield is single, successful, and satisfyingly rich. The business deal he?s about to conclude will make him even more successful and rich, so he doesn?t really care what the attractive nutjob has to say. Until the day after he signs the contract and suddenly feels empty?and cold, bone-deep, unrelenting cold. When he pays a visit to Audrey to satisfy his curiosity, he also finds out that just the touch of her hand can bring warmth back to his life. Unfortunately, it?s ONLY Audrey?s touch that works. So maybe there really is something to her craziness. Now he?s becoming even more attracted to her?both physically AND emotionally. But she still considers herself married, to a dead man. And she also seems to make him feel dissatisfaction with his life, and he was just fine before?truly. Once he gets his soul back, he?ll be fine?really!

Oh what a pair. Audrey still faithful to a dead man and Nathaniel married to material wealth and success, but both of them alone. Reading about their gradually deepening feelings and fears was almost too realistic, but very enjoyable. I liked the way Bevarly emphasized the emotional, over, but not at the cost of, the physical. And while there were no `stunning revelations?, there was instead, a gradual understanding of what is really important in their lives and the sacrifices and compromises required of every couple.

There?s also a bonus secondary love story which is wholly metaphysical between Silas the ghost and Audrey?s damaged, hurt associate. I was a bit disappointed that these two didn?t find a way to physically connect, but that would have totally changed the book. I still found their strange relationship rewarding, which looking back, is surprising and satisfying in a way. I enjoyed Bevarly?s descriptions and depictions of modern life vs older times in the South and Kentucky. The Derby and it?s `hat? fetishes were a necessary addition to support our heroine the milliner?and it was just plain fun.

Although ?Ready & Willing? is Elizabeth Bevarly?s second book set around Kentucky and the Derby, the two books aren?t connected by anything other than setting so it?s not necessary to have read one to appreciate and enjoy the other. I read them both and...

I Also Recommend: Fast and Loose.

an engaging paranormal contemporary romanceby Anonymous

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October 03, 2008: In Kentucky Widow Audrey Magill enters the antique store to browse. She sees a portrait of nineteenth century riverboat Captain Silas Leyton Summerfield and feeling an odd affinity as well as believing the picture would be perfect for her hat shop that she plans to have opened in time for the Derby she buys the portrait. However, she also learns the Captain once lived in the house she currently occupies.------------- Silas? spirit is on a quest to save the soul of his decedent Nathaniel who is about to make a Faustian deal. He asks Audrey to help him. However when the beautiful fruitcake warns Nathaniel that he is selling his soul and her source is great to the nth degree ancestor Captain Silas, he has no doubt that she is a nut. Audrey is taken aback by her attraction to Nathaniel as she never thought of finding love again ever since her spouse passed away. She insures she does not lose sight of her mission: save Nathaniel?s soul.-------------- The romance is well written while the Kentucky Derby serves as a background to Audrey?s efforts to save Nathaniel?s soul. Silas is an interesting matchmaker who knows if anyone can rescue his descendent it is the love of a good woman in this case Audrey. Elizabeth Bevarly provides her fans an engaging paranormal contemporary romance.------------ Harriet Klausner