classic gothic romance, but with the sexy turned up
342333
A beautifully written gothic romance novel with the sexy turned up to modern' readers tastes. The scarred hero with his brooding and self-loathing, the spirited young woman struggling to make sense of things who manages to break through his walls, the mysterious happenings in a gloomy castle, possible haunting and the lingering spirit of a crazy, dead first wife. It has all the hallmarks of the genre. Also has some serious heat and sex scenes. Plays it off quite well. I look forward to the writer's next offering!
3089763
A very good vintage Gothic Romance that had the chaste love, the mystery, the thrills and the quick pace to make this a fast enjoyable read.  Tracy is a young widow recovering from her dead husband's neglect when she goes to his ancient estate in the swamps to complete a photo book.  Very quickly she is thrown into a mystery, courted by two handsome men and almost killed several times.  This is a good forgotten find that should be unearthed - one of the novels that make you enjoy Gothics again and take you back in time to a simpler place.
2703929
This book is a gothic suspense of the highest calibre, one that challenges the reader to decipher between what your mind and eyes want you to see and what is actually happening. The reader has to wonder what connections the mind is joining and what connections are occuring in reality, and it isn't always easy to guess right.

When Eve meets Dom in a garden labrynth by Lake Geneva she cannot believe her good fortune. She has been feeling bored and unmoored from her current job and life and has been wondering what she was really supposed to be doing with her life. Dom is older, rich and at free to do as he wishes when he sold his business for a great profit. He is kind and seems to really enjoy spending his time with Eve. When he alerts her that he is moving to the French countryside in Province she feels it is the right thing to do to go with him. After all, it will be so exciting renovating and repairing the derelict hamlet called Les Genevriers Dom as purchased and it will give her the chance to work on her dream project: translating some little known French gem of a text into English.

One point seems to be quite a thorn in Dom and Eve's relationship, however: Dom's ex-wife Rachel. He refuses to speak about her beyond saying that thier relationship ended badly and demands that Eve drop her from all conversations. When Dom lets slip that Rachel had been to Les Genevriers a black shadow seems to slowly begin to fall over them. Why has Dom brought her to this isolated but lovely hamlet? Where is Rachel and what happened between her and Dom?

As Eve and Dom's story unfolds and as their fresh beginnings of the summer begin to chill into the wintery landscape, Even begins to feel that she doesn't really know Dom at all. A local Provencal business woman, Sabine, seems intent on leading Eve down a path towards what happened to Rachel. But who is Eve to trust, when she is stuck out in a lonely countryside and not sure that she truly knows the man lying next to her? And what of the strange occurences that seem to be happening just outside of Eve's understanding? Are they not alone at Les Genevriers?

Interspered with Eve's story is the story of Benedicte Lincel, former occupant of Les Genevriers. Her family had owned the house and land for many generations, but a dark cloud hung over them as well. With a psychotic brother and a loving but sometimes distrant blind sister, Benedicte is left to try to keep Les Genevriers and her family from destruction. But when her brother demands that the farm and land be sold after the death of their parents and neither sister wishes to do so, how far will he go to get what he wants? Will Benedicte ever be able to forgive herself for her believed part in the destruction of their family?

I cannot recommend this book enough for anyone who loves a good mystery into what goes bump in the night and what our mind deciphers of the darkness in each corner. The descriptions of the landscape and the history of the harsh hillside life of France was simply breathtaking. If you don't smell the lavendar and feel the sharp stones underfoot than you aren't reading the same book. I cannot wait to see what Deborah Lawrenson has next to offer!
2989579
Absolutely fantastic bit of Victorian Gothic..loved every minute of it!
4840243
I have such a soft spot for gothic literature. Dark, romantic, sweeping stories with intense atmospheres that transport you to lush, erotic places. Arabella Quinn did not disappoint!

Stacie was a super relatable heroine and she felt so real and genuine. Julian was Hot with a capital H and their chemistry was so electric. If you're looking for a modern twist on gothic romance with engaging characters, you'll love this book. Can't wait for the next part!
1284324
Reading a romance set in the Victorian era is delicious, isn't it? You have the propriety and decorum, the watchful, well-meaning eyes, and the desire that heats up despite so many ingrained societal precautions. It's a delight to watch love blossom in such stuffy surroundings.

