Reviewer: Lori Graham
Title: The Phantom of the Bathtub
Author: Eugenia Riley
Publisher: Dorchester Publishing
ISBN: 9-780505-526526
Release Date: August 2006
Genre/Sub-genre: Historical Romance (with the paranormal)
Year/Setting: 1896/Savannah, GA
Overall Rating: 4.75
Sexual Content Rating: Sexual
Language (Profanity) Rating: Mild
Violent Content Rating: Very Mild
Eugenia's Website: www.eugeniariley.com
Viveca Stanhope had been raised in San Francisco but that world came to an abrupt end. After her parents passed away, her father’s partner shared with her that the business was bankrupt and then he proceeded to seduce her. Viveca was young and naïve and fell for his line; that is until it became public knowledge and he shunned her. That left Viveca in a city where the elite no longer welcomed her and she had no way to make a living.
In order to get as far away as she could, she purchased a house in Savannah through an agent. A few more questions might have been in order especially upon arriving and discovering her home was part of Hangman’s Square and there is a cemetery at the back of her property. Now that might be enough to raise the neck hairs on most but Viveca was determined to make it work mainly because she had nothing else.
With everything going on, however, the lines between reality and the ghost realm were becoming blurred. She met her lovely, lady neighbors - - Miss Lilac who was an elderly woman living next door and Elvira Witherspoon from across the square. Both of these women were pleasant but then there is Maxwell Beecher next door. To say he was a rake would be an understatement, but why can’t she get him off her mind. Her life is actually on the upswing with Hilda (one of the cities grand dames) and the nearby pastor (happens to be Maxwell’s relative) both taking an interest in her. She could rise again to the ranks of the higher society and doesn’t want to do anything to rock that boat. During daylight hours, that endeavor works but at night…well, that is a different story.
I loved The Phantom of the Bathtub. Eugenia Riley does an incredible job of creating situations that appeal to all the senses. The text is so rich in the scenery that you can almost smell the magnolias, the colors of the trees, and so much more. The characters have quite a bit of depth to them - - again from multiple levels. As a reader we get enough of Viveca’s past so we understand what made her what she is today but she is mainly focused on today and the future. Of course, like all of us, what she thinks she needs in the future and where she discovers happiness aren’t the same thing. Maxwell is initially presented as a one-dimensional character but develops into someone with a lot more levels. Again, this is like us humans. We can sometimes see only what we want to see but then if we dig a bit we discover so much more.
Great study of the human beliefs which creates some thought but in addition to all of that, Eugenia gives us humor (and lots of it!!).
Lori
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