|
REVIEW
|
"Sensual Gothic Paranormal"
All I can say is that if the first line of the book doesn't
hook you, "I'VE HEARD that werewolves roam the woods of
Germany," Elizabeth Stanwycke said, peering out of the
carriage window into the dark wintry woods, the snow on the
ground gleaming in the moonlight." Then you're obviously
not a fan of paranormals and should definitely stop there,
as the rest of this luscious well-written novel is a rare
treat for werewolf paranormal genre lovers. Elizabeth had made the heart wrenching decision to leave
England after her scandalous affair had been exposed and
the man she'd loved and given her innocence to turned into
a cad. It wasn't as if being the poor relation and acting
as governess for spoiled cosseted children was such a
wonderful life, but at least it was familiar. Now in a
strange land and barely speaking German, Elizabeth's
introduction as she approached Wolfram Castle was to see a
naked woman running across the frozen ground with a man on
horseback pursuing her. Instinctively Elizabeth attempted
to follow and help the woman but was hauled back into the
carriage by the coachman under orders from her companion
and mentor, Frau Katrina Liebner who warned that she must
never go into the Wolfram forests alone at night. This was
only the first of many warnings and directives she would
face when introduced to the eclectic group of inhabitants
at the castle, but it would be the master of the house,
Nikolas von Wolfram who would prove to be the most
enigmatic. Handsome beyond belief, his very presence raised
not only the hairs along Elizabeth's back but melted the
heart that had been frozen by a cruel betrayal. *** Oh my, a return to the gothic romances I cut my reading
teeth on! Only this one had the added bonus of giving a
delicious paranormal twist and fabulous sensuality that was
a pure delight. I thought the heroine a very brave and
resourceful young woman who was ready to bend over
backwards in trying to gather the good will of her
recalcitrant young charge. Nikolas was the typical brooding
dark and mysterious master of his domain, both frightening
yet giving the aura of dark temptation to our intrepid
heroine. Suffice it to say, that both leads were fashioned
very well for one another and perfectly matched. A healthy
abundance of secondary characters added even more depth to
the story giving the reader a tremendous amount of choice
as to who the villain in the story was. Historical aspects
including the setting of Germany and the uneasy relations
between France, Germany, Russia, and England added even
more zest to robust the plot. The high level of sensuality
was a boost in keeping the pace racing along as well as
this reviewers blood pressure. With a definite feel of the
old fashioned gothics but with a highly charged level of
sensuality and a wonderful taste of the paranormal this is
sure to please most fans of the genre.
Reviewed by Marilyn Rondeau
Posted January 6, 2007
|
| SUMMARY |
|
The woods are not safe - and neither is her heart...
It is 1795, well past the time when folks should have abandoned such superstitious notions as a belief in werewolves, Elizabeth Stanwycke thinks as she travels into the heart of Germany to tutor a young countess in the ways of the world, and the English gentry in particular. But Elizabeth has never seen anything like Wolfram Castle, her new home for the time she is to work there, nor has she ever met any man like Count Nikolas von Wolfram, her new student's uncle. Handsome, commanding, enigmatic, he is keeping secrets, but whether they are merely sordid family tragedies of the past that he is concealing, or something more terrifying and sinister is anyone's guess. All Elizabeth knows is, the more time she spends in Count Nikolas's company, the more she is drawn to him... but she understands only too well the price a woman pays for allowing the urgings of her heart to influence her behavior, and she is determined never to pay that price again.
| |
|
|
|
|
