1862 –Maxwell Ryder refused to honor a prearranged marriage with Penelope Walker. Instead, he fell madly in love with her younger brother, Jeremiah. When Maxwell returned to his regiment, Penelope planned the murder of her brother. Hiding his body where no one would ever find it. Maxwell died during a Civil War battle never knowing what happened to his love. Present –Luke Ryder was the last … –
Luke Ryder was the last descendant of the Ryder family. It was on his watch that the family’s great home, White Oak Manor, was sold to a rich business man named, Jacob Walker. He hated Jacob before he ever met him, but after, Jacob asked him to join in the restoration of the old manor, their time together brought them closer and love started to bloom.
Jacob Walker and his sister Trisha, own their own business, buying and restoring classic homes. Jacob fell in love with White Oaks Manor before he ever met the man who had to sell it to him. Luke Ryder was nothing like any of the men Jacob had ever known. He was charming, funny, and very passionate about his family’s heritage.
As the two work together, the attraction between them grows stronger. Then strange things begin to happen at the manor. People being injured, cold winds, and wild screams during the night. Trisha seeing a woman’s ghost that warns her to keep her brother away from Luke Ryder. Jacob has strange dreams of his own. None of them know of the impending danger that is watching over them.
Penelope Walker was made a fool of once. Condemned to haunt White Oaks Manor where her brother’s body is hidden, she kept Maxwell and Jeremiah apart in life and she sure in hell isn’t going to let them be together in death.
Can Luke and Jacob save themselves, and the lovers from the past before Penelope reeks her vengeance again?
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“Cannon Fire” is the second installment to CJ Baty’s “The Legend of the Ghost Train” series. “Smoky Mist” which is the first book was a fairly good paranormal tale but “Cannon Fire” has much more horror.
In 1862 the history of the White Oaks Manor brings the Civil War to the forefront and Maxwell Ryder who is recovering from a war injury. There was every possibility that Maxwell would return to the war. But when unwanted visitors arrive, it was not Penelope Walker that caught Maxwell’s eye but her brother Jeremiah. And a women scorned became a very jealous and vicious ghost.
Luke Ryder, inherited White Oaks Manor. He was smart in taking what was valuable and most of all what he considered important in the way of his ancestors. It was hard enough to give up the Manor to someone who would destroy it. But Luke is surprised at the new owner, Jacob Walker, especially when he asks Luke to be involved in the restoration of the Manor. As Luke and Jacob become more involved, strange dreams, eerie and dangerous events start to effect anyone involved in the restoration.
CJ Baty really delivers a frightening, horrid and sad tale of love, built around an historical manor, and a very vengeful and evil ghost. As usual, the plot flows easily which makes this a speedy and easy read and there’s romance both past and current.
Even though there’s a little dislike at the start, Luke and Jacob actually are a nice match and they’re very likable characters. There are a few secondary characters: Trisha, Jacob’s sister, even though she was smart, she was whiny and got on my nerves. Kris is Trisha’s love interest and he was a fun character that sort of helped in in the Trisha area.
As CJ Baty did with “Smoky Mist” she provides the readers with “The Legend of the Ghost Train” and interesting historical facts that influence her creative ideas in “Author’s Note and Acknowledgement”.
Once again, this was a page-turner for me and I highly recommend “Cannon Fire” for readers who enjoy romance and historical/paranormal and an easy read. The next installment to “The Legend of the Ghost Train” series is “Coal Dust”.
4.25 Stars!
Cannon Fire is book 2 in The Legend of the Ghost Train series and it can be perfectly read as a standalone. I really enjoyed book 1, Smoky Mist, so I suggest reading it, too.
I really liked both Luke and Jacob, even if it kind of felt like they got together too fast timewise, they just seemed to really fit well together.
As with the previous book, I loved the whole premise of the Ghost Train and how it played out in this setting. I would’ve liked it if Penelope would’ve gotten more of a comeuppance, though. For as scary and evil as she was, I thought she got off too lightly considering what she wanted to do with Maxwell and what she actually did to Jeremiah. *shrugs* Other than that, I found that part of the storyline captivating and very intriguing.
I liked Kris a lot, although it took me longer to warm up to Trisha. Yes, I know she was protective of Jacob and then she was influenced by Penelope’s ghost, but I don’t know, there was something about her that made it difficult for me to connect with her.
This was a really good, engaging read. C.J. Baty is doing such a great job creating these stories and combining the paranormal aspect of the Ghost Train and the ghosts from the past that we’ve seen in these two books and weaving them into the present, without it feeling too over the top. I’m eager to see where she’ll be taking us next! Recommendable!
*** Copy provided to Bayou Book Junkie for my reading pleasure, a review wasn’t a requirement. ***