Spiritus by Dana Michelle Burnett

A love that refuses to die…

“As I watched him vanish into a soft mist that faded away, I knew that he was no ordinary spirit…I knew that he was a dangerous entity that could be in some corner of another realm planning his revenge, but I also knew that I was hopelessly in love with him.” When Becca moves into her ancestral home in Corydon, Indiana, her life takes a puzzling and thrilling turn when she meets the ghost haunting the halls. As the seductive spirit lures her closer and closer, she learns about her own past and starts to understand that some mistakes are meant to last. Becca McAllister has always been different from other girls her age. Never part of the "in crowd", Becca never really fit in anywhere. When her mother dies and her father moves them to the small town of Corydon, Indiana, Becca didn't expect things to change. But things do change when Becca accidentally makes contact with a one hundred and sixty year old ghost, Alastor Sinclair, that haunts the halls of her new home. To Becca, Alastor is a seductive spirit that seems to see straight into her soul. To Alastor, Becca is what he was waited a century for--A second chance. But the closer they get, the more Becca realizes that this isn't the first time she and Alastor have known each other. Worse still, is she the one responsible for his death so long ago? And if so, did he come back for love or revenge?(synopsis from Goodreads)

Spiritus is the first book in an exciting new young adult, paranormal series, by author Dana Michelle Burnett.  I enjoyed this suspenseful and romantic read. I loved the characters Burnett created and the history of the home she placed them in. Spiritus is the type of book that captures your attention from page one, while the rest of the world slips away.

The tale is about seventeen year old, Becca McAllister, who moves with her father back to his ancestral home in Corydon, Indiana. She and her new friends perform a unsuccessful séance in her home.  Later that same evening, she awakes to feel a presence in the corner of her room. It’s the ghost of a young man, named Alastor Sinclair. Unsure of the ghost's intentions and her own dreams, Becca researches the ghost and her home. At the library she finds a startling connection to herself. The story that unfolds is romantic, sad, and mysterious.The romance in this novel is sweet, innocent, dark and dangerous. The ending is a bit of a cliff-hanger and will leave you wanting more. 


Becca is a strong character, who fights to maintain a balance between her life and her time with Alastor. She is a bit of a loner, but finds herself suddenly with friends. She isn't very confident about her appearance and is shocked when the school jock shows interest in her. Alastor is handsome with gorgeous blue eyes and a devastating smile. You feel for him, but are never really sure of his intentions. He wants to keep Becca all to himself, feels guilt regarding the past and is extremely jealous. 

I highly recommend Spiritus, to fans of YA, paranormal romances and ghosts stories. Burnett’s shares a tale about a love that survives beyond death. I thoroughly enjoyed the plot of this novel and look forward to reading the next book entitled the Haunting. I am hoping that her second novel is longer in length and more detailed.  This was a quick, fast paced read, which is sure to please.  This novel is currently only available as an eBook.

I want to thank the author for this ARC, in exchange for my unbiased review.

I gave this book 4 coffee cups out of 5.

Buy here: B&N here:Amazon or here:Smashwords

Author's website:Dana Michelle Burnett