When I set out to write a book about the natural history of breasts, I knew I'd have to answer some awkward questions about my book topic. At a...
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In Sharon Ashwood’s previous book, Ravenous: The Dark Forgotten, Detective Conall Macmillan ended up losing his job, most of his soul, definitely his dignity and we weren’t sure, but perhaps his life. All this happens because of Macmillan’s particularly nasty lover-- literally a demon lover. This book, Scorched, picks up with Macmillan taking stock of what’s left of his friends and home. And particularly what is he going to do next. It doesn’t take him long before trouble finds him again in the form of a lovely, innocent, but certainly not helpless vampire who needs help in rescuing her son. Mac finds himself in the Castle, a supernatural prison, once again. There he not only faces a powerful foe but finds out a dark and dangerous secret about himself.
I really enjoyed the character of Mac. He is a fun, down to earth, and definitely not without appeal on the heroic front. The heroine, Constance, is believable, innocent but not without self awareness and strength. These two characters do as those of a good book should -- grow and evolve as they complete their adventures, but in the end you can still see them together. I was struck again by Ashwood’s ability to create an excellent, smooth and sustainable plot. A great book to loose yourself in by the fireside!
I got my hands on a review copy of this new novel. Basically the plot revolves around a young and powerful, witch named Holly Carver who does ‘ghost busting’ to pay the bills. She often teams up with the vampire, Alessandro Caravelli, for the tougher jobs. Holly has some difficulties using powers and is uncomfortable with her potent attraction to Alessandro. Soon Omara, Alessandro’s queen, shows up in town to complicate matters--as well as something much older and much more evil.
Upon reading it the first thing I did was fall in love with the hero, Alessandro Caravelli. Is this the only good thing about the novel? Heck no! The writer, Sharon Ashwood, has done a fabulous job with the plot. It keeps its pace throughout the novel, has juicy substance, and makes it across the finish line without losing its oomph. As well, Ashwood’s world building is believable, unlike some of the sf/fantasy type novels, including the romance genre, that I’ve read over the years. The background, magical structure and mechanics are plausible and won’t leave you scratching your head in mystification. The characterization in the novel is zesty and each of the protagonists has enough internal conflict to make them interesting and keep us rooting for them all the way.
Ashwood has incorporated enough romance and hot sex among the adventures to keep us satisfied. This gets me back to Alessandro…….
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(1 of 1 readers found this comment helpful)
Gabriel d’Aubrigny, Chevalier de Lesgardes, is newly reconciled with his exiled family and returns to England in hopes of building a new life. Things turn bad immediately when he is robbed by a beautiful, spirited highwayman who takes his gold as well as his horse. Forced to return to his former employer, England’s spymaster Sir Alaric Fiztwilliam, Gabriel takes a job to tide him over while he searches for the woman who robbed him.
After robbing a handsome traveler, Anne Tremaine poses as a wealthy widow to hunt for her old enemy. While travelling in London Society, Anne meets Gabriel again and soon neither can ignore the passion that flares between them. Both Gabriel and Anne struggle to complete their quests hoping that their dark secrets won’t tear them apart, or get them killed in the process.
Gabriel has been my favorite character since Step into Darkness, and in this book Naomi Bellis does not disappoint by bringing this complex and wonderful character alive once again. The plot of this book pulls you along with its rich weaving of intrigue, action, and magic with a passionate love story. I think this may be Bellis’ best novel yet!
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(1 of 8 readers found this comment helpful)
Draw Down the Darkness is Naomi Bellis’ second novel. Once again, she delivers a well written book filled with adventure, magic, and red-hot romance. This story begins with the hero, Nicholas Saville, Viscount Redfern, returning to London to find that his fiancée, Helen Barrett, has decided to break off their engagement. Because he is overseas so much and has delayed their marriage so long, she has become uncertain of his love. Redfern tries to explain, but to no avail. His dark secret—that he is beholden to the King’s spymaster—compels his silence and once again forces him from his beloved. Soon, not only has Helen left him, but also she has also fallen under the sinister spell of a powerful and evil man, Redfern’s nemesis, Lord Waring.
In Draw, Bellis not only delights once more with excellent characters, she displays her growth as an author with a rich, multifaceted mystery as well as delivering all the promised elements; adventure, magic and romance. Definitely recommended!
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(4 of 6 readers found this comment helpful)
I was lucky to be able to read a review copy of this novel. Step into Darkness is about Sarah, a viscount?s daughter, who hires a famous thief to help her rescue her father from a French prison. As it turns out, the thief, named Jack, is actually the son of a wealthy landowner who was framed for murder by the Sarah?s father. Together, they travel to France during the French Revolution to battle corrupt officials as well as their own personal demons.
The author has expertly drawn together many different characters and plot elements. She weaves in just the right amount of magic and puts it all in a backdrop of historically accurate France. I found this book a refreshing mix of romance, adventure and the paranormal. Very well written--this book is definitely worth a read.
Was this comment helpful? | Yes | No
(7 of 12 readers found this comment helpful)
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funkyfish has commented on (5) products.
