Paranormal/Futuristic
Bride's Inn: Lady in White
By Chrissy Dionne
Sep 1, 2007 - 3:40:41 PM

Serena Reilly is staying at Bride’s Inn as a companion to Clarice Masters. Night after night she hears an eerie voice calling her name and it terrifies her. Combine that with a raging storm and she’s a complete bundle of nerves.

After hearing the voice again, Serena hightails it to Clarice’s room to check on her. Clarice is fast asleep so Serena sits and watches the storm through the window. Lightening hits the ancient oak directly outside Clarice’s bedroom window. The lightening strike wakes up Clarice who then requests a glass of her nightly concoction - warm milk and butter. Serena is grossed out by her ‘snack’ but goes to make it anyway. On her way back up to Clarice’s room she encounters a woman standing at the top of the stairs - dressed in her wedding finery. The woman never speaks, but she descends the stairs and points to the door before disappearing.

When Serena looks at the door she’s able to see a shadow moving. Someone is lurking outside. The would-be intruder tries the knob, presses his face to the glass, and pounds on the door which causes Serena to drop the tray with Clarice’s nasty concoction - shattering the glass. She heads to the kitchen and arms herself with a heavy pan as she hears the front door crash open. Seconds later she’s swinging the would-be weapon at the intruder only to have him block her attack and restrain her on the couch with his own body. She just attempted to bludgeon Clarice’s nephew, Seth, who’s arrived a full day early. While the storm outside begins to calm a new one begins inside Serena as she fights her own desire for Seth which is only intensified by his wicked teasing and gentle caring manner.

Seth doesn't believe he has anything to offer a woman like Serena aside from a few stolen kisses and a little loving. When another man enters the picture, Seth's instincts go on high alert and he's filled with distrust for the reporter who's supposed to be doing a feature on Bride's Inn. To complicate matters even further, the reporter, Peter Collin, is showing far too much interest in Serena - a fact that isn't sitting well with Seth at all. What do a ghost, a reporter, and an Inn made famous because of the numerous weddings and a tragedy that took place there have in common? Well, you're just going to have to pick up a copy of this book to find out.

LADY IN WHITE is the first book in Catherine Chernow's BRIDE'S INN series. While this story is relatively short in length, it's chock full of exciting events that will keep readers glued to the pages anticipating what will happen next. I was captivated by the history of the Inn and the ghostly inhabitant. Seth and Serena's relationship is intensely rocky and as a reader I was never sure what would happen next with them which makes them a delightful couple to read about, especially once Peter enters the storyline. This story concludes with a deeply satisfying ending you won't want to miss and will have you eagerly awaiting the next book in this thrilling series.