Dawn Crandall's "The Cautious Maiden" is set in Victorian New England; first, uniquely, in the state of Maine, then in the more familiar streets of late 19th century Boston. Her heroine, Violet, also unique, begins the story as a single working woman, refreshingly uninterested in marriage.

The action begins on page one, when Violet's dastardly brother upends her life by destroying her reputation and putting her at risk. The rakish and complicated hero, Vance, comes to her rescue by offering to become engaged to her. A generous offer in one sense, since reputation mattered so much in this culture. But there is a cost. He was a rogue in his past, and Violet is as pure as they come. She sees the change in him since his conversion (the theology in this section is excellent) and is agreeable to the arrangement. What unsettles her is not knowing if he actually loves her. This is the tension that carries the reader through the narrative until the pace picks up again with the appearance of the villain--and just when you thought things would be tied up nicely.

Vance is a romance reader's dream love interest. At times seeming too good to be true, he takes hold of the reader and doesn't let go until he makes a mistake near the end of the plot. Though Violet has spent weeks assuring him she forgives his past, now she must forgive his present.

He is believably amorous, given his past, but his burgeoning faith demands he protect her chastity and her dignity. One characterization I appreciated was Violet's over-confidence in her own self-control. For the reader who has learned that lesson the hard way, it was good to watch her stumble and right herself in this matter.

Though these two characters clearly desire one another almost from the beginning, Crandall skillfully walks the line between love and lust. Violet's wanderings and doubts about Vance's feelings grow tiresome at times, but young readers especially need a heroine who knows the difference between love and lust, and that one does not equate with the other. Crandall offers an excellent analogy, comparing courtship to riding. "Let him gain your trust," Vance tells Violet when she's on a horse for the first time, "and you'll need to trust him at the same time."

Trust turns out to be a challenge for them both. "Sinner" and "saint" alike find themselves wounded and needing to apologize to regain the other's trust.

Regular readers of Christian fiction should enjoy this 4th book in the series (but fully capable of being a stand-alone book!).

I received a copy of this book for my honest opinion. All thoughts in this review are my own.
528973
I have never read a Liz Carlyle novel before, so I must honestly say that I had no expectations. The description sounded promising so I enthusiastically set out to embrace the world of Anais and Geoff. I must say that while I traditionally do not enjoy period pieces, I did enjoy this one. Why? I enjoy the paranormal especially if it is peppered with a little romance. Ok, a lot of romance. What isn't there to like? You have a daring heroine (Anais de Rohan); a villain (Lezennes, who rivals all villains); a sexy dashing hero (Lord Geoff Bessett); sword fights; wonderful scenery (Europe) romance and intrigue. There was a decent storyline: the strong female character with secret talents, who would like admission into an all male society known as "Fraternitas Aurea Crucis" (FAC for short) and a hero who doubts her abilities. Determined to show her worth to both the society and Geoff, she sets out to help him rescue a young girl from a dastardly villain.

Overall, this was a decent story. While I felt at times the story was buried deeply in period explanations (which made it at times difficult to follow), once you get use to the rhythm you are able to follow it easily. And while I am not sure if I would seek out another Carlyle novel, if I stumble upon it....who knows.
4199875
I was half expecting a typical YA romance, but the fact that this was a trilogy in the making had me intrigued. Whereas this type of material is usually hard pushed to fill one novel substantially, Amy McGuire has created a classic romance that just grows on you from the very first chapter.
As far as romance stories go, in my opinion The Hearts Desire has more depth than the classic Romeo and Juliet. They only had each other to worry about and it all seems a little flat compared to Amy McGuire's romance with all its complex relationships.
There are more characters involved, more drama, more difficult choices to be made and agonised over. In short, it leaves you eager to read the sequel Worlds Apart.
4126634
Romantic Times Review -- 4 STARS
I am thrilled to see a revival of the gothic romance. Not only does it have effective gothic elements but also flashbacks to the earlier time made it seem as if I were reading two different stories that paralleled each other. Kathy Boswell
4276304
Great gothic style start out.. The characters really pop to life right off the bat. Making you need to know how things go
2724855
Complimentary copy provided by the author/publisher in exchange for an honest review.

