She's reincarnated, he's reincarnated, wouldn't you like to be reincarnated too?

Okay, disclaimer first. Yes, I am a Christian. No, I don't personally believe in the existence of ghosts, werewolves, vampires, aliens, and demons who can be controlled and used for good. I will, however, read about all of these if it's a good story and I hope everyone's okay with that.

On to the book I just finished. Susan Krinard's Body and Soul. Bait and Switch!!

I thought I was getting a ghost comes forward through time book. If they are done well, I love them. Lynn Kurland's Stardust of Yesterday is my favorite. If the spirit of a gorgeous, noble medieval knight came to me in the moonlight with love in his eyes and asked me, "Shall I slay dragons for you, my lady?" I would resign myself to a hubby who could only occasionally touch me. Even if it meant no Tea and Crumpets. Of course, a miracle occurs, and said knight joins his lady in the real, solid, crumpet-eatin' world. I would insert a nasty remark about JD's Knight in Shining Armor, but I'll refrain.

Anyway, SK's hero is a British soldier from the 1800's, who has died but is tormented because he didn't love or take very good care of his wife, who died along with their baby. He is literally called to our heroine, who is plagued by her own childhood demons. She doubts her sanity, especially because she has memories of ghost soldier. She is also being menaced by a villain that ghost boy starts to recognize. Good book, good writing, but I chucked it. Why?

It's time for the next installment of Saw That One Coming, Much?

Yep, you guessed it, our heroine is the reincarnation of ghost boy's dead wife. And lo and behold, the bad guy who is chasing her turns out to be the reincarnation of the bad guy in the 1800's who killed the original wife. Ghost lover can redeem himself by saving her this time because he couldn't last time. Somebody, let me off the karma-go-round, please!

I hate and loathe and revile reincarnation stories. Of course she's lived before as a noblewoman. Have you ever heard of one single instance where a person's former existence was anything less than noble? If a strong, handsome man chased me through history to reveal a past life, it would probably read like this:

"Robyn! I found you! I came through the mists of time, but could see your spirit even in this different body. You must come back with me. You must, because...

"You didn't finish emptying the chamber pots before you keeled over. You were my favorite maid. But it's okay. Now that I've reincarnated into a rich handsome tycoon, I have plenty of back-breaking menial chores for you to do."

ARRRGGGHHHH!