"A Suspensful paranormal with a little bit of shiver!"
What prompts folks to read romance novels? Relaxation? An
opportunity to escape a work weary world for a few blissful
hours? Some, content in their relationships, may cast their
beloved in the role of the romantic lead, others might
indulge in wishful thinking. Wishful thinking, that's just what got Carol Raper into
trouble. Carol had so very lonely since her divorce. Her
childhood sweetheart, her husband, and father of her two
little girls had left her for a younger woman. Though she
had initiated the divorce, she still loved Tom. Loneliness
is the reason Carol, a lover of horror novels, finds
herself soaking in the tub with "Justine's Promise" her
first foray into romance reading. Carol is drawn to the dark and seductive hero, Jacque
Master, so much so that she dreams about him day and night.
She realizes things have gotten out of hand when she begins
to hear a man's voice in her head. If that's not bad enough
someone seems to be prowling around the vacant house across
the
street. Upon investigation, Carol discovers her new neighbor, Jack
Kingman. There is something oddly familiar about him. He is
dark, muscular, sensual, and compelling. She is drawn to
him at
once and he makes no disguise of his interest in her. Ever
responsible, Carol realizes that a relationship cannot
develop so quickly, and there is something about Jack that
does not ring true. Yet the fantasies continue to plague
her, even disrupting her at work. Her best friend Elaine is worried about her and involves
their foreman, Bart Knight. Bart has been attracted to
Carol from her first day on the job. He had felt a unique
connection, which he knows she had felt as well. However,
out of respect for her marriage, he had immediately
suppressed his feelings. Bart is a sensitive, a man with psychic ability. He is so
in tune to Carol that he had shared her suffering through
her entire ordeal with Tom. He had hoped that he and Carol
would finally have a chance for happiness, once her divorce
became final. But Carol, caught up in the mystique of
Jack, hasn't given him the time of day. Still Bart has a
sense of evil approaching, and knows that Carol is in the
center of it. He is even more certain about meeting Jack
who he notes has a dark aura of evil surrounding him. Jack is determined to stay in this time, and Carol is the
key to keeping him here. He will brook no interference. He
has taken care of "the other" man in Carol's heart and he
will take care of Bart as well. Carol becomes involved with the police when her ex, Tom,
mysteriously disappears while watching their children. Foul
play is suspect with Carol as the chief suspect. Carol
however suspects Jack, and turns to Bart for help. It is
then that she realizes who it is that really belongs in her
dreams. Bart has been able to read Carol's mind. He had
tuned into her fantasy, and has connected it with Jack.
Carol is the first person he has trusted enough to share
the knowledge of his psychic gift. Will she accept him or
turn away in fear? The reality of where Jack has come from, and where Tom has
been sent, is the stuff of nightmares. When does a
fanstasy become too real? Now the only thing that will
right their world is the strength of Carol's faith and love
in the man she has thought of as merely a friend for so
many years. Will they find a way to send Jack back and
bring Tom home? What can they do to make sure Jack will
never become another woman's fantasy nightmare? This book was different. Ms. Miller pens a intriguing
romance with a little bit of shiver, a combination of
romance and light horror (no blood and gore) that is
perfect for this time of year. October 2000
Copyright © 2000
Reviewed by Leslie Tramposch
Posted March 21, 2002
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