Title: Cannon Fire
Series: The Legend of the Ghost Train Book 2
Author: C.J. Baty
Genre: Historical, Paranormal, Romance
LGBTQ+ Category: MM Gay
Publisher: Self
Pages: 141
Reviewer: Maryann
Get It On Amazon
About The Book
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 descendant of the Ryder family. It was on his watch that the family’s great home, White Oaks 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?
The Review
“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”.
The Reviewer
Hi, I’m Maryann, I started life in New York, moved to New Hampshire and in 1965 uprooted again to Sacramento, California. Once I retired I moved to West Palm Beach, Florida in 2011 and just moved back to Sacramento in March of 2018. My son, his wife and step-daughter flew out to Florida and we road tripped back so they got to see sights they have never seen. New Orleans and the Grand Canyon were the highlights. Now I am back on the west coast again to stay! From a young age Ialways liked to read.
I remember going to the library and reading the “Doctor Dolittle” books by Hugh Lofting. Much later on became a big fan of the classics, Edgar Alan Poe, Mary Shelley, Bram Stoker and as time went by Agatha Christie, Ray Bradbury and Stephen Kingand many other authors.
My first M/M shifter book I read was written by Jan Irving the “Uncommon Cowboys” series from 2012. She was the first author I ever contacted and sent an email to letting her know how much I liked this series. Sometime along the way I read “Zero to the Bone”by Jane Seville, I think just about everyone has read this book!
As it stands right now I’m really into mysteries, grit, gore and “triggers” don’t bother me. But if a blurb piques my interest I will read the book.
My kindle collection eclectic and over three thousand books and my Audible collection is slowly growing. I have both the kindle and audible apps on my ipod, ipads, and MAC. So there is never an excuse not to be listening or reading.
I joined Goodreads around 2012 and started posting reviews. One day a wonderful lady, Lisa Horan of The Novel Approach, sent me an email to see if I wanted to join her review group. Joining her site was such an eye opener. I got introduce to so many new authors that write for the LGBTQ genre. Needless to say, it was heart breaking when it ended.
But I found a really great site, QRI and it’s right here in Sacramento. Last year at QSAC I actually got to meet Scott Coatsworth, Amy Lane and Jeff Adams.