We all know Nancy Drew- the eternally cute, pretty, perky, teen aged Wonder Woman detective who is so perfect we'd gladly let her solve her own murder. Fran is none of that, but she is gifted. The problem is, she'd like to return the gift. Having touch telepathy makes her life one of constant exposure to others' emotions.

Working in a traveling carnival with psychics, an Elvis impersonating demonologist, an Immortal and other assortedly gifted people makes her craving for normal intensify. When a new guy rides into her life, she can find the blessing in the lack of normal. If her life was that mundane - Ben would never look twice at her, he's hot and she's not, at least in her opinion.

However, since he's a Dark One and she's his Beloved, he only has eyes for her. Unfortunately, his love is a bit overprotective when she gets involved in an investigation into thefts that threaten everyone's livlihoods and she overhears a mental plot to kill Ben.

The concept of a Dark One (vampire) and his beloved was introduced in Ms. Maxwell's less young adult novels written as Katie MacAlister, and it translates well into her young adult work. Fran and Ben's love story promises to develop into something very interesting as time passes. Ben will probably appeal more to the Spike loving fans than the Angel lovers since he's the fun kind of vamp - not a brooder who thinks happiness is poison. Underneath the fun and mystery is a very healthy message for girls - you don't have to be perfect to be wonderful.

Synopsis
All sixteen-year-old Francesca Getti wants to do is have a normal life where she's one of the crowd, blending in so no one will know just how much of a freak she is. Dragged to Europe by her mother (a witch) to join GothFaire, a travelling band of psychics, magicians, and assorted other oddities, Fran has to cope with not only the normal angst of always being a fish out of water, but also with her own fate as a psychometrist, someone who can tell things by touching objects. Enter one Moravian Dark One (referred to by most people as vampires) named Benedikt who claims Fran is the key to redeeming his soul, a mysterious horse who seems to have an involved past, an immortal friend who remembers what Mozart was like, and a demonologist who thinks he's Elvis, and you can understand why Fran despairs of ever fitting in.