I Take You is a modern retelling of D.H. Lawrences classic, Lady Chatterlys Lover. We meet Cliff, an American banker, and Connie, his wife, living in the posh London neighborhood of Notting Hill. After suffering a skiing accident two years prior that left him in a wheelchair, unable to perform sexually, Cliff becomes Connies Dominant and orchestrates sexual liaisons for her with strangers, so that she may continue to be sexually fulfilled, but not have to cheat outside the marriage. Once Cliff pushes her limits too far, Connie makes major changes in her life, primarily pursuing an affair with the gardener, Mel.

The prose of the book harkens to an age where sexual content was shrouded in allegory and innuendo, however in keeping with the modern day tolerance for explicitness, the language is brusque.
I Take You is a three and a half star read. It may not appeal to the traditional romance reader as it takes some risks, both in style and content that may be uncomfortable to many. The book is well written, but with its short chapters and harsh language, it may have trouble attracting fans of either contemporary romance or that of the Lawrence crowd.
3530440
I grew up reading Victoria Holt novels, but I haven't really read much in the gothic romance genre since then. On a whim, I gave this novel a shot, and I was pleasantly surprised. It reminded me why I used to love Victoria Holt novels so much. This author's writing is strong, the gothic elements very well executed, and the brooding hero very sexy indeed. I also liked how the author took all the elements I loved from Victoria Holt's play book, but added some heat between the heroine and hero. It was pretty steamy in some places, just like I like it, and the author made the heroine's falling into bed/in love with the hero while still harboring suspicions about his role in a string of murders somehow believeable. The heroine only had one Too Stupid To Live moment at the denouement, when she runs off to Whitechapel alone. At night. In the fog. Straight into the villain's clutches. But hey, it's a gothic novel, and that's what the heroine is supposed to do. I am going to read all of these novels, and so should you!
1518012
Very modern gothic. The atmosphere was perfect: the isolated villa near Firenze, the hostile servants, the tragic little kid. But this is Barbara Michaels, so all this oppressiveness was tempered with touches of humour, like Pietro's preocupation with American football and the character of David. It worked perfectly.
I loved that it took me a long time to be sure of what exactly was happening, though I had some ideas almost from the first. The important thing was that Kathy was perfectly justified in not realizing what was going on; too often the heroine in a gothic comes across as stupid for not noticing things. Not her.
The what exactly was going on was a bit jarring and not completely believable, so this wasn't perfect. Other than that, an excellent example of the genre.
1158346
Liz Carlyle's latest is a strong stand alone read, but it is inextricably linked to The Bride Wore Pearls and is best enjoyed with that book. The mystery has several sinister twists and turns, and while some readers will come to the correct conclusions, some will not, and all will find it absorbing reading. This 4 1/2 star tale has a distinctly Gothic feel, and while it moves slowly at times, it is never boring.
Heather Nordahl Files at affairedecoeur.com
1675459
First of all, understand that Rebecca is a classic written in 1938 about high society. This means, of course, that much of the novel entails good manners, sitting down to tea, gossiping with servants, and calling on neighbors you don't particularly care for. In addition, this is a romance novel (albeit a gothic romance novel), so every scene is tinged with a ye olden and heart-pounding version of OMG, I hope he thinks I look too hot in this dress. Also, much of the extensive and often wordy imagery in the novel centers around the luscious flora and fauna that inhabit the main love interests estate. Also, the novel is set in England, so each character lovingly comes with an extra stick up the butt. HOWEVER, I will also tell you that if all classics were as engaging as this book, then perhaps high schoolers wouldnt contemplate scooping their eyes out with a rusty spoon every time their English teacher hands out the next required reading novel.

Let's think back, for a moment, too all of the great classics that I had to read in high school that I hated: The Scarlet Letter, Huck Finn, Pride and Prejudice, The Once and Future King, etc. None of these novels actually made me want to keep reading them to find out what happens. This is a major failing with such required-reading classics - if we teachers didn't require the reading of them, students would not finish them because most of them aren't actually enjoyable to read! Now, let's be honest, Im not saying that every fourteen year old boy would love reading Rebecca, but its sure as sh*t better than reading Great Expectations!