Scorched (Signet Eclipse) by Sharon Ashwood
funkyfish, January 4, 2010
In Sharon Ashwood’s previous book, Ravenous: The Dark Forgotten, Detective Conall Macmillan ended up losing his job, most of his soul, definitely his dignity and we weren’t sure, but perhaps his life. All this happens because of Macmillan’s particularly nasty lover-- literally a demon lover. This book, Scorched, picks up with Macmillan taking stock of what’s left of his friends and home. And particularly what is he going to do next. It doesn’t take him long before trouble finds him again in the form of a lovely, innocent, but certainly not helpless vampire who needs help in rescuing her son. Mac finds himself in the Castle, a supernatural prison, once again. There he not only faces a powerful foe but finds out a dark and dangerous secret about himself.I really enjoyed the character of Mac. He is a fun, down to earth, and definitely not without appeal on the heroic front. The heroine, Constance, is believable, innocent but not without self awareness and strength. These two characters do as those of a good book should -- grow and evolve as they complete their adventures, but in the end you can still see them together. I was struck again by Ashwood’s ability to create an excellent, smooth and sustainable plot. A great book to loose yourself in by the fireside!
Ravenous: The Dark Forgotten by Sharon Ashwood
funkyfish, February 4, 2009
I got my hands on a review copy of this new novel. Basically the plot revolves around a young and powerful, witch named Holly Carver who does ‘ghost busting’ to pay the bills. She often teams up with the vampire, Alessandro Caravelli, for the tougher jobs. Holly has some difficulties using powers and is uncomfortable with her potent attraction to Alessandro. Soon Omara, Alessandro’s queen, shows up in town to complicate matters--as well as something much older and much more evil.Upon reading it the first thing I did was fall in love with the hero, Alessandro Caravelli. Is this the only good thing about the novel? Heck no! The writer, Sharon Ashwood, has done a fabulous job with the plot. It keeps its pace throughout the novel, has juicy substance, and makes it across the finish line without losing its oomph. As well, Ashwood’s world building is believable, unlike some of the sf/fantasy type novels, including the romance genre, that I’ve read over the years. The background, magical structure and mechanics are plausible and won’t leave you scratching your head in mystification. The characterization in the novel is zesty and each of the protagonists has enough internal conflict to make them interesting and keep us rooting for them all the way.
Ashwood has incorporated enough romance and hot sex among the adventures to keep us satisfied. This gets me back to Alessandro…….
(1 of 1 readers found this comment helpful)
Theft of Shadows (Signet Eclipse) by Naomi Bellis
funkyfish, January 31, 2008
Gabriel d’Aubrigny, Chevalier de Lesgardes, is newly reconciled with his exiled family and returns to England in hopes of building a new life. Things turn bad immediately when he is robbed by a beautiful, spirited highwayman who takes his gold as well as his horse. Forced to return to his former employer, England’s spymaster Sir Alaric Fiztwilliam, Gabriel takes a job to tide him over while he searches for the woman who robbed him.After robbing a handsome traveler, Anne Tremaine poses as a wealthy widow to hunt for her old enemy. While travelling in London Society, Anne meets Gabriel again and soon neither can ignore the passion that flares between them. Both Gabriel and Anne struggle to complete their quests hoping that their dark secrets won’t tear them apart, or get them killed in the process.
Gabriel has been my favorite character since Step into Darkness, and in this book Naomi Bellis does not disappoint by bringing this complex and wonderful character alive once again. The plot of this book pulls you along with its rich weaving of intrigue, action, and magic with a passionate love story. I think this may be Bellis’ best novel yet!
(1 of 8 readers found this comment helpful)
Draw Down the Darkness (Signet Eclipse) by Naomi Bellis
funkyfish, March 24, 2007
Draw Down the Darkness is Naomi Bellis’ second novel. Once again, she delivers a well written book filled with adventure, magic, and red-hot romance. This story begins with the hero, Nicholas Saville, Viscount Redfern, returning to London to find that his fiancée, Helen Barrett, has decided to break off their engagement. Because he is overseas so much and has delayed their marriage so long, she has become uncertain of his love. Redfern tries to explain, but to no avail. His dark secret—that he is beholden to the King’s spymaster—compels his silence and once again forces him from his beloved. Soon, not only has Helen left him, but also she has also fallen under the sinister spell of a powerful and evil man, Redfern’s nemesis, Lord Waring.In Draw, Bellis not only delights once more with excellent characters, she displays her growth as an author with a rich, multifaceted mystery as well as delivering all the promised elements; adventure, magic and romance. Definitely recommended!
(4 of 6 readers found this comment helpful)
Step Into Darkness (Signet Eclipse) by Naomi Bellis
funkyfish, September 5, 2006
I was lucky to be able to read a review copy of this novel. Step into Darkness is about Sarah, a viscount?s daughter, who hires a famous thief to help her rescue her father from a French prison. As it turns out, the thief, named Jack, is actually the son of a wealthy landowner who was framed for murder by the Sarah?s father. Together, they travel to France during the French Revolution to battle corrupt officials as well as their own personal demons.The author has expertly drawn together many different characters and plot elements. She weaves in just the right amount of magic and puts it all in a backdrop of historically accurate France. I found this book a refreshing mix of romance, adventure and the paranormal. Very well written--this book is definitely worth a read.
(7 of 12 readers found this comment helpful)