Dark Seduction

ISBN: 0373772335
Pub. Date: April 2007
Publisher: Harlequin
Series: Masters of Time Series, #1


Claire Camden is a strong and smart woman, and her life revolves around her beloved bookstore consisted of old books. Then one night, a woman by the name of Sibylla breaks into her store, and seeing Claire is around she demands for a page. She is later rescued by a strange man dressed like he belongs during the Middle Ages, and mistook him as an actor sent by her friend because she loves Scottish history and hopes to visit the place one day. But the man claimed he is Malcolm of Dunroch, and a member of the Masters of Time who is there to protect the Innocents and save them all from the evil Moray. Moray is known to kill his female victims through sucking the life out of them through sex pleasure. Malcolm knows Sibylla is sent by Moray himself to get the page, whom they believe they could gain healing power if anyone acquires it.

To ensure she is safe from Moray and Sibylla, Malcolm decides to send her back to his time. There, Claire finds out that the Masters of Time was formed by some great knights whose aim is to battle the demons. Slowly Claire begins to fall for Malcolm, and later both of them realize they must work together to bring down the evil.

Frankly speaking, I was drawn into the story initially because I find the plot is different from the others (paranormal meets time travel), and I love reading books with Highlanders warriors. But the reason I rated 3.5 stars is because there are some parts I find hard to follow, and although I understand the way Malcolm speaks, reading too much of his dialogues "didna ken", "Ye" or "Ye be", I felt them a little overwhelming. Although I still enjoyed reading this book (saved by the sexy Malcolm), I would still prefer to read Brenda Joyce's historicals.

Note: Julia and Alice, it was a pleasure reading with you two. Looking forward to more of our reading-together in future.

Life's Golden Ticket

ISBN: 0061173908
Pub. Date: May 2007
Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers

I saw this book online and its cover attracted me in the first place. I went on to read the blurb, and liked what I read. The next thing I knew, I went to the bookstore and asked for the book. It wasn't placed on the shelf yet, but the staff was kind enough to check for me and anyway, I was glad to have the book.

First, I wish to clarify that this isn't your normal fiction novel. I mean, it is a fiction but it is an inspirational novel wrapped with a fantasy theme. I have to respect and admire the author for coming up with the clever plots as I was hooked right from the beginning to the ending. I started reading this book on Sunday and have finished it last evening. I don't recall finishing reading a book at this record time, hehe. But anyway, enough of my ramblings and on to the review.

This is a story about a man who is trapped in his past lives. He is pessimistic and thinks himself as a failure. His wife has gone missing for 40 days, and no one knows what has happened until he heard from the news that they had found his wife. She was involved in an accident and is in intensive care. He rushes to the hospital, glad she is alive but she is seriously hurt. She gives him an envelope, telling him to visit an abandoned amusement park to experience the things that happened to her.

Puzzled and hoping to search for some answers, he enters the amusement park and is shocked to find the park magically comes to life. He is then greeted by a groundskeeper named Henry, and he invited him into the park and made him sign a contract which stated he will agree to give up all his defense mechanisms and face the truth.

From there, the narrator begins his adventure as Henry introduces him to the park employees and through these people - a hypnotist, an elephant trainer, a fortune teller, a lion tamer, a strong man etc, he is to overcome all obstacles thrown by them and through these, he begins to learn about the meaning of life and love, to be a stronger person with open mindedness and finally, discovering what happened to Mary and what holds inside her mysterious envelope.

Thief With No Shadow

The story begins with Melke, the heroine escaping from her captor. She is a wraith, as she has the ability to walk being unseen by others. The reason she escapes is because she has stolen a necklace from Bastian sal Vere, whom he believes the necklace can lift the curse that bestowed upon his family for generations. But Melke has no choice, because she has to get this necklace in exchange for her brother's life with the salamanders, which are a hordes of terrifying fire breathing creatures that are deadly if anyone dares to cross their paths.

Anyway, Melke has her brother back but Hantje is seriously hurt. Bastian tells her his sister, Liana is able to save his brother's life, but on a condition that she has to get the necklace back from the salamanders. Melke agrees. She later learns from Liana that the necklace was strung with the paarson's tears, and have passed it down from generations to generations, but someone from the previous generation had stolen it and thus begins the curse. Bastian's father managed to find it; he passed the necklace to Bastian before he decided to join their dead mother. And now the paarson will return at the next full moon to ask for the necklace or else it will take one of the remaining sal Vere members. During the time when Liana is healing Hantje, Bastian assigns his dog Endal to scrutinize Melke every minute of the day. Although the dog can't talk, but it is capable to communicate with people through mind thoughts.

Hantje begins to recover well under the full care of Liana, for she has a magical healing touch. But the days of the paarson's arrival is drawing near, and Melke has to risk her life to get the necklace from the salamanders' den. While Melke is in their den, the paarson came for the necklace. Liana begs Bastian to save Melke, and Hantje promises him he would never let the paarson takes Liana away.

I have to admit I was first fascinated by the bookcover, because I like reading a fantasy story with a female heroine in it. I like the characters in this story, even Endal the dog.

Thief With No Shadow is one compelling read. It's about magic, forgiving and finding love. I will be looking forward to more Emily Gee's book in future.

Shadows at Sunset

What can I say? This book is awesome! I really like the way Anne Stuart plots her stories and of course, not to mention her writing style is superb! I have read most of her recent releases, and am looking up her past releases as well. Although I did manage to find a few, sadly her very much earlier ones are really hard to find! I'm hoping her publishers will consider to re-issue those books. Anyway, quit my ramblings and back to the review.

La Casa de Sombras was once a beautiful mansion occupied by the Hollywood movie's elite in the fifties. During that time, there was an uproar of a murder-suicide case. Everyone speculated that movie star, Brenda de Lorillard had killed her director lover Ted Hughes before she took the gun on herself. Although the incident had died down through the years, but the ghosts of Lorillard and Huges still roam about in that mansion.

The heroine, Jilly Meyer, with her two siblings, Rachel-Ann and Dean inherited this mansion from their grandmother. Jackson, their father wants the house to be demolished but couldn't do anything because Jilly wouldn't allow it. A millionaire, Jackson is known to be ruthless and couldn't give a damn about his children except Rachel-Ann, who is his favourite amongst the siblings.

Then enters the hero, Coltrane who works as a right hand man to Jackson. Jackson trusted him and wants him to keep an eye on his children and have them off his back while he deals illegal stuff for his businesses. But Coltrane has other agenda on mind, for he is out to destroy Jackson as he knows Jackson was the murderer who had killed his mother back when they were having an affair at the old mansion. His original plan is to use Rachel-Ann to get back at Jackson, because he knows Jackson cares Rachel-Ann more than her other siblings, but after he meets Jilly, he changes his mind as he finds her attractive and different; moreover he loves a challenge. Later, what seems like an easy plan becomes a tricky situation to him, as he soon finds himself deeply engrossed with the Meyer's family relationships and getting too personal with it.

I am really drawn to this intriguing romance suspense and besides the taut plotting, I also enjoyed reading the two spirits' POVs in the story. Although it was weird reading them at first, but I quickly understand Anne's purpose of doing so and that it makes sense and goes well with the whole story. This is one of Anne Stuart's fine classics in my opinion; and after reading it really makes me want to find her other older releases.

Note: Julia, it is always fun to read Anne Stuart's books with you. Looking forward for more!