Why is this book so good, even for a classic, you ask? Well you see, I have read lots of books that come with the gothic tag, supposedly dark, broody and spooky, everything a modern reader should love, but Rebecca nails these qualities: passion and love, large shadowy mansions with many stinking rooms, evil servants, death, metaphorical ghosts (though this is about as literal as a metaphorical ghost can be), drunken relatives, storms, aloof and mysterious but devastatingly handsome men, and a Dark Sea who keeps her many secrets. The chapters crawl with atmosphere. There is no doubt that Alfred Hitchcock read this book with a kerchief in hand to wipe away the drool (hence the award-winning 1940 movie).

Despite the rather pedestrian first fifty pages, the pace at which Daphne du Maurier builds the rest of her book with suspense and clues to drag the reader along is masterful, and even when you think youve finally got it figured out, you dont. The twists and the horrors and the social embarrassments just keep coming, and with each new revelation the reader connects with the characters just a bit more until by the end you're just screaming at the book, Why won't you just let love win, dammit! Fire the maid, bring the tea, open your eyes...Cant you see she LOVES YOU!!?!?

Whew. I just cant say enough good about this book. I admit it took me about five chapters to get into it, and even then, I ran to SparkNotes occasionally just make sure what I thought was going on was actually what was going on (and it was), and even though I kept SparkNotes up throughout my entire reading, I never actually needed it.

If youve got the time, read this book. Its one of the best that Ive read this year.

(Oh, man. So much love is in the air. Barf...it stinks of romance in this room...I gotta go read me a book about chainsaws and dragons or somethin')
3237757
I really enjoyed this departure from the usual historical romance by the hero being visually challenged.  First off, if you've read the first of the trilogy where Lord Wade or Simon was first introduced, and saw what a nice, charming and sociable person he was, it would break your heart to see him struggle with such a debilitating disability.  I enjoyed Callen's way of introducing the sighted readers into the dark, frightening world of blindness, and some of the challenges and insecurities Simon was forced to face.  Having said that, I loved that Lousia was so sensitive to Simon's daily delemmas, and her innovative way of helping him become more secure and independent.

The love story aspect of the book may be slow for some, but I enjoyed the sexual tension that oozed over every page.  I love that in the prudish Victorian world, the two of them had to touch each other because of Simon's need to be guided in unfamiliar settings.  It's a great excuse to touch someone.  And the portrayal of both characters were so finely done that unlike some novels where I'm struggling to give each character a mental face, I had no trouble picturing them vividly.  But I think, this novel had the rare advantage of matching the description of the characters with the cover art.

And characteristic of Callen's books, I like that the heroine was not humiliated by the hero, and that the misunderstandings were not blown out of proportion.  I like that the barriars to the two coming together was simply due to preconceived ideas that just needed to be resolved.  The axillary characters were interesting and likeable.  And beside the story being awesome, I'm keeping the book for the cover!
4347863
My actual rating is 4.5* as the last story just didn't do it for me.  Out of 5 stories and one poem, the first 4 stories are classic Gothic tales by the great authors of the genre from their period in time.  Carmilla by J. Sheridan Le Fanu was fantastic; a vampire story which influenced Stoker.  I love this prolific Victorian short story writer and this was my favourite in the collection.  Then comes Ann Radcliffe's "The Mysteries of Udolpho", a classic of the genre and considered one of the first such novels.  I haven't read the novel yet so this was fun to read, though it is such a complicated and convoluted story that adaptation only makes it more so.  Edgar Allan Poe's short piece "The Oval Portrait" is well done, then follows Jane Austen's pastiche of the genre "Northanger Abbey" which readily makes references to "Udolpho".  I'm not a fan of Austen, but I've read some of her works including this and must say I enjoyed the graphic much more than the novel!  My only complaint is the last story by Myla Jo Closser, whom I'd never heard of, entitled "At the Gate".  I wouldn't by any definition call this Gothic.  A story of dogs in Heaven.  It is a bright, happy, cheerful story (those are not elements of Gothic) and with the wealth of Gothic short stories available I'm sure a more appropriate title could have been selected for inclusion instead.  Otherwise a fine volume with the usual pleasing art and a special call out to Lisa K. Weber's excellent work on "Carmilla".